tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41532886844175160962023-11-16T22:33:03.108+09:00Olives in JapanOliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07482713012108232715noreply@blogger.comBlogger131125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153288684417516096.post-494366448748757832013-07-04T12:55:00.002+09:002013-07-04T12:57:11.708+09:00End of term examsHi guys.<br />
<br />
Im right now in the middle of my end of term exams, which means that the summer break starts in just a few weeks, so I have been in Japan for over three months. That is crazy! It feels like I came here two weeks ago, but also like Japan has been my home for forever.<br />
<br />
The exchange students that came here last autumn are all going home next week. The other exchange student in my school went home a few weeks ago. It is not fun at all to see these people go home, both because they are all amazing people and because it makes me realize that I have to go home sometime too. I know that I have almost eight months left, but thinking about how fast the time has gone since I came here, I know that eight months will go pretty quickly as well. <br />
<br />
Right now I'm making a presentation about me and my life in Japan to show the junior high school students who are coming to the open house on Saturday. Putting together slides about what I've done here made me realize that I have had time to do so many awesome things. I'm not going to talk about them all again, since I did that in my last post, but I've made so many amazing memories. Even though eitght months will probably go very quickly, I'll have time to make it aweomse.<br />
<br />
I'm going to make sure to use my time wisely here and not have to stand at the airport feeling that I left things undone. I miss all of you who are left back home, but I'm not ready to come home yet. Eight months left, bitches!<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
Olivia <br />
<br />
:)Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07482713012108232715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153288684417516096.post-87087054886813352912013-06-22T21:25:00.001+09:002013-06-23T08:03:54.680+09:00Life is awesome<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Hello everybody!</span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A little update from me here in Japan. I've been here for three months and been crazily busy learning new things and hanging out with awesome people. Everything has been better that I could imagine before coming here and I've had so much fun. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FzempTwI8W4tb947ZpoX0m-L5mtaTVgqr0NDHRH0BPYOx910FBBPE-woDLcyEkd43A695PiaSRw8UsE_B3bagWmmCrWJU_0JB1DBU-vskXC55jmNxPX6lwt02QQTao-hj-_oGDcTyVM/s640/blogger-image--1358494213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FzempTwI8W4tb947ZpoX0m-L5mtaTVgqr0NDHRH0BPYOx910FBBPE-woDLcyEkd43A695PiaSRw8UsE_B3bagWmmCrWJU_0JB1DBU-vskXC55jmNxPX6lwt02QQTao-hj-_oGDcTyVM/s640/blogger-image--1358494213.jpg"></a></div></div></span></div><div><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I settled into my life here pretty quickly. I go to school with an awesome class, spend time with my amazing host family at home and have gotten many super fun friends, both other exchange students and Japanese people. I've been really busy and haven't really had time to think about telling other people about my experiences, so I'll try to recap everything here. I'm sorry for a long blog post.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The last time you heard about me I had just arrived in Japan. I were at a hotel in Tokyo for one night, talking with other exchange students and trying to stay awake. The following morning we exchange students took buses to different locations to have arrival camps. My group of about 50ish went to a camp a bit outside of Nagoya, where we talked about what to expect from our exchange year and got some important information. We exchange student also just talked a lot and got to know each other, it was a lot of fun.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82uSwhjyfJ7WM9RhyphenhyphenE2BFQ1xQRIk6hbKOtPLXkIkAhuVF1Ps7vKQsUXpRq2vfl9zcjAEnowESUJrdE0Jqx_WOaIXVIspj1ZukSCtu1LDH3QWzN4ww6-jyucPRBQvDhU4TWJKkelHjaS0/s640/blogger-image--556228670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82uSwhjyfJ7WM9RhyphenhyphenE2BFQ1xQRIk6hbKOtPLXkIkAhuVF1Ps7vKQsUXpRq2vfl9zcjAEnowESUJrdE0Jqx_WOaIXVIspj1ZukSCtu1LDH3QWzN4ww6-jyucPRBQvDhU4TWJKkelHjaS0/s640/blogger-image--556228670.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">On the Saturday after a few days of camp we were meeting our host families. My host mom and brother came to pick me up from the camp and I was pretty nervous before meeting them. The language was my biggest concern since I had only studied Japanese for about a year and was uncomfortable speaking it. But everything went fine and even though the car ride home was the first time in my life I had to really speak Japanese I was able to communicate alright. I really love my host family, my parents are super kind and my two younger brothers are adorable and I have a lot of fun playing with them.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I got the flu after being here for a few days, but apart from that everything has been amazing. I basically just go to school everyday and live a "normal" Japanese life. I have done some more special things as well. We were at a three day camp with my class, I have also been on a camp with other exchange students, I've been at a waterpark/themepark/amusementpark thingie with my host family (also the swimming pool and the Nagoya aquarium; PENGUINS!!!), went picking strawberries, had my school sport event, saw Nagoya castle and had my 17th birthday. I have done lots of other this as well, that's just from the top of my head.</span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd29LpMwY1HyRaAax-pdPC0GG81zvim4LjT5ndfO0VMIIQnD1vEJeRby7y5jutJi5VOIUeMd1OV6WFxDx1YDw1_k5mjHWC2ejffhmZLX5QM210rKlG-p8HZswNImNEHKn__kd6ohtZZsY/s640/blogger-image--30056971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd29LpMwY1HyRaAax-pdPC0GG81zvim4LjT5ndfO0VMIIQnD1vEJeRby7y5jutJi5VOIUeMd1OV6WFxDx1YDw1_k5mjHWC2ejffhmZLX5QM210rKlG-p8HZswNImNEHKn__kd6ohtZZsY/s640/blogger-image--30056971.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I'm going to leave you here with some pictures and not bore you too much with my writing. In all, I've had the most awesome three months and am looking forward to spending another eight months here!</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Peace out.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UsPQAS2Gx6aFXBwZ-tPGuHq0JrkKtYv0fdVFny_c7MJJs0O9ggpVWz4WhSIqfhfiSNP2E6I_hFRfNKYcf8EW_f9e_T1L-TDwB4YpSZMOwLYrjFVmLbK6fryvEVqUN5aQ1O89AMPDCFo/s640/blogger-image--342872720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UsPQAS2Gx6aFXBwZ-tPGuHq0JrkKtYv0fdVFny_c7MJJs0O9ggpVWz4WhSIqfhfiSNP2E6I_hFRfNKYcf8EW_f9e_T1L-TDwB4YpSZMOwLYrjFVmLbK6fryvEVqUN5aQ1O89AMPDCFo/s640/blogger-image--342872720.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ehjozL5dftMdGYSPUhCqaP0aaKgYmO0wKsEr1IzI3bai9lqm9a_wPf2jPjS25XytS323WeX8aQ1xvkgKA-59E5rfim-W6GQNB1s2qDP9goV1tAO-Ksac_hJcT4ou8a3osYLxt0MVgWw/s640/blogger-image-133230341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ehjozL5dftMdGYSPUhCqaP0aaKgYmO0wKsEr1IzI3bai9lqm9a_wPf2jPjS25XytS323WeX8aQ1xvkgKA-59E5rfim-W6GQNB1s2qDP9goV1tAO-Ksac_hJcT4ou8a3osYLxt0MVgWw/s640/blogger-image-133230341.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhNGOywCrhYUWeLYFRMdClwApgpwCVcpc0vIiQs4eUls0yCjCEhxsQAibyD8gzQy3HbV4kQvpRIgN7UgelUSvUw7coejAy8zrtNaIz14vfqmQDRBnBAO7VWsbWX8N3ptzHWwcpuTwOvM/s640/blogger-image--385407233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhNGOywCrhYUWeLYFRMdClwApgpwCVcpc0vIiQs4eUls0yCjCEhxsQAibyD8gzQy3HbV4kQvpRIgN7UgelUSvUw7coejAy8zrtNaIz14vfqmQDRBnBAO7VWsbWX8N3ptzHWwcpuTwOvM/s640/blogger-image--385407233.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcV0naFo63GDbjfCwmF0z_AGw64WBc54tAwXRqBOvE4z0tfIK_gqpYiVCXn553t7AHzJaDJw7hpTfXuE9lDw8iPCuHANqynqY4kpaQ7CbeOEfcRCGSMEYFNg7ciP9HfL6HB2sIZOaQ2k/s640/blogger-image-659354966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcV0naFo63GDbjfCwmF0z_AGw64WBc54tAwXRqBOvE4z0tfIK_gqpYiVCXn553t7AHzJaDJw7hpTfXuE9lDw8iPCuHANqynqY4kpaQ7CbeOEfcRCGSMEYFNg7ciP9HfL6HB2sIZOaQ2k/s640/blogger-image-659354966.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOJxNMOWSY49cfbBG2H9w5YHH_v9KuRNNPJwWU31MdAxJhDSyeb7GbLTUmsjH9Ya06jzWQ1dhQWt_h4TiMN3rJEmf06LcHHDK1EhlgPE_Km6_9YovPCkBO2mOYMm_ZkUsFp2exgufUyw/s640/blogger-image--544370482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOJxNMOWSY49cfbBG2H9w5YHH_v9KuRNNPJwWU31MdAxJhDSyeb7GbLTUmsjH9Ya06jzWQ1dhQWt_h4TiMN3rJEmf06LcHHDK1EhlgPE_Km6_9YovPCkBO2mOYMm_ZkUsFp2exgufUyw/s640/blogger-image--544370482.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07482713012108232715noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153288684417516096.post-68749432822186189922013-03-20T13:33:00.001+09:002013-03-20T13:33:33.049+09:00東京にいます!Hello people! After many goodbyes, many hours spent in planes and airports and constantly being tired, I'm finally in Japan. We are spending one night at a hotel here in Tokyo and taking buses to our respective arrival orientations tomorrow. I have met lots of people from lots of countries and am super excited but super tired. It's really hot and humid here, a nice change to the horrible cold in Sweden!<br />
