A to Z Survey

I saw this survey on Anna Reads and loved it so much I had to fill it out for myself.

Author you’ve read the most books from:
JK Rowling with Sarah Dessen a close second.


Best Sequel Ever:

Through the Ever Night, the sequel to Under the Never Sky, by Veronica Rossi.

Currently Reading:
The Lost Code by Kevin Emerson.

Drink of Choice While Reading:
Water.


E-reader or Physical Book?
iPhone.


Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated in High School:
William Carter from Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford. I would have fallen hard for this dork because he's not afraid to be stupid. (Dex is a close second from This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen.)


Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:
Sweethearts by Sara Zarr. This is not my typical cup of tea, and it was a hard book to read, but it was so, so worth it.

Hidden Gem Book:
The Carter series, starting with Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford. This series made me laugh throughout and was so realistic. Plus, I loves me some stupid boy who joins drama and does jazz hands.


Important Moment in your Reading Life:
Reading The Girl Who Owned a City by OT Nelson in the seveth grade and reallizing girls, even my age, can be strong and independent and smart and resourceful. I needed to believe this, and this book did the job and thus changed my life.


Just Finished:
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater.

Kinds of Books You Won’t Read:
Historical fiction. No thank you.



Longest Book You’ve Read:
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling.


Major book hangover because of:
The List by Siohban Vivian because I wanted more from every character. I loved them all. They were so well developed that any one of them could've been the main voice for the entire book. Also, I can't stop thinking about it. This book sticks, and I think every female should read it.


Number of Bookcases You Own:
Two that are mine. Three more between the kids.


One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling.

Preferred Place To Read:
My big couch under the window or my bed. I always read before I sleep.

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:
"Just so you know,” I inform him, “one day, I’m going to get tired of sharing your affection with that coffee table and I’m going to make you choose.” “Just so you know,” he mimics me, “I would chop that table up and use it for firewood before I would ever choose anything over you."
— Katja Millay (The Sea of Tranquility)


Reading Regret:
I've never read Catcher in the Rye, and I'm afraid to, afraid I won't like it.


Series You Started and Need to Finish (all books are out in series):
The Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr.


Three of your All-Time Favorite Books:
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell, The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling.


Unapologetic Fangirl For:
Rainbow Rowell. I love her style of writing, her honesty, and she is fun to chat with on Twitter. :)


Very Excited for This Release More Than All the Others:
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell with Allegiant by Veronica Roth as a close second.

Worst Bookish Habit:
I slop food on my books. Mostly chocolate.


X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:
The Time Travelor's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. 

Your latest book purchase:
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. 

ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):
The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay. No regrets!

The Host and the Armpit of Civilization

I recently read The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I truly enjoyed it. I've always loved science fiction, and I love a good love story. I certainly love a good love triangle, but I never knew that I'd love a good love quadrilateral. It was awesome. I adored the complicated characters, though I must say, I wish we had a bit more back story for Jared and Melanie. I'd like to know why they love each other so much aside from the protection factor. And, may I just say that I love that she punched him when he was kissing Wanda? So cool. Mel's a tough chick. All this is beside the point. This was supposed to be a review and an ode, but now it's really nothing more than me rambling. In the vein of reviewness - you should read it. Better? I thought so.

I live in AZ. I have lived in AZ all of my life, in one city in fact, but that doesn't keep me from taking day trips to other AZ cities. When I was in high school a friend of mine moved to Tucson.Owning a car and being perpetually unsupervised had it's advanatges when I was sixteen. Mainly, I could leave town to visit my friend. On the drive from the Phoenix area (where I'm from) to Tucson, lies a small town called Picacho Peak, which I lovingly have dubbed the Armpit of Civilization. Now what's this got to do with anything? Nothing much except that the majority of The Host takes place in the mountains of Picacho Peak. So I thought I'd share a quaint story.

I traveled a few times to and from Tucson unscathed. Then I got a speeding ticket. Then a flat tire, landing me at a gas station in Picacho Peak where the vending machine sold peanut butter logs and a creepy old man looked me over and wouldn't let me leave because I didn't have enough money to pay him for my tire. My father came to get me and I ran away from the bad man.

On one trip (my final one) to Tucson my car, a stupid Geo Metro, sounded like it was dying. Things were grinding, clunking, smoking. I was sure I was going to be stranded on the I10. I stopped in some podunk town and called my father telling him the car was falling apart. He assured me it was fine (how did he know?) and sent me on my way. Sure enough, the Geo spluttered and jerked, and I heard a massive clunk and something literally fell out of the transmission. I made it safely to the side of the road where I panicked because I was seventeen, blonde haired, blue eyed, thin, attractive, a girl, and STRANDED! I was so freaked out. I prayed and prayed and prayed and had no clue what to do.

As I was praying not to find my death on the side of the road due to dehydration a massive mack truck pulled onto the shoulder. Then I really started to panic. A short, stocky man with a long beard, pipe, too-short shorts and knee socks came sauntering my way. "Well, this is it. I shall be raped, then left for dead in the desert," I thought to myself. I was optimist, you see.

The man, who was naturally named Skip, herded me into his truck. Why did I go? I have no idea. He assured me he'd let me off at a gas station so I could make a phone call. But as we passed exit after exit and I said things like, "This one's fine here." He waved me away, telling me that there was nothing of interest at that exit (every exit). I prayed and prayed and prayed that I wouldn't die. Finally, Skip pulled off on an exit - the exit for Picacho Peak. Awesome. He said his creepy, pipe-smelling goodbyes and left me in the armpit of civilization to die there instead of in his cab.

I made the familiar call from the Dairy Queen/gas station (literally pictured above, the pay phone is on the far right) and my dad was irritated with me. What did I do to the car? How did it break down? Why was I bothering him? Why was I even born to begin with? You know, fatherly love types of questions. In the end, I don't even think he came to get me. I called my future father-in-law or my brother-in-law who picked me up. I can't even remember because 1) I'm old now, and 2) I've been stranded at the Dairy Queen  in the armpit of civilization more times than I can count.

So, again, what does this have to do with anything? Nothing much, except for the fact that I understand why Uncle Jeb chose to live it the mountains of Picaho Peak. Why would souls want to live there? It's disgusting, it's hot, it's full of creepy old men named Skip, and who wants to take over that host? Not any soul I could think of. Perhaps that should've been the Seeker's punishment - life imprisonment with Skip the truck diver. Now that'd be an awesome sequel. Maybe I'll pitch it to Stephenie Meyer since we're AZ livin' besties. Then again, maybe not. It's really an amazing fanfiction waiting to be written by me. I'm sure it'd be highly popular. I shall call it Skip and the Armpit of Civilization. What do you think? Catchy enough?