tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57203713017412840032024-02-25T23:01:22.337-08:00Books and Blind DatesIt is a truth universally acknowledged that a single girl must be in possession of a book. Rachel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12722167304233346866noreply@blogger.comBlogger216125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720371301741284003.post-64668496217265683912013-02-20T17:00:00.000-08:002016-07-02T11:25:06.868-07:00An analysis of the Morals in Game of Thrones: Sex, Honor, Power, and LoyaltyGame of Thrones season three is coming in March and I finished season one in December. I've had a lot of time to think about this decision, and I've decided I'm not going to watch GOT anymore. I was going to title this "why I've decided not to watch GOT anymore" but then I came up with a classier title. In this post, I'm taking a look at some of the themes of GOT and how it has a great deal of violent and sexual content.<br />
<br />
There is too much nudity and sexual content in game of thrones, which is to be expected as almost every television show or movie contains sexual elements in modern day. I don't think that people should go out of their way to put in the movie, but it is most likely going to be there. I personally felt like there was only one really unnecessary and bizarre sex scene and that was the one with Petyr talking about Catelyn Stark and being creepy. Apparently there is also another similar sex scene in season 2.<br />
<br />
Sex in Westeros comes from the failure of men to love and treat their women well. Prostitutes live in every city. Fathers, uncles, brothers arrange political marriages for their daughters, nieces, sisters. Most often these arranged marriages have abusive husbands. An exception to this is Nedd and Catelyn Stark who do genuinely love each other. Joffrey abuses Sansa, his betrothed and leaves her to be raped (she is rescued however).<br />
<br />
Game of Thrones is also very violent with death, blood, guts, and traitors, lies, secrets all in a war over power. Everyone is trying to get the Iron Throne and none do it honorably. Honor is a theme in GOT and is possessed by only one true character----Nedd Stark, lord of Winterfell. Everyone else disregards honor, because, well, if they were to act honorably, none of them would have any power. Loyalty also comes into play here, because no one in King's Landing (the capital of Westeros) is on Nedd's side. The saddest part about GOT is that Nedd gives up his honor to save his daughters, but fails. Sansa ends up a captive of the Lannisters and Arya is headed to the wall alone, a long journey that is sure to be full of adventures. In the Game of Thrones, you win or you die. If you have a code of honor or a sense of morals, you die is what GOT says.<br />
<br />
The biggest theme is power. Everyone is trying to get it, no matter the cost. Robb Stark sends 2,000 men to be killed so that he can defeat Jamie Lannister's army and capture the man. Robb Stark, who was supposed to be as honorable as his father turns out to be a failure, because he breaks his promises and can't keep his word. As for the other claims to the throne, Stanis Baratheon kills his own brother and joins a mysterious cult that worships fire and forces everyone in his army to join it. Theon Greyjoy, who has been raised alongside Robb Stark, abandons him and returns to his father's house and takes up an army and murders Bran and Rickon, the two youngest Stark children. So much for loyalty. Joffrey, my least favorite character, orders the murder of many people, abuses Sansa and his younger siblings.<br />
<br />
Power corrupts and makes monsters out of men in Games of Thrones.<br />
<br />
Other themes that I disagree with are the idea of destiny. Jon Snow, Daenerys, and Arya all have great destinies, but at the loss of people they love. They all lose everything and I wish I could see where they could go. The three of them and also Nedd are my favorites. I don't think that "only death begets life." That's only in GOT where death is an ever present force that influences the choices of the characters. In reality, death cannot do anything, only life can.Life begets life and children are born despite it all.<br />
<br />
My main issue with GOT is that it's written as there there is no right and wrong, and I disagree. Right and wrong and morals exist. In GOT the characters just ignore them and do whatever it takes to get power.<br />
<br />
On a final note, the characters I liked the best are those who refused to play the game of thrones. Maybe that is the lesson to be learned from GOT after all. That we can look at the world of Westeros and our own world and choose not to let power rule us. We can walk away and find our own purposes and create our own destinies.<br />
<br />
<br />Rachel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12722167304233346866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720371301741284003.post-42351188425328139482013-02-19T14:59:00.000-08:002013-02-19T14:59:00.166-08:00The Outsider Once Upon a Time<img alt="File:OnceUponaTime promo.png" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/OnceUponaTime_promo.png" /><br />
<br />
I know I'm kinda going backwards in episodes, here but I wanted to write about Belle. She is one of my favorite characters on the show. The Outsider is two episodes before Tiny and is about Belle and Mulan and Belle's adventures between leaving Mr.Gold/Rumple and getting captured by Regina and locked away.<br />
<br />
Thus, in FTL, Belle is still with the dwarfs, hiding out with them, reading a book. She overhears a group of men come in and talk about the Yaogui, a fierce fiery beast. Dreamy, the dwarf in love with Nova, comes up to thank her and tells her that he and Nova are going to run away together. Dreamy tells Belle that she should go take a chance on the adventure and find the Yaogui. She tells him thank you and closes her book. Before Belle jumps on the wagon, though, Dreamy gives her fairy dust that is "good magic." Belle thanks him and says she will use it for good.<br />
<br />
Belle travels with some men to another, far off land (possibly China?) reading her book that is written in Chinese. The men laugh at her and ask where the Yaogui is. She tells them it is near a lake, which is a lie, and they throw her off the wagon. Belle picks up the book and travels to the mountains, where the beast really is.<br />
<br />
Belle uses the book to find the Yaogui's cave in the mountains, but it comes out trying to attack her, but Mulan appears and shoots at it. The beast runs away and Mulan helps Belle up. Mulan tells Belle she has been tracking the beast for weeks and is angry she missed her shot. Belle shows Mulan the book and offers to help her find it again, but Mulan refuses.<br />
<br />
Later, in a somewhat looking Chinese town, Belle is fetching water from the well, when the men who ditched her find her and attempt to beat her up. Mulan shows up and fights them off. She then asks Belle for help tracking the Yaogui so that Mulan can kill it, as Belle's tracking skills are better than Mulan's. Belle agrees and notices that Mulan's leg has been injured in the fight, to which Mulan ignores.<br />
<br />
They track the beast, but as they find it, Mulan's injury prevents her from fighting. She gives Belle her sword and tells her that she must defeat the beast,that she must save Mulan's village from the Yaogui. She tells Belle that once people said she wasn't strong enough, but once she found something worth fighting for, she never gave it up.<br />
<br />
Belle goes to the field and gets the Yaogui's attention and it comes after her as she runs down the road to the town. She breaks a water pipe as it attacks her, putting out it's fire. The beast starts to write something in the mud in chinese that stands for "help me." Belle takes out the fairy dust and sprinkles it on the beast who turns into Prince Philip! So Belle is the "beauty" for two beasts, Mr. Gold and Prince Philip! Yay Belle!<br />
<br />
Belle and Philip go find Mulan and he tells her them that Malificent (what is it with this witch???) cursed him and sent him to their land. This implies that Mulan's land really is different than the others. Mulan agrees to help Philip go back to his land, which is Aurora's also I believe. Belle decides that she needs to go back and fight her own beast and leaves them. This is my favorite moment of Belle, when she comes back having defeated the Yaogui. She has so much promise to her life, but sadly...<br />
<br />
At the top of the hill, Belle looks back saying she will never stop fighting for him. She turns around hearing Regina, who has found her with the help of the two men Belle traveled with. Belle is locked up, but screams that one day she will be reunited with Mr. Gold and that Regina cannot keep them apart forever and that Belle will never stop fighting for him.<br />
<br />
As we know, Belle is locked away for 28 years. In present day Storybrooke, Mr. Gold has made a potion spell to get across the town line without losing his memories as long as he sprinkles the item on whatever he values most. Which happens to be a shawl that used to belong to his son. I guess this means that he loves his son more than he loves Belle? Belle asks if she can come with him (as she so longs to be with him and to go on adventures) but he says he must go alone.<br />
<br />
Belle goes to the library and finds Hook waiting there for her. She recognizes him as the man who came to her jail cell once while she was prisoner trying to kill Mr. Gold. Hook says that he wants to kill Mr. Gold but will settle for her. She runs and slams the book cart into him and then locks herself in the elevator and calls Gold, but they have bad connection and he cannot hear her very well. He comes and rescues her and they walk back to his shop, which has been ransacked and the shawl stolen.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gold is angry, as now he is trapped in Storybrooke and cannot find his son. He tells Belle that he will find Hook and get the shawl back. He tells Belle to go back to the library. which she does. In the library, Belle is working on organizing books and finds the book that Hook was reading before she came in. She realizes that he came by ship and heads to the dock.<br />
<br />
At the dock, Belle notices a seagull perched on something invisible and throws sand onto the stairs of the ship. She walks through the invisibility spell and begins searching for the shawl. She finds Archie Hopper and frees him and tells him to go find Mr. Gold. Hook appears and tells Belle the truth, how Milah left Gold because he was a coward and that she loved Hook. He tells her that he loved Milah and took her away, but that when Gold later found him he almost killed him, but instead he killed Milah for leaving him and their son.<br />
<br />
I feel sorry for Hook, but I hope he finds someone new to love. Maybe he fall in love with Regina, after all they both need someone and have both lost someone in the past. The writers have said that Hook will find some allies in Storybrooke. I hope that there is still good left in the two of them bad guys!<br />
<br />
Mr. Gold arrives as Belle runs away from Hook, whom he starts beating with his cane. Belle convinces Gold not to kill Hook and that she believes that there is good in him still. How Belle keeps believing amazes me. She has so much hope and so much promise. Gold tells Hook he never wants to see him again and he and Belle leave taking the shawl.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/8wPlTHDkppw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
And this happens.<br />
<br />
And after it happens Emma, David, and MM don't let him see Belle.<br />
<br />
And Mr. Gold cashes in his favor, and he, Emma, and Henry go on a road trip to find his son.<br />
<br />
And Hook recovers and lives after getting hit by a car, and gets to have a great conversation about how he's a dead man with Emma.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://3.gvt0.com/vi/PBgx2G_K4HM/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PBgx2G_K4HM&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PBgx2G_K4HM&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<br />
Favorite scenes from The Outsider!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/n9HduwZuQPY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
(this one above is from S1 Episode Dreamy)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/sRC4cFLfkso?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/zdllZ6yCD9Q?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/DgKhYUNJI6g?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ED-WVx5QGvc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I love Belle a lot and I hope she gets her memories back (actually the writes have said that she will, but that it will require a great sacrifice from Mr. Gold). I also hope that one day she gets to meet Mulan again and Prince Philip and Aurora. I hope she gets to go on so many adventures! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
http://www.tvguide.com/News/Once-Upon-Time-Spoilers-Kitsis-Horowitz-1058181.aspx</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Until next time, everyone. Love, Rachel </div>
Rachel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12722167304233346866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720371301741284003.post-27686583481427812472013-02-17T20:00:00.000-08:002013-02-17T20:00:00.896-08:00Tiny Once Upon a Time<img alt="File:OnceUponaTime promo.png" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/OnceUponaTime_promo.png" /><br />
<br />
Hi yall. I know it's been a while since I've written about Once UAT. I've just been busy with school. I've missed a few episodes of OUAT, like I'm missing queen of hearts and the name of the brother, but for the most part I'm on track. The giant is back in this episode! We find out who Jack is and what the real story is concerning the giants, the magic beans, and how they got destroyed. A few questions get answered and a whole lot more come up.<br />
<br />
In fairy tale land, the giant's realm, we see five or six giants sitting down to eat and celebrate the bean harvest. One of the giants, called Tiny by his brothers because he is smaller than the others, doesn't understand why they don't have interaction with the human world down below the beanstalk. The humans believe that the giants are dead (why?). The eldest giant, Arlo, tells Tiny that the humans would kill the giants and steal their beans if they knew that they were alive, because all humans do is kill while the giants foster and create life. Tiny doesn't understand why they make the beans if no one uses them, to which Arlo replies it is their labor that is important, that it is their labor that defines them.<br />
<br />
Tiny decides to climb down the beanstalk and find out about humans for himself. A flashback to the past takes us to Prince James (Prince Charming's twin brother) holding in his arms a woman in white with dark hair. King George comes in and tells James that he needs to go find a giant who is running around and find out why the giant is there.<br />
<br />
So James and the woman, who dresses herself in much more Snow White esp garb, find the giant and welcome him to their realm. The woman, who introduces herself as Jacqueline, "but most people call me Jack," gives the giant a piece of mushroom that will temporarily make him smaller. She tells Anton/Tiny that she was given it by a village after she slayed a terrorizing jabberwalk for them. Jack's adventure happened in a far off land and she was given the mushroom by a "wise woman who swore by it's powers." I speculate if this land was Wonderland and if the wise woman was Cora. I also wonder about this woman, Jack, because from this episode very little is revealed about her.<br />
<br />
Jack, James, and Anton go into the taven, but Jack gets up to argue with a knight. Jack tells Anton that the kingdom is heading for bankruptcy and Anton let's slip about treasure and tells them that he will bring them some of it. Back at the beanstalk, Anton is gathering treasure when Arlo comes in and asks where he was and Anton says he went down below and met some humans and that he wants to live in the Enchanted Forest. At that moment, century birds alert them of humans in their world.<br />
