I got this idea from a fellow book blogger. Basically, every Monday you update what's going on in your reading life. This will probably change and adapt to my own style as I continue. If you'd like to do this as well, you can sign up here.

This week I...

Finished:

• Glass Houses (Morganville Vampires #1) by Rachel Caine
• City of Bones (Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare
• Maze of Bones (39 Clues #1) by Rick Riordan

Am Reading:

• Twilight (Twilight #1) by Stephenie Meyer
• City of Ashes (Mortal Instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare
• Belle (Once Upon a Time series) by Cameron Dokey

Gave Up On:

• None! Go me! :)

Plan to Read Next:

• The Dead Girls' Dance (Morganville Vampires #2) by Rachel Caine
• New Moon (Twilight #2) by Stephenie Meyer
• The Warrior Heir (Heir #1) by Cina Williams Chima
• Private (Private #1) by Kate Brian
• Need (Need #1) by Carrie Jones

Every week I post about what books I received that week...whether from the library, the store, or as a gift. From the The Story Siren.

This week, I received 5 books in total. 4 from the store and 1 as a gift from my totaly awesome cousins, aunt, and uncle. :)

From the Store:

• Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrik
• Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen
• City of Ashes (Mortal Instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare
• Jinx by Meg Cabot

As a Gift:

• Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

I got a lot of great books and I'm looking foward to reading all of them. Thanks again to my family for buying me Les Miserables! It's my favorite musical and I can't wait to read the original story. I start school again this week, but I hope to still get a lot of reading done. :)

It's 2010!

First off, Happy New Year, one day late. :) And, with the new year, comes many great things. It's the turn of the decade and it brings the possibility for changes. I, for one, am welcoming the new year. I'm definitely ready to leave 2009 behind.

It also means we get to begind our reading challenges! It's my first year and I'm very much looking forward to it. I've already begun mine, in fact. You can find the challenge blogs on the left side of the screen, I've provided links to them, and I'll let you know through them every time I update.

I hope everybody is doing well on their own challenges, and have fun with them! Let's make this a great year!

Weekly Event--Authors To Be Read

What authors have you heard so much about but never got around to reading? I know I probably have a huge list. As many authors as I've read, there are hundreds more out there that are just as great. The purpose of this weekly event is to highlight one every week that has written books I've either heard a lot about, or books I loved. Authors on my To Be Read list.

This week I chose Sarah Dessen. I've only read two of her many books, Just Listen and Dreamland. Both books were amazing. She spins amazing stories full of romance, pain, and learning the ups and downs of life.

The stories are both realistic as well as beautiful in their own way. Definitely not fairy tales.

I strongly reccommend this authors to those of you who love romance but tire of the fluffy, perfect tales. She's written quite a few books and she's always writing more. The truth About Forever is a popular book by her, and her most recent books are Lock and Key and Along for the Ride. Check them out, they're great stories. I'll definitely be reading more of them. :)

Friday Finds

I haven't had much time this week to really do a lot of book browsing. I was on vacation visiting my family and didn't have a lot of free time.

I didn't come up totally empty though! There was a book I've had on my shelf for a whle that I finally read on the long drive down.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. What to say about this book? It was amazing. I don't want to say too much about this book, since I plan to write a review for it soon. But if you haven't read it yet, I definitely recommend it. I loved it.

That's all for this week, hopefully I'll have more next time. :)

"Waiting on" Wednesday

A little early, I know. I'm going on vacation tommorow and wanted to get this posted. I'll be back Saturday, so I'll post both Friday and Saturday's ebents then. :)

"Waiting on" Wednesay is pretty self explanatory. You post a book that you are looking forward to being released. :) I know I saw this somewhere, but I don't remember where, so I do apologize.

This week I'm posting about The Scorch Trials by James Dashner. It's due out October 2010.

The Scorch Trials is the sequel to The Maze Runner, and absolutely awesome book. It reminds me of The Hunger Games, but only to an extent.



Synopsis

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. He has no recollection of his parents, his home, or how he got where he is. His memory is blank.

But he's not alone. When the lift's doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade, a large expanse enclosed by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they got the the Glade. All they know is that every morning, for as long as anyone can remember, the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night, for just as long, they've closed tight. Every thirty days a new boy is delivered in the lift. And no one wants to be stuck in the Maze after dark.

The Gladers were expecting Thomas's arrival. But the next day, a girl is sent up--the first girl ever to arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. The Gladers have always been convinced that if they solve the maze that surrounds the Glade, they might find their way home...whereever that may be. But it's looking more and more as if the Maze is unsolvable.

And something about the girl's arrival is starting to make Thomas feel different. Something is telling him that he might just have answers--if he can only find a way to retrieve the dark secrets locked within his own mind.



This books sucked me in almost immediately. It's not really even my usual style, with a boy as the main character. But I loved it, it was a nonstop ride to the end. And of course, the end left me wanting more. Which is why I chose The Scorch Trials as my very first "Waiting on" book. I'm definitely excited for it. :) If you loved The Hunger Games then you'll love The Maze Runner. Check it out. :)

Reading Challenges and Cheating

I was talking to someone online today. He's not really a friend or anybody I know, just an acquaintance. He suggested a book to read, and when I told him I would read it, but later on in the week, he asked why.

So I told him about my reading challenges. I told him that I didn't want to start it into 2010, since it was a long book and work well for by Pages Read challenge, but I also wanted it to count in my YA challenge and 100+ Challenge.

"Well, you can start it now and just say that you started it on January 1st."

Of course I was shocked. I've never been a cheater, it goes against my beliefs.

"No one would know."

But I would.

So it got me thinking. Does everyone this like that? And why? Why would you cheat on a reading challenge when you'd only be cheating yourself? And if you want to cheat yourself that's fine I guess...but what's the point?

Now I seriously doubt that most people cheat on the reading challenges. Because, like I said, you are only cheating yourself. But I thought I'd share that with you anyway. because, honestly, cheating will get you nowhere in the end.