Top Movies and Music of 2009

This year I wasn't so big on movies but I listened to a lot more music, mainly thanks to my XM radio.

Here are my favorite movies that I watched in 2009 in order:

7. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
6. Jennifer's Body
5. The Time Traveler's Wife
4. 500 Days of Summer
3. Adventureland
2. New Moon
1. Whip It

And the music I loved in 2009, not necessarily in order:

Kings of Leon
Passion Pit
Metric
La Roux
Lady Gaga
The Glee soundtrack
Matt & Kim
Paramore

My Top 10 Reads in 2009

I read a lot of great books this year and I'm so excited to read even more in 2010! Here is my top 10 list of my favorite reads of 2009 and why!

Runner-up: Gossip Girl by Cecily Ziegesar
 While I do struggle with the writing style and story development of the series, there is an element that is so addictive that I keep wanting to read more.

10. The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
This book has some interesting characters and the language and style is just fun. 

9. Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty
The whole Jessica Darling series by Megan McCafferty is great! I love Jessica Darling and McCafferty's writing style is so sarcastic that I can't help but love the books.

8. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
Nick and Norah are both interesting characters and the way that the story between them is told is unique.

7. Jesus Land by Julia Scheeres
This memoir had quite an emotional impact on me and the story was fascinating. It inspired me to do a little bit of research on my own. Any book that inspires me to research is worth noting.

6. The Second Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares
I really liked reading about the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. I love all the characters and the style in which their story is told is down-to-earth and fun.

5. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
I had always been fascinated in the Tudors and always thought that reading even fiction about Anne Boleyn would be amazing. That is why this book stands out to me so much. I felt for the narrator, Mary Boleyn, and I loved the story she told.

4. The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
I had to start reading this book for an English course but I ended up finishing it just for myself. It is the first graphic non-fiction that I've read and the story Satrapi tells is informative and eye-opening.

3. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
The element of Stockett's book that stands out to me the most is the characterization.Each character adds something new to the story and opens up to the reader bit by bit.

2. Dead Until Dark and the rest of the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris
I cannot say enough good things about the Sookie Stackhouse series. The books even got my mom reading when I lent them to her. The characters are amazing and the story in each book keeps me interested. Of course the main reason I keep reading, however, is Eric.

1. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffeneggar
The characters in this book are so interesting that I did not want to stop reading. The entire book is emotional and bittersweet. I love Niffeneggar's writing style.


There you have it! Do you have any books in common with me on your Best of 2009 list?

The Baby-Sitters Club Mystery #31: Mary Anne and the Music Box Secret

Summary:  Mary Anne is cleaning her grandparent's basement with her step-mother after a flood and she finds a hidden music box. The catch is that the music box is allegedly cursed. Strange things begin happening around Mary Anne and she begins to wonder if the box is cursed after all. 

Review: For some reason I tend to shy away from BSC Mystery books. The mysteries aren't all that intriguing. For example, there is no reason for Mary Anne to believe that the music box is cursed because nothing significant happens because of it to make her believe this. 

Every once in a while I will be reading a BSC book and stumble upon a client I just cannot stand. Mrs. Dewitt is one of these clients. She already has 7 children and has invited over 6 more. She's pretty much an idiot because she only called over 2 sitters to watch 13 children while her home is undergoing construction. 

The obligatory description of each character's personality and skills come into play in the second chapter as Mary Anne describes how each person can play a role in helping her solve the mystery. I look forward to seeing how characters will be introduced in each book. 

One good thing about this book is that it made me like Jessi a little bit more than I typically do. In one scene, Jessi claims to like the new Barrett-Dewitt children's bathroom because it makes her feel like she's in a  rain forest. That's exactly what I look for in a bathroom!

Mary Anne is one of my favorite narrators but this book seemed to be missing something. Like all BSC books, it's great for a young audience but also fun for an adult to read and appreciate for the unintentional humor.

Book of the Week Giveaway: Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters WINNER

The winner of my copy of Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Jane Austen and Ben H. Winters is....

Fiona!

I will be emailing the winner shortly!

This will be the last giveaway of 2009! I look forward to creating more contests and giveaways for 2010! Stay tuned for updates.

Reminder: Giveaway

Last week's Book of the Week Giveaway is extending to this week and I just wanted to remind everybody about it! it is a giveaway for the book Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters and you can fill out the form here to enter!

I just started reading Beautiful Creatures . . .

and I see what all the fuss is about! I'm already intrigued!

Jesus Land by Julia Scheeres

Summary: Julia Scheeres and her adopted brother David were 16 when they were sent to Escuela Caribe, a religious reform school in the Domincan Republics. The memoir reveals the ordeals David and Julia experienced at the school in the mid-1980's.