<br />
James and Jack have climbed up the beanstalk because they believe that there are magic beans and they wanted them. They have tricked Anton/Tiny and claim that the giants should hand over the beans. Arlo says they cannot and Jack unsheathes her sword and they go to war. Soon only Arlo and Anton are left and Arlo tells Anton he must destroy the beans and salt the fields.<br />
<br />
While Anton is doing so, Arlo is fighting, but Jack stabs him with her poisonous sword. He however catches her and stabs her with her own sword. Jack cries out to James, but he continues to gather treasure saying he has a kingdom to run and leaves her to die alone. In his dying breath, Arlo gives Anton a seed that can grow a beanstalk, but tells him that he will have to leave their home to do so, as the bean fields have been salted so nothing can grow. He tells Anton that he is the last of their kind, the giants, and that one day he will find a place to belong.<br />
<br />
In the real world Storybrooke, Mary Margaret and David have Hook take them to his ship where they discover that Cora has make Anton small and brought him to Storybrooke. MM wakes him up and tells him it's all right and that's he's safe. However, as soon as the giant sees David, he starts screaming at David and attacking him, because well James, the guy who looks just like David, took everything from him. However, Anton is shrunk so he cannot do much and MM, David, and Leroy (one of the dwarfs) stop him. Anton stomps off the ship saying he will get David (who he thinks is James) back.<br />
<br />
David, MM, and Leroy go to the inn and discuss and figure out why the giant was angry. Regina also finds out and finds Anton sitting alone in the woods. She gives him a piece of mushroom to make him bigger and he goes slamming cars around and scaring people. David tells Anton the truth and MM says they are on his side and that Emma is their daughter, but she has gone out of town with Mr. Gold and Henry to find Mr. Gold's son (who I'm pretty convinced is Neal Cassady, Henry's father, based on the promo).<br />
<br />
David offers his life in exchange for everyone else's in Storybrooke, but as the giant goes to stomp on him, Mary Margaret pulls him out of the way. The mushroom effects wear off at the moment and Anton falls down underground and is seen hanging onto a pipe. David goes down and the people of Storybrooke help pull him up. Although Anton says he does not want to live, David tells him that if he had wanted to die he would have let go already. They take Anton to the diner and he tells them everything Prince James and Jack did to him. David says that there are good people who exist and MM tells Anton he can stay at the inn, as Storybrooke is their home since they cannot go back to FTL. Anton pulls out the seed he was given and says maybe they can. He inspects the soil and plants it with the help of the dwarfs who give him an axe with and Tiny appears on it. I wonder if dwarves and giants are somehow related? Although, according to the writers Anton is not a dwarf and that the axe merely symbolizes his belonging. I guess that makes sense, because in FTL Anton was a giant. But he shrinks to normal human size in Storybrooke, so he's a dwarf there.<br />
<br />
I want to know more about Jack, Prince James, and giants/dwarves, and I want to know what will happen with Emma, Henry, and Mr. Gold as they find his son. I am also looking foward to the tension growing between MM and David about returning to FTL. I don't know that they should, after all it's not their home anymore and it's not what it was. Maybe FTL is best left in the past.<br />
<br />
Clips from this episode!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/-QYFZaQ0c1k?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ac49sTbX8b4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/gf5gIZS2-Wo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/DZlF86mP8BU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/nH5X40adQo0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
The last clip is just one I found. I haven't seen Astrid/Nova since season one and I think she needs to come back! There's so much unfinished to her story!Rachel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12722167304233346866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720371301741284003.post-46362690735543192592013-02-12T18:40:00.001-08:002013-02-12T18:40:12.041-08:00Update! Hey yall,<br />
So I cracked the LCD screen on my computer and had to get it fixed, which is why I haven't been blogging in the past couple of weeks. You can expect in the future some more song reviews and Once Upon a Time posts. As far as college is going, it's been busy since coming back from winter break. I feel like time is always flying from my hands!<br />
Tell me how you are doing in the comments below!<br />Love, RachelRachel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12722167304233346866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720371301741284003.post-71275047736017237032013-01-30T00:00:00.000-08:002013-01-30T00:00:07.783-08:00FROI OF THE EXILES <img alt="Froi of the Exiles (Lumatere Chronicles, #2)" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1306866851l/10165727.jpg" width="211" /><br />
<br />
Summary from Good Reads:<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i>Blood sings to blood, Froi . . .<br />Those born last will make the first . . .<br />For Charyn will be barren no more. </i></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Three years after the curse on Lumatere was lifted, Froi has found his home... Or so he believes...</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Fiercely loyal to the Queen and Finnikin, Froi has been trained roughly and lovingly by the Guard sworn to protect the royal family, and has learned to control his quick temper. But when he is sent on a secretive mission to the kingdom of Charyn, nothing could have prepared him for what he finds. Here he encounters a damaged people who are not who they seem, and must unravel both the dark bonds of kinship and the mysteries of a half-mad Princess.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">And in this barren and mysterious place, he will discover that there is a song sleeping in his blood, and though Froi would rather not, the time has come to listen.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Gripping and intense, complex and richly imagined, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Froi of the Exiles</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> is a dazzling sequel to </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Finnikin of the Rock</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">, from the internationally best-selling and multi-award-winning author of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Looking for Alibrandi</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Saving Francesca</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">On the Jellicoe Road</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The Piper's Son</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Favorite quotes: </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">“I'm not interested in those who do me wrong. There's not enough time in the day for them.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">“...the greatest weapon against big stupid men was a sharp mind.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">“If we forget who we lost, then we forget who we once were, and if we forget who we once were, we lose sight of who we are now.” </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">“Imagine who she would be if we unleashed her onto the world. I think she would rip the breath from all of us.” </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">“In a kinder world," he whispered, "one I promise you I've seen, men and women flirt and dance and love with only the fear of what it would mean without the other in their lives.” </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Review: </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Froi of the Exiles is the second book in the Lumatere trilogy by Melina Marchetta. It takes place three years after Finnikin of the Rock where Lumatere is back on its feet, but Charyn, the neighboring kingdom is falling down. There are returning characters from FOTR such as the Queen's Guard, Perry and Tessadora, Lucian of the Monts and Froi. The whole of Lumatere has been trying to recover from their devastation, trying to grow crops, and trying to get along with their neighboring kingdoms. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">In Finnikin of the Rock, Froi was found by Queen Isaboe who he gave his bond to. He was one of the exiles who has no memories of ever living in Lumatere because he was a young child when he left. No, Froi's life began three years ago. He has been tending the land and loves being a farm boy. He is also very loyal to the queen and king and the Guard. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">In the river valley that is the border between Charyn and Lumatere, Charynites are starting to gather there hoping for sanctuary in Lumatere because the land and the people of Charyn are barren. No child has been born to them for nearly 16 years. The last of these is Quintana, the half mad daughter of the king</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Froi is sent on a mission to kill the king, but finds himself caught up with the secrets in the castle towers. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Froi meets many people, Quintana who he intensely falls in love with, the old and crippled Gargarin, the architect/designer/builder and his gay brother the priest Arjuro, the king's imprisoned wife and Gargarin's former lover Lirah, and De Lancy, ruler of Paladozza the enchanting city. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">My first thoughts about this book were "oh Froi, I'm sorry you had to go through so much." FOTE is a much darker and much sadder book than FOTR, which was more hopeful. Froi finds his family in Charyn but he loses his bond to Queen Isaboe. He gives his heart to Quintana and creates a new bond to protect her. He breaks his bond to those he loved and swore to protect for her. Oh, Froi. And Froi's family is nothing like he dreamed of. They are grieving, angry, violent people who hide their feelings. Oh, Froi. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Then there's Quintana. She's half mad with a spirit inside of her, the reginita "little queen", who is the spirit of her younger dead twin sister Regina. In Charyn, you must say the names of the dead in order for the dead to have peace. Quintana is cold and dark with everyone against her. She carries Froi's son, the first to be born in the land, but there are men who chase after her for the unborn child. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Both Froi and Quintana are very strong characters who are finding out where they came from, where they are going, and who they are. I'm eager to see what happens in the next book.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">While the two of them are journeying through Charyn over and under, the mountains and the rock caves, back in the river valley, Lucian of the Monts marries Phaedra, daughter of the province Alonso and the last born of the ruler there. However, Phaedra is not accepted by the Mont people and instead tends to the people who have come to the river valley. She works alongside Tessadora. She grows stronger and eventually Lucian does come to accept her. Phaedra was one of my favorite characters in FOTE. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Finnikin of the Rock was the story of a girl, a boy, a thief, and a wise man on a journey to reclaim their kingdom. It was full of mystery, sacrifice, hope and ultimately about the power of choices. Froi of the Exiles is about a boy on the brink of manhood and a girl on the brink of womanhood on a journey both physical and emotional, trying to find who they can be, where we've come from. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Melina Marchetta sums it all up, "It explores nature versus nurture and blond bonds versus friendship, but ultimately it's a love story between a whole bunch of people who should have gien up on each other long ago, and yet still find it in themselves to hope again." </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Well I look foward to seeing where their hope will go in the next book, Quintana of Charyn. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>Rachel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12722167304233346866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720371301741284003.post-13437892748165699952013-01-25T05:30:00.000-08:002013-01-25T05:30:03.990-08:00Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.999998092651367px;"><br /></span>
<img alt="Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky, #1)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337289697l/10756656.jpg" width="132" /><br />
<br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.999998092651367px;">“She looked up. “A world of nevers under a never sky.”</span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.999998092651367px;"><i>She fit in well then, he thought. A girl who never shut up.”</i> --Perry, Under the Never Sky </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.983333587646484px;">Summary from Good Reads: </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.999998092651367px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;">Since she'd been on the outside, she'd survived an Aether storm, she'd had a knife held to her throat, and she'd seen men murdered. This was worse.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;">Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland - known as The Death Shop - are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She's been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild - a savage - and her only hope of staying alive.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;">A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile - everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.27272605895996px;">Book Trailer: </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/A0TnH3GEieE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
On one of the last days of December 2012, I read Under the Never Sky. My first reaction was why did I wait so long to read this book? It's a really great dystopia and I liked it more than Matched and definitely more than the Hunger Games. I loved it as much as I loved Delirium by Lauren Oliver, which is me saying a lot.<br />
I really enjoyed all the two main characters, Aria and Perry. They both lose a lot, gain a lot, and find out a lot--most importantly about themselves. Aria finds out that she can survive, adapt to the world and that there is more outside of Reverie. They both find out that they can love, despite it being taken away from them. Perry learns how to hope and Aria learns how to live on the outside.<br />
I also enjoyed the secondary characters, Roar, Talon, Cinder. the guy with braids, the doctor, and the guy who Aria stays with. They are all very strong characters, and even though Liv was only mentioned in this book I'm eager to meet her, hear her story, and see what happens between her and Roar. I also want to know more about Cinder, his background, and how he can control the Aether.<br />
The world building for UTNS is excellent. First is the enclosed city of Reverie, where everything is perfect. The people who live there are known as Dwellers to those who live in the Death Shop, the wasteland outside of Reverie. Perry is an outsider and Aria is a Dweller who is banished for crimes she didn't commit. There are the Aether storms, huge fierce lightening storms that can kill people they are so powerful. Aria isn't likely to survive, but she does with Perry's help and the two fall in love.<br />