<br />
Just wanted to throw in an update and tell you guys that I'm okay! See you later!Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07482713012108232715noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153288684417516096.post-14874011887201114772013-03-18T18:30:00.000+09:002013-03-20T12:57:58.106+09:00I'm going to Japan!Yes. This is really happening. Tomorrow I'm leaving cozy little Stockholm and moving to Japan for a year. More specifically, Nagoya, the fourth largest city in Japan. I'm doing an exchange student program through AFS and am going live in a host family (mine seems to so kind and sweet) and study at a Japanese high school. Do I know any Japanese yet? A bit, but enough to not be screwed.<br />
<br />
To my new readers, welcome! As you might see, this is not my first posts here on this blog. I used to have a book blog (which actually was a lot of fun.) I've left all my old posts for your enjoyment and possibly my embarrassment.<br />
<br />
To my old readers (not meaning in age), welcome back! I've changed the layout and name of the blog, so you might be a bit confused about where you are. But it's still me, still my blog. Even though I won't write as much about books, I hope that you guys will stay around!<br />
<br />
For both new and old readers, I'm going to write about my life in Japan and how it is to do an exchange year. I'm not promising that I'll be updating regularly, but I hope that I'll have time to throw in a few posts every now and then!<br />
<br />
I'm really, really excited for going. Studying a year abroad has been my dream for so long and I'm finally doing it!!!<br />
<br />
Hope you'll enjoy my blog!<br />
<br />
さようなら!(sayonara - goodbye)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf1DDkbDOGjqwLbTf2IIswt23nmO3Eb5vxoulsPLGkIPeQJxJuVwH4yK4ni_1xcZzJyIL3x7StFpSfrXfMDXS1zOc69G3FQXfqxiFkDTKSvruNL_Hs-tnLuY8_mnVYKAPhgtARePRQgnE/s1600/DSC_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf1DDkbDOGjqwLbTf2IIswt23nmO3Eb5vxoulsPLGkIPeQJxJuVwH4yK4ni_1xcZzJyIL3x7StFpSfrXfMDXS1zOc69G3FQXfqxiFkDTKSvruNL_Hs-tnLuY8_mnVYKAPhgtARePRQgnE/s640/DSC_0005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>My life in three bags ..</i></div>
<br />Oliviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07482713012108232715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153288684417516096.post-30220794117409173682012-01-16T11:00:00.000+09:002012-01-16T11:00:03.677+09:00One of the best books you'll ever read<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsjiwXBNo3kPP15gVxFzxFC_S5Y66UtD6yVeJXq680S51p75C9ieLyBhcUBhBsYuGKSNxCYZ77QxjnX3zt8yr524AMFP30RlaTL4ndmb1uRKAdZc4t7twN1B12jgMy1iOP3koUdxrrVAh/s1600/51Bl9ADBdlL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsjiwXBNo3kPP15gVxFzxFC_S5Y66UtD6yVeJXq680S51p75C9ieLyBhcUBhBsYuGKSNxCYZ77QxjnX3zt8yr524AMFP30RlaTL4ndmb1uRKAdZc4t7twN1B12jgMy1iOP3koUdxrrVAh/s200/51Bl9ADBdlL.jpg" width="136" /></a></div>
<b>The Fault in Our Stars</b><br />
<div>
by <b>John Green</b></div>
<div>
Rating: 5+++/5</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11870085-the-fault-in-our-stars">Goodreads</a> ⎪ <a href="http://johngreenbooks.com/">Author Website</a> ⎪ <a href="http://www.youtube.com/vlogbrothers">Author Youtube</a> ⎪ <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/realjohngreen">Author Twitter</a> ⎪ <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4BCKLbRHTM">Book Trailer</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">“Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.” </span></i><div>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></i></div>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">“My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations.” </span></i><div>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></i></div>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">“That's the thing about pain...it demands to be felt.” </span></i><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've been waiting for this book for so long, just like a lot of other people. When I found it in my mailbox after school this wednesday, I instantly started it, and the next few hours had me on an emotional roller-coaster. I laughed, I got really happy, I got irritated and angry and I cried like crazy. I knew that the book was going to be sad, but honestly I thought that I would cry in an a-few-tears-rolling-down-the-cheek way, not loud sobbing, throat hurting, nose running, crying. No other book has had such a big impact on me. It was horrible.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But this is one of the best books I've read in my whole life.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've read books about cancer before. I've read books about dying teenagers, teenagers who fall in love, teenagers who have a big dream. Although John writes about common topics, he does it in an extraordinary way. He has the most amazing writing, he gets you to see different perspectives on things, he makes you really care and he makes you <i>feel all the things</i>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A John Green book can't be a John Green book without a great set of characters. They are always so alive, have the weirdest hobbies and passions. They (Augustus) are people I would just love to have as (boy)friends in real life. The conversations feel natural and not forced at all, and Hazel and Augustus really fits perfectly together.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The only good way I can describe John's writing is everyday-ish, but wonderfully different. He doesn't use some poetic language, it is more like "he did this and she did that". But his brilliant vocabulary, remarks on deep questions and just different comments on usual things make it something so different from other books. It has this kind of philosophical feel without getting too dry or heavy to read. It feels like every page has at least one good quote that I just want to write down somewhere.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Fault in Our Stars is a book that is going to be in my mind for a very long time. This is one of those few books that I really want to keep in my bookshelf forever, one of the books I would keep if I in some point in my life have to life with a limited number of books. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Just read it, you'll understand what I'm talking about.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153288684417516096.post-51153574791434644372012-01-07T06:14:00.000+09:002012-01-07T06:14:10.829+09:00Goals for 2012I've read a lot of these kind of posts, but never thought I would write one myself. Why? Well, I think giving new years resolutions is just a way for people to postpone trying to improve themselves. Why not just start exercising / reading more / take care of school work etc etc in the middle of a year? You don't have to wait until new year's eve to improve. Also, everyone are expecting you to not keep up with your resolutions, so you probably won't make it. It sounds harsh, but that's the truth.<br />
<br />
So why am I still doing this? Well .. Eh, I'm not really sure. I like keeping track of how many books I read during a year. So maybe I can throw in some goals for this year's reading?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0BA0b80j7UpDInxPULUhfaTzGNV4URXNDRY_6i_MpNdvhRRcQ5l5rZkswkcmIURRjxNCW5v2lVYGpg32wiFAgXP3hwckwE2fHC5-zUJv7A0qVkFOYOLOugiO5EkzsZRQIhQqcReHIQpGO/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0BA0b80j7UpDInxPULUhfaTzGNV4URXNDRY_6i_MpNdvhRRcQ5l5rZkswkcmIURRjxNCW5v2lVYGpg32wiFAgXP3hwckwE2fHC5-zUJv7A0qVkFOYOLOugiO5EkzsZRQIhQqcReHIQpGO/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Read 100 books.</b> Yes, I'm trying to do this. It's going to be hard, I'm in my last year of secondary school and will begin upper secondary school this fall, so school will be a bigger part of my life that it has been before. But I can do this, right?</li>
