A.D. 62 Pompeii: Rebecca East

"A twenty-first century woman is stranded in first century Pompeii when a time travel experiment goes awry; she is sold to a wealthy family as a house slave. This provides her with an intimate, upstairs/downstairs perspective on household life in ancient times. At first she does menial work, but she improves her situation by telling stories and making prophecies. As her influence grows, she wins the love of her master and his daughter and provokes the vengeful jealousy of his wife. In this gentle fable about the power of stories to change people's lives, the heroine uses sources that include fairy tales and great works of literature to argue for women’s rights and the humanity of slaves, and to inspire herself and others to be resourceful, courageous and independent. Miranda's own life becomes as mythic as the stories she tells. In a narrative that is part adventure, part romance, and part fantasy, the heroine triumphs over adversity and makes a place for herself in the world of the past."

I loved this book. It was so full of surprises and excitement that I couldn't put it down.

When I first got the book I was worried that I wouldn't like it and put it on the back of the bookshelf. I am so glad now that I have read it.

In the beginning of the book, when she first travels back in time, it was so well written that you didnt know if she was ever going to get out of her predicament but in the back of your mind you knew that everything was going to be all right.

I want you to enjoy every last minute like I did, so i don't want to give to much of the book away. But I do think you should read it.

-Sarah

Cover game!

So these are the Luxe series book covers. Something that me and my friends love to do is guess who is on the conver. So, post you guesses in the comments if you would like!

my guess are:

Luxe: Penelope

Rumors: Diana

Envy: Elizabeth

Reading!

So here is a list of upcoming books. I dont ushually review ALL of the books I read, so if there one you would like me to review just post a comment and ill get it posted on the site! Thanks.

What im reading now:

A.D. 62: Pompeii

What I'm reading next:

Envy: A Luxe novel

(please excuse the "click to look inside". The bad thing about a brand new book is there isnt a lot of pics to upload : ( )

And possibly after that:

City of Bones

Newletter

Hey everyone!

So me and a bunch of blog friends have created an awesome newsletter. You can sign up for it by going to this link.

http://yablognews.blogspot.com/

my bookshelf

So it seems like everyone is posting pics of their room and bookshelf, I thought I should post mine too : ). Well at least of my bookshelf, my room isn't very exciting yet because its just drywall (we are waiting to get the rest of the basement done before we spacle and paint my room)





Sorry for the sideways picture, I wasn't thinking when I took it. The top 2 rows ate books to read, the bottom two rows are already read. I'm missing a couple on the bottom row ... hmm
: (







Already read shelf 1.

Already Read shelf 2.









To be read shelf 1. (theirs a mini book i made of my nephew on that shelf)










To be read shelf 2.







Thanks for looking!

-Sarah

Meet the Authors!

please excuse the "click here to look inside" the only picture I could find was on amazon

Meet the authors of Let it Snow! John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle.

"John Green: is the author of the Printz award-winning novel Looking For Alaska, the Printz Honor novel An Abundance of Katherines, and the upcoming novel Paper Towns. John has also written for National Public Radio's All Things Considered and for the New York Times. He and his brother Hank videoblog at www.brotherhood2.com. Visit John on the Web at www.sparksflyup.com.

Maureen Johnson: is the author of The Key to the golden firebird, The Bermudez Triangle, 13 Little Blue Envelopes, Develish, Girl at Sea, and Suite Scarelett. She is thrilled to be working with John and Lauren on Let It Snow. Before she was published, Maureen had a number of jobs - including waitressing in a haunted house-themed restuarant in New York, working with live tigers in Las Vegas, and being the token American enployee at a comedy pub in London. Maureen lives in New York City and frequently reports on her exploits, both real and imaginary, at www.maureenjohnsonbooks.com

Lauren Myracle: is the author of many boks for teens and tweens, including the New York Times best sellers Twelve, and TTYL. LIke Addie, Lauren grew up (some of the time) in a small mountain town, although sadly, she never got kissed at a starbucks. She is hoping to take care of that problem soon. Lauren lives in Colorado with her husband and their three kids. YOu can visit her on the Web at www.laurenmyracle.com"

-Let it Snow (book)

Back of the Book Bonus! Peeps: Scott Westerfeld

AFTERWORD: HOW TO AVOID PARASITES

"Sing "Happy Birthday"

Many microscopic parasites (and other germs) exsist in the air and on everyday surfaces. They get on your hands, and when you touch your mouth, eyes, or food, they take the opportunity to slip into your body. So wash you hands often, and when you do:

• a) Use warm water


• b) Use soap


• c) Sing "Happy Birthday" at a normal tempo.

