Tuesday, January 31, 2012

200 Page Views

Thank you to anyone and everyone keeping up with my blog or even reading it occasionaly. I love what I'm doing write now with my life and I am so happy to have reached over 200 page views. This is a true accomplishment for me :) Thank you :)
Love,
Sidny♥♪♫

Monday, January 30, 2012

Not Suitable For Family Viewing by Vicki Grant

It came to my attention i never put this one on this blog... so here you go :)


"If your life were a TV show, would you even get a speaking part?"
"Robin has everything a girl could want. Thanks to her mother- the internationally beloved talk show host Mimi Schwartz- Robin's got the money, the means, and the connections to make even her wildest dreams come true.
Why, then, does she choose to sit alone in a dark room watching endless reruns of You, You and Mimi?
Don't ask Robin. She doesn't know- at least, not until a bizarre discovery propels her to ditch her pampered New York life for a deserted Nova Scotia fishing village. There, she stumbles upon love, the truth of her own background- and the shocking secret that helped make her mother a star."
MY RATING: 10/10!
This book was VERY griping and Vicki Grants sense of humour eases the tension. I love to laugh (as some of you may have guessed :D) so this book was perfect for me. My little sister wanted to know what was happening after I read her one chapter. It was ridiculous. The characters are perfect. I enjoy, Robin because she changes so much as the book progresses. The idea of a famous mother has been portrayed many ways, i think I like this one best. To show that no one's life is perfect all the time... or ever for some.
THANK YOU VICKI GRANT FOR SHOWING A DIFFERENT KINDA "RICH KID" AND TEACHING ME THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO BE RICH!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Book Review: The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti


"Day 264
It's morning. Soft gray light slips over the tall redbrick wall. It stretches across the exercise yard and reaches through the high barred windows. In a cell on the ground floor, the light shifts dark shapes into a small stool, a scrawney table, and a bed made of wooden boards with no mattress or blanket. On that bed, a thin, huddled figure, Helmuth, a boy of seventeen, lies awake. Shivering. Trembling.
It's a Tuesday.
The executioner works on Tuesday."


MY RATING 10/10


The fact that this book is based highly on a true story plays a factor in my rating. I loved the way that Susan Bartoletti told Helmuth's story. She did have to assume make up some parts as Helmuth's last days were not known. But she worked with Helmuth's brother and his friends. I think that's something every Author that writes a story based a true person and story, should do. She impressed me with her descriptions of the area and she actually went to Hamburg and checked out the prison and his home town. That's pretty awesome.
I really did believe for a while that Helmuth had left this all behind. How his finally story was to be written. That's how great of a job she did. All and all I loved it!
THANK YOU SUSAN CAMPBELL BARTOLETTI FOR SHOWING WORLD WAR 2 FROM ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW!
Hope you enjoyed guys... and ladies :D
Love,
Sidny♥♪♫

Spoiler: The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

I loved this book. It was very different from other books I've read about World War II. This book shows what was going on in Germany and how the Germans were mislead. They couldn't listen to other radio stations so they only believed what the RPG said. And that was mostly lies. They were lead to believe that Hitler was working for them, but really he was working for his own personal gain. He was a mad man. I loved the way that Susan described the world during the war. I felt like I was watching in spirit, what was happening.
Helmuth was an amazing boy who stood up when everyone else hid. He told the truth and it was wrong that he was excuted for that but it taught people a lesson.
Gerhard was a good brother I believe all and all but he just lost his way. He did what he was told and waited for Hitler's reign to end.
Mutti is another story. I can't believe she fell for Hugo. He is such a loser.
Karl was a brave soul.
Rudi was nervous but I good friend.

