Last day of the year and what have I been doing? o__O

Only a couple of hours until the new year. What are you doing to celebrate? Better yet, are you even going to celebrate?

This morning, Shelle went to Atlanta to spend New Year's Eve with her friends and boyfriend. She's going to visit our grandparents in a few days and give them our presents while she's up there in the next few days.

Also this morning, my parents and bro went up to Atlanta, too, to spend the night with some friends since they weren't able to do that a couple of weeks ago when they had originally planned it.

As for me, I had to wake up early to help Shelle put all of the presents in her car, and then I went back to sleep until my mom told me to wake up since I had to babysit. Well, my parents told me that I could go to Atlanta with Shelle if I wanted to, but I declined since I didn't want to tag along with her while she hung out with her friends. Plus, I was still really tired and didn't want to pack and get ready.

I really need to stop sleeping around three in the morning...

So, what shall I do to celebrate the new year since I'm home alone tonight? I guess I could make some hot chocolate and watch the ball drop on TV...

I think I'll go for a walk around the neighborhood. I have yet to wear any of the hats I had recieved for Christmas, although last week, I finally got to use the headphones earmuffs that Shanice had given. :)

What did I do last year on New Year's Eve? I think I was home alone back then, too...

For the past few days, I haven't really been in a reading mood. Instead, I've been watching a lot of anime. -__-"

The other day, I started watching Shiki (TV) and Starry Sky, but I gave up on them after the first two episodes since they both didn't really interest me after all and I couldn't bring myself to watch anymore of either of them.

So then I started watching Guilty Crown, and I really liked it, although it wasn't until I finished watching the last episode online that I found out that there's one more episode, and it won't be released until near the end of January. SO now I have to wait forever to watch it. :(

The main reason why I liked the anime was because of the soundtrack, lol. I really liked all of the music played in it. The opening song of the first episode was really great even though it changed to something else for the rest of the episodes. The ending song was also good, and the music for all of the fighting scenes were very fitting and helped with the story.

My main problem was with the protagonist, Shu. He was such a pansy at times! It was irritating! But the great art and music made up for it in the end. :P

After I finished watching Guilty Crown (it was only 11 episodes long) and finished watching The Help (which I also really enjoyed), I started to watch Nabari no Ou yesterday. I finished watching all 26 episodes a couple of hours ago, and I really liked it.

I had originally read the first chapter of the manga years ago when it was first scanlated, but I kind of forgot about it after I moved and got interested in Kpop and busy with school. I had downloaded the anime last year, though, when I had found out that the anime was finished and subbed, so I finally watched it since I wanted to watch more anime instead of reading (although I still ended up reading a book called True (...sort of) by Katherine Hannigan--it's really good, too!).

But yeah, I was interested because of the art and the plot (I'm a sucker for ninja manga, lol) and especially because of the main character, Miharu, who was unlike any protagonist I had read about; he was apathetic.

So yeah, the anime was great. Instead of focusing on lots of action, the plot focused more on emotions and relationships and uncovering the truth. There were enough action scenes to keep it tense, and enough comedic scenes to keep it from being too serious, which undoubtedly helped the mood from being so depressing.

And the ending! I'm both sad and happy at what happened! D:

I found out on mangaupdates that the anime was only based on the first seven volumes of the manga, and since the manga is completed at 14 volumes, I'm going to read the manga as soon as I can (and maybe after I finish reading a pile of my TBR books first -__-").

Hmm...I should have just done a mini review on the anime...nah, I'm too lazy to go find all of the nesecarry info and format it. I'll just use this post. :P

I really want to watch the second season of Fringe, but I don't think that it'd be a good idea since school is starting soon. :( I guess I should just read some more, huh.

I forgot to mention, the other day, before I started watching anime (the days have been blurring together lately; I don't specifically remember which day I did what -__-"), I rearranged my bookshelves a bit.

Since the crate that housed all of my DVDs was growing too full, I decided to use a second crate to hold the excess DVDs, so I took all of my ARCs out of their crate and put them onto my books-I've-read bookcase. 

the newly arranged crates :D

Only, there wasn't enough room, so I took all of my "other" books (the ones that didn't fit any of the other genre shelves on the bookcase) and moved it to my other bookcase which mainly had TBR books on it. I moved my books-I-won-in-contests shelf down one shelf and put the "other" books in their old space.

my books-I've-read bookcase :D

Since I ran out of space for the books that used to be at the bottom shelf, I had to put them over in a pile on the other side of my bed with the rest of my TBR books. Even though I finally got my books-that-I-want-to-sell pile to shrink over the break, the added pile makes my piles of TBR books look even more crowded. :( [yeah... I don't think you could handle seeing all of my TBR piles, lol, so no picture! :P]

I really need to read. A LOT. No more buying books until I can successfully finish a pile of books. I think that's my New Year's Resolution for this year, lol. Watch me break it in a few weeks to buy Hallowed and the sequel to Angelfire. :P

On another random note, an ice cream truck came today, which was really odd since it's the middle of winter. o__O But then again, it hasn't been that cold all break...

