Follow Friday--March 23, 2012

Q: What is the longest book you've read? What are your favorite 600+ page reads?

My Answer: Um, I don't know if I've EVER read a book over 600 pages. I do know that I want to read Wives and Daughter and Anna Karenina, which are both really long. Long books freak me out, because I know they will take forever to read. Books that freaked me out: Cutting for Stone, Outlander. Both are still on my bookshelf.

Other than that I THOUGHT that the Invisible Man was a long book. Friendship on Fire and Entwined were long YA reads, and I didn't particularly like either.

Post your FF links below and I will check out yall's blogs. Happy Friday!

Enthralled and Waiting for You

I've finally finished Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions An Anthology by 16 authors. All of the stories are about a journey, the distance focusing on the idea of between two places.

These are the stories I LOVED:
These ones were the best, because they were sad, yet beautiful. There was loss, but not death. These stories portrayed hope.
Gargouille
Giovanni's Farewell
Bridge

These are the stories I LIKED:
At the late night, double feature, picture show (funny)
Leaving (beautifully written)
Red Run (intense)
Niederwald (funny)
Skin Contact (beautifully written/intense)
The Third Kind (intense)
Merely Mortal (funny)
Things about Love (funny)

THese are the stories I DIDN'T LIKE:
Automatic (vampire)
Scenic Route (murder/monsters)
Let's get this undead show on the road (vampire)
Facing Facts (murder/monsters)
IV League (murder/monsters)

I can honestly say, now, that I'm not sure I ever want to read another anthology. But I'm glad I read this one, because I had heard so much about it. I also love the cover of Enthralled, even if I don't understand the title. Also thanks to the authors for dedicating their book to smart chicks--like me.



I read Waiting for You within the day. The main character, Marissa, lives a pretty nice life. Her parents are still together; her sister wants to change the world; her aunt shares clothes with her; her best friend, Sterling, cooks lots of good food. Only, one person is missing--Derek. Marissa wants to go out with so bad, convinced he would make a great boyfriend. Only Derek is dating Sierra. Marissa also has an anxiety disorder that causes depression so last year she was labeled as she freak. This year, Marissa vows to break out of that label.

However, sophomore year is going to be rough for Marissa, as she has conflicts with her family, Sterling, and with two guys. Nash, the total geek, who likes her, but when she rejects him he falls in love with another girl. And Derek. He breaks up with Sierra and starts dating Marissa, but when he starts missing Sierra, Marissa breaks up with him.

I REALLY LIKED Waiting for You. It's easy to identify with Marissa, because I wasn't popular in high school either. I liked how Marissa was really creative--painting her room, writing free verse on walls, playing violin, helping her dad with woodworking. Creative. I also liked Nash, and just thought his character was really sweet, caring, and curious. Most of the book is about Marissa and Nash's relationship and how it moves from friends to more. The cover is very significant, and I feel it defines the book very well.

This book has a strong message. We can change our own lives, despite the circumstances. We can't control everything, but we can choose how we respond to everything. There's always hope. Sometimes life doesn't go the way we thought it would. We have to learn how to be "free to be me."

Someone once told me "Just be yourself. It's easier that way."

Marissa and Nash learn how to do just that.

I'm out of here, Rachel

Teaser Tuesday and Tuney Tuesday--March 20, 2012

 

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser: Both hands, squeezing, sliding, stroking. It never ends, this desire. Not for me. (pg 236)

 Enthralled: Paranormal Diversons


My Song: Holding on and Letting go by Ross Copperman

Is anybody out there?
Is anybody listening?
Does anybody really know if its the end of the beginning?
The quiet rush of one breath
Is all we're waiting for
Sometimes the one we’re taking
Changes every one before..

[Chorus]
It's everything you wanted, it's everything you don't
It's one door swinging open and one door swinging closed
Some prayers find an answer
Some prayers never know
We're holding on and letting go

Sometimes we're holding angels
And we never even know
Don't know if we'll make it,
But we know,
We just can't let it show

[Chorus]
It's everything you wanted, it's everything you don't
It's one door swinging open and one door swinging closed
Some prayers find an answer
Some prayers never know
We're holding on and letting go
Yeah, we're letting go

It's everything you wanted, it's everything you don't
It's one door swinging open and one door swinging closed
Some prayers find an answer
Some prayers never know
We're holding on and letting go

[Chorus]
It's everything you wanted, it's everything you don't
It's one door swinging open and one door swinging closed
Some prayers find an answer
Some prayers never know
We're holding on and letting go.

