I'm aliiiiiiiiveeeeeeee.......

It's me!

Honestly, I don't even know if there's a place left for me on the blogosphere but I want to try this thing again, I really do miss blogging. I have been low-key Tweeting for the past week or two, and recent bookish events have reignited my passion for book blogging. While it has been wonderful to be free from the clutches of blogging during this crazy busy last almost-year I really want to fall back into a routine with book blogging. Despite all the tedious editing, hours spent writing reviews and fine-tuning typos and weird HTML glitches (courtesy of Blogger >_>), it was really fun being part of a larger bookish community.

For those who don't know me yet, I'm a now 24 year old paediatric nurse living in Sydney, Australia. I am an ABC (Aussie Born Chinese) and still really don't care for eating rice, serve me pies and burgers over rice any day! I love honest and realistic contemporary YA more than any other genre, though I also adore historical fiction, high fantasy and basically anything that pulls me in with an engaging plot and/or sympathetic characters with whom I can feel a strong connection. I would also love to one day finish writing a novel.

Since my last blog post in August 2016, I have travelled to New Zealand with my boyfriend, travelled to Japan by myself and started a new job (another paeds nurse gig). I'm currently between semesters for my grad cert in Paediatric Nursing. Of course, I have done more, but those are the big things.

I have still been reading during my time away from the blog and maybe I will post reviews of some of them sometime in the future -- we'll see how this goes. I'm not expecting too much. All I wanted out of this blog from the beginning was to get my voice out there, in my own little space. So be it if my words reverberate and bounce off these walls, echoes reaching out to deaf ears (or in this case, unseeing eyes).

If you have managed to make it here, then welcome! Please comment - I promise I'm friendly! I might even follow you back. :)

So it's been a couple months...

 

I'm not surprised, myself, considering I continuously, consciously, made the decision to hold off on blogging. Now that I'm on a 5 week break from uni, I'm really hoping to catch up on my reviews! I feel so guilty with review copies especially, since they occasionally make their way to me and yet I've been like a dry lake lately.

Books I'm up to

Just as an update, I'm reading Delirium (Lauren Oliver), Pretty Little Liars (Sara Shepard) - both rereads - and just started Storm (Brigid Kemmerer) last night.

Reasons for re-reading: pre-sequel-refresher (Delirium) and because-i-feel-like-it (Pretty Little Liars)

I've received heaps of great books since I've last IMM-ed (22/01!). Estimating at 38...which is a lot, to me. I'll be breaking it down to pub-months, and I'll do all that.....next week. Can you say lazy?

Layout change...maybe

I had plans to update my layout during the summer holidays back in Jan-Feb, but never got around to it. My banner is all set and it's looking SO PRETTY! I really just have to figure out whether I want to re-arrange my sidebars, accompanying background image/colour (which was the big one), ?navigation bar and just everything: colour palette, fonts, rating system . . .  which is why I've held it off for so long! I'm still using the same photo, just because to me it's like my blog's trademark image.

Review pile

Oh geez. I'm sure I've got AT LEAST 15 books on the back burner here. Here's a list and some brief thoughts.

