October books

October

Dark Angel~LJ Smith

Time Traveler's Wife~Audrey Niffenegger

Paper Towns~John Green

Dead is a State of Mind~Marlene Perez

Dead is so Last Year~Marlene Perez

Vampalicious~Sienna Mercer

The Chosen~LJ Smith

Soulmates ~LJ Smith

you can scroll down a few posts to see what I've read so far this year.
I'll be posting more non-book related blogs soon. gotta get through this week first. :)

Book Contest! Prophecy of the Sisters!

My author-friend Michelle Zink is hosting an awesome giveaway on her blog. Check it out, and check out her novel Prophecy of the Sisters! (I highly recommend the book!)

Soul searching

It's been a while since I have taken to my blog and posted more than just snippets of what I am reading. I think that once people I knew in real life began reading my blog I started to censor myself and I believe I started losing my voice some. I hope I can begin writing again and gain it back. The things I write might be offensive, whiny, stupid, boring, enlightening, funny, whatever...but they need to be said bc I need to say them. I do appreciate feedback but as this is my spot in the interwebs, respectful dialogue is appreciated.

Today (after looking at the clock I realize it was yesterday) is my 35th birthday. I don't feel 35- however that is supposed to feel. But lately I have felt 15. Let me explain....

When I was about 15 my best friend decided she didn't want to be my friend anymore. Without explanation she just became more distant and cruel. Then it all came to a head when she started using phone conversations against me- baiting me and then telling other people what I said to make fun, etc etc etc. This incident in my life had a profound affect- I stopped trusting other females. Even now I have a hard time opening up to people for fear that I am going to get hurt, bc even at 35 it sucks. I feel that I have a lot of "friends" but a lot of times I feel it's all superficial and shallow. I know part of this is my fault bc I am unwilling to put my self out there completely but I can't seem to find the people willing to engage in deeper relationships.

I heard an analogy once -I think it was Stephen Mansfield who said that we are like a full glass of water. We pour a little of ourselves into the people who come into our lives. But if people don't pour into ours we run dry (I completely mangled the analogy, but I hope you get the meaning.)

My soul is dying. I am desperate for deeper, meaningful relationships. People who will not only will open themselves up to me but want me to open myself up. People who want to know my beliefs and will be OK when they differ from theirs- bc most likely they will.

I want to take nothing away from the people in my life now that consider me their friend. I thank you for your friendship. Little snippets here and there help me navigate through this life. But I am in need of more. I need flesh-and-bone humans willing to share their lives. I sure as hell don't want pity or to be manipulated.

How do other people do it? I really want to know.

(and if you would prefer to, feel free to email me at sandilu at hotmail dot com)

September books

I plan to start blogging more than just what I've read. I used to write a lot more but for various reasons stopped. For now though- here is my book list.

September was overwhelmingly busy so I didn't get to read nearly as many books as I had hoped.

September
Lirael ~ Garth Nix

Magic's Child~Justine Larbalestier

Wintergirls~Laurie Halse Anderson

Surviving the Applewhites~ Stephanie S. Tolan

70

August

Ash~Malinda Lo

Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows audiobook ~JK Rowling

Peace, Love, & Baby Ducks~Lauren Myracle

Startled by his Furry Shorts~Louise Rennison

Love is a Many Torusered Thing~ Louise Rennison

Sabriel~Garth Nix

66 so far (slightly behind schedule!)

July

Sea Change~ Aimee Friedman

Magic Lessons~Justine Larbalestier

Goth Girl Rising~ Barry Lyga

Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince audiobook~ JK Rowling

Eclipse audiobook~ Stephenie Meyer

Silver is for Secrets ~ Laurie Faria Stolarz

Red is for Remembrance~Laurie Faria Stolarz

Devilish~Maureen Johnson

The Center of the Universe, Yep, That'd be Me ~Anita Liberty

Something to Blog About~Shana Norris

Love is Hell (collection of short stories)~ Melissa Marr, Scott Westerfield, Justine Larbalstier, Gabrielle Zevin, Laurie Faria Stolarz

