Hello everyone, crazy to think that it's already June. It feels like 2016 just started. May was another disappointing reading month for me. I only read two books, for a total of 537 pages. I finished Never Fade (Book Two in The Darkest Minds Trilogy) by Alexandra Bracken. I also read Blyss by J.C. Cliff.
Never Fade was amazing. I think I liked it just a tiny bit more than The Darkest Minds. There were parts that were so frustrating, but in a good edge-of-your-seat sort of way. It took me a while to get through it, though. Not because there was anything bad about the book. I really, really enjoyed it. When I picked up the book to read, I was super into it. However it was finding the time and the motivation to actually read the book.
Since I had hit that weird slump, I decided that before delving into the third book of the trilogy. I decided I needed a transition book. I wanted something simple and easy. I thought Blyss would be great. It's kind of along that same vein as Fifty Shades of Gray, but it had a really interesting premise. Basically there's this drug that's been created which increases a woman's sexual desire. The main character gets abducted and is forced to take this experimental drug. I was so disappointed in this book you guys.
My biggest problem with it was that it was basically glorifying rape, and giving an excuse for rape to be okay, almost? Like it was still rape, even though these women wanted it essentially. This drug basically takes away their ability to say no. I have a huge problem with that. The women are aware of what's going on. They know that they are under the influence and are okay with it, because they become kept women basically. Basically, it's human trafficking, but it's okay, because this drug makes the women want it? And even the main character as she's fighting this drug is falling for one of her captors, and it's so morally wrong.
I was expecting it to be more of a thriller and less of an erotica. Even as it was, it wasn't much of an erotica, it was kind of lacking in the erotic part for me. Like, a couple scenes, but the rest of the time the main character Jules was trying to reiterate how much of a good puritan girl she is. It was just bad. I really wanted it to be more dark suspense, and less bad sado-masichism. I know this is a series, but it doesn't seem like the author is really going to go in that dark direction, and is going to continue down the path of some twisted, it's rape, but not rape. I don't know. It was one star - and that was generous.
I will of course have reviews to come. I have a lot of plans for this page - I know I say this every post, but I mean it this time. I have big plans!
Until next time, happy reading!
TOTALS FOR MAY - # Of Books = 2 ; # Of Pages = 537
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CURRENTLY READING: Petty Little Lives by Alice Reeds (page 216/310)
CURRENT PAGE TOTAL (for the month): 216 of 2,016
CURRENT PAGE TOTAL (for the year): 9,760 of 24,192
TOTAL # OF BOOKS READ THIS YEAR: 20 of 52
Sunday, June 5, 2016
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Birthstone Book Tag!
This is a book tag that I saw done on YouTube and I thought it would be kind of fun to start doing some book tags on here. Reviews and wrap-ups are great, but they can get a little boring after a while. So, when I saw this I figured it would be a great little break from the norm. I'm planning on doing more of these, so stay tuned for them, and if anyone has any opinions on other book tags I could do, go ahead and either shoot me a comment/message with a link or even just the questions. They're so much fun, and I look forward to doing more!
This tag was created by Jay G on YouTube, but I saw it on Bekah AwesomeBookNut's channel.
This tag was created by Jay G on YouTube, but I saw it on Bekah AwesomeBookNut's channel.
This is a difficult one, there are so many to choose from. I think I'm going to have to go with President Snow from the Hunger Games trilogy. He was a textbook sociopath. He had no redeeming qualities at all. He was evil, simply because he had the power to be.
February (AMETHYST) Purple is associated with royalty- name a book with regal qualities (You can base this off of characters or choose the King of all books):
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder, and actually all of her books to be honest, because she is amazing and her books are life! Seriously if you haven't read her books, read them. Read them now! I'll wait. I lied. I won't wait. Just go read them!
March (AQUAMARINE) Washed out- name a 'wishy-washy' character,a character who is not strong or a follower:
These are the worst characters. Like, just make up your mind, character! Either you want the thing, you don't. It shouldn't take you 4 books to decided that you are going to do the thing anyway! Stop whining and just do it, GOD! I'm talking to you Tessa from the After Series by Anna Todd. I mean sure, I get why she was so back and forth with Hardin, but seriously, she was the worst! (But I loved the series. Why do I do this to myself?)
April (DIAMOND) A diamond in the rough-name a book you loved but isn't well known:
Easily hands down, the Elfhunter Series by C.S. Marks. I could literally talk about C.S. Marks and Elfhunter for days. It is tied with Lord of the Rings for favorite book series of all time. I have to stop before I even start, because I could write an entire novel about how much I love that series.
May (EMERALD) Said to balance energy-name two characters who balance each other well:
Again, there are so many, how do I choose just one? I'm going to go with Courtney and Vanessa (or Courtney and Ethan) from the Gem City Series by Nicole Campbell. It's a new little known series that I happened upon while choosing books to read for review. The series is adorable. Courtney is a nervous introvert who over-analyzes everything. Vanessa (her BFF) is so extroverted and high energy, and Ethan (her love interest) is so laid back and go-with-the-flow, that they both balance her out and bring her out of herself. It's amazing and I recommend the series 100%. (It's a super feel good contemporary story. Look for the reviews of all three books coming soon!)
June (PEARL) Associated with loyalty-name a character who is loyal to the end:
I'm going to go with Harry Potter. Throughout the entire series he remains loyal to his friends and loved ones. He is loyal to himself as well, never straying from what he believes in. He continues to have faith in people, despite the fact that some people *glares at Dumbledore* may not fully deserve his loyalty. He only ever thinks of everyone else as his life is constantly put on the line.
July (RUBY) Blood red-name a book which made your blood boil,made you very angry:
This one is really difficult, there aren't very many books that make my blood boil. I was going to say the After Series because I was so angry while reading that book, but despite what I may say, I actually loved it. So as angry as it made me, it's not fair to use it, since I didn't hate it? I feel like this answer has to be a book that I just loathed so entirely, that I couldn't even finish it. I'm going to go with The Immortal Instruments, sorry not sorry. I know everyone seems to have loved this series, but I just couldn't. It's so awful. Clary is annoying. Jace is pompous. The plot is atrocious, and all over the place. It was just unbearable.
August (PERIDOT) Pale green-name a supporting character you liked better than the main character:
Alice from Twilight. I hated Bella. I really did. Edward was slightly easier to stomach, but still difficult to connect with. Alice was just so easy to like. She had personality, and she was quirky. By far, the best character in the entire series.
September (SAPPHIRE) Blue like the ocean which is calming-name a book that had a calming effect on you:
Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, the entire series (including The Hobbit). Whenever I read this series, it's like coming home and being wrapped in a warm blanket. I just love it so much. A close second would be Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie.
October (OPAL) Name an iredescent book with a beautiful cover this can be a book with a beautiful cover (Shiny? Lots of color?) or you can base it off as a character (lively,quirky):
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. I love that cover. The entire book is just gorgeous. I haven't read it yet - to be honest I haven't even read the Grisha Trilogy yet - but the black page edges, and the cover it's just so beautiful!
