The X-Men: Volume 4

Goodreads Description:    Collecting the original tales of Marvel's merry mutants, we have milestone after milestone prepared just for you, and it all starts off-of course-with the Juggernaut! That's not the only earth-shaking tale in store, though. There's the X-Men vs. Spider-Man; an underworld battle against the Mole Man and Tyrannus; and the culmination of the Factor Three epic featuring the Changeling and the unbelievable Mutant Master. Also featured are the "Origins of the X-Men" backup features that reveal the beginnings of Professor X and his teen mutant team supreme! And we're not afraid to go out with a bang. That's right, on top of the X-Men's cool new costumes, in our heartwrenching conclusion the brutal beast Grotesk kills Professor X before the eyes of Cyclops and the X-Men!


My Thoughts:

-    I love seeing how The X-Men comics evolved. They just keep getting better and better.

-    I really liked the Dr. Strange cameo! He is so awesome!

-    Spiderman gets an X-Men ish!?!? That was different, but fun. The X-Men still make an appearance, but the majority of the comic is about Spiderman. What is with the little web wings on Spiderman? That was weird.

-    The new costumes were a surprise! I think Cyclops' and Jean's costumes were a cool improvement, but Angel's costume is awful! He looks like a dork. I'm not digging the colors either. 

-    I love how the origins parts were added. It was fun to read about how Professor X found Scott and made him Cyclops. I hope they keep adding those at the end of each issue. I would like to see origins on all the characters.

-    Along with new costumes, The X-Men get new toned muscles as well. Each of them are more defined. 

-    The last issue is a killer cliffhanger! Professor X cannot be dead!! 

Previous X-Men Volume

(click on the cover to see my thoughts)

  

The Mystery of Lilac Inn

From Goodreads:    Teenage detective Nancy Drew finds herself in danger when she sets out to track a jewel thief.
















My Thoughts:

-    This book was really fun! It had a lot more dangers in it that the previous books.

-    Nancy is the victim of identity theft, but as the story continues Nancy find out she has a doppelganger out there!

-    Nancy's life is constantly in danger in this story. There are people out there trying to kill her! She gets a spear thrown at her, she gets run off the road, she gets a rock thrown at her head, and more!

-    I really like Nancy's relationship with her father. They are close and can openly talk with each other. I love that they trust each other implicitly. 

-    The story and mystery are more complicated than the previous ones. I really feel like this book stepped it up a notch.

Previous Nancy Drew Book

(Click on cover to see my thoughts)

   

Now You See Me

My Thoughts:

-    My mind is blown! I don't even know what just happened! I HAVE to see this movie again. I need to pick up on everything I missed. 

-    I hadn't heard much about this movie, but then I saw a review for it on the news, and it really caught my attention! I was not disappointed.

-    The magicians are always ahead in the game, and it is awesome to watch them toy with the cops. The police are just chasing their tails. 

-    The acting was great! I really enjoyed all the characters, and I was surprised at some of the cast. I didn't know who was going to be in this movie, so it was a pleasant surprise to see some of them.

-    I felt like part of the audience in crowd, not just in the theater, but in the movie. I felt like I was part of the audience watching a magic show. It was really fun!

-    I really wanted to see how the magicians pulled off everything they did. It reveals some things, but it doesn't explain everything, and that is kind of driving me nuts! 

-    The ending is crazy! I did not see it coming AT ALL! I was flabbergasted! 

-    The action was good, and it was fun!

-    This movie was very entertaining, and I recommend seeing it! 

Hubby's Thought:

-    This was definitely worth seeing, and I want to see it again.

-    It has you guessing the whole movie, and it had me entertained the whole time.

-    Good acting!

The Bungalow Mystery

From Goodreads:    While trying to help a friend out of a difficulty, teenage detective Nancy Drew has a perilous experience in and around a deserted bungalow.















My Thoughts:

-    These books are just plain old fashioned fun!

-    I love that each book is a different kind of mystery. The last book was a ghost mystery, and this one was more dangerous. 

-    I think Nancy is getting more inquisitive and bold with each case she solves. She almost has no boundaries on what she will do for clues. I enjoy seeing our young sleuth grow as a detective.

-    Like I said, this book was filled with more dangers. It had more action in it! The book starts out with Nancy almost drowning, and it isn't the last time Nancy's life is threatened.

-    I like the illustrations in these books. They are fun and old school sketches. 

-    I like how Nancy involves people in her investigations. She always lets people know where she is and what she is planning. I like how everyone helps her and cares for her. Nancy has a really nice support group going for her.

