So I started the "year in review" thing last year, in 2013, really late and I didn't stay on top of it enough, but this year, I'm starting early and am going to try and keep up. Even though I have already read a truly ridiculous amount of books this year.
Infinity Blade: Awakening (Infinity Blade #1) by Brandon Sanderson (5/5)
I really liked this, even though I didn't know it was connected to a game until later, but I really enjoyed the story in this. It was pretty short, but it had a lot of stuff packed into it and had a huge twist at the end that I didn't see coming, which was fantastic and of course a little awful.
The Laughing Corpse (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #2) by Laurell K. Hamilton (4/5)
This was, obviously, a reread. And it was kind of, honestly, weird to go back, I'm about halfway through the series now and Anita has definitely changed a lot, the whole world has change a lot, but it was fun to go back to the simpler days.
Hawkeye: My Life as a Weapon by Matt Fraction (5/5)
This was really good, I never really honestly got into comic books, probably because there isn't a comic store super close to me and no one I knew was really into it, not to say this was my first look into it. It was just different. And really good. I loved Clint (aka: Hawkeye) in the Avengers movie but he is about ten times better in this and just... fantastic, I'm hoping to pick up more when I can, I'm kind of on a self-imposed book buying ban.
Steelheart (Reckoners #1) + Mitosis (Reckoners #1.5) by Brandon Sanderson (5/5 - both)
I loved this book and it's little accompanying short story/novella. It was a dystopian novel set in what I believe is Chicago, but it was so fresh and different and new, there was just something about it, I didn't even realize that it was dystopian until I tried to describe it to someone. The characters are fantastic, the plot is great, the writing at some points is just perfect in that it's hilarious. And there is a full review of Steelheart from me right here.
Interworld (Interworld #1) by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves (4/5)
I liked this. It was missing something that I still can't figure out, but I did really enjoy this book. I will probably pick up the second one at some point (is it in paperback yet? I want them to match. And hardcovers are expensive). Anyway, really good, check it out if you like this kind of weird, urban fantasy, dimension jumping fun.
Angels' Blood (Guild Hunter Series #1) by Nalini Singh (4/5)
This was a reread, I don't know why I actually picked up this book to reread, I think because I was watching something and they were talking about angel books and my mind went to this and it was available on Overdrive, so I read it just in a few hours one night. It's - good, it's kind of definitely one of those guilty pleasure books of just kind of the equivalent of junk food or something.
Egghead by Bo Burnham (5/5)
This is kind of linked to his new show what. Or, it should be because he does read a couple during that show. This is just - fun and hilarious. They can be immature or insanely deep. I've been following Bo for a lot of year, I really like his stuff, and he's from Boston, which is awesome. It's a good book and you could probably just read it standing in the bookstore, it's all poems.
Attack on Titan, Volumes 1-3 by Hajime Isayama (5/5)
I'm just lumping these together because I'm not going to spoil anything, obviously, for any of them. This is a really great series and there is an Anime, too, of course, which appears to be just as good. I've read more then seen at this point, just barely, but still. It's a crazy dystopian world and it's action packed, so fast passed, and the characters are awesome and mostly all of them are all badass.
Monday, January 20, 2014
Friday, January 17, 2014
Book Review: Steelheart (Reckoners #1)
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Rating: 5/5
Genre: SciFi/Fantasy, Dystopian, Post/Apocalyptic (Young Adult)
Publication Date: September 24th, 2013
Story Notion: I need more, right now.
Plot: (from Goodreads)
There are no heroes.
Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics.
But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his wills.
Nobody fights the Epics... nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them.
And David wants in. He wants Steelheart—the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David's father. For years, like the Reckoners, David's been studying, and planning—and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience.
He's seen Steelheart bleed. And he wants revenge.
Review:
I adored this book and Sanderson is definitely one of my favorite authors at this point, really he was after I read his first book last year and went 'I need all of his books now.' Anyway, I didn't even realize this book was young adult until after, and it didn't occur to me it was 'dystopian,' probably because I thought of it very much more as apocalyptic and post apocalyptic.
Besides that, onto the book itself. I loved all this characters and I adored some of the stories and things Cody said probably much too much, I found myself trying not to burst out laughing. And, of course, David, Megan, Abraham, Prof, and Tia. They're fantastic characters and everything is very intense, it doesn't stop moving, I couldn't put this book down. I finished it in about a day.
I think one of my favorite things about this book is that David, the main character, cannot make metaphors or anything like that to save his life. It was probably one of my favorite recurring things, I found myself laughing to myself more then I care to admit about some. Also the pure just comic nature of some of the Epic's powers made me oddly happy, I'm sure other people found it annoying or a rip off or whatever, but I really loved it, especially in a novel instead of comic, it was different.
Overall, I really love Sanderson's writing and I really liked David's voice and how he changed over the course of the book, I felt it was very different to what normally happened with people thrown into a situation like the one he found himself in and I feel oddly proud of him for that. To sum it up, I'd recommend you check this out if you're into this kind of book, it is truly fantastic and I really need to get my hands on the rest of his books I haven't read already.
Also, there's a short story/novella available for ebook stuff called Mitosis, that kind of gives you a little snap of what the consequences are for the end of Steelheart and it's completely fantastic, I loved it a lot. It's to be read after Steelheart, to just enforce that.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Book Review: Wizard's First Rule (Sword of Truth #1)
Book: Wizard's First Rule (Sword of Truth #1)
Author: Terry Goodkind
Genre: Fantasy (Epic Fantasy, Romance)
Rating: 5/5
Page Count: 820 (Mass Market Paperback)
Story Notion: What. What just happened? That was amazing...
Plot: (From Goodreads)
A Legend Begins...
In the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, Richard Cypher encounters a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, in his forest sanctuary. She seeks his help...and more. His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debrs come due with thundering violence.
In their darkest hour, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword--to invoke within himself something more noble. Neither knows that the rules of battle have just changed...or that their time has run out.
This is the beginning. One book. One rule. Witness the birth of a legend.
Review:
I had a review of this up before, I'd first read this book in 2011 and I put the review up then, but I'm rewriting it now because some of those reviews are cringeworthy but that was always going to be true. This book holds up so well in a reread and no matter how long it is, I always finish it in about a day. Anyway, this is just going to be a slightly altered, well completely rewritten, version of my review from 2011, which isn't up anymore.
I watched the TV series when it was first airing, it was normally on at like midnight and it was interesting and weird. I'm glad I saw it before reading this book, though, because it would of never held up, at all. Legend of the Seeker, which was what the TV series was called if you didn't know/haven't heard of it, and I haven't seen it now in a while, a few years, but I do remember genuinely really liking it.
The thing about this book, for me, was the characters. I loved Richard and Kahlan and Zed and all of them. I think Kahlan is probably my favorite because she's just so... good, because she isn't just a sterotypical anything. She kicks ass, she cries, she does kind of everything in this book alone, a lot happens. And I love how her and Richard interact and how they are genuinely friends and close but there was always a spark
Zed, on the other hand. Man, Zed is who I want to be when I am 80, which sounds weird if you've read the book and is weird, but he's just so great. Because he comes off as this completely insane old guy, but is also a badass, insanely powerful wizard who eats more then ten teenage boys.
