Fall is in the Air!

Well, I finished The Little Lady Agency. It was pretty good. Not a smut novel, though. I was kinda looking forward to that part, but...oh well. I'm thinking of locating the next book in the series, but I'll need to find out what it's called first.

Happy early Labor Day! I'm home this weekend, and tomorrow I'm going to the Michigan Renaissance Festival with a couple friends. We get really into it, dressing up and everything. I have a whole costume, complete with a pink bodice and horns. It's going to be really fun, and I can hardly wait!

I like that fall is coming. Well, sorta. The weather here is so weird. It was cool all summer, then there was a week in August when it was hot, then it got cold again, and now it's normal fall weather. So yeah. But I like all of the things that go along with fall: cider, sweaters, football games (which I only like because of band), pretending to be cold and having your boyfriend wrap his arms around you, etc. But yeah, I'm looking forward to it. In fact, after tomorrow I'm moving all of my winter clothes up to campus. It's kind of exciting.

So once the weekend's over, I'll actually have a chance to read Darcy's Passion: Pride and Prejudice Retold through His Eyes. Actually, I kinda completely forgot that I had it. But I'm in a romantic mood, so I figured I'd pull it off the shelf. Hopefully it does the original justice.

It's a Short One

So this is my second day of college. It's really weird to be back and to see people here, but it's not too bad. My Tuesdays and Thursdays don't suck too bad, at least.

The book I'm reading right now is The Little Lady Agency by Hester Browne. It's cute so far, but it's probably going to take me a while to finish since I have three English class with books that I'll have to read. So we'll see.

Dead Tired

Geh, band camp is so exhausting! I'm really tired right now. I'd be asleep, but I asked my boyfriend to call me when he's done with bowling and they won't be done til midnight, so...I'll probably just snooze until then.

So I started a new book, The Little Lady Agency by Hester Browne. It's ok so far, but I'm not even done with the second chapter, so we'll see.

I don't know how much people really know about band camp, but it's pretty much eating my soul. It's gonna be a long week.

All Moved In

Well, I'm all moved in! It's so wonderful being back, it's kind of unreal. Granted, I haven't really unpacked and I'm currently the only one here, but it's still really great. (Getting to see my boyfriend everyday is an added bonus.)

I also finished Murphy's Law. It kinda sucked. Well, ok, the plot sucked. The smut scenes were really good, but if I was rating the story as a whole, it'd only get a 3. It was just really cliched.

So marching band starts tomorrow, which means I probably won't be posting much in the next week. Then again, I won't be reading much, so it's not like I'd have anything to post in the first place.

Procrastinating

Well, I haven't actually started Murphy's Law yet. I've been really busy packing, organizing, and studying. I'll probably start it tonight or tomorrow, since I won't have to worry about my exam, which is tonight in about 2 hours and 10 minutes. I'm nervous but I'm also quick happy to be done.

Also...I'm moving back tonight! I'm so excited! It seems unreal that summer is practically over, but it doesn't even matter, because I'm going back to where I belong!

Ahem. But seriously, I will read Murphy's Law. Eventually.

Bite Me (Not Literally, but in the Insult Way)

So I finished Vampire Knight Vol. 7 about 5 minutes after my last post, and all I have to say is this: DAMN YOU, KANAME! I'm sorry, but I don't want him to be with Yuki. I don't hate him, but I hate him with her. He's like the hot but annoying big brother that won't go away. Seriously.

Today I'm helping my parents out at our garage sale. Since we got rained out last weekend, they decided to hold it again today. I don't know how many people we're going to get, but it better be a lot. I rarely venture upstairs into the light before noon (my room's in the basement). Today, however, I woke up at 8:00. It better be worth it - I don't get to sleep in again until next Friday, what with moving and everything.

So I'm a fanfiction writer who has been on hiatus for a little over a year. A lot of people have been sending me angry messages about updating, but I didn't want to bs a chapter just to make them happy. Today, though, I will probably write most if not all of the next chapter for one of my stories.

Counting Down the Days

So have four days until I move back. Ah, I'm so excited! But I'm sure that wasn't hard to figure out.

I finished Pride and Prejudice and Zombies today, and I really must say, Jane Austen has risen in my estimation. I've never really read her books, but after that one (although it was altered a bit), I really want to try a few more of her works. I'm probably going to watch Pride and Prejudice later today.

My next books is one my stepsister gave me, a romance novel by the name of Murphy's Law by Lori Foster. I don't know, the whole "anything that can go wrong will go wrong" thing might work for smut, so we'll see.

I went to Barnes and Noble earlier today, and I bought the next Vampire Knight volume and Darcy's Passion: Pride and Prejudice Retold through His Eyes by Regina Jeffers. I'm really excited for both of them. Obviously the Jane Austen aspect made me want to buy the latter, so hopefully it'll be good.

While I'm watching Pride and Prejudice, I'm going to make cinnamon bread for my boyfriend's roommates. I'm going to be staying at his place until I can move into my apartment, and I feel bad about intruding upon them. Last time I was there, they were trying to make bread without any idea what they were doing, and they mentioned wanting cinnamon bread, but not being able to find a mix. So I'm making some for them. I think it's a good idea, baking for them so they won't resent me. Hopefully it'll work.

