Merry Christmas!

It's all about the presents, right?...
Have a wonderful Christmas everyone!

Coldplay & Rihanna "Princess of China"

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I posted this week's In My Mailbox on The Reading Enchantress. Click here to check it out!

Review: Catching Fire (by Suzanne Collins)

Check out my review for Catching Fire on The Reading Enchantress by clicking here.
Purchase Catching Fire: Barnes and Noble
Enjoy and Happy Reading!

The Night of The Nutcracker

Last night I met up with my Dad, Step-Mom, and Step-Sister at the Opera House. We went to see The Nutcracker, which the last time I saw, I was seven. It was fun getting all dolled up in my Missoni. My favorite part was definitely the snowflakes. So beautiful! Taking pictures was prohibited, but I couldn't resist, so here's a few! (Courtesy of my iPhone)

                                                 "Roll Call"  The End.

Adele "Set Fire to The Rain"

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I posted this week's In My Mailbox on The Reading Enchantress. Click here to check it out!

My Book Blog: The Reading Enchantress

I've decided to start an official book blog, The Reading Enchantress. I posted my first review yesterday. As of now, I will continue on with Livin' Livi and for the moment, post my reviews on both blogs. Hopefully it will develop into something good! Make sure to click here to visit The Reading Enchantress. I'm still in the process of creating it, so the current look is not a done deal. Enjoy and make sure to follow it too.

The Hunger Games (by Suzanne Collins)

Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Release Date: September 14, 2008
Barnes and Noble / Amazon / Goodreads

From Goodreads:
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

24 hours! That's how long it took me to finish The Hunger Games. If you've read The Hunger Games, you already know why it took just 24 hours to read the book, and if you haven't- it has nothing to do with the length of the book. I've heard many good things about the series and my curiosity got the better of me. Finally last night, I broke down, pulled out my Nook and pressed the "Buy" button that sat innocently enough next to The Hunger Games cover.

I have to say, when I began the book, I was introduced to a world that seemed oddly familiar. Not familiar to our everyday lives, but to two other books in-particular; Lauren Oliver's "Delirium" and George Orwell's classic, "1984." From the overpowering presence of the government and their "unclaimed" dictatorship, right down to the sectioned cities and their electrifed security fences. At first, I was dissapointed that I felt like I was in two other books but that did come to an end. Eventually, the similarities take alternate pathways and the world of The Hunger Games becomes you. This world is fascinating, exciting, thrilling and (at times) scary.

Our protagonist, Katniss Everdeen and supporting character, Peeta Mellark, both go through huge transformations. At the beginning, I found Katniss likable and Peeta- tolreable. But the events that occur in the games alter these characters greatly and I felt the urge to love them. By the end I was cheering for this heroine and her counterpart. I love how and by what means, their relationship develops into something that leaves you torn and craving more!

In 24 hours, a lot can happen, and "happen" it did! I highly recommend this book and I look forward to the next book in the trilogy. "Catching Fire," here I come!

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In My Mailbox is a weekly feature hosted by The Story Siren, where book bloggers share what books they bought, borrowed or received in the past week.


"The Hunger Games" by. Suzanne Collins
(Barnes and Noble / Goodreads)
"Catching Fire" by. Suzanne Collins
(Barnes and Noble / Goodreads)
"Mortal Faults" by. Michael Prescott
(Barnes and Noble)

What did you get this week?
Happy Reading!

Bridgit Mendler "I'm Gonna Run To You"



Happy First Day of December! According to my countdown, it's officially 23 days & 9 hours till Christmas!

Books To Pine For (1)

Books To Pine For are books that may or may not have been released, that I would love to add to my bookshelf, but haven't gotten my hands on yet.

---

Title: Shatter Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Publisher: HaperCollins
Release Date: 11/15/11
Purchase: Barnes and Noble

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to fine, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice:
Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

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Title: Pandemonium
Author: Lauren Oliver
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: 2/28/2012
Pre-order: Barnes and Noble

Lauren Oliver captivated readers with Delirium, the first book in a thrilling dystopian trilogy in which Lena Haloway dared to fall in love with Alex and escape the cure, the government-mandated procedure that renders a person immune to the disease of love. Lena and Alex staked their lives on leaving their oppressive society, but only Lena broke free.

Pandemonium continues Lena’s gripping story. After escaping from Portland, Maine, Lena makes it to the Wilds and becomes part of an Invalid community, where she transforms herself into a warrior for the resistance. A future without Alex is unimaginable, but Lena pushes forward and fights, both for him and for a world in which love is no longer considered a disease. Swept up in a volatile mix of revolutionaries and counterinsurgents, Lena struggles to survive—and wonders if she may be falling in love again.

