tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85037703838930627832024-03-12T19:07:31.004-04:00For The Love Of BooksWrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00298857112810759041noreply@blogger.comBlogger259125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503770383893062783.post-62641264348198798652020-02-11T19:30:00.001-05:002020-02-11T19:30:50.088-05:00Where I've Been and Where I'm GoingI haven't posted in a long, long time.<br />
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At first, it was just a hiatus. But over time, I've begun to feel that I don't want to blog anymore. I have a few reasons for this.<br />
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One, I am exhausted all the time. I struggle already with getting out of bed in the morning (I do every morning anyway), and I find most things 3 times more exhausting than the general person seems to. I'm not looking for pity, this is just the facts. <br />
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Two, I have been reading less due to stress and school, and I am unsure when I will get my "regular" reading pattern back (ie 50-90 books a year).<br />
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Finally, the blogging and book community is, in many ways, petty and toxic. That isn't to say that my lovely followers and blogger friends are this way. That isn't even to say that the average reader or blogger is this way, either. But there are individuals and groups in the "book-sphere" which just HAVE to make drama all the time, and I am so exhausted every time I find out there is a new set of drama or feuds. I fear being the target of this kind of drama myself someday, and I get nervous that I will have the "wrong" opinion of a book. I've also noticed a parallel, opposite push that ridicules readers who want diversity in books; I have read reviews of books with nonbinary characters that have only been posted, seemingly, to make fun of nonbinary people. I'm tired of this. There is no need to attack readers for what they like, there is no need to hate on marginalized people because some of them get a bit riled up sometimes, or because you don't understand them. I'm done with worrying about being bullied online, I'm done with seeing drama everywhere, I'm done with it all.<br />
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This is not to say that I will never post reviews again. Someday, I may start up my blog again. I may post reviews on Goodreads. I may post snippets of my thoughts on Twitter or Instagram. And I am definitely going to keep my social media because I want to stay connected to my awesome blogger and reader friends (whose blogs and social media feeds I look at often, by the way. I'm just not always so sure of what to say in the comments! But I am there, I swear). But I don't want to worry about this anymore, I don't want to wear myself out when I'm already so tired, and I feel that right now, the best way forward is to halt my blog indefinitely.<br />
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I hope you will all still follow me on my various social media because I do value the connections I have made through my blog and passion for books. I'm still me, I'm still here.<br />
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Thanks. <br />
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<br />Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00298857112810759041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503770383893062783.post-26023156181629797882019-08-15T14:32:00.000-04:002019-08-15T14:34:09.791-04:00Dark Secrets 2 by Elizabeth Chandler<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="6744949" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388865920l/6744949.jpg" width="215" /></div>
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Series: Dark Secrets</div>
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Author: Elizabeth Chandler<br />
Page Count: 599<br />
Published: May 4th, 2010<br />
Publisher: Simon Pulse<br />
3 Stars ★★★</div>
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This young adult bind-up contains books 3 and 4 of the Dark Secrets series. In "No Time to Die", we follow a girl attending a theater camp where her sister died. The mystery of her death remains unsolved, but a supernatural mystery - and a love triangle - complicate things further. In "The Deep End of Fear", Kate returns to the Westbrook Estate where her friend Ashley drowned many years before. Tutoring the young Patrick, she starts to fear the possibility of dangerous family dynamics, and even the paranormal. Will she suffer from another loss? Or will she be the one to die this time?<br />
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Both of these books are best described as enjoyable, but not particularly memorable.<br />
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The atmospheres in both stories were definitely creepy and tense, which was a major strength. Overall, the characters were interesting, likeable, and made me want to keep reading. However, the second story felt way too drawn out, and at times quite boring.<br />
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I appreciate the hint of romance in both stories, although the first story had a bit more romance than the second. I like that there was a paranormal or supernatural element to both mysteries, however it wasn't too intense or overpowering the "real life" mysteries that the characters faced. It was very balanced.<br />
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I think that the reveal of the first book's villain, and their motives, was a bit too unbelievable for me. I also found that there were some annoying cliches, such as the whole "villain explains evil plan to the hero" trope.<br />
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Overall, these books were interesting, but I'm not interested enough to keep them in my book collection. I recommend this for fans of Elizabeth Chandler's first two Dark Secrets books, and for those looking for a short mystery.<br />
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Find Dark Secrets 2 on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6744949-no-time-to-die-the-deep-end-of-fear">Goodreads </a>Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00298857112810759041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503770383893062783.post-88740772178092685222019-07-23T21:51:00.002-04:002019-07-23T21:51:28.105-04:00Huntress by Malinda Lo + Crossed by Ally Condie <div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Huntress" height="320" id="coverImage" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1306722698l/9415946.jpg" width="210" /></div>
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Series:N/A</div>
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Author: Malinda Lo <br />
Page Count: 371<br />
Published: December 11th, 2012<br />
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers <br />
2.5 Stars ★★</div>
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Huntress is about powerful sage Taisin and mundane Kaede, who live in a world where crops are failing, people are starving, and their home is in danger. The girls are selected to travel to Tanlili, where they are to speak with the Fairy Queen. But the journey to Tanlili possesses dangers, and some may not make it out alive. Not to mention the girls' hearts, which may be falling for each other.<br />
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I really enjoyed Ash, a Cinderella retelling by Malinda Lo. As a result I was hoping to enjoy Huntress, but unfortunately, I didn't. It wasn't the worst book ever, but I'd rather have skipped it had I known it would be like this.<br />
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My main issue is with the pacing. It made it very boring. After about 25% of the book, I was just skimming large parts, entire chapters. There was wayyyyy too much description! It kind of feels like the author was just spouting off description to fill the book up! This book could have been better....were it about 100 pages thinner.<br />
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I did like the sort of tense, almost resistant romance the two girls developed. Taisin, as a sage, would end up celibate for her whole life, so she was really uncertain concerning starting a romance with Kaede. I thought that added some romantic suspense to the book because I was wondering if she'd choose Kaede, or if she'd abandon her. I also liked the fantasy elements, like the fact that sages even exist as a valid occupation or title in this society, along with the fairies!<br />
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Overall, I can't say I truly enjoyed this, however it wasn't entirely horrible. While there was way too much description for my tastes, I did like the romance and the fairies!<br />
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Find Huntress on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9415946-huntress?ac=1&from_search=true">Goodreads</a><br />
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<img alt="Crossed (Matched, #2)" height="320" id="coverImage" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1374335939l/15812814.jpg" width="203" /></div>
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Series: Matched</div>
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Author: Ally Condie <br />
Page Count: 367<br />
Published: March 12th, 2013<br />
Publisher: Speak <br />
4 Stars ★★★★<br />
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Life forever changed for Cassia in <i>Matched</i> when she dared to question the Society. Now in <i>Crossed</i>, her journey continues as she sneaks away during a camp transfer, and finds herself in the Outer Provinces. She wants to look for the Rebellion and for Ky, who was sent away after the events of Matched, and who she loves.<br />
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But attacks and gunfire are common in the Outer Provinces, and she must travel far to reach the Rebellion. She's not sure if she will even find Ky.....will she survive?<br />
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This was a good follow-up to Matched, and I like that this book focused on the journey through the Outer Provinces, along with Cassia's hopes and fears. This story was told through both Ky and Cassia's viewpoints, which I also enjoyed because it gave me a peek into what both of them were dealing with, particularly since they were often not together.<br />
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I continued to hope that Cassia and Ky would succeed in their mission! But I have to say that I'm not sure if I want Cassia to end up with Ky or Xander. I really like them both! I can't wait to read the next book to see how the trilogy ends.<br />