Manga Monthly: Best of the Best Part 1

So it occurred to me this morning that I haven't done a Manga Monthly in two months. So to make up for that, instead of reviewing manga that I've read recently, I'll just basically list my favorites of all time.

Fruits Basket

So the majority of people have read this series, but if you haven't, you really should. This is literally the most popular shojou manga in the U.S. and deserves that title, in my opinion.

Basically, the guys in this manga are to die for, and there are plenty to drool over. My personal favorite is Yuki, but they're all pretty great.

The series is over now, with the 23rd volume released last month. But if you're jonesing for some more Furuba-ness, check out the anime, which is also pretty good.

Dramacon

Although Fruits Basket is listed first, this series is actually my favorite of the favorites. It's so adorable. It's only 3 volumes total, but this series really doesn't leave the reader hanging.

This is actually the manga that made me want to go to an anime convention in the first place. The idea of this happening in real life is just much too tempting to pass up! If you like shojou, hilarity, and of course drama, this is the series for you.

Aquarian Age: Juvenile Orion

So this is pretty different than the 2 series listed above. This is definitely not shojou, but it does have a little bit of romance mixed into it's sci-fi, action-filled plot.

The art in this series is spectacular. Hands down the best I've seen in a manga. The eyes...and the boys. This is another one with enough hot guys to turn any anti-shojou girl into a drooling fangirl. Seriously.
Basically, this is the only shonen manga that I've liked and bought, so it must be a keeper.

Vampire Knight

This is another popular one. I like it because it reminds me a little bit of Twilight, but only a little bit. I like to compare the two mostly because they are both vampire series that I love, but the similarities end there. Aside of course from how good and popular they both are.
I want to one day so a Yuki Cross cosplay costume, or at least the school uniform. It's so intricate though.

Now that I think about it, this is basically a vampire version of Fruits Basket, without a few obvious details. It's good in its own way too, though, and definitely worth reading. The 7th volume comes out this month.

The Wallflower: Yamatohadeshiko Shichihenge

Well the title is certainly a mouthful. This is a very different series. It's mostly a comedy with some romantic and horror undertones. But it's also the most random series I've ever read.

I don't really know what to say about this series. It's just really, really random, and quite funny. I think it's up to volume 20 now.

Hot Gimmick

This is basically your typical love square with an interesting twist. I had always wanted to read this one, and when I finally did, I was not disappointed, and I'll bet you won't be either.

You can't help but feel bad for everyone in this story. Seriously. It's almost like no one wins. And the guy you want to win may or may not even win. It's so drama-filled it's like watching a soap opera, only with better characters and a semi-believable plot line.

For all the negativity surrounding it, I do really like this series, and I know a lot of other people who do too. It's pretty good.

Back On

Well, we got power back. You don't really realize how much you depend on things like electricity until it's gone. But what am I doing, get all philosophical?

In exactly one week, I'm moving back to school. I'm so happy! I can't wait, really. But there's so much to do. I have most of my things packed, but I have to do some back to school shopping and of course get everything into my car. That'll probably be the biggest challenge. I drive a Ford Contour, so it's not exactly the biggest car, and I'm not exactly the lightest packer. So we'll see.

Anyway, I'm about halfway through Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. It's not bad. I read about half of the actual Pride and Prejudice, and it's basically the same thing. Hopefully I'll be able to finish it before I leave for school.

So my friend and I saw 500 Days of Summer. I loved it! I really like Zoey Deschanel, and the plot line was awesome! Even the soundtrack was great. I was quite impressed.

No Power

So there was this huge storm last night that knocked out my power, and it still hasn't come back on. I'm going through computer withdrawal. I'm currently sitting in the library now, charging my phone and checking my email. It really kinda sucks.

I finished The Heretic's Daughter. It wasn't bad. I don't think the title suits it, though. Now I'm moving onto Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith (and of course Jane Austen), which, well, sounds interesting enough from the title. Hopefully it'll be good.

So I have to admit, I'm kinda high maintenance. And now that the power is out, I don't really know what to do. It kinda sucks. Hopefully it'll come back soon.

Only a Few Days Left

I've been quite busy these last few days. My family's having a massive garage sale this weekend, and it's a lot harder pricing hundreds of Barbie dolls than you would think.

So I'm watching a show about the top 100 songs of the 90s, and I now have to put a Backstreet Boys CD on hold at the library.

I haven't finished The Heretic's Daughter yet, but I'm getting close. It's good - a lot more adult than the other witch trial books I've read. I do have to suggest a book to those who do like the whole witch hunt thing, and that would be Witch Child by Celia Rees.

There are only 11 days left until I move back to school. I'm so excited! I've been waiting forever for the 18th, and now it's nearly here! It'll be bittersweet, though, because I can't get books so readily at school. I'll find a way.

