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

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 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

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?

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

5Oct2015

Encouraging Thunder Award

Posted in Awards by TheQuirkyBookNerd

I was nominated by the lovely Anna over at My Bookish Dream! Thank you so much for the nomination!

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Rules:

Thank the person who nominated you.

Post the Encouraging Thunder logo.

Mention your purpose in blogging.

Nominate others for the award.

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When I think of my purpose in blogging, so many things come to mind. Creating a book blog was something that I had been thinking about doing for a long time, so last month, I finally decided to actually put things into motion. Reading and writing are two of the hobbies that I am most passionate about, and blogging gives me a way to combine the two.

On top of loving to read and write, I am also very passionate about discussing books and the craft of writing. I particularly enjoy discussing books with others who have read the same ones, but I find that I don’t have very many people in my life to do this with. This is what caused me to be particularly interested in joining the online book community and connecting with other book lovers from all around the world. I enjoy comparing thoughts and feelings on certain books, recommending favorites, and sharing and discovering new stories. Literature plays an extremely important part in my life, and it’s wonderful to meet people who truly understand that, and have the same deep love of it. And let’s be honest, we all need people to fangirl with sometimes!

Along with engaging in discussions, I also wanted to record and share my own personal thoughts on books. I finally have the opportunity to rant and rave to my heart’s content about the many stories that I read. Instead of finishing a book and keeping my thoughts to myself as I always used to, I now have a place to let them out. From book reviews to TBRs, favorites lists, and amusing tags, there are so many different methods I can use to express my adoration of all things literary, and I love that!

I’m just getting started, so I am still expanding on the content of my blog and coming up with new ideas for the types of posts I create each week. However, I have already truly been enjoying myself, and I couldn’t be happier with my decision to begin this site. Getting to express my thoughts on all aspects of the books I read and my love of literature in general has made me feel so positive and energized. Connecting with other readers has inspired and motivated me in both my reading and my writing, and I hope that I can return the favor through my own posts.

So I guess, overall, you could say one of the main reasons I blog is because it makes me happy!

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I Nominate:

Ember @ Literary Constellation

Gervan @ G.J. Alvi

Leslie @ Confessions of a Bookaholic

The Quirky Book Nerd

Tag Archives: reader

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:

Liebster Award

Questions:

Random Facts About Me:

I Nominate:

My Questions:

Top 10 Tuesday – October 6th, 2015

Four Tropes

Six Books/Series

Encouraging Thunder Award

Rules:

Thank the person who nominated you.

Post the Encouraging Thunder logo.

Mention your purpose in blogging.

Nominate others for the award.

I Nominate: