Happy New Year(2011)!

Happy New Year Everyone! Spend 2011 doing good deeds and reading fantastic books!



Below are some great books you may want to check out this year: 

--The extraordinary, phenomenal, you-have-not-lived-till-you've-read-it, Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

-Fairest, another wonderful story by Gail Carson Levine, author of Ella Enchanted, both of which I highly recommend


--A fascinating read with it's sequel, Sapphique by Catherine Fisher, now available in the US 



Respond with recommendations or anything else you'd like! Make 2011 a Great New Year! :)








Marvel and Medallion

Comments Welcome.

Manga and Anime

Fans of a certain manga? Anime? Comment! :)

(Yes, this is my very clever way of receiving anime recommendations :D)

-Please comment w/ appropriate, clean animes(and manga)!

-Sorry, I'm not really into manga, but still--feel free to comment. 

For those unfamiliar with what manga/anime is, it's basically graphic novels(manga) and "cartoons" made in Japan. 

Medallion

3 Days Until Sapphique is Out!

3 More Days Until Sapphique by Catherine Fisher is released in the US!




For those of you who are not familiar with Sapphique, it is the sequel to Catherine Fisher's novel, Incarceron. Great book. I did publish a post on it but it isn't in-depth at all--as a matter of fact, I published it a few days before I read the book. However, it does include a synopsis. If you are interested: http://bookloverscentral.blogspot.com/2010/05/im-going-to-obtain-incarceron-soon.html

First 10 Chapters of The Lost Hero

Finally. Finally. Finally. At long last, Marvel and I have begun our journey in The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan, the first book of the series, The Heroes of Olympus, which follows the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.
I felt that this book was a let-down. A disappointment. I was expecting something with, if not equal, but more genuine writing and excellence. The synopsis for the book, I admit, did captivate me, and during the period where I had not yet obtained the book I would muse over how extraordinary this book would, had to be, for this was another of Riordan's work! I had loved the first series immensely; it was one of the best series/books I have ever read concerning Greek mythology, and was thus convinced that anything Riordan produced would be the same in terms of excellence. It would be unjust to say the story is going terribly thus far(I just finished chapter 10) but it is far from extraordinary. If you would like specifics, comment and I'll do a post(of course, with a SPOILER warning).

Parting Words: Although I am not thrilled with The Lost Hero thus far, who knows? This story could take an turn and become one of the best books I've ever read! I'll see---and let you know! :)



Medallion

Comments Welcome

Harry Potter Cast

Do you have any disagreements with some of the cast choices in the Harry Potter movies?

I really didn't have any until Part 1 of the seventh movie came out.... Rufus Scrimgeour. Don't know the name of the particular actor who plays him, but honestly-terrible choice, in my opinion. Agree, disagree? Anything and everything having to do with the Harry Potter cast welcome in Comments!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1(Evaluating the Movie)

For those of you who have read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling, watched the part 1 movie release, and are interested in reading an extensive comparison between the book and movie: http://blog.moviefone.com/2010/11/19/harry-potter-deathly-hallows-book-vs-movie.
Now for my own, wonderful original thoughts: (SPOILER WARNING FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVEN'T READ AND/OR WATCHED HP 7)


Once again, the background and scenery was amazing. My breath caught as I watched the trio set up their temporary base near a shining lake, as they walked along next to a never-ending expanse of green field. Perhaps I haven't gotten the scenes exactly right as I watched the movie some time ago, but you get the idea.

Great portrayal, as usual, of the main characters. Scrimgeour's rep was a bit rough but it was all right. One thing that infuriated me was the exclusion of the intense dispute between Harry and Remus in Grimauld Place. I thought it was a very important scene so was disappointed :(

In addition, they left Grimmauld Place a bit too quickly; they didn't include the part where Harry finds a portion of a letter from Lily, his mother, to Sirius, which was somewhat of a climax point as Harry realizes the Invisibility Cloak he inherited from his father had been given to Albus Dumbledore at some point for certain reasons.
This may seem a bit minor, but what happened to Kreacher's acquisition of respect towards the trio(Ron, Her, Har)? I have to say, it was hilarious when Dobby shoved Kreacher to the side while talking over him, trying to tell Harry what he had found before Kreacher in an effort to please Harry. Gotta love Dobby! :) Now that I recall Dobby's death, what happened to his dying at Shell Cottage(Bill and Fleur's home)? They were supposed to apparate to Shell Cottage(I think I MAY have the name wrong)...now that I think about it, maybe that house was Shell Cottage...
In addition, the wedding scene was too short, and excluded Viktor Krum and Hermione and Ron's dance. Harry wasn't disguised as one of Ron's relatives, and Ron's aunt wasn't defined although those who have read the books would know who she was(the older woman who was sitting near Elphias Doge).

I could go on and on and on, but as I don't wish to bore you, I will sum everything up:
Wasn't bad, wasn't great. Felt it lacked a certain something that the other six movies had. 3/5 stars. I recommend you watch it especially if you have read the book(how could you not watch it then?).





-The DVD cover isn't out yet, or at least I can't find it. I may just buy the video game :)



Medallion

Comments Welcome

List of Books(Compiled by BBC)

Hey All,
Medallion here(no surprise there, with Marvel being such a busy celebrity and all :D)
Well, I was reading a post from A Book Lover's Diary, and the blogger had re-posted a list of books

for which there are certain instructions...
The instructions:
•Copy this list.
•Bold those books you’ve read in their entirety.
•Italicise the ones you started but didn’t finish or read only an excerpt.
•Tag other book nerds.
•Highlight the ones that you own, but haven't read.(I'm going to highlight the books that I own, regardless of whether I read them or not)
I'm going to post comments next to some of the titles even if I haven't read them, in bold.


THE LIST:
Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen

The Lord of the Rings – JRR Tolkien(really want to read this trilogy...i have watched the movies which were fantastic, and therefore the books must be twice as amazing)

Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
Harry Potter series – JK Rowling(that reminds me...I need to post my reflections on the movie...)
To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
The King James Bible
Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte
Nineteen Eighty Four (1984) – George Orwell
His Dark Materials – Philip Pullman(I have read and own the first book)

 Great Expectations – Charles Dickens(not the original)

Little Women – Louisa M Alcott
Tess of the D’Urbervilles – Thomas Hard
Catch 22 – Joseph Heller
Complete Works of Shakespeare(I've read precisely half of it...I read V. 1 out of 2)

Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier
The Hobbit – JRR Tolkien(I have the video game! :)

Birdsong – Sebastian Faulk
Catcher in the Rye – JD Salinger
The Time Traveler’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
Middlemarch – George Eliot
Gone With The Wind – Margaret Mitchell

The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald

War and Peace – Leo Tolstoy

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams
Brideshead Revisited – Evelyn Waugh

Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck

Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll

The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame

Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy

David Copperfield – Charles Dickens

Chronicles of Narnia – CS Lewis(the first two...never could get past the first few books)

Emma -Jane Austen

Persuasion – Jane Austen

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe – CS Lewis

The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini

Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – Louis De Bernieres

Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden

Winnie the Pooh – A.A. Milne (not sure if I read this one, but I did read some book concerning that honey-loving bear...I definitely watched it when I was younger, quite a bit...)

