Friday, February 28, 2014

2014: Book Reviews (3)

And we have part three of this series I've been doing, I'm falling behind but hopefully I can get caught up now that I've slowed down the pace I was keeping in January. And, without any further introduction, the books.

Firstborn by Brandon Sanderson (4/5)
This was interesting and facinating. It was very short, just a short story, but I was pulled in instantly, as is normally the case with Sanderson. This story has a rich world, even though we don't spend much time in it, and some very interesting things to be learned. It's only 99 cents, I believe, on Kindle, totally worth it.

Doctor Who: The Rising Night by Scott Handcock (3/5)
I listened to this, audible style, but I kept getting distracted and had to back it up. And I wasn't really doing anything important, it just didn't hold my attention very much. It was an interesting story and a good little short Doctor Who fix, but not one of the best Doctor Who novels/novellas I've read or listened to.

Hawkeye, Vol. 2: Little Hits by Matt Fraction and many more (4/5)
Really liked this. For some reason I just like Clint's character and personality, even if he can be an asshole, and it makes it fun to read. I really don't have much of anything to say about this one, except that Kate is awesome.

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1) by Richelle Meade (3/5)
It was - good. Okay. Just some of the high school drama BS dragged a little for my taste, I really don't have much time for it. I do want to continue this series, I liked Rose and I liked the mythos. I felt like they handled a few things a little odd. I kind of think that their age difference (Rose/Dimiri) isn't a really big deal at all? I mean, even the apprentice thing isn't that big of deal, but maybe I just don't think of it as such a shock anymore. The apprentice thing, I think, should definitely be more of a problem then their age difference.

Seduction in Death (In Death #13) by J.D. Robb (5/5)
Oh man, guys, this was so good. I love this series and it is a tad cheesy at points, the writing, but not in a bad way. If that makes any sense to you. I adore these characters and how they interact. This one had a lot of them present. The killer(s) were known pretty early on but that didn't change the tension at all, and I love that even though there are a ton of these books, the murders/plot never feels done before or old.

Reunion in Death (In Death #14) by J.D. Robb (5/5)
Really good, too. I adored it, I really did. And it had a lot more personal stuff with the main character and her past. These books aren't, like, high literature, but they're fun and a good story and normally keep me guessing pretty well. And, of course, adore the characters and that is a good enough reason to continue reading.

And I'm going to stop here for now, because next is the first Harry Potter book, kicking off my Harry Potter read. I think I'll do a full post like this revolving around that and then back to normal. (There were two books in the middle of the series that I'll just kick back to the next review post).

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Books Reread in 2014

I am doing the thing, I'll be adding to this list through the year (hopefully consistently if I remember to). And it's pretty straight forward, just a lost of the books I've reread through 2014, with slight thoughts about them and information and stuff. It might not be interesting to you, the thoughts part or any of it, but - I still wanted to put it up.

There may be spoilers ahead for these books, but I do try to keep everything vague, it gets harder if a book is farther in a series. Anyway, without further rambling from me, the list:

The Laughing Corpse (Anita Black #2) by Laurell K. Hamilton [I reread the first book in this series at the end of 2013, and was surprised reading about that Anita again, shocked really. So much has changed and it was a fun reminder]

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare [I read this book, this series really - well what was suppose to be the complete TMI series and I had to wait for the goddamn third book - way back in middle school. We all loved it, but rereading it now. It is good, and I can see where younger me fell in love with it, but now - now some of it erks me or just annoys me outright, even if I'm laughing at some of the snarky or stupid dialogue. It was - good, okay, but not what I remember].

City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare [Pretty much the same feelings as the first, I think this one was better, though. Still had problems with it. And I want to know more about Magnus and Alec's relationship then I really care about any of the others, just because it sounds like there would be so many complications, so much hardship. Also I'm sure Magnus, having a lot of past, has to be kind of messed up. And it's not like Alec is well adjusted].

Disney After Dark (Kingdom Keepers #1) by Ridley Pearson [I love this series. This book is definirely the weirdest. And I can see so many problems with it, so many, but I wasn't focused on them. I was more focused on how you could feel that magic from the parks through the page. I'm not a huge Disney fan, though my friend Haley is and she had worn off a little on me, but - because even though this stuff isn't happening at night (at least probably) the parks are still magically on a lot of levels].

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter #1) by J.K. Rowling [God, I haven't reread this one in a long time. I watch the movie randomly, especially if it's on ABC Family, but it's not the same as the books. And god is it good].

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter #2) by J.K. Rowling [I always say this is my least favorite book of the series and it might be because I want to strangle Lockhart. But I really enjoyed it this time around, so much].

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter #3) by J.K. Rowling [I'll be honest with you, I'm a Marauder fangirl. I've admitted it, accepted it, and never want to change it. When I started reading HP fanfiction, I went straight to Marauder era. Love those boys. So this book has kind of always held a sepecial place in my heart, this read through was no different. And I read a lot part out loud to my mom, from this book on I did in the HP series, and it's just so fantastic].

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter #4) by J.K. Rowling [Man, the ferret thing is in the movies, but not Ron's line after, how he says he wanted to preserve the memory, and then adds: "Draco Malfoy, the amazing bouncing ferret." And also how real this book is, it's darker and that scene with the Unforgivable Curses always get me, but it's just the beginning of the darker, isn't it?]

