Feel Good and Party With Summer! Playlist

Hey guys! How're your summer's going?
When all of you are enjoying beaches and sun and parties, I am stuck in school. And two storms have already stopped by. Nope, not summer school. June's our your September. So my summer would be April-May--I spent it with required summer class and reading books and blasting my music. Now, I want you to enjoy your summer!


I made this playlist for YOU to feel good and party with summer! Summer would be nothing without reggae, party, pop and dance songs, right? So, here's for you! With a flavor of MichelleMusic. :)


Drop everything and dance up all night!


 Summer 2012

• Summer Paradise - Simple Plan
• Call Me Maybe - Carly Rae Jepsen
• What Makes You Beautiful - One Direction
• Glad You Came - The Wanted
• One Way Ticket - Carrie Underwood
• Dance Until Tomorrow - Jonas Brothers
• Nothing Else Better To Do - David Archuleta
• Everybody Talks - Neon Trees
• Summer's Not Hot - Selena Gomez & The Scene
• Party After Party - Joe Jonas
• Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) - Kelly Clarkson
• Dance Again - Jennifer Lopez ft. Pitbull
• Drive By - Train
• Favorite Song - colbie Caillat ft. Common
• Up All Night - One Direction

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Book Review: Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly

Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly, ebook edition book cover

Harmonic Feedback

by Tara Kelly


Genre: YA, music
Editions available: Hardcover, ebook, Kindle, Turkish
Rating:

Summary (Goodreads):

Sixteen-year-old, music- and sound design-obsessed Drea doesn't have friends. She has, as she's often reminded, issues. Drea's mom and a rotating band of psychiatrists have settled on "a touch of Asperger's."


Having just moved to the latest in a string of new towns, Drea meets two other outsiders. And Naomi and Justin seem to actually like Drea. The three of them form a band after an impromptu, Portishead-comparison-worthy jam after school. Justin swiftly challenges not only Drea's preference for Poe over Black Lab but also her perceived inability to connect with another person. Justin, against all odds, may even like like Drea.


It's obvious that Drea can't hide behind her sound equipment anymore. But just when she's found not one but two true friends, can she stand to lose one of them?





My Thoughts:


Drea, diagnosed with ADHD, doesn't have friends until she and her mother moved in with her grandma's. She first met Naomi, the gothic girl. Then Justin, the first guy who ever notice her. Together, they make music. 


I really like this book. Although I'm [TOTALLY] not diagnosed with ADHD, I can relate to Drea. She finds it hard to have 'social life' and just loses herself in music. She then became friends with two cool people who loves music at the same time. The romance between Drea and Justin has been cute and sweet but there's something missing. I could maybe give this book 5 hearts if only the near-ending part was different. I don't like that part because I feel like it revolved around Naomi--until the ending. I would like it to be more on Drea becoming fearless or something like people learned to appreciate her and her music. And more Drea-Justin.


I do hope, though, that these type of books would make people understand those people who has special needs and attention. They're normal, like us. It's just that there are really some things that some people aren't capable of and like we all know: we are all different. We have our own strength and weaknesses. In Drea's case, she's an exceptional musician and even if she not really socially friendly, she truly cares and loves her friends more than a normal person can do.




Recommendations:


YA, music book lovers. And if you wanted to understand what I'm talking about, read this book. And tell me if you agree with me not liking the near-end part.




Book cover comment/s:


The cover really best describes the book--where Drea, never had been out with the rain, finally do. It was like the start of her being free and happy.

Book Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Delirium

by Lauren Oliver

Series: Delirium #1
Genre: Dystopian, YA, romance

Editions available: Hardback, paperback, special edition, ebook,

Kindle, special Kindle, audio CD, international

Source: own

Rating:

Summary (Goodreads):

THEY SAY that the cure for Love

will make me happy and safe

forever.

And I've always believe them.

Until now.

Now everything has changed.

Now, I'd rather be infected

with love for the tiniest

sliver of a second than

live a hundred years

smothered by a lie.

