Crystal S’s Comments (group member since Jan 07, 2011)

Crystal S’s comments from the SOS: Serious Overload of Series group.

See, as much as I liked the Anita Blake series (let me stress liked), I never found Jean-Claude appealing at all. I think he was always too feminine for me. Or something. It was his long hair (which I never, ever like) and his lacy shirts. However, it's been awhile since I've read any of them, so I can't be sure that I'm not confusing him with someone else.

Now Wraith I can get behind. (view spoiler)[Or perhaps he can get behind me! Oh! I'm sorry for that dirty mind of mine. LOL (hide spoiler)]

I guess I should start my alpha male book already. I'm nearly done with my free space book
. I can assure y'all that the review will not be a favorable one. :-(

I'll read for the alpha-male shelf.

Oh my. I finished this morning (08/11/11). ★★★★1/2 That is one scary and creepy book. I'd seen the movie so I had a good idea of what to expect (especially since I'm pretty sure the author is also the screenwriter). It was very intense and depressing. I was riveted; stayed up till 5AM reading before I finally had to put it down so I could get some sleep. Then I had a bit of trouble falling asleep. LOL I'm a terrible enough person to admit that the character I liked the least was the first to die. :-P I also thought that it would take me forever to read, what with having 500+ pages, but I flew through it and finished it faster than other, shorter, books I've read lately. :-) The book loses 1/2 a star for having a slow start (until you hit page 70 or so and then you can't turn away) and a bleak ending. And I don't like bleak endings, even when I realize that there is no other way for it to end and feel "real."

I finished earlier (08/06/11). I'm giving it ★★★★. I haven't yet read a Richelle Mead book that I don't enjoy. This is probably my least favorite of her series that I've started (I've also read the Georgina Kincaid series and part of the Vampire Academy series). It's only cause in general I'm not a fan of "magic" books. Witches and the like just don't usually hold my interest. The sole exceptions are Harry Potter and the Dresden Files. That being said, I still enjoyed it. There is a love triangle, which might annoy some people, but they don't bother me. Well, as long as they don't last for too long *cough*Stephanie Plum series*cough*. I like Eugenie, even if she is kinda wishy-washy about her feelings. I'm definitely reading the next in the series.

Ok, I have finally decided I'm going to read for my free-space book.

And for the "dark" shelf, I'm leaning towards , but am totally reserving the right to change my mind if I don't feel like tackling it when the time comes (it's kinda long and, also, scary). I have 5 other books to choose from, all YA (which = faster/easier to read).

I have a very low tolerance for Ward's slang. I enjoy the books stories, but I have to space them way, way out or else I'll throw the book down and never bother finishing it. I haven't started the Fallen Angels series; I'm still slowly making my way/getting caught up on the BDB. I flew through the first 3 books (HAD to read Zsadist's story!), but after that I had to take a break from the series. That break was nearly a year. THEN I made the mistake of reading the 4th and 5th books less than a month apart and almost couldn't focus on the 5th book because of all the stupid,stupid slang. Anyway, so far I'm sticking with Ward, but in the end that slang is what's gonna drive me away.

Hope you have fun today Lis! I wish I was going to a picnic/amusement park today. Even if it's going to be another scorcher today where I am. LOL

Priorities Crystal... If you just read and forget about the cleaning like I do, you will never have that problem!

Ahah! I knew I was doing something wrong! LOL

I'm nearly done with my book. It has been a very stressful week for me too. I had a rough day at work today (or rather, yesterday) and I don't have a day off till next Friday (that's right folks, I'll be working 8 days in a row). I'm cranky about working this weekend. Nothing has gone right all week; it's just one sh**ty day after another. ANYWAY, my point is, I'm reading slowly cuz every time I try to read I get all distracted by my thoughts about this dadgum job!!!!! *sigh* Sorry about that y'all. :-(

I have to switch my favorite series book. I started Dark Desires After Dusk and then I lost it when I cleaned my apartment. Cuz that is just what I do. I will read instead.

I'll be reading . Still haven't had time to pick out a free space book. I'll get on that now.

