New Beginnings

Since I haven’t really posted since, oh a year ago besides yesterday, I’m feeling the need to catch up a bit on here and revert back to my original blog style. So, here goes nothing.

Life has been moving crazy-fast. Somehow I have ended up going to college in two weeks (scary!) with new opportunities coming my way. As you probably can tell from my previous posts I’m a bookworm at heart who loves music and movies. It just so happens that I have a few new books, movies and bands that strangely have helped me accept that my life is changing and how to handle the next chapter in my life as a college student.

Book-wise I’m sort of addicted to John Green. If you haven’t heard of him, I demand you to go watch he and his brother Hank Green in their YouTube videos as The VlogBrothers. The best one to get you started is called How To Be a Nerdfighter. Watch them, it will change your life. John who makes up one half of VlogBrothers is an award-winning bestselling author of books like Looking for Alaska and his newest book The Fault in Our Stars which tells the story of Augustus and Hazel, two teenagers battling cancer who explore the meaning of existence and fall in love in the process. While this book made me bawl my eyes out, it also opened my eyes to how lucky I am and how I want to make each day count doing what I love and being around those I love.

Music has been very scattered for me this summer. I never found the perfect “summer song” that I replay constantly, but I attempted to find some music that was more “college”. I don’t exactly know what makes a song “college”, but I guess I know it when I hear it. My favorite “college” song of the moment is The Deep End by Hannah Georgas (which some of you might recognize from the best high school comedy, Awkward on MTV). Honestly, I don’t think I could love a TV show more than I love Awkward. It’s hilarious, relatable, and has a killer romantic plotline—what’s not to love? It’s taught me to keep a sense of humor otherwise I’ll probably go crazy dwelling on all of the aspects of my life changing.

Sadly, I’ve been a horrible movie-goer this summer. The only movie that I went to in the theaters was Magic Mike for which I had horrible justification for attending. One movie that I did see outside of the theaters that resonated with me was a film called Jeff Who Lives at Home starring Jason Segal and Ed Helms. I was surprised when I picked it up that this movie didn’t get more media attention since both actors (oh, and Susan Sarandon!) are pretty big names in Hollywood. The movie documents a day in the life of Jeff who lives in his mom’s basement. He believes that life is full of signs and cosmic quests that are predestined if you look for the signs. His sign during the movie happens to be the name “Kevin”. While it seems like a weird concept, it comes together beautifully at the end and made me wonder about the reason things happen. I’ve always believed in some sort of fate behind everything that happened, but this movie forced me to think about it and really decide my position on it.

If you’ve made it this far you’re a brave soul. Sorry if I rambled a bit, but it’s been a while since I really talked to you guys. Thanks for reading and I honestly promise that I will continue through the year with more book reviews/ life updates!

read.write.love.

..Maggie..

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

So, I'm trying my hand here at some one-book reviewing here! I just read the best book, I think you'll love it too :)

                In a seemingly former life, Echo Emerson reigned as the most popular girl in school. Now she is an outcast covering up scars from a horrific night even she can’t remember. Noah Hutchins, the epitome of social outcast, could care less about getting to know Echo. When they are forced together by their guidance councilor for tutoring, they start to come together to help each other work through their personal struggles and find love in the midst of it.

                While the book was a little hard to get into, once the characters of Echo and Noah started to develop more I could not put the book down. McGarry does an excellent job of keeping the reader intrigued by leaving small clues along the way about what really happened to Echo the night she almost died and revealing why her brain suppressed the memories. Noah’s character held just as much mystery in his past, but on top of figuring out why he constantly throws up walls around the people trying to help him, readers find the heart that’s buried underneath. He is fighting to get his little brothers out of foster care, the little brothers that bring out the best side of him and show who Noah was before the night his parents died.

                I think the best thing about the book is that it’s raw and real. Nothing is sugar coated—there’s swearing, teen drinking, drugs, etc. but in my opinion, that adds credibility to the story. Not that all teenagers partake in these activities, but McGarry showed every demographic of high school student from perfect popular kids to stoner rejects and gave them all a heart.

                And, of course, the part that everyone looks forward to: the romance. It does not disappoint. The relationship between Echo and Noah isn’t corny or clichéd—it’s two people who have struggled, coming together to overcome their difficulties, accept the life they have, and have a possibility of a better future. I recommend this book to teen fiction lovers who enjoy romance with a complex story line and aren’t put off by the definite PG-13 material mixed in. And those who love a good bad boy.

Want to win Pushing The Limits and a bunch of other awesome books? Go to http://bit.ly/PTLRaffle and enter the code "EchoandNoahForever" for a chance to win!   

              Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry is published by Harlequin Teen.

It's almost April?