Those Fangs Apparently Aren't That Sharp

So I finished Evernight, and, well, it wasn't as good as I was expecting. Not bad, but...not great. I've read better vampire novels, obviously.

My next book is The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent. It's 332 pages of Salem witch trial goodness. I'm pretty sure I'll like it considering my extreme soft spot for books about witches.

My whole family left this morning to go on a week long camping trip, and I'm staying behind by myself. I'm thinking this will be a good and a bad thing. Good because I get to get away with pretty much anything now that I'm alone, bad because, well, I'm alone. So we'll see.

Ugly?

I forgot to mention that I saw the movie The Ugly Truth. Basically, this movie was a romance novel projected word for word onto the big screen. It wasn't bad, but it was a lot dirtier than I thought it would be.

Unexpected Turn for the Worst

Ah, I had a really good weekend. I visited my friends and my boyfriend. It was nice to talk to my college friends again - I'm getting kinda tired of everything at home. We basically hung out all weekend. It was nice. And of course seeing my boyfriend was nice too.

So Evernight has taken a dramatic turn, and by dramatic I mean it doesn't fit the book. You know how whenever there's a twist in the story, if you go back you can always find clues? Well, that's not how Evernight is. There are no clues, and even worse, the twist confuses the entire beginning of the story. So basically, it doesn't make sense anymore. But I will continue reading.

15 Down, Countless to Go

Well, I finished Tangled Up in Love after reading it straight through for a few hours. It's one of the few romance novels I actually own, and it's pretty good. Well, ok, it's a little cheesy, but if you're looking for a cutsie little pick-me-up, this would be it.

The next book on my list is Evernight by Claudia Gray. This is actually the 3rd time I've checked this one out, but I've never been able to actually read it before it was due. So...hopefully I like it, since the librarians are probably wondering why I keep checking it out.

This brings me to the 19th book on my list, and if I finish it, it'll be the 15th novel I've finished this summer. That means 1 novel for every 5.6 days I've been on break. Not bad, in my estimation, but not my best, let me tell you. Oh well.

Drop It Like It's Hot

I'm once again turning my cheek on a novel - Sag Harbor just wasn't doing it for me. I feel quite bad getting all of these books, starting them, and then not finishing them. I mean, I can't like every book, but these books are the ones with the longer waits, so I just feel bad.

Anyway, I'm replacing Sag Harbor with a book I know I like, Tangled Up in Love by Hailey North. As I'm sure you could tell, it's a smut novel, but since Loose and Easy fell a little short, I feel that a second is warranted.

So it's pretty short notice, but I'm suddenly going over to visit a few of my college friends and my boyfriend this weekend. I'm pretty excited! I miss my friends a lot since we've been kinda scattered all over the state, so it'll be really great to see them. And of course, to see my boyfriend.

Hoo Hum

I finished Loose and Easy, and it wasn't as good as I thought it would be. I wanted fluffy smutty-ness, and I got a complicated and at times downright boring plot. Oh well. I'm combing through the library's database as we speak so I can find a romance novel that is actually based on romance.

My next novel, then, is Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead (which is, by the way, probably one of the most unfortunate last names ever). I don't know about this one - I'm not usually a fan of books with male leads, but we shall see.

HP Review

-Takes deep breath- HARRY POTTER WAS AWESOME!

Ahem. Sorry. It was really good, though! I wasn't a big fan of the book, but the movie was really good! Go see it!

That's basically it. I have to bask in the glow of HP-ness.

HP Tonight!

I'm so excited - Harry Potter comes out tonight! I'm leaving class early to get to the theater by 9:10ish since there's gonna be a line. Hopefully we'll get good seats!

On a more book-related note, I'm about a page and a half into Loose and Easy. -Hides face in hands- I feel so ashamed! I know that I should read this book - I've been in desperate need of a romance novel for a looooong time. And there really is no excuse, because it's not like I'm actually doing anything. So hopefully I'll have a chance to sit down and read some of it tomorrow.

Camping Here in the Woods

I just had a really great weekend. My boyfriend came over and we went camping with my family. I know it doesn't sound like much fun, but I'm really happy to have even seen him. I really miss him when I'm at home, and I'm just so glad he came. Now I just have to survive the remaining 37 days until I move back. That'll be the longest I've ever gone without seeing him. I'm a little scared, but then I'll get to spend at least 4 months with him, so that's good at least.

I have abandoned Anathem and instead am going to start Loose and Easy by Tara Janzen. I think after looking at the numbers in the paragraph above a romance novel is exactly what I need.

Slightly Unhappy Mood

So I finished Harry Potter. Again. It still isn't my favorite of the series, but I'm still really excited for the movie! It'll be interesting, though, because I'll be going straight from class, so I'll have to change in the cow. So we'll see.

The next book on my list is Anathem by Neal Stephenson. It's 937 pages. I hope I can actually finish it before it's due on the 22nd.

GAH! I really want summer to just be over. I've already been on break for 11 weeks, and I still have 6 to go. Now that I'm not working, I'm going crazy. It's pretty bad. I really just want to get back to college.