---

Title: Forgotten
Author: Cat Patrick
Publisher: Little, Brown Books
Release Date: 6/7/2011
Purchase: Barnes and Noble

Each night at precisely 4:33 am, while sixteen-year-old London Lane is asleep, her memory of that day is erased. In the morning, all she can "remember" are events from her future. London is used to relying on reminder notes and a trusted friend to get through the day, but things get complicated when a new boy at school enters the picture. Luke Henry is not someone you'd easily forget, yet try as she might, London can't find him in her memories of things to come.

When London starts experiencing disturbing flashbacks, or flash-forwards, as the case may be, she realizes it's time to learn about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future.

---

I can't wait to get my hands on these books!

Delirium (by Lauren Oliver)

Title: Delirium
Author: Lauren Oliver
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: August 2, 2011
Purchase: Barnes n' Noble / Amazon


The Beatles said "all you need is love." But, in Lena's world, love is the last thing you could want or need. Love is forbidden, it is even feared. Lena lives in a United States that has identified love as a disease and perfected a cure for it. When the book opens, Lena is counting down the days till her procedure, ninety-five days to be exact. Then she will be safe and become one of the thousands of other "cureds." The "cureds" are the U.S. citizens that have had the "love" extracting procedure and are marred by a scar that they are proud of. After she is "love-free," Lena will go about the life that the government assigns her, forgetting her former joys, friendships, cares, heartfelt wants and needs.

A world without love was like trying to see without eyes. I was both baffled and intrigued by this concept. To begin with, I was surprised most that Lena wanted the life of a "cured." She believed that love was deadly and for a person like myself, that believes love is in everything and is everything, I had a hard time seeing what she saw. But as the story progressed, I began to see how love can be deadly. For we die loving one another and without love, what is life? So if you never experience love, how can you die from never knowing it? It's the same concept of "what you never have, you never miss." Although I understood Lena's fears, I had the hopes that see would "she the light." And (spoiler alert) what sets the story in motion, is that she does.

I love this book. The characters were brilliantly developed, as was the plot. I felt every emotion strongly and both cheered and morned for Lena. I loved the progression of Lena's character and the characters that she encounters and builds relationships with. The relationships that develop, were set in a timely way that felt real and true to life and were fantastically lovely.

I strongly recommend this book and praise Lauren Oliver's work.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for my beautiful, intelligent, loving mother; both of my caring fathers. My amazingly stunning, witty, fast-talking sister, who I have laughed and cried with. My two sweet stepsisters. My dogs, Lola and Chloe, who continue to love me endlessly and who make coming home a joy. My health that God grants generously. My freedom that those have fought for. My education that is a miraculous gift. My memories that I cherish. Most of all, I am thankful to wake up everyday and see the amazing people that make up my life and experience all of these wonderful things. I am thankful to be alive!

The Boy Who Cried Book

I found this article a couple of months ago and happened upon it again today. As an avid book reader it's safe to say I went through the whole "held-in-your-hand, there-in-the-flesh, hard-bound-book" extinction 'freak out'. Before I bought my Nook, I was convinced they were evil. Then I bought the Nook and then I read this article. So this is for those of you out there, that went through or still are going through, the worried stage that good 'ole fashioned books are going away. I think this somewhat humorous (and genius) article will help with the anxiety.


Ding, Dong the Book Is Dead!
To anyone who is worried about the survival of the printed book I present this:

Yes, that is Captain Jean Luc Picard, enjoying a hardcover book in the 24th century.

Case closed. Books aren't going anywhere.
....
Okay. Fine. So maybe only sexy, refined men will continue to read hardcover books, and the rest of us will make use of paperback books, e-books, audio books...Ugh, I can't even get worked up about it. We still have movies even with the advent of tv. Some are still in black and white even with color film. Not every movie is in 3D yet. We still have stage plays, for pete's sake. Although cassettes and 8 tracks are gone, we still have Cd (for the moment) and records (enjoying a new resurgence). Radio is still around, and if you include podcasts its more popular than ever. And while digital books might be taking a larger share of the market, regular ol' paper books are still being sold, and after everyone figures out their preferred mode of reading, sale will probably even out between the two.

