Where would we be today without the art of storytelling and beautiful literature? Watching V For Vendetta again today made me remember how much power words truly have. I love books. There's a huge long list of things I plan on reading this year. Have you all made your lists?

Anyhow, here's what I've been reading:

Despite how short it is, I've been "currently reading" this book for two weeks now. Don't get me wrong, it's very enjoyable to read, I'm just not rushing through it. Part of me wishes it was more...adult and mature? I keep on wanting Harry Potter to pop up and go Expelliarmus! all up on some ancient Greek monsters. After I read this series (there's five books in this series) I plan on continuing with The Lost Hero, the first book in a side series that still takes place in Percy Jackson's world. I'll either read it before or after The Red Pyramid, another book by Rick Riordan. There are three things I love learning about most: Greek mythology, ancient Egypt, and the human mind. The Red Pyramid is like the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, only intertwined with Egyptian history. I'm so psyched to get my hands on a copy.

I told myself I wouldn't start any new books until finishing The Sea of Monsters, but alas, I couldn't stop myself from picking The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo up after staring at it on my shelf for a week. I'm incredibly curious to see what it's about. Hopefully it's good. The girl who sits next to me in choir is reading it also, but from what I've seen her bookmark has stayed within the first fifty pages.

Winter Reads

A thousand apologies, guys! Long time no update. Blogging has been the last thing on my mind as of late, due to how much I've been trying to read, write, and draw.

Reading? Did you say reading? Yes, I did. Since winter break (*coughChristmasvacationcough*) I've finished Simon Holt's Fearscape and Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones.

Fearscape surprised me. My expectations were not as high for the third and final book in Holt's Devouring trilogy after reading the second book Soulstice. I figured all the surprise and plot twists had diminished and the third book would be just a watered down ending. I am pleased to say I was wrong, and it was perhaps better than the first book. Fearscape kept me on edge, guessing, and vocally reacting to each plot twist thrown my way.

Most of you know that I'm a writer (unofficially; I've only ever finished fanfics and short stories, but since 2007 I've started writing forty-two stories). Reading Writing Down the Bones could have been the best choice I've made in a while. The book was so inspiring and motivating. I'd be reading and could even concentrate because I'd want to just do what Goldberg was telling me to do and write. Dear writers, I highly recommend this book to you.

I am now currently reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, a memoir of sorts about her trying to find pleasure, devotion, and balance throughout three countries: Italy, India, and Indonesia. Naturally, the book is separated into three different sections. A couple pages into the book I already fell in love with it because of Gilbert's style and voice. I think normally I wouldn't be attracted to memoirs, but this is written in such a way that I find myself thoroughly enjoying it and never getting bored.

I'm hoping I can finish Eat Pray Love before January ends so I can immediately start Mockingjay. I've set a goal for myself this year. I'm going to try to read twenty books. Doesn't sound like a lot, but it's a little less than two books a month which is pretty good. Nothing of course like my sister's goal of one hundred books. She's a reading fiend. I've got a pretty long list of books to read/finish, so I think I'll be good. Plus I'm constantly adding books to my To Read list, such as yesterday, when I decided I'm going to buy The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo soon.

Until next time, your fellow reader,
Kelly R

PS: For those of you who have a GoodReads account, you can follow/friend me here (because I've certainly been posting a lot on the website).

What Am I Reading Now?

Hey, guys! Hope you're all enjoying the snow (at least, those of you who are getting any)! Wisconsin is getting a crap ton lately. It's so beautiful... *o*

Anyway, with this weather it's the perfect time to curl up with a good book in the warm confinements of your home. I know I haven't posted in a while, but that's because I've been too caught up with everything else (musical, school, blah blah) to actually do any reading.

So this is what I've been reading:
1. Burned by P.C. and Kristen CastThat's right. I've finally got it. My sister received the book in her stocking for St. Nick's Day. I'm actually pretty excited about reading it. The eighth book, Awakened, is in stores January 4th of next year.

2. At the same time I'm reading The Great Gatsby for my English class. I really don't like it. The problem I have with the book is that all the characters seem to be lying and keeping secrets, talking in impassive ways, and I can't relate to them. Not to mention the storyline is just downright boring. What's so great about rich people's affairs? Nothing. Like I said, boring.

3. Mockingjay by Suzanne CollinsMy sister finally gave me the book back last time I went to Madison. Once I finish Burned I will have all the time I want to finish the trilogy.

4. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

It's taking me forever to read, but I'm getting to it. It's not that I don't like it and can't get into it. Quite the opposite actually. I've just been so busy and distracted constantly. And now I have other books I want to read first.

While Reading...

NEVER rule out anyone. ALWAYS expect the unexpected. Unless you want everything to be a surprise of course. ;)
(I've gotten very good at figuring out who's the culprit behind evil plans and such. I owe it all to Pushing Daisies. After five episodes I was able to guess who was the killer.)


ANYWAY, I hope you're all having a nice weekend! I'd be reading, but last night I accidentally spilled my organic root beer onto The Time Traveler's Wife and got the cover and pages all wet. It was in my bag and the cap wasn't on tight enough and blah. >.< Anyway, it's drying and sitting under a huge stack of books so it stays flat and not all bent out of shape.

I suppose I can still read though. The Lightning Thief perhaps?

To the Library!

Very soon I'll be leaving to take a walk with my younger sister Lilly. Our destination: the library! I'll be looking for two new books:

Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons and Blindness by Jose Saramago.

So much I want to read and so little time!

Now I just need a library card...

What's Wrong With Me?

"I think of myself as a wannabe bookworm. I love to read, but my attention span doesn't typically allow for the admirable book-a-week pace I would love to achieve."

Too true, Chelsea. Too true.

Recently I started reading two more books. Which pushes my list up to five;

The Lightning Thief
City of Bones
Mockingjay
The two new ones...
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
The Cabinet of Curiosities by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

I just can't help it. I have this unstoppable disorder where I start reading a dozen books at once and then end up finishing none of them. I wish it was the summer again where I can have all the free time I want to just read nonstop. But sadly, weekends are only so long, and school keeps me busy.

I'm reading The Time Traveler's Wife now, but something tells me I should read The Cabinet of Curiosities first because it actually has a due date since it's from the public library.

Lately I've also been getting this strange urge to read the first book in the House of Night series again, Marked. I remember the good old days when I was first reading the books and I couldn't put them down. Perhaps I should get the next book, Burned, just for kicks and giggles. The eighth book, Awakened, comes out in January of next year.

Book List

I suppose it's that time again where I update my book list!

Books I'm Currently Reading:
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen

Series I Need To Finish:
House of Night series by P.C. and Kristin Cast
Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz
Keisha'ra series by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Books I'm Waiting For:
Fearscape by Simon Holt

Books I Want To Read:
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
Frostbite by Richelle Mead