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Garrett B

Garrett B

Hi!
I just found out about Shelfari not that long ago, and I love it! Now I can FINALLY keep track of my books.

Some of my interests include, music, drawing, architecture, technology, and of course, reading! I enjoy science fiction the most out of all genres. My favorite books include The Hunger Games Trilogy, Percy Jackson and the... more »
  • member since July 23 2009

My Favorite books

     
 
 
 

Public Notes

  • Nat Castello

    Nat Castello says

    Peter Pan, still boring, yes. But. like I said before, if you can stick with it, a little interesting.

    And as far as the Harry Potter movie, I think the government thing hit the nail right on the head. Sadly. They ruin a perfectly, awesomely, amazingly, good, book just because it's a little too similar to present day. But. . . it's their problem, not mine.

    Meyer said she would work on new projects. . . What those are, I don't know. I still go on her website. I was just on a couple weeks ago. Nothing new yet. It probably will be another romance though. With monsters and what not, like you said. That seems to be her specailty with the Twilight Saga and The Host and all that. I still think she should write Midnight Sun, but what would I know about how many people would buy that book and love it death? I'm only one fan that can't go a day without hearing or seeing something about those dang books.

    It is a little weird having people read your writing out loud. But if they make it sound good, why not? What I hate is that when people read it mockingly. They'll put feeling into their voice, but it's exagerated. And then when they critisize you on your spelling or grammer and say what they think is wrong about your book or what they think you should add or change. It's like they expect it to be perfect first time around. I can't tell you how long I've been writing my own book. And how many times people have flung what they think I should do at me. As far as you writing, go for it! Its a little uncomfortable at first, just writing what you want that's not going to be graded, but being a little formal about it. And it might sound a little undeveloped. But the more you write, the better you get. Ever read your essays that you wrote for school or whatever from four years back? My jaw dropped to the floor. I wondered how I could write that bad. It's the same feeling when I look back at my book. :) Good luck on the four part project. I get a new project every other week, but they're small-ish. And thanks for your support, even if it is in an note. . . or essay. I'll tell you when I get the thing in print. :)

    I look up the Rick Riordan blog. Thanks! He also has a website. Just type in www.rickriordan.com and it should come up. It has updates on his books. From his Tres Navere adult series to Percy Jackson. And anything on that Egyptian series, tell me.

    Lucky you! You got Syren! Ugh! I have to wait until Christmas. Nobody knows what to get me, so when a book comes out that I want. . . well, you get the idea. And OF COURSE I've noticed Mark Zug's pictures! He's an AMAZING illustrator! I love his pictures! He's so talented. You're right, Angie Sage is a VERY lucky duck. I've tried to draw some the pictures in those books just as an excercise for myself because they look so good and have so much detail. They didn't turn out as good as his, but they were still good. I love a challenge when it comes to drawing. You know the book Eragon? I've drawn all the covers to that series, just because they're so complex.

    YES I'VE HEARD OF THE PENDRAGON SERIES!!!!! I've started reading the first book. I'm half way through and it's soooooooooooooooooo good. It's one of those books that you CAN'T put down. You start reading, and you get sucked into it. You forget you surroundings entirly. And it actually switches in between Bobby's journals and a third person narration, telling you what's going on on Earth and what his friends are doing and how they are helping Bobby. It's really good! I can't wait to finish it.

    Author Tracker is really good. It doesn't include all authors, though. It only includes the one who's publisher is Harper Collins, because they made the website. They'll send you emails telling you if the author is touring in your area and when their next book is coming out and it even lets you look at the first few chapters. When they emailed me about Magykal Papers, I got, like, half the book, maybe more. The same with Syren. But I didn't read any of it. I'll only read it when I get it.

    Lucky you with the 50 minute classes. But if your class is good then it goes by so fast. My science is Harry's Potions and my Math is Potions and History of Magic combined. In my Math class, I want to fall asleep and at the same time, I'm as dumb at Math as Harry was at potions. Let's put it that way. But Global and English and Art are like Care of Magical Creatures and Defense against the Dark Arts for me. And I LOVE my half days. Get out at 10:30. . . so nice. But it's funny, 'cause everybody wonders how they can be going to their last class when on a regular day, we'd still be in our second class. On half days, we start to wonder how we can stand a full day. (^_^)

    posted 2 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Nat Castello

    Nat Castello says

    Honestly, Peter Pan is kind of boring, but not all bad. It's interesting because they practically went back and explained how Never Land got the mermaids and the indians and the pirates and how Peter came to be there. So it was okay. I think I will read the second one, though, just because I bought it, thinking it was the first. So I'm going to read it, cause it'd just be a waste of money if I didn't at least TRY to read it.

    I loved how funny the Harry Potter movie was, but the drama I didn't care for. Like you said, stick with the original plot, people. I think they put Draco in a suit to make it seem like he meant business and thought highly of himself and all that. Symbolism, if you will. My cousin said that they cut out alot of what rowling had in her book because alot of what she wrote about was how stupid and unfair the Ministry was being. He said that the producers didn't want that in the movie because what Rowling was writing about was like what is going on in the government today. I don't know if my cousin is right or not though. Maybe. But I think it was that people (unfortunetly) want drama and romance 24/7 now. Part of it might be about the government. But you can never be sure. They'd keep that kind of think hush-hush.

    Yup, Meyer just quit on Midnight Sun. Stupid, I know. She has alot of pride. I read on her website that (before it got exposed) she was going to finish writing and publish Midnight Sun because she believed that Edward DESERVED to have his story told. So now that she's stopped, I guess Edward doesn't deserved to have his side of the story out there anymore. Bummer too. It woud've been really good. As far as protecting her book. I think she trys too hard. If you try too hard, it's bond to get exposed. By someone she trusted with it, no less. I saw in a book store this book on Harry Potter, what went on behind the scenes. This book tells what people had to do in order to protect the Harry Potter books from getting out there before the realse date. So they have a whole book on it, but when Harry Potter was still in progress, you didn't hear anything about it. While Meyer's like, "I really want my fans not to experience the book until the intended realse date." Say that, and some kids are crazy enough to go looking for it, just because she implied that there could be mock-ups or stolen ones out there. So, keep it in the middle. Like I said. :)

    I kind of have an idea of how she felt though. I mean, I'm still writing my book, and I wouldn't want it posted on the internet. But I wouldn't stop writing it either. I was originally writing two books at once, but then I decided to just stick with one of them. The one I'm calling Avery, because that's the main character's name and I'm still playing with the title. I'll go back to the other book when I'm done with Avery. I just decided to just work on Avery because it was going so much faster then the other one. I know exactly what to write. I'm pretty sure I have the whole story laid out in my head right now. Now I just need to find the time to write. Grrr. But yeah, I wouldn't quit writing just because some jerk posted it on the internet. It's not like it'd be the whole book. And, if it's good, it'll keep the possible fans looking for it. Kind of like a 200+ page long excerpt. That's how I'd look at it.

    I hope my book is a national bestseller. I honestly think it has the potential. I try to invision my book as someone elses, and I just picked it off the shelf and started reading it to see if it's good. That helps me alot. If I can see someone reading it off the self, then I know that line or part is good. What was really funny, though, was when my book was read out loud. The person who was reading it looked at a line and said, "Listen to this. . . " and then she read it. When she read the line, I wasn't sure if she was reading it or making it up. I looked at her weird and said, "Did I really write that?" I looked at the page, and then I remember writing that line. It was weird, though. Having someone else read you're book out loud and put feeling into it. I really hope it gets published. :) Thanks for wishing me luck. I'll need it. (^_^)

    MAY 4th?!?!?!? That's sooner then I expected but so far away at the same time. It's close enought to make you impatient. But at least it's less of a wait. Almost the same with the Camp Half-Blood series. Riordan said a while before the next one. But end of 2010? I can wait that long. . . . I think. I can't wait to read that Egyption one. That sounds AMAZING. Almost as amazing as Camp Half-Blood. :) Don't worry, I'll keep my eyes peeled. If I find out anything, you'll be the first to know.

