30-Day Book Challenge: Day 18

Edited to add: I'm recycling this post for Jessica's Book Chat (hosted at Press Play this week) for June 7. The topic is: What is a book you read & loved but didn’t expect to? Or maybe one you thought you’d really enjoy and then didn’t? This post answers the first part of the prompt, and you can see my failed attempt to find a book I thought I wouldn't like but did here.

Day 18 - A book that disappointed me

Image via Goodreads.

The Magicians. I discovered this book through a list on Oprah's website called "Books to Read After Harry Potter." I had already read many of the suggestions (including The Hunger Games, Narnia and His Dark Materials series) and wasn't interested in some of the others, but The Magicians looked intriguing. It was described as "a grown-up Harry Potter," so I gave it a shot. Well, "grown-up" is certainly one way of putting it. The awkward sexual references and unnecessary vulgar language was a little off-putting at first (a kiss on the lips was stimulating in Rowling's novels), but even after I got used to the writing style I couldn't get over the sheer weirdness of the book. I was constantly asking myself what the heck I had gotten myself into, up until the very last page of the book, which managed to almost pack in enough strangeness to outweigh the rest of the book. But hey, I'm still planning to read the sequel (it was quite the cliffhanger ending), so I can't have been that disappointed. Just more surprised, I guess.

Gift Guide: Valentine's Day for Him

Source: bellethemagazine.com via Brooke on Pinterest

Hello again! I promised when I made my gift guide for girls that I would make one for boys, too, so here it is! As I stated in my original gift guide, I'm more of an "experience" person and not a "gift" person, especially when it comes to Valentine's Day. But, I know many people like to give gifts, and often you can't spend Valentine's Day with the one you love (boo). So here are some ideas that you can send via the mail.

30-Day Book Challenge: Day 17

Day 17 - Favorite quote from my favorite book series

Source: thereadables.tumblr.com via Megan on Pinterest

I was actually going to pick a different Harry Potter quote (see below), but I couldn't find a cool illustrated quote like the one above. :) So, I'm picking both of them, and here's why:

Dumbledore's quote: Wow, talk about truth. Some people are born smarter than others. Some are born with more athletic talents. Some are born with more money or nicer parents or a job lined up for them in daddy's company. But really, though I firmly believe the circumstances of your birth do have an impact on your opportunities in life, it really is your choices that define who you are. Everyone has a 50/50 chance of being born into money or a stable family. But at some point, you have to stop blaming your parents for how you turned out, and start living your own life. Go Dumbledore! Such wisdom.

Image via I Solemnly Swear that I am Up to No Good

Hermione's quote: This is the quote I originally was going to pick, just because it's one I always remembered from the book. I always imagined Hermione and I were kindred spirits, as I, too, was always known as "the brain" in my circle of (mostly male) friends growing up. Although I definitely don't take for granted that school has always come easy to me, I acknowledge there are far more important things, and I love that Hermione put that into clear terms. I think I also like this quote so much because it echoes a little of Dumbledore's words above: There is a certain degree to which you can be born intelligent. Of course, anyone can do well in school if they work hard enough, but I believe there is a part of logic and intelligence that is simply innate. Friendship and loyalty, however, are choices that anyone can make. (And they should.)

P.S. - I could have also easily used one of my favorite Sirius Black quotes (which also follows the theme discussed above) but I already shared that one.

This one was hard because I've read so many great books, and there have been so many quotes that have made me stop and say, "hmm." What are some of your favorite book quotes?

Things that make me go "hmm."

Time for week two of my new series - "Things that make me go "hmm." Enjoy the little tidbits I've gathered from across the web over the past week! But first, this video:

 Don't feel like you have to watch the whole thing, but watch about the first minute or so and
then skip ahead to 2:15. You won't want to miss it!

  

A beautiful argument for the written word (and against book-banning).

Did you know: LeBron bikes to work "all the time"!

Looks like students aren't the only ones who obsess about higher SAT scores.

Your community doesn't have to be rich to have a good library system. Good to know!

