Sara’s Birthday Haul!

March 5, 2014March 5, 2014Leave a comment

So I’ve been wanting to explore vlogs more and I made a vlog yesterday, visit web talking all about my birthday haul. Because I’m surrounded by awesome people that got me awesome gifts.

And I realized…well, hospital vlogs are kind of fun except for the whole editing and uploading thing.

Also, I’m kind of silly on camera. Like…ridiculously awkward and weird and silly.

But whatever. I think I’m going to try and do them more often. It was kind of fun and you guys can SEE me for once! Won’t that be nice?

Here’s my beautiful video of me and my darling birthday presents! Enjoy!

http://youtu.be/ZYFMFrXOMwc

I really hope that embeds. I have issue with that. If not, you know, just click the link. Haha!

Yay!

December Book Wrap Up!

January 1, 2014December 31, 20131 Comment

Books Pledged to Read in 2013: 200 Books

Did I Reach My Goal: Yes!

How Many Total Books Read: 203

Total Books For December: 20

Remember to click on the book title for the review. If there is no link, buy information pills there is no review. I got really lazy in reviewing toward the end of the month haha.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Teen Idol by Meg Cabot (Re-Read)

Nicola and the Viscount by Meg Cabot (Re-Read)

Something Blue by Emily Giffin (Re-Read)

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead

Fan Art by Sarah Tregay

My Life Next Door by Huntley FItzpatrick

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

Penguin in Love by Salina Yoon

This totally counts. My boyfriend got this for me for Christmas, pills because I’m obsessed with penguins and we’re in love, pharm duh! And he also got me this behind-the-scenes experience with penguins, so it all makes sense. And it counts

What to Buy the Shadowhunter Who Has Everything by Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan

The Last Stand of the New York Institute by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan and Maureen Johnson

Unbreakable by Kami Garcia

* * * * *

So that was 2013 folks! Stick with me in the new year, as I delve into even more books!

How did you do on your own GoodReads challenge? Share in the comments!

Tuesday Top Ten-Nerd and Bookish New Year’s Resolutions!

December 31, 2013December 31, 2013Leave a comment

Happy New Year’s Eve everyone! I think for some of you, cheapest its the New Year already, visit this site but here in California, its a bit past noon and there’s still about eleven hours til the clock strikes midnight, and I turn into a pumpkin or something.

Last week, I did a Tuesday Top Ten of my very favorite books of 2013. It was incredibly hard to narrow down to ten, and in fact, I actually narrowed it down to eleven, and not ten. I cheated. I tend to do that and I hope you forgive me for my utter lack of respect for the rules when it comes to math.

Moving on though, this week I’m going to do a short post about the sort of bookish, bloggish, nerdish resolutions and goals I’d like to keep for myself for this year.

2013 was an incredible year for myself, and for this blog. I can’t imagine it getting any better than it already has been this year. But I know it can and will and I look forward to it.

Look for a post soon about the awesome that was 2013 for What a Nerd Girl Says.

For now, let’s dive into my New Year’s Resolutions, What A Nerd Girl Says style.

10. Get to BEA!

This is a ginormous goal for me. I had never even HEARD of BEA until all the bloggers that I was starting to meet this year were gearing up to go. I stayed in tune with it the entire weekend, and came out of it feeling incredibly jealous. Book Expo America. Its the perfect convention, not only just because I’m a book blogger, but because I’m a book lover. All KINDS of authors go, and sign books and talk about books and there are agents and publishers there talking about the publishing world, and you go home with a suitcase just full of books (and most of them are ARCs). It just sounds like the most wonderful time ever. Its in May, in New York City, but I’m determined to get there. Its going to happen.

9. Read More Adult Novels

Before I started blogging, I think I read a lot more adult novels than I do now. I definitely enjoy YA more than most adult novels, but I do like certain authors and I’ve just let my general fiction reading fall to the side, and I’m a little saddened by that. I started my blog in the hopes of defending YA lit as a viable source of literary material and then I just lost myself in the world of YA. I have plans to finish the Song of Ice and Fire series, and Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn Trilogy, and a few other adult novels, so I’m hoping to bring more of that to the table on my blog.

8. Expand My Blog: More Nerd!

When I started my blog, I took FOREVER coming up with the name, because I’m picky and I wanted it to be cute and catchy and I wanted it to be something that people remembered. When I settled on What A Nerd Girl Says, I took that as, I’m going to cover all things nerd. I started off really well, but lately, I’ve let that slide a ton. I love writing about books and YA because that’s my main passion but I want to get back to write more about movies and TV shows and video games and stuff like that. I want to stay true to my name and do “nerd”, not just “book”.

7. Hit 150K Views by The End of 2014

I want to expand my viewership. I’m currently at….about 70K so hitting 160 by the end of the year is totally doable. But I also don’t want to be obsessed with the numbers either. I want to reach more people, write more, do more nerd and less book (although book will NEVER go away), have more contests, and be more out there in the social media world. I want to Tumblr more, and Instagram more, and maybe even build myself up to a Pinterest (although maybe I’m getting old, because Pinterest baffles me). I just want to continue to make this blog bigger and better than ever, because its something that I’m really passionate about it, and its something that makes me incredibly happy so I’m always looking for ways to work on it and make it better.

6. Only Ask for ARCs that I Know I Will Read

I have stacks of books that I haven’t read yet, and I have even more on my Nook. I want to make sure that I’m only buying books or requesting ARCs for books that I know, 100%, that I’m going to read. I feel bad when I get these ARCs and my reading piles up and I don’t get to them. I feel awful about it. So I’m trying to restrict myself to books that I’ll ACTUALLY read. I think I can do that…maybe. I definitely want to do that with ARCs. I can’t guarantee that I’ll buy less books. I work at a bookstore. That’s asking for trouble and I gladly ask.

5. Cosplay More!

I want to be in costumes more often! I am a completely uncreative person when it comes to costumes (I can write, that’s really about all I have when it comes to creativity), and I want to wear more costumes. I want to have a full jedi outfit, and I want to cosplay Arya from GoT, and I want to be Sailor Jupiter. There is SO much I want to do but I think about all the work it takes and I’m like “meh”, or I get overwhelmed and turn to mush. So I don’t do it. But my brother has been cosplaying lately, and my best blogger friend/parabatai, Sylvia, is a ROCK star at the creative stuff, so we’re going to make it happen. I will cosplay.

4. Condense My Book Reviews/Posts

I talk too much. I have always known that and I’ve begun to tell my friends and such to tell me when I’m talking too much or interrupting because I feel bad and I don’t realize that I’m doing it. And this year, I discovered I do it while I’m writing too. Whoopee! So my goal is to be really more concise and to the point when I write reviews and posts. I mean, I’m still going to me! The whole difference of my blog is that I don’t take myself seriously and I get a little wacky and off topic. But I’m going to try to do that in a shortened version…because I really do talk too much.

3. Concentrate More On Reading for Fun and Less on Reading for Goal

This is a HUGE one. I set the goal of 200 books for the year, not really knowing how much I actually read in a year. Because I pushed myself, and pushed myself, I did reach 200. As of this post, I’ve read 203, unless I finish Grasshopper Jungle today, then I’m at 204. So I definitely can do it. Do I want to? I don’t think so. I want to concentrate on reading more for my enjoyment and less on the actual number of books read. I can’t remember a lot of details of the books that I’ve read because I read them back to back to back and they all sort of end of a huge blur. I’m not a fan of that, so this year, I’m slowing down.

2. Read 150 Books

That being said, I am setting a goal for 2014 on GoodReads, but I’m cutting 50 books off. I know to some people that 150 is still a TON of books but by cutting those 50 off, I really give myself the chance to relax and enjoy what I’m reading. If I go past it, great, but its more about the quality of books and the time that I take to enjoy it and less about racing to the finish line.

