Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Andersen

Description (from Goodreads):
“Dead girl walking,” the boys say in the halls.
“Tell us your secret,” the girls whisper, one toilet to another.
I am that girl.
I am the space between my thighs, daylight shining through.
I am the bones they want, wired on a porcelain frame.

Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the skinniest. But what comes after size zero and size double-zero? When Cassie succumbs to the demons within, Lia feels she is being haunted by her friend’s restless spirit.

In her most emotionally wrenching, lyrically written book since the multiple-award-winning Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson explores Lia’s descent into the powerful vortex of anorexia, and her painful path toward recovery.

My thoughts: I got this book yesterday night from the library and I had to spent the whole night reading it, I just couldn't put it down. I read Catalyst by Laurie Halse Andersen a couple of weeks ago and I knew what to expect. After I finished with this book, I was speechless. And that does not happen very often.

Lia's best friend Cassie has died alone in a motel room. Lia feels responsible for her best friend's death. Cassie tried to call Lia 33 times before she died. Lia didn't answer. Lia and Cassie made a deal when they were younger. They both wanted to be the skinniest students of their high school. Cassie, suffering from bulimia and Lia, suffering from anorexia get smaller and smaller. When Cassie dies Lia starts to fight with herself; there is the hungry Lia who wants to take a bite from muffin and eat like a normal teenager. There is the strong Lia, the one who says that food is disgusting, the one who is in charge of the ideal weight goal. The strong, forceful Lia is in charge and the hungry Lia cannot fight against it. Lia gets skiennier and sicker all the time without understanding that eventually, if she goes on the way she is going on now, she is going to die. The fact that Cassie's ghost is hunting Lia, telling her that she is going to die, does not help at all. Can Lia fight against a part of herself and Cassie? Does she find a way to get better soon enough?

The imagenery and lyrical language are amazing in this book. At some points you feel like you are reading a beautiful poem when you read this book. Andersen uses language so greatly that the reader is able to see the struggle Lia is going through, the reader is able to sense it. Even though you wouldn't like the story inself you will love this book because of it's amazing use of English language. I am still mesmerized.

If I wouldn't have made by best reads on 2009 list yet this book would totally be on it on the top 3, maybe even on the first place.

Secret Schemes and Daring Dreams by Rosie Rushton

rDescribtion (from rosierushton.com):
What would happen if Jane Austen's EMMA was set in the twenty first century? Emma Woodhouse is a caring, considerate sort of girl who is well aware of her own good fortune and talent for getting the best out of other people. Which is why, when she meets someone with untapped potential, she puts all interests to one side and sets out to change their lives for them - whether they like it or not. When Emma's childhood friend, George Knightley, needs help at his family's country house hotel over the summer, she sees the perfect opportunity to improve the lot of her new friend, the shy and unfortunate Harriet Smith. But as one after another of Emma's secret schemes go horribly wrong, she finds that nothing (and no one) is ever as simple as it seems.


My Thoughts: This is the 3rd book I read by Rosie Rushton and I must say that it wasn't be best from those three books. Emma does not belong to my favorite Austen novels but there are some elements I really like about Emma, like Mr. Knightley. ;) When reading Austen's Emma I like Emma as character even though she is a little snob and knows that she is above the other people. While reading this book Emma made me really annoyed because at some parts she was a total bitch.

While reading this book you get to know Jane Austen's Emma's characters on 21st century. Mr Woodhouse is ex-rock star who tries to save the world by using and advertising green products and living green lifestyle. Ms. Bates is called Lily Bates, a way too talkative girl who sees Emma as "goddess". Jane Fairfax is Jake Fairfax, Lily's rockstar cousin who shares a secret with Freddie Churchill (Frank Churchill). Theo Elton (Mr. Elton) is a medical student who has a secret crush on Emma. The story pattern is the same as in Emma but with a 21st century twist.

Mr Knightley is so gorgeous in Jane Austen's Emma. While reading this book I kept waiting and waiting to see the gorgeous Knightley but someway I feel like he wasn't there, all the other characters were so visible and he was just somewhere at the background.

I think that Rosie Rushton's books are great for teens who want to get to know Jane Austen but who are not ready to read the actual novels. This book along with the other "Austen books" is fast to read. For you, who has already read Emma by Austen, this is a nice, 21st century perspective to the story with a teenager heroine.

Other Jane Austen related YA books by Rosie Rushton:
-Summer of Secrets (modern retelling of Northanger Abbey)
-The Secrets of Love (modern retelling of Sense and Sensibility)
-Love, Lies and Lizzie (modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice
-Echoes of Love (modern retelling of Persuasion) WILL BE PUBLISHED IN FEBRUARY 2010

Top 10 reads of 2009

Here are my top 10 books of 2009. I only count the books I read for the first time this year because otherwise the top 3 books would probably be books I've read several times (Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, etc.) Click the name of the book which will take you to Goodreads to read the synopsis of the book.

10. Something Blue by Emily Giffin
('Sequel' to Something Borrowed. I really liked this book because the "heroine" grows as a person; first I couldn't stand her but in the end I really started to like and understand her.)

