And the winner is...

I have had a couple of giveaways running that have come to an end, so now it is time to announce the winners and the answers to my Hunger Games questions.

First, I want to thank each and every one of you who have signed up as a follower for my blog. I have been very fortunate to have so many wonderful people to share my love of reading with. And I value each time you share your love of reading with me.

The winners of my 300 follower giveaway are:
Nicole who choose Wings by Aprilynne Pike.
Aurora who choose Fat Vampire by Adam Rex.
Tiffani who gets Slayers by CJ Hill.

Thank you to everyone who participated in my 300 follower giveaway!



Second, I had so much fun with the Hunger Games Countdown Trivia and Giveaway. I hope my buddy, Jen, will want to do another one soon! *wink* *wink*

The winner of the giveaway was Krista, who already has a ticket to the midnight showing of the movie. Who else will be there at midnight?

Here are the answers to my questions:
1) What is the first line of The Hunger Games?
B) When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold.

2) When Katniss tells the reader about life in District 12 and how she knew Peeta, she says this "is never the cause of death officially. It's always the flu, or exposure, or pneumonia. But that fools no one." What is she talking about?
C) Starvation

3) Who are Venia, Octavia, and Flavius?
D) Katniss' prep team

4) Before going to the Capitol, Katniss says she has ridden an elevator two times at the Justice Building in District 12. What were the occasions?
A) Once to receive the medal for her father's death and then to say her final goodbye to her friends and family.

5) What did Peeta's mother tell him when she went to tell him goodbye?
D) "Maybe District Twelve will finally have a winner...She's a survivor, that one"

6) Before Caesar's interviews, what characteristic did Cinna tell Katniss that no one can help but admiring in her?
B) Her spirit

7) How many Tracker Jackers attack (or sting) Katniss before she drops the nest on Peeta and the Careers?
B) Three

8) What does Katniss' mother always say is the first treatment for burns?
D) Cold Water

9) Who said, "I don't want them to change me in there. Turn me into some kind of monster that I'm not."
B) Peeta

10) Which tribute did Katniss identify first as one of the muttations when she, Peeta, and Cato were defending themselves at the Cornucopia?
A) Glimmer

11) What outfit does Peeta say he remembers Katniss wearing when his crush on her started?
B) A Red Plaid Dress with her hair in two braids.

12) What "sensible" meal do Peeta and Katniss share as Chapter 23 opens?
A) They each have a roll, half an apple, and an egg-size serving of stew and rice.

13) What does Katniss hide the sleeping medicine in when she gives it to Peeta?
A) Mashed up berries that she calls Sugar Berries.

14) Katniss describes how District 12 handles the Hunger Games as?
A) "We grit our teeth and watch because we must and try to get back to business as soon as possible when they're over."

15) Which of the following is the last line of The Hunger Games?
C) "I take his hand, holding on tightly, preparing for the camera, and dreading the moment when I will finally have to let go."

So how did you do? What did you think of the questions?

Follow Friday (17) and Hunger Games Movie Countdown Trivia and Giveaway (14)

Q: What is the best book you've read in the last month? What is the worst book you've read in the last month?

It might seem like this question would be easy but there have been so many good books that I cannot decide, but here goes:
My Favorites:

My Review.  In general though, this book stuck with me.  I was drawn into the world that Lisa McMann created.  I cannot wait for another installment!


My Review.  I loved getting to see Anna and St. Clair again, but I may love Lola and Cricket even more!

My Not-So-Favorites:
I hate to classify anything as the worst--but these were the books that disappointed me this month.

My Review.  The first time I read this one--I loved it.  But I recently re-read it to prepare for Pandemonium and found Lena more annoying than charming as a narrator.


My Review.  I was so excited about this book because I had heard it was so funny.  But it fell a little flat for me. 

So, have you read these books?  What did you think?
_____________________________________________

My blogging buddy, Jen, and I have been working on a sequel to our Valentine's day celebration (the Famous YA Couples Trivia Quiz). 

So everyday I will post a trivia question about either a YA dystopian novel in general or the Hunger Games in particular.  Everyone gets one opportunity a day to answer--and it does not matter if you are right or wrong.  Any answer is worth a chance to win a prize!  This contest will continue until March 16.