This was quite funny to me, considering I read Jonathan Franzen's Freedom on my Kindle and hated it. But somehow, I don't think that had anything to do with the fact it was an e-book....

30 travel terms that don't exist but should.

And finally, the most relaxing song of all time. You're welcome.

30-Day Book Challenge: Day 16

Edited to add: The Book Chat topic for May 31 is Favorite Female of Fiction, so I'm reusing this old post. I also wanted to share the adorable button Jessica made for this week. Click on it to check out the other posts in the link-up:

Day 16 - Favorite female character

Image via Goodreads

Anne of Green Gables. I always fancied myself as (a blonde version of) Anne, and I loved her spunky sense of adventure. And then, of course, she grew up to be an aspiring magazine writer. Sound familiar? :) It's been a while since I've read one of her books, but I would love to revisit them someday. I only wish she hadn't grown up so fast....

Playlist: Workout Jams

Source: aslishka.tumblr.com via Duygu on Pinterest

The author of one of the blogs I follow, 25 Before 25, is hosting a fun workout music swap. I got paired with Meghan over at The Perfect Compilation Tape, and my mission is to share a 10-song (minimum) playlist for her to try out. First, two things:

30-Day Book Challenge: Day 15

Edited to add: Jessica's Book Chat prompt this week at Sweet Green Tangerine is our favorite male character, so I'm linking up with this old post. I also wanted to share the adorable button she made for today. Enjoy!

  
Day 15 – Favorite male character

This one was tough. I didn't want to pick a Harry Potter character because I've been using that series too much during this challenge. I also considered Dirk Pitt, but I already used his series, too. I just finished a book with a pretty cool male character, but I want to save that book for a later date. Choices, choices. But, I finally had to decide, so I did. And the winner is ...

 

Image via Listal

Sir William Stafford, from The Other Boleyn Girl. This is kind of a weak choice, I admit, because although he is a main character, he isn't super present in the book. I do remember silently cheering for him throughout the whole book though, and he's a stable source of support for Mary. So there, I had to pick, and I did!

P.S. - When I was looking for a picture of William Stafford, I noticed he was played by Eddie Redmayne in the 2008 movie. Why does that name sound familiar? Because he's playing Marius in the upcoming Les Miserables movie! Eek! (The casting choices for which I've already blogged about twice - once last month and again yesterday, oddly enough.)

Help me out here - who is your favorite male character from a novel? What obvious characters am I blanking on?

Friday's Fancies: Week 2

Today's Friday's Fancies theme is Spring Fever! Hop over to {long distance loving} to see what other bloggers did this week.

1. I'd been eyeing this gorgeous coral blazer on Pinterest for a while now, so it was only natural I would build my spring outfit around it.
2. Who doesn't love an eyelet dress for the springtime?
3. Isn't this ring breathtaking?
4. These bangles offer the perfect bridge between my blazer and my ring.
5. Because I already had a colorful jacket and bold accessories, I decided to keep the shoes muted. I appreciate a pair of nice, simple flats most days.

Update: Les Miserables casting choices.

Remember last month when I went on a bit of a rampage about the Les Miserables casting? (It turned out to be my most-read post of January, actually. Lots of other Les Mis fans out there, I presume?) Well, one of my gripes was that Taylor Swift was rumored to be under consideration for the role of Eponine. Today, I discovered that's no longer the case! Instead, Samantha Barks - who played Eponine in a West End production of Les Mis for a year - has been cast. Now here's an Eponine I can get behind. Can't wait for the movie!

And in case you needed more proof:

Oh, and did I mention how adorable she is? Just check out her reaction when she found out she had landed the part - while onstage for another production. Plus, she's already brunette!

30-Day Book Challenge: Day 14

Day 14 – Favorite book by my favorite writer

 
Image via Google Images

The Pact. Ahh, I love this book so much. It was definitely one of the saddest I've read, though. It centers on a teenage couple and the legal drama that unfolds after one of them dies from a gunshot. I don't want to get into too many details, but it is absolutely phenomenal if you don't mind having your heart wrenched out of your chest every 20 pages or so. Oh, Jodi. How wonderful you are.