The Halloween Book Tag

Posted in Tags by TheQuirkyBookNerd

Happy day before Halloween, everybody! Michelle over at Book Adventures just created The Halloween Book Tag and tagged me to do it. Thank you so much for the tag! If you haven’t seen Michelle’s blog yet, make sure to head on over and check it out!

Favorite scary must read for Halloween

The Shining by Stephen King – I have to agree with Michelle in her choice for this question and also say The Shining. It was also my top pick for my list of five Halloween must reads. This is one of the scariest books I have ever read, and I don’t scare easily. It is a horror classic by one of the masters of the genre, and a novel that everyone should give a try at least once in their lives, particularly if they are fans of Halloween.

Scariest book cover, like ever…

Shutter by Courtney Alameda – I’ve not actually read this book and I don’t know much about it, but this cover is freaky! It totally creeps me out every time I see it, but it’s also pretty awesome because I like creepy stories. I definitely think I will have to look into reading this novel; see if it’s as scary as the cover.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman – This novel I have actually read and I can say that it really is as creepy as its cover. Coraline is actually another novel I would say is one of my favorite scary must reads for Halloween. This is a weird and somewhat disturbing story, and it is absolutely fantastic!

If you could pick any author to go trick or treating with, who would you pick?

I would love to go trick or treating with both Ransom Riggs and Tahereh Mafi. They both individually seem as if they are very kind people and like they would be fun to hang out with; and together, they are absolutely hilarious. It would be the most entertaining evening ever!

If you could dress up as any bookish character for Halloween, who would you be?

If I could dress up as any book character, I would probably pick Sherlock Holmes, as he is one of my all time favorites. Who wouldn’t want to pretend to be the greatest detective ever? I know I’m not a guy, but that’s fine; I think I could pull it off! Hermione would be another choice, but I actually already have dressed up as her for Halloween once when I was younger.

If you could find anything, from any book, in your trick or treat stash, what would you hope to find?

I would love to find the invisibility cloak in my trick or treat stash. This was always one of my favorite magical items from the Harry Potter world and I wish I could have my own. It might be kind of fun to sneak around and go exploring while under it, or to use when I want privacy. I could just hide under there while I read or write; it would be awesome. And I would totally use it strictly for good, and not to mess with anyone and make them think they were being haunted…no, I’d never do that… 🙂

In what fictional world would you like to go trick or treating?

I think I would like to go trick or treating in Narnia. It seems like it would be a place that is full of sumptuous food and delicious treats, so you could probably collect a pretty amazing haul there. Plus I just really want to go to Narnia!

What book villain would you not like to meet alone in a dark alley on Halloween?

I feel like this might be an obvious choice for a lot of people, but I would have to say Voldemort. First of all, he is an extremely evil and powerful wizard and, as a muggle, I would have absolutely no way of defending myself against him if he attacked. Also, he’s just totally creepy-looking. The whole “no nose” thing has always completely freaked me out, and I would not like to see that up close. However, if you’d like to send me a slightly younger version, I wouldn’t mind that quite as much…a little bit of eye candy while I’m running for my life…

Would you rather dress up as a vampire, zombie, werewolf, or a shadowhunter?

I must admit, I’m not a huge fan of any of these creatures, and I know absolutely nothing about shadowhunters because I’ve never read the novels. Zombies are my favorite, but I don’t think I would like to dress up as one. If I were to pick one to dress up as, I would probably choose vampire. I feel like, costume-wise, this would be more my style, and I guess I do like the idea of the more classic vampire.

Pick a candy (just one) from Harry Potter that you would love to find in your stash?

If I had to pick, I would definitely choose chocolate frogs. To be honest, the idea of them is a little creepy, since they actually move. But I think, if you can get past that, that they would be delicious. I also absolutely love the cards that come with them; they are so awesome. Despite the fact that I always have found them a bit weird, they are one of my favorite candies from the series, so I’d love to find one in my stash. And because…chocolate…

What is your favorite Halloween candy?

I have somehow already managed to mention in a post that I have a major addiction to Kit-Kats! I love Kit-Kats. They are my ultimate Halloween (or any time of year really) weakness!

I Tag:

Jen @ J.N. Cahill

Zezee @ Zezee with Books

Ava @ Bookishnessandtea

Paige @ Page by Paige

Kayla @ Bookedsolid1989

Bookloversblog

Lucía @ Making Days Better

And anyone else who wants to do it! 🙂

28Oct2015

Top 5 Wednesday – October 28th, 2015

Posted in Top 5 Wednesday by TheQuirkyBookNerd

Top 5 Wednesday was created by Lainey at Gingerreadslainey. Every week, book reviewers all over the world are given a bookish topic and respond with their top 5 books (or elements of books) that relate to that topic. Click here for the Goodreads group if you would like to learn more about Top 5 Wednesday and join in!

This week’s Top 5 Wednesday topic is your top five Halloween book recommendations. Since this list is for Halloween, I was trying to think up some good ghost stories to put on here. However, as I was picking books for this topic, I was shocked to realize that I haven’t actually read all that many ghost/monster stories. This is insane because I absolutely love a good, creepy and otherworldly tale. So, since I am severely lacking in the ghost story department, I simply picked five generally creepy novels or stories that I’ve read.

I am a huge thriller/horror fan. I have read a lot of mysteries and psychological thrillers, and I love watching any spooky or thriller type movies. Many of the stories I write usually fall somewhere in the realm of horror as well. I’ve never really gotten scared by any books or movies so far, however, these are all novels that definitely sent a shiver down my spine! Though the books on this list do not all involve a supernatural storyline, they are all still perfect for this spooky time of year.

