Last Library Haul of the Summer - Library Haul #5

So, I kind of haven't posted on this blog since my little update/complaining spree about being in a reading and writing slump for most, if not all, of the summer. But good news! I think that I am finally out of my reading slump! I'm always more motivated to read in the colder seasons, and this morning I woke up at 6:30 just so that I could read with the rain still pounding at the windows. (The things I do for my books. Sheesh.)

(Of course, the bad news for me is that I start school again tomorrow. Whomp, whomp. But the school librarian has asked me to be a library assistant, and I got the classes I wanted, so hopefully this semester turns out alright!)

Recently I visited the library and checked out three books. (There were more I wanted to get, but I restrained myself!) It's a bit of a miniature library haul, but I thought I would just share with everyone the books that I checked out. I'm excited to read them all!

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City of a Thousand Dolls by Miriam Forster was the first book I picked up. I actually hadn't heard of it before, but it sounded really cool. A murder mystery in a diverse fantasy setting with talking cats? That just ticks so many of my 'must read' boxes!

When I looked it up on Goodreads I saw it didn't have the best reviews, but I was pleasantly surprised by it. (I just finished it before writing this post.) I think next time, I will grab the second book in this duology (though it seems to be more of a companion novel) since that one has higher ratings anyway.

The second book I picked up from the library was And I Darken by Kiersten White. This is supposed to be an epic historical fiction retelling of Vlad the Impaler. But in this retold version, Vlad is a girl named Lada.

This has been getting quite a bit of buzz lately, and I've heard nothing but good things about it. Plus look at that cover. Look at it. It's so beautiful!

I definitely can't wait to get to this one and see how I like it. I think it's the one I'll end up reading next!

Finally, I decided to check out Burning Glass by Kathryn Purdie. This book is about a girl who can feel the emotions and physical pain of the people around her. It's a bit of a bigger book, and I think it might be the first in a series? In a trilogy? Duology? I'm not sure which.

This is another book where people don't seem to like it but I tend to have unpopular opinions to everyone else (oops?) so I hope that I end up at least liking it a bit. (The only problem is that it seems to have a love triangle... sighs.)

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I hope everyone has been having a great summer/winter (if you're in the opposite hemisphere). Autumn is my favorite season and I am so done with summer already! I can't wait for rain and the colder days and sweaters and pumpkin everything. Thanksgiving is also my favorite holiday, so I'm looking forward to that as well.

Until next time, (which will hopefully be soon!), happy reading!

 

Slumps & Updates

Hey, guys! It's been a really long time (almost two months!) since I posted on this blog, and that has been for a variety of reasons.

I finished up my year of school, and next year I'm going to be an upperclassman in High School, which is crazy, exciting, and terrifying all at the same time. I'm not really sure what I want to do with my life yet, which is a bit nerve-wracking since I've always hoped to be certain of what degree to pursue and what college to attend, etc. etc. but! I know I'm still young, and I still have plenty of time to pick those things out and change my mind.

I've also been a little bit busy this summer: my family has gone camping twice, which was nice. The second time we went with our neighbors and it rained a lot, so we mainly played card games and board games. (The brothers attempted to canoe in the rain and came back soaked - I'm glad I elected to stay behind!) We also played lots of the game 'Mafia', which if you haven't played before, trust me, it's very fun, especially with lots of people involved.

Mostly, the reason I haven't been posting recently, though, is because of the thing every bookworm dreads: the Reading Slump. I was fine in June and May (apparently I read 13 books in those two months, stats taken from Goodreads). But it's currently a week until July ends, and I have yet to finish one book.

It's a shame, because my current read, Illuminae is not bad at all. In fact, it's quite good and it's been on my TBR for a long time. The thing is, I just never feel the motivation to pick it up, and when I do, I stare at the words on the page without actually comprehending them. Not just for Illuminae, but for every book I try, this happens.

In addition to Reading Slump, I've been experiencing terrible Writer's Block. And, it being Camp NaNoWriMo at the moment, this has been even more discouraging. My goal was 30,000 and I've barely written 12,000. I haven't given up yet, though! Even if I don't make it, it's okay to lose once in awhile, and I think it's important that I not be too hard on myself.

So, that's been where I've been at for the past couple of months! I hope to be posting more this summer and into next school year, and hopefully I can rid of the nasty Writer's and Readers Block I've been experiencing!

Until next time, happy reading!

Armchair BEA: Day Two, Book Covers, Progress

And... it's Day Two of the Armchair BEA ReadaThon, hosted annually in correlation with the BEA events, which are this year in Chicago. I had a pretty good reading day today. Got a lot of reading done during school, since we had a substitute who didn't really have any lesson plans... I digress.

Progress:

Currently Reading: The Enchantress, by Michael Scott
Pages Read Today: 144
Total Pages Read: 259
Thoughts: So I finished The Warlock, and moved right along to the final book in this series. It makes me so sad for some reason to be finishing up this series for the second time... I haven't read this last book since the month it originally came out, and I sort of grew up with these books. I will reread them again someday, I'm sure!

Blogging Prompt:

How often do you judge a book by it's cover? Do you like your covers to match, or is that not really a concern?

I must confess... I judge books by their covers quite often. But hey! It's worked out at least once. The only reason I picked up The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima was because it was cheap and I liked the cover (it was the foreign edition). And that turned out to be one of my favorite books!

As for if the covers have to match -- it used to matter a lot less to me than it does now. Before I started blogging and getting into the book internet place... I didn't care if my shelves matched or if the covers were the same. I didn't even care about owning books, I often just checked them out from the library. Now, I do care if they are the same. They have to match otherwise it just doesn't seem right to me.

There was a second part to today's prompt, asking about blog branding and stuff, but I've never put much thought into that! Maybe I should?

Photo:
A book cover you love or think reflects the book inside.

Sorry for the poor quality on this one (and lighting)! This is the novelization based off of my favorite movie, My Neighbor Totoro. I love the artwork on this cover, I think it is absolutely adorable.

 

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I had another great reading day today! I can't believe I've already finished a book. Granted, I started it before the ReadaThon began, but I am still happy with my progress. I've also read 26 pages of this next book, and anything more I read shall be included in tomorrow's update. I hope everyone has a very good day today. Or evening, since I'm getting this up late (again).

 

Until tomorrow, happy reading!

Armchair BEA: Day One, Diversity, Armchair + Progress

So, Day One of the Armchair BEA readathon is pretty close to finishing up. I had a pretty good reading day today. I didn't have too much homework, so I decided to read a little more than I normally would on a school day.

