Books In Real Life

copywrites on this one go to me -
but who would want to steal this
lovely blurryness anyways?

Do you recognize this?  Probably not.  It's a sculpture in Yorkdale Mall - somewhere that is busy, but not known world-wide.  I walked through it on my way to the subway, which took me to the ROM.

Yet, I had to stop like a tourist and take a picture.  I bet lots of people thought I was crazy.  Why did I take this picture?  It's a book come to life.


I don't know how many people have read Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan (if you haven't you need to, because it's great) but I have, and I absolutely love the book.  Scott Westerfeld is reaching the top of my favourite author list fast.  His books are a lot like Mortal Engines, if you've read that one, and a better version of Keys to the Kingdom.. maybe even a bit like Inkspell or a more sci-fi Shiver.

Books To Read

Cover of Linger (Wolves of Mercy Falls, Book 2)

It's been a while since I made a new books to read list, so here it goes:

Books To Read

1. City Of Fallen Angels - out on April 5th, which much much too far away.  I love these books, even if they're a bit predicable.
2. Behemoth - Leviathan book two.  Leviathan was so amazing!
3. The Scorch Trails - sequel of The Maze Runner, which wasn't long enough :P
4. The Atlantis Complex - will these books ever end?
5. Predator's Gold - an unheard of series, where I am, but the first one was really great!
6. Smart Girls and Fast Boys - because I'm feeling like a gushy romantic gal.  A friend said it was good.
7. Spells - from the author of Wings - think I'll pick this up when I go shopping next week :)
8. Enchantments - from the author of Wings      ---> not out yet, but I'm not sure when it's out either

Day 4

Cross country was killer today.  We ran further than I ever have (4k?) on FLAT ground this time, and then did hill sprints on a root-filled, rocky, steep hill. But it was fun, I guess :P

I've developed a habit of typing things out in the "edit HTML" section of blogger - for non-bloggers, that's the type where you have to edit the < b r / > and the < i > and whatnot for things to go italicized or bolded. I just find it's easier, and sort of fun.

I've always wished I was a pro-coder, and could hack stuff by reading this alien computer language... maybe this is just me settling with the next best thing :)

Shakesphere

This is just a short post about my thoughts on William Shakesphere and his work.  :]

For the past 3 years, and the next 6ish ones of highschool and beyond, I'm going to study Shakesphere every year.  How many plays does he have?

I've read Romeo and Juliet twice, Hamlet in grade 7, and probably every story twice in my education :\

Why?

I don't agree with reading Shakesphere. 

Short Review: I Heart You, You Haunt Me

Sorry this post got screwed up awesome followers! I have no idea what happened... but I re-wrote it now :)

I Heart You, You Haunt Me

A book
Written in verse.
Short lines
Lots of meaning.

A girl dares
her boy to jump

He dies.

But then he comes back?

This book is really cool.  It's not long - it took me about 45 minutes to read.. but it's really cute :)

My Bookcase

I've decided to take pictures of my bookcase and all my amazing books.  Usually, I have a LOT of them loaned off to other people, but I have (most of) them back right now!

My Bookcase!  (okay, not ALL my books are here... some are in boxes, but these are the ones I read the most.

My Books-To-Read List

So, since I've had to time to write as of late, I've decided to read!

Well, LATELY I haven't been able to do much reading, but I WANT to read!  I don't really like a specific genre of books (mainly just alternate universe teen or sometimes romance, depending on my girlyness at the moment).  Here is a list of books I want to read (not all of them are out yet!).

Books I Want To Read In The Near Future:

1. The Mockingjay - FINALLY the last book of the Hunger Games, out August 24th
2. Will Grayson, Will Grayson - by John Green
3. Smart Girls and Fast Boys - because I'm feeling like a gushy romantic gal.  A friend said it was good.
4. City Of Fallen Angels - another book in the Mortal Instruments series
5. Infernal Devices - prequel series to the Mortal Instruments
6. Fire - like the Graceling, same author/characters (sequel?)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas (to those who celebrate) and happy holidays...

I hope everyone is enjoying the break from school and time at home :) I know I have!