November (TOPAZ) Associated with resilience-name a book with character who rises to the top in a time of adversity:
I'm gonna go with Tris, from the Divergent Trilogy. She started out so unsure, and out of her element, but she worked so hard, and overcame so much. After everything she had to go through, she still kept fighting.
December (BLUE ZICRON) Associated with friendship-name a book with a friendship you wanna be a part of:
There are so many. It's hard to pick just one. I never really had a big group of friends growing up. The fictional characters in my books were always my best friends. If I have to pick just one, I suppose I would have to go with Charlie's group from The Perks of Being a Wallflower. They remind me the most of tiny group of misfit friends. They are all so quirky and out there, and they really just don't care. They are themselves and they really couldn't care less what anyone thinks of them. They do as they please and that's that.
Hope you all found that as fun and interesting as I did. In the next couple of weeks I'm going to be posting some reviews and a March update. Lots of exciting things coming soon!
Until next time, happy reading!
Saturday, May 7, 2016
April Wrap-Up!
Hello everyone! Welcome to another month. 2016 seems to be flying by so fast. I can't believe we're almost halfway through the year already.
April was a less impressive reading month for me. I only finished three and a half books. Life has been a bit hectic this month, so unfortunately my reading has taken the back burner for the moment. I'm trying very hard not to slip into a reading slump, but it's calling to me, I can feel it. Have no fear, I will triumph over this impending slump and I will trudge on. What's different about this slump is that I want to read, and I'm really enjoying the book I'm currently reading. The problem is that when I have the time to read, (which is not frequent) I suddenly find a million other things that catch my immediate interest. Though, when I do decide to pick up my book, I don't want to put it down. It really becomes a problem when I should be doing other things, like sleeping, or getting ready for work.
I plan on making May my review month. I finally got a new laptop so I will be catching up on all those reviews that I've been saying I'm going to post. I will do it! So, all of these books will be added to that list.
This month I read:
You by Caroline Kepnes - This book was really good. It was so unique. It's told in the second person (so it's 'You' rather than 'I' or 'They'). Second person is not a common form, it's pretty tricky and can sometimes be awkward unless done really well. Caroline Kepnes did it very well. The story is narrated by a stalker, so it's really unique in that it puts you in the head of a sociopath, while at the same time making you almost feel like the victim. It's just a very uncommon style that is very refreshing in a crime novel. It was a frustrating read, but in the best way possible. We all know how I enjoy my frustrating reads!
Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge - Oh, this book. Yeah. It was okay. It is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, and Beauty and the Beast is one of my all time favorite tales. I had such high expectations for this book, which is my fault. I shouldn't have set the bar so high for it. The writing was good, the story was not. It fell very short, and was very confusing.
The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken - I loved, loved, LOVED this book. It is so far my favorite read of 2016. It's the first in a trilogy about a disease that wipes out most of the population's children. The children who survive develop these abilities. They are considered 'freaks' and 'dangerous' and are hunted and locked up in these "camps" (read prisons). It is so good. I love it. I think I'm going to wait until I finish the whole trilogy before I write a review, but we'll see!
I'm currently reading Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken. Never Fade is the second book in the Darkest Minds trilogy. It is just as good as the first one. I have so many emotions about this series, you guys. I'm talking about ALL of the emotions. They're children, you guys. They are all babies, and they need to be protected at all costs.
I will also be starting A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. I've read the first two books, ages ago, but will be restarting from book one, A Game of Thrones. I got an absolutely gorgeous faux-leather box set from my boyfriend for Christmas, so I'm pretty excited to read them. Yes, I realize Christmas was like 6 months ago, but they are so beautiful that I wasn't sure if I even wanted to touch them. However, I've decided that books are meant to be read, not collect dust. Anyway, reviews coming soon! Until next time, happy reading!
TOTALS FOR APRIL - # Of Books = 3 (and a half) ; # Of Pages = 1558
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CURRENTLY READING: Never Fade (Book 2 of the Darkest Minds Trilogy) by Alexandra Bracken (page 340/507)
CURRENT PAGE TOTAL (for the month): 60 of 2,016 (280 pages were read in April)
CURRENT PAGE TOTAL (for the year): 9,283 of 24,192
TOTAL # OF BOOKS READ THIS YEAR: 18 of 52
April was a less impressive reading month for me. I only finished three and a half books. Life has been a bit hectic this month, so unfortunately my reading has taken the back burner for the moment. I'm trying very hard not to slip into a reading slump, but it's calling to me, I can feel it. Have no fear, I will triumph over this impending slump and I will trudge on. What's different about this slump is that I want to read, and I'm really enjoying the book I'm currently reading. The problem is that when I have the time to read, (which is not frequent) I suddenly find a million other things that catch my immediate interest. Though, when I do decide to pick up my book, I don't want to put it down. It really becomes a problem when I should be doing other things, like sleeping, or getting ready for work.
I plan on making May my review month. I finally got a new laptop so I will be catching up on all those reviews that I've been saying I'm going to post. I will do it! So, all of these books will be added to that list.
This month I read:
You by Caroline Kepnes - This book was really good. It was so unique. It's told in the second person (so it's 'You' rather than 'I' or 'They'). Second person is not a common form, it's pretty tricky and can sometimes be awkward unless done really well. Caroline Kepnes did it very well. The story is narrated by a stalker, so it's really unique in that it puts you in the head of a sociopath, while at the same time making you almost feel like the victim. It's just a very uncommon style that is very refreshing in a crime novel. It was a frustrating read, but in the best way possible. We all know how I enjoy my frustrating reads!
Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge - Oh, this book. Yeah. It was okay. It is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, and Beauty and the Beast is one of my all time favorite tales. I had such high expectations for this book, which is my fault. I shouldn't have set the bar so high for it. The writing was good, the story was not. It fell very short, and was very confusing.
The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken - I loved, loved, LOVED this book. It is so far my favorite read of 2016. It's the first in a trilogy about a disease that wipes out most of the population's children. The children who survive develop these abilities. They are considered 'freaks' and 'dangerous' and are hunted and locked up in these "camps" (read prisons). It is so good. I love it. I think I'm going to wait until I finish the whole trilogy before I write a review, but we'll see!
I'm currently reading Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken. Never Fade is the second book in the Darkest Minds trilogy. It is just as good as the first one. I have so many emotions about this series, you guys. I'm talking about ALL of the emotions. They're children, you guys. They are all babies, and they need to be protected at all costs.
I will also be starting A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. I've read the first two books, ages ago, but will be restarting from book one, A Game of Thrones. I got an absolutely gorgeous faux-leather box set from my boyfriend for Christmas, so I'm pretty excited to read them. Yes, I realize Christmas was like 6 months ago, but they are so beautiful that I wasn't sure if I even wanted to touch them. However, I've decided that books are meant to be read, not collect dust. Anyway, reviews coming soon! Until next time, happy reading!
