Book-o-Craze: Reading Challenges 2013 - Reviewed

Book-o-Craze: Reading Challenges 2013 - Reviewed: My 2013's resolutions included achieving my goal to read 100 books. Every year, I participate in Challenges, but sadly, I can never ach...

Book-o-Craze: One Howl 2013 - Challenge Reviewed

Book-o-Craze: One Howl 2013 - Challenge Reviewed:  With 2014 just around the corner, a review of the Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance books I read all year, is much needed! This yea...

Book-o-Craze: BCC's Zombie Reading Challenge 2013 - Reviewed

Book-o-Craze: BCC's Zombie Reading Challenge 2013 - Reviewed: With 2013 coming to a closure, and soon giving its turn to 2014, it's time for a review of the books I read this year. My goal for 20...

How do you keep track of your current place in a book?

 

* I use random scraps of paper

 

  23706 votes, 26.1%

I read ebooks, so it's easy

 

  18243 votes, 20.1%

I use ordinary bookmarks

 

  17326 votes, 19.1%

I use fancy bookmarks

 

  11237 votes, 12.4%

I dog-ear my books

 

  7752 votes, 8.5%

I remember

 

  6359 votes, 7.0%

I use the dust jacket flap

 

  1299 votes, 1.4%

I use goodreads progress updates!

 

  1231 votes, 1.4%

I finish books in a single sitting

 

  810 votes, 0.9%

* My vote!

 90878 total votes

This was a very interesting poll I found in Goodreads.
Check it out, too. There is a selection for write-in answers you can submit yourself.
So awesome!


http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/61677-how-do-you-keep-track-of-your-current-place-in-a-book

xcx

Psychology of Fiction

So, lately I've been very interesting in the subject of Psychology of Fiction.
This research area includes diagnosing the fictional characters you read about.
I would love to actually do this with many of my favorite, or not, characters!
It's so interesting!

Also, it can be very helpful.
According to DeFife "when people find out that someone is a psychologist, the first thing they usually say is: "That's cool." This is followed by: "Uh oh, you're analyzing me right now," (and usually we are), or "You know, I took a college course/got an undergraduate degree in psychology" (worth major academic street cred), or "Hey, I bet you can read my mind," (ESP being one of the required courses in psychology graduate school).  Next, they want to hear how one would diagnose their friend/family member/self/dog.
[...]
Talking about famous figures that almost everybody knows something about is one way that psychologists might try to avoid this conundrum. Unfortunately, it's not ethical for psychologists to diagnose people they've never met or interviewed. It's not polite either, because no one wants to be called things by people they've never met. [...]

Fictional characters, on the other hand, are ideal targets for psychologists to diagnose with mental illnesses or personality defects. Diagnosing fictional characters is fun (because people love good fictional characters), allows the public to learn about mental illnesses which they may or may not have, and offers opportunities for psychologists to feel smart and get public recognition. Everybody wins. Except for the fictional characters who might get a bad reputation, but they don't have their feelings hurt by such discussions."

{Written in PsychologyToday.com with the title Stuff Psychologists Like - Diagnosing Fictional Characters  by Jared DeFife, Ph.D. in The Shrink Tank}

More interesting diagnoses about well-known fictional people can be found at quora.com and specifically at the thread http://www.quora.com/Which-epic-fictional-characters-show-classic-symptoms-of-psychological-disorders with some awesome examples such as

Cornelius Fudge in Harry Potter: Paranoia

Severus Snape in Harry Potter: Schizoid

Another interesting factor that can be discussed is how people subconsciously become their favorite fictional characters, according to http://www.medicaldaily.com/news/20120514/9878/book-reading-experience-taking-psychology-character-fiction.htm
Psychologists have discovered that while reading a book or story, people are prone to subconsciously adopt their behavior, thoughts, beliefs and internal responses to that of fictional characters as if they were their own

There is also a book about Dexter, the famous protagonist of the homonymous popular TV series.
It's called The Psychology of Dexter, and is written by Bella DePaulo.
I totally plan on reading it soon.
After watching the series, of course, because I've noticed by reading the reviews that many spoilers appear on the book.

All in all, I find the whole subject of psychology of fiction very interesting.
I totally plan on researching it more.

xcx

Why Date An Illiterate Girl

To find the original article, visit  http://thoughtcatalog.com/2011/dont-date-a-girl-who-reads/


Το κείμενο του Charles Warnke, μεταφρασμένο στα ελληνικά από τη Σταυρούλα Χρυσοχόου.

 Γιατί πρέπει να βγεις ραντεβού με ένα κορίτσι που δεν διαβάζει….

