Bloggiesta To Do List

So, today isn't going to be a productive day for me with Bloggiesta but I'll have more time on Saturday and Sunday...hopefully.  My tiny little plans are...

1 Clean up my labels. I actually put labels on all my posts LAST time for the very first time but I have way too many, I need to clean, clean, clean!  Done! Oh my heck, blogger! Find an easier way to delete labels!
2 Go through my Goodreads TBR list and delete books I no longer think I'll be reading. There's over 600 books on it! Done! Now there's 580 something. Not a huge improvement, but still.

3 I want to learn more about this Google Reader's Next button. :)
Done! Now let's see if I actually use it.

4 Write a Review policy. Done. It looks like crap and is ridiculously unprofessional but oh well.

5 Figure out what Widget may or may not be causing my comment issues. Huzzah! I think my background was causing the commenting problem. Let me know if you're still having trouble commenting...on Twitter if the comment isn't working. ;)

6 And check out all the amazing mini challenges and see about maybe learning a thing or two.


Yeah, not very lofty goals, I  know, but I have so little time! :(

Bloggiesta is hosted by There's A Book and It's All About Books. You're welcome to join still.

In My Thoughts This Fine Day # 6

Before we get started with my incoherent thoughts don't forget to enter my giveaway for the awesome book Sulan. If you liked The Hunger Games and Divergent you'll love this one too! I did and I HATED Divergent. ;)

1 I remember a time I used to read a book I'd never heard of and, if I enjoyed it, I'd try to get my hands on anything else the author had written. Nowadays, there's so many new debut authors or just so many books to read that I don't seem to have time to read more books by a certain author...at least not right at that moment. Does that makes sense? And then, at book club the other day, we started discussing how the average reader will probably only be able to read four thousand books in their lifetime. It definitely makes me wonder why I don't pursue author's books I know I'll love more. I guess I just can't help myself when tempted with lovely books and their debut authors but it's something to consider, anyway.

2 Yeah, I'm going to talk about CAPTCHA again. Yes, it's annoying and I wish people would stop using it on their blogs etc. etc....Or do I? Now that they've added those blurry, far away pictures of numbers to the incredibly hard to read letters I've decided it's my dream to see a picture of my own address on there. Can you imagine the happiness? "Oh my heck, Buns! (cause I talk to my cat like she's a person) I do believe that's a picture of our very own house numbers on CAPTCHA! And my mom thought I'd never amount to anything!"

3 Well, I've given in, people. I started watching Downton Abbey. Now I know some of you don't even know what that is but I know there's some of you who do know and are probably got all squeally when you read that. So let me gush. I HATE Thomas, hated him instantly even before he started pissing me off every episode. I don't know if any of you like Mary but if you do you should be ashamed! ;) No, I don't care who you like and dislike but she irks me so bad. She's the oldest favorite and doesn't realize how spoiled she is and every damn problem she has she makes for herself. But, no, I'm supposed to feel sorry for her. Not likely. Good grief! It makes me mad just talking about it! Now for whom I LOVE. I'm totally in love with Bates. Laugh if you will because he's really not that good looking and kinda old but he's such a freaking sweetheart! I want one! Alright, I'll stop gushing. If you read this even though you have no idea what Downton Abbey is, Kudos. ;)

Bloggiesta

Fine! I'll sign up! :) I have been the laziest person ever since starting a job and procrastinating up a storm but I figure laziness isn't an excuse for sitting on my butt in front of a computer and trying to spiff up the blog, you know?

So, if you aren't away of what Bloggiesta is you only need go to to There's a Book and see and maybe sign up yourself. It's always fun and you learn tons about blogging. Here's what you can expect.

to spend time that weekend (as much or as little as your schedule allows) working on your blog

to create a to do list to share on your blog and link up with other participants

to hopefully participant in several mini challenges and learn something new

to connect with other participants through blog hopping or twitter

to make new blogging friends!

to come away at the end of the three days with a spiffed up blog!

Wish me luck!

Review: Sulan

Title Sulan Episode 1: The League
By Camille Picott
Genre YA Dystopian
Pages 296
Recommended by Camille

First sentence "Mom!"

