Love-A-Thon Mini Challenge: Those That Started Me Blogging

The prompt for this Love-A-Thon post is: Make up a mini post in the form of a thank you letter in which you say thanks to the blogs that inspired you to start your own book blog! It can be as heartfelt or as goofy as you want to make it!

So, here's the story about what inspired me to start blogging: I don't remember.

Gripping, right?!

Truthfully, I can pinpoint the blog that set in motion me wanting to join this community; but I can't pinpoint exactly how I got to that blog!  I've been active in blogging communities for years now and read personal blogs and all that, and I'm certain one led to another that linked to another and so on.  I think it also coincided with Twitter, in that I followed John Green (@realjohngreen) because I adored his books. From there I started following Penguin Teen (@PenguinTeen), who probably retweeted a blogger at some point, and I followed the link and then we can cut-to me in mid-December signing up another Blogger blog as Ashley Loves Books!

I can also tell you the book that specifically led me to blogging: Across the Universe by Beth Revis. I picked up the book on a whim in the library (saw the cover, thought it was gorgeous!) in late October and fell so in love that I just absolutely had to find out all I could about it. I went to the website, I went to Beth Revis' Twitter, I googled A Million Suns to find out its release date.  And that search led to several reviews on book blogger sites, and I probably followed every single one of those blogs.

But like I said, there was definitely one blog that inspired me. I love her writing, I loved her book choices and how she was so fair and would be honest about if she wasn't too crazy about a book but it would still appeal.  Her blog was fab, and she linked to some great other bloggers and memes, and it all went from there. 

This whole thing will sound stalker-y since she has no idea because I don't really comment too often or interact with her (it's kind of one of those like...'place her on a pedestal, why would she pay attention to me' situations -- I know, I know, I should get over that because she's probably one of the sweetest, but it's hard! I'm so new at this! It's like I'm a fangirl) but I do want to thank her in a very short letter:

Dear Anna of Anna Reads,

I absolutely adore your blog. Each entry is short, sweet and so much fun with just the right amount of details to pique your interest but never give too much away.  You're hilarious with your stick figures, have impeccable taste (high school + boys really are the best books) and have never led me astray with suggestions. Thank you for doing what you do, because it's wonderful.

A fangirl who hopes she's not scaring you,

Ashley

I also want to mention The Broke and the Bookish, because Anna did a Top Ten Tuesday (I think it was the Halloween one?) and I loved the idea so much that I went to the site to find other people's lists. It's such a brilliant meme and each list is so unique and interesting that it begs for some great writing, great bloggers and great suggestions. I definitely utilize that meme to find books and other bloggers the most!

And that is the story of my inspiration to start a book blog :)

TGIF (5) and Follow Friday (4)

Happy Friday, all!  As a heads up, I'm participating in the awesome Katelyn's Love-A-Thon tomorrow, so be prepared for some lovey-dovey, praisey, I adore you posts, and make sure you follow me on Twitter, too!  Which is also a warning that there will be lots of tweets and probably more than the average number of posts!

TGIF is hosted by the amazing Ginger at GReads!  Today's topic is:

Book Blogger Pride.

What do you take pride in when it comes to blogging?

Because I'm a new-ish blog (finishing up my 7th week!), I'm still tweaking this blog to be something I can be really, truly proud of - not that I'm not already!  I'm still trying to figure out my blogging voice, get a rhythm going, and I'm definitely starting to hit the scheduling snags and those horrible reading slumps that make you questions how to handle them when you run a book blog! (Tips would be welcome!)

That said though, I am proud of two things:
1) That this blog exists at all. I've been a personal blogger for 6+ years, but running a specific niche blog is so much more difficult! It's a lot of dedication and anticipation and scheduling. Being a book blogger is also tough work: reading is time-consuming, especially when most of us have jobs and school and other commitments.  Plus, acquiring books can be pretty difficult! I've got a crazy strict schedule on my library books as well as caps on book purchases since I'm [unfortunately] not made of money, and things get really complicated.  Every book blogger knows how much behind-the-scenes work goes into producing such a small corner of the web, and I'm pretty proud that I'm making it work.

2) That I'm entering this amazing community. I started my blog because I wanted to reach out to others who shared my taste and discuss books we loved/hated/can't make up our minds about.  But it's turned into this brilliant, beautiful lifeline. Book bloggers have to be some of the most generous, open-minded and friendly people I've ever had the pleasure to e-meet. In a world where virtual relationships are notoriously warned against and vilified, I've loved discovering that humanity is innately good.

What are you proud of? Leave me your link and I'll swing by!

Follow Friday is hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee's View, meant to spotlight two blogs and allows bloggers to link up and meet other fabulous bookish friends and share the Following love!

This week's spotlight blogs are: Le Grande Codex and BeefcakeandBabes!

And the question of the week is:
I like unique names for characters and am looking forward to coming up with some when I start writing. What's the most unique character name you've come across?

What a fun question!  I loved the name Scout from To Kill A Mockingbird, it was such a fun, adventurous name.  I think Katniss is pretty unique and nothing I'd heard before (and now that the movie is coming out, I wonder if we'll get a flux of babies named Katniss, Prim and Gale!).  I also loved the name Elodie from Before I Fall, it's so pretty and nothing completely out there, but still original enough to remember.  I also adored the witch from The Golden Compass, her entire name was so fitting: Serafina Pekkala.

