Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Top Ten Books On Daisy's Winter TBR


For future Top Ten Tuesday topics & info on how to participate, click here!

You can go with this however you like, books that you're planning on reading or like me, what's coming out that's in winter that's on your TBR. I like focusing on those shiny new releases that will be coming my way soonish :) And as I also did last week's TTT, I'm not adding the sequels that were on that list. But those are on the TBR as well, obviously.

1. The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows: I NEED THIS BOOK!!! It sounds amazing and the cover is beyond gorgeous!

2. The Storyspinner by Becky Wallace: this sounds like an epic addition to the fantasy genre and I think it'll be just my kind of book.

3. Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder: I LOVE Maria V. Snyder's books. She never disappoints with her writing and OMG how long have we all been waiting on another story that centers around Yelena?? And Valek! And just all those wonderful characters that hold a special place in my heart.

4. Unleashed by Sophie Jordan: so much love for Sophie Jordan's writing! And I totally had feelings all over Uninvited, so GIVE IT TO ME NOW AND NOONE GETS HURT.
Thank you.

5. A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab: I loved The Near Witch and am embarassed to say that I own every one of Victoria Schwab's other books, but haven't read them yet... But I really want to and A Darker Shade of Magic sounds so intriguing!

6. A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas: a Sleeping Beauty retelling!! How could I not want this?

7. Promposal by Rhonda Helms: this just sounds like a whole lot of cuteness and fun and prom is always a good thing in books!

8. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard: I love the concept of this book and I'm dying to see if it's just as good as I imagine it could be.

9. The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall: two words: secret society. I'm so in.

10. When Joss Met Matt by Ellie Cahill: I'm expecting lots of swoons and a little lighter read that's just what I want.




Top Ten Tuesday is a fun weekly link-up in the community where we provide a prompt and other lovers of listmaking join in on it with their own top ten list. Feel free to have less than 10 or more if you need to at times and put a spin on the topic if you need to! Just please link back to us if you are participating :)

To join, link up below with the URL to your blog POST (not your blog), your name and your email (which will remain hidden). Then bounce around the Linky!