Βγες ραντεβού με ένα κορίτσι που δεν διαβάζει. Ανακάλυψε την στη μελαγχολική ζοφερότητα ενός μπαρ του συρμού,  ή στο καπνισμένο, ιδρωμένο και αλκοολούχο χώρο ενός club.  Όπου και να την βρεις φρόντισε να είναι με το χαμόγελο στα χείλη και σιγουρέψου ότι αυτό γίνεται πλατύτερο όταν η παρέα της στρέφει αλλού την προσοχή της.  Στην πορεία, απασχόλησε την με ελαφριά κουβεντούλα, διάλεξε «πεσιματικές» ατάκες χαμογελώντας αμυδρά και με νόημα.  Και ενώ η νύχτα μπαίνει για τα καλά οδήγησε την στην πόρτα της εξόδου.  Μην δώσεις σημασία στην όποια αβάσταχτη κούραση μπορεί προς στιγμήν να σε λυγίζει. Φίλησε την κάτω από την τρεμάμενη λάμψη της λάμπας του δρόμου ενώ βρέχει, όπως έχεις δει στις ταινίες, υποκρινόμενος ωστόσο ότι η σκηνή δεν έχει και κάποια ιδιαίτερη σημασία. Πήγαινε την στο διαμέρισμα σου και απάλλαξε τον εαυτό σου από τον ψυχαναγκασμό του «κάνω έρωτα». Απλά πήδηξε την.


Στη πορεία άσε το βιαστικό συμβόλαιο που υπέγραψες –ούτε που κατάλαβες πως-  να εξελιχθεί αργά και βασανιστικά σε σχέση. Βρες κοινά ενδιαφέροντα και θέματα προς συζήτηση όπως το σούσι ή η μουσική. Φρόντισε να κτίσεις γύρω από αυτό ένα πολύ γερό οικοδόμημα, πασπαλισμένο με την αίσθηση της αίγλης του ιερού χώρου στον οποίο καταφεύγεις κάθε φορά  που η ατμόσφαιρα μεταξύ σας γίνεται χλιαρή και τα βράδια ατελείωτα. Μην σκέφτεσαι ιδιαίτερα και άσε απλώς τους μήνες να περνούν. Πρότεινε της να συζήσετε και άφησε στην ίδια την ευθύνη της διακόσμησης. Αναλώσου σε ανούσιους καβγάδες τύπου «κλείνουμε την κωλοκουρτίνα στην ντουσιέρα για να μην πιάσει μάκα» και άσε να περάσει ένας χρόνος χωρίς να το πάρεις χαμπάρι.  Από εδώ και εμπρός ξεκίνα να παίρνεις χαμπάρι.
 
Στο μυαλό σου στριφογυρνάει η ιδέα ότι είναι μάλλον καιρός να παντρευτείτε, αλλιώς όλη η ιστορία θα είναι χαμένος χρόνος.  Κάλεσε την λοιπόν για δείπνο σε ένα υπερπολυτελές εστιατόριο με ονειρική θέα πολύ εκτός των οικονομικών σου δυνατοτήτων. Με μακάριο ύφος ζήτησε από το σερβιτόρο να της φέρει ένα ποτήρι σαμπάνια αφού έχει βάλει μέσα ένα αξιοπρεπές δακτυλίδι. Όταν το προσέξει κάνε της πρόταση με όσο ενθουσιασμό και ειλικρίνεια μπορείς να επιστρατεύσεις.  Μην σε νοιάξει ιδιαίτερα αν νοιώσεις την καρδιά σου να χτυπά σαν ταμπούρλο. Το ίδιο ισχύει ακόμα και αν δεν μπορείς να την νοιώσεις καθόλου. Εάν μεσολαβήσει χειροκρότημα κάνε σαν να μην τρέχει τίποτα. Αν κλάψει, χαμογέλασε σαν να είσαι ο πιο ευτυχισμένος άνθρωπος του κόσμου.  Αν δεν κλάψει κάνε το ίδιο.

