To those of you still reading this blog, I thank you. However, there hasn't been much to read. You know, all zero posts in the past 10 months. I do have to say that I am sorry, but this post is also proof that I survived my first year of teaching (a post for that is soon to follow). It is done, and it is summer! Cue dance party!
In all actuality, I am reading everything I can get my hands on (book review posts soon to follow), and I'm taking on a new challenge. In addition to posting book reviews, I will be attempting to cook from Gordon Ramsay's Home Cooking. One recipe a day until I complete the entire book (or until the summer ends).
You may as me, "Why Gordon Ramsay?" And I shout in reply, "Have you seen the force of nature that is Gordon Ramsay?!" The man is so extremely passionate about cooking that I cannot deny myself this experience. I want to have that passion as well. I have that passion about reading and teaching, but I want to infuse that attitude in all aspects of my life.
Also, it will make me post every single day. I will then become a better writer, a better cook, and a more diligent blogger.
More to come!
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Excuses, Excuses, Excuses...
I'm not usually the one to make excuses, but this post is going to be one big long excuse as to why I have not been posting and reviewing more frequently.
1. Thesis Writing (gross)
2. Preparing for the school year (yay!)
3. Sheer laziness
I thought I would have more to share with you, but that's it. I've been gathering more books to review and will be getting to them shorty, but I've been focusing on the upcoming school year the most. I haven't found out about getting a classroom or being a cart teacher, but hopefully that will be soon. That decision will determine how many things I need to buy and prepare for the rest of the school year.
I will post again in a few days and give you guys a review of the Park Service Trilogy by Ryan Winfield.
Really though, I will.
The Hollow City
Book
The Hollow City
Author
Ransom Riggs
Summary
Having escaped Miss Peregrine’s island by the skin of their teeth, Jacob and his new friends must journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. Along the way, they encounter new allies, a menagerie of peculiar animals, and other unexpected surprises.
Thoughts
I was not as impressed with the second novel, but second novels are...difficult. Even though it seemed to run at a slower pace, I still enjoyed it thoroughly. I was much more impatient and wanted answers to my questions, but what was provided was enough to leave me needing more. We find Jacob running for his life with his new-found friends and we wonder what new world he will stumble into next. I like it and want more and want to understand more, but why, tell me why. Riggs leaves you at the edge of your seat, wanting more, but not delievering until he knows you cannot stand it any longer. I wish I could give you more, but...spoilers!
'Til next time!
The Hollow City
Author
Ransom Riggs
Summary
Having escaped Miss Peregrine’s island by the skin of their teeth, Jacob and his new friends must journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. Along the way, they encounter new allies, a menagerie of peculiar animals, and other unexpected surprises.
Thoughts
I was not as impressed with the second novel, but second novels are...difficult. Even though it seemed to run at a slower pace, I still enjoyed it thoroughly. I was much more impatient and wanted answers to my questions, but what was provided was enough to leave me needing more. We find Jacob running for his life with his new-found friends and we wonder what new world he will stumble into next. I like it and want more and want to understand more, but why, tell me why. Riggs leaves you at the edge of your seat, wanting more, but not delievering until he knows you cannot stand it any longer. I wish I could give you more, but...spoilers!
'Til next time!
Friday, June 6, 2014
My Big Reveal
Are you ready to be moved to tears by a book review? I may be exaggerating, but this is my first book review and I am the one ready to cry. I feel so grown up. Look at me. I'm going into the world and reviewing books (this is a sure sign of adulthood, don't let anyone else tell you otherwise). Yea yea yea, I pay bills too, but did I mention I also review books?
Now that I have completely raised your standards to an all time high, I present to you my review of Ransom Rigg's Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.
Book
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Summary
Thoughts
I have been raving about this book for months. Set in present-day Florida, the story escalates quickly into a culminating moment for our protagonist Jacob which then takes the rest of the novel to explain. It's a fast paced YA mystery novel that does not follow the typical "who dunnit" conventions that we often see with mystery novels. I can only explain it as X-Men meets Nancy Drew.
The descriptions are so vivid that I was legitimately frightened during certain moments of the book and had to put it down so I could check under my bed for monsters. The photographs that accompany the text are eerie, fascinating, and add a new layer of intensity to his writing. I am absolutely in love with this book. The third book is not yet out, but Hollow City (the second installment of the series) was recently published in January of 2014. That will be the second book I review.
Until then, my beautiful strangers!
Now that I have completely raised your standards to an all time high, I present to you my review of Ransom Rigg's Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.
Book
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Summary
A mysterious
island.
An abandoned orphanage.
