Minda Ink

100 Follower Giveaway @ Incandescent Enchantments

2012-01-28T13:37:00.000-05:00

Celise over at Incandescent Enchantments is having a giveaway to celebrate her 100 follower milestone!

Two winners will have the chance to choose one book from the list.

The Lying Game by Sara Shepard
The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver
The Sweetest Thing by Christina Mandelski
The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross
Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
The Faerie Path by Frewin Jones
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale (The Books of Bayern #1)
Matched by Ally Condie
Enna Burning by Shannon Hale (The Books of Bayern #2)

This is a Rafflecopter giveaway so there will be plenty of chances and ways to enter.

Diner (Pine Grove, PA)

2012-01-19T22:53:00.001-05:00

I love finding new places to eat. Usually our lunch/dinner consists of grabbing a pizza at Flying J or a subway $5 footlong or some other fast food option. But last night we experienced Pure Stomach Ecstasy.

At exit 100 off I 81 in Pine Grove, PA there is a very awesome 50s Diner called....Diner. you can't miss it, it is next to the Pilot Travel Center and is lit up like the 4th of July. I mean this food is awesome. I had the Blue Moon Burger, blue cheese and bacon ( I replaced the bacon with sauteed onions) with fries (.99 extra) and A PICKLE! Oh so fabulous! If you get a chance check it out!

Hectic Week with More Crazy Life to Come

2012-01-08T04:12:00.001-05:00

So we are coming toward the end of John Green Week and I still have not finished Looking For Alaska. The book is GREAT lemme tell ya, but I've had some pretty crazy life stuff going on.

My parents finally hauled their slow behinds to South Carolina around the 4th. LEFT my darling cat, Ella, in Tennessee. They claimed she hid somewhere in the house and they couldn't find her. *taps foot in a "I don't believe you" way*

I cried for two hours. Then I became sick. See thing is stress and Lupus don't mix. For some reason everytime I get stressed out, I get sick. All kinds of unmentionable things that I won't put into detail. Let's just say it is not good to eat then get stressed.

Anyways, so Ella was left, I cried, screamed, threatened violence on people in my head. But good news, she was found. How a 20lb cat gets into the attic I don't know. She is at a neighbor's house. I will rescue her tomorrow, or Mike will suffer dire consequences. Then I will take her home to SC. So happy.

We did stop through SC on our way to Florida with a load. My mother procrastinated for two days and wouldn't unpack ANYTHING! Instead she stayed around my uncle and his fiance's house. My dad got sick, went into the hospital right as we were leaving to unpack things without her. (Hopefully this hospital will get him well again) And so my brothers, Mike, and I had to start unpacking the majority of the house belongings.

First thing we did was set up my parents room. (Well after making sure the bathroom was stocked with toliet paper and towels.) Then I unpacked the dry goods and kitchenware. So Parents room is good, kitchen is good. My brothers set up the televisons in each room, organized a temporary arrangement for seating in the living room, and set up the bed in my room. (This was so that at least one extra bed was ready to go)

We dropped our load in Florida then hightailed to Georgia...where we are now sitting for the moment so that Mike could get a nap in so we won't be too early for our load. Also I was not awoken earlier today when we arrived at the truck terminal which has free WiFi. Therefore, my chance for plentiful WiFi was wasted. *shaking fist at Mike* So this post looks like crapola.

And those are my excuses for why I haven't finished Looking For Alaska. Grief, Manual Labor, and No WiFi. Plus it is dark and I slept through the day cause I got NO rest at my Uncle's house in SC.

Giveaway at I Eat Words AND at Novel Thoughts!!

2012-01-03T14:57:00.001-05:00

I Eat Words is kicking off John Green Week in style. They are having a giveaway for one lucky winner. The contest is open to those who live in a country The Book Depository ships to.

So go over to I Eat Words and join the fun. And don't forget to be awesome.

*Edit* Another giveaway!

Novel Thoughts is giving away a SIGNED AND PERSONALIZED copy of The Fault in Our Stars! But wait...there's more! They will be including a S/P copy of Looking for Alaska!! Oh my word. The excitement is toooo much.

Now I am going to tell Mike the Hubby it is time for some food cause I am starving! We are in Virginia right now waiting to deliver a load. Then it is off to Sunny Florida! Already have my sunscreen ready, can't forget that as a Lupie the sun is not my friend!

Day 1: John Green Week - Looking For Alaska

2012-01-03T13:01:00.001-05:00

It is finally time to kick off John Green Week! In celebration of the January 10th release of The Fault in Our Stars, many of the book blogging community will be reading/re-reading John's books, dicussing the books, and just generally have a good ole time.
I will be celebrating by reading Looking For Alaska for the first time, this is also my first John Green book. I have been saving the books for this special week. I want to experience the magic for the first time during a celebration of all things Green!
So if you would like to particpate or want to see what everyone hosting is doing, please check out the list of blogs on my sidebar and let the joyous celbration begin!

Bad Day

2011-12-31T13:06:00.001-05:00

Having a very, very bad day. I am in a lot of physical and emotional pain right now. Good news is after much debate, I am reading The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I read a review on another blog recently saying it had a lot of rape and sandwich making. And a friend of mine said it had a lot of product placement but I should still read it. So, I am gonna get started on it. Maybe I'll finish most of it tonight.

Review: The Emerald Atlas

2011-12-30T16:12:00.001-05:00

The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Summary from Goodreads:

John Stephens' aptly-titled new fantasy trilogy begins auspiciously with a nimble, fast-paced tale of three siblings. Kate, Michael, and Emma have suffered through ten years of odious orphanage "care"; now they have slipped into the care of the eccentric, disturbingly mysterious Dr. Pym. While exploring their new home, the children discover a magical green book. With that discovery, a decade of tedium dissolves into cascades of dangerous time travel adventures and struggles with a beautiful witch and decidedly less attractive zombielike Screechers. High early reader marks for strong characterization and battle scenes.

My Review:

I finished this right before Christmas so I didn't get a chance to write up a review right away. And I had a bit of trouble during the first few chapters. It didn't seem to catch my attention. But then I found myself drawn into the story. Kate, Michael, and Emma are just like any other trio of siblings. They fight, they squabble, but they love each other so much they can't bear to be parted. Each has there own distinct personality. John Stephens did a great job fleshing out his characters. This book focused mostly on Kate and I assume the next books will deal with Emma and Michael.

I loved the setting. The magical town of Cambridge Falls made me feel like I was right there along with the children. As the action increased I was waiting with every paragraph. I found myself needing to go back a few times because I was reading with such speed. There are a lot of details in this book and the story was wonderful. It wraps up nicely but still leaves you aching for the next book.

Overall, I say young readers, and adults as well, will enjoy this magical tale of three siblings who find out their destiny within the world.

View all my reviews

Free Ebook Alert! Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

2011-12-30T15:03:00.000-05:00

For those interested ereading bookworms out there a few days ago I stumbled upon FREE ebooks of Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey. I haven't had a chance to read this particular book yet. It is available on both B&N and Amazon.

NOOK Book (eBook):

Kindle Edition

Sadly it is not free on Kobo Books. But I'm sure if you have a Kobo, you can get the ebook for free from B&N and then sideload it to the Kobo.

Referring Sites on Traffic

2011-12-30T14:08:00.003-05:00

Open Question to anyone who may stumble upon this.

How in the world do I get rid of domar.ru/ (do not go to this site it is SPAM!) as a referring site on my traffic? It and one other spamming site appear to be the most traffic I have. So yea that means I seriously have no followers. :( That's ok I guess cause I don't really put a LOT of effort into this. But it has me thinking maybe I should....

So anyone got any suggestions for what content would spice up this old joint? I deleted a LOT of older posts. Like seriously, I went through a very bad time when I was sick and this blog helped me through but I decided it was best for people to NOT see what I went through. It really had me at my knees.

So if anyone hears me gimme a shout! Just to let me know I've not gotten lost in the great abyss of the interwebz. Here are some things I'm thinking about doing more.

History
Archaeology
More Book Reviews
Book Related Stuff I Run Upon
Updates on What is Going on in the Truck

My First NetGalley Review: A Greyhound of a Girl by Roddy Doyle

2011-12-30T11:33:00.000-05:00

Title: A Greyhound of a Girl
Publisher: ABRAMS
Imprint: Amulet Books
Publication Date: May 01, 2012
ISBN: 9781419701689

Author: Roddy Doyle
Category: Fiction - Juvenile: Other

Summary and Author Information:
Mary O'Hara is a sharp and cheeky 12-year-old Dublin schoolgirl who is bravely facing the fact that her beloved Granny is dying. But Granny can't let go of life, and when a mysterious young woman turns up in Mary's street with a message for her Granny, Mary gets pulled into an unlikely adventure. The woman is the ghost of Granny's own mother, who has come to help her daughter say good-bye to her loved ones and guide her safely out of this world. She needs the help of Mary and her mother, Scarlett, who embark on a road trip to the past. Four generations of women travel on a midnight car journey. One of them is dead, one of them is dying, one of them is driving, and one of them is just starting out.

Roddy Doyle is the author of nine novels. He won the Man Booker Prize in 1993 for Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha. His novels have been made into popular films, including The Commitments and The Snapper. He lives and works in Dublin, Ireland.

A Greyhound of a Girl by Roddy Doyle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was wonderful. It really captured the sadness of losing a loved one. I felt myself relating to the characters, I cried when they cried, and laughed at Mary's cheeky comments. I adored the moments between daughter and mother. The author was great at bringing about touching scenes without making them come across cheesy or cliche.

The amount of dialogue used was sufficient I feel for the setting of the story. I loved the language used by the characters and how they played off each other. I do not know much about Ireland or it's language but to me the setting seemed very realistic even though there was a ghost involved.

The love felt by the four women and their acceptance of the beginning and ending of life. Even though Mary is just on the edge of womanhood, she has a mature nature that shows she will be a strong woman once she grows up. The parallels between Mary's excitement of coming womanhood and Emer's apprehension about her impending death reflected each other in a subtle but moving tribute to the processes of life and death.

There wasn't anything spooky about this ghost story. It was more of a reflection on the different stages of life. The author provided a well paced and touching story that spans through each characters lives. Their childhoods, their adulthoods, and for two of them, their deaths. I felt the flashbacks where written in a subtle yet effective way. They tied the story together beautifully and left no questions unanswered.

I will definitely be looking for more works by Roddy Doyle.

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Wow I am a Science Nerdfighter (hope the code works)

2011-12-24T22:08:00.001-05:00

What Type of Nerdfighter are You? Your Result: You are a Science-type Nerdfighter You love to learn! Especially about how things work. Logic is just plain fun for you and you probably own either a telescope, a chemistry set, or some non-fiction science literature! Maybe you have it all :)
You are a Writing-type Nerdfighter
You are a Games-type Nerdfighter
You are a Music-type Nerdfighter
You are a Nerdfighter In Denial
What Type of Nerdfighter are You? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Short Reviews: Before I Fall, Once in a Full Moon

2011-12-22T17:29:00.000-05:00

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Imagine dying. Imagine getting the chance to right the wrongs you have done. Imagine that your efforts still do not stop you from reliving the same day over and over.

View all my reviews

Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I felt the story could have been fleshed out better. But I think the concept was still spectacular. And the author brought forth an original take on the werewolf genre. This is not seen a lot.

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Review: The Tommyknockers

2011-12-22T16:57:00.001-05:00

The Tommyknockers by Stephen King

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This review is by my husband, Mike, with me typing it out. If there are spoilers I apologize as he is not used to reviewing without giving away the plot.
--------------------
Mike: This book kept me in suspense. It held my attention. I really liked the flashbacks. It has a good story base. I especially liked how they made all the weird gadgets and *censored*. I think it is a must read book. I laughed a lot while listening to this audiobook.

Minda: Mike, what did you think about the characters Bobbi Anderson and Gard?

Mike: Bobbi was a laidback, scared of her family, sort of a black sheep. She did what she wanted to though, so I give her respect for that. Gard was crazy, mixed up, fought his own inner demons, but was quite the hero which was surprising.

Minda: Why do you think Bobbi was so scared of Anne?

Mike: Anne was the type who ruled everything. she was a *censored*.

Minda: What about the references to nuclear fallout, did you think they mirrored what was happening in Haven?

Mike: Yes. The connections between the two were very evident.

Minda: What is your opinion of the townspeople?

Mike: The townspeople were idiots. They seemed like backwood hicks.

----------------------
And after those questions he had to concentrate on the road cause we were in rural Illinois and our GPS was trying to send us down restricted roads.

I liked the book and really appreciated that Stephen King went indepth about the towns history and all the weird happenings that occurred. I was shocked quite a few times at the physical changes to the Havenites. Especially when Bobbi's sister came to "visit".

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Old Timey Movie Bad Guy

2011-12-19T15:48:00.001-05:00

Now all I need is rope, train tracks, and a damsel in distress.

