I'm currently working on my latest video for the blog about what I am currently reading, the Catching Fire Trailer, books I want to read, the update on my 2013 reading challenge and about my lack of creative writing.

While talking about one of the books I'm currently reading (Substitute Teaching A to Z) I expressed how I was stuck between what subject I would want to teach if I ever got my teaching certificate. I graduated with my Bachelor's in History and while I love history I am not sure I want to teach it. I fear that my love of history would just deteriorate by teaching middle and/or high school students about history and struggling to get them to at least want to learn it. With English I have a huge love for reading and books, I've actually probably taken just about the same number of English/Literature courses as I have history. I actually started my teaching aspiration 10 years about wanting to be a high school English teacher. Those were the classes I loved the most and the teachers who really inspired me. I lost that when I took an education course at the community college and got rid of the dream.

For me being an English teacher I would want to not only get students to read and find enjoyment of it, but to tie in a bigger picture to it. I'm not sure if anyone has come up with a lesson plan for the book, The Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, but I think having teen read that book and creating a lesson on how the concept of trying to fix all your flaws and how people were considered ugly until they had their surgery would help teens learn better self image. I could really get them to think about why the book was written, and why they need to look into themselves on what they would choose to do.

If you were to teach English or have your child take English what kinds of book and lessons would you like to see? I would love to hear your ideas to better help me decide what I want to do. Or at least start looking into lesson plans for books I want them to read if I were to teach. Anyone else in the same boat as me. Want to teach, but afraid to for one reason or another.

Catching Fire Trailer

I cannot remember why, but Catching Fire was my least favorite book in the Hunger Games series. I still plan on seeing this movie and once I saw the trailer that has just been release... OMG it looks amazing. I have yet to re-read the books, I've been meaning to, but it looks so good.
Check it out and let me know what you think. I found Yahoos trailer link so this shouldn't get taken down.

Catching Fire News

Some how with all the of movies based on books I've read I've surprisingly haven't been too crazy and been searching for all the photos and details of them movies. The two that are on my radar are Divergent and Catching Fire.

I haven't shared much on Divergeant and I probably won't until I see the movie or maybe when it gets closers I'll mention what from the book I hope to see in the movie, but I want to share the new posters for the Quarter Quell I'll show you a few and then check over at http://pagetopremiere.com for the rest of the awesome looking posters. Now I need to read the books again because I feel like I forgot so much of what happened in Catching Fire since it wasn't my favorite.

The Shuddering Review

It has been a while since I've read a horror book and I'm glad I found this one. It did not disappoint. 

Synopsis: A group of friends spend one last trip in their cabin when something out in the woods interrupts their good time.  

Review: This book is written so well. It reminded me of one of those decent horror movies that's keeps you at the edge of your seat and you don't realize that you had stopped breathing. It had all the decent elements of a horror story.

For me I loved that they didnt give the monsters a name or turned it into some mutant freak. The author describes them enough to paint how horrific they are and that is all you need. Today I feel like every author has to tie the monster to something we know or fear like vampires, werewolves and so on. I feel it's much more powerful when we don't know what it is. 

The ending was true to how a good horror story is suppose to be. There is no happy ending only uncertain fear and only one person makes it out alive. Those are the truly good stories. 

I gave this book 5 stars. It was done very well. 

Top Ten Tuesday Summer Books

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme are books that top our to be read pile (TBR). I'm sure most of these books I won't get to, but I figure I'd give it a try. This will be different than the summer reading list that I posted a few weeks ago as I have finished a few of the book on that list and right now my interests in books have changed.

1. Survival Mom by Lisa Bedford- if you don't know me then here's another tidbit about me. I am a newbie prepper. I have been trying to get into being prepared for anything for the last year, but other than buying a few needed items and books I haven't gotten very far. I've had this book for a while and put it down and forgot about it until I was reminded of my need to prep so I pulled it out and just started to read it.

2. Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris- I am so behind in what's going on with the TV show Trublood. I've only seen about half of last season. I enjoy these books and have this one sitting on my shelf for a while and I want to read it. Mostly because the books are an easy read and I don't have to force myself to read them.

3. Under the Dome by Steven King- I will admit my desire to read this book has to do with the series based on the book that comes out next Monday. I actually want to read more Steven King books. I use to say I was a fan of his, but to be honest I've only read The Shinning and all his other books I've seen the movie adaptation of them.



4. Lost Symbol by Dan Brown- I am trying to finish this series since I had no idea he has written more. I hope to get to this one this summer, but I doubt it since it's a very long book.

5. The World Without Us by Alan Wesiman- I gave this book to my fiance for a gift, but he didn't seem interesting it in, which is odd. I would live to read it. It sounds similar to History Channel's Life Without People. At first this idea scared me, but this was big when I was pregnant, but now I find it interesting.

6. 2nd Chance by James Patterson- by now I would have thought I would have read more books in this series, but I haven't. I hope to read this one since the other was decent and a quick read.

7. Into the Woods by Tana French- another book that has been sitting on my shelf that I would love to get through

8. Pretties by Scott Westerfeld- I don't own this book, but I really want to read the rest of the series. I probably will either look to see if the use bookstore has it or go to the library.

9. Abraham Lincoln:Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith- I got this this past Christmas and I want to read it since the movie wasn't too bad.

10. I"m going to leave this open since I have books I want to buy or check out and not sure what the will be.


Whats on your top ten?

Camp Nanowrimo

I am thinking of taking part in Camp Nanowrimo in July. It's just like the event in November, but has a more... campy friendly atmosphere. Not sure what I am going to write, but figure it be a nice try. Maybe I'll actually finish a novel. Feel free to add my to your cabin or friends list my username is FallenMurphy.

Forest of Hands and Teeth Review

Finally got to this book and finished it pretty fast. As I've mention before I have been trying to find the time to read it and decided that now was the time to do so.

Synopsis: In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death? (Taken form GoodReads). 


Review: I forgot why I wanted to read this book so bad, but as soon as I started to read it I realized why. It's the perfect book for me. Dystopian, "zombies", a little romance and a strong female character. For me I know that a female can be strong, but also have many weaknesses. It's not about being a robot in these kinds of situations, but knowing when it is time to be strong and when to left fear and weakness in. Mary was one of those characters. I could relate to her yet wonder if I could be as strong as she was. 

This book is a fast read which is good for anyone who just wants to sit and read a book pretty quick. The story develops well and since it's part of a series you don't feel bad for not knowing everything about the world you are reading about. It also is easy to just accept everything they are doing rather than try to analyze it and argue with the story. 

I really enjoyed the book and not sure why I waited so long to read it. My only issue with it is the ending. I know there are two other books, but not knowing if Mary's brother is alive or if she even tries to save the others bothers me a little. 

My Rating: