What am I reading? #2

This meme traditionally takes place on a Monday but I didn't have time to do it until now. This is hosted by One Person's Journey Through Books and basically, we tell you what we are reading, what we just finished and what we hope to read next.

I finished only 2 books this week (egg on face!). I must learn to balance blogging time, writing time, reading time and real life time better lol

The books I finished were:

- Sweet Valley Junior High #1: Get Real (review part 1 and part 2)

- Vampire Kisses (review)

What I am reading this week:

- The same books as last week. I got distracted lol

- Also, Hot Stuff by Janet Evanovich

What I plan to read next:

- An "Alias" novel

- A Lover Like No Otha by Stephanie Perry

So tell me... What are you reading??!

My friend's shopping blog!

Hey everyone. My friend started a blog where she talks about her favorite products she picks up at the store. If you like shopping, this is the blog for you. I am going to be writing a few articles for it as well. Check out ...

TALES OF TWO GIRLS SHOPPING

Thursday's Inquisition: My Friend Brandy

I am starting a new feature here at my blog. I will be interviewing a writer or passionate reader about - what else?! - books every Thursday! The first person I asked to interview is my dear friend Brandy who just started her own book blog. I interviewed her over IM so that's why it sounds so chatty lol

Daphne: Let me start by thanking you for the interview lol I want to do an interview with a reader and/or writer every week if possible.

Brandy: No problem at all.

Daphne: Awesome. So let's start talking about books. What are you reading right now?

Brandy: Right now it is The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks.

Daphne: Me too! I finally got my copy! lol

Brandy: lol

Daphne: How are you liking it - or not?

Brandy: I like it. It's good so far.

Daphne: Great. Did you recently read anything else?

Brandy: Just fan fiction lol

Daphne: lol What kinds of fan fiction do you like to read?

Brandy: Romance and drama.

Daphne: Any specific fandoms you like to read about?

Brandy: General Hospital, Law and Order: SVU, CSI Miami and New York. I think those are my main ones.

Daphne: Oh and Twilight too right?

Brandy: Yeah how could I forget that one and Vampire Diaries? lol

Daphne: Hehe not sure ... So you love to read and I know you write some awesome fan fiction. Have you thought about trying to write original fiction or be published?

B: I have tried to do an Original fiction but I find it really hard for some reason. lol I have thought of being published but have never done anything to get any of my stuff published. lol

D: There is always time ... Now tell us about your reading habits. Do you read at a certain time of day or when you get bored or...?

B: I read when I get bored or really excited for a book. Fan fiction I read all the time.

D: Cool. I love to read all the time but sometimes you know I get distracted with sleep and stuff lol ... Now have you ever read a book you absolutely hated? Like maybe in school the mean teachers forced you to read something awful? I know mine did lol

B: I really hated New Moon. lol I just found it so boring for some reason. lol

D: Not much Edward?

B: Yeah lol

D: So if you had to pick your favorite book of all time, what would it be?

B: That is hard lol

D: Definitely!

B: I guess it would have to be Breaking Dawn.

D: Why did you love it?

B: It just had a little of everything: love, romance, drama, etc.

D: And you never found it weird that Edward would watch Bella while she slept? lol have heard some people thought that was creepy heh

B: Not me. I thought it was romantic lol

D: Let's talk about your new blog. What will we find on it?

B: I will tell everyone about the books I have read. You will find The Last Song first but then you will find the books I have already read and maybe read again.

D: Awesome! I can't wait to hear your thoughts on The Last Song and other books!

B: I can't wait to share them.

D: Thanks so much for the interview!

B: No problem.

--

You can find Brandy's new blog HERE.

Character Connection #2: Nancy Drew

This is a meme from The Introverted Reader. Basically, every Thursday we highlight a character we love in fiction. Last week I picked Jane of Pride and Prejudice fame and this week, I am picking another classic character who has spanned the generations: Nancy Drew.

Nancy Drew has been around for something like 80 years and still hasn't aged a day. (Lucky her!) Why do I love her and her many incarnations? Because! Because everyone likes a smart, intelligent, quick-on-her-feet heroine. She's not one of those who stumbles around blindly wondering what she needs to do, she springs into action and just takes charge of the situtation. She has stared down mobsters, international drug lords, kidnappers, murderers and any other type of n'er-do-well you can think of without flinching. My favorite Nancy is from of course the original Grosset and Dunlap yellow book versions but in high school I also had a really big infatuation with the Nancy Drew on Campus books. Nancy in college, dealing with mystery but also dating, relationships, mean roommates ... That was bliss for me and to this day, I love those books for escapist literature even more than Sweet Valley High and its many spin-offs. Come on, how can you not love a series where prudy George loses her "V card"? (lol I hate that phrase, not sure why I used it either lol)

For all of Nancy's many twists and turns, she is forever the girl I'd love to be. When I'm eighty, I hope I look half as good!

Teaser Tuesdays (1)

This is the first time I'm taking part of Teaser Tuesday but it sounds fun. You can find out more about it at Should Be Reading but basically the idea is to randomly flip open to a page in the current book you are reading and share two "teaser" sentences without giving away any spoilers. The book I am using for Teaser Tuesday is "The IT Girl", created by Cecily von Ziegesar. I had put this book down awhile ago when life got crazy and totally forgot about it till I stumbled on it last night lol

Here are the quotes from page 42:

1. "Of course, indecision about losing her virginity wasn't the kind of thing a girl like Brett ever admitted aloud."

2. "The view of the river, which usually calmed her down like a shot of aged whiskey, now seemed suffocating."

Look for my review of The It Girl sometime this week!

As if 2 blogs were not enough ...

I am certifiably crazy but oh well, that is me in a nutshell. I have started a third book blog! This one will be almost completely centered around the Sweet Valley verse. If you loved those little books as a teen or still sneak glances at them now and again, check out my new blog where I will be posting reviews of every book in all of the many spin-off series' + giveaways and much more. Hope to see you there!

READING MY WAY THROUGH SWEET VALLEY!

So help me Lord! This will better be the last challenge I participate in!

So help me god, this better be the last challenge I participate in lol This will make 5 and I am already overwhelmed. But it sounds too interesting to resist. The challenge is called the 1010 Challenge and you can learn more about it HERE. Basically the idea behind it is to read books in 10 different categories. My categories are:

1. Classics
2. Romance
3. Cozy Mysteries
4. Male writers
5. Borrowed Books (books I borrow from friends or the library)
6. Erotica (I've never read that before so its something new for me lol)
7. Non-fiction
8. TV Tie-ins (books that are based on TV shows)
9. Horror
10. African-American writers

Cheer me on! Five challenges is a lot for me lol