Review: Words cannot explain how much I fell in love with this book, but I'll try. Some books I don't feel like reviewing but I do anyway. This book, I could not wait to review it.

First of all, Julia Scheeres has a way with words. I often find myself skimming certain parts. This book had me hanging on to each word because everything flowed so well.

The characters are intriguing and so easy to hate, except for Julia and David of course. I could not help but wonder if Julia still has a relationship with her parents and if so, how. I also could not believe the way the teenagers at Escuela Caribe were treated by the staff. Everybody was so detestable.

This is a heart wrenching and emotional book. I highly recommend it and I am going to be re-reading this book many times in the future. To know that these events are not simply a book to read, but reality for many lives weighs tremendously on my heart.

I recommend taking a look at Julia Scheeres' website because it has a lot of photos and interesting information about her brother, David. 


Julia Scheeres' website
Jesus Land Reading Group Guide
A discussion of interest that readers may find interesting
Julia Scheeres on Wikipedia

The Baby-Sitters Club #21: Mallory and the Trouble with Twins

Mallory has to babysit the Arnold twins two times a week for a few weeks. As soon as they are alone, the twins become unidentifiable and run wild. Mallory finally determines that the girls, Carolyn and Marilyn, would be happier if they had separate identities, which is ironic because Mallory is probably the baby-sitter with the least personality of her own. Also, Mallory gets her ears pierced and her hair cut in hopes she won't look like such a nerd.

At the Arnold twins birthday party, Mallory says something about the way goody bags for kids now are so much better than they were when she was a kid. Apparently her goody bags always had peanuts? Also, what is a peanut hunt at a birthday party?

The scene where the entire club goes to the mall is probably the funniest because of the enthusiasm the girls have about getting their ears pierced.

Book Blogger Holiday Swap

I got a package from my Secret Santa, Stacy, from Stacy's Books!

Stacy sent me a copy of Ruined by Paula Morris, which I have actually been eying a lot lately!

She also sent me a copy of A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words by Phillip Sexton which is a book of story prompts and exercises for writers. I've seen this book in bookstores a lot but surprisingly didn't own it yet. I think it will come in hand for 2010 because I plan to focus on my writing!

She also knew about my insane love for penguins and sent me 3 adorable penguin ornaments for the tree! Within one minute of unwrapping them I already had them on our tree.

Thank you Stacy!

1010 Category Challenge

Information about the 1010 Category Challenge can be found here: 1010 Category Challenge.

The goal is to read books in 10 categories in the year 2010! I chose to read 10 books in each category.

Here are my choices:

1. Male authors

2. New authors

3. Books in a Series

4. eBooks

5. Nonfiction

6. Young adult

7. Parodies

8. Romances

9. Library books

10. Fairy Tales

The Second Summer of the Sisterhood - Ann Brashares

Summary: Bridget is in Alabama posing as a stranger in an attempt to get closer to her grandmother and to look for her roots. Carmen is concerned that her mother is dating a man and seems to be in love. Tibby is still getting over Bailey's death and is making a movie for a school project. Lena is hiding from her love for Kostos after breaking up with him.


Review: There really isn't one character that I like the most, but the character I can identify with the least is Carmen. She seems very frustrating because she is very passive aggressive and can react irrationally. Also, I think that the casting for the 2nd Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was spot on and perfect.

One line from Kostos really got to me - "Any place at any time if you are thinking of me, you can be sure that I am thinking of you." (p. 256). Though Kostos was annoying to me in this book, I really liked this line. I really felt for Lena, though I feel the narration is distant when it comes to her character. There is a certain intimacy I feel when reading about Tibby, Carmen, and Bridget that seems absent when it turns to Lena's story.

I loved this book! I can't say for sure if it's better than the first book in the series, but I do think I was more eager to start reading this one than the other. I already have the 3rd waiting for me but I think that I'll take a break and read something else!

Sweet Valley High #63: The New Elizabeth - Francine Pascal

Summary: Elizabeth is tired of being so predictable and safe. She wants to do something to be edgy. So naturally she looks to surfing. She ends up getting free lessons in an attempt to win a competition and win over her friends. Todd is jealous, especially since Elizabeth tells him that she is actually working on a marine biology project everyday.


Review: First of all, I hate this cover. Elizabeth's hair looks horrible, sort of like a mullet. Second, the plot of this book is lacking. I don't understand how Elizabeth can look at surfing as such a daredevil sport. Todd gets angry way too fast which is a bit disturbing.