Sparks Flying

Happy 4th of July! Here's to a day of obnoxious family, barbecue blowouts, and lackluster fireworks!

My computer has been awful lately, but today my day got a hold of it and was able to fix most of the problems, so hopefully things won't be too band from here on out.

I'm still working on Harry Potter, but it's going a lot faster than all of the other books I've been reading. I'm already on page 399 and I've only started it a few days ago. With that said, I really hope they put the whole Ron-under-the-influence-of-the-love-potion part in the movie. It's coming soon, and I'm getting really excited! Speaking of the movie, apparently Rupert Grint came down with a mild case of swine flu, and I therefore think that warrants putting his picture on my blog. (Plus he's insanely adorable...I love his hair!)

"Eee, I Like It!"

If you're wondering about the title, that is what my sister squeaked as she rubber the underside of a mushroom across her upper lip. It was quite funny and oddly fitting, so I thought, why not?

I finished If I Stay. Wow. I really liked this one. The thing between Mia and Adam is kinda what's happening with me and my boyfriend now, so I could really relate with Mia in that aspect. The ending was amazing. This book made me cry. I was flat out sobbing. Which means you need to read this.

So I have this "friend" who I kind of hate. She's one of those people that you can only tolerate in very low doses - 3 or more hours and you just want to strangle her. I reluctantly invited her to room with us at Youmacon, gave her all the details about cost, and mentioned that she should get a badge early. So she asks how she does that, and I was like, the website, obviously. Come on. And then, just like she did four times last year, she asked me to post a link to the site because apparently she's incapable of typing "Youmacon 2009" into Google. It doesn't seem like much, but I seriously can't stand her. Gah.

Japanese-ness

I was given a project in my HIS 1510 class. It's on the clothing styles of ancient Japan, which is right up my alley, since I've been taking Japanese for the past 4 years. I'm kinda excited - we have to write a magazine article about our topics, and, well, I'm looking forward to it. Plus it gets me out of homework for next week, which is always a plus.

I haven't finished If I Stay yet, but I like what I've read so far. It's cute, but manages to have this extremely dark undertone to it as well. It's due tomorrow, so hopefully I'll finish it tonight.

So I'm currently searching for a good Asian Market. I haven't been able to find one that's close to my house, which is slightly depressing. I really want to get some red bean paste, which sounds really gross but is actually delicious. I like to eat it in anpan, which is basically a sugar-glazed roll with sweet red bean paste inside, like a weird donut. It's so good, but I can't find it anywhere!

So Good!

I finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and oh my god, I loved it. It was so good! Ah, the ending is perfect! I think I'll have trouble sleeping tonight, since I'll be thinking about this book. Ah!

Which brings me to the next book on my list, If I Stay by Gayle Forman. It's pretty short, but that is never a good indicator of how long it'll take me to read. Hopefully not too long.

In two weeks, I'll be going camping with my family, and my boyfriend's coming. He's met my mom and step-dad, but now he'll meet my siblings too. And to add to the already large party, both of my sisters are bringing friends, my stepsister is bringing her boyfriend, and my aunt and cousin are coming. So that'll be 13 people. It should be interesting - I guess he has to meet my family sometime.

Geekdom

I bought tickets for the midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince yesterday. I'm pretty excited! A few of my friends and I are going together, so it should be fun.

I'm also attempting to buy tickets for Youmacon, which is coming in October. I wanted to do the whole Gothic Lolita thing, but I have a football game to play at that weekend (I'm in the marching band), so I can only go up Saturday and Sunday. It sucks, but I'm glad I can still go. My cosplay costume is Nodoka Miyazaki from Negima!: Master Negi. My two sisters may be coming, and one of them might do Gothic Loli while the other is going as Renge from Ouran High School Host Club. This is my second year going, and it should be a lot of fun.

In September, my boyfriend and I are going to Cedar Point. I really, really want to go! It's going to be his birthday/anniversary gift (our anniversary is October 12th). I haven't been there in years, and I'm so excited!

I'm Back!

Ah, what a lovely few days I've just had. I got to see my boyfriend! And in another two weeks, I'll get to see him again, which would be lovely, except he's meeting pretty much my entire family. It'll be interesting. But at least this time I don't have to miss him for so long.

I'm nearly finished with The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. It's really interesting so far, and I'm looking forward to finishing it.

No Happy Ending

So I finished Wintergirls. I don't really know what to say about this one. It was intense, that's for sure. It was good, too, but I really could not relate with the main character. Not at all. That's never happened before. Usually there's something about every character that I can say, "Yeah, I know what she means," but not in this one. It's good, but certainly not a light-hearted read.


The next book on my list is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer. I've heard a lot of good things about this one. I hope that it's a bit more cheery than the last book.

Random Smattering

Whew. So I finished Something, Maybe, and I've just gotta say that I love teen novels. I love how lighthearted and, well, carefree they are. Obviously, not all of them are carefree, which is proven with my latest novel, Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson. Yes, the author of Speak, which is an insanely good novel, so I'm looking forward to this one. Unlike Speak, though, the main character in Wintergirls seems slightly unbalanced.