Apparently I remember/like girls names mostly, ha! I love the name Etienne, I've known a few in my life and was thrilled to read about him in Lola and Anna (Etienne St. Clair - is that not one of the most flowingly sexy names ever?).  Sticking with The Golden Compass/His Dark Materials series, I also loved the name (+title) Lord Asriel, I thought it conveyed such a wonderful characterisation for his entire role. I also liked Lee Scoresby, because it just felt like a pilot/adventurer name!

What names did you find to be unique? Leave your link in the comments and I'll come visit - and if you follow, make sure you let me know and I'll swing by to happily return the follow!

Review: The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler
Razorbill, 356 Pages
Released: November 21, 2011

It's 1996, and Josh and Emma have been neighbors their whole lives. They've been best friends almost as long - at least, up until last November, when Josh did something that changed everything. Things have been weird between them ever since, but when Josh's family gets a free AOL CD in the mail,his mom makes him bring it over so that Emma can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they're automatically logged onto their Facebook pages. But Facebook hasn't been invented yet. And they're looking at themselves fifteen years in the future.

By refreshing their pages, they learn that making different decisions now will affect the outcome of their lives later. And as they grapple with the ups and downs of what their futures hold, they're forced to confront what they're doing right - and wrong - in the present.
---------------------Goodreads summary

Notable Quote

"He broke your heart! How can you call it love when he hurt you so badly?"

Kellan pops another fry into her mouth. "It was love because it was worth it."

I loved the nostalgia factor to the book. 1996 was probably one of the first years fully in my memory, where I was old enough (I was 9 that year) to understand and process and have interests and be aware of my life - and this brought me back to a pretty good place.  The music wasn't what I listed to (long live 90s R&B jamz!) but it still elicits some strong memories, and I loved all the other references.

Unfortunately, that was pretty much the only thing I really liked. The story is ok, revolving around a typical scenario of best friends and the awkwardness of one wanting more.  But it was underdeveloped and very unexciting. There weren't any scenes I was particularly attached to, nothing that made me gasp or cry or really feel anything.

The premise of seeing the future via Facebook is interesting, and it's a fine literary device - but it felt like they could have done so much more with this.  Having access to everyone's future? Seeing the details of your life?  Seeing the changes you make in your life? Emma touched on it when she purposefully altered things, but not much else was done. It felt like Josh and Emma were supposed to play two very different views on seeing Facebook, but nothing ever came of it. Their feelings and actions just weren't strong enough.

I also found Emma to be incredibly selfish and bothersome and frankly, stubbornly cynical. Everything was about her future, her life, her likes, her husband(s), her unhappiness. She never had a positive view on anything!  I just wanted to slap her through the pages and tell her to find a silver lining or look on the bright side!

A disappointing foray, but still an ok story in itself. The derision Emma and Josh have towards Facebook is amusing and tacked on the +.5 rating.

2.5 stars / 5

Review: Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski

Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski

HarperTeen, 368 Pages
Released: June 7, 2011
Format: eBook (iPad)
Challenges: Completely Contemp Challenge

2 girls + 3 guys + 1 house – parents = 10 things April and her friends did that they (definitely, maybe, probably) shouldn't have.

If given the opportunity, what sixteen-year-old wouldn't jump at the chance to move in with a friend and live parent-free? Although maybe "opportunity" isn't the right word, since April had to tell her dad a tiny little untruth to make it happen (see #1: "Lied to Our Parents"). But she and her housemate Vi are totally responsible and able to take care of themselves. How they ended up "Skipping School" (#3), "Throwing a Crazy Party" (#8), "Buying a Hot Tub" (#4), and, um, "Harboring a Fugitive" (#7) at all is kind of a mystery to them.

In this hilarious and bittersweet tale, Sarah Mlynowski mines the heart and mind of a girl on her own for the first time. To get through the year, April will have to juggle a love triangle, learn to do her own laundry, and accept that her carefully constructed world just might be falling apart . . . one thing-she-shouldn't-have-done at a time.
----------------Goodreads summary

Notable Quote (because it's hilarious)

"How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck chlamydia?"

What a fun book! It's so funny and breezy - definitely one of the best light reads anyone could have!

Truthfully, I don't have much to say in this review beyond saying that I loved it! It's a great little story of a girl figuring out herself and her life wrapped into a neat, humorous story of antics and adventure. I loved the concept and the title and the list and all the craziness April finds herself in. I liked how the family was still a major part to the book, even if they weren't physically in much of it.

If you're looking for a hard hitting YA novel, well...I have no idea why you would have picked this book up in the first place. But if you want to thoroughly enjoy a story, laugh a little, feel a little, root for a friend in the romantic sense, hate the boyfriend, and wish you did a few of these things too...this is for you.

4 Stars / 5

Waiting on Wednesday: Reunited by Hilary Weisman Graham

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine, 

meant to spotlight an upcoming release we are eagerly awaiting!