Animal Farm – George Orwell

The DaVinci Code – Dan Brown(I am interested in Dan Brown's work...I have heard he's a reasonably good writer...)

One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel Garcia Marquez

A Prayer for Owen Meaney – John Irving

The Woman in White – Wilkie Collins(this title reminds me of the White Women in the Inkheart Trilogy by Cornelia Funke)

Anne of Green Gables – LM Montgomery(I used to watch a show based on the book when I was younger...)
Far From The Madding Crowd – Thomas Hardy
The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood
Lord of the Flies – William Golding
Atonement – Ian McEwan
Life of Pi – Yann Martel
Dune – Frank Herbert
Cold Comfort Farm – Stella Gibbons
Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen

A Suitable Boy – Vikram Seth
The Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafon
A Tale Of Two Cities – Charles Dickens
Brave New World – Aldous Huxley
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – Mark Haddon
Love In The Time Of Cholera – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck
Lolita – Vladimir Nabokov
The Secret History – Donna Tartt
The Lovely Bones – Alice Sebold
Count of Monte Cristo – Alexandre Dumas
On The Road – Jack Kerouac
Jude the Obscure – Thomas Hardy
Bridget Jones’s Diary – Helen Fielding
Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushdie
Moby Dick – Herman Melville
Oliver Twist – Charles Dickens(haven't read the original, just the adapted version some years ago)
Dracula – Bram Stoker

The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett

Notes From A Small Island – Bill Bryson
Ulysses – James Joyce
The Inferno – Dante
Swallows and Amazons – Arthur Ransome
Germinal – Emile Zola
Vanity Fair – William Makepeace Thackeray
Possession – AS Byatt
Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens
Cloud Atlas – David Mitchell
The Color Purple – Alice Walker
The Remains of the Day – Kazuo Ishiguro
Madame Bovary – Gustave Flaubert
A Fine Balance – Rohinton Mistry
Charlotte’s Web – E.B. White
The Five People You Meet In Heaven – Mitch Albom
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The Faraway Tree Collection – Enid Blyton
Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad
The Little Prince – Antoine De Saint-Exupery
The Wasp Factory – Iain Banks
Watership Down – Richard Adams
A Confederacy of Dunces – John Kennedy Toole
A Town Like Alice – Nevil Shute

The Three Musketeers – Alexandre Dumas

Hamlet – William Shakespeare
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl
Les Miserables – Victor Hugo

Thanks again to Jessica, blogger of A Book Lover's Diary, for sharing the list!

Medallion

Comments Welcome

New Books-You Tell Us

Comment and list as many books as you can that you've either read or heard that recently came out. Recently is here defined as: a book that has come out within six months of your reading this. For example, a book that came out in August would qualify. So list the title, author, and any comments about the particular book you may have, and if, and only if, we receive ten comments from ten different people, we will publish 'em in a spectacular post, seriously, it'll be great. IF we get ten comments. If not...then you will never see the post for the rest of your life(laughs in a abnormally deep voice).

All right, just having some fun-but seriously, if we get ten comments, we'll make a new, very cool post.

Books with excessive (bad) language, or any other inappropriate content should not be listed. Thanks!

Medallion

Comments Welcome

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

I...still...haven't...read...it! (bursts out crying streams of sorrow)

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Have you guys read it before? Most freshmen in high school are probably either reading it or will read it this year.
I was reading it the other day, and decided to do a post on it.



I think it's a good book; many classics we modern teens feel are dry, boring, dull, too original to be original, etc, the list goes on...but I'm sure many will agree with me when I say that this book is NOT dry, NOT boring, NOT dull, and perfectly original.

My Own Summary:

Maycomb County, an isolated little area in southern Alabama, slow and lazy to develop with the rest of American civilization. However, the snarling roots of prejudice and discrimination have found their way beneath Maycomb's unsuspecting, flat landscape. They'll change one family's life drastically;this is Scout's story.

How'd you like it? It's rather brief, but ah well. Didn't wanta spoil anything for ya

If you would like to buy the book or read the synopsis, check out:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/To-Kill-a-Mockingbird/Harper-Lee/e/9780446310789/?itm=2&USRI=to+kill+a+mockingbird

All right...I've decided to put forth a little contest. List all the characters, all, including Tim Johnson(ha, just gave you one), without peeking at the book or any other resource. Last names not necessary.

K, here I go:

Miss Maudie
Scout
Jem
Dill
Aunt Rachel
Atticus
Calpurnia
Lulu
Zeebo
Mayella Ewell
Bob Ewell
Burris Ewell
Tom Robinson
Helen Robinson
Reverend Sykes
Stephanie Crawford
Mr. Avery
Dolphus Raymond
Arthur Radley
Nathan Radley
Cecil
Miss Merriwether
Miss Alexandra(Scout's Aunt)
Walter Cunningham
Miss Caroline Fisher
Chuck Little
Judge Taylor
Heck Tate
Mr. Gilmer
Mr. Underwood

I solemnly swear that I did not so much as glance at any sort of assisting resource while writing this list.

:)

Ah, I'll throw out another contest. Define the symbol ":D". The best description wins. The prize is...well...ahem. Well, perhaps there is no real prize.


Medallion

Comments Welcome

Sweets and All That Jazz

This is one of the few posts on this blog that has entirely nothing whatsoever to do with books. I dedicate this post to my baby sister who's birthday was today("Love you, Sis!")
We bought her surprise cupcakes today, which reminded me of the pastries and sweets that I, and many people, love; therefore, on a random impulse, I am constructing this post. Enjoy!
(I am not responsible for any one who chooses to indulge in more than the recommended serving of delectable pastries or cakes as a result of the images shown in this post.)

-Sugar cookies! I love 'em', be they plain or covered in thick lovely cream or glitter!

Ice-cream cake...omg, just looking at the picture makes me feel as though i'm smelling its beautiful, cake-ice-cream cake aroma...i swear, i feel like there's one right in front of me...

ICE-CREAM! K, who doesn't love ice-cream? I do...my favorite flavors include cotton candy(shown in picture) and strawberry. Did ya know there's even a bubble-gum flavor out there? With genuine bubble gum pieces in it.


All righty...that's all...my stomach's hurting from eating cupcakes...