Άσε τα χρόνια να περνούν δίχως να δίνεις ιδιαίτερη σημασία. Ασχολήσου με την καριέρα σου, αγόρασε ένα σπίτι, κάνε δύο εντυπωσιακά παιδιά. Προσπάθησε να τα μεγαλώσεις καλά. Σταδιακά μπορείς να αρχίσεις να νοιώθεις αποτυχημένος. Απώλεσε λοιπόν την ύπαρξη σου μέσα σε μια βαρετή μονοτονία, σε μια μονοδιάστατη θλίψη. Πέρασε την κρίση της μέσης ηλικίας. Γέρασε. Στοχάσου πάνω στην ελλιπή πραγματοποίηση των στόχων σου. Κάποιες φορές νοιώσε ευχαριστημένος αλλά κυρίως νοιώσε κενός και ελαφρύς. Κατά την διάρκεια περιπάτων νοιώσε σαν να μην υπάρχει πια επιστροφή ή σαν να είσαι έτοιμος να σε πάρει ο άνεμος.  Στο τέλος συμβιβάσου με μια θανατηφόρα ασθένεια και αποδήμησε εις Κύριον αλλά…μόνο αφού έχεις συνειδητοποιήσει ότι με το κορίτσι που δεν διάβαζε η καρδιά σου δεν σκίρτησε ποτέ από οποιοδήποτε πάθος, και κανένας δεν θα γράψει την ιστορία της ζωής σας. Κατά τον ίδιο τρόπο, θα πεθάνει και αυτή μόνο με την αμυδρή και μέτριας έντασης θλίψη ότι η ικανότητα της να αγαπάει έπεσε στο κενό.  

Κάνε αυτά τα πράγματα, γαμώτο, γιατί τίποτα δεν είναι χειρότερο από ένα κορίτσι που διαβάζει. Κάνε τα, σου λέω, γιατί μια ζωή στο καθαρτήριο είναι καλύτερη από μια ζωή στην κόλαση. Κάνε τα γιατί το κορίτσι αυτό είναι γνώστρια του λεξιλογίου που μπορεί να περιγράψει αυτή την ακαθόριστη δυσαρέσκεια ως μια ανεκπλήρωτη ζωή.  Ένα λεξιλόγιο που αναλύει την εσωτερική ομορφιά του κόσμου και την κάνει δυνατή αναγκαιότητα αντί για φαντασιακή αναζήτηση. Το κορίτσι που διαβάζει έχει πρόσβαση σε ένα λεξιλόγιο που μπορεί να διακρίνει μεταξύ της απατηλής και απαθούς ρητορικής κάποιου που δεν μπορεί να την αγαπήσει, και της άναρθρης απελπισίας κάποιου που την αγαπάει πολύ. Ένα λεξιλόγιο που, γαμώτο, κάνει την κενού περιεχομένου σοφιστεία μου ένα φτηνό κόλπο.

Κάνε τα γιατί το κορίτσι που διαβάζει κατανοεί σύνταξη. Η λογοτεχνία την έχει διδάξει ότι οι στιγμές τρυφερότητας έρχονται σε σποραδικά αλλά αναγνωρίσιμα διαλείμματα. Γνωρίζει επίσης πολύ καλά ότι η ζωή δεν έχει γραμμική πορεία,  και θεωρεί δεδομένο ότι η παρακμή ρέει στην ίδια κατεύθυνση με την απογοήτευση. Ένα κορίτσι που έχει εμβαθύνει στη σύνταξη του λόγου αναγνωρίζει στις ακανόνιστες διστακτικές παύσεις ανάμεσα σε δύο ανάσες τη φύση του ψέματος. Επίσης, αντιλαμβάνεται τη διαφορά της μεμονωμένης στιγμής θυμού από την μόνιμη συνήθεια κάποιου να είναι πικρός και κυνικός ανεξάρτητα λόγου ή αιτίας· αυτή η συνήθεια θα παραμείνει ζωντανή και όταν έχει πακετάρει τα πράγματα της, έχει αποχαιρετήσει απρόθυμα, έχει αποφασίσει ότι πρόκειται για παύση και όχι για τελεία και…προφανώς θα συνεχίζεται εις τον αιώνα τον αιώνων αμήν. Στην πραγματικότητα, πρόκειται για το συντακτικό που ταιριάζει στο ρυθμό και στους κυματισμούς ενός «αγαθού» βίου.


Βγες ραντεβού με ένα κορίτσι που δεν διαβάζει γιατί το κορίτσι που διαβάζει γνωρίζει τη σημαντικότητα της πλοκής, μπορεί να εντοπίσει που τελειώνει ο πρόλογος καθώς και τις αιχμηρές εντάσεις της κορύφωσης. Τις νοιώθει στο πετσί της. Το κορίτσι που διαβάζει θα είναι υπομονετική σε μια διακοπή της δράσης, θα επισπεύσει τη λύση. Μα πάνω απ’ όλα γνωρίζει την αναπόφευκτη βαρύτητα του τέλους. Βρίσκεται στο στοιχείο της. Έχει αποχαιρετήσει χιλιάδες ήρωες με ένα σούβλισμα θλίψης όλο κ’ όλο στην καρδιά.