Favourite/Memorable Lines and Moments:

♥Pg. 6
" 'I'm floating.' he says.
'Then stop
'I can't stop. I'm going to float away, right this minute. Hold on to me, Gerhard.'
'Don't be ridiculous. You're not going to float away.' Ridiculous is oneof Gerhard's favorite words.
'I will too.'
'No you won't. There's such a thing as Gravity. God made that, too, you know.'
'But I am floating,' says Helmuth. He rools toward Gerhard, clutches his arm.
Gerhard pulls away. 'You're ridiculous.' He gives Helmuth a heave, shoves him toward the center of the bed, says in a practical voice, 'When you're old enough to think about infinity, it won't make you float. Now go to sleep.'
'But I like floating,' whispers Helmuth. "

♥Pg. 9
" 'Canit get any worse?' asks Oma
'Only if that lunatic Hitler comes to power,' says Opa. 'That will mean only one thing. War. That warmonger wants to make his mark on history.'
Oma sits next to Opa and says, 'Hitler frightens me. Those crazy eyes of his! And the way he knows exactly how to bring a crowd to hysteria.' "

♥Pg. 24
"The police must be off to arrest Communists, Helmuth assures himself. That's good. Jail is a good place for people who want to destroy the government."

♥Pg. 68
" 'We've got too many Jews as it is. No need to keep the Polish ones, too.'
'Too many Jews?' says Gerhard. 'Germany has sixty million people, and out of that sixty million, only one-half million are Jews.' "

♥Pg. 77
"The world has turned upside down- and yet it feels as though Hitler has been preparing for this moment for a very long time.' "

♥Pg. 92
"Helmuth holds his index finger to is upper lip, mocking Hitler's toothbrush mustache, and goose-steps across the flat. 'Swing music. Verboten,' he says. 'Jitterbug dancing. Verboten. Reading un-German books. Singing un-German songs. Staying out past the ten o'clock. Verboten. Verboten. Verboten.' "


Well, I hope that you enjoyed this spoiler and next book I'll be reading is The Big Burn by Jeanette Ingold.
Love,
Sidny♥♪♫

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Kate's Choice: School of Fear by Gitty Daneshvari


"Everyone's afraid of something...
Madeleine Masterson is deathly afraid of bugs, especially spiders.
Theodore Bartholomew is petrified of dying.
Lulu Punchalower is scared of confined spaces.
Garrison Feldman is terrified of deep water.

Which is why this may be the scariest summer of their lives.
Worse than detention or summer school. Even worse than the
orthodontist. The foursome must face their phobias at the
exclusive and elusive School of Fear. The school is unusual, to say
the least. But "terrifying" would be a more accurate description.

The curriculum is simple: Conquer your fears in six weeks
or find out just how frightening failing can be. "


KATE'S RATING: 10/10

Interview:
1) Why did you pick out this book?
♥I heard it was a good read.

2) Who is your favorite character and why?
♥Mrs. Wellington, because she is strange in an awesome way.

3) Which part is best in the book?
♥The setting because the way that Gitty Daneshvari describes the school is so cool.

4) What is your biggest fear?
♥I am terrified of ghosts.

5)What is your fave part?
♥When they do history... I don't want to give it away!

6) What is your least favorite part?
♥When they go to the B&B.

7) Who would you recommend it to?
♥Fans of the Lemony Snikket's "Serries of Unfortunate Events."

8) Did you enjoy the second book? Was it better, worse or the same as this one?
♥ Yes I did enjoy it. It was a lot more interesting.

9)Do you plan on reading the rest of the series?
♥I hope so. I just hope I can find the last book :)

10)Did you enjoy it? Why or why not? What might you change?
♥I wouldn't change anything because I really, really enjoyed it!

Hope you enjoyed this little segment. As for me, I thought the book was ridiculous and can't wait to bring out the child in me with the second one :)

Love,
Sidny

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Book Review: While My Sister Sleeps by Barbara Delinsky


"Molly and Robin Snow are sisters in the prime of their lives. So when Molly recives the news that Robin has had a heart attack, the news couldn't be more shocking. At the hospital, the Snow family receives a grim prognosis: Robin may never regain conciousness again. Feelings of guilt and jealousy flare up as Robin's family struggles to cope. It's up to Molly to make the tough decisions, and she soon makes discoveries that shatter some of her most cherished beliefs about the sister she thought she knew."

