Top Ten (six) Tuesday: Switcheroo

Top Ten Tuesday is a feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week The Broke and The Bookish posts a topic and lists their top ten things that fall under the category. Top Ten Tuesday is a great way to learn more about your favorite bloggers and discover new blogs and books as well! To learn more about Top Ten Tuesday and see the weekly topics, click here. 


This Week's Topic Is.....


Top Ten Book Characters You Want To Switch Places With For 24 Hours

Source

1. Hermione Granger from Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling: Who wouldn't like to be Hermione for at least 24 hours?? She is wicked smart, gets to go to Hogwarts, hangs out with Harry Potter and she can time travel. I would love to be Hermione for at least 24 hours (more please??).


2. Stargirl from Stargirl and Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli: I adore Stargirl, the way she thinks, her outlook on life, and her general vibe. It would be amazing to be her for  24 hours.

Source

3. Skeeter from The Help by Kathryn Stockett: I would like to be in Skeeter's shoes for 24 hours. It would be interesting to go back in time and experience life in The Help's time period. Overall I would like to be Skeeter so that I could go back in time, and so that I could write a book to promote justice.


4. Anna from Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins: I'm pretty sure I could live with going to school in Paris. If I was Anna I also wouldn't mind meeting new people in Paris (cough St. Clair cough) like Meredith...

Source

5. Katniss from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins: It would rock to be Katniss (minus the whole Hunger Games, dead family, deranged lover spiel). I admire Katniss' kick-butt attitude, so it would be cool to be her for 24 hours. 


6. Christopher from The Curious Incident of The Dog In The Night-Time by Mark Haddon: I loved Christopher in TCIDNT. I admired his perspective and unique way of thinking. I would like to be him for 24 hours just see what his thoughts and feelings are like. 


Side Note: When I say I want to switch places with a character, I don't want to choose what they do, I want to see how they think and feel, and get to live their life for a little while :)


I apologize for the lack of book reviews on the blog. I've been in a reading slump/busy/watching the olympics over the last couple of weeks. Thank you for reading :) 

TGIF (41): Christmas in July

TGIF is a feature hosted by Ginger over at GReads! Ginger asks a fun question every week and bloggers post their answers. TGIF is a great way to learn about some of your favorite bloggers, and have fun posting too!


This Week's Question Is......


If Santa were to come down your chimney this second, which books would you want him to leave under your tree??


1. Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson- I want read Second Chance Summer before the summer ends. I read Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson earlier this year and I adored it. I need to get my hands on Second Chance Summer!


2. Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard- I've heard so many wonderful things about this novel. Wanderlove sounds a lot like Red Glass by Laura Resau which I loved. I enjoy novels where the main character travels so I look forward to reading this book.


3. Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool- I don't know all that much about Moon Over Manifest, but one of my really good friends adores it. It looks like an intriguing, middle grade, Little-House-On-The-Prairie-esque novel so I definitely want to read it! 

Picture Book Mania #1

What is the formula for a person who loves to read? I'm sure it is a mash up of personality traits (curiousity, love of learning, longing for adventure, etc.), but I also know that my love of reading started when my parents read picture books to me when I was little. After reading picture books to kids while babysitting, and after organizing my book shelf this summer, I was inspired to write about some of my favorite picture books that I still enjoy reading today (and by the way, there are some pretty brilliant picture books out there...)


1. A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon: A Bad Case of Stripes takes the message "be yourself" to a whole new extent (the main character turns into a pill, fungus, part cat, and many more strange things as a result of not being herself). This book has fantastic illustrations and features characters with the names: Camilla Cream, Dr. Sponge, and Dr. Cricket. This has always been one of my favorite picture books!

2. All The World written by Liz Garton Scanlon illustrated by Marla Frazee : All The World is a gorgeous, simple, and peaceful picture book featuring the line,   "Hope and peace and love and trust all the world is all of us." How can you not like a book with such beautiful writing? This book is the winner of the Caldecott honor, and you may see it in Cheerio boxes. Liz Scanlon has also written other amazing picture books including: A Sock Is A Pocket For Your Toes, Noodle And Lou, and Think Big. I encourage you to check these books out!

