Read-A-Thon's On the Horizon!

There are two read-a-thon's coming up very soon. So let's split it up and start with the one that's closer, shall we?

Dewey's 24-hour Read-A-Thon. (April 26th)

It's a read-a-thon that goes on for, as you'd guess, a full twenty four hours. I never seem to be able to put aside those full twenty four hours or stay awake the whole time, but it's always a lot of fun and it starts 8am eastern time, but there's a page to find your own start time, it looks like it's got pretty much everywhere to me so you can skip that annoying and hard to do time zone math.

Also they just posted a list of recommended short books, which I thought was a good idea.
Direct link to the reader sign up
Direct link to the cheerleader sign up
Twitter

Bout Of Books 10 (Mid-May, May 12th - May 18th)

This is a read-a-thon that's a week long and takes place multiple times throughout the year. I can't wait for this one to start, already mulling over possible books to read, and it's probably my favorite one just because it's longer. Also - people in the hashtag on Twitter are so nice, as book bloggers are, and it makes those twitter chats a ton of fun.

The official Bout of Books blurb is right here:

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 12th and runs through Sunday, May 18th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 10 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. 
- From the Bout of Books team

Bout of Books' Twitter

If you're going to participating in one or the other, or both like me, then leave me a comment so I can check your blog out! I'm awful at remembering to go to people's blog during the read-a-thon times, normally because I'm trying not to go on my computer, but it's on my goal to be better at that this year (and it's always a ton of fun).

2014: Book Reviews (6)

I've read so many more books this year so far, it's completely ridiculous to me because I use to struggle to my goal of fifty or a hundred, now I've already blown past 50 books for the year. Anyway, onto the mini-book reviews, I think.

Young Avengers, Vol. 1: Style > Substance by Kieron Gillen (5/5)
I really enjoyed this, I really enjoy these compiled comic books, which is a whole different rant. Also, if you're looking to get into comics and have no idea where to start: Marvel Now, and I'd kind of like to do a post all about comic books / graphic novels / manga (but this will probably take months to do, so it definitely won't be up anytime soon).

Saga, Vol. 1 - 3 by Brian K. Vaughan (5/5)
So good, I'm just including all three volumes together. I didn't know what to expect going in, but it was so good, such a great beginning. I loved the characters, the art is gorgeous through all three volumes, and I love the way the stories told. Definitely recommending this whole series. It's definitely got mature content, though. I gave all three 5/5 stars, and I wish I could of given them more almost.

Princesses Behaving Badly: Real Stories From History Without the Fairy-Tale Ending by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie (5/5)
I wrote up a full review of this book here, but in short - oh man, so amazing, historical princesses that were real and the book was so well written. Also - even if it might not sound like exactly your cup of tea, if you run across it in a store, read the introduction, it made me smile, at least. (Feminism, princesses - what's not to like?)

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson (5/5)
I read this book in the UK two part edition, but I'm just going to mention it here as one book, because as soon as I finished one, I picked up the other (though I did finish other books between the two, because this is a long book). I want to write a full review of this one, but I think I have to reread it. Bottom line: this book was one of those books that makes you just feel full, it makes you feel good and just like content. Does that make sense to anyone? (Recommended, so highly, all of his books actually).

Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy #3) by Richelle Meade (4/5)
I just keep reading these books, I mean I have the box set so I might as well just read them. And I did give this one a star higher then the first two, and I did enjoy it, but I also just don't know if I really care about these characters or where I can see the plot going. I'll probably end up picking up the next one at some point, probably, definitely no rush.

Bite Me (London Undead #1) by P.J. Schnyder (3/5)
I don't actually remember why I picked this up, it was really cheep, kindle, and someone I follow on Goodreads was talking about the newest one. It might of been two people. Anyway - it was fun and action-y. Werewolves, zombies, - just some light fun, enjoyed it though.

Book Review: Redshirts

Title: Redshirts
Author: John Scalzi
Genre: Science Fiction (Space Opera, Time Travel), Humor, Adventure
Rating: 5/5
Page Count: 317
Publication Date: June 5th, 2012

Plot: (from Goodreads)
Ensign Andrew Dahl has just been assigned to the Universal Union Capital Ship Intrepid, flagship of the Universal Union since the year 2456. It's a prestige posting, and Andrew is thrilled all the more to be assigned to the ship's Xenobiology laboratory. Life couldn't be better...until Andrew begins to pick up on the facts that (1) every Away Mission involves some kind of lethal confrontation with alien forces; (2) the ship's captain, its chief science officer, and the handsome Lieutenant Kerensky always survive these confrontations; and (3) at least one low-ranked crew member is, sadly, always killed.

Not surprisingly, a great deal of energy below decks is expended on avoiding, at all costs, being assigned to an Away Mission. Then Andrew stumbles on information that completely transforms his and his colleagues' understanding of what the starship Intrepid really is...and offers them a crazy, high-risk chance to save their own lives.