5. Through the Woods by Emily Carroll

I read this graphic novel around this time last year and enjoyed it so much. It is a collection of five eerie and enthralling horror stories. Emily Carroll has crafted a wonderful collection of ghostly tales that feel sort of likes myths or legends that people might pass around. The artwork, matching the tone of the stories perfectly, is hauntingly beautiful; out of all the graphic novels I’ve read, this had one of my favorite art styles. Through the Woods was such an enjoyable read, and I would highly recommend giving it a try. These dark and chilling tales will definitely put you in the Halloween mood.

4. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

I tried to change things up and pick novels for this list that weren’t on my list yesterday, but this is one that I just had to mention again. It is a classic thriller novel, one of the best for all time in my opinion, and is bone-chilling without the use of ghosts and monsters. In fact, stories like this one, where the true monster is human, can make for the most compelling and frightening reads of all.

3. The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe

Basically anything by Edgar Allan Poe makes for a perfect Halloween read. Poe is a master at crafting beautifully written and thoroughly haunting tales that will stay with you long after you read them. My personal favorite stories of his are The Cask of Amontillado, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Masque of the Red Death, and The Tell-Tale Heart.

2. Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Back when Coraline first came out, a family member of mine gave it to me as a gift. My mom read it before I did, and it creeped her out so much that she actually hid the book from me. And of course, me being me, I subsequently snuck into her room, found it, and read it anyway without my parents knowing…but that’s beside the point! This is one of the most disturbing and unique books I have ever read, and I absolutely adore it. It is the book that first made me a fan of Neil Gaiman, who has been a huge inspiration to me in my own writing. His stories are quite strange and they are probably not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but I think that they are just fantastic and definitely perfect for Halloween!

1. The Shining by Stephen King

What Halloween reads list would be complete without one of the best horror novels of all time? This hair-raising and unsettling horror classic, written by one of the masters of the genre, is an absolute must-read. The Shining is genuinely terrifying, by far the scariest book that I’ve ever read, and it is one of my long-time favorites. I cannot recommend it highly enough! Though I do enjoy the original film as well, I would highly suggest, if you want to watch a production of this novel, watching the miniseries version from the 90’s with Steven Weber. Stephen King played a much bigger role in the making of this adaptation, so it is a lot closer to the actual novel itself.

What are your top favorite Halloween reads? Do you have any scary/spooky novels or short stories that you would recommend? Let me know in the comments!

-Ariana

27Oct2015

Top 10 Tuesday – October 27th, 2015

Posted in Top 10 Tuesday by TheQuirkyBookNerd

Happy Tuesday, everyone! It’s time for another Top 10 Tuesday list. This is an original weekly blog meme created over at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week, there is a new bookish topic for bloggers to create a list about. If you want to know more about Top 10 Tuesday, click here!

I can’t believe we are already reaching the end of October! This week’s Top 10 Tuesday topic is a Halloween themed freebie; we can make up any Halloween related list that we want. Because I couldn’t decide between two topic ideas, I decided to include the second as a bonus part to this post. The first list is ten fall/Halloween reads that are not necessarily spooky but are still perfect for this time of year. The second part is my top ten favorite creepy book covers.

Part One: Fall/Halloween Reads

1. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness – I picked this up last fall and it is definitely one of the best novels I have ever read. This novel ended up being absolutely nothing like what I had originally suspected it would be. I picked this to read near Halloween because it seemed like it would be a scary story focusing on ghosts or other supernatural monsters. Instead, it deals with a very different but equally frightening type of monster. It is a very dark and sad but ultimately beautiful story. This is a very surprising, creative, and absolutely gorgeously written novel that I cannot recommend enough.

2. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman – This would not be a true Halloween themed list if I did not add at least one Neil Gaiman novel to it! He is one of my favorite authors and really, any of his books could be put on a list such as this; however, this is my personal favorite and the one I would recommend the most. The Ocean at the End of the Lane really had that tone that I always look for in my reads at this time of year. Though I did not find it particularly scary, it’s strange and a bit dark and creepy, and the story is extremely captivating. It’s an incredibly unique tale and reads sort of like a myth or legend, which made it even more intriguing.

3. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn – As the weather cools and the days grow shorter, there’s nothing like reading a good mystery novel. Gone Girl is an incredibly dark and disturbing story, full of surprising twists and unreliable narration; it’s a picture of insanity with frighteningly realistic characters and scenarios. This may not be a typical Halloween ghost story rooted in the world of the supernatural, but it shows that the natural world can be equally as chilling. Click here for my full, spoiler-free review.

4. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie – Of course Agatha Christie has to make the list! And Then There Were None is a story about ten strangers, each with a secret, who are brought together on a private island for a weekend by an anonymous host and are killed off one by one. In this novel, everyone is a suspect. This is not only one of my favorite novels of all time, but one of the best examples of a creepy story, perfect for Halloween, that doesn’t involve the supernatural.

5. Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury – By this point, I’m sure you are seeing a pattern: here is another one of my all time favorite novels! This story focuses on two young boys whose town is visited by an evil carnival that appears suddenly one night. It brilliantly captures the mood of fall, and the plot fits the Halloween season well with its various oddities and magical realism. This novel is a spectacularly written tale, one that everyone should read at least once in their life; and what better time to read it than the end of October? I would very highly recommend checking out the film as well!

6. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman – Switching gears for a minute, I thought I would throw in one of my favorite, creepy short stories. This is an intriguing story, the ultimate psychological drama. It is told in a journal format, a secret journal kept by a woman whose doctor and husband have forbade her from writing. She is being confined to her room, not permitted to doing anything but sit there, and she begins to imagine a world that’s hiding behind the yellow wallpaper covering her walls. This is such a gripping and eerie story, very fitting for the season.

7. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie – I just had to add another Agatha Christie novel to this list because not only is she one of my favorite authors, but also her novels are truly perfect for Halloween. This is a story starring her famous detective, Hercule Poirot, and is probably one of her most well-known and loved works. It is about a train that is stopped one night by a snowdrift, and in the morning, a man is found stabbed in his cabin, the door still locked from the inside. It is a fascinating mystery and one that definitely has a creepy, Halloween mood!

8. 1984 by George Orwell – 1984 portrays a dystopian world that is absolutely terrifying to imagine. This novel is also a bit frightening due to its relevance and connection to society today. Though it is unlikely that we will ever reach the point that the world has reached in this story, there is just the right amount of realism and personal narrative in it to make it something that the reader can connect to and imagine easily.

9. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle – I chose The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes because it’s my favorite so far, however, any of the Sherlock Holmes novels would work. This is one book that may seem a little out of place on this list, but I personally think that fall is a wonderful time of year to be reading these stories. As I’ve already said, it’s the perfect time to be reading a good mystery, and these are some of the best. Full of suspense and intrigue, this is a novel that is wonderful to curl up by the fire with in the cooler months. Click here for my full, spoiler-free review.

10. Hamlet by William Shakespeare – This may seem like another strange one to add to this list, but I feel like this tale has the perfect atmosphere for this time of year. There’s mystery, insanity, murder, revenge, a ghost, everything you could possibly want for a good fall/Halloween read. Plus, it’s one of the best, if not the best, plays of all time.

Part Two: Favorite Covers

Shutter by Courtney Alameda
Asylum by Madeleine Roux
A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis
The Supernatural Enhancements by Edgar Cantero
Through the Woods by Emily Carroll

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Slasher Girls and Monster Boys edited by April Genevieve Tucholke
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
The Diviners by Libba Bray

What are your favorite Halloween reads? Any creepy cover designs you like? Let me know in the comments!

-Ariana

25Oct2015

The TBR Book Tag

Posted in Tags by TheQuirkyBookNerd

I was tagged by the lovely Zezee over at Zezee with Books. Thank you so much for tagging me! You should all go head over and check out her fantastic blog if you haven’t already.

This is the perfect tag for me to do! My TBR is massive and always growing, especially since I have now started blogging. I’m always discovering new novels through my reader friends and other book bloggers, so I’m constantly adding to it, both on Goodreads and to my physical library. There is no way I’ll always be able to pick just one book for each of these questions!

How do you keep track of your TBR pile?

Goodreads is my main method of keeping track of my TBR pile. Not only do I add all the books that have piqued my interest but I also devote a whole shelf to all the books that I actually own. On top of that, I have one shelf to compile the books that I want to get to the soonest and another to list books that I want to review here on my blog. Amazon is another place that I use to keep track of some of my TBR, but only the books that I am most eager to add to my collection.

Is your TBR mostly print or e-book?

My TBR is mostly print books. Though e-books are growing on me and I do see the convenience of them, nothing can compare to holding a physical book; that’s one of the best parts of the reading experience in my opinion. I also love the idea of having a collection of books to fill the shelves of my own personal library. So, though I continue to occasionally expand my e-book library, I still purchase actual physical copies of the majority of my books.

How do you determine which book from your TBR to read next?

Like many, I am most definitely a mood reader. I tend to have a list of a number of books that I am more eager to get to than others, but I find that I cannot create too much of a strict TBR for myself. It is impossible for me to force myself to read something if I’m not in the mood for that type of story. However, sometimes it has to do with the time of year as well. Certain seasons or holidays tend to change my mood. For instance, I tend to read darker and spookier books in the fall, around Halloween, and lighter books in the summer.

A book that’s been on your TBR the longest?

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini – This is the first book that I ever added to my TBR on Goodreads. I love Khaled Hosseini’s work so naturally, I added this back when it first came out; unfortunately, I have not yet had a chance to get to it. This is a book I hope to read very soon.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin – This is probably one of the books that has been both on my Goodreads TBR and in my actual physical TBR pile the longest. I got this back when it first came out, but never got around to reading it. I’ve been putting it off even more lately because of the mixed reviews I have heard about the trilogy as a whole. Nevertheless, I do intend to get to it sometime soon.

A book you recently added to your TBR?

Time at the Top by Edward Ormondroyd – This is a book that my mom absolutely loves and has wanted me to read for years, so I’ve finally added it to my TBR. I’ll definitely be giving this a try soon.

This Monstrous Thing by Mackenzi Lee – I just discovered this novel a couple weeks ago. I’ve been seeing it on a number of blogs that I read, and so far I’ve only seen positive reviews. It sounds like something that would be right up my alley, so I’m really looking forward to reading it.

A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn – I actually found this from a random ad on Goodreads. It popped up on my homepage one day and when I looked into it, the synopsis sounded pretty intriguing. I’ve seen a lot of good reviews for it as well, so I’m very interested to see what I think.

Soulless by Gail Carriger – This is a novel that I have been seeing at the bookstore for years but keep passing by. Between the rave reviews I have read on blogs and heard on Booktube, I figured I should finally give this book a read!

A book on your TBR strictly because of its beautiful cover?

I do not have any books on my TBR that are on there solely because they have a beautiful cover. However, I do have a lot of books that I absolutely adore the covers of, so I picked out a few of my favorite ones. These are all books whose covers are the main thing that drew me to them in the first place.

The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North

A book on your TBR that you never plan on reading?