Save a Tree, Read an eBook

2011-12-15T19:53:00.000-05:00

Almost every book I read is an ebook. This is partially by choice (love the ease of ereading) and partially by necessity (riding with my husband in a semi-truck, not much room for reading material).

I even make little cutesy pictures celebrating my ereader love.

I understand some people GREATLY dislike ebooks. It cannot replace the look, feel, smell, and pure JOY of holding a real book in your hands. But I take these criticisms in stride. I had a nice sized library of real books. I had two bookshelves brimming with books. Favorites, TBR, Just Purchased, and Textbooks from my college classes. It was magnificent. Sadly due to circumstances beyond my control...every single one of my books......were lost. Gone. I mourned the loss of my wonderful books. But I recovered.

My brother, sometime around September last year (2010) purchased me a B&N Nook. I was in love. I immediately filled it up with free books, library books, and proceeded to go reading crazy. I read novel after novel. Sure I didn't have the physical books in my hands. I couldn't smell them. I couldn't treasure the gloss of the cover, the roughness/smoothness of the pages, and I couldn't put a bookmark in between the pages. But it was going to be ok. I had my books with me. They were by my side.

It also allowed me to truly treasure the real books I received. And believe me books are coming a long way visually. When was the last time you saw a consistent out pour of such BEAUTIFUL coverart?

*Run down to your nearest book store and just LOOK at the covers!!!*

I am writing this post because I too wish to Save Trees, Read ebooks, and treasure the simplicity in ebooks. And because I totally dig the widget (look at the very top) which I found at For the Love of Reading.

So if you love ereading or books in general head over to For the Love of Reading, subscribe, and enjoy.

Dystopian Book Challenge 2011 FINISHED

2011-12-15T19:02:00.000-05:00

I have completed the Dystopian Book Challenge of 2011!

The dystopian books I read were:

I did not count more than one book per series. I think the majority of these I did review on Goodreads/Minda Ink. *scratches head trying to remember*

So I completed the level of Asocial

Overall it was fun. I love dystopian books and even though I didn't read any of the classic dystopian novels I was originally planning to read, I did enjoy myself.

The Dystopian Book Challenge of 2012 is now posted on Bookish Ardour. So if you missed the chance to take part this year you can always take part for next year's challenge. Bookish Ardour usually has some pretty great challenges and I might take part in this one again. (Maybe this time actually reading the classic dystopian novels I set out to read....)

Review: Beauty Queens

2011-12-15T14:43:00.001-05:00

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So funny. Beauty Queens does not take itself seriously and neither should you. Every pageant stereotype (and girl stereotype) is found in this book. You will find the smart ones, dumb ones, straight ones, gay ones, and the best thing is you get to know them all not based on their looks but who they are and what events shape how they see the world.

My husband even enjoy the book. I think it was the laugh out loud moments that got him. The villian is evil, the girls are kick-ass, and once again talking heads miss the entire point.

Libba Bray really delivers and does a darn good range of accents as well. (audiobook)

I found myself disliking a few of the characters. Simply because they were trying way to hard to be something they naturally could never be.

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Review: The Misanthrope's Guide to Life:

2011-12-13T22:20:00.001-05:00

The Misanthrope's Guide to Life: by Meghan Rowland

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am not even gonna lie....I wanna marry this book. Seriously if you like tongue in the cheek humor and don't mind a little bit of offensiveness (and if you do then lighten up) you need to read this book soon. It's free on Barnes & Noble and Amazon so you have no excuse NOT to go get it, download it, and read it. (Other than having no computer...in which case how in the world are you seeing this review????!!!!

NOW!

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Still Rocky But Getting Better

2011-12-09T19:16:00.001-05:00

Well my dad is out of the hospital, turns out his medication has been effecting his liver. He is home now and hopefully they can make it to SC soon. My brothers, husband, and I took about 75% of the belongings in the house to SC on Tuesday/Wednesday. We were extremely exhausted when we got home. We just threw the two remaining mattresses on the floor and slept like squatters haha. Closed off every other room in the house and hooked the remaining tv up to watch movies and I don't think we even made it halfway through The Hangover.

My brother has a cell phone account with my mom and me on it as well as himself. Well the night before we started packing everything in the moving truck, the phones were turned off cause he owed the bill, all his money had been spent getting stuff ready for the move. So he had to borrow money in order to pay it. Now my mom doesn't have the money on hand to get another moving truck for what is left.....we always have rotten luck. And my bro is out of a job cause he worked his last day Friday and my dad had a seizure Saturday. So that's a problem as well. We are hoping to get everything back on the plan, but everytime we plan things go wrong.

Sigh....so my head hasn't been in the reading mindset lately. Too much worrying and stress...which has also thrown my Lupus into a flare. The good thing is cause my Lupus makes my antibodies attack healthy tissue, I rarely get an actual cold. Its like my body has such a high immunity that it turns on itself....I know some parts of Lupus are still a mystery to most doctors so I guess this is just one of those things. And I should have gotten sick cause I was right there with my two hacking, coughing, sore throated brothers for two/three days. And I think we mixed up sodas at least once in the confusion. Oh well. But besides the not getting a cold I have gotten "Lupus sick" which means I have swollen feet that feel like I'm walking on shards of glass and pillows, sore as hell from head to toe, and a tiny bit of the malar rash starting from sun exposure. Plus my standard digestive problems have increased.

I am kind of afraid to take OTC pain relievers due to my dad experiencing liver damage from tylenol.....I don't really wanna push my luck. So I'm suffering in silence. Oh and I've passed out (napped for 3 hrs) many times in the last five days...yep...Lupus is exhausting.

So that's about all I've got going on lately. Back in the truck now with Mike making monies....hurrah for monies.

Things Have Got to Start Looking Up

2011-12-04T12:57:00.001-05:00

We are supposed to be moving to South Carolina this weekend. Mike's trucking company delayed us by messing around and giving us a load to Kansas. Then yesterday things started to look better because they assigned us a load heading toward home. So everything was set to move when we got there.

But my dad had three seizures back to back last night and had to be taken to the hospital. He stopped breathing and they had to tube him. When he got to our "band-aid" station of a local hospital, they were keeping him unconscious so he wouldn't pull the tube out. They transferred him to a hospital in another town. He is in ICU and they said ammonia is coming out of his liver.

My father is in his 70s and physically disabled. (Car accidents, a gun shot to the leg, and he broke both legs in 93' resulting in plates and screws in his legs) He has to take pain medication everyday for the severe arthritis in his legs and sometimes takes Tylenol on top of that medication, which already includes Tylenol. So we think the Tylenol is destroying his liver. He still has the tube down his throat and I am 600 miles away from the hospital.

I need to be strong and I need to keep it together but this is scaring me. Mike and my brother have plans to take the majority of our belongings to SC. Then I guess we will wait until my father gets out of the hospital to move the rest? I'm falling apart cause my dad is seriously sick, all plans we've made are falling through, and I have no idea what the future holds.

I can't even read a book to take my mind off of things. It just makes me zone out and start thinking about them. I have no close friends to talk to about this stuff cause the closest friend I had, we grew apart. And her family makes me not want to be around them. And there is no way to keep away from her family and still be friends with her. Cause I don't want to risk them finding out what is going on in my life and twisting it around and gossiping about it. It's too dangerous.

All I have is my brothers, Mike, and my parents. I don't even know what to do anymore. I'm falling down the rabbit hole.

Some Pictures From the Road

2011-12-03T15:59:00.001-05:00

I am always talking about how I'm traveling with my husband in a Big Rig and I just realized I haven't shared ANY of the photos I've taken. He just got me a new Digital Camera (well it was from a pawn shop....yea I'm not a fan of buying brand new when I can get slightly used) so I haven't been able to take pictures the WHOLE time we've been out. But here are some of the bests.

I don't know who this is a statue of, I don't think it is the Sam Houston Statue in Huntsville, TX. I can't remember who it is...

Raleigh, NC - Armadillo Grill BEST TACOS EVER!!!!

City Hall in St. Louis, Missouri

Look at that Architecture on the City Hall, so beautiful.

Just to prove it is a City Hall and not Dracula's Castle HaHa

A burger restaurant called The CookOut, great burgers. You should check them out.

Yea I saw this while I was reconnecting to Broadband going down the road. I think someone was playing a joke on WiFi thieves. LOL.

This was in Texas. I thought it was interesting. Took forever to get a good enough picture of it. I kept getting cars tops and light poles.

The Mausoleums in New Orleans....Oh My Gosh. I'm a big fan of old cemeteries and I've been known to just stroll through a cemetery contemplating what the residents could have died from.

And believe it or not I caught these pictures of the mausoleums while going down the interstate fast. I was basically snapping constantly. There were soooo flipping many and I wish I knew which particular cemetery this was, I'd love to see it up close some day.

Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans

ST. Louis Public Library. I WANT THAT SIGN! I think it is so neat. "the Library"

And I think this was somewhere in North Carolina. I thought the clock was really unique. I want one of these for my house HAHA.

Evernote Clearly

2011-12-03T14:17:00.001-05:00

Evernote Clearly Night Mode

If anyone has Google Chrome and you read a lot of news articles or blogs online you should seriously consider trying the Evernote Clearly extension. It takes away all the ads and other bull off the page and gives you just the text. It's crisp, clean, and even has a setting for night viewing. And it is easy to switch back to the webpage standard view. Takes hardly any time to switch from one view to the next.

This is what a Yahoo News Article looks like using Clearly

This is what a Goodreads Review looks like when using Clearly

I am totally in love with this extension. It doesn't really work on anything but news articles and blog posts but it is still a lot better than being bogged down by all that stuff Yahoo News crams on the page.

Review: The Lightning Thief

2011-12-02T19:01:00.001-05:00

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I tried many times to listen to this book on audio, finally I gave up and decided I will just read it. How convenient as well that my husband and I were stuck in a bus station until the bus arrived. So with hours to kill I read the book aloud while he listened.

He was glued to the pages. I was glued to the pages. The story is entrancing and pulls you in. You want to know what happens next and it is very hard to put down. Now he wants an ereader of his own, we travel a lot and an ereader is the best option for us. Any book that can make my non-reading husband want to pick up a book and start reading definitely gets four stars in my book.

Yes I know it is targeted toward young adults. But as an adult I can admit it made me feel like a kid again. The magic of the story drew me into the world and now I want to continue with the next book. The writing was funny and I can see why this was such a hit series a few years ago and why the spin off series have received good reviews.

Percy Jackson is coming to terms with the new found knowledge that he is the son of a Greek God. And not just any Greek God mind you, he is the son of one of the BIG THREE, Poseidon. See back in WWII the Big Three (Zeus, Poseidon, Hades) agreed to father no more children with mortals. Their children were too powerful. Percy was never supposed to be born and there are a lot of beings who would like to see him dead. When Percy is accused of stealing the Lightning Bolt of Zeus, he is given a quest to clear himself of innocence and save the world. Through many dangers and obstacles Percy and his companions uncover a plot to overthrow the Olympians.

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I Have Been Bad

2011-11-29T12:48:00.000-05:00

I have so been neglecting my books lately...well actually I HAVE been reading. See my husband drives a semi-truck, I ride with him, and to pass the time I have been reading books to him. But he only likes funny books. So we read, Sh*t My Dad Says and We Thought You'd Be Prettier, nothing wrong with that...but....I have a HUGE pile (list) of books I have been wanting to read. So I went to my Goodreads account and looked at my list of books I have not read on there. I've compiled a "tentative" list of books I want to read in the next well....months. So here goes the list.

THE LIST (cue dramatic music)

*And yes I copy/pasted it from Goodreads*


The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1)	Riordan, Rick	FINISHED!
The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series #2)	Riordan, Rick
The Emerald Atlas (The Books of Beginning #1)	Stephens, John	FINISHED!	Winter Challenge 2011-2012 (Something Borrowed)
The Red Pyramid (Kane Chronicles, #1)	Riordan, Rick		Winter Challenge 2011-2012 (Something Old)
The Maze Runner (Maze Runner, #1)	Dashner, James *
Graceling (The Seven Kingdoms, #1)	Cashore, Kristin
The Iron King (Iron Fey, #1)	Kagawa, Julie *		Winter Challenge 2011-2012 (Group Love)
Winter's Passage (Iron Fey, #1.5)	Kagawa, Julie *		Winter Challenge 2011-2012 (Winter Book)
The Iron Daughter (Iron Fey, #2)	Kagawa, Julie *
Eragon (Inheritance Cycle #1)	Paolini, Christopher
The Dead-Tossed Waves(The Forest of Hands and Teeth, #2)	Ryan, Carrie *
The Dark and Hollow Places(Forest of Hands and Teeth Series #3)	Ryan, Carrie *
Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1)	Clare, Cassandra *
The Thief (The Queen's Thief, #1)	Turner, Megan Whalen
Looking for Alaska	Green, John	Plan to Read Jan 3rd to Jan 10th	Winter Challenge 2011-2012 (Valentine)
Will Grayson, Will Grayson	Green, John	Plan to Read Jan 3rd to Jan 10th
Firelight (Firelight, #1)	Jordan, Sophie *

Review: Robopocalypse

2011-11-29T11:52:00.001-05:00

Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I have to admit I gave up on this book because I just didn't feel drawn into the story. It was ok but it just didn't catch my attention and keep it. Maybe I will try again sometime to read it but for now I just have to say it was OK and put it away.