Their love is different. It's like Alex and Lena's from Delirium, because it's a foreign thing to both of them. The way it's written is similar to Lauren Oliver's but has Maggie Stiefvater's descriptive flow pattern. Overall, Under the Never Sky is not one to be missed and is a great dystopian love story with a very hopeful ending. I look forward to finding out more about the world under the never sky and about Perry and Aria's adventures in it. I am very eager for Through the Ever Night. Finally words to Veronica Rossi, well done, well done.Rachel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12722167304233346866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720371301741284003.post-39146222721817204142013-01-22T08:00:00.000-08:002013-01-22T08:00:00.307-08:00I knew you were trouble by Taylor Swift (Song Review)<u>Video</u><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/vNoKguSdy4Y?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<u>Lyrics</u><br />
<br />
<i>(Verse 1)</i><br />
<i>Once upon a time, a few mistakes ago</i><br />
<i>I was in your sights, you got me alone</i><br />
<i>You found me, you bound me</i><br />
<i>You bound me-e-e-e-e</i><br />
<i>I guess you didn't care and I guess I liked that</i><br />
<i>And when I fell hard, you took a step back</i><br />
<i>Without me, without me</i><br />
<i>Without me-e-e-e-e</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>(Pre-Chorus)</i><br />
<i>And he's long gone</i><br />
<i>When he's next to me</i><br />
<i>And I realise, the blame is on me</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>(Chorus)</i><br />
<i>Cause I knew you were trouble when you walked in</i><br />
<i>So shame on me now, flew me to places I'd never been</i><br />
<i>Till you put me down</i><br />
<i>Oh I knew you were trouble when you walked in</i><br />
<i>So shame on me now, flew me to places I'd never been</i><br />
<i>Now I'm lying on the cold hard ground</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Oh, oh, trouble, trouble, trouble</i><br />
<i>Oh, oh, trouble, trouble, trouble</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>(Verse 2)</i><br />
<i>No apologies, he'll never see you cry</i><br />
<i>Pretends he doesn't know that he's the reason why</i><br />
<i>You're drowning, you're drowning</i><br />
<i>You're drowning-ing-ing-ing</i><br />
<i>And I heard you moved on from whispers on the street</i><br />
<i>A new notch in your belt is all I'll ever be</i><br />
<i>Now I see, Now I see</i><br />
<i>Now I see-e-e-e-e</i><br />
<i>(Pre-Chorus)</i><br />
<i>[From: http://www.elyrics.net ]</i><br />
<i>And he was long gone</i><br />
<i>When he met me</i><br />
<i>And I realise, the joke is on me</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>(Chorus)</i><br />
<i>Cause I knew you were trouble when you walked in</i><br />
<i>So shame on me now, flew me to places I'd never been</i><br />
<i>Till you put me down</i><br />
<i>Oh I knew you were trouble when you walked in</i><br />
<i>So shame on me now, flew me to places I'd never been</i><br />
<i>Now I'm lying on the cold hard ground</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Oh, Oh, trouble, trouble, trouble</i><br />
<i>Oh, Oh, trouble, trouble, trouble</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>(Bridge)</i><br />
<i>And the saddest fear comes creeping in</i><br />
<i>That you never loved me or her or anyone or anything</i><br />
<i>Yeah</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>(Chorus)</i><br />
<i>I knew you were trouble when you walked in</i><br />
<i>So shame on me now, flew me to places I'd never been</i><br />
<i>Till you put me down</i><br />
<i>Oh I knew you were trouble when you walked in</i><br />
<i>So shame on me now, flew me to places I'd never been</i><br />
<i>Now I'm lying on the cold hard ground</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Oh, Oh, trouble, trouble, trouble</i><br />
<i>Oh, Oh, trouble, trouble, trouble</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>I knew you were trouble when you walked in</i><br />
<i>Trouble, trouble, trouble</i><br />
<i>I knew you were trouble when you walked in</i><br />
<i>Trouble, trouble, trouble</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<u>Review</u><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I honestly wasn't a big fan of this song when I first heard it, and I'm still not sure of it. Although, I do have some little cousins who absolutely love this song and the video is AMAZING. It might just be one of my favorite music videos that Taylor has ever done. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I knew you were trouble is about falling in love with the wrong boy. It's about losing yourself in the process of being in love. It's about being in a bad relationship. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">About the video, Taylor said, <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px;">"My favorite thing [about the video] is that this girl not only gets sucked into this relationship with him but she loses who she was before and that's the saddest part of losing him, is that she can't remember who she was before she met him." </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 15px;">I love the clips of her and him, showing just how dangerous and risky the boy she loves is. </span><br />
<span style="line-height: 15px;">I also love </span><span style="line-height: 15px;">the symbolism of the key that she wears and how when she lets it go at the end, she's letting that part of her go. The ending is very hopeful, because even though she's lost herself, she can get herself back. The last line of the video goes something like "how do you know who you are unless you lose yourself." </span><br />
<span style="line-height: 15px;">The video is amazing; YOU HAVE TO WATCH IT. </span><br />
<span style="line-height: 15px;">About the song itself, I like the fast tempo and beat. I like how it flows. I like that it's fast. My favorite lines are "</span><i>And the saddest fear comes creeping in </i><i>That you never loved me or her or anyone or anything." </i>I think it is this realization that Taylor has that forms the whole song. That's the problem with troubling boys, they might not know how to love anyone.<br />
<br />
I found another review of I knew you were trouble that I thought was very well done, so here it is if you want to check that out as well: http://countrymusictattletale.com/2012/12/23/taylor-swift-i-knew-you-were-trouble-is-a-different-yet-more-intriguing-end-of-the-world-video-review/<br />
<br />
Wishing everyone a good day! Comments are appreciated and welcomed. Tell me what you thought about I knew you were trouble, the song and/or the video.Rachel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12722167304233346866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720371301741284003.post-87797718805642108092013-01-17T16:30:00.000-08:002013-01-17T16:30:00.572-08:00Come Back Be Here by Taylor Swift (Song Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<u>Video</u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/gLs30f5GkVc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<u>Lyrics</u><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="background: #B8BCAD; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">You said it in a simple way,</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">4 AM, the second day,</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">How strange that I don't know you at all.</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Stumbled through the long goodbye,</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">One last kiss, then catch your flight,</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Right when I was just about to fall</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">I told myself don't get attached,</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">But in my mind I play it back,</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Spinning faster than the plane that took you...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">And this is when the feeling sinks in,</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">I don't wanna miss you like this,</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Come back... be here, come back... be here.</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">I guess you're in New York today,</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">I don't wanna need you this way,</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Come back... be here, come back... be here.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">The delicate beginning rush,</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">The feeling you can know so much,</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Without knowing anything at all.</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">And now that I can put this down,</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">If I had known what I'd known now,</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">I never would have played so nonchalance.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Taxi cabs and busy streets,</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">That never bring you back to me,<br />
</span></span></i><em><span style="background: #B8BCAD; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">(From:
http://www.elyrics.net)</span></em><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">I can't help but wish you took me with you...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">And this is when the feeling sinks in,</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">I don't wanna miss you like this,</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Come back... be here, come back... be here.</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">I guess you're in London today,</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">I don't wanna need you this way,</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Come back... be here, come back... be here.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">This is falling in love in the cruelest way,</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">This is falling for you and you are worlds away.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">New York... be here.</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">But you're in London and I break down,</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">'Cause it's not fair that you're not around.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">This is when the feeling sinks in,</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">I don't wanna miss you like this,</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Come back... be here, come back... be here.</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">I guess you're in New York today,</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">And I don't wanna need you this way,</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Come back... be here, come back... be here.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">I don't wanna miss you like this.</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Come back... be here.</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Come back... be here.</span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="background: #B8BCAD;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><u>Review</u></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I really love Come Back Be Here. It has a really catchy melody and tempo. It moves very well, not too fast or too slow. I love the chorus because it is so catchy and easy to sing along to. It's not just another sad slow song, but it is still a love song. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">I like it because while Taylor is longing for her boy, she is also moving on because she realizes she has to live without him. It's hard for her, because she misses him so much. I really like the lines "This is falling in love in the cruelest way, this is falling for you when you are worlds away" because it sums up the song so perfectly in just a few lines. She misses him but can't be with him. She has to learn how to live without him until the day he comes back. I like to believe that the boy Taylor sings about will come back.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Come Back Be Here is one of my favorite songs on Taylor's album Red. It's just overall a really nice song and Taylor's voice isn't so pop-ish like in some her other songs, like We Are Never Getting Back Together. It's a good pop-country mix song, and I really tend to favor songs of hers that are in the middle (even though I love her older more country-ish songs) </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Taylor is definitely headed more toward the pop genre and I will be doing some more song reviews in the coming weeks. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wishing everyone a good day! Comments are appreciated and welcome. Tell me what you think about Come Back Be Here. </span></div>
Rachel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12722167304233346866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720371301741284003.post-59826631365617769762013-01-14T22:00:00.000-08:002013-01-14T22:00:06.330-08:00The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater<img alt="The Scorpio Races" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1330964654l/10626594.jpg" width="211" /><br />
<br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate </span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18.984848022460938px;">hasn't</span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen. (summary from Good Reads) </span></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18.984848022460938px;">I have wanted to read the SR for a very long time. Close to when it first came out, just over a year ago. I absolutely love the Maggie's writing style and how she can switch narratives/character perspectives. I really enjoyed Shiver, Linger, and Forever although the ending of Forever not so much. It was the same for the SR; while I appreciated it, the ending fell flat for me. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18.984848022460938px;">The story itself is based off the legend of Celtic water horses and takes place on the small island of Thisby that is owned by Benjamin Malvern. Sean Kendrick, who mostly goes by his last name, watches his father die when he is just ten years old. He is then taken in by Benjamin who raises him like a son, almost. Sean works for Malvern training horses, esp the water horses. He loves one of them, Corr, his father's horse and the one he races with. But Malvern will not let him have Corr. Sean, now 19, has ridden in the Scorpio Races for the past five years and won. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18.984848022460938px;">But this year, Kate or Puck Connolly is racing. Only she's not riding a water horse. She's riding the pony she has, Dove, in hopes that she can win and save her and her brothers from eviction. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18.969696044921875px;">Everyone believes in Sean Kendrick. Few believe in Puck Connolly, but she believes in herself. Puck is the first woman ever to ride in the Scorpio Races and all the women of Thisby stand behind her. This includes Peg Grattam, the butcher's wife, and the three Fathom sisters, especially the oldest of the three, Dory Maud. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18.969696044921875px;">With Puck stands these women, her brother Finn, their cat Puffin, and her horse Dove. And also Sean Kendrick comes to think she can win, even though the odds are against her. Sean and Puck come to respect each other and he even falls in love with her. But Sean Kendrick cannot have everything, and when he has to choose between Corr and Puck...SPOILER</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18.969696044921875px;">He chooses Puck! Yay! END SPOILER</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18.969696044921875px;">I love Puck and I'm really glad that she and Sean get together. I'm glad she realizes that she loves him too, even though their love is different from others. It's unique. I wish I could explain it. Puck is one of my favorite characters. She grows from just-another-island-girl/that-Connolly-girl to being a respected woman with hard fought pride and honor. She gains her courage to take risks and to love, which is the biggest risk of all. Her and Sean's love is really something special. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18.969696044921875px;">I really enjoyed Sean's character, as well, though not as much as Puck's. Sean goes through somewhat of an identity crisis, realizing that the life he has known working for Malvern is not what he wants forever and also that he is in love with a wild girl, Puck. They both grow in the novel, and at the end they both have a lot to show for their effort. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18.969696044921875px;">The Scorpio Races is ultimately about love, death, life, sacrifice, family, home, letting go and holding on, all happening on a small island called Thisby where the water horses rise up from each year. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18.969696044921875px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18.969696044921875px;"><u>Resources</u></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18.969696044921875px;">Official website of The Scorpio Races book: http://maggiestiefvater.com/the-scorpio-races/</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18.969696044921875px;">The book trailer on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tojCn2Y41ig</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18.969696044921875px;">My review on Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/234764300</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18.969696044921875px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18.969696044921875px;">Please comment below! Tell me what you thought of the Scorpio Races! </span></span>Rachel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12722167304233346866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720371301741284003.post-58490663248248522042013-01-11T08:00:00.000-08:002013-01-11T08:00:11.025-08:00Begin Again by Taylor Swift (Song Review)<u>Video</u><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/cMPEd8m79Hw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<u>Lyrics</u><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="background: #B8BCAD; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Took a deep breath in the mirror</span></i><i><span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">He didn't like it