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard – This is a book that I got a copy of a while back when I first started watching the television show. However, I stopped watching the show around season 3 and since then have sort of lost interest in this book. This is by no means a book that I definitely never plan on reading; I don’t think I have any books on my TBR I could say that about. But it is very low priority on my reading list, and there is a chance that I may never pick it up.

An unpublished book on your TBR that you’re excited for?

Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh – I read and fell in love with her first book, Hyperbole and a Half, (and subsequently the blog of the same name) early last year, and I am absolutely dying to get my hands on this. I have had this preordered for ages now, and I am incredibly sad that the release date got pushed from the end of this year until next April. I can’t wait that long!

Winter by Marissa Meyer – If you have read the many posts where I babble on about my love for Marissa Meyer and The Lunar Chronicles, then this should come as no surprise. This is one of my most anticipated novels of the year!

A book on your TBR that everyone has read but you?

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak – As I’ve said before, I am pretty sure I am one of the only people on the planet who has not read this book yet. I keep meaning to do so and then I end up putting it off. But no more! I am determined to get to this book before the end of the year.

A book on your TBR that everyone recommends to you?

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs – Not only do I constantly read and hear good reviews of this book on blogs and Booktube, but a number of my friends and family members keep recommending this to me. In particular, my best friend and my mom have both been telling me to read this for years! This is another book I hope to finish before the end of the year.

A book on your TBR that you’re dying to read?

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn – Again, if you are a veteran of my blog posts, you will already expect this to be on here. I have quickly become a massive Gillian Flynn fan this year; so obviously, I must read all the books!

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli – This is another book that I have been hearing nothing but wonderful things about. I picked this up right when it first came out and I’ve been waiting for a good time to read it. I’m really in the mood for a funny book right now, so I will be reading this quite soon.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo – This is one of the most recent additions to my TBR, and I am so excited about it. It sounded fantastic to begin with, but I’m even more eager to read it after seeing all the amazing reviews that have been pouring in.

Vicious by V.E. Schwab – It’s a book about supervillains—need I say more? I finally have a copy and I cannot wait to get to it. Hopefully, this will be one of my next reads.

Half a King by Joe Abercrombie- This is another one of my most recent purchases. I saw that a few friends of mine on Goodreads were reading this and decided to check it out. Not only does the plot sound like something I’ll love, but I’ve also read an excerpt from it and the writing is absolutely gorgeous!

How many books are in your Goodreads TBR shelf?

There are 545 books on my Goodreads TBR shelf. *Smiles and shuffles away awkwardly*

I Tag:

Giselle @ Hardwork Boulevard

Jessica @ Mud and Stars

Nora @ Always Keep Reading

T.K. @ Read it or Not Reviews

Anna @ My Bookish Dream

Marian @ Bookception21

21Oct2015

Top 5 Wednesday – October 21st, 2015

Posted in Top 5 Wednesday by TheQuirkyBookNerd

This week’s Top 5 Wednesday topic is your top five favorite authors you discovered this year. This was surprisingly tricky for me to put together because I have discovered a lot of new authors that I would like to read novels by, but I’ve only begun on a small amount of them. However, I have found a few that I have really enjoyed, and I am looking forward to reading more of their work in the future.

5. Victoria Aveyard

This may be a strange choice given the fact that I was not actually a huge fan of her debut novel, Red Queen. I enjoy reading debut authors every year, and I primarily chose her novel due to all the hype surrounding it. And while the overall idea was a unique and intriguing one, I felt that the execution of the plot was rather weak and cliché. Despite all of this, I ended up absolutely loving her writing style, and this is why I would place her on this list. While I didn’t like the story itself, I thought she was a wonderfully descriptive writer, and I am very intrigued to read more of her work.

My full review: Red Queen

4. Noelle Stevenson

I first discovered Noelle Stevenson a few months ago through Booktube, and I am so glad that I did. She writes and illustrates her own graphic novels, which instantly intrigued me. Nimona was one of my most recent reads, and it was absolutely fantastic. The story was hilarious and heartwarming, and the characters were interesting and endearing. On top of that, I completely adored her art style; it was colorful and comical, and it perfectly fit the overall tone of the novel. The entire graphic novel was solidly constructed and made for an incredibly entertaining reading experience. I have become a major fan of her work and I am eager for more of it.

3. Benjamin Alire Saenz

Technically, Benjamin Alire Saenz is an author that I first discovered last year; however, I did not get a chance to read any of his work until a few months ago. I had been hearing people raving about his novel, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, so I had to pick it up and give it a try; and this was one of those books that completely lived up to the hype. Benjamin Alire Saenz created an inspiring and touching story with rich characters that are very easy to connect with and care about. On top of this, his writing is beautifully poetic. He definitely makes it onto my favorites list for the year.

2. Marissa Meyer

Marissa Meyer is another author that I first heard about last year. I began reading The Lunar Chronicles series earlier this year though, and I completely fell in love with it right from the start. She has a very captivating storytelling style that pulled me in and held me until the end. She also has a knack for creating unique and engaging characters, and bringing to life well-known tales in fresh ways. Overall, I truly enjoyed the world that she created and am looking forward to continuing on and seeing where the series heads. I’m also quite interested to read her future work outside of this series. Marissa Meyer easily makes this list.

1. Gillian Flynn

I believe that I have made it abundantly clear in recent posts just how much I adore Gillian Flynn’s writing. But I don’t think I will ever stop raving about her work! I’ve been hearing about her novels for a number of years now; however, I only just gave them a try a few months back. So far, I’ve only read Gone Girl, but I am planning on reading her other books as soon as possible. Gillian Flynn is a brilliant writer and a genius at constructing complex, twisted mysteries and characters. She has become one of my all-time favorite authors and is, by far, my favorite author I have discovered this year.

