false 58 476 308 true 5634408 read 0 true 2558722 currently-reading 25 true 2558721 to-read 90 true 3436136 to-check-out 41 true 2631584 not-released 12 true 3180655 borrow-from-allie 0 true 3436156 to-buy 199 false 2567089 ya-childrens_lit 77 false 2618556 fantasy 70 false 2618591 paranormal 44 false 2567074 romance 41 false 2567105 classics 29 false 4003350 historical 23 false 2963020 2008-08 23 false 2723175 2008-07 22 false 2637287 2008-06 19 false 4064664 2009-01 19 false 2637242 pre-2008 18 false 3518547 2008-10 18 false 4542173 2009-03 18 false 2651801 fairy-tale 17 false 4064441 2008-cybils-finalists 16 false 2567121 general-fiction 15 false 3293083 2008-09 15 false 2618686 audio-books 15 false 3891564 2008-12 14 false 2660627 urban-fantasy 14 false 5148313 2009-06 13 false 6417559 2009-09 13 false 4960841 2009-05 12 false 3685707 2008-11 12 false 4330099 2009-02 11 false 4762638 2009-04 11 false 2618617 sci-fi 11 false 5569091 2009-08 11 false 7031098 2009-10 11 false 8421767 2009-11 9 false 5373468 2009-07 7 false 3620361 non-fiction 5 false 2567128 chick-lit 5 false 2637286 2008-05 4 false 2637278 2008-02 2 false 2637283 2008-04 2 false 4076240 horror 2 false 2637274 2008-01 2 false 2637279 2008-03 1 false 2567167 self-help http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/31147777 to: Looking for Alaska (Paperback) by John Green
bookshelves: 2009-11, ya-childrens_lit
I love John Green's writing. Looking for Alaska is wonderfully wordsmithed and thoughtfully written. I can tell Green cares about every line. It really shows. It’s just very intelligent and totally Printz worthy.

However, I don't like that this is the 2nd (of 3) JG book I’ve read where I think he romanticizes brilliant, crazy girls. Alaska was borderline histrionic! When guys are attracted to overtly dramatic girls it feeds into girls thinking it’s perfectly normal (and even desirable) to act bat sh*t crazy. Maybe guys do love drama queens (and that’s why d-queens always have boyfriends), but to those of us who are trying to walk on the normal side of life it feels slightly insulting. Not saying that Alaska didn’t have problems, because she obviously did. But it bugged me that Pudge saw a girl who he knew was a little nuts and thought “I want to hook up with her” instead of “she needs help.” It’s wrong. I think Pudge himself came to that same realization in the end and I hope everyone will read Looking for Alaska and learn from Pudge’s “After” example & not his “Before.”

Another great thing about Green’s writing is that he creates very sympathetic characters. You feel for Pudge, Alaska, & the Colonel. You put yourself in their shoes and you ask yourself difficult questions. Emotions come out (see emotional rant in paragraph 2).

]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/76260778 to: Hungry (Hardcover) by Crystal Renn
bookshelves: 2009-11, non-fiction
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/58049538 to: A Bride in the Bargain (Paperback) by Deeanne Gist
bookshelves: 2009-11, historical, romance
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/33606912 to: The Alchemyst (Nicholas Flamel, #1) by Michael Scott
bookshelves: 2009-11, audio-books, fantasy, paranormal, ya-childrens_lit
Great plot & characters. I'll continue on with this series. Chris is reading/listening too & he's into it too. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/76139345 to: Goddess Boot Camp (Oh.My. Gods) by Tera Lynn Childs
bookshelves: 2009-11, fantasy, ya-childrens_lit
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/59627424 to: Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled--and More Miserable Than Ever Before (Paperback) by Jean M. Twenge
bookshelves: 2009-11, non-fiction
I thought this book contained a lot of good insight into the current generation, but there was not enough appliction as to how to deal with challenges (only about 10% of the book). There's loads of information as to why "Gen Me" is they way they are & how they got that way - interesting stuff. But as a "Gen Me-er" (born in 1982) I think this book painted a terribly unfair picture of my generation. In many ways I think it's too early to categorize/doom us. Most of us have lived only 1/4th our lives. I have to believe adulthood will change many of our "Gen Me" traits. I know mine has as I have now been in the post college/fulltime workforce for 5 years. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77766514 to: And Then He Kissed Her (Girl Bachelors, #1) by Laura Lee Guhrke
bookshelves: 2009-11, historical, romance
An incredibly sweet historical romance. I just loved Emma & Harry. Great, sympathetic characters. The plot was great, too. When faced with spinsterhood Emma really tried to make the most of it. She focused on her talents and what she could have/do and not what she couldn't have/do. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/74744761 to: Brisingr (Inheritance, #3) by Christopher Paolini
bookshelves: 2009-11, audio-books, fantasy, ya-childrens_lit
Too long, but very good.

From an audio perspective I really love this reader. At times he swapped Sephira's voice for Solumbum's, but it wasn't that big of a deal.

(Forgive my mispellings, I didn't read it - I listened, so I spelled the names phonetically using my best guess.) ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/58048313 to: Hush, Hush (Hardcover) by Becca Fitzpatrick
bookshelves: 2009-10, ya-childrens_lit
I love the idea of the plot, but I wasn't 100% thrilled about the way it played. There were only small plot accomplishments through the first 2/3rds of the book. It's all build up to the big reveal. I wish we could have paced some big events throughout the book.

Also, I want to know more about Nora. What does she DO? Does she have any hobbies? Does she have any dreams?

All that to say, I'm still totally hooked on the story line and I'll continue on with this series. I'm just too intrigued to give anything less than 4 stars. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/50272299 to: The Luxe (Luxe, #1) by Anna Godbersen
bookshelves: 2009-10, ya-childrens_lit
This was totally fun brain candy. I loved the little authentic details that really brought the story to life. That made it more of a dramatic, teen love story. It had depth. I loved following all 4 of the girls the 3rd person perspective changed from character to character. I thought the writing felt true to the period as well. Good stuff. I can't wait to read the rest. ]]>