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Guess What Arrived!

2011-11-28T09:37:00.001-05:00

So very excited cause just a few days ago my copy of Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children arrived in the mail. Of course I wasn't home to receive it so I asked my brother to open the package and take a picture. It looks gorgeous and I can't wait to jump into reading it.

Right now we are waiting to get the semi fixed. She choked yesterday so we had to be towed to a shop. Lots of fun. Lol.

Review: Sh*t My Dad Says

2011-11-24T20:34:00.000-05:00

Shit My Dad Says by Justin Halpern
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My husband and I read this book together. Well I read it aloud and he listened while driving. I must say this was and will most likely remain a favorite of mine. There is a lot of crude language but that I feel as to the Real Life tribute that Halpern has graced us with. His father is wise and witty, crude but true, and always....one step ahead of evryone else. Our parents are responsible for our upbringing and personally I feel Mr. Halpern did a spectacular job. There was no moment while reading this that I felt it was a disappointment. In fact, I wish there was more. This is definitely a home run all around.

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Giveaways on Saturdays (err it is Tuesday)

2011-11-22T10:01:00.001-05:00

So I have been slacking, bad Minda, and haven't posted any Goodreads Giveaways that I have entered. And the only giveaway I have won has been non-Goodreads related. BUT IT WAS AWESOME!

My family, actually my parents and youngest brother, will be moving to South Carolina next month. Since my husband and I are always on the road, and someone has to take care of our pets for us, that means my new home with be my birth state. I am excited about this as life in Tennessee was wearing me down. Yet, I will miss it in a way. My other brother will be remaining in Tennessee because he is now engaged to his wonderful lady love. That is plenty of incentive for me to go back to TN to visit. My brothers and me are really tight. I'd do anything for them and they would do anything for me. It is a running joke that I am now the younger older sister. Most of this joking is based on the fact that I am petite and ever since I got sick it seems like my brothers have wanted to protect me.

So what does all this moving mean? Well it means that if I enter any giveaways I will have to put in our new home address.....which I don't know at this time....exactly....I know what city it is in....but I don't know the exact mailing address. But I'm still going to enter anyways cause a lot of giveaways end in 2012 or late December. I'll just have to remove my entry and re-enter it when I get the new address. No biggie.

So here's what I am currently in the running for: (I left the countdown til the drawing just cause it was easier this time.)


The Cabinet of Earths by Anne Nesbet giveaway details Closed to entries in: 28 days and 16:29:42 This looked like a great Middle Grade book. I think the story has potential.
Pandemonium (Delirium, #2) by Lauren Oliver giveaway details Closed to entries in: 23 days and 16:29:42 Still in the running for the sequel to Delirium.
Prized (Birthmarked, #2) by Caragh M. O'Brien giveaway details Closed to entries in: 22 days and 16:29:41 Second giveaway for this, trying my luck again.
The Dig by Michael Siemseng giveaway details Closed to entries in: 19 days and 16:29:42 A second giveaway for this book was posted.... I couldn't help entering again. It looks so good!
Outlander (Outlander, #1) by Diana Gabaldon giveaway details Closed to entries in: 14 days and 16:29:42 Not completely sure I will enjoy the romantic part of this book....but it does have time travel. shrugs
Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol giveaway details Closed to entries in: 7 days and 16:29:42 I've heard good things about this and I figured it was worth a shot. But I might have to remove it cause it ends shortly before I move.

So that's it. There are a lot of other good giveaways on Goodreads so go take a look. I'm not one to enter every giveaway I see and I am sorta picky about my books....so I usually just browse a couple pages and then give up.

Review: Ash

2011-11-22T09:59:00.001-05:00

Ash by Malinda Lo

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a very interesting take on the Cinderella story. I loved the way Malinda Lo built the Kingdom and I like the characterization and detail of (most) of the characters. That being said, Ash felt a little flat. Not sure if I completely missed it or what but I have no idea what color hair she possessed. Maybe I became to captivated by the story and zoned out when the description came but I can't put a color to her hair.

I do like that her beauty wasn't over-stressed like in a lot of fairy-tale retellings. I enjoyed that a different outcome was envisioned for our girl of the Ashes. But the thing that rated this so high was the subtlety. There was no in your face "LOVE LOVE LOVE" beaten to death. It was slow, gentle, and natural. No one fell in love just because of appearances. (Well maybe one person did..but I think that was beyond his control.) Plus some parts seemed to show a semi-realistic world, even though there was a lot of magic floating around. When Ash's father falls sick the medical measures taken by the physicians was pretty much standard for the feudal era.

I would have to say this book keeps the magic and beauty of Cinderella while making it's own mark on the tale.

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John Green Week: Jan 3rd - 10th, 2012

2011-11-14T16:36:00.000-05:00

I haven't read any John Green books yet. I have two sitting on my ereader just waiting to be read.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson

Looking for Alaska

I am hoping to get two more John Green books. (Paper Towns and An Abundance of Katherines)

So what better motivation to finally read and review these TBR books than a reading event!

From January 3rd to January 10th I Eat Words will be hosting John Green Week. (Along with many other great bloggers whom you can find to the right listed under the John Green Week Button made by Ginger of GReads!)

If you are interested in joining head on over and sign up! I'm totally excited and can't wait.

Better Late Than Never: Follow Friday

2011-11-12T02:23:00.001-05:00

Hello whoever is out there listening....*crickets chirp*....I know I'm a couple hours late but I wanna urge you all to follow a great blogger by the name of Kate.

Kate has a very nice and professional youtube book review channel going. You should check that out.

Anyways, Kate is an awesome reviewer and she is looking for some awesome followers to interact with. I don't think I've watched or read a single review that was less than spectacular.

So for Follow Friday...er....Saturday...slide on over to Kate's blog and channel. Show this hard worker the appreciation she deserves!

I WON! I WON!: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

2011-11-10T13:03:00.000-05:00

I am jumping up and down in my seat with happiness. I WON a book! Misty from Book Rat recently had a lot of giveaways for Helluva Halloween. I entered the giveaway for Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, a book I have been waiting in line PATIENTLY at my library for since... forever it feels.

I've heard a lot of hype for this book and even downloaded a sample via my Nook (Alexandria) to see if I would like it. Oh and from that little snippet I did. And now I have won it! I'm smiling so big my cheeks hurt.

Thanks so much Misty! And I want to congratulate the other winners who also won very AWESOME books! And thank you to my poor husband who just listened to me gush about how excited I am and how much I have been looking forward to this book. You are so patient with my nerdiness Michael. I love you man!

Review: Breathers: A Zombie's Lament

2011-11-09T20:50:00.001-05:00

Breathers: A Zombie's Lament by S.G. Browne

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book. Quite a bit. It is a fresh take on a old genre...zombies! But it also addressing the realistic implications of the "what ifs" without getting muddled down by the "hows" of the dead returning to life. I think it is a fun little read and definitely entertaining. I especially like the depiction of zombies as victims rather than the way traditionally exhibited in zombie novels.

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Review: What Alice Forgot

2011-11-09T20:32:00.001-05:00

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book touched on so many emotions that I feel on a daily basis. And it struck close to home so much that I was sure I would burst out into a fit of hiccuping tears to the total confusion of my husband at any given moment. I found myself hugging my husband at every chance, I wanted so badly to grab him by the hands and say "lets never fight, lets never be too busy for each other, lets just be happy for the rest of our lives." Ok I usually get all uncomfortable when books have even the slightest bit of romance in them. Usually books give you the people in love and how they show they are in love. But this wasn't on that level. It was more....explanatory...and to anyone who has been in a relationship or is married... you get the romance. You understand why Alice is so confused by her impending divorce.

Now for the spoilers

I felt a connection with Alice. I am around the age she was in 1998. I understood her innocence and confusing over why the divorce was taking place. I understood her silliness. I GOT HER. I also felt a strong connection with Elizabeth. I know how she feels to be infertile. I know the craziness and the "why won't these BREEDERS just go the hell away." I know this might be me in 10 or 15 years...

Oh but when we got to the end. (Before the Epilogue) Lemme tell ya I was really to strangle, dismember and dispose of Alice's corpse. I wanted to shake her by the shoulder's and scream "YOU STUPID TWIT! HE IS STILL BESOTTED WITH YOU! STOP BEING SO SELFISH AND MAKE THIS WORK!" I felt she was a spoiled, selfish, cow. I felt she needed to get off her high horse and learn to forgive Nick for keeping up her beautiful lifestyle, financial security, and "busy busy busy" hobbies. The man worked long hours...to keep them afloat. And she never even realized it. She had it made. Sure all she wanted was him home and it makes me wonder....why the HELL didn't she just tell him. But in 2008 it is so easy to just say "I'm not to blame...you are" and continue on with your life......then I read the Epilogue...and I forgave her. Well almost. I'm still on the fence over whether to FULLY forgive her or not.

Oh and Gina got a reprieve from my previous assumption.

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Review: Fat Vampire: A Never Coming of Age Story

2011-10-30T19:15:00.001-04:00

Fat Vampire: A Never Coming of Age Story by Adam Rex

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I had some hopes for this book. In the beginning it was funny, it was intriguing, I found myself sympathizing with Doug. Then it all came crashing down and fell completely flat. Doug didn't pan out the way I was hoping. Then there was the ending. It just ended up uninspiring.

I don't think Doug truly values Jay as a friend. He sees him more as a person he is stuck with, sometimes thinking he is being kind to Jay by being his friend. He seems to think Jay can't make any friends of his own. Obviously Jay can, I mean hello Cat came to his house. And then continued to come to his house. That means he is entirely capable of making friends.

You would think Doug would change and evolve into a better person. But this never happens. At points it seems like it just skims over his story and we really know nothing about what is happening.

And the characters never really become likable. They never really fleshed out. So many things were introduced and just not followed through with.

Such a shame.

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Review: Hourglass

2011-10-28T23:16:00.000-04:00

Hourglass by Myra McEntire

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

*Will post review in a few days*

********************************************************

I recently read a review on Book Rat about this book. Misty was so dead on with my feelings about this book that I had to comment. And since sometimes I'm super lazy....I'm reposting it as my review.

Warning, There Might Be Spoilers

Minda said...

I cackled at your description of Cat as "bald-Brittany cray-cray" cause it is so dead on the money. I liked that I did not see that coming. That literally hit me from left field, right in the face. You seemed to pick up on a lot of things I had trouble with when reading this book.

Em and Michael were intense, soooo intense, and that usually turns me off. Well yea it did at first. Then I was willing to keep going because the story had some potential. But I have to admit that after the first one hundred times Michael's perfection was described.....I started shifting my eyes away from the page for a breather then skimming through until the plot started again. BUT at least McEntire gave an explanation for WHY Em was so drawn to Michael. Not like some authors I have read.... *cough*

I was kinda happy about the "Emmett Brown" clone but then I felt she could have tried for a little more "mad scientist" originality. I would have liked to see him a little less stereotypical and a little less "here's a really eccentric scientific dude, now back to our soap opera."

And that little heifer trying to take Michael and make him her man....I don't like that girl. I've met that girl. I'm been the Emerson to that girl...If I was writing the sequel...I'd have her run over by a herd of wildebeests Lion King Style.

Other than all that stuff....I really liked the book. I haven't written a review for Hourglass yet so I'm just gonna copy paste this to Goodreads. LOL...I'm so lazy.

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Giveaways on Saturdays

2011-10-28T22:47:00.000-04:00

So I've been entering a lot of giveaways on Goodreads lately. (A lot cheaper than playing the lottery.) And since I love to talk about books, but mostly cause I wanna alert anyone who isn't a member of Goodreads....in hopes of inspiring them to join Goodreads, I'm gonna post them here. Right now my plan is to call it Giveaways On Staturdays. But I'm a really...absentminded creature so it might end up being Giveaways Whenever-days. I'm gonna try.

SO...on with the show.

Ok here are the giveaways I have entered so far.

Pandemonium (Delirium, #2)

by Lauren Oliver

giveaway details

Giveaway dates: Sep 26, 2011-Feb 28, 2012

I've got the time to wait. I didn't really enjoy the first book but the excerpt from the second book intrigued me. But I won't cry if I don't win.

