My First Time....

I decided to take a picture of the goodies I came away with. Though I didn’t go in there for the shirt and snacks it sure didn’t hurt to receive them. I just enjoy seeing these items; they’ll help me to never forget this milestone. And I really do hope you take a chance to have the experience I had. And if it’s small veins you’re worried about I had no problem I have what doctor’s consider baby veins, they’re small and they like to hide.

I just wanted to blog about what happened yesterday, I know this has nothing to do with literature in any way but it does have a lot to do with something very important.  Today for the very first time I gave blood, I hadn’t planned on giving any blood, it was totally last minute but I had time to kill after I got out of my Biology class and well my college had a blood drive going on and I just got in one of those ‘Let’s help someone in need’ kind of moods. And yes I had considered giving blood many times over but I either chickened out or the time just didn’t feel right. But it was like the planets aligned today and Boom! I was ready. I was nervous don’t get me wrong, I probably talked many peoples ears off twice over but the process of giving blood was both amazing and educational. If you’ve never donated blood and are eligible I highly recommend it. The process isn’t scary at all, in fact they are as cheerful as can be and will take you step by step on what’s going to happen.  The process of actually getting the blood drawn isn’t scary or that painful at all, just one prick with the needle and that’s it. You just have to wait till they get all the blood they need and seeing your life’s blood flow in a bag was amazing; to just know that your blood was going towards saving the lives of others was beyond amazing. I’d donate again in a heartbeat but unfortunately after you donate you have to wait another 8 weeks before you can do it again. I guess our bodies aren’t invincible as I sometimes thought it to be. And Afterwards they give you cookies and juice, how awesome is that? Now most people usually feel light headed or dizzy afterwards but the only side effects I felt was tiredness. I was really sleepy. But at the same time my mind was wide awake I was on a high of pure bliss. They say first times are always the best and can never be the same there on out but I just can’t imagine not feeling this way each and every time. The employees told me that the pint of blood I donated will save 3 lives; I mean how much better can you get than that? I feel like a super hero; I real life super hero. So even when Superman and Spiderman and all those other super heroes are all off on their vacation there are still us to save the day! Always believe that you can make a difference because in reality you really can. Donating blood is something that doesn’t cost a thing, it just requires a little bit of pain and time of you and that’s it. And heck, if you can’t donate blood due to ineligibility you can still spread the words to others. Let them know that it’s not as bad as your mind can make it out to be. That green monster that lies in the back of your mind telling you it’s not worth it that the pain is too much is only a fragment of your imagination. Let your creative mind figure out that by donating blood you are both giving back to your community and quite possibly to someone you love.

 

So in all, the next time a chance for you to donate blood comes along, take it. Be as spontaneous as I was. And know that it’s okay to be nervous, quite honestly it’s normal, you’re not alone. And heck if you end up passing out maybe a cute nurse or technician will be there when you wake up. Who wouldn’t love to wake up to someone handsome? Certainly not me. I would be as happy as a lark.

If you live in Texas here’s the link to the blood and Tissue center’s website:

http://www.southtexasblood.org/

&

http://www.inyourhands.org/

Also know that there are more than one way to donate blood, there’s other processes that can take longer to do but benefit in so many other ways. I’m actually considering doing one near my b-day; it’s something I want to give as my gift of my birth. Anyways, if you’re not in Texas look up on Google to find where your closest donation station is and donate today!

Realistic; It could happen to us one day

I just finished this book last night, it took me awhile to read due to the buisness in my life and the fact that the description in this book was enormous. I do have to mention that I do like the cover of this book, it really helps verify the picture I had of their world in my head. It was a ugly yet beautiful world they lived in.

