There are certain words that peak my interest and make me investigate a book farther even if I've never heard anything about it before. I have a weakness for certain subjects and if a book summery mentions them, I'll definitely be looking into the book or possibly walking out of a store with it.
1) Gods - One of my favorite topics in books is gods. Elemental, Greek, Roman, magical, Egyptian, ancient or vengeful. I'll take it on. I just love to read about gods!
2) Angels - If a book features angels, you can bet I'll give it a try and probably fall in love with it.
3) Girls in a powerless situation and having a secret way to become powerful - I love stories where girls are in a bad situation and they take charge or find a way to become powerful either through secret powers or just strength of will.
4) Dragons - If you give me a dragon, I'll want it to fly. Other than that I cannot ignore a dragon book.
(another one for dragons would be the Game of Thrones Books)
5) Dystopian/Apocalyptic - I have a weakness for these types of stories and sometimes I just cannot put this genre aside.
This is a tag that I did just for fun! All the links for the original video and where I saw it are below and in the video description.
QUESTIONS:
1. What book made you feel confident, either about yourself or your life? 2. What book made you feel sympathetic or sympathise greatly with the characters? 3. What book made you feel anxious? 4. What book made you feel annoyed? 5. What book made you feel disappointed? 6. What book made you feel confused? 7. What book made you feel satisfied? 8. What book made you feel like you could really relate to the main character?
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.
Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every thirty days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.
Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.
Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.
I think I am late to the game with the Maze Runner books. I have heard about them forever and I know the last book is coming out in paperback fairly soon. I've heard a lot of people talk about them and I thought they were all good things so going in I had fairly steep expectations for this books. I mean the plot sounds fantastic and I'm positive I've heard movie buzz around this so it seemed like a good time to jump on the bandwagon.
To say I was disappointed isn't quite right. I wasn't disappointed as much as I was expecting more or different I guess. Something just didn't work for me as I read. The plot was good, the characters were engaging and I wanted to find out what happened, but something didn't click with me. I think what initially turned me off was James Dashner's writing style. There are only so many analogies a girl can take! I was especially conscious of this because I listened to this on auidiobook. There was a predictable pattern in Dashner's writing that really annoyed me as I listened. It kind of put me off to the whole book even though I liked many of the other elements of the book.
As far as characters go, I really like Thomas and the rest of Gladers. I really liked the dynamics between the boys and Dashner wrote all his characters as intelligent people and that came across very well. I really liked how the boys had adapted to living in this world and you could see how some of them still struggled with the transition and having no memory. This is a very interesting idea and I am still interested to see what happens next and where the boys (and Theresa) go from here.
Overall I liked the suspense and excitement of the book. I wanted to find out what happened and I was invested in the characters, but I'm not thrilled. I'm not sure why I cuoldn't connect very well with this book, but something put me off. I'll have to see how The Scorch Trials compare. I do recommend the read though because it was enjoyable and very thrilling.
I think everyone has a favorite alternate world they love slipping into after a long day of work or school. I know I have several that I love to explore. Whether you like fantasy, paranormal, sci-fi, adventure, mysteries or contemporary, any book takes you to a world where certain rules don't apply. I love to use my imagination to examine the amazing possibilities which can be explored in a world that is fictional! These are just some of my favorites.
1) The Wizarding World - Harry Potter was one of the first books I remember pretending to live in and wanting to be a part of. Just knowing that JK. Rowling has more of this world mapped out in her imagination, and she hasn't shared, sometimes drives me crazy. I would devour anything she wrote pertaining to magic.
2) Percy Jackson's Reality - I've had a love of the Greek Gods from a young age and reading about Percy's adventures make me not so secretly with I could go to Camp Half-Blood. Controlling water would be fairly awesome too...
3) Night Circus - If I could travel around in the Night Circus around the world, I think I would be happy forever. I loved the twist on magic in this book and the magical feats in this book are mesmerizing. It would would be fantastical to step inside this story.
4) Shadowhunter World - Even though the Shadowhunter World is also set in present day, I really loved the Infernal Devices. I am a little bit in love with Victorian England too so if I could step back in time that would be really awesome.
5) Vessel - I just finished Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst and I loved it so much! I was enchanted with the dessert world of tradition, freedom and magic. The clans and gods were really interesting and Liyana was one of my favorite heroines that I've read in a long time.
