Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Reading Challenge!
So here's a reading challenge suggested by the lovely Raeleen of padfootandprongs07 :] Personally, I'm aiming to check at least 30 of these off so I can even further diversify my reading! I pasted the entire thing below for reference, so check it out c: I'll be updating this post as I go along my reading in 2015 so I can check stuff off.
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Reading Goals for 2015
So 2014 is almost over, and I'm about done with my 2014 goal of reading 129 books (I'm on the 129th right now, which is the finale to the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy by Laini Taylor!!). I'm going to finish Dreams of Gods and Monsters right after I finish this post, so yeah; stay tuned.
2014 was a really big year for me in terms of not only books, but also youtube. This was the year that I truly became an avid watcher of both youtube and also booktube, and whilst I'm not a creator, being a viewer is a huge part of my life. It's a way to stay connected to the world as a person who hasn't been out of her little township area in more than three years. It's a way to formulate opinions and get educated on modern events and things like feminism and activist movements. I connect through youtube, and I guess in way, I'm living my life by watching others live their lives. I'm so deeply connected to all these youtubers who for the most part don't even know I exist, and that's wonderful. The internet is a wonderful thing.
I became vegetarian on August 9th of 2014, because I watched a ten minute video on Youtube. That sole video changed my ENTIRE view on vegetarianism as well as animal rights and slaughterhouses, which I'm not going to get into because I know people get really touchy and annoyed about this subject. I just want to say that 2014 is the year that I finally got connected, and it was the year that I realized exactly how awful ignorance is. Anyway. Back to books.
Without booktube and Goodreads, I'm absolutely certain I never would've read the ginormous amount of books that I did. I think it's a feat, and I think I'm obligated to bragging rights simply because holy shit I read a lot. I found so many universes and I cried over fictional characters and their sorrows and I discovered tons of new authors. Reading is so beautiful, and while I've been actively reading for almost a decade now, I think 2014 is the year that I really pushed my limits.
A Little Reflection on 2014:
2014 was a really big year for me in terms of not only books, but also youtube. This was the year that I truly became an avid watcher of both youtube and also booktube, and whilst I'm not a creator, being a viewer is a huge part of my life. It's a way to stay connected to the world as a person who hasn't been out of her little township area in more than three years. It's a way to formulate opinions and get educated on modern events and things like feminism and activist movements. I connect through youtube, and I guess in way, I'm living my life by watching others live their lives. I'm so deeply connected to all these youtubers who for the most part don't even know I exist, and that's wonderful. The internet is a wonderful thing.
I became vegetarian on August 9th of 2014, because I watched a ten minute video on Youtube. That sole video changed my ENTIRE view on vegetarianism as well as animal rights and slaughterhouses, which I'm not going to get into because I know people get really touchy and annoyed about this subject. I just want to say that 2014 is the year that I finally got connected, and it was the year that I realized exactly how awful ignorance is. Anyway. Back to books.
Without booktube and Goodreads, I'm absolutely certain I never would've read the ginormous amount of books that I did. I think it's a feat, and I think I'm obligated to bragging rights simply because holy shit I read a lot. I found so many universes and I cried over fictional characters and their sorrows and I discovered tons of new authors. Reading is so beautiful, and while I've been actively reading for almost a decade now, I think 2014 is the year that I really pushed my limits.
Reading Goals for 2015:
1) Read 125 books in 2015. I was really pushing it in 2014 with 129 books, and while for the majority of 2014 I was around 10 books ahead of schedule, I helplessly fell behind in the latter years due to school. I was transitioning into a new school in which the workload was maybe double (which was as expected) but then I immersed myself in many extracurricular activities that I felt like I was drowning and burning out at exactly the same time.
I medicated this with Youtube, procrastinating work and trying to convince myself that OF COURSE I had tons of time (in which I didn't, and then I would just sleep less and be more cranky and stressed out and the cycle would continue) I avoided booktubing videos for over three months simply because I hated the pressure that I put upon myself to read. And that's going to change. I still want to read lot, and I'm not certain how the four book difference is really going to have that large of an impact, but I hope that I can pace myself better.
2) Read at least 38 books by authors of color (around 30% of the books I'm planning on reading) (Basically, read more diversely!!) I'm just starting to notice quite how non-diversely I read, and that's a problem. I want to change that, but I'm not certain just how drastically that's going to happen. I have many books on my tbr that I want to read in 2015, and which I've wanted to read for a long while and are not by people of color, and that's okay. I just want to read more diversely, so that's a goal that I'm setting that I can hopefully accomplish.
3) Read at least 10 non-manga graphic novels. In the whole of 2014, I think I've read probably less than three graphic novels, which is a huge source of shame for me. Graphic novels are awesome, and I can't believe I've barely picked up any. That's needs to change!
4) Attempt to read all the books in A Song of Ice and Fire that are released (A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, etc) It's a huge regret that I never got to finish A Game of Thrones in 2014 (I'm around halfway through), and I really want to rectify that. I desperately want to watch the TV series, but I've vowed to myself that I wouldn't until I finished all the books that have been released so far in the series. So yeah. This goal's a stretch, but hopefully I can do it.
5) Reread the entire Percy Jackson series. I loved these when I was a kid, and I want to read the Heroes of Olympus, but I can't do that when I don't even truly remember any of the characters. I still remember some of it (jogged by the many Percabeth tumblr posts that roam my feed) but I need to become better acquainted with the whole thing.
So that's all for now. Hopefully I'll be updating and adding more goals as 2015 goes on, but that's all for now!
Monday, August 18, 2014
Review of The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness (CHAOS WALKING #2)
Check out my Bout of Books goals and updates :D
Patrick Ness and his cliffhangers will never fail to disappoint me. Ness is one of those authors that will almost certainly play with my emotions, whether I like it or not.
His writing is stellar, and the way he puts you inside of Todd and Viola's head is also quite stunning. I was drawn into this story in a way I haven't felt regarding books in a long time, and I applaud him for that. Ness made me feel all these sorts of conflicting emotions, and his writing style never fails to create inner turmoil. I understood Mayor Prentiss and Davy Prentiss in a completely different way than I saw them in the first book. I saw the less-evil side of them, although the faking-kindness side was a whole lot more prominent throughout this novel.
Whilst talking about Noise and Spackles and ships, Patrick Ness also talks about more deeper issues. There are so many underlying themes in this series, like genocide, feminsim, and even terrorism. People aren't always exactly as they seem, and I grew quite fond of Wilf throughout this book. I also grew to appreciate Viola, and I absolutely loved the dual point of view in this story. Patrick Ness deals with the issues of "good" and "bad" in a really remarkable way, and the almost numb storytelling from Todd in the majority of the book really opened me up to that.
I don't even know how to describe his writing except forcompletely magical.
This series is meant for children. Many books are meant for children--for adolescents who probably don't have anything else to do in their lives. So many people belittle that these days, saying that Young Adult novels are pointless and are only for happy fluffy feels. I'm sure the Goodreads community completely disagrees with that, and this is just another book to prove that. There are so many deeper issues that books like these portray in subtle ways, and they truly teach people lessons.
Why not? Because ...we are the choices we make
That resonated with me. Todd is constantly trying to prove himself, and his emotions are so crystal clear even while they are being blunted from the horrors in his life. Viola is just trying to pull through with the one she loves in a society that is so different and so biased against people like her. And I'm not only talking about women there, but a lot of other things. Because this book taught me that people are not simple. They cannot be defined, and the "sides" get blurred too often. Because, who was Davy Prentiss? On one hand, you could say he was evil and awful. He did pretty horrific things, but yet... he is so much more than that. And it saddens me to see people not able to see others complexly.
But Todd saw! Todd, the one who can't even read and continuously saves a Spack who wants to murder him. For Viola. To prove his inner goodness. That is what this book taught me, and I think that it is an essential lesson in life.
In this book, there was no "good" side. The Ask? Definitely not? The Answer? Debatalbe, but I believe that side wasn't fully good either. And that was the point! The point was that there are no good sides--ever--but there aren't any bad sides either. At least, that's how I interpreted it. And before I ramble any further, let me wrap up this review. Actual Rating: 4.2 stars
Patrick Ness and his cliffhangers will never fail to disappoint me. Ness is one of those authors that will almost certainly play with my emotions, whether I like it or not.
His writing is stellar, and the way he puts you inside of Todd and Viola's head is also quite stunning. I was drawn into this story in a way I haven't felt regarding books in a long time, and I applaud him for that. Ness made me feel all these sorts of conflicting emotions, and his writing style never fails to create inner turmoil. I understood Mayor Prentiss and Davy Prentiss in a completely different way than I saw them in the first book. I saw the less-evil side of them, although the faking-kindness side was a whole lot more prominent throughout this novel.
Whilst talking about Noise and Spackles and ships, Patrick Ness also talks about more deeper issues. There are so many underlying themes in this series, like genocide, feminsim, and even terrorism. People aren't always exactly as they seem, and I grew quite fond of Wilf throughout this book. I also grew to appreciate Viola, and I absolutely loved the dual point of view in this story. Patrick Ness deals with the issues of "good" and "bad" in a really remarkable way, and the almost numb storytelling from Todd in the majority of the book really opened me up to that.
I don't even know how to describe his writing except forcompletely magical.
This series is meant for children. Many books are meant for children--for adolescents who probably don't have anything else to do in their lives. So many people belittle that these days, saying that Young Adult novels are pointless and are only for happy fluffy feels. I'm sure the Goodreads community completely disagrees with that, and this is just another book to prove that. There are so many deeper issues that books like these portray in subtle ways, and they truly teach people lessons.
Why not? Because ...we are the choices we make
That resonated with me. Todd is constantly trying to prove himself, and his emotions are so crystal clear even while they are being blunted from the horrors in his life. Viola is just trying to pull through with the one she loves in a society that is so different and so biased against people like her. And I'm not only talking about women there, but a lot of other things. Because this book taught me that people are not simple. They cannot be defined, and the "sides" get blurred too often. Because, who was Davy Prentiss? On one hand, you could say he was evil and awful. He did pretty horrific things, but yet... he is so much more than that. And it saddens me to see people not able to see others complexly.
But Todd saw! Todd, the one who can't even read and continuously saves a Spack who wants to murder him. For Viola. To prove his inner goodness. That is what this book taught me, and I think that it is an essential lesson in life.
In this book, there was no "good" side. The Ask? Definitely not? The Answer? Debatalbe, but I believe that side wasn't fully good either. And that was the point! The point was that there are no good sides--ever--but there aren't any bad sides either. At least, that's how I interpreted it. And before I ramble any further, let me wrap up this review. Actual Rating: 4.2 stars
Friday, August 15, 2014
Review of Winger by Andrew Smith!
Rating:
Winger inspires me to succeed in life, and it does so through its humor and its sadness. Andrew Smith is an author who is genuinely hilarious, and with all those monotonous and dull books out there, it feels like a gem. Truly. Never have I met a book that I felt so eager to protect, almost like a... baby?
Okay. That got weird way too fast. Let's backtrack a bit.
This was a hunk of a book, and I picked it up a few hours ago and finished it just now. It distracted me from my completely essential summer work for school, but oh well, because it was pretty fantastic. And for the majority of the time, I acted like a madwoman, letting out bursts of laughter randomly and then shutting up and continuing to read. I loved the illustrations, the graphs, the comic-like drawings, and pretty much everything about it. Andrew Smith sure can channel my inner immature side and bring it out full force, and Ryan Dean was a pretty amazing protagonist.
I thought this would just be a light and fun read, but at the end, it turned out to be so much more. Yes, this book was hilarious and upbringing, but it also sent me in an emotional tailspin once I finished. I didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or just stare into silence and contemplate my life and everything around me. Obviously, I chose the latter.