3. Loretta Ace Pinky Scout by Keith Graves: Even the title of this picture book makes me smile. Whenever I read the title out loud I have to read it multiple times, each time with more fervor. I adore Loretta Ace Pinky Scout. This picture book shouts in a non-preachy, non-cliche way "Nobody's Perfect" (You'd be lying if you said the Hannah Montana song didn't just start playing in your head, right?) which is a message that everyone needs to remind themselves of sometimes. I enjoyed this picture book when I was little, but I think I may enjoy it even more as a teenager.

4. The Recess Queen written by Alexis O' Neill illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith: The Recess Queen is an adorable picture book. The author of this novel was great at using made-up-words to make a point. For an example in The Recess Queen this is a paragraph, "If kids ever crossed her, she'd push'em and smoosh'em, lollapaloosh'em, hammer'em, slammer'em, kitz and kajammer'em." Do not fear, there is a happy ending. With great pictures, funny words, and a wonderful message I can't resist The Recess Queen.

I hope to do another post sometime featuring my favorite picture books because there are just so many! If you are ever feeling stressed and wishing for lightness and guidance in your life, go back to the basics; Thumb through picture books, read their inspiring messages, and put some color into your life (Before you read a picture book you must consult your inner kid. Side effects include happiness, urge to do something frivolous, and eternal wisdom). Thanks for reading! Feel free to comment about some of your favorite picture books.

Top Ten (eight) Tuesday: Best Literary Worlds

Top Ten Tuesday is a feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week The Broke and The Bookish posts a topic and lists their top ten things that fall under the category. Top Ten Tuesday is a great way to learn more about your favorite bloggers and discover new blogs and books as well! To learn more about Top Ten Tuesday and see the weekly topics, click here. 

This Week's Topic Is.....

Top Ten Best Literary Settings

Going from left to right:

1. Hogwarts in Harry Potter

2. Afghanistan in A Thousand Splendid Suns

3. Paris in Anna and The French Kiss

4. Germany in The Book Thief

5. Panem in The Hunger Games

6. Jackson Mississippi in The Help

7. The Island in Beauty Queens

8. Amsterdam in The Fault In Our Stars

What is your TTT??

Belated TGIF (40): Musical Stories

TGIF is a feature hosted by Ginger over at GReads! Ginger asks a fun question every week and bloggers post their answers. TGIF is a great way to learn about some of your favorite bloggers, and have fun posting too!


Question:  If you could read a book based off of a song, which song would you like to see as a book? 



The song I would turn into a book would definitely be the classic, the one and only, gives-me-chills-every-time, out-of-this-world, genius .......


 Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen


 There is SO much going on in this song, and there are about a million different "plot lines" throughout the song as well. I've listened to Bohemian Rhapsody quite a few times, and I don't think I will ever 100% understand it. It would be (*sing song voice*) awesome if Bohemian Rhapsody was turned into a book!




Lyrics for Bohemian Rhapsody:


Is this the real life?
Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide,
No escape from reality
Open your eyes, 
Look up to the skies and see,
I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy,
Because I'm easy come, easy go, 
Little high, little low,
Any way the wind blows doesn't really matter to 
me, to me

Mama, 
I just killed a man,
Put a gun against his head, pulled my trigger 
now he's dead
Mama... life had just begun,
But now I've gone and thrown it all away
Mamaaaaa oooh, 
Didn't mean to make you cry,
If I'm not back again this time tomorrow,
Carry on, carry on as if nothing really matters

Too late, my time has come,
Sends shivers down my spine, body's aching all 
the time
Goodbye, ev'rybody, I've got to go,
Got to leave you all behind and face the truth
Mamaaaaa oooh, (Away the wind blows)
I don't want to die,
I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all

I see a little silhouetto of a man,
Scaramouche! Scaramouche! Will you do the 
Fandango?! 

Thunderbolt and lightning, very, very frightening 
Me!
Galileo, Galileo
Galileo, Galileo 
Galileo, Figaro - magnifico 

I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
He's just a poor boy from a poor family,
Spare him his life from this monstrosity!
Easy come, easy go, will you let me go
Bismilah! No, we will not let you go
(Let him go!) Bismilah! We will not let you go
(Let him go!) Bismilah! We will not let you go
(Let me go) Will not let you go 
(Let me go)(Never) Never let you go
(Let me go) Never let you go (Let me go) Ah
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
Oh mama mia, mama mia, mama mia, let me go
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me, for me, 
for meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

So you think you can stop me and spit in my 
eye?!?!
So you think you can love me and leave me to 
die?!?!
Oh, baby, can't do this to me, baby,
Just gotta get out, just gotta get right outta 
here!

