Random Thoughts - Reading Nooks

I've always wanted a reading nook.  Someplace that was specifically set up for reading (like the above pic), or that was my own personal corner to read in.  As of right now, living in my parents' house, I'm pretty limited to where I can read.  The place I read the most often is my bed.  I don't own a chair to curl up in, and we don't have window seats.  The couches in the family room are comfortable, but not private.  So really the only option is my bed.

When I (finally) get my own place, I'd like to imagine that it will have a pretty amazing window seat.  I think window seats are amongst the best places to read.  Besides being comfortable, with all those pillows (because of course my ideal window seat would have a ton of pillows), it will also have great natural light, a secluded feel, and (hopefully) a good view to distract you when a book gets to be too heady or emotional.

But realistically, I realize that the first place I move to will most likely be a rental, and, more importantly, cheap.  So there probably won't be a window seat and no option to put one in.  I'm just going to have to wait until I buy my first home/apartment, and then I will have my window seat.

Until then, I've decided to go with the next best thing.  I want a quiet little corner of my own to put in a comfy armchair and a lamp.  Preferably with a side table for my mug of tea (or coffee, depending on the time of day) and a snack.  Round it all out with a soft throw and a squishy pillow, and it's practically perfection.

Now do I currently have room for something like this in my room?  Absolutely not.  It would require a lot of furniture being moved around, or possibly getting thrown out.  But as soon as I'm fortunate enough (a.k.a. financially capable) to have my own place, creating a reading nook will be my top priority.

How about you?  Do you have someplace special where you do most of your reading - a window seat or specific chair?  Or do you read in bed, as I currently do?  Or do you just read wherever it's most convenient at the time?  I'd love to know.

Book Blogger Hop - August 16th

Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.  There's a new prompt each week to encourage bloggers to meet new bloggers, learn about new books, and gain followers for their own blogs.

This week's prompt:  Were you a born bookworm or somebody got you into the habit of reading?

The answer to that is yes and no.  I did enjoy reading when I was young, but I didn't branch out beyond my Little Golden books.  I had my pile of "little kid" books, and I didn't read anything meant for my age unless it was for school.  So I would stay up late at night and constantly re-read these books that were written for kids three or four years younger than me.  I did this until I was in fifth-grade.

My fifth-grade teacher is one of the main people I can credit with turning me into a rabid reader.  When it rained during recess, she would read aloud from books.  I remember the first one she picked was Climb or Die by Edward Myers.  I was on the edge of my seat by the end of every recess, practically begging for it to rain again the next day so I could find out whether or not the Darcy family survives.  I approached her one day during a break and told her how much I loved the story.  So she recommended some books for me to read on my own, including Little Women.  As soon as I got home, I pulled out the book and started reading, and that was it.  I was hooked.

How about you?  Are you a natural-born bookworm?  Or did someone, or some book, turn you into one?

Book Review: The Iron Queen by Kaitlin Bevis

Title:  The Iron Queen
Author:  Kaitlin Bevis
Genre:  YA mythology retelling
Series:  Daughters of Zeus #3
Publisher:  Musa Publishing
Format:  Ebook
Acquired via:  Purchased through iBooks

Rating:  


Synopsis from goodreads.com:  Life is hell for Persephone. Zeus will stop at nothing to gain access to the living realm and the Underworld, and as the only living god with a right to both, Persephone’s in trouble. Captured and tortured beyond the limits of her resolve, Persephone must find the power to stand against Zeus. But will she be strong enough? 

Meanwhile, Hades contemplates desperate measures to rescue his queen. Persephone never thought of herself as dangerous, but there’s a reason gods never marry for love. A being with the power to destroy all of creation shouldn’t place more value in one individual than the rest of the planet. But Hades...Hades would break the world for her.
To save the world and stop both Hades and Zeus, Persephone must make a difficult choice. One that may cost her everything.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

You know I have to really love a series to be willing to read a book using an e-reader.  The Daughters of Zeus series is only available as an e-book, so I've been reading them on my iPod touch.  And as annoying as that is, this series is so worth it.

The Iron Queen is the third book of the Daughters of Zeus, and hopefully not the last.  I stayed up late to read this, because like the previous two books, once I started, I couldn't put it down.

