Peek-a-Boo! Reviews for you!

Hey everyone!

I hope at least that some of you are still here. I have had a recent stroke of something like genius but not really. I have started blogging again although it is not here. I have left single topic blogs for good and moved to geek genre blogging so I can do all things books, games, nerdiness, and life.

With that said, I have also picked up a second job working at my local bookstore, Joseph-Beth Booksellers. This is a wonderful place to work in addition to the library, so I get to huggle books all day.

But working with the bookstore I get access to ARCs a lot more often than I did as a blogger even so I am still getting some great access to great books early. As a way to say thank you to the reps who provide these, as part of our job we send in our feedback on these books; so I am writing up these reviews for work and posting them on Goodreads, I talked to some girlies of mine and came to the conclusion I will be posting these reviews here too!

I'm not coming back as a full-time book blogger, but if the reviews are written, I want to share them with the people who have similar tastes. If you think you are the slightest bit geeky (or a Whovian) you can follow that blog (The Fandomonium) and catch up on the geek world and geek reads will be featured there too!

Stay tuned for the latest review I wrote up on Kami Garcia's new release due in October, Unbreakable.

Proud & Heartfelt Goodbyes

It is with the greatest honor and regret that I find myself writing this post today. I have thought long and hard about this decision before deciding to act upon it. This is news to pretty much everyone except me but I have decided to give up book blogging for the moment.

I really sat down and reflected on why I started this blog and what I was wanting to get from it.

When I first started this blog it was because I was finding myself lost in book blog world and I wanted a way to be a part of the book community and surround myself with wonderful books and a place to talk about them. It wasn't for the free books or the "fame" it was for sheer self enjoyment. To be honest, I was also having a difficult time filling all my free time that I had found myself with and I missed blogging.

So the place I find myself in now is quite different then the place I was a little over a year ago. I work in the library now. Contrary to popular thought, this is actually detrimental to my book blogging because I work and talk books everyday and I love it, that means that blogging doesn't fulfill that for me anymore, it isn't something I turn to now. I am also overwhelmed with amazing new books of all genres and sometimes it exhausts my brain.

I also have a healthy balance of activity in my life now that includes work, friends, and getting to know a little bit more about myself. I am also trying very hard for a promotion at work on top of getting into new activities that fuel my geek life.

This has been a stellar year albeit it has been full of ups and downs. I don't intend to give up books (Such a thought is blasphemous!) and in fact I don't even intend to give up reviewing but I don't have the time to dedicate the other research for other posts and interesting information. I doubt this is a permanent step for me, I really love blogging but for now lay it to rest.

I would really love to keep in touch with every one of you; I am turning Goodreads into my source of reviews and connections. If you'd like, I would love to have you on my friends list there, so look me up! I'm also going to be a blog reader, even if I am the silent type.

Don't stop believing in the pixies :)

Love and hugs,
Leila

Summer Spontaneity

What happens when you spontaneously go pick up your baby sister to come visit you for a week halfway across the state? Your blog doesn't get any love. But at least you had fun?! RIGHT!?! Haha, I just wanted to touch base and say that I appreciate your readership and I appreciate you for sticking by me when I know the regularity of posts isn't quite as steady or consistent as I would really like for it to be, but I am certainly trying to catch up!

I hope you are all having a wonderful summer (and Winter for my friends in Australia in their snow boots)!

Armchair BEA: Beyond the Blog

While you're here, check out the giveaway!

So today the topic up for discussion is how we go beyond the blog. Monetizing, freelancing, or other opportunities that come from our blogging. When I first thought about this I went directly back to the idea that I discussed in my networking post and I was a little bummed that I didn't have much else to say.

I don't have tips for monetizing, in fact I could use some. Being an Amazon Affiliate has wielded me a massive 4 cents. I don't have paid ads. I'm not even sure if I have enough clicks to host paid ads. So trying to talk about monetizing was not the way to go. Then I went meandering around and commenting when I left a comment that struck a cord and the idea popped into my head!