The ending took me completely by surprise, and I don't really know how to properly express it into these tangible words that you can read and understand. But I'm going to try.
Winger shows life, and that scared me sometimes. It was fun, it was dark, it was almost foul sometimes, but isn't that life? Isn't that just exactly how life is supposed to be? When I finished, I was in complete shock. It got serious all too fast, and (view spoiler in original review) not in a bad way. But yes, it hurt. The ending hurt, but in one of those it-hit-me-right-in-the-feels type way, and not that-made-me-uncomfortable type way. Okay, now I'm just rambling,
So while I am a sucker for a happy ending (there is a reason The Blue Castle is one of my favorite books), the ones that impact me the most are the ones that let me cry. The ones where I sob and sob and sob until my face is just a mess of tears and snot (The Book Thief, anyone?) are the ones that usually end up being my favorites. Because if I can connect so much that a fictional character can have that kind of impact on me, that author has something right going on.
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Bout of Books 11 Goals + Updates!
Yay, it's Bout of Books time! I've been reading quite slowly for the past few weeks because I've basically been studying for exams and things all day. But now I'm almost done with that whole shenanigans, and I only have one more exam to go (that I'll be taking in a few hours)! So hopefully I'll be able to sneak in lots of reading time while I'm volunteering at camp as a teacher, or just read a lot before and after camp. I'll be participating throughout the entire week (hopefully!), so let's just get on with it :)
My Goals for Bout of Books 11:
•Read all of the following 8 books (my more detailed goals are listed below):
• Participate in two or more challenges!
Detailed Book Goals:
- Finish Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield, The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness , Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness (optional, but knowing Ness and his cliffhangers, I'll most likely read it as well), Animal Farm by George Orwell, and A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines.
- Read at least 75% of A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (to page 627).
- Read at least 50% of The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien (to page 199) and also read at least 50% of Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano (to page 178).
So I just did the calculations, and I came to around a total of 2200 pages. Knowing me, it'll probably be even less because I'll be reading these 4 days before the read-a-ton as well. So I would say around 2100 pages in a seven day period (and yeah, I did that simply because I could do math more easily haha). This comes to around 300 pages a day, which I hope to achieve!
Monday, 5/18
Books Read Today: The Ask and the Answer, Monsters of Men, Animal Farm.
Completed: The Ask and the Answer
In-Progress: Monsters of Men and Animal Farm
Challenge: Completed 1 challenge: Book Scavenger Hunt. Check it out on the actual twitter page
Total Books Finished: 1
Total Pages Read: 50 pages of The Ask and the Answer, 116 pages of Animal Farm, and 17 pages of Monsters of Men = 183 pages
Notes: Not bad, considering I read a lot more than I thought I would before Bout of Books! Good progress so far :)
Tuesday, 5/19
Books Read Today: Animal Farm, Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone, Monsters of Men
Completed: Animal Farm
In-Progress: Monsters of Men and Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone
Challenge: In total, completed one (look above!)
Total Books Finished: 2
Total Pages Read: 24 pages of Animal Farm, 85 pages of Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone, and 195 pages of Monsters of Men = 304 pages
Notes: Yay! This is really good.
Wednesday, 5/14
Books Read Today: Monsters of Men
Completed: Monsters of Men
In-Progress: Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone
Challenge: Like This, Try This Bout of Books Challenge: If you like Reality Boy by A.S. King, you should try out Winger by Andrew Smith! Both are enthralling. They are both from a male's point of view, in which he is judged because of a certain aspect of his being, and in which he overcomes the judgement and will eventually succeed. Winger is hilarious, and a bonus is that the authors are actually great friends!
Total Books Finished: 3
Total Pages Read: 327 pages of Monsters of Men
Thursday, 5/15
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Friday, 5/16
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Saturday, 5/17
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Sunday, 5/18
Books Read Today:
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Challenge:
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Books Read Today: The Ask and the Answer, Monsters of Men, Animal Farm.
Completed: The Ask and the Answer
In-Progress: Monsters of Men and Animal Farm
Challenge: Completed 1 challenge: Book Scavenger Hunt. Check it out on the actual twitter page
Total Pages Read: 50 pages of The Ask and the Answer, 116 pages of Animal Farm, and 17 pages of Monsters of Men = 183 pages
Notes: Not bad, considering I read a lot more than I thought I would before Bout of Books! Good progress so far :)
Tuesday, 5/19
Books Read Today: Animal Farm, Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone, Monsters of Men
Completed: Animal Farm
In-Progress: Monsters of Men and Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone
Challenge: In total, completed one (look above!)
Total Books Finished: 2
Total Pages Read: 24 pages of Animal Farm, 85 pages of Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone, and 195 pages of Monsters of Men = 304 pages
Notes: Yay! This is really good.
Wednesday, 5/14
Books Read Today: Monsters of Men
Completed: Monsters of Men
In-Progress: Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone
Challenge: Like This, Try This Bout of Books Challenge: If you like Reality Boy by A.S. King, you should try out Winger by Andrew Smith! Both are enthralling. They are both from a male's point of view, in which he is judged because of a certain aspect of his being, and in which he overcomes the judgement and will eventually succeed. Winger is hilarious, and a bonus is that the authors are actually great friends!
Total Books Finished: 3
Total Pages Read: 327 pages of Monsters of Men
Thursday, 5/15
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Friday, 5/16
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Saturday, 5/17
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Sunday, 5/18
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Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Bout of Books 11 is here!
Yay, Bout of Books 11 is starting next week ♥ So I'm going to participating in that, and you guys all should too :) It's actually happening the week that I'm going to be volunteering as a teacher for camp, but I plan on reading a lot anyway! Next post is probably going to be my goals and things, so stay tuned.
