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Wednesday, August 6, 2014

July Wrap Up 2014

I would say that July was a good reading month for me. I read 7 books and started two more books. I am super proud of myself. And, for the most part, I liked everything I read!~


I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella: I really needed a fluffy read after having my soul torn apart by Going Bovine.....So what better book to read than something by Sophie Kinsella?! It wasn't my favorite book ever, but it got me out of my depression! I was going to do a full review on this book, but I decided that it really wasn't worth it to dedicate a whole post on this book.


The Eye of the World Graphic Novel Vol. 1 by Robert Jordan and Chuck Dixon: I have wanted to read this series for a while, but it is super intimidating....so I found a graphic novel!! I was pretty confused, but where it left off, I am super interested as to what is going to happen next!~ This is a very new series, and all....5? of the books they have out, are just the first book...so this GN series is going to be HUGE!!!


Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton: I hated this book. It was poop and I don't even want to talk about it. >___< My goal is to find an excellent pirate book...



The Spiderwick Chronicles - The Field Guide by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi: LOVED THIS BOOK!!! WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING WITH MY LIFE?!?!?!


Deltora Quest - The Forests of Silence by Emily Rodda: I didn't really like this book....I thought it was kind of boring and it ended too quickly....but I figured that because there was a lot of world building and set up for the other 7 books, so I forgave it for being a bit dull.


The Spiderwick Chronicles - The Seeing Stones by Holly Black and Tony Diterlizzi: This book was amazing!! I could kick myself for not getting the rest of the series...I mean, the third one was missing, but I would have been ready!!! >__< Why didn't I know about this series when I was younger?!?!


Deltora Quest - The Lake of Tears by Emily Rodda: Much much much better than the first book! I actually became excited about the series after reading this book. The first one had me kind of dreading it, but now I have hope that I will enjoy this series! I think I will do a series review on this series when I finish it (Which will be VERY soon).



Delirium by Lauren Oliver: I didn't finish this book yet...I am about half way through it, and was starting to get bored...then I got caught up in Deltora Quest, so I just kind of put this book down for a little while. ^^'' I do want to finish this book and see what happens, but not right now...hopefully I will get back into it before August is done (update 2016: I DNF'd this book).



Well that's everything for now. Like I said, I had a really good reading month and I'm pretty sure August is going to be just as amazing! Until next time!! Byies!

XXXX 


April Brooks's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwsaI0SG82I59jibp1eO-qg/feed

Friday, August 1, 2014

July Book Haul 2014

Well, it is the first of August, so I guess I should probably post my July book haul. Haha! I was kind of bad in the month of July...but these are either books that I needed for a series or books in a series I wanted to read, so I don't feel too bad.


The Spiderwick Chronicles Bk 2-The Seeing Stone by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi: I had finished the first book a week or so before I got this. I really loved the first book, and I wanted to get the second one as soon as I could....I found this at Half Price Books. I wanted to get the whole series, but the third book was missing...so instead of getting them all minus the third, I just bought the second one....sooooooooooooooooooooooooo mad at myself!!!! >_____<


Deltora Quest - The Forests of Silence by Emily Rodda: I had heard about this series for a year now thanks to April Brooks's channel on Youtube and I have been looking for it ever sense. I couldn't find them ANYWHERE!!! I really wanted the awesome hardcover bind up, but it was too expensive online. Then, at Goodwill, I found the entire series and the both of the spin off series! I was so stoked! >w< (8 Books, the rest are not pictured)


Dragon on a Pedestal by Piers Anthony: After having read the first book in the Xanth Series, I have been slowly collecting the rest of the 40+ book series whenever I find them. I have only ever been able to find them online or at Half Price Books. BUT this time, I found this gem at Goodwill! It is a bit musty (I didn't know this until I got it home and inspected it further), so I am going to try and air it out...if that doesn't work, well, I'm not going to be happy.