I got laid off of my job today. I was expecting it, of course. They hire seasonally, so when the season ends, they get rid of the extra workers. There were 10 people let go before me, so I at least know they liked me enough to keep me around for an extra week. But now I realize how much money I won't be making, and it's kinda disappointing. Oh well.

On the bright side, I'm going to visit my boyfriend again next week from Monday to Thursday. That's only 4 days. I'm so excited! I really can't wait to see him!

This is random, but if you've ever seen the movie He's Just Not That Into You, you will remember Dan the Wiccan. (If you haven't seen it, you really need to, because it's awesome.) Well, he's in a Progressive commercial, so everytime I see him, I think, "It's Dan the Wiccan!" It's a little sad, but I like it.

Another One Bites the Dust

So I finished Jane Austen Ruined My Life, and it was pretty good. Except for the ending. If you're going to write a cutesy love story, it has to actually end as a cutesy love story. As in the guy and girl need to get together. Not happening in this book. So it was a little disappointing, but still a good book. It makes me want to read Austen, though, so at least that's something. Perhaps I'll add a few of her novels to my reading list...

So I realized after my last post that I never said anything about The Lucky One, which I did in fact finish. It was pretty good! The ending was certainly a nail-biter.

I'm now reading a feel-good teen romance novel (and when I say romance novel, I do not mean a smut novel, although I will most likely be reading a few of them in the near future) called Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott. So far, it's adorable. There's this guy, Finn, who likes the main character, and I think I'm going to add him to my list of favorite fictional guys. Go Finn!

It's Been Awhile, Huh?

Sorry for the extreme delay in my latest post. I've been sorting out some issues, etc.

Anyway.

I started a new book, One Fifth Avenue by Candace Bushnell, but was unable to finish it - it was taking me way too long, and honestly, I don't think it was worth the late dues I would've had to pay to my library. It was rather dry. However, I did finish The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Wow. Seriously. This book was insanely intense. I definitely did not predict the outcome, and the climax to the mystery kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Although there were some pretty dull parts that focused on economic standing of Sweden, which I really know nothing about and don't particularly care to, it was still really good. I'll be reading the next book in the series (even though I didn't realize it was a series until about 3 days ago) as soon as my library gets it.

The next book on my list is Jane Austen Ruined My Life by Beth Pattillo, which I'm hoping will be a bit of a lighthearted, easy read. After The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I'm kinda looking for something a little bit less dramatic.

So I've gotten my boyfriend to start reading the Harry Potter books. He'd seen the movies but had never read the series, so I convinced him to try them out. He's on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows now, although he skipped the 5th book because he couldn't find it at any libraries around him and wanted to finish the series. It's actually kinda cool that he's reading the books because I am an HP junkie and it's cool to discuss and debate the books with a new person with new opinions. And speaking of HP, the time to pre-order tickets and such for the 6th movie is now, people! I'm probably going to call my theater later today and figure everything out.

Speaking of my boyfriend, I've had a dilemma as of late, but it actually has less to do with my boyfriend as it does all of my friends' lack of boyfriends. There is one that really needs a boyfriend so she can stop being, I'm sorry, a whiny, vicious bitch, and another who needs a boyfriend because she just seems genuinely lonely. (And it probably doesn't help that her little sister, who is 3 years younger, just acquired and dumped her first boyfriend.) The latter friend, Katie, isn't a social pariah - she talks to guys, has guy friends, and is simultaneously athletic and geeky. What guy wouldn't want a girl they could play baseball/basketball/volleyball with and then discuss the original Star Wars trilogy with? But there is something holding Katie back, and it's frankly that she dresses like her mother: non-fitted t-shirts, too long to be stylish shorts, chunky white gym shoes, etc. Let's be honest, in this world, you cannot get by on personality alone. Sometimes you need to look the part. And Katie isn't hideous or deformed. There's no reason why guys wouldn't like her if they didn't instantly label her as a geek because of how she looks. It actually really bothers me, because I know first hand how cool she is, and I want her outside to reflect her inside. I'm not saying she needs to change, I'm just channeling my inner What Not To Wear. Is that bad?

Blog Problems

So I posted the May edition of Manga Monthly 2 days ago, and it isn't showing up. It kinda annoying, but chances are that it'll show up after I post this, so that's basically why I'm posting this.

I got a webcam a few days ago, since I got my first pay check (!). So now I can actually see my boyfriend when I talk to him. It's pretty cool, and I'm glad I bought it.

Book 6 Down!

So I finished Envy: A Luxe Novel today, and wow. Talk about drama. I really like this series - it makes me think less about the troubles in my life.

The next book on my list is The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks. Talk about a popular novel. There were 33 people in line to read it when I put it on hold (there are usually 2 or 3). So I'm going to read it and hopefully have it done by the 3rd of June when it's due. I'm kinda excited to read it since the author's so popular.