TOTALS FOR APRIL - # Of Books = 3 (and a half) ; # Of Pages = 1558
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CURRENTLY READING: Never Fade (Book 2 of the Darkest Minds Trilogy) by Alexandra Bracken (page 340/507)
CURRENT PAGE TOTAL (for the month): 60 of 2,016 (280 pages were read in April)
CURRENT PAGE TOTAL (for the year): 9,283 of 24,192
TOTAL # OF BOOKS READ THIS YEAR: 18 of 52
Monday, April 25, 2016
Gilmore Girls Book Tag!
So, I know I'm not the only one who is absolute Gilmore Girls trash. Am I right? It's amazing and hilarious and all of the characters are life. I'm so excited for the reunion, and apparently so are a lot of other bookworms, because there are about a dozen different Gilmore Girls book tags. I found a couple and decided, why not? I seem to be a Tag Binge at the moment - because they're fun and different, and I like them. I find all of my tags by just googling book tags, but I will try to find
the original creators and link to them. This one was created by Pucksandpaperbacks on YouTube, but I first saw it on PeaceLoveBooksxo's channel.
I of course was not tagged by anyone, because I literally know nobody
in the book blogging community and this is just kind of my own hidden
space to rant or rave about books. Anyway here is the first Gilmore Girls book tag:
Lorelai – A character with a witty or sarcastic sense of humor
Oh gosh, this one is tough, because I read so many books with witty/sarcastic characters, and those are always my favorite. It's hard to choose just one, it's like choosing a favorite child. I think I will have to go with Luke from the Gem City Series by Nicole Campbell. He always has a quick response and he has the best sense of humor about everything. He's very Lorelei-esque in that no matter what he can always be counted on to bring up the mood.
Rory – Your favorite classic
My favorite classic is Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie. It's such a beautifully written story, and I have so many feels about Peter Pan, I can't even begin. No matter what age you read it at, you take away different message from the story. Even now that I'm 27, every time I read it, I get something new from it. It makes me think and feel something every time. It never gets old. I could read it a million times, and it will never be enough.
Luke – A book you secretly love, but are afraid to admit
This one is easy. The entire After Series by Anna Todd. Now, let me clarify, while reading this series, I hated it, because it made me so angry. I think that's why I loved it, because it made me feel so strongly for it. No, it's not an ideal love story. No, it is award-worthy writing. It was a fan-fiction and it reads like a fan-fiction. It was just a quick trashy read that sometimes you just need in your life. When you read a lot of books that are just so all consuming you need a break sometimes. For example, Harry Potter is an emotionally draining series. You fall in love with these characters and you experience their journey with them, and it's just draining. After such a heavy read, you need something lighter that isn't so emotionally taxing. It's a guilty pleasure read. Don't judge me.
Lane – A musical character
I'm going to have to go with another from the Gem City Series and say Ethan. He loves music almost as much as he loves Courtney. He writes songs for her. He plays songs that he normally wouldn't just because they're her favorites. He learns country songs for her, and I just love Ethan so much. I'm pretty sure if Courtney asked, he would even play One Direction for her, and that's big. You couldn't pay him enough to play a One Direction song, but for Courtney I think he totally would.
Dean- Your first book love
So, I don't really fall in love with fictional characters. Like I don't get book crushes. I get emotionally invested in characters and love them like my children, but I don't really fall for characters or wish to find a real life version of them. I think that first literary character that I really had any strong emotion towards was probably Sirius Black. I think Order of the Phoenix was actually the first book that I seriously cried for a character. I have all the feels for Sirius Black. Though all of the Harry Potter characters have a special place in my heart. No author ever has, or probably ever will, make me cry as much or as hard as J.K. Rowling did. Every time I start the series and a character who passes later on is introduced I shed a little tear. It's awful and I'm pretty sure I'm broken thanks to J.K. Rowling.
Sooki – A book you’ve devoured
Deathly Hallows, I picked it up at the midnight release, got home and read it straight through in a single 20 hour sitting. I then had to take my friends to the airport the next morning. They came to the door and I was still crying. They thought someone had died, or something had happened to me. I just showed them the book and they instantly understood, even though none of them had read the Harry Potter series. They just know how emotionally invested I am.
Jess- A book you love, that gets the most hate
So I guess since I already used After for the book that I'm most afraid to admit that I love, I should go with a different one. Just to change things up. I guess, a book that I love but that a lot of people hate, is The Caster Chronicles by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. I love the whole series. I know a lot of people stopped reading after Beautiful Creatures and say that it's repetitive, but I loved it. I loved the whole series. I think it's another guilty pleasure read for me. I mean it isn't very complex. It doesn't take a lot of thought, you can just kind of lose yourself in the story and the characters, and it's just that it's an easy read that doesn't really take much. I just enjoyed it for what it was, a teenaged love story that has magic.
Miss Patty – A book that was ruined by the hype Now, this book I don't think was ruined by the hype, but I think it got a lot of hype that it didn't deserve. That book is Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. I have such strong negative feelings towards this book. I really will write a review when I get a chance. The longer I wait, the angrier I get at the book. I think I've said this before. I think that this book is depicted as a great romance where a girl is hired as a caregiver for a man who is paralyzed and they fall in love. Everyone claims how beautiful the story and how heartbreaking it was. Everyone who read this book cried for days. I almost set it on fire. Like this book, is just so misleading. It was quite insensitive towards people with disabilities, in my opinion. Everything about this book makes my blood boil. I even read like the first chapter of the sequel and I was just like, no. This is even worse. Lou is even worse. She's more whiny, more annoying, and miraculously she survives falling off a roof? Like what?! No, just no. I can't. I won't. UGH!
Emily Gilmore – expensive book
I have a leather bound box set of Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin, that is so beautiful. It's probably my most expensive set of books. I mean I usually buy like used and bargained priced books. My boyfriend got me the set for Christmas, or maybe it was Valentine's Day. I can't remember, to be honest. However, it's such a gorgeous set and I love it.
Paris – A bossy character Hermione Granger, she is so bossy. She thinks she knows best and she pushes her nose into everything and always has to give her two cents. She can't be wrong. She is Paris, if Paris had a wand and frizzy hair. She just grates on my nerves so much. She's smart, yes. She's brilliant, truly the brightest witch of her age. However, just because she's smart and talented, does not mean that she has to go around acting like she's better than everyone and knows what's best because she's smart. Shut up, Hermione. No one cares. Did you stop Voldemort? No. You were just a bitch, complaining about how Harry and Ron will get you expelled. Here's an idea, if you're so concerned with your permanent record, how about not hanging out with the only two kids who always manage to be in the wrong place at the wrong time? How about hanging out with the squeaky clean Patil Twins, or befriending a Hufflepuff - they never get in trouble. You know why Hufflepuff's never get in trouble, because until Cedric Diggory no one even remembered they existed. They went three whole books with nothing more than an honorable mention. Then got their shining moment in Goblet of Fire, and then slipped virtually back under the radar. "What the hell is a Hufflepuff" indeed! (Note: I do not hate Hufflepuffs. I just hate Hermione Granger.)