• A Million Suns (#2) by Beth Revis - Loveeeed! I was practically hugging my blankets during the last half. And of course, tissues were kept handy. Elder and Amy are also more likeable in this one, I thought.
• Strange Angels (#1) by Lili St. Crow - It was alright. A bit too dark and goth-y when I was reading it. This will be featured as a mini-review with book #2.
• The Fault in Our Stars by John freaking Green - I can't believe I haven't posted a review for this yet. *face palm* Seriously? I really really liked it. Didn't love it to pieces, but I cried, laughed and thought - not necessarily in that order.
• Fracture by Megan Miranda - Ever since I put this book down I've been wanting to re-read it for winter! I simply love this book. It's mysterious, a little creepy, but just totally kept me on my toes and gave me the chills all the way through.
• The Dead of Night (#2) by John Marsden - What can I possibly say about this book? It gets better. More character development and insight, more high-scale action and danger. Cannot wait to read #3 (which I own)!
• The Hunger Games (#1) by Suzanne Collins - I read this a few months before everyone who isn't a reader picked it up. No words for it. All I know is I want to read CF now! I'll be reviewing the series together...
• Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez - Sensitively explores the pressures of being a muscial prodigy - or any kind of prodigy, actually. Carmen undergoes serious development as her prize, the Guarneri, slowly slips away as she lets her competition into her heart. Swept me off my feet when I read it!
• Wood Angel (aka. Plain Kate) by Erin Bow - Started off shaky for me, I just wasn't interested. But then something clicked and by the end I was in tears, and so overwhelmed by the enormity of the events that occur in this folkish fairytale.
• Emerald by Karen Wallace - A bit slow, even for a historical YA (a genre I love). There was a bit of foolish romance, but overall once we get to the palace things start to speed up and things get good. I love Molly, her bear!
• Fated by Sarah Alderson - *sigh* I just don't know. May have to reread this one before I can write up a review...
• Where I Belong by Gwen Heasley - Eh. It kept me entertained, but it's pretty fluffy. I could totally see this as a film. I might review this back-to-back with the companion book coming later this year.
• Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood - It's so magical! And, and the swoony moments! I enjoyed it, though I had some gripes with it.
• Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King - I love this author. She's so wonderfully kooky and real, and not afraid to delve into real contemporary issues, but also keeping everything fresh and compellingly readable.
• Psych Major Syndrome by Alison Thompson - I'd wanted to read this since Nomes reviewed it on her blog. This is such an indulgent read, but OMG I loved it! Plus, it's set in collllllege (aka. uni).
• Blood Red Road (#1) by Moira Young - Is that right? Have I really not reviewed this yet? God. I read this the exact same way I read The Hunger Games: on the edge of my seat. One page leads to another page, and before you know it you've finished a "chapter". Next book (RH), please!
• The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin - I harness similar feelings to this book as I did to Shatter Me. The romance parts just freaking ruined the main thing for me. This was a major disappointment for me. Just could not wrap my mind around it. Plus, the ending! *smacks book against wall* HOW CAN YOU END LIKE THAT?! Still undecided if I want to read on... On a positive note, it's written quite well. If lyrical and breezy is your flavour of choice, better get in and read in Mara Dyer's voice.

And a couple of books that I've already got scheduled. ;)

Sydney Writer's Festival

For the record, I'm still not 100% sure I want to go. The decision of which panel to attend is tearing me apart!!! :'(

Option #1: Scott Westerfeld, Isobelle Carmody, Justine Larbalestier {link}
I have only read Uglies (#1) but I am so interested in Isobelle Carmody's Obernewtyn series that I want to hear what she has to say. I wonder if they'll be selling her books there?

Option #2: Lucy Christopher, Kirsty Eagar, Margo Lanagan {link}
Lucy Christopher is well known for her debut Stolen. I have not read it, but I do own Flyaway... Kirsty Eagar...guh. I need to read one of her books someday! And Margo wrote Tender Morsels, which is apparently a disturbing read. I own another book by her though, so I could read that beforehand...

I'm hoping someone who goes to the other panel will film what goes down...or at least be able to recount it. As for book signings, well...I want to buy some of Kirsty Eagar's books (or maybe one because it's so expensive!), and also books #1-#2 (omnibus) for Obernewtyn. Just saying, it sounds right up my alley... it's just that I need lots of time to read all those pages! (#7/8 is 700+ pages!) I also want to get to Westerfeld's Leviathan series (what's the "official name"?) and continue the Uglies series.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I think I'll just continue with what I've got though. So, so excited to read HOLIER THAN THOU by Laura Buzo. I just finished Good Oil a few days ago and OMG it was just so good! Contemporary YA is still going strong - every single contemp I've read this year so far have been hitting the mark. *sigh*

Mid-sem break calls for a short blogging non-break

 

Just to let you guys know that there will be a couple of new reviews. I'll try pushing out at least a couple more (there are 3 read+written so far) until 10/10 - which is when I'll be back at uni again.

