December, The Month of Marathons!

Its the beginning of December, which not only means that it's finals week for my autumn classes and I plan to study like a crazy maniac, but it also means the years is coming to an end!

AND when the year is coming to an end, it's time to finish up any last resolutions you may still have!

I started 2014, with a list of small things that I wanted to accomplish, both in blogging, and just in general life. Most of them, didn't really have an "ending", but instead were more generic. Be more friendly, get on the treadmill more often, etc. But I did have a few bigger goals that I was dying to get done, and determined to accomplish.

As the year went on, I tried my hardest to keep up with it all, but of course life gets in the way sometimes. Now it's December and I'm looking at all the things I hoped to get done this year, and realized I'm not too far off.

With only 24.5 days left in 2014, I still have three goals I plan to reach...

1. Reach 600 followers! I'm only 16 away!

2. Read 100 books....which means I still have to read 19 books....

3. A giveaway each month of the year, which means I need to have one for the month of December.

I think 1 and 3 are pretty reasonable, as to where 2 is just out right ridiculous...

Not only am I going to try my VERY best, but I'm going to update you on the entire thing, at least once a week. It's your job to keep me motivated and to prevent me from completely falling on my face and failing! (That would just be SO embarrassing!)

Well the next question would be, what 19 books do I plan to read? Well...I decided to just stick to books that have been sitting on myself for a while now. So not only am I reaching my goal of reading 100 books, but also getting some older books on my shelf read and cleared out!

1. Bumped, by Megan McCafferty.

2. Thumped, by Megan McCafferty.

3. Bad Taste in Boys, by Carrie Harris.

4. My Not So Still Life, by Liz Gallagher.

5. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, by Catherynne Valentine.

6. Fixing Delilah, by Sarah Ockler.

7. Monument 14, by Emmy Laybourne.

8. Monument 14 Sky on Fire, by Emmy Laybourne.

9. Legend, by Marie Lu.

10. Prodigy, by Marie Lu.

11. Champion, by Marie Lu.

12. Her Dark Cucuriosity, by Megan Shepherd.

13. Eve, by Anna Carey.

14. Once, by Anna Carey.

15. Rise, by Anna Carey.

16. Panic, by Lauren Oliver.

17. Anna Dressed in Blood, by Kendare Blake.

18. Girls of Nightmares, by Kendare Blake.

19. Antigoddess, by Kendare Blake.

(WOW, that list is intimidating!)

I tried to pick books that weren't too long, like the Cassandra Clare books I hoped to finally get around to this year, so that I way I at least have a chance at MAYBE getting all these books read.

Besides doing all this, personal goals of mine include scoring at least a B on all of my finals and to get on the treadmill at least twice a week, to keep off the holiday weight.

.....so wish me LOTS (and I means LOOOTS) of luck!

Book Review: The Elite

Title: The Elite.
Author: Kiera Cass.
Series: Yes, The Selection #2.
Pages: 336
Source: Purchased.
Publisher: HarperTeen.
Published Date: 4/23/13
Links:
Book Depository
Goodreads

"The Selection began with thirty-five girls.
Now with the group narrowed down to the six Elite, the competition to win Prince Maxon's heart is fiercer than ever—and America is still struggling to decide where her heart truly lies. Is it with Maxon, who could make her life a fairy tale? Or with her first love, Aspen?

America is desperate for more time. But the rest of the Elite know exactly what they want—and America's chance to choose is about to slip away."

Review:

If you've been following Turning Pages for a little while now, than you know just how much I love reading, and writing about what I'm reading. (Well, DUH LISA! You're a book blogging!) But you should also know that I've had a little bit of a rough patch this last month or so, with school and life in general. I'm taking four classes, working part time, and dealing with everything else the universe is throwing at me.

When it came to reading, I needed something to distract me, something that would completely grasp my attention, and take me away from all the stresses in life. And when I decided to finally pick up The Selection, I had no idea that it would do just that!

After enjoying The Selection as much as I did, even with all the doubts I had before hand, I knew the only thing I could do was marathon The Elite and The One. It was almost unbearable having to wait until the next day to finally get started on The Elite.

The selection began with a total of thirty five girls, but now there are only six left, known as the elite. America is the lowest caste still in for the running, competing with twos, threes and fours. With only a hand full of girls left, time is running out. Aspen is now a guard in the castle, Maxon is confessing his love, the competition between the girls is getting ugly, and the kingdom is being attacked by the rebels.

I thought The Selection had a lot of things going, The Elite completely blew me out of the water.

Even as things were getting tough, not only in the big decision America had to make, but also with the rebellion and the competition, she remained the same person I adored in the first book. She didn't let the pressure of any of the things going on around her, change her. America kept the same morals, and knew exactly what she was fighting for.