Anyway, I think it's time to make that hot chocolate. Happy New Years!

pointy.star

2012 Book Challenges

2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge

"We all have those books. We buy them, win them, they're gifted to us.. Then we put them up on a bookshelf and there they stay, collecting dust, waiting for the time when we'll finally decide to pick them up..

Join us on a quest to dust off your TBR Pile and read all the books you've been telling yourself you'll read next time you'll get a chance.. This is your chance! And we've got PRIZES!!! :D"

Other info & sign-ups for the challenge: click here.

Challenge guidelines:

1. This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012.
2. As we would like to see quality reviews linked up to our monthly wrap-ups, only bloggers can enter. Sorry about that!
3. Any genre, length or format of book counts, as long as it is a book that's been sitting on your shelf for some time now. Only books released in 2011 and earlier! NO ARCs and 2012 fresh-off-the-press releases allowed!
4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.
5. When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the 2012 TBR PILE Reading Challenge (You need to include the info + host list + challenge button. You can also grab the button code and add it to your sidebar!)
6. You can move up levels, but no moving down.
7. Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2012, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.
8. At the end of each month one of the hosts will post a wrap-up. Every wrap-up will have it's unique theme, a mini-challenge, a giveaway and place for you to link up your reviews from this month. For each review you link up, you will get one entry in a drawing of one book of choice from Book Depository. It's open to INTERNATIONALS. For participating in the mini-challenge you will get +1 entry.
9. If you miss a wrap-up post + giveaway, you can link up your reviews next month. Do not, however, try to link up one review twice - we will be checking ;)
10. December is a wrap-up for the whole year. All the book reviews you linked up January-November + the ones you'll link up in December will be entered into a HUGE giveaway - 12 books, 12 winners, INTERNATIONAL.
11. You don't have to follow all the hosts to join the challenge, but you do have to follow all of us to be entered in giveaways!

Levels:

1-10 - A Firm Handshake

11-20 - A Friendly Hug

21-30 - A Sweet Kiss

31-40 - Love At First Sight

41-50 - Married With Children

I'm doing Married With Children since my TBR pile only seems to be increasing. I know that I have over 200 books in my TBR pile, which means plenty of books to choose from, so I'm pretty sure I'll be able to finish this challenge pretty quick. :)

Also, I did a challenge called Off the Shelf this year that's similar to this but without the prizes and stuff, but I decided to just do this challenge since it would be pointless to do two of the same challenges.

1. The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge
2. DJ Rising by Love Maia
3. Courtney Crumrin and The Night Things vol. 1 by Ted Naifeh
4. Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly
5. The Avalon Chronicles vol. 1 by Nunzio DeFilippis, Christina Weir, & Emma Vieceli
6. Wither by Lauren DeStefano
7. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
8. Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton
9. After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick
10. Girl, Stolen by April Henry
11. Firespell by Chloe Neill
12. Allison Hewitt is Trapped by Madeleine Roux
13. Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly
14. Fade by Lisa McMann
15. Gone by Lisa McMann
16. Impossible by Nancy Werlin
17. 13 to Life by Shannon Delany
18. Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going
19. Secrets and Shadows by Shannon Delany
20. The Naughty List by Suzanne Young
21. So Many Boys by Suzanne Young
22. Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund
23. The Returners by Gemma Malley
24. Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann
25. Blood Ninja by Nick Lake
26. She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott
27. Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers
28. Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon
29. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous 
30. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
31. The Next Door Boys by Jolene B. Perry
32. The House of Dead Maids by Clare B. Dunkle
33. Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd edited by Holly Black & Cecil Castellucci
34. Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma
35. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
36. Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors
37. The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
38. Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey
39. Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey
40. Out for Blood by Alyxandra Harvey
41. Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John
42. Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready
43. Free? by Amnesty International
44. The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver
45. Glimmerglass by Jenna Black
46. The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder
47. Nothing by Janne Teller
48. Supernaturally by Kiersten White
49. Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers
50. Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren
51. Cascade by Lisa T. Bergren
52. Torrent by Lisa T. Bergren
53. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Completely Contemp Challenge 2012

This reading challenge aims to fit a few more contemporary novels into your reading schedule throughout the year!