My Thoughts:

Another dystopian tale, about a world where love is considered as a disease. It is forbidden and being treated before people got 'infected'.

Lena is the kind of girl who is obedient. She never break government rules and willing to be get cured. Then one day, weeks before her procedure, she fell in love. She learned how to lie, sneak and most of all: break rules. But no secret will remain hidden.

Lauren Oliver was proving a point in a creative way in this book series. Love, as forbidden and treated like a disease, was hard to resist. It is the most natural wonderful thing humans have. Love is also worth fighting for--even if your whole world--the world you thought was right--is against it.

Delirium was told in Lena's point of view, and the way the tale was being told, you'd know what kind of person she is. There are, honestly for me, dull parts and a lot of reminiscing--that made it looked like slow-paced story. I also noticed the repeated words like, run, run run. Think. Think. Think. that I feel like I am reading a poem. And poems in a dystopian novels reminds me of Matched. And then I started to realize that Delirium has somehow similarity with Matched.

But overall, it is a good read and I liked it. I'm hoping to read some with action scenes with Lauren Oliver one day, though.

Recommendations:

Dystopian, YA, romance readers. If you don't like/can't stand slow-paced books, then this is not for you. 

Check out my review for Pandemonium (Delirium #2).

Book Review: Anna and the French Kiss

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, hardbound edition book cover

Anna and the French Kiss

by Stephanie Perkins

Genre: YA contemporary, romance

Editions available: Hardcover, paperback, ebook, Kindle,

audio CD, digital download, unabridged, audiobook, international

Source: own

Rating:

Summary (Goodreads):

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home. As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?

My Thoughts:

Another hard part. Describing how you love the book. And expect it to be shorter--because when I love a book or a thing so much, I mostly ended up speechless and daydreaming.

I always told you that I'm a [teen] romance geek, right? And this book's just for me. The romance of Anna Oliphant and Etienne St. Clair doesn't start right away. Throughout the book, they kept their feelings for each other BECAUSE St. Clair has a girlfriend--who he doesn't want to broke up with--and in Anna's case, Meredith, her new found friend, likes him. But they stayed close and became best of friends.

I love, love, love Etienne St. Clair! He's got this sexy English accent and he's a very good-looking French dude. He also cares for me--I mean, to Anna--a lot, which is an added turn-on. Stephanie Perkins just created her best debut novel with fab protagonists. I love the story so much that I wanted MORE. More of Anna and Etienne. They indeed appear a few times on Perkins' second novel, Lola and the Boy Next Door, but it's never enough!

I also loved Lola and the Boy Next Door (will be posting my review soon) and seriously, Stephanie Perkins never should stop writing these kind of books. They're amazing--she's amazing! She's one of my fave authors now.

Recommendations:

YA contemporary romance lovers/readers/geeks like me. EVERYONE. Highly recommended!

Book cover comments/s:

There's Eiffel Tower on the background. There's a glimpse of Anna and arms of Etienne, about to held hands, taking things slow, innocently. Gorgeous!

Alternate cover/s:

 Unlike the original book cover above, now they're kissing--or, about to kiss (French kiss!)--here! Sweet. Sweet. Sweet!

German edition.

I tried Google-translating the title and it comes like this:

'Palpitations in French'. Oh, yes.

P.S Ooh, I love croissants!

Book Review: A Million Suns by Beth Revis

A Million Suns

by Beth Revis 

Series:  Across The Universe #2

Genre: YA, dystopian, sci-fi

Editions available:

Source: own

Rating:

Summary (Goodreads):

Godspeed was once fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos. It’s been three months. In that time, Amy has learned to hide who she is. Elder is trying to be the leader he’s always wanted to be. But as the ship gets more and more out of control, only one thing is certain: They have to get off the ship.







My Thoughts:



In this second installment of Across The Universe trilogy, Elder becomes the Eldest--without changing his name--and leads Godspeed without phydus. But the question is, Can he handle the people now that they're awake?


As Amy and Elder thought they figured things out and it will be alright, they realized that really, they did not. More mysteries and lies have they found out and discovery that needs a decision to be made. I liked it like I liked the first book. It still holds its mysterious and intriguing appeal. But there's still something I'm looking for. After reading this book though, I became excited for the third installment because they're finally landing! I think the third book--Shades of Earth--will finally have the missing ingredient I've been looking for.




Recommendation:


Who liked and loved Across The Universe.




Book cover comment/s:


Again, the cover was fantastic! Now Amy and Elder was standing and Amy's like pointing outside. It does connect on the story more than Across The Universe's.




Alternate cover/s:

I think this alternate cover was like, the follow up cover of Across The Universe's alternate cover--the one with blue-green background and Amy's pointing (exactly what she does on the first cover of A Million Suns--only she's facing front here).

Book Review: Across The Universe by Beth Revis

Across The Universe by Beth Revis, hardcover edition book cover

Across The Universe

by Beth Revis

Series: Across The Universe #1

Genre: YA, dystopian, sci-fi

Editions available: Hardcover, paperback, ebook, Kindle,

MP3 CD, audio CD, international

Source: own

Rating:

Summary (Goodreads):

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder. 


Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.


Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.


Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.





My Thoughts:


You know you'll always choose your family even if your other option is your life--your comfort zone. Amy chose to be frozen cargo together with her parents on a spaceship called Godspeed to be awaken the time they land in their new home. New planet--Centauri-Earth. Being frozen is like sleeping without really sleeping. Hundred years of sleeping--but aware of your environment, anyway--until the spaceship lands into the new world. But Amy was awaken ahead of time--by someone, who she could never thought could do it in the end. She struggles to hide in a closed space from the people living in Godspeed who all thought she's a freak--with her red hair and sudden appearance. She had to get a grip and do her best to not to wake her parents while finding out the mystery of life and people in Godspeed.


Elder, the Eldest--or the leader--in training is all eyes and eyes to the current Eldest; a diligent student--until Amy comes. Suddenly the world he's born to  is not what he thinks it is. Mysteries came, like frozen people was being murdered and Godspeed people, and everything he learned growing up and being taught by Eldest was all lie, according to Amy as she tells life in Sol-Earth.


This book is rather mysterious, intriguing and full of lies than a love story within a closed space as I first thought (because of the cover). I've never read across the universe type of novel before and this book approached fresh to me. It's interesting and new and I liked it, but I feel like there's something lacking to make it perfect.




Recommendations:


Dystopian lovers. Readers who'd like to try out of this world story (though this not includes aliens).




Book cover comment/s:


Breathtaking. I loved it. Very out of this world. BUT as I said above, it would appear a love story when you first saw it, and the story inside is not what you expect.




Alternate cover/s:


*From now on, I'll be featuring alternate covers along with my book review posts. Unlike before, I only feature it whenever I wanted to.

The first alternate cover was almost the same as the original cover except that this one has white background between Amy and Elder. The third cover has the same concept with the original but this one's obviously animated and with green background, German edition. It also has different title. The fourth one is like the blueprint of Godspeed. I liked it second best. The fifth's Greek edition.

New One Direction Single: More Than This

Directioners! Bet you all know that More Than This will be the next single from One Direction off their album, Up All Night. I know that you all know but I'm still excited for the MV!


My fave lyrics:
"If I'm louder, would you see me? Would you lay down in my arms and rescue me?"


and
"And as you close your eyes tonight, I pray that you will see the light that's shining from the stars above."

The official MV hasn't been released yet but for now, I'm going to include in this post their performance of the song from the Up All Night: Live Tour DVD (which they also posted on Youtube). Also, I'll be including the single cover. I'm not sure which is the official cover for the single, but I found two from the web. Enjoy!