1. Finish my Novel

I RACED through words during NaNoWriMo and then after November ended, I’ve written about…maybe 5K words this month. That makes me incredibly sad. I’d like to say it was because it finals or Christmas or I started a new job, and while those are true, it was mostly just a lack of motivation and determination to finish it. And that’s sad, and shouldn’t happen again. I’m determined to get back to writing in the New Year, in order to finish this novel, get it edited and perfected and then track down an agent to sell this book for me. Its going to happen. I believe it. I love Another Chance for Summer and A Little Less than Famous immensely but I have this soft spot for The Reawakened and I think it could be “the one”. So its going to happen. I’ll finish it.

* * * * * *

So those are my goals for the year. Not bad right? I think they are very doable and its much better than saying “Oh I’m going to run a marathon this year” or “lose 25 pounds” or I don’t know. Not that those are great goals! They just aren’t for me :)

What sort of goals did you set for yourself this year? They don’t necessarily have to be book/blog related! Share them in the comments!

And Happy New Year!

Bookish Survey: Cast a Harry Potter Spell

November 9, 2013November 9, 20132 Comments

So one of my new blogger friends, pill Kayla from The Thousand Lives (who I met a couple weeks ago, visit this and who Im happy to report, help is SO awesome), just posted this on her blog, and she got it from Flip that Page. I read it and thought it was the coolest thing ever.

I mean, mixing up Harry Potter spells with books? I call that an epic win.

So let’s dive in!

Cast a Spell!

Reparo

fixes damaged objects

A book that needs some serious fixing: Requiem by Lauren Oliver. The series started off pretty good; it had an interesting concept but it just fell so flat as it went along.

Lumos

creates a narrow beam of light

A book that deserves more attention: The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima. Now here is a lady that just SO rocks the YA fantasy genre and doesn’t get enough credit for it.

Nox

counters the effects of Lumos

An overhyped book: Catcher in the Rye. I do not understand the appeal of this book. I do not understand why its so highly acclaimed and why people just love it. I do not understand why people name their kid after Holden Caufield. He’s annoying as all heck, and he spends the entire novel whining up a storm.

Accio

summons an object from a significant distance

A book you’re anticipating: So many. But my answer at the moment would be Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith. The guy is a genius. I am so happy I discovered him and his amazing writing this year.

Alohomora

opens unlocked doors, unless bewitched

A book you want to be more open about: I don’t know. I’m a book blogger. I don’t really have a problem talking openly about books. I have no probably saying if i love or hate a book.

Expecto Patronum

conjures an incarnation of positive feelings

A book that made you cry, or at least want to: There are just too many for me to even begin to say. I’ve cried over a lot of books. I sobbed at Clockwork Princess, and Allegiant, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and way more than that.

Morsmordre

conjures the Dark Mark

A book you wish to mark as one of your favorites: Either Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling or Trickster’s Choice by Tamora Pierce

Petrificus Totalus

petrifies victim

A book you wish to keep forever: Harry Potter. What other books do I really need.

Protego

shield charm

An intimidating book you keep putting off: The entire Song of Ice and Fire series. I’ve read the first 1.5 books but I haven’t continued because of the sheer magnitude of them.

Riddikulus

used against a boggart

A book with a deceiving synopsis: I can’t think of anything in particular BUT I hate when I pick up a book and it has SUCH a vague synopsis that you literally have NO Idea what its about. OH god, that’s so annoying. Like, you don’t create mystery and intrigue, you create annoyance.

Lacarnum Inflamarae

shoots fireballs

A book you wish to burn out of your mind completely: Fifty Shades of Grey. I only got 50 pages in, but that was enough. I just…no. I just can’t.

Wingardium Leviosa

levitates objects

A book you wish to reread: I’ve been wanting to re-read Harry Potter lately, and City of Ashes and City of Glass. I want to re-read The Hobbit again before the movie. I also really want to re-read Watchmen too.

Avada Kedavra

causes instant death

Worst book EVER: I hesitate to do this because I really hate to show disrespect to someone’s work, whether I liked it or not. But I do have a disrespect for some authors and books. I disrespect Fifty Shades of Grey. I also disrespect authors who use ghost writers. That’s a whole ‘nother story though.

Spells Cast on You!

