Sunday, September 8, 2013

Showcase Sunday (#27)

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicki at Books, Biscuits and Tea. Its aim is to showcase our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders this week.

I haven't done a Showcase Sunday post in nearly two months. (Sorry!) I'm absolutely terrible at remembered all the books I bought/borrowed/received, so I'm just going to showcase the recent titles and hope I didn't leave out anything too interesting. 

For Review: 
pic name pic name pic name
Frozen by Melissa de la Cruz
Fact: I receive a lot of strange ARCs and Finished Copies from unknown publishers. And this is one of them. I have a lovely finished copy of this that I don't entirely plan to read, so it'll probably collect dust on my shelves, but...there it is. *shrug*
Sorrow's Knot by Erin Bow 
I wasn't a fan of Plain Kate, but I'm very curious about this title. I'm hoping I enjoy it!
I've been hearing a lot of hype about this one and couldn't resist requesting it. Thankfully, Not a Drop to Drink totally lived up to the hype. I'll have my review of this up soon...I hope!
pic name pic name pic name
I was pleasantly surprised when this showed up on my doorstep and basically read it in a matter of hours. I didn't enjoy it as much as Unspoken, but still a solid read. I'll hopefully have my review of this up either this week or by the next!
It should come as no surprise that I absolutely adore Kristan Higgins. I recently finished The Best Man and am looking forward to diving into this sequel. After all, there's nothing better than a good romance novel.
Please Ignore Vera Dietz is a novel that is universally loved by most people...except me. I wasn't a fan, but when Reality Boy turned up on my doorstep, I knew I'd be reading it. And I can't wait.

Borrowed:
I'm so curious about this one. I've just heard a LOT about it and as my past two Levithan experiences were phenomenal, I'm hoping this one will be too.
I adored Quick's Silver Linings Playbook and this seemed to have been blowing everyone's mind, so I knew I had to borrow it from my library. And it was incredible. Brilliant. Heart-breaking. Very highly recommended.
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke
I'm really excited to read this one, especially because it's a gothic romance and I love nothing more than that. I keep expecting my copy to arrive in the mail, but until it does, I've borrowed this from the library. You know, just to have it look pretty on my shelves before I delve into it. :)
I think I'll have this one finished by the time this post goes live, but suffice to say that I'm thoroughly enjoying it. A wonderful follow-up novel.
I read Forbidden years ago, so I can't tell if I'll still enjoy Suzuma's writing and work, but I'm determined to try and this one sounds phenomenal.
...because why not more Higgins? ;)

Bought:
It was my birthday during the last week of August, so while I got a lot of wonderful presents, I didn't receive any books, only because my parents are firm believers in borrowing library books. Hence the reason my friends all splurged to get me B&N and Amazon gift cards, with which I bought the following pretties:
I've read all of these, but they're my absolute favorites and I've already gone back to re-read my favorite passages. I rarely buy books, but when I do, they're the very best.
(Pictures from My Instagram)

Well, that's my haul for the month so far! What books have you gotten to kick-off September?

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Review: Born of Illusion by Terri Brown


Title: Born of Illusion (Born of Illusion, #1) 

Author: Terri Brown

Rating: 4 Stars

Born of Illusion falls into that inevitably irritating category of novels which have received a mixed bag of reviews. A handful of my trust reviewers loved, another handful really enjoyed this, and still another group of them just couldn't connect with this one. Thus, I did what any reader would do: sit tight, wait, and make a decision concerning this novel after reviews of its sequel trickled in. Well, guess who was well and truly hypnotized upon seeing the breathtaking cover of this at the library? So thoroughly hypnotized that I check it out and proceeded to start reading it that very night (with deliberate sneaks at the cover from time-to-time, of course)?

Needless to say, I haven't regretted my love affair with the cover of this book. (An affair that quickly disintegrated as my heart turned its attentions to Cole. Yes, yes, I know - my heart is fickle.) Set in the 1920s, Born of Illusion follows the tale of Anna, the reputed illegitimate daughter of Houdini. A talented magician, Anna and her mother have traveled all their life, performing shows to earn their wages. When they move to New York, however, a string of strange occurrences begin, from Anna's visions about her mother in danger to a mysterious follower. If Anna isn't careful, someone could be about to trick her...

