Well...what can I say? I'm an ex-systems analyst turned full-time English/Education Student from Peoria, Illinois, where I'm also a married mother of 3 kids and two big dumb dogs. Right now, I'm studying my ASS OFF and LOVING it!! Reading is my one true passion (other than my family, that is!) I created this blog so that I can vent some....but mostly to review and record the books that I've read!
3. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
4. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
5. The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson Book 3) by Rick Riordan
6. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
7. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
8. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
9. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Lewis Stevenson
10. The Walking Dead: Days Gone Bye Vol. 1 by Robert Kirkman
11. The Walking Dead: Miles Behind Us Vol. 2 by Robert Kirkman
12. The Walking Dead: Safety Behind Bars Vol. 3 by Robert Kirkman
Graphic Novels Challenge 2011
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
Once Upon A Time V Challenge
Stories: All New Tales Edited by Neil Gaiman
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett
Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson Book 3) by Rick Riordan
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Matched by Ally Condie
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
The Eternal Ones by Kristin Miller
Graveminder by Melissa Marr
Bone Doll's Twin by Lynn Flewelling
A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
His Magesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
Snow White and Rose Red by Patricia Wrede
Beauty by Robin McKinley
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
Dreams Underfoot by Charles de Lint
From a Whisper to a Scream by Charles de Lint
The Lady of Shallot by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
RIP IV Challenge
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick Feast of Fools: Morganville Vampire Book 4 By Rachel Caine Th e Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness We have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson Nocturnes by John Connolly
GLBT Challenge
Dangerous Angels by Francesca Lia Block
Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
Normal by Amy Bloom
Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown
The House you Pass on the Way by Jacqueline Woodson
Suicide Notes by Michael Thomas Ford
Sex Talks to Girls: A Memoir by Maureen Seaton
Sugar Rush by Julie Burchill
My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger
Canadian III Challenge
The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson Eleanor Rigby by Douglas Coupland Angel of Darkness by Charles de Lint Green Grass, Running Water by Thomas King Bitten by Kelley Armstrong Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O'Neill Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood The Time in Between by David Bergen Runaway by Alice Munroe The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnston Fall on Your Knees by Anne-Marie MacDonald Clara Callan by Richard B. Wright
Women's Unbound Reading Challenge
Fiction:
Bastard out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison
Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood
Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters
Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Out by Natsuo Kirino
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula le Guin
Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto
Empress Orchid by Anchee Min
Nonfiction:
Couldn't Keep it to Myself: Wally Lamb and the Women of York Correctional Institution (Testimonies from our Imprisoned Sisters) Edited by Wally Lamb Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China by Leslie T. Chang
The House at Sugar Beach: In Search of a Lost African Childhood by Helene Cooper
Prozac Nation by Elizabeth Wurtzel
Catherine the Great: Love, Sex and Power by Virgina Rounding
Persepolis and Persepolis 2 by Marjane Satrapi
Self-Made Man by Norah Vincent
Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Harry Potter Reading Challenge
Sorcerer’s Stone Chamber of Secrets Prisoner of Azkaban Goblet of Fire Order of the Pheonix Half-Blood Prince Deathly Hallows
1% Well-Read Challenge
The Devil and Miss Prym by Paulo Coehlo
Atonement by Ian McEwan
Choke by Chuck Pahlanuik
The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood
Less Than Zero by Brett Easton Ellis
The Unconsoled by Kazuo Ishiguro
Dr. Zhivago by Boris Pasternak
Far From the Maddening Crowd by Thomas Hardy
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
The Monk by M. G. Lewis
LOST Books Challenge
The Invention of Morel by Aldofo Bioy Casares
Bad Twin by Gary Troup
Valis by Phillip K. Dick
Through the Looking Glass (and Alice in Wonderland) by Lewis Carrol
The Survivors of the Chancellor by Jules Verne
EXTRA:
Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein)
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Young Adult Reading Challenge 2010
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Liga
NY Times Notable Book Challenge 2008
ATMOSPHERIC DISTURBANCES by Rivka Galchen
BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN by Charles Bock
THE FINDER by Colin Harrison THE GOOD THIEF, by Hannah Tinti
The Printz Project
2009
Jellicoe Road, by Melina Marchetta
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation; Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves, by M.T. Anderson The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, by E. Lockhart
Nation, by Terry Pratchett Tender Morsels, by Margo Lanagan
2008
The White Darkness, by Geraldine McCaughrean
Dreamquake: Book Two of the Dreamhunter Duet, by Elizabeth Knox
One Whole and Perfect Day, by Judith Clarke
Repossessed, by A.M. Jenkins
Your Own, Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath, by Stephanie Hemphill
2007
American Born Chinese, by Gene Luen Yang
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation; Volume I: The Pox Party, by M.T. Anderson
An Abundance of Katherines, by John Green
