Bookish Games- who will win??

In case some of you may not have seen on the a Bookish Heart blog, Asti is hosting an event based off the Hunger Games.  It is really quite fun and you can read about it here.  Basically us (the bloggers) are put on two teams, the Tributes and Team Katniss.  It is a secret what team we are on.  From her blog  It’s “Team Katniss” versus “Team Tributes”.  The goal of “Team Tributes” is to get rid of everyone who is on “Team Katniss”, including Katniss herself.  They do this by voting for who they want to get rid of during each “Day” phase of the game.  Majority vote at the end of the “Day” results in that person being eliminated.  The goal of “Team Katniss” is to outlast all of the players of “Team Tributes”.  This can be done by avoiding getting voted out during the “Day” and killing players at “Night”.

Here is what is happening in Week 1.  You can see we are all suspecting each other!  If you want to comment about the games and what you see happening here is the Spectator Arena where you can talk about it.   The games might seem a little confusing to those of you reading along, we were each sent individual emails to explain it a little better.  But once you start reading along I think you will pick up what is going on.  I think it's a lot of fun so I wanted to let my followers know about it so they can pop over there and check it out and maybe play the next round (next round meaning when there is a second Bookish Games.. which I am sure there will be).


 

The Walking Dead - Video Game Review

The Walking Dead

AMAZING... that is the only words for this game. AMAZING! The Walking Dead is a game where you get to follow along different chapters and make decisions.  The decisions you make will determine what happens during the game.  If you kill someone they will no longer be in your group of survivors, if you save them they will for example. The game consists of 5 episodes (with a new one released right now that you can buy through Playstaion network or Xbox Live).  The new one is under The Walking Dead 400 Days which still has 4 episodes left to release.  I will wait for them all to be released together so I can rent the disk from RedBox.  

This game has no puzzles or big mysteries to solve.  You just follow the story line along and push the different buttons on the controller to make decisions. The neat thing is that the choices you make will either make the survivors in your group like Lee (the character you play) or dislike Lee. The player of the game can interact will all the surroundings.. which makes exploring a lot of fun.

The plot in this story is really what makes it truly fun.  You play the character of Lee who finds himself in the world surround by zombies out of no where.  You meet quite a few characters along the way including a young girl named Clementine.  Lee protects her from the zombies by being friends or enemies with people.  Lying or telling them the truth.  All the choices are up to you.  The ending of this game is a tearjerker!  I don't normally get all weepy when gaming but this game does it!

This game is NOT to be confused with The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct.  I played that one too and it was awful and not even close to the Epicness of this game.   We won't even go there right now!

I have to be honest... I cheated a little in this game.  I mean .. I HAD to know what would've happened if I had made different choices.  So every time I made a big decision I went to the walkthroughs to see what would've happened if I had did something else.  I mean.. I just couldn't help myself!  And if you don't look bravo!!  I just need to know every little thing about this game!

10 out of 10!!!!

Waiting on Wednesday- Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, where we have the chance to share what upcoming releases we are on the edge of our seats in anticipation for.

I have enjoyed reading the Stephanie Plum series and look forward to reading the twentieth book in the series!  It comes out on November 19th perfect for fall reading.  Takendown Twenty will probably follow the same format as the other nineteen books... but hey I love the style.  Here is the description:

 New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum knows better than to mess with family. But when powerful mobster Salvatore “Uncle Sunny” Sunucchi goes on the lam in Trenton, it’s up to Stephanie to find him. Uncle Sunny is charged with murder for running over a guy (twice), and nobody wants to turn him in—not his poker buddies, not his bimbo girlfriend, not his two right-hand men, Shorty and Moe. Even Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, has skin in the game, because—just Stephanie’s luck—the godfather is his actual godfather. And while Morelli understands that the law is the law, his old-world grandmother, Bella, is doing everything she can to throw Stephanie off the trail.

It’s not just Uncle Sunny giving Stephanie the run-around. Security specialist Ranger needs her help to solve the bizarre death of a top client’s mother, a woman who happened to play bingo with Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur. Before Stephanie knows it, she’s working side by side with Ranger and Grandma at the senior center, trying to catch a killer on the loose—and the bingo balls are not rolling in their favor.

With bullet holes in her car, henchmen on her tail, and a giraffe named Kevin running wild in the streets of Trenton, Stephanie will have to up her game for the ultimate takedown.

I can't wait!! 

 

Bout of Books 8.0 Sign Ups

I am going to participate again in this read-a-thon! It is my 3rd time.  I really need to get caught up on some books and when I saw others participating in it I knew it was perfect for me.  It starts on the 19th!

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 19th and runs through Sunday, August 25th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 8.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog.

Don't forget to use the #boutofbooks hashtag when updating on Twitter and follow boutofbooks.
I will be updating my progress here on my webpage and on my my twitter page. 
I will be doing a master post as the read-a-thon gets closer with all the books I plan to read and with all the challenges I do!  Can't wait to get started!

The 39 Clues Trust No One by Linda Sue Park - Review

I am almost done with the 39 Clues series!!  1 more book to go.  I am ready to finish it.  I thought I was done and then they surprised me this whole Cahills VS Vespers.  Sooo I kept reading.  Here is the goodreads description:

When seven members of their family were kidnapped, thirteen-year-old Dan Cahill and his older sister, Amy, got ready for the fight of their lives. But their enemy, a terrifying group known as the Vespers, remained frustratingly elusive. They stay in the shadows, picking off Cahills one by one. And now the Vespers have landed their most serious blow yet - a blow that strikes at the very heart of the Cahill family. Because Amy and Dan discover that there's a Vesper mole in their innermost circle. Amy and Dan need to smoke out the traitor before the next hostage dies. They have just days to discover who has their back . . . and who wants to sink a knife into it. In this fifth volume to The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers series. Amy and Dan will venture into an unthinkable adventure that will have anticipating the final volume. 

I have enjoyed the 30 clues series from the start.  I loved the whole idea of all these books being written by different authors.  This book was good at pushing the plot toward the end of the series.  To be honest I am getting a little tired of following the main characters (Dan and Amy) around the world and finding clues.  If the series continues after Day of Doom (which is the book after this one) then I probably won't continue.  I was a little disappointed in this book though because we don't really get to read about all the characters we've grown to love.  I am sure in the last book everyone will enter back into the story but for now we just focused on our little group of teens.

There is a lot of story lines happening in this book and I love it.  I am glad that the next book will answer all these questions. The cliffhanger in this book was perfect. This book series is really good and I think more people should read them. There is a little love triangle going on.. but I guess that will get nipped in the butt in the last book.  These books are fun fast reads.. they are for middle school readers but hey.. I still love them!

 The crystal ball says:

Clouds are covering! A read that lets me down every now and then but peaks out of the clouds!


 My other reviews:
 39 Clues: Vesper's Rising #11
39 Clue Series Medusa's Plot (Cahills VS Vespers #1)
39 Clues Series: The King's Ransom (Cahills VS Vespers #2)
39 Clue Series: Dead of Night (Cahills VS Vespers #3)
39 Clues: Shatterproof (Cahills VS Vespers #4)
39 Clues Series Operation Trinity (Cahill Files #1)

Off To OZ Giveaway Sign Ups

It's time to sign up for the Off to OZ giveaway!  Hosted by myself and I am a reader, not a writer.

September 10th-17th

The Off to OZ Rules:

• You must include a giveaway on your hop stop and are responsible for supplying and shipping that prize.
• Since this is for Off to OZ- your giveaway must feature a book that would fit in the category of Classic books, Classic retelling or time travel books.
• You may have a maximum of 6 entries and only ONE can be mandatory.
• Offering a Gift Card or book of choice from The Book Depository is fine.
• Your giveaway post must include the hop image & linky (or links to the host’s sites if you can’t get the linky to work).
• Your post must be live by 12 AM EST on Sept 10th. Up to 24 hours early is fine. Ending the giveaway on Sept 17th.
• The giveaway must be specifically for this hop.
• Your site & giveaway must be family friendly – no erotica or 18+ sites.
• Once your post is live AND accepting entries please email me a direct link so I can update the linky. I ask if at all possible please put your post up sometime on Sept 9th. If you sign up for this hop and then realize you can not post delete your name from the list. I totally understand that life happens so if something comes up.
• To host a giveaway add your blog to the linky with your shipping info in parenthesis (US) (US/Can) (INT) following your blog name. Example:  Angela's Anxious Life (US). if you don’t include shipping info I will assume you are shipping to US only and edit the linky for you. If you have any questions or need anything changed please email Angie (me) at wsbronco@aol.com.

Be sure to add the button to your blog!

<div class="Off to OZ-button" style="width: 150px; margin: 0 auto;"> <a href="http://angelasanxiouslife.blogspot.com/2013/07/off-to-oz-giveaway-sign-ups.html" rel="nofollow"> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHstyLOYmHXhXqbagvtRfteMTydQ-ioMWEnd2Qtoxd9Si2YGj7Ti9ZHhBJFtJvM0MfZFZcHETnDRmylfHLjsFk0ogw26fBUw9dcg1Rv0x2d1pD0FSvfSHYXmSgdsLzc4bqp16cv48qrzM/s320/giveaway+hop+image.jpg" alt="Wizard of Oz Giveaway Hop width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div>

get the InLinkz code

Vamps VS Zombies

I am in!  So I decided this August to join My Shelf Confessions.  She is having a month long event celebrating all things Zombie and Vampire! Which monster reigns supreme?! There will be a Giveaway Blog Hop, a Linky Up Challenge where you can link your Vampire/Zombie themed posts from the month of August, a Books, Brains ‘n Blood Read-a-Thon, lots of Hosted Challenges, author guest posts/interviews, twitter parties, reviews and giveaway gore galore!! There are THREE different Linky’s for these main Activities!

I love all things Zombies and Vampires so if you are interested too go on over there and sign up. I am looking forward to the readathon!! 

Harry Potter Moment of the Week-Favorite Creature!!

I am participating in Harry Potter moment of the week hosted by  Uncorked Thoughts .  Here is what we do:

This is a meme hosted Uncorked Thoughts.  The aim of this meme is to share with fellow bloggers a character, spell, chapter, object or quote from the books/ films/ J. K. Rowling herself or anything Potter related! I will be picking a topic within HP for us to focus on each week and then if anyone wants to take part feel free!  There is now a full list of the topics to come here.

Q.What is your favorite creature from the series?

A.  Oh wow! I have to pick the ghosts (I hope those are creatures).  I always loved reading about the ghosts in the books.  Why they were ghosts.. and who were the school ghosts. the ghosts are silvery and translucent. The ghosts have rotten food on their tables that the flow through to eat.

Some ghosts include: Nearlyheadless Nick, the Bloody Baron, The Gray Lady, Professor Binns, The Fat Friar, Moaning Myrtle, and of course Peeves (but he is a poltergeist).  I was always disappointed Peeves does not end up in the films. That would've been great.  I find it interesting when Harry goes in search of Nearlyheadless Nick to find out if Sirius will come back as a ghost.  Nearlyheadless Nick knew Harry would come to find him to ask that question, and he must tell him that Sirius will not become a ghost (so sad!!).

I love the image from Pottermore of the Death Day party!  I would've love to have gone to this party.

What creatures do you love?

Project Disney-Alice in Wonderland

I am participating in Project Disney hosted by Picture Me Reading!  Go to her blog to learn more about it and participate!

Project Disney: The plan is to tackle all of the Disney films, re-reading the classic stories and tales that inspired many of them and to look at how the changes the filmmakers made, the new elements they introduced and the essential elements they kept. We will, of course, be talking about the films as movies as well, saying why we enjoy them and what some of our favorite moments are, but our focus will be on looking at them as adaptations. For the films that are not drawn from any one work we’ll be looking at some of the possible literary influences that we see in the stories. 

Alice in Wonderland

"WHO ARE YOU??" (my favorite saying from the movie from the Caterpillar of course).  Project Disney is covering Alice in Wonderland this week based off the book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll.  I read this book a few years ago.  I must admit I love this Disney movie but didn't really like the book at all.  It was so odd.   The book has branched an amazing series of retellings though including the Disney film.  

The book has many of the same characters as the movie, the White Rabbit, the Caterpillar, a Dodo bird, Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, and the Queen of Hearts.   Just as in the movie, Alice bounces around from place to place in Wonderland.  Alice meets a Duchess in the book who has a baby and gets mad at Alice and throws her baby at her.  Alice catches the baby and goes outside to find it's a pig. This part is really strange to me! A lot of the same lines we hear in the movie are used in the book too. The Cheshire Cat explains to Alice that madness is the chief characteristic of the residents of Wonderland, and that to be in Wonderland is to be mad.  

The movie has some really great scenes.  There is an entire scene of beautiful flowers that come alive and sing a fun song about all kinds of different flowers.  The Caterpillar part of the film is so lyrically clever ( he is smoking his hookah so Disney slides an anti-smoking ad on the DVD before the movie starts). In the book when Alice eats the mushroom her neck grows extremely high (which is where the classic art comes from that everyone sees) unlike in the movie her whole body grows. 

Another amazing part of the film and book is of course the Tea Party with the Mad Hatter.  The song a "Very Merry Unbirthday" is fun, I sing it all the time.  Disney does a good job here of following the book.  The Mad Hatter does talk about riddles and time, and a watch (it's the Hatter's watch that is broke not the White Rabbit since the White Rabbit is not actually at the tea party in the book).  A character that I have always loved is the Cheshire Cat.  In the movie Alice meets him a few times.. in the book she doesn't see him again until the croquet game where she meets the Queen of Hearts.   The Cheshire Cat leads Alice around in the movie to the different locations she visits.