In my networking post yesterday, I wrote about how I felt my blog and book experience really helped give me an edge to get my job. Earlier, I was commenting about someone else having well rounded writing experience and is this type of experience that really can help give us the edge in an extremely competitive job market. So I explained that I when applying for bookish jobs (i.e. Library where I work now) I put book blogging on my resume. I've spoken to career specialists over my resume and they said it was an excellent idea because of its immediate relevancy to the posistion. I have worked countless hours on my resume and I have seen that it can be successful so I thought I would share with you the way book blogging appears on my resume in the hopes that it may help you as well. 

Book Review Blogger

              Lexington, Kentucky                                April 2011- Current

v  Employ high levels of professionalism contacting publishers and authors

v  Develop a strong knowledge of writing and grammar to create thorough reviews

v  Familiarize self with new releases of all genres within Young Adult fiction

v  Maintain a unique and personal creative space to store and display information

v  Demonstrate writing and analysis abilities to provide accurate and professional reviews to the public on popular teen selections

v  Read a thorough list of selections group to review and hone ability to provide recommendations

As you can see, this helps to show that books aren't just a job for me they are a passion; something that I dedicate my free time to as well. I also have recently found that I love resume counseling but don't have the extroverted personality to give connections enough for that to be a career option. But that is all I have, that little space on the page to take myself far beyond the screens of the blog! Best of luck to all of you!

Armchair BEA: Networking Off-Line

While you're here, check out the giveaway!

It is pretty much obvious that I have put this post off for the most part of the day because I simply didn't know what to do about it. I had some thoughts but when you look at yourself in the mirror and see the shy wannabe, the last thing you want to do is go online to your blog, your public space, and say I suck at networking.

After reading some other stories and posts (love you all for sharing btw), I realize I am not quite as bad as I thought I was but I still have a ways to go to really say that I have accomplished anything significant. So I thought I would tackle this post in different sections to cover some of my experiences and some of my goals.

Did blogging get me a job?

One thing that I can say I have done is make it no secret that I work in a library. When I see all these posts about networking and when I think about my own experience that is what I keep going back to. In a pool of qualified people, I go into my job interview nervous and extremely excited. It puts me one step closer to the dream job. This is where the blog comes in. I assume the questions are similar amongst all applicants but I am prepared for recommendations and to sum up the last great book that I read because I had recently reviewed it. And honestly, when I told them that I had decided to make books my career and that I read, review, and blog in my free time, I think it gave me an edge above the other applicants. It illustrated to my bosses that I was serious about my job and that I do love books.

Since then I have been given all the teen YA catalogs that I keep in my locker and all my bosses love my writing background and reference my blog frequently. I really do believe that blogging helped me get my job on top of my own merits and determination to enjoy my career choice!

The Iron Knight Launch Event

When The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa launched there was a launch event in Louisville, KY (her hometown). That is about an hour away from me so I hopped in the car with a friend and drove out to go and it was great. I mentioned my blog to her and I was a total herp derp. But I still had a blast!

 

Oh, why yes that is Prince Ash in our picture!

Goals

I would love to find people that are of the book bloggy nature around here. I don't like book clubs much because I have never found one that really suits me. I don't like reading a book because I have to but because I want to. I am in a local Goodreads group through the library but I have yet to see anyone who reads the things I could talk about.

Sometimes, when I see books get returned that I enjoyed, I want to rush out and find them and scream that they have good tastes in music and sometimes, if I come across them with the books in their hands, that is what I do. Minus the screaming part; I don't want to go to jail!

I think that some of the local bookstore stories I have heard today have been absolutely inspiring and it really has sparked my interest to visit the local stores for the purpose of networking.