 Marcee@A Nurse and A Book   Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know   Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner  
 Lauren   Anastasia @ cuddlereads   Jenny @ The Pathological Readers  
 Anna A @ Annas Bokbord   Meghann @ Becoming Books   Maddes bokblogg  
 Space Station Mir   bubblewrappedblog   Amanda Holmes  
 Shayna & Evan @ Bibliophilia: A Love Story   Lauren @ Bookmark Lit   Rachel & Kimberley @ Gosh Darn It Books  
 Elen @ A World of Reviews   Joel @ The Library Rat   Hollie @ Music, Books and Tea  
 Nikki & Keira @ Lazy Book Lovers   Summer @ Blue Sky Bookshelf   Charlie @ Girl of 1000 Wonders  
 Ginger @ GReads!   Sab @ YA BLISS   Becca & Lisa @ Lost in Literature  
 Nalina @ my bookish confessions   Jaime @ The Best Books Ever   Charlotte @ Books and Baby etc.  
 Chloe @ YA Booklover Blog   Gabriel @ The Great Gabsby   Martha @ I'd Rather Be Reading  
 Brittany @ The Book Addict's Guide   Kimberly @ On the Wings of Books   Kate@ Read and Dream  
 Ani's Book Abyss (BookLikes)   Rebecca @ Universal Bookworm   Landslide @ Tantos Livros Tão Pouco Tempo  
 Justine @ paperback heart   Brandy @ Random Musings of a Bibliophile   Jenn @ Lost in a Great Book  
 Red @ Paint It Re(a)d Books   Irish @ Ticket to Anywhere   Isabelle R @ As Metamorfoses  
 Sandie @Teen Lit Rocks   Debby @ Snuggly Oranges   Stefani @ Caught Read Handed  
 chanielle @ BIBLIOPHILIC MADNESS   Carrie @ Other Women's Stories   Diyah @ Once Upon A Book  
 Cassie @ The Magical Adventures of Cassie the Weird   Patty @ Patty's Book Corner   Caroline @ The Attic  
 Bernadette @ The Bumbling Bookworm   Jody @ A Spoonful of Happy Endings   Skye @ Skye's Scribblings  
 Rachel @ Confessions of a Book Geek   Mara A. @ The Reading Hedgehog   Jessie @ Jessie Reads  
 Dahlia @ The Daily Dahlia   Thea @ Gizzimomo's Book Shelf   Nicole & Ashley @ The Quiet Concert  
 M | BACKLIST BOOKS   Nicole and Sophia @ Quality Fangirls   Sebastian @ Buechermonster  
 Jill @ daysathome   Jennifer @ A Librarian's Library   Spines & Covers  
 What Aimee Read Next   Wendy @ Book Scents   Bels @ Bookarahma  
 Cassandra Page   Mel @ Reviews In A Pinch   Lori @ Ficwishes  
 Kristin @ Mentor's Reader   Noemie @ Noemie's Book Blog   Jennifer Neyhart  
 KayCee K @ Wonder Struck   @mangrii Boy With Letters   Shan @ Good Books and Tea  
 Emily @ Falling for YA   Nagina @ OhBookish   Kyra @ Blog of a Bookaholic  
 The Crazy Bookworm   Jolien @ The Fictional Reader   Lori @ Palmer's Page Turners  
 Natalie @Natflix&Books   Claudia @ This Is My Soul Called Life   Ellie @ Book Revels  
 ai   Rosemond Cates@ Big Hair and Books   Kathryn Page  
 Christine   Bokdamen   Sarah C. @ The Rainy Day Reader  
 Shannon @ It Starts At Midnight   Merin @ Read and Reviewed   Krista @ Kristas Dust Jacket  
 Sheri @ Tangled Up In Books   Stormy @ Book.Blog.Bake.   Deb Nance at Readerbuzz  
 Becky @ A Fool's Ingenuity   Emma @ Miss Print   Emalie @ Bookgatherer  
 Lisa @ I'll Tumble for YA   Part Time Monster   Kat @ Readiculous Blog  
 La Coccinelle @ The Ladybug Reads...   Annemieke @ SignourneyBooks   Karissa @ Hidden in Pages  
 Lynn   Kristin @ Lukten av Trykksverte   Anna's Book Blog  
 Katrina @ Chased By My Imagination   Nikki @ There were books involved...   Nemo @ the Moonlight Library  
 Megz @ Whispers of a Barefoot Med Student   bookmammal @ musings from a bookmammal   Jamie @ Vailia's Page Turner  
 Riv @ Bookish Realm   Lauren @ Always Me   Bonnie @ For the Love of Words  
 Maren @ The Worn Bookmark   Kristalyn @ The Sarcastic Palmtree   Krystal @ Breathing in Fiction  
 Sharon's Book Nook!   Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library   Winter Reading @ Pages and Tea  
 eli @ the (book) supplier   Claire @ Bookworm Reviews   Sam @ The Little Munchkin Reader  
 Hallie @ Book by Book   hellphie @ hellphie's fiendish fiction   Melbourne on my mind  
 Samantha @ Book Minx Reads   Jessica @ Just Another Teen Reading Books   Michele @ Just a Lil Lost  
 Rachel @Obsessedwithfairytales   Leah @ Uncorked Thoughts   Jessica @ a GREAT read  
 Annie @ Sincerely, Annie   Laura Michelle @ All Things Book Obsessed   Alicia @ A Kernel of Nonsense  
 Casey   Sajda @ Across the Words   April @ Between the Pages  
 Lori @ Pure Imagination   Erin @ The Hardcover Lover   Shannon @ leaninglights  
 Katie @ Spirit of Children's & YA Literature   Rachel @ Beauty and the Bookshelf   Quinn @ Quinn's Book Nook  
 Molly @ Woven Magic Books   Jess & Loren @ Such a Novel Idea   Cherie @ Cherie Reads  
 Jasprit @ The Readers Den   Hannah @ Broc's Bookcase   Keely @ ireaditandwept  
 Maura @ The Whimsical Mama   Amanda & Holly @ Gun in Act One   Cristina @ Girl in the Pages  
 Alysia @ Fiction Addictions   Lindsay's Library   purpleDragon57 @ The Dragon Writer  
 Amanda @ The Zen Leaf   Tracy @ Cornerfolds   Anna Reads  
 Eileen @ BookCatPin   Tess @ Tessellated Tales   Claire @ Bookworm Reviews  
 Shannon @ OUaT   Rebecca @ The Library Canary   Nikki @ The Bibliophibian  
 Tammy @ Books, Bones & Buffy   Caitlin @ Books and Window Seats   Shae/Shelver @ Shae Has Left The Room  
 Andressa - Livros e Chocolate Quente   Danielle @ bendingoverbookward   Shannon @ Rex Robot Reviews  
 Christina @ Confessions of a Book Addict   Amber @ YA Indulgences   Abbi @ Christian Novels  
 Jess @ Reading Nook Reviews   Adriana @ Reading Fictional   Julie @ Keep Calm With Books and Coffee  
 Sofia @ SofiaLovesReading   Maija's Fantasy Reads   Sarah's Book Shelves  
 Heather & Christie @ The Turning Pages   Ula @ Blog of Erised   Emily @ Wholly Books  
 Nori @ ReadWriteLove28   Brigit @Escape Inside the Pages   Benni @ Benni's Bookbiters  
 Sarah @ What Sarah Read   Jillian @ Jillian's Books   Chelsea @ ChelseasBookObsession  
 Kitty   Hanna @ Booking in Heels   Mia @ Mia Reads  
 Christy @ TheReaderBee   Erin @ The Book Nut   Stephanie@ThesePaperHearts  
 Ciara @ Ciara Reads Books   Rina @ From Rowling to Meyer   Amanda @ CatholicAmanda  
 Camille @ Girl meets Books   lectrice vorace   Jaime @ Two Chicks on Books  
 Susanne @ A Reader in Time   Jessica @ The Psychotic Nerd   Titta @ Reading Madness  
 Selah @ A Bibliophile's Style   Angie @ Fitness Health and Books   Sophie@The Techno Maid  
 Rissi @ Dreaming Under the Same Moon   Deb @ The Book Stop   Jessica @ Peace Love Books  
 Stephanie @ Her Reviews of Books, Movies, and Everything   Krystal @ Books Are My Thing   Bonnie @ A Backwards Story  
 Jennifer @ YA Book Nerd   T @ Bookpiles&Blanketforts   Amy @ Read What I Like  
 Obsessive Compulsive Reader   Andrea @ Bookish   islandgeekgirl @ Overflowing Bookshelves  
 Jenn @ Give a Hoot Read a Book   Ellen M @ The Canon   Lexie @LexieLäser/LexieReads  
 Grace @ Fictionally   Jim @ The Frugal Chariot   jen7waters  
 KevinReads @BetweenMyPages   Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard   Alison @ Hardcovers & Heroines  
 o @ Behold the Stars   AudaciousTori @ InToriLex   Mallory @ The Local Muse  
 Alex @ The Book Banner   Charleen @ Cheap Thrills   Alma @ CityOfTea  
 Hannah @ So Obsessed With   Holly @ The Fox's Hideaway   Heather @ The Bastard Title  
 Sarah @ Bookish Retreat   Myra @ Pieces of Whimsy   Manny Reads  
 Chrissi Reads   Jan @ notes from a readerholic   Petra @ Petras Bokblogg  
 Becky @ No More Grumpy Bookseller   Great Imaginations   Jacque @ Jacque's Book Nook  
 Sarika @ The Readdicts   Laura @ Bookish Treasures   Anah @ Turtles in My Soup  
 Anya @ On Starships and Dragonwings   Lianne @ caffeinatedlife.net   Ashley @ Falling Down The Book Hole  
 Kayla @ The Bookish Owl   Marie's Reads   Between Bookends  
 Sarah @ Sarah, Sass, and Surcees   Shelley @ Gizmos Reviews   Bookish Broads  
 Jess @ A Book Addict's Bookshelves   Maggie @ macarons & paperbacks   Keri @ IV League  
 Amanda @ Cite Something   Hayley @ Dream. Believe. Read   Carola @ brilliant years  
 Jen @ Tangled in Books   Stephanie@Don't be Afraid of the Dork   Caitie F  
 Jorie's Reads by Starry Night Elf   Katja (@Eeyorenyk)   Haley @ My Addiction Books  
 Alma @ Journey Through Fiction   Casey @ Broken Bookworm   Rosie // Rosie Reads  
 Joey @ thoughts and afterthoughts   Angel @ Book Flame   Katie @ Polished Page-Turners  
 Amber @ Paradise of Pages   Amy @ Ode to Jo & Katniss   Emma @ Awkwordly Emma  
 Crystal @ Books Unbound   Sarah @ Sarah Says Read   brenda@proseandkahn (mg & ya)  
 Holly @ NutFreeNerd   Jess @ Curiouser and Curiouser   Amy @ Tripping Over Books  
 Kristina @ Gone Pecan   Sarah @ Exploring All Genres   Stefani @ I read books  
 Michelle @ Michelle's Minions   Charlie @ Miss Book Eater   Mari @ Story and Somnomancy  
 Teresa @ Readers Live A Thousand Lives   Lucy @ The Reading Date   Nicole @ Reading Books With Coffee  
 Lillian @ Mom With a Reading Problem   Cassie @ Cassie's Book Babblings   Anna @ Fantastiska berättelser  
 Luna's Little Library   Kami @ Kami's Library Thoughts   El @ So Bookalicious  
 Rachel @ The Reading Rose   Nobody @ The Story Goes...   Alexandra @ SleepsOnTables  
 Teisha @ Girl Writes Reviews   Anna @ Books,Quotes & Dimples   Vanessa S. @ Owls and Things  
 Stacy Renee @ LazyDayLiterature   Tekla @ Tekla Konyvei   Kellee & Ricki at Unleashing Readers  
 Lynn @ Stuff & Nonsense   Ash @ Typing Tiara   Aleksandra @ Aleksandra's Corner  
 Jenna @ Rather Be Reading YA   Bella @ Ciao Bella   Joanne @ That Thing She Reads  
 Dawn @ Dawn's Dreams   Lory @ Emerald City Book Review   Tea in the Treetops  
 Hayley @ A Stitch to Scratch   alexandra @ twirlingpages   Heidi @ YA Bibliophile  
 Ashley@Chronicles   Brittany @ This is the Story of My(Reading) Life   Jennifer @ Feminist Fairy Tale Reviews  
 Rabbit   Alicia @ Noverly Things   Liza @ Reading with ABC  
 Maggie @ Mrs Doctor Dear   Cassi @ My Thoughts Literally   Ashley @ Lovely Literature  
 Amber @ Bibliophilia, Please   Emily @ Paperback Princess   Veronika@ Reading Is Dreaming with Open Eyes  
 Michelle @ Pink Polka Dot Books   Lauren & Kiesha @ Life Between Reads   Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies  
 Nicole @ Nicole's Novel Reads   Cora @ Tea Party Princess   Inga the ninjalibrarian  
 Nattie @ bookrambles   Amy @ Pages of Starlight   Precious @ Clockwork Desires  
 Alice @ Books and Biscuits x   legolegislegimus   Michael  
 Christine @Buckling Bookshelves   Katie @ INKK REVIEWS   Sara @ A Little of This  
 There will be books   Maggie @ Just a Couple More Pages   Aisha @ Adventures of a Reader  
 Erica@Books4ev   Helen @ My Novel Opinion   Melody @ Hollywood the Write Way  
 Em @ Love YA Lit   Lea of Sätila   Sumeet @ Musings of A Reading Mind  
 Emily   Lipsy @ Lipsyy Lost & Found   Monique @ Mo_Books  
 Tanya @ Read. Run. Study.   Leslie Ann @ Librarian-at-Arms   Hellen @ Worlds Inside Books  
 Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl   Kimberly @ Turning the Pages   Jenny @ Reading on the Farm  
 Lisa Loves Literature   Kim @ kimberlyfaye reads   Lois@You, Me, and a Cup of Tea  
 Melissa @ Bookmark Dragon   Emma @ Emma's Bookery   Jaime & Erin @ Fic Fare  
 Deanna @ Deanna Writes   Sophia @ Ravens and Writing Desks   William @ two weeks from everywhere  
 Dreams @ Once Upon A Dream Books   Tari @ I read therefore I am   Karin @ My Life...  
 Tiffany @ A Lot of Reading   Megan@YA? Why Not?   Book Rock Betty  
 Tiffany @ Beneath the Jacket Reviews   Zaskya benítez   Kritika @ Snowflakes & Spider silk  
 Savannah @ReadingBifrost   Becky @ Becky's Babble   Jen & April @ The Starry-Eyed Revue  
 Kristy @ A Little Shelf of Heaven   Andi @ Andi's ABCs   Jen and Em @themarkofabookfan  
 Crini @ All About Books   Mila @ Fantasy and more...   Lindsey @ Bring My Books  

