Throwback Thursday (6)

Welcome to Throwback Thursday!!! In this weekly post I will be mentioning some books from the past that are near and dear to my heart. The purpose is not to do a FULL review, but just tell you a little about the book itself and some little tidbits I loved about it.

 I have also had a few other bloggers contact me in joining this weekly meme. If you are interested feel free to contact me. :)

Books: Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene
Genre: Childrens, Mystery, Fiction





I'm not posting a description for these books like I  normally do since I didn't pick one particular book.

Anyone that read my Throwback Thursday about my nerdy Harriet the Spy days shouldn't be surprised by the fact that I was also in love with all the Nancy Drew books. I also loved the combined books that included The Hardy Boys. I was a mystery addict when I was younger. Any time I went to the library I always tried to get one of these books, sometimes even reading them again. I do remember one title that I read several times out of the series, and that was The Hidden Staircase. It was one of my favorites in the series.

I'm pretty sure that I would probably enjoy these books just as much at my age now as I did when I was a kid. I hope to get my daughter addicted to them just so I can hear all about them. :)

Have you read any of these books? Did you love them too?

Throwback Thursday (5)

Welcome to Throwback Thursday!!! In this weekly post I will be mentioning some books from the past that are near and dear to my heart. The purpose is not to do a FULL review, but just tell you a little about the book itself and some little tidbits I loved about it.

 I have also had a few other bloggers contact me in joining this weekly meme. If you are interested feel free to contact me. :)

Book: Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

Series: Women of the Otherworld #1

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy

Published: June 2010

Goodread's Description:

Elena Michaels seems like the typically strong and sexy modern woman, She lives with her architect boyfriend, writes for a popular newspaper, and works out at the gym. She's also a werewolf.
Elena has done all she can to assimilate to the human world, but the man whose bite changed her existence forever, and his legacy, continue to haunt her. Thrown into a desperate war for survival that tests her allegiance to a secret clan of werewolves, Elena must recon with who, and what, she is in this passionate, page-turning novel that begins the Women of the Otherworld series.

I just got my hands on Thirteen, which is the last installment in this series so I wanted to use Bitten for my TT this week. I don't hear many people talking about this series but it is one that I fell in love with right from the start. It's not your typical werewolf story. There are so many other paranormal beings involved. Bitten is more focused on the werewolf aspect since the MC is Elena, who is indeed a werewolf. You get to dive into her world, which is normal enough at first, until her ex drags her back into a world that she thought she was able to leave behind. She loves and hates her ex with a passion. He was the one that bit her and she despises him for it, but at the same time can not deny the fact that she is still completely in love with him. I loved all the characters in this book, and in the series. It is an action packed book and has some great romance so you will never get bored with it. 

If you read this book and love it I hope you continue with the series. The books change point of views from different characters through out the series, which I really like. I loved getting to really see into the different worlds that were all intertwined-werewolves, witches, vampires, demons, etc. I urge you to give it a try. I can't wait to dive into Thirteen. :)

“You forget, darling.
I am the local psychopath.” -Kelley Armstrong, Bitten

Have you read Bitten? What did you think?

Throwback Thursday (4)

Welcome to Throwback Thursday!!! In this weekly post I will be mentioning some books from the past that are near and dear to my heart. The purpose is not to do a FULL review, but just tell you a little about the book itself and some little tidbits I loved about it.

 I have also had a few other bloggers contact me in joining this weekly meme. If you are interested feel free to contact me. :-)

Book: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Genre: Children's Fiction
Published: 1964 (First Publication)

Synopsis:

Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory is opening at last!

But only five lucky children will be allowed inside. And the winners are: Augustus Gloop, an enormously fat boy whose hobby is eating; Veruca Salt, a spoiled-rotten brat whose parents are wrapped around her little finger; Violet Beauregarde, a dim-witted gum-chewer with the fastest jaws around; Mike Teavee, a toy pistol-toting gangster-in-training who is obsessed with television; and Charlie Bucket, Our Hero, a boy who is honest and kind, brave and true, and good and ready for the wildest time of his life!

“Mr. Wonka: "Don’t forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he wanted."
Charlie Bucket: "What happened?"
Mr. Wonka: "He lived happily ever after.” -Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

I'm assuming that most of you have read this book, or at least seen the movie. If not I really urge you to go do it NOW! It is a classic right alongside Charlotte's Web. It is a book filled with magic that will make you smile and several life lessons thrown in that all kids should learn. 

It's been YEARS since I have read this book so my memory isn't the best on EVERY little detail in the book, but I do recall the magical world that this book showed me and the fact that it was all about candy. What kid wouldn't love that? (Or adult for that matter.) 

“EATABLE MARSHMALLOW PILLOWS 

LICKABLE WALLPAPER FOR NURSERIES 

HOT ICE CREAMS FOR COLD DAYS 

COWS THAT GIVE CHOCOLATE MILK 

FIZZY LIFTING DRINKS 

SQUARE SWEETS THAT LOOK ROUND”  -Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlie ends up being a lucky boy who wins a ticket to go to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. The factory hasn't allowed anyone inside the gates for a long time so this is a HUGE once in a life time opportunity. There are also 4 other winners that he will go see the factory with. All the personalities of the winners are completely opposite so it is an interesting bunch of characters that you get to see.
Charlie and Grandpa Joe get to see how all the candy is made and find some unexpected magical things along the way. Oompa-Loompas, gum that tastes like a full meal, a chocolate river, things like that. Mr. Wonka is not what they thought he would be and they end up having to go through a lot of unexpected twists and turns to make it through the factory. In this factory candy isn't just candy. 