The 39 Clues Series

Book 1: "The Maze of Bones" by Rick Riordan, skilled writer of The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series

Book 2: "One False Note" by Gordon Korman, author of the captivating ISLAND series

Book 3: "The Sword Thief" by Peter Lerangis

Book 4:  "Beyond the Grave" by Jude Watson

Book 5: "The Black Circle" by Patrick Carman

Book 6: "In Too Deep" by Jude Watson

Book 7: "The Viper's Nest" by Peter Lerangis

Book 8: "The Emperor's Code" by Gordon Korman

Book 9: "Storm Warning" by Linda Sue Park, author of "A Single Shard"

Book 10: "Into the Gauntlet" by Margaret Peterson Haddix(Coming out: Sep. 28, 2010)

There are also two companion books to the 39 Clues series, one of which, "The Black Book of Buried Secrets" is to be released October 26, 2010.

-"The Black Book of Buried Secrets"


FILM NEWS:

The film is "in development" along with thousands of others, and is to be released in 2011. There isn't much information out there, as far as I can find, but if you happen to know of any news/rumors about the film adaptation, feel free to comment.


Read the series? Have strong feelings for it(positive or negative)? Comment but please do not include spoiler-content.

Thanks

Medallion

Comments Welcome

What I Didn't Like About Esther Friesner's Story about Helen of Sparta(Nobody's Princess and Nobody's Prize)

With all due respect to the author and her books, I didn't like numerous aspects of Nobody's Princess and Nobody's Prize.

1. Very unsatisfying. I do admit, Esther Friesner did bring in several interesting characters but she didn't give us enough of them. Like Herakle's nephew, and Jason, and how 'bout Herakle himself? What happens to them? It just doesn't seem right-why did she cut their stories there???
 Fine, Helen's the main character, but  minor characters are important as well and often make as much a difference to the reader's experience as does the main character. If the author makes a sequel to Nobody's Prize, the only reason I'm going to read it is to learn more about the minor characters.

2. Weak novel, no direction. It seeemed like the author had a very weak plot, if any, besides having the main character travel to different cities and places, representing the ideal strong-minded woman as she makes friends and enemies who have strong feelings for her for no genuine reason.

3. Inappropriate. It had seriously wrong stuff in there-I was shocked. I mean, some books you expect to have language or something less than appropriate...but this is a simple story about a girl going off on adventures to earn her freedom-and then they bring in concepts that I rarely read about in distinctly teen books. And how and when they implement the concepts is rather amateur, in my opinion. How many times they brought in the concepts...honestly, I find that a very unskillful way to keep a story going.




Medallion

Comments Welcome

Nobody's Prize by Esther Friesner

Was awful. A very huge disappointment, even more so than its prequel. I had thought about reading Esther Friesner's other book, Sphinx's Princess, but now I'm not going to.

Nobody's Princess by Esther Friesner

Hey
Well...I know we said we'd start reading the Demonata series in August...but someone forgot to pick up their book at their library and so now we must patiently wait until she gets it.

In the meantime...

Well...I recently read a book called Nobody's Princess by Esther Friesner. I know many people enjoyed the book, and it wasn't terrible, but there was something about it that I didn't like very much.



The book's about a strong-minded girl living in Sparta and how she questions what usually isn't questioned as she grows up in a royal family set for the destiny of the future queen of Sparta. It isn't bad, and I suppose I might read the next one, Nobody's Prize...Other books by Esther Friesner include: Sphinx's Princess and its sequel Sphinx's Queen, which is due to be released September 28th.

Demonata Series-Coming Along for the Ride?

As Marvel and I are soon to begin reading the Demonata series by Darren Shan, I'd like anyone interested in following with us to comment saying so.
The way this'll work is that we're going to have a certain amount of time in which we are expected to complete either an amount of chapters or the entire book. then a post will be opened up on the day we were supposed to finish that "assignment", in which what we have read can be discussed. then when we finish the first book of the series, we'll have time to obtain the next book, and so on.

feel free to comment with any questions you may have

-First book of the Demonata Series


Medallion

Sons of Destiny to Lord Loss(Cirque du Freak Series to The Demonata Series)

As of last Wednesday, Marvel and I completed the Cirque du Freak series by reading the conclusion to the thrilling series, Sons of Destiny.
We are now going to begin reading the Demonata series by Darren Shan.

Synopsis(from http://www.bn.com/)

Grubbs Grady has stiff red hair and is a little big for his age, which means he can get into R-rated movies. He hates history and loves bacon, rats, and playing tricks on his squeamish older sister. When he opts out of a family weekend trip, he never guesses that he is about to take a terrifying journey into darkness. Hungry demons and howling werewolves haunt his waking nightmares... and threaten his life.




Publishers Weekly(taken from http://www.bn.com/)

The author of the popular Cirque du Freak books launches another no less gruesome series with this first installment in the Demonata books. Readers meet teen narrator Grubitsch Grady ("Grubbs") in a bad spot-he's in the principal's office, caught smoking cigarettes-but things are about to get far worse. Grubbs seeks revenge against the informant, his sister, Gretelda, by smearing her bath towels with rat guts. He feels guilty about this when, just a few pages later, Gretelda, Mom and Dad are killed in appalling fashion by Lord Loss, a "demon master," and his grotesque familiars-Vein and Artery. Grubbs is sole witness to his family's execution and his narrow escape, by means he doesn't quite understand himself, nearly drives him mad. He goes to live with insensitive Uncle Dervish, who regales his newly orphaned nephew with stories about the "long and bloody history" of the house that Grubbs will now call home. Written mainly in sentence fragments with an excess of exclamation points, the narrative is a mish-mash of occult motifs. Halfway through the story, werewolves make an appearance. It's tough to take any of this seriously: the cartoonish villain stages high-stakes showdowns that mix slasher flick-style battles with chess matches. The author introduces threads about rare books and a missing treasure, then drops them, presumably to pick them up in the following volume, due out next year. Ages 15-up. (Oct.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

You are welcome to read the series along with us...we will commence in August.

Words

http://www.dictionary.com/.
This doesn't relate directly to books, or does it...? Well, anyways, I was on dictionary.com, and I saw this, and so I thought, "Hey, why don't I enlighten the rest of the world?":

furfuraceousdisportjugalschadenfreudepneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis

The word, in addition to being the largest word held on Dictionary.com, is: "an obscure term ostensibly referring to a lung disease caused by silica dust, sometimes cited as one of the longest words in the English language," as quoted from http://www.dictionary.com/.

So, if you ever have the urge to get back at that coughing fool who never coughs into their shoulder like a good sensible person but into the open air, inviting others to become ill like them, say, adopting concern, "Do you have pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis?" But remember to have the definition down, 'cause they might just ask, "What does that mean?"

Today's word of the day(on Dictionary.com), by the way, is heliolatry, which means, "worship of the sun."

Cirque Du Freak-Complete Box Set

I am considering purchasing the entire Cirque du Freak series, and therefore am searching for a box set. Unfortunately, according to my present research, such a thing does not exist.

Let's see...
well,
Barnes and Noble offers two four-book sets...now let's look at Amazon...