And I really want to get the most out of Twitter & blog comments. I try to utilize it and I have the followers to do it but I never seem to get any return interaction from my readers/followers and it can be really heartbreaking. Especially when it is an open question that could really stimulate conversation or give readers an opportunity to effect the things on the blog. But it is a goal to keep at it. Nothing will change if I just give up.

I hope that you have tactics for networking that work for you because I know mine are always changing and adapting and sometimes, being an introvert, it isn't easy.

A Novel Idea!

Have you ever toyed with an idea and want to make something work but you just weren't sure about how to execute it? For a while now I have contemplated some things that I wanted to feature on this blog.

One of them is that I want to feature older books. I think that the book blog community is fantastic at hyping new books but what happens to a book when its 15 minutes of fame have passed? There are awesome books like The Giver (1993) by Lois Lowry, Speak (1999) by Laurie Halse Anderson, The Luxe (2007) by Anna Godberson or anything by Lurlene McDaniel that are worth reading too!

So that was goal one, to bring back around the life of the books. Goal two was that I would love to incorporate my librarianess. Now, I am not a librarian (cough|yet|cough) but I am a Library Assistant. One of my personal projects is shelf talkers where I write and promote features for new, albeit adult, books. As an LA, one of my overall job duties is promoting Reader's Advisory. What is Reader's Advisory? I take a given topic, author, genre that someone says they are interested in and poke around as to why they enjoy it and offer recommendations.

The brilliant baby of an idea? To have a Reader's Advisory feature here on the blog! I can take newer books that are popular titles and work on recommendations to highlight these older books. I don't intend to make my way to classics, but in the end...

Fiction never dies!

I'm pretty excited about this undertaking; I say that like it is some massive big deal but my epiphany for something funky fresh and something I have been wanting to execute for a while is pretty exciting! I hope you get something enjoyable and new out of it as well! I intend (cue another coughing fit) to get this out on Thursdays. Probably every other week but this can set up time if it interests you for a weekend read!

Be on the lookout!

Identity Crisis: Reinvention!

At the beginning of the year, I admitted that I was unhappy with the idea of my blog title and concept. I was struggling with it and it wasn't helping that I looked at it disappointingly. Since then, I have been working extremely hard on a concept and idea to theme around. I wanted a handle, an idea, and a title. I sought out opinions, ideas, and advice from my friends, my library coworkers, and general bloggers whom I value.

This was the ending result! Within Pages has been completely converted into The Fiction Pixie. For the most part this change has been handled completely on my part. The feeds have been automatically updated with the information, the twitter page still exists but has a new name (@TheFictionPixie), goodreads is the same, the connect boxes updated, etc.

As far as email is concerned, I can still be contacted at withinpages@hotmail.com as I have ongoing relations, but the new email reflects the permanency of the site changes: thefictionpixie@gmail.com.

It is important to note that the URL to this blog has changed: http://thefictionpixie.blogspot.com. 

The only thing I was unable to automatically convert was the Facebook page. I was disappointed but I re-created a new Facebook page to match the "new" blog and would love it you could help me get it settled by liking the new page.

I've also created a new header and new grab button by myself in Gimp, and believe me, that is saying something! I think they're beautiful!

I have not been this excited for something in a while. I remember in the beginning the new squees for a new blog, but this is different. This is more than a new blog for me and I hope that you are willing to continue to join me in this final change. Have I mentioned how excited I am?

If you poke around the site and see anything that needs to be fixed or adjusted, please don't hesitate to let me know. I really hope you all enjoy the changes as much as I already am! I'm done rambling now!

Kick Open the Door on 2012

I think it is more than obvious that life got in the way of my blog for a little while. It kind of got in the way of a lot of things. I could go through all the excuses but instead, this is a year of looking forward and I have to start somewhere. I would like to take a minute to share some visions for the future of this blog and resolutions that I have for 2012.

I now work at the library and this has considerably changed the literary experience that I get to have everyday! It is so thrilling and exciting to see some of the things that come through the library, especially one as mildly expansive as the one I get to be a part of.