Nothing really matters, Anyone can see,
Nothing really matters,
Nothing really matters to me...

Anyway the wind blows...


------------------------------------------------------------------


Feel free to link your TGIF in the comments section!

Twenty Boy Summer

Title: Twenty Boy Summer
Author: Sarah Ockler
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: June 1, 2009


Goodreads Synopsis: 


"Don’t worry, Anna. I’ll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it."
"Okay."
"Promise me? Promise you won’t say anything?"
"Don’t worry.” I laughed. “It’s our secret, right?"


According to Anna’s best friend, Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy every day, there’s a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there’s something she hasn’t told Frankie–she’s already had her romance, and it was with Frankie’s older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.


TWENTY BOY SUMMER explores what it truly means to love someone, what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every beautiful moment life has to offer.

My Review: 

A lot of my friends adored Twenty Boy Summer--gushing about how it was so sad and romantic. When I went to the library the cover caught my attention and the voices of my Twenty-Boy-Summer-loving friends came into my head so I had to pick it up. While this novel was sad, and romantic I was not 100%  on board with all of the aspects in Twenty Boy Summer. 

What I Liked: 1) The first thing that grabbed my attention when I picked up Twenty Boy Summer was the beautiful cover. I love the heart made from sea glass and the casual, yet cute font on the front. 2) Twenty Boy Summer was written well. I loved the descriptions in the novel that made me feel like I was with the characters wherever they went. In some parts of the novel, the writing was lyrical and very beautiful which was definitely a plus. 3) Sarah Ockler also did a wonderful job of showing the different stages of the post-death grief process. 

What I Didn't Like: 1) Most of Twenty Boy Summer is about the two main characters, Anna and Frankie, coping with the death of Frankie's brother and Anna's (secret) crush/boyfriend/unkown. By about page 20 the brother/boyfriend/crush/unkown, Matt, dies. I didn't get enough time to become attached to Matt before he died so the effect of his death didn't make me as sad as I wished it did. 2) The title is called Twenty Boy Summer, yet the part of the plot where they try to meet 20 boys isn't a very big portion of the novel at all. 3) I didn't adore the two main characters and their friendship seemed unrealistic.


If you want an overall light and romantic book to read for the summer this is the book for you. Although I didn't love, love, love this novel, a ton of people do adore Twenty Boy Summer, so you should try it out if you want an easy summer read! Thanks for reading!!

Leading Literary Lives: Siobhan Vivian

   Leading Literary Lives is a feature at Mint Tea & A Good Book that showcases real people in the literary industry. As a teen run blog, we're always on the lookout for bookish jobs!



Today I interviewed the fabulous author of Not That Kind Of Girl, The List , Same Difference , A Little Friendly Advice , and Burn for Burn . This author is (drum roll please) Siobhan Vivian!

MTGB: In The List, there is an extremely wide range of characters. What was it like to put yourself in eight different character’s shoes? Were some characters easier/harder to write about than others? Did you have a favorite character? Did you become more attached to certain characters over others? If so, which ones were you more attached to? 

Siobhan: The writing process was pretty taxing. Having eight characters definitely made me feel schizophrenic at times. To combat that, I wrote a draft of each character’s story straight through, instead of bouncing around. I do think it helped make a clearer through-line for each girl. And yes, I definitely felt closer to some characters. Lauren and Sarah and Danielle are all very near and dear to my heart. 

MTGB: How did each character form and change as you wrote? Before you started writing did you have an idea of what each character’s personality would be like?

Siobhan: I tried to. Because having eight characters is such a crazy undertaking, I spent a lot of time planning. I tried to map out each girl’s central conflict and personality before I typed a word, just to make sure everyone felt unique. Obviously, some of those characters came to me very quickly. Others were more like plugs, filling in where I had emotional holes.  

MTGB: If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could pick one main character from The List to be with you, which one of your characters from The List would you pick?

Siobhan: Ha! This is such a great question. I think I would pick Danielle. She’s emotionally strong, resourceful, and maybe she could swim out and catch us some fish. 

MTGB: I have also read your novel, Same Difference, which is in first person. The List was written in third person. How was writing in third person different than writing in first person? How did you decide to write in third person for The List? 