<li><b>Read more books in Finnish.</b> I've spoken Finnish for as long as I've spoken Swedish (so, my whole life) but don't really read anything in Finnish. I don't really know much about Finnish books (I prefer reading books in their original language) and read slower in Finnish than in Swedish and English, but I want to change that.</li>
<li><b>Write a review (or at least a draft of it) within a few hours of finishing a book.</b> Otherwise I'll just not do it for many weeks, and maybe never write a review.</li>
<li><b>Read more classics. </b></li>
</ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153288684417516096.post-77176355444151546212012-01-03T07:57:00.000+09:002012-01-03T07:57:20.390+09:00Essential books for Potter nerds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHPGaD3Qio_P3JGDxhyphenhyphenFtUYUspNPa6KOwlbJG9OqgKJXa_x0VD2nxx75WqArrz6S-7TK2Awelr2FPYmdfg97qccOM5wHjsab4V8mt_OX9q6Fm9MUKsZj4iiB8EtXju0msahyphenhyphen5a9MLYSyE/s1600/Quidditch-and-Fantastic-beasts.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHPGaD3Qio_P3JGDxhyphenhyphenFtUYUspNPa6KOwlbJG9OqgKJXa_x0VD2nxx75WqArrz6S-7TK2Awelr2FPYmdfg97qccOM5wHjsab4V8mt_OX9q6Fm9MUKsZj4iiB8EtXju0msahyphenhyphen5a9MLYSyE/s200/Quidditch-and-Fantastic-beasts.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Quidditch Through the Ages </b>and <b>Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them</b><br />
by <b>J.K. Rowling</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/111450.Quidditch_Through_the_Ages">Goodreads Quidditch</a> ⎪ <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41899.Fantastic_Beasts_and_Where_to_Find_Them">Goodreads Beasts</a> ⎪ <a href="http://www.jkrowling.com/">Author Website</a><br />
<br />
In these sort of non fiction books you get to read about all the very real beasts and quidditch related things from the Harry Potter universe. They are the same books that the characters read in school with a short foreword by no other than Albus Dumbledore, which he wrote since these books were going to be released for muggles.<br />
<br />
I liked getting a little insight to the worlds and learn more about the things we hear about in the series. It is something you enjoy a lot when you love a series as much as I love the Harry Potter books. You just want to learn everything there is to learn and feel like a part of the world.<br />
<br />
The books were nice and short and gave you some information. Some of it was already told in the Harry Potter books, but most of it was new things that you've never hear of. It was pretty straight forwards with the facts, which made the books pretty short. I would have enjoyed longer books with more illustrations and maybe some funnier texts.<br />
<br />
I especially liked the Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them book, because throughout the whole book Harry and Ron had written small notes and comments to the texts. It makes it a lot more fun to read than a book which just throws a bunch of facts onto you.<br />
<br />
These were two nice little short books, that every Potterhead probably would enjoy a lot. And let's cross our fingers and hope that J.K. Rowling soon releases a huge Hogwarts: A History. A book we hear a lot about in the Harry Potter series and I think would have Potter fan around the world excited as hell.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153288684417516096.post-80579084178940951062012-01-02T06:42:00.000+09:002012-01-02T21:35:44.385+09:00A lovely love story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkJ-qOmglrjY8sste7ZQUe_J6wSU3X0V8pq10ne6j3Mn3W745Amrx257wplhrXCyNi5Oww2b1FFzfW0WBHyLKAqUS4Pwz4Iupdh1Lkp9AuIdIYBwA54-Ei3x4b4VPTefBb1uwJ5dwbJN-/s1600/6011275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkJ-qOmglrjY8sste7ZQUe_J6wSU3X0V8pq10ne6j3Mn3W745Amrx257wplhrXCyNi5Oww2b1FFzfW0WBHyLKAqUS4Pwz4Iupdh1Lkp9AuIdIYBwA54-Ei3x4b4VPTefBb1uwJ5dwbJN-/s200/6011275.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<b>The Gargoyle</b><br />
by <b>Andrew Davidson </b><br />
Rating: 5 / 5<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2595138-the-gargoyle">Goodreads</a> ⎪ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gargoyle_(novel)">Wikipedia</a><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">“You are mine, I am yours; you may be sure of this. You've been locked inside my heart, the key has been thrown away; within it, you must always stay. ”</span></i><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Before I started reading this book, I had no idea what it was about. The back of the book only gives us a vague explanation of what it is about, and after some research I only knew that it was either fantasy, contemporary or historical fiction. When I'd finished the book, I understood that it was a brilliant mix of them all.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It tells the story about a man, who hasn't had the best life. He gets really bad burn injuries in a car accident, and has to stay in the hospital for months. There he meets the mysterious Marianne Engel, who tells him that they were lovers in the 14th century, and that she has been waiting to meet him again for 700 years.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The plot was very original. We follow the unnamed main character as he recovers from his injuries, but we get to hear many fantastic stories along the way. Marianne has many tales to tell about her friends from different time periods. Including the story about her and the main character in their first life together. I really liked reading these beautiful love stories, and loved Marianne as a character. You really have to decide for yourself whether you think she really tells the truth about her long life or if she's just some psychotic woman with schizophrenia.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Gargoyle isn't a book for everyone though. It was more of a very slow paced feel-good love story than an action filled fantasy. Some people might not like it, and will only find it weird and boring. But I loved it, and felt like the pace, the stories and the characters made it a interesting, and almost magical, read.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153288684417516096.post-26084871452138022352011-12-31T04:01:00.001+09:002011-12-31T04:01:54.268+09:00Top 10 best books of 20112011 has been an amazing year. I started bookblogging, wrote half a novel for NaNoWriMo, tied many new things, got many amazing memories and read a lot of books. I've read 69 books and only have a few pages left in the book I'm currently reading, so I'm going to accomplish my goal of reading 70 books, even though I've had many no-reading periods!<br />
<br />
Of those 70 books, I've tried to make a list of the 10 best books. The books that were the most special, beautiful and just awesome. The ones that instantly pop to my head when I think about the books I've read this year.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32raqu2J6Bauwljuash3v9trxWONLg5R8AQyCjJNBEkZJ1f6ByYGgRhitYsde6Kg3cfingLwAyVXmeqwU-dcMgY5DTXGbv7amxm_9pwufC6mrVay9BXd8Hr87FQA-m45vTsMrRMFBN-s/s1600/5n64jo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32raqu2J6Bauwljuash3v9trxWONLg5R8AQyCjJNBEkZJ1f6ByYGgRhitYsde6Kg3cfingLwAyVXmeqwU-dcMgY5DTXGbv7amxm_9pwufC6mrVay9BXd8Hr87FQA-m45vTsMrRMFBN-s/s320/5n64jo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">10. The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'd heard a lot of good things about this series before I decided to pick it up this summer. All of the books were amazing, with a lot of action, romance and paranormal creatures. It was a paranormal romance that had so much more than the rest of the books in this genre, which gives it a place in this list. Also, team Simon all the way!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5YooOELTDSaGfcy6A_yscSKrbFdqBey5O6VuTYkkzlwwMmJ8Mugrsq6c4qW0bx9vucQQRi217VX7MO7w_Oz5qymHVYCdnQtyDfKCPZrQJj38YEJeYZyw7xHgqRgpc5WWDs1kDuKIadcN/s1600/Wither.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5YooOELTDSaGfcy6A_yscSKrbFdqBey5O6VuTYkkzlwwMmJ8Mugrsq6c4qW0bx9vucQQRi217VX7MO7w_Oz5qymHVYCdnQtyDfKCPZrQJj38YEJeYZyw7xHgqRgpc5WWDs1kDuKIadcN/s200/Wither.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">9. Wither by Lauren DeStafano</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