-    Nancy makes friends everywhere she goes. She is intelligent and kind. I really admire her character. 

Previous Nancy Drew Book

(Click on cover to see my thoughts)

 

True Grit

My Thoughts:

-    I was disappointed. This movie was dumb!

-    Whoever edited this movie needs to be fired! The scene jumps were awful! It made the movie feel choppy, and the story didn't flow too smoothly. If I hadn't seen the original first, I would not have known what was going on and what the story was.

-    I could not understand most of what Jeff Bridges was saying! He mumbled a lot, and I can't understand hick talk anyway, so the mumbling made it worse.

-    Does Rooster ever stop talking? He never shut up! He just rambled on and on and on, and I feel like it didn't fit his character.

-    John Wayne was better. John Wayne was WAY better. He had the true true grit!

-    After the Texas ranger bit off his tongue, I couldn't understand him either! It was frustrating.

-    What is with the rope? How does it keep snakes away? They should have explained that.

-    Barry Pepper played Ned Pepper! ha ha ha! I got a kick out of that.

-    This one just wasn't as good as the old original. 

-    I liked the Mattie in this one. She wasn't as annoying as the original. She did a good job, and I can't believe this was her first movie!

Hubby's Thought:

-    The snow in this movie is weird

Tyson's Thoughts:

-    Jeff Bridges is awesome!

-    Jeff Bridges is so full of grit that he's exploding with grit. 

Top Ten Tuesday

Hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

Top Ten Words/Topics That Will Make You NOT Pick Up a Book

This is a tough one! I will usually try almost anything. I suppose I'll start with the obvious:

Erotica stuff
Strong language
I usually think twice about tough subjects like rape, child abuse, etc.
Anti-Mormon stuff
Super boring
Sappy
I usually won't pick up a book from an author that has written book I hate.
Twilight anything
Oprah anything
Text book

Okay, I was scarping the bottom of the barrel for those last 3, but it is true, I won't read those things.

Prince of the Blood

Goodreads Synopsis:    This Author’s Preferred Edition of Raymond E. Feist’s bestselling coming-of-age saga celebrates the fifteenth anniversary of its publication. Feist introduces a new generation of readers to his riveting novel of adventure and intrigue, revised and updated as he always meant it to be written. It is a work that explores strength and weakness, hope and fear, and what it means to be a man—in a kingdom where peace is the most precious commodity of all.

If there were two more impetuous and carefree men in the Kingdom of the Isles, they had yet to be found. Twins Borric and Erland wore that mantle proudly, much to the chagrin of their father, Prince Arutha of Krondor. But their blissful youth has come to an end. Their uncle, the King, has produced no male children. Bypassing himself, Arutha names Borric, the eldest twin by seconds, the Royal Heir. As his brother, Erland will have his own great responsibilities to shoulder. To drive home their future roles, Arutha sends them as ambassadors to Kesh, the most feared nation in the world. Borric and Erland will be presented to the Queen of Kesh—the single most powerful ruler in the known world—at her Seventy-fifth Jubilee Anniversary. 

But they have not even left Krondor when an assassination attempt on Borric is thwarted. Aware that he is being provoked into war, Arutha does not rise to the bait. His sons’ journey will not be deterred, for nothing less than peace is riding on it. Yet there is to be no peace for the young princes. When their traveling party is ambushed, Borric disappears and is presumed dead—sending Erland into spirals of rage and grief as he is forced to navigate alone the court intrigues at Kesh. But unbeknownst to anyone, Borric lives and has escaped his captors. In a strange land, with a price on his head, Borric must use all his wits and stamina to find his way back to his brother. 

On separate paths, the two men—one a fugitive and one a future king—make their journey toward maturity, honor, and duty. For every step they take could sway the fragile peace of the land, as those who crave war rally against them—and become ever more daring.

My Thoughts:

-    Wholly cow Goodreads! That synopsis is long!

-    I love that I got to read about Arutha and Anita's kids. The twins are very different but very similar to their father and mentors. I really enjoyed their character development. They started out as spoiled royal brats, but their trials and journey turned them into men!

-    Seeing James and Locklear as adults was fun. They turned out just as I knew they would. I wish Jimmy the Hand still got to spy and do thief stuff, but I suppose he has his duties now.

-    It was fun to see James fall in love and marry! I was especially pleased with whom he married!

-    There were a few deaths to some very beloved characters in this book, and I was sad, shocked, and mad! How could Feist do this!?!? Gah! 

-    I loved meeting Borric's companions. Suli won my sympathy and heart. Ghuda was a great swordsman that I think Borric really needed to help him become a man. Nakor made me laugh!