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Find Crossed on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15812814-crossed?ac=1&from_search=true">Goodreads</a><br />
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<br />Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00298857112810759041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503770383893062783.post-19846975771741069522019-07-03T20:37:00.001-04:002019-07-03T20:37:13.286-04:00Beautiful Cover of the DayHey everyone. I haven't done one of these in a while! But there are so many beautiful book covers I want to share....<br />
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Today I am featuring <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44291755-gravemaidens">Gravemaidens</a>!<br />
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<img alt="44291755" height="400" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1552357109i/44291755.jpg" width="262" /></div>
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I like this cover because all of the elements work together to create a beautiful, striking image. I love the colour scheme, it is interesting because I tend to prefer darker covers but I think the lighter colours work so well here. I like that the colours are fairly faded/toned down except for the bright, bold blue in the middle of the jar/bottle. It really captures my attention.<br />
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I love the font of the title, and the positioning. The slight curve of the letters mirrors or parallels the slant on the top of the bottle/jar, but it isn't too curved.<br />
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The words "beauty is a sacrifice" sound ominous and draw me in so much! I also like how the author's name is prominently displayed, but it does not overwhelm the cover image (as I have seen in some covers).<br />
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What are your thoughts on this book cover?Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00298857112810759041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503770383893062783.post-85209742125814353352019-06-07T23:47:00.000-04:002019-06-07T23:48:46.410-04:00Hotter Blood by Jeff Gelb (Various Authors)<br />
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<img alt="490208" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1175190129l/490208.jpg" width="192" /></div>
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Series: Hot Blood<br />
Author: Jeff Gelb and Various Authors<br />
Page Count: 352<br />
Published: September 1st, 2004<br />
Publisher: Pinnacle <br />
4 Stars ★★★★</div>
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So I can't say too much about the individual stories and plots featured in this anthology, as this would result in a review made of spoilers. So, I am just giving my general thoughts!<br />
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This erotic horror anthology features a range of short stories from contemporary horror to supernatural terrors. All stories have some erotic component to them, but don't worry, this doesn't undermine the scare or creep factor! In most cases, it actually makes the story more creepy. <br />
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This was a great anthology that introduced me to so many new authors. I loved the mix of erotic and horror themes, as I'm interested in genre-bending stories and all the strange and bizarre places our imaginations can go. I really enjoy both erotica and horror on their own, and while I was a bit skeptical about if they would mix well, this anthology showed me that these two genres/themes mix incredibly well under the right circumstances. <br />
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The stories ranged from very scary and shocking to not scary at all. I found a few of the stories were good overall, but I don't think they were suited for a horror anthology. On the other hand, some stories introduced me to concepts and ideas I'd never ever thought of! Many of the authors were very creative and original, and this resulted in me adding even more books to my to-read list. <br />
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I definitely want to read the other erotic horror collections in this anthology series. I recommend this to fans of erotica and horror fiction who want to see an interesting blend of the two. If you want to discover new authors in these genres, this would be a great pick for you.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/490208.Hotter_Blood"><br /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/490208.Hotter_Blood">Find Hotter Blood on Goodreads</a>Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00298857112810759041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503770383893062783.post-49461061913090043842019-05-23T11:27:00.000-04:002019-05-23T11:27:55.329-04:00Let's Talk About Reading in PublicAlright, folks. So with the weather warming up, I am determined to spend more time outside the house this summer. However, I also want to read more this summer. I guess that means I will be reading more outside my house!<br />
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I do have some ideas and concerns about this, though. I want to talk a bit about them, and get your thoughts.<br />
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So first, I want to talk about the benefits of reading outside the house!<br />
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Exercise. You have to walk, or jog, to where you're going to be reading. This is great because there is a library near my house where I want to spend more time, so I get to be surrounded by books <i>and</i> get some exercise!<br />
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Sunlight and fresh air. Reading outside the house can include reading in parks, cemeteries, or at the beach. As a result, this can increase the amount of sunlight and fresh air you get, which is also great.<br />
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<img alt="Bench behind abandoned house" class="photo_image" data-v-677a8a33="" height="300" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7153/6700778003_486ae0ebe8_b.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image found <a href="https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/6cd190f4-63a9-422b-a7e6-618bf480e89c">here</a></span></div>
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Discovering other books. If you decide to go sit at the library to read, you can also browse for more books to read later on!<br />
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An excuse to get ice cream. Hey, I'm outside and sweating in the sun, might as well get some ice cream to cool down!<br />
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I do have some concerns about reading in public, though!<br />
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First off, comfort. I like to sit cross-legged, or stretch my legs on the couch when I read. I can't exactly do that on the park bench. I have to be more careful about taking up space.<br />
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<img alt="13451045" height="400" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1336019727l/13451045.jpg" width="262" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> I would not read <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13451045-bared-to-you">this</a> in public.</span></div>
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The books themselves. The subject matter of a book can be an issue when reading in public. There is the issue of the cover of a book, of course. Many romantic books have very steamy cover scenes, and personally I would not be comfortable reading them in public. Sometimes book titles can be a little raunchy as well! Maybe I am being paranoid here, but I also would avoid reading books such as <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33124137-pet-sematary?ac=1&from_search=true">Pet Sematary</a> or <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12555657-the-smart-aleck-s-guide-to-grave-robbing?ac=1&from_search=true">The Smart Aleck's Guide to Grave Robbing</a> in the cemetery. <br />
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The sun/heat. Of course, while getting more sun and fresh air is great, if it is too hot or sunny outside, you might find yourself regretting settling outside for a read.<br />
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People. People might come up to you and ask to talk about what you are reading. This is an issue for me because I am introverted and socially awkward.<br />
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What are your thoughts on reading in public? Do you agree with my pros/cons? Are there any other benefits or concerns you have that I have missed?<br />
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Happy Reading!<br />
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<br />Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00298857112810759041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503770383893062783.post-9159067470089291302019-05-08T22:00:00.001-04:002019-05-08T22:00:48.446-04:00The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware <br />
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<img alt="28187230" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465878007l/28187230.jpg" width="213" /></div>
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Series: N/A<br />
Author: Ruth Ware<br />
Page Count: 340<br />
Published: July 19th, 2016<br />
Publisher: Gallery/Scout Press<br />
5 Stars ★★★★★</div>
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Lo Blacklock's had a rough few days. She's still shaken up from someone breaking and entering into her house when she is assigned to report on a new luxury cruise ship. Packing up her things, she heads over to board the Aurora, meeting with the small group of people she will be travelling with. All seems well.<br />
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That is, until she hears commotion coming from the cabin next to her one night. Alarmed, she reports to the Aurora's staff, who claim that the cabin next to her is empty. But this can't be true....Lo had previously borrowed mascara from the woman in cabin 10. It becomes clear that somebody is trying to hide a secret, and this secret may prove deadly for Lo.<br />
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So I've recently found myself drawn to mystery books, and this one seemed intriguing and frankly, frightening. Imagine being stuck on a cruise ship with a possible murderer! This book unsettled me quite a bit, and the character of Lo Blacklock was a perfect narrator for this story.<br />