9. The Reader by Berhard Schlink
(Not the type of book I normally read. This book included a lot of sexual tension and images, disturbing situations etc. but the way the book is written is so beautiful that I must include it to this list.)

8. The Importance of being Emma by Juliet Archer
(A very funny modern day adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma. I think that Mr Knightley had a lot to do with the fact that I liked this book so much. I think that Juliet Archer's next book will be a modern adaptation of Jane Austen's Persuasion.)

7. Edmund Bertram's Diary by Amanda Grange
(There are so few books about Edmund Bertram and I was so happy when I found this one. I love Edmund, he is my second favorite Austen hero and I just loved to read more about him. Mr Darcy's Diary by Amanda Grange is also awesome.)

6. A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
(This book really made me cry. Beautiful story with suprises. I also love the movie adaptation of this book.)

5. Must've Done Something Good by Cheryl Cory
(I could say that this is a modern day adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, at least it has a little P&P twist on it. Really great book which made me laugh.)

4. Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella
(The Funniest book I read this year. I was laughing alone in my room while reading this. Can't wait to read something else by Sophie Kinsella.)

3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
(This book was a total suprise for me. I'd read a lot about it from the blogsphere but I thought that it is one of those books everyone else but me loves. When I found out that the local library has a copy of it I decided to lent it and see what all the fuzz is about. I was mesmerized.The story is filled with tension and adventure. Can't wait to read Catching Fire.)

2. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
(This books is so beautifully written that it makes me cry. Morrison captures the extremely hard situation and writes beautifully about it. One of the best books I've ever read.)

1. The Crossroads Cafe by Deborah Smith
(This book suprised me completely. The text at the back cover and the picture in the cover almost made me not to read this one. I am so happy I picked this one up and started reading. This book has it all; humor, love, friendship, action... Everyone should read this one! )

The worst books of 2009:
3. The Truth about Diamonds by Nicole Richie
(I hope she understands that she is good at something else than writing)

2. The Heroines by Eileen Favorite
(The idea is SO GOOD but the story sucks BIG TIME)

1. Tuulikaappimaa by Jari Tervo
(The worst book I've EVER read. I have nothing good to say about this book.)


Have you read any of these books from my list? Do you agree/disagree with me about something? I would love to know your thoughts!

In My Mailbox (#4)

In my Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi of the Story Siren.

Okay, lets call this "In My Mailbox- The Christmas edition". Last week I only couple of school books from library, I bet no one is interested about those, so I will just post about the books (and maybe other things) I got for Christmas. :)

BOOKS:

800 years of Women's Letters by Olga Kenyon
Summary (from Goodreads):
Few books offer such an historical panorama of women's issues in such a small space. A remarkable voyage through time, cultures, and ways of being female.

The Goodread review sucks. :) But well, this is a book which consists letter from women from 800 years. The book is divided into different sections, all sections dealing with letters with different topics, such as friendship, family, passion etc. There are letters for example from Queen Victoria and Jane Austen. I cannot wait to start to read this book. (I have this with different cover, I like mine a lot better but couldn't find picture of it)


Lock&Key by Sarah Dessen
Summary (from Goodreads):
"Ruby, where is your mother?"

Ruby knows that the game is up. For the past few months, she's been on her own in the yellow house, managing somehow, knowing that her mother will probably never return.

That's how she comes to live with Cora, the sister she hasn't seen in ten years, and Cora's husband Jamie, whose down-to-earth demeanor makes it hard for Ruby to believe he founded the most popular networking Web site around. A luxurious house, fancy private school, a new wardrobe, the promise of college and a future - it's a dream come true. So why is Ruby such a reluctant Cinderella, wary and defensive? And why is Nate, the genial boy next door with some secrets of his own, unable to accept the help that Ruby is just learning to give?

I've previously read two books by Sarah Dessen and I am so happy I got this for Christmas, because I loved those books I've read before. Can't wait to read this one.

Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
Summary (from Goodreads):
When the new managers of the Paris Opera House ignore their predecessors' warnings about the hideous 'Opera ghost' stalking the theatre, it is a fatal mistake. Tortured by unrequited love for the beautiful young singer Christine Daae, the mysterious figure living in the depths beneath them has been awaiting his chance to strike. And when Christine suddenly disappears after a triumphant singing performance, it becomes clear that the phantom's time has come. Filled with colour and theatrical spectacle, this thrilling gothic tale has enthralled readers with its mystery, eerie suspense and tragic story of love turned into deadly obsession.

I love Phantom of the Opera!! I've read this book many times and I finally got my own copy of it. Can't wait to read it again.


The Hunger Games- Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Summary (from Goodreads):
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

I am so happy that my mom found this book from the local bookstores. I have been wanting to read this since I read The Hunger Games and I seriously can't wait to get my hands into this one.

OTHER STUFF:

Henry Poole is Here DVD
Summary (from IMDB): Henry Poole moves in to a house in his old neighborhood, to spend what he believes are his remaining days alone. The discovery of a "miracle" by a nosy neighbor ruptures his solitude and restores his faith in life.