Basically, nothing really changes in this book. Elizabeth learns to surf and impresses her friends and sister. Ultimately she decides that it's just not worth it to live such a daredevil life. Elizabeth sacrifices herself for no apparent reason, for the sake of "romance". It doesn't really make sense.

I would recommend other Sweet Valley High books before this one. It's not the best, but it's still entertaining.

Book of the Week Giveaway: Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters

This week I am giving away a gently used copy of Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Jane Austen & Ben H. Winters.

Why this is the book of the week: I chose this book because I love to see classics remixed. The addition of sea monsters to Sense and Sensibility gives the book an entirely new direction.

Nightlight Winner

The winner of a copy of Nightlight by The Harvard Lampoon is....


Amy Sumner!

I've emailed the winner and will be posting the next BOTW Giveaway shortly!

Gilmore Girls Reading Challenge

That's right, I've signed up for yet another reading challenge - the Gilmore Girls Reading Challenge. Fortunately I'll be able to overlap some of the books!

I'll be shooting for the Rory level, meaning I'll read at least 20 books from at least 4 different categories.

Here are the books I plan to read. I will bold them as I finish them:

Classics
1. Wuthering Heights – Bronte
2. Anna Karenina – Tolstoy
Children/Young Adult
3. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Carroll
4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower – Chbosky
Modern
5. Rebecca – Du Maurier
6. Gone with the Wind – Mitchell
7. The Bell Jar – Plath
8. The Fountainhead – Rand
Non-fiction
9. Tuesdays with Morrie – Albom
10. Helter Sketlter: The True Story of the Manson Murders – Bugliosi & Gentry
11. In Cold Blood – Capote
12. Living History – Clinton
13. The Second Sex – De Beauvoir
14. On the Road – Kerouac
Other
15. The House of Sand and Fog – Dubus
16. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? – Farrell
17. High Fidelity - Hornby
18. Girl, Interrupted - Kaysen
19. Rosemary’s Baby - Levin
20. Valley of the Dolls - Susann

2010 World Religion Challenge

The books I've read for the 2010 World Religion Challenge will be listed here! I decided to read about these religions on the Universalist path:

Buddhism
Christianity
Islam
Hinduism
Judaism
Plus various religions from the list on the challenge blog:
Shintoism, Animism, Taoism, Confucianism, Wicca, Mythology, Atheism, Occult, Tribal Religions, Voodoo, Unitarianism, Baha'i, Cults, Scientology, Mysticism, Rastafarianism, Jainism, Sikhism, Zorastrianism, Agnosticism, Gnosticism, Satanism, Manichaeism, Deism, Comparative Religion, Religious Philosophy, Jungiansim, Symbolism, Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, etc.

Books read:

Read Read Read-a-Thon Update 6

Time: 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Books completed: 0

I sort of stopped reading to eat and make a gingerbread house... which fell apart within 10 minutes.


Total books finished: 1
Total pages: 291

Read Read Read-a-Thon Update 5

Time: 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Books completed: 0
Books read: Jesus Land, The 2nd Summer of the Sisterhood, The Constant Priness, SVH #63: The New Elizabeth, My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding
Pages read: 130



Total books finished: 1
Total pages: 291

Read Read Read-a-Thon Update 4

Time: 1:15 pm - 3:00 pm

Books completed: 0

Books read: 12 Sharp, Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, Goodnight Nobody

Pages read: 97



Total books finished: 1
Total pages: 161

Read Read Read-a-Thon Update 3

Books completed: 0

Books read: My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding - P. N. Elrod (ed.)

Pages read: 30

Reviews written: 0

I also went to the post office, got some coffee, and read the new issue of Entertainment Weekly.


Total books finished: 1
Total pages: 64
Total reviews written: 1

Read-a-Thon: 10 - 11 AM

Books completed: Sweet Valley High #49: Playing for Keeps by Francine Pascal

Books read: Sweet Valley High #49: Playing for Keeps by Francine Pascal

Pages read: 34

Reviews written: 1

sweet Valley High #49: Playing for Keeps - Francine Pascal

I already finished a book for the read-a-thon!

Summary: Jessica has been acting more like Elizabeth to win over the heart of A. J. Morgan. She takes him bird watching and hiking instead of doing things she really wants to do. Eventually a girl named Pamela Janson decides she would like A. J. for herself after he saves her from the ocean. Pamela and Jessica face off during a runway show, and it might just be more dramatic than the season finale of America's Next Top Model where Caridee stepped on Melrose's dress and ripped it on accident.

Review: I have never seen a slam book with things like "Couples of the Future", but apparently these types of things are important in Sweet Valley. Jessica wants to be with A. J. so bad that she is willing to act like her sister to be with him. Honestly, I can't see why. He has no personality and doesn't sound (or look) attractive physically.