What I loved

• Different perspectives  -  The story was told from multiple perspectives, which I always love.  It adds more depth and fills the reader in on things happening elsewhere in the story.  The book switched between Persephone, Hades, and Aphrodite.  It was interesting to see how each character reacted to the situations around them.  It also provided more insight into their personalities as well.
• Unexpected twists  -  There were definitely things that happened that I didn't see coming.  It's always refreshing when a story can take you by surprise.  The ending was also great because it wasn't a killer cliffhanger, but it did leave some things open so there could be more books. (Please let there be more books!)
• Hades  -  Yes, I am going to gush like a silly fangirl here because I LOVE Hades.  He's currently at the top of my fictional crushes list because he's gorgeous, passionate, romantic, heroic... I could go on, but I will spare you.
• New characters  -  I loved some of the new characters that were introduced.  Several of the other major Olympians make an appearance, such as Athena and Ares.  There were plenty of demigods and minor gods who got some attention as well.  At first, I was worried that adding so many new characters would make things confusing, but it actually enhanced the story.  I'm hoping that if there are more books that some of these characters come back.
• Lots of movement and action  -  Just like the first two books of the series, this book had lots of action and a fast pace, which made for a quick but exciting read.  It kept me on the edge of my seat (bed), wanting to see what happened next.
• Character development  -  Even though the book moved quickly, there was still time for character development.  Hades and Aphrodite especially got some great depth to their characters.  I still think Aphrodite is one of the most annoying people ever, but at least now she's a much less superficial character than before.

Greek mythology retellings are my favorite, especially Hades & Persephone's story, and this is one of the best adaptations I've read yet.  I'm really hoping for another book to this series because I do not want it to be over.

Top Ten Tuesday (35) - Books Set in the Western & Southern US

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  This week's topic was about the top ten books set in a specific time or place.  As I was looking through my books, I realized that I read A LOT of fantasy, especially epic fantasy set in other worlds.  But I didn't want to have to pick ten from that list, so I looked for books with settings that I don't tend to read as much, and I found ten books set in the western and southern U.S.A. (four in the West and six in the South).

Top Ten Books Set in the Western & Southern U.S.

The West

• Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
• The Gentleman Outlaw & Me ~ Eli by Mary Downing Hahn
• The Magic of Ordinary Days by Ann Howard Creel
• A Gown of Spanish Lace by Janette Oke

The South

• Amber House by Kelly Moore, LarkIn Reed, & Tucker Reed
• The Help by Kathryn Stockett
• An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
• Always the Baker, Never the Bride by Sandra D. Bricker
• The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
• Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson

How about you?  Are there any books set in the South or the West that you love?  Are there any settings or times you like better than others?

A to Z Bookish Survey

Jamie, from the Perpetual Page-Turner, always has the coolest, most creative posts.  Her most recent was an awesome bookish survey she created.  And of course, I couldn't wait to do it for myself.  (Check out Jamie's answers here.)

Author you’ve read the most books from:

According to goodreads, it's Georgette Heyer.  But I still haven't marked off all the books I've ever read, and I think I may have read more books by Janette Oke (I went through a phase in high school and read pretty much nothing but her books for months).

Best Sequel Ever:

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer.  I think Cinder is amazing, but the sequel surpasses it.  The addition of Scarlet and Wolf was perfect, and I loved them.

Currently Reading:

Paris, My Sweet by Amy Thomas and Stonefly by Scott J. Holliday.

Drink of Choice While Reading:

When I actually remember to eat or drink while reading, I drink tea.  I think there's nothing better than a cup of tea with my book.

E-reader or Physical Book?

Physical books all the way.  I will only read a book with an e-reader if there is absolutely no other option.

Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:

Based solely on the Heroes of Olympus series, I would totally have dated Percy Jackson in high school.

Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:

The Host by Stephenie Meyer.  I didn't think I'd like this book after the Twilight ridiculousness, but it's so good.

Hidden Gem Book:

I'm torn between The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery and A Long Fatal Love Chase by Louisa May Alcott.

Important Moment in your Reading Life:

There are so many good ones, but I'm going to pick one of the first ones.  My fifth grade teacher is one of the main people who helped me discover my love of reading.  She read to us aloud in class, and she suggested I read Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, which I fell in love with.

Just Finished:

The Iron Queen by Kaitlin Bevis and Keeper of Reign by Emma Right.

Kinds of Books You Won’t Read:

I read most every genres, but I don't like to read horror or erotica.  I also avoid graphic violence or books where kids get abused.

Longest Book You’ve Read:

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell at 1037 pages.

Major book hangover because of:

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.  So many tears, so many feels.

Number of Bookcases You Own:

Five actual bookcases and three wall shelves, as well as my desk, wardrobe, and tv stand.

One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:

I'm a major re-reader so I've read almost all of my books multiple times.  But most recently I re-read Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones for the umpteenth time.

Preferred Place To Read:

I mostly read in bed, because it's the only place I can read that's quiet.  But I wish I had a big comfy armchair or a window seat to curl up in.

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:

"As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once" from The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

Reading Regret:

A regret?  I guess my biggest regret is that I let a reading slump I was stuck in last for almost a year.  I wasted so much time watching TV and not reading, and now I feel like I'm playing catch-up with all the series and books out there.

Series You Started And Need To Finish(all books are out in series):

There are several, but the series that I've had sitting on my shelf the longest, unfinished is The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini.

Three of your All-Time Favorite Books:

So difficult to choose but if I had to... Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.

Unapologetic Fangirl For:

Tolkien.  I love everything Tolkien-related.  His books, the movies, the games... everything.  I even had a Lord of the Rings fansite in high school.

Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:

There's quite a few I'm really excited about but the top three are The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson, Allegiant by Veronica Roth, and The House of Hades by Rick Riordan.

Worst Bookish Habit:

My worst habit is probably not returning my library books on time.  I'm always paying late fees.

X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:

Triss by Brian Jacques (Redwall #15).

Your latest book purchase:

Raven Flight by Juliet Marillier.

ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):

The Iron Queen by Kaitlin Bevis.

Book Review: Keeper of Reign by Emma Right

Title:  Keeper of Reign
Author:  Emma Right
Genre:  Middle-grade fantasy
Series:  Keeper of Reign #1
Publisher:  Self-published through Telemachus Press
Pages:  340
Acquired via:  Review copy sent by publicist

Rating:


Synopsis from goodreads.com:  Sixteen year old Jules Blaze, heir of a Keeper, suspects his family hides a forgotten secret. It's bad enough that his people, the Elfies of Reign, triggered a curse which reduced the entire inhabitants to a mere inch centuries ago. All because of one Keeper who failed his purpose. Even the King's Books, penned with the Majesty's own blood, did not help ward off this anathema. Now, Gehzurolle, the evil lord, and his armies of Scorpents, seem bent on destroying Jules and his family. Why? Gehzurolle's agents hunt for Jules as he journeys into enemy land to find the truth. Truth that could save him and his family, and possibly even reverse the age-long curse. Provided Jules doesn't get himself killed first.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Keeper of Reign is the first book of a new fantasy series being marketed as young-adult.  I would definitely say that this seems like a book meant for middle-grade readers instead.  The main character, Jules, may be sixteen years old, but he sounds much more like a twelve-year-old.  I gave the book to my eleven-year-old sister to see what she thought, and she agreed that Jules sounded closer to her own age.

I really wanted to like this book more than I did.  I thought it had a great idea behind it, and it could have been an epic fantasy adventure.

What I liked

• The pacing  -  This book is definitely fast-paced and full of action.  It made the book a quick read.  There weren't any moments where the story started to drag.
• The world-building  -  I'll admit that there isn't a lot of world-building because there's so much action, but what's there is good.  I personally love when an author builds up their setting throughout the story, rather than write a detailed (and slow) history in one of the early chapters.  That's how the author handled the world-building here.  She kept adding in details and history of Reign during the story, so the more you read, the more you were able to visualize the setting.
• The concept  -  I think the idea for this book is great.  A fantasy world where the different creatures are suffering from a curse that's shrunk them to the size of acorns.  An evil tyrant seeking to destroy the Keepers that can overthrow him.  The friend-turned-traitor who's torn between doing what's actually right and doing what feels right.  All of these are classic elements of a good fantasy adventure.

