3,4,5 Reading Challenge - Complete!!

I have just completed my first 2010 Challenge! Whoop! Being extremely lazy (I apologize) I am linking to my original post which contains my list of books, and the links to their posts. Has anyone else finished this challenge?

My Original Post.

Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix

Ever since the return of Lord Voldemort, Harry has been avidly listening and watching the muggle news. Surely they would report something. . . anything really. Nothing though, besides the hot weather has been reported. Harry's constant obsession with the news is driving his uncle mad. After getting caught Harry decides to take a stroll, and walk off his anger.

His friends have been completely useless in their correspondence. No matter how many times Harry demands answers, the replies are always vague. On the way home Harry catches up with Dudley and decides to start a fight with him. He pulls out his wand and begins to taunt Dudley when suddenly it gets very cold and very dark. Harry starts to feel his happiness ebb away and can't believe Dementors would be lose in his neck of the woods. Suddenly Dudley starts to run for it, and unfortunately runs into one of the Dementors (well he can't see it being a muggle and all.)

Harry fights off both Dementors and takes Dudley back to the house. When he arrives his uncle and aunt are ready to kick him out. Not only is he now expelled from school, but the ministry is going to come and take away his wand. Just as Harry is about to leave a Howler arrives for Aunt Petunia and reminds her of the pack she made. She then tells Vernon that Harry will have to stay. Eventually Harry finds himself back with his old gang and in a rather gloomy house. The house, which once belonged to Sirius' mother is now the location for an order called: The Order of The Phoenix (which was once active the first time Lord Voldemort came to power).

The kids being "too young" cannot participate in any of the activities so must go about cleaning the house, but that doesn't stop George and Fred from trying to ease drop. As summer draws to a close, Harry finds himself wishing he could stay with Sirius. When Harry returns to school he is surrounded by the whispers of fellow students. For months the newspaper has been slandering both Harry and Dumbledore, telling the public at large that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is not back and that those two are full of it.

Harry's scar begins to hurt again. Surely Voldemort can't be near - they're at Hogwarts which is heavily protected. Why then does his scar hurt? On top of that, he keeps having the same dream over and over: he's running towards a black door trying to reach what's beyond the door. When he tells his friends about the dreams they draw the conclusion that he's inside Voldemort's head and that he must start to practice Occlumency if he has any hope of stopping his scare from hurting.

But it's easier said than done. With all the drama and pressure unfolding around Harry, he can't help but get swept up. Suddenly he dreams that Voldemort is torturing Sirius and Harry has to go and recuse him.

One of my least favorite books. Ever. For one, Harry irritated me on almost every single page. All of the sudden his reduced to a whinny, complaining, little pratt? But in the other 4 books he showed maturity beyond his years?! Secondly(spoiler ahead hi-light to view), WHY DID SHE HAVE TO KILL MY ONLY FAVORITE CHARACTER SIRIUS BLACK?!?!??! Thirdly, Umbridge. Ugh. I would've hated to have had a teacher like her. Although she did add comedic relief sometimes. But Harry was the most irritating thing I had to endure while I read that book. I couldn't stand how he reverted to being 3 years old. He was constantly bitting off Ron and Hermonie's head, being a selfish idiot, and kept playing the world's smallest violin for himself. NOT once did he think about anyone besides himself.

I took solace in the fact that she introduced Tonks and Luna Lovegood.

Books in this series:

1) Sorcerer's Stone

2) Chamber of Secrets

3) Prisoner of Azkaban

4) Goblet of Fire

5) Order of the Phoenix

6) Half-Blood Prince

7) Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling (c) 2003

Kitty and Dead Man's Hand

The only problem facing Kitty is how to tell her mother that she does not want a fancy wedding. No frilly dresses, no expensive photographers, no bridesmaids . . . you get the point. One night while talking to Ben Kitty gets the idea to go to Vegas. It's the quick wedding capitol of the world. But how to tell her mother? Well just inviter her along for the ride. She'll understand right?

Kitty tells her boss that she's getting married in Vegas and he comes up with the bright idea for her to have a live show in Vegas. Finally she'd have a TV show on her own terms and it won't be broadcasting her shapeshifting. With a sort-of wedding to plan and a TV show to plan Kitty's Vegas trip is looking pretty busy.

When they arrive at the hotel a problem already arises. The hotel they are staying in is also hosting a gun show and you can bet the people that are attending the show also hunt Kitty's kind. To make matters worse Ben's former friends have spotted him and don't necessarily like the fact that he's associating himself with the enemy or Kitty.

Everything is going well: Kitty's show went off without a hitch and Ben's even won at a poker game. Her parents have arrived but are doing their own thing until the "wedding" - it's easy street until the wedding. Well almost. Ben tells Kitty the night before their wedding that he's gotten into to a bigger poker game and it's at the same time as their wedding. Kitty and Ben decide to push it back. As the time draws near for the wedding Kitty get a call . . . Ben's gone missing and she knows it's not because he has cold feet. Now instead of getting married she has to find her fiance. But who kidnaped him?