What does this mean for the blog? 

It means one thing really. I work in Adult Materials and that means I come across a lot of other titles that in my massive love for YA, I would have never thought to try. This includes mostly fantasy but some nonfiction and general fiction too. So you, as my precious reader and friend, will see a bit more of a sprinkle of book review styles than simply YA. As always, the age group and genre will be published with the review.

What does that mean for me? 

This change allows me to enjoy being a book blogger and a reader. When I want to read something, I will simply do that. This allows me to expand my blog and my horizons and still read some of the exciting things the literary world holds. I am excited for the change. Speaking of there is a mild change in the name of this blog; I always had the vision for this blog and the tagline to explain that "Open a book for worlds of wonder exist...within the pages..." and so I have therefore added "the" to this blog. This change does not directly effect anything like the url but I did want to elaborate on it. 

Moving Forward

The 2012 clock has started ticking and here we are already three days in and in my greatest attempt to get things started, I heard the best news ever; I applied months ago to be a Kismet Blog Tour Host and yesterday, I got the confirmation of my acceptance, my official badge, and invitiations to the current tour sign-ups! What better timing than when I sit down so motivated and something this spectacular happens!? That is the first of many things.  I will be setting up a new look for the blog, wrapping up challenges, and 2011 business and settling in for a new year that is already off to a fantastic start! New computer, new year, new goals...new me!

Playing Catch Up (date)

In the past month or so, I have fallen extremely behind in my reading, my posting, my seemingly everything. I have two books that are nearly finished and several things that are lined up that need to be done. However, I do apologize for the slack lately. I got overwhelmed after my break up, after needing a place to live, stuck in the middle of a terrible job I hated and a desperate job search that was going no where.

Things have settled down now and by the end of November I have a place to live and as of yesterday, I am employed in my local public library! I can't tell you how awesome that is. I also have another job to help supplement for the holidays and things. I am finally able to even contemplate free-time and blogging business again. My brain particles aren't stretched quite so thin. At least until I have to really sit down and start studying for the GRE so I can apply to Library Science school!

On the upside, I have some things lined up (not many due to being behind) and I finally was able to sit down and watch The Iron Knight trailer that debuted last month. I'm finishing up the story right now for the review, so be on the look out for that. In the meantime, if you haven't seen it, check out the awesomeness that is The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa, releasing October 25!

This just screams like it could be a movie. It is phenomenal! I love the dynamics, the iceyness, the aging technology, the shadowing, the EVERYTHING. The only thing...I never really imagine Mab being Asian.

As a Kentuckian, note that Julie Kagawa announced on twitter that she will be doing a launch event at Barnes & Noble in Louisville on release day! Squee!

The Milestone

Okay, so this isn't the best way to bring in the 6 month milestone for my book blog but it is still a milestone nonetheless! After six months I have had a wonderful time and think that the blog is blossoming so well! I have over 100 followers in Google Friend Connect, have reviewed two ARCs with the third one lined up (and three books unread!), have had almost 2000 unqiue visits, and have been receiving so many emails (still working on comments hehe)!

The sad part is that I would love to have a giveaway for this monument but a general update is that I am still in the midst of my job search and in the life change from the break up and needing a place to live, applying for graduate school, etc. So at the moment, I am just celebrating the success and thanking you all for your continued support! Even now, when I am so boogled and bumfuzzled, you are here reading what I have to say about some amazing selections in young adult literature and that means everything to me.

Thank you so much for helping me reach this point and thank you for supporting me through your understanding during a difficult time!

I know this week has sucked....

What better way to get your attention then to tell the truth in the title?

I know that I haven't posted anything this week, unless you really count IMM, but I promise I have a good reason. I'm not one that usually feels the necessity for explaining a few days without posts but I have something to share.

