Friday, February 28, 2014

Follow Friday ♥ The Plot Thickens (or Not)

8474595901 873f4993f4 Feature & Follow #138
Hosted by Parajunkee's View & Alison Can Read, the goal is to gain new followers and to follow new people yourself! :)

RULES
To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:
(Taken straight from the hosts)
    • (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
    • (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
    • Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
    • Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say “hi” in your comments and that they are now following you.
    • If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn’t have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
    • Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don’t just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don’t say “HI”
    • If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love…and the followers.
    • If you’re new to the follow Friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!
Happy Follow Friday!

This week's question/activity:

Change the plot. If you could, what book would you change the ending or the plot thread? Go ahead and do it... change it. 

Oh, man. I don't know. Maybe I'm weird (okay, we know I am), but I really typically don't think about what I would do differently if I were the author. There might be things I'd never consider and would definitely leave out even if I had (read: Twilight baby-love... *shudder*). Sometimes I wonder if epilogues are completely necessary (Hunger Games, Harry Potter), but then I think it's nice to know what happens in the future. And you know you're not getting anymore... it's a definite. So, really... I can't think of any I'd definitely change or alter in any way. :(

What about you?


Thursday, February 27, 2014

Allegiant by Veronica Roth {A Review}

Allegiant (Divergent, #3)
Title: Allegiant
Author: Veronica Roth
Series: Divergent #3
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Publication Date: October 22, 2013
Source: Bought
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 5 Stars


The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

Goodreads-badge-add-plus 

I really don't even know what to say at the moment. I bought this book on it's release day. Back in October. I actively avoided anything Allegiant related. I'm always nervous reading series enders... are they going to hold up? How's the author going to wrap it all up? Who will live? Die? Will I like it? So I put it off. I had heard of some angered readers, but I didn't know why, other than they weren't happy with the way Roth ended things. That made me even more nervous. And then, by complete accident one day toward the end of December, I saw one sentence... one sentence! And I knew a major plot point. I won't say what, or where it happens, but I truly was afraid it was going to ruin my book reading experience (if you've read it, I'm sure you know what that point is...). So I procrastinated even longer on reading it. It's what I do.

Then my friend read the entire series and I started getting antsy to know what she knew. I thought I would skim Divergent and Insurgent, to refresh myself, but Roth's writing and story just sucked me right in... I couldn't just skim. I read them both, in their entirety. Slowly, savoring every detail. And I enjoyed them just as much as I did the first time. So I moved onto Allegiant with high hopes. Thankfully, Veronica Roth didn't disappoint.

I was excited to get started, despite my previous apprehension. Getting back into the series by actually rereading the first two probably contributed to it. It was great to continue getting to know these characters, to feel like I was walking next to them as they learned, watched, grew, fought.

I really liked watching as Tris and Tobias grew together, apart, together, apart... like most real life relationships work. They're never easy-peasy 100% of the time. It's refreshing to see how they learn about each others faults and strengths and become better because of one another.

There was a part toward the beginning where I was a bit confused... I wasn't sure where the story would go, at all, and I was really worried it would go in a science direction that I wouldn't enjoy... thankfully, it didn't. But I think, given how much I enjoy Roth's writing, that even if it had gone all sciency, I wouldn't have minded all that much. (I'm not a science person... I don't mind some, but too much makes me breaks out in hives...)

I still haven't read much in the way of Allegiant reviews/posts/what-have-you... but I imagine there's quite a few haters, some lovers, and a lot of on-the-fencers. I'm a lover. I feel that may be a minority group to be in, but that's okay. I've been there before (with Requiem by Lauren Oliver). I think Roth took brave actions, just like her Dauntless characters. While I was an emotional mess for a while after reading, despite knowing certain things, I wouldn't have it any other way. And while I teetered between four and five stars, I finally settled on five. Overall, I enjoyed it too much.

I can't wait to read more of Veronica Roth's work, whenever she gets around to it. In the meantime...

Be Brave.

Smiles,
B

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Waiting On Wednesday ♥ We Were Liars

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights upcoming releases we're excited about.

There are, as you know, books coming out left and right that we all want to read. One I am looking most forward to is...

We Were Liars

I can't say I've read a lot by E. Lockhart. In fact, I've only read The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks. But I loved that one. And this one sounds really good and promising. I'm really excited to read it. 

What are you waiting on?

Smiles,
B

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

I'm Gonna Love It, Hug It, Squeeze It, and Call it George {A Top Ten Tuesday Post}

I've been in and out here recently. Every time I think I'm going to post more often; weekly, twice a week, daily... life just seems to get in the way. Lack of internet at home, daughter having surgery, my own personal issues, kitchen remodel, keeping busy at work... the first thing to go is always the blog. Which, in the grand scheme of things, makes total sense. I mean, in reality, it's the least important thing. But I love doing it. So...  yeah. I'm just going to keep on tryin'. :)

Because I love doing the Top 10 Tuesday Meme... Here we go!
Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they provide a Top Ten topic for you to create your list, then you share it on their post so others can find you. :)

  ♥ Top Ten Books I Read in 2013

Since, as I've said, I've been flitting, it seems fitting that today's Top Ten was a Rewind - choose one you've missed or would like to re-do! :) So I chose this one. Due to my inability to be consistent, some of these may link to reviews and some may not. I thought about doing on about the books I *didn't* love, but then thought I'd rather rave than rant. :)

Splintered by AG Howard


Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

Out of the Easy

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor & Park

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna, #1)

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Revolution

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle, #2)

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Unravel Me (Shatter Me, #2)

Anna & the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anna and the French Kiss (Anna and the French Kiss, #1)

Unhinged by AG Howard

Unhinged (Splintered, #2)

The Moon & More by Sarah Dessen

The Moon and More


What books did you love that you read in 2013?

Smiles,
B


Monday, February 3, 2014

Memorable Monday ♥ Fangirl


Memorable Monday is a meme hosted by Escape in a Good Book. I'm excited to join in on this one because I love quotes, which was the driving force behind the creation of Memorable Mondays. I thank the ladies at Escape in a Good Book.

So... how do you participate? It's simple ~

1) Share a quote that has captured your interest lately in a Memorable Monday post on your blog.

2) Come back here and leave the link to your post in the comment box below. If you don't have a blog, I'd still love to hear read your quote. Leave it in the comment box instead of a link to a non-existent blog. :)

3) Visit other participants if you have time. It's always nice to have visitors. There's no overstaying your welcome this way, and they don't have to offer the obligatory drinks. Or clean.

4) If you tweet your posts, feel free to use the hashtag #MemorableMonday.

This week's choice:

Fangirl  

“Just … isn’t giving up allowed sometimes? Isn’t it okay to say, ‘This really hurts, so I’m going to stop trying’?”
“It sets a dangerous precedent.”
“For avoiding pain?”
“For avoiding life.”  


~Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell






There are so many quotable parts from Fangirl. I could do at least half a year's worth of Memorable Monday's with it. ;) It's such a great read. I miss these people... I want to go to Pound Hall and visit them all. Yes, I realize that's not a real place (I assume not, at least), but that doesn't stop me from wanting to go visit Cath, Reagan, Levi, and Wren.