Top Ten Popular Authors I've Never Read (March 4)

Top Ten Tuesday is a book blog meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Please click here to read more about it and join in :)

March 4: Top Ten Popular Authors I've Never Read 

There's quite a lot of them that I would love to read, especially the new and popular ones that seem to just stagnate in my to read pile! They're all suffering with a sad case of neglect and I feel really bad not being able to converse to people about them not to mention I have to avoid spoilers and missing out on the torture excitement of waiting for a sequel.

1. Lois Lowry
2. Richelle Mead
3. Leigh Bardugo
4. Markus Zusak
5. Orson Scott Card
6. Melissa de la Cruz
7. Rainbow Rowell
8. Pierce Brown
9. Maggie Stiefvater
10. Marie Lu

Stacking The Shelves (6)

It's that time of the week again! Time for Stacking The Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews! Head over here to learn more!
Received For Review:


Unreap My Heart - Kate Evangelista
Alpha Goddess - Amalie Howard
True Fate - Shayna Varadeaux
I thank Netgalley and the authors for providing me with free copies of these books in exchange for an honest review.

Follow Friday (Feb. 28)

This is a blog hop, a way to find and follow new blogs, hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.

Please feel free to follow me anywhere. I prefer GFC for now but RSS/Bloglovin'/Facebook like/ Twitter follow would be great too! PLEASE leave a comment so I can follow you back via ways of your choosing! :)

Change the Plot. If you could, what book would you change the ending or a plot thread? Go ahead and do it…change it.

I would have to go for Twilight. I'm pretty sure it would a fairly common answer for this week. I guess the whole idea of "vampires not actually dying if they go out in the sun" didn't sit quite well with me, not to mention the battle scene towards the end. Meh.

WWW Wednesday (Feb. 26)

WWW Wednesday is a book blogging meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.Hop over to her site to check it out :)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

• What are you currently reading?

I'm currently reading Everlasting Bond by Christine Besze, a book I received free in exchange for an honest review. I haven't gotten that far into the story yet but I'm enjoying it so far!

KATRINA DAVENPORT’S Junior year at Morgan Springs High starts off like any other—boring and routine. Little does she know, fate has other plans. COLE ALDRICH—a mysteriously attractive new addition has arrived and will change everything. Katrina's world is turned upside down, as secrets are revealed and the past comes back to find her. Will she succumb to her destiny or live to fight it?

 • What did you recently finish reading?
I just recently finished Darkness Watching by Emma L. Adams. The review's coming up soon! All I can say
is that it was definitely more engaging and enjoyable than I initially expected. I didn't think I would be reeled in with something with so little romance (i'm a sucker for romance!) but it really did work well with the entire story.

Eighteen-year-old Ashlyn is one interview away from her future when she first sees the demons. She thinks she's losing her mind, but the truth is far more frightening: she can see into the Darkworld, the home of spirits– and the darkness is staring back. Desperate to escape the demons, Ash accepts a place at a university in the small town of Blackstone, in the middle of nowhere - little knowing that it isn't coincidence that led her there but the pull of the Venantium, the sorcerers who maintain the barrier keeping demons from crossing from the Darkworld into our own world. All-night parties, new friendships and a life without rules or limits are all part of the package of student life - but demons never give up, and their focus on Ash has attracted the attention of every sorcerer in the area. Ash is soon caught between her new life and a group of other students with a connection to the Darkworld, who could offer the answers she's looking for. The demons want something from her, and someone is determined to kill her before she can find out what it is. In a world where darkness lurks beneath the surface, not everyone is what they appear to be...

• What do you think you’ll read next?

 I'm gonna finish the week off with Breathless by Cerys du Lys, something that I've been looking forward to
all week. The cover really reeled me in! I don't really read anything that involved zombies and i'm glad to start with this one!

Sadie and Evan live in entirely different worlds. Brought together by fate, and held there by hope, can they bridge the gap dividing humanity, or will long held fears and prejudice force them apart forever?

Top Ten Tuesday: Baby Names! (Feb. 25)

Top Ten Tuesday is a book blog meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Please click here to read more about it and join in :)

February 25: Top Ten Tuesday REWIND! (Pick from previous topics that you want to do again or may have missed)

Characters (and Literary Figures) That I'd Name My Children After

This seems like a fun topic so i picked it :) It may be possible that my future baby will have an "old person" name but I just can't help it.  I didn't base these names on their characters, I just really like the sound of them, if anything.

