Hello {august}, Goodbye {july}

Hello Goodbye is a monthly feature here at Such A Novel Idea.  The idea for this feature came from the lovely Emma Snow who did a lovely recap of June!  Go visit her blog, it’s fantastic.  Hello Goodbye is a monthly feature highlighting a few of my favorite things from the past month. Enjoy!

Ahh, July.  This was the first July in YEARS where we haven’t all wanted to die from extreme heat.  Don’t get me wrong, there have been more hot days than not, but we got some weather (aka rain, rain, rain) that helped keep us in the 90’s.  So July was full of fireworks, reality tv (HELLO Big Brother), and of course BOOKS!

Favorite Books

July was a great month for reading.  I read SO many great books, but I’m going to highlight three!

Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover

I got to read this book early (THANK YOU Atria Books & Netgalley), and it was even more amazing than I thought it was going to be.  Read my review!

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock

Another great one from Netgalley.  I had my eye on this book and NG sent it out to me for being a Wellness Challenge member.  I read the book in a matter of hours and could not believe how much it affected me.  I will have a review out for it soon, but just know it is a modern day Catcher in the Rye.

These Broken Stars

I seriously got so, so lucky this month on Netgalley.  I have had major angst over wanting to read this book, so when Disney-Hyperion said YES, I did a little happy dance and got a lot of stares.  Did I mention I was in public? No? How awkward, but I didn’t care!  And this book is now my favorite of 2013.  I recommend it to every person who likes YA and can’t wait to review it (and own my very own copy of it in December!)

Favorite Music

I also was lucky in this area… SO many great new songs to listen to.  Here are a few!

Daughter

The first time I came across this amazing band was on the season finale of Suburgatory.  And then Amazon recommended a song from their new cd, If You Leave, called Youth.  And I was hooked.  I bought the entire cd, which is gorgeous. Such a lucky find!

Youth by Daughter

Shadows settle on the place, that you left.
Our minds are troubled by the emptiness.
Destroy the middle, it’s a waste of time.
From the perfect start to the finish line.

And if you’re still breathing, you’re the lucky ones.
‘Cause most of us are heaving through corrupted lungs.
Setting fire to our insides for fun
Collecting names of the lovers that went wrong
The lovers that went wrong.

We are the reckless, 
We are the wild youth
Chasing visions of our futures
One day we’ll reveal the truth
That one will die before he gets there.

And if you’re still bleeding, you’re the lucky ones.
‘Cause most of our feelings, they are dead and they are gone.
We’re setting fire to our insides for fun.
Collecting pictures from the flood that wrecked our home, 
It was a flood that wrecked this… 

… and you caused it… 

Well I’ve lost it all, I’m just a silhouette, 
A lifeless face that you’ll soon forget, 
My eyes are damp from the words you left, 
Ringing in my head, when you broke my chest.
Ringing in my head, when you broke my chest.

And if you’re in love, then you are the lucky one, 
‘Cause most of us are bitter over someone.
Setting fire to our insides for fun, 
To distract our hearts from ever missing them.
But I’m forever missing him.

Amsterdam by Daughter

I’m a flying kite in the breeze just
Restlessly seeking images a child needs to help them sleep
I was thinking that I should see someone
Just to find out if I’m alright

Ellie Goulding – Dead in the Water

Another gem from television! This was used in one of the routines on SYTYCD. Lovely and haunting. ❤

If I was not myself
And you were someone else
I’d say so much to you
And I would tell the truth
‘Cause I can hardly breathe

When your hands let go of me
The ice is thinning out
And my feet brace themselves

I’m there in the water
Still looking for ya
I’m there in the water
Can’t you see, can’t you see?

You’ve seen this all before
Life left on the shore
We’re smiling all the same
You sail away again

MGMT – Kids

This is a throwback, but I came across it again this month.  Ironically, it makes me want to jump on the bed like a kid again.

Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanting to be haunted

The water is warm
But it’s sending me shivers
A baby is born
Crying out for attention
Memories fade
Like looking through a fogged mirror
Decisions too
Decisions are made
Decisions are made and not bought
But I thought this wouldn’t hurt a lot
I guess not

Favorite Movies

This is 40

I can’t believe I waited so long to see this movie!  My husband and I (well, mostly me, but he tolerates my obsession) will watch anything with Paul Rudd and Jason Segel.  The family dynamics in this movie were GREAT.  It definitely was a step up from Knocked Up.  Although it doesn’t beat my favorite PR/JS movie (I Love You, Man — duh!), I thoroughly enjoyed it.  And Leslie Mann is freakin hilarious!

