Rock This! Thursday: Let's talk music covers.

Today we're going to do something a bit different and just discuss music. Covers to be exact. Once upon a time I hated covers. Sure there were a couple songs out there I enjoyed, but for the most part I just couldn't stand listening to them. Now a days I'll give any band or singer a try especially when it comes to Seether (the love of my life).

Sometimes though I'll stumble across a cover that reminds me of why I disliked them for so long. I got a text earlier this week from my best friend Shell telling me Brett Michaels did a cover of Sublime's What I Got. I immediately had to hear it.

I've never been a huge Brett Michaels fan, but the dude has a giood voice so I was willing to give him a try even though Shell told me it wasn't that good. I went to Youtube with an open mind and came out with bleeding ears. From the intro to the guitar to the "mother-truckin' riot" - it's just bad. If you haven't heard it for yourself yet, click here to give it a spin.

I thought about doing a post of other covers that make my ears bleed, but I decided one bad cover was enough for the week so instead I'm sharing five random favorites of mine.

1. Seether covering Amy Whinehouse's Rehab


- Seether can do no wrong in my eyes. I love how they are always covering the most random songs.

2. The Grateful Dead covering Buddy Holly's Not Fade Away


- I've literally been listening to the Dead since I was in the womb. I adore Buddy Holly so this cover just does it for me.

3. Audra Mae covering Bob Dylan's Forever Young



- This song is absolutely beautiful. I first heard it at the end of Sons of Anarchy and have been in love with it ever since.

4. Social Distortion covering Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire



- Cash is the man. There's not doubt about it, but this fast paced spin makes me jump around and sing at the top of my lungs.

5. Framing Hanley covering Lil Wayne's Lollipop



- I'm not a big rap fan. I was a semi rap fan in high school, but my main love has always been for rock. I actually heard this cover before I heard the original song. It's just awesome.

So how about you? Is there a cover that makes your ears bleed or a cover that you are head over heels with?

♥amber

July's Top Commenter Winner!

trishalynn0708

Congrats Trisha! You won one book of your choice (under $15) from the Book Depository! I sent you an email - please get back to me by Tuesday night. 

ANNOUNCEMENT: After thinking about this contest a bit more I decided to change things a bit. Since it's a MONTHLY contest I've decided that only comments during the current month we are in will count. I'll be keeping track of all comments myself in a spreadsheet. I know with the widget you can see where you're at in comments, but if everyone wants I can make the spreadsheet public. Also don't forget some posts will have extra points in them! Thanks again for participating guys and gals!

♥amber

Review: Split by Swati Avasthi

Split by Swati Avasthi


Released: March 2010
Publisher: Random House
Genre: Young Adult - Contemporary - Abuse
Pages: 282
Source: Around the World Tours


Rating: ♥♥♥♥


Sixteen-Year-Old Jace Witherspoon arrives at the doorstep of his estranged brother Christian with a re-landscaped face (courtesy of his father’s fist), $3.84, and a secret.


He tries to move on, going for new friends, a new school, and a new job, but all his changes can’t make him forget what he left behind—his mother, who is still trapped with his dad, and his ex-girlfriend, who is keeping his secret.
At least so far.


Worst of all, Jace realizes that if he really wants to move forward, he may first have to do what scares him most: He may have to go back. First-time novelist Swati Avasthi has created a riveting and remarkably nuanced portrait of what happens after. After you’ve said enough, after you’ve run, after you’ve made the split — how do you begin to live again?



---

SSplit is one of those novels where I'm really not for sure what to say. I don't mean that like it was a bad read. It was a great read. One that punched me in the gut and made me teary eyed.

The subject of abusive is never a pleasant one nor is it one that is easy to read. It's horrible to know that this type of family, and the things that not only Jace, but his older brother, Christian, were put through happen in real life. That so many children, teens, and adults have suffered these things - it really breaks your heart.

Jace was very well developed and sometimes even scary character. He's so fueled with anger, yet is trying his hardest to get past it, I wasn't for sure how his future would be. The secret that he is carrying around completely took me by surprise. It honestly infuriated me, but at the same time I felt very sympathetic towards him. Throughout the book you see his journey to make amends with his brother, to try and save his mother, and most importantly save himself from turning out like his father.

My only complaint is that during the middle of the read things just seemed to slow down for me. The beginning had me hooked, but then things seemed to drag more, but the ending...the ending was so realistic and due to the subject matter completely perfect.

♥amber

You Wish by Mandy Hubbard

You Wish by Mandy Hubbard


Released: August 2010
Publisher: Razorbill
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 272
Source: Around the World Tours


Rating: ♥♥♥♥


Kayla McHenry’s sweet sixteenth sucks! Her dad left, her grades dropped, and her BFF is dating the boy Kayla’s secretly loved for years. Blowing out her candles, Kayla thinks: I wish my birthday wishes actually came true. Because they never freakin’ do.


Kayla wakes the next day to a life-sized, bright pink My Little Pony outside her window. Then a year’s supply of gumballs arrives. And a boy named Ken with a disturbing resemblance to the doll of same name stalks her. As the ghosts of Kayla’s wishes-past appear, they take her on a wild ride… but they MUST STOP. Because when she was 15? She wished Ben Mackenzie would kiss her.