The Dig

by Michael Siemsen

giveaway details

Giveaway dates: Oct 26-Nov 11, 2011

Ok so, "A mysterious woven metal artifact is found at a paleontological dig in Africa." You had me at paleontological. Seriously, I'm a history/anthropology/archaeology/geology/all around histoscience (my own special word there folks) NUT! There is time travelling, supernatural powers, rewriting of human history! It's like, wow, it's I'm so there. I'm seriously putting this on my "MUST BUY" list if I don't win. That's how excited this book's summary made me. (I spent an entire semester working on a paper about Australopithecus Afarensis-Lucy....While listening to Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds over and over....yea I'm that big of a nerd.)

Prized (Birthmarked #2)

by Caragh M. O'Brien

giveaway details

Giveaway dates: Oct 11-Nov 08, 2011

I want to read the first book, Birthmarked, and what better motivation than winning the second book. I'm not gonna lie though. If I win this book I'm reading it before I get the first. I'm not above reading out of order. LOL.

Bewitching (Kendra Chronicles, #1)

by Alex Flinn

giveaway details

Giveaway dates: Oct 27-Nov 08, 2011

I'm just gonna let the summary speak for itself here:

Kendra Hilferty, the witch who curses Kyle Kingsbury in Beastly, tells about her immortal existence-how she discovered she was a witch and the various ways she has used her powers to help people throughout the centuries. (Unfortunately her attempts have often backfired.) As it turns out, Kendra has actually had a hand in "Hansel and Gretel," "The Princess and the Pea," and "The Little Mermaid"-but these are not the fairy tales you think you know! Kendra's reminiscences are wrapped around a real-time version of "Cinderella," except the "ugly" stepsister is the good guy. With dark twists, hilarious turns, and unexpected endings, Bewitching is a contemporary read for fairy-tale lovers, fantasy fans, and anyone looking for more Alex Flinn.

Check. Check. And Check.

The Sexual History of London: From Roman Londinium to the Swinging City---Lust, Vice, and Desire Across the Ages

by Catharine Arnold

giveaway details

Giveaway dates: Aug 11-Nov 06, 2011

I'm a history nut. So anything that has to do with History, The Romans, and England...thumbs up...balls to the wall....I want it. Right Meow. I just think it would be a really interesting read. I love the anthropological side to history. You can keep the specific dates of battles or laws. I wanna know what life was like for the common man, aristocrat, and everyone else.

The Scorpio Races

by Maggie Stiefvater

giveaway details

Giveaway dates: Oct 25-Nov 01, 2011

I'm gonna be honest. I never read her Wolves of Mercy Falls series. But the summary to this looked good. Plus it's getting some hype...so what the heck I'll throw my hat in.

Steampunk!: An Anthology of Fantastically Rich and Strange Stories

by Kelly Link (Editor), Gavin J. Grant(Goodreads Author) (Editor)

giveaway details

Giveaway dates: Oct 10-Oct 31, 2011

I've been dying to read some steampunk. I've heard good things about this genre but I've never gotten around to getting some steampunk for my TBR list. What better way to be introduced to the genre then with a collection of short stories. I'd say this is a 3/5 on the scale of how bad I wanna win.


Out of Oz (Wicked Years, #4) by Gregory Maguire giveaway details Giveaway dates: Oct 28-Nov 04, 2011

Holy heart failure, Batman! I had no idea this book was coming out so soon. I screamed when I saw it listed on the Goodreads Giveaway. Wicked # 4!!!!! Now I know book 2 and 3 were kind of a let down to most people. And I know Gregory Maguire is a little hard to digest sometimes. But this is the final book! I love Wicked and I adore GM's writing style. I've read almost all of his books. I've participated on the GM discussion boards. This might be THE giveaway. THE ONE. My own true love. If I don't win, this is going on my list. (Technically it's already on the list but ya know you always want the one that got away...)

So that's the giveaways I've entered. My reasonings behind why I entered each one. I still can't get over the Out of Oz giveaway. *drools* You don't know how bad I wanna lick my computer screen right now.

Keeping My Skinny Little Fingers Crossed

2011-10-17T22:09:00.000-04:00

There are less than 5 hours left til the winners for the Goodreads Giveaway of Clockwork Prince are announced. I'm really hoping to win. But my chances are slim. There are 100 copies and 10288 people have entered. So if I am figuring correctly (I should have paid better attention to this but for some reason I didn't) I have a .9% chance of winning. Sigh. I'm keeping my fingers crossed anyways.

*EDIT*

And of course I didn't win, this of course breaks my heart cause I really wanted to win. I mean I write reviews of all the books I read (well I have been writing reviews a lot more often lately and with more enthusiasm, my past is just that...pa st) and I make sure to thank the people who host the giveaways. Oh well better luck next time I guess. LOL.

I'm gonna keep on the look out for more great giveaways. And I'll try to make a post here so everyone can know about them. But for now I guess I'll just keep hoping for a chance to hit the book lottery. LOL.... (*Goes to corner to sulk and lick her wounds*)

Review: Fallen

2011-10-17T18:35:00.001-04:00

Fallen by Lauren Kate

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Imagine Twilight but with Fallen Angels. Yea that is this book in it's most basic form. The ONLY saving grace to keep it from falling into the deadly "Minda's most hated books" category is that Luce is a little less annoying than the Queen of Mary Suedom, Bella Swan. That is not to say they aren't strikingly similar. Both heroines fall in love with a guy while he is basically giving them the cold shoulder. Both heroines gush about how BEAUTIFUL and PERFECT he is... and how irresistibly drawn they are to him. Both heroines are flat and make completely idiotic decisions even though they are supposed to be "oh so intelligent ya know cause they make good grades and stuff".... Lemme just say not all "intellectual girls" fall for the first pretty face that comes their way. BOTH HEROINES ARE STUCK IN A GRIPPING LOVE TRIANGLE!!!!

Seeeeeeeeeeeee.... That and the simplistic writing of both books mark them as THING 1 and THING 2. Impossible to really tell apart unless you understand that the devil is in the details. Thankfully, Lauren Kate didn't try to put sparkles where sparkles don't belong. Although she did put Gold Eye Shadow/Eyeliner on one of the dudes? At least thats how I interpreted it as looking. Now this works when Suzanne Collins does it to a character, Cinna, but you know all those crazy capital people wear weirdo fashion anyways.... OK back to my point. Thank you Lauren Kate for sticking KINDA..... to the whole Angels lusts after women mythos.

The plot didn't really take off and even appear until about the last (checks book really fast) 50 pages. (Bear with me if it appears at a different point in your book...I'm working from the Ebook here.) Then things got interesting but were not explained until the EVIL VILLIANESS unveiled her plot. WHY ARE THEY ALWAYS DOING THAT!?!?!?! Just have your plot in your mind and keep your lips sealed so 1. You don't waste time talking when you should be killing your victim. 2. You don't reveal, make things so easy for the reader!!! Sometimes a challenge is OK Alright, yea, you are right it would make people complain cause they wouldn't know why the villain killed the victim, good point. (Talking to my head voices again)

Now I've heard the next two books are better and I have nothing but time on my hands, so what the heck I'll give it another shot. If I can suffer through the entire depressing....annoying....Facepalm that is Twilight. I can live through this.

Cheers!

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Review: A Great and Terrible Beauty

2011-10-16T18:08:00.001-04:00

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely LOVED this book. The setting drew me in, I'm a sucker for the Victorian Era. I felt the characters were very well developed. At times they acted a little too modern for the time period. Gemma seems to be quite an interesting young lady and I can't wait to read more about her in the second and third books.

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Review: Breaking Dawn

2011-10-15T00:15:00.001-04:00

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Lets just not even discuss this ok.....I feel a headache coming on......but I am relieved that it's finally over. WooooHOOO!

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Review: Dust City

2011-10-14T23:34:00.001-04:00

Dust City by Robert Paul Weston

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a great twist on retold fairy tales and certainly deserves four stars for it's plot. But I felt the world building was a little lackluster. Something about it just didn't grab me and make me wish I could be there seeing the glimmering towers of Eden or smell the pepperminty smell of Grandma's house....I can't quite put my finger on it though.

I though the idea of Henry battling with his inner wolf while trying to be the good guy he is was just a little bit overdone. That being said I did enjoy the book and wish there was more to it. Perhaps a sequel. I never did figure out if Skinner was supposed to be a remake of Rumpelstiltskin or Humpty Dumpty or both. I'm betting he is supposed to be a blend of both.

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Review: The Willoughbys

2011-10-14T23:33:00.003-04:00

The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was such a cute read. I loved the way the children interacted with one another and I found myself laughing out loud many time. The plot was interesting and certainly drew from elements of "old fashioned" children's stories. All the characters were charming (except for the parents..no they were Nefarious) and I especially enjoyed the idea of Nanny as an alabaster Aphrodite. That was very comical. I must say I learned a few new vocabulary words from reading it and the addition of a glossary at the end of the book along with some examples of "old fashioned" children's stories was great.

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Review: iDrakula

2011-10-14T23:33:00.001-04:00

iDrakula by Bekka Black

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this quite a bit even if it left out many of the aspects of the original Dracula that make it so great. It is a very interesting take on the story and serves the purpose of laying out the basic plot to Bram Stoker's novel in a modern way.

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Review: Divergent

2011-10-14T23:31:00.001-04:00

Divergent by Veronica Roth

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book. The idea that people would be separated into different factions based on their personality attributes was interesting and I enjoyed the way the author conveyed the idea. At times though the plot seemed predictable and I guessed the true identity of Four long before it was revealed. I also guessed the main plot before it was revealed.

I thought Tris was a little disappointing at times. I felt her attachment to her friends and her good character traits were admirably described. Peter made me mad and I felt myself hoping for a unhappy ending for him thorough-out the entirety of the book.

I enjoyed the action sequences and pace of the book. I will be looking forward to the next in the series.

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Review: Delirium

2011-10-14T23:29:00.001-04:00

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I felt that the world constructed within this book was ok. I don't see a world where teen are forced to undergo brain surgery as plausible though. I think there would be too much scientific evidence against the procedure and the risks would be too high in order for it to be required of everyone. I also can't see a world where all manner of emotion is medically removed working out. Seems like it would crash and burn within a few decades.

Too much about this book seemed implausible. I felt the characters where exactly flat but they could have been developed just a little more. I just really couldn't sympathize with the characters. The relationship between Alex and Lena was too unbelievable. I mean in a world where teens are segregated from the opposite sex I felt it was too unbelievable that they would have that much freedom. I understand Lena was lying to her Aunt the whole time and saying she was with Hana, but still it seems like freedoms would be restricted quite a bit more if LOVE was that dangerous.

I just didn't like this book very much. I mean it was OK...but it never really grasped my attention and pulled me into the story. I felt myself skimming through many parts just to be done with it. In my opinion love isn't such a strong emotion that it would cause people to completely lose their minds. And don't even get me started on the animal abuse present in one part of the story. That just annoyed me. If love and desire are not present then why in the heck would a family even have a pet? It just didn't make sense. You have to have a DESIRE to have an animal companion which would cause you to have a feeling of attachment (ie Love) toward the animal so that you would be willing to feed, water, care for the animal properly. If the procedure supposedly removes these emotions and feelings then why would anyone even seek a pet in the first place?

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Review: The Giver

2011-10-14T23:27:00.001-04:00

The Giver by Lois Lowry

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I found this book very exciting and the storyline seemed very realistic. This is a world I could see happening. Even in our present society we seek pleasure and happiness over pain. But what happens when our memories of pain are gone and we no longer remember what it is like to hurt, not physically, but emotionally? How can we call ourselves human if we actually feel nothing?

The main characters were a mix of flat and well-rounded. But for this novel that mixture works. Mother, Father, and Lily seemed flat but I expected that given the subject matter. If they were as well rounded and fleshed out as The Giver and Jonas, I do not feel the book would not have the same pull and meaning to the reader.

Asher was a bit cliche as your typical hyperactive and fun seeking child. This is what I call the "poster child for Ritalin" and it was not surprising when his assignment was revealed. I felt Fiona was only mentioned by name in order to advance the plot and give a reason for the changes brought on by Jonas' maturation.

The world built within the book was fascinating and I felt it was the right choice for details to be withheld until needed in conjunction with the storyline. I did not expect color to be absent until it was mentioned that Jonas was beginning to see the color red. This took me by surprise but made sense as too much unrest could be created within a society based on coloring alone. Not just unrest over differences in skin color but the concept of beauty based on coloring or the mental notation of all members of a certain profession having a certain coloring similarity could create apprehension in Elevens. There are so many reasons for the absence of color that I could see why it would be reserved only for the Receiver of Memory.

I felt the pacing of the novel was just a bit hurried toward the end but that fits well with the danger and fear that Jonas felt fleeing the community. I would have loved a further discussion of the significance and meaning when the Giver said that Rosemary was his daughter. Does this mean that Jonas is genetically his son? What about Gabriel? Or was it meant that she was his "daughter" in his family unit? How do geneticists get the DNA used to create the newchildren? I know there are Birthmothers but how is the process of insemination started and where do the male sex alleles come from? I wish it was discussed in further detail.