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So there you have it, the first Gilmore Girls book tag. I hope you enjoyed it. I have so much fun with these. I will try to find more to do. There are book tags for everything, so this may become a weekly thing, maybe? Like I could do Book Tag Tuesdays, maybe? Or something like that? We'll see. Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Anyway, I will be posting my April Wrap-up shortly - probably end of next week sometime, and probably some more tags as I find them. Until next time, happy reading!
Lorelai – A character with a witty or sarcastic sense of humor
Oh gosh, this one is tough, because I read so many books with witty/sarcastic characters, and those are always my favorite. It's hard to choose just one, it's like choosing a favorite child. I think I will have to go with Luke from the Gem City Series by Nicole Campbell. He always has a quick response and he has the best sense of humor about everything. He's very Lorelei-esque in that no matter what he can always be counted on to bring up the mood.
Rory – Your favorite classic
My favorite classic is Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie. It's such a beautifully written story, and I have so many feels about Peter Pan, I can't even begin. No matter what age you read it at, you take away different message from the story. Even now that I'm 27, every time I read it, I get something new from it. It makes me think and feel something every time. It never gets old. I could read it a million times, and it will never be enough.
Luke – A book you secretly love, but are afraid to admit
This one is easy. The entire After Series by Anna Todd. Now, let me clarify, while reading this series, I hated it, because it made me so angry. I think that's why I loved it, because it made me feel so strongly for it. No, it's not an ideal love story. No, it is award-worthy writing. It was a fan-fiction and it reads like a fan-fiction. It was just a quick trashy read that sometimes you just need in your life. When you read a lot of books that are just so all consuming you need a break sometimes. For example, Harry Potter is an emotionally draining series. You fall in love with these characters and you experience their journey with them, and it's just draining. After such a heavy read, you need something lighter that isn't so emotionally taxing. It's a guilty pleasure read. Don't judge me.
Lane – A musical character
I'm going to have to go with another from the Gem City Series and say Ethan. He loves music almost as much as he loves Courtney. He writes songs for her. He plays songs that he normally wouldn't just because they're her favorites. He learns country songs for her, and I just love Ethan so much. I'm pretty sure if Courtney asked, he would even play One Direction for her, and that's big. You couldn't pay him enough to play a One Direction song, but for Courtney I think he totally would.
Dean- Your first book love
So, I don't really fall in love with fictional characters. Like I don't get book crushes. I get emotionally invested in characters and love them like my children, but I don't really fall for characters or wish to find a real life version of them. I think that first literary character that I really had any strong emotion towards was probably Sirius Black. I think Order of the Phoenix was actually the first book that I seriously cried for a character. I have all the feels for Sirius Black. Though all of the Harry Potter characters have a special place in my heart. No author ever has, or probably ever will, make me cry as much or as hard as J.K. Rowling did. Every time I start the series and a character who passes later on is introduced I shed a little tear. It's awful and I'm pretty sure I'm broken thanks to J.K. Rowling.
Sooki – A book you’ve devoured
Deathly Hallows, I picked it up at the midnight release, got home and read it straight through in a single 20 hour sitting. I then had to take my friends to the airport the next morning. They came to the door and I was still crying. They thought someone had died, or something had happened to me. I just showed them the book and they instantly understood, even though none of them had read the Harry Potter series. They just know how emotionally invested I am.
Jess- A book you love, that gets the most hate
So I guess since I already used After for the book that I'm most afraid to admit that I love, I should go with a different one. Just to change things up. I guess, a book that I love but that a lot of people hate, is The Caster Chronicles by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. I love the whole series. I know a lot of people stopped reading after Beautiful Creatures and say that it's repetitive, but I loved it. I loved the whole series. I think it's another guilty pleasure read for me. I mean it isn't very complex. It doesn't take a lot of thought, you can just kind of lose yourself in the story and the characters, and it's just that it's an easy read that doesn't really take much. I just enjoyed it for what it was, a teenaged love story that has magic.
Miss Patty – A book that was ruined by the hype Now, this book I don't think was ruined by the hype, but I think it got a lot of hype that it didn't deserve. That book is Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. I have such strong negative feelings towards this book. I really will write a review when I get a chance. The longer I wait, the angrier I get at the book. I think I've said this before. I think that this book is depicted as a great romance where a girl is hired as a caregiver for a man who is paralyzed and they fall in love. Everyone claims how beautiful the story and how heartbreaking it was. Everyone who read this book cried for days. I almost set it on fire. Like this book, is just so misleading. It was quite insensitive towards people with disabilities, in my opinion. Everything about this book makes my blood boil. I even read like the first chapter of the sequel and I was just like, no. This is even worse. Lou is even worse. She's more whiny, more annoying, and miraculously she survives falling off a roof? Like what?! No, just no. I can't. I won't. UGH!
Emily Gilmore – expensive book
I have a leather bound box set of Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin, that is so beautiful. It's probably my most expensive set of books. I mean I usually buy like used and bargained priced books. My boyfriend got me the set for Christmas, or maybe it was Valentine's Day. I can't remember, to be honest. However, it's such a gorgeous set and I love it.
Paris – A bossy character Hermione Granger, she is so bossy. She thinks she knows best and she pushes her nose into everything and always has to give her two cents. She can't be wrong. She is Paris, if Paris had a wand and frizzy hair. She just grates on my nerves so much. She's smart, yes. She's brilliant, truly the brightest witch of her age. However, just because she's smart and talented, does not mean that she has to go around acting like she's better than everyone and knows what's best because she's smart. Shut up, Hermione. No one cares. Did you stop Voldemort? No. You were just a bitch, complaining about how Harry and Ron will get you expelled. Here's an idea, if you're so concerned with your permanent record, how about not hanging out with the only two kids who always manage to be in the wrong place at the wrong time? How about hanging out with the squeaky clean Patil Twins, or befriending a Hufflepuff - they never get in trouble. You know why Hufflepuff's never get in trouble, because until Cedric Diggory no one even remembered they existed. They went three whole books with nothing more than an honorable mention. Then got their shining moment in Goblet of Fire, and then slipped virtually back under the radar. "What the hell is a Hufflepuff" indeed! (Note: I do not hate Hufflepuffs. I just hate Hermione Granger.)
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So there you have it, the first Gilmore Girls book tag. I hope you enjoyed it. I have so much fun with these. I will try to find more to do. There are book tags for everything, so this may become a weekly thing, maybe? Like I could do Book Tag Tuesdays, maybe? Or something like that? We'll see. Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Anyway, I will be posting my April Wrap-up shortly - probably end of next week sometime, and probably some more tags as I find them. Until next time, happy reading!
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Unpopular Opinion Book Tag!
It's time for another book tag! This time it's an unpopular opinion book tag. I don't have many opinions that are against the norm, but I thought it could be fun so here it goes!
This tag was originally created by TheBookArcher on YouTube.
This tag was originally created by TheBookArcher on YouTube.
1. A popular book or series that you didn't like:
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. Nearly everyone loved this book. I did not. I will write a full review of this book. However, for the purpose of this tag, I will say that I thought this book was awful. The writing was fine, Jojo Moyes knows how to put words together on a page very nicely. The story itself was not. It was very clearly written by a person who had either very little experience with a person of limited ability, or none at all. It was very ableist, grossly ableist in my opinion. I've spent most of my life with people of limited abilities of all ranges, and this book made me so angry. I thought that I would have cooled down a couple weeks after finishing it and having read other books since, but no. In fact it just has made me angrier.