It's everything you wanted, it's everything you don't
It's one door swinging open and one door swinging closed
Some prayers find an answer
Some prayers never know
We're holding on and letting go

Response:

This song reminds me of the book Delirum, that I just finished reading. I just think it's a really beautiful song, and defines Lena and Alex's relationship. I don't want to give anything away, but if you've read Delirium, you probably get it. Delirium is a book I want to own, and I can't wait to read Pandemonium. I also really want to buy this song on itunes and put it on my ipod. I keep repeating it on youtube and it's driving some people I know crazy. Laugh out loud, yall.. Hold on and let go. How to do that at the same time, is the question. I suppose Alex and Lena show us how.

Post your own TT links below and I will check them out sometime this week.

It's also the  first day of spring! Did you see how cute Google looked today? Wishin' yall a very happy season, love ya Rachel

It's Monday March 19, 2012 and I'm reading...

Hosted by Sheila at the book journey.This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from! Please check out Sheila's blog for this meme.

What I finished reading: Delirium Lauren Oliver (see below for review)


What I'm currently reading: Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions: An Anthology


What I'm reading next: Waiting for You Susane Colasanti


I know I haven't done one of these in a while, but I hope doing it will help me be more organized. Because all of a sudden I find myself disorganized. So here is this week's schedule.


Tuesday--Tunes and Teaser
Thursday--Enthralled Review 
Friday--Hounded Readathon and Follow Friday
Saturday--The Austen Lover Travels the World


Post your own links below and I will check out what you have read/are reading/are going to read!

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Delirium fulfills my Read Dystopia Challenge, and Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge.

What I have to say is simply, "Well done, Lauren Oliver." I loved Delirium, as you can guess from that. It's the story of a girl, Lena, who lives in a world where every person past 18 has to be "cured" of love or deliria, the disease known for pain, unhappiness, and violence. Love drove Laura's mother to commit suicide, and she vows to not be like her mother. Lena believes the cure will keep her safe, give her a normal life, which is what she dreams of. But Lena is deeper that the society she lives in, that has told her these lies. When Lena meets Alex, the truth unravels. 95 days before Lena's 18th birthday, the unthinkable happens--she falls in love. But they are running out of time. 95 days.

At it's core, Delirium is no more than a simple love story, to be compared with Romeo and Juliet, Matched, the Girl of Fire and Thorns (No I wouldn't compare it to the Hunger Games for anyone who would).  I love Lauren Oliver's use of symbols and motifs throughout her novel. The obvious symbols are the gate, the Governor's fist, and the houses, and the places Lena and Hana run--running=companionship. The symbol-light motifs are the ocean, music, walls, and sunset/sunrise. Delirium is set in Portland, Maine by the ocean so naturally I LOVED it. For real, I don't think I've ever NOT loved a book set by the ocean. I just love all the imagery used with these symbols and motifs and how they help create the world Lena lives in, but also how they relate to Lena's life and her growth as a character. They all come back to her eventually, since she's the main character.

As for characters, I really liked Lena. She's naive and fearful, yet brave and deep. She cares about others, and would risk her own safety for them. She's very loyal.  Lena is very future oriented and thinks hard about the consequences of her choices--because she knows that they will impact her life in realistic ways. I liked Hana's character, too, although it's sad she's going to get cured. I hope that maybe Lauren Oliver will use her as a resister, and she and Lena can still stay friends. I also really liked Gracie as a character, and want to know what's going to happen to her. I mean, who can't love a loyal child who doesn't talk, yet has a sense of love, duty, and right and wrong? That means naturally I loved Gracie. Her relationship with Lena was very beautiful. I guess I should mention Alex. I loved him, especially how he was so willing to sacrifice for Lena. Lena said she didn't want to end up like her mother, but when Lena learns the truth it changes her perspective. Who wouldn't want to be like someone who sacrificed themselves for love--for love of you, Lena?

Next, the plot. There are very beautiful scenes in Delirium. Lena and Alex looking at the stars. Lena and Alex dancing. Alex reading love poetry to Lena. The graduation scene and their big hug. The beach scene where Alex tells Lena his secret. Lena' memories of her mother. The room where love is carved and written on the walls. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. And the ending. I don't want to ruin it, but I will say that it completes the story. Lena achieves a world without walls,  free to be who she wants to be,  and free to live and love in her own way. It's breathtaking and chilling, tragic and bold. It will leave you gasping for breathe, and forever thinking of the last words on Delirium's last page.

I cannot wait to read the next book.

I love you. Remember. They cannot take it.

Follow Friday--March 16, 2012

Q: What is the best book you've read in the last month? What is the worst book you've read in the last month?