 Isle of View by Piers Anthony: This is another book in the Xanth Series that I found at Goodwill! This one is not musty (thank goodness) and I just love the title. XD If you didn't know, this series is a fantasy series that is jam packed full of puns. XD


Castle Roogna by Piers Anthony: This is the third book in the series which I picked up at Half Price books for $1.25. ^^v


 Ready Player One by Ernest Cline: I have officially joined my first book club!! I have joined Little Book Club put on by the Little Book Owl's Cat! This is the August pick, so I had to get it! Plus I have been wanting to read this book for quite some time, so what better reason to buy it than book club. ^^v I am SOOOOOOOOOOOO excited for this book!! 




The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss: No, I haven't read the first book yet, but when I saw this pristine, hardcover copy of the second book in the Kingkiller Chronicles, I had to get it. I have heard so many amazing things about this series from both Catriona and Raeleen's channel , so there is no doubt in my mind that I will love this series.



Persuasion by Jane Austin: I LOVE Jane Austin books, and I think I now own all of her books....if not most? I actually really like the Barnes and Noble Classics books. They seem so, classy. XD



Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor: Again, no, I have not read the first book in the series...but you can see why I bought this (shifty eyes at the price tag). The sticker won't come off though....-____- Damn stickers....


The Diviners by Libba Bray: 

Dear Libba Bray, I keep buying your books even though I know they are probably going to break my heart...Even your most innocent books make me cry. I hate you. I'm kidding...Keep on writing! I do hate you though. -Moriah

I love Libba Bray...I just had to rant a little bit. XP I read the Gemma Doyle trilogy and cried. Read Going Bovine, cried. I swear...if I cry....>___< I hope it's creepy though. Her creepy stuff is good!~



Well, that's all for my haul!~ I have already read a decent chunk of these books and loved them!! I will talk a bit more about them in my wrap up!! Which is coming up next!!!~ Until then!~ <3 XXXX 

April Brooks's channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwsaI0SG82I59jibp1eO-qg
Catriona's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/LittleBookOwl 
Raeleen's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/padfootandprongs07 
Little Book Club's Goodreads Page: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/136419-little-book-club

Thursday, July 3, 2014

June Wrap up (2014)

June was an awesome month for reading!! I read a lot of children's books, but I also read a lot of really good YA books too! In total I read 7 books!! Wow!!



Black Star, Bright Dawn by Scott O'Dell: I read this book a LONG time ago and loved it. I love anything that has to do with Alaska, Huskies and the Iditarod. This book had all three things~ After rereading it, a lot of it felt random, and there are a couple of conflicts that come up that I didn't even know were problems...but for a children's book, it's ok. ^^


Going Bovine by Libba Bray: One of my favorites this month...still thinking about it and it makes me randomly sad....I didn't know this book was going to give me such strong feels! I had to fight back tears because I was in public!!! >___< But when I wasn't trying not to cry, this book was hilarious!! Cameron, Gonzo and Balder are hilarious, the situations they get into are hilarious, and Libba Bray is a brilliant author. I bet she is a hoot to hang out with. XD This book has a VERY strong message in it and I think people really do need to read it. So....READ IT!!!


Moriah's Pond by Ethel Footman Smothers: This is another reread for me as well. My mom got it for me because it has my name on it, but I was really young when I read it and I didn't really remember what it was about. It wasn't as wonderful as I remembered, but I did still enjoy it. This was the first book I ever read that wasn't written by a white dead guy and it was the first book I had ever read that was written in a dialect.


Mr. Popper's Penguins: Uh, this book....I think I read it at least 10 times when I was younger. I love penguins and this book was hilarious when I was little and it made me really want a pet penguin. I wanted to read this again because I was vague about what happened (I guess that is the theme of this month: Vague details about childhood books XD). People in this book accept things way too easily! \>__</ But I still found myself laughing out loud at penguin shenanigans. XD



Island of the Blue Dolphin by Scott O'Dell: Another foggy childhood reread. This book is depressing!!! I had no idea!!!! Still mostly enjoyed it, but holy hell! I had to read an upbeat book after reading this one (I picked up the penguin book for a good chuckle). Yikes.


