I'm Home. School Tomorrow. D: My Future.

So, like I expected, I wasn't able to update much for the past few weeks. 

Here's a basic summary of what's been up: I did my AP Lit homework during the mornings and afternoons; my cousins from VA came over last Monday; my cousins and everyone in my family except me went to FL to go to the beach on Tuesday (they left at 3 in the morning O__O) and came back Wednesday night while I worked and finished reading my last AP Lit book; after dropping my cousins off at the airport on Thursday, my dad and sis dropped me off at my grandma's house where I stayed there (and at Megan and Nicole's house at night where we ate, read, watched dramas and music shows; they're really into Miss A) until today when Shelle came up with her bf and Vi; we ate at Happy Valley where we saw an old family friend (Ba Loan) who was one of the servers; then went to the Mall of GA to return this pair of Toms that Shelle couldn't fit at Nordstrom that Megan and Nicole bought for her as a late birthday gift and then spent a short amount of time shopping (I finally found a bag that I could wear to school); then we ate fruit bingsoo, potbingsoo, and a waffle at the Arte 3 Cafe, which had some redecorating since the last time I saw it (and it was a lot more crowded, too); after that, we went home.

Ever since I came home, I've been doing random last minute stuff for getting ready for school tomorrow, like putting paper in my AP Lit binder, which is already going to be graded tomorrow for all of the summer assignments we had and finding pens and pencils that I'm planning on bringing to school. Hard work, I know. :P

Also, everybody's been asking me if I'm ready for school since it's tomorrow and all that. Why do I keep on getting exasperated sighs and/or anger whenever I tell them "No, I'm not ready.... I want it to be summer longer"? My mom told me that I better not tell my dad that or else he'd get really mad, and I'm wondering why?

Just because I'm going to be a senior doesn't mean that I'm going to be happy about it. I still don't know what major I want to do, and I still don't know what college I want to go to. And it sucks because I honestly don't know what type of career I want to go into. I thought that I wanted to do something in computers, but I'm not sure if I'll like it since the computer classes I took at school were nothing like what I thought I wanted to major in. Plus, my dad's been trying to persuade me into being a land lawyer or an accountant ever since he couldn't get through to Shelle. People have been telling me and persuading me into going into this career or that major or telling me that I should screw my parents and do whatever I want or else I'd never be happy, but I don't know what I want to do.

I'm an indecisive person. I hardly ever know what I want (besides the basic necessities), especially for my future. I'm always busy or preoccupied doing something that I never really have time to research or question myself what type of future career I want to get into. 

All I know is that I love reading. I can't go a day without reading something. And I know that whatever profession there is for a booklover like me, it won't pay as much as I want it to, and I know that I'll probably end up losing my passion for reading, which is something that I really don't want to happen.

I like reading, but I don't want a job in that type of career; I like writing, but I know that I could never only be a writer; I like math, but I'm pants at remembering formulas for long periods of time; I like science, but I can't retain the information for long periods of time; I like history, but I suck at remembering dates; I'm pretty sure I'd like psychology, if I ever take the class. There's not much that I dislike. But I'm never great at any particular thing or subject, except reading. 

See the problem here?

I'm gonna go. I don't even know how or why I started writing/ranting about all of this. If it was to look for answers, it didn't help. -__-"

Later.

pointy.star

Mini Reviews: Pandora Hearts, Vol. 1 (Pandora Hearts #1), Stolen, Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty (Triple Shot Bettys, #1), Oh. My. Gods. (Oh. My. Gods. #1)

Title: Pandora Hearts, Vol. 1 (Pandora Hearts #1)
Author: Jun Mochizuki
Pages: 192
Publication: December 15, 2009
Publisher: Yen Press
Summary taken from goodreads: 

The air of celebration surrounding fifteen-year-old Oz Vessaliuss coming-of-age ceremony quickly turns to horror when he is condemned for a sin about which he know nothing. Thrown into the Abyss - an eternal prison from which here is no escape - Oz meets a young girl named Alice who is not what she seems. Now that the relentless cogs of fate have begun to turn, will they lead only to crushing despair for Oz, or will Alice provide him with some shred of hope?

