"You just gotta ignite the light/ And let it shine"

I gave up Facebook a few weeks ago cause I didn't do much on it. And it was kind of getting to the point where it could be renamed "DisappointmentBook" because of the never ending changes, privacy concerns, and just seeing stuff I could go without seeing (ignorance is bliss, after all). So when Facebook was forcing this new profile design onto me, I thought, hey, all I really do is check the newsfeed on my phone a few times a day and that's all. Why not deactivate my account and see if there is THAT much of a difference in my life. A month later, I'm still going strong. Twitter is now my social media of choice. I don't understand why more people don't use it. And it is so true how the people who denounce it are the ones who make the most status updates on FB. Don't hate.

Anyway, since I've cut FB out of my life, I have more time to read more of both the novel and blog variety. I have a few go-to-blogs but am always in search of more so if you have any you'd like to pass along, please do in the comments.

The top three I have frequented in the past few weeks are:

1. Enjoying the Small Things. If you're a first time visitor, click the tab that says "Start Here if You're New" and have some tissues nearby as you read Nella's birth Story. Don't skip ahead and look at the pictures, it will ruin the overall effect of the story. And Kelle's pictures are amazing and while sometimes her language is a little too flourished for me, I still like to read what she has to say about her family.

2. Tyler Stanton of TrippandTyler fame. I gotta admit, I always thought Tyler was the Bob to Tripp's Larry; the more serious (/less funny) of the two. And oh how I was wrong. After reading both their blogs, I am now borderline obsessed with Tyler's. He is hilarious. I follow him on Twitter (and he requested to follow me yesterday! Sure, he has a "you follow me, I follow you" policy but I'll take it) and I just ordered his book on Amazon.

3. Bryan Allain. I stumbled across him because of Tyler's name dropping and I'm glad I did. Some of his rants from his early blogging days are so funny because they are SO true. Check him out.

Okay, I've shared some of my favorites, now please share some of yours so I'm not bored at work (when the kids are taking their nap if anyone from work reads this :) ).

"I wanna be a billionaire so freaking bad/ Buy all of the things I never had"

So I fully admit I'm a little obsessed with Borders these days. I mean, they send me a coupon every week! And now that the holidays are rapidly approaching, they are popping up even more frequently in my inbox. So I print it out and skip on over to Borders to get a brand new shiny book. The only problem is... uhh... sometimes there isn't a particular book that I want. Isn't part of the fun of bookstores browsing? I also fully admit I spend my time in the Young Adult section so it's just interesting what actually makes you pick up a book.

1. The Title: The Mockingbirds, The Summer I Turned Pretty, One Night that Changes Everything, Twenty Boy Summer. These are all titles that prompted me to pick them up, scan the back, become intrigued and later purchase them. But another factor along with the title is...

2. The Cover. I know, I know. Don't judge a book by it's cover but its hard not to. Eye catching ones obviously live up to their purpose, it makes you want to see what it could be about. This is one that prompted me to pick up it cause of the fun cover:

Cute title, pretty cover, not a great book. It was written either in verse or a really long text message alternating between two girls' points of view. Not awful but not exactly a page-turner either. Now this one....

Simple yet intriguing cover. Granted I feel like this one has a bit more clout with the name John Green and the awards and whatnot. I really loved this one. It was one of those boys where I sort of wanted to sob the entire time I read it but I wasn't really sure why. Firefly Lane and The Guernsey Potato Peel Pie Society have also had this effect on me.

And last but not least...

3. The Author. I went in with the intention of buying another book by Lauren Barnholdt because I liked her style and thought she was funny. Then I found two books I've been wanting on the Buy One, Get One 50% Off table (I think my true issue is that in my head I think of it as buy one/get one free. Must correct that) and then I was perusing the shelves on my way towards the checkout when I a name caught my eye: Risa Green. Notes from the Underbelly is quite possibly the funniest book I've ever read. I was laughing so hard that I was physically weak and could not hold up the book. Hilarious. And there she was in the YA section with a new book: The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball! I barely glanced at the blurb before grabbing it and all but running to the cashier. I'm in the middle of that one, let you know how it goes.

See? I go in with good intentions. A coupon for 33% off any one item but then I see books by authors I like, or with pretty covers, or an interesting title and I'm done for.

