Feature and Follow Friday #203

Welcome to the Feature & Follow

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Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers -- but you have to know -- the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee's View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it'll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work? First you leave your name here on this post, (using the linky tools -- keep scrolling!) then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them "hi" in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

What sets this Hop apart from others, is our Feature. Each week we will showcase a Featured Blogger, from all different genres and areas. Who is our Feature today? Find out below. Just remember it is required, if you participate, to follow our Features and ayou must follow the hosts (Parajunkee & Alison Can Read) as a courtesy. How do you follow someone? Well, if you have a preference, state it in your #FF post. A lot of blogs are transitioning to Wordpress in which they do not have the luxury of GFC, so an RSS subscription is appreciated or if you choose an email subscription. If you don't have GFC please state in your post how you would like to be followed.

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BEA Absence

Hello all!

Sorry for the lack of posts for a few days. I got to New York early to spend memorial day weekend with my husband before BEA. I planned on posting while I was here but I've been too busy. So aside from FF I probably won't have any posts until next week. See you on the other side!

Feature and Follow Friday #202

Welcome to the Feature & Follow

---

Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers -- but you have to know -- the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee's View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it'll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work? First you leave your name here on this post, (using the linky tools -- keep scrolling!) then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them "hi" in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

What sets this Hop apart from others, is our Feature. Each week we will showcase a Featured Blogger, from all different genres and areas. Who is our Feature today? Find out below. Just remember it is required, if you participate, to follow our Features and you must follow the hosts (Parajunkee & Alison Can Read) as a courtesy. How do you follow someone? Well, if you have a preference, state it in your #FF post. A lot of blogs are transitioning to Wordpress in which they do not have the luxury of GFC, so an RSS subscription is appreciated or if you choose an email subscription. If you don't have GFC please state in your post how you would like to be followed.

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BEA and Jealousy

The musical Into The Woods starts out with the words "Once upon a time...I wish." The main characters in the story each have something they wish for. They get their wishes at the end of the first act. But things quickly spiral downward when things don't work out as they dreams. Never fear, everything is made right by the end. Still, the final lines of the musical are: "And happily ever after! ... I wish."

Satisfaction is not part of human nature. We always want something more. When we get our dream, we start dreaming of going further. This is good. This is how we progress. We invent wagons so lots of people and things can travel by horse, but that's slow and relies on an animal. Someone comes up with the idea of trains, which can carry lots of people and go very quickly, but there are only so many train tracks and you have to travel with lots of people. Someone comes up with the idea of the automobile, which is versatile and cheap enough for most people to own, but it's still relatively slow and can't travel over water. Someone invents airplanes, which can carry hundreds of people around the world within hours. And it goes on and on. Each new incredible innovation is never good enough. We're always seeking.

Unfortunately, wishing does not always serve us well. It often transforms from ambition to jealousy. Unbridled envy that someone has something you do not. In the book blogging community, BEA is a time for celebration, but also a time where the green-eyed monster preys on nearly everyone - those who don't attend and even those who do.

I'm certainly not the first person to write about BEA and jealousy. My friend Mary of Bookswarm wrote a fabulous post the other day. Actually, I wrote a more extensive piece on blogging jealousy several years ago. Still, I thought BEA merited another jealousy post, partly because I felt  inspired and partly because I couldn't think of anything else to post today.

The only thing I can think of to say that may be different than other posts is:

Waiting on Wednesdays: Of Monsters and Madness by Jessica Verday

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine!

Of Monsters and Madness by Jessica Verday

Publish Date: September 9, 2014

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Spooky sounding book! I keep thinking of the title as Of Monsters and Men - a band I like.

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Release Date: October 2, 2012
Publisher: Speak
Source: BEA

Summary Jack the Ripper is back,
and he's coming for Rory next....

Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London to start a new life at boarding school just as a series of brutal murders mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper killing spree of more than a century ago has broken out across the city. The police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man believed to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him - the only one who can see him. And now Rory has become his next target...unless she can tap her previously unknown abilities to turn the tables.(courtesy of Goodreads)

Lord of the Rings Read-Along

Jenni of JenniElyse and Kami of Kami's Library Thoughts are hosting a Lord of the Rings read-along. I've been meaning to read this series for years. I read the first two books long ago, but I didn't read them consecutively and I also read them early in my fantasy days. I didn't appreciate them the way I wanted to and never got to the third. Now I have motivation to read it all at once.

I'm a little late in the read-along schedule, because I decided to re-read The Hobbit before tackling Lord of the Rings. Even though it got me off the timetable, I'm really glad I went back to The Hobbit. It provided a foundation I wouldn't have had otherwise.

I've finished Book 1 (basically 1/2 of the Fellowship of the Ring). I enjoyed it. Not quite as much as The Hobbit, but I am reserving opinions until I'm done with the book. Actually until I'm done with the series.

Manga Mondays #186: Voice Over!: Seiyu Academy vol. 1 by Maki Minami

Manga Mondays Meme

I've been doing Manga Mondays every week since I started my blog 4 years ago. It started out as a personal feature, but I decided to turn it into a meme last year. There are quite a few people who do Manga Mondays. I don't claim by any means that I owned or created the idea of Manga Mondays - it's an obvious choice given the alliteration. I think a meme is a great way for everyone to publicize their own Manga Mondays and get a little more publicity.

The linky will be below my review.

Voice Over!: Seiyu Academy vol. 1 by Maki Minami

Summary

A new series by the author of the best-selling S•A!

Hime Kino’s dream is to one day do voice acting like her hero Sakura Aoyama from the Lovely?Blazer anime, and getting accepted to the prestigious Holly Academy’s voice actor department is the first step in the right direction! But Hime’s gruff voice has earned her the scorn of teachers and students alike. Hime will not let that stand unchallenged. She’ll show everyone that she is too a voice acting princess, whether they like it or not!!

