BEDA

Soooo...Made of Awesome YA author Maureen Johnson is doing this really cool thing in April called BEDA. Basically, she is going to blog EVERY DAY IN APRIL. I would love to do this, but am concerned because this is a library blog and we aren't really supposed to blog about things that aren't really library related. However, I am going to do my best to blog every day in April about various library related things. Well...that or Ally and I will do a ton of those memes that are posted all over the Internet. Either way hopefully there will be something for you all to read!!! Let me know if you have any suggestions about what I can blog on. Are there things you would like to know, questions you would like answered, books/movies/music you would like reviewed? Let me know and I will try to accommodate you. Although, be warned...if you want something crazy long reviewed then you may just get several links to other reviews, I am just one (very busy) woman!!! =)

**Also if anyone is interested there are several of my favorite YouTubers who are considering doing this as well, only it will be VEDA...if you want links let me know because it will be hilarious. I also plan on having links to any YA authors who plan on participating.

Teaser Tuesday (On a Wednesday) March 25, 2009

We haven't done a Teaser in forever!!!  Sorry!!!  Today's Teaser comes from Pirates by Celia Rees, and was chosen by Ally.

"I held my two hands together and pulled my jacket open, rending the shirt beneath so that he could see my breasts.  The effect was dramatic."

As always, if this one doesnt' impress you, you can find more here.

New Challenge

Okay...like I'm not doing enough challenges already. Or rather I should say ignoring enough challenges. I am going to participate in this Spring Reading Thing Challenge. Basically you just commit to finishing books you have already started and that have been sitting in you TBR pile for awhile. So here is my list.

1) He's Not That Into You
2) Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
3) Not On Our Watch
4)They Poured Fire On Us From The Sky
5) Salvation In Death
6) Promises In Death
7) Envy
8) Stardust
9) Spud
10) Nobody's Princess
11) Spanking Shakespeare
12) Slam
13) Hacking Harvard
14) I Am The Messenger
15) Rhymes With Witches
16) Blood and Chocolate
17) Peeps
18) Love is Hell
19) Gregor the Overlander
20) The Queen Geek Social Club

Okay, that's all the books that I can think of right now, but I am sure that I will have more to add as we go along. I would really like to read 28 books since the challenge lasts fourteen weeks and I have already started several of these books.

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

So, last summer I was online and I saw that my celeb crush Michael Cera was going to be in a new movie. I was extremely excited because ever since I saw Juno I have been completely obsessed with him. Yes, he is dorky and awkward, but I love him anyway. His new movie was called Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. I thought that the name sounded familiar so I did a little research and found out that it was based on a YA book. So I ordered the book and read it. I absolutely fell in love with Nick, Norah, their friends, and their adventure. You all should know by now that I love books where the characters discover themselves and where the journey isn't about where you end up, but rather it is about how you get to your destination. This book fulfilled those needs perfectly. It was beautifully written and I loved reading about the night from both Nick and Norah's perspective, it really made the story itself more realistic. Needless to say I was extremely nervous about watching the movie. Generally film makers have no respect for the book-or at least it doesn't seem that way when you see a beloved novel ripped to shreds by cruddy actors and horrible filming. However, when the DVD was released I ordered it for the library and watched it. Actually, I watched the movie three times in two weeks. I loved it. It was so beautifully done. Yes, key points were changed and things were left out of the movie, but the message was there. The characters were the same characters that I loved in the book. Kat Dennings and Michael Cera were a fantastic Norah and Nick. I am so glad that the director didn't cast actors who were ridiculously beautiful, but instead found people who seemed REAL!!! It is heartbreaking to read a book, relate to the characters because they could be you and your friends, and then see the movie where everyone looks like someone from The Hills or Top Model. I was so impressed by this movie that I will be purchasing the DVD when I get paid next week-and for those of you who know me,you realize what a big deal that is! =) So my advice to you is read the book, watch the movie, repeat as necessary.

Mass Insanity and Causes

Hey guys! It's been another insane week, and as much as I hate to continuously write posts about how busy we are, we have been super busy. Generally we try to make sure our posts revolve around library events, books, movies, music, and programs. However, since we have been MIA recently (and are likely to disappear again soon) I thought I would take the time to let you know why. Last week I found out that my brother will be deployed to Iraq in June. I didn't know the when or where until the end of the week though. So during the week of "Rochelle is a zombie," Ally not only kept me from falling apart on a daily basis but also did both of our jobs. Needless to say, updating was not even on our minds. We never like to neglect you guys but last week was rough. However, now that we know what is going on with my brother we have things more in control. Hopefully, we will be able to stay on top of things from now on.