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter #5) by J.K. Rowling [Umbridge, you know, I think I loathe her more then Voldemort, not as much as Bellatrix because she's done a lot, Dolohov has done quite a bit too. But Umbridge is just so - argh. I noticed the twins more in this read through, god do I love those twins, and they're so good in all of them, but the scenes in this are so perfect. And the end is so, so raw, from that moment with the veil to Harry in Dumbledore's office and how he's just feeling, is so perfect and heartwrenching and incredible]

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter #6) by J.K. Rowling [I love this one, too. And I always kind of have. I really enjoyed learning more about what Voldemort had been like, how he kind of become an all powerful wizard who most people don't name out of fear. And I love the happenings in this book, the Quidditch team. Also all the Half-Blood Prince stuff is fantastic].

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter #7) by J.K. Rowling [Looking back, this is probably the one I reread the most recently, or it might of just stuck in my mind more. Probably because of all the pain. I am eh about the epilogue, it didn't need to be there is how I kind of felt. Also - all my favorite characters, almost, just dead. Ah well].

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Top 5 Wednesday | Books I Want to See as Movies

I've never done this before, but it looks like a lot of fun. I wanted to try and do this in video form, but maybe next time. This week is books we'd like to see turned into movies. I'm only not going to count books if they have something substantial, a lot of books get optioned, some get people attached, but it's never full happening until it's in production. Either way, I think we're safe with this list.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
I love this book, I love this book to death. And I'd honestly be terrified going into a movie theater to see this, because I'd be terrified they'd get it wrong. And I almost think they would, unless the right people were attached. Anyway - I would want to see this done right, and if it was, it would be amazing.

Ubik by Philip K. Dick
Apparently this is in works to be a movie, which I didn't know until I just went to research to make sure it hadn't been made into one. This book was fantastic and complex and had a kind of ambiguous ending and I loved it, and really want to reread it even though I only read it about a year ago.

Kingdom Keeper's series by Ridley Pearson
There would be so many problems, probably, getting the rights to do this movie series, but I think a ton of people would want to see it. I've talked about this series before. It's about a group of kids who ends up finding themselves in Disney whenever they go to sleep. The first books a little shaky, but they get steadily better and are filled with action and awesome.

Steelheart, The Rithmatist, The Emperor's Soul (or all of his books) by Brandon Sanderson
I haven't made my way through everything he's written yet, but I'm making headway. And he writes such rich worlds and such amazing characters, I'd be terrified but excited if they made his books, any of them, into movies. I don't know which I'd like more, honestly. A lot of people mentioned Vicious, which would be an awesome anti-hero movie, but Steelheart has some of those aspects and would be visually gorgeous at points, I think. The Rithmatist would be cool, though, too - with the chalklings.
Choices are hard.

IT or Duma Key by Stephen King
Okay, IT was made into a movie and i've watched it a few times, but - but it wasn't good. And they've been in talks and trying to remake the movie for years at this point, but it doesn't really seem like they're getting any closer (baby steps, baby steps). Duma Key would be - an odd mini-series I think, not a movie. And probably the first two would be odd and boring for people, maybe even the first three, but - I love this book and the characters. And visually? This would be completely gorgeous.

I kind of cheated on a couple of those, I admit, but I couldn't just pick one Brandon Sanderson book, because they'd all be so cool as movies. Anyway, this was started by a BookTuber called Laini at gingerreadslainey. And has been getting a lot more people doing it lately and it's really fun to watch the videos, so I hope you enjoyed this.

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/5150399/?claim=wbvf69a8emf">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

2014 - Books read or reread

This is going to be the post that I list all of the books I've read in 2014. I've got a Goodreads challenge set up to keep track, of course, and if you want to know my goals for 2014. But - I also want to list them here and add the reviews I put up of them. I'm also doing groups of reviews, mini-reviews kind of, of books that I've read that I don't have enough to say about to write a full review, I'll be linking those through-out, too.

These are not organized by the order I read them in, but if you're curious then Goodreads challenge, but instead by categories. The difference between the "new" and the "been on shelf/meaning to read" shelf are a little iffy at points, probably. Mostly, new will mean books I've bought recently, up to a year or so, and the one about being on my shelf a while, means that I've owned them for a long time, years and years, and are finally getting around to reading them.

The other categories are pretty self explanatory, I think. Classics will contain all the classics I read through the year, while the manga/comics will contain all the books considered manga or comics. The reread will contain all books I've read but there will be a post with more in-depth thoughts on the books I've reread that you can find here (COMING SOON).

And let's move onto the books, shall we?