What I disliked

• The formatting  -  The book is 340 pages long, and instead of it having twenty or thirty chapters, it's made up of 99 chapters.  Each chapter is between two to five pages long.  This set-up bothered me, because it made character development almost non-existent.  With chapters that short, there was only time for action.  This kind of book would be good for people who aren't big readers because they need constant movement to keep their attention.  My one sister, who isn't a big reader, said that this format of short, action-packed chapters would be better for her.
• The melodrama & predictability  -  And with such short chapters, there was plenty of melodrama.  Each chapter had to end with a mini cliffhanger, which was unnecessary for me.  It just felt over-the-top at times, especially the last few chapters.  Also, certain aspects of the story were predictable; I could see them coming, and therefore, I felt no surprise at the plot twists.
• The grammatical errors  -  Major pet peeve here.  I know I'm not perfect.  There may even be some errors/typos in this review.  But there's a big difference between a book and a blog entry/review.  I think it's way more important to triple-check for grammatical mistakes in a book.  One or two might not be so bad, but if there are multiple errors throughout the book, it distracts from the story.
• The writing style  -  The writing tended to be choppy, and the dialogue was sometimes stilted and cliched.  Because of the choppiness, I got a little lost a few times and had to go back a page or two to see if I missed something.  Also, the little bit of character development that was there, especially of the secondary characters, was extremely short and abrupt.

I honestly wanted to love this book, but there were too many things that kept it from happening.  I think someone who isn't into reading epic fantasy with lots of detail would love this book.  It would keep their attention with its quick pace, short chapters, and constant action.  But I personally love those epic fantasy books like The Lord of the Rings, filled with lots of descriptions and details and character development.  If Keeper of Reign had focused more on the characters and less on the cliffhangers, I think it would have been a really good book.

Book Blogger Hop - August 9th

Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.  There's a new prompt each week to encourage bloggers to meet new bloggers, learn about new books, and gain followers for their own blogs.

This week's prompt:  If you don't like a book you said you would review, do you graciously turn it down and explain why or do you struggle through it and hopefully come up with a halfway decent review?

This question is actually relevant to a review I'm struggling with right now.  For the first time ever (for me), I was asked to review a book that has turned out to be less-than-amazing, and I never realized just how much guilt would accompany that.  I mean, I feel really bad that I didn't like the book and am now going to be writing a negative (but respectful) review.  If I'd simply purchased the book myself or borrowed it from the library, this wouldn't even be an issue.  I'd have no problem writing a negative review.  But since someone asked me review it, it's different.

And yet, I stated in my review policies that I would write honest reviews, even if they're negative.  So I'm going to write it anyway, but I'll make sure to point out the positive things in the book as well.  If a book I've been sent for review is SO terrible or offensive that I don't finish it, or if I dislike it and it's part of a blog tour, I'll contact the author/publicist and let them know how I feel about the book, without posting a review.

Top Ten Tuesday (34) - Write a Sequel, Please!

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  This week's topic is books you wish had sequels, either because you loved the world/setting or you loved the characters.  I did not think I would have such a hard time choosing books for this, but as I was thinking about it, I realized that I mostly read series.  So most of the books that I love already have sequels.   But I was able to pull together a list anyway, and here they are, as spoiler-free as possible:

Top Ten (Technically Twelve) Books I Wish Had Sequels

• Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day by Winifred Watson
• I love Miss Pettigrew and her adventures, and would love to see if her life changes even more the next day.  And perhaps part of the reason I want a sequel to this is because I want another movie with Lee Pace and Ciarian Hinds.
• The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
• There are two romances in this book that I loved, and I would love to read a book about the future for either one of them.
• The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
• Sean and Puck.  Races with man-eating horses.  Enough said.
• The Princess Bride by William Goldman
• So Goldman totally teases you by including the first chapter of the fake sequel "Buttercup's Baby."  Don't tease us!  Write it for real!
• Arabella by Georgette Heyer
• This book makes me laugh so much.  Arabella gets Beaumaris into so many hilarious situations, and I want to read about even more of them.  Plus, Robert Beaumaris is amazing.
• An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
• Colin's best friend Hassan is so funny and sarcastic and irreverent.  He's my favorite character, and I'd love a book just about him.
• The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery
• I actually prefer this book to Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables series.  I love Valancy's character, how she evolved into an outspoken, passionate person.  And I was always in love with Barney.  I want to see how things changed in their relationship after Barney's secret is revealed.
• Robin McKinley's books  (So I cheated here, but all of her books need sequels)
• Spindle's End  -  I love the world/setting, and the romances that develop.  Will anyone ever figure out the truth about Rosie?
• Rose Daughter  -  Even though I prefer McKinley's other Beauty & the Beast adaptation, I'd still love to read more about Beauty's choice in the end, and whether or not she regrets it.
• Chalice  -  The world in this book is amazing, and as much as I'd like to know more about Marisol and the Master, I'd be perfectly happy just to have another book with this same setting.
• Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
• I understand that there's no way they could write a sequel to this book.  But I still want to know more about what happens to Mr. & Mrs. de Winter.  They had to be deeply affected by everything that happened to them, and I'm curious as to how much it changed their future and their relationship.
• Austenland by Shannon Hale
• So technically, there's already a sequel to this book, but it focuses on a completely different character going to Austenland.  I want to know more about Jane Hayes and what happens to her after returning to NYC.