(Cannot add links: Registration/trial expired)


Sunday, November 23, 2014

Broke and Bookish Book Haul for 11/9 - 11/22

Daisy's Book Haul



Bought/Gifted:
-Feed by Mira Grant: Huge thank you to Ciska from Ciska's Book Chest, who is a fellow Dutchie and generously donated a prize to Dewey's Read-a-Thon that I just happened to win :) I'll be reading this one soon for book club, I'm slightly unsure about reading another zombie book, but I've heard really good things about it, so we'll see.
-Ashes To Ashes by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian: I really need to read this after the ending of Fire With Fire!!
-The Spirit Thief by Rachel Aaron: this one come recommended by you guys when I asked for what my next fantasy read should be, so I'm adding it to the collection :)
-Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers: I REALLY need to start this series, cause my friend Mel keeps raving about it and it sounds amazing.
-Atlantia by Ally Condie: it sounds interesting and it's a standalone, so should be fun.

Egalleys for review:
If you're on Edelweiss, you have probably seen the epic load that Harper has put up the other day, so I went a teeny bit crazy. Here are my highlights of the past few weeks:
-Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge: EEEEE!!! SO much love for Cruel Beauty!! I'm beyond excited to read this one!
-Things We Know By Heart by Jessi Kirby: How could I not click the request button for this one?? Jessi Kirby's Golden blew me away and I still cannot stop raving about it. Also, this sounds heartbreaking, so I'm in.
-Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley: this just sounds like my kind of book in all its epicness.
-Heat of the Moment by Lauren Barnholdt: I usually love Lauren Barnholdt's books, and this series sounds really good!

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Julia Rants about Barbie and Technology


I don’t bring you a review. I had a book in mind but to do a View from Page Thirty from, but another crisis has been brought to my attention: Barbie. “Barbie? What does a child’s toy have to do with book site?” Well Barbie, in its ever growing empire, has spread to books. I am sure that there were Barbie books when I was a kid, but I never remember them being as bad as this.

I still really like this doll. Fun fact!
Her shirt is in binary and spells out
Barbie over and over.

The internet has been a flutter today and yesterday about I Can Be a Computer Engineer by Susan Marenco where Barbie is supposed to go through a fun story about Computer Engineering. In summary, Barbie is designing a game but doesn’t actually code it instead offloading that to the boys to do. She also breaks her and her sisters computer by infecting them with a virus that wipes design and Skipper's homework and music library. The boys fix that, too. Then in the end, in probably the cherry on top of this frosted cake wreck is Barbie taking all the credit in the end for fixing her sisters computer and for the coded game. The Amazon reviews are worth reading for this one.

It’s just so frustrating. So frustrating. I graduated college with a computer science degree. Do you know how many women were in my program and the computer engineering program put together? On average, three to five. At any point it was usually around three. This was in a computer department of about 100 I'd say. 

This is a new phenomenon. Computing was women’swork in the 1950s. The first computer language was written by a woman, Ada Lovelace. But something happen in the mid-eighties that just killed women going into computing. 



The NPR piece where this graphic comes from, When Women Stopped Codingis a great listen on that phenomena, but in general it’s because of schlock like this book getting into the hands of little girls.

It’s subconscious the way society turns girls away from technology. I don’t think people are honestly thinking, “We really don’t want more women in computing.” That’s silly. But the online harassment from women who show their faces in a coding forum, or the fact that we have to prove that we know what we are doing… it’s so sad. The original blog post from Pamie.com had this quote that I thought summed up the thoughts around this well. For context, Steven and Brian are the two guys who Barbie turns to helping fix her computers:

Steven and Brian are nice guys, I’m sure. But Steven and Brian are also everything frustrating about the tech industry. Steven and Brian represent the tech industry assumption that only men make meaningful contributions. Men fix this, men drive this and men take control to finish this. Steven and Brian don’t value design as much as code. Steven and Brian represent every time I was talked over and interrupted — every time I didn’t post a code solution in a forum because I didn’t want to spend the next 72 years defending it. Steven and Brian make more money than I do for doing the same thing. And at the same time, Steven and Brian are nice guys. 
The issue is not on a micro level, it’s on a macro level. It’s the fact that Barbie can’t just be a software developer, she designs but doesn’t code. It’s the fact that after six years of marvel movies, we have yet to have a female lead. It’s the fact that LEGO released its special “girl colored” line with “girl approved” activities. It’s the male dominated society. I am sure it is better in some aspects than it was in previous generations, but when it comes to women persuing careers and passions in technology, we are going backwards.

I want to conclude with a plea. If a little girl is interested in technology, foster it. Get her some Goldieblox to help with engineering skills. Check out books that feature women doing things for themselves. A great resource for this for books and other media is A Mighty Girl. Lists and lists of female empowerment focused lit and other products!

I stumbled into computer science because I enjoyed creating and maintaining a Geocities webpage when I was younger. I didn't know it was something that not many girls did until I got to my first programming class. I am not a coder today but still work in technology, and it is an uphill battle sometimes. So I guess I’ll end this with a cool resource that I know of that we used for our GEMS (Girls in Engineering Math and Science) summer camp for beginning programming. It’s a language called Alice and it’s free. It teaches basic programming skills while using cool graphics and not just boring code. You actually get to see the code in action.


Link me up with your own ideas for great literature or other media for young girls looking to foster their love for technology! It is close to Christmas… :)

Update: So the internet has been taking this book and fixing it to make it more something real computer engineer Barbie would say. Also apparently the writers of the original blog post are going to be on Good Morning America tomorrow so clearly this ruffled some feathers. The rewriting of the book is making me laugh at this sad situation. The twitter hashtag is #feministhackerbarbie

Make your own corrections to this book with this awesome website!

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Top Ten Sequels Daisy Can't Wait To Get


For future Top Ten Tuesday topics & info on how to participate, click here!

1. The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon: so this is cheating a bit since I've already read and loved it, due to Debby generously loaning me her ARC, but I can't wait to get my own finished copy! Also, you should all read it, cause it's REALLY good.

2. Untitled Throne of Glass #4 by Sarah J. Maas: I NEED THIS!!! Heir of Fire left me with ALL THE FEELS and I need MORE. The wait is KILLING ME! If you want to see me rave and go crazy fangirl over Heir of Fire, here's my review.

3. The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson: I absolutely loved The Kiss of Deception, so I need the sequel in my life to find out what happens next!

4. Half the World by Joe Abercrombie: Half a King was beyond amazing and I love Yarvi so much! He reminds me of Tyrion and that's not a comparison I make lightly. Go forth and read this.

5. The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy by Julia Quinn: so technically this might not count as a sequel, but it's the 4th instalment in the Smythe-Smith Quartet and I just love Julia Quinn's writing!

6. Emeralds & Ashes by Leila Rasheed: young adult historical fiction done absolutely right! I LOVE this series! Sad that this will be the last book...

7. Ensnared by A.G. Howard: THIS SERIES YOU GUYS!! There is no end to my love for it and the characters and MORPHEUS and just GIVE IT TO ME NOOOOOOWWWWWW!!! Also: how will I recover once this series is finished???

8. This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner: These Broken Stars tugged on all my feelings, even if I was hesitant to read it cause I'm not really all that into books set in space and weird planets and all that, but it was SO GOOD. So This Shattered World is gonna get lots of hugs when it arrives in my mailbox!

9. Doors of Stone by Patrick Rothfuss: Patrick Rothfuss is just a genius, he has a way of storytelling that is brilliant and captivating and just perfect. So please can this no doubt amazing book get released so I can love the crap out of it?

10. The Winds of Winter by George R.R. Martin: you didn't seriously think I'd leave this off the list, did you? Full disclosure: I haven't read A Dance With Dragons yet, but that's partly because I know the wait for Winds of Winter will be EXCRUCIATING. I respect brilliance takes time, but I can't help but want to series to be completed because I am so invested in all these characters!

So that's it for me, what's on your list?