Reunited by Hilary Weisman Graham
Simon & Schuster, 336 Pages
US Release Date: June 12, 2012
1 Concert
2000 Miles
3 Ex-Best Friends

Alice, Summer, and Tiernan are ex-best friends.

Back in middle school, the three girls were inseparable. They were also the number one fans of the rock band Level3.

But when the band broke up, so did their friendship. Summer ran with the popular crowd, Tiernan was a rebellious wild-child, and Alice spent high school with her nose buried in books.

Now, just as the girls are about to graduate, Level3 announces a one-time-only reunion show.

Even though the concert’s 2000 miles away, Alice buys three tickets on impulse. And as it turns out, Summer and Tiernan have their own reasons for wanting to get out of town. Good thing Alice’s graduation gift (a pea-green 1976 VW camper van known as the Pea Pod) is just the vehicle to get them there.

But on the long drive cross-country, the girls hit more than a few bumps in the road. Will their friendship get an encore or is the show really over?

---------------------Goodreads summary

Doesn't this sound fabulous? I love me a good road trip book, and this one sounds perfect. Ex-best friends on a mission to see a beloved band just begs for some good antics and beautiful introspection on friendship and life.

(Am I also the only one getting a Crossroads vibe? That movie with Britney Spears that I totally saw in theatres?)

(Also? If *NSYNC ever did a one-time-only reunion show, I WOULD SO BE THERE.)

What book are you eagerly waiting for? Leave me your link and I'd love to come check it out!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Break Your Heart

Happy Valentine's Day!

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  Today's topic is:

Top Ten (Eight) Books

That Broke Your Heart A Little

I couldn't think of 10 books that left me broken hearted, so here are my 8 picks!  If it's not obvious, there are ***SPOILERS AHEAD!***  Don't read the writing if you don't want to know, just enjoy the cover pictures :)

1. Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins
A full disclaimer, I loved this entire series. I would not change a thing to any of the books, and I am glad how it ended.  BUT...it makes this list for two reasons: 1) Prim.  I mean, duh. and 2) while I am in full support of Katniss and Peeta making it work in the end ("Real or Not Real" makes my heart melt), I have to admit that a small part of me held hope she would be with Gale.  There was such a comfort and family there already that it was...I mean, a minuscule part of my heart died when it was revealed he developed those bombs.

2. The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
With the same disclaimer as above, my reason is obvious: Rue. *sob*

3. A Walk to Remember - Nicholas Sparks
I read this book far before it ever became a movie (which also made me cry, because I am a woman.) and I was bawling my eyes out the entire time. It's a happy cry since they have a full love together, but...no! Jamie! Why!
(Fun fact: I was friends with Nicholas Sparks' nephew in high school. He was crap at English class/writing.)

4. Before I Fall - Lauren Oliver
Even though I was lukewarm on the novel (read my review here!), I can't deny that I was still a bit heartbroken at the end. I get why it ended the way it did, but I loved Kent so much I just wanted him to be her Hero forever.

5. The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
I think we all know. If you've read this, you know. If you haven't read it, please do - I can't stand time travel, but this is one of the only exceptions. I wept. It's just...heartbreaking and sweet and so emotional and can I have a Henry?

6. The Amber Spyglass - Phillip Pullman
Similar to Mockingjay, I absolutely loved this series as well. His Dark Materials was probably my first foray into reading books like this, and my 8-year-old heart was hooked. I devoured all three books, I wanted a daemon/Pan of my own, I was so in love with Will Parry (I'm fairly certain he was my first literary crush, actually. Aside from Laurie from Little Women).  And I would not change anything from this trilogy. And while I get the ending, I understand and know...oh. I can't even. Just typing this knowing that Will and Lyra have to stay in their own realms and close the window because of Dust...it makes my heart break all over again.

7. Sweet Valley Confidential - Francine Pascal
This is different from all the others because what breaks my heart is the sheer fact this damn book EXISTS.  I COULD NOT STAND this book. I was obsessed with Sweet Valley when I was younger: kids, twins, high, university - name it, I read it. I still liken myself to Elizabeth Wakefield to this day, and I wanted a Todd Wilkins with all my 10-year-old heart.  So when I heard a new novel was coming out about 10-year-in-the-future, I couldn't wait.  I wanted to know who finally got together, what everyone was doing!  And then I read it, and I'm fairly certain it just shattered my world. The most bothersome thing to me was that everything that was happening seemed to simply be for shock value.  None of the story lines particularly seemed plausible or even likely - I'd get it if characters were seeming to lead to where they end up in Confidential, but I just don't think so.  Winston an asshole? Todd having an affair with Jessica? Elizabeth and Jessica not speaking for so long? Steven gay...with Aaron?! Bruce being worthy of Elizabeth?!?  I reject this novel on every level, with every fiber of my being. It does not exist in the Sweet Valley realm.

8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - JK Rowling
We all know why. I sobbed throughout this entire book. I mean, even the earlier ones broke my heart too (Sirius! Dumbledore!), but this one was just...oh. It started with Hedwig and just went downhill from there. Dobby! Fred! ARGHHHH.




What books broke your heart? Leave your link in my comments and I'll come check it out!