As much as I love a good YA read, or a fabulous name, this blog represents my love for photography. That is why I love Holly over at Good Golly Miss Holly, well, there are many reasons and I rec her blog to the moon and back, but her new meme is wonderful and I am glad to participate.
I think this is the best way to “get to know me.”
The best way to know someone is to know what they find beauty in. You’ll see snow, fireworks, foxes and polar bears. Books, of course, kisses and true love captured on film. I may be too pretentious for my own good, but there will be a deep and moving quote or two. Come with me to Paris, Capri and New York City. Who knows when I will be the one behind the camera, but I assure you, it’s one of the best places to find me.
How MPB’s DD works: I will never post pictures best classified as “porn.” I will not post quotes with filthy language and I am not going to be making political statements. However, you may see skin, just not anatomy, sarcasm is widely acceptable and God will be mentioned in a Holy light. I hope that none of that makes you uncomfortable. The first picture shown every week will be the theme. I hope the story is easy to understand and fun to look at.
All pictures are from the most amazing (addictive) site called We <3 It.
Announcing the most amazing contest that I have been hinting about for too long...
Which has tons to do with being Delirious about Photography...
The amazing, talented and kind Lauren Oliver, author of Before I Fall and Delirium has offered a signed, finished copy to the winner!
Here is a little synopsis for the book. I think it’s the perfect book to celebrate all aspects of love:
Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love - the deliria - blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.
But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.
Here are the Rules:
Photo’s must be submitted between January 29th to February 28th at midnight.
You must be a follower of my blog to enter and you must leave a comment telling me why you want to read Delirium, and tell me the e-mail address you have used to send me your photo. Please know I will not be opening anything with an attachment, send your photo as part of the body of your text.
The photo must contain you, or a group, making a heart with their hands. Beyond that, it’s up to you! Do note that if you are part of a group shot that wins, only one signed copy will be sent to you, and one of these prints:
You may edit your own photo, or send it to me as is. If you send it to me, it will be edited with the appropriate information.
You can e-mail me your photo at BellaCarolina33(at)aim(dot)com
My plan is to take all these photos and create a collage for Lauren, so make sure to get your pictures in!
Lauren has graciously offered two signed, finished copies and so each of us will be picking a winner! I know I will be judging on creativity.
The winners will each receive a signed copy of Delirium and a signed “They Cannot Take It” print by Messenger Photography.
Have fun entering, I can’t wait to see your photography!
This February, in honor of my favorite holiday, Valentine's Day, I am holding a month-long event called Hearts, Flowers and Romance. In preparation, I am releasing my review of the first book in Lauren Oliver's new series called Delirium, the book will be on stands tomorrow, the first of February. So today's thoughts: What if love was stripped away?
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
My Summary:
Lena lives in a work where love is the sickness and medicine is the cure. She has been fed the lie all her life, love is an evil thing, a disease, something to fear, something to run from; what will happen when she meets a boy from the Wilds who shows her the truth, and loves her unconditionally?
My Review AKA, why it sometimes sucks to be a reviewer:
Since I began reviewing books I have felt a great shift in how I approach reading. Books use to be just fun, an escape, a private world for me and me alone. Now I have all of you to share it with, which is amazing; I don’t feel quite as alone, but I am also more clinical when I read. Between the responsibility of reviewing ARCs by a certain date, communicating with Authors, fellow bloggers, readers, and updating the pages, reading ‘just for fun,’ is a thing of the past. Reading suddenly has a purpose, and a time quota I must fill. I’m stretching past the twenty-or-so books I would consider into the fifty I want to make sure get a review so all of you know what to read. I’m not just reading to fill a void, it’s my job, and that can make things difficult when you come across a book like Delirium.
I wish I could have read this one just as a reader, someone who was just soaking it up, not looking for faults and noteworthy points to use in a review. I wish I hadn’t been looking for the faults while reading this, because I am looking back and I feel I lost an opportunity to feel something that is indescribable.
I have two internal blogger ‘alter-egos.’ One is Ms. Editor, who is perpetually sucking on the arm of her glasses and has a much more unfortunate nose than I.
The other is in a pink T-shirt, cut-offs, rainbow socks and pigtails. She alternates between reading on the couch, eating popcorn by the fist-full and spreading out on a blanket in a meadow I have not had the pleasure of discovering yet.
While I was reading Oliver’s sophomore book, Delirium, Ms. Editor took over my brain, jotting down mental memo’s for me to communicate to you. While all that was happening, Ms. Pigtails’n’Popcorn was whispering, ‘Pay attention, this book is a love story.’ I wish I had listened to her.
Now both alter ego’s would like to have a word with you.
