Review: City of Ashes

I'm not sure if it's a sign of a good series or a bad one, that 400 pages later, I can't really remember everything that's happened in the book. The lines between each book blur and I finished the second novel eager to get into the third, but also a bit confused.

This is where writing a review becomes difficult. A lot happened. Can I tell you about it? Not really. I moved through the book as quickly as time will allow me right now. There were some exciting plot twists and emotionally charged scenes. And I will certainly read through the rest of the series. But not right now.

I'm going to take a one book break and switch to another series I started last November: The Inn Boons Boro Trilogy by Nora Roberts. This was not an easy decision, but given how my brain has mushed together the first couple Mortal Instruments novels I think a break is called for. Plus, there are so many more MI books (3 more so far since the latest was just released a few weeks ago!) I'd have never gotten to the Roberts book if I had to read through 1200 more pages of the Jace-Clary-Simon saga.

My book stack is rapidly growing now that I've recommitted myself to a reading lifestyle, and I find myself unable to wait to dig in to some more Nora. So, enjoy your books and I'll be sure to enjoy mine!

Friday Funnies #18

It's important to me (for some reason) to always know what's the hot new book on the shelf. Sometimes I'll go by my neighbourhood Chapters just to read the titles on the "What's Hot" shelves. Seriously. 

That said, it's been brought to my attention that there's a "new" book out there (it's actually almost a year old), that has film companies bidding for the rights and women everywhere taking to their eReaders for a little privacy. EL James' Fifty Shades of Grey. Adapted from Twilight fan fiction, this novel apparently tells an incredibly juicy and new kind of love story, that I, personally, can't wait to dig into. 

It's a steamy little piece of erotica that has certainly peaked my interest. But I promise you, it's not for the reasons in the video below. Like I said, I just like to stay on the cutting edge. Even if that edge is likely to make me blush every 20 pages or so.

PS. It is the absolute bane of my existence that SNL won't just allow their skits to be posted online. So, I'm sorry for the terrible quality.

Happy Friday!

WTJ: Fill in this Page When You are Really Angry

Call me a perfectionist. Or a neat freak. Or anal retentive. Or detail oriented. I don't care. It's what I am. Things in my world have a place, or an order, and if it's mine, I like to keep it that way. I try not to impose my structure and orderliness on anyone else. If you want to leave your things sprawled all over the place, good for you! That's your way. But don't -- DO NOT -- come into my space, and sprawl my things anywhere but where they're supposed to be.

This rant is stemming from a recent experience in my classroom. I'm away one day and I come back to find my window wide open, several of my "good" pens and pencils missing (yes, I have good pens and pencils that are off limits to students), my desk calendar scribbled over, several of my course binders off the shelf, sitting on my desk with scribbles on some of pages inside, and the students' desks in various places throughout the room that they don't belong. And that was all discovered as soon as I got here. Since then I've even found magnetic bookmarkers of mine that have been removed from my textbooks and torn apart. Are you kidding me?

Sigh. 

I hate blog ranting... Sorry. So, to be more visual I wrecked my journal today as a different kind of anger outlet.

My apologies to anyone who had to read this on Facebook, Twitter, and now here. I do appreciate your patronage, though.  

PS. I'm aware of the melodrama dripping from this WTF WTJ page.

Tuesday Teaser

The novel has been hard to put down lately. To the point where I even fell asleep on the couch with the book in my hands last night. And not because it was boring, but because it was past my bedtime. I won't embarrass myself by telling you what time that is. ...I hope you enjoy this little snippet as much as I'm enjoying the book!

His eyes came to rest on Isabelle and Alec. A faint shiver went through Alec, as if something had plucked at his nerves. Jace's father's words were perfectly ordinary, even polite, but there was something in his blank and predatory gaze that made Alec want to step in front of his sister and block her from Valentine's view.

(City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare, pg. 360)

Friday Funnies #17

Yesterday, while I was on the hunt for wedding readings, I got sidetracked from the traditional Catholic readings and, of course, started reading some great speeches and monologues about love and relationships from literature. Someone even suggested one from Harry Potter about how the strongest magic anyone can possess is a capacity to love. It was pretty beautiful. And it reminded me how much I really loved LOVE Harry Potter and the whole Hogwarts thing. He is the inspiration for today's funnies.  Though I think you've got to be a fan to really appreciate the humour.

Hope your Friday is just magical!

Tuesday Teaser

With a busy, busy day and a head cold that pretty much requires a snot bucket to hang from my neck or two rolled up tissues to live permanently in each nostril, I'm ready for the couch and my book. (And Glee, but this isn't a TV blog).

So, here's what I'll be reading while I'm curled up on the couch in about 45 seconds.

Isabelle with her whip and boots and knives would chop anyone who tried to pen her up in a tower into pieces, build a bridge out of the remains, and walk carelessly to freedom, her hair looking fabulous the entire time. This made Isabelle a hard person to like, though Clary was trying.

(City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare pg. 149)

May 1st

A long time ago (and by that I mean a year ago), I tried to start a blog-tradition of kicking off each month with a great quote about reading. ...I think it lasted one or two months. But today is my attempt to bring it back!

I hope this happens to you sometime this May. I know it'll happen to me.