The thing is, I wouldn't worry about any of our storytelling mediums, because people will always want and need stories, and people will always have preferences for how they want to experience those stories. In Chicago, where I live, I've attended a couple of the Moth Storyslams, which is just live storytelling on a theme, and that event sells every single month. If live storytelling--the oldest form of storytelling there is--still has a home in this world, then the beloved book has absolutely nothing to worry about.


*Article published on www.officialbealibrarianbloger.blogspot.com on August 2, 2011.*

Original post

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In My Mailbox is a weekly feature hosted by The Story Siren, where book bloggers share what books they bought, borrowed or received in the past week.


"The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane" by. Katherine Howe
"Last Breath" by. Michael Prescott

Just In Time... for The Weekend

After the day today's been, this comic felt appropriate. Have a wonderful weekend! and enjoy :)



*Comic strip taken from the "Dilbert" comics by. Scott Adams, (C) 1994 United Feature Syndicate, Inc.*

A Comment I'll Never Forget

I thought I'd post about a nice thing done. Author Jay Asher visited my blog yesterday and left a comment on my post. I thought he deserved recognition for taking the time out of his day to do so. For an author as busy as he to visit a fan's personal blog was definitely worth mention. Thank you Mr. Asher!

Oh So Exciting!

My night has been made! Earlier today I left a comment on author-extraordinaire- Jay Asher's latest blog post, which was about his last author speech and his adorable son. And then tonight when I checked his blog again- he (SURPRISE) commented me back! Oh my goodness, what could be more exciting?! *Doing my happy dance*

If, by some weird reason, you have not read Mr. Asher's masterpiece Thirteen Reasons Why, you can pick it up here!

Foster The People "Pumped Up Kicks"

Before I Fall

This is probably the only book that I've ever read that I felt the immediate feeling to go back to the beginning and reread it all over again. Just keep reading and re-reading it, like it's never ending. Of course- it did end, and do I ever regret the decision to start the last chapter. But, how can I really regret it? when I so eagerly began reading it. So many conflicting feelings...(tsk, tsk) that's what this book does to you. I cried many times since the beginning of this book. From the very first chapter to the last- I cried. But so many were happy tears, tears that sprang not only out of longing but out of fulfillment. I'm gonna miss this book and the life of Samantha Kingston beyond words.
Samantha Kingston has it all, the "best" of it all. The best of bestfriends, the best boyfriend, the best clothes, the best parking spot... one of the best "lived" lives at Thomas Jefferson High School. Until one Friday night in the blink of an eye- it's over. Samantha Kingston becomes the Samantha Kingston. And as fate would have it, she gets to relive the last day of her life- seven times over. One last week to relive it all. What would you do on the last day of your life? What would you say? Who would you spend it with? What would you wear? Who would you kiss? Would you eat turkey or roast beef? Would you go to school or would you hang out with your little sister? Would you go "all the way" with your boyfriend? or would you fall for someone else? Those are all questions that Samantha must make, and make the right ones she must-, in order to live... just one more day.

Excerpt from "Before I Fall": The thing is, you don't get to know. It's not like you wake up with a bad feeling in your stomach. You don't see shadows where there shouldn't be any. You don't remember to tell your parents that you love them or- in my case -remember to say good-bye to them at all. If you're like me, you wake up seven minutes and forty-seven seconds before your best friend is supposed to be picking you up. You're too busy worrying about how many roses you're going to get on Cupid Day to do anything more than throw on your clothes, brush your teeth, and pray to God you left your makeup in the bottom of your messenger bag so you can do it in the car. If you're like me, your last day starts like this:

Title: Before I Fall
Author: Lauren Oliver
Purchase Before I Fall here

Country Bumpkin' News

Today I watching the five o'clock news and found myself laughing at the content. The head story was about a home that caught on fire and, sadly, killed the two people inside. The woman was in her eighties and lived with her son who was missing a leg. The story ended with the news respondent telling how one of the few remaining pieces of the fire was the victim' prosthetic leg, which then flashes up on the screen, propped against the ashen front porch. I guess that's the kind of news that makes headlines in Kentucky. "As firefighters scoured the remains they found the 60 year old victim's prosthetic leg, detached but still in good condition..."

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In My Mailbox is a weekly feature hosted by The Story Siren, where book bloggers share what books they bought, borrowed or received in the past week.