From there, I'm assuming the blog will be quiet again. In the next few days I'll be posting up IMM (Not tomorrow since it will be in TWO parts. Maybe.), as well as an international-esque giveaway. I'm really trying to figure out what I'm doing at the moment. I'm not reading as much as I could.

I did just finish Lola and the Boy Next Door, though. It's a knockout - is there really any other way Perkins rolled?

Also.

If you feel like being really awesome, you could comment with some music recommendations! 

I've been really swimming in the tunes lately and I'll listen to pretty much anything. I'm almost not kidding. I might scoff at something ancient (as in pre-vinyl ancient), but yeah, just go nuts with the reccs. [I've been listening to A Day To Remember all night - a new friend is obsessed with them at the moment.]

I guess this is a good a time as any. I'm a huge Michelle Branch fan. As in, I'd jump through hoops to see her play live. Her new album - West Coast Time - is coming out soon and I am more than thrilled that my precious is back to 'her roots'! Sha-shoom and whoop-de-do for awesome mothers!

Late.

Blogger Meltdown

Well, I'm sure if you were even online yesterday you would've known about the huge Blogger mishap. What was supposed to be a 1 hour maintenance session ended in, well, a much longer session. Let's hope that all has been restored to normalcy.

 

 During the Meltdown (which I shall call it) I did post something! Here's a link in case you missed it hehe. :D

[Review] Glass Houses by Rachel Caine

I was just re-watching the Dark Days Summer Tour video trailer on Youtube, and I fall in love with that song everytime I hear it. If I can get iTunes to actually install on my computer I might actually be able to purchase it for only $0.99. (It was actually $1+ for me)

Download "The Ghost Inside of Me" by Maranda

Daily Dose Monday (4) + And yet another post about being a blogger...

Daily Dose Monday is a weekly meme, hosted at Good Golly Miss Holly, a fellow Aussie book blog. The meme features images that inspire, that create life and energy. Hope you enjoy this week's pictures! All the captions are just what I pull from each image. Sorry if they're not good--I just make them up on the spot, and I'm sleepy right now.

And here I stay, letting the ocean engulf me, letting its currents wash my pain away.

The most powerful of books can move even the tiniest of beings.

Maybe if I wish on enough flowers the sun will not set for another day; maybe the wind will not blow it all away.

The most beautiful rose is one that remains true to its roots.
(in this case, water and sun, but "rose" can be taken in a more metaphorical stance)

It's so amazing to think that I've been blogging for more than half a year now! Blogging has always been such a sweet escape from me, and it's still such a wonder that I didn't discover the book blogging community even earlier. It's all just been surreal. I've met so many great bloggers (even Aussies! :D), discovered amazing books that I will carry with me forever, and it's all gone by so quickly. This may sound like a blogoversary-type "speech", but it's more of an OMG-I-have-X-followers-now "speech". Thanks so much to you, my dear followers. I'm sorry I don't comment on every single one of your blog posts (that is, if you have a YA book blog). I may not be the best follower, but 2011 will see to it that I improve my commenting abilities. :)

Book Blogging Pet peeves

So anyway, I saw this awesome post over at Cover to Cover. Jessica lists all of her book blogging pet peeves, and I could not agree more with all those listed. I agree with all of them, except for the last one since I believe I'm guilty of doing that myself.  

