BBAW: Interview with Socrates Book Reviews

First of all, I want to thank Yvonne from Socrates Book Reviews for being so patient with me during this Interview Swap. She's been great! =) (And she has a very cool name!)

Now for the interview:

1)How and why did you become a book blogger?

I love to read (obviously) and I thought it was a great way to meet other avid readers.

2)What did you do to prepare for your blog? (I.e. Did you read other blogs for format examples? Did you prepare a certain amount of reviews before posting? Did you work on the appearance before the content? Etc.)

I visited other blogs to see what everyone was doing with them. I didn't prepare any reviews in advance. I just posted them as I read the books. Yes, I definitely worked on the appearance first. I wanted to get it just right before I went public with it.

3)I see you have many reading challenges. How do you go about completing them?

That's the trick - completing them. I'm not doing very well, but I have completed some. At the beginning of the year I went through all my books to see which would fit each challenge. I had all the good intentions of reading what has been in my TBR for years. However, new books keep getting published and they, too, fit the challenges. Even some review books will fit a challenge. But, next year I don't think I will be doing quite as many reading challenges.

4)How do you balance the amount of books do you read? Does it ever become confusing?

I only read one book at a time, but sometimes I'll also have an audio book in the car. It doesn't get confusing since I don't juggle many books at once.

5)How do you go about choosing books to review?

I'm a fan of certain genres - romance, romantic suspense, cozy mysteries, mysteries, thrillers...so, I basically choose my review books from those genres. Once in a while something from another genre will interest me, but it's few and far between.

6)Did you end up revising your review system/policy multiple times?

I never actually made a formal policy, but I intend to at some point.

7)How many hours a week do you spend working on your blog? How do you balance book blogging with other activities?

Not enough, too much :) I work outside the house full time, so during the week it's only a couple of hours in the evenings. On the weekends, it's a bit more. I'm not really good at balancing my time with other activities. Something always gets pushed aside.

8)What advice do you have for those interested in making a book blog or recently made one?

If you want to do it, just do it. Don't be afraid, make the blog the way you want it. Browse around other blogs first, to get the feel of what they are doing but make the blog fit your personality.

9)What's your most memorable book-blogging experience?

I think I'm going to say receiving my first award. It meant there really were other people reading my blog. My first award was given to me by Naida at The Bookworm. It's the "Frankly my dear, your blog is addicting" award which features a picture of Rhett and Scarlett (I loved Gone with the Wind).

10)What are your other hobbies?

I'm a TV and movie addict! I, also, seem to be addicted to playing video games lately, but I have to stop that - it's a time killer!


Thank you Yvonne! =)

My Apologies

I haven't been as active as I hoped. I'm sorry. Really sorry.

School, work, and other activities have been keeping me more busy than I imagined.

I hope everyone has been enjoying BBAW, though. One of these weekends, I'll look through all the posts I missed.

Until then, please enjoy the interview I had with Yvonne over at Socrates Book Reviews. It's a couple days late (sorry again!).

And happy reading!!

Book Blogger Appreciation Week Meme

Although my book blog has been up for less than a month, I thought I'd participate in Book Blogger Appreciation week. It seems awesome, and I already know some blogs that I'd love to nominate. Blogs I already appreciate. Plus, it seems fun.

One of the things BBAW has is a meme for those who previously participated AND for those who will be participating in the first time. Here's my answers to the latter:

1) What has been one of the highlights of blogging for you?
Meeting other book lovers. I'm a fairly shy person in person, but the blogs have opened a world in which I can't help but participate in because every book blogger seems so enthusiastic about what they do and read.
2) What blogger has helped you out with your blog by answering questions, linking to you, or inspiring you?
There's a whole list of blogs that inspired me to start my own. They all looked so much fun, and I loved the reviews. But, I'd have to say GoodBooksInc. has helped me the most by being so friendly; they reached out to me not only on my book blog, but also on my writing blog and twitter. Both Prongs and Padfoot seem very kind.
3) What one question do you have about BBAW that someone who participated last year could answer?
Although I understand what BBAW is, I have no idea what to expect. For some reason, I'm seeing virtual parties of walking, talking, and dancing books in my head. Any tips on how to have the whole grand experience without being lost or intimidated? Are there any specific activities I should definitely be on the lookout for?

Teaser Tuesday - Three Cups of Tea

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser:

"What is this?" he yelled, following Khan into the frenzy of dancing men, not trusting that his eight days of danger had finally passed. "Why am I here?"
-p.172, Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.

Visiting Libraries

Do you remember what it felt like to enter a library for the first time?

How it felt to open those heavy doors, step through the threshold, and see in front of you columns and rows of books? Do you feel a slight catch of breath? Does your shoulders fall, as if the earth's chains break away and your wings spread to catch whatever wind will take you to a whole new world? Do you pause?

