Just checking in.

Hey, guys!

If you haven't already gone and subscribed to the new site, you might wanna head on over: www.thegrammariansreviews.com.


Hope to see you there!
 

Update!

There was an error with the feed link that has since been corrected.

You can subscribe to my new site here.

And you can visit the new site here.

It's official: Check out the NEW site!

I'm proud to say The Grammarian's Reviews has a new home (click! click!). And it's quite beautiful, all thanks to Cialina. I never thought switching from Blogger to WordPress would be so easy, but aside from some very minor setbacks the transition has been painlessly smooth.

And let me just say that I'm already in love with WordPress and its features. Really, guys. Things are much more seamless over there. Editing is so much easier, updates are quicker, and importing took a matter of seconds. Remember when I wasn't 100% sure about the switch? Well, I'm here to say that I'm sold. I wish I'd made the move sooner, actually. You never know what you're missing until you gather up the nerve to try.

Things are still a bit rocky as I get settled over there, but please take the time to go and subscribe to my feed. It's also best if you leave all comments over there, too. Any comments made here now will not show over at WordPress.

This blog will still be available to view, but mainly to redirect visitors and old followers to the new site:

www.thegrammariansreviews.com 



Thanks for sticking with me, guys. I hope you'll continue to do so.

I saw Sarah Dessen! + other excitement.

Do you see this?! That would be the autograph of the one and only Sarah Dessen. I stood in line for a little over an hour for this signature. Was it worth it? Heck yes! Not only did I get to watch her Q&A session, but I also MET her. We talked about the weather. Sounds funny, but it was still an amazing minute or so. (DC felt like it was 80 degrees, and the humidity was so bad that you just felt sticky and disgusting ALL DAY.) I also managed to get my picture taken with her, but I refuse to post it publicly because I look like I'm drowning in the humidity, and my hair was super frizzy at that point. But if it wasn't already apparent, I was, and still am, totally excited about it! It was also my first author signing, so that made it even more special.

But really, it was fabulous. The National Book Festival in DC was jampacked with tons of book lovers, cool posters, book sales, book bags, and so much more.

The bonus? Toni Morrison's signing tent was directly next to Dessen's, so I got to see her, too! Talk about amazing.

In other fabulous news...

I GOT MY POTTERMORE EMAIL!

Oh, how long I waited for you, Pottermore!

But seriously. I've been waiting forever. Since before summer ended. And now that I have it.... I got sorted into Ravenclaw. Needless to say, I'm a bit disappointed, but certainly not surprised. I have no doubt that if, in fact, Hogwarts were real, I'd be sorted into Ravenclaw. It's just that my heart will always belong to Slytherin (and Draco).

Other than that, it's super cool! A bit less interactive than I pegged it to be, but who knows? Maybe it'll shape up.

Are you on Pottermore yet? We should be friends!

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* Sorry for the lack of updates around here! As you can see, I'm very, very busy procrastinating on schoolwork. And when I'm not procrastinating, well... I've got a lot of schoolwork! I'm trying to read in the meantime, but I'm afraid it's going a bit slowly. But I'm still here, I promise!

Wanted: Guest Posters!

Remember when I said I was going to be busy with school in the upcoming weeks? Well, school's about to become a bit more hectic for me. Paper due dates are looming, job interviews are right around the corner, studying cannot be put off, and summer work needs finishing.

I realize most people in my position would take a break from their blog, but I'm not willing to do that. So how am I going to keep The Grammarian's Reviews running?

... Guest posts, of course!

It makes perfect sense to me. While I can still post some days, all of you fabulous bloggers can help me to fill in the rest (and gain more recognition, to boot!). I'm all for promoting other bloggers, and I have to admit that I do need a little help here.

You're probably wondering how this works. Am I assigning topics or letting you run freely? Just imagine your lovely post sitting right here:

Are you imagining it? Good.

If you can see it, I will post it.

However, I do have just a few requests:

Keep it YA! - While I have talked about Adult fiction on this blog, it is primarily a YA haven. So please keep that in mind.

I love grammar. - If you haven't yet noticed, I do a feature very near and dear to my heart, called Grammar Bit (link!). I haven't had one in a while, but there are currently 13 bits available to help people with their grammar woes. My point: If you'd like to do any sort of post pertaining to grammar, I'd love you forever.

Please be respectful. - I'm more than willing to promote your blog on my own blog, but please be respectful of the books or authors or whatever mentioned in your posts.