For all of you who don't know what Bout of Books is, here's the basic description:
For all of you who don't know what Bout of Books is, here's the basic description:
The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 18th and runs through Sunday, August 24th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 11 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team
It'll be extremely fun, and I can't wait ^^
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Review of Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Rating: Four Heartbreaking Stars out of Five
Which is why I urge you, if you are considering reading this book, please stick around to at least page 215! That's asking a lot but once you're there, it is completely worth it! If you at least get to Maddie's point of view, it automatically gets better. Things starting making sense. Things start making sense in the most gut-wrenching and sob-inducing way possible.
Note: I will be referring to the main protagonist as Queenie, though her other main names include Verity and Julie.
This novel gets really confusing at points, especially with the switches from first person to third person, and the many different names and people that are mentioned. Although if you can persevere through all that, underneath is quite an elegant and moving story. The friendship between Maddie and Queenie is astonishingly beautiful, and I believe that this was one of the best books that focused purely on the intense, platonic love between the two. I was rooting for both characters to make it out of this novel alive, and I grew so close to Maddie in just the first portion of the novel, simply through Queenie's words and actions. Queenie was truly an amazing character, and if I had ever been in anything like the situation she was in, I wouldn't have been even a quarter as brave as she was.
Maddie was an equally strong character, and the firm way she deals with everything (especially all the discrimination because she was a female pilot, something uncommon at the time) was very admirable. Both friends were so strong and so caring, despite their horrible and unforgiving circumstances. Everything felt so genuine, especially all the codes and locations Queenie gave out. It was so real that at time, it became confusing. This truly doesn't even feel anything like a YA novel, and the plot twists really had my head spinning. Wein was so good at crafting plot twists that not only excited me, but even simultaneously horrified me.
It was quite difficult to get through this novel. It was painful, and I probably will never read it again because of that. And once I realized just how cunning Queenie was, it hurt even more. Code Name Verity was just such a strong and memorable novel, and I don't know any other way to describe it.
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Review of City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare
Before I get into my review, I want to tell you that I don't do this very often. Cassandra Clare is the first author in which I had to wait for her books to come out, or at least, the first author that I cared so much about that I would cry every time I see one of her books on my bookshelf. She is the first author that I have continuously stuck with throughout the years, which is why it took so long to write this review. But here it is--so enjoy!
Somehow, words just cannot express this book.
But I will make a courageous attempt to try, although I most likely will fall short from expressing just how much Cassandra Clare has changed my life. In short, this book was a phenomenal ending to an equally phenomenal series. It has brought me all the feels.
But here comes the life story of how I got to meet Jace and Clary. You can skip it if you want:
I started reading YA half a decade before I would even turn 13. Yeah. I read Twilight when I was eight years old. I read The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo when I was ten. Both times, my English teachers were horrified and tried to yank the books out of my hands. But no--I was hooked! I started reading a ton of YA beginning in the summer before middle school, mostly due to the fact that I spent all my time in the library because my house had crappy air conditioning.
That is when I began the City of Bones. I had never read anything quite like Cassandra Clare, an author who could invoke so many emotions that at points, I didn't even know the name of what I was feeling anymore. I fell in love with Jace. I learned with Clary. I laughed at Simon's jokes, and I lived among the Shadowhunters and the Downworlders.
At this time, there were only three books in The Mortal Instruments. When I finished all of them, I was so satisfied and so utterly happy that I began crying. Yeah, I was quite the emotional reader even back then. I loved Cassandra Clare--but then, no! I found out that there was another book in the series, and I became horrified and scared of how she would ruin the happy ending.
At the end of City of Fallen Angels, I began crying once again (the librarians looked at me weird, but I was too enamored with the book) because she had ruined everything Or at least, that's what I told my ten year old self. I angrily ranted to my older sister (who just rolled her eyes, as she didn't even like City of Bones. I know, the horror) who told me to calm down.
I calmed down. And waited. And waited. And waited and waited and waited for City of Lost Souls to come out. When I got it for my birthday, I skipped into my room and read the whole thing. And once again, Cassandra Clare launched me into another emotional roller coaster, and left me craving for more! So I waited and waited, and at this point, I even discovered The Infernal Devices. But at the time, there was only one book out. So I waited for both of the series to release the next book, and I cried and had book hangover and thought my life would never be complete.
Fast forward to the release of Clockwork Princess. Even though it had a stupid movie sticker that I just couldn't get off and even though I was spoiled by the (beautiful but spoiler-y) inside cover, I adored it more than anything. And obviously, as per being an emotional reader, I sobbed at the end (and the middle. And the beginning). Because that was the end of Will Herondale (is it a spoiler saying that he isn't immortal? I don't think so--I mean, all mortals die so...) who had become the epitome of my prince. Well obviously, he was Will Herondale.
Now, fast forward to the release of City of Heavenly Fire
.
So here's my actual review! Thanks for waiting/reading my thoughts as an emotional reader:
This series is now ingrained into my childhood, and I hope that one day, when I am an adult and the Dark Artifices will be finished, I can always tearfully look back and proclaim, "I am a Shadowhunter." Even though I can not claim the rune powers of Clary or Jace's fighting skills (or his death wish), I can always say that I lived beside them. They were my heroes--they were my friends. By just turning through the pages of City of Heavenly Fire, I get a taste of the many lives I have had as a reader.
But enough with the sentimentality. (And I know I've said this two times already, but this is the actual truth) Review time!
Cassandra Clare has created such a rich and poignant world, one that I will continue to never forget. City of Heavenly Fire was heartbreaking, but only in the best way that, as Cassandra Clare said, I would never trade for all the glitter in Magnus's loft. She is truly one of the most eloquent writers I know, and her ability to combine comedy with sadness is still astounding, even after spending years with her books.
This was truly a satisfying attending to a brilliant series. There is a war, there is romance, there is death, and there is tragedy. But isn't that just Clare combing all aspects of human living, and making it into something we all can understand--fantasy? This is a book about sacrifice, about love, about everything that can make me start sobbing like a little baby so I'll just stop it right there.
