The Books I'm Taking To Japan

I'm about to leave for Japan in about 4 hours and I thought I'd kill some time by talking about the books I'm going to be bringing with me to Japan.

I believe I have mentioned it earlier, but I'll be in Japan from July 1st to August 28th for the Guy Healy Program (USA Summer Camp).  I will be a camp counslor at an English only summer camp where I will be teaching Japanese to the students who attend. I'm super excited for this experience and I can't wait to see all of my friends!! Yay!!

So I will be super busy for the next few months, but I will also have a fair amount of travel time to fill...so I am going to bring some books with me. Here are the books I'm going to take with me!~

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han:  I finished To All The Boys I've Loved Before last month and I really enjoyed it, so I picked up the sequel as soon as I could. Unfortunately I couldn't finish it before I left, so I might end up taking it with me, which is a bit of a bummer.  But oh well...^^''

A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin: *sigh* it's about time I read this. It's been haunting me for a year now, so I figured it was about time to pick it up and read it. It'll be something I can get through in a decent amount of time, but it's also not going to be something that I'll fly through and then be left with nothing to read.

The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson: I need to finish this series...I really want to know what happens...So now is the time! I am going to finish the hell out of this series!! XD

So as you can see, the theme of the books I'm reading are big books in series. Haha! It'll feel good to get these done and know that I've finished two series and gotten a couple of huge ass books off of my TBR! Horray for being accomplished! XD

Also, let me shamelessly plug my new vlog channel!!  I will be vlogging my trip to Japan (if all goes according to plan...XD) Please feel free to subscribe to my channel!~ Supermomovlogs!!

The channel ----> https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc_ejQc9c5k5yQuy0i-85mg

Well, until next time!   See you in Japan!! ^^v

June Wrap Up 2015

Hey, so it's my last wrap up until I get home in August! I can't believe I leave for Japan in about 5 hours....It's crazy!!  I ended up reading 7 books this month.....I have no idea how that happened...but I did!! I did read 4 little books this month...but I read a few chunkers as well, so let's get started!!

Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass) by Sarah J. Maas: 5/5 Stars

I really loved this book. At first I had a really hard time getting into it, but once I got into this world again, it felt like I was surrounded by old friends in a familiar place. So much happened and I'm nervous as hell for the 4th book Queen of Shadows in September (I believe it comes out in September....XD). Some serious shit is about to go down. I'm so excited. XD

Lucinda's Secret by Holly Black (Spiderwick Chronicles): 4/5 Stars

I finally decided to finish off this series, so I started off with this one. I enjoyed it, but I still wish I had read it when I was younger...Not really too much to say about it. XD

The Ironwood Tree by Holly Black: 3.5/5 Stars

I thought this was the weakest of the 5 books. I thought it didn't really accomplish anything until the end. Again, nothing to really say.

   The Wrath of Mulgarath by Holly Black: 4/5 Stars

And then I finished the last book. I thought it was a pretty solid ending to a pretty solid children's series. All in all, I did really enjoy this series!

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas: 4.5/5 Stars

After having finished Heir of Fire, I needed some more Sarah J. Maas. I knew this book was going to be more like a paranormal/fantasy/romance book, and I knew that was just what I needed. It was exactly what I needed, and I flew through this book.  I liked the characters and the really strong world building.  That being said, I had a few problems with it.  The last 100 or so pages were boring as hell...And then there was a point in the ending and I just looked at the book like...seriously? But I was able to overlook it all because it was addicting...Super addicting.

Dragon's Nest (Dragons of Deltora) by Emily Rodda: 4/5 Stars

I really wanted to get these books done and over with. I really have a lot of problems with these books...but I'm in too deep and I need to finish them (plus I own them all anyways).  This is the first book in the second companion series to Deltora Quest.  I thought the book was ok. Nothing really to write home about. I still have a problem with the age of the characters. The characters are older (Leif is 18ish) and they make the same kinds of choices and have the same types of conversations an 8-12 year old would have. If the characters were those ages, it would have made more sense...but they aren't...and it's weird.     

To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han: 5/5 Stars

I really REALLY enjoyed this book. It was the right book at the right time. I really don't like contemporary, but I thought this book was cute and fluffy and I really did like the relationship between the sisters.  I thought Lara Jean was cute in a quirky way (Ha) and I enjoyed her innocence.  I really liked how easy this book was to read and get into. 

And that's all I've read this month!  I am 105 pages into P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han and I'm enjoying it, just not as much as the first one.  I'm going to be posting what books I'm taking to Japan next. See you there!

Bye!  

June Book Haul!

Hey guys! I'm here with another book haul! I wasn't planning on buying anything this month, but I ended up getting a sequel I needed and then my grandpa gave me some money for shopping...so I picked up a few things that I had been wanting!~  

P. S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

After I finished To All The Boys I've Loved Before, I ran out and picked this up right away. I'm really not a huge fan of contemporary...but I really did enjoy this. I needed something light and I really enjoyed Jenny Han's writing. I am currently reading this book and am 68 pages in and am enjoying myself. ^^

Firefight by Brandon Sanderson

I read Steelheart recently and I really liked it...but I couldn't find this dang book anywhere!! Two Walmarts, Two Barns and Nobles and a Half Price Books later, I finally found it! XD I felt like Steelheart could have been a stand alone (ish), so I'm really interested to see what problems are going to arise in this book...hopefully there are less...feelings and insta-love-y-ness...That super annoyed me in the last one.