MY RATING: 9/10

My mom suggested this book to me. It was a fairly good book and note to anyone keeping up with my blog it is an adult book. I enjoyed it. It wasn't the best book I've ever read because I've never had to deal with the loss of someone so suddenly. I enjoyed the use of descriptions and the setting. I love the use of plants and cats. Ok that made me sound like a crazy cat lady, but maybe if you read it you'll understand what I mean.
All and all my mom has a good taste in books but I didn't like that I could tell what was going to happen from the beginning... I'm just to naturally curious.
I hope that you choose to read this book if you've lost someone, it may be able to help you through a tough time.
THANK YOU FOR A ROLE MODEL AND SHOWING HER REAL LIFE.
Love,
Sidny♥♪♫

Spoiler: While My Sister Sleeps by Barbara Delinsky

This book was a slight let down but only because my mama, bless her heart, built it up so high. I couldn't really go through the emotions that Kathryn was feeling maybe that's because I don't have a child. I couldn't relate to the age group either, the youngest being 27. I did like the Alexis. She was a brave soul but I don't think that her dad was so great. My favourite character, David, was the strongest and the one I have a crush on now :) Molly wasn't who I thought she was going to be but I could see how she was jealous of her sister. Her sister got alot of attention. That brings us to Robin, I thought she was going to be a murderer or something exciting, I guessed that from the beginning that Robin wasn't Charlie's child. I guessed corectly :D Charlie was strong and amazing. Chris was a little bit on the stupid side, but he was happy in the end.
I know that's the characters compressed into a big glump but I don't have much time I'm sorry!

Favourite Lines and Moments:

♥Pg. 16
" 'Robin had a heart attack.'
'Uh, can I call you back?'
'Chris, I need you here now! Mom and Dad don't know yet.'
'Don't know what?'
'That Robin had a heart attack.'

♥Pg.19
" 'Try calling Mom and Dad.'
'I can't,' She whispered, looking terrified. 'I was supposed to be with her. This was my fault.'
'Like it wouldn't have happened if you'd been waiting five miles down the road? Be real, Molly. Call Mom and Dad.'
'They won't believe me. You didn't.'
She was right. But he didn't want to call. 'You're better with mom than I am. You'll know what to say.'
'You're older, Chris. You're the man.' "

♥Pg. 42
" ' The MRI shows severe brain damage.'
Sharing her mother's desperation, Molly turned to the neurologist. 'Can't you shock her or something?'
'No. Dead tissue can't respond.' "

♥Pg. 132
" 'You're fired.'
Liz looked startled. Your mother won't stand for that.'
'If she has to choose between the two of us, she will.
Liz stared. 'Not a good move on your part. You need my goodwill.'
"well, we disagree about that, too. Snow Hill's reputation goes a long way in the goodwill department. If you'd like to tell people how bad I am, be my guest. You've only lived in this area for two year. people here have known me all my life. Besides, I might be worried if I were looking for a job, but I'm not. You're the one doing that.' "

♥Pg. 222
"It was a week before he got up the nerve- his words, confessed much later- to ask her out, at which point she told him she was pregnant. he felt a moment's qualm- another belated confession- wondering whether she was looking for a soul mate or a father for her child, before deciding that Kathryn was worth it either way. When he simplycame back and asked what kind of food sat best in her stomach, she knew he was a keeper."

