Friday, May 31, 2013

Thoughts Weekly Update (22)


Welcome to the Weekly Update here on Thoughts! This is where I will share what books I finished, what I am currently reading, the current word count on my WIP, links from the posts from the last week, and maybe a little something on what's going on in my life.

Finished

~None~

Currently Reading


Just One Day by Gayle Forman (-Goodreads-)
Serial Hottie by Kelly Oram (-Goodreads-)
 Shut Out by Kody Kepplinger (-Goodreads-)

Up Next


Hysteria by Megan Miranda (-Goodreads-)
Escape Theory by Margaux Froley (-Goodreads-)

Word Count 

If Only We ~ 57,556
Check out my writer blog for the latest.

On The Blog This Week
The Latest With Me

So, I didn't want to push reading this week. I had a few things to get caught up on... AND I was able to get to my revisions FINALLY. It felt nice to be getting somewhere again. Plus, found some passages in my old journals to turn into poetry, so I've been working on that as well.

I did spend the majority of the week watching How I Met Your Mother on DVD. I made it through the first, second, and one third of the third season. I kinda have this tendency to get obsessive when I start marathoning a TV show. Speaking of which, I need to get out Gilmore Girls to start watching for the marathon in June with Marie and Molli. I may only be able to watch the first season, since that's all I currently have, but I'm going to see if my library carries the second season, since my movie rental place carries the third. ^_^ Join in if you'd like to! It'll be fun!

Hope you have a great weekend!!!

Jessica

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Book Made Into A Movie Review: The Secret Of NIMH



To save her ill son, a field mouse must seek the aid of a colony of super-intelligent rats, with whom she has a deeper link than she ever suspected.




After reading Mrs. Frisby And The Rats Of NIMH, I had to get the movie out and watch it. I remember loving the book and the movie a lot, although I knew there were some differences that I wasn't too fond of. Those things can be overlooked though sometimes.

What I found very strange about watching The Secret Of NIHM is HOW MUCH it was different. Sure, the main plot is still there, Timmy is sick and his mother needs to find a way to move their home before the plow comes. But there were so many other little things that were just not the same. AT ALL. First off, Mrs. Frisby's name was changed to Mrs. Brisby. Why? I have no idea. I can let that one go. There were, however, several overly dramatic scenes added to the story that were not in the book. I'd elaborate, but I don't want to ruin either the book or the movie for any of my followers who haven't seen/read one or both.

One thing I AM going to point out is this: there was no magic in the book. I have absolutely NO IDEA how that got placed in the movie when it had nothing to do with the book. Maybe they thought the book wasn't dramatic enough. Or maybe it's because in the book there were a lot of stories intermingled together. A lot of detailed stories that probably wouldn't be too easy to convey in the movie.

Another thing was that Jenner wasn't present at all in the book. He was spoken of often, about how he didn't approve of The Plan and how he and a few other rats took off on their own, but he wasn't there trying to ruin plans. And some of the characters were a teensy bit off when it came to the way they spoke and acted. Mr. Ages was a bit too gruff, and Mrs. Brisby got a little too irritated with Jeremy, neither of those things being the case in the book. I have to say though, that I found myself giggling in spite of how atrociously off a scene was from the book, just because of how silly it was. Especially the scenes with Jeremy. You can tell they probably did that for the kids.

Although there were a lot of differences between the two, I still adore each just the same. I still can't help but wish that they created the movie a teensy bit closer to the book (I mean, seriously, adding in magic when that wasn't even in the book? Come on...). I am, however, quite pleased at the animation. It is amazing. I would have loved to see this one in the movie theater when I was a kid. The backgrounds are gorgeous:


So, my conclusion is this: While I loved them both, I still recommend the book over the movie. But, once you read the book, you should see the movie at the very least for the animation. Oh, and Wil Wheaton voices a character in the movie as well, so that's a bonus.