To make matters worse, Sakura’s grouchy son, Senri, is in Hime’s class, and he seems determined to stomp on her dreams. He even has the nerve to call Lovely?Blazer stupid! But Hime won’t be deterred by naysayers, her new nickname (“Gorilla Princess”), or even getting demoted to the Stragglers group. She’s ready to shine, and nothing is going to stand in her way! (courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

Feature and Follow Friday #201

Welcome to the Feature & Follow

---

Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers -- but you have to know -- the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee's View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it'll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work? First you leave your name here on this post, (using the linky tools -- keep scrolling!) then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them "hi" in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

What sets this Hop apart from others, is our Feature. Each week we will showcase a Featured Blogger, from all different genres and areas. Who is our Feature today? Find out below. Just remember it is required, if you participate, to follow our Features and you must follow the hosts (Parajunkee & Alison Can Read) as a courtesy. How do you follow someone? Well, if you have a preference, state it in your #FF post. A lot of blogs are transitioning to Wordpress in which they do not have the luxury of GFC, so an RSS subscription is appreciated or if you choose an email subscription. If you don't have GFC please state in your post how you would like to be followed.

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The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Release Date: September 21, 1937
Publisher: George Allen & Unwin
Source: Purchased

Summary Summary

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum.

Written for J.R.R. Tolkien's own children, The Hobbit has sold many millions of copies worldwide and established itself as a modern classic.(courtesy of Goodreads)

Waiting on Wednesdays: Guy In Real Life by Steve Brezenoff

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine!

Guy In Real Life by Steve Brezenoff

Publish Date: May 27, 2014

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

This sounds like something refreshingly different. Even better, it's set in my beloved Minnesota, where I wish I was this very second!

Klindt's and Powells: Tour Oregon Bookstores!

I just got home tonight from my week-long trip to Oregon. I should be back to regular posting tomorrow, but in the mean time, I wanted to show off two of the coolest bookstores in the country.

First, Klindt's in The Dalles, Oregon. My mother is from The Dalles. It's a town of about 10,000 people 90 minutes east of Oregon. It's right on the Columbia River surrounded by rolling hills, cherry orchards, and with Mt Hood in the near distance.

Feature and Follow Friday #200

Welcome to the Feature & Follow

---

Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers -- but you have to know -- the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee's View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it'll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work? First you leave your name here on this post, (using the linky tools -- keep scrolling!) then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them "hi" in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

What sets this Hop apart from others, is our Feature. Each week we will showcase a Featured Blogger, from all different genres and areas. Who is our Feature today? Find out below. Just remember it is required, if you participate, to follow our Features and you must follow the hosts (Parajunkee & Alison Can Read) as a courtesy. How do you follow someone? Well, if you have a preference, state it in your #FF post. A lot of blogs are transitioning to Wordpress in which they do not have the luxury of GFC, so an RSS subscription is appreciated or if you choose an email subscription. If you don't have GFC please state in your post how you would like to be followed.

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Waiting on Wednesdays: I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine!

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

Publish Date: September 16, 2014

Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers

*Sorry for the bad looking cover this week. I'm out of town and had to put the post together via phone. 

Jandy hasn't written anything since The Sky is Everywhere. I can't wait to read more from her!

Book Review Ratings: Yea or Nay?

I've used the same system for rating the books I review for the past four years: A star system going from 1 to 5. Lately, I've been questioning whether this rating system is a good idea and whether rating systems are good in general.

Manga Mondays #185: Death Note vol. 12 by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata

Manga Mondays Meme

I've been doing Manga Mondays every week since I started my blog almost 4 years ago. It started out as a personal feature, but I decided to turn it into a meme last year. There are quite a few people who do Manga Mondays. I don't claim by any means that I owned or created the idea of Manga Mondays - it's an obvious choice given the alliteration. I think a meme is a great way for everyone to publicize their own Manga Mondays and get a little more publicity.

The linky will be below my review.

Death Note vol. 12 by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata

Summary

Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects - and he's bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to track down the killer. With L hot on his heels, will Light lose sight of his noble goal...or his life?

Finis

The battle ends here! (courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

Feature and Follow Friday #199

Welcome to the Feature & Follow

---

Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers -- but you have to know -- the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee's View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it'll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work? First you leave your name here on this post, (using the linky tools -- keep scrolling!) then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them "hi" in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

What sets this Hop apart from others, is our Feature. Each week we will showcase a Featured Blogger, from all different genres and areas. Who is our Feature today? Find out below. Just remember it is required, if you participate, to follow our Features and you must follow the hosts (Parajunkee & Alison Can Read) as a courtesy. How do you follow someone? Well, if you have a preference, state it in your #FF post. A lot of blogs are transitioning to Wordpress in which they do not have the luxury of GFC, so an RSS subscription is appreciated or if you choose an email subscription. If you don't have GFC please state in your post how you would like to be followed.

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Summer State of Mind by Jen Calonita

Summer State of Mind by Jen Calonita

Release Date: April 22, 2014
Publisher: Poppy
Source: Borrowed

Summary

Summer has finally arrived and fifteen-year-old Harper McCallister intends to spend her days at the mall shopping or by the pool at her country club. But after receiving her latest heart-stopping credit card bill, Harper's parents makes other plans, and ship her off to camp.

Suddenly, the clueless yet ever-popular Harper is the new girl at the bottom of a social ladder she can't climb in wedge sandals and expensive clothes. She seems to be winning over super-cute camp "Lifer" Ethan, though, and if she can manage to make a few friends--and stay out of trouble--she just might find a whole new summer state of mind.

A fresh and funny summer-camp companion novel to Jen Calonita's hit Sleepaway Girls.(courtesy of Goodreads)