♥Pg. 263
" 'We've, uh had some differences lately. She says i don't talk enough.'
'Maybe you don't.'
'You never did.'
Charle slid him a puzzled look. 'I talked enough.'
'I never heard it.'
'Were you in the bedroom with Mom and me?' "

♥Pg. 327
" 'Mom?'
'Where are you?'
'Just got home. What's wrong?'
Kathryn might have laughed hysterically. Where to start? 'Think you can come pick me up?'
'Of course.'
'Not at the hospital. I had a little accident. You'll have to kind of look for me.'
'Accident?' Molly cried in alarm.
'I'm fine. I hit a tree.'
'Mom.'
'I'm fine, Molly. Really. I'm walking around. Nothing hurts.' "


Hope you enjoyed this blurb of words :P
Love,
Sidny ♥♪♫

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Book Review: Fearscape by Simon Holt


“The Vours: Evil, demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on Sorry Night during the darkest hours of the winter solstice.” “ It’s been a year since Reggie first discovered the Vours, and the winter solstice is approaching once again. It will be another night of unspeakable horror for those unlucky enough to be taken by the Vours because this time, Reggie won’t be able to stop them. The Vours have imprisoned her in a psychiatric hospital, where she is subjected to a daily routine of unfathomably sadistic experiments. Her life is a living hell… but she won’t give up. They attacked her brother. They killed her friend. And Reggie will never stop fighting.”
“Fearscape, Book 3 in the The Devouring ends the this chilling trilogy with a thought provoking and deeply frightening story that will leave you with lasting terror.”


MY RATING: 9/10

I enjoyed this book because it was more exciting! It was a fun read and made you wonder about the end. This book was far better than the others :) The story line was awesome! I think I got to know the characters better. I felt like I knew each one intamately. It was also descriptive enough to make you visual a ton better than the others in this series. I honestly enjoyed this book. It kept me interested which is more than I can say about some other horror books I have read. Usually I get so bored that I give up.. but not this time :) I loved the feelings potrayed also.
THANK YOU SIMON HOLT FOR THE BEST HORROR SERIES I HAVE EVER READ!
Love,
Sidny♥♪♫

Spoiler: Fearscape by Simon Holt

I really enjoyed this book. That suprised me because the other books in this series weren't my favourite. But as a set the series was amazing. I guess every book has a flaw, but this series is definately one of my favourites. It was visually great. The way I could see everything Holt said in my head was amazing. I honestly thought that Reggie's mom was a Vour.
Characters:
Reggie: She grew alot as a character throughout the books. I felt like she went from a little girl to a warrior against the Vours. She truely deserved true love like she got but I wish that she also would have given Aaron a shot.
Aaron: He so loves Reggie. I wish that she would have at least tried to date him. It could have worked. I like how he turned from the sidekick to his very own superhero :D
Quinn: I LOVE HIM ♥ He's so amazing and he would do anything to be part of the group. I wish Aaron and him could be friends.
Unger: What an evil bum face! (trying not to swear)
Machen: I'm happy he saw the light :-D
Macie: What a crazy lady. I wish she didn't have to die but that's the way the story line played out.

Favourite Moments and Lines:

♥Pg. 17
"Reggie always had a thing for Quinn, and aparently finding out he wa a homicidal monster hadn't completely obliterated the attraction. That part Aaron really couldn't understand."

♥Pg. 91
" 'What happened there, Regina?' Dr. Unger asked finally. he poised his pencil over a pd of paper, ready to record all pertinent data. But Reggie wasn't going to give him the satisfaction.
'Oh, I think I just fainted. My corset was probably to tight. You know us females- get us too excited and the vapors take us. Whew!' Reggie fanned her fave melodramatically."
♥Pg. 130
" 'Thank you for everything,' she said, climbing into Aaron's car.
'I did try to kill you once,' Machen said. 'I owed you one.' "

♥Pg. 137
" 'You guys have stuff to talk about,' he said. 'I'll just amuse myself in the kitchen or something.'
'Oh, of course,' said Mom, and she pointed to another doorway leading off from the living room. 'In there. Help yourself to whatever you like. Reggie, are you hungry? Do you want anything? Water? Soda?'
A reset button that will give me a new life where my mother isn't a monster from a hell dimension? Is that really too much to ask?"

