What Makes it a Favorite?

So many times I get asked, "What's your favorite book?" That never has a hard and fast answer for me. Some books I have had a relationship with since childhood. Some since adolescence. Some since the teen years. Some as an adult. I'm sure you're the same, right? And occasionally I will say it's a "current favorite". You know, what's caught in my head and my heart right now? But, the question is, will it last?

As a young child, I read Popcorn more times than I could count then, and possibly even now. I got Six Months to Live from Scholastic Magazine in 5th grade and read it in one sitting. I still own both copies now. :)

Thinking about this, I've made a decision. I have a 'tiered' favorites system. There's really no other way for me to think about it.

 I love some books like I love Oreos ~ I love them until they are gone, I'm sad they're gone, but I get over it after a day or so. Unfortunately for these Oreos books, they do not typically make it to my all-time favorites list.

♥ My Mamaw ♥

I love other books like extended family ~ I love them all the time, think of them fondly, and ultimately visit them occasionally (in thought for the book, in person for the living, breathing family member...).

My Parents

I love some like my brother, my parents, my husband ~ I love them with all my heart, will defend them no matter what others say, and they will always be there (For books that means my actual, physical bookshelf in case you're missing the analogy here... ☺).



Although some books may start out as extended family, they may end up an Oreo... or one I think is an Oreo will move on up to extended, sometimes even higher. Nothing ever stays the same, right? Why does it have to be so for books? It doesn't.At least, I don't think so.

Am I strange or does any one else have favorites like this? 

Follow Friday

Hosted by Parajunkee's View & Alison Can Read, the goal is to gain new followers and to follow new people yourself! :)

RULES

To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

(Taken straight from the hosts)

• (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
• (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
• Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
• Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say “hi” in your comments and that they are now following you.
• If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn’t have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
• Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don’t just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don’t say “HI”
• If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love…and the followers.
• If you’re new to the follow Friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Happy Follow Friday!

This week's question/activity:

Activity! Hopefully warm weather for most of us is here soon... so tell us about your favorite outdoor reading spot. Or take a picture!

Well, I'll be honest, and please don't throw thing... I'm not a fan of reading outdoors. I will, and have, and do, but the sun kills me when reading. Even in a shaded spot. I have to have my darkest sunglasses handy. I love the weather part of it, just not the brightness. I do like to sit out on our swing and read, or on a blanket while my kids play. I *did* enjoy reading on a beach, but don't live near one, so I guess that really doesn't count. lol

What about you? Where do you like to read?

Smiles,
B

Review ♫ Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist ♪

Title:  Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
Author:  Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
Publisher:  Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date:  May 2006
Source:  Purchased, Own
Format:  Hardcover
Rating:  4 stars

~ Goodreads Synopsis ~

It all starts when Nick asks Norah to be his girlfriend for five minutes. He only needs five minutes to avoid his ex-girlfriend, who’s just walked in to his band’s show. With a new guy. And then, with one kiss, Nick and Norah are off on an adventure set against the backdrop of New York City—and smack in the middle of all the joy, anxiety, confusion, and excitement of a first date.

This he said/she said romance told by YA stars Rachel Cohn and David Levithan is a sexy, funny roller coaster of a story about one date over one very long night, with two teenagers, both recovering from broken hearts, who are just trying to figure out who they want to be—and where the next great band is playing.

Told in alternating chapters, teeming with music references, humor, angst, and endearing side characters, this is a love story you’ll wish were your very own. Working together for the first time, Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have combined forces to create a book that is sure to grab readers of all ages and never let them go.

 

It's a damn darn good thing this is a great story. If it weren't for that, the language would have driven me away. I'm not against cursing by any means. In fact, I tend to use it more often than I should. So my theory with a book is this: If the profanity is enough to distract me, then it's probably a bit gratuitous. I would expect some, given the setting and all the punk rock references, but I did feel some of it was more for shock value than adding to the story.

Although it was a good story. At first it floundered a bit for me, as I tried to grasp onto the characters and get to know them a bit. They sort of just jumped into it. But I think the first person perspective works really well in this case. I was able to dive into their minds a bit, which helped develop them as people for me. I loved the fear of relationships; hell, even as adults we get that. But especially as teenagers, who isn't afraid of letting yourself go and let someone get to know you. The real you. Not the one you present everywhere.

It's funny. Really funny at times. It's insightful and thought provoking. The characters felt real to me, and I loved that. It's not about what is going on so much as it is about their growth. And sure, it may not take place over a year, or even a month; it's a one-night story. But it's a night of change, epiphanies, finding yourself, letting go, and having fun. 

Quotes I Loved

"I've given him more mixed signals than a dyslexic Morse code operator."

♪ Norah ♪

"If I'm a horrid bitch from the planet Schizophrenia, it's because boys make me that way."