Oh, I just found...a box set combining the two previously mentioned; a.k.a. having books 1-8.

Hmph; that's very disappointing. I was hoping to buy the entire series as a box set...ah well.

The last book of the Cirque du Freak series is, once again, Sons of Destiny. I'm to acquire the book tomorrow! I cannot wait!

-Cover of Hardcover Version(Sons of Destiny by Darren Shan)

Summer Begins for Some and not All :-(

Hello one and all it is I, Marvel

This is my first post in a while, and my first one this summer, hopefully there will be more to come.

First of all, I am in charge of the Monthly Mix at the bottom of the page, and would like to ask if you have any recommendations for appropriate songs that represent the month of June.

Next, I would like to go over some new releases and current bestsellers.
 
After looking over Barnes and Noble's bestseller list, I have concluded that the Twilight craze is still high what with The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner coming out about 6 days ago.  Also, with the third book in the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins coming out in August, many readers are pre-ordering it or reading the series for the first time (which I would recommend because the series is AMAZING, no joke).  A number of the books on the list are books from the series of Pretty Little Liars, those who are now starting the series are probably reading because of the t.v. series premiere on ABC Family.  Other books on the list include the Necromancer (Book 4 of The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel), Spirit Bound (Book 5 of the Vampire Diaries), and Burned (Book 7 of the House of Night Series).

Now, I would like to input my own current reads and reviews.

Like Medallion, I have been reading the Cirque Du Freak series which I was pleasantly surprised with.  I had heard many glowing reviews on the series, and although the first book was a little slow for my taste, the rest of the series was filled with twists and turns that I sometimes could not foretell.  I am now highly anticipating my reading of the last book in the series Sons of Destiny.

 I realize that I'm a bit behind the times with this review, but I feel as if I should post on my thoughts concerning Fang.  I was shocked at the ending, especially after previous events in the Maximum Ride series, and I am waiting for the next book so the event that took place can be justified.

Recently, I received Pride and Prejudice as a present for my birthday, and even though it is a classic and not new, I want to emphasize the fact that this novel is a treasure, and should be read by everyone who thinks themselves a reader, even those people who do not. :-)

 Hopefully, my posting has affected you in some way, and I hope I will be able to do this again soon.

Until then,
Adieu,
Marvel

Cirque Du Freake-Where are We?

Hi,
in this post I aim to update y'all on Marvel and I's status regarding the Cirque du Freake series.
Less than an hour ago I completed Lord of the Shadows, the eleventh book out of 12 in the series...it was FANTASTIC!
Really, when-oh wow, I was going to release a huge spoiler. Shame on me. OK. Well, you guys have been saved due to my quick reflexes.
Marvel has started the book(Lord of the Shadows) but she has not completed it yet...she's occupied at the moment but I'm going to make sure she finishes it as soon as she can so we can begin the conclusion of the Cirque du Freake series-SONS OF DESTINY.

Wait, now that we're on the subject of Cirque du Freake, have any of y'all watched the movie "The Vampire's Assistant"?
I already have low expectations for it.

Medallion

Garth Nix and Nancy Farmer

Apparenty Nancy Farmer is an author who lives in California and...has written a couple of books in science fiction.

Garth Nix is an Australian author who has written young adult fantasy series including the Old Kingdom series, The Seventh Tower series, and The Keys to the Kingdom series.

I've never heard of them before...if any of y'all HAVE heard of them, or rather, have READ some of their work, then let me know which books you read and if/why you liked them.

I'm going to obtain Incarceron soon!

The following book is available for me to pick up at the library:

INCARCERON BY CATHERINE FISHER

Incarceron was published by in January of this year.

Synopsis(from http://www.bn.com/)


A thrilling, high-concept fantasy for fans of Garth Nix and Nancy Farmer.
Incarceron is a prison so vast that it contains not only cells, but also metal forests, dilapidated cities, and vast wilderness. Finn, a seventeen-year-old prisoner, has no memory of his childhood and is sure that he came from Outside Incarceron. Very few prisoners believe that there is an Outside, however, which makes escape seems impossible.
And then Finn finds a crystal key that allows him to communicate with a girl named Claudia. She claims to live Outside- she is the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, and doomed to an arranged marriage. Finn is determined to escape the prison, and Claudia believes she can help him. But they don't realize that there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye. Escape will take their greatest courage and cost more than they know.

It seems FANTASTIC, and I CANNOT WAIT TO READ IT!


( P.S. Who's Garth Nix and Nancy Farmer? Will find out and report back)

Tunnels and Blog Template Contest

Hi Everyone.
Well, my experience with the book Tunnels was rather short. I began it, read the first few pages, and then skimmed the book, stopping occasionally to read a few sentences, and then just shut the book.
Anyways.

I have decided to hold a contest. Yup, BookLoversCentral is holding its first ever contest.

The winner of the contest would be the one who submitted the template(link) Marvel and I chose for our blog. And besides the great honor of having your suggested template on this blog, up to three links of your choice will be added to our, as of right now, nonexistent Blogroll.

Rules:

1. May either submit a link to the specific template or just the name. You may get bonus points for supplying the link.

2. Below link, please mention why you feel that template would suit this blog's theme.

3. Become a follower of this blog if you aren't already. :) OK, fine, it's not a rule, but I'd like you to.

Allowances:

1. You may submit as many templates as you have the time to.

Tips/Advice/Warnings

1. If you submit a link from TheCutestBlogontheBlock website, chances are it will not be selected.

Let the Contest commence.

Medallion

Tunnels by Brian Williams and Roderick Gordon

Synopsis(from http://www.bn.com/, as usual):

A thrilling adventure story about a mysterious underground world, read by Jack Davenport. Fourteen-year-old Will Burrows lives with his parents and younger sister Rebeccain London. He has little in common with any of them, except for a passion for digging, which he shares with his father, a museum curator and doctor of archaeology. When his father suddenly disappears after a row with his mother, the police believe he has just gone away for a while to cool down. But Will is unconvinced, and decides to investigate with his best friend Chester.

This book can be purchased from http://www.bn.com/ (online) for $7.19, in paperback,
and in hardcover, $12.95.

The sequel to Tunnels is: Deeper

The sequel to Deeper is: Freefall

The sequel to Freefall is: Closer - Scheduled for publication on the third of May(in the UK, and a year later in the US).


Vincenzo Natali to Direct the Movie Adaptation of Tunnels

There is not much information available concerning the movie adaptation of Tunnels, but this is the info I have managed to obtain:

1. The director is Vincenzo Natali.
2.  The screenwriters are:  Joel Bergvall and Simon Sandquist.
3. The producers are: Ryan Kavanaugh and Mark Canton
4. The executive producers are: Neil Canton and Danny Davids
5. The second draft of the screenplay has been written.
6. In the particular draft, two characters' ages are inaccurate in relation to the book.
7. The budget for the film: $1, 000, 000.


