Top Ten (Five) New-to-Me Authors I Read in 2013

Top Ten Tuesday, as always, is hosted by Broke and Bookish. This week's list is "Top Ten New-to-Me Authors I Read in 2013." Unfortunately, I did not really read as much as I would have liked to in 2013, even during my holidays from school. Going over the list of books I have read this year, I have five new authors that I feel could become perennial favorites. 

Lauren Morrill
Though I have only read Meant to Be, I really, really liked it. It was a beautiful travel story and I loved it. She has a new books coming out in 2014 and I cannot wait to read it. 

Kasie West
Pivot Point was phenomenal and I cannot believe it is a series! I cannot wait to read the next one. I also have her contemporary novel, The Distance Between Us that I have been meaning to read for forever. I cannot wait to read more of her work. 

Gail Carriger
Again, I have only read one book of hers, but I really enjoyed Etiquette and Espionage. I cannot wait to read the next one in this series then go on and maybe read the previous series this one was based on. 

Olive Schreiner
It maybe more be the book in this case, but I really enjoyed Story of an African Farm during a semester where I did not really enjoy reading. So much thanks to Olive Schreiner, for getting me out of a reading slump this semester. 

Rainbow Rowell
I just read Fangirl and absolutely loved it! It spoke to me on so many levels and I cannot wait to read the rest of her work. 

These are the five authors I read and really enjoyed this year. I have one honorable mention though; while her work was not new to me, I really discovered how much I liked it this year.

Rachel Hawkins
I had only read Hex Hall previously, but now, I have read all of her work. I really got sucked into her world and really enjoyed it. 

What are your new-to-me authors of 2013? Let me know in the comments. 

How to Survive Finals Week

It's that time of year kids! No, not Christmas, FINALS WEEK.

My finals week was actually last week, but I know for many this is their last week of the semester. Having just gone through this experience, however, I feel I can offer some advice on the subject.

Tip #1: Study before the night before. 
This seems like a no brainer, but I think it still deserves to be mentioned. If you have no finals Monday, perhaps Sunday night you should study for the finals you have on Tuesday. Just a thought.

Tip #2: Get plenty of sleep. 
Don't stay up all night studying; it won't work out in your favor. Also, don't sleep all day and night the night before. Also doesn't work out. So getting about eight hours is your best bet for maximum productivity.

Tip #3: Relax and cut loose. 
It's okay to take a break and relax. Go get dinner with a friend or watch a funny YouTube video. Just take a break. You've earned it.

I hope this helps some of you. Good luck on finals!

Do you have any finals week tips? Leave them in the comments! 

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Photo from Goodreads

Title: Fangirl
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Published: September 10, 2013, by St. Martin's Press

Plot Summary:
Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . .

But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?

Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?

And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

My Thoughts:
I love this book. I really do.

Maybe it's because it took place at a time that would've been my freshman year, Maybe it's because it's about fangirl culture, something I definitely understand. Maybe it's because I just identify with the protagonist on so many levels.

I don't know what the magic combination is, but this book seems tailored to me.

This book basically follows Cath through the entirety of her freshman year and the ups and downs that go along with it. However, it is more a chronology of her real life versus her life in the fandom. In my mind, it does not really add up to what the blurp on the inside cover says. The book focuses more on her life than the Simon Snow fandom.

I think the main reason I loved this book because I just "get" Cath as a character because in many ways, I am Cath. A lot of the things she goes through regarding college are a lot of things I went through myself regarding college, like roommates and dinning halls. As for some of the more complex conflicts, I definitely understood the emotions behind it. I also really loved the complexity of Wren and their Dad.

Overall, I would recommend this book to people in college who will be able to reminisce about their freshman year.  People who are about to start college may also enjoy this. If you enjoy fandom and fan-created works, you will also love this.

Fall 2013 Semester in Review

Independence Hall in Philly

Hallelujah, the semester is finally over! This semester has been a rough one, what with taking seventeen credit hours and the emotions this semester has inspired. Let's review:

August:
The month started off great with Phi Sigma Pi National Convention in Philadelphia, even though I got super sick halfway through the convention. And continued to be sick up until it was time to go back to school.