Dont stop washing until you are done with the entire song. And by the way, quite rubbing your eyes so much!

If You Eat Meat, Cook It Good

A major vector of parasites is predation: one animal eating another. That's because when you eat an animal, you're exposing yourself to every parasite adapted to living inside that animal, and every parasite adapted to all the things it eats.

Meat-bourne parasites include hookworms, tapeworms, blood flukes, and more. There are zillions of them. YOur humble author is a vegatarian (for non-parasite-related reasons), but you don't have to go that far. It doesnt hurt you to eat a few worms every once in w while, as long as they're thoroughly cooked. So don't eat rare meat, and memorize this simple rhyme:

If your burger oozes red,

Send it back; them worms ain't dead."

-Peeps by Scott Westerfeld

I really enjoyed this book. Although I'm not sure if a lot of other people will. It may freak other readers out with its graphic boilogical detail. So if your really into biology (and dont have a sensative stomach) this would be a great book for you.

Whats really interesting about this book is that every other chapter is about a parasite (Toxoplasma, trematodes, plasmodium to name a few). It must have taken a lot of reasearch to come up with all of those different parasites.

It also has a sequal! called The Last Days. YAY! I havent gotten it yet (im hopsing that one of bookmooch, or paperback swap comes up) but if not soon Ill have to go to the book store and buy it, either way...

I would really like to hear what everyone else thought of it too if youve read it or are going to read it, I want to see how many people accual like the whole boilogy concept (I know I did!)

-Sarah

Super Sequal! Fade: Lisa McMann

Fade, the sequal to Wake by Lisa McMann came out on Febuary 5!

"For Janie and Cabel, real life is getting tougher than the dreams. They're just trying to carve out a little (secret) time together, but no such luck.
Disturbing things are happening at Fieldridge High, yet nobody's talking. When Janie taps into a classmate's violent nightmares, the case finally breaks open -- but nothing goes as planned. Not even close. Janie's in way over her head, and Cabe's shocking behavior has grave consequences for them both.
Worse yet, Janie learns the truth about herself and her ability -- and it's bleak. Seriously, brutally bleak. Not only is her fate as a dream catcher sealed, but what's to come is way darker than she'd feared...."

-Amazon.com

I read Wake and fell in love with it. Its characters are so well put together and I give very high praise to Lisa for her amazing creativity and imagination. I expact the same from Fade and I cant wait to get it in my hands. Expect a full review soon!

-Sarah

100+ reading Callenge

Hey everyone!

Im starting a 100 reading challenge. I got the idea from Midnight Twilight Book Blog (http://midnighttwilightsbookblog.blogspot.com/)

Its my first try at the contest so wish me luck!

Ill make a sidebar with all the books Ive read in the 2009 year.

Suite Scarlett: Maureen Johnson

"Her Family owns the Hopewell Hotel, a s,all hotel in the heart of New York City. Her nineteen-year-old brother ,Spencer, is an out of work actor facing a family deadline to get his career in order. Eighteen-year-old Lila has the delicate looks of a model, the practical nature of a nurse, and a wealthy society boyfriend. Eleven-year-old Marlene is the family terror with a tragic past.

When the Matins turn fifteen, they are each expected to take ocer the care of a suite in the once elegant, now shabby Art Deco hotel. for Scarlett's fifteenth birthday, she gets both of a room called the Empire Suite, and a permanent guest named Mrs. Amberson. Scarlett doesnt quite know what to make of this C-list starlet, world traveler, and aspiring autobiographer who wants to take over her life. And when she meets Eric, an astonishingly gorgeous actor who has just moved to the city, her summer takes a second unexpected turn.

With Mrs. Amberson calling the shots, Spencer's career to save, Lola's love life to navigate around, and marlene's prying eyes everywhere, things won't be easy. Before the summer is over, Scarlett will have to survive a whirlwind of theivery, Broadway glamour, romantic missteps, and theatrical deception.

They show as they say must always go on..."

Maureen Johnson is a inspiring, funny author that is touching the hearts of many your readers of today. She is personally one of my favorite authors. This book is full of funny irony and twist and turns on every page. Scarlett is a well thought up character that anyone can feel an attachment to, along with every other character.
This books is also a part of a new series that maureen is writting. I cant wait to get a hold of the next one. you can also look at an interactive map of scarlettes journey: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=102312066307931969077.000442d6d06efbd923692&z=13

I hope everyone enjoys this book as much as I did!