loganashley

I was the first person to check Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks out of the Richmond Public Library...yay me!  In the story, the main character of Carly goes to a Christian school in Georgia.  At the beginning of the book, Carly has just returned from camp to find that her little sister Anna has "blossomed" while she was away.  Anna is about to start high school and will be one year behind Carly.  Carly is very much the big sister and tries to take care of Anna.  The one thing Carly wants most is to be different while Anna fits in with the popular crowd at their school.  Carly has to deal with her jealousy of Anna along with the trials and tribulations of being a teenage girl in a school where she does not feel a sense of belonging.  The characters were very believable and it was an easy read.  It was something of a departure for me because I did not actually identify with the main character. Growing up, I was the kid who wanted to belong so I identified more with Anna than Carly.  I feel like Carly was more individual than many of the teen characters in YA novels and many of the twists and turns surprised me.  Some of the supporting characters were not very fleshed out, for instance Carly's friend Peyton, who I could never tell if she was a good friend to Carly or being deliberately malicious but it did not hinder my enjoyment of the book.  All in all, I have to say I have a new book to recommed at the library!

I have discovered through careful observation (I was bored) that the YA section at the library is grossly underused.  I would like to come up with ways to pull more readers into the library because I know they have to be reading more than just Twilight (not that I don't love Twilight).  I know that I want to have a YA book group and I would love to have writers come and speak but I am at a loss as to how exactly to make that happen.  The book group should be fairly simple, it is just a matter of picking a book and doing some advertisement like I did for the story times (by the way, attendance at both story times more than doubled from the first week I was there).  So anyway, I'm putting it out there to all authors that if you are planning on coming to the Richmond, VA area this summer and would like to come and speak at a library, just let me know!  Also, if you are familiar with the official channels for getting a speaker, feel free to share your knowledge. 

The Question: Anyone have any more ideas about how to get YAs into the library and checking out books?

Kids/Teens checked out these books:

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

Need by Carrie Jones

Tattoo by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Smiles to Go by Jerry Spinelli

Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story by Carolyn Turgeon

WOOHOO!

I also found out that people I have never met know who I am because of my book suggestions. The person who does the ordering for all the libraries is apparently super excited to meet me.  When my boss was talking with her about hiring me, she went "Wait, that Logan!  She has great taste!". 

I picked up The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan knowing very little about it except that it was a good book.  I was totally blown away.  It is a fresh take on the zombie invasion story because it is more about the changes in the main character rather than the zombie attack.  Basically, there is a tiny little settlement that is surrounded by a forest full of zombies where the main character of Mary lives.  There are gates to keep the zombies out but the gates don't always work.  Zombie-ism is spread through biting and it spreads through the body at different rates depending on how bad the bite is.  The story is set in the future, although it is easy to forget this because the behavior of the characters is so old fashioned.  The characters call the start of the zombie-ism "The Return" and the zombies and called the It reminded at times of The Village but never in a bad way.  The main character is very fleshed out and it is easy to understand her motivations during the story.  While I won't spoil the ending, I will say that to me it just cries out for a sequel. 

 My interview is tomorrow at 5:00 for my dream summer job as a children's librarian.  I mean, if I could pick anything in the world right now, this would be it.  

I have been a bit remiss in my blogging for the month of May but that is only because I have been busy with reading and work stuff.  I have a pile of reviews that need to be typed (Fragile Eternity, The Forest of Hands and Teeth, City of Glass, The Awakening, and Love is Hell are among them).  I still have to read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and am working on Pretty Little Liars, which so far reads a bit more like a middle grade book rather than YA (not that that is a bad thing)

I did my version of camping this weekend which means I went to my family's farm outside of Winchester, VA and slept in a house without air conditioning, television, or internet. I had a great time and went wading, drove an ATV, and was woken by a bugle each morning.  Some very amusing pictures will be shared once I have the right cord for my phone. 

I'm sad the Privilege has been cancelled.  The book is great and I really loved the show.  I would rather watch it than 90210 any day.  But I'll live because CHUCK IS COMING BACK!!!!  I would marry Chuck Bartowski, he is one of my biggest fictional character crushes ever!  The preview of Glee was awesome and I immediately downloaded Don't Stop Believin'.  I don't want to wait until fall to see more of this show. 

No AI blog this week, I was at an actual concert on Tuesday night.  I went and saw Jack's Mannequin with Matt Nathanson and Erin McCarley with Jess.  The concert was awesome!  We hung out after and met Andrew.  I had met him a few times before but the last time was 2 years ago on the last tour.  I loved Matt Nathanson, he really kept it interesting and he played Jesse's Girl!  My car got towed because there was a hidden handicapped sign behind a tree so I was stuck downtown after midnight but Jess came and rescued me.  Tomorrow is Friday and this weekend I am planning on going to Fredricksburg for the Fragile Eternity event.  Jess might be coming with me! 

"Lila, stop annulling me!"