Finished last night very early this morning (07/30/11). I'm giving it ★★★★ stars. It was a good book. Definitely written for children. Simple and plain with easily resolved conflicts. I enjoy Percy's adventures and will definitely continue the series. I am trying not to compare it to the Harry Potter series, which, while also written for children (originally at least,) is a much richer and better written world. There is no comparison, IMO, but the Percy Jackson series is still pretty good. :-)

I'll pick out my free space book later tonight. I've got a friend coming over and I'm going to help her study for a licensure exam that we need for our job. One that I studied a solid month for. She has not studied at all and her test is Wednesday. I thought the test was hard as hell (and as egotistical as it sounds, I am smarter than her.). Granted, I have a higher degree than her so I had a harder and more complex exam than she will. Ugh. I just can't get over her cavalier attitude about it! Whew. Sorry for that little vent there. :-( I won't do it again! LOL

I really enjoyed it. There are things I would have changed, but overall I've actually enjoyed all the movies. The books, obviously, are a million times better, but I think the movies are done well enough and cast well enough that, to me, it makes the "Harry Potter experience" richer. Almost like they supplement my imagination when reading the books.

I finished my goal of re-reading the Harry Potter books before the last movie came out. I literally finished the last one less than 12 hours before I saw the movie at midnight opening night. 8-/ But I still did it!

Groundhog Day Re-Reads Challenge
Duration: 02/17/2011-(roughly)07/15/2011

7/7 DONE!

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone *finished 03/22*
2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling *finished 04/30*
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabanby J.K. Rowling *finished 07/08*
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling *finished 07/11*
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling *finished 07/12*
6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling *finished 07/13*
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling *finished 07/15*

Being without a computer earlier this month meant that I'm never posted that I joined y'all this month in this challenge, but I did and I'm done!

3/3 DONE!

COLOR: Green cover - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling *finished 07/11*
ITEM #1 (Characters dancing) - Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey *finished 07/02*
ITEM #2 (A gun) - A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix *finished 07/27*

I don't believe I ever posted that I was participating in this challenge. I was computer-less till recently, but I did join in and I'm finished. :-)

3/3 DONE!

1. UF - A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix *finished 07/27*
2. VAMPIRES - Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey *finished 07/02*
3. Singles (bad boys are good - tattoos) - Passion Unleashed by Larissa Ione *finished 07/17*

I'm done! :-)

"DisneyMania" Challenge
Duration: 05/01/11 - 07/31/11

10/10

Goal: Read 2 books for each Disney movie using one of the five "themes" listed

Toy Story
1. 1st CGI Disney/Pixar Film Made (1st in the series) - Abiogenesis by Kaitlyn O'Connor *finished 05/21*
2. Green Soldiers (character with military background) - Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs *finished 05/17*



The Lion King
1. Simba (read a book with the male's POV) - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling *finished 07/08*
2. King (in title) - The Iron King by Julie Kagawa *finished 05/19*



Beauty & the Beast

1. Couple on the cover - Desire Unchained by Larissa Ione *finished 06/29*
2. “Human Again” (1/2 human, 1/2 “other” character) - Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost *finished 05/15*



Aladdin

1. Lamp (non-natural light source on cover) - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling *finished 07/12*
2. Raja, Jasmine's Tiger (a cat shifter) - Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh *finished 06/07*



The Little Mermaid

1. Red-headed heroine - A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix *finished 07/27*
2. H/h from different backgrounds/species - Changeless by Gail Carriger *finished 05/30*

But I did like his big angel protector dude. I always prefer the stoic, rude guy to the flirty man-whore.

Me too. And another thing I didn't like about Dante, that I forgot to mention, is his "goth-hippie with the gross free-lovin'" thing. (LOL, love that phrase Laura Lulu).

July Update (Please don't hate me y'all!)



Title/Author: A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix
Series: The Maker's Song
Read: 07/27/2011
Rating: ★★
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? No way
Review: It was way too long. Could have lost about 100 pages and been much better. Too many characters. Too many viewpoints. Dante is a bit too insane (view spoiler)[ and murder-y (I get that he was psychologically tortured to be like that, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. :-P) (hide spoiler)] to appeal to me at all (and frankly, too goth, which is a lifestyle I really don't get or find attractive.) I get that the characters were all from New Orleans or Cajun or whatever, but I could have done with less French. I did like Heather, which is the only thing saving this book from 1 star. I have zero desire to read the next in the series.

Apparently everyone else loves this book so clearly I'm a weirdo. *ducks to avoid all the rotten tomatoes being thrown at me*

Do y'all think frost counts as a Form of water? I'll assume it is ok until told otherwise. :-)

I think I'll read .

I might as well join since I'm doing the first in series version of this challenge. Consider this my main post. :-)

I loved Pushing Daisies. I was very disappointed with that cancellation.

Also I must add Alias to my list. This is one of my favorite shows. Jennifer Garner is my girl-crush and I'm not afraid to admit it. LOL