The writing in this book is great and I love the adventure, the plot, how everything progresses nicely. Mostly, though, the characters, I'm a person who is just into the characters and I love all of these.
Monday, January 13, 2014
The End of Bout of Books 9.0 (And Day Seven Wrap-Up)
Day Seven Wrap-Up
Number of books I've read today: 1
Number of pages read: 495
Books:
Total and Read-a-Thon thoughts:
Total Number of Books Read: 10
Number of Pages: 3,536
Books:
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (180 pages)
The Cosmic Puppets by Philip K. Dick (144 pages)
Attack on Titan, Vol 4 by ajime Isayama (200 pages)
Wool (Silo #1) by Hugh Howey (539 pages)
City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare (485 pages)
Disney After Dark (Kingdom Keepers #1) by Ridley Pearson (325 pages)
City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare (453 pages)
The City of Ember (Book of Ember #1) by Jeanne DuPau
Attack on Titan, Vol. 5 by Hajime Isayama (192 pages)
Pathfinder (Patfinder #1) by Orson Scott Card (657 pages)
Notes:
I love this read-a-thon, it's my favorite of the year and I love that it's multiple times through out the year. If memory serves, this was my third Bout of Books read-a-thon, and I was able to complete ten books and participate in all three twitter chats.
And these books were much longer then most of the books on my TBR were. At the beginning, I was suffering some really bad eye strain so had to take it easy. And, as I needed a tad bit of break, I'd read an Attack on Titan book, and they're also really good and I am craving more, always with the cliffhangers.
Anyway, I'm honestly impressed with myself over how much I read, and I've read more in a bout of books read-a-thon, but also I've been reading a lot since the year started, since January first, so I was already starting to wane a bit. So far this year, before and including this now, I've read twenty one books, which is complete just madness when I try to think about it. There was a challenge going around on the BookTube community at one point to read the equivalent of 30 books in 30 days, and I'd really love to try that (a book a day for a month, the equivalent of it). January is thirty one days, but I've got half the month left and ten more books needed.
Besides me freaking out about my own ability to read books, which is just annoying. I hope all of ou had good reading weeks or just good weeks, I hope you had fun, because this read-a-thon is suppose to be low stress and fun filled (I'm never low stress). And if you want to keep up with me, you can follow me here through blogger or on Twitter, Goodreads. And I might be making YouTube videos soon, we shall see.
Goals Post
Monday Kick Off
Day One Wrap-Up
Day Two Wrap-Up
Day Three Wrap-Up
Day Four Wrap-Up
Day Five Wrap-Up
Day Six Wrap-Up
Number of books I've read today: 1
Number of pages read: 495
Books:
Pathfinder (Pathfinder #1) by Orson Scott Card (completed - 495)
Notes:
I only finished Pathfinder today and it felt like way more then just under 500 pages to me, but I didn't sleep well last night, I woke up before 5 and couldn't get back asleep. And Pathfinder is a dense book. I'm glad I read it and I loved watching how everything tied together and everything, but it was very slow at first, the first probably three hundred, four hundred pages felt really slow.
Also, Orson Scott Card shouldn't write women, just shouldn't. I only liked Leaky at all, and even then, it was only for moments. All of his other women just hit bad notes with me and there were weird conversations that just no. Stop while you're ahead, dude.
Also, Orson Scott Card shouldn't write women, just shouldn't. I only liked Leaky at all, and even then, it was only for moments. All of his other women just hit bad notes with me and there were weird conversations that just no. Stop while you're ahead, dude.
Total and Read-a-Thon thoughts:
Total Number of Books Read: 10
Number of Pages: 3,536
Books:
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (180 pages)
The Cosmic Puppets by Philip K. Dick (144 pages)
Attack on Titan, Vol 4 by ajime Isayama (200 pages)
Wool (Silo #1) by Hugh Howey (539 pages)
City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare (485 pages)
Disney After Dark (Kingdom Keepers #1) by Ridley Pearson (325 pages)
City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare (453 pages)
The City of Ember (Book of Ember #1) by Jeanne DuPau
Attack on Titan, Vol. 5 by Hajime Isayama (192 pages)
Pathfinder (Patfinder #1) by Orson Scott Card (657 pages)
Notes:
I love this read-a-thon, it's my favorite of the year and I love that it's multiple times through out the year. If memory serves, this was my third Bout of Books read-a-thon, and I was able to complete ten books and participate in all three twitter chats.
And these books were much longer then most of the books on my TBR were. At the beginning, I was suffering some really bad eye strain so had to take it easy. And, as I needed a tad bit of break, I'd read an Attack on Titan book, and they're also really good and I am craving more, always with the cliffhangers.
Anyway, I'm honestly impressed with myself over how much I read, and I've read more in a bout of books read-a-thon, but also I've been reading a lot since the year started, since January first, so I was already starting to wane a bit. So far this year, before and including this now, I've read twenty one books, which is complete just madness when I try to think about it. There was a challenge going around on the BookTube community at one point to read the equivalent of 30 books in 30 days, and I'd really love to try that (a book a day for a month, the equivalent of it). January is thirty one days, but I've got half the month left and ten more books needed.
Besides me freaking out about my own ability to read books, which is just annoying. I hope all of ou had good reading weeks or just good weeks, I hope you had fun, because this read-a-thon is suppose to be low stress and fun filled (I'm never low stress). And if you want to keep up with me, you can follow me here through blogger or on Twitter, Goodreads. And I might be making YouTube videos soon, we shall see.
Goals Post
Monday Kick Off
Day One Wrap-Up
Day Two Wrap-Up
Day Three Wrap-Up
Day Four Wrap-Up
Day Five Wrap-Up
Day Six Wrap-Up
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Bout of Books 9.0: Day Six Wrap-Up
Wow, I actually completely forgot to write up this post, good thing I woke up at way too early in the morning feeling nauseous so I could fix it.
Number of books I've read today: 2
Total number of books I've read: 9
Books:
The City of Ember (Book of Ember #1) by Jeanne DuPrau (started and completed - 270 pages)
Attack on Titan, Vol 5 by Hajime Isayama (started and completed - 192 pages)
Goals Post
Monday Kick Off
Day One Wrap-Up
Day Two Wrap-Up
Day Three Wrap-Up
Day Four Wrap-Up
Day Five Wrap-Up
Number of books I've read today: 2
Total number of books I've read: 9
Books:
The City of Ember (Book of Ember #1) by Jeanne DuPrau (started and completed - 270 pages)
Attack on Titan, Vol 5 by Hajime Isayama (started and completed - 192 pages)
Books currently-reading:
Pathfinder (Pathfinder #1) by Orson Scott Card (continued - 30 pages)
Graceling (Graceling Realm #1) by Kristin Cashore (started - 90 pages0
Pathfinder (Pathfinder #1) by Orson Scott Card (continued - 30 pages)
Graceling (Graceling Realm #1) by Kristin Cashore (started - 90 pages0
Number of pages read today: 582
Total number of pages read: 3,041
Total number of pages read: 3,041
Notes:
It was a really good reading day, almost got another 600 pages in, and I continued on with Pathfinder, even if it wasn't by much. Pathfinder is good, I just can't really get into it for some reason, I guess I'll just have to keep going, even if I don't finish it by the end of the read-a-thon, which it's very likely that I won't.