4 STARS - I REALLY LIKED IT

MY REVIEW: 

I watched the anime last year and have finally gotten around to reading the manga version. Can't decide which I like better since the anime followed the book very closely. Either way, Pandora Hearts is a great series to watch out for. There's great art, a mysterious plot, complex characters, and compelling storytelling.

Title: Stolen
Author: Lucy Christopher
Pages: 299
Publication: May 1, 2010
Publisher: The Chicken House
Summary taken from goodreads: 

Gemma, 16, is on layover at Bangkok Airport, en route with her parents to a vacation in Vietnam. She steps away for just a second, to get a cup of coffee. Ty - rugged, tan, too old, oddly familiar - pays for Gemma's drink. And drugs it. They talk. Their hands touch. And before Gemma knows what's happening, Ty takes her. Steals her away. The unknowing object of a long obsession, Gemma has been kidnapped by her stalker and brought to the desolate Australian Outback. 

Stolen is her gripping story of survival, of how she has to come to terms with her living nightmare - or die trying to fight it.

2 STARS - IT WAS OKAY

MY REVIEW: 

The summary sounded so intriguing and original. I was so excited to read it. Maybe also because I was planning on reading it when I was at the airport...although that didn't end up happening.

Anyway, I ended up not being that interested in the book. The beginning managed to capture my attention, but after that, I quickly lost interest. I had to keep on forcing myself to read a little more just to see if I really wanted to quit the book or not. By the time I realized that I didn't care for the book anymore and was tired of forcing myself to read a book when I had so many more books to choose from, I was already more than halfway done with the book, so I made myself finish it since I didn't want all of my time spent on this book to be wasted for nothing.

Don't get me wrong, Stolen wasn't poorly written or had terrible characters. In fact, the author had created real, dynamic characters that I could both understood and sympathized with and the book was written in an honest, raw style that I liked very much. However, the book just wasn't compelling enough for me, especially since I had to force myself to read the majority of the book. It just wasn't something that I'd like to read.

Even though Stolen isn't my type of book, I know that a lot of people will enjoy it. It's all in their preferences.

Title: Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty (Triple Shot Bettys, #1)
Author: Jody Gehrman
Pages: 255
Publication: April 17, 2008
Publisher: Dial
Summary taken from goodreads: 

Geena can't wait to spend summer vacation with her two best girls: her friend Amber and her cousin Hero. All three are working at the Triple Shot Betty coffee shop together, but the moment Amber and Hero meet, the claws come out. They hate each other on sight. Geena's dreams of a girl-bonding summer fl y out the window, and then threaten to disappear completely when a few cute (okay, drop-dead gorgeous) guys come along to woo the Bettys. But all is not what it seems, and in a story of mistaken identities, crazy summer high jinks, and enough romance to make Shakespeare proud, Geena and her friends learn that when Bettys unite, they can take on the most powerful force in their world: a hot guy.

3.5 STARS - I LIKED IT 

MY REVIEW: 

I remember reading someone's post a while ago about how she wanted books to be more realistic citing some examples such as wanting to read about characters who were actually hungry or who had to use the bathroom and stuff like that. If I ever remember where I read that post or who wrote it, I would definitely recommend this book to her because not only does Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty depict most of the daily natures that people go through (using the bathroom, having a zit, etc.), but Jody Gehrman manages to write them in such a hilarious way that you can't help but snort out loud as you read it.

While the first half of the book was light and humorous, the second half was much more serious. Though, if anything, it was even more engaging and compelling than the first half as the climax reached its point.

I really enjoyed this book, and I think that it was very well-written, especially considering that this was the author's debut YA book. Can't wait to read the sequel!