First thoughts:
 

The attention to detail in this book was amazing, every little last detail was described to tip-top shape. At times it got so detailed that I cringed at the sight of it (I mean who wants to know how to kill a turtle...in detail? Not me) But I also believe the description was what saved this book; what made it really good. I wouldn't say its a favorite of mine due to the graphic nature but it has become a series I want to keep in touch with. (Well I hope its a series?) The characters themseleves are lively, there was minimal transformation and some didn't change at all but if this book is indeed part of a series it would make sense but I worry it isn't due to the fact in it's title it doesn't say it's one of anything. But the characters were fun to read about and get to know but to be honest there were a few characters that fell flat to me, like Sammy, I thought the author could have done so much more with him, allow us to see more of him and give him a little bit more life but perhaps he was just really meant to be a minor character. The dystopian style to this book is definately more realistic, something I'd imagine could happen, there isn't any paranormal to it and could be suited for people who enjoy realistic books. But I have to say if this ends up just being a one book series it would make my view of it lower, the ending just isn't satisfying there are a lot of questions left unasnwered and the characters themselves are unsettled, I don't believe them to be completed. And so in hoping this is a three book series I will agree to say it was a really good book. It was fast paced around the hundred page mark and it came to the point where it was hard to not think about. The plot itself was laid out just right and it created a storyline that would keep an active reader happy. There aren't any of those teetering on the edge moments but thre were some times that it had you on the edge of the seat egging on the main character to overcome the current hurtle.

Goodreads Summary:

 

A thrilling tale of adventure, romance, and one girl's unyielding courage through the darkest of nightmares.

Epidemics, floods, droughts--for sixteen-year-old Lucy, the end of the world came and went, taking 99% of the population with it. As the weather continues to rage out of control, and Sweepers clean the streets of plague victims, Lucy survives alone in the wilds of Central Park. But when she's rescued from a pack of hunting dogs by a mysterious boy named Aidan, she reluctantly realizes she can't continue on her own. She joins his band of survivors, yet, a new danger awaits her: the Sweepers are looking for her. There's something special about Lucy, and they will stop at nothing to have her.

Last Thoughts:

 

In the end I was satisfied with the story itself, I liked the fact that it wasn't something I've read about in a plot, I really thought the romance was unique and more realistic. I wouldn't recommend this to people who have a weak stomach or to those of you that are not fans of realistic stories. I would recommend this if you love great writing, because the writing itself is outstanding; I loved it. Though I did have a problem getting past the first hundred pages, it was a little slow going on the count the main character was by herself and there was just so much description and gruesome pitcutes. But if you can get past that one part it's so worth it, it is definately faster paced and would satisfy any thrill seeker (well almost any of them). But I hope this is just a first for the series and author and I can't wait to see what else she has in store for us. For now I give this 4 stars, perhaps when I discover if its a series or not I'll change it's rating. But overall it was a enjoyable and eye-opening read and I'd say give it a chance, perhaps you'll enjoy it a bit more then me.

NaNoWriMo Advice for the Weary

I'm doing my post a little different today, one because usually by now I've finished a book and have a review up and well with NaNoWriMo and college, reading has taken a back seat. But I promise I'm still reading just at a slower pace. But I thought in honor of November being for all those writers out there I'd post some of my experience this year on the subject. I attempted last year to write those dreaded  50,000 words, I mean 50,000 is a threatning number on its own, now put in the equation that you have to write that many words in one month and boom, you have an anxiety attack. Last year I only got to over 24,000 words before I threw in the towel and now that I look back I can see how easily I gave in, how much I could have accomplished if I just would have pushed through it. So this year I went in with a different idea and mindset and here's what I found helped me accomplish how much I've gotten so far:

1. Be sure to write the required word count for the day, don't skip a day, trust me, once you do it once it's like a domino effect and soon you'll be doing it often until you realize 'what's the point?'

2. Push past those dull moments in your writing, to get to the action one must have rest. Let your character take a breather, try focusing on the setting, let the description take bloom in these parts of your story. Soon enough you'll realize how amazing and valuable those slow moments can be.

3. When you run into a road block or just out of ideas, try this website; in the middle is a dare button, click on it and it'll dare you to do something with your character or story and if you don't like the one it first gives you keep clicking until you do find one that you do like: www.ywp.nanowrimo.org

4. If you're having  problems with your characters and don't feel so connected with them, try doing some warm ups with them. Take them out of your story; perhaps out of their world and just explore with them, you might discover some new traits or characteristics about them, you hadn't noticed before. And if that doesn't work perhaps trying re-creating them; give them a different look, add in a conflict to piss them off, do anything you need to take your frustration out on them.

5. Don't ever think once about what people will think of your writing, actually one of the best piece of advice I can give you is don't let anyone read your story until you're done. Trust me on this, even if you don't realize it the fact that someone is reading even a tiny piece of your story is sucking some of its life away. You lose some of that spark and in a way you feel pressured to write a certain way or to keep writing. Just keep writing and keep it to yourself, don't ever think that your writing isn't good enough.

and finally....

