Titanic-mania!

I just finished the BEST audiobook I have EVER listened to, EVER. And I have listened to a lot. I first started listening to audiobooks when I had a job behind the scenes in a library where I could listen to them while I worked. Then I got the job I have now where I commute to work and was able to translate my new found love from my iPod to my car cd player. It is the ONLY thing that keeps me sane on my drives.

Anyways, like I said before, I just finished an amazing audiobook. I was completely obsessed with it and it actually made me look forward to my drive. The book is titled, The Watch that Ends the Night, by Alan Wolf. This is a story about the Titanic disaster. I have always been interested in this topic. Yes, I know there are lots of books out there on the Titanic. Yes, the story has been told and retold. Yes, it is a sad story about a ship sinking. However, this book is unique in that it made me really comprehend the human side of this story. Over 1,400 souls perished in the sinking and I feel that I can more fully understand how tragic this event really was.

There are a couple reasons why this book is so moving and beautiful. First, it is written in different verse forms so it has a lyrical quality to it. Second, the narrators stole the show. The story is told from 24 different perspectives of people on board the ship. Examples are first class passengers like John Jacob Astor, third class passengers, the ship captain, the ship rat, and the iceberg. The story starts a few days before the Titanic left port so you get a feel for the personalities and perspectives of the different passengers. This enables you to get to know them intimately and understand that each lost soul on board was a person just like you and me.

Haunting, tragic, moving, and beautifully written, I recommend this book to all history lovers and audiobookers.

Such Suspense!!

Well I have read the new chapter about four or so times (just to make sure I catch everything) and I must say that I havent been this excited for the new chapter in some time. Itachi never ceases to amaze me, not even the slightest. In real life, his sharingan capabilities almost equal mine in some fashion haha. He continues to show off his abilities even after death! I wonder if he has known them since before he slaughtered his clan. Makes me wonder just how much he knows in the ninja world; jutsus and all other things. The Japanese mythology just flows all through Naruto as the new justsu Izanami is introduced in relation to the jutsu Danzou used when fighting Sasuke, Izanagi. Can't wait to see how it develops and how its used in battle. Ugh, that Kabuto is such a snake. How dare he try to coerce Sasuke to join his side while right in front of Itachi! When this all boils down though, it will be disastrous to the most cataclysmic of proportions hahahaha.

Always Something There to Remind Me- books from my elementary and middle school years

I was reading some YA blogs and came across the book, Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later, which came out in 2011 and gives an update of where Elizabeth and Jessica from the 80s and 90s hit series Sweet Valley are today. I was instantly brought back into my elementary and middle school years when I read basically every Sweet Valley Twins and Friends, Sweet Valley High, Babysitter's Club, Boxcar Children, and Goosebumps books available. I just loved the drama of the Sweet Valley series (I always wanted to be a twin), the comraderie of the girls in the Babysitter's Club (I tried to start my own), how the siblings looked out for eachother in the Boxcar children (I was an only child for the first 12 1/2 years of my life and always wanted a brother or sister), and the suspense in the Goosebumps series (I like thrills of all types except now I have a hard time watching scary movies without freaking myself out at night).
Anyways, I found this great list of YA books from the 80s and 90s and wanted to share it with all you 80s babies out there. What were some of your favorite books during your elementary and middle school years? Maybe you will find some of them on this goodreads list.
http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4403.Young_Adult_Books_from_the_80s_90s#290400

Oh, and to go along with the theme, here are a couple music videos from the 80s:
Kids in America- Kim Wilde

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun- Cyndi Lauper

We Got the Beat- Go Go's (This was my mom's personal fav)

Music that makes me want to move!!

Hey there people!! Music is the one thing that has always gotten me through bad times in my life. I have a pretty eclectic taste in music. These newish songs make me happy. And not just that...they make me want to get up and move. OR if I'm driving makes me want to roll down the windows and blast it to everyone!

Neon Trees- Everybody Talks

Young the Giant- I Got

Foster the People- Houdini

Hope you enjoy!
Tschüß!
Rena

Are you ready??

The New Chapters!!



Just a few more hours until the release of the new chapters of Naruto and Bleach are released. For those who haven't been following the latest scantalations, Kabuto is now bad-ass, Sasuke and Itachi make the perfect tag-team, Naruto, Guy, and Kakashi are going to totally serve the masked Uchiha. In Bleach, an unknown group has declared war on the Soul Society and their leader can somehow enlist as many arrancars he wants to join his army. I'm waiting on Ichigo to go hollow form now that he has those newly upgraded powers after fighting with Ginjou. Oooo, I bet he's going to be a beast! He was already bad-ass beforehand so one can only imagine what the new form will look like. Well I guess patience is on my side so I shall just wait, but i'll be sure to keep you all informed....jaa, mata.