The prize:
1) The Girl Who Was on Fire
2) The Unofficial Hunger Games Cookbook
Since these books are available from the Book Depository, I will open this giveaway internationally to any place that BD offers free shipping to.

First, I want to apologize.  I was sick yesterday and did not get to post my question.  I am posting two questions today.  Please use the form below twice to submit an answer to each question.  Please put some kind of key word from the question in either the answer or the question about the characters/book mentioned so I will know which question you are answering.  :)

1) Katniss describes how District 12 handles the Hunger Games as?
A) "We grit our teeth and watch because we must and try to get back to business as soon as possible when they're over."
B) "It's funny, because even though they're rattling on about the Games, it's all about where they were or what they were doing or how they felt when a specific event occurred."
C) They celebrate their tributes with a sincere and longing to see the tributes from District 12 win.
D) They hope that their tribute will get in with the career tributes so they will have the best chance.

2) Which of the following is the last line of The Hunger Games?
A)"And they lived happily ever after."
B) "And right now, the most dangerous part of the Hunger Games is about to begin."
C) "I take his hand, holding on tightly, preparing for the camera, and dreading the moment when I will finally have to let go."
D) "'Stop! Stop! Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to present the victors of the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark!  I give you--the tributes of District Twelve!'"

Please fill out this form to submit your answer.

The Book Addict Reviews: Fat Vampire by Adam Rex

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Order Online: Amazon.com
Author Info: Website | Goodreads
Rating: 2 stars
Bought this book at YAllapalooza. 

In A Nutshell:
I had very high hopes for this story but my overall feeling after reading it I only feel disappointment.  I did not find it funny or charming or interesting.  The elements that I hoped would spark my interest all felt underdeveloped or unexplored. 

Review:
Doug Lee is doomed to spend eternity as an awkward, overweight, nerdy teen--all because that is who he was when he was turned into a vampire.  In order to sustain himself, he tries to attract girls.  But he has no better luck as a vampire than he did before.  He is forced to feed on cows to curb his appetite.  To compound these mounting problems, Doug's behavior at a convention has drawn the attention of a failing Vampire Hunter television show which needs to catch a vampire to stay alive itself. 

The storyline had a lot of potential.  The person I spoke to at the bookstore said that she laughed out loud throughout the entire book.  However, I am chalking this one up to an example of how every story does not work for every reader because I did not find a lot of humor in this book at all.  Maybe I missed the humor because I did not feel connected to any of the characters.  I thought that Doug was a jerk most of the time--particularly to his best friend.  His best friend was a likeable enough person, but then I wanted to know why he put up with Doug's treatment.

SPOILER ALERT

The characters that most sparked my interest were the older vampires that set out to mentor Doug and the other newly created vampires.  Where did they come from?  How did they find the teens?  How did they live?  Which led me to another of my frustrations with this book--the world created in this novel and how vampires fit into the world is never fully explained.  We only see Doug's lessons and then later learn that his mentor lies a lot--so we never really learn a lot of how this world works.   

Initially, I thought the television show would be a nice diversion, but instead I found its clunky and awkward.  Then when the show was finally starting to really get close to Doug--and the action and intrigue seemed eminent--they get cancelled.  The host starts focusing on a show idea that had nothing to do with this story.  At that point, I frustratedly had to ask why was it even part of the story!

Recommendations:
I have talked to a few people who have told me to give Adam Rex another chance--so I will with:

TBR Intervention (11)

I am calling this week a TBR success--and I am very proud of that. :)

Last Week

I finished this one. I am not 100% sure how I feel about it--so I am waiting until I can put my feelings into words before I write the review.


I have started this one but I am not done with it yet. It will be my first success of next week!


I was so excited to get reacquainted with Kinsley that I devoured this book in what felt like a second. I have the next one on reserve at the library!

This Week

I already told you about Triangles: A Novel but I am also committed to reading:

I am participating in a blog tour for this one in March--I am so excited to finish it and write my review.

Summary (from back cover):
Thirty-five year old fiction writer, Richard Rossi would do just about anything to get his manuscript published.  However, months of rejection and unanswered prayers have strained his capacity to hope.  Alone in New York City, he teeters on the brink of alcoholism, as his hope erodes into desperation.  His prayers are finally answered when a simple misdirected piece of mail spawns a chance encounter with an extraordinary man, Seth Volos, Publisher.  And while their unholy alliance thrusts Richard to the top of every Best Seller list in America, the horrifying outcome of the book's legions of fans is anything but a happy ending.