Top Ten Tuesday is a fun weekly link-up in the community where we provide a prompt and other lovers of listmaking join in on it with their own top ten list. Feel free to have less than 10 or more if you need to at times and put a spin on the topic if you need to! Just please link back to us if you are participating :)

To join, link up below with the URL to your blog POST (not your blog), your name and your email (which will remain hidden). Then bounce around the Linky!



Top Ten Tuesday is a fun weekly link-up in the community where we provide a prompt and other lovers of listmaking join in on it with their own top ten list. Feel free to have less than 10 or more if you need to at times and put a spin on the topic if you need to! Just please link back to us if you are participating :)

To join, link up below with the URL to your blog POST (not your blog), your name and your email (which will remain hidden). Then bounce around the Linky!

 Aisha @ Adventures of a Reader   Merin @ Read and Reviewed   Chrissi Reads  
 Rebecca @ The Library Canary   Lipsy @ Lipsyy Lost & Found   Shannah @ Faith * Love * Books  
 Danica@Taking it One Page at a Time   Cait @ Notebook Sisters   Christy @ TheReaderBee  
 Savannah @ReadingBifrost   Alana @ Alana Muses   Becky @ No More Grumpy Bookseller  
 Meghann @Becoming Books   Shannon   Emma @ Emma's Bookery  
 Kami @ Kami's Library Thoughts   Gaby + Lisa @ Bookish Broads   Myra @ Pieces of Whimsy  
 Books,Quotes & Dimples   Gizmos Reviews   Christianna @ The White Unicorn  
 Kelly @ A Reader Who Reads   Nagina @ OhBookish   Nori @ ReadWriteLove28  
 Stephanie   The Enchanted Forest   Brandy @ Random Musings of a Bibliophile  
 Ani's Book Abyss (BookLikes)   Katie @ INKK REVIEWS   Simply Books (Megan)  
 Rachel @ Confessions of a Book Geek   Justine @ paperback heart   Malin  
 Hayley @ A Stitch to Scratch   Brittany @ This is the Story of My(Reading) Life   Suey @ It's All About Books  
 Katja (@Eeyorenyk)   Elizabeth @ so long and thanks for all the fish   KayCee K @ Wonder Struck  
 Great Imaginations   Marie's Reads   Lauren @ Lose Time Reading  
 Katrina @ Chased By My Imagination   Michelle @ Pink Polka Dot Books   Denise @ Dandelionn Wine Book Blog  
 Laura Michelle @ All Things Book Obsessed   Dahlia @ The Daily Dahlia   Claire @ Bookworm Reviews  
 Cora @ Tea Party Princess   Mel@thedailyprophecy   Michelle @ Fluttering Butterflies  
 Liesel @ Musings on Fantasia   Emily @ Wholly Books   Julie @ Keep Calm With Books and Coffee  
 Valerie @ Reader of Books. Enthralled by Words.   Author Kaisa Clark   Keely @ ireaditandwept  
 Cassie @ The Magical Adventures of Cassie the Weird   islandgeekgirl @ Overflowing Bookshelves   Alice @ Books and Biscuits x  
 Patty @ Patty's Book Corner   Hayley @ Bookblogher   Jess @ Reading Nook Reviews  
 Miss Inga Page   Veronika@ Reading Is Dreaming with Open Eyes   dee @The Book Curmudgeon  
 Clair C.   Natalie @ Natalie Hearts Books   Megan@YA? Why Not?  
 Nobody@TheStoryGoes...   Anastasia @ cuddlereads   Shannon @ Rex Robot Reviews  
 Deanna @ Deanna Writes   Emalie @ Bookgatherer   Dawn @ Dawn's Dreams  
 Caitlin @ Books and Window Seats   Sajda @ Across the Words   Spines & Covers  
 Jolien @ The Fictional Reader   Quinn @ Quinn's Book Nook   Hannah @ Broc's Bookcase  
 Andi @ Andi's ABCs   Dreams @ Once Upon A Dream Books   Emma @ Miss Print  
 M | BACKLIST BOOKS   Sophie @ Dreaming of Happy Endings   Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know  
 Marie   Jessica Lee @ A Midsummer Night's Read   Alison @ Hardcovers & Heroines  
 Fi @ Bookish Outsider   Heather @ Deux Lectrices   Aleksandra @ Aleksandra's Corner  
 Melbourne on my mind   Sophia @ Loving Lit   Kaitlin @ Reading is My Treasure  
 Becca & Lisa @ Lost in Literature   Sarah @ Even if it's not real   LibraryLyssa  
 Jaime @ The Best Books Ever   Chelsea @ Books for Thought   Tanya @ Read. Run. Study.  
 El @ So Bookalicious   Abbi @ Christian Novels   Kate @Read and Dream  
 Bonnie @ A Backwards Story   Amanda @ Cite Something   Danielle @ Bendingoverbookward  
 Thea @ Gizzimomo's Book Shelf   Jorie's Reads by Starry Night Elf   Amber @ Bibliophilia, Please  
 Irish @ Ticket to Anywhere   Kate @ Too Read or Not Too Read   Sarah @ Bookish Retreat  
 Jillian @ Jillian's Books   Michelle @ Michelle's Minions   Erin @ The In-Between Place  
 A Nurse and A Book   The Bookish Daydreamer   P&J @ Intellectual Recreation  
 Mel @ Reviews In A Pinch   Camille @ Girl meets Books   Niki - The Obsessive Bookseller  
 Monique @ Mo_Books   Kimberly @ On the Wings of Books   Katie @ The Book Sphere  
 Sarah @ What Sarah Read   Katie @ Spirit of Children's & YA Literature   Inge @ Bookshelf Reflections  
 bubblewrappedblog   Lauren @ Bookmark Lit   Jen & April @ The Starry-Eyed Revue  
 Liza @ Paperback Wanderings   Martha @ I'd Rather Be Reading   Charlotte @ Books and Baby etc.  
 Rahma   Tea in the Treetops   Kayla @ The Bookish Owl  
 Stephie @ nobody knows   Maren @ The Worn Bookmark   kelley  
 Nicole & Ashley @ The Quiet Concert   Jen @ The Book Avid   Molly @ Woven Magic Books  
 Rachel @Obsessedwithfairytales   Archita   Casey @ Broken Bookworm  
 Cate is Reading Good Books   Samantha @ Book Minx Reads   maria helena @ marelden  
 Rosie // Rosie Reads   Nicole @ Nicole's Novel Reads   Madigan @ Madigan Reads  
 Gillian @ Writer of Wrongs   Lili @ Lili's Reflections   jen and em @themarkofabookfan  
 Jessica @ Peace Love Books   Kimberly @ Turning the Pages   Jessica @ a GREAT read  
 Faye @ A Daydreamer's Thoughts   Sunshine & Whimsy   Sarah @ Exploring All Genres  
 Lyabookland   Kelly @ Wandering Through Books   Amanda @ The Zen Leaf  
 Noemie @ Noemie's Book Blog   Karissa @ Hidden in Pages   brenda@proseandkahn (mg/ya)  
 Jessica @ The Psychotic Nerd   Alma @ Journey Through Fiction   Erin @ The Book Nut  
 Sandie @Teen Lit Rocks   Becky @ A Fool's Ingenuity   Rina @ From Rowling to Meyer  
 Jennifer @ YA Book Nerd   Jessica @ Just Another Teen Reading Books   Joséphine @ Word Revel  
 Isabel @ Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews   Caroline @ The Attic   Mariska@Meandmybooks  
 The Dragon Writer @ purpleDragonWriting   Jaime @ Two Chicks on Books   Andrea @ Bookish  
 Gwen & Kate @ Gwen & Kate's Library   Jae @ The Fluttering Heart Book Nest   Between Bookends  
 Julia @ Books, Babies, and Boredom   Kristy @ A Little Shelf of Heaven   Hallie @ Book by Book  
 Genevieve @ The Reading Shelf   Violet @ Paper Worlds and Swirls of Ink   Adriana @ Reading Fictional  
 Eileen @ BookCatPin   Shannon @ It Starts At Midnight   Emma @ Awkwordly Emma  
 La Coccinelle @ The Ladybug Reads...   Ula @ Blog of Erised   Jaime & Erin @ Fic Fare  
 Amy @ Read What I Like   Jenna @ Rather Be Reading YA   Maureen E @ By Singing Light  
 Cassandra Page   Lisa Loves Literature   Heather & Christie @ The Turning Pages  
 Mandy @ The Reading Diaries   Brin's Book Blog   Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies  
 Heidi @ YA Bibliophile   Ellen M @ The Canon   Heather @ The Bastard Title  
 Stephanie's Book Reviews   Maggie @ Just a Couple More Pages   Precious @ CLockwork Desires  
 Cassi @ My Thoughts Literally   Kat @ No Page Left Behind   Teresa @ Readers Live A Thousand Lives  
 Bonnie @ For the Love of Words   Alicia @ A Kernel of Nonsense   Kaja @ Of Dragons and Hearts  
 Rachel Writes Things   Shan @ Good Books and Tea   Angela @ Angela's Library  
 Holly @ NutFreeNerd   Giselle @ BO-OK NERD Canada   Mallory @ The Local Muse  
 Samantha @ The Secret Life of a Bookworm   Shae/Shelver @ Shae Has Left The Room   @mangrii  
 T   Alex @ The Book Banner   Book Rock Betty  
 Jessica@Lovin' Los Libros   Maxine @ Maximum Reads   Kate @ The Magic Violinist  
 Sheri @ Tangled Up In Books   Rebecca @ Universal Bookworm   Sarah C. @ The Rainy Day Reader  
 Paulina @ The Little Book Pixie   Ricki and Kellee @ Unleashing Readers   Blessie @ Mischievous Reads  
 Jennifer @ Feminist Fairy Tale Reviews   Lori @ Ficwishes   Jade @ Ink Scratchers  
 Krista @ Kristas Dust Jacket   Tiffany @ A Lot of Reading   Tracy @ Cornerfolds  
 Shayna @ Bibliophilia: A Love Story   Brittany @ The Book Addict's Guide   Axie @ Books are Bread  
 Alexandra @ SleepsOnTables   Born and Read   Jackie @ She Reads She Blogs  
 Lauren @ Love is not a triangle   Jim @ YA Yeah Yeah   Jan @ Notes from a Readerholic  
 Tanya @ Mom's Small Victories   Lauren @ Always Me   Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner  
 Jessica @ A Cocoon of Books   Sifra @ Brilliant Bookshelf   April @ Between the Pages  
 Elle @ Random Smiles   Lucy @ The Reading Date   Anna A @ Annas Bokbord  
 Lauren & Kiesha @ Life Between Reads   Tina@A Fangirls View   Kerr & Rachel @ Paein-and-Ms4Tunes book blog  
 Mara A. @ The Reading Hedgehog   Amy @ Tripping Over Books   Stacy Renee @ LazyDayLiterature  
 Rachel @ Beauty and the Bookshelf   Debby @ Snuggly Oranges   Sierra @ Bookyum  
 Amanda & Holly @ Gun in Act One   Jess @ Curiouser and Curiouser   Elsi @ Reading in Texas  
 Jaime @ The World for the Reading   Henna @ Howling for Books   Kim @ kimberlyfaye reads  
 Emily @ Falling for YA   Lynn   Benni @ Benni's Bookbiters  
 Nicole @ Quality Fangirls   There will be books   Olgia @ Orange Owls and Books  
 Sophie @ My Friend the Writer   Maggie @ macarons & paperbacks   Stacey @ Pretty Books  
 Diana @ Little Miss Drama Queen   Petra @ Petras Bokblogg   Angie @ Pinkindle  
 Sumeet @ Musings of A Reading Mind   Rachel & Kimberley @ Gosh Darn It Books   Amber @ YA Indulgences  
 The Girls in Plaid Skirts   Tiffany @ Beneath the Jacket Reviews   Kritika @ Snowflakes & Spider Silk  
 Gabriel @ The Great Gabsby   Makaela @ The Indigo Shelf   jen7waters  
 Danielle @ YA, By the Way   Cassie @ Cassie's Book Babblings   Amanda H  
 Nicole @ Reading Books With Coffee   Thais @ Purrfect Books   Vanessa S. @ Owls and Things  
 Tess @ Tessellated Tales   Liza @ Reading with ABC   AudaciousTori @ InToriLex  
 Kara @ Diary of a Teen Writer   Anna @Diamond&Coal Book Reviews   Space Station Mir  
 Kristalyn @ The Sarcastic Palmtree   Deb Nance at Readerbuzz  

