A Book Tag, Challenge, Thing

Thanks jo @ The Bearable Blog for tagging me for the Books and Reading Challenge.

 

1. April TBR? 

I have a ton of books at home. But I was bad and picked out random books at the library.

The Lightning Thief by- guess who?

Rump, The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff

Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman (The cover! What beauty is this? A dragon. . . And it's blue and shiny!)

2. Book/series you would like to see as a movie?

They need to remake The Princess Bride. Yes the original will always be a classic. But now they have CGI and stuff. . . think what wonders they could do with that movie. The Cliffs of Insanity. The ROUSs! The Machine!

 

3. Overhyped book/author?

Eh, I'm going with jo's answer.

The Fault in Our Stars.

I know. Please don't shoot me. But- it just-

I'm not even going to try.

4. The best book series you ever read?

The Ascendance Trilogy by Jennifer A. Nielsen is my new favorite. I haven't read the last one yet though.

Also Divergent by Veronica Roth, but I think that's a well known fact.

5. Book to movie adaption that was really bad?

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy. Just don't watch it. I don't know what happened in the movie. But it wasn't the story that I read.

6. Books that just made you cry?

The Hunger Games by Suzzanne Collins

Ruuue!

Cinnnna!

I mostly cried during the movie Catching Fire though in the theater. Unashamedly. Mostly because I knew what was going to happen, and I could feel what the characters felt, and it was real. 

Also:

The Giver by Louis Lowry

People, they don't know what love is. And they don't have music! Can you blame me for tears?

"You could ask, 'Do you enjoy me?' The answer would be 'Yes,'" his mother said.

"Or," his father suggested, "'Do you take pride in my accomplishments?' And the answer is wholeheartedly 'Yes.'"

"Do you understand why it's inappropriate to use a word like 'love'?" Mother asked.

Jonas nodded. "Yes, thank you, I do," he replied slowly.

It was his first lie to his parents.

I wrote in the margins of this book. I never write in books, but I had do something! I seriously cried over this one. It'd be nice to say I'm hardhearted and unmoving. But when it's sad, it sad, guys! I usually don't cry, actually, but this book. . .

7. Book you're reading right now? Quick rating?

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. 4/5 It's funny and a good MG.

8. A book series that you just didn't like?

I don't encounter that often.

The only thing I can think of is- you all are going to hate me- The Series of Unfortunate Events. I loved Lemony Snicket's style. It was hilarious and fresh to me. But it was so depressing. When I was a green little fourteen year old, I couldn't read depressing books or else I would mope around all week with a headache. I even kept on through the second book, and nope, just couldn't do it.

9. Book you haven't read yet, but really need to?

You want the whole list?

The books I've owned since the beginning of the year and haven't touched yet. (I blame the library.)

The Two Towers and The Return of the King by Tolkien. I write fantasy, people. This is something I must read!

A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin. I want to read this so badly. But it's a thick and daunting book. Plus everywhere I go, I see the other books in the series, but never the first one. What's up with that?

10. What was the first book you really loved?

Oh, Say Can You Say? by Dr. Seuss

I read this thing over and over out loud whether I had anybody to read to or not. I could read all the tongue twisters to near perfection, and I still have some of it memorized.

"Oh, my brothers! Oh, my sisters!

These are terrible tongue twisters!"

Said a book reading parrot named Hooey.

"The words in this book are all phooey.

When you say them, your lips

Make slips and back flips

And your tongue may end up in Saint Looey!"

What about you? What book could you not stand? Which was the first book you fell in love with? (Not to be dramatic or anything) What book do you want to see on the big screen?

More on the Oddball Trilogy

             Hi guys! So I noticed that there are at times some confusion with the Oddball trilogy and who the characters are, and so forth. So I thought I'd try to clarify some things. You know, if that would help.

Here goes nothing.

Oddball is the main character of the trilogy. But I also refer to the books/trilogy as "Oddball," because I have no creativity when titles are concerned. But normally I'll refer to Oddball the books as:

Oddball the First

Oddball the Sequel

Oddball at Last

You know, to keep it less disorienting. . .Normally.

Also, the Oddball foursome who are the four key characters in Oddball the trilogy. They happen to be (with their own Beautiful People post):

Oddball (no brainer there, huh?) His BP post.

           Rocky (his friend and Postal Traveler partner) His BP post.  

                                   

Skyler (Rocky's girlfriend) Her BP post.

Peril/ Lucky Peril (she'll answer to anything :P)  Her BP post.

Of the four of them, only Skyler is not a POV character (I don't know why, it just turned that way). She might have a standalone later. I don't know yet.

Their ages are still in debate. At the beginning, they were around 15-17ish years. But they've a lot of backstory (like deep, bad, and full backstory) and I sometimes wonder if they really could've lived all that in such a short time span (they could, I mean, more fantastic things have happened in books before). So I might up their age to 17-19ish. But the jury's still out so, we shall see.

Also a little about the Border. Oddball is a halfbreed from the Border of Bal and Od (you probably know this, but I'm covering all my bases. . . okay just the main ones). The Border is different from any other place in the world. The climate has extreme seasons, and it's always raining. It's very muddy, almost swampy. The ecosystem is unique in that most of the plants and animals there, only live there and no where else in the world.

