Top 5 Wednesday – October 14th, 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 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

7Oct2015

Top 5 Wednesday – October 7th, 2015

Posted in Top 5 Wednesday by TheQuirkyBookNerd

This week’s Top 5 Wednesday topic is your top five favorite graphic novels. I have been a massive fan of superheroes/super villains, particularly those of Marvel, ever since I was a little kid (I blame my dad!). So, over the years, I have read my fair share of comic books. Graphic novels, on the other hand, I’ve only just begun to read in the last year or so. However, in that short time, I have already read some absolutely stellar ones that have made me very excited to delve further into the world of graphic novels.

As both a writer and an artist, I have a huge appreciation for all aspects of comics and graphic novels and the work that goes into creating a good visual narrative. Here are the top five graphic novels I have read so far that I feel have a fantastic combination of textual and visual story.

The Homeland Directive by Robert Venditti and Mike Huddleston

I haven’t heard a lot about this graphic novel and, going into it, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. However, I ended up really loving this story. The synopsis led me to believe that it would be your typical zombie story, but it turned out to be so much more than that. It’s a thriller about biology and government conspiracies, and is full of twists and turns that keep you on your toes until the end. Along with the great plotline, the artwork had a beautiful color scheme and was masterfully drawn, fitting the tone of the story perfectly.

The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil by Stephen Collins

This is another one that I was extremely surprised by. To be honest, I picked it up solely because of the title. And while that is not always the best way to choose something to read, I was not disappointed. It was so weird and unique, and I truly enjoyed it. While it is a very humorous story, there is a more serious and thought-provoking underlying message that I had not expected to get from the novel. Collins’s black and white, cartoon-like art style was very fitting as well. Overall, this ended up being a lovely read.

Seconds by Bryan Lee O’Malley

I have been working my way through the Scott Pilgrim series, so I’ve read a few of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novels, but this one has been my favorite by far. This story was so unique and captivating; it has a great mixture of humor and a deeper, more serious message. I love his art style as well; it’s quirky and colorful and so fun to look at. I secretly dream about being able to write and draw my own comic or graphic novel, and his work just inspires me further.

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

This is one of my most recent reads and is really more of a tie for first place than second place among my favorites because this graphic novel was absolutely fantastic! It is centered on a notorious super villain and his shape-shifting sidekick, so I knew instantly that this would be right up my alley. The story is hilarious, sad, and heartwarming, and a complete joy to read. On top of that, Stevenson’s colorful and whimsical artwork is spot on and fits the feel of the narrative perfectly. She is another author/artist who has become an inspiration for me in my own work. I very highly recommend checking this story out.

Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Solid and engrossing narrative. Absolutely stunning artwork. This graphic novel series really has it all! I had been hearing people rave about this series for a long time, so I was eager to pick it up, and I ended up loving it even more than I thought I would. The art style is beautiful and complements the strong, well-told storyline. It’s full of vivid characters and each volume leaves you needing more. Volume three is my favorite so far, but every single one is an incredible work of art. If you haven’t given this series a try yet, you definitely need to!

What are your favorite graphic novels? Which ones would you recommend checking out? Let me know in the comments!

-Ariana

6Oct2015

Top 10 Tuesday – October 6th, 2015

Posted in Top 10 Tuesday by TheQuirkyBookNerd

Happy Tuesday, everyone! It’s time for the first Top 10 Tuesday list of October. 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!

This week’s topic is the top ten bookish things you want to quit or have quit (such as books or series, tropes, habits). Since this leaves some room to get creative, I decided to do a two-part list: four overused tropes that I would like to see less of and six books or series that I quit.

Four Tropes

There will always be common themes and plot elements among stories, particularly those of the same genre or target age range. Not all tropes detract from the overall story or are necessarily negative qualities, especially when they are executed well; and everyone’s opinion about them will be different. Because of this, the four tropes that I picked for my list are ones that, personally, I particularly dislike reading about and believe always severely hurt a story. For me, there is just no good way to write these.