(Cannot add links: Registration/trial expired)


Friday, November 14, 2014

Do you write in books?

I don't just mean textbooks, or books you have to read (and/or write in) for class. (When I was a senior in high school, we were required to purchase our outside reading books and hand them in with the notes we had made in the margins. It was a bad time.) Do you write in your own personal read-for-pleasure books?

I can't decide how I feel about this. On the one hand, I think it would be nice to have an easier way to go back to passages that I liked or that moved me; I always find myself thinking, "Well, I know it was somewhere in the 200s, and it was in the middle of the page on the left-hand side..." and if I had just underlined the darn thing I wouldn't be having that problem. There's also a lot to be said for leaving your mark on a book; do we really own something if we don't make it 100% ours? 

On the other hand, what if your book is a first-edition hardcover, and might one day be valuable? Do you get a paperback copy to write in, or do you write in your hardcover? What if you're really terrible at underlining and always end up going through the words instead of under them? (No, I'm totally not talking about myself, what do you mean...) What if the margins of the book are small and you can't write all the notes you want to, and it ends up looking all sloppy and terrible?? What then??

Why would you do this? Why?!

In case you couldn't infer from above, I am not a book-writer-inner. For the most part, I like my books to stay pristine and unmarkedmostly because I don't trust myself to mark them well or neatly. I remember finding my old copies of Wuthering Heights and The Picture of Dorian Gray from high school and thinking, "Why would she make us ruin a book like this?"

I can see where it's helpful for some people, especially if something really touches you and you want to remember it. I know one of my friends from high school would write in her books, but in very light pencil so that, upon rereading, she might not even notice what she had underlined before. And unlike some other things related to books, I totally won't judge if you're a book-writer-inner. It's just not my style—I don't want to reread my notes every time I read a book. If there was a way I could scan stuff from my books, sort of how you can highlight and make notes on a kindle, that would be ideal for me, I think. Having a single document with all my notes (and page numbers!) would be awesome, and the pages of my book could remain clean. But alas, such technology doesn't exist. (Yet, anyway—who wants to get on developing that for me?)

How about you? Do you write in books? 

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Tahleen reviews: "Little Brother" by Cory Doctorow on Audio

9809033Title: Little Brother
Author: Cory Doctorow
Publisher: Listening Library, 2008
Narrator: Kirby Heyborne

Rating: 4 stars

Marcus Yallow, aka W1N5TON, is pretty much a normal teen, albeit one who enjoys mass multiplayer online role playing games, LARPing, hacking, and all kinds of computer technology stuff. He also has no qualms about cutting school to further along the gaming competition he and a few of his friends are in the middle of. That is, until the worst terror attack on U.S. soil since 9/11 happens in their hometown of San Francisco. After being in the wrong place at the wrong time and getting picked up by Homeland Security, held for days in a prison while being questioned and humiliated, and finally getting released with the warning that if he talks they will come for him, he is forever changed. He and his friends, one of whom is still missing, must go on with their lives pretending like nothing happened. But Marcus has other ideas. Eventually, he wants to fight back and get some payback on Homeland Security for what they are still doing in his city, stripping what they once considered basic freedoms that they had taken for granted.

I would almost hesitate to call this book dystopian, since it's not really that; it's more like science fiction or speculative fiction, as this is something that possibly could happen in the future. And it is terrifying. I can very easily see this happening in our country, and it's very scary to think about.
 

What follows the attack mentioned above in the summary is a look at America sans freedom, America where all Internet use is closely monitored, where every move you make is put under a microscope. People are arrested for simply talking about things. It's very 1984. We are already part of the way there; I truly hope we never make it this far. It's a sobering thought, and this is a very important book for showing how we could get there.

I will say there is a lot of technical description, as well as other explanations of what things are and how they work, which might put off some people. As I listened to the audiobook while running, it didn't really bother me since I could zone out a bit while having the book go on. I was able to pay attention for most of it without getting bored though. And speaking of narration, Kirby Heyborne is great. As many of you already know.

Disclaimer: I got this audiobook out from the public library through OverDrive.

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Top Ten Characters You Wish Would Get Their OWN Book




For future Top Ten Tuesday topics & info on how to participate, click here!

Due to a scheduling mishap WE don't have a Top Ten Tuesday list today so unintentional vacation from TTT this week for us? But we can't wait to see YOUR lists!!

