The Runaway King
Jennifer A Nielsen

Over the weekend, I read the Runaway King by Jennifer A Nielsen. This book is the second book in the Ascendence Trilogy, the first being The False Prince, which is a really really good book. I enjoyed the Runaway King because of all of the well thought-out characters and the forever unclear plot. I liked how the entire book revolved around multiple power struggles and because of the different perspective the main character took around politics. The story was fast moving and well thought out, and I would recommend The False Prince to anyone who is the least bit interested in deception.

NEXT WEEK: donno yet

second slice of life

Today, the dogs wanted to come in the car. So they came. They go with us all the time. My mom drives while Connor sits shotgun and I, well I am stuck sharing the small backseat with the smelly fur balls. Its not that I don't enjoy them coming, but sometimes its challenging to protect my backpack and breakfast.   And they always know when were going, my bulldog Bella has even figured out a special trigger that says were going to be leaving soon.
Every morning, after I've entered the kitchen she always hovers really close, creating just one other obstacle I have to face in the morning. She always hovers, at least until I add sugar to my tea. The sharp banging sound of my spoon against the side of my teacup as I stir is her signal. She'll go straight to the kitchen door and brace her stocky frame against the firm wood; refusing to budge when we try to nudge her out gently out of the way as we go to the car. Unless were carpooling with Alisondra to Spanish she usually gets her way. Causing me to become stuck in the back with two hotdog shaped animals, one of whom is too large to fit comfortable on the seat. Once again protecting my homework and breakfast on the twenty minute drive to school.

Robin Hood

I read The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle. This book was amazing and wonderful and the ending was terribly sad! Everyone knows about Robin Hood; how he took from the rich and gave to the poor. In  this book, Howard Pyle gathered together all of the legends and wove together a tapestry of adventure and cunning. The characters are relatable, likable, each with their own individual personality. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading, because this book is favorable to many different genres: fiction and non-fiction. being 320 pages long and written in the English of Old, this book is probably classified as a two week book. But... it SHOULD be read!

NEXT WEEK
The Runaway King

Slice of my Life

I moved through the kitchen, juggeling the ingredients in my arms as I catiouly avoided the dogs. They always seem to be underfoot and in the way, following me around, begging me for food, praying that I drop something. I don't, much to their dismay.

 Even as I place the vanilla, butter, apples, sugar, milk, cinnimon, eggs and baking power on the counter I know that I've forgotten the flour... Crap! I don't even know where to look. Praying, I start at the pantry. Nope not there. The cabinet; empty. The basement... nada. Finally I check the fridge; there in the back is a half filled blue bag of buckwheat flour. Buckwheat flour is similar to regular flour right? There both labeled flour right, anyway I'm all out of options. That was my reasoning as I carried it back to the counter, putting it in the pile with the sugar, baking powder, and cinnamon. Mixing the wet and dry ingredients in separate bowls, I check the recipe once again... slowly pour wet ingredients into the flour mixture, stir and then add apples. The recipe also mentioned that I needed to peel and slice the apples but I'm not that patient. Instead, I just cut out the cores and shove it into the blender. The result: chunky apple sauce. Added to a thick batter, it looks even worse, but it does taste pretty good. 20 minutes in the oven and BAM! A dozen lumpy cupcakes... Now for my favorite part clean up.

Limericks

The birds that just came from their nests
Flew heigh as to see the sun crest
bathing in light
in their impossible flight
flying to se who was best

in the mornings they all sleep in
with blankets the color of tin
deeply they slept
till the sun had just set
and then they snuggled back in

there was once a student from logan
the merry student was his slogan
when asked bout his spirits
he simply cried I DID IT
god bless that young student from logan

occasional poetry

Mythology

They bend over the table
Studying the parchment that lays before them
Reading the symbols that look so similar and yet, are so different
Staring at the pictures, lost in thought

They tell stories, these unfamiliar letters
Stories about war, famine and heroes
Gods and monsters, history and fighting

The pictures too
Temples and pyramids
Buildings of impossible size created out of marble
Mosaics that line an entire floor
Representing stories long since forgotten

These pictures and writtings are all we have left of history
Of stories that we can no longer remember
Of entire civilizations and cultures
Things that can only be discovered through these writings