I already watched this and I can say that it was pretty funny. I think that Luke Wilson does great job in this movie. Nice addition to my DVD collection. :)







A Streetcar Named Desire DVD
Summary (from IMDB):
Disturbed Blanche DuBois moves in with her sister in New Orleans and is tormented by her brutish brother-in-law while her reality crumbles around her.

A Streetcar Named Desire is one of my favorite movies ever. I adore Marlon Brando in this movie, he is so amazing. I love the actual play written by Tennessee Williams, I've read it several times. Can't wait that I get the time to watch this movie once more.

I also got this 2 DVD copy of The Sound of Music. I already got that one so I think I will give away the copy I got for Christmas since I don't need two identical copies of same movie.

I NEED TO POST ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE COOLEST CHRISTMAS PRESENTS EVER!

It is Edward fleece blanket! I adore it. The perfect present for me because I am Twilight lover, Edward lover and Robert Pattinson lover. My friends are going to laugh so hard when they see it! :)

Okay, I shared my stuff and I can't wait to hear what you got!

Christmas Lover: Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy

It is time to post something about the Fictional Lover of the Holidays 2009, Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy.

I bet that everyone has heard of Mr. Darcy (at least I hope so). Here is a little info packet from this gorgeous gentleman:

- Fictional character ( :( ) from Jane Austen's novel, Pride and Prejudice
-28 years old
-Son of Mr. Darcy and Lady Anne Darcy (formerly Anne Fitzwilliam)
-Master of Pemberley House (near Lambton, Derbyshire)
-Income £10000+/ year
-Has one younger sister, Georgiana Darcy
-At the beginning of Pride and Prejudice he slights Elizabeth Bennet but later on becomes attracted to her
-The first impression of Mr Darcy is that he is very proud and arrogant man and thinks that he is better that others
-Dear, old friend of Mr Bingley
-Misunderstood (conflict between Darcy and Mr Wickham)

-In movies and television Mr Darcy has been portrayed by these actors (the most famous ones, there are several other ones too): Laurence Oliver (1940), David Rintoul (1980), Colin Firth (1995), Matthew Macfadyen (2005), Elliott Cowan (Lost in Austen, 2008)

Probably tomorrow I will post something about some of those gorgeous man who have played Mr Darcy. I think I will have to dedicate one post for Colin Firth since he is one of my favorite actors.

Since Mr Darcy will be my lover probably for the whole holiday season I would like to ask you, What would you like me to post about Mr Darcy? It can be basicly anything? Also, I would love to know who is your favorite Mr Darcy?

New Awards

I've gotten two new awards from vvb32 Reads and one from Meredith from Austenesque Reviews. . Thank you so much! :)
The other award, the Honest Scrab award I already had, but thank you so much for nomitating me for it.Heartfelt award from vvb32 reads

Do you reach for a cup of cocoa or tea when your relaxing, seeking comfort, sharing a plate of cookies with family and friends? You know the feeling you get when you drink a yummy cup of cocoa, tea, or a hot toddy? That is what the Heartfelt Award is all about, feeling warm inside.

Rules:
Put the logo on your blog/post. Nominate up to to 9 blogs which make you feel comfy or warm inside. Be sure to link your nominees within your post. Let them know that they have been nominated by commenting on their blog. Remember to link to the person from whom you received your award.

Nominees:

Meredith of Austenesque Reviews

Lisa of Lit&Life

Blodeuedd of Book girl of Mur-y-Castell

ExtremeReader of Extreme Reader Book Review

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Today is the Christmas Eve and the day we celebrate Christmas at here, Finland. My grandmother is coming to our house and we will have the ordinary Finnish Christmas feast. After that we will open the presents and just have fun!

I hope you all have a great Christmas! I will be probably posting something tomorrow about my Christmas presents (at least I know I get two books I wanted -- I bought them for myself)

ONCE AGAIN:

MERRY CHRISTMAS- GOD JUL- FELIZ NAVIDAD- JOYEUX NOËL- HYVÄÄ JOULUA!

Heart On My Sleeve by Ellen Wittlinger

Description (from Goodreads):
The story begins when 18-year-old, Boston-born, singer-songwriter Chloe visits a college in Connecticut as a prospective student and meets the dreamy singer-actor Julian from Florida. Both primed to say good-bye to high school and hello to the rest of their lives, the two share an intense, somewhat smooch-filled weekend that blossoms into an online romance. Inconveniently, Chloe already has a boyfriend. And both of them have prom, graduation, and summer jobs to contend with. A bouquet of ill-timed roses exposes Chloe's secret tryst and wrecks prom, but the revelations don't stop here. Chloe's sister Genevieve comes out as a lesbian via e-mail and Julian's sister e-announces her Las Vegas wedding to a man no one has met. The reaction of Chloe's parents to Gen's coming out is both comical and wince-inducing. (If she grew her hair long again would her heterosexuality be saved?) But, with the help of a few instructional books, everyone comes around in the end.