♪ Norah ♪

"Are you serious?"
♪ Norah ♪
"Not as a rule, but in this case yes."
♪ Nick ♪

"'I Wanna Hold Your Hand.' First single. Fucking brilliant. Perhaps the most fucking brilliant song ever written. Because they nailed it. That's what everyone wants. Not 24-7 hot wet sex. Not a marriage that lasts a hundred years. Not a Porsche or a blow job or a million-dollar crib. No. They want to hold your hand. They have such a feeling that they can't hide."

♪ Dev ♪

"It was about the feeling, you know? She caused it in me, but it wasn't about her. It was about my reaction, what I wanted to feel and then convinced myself that I felt, because I wanted it that bad. That illusion. It was love because I created it as love."
♪ Nick ♪

"[Tikkun Olam] Basically, it says that the world has been broken into pieces. All this chaos, all this discord. And our job - everyone's job - is to try to put thie pieces back to gether. To make things whole again."
♪ Norah ♪

"With what you were talking about before. The world being broken. Maybe it isn't that we're supposed to find the pieces and put them back together. Maybe we're the pieces. ... Maybe, what we're supposed to do is come together. That's how we stop breaking."
♪ Nick ♪

"If I don't shut down my brain soon, my imagination will take off so far about what could be with this guy, that nothing will ever be able to just be."

♪ Norah ♪

  In the end, I did give it a higher rating than I might have due to the fact that I really enjoyed the story itself. Could some of the language been removed/replaced? Sure. Did I get past it? Yeah. Would I recommend this to a younger teen? Probably not, unless I knew them or their parents quite well. 

I haven't seen the movie, which is strange since I remember wanting to watch it but then I found out it was a book. Now that I've read the book I'll watch the movie. And given that I know Kat Dennings plays Norah, I really think Rachel Cohn wrote that part with her mind. ;) 

Have you read it? What did you think? If not, do you think you'll read it?

Smiles,
B

WWW Wednesday

WWW Wednesdays was started by MizB over at Should Be Reading,

To play along, simply answer the following three (3) Questions:
1. What are you currently reading?
2. What did you recently finish reading?
3. What do you think you'll read next?

Currently Reading

 

The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson

I'm liking this one, but not *loving* it. 

Recently Finished

  

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist

I really enjoyed this one. Review to be posted tomorrow. :) 

Might Read Next

 

Requiem by Lauren Oliver

I *have* to know what happens. I'm going to throw my anxiety over it out the window... anxiety defenestration. :)  Alex... Julian... Lena... What happens to them all? Where do they stand in the end? Does love win out?

What about you? What have you been reading?

Smiles,
B

♥ Fantabulous Follower Giveaway ♥

As I stated in a previous post, I wanted to give back to all my wonderful followers. I have really appreciated the growing support. 

This book *is* International as long as the Book Depository ships to you. :)

Again, thank you so much for following!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Smiles,

B

Spring Cleaning

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they provide a Top Ten topic for you to create your list, then you share it on their post so others can find you. :)

♥ Top Ten Books at the TOP of my 2013 Spring TBR List ♥

Me oh my. With so much going on in my life I'm supposed to try and read ten books in one season?  lol  I'm sure I can manage. Let's see... the ones I want to read as close to right away are... definitely not in any particular order...

Drumroll please...

Requiem by Lauren Oliver
 

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater


Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys


The Diviners by Libba Bray


What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen


Storyteller by Jodi Picoult


Flutter by Gina Linko


Lament by Maggie Stiefvater


Get Well Soon by Julie Halpern


Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn



What about you? What books are you looking forward to getting to, sooner rather than later?

Smiles,
B

 
 

Memorable Monday ♪ Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist ♫

Memorable Monday is a meme hosted by Escape in a Good Book.  I'm excited to join in on this one because I love quotes, which was the driving force behind the creation of Memorable Mondays.  I thank the ladies at Escape in a Good Book.

So... how do you participate?  It's simple ~

1) Share a quote that has captured your interest lately in a Memorable Monday post on your blog.

2) Come back here and leave the link to your post in the comment box below.  If you don't have a blog, I'd still love to hear read your quote.  Leave it in the comment box instead of a link to a non-existent blog.  :)

3) Visit other participants if you have time.  It's always nice to have visitors.  There's no overstaying your welcome this way, and they don't have to offer the obligatory drinks.  Or clean.

4) If you tweet your posts, feel free to use the hashtag #MemorableMonday.


This week's choice:
"No - when the rain falls you just let it fall and you grin like a madman and you dance with it, because if you can make yourself happy in the rain then you're doing pretty alright in life.”  

~Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

 

I love this one. And not just for the literal meaning, but the fact that life always thrown the metaphorical rain, storm, whatever, at you and if you can dance thru it, then you are definitely doing alright. :)

What about you? Have you read anything that struck you lately? 

Smiles,
B