Progress:

Currently Reading: The Warlock, by Michael Scott
Pages Read Today: 115
Total Pages Read: 115
Thoughts: I'm going to read some more tonight, so that isn't really a final tally, but I'll add whatever else I read tonight into tomorrow's total, or maybe update this post tomorrow with an official end count. (Update from the future: I just added in here.) I think I did pretty good today, although I was in a bit of a funk today, so I'm afraid I didn't have the most enjoyable reading experience. There are some plot holes and some phrases are repeated a lot. However, I still am enjoying this a lot! It brings back memories.

Blogging Prompt:

Today's Prompt: Discussing which voices we hear in books, which we need more of, and which may be portrayed negatively or stereotypically.

Diversity in books is so important because everyone needs someone to identify with, and if a book character can be that someone who helps you along, then it could change your life forever. I think all the representation we already see is magnificent and making leaps and bounds of progress. However, there's a few characters that I would love to see more of:

• Characters with anxiety/social anxiety: Okay, so I'm biased. But I would love to see a character who is anxious (or struggles with a similar mental illness) go on an adventure and help defeat the big bad. I always am a little sad when the only character who seems even a little scared is the stereotypical jittery sidekick. I would like to read about a hero/ine in that role, instead. Someone who suffers from panic attacks but still proves that they can be brave!
• Asexual, pansexual, and/or transgender characters: I don't think I've ever read about an asexual, pansexual, or transgender character in a book, and I think that they are very underrepresented.  
• Blind, deaf, or mute characters: I think I've read a couple of characters who are blind, deaf, or mute, but not many. Especially mute characters. I would love to have them in the lead for once.
• Characters with a stutter: So, having a mute character reminded me of characters with a stutter! I don't see them hardly ever. I'm not sure if this counts as "diverse" but I'm going to count it anyway?
• Native American character: Again, never read about one as the main character,
   
  although I'm sure they're out there. But having a Native American character who is not stereotypical or portrayed negatively would be awesome and it would make me so happy.

Snapshot:

Today's photo prompt: Favorite ReadaThon reading spot! #myarmchair

 

This is my kinda old armchair! It belonged to my Grandma, and now it belongs to me. I like to read in it because it reminds me of her. (I apologize for the mess in the background...I really need to tidy up around here.)

 

 

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I hope you all had a great first day of this ReadaThon, if you are participating. If not, I hope you had a great day otherwise, and I will (hopefully) see you again tomorrow with a new update. Until next time, happy reading!

Armchair BEA: Introduction Questions + TBR

Hello, everybody! Today, I am excited to say that I will be participating in the 2016 Armchair BEA! This is an event for all the bloggers/booktubers/etc. who are unfortunately unable to attend Book Expo America this year. It's a ReadaThon that takes place from May 11, 2016 to May 15, 2016.

Today, there were some questions on their blog to answer in order to introduce oneself a little. The entirety of the "first group" is to be answered, while only 4-5 of the second group are meant to be answered. Without futher ado, here are some of my answers!

Group 1:

1. What is the name you prefer to use?

Emma.

2.  How long have you been a book blogger?

I can't quite remember... I think since Summer 2013?

3. Have you participated in ABEA before?

No, this is my first time!

Group 2:

1.  Do you have a favorite book? If you cannot choose a favorite book of all time, pick your favorite book today - just this second. Remember that favorites are allowed to change if something affects you deeply enough.

Unlike some (most?) people, I know exactly what to say when someone asks me for my favorite book: "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien. This is my most cherished book. I love everything about it - Bilbo Baggins is the fictional character I relate the most to out of every book, movie, or TV show. I love Tolkien's writing style in this, the little bits of humor, the characterization, the fizzy, happy feeling that fills me whenever I so much as read the opening sentence. This will never change as my favorite book, I know that already!

2.  What is your favorite genre and why?

Fantasy is by far my favorite genre. To be specific, High/Epic Fantasies, especially if there are multiple books in the series! I love the magic, and how it transports me to another world when I want to escape this one. There is such variation in Fantasy, and I love the creativity that the authors always put into their work

3.  How do you arrange your bookshelves? Is there a rhyme or reason? Or not at all?

It's kind of (mostly) random - I arrange by height, author/series, and the most recent books I bought!

4. What book are you most excited for on your TBR? What are you most intimidated by?

Now, for the TBR that I promised in the title of this post.

•  The Warlock by Michael Scott - Currently reading this one, I'm a little ways through, but still have hundreds of pages to go. I'm excited for this!

• The Enchantress  by Michael Scott - Aww, the last book in the series. I'm going to be so sad to be finishing up my reread of this series, since I like it so much! Hopefully I'll finish this during the ReadAThon, though I doubt I will...

• Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare - For class. Not going to read all of it, but totally going to count what I do end up reading of it. Haha.

After that, if I finish those, no clue what I'll pick up! I'm excited about all of them, but I think The Enchantress" is my most anticipated.

5. If you could choose three characters to have lunch with, who would they be and why?

Ooh, this is a good question to be sure! I think I'd have to invite Bilbo Baggins, of course. Hobbits make the best tea, and we could talk about his adventures and maybe some books, since we both enjoy reading.

Luna Lovegood would be my second choice, as she is such a dreamer, and I would love to just learn so much about her and what's going on in her head. I'm sure she'd have many interesting factoids for me.

The last character I would love to have tea with is Mr. Tumnus from the Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis. These books were part of my childhood, and being able to talk with an actual faun would just be too cool. Again, he seems great at making tea.

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This was my introduction and TBR, if you are also participating then you could link to your own post, if not you can tell me your answers, if you want! Have a great day!

 

May TBR | 2016

This is the second month in a row that I've done a TBR post! But I already have quite a clear plan of what I am hoping to start/finish reading this month. So without further ado, here are the books I want to read in May!

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I'm hoping to (re)read The Sorceress, The Necromancer, The Warlock, and The Enchantress by Michael Scott this month. These are books 3-6 of the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series, which was a childhood favorite of mine. Now that I'm closer to the age of the protaganists, I wanted to read it again with new eyes! I read the first two books last month, and I'm anxious to finish up my second time reading this series.

Next, I want to pick up Truthwitch by Susan Dennard. I currently have this one out from the library, so I'm definitely hoping to read it before I have to return it! This is a YA High Fantasy following two girls with powers? I think? It was really hyped after BEA last year, and this year when it came out, it seemed many people enjoyed it. So, hopefully, I will too!

I also have out from the library Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys, a historical fiction novel set around a really bad marine accident that took place near the time of the second World War. I've heard nothing but great things about it and I've been wanting to read more Historical Fiction, so I checked this one out.

For school, I have to read Taming the Shrew by William Shakespeare which I am (gasp) actually looking forward to. Though I haven't read much by Shakespeare, I've enjoyed what I have read, so this is one that I am going to try to power through (because the language can be super confusing, to me).

