Cinder: Short-Circuited My Brain and Feels

WARNING! THERE ARE SPOILERS IN THIS POST. PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK.

I just finished Cinder by Marissa Meyer. As you might know, I asked in a previous post which book I should read first. (Cinder was one of the options) After only one vote, my curiosity got the better of me and I started the book around 9:30 at night. It is now 1:18am and I didn't put it down for a second.

Forgive me, I'm having a lot of trouble forming coherent sentences and thoughts, I'm in book hangover mode right now. I think the end kind of short circuited my brain...

Thoughts that probably don't make sense: Oh my gosh, a cyborg Cinderella? But no godmother? Levana. Adri. Pearl. Evil. Kai...I'm so disappointed my dear...Iko-*chokes* Peony...*cries* It's Prim all over again...*cries more* End?? What?? I was not warned this is a series!!

Thoughts that might make more sense:

When it started, I was a little...confused? Taken aback? I was expecting the feel of the book to be different than it was. It actually reminded me a LOT of The Book of A Thousand Days by Shannon Hale. (Please tell me some of you have read it...)

First off, futuristic China with a cyborg main charrie? Awesome. I expected to be more weirded out by it that than I actually was.

The characters were superb. I hated the ones I was supposed to hate, I loved the ones I was supposed to love, and I felt they developed well.

I teared up twice. I actually might have cried for real when Iko was dismantled if I had let myself linger on it. It was unfair. Cinder didn't deserve it, Iko didn't. My brain was so riled up from their (Adri vs. Cinder) fight and Peony, that what happened to Iko was the last straw. Adri will never be forgiven.

When Peony died with the antidote so close, all the feelings from Mockingjay when Prim died came rushing back and I almost choked. So unfair to do that to me again. Why would that happen? Why would the author do that to me?

Now Kai. I adore him. Even after the end, I mean, what choice did he have? Cinder HAD lied to him. She was a cyborg AND a lunar. He trusted her and now he had to make all these decisions after watching her become someone he didn't know, AND she almost died?? That would be a lot for anyone. But I've heard the next book doesn't really help his case. Dangit.

His smile though...I can see it. The way it's described sounds just like one of my friends. It just makes me happy and warms my heart. And when he almost kissed her, gah! I was so happy. Course, then her brain exploded but you know.

He actually remined me a lot of the love interest from aforementioned Book of a Thousand Days and also of the Prince from River Secrets. They share a lot of similar traits and that fact I think made me like him more, even in the beginning when we didn't really know him. It took me back to some of my favorite books and helped me relate better I think. Or helped me care about him more.

Levana. Ick. I hate her with a passion. And Sybil too. Filth. That's all.

And the doctor? Totally Cinna. Mixed with...Gaius?

I thought the idea of cyborgs and androids was well done. It didn't feel quite as bizarre as I anticipated. It worked and I enjoyed it. (Did anyone else imagine her car as a VW Beatle? Or was that just me?) Iko in my mind looked just like Eva from Wall•E. Was that a me thing too?

Also, was the Princess Selene thing supposed to be a huge shocking surprise? Cause I wasn't surprised. Don't get me wrong though! I thoroughly enjoyed the suspense. KNOWING she was the princess, just aching to finally be told, it made me giddy. I love guessing things. And Marissa did it splendidly. I wasn't bored with the knowledge, I wasn't upset about knowing so soon, I was just happy. The idea of it, the way everything fit together...well okay, I wasn't expecting her to be hare-brained enough to go to the ball like that even with the news. At least get a hover thingy with your money! And she made such a ridiculous fool of herself... But before all that,  I could just taste the happiness!

But then.

My nightmare happened. I've had it happen to me so many times. How could I not have known? Expected it?

It's the first in a series! Whoopee.

Not the happy ending I had hoped at all. Prince Kai...I sympathize with your situation, I understand your choices. They make sense to me. But my goodness! You didn't even kiss her back!! Fool of a Took...

If you can tell, I get rather excited about my books. I tend to see only AMAZING in them unless they are truly horrible. (Or unless they're Mockingjay which left me battered but after a while I realized I hadn't liked it as much as I thought.) So if you think I'm totally crazy for my excitement and emotional trauma, just know, it's just me. Making an appearance in my happiest state. Book trance.

Overall, I love Cinder. And if my library doesn't have Scarlet...I might just die. For real.

P.S. It's now 2:11am. Good thing I'm homeschooled and don't have to worry about waking up early for school...I would probably die. (Yes, it did take me that long to write that post.)

A New Idea and No Idea What To Do About It

Oh my friends I need help. Just a few months ago, my WIP (To Save The Lost) was going strong. I was excited about it, I felt like I was finally getting to know the characters, and words were coming easier than ever.

Then, summer.

The summer zapped a lot of my will to write. Blogging I have no problem with, but my WIP just seems like torture.

I was just going to suck it up. You know the drill. Make a pinterest board, write random scenes, character journal a bit. Find inspiration somewhere.

But then it hit me.

A new idea.