Synopsis
Math Prodigy, Sulan, lives in a future world where people live there lives in Vex (a virtual world) Ever since the US declared bankruptcy corporations have taken over running things plagued by a group known as the Anti-American League who destroy anything they consider a national resource. Scared and determined to learn to protect herself, Sulan starts going to a virtual fight club to learn to fight, but when Imugi, the leader of the Anti-American League attacks her family, Sulan must put her training into action.

What it has going for it
Holy Crapola, people! I've been in desperate need of a book that made me actually want to use any spare time I had for reading and, boy, did I find it. I'll admit I was skeptical that I'd really like this one...independently published books can be scary, but I should have known Camille was incapable of writing anything that wasn't amazing; I read and LOVE her blog, for heaven's sake! Sulan was filled with memorable, lovable characters! Sulan, herself, was amazing. She's incredibly book smart but when things start getting scary instead of just sitting around and accepting it, she wants to learn to fight and protect herself. She's fiercely loyal to her friends which I found delightful considering she hasn't actually ever met them in person, and she kicks butt! I loved it! The world building was so dang creative. I could imagine (as can we all) this future world becoming our reality. I loved the biotech creations too but I won't say more or you won't get to discover it yourself. And now to gush about Taro! See, I thought I'd like Gun, and I did, but then we met Taro and I fell hard! He was immediately loveable. I can't wait to learn more about him...and all the other characters as well. ;) Ugh, I've been dreading writing this review because I just knew I wouldn't be able to do this wonderful book justice. It was exciting, fast paced, and refreshing. Just go and buy it and read it and see for yourself.

What's lacking
If anything is at all it's that the next book isn't out! I was so mad I had to leave this world Camille created. There's just something so depressing about closing a book you loved and having to read "something else" *shudders* ;)

Favorite moment
Oh, so many! When I found out what Riska is truly capable of. When I met Taro for the first time, when Gun saves Sulan and her friends...I could go on and on.

Yea or Nay?
Yes, yes YES! And don't forget, you can enter my giveaway for your chance to win a copy of this one HERE. Don't tell me you don't want to read it, I know you do. ;)

Giveaway: Sulan

Oh, people, you so do not want to pass on this giveaway! I'm honored to be allowed to offer a chance to win this ebook by Camille Picott. But I won't start gushing about how much I loved it....yet...that comes tomorrow. :) In the meantime you'll want to enter this one. I promise! 

Publisher: Pixiu Press, June 4, 2012
Category: YA Dystopian, Cyberpunk (Dystopunk)
Tour Dates: September, 2012
Available in Print and eBook, 296 Pages, also available on Audible

Sixteen-year-old Sulan Hom can’t remember life before the Default—the day the United States government declared bankruptcy. As a math prodigy, she leads a protected life, kept safe from the hunger and crime plaguing the streets of America. She attends the corporate-sponsored Virtual High School, an academy in Vex (Virtual Experience) for gifted children.

Beyond the security of Sulan’s high-tech world, the Anti-American League wages a guerrilla war against the United States. Their leader, Imugi, is dedicated to undermining the nation’s reconstruction attempts. He attacks anything considered a national resource, including corporations, food storage facilities—and schools. When Sulan witnesses the public execution of a teenage student and the bombing of a college dorm, she panics.

Her mother, a retired mercenary, refuses to teach her how to defend herself. Sulan takes matters into her own hands. With the help of her hacker best friend, Hank, Sulan acquires Touch—an illegal Vex technology that allows her to share the physical experience of her avatar. With Touch, Sulan defies her mother and trains herself to fight.

When Imugi unleashes a new attack on the United States, Sulan finds herself caught in his net. Will her Vex training be enough to help her survive and escape?

About Camille Picott:

Camille Picott has been writing books since the age of twelve. She specializes in science fiction and fantasy stories with Asian-inspired settings and Asian main characters. She is the author of two middle grade fantasy books, Raggedy Chan and Nine-Tail Fox.

In her spare time, Camille loves to read books and write reviews. Her reviews are written from a writer’s perspective, highlighting various aspects of craft found in the books she reads.

To visit Camille, and to read her book reviews, go to www.camillepicott.com.

Still not convinced? Check out all these awesome reviews! Everyone is loving it...as they should! And don't leave yet. Scroll down for your chance to win. The winner will be emailed on October 2, 2012. Good Luck! 

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