I gave this book a five star rating because I was deeply interested and entertained by the storyline. I felt the writing was spectacular, and I enjoyed the use of flat and complex characters. There was meaning behind the construction of the world within this book. And I found it thought provoking and contemplative. My only complaint with the book was that it ended too soon. LOL.

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2011-10-03T19:31:00.001-04:00

Hey right now my Broadband card with T-Mobile is out of service, gotta pay the bill *blushes*, so whenever we can get to a T-Mobile and get it back on I'll be able to post the reviews as I get them done. But for right now I'll probably be posting a lot of r
eviews at one time whenever I can get free WiFi.

Sitting at the truck terminal for the company my husband drives for right now, so I've got free WiFi and I've posted around three reviews?(I think)

I even read one of the books my brother bought me for my birthday!

I've been reading some of the books out loud to my husband while he drives. He enjoys it sometimes but he really wants me to finish the Twilight Saga soon cause my annoyance at the series is driving him crazy. LOL...but the great thing is he asked me the other day about possibly getting him a Nook! Can you feel my excitement right now!MICHAEL...READING!!!

Review: Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale

2011-10-03T18:54:00.001-04:00

Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale by Carolyn Turgeon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a retelling of one of my favorite sub-genres, fairytales. I loved the complexity and emotion behind this book. I love how the author took HCA's Little Mermaid and expanded it to a full length novel with real purpose and meaning behind the mermaid's sacrifice. And even though it doesn't end the exact same as the original fairytale, the ending does add a distinct moral to the story.

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Review: The Eleventh Plague

2011-10-03T18:51:00.001-04:00

The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book even though I am not the target audience, Young Adult. Now I wouldn't even mention this unless it was obvious from the writing. I inhaled this book mostly because it has a very easy and simplistic writing style. That is not a bad thing mind you. I'm actually happy of that. Something quick and fun to read is always great inbetween long reads.

The pacing of the book was acceptable and I enjoyed the characters. Stephen and Jenny are a couple of misfits who always find themselve in trouble in this post apocalyptic community. I am glad they redeemed themselves in the end. That's about all I have to say about the book. I liked it.

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Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer Review

2011-10-03T18:00:00.000-04:00

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I got so angry at this book that about half way through I gave up writing down what in particular was annoying me because it was just a repeat of what was annoying me in the first half. Edward seems really cold and heartless toward Bella when he doesn't like how she reacts.

Edward says something that offends Bella about Jacob and he gets very stiff and formal with her. Like it's HER fault he said it. Like it's her fault about everything. What a jerk.

When she says something about her dad suggesting she go see Jacob he gets all stiff and formal again. She pleads that he is hurting but Edward refuses to discuss the matter. It's his way or no way at all apparently.

I think Meyer was making fun of her own ridiculous storyline in this book, evidenced by this.

When discussing why she enjoys Wuthering Heights so much he says the book would be better if either of them had one redeeming quality and Bella says that their love is their only redeeming quality.

At times their back and forth love mushy gushy bullsmack make me want to scream. Ugh we get it Meyer, Bella and Edward love each other...for no reason at all.

"I love you."

"I love you more"

"I love you most"

"I love you more than a small tree compared to a forest"

*Pukes*

And yet STILL Edward will not let Bella go see her friend. Claims it is TOO DANGEROUS. Ugh...his way or the highway.

Bella decides that she is going to go see Jacob, after curfew, with her dad's permission. EDWARD being the asshole that he is...has had Alice watching Bella's future. So when Alice tells Edward that Bella's future disappeared, this meaning that she was going to see Jacob, EDWARD disables her truck so she can't go anywhere. Isn't this sort of obsessive?

Ok so then Edward tells Bella if she wants him to stay away that night and not watch her sleep...ugh...for her to shut her window. So she stomps in and slams her window shut. Then the BIMBO opens it back up so Edward can come in and watch her sleep.

So many things about Edward make me hate him. He is obssesive, jealous, petty, and thinks everything should be HIS way. A selfish heartless jerk in my opinion. He's so wrapped up in himself that he can't see he is being a controlling FREAK!

Even Bella's mom sees something weird about their relationship. She thinks Edward is protective. That is not the word I would use but I guess it works well enough if you don't know he is a vampire and wants his way all the time.

On a side note, I am going to go on a little rant about Bella's dad.

This man cannot cook for himself. It is like he expects Bella to cook for him. Which being the overeager little woman, not the feminist that I've heard people proclaim she is, she happily cooks, cleans, blah blah. Ok I'm not downing people taking pride in doing the deeds of a good daughter, not by a long shot. I myself play the good daughter role quite a bit at my parents' house. Bella seems to literally LIVE to do these things. Maybe I'm reading too much but sometimes it really irks me.

Edward is always pulling Bella behind him. Like he thinks he needs to protect her all the time. I guess Bella just looking at someone else is dangerous to her health. Or maybe it's just dangerous to Edward's brainwashing of Bella.

Jacob is standing outside Forks High School. Edward says that he wants to talk to him. So Edward and Bella walk over. Edward pulls Bella behind him. I have this mental picture of Bella standing behind Edward with this "oh dear I'm so fragile and scared" look on her face while biting her nails and Edward puffing up his chest with this look like "I'm the man. The man makes the woman stand behind him so he can protect her." Ugh...give it a flipping rest!

And Edward never tells Bella anything. He probably justifies that he is "protecting her" when really he's just keeping her dumbed down and submissive in my opinion.

So then it starts to make sense to Bella, wow took her long enough, that something is going on. That Edward kept something from her that Jacob would not keep from her. That the Vamps and Wolves where in close proximity to each other and it was this close encounter that make Edward so adamant and demanding that Bella go see her mother in Florida that previous weekend. Edward lied to Bella about a vision Alice had about Jasper.

Edward takes his stalker/obsessive tendencies so far as to follow Bella's truck. Now tell me that isn't insane.

Bella snuck off to see Jacob, HER FRIEND, and Edward obviously finds out. So Bella is driving home and this crazy psycho vampire is FOLLOWING HER IN HIS VOLVO...and she goes to her friend Angela's house. And he passes by.Typical "I MUST KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING AT EVERY MOMENT!" stalker fashion...

And of course he can't let her out of his site for a moment. Ugh...STALKER!

Bella gets back from her friend Angela's house and goes up to her room and OF COURSE EDWARD IS UP THERE IN HER ROOM...UGH I soooo want to just strangle this, this, ugh EDWARD!

It's like he freaking pats her on the head all the time going "Silly woman, don't you know you need me, THE MAN, to protect you. You're not safe on your own. No and you don't need to think for yourself either, that is the MAN'S JOB." It's like he is one of those, hope this doesn't offend anyone, over fanatic religious people who feel that women should be there to produce offspring, wait on the man hand and foot, and sit there looking pretty. And of course Bella does all these things. (Hmmm one of those is based on what I know happens in the last book so yea...Spoiler) I would love for Buffy the freaking vampire slayer to stake this jerk. LOVE FOR BUFFY TO WIPE HIS A($($ OUT!

So that is my review. At times I repeat myself but this is exactly what I was feeling as I was reading the book. Extreme rage.

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Review: Hare Moon

2011-09-30T00:39:00.001-04:00

Hare Moon by Carrie Ryan

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This short ebook gives a background to Sister Tabitha who seems so cruel in the first part of Forest of Hands and Teeth.

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Review: Mockingjay

2011-09-29T19:32:00.001-04:00

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book tore my heart apart. The characters went through so much in so little time. I cried along with them, I laughed along with them, and a clenched my fists in anger along with them.

I was pleased with how Katniss seemed to spring back to her self in this last book of the Hunger Games Trilogy. At times she did slip back into her catatonic, overemotional, and analytical self. But it was for good reasons every time. Each time something was making the world a little to hard to handle.

I can relate to that feeling. Sometimes it seems like every day is a struggle. Every day there is some new obstacle to overcome. Some new problem I must find a solution to and time cannot be wasted.

From the very beginning Mockingjay was action packed. From the very beginning there was some obstacle to overcome. From the very beginning I was ready to fight.

This series will stay in my memory and heart for a long time. And I wish it wasn't over but I am pleased with the outcome.

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Review: Catching Fire

2011-09-27T13:21:00.001-04:00

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

9/27/11 12:45pm
Let me just say...WOW.

The start was a little bit slow and at times it seemed like we were just being given a synopsis of what was happening. I found myself at times wanting to shake Katniss and tell her to snap out of it. She seemed to just being going through the motions.

When the twist about the tributes of the 75th games happened I was not surprised. (I kinda sneaked a peek at the plot summary on Wikipedia) But I felt when it got down to the days leading up to the begin things started to pick up and I was hooked. Peeta's surprise announcement made me laugh. No one can deny that Peeta is intune with what will shock the audience and persuade them to rooting for Katniss and himself. And I did not expect this shock.

When the Games began I was trying to figure out what the angle was. I found myself trying to decipher, along with Katniss, who was friend and who was foe. I felt Katniss and Peeta grew to care for each other more during the games. And their stubborness would save them in the end.

The last 10% of the book had me sitting on the edge of my seat as all the facts were laid bare and what I thought would happen was proven wrong. Suzanne Collins sure knows how to keep you begging for more. I finished the book and I feel the strong pull that I must immediately pick up the last book Mockingjay.

I just hope we see Katniss self determination and personality shine through a little more in the final book. I felt she was just a little too "Bella Swan" in this book. Everything happens to her and others help save her at times. She redeemed herself a few times with her quick thinking and ingenuity, but it still seemed a little flat to me.

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Dystopian Book Challenge UPDATE

2011-09-26T02:11:00.000-04:00

Originally posted 6/20/11

I was recently on a group on Goodreads and saw a discussion about a dystopian book challenge. I have never taken part in a book challenge so I figured what the heck. Wish me luck!

The challenge entails reading a certain number (depending on what level you choose) of dystopian novels before the end of 2011. Since it was my first time doing this....I decided to choose the easiest level. (Plus I have no idea how many of these novels I will be able to get.)

Level I choose: Asocial– Choose 5 books to read

~~Books I Choose:~~

~~Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell (recently acquired)~~
~~Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (re-read)~~
~~Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K Dick~~
~~I Am Legend by Richard Matheson (re-read)~~
~~The Road by Cormac McCarthy (recently acquired)~~
~~And if any of those fall through (as in I can't get them or can't stomach them) here are some back ups:~~
~~Anthem by Ayn Rand~~
~~The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (Think about the society he meets in his Time Machine)~~

~~For those who do not know the definition of Dystopia, this is the general idea;~~
~~an imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a totalitarian or environmentally degraded one. The opposite of Utopia~~

I changed my mind. I'm going to read two (or maybe three, or four, or five, or all) of these books:

I have already read:

I read the second book in the Newsflesh series (Deadline) but I am only going to count one book from a dystopian series toward my goal of 5 books. So that means if I read Oryx and Crake then I have to read an extra book from the list...so instead of needing just two more books I'd need three. But I really really REALLY want to read Oryx and Crake...ok maybe I will cheat and count it as one of the five along with Year of the Flood...It's my party and I'll cheat if I want to. LOL.

I love the classic dystopian novels with all my heart but there is just too much new dystopia out there plus I got a big book haul for my birthday. Lots of Dystopia there. Some Apocalyptic too...

Review: New Moon

2011-09-24T19:39:00.001-04:00

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I had a long.....detailed review typed out. Then T-MOBILE...decided it wanted to drop my connection. Anyways the synopsis of my review said that I hate Bella, I hate Edward, Jacob needs to eat them both. Bella is a tease, she plays with people emotions cause she has not flipping emotions herself. Victoria would be doing everyone a favor by killing Bella and Edward. I hate this book it's only saving grace was that for atleast 70% of it I didn't have to hear mushy retarded romance. Bella, Edward, Explain to me why you flipping love each other cause ya know what...there is no explanation. Meyer never took the time to EXPLAIN why you two are so attached at this hip. And why are you going to let that pansy Edward tell you that you can't say bye to your friend Jacob. Oh well I guess you are just some dependent brainless bimbo just like I thought.

This book makes me very very angry. I'm only reading it because I wanna have the RIGHT to complain. I wanna be able to look someone in the eye and say "yes I read that book and let me tell you why I hated it so much" ....but I can't do that here cause I have to hurry before this piece of crap technology drops me AGAIN. Maybe I'll type out a longer review next time. Maybe.

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Review: The Help

2011-09-21T21:54:00.000-04:00

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I picked up this book because it was the selection of a book club I belonged to, but unfortunately I never got the chance to read it in time. When it was selected for another book club I belong to, I decided to give it another try. Now mind you I really wanted to read it because the summary made it sound so appealing.

The beginning of the story was intriguing and the author did a great job of setting the scene for what Mississippi might have been like for both black and white women. The characters shone through as well-rounded in my opinion and I felt they were each realistic. Not too evil and not too good, except Hilly, that girl seems evil in every bone of her body.

