The Friday Fix is a takeover of my Friday blog post by other bloggers who have volunteered their time and energy to "star" in their very own guest post on Friday. Only one mandatory rule (you can't get out of it!) - you must answer five of the most random questions I throw your way. The rest is up to you. Remember, if you'd like to be featured on the Friday Fix, send me an email, and let me know! So, without further ado, here is Jen from In the Closet with a Bibliophile!

The Most Random Questions in the World...
1. If you're "not yourself today," then who the heck are you?
A crazy deranged soul named Alice who loves popsicles and ice cream and maybe even some cookies. She doesn't think rationally and yells on command. I'm sensing some possible anger issues as well.

2. If you don't pay an exorcist, can you be repossessed?

Depends on the exorcist, If it's anything like Downside Ghosts (by Stacia Kane), then the exorcist would pay me to remove the ghost, so it's not a problem. Otherwise, my thinking is that demons are scary and should be avoided at all costs so if you must be exorcised, and you have to pay, always pay because the exorcist could try and release the demon/possessor from it's prison of ungodly terror. *shudders* And that would not be pretty.

3. Why is a building called a building if it's already built?

Well, the person who made up the word "building" was too lazy to think of another one for the finished product so he/she/it? was like "We can just have the word be a verb and a noun and call it day. Who wants coffee?"

4. What happens if someone becomes addicted to therapy?

They get to pay someone $300 an hour to tell them that they aren't "really" addicted to therapy and that it was a very nice session and they will see them again tomorrow for their next session where they will discuss their feelings concerning their "so-called" addiction to therapy and that it's not really a big deal to talk about your feelings to a dedicated professional for 10 hours a day as long as you can "find yourself" in the next 10 to 20 years.

5. Why do we say something is out of whack? What is whack?

Whack is seriously and totally when something is off the charts, out of sync with it's normal sway in the world...yo! So we say things are out of whack because we think it makes us sound urban and super cool, which by the way, it totally does. Which, I'll have you know, that there are multiple meanings of the word "whack" many of which definitely don't go with that saying and also...they make me giggle. (because I'm a total nerd!)



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Jen, thank you so much for dropping by and dealing with all my absurd musings! To the rest of you, I've been following Jen's blog for almost a year now, and she never ceases to amaze me with her insightful reviews and humour. I highly recommend you drop by her blog, In the Closet with a Bibliophile, to check it out and say hi!

A quick reminder, there's just over two weeks left to enter my international giveaway for The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card. You do NOT have to be a follower, but your support is much appreciated if you are! Click HERE to enter!

The Friday Fix is a takeover of my Friday blog post by other bloggers who have volunteered their time and energy to "star" in their very own guest post on Friday. Only one mandatory rule (you can't get out of it!) - you must answer five of the most random questions I throw your way. The rest is up to you. Remember, if you'd like to be featured on the Friday Fix, send me an email, and let me know! So, without further ado, here is Zahida from Musings of a YA Reader!

The Most Random Questions in the World...

1. What happens to Jolly Ranchers if the ranchers aren't jolly?

Hmm, if SweeTarts or Laffy Taffy stop becoming sweet or laffy, you’re still left with tarts or taffy. Nobody wants to eat ranchers though so they become miserable, and it’s really easy to choke on Miserable Ranchers.

2. If someone is in the electric chair and has a heart attack, do they revive him?

Nope … it’s cheaper for taxpayers if they die by a heart attack and would probably be considered more preferable by the person.

3. Can you yawn in your sleep?

Honestly, I’ve got no idea what I do when I’m asleep. My sister though will tell you that when we were younger and shared a bed, I used to kick her.

4. If someone says, "it was an uphill battle," and another says, "it went downhill from there," how are they both having trouble?

This sounds like one of those math questions involving speeding trains that I had a lot of trouble solving. I’m going to say the two people meet closer to the bottom since it’s easier to go downhill than uphill and are having trouble because they’re doing that awkward dance that people do when they’re trying to get past each other.

5. Why is there a light in the refrigerator, but not in the freezer?

Your lightbulb either died or it’s time to upgrade to more “modern” appliances.