Μην βγεις ραντεβού με ένα κορίτσι που διαβάζει γιατί τα κορίτσια αυτά είναι που αφηγούνται τις ιστορίες. Εσύ και ο Τζόυς, εσύ και ο Ναμπόκοφ, εσύ και η Γουλφ. Εσύ στη βιβλιοθήκη, στο διάδρομο αναμονής του μετρό, στη γωνία του καφέ, στο παράθυρο του δωματίου σου. Εσύ που αιωνίως κάνεις την ζωή μου αφόρητη. Το κορίτσι που διαβάζει έχει βγάλει έξω το τεφτέρι της ζωής της και είναι γεμάτο νόημα. Προσέχει οι αφηγήσεις της να είναι πλούσιες, το υποστηρικτικό καστ χρωματιστό και η γραμματοσειρά έντονη. Εσύ, το κορίτσι που διαβάζει, με κάνεις να θέλω να είμαι όλα αυτά που δεν είμαι. Αλλά είμαι αδύναμος και θα σε απογοητεύσω, αφού αυτό που έχεις ονειρευτεί είναι καλύτερο από αυτό που είμαι. Δεν θα δεχόσουν ποτέ τη ζωή για την οποία μιλούσα προηγουμένως. Δεν θα δεχόσουν τίποτα λιγότερο από πάθος, τελειότητα και μια ζωή άξια να αφηγηθεί. Αυτό ήταν. Τελείωσα μαζί σου κορίτσι που διαβάζει. Και μην ξεχάσεις με το επόμενο τραίνο να πάρεις και τον Χεμινγκγουέι μαζί σου. Σε μισώ. Δεν φαντάζεσαι πόσο πολύ σε μισώ.


{Πηγή:  http://m.lifo.gr/team/bookroom/30208 }

xcx

Cool bookstores around the world

xcx

Some Books about the Psychology of Emotions

I've started getting ready for the final exams of the Spring Semester 2011-2012.
So, I started reading Understanding Emotions by Keith Oatley. The greek version, of course.
This book is used for the course of Psychology of Emotions.

The blurb about it on Goodreads:

" This new textbook is the first book to fully span the fast growing field to research on emotions. It ranges across a broad range of disciplines, covering the entire lifespan from infancy to adulthood. Its main theme is that emotions have functions: they set priorities among our concerns and they provide the underlying structure of human friendships, to the excitements of sexuality."

By the way, I found another book by the same author, which I believe every reader probably should read. Its title is Such Stuff as Dreams: The Psychology of Fiction. I haven't read it yet, but I totally plan it! After all it "demonstrates how reading fiction can contribute to a greater understanding of, and the ability to change, ourselvesInformed by the latest psychological research which focuses on, for example, how identification with fictional characters occurs, and how literature can improve social abilities".

And, another very interesting book that was mentioned into Understanding Emotions is Human Relationships by Steve W. Duck.
I definitely would love to get my hands on that book.

xcx

Teaser Trailer no.5 is out

The choice she makes for her friends, will change everything.

"Eddie, do something!" I said.
"Like what? I'd never make it there in time."

xcx

The Golden Lily

Teaser trailers about The Golden Lily until its release on June 19 (or, 12, in some places).

The choice she makes for love, will change everything.

He leaned closer to me and then seemed

shocked as he realized what he was doing.

"Why would you do that?

Why would you do that for me?"

The choice she makes for her friends, will change everything.

Nothing he said could change what I think of you.

I've had my mind made up about

you for a long time... and it's all good.

The choice she makes for her family, will change everything.

It was one thing to go on and on about how you

thought your father was disappointed in you.

It was an entirely different thing to hear

your father explain it in excruciating detail.

The choice she makes for love, will change everything.

Perhaps the best part of all was that I,

Sydney Katherine Sage, guilty of constantly

analysing the world around me, well,

I stopped thinking.

So, the first four teaser trailers have been released. We have two more to wait for.
Oh, patience, what a great virtue all us Vampire Academy and Bloodlines fans should absolutely have!
Make sure to check the rest of the trailers, too. For more information about them check the page on Facebook and http://penguinbtl.blogspot.com/2012/04/history-behind-vampire-academy-teaser.html?spref=fb for more background details.

What do you think of the quotes?

xcx

Review of Matt and Elena- First Date by L.J. Smith

A quite short review for a short story, but for one that was totally worth the reading, and thus getting 5 stars!

Haha, this was quite a start for a series I've been planning to start for some time!

This short story describes the first date of Matt and Elena.
I don't know what will go on between them on the rest of the books, but this was really an ideal date.
Although, almost nothing went as planned, the author managed to show in the best way, that real feelings of love are not built in money and glittering things, but on smaller, that are more significant!