-    The culture in Kesh was fun to experience. I don't approve of all their traditions, but the exotic culture was fun to learn about and see. 

-    There was quite of a bit of love making in this book. It wasn't explicit, but it is enough to make one blush. 

-    I didn't realize this was the revised version of the book. I've never read the original, and I'm really curious about how different it is. 

-    I feel like this story wrapped up nicely, so I'm curious about what the second book has to offer! 

Sucked In

My reading, and life in general, was put on hold for the last couple days because I was sucked in to this:

I watched Season 1 on Netflix a while ago, and ABC was in the middle of showing Season 2, so I was pretty upset. I didn't want to jump in the middle of a Season, so I've been waiting. My sister finally told me I could watch Season 2 on Couch Tuner. Well, I started watching and couldn't stop. My family, home, and everything else has been ignored for the past couple days while I've devoured this show.

I finally finished the season last night, and OMG!!! Now I'm dying for Season 3! The ending is  a horrible HORRIBLE cliffhanger! At least I'm all caught up now, and I can enjoy Season 3 this Fall with the rest of you!

I should also get back to life and reading. My daughter could use some attention as well...hubby too.

Transparent

Goodreads Description:    Plenty of teenagers feel invisible. Fiona McClean actually is.

An invisible girl is a priceless weapon. Fiona’s own father has been forcing her to do his dirty work for years—everything from spying on people to stealing cars to breaking into bank vaults.

After sixteen years, Fiona’s had enough. She and her mother flee to a small town, and for the first time in her life, Fiona feels like a normal life is within reach. But Fiona’s father isn’t giving up that easily.

Of course, he should know better than anyone: never underestimate an invisible girl.

My Thoughts:

-    I've heard awesome things about this book, and I couldn't wait to read it! Everyone is right! This book was so much fun!

-    I loved the dedication page! It was my "awwwwww" for the day. It is very poetic and touching.

-    I really loved all the characters in the story. Fiona was such a great female protagonist. I really related to her and her feelings. I liked Bea a ton! Who wouldn't like Brady and Seth? They are both really great guys. I liked how Seth started out annoying, but he really grows on you.

-    I loved Fiona's character development. In the beginning she has really low self esteem, and after making some friends and learning about herself, she gains a lot of self worth and confidence. It was really great to see that kind of improvement in a young teenage girl.

-    The super powers in this story were awesome! I loved how creative they all were, and I liked the explanation about how people got their anomalies. 

-    I think this book has a fun story and a good message! I love stories with great messages. I think everyone wants to be seen for who they are. We all want to be treated like a human being and not some freak. Each of us has value.

-    I love how the author took an emotion, like feeling invisible, and made it a reality and expounded on it. This was such a great idea for a story, and I'm glad Natalie wrote this book. 

-    This was a wonderful debut novel, and I'm looking forward to more Natalie Whipple books!

Q&A

I'll ask the questions, you provide the answers.  Ready?

As book junkies, we love and crave the smell of books! So.....

Do you like the smell of old books or new books better?

Personally, I love them both, but new books are my favorite! There is nothing better than sniffing a brand new book!

The Hidden Staircase

Goodreads Bit:    Teenage detective Nancy Drew uses her courage and powers of deduction to solve the mysterious happenings in an old stone mansion.
















My Thoughts:

-    At first I was a little embarrassed reading Nancy Drew, but I'm going to take Stephanie Perkins' advice, and I'm not going to be ashamed of anything I enjoy reading, so here it is: I really like reading these Nancy Drew books! I feel like I missed out when I was younger. 

-    The title kind of gives away some of the mystery. I don't like that.

-    I liked that this story was a pretty different mystery than the first one. I enjoyed the ghost story element and creepy old houses!

-    There was some added danger to Nancy's family, and it made the mystery even more urgent. 

-    Nancy is very confident, and she has a lot of courage. I would not go hunting for ghosts in creepy attics and basements, but she did it willingly! I also like that Nancy is very polite and considerate. She has good character!

-    I liked that the police weren't useless. I hate it in movies and books when the police are totally useless and the protagonists have to do everything themselves. Nancy involves the police and helps them, and she lets the police do their job! Thank you!

-    I thought the ending was a bit abrupt, but everything was solved, so I guess it was ok. I like that the book doesn't have a bunch of added fluff, and the story moves along quickly. 

Previous Nancy Drew Book

(Click on cover to see my thoughts)

Going on 26

It is my birthday today!!! I'm a whole 26 years old!