My full review: Gone Girl

Who are your favorite newly discovered authors? Do you have any recommendations? Let me know in the comments!

-Ariana

20Oct2015

Top 10 Tuesday – October 20th, 2015

Posted in Top 10 Tuesday by TheQuirkyBookNerd

This week’s topic is the top ten wishes you’d ask the book genie to grant you. I tried to resist the urge to ask for things like unlimited money to buy books with or the ability to travel through time so I don’t have to wait for new releases (though I wouldn’t mind either!). It took me a while to decide, but here are the top bookish things I would ask the book genie for.

Wish #1: The ability to read faster without my reading experience suffering.

My TBR is growing so quickly and I really wish that I could get through my books faster so I can finally catch up and make room for all the new ones I want to start on. At the moment, I can read fairly fast, but I can’t always get as much from the reading experience if I go about it that way. I’d love to be able to speed up my reading pace and still read with the same proficiency.

Wish #2: For reading to have the same effects on my body as working out.

Now this would be absolutely incredible; why can’t this be a thing? I don’t entirely mind working out (most of the time), but honestly, reading is so much more fun. And I do a lot of it. It’s something I can do for hours each day without getting tired of it. This would, hands down, be the best way to get in shape!

Wish #3: Immunity to reading slumps.

This would really come in handy because I find that, as a definite mood reader, I fall into reading slumps quite easily. I also find that, though I always love consuming a large quantity of books, if I read too much too quickly or don’t make enough progress in the amount of books I complete, my pace tends to slow or stall. I would love to be able to read any type of book at any time without having to worry that I might have difficulties getting into the mood to read.

Wish #4: The ability to travel into any book world I want.

I feel like this is definitely something that most book lovers would absolutely love to be able to do. It would be wonderful to have the chance to fully explore and experience the worlds we read about firsthand. If only we could just open up a novel and tumble through the pages…

Wish #5: The chance to meet and talk shop with some of my favorite authors.

As a writer, I can think of nothing better than getting the opportunity to discuss writing and literature with the authors whose work I enjoy and admire. It would be fantastic to hear about their creative processes and learn any tips and tricks they have to offer. I’d also like to hear more about the writing profession from people who have experience in the field.

Wish #6: A few new collections of Sherlock Holmes short stories by Arthur Conan Doyle.

Out of all of my favorite authors, Arthur Conan Doyle is the one who I wish could produce more works. In particular, I would like more of the Sherlock Holmes short stories to exist. Even though there are many Sherlock Holmes stories and I’ve only read about half of them, I still find myself wishing that there could be more to look forward to because I can’t get enough!

Wish #7: The ability to stop time when I am reading.

It would be great to be able to freeze time whenever I wanted while reading a book; I’d get so much more done that way! I’d never have to worry about trying to squeeze it into my schedule when I get busy. This way, I could just pause everything else and take as much time as I wanted during the day to read.

Wish #8: My own personal multi-story library.

One day, I want to have a huge room in my house to keep all of my books. The only thing that could be better than this would be to have my own personal library-sized space, with multiple levels and cozy places to sit and read.

Wish #9: The chance to read my favorite books again for the first time.

I think this is probably another common wish among bibliophiles. There’s nothing like the feeling of reading an incredible book or series for the first time and falling head over heels in love with it. I’d love to be able to re-experience the feelings that I had when I first read things like Harry Potter or To Kill a Mockingbird. Though I always enjoy re-reading my favorites, nothing can compare to my first time completing them.

Wish #10: To be able to bring my own writing to life for a living.

As well as being a writer I am also an aspiring filmmaker, and I am extremely eager to begin my career as soon as possible. I have always dreamed of seeing my work come to life on screen, and being able to create my own films would be an absolute dream come true.

Suffice it to say, it’s a good thing that the book genie does not actually exist or I might go mad with bookish power!

What would you ask the book genie for? Let me know in the comments!

-Ariana

19Oct2015

The Pastry Book Tag

Posted in Tags by TheQuirkyBookNerd

I was tagged by the awesome Jesse over at Books at Dawn. Thank you so much for tagging me! He’s a fantastic book blogger, so definitely head over there and check him out.

As an avid viewer of The Great British Bake Off, I am not only incredibly excited to do this tag, but also happy to say that I know what most of these pastries are! I have a feeling I may be quite hungry after completing this however…

Croissant: Name a popular book or series that everyone (including you) loves.

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

This is one of my all-time favorite series; it helped me discover my love of reading and my passion for writing as well. I feel like this is definitely a bit of an obvious choice, but come on! It’s Harry Potter! Who doesn’t love this series? Okay, I’m sure there are some people, but it is undeniably very widely loved and has touched many lives.

Side note: I used a picture of The Chamber of Secrets here because, though I definitely seem to be in the minority on this from what I’ve seen, this is my favorite book of the series! What’s your favorite?

Macaron: Name a book that was hard to get through but worth it at the end.

1984 by George Orwell

This is one of my favorite novels, but it was surprisingly difficult for me to get through due to the writing style. I have always been able to read through the writing of Shakespeare with ease, and yet Orwell’s far more modern writing style was oddly tricky for me. Don’t get me wrong, his prose is beautiful, but for some reason it didn’t click quite as well with me as some other authors’ work has. It was an extremely slow read, but the story itself is an absolutely fantastic one and was well worth it!

Vol-au-vent: Name a book that you thought would be amazing but fell flat.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

I read Divergent last year and completely loved it, so I was incredibly eager to continue on with the trilogy. However, I read Insurgent earlier this year and it fell very flat for me. It started out fairly well, but it quickly began to drag on, and I felt that it was quite repetitive at times. It lacked a lot of the qualities that I liked about the first book; I even found the characters had been negatively altered and were quite frustrating. I was really hoping to love this book and, in the end, was very disappointed with it.