My audiobook focus for this week is: 

This is a re-read for me, but I am finding Lena to be a less charming character this time around.

Summary (from Amazon.com):
Ninety-five days, and then I’ll be safe.

I wonder whether the procedure will hurt.

I want to get it over with.

It’s hard to be patient.

It’s hard not to be afraid while I’m still uncured, though so far the deliria hasn’t touched me yet.

Still, I worry.

They say that in the old days, love drove people to madness.

The deadliest of all deadly things: It kills you both when you have it and when you don’t.

After I finish these books--I have so many options it is going to be hard to pick the next book.  Maybe you can help me.  Which book should I read next?

TBR Intervention (10)

Overall--I feel like I set very ambitious goals for last week, so I am calling this week a success even though I am not done with everything.

Last Week

I am 2/3 of the way done with this one.  I have been finding many of the same problems I find with a lot of second books in series--it drags a lot more than the first one did.  But in talking with my friend we learn a lot from this book that is very important in later books and we meet a lot of people who are important in later books.  So in other word it is very important as the series continues.  So I have been working through it, and now that I am in the last 100 pages I can feel it starting to pick up quite a bit!


I finished this one--and I loved it.  Well maybe love is not the right word.  I struggle with describing how I feel about Ellen Hopkins books--they are so well written but it is hard to say "love" with the topics that she covers.  They are gritty, dark, and hard.  But it affected me.  I felt it deeply as I finished it.  More to come in my review.


This one I can say I finished and I loved without hesitation! Although I do not necessarily think it was my favorite Sarah Dessen book--I did love it. I loved Ruby and Nate.  Review to come.

This Week

My first fail of the week is destined to be my first success next week!  I am going to start Fat Vampire as soon as I finish Kitty Goes To Washington.  I cannot read two fantasy books (both of which have a different vampire world created) at the same time.  But this one is going to be next--I promise!

And from the library (and coming due this week--eek!):

This is Ellen Hopkins first adult novel--and I have been so excited to read it.  I am very optimistic that the style that makes her so accessible and honest in YA will do wonders in an adult novel!

Summary (from Amazon):
THREE FEMALE FRIENDS FACE MIDLIFE CRISES IN A NO-HOLDS-BARRED EXPLORATION OF SEX, MARRIAGE, AND THE FRAGILITY OF LIFE.

Holly: Filled with regret for being a stay-athome mom, she sheds sixty pounds and loses herself in the world of extramarital sex. Will it bring the fulfillment she is searching for?

Andrea: A single mom and avowed celibate, she watches her friend Holly’s meltdown with a mixture of concern and contempt. Holly is throwing away what Andrea has spent her whole life searching for—a committed relationship with a decent guy. So what if Andrea picks up Holly’s castaway husband?

Marissa: She has more than her fair share of challenges—a gay, rebellious teenage son, a terminally ill daughter, and a husband who buries himself in his work rather than face the facts.

As one woman’s marriage unravels, another’s rekindles. As one woman’s family comes apart at the seams, another’s reconfigures into something bigger and better. In this story of connections and disconnections, one woman’s up is another one’s down, and all of them will learn the meaning of friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness.

Unflinchingly honest, emotionally powerful, surprisingly erotic, Triangles is the ultimate page-turner. Hopkins’s gorgeous, expertly honed poetic verse perfectly captures the inner lives of her characters. Sometimes it happens like that. Sometimes you just get lost.Get lost in the world of Triangles, where the lives of three unforgettable women intersect, and where there are no easy answers.

And because we all know that I cannot go anywhere without a book on my ipod, my audiobook this week is:

Although--I am listening to the unabridged version! I think that is very important to note.

Summary (from Amazon):
Finding wealthy Elaine Boldt seems like a quickie case to Kinsey Millhone. The flashy widow was last seen wearing a $12,000 lynx coat, leaving her condo in Santa Teresa for her condo in Boca Raton. But somewhere in between, she vanished. Kinsey's case goes from puzzling to sinister when a house is torched, an apartment is burgled of worthless papers, the lynx coat comes back without Elaine, and her bridge partner is found dead. Soon Kinsey's clues begin to form a capital M -- not for missing, but for murder: and plenty of it.