Towards the end, the story took a quite dream-like turn, but it showed us how other people would perceive their attitude, so it was welcome.

P.S. I think I like Matt very much, so it will be a shame if he's ignored in the rest of the series...

xcx

Peeta or Gale?

I hadn't planned on actually posting an opinion about this love triangle until I read the third and final installation on The Hunger Games trilogy, but I stumbled upon a book conversation that demanded on me commenting. So, I'll post here, too, which I prefer, for Katniss or generally, Peeta or Gale!



Well, the truth is, that I'm leaning more towards Peeta. But, not necessarily as a match for Katniss. I don't know if he's too good to be true, but he has proven in both books that he really does love her, as much as to sacrifice himself so that Katniss will get to live her life. He even implies that she should live and actually marry Gale in the future. I don't know if there really are people like this, but we're not talking about real life. We're just choosing the characters that suit us best.




Although, Peeta is my favorite for all these reasons and many more, perhaps, Gale indeed would be a better match for Katniss. They're more alike, and he knows her better than everyone. And, I don't quite believe in real and deep friendship between the two genders. But, he's too tough for my tastes, and not gentle... At all! Of course that's because of how he's grown up, but well, that's the way his personality has been shaped and I don't really think he will change. And, I don't want him to. I just wouldn't prefer him!

And, of course there's still one matter that bothers me about both of these boys. Why did they both wait so much to declare their love for Katniss? They both had their reasons, but, jeez, it's just annoying. Or, maybe she was just too clueless to get a hint for what it is. Which, she is. But, anyway.

xcx

Review of Catching Fire (THG #2) by Suzanne Collins

 I've noticed that the blurb of this book is quite vague, so I figured that was for nothing to be exposed. And, now I totally understand why!

Well, in the beginning the events went by quite fast. Sometimes I even felt that they were moving beyond my grasp. I wasn't sure if some events happened or were mentioned merely as plans of the future. So, I had to go back and read it all over!

But, then, when it came down to the "good" stuff, it felt like a punch in the gut. I even felt breathless. I couldn't believe it. And, I won't say more, because I want, I need, for the other readers to feel exactly the same things. I don't want to spoil anything.
This book was an amazing experience, and it should stay that way for everyone.

I'll just comment on the fact that Katniss made me very irritated sometimes, but generally I found she has grown up considerably since the last book.
And, of course Peeta! I've grown to love that boy. He even got me all teary-eyed at some point.
I think I finally lean to one of the boys of this love triangle.
Well, probably because Gale was quite good, at some points, but he'd never match Peeta, in my mind!

And, of course I have to mention that the third part of this book went by so quickly, with so many details, events, surprises, emotions, intensity.

Oh, gosh. I so desperately want now to get my hands on the third installation...

xcx

Review for The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The pages of this book flew by so quickly, considering that for the most part of yesterday and one day before yesterday I wasn't even at home!
I enjoyed it far more than I had anticipated, so 5/5 stars from me, for this book.

Actually, some time ago, when confronted with the idea of adding them to my "to-read" list, I had refused. I found the idea of picking kids, or teens, and puting them in an arena to fight 'till death was quite shocking for my tastes, the author succeded to deliver the story in quite an admirable way.

Although, there was much death (24 people had to fight for the victory) it wasn't described in a gruesome way. Some deaths were quick and sudden, others not so much. There was stress and anxiety 'till the very end. The book itself ended in that way. The plot managed to keep me constantly on the edge and interested, almost literally absorbing the words.

I have to admit that even though the main heroine, Katniss, didn't have exactly many things common with me, she was strong, I admired her, and accepted her right from the beginning. The kind of life she leads has made her this tough. And, she's lucky she survives it, so, yeah!

And, something that might be considered as a spoiler, so don't go on reading if you haven't read the book, yet...

I know everybody is teaming up with either Gale or Peeta. I felt compelled to team up, too, quite a few times throughout the book. But, then, I was thinking that Peeta wouldn't be exactly my choise, considering his early behavior. And, he has cried way more times in that book than Katniss... But, then again, he's been so utterly sweet with her, that it made my heart hurt in the end. I actually felt like crying for him. Poor guy. And, then, there's another problem. I hadn't exactly imagined him like the actor that will play his role in the movie -I saw the whole official trailer just today-, so I was a bit compelled about it.