Not just any idea though, I mean, this is exciting. It's refreshing. Not in the same genre, the girl has things in common with me, it'll be easy to write! I went and made a pinterest board for it. (I'm a tad attached to pinterest. Can you tell?) It's one of those things that just makes my heart skip with delight.

The only problem? I'm feeling really guilty about giving up on To Save The Lost. I've put so much effort into it. I have lost sleep working on it. And now I'm completely ready to give it up?

I know some of you work on more than one thing at a time. But I have this sinking feeling that if I leave it even for a little bit, I may never come back. I'm kind of one track minded as far as writing goes. But then again, couldn't I try it?

I haven't written a word for my new WIP. I havent even named the main characters. But I know who they are. The girl is so very much like me. Coincidence?  Probably not. I want her to be like me. I got the idea from something in my life so why not? The best friend/love interest is harder. I have a vague notion of who he really is, morals, foundation. But as far as quirks and personality? I'm rather stumped.

But maybe I should save it and write it for NaNo? I just dont know blogglings! I'm the most indecisive person I've ever met. (If you haven't noticed) That's why I need an entire blog post to worry and ramble about my choices. I'm so so sorry about that.

The point of this post is mostly for me to ramble. But also this, new ideas are awesome and refreshing. I love plotting a new book. Maybe you do too? Kindred spirits! If you find yourself in the same situation as me, I say, go with it before you lose your fire. Write that novel!

And that's what I'm going to do! Sort of anyway. I think I will do as much for it as I can without writing. (So I can use it for NaNo) Plot every scene, write entire backstories for each character, you know the planning stage. You've done this before. Dont tell me you haven't!  Then when NaNo comes, I'll breeze through it no problem! Or, that's the plan anyway. We'll see how it goes.

Thank you for putting up with me and being my listening ear! You'll be hearing a lot more about this WIP in the next couple of weeks! Prepare yourself. I hope you don't mind.

Have you had any new ideas recently? What's your favorite thing about a new idea?

A Sunday Quote

"Since it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage." -C.S. Lewis

ABC Book Challenge-Link-Up

The Book Chewers are holding another Link-Up! This time it's an ABC list of books you've read. Since it's been FOREVER since I last posted and I needed a little push to get back into blogging, I jumped. Clicking this lovely button will take you to the website where you can add your own post if you desire.

 

Prompt: Have you read a book starting with every. single. letter from the alphabet?! Make a list of books you've read, from A to Z! (Bonus points to those who've read those tricky letters, like X and Z.) Also, you can bypass "the" or "a" in titles, if you need to.

I'm going to add more books per letter if I can think of any. Just for the fun of it. :)

A- And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

B- Beauty by Robin Mckinley, Brisingr by Christopher Paulini

C- Christy by Catherine Marshall

D- The Daughter Of Time by Josephine Tey

E- Enna Burning by Shannon Hale, Eragon by Christopher Paulini

F- Five Little Peppers by Margaret Sidney, The Fellowship of The Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

G- Gatekeepers by Robert Liparulo

H- The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis

I- In Freedoms Cause, Inkheart by Cornelia Funke, Inheritance by Christopher Paulini

J- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

K- ??

L- The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

M- Matilda by Roahld Dahl, Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

N- The Never-Ending Story by Michael Ende

O- Once And Future King by T.H. White (Actually I never quite finished...but I loved it so maybe it counts? You're call. Maybe I'm a cheater. ;)

P- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie, Perelandra by C.S. Lewis

Q- ??

R- Redwall by Brian Jacques, River Secrets by Shannon Hale

S- The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie, Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

T- The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien

U- Under the Green Hill by Laura L. Sullivan

V- Violet's Hidden Doubts by Martha Finley

W- The Wings of Merlin by T.A. Barron, Watcher In the Woods by Robert Liparulo

X- ??

Y- You Are A Writer by Jeff Goins, You Are Special by Max Lucado

Z- ??

22/26! I think I did alright! I'm quite sure I have read some under the letters I missed but I can't think of any.

Have you read any books that start with "K", "Q", "X", or "Z"? 

Too Many Books, Too Little Time.

I've done precious little reading this summer. I say it's time to get back into it, wouldn't you agree?

On my to-read shelf is some books that I'm supremely excited for! To be perfectly honest, I can't quite decide which to read first. Want to help me choose?

I have five options. All very good ones if you ask me!

1. Cinder by Marissa Meyer

I have heard fantastic things about this book! It's the book of the month over at The Book Chewers. I'm quite excited for it!

2. Rakkety Tam by Brian Jacques

I borrowed this book months ago from someone and I haven't read it yet. I should really get on that. It's one of the Redwall books so it's bound to be good! 

3. Ruby Red by Kirsten Gier

My sister just read this book and I must say I'm quite intrigued! About a time traveling girl! How cool is that? Sister of mine said it's unlike any book she's ever read. Which means I'm probably not going to be able to stop thinking about it.

4. The Clocks by Agatha Christie

I love Agatha. And I haven't read a good mystery in quite a while so I would be more than happy to snuggle up with this one.

So what do you say? Which do you think I should read first? Which are your favorites if you've read them?