For Christmas (which was this morning, a few minutes ago) I got AMAZING stuff!  There was everything I wanted and more, and it was a nice day and (amazingly) the cat and dog behaved - even if they were close together and wearing hideous collars (Garfield) and scary things that he had to sniff (Odie).

First of all, I got a book called the Maze Runner (left) and Wings, (above right with butterfly-thing).

A Great And Terrible Beauty - BOOK REVIEW

A few days ago I started to read A Great And Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray. From all the great reviews and the really well-done synopsis, I thought this book was going to be good - really good.

But it wasn't.

The story takes place in the turn-of-the-century 18/19 hundreds. It seems to me that the book should have taken place in a different time, maybe around the middle of the 18 hundreds instead because they didn't seem to act at all what I think my great-great grandparents would - but hey, I hardly know anything about those times, so I may be wrong). But in this time, in England, the world is filled with icky pompous (and yes, they are pompous) men and humble, dainty, faint-hearted women, all of which, seem to be speaking a wierd mixture of modern-day English with some olden stuff you can find on Wikipedia.  Their thoughts, however, are totally modern.)

This book does not sound like the type of book girls would like, right? (Well, at least not me). I thought it was going to be about how Gemma, the wierdly-named main character, overcomes all this and leads the world into a better state of mind about women (and ends up killing all those disgusting men).

But that didn't happen. Instead, A Great And Terrible Beauty was exactly that, except without the great. A Terrible Beauty. Filled with vain, dimwitted girls and arrogant, deserves-to-die men. The girls can't stop talking about how pretty they look (along with the whole gossiping thing... they are Queens of gossip) and how they wish to find Prince Charming (who, most likely, they dream to be the type of guy who orders them around like slaves) and how their favourite dress has a stain in it.

Oh no! Those girls make me sick. They are a disgrace to the female race.

But who would've thought the book would be that bad? I mean, the back cover is amazingly interesting and good... the beginning starts out the same (ish) but then... then you meet Pippy and Felicity and Ann, all obsessed about their 50-year-old husbands and how beautiful they are (Insert scream here).

And as for the magic? Ooohh.. how delightful! The magic, which was supposed to seem dark and dangerous comes out as a perfect little paradise which, of course, the girls get into trouble for trying to take back.

Yes, they try to take the magic from Paradise and make their lives perfect. Perfect looks, perfect French... for a disgusting moment in the book, they are perfect. Eww. No one wants to read a book about perfect people, especially not me. And I mean, seriously, did Libba Bray (the author) actually think she could get away with a simple Adam and Eve story? Oh, don't steal from the perfect world - you'll have to stay!

Wow. Nearing the end of the book, I found myself skipping pages until I found the only character I liked (who now, was so impressive that I forget his name). Suprisingly, my favourite character was the only one she based off a real person.

I'm sorry if you love this book or I came off a little harsh, but I needed to vent my frusteration. I read this entire book, two days wasted, and now I'm left with a disgusting feeling (oh, did I mention her extremely mature dreams? (Which luckily I was able to skip with only minor scarring) but now I feel.. well... betrayed. All those kind words and good reviews and suggestions to read this book from friends.. and now I'm left with no amazingly good story of rebellation against the vile system of the somewhere-around 1800's, but a tale of 4 vain girls in their very vain lives, complaining how none of them are beautiful enough.

I feel like I've been tricked, and it's not a good feeling.

But hey, if a story of vain girls and pretty, non-dark magic makes you smile, go out and get A Great And Terrible Beauty. Maybe it'll be just what your looking for.

But it wasn't at all what I was looking for. No, now I'm going to get out a nice book with girls who aren't afraid to show their wrists and don't care about how their facial expression is when they stab their enemy (which, in A Great And Terrible Beauty, never happens because there doesnt seems to be much in the way of enemies - besides a few "friends" who gossip rude things. Oh my!) Maybe I'll read The Hunger Games - that's a nice, dark book with plenty of killing. Definately my type de livre.

All-in-all, I, Sarah, dislike this book MORE than Twilight.

And that's saying something.

The (French) Hunger Games

« The Hunger Games » Critique

Dans le paie de Panem, un jeu affreux est crée il y a soixante-quatorze année. Pas les enfants à le âge douze à dix-huit sont sûr. Tout les enfants sont inscrire dans « The Hunger Games » - seulement une enfant suivit à jeu.

