Day 04 – Favorite book of your favorite series

Alright, this is going to be short and sweet because a- I've already reviewed this book and b- it's been a long (but fun!) weekend, and this lady needs her sleep, yo.  So, without further ado:



Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

In the last entry, I mentioned how I'd already raved about this book over at Wastepaper Prose back in December, so you should go check that out to hear a more in-depth and coherent opinion about how much I love this.  Here's my rambly version: YO, THIS BOOK IS GOOD.  I love the plot, I love the world, and I really, really, REALLY love the characters.  This is full of laughter and tears and bittersweetness to the max.  Definitely my kind of book.  We'll see if this gets dethroned when Clockwork Princess is released, but it would really take a lot.

Fun fact: this was one of my first ARCs I ever received that wasn't being lent to me.  I devoured it over the Thanksgiving holiday, and I actually loved it so much I carried it all over my in-laws' house.  It went room to room with me during the weekend, like my imaginary friend or something, because I couldn't beat to put it down.  It's also really hard to explain this kind of book to someone who does read this kind of book.  Or so I found out.  I also found that my in-laws' house has a ton of really great reading nooks.

Alright, love you guys, but I'm sleepy!  See you all tomorrow for Day 05!

Day 03 – Your favorite series

Clearly, anyone reading this knows the true answer to this is Harry Potter.  However, I wanted to branch out in this challenge and discuss some of the other great books I've had the pleasure of reading.  It didn't take me long at all to come to a decision here.

The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare

*image courtesy of The Readables


(Mild spoilers follow)
What's almost scandalous about this choice is that only 2 books from this series have been published and that Cassie has another (more popular) series with more books to its name.  While I appreciate The Mortal Instruments series for being my gateway into the Shadowhunter world, I am ever so smitten with these.  I already raved about Clockwork Prince (the second book in the series), but I think both it and the first book Clockwork Angel are fantastic and do not get the attention they deserve.  What I enjoy most are the characters- more specifically Tessa, Will, and Jem.  The relationships are so complicated, everyone's keeping secrets, everyone's suffering in silence, but it's all written in a way that complements them rather than makes them seem like bad people.  Even Will, the one that would be considered the "bad boy" of the parabatai pair, has a completely legitimate reason behind his inner ugliness (because the boy certainly doesn't have any outer ugliness) that is heart-breaking.  Everything is life-or-death-serious, and it's awesome.  This is the way a love triangle should be written: Team Everybody FTW.

The other aspect of this series that I love is that it takes place in 1878 in London, one of my favorite cities.  Cassie has mentioned that Tessa appears at the end of the third Mortal Instruments book which is in 2007, and the reader already knows that Tessa is some kind of warlock and thus is immortal (thus showing up alive and well in 2007 when you know she is 16 in 1878).  And Will and Jem are not immortal.  Jem definitely isn't, as he's dying.  So my question is, how can this series end happily?  Answer: it CAN'T.  With every word I read, I think about how much of a DOWNER it's going to be when it ends, and you know I LOVE a good downer!  No, really, I do.  I'm morose and kind of morbid and a wee bit bittersweet as well.  Hi, I'm Jessica, it's nice to meet you.

Either way, I'll have my answer in 2013 (WHY MUST I WAIT SO LONG?!?!) when I read Clockwork Princess.  Until then, I'll continue to push my theories of Team Everybody and dream of a day when people truly believe that demon pox is real.

Day 02 – A book that you’ve read more than 3 times

I am, by nature, a repeater.  If I really like something, I want to experience it again and again.  A delicious meal, a fantastic movie, my new favorite song, a book written so well it makes my heart ache...  However, in the world of YA bloggers, I've found that I am somewhat of an anomaly.  Because we have reviews to write and followers to entertain, it tends to be a world of read, review, post, read, review, post, etc.  Before my reviewer days, though, I was quite the avid rereader.  My record, of course, was with the Harry Potter series, which I essentially read for seven years.  Whoa, hold on... I just blew my own mind by realizing that I stopped the constant rereading after I reached the most magical of numbers.

Remember that part in the last post about 30 days to make fun of myself?  Why don't I just show the book cover, eh?



Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

I had been hearing all sorts of amazing things about this book for a while before I actually decided to believe the hype and read this.  I am so glad I did, because this book is one of my forever favorites, and I find I'm always telling people to read it.  Everyone should know Anna & everyone should know Étienne St. Clair.  On my very first read of Anna, the moment I reached the end, a heavy sadness spread over my heart.  I wasn't read to part with these characters.  So, I went back to the beginning and read it again.  And again.  By the time Stephanie released her second book last September (which I will be mentioning later in this Challenge), I'd read Anna no less than (again, magical!) 7 times.