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I pretty much liked Lo immediately, and the connection with her started when she experienced the break and enter. The author doesn't hesitate to commence the tension and stress, which made me want to keep reading because, despite the main plot not really starting until a short while after the beginning of the book, her experiences demanded my empathy and attention. This was a great set-up for the terrifying mystery to come! This was great because as the story progressed, I have to admit that I second-guessed Lo's sanity and wondered if maybe she had imagined the commotion from cabin 10. Even if I thought she could possibly be overreacting, I still really rooted for her.<br />
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There were some great twists and turns in this mystery. I honestly did not see them coming! This tends to be an issue for me because the genres that I usually read, mainly young adult books, have become somewhat predictable for me, so it's nice to take a break from that and truly be baffled and consumed by a mystery! For this reason I'd recommend this book to those looking for novels that offer something different than they're used to reading, especially if you're looking for something unpredictable.<br />
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Overall I really loved this book and I will be reading more of this author's work in the future!<br />
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Find The Woman in Cabin 10 on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28187230-the-woman-in-cabin-10?ac=1&from_search=true">Goodreads</a><br />
<br />Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00298857112810759041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503770383893062783.post-23686409756739645242019-04-21T15:40:00.003-04:002019-04-21T15:40:37.246-04:00Summer PlansI know it is technically not summer yet, but the school year has ended so for me, this is the start of "summer"!<br />
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I want to talk about summer plans. First off, I am planning on blogging regularly again. Finally, I can relax (if my stressed out brain lets me!), so I can read more and concentrate on my blog :)<br />
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I am also planning on walking down to the library a lot. I live fairly close to it, so it is an incentive for exercise, plus many books I want to read! It's nice for when I want to get out of the house and not spend money.<br />
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I am thinking of making a summer TBR list. I have some books I definitely want to get to this summer, generally thicker books I don't have the time to really get into during the school year. Among these books are my copy of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60200.The_120_Days_of_Sodom_and_Other_Writings">The 120 Days of Sodom and Other Writings</a> (which has been.....an experience so far),<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25494343-lady-midnight?ac=1&from_search=true"> Lady Midnight</a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30312891-lord-of-shadows?from_search=true">Lord of Shadows</a> (the second of which I received for Christmas!),<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17927395-a-court-of-mist-and-fury?ac=1&from_search=true"> A Court of Mist and Fury</a>, and the soon-to-be-released <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42803864-bedlam">Bedlam</a>! <br />
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<img alt="Lord of Shadows (The Dark Artifices, #2)" height="320" id="coverImage" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1479513427l/30312891.jpg" width="212" /></div>
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However, I don't want to put too many books on this list, as I also need to make sure that I have enough time to read library books as well (I never have time to visit the library during the school year). Do you make a summer TBR list? Is it definitive, or do you just choose a few select books that you make sure to sprinkle throughout your summer reading?<br />
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I am also hoping to get some planning and maybe even part of a draft done for the story I am working on. I really worked on world-building throughout the year, so maybe I can get things going on this project.<br />
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I don't really have any other summer plans, besides working. No traveling, no major get-togethers, just a nice, chill summer. <br />
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Just some important reminders: make sure to drink lots of water this summer! Don't forget to wear sunscreen, and try to have fun!<br />
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Do you have any summer plans?Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00298857112810759041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503770383893062783.post-51343483782266655812019-03-12T17:18:00.001-04:002019-03-12T17:18:23.680-04:00Beautiful Book CoversToday I want to talk about some more beautiful book covers! I am featuring a trilogy with covers I love!<br />
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<img alt="22878967" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1507308087l/22878967.jpg" /> </div>
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<img alt="An Echo of Things to Come (The Licanius Trilogy, #2)" id="coverImage" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1487139774l/32498052.jpg" /></div>
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<img alt="36111098" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1506350738l/36111098.jpg" /></div>
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I love these covers for a lot of reasons. I think they're just so pleasing to the eye, but what I really love about them is the colour scheme. I love the mostly grey scale colours with a big pop of orange, blue, or red. It makes them stick out from other books to me, and it is simple enough, but not boring. It is interesting, but not overwhelming either.<br />
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What do you think of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/136308-the-licanius-trilogy">these covers</a>?Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00298857112810759041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503770383893062783.post-25398262344352005762019-02-10T14:55:00.001-05:002019-02-10T14:55:21.065-05:00The Blood Keeper by Tessa Gratton + Vamps by Nancy A. Collins<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="The Blood Keeper (The Blood Journals, #2)" height="320" id="coverImage" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1332099441l/12476341.jpg" width="211" /></div>
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Series: The Blood Journals <br />
Author: Tessa Gratton <br />
Page Count: 432<br />
Published: August 28th, 2012<br />
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers<br />
3 Stars ★★★<br />
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Mab is the new Deacon, leader of those who practice blood magic. Blood magic is a normal part of life for her, living on a farm, spending time with other blood witches like herself. Her peaceful existence is threatened, however, when she awakens a curse.<br />
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Will is an ordinary boy in an ordinary town. One day, a humanoid creature made of mud attacks him and he meets Mab. She's strange, and he tries to dismiss what happened, but a strange bruise leads him back to her, where he learns that he is now marked by a dangerous curse.<br />
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I really enjoyed Blood Magic, and I thought I'd love the sequel just as much, but honestly I can't say that I did. I liked Mab and Will, they were both interesting and good people, and I love how they were brought together through magic, but the book just took too long to get really, truly interesting. It was too slow paced for me. I spent a good portion of the book just wondering when the action was going to really get started!<br />
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I liked that the author included writings from the past, like from Mab's ancestor. It filled in the blanks and foreshadowed what was going to come. Sometimes I feel it distracted a bit from the main plot, though. And it made the book seem even more slow than it already was. </div>
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Overall, I did enjoy reading about Mab and Will, but this book could have been a lot better. The pacing was too slow for me and it took too long for the action to really get going! </div>
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Find The Blood Keeper on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12476341-the-blood-keeper?ac=1&from_search=true">Goodreads</a></div>
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<img alt="Vamps (Vamps, #1)" height="320" id="coverImage" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348980519l/2406857.jpg" width="212" /></div>
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Series: Vamps<br />
Author: Nancy A. Collins<br />
Page Count: 235<br />
Published: July 22nd, 2008<br />
Publisher: HarperTeen<br />
2 Stars ★★</div>
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Lilith is the daughter of a very rich vampire, and as an Old Blood vampire herself, she attends Bathory Academy, a night school for young female vampires. Going out with her friends one night to find some humans for dinner, she gets into a fight with a New Blood, Cally. Vampire hunters descend upon them and kill one of Lilith's friends, leaving Lilith hating Cally and blaming her for the death. </div>
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Cally is upset when she learns that she must leave her New Blood school and attend the Old Blood Bathory Academy. After narrowly escaping vampire hunters, she must now deal with the wrath of Lilith at school. Furthermore, one vampire hunter seems particularly interested in her, and she thinks she might be developing feelings for him too. </div>
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I picked this up because I love vampires! And the idea of vampire feuds sounded really interesting to me. Unfortunately I found myself pretty disappointed.<br />
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First off, the characters weren't developed very well. They all seemed very shallow and I wish that the author had taken more time to make them seem more real. I outright hated Lilith, and I think I was supposed to care about Cally but I honestly didn't. I also think the romance between the vampire hunter and Cally was very unrealistic and happened way too fast.<br />