It's really rather sad that I'm working so much. I have tomorrow off, so I'm returning 8 unread books to the library. I can't finish them all with how busy I've been recently. It kinda sucks, but I'll put them on hold again and hopefully finish them before the summer's over. Hopefully.

I'm a bit worried, though, about my job. I really kinda hate it. Between work, my classes, and stressing out about my relationship, I have come to find myself completely overwhelmed. I could do 30 hours a week, but I can't do 40. If I can't get the 4 days in June that I want off to visit my boyfriend, I may quit. I value my time and work greatly, and I need the money, but I'd rather not have a job than be constantly stressed and making minimum wage. So I hope they give me the time off, because I would really rather not quit.

Day Off

So today is my first day off of work in 6 days, which may not seem like much, but I put in 8 hours a day, which means I worked 48 hours this week. Fun. I'm working again tomorrow, but then I have Tuesday and Friday off, so it's ok. I'm also requesting some time off in June and July; I get to see my boyfriend again!

So I'm nearly finished with Envy: A Luxe Novel, but as I read it, I am also single-handedly supporting my public library with my late fees. It's not a big deal - I want them to get new books more than anyone. Of course, I would have more time to read if I weren't working all the time. Obviously I'm quite bitter.

New Book # 6

I've mentioned before that I work at a plant nursery. I'm a part time, minimum wage employee, and yet I am currently working a 48 hour week, with the promise of another one looming on the horizon. It royally sucks.

Anyway, the novel that I've replaced The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo with is Envy: A Luxe Novel by Anna Godberson. It's going to end up being overdue, since it's due tomorrow, but I don't really care. I personally love the Luxe series, and I will pay the price to read it!

A Lovely Weekend

So I had a very good weekend. I got to see my boyfriend and spend all sorts of time doing things with him. But I felt quite crushed on the way home. I hate that I can't spend time with the guy I love on a regular basis. Stupid college relationships...not that I would trade this for anything. I like to describe my feelings through songs sometimes, and the song for the feeling I get being away from him is Cancer by My Chemical Romance (not the actual cancer part, but the rest of it).

Anyway, I did not finish The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo on time, so that book has been currently suspended and I'll be moving onto the next novel as soon as I pay my late fees...but never fear, I'll get TGwtDT back! As soon as everyone else has read it.

So back to this weekend, I saw Angels and Demons on Sunday and holy crap. This movie really blew the previous one out of the water. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I have to admit, I originally wanted to see it because of Ewan McGregor, who manages to make priests look hot, but this movie was totally worth it. So go see it!

Class Act

I officially have until Thursday to finish The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It's due on the 16th, but I'll be leaving for Grand Rapids on Thursday, so it has to be done by then. I already tried to renew it, but someone has a hold on it, so Thursday it is. Wish me luck.

Today is my first day of Spring classes. I only have class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but today is history, and I'm not exactly looking forward to it.

New Book #5

My new book is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larson. So far it's very different from what I normally read, considering that it is a thriller versus a romance or teen novel. Oh well...I'm kinda getting into the story, so we'll see.

I start my summer classes tomorrow, or rather, I have one of them tomorrow. It's a history course, which I generally tend to not be a huge fan of. I really hope that I don't get lost on the way there - I did the first time I went.

Two Down, Many, Many to Go

So I finished Just Breathe, and I liked it a lot! I ended up staying up really late to finish it, but it was worth it! Granted, I didn't totally love the ending, but the book as a whole was really great, so it gets 4 out of 5 stars.

I had to work today, and as I was ringing people up, this guys comes to my counter, and I swear to God that he was exactly how I pictured Will from Just Breathe. It was so weird. Same mannerisms, same features. I nearly swooned and died. So it was a good day today.

Yay TV!

Ah, I really want to finish Just Breathe. I want to know what happens! Well, I mean, it's obvious what will happen. She'll have her baby and get together with Will, but I still want to finish it.

I'm super excited because The Soup is on tonight! It's on at 10:00 pm on E! It's one of my favorite shows, but I haven't seen it in a while because I didn't have a TV. So I'm looking forward to it.

Swine Flu?!

Just Breathe is coming along swimmingly. The only thing I really dislike about it is that the perspective, after about the 5th chapter, starts switching between the main character and a man who is presumably going to end up in her life. It a little annoying because while it helps the reader gain insight into both parties' minds, I'd rather just read about the main character and be ignorant about her soon to be boy toy. But other than that, I'm enjoying it.

So today I went into work at 10:00 am and got back around 4:00 pm. I do really like my new job - the people there are pretty nice. The only part I have a problem with is being called in at 8:00 am as I was this morning.

On a totally random note, I never thought that the swine flu thing was a huge deal, and neither did half of the younger American population, if Facebook is any indication. But still, when I saw this, it made me laugh. It's Natalie Dee's 5/6 comic, entitled "It's Called the Circle of Life, Folks." Enjoy. http://www.nataliedee.com/archives/2009/May/

New Book #4

So I've started my next book, Just Breathe by Susan Wiggs. It's pretty good so far. The story's about a cartoonist who is attempting to get pregnant and who finds out her husband is cheating on her. I'm only on chapter 4, but I can already tell that this one is gonna be better than the last 2.

