This is real life. The truth is, I'm not that great at it. But this is it, and it is my life. You want me to post pictures of what I wear every day? You'd have a collaboration of different yoga pants, and oversized t-shirts--some worn multiple days in a row {cringe}! You want to know my toddler lunch meal ideas? They often vary between dino nuggets, pb&j, or ravioli--but hey, at least it's the frozen kind and not Chef Boyardee...although that has made a few appearances! You want pictures of my home decor? Well my house is usually a mess. There are dishes in the sink and laundry to be put away. Most days, with my two crazy sidekicks calling the shots, I don't have time to shower, and rarely even do my hair {am I really admitting this in a public forum?!}! But this is life, and it is my life. And I'm lucky enough to get to share it with an amazing husband and the 3 cutest kids in the world, so no matter how you look it, I'm the luckiest!

Friday, April 23, 2010

Uglies, Pretties, and Specials

By Scott Westerfeld

I just finished the book series UGLIES by Scott Westerfeld. I laughed, I cried, and I still cannot decide whether I loved it or hated it. But perhaps those are the best books to read. It definitely made me think.

The "suggested age" on these books is 7 and up. I know, a little young, but that's how almost all my favorite books are. Not because I read on a 7 year old level, but it seems that those are the only books that are free of sex and foul language. I wouldn't say it was a children's book in the sense that the majority of the Shannon Hale books are (which I love also), but it was more on the level of books such as Enchantress from the Stars, The Host, and Ender's Game. All of which I also loved. It's a futuristic book but still realistic--in a sense.
Before reading Harry Potter I told myself I'd NEVER read any sci-fi, fantasy, futuristic books. They didn't appeal to me in any sense. Then I read HP and fell in love. Then I read Ender's Game and was smitten. My love affair has proceeded from there. I only like to read books that are relatable--in as much as I can relate to a boy wizard...

Somehow I still get turned off when someone suggests a book and tells me it is sci-fi or fantasy, but I guess I better get over that because those are really some of my very favorite books.

And just for the record, I used the phrase "science fiction" the other day to describe a book I'd read and the person I was talking to told me I was wrong to use that phrase because it only applies to books about aliens and space. I then didn't know what to call the book because I wouldn't say it was "fantasy" it was just "futuristic" but that isn't a genre. So I looked up science fiction and this is what it said: Science fiction is a genre of fiction. It differs from fantasy in that, within the context of the story, its imaginary elements are largely possible within scientifically established or scientifically postulated laws of nature (though some elements in a story might still be pure imaginative speculation). Therefore, futuristic books are science fiction in the means that their elements are possible (blaah blaah blaah) but it may have nothing to do with space.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I just heard about those books from a friend at work last week and wanted to read them. They sound sooo exciting! I cant wait to read them! Have you read the Hunger games books? MY FAV!

Megan & David said...

I am in the middle of reading the Uglies right now and I'm liking it so far. I'm also reading The Hunger Games, its really good!

Susie Chadwick said...

These look great, thanks for the recommendation! By the way, it looks like a fourth book, Extras. Have you read that one?

wuxiheather said...

The Uglies series really is just a trilogy, but Extras is a continuation of the trilogy with other main characters after the trilogy ends.