    I told you Septimus Heap was great. Or did I? I don't know, but I said it was good. I know that much. And yeah, the pictures in the Magykal Papers are really good. Some of the pictures in the books are good too. Like the one of Jenna in the second or third one. Spit Fyre in the thrid one. And Septimus in the second one. But what's awesome about the Papers is that those same pictures are in color. Oh, and if you get any more info on that Harry Potter encyclopedia, could you tell me?

    And, before I forget, there's this website called author tracker where you can have an account and they give you a list of authors and you click on your favorite authors and if they're coming out with a new book or if a new book of their's is out, you get an email with a link that will let you read part of it. Because of that website, I found out about Magykal Papers and Syren before they came out and was even able to read the first couple pages.

    The year-round school does sound weird. I like the plain old summer break, too. I love half days too. I have one tomorrow. 40 and 20 minute classes. YES!! My classes are normally 80 minutes. Imagine sitting in the same subject that you can't stand for an hour and 20 minutes straight with NO BREAKS. It's torture. It never ends. I find my self actually knowing when some of my classes end. That's never a good sign. And get out early on Wednesday??? That is weird. You'd think it'd be Friday. . . or even Monday. But more Friday. Normally, if I have a half day, I'm usually off the next day. But, like you said, don't question the half days, they're golden. Too bad we don't have half days every day. I get out at like, 10:30 in the morning on half days. So nice.

    This isn't so much a note, as it is an essay or something. Ha-ha! (^_^)

    posted 2 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Nat Castello

    Nat Castello says

    I only read the first Peter Pan. But I have the second, which I'm planning on reading. . . sometime this decade. :)

    Lucky you, good at math. I'm doing Geometery this year. Not fun. But if you like math and are good at it, designer or architect are really good jobs.

    I don't like waiting for movies to come out either. But because I have so much on my plate right now, I don't exactly have a though for impatience. When it's Feburary 10th I'll start getting impatient. Because it comes out on the 12th.

    Yes, I was immersed in the Harry Potter movie. I wasn't so involved that I didn't realize how long it was, though. Probably because I was mad at some parts. Particuarly Harry and Ginny's kiss and how obvious Hermnonie was with liking Ron. And with Draco with the suit and brief case. Me and my friends were like, "What was THAT?"

    And Meyer's unfinished book was published. It was exposed, revealed, and a voilation of the writer's rights. It was just some person either. Meyer emailed her book to people that she wanted it read by. Then one of them decided to put what she emailed them on the internet. Little Booger. Either way, it was her fault that the book got exposed in the first place. She shouldn't have trusted that person. She was protective of her books in the beginning. I read a note she posted on her website. She was talking about the realeasing of Breaking Dawn. She said a mouthful about protecting the book before it's realease date and that her fans did such a good job with Eclipse. Blah-blah-blah. Who broadcasts that? I don't know about you, but I haven't herd of any author aside from her that broadcasts that stuff. I didn't hear J.K. Rowling do it. And she's twice as famous as Meyer is. There's nothing wrong with being protective, but you have to keep it in the middle. Meyer is either too protective, or not protective enough. Hense the Midnight Sun exposing. Now Meyer's given up on the project. Sometimes I get so mad, I just think I (or any other author, for that matter) should write it. I mean, it wouldn't be Meyer's work, but I think I'd be better then nothing.

    And my book is going great, thanks for asking. Typed it's only about 49 pages. But written it's 132. And I'm not even close to being done. I have connections with a publisher and I've talked to people who have experience copywriting things. So I know where to go and the gist of how to copywrite my work.