A: Best Book: Graceling


I don't have a worst book. I'm too busy directing a one act play to read that much in this terrifically sunny and warm month of March, but I have spring break so I hope to get caught up.

Post your FF links below!

Teaser Tuesday and Tuney Tuesday--March 13, 2012

Teaser Tuesday is a meme hosted at the Miz B should be reading.


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

Current Read: Pride and Prejudice (YAY!) by Jane Austen
Teaser:  "No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you can think anything wanting. We neither of us perform to strangers." (pg 150)

Tuney Tuesday is hosted by Eileen (who designed by blog button--coming soon--and whom I love) and by JAYA her blogging buddy


The rules:

• Once a week, on Tuesday, choose a song that you might be really into that particular week.
• Include a video/cover art for that single if there is one (or the button for Tuney Tuesdays that I've made up. I'll put it later in the post.)
• Include the lyrics
• Write what you like about it in a review. Or write a few sentences about how it inspires you. Or how it relates to a book that you've been reading.
• If you don't want to do your own song, you can use one of the songs that Eileen JB Kantt atJ.A.Y.A.! have done for this week!

My Song: Revelation Song by Kari Jobi

Worthy is the, Lamb who was slain
Holy, Holy, is He
Sing a new song, to him who sits on
Heaven's mercy seat
[2X]

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You

Clothed in rainbows, of living color
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and glory and power be
to You the only wise King

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You

Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder
At the mention of your name
Jesus your name is power
Breath, and living water
Such a marvelous mystery
Yeah...

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come, yeah
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You
[3X]

Worthy is the, Lamb who was slain
Holy, Holy, is He
Sing a new song, to him who sits on
Heaven's mercy seat
[2X]

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You

Clothed in rainbows, of living color
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and glory and power be
to You the only wise King

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You

Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder
At the mention of your name
Jesus your name is power
Breath, and living water
Such a marvelous mystery
Yeah...

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come, yeah
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You
[3X]

 Response:

I love this song, just to say. It's the song my youth group always sings at church, and my church friends sing in the car sometimes. It's a beautiful beautiful beautiful song. The part that I really believe in is "You are my everything and I will adore you." This is how I feel about God, all I want to do is praise him. To me, this has become one of the songs that defines my faith. I just want to let yall know that God loves yall.

Post your own TT links below and I will come check them out. Be Blessed, Rachel

Follow Friday--March 9, 2012

 

Happy Friday yall! I've had a pretty good day today, and now it's time for the hop.

Q: Have you ever looked at book's cover and thought, This is going to horrible? But, was instead pleasantly surprised? Show us the cover and tell us about the book.

A:  I really don't like the cover of the false princess and didn't think it would be very good, but I actually liked it.

I happen to think that more often it's the other way: the cover is great, but not the book. For me, it was like that for these books below.

  
  
I had heard so much about these three from other blogs, but when I read them I didn't agree. But their covers are very good.

I'd also like to say Happy National Women's Day! (All of the covers in this post have women in them btw) and also today is Dr. Seuss's birthday! It's a very happy day today, so make it a good one.
Out, Rachel

The False Princess and Anna and the French Kiss

The False Princess Review

Princess and heir to the throne of Thorvaldor, Nalia's led a privileged life at court. But everything changes when it's revealed, just after her sixteenth birthday, that she is a false princess, a stand-in for the real Nalia, who has been hidden away for her protection. Cast out with little more than the clothes on her back, the girl now called Sinda must leave behind the city of Vivaskari, her best friend, Keirnan, and the only life she's ever known. Sinda is sent to live with her only surviving relative, an aunt who is a dyer in a distant village. She is a cold, scornful woman with little patience for her newfound niece, and Sinda proves inept at even the simplest tasks. But when Sinda discovers that magic runs through her veins - long-suppressed, dangerous magic that she must learn to control - she realizes that she can never learn to be a simple village girl. Returning to Vivaskari for answers, Sinda finds her purpose as a wizard scribe, rediscovers the boy who saw her all along, and uncovers a secret that could change the course of Thorvaldor's history, forever.

Sinda has grown up her whole life as Princess Nalia, heir to the throne of Thorvaldor. Until her sixteenth birthday, the king and queen tell her that she is a false princess, a stand-in for the real one who has been in hiding. Orienne has grown up in a convent, and the king and queen think she is their real daughter. Mika lives in a neighboring kingdom, poor and desolate with no one to love. These three girls all look like each other, could be cousins. Only one of them is the true princess, but evil threatens Sinda's search for the truth. As she also falls in love with her best friend Kiernan, she will have to risk her heart and her life to do what is right. Will they be able to find the right girl and put her on the throne in time?

