THE HUNGER GAMES TRAILER!

 Somehow can't embed youtube video but CLICK HERE. 

I'm sure by now most of you have already seen the trailer but I couldn't resist posting it. GAHHHHHHHH. I can not wait until the movie. I have my doubts about it, especially since the actors who play Gale and Peeta haven't grown on me yet but I have high hopes. 

I still need to review the trilogy. Will do that as soon as I reread them. 

Can't wait for March! 

Review: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Dutton/2010/Young Adult/372 pages

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris—until she meets Étienne St. Claire: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near-misses end with the French kiss Anna—and readers—have long awaited?

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past year or so, you've probably have seen lots and lots of raving reviews of Stephanie Perkins debut novel, ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS. I know I certainly have. But before all of the reviews started coming in, I was intrigued by the fact that the book takes place in PARIS! As someone who will be in AP French this fall and had this huge obsession with being an exchange student in France not too long ago (sadly my mother ruined those plans), I just had to get my hands on this book.

First off, I have to say that the title of this book is the kind of title that I'm embarrassed to be seen with. I can't help it! But I did enjoy it. It seriously made me smile because like I said, I love the French culture. And I loved that that I could pronounce all of the French names and knew; My French teacher has taught me so well.

Anna--loved that she's a film junkie and that she wants to be a critic, I liked critiquing shows, too! The only thing about that I didn't like is that she kept going on about how her father didn't send her a lot of money like the other parents did but she went to a cinema like everyday and French movie theaters are hella expensive from what my French teacher and business week says. But that's not important, just me being nit-picky. St. Clair was great. I like this relationship. But also, I really enjoyed Anna's friendship with the other students at the school.

From all the reviews I saw, I expected this book to immediately go on my all times favorite list; however, I only just enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on LOLA, which I hopefully I'll like better!

4 stars out of 5

Cover: D. I hate this cover. I don't like how you can see Anna's face but not St. Clair's. But more than that I just think it's so unoriginal.
Favorite Character: St. Clair!
Put-Down-Ability: 4

*Source: public library

Review: Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian

Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian
Push/2010/Young Adult/322 pages

Natalie Sterling wants to be in control. She wants her friends to be loyal. She wants her classmates to elect her student council president. She wants to find the right guy, not the usual jerk her school has to offer. She wants a good reputation, because she believes that will lead to good things.

But life is messy, and it's very hard to be in control of it. Not when there are freshman girls running around in a pack, trying to get senior guys to sleep with them. Not when your friends have secrets they're no longer comfortable sharing. Not when the boy you once dismissed ends up being the boy you wants to sleep with yourself - but only in secret, with nobody ever finding out.

Slut or saint? Winner or loser? Natalie is getting tired of these forced choices - and is now going to find a way to live life in the sometimes messy, sometimes wonderful in-between.

NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL was amazing. This was my first time reading one of Siobhan Vivian's book and oh my gosh, I could not put this book down. This year has been the most stressful year and when I have the rare few hours that I can spending reading a book, the book had better be a good one for me to get through it.

First things first. I love anything feminism, it's just who I am. Natalie Sterling reminds me of myself.. I mean, both her and I have that feminist thing going on but wow I loved her even though I know for some people she might come off as whiny or too much of an overachiever. Vivian created a very realistic female character, and I'll even say that she is one of the most realistic characters I've seen in a long time.  From the very first chapter, I was hooked. In the first chapter or two, I wasn't sure where it was going. A lot of times when I read–especially when reading young adult–my mind starts guessing on what's going to happen (probably because I've read so many clichés and all). When the first significant guy was introduced, I was worried that he was going to be the love interest and I just thought there was no possible way for me to enjoy that relationship. Luckily, when I found out who the love interest was, I was happy.

I loved Connor. He's on the football team, his family has a local business selling Christmas tress, and Natalie thinks of him as somewhat of a manwhore or at least, a promiscuous guy. Now, I'm wary of most high school football players, but Connor surprised me. I loved how the relationship played out. NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL is wonderful. Can't wait to get my hands on more of Siobhan Viavian's books.

