2013 Book Bingo Reading Challenge

Up again for some reading challenges, god it's addicting. :D. This reading challenge is hosted by Kristilyn of Reading in Winter and Anne of Creativity's Corner. The mechanics are easy, you just have to fill those boxes the Bingo way. This is just for fun, I know I can't mark all of them, but let's see.

Read more rules and guidelines by clicking any of the link.

2013 Catch Up Reading Challenge

I'm up again for some challenges, this time it's Catch Up Reading Challenge; my second reading challenge for 2013, Hosted by Tammy of Books, Bones & Buffy. The goal is simple: “Catch Up” on some books you've been dying to read. Same as Tammy, I will take this challenge to catch up the complete series of books that I'm dying to read, and I’m giving myself the entire year of 2013 to do it!

1. Select the books you’d like to “catch up” on during the year. I’ve decided not to put a minimum or even a limit on this number. It’s really up to you. My list has (8) books on it.

2. Grab the challenge button and post it on your sidebar.

3. Do a Catch Up Challenge blog post listing the books you’d love to finally get to read in 2013. Include the button in your post and link back here, if you don’t mind:)

4. Every time you read one of your catch up books, write a review and let me know about it in the comment section of this post. I’d love to see what you’re reading! You can easily find this post again by clicking the Catch Up Challenge button on my sidebar. It will take you right back here.

5. PRIZES!!  For every ten bloggers or reviewers that sign up, I will have a giveaway. And for each of your challenge book reviews, you’ll get an entry into the giveaway. Giveaways will be spread out during the year to give you time to read and review your books.

6. You don’t have to have a blog to participate! You can post reviews on Goodreads too, just let me know in the comments where to find your review.

 So, here are the books I plan to read:

1. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness - It's been on my top list on my TBR shelf on Goodreads for so long. Yay! I'm so excited.
2. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
3. Hounded by Kevin Hearne - I love Urban Fantasy <3
-Due to availability I will just read their first books-
4. Enclave by Ann Aguirre - It's a battle between Legend, Graceling, Matched, and Uglies series. So, Enclave won.
5. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
6. I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore - Now it has a boxed set, I will definitely buy it.

That's it, My Catch Up list for 2013 (I don't know if I can still add some). If you're Interested, just click the above image and sign up.

[Update 2-25-13] I really have lots of books that I really want to read, and I don't want them to be left behind, and these are the books that you will see below. Read the full post here.

1. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
2. Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon
3. Shatter Me bi Tahereh Mafi
4. Legend by Marie Lu
5. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
6. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
7. Gone By Michael Grant
8. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 [Book Review]

"Electrifying, another addition to my favorite shelf"

Title: Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 (Michael Vey #1)
Author: Richard Paul Evans
Published: July 10, 2012

Summary from Goodreads:

My name is Michael Vey, and the story I’m about to tell you is strange. Very strange. It’s my story.
To everyone at Meridian High School, Michael Vey is an ordinary fourteen-year-old. In fact, the only thing that seems to set him apart is the fact that he has Tourette’s syndrome. But Michael is anything but ordinary. Michael has special powers. Electric powers.

Michael thinks he's unique until he discovers that a cheerleader named Taylor also has special powers. With the help of Michael’s friend, Ostin, the three of them set out to discover how Michael and Taylor ended up this way, but their investigation brings them to the attention of a powerful group who wants to control the electric children – and through them the world. Michael will have to rely on his wits, powers, and friends if he’s to survive.

 

Review:

Ok, I like to start it with this. Once I'm reading a book, I really don't focus on the author's way of writing, for me it's not a big deal, I just focus on the story itself. You will just feel it no matter how bad the writing is, it's a good book if you feel the hype that the story wants you to feel. For me Mr. Evans did a great job, the story is good, and also the book itself.

Back to review, Michael Vey is a well-balanced character, from the start he already knows what he has and what he's capable of, no need for a character build-up, it's his power that's building up.

A sinister came, that his friend Taylor; a cheerleader that has also an electro ability, and Michael's mom was kidnapped. He and his friend Ostin; an intelligent, know-it-all guy ( I love Ostin's character, he's full of humor) decided to save them, together with two bullys that eventually became their friends make their way to Elgen Academy. They came and something terribly happened wrong.

Some says it's an X-men Rip off, but no it's not, all their powers are all based in electricity, like the body's ability to conduct electricity, someting about our neurons, everything, it's Science. I love it.

The book has different POVs, but more on Michael's POV, sometimes it's a second person's POV telling the story of Taylor, and author's POV in 3rd person.

Verdict:

A cheerleader, a geek best friend, a main character with Tourette's, formed a group with Teenagers with electrifying power abilities with bad guys that turned to good to defeat a deceiving power-hungry villain full of lies. Fast-paced, action-packed. Full of twists. Follow Michael's adventure, know where their powers origin, and be amazed on their special abilities.  
It's electrifying amazing.

Rating: 5/5


About the Author

When Richard Paul Evans wrote the #1 best-seller, The Christmas Box, he never intended on becoming an internationally known author. His quiet story of parental love and the true meaning of Christmas made history when it became simultaneously the #1 hardcover and paperback book in the nation. Since then, more than eight million copies of The Christmas Box have been printed. He has since written eleven consecutive New York Times bestsellers. He is one the few authors in history to have hit both the fiction and non-fiction bestseller lists. He has won several awards for his books including the 1998 American Mothers Book Award, two first place Storytelling World Awards, and the 2005 Romantic Times Best Women Novel of the Year Award. His books have been translated into more than 22 languages and several have been international best sellers.
 

2013 Paranormal Reading Challenge

These past few days I have read lots of lots of reading challenges that will happen next year, but this one really gets my interest, this reading challenge suits me best, I love the idea.