From the beginning itself, I absolutely loved Anna's narration. Anna isn't afraid to have a fair bit of fun in her life and on stage she's spectacular, capturing the audience and stealing the show with her genuine magical abilities. Yet, behind that exterior, she is also deeply vulnerable, unsettled by her past and her tumultuous relationship with her mother. Although Anna can read people's emotions with a single touch, she still struggles to connect with others, having only her mother to rely on in life. And that, my dear readers, is where Born of Illusion not only excels, but stuns. Anna's relationship with her mother is complicated a sticky, a mix of natural jealousy between two talented performers and affection. One of my favorite aspects of this tale is that Anna not only comes to understand her mother better, but along the way she also understands herself better. Furthermore, she comes to accept that her mother's dreams and her own dreams don't necessarily align and that is okay. For me, this is such an integral and important message: that's it's okay to break away from the life you've always known and what something different, no matter what age you are. We see this both with Anna and her mother, which I really loved. It's so rare to see such realistic and well-portrayed mother-daughter relationships, so this is a definite keeper.

Nevertheless, it should be noted that the plot of Born of Illusion is a bit of after-thought. It isn't a central aspect of the novel, though it is interesting. If anything, Anna herself drives this novel forward, which I loved. Although the story line is intriguing - filled with strange happenings, kidnappings, and ransom notes, it did become slightly predictable at the end. And yet, despite that, it is thoroughly enjoyable. It is impossible to really tear away from this book or become detached from the plot because Anna's tale is simple so engrossing. At every turn I was always eager to read how Anna would react, feel her rush of feelings, and learn more about her world. Brown writes captivating seances and magic shows, truly building up the suspense and allowing us to glimpse another facet of Anna's personality. Furthermore, I adored the world Brown has created. As a historical fiction tale, Born of Illusion works well, though, I must admit, not as excellent as Libba Bray's The Diviners. I wish this novel was a touch more atmospheric, but the depth of the research done really showed.

Another thing to love about Born of Illusion? It takes the love triangle trope and makes it work. For one thing, the two "love interests" at hand - Cole and Owen - are never truly vying for Anna's attentions. I even hesitate to call them love interests because it's obvious where Anna's heart lies. Nevertheless, what I liked about the romance was that it was a bit of a slow-burn and very sweet. I don't know about you, but I'm a little - okay, VERY - tired of bad boys. I mean, please, find some new cliched phrases! I love a shy guy more than anything else, so that was a very pleasant change. Furthermore, the love triangle was revealed to be an important plot necessity and even when Anna was with the other boy, those scenes were integral to the story line and world. Considering I was never frustrated by this love story - only because I knew who Anna liked - I was able to sit back and really enjoy the way the romance played out in this.

Ultimately, Born of Illusion isn't one to pass up. If you're like me, you probably can't pass it up because you've been hypnotized by the cover, but if - somehow - you've resisted the allure of that gorgeous hardback, then you should definitely check this out if you're a fan of historical fiction, the 1920s, or just Houdini. Although the novel doesn't focus on the man himself, there are plenty of mentions, not to mention thrilling tricks, within these pages. Born of Illusion isn't a thought-provoking or ground-breaking read, but it's engaging and just so much fun. And sometimes, that's all you need on a rainy summer night: a smile on your face and pretty book to curl up with.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Mini-Reviews: Her Best Worst Mistake, The Spectacular Now, and Starry Nights


Title: Starry Nights

Author: Daisy Whitney

Rating: 2 Stars/DNF

Release Date: September 3rd, 2013

Where to begin with Starry Nights? From the beginning itself, the narration struck me as off and as the novel progressed, I was unable to connect with the story. Unlike Whitney’s last book, When You Were Here, her latest is devoid of much emotion. I was unable to become emotionally attached to any of the characters or even come to care about them. Moreover, for a novel set in France, this book could very well be set anywhere on Earth. Whitney fails to describe her vivid setting and capture the aura of a new country, one teeming with romance and magical qualities. As a French student – one who has been forced to study art excessively by a rather obsessed substitute teacher – I didn’t have much trouble following the narrative voice, but the lack of descriptions lead me to believe that many readers may possibly be confused by the art terms or merely bored by them. I know I was. With the exception of its cover, I am sad to admit that there is nothing exceptional about Whitney’s newest novel. It didn’t work for me, but just maybe its final version will be slightly more polished and woo readers everywhere.