when I wore high heels</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">But I do</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Turn the lock and
put my headphones on</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">He always said he
didn't get this song</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">But I do, I do</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">I walked in
expecting you'd be late</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">But you got here
early and you stand and wait</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">I walk to you</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">You pull my chair
out and help me in</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">And you don't know
how nice that is<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">But I do</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">And you throw your
head back laughing</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Like a little kid</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">I think it's
strange that you think I'm funny</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Cause he never did</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">And I've been
spending the last 8 months</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Thinking all love
ever does is</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Break and burn and
end</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">But on a Wednesday
in a cafe</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">I watched it begin
again</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">You say you never
met one girl who</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Had as many James
Taylor records as you</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">But I do</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">We tell stories and
you don't know why</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">I'm coming off a
little shy</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">But I do</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">But you throw your
head back laughing</span></span></i><i><span style="background: #B8BCAD; color: #555555; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span></i><em><span style="background: #B8BCAD; color: #555555; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">(From:
http://www.elyrics.net)</span></em><i><span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Like a little kid</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">I think it's
strange that you think I'm funny</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Cause he never did</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">And I've been
spending the last 8 months</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Thinking all love
ever does is</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Break and burn and
end</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">But on a Wednesday
in a cafe</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">I watched it begin
again</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">And we walk down
the block to my car</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">And I almost
brought him up</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">But you start to
talk about the movies</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">That your family
watches</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Every single
Christmas</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">And I want to talk
about that</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">For the first time</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">What's past is past</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Cause you throw
your head back laughing</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Like a little kid</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">I think it's
strange that you think I'm funny</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Cause he never did</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">And I've been
spending the last 8 months</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Thinking all love
ever does is</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">Break and burn and
end</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">But on a Wednesday
in a cafe</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">I watched it begin
again</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">But on a Wednesday
in a cafe</span><br />
<span style="background: #B8BCAD;">I watched it begin
again</span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="background: #B8BCAD;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><u>Review</u></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I think that Begin Again is one of the best songs of Taylor Swift's album, Red, because her vocals, the tempo, the lyrics work together so well. It's a catchy song, somewhat slow, but not too slow. The chorus is somewhat faster than the rest of the lyrics. </span><br />
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Begin Again is about Taylor's recovery from a relationship with a boy who did not understand her at all. She has a hard time recovering, but then a much better understanding and well-bred boy comes into her life and helps her see that she needs to give love another chance, that she can heal and love again. Begin Again really could be called Love Again. </span><br />
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Her voice projects the sadness and yet the hope she still has for the future. She can love again, even though so many relationships have failed. I feel like the lines, " Thinking all love ever does is break and burn and end, but on a Wednesday in a cafe, I watched it begin again" are true for her. She hasn't found true love yet (although it might be with the guy who helps her begin again, maybe) but she still hopes that one day she will. </span><br />
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I also really love the video. It's visually and artistically well done. The setting is just beautiful. I love how they put her by the river, int a garden, and on top of the roof when she's not in the coffee shop. It really makes the setting stand out more. This video was set in a really beautiful place. And also the guy in it is really cute, and so is Taylor. </span><br />
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Wishing everyone a good day! Comments appreciated and welcomed. Tell me what you think about Begin Again. </span></div>
Rachel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12722167304233346866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720371301741284003.post-61765746371971624632013-01-07T19:00:00.000-08:002013-01-07T19:00:00.870-08:00Books I didn't get to in 2013...But will get to in 2013! Here's a list of books I didn't get to in 2012, but will hopefully get to in 2013! <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Probability of Miracles of Wendy Wunder </div>
<div>
Divergent by Veronica Roth</div>
<div>
Of Poseidon by Anna Banks</div>
<div>
Alanna: the First Adventure by Tamora Pierce</div>
<div>
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers</div>
<div>
The Fault in our Stars by John Green</div>
<div>
Looking for Alaska by John Green</div>
<div>
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen </div>
<div>
Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer </div>
<div>
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that can't stop Talking by Susan Cain</div>
<div>
Through my Eyes by Tim Tebow </div>
<div>
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There's a lot more books on my TBR list, but these are the ones I really wanted to read in 2012 and didn't get to them. 2013 HERE I COME!!!!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
Rachel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12722167304233346866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720371301741284003.post-45944879816635445842013-01-01T13:19:00.001-08:002013-01-01T13:37:29.797-08:002013 ChallengesSo as everyone knows, I go a little bit crazy during January over challenges. Last year I did signed up for 7 challenges--completed 3, forgot about 2, partially completed 1, and then read 92 books out of 110 for my GR challenge.<br />
<br />
This year, I've set the same number of books for my GR challenge--110 in hopes that I can do it this year. I feel like it's a good goal for me still, although I do watch more tv in college and read less.<br />
<br />
Other than that the I've decided only to participate in 2 other challenges. I'm telling myself now that I will not sign up for more.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DYrtrVZZxxk/UNsLL5IkhII/AAAAAAAAQhE/od85VPMUHGw/s400/rrcflower.jpg" /><br />
I did this one in 2012 and I really enjoyed doing it. Last year I read Wuthering Heights and Pride and Prejudice ( I read it every year) for the classics. I read some Nicholas Sparks: Nights in Rodanthe, Safe Haven, The Choice, A Walk to Remember, Dear John, ect. I also read the Lauren Holbrooke trilogy which I really loved as well as some other stand along contemporaries.<br />
<br />
This year I want to read some more classics, such as Sense and Sensibilities and Wives and Daughters. I also want to read The Princess Bride because I love the movie and want to read the book. I also have a few more of Sparks' books to read, such as The Guardian and The Best of Me. I'm very excited for Safe Haven (by NS) to come to theaters this year! I'm going to be very sad the day I find out that I've read all of Nicholas Sparks' books.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTO3qAuLc-TuTOtmXrjCbh9NLPsgCvveD_Vrj9aJiabMZY0By2VlwiJJfh-fReFaaS1ynG2wGqEQ6n0aEYXJ58dJi5iqrvLxwbred4E31oYbQRkgTxSUbJlCKkyaKSU1NT4c88Sbvqpw/s1600/YAContempChallenge1_zps53d4cbc9.jpg" /><br />
The other challenge I'm doing is the YA Contemporary Challenge. I don't know what books I'm going to read for it yet, but my GR shelf (blank) is here: http://www.goodreads.com/user_challenges/592855<br />
I'm going to look through some books and add them throughout the year. My goal is to read five books for this challenge.<br />
Also looking back at last year's challenges, I realized I signed up for this one last year, see <a href="http://rachelrmrblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/ya-contemporary-challenge-2012.html">here</a><br />
<br />
If you would like to participate--<br />
challenge one is hosted at bookworm 07<br />
challenge two is hosted at katie's book blog<br />
<br />
What challenges are yall doing in 2013???? I love comments!Rachel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12722167304233346866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720371301741284003.post-28255535736334034452013-01-01T10:52:00.002-08:002013-01-01T13:33:43.675-08:00Happy New Years! <img height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QOmRKOL4h8Y/UM0PQBV25PI/AAAAAAAAC84/xk1mWfmx4bg/s320/Happy+New+Year.gif" width="320" /><br />
(picture made by Eileen Li at Singing and Reading in the rain<br />
<br />
Let's recap 2012 first!<br />
1. I graduated high school<br />
2. I went off to college in Florida<br />
3. I found out that I love Florida even though I think I'm still a Missourian at heart<br />
4. I read 92 books toward my goal of 110<br />
5. I finally reached 150 followers on my blog<br />
6. I completed the Read Dystopia Challenge (hosted at the Book Journey)<br />
7. I completed the Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge (hosted at readwithtequila)<br />
8. I completed the Romance Reading Challenge (hosted at the bookworm 7)<br />
9. I participated in the Literary Reads blog hop giveaway<br />
10. I participated in Cover Love Thursdays and found that I really do love covers<br />
11. I joined Tuney Tuesday and started doing song reviews<br />
12. I passed my goal of having a book blog for 2 years<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I don't really have any goals or resolutions for my blog, because I really didn't expect to be blogging this long, but I would like to do song reviews of some songs of Taylor Swift's CD Red, so expect that in the coming months. I'm also going back to college which is exciting! I love college.<br />
<br />
I have many personal goals/resolutions about faith and exercise, just simple ones like getting exercise every day and doing daily devotionals.<br />
<br />
The big one is that I've decided to write every single day. Starting with today. And I don't mean on this blog, I mean toward a book.<br />
<br />
I want to write a book.Rachel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12722167304233346866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720371301741284003.post-67647426092813572652012-12-27T20:08:00.000-08:002012-12-27T20:08:00.067-08:00Best Books I read in 2012 <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Best Books I read in 2012 <o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Karma Club by Jessica Brody <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Secret Life of Prince Charming by Deb Caletti <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Moonglass by Jessi Kirby <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Eve by Anna Carey <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Delirium by Lauren Oliver <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Waiting for you by Susanne Colasanti <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
North of Beautiful by
