Goals for Once Upon a Read-a-Thon

I don't really have any specific goals for this read-a-thon, other than to read more than usual.  Lately, I have been doing more knitting (and watching tv) than reading.  Here are the books I am planning on reading.
1. I Like You- Amy Sedaris 










2. A Hundred & One Days- Asne Seierstad
3. Ruined- Paula Morris
4. The Black Dahlia- James Ellroy

Have you read any of these books? What did you think?

Once Upon a Read-a-Thon

I love doing read-a-thons.  They are a good way to read more than I normally would. Reading Angel and Candace's Book Blog are hosting a read a thon for three days from July 12-14.  You can find all the information and sign up here.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Independence Day to all my readers in America. Have a safe and fun holiday!

Books Read in 2010

For anybody interested, I have created an ongoing list to keep track of the books I have read this year.  Since I have started blogging so late, I have not reviewed most of the books.  If you want my opinion on any I have read and not reviewed, feel free to leave a comment!

Also, I am planning on having a giveaway as soon as I reach 50 followers. 

Review: Anthem

Here is the summary from the back of the book:

He lived in the dark ages of the future.  In a loveless world he dared to love the woman of his choice.  In an age that had lost all trace of science and civilization he had the courage to seek and find knowledge.  But these were not the crimes for which he would be hunted.  He was marked for death because he had committed the unpardonable sin: he had stood forth from the mindless human herd.  He was a man alone.

My review:
I first read Anthem in for a high school English class.  I remember really liking it, but I decided to re-read it since that was quite a while ago.  I liked it just as much as I remember.  At just over a hundred pages, Anthem is a very quick read.  Because it is so short, there is not much character development.  However, the reader does get to know quite a bit about the character and the world he lives in because he is really the only character in the book.  It was confusing at first because the author never uses the pronoun "I", rather everybody uses "we" and "they", even to refer to themselves.  Once I understood that, it was easy to get into the sense of the society.  I think the only thing that would have made this book better is if it was longer and the reader could better understand the society.  I will definitely read more of Ms. Rand's books.

Review: The Sweet Far Thing

The Sweet Far Thing is the third and last book of the Gemma Doyle trilogy.  The other two books in the series are: A Great and Terrible Beauty, and Rebel Angels.
You pretty much have to read the first two books in the series in order to understand this book.
Here is the synopsis from Amazon:
It has been a year of change since Gemma Doyle arrived at the foreboding Spence Academy. Her mother murdered, her father alaudanum addict, Gemma has relied on an unsuspected strength and has discovered an ability to travel to an enchanted world called the realms, where dark magic runs wild. Despite certain peril, Gemma has bound the magic to herself and forged unlikely new alliances. Now, as Gemma approaches her London debut, the time has come to test these bonds. 
The Order—the mysterious group her mother was once part of—is grappling for control of the realms, as is the Rakshana. Spence's burned East Wing is being rebuilt, but why now? Gemma and her friends see Pippa, but she is not the same. And their friendship faces its gravest trial as Gemma must decide once and for all what role she is meant for.

My Review:
I bought the first book of this series on sale at a bookstore upon the recommendation of another blogger.  After reading the first one, I really wanted to find out what happened so I went out and bought the next two in the series, thus breaking my rule of buying no new books this year.  It was so worth it.  This series is impossible to put down.  The Sweet Far Thing is a lot longer than the other two books, coming in at over 800 pages.  I finished it in about 3 days.  That's how good it is.  I don't usually like or read young adult books.
I really liked the character of Gemma.  She lives in the Victorian age in London and is subject to all of the rules of society.  She is different from most of the other girls at Spence.  She likes books and wants to think for herself rather than her life being decided for her.  She also has a vulnerable side to her.
Overall, I liked how the author wrapped up the series.  However, there was one thing at the end that I did not like involving one of the main characters.  I don't want to post any spoilers, but if you read the book you will know what I'm talking about.     I will definitely be reading more of Libba Bray's work.

Book Blogger Hop

The Book Blogger Hop is sponsored every week by Crazy for Books.  It is a good way to get to know other bloggers.  Starting this week, she is starting something different.  As a way to get to know fellow book bloggers, every week she is going to ask a question. This week she asks why you started blogging.
My name is Amanda and I have always been a book worm.  About a year ago I started reading some book blogs, and they really inspired me to start my own.  I am still new at blogging, but I love sharing my love of books with other people.  I really love reading what other people have to say and finding out about books I wouldn't have otherwise read.