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There didn't seem to be any concrete plot to this book, so I kept reading wondering where this was going. Nothing seemed really connected to a greater story-line.<br />
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I did like the author's writing style, her choice of words was excellent in my opinion. I also thought there was an interesting twist near the end. Had the story been more solid and the characters more developed, this could have been a great book. Unfortunately it didn't really do it for me.<br />
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Find Vamps on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2406857.Vamps?ac=1&from_search=true">Goodreads</a></div>
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Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00298857112810759041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503770383893062783.post-27489089548548500732019-01-26T19:04:00.001-05:002019-01-26T19:04:39.855-05:00Awesome Things about eBooksHey everyone! So with the rise of technology, we've seen an increase in the ways we can read books. Whether we still read them mostly in physical form, in audiobook form, or via eBook apps on our phones and eReaders, there are so many choices and possibilities out there.<br />
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I always wonder what we are going to come up with next! It seems like we are continuously developing new ways to read, create, and listen to books and stories.<br />
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With that in mind, I want to talk about some things I really like about eBooks!<br />
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First off, they are super portable. I use my phone to download eReading apps, and it is so nice to just be able to pull out my phone and read! No carrying around bulky books, no worrying about bending the cover because I put it back in my bag too roughly.<br />
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I love being able to read thick books in eBook editions, because that saves room on my shelves, in my bags, and in my hands. It is especially useful on the bus where books, both thin and thick, are at risk of being dirtied or ruined by snow and dust and people stepping on it if I drop it.<br />
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Another awesome thing about eBooks is that authors have more options when publishing their work. No longer do authors rely on big publishers to have their stories read and appreciated. There are lots of independent publishers that give authors platforms for short stories, stand alone novels, and series. Some publishing options allow even the most inexperienced writers to publish their work, which allows them to receive feedback from readers and ultimately improve their writing skills.<br />
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Ebooks often cost less than physical books, which can be great for people on a budget. On the other end of this, though, is that unfortunately some people may not have access to eBooks for financial reasons. They may be unable to afford a compatible phone or other device, leaving them with only physical books for entertainment.<br />
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Overall, it seems that eBooks offer many advantages to both readers and authors alike, although there are difficulties accessing eBooks for some individuals. Do you see any other advantages, or even disadvantages, with eBooks? Do you prefer eBooks over physical books?<br />
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Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00298857112810759041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503770383893062783.post-7803166703836592752019-01-02T18:18:00.000-05:002019-01-02T18:18:00.445-05:00Happy 2019!Happy New Year everyone!<br />
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I hope you all had a great 2018, and I hope you all have an even better 2019!<br />
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How did all of you do concerning your book and reading goals for 2018? I achieved my goals, reading 72 books in 2018, with most books being 4 stars reads. According to my Goodreads stats, I read over 22 thousand pages!<br />
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This year, my reading goal is 50 books, though I hope I get to read more.<br />
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Concerning the new school semester, I will try my best to keep up my blog, because I really do miss blogging. But again, it depends on the work load. If it's anything like last semester, unfortunately blogging regularly may have to become a summer thing. I hope you can all be patient with me! I still think you're all awesome.<br />
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Do you have any non-reading resolutions for the new year?<br />
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Personally, my resolution is really just to take better care of my mental health. Whether that's through self care, or not hesitating to talk to someone when I'm struggling, I think I need to focus on myself a bit more.<br />
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Have a great year, everyone!Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00298857112810759041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503770383893062783.post-34247047767537574002018-12-05T00:45:00.002-05:002018-12-05T00:45:21.938-05:00LifeI'm not sure how to title this post so I'm just going to keep it simple. Life. Because thats what this post is about.<br />
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I'm making this post because I haven't posted here in a very long time. I just wanted to talk about why that is.<br />
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In my previous post on this topic I talk a lot about school, and how school is very stressful. I also talk about the stress of student loans. The truth is, this is more than school stress. I'm going to be honest here. This is honestly a growing despair that I've been dealing with.<br />
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I have quite a few mental health issues, and the stress of school and living off student loans and having to work very hard to keep my scholarship has drained me entirely. I have barely been reading for fun, and when I do read, it's on the bus, usually. The rest of the time I am doing school work, or trying to relax my brain after doing hours of school work and constantly stressing about everything from my health to my grades.<br />
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I don't want any of you thinking I'm too lazy to blog, or that I don't care about you. I think you're all so awesome. The reason I haven't been posting or leaving comments on your blogs lately is because every little thing feels so draining when every single day is characterized by varying degrees of stress about different things.<br />
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When I say despair, I mean it in the literal sense. Sometimes my mind spirals into a very dark place and I have to work hard to lift myself up again. Getting up in the morning has become a challenge. I'm serious when I say I'm worried about my sanity.<br />
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I'm not posting this for pity. I'm posting this for several reasons.<br />
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First off, so many of you comment and interact with me on my blog or twitter or whatever and it just makes me so happy when you do that. I feel like I have a kind of friendship with many of you, and I don't want any of you to think I don't care about you anymore, or that I am just abandoning blogging and interacting with you awesome people.<br />
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Second, I believe in open dialogue about mental health. I think that talking about our mental health struggles openly can help to diminish the stigma around these issues. I don't really have anything to lose by talking about it, so I guess I'll contribute to a culture that I hope will someday become a better place for the mentally ill. And the low income, as well. <br />
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Third, I am honestly just kind of tired of keeping on this mask that everything is ok and that I'm great. I tend to use exclamation marks a lot (at least in my perception) and I think I do that subconsciously because I want to come across as upbeat and fun despite the stress and pressure. I just want to take a second to put some context out there, to reveal a bit of who I am beyond reviews and fun tags and all that.<br />
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Again, I'm not looking for pity or anything. I just think that for those of you who like my blog, who like <i>me</i>, it's only fair that I'm honest and open about why I haven't been online much lately. I'm the kind of person who tends to power through things and persevere, so leaving my blog as I have has made me very uneasy.<br />
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I'll be back someday, I just can't guarantee when. For now, I'll mostly be here through the occasional tweet or instagram post.<br />
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Thanks.<br />
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Also please excuse any grammatical or spelling errors. It's one in the morning 😝Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00298857112810759041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503770383893062783.post-82074194851236412332018-10-24T16:07:00.000-04:002018-10-24T16:07:21.112-04:00Where Have I Been?!?!?!?Hey everyone! So I haven't posted on here in a while, and I haven't been too active on social media either.<br />
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I figured I should make a little update post to explain things.<br />
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It's actually fairly simple...school. Holy mother of chocolate, school.<br />
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This semester has been absolutely <i>brutal</i> so far. I have so many more readings for my classes than before. The readings are longer, and more dense. I also have to do lots of close reading because we have assignments based on the readings. So, I have to put all of my energy into the readings as well! I have to see all the fine little details.<br />
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My assignments have been super intense as well, not to mention mid-term exams and tests. Overall, I am so exhausted. It's made worse by the fact that I have to keep my grades up to keep my scholarship (or else I'll have to pay extra, and as someone on student loans, that is a very scary possibility.)<br />