A strange collection of very curious photographs.
It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive. A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.
A strange collection of very curious photographs.
It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive. A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.
Thoughts
I have been raving about this book for months. Set in present-day Florida, the story escalates quickly into a culminating moment for our protagonist Jacob which then takes the rest of the novel to explain. It's a fast paced YA mystery novel that does not follow the typical "who dunnit" conventions that we often see with mystery novels. I can only explain it as X-Men meets Nancy Drew.
The descriptions are so vivid that I was legitimately frightened during certain moments of the book and had to put it down so I could check under my bed for monsters. The photographs that accompany the text are eerie, fascinating, and add a new layer of intensity to his writing. I am absolutely in love with this book. The third book is not yet out, but Hollow City (the second installment of the series) was recently published in January of 2014. That will be the second book I review.
Until then, my beautiful strangers!
Friday, May 30, 2014
Exciting News!
Ummm, is this thing on? I beg you all to be patient with me as I slowly learn my way around blogging. I am bombarded with so much information and I need to take the time to develop my own style (and gosh darn it, I will!) And I also need to come up with a rating system, a new design, and a list of books to review.
I do not think I will become a daily blogger just because of the sheer amount of work I have to do outside of this blog. I may have mentioned it before, but I am currently in my last two classes of my graduate program...which means...dare I say it? THESIS. Dun dun duuuuun. I am pursuing my Masters in Education as well as my teaching license and the work just never ends. I'm just glad it's in a field I enjoy. I can't imagine doing anything but teaching English. Except maybe blogging full time? A girl can dream. But speaking of teaching English... I've also been recently employed! Woooo! I will be teaching high school English in the Fall as well as coaching Varsity swim. I am excited, nervous, happy, nervous, anxious, and also nervous. Did I mention I was also nervous?
With that being said, I will try my best to come here and review books as often as I can. Reading is such an important of my life and this blog is an extension of that, so I think I will be blogging more than I expect. Which is good news for all of us! My beautiful strangers, I will review a book this coming week. I promise. I'm putting it out there, so you will have to hold me to it. If I want to make this blog a reality, I actually have to blog. Funny how that works... I look forward to reviewing Ransom Rigg's Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and I can't wait for your feedback.
I do not think I will become a daily blogger just because of the sheer amount of work I have to do outside of this blog. I may have mentioned it before, but I am currently in my last two classes of my graduate program...which means...dare I say it? THESIS. Dun dun duuuuun. I am pursuing my Masters in Education as well as my teaching license and the work just never ends. I'm just glad it's in a field I enjoy. I can't imagine doing anything but teaching English. Except maybe blogging full time? A girl can dream. But speaking of teaching English... I've also been recently employed! Woooo! I will be teaching high school English in the Fall as well as coaching Varsity swim. I am excited, nervous, happy, nervous, anxious, and also nervous. Did I mention I was also nervous?
With that being said, I will try my best to come here and review books as often as I can. Reading is such an important of my life and this blog is an extension of that, so I think I will be blogging more than I expect. Which is good news for all of us! My beautiful strangers, I will review a book this coming week. I promise. I'm putting it out there, so you will have to hold me to it. If I want to make this blog a reality, I actually have to blog. Funny how that works... I look forward to reviewing Ransom Rigg's Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and I can't wait for your feedback.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Hello World!
Hello beautiful strangers! You are here for my book blogging debut! (Please, hold the applause). Although this blog is completely new to me, the idea has been alive for many years. However, it doesn't do any good when all it does is bounce around my head from time to time. Time to put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard? I think you know what I mean.
I have created this blog in order to share my thoughts and opinions on literature, specifically YA Literature. This blog will serve many functions besides that. I will include tidbits about my own life as well as other DIY projects (more about that later) around my new house (also more about that later), and my own adventures with blogging, writing, and publication (way more about that later).
Here are some things to look forward to! (And also serves as a very intense to-do list for me).
Book Reviews
DIY Projects
Blogging Adventures
As Lewis Carroll so aptly named his first chapter in Alice in Wonderland: "down the rabbit-hole" we go!
I have created this blog in order to share my thoughts and opinions on literature, specifically YA Literature. This blog will serve many functions besides that. I will include tidbits about my own life as well as other DIY projects (more about that later) around my new house (also more about that later), and my own adventures with blogging, writing, and publication (way more about that later).
Here are some things to look forward to! (And also serves as a very intense to-do list for me).
Book Reviews
DIY Projects
Blogging Adventures
As Lewis Carroll so aptly named his first chapter in Alice in Wonderland: "down the rabbit-hole" we go!
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