Life of a Random

There is something to be said for hardbacks. I admit that I don't love them as much as I used to and I even usually prefer paperbacks (*cough* cheaper *cough*). But, gosh, The Raven Cycle books are gorgeous in hardback. So, I think I've added something to my bookish bucket list- I need (read: want) to get all of the books in hardback format. End of discussion. On other topics though, I've decided to review The Raven Boys and The Dream Thieves in one post which means I've also decided to introduce something called a "flash review" (in honor of flash fiction). Basically, a flash review is just a really short review. I don't know if other book blogs have used this term or not, so it's not my intention to steal anybody's ideas. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater My sister got me a paperback copy of The Raven Boys for my birthday. :D So, thank you SO much again, Tansie Gray . ;) I loved it. Everything about it was amazing, and now I w...

Fisher of Men  by Gene Harlan Powell Publication Date: September 17, 2012 Publisher: Unlimited Publishing Pages: 264 Source: MizBooks Media via Author Format: Paperback Herb Shreve's mother always said he would be a preacher. He fought this destiny until he heard the voice of God say "Herb, preach!" Many sermons later, a late night return from a revival ended in an altercation with his teenage son. Realizing the emotional distance between them, Herb purchased two motorcycles to rekindle their bond. Traveling to rallies, Herb saw hurt and pain masquerading behind black leather and roaring engines. Here were thousands who would never enter church doors. His wife gave him thirty days and the promise of Tupperware income. Discover for yourself how $17 and submission to God's will built the Christian Motorcyclists Association - now a global ministry, serving all 50 states and 30 countries worldwide. I don't usually read a lot of non-fiction...but...

"Believe in yourself, in love, in trust. In magic, in angels, in happy endings. In God, in promises, in miracles. In people, in fairytales, in following your heart. In peace and happiness, in never giving up. In following your passions, and making your dreams come true, in always having fun. In helping people, in making the world a better place, in changing for the better."    Belief is powerful. So believe. Unikke's April 4 Post ~~~~~ On another note, I have been entertaining ideas of giving the blog a makeover in the near future. What do you think? Do you like the current color scheme and design points (like the steampunkish header)? What are some parts of Life of a Random that maybe could use some improvement? I'm totally fine with advice as long as it's given nicely and helpfully. :)

I got feedback for the approximately 1,000 word story beginning I entered in the Go Teen Writers! contest. I didn't make the top twenty (Anastasia Elizabeth K. who I'm pretty sure is Anastasia Elizabeth from Every Stinkin' Page made it! Her blog is so informative about all things writing. HUGE "OOPS" IF THEY'RE NOT THE SAME PERSON ). Boo, but while I am going to take it and use it to improve my writing it was a little bummerish to find out that some of the same parts of my writing haven't improved. Good to know that I can write a killer premise though. ;) I really want to do a lot of learning and improving this year, along with writing a whole novel for once. Hopefully it works out. I wrote a guest review for The Maze Runner (by James Dashner) at Karoline's blog As a Teen Writer , along with Karoline herself and Drew of My Oddly-Shaped Thought Cloud (Some people are just blessed with coming-up-with-good-blog-names genes. I am not one of them.)....

Today I tallied up this month's reads and winced at the pitiful, scraggy list. I don't know what it's been lately, school stress, preparing for college in the fall...I haven't been able to read at my usual speed. Hopefully, I'll be able to read more as summer comes closer. Summer break. Ah. Just think of the books I'll be able to cross off my TBR list. *PICTURE OF ALL THE BOOKS I READ TO COME* How many books did I read in March? *sigh* 9. And that's counting a novella and a book I DNF'd. Eight YA novels and one adult. Favorite? Definitely The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater. The characters were awesomely quirky, the plot and premise were unique and awesome. And the way the lives of all the characters were entwined was mind-blowing. It's like seeing a close-up of a maze, and slowly the camera pans out and you understand . I loved the main character, Blue.  Least Favorite? Well, I DNF'd As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott so....

Maybe you're a gypsy, with a wanderer's heart. Sometimes it's boring to stay in the same place for too long. Sometimes it's painful. People may not understand your need for finding fulfillment in a way that doesn't seem to have purpose. Keep wandering. Every time you slow down, you want to travel again. Maybe travel the world in a plane, car, or bicycle. Maybe the dimensions that unfold when you read. Just because you don't have a destination doesn't mean that you shouldn't be taking a road trip. It's all in the experience. Keep wandering. Unikke's March 28 Post

  What's Next? is a weekly meme hosted by Hafsah and Asma at Icey Books . These are some books I have on my (huge) TBR pile. Which one should I read first? The Girl with the Windup Heart by Kady Cross 1897 London, a final showdown is about to begin London's underworld is no place for a young woman, even one who is strong, smart and part-automaton like Mila. But when master criminal Jack Dandy inadvertently breaks her heart, she takes off, determined to find an independent life, one entirely her own. Her search takes her to the spangled shadows of the West End's most dazzling circus. Meanwhile, taken captive in the Aether, Griffin King is trapped in an inescapable prison, and at the mercy of his archenemy, The Machinist. If he breaks under the hellish torment, The Machinist will claim his powers and control of the Aether itself, and no one in either world will be safe—especially not Finley Jayne and her misfit band of friends. Finley plunges h...