Completing The 30 Books Challenge

1. A book you love:

Morning Star by Pierce Brown

I love this book with all my heart. And I’m trying to make other people love it too.

2. A book you can’t forget:

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

My grade five teacher recommended it to me. Bless her for doing so.

3. A book that motivated you:

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

King makes me want to be a better writer.

4. A book that made you think about life:

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

It’s thought-provoking.

5. A book with a colour in its title:

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

I adore Brown and his brain.

6. A book with a number in its title:

Zone One by Colson Whitehead

I had to read it for school, but I liked the modernized zombie tale.

7. A book everyone needs to read:

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Timeless classic. What more can I say?

8. A book that was recommended to you:

All the Rage by Courtney Summers

A good friend of mine made me pick this one up.

9. A book you didn’t expect to like as much as you did:

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Because of the hype surrounding Maas and her work, I thought I wasn’t going to like her novels. But I enjoyed ToG so very much.

10. A book that made you cry:

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

It didn’t directly make me cry, but I was holding the book while I cried. Does that count?

11. A book that reminds you of your childhood:

The Giver by Lois Lowry

I was a naïve child.

12. A book you have reread or would reread:

Thirst No. 4 by Christopher Pike

I reread the fourth book prior to reading the fifth in order to jog my memory. The second read through was just as good, if not even better than the first.

13. A book that was turned into a movie:

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

I read the book before I watched the movie. If you know me at all, you know I’m firmly in the camp that the book was obviously better.

14. A book you wish was turned into a movie or TV show:

The Escape by David Baldacci

This needs to be made into a movie.

15. A book you couldn’t put down:

Endgame: The Calling by James Frey

Action-packed fun.

16. A book that kept you up at night:

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

I remember finishing the novel late at night and being blown away by the ending.

17. A book you travelled with:

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz

I carried the novel in my bag with a water bottle I didn’t close properly. Safe to say water and paper don’t mix unless you’re painting with watercolours.

18. A book you wanted to toss across the room:

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Because of how it ends.

19. A book you received as a gift:

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

From my one and only older brother. Thanks.

20. A book you gave or would give as a gift:

The Elements of Style by E. B. White and William Strunk Jr.

I would give it as a gift, especially to someone who likes writing.

21. A book you think is underrated:

Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris

I don’t see or hear many people talk about Norris and her books.

22. A book that lived up to its hype:

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

I didn’t think it would, but it did.

23. A book that broke your heart:

House Rules by Jodi Picoult

It was my first Picoult novel. I’m happy to say it was not the last. I really felt for the characters in this one.

24. A book that restored your faith in humanity:

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Young, awesome characters tend to restore my faith.

25. A book with a pretty cover:

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

It’s my aesthetic.

26. A book that reminds you of summer:

Atonement by Ian McEwan

The novel takes place in the summer.

27. A book that brings back good memories:

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

Technically it’s a play I performed with some of my best friends in high school.

28. A book that makes you happy:

Nevermore by James Patterson

I enjoyed the entire series.

29. A book you will never get tired of talking about:

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

I could go on and on about this gem.

30. A book you wish you wrote:

Carrie by Stephen King

If I had to be honest, I wish I wrote every novel King wrote. Carrie is no exception.

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Fav Books Mid-Year 2016

Déjà vu, much?

These are some of the books I’ve enjoyed reading so far:

Can anyone tell me how 2016 is halfway over? Or should I say there’s still half a year to go?

Books Of The Month: February 2016

Breaking news: I read! I’m surprised I still find time to read, especially considering the amount of time I spend on YouTube.

Just so you know, I finished Oscar Wao last month and The Speedy is a short play. Emphasis on short. And because I want to be honest for once, there was another book I was supposed to read for class. I barely opened it. Now that’s one secret I won’t be taking to the grave.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

One phrase description: Everything you’d never expect in a novel.

Quote:

And maybe, just maybe, if she’s as smart and as brave as I’m expecting she’ll be, she’ll take all we’ve done and all we’ve learned and add her own insights and she’ll put an end to it.

My general thoughts: I finished this in January because university. If you’re looking for something different, here it is.

Sky Key by James Frey

One phrase description: Everything the second book in a series should be.

Quote:

She knows that doubt is the seed from which failure grows…

My general thoughts: It looks amazing. It is amazing. I can’t wait for the next one.

Soucouyant by David Chariandy

One phrase description: Everything you could ask for from an assigned text.

Quote:

We can only ever live despite ourselves.

My general thoughts: I got through this text fairly quickly, which says a lot. Though I’m sure had I read it even a year ago, I wouldn’t have the capacity to appreciate the writing.

The Speedy by Keith Barker, Chris Hanratty, Shira Leuchter, and Jordi Mand

One phrase description: Everything confusing and puzzling in fifty pages.

Quote:

In fact, powerlessness was probably the most prominent feeling for all those dealing with the tragedy.

My general thoughts: I don’t think I have the knowledge to fully understand this play and the story behind it.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

One phrase description: Everything a traditional romance story contains.

Quote:

You don’t always have to solve your problems alone…

My general thoughts: I chose to read this during February to get into the Valentine’s Day spirit. So festive, I know. I’m not against love, but I didn’t love this book.

