Follow Friday--September 9, 2011

I feel like I haven't blogged in a while, but I'm guessing that's just me, not actually reality. It's Friday, so that means it's Follow Friday. I'm on twitter, so it always cracks me up (if that makes any sense).

Q. Have you ever wanted a villain to win at the end of a story? If so, which one?

A: Not really. But I am currently reading Frankenstein and I almost like the monster better than I like Victor Frankenstein. For those of you who don't know Frankenstein is the man who made the monster. I usually want what's best for the main character. Most of the novels that I read don't have a lot of villains, because they are more realistic. I don't read a lot of fantasy, not that I don't like it, I just don't read a lot of it.

To join the Follow Friday click on the picture or type the links into the search bar. Have a good friday yall!

Follow Friday--September 2, 2011

I'm doing a blog hop this weekend! To see the rules you can click the picture above.
Some cool blogs that I'm following:
 http://caughtinthepages.blogspot.com/
http://misclisa.blogspot.com/
http://onceuponaprologue.blogspot.com/
It's been a really cool weekend! Have a good one!

Q. If you could change the ending of any book (or series), which book would you choose? Why and to what?
BREAKING DAWN SPOILERS! WATCH OUT!

A: I am very accepting of how books end, even if I am not fully satisfied with the ending. The first thing that pops into my mind is Breaking Dawn. Compared to the other novels, it's ugly and morbid. I mean, Bella's having a vampire baby? Jacob's running away and living with them? Jacob falls in love with Bella's daughter? It's just too weird for me. If I had it my way, I would have had Bella marry Jacob and go to college. Jacob was so much better for Bella. He didn't ask for her soul like Edward did. I always thought Bella was an idiot to give up her soul and her flesh. Idiot. I wouldn't have minded if the characters died even, but gosh I really hated the ending of that book. I also thought it was confusing that the Volturi and all those other vampires showed up. A whole bunch of stuff in that book didn't make sense, didn't seem right. I think there could have been a better ending, and why couldn't Bella have ended up with Jacob? He really loved her, even if she didn't deserve him, and she could have kept her life, her children, love. No sacrifice with Jacob. Edward was more dangerous. I will never get why she chose him.

Thanks to everyone who is following my blog!

Forget You & Across the Universe

Forget you by Jennifer Echols is about Zoey who has a troubled, bipolar mom, an egotist dad, and his twenty four year old girlfriend. Oh, and she has friends, especially Brandon who she has always liked. But when a car accident happens, Zoey can't remember what happened that night. Doug, the fisherman's son who she has a past with, is suddenly acting as though something happened between them. As she grows closer to Doug, all she wants is the truth. But everyone seems to be avoiding it. As she slowly puts the pieces together--with some help from Doug--she starts find the truth and remember who she is in her family. I found this read to be quick and funny, never knowing where the author was going. I plan on reading Going too far by Echols next.


Across the Universe by Beth Revis was a haunting and breathtaking novel. I can't wait to read the sequel. Amy leaves her whole life behind on earth to travel to Centauri-Earth to help begin a new planet with her parents. But years before they land, Amy is unplugged and must learn how to figure life out on a spaceship she knows nothing about. She doesn't recognize herself. Then there's Elder, the future leader of the ship, who questions Eldest's rule and morals. Together they try to unlock the secrets of Godspeed (the ship) and Elder tries to prove that he is ready to become a leader. Mesmerizing novel. I have more questions though, because not everything was explained clearly. Questions about the Plague. I liked how we got to see both Amy and Elders perspective and the personal challenges each went through. How they did what was right and tried to right the wrongs of Godspeed taking personal costs. The sequel is called A Million Suns.

A Reluctant Queen & Along for the Ride

A Reluctant Queen: The Love Story of Esther by Joan Wolf is a retelling of Esther's tale. The novel is told from the perspective of Esther who lives in Susa and has no worries as a young Jewish woman. But when her uncle Mordecai asks her to enter the harem and petition to be the king's next wife, she agrees. Esther does not believe it when the king choses her, but he does. And even more so, is that she cannot believe that she has fallen in love with him. It's not just a tale of courage; it's a love story (hence the title). Esther struggles between being Jewish or Persian in a Persian world and how to follow God when she is alone. She doubts her fate and tries to give up her faith, but then realizes that what she wants doesn't matter, that she must save her race and keep her faith, that all she needs is God. She becomes quite a queen. It's a great love story that Wolf has put together here! I think that Esther must have been in love with her husband in the Bible. I'm really glad I read this book. I plan on reading more Biblical fiction about women.


Last month I read What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen. This month I read Along for the Ride by her. Auden is spending the summer living with her dad and his new wife, Heidi, and their daughter Thisbe Caroline West (or Isby as Auden calls her). I really liked it. Auden is an academic girl, with a mom who teaches graduates and a dad who is an author. She never been very social, never went to prom. She didn't know what to do with her summer, so she ends up in Colby, NC. She works at Heidi's store and makes some friends. And Eli. The insomniac wanderer and biker. There's something about Auden. There's something about Eli. Auden learns a lot in the summer. So do a lot of the other character. Auden gets to learn how to ride a bike, even buying one at the end of the summer, and getting to finally go to prom. She goes along for the ride with life's wild ride (if that makes any sense at all). I think I liked this novel better than the last SD one I read, but both were good. I think I am a lot like Auden. I also really liked some of the names in this books: Auden, Leah, Esther, Maggie, Morgan, Isabel, Eli, Hollis, Lauren or Laura, Tara. SD comes up with such good names for her characters. Auden is certainly an original. I have never learned to ride a bike, and it's something I would like to do before I go to college.