Our new kitten, Hoover

September:
This is where things started to get intense. What with preparations for Shay's wedding and the semester picking up, I was starting to feel stressed beyond belief. Also, it should be noted that this is the month I started writing creatively again, which was great. At the end of the month, we got our new kitten, Hoover.

Uptown Theater for Sara Bareilles

October:
Shay's wedding was this month, which was easily the highlight of the semester! More stress, more poetry. Also, I saw Sara Bareilles in KC this month, so that was super exciting too!

November:

Phi Sigma Pi induction in November

Here is where the semester starts to both get better and get worse. I was a lot less emotionally drained during this month, but my stress levels went through the roof and would remain that way for the rest of semester. I also celebrated my four year anniversary with my boyfriend and finally got Pokemon X.

Bonsai Chipotle run! 

December:
Last two weeks of the semester stress levels still through the roof. In spite of that, I was still able to have some fun with bonsai trips to Chipotle and other not school related activities!





And now I'm on break! Though I still have to work a couple weeks, I will mostly be playing Pokemon, hanging out with Kelly, and reading. I had my last final yesterday, so my stress levels are slowly going down. My body hasn't one hundred percent realized the semester is over.

How did your semester go? Now that it's over, how do you plan to spend your break?

Things I am Looking Forward to for Fall Break

So Fall Break is next week and it cannot come fast enough! Truthfully, I'm ready for the semester to me over, but a week off will be a good place to start. Here's everything I'm looking forward to that week.

Celebrating my four year anniversary with my boyfriend
Tomorrow (the 18th) my boyfriend and I will have been dating for four years. That's a long time! Though we won't be celebrating until weekend, I'm looking forward to spending the entire week with him!

Getting Pokemon X or Y
I've been looking forward to this game for a long time, and I've finally  saved up enough money to buy both a 3DS and the game. So if it seems like I'm hardly online, that's why.

Thanksgiving
I'm really looking forward to spending a lot of time with my family, even the relatives I don't get to see as often.

Black Friday
 My boyfriend and I also go Black Friday shopping every year for the experience.

Just relaxing
I'm really just looking forward to having a break. Everything is go, go , go all the time and I just want to slow down for a little bit.

What are you looking forward to on your fall break?

An Update

So upon realizing that for the past two months, I had done monthly favorites in terms of blog posts and that was it, I thought I should maybe do an update post to explain my absence somewhat. It really just boils down to one reason: College

For some reason, I thought it would be a good idea to take seventeen hours this semester. Never again. I have just be drowning in homework and Phi Sigma Pi stuff. Hopefully, during fall break at the end of this month I'll get to recharge for a little bit. I also plan to have a lighter semester next semester, if only so I can get some rest and not be so completely devoted to school.

Another reason is some of my personal relationships started to take over certain aspects of my life. I really don't want to go into a lot of details, but these last few months of 2013 are involve me taking a step back and realizing what is important to me and what I want to do, not what I think others expect me to do.

I'm hoping during fall break I will be able to recharge my batteries a little bit and make some life decisions on just where I want 2014 to take me. When I find that out, I will let you all know.


Happy November!

September Favorites

Well, the month of October is upon us and that means it is time for another favorites post. Funny story, I haven't posted anything since my August favorites. Oops.

September was crazy busy for me, as usual. What with school being in full swing, the beginning of planning for regional conference, and a bunch of family of birthdays at the end of the month, there was barely any time for blogging. However, there was a little time for some new favorites to creep into my life.

1. American Authors
OH MY GOODNESS. I love this band so much. I'd heard "Best Day of My Life" on the radio and thought, "I like this." So one day I decided to listen to more of them at work. Another great decision. My current favorite is "Luck".
AND they are coming to KC in December and I'm really hoping to see them!

2. Bath and Body Works Apple Candle
So early last month, I went and bought three mini candles from Bath and Body Works. Of these three candles, my favorite this month has hands down been the Farmstand Apple Candle. Apples are on of my favorite fruits, so having a candle that captures that scent is amazing! I'm considering buying a bigger one when I get the chance.

3. My new kitten! 
So the last week of September, my parents were surprised with a new edition to our family. He just showed up and decided he lived here now. His name is Hoover and he has a fractured pelvis and stitches in one leg. But he is the sweetest thing and I love him so much!

What are your September favorites?