I enjoyed the funny stories about the crazy white ladies and cried when I read the touching moments between maid/lady.

I have to say Celia Foote might have been my favorite character. I loved her personality and naiviete at the inner workings of white lady society. But I did find it hard to believe that a poor girl did not know how to cook. I just wonder what her childhood and upbringing entailed.

Skeeter was also a favorite character. Her growth throughout the book from young woman trying to keep in step with the only friends she has ever known growing up to self assured independent thinker who does not care what others think made me smile.

I felt this book was worth the time spent reading it and even though it is fiction, it represents a pivitol time in US History. Now I want to see the movie in hopes it can live up to my expectations.

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Review: Deadline

2011-09-09T03:00:00.001-04:00

Deadline by Mira Grant

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Reading this book from Shaun's POV was difficult. I'm not a big fan of Shaun. He's a little slow on the uptake at times. Fortunately, there is a little voice of reason in the back of his head that helps him figure out the problems that come along. The beginning of the book was nicely paced. It provided us with the information we needed to know about changes that occurred since the end of the first book [b:Feed|7094569|Feed (Newsflesh Trilogy #1)|Mira Grant|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51A8LiX8FpL._SL75_.jpg|7351419]. Readers were introduced to new characters and a new plot was unveiled.

Toward the middle of the book things seemed more....difficult to get through. And more plots were unveiled. I hate to admit this, my pride and all you know, but there were a couple plots that I didn't really grasp at first. I shall not tell you about them but I will say things could have been improved with a little less plot switching. Yet even though the plot or situation kept switching...it was still kinda slow and difficult and felt like it was dragging.

Now the end of the book. Let me tell you that was one head spinning, gut wrenching, spinning you so fast on the tilt o' whirl that I felt I was gonna explode. Suddenly the future is bright again and suddenly things have changed drastically. I felt as if Mira grabbed my heart, ripped it out of my chest, stuck a cute little zombie sticker on it and then placed it back in my chest. One minute I was ready to throw the book and yell about people dying all the time and screw those flippin' zombies, then the next I was like WAIT...WHAT!?!

And the last chapter fulfilled my little hopes and dreams and wishes and evil little prayers. But it was the excerpt from book three in the Newsflesh trilogy that confirmed my suspicions faster than a highly sensitive blood test just when you really need it.

I hated this book in the middle. I was okay with it in the beginning. But I loved it at the end. Absolutely loved it. But because only 1/3 of the book (or maybe less) was love worthy....I can only give it three stars. Cause I liked it overall.

Oh yea and I finished this on my birthday. Go me!

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Pottermore!

2011-09-08T19:15:00.001-04:00

Well I got into Pottermore about a week ago. What house did I get sorted into? Ravenclaw of course!

If you got in as well feel free to add me WillowWolf69. (Pottermore gave us a few premade choices in name...I chose WillowWolf cause Wolf=Lupus...the number are just a consequence. )

Miss Stardoll World 2011

2011-09-01T04:36:00.000-04:00

I spend a lot of time on this website called Stardoll. I know it's probably what most was consider "childish" but I love putting together outfits and designing rooms. Probably cause I don't really have the nerve, body, or money to dress myself the way I would like to, or dress up my house the way I would like to...yea....pathetic excuse right?

Anyways they have this Miss Stardoll World contest going on and...I'd kinda like to win something. I know I don't have the most fashionable suite, my doll looks like ...well me...not what I WISH I looked like really. (I even gave it a mole exactly where I have one...and glasses.) Anyway what I'm trying to say is....

Dressup games at Stardoll

Please help me win?!?

Review: Saints Preserved: An Encyclopedia of Relics

2011-08-31T03:36:00.001-04:00

Saints Preserved: An Encyclopedia of Relics by Thomas J. Craughwell

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I won this book in a giveaway. I would like to thank Cindy for the chance to read and review this copy.

My first perception is that it is organized very efficiently and the bibliography is sufficient for such a work. I would love to see an index for quick reference and/or an appendix with a list of each Saint's patronage and feast day. I'm sure all Catholics know these details by heart but for a non-catholic it would be beneficial. However this does not detract from the book itself.

*More review to follow*

I finally finished this book. I took my time with it because I was reading other books as well, fiction, and I wanted to take in this book slowly. I thought this book was good for what it intentions were, the treatment of the subject matter was professional.

My general complaints about the book stem from my interest in what the relics themselves look like and more information on the relics/saints themselves. I also had a tiny issue with the bibliography and citation methods.

My first complaint is a minor one and could easily been tossed in the "oh that really doesn't matter" rubbish bin, but I will address it anyways. I would love to see more pictures of the relics throughout the book. I can understand though that finding pictures of the relics may be difficult. Many churches/cathedrals/museums/wherever else keep their relics and valued possessions locked away from prying eyes. That being said the book at times did not inform us what particular relics were listed as the saints. For example: the section on James the Lesser (died c. 62) states only where the relics are enshrined and not what they ARE. I was able to find that one of the relics attributed to James the Lesser is in fact his head. I may be morbid but I would like to know what the relic in question is and not just that there is a relic. I don't mind the lack of pictures/illustrations of the relic, but not knowing what it is could have been alleviated by those pictures when the description was omitted.

My next complaint is that I would love to see an appendix or more than one in the book. I think one or two pages of information at the back of the book would be beneficial to those wishing to use it as a reference. My suggested appendixes would include: A list of Saints by time period; A list of saints by patronage; A list of saints by Feast day; A list of saints by geographical location; and a list of saints by relic type. I understand that the patronage and feast day are listed at the end of each saint's section but a way to quickly look up a saint by these two attributes would be appreciated.

My final complaint is about the author's primary and secondary source citation. I think it would have been very beneficial to have footnotes or at least some manner of citation other than just the bibliography. As a history student I know that when writing historical research your reader can have a hard time cross-referencing your sources if you fail to use footnotes and just type out a bibliography. The reader/researcher would have to look through the list of sources on the bibliography one by one in order to know which one deals with a particular saint. But if the bibliography was organized in a research friendly manner this problem could be easily solved.

This book was a great basic reference for those studying the history of the Catholic Church, a particular saint, and/or those who are wishing to convert to Catholicism. I loved design of the cover, the halo over the "A" was a little cliche but still acceptable. The simplicity of the design gives the book a reference worthy appearance.

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Review: Feed

2011-07-22T04:25:00.001-04:00

Feed by Mira Grant

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Feed had me hooked from the very beginning. I loved characterization of Georgia. Admttedly Shaun was a little flat, along with Buffy, but I rationalized that was because Mira Grant wanted to focus mostly on Georgia. What Georgia saw, What Georgia felt, How Georgia reacted.

The world Mira Grant created I felt was plausible, well researched, and very very much like our own. I know everyone says that the zombie theme has been done and done to death, but somehow I think Mira Grant reinvented and dug deep to create a world that could happen.

Overall this was a good zombie novel. Well worth the time spent reading.

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Review: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

2011-07-13T02:07:00.001-04:00

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When I first began reading this book I enjoyed the pace and how she connected the background of scientific developments involved with HeLa and the story of Henrietta's life. As I read further I felt a little bogged down by the ever decreasing pace. It seemed like I was reading this book forever. However, that is to be expected when reading nonfiction at times. Sometimes the pace drags on.

So I am taking a step back and viewing the book as a whole. Ms. Skloot did a great job covering the scientific aspects. While at times it feels more like a high school student's biology paper, basic facts with no "true" connection to the story at all, I think it was probably difficult to find information regarding HeLa.

I greatly appreciate the fact that she did not change Henrietta's family's dialogue. The truth and modern consequences of a shady past when racism was prevalent is not seen often in books. And when it is, the result is sometimes a lot less REAL. In this book we see how the loss of a mother because doctors did not take time to see that their treatments were making Henrietta's disease worse, greatly changed the childhood and nurturing of her children.

I liked this book and I think it would be a good book to present to young teens who wish to pursue a scientific career. You may ask isn't this book a little difficult for teens. I do not feel it is too difficult. This book is easier to read than many of the nonfiction books I have read on science. And the human side helps the reader to stay connected that this is a story about a human. Not a story about test subjects, a story about how important one individual's life can be to science and research.

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My End of the World/Zombie Apocalypse Playlist

2011-05-21T17:30:00.001-04:00

* It's the End of the World as We Know It - REM
* Highway to Hell - AC/DC
* If Today was Your Last Day - Nickelback
* If I Die Young - The Band Perry
* Break Stuff - Limp Bizkit (good for cracking skulls)
* Dead & Bloated - Stone Temple Pilots
* Digging up Bones - Randy Travis (cause the dead sinners caskets will apparently rise out of the ground)
* Thriller - Michael Jackson (couldn't help it)
* Get the Party Started - P!NK
* Heaven - Warrant
* When the Man Comes Around - Johnny Cash
* No More Room - Scarring Party
* Stayin' Alive - The BeeGees
* If Tomorrow Never Comes - Garth Brooks
* Time in a Bottle - Jim Croce
* Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
* Bodies - Drowning Pool
* Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley (rickrolling the zombies)
* Comin' Home - Ozzy (prince of darkness since 1979!)

Man Found Not Guilty of Mammoth Murder

2010-08-19T03:35:00.000-04:00

Well duh. The weather changes thus reducing the plant life available to feed such massive creatures and boom impeding extinct.

Man Found Not Guilty of Mammoth Murder

2010-08-07T05:41:00.000-04:00

Just saw the band Framing Hanley last night at Club Jet in Cookeville, TN. It was amazing. My best friend Janna introduced me to this band's music. I had heard the rock version of Lollipop but I had no idea who sang it. So we went to the concert and it was great. I have never been to a concert before and it was a wonderful experience. I couldn't get the video to You Stupid Girl to embed so I had to simply embed Lollipop. This band is originally from TN and that makes it great.

Mount Toba Eruption – Ancient Humans Unscathed, Study Claims � Anthropology.net

2010-06-25T16:24:00.000-04:00

Mount Toba Eruption – Ancient Humans Unscathed, Study Claims � Anthropology.net

There is evidence that this eruption did not cause a bottleneck in human population. Although it is widely believed that the human population may have decreased to 10,000 or even 1,000 breeding pairs, scientists believe that tool making modern humans survived the event 70,000 years ago unscathed.

Twilight the first experience and a second look

2010-06-05T07:03:00.000-04:00

When my friend Amanda asked me to go see the movie Twilight, I was ok with it. I had listened to the audiobook and I figured it was worth a shot. Little did I know that this little movie would make my stomach turn over. You see, I've got this black little heart...kinda. I grew up as a tomboyish girl and I've never been one to love romance movies...in fact like most of my guy friends I call them chick flicks. I had no idea...that Twilight...was a chick flick. (Did I mention I'm a little naive and slow on the uptake?) And I was also in a very depressive...excuse I am in a very depressive state of mind lately.

Anywhos so basically I went there expecting a pretty good movie with little romance...cause..I mean thats the impression I got from the audiobook...and reading the book. Well I get there and start watching it....my friend is literally sitting on the edge of her seat with this.....all worshipping grin on her face. Like she wishes SHE could be Bella. (Sorry Amanda but it's true....I glanced over to see if you were as repulsed as me.) Meanwhile, I'm sitting there...not let me rephrase that....laying there....as I had sank down as far in my seat as I could go cause I was sooo uncomfortable with the things that were going on in the movie. I mean I was bundled up cause it was cold, but I had my jacket pulled up cause I was trying desperately to hide the look on my face. If I could have taken a picture of myself at that moment I'm pretty sure it would have looked like this.

Ok maybe not exactly but I was definitely throwing the Jasper in pain face....big time. So I held onto my stomach until the movie was over. As the credits began to roll I bolted out the the door. All the while Amanda was stumbling behind me telling me the slow down. (Amanda, why is it that when I want to make a quick escape you ALWAYS have to slow me down?? Need I remind you of the RONALD incident??)

I got to the truck and I quickly started the drive home. And I explained to Amanda why I didn't like the movie. Let me just say I am sorry I was sooo ticked and annoyed at the movie. It was nothing against Twilight fans....I'm simply too cold and black hearted to watch the movie without gagging.

Alright so after both Amanda and another of my friends (Mandi) telling me to give the movie another chance...I've decided to rewatch the movie cause my dear friend Janna insisted.

So here's my review of the movie the second time around..

KStew makes the same face every single scene.
I don't know why everyone thinks RPatt is so hot...he looks like he was hit with a shovel in the face.
The acting from both actors was stiff and unimpressive.
Edward sooooo does not need to be watching her sleep. *shudders*
Does he want her or not want her? Boy runs hot and cold.
Jacob is well...his hair scares me....
Bella might just be onto something with the whole...."I don't want to be around other people" thing.
Rose really HATES Bella for some reason.
James creeps me out....he is PedoVamp
Even I wouldn't fall for the old "We have your mother" trick without first CALLING MY MOTHER!!!!! Derp Derp.

