Insanity!!!!!

Ok, so I was in the book store the other day when I came across this book called The Summoning. I'd seen it in a lot of stores, so I picked it up and read the back. It sounded like your typical fantasy novel, with necromancers, werewolves, sorcerers, witches, and of course what book wouldn't be complete without zombies. But then I read the actual book. Let me tell you, this book is the best thing since flushable toilets and bacon. Basically,it ROCKS!!! I couldn't put it down, and stayed up until five in the morning to finish it. It's part of a trilogy, the other two books being The Awakening and The Reckoning. I already read the second book, but I can't get the third until next week. It's driving me insane; I need closure!

Anyway, about the book.
So, the main character is this girl called Chloe. She's just your average 15 year old, until one day she starts seeing ghosts. Yeah, ghosts. Her dad, thinking she's gone insane, puts her in this place called the Lyle House. It's like a mental home for teenagers. While there she meets Tori, a bipolar witch, Derek, a very, very temperamental werewolf, Simon, a sorcerer (if you've ever read the Mortal Instruments, you understand why I laugh at this), Liz, a telekinetic witch, and Rae who's some sort of half fire demon thing (don't ask, I don't get it either).


They all become good friends, but then an evil demon comes back from the underworld and they must save the world. Using all their powers they kill the demon and live happily ever after.

I mean, that's what you expect to happen in these books, right? Ha, ha...wrong.


Here's where the twist comes in.


Problem #1: They all hate each other. Tori can't stand Chloe because they have nothing in common, and the boy Tori likes is hitting on Chloe (Psh, men). Chloe can't stand Derek, because he's a pushy know-it-all, and constantly yells at her for doing stupid things (ex: accidentally raising the zombies in the basement. Who knew they even buried bodies down there?). And Derek just hates everybody 'cause he's a werewolf going through puberty.


Problem #2: They're experiments of an evil bunch of scientists. So not only are they supernatural beings who can't control their powers, but they're supernatural beings who can't control their genetically advanced powers. *shutter*


And Problem #3: They have absolutely no idea they are supernatural beings.


Sound like an awesome plot line? If not, there is something seriously wrong with you. Who doesn't enjoy a good book with zombies every now and then?


Just trust me, read it. It will change your life.


Until next time.


~Clary

Something to Blog About

Exciting news; I actually have something to say today!

I know the updates have been a little sketchy for the past couple of months- Claire and I have just been posting random things, trying to get the gist of the site and how it works- but now we're taking the plunge: we're actually going to try to update this thing on a regular basis. Well, actually, I am. I have no idea if Clarissa's agreed to this or not, because she's in France right now, and I quote, "They don't believe in internet cafe's in Paris."

So, to celebrate the happy occasion, I decided to do my first* official book response on a book about (what else?) blogging.
There are few things I love more in life than ransacking my friend's bookshelves. I was doing exactly that when I came across Something to Blog About by Shana Norris. This particular copy was in near-perfect condition, with exactly two sticky notes poking out from the pages. (This particular friend of mine loves to sticky note her books.)

"I'm taking this," I announced, putting it on the pile of other books I was stealing from her. I don't think she looked up from the SuperJunior video she was watching.

And then, about two weeks later, I found the book under my bed. Cut to last night: I began to read.

And here's where the relevant review part begins. (Warning: I give spoilers.)

The book in itself was cute and funny. It follows two months in the life of Libby Fawcett, a tenth grade girl who just wants her crush, nice-guy Seth, to notice her, and mean-girl Angel (Ha, irony) to leave her alone. Libby writes in a password-protected diary/blog to vent her feelings about her life, and people around her. However, at the very beginning of the book, (written in a blog format) it's revealed that Libby's online diary was made public by the evil Angel in an attempt to ruin Libby's social life. Just great.

All in all, I enjoyed the book- it's a simple and quick read (I finished it in literally, two hours) and doesn't require any deep thinking. Shana Norris kept it short and sweet. It's the kind of book I'd take to camp, the beach, or on a plane ride to pass the time.

That being said, it's definitely not a book for the guys.


I'm not going to delve into the "chick-lit"/"don't-judge-a-book-by-it's-cover" debate so early in the blog, but this, essentially, is a book for the girls. Unless the guys want to read about first crushes and getting your hair caught in a Bunsen burner, I wouldn't recommend it to them.

But one thing I got out of reading the book: I am now deeply curious about my friend's sticky-note habits. The two places in the novel she had them didn't even make sense; one was on a page that talked about Libby tripping over a guy with a trumpet, and the other was describing chicken and vegetables. Am I the only one who doesn't get it?

I didn't think so.

~Lily


*Unless you count my semi-review of Hush,Hush

Brilliance

Ok, since Lily decided to give that nice compliment about my hair, and she never seems to reveal anything about herself (except about being obsessed with ice cream trucks, but who isn't?) I guess I should shed some light on my fellow blogger.

You see, Lily has a talent. A great talent. A talent she will most likely make millions of dollars off of, and become more famous than the Queen of England. A talent that will make a difference in people's lives around the world. Yes, I'm talking about writing. Our dear Lily is an author. Not just any author, but a brilliant author. You give her a pen and paper, and she'll write a full page of gold, each word (in the words of Lily) dripping with brilliance. It's hard to find your talent, something your good at (if you even find it at all) but she found it at a young age. So, if you find any of her works in the future, read it. It was written by a genius.

On another happy note, it's spring! Finally! Up here in the middle of nowhere Alaska, contrary to popular belief, we have five seasons: Fall, Winter, Fake Spring, Spring and Summer. Through the month of April, it feels like spring; the snow is melting, the birds are coming out, you have to keep you windows shut because there are bears out (seriously, they have been known to get in garages, and even kitchens). But, May 1st rolls around, and you get three inches of snow. It's enough to make anyone cry.

Well, I do believe spring is here to stay, so happy Real Spring everyone!

~Clarissa

The View From the Window

I want to update the blog again, but it's the first summer-like weekend we've had all year.

Isn't it beautiful?
Much too gorgeous to stay inside. I'm gonna go nap out there.

~Lily

Hair

"You are hungry," my brain told me as I watched the latest episode of 10 Things I Hate About You. "You want to get a snack."

I sat up suddenly. "I am hungry," I said aloud. My cat looked at me strangely, probably wondering who I was talking to. "I'm going to get a snack."

It was then, as I dug through the cupboard in search of some crackers, that several neurons in my head fired at once, and I remembered:

The blog.

"Oh, @#$&%!" I yelled, though this was not from the fact that I had neglected to tell Clarissa to update, but because someone had put an empty box of Cheese-Its back into the cabinent. Kitty glared at me from his bed.

Kitty does not approve of naughty language.

"I already did," was Clarissa's reply to a hastily sent email telling her she needed to update this thing. And she wasn't even lying. She had updated the blog. TEN DAYS AGO. Without telling me.

Obviously, this is completely unfair. "You were supposed to be a team," the evil part of my brain told me. "You told her when you updated, and she doesn't even bother to repay the favor? Kill her."

"That seems a little extreme," I reasoned. "I don't always tell her when I'm going to spend the night in her bathtub, and she's never complained about it. Except for that time she found out. Plus, her hair was cute today."

Dear readers, let me just take an aside from our story to give you the low-down on Claire-bear's hair:

It's fabulous.

And I'm not talking permed and colored fabulous. I'm talking, you're either born with it or you crave it forever fabulous. And let me tell you, our Claire was born with it. How does that saying go? "If you got it, flaunt it."

This, however, is exactly the opposite of what my lovely friend does. Instead, she decides to hide her luxurious curls by wearing a swim cap under a fisherman's hat under a hood at all times. Except for today, when she freed her amazing natural curls, making Sarah Jessica Parker weep with envy.

Go cry.

Obviously, I could not execute someone with hair like hers.

Luckily, this was about the time that my good friend Francisco called, saving me from the dilemma.

"We're going to buy an ice cream truck," he informed me. "We are going to paint it bright orange with black flames and drive around as it plays 'Pop Goes the Weasel.' In fact, we are going to take a road trip in it." I cheerfully agreed to this idea before I realized that if I was googling icecream truck decorations, I wouldn't have time to yell at Claire for whatever I had been angry about before I'd been distracted by the idea of an icecream road trip.

