When Kennedy Waters finds her mother dead, her world begins to unravel. She doesn’t know that paranormal forces in a much darker world are the ones pulling the strings. Not until identical twins Jared and Lukas Lockhart break into Kennedy’s room and destroy a dangerous spirit sent to kill her. The brothers reveal that her mother was part of an ancient secret society responsible for protecting the world from a vengeful demon — a society whose five members were all murdered on the same night.
Author: Sara
Doctor Who Rewatch-Season One
So I am currently doing a rewatch of all seasons of Doctor Who. I’ve watched most of the episodes over and over again but I haven’t sat down to rewatch them, order in order, visit web since I first watched them. I’m attempting to watch all of them before Gallifrey One, the LA Doctor Who convention next month. After each season, I’ll do a little do-dad of my favorite episode and all that fun stuff.
Enjoy!
Doctor Who Series 1-2005
The Doctor:
The 9th Doctor, played by Christopher Eccleston
Companion(s):
Rose Tyler, played by Billie Piper. Mickey Smith, played by Noel Clarke. Captain Jack Harkness, played by John Barrowman
Favorite Episode and Why:
The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances
I was already pretty hooked into Doctor Who by the time I got to this episode BUT I think this is the episode that really made me go,”Okay, there is no way I’m going to stop watching this show.” For one thing, scary little kids are SUPER creepy but I get a kick out of them. They’re something that is supposed to be sweet, innocent, playful and they’re turned into this completely menacing and creepy thing. Its fantastic. I also love the introduction of Captain Jack Harkness because John Barrowman is a babe, and he has so much comedic timing in that episode alone. I love him. I also love the ending of this two parter. I can’t help but get completely choked up with Nancy and Jamie’s reunion and I love watching The Doctor dance with Rose.
Least Favorite Episode and Why:
Boomtown
Its not that I don’t like this episode. For the most part, I like all Doctor Who episodes. But this one is just sort of a letdown to me. Maybe because I know the two big episodes are coming up next, with 9’s regeneration and all that, and I’m ready to move on to the excitement? I’m not sure. But I found myself mostly tuning this one out. I also was never a huge fan of the Slitheen story lines, though I do absolutely adore Harriet Jones (who I just discovered is also Mrs Gardiner in Pride and Prejudice LOL). I think its because they’re so big and bulbous and yucky. I’m not a fan. I do love The Doctor in this episode though, kind of going through his own internal battles. I would say maybe its my least favorite because there is less action going on and its not one of my particular favorites of the inner struggle episodes.
Favorite Quotes:
The Doctor: “Fantastic!”
The Doctor: “I give you, in return, air from my lungs.”
The Doctor: “Go to your room! Go to your room! I mean it. I’m very, very angry with you. I’m very, very cross! Go! To! Your! Room! I’m really glad that worked. Those would have been terrible last words.”
The Doctor: “Everybody lives, Rose! Just this once, everybody lives!”
The Doctor: “Rose… before I go, I just want to tell you: you were fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. And do you know what? So was I!”
Jack Harkness: “Ladies, your viewing figures just went up.”
Rose Tyler: “You don’t just give up. You don’t just let things happen. You make a stand. You say “no.” You have the guts to do what’s right when everyone else just runs away…”
Jack Harkness: “Who looks at a screwdriver and says “Oooh, this could be a little more sonic!”?”
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What are you favorite and least favorite episodes of Doctor Who, Series 1? What are you favorite moments, your favorite quotes, who is your favorite character? Share in the comments!
January Book Events!
I am SO sorry this is so late. I’m usually so much more on top of this but December was an incredibly busy month and I’m working two jobs and reading and writing…that’s no excuse. I apologize for the delay and I hope it does not happen again!
Here are the events for the month!
Please remember (as always) that this list is not 100% accurate. Please check with the bookstores to keep updated with the event. Events can be canceled, patient arranged for different days, dosage etc. This is ROUGH, stomach and not updated through the month.