Jessica

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Review: Mrs. Frisby And The Rats Of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien

Title: Mrs. Frisby And The Rats Of NIHM
Author: Robert C. O'Brien
Published: 1971
Source: Purchased
Genre: Children's Fantasy
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers

There's something very strange about the rats living under the rosebush at the Fitzgibbon farm. But Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with a sick child, is in dire straits and must turn to these exceptional creatures for assistance. Soon she finds herself flying on the back of a crow, slipping sleeping powder into a ferocious cat's dinner dish, and helping 108 brilliant, laboratory-enhanced rats escape to a utopian civilization of their own design, no longer to live "on the edge of somebody else's, like fleas on a dog's back."

This unusual novel, winner of the Newbery Medal (among a host of other accolades) snags the reader on page one and reels in steadily all the way through to the exhilarating conclusion. Robert O'Brien has created a small but complete world in which a mother's concern for her son overpowers her fear of all her natural enemies and allows her to make some extraordinary discoveries along the way. O'Brien's incredible tale, along with Zena Bernstein's appealing ink drawings, ensures that readers will never again look at alley rats and field mice in the same way.

My Thoughts:

I read this back when I was still in school and it was, by far, one of my favorite childhood reads. I read it multiple times. Before I even reread it this year, I could remember the story like it was yesterday. It's amazing how certain things just stick with you like that.

The story of the rats of NIMH, their journey past and present, is one that cannot be matched. The world building alone is phenomenal. Like the synopsis says, it is an unusual novel, but that's what makes it so amazing. A group of rats that escaped the National Institute of Mental Health with exceptional intelligence? Insane. And how Mrs. Frisby fits into the story of the rats is nothing short of brilliantly played. I felt as if I was walking through it as Mrs. Frisby herself. Learning all these things about her late husband's ties to the rats and learning how to find the strength within herself to do what needs to be done.

The details contained within describing the surroundings were so vivid. I could picture all the different rooms and halls the rats built in my mind. The background of the rats gets told by Nicodemus to Mrs. Frisby to explain how they knew her husband and how it was possible for them to do what they do. I always loved that part of the story. And Justin, one of the rats. How is it possible that his personality is just so lovable?

Mrs. Frisby And The Rats Of NIMH is, in my opinion, one of the greatest stories written. I absolutely adored it, even more so now. As I was reading it, I couldn't help but feel like I was transported back to my childhood, sitting there with my eyes glued to the page in wonder and joy. What's amazing is that it's not just the story itself, it's also the emotions tied to it that make it all the more powerful. The book is much better than the movie, even though I still love the movie (I'll be reviewing the movie tomorrow). If you're ever in the need for a great chapter book to make you feel like a kid again, this is absolutely the one you need to pick up.

My Rating:

Monday, May 27, 2013

Things I've Found Inspiring While I Was Distracted...

I've found myself a little addicted to Pinterest.

Just... a little.

*cough*

Okay, maybe more than a little. Can you blame me? There is so much awesomeness to be seen and read and pinned. It's like being a kid in a candy shop. One thing I've been focusing on a lot lately are the things that inspire me. You know, those amazing quotes that empower and get you to open your eyes and really think and want to make your life better. I thought that I would share some that I really enjoyed while I was absent on this blog.

http://pinterest.com/pin/38351034299543356/

http://pinterest.com/pin/38351034299526394/

http://pinterest.com/pin/38351034299327233/

http://pinterest.com/pin/38351034299281878/

http://pinterest.com/pin/38351034299249597/

What are some of your favorite quotes that you have pinned on Pinterest? Link me to them!

Jessica

Friday, May 24, 2013

Thoughts Weekly Update (21)


Welcome to the Weekly Update here on Thoughts! This is where I will share what books I finished, what I am currently reading, the current word count on my WIP, links from the posts from the last week, and maybe a little something on what's going on in my life.

