Living the Creative Life

A pretty good page-turner. I initially picked up this series because I enjoyed the short-lived ABC Family show of the same name, although the books don't totally follow the same storyline as the show. I can't rate this very high though because I found the inordinate amount of sexual situations and profanity to be a bit unnerving in a YA book. The storyline really doesn't need this and it ends up feeling forced, like the author was trying to up the rating on the book (if books had ratings like tv shows and movies do). Some of the relationships between characters also feel forced and awkward, unfortunately, which is another downside to an otherwise enjoyable book. The scenes with Chloe learning about her cat abilities are great; I just wish the rest of the book had felt so similarly free and unhindered. I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

I swear I could've written this book. Sure the names of the boys I crushed on in school are different and some of the situations are slightly off from what I've experienced, but this is basically my life. As a perpetually single, introverted, Christian girl coming of age in the 90's... Katie's experiences ring very similarly to my own. I've been the awkward wallflower at parties (still am, let's face it). I've been the one who's had guys I liked asking me to please help them get back with my best friend (oddly it's comforting knowing I'm not the only one that's happened too). I absolutely wrote stuff down in Lisa Frank journals (I mean, who didn't in the 90's? Seriously). At most every page of this memoir, I find myself nodding in agreement or grimacing as I realize just how awkward and weird I really was as a younger person (and secretly hoping that maybe I've grown out of all that). Not everyone's life is a romance novel...

I'd say this book needs 3.5 or 3.75 stars, rather than a full 4, but only because there were a few gaping plot holes that I felt like I had to overlook in order to fully buy into this story. Other than that though (I won't spoil you with the details), I thought this was a great page-turner and I can't wait until the next in the series comes out this fall! In summary, this book follows the story of Kate Pierce-Keller, as she travels back in time to 1890's Chicago to save her timeline from being altered... and also to save her own life from being erased in the process. I give the book itself 3.75 out of 5 stars. I give the cover art 10 out of 5 stars.

Super cute story, despite the numerous typos and grammatical errors. Once I got past that though, it really was a great book. A romantic ghost-story set in a boarding school - what more could you want in a book? Miranda gets shipped off to a juvenile detention school that's haunted by the spirits of dead writers and fictional book characters. Her and her friends race to figure out the mysteries before their school is doomed forever! Sidenote... I did begin the second book in this series, but was bored out of my gourd. This first book is pretty good, but I don't recommend continuing the rest of the series. Somehow the writing disintegrated very quickly. I give this first book 3 out of 5 stars (and the second book 1/2 star out of 5 -- I didn't finish it or even get very far in it, so I won't be posting a review).

A quick and easy read, Sweet Little Lies is the second in a series by Lauren Conrad, a fictional account of her own life as a reality t.v. star. (For those of you living under a rock... Lauren rocketed to tabloid cover status when her and her high school friends were filmed for the MTV reality show Laguna Beach. She also starred in the spin-off show The Hills.) As I read this and the previous book in the series, I found myself trying to figure out who was who (since most of these characters are based off of real life people). Lauren does a good job of disguising the guys especially, but it's fairly obvious who most of the girl friends were based on if you've seen the tv shows. I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. Nothing to write home about, but definitely a fun weekend beach read.

This book was super cute, and although aimed at a younger audience, I still really enjoyed it. I've actually had this book on my shelf for years and it just occurred to me that it is by the author of The Hunger Games (a series that I loved!). While I wouldn't say it's as good as those, this book was still very interesting and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. Basically, we follow Gregor and his sister Boots as they fall out of a NYC laundry room into an underworld ruled by giant bugs, bats, and rats. They go on an Alice-in-Wonderland-like adventure as they quest to make it back home in one piece. I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Book cover changes can sometimes be a good thing. As a graphic designer, I can appreciate that fact. They can introduce a new generation to an old classic that might not otherwise be glanced at. Sometimes, however... This happens... BSC Book Cover: circa 2010 I guess it's better than this previous remake (which thankfully I've never noticed before): BSC Book Cover: circa 1990 But sometimes I just have to ask... why mess with the original? It was great and it makes me nostalgic just to look it! I admit the girls look a little outdated, but then again... this series is set in the 80's. How else should they look? BSC Book Cover: circa 1986 Of all the remakes I found of this cover, I think the 1995 version was the best (though I still prefer the original). It updates the cover image to appeal to a new generation, but it still maintains the spirit of the original. I wish the current book cover design had been as thoughtful. BSC Book Cover: circa 1995