Updates

I have been such a bad blogger lately! Honestly, with the result tension, college applications and what-nots I wanted to take a step back and relax. So I spent a couple of days only reading and watching Kdramas. That is why I haven't been updating. But I just thought I'd let you know what I've been up to...

Reading:

• I read Special A Volume 3-10. The story and characters of Kei & Hikari remind me A LOT of Usui & Misaki from Kaichou wa Maid-sama. The story is pretty interesting and all the side stories are nice to read. As the manga progresses, some chapters are from other character's point of view, besides Hikari's. I didn't have a problem with that, it was nice to see into the other character's personalities, but it would've been better if there would've been a notice of who the chapter's narrator would be. It always took me some time to figure it out. I loved the manga up until the 10th volume. But after Kei & Hikari got together, it became somewhat boring. I just can't bring myself to read any longer. So I'm taking a break from SA right now. I'll definitely complete it since it's only 17 volumes long and 7 volumes are left for me to read.
• I didn't really finish any new books. I'm reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince but honestly I'm not in the mood of reading it since I know what lies ahead... I'm also currently reading Her Secret Whispers and oh my God, it's such a hard read! The protagonist is so annoying! I'm hoping I'll complete it soon and then write up a review. 

Watching:

• I watched Lie To Me (Kdrama). I LOVE Yoon Eun Hye! She's such an amazing actress!! The actor (I forgot his name) is OK. Not that amazing. But YEH really does it for the both of them. The story was really good. It was a little different, but you see no Kdrama is complete without it's cliches which are all there in Lie To Me. I loved the OST! The bubbly pop music was fun to listen to. I loved the title song! I loved loved loved YEH's clothes in this drama! Gosh, I wish I could have her wardrobe! I even loved the clothes she wore at home. I want the Phineas shirt so bad!! There's not much I remember about this drama... The lead guy's brother was one of those bad boys you can't help but fall for. But I hated his transformation! He looked way too young after that. Like a teenage boy... I was going to write a full review of this drama but I couldn't think of much to write about. This drama isn't that memorable. It was fun to watch but I've forgotten most of it now.
• I watched Secret Garden after Lie To Me and ohmyGod Hyun Bin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll just leave it at that since I plan on reviewing SG.

Challenges:

• Manga Challenge: I challenged myself to read 12 books/volumes and I've completed it since I read 10 volumes of SA and 2 volumes of Kaichou wa Maid-sama this year. Yaay me! :D
• Ebook Challenge: I challenged myself to read 10 ebooks and I've made it upto 5.
• Off The Shelf Reading Challenge: I challenged myself to read 15 books and I've read 8 books. So 7 books are left. :)

And that's pretty much it. I've prepared a couple of discussion posts so look forward to them ;)

2013 Challenges

I was not able to complete any of my 2012 challenges except the Goodreads one.

Probably because I couldn't keep track of them. I know, I'm ashamed! But I promise I'll try my best this year! I'll keep track of all of them and actually join the ones I know I'll be able to complete.

So next year I'll be doing these challenges:

1. Off The Shelf Reading Challenge hosted by Bookish Ardour

I think I tried this last year too. I'm a failure, I know!

But I'm trying again and this time I'll be able to finish! I'm going for the second level (Trying), that is, I have to  read 15 books off my shelf of books I've gotten prior to 2013. I'll be posting the reviews and updates as I go along. I'm not deciding on a list beforehand because I think it'll be easier this way.

2. Ebook Challenge hosted by Workaday Reads

I've got A LOT of ebooks. I think this challenge is a good way to get myself to read them. I'll be trying the second level, CD, in which I have to read 10 ebooks. Again, I won't be choosing books beforehand. I'll just add them as I go along.

3. Manga/Graphic Novel/Video Gamel Novel Challenge hosted by Mother. Gamer. Writer.

I love manga! This challenge would be great for catching up on all the manga I have lined up in my TBR. I'll be doing Level 1 Arcade Gamer-Casual Player i.e 12 books. Same as previous, I'll list the manga as I read them so no list beforehand.

So these are the reading challenges I'm hoping to complete in 2013. Wish me luck! Other than these, there is obviously the Goodreads challenge in which I'll be aiming for 75 books. This year I did 50 books and I'm happy to say that I exceeded that number :D

So what challenges are you guys participating in next year? Comment below and let me know!