Finished


Edge Of Disaster by A.M. Hargrove (-Goodreads-)
The Authoritative Calvin And Hobbes by Bill Watterson (-Goodreads-)

Currently Reading


Just One Day by Gayle Forman (-Goodreads-)
Serial Hottie by Kelly Oram (-Goodreads-)
 Shut Out by Kody Kepplinger (-Goodreads-)

Up Next


Hysteria by Megan Miranda (-Goodreads-)
Escape Theory by Margaux Froley (-Goodreads-)

Word Count 

If Only We ~ 57,556
Check out my writer blog for the latest.

On The Blog This Week
The Latest With Me

AHHHHH!!!! Okay, I'm fine, really. I just feel like going AHHHHH! and making it seem like I'm freaking out over something when I'm really not. Phew! It has been a LONG week and I am sooo sooo sooo glad that it's the weekend AND a three day weekend on top of that. Oh, it will feel so good to just be HOME on Monday. So good. I'll actually get things accomplished this weekend. Dude. It's going to be awesome. :D

Hope you have a great weekend!!!

Jessica

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Waiting On Wednesday: Canary by Rachele Alpine (11)


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly book meme where we get to let everyone know about what books we are eagerly anticipating the release of. WoW is hosted by Jill over at Breaking The Spine.

This week I'm waiting on...

Staying quiet will destroy her, but speaking up will destroy everyone.

Kate Franklin’s life changes for the better when her dad lands a job at Beacon Prep, an elite private school with one of the best basketball teams in the state. She begins to date a player on the team and quickly gets caught up in a world of idolatry and entitlement, learning that there are perks to being an athlete.

But those perks also come with a price. Another player takes his power too far and Kate is assaulted at a party. Although she knows she should speak out, her dad’s vehemently against it and so, like a canary sent into a mine to test toxicity levels and protect miners, Kate alone breathes the poisonous secrets to protect her dad and the team. The world that Kate was once welcomed into is now her worst enemy, and she must decide whether to stay silent or expose the corruption, destroying her father’s career and bringing down a town’s heroes.

Canary  is told in a mix of prose and verse.

Told in a mix of prose AND verse? I'm sold. And the premise itself really intrigues me. It will be released August 1st.

What are YOU waiting on?

Jessica

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Review: Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

Title: Wallbanger
Author: Alice Clayton
Published: November 27th 2012
Source: Purchased
Genre: New Adult
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers

Caroline Reynolds has a fantastic new apartment in San Francisco, a KitchenAid mixer, and no O (and we’re not talking Oprah here, folks). She has a flourishing design career, an office overlooking the bay, a killer zucchini bread recipe, and no O. She has Clive (the best cat ever), great friends, a great rack, and no O.

Adding insult to O-less, since her move, she has an oversexed neighbor with the loudest late-night wallbanging she’s ever heard. Each moan, spank, and–was that a meow?–punctuates the fact that not only is she losing sleep, she still has, yep, you guessed it, no O.

Enter Simon Parker. (No, really, Simon, please enter.) When the wallbanging threatens to literally bounce her out of bed, Caroline, clad in sexual frustration and a pink baby-doll nightie, confronts her heard-but-never-seen neighbor. Their late-night hallway encounter has, well, mixed results. Ahem. With walls this thin, the tension’s gonna be thick…

In her third novel, Alice Clayton returns to dish her trademark mix of silly and steamy. Banter, barbs, and strutting pussycats, plus the sexiest apple pie ever made, are dunked in a hot tub and set against the gorgeous San Francisco skyline in this hot and hilarious tale of exasperation at first sight.

My Thoughts:

I admit it, the title made me chuckle, which was subsequently followed by a reading of the synopsis and a quick purchase due to curiosity. The New Adult genre is one of those intriguing things for me. It can walk a fine line between being saturated with poor storytelling or a right balance of romance and realistic situations. Wallbanger was a surprisingly great story.

Being there in Caroline's head for the story adds to the richness of the details. She's got a lot on her mind, and Simon just creates this tension--good and bad. The way the two of them speak to and act around each other is pure hilariousness and awesomeness. They have these moments of total frustration and then getting along like the best of friends. It was very cute and created a nice intensity between the characters.