This week I've been thinking about all the series I've started and loved, but even though I have the books I haven't finished them! I really want to finish as many of these as I can before the end of the year. These are only out of series that I own all the book and are completed. So some of my favorites actually are missing!
1) Castor Chronicles - I have the last two books in this series to read. I really enjoyed Beautiful Creatures and Beautiful Darkness so I am very excited to see what happens to Lena and Ethan next!
2) Beka Cooper Series - You all know how much I love Tamora Pierce. Sadly, I am very far behind on reading one of her newest series. I loved Terrier so I cannot wait to jump back into Tortall and finish reading Beka's story.
3) The Heroes of Olympus - I loved the first books The Lost Hero. I cannot wait to read Son of Neptune and I've already pre-ordered House of Hades so I'm ready to get caught up.
4) Girl of Nightmares Duology - I love Supernatural so of course I was obsessed with Anna Dressed in Blood and I've heard things only get better.
5) Wolves of Mercy Falls Series - I read Shiver over a year ago so I'm pumped to finally have the other two books in this series to finish it off.
The biggest reason I haven't finished these is because I don't have enough time! As soon as I find the time to read these books, I will be tearing through them.
I cannot believe how quickly September has flown by. I did a lot of book related things this month! I've made two trips to the library and bought myself some birthday presents. I ended up reading nine books this month!
Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters. By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect. As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.
This series is simply addictive. Once I started I could not stop! I finished this series in a week simply because they were fun engaging reads that pulled me in. I borrowed Hex Hall from my local library then had to steal Demon Glass and Spell Bound from my friend who had check them out rather than read the other books I had picked.
Sophie is such a great character. I loved her sass and her quick wit really keeps the dialogue moving. I think what I love most about her is even though she's thrown into a world she doesn't understand, she doesn't take anyone's crap. She fires right back at people who attack her and she's very loyal to her friends and family. I just love her! One of my biggest pet peeves in books is main characters who whine. Sophie kicks butt and doesn't complain about her problems. She takes her situation in hand and keeps moving.
This is not the most complex plot line in the book world and it isn't the most original. The story isn't overly complex, but it kept me engaged and interested. I didn't start reading this expecting more so I was perfectly satisfied with this story. So even though I'm gushing about how much I love it, have that in the back of your mind. I think that is what I liked most about it though. Of course, I found things I didn't like or had problems with, but I didn't care. I just kept reading. It was a fast, fun read that was easy and mindless. There were things I could predict, but other twists I didn't expect.
Demon Glass was my favorite book in the series I think. I loved seeing Sophie's relationship develop with dad in that book. Plus I think it is the most mysterious and has the best plot twists. I want Jenna as a best friend and I'll date Archer if Sophie isn't interested.Sophie's love interests are fun and amusing. I always wanted magical powers and I'll take them even if I have to go to Hex Hall. Because even with all its faults, I thought it seemed homey like a run down mini Hogwarts in the middle of a tiny island.
This is the first series I've read in rapid sequence for a while and I've missed being so engaged and immersed in a book. I had a lot of fun reading this book. Overall, this series isn't my favorite that I've read this year, but it is one of the ones I've enjoyed the most. I would highly recommend these if you enjoy easy reads and chick-lit stories.
Welcome to the second week of Bookish Five Friday! This is a weekly post I started to feature my Five Favorites of something book related. This week's theme is favorite places to read! This can be areas in your house, libraries, favorite benches in the park! Wherever you love to read most.
1) My Couch in My Room - This is my absolute favorite place to read. I have very few distractions and I can always find a comfortable position.
2) Outside- I often read either on my porch or my back deck which can be awesome, but sometimes nature distracts me. Sometimes I read in the local park as well.
3) In my car - If I get somewhere early, I like to wait and read in my car rather than going in and awkwardly standing around. I also just discovered the joys of audiobooks and have been listening to them as I drive.
4) At Work - On my lunch and during breaks I tend to wander around the building and find a comfy space to read. I'm lucky that the building I work in has several areas that well lit and have comfy chairs.
5) In Bed - I like to read in bed because it is comfortable, but I often fall asleep. Its a love/hate relationship.
This week is Banned Books Week. This week readers celebrate the freedom to read and bring awareness to the issue of banned books. Banning books is a process that prevents libraries from having certain books in their collection.
The American Library Association explains on their Banned Book Week site, "A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. A banning is the removal of those materials. Challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or library, thereby restricting the access of others. As such, they are a threat to freedom of speech and choice."
You can find out more about Banned Book Weekhereand here. You can also see a list of some of the most challenged/banned books here. Also I found this really cool post on tumblr that has more links about Banned Book Week and Banned Books in general. You can see that HERE! I know that is a lot of links, but it is very interesting and important to know about censorship and when books get banned it hurts everyone.
Even though I don't plan on reading any banned books this week, some books that I have read and enjoyed are on the list. Luckily my parents never censored what I read when I was younger and I was allowed to explore literature to my heart's content.
Here are some popular books that have been challenged or banned.
This is a new feature I'll be starting here on keepcalmwithbooksandcoffee. I'm sure there are variations out there, but this is the one I came up with! I participate in Top Ten Tuesday pretty regularly and this is a similar idea. My own variation is meant to be shorter and I usually have more time at the end of the week than on Tuesdays! Sometimes it will just be pictures and other times I'm sure there will be a lot of text!
This week I will be featuring five books I remember reading as a kid. These are five books that I really remember All of these books were obsessions at some point in my childhood. Since I was a nine year old girl at one point in my life there is evidence that I was obsessed with horses. I also really liked historical fiction.
From top left to bottom right:
1) The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
2) My Side Of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
3) Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
It's been several generations since a genetic experiment gone wrong caused the Reduction, decimating humanity and giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.
Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family's estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot's estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth--an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go.
But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret--one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she's faced with a choice: cling to what she's been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she's ever loved, even if she's lost him forever.
Inspired by Jane Austen's Persuasion, For Darkness Shows the Stars is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it.
My favorite Jane Austen book is Persuasion and this book takes that story on in a way I never imagined could work. I never read a Persuasion adaptation up until now because I simply love the original story so much. I was hopeful, but ready to be disappointed even though I'd heard very good things about this book. I am so happy that this was my first venture into Persuasion adaptations. It is brilliant!!
Even though this is an adaptions, it woks well on its own. Peterfreund has set up a society which is familiar because of the influx of dystopian style books in YA recently. Elliot North is part of a ruling minority of Luddites who have outlawed technology and most forms of advancement because of the Reduction, a virus that spread through a large part of the population after a genetic experiment went wrong. The Reduction resulted in the Reduced, a population of people who rely on the Luddites to care for them. For generations the society has relied on Reduced labor to make Luddite farms profitable. This repression has now come to a boiling point and Elliot is caught in the middle. She wants to care for the people who work for her even though her father and sister seem to foster no concern. She begins to take risks to protect the people she cares about while going against her family and her society's beliefs.
The world building is excellent. There are lots of details about the beliefs and history of this society that make it real and complete for the reader. The excellent world building is one of the reason I think this book would work so well on its own and why it worked so well as an adaptation. The rigid structure of Elliot's world reminds me a lot of Regency England and was an excellent way to separate Elliot and Kai like Anne and Wentworth were separated. There were definitely some darker elements to this book as well which I thought were well explored and not glossed over. While Kai and his friends have become rich and powerful because they escaped their situations. It is clear that not everyone is as lucky and that tensions in the North family run deeper that they first appear.
The elements of Persuasion are beautiful weaved into Peterfreund's original story. I think she really captured Jane Austen's characters and put them in a fresh setting especially Anne/Elliot. Where Anne is trapped by Regency England etiquette and values, Elliot is trapped by the laws and religion of the Luddite Society. Both of them want and dream of more but are bound by duty and obligation. If you know Persuasion at all, you know how important letters are in that story. I thought the use of letters to introduce the reader to Elliot and Kai's past relationship was superb. It was a great way to introduce more information about the world and give the reader a back story without overwhelming us with information. I would love to have a discussion about the two settings and the differences in the characters because there is so many similarities, but also striking differences.
While I knew how the story was going to end, I really enjoyed the new setting and fresh take on the characters and how this story played out in a different setting. I'm looking forward to Peterfreund's next book, Across the Star Swept Sea, which comes out next month and takes place in this same world.
Rating - 5/5
Update: I also put up a bit of a review where I talked about the book on my Youtube channel!