Wonder by RJ Palacio: My favorite book of this month! I cried, but happy good feeling tears. I haven't had those kind of tears in a long time! It felt good. ^^ I think everyone should read this book. It's so sweet and real. For more on my thoughts, read my review!~



Wake by Lisa McMann: This is actually the first book I got this month and it wasn't what I expected at all...but it was pretty good. ^^ But for more on that, I have a review on it. ^^

That's is everything I read this month! Until next time!! Bye!!



Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Massive June Book Haul!! (2014)

I was VERY bad this month....VERY VERY bad.....I need to curve my book buying swerve in July (which I already seem to have failed miserably.....oops....but I digress). Here is what I got in the month of June and the first day of July.....XD (Most of these were thrift store books. There are a few from Amazon and one from Book Outlet).



Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb: I had watched a video where Regan and maybe Raeleen talk about this fantasy book, so when I found it on my lunch break (I was looking for a book because I left mine at home....) I knew I had to get it. I tried to read the first couple of pages, but I was like "woah...dense..." We'll see how I feel about it when I get back into my fantasy kick.



Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind: Another book I had heard about on Regan and/or Raeleen's channel and I grabbed it on my lunch break. Not craving too much fantasy right now, but I know I will read it at some point (also, it is HUGE!!!).



Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster: I received the third book last year through a Goodreads giveaway and it looked like something that I would totally love: Paranormal steampunk romance....Yes please!! Oh and it takes place in London. Epic win!!! >w< Hopefully I love this series. I really want to be a fan of this series. DON'T DISAPPOINT ME!!!! \>_____</


Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs: Thanks to Jesse from Jesse the reader, this book has been at the top of my wish list for quite some time. I finally bit the bullet and bought it off of Amazon because I couldn't find a hardcover anywhere...I REALLY wanted the hardcover...It's so beautiful. <3



The Eye of the Word by Robert Jordan (the graphic novel by Chuck Dixon and Chase Conley): I had been wanting to read The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan (due to my guy friend's request and seeing it pop up everywhere) but let's be real....those books are 1.) Hella huge, 2.) Super dense 3.) Has a million and a half characters and 4.) The series is super duper long....I am one who gets easily confused in fantasy books, so I thought what a better way to see if I can manage the series than by trying the graphic novel (which I didn't know existed until I looked up Robert Jordan on Book Outlet and found it). The art is decent and I'm excited to read a graphic novel. I have read comics and manga, but never a graphic novel. And it's hardcover!!! >w<
  


The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson: I finally have all three of the books...but I have this one in hard cover and the others in tall soft covers. But it is soooooooooooo shiny....@-@ I love it. Shiny.....



Supernatural--Bone Key by Keith R.A. DeCandido: This is the 4th book in the Supernatural series? I have no idea what this is about. XD


Supernatural--Witch's Canyon by Jeff Mariotte: This was the first book I picked up that was Supernatural themed. It is the second book in the series and Sam (The guy on the right if you aren't familiar with the show) looks like a total douche on this cover. Just saying. I laughed at this cover for quite some time...still laughing actually. XD I hope this is good.


The Sword of Angels by John Marco: I am soooooooooo good at reading covers and blurbs.....I fail so hard sometimes....So. I found this fantasy book at work, thought it looked cool, checked real hard (apparently not hard enough) to see if it was the first in a series, and bought it thinking it was (which if you have guessed by now, it isn't). Well, I was wrong (XP). It is the third book in a trilogy....it even says "the stirring conclusion..." right on the bloody cover...and it has the first two books printed on the cover and on the inside of the cover...I'm dumb. XP Still looks pretty cool though.