"Cause two can keep a secret if one of them is dead"

I’m going to try my hand at book reviews. But I sort of hate book reviews so let’s call these book opinions:

You already know I prefer YA fiction, so let’s start off with the Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard. I once professed my love for a particular ABC Family show, but when I started seeing promos for the new series I scoffed. Seriously? Some girls killed their friend? Aren’t there like fifty teenage horror movies about this? How can this be a series? But then they threw in the song "Secrets" by One Republic and my opinion was swayed from “awful” to “perhaps promising”. Then I watched the pilot and... well... I sorta, kinda liked it. And then I watched every episode that aired after that. Well when the “summer season” ended with a killer cliffhanger, I was really torn. Do I read the books and potentially ruin the series? Or do I wait in agony for however long until the show returns (January!) as well as how many seasons it could possibly last? Obviously I opted for the former.

And lucky for me, good old Borders was capitalizing on the success of the show and offering Buy One, Get One 50% off. So I maybe purchased four at once. Which I realize was a risk in the event I didn’t like the first book, but oh it was worth it (and later, I kicked myself for not buying all eight since I got the last four at full price).

Synopsis thanks to Wikipedia: The series follows the lives of four girls -Aria, Emily, Hanna, and Spencer-whose clique falls apart after the disappearance of their leader, Alison. One year later, they begin receiving various messages from someone using the name "A" who threatens to expose their secrets — including long-hidden ones they thought only Alison knew.

Pros:

-Shepard is amazing at cliffhangers. Even if you thought that particular book was only so-so, the ending (or perhaps lack of) would force you pick up the next one because you just had to know what happens next.

-I thought she did a good job at fleshing out each girl and making her distinct and unique. Sure some of them fell into stereotypical roles but isn’t that expected in high school?

- She also succeeded at making each girl likable. Even though I thought Emily was insufferable throughout the series since she was so wishy-washy at least she usually had good (if not slightly moronic) intentions. But I was Team Aria, Spencer, and Hanna at different points during the series.

Cons:

-I found it hilarious that these girls all chain-smoked in the first four books but she clearly started getting more popular and some parents groups were on her case about it. So evidently the girls apparently all got the patch or some gum cause the frequent mentions disappeared by the fourth or fifth book.

-These girls are all rich. I get it. You don’t have to tell me every designer they are wearing or carrying. She would even tell you who made the coffee table, sofa, even a lamp. Boring.

-Every single outfit a girl wore in the last two books was a “sheath”. Seriously, just say dress!

-It sucked that characters that were HUGE in the first two books (Wren and Mr. Fitts particularly) just disappeared into thin air after the second or third book. I’m guessing she didn’t realize she was going to be able to crank 8 books out of this idea but really, why include them at all? I thought maybe they’d pop up in the last book but nope. She totally Waaaaaaaaaalt-ed them (that’s LOST speak for you noobs).

All in all: B+ for the series. The last book sort of sucked just because the conclusion was something that seemed invented/convenient as opposed to something that actually made sense or had been hinted at all along. However; was it addicting? Yes. Did I stay up til 4 am when I had work the next day to finish a book? Yes. Did I choose to read as opposed to watch TV or YouTube? Yes. And these are great indicators of a good book. And at the very least, watch the show on ABC Family!

"We don't do it now we'll never make it/ ... Break me out"

Miss me? Sorry, I know I'm awful at updating this here blog. But I'm going to try to get better! Really!

A few weeks ago I made a trip to Borders to get some books that I have given up hope finding at McKay's simply because they are too recent (Hunger Games series) or too obscure (Sisters Red). The cashier asked if I wanted to open a Borders Rewards card. Since I was plunking down quite a bit of money on my purchases, I figured why not? What harm could be done?

Turns out a lot. To my bank account. Did you know they e-mail you a coupon every week? Cause THEY DO! It's usually 33% off any one item which I don't know why they didn't choose 30 or 35 but I'll take it! And you can get special deals (like 50% off Mockingjay the week it was released)! I regret not opening one sooner. At the rate I'm going, I may single handedly save Borders from filing for bankruptcy. I'm really doing a service for the country. You're welcome.

The other day I was standing in line waiting to buy three new books and the cashier asked the lady he was checking out in front of me if she wanted to open a rewards card. She said no and I actually sing-songed (sing-sang?) under my breath, "Big mistake".

And I know.... why buy books? Why not check one out from the library? Or a garage sale or a used bookstore? The way I look at it is if MY book is every published, I want people to be excited and buy it from an actual store. Heck, I would be depressed if I saw it in the bargain bin but at least it would be in a store which is a huge leap beyond my laptop. Plus I wouldn't see a dime of profit from used bookstores or garage sales. Its an industry I want to be a part of some day (hopefully sooner rather than later) so I need to literally pay my dues.