Let’s start out with the bane of my existence…

Love Triangles/Squares/ Multifaceted Shapes

Thus far, I have only ever been able to stand this in one series, and I hated every moment it was addressed. This is by far the most frustrating trope in literature to me, particularly when the triangle begins morphing into larger polygons. This is the one trope that can actually lead to me stopping in the middle of a novel or completely refusing to read it in the first place if it is mentioned or implied in the synopsis. It is one of the most unnecessary plot elements ever, and the drama that it creates leads me to stop caring about the characters involved and sometimes even the story itself. Which brings me to our next trope…

Excessive Romance/Romantic Angst

I admit I can be incredibly picky when it comes to romance in novels. And while I am totally a hopeless romantic in real life, I tend to prefer when it is kept to a minimum in most novels that I read. This is simply because, many times, a plot can become overpowered by an excessive amount of romance, particularly one that is tumultuous. Sometimes a little tension can be good, as to not make it seem unrealistic, but this can easily be overdone. When it is overdone, this takes attention away from what should be the main plotline in favor of something that may make it look rather sophomoric. Overdone romance or romantic angst subtracts from the significance and impact the story would otherwise have on the reader.

Perfect Main Characters

I can’t stand a main character, or any character really, who is essentially flawless. For me to really care about a character they need to have obvious faults. They need to grow and mature, to make mistakes and learn from them. As a reader, it is impossible to connect and feel for someone who seems inhumanly perfect, and this leaves you wondering why you should spend time becoming invested in their story. On the other side of this, I get really annoyed by…

Cookie-Cutter Villains

I love a good, complex villainous character; one that leaves you constantly intrigued and on your toes, never sure of their motives or what they will do next. They can many times be my absolutely favorite aspect of reading a story, and they are certainly my favorite part to write in my own work. However, a cliché, one-dimensional villain, who is just evil to be evil or because the story requires an antagonist, is incredibly dull, and can really put me off a novel. A villain’s plotline and backstory needs equally as much consideration as the hero’s because the audience needs to care about that villain just as much in order for the overall plot to be successful. A recycled, “cookie-cutter” villain can get on my nerves like nothing else.

Six Books/Series

This was a surprisingly difficult list to make. No matter how I feel about it, once I have started a series, I don’t often stop in the middle of it, and it is even less likely for me to stop in the middle of a book. But I manage to compile a list of what I believe are the only six books/series that I have ever stopped partway through.

Eclipse/The Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer

This may either be a controversial or common opinion, but I do fall into the category of people who did not like the Twilight series. Now, I did not completely hate the first two novels and did make it through them; however, they never really clicked with me. I figured I would finish up the rest of the series since I’d gotten so far, but I could not get through more than half of Eclipse. I do see why people like the series, but these kinds of stories are really just not my cup of tea.

Shiver/The Wolves of Mercy Falls Series by Maggie Stiefvater

I’m not exactly sure why I attempted these novels; they are not at all the type of story I like to read. I think I had heard a lot of the praise and hype surrounding them and thought maybe they would surprise me. I made it about halfway through Shiver and gave up. I do intend to give Maggie Stiefvater’s other novels a try despite not liking these stories; some of them seem a bit more suited to my personal tastes.

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

This was a book that we read in high school, but I switched schools a of couple months into the year and was no longer required to read it. I could not get into this story at all and was not interested in seeing how it wrapped up, so I just ended up putting it down. I do not, at the moment, have any intention of trying to finish it off, however, I would like to give some of Toni Morrison’s other work a try one day.

Hush, Hush/The Hush, Hush Series by Becca Fitzpatrick

Again, not sure what my reason for trying to read this series was, other than the fact that I was hearing a lot of positive things about it. I only made it about 100 pages into the first novel before I had to put it down.

Fallen/The Fallen Series by Lauren Kate

By this point, I’m sure you are noticing a trend! I do really like to give every type of story a try, even ones I’m sure I won’t like, because you never know what you might find. Unfortunately, I was correct in thinking I wouldn’t like these ones; I only made it about halfway through Fallen.

The Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth

This is a bit of a cheat because I am not 100% certain that I will never finish this trilogy. I absolutely loved Divergent, but Insurgent fell rather flat for me. After that and hearing spoilers for Allegiant, I’m not certain that I am invested enough to continue on. This is the only series from this list that I could still be persuaded to finish, however.

What are some bookish things you want to quit/have quit? What are some tropes that you are tired of seeing in novels? Let me know in the comments!

-Ariana

1Oct2015

October 2015 TBR

Posted in Wrap Ups And TBRs by TheQuirkyBookNerd

Yet another month has flown by!