Pain au chocolat: Name a book that you thought would be one thing but turned out to be something else.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

A Monster Calls was absolutely nothing like what I expected it to be just from reading the synopsis. I believed it would be a story about ghosts or supernatural creatures; I assumed this was going to be a typical Halloween type read. It is absolutely not. It is about a very different type of monster, and this book…oh man, this book! One of the best novels I have ever read, and one that will always remain at the top of my favorites list.

Profiterole: Name a book or series that doesn’t get enough attention.

Love and Other Unknown Variables by Shannon Lee Alexander

Love and Other Unknown Variables was just released last year and is by a debut author. I always love discovering new authors, so I decided to pick it up when it was first released, and I am so glad that I did. This is not the typical type of story that I usually read and enjoy, but I completely fell in love with this novel. It is very well written, and a sad yet beautiful story of love and friendship with a powerful message. It even made me tear up multiple times, which is extremely rare for me to do when reading. I have not heard much at all about this novel since it came out, and it definitely deserves more attention than it has gotten.

Croquembouche: Name a book or series that’s extremely complex.

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

At the moment, I have mainly watched the television show, but I am just starting to get into the book series now. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite series, and it is definitely exceedingly complex. There are so many different plot lines to follow, most of which tie into or overlap each other in various ways. And the names! I have the hardest time keeping everyone straight. This complexity, however, is what makes this series so engrossing and addictive; you can’t help but get completely lost in this world.

Napoleon: Name a movie or TV show based off a book that you liked better than the book itself.

Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis

It is definitely a rare occurrence for me to find a movie or television show that I prefer over the original book. However, the most recent film version of Prince Caspian was one of the few movies based off a book that I enjoyed more than the book itself. I absolutely love the entire Chronicles of Narnia series, but I felt that this was the weakest of the novels and that some parts of it dragged on a bit. The movie managed to stick to the general storyline very well and include all the important plot points while improving on the aspects that weren’t quite as strong.

Empanada: Name a book that was bittersweet.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Their Eyes Were Watching God is an incredibly beautiful and heartbreaking story. The main character, Janie, goes through so much pain and suffering, but gains the freedom that she has always wanted for herself. Despite all of the sad moments, there are also many uplifting, powerful, and bright points in the story as well. It is by far one of the most bittersweet novels I’ve ever read, and a longtime favorite of mine.

Kolompeh: Name a book or series that takes place somewhere other than your home country.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Embarrassingly enough, I still have not yet started this series even though I’ve owned it for ages. But I figured I would use this here because it takes place in one of my favorite cities: Prague. I had the pleasure of traveling to Prague for the first time last summer, and I completely fell in love. It is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen in my life, and I am so eager to go back and spend more time there whenever I get the chance. My experience there has also made me even more excited about diving into this series!

Pate a Choux: Name one food from a book or series that you would like to try.

Pumpkin Pasties from Harry Potter

There are so many different types of food in novels, particularly the Harry Potter series, which sound absolutely delicious. However, as I’ve managed to mention in all of my fall themed posts lately, I’m pretty certain I have an addiction to pumpkin! I absolutely love all things pumpkin related, so pumpkin pasties have always appealed to me ever since I first heard them mentioned in these books. I’d love to try one…or twenty…

I Tag:

Cátia @ The Girl Who Read Too Much

Bea @ Confessions of a Pinay Bookaholic

Panda @ Panda’s Books

Nick @ The Paper Dragon

Leslie @ Confessions of a Bookaholic

Cristina @ My Tiny Obsessions

14Oct2015

Top 5 Wednesday – October 14th, 2015

Posted in Top 5 Wednesday by TheQuirkyBookNerd

This week’s Top 5 Wednesday topic is your top five favorite diverse characters. These can be characters that are diverse in race, in sexual orientation, who have disabilities or are struggling with mental illness, etc. Basically, any character that is not seen as often as the typical straight, white, mentally and physically healthy male or female characters that too frequently take center stage in literature.

Having books filled with diverse characters, particularly main characters, is essential because that more accurately reflects the incredibly diverse world that we live in. Every single person in this world is different from each other in some way; no two people are the same. That is something that should be celebrated and represented throughout all literature, but unfortunately, ends up being something that many books out there lack. Thankfully, we are starting to see an increase in character diversity in literature these days.

For my list, I tried to mix things up and pick characters that are each diverse for different reasons. These characters also play important roles in the novels they are from. Here are five of my favorites!

Arthur “Boo” Radley from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Diversity: Mental Illness

To Kill a Mockingbird is filled with diverse characters because diversity and the acceptance (or lack thereof) of that diversity is one of the main themes in the novel. Though there are a number of people that would fit into this list, I decided to go with Boo Radley for an example of a character struggling with mental illness. Due to a childhood of being tormented by his father, Boo has become a recluse, never being seen outside his house. But in the end, he proves to be a kind soul and a true hero despite the toll life has taken on his mind.

Tyrion Lannister from A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

Diversity: Genetic Condition

This is a bit of a cheat for me since I’ve actually not yet read A Game of Thrones, but I do watch the show and Tyrion is one of my absolute favorite characters. He is an intelligent man with a sharp mind and an equally sharp wit. This is another book with a sizable amount of diverse characters, but he is one that definitely stands out among the rest. Tyrion is a dwarf, so he is a great example of a diverse character with a physical, genetic condition.

June Iparis from Legend by Marie Lu

Diversity: Ethnicity

Those of you who have read Legend already know what a fantastic and tough character June is. Her incredibly intelligent and attentive mind, strength, and selflessness make her an intriguing, lovable, and kickass heroine. June is a diverse character because she is described as being of mixed ethnicity (Caucasian/Native American).