The Completely Contemp Challenge asks YOU to choose the number of contemporary books you read in 2012 (with 3 being the minimum). When setting your goal, you choose a number 1-99 and insert that into the categories:

YOUR NUMBER of contemporary books published in 2010

YOUR NUMBER of contemporary books published in 2011

YOUR NUMBER of contemporary books published in 2012

I'm doing 10! If I wasn't trying to save money and shrink my TBR pile, I would up my number to 14 or 20 or something, lol. This list is most likely going to change. Books that are crossed out means that I've read them.

Books from 2010:

1. Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols
2. Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
3. Sea by Heidi R. Kling
4. Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter
5. The Naughty List by Suzanne Young
6. So Many Boys by Suzanne Young 
7. The Snowball Effect by Holly Nicole Hoxter
8. Girl, Stolen by April Henry
9. Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers
10. Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupala
11. The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June by Robin Benway
12. Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John
13. Take Me There by Carolee Dean
14. Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler
15. Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder
16. She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott
17. Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles
18. After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick
19. Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly
20. Free? by Amnesty International
21. Nothing by Janne Teller

Books from 2011:

1. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
2. Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma
3. Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski
4. Girl Wonder by Alexa Martin
5. The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder
6. Melody Burning by Whitley Strieber
7. Saving June by Hannah Harrington
8. 12 Things to Do Before You Crash and Burn by James Proimos
9. The Next Door Boys by Jolene B. Perry
10. Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally
11. Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

Books from 2012:

1. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
2. DJ Rising by Love Maia
3. Dead to You by Lisa McMann
4. The Boy Recession by Flynn Meaney
5. Being Friends With Boys by Terra Elan McVoy

2012 E-Book Reading Challenge

From January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012 

Here are the rules:


1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. Create a post about the challenge and link your challenge post up in the linky below.
--Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post.


2. There are four levels:
--The Mini E-Book Challenge – Read 5 E-Books.
--The "Fun Size" E-Book Challenge – Read 10 E-Books.
--The Jumbo Size E-Book Challenge – Read 20 E-Books.
--The Mega Size E-Book Reading Challenge - Read 25+ E-Books.


3. No Audio or Print books.


4. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.


5. The Challenge starts on January 1, 2012 and goes until December 31, 2012.

Sign up here!

I'm going to do the Jumbo Size challenge because even though I'm trying to read more of my actual books this year, I still want to read as many ebooks as I can since I have so many already on my Kindle Touch.

1. Courtney Crumrin and The Night Things vol. 1 by Ted Naifeh
2. The Avalon Chronicles vol. 1 by Nunzio DeFilippis, Christina Weir, & Emma Vieceli
3. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
4. Friends With Boys by Faith Erin Hicks
5. Giants Beware! by Jorge Aguirre & Rafael Rosado
6. The Girl Who Owned a City by O.T. Nelson, Dan Jolley, Joelle Jones, and Jenn Manley Lee
7. Skyfall by Michael Dahl
8. The Last Dragon by Jane Yolen, Rebecca Guay 
9. Puella Magi Madoka Magica vol. 1 by Magica Quartet
10. Puella Magi Madoka Magica vol. 2 by Magica Quartet
11. Puella Magi Madoka Magica vol. 3 by Magica Quartet
12. The Assassin and the Pirate Lord by Sarah J. Maas
13. Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne
14. Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren
15. Cascade by Lisa T. Bergren
16. Torrent by Lisa T. Bergren

2012 Audio Book Challenge

Weclcome to the Orignial Audio Book Challenge formerly hosted by Alaine at Queen of Happy Endings. This challenge is for Audio Book lovers as well as those who are brand new to them.


There are four levels to the challenge:

• Flirting-Listen to 6 Audio Books
• Going Steady- Listen to 12 Audio Books
• Lover- Listen to 25 Audio Books
• Married-Listen to +++ Audio Books

Official Challenge dates: 1/1/2012-12/31/2012

Sign up here!

A while ago, I posted about how I've become interested in listening to audio books instead of just reading, so I've decided to do a challenge to make sure that I stay committed and actually try to listen to more audio books next year, which is why I'm doing the Going Study level; at least one audio book a month. 

