"Dating: No Guts, No Glory" Book Review

Title: Dating: No Guts, No Glory: A Novel
Author: Joni Hilton
Series: N/A
Number in Series: N/A
Copyright: 1989; Covenant Communications, Inc.
Genre: LDS Fiction: Romance / Self-help/ YA
Pages:154
ISBN: 9781555033279
My Rating: 0.5 / 5
Content Rating: G

Yes, I rated this book 0.5 (a half) star.  No, I am not joking.  Seeing as relationships are an area of interest of mine (*cough*mymajor*cough*), I thought this book might be enjoyable for a quick read.  Boy, am I glad I only paid $1 for it!

There are very few books I strongly dislike; most are a result of too much swearing/vulgar language or sexuality.  However, this book had neither of those (it being an LDS novel and all), but there was one HUGE issue I had...

It lacked any kind of a story-arc whatsoever.

Where was the build-up?  When did the climax occur?  What about the conflict?  Are you kidding me?

This book revolves around the main character experiencing different relationships--none of which add anything to her character, nor do they have any significant impact on the story (in other words: the scenes existence was useless). I felt like every relationship she had could have been it's own story so-to-speak (with build-up, conflict, climax, resolution, etc.).  Instead, the author skims over them, as they are trivial to the "over all story."  Hate to break it to you, but if you want the story and characters to be remembered, make the interactions with their self and the environment meaningful.  Personally, I only recall a handful of other characters--most of which being the family members that are continuously around. 

Now, I should probably stop and tell you that Hilton often "pauses" the "story" to directly address the reader  in lecture-like format.  This really bothered me.  I felt like I was reading a nonfiction book on dating with a few fictional stories thrown in as examples of the concept being addressed.

The other huge issue I saw with this, is because it is a "novel," whenever the characters within the story quote someone (such as a general authority), there is absolutely no reference.  Isn't that plagiarism?  Now, granted this book was first published back in 1989 and rules have become stricter since then, but still!  A reference to a talk would have been nice.

I don't mean to rant on this book, but if you call something a novel, it should serve at least one basic purpose:

To tell an engaging story.

Good Omens

The other day I was on Goodreads.com and looked at my recommended books.  Needless to say, this book grabbed my attention.  I laughed out loud for a good five minutes after reading the synopsis and decided I ought to give it a read.

Not to mention it had a VERY high rating (4.5 stars out of 5) with thousands of reviews.  This book, is none other than the masterpiece entitled...

"Good Omens" by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett (1990).

Here is the synopsis straight from the back of the book:

According to The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (the world's only completely accurate book of prophecies, written in 1655, before she exploded), the world will end on a Saturday.  Next Saturday, in fact.  Just before dinner.  So the armies of Good and Evil are amassing.  Atlantis is rising, frogs are falling, tempers are flaring.  Everything appears to be going according to Divine Plan.  Except a somewhat fussy angel and a fast-living demon--both of whom have lived amongst Earth's mortals since The Beginning and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle--are not actually looking forward to the coming Rapture. 

And someone seems to have misplaced the Antichrist...

It has been quite some time since I have read out of my genre (YA paranormal/fantasy) so I figure it might be time for a change of pace.  And what better book to make the transition than this one involving the end of the world, angels, demons, and comedy?  It has been around for a long time and the story sounds phenomenal! (Hence the reason it is still around!)  I can't wait to read it this weekend!

Blurbing

I want to blog more.

Really, I do! I just caught up on all my friends' blogs and it really helped motivate me.

One of the greatest things I notice was the fact that these posts were not long posts.... Rather they were "blurbs" of some event during the day. Well, shucks, I could do that! And I think that's how blogging SHOULD be... Blurbing!!

So here is my blurb from today:

You may have not noticed the smile I had on my face as your little three-year-old raced up to the counter to purchase his beloved candy bar; his young eyes tried to peer over the vast green edge that separated us. Overly excited, he threw his money pouch on the counter and proudly exclaimed, "Here's my money!!" The two of you smiled, amused by the brightness of your child in learning responsibility so early in life (which is becoming very important with this day and age).

You sneak some bills to me while he is digging through his coin pouch for the $1.04. As I gave you back the change, you pat the child on the head and say he did a good job.

He was devastated.

Desiring nothing more than to pay with his own money.

Tears may have been close to the horizon.

Then you handed him his candy bar and he lit up all over again, his devastation a forgotten memory.

"Thank you!" he proclaimed in a cute voice, walking away with the two of you in tow.

You may have not have noticed, but my smile lasted the entire day.

Fangirl Moment

I'm about to have a fangirl moment...

"Pitch Black" by RattledMachine on dA     [Image Source]

The Random Guardian Kitten Graduates!

It feels like forever since I have written!  A lot has happened (other than school...)

Remember this post I did back in February about Panser and how great she is?  Well I just so happened to send her a package in the mail...

The poster of Panser and magnets I made for her.
The poster was purchased at DistrictLines.com

Just the magnets...

Magnet Pikachu close-up!

I wanted her to sign the poster and keep the magnets.  I also included a hand written letter to her.  She gets a lot of stuff in the mail and I wanted to give her something unique.  On top of that... check this video out where I am mentioned in the first 1:35!

Great, right????  I was ECSTATIC!!!!!  And she said she was going to send me something back (on top of the signed poster!). Well yesterday... guess what arrived in the mail finally?

Yep!

"Melissa, You're in my [hearts] ^_^  /2 Panser"
(For those who don't know, "/2" is her TradeChat logo)

So she sent the poster back signed, utilizing her famous "sign-off" saying ("I love you all, you're in my hearts").  She also sent back one of her handmade hair bows (super cute!) and her business card (the cute animated Panser) that has all her contact information on the back of it.  Needless to say, it made my day!

And in other news... for my birthday my dad gave me something truly wonderful:

Birthday 2013

My dad knows how much I love "Rise of the Guardians" (2012) and I was so excited to start reading these!  I actually finished a few weeks ago and they are GREAT!  They help to shed a lot of light on the characters in the movie (mainly their back stories).  I found Bunny to be very different, but I LOVED the book version of Bunnymund and especially his "rivalry" with North.  Though the book series isn't finished yet (the movie is supposedly years after the books end), I am anxious to see how things turn out.  I'm also surprised that NONE of Pitch's back story made it into the movie!!  It's so heartbreaking...

These books are a great and easy read, especially if you enjoyed the movie or like C.S. Lewis' style of writing (as though you are sitting on your grandfather's knee and he's telling you a story).  The world Joyce has created is fantastic and magical!


Dad and I also adopted a new cat!  Needless to say, her and Squeaky have yet to get along...

Meet Abbi!

She's one year old!

Now that she is more familiar with the environment, we have found she is an incredible talker.  We have decided she is mostly mane coon because she displays a lot of the characteristics of that breed, including talking and loving water (she plays in her water dish).  She also has the pointed ears (see first picture) which is a sign of mane coon.

Hopefully she will get along with our 9 year old cat soon... I think they would make great companions for one another.

Switching topics!  (Do you like my transition there?) ^-^

School is keeping me super busy (hence the lack of posts).  But I found out something amazing last week...

I may be able to graduate with my  

Bachelor's Degree next spring!!!!

Whaaaa???  I was rather overwhelmed and had a quarter-life crisis!  I don't know what I want to be when I grow up!  What am I supposed to do when I don't have to worry about homework or paying for tuition?  Does such a world even exist?

I just don't know.

These are just a few of the things that have been happening in my life recently.  A lot of changes have occurred and a lot of growth has happened.  This semester seems to be rushing by!

So until next time!  Go out and enjoy the sunshine!  (If you are experiencing it, that is.  If not, enjoy the sunshine when it decides to come out!)