What’s next?

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Why: I’ve had this book and the others in its series for way too long, and I’m finally getting around to opening them.

I may have abused the word “everything” in this post. Forgive me.

On another note, spend some time reading on the “extra” day this year. You have 24 hours. No excuses!

This post contains affiliate links, so if you purchase through them, I make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Questions And Answers: Reading Edition

I grouped questions together and answered them accordingly. This was originally going to be a spin off of Truth or Truth, but clearly that didn’t happen. If you want a Truth or Truth, let me know. I grant some wishes and ignore others.

Let’s not waste any more time.

Questions:

1. What book surprised you in a good way?
2. What book surprised you in a bad way?

Answers:

1. I’m all for pleasant surprises. Sarah J. Maas definitely delivered with Throne of Glass.
2. Endgame #1: The Calling was a bad surprise. The ending in particular. Not because of the writing. Don’t get me wrong: I love the book. I just didn’t love my heart getting ripped apart.

Questions:

1. What book did you love?
2. What book did you hate?

Answers:

1. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children was so peculiar.
2. I didn’t like I Am Number Four. Mostly because I read some incredible books beforehand.

Questions:

1. What’s a series you never started?
2. What’s a series you finished?

Answers:

1. I’ve yet to read a single Harry Potter book.
2. Many years ago, I read The Hunger Games.

Questions:

1. What’s a series you would reread?
2. What’s a series you didn’t finish?

Answers:

1. The Maze Runner. I watched the movie twice so I might as well read the books again. It’s been a while.
2. I read Divergent, but I’ve yet to pick up Insurgent or Allegiant. I don’t think I will anytime soon, but I might in the far future.

I want to know your answers to these questions. Are you going to grant my wish?

Fav Books Mid-Year 2015

It’s more than halfway through the year and I’m looking forward to the next few months. Well, not so much since school is about to start.

On the bright side, I might be slightly more productive.

Anyhow, in my opinion, reading is half the fun. Blogging about it makes up the other half.

For this post, I’m going to include books I started and finished before July 2015. Also, I may do another instalment for books I’ve read in the last six months of the year. If I remember.

Black Knight by Christopher Pike

If you should know anything about me, it’s this: I don’t like when people compare a book to other books. So I won’t compare Black Knight to anything else. Not Hunger Games. Not Divergent. Go in with an open mind and give the novel a chance. This goes for all books.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

This story changed me. I will never be the same again.

Endgame (The Calling) by James Frey and Nils Johnson-Shelton

Does it sound familiar? That’s because I mentioned Endgame in a previous post. Say what you want about Frey. I appreciated the diversity and representation. Not every character was American.

The Escape by David Baldacci

I have no words aside from confessing that I’m in love with Robert Puller’s brain.

Lionheart: The Diaries of Richard I by Chris Manson

It’s a very different read, but the diary entries did not disappoint. I have a more in-depth review here.

Thank you Kev for the suggestion. I took his idea and put my own spin on it. He runs a fantastic blog supporting indie authors so you’re probably following him already.

Oh, would you look at that. I own a copy of all these books. Are you surprised I still want more?

This post contains affiliate links.

Blogging 101: Create a Feature + Bookworm Club

First things first, today’s task is to develop a regular feature for your blog.

I plan on developing a regular feature for the 22nd of every month. The post will be entirely about something I love. Or even someone I love. And I may forget about the feature every so often. After all, Herminia is human.

Now on to what I’m currently reading and enjoying.

By the way, if you’re interested in checking it out, The Bookworm Club is an event I found in the Community Event Listings. It was an assignment for Day Thirteen of Blogging 101.

I am reading Endgame (The Calling) by James Frey and Nils Johnson-Shelton. Goodreads lists it as The Calling (Endgame #1). But I’ve gotten used to calling it Endgame. For some reason, I thought this book fell under the adult section at the bookstore. When I couldn’t find it there, I went and found it with all the other teen books. My bad.

Sorry for the excessive linking.

Since I didn’t want to steal pictures, I held my own book photo-shoot this morning. What a coincidence. I have twenty-two pictures of Endgame on my phone. I swear I did not plan that at all.

For your viewing pleasure…

It should be obvious by now that I’m not even a decent photographer. I don’t aspire to be one. If you’d like nicer quality images, Google is your best friend.

I first fell in love with this book because of the cover. I have it on my bookshelf and when I wake up, the cover blinds me. It doesn’t actually.

Yes, there are some predictable moments. Then again, there are a few twists in there.

I don’t love all the characters. But I do like some.

The detail is incredible. A lot of research has gone into writing Endgame.

Give me a tiny bit of credit for trying my hardest not to spoil the parts I’ve read. I’m slightly more than half-way in so even I don’t know how it ends yet.

Have you read the book? Do you love it? If you do, we can gush about it together. Bonding over books is the best. Do you hate Endgame with every fiber of your being? What an interesting discussion we’d have. Plan on reading it? The book is worth a shot. It’s entertaining so the story isn’t a total waste of your time.

In my opinion, Endgame would make an amazing movie if executed well with the right cast of characters.