Between the cooling weather, beautiful changing leaves, warm sweaters and boots, and pumpkins galore, October is my favorite month of the entire year. It is also the perfect time to curl up with a good (preferably dark or spooky) book. Fall always makes me feel particularly inspired to both read and work on my own writing; I get some of my best work done in these cooler months.

Since I am very much a mood reader, I find that I can never follow an exact reading list for a long period of time. For me, a TBR ends up being more of a guideline than something set in stone; a record of titles to help me prioritize my insanely massive collection of unread books.

I am still planning on finishing up a few that I did not get to last month, so I definitely will not be able to get to everything on this list. But these are the books that I am currently most eager to get to and/or really feeling in the mood to read, and I’m hoping to get to quite a few of them.

On a brief side note, I did not feel like I had enough to say in a wrap up this past month, so I plan on doing a dual one at the end of October!

The Reluctant Sacrifice by Kerr-Ann Dempster

This is the book that I am currently reading, so it will be my first read of the month. I was sent this book for review, and so far I’ve really been enjoying it. I plan on finishing it up in the next couple of days, and there will be a review going up on here very soon after!

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

This is a high priority read on my TBR for the month. I picked this book up and started it right when it was first released back in May. However, I ended up getting sidetracked with other books that I had either already started or was particularly excited to get to, so I ended up putting it aside for a while. Before that, I was really enjoying the story, so I would very much like to finish it up sometime this month.

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

I find that, during the fall and winter, I tend to be particularly in the mood to read a good fantasy novel, as well as some lengthier books. This definitely falls into both of those categories. I have completely fallen in love with the television show over the past few months, and that has made me very motivated to read the actual novels themselves. So, between that and the weather, I am finally read to brave these 800+ pages! Or at least get started on them…

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

The Throne of Glass series is a series that I absolutely need to get started on! I’ve had this book for about a year now and I still have yet to get going on it. As I said, I’m definitely in the mood to read some fantasy right now, and this seems like it will be exactly what I am looking for. I have heard some mixed reviews about this first book, but overall positive thoughts about the series (so far) as a whole, so I am really hoping that I will enjoy these novels.

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh

For as long as I can remember, I have always loved a good retelling. The Wrath and the Dawn sounds as if it will be exactly that. I must admit I was a bit on the fence about it at first because, though retellings are wonderful, there have been a lot releasing lately and I’m finding that some of them are become too repetitive or generic. This one, however, I keep seeing and hearing almost solely positive reviews about, so I’m actually really looking forward to it, and I believe it will have that dark tone that I’m in the mood for this month.

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

Vicious has been a high priority book for me ever since I first discovered it earlier this year, and it was at the top of my Fall TBR list. Nevertheless, somehow, I still have not yet gotten around to it. I’ve heard nothing but great things about this book and Victoria Schwab’s work in general, and I am absolutely determined to read this novel by the end of the month!

The Supernatural Enhancements by Edgar Cantero

This is a book that I have not heard much of anything about. I found it at the bookstore a few months back and the cover caught my eye instantly; it has a creepy, gothic type art style, which I love. As soon as I read the description, I thought it sounded like the kind of story I would enjoy, so I grabbed a copy, but I’ve been putting it off to use as an October/Halloween read. I’m definitely looking forward to finally getting to this novel and seeing what it’s all about.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

This is another book that I purchased a copy of a long time ago and have been saving to use as an October/Halloween read. I am a massive fan of Neil Gaiman; he is one of my all-time favorite authors and a huge inspiration to me in my own writing. This is one of the few novels by him that I have not read yet, and I am very eager to get into it. I know that I will love it and it will fit the season perfectly!

My Most Anticipated Releases of October:

Binge by Tyler Oakely

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Through the Dark by Alexandra Bracken

The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

The Amazing Book is Not on Fire by Dan Howell and Phil Lester

What’s on your TBR for October, and what are you most looking forward to reading this month? Let me know in the comments!

-Ariana

30Sep2015

Top 5 Wednesday – September 30th, 2015

Posted in Top 5 Wednesday by TheQuirkyBookNerd

Since we are in the middle of Banned Books Week (September 27^th-October 3^rd), this week’s Top 5 Wednesday topic is the top 5 banned books you’ve read. I am extremely grateful to have grown up around people who love reading equally as much as I do, and who always encouraged me to read anything and everything.