There is always one scene that is the highlight of a Sweet Valley book. In this book it happens to be Elizabeth playing the recorder.

This book tries to convey the message that you shouldn't change who you are to be with somebody. You shouldn't pretend to be somebody you are not. I think the message gets lost somewhere in the end, but it's most relevant in Elizabeth's talks with Jessica.

Jessica and Elizabeth are equally as annoying to me throughout most of the books, but Jessica gets her moment at the end. I actually really liked this.

Read Read Read-a-Thon Update

I'm a little late! But I'm getting started now!

Claudia Kishi Creation or Fashionista Flop?

In hopes I would pass I decided to take this quiz. Unfortunately I failed miserably. Try it and beat my score!

Claudia Kishi Creation or Fashionista Flop? Score: 44% (7 out of 16)

Romance Reading Challenge

I am signing up for yet another reading challenge! For the Romance Challenge hosted at Royal Reviews, I've signed up for the "Obsessed" level. That means I plan to read at least 20 romance fiction novels in 2010!

This is where I'll list my books read:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

Secret Santa

Today I received 3 amazing books from my Secret Santa, Emma from Don't Lose My Place.

Here's what she sent me:

I can't say which I'm most excited to read, but I've been very excited to read all 3 of these books so I'm very happy!




Thank you so much Emma for the books! I can't wait to read them!

What I'm Reading This Week...

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Jane Austen and Ben H. Winters

First sentence: The family of Dashwood had been settled in Sussex since before the Alteration, when the waters of the world grew cold and hateful to the sons of man, and darkness moved on the face of the deep.


Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich

First sentence: When I was twelve years old I accidentally substituted salt for sugar in a cake recipe.



Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner

First sentence: "Hello?" I tapped on Kitty Cavenaugh's red front door, then lifted the brass knocker and gave it a few thumps for good measure. "Hello?"





Jesus Land by Julia Scheeres

First sentence: It's just after three o'clock when we hit Country Road 50.





The Second Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares

First sentence: Once there were four girls who shared a pair of pants.





Sweet Valley High: Playing for Keeps by Francine Pascal

First sentence: Elizabeth Wakefield wrapped her arms around her knees and let out a blissful sigh.




My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding Edited by P. N. Elrod

First sentence: Hatti McCoy smoothed the front of her flowing white dress and sat down by an adjacent tree.

Twilight - Stephenie Meyer

I've already read the Twilight series, but I haven't reviewed the books so I decided to re-read each one with the purpose of writing a review!

Summary from the book: About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him - and I didn't know how dominant that part might be - that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.

Review: I really don't know where to start with the Twilight series. I see many great things in it and I see many flaws. I love the plot and the characters, but there are still elements of Stephenie Meyer's writing style and plot that irk me. I'm a fan of the series, but I can definitely understand the position of those who don't like the books.

I like Bella, but her character isn't as three-dimensional as I usually like narrators. Yes, Bella is clumsy and stubborn. But a lot of mundane things she does are out of character or just strange. One example is when she tells her dad that she decided not to go to Seattle, yet she doesn't consider that her father might come home early and notice she's gone, or anything like that. Maybe it doesn't seem like such a big deal, but sometimes little details like that distract me.

There are a lot of quotes that can be taken from the book that are just funny. Many of them revolve around the fact that Edward is too good-looking too often. Example: ... looking more like a Greek god than anyone had a right to..." (p. 206).

Stephenie Meyer's writing style involves many adjectives and adverbs that don't necessarily make sense in the context of the writing. I've seen many comparisons between Stephenie Meyer and J. K. Rowling, but one thing I am certain of is that Rowling is infinitely more skillful at writing than Meyer.

Even though the book is almost 500 pages long, it is a very quick read. I read each book of the series in one sitting.

The Twilight series isn't for everybody. There are a lot of aspects of the books that I just don't like, but there are also parts that I really like. I think this is a great series for reluctant readers because it has an interesting hook and down-to-earth style that I think some teenagers can identify with.

Searching for Whitopia: An Improbable Journey to the Heart of White America - Rich Benjamin

Summary from the book:

Between 2007 and 2009, Rich Benjamin, a journalist-adventurer, packed his bags and embarked on a 26,909-mile journey throughout the heart of white America, to some of the fastest-growing and whitest locales in our nation.

By 2042, whites will no longer be the American majority. As immigrant populations--largely people of color--increase in cities and suburbs, more and more whites are moving to small towns and exurban areas that are predominately, even extremely, white.