Something I continue to love about Cassandra Clare is how she can incorporate other worlds of Shadowhunter (ie: Tessa's world) with the modern one (Clary's world). Any mention of Will, yeah, I break down crying or giggling. When Tessa came, I cheered (and scared my neighbors because I was reading it on my front porch). And when Clary mentioned the Herondale family, I immediately burst out laughing, picturing Will's response to that. She has constructed these characters in a way that is so realistic, even amongst the werewolves and demon-hunters (ok, shadowhunters. Demon-hunters sounds cooler).
It is because I can connect to these characters so well, despite having practically nothing in common with them, which is why I have continuously supported Cassie Clare's work. That's the reason I fangirl every time she answers a question about the shadowhuter world on tumblr--that is why I stalk her page and read the lengthy FAQ about the shadowhunter world, even though I already know everything.
I will not forget the Shadowhunter world, and I continue to miss Clary, Jace, Simon, Magnus, and every single living being that resides there. Thank you, Cassandra Clare, for this spectacular journey.
You can also find this review on my Goodreads
Somehow, words just cannot express this book.
But I will make a courageous attempt to try, although I most likely will fall short from expressing just how much Cassandra Clare has changed my life. In short, this book was a phenomenal ending to an equally phenomenal series. It has brought me all the feels.
But here comes the life story of how I got to meet Jace and Clary. You can skip it if you want:
I started reading YA half a decade before I would even turn 13. Yeah. I read Twilight when I was eight years old. I read The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo when I was ten. Both times, my English teachers were horrified and tried to yank the books out of my hands. But no--I was hooked! I started reading a ton of YA beginning in the summer before middle school, mostly due to the fact that I spent all my time in the library because my house had crappy air conditioning.
That is when I began the City of Bones. I had never read anything quite like Cassandra Clare, an author who could invoke so many emotions that at points, I didn't even know the name of what I was feeling anymore. I fell in love with Jace. I learned with Clary. I laughed at Simon's jokes, and I lived among the Shadowhunters and the Downworlders.
At this time, there were only three books in The Mortal Instruments. When I finished all of them, I was so satisfied and so utterly happy that I began crying. Yeah, I was quite the emotional reader even back then. I loved Cassandra Clare--but then, no! I found out that there was another book in the series, and I became horrified and scared of how she would ruin the happy ending.
At the end of City of Fallen Angels, I began crying once again (the librarians looked at me weird, but I was too enamored with the book) because she had ruined everything Or at least, that's what I told my ten year old self. I angrily ranted to my older sister (who just rolled her eyes, as she didn't even like City of Bones. I know, the horror) who told me to calm down.
I calmed down. And waited. And waited. And waited and waited and waited for City of Lost Souls to come out. When I got it for my birthday, I skipped into my room and read the whole thing. And once again, Cassandra Clare launched me into another emotional roller coaster, and left me craving for more! So I waited and waited, and at this point, I even discovered The Infernal Devices. But at the time, there was only one book out. So I waited for both of the series to release the next book, and I cried and had book hangover and thought my life would never be complete.
Fast forward to the release of Clockwork Princess. Even though it had a stupid movie sticker that I just couldn't get off and even though I was spoiled by the (beautiful but spoiler-y) inside cover, I adored it more than anything. And obviously, as per being an emotional reader, I sobbed at the end (and the middle. And the beginning). Because that was the end of Will Herondale (is it a spoiler saying that he isn't immortal? I don't think so--I mean, all mortals die so...) who had become the epitome of my prince. Well obviously, he was Will Herondale.
Now, fast forward to the release of City of Heavenly Fire
.
So here's my actual review! Thanks for waiting/reading my thoughts as an emotional reader:
This series is now ingrained into my childhood, and I hope that one day, when I am an adult and the Dark Artifices will be finished, I can always tearfully look back and proclaim, "I am a Shadowhunter." Even though I can not claim the rune powers of Clary or Jace's fighting skills (or his death wish), I can always say that I lived beside them. They were my heroes--they were my friends. By just turning through the pages of City of Heavenly Fire, I get a taste of the many lives I have had as a reader.
But enough with the sentimentality. (And I know I've said this two times already, but this is the actual truth) Review time!
Cassandra Clare has created such a rich and poignant world, one that I will continue to never forget. City of Heavenly Fire was heartbreaking, but only in the best way that, as Cassandra Clare said, I would never trade for all the glitter in Magnus's loft. She is truly one of the most eloquent writers I know, and her ability to combine comedy with sadness is still astounding, even after spending years with her books.
This was truly a satisfying attending to a brilliant series. There is a war, there is romance, there is death, and there is tragedy. But isn't that just Clare combing all aspects of human living, and making it into something we all can understand--fantasy? This is a book about sacrifice, about love, about everything that can make me start sobbing like a little baby so I'll just stop it right there.
Something I continue to love about Cassandra Clare is how she can incorporate other worlds of Shadowhunter (ie: Tessa's world) with the modern one (Clary's world). Any mention of Will, yeah, I break down crying or giggling. When Tessa came, I cheered (and scared my neighbors because I was reading it on my front porch). And when Clary mentioned the Herondale family, I immediately burst out laughing, picturing Will's response to that. She has constructed these characters in a way that is so realistic, even amongst the werewolves and demon-hunters (ok, shadowhunters. Demon-hunters sounds cooler).
It is because I can connect to these characters so well, despite having practically nothing in common with them, which is why I have continuously supported Cassie Clare's work. That's the reason I fangirl every time she answers a question about the shadowhuter world on tumblr--that is why I stalk her page and read the lengthy FAQ about the shadowhunter world, even though I already know everything.
I will not forget the Shadowhunter world, and I continue to miss Clary, Jace, Simon, Magnus, and every single living being that resides there. Thank you, Cassandra Clare, for this spectacular journey.
You can also find this review on my Goodreads
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets Review!
Anyways, here's my review for Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets by Evan Roskos :)
Actual rating: 4.35 stars
For a year, I've been seeing an imaginary therapist. Her name is Dr. Bird. She is a large pigeon, human-size. She wears no clothes. Because she's a bird.