And that is exactly what I did! During my childhood, I read any book I could get my hands on, and I still do that to this day. My reading has never been censored; therefore, I have read not only a lot of books in general, but also a lot of banned books. It was a hard list to narrow down, but here are some of my all-time favorite novels.

1984 by George Orwell

Banned/challenged for sexually explicit content and its social and political themes.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Banned/challenged for sexually explicit content and offensive language.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Banned/challenged for offensive language and violence.

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

Banned/challenged for occult/Satanism, violence, religious views, and for being anti-family.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Banned/challenged for offensive language and racism.

This is only a very small fraction of the long list of books that have been banned over the years. It is a shame to see so many beautiful and important books being challenged and banned. These are books that educate us and shape our world. These are books that captivate and inspire millions of people. So I encourage all of you to be a book rebel! Go pick up a banned book, this week and any week.

What banned books have you guys read? Let me know some of your favorites in the comments!

-Ariana

27Sep2015

Books I Can’t Believe I’ve Never Read

Posted in Miscellaneous by TheQuirkyBookNerd

At this point, I think the fact that I love making lists has been properly established. Let’s make another one!

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about two things: books I have yet to read and the size of my TBR pile. I personally tend to take a lot of pride in the fact that I love to read and in the amount of books that I consume on a regular basis. I also enjoy the fact that I have a wide literary knowledge. As readers yourselves, I’m sure you know the feeling; each book read is like a new badge of honor we get to pin on our shirts.

And though it may seem silly, I think a lot of avid readers can identify with the slight feeling of pressure to read certain novels. These can either be novels that are considered to be “classics” and expected to be in the repertoire of any proclaimed bibliophile, or they can be novels that are simply wildly popular within the book community. Either way, we feel that, to fully embrace our bookishness, we should read these stories.

Truthfully, it’s completely ridiculous to feel pressured into reading something; there is absolutely no set of rules or reading requirements you have to meet to be a true booklover. But even though I don’t particularly feel like I have to read certain books, there are still a few I have been meaning to read and am totally ashamed, as a book nerd, that I haven’t yet.

Since my TBR has been getting out of control, I figured it was about time to take myself on a bit of a guilt trip. So today, I thought I would make up a list of the books that I can’t believe I haven’t read yet.

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

Hitchcock is one of my favorite directors, and he made this classic story into an absolutely spectacular film (which I have seen far too many times to count). Even though I am definitely a hopeless romantic, when it comes to books, I tend to not be the biggest romance fan, or at least to be very picky about romance in novels. But this is one of my favorite romantic tales and I need to read it soon.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

This is a classic story and was one of my all-time favorite movies growing up. I finally bought myself a copy of this book, and am incredibly eager to read it. I can’t wait to see how the book compares to the movie, and to experience this story again in a whole new way.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I have actually not yet read a book by John Green. This is relatively awkward being an avid reader and a (ahem…quite frequent…) viewer of Youtube videos. Frankly, I think the main reason I haven’t gotten around to reading this yet is the daunting amount of mental and emotional preparation I will need to go through before doing so! In other words: I am not ready for the feels!

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

I am incredibly ashamed to admit that I have never read a book by J.R.R Tolkien, nor have I seen any of the Lord of the Rings or Hobbit films. As a fantasy lover and book/movie nerd, not to mention an aspiring author and filmmaker, I need to rectify this immediately!

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

This is an incredibly popular novel and one that I have been very interested to read for a while now. I know a bit about this man’s story, and what he experienced and survived during and after World War II is absolutely astonishing and inspiring. I know that this will be a difficult read, but I also think it is an extremely important read, and I hope to get to it soon.

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

I’ve already touched on my guilt about not having read this book in my last Top 10 Tuesday post, but I felt it still deserved to be put on this list. Though I’ve been interested to read this story for ages, I’ve never gotten around to picking it up. This is one that I hope to check off my reading list before the end of the year.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

This is a novel I really should have read already…because school! However, I ended up missing it due to changing schools between ninth and tenth grade. Even though I always hear very mixed opinions of it, this is definitely a story that sounds intriguing to me and I want to give it a try.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

This is another one that I somehow missed out on reading in school. As both a book lover and a writer, I’ve desperately wanted to read a Steinbeck novel for years now, but have not yet. Definitely high priority on my TBR.