Justina Chen Headley<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Until there was you by Kristen Higgins <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Marley and Me by John Grogan <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To Come and Go like Magic by Katie Pickard Fawcett <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Choice by Nicholas Sparks <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A Million Suns by Beth Revis <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Flight of Blue by A.E. Howard <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Three Rivers Rising by Jame Richards<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thunder and Rain by Charles Martin <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Can’t Wait to get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
13 Gifts by Wendy Mass <o:p></o:p></div>
Rachel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12722167304233346866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720371301741284003.post-2135316196756763622012-12-26T15:48:00.000-08:002012-12-26T15:48:21.928-08:00It's not about that! <span style="font-family: inherit;">I was going to write a blog post about the whole Merry Christmas vs Happy Holidays debate/argument. Now I'm not going to. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Because that's not what Christmas is about. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Christmas is about CHRIST. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After all that's why it's called CHRISTMAS. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The whole MC vs HH is not about freedom of speech vs being politically correct and not offensive to other religions. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="text Luke-2-10" id="en-NIV-24984" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; vertical-align: top;">10 </sup>But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24984A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Luke-2-11" id="en-NIV-24985" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; vertical-align: top;">11 </sup>Today in the town of David a Savior<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24985B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> has been born to you; he is the Messiah,<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24985C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup> the Lord. --Luke 2:10-11 (NIV) </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you see it????? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The good news of Christ's birth is for everyone!!! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus came to take away the sins of the world, because </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">HE LOVES US THAT MUCH </span><br />
It's not about what you say, it's about how you LIVE<br />
so all we can do in 2013 is try to live the best we can!<br />
How to do that, you might ask?<br />
My advice would be to read the Bible about how Jesus lived and try to live that way.<br />
Jesus lived a life of love and compassion.<br />
I don't think he would be offended by people saying Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings. In fact, I think Seasons Greetings is a really cute, um, greeting actually:)<br />
The Christmas season is about love and compassion, because it is about celebrating Christ's birth.<br />
I know there's a big debate out there about secularism and Christianity and I know that to be a Christian means to be against the world. <br />
I think that Jesus would want everyone, even people who don't believe in him, to be with their families on Christmas.<br />
Maybe those people will come to believe in him one day.<br />
I hope so.<br />
I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and I encourage you to think about Jesus this season as you drive past the nativity scenes and the lights (Jesus is the Light of the world), as you snuggle with your kids or grand kids or pets (Jesus loved), and as you exchange gifts with your loved ones.<br />
Jesus Christ was the best gift that was ever given and I would encourage you to take time to remember that.<br />
<br />
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Seasons Greetings everyone! Love, Rachel<br />
<br />
<span class="text Isa-9-6" id="en-NIV-17836" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">For to us a child is born,<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-17836A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup></span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-9-6" style="position: relative;">to us a son is given,<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-17836B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup></span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-9-6" style="position: relative;">and the government<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-17836C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup> will be on his shoulders.<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-17836D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup></span></span><br />
<span class="text Isa-9-6" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">And he will be called</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-9-6" style="position: relative;">Wonderful Counselor,<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-17836E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup> Mighty God,<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-17836F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></sup></span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-9-6" style="position: relative;">Everlasting<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-17836G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></sup> Father,<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-17836H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)"></sup> Prince of Peace.</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Isa-9-6" style="position: relative;">--Isaiah 9:6 (NIV) </span></span><br />
<br />Rachel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12722167304233346866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720371301741284003.post-74860454895784867642012-12-24T13:52:00.000-08:002012-12-24T13:52:14.300-08:002012 End of the Year Book Survey <img alt="best books read in 2012" height="182" src="http://www.perpetualpageturner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Image17-1024x584.jpg" width="320" /><br />
Hosted by Jamie @ the perpetual page turner<br />
See here for questions and to link up: http://www.perpetualpageturner.com/2012/12/end-of-year-book-survey-2012.html<br />
<br />
<br />
<h1 style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Droid Serif', arial, serif; font-size: 24px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #888888;">Best In Books 2012</span></h1>
<div>
<b>1. </b><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Droid Serif', arial, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Best Book You Read In 2012? (You can break it down by genre if you want)</strong></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Droid Serif', arial, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">I must highly recommend Nicholas Sparks books: Nights in Rodanthe, A Walk to Remember, The Choice (It's Nicholas Sparks so pretty much every book I've read this year by him) </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Droid Serif', arial, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">I would also recommend the Lauren Holbrooke trilogy. It's about a modern day matchmaker, chocolate and coffee addict, oh and a Jane Austen Addict. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Droid Serif, arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">I'm never going to be able to finish this question, because I love books too much, so I guess I will just leave it here. There will be a upcoming post on all the books I've read and loved this year coming soon.<span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Droid Serif, arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<h5 style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Droid Serif', arial, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<strong>2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?</strong></h5>
</div>
<div>
Anna and the French kiss by Stephanie Perkins. I read Lola and the Boy Next Door first which I absolutely loved, but Anna's story just fell flat for me. </div>
<div>
The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter. I had read so many good reviews of this one, but I didn't like it at all. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h5 style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Droid Serif', arial, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<strong>3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012? </strong></h5>
</div>
<div>
A lot of books surprised me this year. I read a lot that I didn't plan on reading, pulled off the shelf randomly at the library. Talk about a vague answer:) </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h5 style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Droid Serif', arial, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<strong>4. Book you recommended to people most in 2012?</strong></h5>
</div>
<div>
I thought I answered this already, but if I had to pick only ONE book it would be Delirium by Lauren Oliver. I am just crazy about Delirium and Pandemonium and cannot wait for Requiem to come out!!! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h5 style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Droid Serif', arial, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<strong>5. Best series you discovered in 2012?</strong></h5>
</div>
<div>
I discovered a lot of good dystopian/fantasy series: Eve, Shatter Me, Matched, Starcrossed, Graceling. I've only read the first book in the series for most of these, with the exception of Matched; I have read and do own Crossed as well. Eagerly awaiting for the moment I get my hands on a copy of Reached. I would buy it on amazon if I weren't a broke college student. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h5 style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Droid Serif', arial, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<strong> 6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?</strong></h5>
</div>
<div>
Fannie Flagg. My mom gave me Can't Wait to get to Heaven for my birthday and I loved it. So funny. </div>
<div>
Susane Colastanti. I thought Waiting for You was so beautiful and I look forward to reading more of hers in 2013!!! </div>
<div>
Elizabeth C. Bunce. I absolutely loved A Curse as Dark as Gold and am eager to read her two books about a thief. Book trailer for the first book is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9L4uH3f0b8</div>
<div>
Justina Chen Headly. She wrote the completely beautiful book about a beautiful girl's journey: North of Beautiful. </div>
<div>
Erynn Magnum for the Lauren Holbrooke series. </div>
<div>
Lauren Oliver for Delirium, of course. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h5 style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Droid Serif', arial, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<strong>7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?</strong></h5>
</div>
<div>
If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Foreman. Absolutely stunning and beautiful works. Deals with loss, love, and forgiveness. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h5 style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Droid Serif', arial, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<strong> 8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?</strong></h5>
</div>
<div>
The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h5 style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Droid Serif', arial, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<strong> 9. Book You Read In 2012 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year</strong></h5>
</div>
<div>
Pride and Prejudice. I re-read it every year. I love it. I also re-read Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta every year too. She and Miss Austen are my favorites. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h5 style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Droid Serif', arial, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<strong>10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?</strong></h5>
</div>
<div>
<img alt="A Million Suns (Across the Universe, #2)" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1330214586l/10345927.jpg" width="218" /></div>
<br />
A Million Suns by Beth Revis. The covers for these books are so stunning and beautiful.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h5 style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Droid Serif', arial, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<strong>11. Most memorable character in 2012? </strong></h5>
<div>
I-I don't know! There are so many memorable characters. I would have to go with Francesca from Saving Francesca, Terra from North of Beautiful, Mia from If I Stay, Anna from Moonglass, Taylor from Jellicoe Road. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h5 style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Droid Serif', arial, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<strong>12. Most beautifully written book read in 2012?</strong></h5>
</div>
<div>
Even though I didn't like the plot or the characters, I loved the writing of One Day by David Nicholls. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h5 style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Droid Serif', arial, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<strong>13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012? </strong></h5>
</div>
<div>
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. It's an absolutely tragic and sad book about the persistent determination of a man and his love for his cancer striken wife and their daughter. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h5 style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Droid Serif', arial, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<strong> 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2012 to finally read? </strong></h5>
</div>
<div>
I can't believe I waited so long to read A Million Suns and I'm so glad I finally did! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h5 style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Droid Serif', arial, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<strong> 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2012? </strong></h5>
</div>
<div>
There are way too many, but I will share my favorite Bible verse of the year. </div>
<div>
Ephesians 1:4-6 </div>
<div>
<span class="text Eph-1-4" id="en-NIV-29211" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">4 </sup>For he chose us<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29211A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> in him before the creation of the world<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29211B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> to be holy and blameless<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29211C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup> in his sight. In love<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29211D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="text Eph-1-5" id="en-NIV-29212" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">5 </sup>he<sup class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-29212a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+1%3A4-6&version=NIV#fen-NIV-29212a" style="color: #b37162; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> predestined<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29212E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup> us for adoption to sonship<sup class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-29212b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+1%3A4-6&version=NIV#fen-NIV-29212b" style="color: #b37162; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</sup><sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29212F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></sup> through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29212G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></sup>and will—</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Eph-1-6" id="en-NIV-29213" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">6 </sup>to the praise of his glorious grace,<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29213H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)"></sup> which he has freely given us in the One he loves. (NIV) </span></div>