Ms. Editor: You may address me as Madame President, or Your Highness, whichever you prefer. Right, well, this is a book set in a dystopian era-America, where Portland is the only city left standing. Apparently, some Mad Scientist decided to come along and “cure” everyone of the Deleria AKA Love. It is unclear the origins, or time of this medical take-over, but I have to assume the government co-operated with this man and suddenly the cure was mandatory by pain of death. All manor of common culture was taken hostage to be used as propaganda against the Deleria; Even the Holy Bible was rewritten, removing the figures of a savior, Jesus, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of love, as was the mighty God who hated sin and loved the sinner. In their place came indifference and government garbage to keep the people convinced. Romeo and Juliet became known as the ‘Cautionary Tale’ and 'The Book of Shhh' is the new book of principals for a Cured society.
Now, what do I think of all that? Well, for one, I believe Oliver should have re-named her Society. Like Westerfeld's, Pretty City, or Collins, Panem, there is a greater impact made when the where isn't sitting in your backyard, but it could be, and how do we get there, and why, or what happened? The cliche 'so close, and yet so far' can be implemented to prove the effect is real. A reader of dystopian wants the distance, and they want to know how society got there. Getting there was another rough point, if someone announced tomorrow they developed the cure L'amoure I would laugh them off; I know many, many people who would laugh them off. They are the same people who would form a rebellion if the government started forcing us into the procedure. In my world, I don't see Lena's reality, not a glimmer or a trace, which is the point of dystopian, to warn. That is not to say, however, that this is an impossible future, because I think it's probable. I do think that if Oliver had illustrated what the world 'right before' looked like, what made so many willingly abandon love, then I would have been able to wrap my mind around the concepts. As it is, I know people sacrifice everything for love, I see it, I feel it, we live in a world happily enslaved to love, and sadly enslaved to it's evil counter, hate. I don't believe those two things would be wiped willingly from the face of the Earth.
P'N'P: Is she done yet? Good. Whew! You can call me Pippi, Penny, or Princess Pip, whichever. I agree with my evil counter, Editor, that the dystopian elements are not well-done, however, something greater was at work in this novel all along, something that easily eclipses all the bad stuff. Even in life, Love conquers all.
Back to me: Hope y'all don't think I'm nuts, but I agree with both sides of my coin on this one. As a dystopian novel, this book barely crawls, let alone stands on it's own two feet, however this love story, and the writing, oh my goodness, I must mention the gorgeous writing, sends this novel far past the moon and into a galaxy all it's own.
I'm proud to say, I've caught the Deliria, 'I Love You. Remember. They Cannot Take It.'
Notes on the Names: They all fit well together, but didn't add to the dystopian plot. I loved them though! They were the story. By that I mean, the characters made this book so wonderful. Lena is really picking up as a literary name, but Oliver's characters full name is Magdalena, which is completely original!
Thoughts on the Cover: Interesting concept, I'm intrigued by how the publishing house plans to proceed with the sequels, Pandemonium, due in 2012 (A YEAR?!) and Requiem, due in 2013 (TWO YEARS?!) I'll be nearly nineteen then, and would have already been 'Cured.' Hmm, I wonder if this will change how I read the book. Then again, maybe it's finding your 'One' that makes the greatest difference.
P.S. I know I didn't put too much personal emotion in the review, which is sort of my 'thing' but I really feel like I deprived myself of experiencing the soul of this book; when I get a hardback copy for my Mod Podge Bookshelf I plan to read it again. So, you may hear more later.
I will say this, having read the last two pages over and over again only an hour ago, I feel rubbed raw and exposed where Lena and Alex have hit a place in my heart I cannot put words to. The only word with enough gravity to hold my feelings is this- Love.
This song is for you, Lena and Alex; your love lives on! They cannot take it, or your music!
Anke’s father is abusive to her brother and sister. But not to her. Because, to him, she is like furniture— not even worthy of the worst kind of attention. Then Anke makes the school volleyball team. She loves feeling her muscles after workouts, an ache that reminds her she is real. Even more, Anke loves the confidence that she gets from the sport. And as she learns to call for the ball on the court, she finds a voice she never knew she had. For the first time, Anke is making herself seen and heard, working toward the day she will be able to speak up loud enough to rescue everyone at home— including herself.
My Review:
This isn’t a book you can really like or dislike, you have to take it for what it is. Part of that means you have to accept that it was written in verse, which IMO, was not the right choice.
I really wanted to read this story, not breeze right by it because it’s in epic poetry format. I guess I wanted to know what it was like to be in the moment, not how it felt in such a detached way. That’s the main reason I didn’t hang onto this one, I felt so detached from the story that it didn’t hit me where I wanted it to.
I would like to see a novel written by Chaltas, I want to see what she would put into this format. She was consistent with the “furniture” theme, right to the end and I think it was a beautiful, though tragic metaphor that became a reality in the end.
I think this book really is inspiring and encouraging, though at times confusing and you keep wanting to feel more, you really want to be there, instead of far away, but I hope that Anke’s story will help many young girls to discover that they hold the key to being more than furniture. I hope someone I knew figures that out.