You see, I have spent the last hour venting in my personal blog about the very reason I haven't posted here. I won't get into it much, that isn't what this blog is for. Just know that after five and a half years, my boyfriend and I decided that a break up was for the best. It is a long and unique situation that I encourage you to read about at the other blog if you want to know it all.

I am getting caught up on the reviews that need to be finished this month and I hope to return to your regularly scheduled programming soon.

Facebook Interaction for Within Pages

Recently, Candace asked whether it was beneficial to have a facebook page for your book blog. I have pondered the question recently. I see a lot of Book Blogs that network blog their facebook page it allows for another way for readers to get the information; and for a long time, that is all my tiny page was used for.

But with the other blog I help write (Kentucky Geek Girl), we use that Facebook page to put out questions to the readers, and interact with them in a way that is more micro-focused that on the blog alone. On a blog you have massive and informative posts that allow for comments on discussion on that massive post. 

But what Facebook allows, is miniscule posts that generate general conversation allowing the blogger(s) to interact and get to know their readers. The KGG Facebook page has received phenenomenal response for our short time having it.

Now while Within Pages Book Blog only has 26 likes (read: please like me! haha) I have decided to use it as a small book news bulletin and interactive scene with readers. There are always small things to tell you guys like free eBook alerts or release days for authors, etc. and that is the place to find out all that information. This week I used Facebook to wish Victoria Schwab a Happy Release Day! I also announced that Waterfall by Lisa Bergen was available for free eBook download as well as Firelight by Sophie Jordan being on sale!

I really hope that this is a beneficial integration and I encourage you all to stop by the Facebook page for a like to keep up on the small tidbits like that!

Thank you all very much for your support!

Julie Kagawa at Fandom Fest

So I have been reading The Iron Fey series and I have absolutely loved all three books. I have made it a point that, when I buy my eReader, the two half books in the series will be my first reads! But what is even more exciting is that I recently learned two facts:

1. In Louisville, Kentucky, approximately an hour away from where I live, is an event called Fandom Fest. Just a neat little convention of all things geeky.
2. JULIE KAGAWA IS GOING TO BE THERE!

Give me a moment to contain my excitement.

She will be speaking on two different panels:

YA Explosion!: Yes, the Young Adult fiction market is a monster! It makes up one of the biggest sectors of the publishing industry. Come and find out more about the YA market from authors who write it. What has made it so popular? What makes a novel classified as Young Adult? This panel will address these topics and more.

Where First Time Novelists Go Wrong: This panel is very valuable for unpublished authors, as it will explore the common mistakes that first time novelists tend to make. Save yourself some time and frustration if you are a first time novelist by coming to this panel!

Both of these sound like phenomenal discussions!

And so begins the excited blubbering. What do you SAY to someone that awesome?! Hi, my name is Leila and I stalk you on twitter? No, no, and definitely not... Hi, I'm like your number one fan!!! Like they've never heard that before...

I'm such a fan girl.

eReader Help & Discussion

I have decided that it would be in my best interest to buy an eReader; it isn't that I haven't wanted one, I have been in want for two years but it had not been a priority. But...I have decided now that it is is a priority. Both for my ideas for graduate school, career, and blogging. But I need your help. I don't know how to go about this so I am looking for suggestions. Throw a vote into the poll and drop some comments/suggestions in the comments; I would love some experienced thoughts on this!




Currently, I am considering a Kindle 6" 3G with the special offers. With the special offers and screen savers it saves $25 and makes it 164USD. Though I did have an iPhone and so I have apps and things that are transferable to the iPad. I would be looking for a 1st generation iPad with wifi only at that point...as long as it is financially feasible.

The Reality of YA (Saves)

If you didn't know, the Wall Street Journal published an article demonizing YA literature. In response, the YA community and supporters surged Twitter taking it to the top of trending topics and voice their opinions that #YASaves.

It is hard to deny the point that a lot of YA lit does cover dark material but the point is that these are still issues that teens face in these days.