I did. When I went to a nearby library I haven't visited before, when I stepped through its doors, I stopped. I paused with my hand still flat against the door behind me and looked around. It was a small library, only one floor, with one side dedicated to children and the other, to teens and adults. The YA shelves weren't packed; books I wish I could borrow, they didn't have. But the fiction section was lovingly crowded with classics, commercial works, and more.

Behind glass windows and doors, there was another room. It had a stone fireplace, a couple of comfy, big chairs, and more books. Although no fire was lit, the whole room glowed warmly.

I haven't been to a library since school let out months ago. It was nice to go back. I forgot how different the air could be when filled with thousands of worn pages. How the shelves and tables looked slightly more messy but so much more homey than some bookstores. How incredible it felt to hear a librarian inquire after elderly Mr. Who and to hear him tell her, "Sorry to say I won't be back next week. Family's visiting."

"How is N---?"

"Good as could be She's bringing the kids."

"That's exciting. You enjoy yourself and come again when you can Mr. Who. We'll miss you."

"Thanks, hun."

There's a sweet familiarity in small-town libraries you can't find anywhere else. When you walk in, they smile at you as if they saw you yesterday. One of them chatted with me about The Book Thief and encouraged me to join a future book discussion. She was very kind.

I went to another library this past weekend. Although I've been to it before, I still take my time as I enter. I look around, slowly blink, and let myself be swept away by the amount of books around me. Being there calms me; one of those places where I can be completely comfortable. Yet it excites me, all those books to read, to admire, to inspire me to write as beautifully.

The pics here are ones I've taken of that second library.

What do you feel when you visit the library?

The Lost Colony by Eoin Colfer

The Lost Colony by Eoin Colfer
Book 5 of the Artemis Fowl series
Hardcover: 400 Pages
Publisher: Miramax (Sept. 12, 2006)
ISBN-10: 07864849568
ISBN-13: 978-0786849567

I've been a fan of the Artemis Fowl series since 8th grade. Why wouldn't I? It has fantastical elements (magic and magical creatures) mixed with super-advanced technology (made by said magical creatures) topped with a lovely, witty genius boy and his awesome bodyguard Butler (who is not a butler at all). As a 12 year old, I thought all those things made up one of the coolest books ever, and as I got older, I thought the adventures just got better.

So, it was with anticipation and great expectation that I went to a local library this past weekend and borrowed the fifth book in the series The Lost Colony.

Thousands of years ago, fairies and humans fought a great battle for the magical island of Ireland. When it became clear that they could not win, all of the fairies moved belowground--except for the 8th Family, the demons. Rather than surrender, they used a magical time spell to take their colony out of time and into Limbo. There they have lived for decades, preparing to exact their violent revenge on humans.

Now the time spell is unraveling, and demons are beginning to materialize without warning on Earth. If humans were to find out about them, all fairies would be exposed. To protect themselves, the fairies must predict when the next demon will materialize. But in order to do so, they will have to decipher temporal equations so complicated, even a great brain like Foaly can't understand them. But he knows someone who can: Artemis Fowl.

So when a very confused demon imp appears in a Sicilian theater, Artemis is there to meet him. But he is not alone. There is someone else who has unlocked the secrets of the fairy world and managed to solve complex mathematical problems as only a genius could. And she is just twelve years old...

I was not looking forward to meeting this other genius. Artemis has been so unique over the years and has grown so much that I couldn't bear to see a copy appear. She'll probably be very, very annoying, I thought.

I was pleasantly surprised however. In the beginning, Minerva acted mischievous and proud, silently challenging Artemis, which I found quite exciting. I giggled. I loved how they admired each other's humor ("...I construct a perfectly sound pun around a well-known psychological condition, and it is ignored. People should be rolling in the aisles."). I love how their names complement one another. Giggled again.

But as the story progressed and as I began to have more "in-person" meetings with the new female character, my patience with her slowly ran out. She was much more haughty and, well, younger than I expected. My fault, of course; I've gotten so used to the more mature Artemis. After remembering that, though she is a genius, she's only a little girl going through the normal insecurities and such that all tweens go through, I grew more fond of her. Her haughty ways became amusing spectacles; her childishness, normal sights. If she is in the next book, I wonder what role she plays. I admit, I'm slightly worried.

The demons are amusing--war-crazy and more than a bit odd, but amusing. I like N1, and I hope to see more of him. His experiences in Imp School made me laugh and made me sad a bit, but his ability to deal with the harassment is admirable. He feels out of place there and wants to find a place where he can belong--a feeling all of us can relate to. I love his reactions to the human world and his "English." Now that made me laugh out loud numerous times. He's a great character who discovers just how strong he is.

Kong creeped me out. I felt bad for him when I heard his story. But he still creeped me out a bit. Poor Kong.