Title: Her Best Worst Mistake

Author: Sarah Mayberry

Rating: 4.5 Stars

I picked this up late at night, hoping to read a chapter or two before calling it a day, but I wound up inhaling this entire short novel within two hours and seeing the beginning of the next day instead. And I love that feeling; there are few things more wonderful than losing all sense of time in a book and waking up to find that the world has moved on, even while you were stuck in a haze of fiction. Her Best Worst Mistake is surprisingly readable, being both sexy and thought-provoking, with a brilliant cast of characters to boot. Usually, with a summary as sketchy as this one - sleeping with your best friend's ex-fiancée - I'm typically running in the other direction, but the overwhelming amount of positive reviews for this one made me too curious to resist. And I'm glad I didn't. While I doubt I'll pick up anything more from this author in the foreseeable future, I know I won't be able to get this remarkable love story out of my head for awhile. If you're in one of those moods where all you need is some sexy times, thrown in with a couple who walks that fine line between hate and love where the tension is just sizzling, then look no farther. Her Best Worst Mistake won't be your worst mistake, but it could very well be your best. Guaranteed.

Title: The Spectacular Now

Author: Tim Tharp

Rating: 4 Stars

I'd have never picked up this novel in a million years if it weren't for the fact that the screen writers of "500 Days of Summer" wrote the screenplay for the movie version of this novel. And Shailene Woodley, of course. It seems a little shallow to admit that, but it's the truth. I'm not a fan of Contemporary YA and I'm especially not a fan of novels about teenagers partying and drinking - which is, admittedly, a lot of what this book is. 

Yet, the narration throughout this story is superb. Sutter, the teen who has popularity, a car, a job, and a girlfriend. A really big heart. But also a drinking problem. An addiction. And reading his tale is a little like stepping into that mindset yourself. It captures the essence of the teenage years, but also the scary cliff that looms ahead when you're lost in your world. Sutter is so deeply dark with so many layers to just keep peeling. Aimee, the girl he intends to save, is just as screwed up in some ways and I love her unrelenting depths as well. All of these characters are written so starkly; realistic and raw in a manner that is difficult to describe. And this ending, though not the one I was clamoring for, did manage to grasp life in all its highs and lows. The Spectacular Now is a spectacular slice of life itself, with all its messiness and flaws, complications and oddities, and though it's not my favorite book out there, I can't recommend it enough.

Monday, September 2, 2013

ARC Review: This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales


Title: This Song Will Save Your Life 

Author: Leila Sales

Rating: 5 Stars

Release Date: September 17th, 2013

I’ve written a lot of difficult reviews over the past year, but there has never come a point where I planned to just give up and screw the review because I just couldn’t do it. And then, of course, I read Leila Sales This Song Will Save Your Life and it punched me right in the feels and brought back so many memories and left me a total wreck. I still don’t know how to write this review. I don’t think I can do justice to this book. I just hope that, no matter what, this book gets the attention it deserves. Because, in case you couldn’t already figure out, TSWSYL is life-changing.

Leila Sales latest is a dark novel, but an important one. “How do I fit in?” I think it’s a question we’ve all asked ourselves at some point or the other. Growing up, I didn’t actually have a lot of friends. I moved to New Jersey when I was seven and, suddenly, I just didn’t have anyone. I had a tight circle back in Michigan, but here I was suddenly an oddity. I was too smart. I was too plump. My mom braided my hair in pigtails which was just too weird. I used phrases like, “I was pulling your leg,” which just wasn’t cool. And still, I’d charge forward to school everyday for three years until I found someone – my best friend – the first person to accept me for who I was. I was lucky this was before middle school. I was lucky I realized that it was absolutely okay to be just who I was in life. I was also extremely lucky that the only time I ever considered suicide – last summer – I was too terrified of blood to actually go through with it.