 

source

 The music in the film is some of the best I think in Disney films.  There are 14 original songs in this movie. I love how the Queen of Hearts is portrayed in the movie.  In the book she isn't as evil, in the movie it's off with everyone's heads.  The croquet game is fun to watch using flamingos as mallets, hedgehogs as balls, and card soldiers as goals.  In the movie a prank is playing on the Queen and a trail happens right after (in the book someone has stolen some tarts). The Cat made it seem like Alice caused the prank and the Queen tries to take Alice's head.   In the movie Alice runs and there is a chase back to the door to lead her home, and in the book she simply wakes up. 

source

The movie is great I just love it... the book was neat but just odd. I was a little confused reading it but I suppose that is the point.  I love all the spinoffs from this book.  Here is the Annie Lebovich picture from her Disney series (I post these on all my Project Disney posts).  This is my least favorite out of all of her pictures.  I am not sure why.. I just don't like the close up shot.  I think she could've had a fabulous background and a more whimsical picture.

 

Be sure to check out my other Project Disney posts:

Snow White

Cinderella
Peter Pan
Treasure Planet
Sleeping Beauty
The Great Mouse Detective 
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Princess and the Frog
Pinocchio 
Fantasia 
Beauty and the Beast
Lady and the Tramp

The Rescuers

The Rescuers Down Under

Check out Picture Me Reading's Post on Alice in Wonderland

Follow Me Friday

This is the day of the week where we get to know each other better by answering a question devised by our lovely hostesses Parajunkee & Alisoncanread. Sounds like GFC is eventually going away..  so you may want to follow by email or bloglovin/feedly (I love both). And now for this week's question....

Q. What do you do with your books after your done reading them?


A. Well this is easy for me... I return them to the library! I would say 99% of my books come from the library.  I love my library.  I read sooo many books and I just don't have the money to buy all of them. I go to my library on the same day every week and return what I am done with and pick up what's new.  I love it.. I get books, video games, and movies from there.  Now for this epic cat move!

Also.. I am doing the Reading Road Trip- and I have the state UTAH if you want to check it out! Click here!  If this tempts you more.. there is a giveaway!

Endlessly by Kiersten White Review

Endlessly by Kiersten White

Another series down!!   I am so happy that I am finishing all these series.  I originally read the first book Paranormalcy way back in my Young Adult Book Club.   I seem to start all my series books in that group! I enjoyed the first two but this one fell flat for me.  Here is the goodreads description:

Evie's paranormal past keeps coming back to haunt her. A new director at the International Paranormal Containment Agency wants to drag her back to headquarters. The Dark Faerie Queen is torturing humans in her poisonous realm. And supernatural creatures keep insisting that Evie is the only one who can save them from a mysterious, perilous fate. The clock is ticking on the entire paranormal world. And its fate rests solely in Evie's hands. So much for normal.

I have attempted to read this book two times before this.  When it first came out, but I didn't read it fast enough so I had to return it to the library.  Then again in November when a family emergency came up so I had to return it to the library again.  This time I did it!  I did start back over from the beginning because I was a little lost.  I really wanted to read these books because of the book covers.  I just love them, they are beautiful.

The story itself was only OK for me.  I just felt the main character Evie came across as a little annoying.  The supernatural spirits needed her help and she just had a huge fit because she wanted to do what she wanted to do.  That didn't include helping all these spirits. So we travel through the book and everyone keeps trying to get her to help them.. of course by tricking her.  So every time she was discovered she was tricked she would have a fit again.   I liked Evie more in the first two books.

This book is larger then a love triangle.. it's a .. well whatever a four person love mess is.  Lend, Reth, Jack and Evie.  There were a lot of other love interests in this book, but they were just so quick.  What were they even there for?  I think the humor in this book was too much and trying too hard.  I did enjoy seeing the Dark Queen and the Good Queen but even those were short story lines.  

Spoilers coming!!

So the book was a satisfying ending.. but I wonder if it was a realistic ending.  Why would two supernatural beings stay behind in our world?  I really think Lend and Evie should've went over to the other side. I don't really think it is that smart of Lend to stay in our world when he has to live forever.  What a depressing life.  Evie would get old, wrinkled.. I guess that Lend stops aging at some point?  (this is confusing and the author never lets us know why he is aging now but won't be again later).

END spoilers

Overall I was just disappointed in this final book in the series.  I will still read more of the author's work because I think she is a great descriptive writer.

The crystal ball says:

Rain is pouring...  Not sure if this was really worth my time, must get umbrella.
Reviews of the first two books:
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Supernaturally by Kiersten White