So, my promise in my first post about being timely? Apparently it's not been holding. This winter has been crazy busy with newspaper and band and pure torture that my teachers force upon me. You know, the usual stuff that bothers kids. Plus a sinus infection that refuses to go away... but that's beside the point.

Within those months, I've got a lot to catch you up on! I've read a couple of books, but not that many that have really stuck out to me. Today I finished reading the third novel in Carrie Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth novel The Dark and Hollow Places (published by Delacorte Books for Young Readers). Like the last review, I don't want to spoil anything from the beginning of the series, so I'll start with the large jist. It's set after the apocalypse where everyone has become infected with a zombie-like disease (they call them Unconsecrated). Within the Forest of Hands and Teeth there is a gated community blocking the Unconsecrated from the living, but when the gate is breeched and the community falls to the Unconsecrated, Mary and a small band of teenagers in the community venture out into the forest in search of sanctuary, namely the ocean her mother has told her so much about. The next novel chronicles the life of Mary's daughter, Gabry, and the third Gabry's sister Annah. Don't worry, there's plenty of romance and suspense to get you through the zombies :).

Musically, I've got loads! My favorite band of all time, Empires, is up for the cover of Rolling Stone. They are having a contest with 16 unsigned bands to win the cover. They have made it to the final 8 and are so close to making the top 4! To check them out and give 'em 5 stars, click here. That's my small plug, even if you don't vote for them, check out their stuff! It's wicked (mostly I just said that because I wanted to sound British, though it's probably not obvious, hence the explanation). One of the bands that got eliminated, the Steelwells, I kind of fell in love with, also. Where Empires is rock all the time, the Steelwells... I can't describe it, it just makes you so happy to listen to. It's easy going and free yet packed with emotion. A few (British!) bands that I've stumbled across are The Answering Machine and Two Door Cinema Club. You've probably heard of Two Door Cinema Club if you've been watching MTV since they'll be at the Woodies, but the Answering Machine is equally good, if not more enjoyable.

                                              photo of Empires from their Facebook Page
Finally, I feel the need to go over some movies I've seen lately because if there's anything I live for, it's movies. I'm fascinated with music in movies and how they affect the mood of the scene. The best music inside a movie that evokes emotion (lately) would have to be The Wolf by Fever Ray. It's from the movie Red Riding Hood (directed by Catherine Hardwicke) which is only slightly like Twilight if that's what you're thinking. The movie had good acting (Amanda Seyfried), an intense mystery, and hot guys. I'm beginning to see a pattern in things I enjoy....

Warner Brothers

If you've stuck around this long, thanks for reading. I really hope you check out some of the music (Empires Empires Empires) and have a great day!

read.write.love.
..Maggie..

Oh! P.S., you can get a download of my personal favorite Empires song Damn Things Over on their website. weareempires.com

Ze Blog!

Hello Everyone!

Just starting out my blog with a polite greeting and thank you for stopping by my little blog! As described, I am a voracious reader of anything teen fiction (mostly fantasy related) and love to write it as well. I'm currently working on a novel about a girl with a dark family secret who has a bout of sarcasm. She's fun to write and it makes me remember why I love doing it.

My friends are pretty great, we love to hang out and play some video games (well me mostly watch because I stink at them... unless it's Wii Just Dance which I kind of own at), go to movies, and  hang out on the weekends. And oh, I'm a junior in high school so those things are pretty innocent in comparison to the kid I sit by in Algebra. You'd swear she wanted the teacher to know about her party with alcohol that weekend.

I'm currently reading the new Vampire Academy novel called Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead (Published by Penguin Group Razor Bill) and I'm about 100 pages in. Since this is the sixth book in the series I don't want to spoil anything so I'll recap what has happened before this book. Basically, Rose Hathaway is a Dhampire, a half human half vampire whose duty is to protect the Moroi (full vampires). Rose and her Moroi best friend Lissa Dragomir escape from St. Vladimir's Vampire Academy in the very beginning of the book and are now caught and brought back. There's action, there's romance, and there's evil vampires lurking around every corner. What's not to like? Check it out! I guarentee if you like teen paranormal/fantasy romance, you will fall in love.

On a musical note, I've purchased Sea Wolf's newest (well, new to me, it came out in 2009) album White Water, White Bloom by Dangerbird Records. It's got a great indie feel with calming vocals by Alex Brown Church. The song currently hitting up my top 25 from this album is Wicked Blood with it's great mix of piano, guitar and an upbeat tempo it's addicting. If you need an album to relax to, do some homework, or daydream to, I highly recommend it.

That's all I've got for today, folks! I'll try and be timely on these as I start out. Thanks for reading!

read.write.love.
..Maggie..