The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield: I had heard about this book on someones Youtube channel and it sparked my curiosity. I never put it on my wishlist though because it was never a high priority. I found it at work while I was cleaning the $1.49 bin and was like, "I want this book!!" But we aren't allowed to hid things or claim things, so I had a friend put it away so I didn't know where it was. About three days later I was digging though the bookshelves (I didn't even remember this book was here) and I found it! I was shocked that it was still here because there was a lot of book buying going on the last couple of days and I figured it would be gone after it was put back on the shelves. but it wasn't and now it is mine! It had a nasty Borders sticker on the cover that has made the cover sticky, but I'll deal. XD


And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini: I was shocked when I saw this book (brand new) on our shelves at Goodwill. I thought it would be gone when I went shopping the next day. But oddly it wasn't. A Thousand Splendid Suns was gone, but not this one...I was shocked. My sister doesn't like reading, but she RAVES about Hosseini's books, so I picked it up to try (and mostly to get my sister reading again XD). I love the cover of this book. The colors are gorgeous and it is so velvety soft!~ <3


Supernatural--War of the Sons by Rebecca Dessertine and David Reed: Three Supernatural books within days of each other...pretty awesome if you ask me! Sam looks less douchy on this cover, but these covers are awful. XD



Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane: I had been curious about this movie for a while, but I never saw it, and I never picked up the book. But I saw it at a thrift store for 39 cents and decided to try it. Plus Leonardo DiCaprio is on the cover. XD



The Spiderwick Chronicles--The Field Guide by Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black: I never read these books as a child, and I always thought they looked pretty cool, so when I found a hard cover version of the first book, I got it. I am super excited!!


Sword-Dancer by Jennifer Roberson: This was in the young adult section of a thrift store I went to, and I didn't know what to think of it....Still don't know if it is young adult or not (not that it really matters all that much), but it sounded really interesting and like it was going to be a really good fantasy read, so I got it! Plus, I kind of like the old looking fantasy cover.



Isle of the Dead (Dragons of Deltora) by Emily Rodda: April Brooks from Youtube has been raving about Emily Rodda and Deltora Quest (which is (I believe) a bind up of all the books, but it is hella expensive, so I guess I am getting them all individually). I found this one and the other book for super cheap. I have no idea where these go in the scheme of things (there are A LOT of different Deltora series and I don't really know what goes where).


The Sister of the South (Dragons of Deltora) by Emily Rodda


 Well that's everything I bought this month (and the first day of July). I really do need to curve my book buying swerve, but we'll see what happens. I really hope I can do it this month. XP Until next time!! Tootles!!



Regan's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/PeruseProject
Raeleen's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/padfootandprongs07
Kat's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Katytastic
April's channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwsaI0SG82I59jibp1eO-qg
Jesse's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/jessethereader

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Wonder--The Review



August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school--until now. He's about to enter fifth grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid, then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. but can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances? (Taken from Goodreads.com)

*5/5 Stars*

This is officially one of my favorite books. I LOVED this book soooooooo much!! I laughed, I cried a bit, I sympathized and empathized with the characters and smiled though the entire book. I thought it was brilliant. And the little Auggie/additional character doodles are sooooooooooooooooooooooooo cute!! I originally heard about this book from Little Book Owl's channel on Youtube, and I bought it on a whim...actually it was a cover buy. I love this cover!! >w<

Through a majority of the book, Auggie is the narrator. Auggie is hilarious. He is sarcastic, funny, takes things in stride, is incredibly deep and is OBSESSED with Star Wars. I loved all the nerdy Star Wars references and they even played a role in the story! XD That makes me super happy. XD Auggie knows he is different and he knows that his look is hard to get used to, but he takes everything in stride. He kids around with the way he looks and uses it to make other people more comfortable with him. We do see him lose his cool a couple of times though out the book, but we also see how strongly he bounces back from the issues. I think a lot of people could learn a lot from Auggie. 

One thing I wasn't sure about was the fact that the book was written in multiple points of view. I ended up enjoying it because it gave us some insight into the characters who interact with Auggie like; his sister Via, his friends Jack and Summer and some of Via's friends. I thought they would be annoying (Justin, Via's boyfriend was kind of annoying because he didn't use capitol letters or much punctuation, but he did end up being awesome XD), but they added a lot to the story. 

I honestly can't think of any problems with this book...at all...It is currently on my favorites shelf and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys contemporary and a feel good, heart warming book. READ THIS BOOK!! That is all. XD

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

I was bad...MASSIVE June Book Haul 2014

So, I have been hella thrifting lately, and in doing that, I have acquired a lot of books.....oops......XD A lot of the books are from Goodwill. Some are from our annual flea market and the rest are from Half Price Books (which isn't really thrifting, but it IS second hand). So let's do this thing!!