I'm finished....It's just not for me....

Creature of Sugar Flat Road

2009-08-14T16:38:00.000-04:00

I was looking around the website Roadside America at roadside attractions and oddities here in TN and stumbled across this gem. Which in turn lead me here to read the full story: Creature of Sugar Flat Road. Just another thing to put on my "To Do Before I Die" list.

2009-03-10T21:39:00.000-04:00

DO NOT PLAGIARIZE!!! This is my original work so don't try to take credit for it. I am just posting it because I actually like to post papers I write in the hopes that someone will give me constructive criticism.

This is a paper I wrote for my 12pm class Scientific Controversies. I made a grade of 16/20 on it.

M Y
HIST 4810
Assignment 1
February 26, 2009

Thomas Kuhn’s The Structure of Scientific Revolutions introduced to the history of science community a way of examining past scientific thought from a historical perspective. His ideas were so versatile that they have been used within other disciplines. Kuhn states that paradigms are the basic ideas of a discipline. They comprise the general knowledge known and accepted by the community as a whole.

A paradigm can be broad or narrow depending on the amount of information available. The paradigm gives the starting block from which science is practiced by assisting scientists to make useful and vital observations. It guides the research done by setting distinct rules to solve the “puzzle.” Kuhn calls these observations and researches the practice of “normal science.”

Normal science is the everyday activities of a scientist. It may include the data collected, observations, the application of theory to a system, or any other everyday procedures. When scientists encounter a situation or data that does not fit into the current paradigm, it is called an “anomaly.”

An anomaly is often unexpected and unwanted. When scientists encounter more than one anomaly or an anomaly that is repeated, a crisis happens. If a crisis should occur, scientists must reanalyze their paradigm. They often question whether the anomalies are just a glitch in the data or if they reveal something major for the discipline. The end result of a crisis is often the formation of a new paradigm that fits with the newly accrued data and the anomalies.

This new paradigm then replaces the old paradigm. Scientists never abandon an old paradigm unless they have a new paradigm to replace it. So the paradigm guides normal science. And if normal science finds one or more anomalies, there comes to pass a crisis. Should the crisis become so bad that it threatens the paradigm; a new paradigm is formed to replace the previous paradigm.

The rotation of new paradigms replacing old paradigms shows that science is progressing. Successful theories are based on paradigms and as these paradigms are replaced with new paradigms, the theories begin to change as well. The paradigms insure that the goal of science, to have as few missing pieces as possible, is retained. That is why theories of astronomy changed so much between the time of the Babylonians and Isaac Newton.

The Babylonians were onto something when they began to look at the celestial bodies and wonder how they worked or if there was a pattern to their movement. Around 1000 BCE the Babylonians conducted systematic observations of the heavenly bodies by noting their patterns of movement, position, and the number of heavenly bodies. By 300 BCE, the Babylonians created thousands of tables of accurate representations of planetary motions.

These tables were used by the Greek astronomers to philosophize about the planetary motion and structure of the Universe. The Greeks however found anomalies in the observations of the Babylonians. The planet Mars seemed to back track in its journey across the sky. This created a crisis with the Babylonian paradigm of celestial movement.

Aristotle, a 4th century BCE Greek philosopher, believed observation was the key to understanding motion on Earth and in the heavens. He was the first to put together a working model of planetary motion. He theorized that the Universe was single and eternal with a boundary beyond which nothing else existed. At the center of his model was the Earth. He believed the Earth was immobile and the planets orbited around the Earth.

His Universe consisted of heavenly bodies comprised of Aether with circular movement. These bodies where on crystalline spheres and any abnormality in movement could be explained by slippage due to nesting of the spheres. This system was inaccurate in predicting the movement of the heavenly bodies across the sky yet, philosophers clung to the paradigm for many centuries afterward.

Around 140 CE a new philosophy emerged. This philosophy was created by Ptolemy. Ptolemy yearned for a more accurate and complete system to describe the movement of the planets. He wished to accurately predict the positions of the celestial bodies and explain their irregular movements. His Universe, like that of Aristotle, was based on circular motion.
But unlike Aristotle, he believed the planets do not move on simple orbits. He comprised a model which was very complex but, accurate none the less.

These ideas were accepted and even merged with the ideas of Aristotle until during the 16th century; a problem with the calendar arose. The calendar in use was inaccurate and based on theories that were adequate at predicting planetary movement and position. But the calendar was still in need of more accurate data in order to accurately make predictions.

Philosophers and astronomers needed more accurate information. They had been using the ancient texts of the Greeks but it was believed there were inaccuracies in the translation of the texts. But even after the texts were translated as close as they could possibly get, the problems with Ptolemy’s system still lingered. A new line of thought was taking hold in the intellectual community. This new idea, Neo-Platonism, urged that math was central to the description of nature.

Neo-Platonists believed that God was a self-duplicating deity. One of God’s duplicates was the Sun. Nicholas Copernicus was a follower of Neo-Platonism and developed a heliocentric model of the Universe backed by simple mathematics. Copernicus took the anomaly concerning Mars’ orbit, noticed by the Greeks, and attempted to rationalize its dance across the sky. He stated that the reason Mars looked as if it was reversing its path is because the Earth orbits faster than Mars. He also theorized that the Universe is much larger than previously assumed and consists of seven spheres resting on the Sun.

In Copernicus’ opinion, there is not difference between the motion of objects on Earth and the motion of objects in the heavens. All matter aggregates into spheres. But Copernicus’ system does not provide the accurate information needed by philosophers. The biggest downfall of Copernicus’ ideas, stem from his lack of new data. So once again, the paradigm is found to be lacking and the search for a new system continues.

It was not long until new data became available to the astronomical community. Tycho Brahne was an observational astronomer. He increased the size of the instruments used to observe celestial motion. Besides these modifications of scientific tools, Brahne also noted events that brought forth a new understanding of the Universe.

Brahne observed a nova, an exploding star; this anomaly refutes the previous paradigms that stated the Universe was unchanging. The Universe changes through the creation and destruction of celestial bodies. Next Brahne observes a comet and according to its position, it is within Earth’s planetary realm. So this refutes the idea that the Universe consists of crystalline spheres.

With this new found information, Brahne formulates a new system. This heliocentric system consisted of a central, stationary Earth with other planets orbiting the Sun as well. The only problem with Brahne’s paradigm, it doesn’t use mathematics to prove its findings. Notably, Brahne’s assistant was Johannes Kepler, who would go on to become the next revolutionary philosopher.

Kepler abandons the idea of circular motion after attempting to use them and finding no accuracy. He focuses on the orbit of Mars to mathematically describe planetary motion. Kepler tries to create a model of Mars’ orbit but finds no uniformity. He asks himself why Mars would appear to go faster and then slower. After much contemplation, he substitutes the circular motion for elliptical motion. And Mars fits on this new elliptical orbit. Kepler changed the system, to fit the data.

The final two philosophers of renown are Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton. Galileo was a strong supporter of Copernicus’ theories and published documents explaining how Copernicus’ ideas were right and Ptolemy’s were wrong. He rejects the elliptical orbits proposed by Kepler and applies the theory of Circular Inertia to the planetary system. Newton takes a less controversial approach to astronomy and puts forward a mixture of Copernicus and Kepler. His laws of motion support the ideas of Kepler and his observations support the ideas of Copernicus.

THE DREAM: Goodbye Moon

2009-02-10T20:12:00.001-05:00

I wrote this down last night at about 3:18am when I woke up.
___________________________________________________

I just awoke from a very powerful dream. In my dream there was a halo around the moon. Then I began to see red around the moon. Objects began to fall from the sky. Strange objects like ocean liners and parts of automobiles. There was fire coming from the sky and it appeared that somehow the moon was being destroyed.I told my family that the Moon was being destroyed and they did not believe me. Then they looked out the window and saw for themselves. I told my family to cover themselves with the bed mattresses to protect themselves from the falling objects. My mattress was far more light than it would be in reality.

Things were falling rapidly from the sky. Then the influx of sky borne objects slowed and eventually stopped. I was really looking at the sky now and I saw many, many red/orange lights around the moon. I began to realize that some extra-terrestrial organization was responsible for the destruction of the moon. It then look like the moon collapsed in upon itself. You know like a supernova does. Then there was a bright orange light and the moon was no more. I had been on the internet in the beginning of the dream and after I saw the moon implode I tried to type out to the people in the chatroom "THE MOON WAS JUST DESTROYED" but somehome I was unable to send this message.

Now my brothers and I began running toward the middle bedroom to climb into the upper crawlspace and see if the roof was on fire because the house was very smoky. The roof was on fire and my brother BJ gave me a pitcher of water and paper towels. I wet the towel and began to apply it to the inner roof. But the fire was too widespread. So I told them to call the fire department and I ran outside to put the fire out myself. When I got outside I looked at the ground and it looked like rain had fallen and frozen but it was not cold cause my mother was wearing a T-shirt and Shorts with a bandana on her head. Somehow the fire department already knew and arrived as soon as I got the hose turned on. So I started to spray the roof and they began wetting the various flaming objects on the ground. I pondered how Earth would survive without the moon to reflect the sun's warmth and light onto our planet.

As this was going on I told my mother that the moon was no more and she said yes it is, and pointed at an object in the sky. It was moving and I realized it was a UFO. There were still stars in the sky but due to the lack of a moon they appeared more brightly now. After I saw the UFO I ran inside to grab my digital camera. But everytime I would turn the camera on it would turn itself off. I noticed that my brother BJ had my mother's camera and was taking a picture of the UFO. I suddenly got the feeling that the UFO was the reason my camera was malfunctioning and we would be in big trouble if the UFO saw us taking a picture of it. At this point I awakened from the dream.

___________________________________________________

This dream sat me upright in my bed and I looked around to make sure it was just a dream. I was looking for little alien beings but I did not dare go to the window to see if the moon was still there. I was too scared. As soon as I was assured it was a dream...I grabbed my Moleskine journal and began to write down this dream.

The Castle of Otranto

2009-02-03T23:55:00.001-05:00

Three Gothic Novels: The Castle of Otranto, Vathek, The Vampyre by Horace Walpole

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was assigned Walpole's tale "The Castle of Otranto" for my Gothic Tale of Terror class. I enjoyed the story although the dialogue was a little hard to follow. The story reminded me of the Knights of the Round Table stories and I couldn't help but see a glimpse of Henry VIII in there as well. This story set the mold for future Gothic tales. The giant helmet bit hooked me from the beginning.

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oneword

2009-01-12T01:46:00.000-05:00

If you haven't been to this site. Then I suggest you try it. Just like it says in the description....you see one word...then you have sixty seconds to write about it. You can be creative...you can be obvious...or you can be totally off the wall.

Today's word was: now

Here's what I wrote:

Now is the time I can't decide to cry or laugh or maybe hide, and where is the time where confidence blooms? where is the light to exit this room? Now is the feeling I get when you're gone, now is the ceiling I live where you've gone.

They have some really nifty looking shirts as well.

Book Reviews

2009-01-07T22:54:00.001-05:00

* Do Not Plagarize* It is illegal and will get you thrown out of college. This are my reviews. Do Not Copy

Beyond the Household: Women's Place in the Early South, 1700-1835 by Cynthia A. Kierner

My review

rating: 2 of 5 stars
Kierner spent a majority of this book restating the obvious. Women did more than just sit home. Instead of adding new evidence for her argument she spend 2/3 of the monograph name dropping and restating her thesis.

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From Calabar to Carter's Grove: The History of a Virginia Slave Community by Lorena S. Walsh

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
It is difficult for historians to pinpoint and tell the story of individual slaves in the American colonies. Most slaves were not given the educational opportunities to allow them to document their daily lives. And there are few journals available to adequately illustrate individual slave histories. But by looking at the archaeological evidence collected from former slave enclaves, Lorena S. Walsh was able to give a hypothetical illustration of the lives of slaves who lived in Carter’s Grove in the colony of Virginia during the early colonial period. Due to the small quantity of evidence available, she is often reduced to using already documented occurrences and generalizations about the daily life of a Virginia slave.

Walsh uses ledger books, transaction notes, and inventories of slaves to trace the extended family unit of the slaves of Carter’s Grove. She shows how their lives changed through the years, going from bound slaves working back breaking work on a tobacco plantation, to being separated and scattered throughout the United States.

The slaves she chose to examine originate from the Burwell labor force. They worked in close contact with indentured servants and newly arrived slaves from Africa. Walsh gives a background on the areas that these new slaves most likely came prior to captivity. She describes the kind of conflicts they might have had with slaves who were more adapted and accustomed to the slave life. These new and old slaves were placed together by masters, in the hopes that they would thrive and prosper without falling ill from the harsh conditions of slavery.