Thoughts on the cover: I love this cover, I just love this cover, ‘nuff said. I love the title too. Can I stress how greatly I wish this book had been in a novel format?!
Notes on the names: I found it so interesting that Anke talked about how her parents wanted something unique as a moniker for each of their children. What an interesting detail for this family.
Waiting on Wednesday is a meme created by Breaking The Spine to spotlight some pre-release books bloggers are itching to get their hands on!
I’ve decided to do things a bit differently here on the Mod Podge Bookshelf. As a penniless and raged college student, I can’t afford to just drop everything and buy a book at full price when it’s first released, sometimes there’s some waiting involved. So, not only will I spotlight pre-release books from my wishlist, but also books on my wishlist that have been released recently that are not in my possession.
Here we go!
A Most untraditional love story is the tale of Henry DeTamble, a dashing, adventuresome librarian who involuntarily travels through times, and Claire Abshire, an artist whose life takes a natural sequential course. Henry and Claire’s passionate affair endures across a sea of time and captures them in an impossibly romantic trap that tests the strength of fate and breaks the bonds of love.
My review:
Now, I know this book is not YA, not even close, I’m recommending my younger readers watch the movie, fall in love with it and return to the book at a later date. Not because of the adult content (there is plenty of it, not grotesque, just adult) but because you will glean so much more older, when marriage, a baby, a career, your dreams, your story, your journey, adventure, masterpiece, when everything is a little less high school and a little more realistic.
This felt good, reading this book felt good to me, I love a good love challenging time itself book. It warms me, makes me believe in magic more than any paranormal book ever could. TTTW felt real, solid, and yet like sand, time itself, slipping through my fingers, page by page, as I inched my way through Henry and Clare’s lives, two lives, two paths, one love story.
I thought myself in the presence of time, like I was part of the story, but at the mercy of the elements leading me straight into the climax, and you can’t stop it, but life goes on.
This is nothing like a YA novel, and if you know you are pro-YA, have tried other books and they don’t work as well then I don’t recommend this book, where most all YA has a glossy finish, almost as if it belongs in an alternate reality (most likely because it revolves around high school) and this book was real. Henry and Clare led this life and you led it with them, each of them, one scrambled, jumping, and one steady, left behind, always waiting. You get to be both, but you have to have enough readers stamina to enjoy being both, it’s a long read, over five hundred pages, and it’s reality. I know, time travel isn’t reality, but everything else is, time travel just makes it more fun!
The whole book brings to mind the word ‘indie’ from the way the characters live, to the writing style, the characters and the dialogue, it still brings to mind a small, indie book, thought up by some super creative author who just so happened to become a best seller.
I love the movie too, I usually have a strict policy where if I have seen the movie, I won’t read the book, but I broke my own rule this time and read the book post-movie, because the movie hit something in my heart and clung to it. I’m not here to judge one over the other, but the movie had a softness where the book felt gritty, not gritty bad, just not soft and caressing on every page. I really loved both and watch the movie once a week it seems, I may even read this one again, someday, when I know even more about what love, family, life and dreams mean to me.
Notes on the Names: I loved every name, really and truly, the names made up so much of the adoration I developed for this book, and it’s something I missed out on in the movie. Instead of listing every name from the entire book, let me just say that the scene where Clare and Henry are trying to name their daughter is my favorite scene in the book. It’s picturesque, in a word.
Thoughts on the Cover: You can’t not love this cover, it captures the book entirely, and makes me mist up and smile when I stare at it too long, having finally been everywhere with Henry and Clare.
As much as I love a good YA read, or a fabulous name, this blog represents my love for photography. That is why I love Holly over at Good Golly Miss Holly, well, there are many reasons and I rec her blog to the moon and back, but her new meme is wonderful and I am glad to participate.
I think this is the best way to “get to know me.”
The best way to know someone is to know what they find beauty in. You’ll see snow, fireworks, foxes and polar bears. Books, of course, kisses and true love captured on film. I may be too pretentious for my own good, but there will be a deep and moving quote or two. Come with me to Paris, Capri and New York City. Who knows when I will be the one behind the camera, but I assure you, it’s one of the best places to find me.
How MPB’s DD works: I will never post pictures best classified as “porn.” I will not post quotes with filthy language and I am not going to be making political statements. However, you may see skin, just not anatomy, sarcasm is widely acceptable and God will be mentioned in a Holy light. I hope that none of that makes you uncomfortable. The first picture shown every week will be the theme. I hope the story is easy to understand and fun to look at.
All pictures are from the most amazing (addictive) site called We <3 It.
I’ve always thought Fade Into Me was the most beautiful phrase. To ‘Fade Into’ is not to loose oneself, but to become a part of something greater. But sometimes that something greater fades too… here's to all the fingerprints you've left.