1. Wither by Lauren DeStefano
2. Seizure by Kathy Reichs
3. Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

Manga/Graphic Novel/Video Game Novel Challenge 2012

Challenge Details:

• This challenge will run from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. You can sign up at any time.
• You do NOT need a blog to participate as long as you have a Goodreads page or somewhere that you can review the books that you have read. Nor do you have to live in the United States.
• You do NOT have to read an ARC, or books published in 2012. And all book formats are acceptable, print, digital/ebooks, etc.
• Any book counts as long as it fits into one of the 3 chosen categories: Manga (all types of comic books are acceptable), Graphic Novels, Video Game Based Novels (Such as books based off of Warhammer, World of Warcraft, HALO, Mass Effect, Dungeons and Dragons, etc).
• If you are participating in more than one challenge, books are allowed to cross over into this challenge.
• Every month in 2012, I will make a post for the Manga/Graphic Novel/Video Game Novels Reading Challenge 2012 (M/G/V for short) on the last day of the month so you can link your reviews. Based on participation, monthly link ups may be combined.

Challenge Guidelines:

• If you have a blog, create a post announcing your participation in the challenge. Please include a link back to this post (from your actual post announcing your participation in the challenge, not a link to your blog) and grab a challenge button.
• Non bloggers: participate by linking up your profile URL from the site you plan to post your reviews on such as Facebook, Goodreads, Shelfari, LibraryThing, Amazon, etc.
• You can list your books in advance or list them as you read them, the choice is yours.
• Crossovers to other reading challenges are acceptable.
• You can choose to read books from each of the categories (as explained below) or you can read books from a combination of 1 or 2 of the categories (ex: if you are not interested in reading Video Game Tie-in’s but read a lot of Manga or GN’s). For instance you can read 11 graphic novels and 1 video game based novel. Or, all the books can come from one category. The choice is yours as long as you are reading!

5 Challenge Levels (based on Video Game Settings of Course):

• Level 1 Arcade Gamer – Casual Player
• Read 4 books from each category or Read a total of 12 books from 1 or 2 categories.
• Level 2 Tomb Raider- Normal Player
• Read 8 books from each category or Read a total of 24 books from 1 or 2 categories.
• Level 3 Warcraft – Hardcore Player
• Read 12 books from each category or Read a total of 36 books from 1 or 2 categories.
• Level 4 Call of Duty – Veteran Player
• Read 16 books from each category or Read a total of 48 books from 1 or 2 categories.
• Level 5 HALO Style – Legendary Player
• Read 20 books from each category or Read a total of 60 books from 1 or 2 categories.

You can sign up here!

I'm going to do Level 5 since I've already read more than 60 manga and graphic novels this year. I think I'll try to read more graphic novels this year, though. 