My thoughts:
It was extremely interesting to read this book! The whole story is told via emails, IMs, letters, notes and postcards. This book really made me want to send a letter to someone, too bad I did not figure out for who.

Chloe is an aspiring musician who loves folk music. On her weekend trip to her new college she meets Julian, a little shy but nice guy with an amazing voice. After their weekend together Julian and Chloe start up an relationship by emailing and sending letters to each other. Through this letters the reader gets to know details about Julian and Chloe; you get to know about their families, friends, siblings etc. The whole story is built around Julian and Chloe and by them other characters come into the picture. Both of the individuals, Julian and Chloe have problems in their own lifes and through their messages you get the feeling that they believe that when the college starts and they can be together, they are able to forget all these previous problems and start a new life.

Even though through the letters, emails etc. Chloe and Julian get to know each other they notice in the end that they really do not know each other since there are so many things you cannot see via emails and letters. As the first day of college gets closer, Chloe and Julian get more distant and they both realize that maybe they are not that in love they believed they were.

It was really interesting to read how the relationship between Julian and Chloe develops. Julian and Chloe both send emails to their friends and sister's as well and this gives more insight to the story.

This was the first book like this I'd ever read. I just got 'The Year of Secret Assigments' by Jaclyn Moriarty from the library and it seems to be a story told by email etc. also. So I am really looking forward to reading it.

As I final word I want to say that even though I really enjoyed this book I felt that I had some difficulties in reading it. The letters in the book were written with black ink to gray paper and it was pretty hard to make sense of the words written. Also some slang words were used, especially on the IMs and I had to look for some words I did not know previously. So this book is not the best for the ones that have to wear glasses and who still do not see well (like me) and for the ones who do not know the computer slang words. :D

Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson

Summary from Goodreads:
Chemistry honors student and cross-country runner Kate Malone is driven. Daughter of a father who is a reverend first and a parent second ("Rev. Dad [Version 4.7] is a faulty operating system, incompatible with my software.") and a dead mother she tries not to remember, Kate has one goal: To escape them both by gaining entrance to her own holy temple, MIT. Eschewing sleep, she runs endlessly every night waiting for the sacred college acceptance letter. Then two disasters occur: Sullen classmate Teri and her younger brother, Mikey, take over Kate's room when their own house burns down, and a too-thin letter comes from MIT, signifying denial. And so the experiment begins. Can crude Teri and sweet Mikey, combined with the rejection letter, form the catalyst that will shake Kate out of her selfish tunnel vision and force her to deal with the suppressed pain of her mom's death? "If I could run all the time, life would be fine. As long as I keep moving, I'm in control." But for Kate, it's time to stop running and face the feelings she's spent her whole life racing away from.

My thoughts: I've read Speak by Laurie Halse Andersen a couple of years ago in Finnish. Reading Catalyst in English was a total different exprerience since the book was on it's original form, not translated to some other language. Andersen's language is so vivid and beuatiful and noticed that I was constantly analyzing the text by different ways. Someway Andersen's language reminded me a lot of Chuck Palahniuk's language in Fight Club. Andersen also uses a lot of short sentences to mimic the way Kate talks and thinks. In Fight Club listing is also used as a element to bring some order to the chaos and I was suprised to notice that someway the lists Kate makes in Catalyst also bring order to the chaotic life of Kate. Andersen also uses some type of black, sarcastic humor in this book which reminded me about Palahniuk.

Kate is the star student, the perfect daughter and girlfriend. Since she was young she has been dreaming about MIT, the school her mother also went. When MIT disapproves her and Teri and Mikey move to her room everything changes. Teri has been Kate's "enemy" since elementary school and living with her is hard. Kate opens her heart to new people, especially to Mikey, and notices that everything she thinks she knows can change just in a blink of a eye. After an shocking accident Kate has to start to think about her past, her mother and especially about her future. Is everything she wants to do just a flick of imagination? Does she even know what she really wants to do with her life?

I throughly enjoyed Catalyst by Laurie Halse Andersen. The beautiful use of language made me speecless, the character became familiar to me and I somehow were able to feel what Kate is going through. Catalyst is a young adult book with a deeper message and I promise it will make you think about your own life and the things that are important to you.

Bernice L. McFadden's SUGAR: 10th Anniversary

Bernice L. McFadden's debut novel 'Sugar' celebrates it 10th anniversary on Jan.9 2010.
Please help Bernice to celebrate this great milestone and purchase copy of Sugar. Bernice hopes that we, the booklovers, will purchase total of 10,000 copies and so bring Sugar back in to the literary limelight.

Sugar by Bernice L. McFadden: (summary from Goodreads)
From an exciting new voice in African-American contemporary fiction comes "a literary explosion...a stunning tale of love and loss" (The Chicago Defender). The novel opens when a young prostitute comes to Bigelow, Arkansas, to start over, far from her haunting past. Sugar moves next door to Pearl, who is still grieving for the daughter who was murdered fifteen years before. Over sweet-potato pie, an unlikely friendship begins, transforming both women's lives-and the life of an entire town.