For instance there are prackles. That look something like this:

I drew this sketch years ago. I wanted to do another for you guys, but I don't have a lot of time.

There are also sludge trees which happen to be ginormous. In the Border there's actually an airport that has been built in a cluster of trees. They just lobbed away the top branches and built a platform (it isn't exactly a work of genius, but it's out of the prackles' reach).

I just drew this, and I should've made it darker. Oddball's in there for a scale, but Oddball is also taller than most people. Oh, and if you can see that little sliver on the right branch, that's a tree otter. Bleh, it's been forever since I've drawn.

Oh, yeah. Bal and Od are hostile enemies, so Oddball is used to being hunted, lonely, and just looked down on.

It's not much but I hope this helps. Later I might talk about Oddball's parents.

So what do you guys think? Once upon a long time ago, each of the characters wrote a post for me. I could dig those up if you'd like? Or I could just have them do another?

Beautiful People: Warning! Siblings Edition

Cait @ Paper Fury and Sky @ Further Up and Further In are hosting Beautiful People! Thanks you guys. You're awesome!

So today we have Rocky and his brother Callor. 

Yeah, have fun with that.

1. What is the first memory they have of each other?

Callor: You were just a little mite on the streets.

Rocky: You're fists were bloody.

2. Describe their relationship in 3 words.

Callor: I hate you.

Rocky: Thanks a lot.

3. What kind of things do they like to do together?

Rocky: Nothing.

Callor: Once we were the badest guys on the streets. Remember?

Rocky: I try not too.

Callor: We fought together. Side by side.

Rocky: Whatever. You were never on my side.

4. What was their biggest fight?

Callor: *smirks*

Rocky: *clenches fists*

Callor: Oh, you know you want to.

me: Yeah, we don't talk about that.

5. How far would they go to save each other?

Callor: *laughs* I wouldn't!

Rocky: There used to be a time, when I had his back. But then mine got stabbed.

6. What are their pet peeves about each other?

Callor: He's all about justice now. He's gone soft.

Rocky: He has no regard for anybody but himself. 

Callor: Think you're better than everyone else, huh?

Rocky: No, just you.

Callor: *lunges* You righteous little-

me: Hey, back off! Now! *pulls them apart*

7. What are their favorite things about each other?

Callor: Got nothing.

Rocky: Whatever.

8. What traits do they share? Mannerisms, clothing, quirks, looks, etc?

*both evades eye contact*

me: They're both good with their fists.

9. Who has the strongest personality?

Callor: Clearly, I'm stronger and lethaler.

Rocky: Yeah, but I'm charming and actually have personality.

10. How does their relationship change throughout your story?

*both look at me*

me: Well, we wouldn't want to give that away, would we?

the list of summer buckets

 Uh, I mean. . . The summer bucket list.

Yes. :P

So jo @ the bearable blog is awesome and tagged me for the summer bucket list tag. (Go read the You are a Joy to the Universe post! It is amazing!)

I wish this was my plan.



 




But nooo. For some reason, I am "programmed" with the need to be useful and productive. Boring, right?


1. Finish the first draft of Oddball the Sequel.


I really want this to be finished at least by the end of summer. I love Oddball and all, but if I ever want it to be published, I need to get this thing done!


2. Start editing Oddball the First.

This needs an overhaul. It's really long and, agh!- I just don't want to think about it yet. 


3. Swim in the ocean!

My family plans to visit my grandparents in Florida. So this swimming in the ocean thing will definitely be happening! I love going to the ocean to swim.

I can't stand public pools though. It's overcrowded. You really can't swim without smacking someone in the face. You kind of just stand there and come out wrinkled like a raisin.


4. Get some classes out of the way.

Yeah, I know, school in the summertime. But it's better than leaving it for the whole semester, because you know what? I want to take a creative writing course. And this spring the class fell through. So I'm trying for the summer class, because they aren't having one in the fall. :(

5. Work two jobs. . . or at least get more hours.

Yes, I'm so boring. But seriously. I want to transfer in the spring. Which also means that I'll be paying more for college, and if at all possible, I do not want to take out any loans. 

6. Practice whatever I want to on guitar (aka learn some Switchfoot songs).

I take guitar classes at the college. There I learn classical guitar which is really fun, but also really hard. I don't have a lot of time to just practice what I want.

So this summer, I do what I want.


 



7. To play guitar better, in general.

Yes. I have high hopes.

And I always seem to disappoint myself. Maybe I just shoot too high.

But you know that saying about landing amongst the stars? 


 



8. Write more. Write a lot. Write ALL THE TIME!!

Again, more high hopes. Want can I say? I'm stubborn and cynically optimistic.

9. Apply for scholarships.

Like I said, if I can stay away from loans as long as possible, that would be grand.

10. Hopefully, actually, win these scholarships.

 Hm? That would be an added bonus to #9.

11. Apply to another college for when I transfer.

This would be helpful too. 