Girl Names

1. Alice - Because I absolutely adore Alice in Wonderland
2. Aurora - Sophisticated and comes from my favourite fairytales.
3. Daisy - I'm a sucker for names based on flowers and Daisy Buchanan was a pretty charming lady. 
4. Luna - Luna Lovegood from HP has always been a favourite character of mine!
5. Daenerys - Not to bandwagon with the rising number of baby "Khaleesi's". It's also such a beautiful and unique name. 

Boy Names

1. Beckett - From Samuel Beckett. It's unique and sophisticated. 
2. Erik - I've always had a "name crush" with this name for so long and it's a very common character name. 
3. Charles - From Charles Dickens (or any other Charles, really) It's a headstrong name for me. 
4. William - Elegant and classic name. So many literary greats are named William!
5. Marcellus - Probably the oldest sounding name on my list, but I love the uniqueness and the reference to a modern name in it "Marcel". 

Making Up For Monday (Feb. 24)

Making Up For Monday is hosted by An Avid Reader, A Wannabe Writer. Click on the link to learn more!

What classic shouldn't be a classic in your opinion?

I can't really think of any reason why a classic shouldn't be considered a "classic", maybe because I think each piece has it's own unique contribution to a specific niche. If i am to go out of a limb here, it'd probably be one of those classics that endorse or romanticize socially outdated/unhealthy norms. It's okay, I guess, for them to be points of study in history but as a compass for living, not so much.

Stacking The Shelves (5)

It's that time of the week again! Time for Stacking The Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews! Head over here to learn more!

Received For Review:

• Perfect Opposite - Zoya Tessi
• Taking The Reins (The Rosewoods, #1) - Katrina Abbott
• Darkness Watching (Darkworld, #1) - Emma L. Adams
• Everlasting Bond - Christine M. Besze
• Breathless - Cerys du Lys

Thank you to the authors and publishers who has allowed me to read their books for free in exchange for an honest review!

Purchased:

• Shadow and Bone - Leigh Bardugo
• Siege and Storm - Leigh Bardugo

I've heard really good reviews about this series and I figured I should catch up to it before it ends. Judging from the summary and the beautiful cover, I'm so gonna love it. I'm really excited to read it.

Follow Friday (Feb. 21)

This is a blog hop, a way to find and follow new blogs, hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.

Please feel free to follow me anywhere. I prefer GFC for now but RSS/Bloglovin'/Facebook like/ Twitter follow would be great too! PLEASE leave a comment so I can follow you back via ways of your choosing! :)

What was the last book that made you cry?

I can only remember one back that has gotten me all teary-eyed and it's Man's Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl.  It's more than just his memories and experiences about the Holocaust that got me, but also his ideologies and thoughts during and the aftermath that resulted in his work on Logotherapy. The book has changed my way of thinking in so many ways I can't possibly string enough words to describe how important this book is to me.

Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts (Feb. 20)

This meme is hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. Please head on to their blog for more information, and to link up your post! :)

Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts is a chance for book bloggers to dabble in areas besides books (but those are welcome too). Share your plans for the weekend, a rant on people not using their turn signals in parking lots, or your love of Sunday morning mimosas.

1.  So the beach party was awesome! The place was really pretty and relaxing and I got to eat a lot of good food so everything was super cool. I think I almost overdosed on the caramel macchiato they had at the cafe since it was sooo good. I've never had one before and it's my boyfriend's favourite too. 
2. There were a lot of cats in the resort, which I found really relaxing. They weren't super rowdy or disturbing at alll, they just sat there all weird and would stare at you. At one point it got really creepy because one cat wouldn't stop staring at me. I love cats though so it's all okay. 
3. Here's a little panoramic image of the resort. This is my second time there, just a different "area" of the whole shoreline. It's crescent-shaped and you can literally walk your way around it.

Click to enlarge!

Waiting on Wednesday (Feb. 19)

Waiting on Wednesday is a blog meme hosted by Breaking The Spine that aims to showcase any release you're eagerly anticipating! Please head on to their blog to know more and to join! :)

I'm planning on reading The Elite by Kiera Cass soon, to catch up before the release of The One. Just look at that gorgeous cover! I know "white pretty women in pretty gowns" used to be somewhat of a staple in Young Adult books and it remains a "hot issue" for me to talk about but it certainly doesn't hurt my eyes looking at this beautiful cover. Though more than just the cover, I'm just really curious about which direction the book decides to carve through, hopefully not as bland as Requiem's ending. (i'm still not over it!) May 6th can't come soon enough!

The Selection changed the lives of thirty-five girls forever. And now, the time has come for one winner to be chosen. America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the competition approaches its end and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.

WWW Wednesdays (Feb. 19)

WWW Wednesday is a book blogging meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Hop over to her site to check it out :)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

• What are you currently reading?
I'm currently reading a netgalley book I received called Happiness: The Art of Living with Peace, Confidence and Joy by Douglas A. Smith. It's not something I would normally read but it arrived at such an appropriate time in my life that I can't help but think I should read it. It's not gonna hurt if I tried and if anything it's going to help!

 In the midst of a successful business career, Doug Smith received life-altering news that set him on an entirely new journey to understand what leads to truly joyful, meaningful living—in other words, what leads to happiness. Through research and study, he began to understand that what the most joyful among us have in common is that they remember the past with peace, anticipate the future with confidence, and live in the present with joy and exuberance. Additionally, he discovered that what gives them this perspective is a set of skills that they consistently, even if subconsciously, practice. He also realized that he is not particularly good at several of these skills. In Happiness: The Art of Living With Peace, Confidence and Joy, the author recounts, with insight and humor, his journey to better understand and practice the skills of happiness with the goal of helping others on their own path to joyful, meaningful living.

 • What did you recently finish reading?
I recently finished reading The Life and Death of Jorja Graham by Brynn Myers, a book I won through Goodreads First Reads. Since i'm currently writing a review of it right now, all I can say is that it wasn't what I expected it to be and I totally loved every moment of it! I seriously cannot wait for the next book, it was that good!

Jorja Graham was the quintessential southern bell: blonde, stunningly beautiful, and overtly enchanting. That was the face she shared with the world and no one would ever know the hell she had endured. After returning to Savannah, Jorja had everything she’d ever wanted: a new home, a handsome suitor, and the job of her dreams as an antique dealer. Little did she know that the choice to move on with her life would be the last decision she'd ever make. THE LIFE & DEATH OF JORJA GRAHAM. Not every romance has a happy ending.

• What do you think you’ll read next?
I figured I still have time before reviewing all the new books I received so I'm gonna take a short break from that and read The Elite by Kiera Cass. It's been a while since I read an actual, physical book and I'm really looking forward to continuing with the story. I've been lustfully eyeing the book on my shelf for days and I don't think I can hold back any longer. I'm just so curious! Not to mention The One is going to be out soon enough and I need to catch up.

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea. America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

Top Ten Tuesday (Feb. 18)

Top Ten Tuesday is a book blog meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Please click here to read more about it and join in :)

February 18: Top Ten/FIVE Reasons I Love Being A Blogger/Reader

I don't think I can do 10 of this today, sorry! Things just overlap and stuff!

1. Self-expression - Just the act of reading alone, for me, puts a lot of meaning on who we are as a person. It shows certain traits in us that we couldn't have just pointed out. Getting to blog about it, no matter the range of audience, is the icing on the cake!
2. Escape - When reality gets tough, it's nice to know a book can transport me into some world, dip my feet in someone else's shoes and experience something I wouldn't have been able to in real life. 
3. Learning - New words, new ideas, new (second-hand?) experiences! Reading opens up a lot of possibilities.
4. Interaction - Having a blog or any other outlet to post your thoughts about a book, opens up new relationships with people who you wouldn't have otherwise met. I'm not really good at the socializing department so being able to interact with other reviewers and authors through emails or Goodreads no matter how minuscule the interaction is is quite a deal for me already.
5. Receiving books for free (sometimes) - Someday, when I've grown my blog into a better version of itself I'd receive books to read for free. This may seem like a pretty shallow way to think, but it's certainly one of the perks, and being able to blog about them and help create this hype and life around something you're very passionate and excited about is just a really good feeling. 

Making Up For Monday (Feb. 17)

Making Up For Monday is hosted by An Avid Reader, A Wannabe Writer. Click on the link to learn more!

Where is your favorite place to read?

It's nothing particularly fancy, but I really like to just sit in front of my tiny desk beside my bed with my laptop propped in front me. It can get a little distracting sometimes, but I get to see the clouds right outside my window. There's just something very calming about being able to see the sky while reading. It's been very cloudy and rainy here lately and since i'm the kind of person who likes the cloudy weather, it's not really that bad of a deal. 

That or somewhere quiet, if i'm not reading at home. A quiet classroom at the end of a hall would suffice :)

Stacking The Shelves (4)

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's reviews. Head over here to learn more!

First off, I hope everyone had a happy Valentines' Day! Whether you spent it with your SO, your family and friends or curled up next to a good book, it doesn't matter as long as you were happy and content! I didn't even realize the books I got (well, the physical ones) were in varying shades of RED! That makes me really happy because red is my favourite colour :)

• Requiem - Lauren Oliver
• Anna and the French Kiss - Stephanie Perkins
• The Elite - Kiera Cass

I also received free ebook copies from several authors who were generous and kind enough to allow me to review them!

• Happiness: The Art of Living with Peace, Confidence and Joy - Douglas A. Smith (Thank you, White Pine Mountain and NetGalley!)
• Dissever - Tracey Ward (Thank you!)
• Time for Cherries -  Camille Thomaz Labanca (Thank you!)
• The Life and Death of Jorja Graham - Brynn Myers (Thank you!)

Follow Friday (Feb. 14)

This is a blog hop, a way to find and follow new blogs, hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.

Please feel free to follow me anywhere. I prefer GFC for now but RSS/Bloglovin'/Facebook like/ Twitter follow would be great too! PLEASE leave a comment so I can follow you back! :)

Find a “new to you blogger” and feature their button on your post this week. Tell us why this blogger stands out to you.

 This button really stood out for me, maybe it's the cute black kitten on a stack of books which are two things that I LOVE :) Check it out here!

Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts (Feb. 13)

This meme is hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. Please head on to their blog for more information, and to link up your post! :)

Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts is a chance for book bloggers to dabble in areas besides books (but those are welcome too). Share your plans for the weekend, a rant on people not using their turn signals in parking lots, or your love of Sunday morning mimosas.

1. It's the day before Valentines' Day! I'm not really one to celebrate this day in any special manner, since I consider it to be blatantly commercialized and has lost a lot of it's significance, but if it brings couples together in whatever way they choose then it's all good to me. The world needs more love :)
2. I can't wait for it to be the weekend already! I'm having trouble walking around as a side effect of the medicine and the doctor has advised that I start tapering down my dosage this weekend. I hope the side effects will be significantly less by then. 
3. I'm going away to a beach resort for the weekend for a company party. I'm not sure if I should bring my laptop, I figured I'll use the time to actually relax. I'd still be reading, considering I find that very relaxing. I hope the weather won't be terrible once we get there. I'm not in any condition to be swimming but I still want to enjoy the scenery!

Waiting on Wednesday (Feb. 12)

Waiting on Wednesday is a blog meme hosted by Breaking The Spine that aims to showcase any release you're eagerly anticipating! Please head on to their blog to know more and to join! :)

As much as the end of the Delirium series disappointed me, I'm very excited to read Panic by Lauren Oliver. It comes out March 4th and I literally cannot wait. I'm jealous of all the people who got to read the ARC. I hope Lauren Oliver delivers superbly this time, considering Requiem was a little weak for someone who's writing and imagination caliber I consider to be one of the best in Young Adult. 

Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of twelve thousand people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.
Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She'd never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.
Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game; he's sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he's not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.
For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.

WWW Wednesdays (Feb. 12)

WWW Wednesday is a book blogging meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Hop over to her site to check it out :)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

• What are you currently reading?

I'm currently reading The Selection by Kiera Cass. I recently got The Elite at the book store and I've been hearing about this series since it first came out. I'm too curious not to pick it up. So far, it's going a little slow for me and feels like a "pageant" version of The Hunger Games but I like what i'm reading so far.

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

• What did you recently finish reading?

I recently finished the Requiem by Lauren Oliver, the last book in the Delirium series. It was very underwhelming and I felt like it didn't do the series any justice. 

They have tried to squeeze us out, to stamp us into the past.
But we are still here.
And there are more of us every day.
Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.
After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor.
Maybe we are driven crazy by our feelings.
Maybe love is a disease, and we would be better off without it.
But we have chosen a different road.
And in the end, that is the point of escaping the cure: We are free to choose.
We are even free to choose the wrong thing.
Requiem is told from both Lena’s and Hana’s points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge.

• What do you think you’ll read next?

I just recently joined Netgalley, but since I have no considerable traction for now since i'm new to doing blog reviews, I don't get to request for books. I was a little surprised to get the self-help book Happiness: The Art of Living with Peace, Confidence and Joy by Douglas A. Smith. I rarely read self-help books, but considering what I am currently going through I felt like it was heaven-sent! Thank you, Netgalley for the appropriately-timed book!

In the midst of a successful business career, Doug Smith received life-altering news that set him on an entirely new journey to understand what leads to truly joyful, meaningful living—in other words, what leads to happiness. Through research and study, he began to understand that what the most joyful among us have in common is that they remember the past with peace, anticipate the future with confidence, and live in the present with joy and exuberance. Additionally, he discovered that what gives them this perspective is a set of skills that they consistently, even if subconsciously, practice. He also realized that he is not particularly good at several of these skills. In Happiness: The Art of Living With Peace, Confidence and Joy, the author recounts, with insight and humor, his journey to better understand and practice the skills of happiness with the goal of helping others on their own path to joyful, meaningful living.

Top Ten Tuesday (Feb. 11)

Top Ten Tuesday is a book blog meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Please click here to read more about it and join in :)

February 11: Top Ten Books That Will Make You Swoon

Oh dear, this could be troublesome! I don't read a lot of romance but I'll try!

1.  P.S. I Love You - Cecelia Ahern : This made me tear up despite not being too sappy or angsty, mainly because it stressed in me the importance of family during troublesome times. 

2. The Notebook - Nicholas Sparks : Say what you will about his repetitive, almost formulaic stories, this book (and the movie) was the very first movie my boyfriend and I watched together and I cried like a little baby. 

3. A Walk To Remember - Nicholas Sparks : I know, I know, but the story really spoke to me. I always thought of my relationship with my boyfriend this way. I'm the quiet girl who rarely goes out, mainly due to a strict upbringing and Gunter being the outgoing and popular guy and somehow we fit together like a puzzle and help each other grow. 

4. Beautiful Disaster - Jaime McGuire : As much as I hated how Abby goes back and forth with her thoughts and never able to really make up her mind in the end. this book made me swoon like a little girl. Perhaps it was Travis' struggle to straighten up his life when he met Abby that got me, and how they seemed to just gravitate towards each other. 

5. The Last Song - Nicholas Sparks : I promise that this is the last Nicholas Sparks book on this list but this one I can safely say is one of my favourites. It's realistically poignant and romantic without being too angsty, and again showed the importance of support during ones' time of need. 

6. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte : I understand not many people see Jane's sensuality in the story, but I found her to be a really endearing and strong female character in a society that values principles. I guess the story swept me off my feet because of how "plain" the main characters are, nothing overtly glossed and high-strung. 

7. Cruel Beauty - Rosamund Hodge : It's becoming predictable that I rave about this book but I really do love the romance in it. It was a rollercoaster of emotions, but something I enjoyed thoroughly. It's beautifully written and carefully crafted despite it being pulled from different mythologies. 

8. Summer trilogy - Jenny Han : I can't say I completely enjoyed the Summer series but the love story between Conrad and Belly definitely made me swoon despite their tumultuous journey. Belly rubbed me off the wrong way so many times, but I'm glad she dealt with things the way she did. She wasn't perfect, her relationship with the brothers weren't perfect and that's the beauty of it. 

9. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight - Jennifer E. Smith : At first i thought, "Wow 24 hours seems a little too fast to fall in love with someone" but even that would seem like a long time if you put aside all the pretenses and actually open up to someone.

10. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin : The chemistry between Mara and Noah is electrifying. I don't think Mara was a "weak" heroine, in fact she is stronger than she seems. Despite her violent psychotic trips, she manages to pull herself up and pulls through. 

Making Up For Monday (Feb. 10)

Making Up For Monday is hosted by An Avid Reader, A Wannabe Writer. Click on the link to learn more!

Which literary character would you most like to have a 'significant relationship' with?

Based on similarities, I would have to say Alice from Alice in Wonderland. I'm always told of how imaginative I was when I was a child. I think that was partially because my parents didn't really liked the idea of me spending my afternoons playing on the sidewalk like all the other children in my neighborhood. I didn't really try to sneak out, I was already surrounded by plush toys and a grandmother who loved to tell me stories of the paranormal sort. Occasionally, she'd tell me about the origins of superstitious beliefs and what happens if you don't follow them, and I think that's why fantasy appeals to me. Alice's best trait, in my opinion, is her curiosity and I think she and I would complement each other very well. It'd be great to have a good friendship with someone who shares that certain similarity with you, and not just because you like the same things.