Unlike most N.A. titles I've come across, this one is actually very well played. The tension fills the air more than the drama, and this is carried through to the end. It isn't just some pathetic and cheap romance developed just to tell a love story. There was a lot to Caroline and Simon's relationship, from the friendship to when it becomes something more. And the something more, while oh so very steamy at times, wasn't ALWAYS just steamy. It was put together in a way that wasn't trashy or tasteless.

In my honest opinion, Wallbanger is exactly what the New Adult genre should be. The just right mix of main and secondary characters, a desire that is built from friendship and not just centered on sex, and an actual storyline that isn't ridiculous or has some lame twist. Alice Clayton is one to take a look at, she knows what she's doing.

My Rating:

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Review: Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

Title: Going Vintage
Author: Lindsey Leavitt
Published: March 26th 2013
Source: NetGalley
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers

When Mallory’s boyfriend, Jeremy, cheats on her with an online girlfriend, Mallory decides the best way to de-Jeremy her life is to de-modernize things too. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in 1962, Mallory swears off technology and returns to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn’t cheat with computer avatars). The List:

1. Run for pep club secretary
2. Host a fancy dinner party/soiree
3. Sew a dress for Homecoming
4. Find a steady
5. Do something dangerous

But simple proves to be crazy-complicated, and the details of the past begin to change Mallory’s present. Add in a too-busy grandmother, a sassy sister, and the cute pep-club president–who just happens to be her ex’s cousin–and soon Mallory begins to wonder if going vintage is going too far.

My Thoughts:

I am the type of person who grew up loving "vintage" things, only I didn't view them as vintage. Listening to records? Absolutely normal in my house. In fact, I have a record player and about 30 or so records of my own now. So the idea of this story--living simply--was one I liked immediately.

Mallory amused me so much with her commentary and the things she said to people. I find that it's hard to come across protagonists that are truly funny. Some can be "funny" except it's more of an annoying or forced kind of funny. With Mallory, she was just freaking FUNNY. And it was the little things too. One thing in the beginning when she was still dating Jeremy: she would make excuses to NOT kiss him. It was that whole situation that got me invested in the story.

When Mallory starts working on the list, it isn't as "simple" as expected. The times have changed, obviously, so trying to not go online or use a cell phone makes interacting with people difficult, especially when they have no idea what you're doing. Her sister, Ginnie, is extremely helpful and frustrating at the same time when it comes to Mallory's quest. And then there's Oliver--dear, sweet Oliver--who is there for her despite her fears of the possibility of being with Jeremy's cousin.

Going Vintage was a very adorable story. All the characters melded well together, everyone in the family and at school. The romantic aspect between Mallory and Oliver was only a little snippet of the story but the build up and tension made it worthwhile. In the end, Lindsey Leavitt didn't just wrap it up in a bow, it had a realistic ending. It is definitely worth reading.

My Rating:

Friday, May 17, 2013

Thoughts Weekly Update (20)


Welcome to the Weekly Update here on Thoughts! This is where I will share what books I finished, what I am currently reading, the current word count on my WIP, links from the posts from the last week, and maybe a little something on what's going on in my life.

Finished


Triangles by Ellen Hopkins (-Goodreads-)

Currently Reading


Just One Day by Gayle Forman (-Goodreads-)
Edge Of Disaster by A.M. Hargrove (-Goodreads-)
The Authoritative Calvin And Hobbes by Bill Watterson (-Goodreads-)

Up Next


Shut Out by Kody Kepplinger (-Goodreads-)
Serial Hottie by Kelly Oram (-Goodreads-)

Word Count 

If Only We ~ 57,556
Check out my writer blog for the latest.