Many of these groups intertwined their beliefs, customs, and language to form a new slave identity. Evidence presented by artifacts such as handmade pottery, glass beads, and tobacco pipes lead to the conclusion that these groups intermixed culturally because they show features spanning from African cultures and incorporating American art forms. Although the slave life imprisoned them, these groups were able to inadvertent ways to express their identity and exercise their limited freedom in a way in which was empowering to future generations and to their own emotional well being.

The book is very beneficial in proposing possible explanations and hypothetical answers on slave life. But due to the lack of concrete evidence, Walsh is often reduced to beginning to these explanations with “possibly,” “mostly likely,” and other phrases which would reduce the validity of the statements. T.H. Breen of Northwestern University states in his review (Journal of Interdisciplinary History vol. 30, 1999 pp. 135-136) that “Walsh’s bold claims for a multigenerational group analysis seem unfilled.”

The sources she used consisted mainly of primary documentation and archaeological findings. She traces the family units and the group as an extended family unit itself through the different generations and where they lived, died, and created families of their own. Her secondary sources seem to be used to restate to the reader a proposed idea of how they lived. Overall, the book is adequate in showing the changes within the group, but it does not appear to inform the reader of anything they could not in a general history book.

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New Worlds for All: Indians, Europeans, and the Remaking of Early America by Colin G. Calloway

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
In his book New Worlds For All, Colin Calloway pulls together the information provided by multiple scholars in interdisciplinary fields, to form a framework illustrating the radical changes in Indian and European life during the early years of American settlement. He states in the preface that his purpose is to show how the Native American assisted in the formation of the American identity without painting them as some “exotic subcategory in American history.” (xiv)

Calloway pulls information from many well documented scholars in academia to support the influence on American culture by the Native American and European inhabitants of colonial America. Much of the information provided to the young students in American textbooks paints a picture of the Native American as a helpless victim to the tyrannical oppression of the invading Europeans. This book is one of many that shed a new light on the battle of cultures between the native inhabitants and invading colonists.

Calloway stresses that the American revolutionists maintained that their culture and that of the Native American was not as different as it appeared. The Europeans adopted the customs, attire, farming, and hunting techniques of the Native American. As they became more Indians, they began to transform themselves into what would be the early prototype of the American identity. Essentially, the European was no longer a man of his birth country, but became someone not quite wild and yet still far from his civilized former identity. The amount of mixture between the European and Native American cultures depended on the region in which they lived. Spanish settlers were less resistant to the absorption of Indian customs into their society. The definition of “American” was also different depending on the era of colonization in which a settler lived. In the early settlement time period, Native Americans were the sole individuals identified with the term “American.” By the early nineteenth century, colonists had formed their own political identity which classified them as “American.”

In explaining how the Native Americans arrived on the continent, Calloway uses the Bering Strait theory which states that the Native Americans migrated to America via the Bering Strait land bridge. Then they began an adaptation to their respective climates that would lead to “a diverse array of lifestyles.” (9) Each group molded it’s lifestyle in accordance to the area in which it resided. When Europeans encountered this land of multiple cultures on a seemingly untouched landscape, they were forced to rethink the world as they knew it. To them the mere existence of this land went against everything they knew about geology. However, some of their old world could not be left behind. Europeans often renamed New World regions with names that they were familiar with in the old world; they often tacked on the world “new” at the beginning of the place name. This method of renaming allowed the Europeans to retain a part of their old world in their new landscape.

Calloway notes that the Europeans took advantage of the depopulation of Indians due to disease. The Europeans would often take over previous Indian villages. They would replant crops or introduce new plants from their native country, build fences to border their land and hold in livestock, and begin other measures to “civilize” the area. The introduction of these new plants and animals changed the land itself by increasing erosion, depleting the soil of important nutrients, and changing the visual aspect of the land. Their hunting of animals to be skinned and the furs sold had a great impact on the ecosystem of the area. Without beavers building dams and wolves controlling the animal population the land itself began to change through erosion and an over abundance of creatures that would consume their crops.

The Native American way of life was centered on a religion that valued nature and respected animals as equals. The Indians hunted only what they needed to survive. When the Europeans arrived they began a commercialized eradication of animals for their skins. Their religion, Christianity, stated that man was superior to the animal kingdom. The Europeans presented this concept to the Indians and pushed them to conform to their lifestyle and religious beliefs. Many Native Americans rebelled against this, but many conformed out of dependence on the Europeans for items such as weapons, textiles, and cooking utensils. Conforming also made it easier to live on a day to day basis in a world that was no longer entirely theirs.

The Europeans and Native Americans borrowed warfare tactics from each other. The Native American warfare was based on weaponry that took advantage of the silent ambush; European weaponry consisted of guns which would make an ambush incapable. Native Americans also used the terrain of the land to their advantage when engaging in warfare. This method came in handy for the Europeans when they battled the British for their independence during the American Revolution. But Calloway does not mention the interactions between the European and African slaves. This missing piece would be of great importance in illustrating how the American identity was formed through cultural exchange between all cultures involved in the early American record and give evidence of the Native Americans racially mixing with the African slaves.

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The Devil in the Shape of a Woman: Witchcraft in Colonial New England by Carol F. Karlsen

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
In the book, The Devil in the Shape of a Woman, Carol F. Karlsen discusses the role and position of women in Puritan society during the witchcraft trials of New England. Karlsen pulled together research from several different sources, most notably the Essex court records and various histories of the New England colonies. She uses first hand accounts of witch trials, Cotton Mather’s personal writings, and court records. These sources showed in detail court proceedings, testimonies, and judgments against the accused. This book was well received among historians and stands a close second to the later works on the subject.

Karlsen examines witchcraft on a social, demographic, and anthropological level that brings new insight into the role of the female witch during the persecutions. She narrows down the accused by age, income and marital status. Many of these women were victims of a world in which women were expected to serve men and bear heirs to the family inheritance. These women were vulnerable socially to the male-dominated society in which they lived. The Puritan ideals surrounding women boxed them into the role of the virtuous helper to their male benefactor.

Karlsen paints a richly detailed portrait of the accused and states that most of the witchcraft suspicions in colonial New England originated as a result of conflicts between people who knew one another. Accusers singled out women who they felt were a threat to the social order in Puritan society. Accusations were made against women who, by inheriting property and status, took for the male populous that which he deserved. Wives, mothers, and children were not immune to these communial struggle against the restrains of society.

Karlsen exposes the economic and social undertones beneath the accusations. Karlsen states that the single most salient characteristic of witches was their sex. “At least 344 persons were accused of witchcraft in New England between 1620 and 1725. Of the 342 who can be identified by sex, 267 (78 percent) were female.” (47) Women were expected to be subservient to their husband, yet women who actually succeeded in running their husband’s business were liable to accusations of witchcraft because they stepped beyond their gender role.

Karlsen narrows down the accused by age, income, and marital status. Many of the women accused were married. Often quarrels among the husbands boiled over into accusations of the wives. Katherine Harrison was the wife of John Harrison, who was a wealthy landowner. Karlsen states that it is unclear what event lead to Harrison’s accusation of being a witch. It is believed that she was first accused as a witch in 1668, but the jury was unable to come to a decision on her guilt. Somehow she was released from prison and returned home. Then “several of the town’s most prominent citizens” (85) signed a petition attesting to her guilt. One of the petitioners, John Chester, was “involved in a legal controversy with Harrison concerning a parcel of land.” (85) Her husband had died in 1666 and left Harrison with a considerable amount of wealth. Her neighbors testified that she was a witch and under the pressure of losing her life she dispensed her holdings to others.

Karlsen states that “most witches in New England were middle aged or old women eligible for inheritance because they had no brothers or sons.” (117) In the witch stereotype the presence of the traditional female gender role is evident. Women accused of witchcraft were described as “disagreeable women, at best aggressive and abrasive, at worst ill-tempered, quarrelsome, and spiteful.” (118) These women bucked the norms of society and failed to adhere to the standards of their class. To the Puritans “gender issues were religious issues” (119) and women who deviated from their prescribed role were seen as being opponents of God’s command.

This stereotype of the witch stemmed from the widely distributed Malleus Maleficarum and Tratado de las Supersticiones y Hechicherias. Both works note that “women were by nature more evil than men” (155) and that because they were “subject to deeper affections and passions, harbored more uncontrollable appetites, and were more susceptible to deception” (155) they switched their allegiance from God to Satan to “fulfill their needs and to provide them with the power to avenge themselves.” (155) But why would women need avenging unless they were being encroached upon by unrighteous practices? The answer to this question was unimportant to the patriarchal society of Europe and New England. But there is no doubt that this question resided in the mind of every accused witch.

Karlsen fulfills her purpose in Devil in the Shape of a Woman. By providing accounts of individual women and the extent to which they were accused, Karlsen provides a detail look into the underlying reasons behind the witch accusations. She exhibits to the reader a hidden agenda that reaches far beyond the scope of good versus evil. The agenda she reveals is a campaign against women who were perched precariously on a difficult balance between their idealized social and economic positions.

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Waiting...Waiting...Waiting

2009-01-02T02:53:00.001-05:00

I've been using the time I have been away from college to acclimate myself to my work schedule. Starting sometime this month, I will be working at the same job as my husband Mike. I'm looking forward to it and I hope that I will find the quiet time at night condusive to my learning and study habits. If all else fails I can use the time to read the oodles of books I will be required to read. So far for next semester I have these four classes.

The Gothic Tale of Terror

This is an English class and we will be analyzing the art of Gothic writing. We are going to be reviewing works of literature such as; Poe, Dracula, House of Seven Gables.
I hope I enjoy this class as I have a deep interest in the literary arts. But sadly, I am afraid I will find myself going more toward my dark side because of this class. Ah the Duality of Man!

Modern England

I was hoping to take a history class dealing with the Ancients or Fuedal eras. However, seeing as how studying the Modern history of England will give me a greater grasp on former England (and seeing as how it's the only class that interested me this semester) I hope to enjoy this class.

Scientific Controversies

Ahh fun fun. This class is a history class but it will substitute for one of my Science credits. (I'm going for a BA of Science in History.)
We are going to be looking at the Darwin controversy (hell yea!), the significance of Dinosaur findings (double hell yea!), and many other interesting scientific accomplishments. Oh boy am I excited.

Gender and Politics

I'm not big on politics but...I'm gonna give it the old college try.

So that being said. Here's to hoping this year will be a better year.

Oh and I have decided that I actually need friends to keep my sanity so I'm gonna try to weasel my way into making some friends to hang out with.

Minda Ink

100 Follower Giveaway @ Incandescent Enchantments

Diner (Pine Grove, PA)

Hectic Week with More Crazy Life to Come

Giveaway at I Eat Words AND at Novel Thoughts!!

Day 1: John Green Week - Looking For Alaska

Bad Day

Review: The Emerald Atlas

Free Ebook Alert! Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Referring Sites on Traffic

My First NetGalley Review: A Greyhound of a Girl by Roddy Doyle

Wow I am a Science Nerdfighter (hope the code works)

Short Reviews: Before I Fall, Once in a Full Moon

Review: The Tommyknockers

Old Timey Movie Bad Guy

Save a Tree, Read an eBook

Dystopian Book Challenge 2011 FINISHED

Review: Beauty Queens

Review: The Misanthrope's Guide to Life:

Still Rocky But Getting Better

Things Have Got to Start Looking Up

Some Pictures From the Road

Evernote Clearly

Review: The Lightning Thief

I Have Been Bad

Review: Robopocalypse

Guess What Arrived!

Review: Sh*t My Dad Says

Giveaways on Saturdays (err it is Tuesday)

Review: Ash

John Green Week: Jan 3rd - 10th, 2012

Better Late Than Never: Follow Friday

I WON! I WON!: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Review: Breathers: A Zombie's Lament

Review: What Alice Forgot

Review: Fat Vampire: A Never Coming of Age Story

Review: Hourglass

Giveaways on Saturdays

Keeping My Skinny Little Fingers Crossed

Review: Fallen

Review: A Great and Terrible Beauty

Review: Breaking Dawn

Review: Dust City

Review: The Willoughbys

Review: iDrakula

Review: Divergent

Review: Delirium

Review: The Giver

Review: Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale

Review: The Eleventh Plague

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer Review

Review: Hare Moon

Review: Mockingjay

Review: Catching Fire

Dystopian Book Challenge *UPDATE*

Review: New Moon

Review: The Help

Review: Deadline

Pottermore!

Miss Stardoll World 2011

Review: Saints Preserved: An Encyclopedia of Relics

Review: Feed

Review: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

My End of the World/Zombie Apocalypse Playlist

Man Found Not Guilty of Mammoth Murder

Mount Toba Eruption – Ancient Humans Unscathed, Study Claims � Anthropology.net

Twilight the first experience and a second look

Creature of Sugar Flat Road

THE DREAM: Goodbye Moon

The Castle of Otranto

My review

oneword

Book Reviews

My review

My review

My review

My review

Waiting...Waiting...Waiting

Dystopian Book Challenge UPDATE