The Healers Keep

The Healers Keep
Victoria Hanely



This week, I read the healers keep; a companion book to the seer and the sword, (which you should read first). Victoria Hanely has been one of my favorite writers for a while now. All of her books are filed with amazing detail and descriptions, and as of now the Healers Keep is one of my favorites from her writing. Unlike many books I had read, this book was one of the most intriguing books I have read in a while. I found the characters relatable, even in strange circumstances, which was really different, but my favorite part of the book was the storyline. The entire thing was completely original and I was never able to guess about what would happen next. Having read this book in about 9ish hours I would call this a one week fantasyish book despite the 360 pages.

PS. I believe that I wrote about the seer and the sword earlier this year

NEXT WEEK: The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood

train of thought poetry

Train of Thought Poetry
It grows alone, long winding tendrils winding up the mantel, growing over the door frames. Silently making it's way over the widows, covering them with it's big waxy leaves, diminishing the light. slowly, slowly, the light begins to dim after months and years, and one by one, every patch of light is covered by it's vines. Too soon, the light is nothing but  memory, memory of better times; melting snow, the sun on your face. The memories are beautiful, like a patchwork quilt, each one different from the last.It is beautiful and yet so distant, the quilt is encased in glass. Impossible to touch, to wind your fingers through, to wrap yourself in the memories. You feel like an outsider

curse poetry

POETRY

horror! oh how pathetic this is

for I am stuck with this cursed poetry

i have been assigned this a-cursed task

a spiteful piece of poetry

for in this piece i must curse and spit

talk about something i despise

oh how i curse this poetry

you can see how i wish it's demise

curse this poetry

let it rot in hell i say

reapers take this poetry

for i wish for it to never see the light day

the crows curse this poetry

well to hell with you is what i say!

Tangerine
Edward Bloor

My book group book was Tangerine by Edward Bloor. Whereas this book was not my favorite genre, it was not to terrible although it was defiantly not my favorite. The book is written as the journal from a soccer player with terrible eyesight named Paul. The story starts with him and his family moving to Tangerine Florida, and goes on from there to mention soccer, school, lightning, fires and robberies. Although the book was written very well, i felt like the story was extremely scattered and random and had a hard time understanding the characters because of it. I feel as though the story would have been better if I had been able to understand and get to know the characters better. It would have also helped if the plot had been more organized because I feel as though there were things in the story that happened and then didn't go anywhere.

Free Verse Poetry

Free Verse Poetry

November 21

The leaves shake

vines slowly uncurling in a desperate attempt to latch on

to pull themselves close

Thorns reach out

searching,

snagging on fabric and limbs

Goat heads grab on to unknown passerby,

prickling the skin, 

battling to stay attached 

leaves whisper

the cool crisp breeze bringing on the promise of winter

and snow

unseen eyes watch

hidden behind the leaves and in the shadows

a predator's gaze observes through the branches,

silently watching the scene below

it is here where there is peace

peace with the plants and the birds 

peace with the wind and the trees 

everything is silent 

I Am Number Four

I Am Number Four
Pittacus Lore

Over the weekend, I read the ENTIRE Lorian Legacy series, which started with the book, I Am Number Four. This series was awesome and amazing and completely original. I have never read anything like it before. Written in modern time, this sci fi series was both relatable as well as so freakishly different that I couldn't turn this book down (I wasn't able to work on my homework until after I had finished). It was like a modern Star Treck: the main character, Four otherwise known as John was forced to flee from his home planet as the Morgonaians invaded and is know top on the list of wanted dead. One two and three have already perished. This book was awesome and had me so completely hooked that I am already waiting for the next book to come out. Being 350ish pages lone this book could be a two week book but would probably be finished sooner. 

NEXT WEEK
I'll find something

throne of glass

Throne of Glass
Sarah J Maas

On sunday i read the Throne of Glass  by Sarah J Mass. This 432 paged fantasy paged book was fast moving and intense, making it very interesting to read. I really liked how the author created the main character and her mental struggle for survival as well as her witty nature. It was also really cool how the book was based off of a competition with mystery and death. The only real problem I had with this book was that the characters were sometimes distant and hard to understand or connect with. One of my favorite parts though, was how there were always more and more secrets to discover throughout the story line, secrets that made me want to re read the book and look for the hints that were brought up with the dialogue. I also really liked the fact that although there were two main male characters, the author created an elaborate romance without there being a triangle. I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys battles, assassins, mystery and politics and this would probably be a two week book.