And, then, there's Gale. Well, he hasn't made a move, although he implied something at the very beginning. And, I actually seemed to like his personality. He's not featured a lot in this book, but I'm positive the next will be full of him. I hope. I have to have a whole impression about him, in order to take sides, finally. But, well, I'm not gonna say anything more because I'm anxious to see what his reactions will be after The Hunger Games have been finished. He saw much kissing going on, and if he really feels something about Katniss this would be the right time to make his move. Or, not?

I'll hop to the next book to find out!


All in all, can't wait to watch the movie!!

xcx

Barrons Vs. V'lane

This is a subject all Fever fans have come across in one or another way.

But, beware! Spoiler alert!
ATTENTION! If you haven't read Shadowfever (Fever #5) yet, DO NOT read this post! 

In my review of the last book of the great series created by Karen Marie Moning, I tried to include all my thoughts without giving anything away! I didn't want to ruin that wonderful experience for anyone in any way!

A major part of these books was the romantic triangle between Mac, Barrons and V'lane.

But, let's see!
I will give a description of mine for both male characters, some of their advantages and disadvantages (in my personal opinion). The choise is yours.



So, Barrons. Jericho Barrons. JZB.
Well, a strong name for a strong character.
We don't know yet what exactly he is!
Fact is he can't get killed. Not ever! In any way!
His son got K'Vrucked, though, with the help of Mac. K'Vruck is something far more final than death. But, KMM has explained it so much better, so I won't dig into details.
Barrons and his team are strong men, that can transform to beasts. Powerful and deadly. Born to kill.
He is very muscled, tattooed and inspires something very erotic and sexual to the females.
He is determined to protect Mac at all costs, even after his son's release.
He isn't big about words, so he has said that he loves her only indirectly.
Barrons and Mac are a very fine couple that can communicate through their eyes. This doesn't seem possible for anyone else in this book.
He has taken countless photos of her in many situations. Even from before she had met him!

Well, he could be any woman's dream man!
The only disadvantage I've found in him is, well, that he can get very ruthless and violent. With his love, Mac, he isn't gentle. And, he uses the f* word too much for my tastes. Mac has also mentioned that he is more animal than man. Hmm, I think I'd stick for human men. But, of course, Mac knows better than that. And, for me they are an ideal couple. One of the few fictional ones I actually support with all my might.

So, my conclusion?
Passion-filled Barrons is a man whose heart every woman would want, but only one like Mac could win and have. So, I vote for that couple and I am for Team Barrons in that, but not for myself.



Well, well, well.
V'lane, on the other side, is a Fae prince. And, as every prince of his race he has an unmistakable sexual affect on every woman. Human woman, at least. He can turn it off, of course, but well, not completely. He will always be very beautiful and always women will turn his way and stare.

But, as far as we know for more than 4,5 books he has been very kind and sweet towards Mac.
He has tried to communicate with her in a human way, trying to learn how to talk more like human and mimitating the expressions of the faces. He appears as the Seelie Prince that tries to save his queen and his world from the Un-Seelie. He doesn't put very much pressure on Mac to choose between him and Barrons, and it's actually sweet, how he always trie to please her and does whatever she tells him to do. So, 'till the half of the fifth book I was leaning more on side of Team V'lane, even though I knew that in the end, he wouldn't end up with Mac. But, unlike Barrons, I'd choose Team V'lane for myself.

[One more warning, if you haven't stopped reading that post, but you haven't read Shadowfever yet, this would be as good a time to stop reading the thread. Honestly, what I'm going to mention will probably shock many people, and in the book it comes as an even bigger surprise, along with the feelings of MacKayla. Consider yourselves warned.]

So, imagine my utterly enormous shock when Mac (and, through her, all us readers) realizes that V'lane might just not be the real good guy we all thought. He starts reading and absorbing all the spells contained to the Sinsar Dubh, while having blocked everyone from reaching him. And, then imagine how much my heart would have crashed if the author hadn't prepared us so well psychologically for what was to happen next. (As I've already mentioned in my reviews, KMM knows a lot about psychology and I deeply respect her for that. I'm a psychology-to-be, so, yeah!)
V'lane transformed into Cruce, War, the fourth Unseelie Prince, who was known to be dead. Turned out he's not. Poor -real- V'lane had died on his place. But, well, also turned out V'lane wouldn't have been who we thought he was. He would just be another arrogant Fae prince.
Anyway.
What was EVEN MORE shocking was that V'lane Cruce was the fourth Fae that raped Mac that fateful night in that church, when the walls came down. His excuse? He had desired her, she had refused. Simple as that. And, he was the one that had given her the elixir that, we later found out, prolongued her life. But, that just adds to the time she'll spend with her Jericho, so we don't really mind. If Dani and then Barrons hadn't saved her, though, she would just be eternally Pri-ya, thanks to V'lane Cruce.

