Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books I've Read So Far This Year (June 10th)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Brooke and The Bookish. 

I'm not going to include rereads on this list, because in most cases I reread because I loved it the first time around, and they're in no real order, at least I don't think (maybe a little).




The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archives #1) by Brandon Sanderson (5/5)
So have you all heard enough about how amazing Sanderson's worlds are? Have you at least bought one of his books? Decided to give him a go? You should. I was sold on Sanderson because I started this book, but - this has been my favorite of his so far. Also my favorite of the year, and will probably stay that through to the end. This book is incredible and I wanted to reread it as soon as I finished it - which is impressive considering how long it is (though, I did read it in two part).
The main line - this book is so good I don't have a review up of it, I can't form any kind of coherent words, it would just be keysmashing with some of the characters name.

This Start Won't Go Out by Esther Earl (and others) (5/5)
This - book was hard to read. If you don't know what it's about then you might not fully understand why. Esther Earl was a nerdfighter, who died a few years ago, very young - and this is full of her own writings - and others, an introduction from John Green, writings from her friends (Catitude), and others who met her. It's painful to read, but it's also completely incredible. I have a full review up of it.

The Search for WondLa (WondLa#1) by Tony DiTerlizzi (5/5)
This book was a surprise - it was one of those Kindle deals and I opened it randomly on my kindle, knowing nothing about it. At first, I was confused as hell, but then I just started really enjoying myself. I've got a full review up of this, as well, basically: middle-grade adventure with twists and fantastic illustrations.

Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse #1) by James S.A. Corey (5/5)
Have I talked about this series, and this book, enough yet? Are you all sick of hearing about it? I'm sorry - I'll keep this short, but epic, SciFi, space opera goodness. Full review here.

Redshirts by John Scalzi (5/5)
This book was also a surprise. I think I had it because they read it for Sword and Laser one month that I didn't get to it, same goes for Leviathan Wakes by the way, and I randomly picked it up when I was searching for SciFi. And I had an idea about what it'd be, the name gives it away, but it was hilarious and so, so much better then I expected since I thought I might not enjoy it as much, not being a Star Trek fan. But - perfection. Full review here.

The Martian by Andy Weir (5/5)
This book came out this year, very recently, and was just getting so many good reviews and with that SciFi binge I went on - it was also really funny. Full review here.

Maus Volumes I and II by Art Spiegelman (5/5)
These have been critically acclaimed and have won awards - and they're incredible. I also don't have a review up of these, because I'm not really sure what to say about them. So just - read them.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (5/5)
I know a lot of people don't like this - and I could see why people might not - but for some reason I really enjoyed it, loved it. I couldn't put my finger on why, I just did. I'd never read the full story of Frankenstein's monster, or seen a movie, and I really enjoyed this piece of horror.

Paradox: The Nine Greatest Enigmas in Physics by Jim Al-Khalili (5/5)
I'm not going to go into detail here - this is non fiction, it's about physics.

The Immortal Empire series by Kate Locke
Alright the first book was a reread - but I didn't actually remember any of it. These books are a ton of fun - seriously, a ton of fun. And I have reviews up for all three of them: God Save the Queen, The Queen is Dead, Long Live the Queen 

I've read a lot of good books this early, especially if you count the rereads (I reread the whole Harry Potter series and the whole Fruits Basket series, Fruits Basket was just this month). What are the best books you've read so far this year? Or if you do TTT, link it in the comments!

2014: Book Reviews (7)

And here we go, another part of this series I'm doing. I really like this idea, even though a lot of these books I did post full reviews of. I haven't done one of these in way too long, and with the recent read-a-thons that have happened, I'm starting to fall behind. Anyway - onto the books.

Paradox: The Nine Great Enigmas in Physics by Jim Al-Khalili (5/5)
I really enjoyed this book, it's a non-fiction science book full of interesting physics things. Which probably sounds very boring to you, but if it sounds interesting I'd check this one out. He can articulate what he's trying to say very well, which is important for non-fiction and especially with something like this that goes this deep into quantum physics and other stuff. I'd like to write a full review of this one, but I don't think it'll happen, just because that's kind of all I have to say about it.