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So, please forgive my absence. I still love books, and all you awesome blogger friends! I've just been so busy and so tired. It's been a very stressful semester. Hopefully once things settle down a bit, I'll be able to blog regularly again!<br />
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Happy reading!<br />
<br />Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00298857112810759041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503770383893062783.post-54076445244390822012018-09-27T21:11:00.001-04:002018-09-27T21:11:50.298-04:00House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski<br />
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<img alt="House of Leaves" id="coverImage" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1494697179l/337907.jpg" /></div>
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Series: N/A<br />
Author: Mark Z. Danielewski<br />
Page Count: 709<br />
Published: March 7th, 2000<br />
Publisher: Pantheon Books<br />
4 Stars ★★★★</div>
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House of Leaves follows the story of Zampano, Johnny Truant, and Will Navidson. Told through footnotes, a text-book style narrative, and editor's notes, the tale of a house that is a bit larger on the inside than on the outside unfolds. With exhibits and appendixes to enrich the story, the fear, confusion, and mystery behind Navidson's home is explored.<br />
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Zampano, the mysterious author of the Navidson Record manuscript, passes away, leaving the manuscript behind. Johnny Truant acquires it, and finds that it changes his life. The tale of the impossible house is more than just a story, and the eeriness of the account seems to bleed into the real world. Add the fact that Zampano was blind and that The Navidson Record, the supposed documentary film that Zampano's story details, doesn't exist, and you get a world of intrigue.<br />
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I bought this book because I'm looking to get into more horror-style stories. I was surprised by the book, however I can't really say I was truly scared. There were a few moments in the book that were genuinely eerie, but the almost academic-style narrative of the Navidson Record killed any fear that I might have surrounding the whole house situation. Characters did face scary situations, but I was never simply scared overall but rather scared for them. That's really why this book lost a star.....something was missing in the scare-factor.<br />
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This book definitely gets points for uniqueness. I've never read anything like it before. There are multiple stories being told in this book, and while I worried that it could be hard to keep track of them all, it honestly wasn't tough at all. There is a lot of flipping back and forth, what with referring to the exhibits, appendixes, etc.., but everything seemed really organized.<br />
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There are points when you have to flip this book to the side, upside down, or look in a mirror (or really focus to read the backwards letters). At times I was a bit annoyed, to be perfectly honest, especially concerning some of the pages that had just a few words, but the novelty aspect of this book overshadowed any annoyance I had.<br />
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The characters were all quite interesting, with Zampano being a mystery, Johnny being a complex character with problems of his own, and of course the characters of the Navidson Record providing an intriguing narrative. I admired Will Navidson's curiosity and determination. Honestly, if my house were as freaky as his had been, I'd just get out of there! But instead he wanted to explore and to understand what was going on. I have to admit I often empathized with his partner, Karen. She was worried about him and wanted him to stop exploring, and I really understood her worries. Seeing both sides of the conflict like this really added to my experience reading this, because I couldn't decide what I wanted! So of course I kept reading, to see the outcome.<br />
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I can't say too much more, because this seems to be the kind of book that you have to really experience yourself. I could go on about the story, but this book is more than just the story. The format really affects the reader's perception of the story, which I obviously can't detail online! If you're curious about this book, I'd suggest picking it up. Just be prepared for a long read, some slower parts, flipping your book upside-down, and reading backwards.<br />
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I recommend this book to those looking for a unique mystery. If you like unusual books, this book is definitely for you.<br />
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Find House of Leaves on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/337907.House_of_Leaves">Goodreads</a><br />
<br />Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00298857112810759041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503770383893062783.post-46972420719806193932018-09-11T16:25:00.000-04:002018-09-11T16:25:46.333-04:00Book TalkHey everyone!<br />
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Today I wanted to talk about books (as usual).<br />
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As someone who uses Goodreads, I often see my Goodreads friends' shelves, including their currently reading shelves. Sometimes, I see people who only read one book at a time. Other times, I see five or six books shelved as currently reading!<br />
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Personally, I tend to read two books at once: one physical, and one eBook. I tend to read the eBook on the bus. Sometimes, there will be three books on my currently reading shelf because I have received a review copy. How many books do you tend to read at a time?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8BFOSzDK0YnFzbvSr5UYaqaEEkuybfMRF5npK8JYHZDBhWFeno2wvt56g3cKWR4SH_Sl8q4hEETQOi23-xXIxzHwloR2ZGffbdvKE013_wap0sWsKiYgBBPu46-pouX7-DmJz1EWw48/s1600/6455273941_445742459a_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8BFOSzDK0YnFzbvSr5UYaqaEEkuybfMRF5npK8JYHZDBhWFeno2wvt56g3cKWR4SH_Sl8q4hEETQOi23-xXIxzHwloR2ZGffbdvKE013_wap0sWsKiYgBBPu46-pouX7-DmJz1EWw48/s320/6455273941_445742459a_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">This image was found <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/dennisredfield/6455273941/in/photolist-aQqY3z-nEFRJ3-LrtXni-eQBiZQ-aqMT9Z-25kProL-MrDaoo-d2DDHQ-hMjcZv-24GQ7tT-QdxJCQ-XLk1Np-dZgwkp-LimL95-ushHJT-28J551C-J83wgp-4mY6nH-8pUqqL-6FfP8X-6snYp8-EUzVU-4pT9JP-EAwEc-uSdq8-fZqUJk-6QYxG7-aygkJR-7AUiY8-3AZrg-6byeQD-sgf4dd-4qqCgW-ySLby-97Uvc3-7fbqDb-7JGpz4-MYHw7D-wkyzS-uACt5-7JkJKS-aqWPdt-89D449-f199R-dZEx1o-6yvFBn-gjDrZY-P7Sf4-shCw2-9zkG3N">here</a> </span></div>
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I was also thinking about books as de-stressors. When you have four papers due in the next two weeks, or work is getting stressful, I suggest taking some time to relax and read. As a university student, I have a lot of assignments and assigned readings. However, I find myself managing them by dividing the readings into blocks, with breaks in between. I like to relax and read for fun during these breaks. I also like to set goals each day: for example, I make myself read two of my assigned readings one night, and then get to relax and read for fun for the rest of the night. This way, I have an incentive to push through my assignments. I use reading for fun as a reward. It's also great when I get stressed about assignments to remind myself that I have tons of awesome books waiting to be read....that I'll be able to read non-stop during winter and summer break.<br />
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Finally, I wanted to discuss reading on the bus. I mentioned earlier that I tend to read my eBooks on the bus. I read them on the ride to and from school, and I like them because they help me to wake up, or to wind down after my classes. They help the bus ride go by faster as well, which is great.<br />
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Do you have any similar, or different, reading habits?<br />
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<br />Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00298857112810759041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503770383893062783.post-8829628531482450882018-08-27T15:37:00.000-04:002018-08-27T15:37:05.240-04:00Unleashed by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie<br />
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<img alt="Unleashed (Wolf Springs Chronicles, #1)" height="320" id="coverImage" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320558976l/10890808.jpg" width="211" /></div>
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Series: Wolf Springs Chronicles <br />
Author: Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie<br />
Page Count: 382<br />
Published: November 22nd, 2011<br />
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers<br />
4 Stars ★★★★</div>
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Katelyn's mother dies suddenly, and she is sent to live with her grandfather in Wolf Springs. Living in a house in the woods, she feels isolated and yearns for her home in L.A. She fears that she'll never achieve her dreams now, stuck in this little town.<br />
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Her life is about to get a lot more complicated. Everything from the town's name to the legends of the Hellhound seem to involve wolves, and her grandfather refuses to allow her to go in the woods alone. Two girls die in the woods, seemingly mauled by an animal, and after her own terrifying encounter with a wolf on the road, Katelyn isn't sure what to think.<br />
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I can't say much else without giving some important details away....so forgive my vague descriptions.<br />
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I was not expecting to enjoy this book so much. I thought it would be a typical young adult paranormal story, with a love triangle and some issues with a supernatural hierarchy and maybe a bit of hocus-pocus thrown in. I was right about a few things, but this book still stood out in a positive way.<br />
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I was right about the love triangle. It's fairly tame compared to those in other young adult paranormal romances, but it's still there. It didn't particularly bother me, except that her attraction to the one guy, Justin, seemed really immature? She basically doesn't think around him for the first while. It's like she can't control herself. That really annoyed me. Meanwhile her feelings for Trick seemed a lot more genuine, and I liked him too! So it wasn't entirely a bad thing.<br />