    I didn't know that Rick Riordan might be doing an Egyption series. What was the video called? That would be so cool if Percy and Annabeth were camp councelors. I hope they are. That'd be so awesome. But even if the new series won't be like the original, it's better then no more Camp Half-Blood at all, right? And remember, this is Roirdan we're talking about here. What ever he writes is bound to be amazing, awesome, cool, fresh, quick pased, and a best-seller. And RED birthday cake? That's funny. It might be green though.

    And you already finished Queste?!? Dang! That was fast. Magykal Papers is really good. Not as good as the original series. But a really good extra. Just like Demigod Files. So, tell me. Now that you've caught up with the Septimus Heap books, what do you think of the series altogether? As in, when you first started reading it, how have your feelings changed since then?

    And your on a year round school year? That must stink. How does that work? I've herd of it, but I never talked to anybody who has a school year like that. Is it, you have off for three weeks and then go to school for three weeks or something like that? And do you have to go to school on Saturday and Sunday too? I go to school for ten months straight with Saturday, Sunday, and the holidays off. I get an occasional week off here or there. My longest break in the school year is Christmas break. That's like a week and a half or two weeks. I think I'd prefer the ten month school year though. I have a half day on Friday. Don't know why though. I really could care less the reason, so long as it's there. Ha-ha! (^_^)

    posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Nat Castello

    Nat Castello says

    I struggled through the first to the Peter Pan trilogy. I would put it down and not bother, but I'm the kind of person who has to finish the book or the series or whatever. There was one book I read: Kissed by an Angel. My friend got me to read it. If you read my review on it you'll see how I felt about it. But I would've put it down, like, before I got half way through except I HAD to finish. That trait can be good and bad. And sometimes annoying.

    And nothing is wrong with drawing geometric shapes. Like the way you did your name for your picture was cool. They can be real cool. And ANYTHING can be art. Interior designer and architect are cool jobs. I could never be an architect though, I stink at math.

    I think next year will be one of my favorites too. I still don't like waiting for movies though.

    And I think they will make the Harry Potter 7 movies like three hours long. That's the only way to get all the nessesary parts you need. And it better have a better plot. The 6th one was really just about love-run-amuk with the actual plot just squeezed in there. Grr.

    And your sister is not completely right about Meyer writing the series from Edward's point of view. In the middle of her writing Breaking Dawn, Meyer started thinking of Edward's half of the story in Twilight that you never saw. She originally wasn't going to write it in Edward's point of view. But when she finished Breaking Dawn, she decided to write the first chapter of Twilight in Edward's perpective as a exercise. Except in got out of hand. She started seeing how the second and third and fourth chapter's would play out for Edward. So she was going to re-write Twilight in Edward's point of view and call it Midnight Sun. Just Twilight though, not any other book in the series from what I know. But then what she had of Midnight Sun was posted on the internet without her permission. So Meyer got really ticked. She is so upset, it's a 99% chance that she will never finish writing and publish Midnight Sun. If your sister goes on Meyer's website and then clicks on Midnight Sun, you'll see a post from Meyer, telling about the mishap and everything I just told you. She'll also find a link at the bottom of the post that will allow read the first few chapters of Midnight Sun. Basically what was posted on the internet because Meyer doesn't want her fans feeling disloyal by reading something that she didn't want posted. I personally think that Meyer is a little too protective of her books. Or a little too out there about how protective she is. You don't see J.K. Rowling and Rick Riordan saying, "Protect this book from being read before the publish date!" So, in my opinion, Meyer's a little annoying in that sense.

    No, sorry, I haven't read The Host. I might, but it's still iffy. One of my friends told me about it. . . and it sounded good but I still don't know. It has to do with aliens, it's ultimately a love story. I personally prefer Percy Jackson or Daniel X over The Host any day. I didn't know The Host was becoming a movie.