Also, reminder: our 5th annual Secret Santa signups end this week! You have BEFORE Friday to get it in! We hope you will join us!! :)

And while we are at it: if you have any TTT list ideas (maybe that you used for a freebie or a twist you did on a topic) please share! I can't guarantee that we will use it (sometimes things are a good idea but don't have a general appeal) or that we haven't already done it (seriously, 4.5 years of TTT we have done a LOT of things). But holler if you have a new idea or REALLY want to revisit a topic..which we usually DO after a couple years.




Top Ten Tuesday is a fun weekly link-up in the community where we provide a prompt and other lovers of listmaking join in on it with their own top ten list. Feel free to have less than 10 or more if you need to at times and put a spin on the topic if you need to! Just please link back to us if you are participating :)

To join, link up below with the URL to your blog POST (not your blog), your name and your email (which will remain hidden). Then bounce around the Linky!

 Amy @ Read What I Like   jen and em @themarkofabookfan   Evan @ Bibliophilia: A Love Story  
 Kara @ Diary of a Teen Writer   Jim @ YA Yeah Yeah   dee @The Book Curmudgeon  
 Becca & Lisa @ Lost in Literature   Mandy @ The Reading Diaries   Philippa @ Thousand and One books  
 Ellen M @ The Canon   Claire @ Bookworm Reviews   Nicole @ Nicole's Novel Reads  
 Courtney @ The Green Mockingbird   Kayla @ The Bookish Owl   Alysia @ Fiction Addictions  
 Fi @ Bookish Outsider   Words in a Teacup   Jess @ Gone with the Words  
 Elena @ ElenaSquareEyes   Brittany @ This is the Story of My(Reading) Life   Gabriel @ The Great Gabsby  
 Tracy @ Cornerfolds   Angie and Ashlea @ Disquietus Reads   Tiffany @ A Lot of Reading  
 Isabel @ Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews   Marie @ Bardic Impulses   Veronika@ Reading Is Dreaming with Open Eyes  
 There will be books   Dianne @ Ordinary Reader   Nattie N  
 Lauren @ Always Me   Bonnie @ For the Love of Words   Sheri @ Tangled Up In Books  
 Teresa @ Readers Live A Thousand Lives   Irish @ Ticket to Anywhere   Liza @ Paperback Wanderings  
 eli @ the (book) supplier   Becky @ A Fool's Ingenuity   Heidi @ YA Bibliophile  
 Tanya @ Read. Run. Study.   Jenna @ Rather Be Reading YA   Becca @ I'm Lost in Books  
 nevillegirl @ Musings From Neville's Navel   Sumeet @ Musings of A Reading Mind   KevinReads @BetweenMyPages  
 Stephanie @ Chasm of Books   Emily @ Follow the Yellow Book Road   Shan @ Good Books and Tea  
 Maddes bokblogg   Lauren @ Lose Time Reading   Anna @ Books,Quotes & Dimples  
 Nikki & Keira @ Lazy Book Lovers   El @ So Bookalicious   Erin @ The Book Nut  
 Lauren & Kiesha @ Life Between Reads   Melbourne on my mind   Emily @ Paperback Princess  
 Amber @ YA Indulgences   Stephanie @ Her Reviews of Books, Movies, and Everything   Lexie @LexieLäser/LexieReads  
 Megan@YA? Why Not?   Rachel @ Confessions of a Book Geek   Laura @ Scribbles & Wanderlust  
 Stormy @ Book. Blog. Bake.   Soumya @ When the Words End   LECTRICE VORACE  
 Monica @ My Island of Books   Sofia @ SofiaLovesReading   Jessica @ A Cocoon of Books  
 Erica @ Read It. Note It.   Rachel @ Common Novel   Lori @ Ficwishes  
 April @ Between the Pages   Jay @ Bibliophilopolis   Becca Jayne @ Pretty Little Memoirs  
 Molly @ Woven Magic Books   Hollie @ Music, Books and Tea   Part Time Monster  
 Once Upon a Twilight   Ani's Book Abyss (BookLikes)   Rêves et Imagines  
 Book Angel   Space Station Mir   lisa @ tea time and paperbacks  
 Connie @ The YA Book Thief   Rachel @Obsessedwithfairytales   Caitlin @ Books and Window Seats  
 Sarah C. @ The Rainy Day Reader   Kelly @ Wandering Through Books   Sarah @ What Sarah Read  
 Becky @ No More Grumpy Bookseller   Jaime @ Two Chicks on Books   Hayley @ A Stitch to Scratch  
 Vanessa S @ Owls and Things   Emily @ Forever Literary   Alana @ Alana Muses  
 maria helena @ marelden   Kay @ It's a Book Life   Alexandra @ SleepsOnTables  
 Caitlin @ caitlinsternwrites   Sarah @ Sarah Can't Stop Reading   Bookishly Speaking  
 Akilah @ The Englishist   Joey. @ thoughts and afterthoughts.   Carmen @ Shelfspace Needed  
 A ROOM OF MY OWN   Jen @ Tangled in Books   Noemie @ Noemie's Book Blog  
 Petra @ Petras Bokblogg   Eileen @ BookCatPin   Katrina @ Chased By My Imagination  
 Alice @ Books and Biscuits x   Rachel @ Beauty and the Bookshelf   Kerr & Rachel @ Paein-and-Ms4Tunes book blog  
 M | BACKLIST BOOKS   Confessions of a common reader   Annette and Rachel  
 Jennifer @ YA Book Nerd   Hayley @ Bookblogher   Megan Easley-Walsh  
 Born and Read   Michelle @ Michelle's Minions   Patty @ Patty's Book Corner  
 Brandy @ Random Musings of a Bibliophile   Bonnie @ A Backwards Story   Lisa Loves Literature  
 Nikki @ The Bibliophibian   Aleksandra @ Aleksandra's Corner   Anya @ On Starships and Dragonwings  
 Ronyell@ The Surreal Movies and TV Blog   Cait @ Notebook Sisters   Stefani @ Caught Read Handed  
 kelley   Jennifer @ Feminist Fairy Tale Reviews   AudaciousTori  
 Katie @ Words For Worms   Cristina @ Girl in the Pages   Matt @ Te Little Engine That Couldn'th  
 Mishma @ As the page turns   Nora @ Enter Through the Pages   Prairiedances @ Once Upon A Dream Books  
 Jody @ A Spoonful of Happy Endings   Sophe@The Techno Maid   KayCee K @ Wonder Struck  
 Alex @ The Book Banner   Emma @ Emma's Bookery   Miss Inga Page  
 Ijul @ Fiksimetropop   Genevieve @ The Reading Shelf   Jillian @ Jillian's Books  
 Ashley @ Lovely Literature   Tia @ Read It Write Now   Thea @ Gizzimomo's Book Shelf  
 Jennifer @ Innerworkings of the Female Mind   Shannon @ Rex Robot Reviews   Kami @ Kami's Library Thoughts  
 Jaime @ Fic Fare   Emily   Shannon @ It Starts At Midnight  
 Bundle of Books   Savannah @ReadingBifrost   Cate @ RGB  
 Deanna @ Deanna Writes   Ashley @ Falling Down The Book Hole   Inga the ninjalibrarian  
 Henna @ Howling for Books   Samantha @ Book Minx Reads   Ashley @ wordsweheart  
 Gaby + Lisa @ Bookish Broads   Savindi @ The Streetlight Reader   Great Imaginations  
 Nicole & Ashley @ The Quiet Concert   Sofia @ Take A Walk On The Write Side   Precious @ Clockwork Desires  
 Melissa @ Bookmark Dragon   Gen @ Mrs H: Bookworm   Brittney @ Reviews from a Dreamer  
 Chrissi Reads   Between Bookends   Priya @ Tabula Rasa  
 Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings   Benni @ Benni's Bookbiters   Anne@HeadFullofBooks  
 Kat @ No Page Left Behind   Lianne @ caffeinatedlife.net   Annie @ Sincerely, Annie  
 Nagina @ OhBookish   Nobody @ The Story Goes...   Jess @ Curiouser and Curiouser  
 Rebecca @ The Library Canary   Katherine @ I wish I Lived in a Library   Annemieke @ Signourneybooks  
 @mangrii   Tamsin   Jae @ The Fluttering Heart Book Nest  
 Haley @ My Addiction Books   Alicia @ A Kernel of Nonsense   Quinn @ Quinn's Book Nook  
 Cassandra Page   Jessica @ Peace Love Books   BookCupid  
 islandgeekgirl @ Overflowing Bookshelves   Mahima @ allthingswordy   Top Ten Tuesday @ Pages and Tea  
 Samantha @ The Secret Life of a Bookworm   Lauren @ Books, Tea & Me   Maureen E @ By Singing Light  
 Hannah @ So Obsessed With   Jazz @ Jazmin Jade Reviews   Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner  
 Kate @Read and Dream   Michelle, Brittany & Amanda @ The Passionate Bookworms   Heather & Christie @ The Turning Pages  
 La Coccinelle @ The Ladybug Reads...   Debby @ Snuggly Oranges   Cait @ Book Love  
 Brin's Book Blog   Kellee & Ricki @ Unleashing Readers   bubblewrappedblog  
 Maggie @ Just a Couple More Pages   Valerie @ Reader of Books. Enthralled by Words.   Mallory @ The Local Muse  
 Lynn   Lillian @ Mom With a Reading Problem   Katherine @ Neon Yeti Reads  
 Kat @ Readiculous Blog   jill at daysathome   Anna A @ Annas Bokbord  
 Gillian @ Writer of Wrongs   Ashley@Chronicles   Lauren @ Bookmark Lit  
 Jaime @ The World for the Reading   Sam @ The Little Munchkin Reader   Jenny @Juliababyjen's Reading Room  
 Jessica @ a GREAT read   Mel @ Reviews In A Pinch   Christianna @ The White Unicorn  
 Shae/Shelver @ Shae Has Left The Room   Selah @ A Bibliophile's Style   Andressa - Livros e Chocolate Quente  
 Heather @ The Bastard Title   Kei @ The Lovely Pages Reviews   Jess & Loren @ Such a Novel Idea  
 Emily @ Wholly Books   Cassi @ My Thoughts Literally   Amanda @ Cite Something  
 Alison @ Hardcovers & Heroines   Sarah @ Even if it's not real   Shelly @ Raindrops and Pages  
 Jess @ Reading Nook Reviews   Inge @ Bookshelf Reflections   Kristen @ The Book Monsters  
 Chanielle @ BIBLIOPHILIC MADNESS   Jolien @ The Fictional Reader   Nori @ ReadWriteLove28  
 Kitty   Mara A. @ The Reading Hedgehog   Melanie @ Ink Out Loud  
 Nicole @ Reading Books With Coffee   Liza @ Reading with ABC   Erin @ ITIO Book Reviews  
 Jordin @ A Bottomless Book Bag   Amber @ Bibliophilia, Please   Holly @ NutFreeNerd  
 Christina (A Reader of Fictions)   Lois@You, Me, and a Cup of Tea   Ula @ Blog of Erised  
 Maggie @ macarons & paperbacks   Rosemond Cates@ Big Hair and Books   Wattle @ Whimsical Nature  
 Val @ The Innocent Smiley   Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies   Aimm @ Books&Crannies  
 Laura Michelle @ All Things Book Obsessed   Spines & Covers   Meghann @ Becoming Books  
 Lindsey @ Bring My Books   Sarah @ Words with Sarah   Tia @ Videoclimber's Variations  
 Clair C.   Marie's Reads   Tea in the Treetops  
 Nessa @ October Tune   Heather @ Based on a True Story   Nicole @ Quality Fangirls  
 Emily @ Little Infinities   Mari @ Story and Somnomancy   Bec @ My Infernal Imagination  
 purpleDragon57   Sajda @ Across the Words   Stephanie@Don't Be Afraid of the Dork  
 hellphie @ hellphie's fiendish fiction   Liesel @ Musings on Fantasia   Stephanie @ Bookfever  
 Stephanie's Book Reviews   B   Karissa @ Hidden in Pages  
 Erica@Books4ev   Pamela @ A Writer's Tales   Abbi @ Christian Novels  
 Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog   Linda @ Three Good Rats   Rachel @ the NerdHerd Reads  
 Caroline @ The Attic   Amber @ Bookishwonder   Hannah @ Broc's Bookcase  
 Andi @ Andi's ABCs   Emma @ Awkwordly Emma   Sandie @Teen Lit Rocks  
 Amber @ Cosying Up With Books   Sarah @ Bookish Retreat  