Siobhan: It was a big challenge for me. Before THE LIST, I’d never written in third person. But it seemed the obvious choice for a book so wide in scope. My fear was that if I tried the book in first person, it would seem too crazy and jarring when you switched from one girl to the next. I mean, it is already a jarring reading experience (in some ways) and so I worked with those challenges in mind.  

MTGB: One of the main topics in The List is the idea of beauty, how girls want to be seen as beautiful and the lengths that they will go to be “beautiful.”  Define “beauty” in your own words. 

Siobhan: This definition has evolved for me, and continues to change, but as of this moment, beauty, to me, is not giving a shit. 

MTGB: What was your inspiration to write The List? Did you gradually think of the idea, or did the premise of the novel hit you at once?

Siobhan: I had heard about a similar tradition at a high school that was near where I grew up in New Jersey, and I thought it would make an interesting premise. The first character I came up with was Jennifer, and initially the book was going to be just about her. It was my editor who suggested the multi-pov thing, and once he did, I was off and running. 

MTGB: What is the hardest part about being an author? What is the greatest challenge you have faced through your job? What is the easiest part about being an author? What has been one of the greatest moments that your career has presented you with? 

Siobhan: I am constantly plagued with self-doubt, and the literal act of putting a story together and working out the kinks is emotionally very hard on me. I love going on book tours and conferences, where I can meet people who’ve read and enjoyed my work. That is always thrilling! And I think my best moment was connecting with my very first fan through her blog. She’d found an ARC of A LITTLE FRIENDLY ADVICE and posted about it. I contacted her and we are still extremely close to this day. I always send her an ARC of my newest piece. She’s my good luck charm. 

MTGB: What other jobs have you held in your life and how do they compare to being an author?

Siobhan: I’ve worked a bunch in film and television, as a book editor, and as a teacher. They don’t compare with being an author per se (best job in the world!) but they are all creative and fulfilling. 

MTGB: Your biography on your website mentioned that you wrote some scripts for the Disney Channel. How was writing for television the same and different as writing novels and what was that experience like?

Siobhan: One major difference is that I was writing for a pre-school audience, which definitely affects how you tell a story. I was also working with characters who were not my own, and so what you could do with them was limited. But I still had a blast doing it!  

MTGB: What is a typical workday like for you?

Source

Siobhan: I try to write for a few hours every day, but it doesn’t always happen. Lately, I’ve been suffering with writer’s block, and so I’ve been getting up from my computer and trying to read more books by other people. It’s really helping!

MTGB: And last, but not least, the classic Mint Tea and A Good Book question, do you have a favorite type of tea? If so, what is it?

Siobhan: I’m a plain old Lipton girl! Over ice, with a wedge of lemon. Boom! : ) 

Thank you to Siobhan for the fabulous interview! All YA lovers should check out her latest book, The List, as well as all of her other novels (listed at the top of the post). Thank you!

TGIF (39): Swoon Worthy Quotes

TGIF is a feature hosted by Ginger over at GReads! Ginger asks a fun question every week and bloggers post their answers. TGIF is a great way to learn about some of your favorite bloggers, and have fun posting too!

This Week's Question Is....

What are some of the most swoon-worthy quotes you have read in a book?

Quote #1: “I'm in love with you," he said quietly.


"Augustus," I said.


"I am," he said. He was staring at me, and I could see the corners of his eyes crinkling. "I'm in love with you, and I'm not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things. I'm in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we're all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we'll ever have, and I am in love with you.” 


-The Fault In Our Stars



Quote #2: “I know you aren't perfect. But it's a person's imperfections that make them perfect for someone else.” 


-Anna and The French Kiss



Quote #3: “Oh, I wouldn't mind, Hazel Grace. It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you.”

-The Fault In Our Stars

Quote #4: “You love me. Real or not real?"
I tell him, "Real.” 


-Mockingjay

Quote #5:  “How about a kiss, Saumensch?"


He stood waist-deep in the water for a few moments longer before climbing out and handing her the book. His pants clung to him, and he did not stop walking. In truth, I think he was afraid. Rudy Steiner was scared of the book thief's kiss. He must have longed for it so much. He must have loved her so incredibly hard. So hard that he would never ask for her lips again and would go to his grave without them.