South Beach ~Aimee Friedman

Re-Vamped!~Sienna Mercer

13 this month

60 total for the year

June

Dead is the New Black~Marlene Perez

The Misfits ~James Howe

The Book of One Hundred Truths~ Julie Schumacher

Then He Ate my Boy Entrancers ~Louise Rennison

Looking for Alaska~ John Green

The Hate List~Jennifer Brown

Magic or Madness~Justine Larbalestier

So you want to be a wizard~Diane Duane
New Moon audiobook~ Stephenie Meyer

so far this year- 47

May

Dancing in my Nuddy-Pants~Louise Rennison

Blue is for Nightmares~Laurie Faria Stolarz

Away Laughing on a Fast Camel~Louise Rennison

To Kill a Mockingbird~ Harper Lee

White is for Magic~Laurie Faria Stolarz

Burned~Ellen Hopkins

Fight Club_Chuck Palahniuk

The Fashion Disaster that Changed my life~Lauren Myracle

so far this year- 38

April

On the Bright Side, I'm now the Girlfriend of a Sex God~Louise Rennison

Cabinet of Wonders~ Marie Rutkoski

Giver~Lois Lowry (read with my class)

Why I Let My Hair Grow Out~Maryrose Wood

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Thing~Carolyn Mackler

Boy Toy~Barry Lyga

13 Little Blue Envelopes~Maureen Johnson

Westing Game~Ellen Raskin (read with class)

North of Beautiful ~Justina Chen Headley

Knocked Out by my Nunga-Nunga~Louise Rennison

so far this year- 30

Goal for the year-100

March
Geektastic ~Edited by Holly Black & Cecil Castellucci
Oh My Goth ~ Gena Showalter
Hunted~PC & Kristen Cast
The Thirteen Treasures~Michelle Harrison (this one of the best written books I've read in a while)
Wit~a play by Margaret Edson
Angus, Thongs, & Full frontal Snogging~Louise Rennison (this book is HILARIOUS!)
Twilight Director's Notebook~ Catherine Hardwick

Books read so far this year- 20
Goal for the year-100

February
Kingdom Keepers:Disney at Dawn~ Ridley Pearson
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl~Barry Lyga
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist~Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
Night World vl 1: Secret Vampire
Daughters of Darkness
Spellbinder ~LJ Smith
Zombie Queen on Newbury High ~ ~Amanda Ashby
Prophecy of the Sisters ~Michelle Zink


January
The Tales of Beedle the Bard~JK Rowling (Brilliant!)
Kingdom Keepers:Disney After Dark~Ridley Pearson (A must read for any Disney fan)
Fade to Blue~Sean Beaudoin (not released until Spring 09) (This one had me guessing until the end)
My Sister the Vampire:Switched~Sienna Mercer (Vampire books for the Middle school set. Really cute books)
My Sister the Vampire:Fangtastic~Sienna Mercer

Uniforms!

For some reason when I snapped this with my phone it showed up as royal blue. But the uniforms are a deep purple. The girls love them and squealed when they saw them.

First contest is in two weeks. EK!

August books

August

Ash~Malinda Lo

Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows audiobook ~JK Rowling

Peace, Love, & Baby Ducks~Lauren Myracle

Startled by his Furry Shorts~Louise Rennison

Love is a Many Torusered Thing~ Louise Rennison

Sabriel~Garth Nix

66 so far (slightly behind schedule!)

July

Sea Change~ Aimee Friedman

Magic Lessons~Justine Larbalestier

Goth Girl Rising~ Barry Lyga

Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince audiobook~ JK Rowling

Eclipse audiobook~ Stephenie Meyer

Silver is for Secrets ~ Laurie Faria Stolarz

Red is for Remembrance~Laurie Faria Stolarz

Devilish~Maureen Johnson

The Center of the Universe, Yep, That'd be Me ~Anita Liberty

Something to Blog About~Shana Norris

Love is Hell (collection of short stories)~ Melissa Marr, Scott Westerfield, Justine Larbalstier, Gabrielle Zevin, Laurie Faria Stolarz

South Beach ~Aimee Friedman

Re-Vamped!~Sienna Mercer

13 this month

60 total for the year

June

Dead is the New Black~Marlene Perez

The Misfits ~James Howe

The Book of One Hundred Truths~ Julie Schumacher

Then He Ate my Boy Entrancers ~Louise Rennison

Looking for Alaska~ John Green

The Hate List~Jennifer Brown

Magic or Madness~Justine Larbalestier

So you want to be a wizard~Diane Duane
New Moon audiobook~ Stephenie Meyer

so far this year- 47

........ ........