Misery by Stephen King

Even though I have only read one book and a few short stories by him, Stephen King is a favorite author of mine, and a big inspiration for my own writing. This is another case of a book that I have not read that was a favorite movie of mine growing up. Misery is an absolutely fantastic story (and film), and it is completely outrageous that I haven’t gotten around to actually reading it yet!

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

This is by far the most embarrassing unread book that I have on my TBR. It was always an option on summer reading lists in my later years of school and I’ve seen the movie (yes, I saw it before reading the book. Bad Ari!), but I still have not read it. I do, however, leave it sitting among my other books in a way where I can easily see it every day and feel the shame. I am absolutely determined to get to this book before the end of the year!

What popular books have you been meaning to read but haven’t gotten around to yet? Do we have any in common? Let me know in the comments!

-Ariana

23Sep2015

Top 5 Wednesday – September 23rd, 2015

Posted in Top 5 Wednesday by TheQuirkyBookNerd

This week’s Top 5 Wednesday topic is our top five favorite title fonts on book covers. The design of a cover is extremely important because it is the first impression that a potential reader gets, and is what will inspire them to learn more about the actual novel itself. We may not entirely judge a book by its cover, but it definitely plays a significant role in the book selection process of all readers.

As both a reader and an artist, I have always enjoyed every aspect of a novel, from the cover to the layout to the actual text of the story. I will admit, covers are very important to me and I can get pretty picky when choosing what edition I want to buy. I also happen to be a huge typography nerd, so I love covers with unique and beautiful title fonts.

It was tough to chose, but here are a few of the books that I think have both distinctive and gorgeous title fonts!

The Singular and Extraordinary Tale of Mirror and Goliath by Ishbelle Bee

The Assassin’s Apprentice/Royal Assassin/Assassin’s Quest by Robin Hobb

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North

Jackaby/Beastly Bones by William Ritter

Cinder/Scarlet/Cress/Winter by Marissa Meyer

What are your favorite book title fonts? Let me know in the comments!

-Ariana

22Sep2015

Top 10 Tuesday – September 22nd, 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!

This week’s topic is the top ten books on your fall TBR. This was a difficult list to make because my TBR is so massive. It was hard to choose which ones I want to read first since I am so eager to read them all. And I think I have also managed to come to the conclusion that I have a bit of a book-buying problem…but you can never have too many books! Right?

Anyway, though it was tough to choose just ten, here is a list of the books on my TBR that I am most excited to get to this season.

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

Frankly, I can’t believe that I haven’t read this novel yet. Or a Victoria Schwab novel in general, for that matter. I have been hearing so many wonderful things about her books, and I am interested to see what I think of them. Also, a comic-book style novel about super powered archenemies? Why has it taken me so long to get around to this?

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

If you couldn’t already tell from my recent posts, I have recently become a massive Gillian Flynn fan. I read Gone Girl earlier this year and I plan on starting Dark Places this month. So of course, this is also on the top of my TBR, and I would really like to get to it before the end of the year. Even though I run the risk of going into Gillian Flynn book withdrawal!

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

I’ve recently been making my way through the television series and I am completely hooked! This is a book series that I have been meaning to start for a while, and since I am enjoying the show, I’m even more eager to jump into the novels. I have a good feeling that I am going to love these stories.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

This is yet another book that I have had on my list for a long time and I can’t believe I haven’t gotten to it yet. I have only ever heard extremely positive things about this novel, and it sounds like the perfect story for a nerd like me! This is definitely a high priority read on my TBR.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

I have wanted to start the Throne of Glass series for a long time now, so I am determined to begin it this fall. This sounds like an incredible fantasy series and I think these stories will be right up my alley. I’d like to get caught up on it as soon as possible!

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh

I’ve been really enjoying reading retellings lately, and this is one that I am looking forward to. It is based off of One Thousand and One Nights, which is story that I am not too familiar with, and the premise sounds so intriguing. This is another high priority read for me.

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Flowers for Algernon was typically an option on the list of books we chose from for summer reading in school, and I always meant to get to it. But for some reason, I never chose it and I finished school without having read it; on top of that, my dad has been highly recommending this to me for a while now. I recently picked up a copy and I would like to get to it in the next few months.

Cress by Marissa Meyer

I began this series earlier this year and I am hoping to finish Cress up soon so I can read Winter when it is released. So of course this is on my TBR! I am absolutely loving this series, and I can’t wait to see where it goes and how it wraps up.