Last night, I had a dream I met Melissa Gilbert. She was at a restaurant eating dinner with her family.  She had cut her hair so that it looked like Hilary Clinton's.  There was a discussion as to whether it looked more like Princess Diana's or Hilary's going on.  I walked over to her and said I was a huge fan and asked if I could take a picture with her.  We took a picture but the person taking it did not wait until we were ready so it looked weird.  Before we could take another one, Melissa had to go.  I remember thinking, I met Melissa Gilbert and I now I have a picture with her but I look so weird in it that I don't want anyone to see it.  I also remember thinking she looked a lot better with long hair. 
This dream was weird for a multitude of reasons but for me it was weird because I would never approach a famous person unless they were doing a public event.  I have run into Sissy Spacek at Patient First and seen Pete Sampras at a hotel but did not do anything about it because I figured it was their time and this has always been my opinion.  It's why I love the stage door signing in New York so much because I don't feel weird about asking for a picture with Ashely Angel or whoever. 

I seriously considered just skipping AI tonight and going to bed.  I had a migraine yesterday and fell asleep at 6:30 fully clothed, shoes and all.  I did not wake up until my alarm went off this morning.  But it's Rat Pack night and I love myself some Frank, Sammy, and Dean. 

Wow, everyone looks great tonight!  Haha, Jamie Foxx as a music mentor for Rat Pack week, this could either be great or awful. 

Kris: The Way You Look Tonight-perfect song choice for him and I like that he didn't choose to sit behind the piano.  He is showing some nice versatility.  I love that he changed it up in the middle and then slowed it back down.  I know he's married but definitely has heartthrob potential.  I love watching him.  What the heck is Simon talking about!  I completely disagree with him!!!

Allison: Somebody to Watch Over Me- WOW...I actually could not look away from her performance to type, she better get some good critiques from the judges.  She was fabulous and I loved how she changed little things about the song.  I really don't know who will be in the finals now.

Matt: My Funny Valentine- Why am I not surprised that he is wearing that hat?  I wonder if he will take Jamie's advice.  Is it just me or is there something sort of off about his performance?  I really thought he would blow me away this week, I mean, it's his thing.  He did do an awesome job on that full voice note near the end. 

Danny: Come Rain or Come Shine- He certainly took the stage like he owned it. I'm not overly familiar with this song and I don't really love it.  I'm not blown away so far and I really think at this point, that's what should be happening.  Much better as he gets into the stride of it and he really got great at the end.  It is about singing, but it's about performance as well. 

Adam: I'm not sure how I feel about his performance. He's always vocally pretty perfect but I definitely see the Broadway kid in him.  That note was totally amazing.  Did Kara just call him sleazy? and Paula compared him to Michael Phelps.  He is very entertaining to watch. 

It's time for Matt to go home. 

Random musings:  Glee still looks amazing!  Whoever came up with bread bowl pasta should be shot by the carb patrol. 

OK, so in this dream, I snuck into a Brad Paisley concert (which is something I would never do, the sneaking part.  I love Brad Paisley) except it wasn't in some big arena, it was in the auditorium of one of my old schools (which was turned into a bunch of condos a few years ago).  The front of the room was exactly the way I remember it but the part where the people sit had doubled in size and there were the huge tiered bleachers.  I was sitting with my friend Marilyn and some other people whose faces I had not yet looked at in the dream and we were talking about the show when Gretchen Wilson came up and started singing.   I had my computer with me and was blogging about the show.  The band wasn't on the stage and one of the back up singers was messing up the words so I decided to jump in and help.  I sang back up on one song and then Gretchen was done singing and I sat back down like nothing had happened.  I kept thinking that I really should have bought a ticket.  Then some security people came over and asked me if I had an illegal internet ticket with me and I said no.  Then they said they thought I might be CIA and could I please show them some ID.  I said "I'm not CIA but I am RPS" and showed them my teacher ID.  They gave me a plastic bag with a checklist on it and the word Midnight was checked off.  They said it meant that the owner was going to be watching me.  Then James Read (who played the dad in Charmed) walked over carrying a bunch of french bagguetes.  I ran to him and called him dad which was also when I noticed that the other people I was sitting with were the Haliwells.  I told him what happened and he confronted the owner by tearing a bagguete in half and shoving it in his mouth while we ran. 

This is what happens when I nap and I'm still tired.

I had a dream that for some reason, my family had to go into the witness protection program.  We were all ready to go but I insisted on seeing this family that I babysit for one more time.  I was walking to their house when I saw Ryan from Paranormal State.  It seemed like maybe I knew him casually because all I said was "hey Ryan".  Then I ran into a bunch of other people from the show including Sergey and started talking with him about ghosts in the Richmond area because they were hosting one of their events there.  It would seem like two separate dreams except for the fact that I still had to go into witness protection.  I remember being upset because I did not want to leave, especially since I had just met a bunch of people from PRS.  I do love Paranormal State but I haven't watched it in a while. 

I really was going to wait until Friday night to buy Fragile Eternity but I drove past Barnes and Noble last night and I just couldn't help myself.  I did manage to stop myself from buying the new Cassandra Clare book but that will only last until I have finished Fragile Eternity.  I'm so busy I won't have much time to read it until Friday but just knowing I have it is awesome after all the waiting.  I have a bunch of other books in my reading pile and a few I have already read but still need to write reviews of. 