♥Pg. 144
" 'Are you on drugs, Regina?'
Reggie couldn't help exhaling a laugh.
'You know, sometimes I wish I were.' "

♥Pg. 180
" 'What's the rest of the plan?'
'Figure out what the Vours are plotting, stop it, save the world.' said Reggie.
'So, no biggie, then.' "

♥Pg. 228
" 'He loves you, you know.'
'Of course. I love him, too.'
'I mean, he's in love with you.' "

♥Pg. 311
" 'I don't want to be that scrawny nerd who does other kids' homework anymore. I can't be that guy.'
'I liked that scrawney nerd.'
'Not enough,' Aaron said,"


Hope you enjoyed,
Love,
Sidny♥♪♫

Friday, January 13, 2012

Update

If anyone out there is following my blog, I just wanted to let you know that the daily quote from books has been changed to weekly quote during this time. This is because of exam studying and preparations for classes.
Thank you for reading :)
Love, Sidny

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Book Review: Scrambled Eggs At Midnight by Brad Barkley and Heather Hepler



"Where Renaissance Faire and Fat Camp meet."

"Calliope (or Cal as she calls herself) wants nothing more than to stay put; to stop traveling cross-country with her mother, sleeping in a tent, and abandoning all belongings whenever they pull up stakes. Meanwhile, Eliot misses the happy times he left behind when his father decided to open a camp for kids look to lose weight and find Jesus. When Cal and Eliot meet by chance, they feel and immediate connection. Together they must face their isolation, the threat of yet another move, and the deepening of Eliot's father's obsession. In their case, love just might be everything it's cracked up to be."

MY RATING: 8/10


I think the back description of this book is misleading, I thought I was going to hate this book by reading that but I thought hey, you know what they say, you can't judge a book by it's cover. That was a terrible joke, realistically I thought What the hell is with the green lips??? And so I thought that I should read. Honestly the back isn't explaining how likable this book is.
I didn't love this book but I didn't hate it either, I just liked it. It was kinda fluffy and cute. I knew that it was gonna be a good book when I realized that both the authors used humor. I do enjoy a good laugh. I think anyone who keeps up with this blog kinda realizes that. I have trouble with seriousness and.... apparently staying on topic. If you're looking for a cute chick book to read, I think you'd like this one. There isn't alot of thinking being done really. It makes you wonder, maybe, but really it's just an enjoyable read. It was good for christmas break, I could just cuddle up with some hot chocolate and this book and read. I didn't really cry or anything but I did laugh :) and laughing always makes me happy.

There also isn't really anything that inappropriate (in comparison to other things i've read lately) this book is tame for most teens I would say.

THANK YOU BRAD BARKLEY AND HEATHER HEPLER FOR A CUTE CHICK READ THAT INCLUDED LAUGHETER =D
Thanks for reading, someone, maybe...
Love, Sidny♥♪♫

Spoiler: Scrambled Eggs At Midnight by Brad Barkley and Heather Hepler

So... I really did like this book. Not the best thing I've read but it was cute. I really enjoyed the lists and recipes in between chapters. I wish there would have been more! The authors did a good job on the characters. I love Abel. Speaking of characters... let's... discusssssssssssss!
Cal: She seems like such a nice girl and she just has a had a lot of bad breaks. Her mom is slightly crazy and I don't understand up rooting Cal all the time. That's just cruel. But Cal all and all turned out ok. I would think that a kid with her up bringing would have trouble falling in love and staying in one place. I also can't believe that her mom left her behind! MAH. And in some ways that makes me happy. But what kind of mother just leaves you behind.
Eliot: He's just a weird boy. But he sounds good looking. And he makes fireworks, talk about a unique hobbie! I've never heard that as listed as hobbies for teens. Probably cause it's DANGEROUS! But he's sweet. i guess i have trouble getting past the romantic thing. Most of the guys i've dated aren't into that stuff but hey a girl can dream. Eliot's dad is a nut case though. He focuses way to much on how people look and not whats inside.
Abel: HE IS AWESOME! He makes my day and he loves Cal like she's his daughter. More of a parent to her than either of her biological parents.

♥FAVOURITE LINES/MOMENTS♥
♥Pg. 9
"The inside of Tim Hortons smells exactly the way a sonut shop should. Too sweet with the scents of maple and chocolate and powdered sugar."