(Cannot add links: Registration/trial expired)


Sunday, November 9, 2014

Broke and Bookish Book Haul for 10/26 - 11/8

Daisy's Book Haul


Bought/gifted:


I went to Boekenfestijn last week (which is basically lots of books on sale that I can't resist grabbing) and bought a LOT of books...
-The Sorcerer Heir by Cinda Williams Chima: I still haven't started this series, I'm embarassed to say, but I loved her Seven Realms series so much that this has to be amazing as well.
-The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss: AND IT IS SIGNED, HOORAY!! Due to the awesomeness that is The American Book Center and in particular one of their employees Tiemen, I managed to get a signed edition of this pretty and I've just been hugging it :)
-Famous in Love by Rebecca Serle: because Debby is awesome, she gave me this book after she read it, and as I really loved When You Were Mine, I hope this one will make me smile as well.
-Pennyroyal Academy by M.A. Lawson: and because Debby is double awesome, she also gave me this one :) It sounds like just my kind of book!
-Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black: I had this for review on NetGalley, and the cover is so pretty...
-Buffy the Vampire Slayer volume 3 by Christopher Golden, Nancy Holder, Kirsten Beyer, Joss Whedon: I couldn't help myself, I'm a Buffy fan and it was just begging me to take it home. I'm sad they didn't have the first two volumes cause it feels weird just having the third.
-Poison Heart by S.B. Hayes: I'm not really sure of this one, but it sounded good and I just impulse bought it cause that's what one does at Boekenfestijn.
-Paper Cuts by Sandy Rideout and Yvonne Collins: I mostly picked this up because it looked cute and it matched the cover for Love Inc (again: as one does at Boekenfestijn).
-Spellwright by Blake Charlton: I'm intrigued by what I think is dyxlexia affecting a wizard in training, this should be good.
-City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare: I haven't started this series yet and I feel that I should read it, so I'm just giving into the urge to buy a complete series and then reading it. Someday.


-Love Inc by Yvonne Collins and Sandy Rideout: this has been on my wishlist for a LONG time and suddenly it was just lying there at Boekenfestijn and I grabbed it. It sounds really cute!
-Making Your Mind Up by Jill Mansell: I love Jill Mansell's books and I didn't have this one yet, so obviously it had to come home with me.
-City of Glass by Cassandra Clare: I am an incurable series hoarder.
-The Green Mile by Stephen King: I love the movie and I felt like I should read the book as well.
-Angels & Demons by Dan Brown: I realised I have never actually read this one, which should be remedied soonish.
-The Maze Runner
The Scorch Trials
The Death Cure
The Kill Order by James Dashner: this boxed set was too good to pass on, I really want to read The Maze Runner and see what people have been talking about.

Not pictured:
-The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon: I borrowed this from Debby, THANK YOUUUUU!! And already read and loved it! So many feels!
-Fables Vol 1: Legends in Exile and Fables Vol 2: Animal Farm: borrowed from one of my best friends, they look really interesting, and I've been meaning to try something new, maybe graphic novels will become a new obsession :)

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Julia Reviews The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost

Title/Author: The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost
Publisher/Year Published: August 2014 by Harlequin 
How I got this book: I was provided with an ARC in return for an honest review
Why I read this book: I was in the mood for paranormal in October... I wonder why?
Rating: 3.5 stars

This book leaves me a bit torn which is why I think it's taken me a few weeks to start this review. On one hand it has a very interesting paranormal plot line that I haven't read anything similar too. On the other hand the characters aren't very well written. Adrian is as cliche as they come - smoldering demon thing who can melt the pants off women with one look. Ivy is the inexperienced woman who finds herself in a situation she was destined for and somehow gets good at mastering things instantly. Then there is their romance which was very instant attraction that moves into the "I can fix him our love will save the world" cliche mix. But the plot was really interesting! 

Let's back up and talk about that plot. Ivy is a college age woman who's parents just died in a car accident and only other living relative, her sister, has gone missing. She is in New York looking for her when she is sort of kidnapped/rescued by Adrian, a humanish hunk who was sent to take her to this angel guy to start down the path of her destiny and save her from the clutches of demons. She is from some special bloodline and the last of the line and only she can do... something. I don't even really think that was clear... it of course is a series. 