I also thought that I would take this time to highlight some causes that Ally and I support. I have huge concerns about the ongoing crisis in Darfur and Chad. There are two fantastic websites that have a lot of information SaveDarfur and ENOUGH. Also, we believe that whether or not you support our current military cause, you should always support the men and women in our Armed Forces. An easy way you can support them is to adopt a soldier. It doesn't take much- just a letter or card each week and one care package a month. This is something that is extremely uplifting to soldier who are stationed far away from home. You can learn more at Soldiers' Angels. Ally has always had an interest in stopping domestic violence and helping abuse victims get the help that they need. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence has a ton of information available as well as list of ways you can get involved on a local and national level. Oprah and Tyra Banks have also recently added portions of their websites for young women looking for domestic violence information. If you need something to devote your time to check out one of these websites. Are there any specific causes or issues that you are passionate about? Please let us know in the comments!

Teaser Tuesday: February 24, 2009

Today's Teaser comes from Evernight by Claudia Gray

"The construction worker swaggered closer, and all his friends stood up. 'You go treating your girlfriend like that in public and damn straight it's my business.'"

As always, if this one doesn't do it for you there are more Teasers here.

Book Clubs?

Okay guys it's time for a little feedback. Recently we have had a few tween/teen patrons express interest in book clubs. If you live in Wythe County and are interested please let us know. We really want to be able to provide programs that you all are interested in and that you are eager to participate in as well. Depending on the various ages that want to participate we may do more that one book club. There are so many options! Obviously I am a huge reader, and I would love to see a Tween/Teen reading group happen in our library. So, if it is something that you are interested in please comment, call, or come by and let us know.

**RRPL patrons-if this is something you are interested in, please let Melissa know. If there are patrons there who want teen reading groups then we can plan programs there as well.

Gossip Girl

Here are pictures of our awesome Gossip Girl Display for those of you who haven't gotten a chance to see it in person!

Unfortunately we had to build it in the JEasy section! But it was still a really fun display to build and look at all the time! If you have suggestions about other displays that you would like to see please let us know!

Crazy Week

Oh my goodness! This week has been so insane that we have not had time to even look at this blog. Work has been stressful, Ally was sick, I had an emotional breakdown...all kinds of craziness. Hopefully next week things will be calm and we will be able to post regularly. Have a great weekend!

Teaser Tuesday: February 10, 2009

Today's Teaser comes from The Boy Book by E. Lockheart. Am I on an E. Lockhart kick or what?

"And I read how there were these gay penguins at a zoo in Berlin. A number of them, actually."

If this one isn't interesting you can always get more here.

Review: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

Frankie Landau-Banks at age 14:

Debate Club

Her father's "Bunny Rabbit"

A mildly geeky girl attending a highly competitive boarding school.

Frankie Landau-Banks at age 15:

A knockout figure.

A sharp tongue.

A chip on her shoulder.

And a gorgeous new senior boyfriend: Matthew Livingston.

Frankie Landau-Banks at age 16:

Possibly a criminal mastermind.

This is the story of how she got that way.

This is my question: Is YA lit just better now than when I was a teen? Or is it just that I can appreciate it more? The answer: A little of both. E. Lockhart rocked my reading world! I love strong female characters, and Frankie is certainly a strong female character. The story follows her as she questions the fairness of an all male club, and takes over as their leader-without any of them knowing it's her. It also shows how everything can fall apart when you are living a lie. Frankie's trouble starts at the very beginning of the book when she is questioning her mother's decision not to allow her to walk into town, even though her younger male cousin had been given permission earlier during their vacation. Her family sees her as "Bunny Rabbit"- one of the cutest animals out there (besides a puppy sized elephant of course.) None of them seem to take her seriously, and she really isn't happy with it. The story follows her to boarding school as she starts a new school year. It shows how her class about secret societies and her own desire to prove she is as good as the boys eventually leads her to create the best stunts that her school's secret society has ever seen. The only problem is no one knows she is the person behind them and no one really understands that they are more than just pranks. The reader can see her frustration build, can watch her relationship develop, and basically see her come to understand that love isn't always enough. We also get to see her life crumble because of her actions. However, Frankie realizes that "it is better to be alone...than to be with someone who can't see who you are." Frankie is invisible at the beginning of the book, and by the end she is invisible again. Her invisibility is the saddest thing of all; however, I don't think it will last. All in all-I love a girl who will grow up to change the world!

