thanks and a question

I just got back from camping, and the picture above is the view from where I was hiking. Anyone have any idea where I was? =]

This post doesn't have much of a purpose. I simply would like to thank everyone that I've talked to so far for being so helpful and nice. I really appreciate it!

More fun posts to come, but to finish the night off... I have a question.

Which day is the official In My Mailbox day? I'd like to start making these posts, but I'm not sure which day to post on. Anyone?

Jane

Unwind

Unwind is undoubtedly one of those books that makes the reader think. It makes you take a real-world issue and think about it on a deeper level. It also puts us in the future, to what could happen if things go a certain way.

Unwind is a book that not only makes us think, but it keeps us riveted. I believe that what makes it so compelling is not only because of the issues it revolves around, but because of another important factor: the characters.

Yes, I truly believe that the characters made this book. Unwind focuses on the lives of three teenagers: Connor, Risa, and Lev. These characters are as deep and complex as anyone I have ever met. They are unique and different, and constantly changing and evolving as their world changes and evolves. This is what happens to real people, and these three could easily be real people that I meet on a daily basis.

I feel this way not only about the three main characters, but also about all of the minor characters. Through the short span of 335 pages, I felt a deep connection with every character who surfaced in these pages. Everyone was complex, everyone had a story to tell. It was extraordinary, how I could be so interested in the stories and lives of everyone in this book.

Having said that, the story in itself was incredible. I was intrigued from the first page, and I couldn't stop reading until I reached the conclusion. Once you're in this world, you find that you need to know what happens next. There is adventure and action, and yes, even a bit of romance. This is a book that will appeal to a wide variety of readers, and I would recommend it to anyone.

Summer Goals

I have always been a busy reader. However, in the recent months I've been slacking.

I'm hoping to pick up my slack this summer.

I have 72 books on my shelf that I haven't read yet.

My goal is to read at least 20 of those. It doesn't sound like much, but for me, it's going to be an interesting challenge.

So, my summer goal: read at least 20 of the books currently on my shelf, and at least 30 total.

This is where I will keep track and document my progress.

1. Love You Hate You Miss You
2. Shrinking Violet
3. Some Girls Are
4. Unwind
5. An Abundance of Katherines
6. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
7. Almost to Die For
8. How Starbucks Saved My Life
9. Shiver
10. Linger
11. The Unwritten Rule
12.

Some Girls Are

There are good things, and bad things, about this book.

The main good thing: it kept me entertained. There is nothing I enjoy more than a book that I can't put down. That in itself is enough for me to say that I liked this book.

However, it kept me entertained for all the wrong reasons. It started out well enough: a girl, at the top of the food chain, falls to the bottom when rumors fly about what happened one night with her best friend's boyfriend. Sadly, I've read about this before in at least one different location: Just Listen by Sarah Dessen.

Then comes the loner with a bad reputation, who becomes this girl's friend (more or less.) Once again, Just Listen anyone? And all of her ex-best friends are torturing her.

Things would have been okay if it would have been left at the rumors and cattiness. That's what teenage girls do. However, it was taken one step further. This girl was pushed down flights of stairs. All of her books were thrown into a pool. She was blackmailed. She was locked in a closet. There was a hate page posted about her. And there was even some rancid meat thrown into her locker when things got really bad.

And then, the grand ending: she was ditched on the side of the road miles away from the school, right after taking a beating from one of her abusers.

This does not sound like high school to me. For one thing, wouldn't there be teachers around? Is there nobody patrolling the halls like in my high school? It seems kind of far-fetched to me that the girls could abuse her so badly and never get caught.

It also doesn't seem that realistic that any girls from any high school would be willing to go to such lengths to make one person miserable. It happens, I know, but to quite this extent? I'm not sure.

This book held great potential. I absolutely adored Courtney Summers' first novel, Cracked Up to Be. However, this one fell short of expectations. It was... eh, okay. I'd bet there are tons of girls who enjoyed it more than I did. But it definitely didn't strike a chord with me.

Shrinking Violet

Shrinking Violet is a book that drew me in by the cover. It's such a pretty cover, isn't it?

That is my first bit of praise for this book. The rest of the praise will be solely attributed to the content. For one, the character of Tere Adams is one that is universal. Extremely shy, but with a hidden edgier side. There are shy girls everywhere we go, but it's only a matter of noticing them. I did think that her character may have been a bit exaggerated at points, but overall she was realistic and easily liked.

The story was one that I couldn't resist. I've always loved books with musical aspects, and Shrinking Violet has that. With Tere working as a DJ, it's easy to see her love of music and that is something that any audience can connect to.

It's also easy to connect with Tere's dilemma: her DJ alter-ego, Sweet T, is being set up on a blind prom date. This would be great for the outgoing and lovable Sweet T, but it's not so great for Tere. Not to mention the fact that Tere already has a crush on someone, who is unavailable on the night of this momentous occasion.

This book was fun and insightful until the end. I couldn't wait to see how things played out, and while it may have been predictable, it was still great to see Tere get her happy ending. I also love the message, because it's one that I've been trying to tell myself for years: don't be afraid to be who you are, and speak up for yourself.

Overall: I loved it.

Love You Hate You Miss You

Elizabeth Scott has created quite a splash, at least in my world of YA literature.

Her previous novels (if you don't live under a rock, you will at least know of them, even if you haven't read them) really struck a chord with me. I am sad to say that I've had this book on my shelf for quite some time, and I only recently got around to reading it.

Needless to say, Elizabeth Scott has amazed me once again. After a three month long reading slump, I have been revived. The story goes something like this: After the death of her best friend, Amy has been going through struggles, not only with herself but with her classmates and her family. In 288 enthralling pages, you follow her through her struggles.

I was expecting simplicity when I started this book. I've read enough books about life throwing cruel obstacles, and a character finding closure in some cheesy, predictable way. That may be why it took me so long to start reading this. However, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how Amy dealt with her problems. Amy is a character that I thought was realistic. While the love interest was predictable, I also enjoyed that aspect of the story.

Overall: Read this book, and Elizabeth Scott's others. You will not be sorry.

beginning.

I'm really excited to start blogging.

I have thoughts and opinions about the books I'm reading, and I can't help but want to share them with the people who are interested. I'm looking forward to connecting with other book lovers and talking about books and life in general.

More posts to come. Look forward to them. :)

Love,
Jane