Or As I Like To Call It

              Happy Singles Awareness Day!

January Wrapup 2013

Not only was January a horribly slow reading month for me but I'm way late doing this wrap up post. Sigh!

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
Very good but a touch more set up to the rest of the series than I like.

 The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Meh, I didn't hate it but I was expecting better. Something less predictable.

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
So refreshing reading an adult book. It was funny and sad and just plain beautiful.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis
*points finger gun at head and mimics blowing brains out* 'nuf said.



Favorite of the month was...Hmm, probably The Raven Boys but The History of Love was so refreshing! Least favorite? Um, I'm going to go with the book that made me want to blow my brains out.

Review: Across The Universe

Title Across The Universe (Across The Universe 1)
By Beth Revis
Genre YA Scifi
Pages 398
Recommended by Me

First Sentence Daddy said, "Let mom go first."

Synopsis
Amy's decision to join her parents on the Godspeed, a ship headed to a new planet, was the hardest one she's ever had to make. Committing to be frozen for 300 years till the ship lands doesn't seem too bad but that's before she's unfrozen years ahead of schedule.

Elder has never know anything but the ship he's been born and raised on. His life is already set before him. He's to be the leader of the people on the ship, but the ship hold more secrets than Elder is prepared for.

What is has going for it
Oh boy, I blame it on my life situation and the fact that formula following books are seriously getting on my nerves but this book really didn't have anything going for it. Let me explain.

What's lacking
First off, read that first sentence again. Daddy? Daddy?! This book is supposed to be YA but the two main characters acted like they were eight! I totally get the immaturity with Elder, look at his upbringing, but Amy acted like a eight year old too. Then you've got the Season which, sure, was disturbing but what really bugged me was how graphically it was explained. Dude! Your characters are acting like they're are  eight and then you've got these seriously graphic "grown up" situations going on...Just didn't mix well!  Then came the painfully predictable plot...People, I'm not a freaking genius who always sees what's coming but this one was so eye rolling-ly obvious I wanted to punch someone. As usual, I really am sorry. I know people really liked this one, it just wasn't for me.  

Favorite moment
When (can't remember his name cause that's just about how much I cared) dies...aka kills himself. Not because I was glad he died but because it was sad and managed to evoke a tiny bit of emotion from me.

Yea or Nay?
Once again I feel like the last person on the planet that has read this one so I guess my opinion doesn't matter but I wouldn't recommend this one. Far too predictable.

Review: The History of Love

Title The History of Love
By Nicole Krauss
Genre Adult contemporary
Pages 260
Recommended by Book Club

First Sentence When they write my obituary. Tomorrow. Or the next day. It will say. Leo Gursky Is Survived By An Apartment Full Of Shit.  

Synopsis
An old man who makes a spectacle of himself to be seen and remembered; a girl whose decided to get her book translating mother remarried; and a man who'll bring his secret to the grave. Their stories  come together in this remarkably beautiful and entertaining book.


What it has going for it
I love YA books but reading adult books are so refreshing. They don't all end happy and hopeful and some, like this one, remind you how beautiful writing can be. This book astounded me with it's ability to keep me so entertained and enthralled when nothing was really going on. Not to say nothing was happening, because it was and when it all comes together...Beautiful. There were tears, people. It was funny (look at the first sentence from the book again) and sad and just plain delightful! It makes me want to read more adult books. And it makes me want to read more by this author.

What's lacking
It's all going along fine and all of the sudden you realize you're horribly confused. For a minute I almost felt like giving up. But only for a minute. I knew it would all come together and makes sense in the end. And it did.

Favorite moment
The ending for sure. It was so beautiful and heart wrenching. I cried like a baby.

Yea or Nay?
Yep! Pick this one up and enjoy!

They NEED me!

Guys, my reading and blogging isn't the only thing that's taken a hit because of the job. No, much as it saddens me to say it, my boys have been suffering too.

I'm there good luck charm. I really am! I suspected as much, if you may remember, but now I know it's true. See, I've missed so many of their games because of work and this is what's happened.

Nº

Team

GP

W

D

L

GF

GA

+/-

PTS

HOME

AWAY

1

Barcelona

20

18

1

1

66

23

43

55

8-1-0

10-0-1

2

Atletico Madrid

20

15

2

3

42

18

24

47

11-0-0

4-2-3

3

Real Madrid

20

12

4

4

50

20

30

40

7-2-0

5-2-4

Guys!!!! Third?! There in third place?! They won the whole thing last year! And if you think I'm lying about my good luck, look what happened when I actually got to watch the game on Sunday.


Switch goal alerts on

Valencia0 - 5Real Madrid

• G. Higuaín 9
• Á. Di María 34
• C. Ronaldo 36
• C. Ronaldo 41
• Á. Di María 45

They should seriously just pay me to watch! ;) They're playing again today. I can't watch. :( Good luck boys!

Now, in case all those stats bored you here's something to enjoy.