 New:
  • Infinity Blade: Awakening (Infinity Blade #1) by Brandon Sanderson
  • Steelheart (Reckoners #1) by Brandon Sanderson (review)
  • Mitosis (Reckoners #1.5) by Brandon Sanderson
  • Egghead by Bo Burnham
  • Pathfinder (Pathfinder #1) by Orson Scott Card (review)
  • Firstborn by Brandon Sanderson
  • Doctor Who: The Rising Night by Scott Handcock
  • Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1) by Richelle Meade
  • Seduction in Death (In Death #13) by J.D. Robb
  • Reunion in Death (In Death #14) by J.D. Robb
  • The Assassin's Curse (The Assassin's Curse) by Cassandra Rose Clarke 
  • The Search for WondLa  (WondLa #1) by Tony DiTerlizzi (review)
  • Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2) by Richelle Meade
  • The Way of Kings, Part One (The Stormlight Archive #1) 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 (The Stormlight Archive #1) by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Martian by Andy Weir (review)
  • Preacher, Book One by Garth Ennis (review)
  • Legends of Zita the Spacegirl (Zita the Spacegirl #2) by Ben Hatke
  • Caliban's War (The Expanse #2) by James S.A. Corey (review)
  • Cold War by Adam Christopher
  • Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos (Theodosia Throckmorton #1) by R.L. LaFevers
  • Elusive Memories (The Hunted #1) by Amanda Shofner
  • What in God's Name by Simon Rich
  • Fire and Flood by Victoria Scott (review)
  • Everything Leads to Yu by Nina LaCour (review)
  • The Inventor's Secret by Andrea Cremer
  • The Fear Trials (The Murder Complex #0.5) by Lindsey Cummings
  • Sea of Shadows (Age of Legends #1) by Kelly Armstrong
  • Burn for Burn (Burn for Burn #1) by Sioban Vivian, Jenny Han
  • Open Road Summer by Emery Lord
  • Catch a Falling Star by Kim Culbertson
  • This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
  • Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
  • Never Stop Shutting Up by Mike Falzone
  • Girl with Guitar (Kylie Ryans #1) by Caisey Quinn
  • Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh
  • In the Shadows by Kiersten White, Jim Di Bartolo
  • Scepter of the Ancients (Skulduggery Pleasant #1) by Derek Landy
  • Ruin and Rising (The Grisha Trilogy #3) by Leigh Bardugo
  • City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6) by Cassandra Clare
  • The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black
  • Say Her Name by James Dawson
  • Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre
  • Unlocked: An Oral History of Haden's Syndrome by John Scalzi
  • Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
  • Gil's All Fright Diner by A. Lee Martinez
  • Troy and Helen's Epic Road Quest by A. Lee Martinez
  • Wife by Wednesday (Weekday Brides #1) by Catherine Bybee
  • On Dublin Street (On Dublin Street #1) by Samantha Young
  • Married by Monday (Weekday Brides #2) by Catherine Bybee
  • Fiancee by Friday (Weekday Brides #3) by Catherine Bybee
  • Ariel: The Restored Edition by Sylvia Plath
  • Merciless by Danielle Vega
  • Tinder by Sally Gardner
  • Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick 
  • Single by Saturday (Weekday Brides #4) by Cathrine Bybee
  • Taken by Tuesday (Weekday Brides #5) by Catherine Bybee
  • Opal Fire (Stacy Justice #1) by Barbra Annino
  • Not Quite Dating (Not Quite #1) by Catherine Bybee
  • Not Quite Mine (Not Quite #2) by Catherine Bybee
  • The Little World of Liz Climo by Liz Climo
  • Girl on Tour (Kylie Ryans #2) by Caisey Quinn
  • The Blood of Olympus (Heroes of Olympus #5) by Rick Riordan
  • Half Bad (Half Bad #1) by Sally Green
  • Click-Clack the Rattlebag by Neil Gaiman
  • Three to Ride (Nights in Bliss, Colorado #1) by Sophie Oaks
  • Siren Beloved (Texas Siren #4) by Sophie Oaks
  • The Siren (The Original Sinners #1) Tiffany Reisz
  • Wallbanger (Cocktail #1) by Alice Clayton
  • An On Dublin Street Christmas & Until Fountain Bridge by Samantha Young
  • Girl in Love (Kylie Ryans #3) by Caisey Quinn
  • Jackaby by William Ritter
  • Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan
  • The Clockwork Scarab (Stoker & Holmes #1) by Colleen Gleason
  • The Girl From the Well by Rin Chupeco
  • The Queen of the Tearling (The Queen of the Tearling #1) by Erika Johansen
  • The Young Elites (The Young Elites #1) by Marie Lu
Current Count: 80