And Ben is her best friend's boyfriend.

---

I really enjoyed Mandy Hubbard's first novel and she did not disappoint me with You Wish.

The idea of this story was fantastic! Think back to every wish you've made at your birthday. Would you really want all of those to come true? Well for 16 year old Kayla, she doesn't really have a choice in the matter. From a life sized My Little Pony, a life supply of gum balls, a guy looking like Ken, and my most favorite wish ever - Raggedy Anne coming to life! Kayla's life is just getting more and more hectic by the minute, but what happens if the wish she made for her best friend's boyfriend to kiss her comes true?

Kayla is my type of character. A girl who is smart, screws up, and is full of witty sass. There were so many moments while reading I was cracking up and just loving every minute of it. Mandy Hubbard really knows how to write a fun novel that anyone of any age can read. While the idea of all your wishes coming true isn't very realistic, but the friendship and insecurities that Kayla has are. This book has a great mixture of a teen life plus a crazy situation.

After reading this, I can say for sure that Mandy has became one of my favorite authors and I think will keep coming up with some great novels for us to read.

♥amber

Rock This! Thursday: Empire Records Edition

Every once in a while I like to throw out something new - like say a friend's fanfic or a concert story. A while ago I thought when I didn't have anything to post, I'd fangirl out my love for the greatest movie ever made: Empire Records.

But I decided not to today. It's not because I don't adore the movie, the characters, can quote the sucker without even watching it, and once upon a time had a mad crush on Rory Cochrane aka Lucas, but because this morning I stumbled across one of the best posts ever. It's all about why Empire Records should be turned into a Young Adult novel. (I KNOW! Why the hell didn't I think of that? Are you reading this, Sab? Genius I tell you!) So click the link below and read Frankie's post of all the reasons why Empire Records should be a YA novel.

Damn the Man! Save the Empire! RaVe On! RaVe On!

But since I feel like I should leave something, I give you some of my favorite quotes. Don't hesitate to join in on the comment section and tell yours. If you haven't seen Empire Records, GO RENT IT NOW!

Lucas: Joe, is it okay if I leave the couch? Cause I'm gonna leave the couch now, okay? My ass is falling asleep, so I gotta go. I'm leaving.

Eddie: This music is the glue of the world, Mark. It's what holds it all together. Without this, life would be meaningless.

A.J.: I don't feel that I need to explain my art to you, Warren.

Lucas: Who knows where thoughts come from. They just appear. (Best writing quote right there!)

Gina: Well Sinead O'Rebellion. Shock me, shock me, shock me with that deviant behavior!

Mark: We mustn't dwell... no, not today. We can't! Not on Rex Manning day.

Joe: How old are you?
Warren: Old enough to kick your butt through your skull and splatter your brains on the wall.
Joe: Yeah, he's a juvenile.

Warren: Stop calling me Warren! My name isn't f*cking Warren!
Eddie: His name isn't Warren.
Corey: His name isn't Warren.
Berko: His name isn't Warren.
Mark: I thought his name was Warren?

♥amber

Vote for my story!

Chick Lit Stories is holding a 500 characters contest that I decided to participate in this morning. (Literally wrote it three minutes before I ran out the door for work. If I didn't, I would have forgotten to enter.) The winner gets a $25 giftcard to Amazon which means BOOKS or maybe MUSIC or hell I might even buy a CD. Oh who am I kidding it'll be books.
So if you all would be a doll and click this link and go to the 3RD entry where the screen name is AMBER and rate it for me (5 stars would be awesome, but you can rate it however you want.) I would REALLY appreciate it!

AND if you do vote for me I'll throw in 3 extra points for the Monthly Commenter Giveaway for July. Just leave a comment here saying you voted for my story. (Leaving a comment will add 1 more point so technically you'll be getting 4. See how I can bribe you?) How will I know you actually voted for me?  I won't, but I'm going by the honest system here. Cause honesty is the best policy!

♥amber

Monthly Top Commenter Giveaway!

I've seen various blogs do different monthly giveaways and I decided to finally join in! Every month I'll be giving ONE of the following to the top commenter.

• A swag pack
• A book of their choice
• A book from my bookshelf

Here are the rules:

• The giveaway is open to EVERYONE! But please note that some prizes may vary depending on shipping cost and/or if Book Depository does not ship to your country. 
• NEW RULE: This is a monthly contest which means only the comments in that month will be counted. (i.e.e If it's August all comments in August will count. Comments in past months do not count.)  I will be keeping track of this myself. 
• If there is a tie between people, their names will be placed in a hat and there will be a winner picked that way.
• I'll announce the winner on here at the beginning of each month. If your email address is posted on your profile/blog, I will send you an email. If it is not, it's your responsibility to contact me.
• Winners will have 48 hours to get back to me with their information. If there no response after 48 hours I will go to the next commenter on the list. 
• I choose which prize will be sent every month. It will always be 1 of the 3.
• I have the right to change the rules at any time to this giveaway.

Any questions? Feel free to ask here in the comment box or shoot me an email: justyourtypicalbookblog(at)hotmail(dot)com

♥amber