This is the type of person James Whitman is. He hugs trees and talks to Dr. Bird when he's feeling depressed. He is the type of person who memorizes Walt Whitman, likes to yawp, and risks his life to save injured animals from buses, even though sometimes those animals turn out to be Tastykake wrappers, and he turns out with a broken arm. He crushes on Beth, the president of the lit magazine that no one reads, and tries to write Whitman poetry like Whitman writes.
That is his quirkier side. He has a darker one, as does everyone.
I go up to the tree that has preexisted me and might outlive me. I press my arms around the trunk and feel the bites against my inner arms... and I think about anxiety and medication and worry about losing myself or sinking further into this kind of stupid behavior. I can't keep going on like this.
He tries to distract himself from life, but sometimes life forces him to not be distracted. James wants to know why his sister was expelled, and he finds it difficult to live without her. He's plagued by guilt because all throughout his childhood, their parents (the Banshee and the Brute, as he nicknames them) beat her for things he had done, and he never thought would be discovered for. Every single time, his sister Jorie had taken the blame, until she had gotten expelled and then brutally kicked out of the house.
Now, James is alone. He wants to know why because he thinks there must be a reason, as others have done what Jorie did and have only gotten suspended for a week.
This is the novel: a tale of James Whitman's song of self. It includes Beth (his crush), Derek (his kinda friend), Jorie (his sister), the Banshee and the Brute, and of course, Dr. Bird.
My thoughts:
Evan Roskos' debut novel was absolutely hilarious and deep at the same time. His style of writing is one of ease, so it was exceedingly easy to fall deep into the story and not surface until it is finished. This novel was poignant and captivating, and James was the most eccentric (yet not completely crazy) main character that I've seen in a long time. This book tackles really serious issues in the best way possible, with a fucking barbaric yawwwwwwwwwwwwwpppppppp!
Sorry, I had to include that.
If you're still not convinced to at least give Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets a try, here's some small excerpts from around the novel:
Page one:I yawp most mornings to irritate my father, the Brute."Yawp! Yawp!" It moves him out of the bathroom faster.He responds with the gruff "All right." He dislikes things that seem fun
Page 26:I do not tell Dr. Bird I want to kill myself sometimes, but she knows. She's up in my head. She perches on the power lines of my thoughts
Page 148:I tell Derek that I had a great moment with Beth."A moment?""Yeah. More than a moment, but tere was a moment that was very important, I think.""Did she touch you where you pee?" he asks."Metaphorically.""I'm not sure how that even happens.""She said I didn't ruin her life." I feel like I'm bouncing up and down but I'm actually standing still. My heart's racing."Well, that's a good way to start a relationship: 'Hey, I didn't ruin your life. Let's date!'"
Please. This book was amazing.
Click to see this review on Goodreads!
"If you are someone who yawps, read this book. If you know someone who yawps, read this book. If you've been looking for a book that detonates the one incredible word yawp and spatters every molecule of its joy and grief and laughter across the New Jersey landscape, then you've found the book. If you are standing around reading this and thinking, 'I have no idea what yawping is,' then--come one, what are you doing? Read this book."
Once again, this section above in quotation marks isn't my review, it's Jesse Andrews :) I love it <3
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Three Rules by Marie Drake Review
This is for the Three Rules blog tour for May 18th :)
Rating: 4 stars or 80%
Marie Drake tackled such a complicated and sensitive topic in the best way possible. Through this book, she conveyed the emotions of Hope Wellman perfectly, as well as her state of mind. Drake's style of writing was very eloquent at times, and sometimes it even sounded poetic. There are mysteries, doubts, fears, and even romance in Three Rules, all of which were composed with the utmost sense of elegance.
Hope was a very realistic character, so I could connect with her very well even though I had basically nothing in common. She went through very realistic character development, and it was extremely interesting to see her change over the course of the book. In the beginning, she was nervous and erratic, completely normal for having been subjected to sexual abuse by her very own uncle (Lucas) since a young age. Now that Lucas is dead (or is he? The grave is empty, and Hope feels like she's still being followed), she doesn't know how to deal with all the pent-up emotions and conflicts that have been plaguing her. Drake does a wonderful job to portray her behavior without telling the reader completely what is happening. Her writing is very continuous and smooth, going from one subject matter to another without any awkward filler sentences or unneeded conversations. Everything is there for a meaning, which I finally realized later on after a huge plot twist.
Apart from that, I also loved the relationship between Joey and Hope. There was so much chemistry, and midst all the chaos that was in her head and all the mysteries surrounding Lucas's death, it was something I could rely on to convey a sense of calm in the book. Joey was an adorable character, always caring for Hope even though he didn't know what was going on inside her. He dealt with her inner turmoil in a very accepting way, and a big part of Hope's development as a character was due to him.
Marie Drake created realistic characters with problems that encouraged the plot, even if they weren't the main focus of the novel. The book started off as a simple book about a girl with realistic issues and problems, and turned into a complicated story about betrayal, mystery, and strong emotions. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes to read.
This review can also be found on my Goodreads~
Rating: 4 stars or 80%
Marie Drake tackled such a complicated and sensitive topic in the best way possible. Through this book, she conveyed the emotions of Hope Wellman perfectly, as well as her state of mind. Drake's style of writing was very eloquent at times, and sometimes it even sounded poetic. There are mysteries, doubts, fears, and even romance in Three Rules, all of which were composed with the utmost sense of elegance.
Hope was a very realistic character, so I could connect with her very well even though I had basically nothing in common. She went through very realistic character development, and it was extremely interesting to see her change over the course of the book. In the beginning, she was nervous and erratic, completely normal for having been subjected to sexual abuse by her very own uncle (Lucas) since a young age. Now that Lucas is dead (or is he? The grave is empty, and Hope feels like she's still being followed), she doesn't know how to deal with all the pent-up emotions and conflicts that have been plaguing her. Drake does a wonderful job to portray her behavior without telling the reader completely what is happening. Her writing is very continuous and smooth, going from one subject matter to another without any awkward filler sentences or unneeded conversations. Everything is there for a meaning, which I finally realized later on after a huge plot twist.