This was a nice break from her power struggle books. It was fun to see Kitty doing more "human" activities :)

My only problem was trying to guess how the title of the book correlated to the plot of the story.

Books in this series :

1) Kitty and the Midnight Hour

2) Kitty Goes to Washington

3) Kitty Takes A Holiday

4) Kitty And the Silver Bullet

5) Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand

6) Kitty Raises Hell

Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand by Carrie Vaughn. New York (c) 2009

Hunger Games

If I were in the 60's and I saw the Beatles I would squeal just as loud. I, however, contained my excitement in the library when I got this book. After reading many wonderful things about this book I knew I just had to get my hot little hands upon this book. They do say 'all good things come to those who wait' and by golly I waited, and waited, and waited! AND FINALLY I read the book in a day. Well, more like devoured it really.

The book is set into a bleak future (but with the way the world politics are . . . it seems more and more likely) were the US has been obliterated and only the Capitol survives with 12 districts. Every time I read the word Capitol I couldn't help but think of D.C. although I'm not sure that's what she meant. Each year 1 boy and 1 girl from each district are selected and must fight to the death, think gladiator but less Roman and less glorious, in a specified arena. Our main girl Katniss lives in District 12, which is known for mining. Each district contributes to the capitol in some form.

When the day of the reaping is upon them, Katniss, her mother, and her sister who's only 12 and now old enough for the ceremonies head to the town center were they are divided by age and gender. The name for the girl is chosen and it's Katniss' sister. She can't let that happen so she volunteers herself - something unheard of; for once your name is called you ner return unless you outwit and outlast the other 25 tributes. The boy from her district that is chosen is named Peeta, who once helped Katniss many years ago - she doubts though that he remembers.

Each tribute gets a mentor, someone who has survived the Hunger Games, and District 12's mentor is a drunk named Haymitch who doesn't seem to care if he's sober or not. However Peeta and Katniss soon sober the poor fool up and they begin to form a plan of attack along with the Capitol's representative Effie. The goal is to show to the pubic how much in love they are, and present themselves to the other tributes as a team (something that isn't usually done).

When the day of the Hunger Games arrive everyone is nervous. Will this be their last meal? Will they be the lucky one to return? Can they survive? The gong chimes and the games have begun. Quickly Katniss tries to grab what little supplies she can before she finds herself a target. She quickly darts into the woods and runs for safety. Even though they presented themselves as a unit, Katniss is going to fight alone - but she wishes Peeta luck. Relying on her hunting skills she must now fight her way towards freedom. It's not east since the Capitol is always watching and when things get boring . . . they add twists and turns to keep the tributes on their feet.

The first thing that came to my mind while and after reading this is I know for a fact that I would certainly not survive. I would be the first one dead. Secondly - how much that government reeked of poison. They had morally suppressed their citizens and made sure to wipe the rebellion out of them. Although after studying history and reading about revolts, it could be possible but unlikely (the districts don't communicate amongst themselves and they're constantly malnourished and poor). I've seen people chose either "team Peeta" or "team Katniss" and I don't know which side I'd chose. Although I do feel sorry for Peeta at the end. The book was worth the wait and I totally recommend it to anyone. I cannot wait for the 2nd book! I have to go put it on hold now!

Books in this series:

1) Hunger Games

2) Catching Fire

3) Mocking Jay (8.24.10)

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. New York 2008

Recommendations Please

So I have about a month left of classes and to celebrate I want to read all those books that I never could during the past 4 months. I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations. I read practically every genre except non-fiction and those bodice ripping books that you find in the local grocery store.

I'm looking to branch out, so if anyone knows of any good comic books, or other types of genre I'd love to hear about it! I also have to catch up on my competitions! I'm almost done with my Harry Potter competition - and the remaining books are sitting on my dresser ever so patient for me to read them.

I will say though, since I've been in school I've read some very interesting books/plays. They include

1) The End Game by Samuel Beckett

2) The Languages of Pao (my favorite to date) by Jack Vance

3) The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon

4) Thoughts by Blaise Pascal (for history)

Just to name a few. I'm excited though to pick up some books to read just for fun!! Thanks in advance for any suggestions that you guys have! :)

Hex Hall Giveaway!

My first giveaway :) Nicole and Disney-Hyperion are allowing me to give away 1 Hex Hall t-shirt! This is what they look like:

<- This is the front

So since this is my 1st giveaway, and I don't have any rules I'll do it this way. The 1st person to comment that they want the shirt gets it! That simple :) But don't be fooled, as I host more giveaways the rules will be come so complicated that even I won't know them ;)

this is the back ->

Hex Hall

I am very honored to review this new YA book by Rachel Hawkins! The book has just been published in March!