Fan Central

FERVENT FANS OF TUNNELS:

"I would recommend this book to anybody who likes fast, exciting action. Good for any age (<12), and it is so exciting! I can visualize this book so well in my mind, it's awesome."


"I think this book was great1 I loved the first book "Tunnels" and "Deeper!" I've already finished Freefall which is the third one of these series! A while ago, I sent the authors an e-mail, a few months later, they e-mailed me back! But to warn you all, these books have a lot of sadness and death in them as well as adventure and mystery. YOU MUST READ THIS SERIES!!!"

"I love this series of books! The authors have created such a unique and thrilling storyline. This is a definite page-turner and I would recommend it to anyone. The uniqueness will keep you wanting to read more. I cannot wait until Freefall comes out!"

SMART FANS OF TUNNELS:

"-The "not-being-true-to-the-book-ocity" has been an issue with TONS of movies. Especially Harry Potter. I think Tunnels needs to be very spectacular; like no movie anyone has ever seen. Therefore, I won't care if the movie comes out in late 2011. As long as the movie is worth seeing. They need to have NO flaws or changes from the book. For now, I just wanna read Closer."


RIDICULOUS FANS OF TUNNELS:

"-but i hate harry potter, it's too popular-"

INNOVATIVE FANS OF TUNNELS:

"Just spitballing ideas here...

And I don't know if they have chosen actors/actresses yet, but
Tunnels is a unique series, right?
so why not do something unique in choosing actors/actresses?
What about having a contest, something like creating a website where people (fans of the book) can upload video auditions to play parts in the movie? maybe?
Because i think it would be a good idea to bring in people nobody has seen before.
And i'm sure there are people out there that have talent that just haven't been discovered."



Reviews/Recommendations(from http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Tunnels/Roderick-Gordon/e/9780545078818/?itm=1&USRI=Tunnels#TABS)


Fourteen-year-old Will Burrows has a passion for digging around his small town of Highfield, which is so old it dates back to Roman times. He and his father, curator of the town's history museum and archaeologist, spend their spare time looking for ancient artifacts, abandoned underground train tunnels, or maybe something more interesting: evidence of ancient settlements. Outside of his exciting hobby, Will's life is dreary. His family is dysfunctional. His older sister Rebecca does all the shopping, cleaning, and cooking while their mother spends her time in front of the TV. Will's appearance works against him—he is pale with white hair, and his only friend is big, bumbling Chester who is also on the outside of teen society. Suddenly, Will's humdrum life turns dark and desperate. His father disappears, their family is without any money, and Will suspects that his father may be in danger connected with some secret excavation. Can he find his father with Chester's help? Some mysterious figures begin to tail Will; the new-found father's journal also mentions being followed by the same furtive strangers. Will and Chester persevere in their search and are suddenly thrust into a dark, frightening underground world filled with people who look like Will. Some claim to be his family. Some, the Styx, are truly frightening: they use torture to get information from Will and Chester. How will Chester and Will escape? Can they find Dr. Burrows? What about the foreign yet familiar underground people that claim to be Will's grandmother and younger brother? Meanwhile, what is happening topside to Rebecca and Mum? The underground world becomes deeper and deadlier and Will wonders if he will eversee the sky or sunlight again. This is a beautifully written young adult novel, so compelling and realistically drawn that the reader will not be able to put it down. Black-and-white illustrations add wonderfully to the dark fantasy world. A sequel, Deeps, is scheduled to be out in 2009. Wow! Reviewer: Judy Crowder



_________________________________________________________________________________


Hope you enjoyed reading this post on Tunnels by Brian Williams and Roderick Gordon. A classmate recently lent me the book, so anticipate a post or two on the book when I have completed it. Marvel has read Tunnels already(I'm unsure as to whether she read the other books in the series), so she may add to this post or create another post with her reflections on the book. If it would be to your interest, you could acquire Tunnels, read it, and then participate in a discussion of the book later on.

Any news about Tunnels not included in this post? Personal reflections and opinions of the books?
Comments are welcome, but please do not include spoiler content in your comments except in exclusive posts designated for discussion of the particular book.

Medallion

My Book Status

Medallion here, ready to report.

Well, today I re-read The Schwa was Here by Neal Shusterman, a brilliant author, and I definitely progressed in Fang by James Patterson. Will join discussion soon. I am currently reading Antsy Does Time by Neal Shusterman, a follow-up to The Schwa was Here.

What else...?
How 'bout my library status?
OMG, AAAAAHHH!!! Oh, I'm sorry, did you hear that? Or read that?(You're thinking: DUH)
 I was just checking my library account, and this spectacular book I put on hold is FINALLY in transit. I'm obviously very happy.
I also have to pick up Men in Black, the movie, from the library. I have heard it is a very good movie, but...I dont really know what it's about... though I do possess a vague notion that Will Smith (a leading actor in The Pursuit of Happyness among other movies) plays in it.
This other book I have heard about, Stealing Freedom by a Miss Carbone is also waitin' for me to pick it up.

Medallion

New Books!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey everybody it's Marvel! (Yes, I am actually posting. :D)

It has come to my attention that several books we have discussed before have new books coming out. 

39 Clues: For any of you who read the series, the newest book #8 The Emperor's Code by Gordan Korman is coming out April 6.

Also, for fans of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan, he is coming out with two new series: 1. The Egyptian mythology series we may or may not have discussed before.  The first book of the Kane Chronicles will be The Red Pyramid to be released May 4.

2.  Riordan is also coming out with the next series following Percy Jackson and the Olympians which is known so far as Camp Half-Blood, Book 1 and is set to come out October 12.

Now, for books that are coming out and not new series.

1. Fading Echoes is the newest title in the most current Warriors series (Omen of the Stars).  It is the second book so far in the usual six book sets of this series.  It was released just yesterday.

2. FANG of course has already come out. But you should already know that ;)

So, these are some of the newest and upcoming releases in the book world.  If there is anything you would like me to keep an eye on and alert you about let me know, I am forever looking at new books (even if I can't buy them).

Farewell for now!

Fang by James Patterson: Discussion

Beneath this post is where those wishing to discuss the book "Fang" by James Patterson may do so, by commenting.

I would like to issue a giant SPOILER-WARNING,
as there is definite spoiler-content likely to be found in the comments for this post, if you have not read the book, Fang.



Medallion

Comments Welcome

FANG by James Patterson

O-M-G.
Fang is OUT!!!
...
Has been out since Monday, actually. Unfortunately, I was unable to access my computer from Monday to Thursday to post anything about the blog nor reply to recent comments.
Now I shall.

I haven't read Fang yet...sob...
but our awesome followers Bree and Coco have.