Title: Oh. My. Gods. (Oh. My. Gods. #1)
Author: Tera Lynn Childs
Pages: 264
Publication: May 1, 2008
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Summary taken from goodreads: 

A modern girl's comedic odyssey in a school filled with the descendants of Greek gods. 

When Phoebe's mom returns from Greece with a new husband and moves them to an island in the Aegean, Phoebe's plans for her senior year and track season are ancient history. Now she must attend the uberexclusive academy, where admission depends on pedigree, namely, ancestry from Zeus, Hera, and other Greek gods. That's right, they're real, not myth, and their teen descendants are like the classical heroes—supersmart and superbeautiful with a few superpowers. And now they're on her track team! Armed only with her Nikes and the will to win, Phoebe races to find her place among the gods.

4 STARS - I REALLY LIKED IT

MY REVIEW: 

A quick, fun read that had great, snorting-induced funny moments.

Didn't end with a cliffhanger, so I'm actually interested in what's going to happen to Phoebe in the next book.

In My Mailbox (33)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

I can't believe that it's been a couple of months since I did my last IMM post! But, this is all of the books that I got since then. Not much compared to how much I usually get in a few months, but it's okay since I haven't been feeling much up to reading until just recently again. Plus, I still have piles of TBR books lying around my room to read. :P

For review: 

Past Midnight by Mara Purnhagen

My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody

The Girl is Murder by Kathryn Miller Haines

White Crow by Marcus Sedgwick

Paradise by Jill S. Alexander
Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

Won from Hello Ello: 

Huntress by Malinda Lo (signed!)

Fury of the Phoenix by Cindy Pon (signed!)

swag + bag

From the library:

Chiggers by Hope Larson

Black Juice by Margo Lanagan

Reckless by Cornelia Funke

Virals by Kathy Reichs


Bought:
Skinned by Robin Wasserman
Crashed by Robin Wasserman
Timeless Voices by Various Authors

The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan
A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker
The Unidentified by Rae Mariz
The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver
Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
Forever by Maggie Stiefvator
Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly

I really shouldn't have checked anything out from the library since I have so much to read, but I couldn't help myself since my old library had recently moved into an even bigger building, so my sis and I just had to check it out. And end up checking out a few books ourselves. :P

busy busy busy reading reading reading

I know that I've been absent for the last week, but it's because I've been really busy. Busy practicing driving, hanging out with friends, and reading reading reading. Reading my AP books, library books, my books, fanfiction, blogs. Lots of reading. And sporadically cleaning my room since my cousins from Virginia are coming Monday afternoon and are staying until Friday.

Since I've been procrastinating and haven't been feeling like reading until recently, I hadn't bothered to read any of my required readings for AP Lit, which is why I'm forced to spend my mornings and afternoons reading and taking notes on the books. I've finished reading two of the three books, but I still have to do a lot of paperwork for the one that I just finished reading today, and I really don't have much time to work on it since people are coming over soon. 

Plus, school starts on August 1st, so I've really got to get my act together and finish reading all of the books by then. Hopefully, I'll also be able to read some of the Brit Lit stuff I was also supposed to read over the summer since I didn't take the class last year.

Completely off topic, some of my cousins are staying in my room while they're staying over here. I have NO IDEA what to do with my piles of books. Really, there's no where to put them. Certainly not in my closet (there's enough books in there as it is!) and definitely not under my bed (there's not enough room since there's so much junk under there, and half of it isn't even mine! Really, Shelle needs to stop giving me her crap that we "share"). 

Everyone's right; I really do have a mini library in my room. -__-"

Anyway, I just wanted to say that the next few weeks will probably be pretty hectic, although Mommy said that the family and cousins were going to the beach in Florida, and I asked her if I could stay home to do my AP homework, and she said yes, which means that I could have a few days to myself... which would be awesome. Must ask the dad first to see if he will agree to let me fend for myself for a few days. :P

I'm quite tired of the beach. Went to the beach plenty of times in Vietnam. I've had my fill of it for the summer. 