  I liked the plot to this book, how it moved pretty fast and left the reader wanting to know what was going to happen. I don't like the cover at all, but I think the details in this book really made it worthwhile. It is a complete story and nothing less, nothing more. It is not heart pounding like the Maze Runner nor is it as slow as the slowest book you can think of. It is set a a really good pace; the characters are all very well, although the reader does not know all of their motives. It's an interesting story overall, and I'm glad I read it, even if it wasn't one I loved.

The false princess also fulfills the Book Blogger Recommendation challenge.
This is the cover: (It doesn't make sense to me/irrelevant to story)



Anna and the French Kiss Review

Summary from Good Reads: Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home. As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?

For all the good things I had heard about this novel, I found it to be just a tad disappointing. For one, I can't stand the cover. For two, I didn't even like St. Clair. For three, I felt that there were relationships in this novel that were not fully fleshed out. For four, there was not enough of the whole Ellie/St. Clair relationship drama happening. For five St. Clair didn't seem to mind breaking up with Ellie who he once regarded as the love of his life. For six, there were a bit of some inappropriate things that if left out could have made the novel better. For seven, there were problems that never got solved, and after the problems happened it was just like the guys forget about them. For all of the good things I've heard, here's what actually lived up to expectation. It's set in PARIS! The Notre Dame, Point Zero, Shakespeare and Company, the Effiel Tower, L'Arc de Triomphe, and the film capital city of the world. Did I mention it's set in PARIS, FRANCE?? It's like a perfect setting. I loved the French words, because one day I want to speak French. One day. There were places in this book that I've always wanted to go. Point Zero fascinated me. A place where all roads go out of? Fascinating. That was pretty much the best part of the novel. The other really good part is Anna. As much as I disliked St. Clair, I loved Anna. She was so much like me, which is probably why. She's such a strong, passionate gal, although she's a bit shy and nervous.

That's all I got for Anna and the French Kiss, although I will say that I liked Lola and the Boy Next Door a whole lot better. Anna and the French kiss also fulfills the Book Blogger Recommendation challenge. Share your thoughts below.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

 

Katsa is skilled in the Grace of killing, and is ruled by King Randa, her uncle. Katsa despises her Grace, and wishes she had the opposite. Out of her desire she forms the Council, a group of people throughout the seven kingdoms who are fed up with the squabbles of reckless kings. Her friends--the captain, guard, and prince--Oll, Giddon, and Raffin, help her lead the Council, as she is guided by her nurse Helda and Raffin's man Ban. As the Council grows, Katsa's desire to kill gets less and less. When she rescues the grandfather of the royal Lienid family, she meets his grandson the youngest prince, Po. Po is Graced is the art of fighting, and is the closest Katsa has ever come to an equal in fighting. Katsa finally finds the courage to leave King Randa's court, and she and Po go on a journey to Monsea, where a terrible danger lurks. Their journey is perilous, the danger far worse than they imagined, for the king of Monsea is Graced, and it could destroy Katsa if she is not careful. Through the cold mountains and ocean, Katsa rescues the heir, Princess Bitterblue of Monsea, and attempts to protect her and get her to safety. However, it comes at the cost of her heart, for she must leave Po behind in Monsea.

This book reminded me of The Girl of Fire and Thorns, but where that one was flat out awesome, I felt that Graceling lacked a bit compared to it. Here is why. I love happy endings in love stories; I really do. Especially in contemporary novels. Graceling is very much a fantasy novel with an impossible journey and mission. Impossible struggles often lead to unhappy endings. I loved Po's character, but the ending with him was just so predicted and unclimatic. It was a beautiful ending, but I wanted more.

Suffice to say I really did like this novel, and am glad I read it, and would totally recommend it. I've read some other reviews that don't like the feminist message, but I think Katsa should have the right to marry or not marry. Although, I do have the issue that Katsa and Po are okay with being lovers when she's always going to leave him. Some people find that their love making diminishes the novel, but I really didn't have a problem with it, because it was not explicitly described. I cannot tell you how much I despise those types of scenes. Something else I didn't like was the King of Monsea, although maybe he's meant to creep me out, I didn't feel like I understood why he was killing people and animals. I also felt that Katsa taking Bitterblue to Lienid was super obvious, of course the King of Monsea is going to be there when they arrive! I don't like the obvious. I also didn't like the names in this book, and thought they were too much (as in the Hunger Games as Graceling can also be compared to).