Coco's comment as of the eighteenth of March, three days after the book came out:

OMG BREE AND I READ FANG CAUSE MY TEACHER BOUGHT IT. LOL ITS AMAZING!!!!!! I THINK ITS THE BEST BOOK IN THE SERIES SO FAR. I DONT WANT TO RUIN ANYONES SURPRISE IF THEY R GOING TO READ IT BUT ITS WAAAYYY DIFFERENT THEN WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD HAPPEN. LOL ITS AN AWSOME BOOK.


Thank you, Coco, on behalf of the entire book loving world, for not spoiling anything. Thanks for the comment.

And Bree:

Completely AMAZING! I completely agree with coco! everyone has to read it, fang is the most emotional book so far through out of the whole series, and it is actually the first and only book that got me feeling really emotional along with it.i dont want to give anything away....so has anyone else read it?

Sorry Bree, I haven't read it yet. Still debating whether to buy it...but I've put it on hold at the library...

You know, I think that this blog does not have enough exposure. And it's strange, because in my humble opinion, I think this is a great, relevant blog, at least to book lovers, and I KNOW there are millions of book lovers that have access to the Internet, and use it. Marvel and I will have to brainstorm ideas to generate more web traffic to this blog...if you have any ideas, let us know. And it wouldn't hurt to tell your friends what a great blog this is, right?

Anyways. Back to Fang. Personally, I dislike the depictions of Fang and Max on the website: http://www.max-dan-wiz.com/. I don't find them to be realistic; not how I would picture either of them. What do you think?


http://www.max-dan-wiz.com/page/writing-contest
See that link? That link is to the page listing the rules for the Maximum Ride Writing Contest. IMPORTANT: The deadline for submissions is: May 31, 2010.  I'm participating, and I'll let you know if I win!


Quoting Bree, "so has anyone else read it(Fang)?", if you have, then feel free to start commenting and discussing about the book, but I'll create a special post(Title "Fang Discussion) where you can do so, and I'll mention that there is definite spoiler content in the comments.
 
Thanks Bree and CoCo, for commenting
 
Medallion
 
Comments Welcome

MANUAL COUNTDOWN TO FANG: THREE DAYS

THREE DAYS
THREE DAYS
THREE DAYS

Book Recommendations for Bree and CoCo

I, Medallion, will list some book recs for you, and then Marvel may add some as well(in this post).
1. Jip by Katherine Paterson
2. Molly Moon series by Georgia Byng
3. The Foreshadowing
4. The Anybodies
5.  Last Shot by John Feinstein
6. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
7. Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
8. Ella Enchanted by Gail C. L.
9. The Cirque du Freake Series by Darren Shan

Books I Haven't Read Yet:
1. Savvy
2. Lord of the Rings

If any of y'all read some of my book recs, comment and let me know what you thought of the particular book;
and if you read one of the books on my to-read list, let me know how it is as well(DO NOT SPOIL THE BOOK FOR ME).

Comments Welcome

MANUAL, NOT SO COOL BUT SO WHAT, COUNTDOWN TO FANG

FANG IS COMING OUT IN FOUR DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To Be Released in March(Post #2)

Note: Please recognize that some of these books may be adult books, and not suitable for certain ages.

I try my best to provide books with clean synopses, but there is always the possibility that there is some inappropriate content that I could not have discerned without reading the book


Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers. Coming out: March 16, 2010

Synopsis(from http://www.bn.com/)


The first in an epic two-book saga by beloved author Francine Rivers, this sweeping story explores the complicated relationships between mothers and daughters over several generations. Near the turn of the 20th century, fiery Marta leaves Switzerland determined to find life on her own terms. Her journey takes her through Europe and finally lands her with children and husband in tow in the central valley of California. Marta’s experiences convince her that only the strong survive. Hildie, Marta’s oldest daughter, has a heart to serve others, and her calling as a nurse gives her independence, if not the respect of her mother. Amid the drama of WWII, Hildie marries and begins a family of her own. She wants her daughter never to doubt her love—but the challenges of life conspire against her vow. Each woman is forced to confront her faulty but well-meaning desire to help her daughter find her God-given place in the world.

__________________________________________________________________________________
Killing Willis: From Diff'rent Strokes to the Mean Streets to the Life I Always Wanted by Todd Bridges. Coming out: March 16

Synopsis

Former child actor Todd Bridges shares the shocking but ultimately triumphant story of his struggle to find his identity after Diff'rent Strokes.
___________________________________________________________________________________


Never Look Away by Linwood Barclay. Coming out: March 9, 2010.
Synopsis
 In this tense, mesmerizing thriller by Linwood Barclay, critically acclaimed author of Fear the Worst and Too Close to Home, a man’s life unravels around him when the unthinkable strikes.

A warm summer Saturday. An amusement park. David Harwood is glad to be spending some quality time with his wife, Jan, and their four-year-old son. But what begins as a pleasant family outing turns into a nightmare after an inexplicable disappearance. A frantic search only leads to an even more shocking and harrowing turn of events.
Until this terrifying moment, David Harwood is just a small-town reporter in need of a break. His paper, the Promise Falls Standard, is struggling to survive. Then he gets a lead that just might be the answer to his prayers: a potential scandal involving a controversial development project for the outskirts of this picturesque upstate New York town. It’s a hot-button issue that will surely sell papers and help reverse the Standard’s fortunes, but strangely, David’s editors keep shooting it down.
Why?
That’s a question no longer at the top of David’s list. Now the only thing he cares about is restoring his family. Desperate for any clue, David dives into his own investigation—and into a web of lies and deceit. For with every new piece of evidence he uncovers, David finds more questions—and moves ever closer to a shattering truth.
___________________________________________________________________________________


Not My Boy!: A Father, a Son, and One Family's Journey with Autism. Coming out: March 16, 2010.

Synopsis
In Not My Boy!, Rodney Peete offers not only a heartrending, candid look inside his personal journey with his son's autism but a first-of-its-kind, inspirational road map that will help families facing similar challenges to move forward. Effectively woven throughout Peete's moving account of his life with his son R.J. are the powerful voices, insights, and dreams of other fathers, high-profile figures as well as unsung heroes, who've traveled this difficult path.
Autism affects four times as many boys as it does girls. For their fathers, expectations and hopes are drastically changed—as NFL star Rodney Peete's were when his son R.J. was diagnosed at the age of three. After a period of anger and denial, an all-too-common reaction among fathers, Rodney joined his wife, Holly, in her efforts to help their son. With determination, love, and understanding, the family worked with R.J. to help him once again engage with the world.
Eight challenging years later, R.J. has gone from the son one doctor warned would never say "I love you" to a thriving, vibrant boy who scored his first soccer goal while his dad cheered from the sidelines.
After his retirement from the NFL in 2004, Rodney Peete became a host of the Fox Sports Net show The Best Damn Sports Show Period, which he left in 2008. Currently, Rodney and his wife, Holly, run the HollyRod Foundation for Parkinson's patients and their families, are extremely active in the autism community, and dedicate their lives to philanthropy and fund-raising for children.
______________________________________________________________________________



Post Series to Be Continued...