Review:
I'm not quite sure I can truly articulate my feelings about this book, but I'm going to try. First, I'm going to say that this isn't a book that everyone will love and fangirl over, like I did when reading it - however, I also don't think it's just for people who like Star Trek, I've never seen a full episode of the classic or just any of Star Trek, but it did make me think of other SciFi shows that I had scene that had spaceship scenes, and it made me ridiculously happy.

I think my favorite part about this book was the characters and their dialagoue, (besides the overall plot of the novel, that is, because that plot was amazing). I really enjoyed reading their interactions with each other, mostly just the things coming out of all of these characters mouths were just so good, normally ridiculous or hilarious, and it was great to read. Also how self aware they were at points, like how ridiculous they sounded - it was great to read, very meta. Hell, this whole book is like some meta fanfiction, and it was so much fun and so good because of that.

I didn't fully know what this book was about going into it, and I picked it up meaning to read a chapter to see if that was what I wanted to read next (I read 100 pages before deciding it was time to get some sleep). The whole start of this book, how this all works, I truly just kind of adored it. And probably because I grew up watching Stargate SG-1, and am still obsessed with that show even though it ended quite a few years ago now (2006? 2007? No, it can't have been that long ago).

Anyway - I highly recommend this book to fans of SciFi shows/movies, to fans of SciFi, and to anyone whose willing to give this truly hilarious and fantastic book a shot (Seriously, I laughed out loud at a lot of points for an only 300 page book, I looked like a lunatic).

WWW Wednesday (16)

So. It's been a long time since I've done one of these, way too long. And I really enjoy doing these, but there have been way too many books I've read since I did this. Actually, the last time I did this meme was last year, in May, so it's almost been a full year.

I'm just going to mention some of the few books I've just finished and not go further then that.

And here we go!

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by MizB at Should be Reading. She asks that you answer three questions:

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you'll read next?

Currently-Reading:
I'm currently-reading six books according to Goodreads, which isn't that bad in all honesty, and I just finished a book yesterday (Tuesday). However -

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
I'm not that far into this one only about 50 pages or so, but I am really enjoying it so far, and I'm intrigued. I just kind of accidentally sent myself on a SciFi kick and this one is mysterious and such - but not quite what I'm craving. (Not saying it isn't freaking fantastic, and I do hope to finish it before the month ends, at least).

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
This book. It's psychological and creepy and confusing - and I love it, so much. I started reading this book in February, but I'm enjoying taking it slow, though I would like to just finish it already, I want to know what happened. Also - if you're scared to pick up this book because of the side, or because of the weird formatting - just jump in and go with it. There isn't a right or wrong way to read this book, it's kind of like an adventure in itself and, even not having finished it yet, I can tell it's worth it.

Read:
(In order from most recent, to least recent)

The Martian by Andy Weir (5/5 stars)
So great, loved it. It's hilarious to begin with, and I keep seeing it described as kind of MacGyver in space and I totally stick by that, it's just like that, except a little more... space/SciFi-y. Either way, highly recommended, loved the narrator/main character, and the whole thing.

Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse #1) by James S.A. Corey (5/5)
Epic space opera with a mix of horror and some classic noir, even. I loved this book to just pieces. Maybe it was just exactly what I was crazing, still kind of am, so it just - hit all the right notes with me. There's some humor in this too, of course, and some truly fantastic characters. They're flawed and maybe not lovable o everyone, as I'm sure this book also isn't for everyone, but I did really love it. Plot, writing, characters - whole bundle.

Redshirts by John Scalzi (5/5)
Okay - so I know I said those two up there were good, and they were really good, but I read this before them. And this really hit me off towards some SciFi (and more SciFi with a crew). I read War of the Worlds just before this and went - SciFi, need to read more of that, and this was close at hand. I've been reading to read this book since it came out. I'm not a huge Star Trek fan, but I am a bit of a fan of some other series that have space scenes in later seasons - anyway, even without that, I'm pretty sure I would of loved it. It was just perfect. Highly recommended, check it out and laugh through it.

To-Read:
I always have such a hard time with saying what I'll be reading next, because - I mean I'd kind of like to finish House of Leaves before I start anything else. However, I did get Caliban's War in the mail yesterday (it's book two in the Expanse series, and the full paperback was like $6 on Amazon the day I finished Leviathan Wakes, I couldn't say no), and I'm really itching to pick that one up.

So hopefully I don't do the thing where I write it down and then it doesn't happen, that's always annoying. I listened some random books on my April TBR that I don't think I'll be getting to now, at least not in April. Life stuff happened, which is why there hasn't really been anything up this month and I'm sorry for that, but the life stuff happened hard - and now it's not quite so worry level 100, so I thought I'd try and get back with one of these memes that'll get me writing about books again and that I really enjoying doing (and reading, I love reading about what other people are reading and their thoughts).