♥Pg. 28
"Asheville is a pretty cool place, a coffee-bar-and-movies-with-subtitles kind of place. I like it. The twon where we officially live is Tently (don't bother; it's not on the map)."

♥Pg. 40
" 'Trust me. There's nothing worse than a bunch of hungry jugglers and mimes. They'll beat you to death with their clubs and do it without a word.' "

♥Pg. 53
" He smiles. 'You can have all the attitude, son. We don't harvest some of these birds, you'll have a worser problem, a lot of disease, not a clean place to walk.'
'Harvest,' I say. 'I think you mean 'kil.' I don't remember planting geese, this year, just the tomatoes.' "

♥Pg. 78
" 'Really beautiful.'
'it is, but it shouldn't me.'
She dimples the surface of the water with the toe of her shoe. 'Why shouldn't it be?'
I shrug. 'Because it's just this white smear of light. It looks like an accident, like an industrial spill.'
'So? What's more beautiful than a beautiful accident?' "

♥Pg. 98
" 'Middle school home ec.'
'Did you wear an apron?' I ask, stifling a giggle at the thought of him in a frilly pink apron, complete with a bow in the back.
'Well, of course, but I assure you, it was a very manly apron.' "

♥Pg. 110
" 'I don't think those are our kind of people Eliot. I mean, her mother, what was her name? She was wearing about eight earrings in one ear.'
'How many earrings do our kind of people wear?' I say.' "

♥Pg. 115
" 'Eliot, right?'
'Yes, sir.'
'Sir, huh? What did I ever do to you? It's 'Abel,' okay?' "

♥Pg. 129
"He's worried about me, I know. Something I'm not used to. It feels uncomfortable and nice all at the same time. Like a wool sweater. It makes me itchy, but I feel all warm inside."

♥Pg. 138
"I'd seen her mom around the Faire, even met her once, and I wanted her to like me. I mean, I live at a Christian camp, and when I to I can bust out the game-show-host smile, and parents always like me. Except, well, my own right now, with the van and all. "

♥Pg. 185
"Every once in a while Delore's tries for the whole I-think-it's-about-time-we-had-a-mother-to-daughter-talk talk. It always comes out forced and scripted like one of those bad after-school specials. Mommy, I'm Dancing with the Devil or Mommy and Daddy Can't Live Together Anymore, But We Still Love YOu. Today's programming seems to indicate that our special is My Daughter Might Be Having a Relationship That I Should Talk to Her About Even Though I Haven't Given Her the Time of Day Since I Am Too Busy with My Own LIfe. That seems a little long, though."

♥Pg. 200
"That's part of the deal with something liek that. Like, a girl could wear a porcupine on her head and a burlap sack for a dress, and she'd say, Do you like it? and if you're the guy you have to say, Yeah it looks great, wow. "

♥Pg. 234
" I could see him, watch him, study him, but he couldn't see me. I guessed that he never would."

♥Pg. 236
" 'Confession is good for the soul, Eliot.'
'Yeah, unless your mother is standing right behind you.' Mom says. "


Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed :)
Love,
Sidny♥♪♫

Thursday, January 5, 2012

MIA

Sorry guys! I know I've been gone for a while. In my defense I've been studying like a crazy person for exams coming up in two weeks. I should have a book review ready soon. Lately I've been reading Scrambled Eggs at Midnight by Brad Barkley and Heather Helper. I'm about 200 pages in. After that I'll be reading Fearscape by Simon Holt and then While My Sister Sleeps by Barbara Delinsky. The last one is one that my mom suggested so I figured I'd give it a shot and see if I liked it. It is also an adult book for you youngsters out there. I have no clue if it's appropriate. I guess we'll see. And the last two that I can list that I plan on reading are The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti and lastly, The Big Burn and at the moment I can't remember the authors name... that's embarrassing.
Thanks for listening to me gab :)
Love,
Sidny♥♪♫