I don't know how I ended up picking up Graceling but it's... good so far. For some reason I wasn't expecting that kind of just it's there romance, but I probably should of been. I do like it, though, it's interesting so far.
Hope you all had a fantastic second to last day of the read-a-thon, and are having fun and maybe even getting some reading done!
I don't know how I ended up picking up Graceling but it's... good so far. For some reason I wasn't expecting that kind of just it's there romance, but I probably should of been. I do like it, though, it's interesting so far.
Hope you all had a fantastic second to last day of the read-a-thon, and are having fun and maybe even getting some reading done!
Goals Post
Monday Kick Off
Day One Wrap-Up
Day Two Wrap-Up
Day Three Wrap-Up
Day Four Wrap-Up
Day Five Wrap-Up
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Bout of Books 9.0: Day Five Wrap-Up
A good reading day today. I pretty much spent most of the day just read, so we're going straight onto the stats
Number of books I've read today: 2
Total number of books I've read: 7
Books:
Disney After Dark (Kingdom Keepers #1) by Ridley Pearson (finished - 255 pages)
City of Ashes (The Moral Instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare (finished - 346 pages)
Goals Post
Monday Kick Off
Day One Wrap-Up
Day Two Wrap-Up
Day Three Wrap-Up
Day Four Wrap-Up
Number of books I've read today: 2
Total number of books I've read: 7
Books:
Disney After Dark (Kingdom Keepers #1) by Ridley Pearson (finished - 255 pages)
City of Ashes (The Moral Instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare (finished - 346 pages)
Books currently-reading:
Pathfinder (Pathfinder #1) by Orson Scott Card
Pathfinder (Pathfinder #1) by Orson Scott Card
Number of pages read today: 601
Total number of pages read: 2,458
Total number of pages read: 2,458
Notes:
Those Mortal Instrument books I just fly though. I mean they are technically rereads, but I read them when they were first coming out (yes, I had to wait for those books, if you've read that series you probably know how infuriating it was). Anyway, they aren't... anything truly special, but I do really enjoy them. I always liked the world, the idea, and mostly the characters. I might end up reread the third one and maybe the Infernal devices series, I never read the third one in that one and I've heard it's the best.
Also I can't seem to pick Pathfinder back up, but I'm really hoping to tomorrow. I meant to read more then this today, actually, but I ended up getting on my computer to write and that always kind of ends my reading for the day, even if I don't want it to. There's a Twitter chat in the morning on Saturday (today), so hopefully that'll be fun and really kick me into the reading mood again since I am once again that weird area of 'finished book. What do I do now?' So hopefully I can jump into either Pathfinder or something new, I do want to read more of Pathfinder, I liked it, there's just something that's bugging me and I still don't know what it is.
Those Mortal Instrument books I just fly though. I mean they are technically rereads, but I read them when they were first coming out (yes, I had to wait for those books, if you've read that series you probably know how infuriating it was). Anyway, they aren't... anything truly special, but I do really enjoy them. I always liked the world, the idea, and mostly the characters. I might end up reread the third one and maybe the Infernal devices series, I never read the third one in that one and I've heard it's the best.
Also I can't seem to pick Pathfinder back up, but I'm really hoping to tomorrow. I meant to read more then this today, actually, but I ended up getting on my computer to write and that always kind of ends my reading for the day, even if I don't want it to. There's a Twitter chat in the morning on Saturday (today), so hopefully that'll be fun and really kick me into the reading mood again since I am once again that weird area of 'finished book. What do I do now?' So hopefully I can jump into either Pathfinder or something new, I do want to read more of Pathfinder, I liked it, there's just something that's bugging me and I still don't know what it is.
Goals Post
Monday Kick Off
Day One Wrap-Up
Day Two Wrap-Up
Day Three Wrap-Up
Day Four Wrap-Up
Friday, January 10, 2014
Bout of Books 9.0: Day Four Wrap-Up
I woke up so early today and I'm still surprised about why, but I got some reading done early and took a break to write and watch YouTube videos. I always get into this mood after a finish a book, like a kind of struggle to pick something else up or something.
Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 5
Books:
City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare (continued and completed - 253)
Goals Post
Monday Kick Off
Day One Wrap-Up
Day Two Wrap-Up
Day Three Wrap-Up
Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 5
Books:
City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare (continued and completed - 253)
Books currently-reading:
City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare (started - 107)
Disney After Dark (Kingdom Keepers #1) by Ridley Pearson (started - 70)
Pathfinder (Pathfinder #1) by Orson Scott Card (no new progress)
City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare (started - 107)
Disney After Dark (Kingdom Keepers #1) by Ridley Pearson (started - 70)
Pathfinder (Pathfinder #1) by Orson Scott Card (no new progress)
Number of pages read today: 430
Total number of pages read: 1,857
Total number of pages read: 1,857
Notes:
I didn't get as much reading done today. I woke up really early this morning, for me at least. And it made the end of the day kind of slow since I was just so tired. Not as good a reading day as others, but still good. And I think the now reading so much helped my eye strain a lot, which was nice.
Also both Mortal Instrument books were rereads, as is the Kingdom Keepers one, but I barely remember any that I've read of City of Ashes so far, I feel almost none of the actual stuff I remember. So I'm glad I'm rereading them.
I really hope to just kind of stay at the same pace, I would really like to finish Pathfinder by the end of the read-a-thon, maybe some more Attack on Titan, but Pathfinder is quite a long book. Still aiming for at least one book everyday and so far it's going well.
I hope all of your reading is going well, too! If you're participating, comment and tell me what you're reading and how you're liking it.
Happy Reading!
Also both Mortal Instrument books were rereads, as is the Kingdom Keepers one, but I barely remember any that I've read of City of Ashes so far, I feel almost none of the actual stuff I remember. So I'm glad I'm rereading them.
I really hope to just kind of stay at the same pace, I would really like to finish Pathfinder by the end of the read-a-thon, maybe some more Attack on Titan, but Pathfinder is quite a long book. Still aiming for at least one book everyday and so far it's going well.
I hope all of your reading is going well, too! If you're participating, comment and tell me what you're reading and how you're liking it.
Happy Reading!
Goals Post
Monday Kick Off
Day One Wrap-Up
Day Two Wrap-Up
Day Three Wrap-Up
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Bout of Books 9.0: Day Three Wrap-Up
Day three down! There was a chat at the end of the day, 8pm CST, 9pm for me and it was awesome, as always. I love talking to everyone and seeing so many people excited about books/reading (seriously, so many people). Onto the updates now.
Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 4
Books:
Wool (Silo #1) by Hugh Howey (completed - 348 pages)
Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 4
Books:
Wool (Silo #1) by Hugh Howey (completed - 348 pages)
Books currently-reading:
City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare (continued - 131 pages)
Pathfinder (Pathfinder #1) by Orson Scott Card (started today - 132 pages)
City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare (continued - 131 pages)
Pathfinder (Pathfinder #1) by Orson Scott Card (started today - 132 pages)
Number of pages read today: 611
Total number of pages read: 1,427
Total number of pages read: 1,427
Notes:
It was a really great reading day and my eyes were definitely much better, the taking breaks for even just a few seconds or minutes definitely does some good. And Wool was a completely incredible book, it really just took off at 40% or so, just good god was it good.
City of Bones I've been meaning to reread for a while now. And Pathfinder I've been hearing really good things about, and I had it on my shelves anyway. It is a monster of a book so I don't know if I'll finish it this read-a-thon but I might, I'm already 20% in and it's only day three.
I hope you all had good days, reading or otherwise. And I truly do kind of adore what I am now thinking of as the new Bout of Books moto: "No Failing, Only Flailing!" perfection.
City of Bones I've been meaning to reread for a while now. And Pathfinder I've been hearing really good things about, and I had it on my shelves anyway. It is a monster of a book so I don't know if I'll finish it this read-a-thon but I might, I'm already 20% in and it's only day three.
I hope you all had good days, reading or otherwise. And I truly do kind of adore what I am now thinking of as the new Bout of Books moto: "No Failing, Only Flailing!" perfection.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Bout of Books 9.0: Day Two Wrap-Up
I had some sever problems with eye-strain today, so I read mostly paper books, hoping maybe that would be nicer on my eyes then the Kindle. It's a little better but not much, honestly. Bottom line is I didn't get as much read as I wanted to, not to say I didn't get reading done
Number of books I've read today: 2
Total number of books I've read: 3
Books:
The Cosmic Puppets by Philip K. Dick (started and completed - 144 pages)
Attack on Titan, Vol. 4 by Hajime Isayama (started and finished - 200 pages)
Number of books I've read today: 2
Total number of books I've read: 3
Books:
The Cosmic Puppets by Philip K. Dick (started and completed - 144 pages)
Attack on Titan, Vol. 4 by Hajime Isayama (started and finished - 200 pages)
Books currently-reading:
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (started - 101 pages)
Wool (Silo #1) by Hugh Howey (didn't read anymore today)
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (started - 101 pages)
Wool (Silo #1) by Hugh Howey (didn't read anymore today)
Number of pages read today: 535
Total number of pages read: 816
Total number of pages read: 816
Notes:
I kind of called it an early night, it's been a long day and I read a lot but my eyes needed a break before long, way earlier then normal. I did end up reading way more then I thought, when I'd added up all the pages, which is awesome.
I hope you all had a good second day of the read-a-thon. I think I'm going to relax and then hopefully sleep long enough to heal my eyes.
I hope you all had a good second day of the read-a-thon. I think I'm going to relax and then hopefully sleep long enough to heal my eyes.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Bout of Books 9.0: Day One Wrap-Up
My friend Haley and I had a sleepover last night and I kind of poked her into it earlier in the week and we both started reading at midnight (because that's what you do at sleepovers, right?), and that's kind of how the day started. I read until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer and then when I woke up, I started reading more.
I struggled a little bit at first, flicking between books, reading a couple paragraphs, just couldn't settle on something, and ended up setting on the two weirdest books to read together probably ever: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Wool by Hugh Howey, but it apparently worked for me.
The problem is I've already read so many books this year, my brain is a little slogging, so hopefully I can push through that. Participating in the Bout of Books chat on twitter in the afternoon definitely helped that a lot, it was awesome and insane. And now onto the updates.
Number of books I've read today: 1
Books:
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (started and completed - 180 pages)
Wool (Silo #1) by Hugh Howey (started - 191 pages read)
I struggled a little bit at first, flicking between books, reading a couple paragraphs, just couldn't settle on something, and ended up setting on the two weirdest books to read together probably ever: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Wool by Hugh Howey, but it apparently worked for me.
The problem is I've already read so many books this year, my brain is a little slogging, so hopefully I can push through that. Participating in the Bout of Books chat on twitter in the afternoon definitely helped that a lot, it was awesome and insane. And now onto the updates.
Number of books I've read today: 1
Books:
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (started and completed - 180 pages)
Wool (Silo #1) by Hugh Howey (started - 191 pages read)
Books currently-reading:
Well still reading Wool, obviously. Not technically anything but tomorrow will be picking up Attack on Titan Vol 4 and that's all that's for sure.
Well still reading Wool, obviously. Not technically anything but tomorrow will be picking up Attack on Titan Vol 4 and that's all that's for sure.
Number of pages read today: 371
Notes:
I didn't get as much writing today as I wanted to. I ended up having to write, I - hard to explain, and then the premier of Teen Wolf. Which I wasn't going to watch but I ended up watching anyway. And then my eyes, my poor eyes seem to be suffering from eye strain and since I've read like 12 books in six days plus some, this isn't surprising, so might be just reading physical books tomorrow (aka: no reading of Wool, but we'll see).
I did write like six thousand words today, though, so there is that.
Hope you all had good reading days and days in general. If you want to see my progess more real time: twitter, goodreads.
I did write like six thousand words today, though, so there is that.
Hope you all had good reading days and days in general. If you want to see my progess more real time: twitter, goodreads.
Monday, January 6, 2014
Bouts of Books 9.0: Starts Today
This is the first day of the read-a-thon, my wrap up for today will go up tomorrow. First day of the read-a-thon where you repost your goals and make sure everyone knows so they can participate. Read-a-thons are suppose to be low stress and I don't actually really stress about them, which is surprising to me, but I do aim my goals high, very high sometimes, but that's how I like it.
As writing this, I've already read ten books this year, the beginning of the year always kicks me into action and I'm so motivated and it's always fantastic and I'm so glad this read-a-thon is so early in the new year.
So, I'm actually going to tweak some of my goals, because I didn't feel like I actually listed them very well in that first post.
As writing this, I've already read ten books this year, the beginning of the year always kicks me into action and I'm so motivated and it's always fantastic and I'm so glad this read-a-thon is so early in the new year.
So, I'm actually going to tweak some of my goals, because I didn't feel like I actually listed them very well in that first post.
- Read 200 - 300 pages a day
- Finish at least one book a day
- Read as much as I possibly can but also don't stress about it, one book a day is completely doable.
And the books I'm planning on haven't really changed, but I'm also surrounded by books so I might just end up picking one up at any point and reading it, we'll have to see how it goes.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Bout of Books 9.0 GOALS
And we have another Bout of Books read-a-thon beginning on the 6th of this month, this is by far my favorite read-a-thon of the year, mostly because it's so well organized, a week long, and it happens multiple times during the year. This year I'll, once again, be able to read for the whole week, pretty much at least.
I have a lot of books in mind to read and I've been itching to reread a bunch of books and this read-a-thon seems like a good time to do a mini-marathoning of rereading. So here is some of the books I'm planning on:
Reread:
I have a lot of books in mind to read and I've been itching to reread a bunch of books and this read-a-thon seems like a good time to do a mini-marathoning of rereading. So here is some of the books I'm planning on:
Reread:
- Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1-5 by Rick Riordan
- The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson
- Legion by Brandon Sanderson
- The Mortal Instrument #1-3 by Cassie Clare
I think that's all the books I want to reread. And now, I have some stuff coming in the mail and I don't know when it's coming, but this is some other books I might pick up:
- More in Attack on Titan
- The Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima (The first is The Demon King)
And I've got books all over so whatever I feel like most, I'm going to pick up, but I think this will be the week of rereading. It looks like a lot of books, and it is, but Percy Jackson is middle grade and quick, both of the Sanderson books I want to reread are short, and I can read one of the Attack on Titan books in an hour or so. Looking at the week, I think Monday will actually be my worst reading day because Haley might, hopefully, be sleeping over Sunday - Monday and then Teen Wolf starts again that night. (Judge away, please, I am judging myself right now).
I don't really have a goal of a certain number of books just to read as much as I possibly can and try to maybe write some reviews up for them, because I am already behind on review for the year as I've read seven books as of writing this. I love that this read-a-thon is so early in the year because I feel like I'm so excited for a new year and so motivated to read and the read-a-thon is just giving me a double dose of that.
If you're doing this read-a-thon, then leave a comment with your blog so I can check out your progess through the month. And if you want to see mine I'm going to be posting here everyday (updates will be the day after, so what I read on Monday will be posted on Tuesday and so on), besides that, though: Goodreads, Twitter.
2014 (reading) goals
I always try to start off the year new and have resolutions that I want to complete, and my track record is actually really good. This is mostly going to be about reading goals, but 2013 wasn't a good year for me. I mean, of course, there were good and amazing moments, but there also was some not so good stuff, and it actually had nothing to do with any outside source (except for the last few months because, man, lawyers are assholes, guys, assholes).
Anyway, onto the book stuff, the happy stuff, no bad things!
Read 50 - 100 books this year - I started my goal at 50 books in 2013 and I'm going to do that again, but I did end up upping it through out the year and ended up reading 115 books in all. Which is awesome, I cannot believe I read that many books.
Complete books I own / Stop buying books I won't read - I always think about going on a book buying ban, but that's not really what I want to do, because there are always books coming out. But before I buy books, I'm going to try and force myself to pause and ask myself if I'll really read it. Because I own so much contemporary and I am a very Fantasy (and SciFi) reader, and I do want to read a lot of the stuff I own, but some of the stuff I bought, I don't think I care about so much. Also, I own so many books, normally when people say this you go 'yeah, me too' but you don't understand. If i had to estimate a number, I'd say abou 2,000.
I want to clean out some I know I won't read or something. And people always say they want most the books they own to be ones they read, but I completely don't agree with that, I love, and sometimes stress about, being surrounded by books that I could read. And I have really slowed down buying books since the summer about, and I'm hoping to keep with this. Also - stop buying kindle books just because it's only $2 if I already own a physical copy. I love having the digital copy but I don't really need it.
Reread loved books (that I haven't had time to reread) - there's this weird thing about always reading new books because I bought these new books. But I also am dying to reread Harry Potter, I haven't had time to reread in at least 5 years, probably, which is just actually physically upsetting. I did reread some books in 2013 that I loved (It, Duma Key, and a few others), but there others. (Mortal Instrument series because I remember nothing, Percy Jackson series, and others).
Write more reviews - related to this is blogging more and maybe starting to vlog (I've talked about starting again every day since I stopped and I haven't done it yet but still). I want to write more reviews for the books I read, even if they're just those short reviews, because sometimes I just don't have a lot to say about a book. Anyway - reviews, keeping up on here because I do love blogging and everything and I think it's going to change a little. (Not a lot, still all books, but probably more personal or whatever, this isn't a very thought out goal, in all honesty).
Lists - one of the people I follow on YouTube (booktubers, they're great guys) stole the list idea from someone else. Either way, the 100 top SciFi/Fantasy list by NPR. I have read a few of them, more then I expected, and a lot of them I do want to read, not all of them but quite a few. If you've got any recommendations of different lists or whatever, please leave it in the comments. (I've been looking at the BBC one and it does have a lot of books I want to or have read, but also a lot of classics).
Certain book or series I want to complete - I have no idea what of these I'll read, but I'm going to list books or series I haven't read yet with a small synopsis of why.
The Lord of the Rings (+ The Hobbit) by J.R.R. Tolkien - It's ridiculous that I haven't read these yet and I've tried and the descriptiveness doesn't get to me as much (I read King at eleven, I know about descriptiveness) but just something about it is hard to get into. I loved the movies, though I haven't seen either of the Hobbit movies yet, and it's Tolkien and I love fantasy, it's unexpectable.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick - I read Ubik in 2013 and fell in love and I have so many of his books I'm dying to read, but I know this is probably his most popular. But also all of them, I own at least 6, I think.
The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness - I have only heard good things about this series and it sounds so good. And I've owned all three books for like 2 or 3 years I think.
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak - it's ridiculous I haven't read this yet, I am actually ashamed, and I think Haley will beat my head in with the book if I don't read it soon. I just don't really like reading things that'll make me sad, okay?
Lovecraft - this is kind of a vague thing, but I want to read kind of all his stuff, but I'll be happy to of just read a couple things. I own a couple collections of different works and I love horror and creepy stuff and he is like the one all modern horror novelists talk about and I've never read anything.
The Stand / The Shinning by Stephen King + a book by Joe Hill - Joe is his son, which is why I'm pairing them together, I think I own like all of his books on my kindle and haven't read one. And I've read quite a few King books, but not two of what are probably his most known and I'm pretty The Stand is his most loved. And I've seen The Stand mini series and it's so good.
And more, of course there's so much more, but if I keep going, we will be here for probably weeks with the amount of books I want to read and I might not get to all of these this year but I hope to (The Stand is also like 1200 pages and whew). If you did a 2014 goal, leave me a comment so I can see yours, and I hope 2014 is going to be a good year.
I also don't think I'll be taking part in really any challenges besides reading a certain number of books, really, but if you think I'd be interested in one or if you think I should check one out, feel free to leave a comment or just @ me on Twitter.
Anyway, onto the book stuff, the happy stuff, no bad things!
Read 50 - 100 books this year - I started my goal at 50 books in 2013 and I'm going to do that again, but I did end up upping it through out the year and ended up reading 115 books in all. Which is awesome, I cannot believe I read that many books.
Complete books I own / Stop buying books I won't read - I always think about going on a book buying ban, but that's not really what I want to do, because there are always books coming out. But before I buy books, I'm going to try and force myself to pause and ask myself if I'll really read it. Because I own so much contemporary and I am a very Fantasy (and SciFi) reader, and I do want to read a lot of the stuff I own, but some of the stuff I bought, I don't think I care about so much. Also, I own so many books, normally when people say this you go 'yeah, me too' but you don't understand. If i had to estimate a number, I'd say abou 2,000.
I want to clean out some I know I won't read or something. And people always say they want most the books they own to be ones they read, but I completely don't agree with that, I love, and sometimes stress about, being surrounded by books that I could read. And I have really slowed down buying books since the summer about, and I'm hoping to keep with this. Also - stop buying kindle books just because it's only $2 if I already own a physical copy. I love having the digital copy but I don't really need it.
Reread loved books (that I haven't had time to reread) - there's this weird thing about always reading new books because I bought these new books. But I also am dying to reread Harry Potter, I haven't had time to reread in at least 5 years, probably, which is just actually physically upsetting. I did reread some books in 2013 that I loved (It, Duma Key, and a few others), but there others. (Mortal Instrument series because I remember nothing, Percy Jackson series, and others).
Write more reviews - related to this is blogging more and maybe starting to vlog (I've talked about starting again every day since I stopped and I haven't done it yet but still). I want to write more reviews for the books I read, even if they're just those short reviews, because sometimes I just don't have a lot to say about a book. Anyway - reviews, keeping up on here because I do love blogging and everything and I think it's going to change a little. (Not a lot, still all books, but probably more personal or whatever, this isn't a very thought out goal, in all honesty).
Lists - one of the people I follow on YouTube (booktubers, they're great guys) stole the list idea from someone else. Either way, the 100 top SciFi/Fantasy list by NPR. I have read a few of them, more then I expected, and a lot of them I do want to read, not all of them but quite a few. If you've got any recommendations of different lists or whatever, please leave it in the comments. (I've been looking at the BBC one and it does have a lot of books I want to or have read, but also a lot of classics).
Certain book or series I want to complete - I have no idea what of these I'll read, but I'm going to list books or series I haven't read yet with a small synopsis of why.
The Lord of the Rings (+ The Hobbit) by J.R.R. Tolkien - It's ridiculous that I haven't read these yet and I've tried and the descriptiveness doesn't get to me as much (I read King at eleven, I know about descriptiveness) but just something about it is hard to get into. I loved the movies, though I haven't seen either of the Hobbit movies yet, and it's Tolkien and I love fantasy, it's unexpectable.
The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness - I have only heard good things about this series and it sounds so good. And I've owned all three books for like 2 or 3 years I think.
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak - it's ridiculous I haven't read this yet, I am actually ashamed, and I think Haley will beat my head in with the book if I don't read it soon. I just don't really like reading things that'll make me sad, okay?
Lovecraft - this is kind of a vague thing, but I want to read kind of all his stuff, but I'll be happy to of just read a couple things. I own a couple collections of different works and I love horror and creepy stuff and he is like the one all modern horror novelists talk about and I've never read anything.
The Stand / The Shinning by Stephen King + a book by Joe Hill - Joe is his son, which is why I'm pairing them together, I think I own like all of his books on my kindle and haven't read one. And I've read quite a few King books, but not two of what are probably his most known and I'm pretty The Stand is his most loved. And I've seen The Stand mini series and it's so good.
And more, of course there's so much more, but if I keep going, we will be here for probably weeks with the amount of books I want to read and I might not get to all of these this year but I hope to (The Stand is also like 1200 pages and whew). If you did a 2014 goal, leave me a comment so I can see yours, and I hope 2014 is going to be a good year.
I also don't think I'll be taking part in really any challenges besides reading a certain number of books, really, but if you think I'd be interested in one or if you think I should check one out, feel free to leave a comment or just @ me on Twitter.
Friday, January 3, 2014
My Best Books of 2013
I have such a hard time with these, I didn't even end up doing one last year. Well, I started it but I didn't finish it. And I don't really think most of these books will be in any amount of order so let's see what happens here because I have a small list of books and no plan, let's go.
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline - I'm so glad that I read this, so very glad. It's just perfect and - so very good. I also listened to the audiobook after and have listened to it at random times, it's just one of those books that you keep thinking about. And I honestly want to live in this world, at least one with the OASIS. Highly recommended to everyone, even if you're not a gamer or whatever, just read it, the characters are amazing and the world will take your breath away.
Ubik by Philip K. Dick - I'm still confused about this book and I read it in January. I want to read it again and I've yet to read any more of his books, but this one was fantastic, so very good. And I did actually like the ending, the complete open endedness of it and the whole story. Definitely recommended, it's like Inception times about a hundred. So well written, so intricate.
The Violinist's Thumb by Sam Kean - this is a non-fiction book about DNA and it is completely amazing to read. Full of information and facts but not dry at all, Sam Kean has a fantastic voice for stuff like this. And I have never talked about a book so much in my life, or wanted to get my DNA tested so much, either. Highly recommended, if you like non-fiction, of course.
The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson - This was my first Sanderson book! Ah, such a good choice, I didn't even know really who he was until I picked up this (had heard the name of course, but didn't have much interest). This is a novella and it's perfect that way, though I was left wanting more of this world, it's so fleshed out and incredible, definitely recommended, I want to reread it myself.
The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson - Seems like a good idea to bring up this book, considering it's Sanderson again. I knew I'd like it as soon as I found out about it, it just took me a little while to pick up a read it, but I was so glad when I did, it sucked me in right away with the world and the characters, and I'd recommend to anyone, it's apparently a YA / middle grade hybrid, but I'd go more towards YA, I thought it was adult for the longest time but apparently not, either way, it's still fantastic.
Vicious by V.E. Schwab (Victoria Schwab) - I read her first book when it first came out, The Near Witch, literally the day it came out. I'd pre-ordered it, it arrived, I opened the box, and sat down and read it, and that is extremely rare for me. And Vicious was just - fantastic, exactly what I wanted as soon as I heard it was about two villains. I got an advanced copy at BEA and met her (and her editor) randomly. And I still find myself randomly thinking about this book, these characters, I couldn't put it down and I want to know more. I guess it's a given that this is highly recommended. (Although definitely for a slightly older audience, as it's not YA or MG).
The Mark of Athena and the House of Hades (Heroes of Olympus #3+4) by Rick Riordan - I didn't end of reading Mark of Athena when it first came out because i was spoiled that very day for like the last thing in the book and it made me not want to read it, just purely not want to pick it up, I already knew the big twist so I might as well wait. And I did until HoH came out and I'm kind of glad I did, but these books are fantastic. I loved the Percy Jackson series and this is just as good and I think the fifth and final book is my most anticipated book of 2014.
Dark Currents by Jacqueline Carey - I've only read one of her other books, but I've read it twice and it isn't a small book. This is a urban fantasy but there's just something different about it that I really liked, I've got the second book ready to go when I've got the time, hopefully very soon.
Kingdom Keepers series #1-6 by Ridley Pearson - I think this series was suppose to end at 6 or whatever, but it isn't over yet, the 7th book should be coming out in 2014, and I can't wait. This is a middle grade series about this group of kids who aren't even really friends at the beginning, but end up thrown into this mistery together. And it's so, so good and it's completely Disney surrounded. It's not perfect, but - I didn't really expect it to be and it was way better then I expected first going in, you basically watch the characters grow up, and that with everything that's happening around them is just incredible. I'd recommend this to kind of everyone. Disney, daring fights with villains, boys and girls thinking maybe girls and boys aren't so gross after all. And, yes, this might kind of be cheating but I didn't want to just put book 1 up either, because that is really just the start and not the strongest of the series.