Sugar brings a Southern African-American town vividly to life, with its flowering magnolia trees, lingering scents of jasmine and honeysuckle, and white picket fences that keep strangers out-but ignorance and superstition in. To read this novel is to take a journey through loss and suffering to a place of forgiveness, understanding, and grace.

I purchased by own copy this morning from the local bookstore. Can't wait to start to read it! Toni Morrison is one of my favorite authors since I read The Bluest Eye and she has said that Bernice L. McFadden's novels are

"Searing and expertly imagined." Can't wait!

RIP BRITTANY MURPHY

I can't believe this! I was just watching her movie yesterday night! Just shocking!
More info here!

In my Mailbox (#3)

In my mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren.

This week was pretty quiet week for me (due to the fact that last week I got a huge pile of books from the library.)

But here is what I got:

From mail:Pride and Prejudice Marvel Comics (I got the last one, I will have to buy the rest of them)

From Library:Ellen Wittlinger- Heart of my Sleeve

Natalie Babbitt- Tuck Everlasting

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Describtion (from Goodreads):
Some summers are just destined to be pretty
Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer -- they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one wonderful and terrible summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

I really thought that this book would be one of those books I can just read fast, without any thought (I really need those books to get rid of school stuff at least for a while). I was totally wrong, but also positively suprised about it. Belly is again at the beach house. Everything is the same as during the previous summers, but also different. Belly has grown into a beautiful start of a woman and especially Conrad notices it even though he does not show it. Belly has been in love with Conrad for ages and during the summer she notices that whatever she tries to do, she will keep loving Conrad.

It is interesting to read how Belly's crush into Conrad builts into love. Belly, the narrator of the book, goes back into the past in several chapters of the book and gives insight about things that happened on previous summers. I liked the fact that the book was narrated by Belly. The reader gets to know what is going on in her head, how she thinks about herself and how she fights with the feelings towards Conrad. 'The Summer I turned Pretty' is a lot more than just a love story. It is a story about growth, both physically and mentally, friendship, family and traditions. It is a heart warming story about the summer that changes Belly's life.

I love summer and since it is really cold and dark here in Finland it was lovely to read this summery book. A sequel to this book will be published in 2010 and I must say that it is one of the books I wait to read the most during the next year.

Check out the booktrailer from here!

Booking Through Thursday (#2)

Today's question is:

What do you think of speed-reading? Is it a good way to get through a lot of books, or does the speed-reader miss depth and nuance? Do you speed-read? Is some material better suited to speed-reading than others?

If you want to participate, click here.

My answer:
I am a really fast reader and if I start to read something and I get into it I can read the book really fast and still get in depth to the book. I speed-read some of the books I need to read fast (e.g. books for my Finnish class...God I hate reading those books in Finnish) and also the books I think that I will not like that much but I still need to read them.
I have noticed recently that since we read everything so in depth in school, especially in my English class (I've been reading The Bluest Eye for like a month now and we are maybe one third through it. The teacher just loves to look at all kind of symbols, imagenery etc. so it takes a lot of time) I have started to read everything very critically and analytically. I guess it is good but I have also noticed that now I need some books I can just read through without thinking that much of it. I think that chick-lit is perfect for that and I got some books from the library to read over the holidays.

Fictional Lover of the Week; Mr Rochester

Today I will share with you some information about Toby Stephens. I think that he is gorgeous, totally one of my favorite male actors.

Toby Stephens
-Born 21st of April 1969 in London, England
-Trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA)
-Begun his film career with the role of Othello in 1992's Orlando
-In late 2006 Stephens starred as Edward Rochester in BBC's television adaptation of Jane Eyre
-Married to actress Anna-Louise Plowman. Their first child was born in May 2007. In May 2009 the couple got their second child
-Appeared in 2002 James Bond film 'Die Another Day'


The next fictional lover will be: Fitzwilliam Darcy (I AM SO EXCITED THAT HE WILL BE MY 'CHRISTMAS LOVER'.)

I am really happy since tomorrow is going to be my last day of school. I really want to share this song with you, I hope you like it!

A Thousand Words Thursday (#2)

If you want to participate, push the button above! :)


At movies with my awesome friends. We went to see 'A Christmas Carol' 3D movie a couple of days ago. We had some much fun, especially with the glasses. They are pretty hot I would say! :)

On My Wishlist #2

On My Wishlist is a weekly meme hosted by Book Chick City.
It allows us to share the books we haven't bought yet but are waiting to be bought and devoured. Here are the books that have caught my eye during the past week.


Since I love Jane Austen I really want to read this book when it is published. The cover of the book is extremely beautiful.

I was Jane Austen's Best Friend by Cora Harrison
published: will be published on March 2010
Hardcover: 320 pages
Summary (Goodreads):
When shy Jenny Cooper goes to stay with her cousin Jane Austen she knows nothing of the world of beautiful dresses, dances, secrets, gossip and romance that Jane inhabits. But Jane is already a sharp observer of the customs of courtship, and when Jenny falls utterly in love with the dashing Captain Thomas Williams, who better than Jane to help her win the heart of this most eligible of men?