The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells (4/5)
Good, even very good, but it just felt like it was a little odd at points to me. I did really enjoy it, though, and it's what I'm blaming on my recent SciFi binge and then love, which I kind of hope never goes away (the love for it, that is).

Redshirts by John Scalzi (5/5)
So. Fucking. Good. And hilarious as hell. I put up a full review here, but basically I highly recommend this book (even for people who aren't Star Trek fans).

Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse #1) by James S.A. Corey (5/5)
This book. I've got a full review here, but - man I cannot stop just spewing how much I love this book and flailing so I'll just stop now.

The Martian by Andy Weir (5/5)
This was also a really funny SciFi book, but it's about a guy that just gets trapped on Mars. And he's a really great narrator, and it's probably why I loved this book so much, because he's hilarious. Full review here.

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski (5/5)
Psychological horror book that is great. It took me a while to read it, but I didn't really mind that, it was just one of those books that I felt would be better slow. And it was creepy and how the text is arranged at certain parts added a lot to the atmosphere and it was really cool.

The Preacher: Book One by Garth Ennis, Steve Dillon (5/5)
Gore, violence, what would probably offend anyone whose at all religious. Everything I love! (Okay, that was a joke, kind of a joke because looking on my taste it's also a tad true). I've got a full review up here. (Basically, though - really good, can't wait to continue the series).

Caliban's War (The Expanse #2) by James S.A. Corey (5/5)
This series is fantastic. And instead of fangirling about it again, I'm just going to stop - check out this series (my full review of Leviathan Wakes it just a little up there). Space Opera, guys - it's so good.

The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson (5/5)
A reread and this time I listened to the audiobook and loved it as much as I did the first time. Sanderson writes such rich worlds with such interesting magic systems and they're always so different, it's incredible.

Waiting on Wednesday (3)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted over at Breaking the Spine. And it's where people share their most anticipated reads that are to be released.

I haven't done one of these in a really long time, it just always seems to slip my mind and before I know it the book I wanted to highlight - is already out. So let's talk about a few books that aren't out yet, bt will be very soon!

The Murder Complex by Lindsey Cummings - June 10th

I've been following this author on Twitter for a long time and I'm really looking forward to her book, which comes out June 10th. There's also a novella that should be out as of now, it came out yesterday for when this is scheduled, it's called The Fear Complex and it's, according to Amazon, 100 pages in length. A first in a series where the death rate is higher then the birth rate - and doesn't that line just immediately grab your interest?

The Merciless by Danielle Vega - June 12th

This sounds really interesting and the design on this book looks ridiculous but also amazing. It's bright pink, as you can see from the picture right there, but it's a horror story, from what I've heard, about a girl in a cult - and the first page says For Mature Audiences Only. And I do love horror. And this is a standalone, and I love standalones, I mean I love series, too, but - standalones.

The Glass Sentence by S.E. Grove  - June 12th

I think this is the one I'm most excited for. It seems to be that the different continents are in different time periods and that sounds amazing. Apparently this is the first book in what is being called The Mapmakers Series, anyway it sounds freaking amazing.

I haven't looked much into any of these books, I haven't read the full synopsis on Goodreads or anywhere else. I'm just going on what people have told me or how people have articulated it in their own words.

What books are you most looking forward that come out soon? Or just this year. And are you highly anticipating any of these? 

Book Review: Caliban's War (The Expanse #2)

Title: Caliban's War (The Expanse #2)
Author: James S.A. Corey
Genre: Adult SciFi (Space Opera, Horror, Adventure)
Rating: 5/5
Page Count: 595 (paperback)
Publication Date: January 1st, 2012

Plot: (from Goodreads)
For someone who didn't intend to wreck the solar system's fragile balance of power, Jim Holden did a pretty good job of it. When a single super-soldier begins slaughtering soldiers of Earth and Mars, the race is on to discover whether this is the vanguard of an alien army, or if the danger lies closer to home.

Review:
I reviewed the first book Leviathan Wakes, which you can check out, but this review isn't going to have any spoilers for either.

I loved this book more then the first one. Which is kind of saying something, because I really, really enjoyed and loved the first one. I was weary of new point of view chapters, but I really enjoyed them and the new characters they introduced, and I hope to see more of those characters in the next book. I really like multiple points of view in general, I tend to like when a book does it but sometimes it isn't handled right, but that's not the case here.

Holden and his crew are fantastic characters who are easy to love, I'd really love a chapter from Naomi, Alex, or Amos' point of view. I really like Naomi, but I'm much more interested in hearing Alex's background the most, I think. Also - the dialogue in this book, and not just between these four but the other characters as well, at some points it's just so completely perfect.

Like the first book, I loved the world building, this world just feels so real and you're so immersed in it from the very beginning, just completely. And - the plot was also really good, but for me these books are about the characters and everything they're doing, the fact that there is an awesome, well done plot in an astounding SciFi universe, however, is also really, really good.

This series has so many different facets of it and I cannot wait to read the third, Abaddon's Gate, and then the fourth, Cibola Burn, out in June!

Overall, I'd recommend this series, but I know it isn't going to be for everyone. It's heavy SciFi, a space opera, and they're over 500 pages (however, if you see a book, for some reason they all look gigantic, like they're at least 1,000 pages, I promise, just 500).

Anyway - if a heavy, character driven SciFi space opera with a crew is something you think you'd like then you'll love this.

Musing Mondays (3): Active Reading

A meme hosted by MizB at Should be Reading. Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week:

• Describe one of your reading habits.

• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).

• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it!

• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it.

• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!

• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!

Today, I really wanted to talk about active reading. And I feel like there's a lot of ways to describe or to do active reading. Personally, it tends to vary for me. And I had actually stopped doing it, what I do, for a little while and then I recently got back into it. And it makes writing reviews so, so much easier. 

Active reading could be anything from writing notes in the margins or on a seperate paper, marking your favorite lines, or anything that is really more then just reading the book. My favorite is tabs, the see through kind so they don't cause problems later, but for the life of me I can't normally force myself to write in a book. I guess it's kind of silly, and I'd kind of like to do it for my favorite books, but I can't bring myself to do it.

Also - this varies between non-fiction and fiction for me. For fiction I mark normally the important things, or things I want to go back and look up to learn more about or write down so I can remember better. With fiction it's normally quotes I really liked for one reason or another, either in an intelectual sense or maybe just because I laughed at it or found it funny. I've also marked 'important' things to know in fiction, like some specific world building or something like that.

So now I've got questions for anyone reading this, feel free to answer as many or little as you like: do you active read? What do you do as active reading or consider to be active reading? Can you write in your books and do you? And, if you don't do this, are you interested in doing this is the future or have you in the past?

May 2014 Wrap-Up

And the month of May is already over, it feels like this year is flying by so quickly - is it really already June (hey, My birthday's in June! Party, party probably meaning: staying insane, maybe sitting in the sun for a minute or two and getting a sun burn).

Anyway - besides that, May was a great month, and since this is my May Wrap-Up, I guess we should wrap it up. So, first, the books I finished during the month, and then what was posted here during the month, they'll all be listed at the bottom, there was quite a few of this this month.