5 stars out of 5


Cover: C+/B- Definitely the type of cover that I'm embarrassed to be seen reading with and definitely the type of cover that I usually hate (guy/girl face to face or kissing) but that is close to what I imagined the characters to look like and yea.
Favorite Character: Natalie. As I'm sure you got from my review.
Put-Down-Ability: 1. The only time I put it down was during swim practice. In fact, I almost didn't go to practice because I stayed up until 2 in the morning reading this book (and that's how good this book is because my practice is at 7am. I had to wake up at 6:30 guys!). :D

*Source: public library

Ten Years Ago Today

On September 11, 2001, I was in the 2nd grade. I vaguely remember being inn my speech therapy session and another adult came in to talk to my speech therapist and seeing a look of disbelief on her face. I can't remember exactly what followed but I imagine, I was told to go back to my class. I remember my best friend at the time, who lived next door, coming over and we were going to watch TV. I grew up watching ABC and a whole lot of daytime TV. Of course, on all of the news station is was full coverage of the attacks, what seems like, 24/7. My eyes were drawn to the television, because unlike so many other children, I loved watching "adult" TV programs. I didn't fully understand what was happening but I knew it was bad. I watched on the TV screen, people crying and had their hands over their mouths to keep all of the dust out. I had to change the channel because my friend went, "Bianca, I don't want to watch anymore. My mom won't even turn the TV on because all she does is cry." 

The following year, the students were asked to bring any picture they had of their family members who were currently or were in the military. I brought a picture of my father in his Marines uniform that was taken over a decade ago. The whole third grade, put on a patriotic performance one night. We were all told to wear something patriotic. I remember that they showed a video of some troops and that we sung, "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood. 

It feels like just yesterday when the Twin Towers were hit. Every year, I find myself reliving that moment because I can't help but watch no less than a dozen programs on 9/11. And this year was especially hard for me to watch them.

On this day, I remember the thousands of people who lost their lives. Rest In Peace. I will never forget. I also salute the troops who our fighting for our country. 

GOD BLESS AMERICA! 

Top Ten Tuesday (1)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at The Broke and the Bookish.

The Top Ten Books Bianca Read But Never Wrote A Review For 

All of these books I plan on rereading and writing a review for later on. Also, these aren't all necessarily my TOP, top ten books....and no particular order.

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin -- Elsewhere easily made the top three books I read in 2010. This book was beautiful and very, very thought-provoking. I also read Zevin's debut novel Memoir of an Amnesiac and enjoyed that, too. I'm so happy that I recieved an ARC of her upcoming book, All These Things I've Done.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins -- You can't be a book blogger without seeing a crazy ton of praising reviews of this trilogy. I had this book sitting on my shelf for months and when I finally did pick it up I devoured it. I also went to Chicago and saw Collins on tour. :)

Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott -- This was the second Elizabeth Scott book I read, and I read it straight after finishing her debut, Bloom. Perfect You was a book that I ended up reading in one setting. I don't think think I even got up to use the bathroom. I didn't review this one because I hadn't started my book blog yet. Favorite book that I've read of Scott's.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver -- My cross country team last year had to hear me go on and on about how much I couldn't wait to receive and ARC of the book in the mail. And once I finally did get my hands on it, I loved it. My love for dystopian novels keeps growing.

Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld -- I read Prep during my freshman year and loved it. It actually became one of my favorite books which I was not expecting. The cover is terrible. But I guess that's why you should never judge a book by it's cover!

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chobsky -- Also another all-time favorite. I read this one, straight through, during middle school. This book is so wonderful and the main character, Charlie, is easily one of my favorite literary characters.

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen -- This Lullaby is easily my favorite Dessen book and the only book of hers that I've read multiple times. The main character, Remy, is different from all her other main characters. She's more edgier, cynical.. And it features one of my favorite couples in YA.

Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling -- I honestly don't know how I haven't reviewed these books yet. They are my favorite books EVER and I am quite obsessed. I've definitely have reread them since I started my blogs and have had long blog entries on related HP things. I guess, I hesitant to write reviews since I know whatever I have to say will never do the books justice.

Just as Long as We're Together by Judy Blume -- The fact that I don't have any review of a Judy Blume book is terrible. I love her books; I grew up on them! Again, mostly, it's because I haven't read them in a really long time and definitely before I started Wicked Good Books. I plan on rereading them all in the next several months though.

Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian -- I read this book earlier this summer and just loved it. I love the feminism, the romance, the writing. It was wonderful. The review will probably be posted soon.

Review: The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

The Duff by Kody Keplinger
Little Brown/2010/Young Adult/288

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "the Duff," she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren't so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone. And eventually, through this realization, Bianca begins to see how harmful her unhealthy way of dealing with her problems has been, and finds a way to confront them head on.

This was easily my most anticipated book of 2010. From the moment I first read the synopsis, I was intrigued. Not only because the main character and I share the same name but also because I ADORE plots like this. I seriously can not get enough of enemies turned lovers or whatever.


I know that the conservative parents will be shaking their heads at Keplinger's debut novel but if you are looking for an edgy, realistic portrayal of teenagers, you should pick up this book. I had never heard of the term the DUFF before which is: The Designated Ugly Fat Friend. And I'm sure most of us have felt like that at one point in our lives, I know I sure have. 


Wesley (did I mention that I absolutely adore this name?) was great. I loved reading about how Bianca saw him at first and the progression between the two of them. Bianca's sarcasm and pessimistic personality was definitely a bonus to read about. She kind of reminded me of Sarah Dessen's character Remy from This Lullaby (which I love). By the end, I was rooting for them to have a relationship that was more than sex. 


I can't wait to read Kody's next book! 

4.8 stars out of 5

Cover: B-/C+ The cover definitely grew on me. When I first saw it, I thought, "Eh.." but now I feel its a good choice for the book. The girl has the over confident expression, which I think fits Bianca's personality. 
Favorite Character: I'm going to go with Bianca. But I also like Wesley. 
Put-down-ability: Could not put it down at all!! When I was finally able to check the book out from the library, I read this book in one setting. My goodness! I loved this book. 


*Source: public library

GET EXCITED!!!! HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS!

If you can't tell from the title of this post, I am super duper excited about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II. Originally, I was only planning to see Part II but they sold out of all 2D tix and I don't want to see it in 3D so I ended up buying tix to see Part I & Part II. *SQUEEE*

#%@#$%^&*(&(&!!!!!!!%&()$!!!!

Not the official trailer but goodness! Snape is one of my favorite characters and I just can't wait to see how this is going to play out on the big screen! 

I can't believe that this is the last movie. I just can't believe it. I DON'T WANT TO BELIEVE IT. I have been to a lot of midnight releases/premieres for Harry Potter. It's hard to believe that this is the last one. :( I love HP. If you follow my twitter (@bianca1946) you'll know that I'm quite obsessed with it. I think JKR is a genius and HAVE YOU GUYS HEARD OF POTTERMORE. 

I was up way early in the morning last week (or was it 2 weeks ago?) to hear her announcement of it and attempted to get my email in dozens of times and it finally went through after an hour or so. Although, it doesn't officially open up until October, 1 million lucky fans will have the chance to beta the site and get on it early. I HOPE I'M ONE OF THEM. I hear you have to do a challenge and um, does anyone remember the days when JKR would post riddles on her site for us to figure out. If they are anything like that, the challenge will be hard. I'm somewhat worried. 

Oh, if you follow my twitter you might also notice that I talk whine about how much I wanted to go to LeakyCon. I SOOOOOO WANTED TO GO. And go to LitDay and Open at the Close and STARKID! Holy crap. Okay, I'm getting off. 

HAVE A VERY HARRY POTTER WEEKEND GUYS! <3 I just got a Slytherin shirt today and can't wait to wear it tomorrow night at the premiere!