As for what I liked, I think it might outweigh what I didn't like. Katsa and Po are a terrific match, and I love their eyes. Because they are Graced, their eyes are different colors. Katsa's are green and blue; Po's are gold and silver. I loved that Katsa's Grace turned out to be survival, not killing. Her grace was life, not death, after all. I just thought it was really clever to come up with such a Grace, and I could see how it be misinterpreted. Katsa sure was strong woman! I loved Bitterblue's character, for being so young she sure was wise and strong. I loved the cover of this book, and the British version too. I admired how much Po loved Katsa, even at the risk of his heart and his life. I really enjoyed the part where Katsa and Bitterblue where on the ship, out at wide open sea. I thought the setting was original, and would like to know more about Lienid. I thought it was fascinating that Lienid is the only kingdom where Gracelings are valued and free.

There is a prequel (Fire) and a companion (Bitterblue) to Graceling. Fire is already out, and I so psyched to read it, and Bitterblue comes out May 1, 2012. I can't wait. Covers on right.

Graceling also fulfills the Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge.

Conquest by Vik Rubenfeld

Conquest is the story of a band. It's also about love. Reid Taylor plays bass and tells the story. When he meets Kristy, he knows she's "the one." Barry is the role model leader and main guitarist. When he meets Risa, they think they might be soul mates. Clay is the drummer, who lives with his high school sweetheart. They might not belong together, and can't take care of each other. Link is the singer, who never commits to one girl, and never wants to be married, settle down, or have kids. They all love the free life, and music consumes their lives. This book is sad. The ending is shocking and ungraceful. People who don't deserve it get hurt and bruised. Some die, and some are left behind. There is a lack of morals among the band members, who think they can own a woman for one night and get away with it. It's about discovering secrets and hidden motives, before it's too late. It's hard to see the real love in this book; I don't know if the characters ever figure it out. I don't know where the afterward takes them. My favorite part of this book is when Barry and Risa meet. It's on the cover. Barry brings a random girl who happens to be Risa up on stage and dances with her. And falls in love with her. She connects well with Leah and Reid, and is a bright, beautiful girl. She contrasts to Kristy, who is shy and doesn't know what she wants for her future. These women all their love men, and it's sad to see their hearts get broken. This was not my favorite book, but I didn't hate it. I feel very indifferent about it, actually. You could say I'm neutral about it, which is odd, because a book almost leaves me feeling something. I think it's perhaps because I don't know what to think of Reid's story. As I said before Conquest is only the story of a band. Note: I recieved this book from the author in exchange for a free review. This in no way affected my review.

Teaser Tuesday--March 6, 2012

It happens at the Miz B should be reading. I'm currently reading 2 books:
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Hounded by Kevin Hearne


My Teaser:
"In her bed, thoughts swirled like a windstorm in her mind; but she ordered herself to sleep. In an instant, the storm quieted. She slept under a blanket of calm." (pg 222)


My Teaser:
"The Morrigan regarded me as if her next words would cause me to swoon like a corseted Jane Austen character." (pg 14)

Post your links to your own teasers below and I will check them out!

I've been Tagged!!!

So I don't really know how this works, but Eileen at singing and reading in the rain tagged me in her blog post. It's my first time being tagged, and I'm supposed to answer the 11 questions my tagger asks. So here we go.

1. If you were in a book, would you be the lead or the trusty sidekick?
A: the trusty sidekick. I'm very loyal.

2. If you were in a book, what genre book would you be in?

A: Contemporary?

3. Favorite food?

A: Goldfish. The snack that always smiles back. And bagels with white cream cheese. And french toast. And nutella. All chocolate. I love food.

4. If you had to live forever in a book, which would it be?

A: I'd like to be a mermaid forever, but I'd want to live in a peaceful kingdom, maybe the fins series.

5. What's the song of your life?

A: Put your records on

6. What's the book of your life?

A: The Bible. Enough said.

7. Would you rather have to stop reading because of dinner or errands?

A: NO WAY. Thanks to God I'm a teenage and don't have to worry about those things.

8. Barbecue or sour-cream potato chips?

A: Both. Don't make me choose.

9. What's the saddest ending you've ever read?

A: The endings to Shiver, Linger, and Forever by Maggie Steifvater.

10. Who is your favorite author? Your least-favorite?

A: Melina Marchetta is my favorite living author, and Jane Austen is my favorite desceased author. My least favorite is Aimee Carter. I know lots of people liked her goddess books, but I thought it was a case of the emperor's new clothes, and didn't like them.

11. Best book so far this year?

A: The Girl of Fire and Thorns.

I was always awarded my first blog award from Eileen!
  the one lovely blog award

Now it's time to go eat! Chow yall!