January 12th:
Houston, TX: R.J. Palacio at Blue Willow Bookshop at 3 pm
Santa Monica, CA: Ann Stampler at Diesel at 3 pm
January 13th:
Austin, TX: Joelle Charbonneau at Barnes and Noble at 6 pm
January 14th:
Los Angeles, CA: Ransom Riggs at Barnes and Noble: The Grove at 7 pm
January 15th:
Albuquerque, NM: Joelle Charbonneau at Alamosa Books at 7 pm
Salt Lake City, UT: Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando at King’s English Bookshop at 7 pm
January 16th:
Petaluma, CA: Joelle Charbonneau at Copperfields at 4 pm
January 17th:
Las Vegas, NV: Lissa Price at Barnes and Noble (Rainbow Promenade) at 7 pm
January 18th:
New York City, NY: Cornelia Funke and Susan Cooper at Books of Wonder at 1 pm
January 19th:
Naperville, IL: Ransom Riggs at Anderson’s Bookshop at 2 pm
Redondo Beach, CA: Robin Benway at Mysterious Galaxy at 2:30 pm
January 20th:
January 21st:
January 22nd:
Frisco, TX: Ransom Riggs at Barnes and Noble at 7 pm
January 23rd:
Fairway, KS: Ransom Riggs at Rainy Day Bookstore at 7 pm
Oceanside, CA: Kiersten White and Shannon Messenger at Barnes and Noble at 6 pm
January 24th:
January 25th:
Carle Place, NY: Ransom Riggs at Barnes and Noble at 2 pm
Keller, TX: YAK Fest (Young Adult Keller Book Fest) at Central High School
January 26th:
Baton Rouge, LA: Neal Shusterman at Barnes and Noble at 2 pm
January 27th:
January 28th:
January 29th:
McClean, VA: Ransom Riggs at Barnes and Noble at 6 pm
Milwaukee, WI: Patrick Ness at Boswell Book Company at 7 pm
January 30th:
January 31st:
WWW Wednesday
WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Should Be Reading.
The three W’s are:
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading? (Click on the book covers for reviews!)
What do you think you’ll be reading next?
Tuesday Top Ten-Favorite Bands/Musical Inspirations
Music is an important aspect of my life. Not as much as my boyfriend, remedy who has an obsession, bordering on addiction to music, but it is still important to me. It is important in the bands that I love and in that it is very inspiring and helpful while I’m writing my novel and my blog post.
I wanted to share my favorite ten bands because of the inspiration they provide for me, and the way they can all make a bad day feel like a good one again.
I didn’t write much for each one. I wanted the music to speak for itself.
Click on song titles to listen to them on YouTube!
10. The Beatles
This is all my boyfriend’s doing. When we first started dating, this is all he was listening to and I quickly became so attached to them. I quickly learned all their songs, watched their movies, and learned alllll about them. The Beatles can always make life feel that much better.
Favorite Songs:
9. Wicked Soundtrack
I’ve seen Wicked so many times that I can’t remember exactly how many times I’ve seen it. Its an amazing musical, a bizarre but fantastic book and the best Elphie and Galinda pairing is Eden Espinosa and Megan Hilty (pictured above). I named my little green car Elphie. It all makes sense. But I love listening to this soundtrack.
Favorite Songs:
8. Set It Off
I know this sounds silly because I just discovered this band in October but they quickly quickly quickly became a favorite. I have had their album, Cinematics, on repeat since then and I credit them in part for what is done on The Reawakened because their album is so perfect for writing a zombie YA novel. I can’t wait to see them again in March.
Favorite Songs:
7. Jack’s Mannequin
The band that came after the best band ever…Jack’s Mannequin came onto my radar and into my musical heart because of the incredibly talented Andrew McMahon. He changed my life in the band Something Corporate (see later), and I knew when he made the move to start this new band that I would love it as well. He took the piano skills we grew to know in SoCo and turned into a heavy pop rock mess. In a good way of course.
Favorite Songs:
6. The Cab
The Cab is my go-to when I need to be cheered up, and when I want to dance. This band makes me want to dance more than any other band. Its also my go-to music when I’m doing long drives and I need to stay awake. They’re so fun, and the main singer’s voice is like sex. Is that inappropriate? Maybe…I’m not sure. But it is totally the truth.
Favorite Songs:
5. NSYNC
Laugh at me all you want, but I know that some of you like One Direction (ugh not for me) or The Wanted (Love!) or still clutch your Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block CDs with happiness. For me, I will always remain an NSYNC fan. I have listened to them pretty faithfully since I was 10 years old, and if there is ever a reunion tour, I am so there. I will drop hundreds to be up on that barricade, I’m not kidding. I even teared up a bit at their reunion at the VMAs. I love this band.
Favorite Songs:
4. Story of the Year
I started listening to Story of the Year because I was obsessed with my high school’s baseball team (one, it was baseball, two, they were AWESOME, and three, they were hot…) and they played SOTY allll the time during practices and games. The rest is history. I saw them at Warped Tour and a ton of other shows, and then didn’t see them again until this past October when they did a ten year anniversary show. And guess what? I still can’t get enough of them.
Favorite Songs:
3. Panic! at the Disco
I swear, the reason Panic! at the Disco is one of my favorite bands has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that Brendan Urie is one of the most beautiful human beings on the planet. I swear, nothing to do with it. I mean, maybe his sexy voice …Yeah, it probably is hugely to do with Brendan Urie. Their music makes me feel good, it makes me want to dance, his voice is incredible and they have the only Sara(h) song that I’ve ever actually liked.
