♪ Santa Baby, Hurry Down the Chimney Tonight ♪ {A Top Ten Tuesday Post}

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 Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing Me ♥

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE! Or not, if you don't celebrate. Happy Hanukkah? Anyway. I love receiving books for Christmas. Who among us doesn't? I've already received some pretty awesome ones... I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone by Stephanie Kuehnert (signed!), Just One Day by Gayle Forman, and Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. All of which I'm excited to read. That being said, here's some others at the top of my wishlist. :)  

Also Known As (Also Known As #1) by Robin Benway

 

Antigoddess (Goddess War #1) by Kendare Blake

 

The Diviners (Diviners #1) by Libba Bray

 

Girl of Fire and Thorns (Girl of Fire and Thorns #1) by Rae Carson

 

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1) by Cassandra Clare

 

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

 

Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham

 

Naomi & Ely's No Kiss List by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn

 

 

The Archived (Archived #1) by Victoria Schwab 

All Our Yesterdays (All Our Yesterdays #1) by Cristin Terrill

 

What about you? What's on your bookish Santa list?

Smiles,
B

 

Recommended Reads {A Top Ten Tuesday Post}

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 Would Recommend To... ♥

I have no problem recommending books... sort of. I mean, I will recommend stuff all the time, to Malissa, Mindy, Danielle... but there's always the nagging thought...

What if... what if I feel:

 

  And then they feel:

 

Yes, I realize that it's better if we all have varied opinions, that what works for one may not work with another. But, and I know you feel me here, when it's something we absolutely loved, that touched us on some deeper level, we want that person we're recommending it to to grasp the awesomeness that is that book as well. Right? But, alas, that doesn't always happen. Such is life. Plus, it'd be pretty damn boring if we all liked the same stuff, right?

All that being said, to my sister-in-law (one of the slowest readers I've ever met, so the book has to be quick/easy to get into...) I would recommend the following:

        
     
        

I've loved each of these at one time or another. And definitely could see (or maybe just hope) that Michelle would love them just as much. :)

What books would you recommend? To anyone specific?

Smiles,
B   

 

 

The Lover's Dictionary: A Review

A sweet and touching modern love story, told through dictionary entries.
 
basis, n.

There has to be a moment at the beginning when you wonder whether you’re in love with the person or in love with the feeling of love itself.

If the moment doesn’t pass, that’s it—you’re done. And if the moment does pass, it never goes that far. It stands in the distance, ready for whenever you want it back. Sometimes it’s even there when you thought you were searching for something else, like an escape route, or your lover’s face.

How does one talk about love? Do we even have the right words to describe something that can be both utterly mundane and completely transcendent, pulling us out of our everyday lives and making us feel a part of something greater than ourselves? Taking a unique approach to this problem, the nameless narrator of David Levithan’s The Lover’s Dictionary has constructed the story of his relationship as a dictionary. Through these short entries, he provides an intimate window into the great events and quotidian trifles of being within a couple, giving us an indelible and deeply moving portrait of love in our time.

Per usual, this story by David Levithan is wonderfully written. Despite enjoying that, I didn't fall in love with this book. I wanted to, but it just didn't happen.

Written in an unconventional way, there's no clear beginning, middle, and end to the story. It jumps around a lot, which makes sense with the way it was written, but I prefer my books to be clear on where we are in the timeline of things. If it's a flashback, great, but let me know it's a flashback. I still, by the end of the story, wasn't sure where things stood. I realize that the story itself isn't the main point of the book. I think it's more of a study of the relationship, picking it apart and trying to describe things that are typically indescribable. Once I got past the wanting of a typical story I was able to enjoy it much more than I had been (this was about 1/3 of the way through). 

I did enjoy the characters, despite being nameless. I like how everything was told from his point of view and that's all we got. We have no idea what was going on in her head/heart, only his. I actually liked that for this one. I liked getting glimpses into their relationship and seeing how things unfolded, even if it wasn't told in the usual way.

If you read it, my favorite entry was probably "livid". For no reason other than the sheer emotion emanating from the page. Levithan is masterful sometimes. 

I'd recommend it with the disclaimer that I didn't love it but that it's still a good read.  

Have you read it? Want to read it? :)

Smiles,
B

WWW Wednesday

WWW Wednesdays was started by MizB over at Should Be Reading,

To play along, simply answer the following three (3) Questions:
1. What are you currently reading?
2. What did you recently finish reading?
3. What do you think you'll read next?

Currently Reading

I'm a little ways into this one and liking it so far. :)

Recently Finished

 

I loved DoBaS... an intense continuation of the story and I can't wait for the third book to come out... unfortunately I have a long wait. lol

The Lover's Dictionary... it was different and I loved the writing. I didn't love it though.