6. Just have fun, don't let anything snag you along the way, if its a busy life getting in the way, set an hour or two each day just for your writing, let everyone around you know how important this is to you. I'm willing to bet they'd give you time if you'd just tell them.

So, there's my advice for now and trust me I've taken into count all six of those steps and as you will see at the right side of my blog the word count I'm at, I'll be keeping you guys informed. And I do hope if you're participating that you reach the ultimate goal and you accomplish all you set out to do. And even if your not doing this still take in the advice it applies to all times of writing.

And here's some quotes I picked out of the story I'm writing:

“Love makes us stronger, it fills us with strength till it overflows and the only thing left to show its presence is the path it leaves behind. Without love we would all be weak and we’d never know what strength really is.” (pg. 39)

“A name is such a simple thing really. It’s just another word in the universe of scrambled up letters.” (pg. 50)

“They say the pain of loss never fades, that it takes over you until it consumes every part of your body, do you think this is true Sophie?” (pg. 17)

Hope you enjoyed them and Good luck!! Remember this is only day 9 there's still time yet! Never give up, let the stars guide you in the direction of your dreams!

A twisted tale of Death

First thoughts:

This was a book full of mysteriousness and suspense. At times I felt on the edge of my toes, not sure what would become the fate of the character we’ve grown to like. Author of “In the Arms of Stone Angels” has created another beautiful and twisted book that will surely leave you more stunned than none. The concept of death is evident throughout the book, leaving to determine the forms it takes. The characters themselves were created in a way so that the reader could see them as real, each one had a distinct personality but whether you liked them or not were left up to you to decide. The plot was created perfectly; it had the right flow so that you could absorb everything in and then move forward. I liked how the author switched point of views so that we could understand all points of view but still be interconnected. The emotional twists were exhausting, at times I found myself on the verge of tears but death can do that to you, it can pick you up on a high and drop you with a flick of its wrist. I really liked that death was like a personification; it was a living breathing thing in so many things. The symbolism in this story was really cool to read. As for the description it was eerie detailed, at times it got so intense I had to stop and take a break. This is definitely a book a lot of people can connect with. Just by the sheer fact of losing someone you instantly connect with the main character and I think that really helped me like this story so much. The character development really only happened to a few characters but when it happened it really blossomed especially for the main character Abby. I really enjoyed seeing her mind work through hurtles and obstacles, be thrown through a blinder and come out a new person. Though we may have lost some of the old character we gained more of her. As for the foreshadowing if you pay close enough attention you’ll definitely find it, it’s obvious in a sense that allows you to be forewarned yet still proceed through the caution zone. The dialogue was believable but at times a little flat, I thought perhaps some of the characters could have worded things differently but again when talking of death there really isn’t a right way to talk about it is there? This is crafty, dark and twisted, definitely one that will keep me thinking of death as something that is all around me.

Goodreads Summary:

"The choices I had made led to the moment when fate took over. I would learn a lesson I wasn’t prepared for.
And Death would be my willing teacher."

Five years ago Abbey Chandler cheated Death. She survived a horrific car accident, but her lucky break came at the expense of her mother’s life and changed everything. After she crossed paths with Death—by taking the hand of an ethereal boy made of clouds and sky—she would never be normal again.

Now she’s the target of Death’s Ravens and an innocent boy’s life is on the line. When Nate Holden—Abbey’s secret crush—starts to climb Alaska’s Denali, the Angel of Death is with him because of her.

Abbey finds out the hard way that Death never forgets.

Last thoughts:

I definitely enjoyed this book; I liked the twisted ways of the dark and how even through the dark light shone through. I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of Jordan Dane and who has a craving to know what death is like. I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone who doesn’t appreciate perspectives of death and life and those who find flaws in a characters false attachment to another. It definitely has some parts that will leave an imprint behind and will leave you with yet another perspective on death. Though this didn’t change what I see death as it did bring me with a view I’m willing to consider and add to my stack of possibilities. You should definitely give this book a try if you’ve suffered a great loss and ever wanted a view into the eyes of death. This creative and twisted world is one you won’t soon forget.

It Came from the Shadows....