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I was also right that there would be some issues revolving around a supernatural hierarchy. Again, I can't say much without giving anything away, but within the werewolf pack that Katelyn eventually comes across, there are issues with the alpha. I actually didn't mind this part either, because the issues weren't like those typically dealt with in books concerning werewolf packs. There was something added and unique to it....<br />
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I took issue with the pacing of the book. It wasn't horrible by any means, but a lot of the more explicitly paranormal stuff started after the second half, and well into the fourth quarter, which made the first bit drag on quite a bit. It also made the ending seem a bit rushed.<br />
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I certainly would like to read the next book. There are questions still unanswered, and Katelyn was, while sometimes annoying, a pretty nice protagonist. The writing style didn't stand out as either amazing nor terrible, so it's really the story that makes this book a four star read.<br />
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Overall, while this isn't anything too special, there are definitely unique elements throughout the story that make it stand apart from other young adult paranormal books. While the love triangle was a bit irritating at times, the ending left me wondering what would happen next.<br />
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I recommend this to those who love werewolf stories. If you're interested in books that take place in small towns with big secrets, you might want to give this one a try.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10890808-unleashed?ac=1&from_search=true"><br /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10890808-unleashed?ac=1&from_search=true">Find Unleashed on Goodreads</a>Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00298857112810759041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503770383893062783.post-34247459098028537912018-08-17T16:06:00.001-04:002018-08-17T16:08:39.505-04:00Books I am Excited to ReadHello everyone. Today I wanted to talk about some books that I am excited to read! Some of these books haven't been released yet, while others are fairly new releases.<br />
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I am super excited to read <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37541828-midnight?ac=1&from_search=true">Midnight</a> by Derek Landy. This is the new Skulduggery Pleasant book, and as a huge fan of the series, I can't wait to read it!<br />
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I'm excited to read <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29960680-ruin-of-stars?ac=1&from_search=true">Ruin of Stars</a> by Linsey Miller. I enjoyed Mask of Shadows, and I can't wait to read more about Sal!<br />
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I want to read <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40125269-song-of-the-dead">Song of the Dead</a> by Sarah Glenn Marsh, the sequel to Reign of the Fallen. I cannot wait for this book's release!<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36949994-black-wings-beating">Black Wings Beating</a> by Alex London is also on my "Excited to read" list! I enjoyed Proxy and Guardian, so I'm hoping I'll enjoy this one too.<br />
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These are only a few of the books that I am excited to read. If I kept going, this post would be miles long! Are you excited to read any of these? What books are you looking forward to?<br />
<br />Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00298857112810759041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503770383893062783.post-90842030344784932302018-08-07T18:07:00.000-04:002018-08-07T18:07:16.293-04:00Era of Undying by Emilie Knight <br />
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Series: N/A<br />
Author: Emilie Knight <br />
Page Count: 202<br />
Published: January 19th, 2018<br />
Publisher: Createspace<br />
4 Stars ★★★★</div>
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Pen is a Blood Warrior. She can, with a small cut, draw her blood out of her body, and use it as a weapon. Nobody knows that she is the Blood Warrior, so she's worried when she is caught after slaying a group of people, using her blood as a weapon. </div>
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There are more important things going on in her world, though. People aren't dying. The horribly sick remain alive and suffering, and the gravely injured somehow hold on to their consciousness. With the help of Tellus, captain of the city watch, she ventures out to find Nyx, a goddess she hopes can fix this problem. However, the journey won't be easy. </div>
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This was an interesting fantasy, with lots of action. I was excited to accept the author's review request because I've been getting more and more into fantasy. I was not disappointed with this book!</div>
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I thought the characters were all very interesting. Pen had gone through so many trials, dealing with being the Blood Warrior, the loss of her family, and her rough journey to find Nyx. I found her a strong and likeable character, despite her violent side. I became surprisingly attached to Tellus throughout the book, and by the end, I wanted to read more about him! I was sad when the book was over. </div>
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I found the idea of a Blood Warrior very, very interesting. The idea of creating weapons with one's blood greatly appealed to me! Furthermore, the idea of people suffering, yet not dying, was both fascinating and morbid. I love that the author explored some of the consequences of this issue, and sometimes I cringed at the idea of what people may be feeling in such a world. </div>
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I also loved the violence and fighting. I find sometimes that action or fight scenes in books seem like nothing but filler, but the violent and fighting scenes in this book all served a purpose and never felt like just a filler or fluff. </div>
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I do think that this book could have been a bit longer. I wanted to know more about Pen and Tellus. I wanted to spend more time in this world. I wanted more things to happen, more adventures and fights! I also think that this book could use another editing session, as there were many typos throughout. </div>
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Overall this was a very enjoyable fantasy read. With great fighting scenes, interesting characters, and an intriguing premise, I was not disappointed! I recommend this book to those looking for a short fantasy novel with themes of death and family.<br />
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Find Era of Undying on<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38247938-era-of-undying?ac=1&from_search=true"> Goodreads </a></div>
Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00298857112810759041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503770383893062783.post-41229866758280305222018-07-30T21:09:00.000-04:002018-07-30T21:09:52.998-04:00Wicked (Witch & Curse) by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie<div style="text-align: center;">
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Series: Wicked<br />
Author: Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie<br />
Page Count: 672<br />
Published: September 9th, 2008<br />
Publisher: Simon Pulse<br />
4 Stars ★★★★</div>
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Holly Cathers is devastated when her parents and best friend die in an accident. Expecting to move in with her dead best friend's mother, her aunt comes forward, and her friend's mother falls ill suddenly. With no where else to go, she moves to Seattle to live with her aunt, uncle, and two cousins.<br />
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When it seems that life can't get any more bleak, she discovers that she is a witch from a powerful magical bloodline....and that her bloodline has a magical feud with the Deveraux going back hundreds of years. The family of warlocks are ruthless....except for Jer. Now Holly must navigate a world of magic, forbidden romance, and revenge, and hope to survive to see tomorrow. </div>
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I wasn't sure I would really enjoy this series, but I wanted to give it a try. I actually quite liked it, and I will be continuing reading the series!</div>
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The characters made up an interesting cast of good and evil and somewhere in between. The Deveraux warlocks were essentially the villains with the Cathers witches the protagonists, and Jer, a wayward Deveraux finding out which side he wants to be on. Jer and Holly were more than just contemporary witches caught in a forbidden romance....they were essentially reincarnated or embodied versions of their ancestors, Jean and Isabeau, who fell victim to a curse. The pieces of themselves that were contemporary Jer and Holly mixed well with the spirits and legacy of the historical Isabeau and Jean, and their love story spanned centuries. </div>
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Michael and Eli Deveraux were bloodthirsty warlocks, with Michael especially out to kill Holly. Holly and her cousins were all very believable characters, teenage girls discovering who they are, but never really cliche.<br />
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I think my favourite part about this book was the chase between Michael and Holly. It felt very cat-and-mouse at times, just with dangerous magic and lots of collateral damage. The second book in particular featured lots of death! At times this book was very grim.<br />
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I also like the diversity of the witches and magic-users in these two books. There were witches that were more pagan like Holly's coven, then there was a few people who practiced voodoo, a Native American shaman, and even Catholic witches. That was really neat! It kept the book from being monotonous and repetitive.<br />
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I do have to say that at times the book was pretty cheesy. Some of the incantations and spells seemed a bit strange, almost like the authors were just looking for words that rhymed and went together in any way at all. There were little poems or passages before each chapter from the Deveraux and Cathers covens, and those were cheesy and a bit random at times too.<br />