Winner of the 1985 Private Eye Writers of America Shamus Award and the 1985 Anthony Award for Best Novel.

What are you reading this week?

TBR Intervention (9)

Last Week

I am calling last week a "so-so" success.  I got a lot of reading done (success), but I did not get a lot of the TBR Intervention reading done (fail):

I finished it!  I loved it!  My review is up. 

I am almost done--close enough that I think I will be done by the end of the day.  I love it!!  I have been recommending this book to everyone I know--particularly those with kids 8-13 years old.  Review coming soon.

This is my epic fail--because I have not even started this book.  And with my giveaway--I need to read the books before I give them away!  So this one is going back on my TBR pile for a while.

This Week

My new supervisor has been recommending the Kitty Norville series by Carrie Vaughn.  I read the first one this week--and now I have to read the next one this week (absolutely have to know what happens next!):

Summary (from back cover):
Werewolves Do It Better

The country's only celebrity werewolf, late-night radio host Kitty Norville prefers to be heard, not seen.  But when she's invite to testify at a Senate hearing on behalf of supernaturals, her face gets plastered on national TV.  Kitty's been in hot water before, but jumping into the D.C. underworld brings a new set of problems.  And a new set of friends and enemies, including the vampire mistress of the the city; an uber-hot Brazilian were-jaguar; and a paranoid, Bible-thumping senator who wants to expose Kitty as a monster.  Kitty quickly learns that in this city of dirty politicians and backstabbing pundits, everyone's itching for a fight.

Adam Rex is coming to my favorite local bookstore (changing hands) so I am going to start my giveaway reading with:

Summary (from back cover):
Doug Lee is undead quite by accident--attacked by a desperate vampire, he finds himself cursed with being fat and fifteen forever.  When he has no luck finding some goth chick with a vampire fetish, he resorts to sucking the blood of cows under cover of the night.  But it's just not the same.

Then he meets the new Indian exchange student and falls for her--hard.  Yeah, he wants to bite her, but also wants to prove himself to her.  But like the laws of life, love, and high school, the laws of vampire existence are complicated--it's not as easy as study Dracula.  Especially when the start of Vampire Hunters is hot on your trail in an attempt to boost ratings...

Searing, hilarious, and always unexpected, Fat Vampire is a satirical tour de force from one of the most original writers of fiction today.

I also had a few books I have been waiting for at the library--and of course they have all come at once.  So I have to get them done before they are due.  For this week I am focusing on finishing:

Summary (from inside flap):
Crank. Glass. Ice.  Crystal.  Whatever you call it, it's all the same; a monster.  And once it's got hold of you, this monster will never let you go.

Kristina thinks she can control it.  Now with a baby to care for, she's determined to be the one deciding when and how much, the one calling the shots.  But the monster is too strong, and before she knows it, Kristina is back in its grips.  She needs the monster to keep going, to face the pressures of day-to-day life.  She needs it to feel alive.

Once again the monster takes over Kristina's life and she will do anything for it, including giving up the one person who gives her the unconditional love she craves--her baby.

The sequel to Crank, this is the continuing story of Kristina and her descent back to hell.  Told in verse, it's a harrowing and disturbing look at addiction and the damage that it inflicts.

I read Crank and it affected me--it's hard for me to say that I loved it because it is not a story to love.  But it will always stick with me.  

And of course I have to be listening to a book.  This week I think I am going to focus on listening to: 

Summary (from Amazon):
“Ruby, where is your mother?”

Ruby knows that the game is up. For the past few months, she’s been on her own in the yellow house, managing somehow, knowing that her mother will probably never return.

That’s how she comes to live with Cora, the sister she hasn’t seen in ten years, and Cora’s husband Jamie, whose down-to-earth demeanor makes it hard for Ruby to believe he founded the most popular networking Web site around. A luxurious house, fancy private school, a new wardrobe, the promise of college and a future—it’s a dream come true. So why is Ruby such a reluctant Cinderella, wary and defensive? And why is Nate, the genial boy next door with some secrets of his own, unable to accept the help that Ruby is just learning to give?

It feels like I have been away from Sarah Dessen too long!
 
What books do you plan to read this week?  Have you read the books I am planning?  What did you think?