-The Book Thief



Quote #6: She leaned down and looked at his lifeless face and Leisel kissed her best friend, Rudy Steiner, soft and true on his lips. He tasted dusty and sweet. He tasted like regret in the shadows of trees and in the glow of the anarchist's suit collection. She kissed him long and soft, and when she pulled herself away, she touched his mouth with her fingers...She did not say goodbye. She was incapable, and after a few more minutes at his side, she was able to tear herself from the ground. It amazes me what humans can do, even when streams are flowing down their faces and they stagger on...


- The Book Thief


Quote #7: Sometimes Webb believed that he would never experience a better feeling than when he was looking at her, would never see anything or anybody bursting with more life and spirit. Sometimes he felt he needed to inhale it and place it in a storage area in his soul. Just in case. 


-Jellicoe Road

Quote #8: "Give me a cigarette."

He shook his head and crossed his arms. This was a new entry in his repertoire of poses: back to the wall, arms crossed, cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth, his good leg casually bent.

"Why not?"

"Bad for you," he said.

"And it's not bad for you?"

"I do it for the girls."

"What girls?"

He smirked. "They think it's sexy."

"It's not."

"No?"

"I assure you.".....................

"What girls anyway?"

"You're jealous."..............

" You changed the subject."

"From what?"

"The empty-headed girls who think you're sexy."

"You know."

"Know what?"

"That I only have eyes for you."

-A Thousand Splendid Suns

Top Ten (eight) Tuesday: Future YA Classics

Top Ten Tuesday is a feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week The Broke and The Bookish posts a topic and lists their top ten things that fall under the category. Top Ten Tuesday is a great way to learn more about your favorite bloggers and discover new blogs and books as well! To learn more about Top Ten Tuesday and see the weekly topics, click here. 

This week's topic... was a freebie, so I chose to write about the top ten books that will be YA classics. By this I mean in 75+ years I can still see people enjoying these novels. I hope you enjoy!


Top Ten Future Young Adult Classics

1. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling- I could already call Harry Potter a classic. Give Harry Potter 30 more years of existence and we will start seeing it on the "classics" shelf in the book store with a 50 year anniversary sticker on it.  If I met someone who hadn't heard of Harry Potter I would probably think that they lived 1) Under a rock 2) On Mars 3) In a igloo in Antarctica.

2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett- The Help is one of the best historical fiction novels I have ever read. Because the Help has amazing dialogue, characters that people can relate to, and a perfect balance of wit and tragedy I can see The Help gracing the shelves of libraries and book stores 100 years from now.

3. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta- Jellicoe Road is a lyrical novel with characters that I didn't automatically love, but slowly grew on me. Reading Jellicoe Road was a lot like solving a puzzle. There was one main plot throughout the novel, but there were about a million subplots/conflicts that I tried to find resolution to as I read. Willa from Willa's Ramblings  has read Jellicoe Road 5 times, and each time she reads it, she discovers new pieces of the novel that she never knew existed. The characters, and all of the various plots in this novel are timeless so I am sure this will be a classic in the future.

4. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green- The Fault In Our Stars' theme is that every second of life is valuable and people should live life to the fullest. This theme is timeless. No matter what generation you grow up in, who your family is, or where you are from, this theme applies to every living human being that walks the face of the Earth. That is one criteria of a classic novel; it has to contain messages that affect all sorts of people, and will continue to affect people for years on end.

5. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is entertaining, yet realistic. ATDPTI deals with real issues such as poverty, racism, bullies, etc. This novel also has cool cartoons. I can easily see ATDPTI teaching/entertaining people for years to come.

6. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli- In the most simple ways, Stargirl taught me the easiest way to have a great life:

1) Be nice to other people

2) (as cliche as this sounds) Be original and be yourself

Stargirl is refreshing, eye-opening and incredibly original. Something unique about Stargirl is that the novel is lovable and amazing, yet the main character/narrator is dislikable. I know that people will continue to enjoy this novel for quite some time.

7. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins- The Hunger Games is practically a classic already. Just like Harry Potter (not that I am comparing the two), I can see this novel sitting on a "classics" shelf at the library or at a book store in 40 or so years. This novel contains strong and well developed characters, and it is 100% action packed which is the recipe for a timeless novel.

8. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak- The Book Thief was written in 2006, yet the setting is during World War II. If people in 2012 can find a novel that takes place in World War II entertaining, capturing, and find lessons in the novel, than I'm sure that the novel will continue to teach people, and  entertain people in the future. The way The Book Thief was written is timeless and lyrical as well.

Feel free to link your TTT :)

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Title: A Thousand Splendid Suns
Author: Khaled Hosseini
Publisher: Riverhead
Release Date: May 22, 2007

Goodreads Synopsis: 

Propelled by the same superb instinct for storytelling that made The Kite Runner a beloved classic, A Thousand Splendid Suns is at once an incredible chronicle of thirty years of Afghan history and a deeply moving story of family, friendship, faith, and the salvation to be found in love.

Born a generation apart and with very different ideas about love and family, Mariam and Laila are two women brought jarringly together by war, by loss and by fate. As they endure the ever escalating dangers around them-in their home as well as in the streets of Kabul-they come to form a bond that makes them both sisters and mother-daughter to each other, and that will ultimately alter the course not just of their own lives but of the next generation. With heart-wrenching power and suspense, Hosseini shows how a woman's love for her family can move her to shocking and heroic acts of self-sacrifice, and that in the end it is love, or even the memory of love, that is often the key to survival.

A stunning accomplishment, A Thousand Splendid Suns is a haunting, heartbreaking, compelling story of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship, and an indestructible love.


Review:

As I read A Thousand Splendid Suns, which is historical fiction, I looked like an Eeyore with deeply furrowed brows. The word that constantly pulsed through my head while I read was, "Why?" To say the very least, this book was intense. Although A Thousand Splendid Suns is intense and (VERY) tragic, it is extremely well written, inspiring, and the story is gripping.

If I hear that something bad/sad happened to another person (ex. their pet died, or their grandma is sick, or they didn't get into their desired school, etc.) I feel bad for them, but I (and the rest of the human race) will never have the perspective that they do. I never feel as saddened or pained as they do because I am not in their situation. I've heard about what has happened in Afghanistan; the bombings, the Taliban, all of the violence, and while I have been sad that such things happen, the gravity of the situation never REALLY sunk in until I read A Thousand Splendid Suns. This novel is graphic, realistic, and not sugar-coated at all.

A Thousand Splendid Suns follows two women living in Afghanistan. This novel gave me insight on what the women behind the burqas think and feel. Although they are covered up they have feelings and opinions. Whenever I listen to news about Afghanistan, I always hear about the violence which mostly features men. A Thousand Splendid Suns reveals the injustices, and horrors that most women have to face daily in Afghanistan, and gives me perspective on what their lives are like.

This novel showcases some of Afghanistan's history before the Soviet Invasion. The history in the novel taught me why people have pride in Afghanistan. This novel highlighted the everyday citizens in Afghanistan. Again, before I read A Thousand Splendid Suns, when I thought about Afghanistan I only thought of the violence, the Taliban and Al Qaeda. This novel highlights the people who aren't involved in the violent groups in Afghanistan.

I loved A Thousand Splendid Suns. It was incredibly well-written, inspiring, and engrossing. I recommend this novel to anyone who wants to learn more about the world they live in (that would be everyone, right?). Thanks for reading!

TGIF (38): Comfort Reads

TGIF is a feature hosted by Ginger over at GReads! Ginger asks a fun question every week and bloggers post their answers. TGIF is a great way to learn about some of your favorite bloggers, and have fun posting too!


This Week's Question Is......


Which kind of books do you read when you need some extra comfort in your life?


Whenever I need a comforting read I either pore over chick-lit/light and fluffy books, or comics, Ripleys Believe It Or Not, Far Side Gallery Cartoons, Peanuts Comics, and magazines. 


1. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han- The Summer I Turned Pretty is 100% light, fluffy, and chick-lit. This novel is a fun read and it doesn't take much brain power to read it.  When I was stressed and needed something light to read, The Summer I Turned Pretty was perfect.

2.  The Far Side Gallery by Gary Larson- The Far Side cartoons are short 1-2 paneled comics that are witty and sarcastic. They usually involve deserted islands, or talking insects/animals and I adore them.


3. Peanuts Treasury by Charles Schulz- You can't go wrong with Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Sally, Snoopy, and Woodstock. When I need a homey and fun read I seek out Peanuts.