Surrender, by Sonya Hartnett The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
2006
Looking for Alaska, by John Green
Black Juice, by Margo Lanagan I Am the Messenger, by Markus Zusak
John Lennon: All I Want Is the Truth, a Photographic Biography, by Elizabeth Partridge
A Wreath for Emmett Till, by Marilyn Nelson
2005
how i live now, by Meg Rosoff
Airborn, by Kenneth Oppel
Chanda’s Secrets, by Allan Stratton
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, by Gary D. Schmidt
2004
The First Part Last, by Angela Johnson
A Northern Light, by Jennifer Donnelly
Keesha’s House, by Helen Frost
Fat Kid Rules the World, by K.L. Going
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler
2003
Postcards from No Man’s Land, by Aidan Chambers
The House of the Scorpion, by Nancy Farmer
My Heartbeat, by Garret Freymann-Weyr
Hole in My Life, by Jack Gantos
2002
A Step From Heaven, by An Na
The Ropemaker, by Peter Dickinson
Heart to Heart: New Poems Inspired by Twentieth-Century American Art, by Jan Greenberg
Abrams Freewill, by Chris Lynch
True Believer, by Virginia Euwer Wolff
2001
Kit’s Wilderness, by David Almond
Many Stones, by Carolyn Coman
The Body of Christopher Creed, by Carol Plum-Ucci
Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, by Louise Rennison
Stuck in Neutral, by Terry Trueman
2000
Monster, by Walter Dean Myers Skellig, by David Almond Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson
Hard Love, by Ellen Wittlinger
Orbis Terrarum Challenge 2009
Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria)
A Dry White Season by Andre Brink (South Africa)
War Trash by Ha Jin (China)
Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami OR Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto (Japan)
The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar (India)
The Secret River by Kate Grenville (Australia)
The Bone People by Keri Hulme (New Zealand)
The Motorcycle Diaries by Che Guevara (Argentina)
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (Afghanistan)
Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson (Norway)
Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko (Russia)
Snow by Orhan Pamuk (Turkey)
2010 Countdown Challenge
2010
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9. Monster by A. Lee Martinez
8. Breathers: A Zombie's Lament by S. G. Browne
7. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
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2008
8. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
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2007
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2001
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Yesterday, I was working at my computer when I got a phone call. I didn't recognize the number, but I knew the area code. It was from my home town. When I answered, it was a friend of mine from high school. Bryan was one of my best buds in high school. I haven't talked to him in years and it's always fun to chat about the old days and all the new stuff in our lives. But I was told another friend of ours died over the weekend. Stacey was in a car accident and ended up with a blood clot. Now, I went to a small high school. It was just like Cheers -- everyone knew your name! I didn't know Stacey all that well. My most vivid memory of him was in 4th grade. He snuck out some of his dad's chewing tobacco and decided it would be a good idea to try to with the other guys at recess. He ended up throwing up in the trashcan in the classroom after recess!! Hard one to forget!
But he was a nice guy, and that's really all that matters. So..I got nostalgic last night and pulled out my old yearbooks. My first reaction, was oh man....look at that hair!! My goth days didn't hit till college, and in high school I had that big hair, glam rock thing of the 80's going on!! Sheesh...I was a loser!
So...in honor of Stacey, I present to you today's Thursday Thirteen topic:
Thirteen Songs from my high school days in the 80's! (I will try to redeem myself next week with some cooler music from college!)
1…. Never Say Goodbye by BonJovi- This was our senior prom theme! I loved BonJovi!! I mean, come on. Who wouldn't like a band with an album called Slippery When Wet? This isn't close to my favorite song, but I thought it was appropriate to have in the list. I think I was just starting that goth thing about this time....in the late 80's ALL prom dresses were pink, yellow, and white. Mine was black. The ONLY one at the prom!! And it was kick-ass too! I gotta find a picture of it!!
2. Talk Dirty to Me by Poison - Talk about your glam rock!! These guys were it. We listened to this song....ALOT! Bret Michaels was a babe too. He had beautiful blue eyes, and could put on makeup WAY better than me!!
3. Home Sweet Home by MotelyCrue. I was a big Crue fan too. Nikki Sixx was my personal fav. I had a thing for bad boys and tattoos even back then. My best friend and I snuck out to go see them at a concert about 60 miles away (we were 16 and our parents NEVER would have let us go by ourselves!) We cried when they played this song. To this day, this is one of my favorite songs. Many memories associated with it!
4. I Wanna Rock by Twisted Sister - I STILL laugh when I see this video. The guy from Animal House yelling, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE??? We used to sing this as we were "cruising", windows down and long hair blowing!! I TOLD you I was such a loser!
5. Pour Some Sugar on Me by Def Leppard. I guess it was just the sexual innuendo with this one that appealed to us!! It would have to be, cause this song kinda sucks, now that I look back!!
6. I Remember You by Skid Row - Talk about a GREAT song to dance to in a high school gym decorated with crepe paper!! Slow music at it's best!! Sebastian Bach definitely knew how to sing a ballad.
7. Sweet Emotion by Areosmith -OK...technically this is a 70's song. Toys in the Attic was released in '75, but we also loved the Classic Rock thing. And this was a prom theme for an old boyfriend of mine. We had a lot fun together, and this song always reminds me of him!
8. Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Another song that was actually released before I was in high school. But this song had STAYING power. We listened to it all the time!!
9. 1999 by Prince - This was one of the few cassettes (talk about dating myself!) that I ever actually wore out. Little Red Corvette, Let's go Crazy, Delirious......so many great songs came from this one!!
10. Take on Me by A-Ha - Cool video and an even cooler song! Brings back memories on a summer night, hanging out with my friends!
11. What you Need by INXS - My friends and I went to see INXS at the State Fair on their Listen Like Thieves tour. Mr. Mister and the Bangles also played that year! We were young and it was fun.
12. Don't You Forget About Me by Simple Minds - When The Breakfast Club came out, a group of us tripped to Springfield to see it. This movie affected all of us! It was an instant classic and one that we rented over and over again. To this day, I know the movie almost line by line. This song was one of the best!
13. Don't Know What You've Got (Til It's Gone) by Cinderella - I saved this one for last. It was the Homecoming Theme the year my brother died. There was a big tribute to him, a retiring of his basketball jersey, and lots of his old baseball friends that came that year. I was actually in college, but it still reminds me of high school. And I thought it was a fitting way to end my little dedication to a friend that passed away. God Bless his wife and kids.
I could probably go on and list at least another 13, but I won't. And I hope to redeem myself with a "Cooler" 13 next week!!
Later!
Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
Nice pick for the Thirteen, I've always been a fan of 80s music. I have to say I wasn't much into the kind of bands in #1-7 but I've got 10, 11 and maybe 12 on my iPod right now.
By the way, with the 80s hair your yearbook must be very entertaining!
I realize we're different generations (my kids were in h.s. in the 80s), but I can't imagine being nostalgic for this! I'm doing a blog for my 50th. I didn't think much of that music either.
My TT is up. http://collectingmythoughts.blogspot.com/2007/06/thursday-thirteen-resolutions-according.html
Isn't bizarre and sad when someone you knew in high school dies? Ugh.
My best friend in high school loved Def Leppard and the highlight of her entire life is going to their concert and touching(!) Joe Elliott's foot. She cracks me up.
I love your list. That was totally my music then and still is today. I used to be a bit of a Poison groupie myself. Best concert ever was when I got to go backstage and see them. Ah the good old days. Happy TT!
Your songs make you sound like you were a little tougher than me, but I want to see the person from the 80s who doesn't love Don't You Forget About Me - best song, best movie. Thanks for the memory lane walk - I'm running scared ahead of your tough self, but we are on the same street.
18 comments:
Nice pick for the Thirteen, I've always been a fan of 80s music. I have to say I wasn't much into the kind of bands in #1-7 but I've got 10, 11 and maybe 12 on my iPod right now.
By the way, with the 80s hair your yearbook must be very entertaining!
I love 80's songs and the ones on your list brought back memories over here too!
My TT is about Google & me. :-)
I realize we're different generations (my kids were in h.s. in the 80s), but I can't imagine being nostalgic for this! I'm doing a blog for my 50th. I didn't think much of that music either.
My TT is up. http://collectingmythoughts.blogspot.com/2007/06/thursday-thirteen-resolutions-according.html
Thanks for the flashback! My husband bought an '80's music collection not too long ago and I loved going through all of the cds.
I remember most of those but I was never in to that music.
happy day :)
OMG I am having Prom Flashbacks. We have to be very close in age.
Fess up who owned the Frankie Say Bang t-shirt?
*raises hand*
so you totallllly reminded me of those awful, awkward high school dances I was forced to attend for socialization purposes. :P
Happy TT!
Yep, another '80s music fan here. "Take On Me" is still a favorite today...there's just something infectious about it :) Good list!
Sorry for your loss. Thanks for stopping by.
wow great songs...I should listen to them sometime...great TT
YAY!!! These are some of my favorite songs from high school.....Class of '83 here--you have to be close!!!
I remember thinking about how 1999 just sounded so far away!!! Little did I know how fast it would get here (and pass by!)
Love the list!!!
Jessica The Rock Chick
Isn't bizarre and sad when someone you knew in high school dies? Ugh.
My best friend in high school loved Def Leppard and the highlight of her entire life is going to their concert and touching(!) Joe Elliott's foot. She cracks me up.
I loved Take On Me..one of the coolest videos ever. Great TT list. Happy Thursday!
I love your list. That was totally my music then and still is today. I used to be a bit of a Poison groupie myself. Best concert ever was when I got to go backstage and see them. Ah the good old days. Happy TT!
Sorry to hear about your classmate's passing.
It's funny that I have much more nostalgia for the '80's music of my childhood than the '90's music of high school (I was class of '95).
Your songs make you sound like you were a little tougher than me, but I want to see the person from the 80s who doesn't love Don't You Forget About Me - best song, best movie. Thanks for the memory lane walk - I'm running scared ahead of your tough self, but we are on the same street.
I love most of the songs that you listed. I actually think all put one or two of them are on my iPod. Great list!
I don't know that you need to redeem yourself really - there's some great songs on your list!
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