A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

I’ve been working my way through the Sherlock Holmes novels, but so far I’ve only read two of the short story collections. I would like to give one of the standalone novels a try, and I figured I might as well start at the beginning. I’m excited to see how I like this and how the full novels compare to the short stories.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

This is a book that I took a bit of a risk on and purchased recently. I’ve read one of Maggie Stiefvater’s novels before and I was not a fan of it. However, I did like her writing style and I have been hearing a lot of great things about this series. This does sound like I story that I might end up really enjoying so I figured I would give it a try.

Let me know in the comments what books are at the top of your fall TBR!

-Ariana

15Sep2015

Top 10 Tuesday – September 15th, 2015

Posted in Top 10 Tuesday by TheQuirkyBookNerd

It’s Tuesday once again, and that means 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!

This week was a freebie, so we were able to select our own topics for our lists. I wanted to do something related to my favorite novels; however, I didn’t want to simply make a list of them. It took me a while to come up with a topic, but I finally decided on listing my top 10 favorite Sherlock Holmes stories that I have read so far.

I attempted to read one of the Sherlock Holmes novels when I was far too young, and I ended up not liking it. So for a long time, I put off reading any of the others. I even stayed away from any movies and television shows based on the stories, as I was certain that I would not like them. Boy was I wrong!

(This may or may not also be how I react when people say they don’t like Sherlock Holmes…)

Last year, after completely falling in love with the BBC television series, I decided to give them another try, starting with The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. And thus, the obsession began. I’ve only read two of the novels so far, but they have become two of my all-time favorite books. These stories are so captivating and such a joy to read; I’ve been flying through them. I went from thinking I didn’t like these novels to, every time I am about to pick one up, reacting somewhat like this:

Now, without further ado, here is the list of my top 10 favorite Sherlock Holmes stories (in no particular order)!

Silver Blaze (The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes)

In this story, Holmes is called in to investigate the disappearance of a famously talented racehorse right before an important race, as well as the coinciding murder of the horse’s trainer. I was completely absorbed in this horse’s tale, and loved the many bewildering events and layers in the storyline; like many of the tales, it was not at all a straightforward plot. In my opinion, there is also a particularly good depiction of both Holmes’s and Watson’s individual talents.

The Red Headed League (The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes)

This is the story of a man who comes to Holmes for advice after he receives a peculiar, high paying job, solely due to the fact that his hair is the perfect shade of red. There are a number of stories throughout these collections that center around people being hired under perplexing or suspicious circumstances; for some reason, they always tend to be my favorites. The outrageous situations are so intriguing, and I love trying to guess why the employers have created these jobs.

The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle (The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes)

Here, Holmes is approached by an acquaintance after the man finds the Countess of Morcar’s priceless blue carbuncle in the throat of his Christmas goose. The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle is one of my top favorites because of the wittiness of the storyline and dialogue.

The Man with the Twisted Lip (The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes)

In The Man with the Twisted Lip, the wife of a missing businessman comes to Holmes after she thinks she has seen her husband looking out the window of a nearby opium den. This was a very engaging story with lots of twists (no pun intended!) and turns. Not only did I love the resolution to this mystery, but it was also one of the few that I was able to solve myself!

The Adventure of the Copper Beeches (The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes)

In The Adventure of the Copper Beeches, a woman asks for Holmes’s help after taking a job as a governess that comes with some unusual requirements regarding her appearance and daily routine. I found this case to be extremely complex and well plotted, and I had no idea where the story was headed; I was completely puzzled up until the very end.

The Adventure of the Yellow Face (The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes)

In this case, a man hires Holmes to discover, by any means necessary, why his wife keeps secretly and frequently visiting a nearby cottage. I enjoyed this because I found the themes that it dealt with to be uncharacteristic of the stories thus far and, delightfully, dealt with in a very open-minded way that was surprising for the time period this was published in. It was quite a unique story and had a very touching ending. It is also one of the few cases that Holmes does not solve correctly, and contains one of my favorite quotes: “Watson, if it should ever strike you that I am getting a little overconfident in my powers, or giving less pains to a case than it deserves, kindly whisper ‘Norbury’ in my ear, and I shall be infinitely obliged to you.”

A Scandal in Bohemia (The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes)

Holmes is hired to stop the woman who is blackmailing the King of Bohemia, and thus save his upcoming marriage from being called off. This is the story that introduces the iconic character, Irene Adler, a woman who very nearly matches Holmes on intelligence and quick-wittedness. Watching them face off was utterly fascinating.