I wish I could put up a true good  cover for this book but sadly I couldn't find it anywhere, so I took it upon myself to take a picture of it from my kindle with my camera as you can see above. I know not perfect, one considering my Kindle is black and White and two I just not that good with photography. But if you look closely enough you can see the beautiful details in the cover, it just takes my breath away everytime I see this cover.

First thoughts:

I didn't know anything about the book or author going into reading this. But I was excited; I mean who wouldn't be when reading something you know so little about? I like reading books like this one. It really opens your eyes to how many good books there are out there but getting so little credit. This story had elements of suspense, friendships and thrills. The bond between the characters was very strong and believable, the characters weren't dull; they were filled with life and determination. I thought the authors choice of third person opened up the world to a whole new level. It allowed us to see into each of the other characters world but still be focused on the main character at the same time. I thought the concept itself was really original; there are very little parodies that can be made with this book. And as far as romance goes it’s really low key but I will admit to there being a couple of scenes that melted my heart a little. As for the description in the story it was played out very well indeed. There were a couple of parts that really drew me a picture to the point where I wished it out of my head; there are just some things you can never forget…it was very chilling to see some of the things described within the story. As far as the dialogue goes, I found it realistic and to fit the characters profile to the tee. Each character had a distinct voice and they didn’t get lost within the story. As for the minor characters involved in this storyline I wish I could have gotten to know them better. Like Jacob, I thought if maybe we could learn some of his most inner-thoughts perhaps I could fall in love with him just as much as the main characters. I did find a few grammar errors in here and if you’re one of those people who get irritated by it just let it go. The story itself is too good to miss, if you spend all your time looking for errors you’re going to miss out on all the wonderful joys this book has to offer. As for the plotline I think it is perfect, the ending to this story is set up for a sequel and the story itself was paced at the right rhythm as to how the story played out. There are some softer more lighter moments that reveal to the reader something about the character that the reader needs to be aware of. Even those kinds of moments should get their spotlight.

Goodreads Summary:

 

Three hundred years ago Lily Bryg was someone else. Now, she's dealing with demons from the past in the form of ghosts, fairies, and even a dream stalker bent on convincing her they belong together. As a witch, Lily has an advantage. But that all changes when she's summoned back to the third realm where she used to live. And where she died.

With the help of a Shade, a tattoo artist, and her three best friends, Lily tries to escape the faeries out to get her, and the evil king who wants to make her his consort. Ronan will stop at nothing to have her back, and she'll stop at nothing to keep that from happening. Too bad her life isn't the only one on the line, and returning to Bevain might be the only way to save herself, and the world.

 

Last thoughts:

The reason I used Goodreads for the summary was because I could never sum it up in enough words to give you a good idea of what it’s about. I think you should give this author and book a chance by picking it up and reading it. And no just read the first two chapters and stop because it’s lost you interest, no you must read fully through to grasp the wonderful world and lessons it has to offer. I would recommend this to readers who have an open mind to trying new authors and books and to those who love short action packed readers. This book will not take you long to read, once you get started there’s not stopping until the last page is in view. This has both light and dark parts to it so beware of a world where an entire race comes first and you come second. Don’t miss out on this first installment of “Where thy Dark Eye Glances” this is a new author you’ll surely won’t want to miss.

Cliffhanger Up Ahead!!

What...Are you serious?! I have to wait a whole other year to know more? Surely you can't be serious...no, you wouldn't be that cruel... 

First thoughts:

Okay I’m going to have to start off by saying that out of the three books so far in the series, “Beautiful Chaos” has to be by far the most powerful.  The ending itself was both tear-jerking and heart stopping. So many of the character’s souls were broken open, they were so vulnerable and unlike anything I’ve seen from them. This definitely showed us a side of them that we could only dream of seeing. I enjoyed seeing the weakness of these strong characters, it makes them more real because no one can be strong all the time, at some point they’re going to break and this book was the story where it happened. I will have to admit that the characters did make some small transformations but mainly that wasn’t the focus of this book, it was to open up the characters so that we can see what all they’re made of. And there was some serious things being shown here, some much transpired in this book that it will take weeks for me to absorb it. I would advise to read slow, to take everything in slowly, don’t rush to the end because once you get there, there’s no turning back, there is no way I could put in words on what I thought of it…it was so different, so prize-worthy that one can never express how special it really was. The description was as beautiful as ever; everything was described to the last blade of grass. There wasn’t a time where description was lacked, it was all described perfectly…the writing itself is smooth, lyrical almost; it just has that poetic feel to it. I mean you know that feeling you get when you read poems and you just connect with them? That’s how I felt with this book. I connected with this one more than the other two. The dialogue was perfect as always, the south draw was believable and realistic, and there wasn’t a time that I found it fake. If there was one flaw to point out I couldn’t tell you, now don’t get me wrong, all books do have their flaws but to point them out would overshadow all the great this book offered. So for now I’m going to live in my dream world and forget about those ugly flaws and believe this book was absolutely perfect because right now I think it is.