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

I had been wanting this book for a while, ever since it was hauled like mad on Booktube...but I haven't really seen anyone talk about it since. I did hear a few good things about it, so it kept me excited. ^^ I'm not too sure what it's about, but I like going into things blindly sometimes. 

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

I have heard mixed reviews on this book, but I still really wanted it.  I also don't know what this is about...but it's a fantasy that's based in Ancient Greece (or was it Rome.......?) and that's interesting enough for me! XD  It was said to be advertised as a fantasy stand-alone but then they announced another book after it was released...I heard that will change you views on it because it was written like it was for a series and not a solo book...hopefully I'll enjoy this. ^^

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

Another book I have heard mixed things about but still wanted to try. This cover is so much prettier in person! Everything about this book is really nice! It makes me all the more excited to read it!~ I really like that books are starting to take place in different places other than the US and some sort of Europe. Yay!

Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff

Another book I have been wanting for a super long time and haven't picked up...Until now. I am SUPER excited about this book (which I have also heard nothing about). A Japanese steampunk novel with mythical creatures....ALL of the win! I don't really know what this book is about other than what I mentioned before...I'm super excited!~ 

The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

My friend Robert has been wanting me to read The Wheel of Time series for a long time now and when I saw the trade paperback at Half Price Books, I decided to pick it up. I wanted to collect the hard covers, but I liked the way this book felt in my hands, so I decide that I'd finally give the series a shot. I am SUPER nervous about starting it though...Lindsey Rey and a few other Booktubers read them and they hated them...but Robert loves the series and I believe he said Lewis from Yogscast loves it...Gods I hope I like it.

Battle Royale by Koushun Takami 

This....This is one of my top 10 favorite books/movies of all time. This books is IMPOSSIBLE to find, so when I saw two copies sitting on the shelf I pretty much poo'd myself!! I read this while I was living in Japan (that's also where I saw the movie) and I have wanted to read it again ever since the Hunger Games became huge (I still think this is WAY better than HG). To those of you who love the Hunger Games and haven't read this....DO IT!!! The movie is also fabulous! The sequel film is rubbish though, so don't watch it...I like to block it from my brain and pretend it doesn't exist. XP

 Well that's all for this posting...and it'll probably be the last one, besides my June wrap up, until I come back from Japan (I leave in a few days).  I will probably end up doing a haul on some of the stuff I bring back, so that will be a thing to look forward to!

Until next time! Bye!!

Above mentioned Youtubers:

Lindsey Rey: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1VyYW1dxsY6z9j-dCWLEwA/featured

Lewis (Yogscast): https://www.youtube.com/user/BlueXephos

May Wrap Up and Update

Oh hey there!! I am back again! School is finally done and I have been able to read again!! It's a great feeling...minus the fact that I have so many things I want to read I'm a tad bit overwhelmed with options...First World problems.

So I'm going to just go straight into the wrap up and then I will do my official update later!  Let's do this!~

The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff: 4/5 Pots of honey

I re-read this for a project I had to do for my East Asian Religious Thought class.  I needed to do a project on Hinduism, Buddhism, or Daoism.  Daoism has gotten me through a lot of rough parts of my life, so I decided to read this again and do a book report.  I still really liked this book and I encourage anyone who is interested in Daoism to pick up this book. It's a great way to learn about the practice without being intimidated...It's funny and sarcastic and everyone knows Pooh and his friends!!

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes: 3/5 Crowns

I FINALLY finished this book!!! Gods be praised!!!! I started this book at the end of December last year and never got a chance to finish it before school started. Now...What to say about this book....It was definitely NOT my cup of tea. The first 100 or so pages were really good...Nice and murdery...but then.....*sigh* all the characters, minus King Gaius, got super annoying and totally flat. I hated ALL of them...minus Gaius...who is the best character because he kills all the annoying, stupid people. >__< The plot was really not that great and the world, though it promised to be interesting, wasn't really talked about at all. I was curious to hear about the magic system and learn more about the world...was it like ours or was it a completely different? It was pitched as being like A Song of Ice and Fire for young adults...Yeah...they had a similar-ish layout...but no...not by a long shot. It was insta-lovey in parts and things that were supposed to be emotional and sad didn't affect me.  I have a couple of Booktubers who felt the same as me and will be trying the second book, so if they give the second book high praise, I might continue...if not....then I shan't be continuing on in the series (Update: I am thinking of dropping this to a 2).