Teen Volunteer Information Meeting

Wythe County Teens...I know we were supposed to have a meeting tonight to kick off our new volunteer program and go over information about how the program is going to work. However, we have about 5 inches of snow (at least we do at my house) and the library is closed. Hopefully you all will check the blog (yes, I know, but I can dream right?) and see that the meeting will have to be rescheduled. I haven't actually talked to Ally today so I am not sure when we will be able to have the meeting. Storytime starts next week, but we may be able to have the meeting next Wednesday. When we get the new date scheduled we will post here and in the library. You can call the office if you have questions, or leave comments here.

*Enjoy your own snow day!

Teaser Tuesday: February 3, 2009

Today's Teaser comes from The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart. Here are some of the awards that DHoFLB has won and some information about the book as well.

"She had heard Alpha talk about sex like that before, like he was having it, he'd always had it, like he'd never been a virgin and sex was no big thing. But it disconcerted her everytime he did it."

If you weren't crazy about this teaser you can always find more here.

iTunes Meme

Today Ally and I are going to do a really funny iTunes meme in celebration of all of the awesome things that are getting ready to happen at the library-not that we can talk about them yet, but still.

Chelle's iTunes Meme

How would you describe yourself?
Big Things Poppin'
How do you feel today?
Mother Nature's Sun
What is your motto?
Paper Towns
What do you think about very often?
Who'll Stop The Rain
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Free Bird
If you could do anything right now, what would it be?
Old Red Wine
What do you want most of all?
The Lord's Prayer
What is your greatest fear?
I'm Gonna Make You Love Me
What is your darkest secret?
Whiskey In The Jar
What do you like in a guy/girl?
Under Pressure
What do you think of your best friends?
Be With Me
What do you think of the person you like?
Take You There
What is the one thing you regret?
Come Together
What makes you laugh?
Wild Horses
What makes you cry?
Virginia
Will you ever get married?
Old Friends
What scares you the most?
Blue Skies
Does anyone like you?
Let It Be
If you could go back in time, what would you change?
All Falls Down
What hurts right now?
This Is Why I'm Hot
What is your best friend's theme song?
Edelweiss
What was high school like?
Heroes and Underdogs
How is today going to go?
Amazing Grace
What song describes your parents?
Don't Bother Me
Describe your grandparents?
Fooled Around and Fell In Love (here's hoping my grandmother NEVER reads this...cause she'll kill me!!!)
What is in store for you this weekend?
Tonight It's You
What do your friends really think of you?
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Do people really like you?
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
How can you make yourself happy?
Drive My Car
What should you do with your life?
Bad To The Bone
Will you ever have children?
I Put A Spell On You
What is some good advice for you?
Search and Destroy
What's that smell?
It's Love and The Weather
What is your signature dancing song?
The Wild Rover
What do you think your current theme song is?
Love Story (uh...yeah...that's it...)
What does everyone else think your current theme song is?
Get Away
What type of men/women do you like?
Gold Digger

Ally's iTunes Meme

How would you describe yourself?
Is That All There Is?
How do you feel today?
Try A Little Tenderness
What is your motto?
The Streak
What do you think about very often?
Pollution Song
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Dennis The Menace
If you could do anything right now, what would it be?
Street Rat
What do you want most of all?
You Oughta Know
What is your greatest fear?
Genie In A Bottle
What is your darkest secret?
Your Love
What do you like in a guy/girl?
Clumsy
What do you think of your best friends?
With A Little Help From My Friends
What do you think of the person you like?
I Belong To Me
What is the one thing you regret?
Mary Had A Little Lamb
What makes you laugh?
The Player Way
What makes you cry?
The Bear Necessities
Will you ever get married?
It's All Wrong, But It's All Right
What scares you the most?
Love On The Rocks
Does anyone like you?
Single Ladies
If you could go back in time, what would you change?
Dance At The Gym
What hurts right now?
Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours
What is your best friend's theme song?
Cry, Cry, Cry
What was high school like?
Toxic
How is today going to go?
Back In Time
What song describes your parents?
Spiderwebs
Describe your grandparents?
Makin' Whoopee (uh...I think Ally is gonna be sick now)
What is in store for you this weekend?
The Tears Of A Clown
What do your friends really think of you?
Give It To Me
Do people really like you?
I Second That Emotion
How can you make yourself happy?
Accentuate The Positive
What should you do with your life?
Make The World Go Away
Will you ever have children?
Naked
What is some good advice for you?
How The Grinch Stole Christmas (read by Walter Matthau)
What's that smell?
Miss Alissa
What is your signature dancing song?
Grillz (Ally wants everyone to know if she were going to pick her own it would be "Hold Me, Bat Boy" from Bat Boy: The Tabloid Musical or "Won't You Be My Neighbor" from Mr. Roger's Neighborhood)
What do you think your current theme song is?
I'm Gonna Kill You (Heck Yes!!! Hank Green's song FTW...Hoo-ha Nerdfighters!!!)
What does everyone else think your current theme song is?
Mickey's Monkey
What type of men/women do you like?
I've Got You Under My Skin