With this amazing cover and tons of five star reviews I just had to read it, and got a beautiful story about love, sacrifice and hope. This is a special dystopian that everyone has to read.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.goodbooksandgoodwine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Between-Shades-of-Gray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.goodbooksandgoodwine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Between-Shades-of-Gray.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">8. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A beautiful, heartbreaking tale that I love every single page of. I want more of these historical books about had and sad times, it shows how you never should stop hoping, things will eventually get better.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://yareads.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/82351781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://yareads.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/82351781.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">7. Across the Universe by Beth Revis</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is a book that I was really excited to read. My expectations were high, and fortunately, I just couldn't stop reading the book when I got it. It was really good. I want to see more YA science fiction!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.annaguirre.com/wp-content/uploads/Enclave-with-Hunger-games-lr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.annaguirre.com/wp-content/uploads/Enclave-with-Hunger-games-lr.jpg" width="134" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">6. Enclave by Ann Aguirre</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I just loved this book. The fighting scenes were so good, the monsters scary and the world they lived in terrifying.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://tansyrr.com/tansywp/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Feed-by-Mira-Grant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://tansyrr.com/tansywp/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Feed-by-Mira-Grant.jpg" width="123" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">5. Feed by Mira Grant</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
An adult zombie book where bloggers are the new news-people, and big celebrities. Amazing characters, an original concept and different writing got this book a fifth place.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.yoshay.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/cirkeln_new_medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.yoshay.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/cirkeln_new_medium.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">4. Cirkeln by Mats Strandberg and Sara Bergman Elfgren</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Yes, I'm going to put a Swedish book into this list. But don't worry, it's going to be released in English next June (more about that later). This book has been really been one of the most talked about books this year here in Sweden. It's been sold to 27 countries, the movie rights have been sold, as well as the right to do an American remake! And I really can see where the hype is coming from, this book is just brilliant.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a8/WillGrayson.jpg/200px-WillGrayson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a8/WillGrayson.jpg/200px-WillGrayson.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I read this book in one day, on breaks, in class and when I should be doing other important stuff. It was so good that I couldn't put it down for even a few seconds. It made me, literally, both laugh out loud and cry, sometimes at the same time. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjNCs3AWSTSUYNzD_OS9Aa0sY_ys3dydiI86AzDeKWeq_zsZgLzb6cCeSrj0PdhIRx1GsDiMdZpfqOmUhpsG3S6COnph-KEXv1FPBOMUZCLxgtt7vklcf3X2XSySM6GWCLLTXvk68RZIQ/s1600/looking+for+alaska.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjNCs3AWSTSUYNzD_OS9Aa0sY_ys3dydiI86AzDeKWeq_zsZgLzb6cCeSrj0PdhIRx1GsDiMdZpfqOmUhpsG3S6COnph-KEXv1FPBOMUZCLxgtt7vklcf3X2XSySM6GWCLLTXvk68RZIQ/s200/looking+for+alaska.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2. Looking for Alaska by John Green</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This book is just pure awesomeness. Just read it, you'll understand.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.booksie.com/media/85181/GoneSeries-MichaelGrant.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="http://www.booksie.com/media/85181/GoneSeries-MichaelGrant.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1. The Gone series by Michael Grant</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We're finally at number one, and which other books would it be, if not the Gone series by Michael Grant. Nothing can compare to the greatness of these books. The action, the writing, the characters, the scary stuff, the mysteries .. I love everything about these books.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153288684417516096.post-46810101301342066852011-12-28T21:34:00.000+09:002011-12-28T21:34:34.747+09:002011 End of Year Book Survey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><i>Hosted by<a href="http://www.perpetualpageturner.com/2011/12/2nd-annual-end-of-year-book-survey-2011.html"> The Perpetual Page-Tuner</a></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEIukNsv4fOr09ImBj9a4ei_q8a0jwdu3e-vDbOJbJjDMBZy3iOWhIfX-FRYMI4z4uQMZDVnAfO_zRWURHLW3435WAGpuTaKp55O0dubj4CzY8cmlTykkkpFY3CVLEcaa1uYzKVMSsT8/s1600/booksurveygraphic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEIukNsv4fOr09ImBj9a4ei_q8a0jwdu3e-vDbOJbJjDMBZy3iOWhIfX-FRYMI4z4uQMZDVnAfO_zRWURHLW3435WAGpuTaKp55O0dubj4CzY8cmlTykkkpFY3CVLEcaa1uYzKVMSsT8/s1600/booksurveygraphic.jpg" /></a></div>
<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Books</span></u></b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>1. Best Book You Read In 2011</b>?<br />
<br />Oh God. If the first question is this hard, I'm scared of doing the rest of this survey. I won't pick a book now, come back for when I do a blogpost about my top 10 favorites of the year!<br /><div>
<br /><b>2. Most Disappointing Book/Book You Wish You Loved More Than You Did?</b><br /><br /><a href="http://magical-books.blogspot.com/2011/04/before-i-fall-review.html">Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver</a>. I had too many expectations and was prepared to read a really emotional book, which I didn't.<br /><br /><b>3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2011?</b><br /><br /><a href="http://magical-books.blogspot.com/2011/01/angel-review.html">Angel by L.A. Weatherly</a>. I'm not the biggest fan of paranormal romances, it feels like I read the same story over and over again. But this book was simply amazing.<br /><br /><b>4. Book you recommended to people most in 2011?</b><br /><br />Probably <a href="http://magical-books.blogspot.com/2011/04/anna-and-french-kiss-by-stephanie.html">Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins</a>. </div>
<div>
<br /><b>5. Best series you discovered in 2011?</b><br /><br />I don't even have to think twice. <a href="http://magical-books.blogspot.com/2011/01/gone-review_04.html">The Gone series by Michael Grant</a> of course!</div>
<div>
<br /><b>6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2011?</b><br /><br />I have known about <a href="http://magical-books.blogspot.com/2011/02/will-grayson-will-grayson-review_27.html">John Green</a> for a while, but didn't read any of his books before this year. And isn't he just one of the best authors ever? I can't believe I've been waiting this long to read his books!<br /><br /><b>7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?</b><br /><br />I've never read manga before, but read <a href="http://magical-books.blogspot.com/2011/12/sailor-moon-vol-1-video-review.html">Sailor Moon vol 1</a> this year and loved it!</div>
<div>
<br /><b>8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2011?</b><br /><br />All the books in the Gone series! Seriously, they're the best.</div>
<div>