Here are some of my additions:

• One paragraph reviews — Especially when receiving review copies from publishers/authors, because one paragraph reviews are sloppy and lazy and brief, and really don't do much for anybody. If a blogger is in a hurry or under time-constrictions, save the post and schedule it for a later date. No one is rushing you.
• Blogs that are spammed with blog posts linking to contests, so that said blogger may earn extra entries — No comment needed.
• Spelling and grammar errors — Now I'm sure I've let slip a few errors here and there, but I'm talking about the blogs where there are multiple spelling errors. There is spell check with Blogger, people! Please, for the love of all that is good and sacred, USE IT!!!
• Mixing up words — such as than and then, and there and their and they're. This may be a bit "nit-picky" of me, but this annoys me more than anything. Of course, like with spell check, this is going to happen every now and again.
• Insincere comments — The ones that are just like "Hey, cool review/blog! Go check out my blog at xx." Make a point, take your time, or don't bother commenting at all. I'm also trying to be better at this. :P
• Blog posts with no images, at all, ever — People NEED visual representations so their eyes don't tune out. Same goes for big slabs of text--paragraphs, is the aim of the game here. Or lists, because they're awesome. ;)
  

That's all for now. 

What are your book blogger pet peeves? Have anything to add* , or comment on?

* Please check Cover to Cover too before adding on, as I agree with all points made.

 

One of these "I am a blogger" posts...

Who says Lisa isn't a free spirit? :P

This picture isn't just so I have a picture other than my signature. It actually means something. I don't know what it is. What do you think?

Why am I posting such a weird post? And at such an unconventional time (for me)? Well, I have officially finished my exams for HSC (higher school certificate), which is like an SAT (for US) or VCE or alternative. Year 12 finals. The "be-all-and-end-all". Yeah, right. I like how in my last exam, there was a written passage where the guy said stuff like "I didn't get into university ater graduating, but I got to do web design and I'm now fullfilling my dream". Nice uplifting speech, I would say. :thumbsup:

I don't want to think about the results and the aftermath just yet. I want to just enjoy my four~ months of freedom! :D

Anyway, I'll be catching up on followers, comments and the like. Also, I've absolved comment moderation, because it got to the point where I had 16 in waiting, and I just started thinking What's the point? 

NaNoWriMo: I made my first 1,000 words today! I got home at 5 pm, and I'm tired. I promise to do 10,000 words tomorrow. I'm kidding. I'll do as much as I can. So far, the plans aren't holding up. I've changed the whole storyline in my mind, and the only thing that has kind of stayed the same is the characters, and that's because I haven't introduced many just yet. Only like, two. I also find myself re-editing my words as I go, because it's so, so dreadful and I can't seem to find the right words for descriptions and such. :/ For those who asked to show the .doc file afterwards, I simply can't. Maybe in a few months if I pursue the editing side of things...

Remember, you can add me! Go ahead and kick me to write some more words. For now, I sleep. Unlike some crazy nuts out there, sleep > writing It's been kind of a hippity week in terms of mail. I'll be VLOGGING for the first time ever for this weeks' IMM. Please don't unfollow if I am hideously awkward or whatever. I'll be trying my best. :thumbsup: I actually had an IMM VLOG ready for a month ago, but Youtube rejected it, and I gave up after three times of making the video, then editing, and then accidentally deleting the videos while in the editing process (*facepalm*) . . . I'm usually pretty good with technology.

US of A-ans? Did you vote? Oh yes, I know what's going on with the world. *nods head all sly-like, because I'm cool like that* No vote, no complain. Simple as that. I'm pretty ignorant, so of course I have no idea what the problem with Obama is. Feel free to rant all you want in the comments. I promise I'll read most of it... I'm actually really curious to see how many people actually READ my blog, rather than visit it. In this respect, Blogger stats means nothing to me. :/ (though I almost hit 4,000 pageviews for October, which is awesome)

Check around tomorrow; I've got a review for Crossing the Tracks scheduled. I'll wake up early and check whether it's actually okay to be posted up. I haven't read it in like a month (the review). See how organised I am?

Title: Crossing the Tracks
Author: Barbara Stuber
Genre: YA, historical, a dash of romance, adventure and all that good stuff

It's a sparkling book (meaning, 5 stars).

Looking back, I managed to have consistent posting all throughout October! I have a problem, methinks. I have a few problems, actually, but enough about me: how about you?