So, after all these, of course there is no such thought inside my head, as Team V'lane.

That's for now, verbalizing my thoughts about the Fever series, hoping that I will eventually get over them. Geez, they really affected me, didn't they?

Congratulations to the wonderful author Karen Marie Moning!

xcx

Review of Shadowfever (Fever #5)

I ended the final -for now- book of this series in just 2 days with reading from morning to night, and breaks for food and sleep. (A little socializing happened, too, but anyway, back to the point!)

Whoa!
This book blowed my mind away.
It starts out bad. Intense feelings, grief that clutches the heart.
The relationship between Mac and Barrons is getting bad, then better, then who knows what. They are fitting for each other, but still make me have conflicted thoughts. I absolutely love them, though, conflicted feelings, or not.

And, don't even get me started about all the unexpected elements of that book.
If the previous books constituted of many surprises and weird situations, then this one beats them all. Whenever you dared believe something, BOOM!, came the slap in the face. Although, I'm sure a slap in the face wouldn't make such a noise, in my mind it seemed like a bomb. And, after you accept the impossible, something else comes to the surface. And, then another surprise, and then another. All coming too naturally, in a very well orchestrated way.
Gosh, I can't even start counting all the things that blew away my mind. In every chapter I was holding my breath. Death, tragic and fateful discoveries, deception, passion, all in one.

And, above all, Karen Marie Moning is a master in psychology.
I've noticed that in all her books she doesn't rush to give you all the answers, while in the same time leaving open many windows. She lets you think about a new discovery, digest it, start thinking it as logical, and then suddenly it's erased for something lighter that sits better in the stomach. From a weird and almost bad possibility, you are taken to a worse one that makes you uneasy, and then back to something that might be bad -or at least, not quite good- but better than the all the other potentials. What I'm saying is vague, I know, but I absolutely do not want to ruin this great experience for anyone. And, I'm not only talking about that particular book, but the whole series.

xcx

Trying to Review Dreamfever (Fever #4)

Oh. My. God.

I'm breathless...
That's all I am!
After my latest review of the previous installment to these series which was quite short for my likes, as I was dumbstruck, I was hoping to be able to write more about how much I enjoyed this fourth book.
But, with that kind of ending, anything I was going to mention has been erased from my mind.
Actually, the only thing I can think right now is these phrases "Please don't let it be him. Please don't let it be him. PLEASE! Don't let it be him..." and "Ugh, I have to keep on reading. I can't. I have to! I can't! I..." You get my point.

I think if I actually tried to verbalize my thoughts I wouldn't be able to form a coherent phrase while staggering for words.
Ugh.
I just want to go bury my face into Shadowfever. But, I can't. It's too late.
Gah!
I'm hopeless.
And, I only remember one -ONE!- thing of all those that thrilled and excited me about this book and I had included in my mental review. That Karen Marie Moning must have much knowledge about Psychology.

But, that's it.
All the others? Well, they're coming slowly at me.
But which to mention first?
My totally confusing and mixed-up feelings about Barrons? About anyone in this book? About Mac's relationships with them?
The totally unexpected turns of events? The whirl of emotions I'm currently stuck in?

Geez, I think this review is totally incoherent.

But, isn't that the whole point? To get so into the story of the main character that you experience their feelings? Fragments of them, of course, but still...

xcx

Review for Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel #1

Well, of course, the storyline was well-known to me, although I must admit there were some details that I was perfectly delighted that I had the chance to come across to, again!
The characters also known, and quite loved I might say!

While reading this comic book, and although I'm not exactly a fan of this type of book, I felt the thrill of reading Vampire Academy all over again!

For this great opportunity and only, I'd never even regret or have second thoughts about reading it!

My only objections?
The character that was most succesfully drawn, in my opinion, was only Christian Ozera (talking about the main heroes only).
Next, would come Rose Hathaway! She was quite charming but definitely not the beauty that was described in the books, or even the one I made with my imaginations!
Then, Dimitri Belikov, just because there were some scenes were he was actually good-looking. But, still, not the God Badass described or even imagined.
And, then? Lissa Dragomir. Gosh, I didn't like her at all. Humph.

But, anyway, I know how hard it is to draw, and I absolutely have no talent in this area. And, anyway, I always had a problem imagining those favorite characters of mine. Dimitri & Rose are absolutely idolized by me and probably nothing will ever match them in my mind. Not a drawing, not a person, an actor, nothing.
And, I guess that's the case with every other huge fan! The disadvantage of a great, successful book, I guess... 

xcx

Bloodfever (Fever #2) by Karen Marie Moning Review

Wow, that was truly amazing.
And, the most outstanding and awesome fact about this book was that it made me grow even fonder about the main heroine, especially, and some other important characters, in general.
I couldn't, wouldn't think it possible when I finished the first book of this great series that I could come to like Mac and the way she changes.
I would never believe that it wiould actually be possible for her to grow more mature in a every book, every single event she has to face and experience.

