In My Thoughts This Fine Day #5

1. So, in this new world of Netflix and On Demand and Red Box, renting a movie is practically a click of a button away. It's quite nice really. I don't have Netflix and rarely use Red Box's but I rent all my movies off On Demand. There's nothing like deciding I want to watch that latest new release and not having to go out to get it or worry that it might be all rented out. With just a few pushes of a button on the remote, I'm watching. Glorious! But, um, there is a not so tiny flaw in this system that really bothers me. I hate that if I want to watch an old favorite that I don't own, I'm screwed. Red Box and On Demand are very limited on movie selections and even Netflix fails more often than not. How the heck are we supposed to watch our old favorites if we didn't buy them? You know? Thank goodness for my local library and their great selection. But how long will that be around? How long until that's obsolete and hundreds of old movies get lost to us forever? Stresses me out, people!

2 I've whined about the Auto Correct on my phone before but now I'm going to whine again. For some unfathomable reason my phone chooses to think that THIS should be THUS. Seriously?! Who the hell even says THUS anymore?! Why on earth would it think THUS must be the word I wanted? Ticks me off! Thus the rant. ;) 

3 The whole not using pictures on our blogs that we don't have permission for kinda ticks me off. Mainly because I think if you post a picture on the worldwide web you've pretty much put it out there and need to accept that it's probably going to get stolen. Sorry, but it's true. Plus if I post a picture on my blog and someone steals it I could care less. Why? Because the minute I put it on the internet I accept what all people should. It's out there. It's going to get used. I'm also just mad that I need to go take all the pictures off my old blog posts so I don't run the risk of getting sued. I don't have time, people! Argh. I bet you half the pictures I "stole" were stolen to begin with!

Review: My Ridiculous Romantic Obsessions

Title My Ridiculous Romantic Obsessions
By Becca Wilhite
Genre YA Contemporary
Pages 181
Recommended by Me

First sentence Mom pulls her new toy, a talking GPS directions-thingie up close to her eyes.

Synopsis
Sarah has lived her whole life waiting for the perfect romance. The kind of romance she sees in all the books she reads. But a past experience has left her a little bitter and untrusting. When she meets Ben, who seems to genuinely care for her, can she learn to trust again and realize life isn't a romance book?

What it has going for it
Once in awhile we stumble upon a book that is exactly what we needed to read at that moment in our lives. My Ridiculous Romantic Obsessions was that book for me. I’m not sure if I should admit this, but I totally could relate to Sarah, the MC. Her insecurities are my insecurities. Her romantic obsessions are, unfortunately, my romantic obsessions. It seriously felt like this book was written just for me. Don’t you just love that?! I know I do. It’s hard to pick my favorite thing about this one but I think I’ll go with the humor. I was laughing from page one. Sarah was ridiculously funny in a self deprecating sort of way. And guess what? Wait for it...You ready? This was about a college aged girl! Eeeep! Books about college aged people are hard to find it seems. Or at least they’re hard to find for me. I was so happy to have found this one. Well written with a beautiful message, this one was a pleasure to read.

What’s lacking
I did notice a few typos but they took nothing away from the story…at all! I also got a little frustrated at Sarah when she was being so dense but I’m sure that’s because I saw myself in her. Not fun seeing all your faults written across the page of a book. It is great to be given hope in the end, though.

Favorite moment
Ugh, I’m not sure why I decided to put this favorite moment thing into my reviews. I can never pick just one. I’ll go with the allergic reaction part because it was funny and sad all in one.

Yea or Nay?
Yes, I’d highly recommend this one!

Review: Tiger Lily

Title Tiger Lily
By Jodi Lynn Anderson
Genre YA Fantasy
Pages 304
Recommended by Um, I forgot. Sorry. :(

First sentence Let me tell you something straight off.

Synopsis
Seen from the eyes of Tinker Bell is the classic tale of Peter Pan that takes on a whole new light as we learn more about Tiger Lily and Peter before Wendy came to Neverland.



What it has going for it
Well, I was absolutely ecstatic to read this one. I'd seen raving reviews and read the first sample chapters. Yep, I was all ready to thoroughly enjoy this one. I loved that it was narrated by Tinker Bell. I've always liked her and it was fun to see things from her perspective. Be warned, this is not the happy Disney version of Peter Pan...though there were a little too many similarities for my taste. This one was sad and dealt with some pretty serious subjects but it was beautifully written and it allows you to sort of slowly meander through the story.

What's lacking
Yeah, yeah, blame it on my high expectations but I really don't think that's what it was this time. My biggest problem with this one was it's mostly about Tiger Lily and I just didn't like her. Why would I? She was so closed off and cold. And why? Because she was bullied as a child? I just couldn't find any sympathy for her. Sorry. The "romance" between Peter and Tiger Lily wasn't much of a romance. Just because the author tells me they'er in love doesn't mean I believe it. I also thought there were far too many elements in the story that had no point...at least that I could see. Like, why was Phillip even in the story? What was the point of that? Did I miss something? I really hate reading books where I feel like I missed something. Peter Pan acted like a ten year old and he was supposed to be 16???  Oh, and I HATED the way everyone treated Tink! What the heck?! I get that that was the way that world treated fairies...I guess. But was there supposed to be some sort of symbolism with her treatment or were the characters just jerks? Maybe the author was trying to create something teens could relate to by having a character no one ever listens to. Cause every teen feels that way. *rolls eyes*

Favorite moment
Well, as much as I didn't get the relationship between Peter and Tiger Lily, I enjoyed when Peter spontaneously kissed her neck. It was unique enough to be romantic.

Yea or Nay?
I don't know! I'll let you decide. I wouldn't recommend it, but that's me.

July Wrap Up 2012

Well, this was the last month I'll actually have read more than like, oh, three books. Sigh, the draw backs of having a full time job. Anywho, on to the books I read this month.

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth
Um, just watch the book trailer and save your self the pain.

Vanish (Firelight 2) by Sophie Jordan
Stupid dependent female MCs!

Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl 1) by Eoin Colfer
A sophisticated MG? Who knew that was possible?

My Ridiculous Romantic Obsessions by Becca Wilhite
Ah, to relate to a book so well. Love!

Emma by Jane Austen
It's Austen, people! I can't complain too much but this one wasn't my favorite.

Circle Spinner And Other Tales by Elizabeth Baxter
Short stories done right!

Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker
A dual love story! Not sure I've ever read one of those before.

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Hmmm, slower and weirder than I thought.

Favorite of the month was My Ridiculous Romantic Obsessions. So good! Least favorite was Vanish. Ick!

Utah Book Month

It's Utah Book Month! What does that mean, you ask? Well, there's quite the blogging community here in Utah and not only that but there's a nice group of authors from here as well. So we're taking this month to highlight these authors by reading strictly Utah author books. There will be author and blogger interviews and mini challenges all month long.

I'm not sure how much I'll be able to participate as I'm still struggling with time management but I will be reading books published by Utah authors.

Yeah, I seriously doubt I'll get ALL of these read but this is the stack I'll be selecting from. Can you believe I haven't read The Maze Runner Books yet? Me neither.

I'll also have a few interviews I'm very excited about. So keep your eye out. Happy reading!