Lastly, if I manage to get to it, I want to read (or at least start reading) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling. This is one of my favorite Harry Potter books, and I was hoping to get to it in April, but sadly that didn't happen. This month, though! *crosses fingers*

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I'm going to be really busy with school in May, because it's almost the end of the school year, which means preparations/last big push before finals, and of course, AP Testing. Which I dread. A lot. Wish my luck.

Until next time, happy reading!

April Wrap-Up | 2016

I read a pretty good amount of books this month! It didn't even come close to how many I read last month, and the enjoyment level for me unfortunately dropped slightly, but that's alright.

 

In the end, I read 7 books. Here are the titles, a short overview of my thoughts, a link to my longer Goodreads reviews, and a rating out of 5 stars for each!

 

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The Alchemyst by Michael Scott : A childhood favorite of mine that I was so happy to read again! I see this getting so many bad reviews, but I still really liked it. Yes, it does have its flaws, and I may be a bit biased due to the part it played in my growing up and my love for books, but I still love the world-building and the action-packed plot! Such a fun adventure.
3.5*'s / Goodreads Review

Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman : This book follows a teenager who has a mental illness called Schizophrenia. I didn't know too much about this topic going into it, but as a teenager who has to deal with mental illness, I was really interested to read this book and really grateful that it exists. It was very eye-opening. But it just made me feel weird and uncomfortable when I read it, and I know that was partly the point, but I never really looked forward to reading it and it took me awhile to read despite the shortness. I still really appreciate it though. It's also becoming a movie!
3*'s / Goodreads Review

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson : After finishing one emotionally heavy book, I just head straight into another one because that's a good idea. Eep. This book wasn't quite as high on emotions as I was expecting it to be, especially since I have been through a similar situation to the protagonist. It still was very emotional though, and I liked the main character and the small town setting. The themes of family and friendship within this book were amazing as well!
4*'s / Goodreads Review

The Brothers K by David James Duncan : This was a family saga set in the 1960's to around the Vietnam War. I had to read this book for school, so I don't think it's much of a surprise that I found it quite tedious at points. The character development was so interesting and I definitely felt sorry for the characters. Sometimes I forgot they weren't real!
3*'s / Goodreads Review

Ingenue by Jillian Larkin : I loved the first book, so I was pretty excited to pick this one up. It's set in the 1920's (which is my FAVORITE time period. More YA needs to be set in the 1920's, please!) and has flapper girls and speakeasies and jazz music and drama and it's just so much fun. Is it the most well-written book ever? No. And I probably enjoyed this more than I logically should have. But I personally really liked it.
4*'s / Goodreads Review

The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury : This is an Aladdin retelling following the point of view of the Jinni, who in this interpretation is a girl named Zahra. And oh gosh, I did adore this book. It was so fabulous, and Zahra was such a great main character. ALSO it had a band of lady assassins/protectors. The setting was super cool and the world-building done really well. I just loved it!
5*'s / Goodreads Review

The Magician by Michael Scott : The second book in "The Alchemyst" series. We get introduced to a new villain, whom I like much more than the other villain (s). He's just great. Also, I love how morally gray every single character is in this book (I don't even trust one of the main characters at this point). I can't wait to finish up my reread of this six-book series.
3.75*'s / Goodreads Review

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My favorite book this month was clearly the Forbidden Wish! Though I also had a lot of fun rereading The Alchemyst and The Magician. I would love to know your favorite book from April, if you had one.

Until next time, happy reading! 

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon: Closing Survey

About 5 hours after the Readathon ended, and here I am with my little wrap-up post as well as the closing survey!

Closing Survey

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?
   Hours 20-23 just because I was trying so hard not to fall asleep (I ended up falling asleep).
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
   The Invention of Hugo Cabret is really fast because it's mostly pictures, so there's one that will help readers feel accomplished!
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
   I would really love it if cheerleading for blogs made a reappearance, but other than that, not really, I had a blast!
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
   As always, I love the hourly updates and mini-challenges, they always keep me very high energy and excited!
5. How many books did you read?
   1.5 Books
6. What were the names of the books you read?- The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury (340 pages)
   - The Magician by Michael Scott (first 200 pages)
    
7. Which book did you enjoy most?
   The Forbidden Wish was really great!
8. Which did you enjoy least?
   The Magician, but probably just because I read it so late at night (early in the morning).
9. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?You can bet I will! This was so fun as always, and I got way more reading done than I ordinarily would have on a Saturday. Thanks to the staff for all of the hard work that they put into making this such an AWESOME event!

Some final stats...
Total Pages Read: 540
Total Time Read: 7 hours, 33 minutes
Total Blog Posts: 9
Total Mini-Challenges Participated In: 2

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon: Hour 23

I managed to power through another hour, but I think that that's a wrap for me today! I just can't keep my eyes open any longer. I'll be back in the morning with my wrap-up post and the final closing survey, though, so stay tuned!

Hour: A quarter past Hour 23
Currently Reading:

 

 

The Magician, by Michael Scott

Pages Read Since Last Update: 124
Total Pages Read: 540
Time Read Since Last Update: 1 hour, 37 minutes
Total Time Read: 7 hours, 33 minutes
Comments: This is a pretty good book so far, even if I've read only 200 pages. I'm kind of sad I wasn't able to make it to the finish line this year, but that's okay, I think I would've just fallen asleep anyway. I had a really fun time this Readathon, and I hope that if you participated, you did too! Lights out from me. See everyone in the morning.

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon: Hour 21

We're in the final stretch now, with the finish line in sight! I haven't done as much reading as I would have liked today, but that's okay, because I really enjoyed myself!

Hour: A bit after Hour 21
Currently Reading:

 

 

The Magician, by Michael Scott

Pages Read Since Last Update: 130
Total Pages Read: 416
Time Read Since Last Update: 1 hour, 43 minutes
Total Time Read: 5 hours, 56 minutes
Comments: I finally finished my first book of the Readathon! Victory is mine! The Forbidden Wish was really good and one of the best retellings I've read - I just enjoyed it, greatly. I did a bit of cheerleading and folding of laundry before moving on to my next book, though. I chose The Magician because it was a childhood favorite, and one of the challenges for this Readathon, proposed by Reading Rainbow (I loved that show as a kid, speaking of childhood favorites) was to read a book that first got you into reading! I also completed the Hour 21 Mini-Challenge of describing my ideal reading spot.
I did another Reading Sprint, but my eyes were just constantly drooping, and I was on the verge of sleep. I might change up the scenery a bit, but if the sleepiness persists, I think I'll just give in and go to bed, no shame in that!

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon: Hour 18

So... I haven't read at all for the past three and a half hours. Oops? But now, I have another good 4-5 hours at least to finish my current read and hopefully start another one, which I'm looking forward to, whatever it is (haven't decided yet)!

I still haven't finished a book yet this Readathon, but I refuse to be deterred! I'm probably going to finish this later, or at least I hope I will, because I have less than 10 hours and I wanted to finish at least one book this Readathon.

Hour: Twenty minutes past Hour 18
Currently Reading:

 

The Forbidden Wish, by Jessica Khoury

Pages Read Since Last Update: 0
Total Pages Read: 286
Time Read Since Last Update: 0
Total Time Read: 4 hours, 13 minutes
Comments: Yeah, so instead of reading, I ate dinner of cheeseburgers and tater tots. Then I hung out with my friends, and we ended up having a short Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D marathon and eating brownies and ice cream - yum! I just got ready for bed though, refilled my water bottle, and I'm ready to finish up The Forbidden Wish, which I love so much, it might be on its way to being a five-star read for me! I just love everything about it and it's so suspenseful right now. Putting it down for that long was difficult, believe me.

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon: Hour 14

I still haven't finished a book yet this Readathon, but I refuse to be deterred! I'm probably going to finish this later, or at least I hope I will, because I have less than 10 hours and I wanted to finish at least one book this Readathon.

Hour: Half past Hour 14.
Currently Reading:

 

The Forbidden Wish, by Jessica Khoury

Pages Read Since Last Update: 135
Total Pages Read: 286
Time Read Since Last Update: 1 hour, 57 minutes
Total Time Read: 4 hours, 13 minutes
Comments: I participated in my very first "Reading Sprint", managing to read 67 pages in an hour, which was fun. I went and read outside too, since it was rather cold but still nice and not raining. My garden smelled nice too, like flowers, so I just sat out there for the hour, reading very peacefully. This book is close to being done and everything is wrapping up nicely so far. I am really liking this story, more than I expected to, even!

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon: Mid-Event Survey

Ah, so it's actually not Hour 12 anymore... but we are more than halfway through the Readathon, so applause for that! I haven't read quite as much as I would have liked, but that's okay, there's still plenty of time.

Mid Event Survey

1. What are you reading right now?
Still The Forbidden Wish, by Jessica Khoury. I promise it's good, just taking me a little while to get through it!

 2. How many books have you read so far?
A little more than half of a book.

 3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?
Finishing my current read, and maybe starting A Midsummer's Night Dream by William Shakespeare.

 4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?
Yes, most of them were my own fault. Star Wars and dogs and food all distracted me, my bad.

 5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?
I don't know if I've had many surprises, so far, but I'm excited for the remainder of the 24 hours. Hopefully I'll be able to read plenty more, and finish at least one book!

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon: Hour 11

Almost halfway now, how time flies! It feels like the Readathon shouldn't be rushing past this quickly, and it makes me sad that it only comes twice a year. But, here I am with my second update for today!

Hour: Half past Hour 11.
Currently Reading:

 

The Forbidden Wish, by Jessica Khoury

Pages Read Since Last Update: 46
Total Pages Read: 151
Time Read Since Last Update: 48 minutes
Total Time Read: 2 hours, 16 minutes
Comments: So, I took a break to eat nachos and watch Star Wars with my dad and two of my brothers, who are now out Frisbee-Golfing. My mom and other brother went iceskating, so finally I  have the house to myself! It seems so quiet now. I'm going to continue reading The Forbidden Wish, which continues to be really great. I'm glad I chose this one to read.

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon: Hour 7

So, we're a fairly good chunk of the way into the 24 Hour Readathon, and I've been enjoying myself so far. It's been an uneventful, relaxing day, and the book that I'm reading has been very engaging and a great read. I'm here now with my first update!

Hour: About 40 minutes past Hour 7.
Currently Reading:

 

The Forbidden Wish, by Jessica Khoury

Pages Read Since Last Update: 105
Total Pages Read: 105
Time Read Since Last Update: 1 hour, 28 minutes
Total Time Read: 1 hour, 28 minutes
Comments: This is such a great book and has some really nice quotes. One of my favorites is from Page 46: "Cruelty, I understand. But kindness frightens me, for my defenses are weak against it." I can't wait to read the rest of this book, I know I'll finish it today.
I've participated in one mini-challenge so far, which was fun! And my dad and two of my brothers just arrived home with some cranberries and honey comb for a spot of lunch, so I'm off to refuel! See you all in another couple of hours.

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon: Opening Meme

I did Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon last April, and it was probably my best Readathon experience ever! I just had a blast having an excuse to read all day, and talking with others who were doing the same. So of course I had to do it again this year!

I'm starting out with the short introduction survey.


Opening Meme:

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?

The Pacific Northwest, USA. It's actually quite nice weather today (there's a shock) so I might be able to read outside some later.

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?

It's Hour 5 right now, so earlier this morning, I began The Forbidden Wish, by Jessica Khoury which is really good so far! I also want to pick up A Midsummer's Night Dream, by William Shakespeare later in honor of his 400th birthday today.

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?

Hmm. I might have some trail mix later, or Nutella Toast when I need some motivation.

4) Tell us a little something about yourself!

I am a high schooler currently learning two languages (Spanish and French). Also I have three brothers, two which are younger than me, and so my house is going to be very noisy today because they're all home right now.

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?

I really liked my experience last Readathon, so I don't think I'll try to do much differently today. I usually like low-key Readathons, so I'm not going to put any great pressure on myself to read a specific amount or anything!

If you're doing the Readathon, then good luck! And I'm going to be doing updates every few hours, to track my progress, so excited about that.

Until next time, happy reading!

Library Book Haul (4)

Hello, all! Today I bring to you a library book haul (the first one of springtime!). It is a small but mighty one, as all four books I checked out are ones that I am super excited to pick up and read! I have my trail mix, I have the sun shining in through my window, I'm ready for a little library haul!

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Ingenue (Flappers, #2) by Jillian Larkin: So, I read the first book, Vixen, last year and enjoyed it way more than a) I was expecting to and, b) I probably should have. Either way, it was so much fun and I just whipped through it without putting it down. I'm hoping this second book in the trilogy will be just as engaging! It's basically Gossip Girls set in the 1920s, with flapper girls, and speakeasies, and the struggles of being in an interracial relationship at that point in time, and I really like it.

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys: This book went all around the book-ternet (book internet? Bookweb? Who knows.) a couple of months ago, and it was one that I really wanted to read because I've heard nothing but good things. And now, finally, I can! (Though I'm a little nervous, because what if I don't like it?) It's set during World War II, and has something to do with a maritime accident, and that's all I know. I kind of want to go in blind though.

The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury: Two words: Aladdin Retelling. And, the genie is a girl named Zahra who I assume from the synopsis ends up falling in love with Aladdin? I've just never read a retelling of this before, and it was one of my favorite tales from the Arabian Nights, as well as one of my favorite Disney movies! This might be the one I'm most excited for at the moment, it just sounds right up my alley and the Average Rating of Goodreads is above 4 stars, so *crosses fingers hopefully*.

Truthwitch (The Witchlands, #1)  by Susan Dennard: This one has been so hyped up since BEA last year, so I am glad I'll get a chance to read it! Again, it sounds so up my alley. YA HIGH FANTASY WITH FEMALE FRIENDSHIP. YES PLEASE. Oddly enough, ever since it was released, I've been seeing more and more 3-star reviews, but I'm hoping that I will be blown away and maybe even discover a new favorite series!

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Tell me if you have read any of these books, how you liked them! And which one I should get to first!

Until next time, happy reading!

HAMILTON BOOK TAG

 

Today I am here with a very exciting tag. The HAMILTON BOOK TAG. As you are probably not aware, I am completely and utterly obsessed with the soundtrack to the broadway musical Hamilton, along with approximately the entire internet. It is just so catchy and has such an interesting story. It follows America's youngest founding father, Alexander Hamilton, and his life. And I love it.

 

When I saw that Maureen of the Youtube channel MaureenKeavy had created this tag, I knew I had to fill this out, because how could I not?!

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The Room Where It Happened - A Book World You Want to Live In.

 

For me, this is Middle-Earth, no questions asked. Specifically, the Shire. I am already practically a Hobbit anyway, but actually being one would be so amazing and it would make me so happy. I just love the Shire, ever since I was little I have wanted to live there!

 

 

The Schuyler Sisters - An Underrated Female Character.

 

This is barely even a question for me either. I have to go with Nasuada, from The Inheritance Cycle, by Christopher Paolini. She is a woman of color in a position of power, and she works hard for that power, and she is such a kind and fair ruler, but not afraid to completely go at it with someone if it keeps her people safe. I just love her so much and she isn't talked about nearly enough.

 





My Shot - A Protagonist That Goes After What They Want and Doesn't Let Anything Stop Them.

I basically have to choose the entirety of the Maze Runner cast (from that trilogy by James Dashner) for this. They go through so much, and could have stopped and given up whenever they wanted to, it's probably what I would have done, but no. They keep shoving on, and I really admire that about all of them!

Stay Alive - A Character You Wish Was Still Alive.

Spoilers for the entire Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, so skip to the next question if you don't want to know! But, I would save Finnick Odair if I could, because he had just achieved his happiness! He had married the love of his life, and he was going to have a son, and he finally had so much to live for, and it was taken away. It's just so tragic when things like that happen, and it made me so sad.

Burn - Most Tragic Ending to a Relationship

Let's just say I had a difficult time doing anything but whimpering from pain after the ending of City of Lost Souls, by Cassandra Clare. I literally whispered 'no, no, no' out loud to myself and had to close the book in order to gather myself up again before continuing on.

You'll Be Back - The Sassiest Villian.

This was a really hard one for me. But, I think I have to go with the Witch of the Waste from Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones! She was very sassy, and this is one of my favorite books just because of all the sass between the Witch, Howl, and Sophie combined.

The Reynolds Pamphlet - A Plot Twist You Didn't See Coming.

I know some people don't like knowing when a book has a plot twist, so you can just skip to the next one if you're one of those folks! But I have to give this one to the entire Falling Kingdoms series by Morgan Rhodes. One of the twistiest series I've read, and I feel like the amount of times my jaw dropped/I took a sharp intake of air/I had to shut the book to compose myself is probably a world record. I love these books and they always manage to take me by surprise and go where I least expect them to!

Non-Stop - A Series You Marathonned.

Marathonning series is the only way to actually guarantee I'll finish them, is what I've found over the years. I've marathonned many a series, but one that I distinctly remember is the Tiger Saga by Colleen Houck? I read these during finals week, and while the first two I wasn't huge fan of, I did seriously enjoy the last two books and they completely distracted me from studying. Oops. (Also, this is one of my favorites if not my favorite song from the soundtrack, so good, ugh.)

Satisfied - Favorite Book with Multiple POV's.

Well. The Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima, of course. It is a dual perspective high fantasy YA series with four books. And if you haven't read it, and you're into that sort of thing, you should read. It's my favorite YA series. This has been a PSA from your local bookworm.

Right Hand Man - Favorite Bookish Friendship.

This is a little extra question that Maureen included, and I just have to answer it because I love friendships in books! I have three that I especially love: Sam and Frodo from the Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien is the first. They are so loyal and dedicated to one another and so pure. I love them so much. Next, is Han and Dancer from the Seven Realms, because it's just so good, and again, they would follow one another to the ends of the Earth. The last one is actually a family bond, but the Penderwick Sisters from The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall. They are so funny and different from one another, but love each other very, very much.

Say No To This - A Guilty Pleasure Read.

Another "bonus" question that I couldn't help but answer! For me, The Selection by Kiera Cass is a total guilty pleasure read. I loved it so much, because it was so fast, quite fluffy, and just pure entertainment.

Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story - A Book Series That Will Be Remembered Throughout History.

Could this go to anything but Harry Potter? (The answer is no. No it couldn't.) Harry Potter changed the world, and I truly think that hundreds of years from now people will still be reading and loving these characters and this story as much as we do today.

***

 

This has been the Hamilton Book Tag from your local Hamilton-obsessed Bookworm! I absolutely had a blast doing these questions, and I'm so grateful to Maureen for making this tag a thing! If you love Hamilton and books, then I tag you to fill out this tag.

 

In the meantime, maybe answer one of the questions in the comments below? Or tell me your favorite Hamilton song? (Mine is either "Wait For It" or "Non-Stop". Also, possibly, "It's Quiet Uptown". So many good ones!)

 

Until next time, happy reading!

Friday Reads [#12] + April TBR

It's been months since I've done one of these sorts of posts - and Friday Reads used to be some of my favorites, just because of the casualness of the blog post. So, because I've still got an hour until Midnight, I decided to chat about some of the books I'm currently reading or will read soon.

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The Brothers K by David James Duncan; I'm reading this one for English class, and it is quite a long one as well! I'm about a hundred pages behind where I'm supposed to be, which is a problem, but I just find myself not wanting to pick it up. It's not bad, but it's also not engaging me at all.

The Alchemyst by Michael Scott; This is the book that I'm currently reading, and it's a re-read from when I was younger (about middle school or Elementary level) when I absolutely loved this series. I still am really liking it but I'm noticing slightly more problems in some things than I used to. A lot of them are just nitpicky and overall I know I will continue to really like this series. It's very unique and unlike anything else I've ever read.

If I manage to somehow catch up on The Brothers K, and finish up the Alchemyst (I'm almost done, I might even finish it tomorrow morning!)  then I will pick up...

Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman; which deals with mental illness, specifically Schizophrenia. I haven't read many books about mental illness, but I want to since it's something I deal with in my everyday life. I've heard some mixed things about this book, but it's fairly short and I think it will deliver a powerful message. I hope I'll enjoy it!

The Magician by Michael Scott; The second book in the six-book Alchemyst series (which is actually entitled 'the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel' but that one is a mouthful, so I prefer the more succinct name). I can't remember much of what happens in each individual book, only the series as a whole, so whatever happens will probably still be a surprise.

And later this month, if I have the time, I want to read:

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson; I haven't ever read a Morgan Matson book, but this one has been on my list for a long time. It just seems so emotional and heartbreaking, but also relatable. This is also the 'Booksplosion' book of the month, which I enjoy joining into sometimes. I don't often read realistic fiction, but the change in weather has also changed my mood.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling; My library finally got this back in (I know, what kind of Harry Potter fan doesn't even own the series? I own the first and the fourth books, so I'm getting there!). This fifth book was one of my favorites, and so it deserves a re-read for sure. Maybe for Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon?

Beyond that, I don't have many books planned out to read! I just got back home from an Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D marathon with my friend, so that may continue throughout this weekend. I don't really have anything else going on though, so it will hopefully be a relaxing weekend to catch up on some reading, and homework, as well as a bit of writing for Camp NaNoWriMo.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and enjoys the introduction of Spring, if you're in the same hemisphere as I am! (Or enjoy Autumn, which is my favorite, if you happen to live on the other side of the world.)

March Wrap-Up | 2016

This month was actually a surprisingly really good reading month for me! I ended up reading:

• 2 Plays
• 2 Short Story Collections
• 1 Comic Book Trade
• 7 Novels

For a total of 12 things this month, and five of them within the first week of March! So I count that as an accomplishment. Here are some quick thoughts on each, with a link to my Goodreads reviews.

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Antigone by Sophocles: [3/5 Stars]
I read this play for class. It's an Ancient Greek play, written around 340 BC and I actually surprisingly enjoyed it! It took me until the end to actually appreciate it, just because the beginning was rather confusing to me personally, but the ending made me feel a lot of emotions.
Goodreads Review

The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner, #1) by James Dashner: [4/5 Stars]
This one was one I read a while back, and I decided to reread it. I ended up enjoying it more than the first time! Loved the humor and the action that this book provided. It had me absolutely on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading it.
Goodreads Review

The Scorch Trials (The Maze Runner, #2) by James Dashner [3.5/5 Stars]
This was another reread, and I didn't like it as much as the first book for some reason. There were just some choices that the characters made which annoyed me to no end, but I still admire their strength and determination. There were some pretty gruesome scenes in this book, which I could picture perfectly in my head, and I overall still enjoyed it greatly.
Goodreads Review

Othello by William Shakespeare: [4/5 Stars]
This was actually very close to being 4.5 or 5 stars, but I had trouble understanding the language and what was going on in the beginning, and it took me awhile to adjust. When I did I adored it, though! Another great tragedy that actually had things I wasn't expecting. My entire review on this is pretty much, "Dammit, Iago!"
Goodreads Review

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick: [4/5 Stars]
This was another one that I read while I was in Elementary school and decided to reread. For a 500+ page book, it was a pretty fast one, mostly due to the large, gorgeous illustrations by the author himself which I greatly admired! I read this one almost in one sitting, in less than 12 hours.
Goodreads Review

The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle, #2) by Maggie Stiefvater: [3/5 Stars]
I still have trouble rating this book! The thing is the characters are so great and real, but the plot is just... it doesn't move at all? However, Stiefvater's writing is downright lovely, and very moving. There were so many quotes I wanted to cut out and hang on my wall.
Goodreads Review

True Heroes edited by Jonathon Diaz: [4/5 Stars]
This was one of the short story collections I read. The premise of this collection was each author got to chat with a real kid with cancer, and then write a story about that child fulfilling their dream occupation of warrior princess, fireman, pirate, dragonslayer, Batman, and many other things. It was so adorable and made me feel so hopeful.
Goodreads Review

Twice Upon A Time (Half Upon A Time, #2) by James Riley: [3.5/5 Stars]
So, I didn't read the first book in this trilogy, otherwise I'm sure I would have rated it higher! It was a fun middle grade book that had to do with fairytales, and felt like a fairytale itself. The main three were so cute, I think I liked Philip the best. The only thing that confused me was the world-building, because I wasn't sure where they were. Oops. Again, probably could have been solved by reading the first book...
Goodreads Review

The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, and Maureen Johnson: [3.6/5 Stars]
If you didn't know already, Magnus Bane is one of my favorite characters ever. He's from the Shadowhunters Chronicles by Cassandra Clare, and these were some short stories about his adventures, which I checked out from the library. I liked most of them, except the first one, which I only rated 1.5 or 2 stars. Other than that it was really fun, and I have my mini-reviews on each of the 11 stories in my Goodreads Review


Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #4) by Marissa Meyer: [5/5 Stars]
I'm so sad that this series is coming to an end! I loved this finale, even if it wasn't my favorite in the series (my favorite is still probably Scarlet). But this one just was so epic, what with so many characters and plots converging, and I love everyone, and it just made me so happy!
Goodreads Review

Giant Days, Vol. 1 by John Allison: [4/5 Stars]
This was a fun little comic book trade which I adored! The characters were so funny, I loved their friendship, and appreciated the examination of Feminism vs. Misandry, since I often think they are mistaken for one another. The art was also adorable. I want to read the next trade when it comes out (if it's not already).
Goodreads Review

Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices, #1) by Cassandra Clare: [5/5 Stars]
I would give this 10 stars, if it were possible. THIS WAS MY FAVORITE BOOK OF THE MONTH AND PROBABLY THE YEAR. It is definitely Cassandra Clare's best series starter, and my Goodreads Review is actually the longest I've ever written, I went right up to the 20,000 character limit. My bad. (And I still had things to say). I actually bought this one for myself, which  I rarely do, and it was worth it. I spent an entire day just reading this, and in total it only took me three days to finish this 700 page book. I obviously loved it.
Goodreads Review

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What books did you read in March, and what was your favorite? Hopefully April will be as inspired and book-filled as March was for me!

Ten Books On My Spring TBR

It's time for another Top Ten Tuesday post! I feel as if I haven't done one of these in forever, but here we are now.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the ladies over at Broke and Bookish blog. Each Tuesday, there's a new topic, and you make a list of your top ten things that fit this topic. Pretty straight forward, yes?

This week's topic is...

 

Ten Books On My Spring TBR

 

I'm excited for this one. I have Spring Break starting after school tomorrow, so lots to look forward to! Specifically, lots of reading to look forward to.