<br /><b>9. Book you most anticipated in 2011?</b><br /><br /><strike>Plague </strike> okay, I'll shut up about the Gone series. Other than Plague, I think I was the most excited for <a href="http://magical-books.blogspot.com/2011/06/divergent-review.html">Divergent</a> and <a href="http://magical-books.blogspot.com/2011/08/wither-review.html">Wither</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2011?</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51mqmdjn5sL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51mqmdjn5sL.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://magical-books.blogspot.com/2011/05/enclave-review.html">Enclave</a> looks GORGEOUS in real life. But on pictures on the Internet? Not so much .. But it's still one of the best cover I've ever seen.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/If-I-Stay-Gayle-Forman/dp/014241543X?ie=UTF8&tag=thebrok-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969"></a><img border="0" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebrok-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=014241543X" /><img border="0" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebrok-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1416905863" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chains-Laurie-Halse-Anderson/dp/1416905863?ie=UTF8&tag=thebrok-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969"></a><img border="0" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebrok-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1416905863" /><br /><img border="0" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebrok-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1416905863" /><b><br />11. Most memorable character in 2011? </b><br />Tiny from <a href="http://magical-books.blogspot.com/2011/02/will-grayson-will-grayson-review_27.html">Will Grayson, Will Grayson</a>. I love his personality!</div>
<div>
<br /><b>12. Most beautifully written book read in 2011?</b><br />This is a hard one .. Probably the Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (review coming soon!)</div>
<div>
<br /><b>13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2011?</b> <br /><br /><a href="http://magical-books.blogspot.com/2011/12/some-words-on-books-i-havent-reviewed.html">Between Shades of Gray</a>, so sad and yet so beautiful.</div>
<div>
<br /><b>14. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2011 to finally read? </b><br /><br />All books by John Green and the Mortal Instruments.</div>
<div>
<br /><b>15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2011?</b> <br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><i>“Imagining the future is a kind of nostalgia. (...) You spend your whole life stuck in the labyrinth, thinking about how you'll escape it one day, and how awesome it will be, and imagining that future keeps you going, but you never do it. You just use the future to escape the present.” </i><b>Looking for Alaska by John Green</b></span></div>
<div>
<br /><b>16. Book That You Read In 2011 That Would Be Most Likely To Reread In 2012? </b><br /><br />Oh god, now I'm going on and on about John Green. But probably Looking for Alaska or Will Grayson, Will Grayson.</div>
<div>
<br /><b>17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.)</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
Many, many scenes in the Gone series.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b><u>Blogging / Reading</u></b></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>1. Favorite review that you wrote in 2010?</b> </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Maybe my review of <a href="http://magical-books.blogspot.com/2011/01/hunger-review.html">Hunger by Michael Grant</a> (there's the Gone series again) of my review of <a href="http://magical-books.blogspot.com/2011/04/anna-and-french-kiss-by-stephanie.html">Anna and the French Kiss.</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<b>2. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?</b><div>
<b><br /></b>I went to two singings, one with Holly Black and one with two Swedish authors, Sarah Bergman Elfgren and Mats Strandberg. Both of them were AMAZING. it was really fun meeting some of your favorite authors. A virtual event I liked a lot was Armchair BEA.<br /><br /><b>2. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?</b><br /></div>
<div>
My <a href="http://magical-books.blogspot.com/2011/06/why-i-read-bookish-thoughts.html">Why I Read</a> post has almost six time more views than my second most read post!<br /><br /><b>4. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?</b><br /><br />The <a href="http://magical-books.blogspot.com/2011/06/why-i-read-bookish-thoughts.html">same post as above</a>, it has a ton of views, but where are the comments people? ;)</div>
<div>
<br /><b>5. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?</b><br /><br />I can't live without Goodreads.</div>
<div>
<br /><b>6. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?</b><div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
My goal was to read 70 books this year, and I'm going to make it! I only need to read one book to complete the challenge! Other challenges I participated in are the Debut Author Challenge (I only need to finish one more book to complete the challenge), the 20 11 challenge (which I haven't completed) and the Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge (which I completed).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b><u>Looking Ahead</u></b></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<b>1. One Book You Didn't Get To In 2011 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2012?</b><br /><br />There's a lot of them. I have many classics that I want to read (Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre). Also the John Green books I haven't read.<br /><br /><b>2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2012?</b><br /><br />The Fault in Our Start by John Green! Only a few days left :D<br /><br /><b>3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading</b><b> In 2012?</b><div>
<br />I am going to try to read <u>100 books</u>, read more classics and read books instead of buying/collecting them, haha. I have a problem with buying more books than I read ..<br /><b><br /></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153288684417516096.post-78609337480230339712011-12-26T05:46:00.001+09:002011-12-26T22:17:20.230+09:00Some words on books I haven't reviewed<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><i>I've read a lot of books that I for some reason haven't reviewed. Either I didn't want to, or didn't have the time to write a review. But that doesn't mean that I don't have anything to say about the book, or don't want to recommend it to anyone. So this is me talking about some of the books I've read and want to share my thoughts on!</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/99561.Looking_for_Alaska">Looking for Alaska by John Green</a><div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312568761l/342209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312568761l/342209.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<div>
I simply just loved this book! It was my first John Green novel (exempt for Will Grayson, Will Grayson) and every single page of it was pure awesomeness. The characters wonderfully realistic, the writing everyday-ish but still so poetic. The before / after idea, and oh my god the thing it was counting down to. I want to marry everything in this book. I'm not kidding.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8235178-across-the-universe">Across the Universe by Beth Revis</a><div>
This is something as unusual as a YA science-fiction novel, so reading it was quite a new experience. I liked the book a lot, Amy was an amazing character (and a redhead, yay for redheads!) and I liked seeing the different world on the ship through her eyes. I liked the Elder parts as well, especially all the lies and mysteries he tried to solve. This is a book I recommend to everyone.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/412V6r2kwZL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/412V6r2kwZL.jpg" width="138" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7824322-between-shades-of-gray">Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys</a><div>
This was a really touching story about how horrible a family had it in the Soviet Union during the second world war. It was really sad hearing about how bad they were treated in the work camp. The writing was really good, and I loved that the chapters was short, it fitted the story very well. Reading about the hope that Lina never lost and how she documented everything that happened was just amazing.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7507908-the-replacement">The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff</a><div>