I read from Goodreads that this is a modern Cinderella Story. I love Cinderella and especially the modern adaptations of the story (e.g. Cinderella Story with Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray).

If I have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince by Melissa Kantor
Published: March 2007
Hardcover: 288 pages
Summary (Goodreads):
Mrs. McBloom, clean up your room!"For nearly fifty years, that's been the refrain of janitors, principals, and students who enter the chaos of Room Five. Now the beloved Mrs. McBloom-who has taught nearly everyone in the town of Up Yonder, even Principal Pumpernickel-is about to retire. Finally, she must clean up her classroom.But where to begin? Years of science experiments have left all kinds of critters hoppin' and cluckin' and flyin' around. Giant sunflowers droop over desks; vines with fat green beans climb the walls; and a full-grown apple tree grows smack-dab in the middle of the floor. There are more books stacked in Room Five than in the Up Yonder Library. And who knows what else lurks in the piles of papers or the lost-and-found box?


I've seen this book around the blogsphere and I would love to read it since it has gotten so good reviews.

Looking For Alaska by John Green
Published: December 2006
Paperback: 256 pages
Summary (B&N):
Miles Halter is fascinated by famous last words – and tired of his safe life at home. He leaves for boarding school to seek what the dying poet Francois Rabelais called the “Great Perhaps.” Much awaits Miles at Culver Creek, including Alaska Young. Clever, funny, screwed-up, and dead sexy, Alaska will pull Miles into her labyrinth and catapult him into the Great Perhaps.

Looking for Alaska brilliantly chronicles the indelible impact one life can have on another. A stunning debut, it marks John Green’s arrival as an important new voice in contemporary fiction.


That's all this week. Look up for review of 'The Summer I turned Pretty' this week from my blog.

It's Monday (Tuesday)! What are you reading?

Read This Past Week:
-Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
-The Summer I turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Currently Reading:
Catalyst by Laurie Halse Andersen

To read this week:
BIOLOGY! :)

In My Mailbox (#2)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren.

Bought:
Notes on Morrison's the Bluest Eye and Sula (play.com)

From Library:
Jenny Han- The Summer I turned Pretty
Toni Morrison- Mercy
Gabrielle Zevin- Elsewhere
Laurie Halse Anderson- Catalyst
Megan Frazer- Secrets of Truth and Beauty
Melissa Marr- Ink Exchange
Meg Cabot- Queen of Babble
Marianne Curley- Old Magic

What did you get? :)

Fictional Lover of the Week: Edward Rochester

Edward Rochester, better known as Mr. Rochester is a fictional character from Charlotte Bronte's novel 'Jane Eyre'.

Mr. Rochester:
-son of wealthy landowner
-master of Thornfield Hall
- moody, self-willed man who is nearly 20 years older than Jane
-hires Jane Eyre to be a governess to his ward, Adéle.
-after a rocky start Rochester and Jane form a strong bond
-when Jane's and Mr Rochester's relationship starts to develop strange things starts to happen at Thornfield Hall
-Rochester has some skeletons in his closet and when Jane finds about them she leaves the Thornfield Hall in the middle of the night even though she still loves Mr. Rochester
-In the end of the novel Jane goes back to Thornfield Hall, finds Rochester and he proposes her again.

Someone might wonder why I love Mr Rochester so much. I really don't know how to explain it properly. He is this mysterious, strict man at the beginning but when he starts to be more in Jane's company he get softer and falls in love with Jane. He has some skeletons in his closet and he is not ready to talk about them because he thinks that he will lose Jane.
I love the book, I've read it several times. The mini series made in 2000's is also amazing. And Toby Stephens as Rochester... simply amazing.

I will post something about Toby Stephens probably tomorrow.

There is a new addition to my fictional lover list: The Phantom from the Phantom of the Opera.

The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler

Review: 15-year-old High School sophmore Virginia Shreves from New York City has a larger-than-average body. She feels like she does not belong to the gorgeous Shreves family and she feels like she has been changed to another baby when she was born. Byron and Anais, Virginia's older siblings, are star student, beautiful, thin and intelligent. Virginia's mother is successful psychiatrist and her father a businessman. Virginia is not beautiful, at least that is what she believes, she is not that intelligent as her siblings and she feels like her parents are not as proud of her as Byron and Anais.
Suddenly a shocking phone call from Byron's school changes everything; the way Virginia thinks about her friends, family and most importantly, about herself.

My thoughts: This book was hilarious. To the other people Virginia may seem shy and unconfident, but I think that she is funny just because she understands her "problem" and is able to make fun of it. My body is larger-than-average and when I was younger I felt bad about it next to the thinner bodies of my friends. Now when I've grown older I've understood that I like my body, I love it. It is a part of me and I am proud of it. And just like Virginia says at the end of the book; "If you had a small, puny present and a big, round present, which one would you open first? The big, round one, right? Who ever said smaller is better? NO ONE, that's who!", big things are not bad, they are normally things we want.

