Sunday, May 17, 2015
My To Be Read list....
So I will admit, I have a problem. I have a very bad (good?) habit of going into my local Half Price Books, going to the young adult clearance section, and buying every single book that looks remotely interesting. (They are a dollar! And I've gotten some good books there.) So it has resulted in a very....large stack of books that I need to read.
Some of these books I bought because I knew I wanted to read them, a lot of them I picked up on a whim. The ones in the front are books I've started but have gotten distracted from. So yeah. I have a problem.
Then there is the list of books I want to read really bad but don't have yet. These are on the top of that list.
-Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
-The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
-Vicious by V.E. Schwab
-A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E.Schwab
-Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
-An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Ugg. Not enough time in the day.
Book Review: Sister Slam and the Poetic Motormouth Road Trip by Linda Oatman High
Book: Sister Slam and the Poetic Motormouth Road Trip
Author: Linda Oatman High
Genre: YA fiction, prose
Rating: 2.5/5
Format: Paperback
Where I got the book: HPB Clearance section.
Favorite Character: Jake.
Not much to say about this one. The first books in prose that I've read in a long time. Not bad, basic Cinderella story.
Not much to say about this one. The first books in prose that I've read in a long time. Not bad, basic Cinderella story.
Book Review: The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart
Book: The Boyfriend List
Author: E. Lockhart
Genre: YA fiction, romance
Rating: 3/5
Format: Hardcover
Where I got the book: It was recommended to me on Goodreads then I found it one day in the clearance section of HPB.
Favorite Character: I don't think there is one. Not enough Character Development
This was a short and funny book. Like Atlantia It wasn't really good or bad, it just was. It was a nice change of pace from all the other types of books I was reading, as the book is realistic and retells the story of her High School downward spiral. A lot of the characters made me angry in their misinterpretation of events, but that is pretty true to High School so it works. (Still annoyed me though.)
This was a short and funny book. Like Atlantia It wasn't really good or bad, it just was. It was a nice change of pace from all the other types of books I was reading, as the book is realistic and retells the story of her High School downward spiral. A lot of the characters made me angry in their misinterpretation of events, but that is pretty true to High School so it works. (Still annoyed me though.)
Book Review: Atlantia by Ally Condie
Book: Atlantia
Author: Ally Condie
Genre: YA fiction, dystopia, fantasy
Rating: 3/5
Format: Hardcover
Where I got the book: HPB Clearance section, but I knew Ally Condie from Matched and had been planning to read it eventually.
Favorite Character: Can the bats be my favorite?
So I knew about this book from reading Matched but I wasn't drawn to it enough to pick it up until I found it for cheap at HPB. Overall I think it was an okay book. I I think the story was pretty similar to most dystopian YA novels, but also was different enough to not bore me. I especially enjoyed that this is a stand alone book and not part of a series, which made this a lot more stress free. I did not find Rio to be as obnoxious/short-sighted/naive as most female leads of these types of books, though that may have come from there being less space to fill with temper tantrums than there is a in a series.
Overall it was a short and decent read. I wasn't sure about it in the beginning but It ended up being alright.
So I knew about this book from reading Matched but I wasn't drawn to it enough to pick it up until I found it for cheap at HPB. Overall I think it was an okay book. I I think the story was pretty similar to most dystopian YA novels, but also was different enough to not bore me. I especially enjoyed that this is a stand alone book and not part of a series, which made this a lot more stress free. I did not find Rio to be as obnoxious/short-sighted/naive as most female leads of these types of books, though that may have come from there being less space to fill with temper tantrums than there is a in a series.
Overall it was a short and decent read. I wasn't sure about it in the beginning but It ended up being alright.
Saturday, May 16, 2015
Bout Of Books 13!
I've decided (a bit late..) to use all my reading towards Bout of Books 13!
BLURB
"The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 11th and runs through Sunday, May 17th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 13 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team"
Progress:
Monday
Pages read: (180)
-Atlantia p.149 - p.320 (end)
-The Boyfriend List p.1 - p.9
Listened to:
-Pride and Prejudice chapters 1-5
Challenge I: Bookish Survey
Challenge II: Character Face Off
Challenge I: Bookish Survey
Tuesday
Pages read: (232)
-The Boyfriend List p.9 - p.229 (end)
-Stolen by Lucy Christopher p.1 - p.12
-Stolen by Lucy Christopher p.1 - p.12
Listened to:
-Pride and Prejudice chapters 6 - 9
Challenge II: Character Face Off
Wednesday
Pages read: (256)
-Sister Slam and the Poetic Motormouth Road Trip Whole book. (256 pages)
Listened to:
-Pride and Prejudice chapters 10-13
Challenge III: Book Haiku
-Sister Slam and the Poetic Motormouth Road Trip Whole book. (256 pages)
Listened to:
-Pride and Prejudice chapters 10-13
Challenge III: Book Haiku
Thursday
Pages read: (263)
-Stolen by Lucy Christopher p.1 - p.263
Listened to: X
-Stolen by Lucy Christopher p.1 - p.263
Listened to: X
Friday
Pages read: (153)
-Stolen by Lucy Christopher p.263 - p,301 (end)
-Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard p.1 - p.115
Listened to: X
-Stolen by Lucy Christopher p.263 - p,301 (end)
-Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard p.1 - p.115
Listened to: X
Saturday
Pages read: (217)
-Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard p.115 - p.320 (end)
-Saint Anything p1 - p.12
Listened to: X
-Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard p.115 - p.320 (end)
-Saint Anything p1 - p.12
Listened to: X
Sunday
Pages read:
Listened to:
Listened to:
Currently Reading: Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen
Finished:
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Bout Of Books 13: Book Haiku
Challenge 3 by Kristina Horner is to create a haiku about the book you are currently reading.
Currently Reading: Sister Slam and the Poetic Motormouth Road Trip by Linda Oatman High
Driving to the slam
Oh crap we his a stray pig
Lemon pie is gross
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Bout Of Books 13: Character Face Off
Opponent #1: America Singer
Who: Lower class girl thrown into a high class world
Cons: Stubborn, skeptical, impulsive
Pros: Aware, brave, good-hearted
Opponent #2: Eadlyn Schreave
Who: Princess of Illea, daughter of America and Maxom
Cons: Stubborn, spoiled, naive
Pros: Innocent, loyal, reasonably intelligent....
Winner: America Singer
Why: America came from a lower caste and was thrust into a world of riches. For most of this journey, her flaws got the best of her (especially her stubbornness). However she was brave and stuck with what she believed in, even if it meant risking her own well being. Her daughter Eadlyn, however, was raised within the castle walls as a princess. Despite her parents, she is sheltered and spoiled and seems to know little about reality and her people. She has a difficult time putting others above herself and when she does she is sure to be unhappy about it, and does not take opportunities that are presented to her with stride. In the end, though America wasn't the best at all times, it seems much of her and Maxom was not instilled in their eldest child, or at least it has yet to be uncovered...
Lulo Fangirl
Who: Lower class girl thrown into a high class world
Cons: Stubborn, skeptical, impulsive
Pros: Aware, brave, good-hearted
Opponent #2: Eadlyn Schreave
Who: Princess of Illea, daughter of America and Maxom
Cons: Stubborn, spoiled, naive
Pros: Innocent, loyal, reasonably intelligent....
Winner: America Singer
Why: America came from a lower caste and was thrust into a world of riches. For most of this journey, her flaws got the best of her (especially her stubbornness). However she was brave and stuck with what she believed in, even if it meant risking her own well being. Her daughter Eadlyn, however, was raised within the castle walls as a princess. Despite her parents, she is sheltered and spoiled and seems to know little about reality and her people. She has a difficult time putting others above herself and when she does she is sure to be unhappy about it, and does not take opportunities that are presented to her with stride. In the end, though America wasn't the best at all times, it seems much of her and Maxom was not instilled in their eldest child, or at least it has yet to be uncovered...
Lulo Fangirl
Bout Of Books 13: Bookish Survey
I'm too late for the challenge, but I still wanted to post up the survey from day one!
1. How do you organize your shelves? I used to have them Organized by color, in the order of the rainbow. However it started to really bother me that series’ were not together and I had to hunt for books. So I rearranged them alphabetically by Author, separated into fiction and non fiction.
2. What is one of your favorite book that’s not in one of your favorite genres? Running With The Demon by Terry Brooks. I don’t read a lot of adult fantasy but I love this book.
3. What is the last 5 star book you read? Very Good Lives by J.K. Rowling and Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
4. What book are you most excited to read during the read-a-thon? I don’t actually have any books planned. When I finish a book I just kind of stare at my stacks of unread books until I decide on one. :3
5. What book do you recommend the most? Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. I think everyone should read Harry Potter. At least once. If not more. :D
Writing My Own Fairytale
1. How do you organize your shelves? I used to have them Organized by color, in the order of the rainbow. However it started to really bother me that series’ were not together and I had to hunt for books. So I rearranged them alphabetically by Author, separated into fiction and non fiction.
2. What is one of your favorite book that’s not in one of your favorite genres? Running With The Demon by Terry Brooks. I don’t read a lot of adult fantasy but I love this book.
3. What is the last 5 star book you read? Very Good Lives by J.K. Rowling and Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
4. What book are you most excited to read during the read-a-thon? I don’t actually have any books planned. When I finish a book I just kind of stare at my stacks of unread books until I decide on one. :3
5. What book do you recommend the most? Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. I think everyone should read Harry Potter. At least once. If not more. :D
Writing My Own Fairytale
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Book Review: The Heir by Kiera Cass (Selection #5)
Book: The Heir (Selection #5)
Author: Kiera Cass
Genre: YA fiction, dystopia, romance
Rating: 3.5/5
Format: Audio Book
Where I got the book: Audible
Favorite Character: Kyle, Eric, Henry, Hale.
So I wasn't sure about this book going in. I really enjoyed the other Selection book, but I wasn't sure how I felt about a time jump. I was more interested in what happened to America and Maxon after the end of The One. I ended up listening to this book on my phone and I actually ended up getting super into it. I'm going to continue this under a spoiler cut though, just in case.