Goodreads Summary of “Beautiful Chaos”:

Ethan Wate thought he was getting used to the strange, impossible events happening in Gatlin, his small Southern town. But now that Ethan and Lena have returned home, strange and impossible have taken on new meanings. Swarms of locusts, record-breaking heat, and devastating storms ravage Gatlin as Ethan and Lena struggle to understand the impact of Lena's Claiming. Even Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals is affected - and their abilities begin to dangerously misfire. As time passes, one question becomes clear: What - or who - will need to be sacrificed to save Gatlin?

For Ethan, the chaos is a frightening but welcome distraction. He's being haunted in his dreams again, but this time it isn't by Lena - and whatever is haunting him is following him out of his dreams and into his everyday life. Even worse, Ethan is gradually losing pieces of himself - forgetting names, phone numbers, even memories. He doesn't know why, and most days he's too afraid to ask.

Sometimes there isn't just one answer or one choice. Sometimes there's no going back. And this time there won't be a happy ending.

Last thoughts:

This book will linger in my mind for some time. The hidden messages in this book were just so lovely and beautiful; they’re things you can take from it and apply to your life. I would recommend this to fans of the series and to those who have given the series a chance but gave it up. Perhaps this book could sway you back. To me it was almost as dark as “Beautiful Darkness” but not quite, the second book in the series had its real emotional pull and even though this one was certainly emotional it wasn’t as much as “Beautiful Darkness”. Be cautioned that this book is a bit different than the other two and needs to be approached with the same passion of the first two. Also know that the ending is one to be read through slowly and know that a cliffhanger lies ahead...Garcia and Stohl are very talented in creating this amazing world and I can’t wait till next year when more of my questions are answered.

First thoughts:

I know this review is long overdue but I had to seriously re-read parts of this book because at first glance I didn’t really like it, the characters seemed off balance, the concept itself a little disturbing and the fact of all that happened was just disappointing, But after reading it over and reading more actively I was able to pull from it things I had missed before. So many tiny details and beautiful transformations were evident throughout the book. I found this book an interesting concept; to be honest I’ve never really heard of such a complex and creative world as “Bumped”.  The whole book switched back in forth between two characters and it was interesting to see the similarities and differences between them.  And the transformation of the characters themselves was beautiful and unique in itself. The plot was perfect; it was paced just right to where it gave the reader time to digest all that was happening and to grasp the ideas that were introduced into the story. The dialogue was realistic, they fit with the world and the characters themselves, and there wasn’t too much use of improper punctuation.  Also the description at times was almost lyrical; poetic but at some parts it lacked a better painting, it just had some black and white scenery that needed some more color added. Another flaw I found was some of the characters were not someone you could connect well with; it’s like a person you would hope to never meet in real life. I don’t know just little things here and there still annoy me and the idea though its creative and out there just still makes me feel awkward and uncomfortable but I guess books like that sometimes turn out to be the best.

Summary from Goodreads:

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. Girls sport fake baby bumps and the school cafeteria stocks folic-acid-infused food.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and have never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Up to now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend, Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in Good side, a religious community, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to convince Melody that pregging for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

Last thoughts:

Though this is definitely not a favorite of mine it was worth the experience; to know what exactly happened and how the character coped when put in dire situations. I wouldn’t say this is suitable for the younger crowd; it approaches some touchy areas and could give the wrong impression to someone who is just entering this stage in life. I also wouldn’t recommend this to people who aren’t open minded and find it hard to grasp the lesson this book has to offer. But in the end it was an interesting read and I hope the next book in the series blossoms a lot more than this book.