Out With the Old, In With the New

(No, this collage has nothing to do with the post other than the fact that it's goofy and it makes me happy.)

It is a new year.

2010.

What's really trippin' me out is that next year is 2011.

THAT'S THE YEAR I GRADUATE.

MY LIFE STARTS IN A YEAR AND A HALF.

As exciting as that prospect is....right now, I'm going to focus on the present and the near future.

It's a new semester and some things have had to change.

Those things being my study habits.

My grades last semester left something to be desired, so I've made a commitment to put my education junk first which means less blog time.

So if I haven't commented or posted in forever, it's not that I hate you or don't love and miss your face.

It's because I'm trying to pass my classes.

Anywho....

2010 has alot to offer me!!

Auditions for Les Miserables are this coming Monday and Tuesday.I will be auditioning for the parts of

Madame Thernardier and Eponine Thernardier.

The two characters are COMPLETELY different, but I feel confident in my ability to portray both.

But if I'm being completely honest, (which I always am) Eponine is what I really want. Her songs are

OFF.THE.CHAIN.

Not to mention that it'd be fun to be tragic.

I love tragedy.

However, Madame Thernardier would be SUPER FUN as well.

So we'll just have to see!

Also this year is Girls Camp and I am a YCL 2 so I get to be more involved with the planning! I'm STOKED about my responsibility that I was given today but I don't know if I'm allowed to say anything yet...but when I get the ok I'll definately let you know!

I have finally finished my Personal Progress!!!

I will recieve my recognition in Sacrament meeting in a couple weeks because one of my family members won't be available and I need them there.

For those of you who don't know, Personal Progress is a program that all the Young Women (girls ages 12-18) participate in in my church.

There are seven values and for each one we do 6 "value projects" which usually entail reading scriptures, writing in journals etc. Then we're required to do a "ten hour project" for each value.

Basically it teaches you how to set goals and work to achieve them.

It truly is an inspired program!!!

Now that I'm done however, I'm not done done.

I'm going to be a Personal Progress "mom" for one of the girls in my ward who could use a little extra push. I'll just try to keep her motivated and check on her progress and such.

I'm so thankful for this experience and the things I've learned from it!

And the last thing that 2o1o has to offer me....

THE FINAL HUNGER GAMES BOOK COMES OUT IN AUGUST.

OH.MY.GOODNESS.

I AM IN LOOOOOOOOVE.

With the books themselves and with Peeta.

Oh the boy makes my heart sing!!!

I never thought I'd say this....

BUT I LIKE THESES BOOKS MORE THAN TWILIGHT!!!

*GASP*

I KNOW RIGHT???

You all KNOW how much I love Twilight......

So this is huge!!!!

I love the substance that these books have!

It makes my heart happy!

If you haven't read them,

GO.REPENT.NOW.

That is all.

P.S.

Please go vote on the poll on my sidebar.

It is highly imperative.

I Feel Like Dr. Jekyll

Whilst driving to California, I started and finished this book:

The Lit Report

By Sarah N. Harvey

Loved it!

It's about these two girls who are best friends and both of their parents are religious nut jobs.

Well one of them (Ruth) gets pregnant and her friend Julia (who's also the narrator) concocts a plan to hide the pregnancy and deliver the baby without anybody even knowing.

I know, unrealistic, but that's not what I want to talk about today.

You see, Julia is a total english nerd.

At the beginning of every chapter there's a quote from a book that she's read.

But not just any quote, its the first line of the entire story.

Only the first line.

Then, Julia goes on to talk about the line and the book and she talks about how the first lines of books can tell you so much about the story, the mood, tone, quality etc.

In her own words:

"My thesis was that the first sentance of a novel whether its written for four-year-olds or fourty-five-year-olds, sets the tone for the whole book and reveals much of what is to come."

After reading this, I got curious about whether that's true, so I've decided to test Julia's hypothesis and you, my faithful readers will be the judges.

I feel like a mad scientist in a Literary Labaratory!!

Here's how we'll roll:

I've taken seven books off of my shelf.

I'm going to tell you the first line of each book and talk a little about it and in the comment section, you will tell me whether or not you thought Julia was correct.

*Oh and to help you out along the way, I'm going to give each line a rating one to ten. It will be rated on the effectiveness of the line. *

1-Not effective at all

5- It's aight

10- Brilliant

Got it?

Great!

Let's go!
1. The Report Card

By Andrew Clements

"There were only about fifteen kids on the late bus becuase it was Friday afternoon."

Short sweet and to the point.

But if someone read this line only, like you just did, they'd probably feel jipped, left hanging.

I think, however, that that is what makes it brilliant.

You know that the line is there for a reason and you're itching to find out why!

Ratalie's Rating: 7

Play to the Angel

By Maurine F. Dahlberg

"'Greta, stop that noise."'

Interesting, making the first line a quote.

This line is filled with information!

It tells you about a character: Greta

It tells you something she does: Makes noise

And it kind of throws you off because after you read the title of the book and see the picture you know that a piano is involved and generally piano music isn't referred to as "noise."

Rat's Rating: 7.5

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

"What does it mean to truly love another?"

YES YES YES!!!

I love it!!!

It gives nothing away, and yet spells it out!

Asks and answers!

Oh I love this one!!!

Makes my heart go pitter patter!

RR: 9

Breaking Dawn

By Stephenie Meyer

(the most loved book on my shelf, seriously, the cover has been ripped off!)

"I'd had more than my fair share of near-death experiences: it wasn't something you ever really got used to."

Uh can you say FORESHADOWING!?!?!?!

Something wicked this way comes!!

RR: 8

The Host

By Stephenie Meyer

"The Healer's name was Fords Deep Waters."

This one leaves you guessing even more than the report card did!

Probably because it gives more away, but not.

1. Who is Ford's Deep Waters?

2. What's he doing?

3. Why does he matter?

4. Is a Healer a Doctor?

RR: 8

Today I Feel Silly

By Jamie Lee Curtis

"Today I feel silly."

No?

Really!?

Perfect for it's genre, doesn't tell me anything I didnt' already know though...

RR: 5

Okay readers, it's up to you now!

Does the first line of a story
"...set the tone for the whole book and reveals much of what is to come?"

Talk to me!

P.S.

Yes I know, I'm just as big of an english nerd as Julia.

HELP!!!! I Am Not a Worm

I need your help.

I need books to read!

Any suggestions??

I really like romances.....

If it doesn't have any romance I probably won't read it....

Adventure+a Hotttie+true unrequited love

=AMAZING BOOK!!!!

Also, I do try to be selective with what I read, so if you wouldn't let your own teenage daughter read it, don't suggest it.

Thanks in advanced for your input!

I look forward to your suggestions!!!