I can't think of a good intro, so I'll just say hey. Hi. How ya been? I've been good. Okay. Average. This week has been relatively easy at school (though next week is midterm week, so death is just around the corner, comme toujours). This weekend is Thanksgiving for all us Canadians, which doesn't really mean all that much to me because my family doesn't really do anything (most of my relatives live in British Columbia, and it's depressing to have thanksgiving for three people), but it does mean one good thing: A THREE DAY WEEKEND!!! WAHOO!!!
Alas, it's not the weekend yet. It's only wednesday night. Of course, my thursday is very easy (and very exciting!). I'll keep it under wraps for now, in case it doesn't work out, but you betcha, if it does, you'll be hearing about it. For a long time. Because it'll only be the single BEST day of my LIFE. I know, I've peeked your curiosity. I'll have to keep you in the dark for a little bit longer. But expect a very excited, over the top, crazy post in a few days.
Anyways, the point of this post was not to talk about tomorrow or the weekend or any of the awesome things I will be doing. I'll talk about that in the next post. In this post I want to talk about the past, instead of the future. I want to talk about my past, in books. My reading history, if you will. What better way is there to do that, then with illustrations (because pictures making everything better). Yes, a top to bottom inventory of my bookshelf. Doesn't that sound fun? (yes, that is what your thinking: yes. Of course it sounds fun). I thought it would be a good game, to go through and count all my books, making a few comments about each. Hopefully someone will see something they like or haven't heard of or want to read. You see, you get book recommendations, and I get to make a list. With both win.
So, I suppose I shall start this grand expedition with a little introduction to my bookshelf. First, here is the picture (as promised!):
My bookshelf has two parts. It starts on the shelves under my window seat (which I had a picture of, but then I photoshopped it to death. It was a very gory demise. I don't think you want to see it...). I change it up from time to time. Sometimes, I put the hardcovers on those shelves, sometimes the so-called "adult books". Currently, I have Mitch Albom-Deb Caletti there (it should go without saying that my books are in alphabetical order). The second part of my bookshelf is featured in the photo above. It's just a traditional, boring, Ikea bookshelf (that I got for free off the street). It holds the rest of my books (Deb Caletti (continued) - Ziegler), plus a few knickknacks. This bookshelf is forever changing too, as I acquire more and more books, and have nowhere to put them (and have to find, um, "creative solutions").
I'm only going to go through one shelf today, Mitch Albom - Meg Cabot. Here's the picture, followed by the list:
1) Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
Very, very good. I highly recommend it. An interesting book, simple as that.
2) The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
Didn't love it. Didn't hate it. It was pretty good. Short, and pricey for such a quick read.
3) For One More Day by Mitch Albom
My least favourite of his. Average.
4) Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
An AMAZING book. It was my favourite book for a very long time (until I realized that having a favourite book be about rape was kind of depressing). Laurie Halse Anderson is awesome, and this book is just spectacular. Such good writing. So well done. READ IT.
5) Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
Another good one. I generally don't like reading about anorexia, but I gave this one a try, because it was a Laurie Halse Anderson. I didn't regret it. It wasn't as good as Speak, but it was still an interesting, and more importantly, unique book.
6) Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
I read this a bunch of years ago and really liked it. I can't remember why. It's about a drug addict. People debate if it is actually a memoir or not. Check it out on Wikipedia.
7) Emma by Jane Austen
As I've mentioned, a new addition to these shelves. A hard read, but a satisfying read. I like Emma. I like Mr. Knightley. But the ending really sucked. Such a cop out, Miss Austen.
8) Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway
Oh, I love this book. I love Audrey. I love love love love James. The writing is so good. The main character is so good. And the romantic lead is so good. A good, good, GOOD book. Again, READ IT.
9) The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June by Robin Benway
This one is kinda weird. There are superpowers, let's just leave it at that. But there is also romance. And lots of it. And it is GREAT.
10) Forever by Judy Blume
I'm not the biggest Judy Blume fan. But I loved forever. It's a groundbreaking (and constantly banned) book. I think you have to be ready for this book to read it, and if you are, you will really like it. It's honest. And so few books are honest.
11) The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Series (1-4) by Ann Brashares
A very good series. I love Lena and Bridget and Carmen and Tibby. And I love Brian and Eric and Kostos. I love them all. And I love Ann Brashares sentimental writing. I just love these books. Brashare's work since has not been nearly as good. But I'll always love the Sisterhood.
12) The Last Summer of You and Me by Ann Brashares
Meh. I mean, the romance is good. And the writing is nice. But the story surrounding all of that is average. Nothing special. I don't think I would have picked it up if it hadn't had such a good pedigree...
13) 3 Willows by Ann Brashares
This book was a little young for me. My dad bought it for me, as a surprise, so I didn't get to tell him it was about a bunch of thirteen year olds, not exactly something I was interested in, considering I was sixteen. But I felt bad, so I read it. And I liked it enough. It was no Sisterhood. Actually, it was kind of like the diluted, little kid version of the Sisterhood (minus one sister). I liked one of the three stories a lot (the one with the romance, of course). The second story was fine, and the third I found a little annoying. But I have a hard time judging this book, because I wasn't the target audience. Who's to say a bunch of thirteen year olds wouldn't love this book? (Well, it's unlikely, but I don't want to be an unfair judge)
14) My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares
Ack. This book was AWFUL. It was a straight up romance (with some eternal life/reincarnation mumbo jumbo thrown in), which I would usually like. Not this time. Ack, it was awful. SOOOOO boring. I spent the whole time waiting for the romance to get good, but it never really did. It was just a bad book. And you know what the worst part is? It's the first book in a trilogy! So, I won't be reading any more Ann Brashares for a while!
15) Teen Idol by Meg Cabot
So, now we're done with all the Ann Brashares....just to start with the Meg Cabots. And boy, do I have a lot of those. A shelf-full actually. And the first one is called Teen Idol. It's actually one of my favourites by her. I love the lead boy, Scott. And I LOVE the ending. It's just so sweet. That last chapter is one of the best I've ever read.
16) How To Be Popular by Meg Cabot
Another good one. And a classic best friend romance, which I can always appreciate. Altogether, a good book. I liked Stephanie and I liked Jason. And again, the ending is good. Predictable, but what else do you expect?
17) Queen of Babble Series (1-3) by Meg Cabot
The first book was good. The second was okay. The third was awful. Not my favourite of hers, by any means. Though I did like the wedding dress design part of it. That was quite interesting.
18) The Princess Diares, Book 1: The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot (2 copies, one hardcover, one softcover)
I have read this book so many times. I've absolutely destroyed my softcover copy. It's taped up like ten times and the cover's totally ripped off. If there was a fire in my house, and I could only grab one book, this would be it. And if I ever meet Meg Cabot (which I will, I swear on my life!), this is the book I will get her to sign. I just love it. It is the first book in my favourite series of all time. It has such good memories for me. I love Mia, and I love Lily and I love Tina, and, of course, I love Michael. I think Michael Moscovitz may be my favourite male lead ever. And if you know me at all, that's saying a lot. Michael has a great ending in this book. It doesn't pay off until the forth book, but it's worth the wait. It's very sweet. I love Michael and Mia. Smiles.
19) The Princess Diaries, Book 2: Princess in the Spotlight by Meg Cabot (2 copies, one hardcover, one borrowed and stolen by a friend)
This one is good too. Michael has lots of shining moments. I love his dress comment SOOO much. Michael's so sweet. What more can I say. I love him so much!
So that's it for today folks. Off to do many exciting things. Promise to report back soon.