Weekly Wrapup {5}

I think, thankfully, that my YA reading slump is coming to an end. Thank goodness! It has been three months now that I've had my computer (if you follow my blog then you know it was attacked by a vicious virus that has rendered it inoperable) so I'm still working off my cell phone, and on the weekends when my boyfriend brings his work laptop home. It's really hard, because I feel super pressured to crank out as many posts as I can schedule, and I feel like it's a disservice to both myself and my readers. We both deserve my best! So you might notice me posting less, but we are actively working to fix our computer and once we do, then I'll be back at 100% - I can't wait! 

Other than that, I did try out a new layout this past week. I really liked it, but it didn't give me any options to really customize it as I'd prefer. So until I can do that, I've switched to a simpler, easier, less cluttered looking layout. If you look to the right, you'll see a slim, black bar. When you hover the mouse there it'll extend a sidebar where you can find all of the blog goodies - my followers, archives, labels, contact info for Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, etc. 

I did want to take a second to mention a cool App I found on my Android phone. I cannot confirm if it's available on Iphone, but Android definitely has it. It's called Google Currents. This is the easiest way for me to keep up with all of the blogs that I follow. It's like Google Reader for your phone. I highly recommend this App if you need a way to have all of your blogs at your fingertips with just the touch of a button!

Other than that, not much bookish has been going on in my little bloggy corner of the world. How about you?

ON MY BOOKSHELF

Purchased

E-Books

Catching Fire - The Hunger Games #2 - Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay - The Hunger Games #3 - Suzanne Collins

Cold Kiss - Amy Garvey (Free on Kobo/Nook/Kindle!)

Paperback

Innocent Darkness - The Aether Chronicles #1 - Suzanne Lazear

Library

The Selection - Kiera Cass
Drink, Slay, Love - Sarah Beth Durst
Pegasus - Robin McKinley
Pushing The Limits - Katie McGarry

THIS WEEK ON THE BLOG

Cover Reveal {11} - Timeless (#3 of the Transcend Time Series) by Michelle Madow

*New Features*

Series Spotlight - Here I will choose either an upcoming series that I'm excited for, or an older/ongoing series that I love and want to share.

Wishlisted - Here I show the books that I'm excited for, and have added to my Wish List. These can be older, or newer, or not-yet-released books.

MINI-REVIEW

A World Away

Nancy Grossman

Published: July 27th 2012 by Hyperion Book CH

Edition: Hardcover, 400 pages

Categories: Young Adult, Contemporary

My Rating: DNF

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What the Back of the Book Says: A summer of firsts 

Sixteen-year-old Eliza Miller has never made a phone call, never tried on a pair of jeans, never sat in a darkened theater waiting for a movie to start. She's never even talked to someone her age who isn't Amish, like her. 

A summer of good-byes 

When she leaves her close-knit family to spend the summer as a nanny in suburban Chicago, a part of her can't wait to leave behind everything she knows. She can't imagine the secrets she will uncover, the friends she will make, the surprises and temptations of a way of life so different from her own. 

A summer of impossible choice 

Every minute Eliza spends with her new friend Josh feels as good as listening to music for the first time, and she wonders whether there might be a place for her in his world. But as summer wanes, she misses the people she has left behind, and the plain life she once took for granted. Eliza will have to decide for herself where she belongs. Whichever choice she makes, she knows she will lose someone she loves.

My Thoughts: I've always been intrigued by the Amish. There are some that live about an hour from where I live, and whenever I see the yellow street signs with the horse and buggy, I hope to see them, just to peek into their way of living even if just for a brief moment. The strength and tenacity that they possess to continue to live as simply as they do, when our world is so full of technological advances and temptations. It's incredible to me. And so, when I picked up this book at the library I was filled with excitement! I thought the premise sounded so cool! A 16-year-old Amish girl moving to Chicago to be a nanny for her Rumspringa? Awesome!

I unfortunately did not finish the book. I wouldn't say that there was anything in particular that I didn't like that made me set it aside. I think it was a culmination of a few things. First being that the book seemed much more middle grade than young adult. Understandably, the main character is very different from everyday sixteen-year-old "English" girls, but it felt as though she were more about the age of 12 than 16. I found myself lacking enthusiasm and interest in Eliza's story.

The writing was also very simple. It is not necessarily a bad thing, but I feel that it made the characters fall flat. I wasn't able to really make a good connection with any of them. I think that this would be a good book for a younger pre-teen, teen girl who is curious about how the Amish live, but I don't think that it has enough to keep an older reader engaged. 

Let me know your thoughts!

Happy Reading!