I just got a completely random friend request on facebook from this guy I met at a wedding last summer.  We hung out at the wedding, had fun but he had a date and nothing happened.  I hadn't heard from him or seen him since then and he friended me on facebook today.  How did he find me on facebook?  We have no mutual facebook friends because the friend whose wedding it was does not have facebook.  I'm not creeped out by this or anything.  I remember him as a cute, good ol' southern boy and certainly would not be opposed to hanging out with him I just cannot figure out how he found me or why he would even care since I haven't seen him since last summer. 

Lil: I’m Every Woman- What no mentor this week?  Lil’s hair gets longer every week. Horrible song choice on her part because unless she did something amazing with the arrangement, it is probably going to sound dated and karaoke.  She can sing but she did not update or change the song really.  Why are they asking what the contestants feel now?  I don’t really care. 

Kris: She Works Hard For the Money- He was amazing last week and I downloaded my fist song from this season of AI.  He might be my favorite this season.  He knows exactly what kind of artist he is.  He does a great job of making songs fit his voice and this one is no different.  I’m ready to hear some original songs from him

Danny: September-This is his thing, dancing around the stage with lots of energy and I really enjoy watching him.  It’s not current but it’s good and I could totally listen to it in the car on a road trip.  He looks a little more rugged this week with the stubble and I like it.  I am finally starting to see what everyone is talking about with him. 

Allison: Hot Stuff- It sounds like she did a great job updating the song and it sounds like something that could be on the radio now.  Vocally, she sounds good.  The beginning was great and I kind of wish she had continued with it that way. 

Adam: If I Can’t Have You- Very Broadway, which makes sense given his background.   I love it, and he roughed it up a little bit during the chorus, which is good.  His vocals really are amazing.  I mean, I never would have guessed that it used to be a disco song.  Also, he looks purdy : )

Matt: Staying Alive- I don’t really feel like listening to him since I really think he should have gone home last week.  This is a good song for him but I’m ready for him to go and unless Anoop really sucks, he will be. 

Anoop: Dim All the Lights- Wow, a pink sweater and tie. It must be stubble night, did all the guys have stubble?  He is really good.  I don’t love the arrangement but his voice sounds good (ooh, except for that last note) and I don’t really see him going home tomorrow. 

Famous People In the Audience: Vince Neil

Side note: The new show Glee looks awesome and I can’t wait for it to start. 

I have discovered that I have the ability to find the only straight male hair stylist working at a salon.  The same woman cut my hair until about a year ago when I finally realized that I needed to update my look.  My friend Michelle recommended this place called Mango and the person who cut my hair until he left was a straight male.  It turned out I had actually gone to high school with his younger brothers.  I got my hair cut yesterday by a new guy and lo and behold during my hair cut, he mentions an ex-girlfriend.  He was awesome by the way, we bonded over our mutual love of New York (he used to live in Brooklyn) and my new love of tattoos.  He had some really cool ones including one around his forearm that looked like the inside workings of a clock. 

Alison: I Don't Want To Miss A Thing (Armageddon)-probably a good song choice for her.  It is pretty traditional but she puts just enough of a spin on it that it sounds like her.  I could see it being on an actual soundtrack album. 

Anoop: Everything I Do, I Do It For You (?)- I am not an Anoop fan and I hate this song but he rocked it out!  My only question is what is he wearing?

Adam: Born to Be Wild (Easy Rider)- I can't fault his vocal, it's amazing, but something about his performance tonight bothered me.  Sometimes I feel like he would have been a lot happier in the 80s. 

Matt: Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman (?)- I'm not loving it and I really thought he would do well with this song.

Danny: Endless Love (Endless Love)- He looks totally different without his glasses.  This is the first song I'm not super familiar with but he sounds good.  Not exactly current but good.

Kris: Falling Slowly (Once)- OMG, I love this song, please don't suck!  That was gorgeous, he really hit his stride in the second part!  My favorite performance tonight.  He totally connected with me, I mean did you see his face when he hit that final note, perfect!

Lil: The Rose (?)-She may have finally made a good song choice!  I really like her decision to start out traditional and go more gospel as she continues, it really works.  Did Paula say anything about the song?

Haha, they went over again.

Bottom 3: Lil, Matt, and ?

Famous people I recognize in audience: Quentin Tarantino, Katie Couric, actress from Days of Our Lives

And now to watch 90210 with the return of Donna!

Today I got told I look just like Gabriella from High School Musical and then another child argued and said I looked like Sharpay.  I am pale, freckled, and redheaded.
  
One of these things is not like the other...

Should I send these kids to the nurse to check for color blindness?  On the other hand, another student once told me I sing just like Michael Jackson. 

A conversation from today:
Student: Do lightening bugs have batteries?
Me: No.
Student: Then how can they light up?

I saw the Hannah Montana movie this weekend and I'm not gonna lie, I loved it.  It had a good plot, great songs, and it was  a lot of fun.  I was entertained the whole time and I would definitely go see it again.  Disney shows are one of my guilty pleasures and the movie was way better than I was expecting.  It was a little hokey at times but it is Hannah Montana.