Every year hubby takes me to Carabbas for creme brulee!!! I'm so excited! It is my most favorite dessert ever!

For the presents:

My hubby gave me

Gnome gave me

They are exactly what I wanted! Woo! I'm going to enjoy these today!!

p.s. Happy Birthday E.B. White! Thank you for your timeless tales!

I Heart You, You Haunt Me

Goodreads Description:    
Girl meets boy.
Girl loses boy.
Girl gets boy back...

..sort of. 

Ava can't see him or touch him, 
unless she's dreaming. 
She can't hear his voice, 
except for the faint whispers in her mind. 
Most would think she's crazy, but she knows he's here.

Jackson. 
The boy Ava thought she'd spend the rest of her life with. 
He's back from the dead, 
as proof that love truly knows no bounds.

My Thoughts:

-    This was a short and sweet book. I wish there had been more depth and detail, but I liked it still.

-    It would be super tragic to lose your significant other, and I liked how Ava had people around her to help her cope with her loss.

-    I am a junkie for books in verse! I just love them. I feel like the story and message is more powerful some how. I should try reading poetry. I just don't think I'd understand poetry like I do books like this.

-    I really liked that Ava didn't jump into another relationship. I hate when tragic events end up with a rebound guy. I like that Ava knew she needed time, and she knew she just needed friends.

-    I liked the emotion and tone of this book. It was very somber, but not too sad.

-    I liked how Ava found comfort in Jackson's presence at first, but then she realized that in order for both of them to be happy, he needed to move on and so did she. 

Top Ten Tuesday

Hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

Top Ten Best/Worst Movie Adaptations

Oh man! Where to start!?!? I wish I could list more than 10, but I'll keep it to that limit.

Best


The Lord of the Rings trilogy are awesome books and awesome movies!


To Kill a Mockingbird with Gregory Peck was a fantastic adaptation of the book! Like the book, it is a classic!


Matilda was one of my childhood favorites, book and movie!


Emma is my favorite Austen book, and I LOVE the mini series with Romola Garai


The Hunger Games movie was so much fun to watch! I can't wait for Catching Fire in November!


It is no secret that I'm a Tim Burton fan, and I love his version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I was surprised at how accurate it was.

Worst


The Eragon movie was so bad that they didn't bother making the other 2! However, this is one of my favorite Rifftrax!


I almost didn't make it through this movie! I enjoyed the book, but the movie was atrocious!


I thought Ella Enchanted was ok as a movie, but the only thing similar to the book was the names of the characters. I don't really consider the two related.


Where The Wild Things Are was one of the dumbest/craziest movies I've ever seen! It's awful!

Edenbrooke

From Goodreads:    Marianne Daventry will do anything to escape the boredom of Bath and the amorous attentions of an unwanted suitor. So when an invitation arrives from her twin sister, Cecily, to join her at a sprawling country estate, she jumps at the chance. Thinking she’ll be able to relax and enjoy her beloved English countryside while her sister snags the handsome heir of Edenbrooke, Marianne finds that even the best laid plans can go awry.

From a terrifying run-in with a highwayman to a seemingly harmless flirtation, Marianne finds herself embroiled in an unexpected adventure filled with enough romance and intrigue to keep her mind racing. Will she be able to rein in her traitorous heart, or will a mysterious stranger sweep her off her feet? Fate had something other than a relaxing summer in mind when it sent Marianne to Edenbrooke.

My Thoughts:

-    I've heard lots of great things about this book, but I wasn't sure how I'd like it because it is a romance. I enjoyed the book, but probably not as much as others.

-    Why are all the people in this time period so witty and clever? I'm so jealous! I wish to banter with people like that!

-    Marianne is an emotional fool! I suppose she could just be called a girl. She was also dramatically delicate. She needs to eat more or workout or something because normal people don't faint and almost faint that much! 

-    I think the female sex reads and loves books from the Regency time period for the men. Besides the lovely estates, the way they talk, and the clothes, the swoon worthy gentlemen are the highlight of these books!

-    Philip is a very swoon worthy gentlemen. I love how it describes the desire, the teasing, and other looks in his eyes. I also love how he always knew the perfect thing to say.

-    I admit, I get caught up in the grandeur of books like this. 

-    The ending is very captivating! I couldn't read fast enough. I love how a little thrill and danger was thrown into the story. 

-    This was a really fun read. Marianne's pining, swooning, and uncertainty bugged me at times, but I still think this is a great book.

Fury of the Phoenix

Goodreads Synopsis:    The Gods have abandoned Ai Ling.

