Happy Halloween!

Here's my pumpkin this year! 

I hope you all have a fun and safe Halloween! 

Thursday Three (8)

1) I am DETERMINED to keep this going and be more regular...like maybe even every week?  Wouldn't that be novel?  So if you're friends with me nudge me on Wed nights and let me know you look forward to my posts, cause I need to feel the love to feel the inspiration!

2) I am SO giddy that Halloween is coming up next week!  One of the things I do with my girls for any holiday is get a bunch of picture books from the library that are holiday specific.  This year I want to share two of my faves with you in mini-review format!

LITTLE GOBLINS TEN by Pamela Jane , illustrated by Jame Manning

Hardcover, 32 pages

Published July 26th 2011 by HarperCollins

Great Halloween counting book with rhythms and rhymes that allowed my 4 year old to participate in the reading process. Also the illustrations are absolutely adorable!

THE PICKY LITTLE WITCH by Elizabeth Brokamp, illustrated by Marsha Riti

Hardcover, 32 pages

Published July 7th 2011 by Pelican Publishing Company

This was a cute book. Great for Halloween and also your picky little eaters to show them that trying new foods can be a good thing!
3) I cannot believe that it's pretty much the end of October.  Where did this year go?  Wasn't it just yesterday I was making goals for the year, and not that it's October I'm thinking...I am running out of time!  What are some goals you made that you feel like you need to pick up the pace to accomplish?  One of mine is how many books I wanted to read.  Seems like I haven't been reading as much this year, which has resulted in me not blogging as much.  Which has all just made me sad.  Time to pick up the pace and take some more book time and less Facebook time!

Movie Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Last night after book club (which I always love!) a bookie friend of mine and I went to go see The Perks of Being a Wallflower. 

Now I have to admit that I have not read the book.  But my friend had, and so wanted to see how the movie adaptation compared.  And from the previews I was also interested in the movie.

Here is the summary from IMDB: An introvert freshman is taken under the wings of two seniors who welcome him to the real world.

That's it...it really tells you nothing about the film.  So here's the scoop.  This movie is not a light fun movie.  It isn't just about an introvert, but about a group of High School kids that are all dealing with some serious life issue stuff.  Things that make them outsiders, or make them feel that way anyway.  

Yes, the main character is a freshman that finds friendship and connects with seniors and NO one else -- except maybe his advanced placement English teacher.  He doesn't even seem to fit in his family.  But it is about so much more.  It is touching, it is tough, and it is also real. 

Here's a link to a pretty great clip in the movie:  http://www.imdb.com/rg/s/4/title/tt1659337/#lb-vi674145561


Although I wouldn't give it a top picks rating simply because it's not a movie I would own and watch over and over, but I would give it a Reaching New Heights because of how well done I felt it was.

One perk of "Perks" is that the screenplay was also written by the author.  So the story held true to the characters and plot of the novel.

I think the acting in this movie was pretty darn superb. Each and every character down to the minor ones were completely believeable in their own personal journeys.  It was really quite refreshing to see.

So if you are in the mood for something that will make you think about hard things this one is for you.  Just a warning for my readers -- cause I think I know many of you well this movie deals with some adult themes with regards to sexuality pretty much on all levels.  But the movie itself is not explicitly sexual and does a good job of letting you know what's going on/has happened without showing too much.  

ARC Tour Review: EVERBOUND by Brodi Ashton

EVERBOUND 
by Brodi Ashton
Hardcover, 384 pages
Expected publication: January 22nd 2013 by Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins  

Placement in the Pile: Top Picks!  

Summary: (from the back cover of the ARC)
Two months ago, the Tunnels of the underworld came for Nikki Beckett. That night, Nikki's boyfriend, Jack, made the ultimate sacrifice. All Nikki wants is to save Jack before it's too late. All Cole wants is to find his queen--and he thinks Nikki is the one. Both determined, both desperate, Nikki and Cole form a tense alliance, leading them on a dangerous journey to the heart of the Everneath.  

Review: 
I have been SUPER lucky enough to participate in a local ARC review tour for local author Brodi Ashton's EVERBOUND, book 2 in the Everneath trilogy!

 For those who don't know an ARC tour like this sets up a chain of local authors and bloggers to pass around one copy of the ARC to review it! It's so fun because we all leave notes in the book for Brodi, and in the end she gets it back with all of our little notes to her. So cool, right!?

Well, I was so lucky to be first on the list, and I dove right into this amazing novel. Brodi Ashton has done it again! Her writing is so smooth and honest that I fly right through her books. The pace just never stops, and even when you think you can catch a moment, or a breath, don't worry, there's something new up ahead that you didn't expect.

Nikki's story in this book is a story of fighting to get Jack back. And we see a lot more of her relationship with Jack and come to love them as a couple so much more. But don't leave Cole out. Could he possibly have true feelings and good intentions?

This is no sloppy middle book. EVERBOUND is a page-turning story that will hold your heart and make you ask, what would you do for the ones you love?

If you have not read EVERNEATH yet, go to the bookstore now, in just a few short months we will have EVERBOUND to add to our shelves, and this is one I certainly will be buying!

And for those DYING for more -- a novella NEVERFALL will be released also sometime in January e-book only, but a short story from Cole's perspective post EVERNEATH. I am DYING to read this one too, especially after reading EVERBOUND! Here's the gorgeous cover for that!

Happy October!

I sure have let life get away with me and this blog has suffered.  I appologize!  Next week is going to be Shannon Hale week!  If you love her, or have never read her stuff, come on over and check out my September month that was very Shannon Hale centered book-wise!