<div>
<span class="text Eph-1-6" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="text Eph-1-6" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><h5 style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Droid Serif', arial, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<strong>16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2012? </strong></h5>
<div>
I don't keep track of how long the books that I read are, so I really don't know. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h5 style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Droid Serif', arial, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<strong>17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!</strong></h5>
</div>
<div>
The girl of fire and thorns, A million suns, Delirium/Pandemonium, Eve, The maze runner, Finnikin of the Rock...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h5 style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Droid Serif', arial, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<strong>18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2012 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).</strong></h5>
</div>
<div>
My favorite friendship is Emmy and the guys in Take a Bow, another book I really loved. My favorite romantic relationship is Nash and Marissa in Waiting for you. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h5 style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Droid Serif', arial, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<strong>19. Favorite Book You Read in 2012 From An Author You Read Previously</strong></h5>
</div>
<div>
I had read Jellicoe Road before this year (remember I re-read it every year) and this year I got to read Saving Francesca, which was really excellent as well. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h5 style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Droid Serif', arial, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<strong>20. Best Book You Read That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else</strong></h5>
</div>
<div>
Well I read the Lauren Holbrooke trilogy based on a recommendation from my Best College Friend. It also helped that she owned all the books and just let me borrow them:) </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Well that's the end of the survey. It was actually tremendously helpful because it made me realize that I did actually read If I stay and where she went this year. I forgot because I didn't review them or list them on GR. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I wish yall Happy Reading in 2013! </div>
</span></div>
Rachel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12722167304233346866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720371301741284003.post-77288243983254099342012-12-20T19:46:00.001-08:002012-12-20T19:57:04.867-08:00Last Reads of 2012 Readathon <img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_iwhWuhcoPI/UMvDx2Vej9I/AAAAAAAAC4Y/-Tbrw_tboao/s320/Last+Reads+of+2012+Readathon.png" /><br />
<br />
So I found this cool readathon today (hosted by Eileen at Singing and Reading in the Rain, Patrick at The Bookshelves, and Jen at Jen Rylands YA Romantics) and decided it would be great for me to do. It's all about finishing up the year strong on our book challenges. I have about 20 books to read by the end of the month to finish my GR challenge of 110 books. Think I can do it? Yeah, so do I.<br />
Here are the books I'm determined to get through:<br />
(note: all photos from GR)<br />
<img alt="13 Gifts (11 Birthdays, #3)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1302009711l/10473214.jpg" width="144" /> <img alt="Flygirl" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348633751l/4419501.jpg" width="132" /> <img alt="Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky, #1)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337289697l/10756656.jpg" width="132" /><br />
<img alt="Froi of the Exiles (Lumatere Chronicles, #2)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1306866851l/10165727.jpg" width="132" /> <img alt="The Scorpio Races" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1330964654l/10626594.jpg" width="132" /> <img alt="Tempest Unleashed (Tempest, #2)" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1326264910l/12387628.jpg" width="132" /><br />
<img alt="Starry, Starry Night: Three Holiday Stories" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320492554l/127440.jpg" width="122" /> <img alt="A Dog Named Christmas" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320515168l/3076572.jpg" width="138" /> <img alt="A Christmas Home" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345767660l/13532221.jpg" width="133" /><br />
<br />
I have a lot of books to read and I need to check out more, but these are the one's I've got right now! Feel free to comment below; after all, I'll need all the luck and magic I can get;)<br />
<br />Rachel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12722167304233346866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720371301741284003.post-62972953046157675232012-12-19T21:05:00.001-08:002012-12-19T21:05:09.467-08:00Another UpdateSo I had hoped that all of the changes to my blog would be complete by the new year, but it doesn't look that that's going to happen:( But it will some day, some day, some day... I feel like all I say is some day when it comes to things that I want to or should do. <div>
I want to create a blog design, but I don't know how to and I don't know if I should just buy one with Christmas either (because that might be easier). I haven't really had the time to create one and I know I'll be even busier next semester. </div>
<div>
So here is where I ask for advice. Did you create your own design and was it easy or hard to do? Because when I looked at doing it, it just seemed really overwhelming and I was worried I would mess up my blog doing it. I worry too much. </div>
<div>
As for things I've wanted to blog about, turns out I haven't done much of that either. I wanted to blog more about my college life, but mostly I've stuck to doing song, book, and tv reviews. I think I watch too much tv. </div>
<div>
I am really living life and am having many many many adventures that I would like to share with yall, but I'm LIVING! </div>
<div>
I also have things I want to do in 2013. I want to write a book, which is something I've always wanted to do, but haven't done. I want to write a book. I want to believe in the beauty of my dreams. Eleanor Roosevelt said, "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." It's just...I've never believed in the beauty of my dreams, so how can I now? </div>
<div>
I also want to...there's so many things I want to do! I need to go do them, and although this is a lame ending to my pity party update, I also want to finish my GR goal of reading 110 books this year, so I guess I'll get off the blog and go read. </div>
<div>
If you have an advice please leave it in the comments. I wish yall a Merry Christmas and I'll see yall soon! </div>
Rachel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12722167304233346866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720371301741284003.post-12204667420711408392012-12-14T08:00:00.000-08:002012-12-14T08:00:11.030-08:00The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Movie Review) <img alt="The Perks of Being a Wallflower" src="http://www.pluggedin.com/~/media/PIO/Images/Movies/2012/M9/Perks-of-Being-a-Wallflower-main.ashx?20120920T1541382699" /><br />
photo from focus on the family's plugged in online<br />
for their review see here: http://www.pluggedin.com/movies/intheaters/perks-of-being-a-wallflower.aspx<br />
<br />
Perks of Being a Wallflower is about a freshman in high school named Charlie. He's had a difficult life, despite his loving mother, father, and sister. As he enters high school, he meets two seniors, Sam and Patrick, brother and sister, who take him under their wings. Charlie starts to enjoy life with them and finds that being a "wallflower" isn't so bad. At least, he has some people to make his first year of high school a little bit better, people to eat lunch with, go to the school dances with, ect.. However, Charlie has a troubled past and memories resurface as he starts to lose his friends in their last months of high school. They are seniors and will soon go off to college. PBW is a terribly sad movie about how love is abused, but it does provide lessons on love and friends.<br />
Sam and Patrick.(but especially Sam) bring so much good into Charlie's life and he into theirs. Maybe the lesson is that, despite everything, we can move on; we <i>are</i> always moving on with life. Charlie is a good kid, despite his troubles. He really falls in love with Sam, which she knows, but she falls for other men. Right before she is about to leave for college, Sam asks Charlie why he never asked her out, to which he says he didn't know if she wanted it. Sam tells him that putting someone always first isn't the same thing as love, and that he can't just put his life on hold for everyone else (which is what he's been doing for them the whole movie).<br />
I think that PBW has many lessons about friendship, romance, and love, and that the big one is that "we accept the people we think we deserve." Charlie says this in response to Sam's question, "Why do I, and everyone I love, pick people treat us like we are nothing?" Sam and Charlie are both really sweet characters, and Emma and Logan did a great job in this film. It's a really difficult film to watch and I was really sad by the end, but it's worth watching.<br />
<br />
So, overall the perks of being a wallflower....<br />
<br />
The tunnel song<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/xPH1I1-SUp4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
and here's the book passage of this part of the movie<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/jyelRt06Yjk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
The homecoming dance<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://2.gvt0.com/vi/G_1miNdI1U4/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/G_1miNdI1U4&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/G_1miNdI1U4&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<br />
We accept the love we think we deserve<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/o66IPMWA05A?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
These are some of my favorite clips from the movie. I highly encourage yall to watch PBF. Have a great Friday, Rachel </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Rachel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12722167304233346866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720371301741284003.post-58504740594705003912012-12-07T09:47:00.003-08:002012-12-07T09:47:38.735-08:00Realm of the Lost Review (Blog Tour)<img height="213" src="https://mail-attachment.googleusercontent.com/attachment/u/0/?ui=2&ik=999de0e70d&view=att&th=13b47936795e93aa&attid=0.3&disp=inline&realattid=f_ha2lccu12&safe=1&zw&saduie=AG9B_P_VpV36DxfXp9mWfxKC2KOl&sadet=1354901773229&sads=sMTWOSzZ-p9KUZl6b_4F4QSeZxI&sadssc=1" width="320" /><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Realm of the Lost by
Emma Eden Ramos<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">E-Book: 61 pages<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Publisher: MuseItUp
Publishing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Release Date: September
11, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20.78333282470703px;">What happens when you die before your time?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20.78333282470703px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20.78333282470703px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20.78333282470703px;">Thirteen-year-old Kathleen "Kat" Gallagher has had it with her family. The eldest of three children, Kat feels trapped ever since her parents’ separated and she has had to take on more responsibility than she feels prepared for. Everything changes on a frigid morning in mid-December when an accident propels Kat into unfamiliar territory.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20.78333282470703px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20.78333282470703px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20.78333282470703px;">Stuck in the place where people go when they have died before their time, Kat must face obstacles she could never have imagined.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20.78333282470703px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20.78333282470703px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20.78333282470703px;">With the help of other young inhabitants of the Realm of the Lost, Kat learns the true meaning of friendship and family.</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.78333282470703px;"><br /></span></i>
I really enjoyed The Realm of the Lost; it's a very original story that deals with family and their dysfunction. That's just the way families are; dysfunctional, but wonderful. It's great being in family and being loved, and knowing that your family will always be there for you and come through for you when you need it the most.<br />
I loved Kat's journey through the Realm of the Lost and her inner journey as well. She is a very strong female character is very well crafted in the novella. She undergoes a lot on her journey and comes out even stronger. I'm so proud of her! She's a truly excellent character and I enjoyed spending time with her.<br />
I love how the novella is set out to answer, what happens when someone dies before their time, when they are too young to die? I'm glad it adresses this issue, because so many people in today's modern world, despite technology (you could even argue that because of the advances of technology) die too young.<br />
In short, The Realm of the Lost is a wonderful little thing that I would gladly read over a study break. #collegelife :)<br />
I would like to thank I am a Reader, not a Writer for letting me participate in the blog tour and introducing me to this wonderful author. I would also like to thank the author herself, Ms. Emma Eden Ramos. Keep writing!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Author Emma Eden Ramos</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<img src="https://mail-attachment.googleusercontent.com/attachment/u/0/?ui=2&ik=999de0e70d&view=att&th=13b47936795e93aa&attid=0.2&disp=inline&realattid=f_ha2lccty1&safe=1&zw&saduie=AG9B_P_VpV36DxfXp9mWfxKC2KOl&sadet=1354902409637&sads=W6GSU8GXBZM_PNlc981ncNBzePw" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Emma Eden Ramos is a
writer and student from New York City. Her short stories have appeared in
Stories for Children Magazine, The Storyteller Tymes, BlazeVOX Journal, and
others. Emma's novelette, Where the Children Play, is included in Resilience:
Stories, Poems, Essays, Words for LGBT Teens, edited by Eric Nguyen. Three
Women: A Poetic Triptych and Selected Poems (Heavy Hands Ink, 2011), Ramos’
first poetry chapbook, was shortlisted for the 2011 Independent Literary Award
in Poetry. Emma studies psychology at Marymount Manhattan College.</span></div>
Rachel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12722167304233346866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720371301741284003.post-55605009943069760702012-12-07T09:30:00.000-08:002016-07-02T11:15:38.820-07:00Game of Thrones Episodes 5, 6, and 7 ReviewsEpisode 5 is titled the Wolf and the Lion, which is perfect. Four important and notable things happen in this episode.<br />
Context: Varys is a member of the king's court and a eunuch and a foreigner to Westeros from the Free Cities. He speaks few words, but when he does they come with deep wisdom.<br />