 

1. Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff - I just checked this one out from the library this past weekend, and I am so looking forward to it! Japanese Steampunk with griffins? Sign me up. It's the first in an epic fantasy trilogy, and I have been in such a fantasy mood lately. Hopefully this book will settle my little book dragon needs!
2. Twice Upon A Time by James Riley - Currently reading this one, which was recommended to me by a brother who never reads. He really liked it. I'm about halfway through and thoroughly enjoying it as well! Lots of humor, with a good healthy dose of pirates, and magic, and princes. Yes, please! I think it would have helped if I had read the first book before diving into the sequel, but maybe the first book can also be on my Spring TBR.
3. The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, and Maureen Johnson - Just checked this out on Saturday as well. Magnus Bane was my favorite character from the Shadowhunters Chronicles, so I'm hoping that I will really like him in these stories as well. Only read one story so far and felt 'meh' about it, but I have faith it will improve!
4. The Death Cure by James Dashner - I read The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials this month, and I hope to read the concluding novel to this YA Dystopian trilogy this month as well! Or, at least this Spring. The first two were super quick, action-packed, fast-paced reads, so if the conclusion is as heart-pounding as the other books, I'll fly through it.
5. The Alchemyst by Michael Scott - I have been telling myself I will read this before my birthday (late May) and so I  shall! Maybe I can read the other five books in the series as well? We'll see! Very much looking forward to giving this a reread, as I loved it back in Middle School. It's super unique and I can't really think of anything to compare it to. Honestly still one of my favorite series, so I hope a reread holds up!
6. Lost Stars by Claudia Gray - A book that is part of the Star Wars extended universe. I love Star Wars, and was so happy when they came out with a Young/New Adult novel about different characters during the events of the movie. I've only read half of a different extended universe novel, so I hope this will be great...!
7. Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare - People have been saying to wait until I read Tales from Shadowhunters Academy, but honestly, I'm too anxious to read this one! If you saw my February Wrap-Up, you saw that all I read in February was Shadowhunters books. Still feeling the withdrawal, guys. Need to read this as soon as possible! If only the library didn't have 25 holds on this book... augh.
8. Flamecaster by Cinda Williams Chima - SCREAMING LITERAL MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2016. COMING OUT IN LESS THAN A MONTH. AHHHH WHAT IS LIFE. I am so excited to read this ahhh! Cinda is my favorite author (only after Tolkien) and this new series is set in the same world as my favorite series! And follows the children of my favorite characters! I cannot wait for this one and as soon as it comes out, I'm doing my best to read it!
9. Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling - Rather specific, but I want to reread this before my birthday as well. I try to reread at least one Harry Potter book every year, and I haven't read any Harry Potter this year?? Gasp?? This cannot stand. I must reread. I must.
10. Winter by Marissa Meyer - Shame on me for not reading this yet, honestly. I love The Lunar Chronicles and I've even read the Prequel (which I almost never do for series.) I got this from the library yesterday, however, so hopefully I'm ready and all the precious babies stay safe !!
    
    
    There it is! My top ten books I'll be reading this Spring! As long as my most anticipated release of this Spring. What do you have on your spring reading list? 

Fandom Mashup (#5) - Girl Power!

Fandom Mashups is a weekly meme hosted by Micheline @ Lunar Rainbows Reviews! Every week, there's a new topic, and participants choose five characters from any fandom to help them with that task. This week's theme is one I'm super pumped about:

 

Who run the world? Girls! Pick your 5 leading ladies to rule the world!

 

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1. Nasuada (The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini): Okay, I'm cheating. She's not a leading lady. (In fact, only two of the girls I picked are the main characters. Sh.) NASUADA IS THE ACTUAL GREATEST. I will sing her praises from the rooftops and I'm so in love with her. She's so badass, and even better, she's a woman of color! I could talk about her all day. She's the most underrated female character I know of, and she's the best ruler. I don't want to spoil anything for this book series, but let's just say she really has to take charge and really does it well. I want her ruling the world, please.
2. Eowyn (Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien): Eowyn is one of my favorite characters as well. She can be motherly and kind, and yet she's also swift and brave and deadly. She's so fierce in battle, and the love she has for her people, and the passion she carries would make her a great leader.
3. Rey (Star Wars: The Force Awakens): My favorite little mechanic baby. I would say she needs to be protected, but I know perfectly well she can protect herself. She'd make a good leader because she would never give up, and she would be a very fair ruler. Plus I love her and would put her on the throne in an instant.
4. Padme Amidala (Star Wars: Episodes I, II, + III): Because I can never let Star Wars well enough alone, I have to mention Padme as well. Obviously, she's already the Queen and thus has plenty of experience. She keeps a level head in even the toughest of situations and is willing to make peaceful negotiations to get what she needs. Plus her fashion game is great.
5. Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer): Okay, she is my second most favorite mechanic baby. I think Cinder would be a great leader of this Queendom, because again, she keeps a very level head, and is also very thoughtful and practical. Sometimes it pays to have someone practical on the throne.

BONUS QUEENS:

1. Leia Organa (Star Wars: Episodes IV, V, + VI): Again, she's a princess when this trilogy of movies starts out so she has the experience. She's able to make split-second decisions, and wise ones at that. Also, she's just the kind of person that everyone loves to be bossed around by, and no one really questions her, because seriously, she knows what she's doing.
2. Hermione Granger (Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling): Um, I think this one is almost a no-brainer. Hermione is one of the smartest, if not the smartest, characters in the entire bookish universe. If she couldn't run a country or a Queendom, I'm not entirely sure who could. She would seriously make the best ruler.
3. Martha Jones (Doctor Who): Martha was my favorite companion when she travelled with the Tenth Doctor. She's actually a Doctor, and you have to be very smart to be a Doctor, so I have every confidence in her. She's seen a lot of things and has been tough and brave through them all. She gives off a very confident air so I know that she would be a confident and great Queen.

Okay, I know that was a lot, but I couldn't leave ANY of these ladies out. I know I'd let any of them become Queen of a country and I'd entrust them with my life. (ESPECIALLY NASUADA. I'm so proud of this choice, honestly.)

 

This was my favorite topic to date! So much fun and I got to spread some lady love as well!

The Bachelor Book Tag!

So, I don't even watch The Bachelor. (I want to because it seems dramatic and sometimes I need drama so.) But! This tag just seemed like too much fun to pass up. It was created by Monica (shemightbemonica on Youtube), and the original video can be found here! I wasn't tagged, but I'm going to do it anyways because I'm a rebel.

- First Impression Rose - A book that you bought because of the cover
The Adventures of a South Pole Pig by Chris Kurtz

It's just such an adorable cover! I bought it solely because of the cute little pig and the bubble people. I read the book and it was cute, but let's be real. That cover is the best part.

- Two on One Date - Your favorite and most disliked book from a series

For this, I'm going to go with my favorite series: The Seven Realms by Cinda Williams Chima!