A Case of Identity (The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes)

This story has another theme that is common among these accounts: the disappearance of a significant other. Here, a woman’s husband makes her promise to remain faithful to him no matter what, then disappears later that morning, which just so happens to be their wedding day. I loved this one because not only was I puzzled all the way through, but the revelation at the ending was absolutely shocking.

The Adventure of the Speckled Band (The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes)

Arguably the most well known of the Sherlock Holmes short stories, The Adventure of the Speckled Band tells the story of a woman who enlists Holmes to solve the mystery of her sister’s sudden death in the night. She believes her stepfather to be the murderer, and that she herself will be the next victim. Not only is this a bizarre and enthralling adventure, this was the first of the short stories that I read, and I credit it with making me decide to give these stories another try.

The Final Problem (The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes)

This is the first story to introduce another iconic character: Holmes’s arch-nemesis, Professor Moriarty. It is also the first story to make me cry. A criminal mastermind with an intellect on par with his own, Moriarty was Holmes’s greatest adversary. The pair matches wits as Holmes attempts to bring him and his organization to justice, but neither can best the other. This causes a stalemate, which ends in the famed fight at the Reichenbach Falls. The Final Problem is one of the most well known Sherlock Holmes stories, so I was prepared going in. I don’t cry easily at books and movies; however, I must admit, those final couple of pages hit me right in the feels.

Well, those are my top 10 favorites so far. I can’t wait to continue on with the rest of the stories! Let me know in the comments if you are a Sherlock Holmes fan and, if so, what your favorite story, movie, or television episode is.

Check out my full reviews of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes!

-Ariana

14Sep2015

Top 5 Anticipated Releases of Fall 2015

Posted in Miscellaneous by TheQuirkyBookNerd

It’s coming! The time of changing leaves and crisp breezes. The time of cozy sweaters and boots, of apple cider and pumpkin everything. The perfect time to curl up by the window with a cup of hot tea and a good book to read, as the leaves fall and cover the ground in a blanket of warm colors.

2015 has been a wonderful year for new releases, and there are still so many more to come in these final months. And since the official start of fall is just over a week away, I thought I would make up a list of my top five most anticipated releases of the season.

The Marvels by Brian Selznick (September 15^th, 2015)

As I mentioned in my September TBR, I am a major Brian Selznick fan, and I have been looking forward to this book for a long time. I just love the unique format of his novels, and the spectacularly vivid stories he creates through both the text and the illustrations. This is one of my most anticipated books of the year, and I plan on picking this one up some time before the end of the week.

Beastly Bones by William Ritter (September 22^nd, 2015)

This is the sequel to Jackaby, which I read earlier this year and completely loved. It was such a fun, quirky read that totally captured my heart, so I’m dying to get my hands on this next one. I’ve had this on preorder for months, so I’ll most likely be getting started on it fairly soon after it releases!

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (September 29^th, 2015)

I’ve wanted to read something by Leigh Bardugo for a while now, and though I do plan on trying out her Grisha Trilogy at some point, this one sounds more like my type of story. It seems like it will be a story filled with tons of action and magic, as it is a fantasy novel about criminals trying to pull off a major heist. A book about anti-heroes, magic, and heists? Yes please! This is an Ari book. It is very high on my TBR this fall.

The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan (October 6^th, 2015)

I’ve recently been working my way through the Percy Jackson series and have very quickly become a major Rick Riordan fan. I have always been absolutely fascinated by anything to do with the mythologies of different cultures, so his books are all definite must-reads for me. I’m so eager to see what this series has in store, and to learn more about Norse mythology, which I don’t know a whole lot about. And I swear I’m not letting my love of the Thor films affect my excitement at all…maybe.

Winter by Marissa Meyer (November 10^th, 2015)

Of course this has to be on the list; it is my most anticipated book of the entire year. I’ve been making my way through The Lunar Chronicles this year, and I can safely say that it is on my list of favorite series ever. I can’t wait to see how it all wraps up, and I know this is going to be an epic conclusion to a fantastic set of stories!

Let me know in the comments what books you are most anticipating this fall, as well as your favorite parts of the season!

-Ariana

The Quirky Book Nerd

Tag Archives: goodreads

Top 10 Tuesday – October 6th, 2015

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Six Books/Series