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2/15/15

A late Valentine's Day post

Despite the fact that it's one day late, I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day. And I hope you had a pretty okay day, spent with someone you love. Whether it's your romantic partner, family, friends, or yourself.
I also wanted to share some videos with you guys that deal with Valentine's Day. So I hope you enjoy it.

The first video I'm going to share is a short little video about the cute awkward love between a panda and a bunny. 



The second video that I'm going to share is Neon Tree's Mad Love


And the last video that I'm going to share with you guys is Ted Fu's speech for all those single people out there. 


~ Stacy N.
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2/13/15

Beautiful People: Love is in the Air

Text reads: beautiful people for writers
hosted by www.paperfury.com 
& www.furtherup-and-furtherin.blogspot.com
Beautiful People is a monthly blog meme hosted by Cait @ Paper Fury and Sky @ Further Up and Further in. Every month they post 10 questions for you to answer about your characters.
In honor of Valentine's day, this month's blog meme will be about your favorite couple from your story.

This is the first time that I've done Beautiful People by Cait and Sky. And even though I follow other bloggers who do the meme, I've never really gotten around to it, till now.

After playing eeny, meeny, miny, moe a few times to choose which of my three favorite couples I will write about today, it ended up failing. Because I simply couldn't choose one. So the three couples I'll write about today will be Rain and Beth from Immortality Doesn't Exist, Lana and Parker from Shh, Silence is Golden, and Eliza and Peter from The Shadow & her Lover

And now without further ado, here are the questions.

1. How long have they been a couple?
Rain and Beth eventually start dating between the second and third book for the Immortality Doesn’t Exist series, and that lasts for a few weeks before Beth dies.
While Lana and Parker have been dating for a few months before Shh, Silence is Golden starts. However, it’s a secret relationship that only lasts in the night.
And Eliza and Peter start dating somewhere along the course of their story, The Shadow & her Lover.

2. How did they first meet?
Beth was falling down a hole and ends up in Rain’s basement.  Because Beth was trying to escape the burning, golden dust that makes up the whole sky.
Lana and Parker met through some mutual friends of theirs.
And Eliza and Peter meet in a park. Peter showing off his fencing skills as usual, while Eliza is reading a book.

3. What were their first thoughts of each other? (Love at first sight or “you’re freakishly annoying”?)
Rain’s first thought of Beth was, what the hell is a strange girl doing in my basement? Where did she come from and how? While Beth’s first thought was, who is she? She’s kind of cute.
Lana and Parker immediately hated each other when they first met. Because Lana seemed like a know-it-all and Parker was the overly religious guy who spouted irrelevant bible verses that didn't fit in with the conversation at all.
While Eliza and Peter were immediately enchanted with each other.

4. What do they do that most annoys each other?
Beth is often annoyed when Rain shape-shifts, because she’s jealous that Rain has cooler powers. While Rain is annoyed by Beth’s stubborn nature.
Lana gets easily ticked off when Parker starts to randomly spout irrelevant bible verses and how easily he forgets about her during the day. While Parker isn’t very happy about the fact that Lana easily dismisses their kisses as meaning something more.
Eliza is annoyed that Peter isn’t willing to do something more, when they’re making out. Little remembering that he’s an asexual. While Peter is more annoyed with Eliza’s many glasses of wine that she drinks in a week.

5. Are their personalities opposite or similar?
Rain and Beth have very few things in common. Other than being paranormals, Beth is the spoiled, annoying child while Rain is the perfect, selfless child. But both have that need to be wanted.
Lana and Parker are surprisingly more alike than they originally thought. They’re both ambiverts, manipulative, vengeful, and very afraid of losing their loved ones.
Peter and Eliza are almost complete opposites of each other. Peter is the adventurous, charming, asexual, space pirate. While Eliza is the sensible, introverted, horny, bookworm, who’s often dreaming of a more exciting life for herself.

6. How would their lives be different without each other?
Beth would still be a “normal” human being, going to school and hanging out with friends, and just living a normal human life. While Rain would have married her best friend Lynn and live a perfectly normal Bionovian life.
Parker would have continued to go onto missions for the government, eventually dying one mysterious morning. While Lana would have been learning how to talk and fall for Ethan.
Peter would still continue working for Eliza’s mom, hooking up with a few people here and there. Eventually running away again. While Eliza would still stay at home and read and read and read.

7. Are they ever embarrassed of each other?
Rain and Beth: yes.
Lana and Parker: yes.
Eliza and Peter: yes.
The key to not being embarrassed of your loved one is to accept their flaws and eccentricities, which they all learn throughout the course of their story.