1. Courtney Crumrin and The Night Things vol. 1 by Ted Naifeh
2. The Avalon Chronicles vol. 1 by Nunzio DeFilippis, Christina Weir, & Emma Vieceli
3. Koakuma Lion by Shou Ichikawa
4. Zombie-Loan vol. 1 by Peach-Pit
5. Zombie-Loan vol. 2 by Peach-Pit
6. Zombie-Loan vol. 3 by Peach-Pit
7. S.L.H (Stray Love Hearts) vol. 1 by Aya Shouoto
8. S.L.H (Stray Love Hearts) vol. 2 by Aya Shouoto
9. S.L.H (Stray Love Hearts) vol. 3 by Aya Shouoto
10. S.L.H (Stray Love Hearts) vol. 4 by Aya Shouoto
11. S.L.H (Stray Love Hearts) vol. 5 by Aya Shouoto
12. Friends With Boys by Faith Erin Hicks
13. Death Note vol. 6 by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata
14. Death Note vol. 7 by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata
15. Death Note vol. 8 by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata
16. Death Note vol. 9 by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata
17. Death Note vol. 10 by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata
18. Death Note vol. 11 by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata
19. Death Note vol. 12 by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata
20. Death Note vol. 13 by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata
21. Giants Beware! by Jorge Aguirre & Rafael Rosado
22. The Girl Who Owned a City by O.T. Nelson, Dan Jolley, Joelle Jones, and Jenn Manley Lee
23. Dengeki Daisy vol. 1 by Kyousuke Motomi
24. Dengeki Daisy vol. 2 by Kyousuke Motomi
25. Dengeki Daisy vol. 3 by Kyousuke Motomi
26. Dengeki Daisy vol. 4 by Kyousuke Motomi
27. Dengeki Daisy vol. 5 by Kyousuke Motomi 
28. Dengeki Daisy vol. 6 by Kyousuke Motomi
29. Dengeki Daisy vol. 7 by Kyousuke Motomi
30. Dengeki Daisy vol. 8 by Kyousuke Motomi
31. Dengeki Daisy vol. 9 by Kyousuke Motomi
32. The Last Dragon by Jane Yolen, Rebecca Guay 
33. Tanpopo Collection vol. 1 by Camilla d'Errico
34. Puella Magi Madoka Magica vol. 1 by Magica Quartet
35. Puella Magi Madoka Magica vol. 2 by Magica Quartet
36. Puella Magi Madoka Magica vol. 3 by Magica Quartet
37. Level Up by Gene Luen Yang
38. Harvey by Herve Bouchard & Janice Nadeau
39. Foiled by Jane Yolen & Mike Cavallaro
40. Maximum Ride vol. 4 by NaRae Lee & James Patterson
41. Maximum Ride vol. 5 by NaRae Lee & James Patterson
42. Happy Cafe vol. 1 by Kou Matsuzuki
43. Happy Cafe vol. 2 by Kou Matsuzuki
44. Happy Cafe vol. 3 by Kou Matsuzuki
45. Happy Cafe vol. 4 by Kou Matsuzuki
46. Happy Cafe vol. 5 by Kou Matsuzuki
47. Happy Cafe vol. 6 by Kou Matsuzuki
48. Happy Cafe vol. 7 by Kou Matsuzuki
49. Happy Cafe vol. 8 by Kou Matsuzuki
50. Happy Cafe vol. 9 by Kou Matsuzuki
51. Happy Cafe vol. 10 by Kou Matsuzuki
52. Happy Cafe vol. 11 by Kou Matsuzuki
53. Happy Cafe vol. 12 by Kou Matsuzuki 
54. Happy Cafe vol. 13 by Kou Matsuzuki
55. Happy Cafe vol. 14 by Kou Matsuzuki
56. La Corda D'Oro vol. 12 by Yuki Kure
57. La Corda D'Oro vol. 13 by Yuki Kure
58. La Corda D'Oro vol. 14 by Yuki Kure
59. La Corda D'Oro vol. 15 by Yuki Kure
60. Happy Cafe vol. 15 by Kou Matsuzuki
61. Nineteen, Twenty-One by Han Yu
62. The Secret Notes of Lady Kanoko vol. 1 by Ririko Tsujita
63. The Secret Notes of Lady Kanoko vol. 2 by Ririko Tsujita
64. The Secret Notes of Lady Kanoko vol. 3 by Ririko Tsujita
65. Koi Dano Ai Dano vol. 1 by Ririko Tsujita
66. Koi Dano Ai Dano vol. 2 by Ririko Tsujita
67. Koi Dano Ai Dano vol. 3 by Ririko Tsujita

150+ Reading Challenge for 2012

DETAILS/RULES:

1. The goal is to read 150 or more books. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. Posting on GoodReads or wherever you post your reviews is good enough.

2. Allowed are: Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Manga, Graphic Novels, Library books, Novellas, Young Reader, Nonfiction – as long as the book has an ISBN or equivalent or can be purchased as such, the book counts.

What doesn't count: Individual short stories or individual books in the Bible and comic books.

3. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

4. Crossovers from other reading challenges count.

5. Challenge begins January 1st, 2012 thru December 31, 2012. Books started before the 1st do not count. You can join at anytime.

6. When you sign up under Linky, put the direct link to your post where your books will be listed. Include the URL to this post so that other viewers can find this fun challenge. If you’d prefer to put your list in the sidebar of your blog, please leave your viewers the link to the sign up page. Again, so viewers can join the challenge too.

READY......SET.....SIGN UP!!!!

Really, I'm aiming to beat last year's record of reading 187 books, which is why I'm going to try to read 190 books this year even though every year just seems to become busier than the year before. -__-" Here's to trying anyway! :) Plus, I realized that using Goodreads's challenge helps keep me in check on how much I'm ahead or behind my goal, which is why I think I was able to beat my record last year. 