All the other characters are as enjoyable as ever. The references to Artemis having to "waste valuable mind space" on puberty when he could be focusing on "more valuable" things are hilarious. I love how, throughout the books, you see the characters become more human--their vulnerabilities, fears, and love are more exposed. The relationships between them all are wonderful to read. I LOVE Artemis and Holly's relationship; their friendship is very touching. By the end of the book, you see how close they have become. Butler is fantastic, and there are little moments that make your eyes turn soft. At one point in the book, I almost had a heart-attack.

I can see how this sets up for the next book The Time Paradox, which is already out. I'm curious to see what happens to Holly and Artemis and how they will deal with things now that everything's changed.

I want to point out one thing that bothered me while reading: the shifts in POV. While it remained in 3rd-person, it would change from one character to another. I didn't mind that. But at times, especially the times when it would happen in the same chapter, it unnerved me. Made me a bit dizzy jumping from one head to another.

The sixth book The Time Paradox came out last year. It looks very exciting, and I hope to read it soon. I'm glad to be reading about Artemis Fowl and Holly Short again. =)

Review Summary

Borrow or buy: I borrowed it, but I'll definitely buy it someday. I already have the other books.
Writing: Good but the POV shifts sometimes made me dizzy, distracted me.
Characters: Hilarious and well.
Character relationships: Touching and humorous for most.
Story: Interesting with new elements and new excitement. I can see how it leads to The Time Paradox.
Twists: The time at the end of the book--whoa. I wonder how the characters will deal.
For ages: Middle-school kids and up will enjoy. I don't think it will crossover to many adults (unless they started reading it when they were younger..)
Things to note: The beginning of the book starts in Barcelona's Passeig de Gracia in front of Casa Mila. The pictures above are of that setting; I found them in the web.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Paperback: 512 pages
Publisher: McElderry (Feb. 19, 2008)
ISBN-10: 1216955070
ISBN-13: 978-1416955078

When Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder--much less a murder committed by three figures covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Clary knows she should call the police, but it's hard to explain when the body disappears into thin air and the murderers are invisible to everyone but Clary. Equally startled by her ability to see them, the murderers explain themselves as Shadowhunters: a secret tribe of warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. Wiithin twenty-four hours, Clary's mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary demons like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...

My thoughts: I heard of Cassandra Clare's urban fantasy series before I began perusing the book blogosphere. I saw a couple of teenagers reading it; I passed by it on the shelf; I even opened it up, reading the flaps, the back cover, the first page. But I couldn't decide if I wanted it enough to buy it and read it through. Although the premise sounded great, the book just didn't grab me.

Two nights ago, however, I did get the chance to read it--for free, thanks to LivingSocial/the Visual Bookshelf application on Facebook. (You can read it online for free too. But hurry! It's for a limited time only.)

The beginning didn't quite hook me as fast as I thought it would. Although the Pandemonium scene was pretty cool (I liked how Isabelle tricked the demon), it didn't seem to have as much energy as it could have. Perhaps I just wasn't in the mood. Perhaps it was that explanation bit of what demons are in the book. When Valentine was mentioned, I immediately knew he would be the main antagonist of the story. A few of the lines were pretty good: "He turned to follow her, tasting the phantom sizzle of her death on his lips."

Things started getting interesting when Clary's mother and Luke entered the story. What they were hiding intrigued me.

I like Simon's quips; he's a funny guy and he seems sweet--typical best guy friend. I love how he compares the adventure to Dungeons & Dragons. His "skill" from camp blew me away. It sparked my interest in him more.

But Jace. Frank, somewhat reckless, enjoyably egotistical Jace--his story broke my heart more than I thought it would. I found the tension between him and Clary more palpable than Simon's relationship with her. The big reveal in the end shocked me, definitely making me put Simon in the backburner for a bit. I obviously did not put the pieces together. It makes me wonder how the relationship between Jace and Clary will turn out in the second book. I hope Jace doesn't get too angsty..

I liked how Clary stayed strong throughout the book. While she did have her moments, no matter what was thrown at her, she stood up and faced it. I surprisingly ended up admiring her. She accepted help but also did what she could.

The adventure aspect was fun, some scenes had more energy than others. Cassandra Clare took me through a couple of twists I did not expect, which made for a better read. Some of the explanations were a bit dragging. But I'm still interested.

I want to know what will happen to the characters. I'm expecting something big with the Clave. I have a feeling about Hodge. I want to meet the Lightwoods (parents). When will Jocelyn talk!? I'll definitely read the second book.

"The wind tore her hair as they rose up, up over the cathedral, up above the roofs of the bearby high-rises and apartment buildings. And there it was spread out before her like a carelessly opened jewelry box, this city more populous and more amazing than she had ever imagined..."

Review Summary:
Buy or borrow? Borrow
Writing? Good
Characters? Some were better than others
Character Relationships? Very intriguing
Story? Interesting, more because of Valentine's family. I'm wondering about the Clave's reactions to all this. They unsettle me as much as Valentine does.
Twists? Some were expected, some not.
For ages? 14+ I think
Things to note? All three books are out. There's some language here and and there.