Stupefy

puts victim in unconscious state

A book with a chapter you couldn’t seem to get over: Chapter 35: Veritaserum in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I still believe its one of the best written chapters ever. The mystery that is unfolded, the smallest things that all build up together to reveal the true identity of Mad-Eye Moody. I remember being 13 and reading it, and having to read it again to understand the brilliance of it.

Confundo

causes befuddlement or forgetfulness

A book that generally confused you: Beggars in Spain by Nancy Kress. Its a sci-fi, sort of dystopian novel and I wanted to understand and like it so much but it just confused me more and more. It might be because I was reading it in my College Reading class, so I couldn’t understand the depths of it. Maybe I’ll go back and try again.

Crucio

inflicts unbearable pain

A book that was a pain to read: The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau. I had heard SO many good things about it from so many different readers and from all over the blogs, but when I read it, I was just immensely disappointed. It fell so flat to me. I didn’t even finish it. It just felt too close to the Hunger Games to me.

Episkey

heals relatively minor injuries

A feel good book that you enjoyed: Hmmmmm, anything by Jessica Brody or Meg Cabot. These two authors can make me laugh, and make me feel so great

Expelliarmus

temporarily disarms an opponent

A book with a swoon-worthy character: Well….this could go on forever. Jace Wayland (The Mortal Instruments), Jared Lynburn (The Lyburn Legacy), Daniel ‘Day’ Wing (The Legend Trilogy), Sirius Black (HP), Aidan St. Delphi (Covenant series), Peeta Mellark (Hunger Games), Finnick Odair (Hunger Games), Will Herondale (Infernal Devices). I could go on for ages.

Impedimenta

impedes target’s progress

A book that kept you up all night reading: Recently? Clockwork Princess, on release day. The House of Hades, on release day. Champion, on release day. All of these were bought at midnight, on my Kindle and I stayed up reading them. I also stayed up all night reading Unspoken.

Silencio

immediate silencing

A book that left you speechless after you read it: Winger by Andrew Smith and Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. Both books that just literally blew my mind. I can’t stop recommending them to everyone.

Legilimens

allows you to delve into someone’s mind

A book with well-developed characters: Harry Potter, definitely. Each character is so well thought out, and has a back story and a fully fleshed personality, and they’re all so real. Every single one. Its beautiful.

Levicorpus

a spell that turns you upside down

A book that changed your mind about a character from its prequel: Clockwork Prince, which is my favorite in the Infernal Devices. In Clockwork Angel, I was so aghast at the cruel nature of Will Herondale and I was rooting hard for Jem. But in CP, we learn so much more about Will, and it changed my mind COMPLETELY.

Obliviate

used to hide memories

A book with a story you can’t remember: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. I just didn’t really like it all that much, and now I can’t even really remember the story of it.

Peskipiksi Pesternomi

useless spell

A boring book that had absolutely no effect on you: Paper Towns by John Green. I love him to death but this one just bored me the entire time. I couldn’t get into it at all.

Reducto

breaks through solid objects

A book that convinced you to reconsider a certain genre: Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan…it gave me a ton of hope for the YA paranormal genre. I feel its gotten…well, pretty bad lately but I read this book and loved it so I’m hoping its gotten better.

Rictusempra

tickling spell

A book that made you laugh: Winger by Andrew Smith. I haven’t laughed so hard in a book as much as this one.

Sectusempra

offensive spell that violently wounds the target

A book that may have scarred you for life: In a good way, or bad way? Harry Potter scarred me for life, but in all the good ways.

Tarantallegra

makes you dance uncontrollably

A series finale that made you feel giddy: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Nothing can explain the feelings I had while reading that book.

Bombarda Maxima

causes an explosion that breaks through obstacles

A book that made you explode with the feels: I could go on for ages. The last HP book, City of Glass, Clockwork Princess, Champion, The Mark of Athena, Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. So many.

Finite Incantatem

nullifies other spells

A book you thought you’d dislike, but ended up loving: Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan. Her Demon’s Lexicon didn’t impress me much so I didn’t have hope for this one. It blew my expectations out of the water. I love it!

* * * * *

Thanks for reading, and thanks to Kayla for sharing this on her blog, so that I could steal it and share it here too!