What I Might Read Next

 

I still need to read this one for the tour coming up. I have plenty of time, but I don't want to procrastinate too much. :)

What have you been reading?

Teaser Tuesday: The Lover's Dictionary

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.  Anyone can play along!  All you have to do:

1. Grab your current read.
2. Open to a random page
3. Share two (2) 'teaser' sentences from that page.
4. Be careful... do not include spoilers!!!  Make sure that what you are sharing doesn't give too much away;  you don't want to ruin the book for others.
5. Share the title and author, too, so other Teaser Tuesday participants can add it to their TBR list if they like what you shared.

 


"I spent all this time building a relationship. Then one night I left the window open, and it started to rust."

~The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan 

 

WWW Wednesday

WWW Wednesdays was started by MizB over at Should Be Reading,

To play along, simply answer the following three (3) Questions:
1. What are you currently reading?
2. What did you recently finish reading?
3. What do you think you'll read next?

Currently Reading

 

I am loving this sequel! ♥

Recently Finished

 

Such a fun story with some depth to it as well.

What I Might Read Next

   

Lover's Dictionary is sitting on my desk at work, and Losing Francesca is on my Kindle, waiting to be read for the blog tour. :)

 

What have you been reading?

Smiles,

B

♪ Summer Lovin', Had Me Some Books ♪ {Top Ten Tuesday}

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 At the Top of My Summer TBR List ♥

So many books that could make this short list, but I'll just go with first thoughts and see what happens. :)

Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris
Losing Francesca by JA Huss
Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein
17 & Gone by Nova Ren Suma


What's on your summer to-be-read list?

Smiles,
B 

Beach Reads Top Ten

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 for the Beach♥

I don't do beaches often, but these are all books I could imagine reading at one. I thought about this as not just lighter reads, but reads that really engrossed me. Since I can be easily distracted, and there's lots to be distracted by at a beach, I felt that was key. :)

What would your beach reads be?

Smiles,

B

It's Not You, It's Me... Top Ten Tuesday

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 Thought I'd Like More/Less♥

It's not you, it's me...

These I really anticipated enjoying more than I did. This was based on either having read the author before (such as John Green), it being a sequel to one I did rather enjoy, or the description just sounding really good. Alas, I did not enjoy them as much as I thought I would, so here they are on this list.

 An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by David Levithan and John Green

The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler

 In which preconceived notions were wrong...

These are ones I was impressed with after thinking that I wouldn't enjoy them that much. Some, such was the case with Code Name Verity, I figured the setting would throw me off. Others the description just didn't sound up my alley. But I went for it anyway and I'm glad I did. 

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Ashfall by Mike Mullin

Devilish by Maureen Johnson

Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert

What about you? What books surprised you, one way or another?

Smiles,
B

Top Ten Rewind!

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 Want to Reread ♥

Okay, so when I went through the list of previous Top Ten's, I narrowed it down to two. This one, Books I Want to Reread, and another one, Books I Wish I Read as a Kid. As hard as I thought on it, I could not come up with ten books I wish I had read as a kid. Unless I broke it down and named all the titles of an author, which I felt was cheating (such as Roald Dahl... man I wish I had let my kid-self experience that magic). But, alas, coming up with ten titles, well, authors, at least, didn't work for me. I got to six before my head wanted to explode with annoyance. So, I went with the rereads. I do feel as if this one is too easy of one, though, as I easily came up with fifteen. Fifteen. My apologies for taking an easy way out, but I did narrow it down to ten. That part was hard. ;)

 

The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff

I love all three of Brenna's books, but this was my favorite. I would love to revisit this world and her writing.

Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult

This was the first book I ever read by Jodi. I want to reread it to remember why I fell in love with her in the first place. (I still like her, just want to revisit that first one.)

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

It's The Fault in Our Stars, do I really need a reason? ♥

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

I know there has been a lot of mixed reviews on Requiem, but I personally really liked it. I would love to go back to the beginning and remember and relearn all those things I had forgotten.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I've already read this series three times. But I will definitely revisit it before Catching Fire is released (well, before I actually watch it, at least). And, if it's like the last time, I'll reread it again after I've seen the movie. (I was immersed in Hunger Games for nearly a month when the first movie came out... books, movie, books again.)

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

This was my first introduction to Maggie Stiefvater and her brilliance. I love her writing and this world fascinated and surprised me. I want to go back and see my friends. 

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

See above, minus it being my first introduction. :)

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

I read this one what seems like forever ago. I want to remember the world, the lives, and why I loved it. 

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Although I know I will cry, once again, and be emotionally wrecked by the end, I still want to revisit this one. The shock factor will be elusive, but I can't imagine it being any less painful.

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

This book was so much fun and I fell in love with the characters and their adventure. I definitely want to reread this one; maybe next winter? Hmm...

What about you? What books would you want to revisit?

Smiles,
B