Favorite Songs:
2. Fall Out Boy
What would I do without this band in my life? Seriously. I’m going to get a little misty for a second. I started listening to them when I was 15 years, when I first picked up “Take This To Your Grave”. I was emo, incredibly dramatic and I felt like I was the only person in the universe sometimes. I heard that album and it was the best album ever. I literally couldn’t handle out much I loved it. Now that I’ve gotten over (most of) my dramatics, I still love that album with so much passion. Each album they’ve put out has made me feel incredible, and I just love them. And their album, Folie a Duex got me through one of the roughest times in my life. Without Fall Out Boy in my life…I’d be a less happy person.
Favorite Songs:
1. Something Corporate
Talk about a band that has a huge impact on my life. I started listening to this band when I was 14 because the boy I had a massive crush on in high school loved them too. Its insane how they became my absolute favorite band. I have seen them so many times, I have met Andrew McMahon a hundred times. I have a Something Corporate tattoo. No other song has ever made me feel so much like “Konstantine” has.
Favorite Songs: (this one was hard…)
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I hope that you enjoyed this week’s Book of the Week!
I also hope you can check some of these bands out. You won’t regret it at all!
Ask the Passengers Book Review
Ask the Passengers by A.S. King
You Can Find the Books At:
GoodReads Summary:
Astrid Jones desperately wants to confide in someone, approved but her mother’s pushiness and her father’s lack of interest tell her they’re the last people she can trust. Instead, viagra order Astrid spends hours lying on the backyard picnic table watching airplanes fly overhead. She doesn’t know the passengers inside, but they’re the only people who won’t judge her when she asks them her most personal questions . . . like what it means that she’s falling in love with a girl.
As her secret relationship becomes more intense and her friends demand answers, Astrid has nowhere left to turn. She can’t share the truth with anyone except the people at thirty thousand feet, and they don’t even know she’s there. But little does Astrid know just how much even the tiniest connection will affect these strangers’ lives–and her own–for the better.
In this truly original portrayal of a girl struggling to break free of society’s definitions, Printz Honor author A.S. King asks readers to question everything–and offers hope to those who will never stop seeking real love.
My Review:
In 2013, at the recommendation of Andrew Smith, I read A.S. King’s new release, Reality Boy, and was absolutely blown away by it. When I received a ton of Barnes and Noble gift cards for Christmas like I always do, I was wondering the book store and saw this book. I knew that this book was going to be a good one, based on the amazingness that was Reality Boy.
What I really loved the most about the story is that while it follows the typical path of a coming-of-age story, especially that of someone struggling with their sexual identity, its also unique too. Astrid is really confused, in that she doesn’t really know if she’s gay. She knows she likes girls, one in particular. In fact, she’s in love with that girl. But she doesn’t know if that defines her as gay. Her reluctance to label herself is fantastic. She doesn’t want to feel constricted by labels, or by the idea that she has to choose a gender. This felt so incredibly close to my heart. The idea is that she’s in love with a girl, she finds other girls attractive but she can’t rule out that she wouldn’t fall in love with a boy. I think that’s a beautiful thing. I’m madly in love with my boyfriend who is, obviously, a boy but I could never rule out a girl. Its not about gender, its about people. I think AS King really tackles that in this novel.
I also like the relationships between child and parent that she writes about in her novels. The one in Reality Boy made me feel sick to my stomach, and the relationship between America and her mother was so visceral and so real and so heartbreaking to me. It wasn’t abusive, like the relationship between Gerald and his mother in Reality Boy, but its neglecting and its hard for me to deal with. That’s how well that she writes these kind of relationships. They feel SO incredibly real. Everything she writes is written with such honesty and realism and its the kind of writing that makes the story stick with her.
The thing that really gets me about this story is that you could write it off as just another “gay story”, or whatever, but its not like that. Its so very real, and I think a lot of kids and teenagers and hell, even some adults go through this kind of confusion. The fact that Astrid doesn’t feel the need to define herself, and that she’s going to love who she loves, labels or not, is beautiful and its a truly wonderful story. I think so many people could relate to Astrid, not just because of her struggle with her sexual identity but her struggle just to figure herself and feel important in her own home.
This story is addicting and compelling and deserving of every accolade bestowed upon it. A.S. King is two for two for me, and I am truly impressed with her novels. She is an incredible writer and a great storyteller. She really gets contemporary young adult literature, and I think even adults that are wary of YA would love her novels. She writes SO well. Ask the Passengers is on its way of being one of my favorites that I’ve read this year…and its only the fourth day of the year. Keep that in mind :)
Happy Reading.
My Rating:
5 out of 5 stars
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