Sophie Mercer has moved around quite a bit. No, her mother isn't running from a crazed killer or anything like that. The reason they keep moving is Sophie; she's a witch, and still coming into her powers. Her mother can't help her since she's just a human herself and Sophie's father isn't in the picture, accept for the occasional phone calls and emails.

On the night of her school's prom, Sophie hears one of her fellow classmates crying in the girls bathroom and decides to help. When she discovers the root of the problem (the girl has NO date) Sophie decides to help by casting just a tiny spell to summon the boy. Well the spell wasn't so tiny - in fact it was rather big. The spell she put upon him made his so love strong that he crashed his car into the gymnasium and hunted the girl down. In all the commotion the girl points to Sophie and screams that Sophie is a witch. Great. Her cover is blown and now she has to move to a new state and new school.

So Sophie now finds herself standing on the campus of Hecate Hall, a school for those children with magical abilities that find themselves unable to control their magic. Great, juvie for the bad magic kids. She was sentenced there by her father who wrote to her saying (not a direct quote) "sorry kiddo, but your 'get out of jail free' cards have all been used up". The only problem with Hex Hall is you don't get out until your 18. So if you go in at 12 you won't leave until your the big 1-8. Sophie will have to stay there for 2 years.

Sophie though has no idea what drama is lurking behind the doors. Just last year one of the Hex Hall students died mysteriously in the student bathrooms, and not to mention the major drama going on between Elodie and her gang and Jenna the only vampire on campus. Elodie and her gang keep blaming Jenna for the students death, even though she was cleared. After Sophie's first day on campus she's already developed a MAJOR crush on Asher (the campus hottie who's also the dark and mysterious and taken one), vexed Elodie and her gang off by not joining their coven, and has become best friends with Jenna, who no one likes. It looks like it's going to be an interesting two years.

As if that wasn't bad enough, attacks start happening on the students again and everyone is blaming Jenna. She just keeps being in the wrong place and the wrong time. But Sophie knows Jenna is innocent . . . right?

I loved the beginning of this book! I felt so bad for Sophie! She was just trying to help out that girl and was it really her fault that the spell went completely wrong? Well maybe. There were only a few things that bugged me about the book. The first was I hated how quickly she fell for Archer. One the first day she meets him and says (not a direct quote) "I will NOT fall for him" and I thought, finally - a book were the main character doesn't fall head over heals within the first seconds of meeting the boy. Wrong. Within that night she's telling Jenna how deeply in love she is with him. Another thing I found odd was when Sophie was meeting with a ghost to learn more magic control, the ghost said she put a spell on the whole school so they'd all stay asleep even yelling at the top of her lungs to prove her point. Well later in the story Elodie catches Sophie escaping while the spell is active - but it doesn't explain how Elodie wasn't effected by the spell this time (even though she was in the past).

This book was funny. My favorite character has to be Jenna! For being a vampire she was so full of life, but I don't think I'd be able to deal with all the pink - it'd be a tad too much for me (Jenna decorated her side of the room in every shade imaginable of pink). And I love how she had a little stuffed lion named Bram :) It was so cute (and secretly I kinda want a stuffed lion named Bram too).

Rachel Hawkins has been so kind as to stop by Blue Duck! Thank you!! Here is her guest post:

"Confession time: I suck at coming up with titles for my books. If you looked at my computer right now, you'd find projects called things like, "That Book Where The Stuff Happens With The Sister," or "Big Fantasy Novel," or "That Crazy Sci-Fi Book That Is Like Fringe But Not." Obviously, this is sad-sauce as titles are really important! The story behind HEX HALL's title is kind of complicated and fraught with angst (on my part.) I originally called the book TOO NEAR THE GLASS, which is a line from the poem that prefaces the book. This title is... well, let's just say a little too literary and serious for a book that has so many chapters about witches making out. So my agent and I decided to change it! We went with DEMONGLASS, (the title the book sold under), and at first, I LOVED THAT! I mean, come on! DEMONGLASS! That's like the most awesome word ever! I imagined a cover with a girl holding a giant black sword. And then my editor said, "Yeah... this is a funny book with witches making out." And I was all, "But people die!" To which she replied, "Right, but it's funny BEFORE they die." So DEMONGLASS was out, and something cuter and lighter was needed. This is when I turned to EXTREMELY EXTENSIVE RESEARCH *cough* Wikipedia *cough* I came across Hecate in my research. Not only was she the Greek goddess of witchcraft, but she was also the Greek goddess of the crossroads. I thought that was a fun thing to play with in a book about teenagers who are very much at the crossroads! So the school, originally called Prentiss Academy, became Hecate Hall. And because Hecate is hard to pronounce (my agent, editor, and I ALL have different ways of saying it), we decided that the kids at the school would have a nickname for it- Hex Hall.

Thank you again Rachel for stopping by! And I hope you guys pick up this book. It is a wonderful story about a girl trying to fit in, solve a mystery, and NOT fall for the hot stud warlock. :)

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins. (c) 2010

* This book was sent to me via the publishers @ Disney-Hyperion