But hey, at least I found this cool bumpersticker:

**BLOG UPDATE**: I just read the above entry and realized I need serious help. That is all.

~Lily

Magical World of Fiction

Hello my minions - I mean precious readers! Since you're here, and willing to read this, I might as well introduce you to some fantastic ways to waste your time. Yes, this means a book list. But this isn't just your average book list that was put together by some person working in a government building with no air conditioning, who thinks that young adults have the reading ability of an alpaca. No, this list was designed, sweated over, and subjected to cruel torture for the past three years.

Myth/Fantasy

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series - Rick Riordan

Mortal Instruments - Cassandra Clare

Wicked Lovely Series - Mellisa Marr

The Heir Series - Cinda Williams

The Inheritance Cycle - Christopher Paolini

House of Night Series - Cast

The Demon King - Cinda Williams

Strange Angels Series - Lili St. Crow

The Iron King - Julie Kagawa

Now, these are just some myth/fantasy books that I really like. I don't want to give you the whole list because its rather long, and I don't want to shove it all down your throat all at once. Baby steps.

Also, Cassandra Clare is coming out with a new book called the Clockwork Angel. It's part of the Infernal Devieces series, which are the prequals to the Mortal Instruments. I hear it's going to be an AWESOME book, so please visit her website and check it out!

One more thing. If you are going to be reading this, you will realize that there will be some things you don't understand, like our bacon jokes. If you want to understand 90% of what we are saying, I suggest you read the Maximum Ride books by James Patterson. And, while you are at it, you might as well read Diary of a Lovesick Mutant on Fanfiction. I didn't know the meaning of the word "funny" until I read it. I still have nightmares.

Well, it's obvious you have some reading to do, so what are you still doing here reading our blog! Get going! But, if you have anything to say, or any questions about reading, books, or writing, please leave a comment. Blah, I feel like a freakin' professor giving a lecture...oh well, we all have our days.

~Clarissa

Libraries

There are a lot of things in this world I* like. For instance, tacos. Tacos are like the Zeus of Food Olympus. You just can't get any awesomer. I also like cats. And trampolines. And crayons. All of these things I find acceptable. But one of the things I like best is a LIBRARY.

Honestly, what's not to like about a library? I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure that the people who don't like libraries are the same people who use the souls of puppies to power their cars. Or they have a genetic disorder. (However, despite my use of the word 'awesomer' in that first paragraph, I am a self-proclaimed writer, so maybe I'm just a tiny bit biased. But really. Going to the library is like a visit to the bookstore. Except all of the books are FREE. I drool just thinking about it.)

I have been visiting these places of reading wonder all week now. Here's a tiny peek at the abundant reading materials I have conjured:

Paper Towns, John Green
Can't tell you much about it, but I know there's a dead person in the prologue. Fascinating. (Side note: I love John Green's books. Will Grayson, Will Grayson was superb.)

Before I Die, Jenny Downham
I'm going through a phase where I want to read books with character death. Hopefully this will fill my quota. If not, I can always start on my untouched copy of Thirteen Reasons Why.

Grave Sight, Charlaine Harris
I think I started reading this once and didn't like it, but the cover is different than I remember, so I don't trust myself. It's about a lady who sees dead people. Kind of sounds like a grown-up version of the Mediator series. But don't hold me to that.

And I am Currently Reading:

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Here's the gist of it so far: Nora is a normal teenager, besides being anemic. Her biology partner is Patch, a dark, mysterious stud who Nora can't help being attracted to. From the second Nora meets Patch, weird things start to happen to her (Example: she picks up a stalker. Objects disappear before her eyes. She discovers that her older sister is a man.**)

Last week, both Clarissa and a friend who I will from now on refer to as Angie shoved this book into my hands quite forcefully, blathering about how much she loved it and it's amazing, and by the way, Patch is hotter than the sun. (But reading a couple of chapters into it, it became evident that he's a TOTAL CREEPER. Example: The Bio teacher asks him what attributes he looks for in a mate, and he purposely describes Nora, who's sitting right next to him. Plus, he breathes on her. A lot. SCARY.***)

I'm about halfway through Hush, Hush now, and although the leading male is not for my taste (so far), I'm certainly enjoying it. It's got a certain misty appeal, and parts of it are hilarious, especially the scenes with Nora's best friend, Vee. Most likely, I'll be reading the second one when it comes out.

Clarissa and Angie will probably kill me if I don't.

*Commonly known as Lily

**Just kidding.

***But it's all cool because he's a fallen angel.