4. First Kids by Mccollough- I got First Kids (The book First Kids is about the President's children) at a school book fair in third or fourth grade, and it has served me well. I don't know how many times I have read this book, but every time I am between books, or in a reading slump I read it. This book has information on every First Kid up until the kids of George W. Bush (The book was written before Barack Obama was elected), and it contains information about each President's family. It's fun to give my brain a break every now and then and read bullet points about the First Families. 


5. Other Various Magazines- I need to confess.... Once in a blue moon, when I see a People magazine laying around (at a doctors/dentists/orthodontists office), I pick it up and read it. I always feel shallow when reading People, so I limit how much I do this. I also read an Oprah magazine every once and a while and learn how to "De-Clutter my life" or how to"Plan My Future" or how to "Lose 10 Pounds Without Working Out", which makes me feel inadequate. 


What are your comfort reads? Feel free to tell me in the comments section!

A Farewell to Charms Blog Tour + Q&A with Lindsey Leavitt

   Hello! I'm peeking out of my little blogging break for this super fantastic post! Today we are welcoming the fabulous Lindsey Leavitt on the blog! A lot of you already know that I am a HUGE fan of her books so I am so super duper excited about this! EEEP!

   And without further ado, let's get to Lindsey and talk a little bit about her and her latest novel, A Farewell to Charms, the final book in the glamorous Princess for Hire Series!

MTGB- How was writing the final book in a series different from writing the other two Princess for Hire books? Do you think you’ll miss the characters?

Lindsey Leavitt- This third book was a monster, it just kept going and going. A new plot thread would pop up, and it would take thousands of words before I even knew how to wrestle it down. There was a point in the book where I thought I would have to go Deathly Hallows on the thing and split it in half. With the other books, it took awhile before I knew where I wanted to go. This one, I KNEW, it just took longer to get there—about forty pages in the final book, and that was after I cut 15,000 words.

I don’t think MISS is the word for how I feel about these characters. Finishing this series felt like graduation. It was time for all of us to move on. I’ll always look back to these characters with fondness—I spent five years with them, after all. But they’re on to other adventures in the readers’ minds, and I’m on to new stories. I wish them the very best.

MTGB- What inspired you to write the Princess for Hire series? Have you always enjoyed writing?

LL- Princess for Hire came to me while I was watching the old Audrey Hepburn movie, ROMAN HOLIDAY, where a princess takes a vacation for the day. I was substitute teaching at the time, and thought, What if she could get a sub? Boom.

Yes, I’ve always enjoyed writing, but I let my insecurities get in the way of pursuing publication for a very long time. It took becoming a mother for me to decide that the best way to teach my girls to go after their dreams was if I went after my own.

MTGB- Who’s your favorite character in the series?

LL- Meredith. (Love the name ☺) Oh, how I adore Meredith. The scenes I wrote with her were always my favorite. If I ever returned to The Princess for Hire world, it would be to tell more of her story. She came to me so fully formed, and I seldom had to revise her threads. I would very much like to be friends with her, since I think she would tell me how I really look in the jeans I just tried on.

MTGB- Desi Bascomb is such an unusual name- how do you come up with names for your characters?

LL- I chose Desi because it’s a name often short for something else, and Desi the character feels, at the beginning, that she doesn’t quite measure up. Also, there’s a play throughout with her answering that her name is “Just Desi”, since sometimes she needs to figure out if she’s acting as herself or as the princess.

As for Bascomb, I knew some Bascom’s (no B) in Alabama, and just really liked the sound of the name. Not much more story than that.

MTGB- Now for the speed round...

Favorite Princess? Real= Kate Pretend=Belle, or maybe Rapunzel, but only the Disney one, because the fairy tale wait-around-in-tower drives me nuts

Favorite Prince? Oh, I didn’t think to use my own! Okay, Prince Barrett. He’s a cad.

Best (Royal) Dessert? Scones with Devonshire Cream, my lady.

Favorite Princess Movie? THESE ARE SO HARD! Old=Roman Holiday. New=Tangled

   A huge thank you to Lindsey for letting me host her on the blog today!! And you guys should all totally check out her latest, A Farewell to Charms, or any of her other novels! I promise that they are all hilarious, witty, authentic, and fabulous!

* added note: I am still in France and am pretty much internetless, so I'm very sorry- I will get to your emails as soon as possible! :)