Apart from that, I also loved the relationship between Joey and Hope. There was so much chemistry, and midst all the chaos that was in her head and all the mysteries surrounding Lucas's death, it was something I could rely on to convey a sense of calm in the book. Joey was an adorable character, always caring for Hope even though he didn't know what was going on inside her. He dealt with her inner turmoil in a very accepting way, and a big part of Hope's development as a character was due to him.
Marie Drake created realistic characters with problems that encouraged the plot, even if they weren't the main focus of the novel. The book started off as a simple book about a girl with realistic issues and problems, and turned into a complicated story about betrayal, mystery, and strong emotions. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes to read.
This review can also be found on my Goodreads~
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Ten Summer Reads That I'm Looking Forward To (Bout of Books Challenge)
Most of these aren't released in the summer, but rather just books that I haven't read yet and want to read in the summer :)
1) 1984 by George Orwell. My local library doesn't have it, and I'm still saving up a few extra dollars to buy it. I've heard millions of good things about this book, and I seriously can't wait to devour it in the summer =)
2) The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead. It was already released a long time ago, but for some reason I've never gotten around to reading it. For those of you who don't know, this is the 4th book in the Bloodlines series.
3) Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira. I've seen some good reviews, I've seen some bad reviews. Mainly, I'm just interested in the plot. It's not in my local library either, so I have to go out and buy it.
4) The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. I'm seriously excited about this book; my first Neil Gaiman read (The Graveyard Book! If you want to see an extensive review on it, comment below and I'll write one ^^) was absolutely wonderful.
5) The Program by Suzanne Young. I've been lusting over this book and its simplistic yet haunting cover and plot for so long that I might rush and buy it if I see it in a store. I am completely in love with the plot line, and can't wait to see how Suzanne Young will write it out to be.
6) The Collector by Victoria Scott. She's also the author of Fire & Flood, a book that I've heard so many good things about. Apparently everyone is obsessed with Dante Walker and his snarkiness, so I can't wait to give this book a spin :)
7) The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick. Watched the movie; it was great. I really want to see the differences between the movie and the book.
8) Cress by Marrisa Meyer. GAH, I am so behind on this series! I already bought this book around 2 weeks ago, but the shipping screwed up and its lost somewhere far away. I can't bear the wait :(
9) The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness. It's Patrick Ness... need I say more? I think not.
If you want to participate in this challenge (it ends in a few hours!) here's the linky link
1) 1984 by George Orwell. My local library doesn't have it, and I'm still saving up a few extra dollars to buy it. I've heard millions of good things about this book, and I seriously can't wait to devour it in the summer =)
2) The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead. It was already released a long time ago, but for some reason I've never gotten around to reading it. For those of you who don't know, this is the 4th book in the Bloodlines series.
3) Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira. I've seen some good reviews, I've seen some bad reviews. Mainly, I'm just interested in the plot. It's not in my local library either, so I have to go out and buy it.
4) The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. I'm seriously excited about this book; my first Neil Gaiman read (The Graveyard Book! If you want to see an extensive review on it, comment below and I'll write one ^^) was absolutely wonderful.
5) The Program by Suzanne Young. I've been lusting over this book and its simplistic yet haunting cover and plot for so long that I might rush and buy it if I see it in a store. I am completely in love with the plot line, and can't wait to see how Suzanne Young will write it out to be.
6) The Collector by Victoria Scott. She's also the author of Fire & Flood, a book that I've heard so many good things about. Apparently everyone is obsessed with Dante Walker and his snarkiness, so I can't wait to give this book a spin :)
7) The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick. Watched the movie; it was great. I really want to see the differences between the movie and the book.
8) Cress by Marrisa Meyer. GAH, I am so behind on this series! I already bought this book around 2 weeks ago, but the shipping screwed up and its lost somewhere far away. I can't bear the wait :(
9) The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness. It's Patrick Ness... need I say more? I think not.
If you want to participate in this challenge (it ends in a few hours!) here's the linky link
Monday, May 12, 2014
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao Review
Yes, I've officially completed one of my goals for Bout of Books 10: finishing The Brief Wondrous Life :)
Actual rating: 3.8 stars or 76 %
Oh... Oscar! This book was both extremely sweet and relaxing to read and also extremely frustrating at the same time. I loved Diaz's modern style of writing, and especially all his nerd references to LOTR and other famous nerdy things (which finally caused me to realize how much I was of a non-nerd compared to someone like Oscar). The constant imperfection of Oscar [he's fat, and not willing to change. He's the sweaty Dominican-American teenager who knows more about Marvel then Stan Lee knows himself. He longs for a girl(any girl that would glance at him for even a few seconds, or not even look at him at all), and will fall hopelessly in love many many many times just because.] also drew me in because Diaz portrays him as a fat ghetto nerd on one side of the spectrum, but then goes so exceedingly in depth about his character so that we realize the complete and utter intensity of which is Oscar Wao.
This is one of the quotes in the beginning of this novel, a portion in which I didn't read until I had finished the book. The concept that you are either nobody or a nation resonated deeply with me because Oscar was both. We saw his character development from the very beginning, when he was nobody. And then after all the stories, all the digging into his family history and the background of his relatives was found, he became a nation. Then, after deciding to change his life, he became a separate type of nation. He would live life, yet would he?
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao drew me in not only because of the simplistic cover page, but also the title. The idea that life could be brief, yet at the same time still wondrous and amazing, wasn't exactly an idea I completely agreed with. I agree with that now, proven by the life of Oscar Wao.
I loved Diaz's style of writing and how he constantly connected with the reader. He would talk about himself in first person not only in the elaborate footnotes (which I loved to read, even though for the most part I didn't understand) but also in the text itself. He... rescued Oscar. He made it possible for me to connect with him on an emotional level through all the different POVs that he ran through while writing.