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. Nearly everyone loved this book. I did not. I will write a full review of this book. However, for the purpose of this tag, I will say that I thought this book was awful. The writing was fine, Jojo Moyes knows how to put words together on a page very nicely. The story itself was not. It was very clearly written by a person who had either very little experience with a person of limited ability, or none at all. It was very ableist, grossly ableist in my opinion. I've spent most of my life with people of limited abilities of all ranges, and this book made me so angry. I thought that I would have cooled down a couple weeks after finishing it and having read other books since, but no. In fact it just has made me angrier.
2. A popular book or series that every one else seems to hate but you love:
The Caster Chronicles by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. I absolutely loved this series. I know there were a lot of mixed reviews, but I loved it. When I found out that they came out with a spin-off from Ridley's perspective, I was so excited. I loved Ridley, and I have never purchased a book so quickly in my life.
The Caster Chronicles by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. I absolutely loved this series. I know there were a lot of mixed reviews, but I loved it. When I found out that they came out with a spin-off from Ridley's perspective, I was so excited. I loved Ridley, and I have never purchased a book so quickly in my life.
3. A love triangle where the main character ended up with the person you did NOT want them to end up with (warn people for spoilers) OR an OTP that you don't like:
Hermione and Ron / Harry and Ginny from Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. When I read, I don't usually get as into the romantic side of stories. I generally just kind of read the story to read the story, and whatever romantic turn it takes, I go with. I'm not a very romantic reader. I really just read for the story. I just did not like Hermione and Ron together, it just didn't really do anything for me. I feel like it kind of came out of left field and was unnecessary to the story. The same for Harry and Ginny, I think it was just kind of unnecessary and random.
Hermione and Ron / Harry and Ginny from Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. When I read, I don't usually get as into the romantic side of stories. I generally just kind of read the story to read the story, and whatever romantic turn it takes, I go with. I'm not a very romantic reader. I really just read for the story. I just did not like Hermione and Ron together, it just didn't really do anything for me. I feel like it kind of came out of left field and was unnecessary to the story. The same for Harry and Ginny, I think it was just kind of unnecessary and random.
4. A popular book Genre that you hardly reach for:
Contemporary and Romance. I find it difficult to get into romance heavy novels. They all tend to read very similarly. I don't mind romance in my stories, I just prefer it to be part of the plot, rather than the entire plot. I definitely have to be in the right mood to read a contemporary romance-centered story.
Contemporary and Romance. I find it difficult to get into romance heavy novels. They all tend to read very similarly. I don't mind romance in my stories, I just prefer it to be part of the plot, rather than the entire plot. I definitely have to be in the right mood to read a contemporary romance-centered story.
5. A popular or beloved character that you do not like:
Hermione Granger. I know everyone loves Hermione, but she just grated on my nerves so much. She was bossy and a know-it-all, and she was so smug about it.
Hermione Granger. I know everyone loves Hermione, but she just grated on my nerves so much. She was bossy and a know-it-all, and she was so smug about it.
6. A popular author that you can't seem to get into.
Cassandra Clare. I don't like her. I can't stand her writing. And this whole Shadow Hunter phenomena is getting ridiculous. Sorry, not sorry.
7. A popular book trope that you're tired of seeing. (examples "lost princess", corrupt ruler, love triangles, etc.):
Purposeful lack of communication. When characters have a secret, and they should tell this one person but they don't and instead tell the wrong person, I want to reach into the pages of the book and throttle the main character. Like what are you thinking? The person is going to find out anyway. They always do. And the same phrases are said every. single. time. "Why didn't you just tell me?" "How could you keep this from me?" "How dare you tell my worst enemy and not me?" "I would have been less upset if you just came to me from the start." "How can I trust you again?" "What else aren't you telling me?" It makes me so angry. I know that he's going to find. You know he's going to find out. Just. Fucking. Tell. Him. *cough* Tessa and Hardin from After *cough*. Or the character thinks they're protecting the other character by keeping them in the dark. Yeah, Dumbledore, I'm looking at you.
Purposeful lack of communication. When characters have a secret, and they should tell this one person but they don't and instead tell the wrong person, I want to reach into the pages of the book and throttle the main character. Like what are you thinking? The person is going to find out anyway. They always do. And the same phrases are said every. single. time. "Why didn't you just tell me?" "How could you keep this from me?" "How dare you tell my worst enemy and not me?" "I would have been less upset if you just came to me from the start." "How can I trust you again?" "What else aren't you telling me?" It makes me so angry. I know that he's going to find. You know he's going to find out. Just. Fucking. Tell. Him. *cough* Tessa and Hardin from After *cough*. Or the character thinks they're protecting the other character by keeping them in the dark. Yeah, Dumbledore, I'm looking at you.
8. A popular series that you have no interest in reading.
The Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead. I know that these are very popular. I tried to read Vampire Academy ages ago when it first came out, and it just wasn't for me. I love vampires. My father is a huge Dracula enthusiast, so I grew up with vampires. However, for me it was something I like to call the Sugar Coated Vampire story. I prefer the darker vampire tales, Anne Rice and Dracula and Salem's Lot. I just have such a low tolerance for teen vampire romance novels, and Twilight just kind of hit that quota. I enjoyed Twilight, but you can only read so many before they all start to sound the same. Sorry.
The Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead. I know that these are very popular. I tried to read Vampire Academy ages ago when it first came out, and it just wasn't for me. I love vampires. My father is a huge Dracula enthusiast, so I grew up with vampires. However, for me it was something I like to call the Sugar Coated Vampire story. I prefer the darker vampire tales, Anne Rice and Dracula and Salem's Lot. I just have such a low tolerance for teen vampire romance novels, and Twilight just kind of hit that quota. I enjoyed Twilight, but you can only read so many before they all start to sound the same. Sorry.
9. The saying goes "The book is always better than the movie", but what movie or T.V. show adaptation do you prefer more than the book?
Pretty Little Liars. I made it through the first 4 or 5 books, and they were okay, but the show is so much better.
Vampire Diaries. Same as Vampire Academy. The books were awful, they were just atrocious. They were chaotic and confusing. The show is better, at least it was. I gave up on it. I just can't anymore. But I did enjoy the first like 2 or 3 seasons.
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There you go, my answers for the Unpopular Opinion Book Tag. Sorry if I offend anyone. It was kind of difficult, as I'm pretty much an easy-to-please reader. There's really very little that upsets me when I'm reading. That's a lie, I'm a very passionate reader. I get very emotionally invested in my books. But it takes a lot for me to truly dislike a book or anything really. I'm that annoying person who sees the good in almost everything. So, hope you enjoyed it. I will see you soon with my April wrap-up and some book reviews.
Until next time, happy reading!
Pretty Little Liars. I made it through the first 4 or 5 books, and they were okay, but the show is so much better.