“Rainbow drops - suck them and you can spit in six different colours.” -Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Now the first movie rendition of this book I absolutely ADORED. The actors were perfect for the parts and it had a complete Charlie and the Chocolate Factory appeal. It was perfect! They re-made the movie a couple of years ago with Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka and I've just got to say that the whole thing creeped me out. Yes Mr. Wonka is slightly on the edge of being insane in general but Depp made him almost have a psychotic feel. SO if you want to watch the movie for the first time I would definitely go with the first one. :)

Have you read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? Was it a favorite as a kid? Did you like the movie? Old one or new one?

Throwback Thursday (3)

Welcome to Throwback Thursday!!! In this weekly post I will be mentioning some books from the past that are near and dear to my heart. The purpose is not to do a FULL review, but just tell you a little about the book itself and some little tidbits I loved about it.

 I have also had a few other bloggers contact me in joining this weekly meme. If you are interested feel free to contact me. :-)

Book: The Host  by Stephenie Meyer
Series: The Host #1
Genres: Sci-Fi, Romance
Published: May 6, 2008
My Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of human hosts while leaving their bodies intact. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, didn't expect to find its former tenant refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

As Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of Jared, a human who still lives in hiding, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she's never met. Reluctant allies, Wanderer and Melanie set off to search for the man they both love.

Featuring one of the most unusual love triangles in literature, THE HOST is a riveting and unforgettable novel about the persistence of love and the essence of what it means to be human.

I thought I would write about The Host by Stephenie Meyer today, since the movie released this year. I was part of the Twilight fandom when it first came out. I'm one of those people that if I love an author's book/books I want everything they have ever written. I'm so glad I found this book. It is a very descriptive and well written book. I honestly wasn't sure that I would even like it at first, because at the time anything that was categorized as sci-fi I didn't think I would enjoy it.  BUT she wrote Twilight, so surely this had to be at least decent.

“You never know how much time you'll have.”  Stephenie Meyer, The Host


I quickly fell completely in love with it. I've read it a couple more times since I first bought it in 2008. The whole idea of a soul taking over the humans (hosts) was such a unique idea that sucked me right in. The characters are beyond amazing. Melanie is so tough and outspoken, while Wanda is quiet and reserved. These two completely different people end up having to share a mind and a life when Melanie does an uncommon thing and fights the soul from taking over. The way that Meyer does their dual role is amazing. The two men in "their" lives, Jared and Ian, are so easy to fall in love with! While Jared is still sees Melanie, Ian bonds with the new soul inside of her. (Personally, I love Ian more.)  Towards the end of the book, my heart broke. I got so attached to all of the characters and what would happen to them, so when a certain event happenened, *sobs*. The ending couldn't haven been written better though.

“If I was given the choice between having the world back and having you, I wouldn't be able to give you up. Not to save five billion lives.”  Stephenie Meyer, The Host

Now let me talk about the movie for a minute also...when I first went to see it I left completely disappointed! I knew this book would be SO hard to make into a film because of the complex roles. I kept that in mind the entire time. In the end I felt like it was lacking in all the relationships, especially when it came to Wanda. Some people she had very close relationships with in the book she barely spoke two words to the entire way through, but the ending they still had the same reactions, so to me it didn't add up. I still gave it a second chance and rented it. I enjoyed it better the second time, I guess my expectations were lower!

“It's not the face, but the expressions on it. It's not the voice, but what you say. It's not how you look in that body, but the thing you do with it. You are beautiful.” Stephenie Meyer, The Host

Have you read The Host? What did you think about it? How did you like the movie if you saw it? 

Please keep this page spoiler free! If you would like to talk about any books or movies more in depth, be sure to contact me through the form or twitter (on the side bar). 

❤ Crystal

If you are doing Throwback Thursday on your blog make sure to leave your link below! 

Throwback Thursday (2)

Welcome to Throwback Thursday!!! In this weekly post I will be mentioning some books from the past that are near and dear to my heart. The purpose is not to do a FULL review, but just tell you a little about the book itself and some little tidbits I loved about it. :)

This week I chose to throw ALL THE WAY back to Harriet the Spy. Some of you young ones might not have a clue what I'm talking about, so let me introduce you to one of the early books that changed my life. ;)

Book: Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Goodreads Synopsis:

Harriet M. Welsch is a spy. In her notebook, she writes down everything she knows about everyone, even her classmates and her best friends. Then Harriet loses track of her notebook, and it ends up in the wrong hands. Before she can stop them, her friends have read the always truthful, sometimes awful things she's written about each of them. Will Harriet find a way to put her life and her friendships back together?

I'm going back to my Elementary years...I was obsessed with Harriet the Spy! I walked around with my black composition book-because I was a legit spy like that-and took my notes. It caused me to go through a phase of eating nothing but tomato and mayonnaise sandwiches. I watched the movie religiously! Anyone else on board with my nerd train? I can not say enough good things about this book, or the movie. I'm actually going to get on Amazon when I'm done with this post and order it because I'm all nostalgic thinking about it. :) 

This is a book that can be enjoyed at any age. Harriet is a cranky, honest, and yet, you can't help but love her. It teaches you about individualism, empathy, honesty, and little life lessons you need when growing up. It keeps you on your toes because you just never know what little quirky Harriet is going to be up to next. It's of course a light read for someone older, but I still think it would be greatly enjoyed. If you are in a book slump, it might be just what you need. If you haven't read it yet, I urge you to give it a try! I will leave you with these wise words: 

"You can't be too old to spy except if you were fifty you might fall off a fire escape, but you could spy around on the ground a lot." -Louise Fitzhugh, Harriet the Spy

♥Crystal

Have you read this book? Were you Harriet obsessed like me? Leave me some love and let me know. :)