Books Finished in May:

• Working for the Devil (Dante Valentine #1) by Lilith Saintcrow (reread) (4/5)
• Dead Man Rising (Dante Valentine #2) by Lilith Saintcrow (4/5)
• The Devil's Right Hand (Dante Valentine #3) by Lilith Saintcrow (3/5)
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (5/5)
• The Ask and the Answer (Chaos Walking #2) by Patrick Ness (5/5)
• The Purloined Letter by Edgar Allen Poe (3/5)
• The Walking Dead: Book Two by Robert Kirkman (3/5)
• Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos (Theodosia #1) by R.L. LaFevers (3/5)
• America Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang (5/5)
• All Our Yesterdays (All Our Yesterdays #1) by Cristin Terrill(3/5)
• Maus l: A Survivor's Tale & Maus ll: Where My Troubles Began by Art Speigelman (5/5)
• Locke and Key Vol 1 -3 by Joe Hill, Gabriel Rodriguez (5/5)
• Once Dead, Twice Shy (Madison Avery #1) by Kim Harrison (4/5)
• Elusive Memories (The Hunted #1) by Amanda Shofner (5/5)
• What In God's Name by Simon Rich (5/5)

Overall, I read 18 books this month, which feels ridiculous to me, this is probably the most books I've ever read in a such a short period of time (meaning the whole year, not just this month, as I read 30 books in January).

And now onto the posts that appeared on the blog this much.

Book Reviews:

Princesses Behaving Badly by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie - non-fiction, history

God Save the Queen (Immoral Empire #1) by Kate Locke - steampunk goodness

The Martian by Andy Weir - SciFi, funny

The Preacher: Book One by Garth Ennis - supernatural, there are angels, gore factors are high

The Queen is Dead (The Immortal Empire #2) by Kate Locke

Long Live the Queen (The Immortal Empire #3) by Kate Locke

Memes/Miscellaneous:

Liebster Award!

Musing Mondays (1)

Friday Finds (2)

Musing Mondays (2)

WWW Wednesday (17)

April Wrap-Up

Bout of Books 10.0 read-a-thon posts:

Goals and TBR

Starts Monday!
Starts Today!

Day One Wrap-Up

Day Two Wrap-Up

Day Three Wrap-Up

Day Four Wrap-Up

Day Five Wrap-Up

Day Six Wrap-Up

Final and Day Seven Wrap-Up

June 2014 TBR

I keep making these, don't I? But I was doing pretty good until this month, this was was very weird, but I did read a bunch of books so I'm not really complaining. I'm currently reading a ton of books, so I'd like to finish quite a few of those.

So, first off, the books I'm currently reading:

• The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen - loving this, almost halfway through
• Ready Player One by Ernest Cline - a reread, halfway through
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams - also a reread, but just not really feeling it at the moment, but would like to finish in June
• The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson - this is so good and I was trying to take it slow, but now I haven't read it in a week, but to be fair the whole last week of May was kind of no reading happening.
• Quiet by Susan Cain - non-fiction so it's slow going, but I'm really loving it and would like to finish before the month is through.
• Saint City Sinners by Lilith Saintcrow - I'm like 120 pages into this book, it started with just pure pain so I haven't been able to bring myself to pick it back up.
• The Inventor's Secret by Andrea Cremer - not that far in, about 50 pages, was listening to the audiobook but I've got a physical copy now. 

I would like to, hopefully, finish all of those in June. And then there are others I might be picking from that I got recently, or at the top of my stack. However, one of the first things that's going to probably happen in June is a complete reread of the Fruits Basket manga. I started like an accidental rewatch of the Anime and now I need to reread those books. As soon as the last two volumes that I didn't buy the first time around come in the mail - it's on, it shouldn't take me long even though it's 23 volumes.

And then - there's the rest of the month. I have a kind of few books that I'd like to get to, but I think we all know how well my TBR things tend to go. Still.

• To Hell and Back (Dante Valentine #5) by Lilith Saintcrow - to finish off this series! I'll get a review, hopefully, up of the series after I've finished it and figured out what to say.
• Abaddon's Gate (The Expanse #3) by James S.A. Corey - the fourth book comes out this month!
• Monsters of Men (Chaos Walking #3) by Patrick Ness - I'm scared, it's going to completely crush me, isn't it? But I also want to read it so badly.
• The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicles #1) by Patrick Rothfuss - I think it might be time, I've had this book since last summer. I bought it in Powells on the recommendation of some random guy because he made it sound amazing. And I've just seen more and more and more good things about this book and series. And it's high fantasy!