Cinder from Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles) by Marissa Meyer

Diversity: Cyborg/Ethnicity

After reading this book a few months ago, I have completely fallen in love with Cinder and her story. She falls into the category of diverse characters for a few reasons. Cinder is a cyborg (which in itself is fairly diverse) living in a society that looks down on and harshly discriminates against them. She is also ethnically diverse because, as Marissa Meyer describes her, she is of mixed ethnicity (Asian/Caucasian). The entire novel takes place in a fictionalized version of China, so there is a fair amount of character diversity in general throughout this book.

Aristotle and Dante from Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Diversity: Ethnicity/Sexual Orientation

I just recently read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe and Ari and Dante have quickly risen up my list of top favorite characters; I couldn’t pick one over the other, so I decided to go with both of them. They both fall into the category of ethnically diverse characters because they are both Mexican. They are also both gay, so they are diverse characters due to their sexual orientations as well.

Which diverse characters are your favorites? Let me know in the comments!

-Ariana

13Oct2015

Review: Jackaby by William Ritter

Posted in Book Reviews by TheQuirkyBookNerd

Jackaby by William Ritter

My Rating: 4.5/5 TARDISes

Series: Jackaby #1

Date Published: September 16^th, 2014

Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers

Pages: 299 pages

Source: Purchased

Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis: “Miss Rook, I am not an occultist,” Jackaby said. “I have a gift that allows me to see truth where others see the illusion–and there are many illusions. All the world’s a stage, as they say, and I seem to have the only seat in the house with a view behind the curtain.”

Newly arrived in New Fiddleham, New England, 1892, and in need of a job, Abigail Rook meets R. F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with a keen eye for the extraordinary–including the ability to see supernatural beings. Abigail has a gift for noticing ordinary but important details, which makes her perfect for the position of Jackaby’s assistant. On her first day, Abigail finds herself in the midst of a thrilling case: A serial killer is on the loose. The police are convinced it’s an ordinary villain, but Jackaby is certain it’s a nonhuman creature, whose existence the police–with the exception of a handsome young detective named Charlie Cane–deny.

Doctor Who meets Sherlock in William Ritter’s debut novel, which features a detective of the paranormal as seen through the eyes of his adventurous and intelligent assistant in a tale brimming with cheeky humor and a dose of the macabre.

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This is a spoiler-free review.

Between the intriguing synopsis and the beautiful cover art, this novel caught my eye right away. I was very eager to dive into it, and it did not disappoint. Jackaby is an incredibly entertaining and hilarious ride that captivated me right from the start and held me until the final page. This book is pitched as being “Doctor Who meets Sherlock” and it quite is reminiscent of both while never feeling copycat. Ritter uses general, well-loved aspects of these two stories to build his own, truly unique and cleverly written tale.

The story focuses on an eccentric detective named Jackaby, and is told from the point of view of his bright, young assistant, Abigail Rook. Abigail has run away from her family and, having just arrived in America, is looking for work. Answering his advertisement, she finds herself working for the highly intelligent and incredibly eccentric Jackaby, and subsequently is plunged into the world of crime. These are not simply ordinary crimes however, but crimes committed by supernatural beings that most people, herself included, cannot see.

Jackaby is an unusual sort of detective, and a very peculiar character. I found him to be very much a mixture of Sherlock Holmes and the Eleventh Doctor. He has the intellect and the unbelievably acute powers of observation that Arthur Conan Doyle’s great detective has, mixed with the quirky nature of the beloved time traveling hero. Jackaby works as a detective, like Holmes, but in the world of the supernatural, like the Doctor. He resembles each person in different ways, which, when put together, adds up to a very singular character.

I thought Abigail was sort of a John Watson, Clara Oswald hybrid. She is a highly intelligent person herself, as well as a strong female lead who holds her own alongside the detective. The fact that Abigail is the narrator of the story, recounting her experiences with Jackaby, gives it the same quality of the original Sherlock Holmes novels. She is also the person who deals with the more human aspects of the cases, something with which Jackaby tends to struggle on his own. Overall, she is a clever, brave, and spunky character, and makes up the second half of a marvelous pairing.

While the two of them had qualities that reminded me of these other characters, they still felt like purely original creations. Ritter constructs them in a way where he uses familiar qualities audiences have come to love as a template to form entirely new people with distinct personas.

For the most part, I found the writing in this novel to be spot on. Ritter does a wonderful job of evoking a dark yet humorous tone and building the 19^th century New England town in which the novel is set. The dialogue is sharp, witty, at times sarcastic, and appropriately fast-paced. All of the characters, both human and supernatural, in this novel are very compelling, meticulously created, and skillfully portrayed. Ritter invents two fully developed and vibrant worlds. One is realistic and one is much more mystical and filled with vividly depicted creatures, and they both intertwine fluidly.

The plot itself was a relatively typical murder mystery, made complex with its elements of fantasy and science fiction. I will admit, I did figure out who the culprit was well before the end of the novel, however, this did not detract at all from my enjoyment of it. And there were still a satisfying amount of twists and surprises in other aspects of the story, such as the fantastical elements, that caused enough of a feeling of wonder to create an engrossing narrative.

This novel is by no means perfect, and I definitely believe that it is sort of a hit or miss type of story. But it is such an incredibly fun tale and personally, I couldn’t help but love every minute of reading it. I adored being in this world, particularly Jackaby’s world of bizarre creatures. Ritter draws inspiration from some very widely loved characters and uses this to create new and equally lovable ones. He retains a solid amount of individuality while conjuring up the same feelings that these other timeless tales do for their admirers. For me, this truly was an enchanting read. I am looking forward to seeing how this series progresses in the future books.