Basically, anything goes. Have you been wanting to discuss your favorite cover but it won't fit into your own blogging schedule? Do it here! Want to get the word out about a book you think deserves more recognition? Do it here! I'm open to your ideas - after all, it's going to be your post!

If you're still interested, fill out this form.

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Many of you keep asking me for topics, so here you go!

GRAMMAR

- Grammar pet peeves: which grammatical mistakes bug you the most?

- Come up with your own Grammar Bit!

- Why do/don't you care about grammar?

BOOK TALK

- Favorited/Hated cover(s).

- Promote a book you love that you think doesn't get enough recognition.

- Book peeves: What are some of your biggest book peeves when it comes to YA books?

- Books that have really good sequels.

- Talk about a specific genre you really enjoy and want others to know about; why should they give it a try?

- Versus: Vampires vs Unicorns, Love Triangles vs Single Relationships, Insta-love vs Actual Romance, etc.

TGIF! (18)

TGIF is brought to us by Ginger at GReads!

It's a way for bloggers to celebrate the end of the week with a nice re-cap of their weekly posts and to answer a random question.

Book Disappointments: Have you ever come across a book you were so stoked to read, but it failed miserably in your eyes?

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks.

Talk about a disappointment. I shouldn't have watched the movie first.

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New Anna & the French Kiss scene!

National Book Festival: Who's going?

REVIEW! Amy & Roger's Epic Detour

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National Book Festival: Who's going?

National Book Festival
September 24, 25
On the National Mall, DC


Any and all info you could possibly want about it can be found here.
But, you should know right now that a few awesome people are going to be there: Sarah Dessen, Cassandra Clare, Toni Morrison...

I know I'm going to be there! Are you?

New ANNA & THE FRENCH KISS scene!

You know that story we all know and love? Of course you do. And if you don't, that means you haven't yet read Anna and the French Kiss.

So this beloved story has a newly released scene, thanks to the wonderful Stephanie Perkins. Also, there will be another new scene next month, too. How awesome is that? (I'll tell you: REALLY RIDICULOUSLY AWESOME!)

Trust me: you want to go read it. It's nerdy. It's cute. It's so Anna and Étienne.

You can find the scene here.

Ladybird Ladybird giveaway!

Ladybird Ladybird by Abra Ebner

Samantha was born under a full moon to a mother already dead. Revived by doctors and given to her unloving father, Samantha was raised a cursed child, her only friend the ghost of her mother who speaks to her through keys that open a secret box under her bed.

From the inside out, Sam burns with life, a fire so vivid it keeps her peers at a distance, all except one. Leith, a quiet farm boy with a broken heart and demons of his own, enjoys the seclusion his classmates grant him, but the seclusion is all too familiar to Sam, drawing her interest.


For the first time in their lives, fate pushes them together, but when their worlds collide . . .


. . . fires burn. 

Book trailer:

So why am I showing you this?

1. This book looks heartbreaking. And the cover's pretty. But honestly - a ghost using keys to interact with the living? How awesome is that? I'm really, really excited for that aspect.

2. There's a giveaway involved!

Crimson Oak Publishing will be giving away five $50 American Express gift cards in celebration of Ladybird Ladybird's release.  If you want to enter for your chance to win, go here and for "Referred by Blogger," enter The Grammarian's Reviews. (Please and thank you!)

Then tweet it, retweet it, whatever you can. I'm sure a lot of people could use a $50 gift card.

Where in the world is...?

No, not Carmen Sandiego.

Where in the world am I?

If you haven't yet noticed - which, if you follow this blog, you should have - all posting seems to have ceased. Why, you ask? Well, unfortunately for me (and many others), school has resumed. That's right - summer is over and I've kissed my recreational reading time goodbye.

Does this mean I've stopped reading and blogging entirely? No.

I will still be reading and blogging. Just at a slower pace. I know things seem to have come to a halt rather quickly, but I promise I'm still setting up posts and reading when I can. I've got a lot of work to accomplish though, and that needs to take priority.

I hope you'll all bear with me.

(Is there anything exciting in the bookish world I should know about? I'm so out of the loop now.)

I'm featured!

Today you can find me over at Amanda's blog, On a Book Bender, for her very first Who am I Stalking? feature. Come check out my answers to her bookish/grammar questions!

Don't worry. She's not really stalking me. I think.

TGIF! (14)

TGIF is brought to us by Ginger at GReads!

It's a way for bloggers to celebrate the end of the week with a nice re-cap of their weekly posts and to answer a random question.

The Reviews We Don't Write: Have you ever read a book and not wanted to review it? Are some books too personal that we want to keep our thoughts our own?