May

Dancing in my Nuddy-Pants~Louise Rennison

Blue is for Nightmares~Laurie Faria Stolarz

Away Laughing on a Fast Camel~Louise Rennison

To Kill a Mockingbird~ Harper Lee

White is for Magic~Laurie Faria Stolarz

Burned~Ellen Hopkins

Fight Club_Chuck Palahniuk

The Fashion Disaster that Changed my life~Lauren Myracle

so far this year- 38

April

On the Bright Side, I'm now the Girlfriend of a Sex God~Louise Rennison

Cabinet of Wonders~ Marie Rutkoski

Giver~Lois Lowry (read with my class)

Why I Let My Hair Grow Out~Maryrose Wood

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Thing~Carolyn Mackler

Boy Toy~Barry Lyga

13 Little Blue Envelopes~Maureen Johnson

Westing Game~Ellen Raskin (read with class)

North of Beautiful ~Justina Chen Headley

Knocked Out by my Nunga-Nunga~Louise Rennison

so far this year- 30

Goal for the year-100

March
Geektastic ~Edited by Holly Black & Cecil Castellucci
Oh My Goth ~ Gena Showalter
Hunted~PC & Kristen Cast
The Thirteen Treasures~Michelle Harrison (this one of the best written books I've read in a while)
Wit~a play by Margaret Edson
Angus, Thongs, & Full frontal Snogging~Louise Rennison (this book is HILARIOUS!)
Twilight Director's Notebook~ Catherine Hardwick

Books read so far this year- 20
Goal for the year-100

February
Kingdom Keepers:Disney at Dawn~ Ridley Pearson
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl~Barry Lyga
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist~Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
Night World vl 1: Secret Vampire
Daughters of Darkness
Spellbinder ~LJ Smith
Zombie Queen on Newbury High ~ ~Amanda Ashby
Prophecy of the Sisters ~Michelle Zink


January
The Tales of Beedle the Bard~JK Rowling (Brilliant!)
Kingdom Keepers:Disney After Dark~Ridley Pearson (A must read for any Disney fan)
Fade to Blue~Sean Beaudoin (not released until Spring 09) (This one had me guessing until the end)
My Sister the Vampire:Switched~Sienna Mercer (Vampire books for the Middle school set. Really cute books)
My Sister the Vampire:Fangtastic~Sienna Mercer

Why yes, I read (or listened to) 13 books in July

July

Sea Change~ Aimee Friedman

Magic Lessons~Justine Larbalestier

Goth Girl Rising~ Barry Lyga

Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince audiobook~ JK Rowling

Eclipse audiobook~ Stephenie Meyer

Silver is for Secrets ~ Laurie Faria Stolarz

Red is for Remembrance~Laurie Faria Stolarz

Devilish~Maureen Johnson

The Center of the Universe, Yep, That'd be Me ~Anita Liberty

Something to Blog About~Shana Norris

Love is Hell (collection of short stories)~ Melissa Marr, Scott Westerfield, Justine Larbalstier, Gabrielle Zevin, Laurie Faria Stolarz

South Beach ~Aimee Friedman

Re-Vamped!~Sienna Mercer

13 this month

60 total for the year

June

Dead is the New Black~Marlene Perez

The Misfits ~James Howe

The Book of One Hundred Truths~ Julie Schumacher

Then He Ate my Boy Entrancers ~Louise Rennison

Looking for Alaska~ John Green

The Hate List~Jennifer Brown

Magic or Madness~Justine Larbalestier

So you want to be a wizard~Diane Duane
New Moon audiobook~ Stephenie Meyer

so far this year- 47

........ ........

May

Dancing in my Nuddy-Pants~Louise Rennison

Blue is for Nightmares~Laurie Faria Stolarz

Away Laughing on a Fast Camel~Louise Rennison

To Kill a Mockingbird~ Harper Lee

White is for Magic~Laurie Faria Stolarz

Burned~Ellen Hopkins

Fight Club_Chuck Palahniuk

The Fashion Disaster that Changed my life~Lauren Myracle

so far this year- 38

April

On the Bright Side, I'm now the Girlfriend of a Sex God~Louise Rennison

Cabinet of Wonders~ Marie Rutkoski

Giver~Lois Lowry (read with my class)

Why I Let My Hair Grow Out~Maryrose Wood

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Thing~Carolyn Mackler

Boy Toy~Barry Lyga

13 Little Blue Envelopes~Maureen Johnson

Westing Game~Ellen Raskin (read with class)

North of Beautiful ~Justina Chen Headley

Knocked Out by my Nunga-Nunga~Louise Rennison

so far this year- 30

Goal for the year-100

March
Geektastic ~Edited by Holly Black & Cecil Castellucci
Oh My Goth ~ Gena Showalter
Hunted~PC & Kristen Cast
The Thirteen Treasures~Michelle Harrison (this one of the best written books I've read in a while)
Wit~a play by Margaret Edson
Angus, Thongs, & Full frontal Snogging~Louise Rennison (this book is HILARIOUS!)
Twilight Director's Notebook~ Catherine Hardwick