Been on shelf/meaning to read:
  • Interworld (Interworld #1) by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves
  • Wool Omnibus (Silo #1) by Hugh Howey (review)
  • The City of Ember (Book of Ember #1) by Jeanne DuPrau
  • Graceling (Graceling Realm #1) by Kristin Cashore
  • A Wizard of Earthsea (Earthsea #1) by Ursula K. Le Guin (review)
  • Redshirts by John Scalzi (review
  • Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse #1) by James S.A. Corey (review)
  • House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewsk
  • The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking #1) by Patrick Ness (review)
  • Zom-B by Darren Shan
  • The Queen is Dead (The Immortal Empire #2) by Kate Locke (review)
  • Long Live the Queen (The Immortal Empire #3) by Kate Locke (review)
  • The New World (Chaos Walking #0.5) by Patrick Ness
  • Dead Man Rising (Dante Valentine #2) by Lilith Saintcrow
  • The Devil's Right Hand (Dante Valentine #3) by Lilith Saintcrow
  • The Ask and the Answer (Chaos Walking #2) by Patrick Ness
  • All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill 
  • Once Dead, Twice Shy (Madison Avery #1) by Kim Harrison (review)
  • Steampunk Holmes: Legacy of the Nautilus by P.C. Martin
  • Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn, David Levithan
  • Rock On by Denise Vega
  • Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg
  • Losing It (Losing It #1) by Cora Carmack
  • The Beginning of Everything(Severed Heads, Broken Hearts) by Robyn Schnieder
  • Shadow and Bone (The Grisha Trilogy #1) by Leigh Bardugo
  • Siege and Storm (The Grisha Trilogy #2) by Leigh Bardugo
  • Clockwork Princess (Infernal Devices #3) by Cassandra Clare
  • City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments #5) by Cassandra Clare
  • Anna and the French Kiss (Anna and the French Kiss #1) by Stephanie Perkins
  • Lola and the Boy Next Door (Anna and the French Kiss #2) by Stephanie Perkins
  • The Name of the Wind (Kingkiller Chronicles #1) by Patrick Rothfuss
  • The Final Empire (Mistborn #1) by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Well of Ascension (Mistborn #2) by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Hero of Ages (Mistborn #3) by Brandon Sanderson
  • Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians (Alcatraz #1) by Brandon Sanderson
  • Purity in Death (In Death #15) by J.D. Robb
  • Portrait in Death (In Death #16) by J.D. Robb
  • Imitation in Death (In Death #17) by J.D. Robb
  • Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Demigod Files by Rick Riordan
  • Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Ultimate Guide by Rick Riordan
  • Alcatraz Versus the Scriveners Bones (Alcatraz #2) by Brandon Sanderson
  • Old Man's War (Old Man's War #1) by John Scalzi
  • 172 Hours on the Mood by Johan Harstad
  • The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater x2
  • The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater x2
  • White Cat (Curse Workers #1) by Holly Black
  • Red Glove (Curse Workers #2) by Holly Black
  • Black Hear (Curse Workers #3) by Holly Black
  • Howl's Moving Castle (Howl's Moving Castle #1) by Diana Wynne Jones
  • The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes
Current Count: 51

Non-Fiction:
  • This Star Won't Go Out by Esther Earl (and others) (review)
  • Princesses Behaving Badly by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie (review)
  • Paradox: The Nine Greatest Enigmas in Science by Jim Al-Khalili
  • The Unknown Unknown by Mark Forsyth
  • Is Everyone Hanging-Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling
Current Count: 5

Classics:
  • The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 
  • The Cosmic Puppets by Philip K. Dick
  • The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
  • Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
  • The Purloined Letter by Edgar Allen Poe
  • The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde
  • The Thing on the Doorstep by H.P Lovecraft
  • The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Current Count: 8

Reread:
  • The Laughing Corpse (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #2) by Laurell K. Hamilton
  • Angels' Blood (Guild Hunter #1) by Nalini Singh
  • City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare
  • Disney After Dark (Kingdom Keepers #1) by Ridley Pearson (review)
  • City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare
  • Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter #1) by J.K. Rowling
  • Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter #2) by J.K. Rowling
  • Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter #3) by J.K. Rowling
  • Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter #4) by J.K. Rowling
  • Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter #5) by J.K. Rowling
  • Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter #6) by J.K Rowling
  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter #7) by J.K. Rowling
  • The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson
  • God Save the Queen (The Immortal Empire #1) by Kate Locke (review)
  • The Walking Dead: Book One by Robert Kirkman
  • Working for the Devil (Dante Valentine #1) by Lilith Saintcrow
  • Fruits Basket Vols 1 - 23 by Natsuki Takaya (all rereads, all graphic novels, read all of them)
  • Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
  • City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments #3) by Cassandra Clare
  • Clockwork Angel (Infernal Devices #1) by Cassandra Clare
  • Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices #2) by Cassandra Clare
  • City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments #4) by Cassandra Clare
  • The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1) by Rick Riordan
  • The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #2) by Rick Riordan
  • The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #3) by Rick Riordan
  • The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #4) by Rick Riordan
  • The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #5) by Rick Riordan 
  • The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus #1) by Rick Riordan
  • The Son of Neptune (Heroes of Olympus #2) by Rick Riordan
  • The Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus #3) by Rick Riordan
  • The House of Hades (Heroes of Olympus #4) by Rick Riordan
  • No Plot? No Problem: Revised by Chris Baty
Current Count: 32

Manga or Comics:
  • Attack on Titan, Vol. 1 by Hajime Isayama
  • Attack on Titan, Vol. 2 by Hajime Isayama
  • Hawkeye, Vol. 1: My Life as a Weapon by Matt Fraction
  • Attack on Titan, Vol. 3 by Hajime Isayama
  • Attack on Titan, Vol. 4 by Hajime Isayama
  • Attack on Titan, Vol. 5 by Hajime Isayama
  • Attack on Titan, Vol. 6 by Hajime Isayama
  • Attack on Titan, Vol. 7 by Hajime Isayama
  • Attack on Titan, Vol. 8 by Hajime Isayama
  • Attack on Titan, Vol. 9 by Hajime Isayama
  • Attack on Titan, Vol. 10 by Hajime Isayama
  • Hawkeye, Vol. 2: Little Hits by many, many people
  • Young Avengers Vol. 1: Style > Substance by Kieron Gillen
  • Saga, Vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughan
  • Saga Vol. 2 by Brian K. Vaughan
  • Saga, Vol. 3 by Brian K. Vaughan
  • The Preacher: Book One by Garth Ennis, Steve Dillon
  • The Walking Dead: Book One
  • The Walking Dead: Book Two
  • American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
  • Maus, Vol l by Art Spiegelman
  • Maus, Vol ll by Art Spiegelman
  • Locke and Key, Vol 1: Welcome to Lovecraft by Joe Hill, Gabriel Rodriguez
  • Locke and Key, Vol 2: Head Games by Joe Hill, Gabriel Rodriguez 
  • Locke and Key, Vol 3: Crown of Shadows by Joe Hill, Gabriel Rodriguez
  • Watchmen by Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons
  • Coffin Hill, Vol 1 by Caitlin Kittredgge
  • Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony
  • Boxers (Boxers and Saints #1) by Gene Luen Yang
  • Saints (Boxers and Saints #2) by Gene Luen Yang
  • Zita the Spacegirl (Zita #1) by Ben Hatke
  • Legends of Zita the Spacegirl (Zita #2) by Ben Hatke
  • Return of Zita the Spacegirl (Zita #3) by Ben Hatke
  • Clockwork Angel: Manga (#1) by Cassie Clare, HyeKyung Baek
  • Clockwork Prince, Manga (#2) by Cassie Clare, HyeKyung Baek
  • Clockwork Princess, Manga (#3) by Cassie Clare, HyeKyung Baek
  • Sea of Monsters: Graphic Novel (#2) by Riordan and others
  • Sex Criminals, Vol 1 by Matt Fraction, Chip Zdarsky
  • The Arrival by Shaun Tan
  • East of West, Volume 1: The Promise by Jonathan Hickman, Nick Dragotta
  • East of West, Volume 2: We Are All One by Jonathan Hickman, Nick Dragotta
  • East of West, Volume 3: There Is No Us by Jonathan Hickman, Nick Dragotta
  • Sleepy Hollow #1 by Marguerite Bennett
  • Through the Woods by Emily Caroll
  • Chew, Volume 1: Taster's Choice by John Layman, Rob Guillory
  • In Real Life by Cory Doctorow, Jen Wang
  • Captain Marvel, Volume 1: Higher, Further, Faster, More by Kelly Sue DeConnick, David López
  • Ms. Marvel, Volume 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson
  • Wytches #1 by Scott Snyder
  • The Flash #1 by Francis Manapul
  • Wayward #1 by Jim Zub, Steve Cummings, John Rauch
  • Wayward #2 by Jim Zub, Steve Cummings, John Rauch
  • The Wicked and The Divine #1 by Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie, Matt Wilson
  • Chew, Volume 2: International Flavor by John Layman, Rob Guillory
  • Injustice: Gods Among Us #1 by Tom Taylor
  • Hawkeye #12, #13, #15, #17. #19 & Volume Three: L.A. Women by Matt Fraction
  • The Wicked and The Divine #2, #3, #4, #5 by Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie, Matt Wilson
  • Chew, Volume 3: Just Desserts by John Layman, Rob Guillory
Current Count: 66

Total Count: 270

Some of these books have been reviewed in a post with several other books, so I'm going to list those posts here and the books in them.

Infinity Blade: Awakening (Infinity Blade #1)
The Laughing Corpse (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #2)
Hawkeye, Vol. 1: My Life as a Weapon 
Steelheart (Reckoners #1) + Mitosis (Reckoners #1.5) 
Interworld (Interworld #1)
Angels' Blood (Guild Hunter #1)
Egghead 
Attack on Titan, Vols. 1-3 

Attack on Titan Vols. 4-10
The Great Gatsby
The Cosmic Puppets
Wool Omnibus (Silo #1)
City of Bones (TMI #1)
City of Ashes (TMI #2)
Disney After Dark (Kingdom Keepers #1)
The City of Ember (Book of Ember #1)
Pathfinder (Pathfinder #1)
Graceling (Graceling Realm #1)

2014: Book Reviews (3)
Firstborn
Doctor Who: The Rising Night
Hawkeye, Vol. 2: Little Hits
Vampire Academy (VA#1)
Seduction in Death (In Death #13)
Reunion in Death (In Death #14)

2014: Book Reviews (4 - Harry Potter edition)
contains Socerers' Stone to Deathly Hallow as of this reread

2014: Book Reviews (5)
This Star Won't Go Out
The Assassin's Curse (Assassin's Curse #1) 
The Search for WondLa (WondLa #1)
A Wizard of EarthSea (Earthsea Cycle #1)
Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2)

2014: Book Reviews (6)
Young Avengers Vol. 1
Saga Vols 1-3
Princesses Behaving Badly
The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archiver #1)
Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy #3)
Bite Me (London Undead #1)


2014: Book Reviews (7)
Paradox: The Nine Great Enigmas in Physics
War of the Worlds
Redshirts
Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse #1)
The Martian
House of Leaves
The Preacher, Book One
Caliban's War (The Expanse #2)
The Emperor's Soul

2014: Book Reviews (8)
The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking #1)
Zom-B
Cold War
God Save the Queen (Immortal Empire #1)
The Queen is Dead (Immortal Empire #2)
Long Live the Queen (Immortal Empire #3)
The Walking Dead, Book One
The New World (Chaos Walking #0.5)

Monday, February 24, 2014

Rereading Books and Why I Think It's Important

Now you might not care about my opinion, and that's fine. But I feel like so much pressure is put on us book bloggers, honestly probably mostly from ourselves, at least that's what I've heard / experienced. The thing is, though, is that we shouldn't be putting pressure on ourselves about things. And one of the many things is: rereading.

Mostly because of the sheer number of new books on my TBR pile, and I'm sure yours too. There's always new books to read, stories to discover, characters to love. But - our favorites are our favorites for a reason. And I always discover things I missed in my first read or past reread. There are a few I read or listen to just - randomly, maybe not even reading or listening to the whole thing, just snippets (It, Duma Key, Harry Potter).

And the last one is something I want to talk about right now, though I definitely recommend both of those Stephen King books, but for this part - Harry Potter. There was a period in seventh grade where I got mono from sharing a drink with a friends brother (I'm not even kidding, that's how boring I am, sharing a drink), and there was about two weeks where I couldn't stay awake except for small bursts. I was just completely exhausted and felt awful. Obviously that kind of made school a little improbable, if impossible, so I curled up and started reading Harry Potter, over and over, the seventh book was still new, and - and I just kept reading them.

There's more to this story that is nerdier and also parts that explain how I am where I am right now (no, seriously, if I hadn't fallen into this Harry Potter... lifestyle, I probably wouldn't be doing this. I've always loved reading, but Harry Potter brought me into fan fiction then to wizard rock then to YouTube - fan videos that were like mini fan fictions or just amazing - and then onto vloggers and it, obviously, spiraled from there and has gotten worse/awesome over the years).

I'm writing this post now, bringing it up now, because I'm currently rereading Harry Potter for the first time in years, probably since eight grade. I started at one and am going through to seven. I'm currently on six but by the time I get this up, I'll be done. And - and I'm different now so it feels like the books are different. I never liked Goblet of Fire as much, no idea why, maybe it was that movie because man that movie, but rereading now I completely adored it. And I found the fifth book hell to trudge through at first, and harder not to start crying as hard as I did the first time I read through it. You all know why, I'm sure.

Rereading books, re-experiencing them after years or maybe a shorter time, is just one of my favorite things. I do love reading new books, new stories, but - but the old ones are... there, safe, and in the case of Harry Potter, they definitely feel like home. I'm a pretty big Harry Potter fan and I kind of felt like I forgot that, even going to Infinitus and LeakyCon, because I just hadn't so immersed myself in the world in so long. (Though - watching the final movie in a theater full of Con people who got it, is still one of my favorite experiences).

This is probably a bit of a self-indulgent post, but I also kind of want to remember this and be able to go back and read it later. Mostly because I feel that I forget myself about how much I love to reread books and why I love to. I've already reread quite a few books this year, and I'm thinking of doing a post about it, to list the books I'm read in 2014 with notes, and continue it on. (I know people do a book list normally of the books they've read in the year, I'd kind of like to do that, too).

The point of this long, rambling, and sometimes off topic post was and is: rereading books is important. 

So go give your old favorites some love and please tell me the books you've reread and which you reread the most. (HP related: favorite book and favorite wrock band, if you can choose just one on both, if not just give reasons please, I'm seriously interested).

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Book Review: Pathfinder (Pathfinder #1)

Title: Pathfinder (Pathfinder #1)
Author: Orson Scott Card
Genre: High Fantasy
Rating: 3/5 stars
Pages: 657
Publication Date: November 23rd, 2010

Story Notion: What? I - what? I'm not even really confused, I just don't know.

Plot: (from Goodreads)
A powerful secret. A dangerous path.
Rigg is well trained at keeping secrets. Only his father knows the truth about Rigg's strange talent for seeing the paths of people's pasts. But when his father dies, Rigg is stunned to learn just how many secrets Father had kept from him--secrets about Rigg's own past, his identity, and his destiny. And when Rigg discovers that he has the power not only to see the past, but also to change it, his future suddenly becomes anything but certain.

Rigg’s birthright sets him on a path that leaves him caught between two factions, one that wants him crowned and one that wants him dead. He will be forced to question everything he thinks he knows, choose who to trust, and push the limits of his talent…or forfeit control of his destiny.

Review:
I liked this book, overall, I just want to say this first. It was good, if not very long, and a little jumbly and some of the physics was like no, no stop.

Okay, it wasn't that long, it just felt like it would never end.

There was one huge problem I had with this book - besides the weird science - and it was the female characters. Well, kind of the lack of them but also them, too. Leaky was the best, but even then she felt very stereotypical. And then the only other female character, who is definitely a spoiler, but she's just kind of - eh. I liked her, mostly, but also just kind of eh.

So overall I did really like this book and I managed to get past my problems while reading, mostly. I did stop a few times, to wonder how many paradoxes he could create in one sentence without physics just killing him because I guess that's okay.

It wasn't groundbreaking, I guess it what I'm saying. It was interesting and I'm interested to learn more about the world, but also not enough to pick up the second book straight away, which was right next to me when I finished. But also, on that same note, I don't know if I want to learn more, just because of some of the main problems I had with the world. I've only ever read one other book or Orson Scott Card's, Ender's Game of course, and I liked it - another lack of female characters - but I guess I couldn't just let it go so much this time, for some reason.

I normally don't let the person affect how I read their books, but maybe I just can't let go how Card is kind of a... dick (kind of as in really, honestly, and it's also the word most used to describe him so I'm just going with it, no offense intended). I knew that going into Ender's Game, though, and it didn't affect how I felt about the book at all, so maybe I don't have biased caused by that, either was - this was a okay book, but not amazing or astounding or even really great.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Book Review: This Star Won't Go Out

Title: This Star Won't Go Out
Author: Esther Earl (and many others)
Genre: Non-Fiction
Rating: 5/5
Pages: 431 pages (Hardcover)
Publication Date: January 28th, 2014

Story Notion: Oh god, that was fantastic. Heart wrenching.