This was a very special paranormal, and one that I enjoyed a lot. First of, it was told from a boy's point of view. Secondly, he was not a vampire, angel etc like in all other paranormals. He was a new type of monster, which was really interesting. It also had that creepy horror feel over it. It was very original, and I liked it a lot.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153288684417516096.post-45896169191990901642011-12-24T17:57:00.002+09:002011-12-24T17:57:46.615+09:00Merry Christmas!I want to wish you all a very merry Christmas and happy holidays!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdf39Eey5AwBQtAsnvsu5fsOMn1QLa9G2cNsKTWCW52JooZgqAOVV5OfujZTaobNMaEEMmJTozh5DxfTOOOhK3LBXEY_lj_1g-KRJ1C1TgIm3DpPpa1tmE9MNxm6RWZwLi-suPF7FIoDw/s1600/DSC_0419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdf39Eey5AwBQtAsnvsu5fsOMn1QLa9G2cNsKTWCW52JooZgqAOVV5OfujZTaobNMaEEMmJTozh5DxfTOOOhK3LBXEY_lj_1g-KRJ1C1TgIm3DpPpa1tmE9MNxm6RWZwLi-suPF7FIoDw/s400/DSC_0419.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153288684417516096.post-47645536687267772362011-12-23T21:45:00.001+09:002011-12-23T21:45:57.122+09:00Taylor Swift on the Hunger Games soundtrackThis song got released on Taylor Swift's twitter about 6 hours ago, and is one of the songs on the Hunger Games soundtrack. <b>It is called Safe and Sound and is by Taylor Swift and the Civil Wars.</b><br />
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="369" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/w2v1N2q0sxs" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I really didn't have high expectations for it (I kind of have a problem with Taylor Swift) but I really, really like the song. The lyrics, the melody and the whole feel of it, <b>so amazing!</b> I can really see this one fitting perfectly to the Hunger Games.</div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<br />
I still haven't got any idea about which part of the movie the song would fit the best, I think it could be played in a lot of different scenes. I'm really excited to hear more of the songs on the soundtrack. <b>What do you think of the song?</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimxww1mINdc2ds3fwpSD-u9rcQfdhqsxUyeYcM-PwecKwMlqm5B5VqFdta3cyatAwf7n8JnBeVyZd7r6jQa9kUnQ0Fg3DgpjHRLTDEhiQKnVQpAROm80vCjJ_XksY0T5JzhlfUQRD2s581/s1600/aa313f822d2a11e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimxww1mINdc2ds3fwpSD-u9rcQfdhqsxUyeYcM-PwecKwMlqm5B5VqFdta3cyatAwf7n8JnBeVyZd7r6jQa9kUnQ0Fg3DgpjHRLTDEhiQKnVQpAROm80vCjJ_XksY0T5JzhlfUQRD2s581/s320/aa313f822d2a11e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><br /></i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153288684417516096.post-66527150018902612902011-12-15T03:47:00.001+09:002011-12-18T08:53:39.070+09:00Christmas reading<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6rLrpnuc5-UWq6t6pYv-ZMXRtGFW2fXqyNlpNq_bqHw_RyJWRggR5RwB5veo8kT_W_aFDbl66phwUNT3s8NwSAD56mPIgBCRrcF8oTgfqM4KEyHLIS0DMjgro_9bWkklYvNcxAcI66tx/s1600/6442769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6rLrpnuc5-UWq6t6pYv-ZMXRtGFW2fXqyNlpNq_bqHw_RyJWRggR5RwB5veo8kT_W_aFDbl66phwUNT3s8NwSAD56mPIgBCRrcF8oTgfqM4KEyHLIS0DMjgro_9bWkklYvNcxAcI66tx/s200/6442769.jpg" width="132" /></a>For me christmas means reading. Of course it also means family, gifts, santa and all those other things as well. But during christmas I read a lot. It is just that amazing feeling of sitting with a book in a house decorated for christmas, everyone happily running around and you are just filled with the whole christmas spirit. There is no better time to read a good book, especially now when you're on your christmas break and don't have to think about school! This is my list of some books that I'm hoping to read this christmas:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2914097-paper-towns">Paper Towns by John Green</a><br />
I recently read Looking for Alaska and am in love with John Green's writing. It feel horrible for not having read all of his books, so I'm trying to read through them all.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksm0EdWWITQlCGoVwg8rKce513bocOzRsJFAwI7NEGH386z1daY3IEDA5C9vS8WSwI3EYzNSUb42mF8Ph7gFh0mqvknwTPsqjJECmFpH7HodrNZTIO7w1SPtcIdoVULEV-SXWQ7WQdC42/s1600/13031354_O_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksm0EdWWITQlCGoVwg8rKce513bocOzRsJFAwI7NEGH386z1daY3IEDA5C9vS8WSwI3EYzNSUb42mF8Ph7gFh0mqvknwTPsqjJECmFpH7HodrNZTIO7w1SPtcIdoVULEV-SXWQ7WQdC42/s200/13031354_O_3.jpg" width="122" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2595138-the-gargoyle">The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson</a><br />
I got this book at a book blogger meet up and instantly fell in love with the amazing cover. When I then read the synopsis of it, I got even more eager to read it. Because I have no idea of what it is about. It feels like a mix of fantasy, romance, historical and some wonderful writing, so I'm really excited to see what it brings.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5470.1984">1984 by George Orwell</a><br />
I love dystopians and I've heard that this is one of the best (and first!) dystopians out there. So of course I have been dying to read it. And when I found a nice copy at a second-hand market for only 10kr (about 1,5 dollars or 1 pound) and didn't even think twice about buying it.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7488244-unearthly">Unearthly by Cynthia Hand</a><br />
I still need to read two more books to finish the Debut Author Challenge, and this is one of the two I'm hoping to read. I'm usually not a big fan of paranormal romances, but I've heard that this one is supposed to be really good.<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153288684417516096.post-45145112641347020992011-12-11T19:21:00.001+09:002011-12-23T00:23:14.173+09:00Debut Author Challenge 2012We are soon entering a new year, which means many new reading challenges! I've just started to look through which ones I want to participate next year, and the debut author challenge was an obvious choice. I participated in it this year as well, and only have to read two more books to complete it. The challenge is hosted by the awesome <a href="http://www.thestorysiren.com/">Kristi from the Story Siren</a> and is very simple, read 12 MG or YA books from authors that publish their first ever book in 2012.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kCxzIQJW5D0/TrhWOk7yZDI/AAAAAAAANMs/IVW-XaY4nWk/s1600/2012DAC-graphic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kCxzIQJW5D0/TrhWOk7yZDI/AAAAAAAANMs/IVW-XaY4nWk/s1600/2012DAC-graphic2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have a few books that I'm looking forward to reading, and am going to update this blogpost every time I read a new book for the challenge. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153288684417516096.post-32650161298133073712011-12-10T01:48:00.001+09:002011-12-10T02:02:19.610+09:00I'm back!Finally! I know it's been a long time since I posted anything, and I am going to change that. I took a break when NaNoWriMo started, because I wanted to focus on writing. I got to about 20 000 words during the first week, and only wrote about 5 000 words after that. Why? Because of school. These last few weeks have been crazy, we've had about three exams a week. Plus a bunch of homework and other things that needs to be done. So during November I had no time for either NaNo, my blog or anything else. I didn't finish a single book during the month (except for one we read in class)!<br />
<br />
On Wednesday our teachers have to officially decide our grades, so after that there won't be any time-consuming exams or homework! Although during the first three days of next week we will have two tests, one oral presentation and two papers due .. School ends in not even two weeks and I just can't wait!<br />
<br />
I hope to get back into my blogging routine and not let my blog get this quiet, I have really missed blogging! I have a few reviews to post and will also do a bookshelf tour! I have a lot of time for blogging and reading now during the winter break, I am exited!<br />
<br />