Elise, however, wasn’t that lucky. Elise has grown up knowing she’s different and although she spends an entire summer trying – desperately – to change herself; to learn all the latest bands, to wear all the latest clothes, to do everything right, she still manages to miss the mark. And, suddenly, it’s all too much for her to bear. TSWSYL is the perfect coming-of-age novel, exploring what it means to have no one, be no one in anyone’s eyes, and still discover a group to fit in. Sales, first and foremost, is spot-on with her characterization of Elise. I connected with her from the first page – heck, I spent all my summers teaching myself something or the other, whether it was Hindi or all about paleontology or just about bird-watching - so seeing Elise come to the realization that learning for the sake of learning wasn’t a social plus point, just like I did myself many years ago, was like walking back down memory lane.

And yet, Elise manages to be a teenager of her own nature too. While she has distinct qualities that many readers will connect with, I also love that she’s fiercely independent in her quirks, her love of music, and especially her relationships with her parents. I feel as if Sales hit the nail on the head with Elise’s parents. Ultimately, as much as we all wish our parents could help us find friends and get through life, they can’t. Not always. Thus, Elise’s bonds with her divorced parents are messy and complicated, full of unsaid words and lost emotions. Yet, despite all that, the affection Elise has for them and their understated pride of her accomplishments is felt so palpably through these pages. I don’t think there is anything I love more than an author who is able to convey feelings without explicitly stating them and those waves were exactly what I got with this novel.

TSWSYL really picks up, plot-wise, when Elise discovers an underground club and soon learns to DJ. Already her love for music puts her in an ideal spot to fit in with the crowd, but her personality soon earns her many friends as well. Vicky, the carefree girl Elise first meets at the club, soon becomes a close friend and seeing their friendship evolve – awkwardly, slowly, but surely – was such a heart-wrenching bond to watch unfold. I sometimes like to think there are two types of books in the world: those with horrible, no-one-wants-you-here best friends who push the protagonist toward asshole guys or ditch them during a time of need or completely don’t care and those with the what-would-I-do-without-you girls who stick up for the heroine and slap away the assholes and sometimes do that to the hero too when he’s being a dick. Thankfully, TSWSYL falls into the latter category – for sure.

As far as romance goes, I can’t say this book has a lot. Or, rather, let me re-phrase that – this book doesn’t have a typical romance. And yet, it is much more realistic than any other romance I’ve read. Char, the current DJ at the club Elise discovers, soon teaches her how to DJ and becomes more than just a friend to her. Both Char and their relationship have an almost ethereal quality to it, being difficult and complicated, but coated with a veneer of ease. Char is much older than Elise, which gives their romance a very different angle and dynamic, but also makes their relationship much more rewarding in the future. Elise’s growth because of and due to this love story is what I ultimately loved about it, so added to its originality, Sales manages to stun yet again.

TSWSYL will probably not be as personal an emotional journey as it was for me, but regardless of that fact, it is an incredible novel. It is filled with unforgettable characters, even more stuck-in-your-head music, and wonderful depth. Utterly moving, deeply touching, and poignant, this is not a book that will leave your thoughts for a long time to come. Leila Sales, you are my hero.

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Discussion: Time Management

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single bibliophile in possession of a good book to read must be in want of time to read it. Am I right or am I right? As bloggers, I think we all struggle - a lot - with managing our time, reading, commenting, reviewing, and formatting our blogs. It's time-consuming and it doesn't really give us all that much in return. Except, you know, that little thing called happiness. ;) 

I've been asked - multiple times, actually - to write up a post about how I manage my time. Many people seem to be in awe of the fact that I comment on roughly 12-18 blogs a day, post reviews once in two days (max.), and manage to read at least three hundred books a year. 

Well, I'm here to tell you it's not all that unusual.

A List of Reasons Why I Can Read As Much as I Do 

1. Adulthood = Sucks. Many bloggers who read YA are adults, which means you have to take care of kids or cook meals or pay bills. I don't have to do any of that. I wake up, go to school, come home, study my butt off, and repeat the process. So, if there's any secret to my reading habits, it's probably my age.