The House of Hades by Rick Riordan: 5/5 Stars

After the crushing let down of Falling Kingdoms, I decided to pick up a book that I knew I would probably like.  I still can't believe that I just read this book recently...it was released, what, 2 years ago?! Shame on me!!! I really liked this installment in The Heroes of Olympus series.  I still have some problems with liking all of the characters and reading their chapters, causing the book to drag in places, but some of those characters grew on me a teeny tiny bit in this book. I loved Percy and Annabeth's trek through Tartarus and Leo...I love Leo.  I also love that Nico (<3 <3 <3) got a chance to shine a bit in this book...I love that dark kid...I could kind of relate to him (the whole ghosty thing) but I really love where Rick Riordan took his character.  I am planning on finishing the last book The Blood of Olympus before the end of the summer and finish off the series before the release of Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard (fangirl squee).  I have been watching this show called The Almighty Johnsons (available on Netflix) and it has to do with Norse Mythology...I'm so pumped for October (and yes, I have pre-ordered it XD)!! I'm super hella nervous for what's going to happen in the last book...but I'm also really excited too. ^^

 

 Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson: 5/5 Epics

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH THIS BOOK WAS EPIC!!!! I can't even express how much I loved this book. I picked it up on a whim and I devoured the first 100 or so pages. Then in the middle something happened and I got annoyed with all the characters. They suddenly when flat and the whole David and his insta-lovey crush on Megan bothered the hell out of me...Then shit happened and I was thrown completely off by what happened...I mean, I guessed some of the things that happened, but not 100%...I had doubts...I SHOULD HAVE NEVER DOUBTED BRANDON SANDERSON AND HIS AMAZING-NESS!! T^T The ending of this was so amazing I had to control my outbursts of shock and excitement. This is why he is one of my top 5 favorite authors. I need to pick up Firefight ASAP!! I just...I can't even think of anything else to say about this...Amazing. Just read it!! XD

So those are all the books I have read in the month of May. I have also started: Heir of Fire by Sarah J Maas (which, oddly, I'm having a hard time getting into)

And I'm 191/272 pages into Red Scarf Girl by Ji-Li Jiang.  I had to read a few bits of it for my Comparative Politics class and I ended up buying my own copy.  It's a non-fiction book about Ji-Li and her growing up during the Cultural Revolution in China during Mao's reign. She lives in a "black list" family and it deals with her dealing with what the country wants of her and her duties to her family.  It's really fast paced book and super easy to read (it's written and set up like a middle grade book)...but it makes me sad...so I'm just kind of taking my time with it.

Day later update: I was ill and I finished the last bit of this today. 4/5 stars. Slightly childish writing style (not particularly bothersome though), fairly fast paced, and very interesting. Would recommend if you are interested in China and Mao Zedong/Cultural Revolution.

NOW for the updates:  I will be leaving for Japan on July 1st!! WOOOOOOOOOO!! I'm super hella stoked! I am not sure what my reading will be like there, but I will be bringing a few books with me to read.  I will probably do a "What I'm Bringing to Japan" post when it gets closer to that time.  Also, I'm planning on vloging my experience, so I will be posting that on Youtube. I'm also hoping to launch my Booktube channel before I leave so that's a thing. I know I have been saying that I was starting a Booktube channel for a while now, but I'm heaps serious about it this time!! Phobia or not, I want to do it!! So when that happens, I'll be sure to update my blog with the channel information!~ ^^

I am going to kind of attempt a June TBR (Video/post) soon...I'm not very good at sticking to a TBR as I'm an emotional reader and I feel like TBRs are "required reading" so I tend to become defiant and not do anything I say I'm going to....XD

So that's what's doin' and I hope to see you in my next post! Tootles!~ ^^v

A Random Gift From Penguin??

Soooooooooooooooooooooo, a strange thing happened to me today...

I was minding my own business, watching Flux Buddies (Minecraft with Yogscast Kim and Duncan via Youtube), thinking about starting my own Youtube channel, and my mom comes into my room with a package. A book shaped package. I didn't order any books...how strange?! I looked at where it came from....Penguin?! O.o

So...reluctantly I opened it and inside is this:

Um...WHAT?! Did I just get an unsolicited ARC from a publisher?!?!?!?!? HOLYSHITBALLSBATMAN!!!! > <

I received Vision In Silver by Anne Bishop (release date is March 2015). This is the third book in The Others trilogy (the first book is Written In Red). I have been wanting to read this trilogy for a bit now (Thanks to Lindsey Rey and Sara from Books&Junk), and now I have an ARC of the 3rd book... o-o what.

Which also brings up another thought.....how the HELL did they get my address???? O--O

Now I have to buy the first two books in the series...but I'm really not complaining too much...seeing as how they are on my wishlist. ^^ Unfortunately, it may break my book buying ban a bit, but I think it's going to be ok. ^^v

That reminds me...I have a few more posts I will be posting soon (probably today...XD) I will be doing my #Fridayreads and my 2015 Bookish Resolutions!~ So those will be up super duper soon! (Super duper? What?!? Brain...really? wow.)

Until next time my dearies! ^^v Tootles!~

Above mentioned Youtubers:

Lindsey Rey: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1VyYW1dxsY6z9j-dCWLEwA/featured
Sara(h)(??) aka Books&Junk: https://www.youtube.com/user/booksnjunk/featured
Yogscast Kim (for Flux Buddies and Minecraft): https://www.youtube.com/user/yogscastkim

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

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