Thirty Day Book Challenge: Day 9

Day Nine: A book you thought you’d hate but ended up liking

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. It’s one of those books that I heard so many mixed reviews about. Everyone that I knew that read similar books and had similar taste to me hated it, but one of my friends kept pushing it on me (obviously, he liked it).

I finally gave in after I saw the movie and fell in love, and proceeded to fall in love with the book too. It’s SO good. Every time I’ve read it or watched the movie, I’ve always felt so at peace and inspired. It makes me want to go to Bali and just live, stress-free and full of love. I think I need to go watch it again now.

My mother-in-law recommended the Temperance Brennan series (by Kathy Reichs) to me, and I was hesitant. I’m not much of the crime/mystery/thriller type of person, probably because I work in that world and am overly critical of how cases play out.

I was in Hastings one day and spotted a used copy of the second book on discount. Not being one to leave a book store without a bargain book, I snagged it and began reading it that night. Finished it in a day, and I’m now on book eight!

Dr. Kathy Reichs is a forensic anthropologist, and I love the forensic science in the books. Granted, I know next to nothing about forensic science, having only taking one class at the local coroner’s office. Regardless, I love the characters and the plot lines.

Week One: NaNoWriMo Update

Sweet manger baby, this week has handed my butt to me on a silver platter.

Between work and the small sliver of a social calendar that I have (plus you know, not being motivated), I am currently at 7,000 words—I should be at 13,333 today. So, I’m a little bit behind.

I’ve done everything in my power to procrastinate writing more. I’m writing this blog post, I designed a cover for my novel, I’ve cleaned the house, meal planned for the week, gone to the gym, and went to Target to pick up stocking holders. I’ve concocted ridiculous rituals for myself to get into “writing mode”: making coffee in my special mug, wearing a NaNoWriMo shirt, closing all of the curtains to create a writing cave, and turning on the essential oil diffuser.

It gets real.

For week two, my goal is to get back on word count track (I’m finally to the point in my book where I’m excited to write, so hopefully that helps).

I am writing a YA fantasy novel, and miraculously, it’s not called Untitled this year. It’s called Starfell. It’s about a girl who is magically transported to an alternate world/parallel universe through her book—only to discover she is living the story within her book.

Here’s to writing 14,000 words by next Saturday!

Thirty Day Book Challenge: Day 8

Day Eight: Most overrated book

This book is so overrated! Yes, I will admit that I read it. And yes, I will admit that it wasn’t the most terrible thing I’ve ever read. In fact, I didn’t mind it that much.

But I couldn’t place where I’d read it before. It seemed so familiar, like when you meet a person and can’t remember where you met them. I finished it, heavily debating whether or not I would read the sequel (I read half).

And then I found out it was basically Twilight fanfiction, and I could see all of the parallels between the two.

For the huge following that it has, it’s definitely overrated for what it really is.

Won’t stop me from seeing the movie, though! 🙂

Bossypants by Tina Fey. Before you get angry with me, hear me out.

I read so many reviews about this book, saying it was the funniest thing people have ever read, etc. so I started reading it expecting it to be the funniest thing I’ve ever read. It just wasn’t. Of course, there were a few parts that were pretty good, but overall I was bored and disappointed. I wanted more!

I love Tina Fey and I wished it had been like reading one of her movies. Now I’m very apprehensive of reading autobiographies like this, so I have yet to read Mindy Kaling’s and am super nervous about the one Amy Poehler is releasing.

Thirty Day Book Challenge: Day 7

Day Seven: A book that makes you laugh

Disclaimer: ever since discovering the Princess Diaries, I’ve been a huge Meg Cabot fan. I’ve read most of her books. But the Heather Wells series always has me laughing out loud, even if I’ve already read.

Though I can’t really sympathize with ex-popstar protagonist Heather Wells (on account of having zero stardom), I can understand her struggles.Plus, the jokes are hilarious.

If you’re into chick lit and light reads, this book is a quick read that doesn’t require much brainpower.

It is a mystery (don’t worry, the book title threw me off, too) but the mystery doesn’t really take over the whole plot. It’s kind of a half-assed mystery novel. It has quite a few plot holes surrounding the actual murder in the residence hall, but that’s ok. It’s a light read, remember?

Can we repeat books? I’m going to. This book isn’t necessarily supposed to be funny – its much more of a drama, especially near the end – but I have to go with Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah.