And now I'm going to stop rambling, this isn't suppose to be a post to ramble on. So - long story short: Caliban's War, House of Leaves, or maybe something else next, but I'd like to read both this much if possible. At least start Caliban's War this month.

I hope your months are going well, in general and on the reading front, and I'm love to hear what you're currently reading or what you just finished or what you're planning on reading next, leave me a comment below!

Book Review: The Search for WondLa (WondaLa #1)

 Title: The Search for WondLa (WondLa #1)
Author: Tony DiTerlizzi
Genre: Adventure, SciFi/Fantasy (middle-grade)
Rating: 5/5
Page count: 484 pages
Publication Date: September 21st, 2010

Story Notion: Yes. Yes. That was awesome.

Plot: (from GoodReads)
Eva Nine is a curious and sensitive twelve-year-old who has existed only in a subterranean home called Sanctuary, cared for by a robot named Muthr. Eva's great desire is to go aboveground, and her wish comes true, though not as she had imagined. On the surface, Eva goes in search of other humans--she has never met one--and soon meets both friend and foe.



Review:
I knew nothing going into this book. Well - I knew the name and I knew the author had co-written the Spiderwick Chronicles and that was it. This book was one of those Kindle Daily Deals things and I'm so glad I picked it up and started reading it just. I kind of did just because it looked cute (I have a lot of books on my Kindle that are unread).

I'd definitely suggest a physical copy if possible, I'd like to get my hands on one myself and of the next books. This book has wonderful illustrations in it that my Kindle really didn't do the justice of. They were gorgeous, and so was this world that they were in and the characters and people, it was rich and fun.

And completely bewildered me at first. I read the first about 20-30% of this book quite slowly, just had no idea what I'd gotten myself into, but it slowly started to make some sort of sense to me. Or maybe I just gave into the story. Either was, it was a great decision, because this book was amazing, rich, lovely, and just play interesting. I really want to know more.

I'd definitely recommend this book, it's middle-grade but obviously that just means it's awesome (and can have pictures without judgement! That's how that works, yes?) And I do love myself a good middle-grade adventure story and if you do, I'd give this one a shot.

April 2014 TBR

I kind of like making these TBRs, I don't always end up sticking to them (let's be honest, I rarely end up sticking to them), but they're still so much fun to keep doing. I'm also so optimistic in them. I think that last month was my "slowest" reading month so far this year, but considering what the first two months consisted off, I can't say I feel bad about that.

I'm currently reading quite a few books I'd really like to finish in April. Examples: House of Leaves, Paradox, The Lies of Locke Lamora. And also some books I'd like to read, or at least start, so here is just a list of books. Or a list of possibilities.

• The Insider (Kingdom Keepers #7) by Ridley Pearson
• The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
• The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde
• Saga, Vol. 3 by Brian V. Vaughan
• Furies of Calderon (Codex Alera #1) by Jim Butcher
• Words of Radiance (The Stormlight Archives #2) by Brandon Sanderson

I'm really listening to books closest or that I got in the mail because they just came out. I kind of want to o a reread of Kingdom Keepers before I read the last one, it's the last right, but that's five books to read (I reread the first pretty recently, but still. They get really long as you go).

Also - Brandon Sanderson. I can not press how much you should pick up one of his books. I know The Way of Kings is daunting, but I promise you it's totally worth it and amazing. It's not a fast read, and I could see why people didn't like it, but that doesn't mean it's not good - it made me feel good and just better about humanity, I guess. (All of his books have been amazing, but Way of Kings is my new favorite).

March 2014 wrap-up

March was a very weird month. I feel like I mostly reading The Way of Kings and House of Leaves (didn't finish HoL in March, but April - it's happening). After I finished Part Two of Way of Kings, I traveled to Orlando for PlayList Live, but I feel like it sent me into that mood where I knew if I started any any books right after that, I wouldn't enjoy them. Such a major book hangover, and I'm just starting to feel like I'm coming out of it. (I do have Words of Radiance that I could read, too). However, March wrap-up first, so that was a good start, but here is the list of the books I read in March.

• Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2) by Richelle Meade
• Young Avengers, Vol. 1 by Kieron Gillen
• Saga, Vol. 1 by Brain K. Vaughan
• Saga, Vol. 2 by Brain K. Vaughan
• Princesses Behaving Badly by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie
• The Way of Kings, Part One by Brandon Sanderson
• Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy #3) by Richelle Meade
• Bite Me (London Undead #1) by P.J. Schnyder
• The Way of Kings, Part Two by Brandon Sanderson

Saga is fantastic, and Vol. 3 just came out. Also - Princesses Behaving Badly was so, so incredibly good and not as slow as one might expect of non-fiction, the writing was really good. I'm not quite sure why I keep reading the Vampire Academy books, they're kind of like... addictive but I don't think I'd call them good. They're crack, basically, and such quick reads.

I hope you all had good reading months, and just good months in general. (And I don't recommend PlayList, at all. I've never felt old at a convention before and considering I'm only 18, that's honestly worrying).