A Crime to Conquer All Others

So, my mother has kindly *cough cough* informed me that if I bring another book home...none of them will survive.

What can I say? I LOVE TO READ! So good thing it's Christmas Break because I've got to finish every single book in my room that has been loaned out to me (while still managing to do homework, last-minute Christmas gifting, and a whole bunch of other things).

It would kill me inside to return any of the books I've loaned without reading them first. I have a secret fear that if I return a book I haven't read yet, I'll never read it again. I know, it might sound a bit silly, but it's a fact. So I'm determined to read them all!

Wish me luck! And hopefully you all get to read a bunch and enjoy your wonderful holiday break!

Peace Like A River

--Sadie

Remembered!

Okay, the author of Frankenstein is Mary Shelley! Man, I can't tell you how much I love classical female authors. If we were in the same era, Mary and I definitely would have been good friends. I'm to Chapter IV on this book, and I have loved every minute of it! I especially love the whole story as to why she wrote Frankenstein in the first place! I definitely am going to post a little excerpt about it when I finish it, and you all should definitely read it!

Well, have an enjoyable Saturday afternoon!

As Kelsey would say, "Peace Like A River!"

--Sadie

A Quick Update!

Currently I'm reading a few books for my English class. I find that I am much more inclined to read when it's a book (or several) of my own choosing.

Complications by Atul Gawande - loving it so far!

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson - very good so far!

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom - I can tell this one is going to make me cry.

Frankenstein (I can't remember the author's name at the moment...) - haven't started this one quite yet.

Whilst compiling this list I am listening to Mute Math on iTunes, trying to decide which music selections I should put on my iPod. Technically, I should be in bed because I have a huge swim meet all day tomorrow, and then Sadie Hawkins Dance. So tomorrow won't be a great day for reading unfortunately. But I know I'm definitely excited to dive into these books and discover fantastic new worlds I've never imagined before.

I love reading, and I don't know what I would do without it. I honestly can't understand how people don't like to read books -- I LOVE it!! Reading is one of the best things in the world.

So if there's anything you wish to gain from this post, then maybe this will help. I want everyone who's reading this to make a goal for this week or even this month: find a book you would be interested in reading, and read at least half of it. You have to finish it by the end of this year (unless it's some ginormous epic novel). I encourage everyone to find a good book (or even more!) and take some time to relax and delve into a realm different from the one you live in.

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Peace Like A River

--Sadie

The Forgotten Locket by Lisa Mangum

"The finale of the award-winning Hourglass Door trilogy!

"What is your name?" he asked, but not like he wanted to know. More like it was a test. 

"What kind of question is that?" I laughed. "It's . . ." I started. "My name is . . ." And then my mind went blank. Or rather, it went black, the darkness creeping in from the edges of my consciousness. Terror followed, slipping in behind the shadows. How could I not know my own name? 

The only way to rescue the future is to alter the past.

When Abby stepped through the hourglass door, leaving her beloved Dante blind and bleeding on the other side, it was in full faith that she could find a way to repair the damage to the river or time and restore him -- as well as her family. It was a desperate chance that seemed worth taking.

But Zo had other plans.

Now Abby is trapped in a full-fledged battle for her own mind and life and heart. Even worse, Zo's evil intent reaches beyond simple revenge against her and Dante. The whole world is in danger of collapsing unless Abby can summon her courage and undertake a journey that will lead her beyond the origins of the hourglass door."

I must say, this last book was the perfect ending to a series I will always treasure. Lisa Mangum lives in Utah, and I had the pleasure of meeting her at my school in September, as well as introducing her, having a nice chat with her, and having her sign my books. It was an experience I will never forget.

If you haven't read The Hourglass Door or The Golden Spiral, the first two books in this trilogy, I highly recommend that you do -- even if you're a guy. Yes, it is a romance, but the plot is so intriguing and original that even the male species will enjoy it. I recommend it to everyone, especially if you love to read. So go and pick up a copy at the nearest library or bookstore! You won't regret it.

--Sadie

Rating: 5/5 stars

I'm so sorry!!!

I'm so sorry I haven't had the time to post anything for a while :(

But I PROMISE I will post something this weekend even if it kills me!

--Sadie

New Post Coming Soon! (The Forgotten Locket by Lisa Mangum)

Sorry, I don't have time at the moment to post about the best book I just read, or the awesome experience I had of meeting the author! This will all come in a post soon, sorry to make you wait so long, but I don't have enough time right now. Homework, school, the whole enchilada.

--Sadie

Stolen by Lucy Christopher

Earlier this summer, I read the book Stolen by Lucy Christopher. I need to return it to my English teacher, so I re-read it yesterday, and was reminded just why I loved this book. I really loved the whole idea behind this book; it was original and I've never read anything like it before. The story line was what intrigued me into picking up this book, though.

"Told in a letter to her captor by 16-year-old Gemma, Stolen explores the influence that a really wild and remote space can have on the inner development of a young woman.

Gemma, a British city-living teenager, is kidnapped while on holiday with her parents. Her kidnapper, Ty, takes her to the wild land of outback Australia. To Gemma’s city-eyes, the landscape is harsh and unforgiving and there are no other signs of human life for hundreds of kilometres in every direction. Here, there is no escape. Gemma must learn to deal with her predicament, or die trying to fight it.

Ty, a young man, has other ideas for her. His childhood experience of living in outback Australia has forever changed the way he sees things. But he too has been living in the city; Gemma’s city. Unlike Gemma, however, he has had enough. In outback Australia he sees an opportunity for a new kind of life; a life more connected to the earth. He has been watching and learning about Gemma for many years; when he kidnaps her, his plan finally begins to take shape.

But Ty is not a stereotypical kidnapper and, over time, Gemma comes to see Ty in a new light, a light in which he is something more sensitive. The mysteries of Ty, and the mystery of her new life, start to take hold. She begins to feel something for her kidnapper when he wakes screaming in the night. Over the time spent with her captor, Gemma’s appreciation of him develops …but is this real love, or Stockholm Syndrome?"

This book has caused me to dream about Australia all summer. It's a situation so bizarre, so unheard of, and yet you don't want Gemma to leave, you don't want Ty to go jail. It really makes you think about the mysteries of life; what you treasure and cherish, what you wish to forget, what you wish to escape from. Lucy takes these ideas and weaves it into such a brilliant story. Ty kidnapped Gemma, and yet you like the guy. Why? 

There's very sparse swearing throughout the book, but if swearing offends you, I wouldn't read it. Nothing inappropriate; definitely a young adult novel. A very good read, probably more for entertainment's sake than literature. Although that may be debatable. I loved it, so let me know what you think. 

--Sadie

Rating: 4/5 stars