The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan: I have never really read an Amy Tan book before, but I am really trying to read more books that have different cultures than mine. I am an Asian Studies Major, so what a better book to read. XD

 
I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella: This will be my second Sophie Kinsella book, and I am kind of excited for it. It sounds like it is going to be a hilarious mess!! I need some hilariously messy book. ^^ It's a nice break from my complicated dystopians and fantasy books.



The Ear, The Eye and the Arm by Nancy Farmer: This book had been plaguing me for weeks. Always in the wrong spot...I always had to move it. So I finally picked it up to see what it really was. Nancy Farmer? She wrote a book Regan from Peruse Project loves. Futuristic Zimbabwe? Uh.....yes please!! This book is beautiful and full of mythology...All of the hot shapes!! 



The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon: This book has been floating around the interwebs a bit and I just saw that I recognized the title and put it in my shopping basket. It looks like it is going to be a good book. Hopefully a bit suspenseful!~



Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton: I...don't really know why I bought this book....Something new? I like pirates and I have heard Michael Crichton's books are really good. Also, this book reminded me of Erika from The Perks of Books. I don't know if she's read it, but I just thought of her when I saw it. ^^




Black Star, Bright Dawn by Scott O'Dell: This was my favorite book by Scott O'Dell. I have always had an obsession with Huskies, Eskimo culture and the Iditarod, and I could never find this book in any library when I was younger. They had to send for it...and I devoured it. I am currently reading this now and loving it!! It's beautiful!~




Sing Down the Moon by Scott O'Dell: I don't remember if I read this book. I also love Native American culture and I'm sure I will love this book. This seems a lot darker than the other books I have read by him, so I am totally intrigued.





The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan: I have book three now!! Slowly getting the rest of the series!! Found this one at Goodwill and it was in really good condition, so I was very happy to have it. ^-^


Magyk by Septimus Heap: Another book from Connor's channel. I don't know what it's about, but I know it is fantasy!!! Yay!!




To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han: I thought the premise of this book was hilarious, but it wasn't really my cup of tea. I am not a huge fan of contemporary books...but I saw it at Half Price and decided that I wanted it. So it was totally an impulse buy. XD


Graceling by Kristn Cashore: This is a book I have been lusting over for a long time, and I could never find it at Half Price. But this time I just happened to look up and there it was! Yey!!


Mr. Popper's Penguins: This used to be one of my favorite books when I was little. I also have an obsession with penguins...and it's probably because of this book....XD Well it helped at least. XD $1.99...I couldn't resist. Plus I'm have been wanting to read books from my childhood lately, so I thought this fit in perfectly!




The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson: Another book I had been lusting over for a long time and always hear Regan talking about and could never find it. Well I found it!! Totally randomly!!! I was so excited I squealed!




Daughter of Smoke and Bone: Again another book I have been lusting over for a long time and finally found! $4.99!! Yay!!! It's brand spanking new, but it has this weird scuff on it, which is why I think it ended up at Half Price, but it doesn't bother me any! So excited!




The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan: Oh yeah! I finished my collection!! XD I was so excited when I saw this for cheap at Half Price! Now I have them all!!! Horray!!! I want to re read this series again sometime soon...I don't know when, but soon. ^^




Can You Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella: I have already read this book a long time ago, but for some reason, I gave it up. I don't know why because I really liked it. I found it at a rummage sale for 50 cents and decided to put it back in my collection. I do want to read it again at some point..probably this summer. XD 


Well, those are all the books I got so far. I am going to try and read more than I buy...actually I'm going to try and not buy any books at all...it's going to be really hard, but I'm not going to buy any more for a while. A.) because I have no more room in my book shelves and B.) I need to save my money. That's all for now, so bye!! 

Erika's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/ThePerksOfBooks/featured
Regan's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/PeruseProject/featured
Connor's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/NodinBookinIt/featured