On The Blog This Week
      The Latest With Me

      It's been a long week at work, very slow for the most part. I'm hoping this summer doesn't end up too slow because #1, that makes work excruciatingly boring, and #2, I don't want to leave early TOO much (despite being able to do more at home and with friends, I still need to pay the bills). I am okay with leaving early a few times though. ;) I hope to get my book finished soon, and caught up on reading and other projects.

      Hope you have a great weekend!!!

      Jessica

      Tuesday, May 14, 2013

      Top Ten Tuesday: Books Dealing With Tough Subjects


      Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke And The Bookish. Head over there and join in on the fun!

      Topic for this week:
      Top Ten Books Dealing With Tough Subjects
      (abuse, suicide, grief etc or something personally hard for you)


      1. Burned by Ellen Hopkins: First book I ever read by her. And it was a doozy. I mean, seriously, I was clenching my fist, crying, and my heart was breaking even AFTER I finished the book. It touches on abuse when it comes to religion. Very powerful story. I should reread this before the sequel comes out this fall.


      2. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen: It was the one book by her that really got to me. I can't go into detail about the 'tough subject' in the story without giving away the ending. I can say this--the lessons learned were layered. It wasn't just the main story, it was the side stories that really completed the novel.


      3. If I Stay by Gayle Forman: A girl with a choice between living and dying? Dealing with grief only in her head? This one really hit me hard because I read it RIGHT after a friend of mine died in a car accident. I probably cried more because of that fact.


      4. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher: Suicide is one of those things that really gets to me. Hearing the reasons why from the person who chooses to do so really gets you to thinking about how we interact with one another. How important it is for us to be kind to everyone we meet and interact with because we do not know what the other person is going through.


      5. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson: I don't know how it feels personally to struggle with weight issues that lead to anorexia/bulimia/cutting, but this really opened my eyes. I literally got chills and a bit squeamish. It's a scary reality with both boys and girls these days. Understanding the thoughts behind the actions truly helps us to help them.


      6. Heart On A Chain by Cindy C. Bennett: Another story dealing with one abusive parent and one alcoholic parent. As I mentioned in my review, the alcoholic parent touches me personally. The story was perfectly put together from start to finish, the reality of it all wasn't held back.


      7. Impulse by Ellen Hopkins: This was the second Ellen Hopkins book I read. One thing I'll never forget is that I was sitting in my moon chair at one in the morning (one of the books that sparked the title of my blog, by the way), my eyes GLUED to the page, eyes watering and tears spilling over. This one deals with depression and everything that can be associated with it. The three main characters have unique, heartbreakingly real stories. I still get chills thinking about it.


      8. Say Goodnight, Gracie by Julie Reece Deaver: One of the earlier books I read that made me cry. Going into the book, I must not have read the synopsis or something because I was blindsided by the death. What makes it worse is the scene that takes place RIGHT before it happens. In any case, this one takes you on an inner journey dealing with grief.


      9. Fault Line by Janet Tashjian: I read this when I first started reading YA novels (like right out of high school). When it comes to abusive relationships, I could never understand how a girl (or guy) could allow themselves to be in one. But when you read about someone facing that situation, you can really get a grasp on the feelings behind the acceptance. Not that it makes it okay to let it happen, just that psychologically it hits you why it happens.


      10. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson: This one is hard-hitting in many ways. There is the main reason behind why Melinda doesn't speak (it's a spoiler!), but there is also the bullying aspect. How easy it is for people to assume one thing when the reason behind it is entirely another. I have to say, the movie for this book was very well made. A lot of people don't like Kristen Stewart's acting but I thought for this adaptation she did a decent job portraying our protagonist and everything she is going through.


      ~A couple others I would be remiss not to mention:
      The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson (death/grief/absent parent),
      Hold Still by Nina LaCour (death/suicide),
      and Glimpse by Carol Lynch Williams (severe abuse).
      I know there are so many more, but it is quite hard to narrow it down... especially to ten.~


      So, how about you? Are there any certain books that deal with tough subjects that really strike you deeply? I would love to hear your suggestions!

      Jessica