(Spoilers)
I spent most of this book hating Eadlyn, and it wasn't really until the last chapter that I started to hate her less. What a spoiled, whiny brat she is. It's hard to imagine that she was really raised by America and Maxon. I thought it was pretty adorable that everyone from the first trilogy was still in the background of this book. I also liked that at the end of the book I still don't know who the main love triangle is. (Let's be honest here, there is always a triangle.) I'm pretty sure Kyle's got a point and from the beginning I thought something was going to happen with Eric. Those are pretty much the two I am rooting for, though Hale is super adorable.
I realized around chapter thirty that this book was not going to be the end. And I will admit I spazzed a little because I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS.
So I wasn't sure about this book going in. I really enjoyed the other Selection book, but I wasn't sure how I felt about a time jump. I was more interested in what happened to America and Maxon after the end of The One. I ended up listening to this book on my phone and I actually ended up getting super into it. I'm going to continue this under a spoiler cut though, just in case.
(Spoilers)
I spent most of this book hating Eadlyn, and it wasn't really until the last chapter that I started to hate her less. What a spoiled, whiny brat she is. It's hard to imagine that she was really raised by America and Maxon. I thought it was pretty adorable that everyone from the first trilogy was still in the background of this book. I also liked that at the end of the book I still don't know who the main love triangle is. (Let's be honest here, there is always a triangle.) I'm pretty sure Kyle's got a point and from the beginning I thought something was going to happen with Eric. Those are pretty much the two I am rooting for, though Hale is super adorable.
I realized around chapter thirty that this book was not going to be the end. And I will admit I spazzed a little because I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS.
Book Review: The Last Days by Scott Westerfeld
Book: The Last Days
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Genre: YA fiction, sci-fi, paranormal, vampire
Rating: 4/5
Format: Paperback
Where I got the book: Ordered off of Amazon after finishing Peeps. Could not find this book in an actual store.
Favorite Character: Zahler.
Like many others I feel that this book is more of companion novel to Peeps rather than a sequel. I also thought this book was a lot better than the first one. The characters are a lot more interesting and I've always enjoyed stories where the reader knows more than the characters in the book. I still have some of the same feeling I did about the first book. I still thought the book was overall pretty juvenile and silly, but it was a step up.
(Spoilers)
I really enjoyed the idea of Luz, and that people were trying and succeeding at figuring out their own ways to get through the rough bits of becoming a peep. I liked almost all the characters, though I really enjoyed Zahler the most. With his crush on Pearl and his honest observations about the people around him, he definitely seemed the most likable. The whole concept of Minerva's singing bringing up the worms is...interesting. I wish there was some snippets of the language she was singing in. I liked the end, even though I also thought it was silly. In a world where everything is ruined, the band is touring and saving the world. The only thing that bothered me in the end, is what happened to all the people? Did they find a cure for peep-ism? If not, how did peeps/angels reproduce? Was everyone infected doomed to live a few hundred years then die out? There were a lot of infected people.
Like many others I feel that this book is more of companion novel to Peeps rather than a sequel. I also thought this book was a lot better than the first one. The characters are a lot more interesting and I've always enjoyed stories where the reader knows more than the characters in the book. I still have some of the same feeling I did about the first book. I still thought the book was overall pretty juvenile and silly, but it was a step up.
(Spoilers)
I really enjoyed the idea of Luz, and that people were trying and succeeding at figuring out their own ways to get through the rough bits of becoming a peep. I liked almost all the characters, though I really enjoyed Zahler the most. With his crush on Pearl and his honest observations about the people around him, he definitely seemed the most likable. The whole concept of Minerva's singing bringing up the worms is...interesting. I wish there was some snippets of the language she was singing in. I liked the end, even though I also thought it was silly. In a world where everything is ruined, the band is touring and saving the world. The only thing that bothered me in the end, is what happened to all the people? Did they find a cure for peep-ism? If not, how did peeps/angels reproduce? Was everyone infected doomed to live a few hundred years then die out? There were a lot of infected people.
Book Review: Very Good Lives: The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination by JK Rowling
Book: Very Good Lives: The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination
Author: J.K. Rowling
Genre: Essays, non fiction
Rating: 5/5
Format: Hardcover
Where I got the book: I saw it on the new release shelf at HPB and immediately grabbed it.
Favorite Character: N/A
This book is the illustrated and published version of Jo's graduation speech to the Harvard class of 2008. I wasn't sure if I really should do a review for this as there isn't much to say. The speech struck home with me and I wish I had heard it while I was still in college. I think It was good advice and I enjoyed the layout of the book. I'm going to keep this book on my night stand or on my desk and look through it if I'm ever in a bad spot.
This book is the illustrated and published version of Jo's graduation speech to the Harvard class of 2008. I wasn't sure if I really should do a review for this as there isn't much to say. The speech struck home with me and I wish I had heard it while I was still in college. I think It was good advice and I enjoyed the layout of the book. I'm going to keep this book on my night stand or on my desk and look through it if I'm ever in a bad spot.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)