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Overall I did really enjoy this bindup! I loved the characters and the danger, and I loved the diversity of magic traditions in this book. While some bits were kind of cheesy, I will definitely be continuing the series.<br />
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I recommend this book to people who love books about magic. If you're interested in young adult novels about feuds and discovering who you are, you may like this one.<br />
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Find Wicked on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/303200.Wicked?ac=1&from_search=true">Goodreads </a></div>
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Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00298857112810759041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503770383893062783.post-73992691132644789502018-07-23T16:15:00.001-04:002018-07-23T16:15:41.351-04:00Bookish UnhaulsHey everyone. So I wanted to have a discussion about bookish unhauls.<br />
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If you don't already know, unhauls are basically when you get rid of books that you own. They're essentially the opposite of book hauls.<br />
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Recently I have started watching book unhaul videos on youtube. For some reason, I can just binge watch them! I watched an unhaul challenge, and I actually decided to clear out my shelves a bit as well.<br />
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I want to talk about how readers decide which books to keep, and which books to give away or sell. For myself, I tend to give away books I didn't enjoy, books that I am no longer interested in, or books that I did actually like but feel no personal attachment to.<br />
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<img alt="Waterfell (The Aquarathi, #1)" height="200" id="coverImage" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1369328042l/17397760.jpg" width="129" /> <img alt="A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle, #1)" height="200" id="coverImage" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1284558475l/3682.jpg" width="131" /> <img alt="Chance to Dance for You" height="200" id="coverImage" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327895875l/11159504.jpg" width="129" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">These are a few books that I enjoyed, but I am still unhauling them. </span></div>
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I also unhaul books because while I may have enjoyed them, other people may enjoy them even more. I also currently have limited room on my bookshelves, so I am a bit more generous in my unhauling. I'm assuming that when I get my own apartment or house and have more room, I will be doing less unhauling.<br />
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I've seen some videos where readers unhaul books because they have multiple copies! I have two copies of Mask of Shadows, however I'm keeping them because one is an ARC and the other is a finished hardcover that I won in a giveaway. But if I had two of the same editions of a book, I would definitely unhaul one of them.<br />
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Something else I do when I unhaul books is offer them to my friends. Depending on if there is a need at libraries, youth centres, or other institutions, I may someday donate some of my unhauls. I've heard of programs that promote donating books to prisons, and while none of my unhaul books are in demand in these programs at the moment, in the future, if I have some that I think they may like, I might go that route as well.<br />
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Finally, I may unhaul certain books because while I liked them, I feel no need to purchase the rest of the series, and find borrowing the library copies a sufficient option. Some series, I absolutely must own all of the books, while for others, while I liked the first book, I don't feel compelled to spend money on a personal copy of the second book. In this case, I often feel like there is no need to keep the first book, as I won't be completing the collection. Obviously there are exceptions to this rule, however I've found this to be the case for many books.<br />
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So these are my thoughts on unhauls! Why do you unhaul books? What do you do with your unhauls? Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00298857112810759041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503770383893062783.post-20633150774901062372018-07-16T14:04:00.003-04:002018-07-16T14:04:55.101-04:00The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong <div style="text-align: center;">
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Series: Darkness Rising <br />
Author: Kelley Armstrong <br />
Page Count: 359<br />
Published: April 12th, 2011<br />
Publisher: Harper <br />
4 Stars ★★★★<br />
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Maya is an adopted teenage girl living in a medical research town in Canada. It's a really small town, but she's surrounded by nature and happy with her life. She has an interesting paw-print birthmark on her hip and she's Native American....and she's started having strange visions when she touches the rescue animals that she shelters. </div>
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After being called a skin-walker by an old lady in a nearby town, Maya finds herself unable to shake the various happenings around her town. A reporter has appeared and claims to be researching small towns, but many people believe that she's actually researching something else... A new boy and his sister move to town, and she finds herself attracted to him. With his help, and the help of her best friend, will Maya find out what's going on?</div>
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So I didn't enjoy this as much as Kelley Armstrong's Darkest Powers series, but it was still a good start to a new trilogy. First off I have to mention that I love that this was set in Canada! I also found myself intrigued by the idea of living in a small medical research town.<br />
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The characters were all developed quite well, with Maya the star of the book. I thought her interest in her background was definitely relatable and understandable, considering that she was adopted. However I think that her response to some revelations about her past and heritage later in the book were a bit over-dramatic. I did love her journey discovering who she was on a supernatural level, though. </div>
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As usual, Kelley Armstrong's writing was super easy to read, yet not so simple that it was boring. I found myself reading the book non-stop, almost swallowed up whole by the book. I needed to know what was going on....especially when the dead body showed up! </div>
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I hope that the next book will be at least as good as this one! I recommend this for fans of paranormal young adult fiction. If you're interested in books about shapeshifters and small towns, you might like this one. If you'd like to read a book featuring a Native American main character, with Native American legends featured, this would also be a great choice for you. </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7896345-the-gathering?ac=1&from_search=true">Find The Gathering on Goodreads</a></div>
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Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00298857112810759041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503770383893062783.post-50949091834295738102018-07-02T14:29:00.004-04:002018-07-02T14:29:54.875-04:00Beautiful Book Cover of the DayHello all. I haven't shared some beautiful book covers in a while, so I thought I would today!<br />
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Today I am featuring <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16035147-silent-alarm">Silent Alarm</a>.<br />
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What I love about this cover is that the flower is made out of smoke/fire. At first you may think it is just a normal flower, but upon looking closer you get a surprise! The reddish-orange of the flower looks lovely with the spring green of the stem, and the black background makes the smokey flower just pop!<br />
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What do you think of this cover? Have you seen any similar covers?Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00298857112810759041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503770383893062783.post-67873378888678797652018-06-24T19:02:00.001-04:002018-06-24T19:02:33.842-04:00Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting <div style="text-align: center;">
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Series: The Body Finder<br />
Author: Kimberly Derting <br />
Page Count: 355<br />
Published: February 15th, 2011<br />
Publisher: HarperCollins Childrens Books<br />
4 Stars ★★★★</div>
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Violet is able to sense the "echoes" of the dead, often leading her to dead bodies and the people who killed them. When she discovers an echo that belongs to a young boy, she is tracked down and approached by an FBI agent. While few people know of her gift, it seems that this FBI agent is catching on, and that she may possibly not be the only one with these abilities. </div>
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Two new teens enroll at her high school, and her boyfriend Jay makes friends with Mike. He seems nice enough, but when threatening notes and even animal corpses show up, Violet becomes suspicious. Who is targeting her? And does Mike's family have something to hide? These questions haunt her, and might even tear her and Jay apart. </div>
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The second book in the Body Finder series was mysterious and filled with supernatural intrigue. Reading about Violet's abilities once again brought me back to the enjoyment of the first novel, and I liked most parts of this one as well. Violet being approached by the FBI agent added a new sense of danger to the story, I was worried that people were interested in Violet for all the wrong reasons and that she might end up a lab rat! That definitely kept me reading. I needed to know why she was being approached, and how this would turn out for her.<br />
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I liked the mystery of Mike's family, and the notes and animal corpses. I kept switching between who was the culprit, - Mike, his sister, or his father, - and his family history made for an extra mystery for Violet to solve.<br />