8. Does anyone disapprove of their relationship?
Other than Rain’s parents, everyone else is pretty accepting about Beth’s and Rain’s relationship.
A few of Lana’s friends would have disapproved of her relationship with Parker, if they ever found out.
And while everyone else is pretty accepting about Eliza’s and Peter’s relationship, Eliza’s mom stands in the way.

9. Do they see their relationship as long-term/leading to marriage?
Unfortunately for Beth and Rain, no. Because Beth dies and turns into dark, smoggy form that has a vague shape of her old body, which isn’t a ghost.
Lana and Parker also doesn’t work out because Lana dies somewhere along the storyline.
However, Eliza and Peter do end up staying in a long-term relationship that ends with marriage. After having twin boys.

10. If they could plan the “perfect outing” together, where would they go?
Beth and Rain would go to a bright, green, beautiful garden with the sun shining just right and the birds singing just so.
Lana and Parker would go to a sandy beach house.
While Eliza and Peter would go to France’s countryside.

And now the weather:
- Mercy by Duffy
~ Stacy N.
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2/2/15

I'm forgetting my Vietnamese name.


Sad but true. My twin can only speak in English. My older sister still remembers Vietnamese. My brother, I'm not too sure about. While me, I still remember a few phrases and words like I love you, I'm sorry, I'm full, I'm going to school/the library, etc.
When I first moved in with my older sister, I used to miss listening to Vietnamese everyday. Even though I only understood a few things here and there. Now, all I hear is English, English, English. Which is nice. But it's sad, because I'm forgetting my heritage. 
~ Stacy N.
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1/31/15

January reviews

I got this idea from Nevillegirl from Musings From Neville's Navel, where she would occasionally post mini book reviews. And I thought I would join along as well. Except, I'm going to do it every month and quickly review the books I read in that month. Occasionally, there might be a full book review.

One Hundred Years of Solitude

by Gabriel Garcí­a Márquez
One Hundred Years of Solitude tells the story of the rise and fall, birth and death of the mythical town of Macondo through the history of the Buendía family. Inventive, amusing, magnetic, sad, and alive with unforgettable men and women--brimming with truth, compassion, and a lyrical magic that strikes the soul--this novel is a masterpiece in the art of fiction.
My thoughts: I love the magic that is found in this book. And I like how no one questions it. I love Úrsula Iguarán and how she is a strong leader who is still a mother with feelings. I also like how some of the women are not so inclined to make really stupid decisions. Unlike most of the men of this novel.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars




Why We Broke Up

by Daniel Handler, Maira Kalman
I'm telling you why we broke up, Ed. I'm writing it in this letter, the whole truth of why it happened.Min Green and Ed Slaterton are breaking up, so Min is writing Ed a letter and giving him a box. Inside the box is why they broke up. Two bottle caps, a movie ticket, a folded note, a box of matches, a protractor, books, a toy truck, a pair of ugly earrings, a comb from a motel room, and every other item collected over the course of a giddy, intimate, heartbreaking relationship. Item after item is illustrated and accounted for, and then the box, like a girlfriend, will be dumped.
My thoughts: A light read that is therapeutic to a certain extent. It was very amusing to read some of the breakup stories from other authors in the end.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars




City of Heavenly Fire

by Cassandra Clare
In this dazzling and long-awaited conclusion to the acclaimed Mortal Instruments series, Clary and her friends fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary's own brother.
Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures out of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell.
The embattled Shadowhunters withdraw to Idris - but not even the famed demon towers of Alicante can keep Sebastian at bay. And with the Nephilim trapped in Idris, who will guard the world against demons?
When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim have ever known is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon, and Alec must flee - even if their journey takes them deep into the demon realms, where no Shadowhunter has set foot before, and from which no human being has ever returned...
Love will be sacrificed and lives lost in the terrible battle for the fate of the word in the thrilling final installment of the classic urban fantasy series The Mortal Instruments!
My thoughts: This book gave me a lot of feels. And it made me realize that Jem is definitely one of my favorite male characters of all time.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Cress

by Marissa Meyer
In this third book in the Lunar Chronicles, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.
Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl imprisoned on a satellite since childhood who's only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.
When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has.
My thoughts: I like how this book followed the original fairy tale, a bit better than the last two novels. Complete with the hair getting cut off and the love interest going blind. However, there is a Disney’s Tangled twist to it. Instead of a prince, Cress got a thief. This book also made me realize how much I love Kai and Cinder being together.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Glitches

by Marissa Meyer
Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. In Glitches, a short prequel story to Cinder, we see the results of that illness play out, and the emotional toll that takes on Cinder. Something that may, or may not, be a glitch…
My thoughts: It made me feel bad for Cinder. I just want to hug her.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars







The Little Android

by Marissa Meyer
The Little Android is a retelling of The Little Mermaid, set in the world of The Lunar Chronicles by New York Times-bestselling author Marissa Meyer.
When android Mech6.0 saves the life of a handsome hardware engineer, her body is destroyed and her mechanics discover a glitch in her programming. Androids aren’t meant to develop impractical reasoning or near-emotional responses…let alone fall in love.
My thoughts: I like how it follows the original fairy tale. However, there are still a few twists and turns.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars


The Queen's Army

by Marissa Meyer

It is time. The boy must leave his family to serve in the Queen's army. To be chosen is an honor. To decline is impossible. The boy is modified. He is trained for several years, and learns to fight to the death. He proves to the Queen—and to himself—that he is capable of evil. He is just the kind of soldier the Queen wants: the alpha of his pack.

My thoughts: Very well written. A couple of the scenes made my stomach turn quite a bit.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars





Carswell's Guide to Being Lucky

by Marissa Meyer
A story about Carswell Thorne and Kate Fallow.
My thoughts: Carswell Thorne reminds me of Nikolai Lantsov from The Grisha series by Leigh Bardugo. Except Nikolai actually has power but Carswell doesn’t have that much. I also like his littler self better than his older self, for some weird reason.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars







Seraphina: The Audition

by Rachel Hartman
The Audition is a free prequel to Seraphina available online. It takes place a few weeks prior to Seraphina, covering Seraphina Dombegh's audition to become Viridius's assistant and thus Glisselda's music tutor.
My thoughts: I like how Glisselda is smarter than what she lets on.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars








The Tailor

by Leigh Bardugo
New scene from Shadow and Bone told from Genya's point of view.
My thoughts: This story made me feel bad for Genya. And at the same time make me dislike her quite a bit for what she does at the end. Even though, I kind of get why she does it.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars







The Witch of Duva

by Leigh Bardugo
There was a time when the woods near Duva ate girls...or so the story goes. But it’s just possible that the danger may be a little bit closer to home. This story is a companion folk tale to Leigh Bardugo’s debut novel, Shadow and Bone.
My thoughts: I like the plot twist. I also like how it shows some women as evil, but they have a good reason to be. And Magda turned out to be my favorite character, because she’s kind.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars





The Too-Clever Fox

by Leigh Bardugo
In Ravka, just because you avoid one trap, it doesn't mean you'll escape the next. This story is a companion folk tale to Leigh Bardugo’s upcoming novel, Siege and Storm, the second book in the Grisha Trilogy.
My thoughts: I like how it doesn’t follow the typical gender roles. And I like how Leigh Bardugo uses loneliness as a weapon. Like what she did for the Darkling’s story, “The Demon in the Wood”.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars





Little Knife

by Leigh Bardugo
In this third Ravkan folk tale from Leigh Bardugo, a beautiful girl finds that what her father wants for her and what she wants for herself are two different things.
It is a companion story to the third book of the Grisha Trilogy, Ruin and Rising, and the stories “The Witch of Duva” and “The Too-Clever Fox.”
My thoughts: Yeva reminds me of Remedios the Beauty from One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez. However, no one dies from Yeva’s beauty, as far as I know of. I like the plot twist, and how no one falls in love. Like the other two tales, “The Witch of Duva” and “The Too-Clever Fox”.  In fact, for all three of these tales, I like how it isn’t sexist like the original fairy tales. And I like how the women are smarter than the men, and aren’t as greedy or arrogant.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars




Brimstone and Marmalade

by Aaron Corwin
Just in time for Halloween, we have a funny, sweet, and slightly skewed short story by Aaron Corwin, an up-and-coming writer from Seattle.
All Mathilde wanted for her birthday was a pony. Instead, she got a demon. Sometimes growing up means learning that what you think you want is not always what you need.
My thoughts: I thought the demon, Ix’thor quite funny. And it made me a bit sad in the end.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

And now the weather:
~ Stacy N.
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1/10/15

Four years and counting

Text reads: happy birthday
Picture by monxcheri @ deviantART

Dear my little talks,
On January 8, 2011 you were officially born. Four years and two days later, you're still here despite all the ups and downs and the changes that you've gone through. And I have to thank you, for being the best blog that I've ever had. So let's hope that you're still here four years into the future.

Love,
Stacy N.

Dear everyone who's reading this,
Whether you're a follower, a reader, or even a viewer, I would like to thank you guys. Mainly for sticking around and helping me grow this blog to where it is right now. Honestly, if it weren't for you guys, I would have given up blogging a while ago. So, thank you again.
Have an amazing day or night.

Love,
Stacy N.

And now the weather:
- Beautiful Times by Owl City ft. Lindsey Stirling
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