Yesterday I decided to sit outside in attempts to rid myself of my pasty exterior, but instead I got a lovely sunburn on my shoulders and legs. It's pretty great. I hope it fades soon, though, since I'm journeying across the state to visit my boyfriend next weekend(!) and I'd rather not look like a tomato when I see him. Since, you know, most people don't find tomatoes insanely attractive.

Ah, Disappointment

Well, I finished A Cedar Cove Christmas, and I have to say that I'm less than impressed. I liked the writing style up until the latter half of the book, but the story line, stolen directly from The Nativity Story, was cliched and dull. And come on, "the three Wyse men?" Stupid and lackluster. Not all that great. 2 out of 5 stars.

Book/Shoe Hunting

I have decided to abandon Home. I can tell within the first 40 pages whether or not I like a book, and I could tell within the first 5 with this one. So it's being stricken from the list. Moving on.

Instead I'll be reading A Cedar Cove Christmas by Debbie Macomber. I know that since it's May, it's a bit out of season, but I think it'll be better than the last book, so we shall see.

So I bought this dress a while ago, and I love it. It's cream colored with blue embroidery and a lace-up back, and it's adorable. But here's the catch: it's one of those dresses that needs red shoes. You know, red patent flats or sandals, and I'd like either peep-toe flats or those simple strappy flat sandals. But I can't find them anywhere. I walked around my entire mall and looked online at all of the nearby shoe stores. There's nothing. I'm quite disappointed. I really love that dress, but I have no shoes to wear with it.

Theaters, Novels and Boys, Oh My!

So yesterday my friend an I saw Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. I thought it was going to be really stupid, but it was actually pretty good. It was so weird seeing Matthew McConaughey with his clothes on...I'm not a super huge fan of either him or Jennifer Garner, but the story was cute and different, aside of course from the fact that it stole its plot from Charles Dickens.

I'm not making a whole lot of progress with Home. Unfortunately, it's due back at the library on May 9th, along with another novel, so I kinda need to speed up the process.

On a more personal note, I have 2 things to say: I got a new job and my boyfriend lives nearly 300 miles away. Yeah. My job is at a plant nursery, and my boyfriend lives on the other side of the state (we met at college). It'll be interesting trying to get through all of my books when my new job requires that I be available to work 6 days a week. Not too bad. I'll be getting a lot of hours, so it should be good. With my boyfriend, though, I'm really only gonna see him twice before school starts up again, unless of course he visits me. I don't really mind, but it's weird. Who knows, maybe the heart really does grow fonder.

On another totally unrelated note, I seem to like starting my paragraphs with "So..." I'll try to work on that...

Books, Books, and More Books

So I went to the library to pick up my books, and I realized that I have until May 21st to read 26 novels. That's only about 4 weeks. Sure I could renew them, but just the prospect makes me picture this leaning tower of books with me standing at the bottom looking up. It's kinda daunting, but at the same time, I'm excited to have so many books to entertain me.

I started my next book, Home by Marilynne Robinson, today. I'm not sure how this one's gonna go. It seems OK so far, but I'm only 5 or 6 pages in. So who knows.

I think that tonight I'm going to watch Anastasia. It's one of my favorite animated movies, and the music is phenomonal. I always find it funny when people think it's a Disney movie...it's not, by the way.

One Novel Down

So I finished Grace: A Novel, and wow. It was...not amazing, but really, really good. I nearly cried at the end, and I very rarely cry when I read, even at the saddest books. But although it was good, I thought it was a bit predictable. I guessed what was happening within the first 40 or so pages. But still, four and a half stars.

So there's this commercial that has a song that goes, "I think that possibly maybe I'm falling for you..." It's really pretty, and I quite love the song, Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop by Landon Pigg. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQO7IUrqXqY I think I have a thing for commercial songs...

Adventures in Library-dom

I love my library. Before college, I used to stop in once a week and pick up the books I had on hold. I usually go through 2 -3 novels a week, so the people at the library all knew me by name. They'd see me walk through the door, roll their eyes slightly, then head back and grab my basket full of books and CDs.



Now that I'm back from school for the summer, I put a lot of things on hold - 41 to be exact, and 18 of them came in today. 18 novels. I'm going to be very busy for the next few days.



So I just wanted to put this on here because it made me laugh. This is the 4/24/09 comic from Cyanide and Happiness. http://www.explosm.net/

Current Books and Movies

I'm currently reading Grace: A Novel by Richard Paul Evans. It's pretty good so far. I'm not usually a fan of male narrators, especially 14 year old ones, but this one is probably better for it. It's about a boy who helps a girl escape her abusive home (that's what the inside cover says, anyway).


The Barnes and Noble that I frequent has a used books section complete with used manga. Of course, every time I try to turn in my manga, they aren't accepting it. It's quite annoying, considering I've had a bag stuffed with manga sitting in my room for the last 11 months.