Books read so far this year- 20
Goal for the year-100

February
Kingdom Keepers:Disney at Dawn~ Ridley Pearson
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl~Barry Lyga
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist~Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
Night World vl 1: Secret Vampire
Daughters of Darkness
Spellbinder ~LJ Smith
Zombie Queen on Newbury High ~ ~Amanda Ashby
Prophecy of the Sisters ~Michelle Zink


January
The Tales of Beedle the Bard~JK Rowling (Brilliant!)
Kingdom Keepers:Disney After Dark~Ridley Pearson (A must read for any Disney fan)
Fade to Blue~Sean Beaudoin (not released until Spring 09) (This one had me guessing until the end)
My Sister the Vampire:Switched~Sienna Mercer (Vampire books for the Middle school set. Really cute books)
My Sister the Vampire:Fangtastic~Sienna Mercer

Scrapbooking stuffs

I recently purchased a Silhouette SD Digital Craft cutter and it's the coolest thing ever! There several places where I can get free files for it. One of the best is Jennie Bean Crafts. They have some of the most incredible sliceforms.
If you have a Digital cutter or are considering getting one-go check that blog out!

Further thoughts on Half Blood Prince

Spoilerages abound!


I keep seeing status updates on Facebook & Twitter where people say they hated the new Harry Potter movie bc they left so much out. (Did we watch the same movie?)

Yes, there are things from the book that were left out. That is the nature of film making. They cannot take every.single.detail. from a book and put it in a movie. We'd all still be at the cinema.
Here's what I keep hearing and my opinion on them:

One thing people are complaining about is that the funeral was left out. I think this was done for a number of reason (including what the director said about it)
At the point in the movie were DD dies, it's already well over two hours in. Adding the funeral would have added more time. But most importantly, I think the raising of the lit wands was much more poignant than a funeral would have been (and less costly).

Another thing people are complaining about is the missing battle at the end. I think (and this is only my opinion remember) they left it out bc
1. they ended Order of the Phoenix with a battle at the Ministry. Ending with a major death instead of a battle seems to flow better, movie wise.
2. there is going to be an EPIC battle at Hogwarts at the end of movie 7 part two (at least there better be). Ending with Dumbledore's death sets the stage for what's coming.

As an avid, rabid, dorky Harry Potter fan, I was quite ok with how they ended it.

I was not, however, ok with the burning of the Burrow. I have heard two theories on that and neither justify it enough. One was that the movie needed more action at that point (puh leez) and the other is that Helena Bonham Carter's contract may have called for more face time (not good enough).

I was also rather miffed that Dumbledore did not freeze Harry in place when Draco confronted him. How heartbreaking it was when I read that part in the book when Harry realized that DD was really dead bc the jinx broke.

Mark thought -and upon further reflection I agree- that they could have used a little more explanation about the Horcruxes and about why the Dementors and Death Eaters were attacking Muggles at the start. For someone (the hubs) who had not read the book, those were a little confusing.

However, none of what I disliked was enough for me to say that I "hated" the movie or that it "sucked", as many have so eloquently put it. And from what I understand, JK Rowling signed off on the changes (including the pointless Burrow scene).

Half Blood Prince- my thoughts

I saw Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince tonight. It was fantastic! I have read or listened to the book multiple times and, with two exceptions, the movie captured the book marvelously.

I will talk about some scenes from the movie, so if you want no spoilers you might want to stop reading here...

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Still reading? good

First, I cannot get over how grown those kids are! They are so adorable and have become much better actors over time. Tom Felton was perfect as a tormented Draco Malfoy.
I thought that, given the limited time, they covered the majority of the major points from the book (except that Bill was not in it so he wasn't mauled by Greyback)

And speaking of the Weasleys.....my wtf moment came when the Burrow was attacked and burned. Not only was it not in the book at all, I didn't see where it served any purpose in the story. To show that Harry can be tracked down? The Burrow is supposed to have almost as many protections while Harry is there as Hogwarts. I'm not buying it. That was the most troubling bit.
The second bothersome part was that Harry was not stupefied under his invisibility cloak during the Astronomy Tower scene. Harry would not just stand there. Maybe, just maybe, he thought Snape was really going to help but still, DD could have stupefied him after he went down a level.

Other than those two bits, I was extremely happy with how this movie was done. I thought the death scene was well done (and the "Severus, Please" part-wow) I (along with about everyone else in the theater) cried when everyone held their lit wands up.

This is the best movie of the series so far and I cannot wait to see how they do Deathly Hallows.