Medallion

Comments Welcome

To Be Released in March(Post #1)

Hey, loyal admirees of me, this blog, and books. The only things worth admiring, after all, is that shining trio. Joking.
Anyways.
Coming Out March 15th, is, is.....................................................................................
(this is a courtesy to allow you to shriek in irrepressible excitement)..........................
FANG BY JAMES PATTERSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Synopsis(from BN.COM)


Max and the Flock are flying high over Africa, but this time they're not alone. A sky full of cargo planes accompanies the team as they bring much-needed aid to the continent's poverty stricken regions. Among the volunteers is the mission's benefactor--the mysterious billionaire, Dr. Hans Gunther-Hagen. Max is intrigued by his generosity, but there's also something about him--and his intense scrutiny of the Flock--that makes her nervous.
But Dr. Hans isn't the only puzzling thing about their trip. The Flock also receives a cryptic message from a young girl, who tells them, "The sky will fall." Max and the Flock are ready to return home, still unable to make sense of her statement. But the surprises don't end with their departure, and something unbelievably momentous shakes up the Flock--pushing Max and Fang closer than ever. Will the team be able to stick together through the chaos?

You can pre-order Fang in Hardcover on bn.com for $9.71.

Other books coming out this month:

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen. Wow..the book has a beautiful cover... Will be out March 16, 2010, and is available for pre-order.
Synopsis(Heads Up: On this post at least, all synopses are from http://www.bn.com/)

In her latest enchanting novel, New York Times bestelling author Sarah Addison Allen invites you to a quirky little Southern town with more magic than a full Carolina moon. Here two very different women discover how to find their place in the world...no matter how out of place they feel.

Emily Benedict came to Mullaby, North Carolina, hoping to solve at least some of the riddles surrounding her mother's life. For instance, why did Dulcie Shelby leave her hometown so suddenly? Why did she vow never to return? But the moment Emily enters the house where her mother grew up and meets the grandfather she never knew—a reclusive, real-life gentle giant—she realizes that mysteries aren't solved in Mullaby, they're a way of life.
Here are rooms where the wallpaper changes to suit your mood. Unexplained lights skip across the yard at midnight. And a neighbor bakes hope in the form of cakes.
Everyone in Mullaby...

To Be Continued(Post Series)...

Medallion

Comments Welcome

Rick Riordan and Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Hey Everyone.
Have you read "The Lightning Thief"? If not, we'd know who you are, 'cause you're the one with your nose buried in it after your friend recommended it to you, and now you absolutely love it.
Well, "The Lightning Thief" has been adapted as a movie. I haven't watched it yet, but the trailer is enough for me to get annoyed: Annabeth DOES NOT have dark hair, it's blonde. And I noticed a few other diversions from the book. A friend of mine told me that the movie was an awful representation of the book. I havent watched it yet, but she's told me that they left out MAJOR components of the story, including the prophecy of the Oracle, which certainly attracted my attention, and lead to a giant tirade on my part.
Rick Riordan is an amazing writer; I adore the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, and am still planning to watch the movie; I'll let you know how it is when I watch it.
Rick Riordan's series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, compromises of the following five books:
1. The Lightning Thief
2. The Sea of Monsters
3. The Titan's Curse
4. The Battle of the Labyrinth
5. The Last Olympian
In addition, there is what can be called a companion book to the series: The Demigod Files
From barnesandnoble.com, the Synopsis:
Young demigods, brace yourselves for a peak inside the highly classified Demigod Files! Compiled by Camp Half-Blood's senior scribe, Rick Riordan, these top secret archives include three of Percy Jackson's most perilous adventures and behind-the-scenes interviews with your favorite characters--Connor and Travis, Clarisse, Annabeth, Grover, and Percy.

Become an authority on Percy's world with this must-have guide to the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.

And I recently discovered the existence of: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Ultimate Guide
Synopsis:
It's the handbook no half-blood should be without: a fully illustrated, in-depth guide to gods, monsters, and all things Percy. This novelty companion to the best-selling series comes complete with trading cards, full-color diagrams, and maps, all packaged in a handy, "manual-size" POB with a crisp, magnetic flap enclosure.
It sounds brilliant, and I plan to purchase it.

TO COME:

A Percy Jackson graphic novel is set to come out on October 19, 2010.  Riordan posted "Many of you have asked about a Percy Jackson graphic novel, and I'm pleased to announce it is in the works too. The tentative release date is 10/19/10. I've seen some preliminary artwork, and it looks awesome. I think you'll be pleased with how Percy's world comes to life in pictures."

Recently, Riordan has stated that he is working on a new series based upon the Egyptian pantheon, which then turned out to be The Kane Chronicles, with the first book, The Red Pyramid, to be released May 4, 2010.


In addition, Rick Riordan has confirmed that he is writing the next book that, I believe, will be the start of another series following the first Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Many believe that the series will be rotating around the prophecy at the conclusion of "The Last Olympian."
Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a spectacular series, and I would strongly recommend it to all.

Medallion

Comments Welcome

Movies

This is gonna be a post all about movies. Movies I wanna watch, movies I have watched recently, upcoming movies, the whole shibang. I know this is a book blog, but I need a place to just vent out all of this, and share it. So if you have a problem with this minor excursion, Sorry. Anyhow, some of these movies are based on the particular books, so...
Hey, maybe Marvel and I could also open a movies blog. How 'bout it, Marvel? I can just see her eyes rolling in exasperation as she reads this. Oh, and while you're reading this, Marvel, thanks for calling back "ASAP". How long does it take to put away groceries???
Anyways.
Let's start with the movies I want to watch.

The Lightning Thief, based on the spectacular novel in the spectacular series Percy Jackson and the Olympians by the spectacular author Rick Riordan.

Avatar

Coming out March 5, 2010, is
Alice in Wonderland-
Johnny Depp(Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean) plays as the Mad Hatter,

 and Anne Hathaway, who plays Ella in Ella Enchanted, plays as the White Queen.

In addition, Alan Rickman, who plays Severus Snape in the Harry Potter movies is playing as the

Caterpillar(???) in Alice in Wonderland,

Helena Bonham Carter, who plays Bellatrix Lestrange in the HP movies as well, will play the Red Queen,

and Timothy Spall, who plays Peter Pettigrew in the Harry Potter movies, plays as the Bloodhound.

Summing up what's in bold: Three HP Actors are playing in Alice in Wonderland.

"Unwind has just been optioned by independent producers for development as a feature film." As of March 18th 2009(http://www.storyman.com/filmtv/) Unwind is a science-fiction, young-adult novel by Neal Shusterman, author of numerous titles including The Schwa was Here.

Recently, I have watched Front of the Class and Radio. Both are based on true stories. I urge you to watch both of them. I found them to be beautiful, powerful movies. To buy Front of the Class: http://www.classperformance.com/movie-front-of-the-class-dvd-signed/.