1. Varys meets with Nedd Stark and tells him that the king is a fool and will be dead soon unless Nedd can save him. Nedd asks Varys why he is telling him this and Varys says that he had to be sure Nedd could be trusted, but now he knows Nedd is an honorable and true man, and maybe just be the only one in King's Landing other than himself.<br />
Why this is important: It gives us information concerning Varys character and also affirms Nedd's character.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. Arya is chasing a cat down to the dungeon and overhears two men talking. She hides inside the skulls of the Targaryn dragons and listens in. The two men are Varys and Illryio, the man who helped Danerys and arranged her marriage to Drogo. Varys says that events have been set in motion and the the lion and the wolf will soon be at each other throats and that war will happen soon. Arya goes to her father and tries to explain, but did not recognize either of the two men since it was dark in the dungeon, and did not understand what they were saying, as she does not play the game of thrones and is not involved in politics of King's Landing. She tries to tell her father what she heard, but is too confused. Varys later meets with Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish (a man I utterly abhor) who runs the brothels in King's Landing. Petyr reveals that he knows Varys met with Illryio for unknown reasons and Varys reveals that he knows Petyr is doing illegal things. Petyr vs Varys. I'm on team Varys. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why this is important: It gives us information concerning Varys and and Petyr and helps us understand the politics game more fully between those at court. We also find out something about Illyrio that we didn't know. It also reveals some of the secrets behind the game, and there are many many, many secrets involved.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3. The king's council meets and discuss Daenerys Targaryen. Since she is now married with a husband, soon to be son, and army, she is a threat and the child will have a claim to the throne. The king wants Daenerys dead and the council agrees, all except Nedd who says that it would be dishonorable and cowardly to murder her. Nedd refuses and resigns from being the King's Hand saying he will not go through with it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why this is important: More fully helps us understand Nedd Stark and his character and is an example of how honor drives every decision he makes.<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4. The King and Cersei also discuss the Targaryens. Their conversation is in the video below. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Yh3iLEMG-cA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why this is important: We find out about King Robert and about Cersei and their stories, as well as Cersei's political ideas concerning the Targaryens. She's very smart and interested in politics. I feel sorry that she's trapped in a loveless marriage and sometimes I think she would make a better ruler without him. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Episode 6 is called A Golden Crown and is really about Danerys (Dany) but also about Sansa, Arya, and Nedd. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Arya begins training with her dancing master master, Syrio, from the city Braavos. She's learning how to fight and one day may need it if the Starks and Lannisters go to war. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/79Invy0tvOc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He also consoles her when Jamie Lannister attacks her father, injuring him, and killing one of her father's friends. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/j3mnao1w7Vw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sansa on the other hand isn't fighting, but making peace and being in love. Joffrey apologizes and gives her a necklace similar to the one Cersei wears. She forgives him in her fairy tale state being that he is still her one true love. I abhor Joffrey, just like I abhor Littlefinger. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/6803WzaxzX0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nedd Stark has an astonishing discovery because of Sansa, actually. When he tries to send the girls back to Winterfell for their own safety, Sansa says she can't as she must marry Joffrey and bear golden haired children, Lannister lions. Arya is more worried about her dancing master, but does mention that Joffrey is a stag not a lion. Sansa retorts saying Joffrey is nothing like his father. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The former king of the hand was murdered because he asked questions and discovered something he wasn't supposed to. Nedd Stark discovers the same thing with the help of his daughters. Robert and Cersei do not have children, as the three children they do have are actually the result of Cersei's relationship with her brother Jamie. Nedd confirmed this by reading the history of House Baratheon and that all of the Baratheons have black hair, whereas all of the Lannisters are golden haired. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://2.gvt0.com/vi/Z_aTNaY7f0I/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z_aTNaY7f0I&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z_aTNaY7f0I&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As for as Dany goes, she goes far in this episode. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First, we discover that she cannot be burned by fire. Despite Illyrio's words that the eggs have turned to stone, she wonders if they might be hatched with extreme heat. She places them on the fire, but nothing happens. One of her servants come and sees Dany doing so and takes the egg from her, worrying that it will burn her. However, Dany is not burned at all, but the servant is. Dany tends to her burns.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Second, Dany is summoned by the crones who rule the city, the wives of khals slain in battle. She undergoes a pregnancy ritual in which she eats the whole heart of a stallion. It's bloody and gross, but she does it, looking at Drogo the whole time wanting to make him proud. She succeeds and the crones declare that their son will be The Stallion that Mounts the World a great conqueror whose coming is long foretold in Dothraki history. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Dany names her son Rhaego after her brother (Rhaegar, the one killed by Robert Baratheon) and the Dothraki chant his name. Viserys, her brother, realizes they love her and claim her, that she belongs to them, no longer to him any more. He goes to her tent to steal her dragon eggs, but Ser Jorah stops him. Viserys tells him that to rule one must be either feared or loved and that he has never been loved like the Dothraki love Dany. In a previous episode, Dany had a discussion with Ser Jorah, saying that Viserys could not rule even if he could conquer Westeros. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Dany also realizes that she the true dragon and gets one step closer to her own destiny. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://3.gvt0.com/vi/85JeShM_ck8/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/85JeShM_ck8&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/85JeShM_ck8&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Episode 7 is titled "You win or you die" and comes from the words of Cersei Lannister and may or may not prove to be true. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It begins with Tywin Lannister(first appearance!), father to Jamie, Cersei, and Tyron Lannister, talking to his son Jamie about fulfilling his destiny as a great man and that this war will determine the fate of their House. They can either become a great dynasty or they can fall. Tywin tells Jamie to march to Riverrun and overtake it (as it belongs to Catelyn Stark's house) and begin the war against the Starks. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In King's Landing, Nedd Stark meets with Cersei and reveals that he knows the truth about her children. That they are bastards and her and Jamie's children. And we get the famous line from Cersei: "when you play the game of thrones, you win or you die." I think Cersei has the right to be angry with Robert for not loving her, because she was alive and they were given a chance, but he chose to continue to be consumed with his love for Lyanna. I understand that he loved and lost her, but he had another chance at love and he threw it away. Not everyone gets a second chance at love. If I were in her situation, I would also be angry. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/U6MZvK02vX0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It looks like Nedd Stark may be headed to the grave after his friend King Robert is injured in a hunting accident. King Robert names Nedd as lord protector of the realm until Joffrey is of age. Nedd rights "the rightful heir" rather than "my son Joffrey." King Robert also says that Nedd was right and that they should not murder the Targaryn girl (Dany) Varys, however, tells Nedd that the attack on her life is already undergoing and cannot be stopped now. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At least not by any of them. It is Ser Jorah that stops Dany from being poisoned. However, it turns out Ser Jorah is a royal spy for Varys and a boy gives him a royal pardon saying he can go home. Ser Jorah, however is very loyal to Dany and believes in her. So do I. She is the true dragon and has to have a great destiny. Angered at this attack, Drogo pledges to their son the Iron Throne and Westeros. I love how much Drogo has come to love Dany and how far he is willing to go for her and their son. I hope they have many more children and that Rhaego does grow up to become a great conqueror, the stallion that mounts the world. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/1Cm82T7g5mg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It seems like Dany is going to get to go home after all. In an earlier scene she spoke with Ser Jorah about how Drogo does not want to cross the sea and conquer Westeros. Ser Jorah told Dany that the mad king, her ancestor, was born in the East and conquered Westeros because he has dragons. At that though it was her birthright, so is the East, even more so. There's also this really romantic scene that happens between Dany and Drogo that I will add here. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y3mPWldtT7Q?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Back In Kings Landing, King Robert dies and Nedd writes to Stannis Baratheon (younger brother to Robert and rightful heir). Nedd is summoned to court by Cersei and Joffrey. Cersei tears up Robert's letter that says Nedd is to rule and that Joffrey is going to rule. That it doesn't matter what Robert said, because Robert is dead, no longer king, and there is a new king. Cersei tells Nedd that if he swears fealty to Joffrey, he will be allowed to return to Winterfell. Nedd says that Joffrey has no claim to the throne and Cersei declares him a traitor, captures him, and locks him in the dungeon. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On a happier, much better note, Jon Snow and his friend Sam take their vows and enter the Knight's Watch officially. This was one of my favorite scenes in the whole three episodes. I look forward to seeing where Jon will go in the future. Maybe over the wall to fight the dangers that lurk. Either way, Jon (just like Danerys) has a destiny to fulfill and he's on the right path to fulfilling it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/8TjshsNvEbE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That's all I've got for now. I'll see you all later. Feel free to comment on favorite scenes, lines, characters, ect. Much appreciated, Rachel. </div>
Rachel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12722167304233346866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720371301741284003.post-19016293360005330082012-12-04T08:30:00.000-08:002016-07-02T11:04:14.898-07:00Game of Thrones Episode 2 ReviewIt begins with the Dothraki, across the narrow sea, in the east. They begin moving from Penthos and the free cities to the Dothraki Sea. Ser Jorah Mormont tells Dany that the Dothraki believe that grass will one day cover everything, as the Dothraki Sea is very vast and is covered in grass. He also gives Dany some dried horse to eat, telling her that the Dothraki have two things in abundance: horses and grass and that one cannot live off of grass alone. Dany struggles to keep with the Dothraki and fears Drogo, but Ser Jorah tells her it will get easier. I sure hope so for Dany's sake; I feel very sorry for her.<br />
<br />
In Winterfell, Bran is unconscious about being pushed off the wall by Jamie Lannister. Catelyn refuses to leave his side, and we are rewarded with this moment from Tyrion Lannister:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/m0qjl9PfbSw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Tyrion Lannister is one of the best of his house, as he seems to be more in tune with reality than some of the others. He goes to breakfast and tells them that Bran is likely survive and notes Cersei and Jamie's reactions, as he knows they have been having sexual relations. Cersei goes and visits Catelyn Stark at the beside of Bran and says that she lost her first child, a black haired boy, and that the gods will show mercy on them. I hope so too, because I like Bran very much.<br />
<br />
Jon Snow says good bye to his family. Despite being a bastard of Nedd Stark, he is close to his siblings, especially his older brother Robb and his sister Arya. I absolutely love Arya and she is both my aunt's and my favorite character. Jon Snow gives Arya a sword so she can learn how to fight. Jon says goodbye to Bran and to his father, who says that Jon may not have his name, but does have his blood. Jon goes with his uncle, Benjen, to join the Night's Watch, a group of men who defend the wall and the kingdoms from what lives north of the wall: the white walkers. Even though they are thought to have been dead for thousands of years, the wall still stands and the Night's Watch still defend it. Tyrion is also traveling to the wall with them as he wants to see it. We also learn that not just the poor men and younger sons who honorably join the Night's Watch, but also criminals who are given the option of joining or dying.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/xCvq9xhOpr4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
While Jon Snow and Tyrion get to the wall, the royal party including the king,Cersei, Joffrey, Sansa, Arya, and Nedd, have traveled south, stopping at Crossroads Inn for the night. Joffrey invites Sansa to walk with him by the river, where they find Arya practicing her sword fighting with one of the boy's in the party her age. Joffrey tries to bully the boy, but Arya stands up to Joffrey who attacks her. Arya's direwolf comes to her rescue and bites Joffrey, Arya, the boy, and her direwolf run away but not before Arya throws Joffrey's sword in the river. Arya frees her direwolf, by setting it free so that it will not be killed for hurting the prince.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/II5Z4g8XDH4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Joffrey falsely accuses Arya and her friend of attacking him, and she defends herself. The children of Nedd and Robert are already fighting! I can't believe Sansa wants to marry Joffrey; I really don't like him, and I'm disappointed that Sansa didn't stand up for her sister and tell the truth. King Robert does not approve that their children are fighting and decides that Nedd will discipline his daughter and he will disciple Joffrey. However, Cersei is adamant that the direwolf should die; however, Arya's could not be found as Arya set it free to run away. Cersei then declares that Sansa's direwolf should die. Nedd Stark goes and kills her, saying that the wolf belongs to the north. As he plunges the knife into the direwolf, back in Winterfell Bran Stark wakes up.<br />
<br />