I loved to read how Virginia builts up her confidence and realizes that she is proud of herself the way she is. She undestands that the most important thing is that she feels good about herself, not that someone else says what she should look like. After Virginia feels good about herself she is ready for new friends and even a new romance.

This is the second book I've read this year about a girl struggling with her weight. Pretty Face by Mary Hogan (I have a review about it here)
told about girl who also struggled with her weight but in the end realized that she is beautiful just the way she is. I loved the both books and I would love to read more books like them. So if you know any books like that, please leave me a comment. :) Also, if you have read any other books by Mackler I would love to hear what you thought about them. :)

Coming up this weekend!

Tomorrow I will post a review of 'The Earth, My Butt and other Big Round Things' by Carolyn Mackler. I just finished with it today and I have some great things to say about it.
I will also post something about the GORGEOUS Mr. Rochester.
So stay tuned!

Tonight I will just relax. I just finished up with my two biology practicals. FINALLY. Doing those has been torture. So I will just eat some chocolate (I've totally earned it), drink this Finnish Christmas drink and watch Happy Potter and the Half Blood Prince with my brother Jaakko. :)

A Thousand Words Thursday (#1)

I love this idea and I think I must participate too. :)

I have so many pictures I love, pictures that remind me of something great.

Here is my first picture:Summer 2007 with my friend Sofia. Sofia is on the left, I'm on the right. We had loudspeakers outside and we were listening to our old favorites (Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys etc.) and dancing. Couple of weeks after the taking of this picture I left to United States for 10 months.

Booking Through Thursday

Booking Throught Thursday is a weekly meme you can find from here!
The idea is that you copy the question from the, paste it to your blog, answer to it and then link back your answer to the blog. Easy, huh?

Today's question is:

What items have you ever used as a bookmark? What is the most unusual item you’ve ever used or seen used?

Answer: Okey, I collect different kind of bookmarks. Sounds pretty stupid but I have quite a collection these days. Normally, I use these bookmarks I've bought from cities around the world. I have one from NYC, one from Washington D.C, one from Philadelphia, one from Annapolis, one from London, one from Athens,one from Frankfurt, one from Korfu, one from Skiathos, one from Helsinki (the capital of Finland) and several from the city I live in Finland. Those bookmarks remind me of my gorgeous trips to different places. My mom works at a library so I also get bookmarks from there. Sometimes I have used just pieces of paper if I haven't found a bookmark. At school I use paperclips to mark the pages I need to read. I must say that probably the weirdest bookmark I've used was a carrot. One time I was eating a carrot and I had to go open the door so I put the carrot between the book pages to mark the page I was on. :D

On my Wishlist #1

On My Wishlist is a weekly meme hosted by Book Chick City.

My Wishlist is extremely long and it would take the whole week to write here all the books I would like to have. I will just post couple of them in here. If you have read these books and reviewed them, please leave a comment for me because I would love to read your reviews. :)


I've read two books by Sarah Dessen; The truth about forever and Keeping the moon (Last chance). I've loved both of those books. What I especially love about this book is the cover, it catched my eye right away. Also the summary sounds really great.

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
Publication date: June 2009
Hardcover: 383 pages

Summary (Goodreads):
It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.

A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.


I saw this book a while ago at Goodreads and after reading the summary I had to add it to my TBR pile right away. I love romantic stories and that is why I think this book would be a perfect read for me. :)

Waiting for You by Susane Colisanti
Publication Date: July 2009
Hardcover: 288 pages

Summary (Goodreads):
At the beginning of her sophomore year, Marisa is ready for a fresh start and, more importantly, a boyfriend. So when the handsome and popular Derek asks her out, Marisa thinks her long wait for happiness is over. But several bumps in the road—including her parents’ unexpected separation, a fight with her best friend, and a shocking disappointment in her relationship with Derek—test Marisa’s ability to maintain her new outlook. Only the anonymous DJ, whose underground podcasts have the school’s ear, seems to understand what Marisa is going through. But she has no idea who he is—or does she?

In this third romantic novel from Susane Colasanti, Marisa learns how to “be in the Now” and realizes that the love she’s been waiting for has been right in front of her all along.

I've seen this book around the blogsphere and after reading a couple of reviews of it I have wanted to read this book SO BADLY! It sounds so good. I hope I will be able to find it from bookstores here at Finland (probably not because the bookstores here suck!).

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Publication Date: January 2008

Paperback: 357 pages

Summary (Goodreads:
A fresh, urban twist on the classic tale of star-crossed lovers.

When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything

she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more. In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.

When I read about this book for the first time I seriously freaked out. I love Sex and the City and I cannot wait to read this book about Carrie's youth.

Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell

Publication Date: April 27, 2010

Summary (B&N):

Before Carrie Bradshaw hit the big time in the City, she was a regular girl growing up in the suburbs of Connecticut. How did she turn into one of the most-read social observers of our generation?

