Wow. I haven't posted in forever!!!! Where on Earth have I been?!

I'll be honest and tell you I haven't been reading much ( although it feels like more when I see the last book I blogged about!)  due to nicer weather, my xbox, working out, hanging out etc. I just feel like everything I need to be submersed in the book-loving online community can be found on YouTube and GoodReads. Yet here I am aching to tell you about the book I just finished, Everything Was Good-Bye buy Gurjinder Basran. So here I am, back again hopeing to hang on to a shred of the excitement I felt when posting about something I was passionate about!


Goodreads Synopsis:
This wonderful coming of age story is centered around Meena, a young Indian woman growing up in Vancouver who has a foot in two different worlds -India and Canada. The rich fabric of everyday Indian life is the backdrop to the struggle of young second-generation immigrants on the rocky road to assimilation. Ransacked by doubts, Meena is a self-hating woman who struggles with her heritage and cultural identity. She soon finds there's a price to be paid for following customs instead of her heart, resulting in a loveless marriage and the expectations and demands of her Indian family. She tries to leave the old world behind and establish her own identity by escaping her native culture and its obligations, even though she knows better. In this often painfully honest and original narrative, we witness Meena's painful process of self-discovery and independence.

Paperback, 352 pages

Published March 6th 2012 by Penguin (Group) Canada (first published 2008)

That's riiiight Vancouver~! I LOVE reading books about places I used to live in/live close to, because you just KNOW what kind of setting the author
is describing and that is just fantastic to me.
This book was SO good. Firstly, I would like to mention that, in compliance with FTC guidelines, I disclose that I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads!
Now where to start? The reason I wanted to read this book so bad wasn't because it was listed as a giveaway. I am from Vancouver Island and born in Surrey BC. Meena, our MC lived in North Delta which is close. It's rare that I get to read a coming-of-age fiction novel from Canada, let alone pretty much right next door. The fact that I thought it was awesome just made this the best book I've read in 2012.
This book is definitely a love story. Not in the way I imagine most people would think of a fictional love story though. No, this book was definitely sad. It broke me heart in places and it was so vivid to me that I felt like I was really experiencing who Meena was. It was hard to remember that this book was fictitious even because it seemed so real to me. It had too many unexpected twists and turns to make it not seem like fiction, but the way Basran wrote Meena's story and told us how she felt made me ache it felt so real.

I really hope to see more of Basran in the future. It's been so long since I sat down and finished a book in two days. Had I more time, it would have only been one.

Well now I have plenty of reading to do in catching up on your blogs. That's truly why I came back I think :) See you around! 

(picture from google images)

okokokokokokokok. I know.

There is a LOT going on in these books, and i wouldnt necessarily call Meghan Chase the most exciting female MC I've ever read, but I LOVE this series. I just can't help it. These books are so fun to read and I just get so into it.

I love all the characters ( and there are lots). I love how there is constantly something going on. I love Ash. I love how even though there are mushy parts, they somehow fit this series and still make it fun. I love the balance between summer and winter. I love the cover.I love the glamour.

This book was so fun to read. I just really have an actual good time reading them. I agree they are not perfect, and so much is going on Kagawa could have easily slowed parts down, but she didn't, and I dig it.

4/5 and I can't WAIT to read book 3!

Goodreads Synopsis:
Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart

I JUST finished reading this FINALLY. I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy! A book about racing dangerous Kelpies!? YES PLEASE! Please note, this post contains some spoilers.

Here is the goodreads synopsis so you get the gist if you didn't already know what this book is about:
It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.
At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.
Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

What I actually really found fascinating about this book was the economy of the Island. You spend so much time waiting and anticipating the actual race ( which i didn't like really but that's what really keeps you reading!), that you learn so much more than just about the characters and the horses. I loved reading about the shops and when it was quiet and then busy when tourists came, and the bakery dynamic, and who can afford what, and which roles they play in the community, what jobs people had, etc etc. SO interesting how she wrote this well enough to spark my own aging imagination in a YA fantasy novel. I'm impressed.

Setting, Setting, Setting. I can just picture this being read in a middle grade English class, and the prof asking for a diorama of the island. It left a lot up to the imagination.

I thought the whole fictional island idea first of all was pretty rad on Stiefvater's part, and I love how she takes a story about water horse legend and makes it her own, but still sticks to some basic characteristics of the mythical creature she writes about.

I also really liked her female MC "Puck". Definitely a strong female character, and the world can never have enough of those. Sean wasn't my favourite male MC of all time ( I liked Finn & Gabe much better!) but I thought they were a nice pairing and I like how the focus of this book was not the love between the MC's as much as it was about the love of horses. We all need a good horse-loving book from time to time.


This actually wasn't a book that I can say I fell in utter love with. I'm giving it a 3/5, but I appreciated how Stiefvater told this story and I think for the YA fans out there- it's worth the read!

For the month of February, my book club is reading Angela's Ashes. This very popular novel has been on my TBR list for what seems like ever. I've picked it up SO many times but just never cracked it open and actually seen what it was about.

I absolutely loved this book. It is for sure a Modern Classic, and a MUST read in my opinion. I found an interview McCourt did with Allan Greigg and I wanted to post it. It is a little long, and contains spoilers but It was very well done. I hope to post more about this book after we have our book club meeting ( as I find I have many more thoughts and things to say after we talk about it), but for now if anyone is interested, I'll leave you with the interview.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAr6fCwBA_g&feature=related


And wow, I have 12 books in a big stack beside me that I'm trying to burn through ASAP, so hopefully you'll be hearing from me soon!

My book club book is sure kept me busy and this stack of tbr books beside the couch is growing at an alarming rate!