Very exciting episode. I'm exciting to see where Jon Snow will go with the Night's Watch and what will happen with the Starks and Lannisters. Tyrion is my favorite Lannister. I really like the Stark family, but would like to see more of Bran and Arya. I look forward to seeing her get to use that sword! I also am curious as to see if Bran remembers anything after his fall and what will happen to him once the Lannisters find out that he's woken up.Rachel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12722167304233346866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720371301741284003.post-46732746543150627502012-12-03T20:00:00.000-08:002016-07-02T10:59:12.665-07:00Game of Thrones Episode 1 ReviewAs some of you know, I went to NY for Thanksgiving to visit family. While I was there I did so many cool things, and my aunt introduced me to Game of Thrones. I think I would really like the books, but apparently the author still has three or four more to write, and so I thought I better just watch the tv show. I really can't stand it when I start a series and then find out it's not finished.<br />
<br />
Episode 1 begins rather creepily. I'm not really sure what to make of it, but there's dangerous things in the snow that come from the corpses of people. There's also three riders, who are witnesses to the dead people, who disappear into the snow. One of these three people is later beheaded for treason as he goes mad and abandons his friends. Here is where we are introduced to the Stark Family, the patriarch Eddard (Nedd), his wife Catelyn, and their children Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, and Rickon, as well Nedd's bastard son Jon Snow. Nedd beheads the traitor boy and Bran, Robb, and Jon go with him. Nedd tells Bran that their way is the old way and that the one who passes the sentence should be the one who carries it out.<br />
<br />
On their way back, they come upon a dead stag and a dead direwolf female who has left behind six direwolf pups. Six direwolf pups for the six Stark children. Jon says that they are gift from the old gods, as the direwolf is the house sigil of House Stark.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/pVUejDCk7vs?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Meanwhile, one of Nedd Stark's friends, Jon Arryn, also Hand of the King, has died. News of his death comes to Winterfell and the king and queen visit. King Robert and Nedd visit the crypts to see Lyanna's statue. Lyanna was loved and betrothed to Robert before she was kidnapped and killed by Prince Rhaegar of House Targaryen.<br />
<br />
Across the Narrow Sea, in the free city of Penthos, the last of their house, lives Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen (also called Dany for short). Viserys plans to wed Dany to Khal Drogo, leader of the Dothraki in exchange to use the army to reclaim the Seven Kingdoms. Dany prepares by taking a bath that has just been poured and worries her maid worries that it will be too hot, but Dany does not seem to notice and enjoys the hot bath. After, Dany meets Drogo, who merely looks at her and rides off without ever dismounting from his horse.I feel very sorry for Dany as she is not treated very well by her brother and has never seen the seven kingdoms that is "home" for her. I'm curious to see where she will go after she and Drogo are married and she becomes a part of the Dothraki.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/OWqBZQg-RvY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Next, we see Dany and Drogo's wedding day. She sits beside him and they watch the Dothraki men fight over women, her face emotionless. Dany is given three gifts: three dragon eggs that have turned to stone with the passing of time, a collection of stories from the seven kingdoms, and the loyalty of Ser Jorah Mormont, Drogo gives her a beautiful white filly horse. Drogo helps Dany on her horse and they ride up to the sand dunes where they have their wedding night.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/lXD7MDIp8w8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/0HCAG-ezeMY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Back in Winterfell, King Robert offers Nedd the position of Hand of the King and says that they should unite the houses, as they should have done if Lyanna hadn't died. Nedd and Catelyn come to an agreement that Sansa can marry Joffrey, as she seems to want to be queen and marry him. A feast is held and Catelyn and the queen talk about the engagement, and it is revealed that Sansa has not yet bled. Nedd accepts the king's offer, although he would rather stay in Winterfell. He also receives a letter that night saying that John Arryn was murdered by the queen, Cersei Lannister. We find out why when Bran is climbing the castle walls and discovered Cersei with her brother, Jamie Lannister. Perhaps John Arryn found out something he wasn't supposed to know...Rachel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12722167304233346866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720371301741284003.post-81114213784990764292012-11-19T14:40:00.001-08:002012-11-20T07:05:27.192-08:00Red by Taylor Swift Song Review<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Video </u></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/gQ0pP2z9niw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<u>Lyrics</u><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Loving him is like driving a new Maserati down a dead end street</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Faster than the wind</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Passionate as sin, ended so suddenly</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Loving him is like trying to change your mind</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Once you’re already flying through the free fall</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Like the colors in autumn</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">So bright just before they lose it all</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Losing him was blue like I’d never known</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Missing him was dark grey all alone</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Forgetting him was like trying to know somebody you've never met</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">But loving him was red</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Loving him was red</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Touching him is like realizing all you ever wanted was right there in front of you</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Memorizing him was as easy as knowing all the words to your old favorite song</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Fighting with him was like trying to solve a crossword and realizing there’s no right answer</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Regretting him was like wishing you never found out love could be that strong</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Losing him was blue like I’d never known</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Missing him was dark grey all alone</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Forgetting him was like trying to know somebody you've never met</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">But loving him was red</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Oh red burning red</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Remembering him comes in flashbacks and echoes</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Tell myself it’s time now, gotta let go</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">But moving on from him is impossible</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">When I still see it all in my head</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Burning red!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Darling it was red!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Oh, losing him was blue like I’d never known</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Missing him was dark grey all alone</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Forgetting him was like trying to know somebody you've never met</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Cause loving him was red yeah yeah red</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">We're burning red</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">And that's why he's spinning round in my head</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Comes back to me burning red</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Yeah yeah</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Cause love was like driving a new Maserati down a dead end street</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.383333206176758px;"><span style="color: #333333;">http://www.directlyrics.com/taylor-swift-red-lyrics.html</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;"><u>Review</u></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 26.366666793823242px;">I decided to start the week off with a song review of Taylor Swift's Red. The name of the album is also Red and comes from this song. It's a song about her loving someone who didn't love her back. I think we can all identify with this and with the colors: blue, dark grey, and red. This is the color associated with love, but also with anger and the more distasteful feelings. Blue is associated with loneliness, the cold, and calmness. Blue is better than red (Blue is my favorite color:) </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 26.366666793823242px;">Besides the chorus, some of my other favorite lines were </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 26.366666793823242px;">"</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Loving him is like trying to change your mind</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Once you’re already flying through the free fall</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Like the colors in autumn" </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">and </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Touching him is like realizing all you ever wanted was right there in front of you</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Memorizing him was as easy as knowing all the words to your old favorite song</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Fighting with him was like trying to solve a crossword and realizing there’s no right answer</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">Regretting him was like wishing you never found out love could be that strong" </span><br />
<div>
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 26.383333206176758px;">I just love the struggle in TS voice as she can't decide whether or not she is going to love her or not, because she already loves him, but he doesn't love her back.Eventually she makes the decision that it's not worth it to her to love him. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 26.383333206176758px;">I also really just liked the background music for Red; it went really well with TS's voice. The song is catchy and fast, but not too fast. It has a good beat and is overall a good song. It's not my favorite on the album (those would be the last time, starlight, and come back be here) but it is really enjoyable and I can see why she named her album after it. I think it probably means a lot more to TS than I'm interpreting, and now that's I've looked at is closer it's actually kind of a sad song. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 26.383333206176758px;">That's all I've got for this review, but </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">have a good one and hope you enjoy this song! Rachel </span></div>
Rachel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12722167304233346866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5720371301741284003.post-66416640115289296812012-11-14T20:14:00.003-08:002012-11-14T20:14:46.748-08:00Red by Taylor Swift (Full Album Review) Taylor Swift's new album came out! It's been great listening to all the songs on Youtube and I am now going to do a general overview of the songs on the CD, Red. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Songs. </div>
<div>
1. State of Grace--it was way, way, way too long for me at approximately 4:55 minutes. I also felt like it was just too slow, except for the full chorus. I also thought the song was too ambiguous and I didn't understand what the lyrics were saying. </div>
<div>
2. Red--the first few times I heard it, I thought it was just okay, but now that I listen to all the time, I really like it. It's a very catchy song and it's easy to identify the colors with the stages of love and breakup. </div>
<div>
3. Treacherous--I didn't love the song, but I didn't not like it. It was just okay for me. </div>
<div>
4. I Knew You were Trouble--I didn't like this one, because I thought it was too fast and the lyrics were mean, although it was catchy.</div>
<div>
5. All to Well--This one is so sad! It's really sad as it's about a bad breakup, but I still really liked it. It's slow but it moves well. </div>
<div>
6. 22--I really loved this one! It's so catchy and great to dance to and sing along with. It's really easy to follow and just overall a fun song. I also love how it's about getting lost in the music! What a thing to sing about! (I'm joking:) </div>
<div>
7. I Almost Do--another sad but good one! I liked this one even more than I liked all too well. This is the song on the album that I listen too the most. </div>
<div>
8. We are Never Ever Getting Back Together--I didn't know what to think when I first heard this one, as it is so different from her other songs. Now I really love it, as it is just so much fun to dance and sing to! My friends and I love it! </div>
<div>
9. Stay Stay Stay--I didn't like this one, because I thought it was too repetitive and was just too pop-ish rather than country-pop. </div>
<div>
10. The Last Time: OH MY GOSH I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS ONE!!! IT'S SO PRETTY AND BEAUTIFUL! </div>
<div>
11. Holy Ground--I didn't love the song, but I haven't heard it that many times. It's not a song that stands out and I feel I casually listen through it. It's a little catchy, but not too much and it's more on the slower side too. </div>
<div>
12. Sad Beautiful Tragic--take song #1 with different lyrics. It's way toooooooooooooooooooo slow. </div>
<div>
13. The Lucky One--I liked this one, as it's catchy and easy to sing along too, but it's not one of my favorites. </div>
<div>
14. Everything has Changed--This is a really excellent song overall. Love the melody and the pace. She sings it with a male vocalist, and I really like their duet. </div>
<div>
15. Starlight--This is another OH MY GOSH I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS ONE!!! IT"S SO PRETTY AND BEAUTIFUL. It reminded me of Fearless from one of her previous album, so if you liked Fearless I think you will like Starlight </div>
<div>
16. Begin Again--I really liked this one too. I didn't love it like I love songs #10 and 15, but it's still a really happy, somewhat slow song, but it moves well. I think it's one of the best ones on the album. </div>
<div>
17. The Moment I knew--I really liked it the first few times I heard it, but after actually listening to the lyrics I just think it's really sad. However, it does have a faster moving pace than some of the other songs. </div>
<div>
18. Come Back Be Here--I loved this one! It's a really great song that is similar to #10 and #15. It's not slow, but it's not too fast that you can't catch it. </div>
<div>
19. Girl at Home--This song is catchy and very fast moving, although slightly repetitive, it works well because it moves so fast. A good one to sing along to, but it doesn't have the best lyrics. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That's RED for yall!!!!!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I will be doing (full) song reviews on some of them in December, so be on the lookout for that! Throw yourself a dance party and listen to some Taylor Swift! Have a great night, yall! </div>
Rachel R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12722167304233346866noreply@blogger.com