Naturally I think, Of course not. I review every book I read. But that's not true. I don't. Firstly, it's impossible. Secondly, sometimes I actually don't want to. Sometimes it's because the books most definitely are too personal, that if I went to review them, my review wouldn't make much sense or accuractely describe the book to unbiased readers. Sometimes it's because the books leave no impression upon me - good or bad, if I have nothing to say about it - at all - then I feel that I shouldn't bother reviewing it. Sometimes it's because I just want to read for the fun of it. Don't get me wrong - it's always fun (both the reading and reviewing.). But there's also this satisfaction with finishing a book and immediately moving on to the next, without a care in the world about what, exactly, I thought of it; it allows me to just feel whatever emotion the book evokes.

In short, yes, there are times that I read books and don't want to review them. And yes, I do believe that some books are too personal and I'd prefer to keep my thoughts to myself.

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REVIEW! Past Perfect

A read-a-thon, Mara Dyer, & other news

Harry Potter Reread, Week 2

A read-a-thon, Mara Dyer, and other news.

Feeling overwhelmed because you have too many books and not enough time to read them? The Bout of Books Read-a-Thon is just what the book doctor ordered. (Hosted by the fabulous Amanda @ On A Book Bender.)

Read as much as you can whenever you can between

 12:00am 8/22 and 11:59pm 8/28 (your time zone).

Go HERE for the details and sign-up list.

Then spread the word!

 

 

In other awesome news, I woke up to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer being delivered to my front door! Can you say "OMG"? Because that was my reaction. Plus, Lindsey threw in the cutest little cupcake card, which was the second best surprise of my morning. I know I've already said it a zillion times, but thank you, Lindsey! (Check out her blog here.)

 

Also, I am now out of my reading slump. Hip hip hooray! I hate reading slumps. And I hate reading slumps that last longer than one week. It wastes very valuable reading time. Thankfully I've had some great people keep me company while I whined and sat on Twitter all day. Don't know what I'd have done without them. Stare at a wall, maybe? Gone into a coffee coma? We'll never know.

 

In less stellar news, I am still awaiting my email that will permit me early access to Pottermore. It's been... what? Maybe three days since they started letting people in? And my patience is already gone and my anticipation is through the roof. It's killing me, people! I am living vicariously through those on Twitter that update me about its wonders.

 

In even less stellar news, school starts up again in roughly one and a half weeks. I am not thrilled to be going back to gross food and work. But, this summer was eventful and awesome, so I can't complain. I hope all of your summers were amazing, too.

TGIF! (13)

TGIF is brought to us by Ginger at GReads!

It's a way for bloggers to celebrate the end of the week with a nice re-cap of their weekly posts and to answer a random question.

Author Block Party: If you could gather a handful of authors to hang out with, who would you choose?

Julie Kagawa, William Shakespeare, J.M. Barrie, Melissa Marr, Stephanie Perkins, J.K. Rowling, John Green.

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REVIEW! The Duff

Waiting on Wednesday

Harry Potter Reread, Week 1

In My Mailbox

400 follower + 1 year blogoversary giveaway winners!

First of all, I love you guys. All of you. This past year of book blogging has been nothing but amazing, and I hope the following years are even better. A lot of you entered the giveaway, but sadly there could only be two winners. (Blame my wallet!) But many thanks to everyone that participated and commented!

The winners are ...

Mary @ Anxirium

&

Loreal @ Muggle-born

Congrats! Both have already been contacted.

TGIF! (11)

TGIF is brought to us by Ginger at GReads!

It's a way for bloggers to celebrate the end of the week with a nice re-cap of their weekly posts and to answer a random question.

Character Envy: If you could be one character from a book, who would you choose & why?

My first, immediate thought was Peter Pan. He gets to be a kid forever.

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REVIEW! Anna and the French Kiss

REVIEW! The Summer I Turned Pretty
Waiting on Wednesday
Blogoversary giveaway!
The Great Harry Potter Reread! Come join us!

In My Mailbox

Coming up this week:

TGIF! (10)

TGIF is brought to us by Ginger at GReads!

It's a way for bloggers to celebrate the end of the week with a nice re-cap of their weekly posts and to answer a random question.

Book Blogger Appreciation: Which book blogs have inspired you or made a difference in your blogging experience?