1. The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge
2. DJ Rising by Love Maia
3. Courtney Crumrin and The Night Things vol. 1 by Ted Naifeh
4. Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly
5. The Avalon Chronicles vol. 1 by Nunzio DeFilippis, Christina Weir, & Emma Vieceli
6. Wither by Lauren DeStefano
7. Koakuma Lion by Shou Ichikawa
8. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
9. Zombie-Loan vol. 1 by Peach-Pit
10. Zombie-Loan vol. 2 by Peach-Pit
11. Zombie-Loan vol. 3 by Peach-Pit
12. S.L.H (Stray Love Hearts) vol. 1 by Aya Shouoto
13. S.L.H (Stray Love Hearts) vol. 2 by Aya Shouoto
14. S.L.H (Stray Love Hearts) vol. 3 by Aya Shouoto
15. S.L.H (Stray Love Hearts) vol. 4 by Aya Shouoto
16. S.L.H (Stray Love Hearts) vol. 5 by Aya Shouoto
17. Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton
18. Girls, Drums & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick
19. After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick
20. Friends With Boys by Faith Erin Hicks
21. Girl, Stolen by April Henry
22. Firespell by Chloe Neill
23. Allison Hewitt is Trapped by Madeleine Roux
24. Death Note vol. 6 by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata
25. Death Note vol. 7 by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata
26. Death Note vol. 8 by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata
27. Death Note vol. 9 by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata
28. Death Note vol. 10 by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata
29. Death Note vol. 11 by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata
30. Death Note vol. 12 by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata
31. Death Note vol. 13 by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata
32. Seizure by Kathy Reichs
33. I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga
34. Wake by Lisa McMann
35. Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly
36. Fade by Lisa McMann
37. Gone by Lisa McMann
38. Cabel's Story by Lisa McMann
39. Giants Beware! by Jorge Aguirre & Rafael Rosado
40. Impossible by Nancy Werlin
41. The Girl Who Owned a City by O.T. Nelson, Dan Jolley, Joelle Jones, and Jenn Manley Lee
42. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
43. 13 to Life by Shannon Delany
44. Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going
45. Secrets and Shadows by Shannon Delany
46. The Naughty List by Suzanne Young 
47. So Many Boys by Suzanne Young 
48. Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund
49. The Returners by Gemma Malley
50. Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann
51. Skyfall by Michael Dahl
52. Blood Ninja by Nick Lake
53. She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott
54. Dengeki Daisy vol. 1 by Kyousuke Motomi
55. Dengeki Daisy vol. 2 by Kyousuke Motomi
56. Dengeki Daisy vol. 3 by Kyousuke Motomi
57. Dengeki Daisy vol. 4 by Kyousuke Motomi
58. Dengeki Daisy vol. 5 by Kyousuke Motomi
59. Dengeki Daisy vol. 6 by Kyousuke Motomi
60. Dengeki Daisy vol. 7 by Kyousuke Motomi
61. Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers
62. Dengeki Daisy vol. 8 by Kyousuke Motomi
63. Dengeki Daisy vol. 9 by Kyousuke Motomi
64. Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon
65. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous 
66. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
67. Career Day by Barry Lyga
68. The Last Dragon by Jane Yolen, Rebecca Guay 
69. The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi
70. 12 Things to Do Before You Crash and Burn by James Proimos
71. The Next Door Boys by Jolene B. Perry
72. The House of Dead Maids by Clare B. Dunkle
73. Dead to You by Lisa McMann
74. Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd edited by Holly Black & Cecil Castellucci
75. Fracture by Megan Miranda
76. Eleven Minutes Megan Miranda
77. The Secret of the Scarlet Stone by T.L. Clarke
78. Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma
79. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
80. Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors
81. Zombie Tag by Hannah Moskowitz
82. Catching Jordan by Mirand Kenneally
83. The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
84. Tanpop Collection vol. 1 by Camilla d'Errico
85. Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey
86. Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey
87. Out for Blood by Alyxandra Harvey
88. Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
89. Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John
90. Puella Magi Madoka Magica vol. 1 by Magica Quartet
91. Puella Magi Madoka Magica vol. 2 by Magica Quartet
92. Puella Magi Madoka Magica vol. 3 by Magica Quartet
93. Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready
94. The Boy Recession by Flynn Meaney
95. SHIFT River Scene by Jeri Smith-Ready
96. Level Up by Gene Luen Yang
97. Harvey by Herve Bouchard & Janice Nadeau
98. Free? by Amnesty International
99. Foiled by Jane Yolen & Mike Cavallaro
100. The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver
101. The Greyfriar by Clay Griffith & Susan Griffith
102. Being Friends With Boys by Terra Elan McVoy
103. Glimmerglass by Jenna Black
104. The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder
105. Maximum Ride vol. 4 by NaRae Lee & James Patterson
106. Maximum Ride vol. 5 by NaRae Lee & James Patterson
107. Shine by Jeri Smith-Ready
108. Happy Cafe vol.1 by Kou Matsuzuki
109. Happy Cafe vol. 2 by Kou Matsuzuki
110. Happy Cafe vol. 3 by Kou Matsuzuki
111. Nothing by Janne Teller
112. Happy Cafe vol. 4 by Kou Matsuzuki
113. Supernaturally by Kiersten White
114. Happy Cafe vol. 5 by Kou Matsuzuki
115. Happy Cafe vol. 6 by Kou Matsuzuki
116. Happy Cafe vol. 7 by Kou Matsuzuki
117. Happy Cafe vol. 8 by Kou Matsuzuki
118. Happy Cafe vol. 9 by Kou Matsuzuki
119. Happy Cafe vol. 10 by Kou Matsuzuki
120. Adaptation by Malinda Lo
121. Saving June by Hannah Harrington
122. The Assassin and the Pirate Lord by Sarah J. Maas
123. Happy Cafe vol. 11 by Kou Matsuzuki
124. Happy Cafe vol. 12 by Kou Matsuzuki
125. The Whisper of the River by Ferrol Sams
126. Happy Cafe vol. 13 by Kou Matsuzuki
127. Happy Cafe vol. 14 by Kou Matsuzuki
128. La Corda D'Oro vol. 12 by Yuki Kure
129. La Corda D'Oro vol. 13 by Yuki Kure
130. La Corda D'Oro vol. 14 by Yuki Kure
131. La Corda D'Oro vol. 15 by Yuki Kure
132. The Mismeasure of Woman by Carol Tavris
133. Zom-B by Darren Shan
134. Happy Cafe vol. 15 by Kou Matsuzuki
135. Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers
136. Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
137. Sold by Patricia McCormick
138. Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter
139. Nineteen, Twenty-One by Han Yu
140. White Space is Not Your Enemy by Kim Golombisky & Rebecca Hagen
141. The Secret Notes of Lady Kanoko vol. 1 by Ririko Tsujita
142. The Secret Notes of Lady Kanoko vol. 2 by Ririko Tsujita
143. The Secret Notes of Lady Kanoko vol. 3 by Ririko Tsujita
144. Koi Dano Ai Dano vol. 1 by Ririko Tsujita
145. Koi Dano Ai Dano vol. 2 by Ririko Tsujita
146. Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt
147. Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne
148. Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren
149. Koi Dano Ai Dano vol. 3 by Ririko Tsujita
150. Cascade by Lisa T. Bergren
151. Torrent by Lisa T. Bergren
152. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
153. The Recruit by Robert Muchamore