Mais « The Hunger Games » n’est pas un livre de répugnant meurtrier et mourant. Dans le quatre cent pages livre, il y a seulement dix-huit décès. (Un mort par vingt-deux pages !) Et, parmi le décès il y a une histoire d’amitié, d’amour, de courage et de force. Simplement, « The Hunger Games » est magnifique.

Mais encore, il y a les erreurs. Manque de le histoire de Panem, en particulaire dans les premiers pages cause de confusion, et plus attention à le mode dans le début peut-être écarter le lecteur homme. Mais, pour le lecture femme, le mode et romance dans le livra est un plus superbe ! Aussi, le nom des caractères dominants sont très bizarre ! Il y a diminué le réalité de l’histoire (pour exemple, Katniss et Peeta - ce deux bizarres noms sont le noms de les caractères dominants ! Quand j’ai lu le livre, je ne reconnaît / support pas le noms - presque). Finalement, le endroit et temps de l’histoire n’est pas crédible. Mais en général, « The Hunger Games » est le plus écrire livre j’ai lu, et je vais lire - sauf le suite (que nom est « Catching Fire » et va être dans le librairie en le premier de septembre, 2009.

Avec des cruelles et des charmant changements des intrigues, un fois vous lisez « The Hunger Games » vous n’arretez pas !

And THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is what you get from a french school. Fun eh? I have to write one other critique, just like that, a legend, and an advertisement, all by this week, all in "francais". (Oh, and by the way, that bit was entirely unedited, so please excuse the mistakes! I'm editing it tomorrow).

Currently Nothing..

<-- That is my adorable dog, Odie. I love him. He's about 4 months right now, but that was taken about 2 months ago (do the math yourself). He's adorable, and since no one else in my family is puppy trainer (and my sister screams whenever he licks her) I've solely by myself taught him to Say, Sit, Laydown, and Wag His Tail (the last one was the easiest). He's adorable. I'll get more pics of him soon.

Oh, and in the background, that's me. I'm wearing a really baggy sweater.. so I'm not.. obese.

There hasn't been much going on lately. I finished the script for the movie due in.. may, and my teacher and I talked a little about my story. I ripped out pages from my old sketchbook and glued them in my new one to finish it before it was handed in, and have to draw and life-sized portrait of me for grad.. who I have currently named Sally, because she can't be me, because I'm not that ugly. I hope.

I'm doing Red Maple, which is a reading thing my library has. Important people (old geezers) pick good books they like, and we read them, vote from all over Ontario, and the winner gets an award. This year, the old geezers picked the worst possible books ever. One is even about those standard act-older-than-you-are girls who walk around in malls 3 feet high wearing abercombie and miniskirts. Luckily, most people were warned about the book... unluckily, I was the person warning them, and I'm scarred for life. (She's in love with her teacher, and every single guy she meets!) So far,the winner seems to be a book about a boy becoming obsessed about the make-belive "King Arthur" game. Interesting eh?

Yesterday, on an unexpected snowday, I saw Inkheart with my boyfriend (yeah, I know, but it's the hold-hands-at-recess type of thing, and niether of us wear abercombie or fitch). It was pretty okay, but really, what they need in the movie is some great fight scene. Add Matt Daemon as a blackjacket, and let Mo fight out his life. If they had that, I would've loved it. But no, they didn't have any fighting what-so-ever. If I hadn't read the books... I really don't know what I would have thought about it.

I'm trying to start writing a totally romance story called "A Changed Story" because of how many times I've changed it. I've ran out of names like "Empyrean". The problem is, with ACS, it's more of a learning story. I'm trying third person, multi POV and romance being the main headline of the story. It's hard. I think I'm going to have a really real narrator... something somewhat like that. I'll update you if I get anything, but I don't really have a clue yet.

And, on a sadder more personal note... ahhh!!!! I used to only occasionally get these moments of extreme depression where the sky was falling and I'd fallen into a deep hole with everything crashing down.. now they are happening at least twice a day. I feel like Harry Potter with the whole angsty thing going on, except mine isn't acted.

But hey, that's not your problem. It's mine, and how I seem to have inherited every bad trait from my family.

Sarah