Update of My Life

Haha. That title makes it sound all intense, it's not. If you want something intense go somewhere else =P. So yeah, I haven't blogged in a while so I decided to blog. Heh my life right now? Is stressful and boring at the same time. Most of my free time is swimming and homework. But then the problem is after that stuff dies down for even a little bit I'm bored out of my mind with nothing to do. I've been kind of in a movie stage, so if anyone knows any good movies that came out on DVD or something, tell me! I'm always looking for something to watch.

What else? Hm, Christmas is in 11 days! Oh goodness! Isn't that exciting? I can't wait for the chilling from school and like that's it. I've got some of my shopping done. Having money sucks you are like obligated to buy stuff for other people. Wow okay now I sound like scrooge! I'm excited, really. I love christmas like any other person. It's fun and lots of eating!

Hm what am I reading? As you can see if you look at the About me thing I am currently reading Freeing Keiko: The Journey of a Killer Whale from Free Willy to the Wild by Kenneth Brower. Okay I know what you're all thinking: Dork much? Ha! I know, right? But we have to read a non fiction book for AP English and I am in love with Free Willy and all things Orca. I can't explain it, I couldn't tell you why I do. Especially since I've been to Sea World and Marine Land and been to the 'pet the Killer whales and dolphins!' And I haven't done it because I'm scared of them, they intimidate me so much. So I guess my sort of passion for whales is difficult to explain, I have a deep respect for these animals. They are the largest creatures on earth, and they're smart, playful, and social animals. I'll tell you one thing, I'm only half way through this book (barely!) and I am now more against animal exhibition and captivity for marine mammals then ever. It's horrible to make these beautiful intelligent creatures jump around and perform like clowns in a concrete tank. They are wonderful creatures used to the vast ocean with no boundraries whatsoever and you capture them and forcefully take them from their families and homes and then make them swim in a concrete tank with walls all around them and force them to perform for a handful of fish under the false pretense of education. Baloney. If you want to really learn about them you study them in the wild not in that concrete tank. [If you're interested in this more watch: Saving Lolita Special on Youtube here's the link to the first part--> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLM-BJzHDnU it will change your life]

^^; sorry. My rant is over, I hope no one takes offense to that. Anyways I'm also re-reading Inkspell by Cornelia Funke. Mostly because I asked for InkDeath for christmas and I'm uber excited for when the movie of Inkheart comes out! During my reading breaks I'm going to try to re-read my collection of books and review them for you. I'll see how that goes. I swear, I can't believe Inkspell is a child's book! Like it's in the children's section, I wouldn't want my child reading that! It would give them nightmares.

Anyways, I'm going to have to go to bed in like two minutes. I've got school tomorrow, whoo. Notice my enthusiam...only 7 more school days till break! ^^ Hee. Anyways. I'll try to update some more soon! Later all, keep reading!
~She Who Reads A Lot

Ink Exchange

Sequel To: Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Summary: Leslie is desperate for a change in her depressing life before she suffocates. A tattoo is the perfect solution for it, she just knows it. Her body, her tattoo, her choice, her identity. A certain tattoo calls out to her at Rabbit’s shop and she knows it just has to be her’s. What she doesn’t realize is that when she gets the tattoo it will connect her to the Dark Court King, Irial. With peace between the Summer and Winter Court Irial and the dark fey are having trouble feeding. Leslie is Irial’s solution, only he doesn’t expect the conflicts that will meet him with the Summer King and new Summer Queen as his connection with Leslie is placed, especially since Leslie has attracted Irial’s old companion, Niall.

My Review: This was good. Not as good as Wicked Lovely, though. I got into this novel easier than I did with Wicked Lovely primarily because I liked the darker themes to it. The Dark Court fascinated me and this book was enlightening. I got to know the real face of Keenan and see Aislinn and others through someone else’s eyes. I think I enjoyed Aislinn’s view more, but it was fun to see Leslie try to deny the fact of what she was seeing. It really gave you a better perspective for what Aislinn was going through her entire life from someone who has never had the curse of The Sight.

This time around I feel like Marr believed her reader knew more than they did. I was left with questions unanswered that taunted me as I finished up the last page. I was unsatisfied that I didn’t get to know a concrete ending, but that’s just me.(*praying that the next book answers some of her questions*) Besides that it was awesome—enjoyable, thought-provoking, and exciting enough to keep your interest through the whole thing. So all in all: a good book with a totally awesome cover! ^^

Rating: 4/5

Reviews from the Pros:

Another highly addictive read...Compulsive enough to give the Twilight series a run for its money, and dizzyingly more sinister." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Newcomers and returning readers alike will devour this companion novel to Marr’s ragingly popular Wicked Lovely . . . . This dark fantasy about survival and transformation is as mesmerizing as its urban faery subjects." – Booklist

Readers will be drawn in by Marr’s darkly poetic imagery and language, her vivid portrayal of the art of tattooing, and her shadowy love triangle. This is indeed a delicious, smoky delight." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

"This urban fairy tale...is impossible to put down." -- School Library Journal (starred review)

As you can tell it got a lot of praise and it was good-enjoyable and stimulating book! Pick it up!

-She Who Reads A Lot

Wicked Lovely

Summary: Rule #1: Don’t ever attract their attention. Well Aislinn has just broken her number one rule. She has hidden in the mortal world pretending never to notice all the faeries and fey she sees every day around her. Well now Aislinn has attracted the attention of a faery—a king faery to be exact. She tried so hard to avoid them and now that they’re here and have their eyes set on her there’s no way out. Aislinn is thrown into the world she was taught to fear she knows that everything is at risk: Her freedom, her life, Seth, everything.

My Review: This book I’ve heard great things about. Great things that were justly earned. It wraps you in right from the summary. The characters are appealing (Seth especially!) and likable. The plot was original, though the idea of faeries and Sight can be slightly overused. It was captivating. The love triangle was amusing and trying to weave in the real world and the faery world was believable. What I loved about this book is it was not only was it about Keenan and Aislinn but it was also about the faery and real world. IT was like although Aislinn and Keenan were main characters they aren’t the main focus Marr doesn’t lose sight of the world and the plot at all. I can’t wait to finish Ink Exchange.

All in all, a great book.

Rating: 4.7/5 good book but not quite up to that 5/5.

Reviews from the pros:
“Marr adds elegantly to the sub-genre of Urban Faery with this enticing fantasy.” –Annette Curtis Klause, The Washington Post

“Keeps you on the edge of your seat. This debut reads like the work of a seasoned pro.”—Charles De Lint, author of the Blue Girl

“A fully imagined faery world that even non-fantasy (or faerie) lovers will want to delve into.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Now I’m off to finish Ink Exchange! Enjoy!

~She Who Reads a Lot