This Year...

Bookwise, this year has been very interesting. 

I've read a variety of books this year, excluding YA. I've read graphic novels, children's books, manga, manhwa, middle grade, poetry, classics, anthologies, ebooks, and listened to an audio book. It's crazy since I would have never expected to read half of those things I just mentioned. 

This year, I really expanded my horizon (and not just in books), and I'm definitely liking it. For example, my clothing style. I used to think that I was just a jeans and a t-shirt girl, but now, I've grown comfortable enough to wear tight shirts and v-necks, even though I know that I'm not as endowed as most would need to pull them off. :P Plus, I've realized my love for cardigans and beanies--even though I don't have as many occasions to wear hats since I'm in school half of the time. 

And I've seem to understand my style. If I had to put it in a category, the closest one would probably be Indie, as Krista told me a while ago. My usual outfits consists of skinny jeans, Converses, a t-shirt, a light jacket, and a side-bag if I need to carry a lot of small stuff. Add my black round glasses that seems to come into style this year, I almost fit in the emo style category if I wore heavy eye makeup and whatnot. But whatever; it's not like I'm trying to dress like a stereotype. :P

Speaking of stereotypes, my friends and I can't seem to classify ourselves, lol. We're honor kids, but we don't fit in with the smart jocks and preps, we don't fit in with the odd social outcasts... we hang around the fringes of the cool geeks. And I'm okay with that because that just means that my group of friends are a lot closer since there's less chances of exclusions, and I'm grateful for that since I opened up a whole lot to my friends this year. Wondering and agonizing college decisions and helping each other through the woes of crushes and doing crazy stuff in the middle of the night, I've never had a better year of high school. 

The freedom of being able to get out of the house and go somewhere because you can drive (or your friends can drive :P) gave us so many opportunities to hang out and bond outside of school, which made us even closer. And also made us do some stupid, impulsive things (mainly Meethu, lol) that we end up both regretting and not, but I guess it's just us growing up, right?

I still can't believe that in a couple of months, I will be graduating next year. I'll be going to college, and who knows how I'll survive. I really hope that I'm not going to be one of those kids who do so well in high school and then crash and burn once they go to college. -__-" But I won't be totally alone; Shelle's still going to be there during my first year (I think...), and I'll have Meethu enduring with me, even though we have different majors and whatnot.

...

Wow, when I first started writing this post, I was fully intending on making it strictly book-related, but look where that went after the first two paragraphs, lol.

Anyway, before I go, I wanted to talk about the challenges I did this year. I joined seven challenges, and six of them had set goals. And guess what. I finished all of them except for one! :D I was only 10 books away from completing the Hoarder level in the Off The Shelf challenge. I guess I'll just have to try to accomplish that challenge next year. 