I wish I could go into more detail about The Elite, but there are two factors that are preventing me from doing so; I don't want to give too much away to those of you who haven't read The Selection, and I don't remember if specific details happen in The Elite or The One, because I devoured them both in two days.

(I know, I'm sorry! I couldn't help myself!)

Overall, The Elite was an amazing installment to The Selection. Not only did we witness a different side to some of the competing girls, the king and queen, but also to how the country is run. So far this series has become something much more than I could have ever imagined when it was compared to the Bachelor. I'm still SO happy that I decided to pick them up!

This Week's New YA Releases!

Welcome to Turning Pages!

It's Saturday, which means it's time to take a look at all of the amazing books that are being released within the next seven days! I'm excited to say there are quite a few that I've been dying to get my hands on!

If you're interested in any of the titles below and want to read more, click the link and it will take you straight to it's Book Depository page.

Paperback:

Gasp (Visions Series #3), by Lisa McMann.

Top Ten Clues You're Clueless, by Liz Czukas.

Scowler, by Daniel Kraus.

My Chemical Mountain, by Corina Vacco.

The Future We Left Behind, by Mike Lancaster.

Red, by Alison Cherry.

Bracelet of Bones, by Kevin Crossley-Holland.

Of Beast and Beauty, by Stacey Jay.

Sleeping Jenny, by Aubrie Dionne.

The Feral Child, by Che Golden.

Hardback:

Gathering Darkness (Falling Kingdoms Series #3), by Morgan Rhodes.

Zodiac, by Romina Russell.

Princess of Thorns, by Stacey Jay.

Suspicion, by Alexandra Monir.

King Dork Approximately, by Frank Portman.

For Real, by Alison Cherry.

A House Without Mirrors, by Marten Sanden.

Boundary, by Heather Terrell.

Little White Lies, by Katie Dale.

Book Review: The Selection

Title: The Selection.
Author: Kiera Cass.
Series: Yes, The Selection #1.
Pages: 336.
Source: Purchased.
Publisher: HarperTeen.
Published Date: 4/24/12.
Links:
Book Depository
Goodreads

"For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined. "

Review:

I don't know about you guys, but I HATE the show Bachelor and Bachelorette. HATE IT!

I mean who in the world, would go on national television, to meet some guy, who isn't only seeing you, but thirty other girls as well? Do you know how many good guys there are out there, that won't have you compete with all these other women, to get his attention?! A LOT!

So when I heard that The Selection was comparable to the show, I didn't even bother picking it up. I'm done watching and hearing about the show, and I'm not going to start reading something similar either.

...that is, until I started seeing all of these amazing reviews pop up around the blogging world, and couldn't resist the urge anymore. I knew I had to pick it up, but I also promised myself that once I stopped enjoying it, I would stop reading it.

But chapter one went by, chapter five and six came and went, and before I knew it, I was racing to the last page! I couldn't get there fast enough, and so I spent my free time during work zooming through it!

Why did I enjoy it right away? Simply because of America.

(Hahaha, just joking! The main character of course!)

Right from the start of the book she was everything I hoped for in this book. I was cringing when I first cracked open The Selection, expecting some dumb bimbo to be the main character and for her to completely make a fool out of herself throughout the entire story. But America was SO far from that!

The world America lives in, takes place in the future where we see kingdoms popping up again. Illea being one of the youngest, where America lives. The society is divided into eight castes, 1 being the royal family and 8 being the outcasts. Between those two are musicians, maids, artists, models, etc, all ranking in different castes.

The prince has finally become of age, and is in the need of a wife...so of course the ONLY thing he can do is select thirty five girls from his kingdom, to have them compete for his "love". America didn't even consider the idea, there was no way she was going to put her name in the hat, not for a prince and royal family, who doesn't seem to care about their people.

But after promising, to someone very special, to at least put her name in, thinking the changes of her being pulled are so slim, America sees no harm in it...

...until the chosen girls are announced on national television, and America is one of the thirty five.

Then things practically take off from there!

America is thrown into these crazy world, where she is surround by beautiful things, beautiful people, and lots of delicious food. She knows she doesn't belong her, but might as well take the opportunity, not only for her family, but also the entire kingdom, to get things done and fixed.

Overall, The Selection surprised me! The entire book didn't consist of some girl, going on dates, competing with other girls, and swooning about her "love" for this guy. America was kick ass, didn't take anything from anyone, and didn't change herself, only because her surroundings changed. She was still the girl she was before, and I loved that about her.

While this "selection" was going on, there were also a lot of other elements to the story, that were enough to keep me distracted. The caste system, the rebels, America's relationship with someone else, etc.

If you haven't read The Selection, for the same reasons I was, I would recommend at least giving it a try...it might suck you into its vortex, like it did me!