The Carrie Diaries opens up in Carrie's senior year of high school. She and her best friends -- Walt, Lali, Maggie, and the Mouse -- are inseparable, amid the sea of Jens, Jocks and Jets. And then Sebastian Kydd comes into the picture. Sebastian is a bad boy-older, intriguing, and unpredictable. Carrie falls into the relationship that she was always supposed to have in high school-until a friend's betrayal makes her question everything. With her high school days coming to a close, Carrie will realize it's finally time to go after everything she ever wanted.

Rabid fans of Sex and the City will love seeing Carrie Bradshaw evolve from a regular girl into a sharp, insightful writer. They'll learn about her family background -- how she found her writing voice, and the indelible impression her early friendships and relationships left on her. We'll see what brings Carrie to her beloved New York City, where the next Carrie Diaries book will take place.

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Review: Aislinn has always seen faeries. These faeries, powerful and dangerous, hide the mortal world. Aislinn fears their power, fears that they will get to know about her Sight, fears for her family and friends. Now two fairies, Keenan and Donia are stalking her. Keenan- a gorgeous male faery, is trying to talk to her asking her questions she is afraid to answer. Aislinn tries to ignore Keenan and Donia but soon she discovers that it's too late for that. Keenan is the Summer King and determined that Aislinn will be her Summer Queen, someone who he has been trying to find for nine decades. But there is a problem: Aislinn does not fall in love with Keenan, he is in love with a mortal, Seth. Things get hard when Aislinn realizes that maybe she really is the Summer Queen Keenan is looking for. Aislinn has to make some major decisions because her life is going to change forever. Is she able to keep the things she loves from her old life? Will she be able to develop her relationship with Seth? Melissa Marr answers to all of these questions in 'Wicked Lovely', a 21st century faery tale.

My thoughts: This book was one of those books I picked up from the library just because I had read good reviews of it from the other book blogs. I liked the book, but it wasn't one of those books that "changed" my life. I feel like that the beginning of the book went on very slowly and then at the end everything just wrapped up real fast. I expected Keenan to be "more gorgeous"; he was okay but probably I won't remember him after a while.

I will get the second book from the library probably at tomorrow. I think I will try to read it because 'Wicked Lovely' wasn't bad, it just wasn't a type of book I normally use to read. And I've heard that the second book is better than the first one. What I liked the most about this book was the relationship of Aislinn and Seth. I loved the fact how they developed into something deeper from a friendship. Personally, I see Seth as the hero of the book; he is the one character I will probably remember after a while.

Fictional Lover of the Week: George Knightley part 2 and New Fictional Lover

I promised to post something about Jonny Lee Miller. So here it comes.

Jonny Lee Miller
- born in 1972
- British actor
- Left school at the age of 17 to pursue his acting career
- Got his big break in the film Hackers in 1995. Angelina Jolie was co-starring in the movie
- Starred in the movie Trainspotting in 1996
- In 1999 played Edmund Bertram in the movie adaption of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park
- Plays Mr Knightley in the BBC 2009 adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma
- Married actress Angelina Jolie in 1996. The couple divorced 18 months later
- Was married to actress/model Michele Hicks in 2008. Hicks was pregnant with their first child during that time. Buster Timothy Miller was born in December 2008.
- Supporter of Chelsea FC
- Maraton runner, ran the 2008 London maraton in 03:01:40


And now it is time for the new Fictional Lover!
The new lover will be...
EDWARD ROCHESTER FROM JANE EYRE!

Btw, there is a new addition to the Fictional lover list; Michael Scofield from 'Prison Break'. I can't believe I forgot him when I was doing the list. If you have any suggestions for the fictional lover list, I would LOVE to hear them.

You've Got Mail Reading Challenge

I think I just found the perfect reading challenge for me.
You've Got Mail starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks has been one of my favorite movies since probably my 2nd grade! :D And that was 1999.

The Challenge runs from 1st of January to 31st of December 2010. You can overlap the books you read for this challenge with the books you read for other challenges. There is not set number of books you have to read. You can choose any books from the author's from the list above.

Author's mentioned in the movie 'You've Got Mail':

Jane Austen
L.M. Montgomery
Maud Hart Lovelace
Noel Streatfeild
Roald Dahl
Kay Thompson
Shel Silverstein
E.B. White
Beatrix Potter
Dr. Suess
Ludwig Bemelmans
Mario Puzo
George Bernard Shaw
Thomas Jefferson

If you want to participate to this great challenge, go here and sign up!

Teaser Tuesday

Weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

What to do:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I am reading Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr.

"Then Aislinn stepped outside the main door. The fear she'd stifled that morning came flooding back: outside, seated on the back of the wolf, was Deadgirl- looking every bit as terrifying as the other faery, Keenan, has at Comix."

It's Monday, What are you reading?

This meme is hosted by J.Kaye.

Read this past week:
-Toni Morrison-The Bluest Eye
-Anton Tsehov- Three Sisters

Currently Reading:
Melissa Marr- Wicked Lovely
-Toni Morrison- The Bluest Eye (rereading)

Upcoming:
I really don't know yet.
But at least I have Meg Cabot- Queen of Babble from library, so maybe I read it. :)