Adrian didn't know who she was initially and was all trying to get in her pants, but once he realized she is the last of that line things change. You see, he is the last of another line whose paths were destined to cross with the first line but in like a betrayer way. 

It's sort of convoluted, but it is introduced easily enough. Things get answered along the way as the plot clips along. It's very much angels vs demons, heaven vs hell sort of book that pulls a lot of stuff from Christianity's history and lore. I really enjoyed that part and the vivid imagery of the demon world. 

But the characters were not as gripping. They were along the ride for the story, but just seemed like plot points or cardboard cutout cliches. I keep using that word, but it very much fits. Think of your normal leading hero in a paranormal book. That's Adrian. Think of your normal heroine in a YA paranormal. That's Ivy. 

That's another thing that bothered me. I thought this was paranormal romance, but it is more like new adultish paranormal romance sort of. When I start a romance novel, I go into it knowing a few things are going to happen. 1) The main characters fall in love (check) 2) They get a Happily Ever After or a Happy For Now (it's a HFN because I think these characters are going to run through the series) 3) They have the sexytimes. (no check) I was a little saddened when I got to the end and pants remained on. This is published by Harlequin, right? Well, I don't know if it will be a plot point later or something, but I was missing the romance part of this book. Not just the sex, but like the tension. It wasn't there for me in the subtext. She told me they were falling in love, but I sure as hell didn't see it.

So in summary, it wasn't horrid. I liked the creativity of the world where it was set. I liked the descriptions of some of the demon based characters. But I didn't like the lackluster leads and their lack of realistic chemistry. Apparently it is marketed as New Adult and not paranormal romance, so if you are looking to try a paranormal story with a dash of romance, I'd say give this a try. At least read the sample and see if it grips you. 


Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Jamie Talks About Holiday Reads!

I've never been one to really read a TON of holiday books but I read maybe one every year. Lately I've been interested in them more and more but I just don't know where to start (that's where YOU are going to come in later in the comments).

At the current moment I'm reading My True Love Gave To Me edited by Stephanie Perkins. It is SUCH a wonderful holiday collection. Some of my favorite authors have short stories in it -- Stephanie herself, Gayle Forman, David Levithan, Rainbow Rowell, Jenny Han and more! I've been reading it stretched out over the course of a few weeks and I realized it's the PERFECT read during the holidays because you can sneak in a short story here and there during the holidays. My reading feels so stilted during the holidays because I'm off to this family's house and then wrapping presents and watching Christmas movies and suddenly it feels like I'm starting and stopping abruptly in my current read. So to have a short story collection where I don't have to have a ton of time to really get IMMERSED in it is quite perfect. And it's so heart-warming and perfect. It really is. I almost wish I saved it to read DURING the holidays (next year I will read it again for sure).

I just have really enjoyed doing holiday reads because they are always a little more light and less intense than my normal reads. (MOST OF THE TIME). 

So I'd really like some recommendations for holiday-ish books to read. There isn't much in the YA world (I've read Let It Snow and Dash & Lily) which stinks. And most of the time with adult fiction they always seem to be a holiday romance that is set within a romance series I haven't read and I never know if I will be confused/not enjoy it as much because of that.

 I typically read contemporary YA/adult and I like romance! I just want a really good holiday book to read so I'm trust you, dear readers, to provide me with some good recs! Hit me with links to your blog if you have roundups of good holiday reads!


Do you read holiday-ish books during the holidays? Do you find it hard to find time reading during the holidays?

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Books Bridget Wants to Re-Read

 Before we get to our regularly scheduled Top Ten Tuesday...ICYMI -- the 5th Annual Broke & Bookish Secret Santa sign-ups are open!




For future Top Ten Tuesday topics & info on how to participate, click here!

A better question might be: what books don't I want to reread?? I've read most of my books more than once, but here are the top ten that I've only read once and would love to reread:

1. The Silent Wife - A. S. A. Harrison. It's awesome. It's short, but incredibly well-written and fun to read. It's a terrible shame that Ms. Harrison passed away before The Silent Wife was published, so we won't be seeing more from her.

2. Joyland - Stephen King. A great, old-fashioned whodunit by the master of horror himself.

3. Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn. I want to reread this before I see the movie, but my mom still has it and hasn't finished it even though I lent it to her probably a year ago...Mooooommmm...

4. Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier. This is a lovely, haunting novel and I actually can't believe I haven't reread it already.

5. The Casual Vacancy - J. K. Rowling. As some of you may remember, a few of us here at TBTB did a group read of The Casual Vacancy, but most of us didn't finish. We did have a great discussion, though, and knowing everything I know about it now, I'd like to read it again with a fresh mind.

6. Room - Emma Donoghue. I remember loving the first half of the book, but I wasn't crazy about the second half. I'd like to read it again and see how I feel about it a few years later.

7. Desperation and The Regulators - Stephen King. I'm counting these as one because they're companion novels. I wish I could go back and read The Regulators first, for the first time, because the first time I read them I read Desperation first.

8. The Chronicles of Narnia - C. S. Lewis. Again, counting this as one because it's a quick series to get through as an adult. I had never read it as a kid and finally read it a few years ago when I was 22, and I LOVED it. My younger brother and sister are 5 and 6 now, so they're almost ready to get into them and I'm so excited for them!

9. The Gunslinger - Stephen King. This is one that I don't really want to read again, but feel like I should because I didn't really like it the first time. But apparently the Dark Tower series is King's magnum opus, so I feel like I should try it again.

10. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley. Another one I felt kind of meh about last time. I'd like to give it another try to see if it'll grab me the same way it's grabbed others.


What books do you all want to re-read??







Monday, November 3, 2014

Lori's (Midway) Review of Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham

Title:  Not That Kind of Girl:  A Young Woman Tells You What She's "Learned"

Author:  Lena Dunham


Publication Information:  October 2014 by Random House


How I Got a Copy of This Book:  I pre-ordered an ebook copy...then I had to buy a hard copy because of reasons.




Goodreads Synopsis:  "There is nothing gutsier to me than a person announcing that their story is one that deserves to be told," writes Lena Dunham, and it certainly takes guts to share the stories that make up her first book, Not That Kind of Girl. These are stories about getting your butt touched by your boss, about friendship and dieting (kind of) and having two existential crises before the age of 20. Stories about travel, both successful and less so, and about having the kind of sex where you feel like keeping your sneakers on in case you have to run away during the act. Stories about proving yourself to a room of 50-year-old men in Hollywood and showing up to "an outlandishly high-fashion event with the crustiest red nose you ever saw." Fearless, smart, and as heartbreakingly honest as ever, Not That Kind of Girl establishes Lena Dunham as more than a hugely talented director, actress and producer-it announces her as a fresh and vibrant new literary voice.


My Thoughts:  Full disclosure--I'm not done with this book yet.  But I needed to write something so that I could spread the word.  Unless you've been living under a rock, I'm sure you've heard about this book of personal essays.  There have been a lot of great things written about it and there have been some pretty bad things written about (in my opinion, these things have been said by people who have no stinking clue what it's like to be a female in their mid-20s in the 21st century so really ought to stop speaking...anyway! moving on!).


The book is broken into five sections--Love & Sex, Body, Friendship, Work, and Big Picture.  I've read the first two sections and part of the third.  Dunham writes so intelligently on these topics because duh! she's lived them.  She shares her experiences and infuses them with humor.  She constantly makes me exclaim "Oh my goodness! My tooooooo!"  I've seen a number of friends or people I follow on Twitter comment on how her stories are their stories.  It's great to see someone to whom you can relate so closely.

The book reads like a no holds barred conversation with one of your best friends.  With alcohol that magically doesn't give you a hangover.  I don't know what exactly that means, but it sounds like the right thing to say.

Dunham's writing has made me feel more comfortable in my own skin, which makes the book priceless in my opinion.  I really like the way this book fits into the current conversations about feminism and what it means to be a female in the twenty-first century, a la Caitlin Moran (another book of essays I can't wait to sink my teeth into!).

I would highly recommend this book.  But, I must admit, it's not exactly for the faint of heart.  So if you aren't up for a frank conversation about love & sex and the female body, better hold off (but really work hard at trying to become ready for that conversation because this book is just too great to miss!).

I'll definitely be back with full thoughts once I finish the book.
Related Posts with Thumbnails