Now, I'm going to continue reading Beauty Queens by Libba Bray, because it is amusing while at the same time terribly tragic that some girls really are that empty-headed and shallow. And I'm only on page 13. :c

Ta~

pointy.star

Harry Potter. The End. ;__;

I can't believe that the Harry Potter series is officially over. I mean, the last book came out years ago, but until the movies were finished, I never considered the series to be over. And now it is.

You know, when I first watch Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 10 years ago, I was only 7. I don't remember if I was super excited about the movie since I had never read the books at that young of an age, but I do remember knowing that I really liked the movie. My sis and I liked it enough to play pretend with our family friends after watching the movie.

But one thing I know for sure is that I had never thought that Harry Potter would grow to be so important to me as I grew up along with the characters.

Harry Potter was what brought me into the world of fanfiction. It was also the catalyst for my writing since I read so much fanfics about the characters that I wanted to include my own characters in there. Even though I haven't written anything for a while, I was looking through some of my old writings from middle school, and I really want to start writing again.

Although HP didn't help me through some life-changing event that would define my purpose in life, it's still really important to me. I grew up with them.

I'm not a die-hard fan who knows every little detail of the book [actually, I totally forgot everything that happened in the last book except for the end -__-"] or who can quote memorable lines from the books or movies, but I am a fan no less. Which is why I'm going to the the midnight premiere with my friends wearing my Gryffindor shirt that my sis gave me for my birthday. :P

Anyway, I still believe that it's finally over. I still can't believe how much everyone's changed and grown over the past decade. It really is like seeing long-distance friends every once in a while and noticing all of their changes.

Can you believe how young everyone was back in the first movie?

at the premiere in England

look at them now, so grown up

Annnnddd, now back to funny pics because I can't stand being any more sad about this. :P

Again, Rebecca Black. Nuff said. :P

#1 XD

XD

lol, you don't even know.

so awesome! :c

lol, pickup lines are da best~

I would soo join his side if that's what they were really planning. :P

too awesome!

genius. pure genius.

burn!!

rotflmao XD

helps refresh the memory :)

story of my life, yo :L

Now I really have to go. Emily's coming over soon, and we're gonna catch up since we both went out of the country this summer and hang out til later tonight to go to the movie premiere (apparently, the theater's having a party before the showing :D), and I just remembered that I needed to post this, lol. 


Can't wait til midnight! 


Later!




pointy.star

Harry Potter Hilarity

WARNING: THIS IS A VERY LONG POST FULL OF PICTURES AND SMILES. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. :P

HARRY POTTER TOMORROW NIGHT. I'M SO FRICKEN EXCITED. XD

Actually, Shelle and I bought the tickets in advanced a few days after we came home from Vietnam and saw a sign at the movie theaters near our house that said that they were already selling advanced tickets. Was $12.50 per ticket, but WORTH IT.

GONNA WATCH IT IN 3D, BABY! MIDNIGHT PREMIERE AND EVERYTHING! WOOT! :L

It's gonna suck having to wear two pairs of glasses (I should have convinced my mom to get me contacts when we were in Vietnam, man :P), but it will be worth it.

Like I mentioned in my last post, I spent quite some time looking at hilarious Harry Potter pics, most of them coming from tumblr. I have to share it on here, they're so funny and heartbreaking and I can't believe that this is the end. D:

But most of the pics are rotflmao funny because HP fans are the most creative, hilarious beings out there who know how to poke fun at their favorite characters. :)

So, sit back and be prepared for a serious case of the chuckles and cackles -- with a sprinkle of nostalgia and tears.

so truuueee~

it makes sense! :c

XD

lolz, so punny :L

omg, I died laughing!

bed intruder song ftw!

iknowright?! XD

so sad! ;__;

D:

:c

lolz, Rebecca Black. nuff said.

That's all for today. I still have a lot of HP pics that I want to share, but I thought that this would be enough for today. :P

Catch ya later~

pointy.star