My favorite movie right now is The Wedding Date starring Debra Messing and Dermot Mulroney. The book it's based off of, Asking for Trouble by Elizabeth Young, is also really good, although the movie didn't recreate the book so much as it took the main idea and turned it into something completely new, and honestly, I like the movie better. I really love this movie and think that everyone should see it. Yes, that means you.

Manga Monthly Review: B.O.D.Y., The Wallflower, and Chibi Vampire

So I actually had to search for manga to do this with, and because of that some of the manga I'm reviewing is stuff I read online as opposed to actual volumes. I know a lot of people frequent One Manga, but I prefer Manga Fox. http://www.mangafox.com/

B.O.D.Y. Chapter 6 - 12

I own the first volume of this, but I couldn't wait (or afford) to buy the second, so I read the chapters online.

I'm just gonna say it: Fuji is my idea of the perfect guy. Seriously. He's cute and wears glasses, but he's really good looking underneath them (I have a thing for guys who wear glasses). He's also stubborn, selfish, and not afraid to let Ryouko know how he feels about her. In other words, he's like a real person, and I love him for it.


I really think that the things that happen in this manga are a bit far fetched, even for shoujo. I mean, come on, the manager getting stabbed? Really?

The Wallflower (Yamatonadeshiko Shichihenge) Vol. 17

Ah, the wallflower. It's easily the weirdest series I've ever read, but I still love it.


I WANT SUNAKO AND KYOHEI TO GET TOGETHER ALREADY! It's been 17 volumes, and 18 and 19 are already out. I'll get on reading them and hopefully I won't be disappointed...


I know that the volumes are weird, but this one seemed really weird.

Chibi Vampire Vol. 4-6

So I really wish that I had picked a book that didn't end with a cliffhanger. Ugh...This isn't even one of my favorites and I was nearly screaming, "WHAT HAPPENS!"

I liked her grandmother - she had really cool hair, except that I wish it was that length all the way around. I hated what she did, though. It's like, oh sure, come on in and ruin everything, go ahead. But I did really like the way she described her husband, and how in love they were. Of course, him dying was sad.

Manga Monthly Review: Fruits Basket and Vampire Knight

As an avid manga reader (and it's pronounced mAHn-gah, not mEHn-gah. I would know I take Japanese), I have decided to dedicate my first actual review to the growing book genre. Unfortunately, my current financial situation (or lack thereof) restricts the number of manga I can buy, so I'll only be doing a monthly review. So here's the review for the month of April. (Spoiler Alert)

Fruits Basket Vol. 22

Let me just start out by saying that Fruits Basket is one of my favorite manga series of all time. So anyway...

Ah, the Sohma curse. Broken at last. But honestly, I didn't like the way it was done. Where was the tension? Where was the drama? I know Natsuki Takaya tried, what with everyone crying when they were "let go," but I felt as if it went by way too quickly.

On a less negative note, I really loved the part in which Kyo hugged Tohru and he didn't change. It was really cute. As was Yuki hugging Machi. I did think it was a bit much that he kissed her, though. They're cute together, but that's moving it a bit fast.

I thought it was perfect that Hana befriended Akito, and then calls her Aa-chan. Adorable. But I wish the relationship between Akito and Shigure had been further developed. I really like them as a couple, but it looked to me like Shigure left Akito, and I wish that would have been clarified. I am really glad that Arisa and Kureno got together, but it made me think of something: Momiji wasn't in this volume at all. Where was he, when he should have been hugging his sister? Will he be reunited with his mother? What happens?

Obviously, Natsuki Takaya has a lot to cover in volume 23. Hopefully she will. I give it four stars.

Vampire Knight Vol. 6

Vampire Knight is another series I'm in love with. It of course doesn't hurt to have so many attractive male characters. With Zero, Kaname, and of all the other boys in the night class, it's like Ouran High School Host Club meets Twilight, minus the werewolves and Tamaki's blind stupidity. Anyway...

Yuki is probably the most oblivious character I have ever seen. Come on, who has to wonder why a childhood friend nearly kissed her? It's kinda obvious: he likes you. Honestly, I really wish he had kissed her. I love the Yuki/Zero pairing.

I really like Kaname. I like the gentlemanly things he does and the things he says, but I don't like him with Yuki. I didn't like that he asked her to become a vampire. He didn't have to - Yuki would have done it anyway - but the fact that he did really bothers me. I don't know if I like the character Kaname is turning into.

Zero is so noble in this book. Like, Edward Cullen noble. It's kinda annoying. I wish that male characters would stop assuming that girls are merely helpless little beings who cannot possibly survive without the help of a big, strong man. But I digress...I did, however really like the way he kinda slid up to Yuki to bite her neck, but the fact that he failed to kiss her again is very disappointing.

I want to see what happens with Senri and his dad. That should be interesting. Four stars.

This has been the Manga Monthly. Tune in next month when I review...more manga.

The Paper Doll's Books

Hello and welcome. This is basically going to be a mass of book reviews, book-related topics, and random personal stuff. Everything here is my opinion, and if you feel differently about something, that's your right, but please don't bother me with it. Thanks.