    I liked the Demigod Files. They were good. It was one on the best extra's I've read for a series. The stories weren't supposed to be in any order. They were just a collection of stories that never made it to the published books. Stuff that either Riordan wrote for fun or had to cut out. But they were good stories, in my opinion, either way. I didn't like it as much as the original series though. I normaly don't like the extra's as much. Nothing can replace the original series. But I really liked the interviews with the Half-Bloods.

    I read th Magykal Papers from Septimus Heap. Cover to Cover. It was really good. I liked it a lot. Interesting. It kind of gives you a history of the Septimus Heap world. Speaking of it, which book are you on?

    It's alright that you didn't reply for a while. I've had so much homework lately that I don't have time to even think straight. I'm surprised I could type this. My brain is fried. Thye say homework is good for you but it only wears you out. Ha-ha! (^_^)

    posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Nat Castello

    Nat Castello says

    Yeah, the partnership thing is weird. I don't think I can only name one other author who partnerships. And that's Barry and Pearson. They this Peter Pan trilogy.

    I have nothing against animation either. For a time, I considered that one of my career options, because I like to draw. But I don't like the idea of animation with Septimus Heap. I imagined it with real people, too. And I didn't notice that Septimus had 49 chapters each. But in the back of the paperback copies of Magyk, I think it explains how many times or how many ways they incorperatied the number 7 in the series. And movie producers are always cruel. If they make people wait another year, then they'll be able to get Septimus out there and make more money. I agree with the so cruel thing. It's as if they are on this earth just to to be cruel to people like us: The Book Worms.

    And the 5th one to Harry Potter is. . . okay. They cut alot out, but they kept the alot of major events in the plot - unlike the 6th one. Even though the 6th one lost the plot, I love it's humor. But why burn down The Burrow? They needed to do that in the 7th one, at the wedding. And now they need to work around it. Grrrr. Even thought the 6th didn't get everything - they added alot in it's place. If they had cut out everything that didn't happen, then they would've had at least an extra half hour to play with.

    As far as Twilight goes. . . I don't think they are complete girly books. The bulk of it is about relationships, yes. And there's a lot of romance. But a good half of the series is worrying who's gonna try to kill Bella next. They have fights and wars and stuff like that. In the 1st Bella's out of it for a good amount and in the second there was no war but a lot of suspense as in: How are we going to kill them? Should we kill them or let them go? And should we eat the human girl? In the 3rd there's a big battle, and you get a lot detail. The 4th is a little like the 2nd, but times it by 10. And I hated Twilight from the very beginning. Just because it wasn't so much as Twilight as it was: "Oh, look at this good book! Let's take the idea and turn it and twist it and corrupt it and rewrite it until I - the director - like it!" I almost shouted: "No! They can't do that!" in the middle of the theater during the movie when I saw Twilight. Shame, shame. I just hope New Moon is better. I also know a couple of guys who've read Twilight and they like it. It's actually in their top ten favorite books.

    And I don't expect you to reply immediatly. I'm always surprised when I see an email saying that you posted a note, only a day after I posted mine. (^_^)

    posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Nat Castello

    Nat Castello says

    I was probably using the website wrong. I'm not very good with computers.

    And ANIMATED?? Really? Seriously? That's so stupid! I totally agree with you on the 'movie is better if real actors and actresses are used.' I mean, animation is for G rated stuff. Septimus Heap has to be at LEAST Y-7.

    And Patterson does not give alot to go on on the Witch and Wizard. And does he ever NOT partner?

    And Syren just came out. September 29th. I had the feeling ever since I started reading the Flyte that Septimus would be a seven book series. Just because there are seven years in an apprenticship as well being a common magical and lucky number. You know, I read Septimus Heap BEFORE Harry Potter? So I am stoked that they are making a movie (unless it's animation) *Roll eyes and snort*.