Reading Challenge Updates

Remember when I signed up for 3 reading challenges? Yeah, me neither. But then I saw the buttons in my sidebar and remembered! And now I'm going to update you on how I've done so far.

First off, Off The Shelf Reading Challenge. Here's my book list for this challenge:

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin
2. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
3. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
4. The Vampire Diaries-The Hunters-Phantom
5. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Strike-thoughed are the ones I've read so far. 

Next is Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge. My list:

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin
2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
3. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
4. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
5. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

And the last one is Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge. Now my school library is filled with cozy mysteries but it's summer vacations so I can't borrow and I can't get any books here. So now I'll finish this challenge when I go back to school and I'll keep updating as I read the books.

Did you sign up for any challenge this year? If yes, then how are you doing so far?

Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2012!

Cruisin' thru the Cozies is a reading challenge hosted by Socrates' Book Reviews. I love a good mystery and it's the genre that actually got me into reading. My mother and I are big fans of mysteries! But lately I've stopped reading mysteries and moved onto other genres. I want to bring back my love of mysteries and this challenge will be the best way to do it! To know what a cozy mystery is and for a list of books which fall into that category visit http://cozy-mystery.com. I'll be doing Level 1 that is 6 books. The challenge runs from January 1, 2012 and ends December 31, 2012. I haven't decided which books I'm going to read but I'll tell you as soon as I do. For more info on the challenge click here.

2012 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge!

Reading with Tequila is hosting a reading challenge in which Book Bloggers Recommended their favorite books which were then compiled into a list and now the participants will choose books that they want to read from that list. The challenge will run from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. I'll be doing Level 1 that is 5 books. I'm really glad to be participating in this challenge because the list contains many books that I've been wanting to read, and some that I even own, but never got around to doing it. I haven't chosen the books that I'll have on my list as yet but I'll let you know as soon as I decide. You can see the list (top 25) below:

1.  The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins 
2. Divergent by Veroncia Roth 
3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 
4. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins 
5. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare 
6. Graceling by Kristin Cashore 
7. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare 
8. The Stand by Stephen King 
9. Delirium by Lauren Oliver 
10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling 
11. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak 
12. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini 
13. The Name Of The Rose by Umberto Eco 
14. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon 
15. The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal 
16. The Last Unicorn by Peter Beagle 
17. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte 
18. Enclave by Ann Aguirre 
19. Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson 
20. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead 
21. Poison Study by Maria V.Snyder 
22. The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
23. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Steifvater 
24. Dark Lover by J.R. Ward 
25. The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Click here to see the entire 2011 Book Blogger Recommendation List.

Click here for more info on the challenge and to sign up if you want to participate.

I'm back! + My reading list for Off The Shelf reading challenge! + Taylor Swift & The Hunger Games = Awesomeness!!

Hey guys! These two weeks have been the longest weeks of my life!! I thought that they were never going to end! But they finally did and I'm glad it's over!! My mid-terms went pretty good (Thank God!). And now I have holidays for a week! So first of all Happy Holidays to all you guys!!

Next, I compiled a list of books I'll read in 2012 for the Off The Shelf challenge. Here is the list:

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin
2. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
3. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
4. The Vampire Diaries-The Hunters-Phantom
5. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

I'll post my reviews as I read the books. And I may not read in the above sequence. It just depends on my mood.

I came online after a long time and when I logged into twitter the first tweet I read was about Taylor Swift's new song Safe & Sound. I'm a die hard Taylor fan and I love her!! So I went to youtube and searched for the song. I was surprised to see that the song was from The Hunger Games soundtrack!! I've not read the books but I've heard a lot of good stuff about them I plan on reading them. Plus I heart Liam Hemsworth (*sigh* He's so hot!!) and he's in the movie...so yeah...I was excited to see Taylor Swift's song on the movie. The song is very different from her usual songs! But I love it! Listen to it below and tell me what you think!

Off The Shelf 2012 Reading Challenge!

Hello folks! This year I decided to participate in a reading challenge. It's my first =) The challenge is called "Off The Shelf" and it's hosted by Bookish Ardour. For more info on the challenge visit the site here.

I have A LOT of books on my TBR pile. But I don't get much time to read. I hope this challenge will help me read all those books lying on my TBR pile lined with dust. I'll start with the first level i.e Tempted. If I get through this (which I hopefully will) then I'll move on to the next level and so on.

Wish me luck! ;)