Let Me Look Into My Crystal Ball {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'd Recommend to Someone Who Has Never Read... ♥

 This week's topic is always a toughy for me. While I love recommending books and I often do so at work, I struggle with doing the whole genre-specific thing. I don't know why. I really can't even tell you *my* favorite genre to read. Weird, I know.So anywho. I made a list first, and then I decided what they fell into. Definitely not contemporary, these all have a mystical side to them. Ghosts, other worlds, a supernatural side...

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

 

The book that started my literary affair with Maggie Stiefvater. The waterhorses, the thrill of the race, the love story... it was all woven together masterfully. 

Landline by Rainbow Rowell

 

I read this recently and, like all her other books, LOVED it. It has a mysticism at play, and the story telling is AMAZING. For real. Read it. Love it. Cherish it. ;)

Splintered by AG Howard

 

Oh, the wonders of AG Howard's Wonderland. The detailed writing, the amazing characters... it all has me begging for me.

The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff

 

Dark and lovely all at the same time. 

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

 

I read this one a while back and really enjoyed the other worldly characters and the mythology involved. And the world Laini Taylor created was so vivid and, despite the darkness of it, I didn't want to leave it.

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

 

I love ghost stories. And this one was NO exception. Gritty, dark, and a wonderful story to go along with it.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

 

Ah, Maggie. How I love her stories. They're not dark, like some of the others on this list. I love her writing. The worlds, while they feel safe in some ways, are not safe in others.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

 

Such a beautiful story.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

 

Another great story. Love transcends all. Beautiful.

Hope you found at least one book to add to your ever expanding TBR list. :)

Smiles,

B

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

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Anna & the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Unhinged by AG Howard

The Moon & More by Sarah Dessen

What books did you love that you read in 2013?

Smiles,
B

♪ 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

 

Follow Friday ♥ Reluctant Reader Recommendations

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:

Pick a book in your favorite genre that you would recommend to a reluctant reader.

I'm supposed to have a favorite genre? Eek. ;)

There are so many great books out there that I would love to recommend. In my job as a librarian, I often have to think about books to recommend to a wide range of reading capabilities and a wide range of willingness to read. For those who struggle with either reading itself or a want to read, I try to find books that are known to be attention grabbers, books that are more action driven than character driven (since for a "non-reader" those can sometimes seem slow and they lose interest more easily), or books that feature a subject that particular person really enjoys (for example, if they love horses I would probably recommend Maggie Stiefvater's The Scorpio Races).

All that being said, in general, not knowing a specific person to recommend to, I'll do it this way:

Dystopian:
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins or Divergent by Veronica Roth (not only great books, but if they love it or even like it enough, they will continue reading the series... it's a win-win) 

 

Contemporary:
Anna & The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins or Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert (either a sweet, light-hearted, and fun story, or a dark and gritty one... pick your poison... both are so well told and captivating).

 

Fantasy/Sci-Fi:
Splintered by AG Howard (Such an amazing world Howard has created... I, personally, can't wait to dive back in... and again, if they enjoy it, they'll continue on with the series... yay!) or Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor (An awesome story in a vivid world... joins the mystical with the real-world in such a convincing way).

 

Just Creepy:
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff (Have you seen that cover? If that doesn't get a reluctant reader (who's interested in creepiness) to take a gander, I don't know what will...) or Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake (I loved this one. I didn't love Girl of Nightmares as much (the sequel), but this one I still think would be a great recommendation for a reluctant reader.)

   

So I didn't do a straight recommendation from my favorite genre (I still don't know what that is... lol), but these are ones I would definitely think about for a reluctant reader.

What about you? What would you suggest?

Smiles,
B

For the Love of Everything, Please Don't Murder Them!

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 Love to See as a Movie/TV Show ♥

As long as we are existing a perfect world wherein no one murders my favorite books, here are my choices... :)

1. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
2. Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein
3. Heist Society by Ally Carter
4. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
5. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
6. Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
7. Splintered by AG Howard
8. The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff
9. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
10. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater 

Girl of Nightmares: A Review

It's been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can't move on.

His friends remind him that Anna sacrificed herself so that Cas could live—not walk around half dead. He knows they're right, but in Cas's eyes, no living girl he meets can compare to the dead girl he fell in love with.

 

Having loved Anna Dressed in Blood (review), I was really looking forward to starting on the sequel. Although Girl of Nightmares is still an enjoyable read, full of Blake's wonderful writing and humor, I didn't feel it lived up to Anna. At the end of Anna Dressed in Blood, we're left wondering what happened to Anna when she saved Cas and crew from the Obeahman. This sets it up for book two, in which we find out that Cas, Thomas, and Carmel have been searching for Anna, looking for answers.

I feel like some of the strength that Cas possessed in ADiB has dissipated, as he's lost and wandering, searching for clues and answers. He starts to resemble a lost puppy rather than a renowned ghost hunter. While others are ready to move on, let Anna go, Cas is determined to find out what happened to her after she sacrificed everything to save him and his friends. In the process, he nearly gets his friends killed and turns people against him. Although I understood his behavior, I think it took away a little something from him. I could tell it was hard for him, losing the girl he loved, and he struggled with trying to retain himself while grieving for her.

Cas has one goal in mind, and he's going to continue to reach for that goal with, or without, the help of his friends and family. He knows he could die in the process and his friends know that they could as well. There's not as much intensity in this book as there was in ADiB, but there's still plenty of action, which also takes place abroad. We learn lots history - about the athame, Cas and his family, and how everything ties together. 

I didn't realize until I finished reading, but apparently there are some mixed feelings about the ending. I thought it was perfect. Although I want there to be more of Cas, Thomas, Carmel, and Anna, the story has to end sometime. And it made perfect sense the way Blake finished it. I also think part of the reason I was sad to come to the end is that I absolutely love Blake's writing. It's engrossing and the scenes just come to life. I feel like I'm friends with these people, and I want to spend more time with them.

Definitely a good follow up to Anna. I look forward to reading more by Kendare Blake. :)

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 started this one at lunch and so far I think I'm going to really enjoy it. I love the writing and I'm feeling pretty attached to Juliette already.

Recently Finished

   

   

Of the four pictured, I liked Girl of Nightmares best. :) Another Little Piece (review) was really disjointed to me and I'm still confused over things. 17 & Gone was mostly good. Once Was Lost was okay, but I wanted more. Reviews to come.

What I Might Read Next 

   

So I'm really not sure what I'll be in the mood for next. Depending on the end of Shatter Me, I may move straight on to Unravel Me. Anna and the French Kiss and The Moon and More are both on my shelves as well. So we'll see what strikes me. :)

What have  you been reading?