Plot: (Goodreads)

A collection of the journals, fiction, letters, and sketches of the late Esther Grace Earl, who passed away in 2010 at the age of 16. Photographs and essays by family and friends will help to tell Esther’s story along with an introduction by award-winning author John Green who dedicated his #1 bestselling novel The Fault in Our Stars to her.



Review:
I don't honestly know what I can tell you about this book, but I also feel like I needed to write a review, to try and add just another voice to urge people to read it. And I don't think you have to be a nerdfighter to enjoy this, although I am and I actually live very close to where Esther did. There is some religlion mixed in but it's not an overpowering presence. Esther's family was religious, but if you're not religious like I am, it shouldn't bother you, it's not preachy or overpowering. I've seen some people saying it bothered them, but it didn't bother me, normally because my eyes were blurring with tears for most of this book.

I had to stop reading this book and putting it aside and just breathing because this book hurt, it hurt a lot, but I also think it should be read. People should be reading it and taking things away from her life, because Esther was someone I wished I'd met, because she sounded like an amazing person. And I think the fact that she did change the world, even if it wasn't directly her, it also kind of was and she got to see just the beginning of it.

I don't have much more to say on this book, I don't want to say much more, because I think you need to just read it. It's so - raw I think is the word I'm looking for. Everything that happens, it covered pretty much from the time she was diagnosed to her death and there are a lot of her diary/journal and blog entires about what was going on and how she was feeling.

So, definitely bring a box of tissues, but also be prepared to think, because that's what this book made me do most. If you're still unsure, then I've got some links to maybe convince you. Esther had her own YouTube channel, and then there's John's first real two videos about her here and here.

Amazon
IndieBound

Sunday, February 9, 2014

30 Day Challenge

I didn't make a starting post about this, because it felt like much too much stress on me. And I can be either really bad or really good with stress, and with something like this I knew I'd be really bad at it. The 30 day challenge was an idea on YouTube a couple months ago, you can check out the 'announcement' video here (her and a few others came up with this idea, which I obviously modified a little).

The 30 day challenge is the challenge to read thirty books in thirty days. Which sounds ridiculous and it definitely is, but over the last couple years, I've learned that I actually take very well to insane and/or overachieving goals.

I wrote that mini-intro at the beginning of the month and I definitely didn't read a book a day, but I did finish 30 books in 30 days. Some days I finished three books, some days none, but I did read the equivalent of 30 books in 30 days and that is what I wanted. I knew there'd be days I couldn't read or didn't want to read and - I've always wanted to give this a try so it was fun to run across that video over the summer and be like: I want to do that, but conventions, so maybe in the winter.

I like pushing myself to do insane goals for reading or writing, because if I'd pushed to read 30 books in 30 days and only read 20, it would of been like: so what? I still read 20 books in a month and that's ridiculous. Anyway, I'm rambling. I may be a tad excited I finished this many books. More so that I'm not burnt out, I want to read more, and I'm surrounded by books, and I kind of want to buy less books then I read, even.

Anyway, instead of listening all of the books here, I'm just going to link you to my January wrap-up (I kind of pretended January had 30 days in it, I didn't read on the 31st, anyway).

Do you think you'd ever attempt this challenge? Do you think you could do it if you had enough spare time to read? How exactly insane do you think I am? (Also: I think the read-a-thon this month totally worked in my favor and helped me get a ton of books read fast). Happy reading!

Monday, February 3, 2014

February 2014 TBR

Alright, let's be real here, friends, February is going to look bad compared to January no matter what I read. I apparently really like Goodreads book clubs (probably because I don't have to try and talk to people face to face, I'm actually not kidding), and I'm probably not going to do stuff for all of the clubs this months, but I do have a vague idea of what I want to read this month.

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1) by Richelle Mead
I started reading this on already, not very far in at all, and it's mostly because of the movie and because every person on YouTube has read it.

A Wizard of Earthsea (Earthsea Cycle #1) by Ursula K. Le Guin
This is for a goodreads book club, Sword and Laser, and I'm not sure how I'll feel about it yet from what people are saying, but it sounds interesting. And I've never read anything by this author.

House of Leaves by Mark. K Danielewski
Book club read, Booktube Reading Buddies, and it's so big and scary that I felt like reading it with some people might be less daunting. It's also apparently genuinely weird and creepy so I'm really curious to really get into it. (Have you read it? What did you think? Any tips?) They're also reading The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss and I've been dying to read this book since a random guy in Powells in Portland told me I had to (random stranger book recs are a little weird but very awesome).

I also may have gone on a mini buying binge, like a beginning of the year thing, so I have a bunch of comics / graphic novels to read and other things. So here is a list of random books I might read, I am, as usual, surrounded by books so who knows what I'll be in the mood for:


  • Locke and Key: Vol. 1 by Joe Hill
  • Saga, Vol. 1 & 2 by Brian K. Vaughan
  • The Einstein Intersection by Samuel R. Delany 
  • Boxers & Saints by Gene Luen Lang

Sunday, February 2, 2014

January 2014 Wrap-Up

Alright, I read a ridiculous number of books this month and I'm pretty sure this number of books will never happen again in one single month. I am just going to list them down there and then link the wrap up of the read-a-thon I did and then my 2014: Book Review posts. I completed to ridiculous challenge of reading the equivalent of 30 books in 30 days (I just didn't read on / count January 31st).
  1. Infinity Blade: Awakening (Infinity Blade #1) by Brandon Sanderson
  2. Attack on Titan, Vol. 1 by Hajime Isayama
  3. Attack on Titan, Vol. 2 by Hajime Isayama
  4. The Laughing Corpse (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #2) by Laurell K. Hamilton
  5. Hawkeye, Vol. 1: My Life as a Weapon by Matt Fraction
  6. Steelheart (Reckoners #1) by Brandon Sanderson
  7. Mitosis (Reckoners #1.5) by Brandon Sanderson
  8. Interworld (Interworld #1) by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves
  9. Angels' Blood (Guild Hunter #1) by Nalini Singh
  10. Attack on Titan, Vol. 3 by Hajime Isayama
  11. Egghead by Bo Burnham
  12. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 
  13. The Cosmic Puppets by Philip K. Dick
  14. Attack on Titan, Vol. 4 by Hajime Isayama
  15. Wool Omnibus (Silo #1) by Hugh Howey
  16. City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare
  17. Disney After Dark (Kingdom Keepers #1) by Ridley Pearson
  18. City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare
  19. The City of Ember (Book of Ember #1) by Jeanne DuPrau
  20. Attack on Titan, Vol. 5 by Hajime Isayama
  21. Pathfinder (Pathfinder #1) by Orson Scott Card
  22. Graceling (Graceling Realm #1) by Kristin Cashore
  23. Firstborn by Brandon Sanderson
  24. Attack on Titan, Vol. 6 by Hajime Isayama
  25. Attack on Titan, Vol. 7 by Hajime Isayama
  26. Attack on Titan, Vol. 8 by Hajime Isayama
  27. Attack on Titan, Vol. 9 by Hajime Isayama
  28. Attack on Titan, Vol. 10 by Hajime Isayama
  29. Doctor Who: The Rising Night by Scott Handcock
  30. Hawkeye, Vol. 2: Little Hits by many, many people

Annddddd, links!
Steelheart review
Pathfinder review COMING SOON
Wool Omnibus review COMING SOON

Saturday, February 1, 2014

2014: Book Reviews (2)

And we have part two of my book reviews of 2014. I think this is a good thing for how many freaking books I read n January, but also probably a bad thing because it almost makes me not want to try and write full reviews. I have been writing down a small amount of my thoughts for every book, just as i finis them, kind of just for myself, but hopefully that'll help me write more reviews. I like writing reviews, they're just so hard.

Attack on Titan, Vol.  4-10 by Hajime Isayama (5/5)
I'm just going to say I love this, but I love this series so much. Manga or Anime, you should check it out at least a few episodes / volumes.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (3/5)
I liked it, I did, but maybe it was like overhyped or - I don't know. I just didn't really seem to love it as much as everyone else did. It was good, intriguing characters and they're all crazy, but maybe if I read it again, I'll like it more, I don't know, I didn't fall in love with it. (I'm sorry, don't kill me).

The Cosmic Puppets by Philip K. Dick (5/5)
This is like a little, awesome book. I don't even know if I could describe it, but the premise made me think that it sounded like a Twilight Zone episode and it's very much like that, except even better. I know, how can it be better then Twilight Zone? I don't know, it's just so good.

Wool Omnibus (Silo #1) by Hugh Howey (5/5)
I really want to write a full review on this one because I love it so much, even though the beginning is a little slow going, when it gets going, it just keeps going. Definitely can see why this series took off so much.

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare (3/5)
This was a reread and I, surprisingly, remembered most of it. Surprisingly because I read this series in middle school, and I loved it in middle school (unsurprisingly) but now all I could focus on is the problems. Also when I first read this series, I had to wait for the third book, so this whole series like physically hurt from the end of book one on, really.

City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare (4/5)
I only remembered this one vaguely, but it was better then I remembered. Mostly because I really just want to know more about Alec and Magnus' relationship because Magnus is hundreds of years old and Alec is so young and still in the closet. I need to know more.

Disney After Dark (Kingdom Keepers #1) by Ridley Pearson (4/5)
This is definitely the weakest book in the series, also a reread by the way, and I love this series. But, anyway, it's still awesome and kind of adorable, and like frolicking and almost being killed in Disney World at night, go read it.

The City of Ember (Book of Ember #1) by Jeanne DePrau (4/5)
This was surprisingly good. I've had this recommended to me before and I've owned it for a while now. It was interesting and I've got the second one, so I'll probably be reading soon. (Soon-ish, I have so many books oh my gosh). Anyway, it was good, recommended.

Pathfinder (Pathfinder #1) by Orson Scott Card (4/5)
I'm going to write a full review of this book because I have a surprising amount of thoughts about this. Some good, some bad, some a jumble of just confusion and 'huh.' So hopefully that'll be up soon.

Graceling (Graceling Realm #1) by Kristin Cashore (4/5)
This was good, but I had some problems with it. Mostly minor, I really liked the main characters journey: literally and mentally. It wasn't quite instalove, but as soon as they met I kind of groaned internally, though, I did like that they beat each other up (that's only a slight spoiler, it happens pretty earlier). And Po is great, so I can understand people's love for this series. Completely.