<b>I have missed you guys!</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153288684417516096.post-62233478258126092922011-11-04T18:32:00.001+09:002011-11-04T18:32:35.087+09:00NaNoWriMo<p>Okay, I’ve been neglecting my blog for a while. That is stuff that happens, sometimes you just have to take a break and take care of other things instead. And I am not here to tell you that I am so sorry and promise to start blogging more often. Nope, I am here to tell you that I won’t blog much during November.</p> <p>Why? <strong>I am doing NaNoWriMo baby!</strong></p> <p>Yes, I have thrown myself into this whole crazy thing. I hope that everything will go fine, and that I get to 50 000 words by November 30th. But as they say, even if I don’t get that far, I have written several thousen words that I wouldn’t have written otherwise.</p> <p><img style="display: inline; float: left" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVr5ocmhh6Hl9e9EFqYIY0XF1MEHrhjhY3g4azXP0jfZ-JX7ZpOVfZ2PNqINXsnwPJ4tT3QgKRaIz1zuwCVcevQrFxgPGy_FvpKZPjP_Oq-46Guk3ki9j0_PYNeZkUp0KtaXcb7napKU/s1600/image.jpg" width="146" height="203"></p> <p>It’s the beginning of day four, and as off the end of yeasterday I had 8000 fricking words! It is crazy! I have never attempted to write a big thing like this (not seriously anyway) and it has been a dream of mine for a long time to write a book. Ever since I was eight I have wanted to be an author (although now I have started to think about more likely carreers).</p> <p>You probably won’t hear much from me here on my blog. So if you want to hear things from me, follow me on twitter! I am <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/magical_books">magical_books</a> and I tweet a lot about my NaNo word count. You can also add me as a writingbuddy on NaNo’s website. My name there is <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/en/participants/oliviaherber">oliviaherber</a>. </p> <p>Are you doing NaNoWriMo? Do you have any tips for a newbie NaNo:er like myself?</p> <p>Happy writing!</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153288684417516096.post-69672328720620541692011-10-24T02:50:00.000+09:002011-10-24T02:50:45.946+09:0024 hour read-a-thon: What happened?So yeah, I particiapted in Dewney's 24 hour read-a-thon yesterday/today. And you may notice that I didn't post any updates. That's because <strong>my frickin computer decided to die! </strong>(I'm typing this at my grandfather's)<strong> </strong>I know that I could've posted through my iPhone, but it takes a long time, is very annoying and I didn't feel like taking the time and energy to do it. I did update a bit on Twitter though.<br />
<br />
And if you follow me on Twitter, you know that I went to bed at 2am (12 hours into the read-a-thon). I'd just finished Looking for Alaska, which was just so brilliant and mindblowing, that I couldn't concentrate on starting a new book. Some books you just have to process for a bit before reading something fresh. So I slept for about seven hours and started reading again at 9am. <br />
<br />
I read Diary of a Wimpy Kid in about one hour, and then I started reading Room by Jenna Donoghue. During the last 4 hours of the read-a-thon I read about 250 pages of the book, which was pretty good. The first thing I finished was City of Glass, which was amazing.<br />
<br />
So, all in all I read three and a half books. Concidering some breaks and that I slept during the night, I see that as a successful read-a-thon! I had a lot of fun and am hoping to do this sometime again - with a working computer.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153288684417516096.post-53919254338091168082011-10-22T21:13:00.003+09:002011-10-22T21:13:59.618+09:0024 hour read-a-thon update #1The read-a-thon just started! For the first hour, everyone awswers some questions about themselves.<br />
<br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;">1)Where are you reading from today?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;">2)Three random facts about me…</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;">3)How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;">4)Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;">5)If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;">1. Stockholm, Sweden!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;">2. I'm part Finnish, I currently don't have any bookshelves and I love the UK tv series Skins!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;">3. I've picked 10 books that I'm looking forward to read, but I might choose something else from my other tbr list.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;">4. Just to have fun and read a lot!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;">5. This is my first 24 hour read-a-thon, so I'm a newbie in this. But my advise is just to read, read and read!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;">I'm starting with finishing City of Glass, I've read about 200 pages of it. I'll hopefully be tweeting a lot during this read-a-thon you can follow me at <b><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/magical_books">@Magical_books</a></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;">Now to reading!</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153288684417516096.post-52118469905500631552011-10-22T02:28:00.002+09:002011-10-22T02:28:24.533+09:00Dewney's 24 hour read-a-thon<i>(I will not acknowledge the lack of posts on my blog) (Although I just did ..) (Oh well)</i><br />
<br />
<b>Hey y'all!</b> (Read with Texas accent)<br />
<br />
I'm going to participate in<b> Dewney's 24 hour read-a-thon</b> tomorrow, and I think you should too! It starts tomorrow at noon GMT (2pm here in Sweden) and we're practically just going to read books during 24 hours.<br />
<br />
You can find more information about this <a href="http://24hourreadathon.com/read-a-thon-faq/#date">here</a>.<br />
<br />
I'll do some update posts during the read-a-thon, so you'll see how much I read. I<b> will try to stay up the full 24 hours</b>, so you might find some weird tweets and blog posts from a super tired Olivia. I get crazy when I'm tired. Just so you know.<br />
<br />
I'll see you later. And I'll try to blog more often, it's just that school is kind of eating my whole cake of time. (... I'm tired)<br />
<br />
Bye.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GAQWaPLAdbSN7ZacLrh8FkkX52hNJiXnchCQdNBBZW5yZ7PqlrSkJw0UJPL-3r8SGNu16y08te_nRevqo6gDrrCatftDJgbNmOAd28NTkJ-4XH34RqrXCYF2jen9ivKgq7MIQ_lNJl3c/s1600/lg-new-readathonbutton-border.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GAQWaPLAdbSN7ZacLrh8FkkX52hNJiXnchCQdNBBZW5yZ7PqlrSkJw0UJPL-3r8SGNu16y08te_nRevqo6gDrrCatftDJgbNmOAd28NTkJ-4XH34RqrXCYF2jen9ivKgq7MIQ_lNJl3c/s1600/lg-new-readathonbutton-border.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153288684417516096.post-30388921636576511072011-10-16T19:57:00.000+09:002011-10-16T19:59:06.903+09:00Solid - Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1301589082l/8571801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1301589082l/8571801.jpg" width="126" /></a></div>
<b>Solid</b> (Solid #1)<br />
by <b>Shelly Workinger</b><br />
Published: July 9, 2010<br />
Rating: 3,5/5<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8571801-solid">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.thesolidseries.com/">Website</a><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><i>"After deftly replacing the desk to camouflage the secret door and once again securing the journal in the locked drawer, he looked up and caught his reflection in the window glass. He jauntily flicked his stiff cap with one finger, his mouth widening a fiendish grin as he unabashedly admired the face of the soon-to-be most revered geneticist in, not just military or medical, but, in fact, world history." </i>from the end of the prologue</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><br /></span><br />
In Solid, Clio and a hundred other teenagers learn that they've been genetically altered before birth in a secret experiment. The scientist took his secret with him to the grave, but his journal was found by the government, who bring the teens together and help them develop their super abilities. But Clio quickly learns that everything is not as it seems. Workinger has written a fast paced novel filled with friendship, romance and mystery. With a strong group of characters who work well together, an original plot and a lot of questions that aren't answered until the end, Solid is a quick and interesting read. The mystery aspect could've been a bit more developed, but Solid is still worth a read.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153288684417516096.post-4791476809292054512011-10-08T18:44:00.000+09:002011-10-09T07:04:04.050+09:00Some things changeYou might start noticing some changes in the way that I blog. Ever since I started my book blog, I've tried to be like all other book bloggers, written my reviews in a certain way, participated in memes, always written about the same things. And I feel like that's not really how I want my blog to be.<br />