Plus I chalk up the stack of books in my room to research. Maybe I can write it off as a tax deduction....

"Will you fly me away/ Take me away with you my love"

We have a winner (Oh no, not about the "guess the hint" mini guessing game. I'll explain that one in a different post)!

I finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows) and I really, really liked it. It's the first book that has made it to the bookshelf instead of the floor in my sister's room for the next trip to McKay's. Hooray! I highly recommend. It was interesting even if it has a slightly slow start. And there are a billion characters introduced or at least referenced, but really who am I to complain? I was actually sad when it was over because I just wanted to know more. Hooray! Hopefully Jackson's book is coming soon and I will start another new one tonight. Maybe this will be a new good reads streak!

Summary (courtesy of Goodreads.com): January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she's never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb.... As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends--and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is.

"Hey soul sister/ I don't want to miss/ A single thing you do"

Now I know I've advertised Jackson Pearce on here a couple of times: The author from UGA who is two years older than me, went to hear her speak a few months ago, yaddy yaddy yadda. I just ordered her first book As You Wish today and am eagerly awaiting its arrival! Her second novel is coming out this summer. YAY!

Well she is pretty awesome and doing these monthly contests in anticipation of the release of Sisters Red and giving away prizes. The contest is usually something like subscribe to her on Youtube (done), join her Facebook fan page (yup), follow her on Twitter (check) but this month it is different. All you have to do is blog about Sisters Red. So, here it is! Literally.

Is that not a freaking gorgeous cover?! If I saw that on the shelf, without knowing anything about Jackson or even the content, I would pick it up. But we all know you shouldn't judge a book by its (really freaking awesome) cover so here is the blurb, courtesy of Amazon:

Scarlet March lives to hunt the Fenris--the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.

Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts ferociously alongside her. But even as more girls' bodies pile up in the city and the Fenris seem to be gaining power, Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves. She finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax and Scarlett's only friend--but does loving him mean betraying her sister and all that they've worked for?

Yup, sounds pretty good. I am eagerly awaiting this one. But until then, I'll just keep checking out her blog. And Youtube. And Twitter. :)

"No there ain't no rest for the wicked/ Until we close our eyes for good"

"Perhaps there is some secret sort of homing instinct in book that brings them to their perfect readers. How delightful if that were true." -The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

I haven't read a good book in a really long time. And this makes me sad. I mean, I really liked The Blind Side a lot. I teared up several times (much like I did during the movie) but I skipped over a lot of the technical football/history stuff cause I don't understand it and frankly, didn't really care. I already wrote how I felt about Picoult's latest. I read Water for Elephants which I feel like got really talked up both by the reviews and some of my friends but I just wasn't crazy about it. LC's "book" (I'm sorry, I just really doubt she wrote it all by herself) was entertaining and of course it leaves off with a cliffhanger so you're eager for the next one even if this one was only so-so (kind of like previews for the next episode of The Hills). But really, I just want to read a really great book. Maybe one that makes me cry, just a little bit. Maybe the last great book I read was Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah but that was a loooong time ago. But that book was excellent.

I did start reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society two nights ago and after a slightly slow start, I definitely like it and am excited to read more. So that's good. But I liked The Help too and the ending just didn't clinch it for me. I know, I'm a tough critic. This is just setting me up for terrible reviews in the future if anything of mine ever gets published. But maybe TGL&PPPS will end the dry spell.

And even if it doesn't, my sister goes to this HUGE used bookstore in Chattanooga every now and then and always brings back some goodies. I used to send requests for books and she'd bring some back or let me borrow some of hers. And I got to tagalong a few weeks before Christmas and got several books. And she and I went on Monday and I got a rather large supply this time around. But really, she and I treat it like a glorified library because you always tote back a box of stuff you are trading in for credit. My first trip to McKay's was super successful. I got at least three books that I had been wanting for several months and she never found them (or they just weren't in stock). But this time around, I went in with a list of book, organized alphabetically and by genre so I could maximize the time I was there. I think I found two on my list of 20+ books. So then I just started throwing in anything that looked interesting and ended up accumulating quite the pile. My sister made me whittle it down a couple of books but I walked away with this:

Hopefully a really, really, really good book is hiding in there. Fingers crossed. Oh yeah, you can also see what kind of book I go for: the toss in your bag to read at the pool kind.