The Regulators by Stephen King - I have such a hard time describing this book to people, it's just - it's insane and amazing. And - the weirdest thing linger with me. Like the fact if I ever see spageti-o's again it'll be way too soon, King got a little too descriptive at that part, whew. And I don't even know what to say about this book, except that I read this a while ago now and I can still vividly remember a lot of the scenes, like I'd watched a movie instead of read a book. And it was really, really good. It is definitely not for the faint of heart, obviously being a Stephen King books. And lovers of spegetti-os'.
White Cat by Holly Black - I don't think this was really a favorite, but it was very, very good and - it was kind of the first YA I'd read in over a year, at the time. Actually it just was the first young adult novel I'd read in just over a year. I'd only read two more and it wasn't really a conscious thing, I don't think, but this book kind of broke it, I guess, and I do really want to continue this series. I have only read two YA books since this, so says a brief glance at my goodreads page. I'm probably the last person in the world to start this series, but that's okay, it's still just as good. Con artists, I seem to have a soft spot for them. (Also if you liked this series, maybe check out Leverage, it's over now but there's five season of amazingness).
Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick - I loved this book, it was just freaking fantastic. I'd read Huge when the whole thing with the movie and ended up picking up this one, too, but never got around to it. And it's amazing, I seriously recommend this to just everyone, it's middle grade but middle grade is for everyone and this has an astounding and touching and amazing story.
In Death series #1-12 by J.D. Robb - I started this series this year and got to book 12, it's way more then I thought it was, and so very, very good. And I am way too attached to these characters. It is kind of a break, these books, they're not stressful to read, sometimes there are all the feelings at points but in a really good way. I'd check out this series, if I was you, if you're a character person and like murder mysteries because the main character is a detective.
Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series #2-9 by Laurell K. Hamilton - I read the first book last year and it didn't really grab me, but I ended up picking up more this year, I owned them anyway. I really like this series, and I know people say it gets a little weird and iffy after Obsidian Butterfly, book 9, but whatever. The ones I read this year were fantastic and I'm going to continue the series, because I do really like these characters and I need to know what happens to them.
Honorable Mentions:
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry - Haley demanded I read this book as it's one of her all time favorites and I did love it and it's adorable and completely heartbreaking. And apparently better in French, or something.
The Amulet series by Kazu Kibuishi - This series isn't done, it better not be done at least there's so much more that could happen, but I loved what I did read. So good and the art is just fantastic and some of those wide shots I want framed on my wall, they're stunning.
Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman - some of the stories in this book just stayed with me, especially the poem 'The Faery Reel.'
Series I started and finished:
Weirdest category ever. I almost started and finished the Kingdom Keepers series and possibly the Amulet series. However, these two I know I started and finished.
The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black and Tony Tony DiTerlizzi - I actually read this whole series in a day during a read-a-thon in May, it was a crazy day and this series is really, really good, I'm glad I finally got around to it.
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis - None of these were a reread, I'd never read any of Narnia before. Why? I have no idea, but I really enjoyed. Some of them I liked less then others or had parts I wasn't sure about, but over all I loved the series and am so glad I finally gave in and read it. I read it in chronological order of the events, not in publishing order, and I'm kind of glad, made everything more linear, less confusing.
I hope all of you had a fantastic reading year and just year in general. I was doing a "year in review" kind of thing but this kind of covers, well, everything, so I'm just going to stop doing it for 2013, because it's a new year now.
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline - I'm so glad that I read this, so very glad. It's just perfect and - so very good. I also listened to the audiobook after and have listened to it at random times, it's just one of those books that you keep thinking about. And I honestly want to live in this world, at least one with the OASIS. Highly recommended to everyone, even if you're not a gamer or whatever, just read it, the characters are amazing and the world will take your breath away.
Ubik by Philip K. Dick - I'm still confused about this book and I read it in January. I want to read it again and I've yet to read any more of his books, but this one was fantastic, so very good. And I did actually like the ending, the complete open endedness of it and the whole story. Definitely recommended, it's like Inception times about a hundred. So well written, so intricate.
The Violinist's Thumb by Sam Kean - this is a non-fiction book about DNA and it is completely amazing to read. Full of information and facts but not dry at all, Sam Kean has a fantastic voice for stuff like this. And I have never talked about a book so much in my life, or wanted to get my DNA tested so much, either. Highly recommended, if you like non-fiction, of course.
The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson - This was my first Sanderson book! Ah, such a good choice, I didn't even know really who he was until I picked up this (had heard the name of course, but didn't have much interest). This is a novella and it's perfect that way, though I was left wanting more of this world, it's so fleshed out and incredible, definitely recommended, I want to reread it myself.
The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson - Seems like a good idea to bring up this book, considering it's Sanderson again. I knew I'd like it as soon as I found out about it, it just took me a little while to pick up a read it, but I was so glad when I did, it sucked me in right away with the world and the characters, and I'd recommend to anyone, it's apparently a YA / middle grade hybrid, but I'd go more towards YA, I thought it was adult for the longest time but apparently not, either way, it's still fantastic.
Vicious by V.E. Schwab (Victoria Schwab) - I read her first book when it first came out, The Near Witch, literally the day it came out. I'd pre-ordered it, it arrived, I opened the box, and sat down and read it, and that is extremely rare for me. And Vicious was just - fantastic, exactly what I wanted as soon as I heard it was about two villains. I got an advanced copy at BEA and met her (and her editor) randomly. And I still find myself randomly thinking about this book, these characters, I couldn't put it down and I want to know more. I guess it's a given that this is highly recommended. (Although definitely for a slightly older audience, as it's not YA or MG).
The Mark of Athena and the House of Hades (Heroes of Olympus #3+4) by Rick Riordan - I didn't end of reading Mark of Athena when it first came out because i was spoiled that very day for like the last thing in the book and it made me not want to read it, just purely not want to pick it up, I already knew the big twist so I might as well wait. And I did until HoH came out and I'm kind of glad I did, but these books are fantastic. I loved the Percy Jackson series and this is just as good and I think the fifth and final book is my most anticipated book of 2014.
Dark Currents by Jacqueline Carey - I've only read one of her other books, but I've read it twice and it isn't a small book. This is a urban fantasy but there's just something different about it that I really liked, I've got the second book ready to go when I've got the time, hopefully very soon.
Kingdom Keepers series #1-6 by Ridley Pearson - I think this series was suppose to end at 6 or whatever, but it isn't over yet, the 7th book should be coming out in 2014, and I can't wait. This is a middle grade series about this group of kids who aren't even really friends at the beginning, but end up thrown into this mistery together. And it's so, so good and it's completely Disney surrounded. It's not perfect, but - I didn't really expect it to be and it was way better then I expected first going in, you basically watch the characters grow up, and that with everything that's happening around them is just incredible. I'd recommend this to kind of everyone. Disney, daring fights with villains, boys and girls thinking maybe girls and boys aren't so gross after all. And, yes, this might kind of be cheating but I didn't want to just put book 1 up either, because that is really just the start and not the strongest of the series.