Lyrics:




[Liam]
I'm broken
Do you hear me
I'm blinded
Cause you are everything I see
I'm dancing, alone
I'm praying
That your heart will just turn around


And as I walk up to your door
My eye turns to face the floor
Cause I can't look you in the eyes and say


Chorus:


[Harry]
When he opens his arms
And holds you close tonight
It just won't feel right
Cause I can't love you more than this, yeah
When he lays you down, I'm might just die inside
It just don't feel right
Cause I can't love you more than this
Can't love you more than this




[Niall]
If I'm louder
Would you see me?
Would you lay down in my arms and rescue me?
Cause we are, the same
You saved me, when you leave it scarred again
[Louis]
And then I see you on the street
In his arms, I get weak
My body feels I'm on my knees
Praying


Chorus:
[Harry]
When he opens his arms
And holds you close tonight
It just won't feel right
Cause I can't love you more than this, yeah
When he lays you down, I'm might just die inside
It just don't feel right
Cause I can't love you more than this


[Zayn]
I've never had the words to say
But now I'm asking you to stay
For a little while inside my arms
And as you close your eyes tonight
I pray that you will see the light
That's shining from the stars above


[Liam]
When he opens his arms
And holds you close tonight
It just won't feel right
Cause I can't love you more than this
Cause I can't love you more than this
[Harry]
When he lays you down, I'm might just die inside
It just don't feel right
Cause I can't love you more than this, yeah


When he opens his arms
And holds you close tonight
It just won't feel right
Cause I can't love you more than this


When he lays you down, I'm might just die inside
It just don't feel right
Cause I can't love you more than this
[Liam]
Can't love you more than this

What do you think about the song? Of it being the next single?
What's your fave line? What're your music video ideas?

Up All Night album feature/review, I'll be posting SOON!

Cover Look: Dresses and Ball Gowns

Cover Look presents: Dresses and Ball Gowns

I've been seeing covers with girls with pretty dresses lately and just how I love dresses and gowns, I'm featuring book covers with models that looked like they're posing for a high-fashion ad instead with their gorgeous dresses. Now, pick your prom dress!

Nice, eh? Tell me what you think! Which one's your fave?

Do you have in mind that doesn't include in this list?

- Michelle 

Book Review: Angelfall by Susan Ee

Angelfall

by Susan Ee

Series: Penryn & the End of Days #1

Genre: YA, dystopian

Editions available: Paperback, ebook, Kindle, audiobook

Source: own
Rating: 

Summary (Goodreads):

It’s been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.


Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.


Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.


Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels’ stronghold in San Francisco where she’ll risk everything to rescue her sister and he’ll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.







My Thoughts:

I underestimated this book. I thought this was just another angel novel. It was an angel novel. But it's 10x much better (don't get me wrong, but I just read one angel novel--series, to be exact)--and this one is much better than the other one I read (where I thought it was great).

This is not cheesy, all after love kind of angel novel--though it also has romance, which by the way, is so good--unlike the other angel book I read. This has more angst and thrill and heart-pounding and exciting scenes. You wouldn't know what happened next and you'll want more and more.

I thought this was just a standalone novel until I checked it out again on Goodreads, it became a series--I saw that there will be two more books. And I totally would agree with the sequel because of the ending of this one. It shouldn't end that way. There must be something more. More Penryn-Raffe. And I would totally look forward for it.

A movie-adaptation worthy.

Recommendations:

YA, dystopian lovers. Who someone who's looking for a great angel novel--I'd swear that this is more greater than the others. Highly recommended!

Book cover comment/s:

So metallic. Best describes the world of the end of the days.

My First Guest Post!

Guess what? I just had my first guest post!


I earned this guest post from White Sky Project's giveaway, Mini Giveaway: $25 Amazon Gift Card up for grabs (An Offering to the Giveaway Gods) + 4 Feature Post and I happen to win a feature post--which was totally awesome. I thought this was the best step in giving my blog, Michelle Shouts Random, spotlight. It was a nice step since I just started this blog.

Screen capture of the giveaway winners.

And now, Leah of White Sky Project has posted my feature post on her blog! Check it out now! (Just click on the photo below.)