In addition, y'all should know that The Angel Experiment is going to be made into a movie. Exact date of release is unknown. There are rumors that Robert Pattinson is going to play Fang in the movie, and Kristen Stewart Max.

Any other movie news you think we/everyone should know about? Any other rumors or news you hear about concerning any of the aforementioned movies? Comment and let us know.

Medallion

Barnes and Noble Movie Sale

There is a FIFTY-PERCENT off movie sale. Do you know how awesome that is?
If you buy a $100 DVD, then, 1. There's a 50% chance you're crazy, and 2. The DVD will be FIFTY bucks instead of 100.
In simpler words, it's a good deal.
However, I don't think it applies to ALL movies, except for hundreds.
For example, "The Pursuit of Happyness" does not apply to this sale. Oh well.

Daniel X Series

Hey.
The books in the series:
1.  The Dangerous Days of Daniel X by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge.
2. Daniel X: Watch the Skies by James Patterson and Ned Rust.
3. Demons & Druids (Coming Out: July 26, 2010)

I have read the two books currently out,
and they've been, overall, good and enjoyable...
But, really, Maximum Ride tops it by a lot.

Trials of Death by Darren Shan.

HUGE SPOILER-WARNING: There is definite spoiler content in this post if you have not read Trials of Death.


















OK. I left some space in case someone like Marvel has his/her peripheral vision catch some keywords that would spoil the book for him/her.
OK.
Breathe in, breathe out.
KURDA KILLED GAVNER.
OK, I kind of noticed something going on with Kurda; little hints, but when he actually knifed Gavner, I was like...
And then Darren was there when it happened, and he rushed forward, and Gavner told him he was sorry if his snoring kept him awake(a little cheesy finish to one's life). Poor Gavner.
The Trials were very interesting; OK; downright terrifying and spectacular at the same time. The aquatic maze, and then the stalagmites/stalactites, and the room full of flames...and the boars...
And then Harkat Mulds, he jumped in to save Darren, and then Darren was actually going to be SENTENCED TO DEATH(????).

I'm sure the vampaneze-Kurda-Gavner issue will be more clear to me when I read the next book: The Vampire Prince.

I'm sure Darren won't die. Even though he thinks he wills by letting himself go in that stream that runs through the mountain and where deceased vampires used to be put in until...OK, if you're read the book, you don't need to hear the delightful details again.

 I mean, the Saga of Darren Shan can't go on for about how many books without Darren.
Right?

Wow. The book was really good. And had some very interesting aspects and occurences...
You know, it used to be that Marvel would get the book we were reading together before me, and then either have to fight and overcome the temptation to read the book before I got it, or succumb and later on the telephone sheepishly say,"Yeah...the thing is...yeah, I kind of...read half the book already...please, not so loud, I have guests over..." LOL(I believe that stands for Laugh Out Loud. Do it, Folks)
Anyways, a month or so ago, it switched. I had to wait for three weeks for Marvel to get the book. But then it switched again a day or so ago.
Marvel: "I got the Vampire Prince, so..."
My eyes bugged out. "YOU got it already?"
Anyways.

If you have just finished the book like me,
and need a place to vent, this is the place.

Medallion

Books To-Read

Hey Everyone.
Right now, these books are on my to-read list:
Falling Leaves
Skeleton Key by Anthony Horowitz
Eagle Strike by A.H.
Scorpia by A.H.
Unwind
Daniel X(#2) by James Patterson(author of the fantastic Maximum Ride series) and...(?)
And the second book by Pseudonymous Bosch.
I know I'm usually really generous and kind and want to facilitate everything for y'all;
but I really am not in the mood to go and write out the exact titles for each book and all the authors; I just wrote the ones I remembered, so for further details; i'm sorry, i know it's so hard; you're going to have to go online and research yourself.
Now I have to pick which one I'm gonna read...since...
I finished Trials of Death!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And Marvel hasn't.
Anyways, it was really good, 
I totally have to write a post about it; don't worry, I'm going to include a spoiler-warning. Look out for the post; it'll probably be out today.

Now, I am going to bestow an honor upon any fortunate person reading this post. You can comment and let me know which of those books I mentioned near the beginning of the post I should read first. I'm not sure if I'll actually act upon what the majority of y'all say...but still, it's an honor.

Medallion

Alex Rider Series

Hey all!

It's Marvel, and I would like to expand on the Alex Rider Series that Medallion briefly mentioned in her post to Samiira.  Ok, so basically, the Alex Rider series can be considered a spy thriller or mystery.  So far, 8 books have been released, and it is rumored that Anthony Horowitz (the author) is coming out with two others.

To read a synopsis for Stormbreaker, the first book in the series, click on the link below.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Stormbreaker/Anthony-Horowitz/e/9780142406113/?itm=1&USRI=stormbreaker

Also, I have recently discovered, that Stormbreaker is now also a graphic novel.  Stormbreaker is also the only book in the series that is currently a movie, where Alex Rider is portrayed by Alex Pettyfer.

The books in order are:
Published:
1) Stormbreaker
2) Point Blanc
3) Skeleton Key
4) Eagle Strike
5) Scorpia
6) Ark Angel
7) Snakehead
8) Crocodile Tears
Not Published:
9) Yassen
10) Endurance Point (rumored title)

Happy Reading!

Recommendations for Samiira

"I wanted to say I sometimes get bored of books and its very hard in finding some. So, do you have any recommendations for me.



P.S. I personally like mystery, info: in living a better life,adventure,chemistry, islamic heroes, and mainly books with great meaning behind it."
-Samiira.
 
Hey Samiira, ASAK. Well, here's a post made just for you. AND, it's the first post on this awesome, wonderful blog that has been made specially for one a commenter on this blog. Dab away your emotionally-induced tears, because I have some recommendations for you:
 
Well, I read the Nancy Drew series. I like them, and they're mystery. I highly recommend you read historical fiction; it's a great genre where you can find adventure, meaningful morals, and that genre just has some really great books. The Alex Rider series is good too; Marvel is going to be posting a post about it today, probably. It involves spying and agent-work, and you might like it. Islamic heroes...books on the Sahabah(R)...I don't have any specific titles in my mind right now, but I'll see. OH, OH, you know on Muslim Teens, the blog that now can be located at: http://www.myniyyah.blogspot.com/, there was a post on a book called If I Should Speak by Umm Zakiyyah? You must read it. It has GREAT Da'wa in it, and is a pretty good book as well. I didn't find it at the library, so I bought it, but it is totally worth it. I bought it on http://www.bn.com/
Specific titles you may want to check out:
The River Between Us by Richard Peck
Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz(first book in Alex Rider series)
The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene(first book in Nancy Drew series)
The Name of this Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch
Double Identity by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor
AND Marvel, who's talking to me right now, is telling me to add:
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism by Georgia Byng

Hope you read and like some of these books.

Medallion

Comments Welcome