Her mysterious power haunts her day and night, and she leaves home—with just the moon as her guide—overwhelmed by her memories and visions and an unbearable sense of dread. For Ai Ling knows that Chen Yong is vulnerable to corrupt enchantments from the under-world. How can she do nothing when she has the skill and power to fight at his side? A dream has told her where he is, the name of the ship he is traveling on, his destination. So she steals off and stows away on board.

The ocean voyage brings with it brutal danger, haunting revelations, and new friendships, but also the premonition of a very real and terrifying threat. Zhong Ye—the powerful sorcerer whom Ai Ling believed she had vanquished in the Palace of Fragrant Dreams—is trapped in Hell, neither alive nor dead. Can he reach from beyond the grave to reunite with Silver Phoenix and destroy Chen Yong? And destroy whatever chance Ai Ling has at happiness, at love?

In this sequel to the acclaimed novel Silver Phoenix, four lives are woven together and four destinies become one, now and forever.

My Thoughts:

-    I really enjoyed this story. I think it was even better than its predecessor. I liked the story better, and it was more entertaining for me. 

-    I liked how the book was fragmented and switched between Zhong Ye and Ai Ling. Both of their stories were very interesting. Zhong Ye's story was very enlightening, and it helped me to understand the 1st book better.

-    I don't really want to like Zhong Ye. He was an evil and horrible person in Silver Phoenix, but I felt a lot of sympathy for him in this book. I enjoyed reading his story, and I liked getting to know him better, but I still want to hate him.

-    I got a little tired of Chen Yong and Ai Ling avoiding each other and their feelings. I just wanted to smack them both sometimes!!

-    I like how these books are heavy in Chinese culture, but I was also happy that they traveled to a new country in this one. It was cool to see the contrast between cultures.

-    I wasn't going to buy this series after reading the first one, but now I'm reconsidering purchasing these. 

-    I don't know if there is going to be a 3rd book. It could end with 2, and I'd be happy.The ending to this story is all wrapped up, and I really like how it ended. It feels good to have some reader satisfaction after 2 books!

Previous Kingdom of Xia Book

(click on cover to see my thoughts)

Happy Independence Day

I love being an American, and I love my country!

Just for fun! Here is song about all the great things about our country!

This song cracks me up!

Happy Independence Day!

The Silver Surfer: Volume 1

Goodreads Description:    The Silver Surfer, the Sentinel of the Spaceways, has betrayed Galactus to save the Earth, but now he is trapped there In his breakout series, the Silver Surfer is a misunderstood alien doing his best to protect humankind from whatever threats abound See: the first appearances of the Badoon and Mephisto Witness: the manipulations of Loki Experience: the threats of Quasimodo, the Overlord, and the Stranger All this, and the origins of the Silver Surfer Guest-starring Thor and the Fantastic Four







My Thoughts:  

-    That was my favorite intro by Stan Lee so far! It was really funny and very Stan.

-    The Silver Surfer comics really show the weaknesses of mankind. It is kind of sad.

-    I don' t know if I'd help save Earth after being treated so poorly. Why does the Silver Surfer care for the people of Earth so much?

-    The Silver Surfer is one tormented soul. I feel really bad for the guy.

-    It was really fun and interesting to learn how the Silver Surfer became what he is and how he became the servant of Galactus.

-    I liked all the appearances from other comics as well, especially Thor and Loki. 

-    I loved the artwork! It was very beautiful and well done! The Silver Surfer traveled to so many different places. I was impressed that the artist kept coming up with different scenery. 

Top Ten Tuesday

Hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

Top Ten  Eight Most Intimidating Books

Intimidated by size, content, whatever


It took me years to work up the gumption to read Les Miserables. The size and content intimidated me. I knew it was going to be sad, but it was well worth the read!


The Three Musketeers is a big book! I'm also intimidated by all the French history I'd need to know to fully understand it.


I want to read this one because of the heavy Japanese culture, but I'm a little hesitant because of the content.


I use to want to read this, but I have a child now, and I'm not sure if I want to read this anymore. I've heard that it is a tough read, and I don't think I'll be prepared for the sadness.


I want to read this SO bad, but it is HUGE!


I LOVE all the Dickens' books I've read so far! He was a genius! For some reason David Copperfield intimidates me. I don't know whether it is size or the story or what.


The Star Wars books are pretty intimidating to me because I really want to read them, but there are SO SO many of them. I don't know where to begin. I'm thinking of starting with Death Star, but once I start, there is no going back! I will have to finish them all!


Will I enjoy it? Will I understand it? I love Taming of the Shrew, but hate others. I want to read them all, but I know I won't like all his works or understand it.