<br />
So I'll start blogging the way I want to. I'll make my book blog more <i>me. </i>It will still be a book blog and nothing else, don't worry. But I'll probably stop participating in memes, write my review a bit differently and just blog about whatever bookish things I want, whenever I want.<br />
<br />
I just wanted to let you guys now. And I hope that I don't scare you away, hah. But the changes won't be too major, I promise. Who knows, maybe you won't even notice anything?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153288684417516096.post-5569491810884047622011-09-27T02:08:00.001+09:002011-09-27T02:08:40.883+09:00I'm finally on Pottermore (and my overall thought of it)Ever since J.K. Rowling announced her new mysterious project I've been so excited for Pottermore. The day she was going to release the information about it, I sat bunked in front of my computer screen and watched the seconds tick down to zero. And then I found out that I would have to try follow some owls on July 31st to gain access to the website. What a disappointment. Especially since I was in England on that exact date, so I wouldn't have time to be on the Internet. Well, somehow I succeeded with getting an account on the fourth or fifth day I think. And yesterday I finally got my welcome email.<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGVw4V1cM_kGzvTQRjsm0_xz9gfdUPVngbaPOQktypToaSCbIW7eh01qMwZtkXUygX9gdJ9_SGOU8uGoLCt9o5Tdd96lyRj_Ex9VHb0R7YzgZEAIiBut1oChUGBJMQkFEkmqC3NUvHNUx/s1600/dd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGVw4V1cM_kGzvTQRjsm0_xz9gfdUPVngbaPOQktypToaSCbIW7eh01qMwZtkXUygX9gdJ9_SGOU8uGoLCt9o5Tdd96lyRj_Ex9VHb0R7YzgZEAIiBut1oChUGBJMQkFEkmqC3NUvHNUx/s400/dd.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I spent about two hours on the site that Sunday and have played through the ten first chapters. And well, I've had some fun with it. The pictures of the scenes are amazing and I really enjoy the extra information you can read. It's a bit slow though and the site crashes from time to time. And it lacks in sound. Also, I'm not really sure what I'm going to do there after I've played through the first book, but I like it at the time being. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecgwZuvBp5XX6GSwENzuNZO-xJ_IqxKL41SNGUlaMhyDkg93yd8E6AvJGjLHsLY7V4f2-JL3dCh4HsGz3gzK4xRJfQEgp0bgpbTlvVkL1zd9exQHZLZa48FmMYSUCbwMeIpO3wFWaNVC4/s1600/123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecgwZuvBp5XX6GSwENzuNZO-xJ_IqxKL41SNGUlaMhyDkg93yd8E6AvJGjLHsLY7V4f2-JL3dCh4HsGz3gzK4xRJfQEgp0bgpbTlvVkL1zd9exQHZLZa48FmMYSUCbwMeIpO3wFWaNVC4/s400/123.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If anyone would like to add me as a friend, my name is <b>NightChaser95</b> (seriously Pottermore, what's with all this super high privacy stuff, I want to choose my own username!) I'm in Ravenclaw! (so happy about this, me luvs it!) I feel like I'm one of those few lucky people who got in the house they wanted, haha. And I got the best wand ever; Elder, Pheonix feather core, 14½ inches, hard. A little tip to Pottermore, can't you start up an online shop where I can buy the exact wand I got and some Ravenclaw clothes? Please? It would be so cool!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Have you gotten into Pottermore? Do you like it? </b></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153288684417516096.post-60661898220284919802011-09-24T19:01:00.001+09:002011-09-24T19:03:49.498+09:00Books I feel like I'm the last one to readInspired by this weeks <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/search/label/Top%20Ten%20Tuesday">Top Ten Tuesday</a> (a meme which I don't participate in) I wanted to share a list of books that almost every book blogger has read, except for me.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1309286013l/22205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1309286013l/22205.jpg" width="123" /></a><b>Anything from Sarah Dessen</b> I've heard so many good thing about her books, but haven't had the time to read anything by her yet. <b>Anything from John Green </b>I feel like the worst nerdfighter / vlogbrothers fan. Well, I've read Will Grayson, Will Grayson, which hardly counts since it's co written by David Levithan. I loved that one, and am really looking forward to reading more by John. I have Looking for Alaska and Paper Towns waiting on my shelves, soon my darlings!<br />
<br />
<b>Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater </b>This is even one of the books that I heard about before I started blogging. But I've never really felt eager to read them. Maybe I'll pick it up one day. <b>Matched by Ally Condie </b>I want to read it so bad! It sounds so awesome, and that cover .. Gorgeous! <b>Across the Universe by Beth Revis </b>No I haven't read this one yet! I own it and two people have borrowed my copy and loved it. Have to read it now!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312474550l/6068551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312474550l/6068551.jpg" width="131" /></a><b>To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee </b>If you look this book up on Goodreads, about 90% of the reviews on the first page are people who have rated the book 5 stars. The other 10% gave it 4 stars. I want to read it to see why everyone love it so much! <b>Various other classics </b>Pride and Prejudice, The Great Gatsby, Jane Eyre, Lord of the Flies, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz etc. The list can be made long.<br />
<br />
<b>Which books do you feel like everyone have read except for you?</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153288684417516096.post-35457814737596745942011-09-24T01:46:00.000+09:002011-09-24T01:52:56.505+09:00Spellbound - Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1302191797l/10118172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1302191797l/10118172.jpg" width="124" /></a></div>
<b>Spellbound</b> (Spellbound #1)<br />
by <b>Cara Lynn Shultz</b><br />
Publisher: Harlequin Teen<br />
Published: June 28, 2011<br />
Rating: 4/5<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10118172-spellbound">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://caralynnshultz.wordpress.com/">Author Blog</a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0e0e0c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">| <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/caralynnshultz">Twitter</a></span><br />
<br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Connor, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.<br /><br />But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.</span></i><br />
<div>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span">Spellbound is an awesome paranormal-type book. Actually, I would call the genre modern fairy tale, because it really did have a fairy tale-is feel. I've never read anything like it, which is great. I love discovering new genres and crossovers!</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span">Emma moves from her crazy stepfather to her rich aunt in New York, where she gets to attend an expensive private school. And she doesn't really feel that she fits in with all the other snobby students. But then she meets a boy called Brendan, who she instantly feels drawn too. When I was reading the beginning I thought "oh no, not one of <i>these</i> books again" And with that I mean the paranormal romance books in which a girl falls in love with a vampire/angel/warewolf/whatever and their love is impossible.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span">But I was wrong. Spellbound isn't one of those books. This book was so much more.</span>Spellbound is twisted, extraordinary and not at all what I expected. It was a very interesting read.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And the ending? The last few chapters were so intense. I was holding my breath and didn't do anything than read. I needed to know how everything would end!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Spellbound is a great debut that paranormal romance and fairy tale fans will love. I'm a bit confused about this being a series though. According to Goodreads, the next book will be released next year. But I think this book would've suited perfectly as a standalone and can't really figure out how a sequel would be written. I'm very interested in seeing what Shultz does with that!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2