    And the first three Harry Potter movies were good. At the fourth they started losing their touch. But they were still good. Except for the 6th one. Did you see it? There was, like, no plot what so ever. Completely off the track in my opinion. But funny. Very funny. But I do have faith in Warner Bros. I also have faith in Chris Columbus. He directed the first two Harry Potters and now he's directing New Moon; another book I've read. I hope it's good. New Moon is the sequal to Twilight, and the Twilight movie stunk like there was no tomorrow.

    posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Nat Castello

    Nat Castello says

    Holy crow! Okay - I am offically adding that website to my favorites!

    Yeah, that kid probably was yanking my chain. I'll have to find out myself. . .

    As far as the third Daniel X - I read the excerpts, and it sounded really really good. There was also an excerpt on the Witch and Wizard - if you caught that. I read that too. Sound a little strange, but cool. I'm not sure I'll like it as much as Daniel X, but I'll read it and see.

    And for the Septimus Heap books: they get better with every eddition. Flyte was my personal favorite. Physik I didn't like as much because there's a cliff hanger and I had to wait over a year to find out what happens. But Queste is really good; with non-stop action. I can't wait for the 5th, titled Syren. I hope the possible movie isn't screwed up.

    posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Nat Castello

    Nat Castello says

    I see you've read Septimus Heap. It does take a while to read. But as soon as you get past the first one, the rest of the series is way better. Trust me.

    posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Nat Castello

    Nat Castello says

    I read the whole 2nd Daniel X book, and I though it was really funny. Maybe it was the different co-author that you didn't like. It was kind of like, "What's going on?" in the begining, but then it turned out really, really good. Trust me, stick with it to the end, and you'll like it alot better then you did in the begining. I don't like Judy, though. And it seems like Daniel's a bit of a push over as far as liking girls go. I mean, if she's pretty he seems to like her right away. But other then that the book was really good. How far did you get in it any way? What part?

    By the way, do you know if Patterson is part blind? Some kid who sits at my lunch table told me he was and that's why he always has a co-author. I'm not sure. I figured you'd know, because you've read more of his books then I have.

    posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Nat Castello

    Nat Castello says

    The Percy Jackson movie has website. If you go to percyjacksonthemovie.com the trailer will come up right away. In fact, that's the only thing they have on the site: the trailer. I'll check out the website you mentioned. I hope Daniel X becomes a movie! It would be so cool. I mean, they're already doing one Patterson book - why not another? But they better not mess it up. I hate it when they completely mess up a book. I even have shirt that says: "Don't judge a book by it's movie

    posted 4 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Nat Castello

    Nat Castello says

    I just might try reading Maximum Ride, everybody always says that, "If you like Daniel X you'll like Maximum Ride!" Witch and Wizard sounds good too. Thanks. And where did you hear about a Daniel X movie??? I hope it's gonna be a movie. It'd be awesome! Oh, and I think the trailer for the Percy Jackson movie is out - or will be out soon. I saw it when I was looking on Movies On Demand and I started freaking out.

    posted 4 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Nat Castello

    Nat Castello says

    Told you Daniel X was a good book. It's the only sci-fi book I like! The second one just came out a couple weeks ago. It's called: Daniel X - Watch the Skies.

    Something like that.

    And the Percy Jackson movie is coming out Feb. 12th or something like that. Definetly in Feb. though.

    posted 4 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Nat Castello

    Nat Castello says

    Annabeth doesn't have red hair - she has brown. But in any case I think they will bleach it to make it be blonde. I mean, this is Chris Columbus we are talking about. He's the only director I like because he didn't change the first two Harry Potter books a whole lot.

    I personally think the actors are a little old. Have you seen Percy? The kids like, 17. . .

    He did look 12 on the internationaly perview though. . .

    posted 5 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Nat Castello

    Nat Castello says

    You really like sci-fi, don't you? I'm not a sci-fi person really. But I love Daniel X. Ever read it? It's by James Patterson. And did you know that Percy Jackson is being made into a movie? It's being directed by Chris Columbus. He did Harry Potter 1 and 2. Can't wait till it comes out.

    posted 5 months ago. ( send a note )