In Jackie Morse Kessler's gruesome but inventive 2011 take on a girl's struggle with self-injury, "Rage," teenage Missy's secret cutting turns nightmarish after she is the victim of a sadistic sexual prank. "She had sliced her arms to ribbons, but the badness remained, staining her insides like cancer. She had gouged her belly until it was a mess of meat and blood, but she still couldn't breathe." Missy survives, but only after a stint as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. - WSJ article

These issue books  reach out to children and teens who may feel that they don't have another way; they provide a sense of hope and support that it is possible to overcome the agony, the strife, the hatred. Just because they encompass a story in dazzling tales of sparkling vampires or worlds ravaged by war doesn't mean that the message isn't the same: You are not alone.

When you face such dark and difficult times, it seems that where you turn to for help you hear only what they think it is you want to hear and not the truth; not what helps and that is what YA provides for teens who are reading. YA faces a lot of the issues the rest of the world refuses to address or acknowledge; Libba Bray's words ring true:

I genuinely believe that these articles are hurtful, that they goad banners & keep much-needed books out of the hands of the teens who should be reading them. Books are, at their heart, dangerous. Yes, dangerous. Because they challenge us: our prejudices, our blind spots. They open us to new ideas, new ways of seeing. They make us hurt in all the right ways. They can push down the barricades of “them” & widen the circle of “us” And when one feels alone–say, because of a terrible burden of a secret, something that creates pain and isolation, books can heal, connect That’s what good books do. That’s what hard books do. And we need them in the world. -- Series of tweets from Libba Bray

I cannot wait to read Rage because I've been there. I was that teenager and someone else, a girl 17 close to my heart, is there now. These books are more than that; they're great stories that encourage teens to continue reading to continue reaching out. YA helped propel me into a world of reading with its vivid descriptions and characters I could relate to and things that existed only in my happy place like magic. Whether it is the mean girls in high school, GLBT, or eating disorders, YA reaches out and helps, but it lets you escape for just a minute and that minute may be all you need to save your life.

Do you think we just make this stuff up? The darkest parts of my books came directly from my teenage life. - Tweet from Holly Black to WSJ

But if you walk into a bookstore and see only negativity lurching out at you from every angle in the YA section, you should really open your eyes because there is so much more to YA lit than a dark reality...did I mention they were still great stories?

Announcement: The Blogger

The best thing about blogging is that there is someone real behind the blog. In that sense, blogging is personal and we always strive to remind bloggers to blog for themselves. So, I'm stealing a moment away from books to explain the delay in reviews.

I know that I post them slowly, but I do strive for once a week at least. All the same, yesterday I had decided to do my review for The Replacement when I returned home from work. I left my laptop on the couch as always with some tabs still open and I locked the door behind my boyfriend and we left for work.

I came home a few hours later and found my door busted in and through the screen door, I noticed immediately that my laptop was missing. Approximately, half an hour after I left for work, someone broke into my home stealing my new laptop, tore my jewlery box apart stealing my grandmother's ring and my boyfriend's grandfather's ring, with a handful of other important pieces. They also managed to steal an old wallet, thankfully it was not the one my credit cards or SS cards or anything like that was in.

It was devastating but I know that it could be much worse. In truth, the thief was so hasty he threw my pearl necklace and earrings into the floor so I was able to salvage them while cleaning his mess. But all the same, it has left me (and coupled with the emergency that I had last Friday) mentally and emotionally exhausted. I have spent so long cleaning to get his presence out of my house but one room is finished and I am thankful that he left our desktop computers. So right now, I'm in the paranoid and frantic phrase and it is mildly draining; I have this next week off so I am resting; my support system has been so strong for me in this and that is helpful so this is my thanks to everyone.  ♥