Bibliophilic Monologues - I discovered Nafiza's blog not long after I started my own. I've always loved her passion for reading and that she speaks her mind. Reading her posts made me realize that it was okay to use my own voice in my posts, rather than a straight-up boring professional tone. I think it's made all the difference.

i swim for oceans - Melissa was the first well-known blogger I discovered. From her, I've learned ways to conduct my blog. (If that makes sense.)  She is always calm, cool and collected. She makes the professionalism of her blog fun. Don't be intimidated by her popular blogger status!

writer, reader, dreamer - Sarah was probably my first blogger friend. We bonded over food, our shared reading interests, and other random things. She made me feel welcome, rather than distanced, in the blogosphere, and that has helped me reach out more to other bloggers.

Planet Print -  I've followed Liz's blog now since I started TGR. It's been awesome to watch both of our blogs grow. She's crazy fun - and easy - to talk to on Twitter for obscene amounts of time, and because of that she's also made me feel more welcome in the blogosphere.

Muggle-born - Cialina's blog is one I've only recently discovered, but I'm so glad I did. She's so sweet and her blog always looks super pretty. I loved our brief chats about internships (she's pretty helpful in that department). Her blog designs inspire me to continually try and better my own.

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REVIEW! Sisterhood Everlasting

Waiting on Wednesday
Top Ten Tuesday

REVIEW! Stay

In My Mailbox

Coming up this week:

Vlogging: This is How We Roll.

A vlog, or video blog, is a blog post that contains video content. Sounds simple. Making one? Not so simple.

But vlogs are invading the book blogging blogosphere (Say that 3x fast!) like crazy. They come in handy for talking about all things related to books - and for sharing squeals of excitement, bloopers and even pets (I've seen some really cute puppies.).  Mostly they're used for memes such as, and most notably, In My Mailbox. You know you've seen 'em or have made one.

I haven't taken that extra step yet. I actually haven't been convinced that vlogging is the way to go. Is it necessary? Do other bloggers prefer it to regular posts? Why?

So that's where you guys come in. I wanna know: do you prefer vlogs to regular posts? Why or why not? (I know, that sounds like an essay question. Ew.) 

*As if it wasn't obvious enough, I'm trying to decide whether I should incorporate vlogs on the blog. I'd really appreciate your feedback!

TGIF! (8)

TGIF is brought to us by Ginger at GReads!

It's a way for bloggers to celebrate the end of the week with a nice re-cap of their weekly posts and to answer a random question.

Mr & Mrs: Who are your favorite book couples?

YOU. YES, YOU.

Sound familiar? Yes, one of my favorite book couples of all time is Jessica Darling and Marcus Flutie, from Megan McCafferty's Jessica Darling series. Honestly, I think it's pretty much impossible to dislike this couple. (I LOVE THEM. No, seriously.) Or Marcus. I mean, really. Marcus is...perfection - every girl's dream (it's guaranteed that you'll swoon, no lie.). I couldn't get enough of him; I always wanted more. I could babble on and on about him, but I'll just throw a few quotes in here.

"IN OTHER WORDS, MARCUS, WE WERE PERFECT IN OUR IMPERFECTION."

"GONE FOR A WHILE

HOPING, ALWAYS, TO RETURN

IF YOU WILL LET ME"

Another favorite book couple of mine is Suze and Jesse from Meg Cabot's Mediator series. I know. Old school, right? But how can you not love that forbidden human/ghost relationship? They're one of the first couples I really fell in love with.

And, of course, I cannot leave out Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, from the Harry Potter series. They're both absolutely precious. Between his curious quirks, her tough lovin' and their combined compassion, they're a super couple always ready to bring relief.

These are just a few of my beloved book couples. I could go on, but that would take forever! (Plus I'd have a hard time getting myself to stop fawning over Mr. Flutie...)

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Grammar Bit #13

Waiting on Wednesday

REVIEW! Massive

In My Mailbox

Coming up this week:

Review of The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa!

To my lovely commenters,

I'm currently experiencing severe Blogger Fail. And by that, I mean that Blogger will not allow me to reply to all of your wonderful comments - here and on your own blogs. It refuses to keep me signed in, and if your blog doesn't have a Name/URL or Intense Debate option available for me to use, I cannot comment.

It's more than unfortunate, but I just wanted to let you all know so you don't think I'm ignoring you and/or not caring. I care! And I really dislike getting backed up on commenting. However, I'm dealing with it the best that I can.

(This has been my mantra.)

* As a bit of a totally irrelevant side note, WHO'S EXCITED FOR POTTERMORE?
If you couldn't tell by the random CAPS, I definitely am. Any theories?

** And did I mention I have almost 400 FOLLOWERS?! You are all amazing. Cannot express how happy that makes me. Oh, wait. Yes I can. With a giveaway! Be on the lookout for the big 4-0-0.