"Before I Fall" by. Lauren Oliver
"Delirium" by. Lauren Oliver

Blind Pursuit

I just wrapped Blind Pursuit. I really enjoyed it and was totally taken for a ride- a very fun ride. It's full of heart-pounding scenes and many shocking twists. Mr. Prescott, once again, delivered. This is my third read of his and comparing Blind Pursuit to the others, it wasn't as awesome as Stealing Faces but much better than Shiver. Take that for what it's worth.
Blind Pursuit leads with the abduction of Erin Reilly. Her captor goes by the name of Harold Gund. He kidnaps women and burns them alive, and now he wants Erin. He intends to use her profession as a psychiatrist to help cure him of his sick and deadly addiction. Gone in the middle of the night, she leaves no clues as to her intention, except a poorly written and forced letter to her twin sister, Annie. Erin must now depend on her gut, wits and Annie's perseverance to survive the inferno that is the mind of Harold Gund.

Excerpt from "Blind Pursuit": The man was tall and heavyset, red-bearded, an uncombed shock of scarlet hair spilling out from under a baseball cap, the bill cocked low over his eyes. On the collar of his winter coat lay a bristle-toothed leaf, deposited there by the sword fern in the alcove where he had lain in wait. His hands were gloved. In his right first, a gleam of metal. She almost screamed, and then his left hand shot out, seized her shoulder, slammed her up against the elevator doors. The impact winded her. She had no breath, no voice. Thrust of his right arm, the metallic thing digging into her stomach below the breastbone, two sharp prongs pinching her skin through the robe and pajama top. From a yard away she stared into his eyes, blue and cold.

Title: Blind Pursuit
Author: Michael Prescott
Purchase Blind Pursuit here

Here's a beautiful song to start out a wonderful month!
Christina Perri "Arms"

Just In Time... for Halloween

Happy Halloween Weekend everyone! I hope you have a great time enjoying the festivities. Since it is the Halloween weekend, I thought I'd post an appropriately themed comic. Have fun!


*Taken from Creators comic strip (C) 2010 Creators Syndicate, Inc.*

Eve

Eve is over and I don't know whether I am relieved or, well, not relieved. It was a definite "quick read" but the first half was almost too "quick" for me. I wish Ms. Carey had taken her time in building the plot instead of jumping head first into it. I would of rather her spread the first two chapters out into four chapters, and really let the plot thicken. But hey, she's the published author here.
Eve takes place sixteen years after a deadly virus has taken most of the human population. The name sake of the book is an eighteen year old girl- Eve, who was taken as as a child, from her dying mother, and raised at a school for girls. On the night before her graduation she discovers the truth behind the school and what her promised future actually is, which was nothing like she could have ever dreamed (or feared). She flees into the wild and after meeting up with an old friend from the past, the two set off west to Califia, the dreamlike land of a secure present and a safe future. The two must discover a way to survive in a world they never really knew. Along the way, they will encounter danger, betrayal, friendship and, for Eve, ultimately- love.

Excerpt from Eve: "Arden?" I said again, softer this time. Her eyes were squeezed shut, her cheeks pink and contorted. She turned over, her chest heaving. I stood, reaching out my hand, but she didn't move. Instead her body curled into a tight ball, tensing with great effort. She hacked loudly, her coughs splitting the air. I dropped to the floor. My hand rested on her back as she lurched forwards, trying to free her lungs. When she pulled away we both looked down. Her palms were covered with blood.

Title: Eve
Author: Anna Carey
Purchase Eve here

This song is a little old... but oh so addicting!
Cee Lo Green "Forget You"

Katy Perry "E.T."

Here is the official music video, featuring Kanye West:


and here is the fan-made, Gossip Girl version. You choose!

Shiver: the Movie: Trailer

I recently read "Shiver" by Michael Prescott, and I just came upon the trailer for the movie version of "Shiver"- due out later this year. Here it is: Enjoy!

Just In Time... for The Weekend

Hope you have a great weekend!

*Comic strip taken from the "Dilbert" comics by. Scott Adams, (C) 1989 United Feature Syndicate, Inc.*

I just can't get enough of this catchy tune! Footloose anyone?
Martin Solveig & Dragonette "Hello"