I very highly recommend giving this book a try. And remember: “DO NOT STARE AT THE FROG!”

12Oct2015

Liebster Award

Posted in Awards by TheQuirkyBookNerd

Huge thanks to the wonderful Anna over at My Bookish Dream for nominating me!

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This award is given to smaller bloggers to help gain recognition and also bring the book community closer together.

The rules for the award are:

Acknowledge the blog that nominated you and display the award.
Answer 11 question that the blog gives you.
Give 11 random facts about yourself.
Nominate 5-11 blogs you think are deserving of the award that have less than 200 followers.
Let the blogs know you have nominated them.
Give them 11 questions to answer.

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Questions:

What is the book / series that got you into reading?

The Harry Potter series was definitely the main series that got me into reading, as I’m sure it did for many other avid readers. I started The Chronicles of Narnia series around the same time as well, so that would also be another one.

If you could hang out for a day with a fictional character who would you choose?

If I could, I would love to hang out with Sherlock Holmes for a day. I probably couldn’t stand him for long periods of time, but it would be fantastic to get a chance to join him on a case and see him in action!

Your OTP?

I thought about it for a while and I don’t think that I actually have an OTP.

What are your favourite TV series?

My all-time favorite television series is Frasier. Some of my other top favorites are Doctor Who, Keeping Up Appearances, Psych, Game of Thrones, and Sherlock.

Which two places would you love to visit? (One real and one fictional.)

One real place that I am absolutely dying to visit is Iceland. The top fictional place I wish I could visit would be Narnia.

Who is your favourite superhero?

This is an insanely difficult question; I love so many! It would probably be either Iron Man or Thor.

Which is your favourite season and why?

Autumn is by far my favorite season! I love the changing leaves, the cool but not freezing weather, the big cozy sweaters and boots. And the pumpkins…definitely the pumpkins.

What is something you miss?

There aren’t too many things I miss. However, one of the biggest things I miss is getting a new Harry Potter book or movie every year. Probably like many fans, I wish that I could read the series for the first time again.

What do you like to do in your free time besides reading?

Besides being a reader, I am a singer and a writer. I also enjoy drawing and playing video games.

What is your favourite place that you visited?

While London will always hold a fond place in my heart, I visited Prague last summer and completely fell in love with it. I definitely hope to go back there sometime very soon.

What are some of your favourite bands / musicians / artists?

I like a wide variety of music. My top favorite bands are Panic at the Disco, Fall Out Boy, The Offspring, Imagine Dragons, Maroon 5, and Muse. My favorite composers are Mozart, Kraus, Bach, and Chopin. I also love listening to film soundtracks or soundtrack style music, like Two Steps From Hell and Audiomachine.

Random Facts About Me:

I have been a singer for 15 years.
I would like to work as a writer and filmmaker.
I am a huge Marvel fan.
I definitely have an addiction to Kit-Kats.
I would like to move to London one day.
I once fell into a water trap at a mini golf course.
I used to act when I was younger, and would very much like to go back to it one day.
Embarrassingly, I have never seen any of the Lord of the Rings or Hobbit films.
Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve loved watching property shows on TV.
I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Over the years I’ve played piano, violin, guitar, and recorder, and I’d like to start electric violin.

I Nominate:

Ana @ Ana Reyhs

Rachel @ Bargain Book Bliss

Ember @ Literary Constellation

Ally @ Multifandomed Book Blogger

Aimee @ Aimee Elizabeth Charlotte

My Questions:

What are your favorite hobbies?
If you could only own five books, which ones would you choose?
What is your favorite movie and who is your favorite actor?
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
What are the top three places you’d like to travel to?
Who is your biggest inspiration/role model and why?
Which Hogwarts house are you in?
If you could be best friends with any author, who would it be?
Are there any books you find intimidating to read (due to size, subject, etc.)?
Who are your top three auto-buy authors?
What is your favorite book quote?

The Quirky Book Nerd

Tag Archives: book blog

The Halloween Book Tag

Favorite scary must read for Halloween

Scariest book cover, like ever…

If you could pick any author to go trick or treating with, who would you pick?

If you could dress up as any bookish character for Halloween, who would you be?

If you could find anything, from any book, in your trick or treat stash, what would you hope to find?

In what fictional world would you like to go trick or treating?

What book villain would you not like to meet alone in a dark alley on Halloween?

Would you rather dress up as a vampire, zombie, werewolf, or a shadowhunter?

Pick a candy (just one) from Harry Potter that you would love to find in your stash?

What is your favorite Halloween candy?

I Tag:

Top 5 Wednesday – October 21st, 2015

5. Victoria Aveyard

4. Noelle Stevenson

3. Benjamin Alire Saenz

2. Marissa Meyer

1. Gillian Flynn

The Pastry Book Tag

Croissant: Name a popular book or series that everyone (including you) loves.

Macaron: Name a book that was hard to get through but worth it at the end.

Vol-au-vent: Name a book that you thought would be amazing but fell flat.

Pain au chocolat: Name a book that you thought would be one thing but turned out to be something else.

Profiterole: Name a book or series that doesn’t get enough attention.

Croquembouche: Name a book or series that’s extremely complex.

Napoleon: Name a movie or TV show based off a book that you liked better than the book itself.

Empanada: Name a book that was bittersweet.

Kolompeh: Name a book or series that takes place somewhere other than your home country.

Pate a Choux: Name one food from a book or series that you would like to try.

I Tag:

Review: Jackaby by William Ritter

Liebster Award

Questions:

Random Facts About Me:

I Nominate:

My Questions: