Top 5 Wednesday: November 14, 2018

Books You Want to Read Before 2019

Our Goodreads goals are quickly closing in. What are you prioritizing for the end of the year?
To participate in Top 5 Wednesday, head over to their Goodreads Group!

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Muse of Nightmares (Strange the Dreamer, book 2) by Laini Taylor

This goes at the top of the list because technically I’m already reading it. I loved Strange, but it left me with such high expectations that it’s nearly impossible to read Muse! So I’m annoyed with myself, but I intend to finish this before the end of the year.

A Court of Frost and Starlight (A Court of Thorns and Roses, book 4) by Sarah J. Maas

I was so excited for this one and then I did that same stupid thing where I have all these expectations and it keeps me from even being able to read the book I wanted to read so badly!

A Map of Days (Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children, book 4) by Ransom Riggs

ARE YOU SEEING A THEME HERE???? Someone just end me. I finally got to preorder some books and I haven’t even touched them because I suck. I’m actually a little worried on this one because it has a lot to live up to with how much I loved the series up to now.

Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix (Rise of the Empress, book 2) by Julie C. Dao

This just came a few days ago and I can’t wait to enjoy it. I’m interested to see how I like a book more focused on Jade than on Xifeng, because I really dug the sympathetic villain angle. I am fully sympathized!

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

I’m really to give this book a chance since I saw the Netflix series. I’m a little nervous because it’s not my usual type of book. In fact, it’s the type of book I usually avoid. I’m determined not to put it off like I usually would so I’m going to get to it by the end of the year.

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What books are you guys hoping to finish by 2019?

Top 5 Wednesday: July 4, 2018

Best Books You’ve Read So Far in 2018

To participate in Top 5 Wednesday, head over to their Goodreads Group!

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Alrighty, I’m going to do this in the order that I read them, not in the order that I liked them (because that would be way too hard).

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

This was my first Gillian Flynn novel and I was honestly nervous to read it. I liked the movie and was worried that the book wouldn’t be as good. But a fellow blogger assured me Flynn was an excellent writer and Gone Girl did not disappoint. In fact it kind of blew me away how much I loved it. I went online and bought it before I had even finished reading it. I look forward to reading it again sometime.

Tales of the Kingdom series // Cynthia Voigt

Oh come on, you knew this series had to be on the list somewhere, right? I reread them earlier in the year and loved them just as much as always, maybe even more. As always, this is a loosely-connected, non-magical, fantasy series, set in a medieval-esque world.

Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick

This is one of the best autobiographies I’ve read ever, and definitely the best this year. Anna is funny and pithy and pleasantly verbose. What made it even better was listening to the audiobook version where Anna reads you the book herself.

White Oleander by Janet Fitch

This book was recommended to me from another reader because I said I wanted to branch out of my genre comfort zone and I have to admit I didn’t expect to like it. But the prose was engaging and beautiful and I found myself falling into the mind of the protagonist quickly and easily. I definitely want to read more by Janet Fitch in future.

The Martian by Andy Weir

I had one main issue with this book (mentioned in this post), but everything else about it was excellent. It was funny and the format was interesting. If you liked the movie you will most likely like the book as it is extremely similar. I found it really hard to put down.

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What are the best books you’ve read in 2018 so far? Leave me a comment or link me to your own post.

Some slight blogging changes…

So I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed lately with being in charge of everything to do with moving to a new place and moving my mom in with us and working hard on my recovery, so my blogging is really falling by the wayside.

I’ve also been thinking a lot about original content vs. the weekly book memes I do. Obviously my blog is weighted to the latter and I’d rather it was more even.

So I’ve been thinking about what I can change.

First of all, I found a new format for my quotes. Instead of posting them all in one post I’ve been scheduling daily quote posts whenever I finish a book. I really like doing it this way and I’m definitely keeping that.

Which brings me to the fact that I have several book meme posts that are quote centric, and that seems redundant…

So secondly, I’m cutting out Thursday Quotables. I love it, but it just doesn’t make sense to have it when I have my other quote posts.

I’m definitely keeping First Lines Fridays, it’s my absolute favorite of the bookish memes I do. I love the idea of judging a book solely off the first line(s). But as we all know some really good books have really boring first lines, so I don’t do a FLF for every book I get like I could.

Which brings me to the third thing:  From now on, Teaser Tuesday is solely to supplement First Lines Fridays. Whenever a book has a first line so crappy I’m not willing to do an FLF post for it, I’ll do a Teaser Tuesday on it! That way I get at least one teaser “judge this book on a quote” style post for each book I read.

Fourthly, I’m going to quit WWW Wednesday because I feel like I repeat myself too much when I use that one… Almost everything I have to say about the books I say someplace else in some other format.

Fifth on the list of changes, I will now be alternating What Are You Reading Wednesday and Friday 56. Meaning, if I do one on a book I’m reading, I won’t do the other. Sometimes when I’m looking on page 34/34% I can’t find anything worth posting, so when that happens I’ll try using page 56/56% instead. That way I have at least one post of that sort each week.

I plan to keep doing Top 5 Wednesday whenever I have something for the prompt, and I would like to get back on top of Musing Monday. So those aren’t changes, just something I’ll try to make more of an effort on.

As for book photo posts:  I will keep doing my original Dedication Spotlight idea, and I will keep doing Tomes & Tea occasionally. I’m also hoping that after this move is done I can get back into doing some Book Photo Challenges.

And of course I hope to keep coming up with reviews and other original content.

Older posts from the book memes I’m quitting will still be available on my blog, they just won’t be linked in the sidebar anymore, and for the record I still totally like those lovely memes, I just feel like I need to focus a bit more.

That’s everything, I think. Wish me luck!

Top 5 Wednesday: May 9, 2018

Characters You’d Want as Family

You can say this in a broad way or be specific (i.e. _______ would be a cool aunt, ______would be a great older brother, etc.)
To participate in Top 5 Wednesday, head over to their Goodreads Group!

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Almost every main character from The Tillerman books // The Tillerman Cycle by Cynthia Voigt

This is probably cheating to be like “oh yes the entire extended family unit from 7 whole books” but whatever! I love the Tillermans more than I’ve ever loved any characters from any media.

I don’t even think I can properly explain it, but if a god came down from some heaven and was like “I will reset the world and let you invent a family for yourself, tell me what you want” I would just dump these books in their lap and just:

“I want Dicey, Sammy, James, Maybeth, and Gram first of all. And I still want my real Granny too because I think she and Gram would get along scarily well, so just keep that in mind. Secondly, Bullet needs to be alive and HAPPY and if you have the time to make Miss Liza not go crazy and die that would be great. No no, I have no need for John the abusive husband, that bitter prick can die. I don’t want Francis Verricker either. He doesn’t count as a part of that family and if you bring him to life I will kill him myself so don’t waste your time. Feel free to throw in Mina Smith’s whole family AND Tamer Shipp (and his family probably he seems to like them) and Jeff Greene’s too. Actually wait, just Jeff, Brother Thomas, and the Professor. Melody’s whole side of the family can choke. Okay great get crackin’ on all that I’m going to go reread the series.”

And whatever god offered me this option would completely regret it, but I would insist we shake on it as soon as possible so they’d be locked into that whole deal.

The Gangsey // The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater

Yep, I’m still cheating. But honestly after my last answer this one probably seems like nothing at all. In fact, you might even let me get away with having Blue’s Fox Way family and the Gray Man? Yes. Excellent. So all the decent humans from The Raven Cycle. Check.

Ripred // The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins

Who wouldn’t want a GIANT FUCKING RAT who is excellent at killing as family?

Honestly though, he would be excellent to have around. He’s sarcastic and rude which I can dig because I too am sarcastic and rude, he can kill anyone so Guard Rat, and he mostly just wants to eat shrimp in cream sauce and read books so like…. A nice companion all in all.

Dashti // Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

She’s so kind and loyal and a great friend. Plus she has healing magic that can also help relieve the pain of chronic injuries so… Useful. Fuck you Mr. Chiropractor my new fam Dashti the Mucker can help me by just laying her hand on me and singing me a nice song. Eat it.

And like she’s lovely and brave and I always thought she’d be an excellent friend.

Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy // Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Okay so first I was torn between the two. The sassy lady or the most awkward man to ever live… And then I decided I’d just take them both!

I’d get to enjoy the sass of Eliza Bennet and the awkward kindness of Fitzwilliam Darcy AND if we were related…um….you know… HE’S SUPER RICH AND I WANT TO BE SUPER RICH BY PROXIMITY SO DEAL WITH IT. But mostly I just like them. The money is only a bonus.

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Wow I am very demanding in my list of potential family… What about you? What book characters would you wish to have as family?

Top 5 Wednesday: April 11, 2018

Auto-Buy Scifi and Fantasy Authors

This month’s crossover topic is your auto-buy authors that write SFF.
To participate in Top 5 Wednesday, head over to their Goodreads Group!

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Cynthia Voigt

I know she’s only done the one fantasy series, Tales of the Kingdom, but they are my favorites (it’s not often that I find a non-magical fantasy in the YA genre) and she’s my absolute favorite author so you know I had to bring her up! And anyway, if she ever published another fantasy novel I’d be trying to buy it before the ink could even dry.

Julie C. Dao

After Forest of a Thousand Lanterns, I am so in love with Dao’s writing I absolutely have to have her future novels. It’s rare that I would call someone an auto-buy after only one book (or at all actually, I have very few auto-buy authors), but that’s how good it was to me so there you have it.

Laini Taylor

If you had asked me before Strange the Dreamer I might not have mentioned Laini, since I’d only read her DoSaB trilogy at that point, but now? I don’t think I could resist buying anything she came out with at this point.

Shannon Hale

Shannon was the first author that I liked something of theirs so much I had to search out everything else they’d written. I got Shannon’s novel The Goose Girl in 6th grade at the book fair and it introduced me to one of my favorite genres (fairytale retellings). And her take on magic is a strong favorite of mine.

Ransom Riggs

He’s only got the one Peculiar Children trilogy so far, but it was so good that I’ve already decided to buy the untitled book he’s got listed for publication this year (hopefully this year).

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What sci-fi and fantasy authors do consider worthy of automatically buying anything they come out with?

Top 5 Wednesday: January 10, 2018

Books You Didn’t Get to In 2017

These are books you didn’t end up getting to in 2017, but really want to prioritize in 2018.
To participate in Top 5 Wednesday, head over to their Goodreads Group!

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Throne of Glass series // Sarah J. Maas

When the new book came out (ha…not even the most recent new book) I decided I needed to reread the whole series if I was going to have any idea what was going on. Of course, that was the end of 2016, and then with yet another new one coming out in 2017 I figured I would get to it at some point… Wrong!

Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge

I’ve literally had this for almost an entire year, completely intending to read it, and then just…not…doing…that…. I have no excuse at all honestly. Especially considering all the good things I’ve heard about it.

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

God I’ve been “meaning to read this one” literally since it came out in like 2015 or something. I keep getting it from the library, sitting it on the shelf, and then turning it back in without reading it. At least with this one I have a reason though. Sarah Dessen was a favorite back in high school and I was excited to see another book by her, but I suddenly got it into my head that if it somehow disappointed me (something no Dessen novel has ever done) I might not be able to love her other books quite the same as I have. So basically I psyched myself out…

The Forgotten Sisters (Princess Academy, book 3) by Shannon Hale

This is another one that I’ve been intending to get to for ages. I even reread the first two books to prepare for reading this one. And yet… I’m going to blame the second book, because it was completely unmemorable (it wasn’t bad though) so how am I supposed to go on to the third?

The Bone Witch (The Bone Witch, book 1) by Rin Chupeco

I was so excited when this book came out and I heard so many great things, so I got it from the library as soon as it was available. And then I read it right away! Not… I put it on the library shelf and looked at it sometimes with the best of intentions, but never quite in the exact right mood for it apparently. (That’s just an excuse, I’m just bad at follow-through!)

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What are some books you meant to read last year, but didn’t get around to?

Top 5 Wednesday: January 3, 2018

2018 Reading Resolutions

Self explanatory. Let us know 5 of your reading goals for the year. 
To participate in Top 5 Wednesday, head over to their Goodreads Group!

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It’s that time again, y’all! I pretty much never make regular new year’s resolutions, but making reading resolutions really helped last year, so here we go!

1. Read 75 books in 2018! (Goodreads Goal)
   I considered raising this number since this was my goal for 2017 as well, but I decided to keep it since it is still a challenge for me at this point. With my mental state the way it is, I have massive slumps where I can barely even get out of bed, much less read regularly. So if I can do 75 two years in a row, I’ll raise the goal for 2019, but for now I think this is still challenging myself.
2. Give General Fiction novels another chance.
   I always had trouble getting into General Fiction because most of the books I found seemed to be full of gratuitous sex scenes that did nothing to enhance the plot, which got boring fast. This year I’d like to at least try a few more General Fic books to see if I can find ones I like.
3. Read at least 15 books that I own, but haven’t read yet.
   Haha I’m garbage and I buy books and never fucking read them! This year I want to knock 15 of them off my TBR so if I don’t like them I can trade them to the used bookstore for better ones!
4. Keep up with writing reviews.
   I said for 2017 that I wanted to start writing book reviews and I did, but as the year went on I did less and less. I would like to get better at reviewing and do it more because I do kind of enjoy it.
5. Keep reading more #OwnVoices novels.
   I never bothered specifically trying to find novels by non-white authors before last year, despite being annoyed by the lack of diversity in a lot of the novels I read (before Own Voices novels I never read a single book with a character like me in it…), but I’m glad I started to that and I want to read even more this year.

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Do you have any bookish goals for 2018?

Top 5 Wednesday: August 9, 2017

Second Book is Best

We’ve talked about series that went downhill, and series that are worth it, but which series were best in the middle?
To participate in Top 5 Wednesday, just head over to their Goodreads Group and join the fun!

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1. A Court of Thorns and Roses Series // Sarah J. Maas
   This series isn’t complete yet, but of the books that are out, it’s better in the middle.
2. Uglies Series // Scott Westerfeld
3. The Tillerman Cycle // Cynthia Voigt

Unfortunately, I was only able to think of 3 series that fit this prompt for me. I tend to think the entire series is equally good or that the beginning is best.

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I’d love to know what series you guys think were best in the middle! Comment or make your own post and leave a link here.

Top 5 Wednesday: February 15, 2017

Favorite Non-Written Novels

This was a hard topic to name, but this is about all books that are not ‘written’ novels! So graphic novels, comics, manga, audiobooks, etc. Shed some light on books in other forms.
To participate in Top 5 Wednesday, just head over to their Goodreads Group and join the fun!

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I can’t actually participate in this one because I’ve actually only ever read one non-written novel in my life (it was one of the Death Note mangas).

Normally I’d just skip a day if I couldn’t contribute anything, but in this case I thought it might be fun to see if I could get some recs off y’all and try to branch out my tastes a bit!

If you have a favorite audio book, graphic novel, manga, etc. please comment with the titles or a link to your T5W post or just send me a message. Thanks in advance!

Top 5 Wednesday: February 8, 2017

Book Trends You’re Tired Of

What are some things you are tired of seeing that are trends in publishing? Maybe something that pops up on a lot of covers these days, or the popularity of certain tropes in a particular genre? Let it out!
To participate in Top 5 Wednesday, just head over to their Goodreads Group and join the fun!

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1. LOVE TRIANGLES THAT DO NOTHING TO SERVE THE PLOT AND JUST CREATE STUPID FILLER DRAMA CAN DIE IN A FUCKING FIRE
2. I’ve seen literally 2 popular books with female lead characters that weren’t model thin. That’s super annoying honestly because I only know 1 naturally skinny girl in real life. Like do authors not realize most girls are not 120lbs?
3. I hate when covers have random models on the cover and none of the imagery relates to the story and the model doesn’t even look like the main character. Why do people keep doing this? Just draw a pretty cover using themes from the novel, everyone likes those  better anyway!
4. Speaking of tropes that can die, how about “love cures mental illness” because that is just stupid.
5. Does…..does everybody have to be white?????

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What book trends are you sick of?