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The only thing I didn't like about this book was the way that Violet and Jay's relationship were challenged. I think that they both overreacted severely to what was going on, and that they were super overdramatic.<br />
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If you liked the first book in this series, you'll enjoy the second one as well! If you're looking for a good young adult paranormal story free of vampires and werewolves, this is a good pick for you. </div>
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Find Desires of the Dead on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7827221-desires-of-the-dead?ac=1&from_search=true">Goodreads</a></div>
Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00298857112810759041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503770383893062783.post-44313568995149803232018-06-18T18:53:00.002-04:002018-06-18T18:53:35.248-04:00Pride MonthHappy Pride Month everyone! So I wanted to make this post to talk about my thoughts on Pride Month, my own struggle with my gender identity, and recommend some LGBTQ books.<br />
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Just a warning, I will be discussing dysphoria and bigotry in this post, along with a negative view of my gender identity. <br />
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First off, Pride Month is essentially a <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/13/health/pride-month-explainer-trnd/index.html">month</a> to celebrate the LGBTQ community. It is, contrary to some peoples' perception, more than just a month of waving rainbow flags around and shouting "I'm gay!" It is a month to celebrate how far we have come. It is a month to celebrate many countries decriminalizing homosexuality, legalizing marriage equality, and acknowledging transgender and nonbinary peoples' existence. For me, it is also a month to reflect on the state of LGBTQ rights worldwide (though I honestly do that all year round). While LGBTQ people generally face an easier time living in western countries (such as my own country of Canada), it is also important to remember that things are not perfect here yet. While many of us are lucky not to live in a country that prescribes the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_penalty_for_homosexuality#Current_regimes_with_the_death_penalty">death penalty</a> for LGBTQ identity, prejudice still remains. LGBTQ people are often looked down on, disowned, bullied, abused, and used as a scapegoat for causes outside of, and even within, their own communities.<br />
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I remember going to my first pride parade. Seeing people be themselves brought so much hope, it made me literally cry. I grew up in a very queerphobic home, went to queerphobic schools, and met many, many queerphobic people. Coming out as bisexual (later as <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pansexual">pansexual</a>) to my family did not go well, and I struggled with dealing with gender dysphoria as a <a href="http://gender.wikia.com/wiki/Gender_Fluid">genderfluid</a> person, alone. So to me, pride parades are a symbol of hope, and of moving forward.<br />
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I also like pride parades because I like seeing transgender identities celebrated. To be perfectly honest, I hate being genderfluid. I <i><b>hate</b></i> it. I mean, we've all seen those videos of happy go lucky, chatty genderfluid people talking about their clothes or their pronouns or their favourite kind of coffee. But its not really like that. That's a snapshot of a genderfluid person's life: it doesn't show the whole picture. While not all genderfluid people may experience life as I do, my experience is very painful. My dysphoria fluctuates severely, which means my inner sense of self, and my inner sense of gender, fluctuates as well. I believe this is because my brain is somewhere in between the male and female range of development (just as trans men have male brains and trans women have female brains). Because my dysphoria and gender identity fluctuate, that means that I will never ever be rid of my dysphoria. <i><b>Ever</b></i>. There is this narrative of (binary) transgender people as trapped in their own body. Well, thats quite literally my experience. I could get surgeries and take hormones. And I'd just be paying to have dysphoria opposite the type I have now. So here I am. As you can see, this is a very negative experience for me. So it is nice to take a break from brooding over my dysphoria, and its nice to take a break from hateful, cruel comments against nonbinary people from both outside of, and within, my own community, and see a place where I can let it all go and celebrate my existence.<br />
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You might wonder why I feel the need to talk about this, about my identity, my struggles, and my thoughts. I want to be out so I can challenge stereotypes and prejudices, correct misunderstandings and misconceptions, and maybe even inspire other people like me to look forward with hope in their heart. That is why I'm going to add this: your gender identity and sexual/romantic orientation are all wonderful parts of who you are, and if they cause you suffering (such as in my case), remember that you are not alone, you are not broken, and together we can work for a better future.<br />
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Alright. Now that my ideas on pride and my identity are out of the way, its on to the books!<br />
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I am going to suggest some LGBTQ reads. I may have suggested some of these last year as well, but I might have new followers that haven't seen last year's post so I will repeat some of them.<br />
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So I suggest <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22692740-symptoms-of-being-human">Symptoms of Being Human</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33918885-mask-of-shadows?ac=1&from_search=true">Mask of Shadows</a>, and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17261129-freakboy">Freakboy</a> for nonbinary characters. Freakboy is actually written in a poetry format, and Mask of Shadows is a cool fantasy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCg8ioliIOXZKJZFh6lzDr-zyjHOuqfGjf4P4U2xUTdFH8CDLqlLrjobycs7cBXX1GLsgwMYuYEkDsNHOSmRCpXBY2mN_8t2Ml2yYT4D-K_5ZWwMH6gSIafPSSxO-gP2HLFvjMOsGtPzc/s1600/Genderfluid_flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="199" data-original-width="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCg8ioliIOXZKJZFh6lzDr-zyjHOuqfGjf4P4U2xUTdFH8CDLqlLrjobycs7cBXX1GLsgwMYuYEkDsNHOSmRCpXBY2mN_8t2Ml2yYT4D-K_5ZWwMH6gSIafPSSxO-gP2HLFvjMOsGtPzc/s1600/Genderfluid_flag.jpg" /></a></div>
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Genderfluid Flag</div>
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I also recommend <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29906017-reign-of-the-fallen?ac=1&from_search=true">Reign of the Fallen</a>, which has a bisexual character and lots of other queer characters as well. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21481715-switch">Switch</a> is a (recent) historical book with a bisexual male character, and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26240663-seven-ways-we-lie">Seven Ways we Lie</a> features a pansexual character.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ak4SFINbAQyd_c3H0vJgh5hTjde_fG6j12I5KfeCe63nmFFRY6HiD_U2V52nEZNKbS_wBe-hYUFwRyVi___9J0kbkTx7RTCdCRTpcYYEnMYbvdnCIIT3fLjgHJ_BAmVJqnTN4INvo_g/s1600/pan.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ak4SFINbAQyd_c3H0vJgh5hTjde_fG6j12I5KfeCe63nmFFRY6HiD_U2V52nEZNKbS_wBe-hYUFwRyVi___9J0kbkTx7RTCdCRTpcYYEnMYbvdnCIIT3fLjgHJ_BAmVJqnTN4INvo_g/s1600/pan.png" /></a></div>
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Pansexual Flag</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19547856-simon-vs-the-homo-sapiens-agenda">Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda </a>is a fairly light-hearted contemporary story featuring a closeted gay boy, and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23129964-when-everything-feels-like-the-movies">When Everything Feels Like the Movies</a> is a heartbreaking novel featuring a queer main character. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16101023-proxy">Proxy</a> is a great dystopian starring a gay boy, and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27221466-three-truths-and-a-lie">Three Truths and a Lie</a> is a short mystery featuring a gay couple.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedDcSSvUHLXdi-NI_h6NgtPYLJhzn9dgKsy4Yn3ou073NuTEb92yqIlphGk_CLUGIqyx3B36I-V2KfZ74TnOF86swkQCFOju1WweNsRQLpLEhIPgBh3XQyhlOpWAyeN95xzxYtDyWXe4/s1600/Gay_flag.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="989" data-original-width="1600" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedDcSSvUHLXdi-NI_h6NgtPYLJhzn9dgKsy4Yn3ou073NuTEb92yqIlphGk_CLUGIqyx3B36I-V2KfZ74TnOF86swkQCFOju1WweNsRQLpLEhIPgBh3XQyhlOpWAyeN95xzxYtDyWXe4/s320/Gay_flag.svg.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Gay/LGBTQ general flag</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22571663-captive-prince">Captive Prince</a> is an adult novel featuring LGBTQ relationships, and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1433826.The_Crimson_Spell_Volume_1">The Crimson Spell</a> is a gay adult manga that I enjoyed. Finally, a great and emotional book featuring a forbidden LGBTQ relationship is <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17302571-if-you-could-be-mine">If You Could Be Mine</a>, and a nice anthology of real-life stories about life as an LGBTQ person is <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10283787-it-gets-better">It Gets Better</a>.<br />
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I'm also going to shamelessly promote the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31441282-harmonious-hearts-2016---stories-from-the-young-author-challenge?ac=1&from_search=true">anthology</a> featuring my short story I Am Logan (where I write as Caleb Andrews).<br />
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So there are just a few LGBTQ books I enjoyed and recommend. Please tell me what you think of these books, and also recommend some more in the comments!<br />
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Happy Pride month to all, and remember that there is hope beyond hatred. <br />
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<br />Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00298857112810759041noreply@blogger.com0