12. Have a Sherlock marathon! Yes!

See, I have fun planned. Between Sherlock and swimming in the ocean and-


 


13. Read more. Read a lot. Read ALL THE BOOKS!!

Wait, this feels familiar. . .

14. Study music theory.

I took music theory classes a year ago. But I'm a little rusty and I want to take a music literature class this fall so (if they let me take it) I need to brush up on some of my music theory. And I just like theory. . . because I'm a nerd, I guess.


 


15. Make at least one friend.


I know that sounds so slim. Just one, Ashley? Come on. But here, when I say friend, I mean like a really close friend. Like let's contemplate the stars and the many metaphors for rain, or let's talk about what we ate for breakfast kind of friendship. I don't know if that even makes sense. . .


But you know how plans go. I might just ditch my plans every now then to go see how summer's doing. What is summer if you don't actually experience summer?

By of way, all images are from pinterest. Though they usually are. ;)

Oddball - The first scene

           It feels like I haven't been around in a long time. But I did revise the first scene of the first book of Oddball. I cut a lot out. I'm not sure if I like it yet, but it's better than before.

           “Get him!”

           “We’ll hang him high in the sludge branches!”

          Not if he could help it. He ran through the mire. Behind him, the angry men’s shouts turned into frightened screams. Then silence. 

          Uh-oh. Prackles. He could picture the large, saber-toothed reptiles devour the lynch mob. 

          Prac, rackles! The prackle’s raspy cry echoed through the sickly humid air.

          He darted through a clump of reeds and weaved through the tall, gray sludge trees. He ducked under one of the thick branches. Still nothing appeared to pursue him. He stopped to listen, but not too long or the mud would’ve sucked him down to his knees.

          His head jerked at a motion toward his left. A prackle surged toward him, mouth agape. He dashed away. Its breath was hot on his back. 

          Rrrackle!

          He shivered. The prackle call sounded incredibly close, but it had not come from behind him. Reeds swayed at his right. He jumped, grabbed a branch, and used his momentum to swing himself onto it. As he did, the second prackle broke through the reeds and lunged. The reptile’s saber tooth barely missed his leg. 

           Once higher, he peered through the autumn leaves. The two prackles wrestled beneath his tree. Blood trickled from his leg where the prackle’s tooth had nicked him. It wasn’t bad, but the smell of blood made the reptiles crazy. He turned away, as the larger prackle overcame the smaller one. He climbed from branch to branch, tree to tree, toward the borderline of Bal and Od.

          Who would want to live in this place? With the muck, the extremes of the seasons, and the constant danger of ravenous reptiles that lived nowhere else? Thunder rumbled above him. Oh, yeah, and the rain, 365 days a year, and on leap years 366. 

           It was sickening to see the prackles turn on one another. But the people were even worse. 

           He paused and wearily surveyed the wide gap between the two kingdoms. A few foolish young people paced up and down their respective side of the Border. He could probably creep over to the Odish side, as they seemed preoccupied with creating nasty names. 

          “All you Balens are garbage-eating fish heads!”

          “Yeah? Well, you’re a leech-infested stink face!”

          “Wait.” One of them pointed at him just as some prackles snuck up behind them. “There he is! The —“

           Prack!

          People scrambled and screamed in all directions. Mud flew everywhere. He escaped to the other side during the skirmish. 

          Hard living should have brought people together for survival. But not the Balen and Odish. Anyone of those people who found themselves on the wrong side of the Border, would not survive long. All homes would turn them away. Those wanting war would form a lynch mob and hang them, if the prackles didn’t get to them first.

          Half breeds had it worse. Though because of the hostility between the two kingdoms, half breeds were rare and always very young. He was lucky he’d even survived the seventeen years he had. Between the angry people, lynch mobs, and cunning prackles, he had swift feet, but not swift enough to leave Bal or Od altogether. By now all borderdwellers knew his tall frame and ragged brown hair, and they scorned him as Oddball.

        

Happy Easter!

I don't know about you, but for me, Easter is special. 

It means the resurrection of my Lord and best Friend, Jesus Christ. It really amazes me how the King and God of the universe personally loves each one of us. He loves us so much He took the penalty for our wrongs upon Himself. 

John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (NIV).

This has always been one of my favorite Bible verses. It reminded me of how God died for me. But one day I was thinking about how God not only died for us all, He lived for us. 

Every second of Jesus' life on earth was lived unselfishly. He truly lived for others. He always had a kind word, or He healed people, also He instructed people in the truth during a time when the teachers were teaching only for personal gain and often had no mercy on the people. He resisted the temptation to sin even once, so that He could take our place. If He had sinned just once, this whole plan wouldn't have worked, and I'm thinking that He was probably tempted more than just those three times when he was in the desert. 

Also, Jesus didn't just come and die for us. He came and lived as a human being. He experienced humanity and its cruel reality first hand. He is God. He didn't have to do that. He didn't have to go through any of that. But He wants be close to us. He wants to relate to us. And He can. 

 

I really think that's just amazing; how thoroughly Jesus laid down both His life and His death for us, His friends. That He would even consider us friends. 

Jesus is cool, you guys. He really is.

Happy Easter!