"All my dreams are built around your face/ And this place/ All the times of staring at the sun/ You're the one"

Years ago, I used an index card as a bookmark and I would write down the page numbers where quotes that jumped out and caught my attention. Making me say "That's SO true" and reread it. Well, I leant a book to my sister AE which was housing the bookmark and she threw it away (thanks a lot). So I started keeping little scraps of paper with these quotes on them so I could remember them (and use them on my Facebook favorite quotes section). But that got to be a messy and I was starting to find good quotes in songs, movies, even Starbucks cups so I got a little journal from Target one day and started writing them down. I highly suggest this if you too are someone who likes the little golden nuggets of wisdom, or just the plain, sometimes heart-wrenching, truth. Here are a couple I've jotted down over the years:

"I've learned that things change, people change, and it doesn't mean you forget the past or try to cover it up... it simply means you move on and treasure the memories. Letting go doesn't mean giving up... it means accepting that some things weren't meant to be." -Unknown

"At the end of the day, when it all comes down to it, all we really want is to be close to somebody. So this thing where we all keep our distance and pretend not to care about each other, it's usually a load of crap. So we pick and choose who we want to remain close to, and once we've chosen those people, we tend to stick close by. No matter how much we hurt them. The people that are still with you, at the end of the day, those are the ones worth keeping. And sure sometimes close can be too close. But sometimes that invasion of personal space can be exactly what you need." -Grey's Anatomy

"What you feel only matters to you. It's what you do to the people you say you love, that's what matters. It's the only thing that counts." -The Last Kiss

"No it won't all go the way it should/ But I know the heart of life is good." -John Mayer

"But there are some things that, no matter how much we worry about them, we just have to face them, and most of the time they turn out not to be nearly as bad as we thought they would be. And sometimes they turn out to be wonderful." -The Accidental Mother

"It's the sense of touch. In any real city, you walk you know? You brush past people, people bump into you. In LA, nobody touches you. We're always behind this metal and glass. I think we miss that touch so much, that we just crash into each other, just so we can feel something." -Crash

"Sometimes you just have to say exactly what you feel. In certain situations, you can't worry about how people react. You just have to be as honest as you can and let what happens afterward happen." -Love Walked In

"I wanted my stars clean and steady and spelling out a happy ending straight across the sky." -Love Walked In

"Picked all my weeds/ But kept the flowers" -Kelly Clarkson

"What was my worst first date? Uh, it was a couple of years ago, it was a lunch date actually. It was right down the street and we had just met and we really hit it off. It was kind of nice . And, um, and then as it turned out, it wasn't even a date because she was in love with someone else." -Jim Halpert

"The most important thing in your life is your family. There are days you love them and others you don't. But, in the end, they're the people you always come home to. Sometimes it's the family you're born into and sometimes it's the one you make for yourself." -Sex & the City

"It's time for you to prove/ Within your ruby shoes/ You deserve a smile with no regret/ Look at you/ Kicking off your shoes/ Dancing for the world to see" -Erin McCarley

"She just didn't know what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. She believed there had to be something special out there for her, a path that was hers alone and held happiness at its end, but where was the start of it?" -Firefly Lane

So yeah, I tend to like the sappy, lovesick quotes. Whoops. And it makes me sad cause I haven't found a good new book quote in FOREVER (seriously like since before Christmas). Here's to hoping I do sometime soon (and heyyyyy maybe if the book ever gets published, someone will write one of mine in theirs! OH! New ultimate goal!)

"And it's the same world, honey, that made you feel so bad/ That makes you feel so good"

Some things that I am loving right now:

1. The movie The Blind Side. Oh my gosh. I loved this movie. It would be amazing all on its own but the fact that it is based on a true story makes it even better. I really was holding back tears during the entire first half (I think had I been alone and not in a theater full of people, I would have been bawling). Sandra Bullock did an excellent job. I almost forgot it was Miss Congeniality I was watching on the screen. And the little boy, SJ, was hilarious. I mean that kid had some excellent comedic timing considering he is like nine years old. And Tim McGraw was looking good. And the boy playing Michael Oher, Quentin Aaron, did an excellent job. And it was hilarious to see all of the (some formerly) SEC coaches: Saban, Fulmer, Tuberville. If only Richt had been in there. Oh, it was so good. It was funny and sad and happy and just wonderful. It gets an A++++++ from me!

2. The book The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I haven't finished it yet (I have about 30 pages to go) but I'm really liking it. Hopefully it stays good because we all know the ending makes or breaks the book. It started off a little slow and since it stays true to the dialect of southern African American women, my first thought was "This book must have been a pain to edit". But once I got use to the style, it was really interesting. I recommend it. Well, for now. I'll let you know if I change my mind.

3. Flashforward. The episode "The Gift" was quite possibly one of the best episodes I have seen of any television show ever. I cried. It was great but at the same time sort of bad cause they just set the bar so high for themselves. The two episodes I've seen since then were pretty good but not as amazing and I'm worried this may be a trend for the rest of the season. But at the same time I have faith in the writers to pull out a few more amazing episodes. Fingers crossed.

I'm not so much loving these things:

1. Second Glance by Jodi Picoult. I should have known I wasn't going to like it because it was the only book by her that I hadn't read because I thought the blurb on the back sounded ridiculous. I'm always willing to suspend disbelief while reading but this plot was just too much: Ghosts, sudden memories that were long forgotten, and "twists" and coincidences that were way too farfetched. I'm glad to have finally read everything by her but this one is definitely at the bottom of the list.

2. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger. I was so excited to read this because I loooved The Time Traveler's Wife but this one was nowhere near as good. None of the characters were really likable and the twins, Julia and Valentina, kind of freaked me out. I know twins are suppose to have this special, unique connection but they were twenty and sleeping in the same bed. And they wore matching outfits all the time. I felt like Niffennegger really dumbed the characters down because I don't think any twenty year old would do that, twin sister or not. I also pictured them as being the girls from that IKEA commercial with the double ovens instead of the blonde haired beauties they are suppose to be. Guess it just had to do with the mood and setting. But I was bored for a lot of it and confused by one of the big "reveals". I had to go back and read it a couple of times to understand. So, not too crazy about this one. Maybe next time Audrey.

3. Glee, "Mattress". Don't get me wrong. I LOVE this show but the most recent episode just wasn't as good. But that was following three episodes that made me cry so it would have been a stretch to have four in row do so. Plus I wasn't running to get to my computer after the episode to download a song because none of them were super amazing in my opinion. The mattress commercial was pretty entertaining though. And Matthew Morrison did a great job in the kitchen scene. So yeah it was still pretty good, who am I kidding?

"No one does it like you/ I tried so hard/ But no one does it like you"

This is a post I've been meaning to write forever. Seriously. I have a Note on my iPhone from 87 days ago where I jotted down some ideas. I am going to profess my love for one of my favorite authors.

Can you guess who it is?

I stumbled across Jodi Picoult during my sophomore year of college, back when I had money and could afford frivolous things like perusing the book aisle of Target for a leisurely read. I picked up "My Sister's Keeper" scanned the back and thought it sounded interesting. I purchased it and started reading it that night, which stretched into that morning. I had to wake up at 9 for my 10:00 tennis class and I would stay up until 5:30 in the morning reading this book. I was so enthralled. And I'm weird and I hate leaving off in the middle of a chapter so I would force myself to make it to the end, only to reach another mini cliffhanger and it was another chapter to go until my eyes were actually closing and I would make myself stop.

I love to read but I mainly read before bed, it takes a lot for me to read in the middle of the day when there are YouTube videos to watch and celebrity gossip to catch up on. Well I would bring this book with me to read in between classes, the minute I got home from class, any chance I got. Picoult is simply so amazing at weaving together a tale with love and suspense and twists, that you just have to know what happens. Even if that means forsaking a few hours of sleep.

Well, after I finished I had to read more! I remember buying three of her books at once at Barnes & Noble and the cashier asking if I liked Picoult and then corrected herself by saying "Well obviously you do if you're buying $45 of her books at once". I love her, I love her, I love her.

Picoult has the amazing ability to tell her stories from multiple perspectives character's perspectives. Different genders, backgrounds, and ages are the tip of the iceberg. I applaud this. When I first came up with the idea for my book, I toyed with the idea of switching back and forth between the main girl and main guy's perspectives but ultimately opted against it. I'm not a boy. I don't know how they think. At all. So there was no way I could have written from one's perspective. Picoult does it with ease. She has major characters that are males, some coping with their wife's death, others are struggling to understand why their son attempted suicide, others dealing with a daughter dying from cancer. She usually has at least four perspectives going at once in each book and the way she can create all of these unique, individual voices is nothing short of amazing.