NEXT WEEK: Shiver 

Champion
Marie Lu

Yesterday, I read Champion by Marie Lu. Being the third and final book in one of my favorite trilogies (the legend novels), I absolutely loved this book. Unlike many books, this book is a fiction novel that takes place hundreds of years in the future where the United States are split up into two warring sides, the Republic and the Colonies; America is no longer the superpower it used to be. I really liked this book because much of the story line was about attempting to make the corrupt government a better place from what it had used to be, like miniature revolutions. I read this book in a night, which doesn't say much, but judging by the other books I suspect that it was about 350 pages long so it could go either way in being a two/one week book. Also, I am not giving this book justice, the entire series is awesome and NOT at all like  the hunger games. Max has the first book in his room. 

The Tigers Curse

The Tigers Curse

Colleen Houck

On sunday, I read the Tigers Curse by Colleen Houck and was amazed. This book was like nothing I had ever read before and I was hooked before the end of the first chapter. In a quite terrible comparison of the book, I found it similar to the Percy Jackson series because of its way with Indian mythology, teaching me the myths and culture of india as I read through the book. I found the entire thing fascinating! My favorite part was how Colleen brought back old myths from India as well as other aspects from the culture that I could easily relate to from my time there. I also really liked how the story  was based off of a curse that has been a famous indian myth for centuries and how the entire thing was so historically and mythologically correct. This fantasy novel is a total of 400 pages long and could be either a two week book or a one week book. In conclusion, I LOVED this book and have already ordered the rest of the books in the series from the library.

The Raven 

Boys

Maggie 

Stiefvater

This week, I read the  Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater author of Shiver and the Scorpio Races both of which have been on my reading list for quite a long time now. I really, really liked this book because it was unlike anything I have ever read before: not only is the atmosphere and storyline extremely creative, but it was the graceful writing style that really fascinated me. It almost seemed to flow through the entire book like a river going twisting and turning whenever the storyline became intense/fast moving, the entire thing was almost whimsical. Blue the only non psychic in a house of psychs has been always been told that if she kisses her true love than they will die, this had never been a problem for her, until she crossed paths with the raven boys. Adam, Gansey, Ronan and Noah are four friends that have been caught up in a hopeless search for an old fairytale. Until they crossed paths with Blue, their quest had been hopeless. Now everything is much much more dangerous. being a total of four hundred pages this fantasy novel could be either a one or two week book.

NEXT WEEK
The Scorpio Races

The Seer and the Sword

Victoria Hanley

For my book of the week, I read the Seer and the Sword. Unlike many cingular books, I really enjoyed this book for the writing style and the fast and creative storyline. Victoria Hanley had a very interesting writing style that i had never really read before. Unlike most books with a lot of characters, I was never overwhelmed or confused when reading, but instead I found myself merging and recognizing each distinguished personality. One of my favorite parts of the book was how the two different main story lines played out and interconnected without the characters knowing; there was never too much joy, or anger that was used to make the characters seem cheesy, only a relatable sadness. Being a whooping three hundred and fifty page fantasy book this could be either a one or two week book. If you liked books like the False Prince, Blink or Divergent I would recommend this book to you.

The Enchanter Heir

Cinda Williams Chima 

Over the weekend, I read the Enchanter Heir by Cinda Williams Chima. Being the fourth book in the Heir Chronicles, I had a lot of fun reading this book and I was really intrigued by the writing style. Told in two perspectives; the story is intwined in a combination of mystery and magic. I also really enjoyed how the book was written in modern day time and how I could relate to the book and storyline because of that. For most people, the Enchanter Heir is probably a two week book,  consisting of 450 words, I often re-read chapters, paragraphs and pages just so that i could understand the fantasy genre. I have loved every book in the Heir Chronicles and this book was no different, if you enjoyed any books such as the Night Circus, City of Bones or the Percy Jackson Series, then I would defiantly recommend this book.

NEXT WEEK

The House of Hades