The Saturday Social (1)

Hey guys! So, I've been dying to start a weekly meme. (I think it's about time that I host something). I tried to start like two today, but I couldn't see myself sticking with either.

So, I decided to do a really simple weekly meme that you can link up to. With the Crazy-For-Books blog hop missing, I thought I could do something from Friday to Saturday.

All you have to do is answer a blog/book related question each week, post it on your blog with the picture to the left OR the link to this post, then link it up below. Then, you can surf around and find some other blogs to follow.

This week's firstquestionever is...

What's the worst review you've ever given to a book?

Oh, that's easy. When I reviewed Party by Tom Leveen, I found it the most racist book I'd ever read. Aside from that, it made teenagers look like complete idiots. I was so offended. I honestly thought it was pointless and a complete waste of my time.

This was probably the harshest thing I ever said about a book, but I was really passionate about how much I...hated it.

How about you guys? Link below and let us know what your worst review was.

TGIF (2): Buy or Borrow?

So, it's Friday again. Incredible, right? I feel like last Friday was just yesterday...Anyway, I still love this meme, so I'm going to make it a regular thing.

This week's question is...

Buy or Borrow: Where do your books that you read come from? The bookstore? The library? Do you prefer to own a book, or have it on loan?

Okay, when it comes to charity, I'll donate. A cookie? I'll share it. But books...I have to admit that I'm selfish when it comes to books.

I like having books. I feel like I'm always going to need my copy of Before I Fall to reference some "You only live once" quote. If I'm feeling especially single, I need my tabbed copy of Anna and the French Kiss to pretend Etienne St. Clair is my boyfriend. I hate reading a great book and having to return it to the library. I feel like I'm returning a toy that I really like or deleting a good song from my iPod.

However, that isn't exactly realistic. When I'm strapped for cash, I can't spend it on a billion hardcovers. And it doesn suck when I spent twenty dollars on a sucky book that I'll never pick up again.

I don't know. It's a tough risk, but I prefer owning books.

What about you guys?

The Hat Has Spoken (Giveaway Winners)

Hey guys! I want to thank all of you for entering my Epic Giveaway. I got around 50 entries and gained some great new followers! As promised, I picked out of my fedora. Here are the results...

The winner of Clockwork Prince is Amber L. The winner of the swag pack is Daenielle G. I will be contacting the winners by email. If you didn't win this time, look out for another giveaway coming in two weeks! Thanks again, guys. :)

It's Not Me, It's Actually You

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler (Illustrated by Maira Kalman).

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Page Count: 368

I'm telling you why we broke up, Ed. I'm writing it in this letter, the whole truth of why it happened.

Min Green and Ed Slaterton are breaking up, so Min is writing Ed a letter and giving him a box. Inside the box is why they broke up. Two bottle caps, a movie ticket, a folded note, a box of matches, a protractor, books, a toy truck, a pair of ugly earrings, a comb from a motel room, and every other item collected over the course of a giddy, intimate, heartbreaking relationship.

Item after item is illustrated and accounted for, and then the box, like a girlfriend, will be dumped.

The Skinny

Sometimes, people suck. Relationships suck. And break-ups? One big pile of suck. This pretty much sums up the basis of this amazing novel. I'm going to tell you right now, there's absolutely nothing bad I have to say about this book. It perfectly represents the modern teenage relationship, and why they never actually last "forever."

The main thing I love about this book is that it was so relevant. Min Green is a great character that I had this inta-connection to (the awkward name, the "arty" label, etc...) I just really liked Min. I felt her pain, and I've been in her shoes. My heart panged as she narrated this way too familiar relationship. I knew what she was feeling and how she could get so caught up with someone like Ed.

Speaking of Ed...wow. We've all had an Ed. There's always an Ed. He's the guy who we think is the exception - the refined jock who changed just for us. But if there really was an exception, there wouldn't be a rule.

The writing that carried this plot was amazing. I got so involved in the story that I just couldn't put it down. Min's narration was this perfect stream of thoughts that never got boring. Plus, the illustrations were great. I felt like I was actually sifting through the box as I read Min's letter to Ed.

As for the ending, it was impeccable. It was a little slice of reality that you know you should've seen coming, but it still has tons of shock value. I literally teared up with rage and raised my hand to my mouth in the last couple of pages. It was kind of like a fairy tale gone wrong, and I loved every minute of reading it. I definitely suggest this book to anyone who knows what a messed up break-up is like. You can't pass this one up.

Grade: A

P.S. Channeling Min, I created my own mini-letter to an ex of mine...my own little "Why We Broke Up."