When I first started this series, I read The Demon King (Book #1) and thought it was "just okay". Oh, boy, am I glad I stuck with this series because the final book, The Crimson Crown (Book #4), remains one of my Top Three favorite books of all time. Every time I'm considering rating a book I read five stars I think "Well, this was good, but was it The Crimson Crown good?". This whole series is awesome, but I think it's really saying something when the first book is my least favorite and the last one is my favorite. It just gets better and better!

- The Wrong Reasons - The one that starts off so strong but then ends a hot mess

I hate to say it, but Inheritance (The Inheritance Cycle #4) by Christopher Paolini.

 

Ugh, this one started out so good! The first 750 pages were very satisfying (or close to that). But the last hundred or so pages!? Paolini, you're killing me with frustration. I literally had to set my Kindle down while reading the ending just to take a few deep breaths because my Kindle is expensive and I didn't want to break it in a fit of rage.

- Bachelor in Paradise - Your favorite light read
I realized I don't actually read many "light" or "fluffy" books. But, one of my favorites is The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall.

It's a middle grade novel following the four Penderwick sisters (Rosalind, Skye, Jane, and Batty) as well as their father and their dog when they go on a vacation and meet a new friend and ruin some rosebushes and experience all sorts of firsts. It's an amazing novel, and a very light one! I go to it whenever I need a pick-me-up or need to feel comforted. It's great for all ages, Elementary Schoolers to Adults, and never fails to make me smile.

- The Most Dramatic Season Ever - A book with a totally insane, rollercoaster plot that had your jaw dropping

Without a doubt, Falling Kingdoms and  Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes.

 

These are both part of the Falling Kingdoms series, and the only two I've read (so far) of that series, and yet I can still confidently say that this is one of my favorite Fantasy series to date! It had me on the edge of my seat, eagerly turning the pages to find out what would happen next. And it took so many twists that I wasn't expecting it to take. My jaw wasn't just dropping, it was on the floor!


- The Fantasy Suite - A book that has the best romantic build up and release
This one is harder for me, since I actually don't read much romance-heavy literature, but I suppose I could go with the Tigers Curse series by Colleen Houck.

 

There was a love triangle, which was really frustrating, but the romance in the first two books had so much tension, and I honestly was rooting for the two main characters, despite how annoying the heroine could sometimes get. Pull yourself together, girl. 

- The Final Rose - Best book you read in the last month
So, if you saw my February Wrap-Up, you probably already know how Shadowhunters-heavy my reading month is. But overall, my favorite book I read was probably Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare.

This is one of the best endings to a trilogy I've ever read. I had a real journey with this series too, since I started off almost keeping myself from falling in love with it because I was still shaky coming off The Mortal Instruments. But I never should have had my doubts. I got so attached to Will and Jem and Tessa, and everyone else in this series! I never wanted to leave and the last hundred or so pages got me so dang emotional.


So, this was the Bachelor Book Tag! If you want to do this tag, then consider yourself tagged. Let me know of your responses, and have a great day!

March TBR | 2016

Hey guys! Normally, I don’t really do TBR blog posts for what I will read during the month, because I like to just pick things up as the mood strikes. However this month, I’m already currently reading five books! (Yeah, I don’t know how that happened either. It’s kind of stressful for someone who has such a short term memory.)

 

I thought I would list what I hope to finish this month as well as a few that I might possibly start (no promises!):

 

1.      The Scorch Trials by James Dashner: This is the second book in the Maze Runner trilogy by James Dashner, a YA Dystopian series that follows a bunch of kids who were dropped in the middle of a giant labyrinth with no memories as to how they got there. I can’t say much about this second book without spoiling the first one, but I re-read the first book already this month and it was way more intense and actionpacked than I remembered! The second book so far is very good as well, even if I have hit a bit of a lull with it.

2.      True Heroes edited by Jonathon Diaz: This is a very sweet book. It is an anthology of short stories written by authors who spoke with young cancer patients. They asked these cancer patients (some as young as five years old!) what they’d like to be when they grew up, then these authors wrote stories based off those dreams. Some examples are: dancer, soccer player, dragon rider, pirate, and Batman. I’ve been reading a story here and there for the past few months, trying to savor it, but I anticipate finishing it this March!

3.      The Invention of Hugo Cabret: I’ve read 364 pages of this novel in two hours, so I actually think I’ll finish it this week. I’d be very surprised if I didn’t finish it by the end of March. This is also a reread for me, as I first read it in I think Elementary School. Its half pictures and half words. It takes place in 1931, following a young orphan named Hugo Cabret, and his adventures. It’s very fast, and enjoyable thus far, though not quite as good as I remember.

4.      Othello by William Shakespeare: One of his many tragedies, and one I haven’t actually read before! I’m about halfway through I think, and I’m reading it on my Kindle. I like Shakespeare a lot even if it’s hard to understand him sometimes. This is the Spring play at my High School, and my friend is going to be in it, so I decided to read this before I go to see her act in it!

5.      Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte: I don’t actually think I’ll finish this one in March, but if I do I’d be very proud of myself. I’ve literally been reading this one for 10 months now, and I’m about 250 pages through it. It’s okay, but the first half was much better in my opinion. I like the character of Jane and how she stands up for herself, so I’m going to plow forward! (Classics just aren’t my thing, unfortunately).

 

Next, the books I might start/get a good chunk read of include:

 

6.  The Death Cure by James Dashner: I'd like to possibly finish this trilogy this month, and these novels are so quick that I wouldn't be entirely surprised if I did manage to fit this one in. I read The Maze Runner in only three days, and I'm more than halfway through The Scorch Trials after two days, so if I could squeeze this one in, I could finish this series! And it's (the series) good so far, really liking it.

 

7.  The Alchemyst by Michael Scott: I first read this series in Elementary/Middle School. It was one of my very favorites back then. It follows 15-year old twins, Sophie and Josh, whose worlds get turned upside down by the infamous Nicholas Flamel. I remember the magic system in this being so unique, with auras and gods from all different cultures, as well as famous historical figures like John Dee, William Shakespeare, Joan of Arc, and more. I've been telling myself I would reread this series and so I shall! My goal is to reread the entire six-book series by my birthday in late May, so we'll see how that goes.

 

8. Twice Upon A Time by James Riley: All I know about this book is that it's a Middle-grade fantasy with some fairytale elements, and possibly a girl named May (?) searching for her true identity. I really like these sort of books, and my little brother (he's in seventh grade and rarely reads) really liked this one and let me borrow it! So that gets me very excited. It's the second book in a trilogy, I believe, but I don't mind starting with the second books in series like these.

 

That's my March Reading plan! It might fluctuate or change, and I really don't think I'll read everything on this list, but hey, I could surprise myself! What is everyone planning on reading in March, or currently reading? I'd love to know!

 

Until next time, happy reading!