It’s about the friendship of Tully and Kate, two opposite but inseparable girls growing up and facing the trials and tribulations that come along with life. The beginning of this book, when Kate and Tully first meet in their teenage years, has quite a few funny parts that follow through out the book, even the hard times. Kate and Tully have such a good banter, and some of the things that Kate’s mom says have literally made me laugh out loud while reading it. It gets pretty heavy near the end, but you can always count on Tully to try and lighten things up.

Thirty Day Book Challenge: Day 6

Day Six: A book that makes you sad

A Million Little Pieces by James Frey. What first attracted me to this book was that the author shares a name with my dad, and the book is about drug addiction, which my dad was going through. Notice a pattern in the types of books I read yet? Ha.

This book breaks my heart because my dad and I read it together. I would read part and send him questions (he lived on the other side of the country), and he would read the same part and respond. I learned so much about him through this book. I sent him my first copy of it, with all the dog eared pages and highlighted passages, and when he passed it was all I wanted of his. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to read it again.

I first read Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer in high school—again, for a book report. We were required to read it over a four-week period.

I read it in two days, because I took the book home with me.

I was simultaneously fascinated and horrified by Chris McCandless’ story. Fascinated that he could have the courage to simply leave his lifestyle and venture into the wilderness of Alaska. Horrified that he died in such a slow, terrible way.

I love Krakauer’s writing style—he has a way of pulling me in and giving me a view of the world he’s painted. It is non-fiction, and reads like a very long magazine feature.

Thirty Day Book Challenge: Day 5

Day Five: A book that makes you happy

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah. This book is not the first book my best friend and I bonded over, but it’s definitely one that stood out. Each of us is very similar to one of the main characters – Samantha is like Kate and I’m like Tully. We see ourselves in the book so much, the way that each of the girls handles situations, the way their lives play out. Sometimes it makes us cry and sometimes it makes us laugh, but it always makes us love and appreciate each other that much more.

I understand that a book about cheating with your best friend’s fiance probably shouldn’t be a book that makes me happy, but hear me out. I love books because when you reread an old favorite, it takes you back to the time and place you read it.

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin takes me back to our family cruise to Mexico. I read the book on the deck, on the beach, in our room. I can recall the salt air, the chill of the ocean breeze, and the sunshine on my face. Mostly I remember taking these things in, being inexplicably happy, and reading this book.

It’s a fabulous book, and I loved being so conflicted about whether or not to dislike Rachel based on her moral flaws (and constant whining about being the boring, bland friend in comparison to her hottie-patottie friend Darcy, who I also disliked based on the fact that she’s a stereotypical public relations specialist who gives the rest of us a bad name).

I’ve since read Something Borrowed several times, and it still takes me back to the cruise (for the record, after reading the sequel, I decided not to hate Rachel so much).

Top Ten Tuesday: 11/4

Top Ten Books We Want To Reread *

* or would reread if we actually liked rereading

1. My co-worker’s daughter is currently reading the Silverwing series by Kenneth Oppel, which really makes me want to reread it. It’s basically about a bunch of bats. Basically Shade, a bat, gets separated from his flock during winter migration and has a huge adventure. I was very into animal point-of-view books as a kid!

2. Good in Bed by Jennifer Wiener. I absolutely loved Good in Bed when I first read it—in fact, it was through Good in Bed that I discovered that I liked women’s fiction.

3. Which also makes me want to reread Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin.

4. I think it would be interesting to read The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials series) by Philip Pullman at this age versus the age I was when I initially read it. Knowing the parallels behind the story now would make me read it in a different light.

5. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine was one of my all-time favorites as a young girl, so it would be fun to reread it again. I haven’t read it since the movie came out, but I remember being furious that nothing matched the book.

6. Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder. I just finished it (a review will be up soon!!) and am SO in love. If I didn’t have a million other books I wanted to read, I would probably read it over and over until it was memorized.

7. The Harry Potter series. I keep trying to reread them starting from the beginning, but I get distracted by shiny, new books and stop.

8. Moloka’i by Alan Brennert. This book gave me all the feels when I read it in high school.

9. The Hunger Games series. I’ve forgotten so many of the details from these and they’re among my (very long list of) favorites.

10. Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor. Out of this list, I think this is the one I will actually reread. I loved it and wanted to continue the series, but it’s been so long since I first read it that I’d have to reread it in order to understand the next books.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by the Broke & the Bookish. Check out more Top Ten features on their site.