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Thank you so much for playing along, Zahida! I love your answers, and your blog is so much fun to follow. To the rest of you, if you haven't visited her awesome YA book reviewing site yet, be sure to check out Musings of a YA Reader!
Also, if you've yet to enter my giveaway for The Lost Gate, be sure to do so! You could win a hardcover copy of Orson Scott Card's new novel. This giveaway is international and ends on January 30th.

Title: The Lost Gate
Author: Orson Scott Card
Publisher: Tor
Published: January 4, 2011
Genre: YA, Urban Fantasy
Pages: 378
Source: Publisher

Danny North knew from early childhood that his family was different, and that he was different from them. While his cousins were learning how to create the things that commoners called fairies, ghosts, golems, trolls, werewolves, and other such miracles that were the heritage of the North family, Danny worried that he would never show a talent, never form an outself.

There are many secrets in the House, and many rules that Danny must follow. There is a secret library with only a few dozen books, and none of them in English — but Danny and his cousins are expected to become fluent in the language of the books. While Danny’s cousins are free to create magic whenever they like, they must never do it where outsiders might see.

Unfortunately, there are some secrets kept from Danny as well. And that will lead to disaster for the North family.

The Lost Gate follows the story of Danny, just one young boy in a family of exiled mages, forced to live in the real world where kids create stories of fairies, werewolves, and the type of stuff his family knows is real. Danny lives his life in a realm of secrets, some of which he can never share with others, but he’s beginning to learn that there are just as many (if not more) secrets being hidden from him. His family calls him a Drekka, or someone without powers. But unknown to Danny, there is more power than he could ever imagine lurking inside of him. He’s a gatemage – and so powerful that it could very well be more of a curse than a magical gift.

Before this, the only work of Orson Scott Card that I’d read was Ender’s Game, which is kind of a hit or miss series, or so I hear. Luckily, it was a hit for me, so I was incredibly excited to read The Lost Gate. The first book in a new series called the Mithermages, The Lost Gate is a riveting urban fantasy adventure blending Norse mythology with an intricate plot that’s equal parts spellbinding and cryptic. Orson Scott Card has an amazing writing style that sends the reader on a journey with the characters, allowing you to experience and feel exactly what they feel giving life to the world within The Lost Gate.

I’ll admit, The Lost Gate is complex at times, and there are moments when the mythology and background of the story gets a bit tedious and too intricate, but the world that’s been created is phenomenal. Danny was a bit hard for me to connect with at first. He was very…bland, and rather unlikeable, but the character development he portrayed throughout the story redeemed him in the end. Wad, however, was the character that defined the story for me. Almost completely shrouded in mystery, I was hooked to every action (and inaction) of his character, desperate to find out who he really was. The dialogue between the characters is fitting and age-appropriate, but I did find it a bit crass or graphic at times. That said, for the age of the MC, it fits.

All in all, The Lost Gate is a great start to a new series from Orson Scott Card. And yes, the cliffhanger ending is a killer. I hate those endings! I give The Lost Gate a strong 4 out of 5, and I’d recommend it to fans of YA, especially teen boys and those who enjoy fantasy, urban fantasy, and anything along the lines of Ender’s Game or Pathfinder.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

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Because of the generosity of Tor Books, I've been given a second, finished hardcover copy of The Lost Gate for a giveaway. This giveaway is international and will end promptly at midnight EST on January 30, 2011. Winners will be notified by email. To enter to win The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card, follow the link below.

ENTER TO WIN

In My Mailbox is an amazing weekly meme hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren that features the books we have received during the week. It's so much fun because we get to see what our fellow bloggers stumbled upon this week and add even more to our piles of books! Without further ado, this week I received the following books:

For Review:

The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card (Thank you, Tor/Forge Publishers)

The Latte Rebellion by Sarah Jamila Stevenson (Thank you, Flux)

Minder by Kate Kaynak (Thank you, Kate)

Won:

Some Rivers End on the Day of the Dead by Eileen Granfors (Thank you Electrifying Reviews & Eileen)

The Witches' Kitchen by Allen Williams (Thank you, Imagination in Focus)

Gifts:

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Bitter Frost by Kailin Gow

Time Windows by Kathryn Reiss

Troubled Waters by Sharon Shinn

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Angel Star by Jennifer Murgia

The Pace by Shelena Shorts

The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

The Forest of Hands & Teeth by Carrie Ryan