Vampire Diaries. Same as Vampire Academy. The books were awful, they were just atrocious. They were chaotic and confusing. The show is better, at least it was. I gave up on it. I just can't anymore. But I did enjoy the first like 2 or 3 seasons.
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There you go, my answers for the Unpopular Opinion Book Tag. Sorry if I offend anyone. It was kind of difficult, as I'm pretty much an easy-to-please reader. There's really very little that upsets me when I'm reading. That's a lie, I'm a very passionate reader. I get very emotionally invested in my books. But it takes a lot for me to truly dislike a book or anything really. I'm that annoying person who sees the good in almost everything. So, hope you enjoyed it. I will see you soon with my April wrap-up and some book reviews.
Until next time, happy reading!
Sunday, March 27, 2016
March Wrap-Up!
Hello everyone!
It is that time when we say goodbye to March, and welcome in April. March was a very good reading month. I read 7 books and a total of 2,331 pages.
The books I read this month are:
1. What Comes of Eating Doughnuts with a Boy Who Plays Guitar (Gem City #1) by Nicole Campbell
Loved it. It's an adorable contemporary about a girl named Courtney who spends the summer with her best friend, Vanessa, in Ohio where she meets Ethan. They fall in love and adorable stuff happens and then heart breaking stuff happens, and it's just adorable. Read it! It was a super quick read, and it was just a feel good story. I received it free for review, and loved it so much I bought the entire series. In both physical copy, and for my Kindle because I have a problem apparently.
Loved it. It's an adorable contemporary about a girl named Courtney who spends the summer with her best friend, Vanessa, in Ohio where she meets Ethan. They fall in love and adorable stuff happens and then heart breaking stuff happens, and it's just adorable. Read it! It was a super quick read, and it was just a feel good story. I received it free for review, and loved it so much I bought the entire series. In both physical copy, and for my Kindle because I have a problem apparently.
2. How One Attempts to Chase Gravity (Gem City #2) by Nicole Campbell
The sequel to the aforementioned, Doughnuts. Only this one is told mainly from Ethan's perspective, and then we see what happens after Doughnuts. It was also absolutely adorable, and ugh. It made me cry happy tears and my little cynical heart felt things and it was just all too cute!
The sequel to the aforementioned, Doughnuts. Only this one is told mainly from Ethan's perspective, and then we see what happens after Doughnuts. It was also absolutely adorable, and ugh. It made me cry happy tears and my little cynical heart felt things and it was just all too cute!
3. When the Time Comes to Light a Fire (Gem City #3) by Nicole Campbell
The third and possibly last book in the series, not totally positive. This one was my favorite of the three. It is told from Vanessa's point of view, before the summer of Ethan and Courtney. It is a little more bittersweet than the first 2, which is fitting, because Vanessa is a little more intense than Courtney, in the best possible way. I actually received this as an ARC, because Nicole Campbell read my review and liked it so much she gave me the privilege of reading the book a month before it was released. It officially went on sale April 1st. I think it is only available on Kindle/E-readers at the moment. But it is so good. You have to read it. I will be making a post with all 3 of my reviews in the coming weeks.
The third and possibly last book in the series, not totally positive. This one was my favorite of the three. It is told from Vanessa's point of view, before the summer of Ethan and Courtney. It is a little more bittersweet than the first 2, which is fitting, because Vanessa is a little more intense than Courtney, in the best possible way. I actually received this as an ARC, because Nicole Campbell read my review and liked it so much she gave me the privilege of reading the book a month before it was released. It officially went on sale April 1st. I think it is only available on Kindle/E-readers at the moment. But it is so good. You have to read it. I will be making a post with all 3 of my reviews in the coming weeks.
4. Me Before You by JoJo Moyes
Okay, so this book has so much hype right now. It is being made into a movie, and I really hope that the movie is better. I rarely like the movie more than the book. Even if I love the movie, I usually also love the book (for different reasons). However this book, I hated it. I mean it wasn't the worst book I've read. It dealt with a topic that is difficult and I'm not talking about the fact that one of the main characters is a quadriplegic. For that reason alone I gave it 3 stars instead of 2 or even 1. However, I hated Lou. She was irritating and whiny and boring - so boring. Her family was awful. Her boyfriend was the king of the mega-douche-canoes. Will's family was so cliché. Literally the only redeeming character was Will, who was just as cliché as his family at times. I just, I wanted to put it down so many times, and it was just barely worth it. Like, literally if I had only read the last 50 or so pages, I would have given it closer to 5 stars. I'll write a full rant (I mean review) when I can actually form a critical analysis of the book without rolling my eyes and using the word "ugh". I just... Ugh!
Okay, so this book has so much hype right now. It is being made into a movie, and I really hope that the movie is better. I rarely like the movie more than the book. Even if I love the movie, I usually also love the book (for different reasons). However this book, I hated it. I mean it wasn't the worst book I've read. It dealt with a topic that is difficult and I'm not talking about the fact that one of the main characters is a quadriplegic. For that reason alone I gave it 3 stars instead of 2 or even 1. However, I hated Lou. She was irritating and whiny and boring - so boring. Her family was awful. Her boyfriend was the king of the mega-douche-canoes. Will's family was so cliché. Literally the only redeeming character was Will, who was just as cliché as his family at times. I just, I wanted to put it down so many times, and it was just barely worth it. Like, literally if I had only read the last 50 or so pages, I would have given it closer to 5 stars. I'll write a full rant (I mean review) when I can actually form a critical analysis of the book without rolling my eyes and using the word "ugh". I just... Ugh!
5. Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
This is the story of the French Quarter during the 50s. It's told from the perspective of Josie, who is the daughter of a prostitute. The story was okay, not amazing. I mean to be honest the story was just all over the place with no real direction, but the characters were amazing and I loved this book. I absolutely love the French Quarter, and I just really enjoyed this book. It took very little thought. It was just an easy read.
This is the story of the French Quarter during the 50s. It's told from the perspective of Josie, who is the daughter of a prostitute. The story was okay, not amazing. I mean to be honest the story was just all over the place with no real direction, but the characters were amazing and I loved this book. I absolutely love the French Quarter, and I just really enjoyed this book. It took very little thought. It was just an easy read.
6. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
I am a huge World War II buff. My grandfather fought, and was highly decorated for his service. So, I grew up with a healthy respect and appreciation for the era. This book put everything I thought I knew into a different perspective. This is about Lithuania during Stalin's reign of terror, and the civilians of the Baltics getting forced out to camps in Siberia. For decades they were considered criminals, unable to reveal the true horrors they faced until Lithuania regained it's freedom from Russia in the 90s(?). It was beautiful in the most tragic heartbreaking way.
I am a huge World War II buff. My grandfather fought, and was highly decorated for his service. So, I grew up with a healthy respect and appreciation for the era. This book put everything I thought I knew into a different perspective. This is about Lithuania during Stalin's reign of terror, and the civilians of the Baltics getting forced out to camps in Siberia. For decades they were considered criminals, unable to reveal the true horrors they faced until Lithuania regained it's freedom from Russia in the 90s(?). It was beautiful in the most tragic heartbreaking way.
7. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
Another World War II story. This one is about the cruiseliner turned refugee ship the Wilhelm Gustloff. The story of the Wilhelm Gustloff, was another tragedy that went majorly undiscussed after the war. With a total capacity for under 1500, the ship carrying over 10,000 refugees and military personnel, had more casualties than both the Titanic and her sister the Lusitania. While the victims of the Titanic were forever memorialized with a movie, and countless books, the Wilhelm Gustloff is barely spoken of, and was basically a secret casualty of the war. This book is told from 4 very different perspectives and is so far my favorite book of the year. I loved it. It was incredible and eye opening.
Another World War II story. This one is about the cruiseliner turned refugee ship the Wilhelm Gustloff. The story of the Wilhelm Gustloff, was another tragedy that went majorly undiscussed after the war. With a total capacity for under 1500, the ship carrying over 10,000 refugees and military personnel, had more casualties than both the Titanic and her sister the Lusitania. While the victims of the Titanic were forever memorialized with a movie, and countless books, the Wilhelm Gustloff is barely spoken of, and was basically a secret casualty of the war. This book is told from 4 very different perspectives and is so far my favorite book of the year. I loved it. It was incredible and eye opening.
As always I will be (eventually) writing a review for all of the books that I read that year. I think the exception will be the Harry Potter series, because there are so many reviews for Harry Potter, I doubt anything I have to say about them will provide any unique insight. However, that may change. If anyone should want me to write a review of Harry Potter I certainly will, though perhaps a collective review of all 7 books? I mean you can only write about how a young boy faces death to save the world so many times before you begin to repeat yourself.
Anyway that has been my March wrap-up. I am currently reading You by Caroline Kepnes, it is wonderful and thrilling and more than just a little disturbing. I am a little over halfway done already. When I'm done, I'm not sure what I will pick up. I have so many tempting books just waiting to be opened. However I would very much like to reread Gone With the Wind, as it had been a while since I read it, so maybe I will manage to get through that at some point this month. It's only 1,037 pages. No pressure!
Until next time, happy reading!
TOTALS FOR MARCH - # Of Books = 7 ; # Of Pages = 2331
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CURRENTLY READING: You by Caroline Kepnes (page 261/422)
CURRENT PAGE TOTAL (for the month): 261 of 2,016
CURRENT PAGE TOTAL (for the year): 7,665 of 24,192
TOTAL # OF BOOKS READ THIS YEAR: 15 of 52
Saturday, March 5, 2016
February Wrap-Up!
Hello Bookworms!
2016 is flying by. It's hard to believe that it is already March! February was a very productive reading month. Much better than January was. I managed to read my way out of whatever reading slump had overcome me.
I began February by reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series. I then ventured on to another series After by Anna Todd. The After Series consists of five books: After, After We Collided, After We Fell, After Ever Happy, and Before. I will do a full review of the series at a later date, but a brief synopsis is that it is based on a Harry Styles/One Direction fan-fiction. It is about a girl who goes to college for the first, meets a boy and her entire world is turned upside down. He is manipulative, angry, emotionally abusive, and broken. She is uptight, controlling, immature, and just as broken. They shouldn't work. But they do. You shouldn't root for these awful broken lovers, but you do. After should not be the kind of story that draws you and leaves you demanding more, but it is.
I hated it. I threw those books more often than I have any other series since Twilight. What I hated even more, was that I kept going back. I couldn't stay away. I was in an abusive relationship with this book series, and I hated it, but I loved it!
I will make another post soon, with a March update, but for the month of February I read a total of 6 books, adding up to a total of 3741 pages. So far in 2016 I have read a grand total of 9 books with a page total of 5063.
Until next time, happy reading!
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TOTALS FOR PREVIOUS MONTH - # Of Books = 6 ; # Of Pages = 3741
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CURRENTLY READING: How One Attempts to Chase Gravity by Nicole Campbell (page 95/393)
CURRENT PAGE TOTAL (for the month): 315 of 2,016
CURRENT PAGE TOTAL (for the year): 5378 of 24,192
TOTAL # OF BOOKS READ THIS YEAR: 9 of 52
2016 is flying by. It's hard to believe that it is already March! February was a very productive reading month. Much better than January was. I managed to read my way out of whatever reading slump had overcome me.
I began February by reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series. I then ventured on to another series After by Anna Todd. The After Series consists of five books: After, After We Collided, After We Fell, After Ever Happy, and Before. I will do a full review of the series at a later date, but a brief synopsis is that it is based on a Harry Styles/One Direction fan-fiction. It is about a girl who goes to college for the first, meets a boy and her entire world is turned upside down. He is manipulative, angry, emotionally abusive, and broken. She is uptight, controlling, immature, and just as broken. They shouldn't work. But they do. You shouldn't root for these awful broken lovers, but you do. After should not be the kind of story that draws you and leaves you demanding more, but it is.
I hated it. I threw those books more often than I have any other series since Twilight. What I hated even more, was that I kept going back. I couldn't stay away. I was in an abusive relationship with this book series, and I hated it, but I loved it!
I will make another post soon, with a March update, but for the month of February I read a total of 6 books, adding up to a total of 3741 pages. So far in 2016 I have read a grand total of 9 books with a page total of 5063.
Until next time, happy reading!
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TOTALS FOR PREVIOUS MONTH - # Of Books = 6 ; # Of Pages = 3741
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CURRENTLY READING: How One Attempts to Chase Gravity by Nicole Campbell (page 95/393)
CURRENT PAGE TOTAL (for the month): 315 of 2,016
CURRENT PAGE TOTAL (for the year): 5378 of 24,192
TOTAL # OF BOOKS READ THIS YEAR: 9 of 52
Monday, February 8, 2016
January Wrap-Up!
Welcome to the second month of 2016! This post will be just a quick update. I have finished Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter #5), as well as Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter #6). I'm slightly behind schedule as I had hoped to have all 7 books finished by February, but I am already a quarter of the way through Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter #7).
My page total for the month of July, fell slightly short of my goal of 2,016 pages, but I'm hoping to make up for it in February, once I finish Deathly Hallows which is 759 pages.
On the insistence of a good friend, I have also begun reading the After Series by Anna Todd. Originally written as a Harry Styles (One Direction) Fan-Fiction, it is the story of a girl who is in her first year at college, and upon meeting the edgy, and quite confusing Hardin, her straight-edged lifestyle is flipped upside down. It is surprisingly addicting. It is one of those books - like Twilight - in which you both love it and hate it at the same time. I'm not sure on it, but it's a good quick read. It definitely is a good break from the emotional journey that is Harry Potter. Currently I'm on page 216 out of 582.
On the insistence of a good friend, I have also begun reading the After Series by Anna Todd. Originally written as a Harry Styles (One Direction) Fan-Fiction, it is the story of a girl who is in her first year at college, and upon meeting the edgy, and quite confusing Hardin, her straight-edged lifestyle is flipped upside down. It is surprisingly addicting. It is one of those books - like Twilight - in which you both love it and hate it at the same time. I'm not sure on it, but it's a good quick read. It definitely is a good break from the emotional journey that is Harry Potter. Currently I'm on page 216 out of 582.