Screen capture of my feature post in White Sky Project.

-       Michelle

My Wish

My Wish

© Michelle Sedeño

September 26, 2011

It’s been two years now since a great mad typhoon destroyed
several cities, and hundred of lives

News flashed back and I remembered the pain

If I could do something to help them

Tear dropped, and that’s when I prayed

Two days where I’ll be eighteen

And it’s continuously raining

A great friend giving up from our roller coaster journey

A family problem popped where they’re fighting

I remember when I was seven

I dreamt my eighteenth

Bright chandeliers over me

With my pretty pink gown

Dad would be my first dance

And last would be my prince

My best friends would be there

And so as my cousins

But now back in reality

I could see it fading

Tear dropped, and that’s when I pray

I wish I have found my prince charming

I wish my family would be alright

And my cousins would be here

I wish she would stay

And together we’ll ride again our roller coaster journey

I wish two years ago would never happen again

I’m not dreaming of pink gowns and cotillions

No, not anymore

Coz before I blow my candles,

I wish you were alright

I wish you were here

And I wish you will stay

Forever, that’s what I pray.

***

Not the kind of poem you knew. Usually, poets write theirs that will leave you thinking what it meant, what's it for and who's it for. But with this one, you'll know what I'm thinking..what I'm wishing. It's really not like a poem, but at least I get to let my feelings understood. Hopefully.

-       Michelle 

Book Review: P.S I Love You by Cecelia Ahern

P.S I Love You by Cecelia Ahern, paperback edition book cover

P.S I Love You

by Cecelia Ahern

Genre: Chick-lit

Editions available: Hardcover, paperback, Kindle, ebook,

audio CD, international

Publisher: HarperCollins

Rating: ^^^^^

Summary (Goodreads):

Holly couldn't live without her husband Gerry, until the day she had to. They were the kind of young couple who could finish each other's sentences. When Gerry succumbs to a terminal illness and dies, 30-year-old Holly is set adrift, unable to pick up the pieces. But with the help of a series of letters her husband left her before he died and a little nudging from an eccentric assortment of family and friends, she learns to laugh, overcome her fears, and discover a world she never knew existed.


The kind of enchanting novel with cross-generational appeal that comes along once in a great while, PS, I Love You is a captivating love letter to the world!







My Thoughts:


Have you ever thought of receiving a bunch of letters from your dead husband/wife? No? So am I (not that I have a husband, let alone become widowed). But Holly got the shock of her life one day by receiving a package from her husband. It happened that Gerry worked himself to do all of those letters while he was at the hospital, waiting for his time, without Holly knowing til her mom gave it to her.


They're not a perfect couple but loves each other so, that's why Holly can't believe she'll be living a life without Gerry. Knowing Holly, Gerry makes way through these letters--each to be opened by indicated month--to help Holly get her feet back up and stop weeping forever. Holly, the wife who misses her husband, did her best to follow whatever he commands to (from the letter) even if it's her worst fear. At least by doing all this, she'll be closer to her husband and feel like he's alive again.


This is a novel about holding on, learning to let go and to love again. It touched my heart so much that for my reading moments, I feel like Holly, a wife who lost her loved most husband (even though I was sixteen at that time), and cried. I also laughed, and smiled while reading this book.


There's already a film adaptation for this book (2007) and I haven't seen it yet. I remember I have it on our PSP but remembered deleting it (I'm not aware of the book yet), that I have to regret after reading the book and realizing that I had it once on our PSP. But it's too late coz the PSP's gone. Snatched. But I'm still going to watch the movie. I think I'm going to request it in HBO. ;D




Book cover comment/s:


This and the alternate cover (with light blue background; can be also seen below) are cute. Very chick-lit. The cover after the movie, meanwhile, makes me smile.




Recommendation:


For readers who seeks for a novel about letting go. For those who feel alone and wanted to know they're not the only one feeling that way. Chick-lit readers.




Alternate covers:

After the movie adaptation.

-       Michelle