2. Boring Blogging = Easier Blogging. In case you haven't noticed, my blog is very green. (It's my favorite color.) Maybe your blog is blue or red or purple or maybe it's ALL of those colors. What I'm saying is this: I don't spend a lot of time formatting my blog. I know my header and button aren't very pretty. I'll change it. Eventually. I know my posts are plain. "Title, Author, Rating, Review. Add a picture." BAM. But this works for me. I know tons of bloggers who have gorgeous blogs with reviews that have links to bookstores or include a synopsis or do a number of other creative things. I also know tons of bloggers who are active meme participants or vloggers. I don't make vlogs or participate in too many memes, which is a personal decision I made because I found that (a) I look/sound terrible in videos and also happen to get a lot of my books on my Kindle and (b) back when I participated in memes I used them as placeholders for reviews instead of enjoying the meme itself, which I recognized as incorrect and stopped. For a lot of bloggers, though, these memes and vlogs really work and I absolutely love seeing them (so don't stop!), but it does take a lot less time to organize my posts when I don't have to edit videos or format ten pictures for Top Ten Tuesdays. 

Now, I just wanted to get that out of the way. I'm not here to boast about how many books I read (honestly, I feel awfully embarrassed writing up this post, but a good friend convinced me that many readers were interested in this topic, so here I am, writing this post!), but I am here to tell you that although you may not be reading as much as you like, you're probably doing a lot of other wonderful things, like spending time with your family or on other areas of your blog. 

Time Management Tips & Tricks: How to Squeeze in Reading & Blogging into Our Everyday Lives

1. Read Fast. I read roughly a hundred pages an hour. I don't know if that seems like a lot or not, but it will help to keep that in mind as this list progresses. 

2. Read Everywhere. I mean this statement literally. I, for instance, manage to read for seventeen minutes before I even leave the house every morning to catch my bus. How? (1) I read my Kindle while I brush my teeth for two minutes and (2) I read my Kindle while I eat breakfast every morning which usually takes fifteen minutes. Which means that before I've even left the house, I've read roughly twenty-five or more pages. I also find time to read in school, especially if I've finished a test earlier and have free time. Or on the bus back since my friends and I usually stay after school for various activities, so I find myself a nice twenty minute reading slot, so on a normal school day, I return home at 3 PM having read a total of fifty pages, combining my morning and afternoon reading slots. 

3. Read Regularly. No matter how busy my day is, even if I'm pulling an all-nighter and only finish my physics project at 3 AM, I make it a point to read for thirty minutes before I go to bed. Which means another fifty pages, usually. If you're doing the math with me, this equates to roughly a hundred pages in one day. If I'm reading a normal, four-hundred page novel, I can have this done within a week. And over the weekend, I put in some extra time to have another book finished within those two (or three) days. Which means that during the school year, I finish two books a week. 

If you commute via bus, train, or even car, your regular reading time could be during this time period - an audiobook while driving, an e-book on the bus or train? Just make it a point to read every day at one certain time (maybe after you make dinner but before you eat it?) and you'll likely find yourself reading more during the week. Otherwise, I used to read kind of any time I had free time, but that free time takes forever to present itself and before you know it, it's been three days since you last even looked at a book. It happens. *sigh*

4. Trust Yourself. Now, this is probably easier for some people and harder for others. I say trust yourself because I know a number of reviewers who write their reviews and re-write them and edit them and edit them again. Well, I'm telling you now: don't. Does your review read better when you edit it? Yes. It does. But does it really have a whole lot of different content? No. And this is an important thing I began to realize. I used to edit my reviews a lot - and I still edit any guest posts I hand it - but now, I've learned that just typing out a first draft of a review and running over it for spelling errors is more than enough. Ask yourself: what do you want your readers to know about this book? Characters? Plot? Flaws? If it's all in your first draft, then post it! We're not rating anyone on their best writing capability; we read reviews to find out whether or not we want to read that particular book. And if a reader can figure that out from your review, they're good to go. So: don't stress. Just write. (And post.)

5. Technology is Your Best Friend. I'm sure you've heard this one, but one thing that always surprises me is how few bloggers use their i-Devices or phones to comment on blogs. Both Blogger and Wordpress have very accessible websites on technological devices which have made my life about fifty times easier. I sometimes have mornings where I just want to snuggle in for a few extra minutes, although I'm already awake, so I use those mornings to log into Blogger and start reading and commenting on blogs. It's so much easier to read blogs on my iPhone, believe it or not, and I've become very adept at commenting as well. I also comment on blogs all the time. When I'm waiting for the microwave to heat some food, I'm commenting on a blog. When I'm waiting for my computer to boot up, I'm commenting on a blog. When I'm changing or packing my bag for the next day I'm usually reading a blog post. I carry my phone everywhere, which also means I have an ability to comment everywhere I go. It's quick and extremely efficient too.