Rich Benjamin calls these enclaves "Whitopias" (pronounced: "White-o-pias").

His journey to unlock the mysteries of Whitopias took him from a three-day white separatist retreat with links to Aryan Nations in North Idaho to the inner sanctum of George W. Bush's White House--and many points in between. And to learn what makes Whitopias tick, and why and how they are growing, he lived in three of them (in Georgia, Idaho, and Utah) for several months apiece. A compelling raconteur, bon vivant, and scholar, Benjamin reveals what Whitopias are like and explores the urgent social and political implications of this startling phenomenon.

The glow of Barack Obama's historic election cannot obscure the racial and economic segregation still vexing America. Obama's presidency has actually raised the stakes in a battle royale between two versions of America: one that is broadly comfortable with diversity yet residentially segregated (ObamaNation) and one that does not mind a little ethnic food or a few mariachi dancers--as long as these trends do not overwhelm a white dominant culture.

Review: When I received a request to review this book it immediately appealed to me. The premise is interesting and it seemed like the author did a lot of research and made many observations. I was correct in assuming so.

This book is written very well and the information is presented in a very interesting way. Still, I found my attention wavering. Even though Rich Benjamin is able to talk about issues that some people get so heated about in such a calm and witty way, I found myself skimming many parts of the book.

Never before had I noticed the way groups of people are represented by metaphors - "flood", "invasion", and "tidal wave". Rich Benjamin also mentioned the way numbers influence people. The most interesting chapter was probably the one where the author visited a church that claimed that white people should only marry white people, black people should only marry black people, and so on.

The quote that stuck out to me the most: It's common to have racism without racists. (p. 185)

Overall, this book had an interesting take on an issue that many might overlook. I felt like I could trust the author and the tone was respectful but critical.

Book of the Week Giveaway: Nightlight

This week's book of the week and giveaway is Nightlight by The Harvard Lampoon.

Why? I chose this book because I just finished it last week! You can read my review here. I had both positive and negative things to say about it. Last week I offered a Twilight book, so I thought it was only fair that I offered a parody this week! I also chose it because I love parodies!

How to win: You can win by giving me some basic information like your name and email address, as well as by telling me what your favorite parody is, whether it be a book, Youtube video, movie, or television show!

Gossip Girl #1 - Vevily von Ziegesar

Summary from the book: . . . S is back from boarding school. Her hair is longer, paler. Her blue eyes have that deep mysteriousness of kept secrets. . . . If we aren't careful, S is going to win over our teachers, wear that dress we couldn't fit into, eat the last olive, spill Campari on our rugs, steal our brothers' and our boyfriends' hearts, and basically ruin our lives in a major way.

Review: When I started Gossip Girl I had already read and reviewed the 2nd in the series, so I had a general idea of what would happen. That being said, I still wasn't sure what to expect. Now I know that I want to keep reading the series.

My favorite character in the series so far is Serena. Serena and I are totally different from each other so her life is very intriguing to me. Blair is a bit annoying in her eagerness to fit in with others around her. Jenny has potential to be an interesting character but falls short at this point. I have a feeling that her character will be expanded in the rest of the series. Nate is interesting, and so is Dan.

This book is simple and quick to read. It only took me one sitting to finish. I noticed that the series is often found in the teen or young adult section of the bookstores and library, but it definitely does not seem aimed at the younger teens.

Unfortunately, there really doesn't seem to be a central plot in this book. It seems like the series is supposed to have a plot that goes from one book to the next with very little resolution in between. One example is that Serena wants to make a film because she does not get a part in Vanessa's film. The book doesn't follow through with this idea until the 2nd book in the series. This makes the book seem flat. Essentially all that happens in this book is the introduction of the characters and a hint at romantic tension. Also, Serena and Blair's feud begins. . . near the end of the book.

I like Ziegesar's writing style, but at times the narration is a bit cheesy. The rhetorical questions posed by the narrator can be annoying. The dialogue is shallow, but it's supposed to be shallow I suppose. The television show came out after the book was written, but this almost seems like it was written based on a TV show.

So you probably won't get much out of the book - it's not deep, it doesn't have a message for the reader, and it doesn't enrich your life in any way. But I would recommend it for a light and quick read. The best thing I can say about the book is that it's fun.

What's in a Name? 3 Challenge

Here are the categories for the What's in a Name 3 Challenge. I'll fill in the books I've read as I read them!

1. Food -
2. Body of water -
3. Title -
4. Plant -
5. Place name -
6. Music term -

The challenge runs from Jan. 1st to Dec. 31st! I'm very excited to get started!

To sign up, visit the What's in a Name? 3 Challenge Blog!