The Regulators by Stephen King - I have such a hard time describing this book to people, it's just - it's insane and amazing. And - the weirdest thing linger with me. Like the fact if I ever see spageti-o's again it'll be way too soon, King got a little too descriptive at that part, whew. And I don't even know what to say about this book, except that I read this a while ago now and I can still vividly remember a lot of the scenes, like I'd watched a movie instead of read a book. And it was really, really good. It is definitely not for the faint of heart, obviously being a Stephen King books. And lovers of spegetti-os'.
White Cat by Holly Black - I don't think this was really a favorite, but it was very, very good and - it was kind of the first YA I'd read in over a year, at the time. Actually it just was the first young adult novel I'd read in just over a year. I'd only read two more and it wasn't really a conscious thing, I don't think, but this book kind of broke it, I guess, and I do really want to continue this series. I have only read two YA books since this, so says a brief glance at my goodreads page. I'm probably the last person in the world to start this series, but that's okay, it's still just as good. Con artists, I seem to have a soft spot for them. (Also if you liked this series, maybe check out Leverage, it's over now but there's five season of amazingness).
Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick - I loved this book, it was just freaking fantastic. I'd read Huge when the whole thing with the movie and ended up picking up this one, too, but never got around to it. And it's amazing, I seriously recommend this to just everyone, it's middle grade but middle grade is for everyone and this has an astounding and touching and amazing story.
In Death series #1-12 by J.D. Robb - I started this series this year and got to book 12, it's way more then I thought it was, and so very, very good. And I am way too attached to these characters. It is kind of a break, these books, they're not stressful to read, sometimes there are all the feelings at points but in a really good way. I'd check out this series, if I was you, if you're a character person and like murder mysteries because the main character is a detective.
Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series #2-9 by Laurell K. Hamilton - I read the first book last year and it didn't really grab me, but I ended up picking up more this year, I owned them anyway. I really like this series, and I know people say it gets a little weird and iffy after Obsidian Butterfly, book 9, but whatever. The ones I read this year were fantastic and I'm going to continue the series, because I do really like these characters and I need to know what happens to them.
Honorable Mentions:
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry - Haley demanded I read this book as it's one of her all time favorites and I did love it and it's adorable and completely heartbreaking. And apparently better in French, or something.
The Amulet series by Kazu Kibuishi - This series isn't done, it better not be done at least there's so much more that could happen, but I loved what I did read. So good and the art is just fantastic and some of those wide shots I want framed on my wall, they're stunning.
Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman - some of the stories in this book just stayed with me, especially the poem 'The Faery Reel.'
Series I started and finished:
Weirdest category ever. I almost started and finished the Kingdom Keepers series and possibly the Amulet series. However, these two I know I started and finished.
The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black and Tony Tony DiTerlizzi - I actually read this whole series in a day during a read-a-thon in May, it was a crazy day and this series is really, really good, I'm glad I finally got around to it.
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis - None of these were a reread, I'd never read any of Narnia before. Why? I have no idea, but I really enjoyed. Some of them I liked less then others or had parts I wasn't sure about, but over all I loved the series and am so glad I finally gave in and read it. I read it in chronological order of the events, not in publishing order, and I'm kind of glad, made everything more linear, less confusing.
I hope all of you had a fantastic reading year and just year in general. I was doing a "year in review" kind of thing but this kind of covers, well, everything, so I'm just going to stop doing it for 2013, because it's a new year now.
Thursday, January 2, 2014
January TBR
I don't normally do a TBR list just because I don't normally know what I'm doing, but I am oddly ambitious for how many books I can read this month. Probably because of the new year and there is the Bout of Books read-a-thon this month. Anyway, onto the books!
Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama (I have volumes 1-3 in my possession, and as I'm writing this have already read the first two, and it is so good and some more are on their way to me in the mail but with the snow storm are delayed. Sad, but still, they'll be here soon).
Infinity Blade by Brandon Sanderson (As of writing this I've read the first one and I have the second one and I'm not going to play the game, but I do really like the story).
Seduction in Death (In Death #13) by J.D. Robb (Ah, another In Death book, I'm assuming I'll pick it up at some point this month, love these books).
I've got a whole stack of books next to me, but I have no idea what I'm going to be reading, so I'm just going to throw out some titles. I have both of Cinda Williams Chima's series and will probably start one, maybe both. I've got House of Leaves which I've started but will probably take me months to read, not even because it's huge, though it is, but because it's not a book to fly through. Read a little, mull it over, read a little more, and it's deliciously creepy so far.
I also have a lot of books I want to reread this month and I thought it might be a good idea to tackle those for the read-a-thon, but I guess we shall see. Happy New Year, everyone!
Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama (I have volumes 1-3 in my possession, and as I'm writing this have already read the first two, and it is so good and some more are on their way to me in the mail but with the snow storm are delayed. Sad, but still, they'll be here soon).
Infinity Blade by Brandon Sanderson (As of writing this I've read the first one and I have the second one and I'm not going to play the game, but I do really like the story).
Seduction in Death (In Death #13) by J.D. Robb (Ah, another In Death book, I'm assuming I'll pick it up at some point this month, love these books).
I've got a whole stack of books next to me, but I have no idea what I'm going to be reading, so I'm just going to throw out some titles. I have both of Cinda Williams Chima's series and will probably start one, maybe both. I've got House of Leaves which I've started but will probably take me months to read, not even because it's huge, though it is, but because it's not a book to fly through. Read a little, mull it over, read a little more, and it's deliciously creepy so far.
I also have a lot of books I want to reread this month and I thought it might be a good idea to tackle those for the read-a-thon, but I guess we shall see. Happy New Year, everyone!
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Noveber and December wrap-up
I didn't expect to read much in November, and I didn't at all, basically just one book, but it was a pretty good one books (light, no real though, what I needed really).
- Assassin's in Love (Assassin's Guild #1) by Kris DeLake
December I had some time to read again, and I'm planning to read a lot in January considering there's a read-a-thon happening in the second week. Anyway, books I finished in December are:
- Naked in Death (In Death #1) by J.D. Robb (reread)
- Betrayal in Death (In Death #12) by J.D. Robb
- Interlude in Death (In Death #12.5) by J.D. Robb
- Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood #1) by J.R. Ward (DNF/Lemmed)
- Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #1) by Laurell K. Hamilton (reread)
I gave into some things that I wanted to reread this month, I'm getting really far into both the In Death and Anita Blake series and it was interesting and a little weird to go back to the start, really fun. And I love the In Death series, anyway. I tried Dark Lover because of all the good feedback and I could barely get pass the 25% point, I wanted to brain myself and I normally give a book longer to hook me but I just couldn't.
Not a lot of books, but that's fine, I'm at 115 books for the year and my original goal was 50, which I upped to 100, so I'm very, very happy with that.
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