Armchair BEA: The End

This week has been absolutely phenomenal fun while I have been participating in the Armchair BEA event. I would like to say that next year I will be going to BEA but in truth, I'm going to be sitting right here on my outdated floral couch wrapped up in, maybe a different blanket! I had a great time listening to the discussion panel on Wednesday, checking out all the floor coverage, and writing all the daily topic posts. The giveaway for Summer and the City remains open until June 3rd and Armchair participants get extra entries but you don't have to be a participant to enter. On top of it all, I even won a prize from the Thursday Morning Twitter Party! The organizers have all been incredibly warm and welcoming, not to mention patient while I asked all my newbie questions. I came across amazing new bloggers and have gained some new readers as well, I hope that to all my new readers, you really do enjoy yourselves here!

Sadly, I did not have the opportunity to participate in the topic posting for Thursday and Friday. I had an emergency come up and I was unable to get everything written and scheduled (I have a posting plan, but I don't schedule many posts). So for that you can expect to see a couple more posts today including First Impressions Friday where I talk about the Clockwork Prince cover that was revealed at BEA this week and Follow Friday where I continue to spread more love amongst the blogging community.

It was really a great chance for me to get to know a lot of the book bloggers and for me to be so new, nearly 2 months old, I find that has strongly influenced my desire to make this blog work and work for me. Using this event and my love of reading, I have gained more wisdom than I thought was possible for my own desires and passion that is reading and it has helped me foster a healthy life decision.

In a parting thought, I still wanted to share the biggest tip that I can for bloggers...

Blog for yourself.

The moment that you feel you're obligated, it is no longer a hobby and no longer fun and you will find yourself miserable. When situations come up, accept that it is OKAY not to make a post, your readers are people and they know you're a person too. If you're not happy with something, fix it; I'm the queen of this but if you're not happy doing it, your readers will know and it will effect everything about your blog. Be strong. Be proud. BE YOURSELF.

Happy reading Armchair goers. The best of worlds are always found Within Pages....

Armchair BEA: Sharing Blog Love

When you participate in a community as big and involved as blogging, you can't help but networking; networking is an integral part of life that helps propel us from point A to point B in a relatively painless way. Take for example, networking for a job! Job searching is drudging and horrible and sometimes starting out a blog can feel like the same level of defeat when you feel you're all alone.

When I started book blogging, there were several inspiration blogs that I found extremely amazing and they were part of my fostering movitvation to start my own. Some of them have even helped me in ways I could never begin to pay back (pay it forward!). When I have had a question, I've turned to tweet these lovely ladies, and have always gotten a helpful response and they always seem so excited to be doing what their doing.

I would also like to take this time to mention another blog that I have been following for quite some time and she is also a participant of Armchair BEA and that is Gripped Into Books. She has a lovely website and some great book selections. I would also like to congratulate her on her 700+ followers! She is still currently hosting her 500 Follower Giveaway with the chance to win 1 of 4 amazing prize packs. Check out the contest details and take a look at around at all the other goodies over there!

2011 Challenges

Notice: Due to some theme & layout changes, challenges are found on the sidebar; all the bars are hyperlinked to the full list of selections and items read.

Getting back into the idea of reading has been slow but it is something that I do enjoy doing and to help organize my reading goals and maybe because I love lists, I joined in a couple challenges and spent two days making lists of potential selections for these challenges. So I thought I would take a minute to direct you to where you can always find the progress updates and a little about the challenges in the event that you would like to join in!

Reading Challenge

This challenge is hosted by Goodreads and has no specific details other than reading books; you set the number yourself and you work towards the goal. I had forgotten how much I like reading, but I do read somewhat slow, so I settled for a comfortable 10. I really feel like I will blow this out of the water but we shall see. I can't really do reviews without reading hehe. You can always find the progress on the sidebar in a widget provided by Goodreads!

101 in 1001

A bucket list style challenge for life experiences gone TBR list! In 1001 days, I hope to have read every book on this list; there are some options available to me as time goes on but for the most part, the list is set with books I genuinely want to read. The project was started at Day Zero.