We hope you guys enjoy all of these crazy insights into our lives! We aren't tagging anyone, but if you want to do this meme leave it in the comments or link your own site in the comments! Have a great day!

Review: The Vampire Kisses Series

Seriously what is the deal with two-post-Tuesdays? I just finished the third book in The Vampire Kisses series by Ellen Schreiber and wanted to post a blog about the series while it was fresh in my mind. Basically this is a YA series about a goth girl (Raven) who lives in a dull town and is obsessed with vampires. She and her best friend (Becky) are both social outcasts but for different reasons. One day a dark and twisty goth guy moves into the "haunted" house in town. Girl meets boy, girl and boy fall in love, boy turns out to be a vampire. In the second book the boy's (Alexander) moral enemy (Jagger) shows up and tries to turn Raven into a vampire. In the third book Jagger's twin (Luna) shows up and tries to turn Raven's mortal enemy (Trevor) into a vampire. Yes, I know that is a lot of vampire-making attempts. However, these books were pretty good. If you like Twilight you will like these books. They are short and the story moves quickly. The series should be read in order so that the reader isn't confused, and the writer doesn't spend a lot of time going over what has happened in the previous books. She does remind the reader of big events that happened in the past books, which is nice if you didn't read them one after the other like I did this weekend. The story is good though. The plot tends to be a little predictable, but overall it's a good series. If you are into vampires, the goth scene, being on the outside of society, blood feuds, or dark and twisty teen angst then this series is for you.

Now for my own personal statement to vampire obsessed girls and the authors who write for them. SERIOUSLY??? You meet a guy, on your first date you realize that your true love is a vampire, and you go out with him again. That in and of itself is insane. Trust me any normal person, social outcast or not, would run screaming in the other direction. She would move to Central America and never come home. But not our heroines, they go on a second date, and ask the vampire to turn her into a vampire too! WHAT?!?!?! You have known a guy for like two weeks and you want to turn into a vampire for him? SERIOUSLY??? I know that teenagers fall in love at the drop of a hat, but eternity with a guy that you have known for less than a month?That makes no sense to me. Maybe I am jaded by recent events in my own life, and my horrible dating history, but there is no way that on date two I am throwing in the mortal towel. What do you even know about the vampire dreamboat that is makes it worth leaving everything in your life behind? The answer...nothing, except that he has to drink blood to survive and that he is "the most beautiful person I have ever seen." Whatever happened to the adage that beauty is only skin deep? Don't get me wrong, I love Twilight, I told everyone I know to read it. I like the Vampire Kisses series, and I like all the other vamp series/books that are out right now. I guess I just wish that one of the heroines of these "girl+vampire=love" books would wake up one morning and say "Hey...I love the sun, and my family, and my best friend, and my dog...maybe I shouldn't turn into a vampire." Unfortunately that doesn't happen, or rather if the heroine does take a moment to question her decision it is because boy/vamp/dreamboat refuses to "take away her humanity," and the girl always says "...eh who cares if I am ostracized from society for the rest of my life and that I am going to have an overwhelming desire to suck my little brother's blood...it is totally worth it!" On the other hand-it is entertaining to shake your head in disbelief at the insanity of these girls. Also, I am really loving the "vegetarian vamps" who never eat human blood. It is a really funny alternative and it does allow for the vampires to live in small towns without attracting (too much) attention.