So, I finally decided to join this reading challenge. This will be my first.

Here is my List

2013 Paranormal Reading Challenge is Hosted by Megan Likes Books and Auntie Spinelli Reads.

The goal is to read at least one book featuring each of the following paranormal creatures:

• Vampires
• Werewolves/Shifters
• Fey
• Angels/Nephilim
• Mermaids
• Dragons
• Zombies
• Demons
• Witches/Wizards
• Ghosts
• Aliens
• Other (ie: sirens, unicorns, centaurs, timetravel etc.)

 Each month, we'll be featuring one of the creatures on the list at both Megan Likes Books and Auntie Spinelli Reads.

Join and Read more guidelines and informations by clicking Here

Book to Movies: Rise of the Guardians

"Everyone Needs a Guardian"

Aside from a book lover, I'm also a movie goer, but I'm picky on choosing a movie that will worth every coin to spend. I'm happy to say that I will not hesitate to spend my money on a movie that was based on a book (except twilight. Sorry, I'm not a fan of vampires). And now I had decided to feature the movies that adapt from a book that will hit the big screen.

 I'm sure I'll gonna enjoy this, for kids and kids-at-heart.
 

           


Rise of the Guardians is a 2012 American 3D computer-animated fantasy-adventure film based on William Joyce's The Guardians of Childhood book series and The Man in the Moon short film by Joyce and Reel FX.

          

Jack Frost (Pine) is a carefree boy who has no responsibilities in the world aside from bringing winter wherever he goes. But everything changes when Pitch (Law), the Nightmare King, begins his plan to engulf the world in darkness. The Guardians, Santa Claus (Baldwin), the Tooth Fairy (Fisher), the Easter Bunny (Jackman) and the Sandman enlist Jack to join their group to stop Pitch and protect the children of the world.

Meet the Guardians 
"Know more about the guardians by clicking their image, you will be directed to youtube"



 

Toothiana

Tooth is a beautiful, elegant, blue and green iridescent fairy. She is half-human and half-hummingbird. Full of energy and always in motion, her feet never touch the ground. Everyone knows the Tooth Fairy collects children's teeth with the help of her fleet of mini fairies that patrol the globe 24/7. What you don't know is that the teeth hold the most precious childhood memories. Tooth safeguards these teeth in her palace and returns the memories when you need them most.
 —Rise of the Guardians official site

E. Aster Bunnymund

Bunny, as he's known, is a cool calm Australian, as dry as the Outback. A natural ranger, he is an in the dirt, rough and tumble protector of nature. He follows nature's rhythms and when it's time for action he waits for the perfect moment to act. And when he finally does, it's all over in a heartbeat with the help of his enchanted boomerangs and exploding Easter eggs. Bunny is completely unflappable. The only thing that does get under his skin is North's constant ribbing about how Christmas is more important than Easter.
 —Rise of the Guardians official site

Divergent [Book Review]

"One Choice can Transform You"

 
Title: Delirium (Delirium #1)
Author: Veronica Roth
Published: February 28, 2012

Summary from Goodreads

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Review:
A story of a girl protagonist Beatrice Prior. Once found out that she is not normal as everyone else -Divergent, she had to make a decision on what she really feel she is, a decision that will change her life, in where she would lose her family, the people who were close to her, and leaving her peaceful life.

I adore how the author divided the community into five factions, the honest, the brave, the selfless, the intelligence, and the peaceful, for people to live on what traits they have most. We all have these traits, but we don't know on what trait rules us the most, unless given a specific situation. What I like about this book is about their era  has the greatest possibility to happen for man to live peacefully in the future. But greed can only lead to destruction, and this is what happened in this book.

Another thing is Tris's character build-up, it's so fascinating to see her evolution in this book, from a girl who really has no idea on what she's capable of, to a fierce woman full of bravery. Aside from Tris, I also like the character of Four, I like their strong affection, on how they care, and how they protect each other; It's not the best love story I've ever read, but I like them doing that.

I also love the twists and turns that are really unpredictable, once that they are revealed, you will really turn back the pages to see why was that happened. It's action-packed, loyalty, faction before blood.

Well, base on it's awards and acknowledgements achieved, it really deserves to have it. It's a good read, you will keep reading all day, all night. 

Rating: 4/5



About the Author

 Veronica Roth is from a Chicago suburb. She studied creative writing at Northwestern University, and wrote DIVERGENT (Katherine Tegen Books, May 2011) and INSURGENT (May 2012). The third and final book in The Divergent Trilogy, which doesn't have a title yet, will come out in Fall 2013. In the meantime she will spend endless hours browsing Wikipedia in her pajamas as she eats corn flakes. (Or some other kind of bland breakfast cereal.)

http://veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com/

Random Quotes [2]

Random Quotes

Delirium [Book Review]

 Title: Delirium (Delirium #1)

Author: Lauren Oliver

Published: February 7, 2012 by HarperCollins

Source: Paperback  Genre: Young-Adult

Amazon • Goodreads • Website 
 

 Synopsis

They say that the cure for Love will make me happy and safe forever. 
And I've always believe them. 
Until now. 
Now everything has changed. 
Now, I'd rather be infected with love for the tiniest sliver of a second 
than live a hundred years smothered by a lie.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children [Book Review]

Title: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children  
Author: Ransom Riggs

Published: May 20, 2012 by Quirk

Source: Paperback  Genre: Young Adult

 Amazon • Goodreads • Website

Synopsis
 
A mysterious island.
An abandoned orphanage.
A strange collection of very curious photographs.
It all waits to be discovered in "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children," an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow--impossible though it seems--they may still be alive.
A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.