Sunday, June 29, 2014

☼ TAG: Summertime Madness ☼


The "Summertime Madness" TAG was created on Youtube by JackEastsBooks. Several of the questions have been changed around to better suit a blog (and my answers).





1. Show a book with a "summery" cover:


Despite the fact that I have not yet had a chance to read this book and have absolutely no idea in which season it takes place, this cover seems to embody everything that comes to mind when I hear the word "summer." The mountains and pavement and glow of the sun make the cover's setting look humid and sticky. Also, the character on the left (Amy, I am assuming) is wearing shorts. So there's that.

2. Pick a place—fictional or otherwise—as the perfect destination for your Summer Vacation:


Paris in the summertime. Need I say more?

3. Destination: Summer Vacation. What novella do you choose to read during your flight?


I could read this novella a million times and never find it dull. Warner is such a complicated and interesting character.

4. You have a case of Summertime Sadness. Choose a happy book to lift your mood:


A contemporary retelling of Pride and Prejudice; this book just makes me so happy. <3

5. You are sitting at the beach, alone. Which fictional character would be your Beach Babe?


Excluding the obvious reasons (i.e: smoldering good looks), I feel like either Will Herondale or Noah Shaw would make an excellent beach-side companion. Whilst lounging about in the shade, Will could read to me from one of his favorite books and, if The Evolution of Mara Dyer is any indication, we all know what Noah is capable of on a beach...

6. To match your ice cream, you want an icy cool sidekick. Which fictional sidekick do you pick?


That title would go to Chubs from The Darkest Minds. Not only is he extremely smart and level-headed, but his sass/sarcasm have left me in hysterics and he seems like the kind of person you would want at your side during a difficult situation.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

May 2014 Wrap-up [spoiler free!]


Late wrap-up post is late. I blame Animal Crossing.




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1. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. Another 2014 reread! Even though I enjoyed this book just as much the second time around, I did find myself picking it apart and discovering more flaws now that I know the outcome of the story. The rating may have been bumped down a star, but it will forever remain one of my absolute favorite reads.




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2. Incarnate by Jodi Meadows. Incarnate was not quite what I was expecting. After reading the synopsis—and all of the raving reviews—I was under the impression that this book would be a healthy mix of plot and character; with action and development sharing equal parts of the story. Unfortunately, it was mostly character based; the focus on Ana and her relationship with a certain male character, rather than overcoming flaws/their seemingly corrupt society. I do plan on completing the series, but have no idea as to when, exactly, this will be.




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3. The Unbound (The Archived #2) by Victoria Schwab. SWOONY SWOON-SWOON. Though The Archived has remained my favorite of the series (so far), The Unbound was just as exciting and beautiful as the first. I absolutely cannot wait for book three!

Actual rating: 4.5 stars



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4. Every Day by David Levithan. Oh, the feels. I have come to the conclusion that David Levithan is very good at what he does — writing loaded books that rip your heart to shreds. What a gorgeous, gorgeous read.




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5. Six Earlier Days (Every Day #0.5) by David Levithan. After the heartbreaking end of Every Day, I quite enjoyed getting a few extra glimpses of A's life. This prequel novella was just as good as the first.












6. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. After completing this book, I was able to cross two 2014 reading goals off of my list: to read Water for Elephants and complete a book that had been on my physical TBR shelf for a period longer than six months. And OH. MY. I quite enjoyed it! The writing, characters and story were beautiful and I loved the crude, behind-the-scenes circus storyline and how it tied back into the main character's present day. Definitely one of my new favorites!

Actual rating: 4.75 stars












7. Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira. Unfortunately, my reading slump began somewhere around page 50 of this book. Despite the season, I have not been in much of a contemporary mood. Weird, right? I definitely plan on picking this back up sometime in June, after I have had a chance to read a few books with a bit more action but, until then, back to the TBR shelf it goes!


. . . . 

May Stats:

Read 5 books (and 1 novella)
Read 1,943 pages

GR's 2014 Reading Challenge (Progress):

Read 28 of 70 books
Currently 1 book behind schedule

Upcoming Releases:

My Faire Lady by Laura Wettersten -- June 3, 2014
Fan Art by Sarah Tregay -- June 17, 2014
17 First Kisses by Rachael Allen -- June 17, 2014




I was hoping to get through City of Heavenly Fire as well, but alas; it was not delivered until two weeks after the release... What was your favorite book of May?

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday [June 10]


Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they update their blog with a list of ten things that have to do with a predetermined topic.

This week's topic is...
Which ten books would you classify as your "Favorites of 2014" thus far?





10. Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge.

9. Every Day by David Levithan.

8. I Am the Messenger by Marcus Zusak.

7. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige.

6. Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King.

5. Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan.

4. Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan.

3. Hollow City (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #2) by Ransom Riggs.

2. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.

1. The Archived and The Unbound (The Archived #2) by Victoria Schwab.

Teaser Tuesday [June 10]


Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. All you have to do is grab your current read, open to a random page, and share two teaser sentences (that don't give too much away).



This week's teaser is brought to you by the ANXIETY-FILLED final book of the Chaos Walking trilogy:

"'And what other kind of man would you want leading you into battle?' he says, reading my Noise. 'What other kind of man is suitable for war?'

A monster, I think, remembering what Ben told me once. War makes monsters of men."

Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness (page 11)