Indeed, her new experiences, demonstrated to this book, have helped Mac grow up some more, and come to understand and appreciate in a better way things and people. She's getting better at reading people and getting an insight of their actions and personalities, something I truly appreciated.
I'm a bit troubled by the relationship she and Barrons are building, but I've come to like it, too. We'll just let the events unfold and see how it goes, I guess, huh?

I have only a small -and quite insignificant, I know, haha- comment to make about this phrase taken from the book: Turned out PHI was not the twenty-third letter in the Greek alphabet but Post Haste, Inc.
PHI is not the 23rd letter in the Greek alphabet, but the 21st. Hehe!

Oh, and well, we started with phrases, so I felt like mentioning another one that I really liked.

Question: When you’re one of the few people who can do something to fix a problem, just how responsible does that make you for it?

Answer: It’s how you choose to answer that question that defines you.

For now, I won't say anything else about this book, or this series in overall, just that I absolutely recommend it.
Oh, and, of course, that I can't wait to start reading the next installment.
And, something more, haha, that I'm planning on doing it real soon!

xcx

The Golden Lily non-spoiler reaction Tweets

{By:  http://penguinbtl.blogspot.com/2012/02/bloodlinesbooks-golden-lily-tweets.html }

Sydney and her coffee - just like old times. pg 4

Well that's just plain creepy. pg 15

Dear Adrian, you are hilarious! pg 22

Eddie Castile is there nothing you won't do pg 32

Awwh Trey, you big softie pg 35

Always calm, always cool - good work Dimitri Belikov pg 43

Hmm not sure who we don't believe, but someone is lying pg 55

Well Angeline that's one way to approach things pg 61

Awwh everyone is so excited! pg 77

Sydney, should you really be thinking that at this moment? pg 91

What does purple mean?? pg 108

OH YEAH! Listen to what he's saying pg 111

Awkward have you met uncomfortable? pg 128

Sure you did Adrian, sure you did pg 136

Oh you did NOT just say that! Step off! pg 157

Sydney Sage you're freakin awesome! pg 162

Yes, absolutely take that phone call but next time put it on speaker phone. We wanna hear too pg 178

Badass is in the house! pg 185

Alarm bells! Alarms bells are ringing! pg 199

That does not surprise us at all Adrian Ivashkov pg 208

We get really different mail compared to Sydney pg 220

Eddie you charmer! pg 225

Good instincts Jill but timing, not so great pg 234

Really? You're brave enough to do that to Latte. Good luck! pg 239

WHAT! AHHHH! That is just down right mean @RichelleMead re pg 250

SA-WOOON!!!!!!!! pg 252

So crafty Ms. Terwilliger, so very crafty pg 259

This is not good pg 267

Nice move Ivashkov, very nice move pg 280

Ooch! Low blow dude pg 293

Awwh Sydney, don't feel that way pg 304

Mirror, mirror who's in an identical situation but doesn't know it yet? pg 307

If only you knew that was completely the wrong thing to say pg 315

Oh no, what happened?! pg 319

Nothing sexier than courage and bravery pg 333

No! Not them, they can't be pg 341

That's right, Eddie is awesome. Don't you forget it pg 349

Hah! Watch your mouth because we know someone who wouldn't like being called that name at all pg 351

It's not the VA/Bloodlines world without mention of this pg 357

We agree Sydney, what did he promise? pg 360

You do realize you're all a whole bunch of crazy right? pg 370

You don't have a Belikov, we do so suck it pg 378

One day, the lid is going to blow right off this thing pg 381

How do you like it now?! Coz that's how we roll pg 382

That's it Sydney, you go! pg 393

He did try, you know he did! pg 395

Well that is sort of unexpected pg 396

Meddle, we want you to meddle!! pg 397

Say more damn it, go with your instincts and say more pg 403

That is so not cool, especially in the midst of possible epicness pg 407

Oh really?! You think that do you? Pg 412

Oh snaps Adrian - you tell 'em! Exactly what they needed to hear pg 418

OH. MY. GOD!!!!!! pg 420

Can't. Breath. Too. Much pg 422

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pg 425 last page of The Golden Lily

@RichelleMead you've done it again. GL: amazing, funny, action filled, heartbreaking all at once; often on the same page. 

xcx