Dystopian Challenge

Hosted at Bookish Ardour Reading Challenges, this challenge has 5 levels to chose from and even 2 more advanced levels for intense readers. This challenge focuses on a new and uprising sub-genre of science fiction known as dystopian (opposite of utopia fyi). I have chosen Level Two which is to read 15 books in the genre by the end of the year. Some of my top choices for this are Wither, Divergent, The Hunger Games, Enclave, etc. For the whole list of suggestions/selections, check out my challenge & progress page.

First In Series

Series are highly popular these days; it seems that the number of series books is beginning to vastly outnumber the standalone books when it comes to Young Adult fiction. Some of the best series in time are Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Mortal Instruments but there are always new things to explore including the House of Night and The Infernal Devices; I am also intrigued by selections that crossover from the Dystopian Challenge such as Wither (Chemical Gardens #1), Divergent (Divergent #1), and The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1). I will also be using this series as a reason to start The Sookie Stackhouse Series/Southern Vampire Mysteries. This contest has a varying levels and I am going for Level 3: 12 first books. Thanks to a Few More Pages for hosting this challenge and you can see my whole list of suggestions (YA and Adult titles) as well as my progress (1/12) on my challenge page!

With all that said, I am pretty excited to get into all these; this week I should conclude Clockwork Angel which will move to strike off of two challenges and then onto The Forest of Hands and Teeth and who know where from there!

Are you in any challenges? If so let me know, I'd love to support you and check out your progress!

Supporting Teen Literature

I just happened to start this amazingly awesome (read: vain) book blog in the middle of National Library Week! During the week, different events and days are celebrated to put the glory that is the library in the limelight. Yesterday was Bookmobile day, not to thrilling from my personal opinion; nothing beats getting lost in the stacks for hours. Today is different; today is a day to Support Teen Literature (YA!)! I am a big fan of YA fiction and was considerably disappointed by the small "Teen Corner" my home branch of the library had to offer. Knowing just how many fantastic authors are and how many books are releasing on a weekly basis, it is a little underwhelming; so the YA section of the library is something that needs to be bolstered, loved,, and nurtured just a little.

This event is celebrated and promoted every National Library Week by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). They also host the teen choice awards of YA fiction. Last year's top choices had a couple titles that I knew, read, or recognized at the very least.

2010 Top Ten

1. Catching Fire (The Hunger Games Series) by Suzanne Collins -- Goodreads


2. City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments Series) by Cassandra Clare -- Goodreads


3. Heist Society (Heist Society Series) by Ally Carter -- Goodreads


4. Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls Series) by Maggie Stiefvater -- Goodreads


5. Hush, Hush (Hush Hush Series) by Becca Fitzpatrick -- Goodreads


6. Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles Series) by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl -- Goodreads


7. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen -- Goodreads


8. If I Stay (If I Stay Series) by Gayle Forman -- Goodreads


9. Fire (Seven Kingdoms Trilogy) by Kristin Cashore -- Goodreads


10. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson -- Goodreads

2011 Nominees Are...

1. Drought by Pam Bachorz
2. I am J by Cris Beam
3. You Killed Wesley Payne by Sean Beaudoin
4. Zombies vs. Unicorns by Holly Black & Justine Larbalestier
5. The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card
6. The Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
7. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
8. Love, Inc. by Yvonne Collins
9. Matched by Ally Condie
10. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
11. Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
12. Lies by Michael Grant
13. Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
14. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
15. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
16. I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
17. Red Moon Rising by Peter Moore
18. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
19. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
20. The False Princess by Ellis O'Neal
21. Angel: A Maximum Ride Novel by James Patterson
22. Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
23. Blessed by Cynthia Leitich Smith
24. Behemoth by Scott Westerfield
25. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Voting for the top ten will begin August 22, 2011! I haven't read a lot of these so if you have feel free to let me know what you thought!