Sorry if there were anything even remotely spoilerish.  So what do you think?  Are there any here you agree with?  What books do you want sequels to?  Or what books do you hope are left as stand-alones?

Story Review: The Son of Sobek by Rick Riordan

Title:  The Son of Sobek
Author:  Rick Riordan
Genre:  YA mythology retelling/short story
Publisher:  Disney-Hyperion
Format:  E-book
Acquired via:  Purchased through iBooks


Rating:   


Synopsis from goodreads.com:  In this audio e-book short story narrated by Rick Riordan, Carter Kane is investigating rumored sightings of a monster on Long Island when he runs into something else: a mysterious boy named Percy Jackson. And their meeting isn't exactly friendly. . . . Includes a sneak peek chapter from HOUSE OF HADES, Book Four in the Heroes of Olympus series.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I was waiting for this crossover to happen, and then it finally did, and now I am SO happy.  Even though I dislike ebooks, I caved and purchased The Son of Sobek, because the only print version is in the back of the paperback issue of The Serpent's Shadow.  Since I already own the hardcover, I wasn't buying the paperback just to get the short story.

The story was a quick, fun read for fans of the series.  Carter Kane and Percy Jackson end up meeting each other when they both set out to take care of the monster.  It was great to see the two series' lead characters interacting and fighting (with each other and with the monster).  It was told from Carter's perspective (which I'm hoping means that the next installment will be told from Percy's), and there's plenty of humor, sarcasm, and action.

I'm really looking forward to the next part to the story, although I have no idea when that will come out, as Riordan's got a lot on his plate right now (see below).  But whenever it finally is written, I will be reading it immediately.  (Sorry for the shortness of the review, but short stories = short reviews.)

Semi-related note:  Rick Riordan just posted some updates in his blog that I am so excited for.  The fourth book of the Heroes of Olympus series, The House of Hades, is coming out in October.  The final book will be released in the fall of 2014.  But what I'm most excited for?

In 2015, Riordan will be starting a new series centered around Norse mythology.  YAY!  Norse mythology rarely gets any attention, so it's always cool to find a book or series about it.  And it's going to be written by Riordan, one of my favorite authors.  With this new series, he will have covered Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Norse mythology.  He's pretty much the king of middle-grade/YA mythology retellings.

Book Blogger Hop - August 2nd

Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.  There's a new prompt each week to encourage bloggers to meet new bloggers, learn about new books, and gain followers for their own blogs.

This week's prompt:  How do you turn down a review request?

Like my answer last week, I can split my response into two parts - pre-BEA and post-BEA.

Pre-BEA:  Before Book Expo America, I never had to worry about turning down a request... because I never got any.  I knew nothing about ARCs or review copies or contacting publishers (and I really should have, since my dad works for a publishing company & I did as well, briefly).  I thought all of those bloggers who were getting books earlier than the release date had met some mysterious requirements to be so privileged.  Now I know that I could have been reviewing ARCs all along.

Post-BEA:  After BEA, I actually get review requests.  Which feels awesome, by the way.  But of course, not every book is the right fit for me.  So I simply respond with a polite "No, thank you" and explain that the book isn't the right fit or isn't something I'd feel comfortable reading.  And I also thank them for considering my blog.