I've already said this, but I think everyone should read this.  It's first love at its best.  Hilarious and sweet, agonizing and real.  Also, Paris.  Cinema.  Girl Scout cookies.  Macarons.  British accents.  French punk.  Canadian flags.  Anna confused.  And some of the most amazing words I've ever read.  These are just a few of the reasons I continue to come back to Anna and the French Kiss.

30 Day Book Challenge Day 01- Best Book You Read Last Year (& #200!)

And welcome to my 200th entry.  Check it out!  It only took me, like, five years to get here!  LOOK AT IT.

In all seriousness, thanks for reading.  I'm glad you enjoy my ramblings, and I hope you continue to enjoy them.  If you really enjoy them and want to hear more of my ramblings as well as the rambling of other awesomely talented ladies, see also Wastepaper Prose and Good Morning, Good Morning.

NOW!  Last March, I participated in the 30 Day Song Challenge, and I thought it was super fun.  So, I figured I'd try another challenge for March 2012, hoping it will spring me back into a more regular blogging schedule (she said hopefully).  Since you know I am an active reader and book reviewer for a blog followed by at least 1000 people! (as she plugs Wastepaper Prose one more time), I thought I'd do the 30 Day Book Challenge.  I decided to make this a 30 Day YA Book Challenge because, well, that's what I predominantly read.

HERE ARE MY OWN PREDETERMINED RULES:
-No using the same book/series twice unless absolutely necessary (so only 1 mention of Harry Potter).
-Authors can be used more than once.
-Only YA books.
-One post a day!

So... 30 Days, (presumably) 30 Books, 30 ways to make fun of myself.

Day 01- Best book you read last year
Last year was a banner year at the BS house for books.  It's when I started reading much more  consistently.  Also, I was pretty bad about keeping track of what I read and when I read it (I keep a spreadsheet now... seriously).  However, one book clearly stands out among the rest.  Let's say all the books I read last year met in a battle to the death, this one would be the winner.  I think you know where I'm going with this.



Not only one of the best YA books in recent years, not only one of the best YA books ever, but simply one of the best books ever.  Period.  No genre needed.  Suzanne Collins can write face-meltingly well.  She created one of the most bad-ass female characters in the history of bad-ass female characters.  More than that, though, Katniss Everdeen is realistically multifaceted.  Sure, she can run you through with an arrow from hundreds of yards away, but she also has a genuine heart.  She's smart and occasionally funny and strong and and and... Katniss is the poo, so take a big whiff.  Oh yeah, and the story is amazing to boot.  This is my go-to book whenever I'm asked for recommendations for someone who doesn't read YA or someone who claims that YA isn't written as well as "real books."  Yeah, this is an instant classic.

23 MORE DAYS!!

Pentatonix. Srsly. Whoa.

I was going to leave this be, since I posted this on FB and Twitter and Tumblr already.  After the 7th consecutive replay, however...


One more listen won't hurt, right?

Happy birthday Jack!!

Thanks for being born.
Thanks for playing the tuba.
Thanks for wearing that Ben Folds Five shirt.
Thanks for driving me to all those shows in DC.
Thanks for letting me watch the Star Wars Episode 2 trailer on your DVD-ROM.
Thanks for going to the away football game that fateful November day.
Thanks for thinking my craziness is cute rather than... well, crazy.
Thanks for making me laugh more than anyone else on the planet.
Thanks for loving me exactly as I am.
Thanks for making me cry while I write this, though you have no idea I'm doing this right now.
Thanks for showing me that having a dog was a brilliant idea.
Thanks for teaching me the wonder that is King's Court.
Thanks for knowing so much random information so you can always answer my questions.
Thanks for cooking me delicious food all the time.
Thanks for always getting my jokes and playing along with my comedy bits.
Thanks for knowing which member of Reel Big Fish is my favorite.
Thanks for letting me be a fan girl.
Thanks for buying me new bookshelves when the old ones get too full.
Thanks for spending your life with me.
Thanks for being you.
Happy stinkin' birthday <3

"Holding onto her heart, like a little secret..."

I have listened to "I've Got This Friend" by The Civil Wars 400 times today.  I know it's been recommended to me to listen to The Civil Wars for a while, but I didn't heed this advice until yesterday.  After shouting my love from the Twitter rooftops, Lindsey Roth Culli (fellow member of the DC YA Mafia) heartily agreed and sent me their cover of Smashing Pumpkins' "Disarm" (video included below).

Such an aurally pretty day I have had.  Such a pretty day.