Also: USE APPS! I use the Twitter App all the time to read author interviews or just find new blogs that have reviewed a book I'm curious about reading. The GoodReads App is my favorite, though, since I can read & like reviews (without the distraction of those shiny polls and thoughtful quotes) and occasionally jot down a few thoughts on a book I finished to help guide my reviews. 

6. Inspiration...Use It! I tend to review books in one of two ways. Either I finish a book and immediately know exactly what I want to say, in which case I type out my review immediately and format it on the blog as well. Or, I usually have no idea what to say and leave it on my GoodReads shelf to return to. And once in two or three weeks, I am struck by an intense urge to review. I don't know if this happens to a lot of other people, but it happens to me, and I usually manage to belt out three or four long reviews and have them formatted for the blog over the course of an afternoon. Which usually means that my "draft" shelf on Blogger is a lot longer and I don't have to worry about reviewing for almost another month, in-between guest posts and "Showcase Sunday" memes. I know writer's block can be a pain, but when inspiration strikes, drop everything and run to the nearest computer. Also: don't just stop at one review. When I get my reviewing done in chunks, I feel so relieved afterwards and can really just focus on enjoying the reading part of this hobby instead of worrying about the other parts. 

7. Find a Review Format...and Stick With It! I know a lot of reviewers who have a very distinct style, which I love - especially on dual-run blogs - since I can tell who wrote the post without even needing to look at their name. I also know a lot of reviewers who are extremely creative in their review approaches every week. And, you know what? - to each their own. I do think, though, that it's important to create a general format, if not of the review of what you want in each review, so that reviewing is easier. I used to be really tense about reviewing because what if I forgot the character's personality? or didn't mention the romance I really liked or skipped over the action sequences? Now, however, I have a mental checklist of everything I want to include in any review, regardless of the book, and while reading I try to add to that mental list if the book has something extra I want to discuss. 

For instance, I always mention the protagonist, the love interest, and any flaws I saw in the novel, but in some reviews - like my recent review of The Bone Season - I felt compelled to discuss the genre because I thought readers might like to know that this isn't a book that belongs in one genre, but rather one that elements of multiple genres. So, even if you don't have a strict five or six paragraph review format, knowing what you want to say really helps. I know I have a tendency of thinking about a book long after I've finished it and finding more and more interesting things about it, but prioritizing - secondary characters, summary, villains, time period, etc. - can make sitting down and writing that review so much easier.

8. DNF, DNF, DNF! A lot of readers feel guilty for not finishing a book - and I totally get that. I was exactly like that last year. I've come to recognize, though, that I'm happier when I'm reading what I want to read and what I like to read. I hate slogging through a novel because I have to. No matter how much better the book gets by the end, there is no erasing the fact that hours of your life were wasted flipping page after page. I believe that DNFing a book is perfectly acceptable as long as you've (a) given the book a chance and (b) explain why you were unable to finish the novel. Of course, if you really, absolutely, cannot DNF a book, that's fine, but think about it. A bad book takes at least two times as much time to read as a good one, so you could be reading two great books instead of finishing a bad one. Just my take on it. 

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Um...that's all I've got! Obviously, what works for me isn't going to work for everyone. I'm one of those highly competitive people who is competing with her own book pile, so I have a fierce determination to just keep reading. Also, reading (honestly) keeps me sane since I go to an extremely competitive school district and find it easy to lose track of where I end and my grades begin. So, really, I do extreme things like reading while brushing my teeth to keep my sanity intact. I really tried to think, though, of both things I do consciously (using my iPhone to comment on blogs, reading regularly every day, reading on the bus, etc.) and things I do subconsciously (mental checklist of topics to discuss in a review, random intervals of inspiration, etc.).

Also, I think it's important to keep in mind that while my challenge is to read at least three hundred books a year, whatever your challenge may be, it is a challenge, and that's the important thing. I hope this managed to help some readers, so let me know if I missed any important tips or tricks in the comments below! Happy Reading! :D