Actually, I've already found some more challenges to do next year. I'll prolly post a complete list of them all in the next few days. 

On another random note, I finally finished the first season of Fringe last night. Now I see why Shanice likes it so much. The mystery, the suspense, the action, the crime scenes, the characters (oh Walter, you crazy mad scientist XD), the intellect, the humor, the anticipation, the twists... Need I go on? XD I'm so glad that I bought the second season when I bought the first season during Black Friday. :D

And now, I must leave. :P

pointy.star

Top Ten Tuesdays: Favorite Books I Read in 2011

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by the Broke and Bookish.

Top Ten Favorite Books I Read in 2011:

1. I'll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan
2. Where She Went by Gayle Forman
3. Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden
4. Boy2Girl by Terence Blacker
5. Blood Red Road by Moira Young
6. Rivals by Sara Bennett Wealer
7. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
8. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
9. Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert
10. Vampire Knight vol. 10 by Matsuri Hino

I'm sort of surprised to find so many contemporary books in my favorite books category. I usually prefer reading fantasy or paranormal books just because I like the action and suspense in them, but I guess they don't effect me as much as contemporary does. :) 

Tumblr Pics 19

It's Christmas Eve! Where did the time go??? I can't believe how fast this year flew by. :c

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the pics and your holiday! :)

Mini Review: Bridesmaids, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, In Time

Title: Bridesmaids
Running time: 130 min
Release date: May 13, 2011
Rated: R
Summary taken from imdb:

Annie (Kristen Wiig), is a maid of honor whose life unravels as she leads her best friend, Lillian (Maya Rudolph), and a group of colorful bridesmaids (Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Ellie Kemper) on a wild ride down the road to matrimony. Annie's life is a mess. But when she finds out her lifetime best friend is engaged, she simply must serve as Lillian's maid of honor. Though lovelorn and broke, Annie bluffs her way through the expensive and bizarre rituals. With one chance to get it perfect, she'll show Lillian and her bridesmaids just how far you'll go for someone you love.

3 STARS - I LIKED IT

MY REVIEW: 

I always cringe whenever the main character does something incredibly stupid instead of just telling the truth. I cringed quite a few times while watching this movie. It was predictable at times, but what can I say? It's a chick flick. Of course there's going to be some overused plots and stupid mistakes. At least it had some super hilarious moments that had me laughing my head off.

Title: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Running time: 129 min
Release date: December 16, 2011
Rated: PG-13
Summary taken from imdb:

Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr. Watson join forces to outwit and bring down their fiercest adversary, Professor Moriarty.

3 STARS - I LIKED IT

MY REVIEW: 

As equally good as the first movie. The ingenuity, the humor, the wit, and the characters all make this movie just as entertaining and engaging as the first. Plus, the ending was also very funny and insane, just like how Holmes would plan it.

Title: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Running time: 112 min
Release date: August 13, 2010
Rated: PG-13
Summary taken from imdb: 

Scott Pilgrim plays in a band which aspires to success. He dates Knives Chau, a high-school girl five years younger, and he hasn't recovered from being dumped by his former girlfriend, now a success with her own band. When Scott falls for Ramona Flowers, he has trouble breaking up with Knives and tries to romance Ramona. As if juggling two women wasn't enough, Ramona comes with baggage: seven ex-lovers, with each of whom Scott must do battle to the death in order to win Ramona.

2.5 STARS - I LIKED IT ENOUGH

MY REVIEW:

I always have a problem with main characters such as Scott Pilgrim. He's that awkward guy that always makes me cringe because of his awkwardness, and his pedophilic relationship with his high school girlfriend who is equally awkward and odd as him. The only thing that made up for it was the fighting scenes and special effects similar to those in video games.

Title: In Time
Running time: 109 min
Release date: October 28, 2011
Rated: PG-13
Summary taken from imdb: 

In the not-too-distant future the aging gene has been switched off. To avoid overpopulation, time has become the currency and the way people pay for luxuries and necessities. The rich can live forever, while the rest try to negotiate for their immortality. A poor young man who comes into a fortune of time, though too late to help his mother from dying. He ends up on the run from a police force known as 'time keepers'.

3.5 STARS - I LIKED IT

MY REVIEW:

I really liked the setting of this movie. With people never aging past 25 and time as your only currency, the plot was definitely unique and interesting. The acting was good, the romance wasn't cringe-worthy at all, and the action was also well done.

I'd recommend this movie to anyone looking for a quick escape into another world.