Weekly Wrap-Up

Hi Everyone,

I just had a bit of news to share with you- Kirthi from Pages has asked me to be her affiliate, and I'm so incredibly flattered. :)

This week, Kirthi reviewed The Hunger Games, and declared herself a member of Team Peeta. ;) She's also holding a little poll on the side of her blog where you can vote on whose side your on.

Kirthi is also updating her blog roll, so if you're interested, head on over and send her an email.

Drop by her blog, you won't regret it. :)

<3 Cate

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren.



I received one book this week, which I won from a contest held by the lovely Jami at YA Book Addict. I've heard so many great things about this one; I'm really excited to read it!

Be on the lookout for a review of Eyes Like Stars this week!

<3 Cate

Wish List Wednesday

In 1932 Berlin, thirteen-year-old Gaby Schramm witnesses the beginning of Hitler's rise to power, as soldiers become ubiquitous, her beloved literature teacher starts wearing a jewelled swastika pin, and the family's dear friend, Albert Einstein, leaves the country while Gaby's parents secretly bury his books and papers in their small yard.

Right now I'm taking a class at school that's centered around the Holocaust and other genocides. Ashes struck my eye not only because it relates to my coursework, but also because I'm interested in reading about another point of view in regards to the tragedies of the Holocaust. Ashes came out this month, and I'm looking forward to this one.

<3 Cate

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston Review

Fair and long-legged, independent and articulate, Janie Crawford sets out to be her own person — no mean feat for a black woman in the '30s. Janie's quest for identity takes her through three marriages and into a journey back to her roots. -Goodreads

For the past few weeks, I've been reading Their Eyes Were Watching God for my English class. I'd already read an excerpt from another one of Hurston's pieces, and loved it. She has this amazing ability to create the most beautiful imagery; as a reader, it makes the book an experience in itself.

Although it took a few chapters for the book to set up for the real story, it was definitely worth it. I was almost always interested in what would happen to Janie and her relationships. Janie felt real to me. Like someone I could have a conversation with; aren't those the best kind of characters?

I only had one real issue with Their Eyes, which was the dialect. I found the dialouge to be extrememly difficult to understand, especially in the beginning. For instance, words like 'I' would be written as 'Ah.' Although eventually this wasn't a problem for me, the beginning of the book was a little tough for me to understand.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this classic. I haven't seen the movie, but I've heard it's nothing compared to the book. I'm tempted to watch the film, but I'm worried it will ruin the story for me. Have any of you read this one or watched the movie? Thoughts?

Rating: 9/10

<3 Cate

Library Trip :D

I'm back! I'm sorry I had to jet off like that, everyone. The homework has become manageable now, so no worries for a while! :)

This week I took a much-needed trip to the library, where I picked up a few good reads, including:




I actually really love to bake, and the cover of this one looks to die for. I'm hoping to get some delicious recipes! :)

Have a great weekend, everyone! Have you read any of these before. Recommendations?
<3 Cate

Contest Winner and a Very Brief Hiatus

Hi Everyone!

I'd like to announce the winner of my 100 Followers Contest! Drumroll please...

Debbie L. !!!!

Congratulations, Debbie! I'll be sending you an email tonight; please respond within 48 hours, or I will have to choose another winner.

***

Also, as you may have noticed, I haven't been around on the blog much this week. The homework monster is to blame. Unfortunately, the next few days are going to be extra busy, so I have decided to take a very brief hiatus. And by very brief I mean I'll be back by the middle of next week! Sorry, guys. :(

I'll be back!
<3 Cate

Gilmore Girls Reading Challenge

First off, HOW DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS???? Being a complete Gilmore addict (if I do say so myself,) it blows my mind that I hadn't heard about this challenge.

For those of you who have never seen Gilmore Girls (*gasp*), the show basically surrounds a mother- Lorelai- and her daughter, Rory. Rory is a voracious reader; she devours the classics. So the challenge essentially takes every book that she's been seen reading or mentioned on the show. For more information, click here.

I decided to take on 10 books from 3 of the categories, or the Lorelai level. I fear that I just don't have time to read all of them by the end of this year. Not to mention all those other challenges I signed up for...heh heh. I have faith in myself though!

1) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
2) Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
3) Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy*
4) Roman Holiday by Edith Wharton
5) Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carrol
6) The Fellowship of the Rings: Lord of the Ring Book 1 by J.R.R. Tolkein
7) The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
8) Daisy Miller by Henry James
9) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee**
10) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

* I actually began reading this last year, and really enjoyed it. It's just so long.
** My freshman English class never finished reading this- I know- shame on us!

I hear there's a mini-movie Gilmore Girls challenge as well. *raises eyebrows*
<3 Cate

Pick-up/Put-down Syndrome

You may have noticed the lack of reviews lately...sorry! It seems that these past few weeks I have indeed come down with a case of Pick-up/Put-down Sydrome. Any of you had this experience? Lately all I've been doing is reading a few pages at a time of these three:



So far all seem to be really well-written, and the story-telling draws you in. For some reason I'm just not sucked into one in particular, so I'm just sort of cruising a long, reading a chapter here and there.

The cure? Not sure. Goodness knows I'd better get a review up soon! ;)

Hope your inner reader is feeling a little better than mine, haha! What are you reading these days? Any books to recommend? I'd love your suggestions!

<3 Cate

Contest Reminders!

Just a quick refresher regarding my 100 Followers Contest, which ends February 7th at 11:59 PM. I'm giving away a copy of the The Book Thief, one of my favorites. Please fill out this form to enter.

Also, I am holding another contest at Mrs. Magoo Reads, for the Cathy's Key books- there are three. Check it out if you're interested, it ends February 9th!
<3 Cate

Wish List Wednesday

The Princess Bride is a true fantasy classic. William Goldman describes it as a "good parts version" of "S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure." Morgenstern's original was filled with details of Florinese history, court etiquette, and Mrs. Morgenstern's mostly complimentary views of the text. Much admired by academics, the "Classic Tale" nonetheless obscured what Mr. Goldman feels is a story that has everything: "Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Poison. True love. Hate. Revenge. Giants. Hunters. Bad men. Good men. Beautifulest ladies. Snakes. Spiders. Beasts of all natures and descriptions. Pain. Death. Brave men. Coward men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths. Passion. Miracles." -Goodreads

Everyone loves The Princess Bride movie. I've never read the book, but I'm really excited to actually read a copy of the book. Have any of you read this one??

<3 Cate