That's all I have for today. Love, Rachel

The Quotable Rogue

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Quotable Rogue: The Ideals of Sarah Palin in her own words
Edited and with a forward by Matt Lewis

The Quotable Rogue is a book of quotes organized in sections about what Sarah Palin believes. The topics range from civil rights to economics to health care to faith and Tina Fey. The purpose of the book is to get out what Sarah Palin thinks on everything, to tell everyone what she believes.

I want to give a unbiased review of this novel, because I know it is political, a subject I want to avoid on this blog. I think that's the fairest way for myself and my readers.  I was glad I read it because I wanted to wrap my head around what Sarah Palin believed and form my own opinions on her. I'm starting to be interested in women in politics. It didn't take a long time to read; I read it in one sitting. The book held my attention the whole time, but there were some confusing parts, where I didn't understand what she was trying to say.

I liked how the book was presented in sections, instead of just a jumble of quotes. It was presented in a cohesive and clear way. I thought that the cover and title were clever. I think I would recommend The Quotable Rogue for anyone interested in politics or anyone who just wants to know about Sarah Palin. I would warn however, that this book is not for everyone. I present a word of caution to yall. Ask yourself if you can read it without giving a biased opinion to everyone you know.

We'll Always have Summer & the Liberation of Alice Love

I've been doing quite a lot of reading lately. Here's what I've been up to.


I read We'll Always have Summer by Jenny Han, the last in the summer series. Belly and Jeremiah have been together for two years, inseparable, even going to the same college. But when Jeremiah makes a mistake, and when Belly and Jeremiah decide to do forever, Conrad turns up at the beach house and back into Belly's life. Which one does she love more?

 I actually found this novel a little confusing. Most of it is about Belly planning for the wedding and missing Jeremiah while he works. It was nice getting to see things from Conrad's perspective, but I did have to wonder, why not earlier? Everyone in the family seems to think that they're too young, but they don't listen, which I think they should have. Belly keeps talking about how Jeremiah never treated her the awful way Conrad did, but then she changes her mind when Conrad tells her he still loves her. It just somehow didn't make sense. I didn't like the portray of Jeremiah either; he seemed to be arrogant, joking too much, and immature--but still loving Belly. Conrad had grown up, but remained serious, aloof, disconnected. Eventually, Belly does get forever with one of the Fisher boys, forever. Like she always wanted.


Just last night I finished reading the Liberation of Alice Love by Abigail McDonald. Alice Love is a lawyer/contractor who lives a perfectly boring life. Until she finds out that the friend she just made, Ella, has stolen her bank account and her savings. Since Ella stole Alice's life, Alice begins to investigate Ella, going to all the places Ella made purchases, even following Ella to Rome and L.A. Alice uses different names, changing herself into Ella (since the real one stole Alice), Juliet, Angelique. But as Alice (the real one) follows the trail, she begins to tell lies, and hurts people she wishes she was real to.

And When Alice finds Ella, could it be possible to she realizes that Ella might have given her a less boring life? A life she should have been living. Ella constantly remains this aloof, exclusive, unknown character, and we never get all the answers. There's also Alice's sister, Flora, who misses her husband who travels a lot and wants a better relationship with Alice. And Cassie, Alice's other friends who has relationship issues. And Nathan, an investigator that helps Alice, helps and falls in love with? Alice ends up hurting a lot of people, but there is gain in the end. She is, like the title suggests, liberated.

Have to go, enjoy whatever books yall are reading!

Spring Broke and Double Take

First I read Spring Broke by Melody Carlson. It's the third in a series about four women who share a house on Bloomberg Street. Kendall, the owner of the house, broke and in lots of debt from being a shopaholic, not to mention caring for a puppy and with a baby on the way, she has to get it together. Her housemates help her plan a garage sale and to sell some designer things on eBay. Megan, the most practical and serious of the renters, is struggling with her job, and wishes she could start teaching, instead of designing homes for the wealthy. She questions her purpose and wants to do something more meaningful. Lelani, the beautiful Hawaiian wants to go home to Maui from spring break, but is afraid of her mother. She has a daughter that her parents are raising, Emma, and wants to do what's best for the both of them. And Anna is trying to deal with her Hispanic family and their attitudes toward her caring boyfriend and her friends, who are not Hispanic.

Lelani invites them, along with the boys, Marcus, Edmond, and Gil, to Maui with her. So the adventure begins. I really like to see how Kendall grew up a little in this novel and got involved with life and her unborn baby. I also really like Lelani in this book, as it is mostly about how she deals with what she wants for her future, and what do do about Emma. The characters really pull through for each other in this book. I would definitely recommend the Bloomberg series.

I read another novel by Melody Carlson, called Double Take. Madison Van Buren doesn't want to be herself anyone, tired of the pressures from her friends, family, and boyfriend, she heads west. Anna Fisher wishes to escape the simple life of the Amish and is concerned about her future in the Amish world. When they meet in a small town, they decide to switch lives for a week. Anna searches for directions to her love, Jacob. Madison learns not to judge and how to be patient, while helping Anna's Aunt Rachel and her five children. She begins to think about God and enjoys the simplicity and the nature of the land. Yes, they do both switch back, but they learn a lot. Anna understands what to do, and meets Malachi, who works for her uncle. Madison is reconnected to her old friend Lucy. Anna and Madison do a lot for each other, and for themselves. And God is there with them all the way, the Big Helper.

That's what I've been reading! Have a good week and happy reading ahead.