Ruby Sparks

This movie was on HBO, so I recorded it based on the title alone.  Sounded cute.  And THANK GOD I did, because it is now one of my top five favorite movies (along with Pride & Predjudice {2005}, I Love You Man, Amelie, and Love Actually).  It’s smart, funny, clever, haunting, and a mind-trip.  The best part is Zoe Katan (Miss Ruby Sparks herself) wrote the script.  Girl power!

For those of you who haven’t heard of it, Calvin is a young novelist that everyone calls a ‘genius’.  He is smart, obviously, but suffers from severe anxiety and spends a lot of time alone.  He ends up writing about a girl he dreamed about who mysteriously comes to life.  Then there is the whole ethics part in how much of her is her and how much of her was created by what he wanted her to be.  Totally a great movie for people who like movies that make you think!

Favorite TV Shows

Big Brother Canada

A friend I met during a read-a-thon mentioned that I may like BB Can and that there was a crazy ending to the finale.  Well, of course I went and got myself obsessed.  Now I am hoping we can have some kind of brokered deal with Canada so I can watch along with BB Can 2.

Dexter

How’s it gonna end?  I have to admit, I will be sad to see another great series end, but I can’t wait to see what they come up with to say goodbye.

Favorite Things I Did

Became a Beta Reader

I got an awesome opportunity to beta read Ghost Hold by Ripley Patton.  It was SO fun and challenging! I can’t wait to see the book come out in September.

Met Colleen Hoover

This is probably the coolest thing I’ve gotten to do in a while!  Plus, meeting one of my favorite authors is on my list of “Things to Do Before I Turn 30”, so I can cross that off!  Colleen had a signing in a little town 45 minutes from me, and I knew I had to jump at the chance to see her.  The event was very relaxed, in a cute little coffee shop and I didn’t have to wait more than 10 minutes to see her.  She signed all my books and when she found out about my blog, she gave me signed copies of three of her books to giveaway to you guys.  SO SO COOL!  I hope every author I meet in the future is as fun and nice as Colleen was.  Be sure to read my reviews for Slammed, Point of Retreat, This Girl, and Losing Hope.  And visit Colleen’s website for more information!

Things I’m Excited about in August

School Starts

Yeah, yeah, I may sound a little crazy on this one.  For one, my son is going stir-crazy and I know the school routine will help make things a little easier for him.  And I am ready to get back into some classes myself.  Even though it is stressful, I love learning.  Plus, SCHOOL SUPPLIES!  I am a school supply nerd.

The Mortal Instruments Movie

I’m ready to see another movie in the theater that isn’t a cartoon.  And I gotta admit, the trailers are making this one look like it could be a great adaptation!

Book Releases

InfinityGlass, CROWN OF MIDNIGHT, and The Bitter Kingdom

 

Three of my most anticipated books are coming out this month.  AND two of those are series enders!

Well, that’s it!  I hope July treated you well.

Hello Goodbye. (June/July)

Hello Goodbye is a new feature I’m introducing to Such A Novel Idea.  The idea for this feature came from the lovely Emma Snow!  Go visit her blog, it’s fantastic.  Hello Goodbye is a monthly feature highlighting a few of my favorite things from the past month. Enjoy!

June was a busy month!  I read 2o books (no lie!), applied for 29474390283 jobs, spent a gazillon hours at the pool with my kiddos, celebrating 8 wonderful years with my husband, and blogged lived to tell about it!

Summer here in Texas has gone from hot, to deadly hot, to ‘Ineedovenmittstodrivemycar’ hot.  Now that it is July, we’re seeing cooler temps (YAY 97-98 degrees!) and a bit of rain, so maybe we won’t all melt off the side of the earth.

Favorite Books

I read a lot of great books in June, but my favorites have to be: Slammed, The Summer I Became A Nerd, and Ghost Hand*.

Slammed had all the feels, poetry, and COLLEEN HOOVER. How could I not love it!?  And WHY did I wait so long to read it?

From my review: Colleen Hoover knows just how to reel you in, rip your heart out, and give it back to you slowly, one page at a time.  I have yet to read something by Hoover I haven’t immediately loved.

The Summer I Became a Nerd was full of nerdy goodness.  I want to be best friends with the main characters, the author, and anyone who likes this book as much as I do!

From my review: This book is full of nerdy goodness — comic books, comic con, LARP’ing and more.  And romance.  Over comic books.  I mean, I don’t think I can sell it any better than that.

I cannot express how much I enjoyed this book.  I didn’t even know it existed until the author e-mailed me to review it. And man, SO MANY THANKS to her for that!  I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for her to finish/publish book two.  The best part – both of her books were crowd-funded on Kickstarter! SO cool.

From My Review: *Look for my review on Saturday, June 6th!*

Favorite Music

There are three songs I’ve had on repeat all June!  Old Pine by Ben Howard, Young Blood (White Sea Remix) by The Naked and The Famous, and Red Hands by Walk Off the Earth.

Old Pine by Ben Howard

This song. THIS SONG.  Seriously, this is my favorite song of the year.  I know it isn’t FROM 2013, but I didn’t find out about it until now. And now that I have it, I listen to it over and over and over.  Click the cd cover and YOU can too!

First there is the beautiful twang of the guitar. I mean, the first full minute is nothing but guitar, and I could seriously just listen to that all day long.  And then there are the hauntingly beautiful lyrics.  The song is relaxing and transports you to another time.

“Hot sand on toes, cold sand in sleeping bags,
I’ve come to know that memories
Were the best things you ever had
The summer shone beat down on bony backs
So far from home where the ocean stood
Down dust and pine cone tracks

We slept like dogs down by the fire side
Awoke to the fog all around us 
The boom of summer time

[Chorus]
We stood
Steady as the stars in the woods
So happy-hearted
And the warmth rang true inside these bones
As the old pine fell we sang
Just to bless the morning.”

Young Blood (White Sea Remix) by The Naked and The Famous

I first heard this song over a year ago on SYTYCD.  As a fan of the original, I had already been listening to that version for a couple of years.  But the White Sea remix seriously called out to me… And I HAD to have it.  A year later, it was FINALLY released on an album and my little heart couldn’t be happier!

“We’re only young and naive still
We require certain skills
The mood it changes like the wind
Hard to control when it begins

The bittersweet between my teeth
Trying to find the in-betweens
Fall back in love eventually
Yeah yeah yeah yeah

Can’t help myself but count the flaws
Claw my way out through these walls
One temporary escape
Feel it start to permeate

We lie beneath the stars at night
Our hands gripping each other tight
You keep my secrets hope to die
Promises, swear them to the sky”

Red Hands by Walk Off the Earth

This band is incredible!  I first heard of them when they did a cover of Goyte’s “Somebody That I Used To Know” and it blew me away.  So, when I first heard this song, I immediately knew that’s who it was!  Love this song and can’t wait to see more from them.

“I’ve seen it all before, you back out, and everything’s changing
I needed something more, you stepped down, so what are you chasing?
I’d put it on rewind for this time only
(Is that what you really want?)

I realize that I got red hands, I wanna change this (day-oh)
Don’t ask me why I choose to lie, I stay blind, oh (day-oh)
It’s clear to me that you are fuming too, your accusations are burning through-oo
(Is that what you really want?)

Oh yeah, oh yeah-ah, that gun is loaded

That gun is loaded, but it’s not in my hand
That gun is loaded, but it’s not in my hand
The fire burns, I’m not the one with the match, man
That gun is loaded, but it’s not in my hand”

Favorite Television Show

I didn’t watch a lot of tv, with the exception of Law & Order: SVU reruns. However, there was this one show that I was sort of peer pressured into watching. And then proceeded to become obsessed with. In fact, I watched the entire series (three seasons) in five days. God Bless HBO Go! Game of Thrones: The Complete First Season

This show gave me ALL THE FEELS. And luckily, after the Twitterverse went mad, I wasn’t so surprised when the shocker of season three happened.

My favorites: Daenerys Targaryen, Lord Tyrion Lannister, and Arya Stark (obviously!). Now I just have to deal with the fact that there are no more episodes for months.

Favorite Thing I Did

I figured out how to read IN the pool. Not by the pool, not sort of in the pool where only your feet get wet, but in the pool.  Turns out 1 quart size Ziploc bag + Kindle Paperwhite = reading perfection. And trust me, it works… Kids were splashing me left and right and my Kindle just stayed as dry as can be.  I think this may have been the best thing I figured out all year long, honestly.

So, that’s it!  June was real fun, but I’d like to welcome July to the world. I hope it’s good!