Fortunately, I was able to quickly burn though Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban! I really wanted to read all the HP books and have been buying the movie after I finish each one. I have seen all of the movies but I definitely want them on my DVD shelf!

I must say that although this has been my favourite book in the series, I found it this movie least like the book. In fact, I was confused in the movie at some parts, thinking it didnt make sense because they skipped parts of the book. During the movie I have often pointed out little things to Shaun ( who watches them with me as he hasnt seen the movies) that were different in the book, but I felt like after the Prisoner of Azkaban, by side notes turned into more of a re-telling.

These books sure are wonderful though and I am excited to read The Goblet of Fire, as that was probably my favourite movie!

I also can't wait to read and share with you some of the other books I am reading, but man is life sure trying to mess with my reading time!

As for the Prisoner of Azkaban, I gave it a 5/5. Love that HP!

Goodreads Synopsis:
. K. Rowling continues to bewitch readers everywhere with the third book in her magical Potter series, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Harry's ongoing exploits, along with those of his contemporaries, teachers, and relatives, are as imaginative, entertaining, and mysterious as ever. For during Harry's third year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he must face his greatest challenge yet: a confrontation with Sirius Black, an escaped convict and madman who is rumored to be in cahoots with Harry's archenemy, the Dark Wizard Lord Voldemort. This alone would be daunting enough, but Harry's task is made even more trying when he discovers that Sirius is suspected of being the one who killed Harry's parents.

For Harry, the Hogwarts campus has always been a sanctuary, but when Black escapes from the horrifying clutches of Azkaban Prison, all clues suggest the madman is headed for Hogwarts and Harry himself. As a result, the school starts to feel more like a prison than a sanctuary as Harry finds himself constantly watched and under guard. What's more, the terrifying Dementors - the horrifying creatures who guard Azkaban Prison - are lurking about the campus looking for Black. And their effect on Harry is a devastating one.

Still, life at school offers plenty of distractions. Harry really likes the new teacher for Defense Against the Dark Arts, Professor Lupin, who might be able to teach Harry how to defend himself against the Dementors. But Professor Snape's behavior toward Lupin has Harry wondering what secrets the two men are hiding. Harry's friend Hermione is also acting very strangely. And, of course, there is the tension caused by the ongoing Quidditch competition between the Gryffindors and the Slytherins and the never-ending bullying of the Slytherin leader, Draco Malfoy.

One of Rowling's greatest strengths is her ability to stack mystery upon mystery in a way that keeps the pages turning without frustrating the reader. Her clues are always fair and bountiful, but it's easy to lose track of them in the midst of all the high suspense, spell-casting action, and unexpected plot twists. That's okay, because Rowling ties it all neatly together at the end in a way that will leave readers snapping their fingers and muttering, "Oh yeah. Forgot about that one. How clever!"

Harcover 435 pages
Published May 1st 2004 by Scholastic Inc. (first published 1999)

Thank you so much to Petra over at Hazel The Witch for the Versatile Blogger award!

Here are the rules that go along with this
award:
1. In a post on your blog,
present at least 5 fellow bloggers with the Versatile Blogger
Award.
2. In the same post, add the
Versatile Blogger Award.
3. In the same
post, thank the blogger who nominated you in a post with a link back to their
blog.
4. In the same post, share 7
completely random pieces of information about yourself.
5. In the same post, include this set of
rules.
6. Inform each nominated blogger
of their nomination by posting a comment on each of their blogs.

The Blogs I Chose:
Little Book Owl
Epic Chocolate Fantasy
Book Reaper
Carabosse's Library
I Heart Books


7 completely random pieces of information about yourself.
1. I work out everyday
2. my favourite foods are sushi and popcorn ( hence why i work out everyday)
3. my birthday is in July
4. I love storms
5. I played the trombone in high school band class
6. I'm planning a trip to Argentina
7. I dont own a pair of heels

So much to say! I've been putting off this post until AFTER we had book club so I could tell you about it.

Being in a book club was seriously on my bucket list. I crave talking to people about books. It is one of my one true passions in life. Obviously you guys share the same passions as well or else you wouldn't be reading this. I love blogging, and having this online community who understands my love for books and participates in that, so to sit with a group of people face-to-face and do it is really a dream come true for me.

We read Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants. I didn't particularly LOVE the book ( 3/5 id say) so I was a bit nervous about our discussion. I had a hard time believing in the love between Marlena and Jacob and found the characters to be lacking. To be honest, after reading The Night Circus, no circus will ever be able to compare. And, if you're looking for an Elephant fix, the movieOng Bak 2tops my list. So really, after reading Water for Elephants, I found it only sub-par.

The women at the book club however seemed to just LOVE it. I didn't want to be the Negative Nancy of the club, especially on my first meeting.

Once we got to talking about the book I was SO into it. We didn't just say who liked it/didn't, we actually talked about certain aspects of the characters, and themes of the books. Hearing the ladies thoughts and perspectives was fascinating to me. It didn't end up being a question of whether the book was good or not, but more of the whole picture.

This didn't really change my initial opinion of the book itself. It's still not really my style of a read, but it definitely helped me to appreciate the book more, and also to gain a bit more perspective. I was so satisfied just to be able to discuss a book, good or not!

And with that, I'll leave you with the Goodreads synopsis for Sara Gruen's Water For Elephants.

Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell.

Jacob was there because his luck had run out - orphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on this locomotive 'ship of fools'. It was the early part of the Great Depression, and everyone in this third-rate circus was lucky to have any job at all. Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, a handsome circus boss with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope, the new act that was going to be the salvation of the circus; the only problem was, Rosie didn't have an act - in fact, she couldn't even follow instructions. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival

Paperback, 335 pages
Published April 9th 2006 by Algonquin Books