Her books usually focus on a family and the different views of certain members, along with some outsiders so you aren't solely entrenched in the biased view of a family. In her later books, a trial is usually involved. Now, I find this fascinating. She must have to do immense research to use all of the lingo, the processes, and even graphs for evidence accurately and appropriately. And this woman is to the point that she is putting out a book a year. How does she do all of that research and writing?! That's insane! Whether it is research on indian burial grounds, rare medical conditions, or the procedures involved with school shootings, she always provides her reader with lots of information.

She also usually tackles a tricky, heated issue like abortion, stem cell research, or rape. Hence why a trial and lawyers are usually involved in her books. And that's usually my favorite part. Maybe it's because if I was smarter and more determined (and not terrified of public speaking) I would have gone to law school. So maybe I'm just appreciative of being able to experience it through the safety of a book.

And the thing about Picoult, from a girly perspective, is she uses words and phrases that just make you want to sob as you read them. I already explained how much I love My Sister's Keeper. I have read it two or three times (meaning I KNOW what is going to happen) and I sob, and I mean sob, every single time. It's like she always tries to give you a good tug on your heart strings and while sometimes it can seem forced, sometimes it's dead on and you can't help but shed a tear.

Now some of my small complaints about the Jodster. But I'm not trying to knock Picoult. See all of those little circles on the book in the picture? Those tell the awards that book has won, you know next to the "NYT Bestseller Author" tag but as much as I love her, I do have some slight issues with her writing style. She has a lot of flourishes, swirls, and dips in her writing. Sometimes I don't like it cause it's almost like she's trying too hard. But at the same time I've openly admitted I have a very simple writing style so maybe I'm just jealous. And that could be a reason why I like her so much is that we are completely different and I could never do what she does.

She also can overdo it on the similes and metaphors. I flipped open MSK for an example: "Grief is... a band-aid being ripped away, taking the top layer off a family". Sure that's good standing alone but when you've trudge through like fifty of them, you might resist the urge to roll your eyes. She also uses the strange combinations to describe people. Something along the lines of "He smelled like peppermint and ice". Really? You can decipher those two things in a person scent? Cause I always just think "Oh that's Old Spice" or "Aw that newborn baby smell", but obviously my brain doesn't work like hers.

Also, Picoult is great at delivering a great twist, usually in the last chapter, sometimes in the last sentence of the book. Some of them you never even see them coming and you finish thinking "Wow, that was awesome!" The only unfortunate thing is if you've read every book like I have, you start to catch on to what she's doing. In her second to most recent book "Change of Heart" I figured out one of the big twists in the first ten pages. I'm not trying to say I'm awesome and clever; it's just I know her writing style and she wrote something that just seemed so odd to me that I thought, "I bet [this] is going on" and I was right. But luckily she delivers a couple punches and twists in every book so you most likely won't be disappointed even if you catch something early on.

My top five I personally recommend trying are:

1. My Sister's Keeper

2. Perfect Match

3. The Pact

4. Plain Truth

5. Salem Falls.

But MSK and Perfect Match are her runaway winners in my opinion. Don't let Cameron Diaz's movie sway you; I heard it was terrible and they changed the ending. That book is freaking awesome. Read it!

I also think her 'middle' books are better cause I haven't cared for her two most recent ones (Change of Heart and Handle with Care) and in the first few ones, she is still trying to find her niche. Even if I don't love the book, I still at least enjoy it and am entertained. And at the end of the day she's a best selling author and I have a 150 page work in progress, so she gets the last laugh (and the huge paycheck).

"These are a few of my (new) favorite things"

*Note: New to me. Some of them may be old news to you. If that's the case, way to be ahead of the curve. And if it's new and I'm the one to introduce something new and awesome to you, you're welcome.

1. Sporcle.com How no one came up with this before, I have no idea. As the tagline explains, "Mentally Stimulating Diversions". Think you know all fifty states? Chances are you'll probably forget at least one if you weren't taught the state song back in elementary school. Do you know all the presidents? I do not but I did back in the 11th grade. Along with their party and years in office. So that should count for something right? How many of Shakespeare's plays can you name? It's all on this website. One weekend my family broke into teams and competed to see who knew the most or could get all the answers in the fastest time. It was awesome. I highly recommend this website to anyone who loves a little bit of trivia. Or just if you want to be able to brag that you know all of the movies starring Ben Stiller/Julia Roberts/ Matt Damon.

2. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I really enjoyed this book. Being a fan of LOST and the fact that time travel has become a huge component of the show, I read that a lot of people who were fans of time travel on the show were also fans of this book. It helped in putting a lot of things in a new perspective with the whole "whatever happened, happened" aspect. I thought the first person perspectives from both the time traveler, Henry, as well as his wife, Clare, was brilliant and it really makes you feel for both of the characters because they have very different struggles when it comes to Henry's "condition". But at the heart of it all, this very much in love couple hates being apart and dreads the fact that the separation may be permanent one day if Henry fails to find his way back to the present. I really loved the character of Clare because she was strong even though the character could easily have been viewed as weak since she sat around waiting on a guy for most of her life. The book had some surprising twists (considering it pretty much lays it out there in the title that Clare does in fact become Henry's wife) and it was one of those "I'm exhausted but I have to know what happens next so I'll read one more chapter before I go to bed" books. The only downside for me was when Niffenegger talked about the paper making process in relation to Clare's profession. I didn't understand, it was hard to imagine, and I didn't see how it added that much to the story. Well the paper creations in general did, yes, but not the actual processes. Overall, a great book and I highly recommend. P.S. They are also coming out with a movie starring Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams later this year. Loooove her so I am excited to see it even if it does take on more of a sappy tone than it contains in the book.

3. Parachute's Losing Sleep (Bonus Track Version). I found out about this band because their song "Under Control" was one of the free singles of the week on iTunes (another of my favorite things!) a couple months ago. I loved the song (even if I did lose a little respect when I heard it in a Nivea commercial a few weeks ago but, hey, you gotta make money somehow these days) and sampled a few others on iTunes. Once I saw that the album, the bonus track album, was only $6.99, I was sold. They definitely have a Ben Folds/ The Fray/ Maroon 5 feel to them but I happen to enjoy those bands so that's a plus in my book. "She (For Liz)" and "She is Love" are the standouts thus far in my few listens, along with the one that started it all, "Under Control". Plus you are getting 12 songs for the price of seven. Holy sweet steal Batman.

4. Extras the t.v. show. It came from the minds who created The Office so of course it is bloody brilliant. Ricky Gervais is absolute perfection in his role. I also found it amazing he was able to create an even more socially unaware character than his alter ago, David Brent, but he succeeds with Maggie. She is my slight hang-up about the show. No one is that stupid. I understand a lot of the time it is a device to further the plot, but come on! And they gave her a slight chance at redeeming herself at the end of the first season but then any sign of that seemed to go away by the beginning of the second. But seriously, great show. Absolutely hysterical. The guest stars are amazing because you know they are having a blast playing the complete antithesis of themselves, or at least the antithesis of their public image. Chris Martin and Orlando Bloom are my favorites and not just because they are fun to look at but because they play the extreme of what they potentially could be in their profession but you highly doubt they actually are (or at least not to that extent). Chris Martin hypes up his rockstar image and the whole "caring about third world countries" deal is just an act to get more publicity. Orlando is obsessed with being better than Johnny Depp and making sure that women find him more attractive than his Pirates of the Caribbean counterpart. Brilliant. Hysterical. The guest stars must have had an absolute blast being a part of this show. It is British so it is a bit more "cutting edge" but, man, is it funny. Love it.

5. Twitter. I know, I know. I was one of those people who just didn't understand the appeal of Twitter. Why would anyone care what I was doing/thinking (You could say the same thing about this blog actually)? But seriously, people do! Well at least I do. You mean I can know what John Mayer thinks about Guitar Hero? I can see pictures that Lauren Conrad posts from her book tour that she takes herself? Kevin Spacey can squash rumors that Jeff Goldblum died in an accident so I can sleep in peace? YES to all of the above! I can also stay in touch with my siblings in Seattle or know what my friends are up to at their summer jobs. You know, the people I actually know. But I already admitted to a slight celebrity, um obsession, so this is heaven to me. It's constantly updating, you can do it from your phone-- it is just awesome. Not that I think anyone cares about me or what I have to say, but it is strange when I posts photos and see the view count in the double digits. Granted I am sure that is my family/friends but still there is a chance that somehow I come across Andy Roddick, Rainn Wilson, or Rachel McAdam's radar. Exciting!

"Getting to know you, getting to know and to love you"

Remember those "25 Random Things About You" lists/notes that were popping up like crazy on your Facebook newsfeed a few months ago? Well I never did one then. But something similar seems to be appropriate for a first blog post. So I present to you: Fifteen Random Things About Me.

1. Like the header says, my name is Annie and I just graduated from the University of Georgia on May 9th which coincided with my 22nd birthday. Quarter-life crisis? Almost. However, was UGA one of the best experiences of my life (with some of the worst moments thrown in)? Absolutely.