My plan to read a different theme each month is a bit difficult to stand by with my work schedule and all that. So, since I have so many books that have gone unread, I will be reading whatever books happen to catch my fancy. I think after I finish the After Series by Anna Todd, I will begin the Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo. However that may change.
I also have received some books that I will be reading in exchange for honest reviews so look out for those! Happy reading!
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TOTALS FOR PREVIOUS MONTH - # Of Books = 2 ; # Of Pages = 1322
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CURRENTLY READING: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling (page: 608/759) and After by Anna Todd (page: 216/582)
CURRENT PAGE TOTAL (for the month): 824 of 2,016
CURRENT PAGE TOTAL (for the year): 2146 of 24,192
TOTAL # OF BOOKS READ THIS YEAR: 2 of 52
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Farewell, Professor Snape
I was deeply saddened upon hearing the news of Alan Rickman's passing. Having grown up with him as Professor Snape, and then delving into his other works as I grew older and realized that he was more than just the less-than-likable character he played in the Harry Potter franchise. He played Snape so true to character, while adding an element to the character that made us love to hate him.
He was an exceptionally talented actor who brought every character he played to life. It is difficult to process the fact that we will no longer be blessed with not only his incredible acting, but also this deeply compassionate human being. He touched so many lives, and brought such joy to so many people.
It is with the deepest sorrow, and many condolences to his family and friends that I say l: Farewell, Alan Rickman. You will be so missed, and live forever in our hearts. Always.
It would be wonderful to think that the future is unknown and sort of surprising.
- Alan Rickman
1946-2016
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Hello 2016!
Hello everyone!
So, we are (over) a week into 2016. My intention was to post well before now, but well, if you haven't already, you will soon come to learn that what I intend to do and what I actually do are quite different. I have been trying to think of what I can do to make this book blog more fun and interesting. Not just for my readers, but for myself so I that I have more fun with it, and become more consistent in blogging.
I have been considering different ways to bring a change to this blog for a couple months now. I want there to be more variety to my page. I want each month to be a different adventure. I eventually want to become a daily-ish blogger and have a different theme each day. However, I think it may be a while before I reach that goal. I will start by being a weekly blogger, and post at least once a week. That way I can figure out a rhythm to posting more regularly. I will start with a weekly theme, and then as I gather momentum post more frequently. I will continue with the reviews, but I want more from this page than just reviews. Reviews can get boring after a while.
On top of having a weekly theme, I'd like to have a monthly theme, so that each month is something different, so that I can experience new things, new authors, new books, different genres. Maybe some months will be a goal (ex: to read 10,000 pages or to read only books with a certain word in the title). As the year progresses I'll make an outline of what I want for this page each month. At the beginning of the month I will post what the month's theme or challenge will be and what books I plan to read for the month - or how I plan to accomplish the goal.
I also have a couple goals for the year of 2016. The first of these is to read at least 52 books by the end of the year - that is to say I'd like to read at least one book every week. We'll see how that works with my schedule as sometimes I have the time, and other's I just don't. It also depends on my interest in the book. My second goal of 2016 is to read 24,192 pages (which is to read at least 2,016 pages a month). My third and final reading goal for 2016 is to read at least 1 book by at least 16 different authors that I haven't read before.
I've decided to do away with the TBR-dis for the time being. While I didn't hate the book I chose last time I picked from it, I found that there were just so many other books that I was more interested in reading at the time. So much so in fact that I put the book back on my shelf and decided to read another book. So, for right now, my TBR shelf is comprised of literally every single book on my bookshelf whether I have previously read it or not. It makes reading more enjoyable when you can just skim your shelf and say, "I haven't read Harry Potter in a while, I think I'll pick that up again."
I feel like 2016 is going to be a good reading year for me. I'm very excited to start fresh and see what this year has in store for me! Hope you all had a wonderful holiday, and that 2016 is full of good health, good cheer, good memories, and most of all good books for everyone!
Happy reading!
_____________
CURRENTLY READING: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (page: 781/870)
CURRENT PAGE TOTAL (for the month): 581 of 2,016 (I began reading Order of the Phoenix at the end of December)
CURRENT PAGE TOTAL (for the year): 581 of 24,192
TOTAL # OF BOOKS READ THIS YEAR: 0 of 52
So, we are (over) a week into 2016. My intention was to post well before now, but well, if you haven't already, you will soon come to learn that what I intend to do and what I actually do are quite different. I have been trying to think of what I can do to make this book blog more fun and interesting. Not just for my readers, but for myself so I that I have more fun with it, and become more consistent in blogging.
I have been considering different ways to bring a change to this blog for a couple months now. I want there to be more variety to my page. I want each month to be a different adventure. I eventually want to become a daily-ish blogger and have a different theme each day. However, I think it may be a while before I reach that goal. I will start by being a weekly blogger, and post at least once a week. That way I can figure out a rhythm to posting more regularly. I will start with a weekly theme, and then as I gather momentum post more frequently. I will continue with the reviews, but I want more from this page than just reviews. Reviews can get boring after a while.
On top of having a weekly theme, I'd like to have a monthly theme, so that each month is something different, so that I can experience new things, new authors, new books, different genres. Maybe some months will be a goal (ex: to read 10,000 pages or to read only books with a certain word in the title). As the year progresses I'll make an outline of what I want for this page each month. At the beginning of the month I will post what the month's theme or challenge will be and what books I plan to read for the month - or how I plan to accomplish the goal.
I also have a couple goals for the year of 2016. The first of these is to read at least 52 books by the end of the year - that is to say I'd like to read at least one book every week. We'll see how that works with my schedule as sometimes I have the time, and other's I just don't. It also depends on my interest in the book. My second goal of 2016 is to read 24,192 pages (which is to read at least 2,016 pages a month). My third and final reading goal for 2016 is to read at least 1 book by at least 16 different authors that I haven't read before.
I've decided to do away with the TBR-dis for the time being. While I didn't hate the book I chose last time I picked from it, I found that there were just so many other books that I was more interested in reading at the time. So much so in fact that I put the book back on my shelf and decided to read another book. So, for right now, my TBR shelf is comprised of literally every single book on my bookshelf whether I have previously read it or not. It makes reading more enjoyable when you can just skim your shelf and say, "I haven't read Harry Potter in a while, I think I'll pick that up again."
I feel like 2016 is going to be a good reading year for me. I'm very excited to start fresh and see what this year has in store for me! Hope you all had a wonderful holiday, and that 2016 is full of good health, good cheer, good memories, and most of all good books for everyone!
Happy reading!
_____________
CURRENTLY READING: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (page: 781/870)
CURRENT PAGE TOTAL (for the month): 581 of 2,016 (I began reading Order of the Phoenix at the end of December)
CURRENT PAGE TOTAL (for the year): 581 of 24,192
TOTAL # OF BOOKS READ THIS YEAR: 0 of 52
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