Thirty Day Book Challenge: Day 4

Day Four: Favorite book of your favorite series

I already covered Poison Study (from my second favorite series) so I’m going to go ahead and talk about Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, my all-time favorite book from any series. I’ve read it more times than I can count on one hand, and I’ve lost track. It would almost be pitiful, except the book came out in 2000—I remember waiting in line at Barnes & Noble for the midnight release! I was 9. I was pretty positive my letter would come in the mail that September, because it was a miracle my mom let me out that late…an owl wouldn’t be too far of a stretch (I was extremely disappointed).

I love the Goblet of Fire because of the Triwizard Tournament. The competition, the challenges, the Cho Chang crush (nevermind the incredibly awkward kissing scene from the fifth movie), and all of the wonderful bits in between. I remember being shocked when Cedric was killed, getting irritated that I couldn’t figure out the Golden Egg mystery on my own, and hoping that Harry didn’t lose a limb to a dragon.

It’s been a few years since I’ve read it and I think I’m due!

I’m going to save my favorite HP book for a later day, and discuss my favorite book from my second favorite series. My favorite book from the Under the Never Sky series is book two – Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi. So much happens between book one and two, and Aria is in a completely different place and mind set now. I loved getting to know everyone in the Tides through her and also how her relationship with Perry changes as she gets to know herself more and more.

Thirty Day Book Challenge: Day 3

Day Three: Your Favorite Series

I’m going to go with my second favorite series, because nothing holds a candle to my Harry Potter pedestal.

Ready? The Study Series by Maria V. Snyder. Poison Study is the first in the series, and according to Snyder’s Goodreads, she’s set to publish a fourth.

Yelena is about to be executed for murder, when she’s offered another choice: become a food taster for the Commander of Ixia. She’s trained to detect various poisons, and to be on the safe side (and make sure she doesn’t escape), Valek, the Chief of Security, doses her with Butterfly’s Dust—if she doesn’t take the daily antidote, she’ll suffer a painful death. While she deals with this particular predicament, other issues mount, including rebel forces and magical powers.

It’s full of action, magic, poison, kick ass heroines, steamy sexual tension and more. The characters and world are well developed, and I really enjoyed the plot. 5/5 on Goodreads.

I’m copying Lauren and posting my second favorite as well, Harry Potter holds first place forever!

Even though the last book was pretty disappointing, I’m going to have to go with the Under the Never Sky series by Veronica Rossi.

Aria has lived her entire life in a protected dome called Reverie, but when her mother goes missing she knows she must venture outside to try and find her. She meets a “wild” who is also looking for someone and realizes he is probably her only chance at staying alive.

I love the relationships, the writing, the setting, everything about the entire series. I really wish Rossi hadn’t ended it the way she did or even at all, but don’t let my disappointment in the final book deter you – READ THESE. 5/5 on Goodreads except the last one which still got 4/5.

Thirty Day Book Challenge: Day 2

Day Two: A book you’ve read more than three times

I can honestly say that I haven’t read ANYTHING more than three times. I’m just not a huge re-reader, which is weird, I know. There is one book that I’ve read a few times though, and that is The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (it’s also now a movie, which I despise, but that’s beside the point). This book is high on my list of favorites for many reasons, the biggest of which is her portrayal of heaven. If heaven is real, I hope it’s like the one Alice Sebold writes about. I desperately wish for more books by her, I devour everything she writes. If you need a refresher, The Lovely Bones is about a girl that is murdered and how her family deals with the repercussions and the hunt for her murderer as she watches over everything from heaven. 5/5 on Goodreads for sure!

Okay, let’s be real. I’ve definitely read the Harry Potter series more than three times.

But the unsung hero that I read on a (nearly) annual basis? Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton. If…IF…I had to choose a favorite book, it would be Jurassic Park. I’ve read it at least four times since my sophomore year in high school, when I had to do a book report on it. I’ve also read The Lost World, but Jurassic Park is my favorite. I was obsessed with dinosaurs as a child (who even likes ballerinas, anyway?) so this book still piques my curiosity.

If you’ve been living under a rock and haven’t watched the movie, the premise of the story is that a massive bioengineering company has figured out how to clone dinosaur DNA. They then buy an island with the intentions of creating a theme park. They invite several paleontologists, a dude who specializes in the chaos theory, and CEO’s grandkids to the island to give it a beta test.

And boy, do they give it a beta test. All hell breaks loose and dinosaurs run amuck, killing people and forcing everyone to figure out how to survive amongst these supposed-to-be-extinct beasts.

The science is impossible. The prose is not a literary masterpiece. There are huge plot holes. The character development is inconsistent.

But it is exciting, vivid, and thrilling. It’s a page turner. It has some pretty fascinating ideas, unrealistic as they may be. It’s a good read.