2. I come from a big family (what can I say? We're Italian). I am the youngest of five and have three in-laws thus far. We are growing quite rapidly and that brings me to my next point....

3. I have seven nieces under the age of seven. SEVEN. They are beautiful, precious, amazing girls and I love each one of them an extraordinary amount. They are also hilarious so don't be surprised if stories about them pop up on here.

4. Since I was an english major at UGA, it shouldn't be a surprise that I love to read. One of my favorites is "Something Borrowed" by Emily Giffin. I think I have read it four times in approximately a two year time span. My mom recently moved to a new neighborhood and we heard that one of our neighbors had written a book that was being made into a movie for the Hallmark channel. My sisters and I freaked thinking that it could be Emily Giffin since she lives in the Atlanta area but we have since been disappointed. Somehow we found out that wasn't the woman's name.... unless Emily Giffin is her pen name. Here's to hoping!

5. I am a little bit of a celebrity gossip guru and I don't know why. But when my friends have questions about the cast members of "The Hills" or my mom wants to know the latest scandal with "Jon and Kate", I am the one they ask. And I usually can deliver a recent update from a supposed credible "inside source" (aka whoever emailed it to US Weekly or Perez).

6. I am obsessed with the show LOST. I got into the game late (during the hiatus between the 3rd and 4th seasons) but I have more than made up for it. Between watching all three seasons during my three-week Christmas break junior year and scouring the internet after episodes simply to be amazed at what people pick up on that I completely missed, I can say that I absolutely adore this show. If you're a fan of LOST, you're a friend of mine and I won't mind speculating and discussing with you like I already do with numerous friends and family members.

7. I like making lists (obviously) and ranking things. I annoyed my roommate more than once by asking her to rank her top moments of college throughout our four years together.

8. I only cheer for UGA when it comes to college sports. Sometimes I'll root for the underdog, the team that will help our BCS ranking, or if I am watching a game, bored, and have to pick a team to root for in order to stay interested. I've cheered for UGA since the 4th grade and that's not changing anytime soon. That being said, meeting David Pollack the weekend of the UGA/Auburn game in 2007 was one of the highlights of my life.

9. Do you ever find you look at a certain time on a clock a lot? For me it is 12:34 (am and pm). I especially noticed it this past semester. Maybe that was the point in my entomology class that I'd get a little fidgety and check the time but I swear it was ALWAYS 12:34. And I've noticed it on the weekends and at night too. Just strange.

10. I am addicted to Reese's peanut butter cups. I am certain there is nothing better on this earth. My mom said she ate them a lot when she was pregnant with me so I am blaming it on genetics.

11. I think I could be very good friends with Taylor Swift. And John Mayer. I think we have a lot in common. If the two ever collaborate on a song: a) it might be the best (and most depressing) song ever. b) I might explode from excitement. So maybe... this shouldn't happen in order to prevent that from occuring.

12. Editing has always been a problem for me because I sort of, well, love it. I would spend almost as much time editing a five page english paper in college as I would actually writing it. But a disclaimer: that might not apply to this blog. I'm not getting a grade on this, the HOPE scholarship isn't dependent on it, and I think a lot faster than I type. So while I am a bit of perfectionist and it will probably bother me if I discover an error after I've posted something (for example, I've already edited this post about three times), I just ask that you don't jump on me if there are grammatical errors or comma splices.

13. I already said I was an english major but I was definitely the atypical english major. William Shakespeare doesn't send me into a tizzy, I don't get Faulkner at all, and I haven't read every single Jane Austen novel (but Sense and Sensibility is one of my favorites. Oh Edward...). I love to read but definitely more contemporary stuff and english was always my strong suit in school. So a love of reading and the ability to write a decent five page paper resulted in my Bachelor of the Arts in English from UGA. Thanks Franklin College, preciate it.

14. I am a little obsessed with being organized. It's not so much that everything has to be clean (though it doesn't hurt) but everything has a place and it should stay there. Once I got my own room in the 3rd grade when my messy sister moved out, everything in my room found a place and stayed there. I always straighten up before I go to bed. But this rule mainly applies to my room and living space since I'm sure my family would argue they cleaned up quite a few of my messes back in the day (like maybe last week).

15. iTunes and Target greatly profit from me. I should really be a shareholder and get some of that money back.

Well, there you have it. That list should give you an idea of what to come on this blog. Some family stories, a list here and there, reasons why UGA and Athens are amazing, and probably some LOST and other pop culture speculations and observations.