Paying the Bills & Staying True to Yourself

I just had a wonderful chat with my sister over the phone. She lives in South Korea, so we haven't seen each other in over a year and I miss her terribly. I've been conflicted with decisions about my future lately. School and careers... ugh. Everyone who's older than me keeps telling me to stay with nursing, and I’m not sure whether they’re right or not. It was really nice getting to talk out my frustrations with her. Although we're 12 hours and thousands of miles apart, I felt as if she was sitting here with me, venting and laughing, like we did when we were younger. Cheesy, I know, but boy was it nice to have a lending ear. The nice thing about having a sister is the "knowing me inside and out" without explanations, like the ones you have to give with friends. Friends are great but sisters are even better. At least, this one is. So here it is, what the conversation was about and what her advice was.
I love to read, I mean REALLY love to read. I always have and always will. Authors always talk about how long and hard the road to getting a book published can be and if it wasn't for that one editor or publisher, then that book wouldn't have made it.
Wuthering Heights is my favorite book ever written and to think if whoever received that manuscript didn't give it their time, then it wouldn't have been apart of my life. I'm not an author, but I still want to have a small part of that affect on someone. So naturally, I thought- wouldn't it be great to be an editor or publisher? I would still have a hand in the creation of books, behind the scenes- of course, but still- I would have a chance to help someone affect someone else's life. Sounds great, right? Well, at least, I think so. The thought of taking home five or six manuscripts on the weekends, and spending hours reading through them, giving that author and that story a chance was intriguing. That to me, was it. The answer to what I wanted to do... until life came into the equation.
"Go into teaching or nursing," everyone says. "It pays the bills..." "With nursing you'll always have a job..." "You'll have retirement and health insurance..." But should I live my life by what pays the bills? That is the question I've been facing.
Then, recently I met an author (yes, I blogged about it, already) and when she asked me what I was going to school for, I told her I was going into nursing, or possibly, I would like to be an editor or publisher. Her response, "Stay with nursing, it pays the bills." My reaction- I was disappointed. I guess I had the hopes that she would tell me to follow my heart, to do what I already know I love and if that is the book business (even if you may not always be making the big bucks) then do it. But- she didn't.
So, what do I do? That is the question I asked my sister tonight. And this is what she told me- "Do what you love and you will be successful in life. Trust me, if you do, then not only will you be successful... you'll be able to pay the bills."
I love you, sis!

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In My Mailbox is a weekly feature hosted by The Story Siren, where book bloggers share what books they bought or borrowed in the past week.

This past week, I bought one book from the "banned book" selection, "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood, and one new release, "Eve" by Anna Carey.
I'm going on a quick vay-cay this week, so I had to have something good for the ride down. Now comes the fun part, reading them!

Just In Time... for The Weekend

Have a GREAT weekend everyone!


*Comic strip taken from the "Dilbert" comics by. Scott Adams, (C) 1989 United Feature Syndicate, Inc.*

Thirteen Reasons Why

I just finished Thirteen Reasons Why. All I can say is "Wow." It was so moving, so surprising. Hannah's story changed something in me, something permanent. I wish I could go back and say those words, the secret- the absolute dire- words that others needed to hear. But, I can't and that's what's so sad.

One day, Hannah Baker, normal teenage- high school- girl, doesn't show up for school. She's just another no-show, until the words get out that she killed herself, one day, for "no reason" she takes a handful of pills and she's gone. Then two weeks later, Clay Jensen, receives a box of tapes on his front door. Compelled to listen, because really... who listens to tapes anymore?, let alone packages them up and sends them around to random people?, he pops in the first of seven tapes and hears the voice of Hannah Baker crackle into the headset. She's going to tell the listeners why she killed herself and surprise, if you received them, then you're one of the reasons why, one of thirteen reasons why. The rules- you must listen to each tape and pass them along to the next person in line- or a second set will be released and then everyone will hear what it was exactly that you did to help Hannah seal off her life. And so the story begins...

Excerpt from "Thirteen Reasons Why" : In the back of our class, Mrs. Bradley also had a paper bag. It hung with the rest of ours on the spinning bookrack. We could use it - and she encouraged it- for notes about her teaching. Critical or otherwise. She also wanted us to recommend topics for future discussions. So I did just that. I wrote a note to Mrs. Bradley that read: "Suicide. It's something I've been thinking about. Not too seriously, but I have been thinking about it." That's the note. Word for word. And I know it's word for word because I wrote it dozens of times before delivering it. I'd write it, throw it away, write it, crumple it up, throw it away. But why was I writing it to begin with? I asked myself that question every time I printed the words onto a new sheet of paper. Why was I writing this note? It was a lie. I hadn't been thinking about it. Not really. Not in detail. The thought would come into my head and I'd push it away. But I pushed it away a lot.

Are you, or someone you know, considering suicide? Then know that there is help, visit The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline's website: www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org or call 1-800-273-TALK.

Title: Thirteen Reasons Why
Author: Jay Asher
Purchase Thirteen Reasons Why here