This book, although wondrous, was not absolutely perfect. No book is, after all, and I'm here to not only point out its brilliance, but also its flaws. Reading got a bit tedious at times with all the history and the connecting until everything was just a jumble of lines that were interconnecting inside my brain. It felt like a chore, at times, just to hurry up and finish this novel because it took me so long.
Not only that, the constant barrage of Spanish words annoyed me because I had no idea what they meant, and I was forced to just skip them and move on. At points, the constant sex references and cursing got a bit crude, though for the most part it was never a problem for me. The ending was a unsatisfying for me, even though I had learned to expect it.
I expected Oscar to die in some magnificent way, for his values and beliefs and all he cared about. In a way, he did. But not the way I was expecting.
Even after saying all that, I still believe that overall, this book is a complete treasure.
This review can also be found on my Goodreads.
Actual rating: 3.8 stars or 76 %
Oh... Oscar! This book was both extremely sweet and relaxing to read and also extremely frustrating at the same time. I loved Diaz's modern style of writing, and especially all his nerd references to LOTR and other famous nerdy things (which finally caused me to realize how much I was of a non-nerd compared to someone like Oscar). The constant imperfection of Oscar [he's fat, and not willing to change. He's the sweaty Dominican-American teenager who knows more about Marvel then Stan Lee knows himself. He longs for a girl(any girl that would glance at him for even a few seconds, or not even look at him at all), and will fall hopelessly in love many many many times just because.] also drew me in because Diaz portrays him as a fat ghetto nerd on one side of the spectrum, but then goes so exceedingly in depth about his character so that we realize the complete and utter intensity of which is Oscar Wao.
I have Dutch, nigger, and English in me,
and either I'm nobody, or I'm a nation.
-Derek Walcott
and either I'm nobody, or I'm a nation.
-Derek Walcott
This is one of the quotes in the beginning of this novel, a portion in which I didn't read until I had finished the book. The concept that you are either nobody or a nation resonated deeply with me because Oscar was both. We saw his character development from the very beginning, when he was nobody. And then after all the stories, all the digging into his family history and the background of his relatives was found, he became a nation. Then, after deciding to change his life, he became a separate type of nation. He would live life, yet would he?
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao drew me in not only because of the simplistic cover page, but also the title. The idea that life could be brief, yet at the same time still wondrous and amazing, wasn't exactly an idea I completely agreed with. I agree with that now, proven by the life of Oscar Wao.
I loved Diaz's style of writing and how he constantly connected with the reader. He would talk about himself in first person not only in the elaborate footnotes (which I loved to read, even though for the most part I didn't understand) but also in the text itself. He... rescued Oscar. He made it possible for me to connect with him on an emotional level through all the different POVs that he ran through while writing.
This book, although wondrous, was not absolutely perfect. No book is, after all, and I'm here to not only point out its brilliance, but also its flaws. Reading got a bit tedious at times with all the history and the connecting until everything was just a jumble of lines that were interconnecting inside my brain. It felt like a chore, at times, just to hurry up and finish this novel because it took me so long.
Not only that, the constant barrage of Spanish words annoyed me because I had no idea what they meant, and I was forced to just skip them and move on. At points, the constant sex references and cursing got a bit crude, though for the most part it was never a problem for me. The ending was a unsatisfying for me, even though I had learned to expect it.
I expected Oscar to die in some magnificent way, for his values and beliefs and all he cared about. In a way, he did. But not the way I was expecting.
Even after saying all that, I still believe that overall, this book is a complete treasure.
This review can also be found on my Goodreads.
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Bout of Books 10 Goals + Updates!
It's Bout of Books time :) This is my first year ever of participating in this read-a-thon (mind, any read-a-thon for that matter), so I'm extremely excited. This has perfect timing as well, because if you follow me on my Goodreads account (I know, shameless self promo :P I went there), then you know that I'm actually currently reading six books right now. It's exhausting, and I've barely had any progress in the past days. Plus, school is getting easier because it's state exams have already passed, but my finals aren't in a month. I'm new to this whole thing, so if you have any tips or want to share anything with me, then feel free to follow me on twitter (@koi_akairo)!
My Goals for Bout of Books 10:
•Complete all six of the following books:
• Make new friends and talk to people
• Participate in two or more challenges
Books Shown Above:
•The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
•A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
•Three Rules by Marie Drake
•A Time to Kill by John Grisham
•A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
•Catch-22 by Jospeh Heller
Monday, 5/12
Books Read Today: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz and Three Rules by Marie Drake
Completed: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
In-Progress: Three Rules
Challenge: Nope, not today.
Total Books Finished: 1
Total Pages Read: 127 pages of Three Rules and 74 pages of Oscar = 201 pages :)
Tuesday, 5/13
Books Read Today: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Completed: None (but close!)
In-Progress: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Challenge: Completed one-http://booksofgosmeinth.blogspot.com/2014/05/ten-summer-reads-that-im-looking.html
Total Books Finished: 1
Total Pages Read: 138 pages of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Wednesday, 5/14
Books Read Today: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Completed: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
In-Progress: Three Rules
Challenge: None
Total Books Finished: 2
Total Pages Read: 147 pages of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Thursday, 5/15
Books Read Today: None
Completed: None
In-Progress: Three Rules
Challenge: Like none
Total Books Finished: 2
Total Pages Read: None
Friday, 5/16
Books Read Today: None
Completed: None
In-Progress: Three Rules
Challenge: Nope nothing
Total Books Finished: 2
Total Pages Read: None
Saturday, 5/17
Books Read Today: Three Rules by Marie Drake
Completed: Three Rules
In-Progress: A Great and Terrible Beauty
Challenge: Nope nothing
Total Books Finished: 3
Total Pages Read: 52
Sunday, 5/18
Books Read Today:
Completed:
In-Progress:
Challenge:
Total Books Finished:
Total Pages Read:
-Christine Annalise Liang
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