Fall Activities Book Tag

Posted in Tags by TheQuirkyBookNerd

I was tagged to do the Fall Activities Book Tag by my wonderful friend Heather from The Sassy Book Geek. Thank you so much for the tag! Please make sure you guys head over and check out her amazing blog (and give her a follow while you’re at it!) 😀

This tag was originally created by Ashley from Dreaming Through Literature, so also make sure to go check out her post as well!

Apple Picking: A book on your TBR that looks so delicious you can’t wait to take a bite out of it.

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff and Timekeeper by Tara Sim

I couldn’t decide between the two—they are both so tempting! First of all, Nevernight is quite appropriate for this particular tag because Heather was the one who recommended the book to me. I just got my copy in the mail recently and the need to pick it up is strong! Timekeeper isn’t coming out until the beginning of next month, but then I got approved for an ARC! Basically, these are probably going to be my next two reads!

Corn Maze: A book that’s so much fun to get lost in.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

I enjoy getting lost in any of the Sherlock Holmes novels, but this is my favorite of the series. These novels are extremely easy to get immersed in on so many levels. There’s brilliant, captivating writing, intriguingly plotted and absorbing mysteries—they are perfect for curling up and enjoying on a cold, fall day!

Click here to read my full review!

Haunted Houses: A book that scared you silly.

The Shining by Stephen King

Despite the fact that I love reading spooky stories, I’ve never actually been really creeped out by any. The closest I ever came to getting really scared while reading was with The Shining—things get pretty damn freaky! Stephen King is a total master of the horror genre.

Pumpkin Patch: The latest book you picked up (purchased).

When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore

This sounded like it would be such a sweet and unique read, so I just had to get myself a copy. I expect to be reading and reviewing this one fairly soon!

Scenic Drives: A book that is lyrically beautiful.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

This book. This. Book. Every single thing about A Monster Calls is absolutely beautiful, but Patrick Ness’s incredible, lyrical writing is the star of the show.

Click here to read my full review!

Pumpkin Carving: A book you didn’t like and wouldn’t mind carving up.

The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone by Adele Griffin

This book had SO much potential, but ended up being one of the slowest and most painfully boring reads I have ever had. Now let me just say, never in a million years would I ever carve up a book, no matter how much I dislike it! But let’s just say, if I had a copy of this book and for some reason could not keep it in pristine condition…or if it were to be sucked into a black hole…yeah, not going to be too disappointed by that.

Click here to read my full review!

Hiking: A book that was a highly enjoyable romp.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

I love absolutely everything about this novel…and absolutely everything about Mr. Rochester…*ahem* um…I mean the fantastic writing and…um…compelling underlying themes… Seriously though, this is one of my favorite classics and I adored studying it in school.

Drinking Apple Cider: A sweet book to curl up under the covers with.

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

This was one of my absolute favorite childhood stories, and it most definitely is a sweet story to snuggle under the covers with (something I did on many a night!). It’s such an adorable, fun, easy to love story—plus it’s a total book lover’s book as well!

Jumping In A Leaf Pile: A book that reminds you of your childhood.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

and

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

This was another I couldn’t choose just one for, though neither of these are probably particularly surprising! Both of these series in general remind me of my childhood, but these are my personal favorites of those series—and they make me feel especially nostalgic!

Scary Movie Night: Your favorite spooky read.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Again, I’ve never found a novel that really scares me too much, but this is definitely one creepy story. And it’s creepy in a different way from the typical fall/Halloween time reads with ghosts and monsters (the non-human kind, at least!). It’s one of my favorite classics of all time and honestly a perfect story to read this time of year!

Bonus! Costume Party: A book with an eclectic cast of characters.

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

I’ve read so many wonderful stories with incredibly eclectic casts, but this is one that will always really stick in my mind. This novel holds a very wide variety of vividly portrayed and well-developed characters that truly drive the story. Every single aspect of Vicious is wonderful, but these unique characters really remain with you well after you’ve finished reading.

Click here to read my full review!

I Tag:

Anna @ My Bookish Dream

Jen @ J.N. Cahill

Fran @ Nightjar’s Jar of Books

Cheyenne @ Cheyenne Raphael Writes

Sam @ One Bookish Girl

Nagina @ OhBookish

Ola @ Ola Reads Books

18Oct2016

Top 10 Tuesday – October 18th, 2016

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 Top 10 Tuesday topic is the top ten characters you’d name a child/dog/cat/car/etc. after. I threw in a few names I might call my children, but the characters I chose are mostly going to be ones I would name my pets after. Basically, as someone who is obsessed with both books and animals, all of my future pets are required to have a bookish name. And given how much of an animal lover I am, I will most likely have a pet with each of these names at some point in my life!

Loki

This has to be my number one pick for a pet name because I desperately want to get a husky and name it Loki!

Sherlock

I’d love to have two dogs named after Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic characters: Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. However, I like the name “Sherlock” as a pet name more than “Holmes”, and I’m not sure if I’d want to call the other dog “John” to match…

Atticus

Okay, so I have to admit, this is one that I might call my kid, though I’m not sure how much they would appreciate me doing that! But I definitely want a dog named “Atticus” someday, particularly a golden retriever.

Aslan

This would be one of the best names ever for a cat! I also might use this for a particularly fluffy dog. I have heard this (rarely) as a person’s name, so maybe I’d consider it for a kid?

Lily

This is sort of a vague one since it’s such a common name, but I had Lily Potter in mind. Lily is my number one favorite girl’s name, so I can guarantee that if I ever have a daughter, this will be her name!

Luna

Another Harry Potter name! This is one I’d use for either a child or a pet. I’ve always thought that Luna was such a pretty name (and a fantastic character!).

Cerberus

This would be an amazing name for a dog (clearly!). I’m a huge fan of pitbulls, and I feel like this is a name that would suit one perfectly.

Rochester

I feel like this one could be a fantastic name for either a dog or a cat…very distinguished looking dog or cat…

Gatsby

Totally awesome name for a cat!

Prufrock

An ode to my favorite poem of all time. I could see this being great for any pet, but I think I would personally use this as a cat name.

Extra Bonus: Hedwig

If I ever had a pet owl…naturally…

What literary names would you use for your pets/children/miscellaneous nameable things? Let me know in the comments!

-Ariana

7Oct2016

Top 5 Anticipated Releases of Fall 2016

Posted in Miscellaneous by TheQuirkyBookNerd

Hi everyone!

Happy Fall! It’s finally my favorite time of year, and I’ve already started wearing my sweaters and boots! First off, I’d like to apologize for my absence this past month. I’ve been dealing with some unexpected health issues and it has caused both reading and blogging to be rather tricky. I’m starting back with a bit of a shorter post today, but I promise, I’ll be getting back into the swing of things with posting this month. I have a number of reviews coming, including one from an awesome buddy read with my friend Anna from My Bookish Dream (read her review here!). I’m looking forward to coming back and being a bit more active—and feeling better!

1. When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore (October 4^th, 2016)

When the Moon Was Ours follows two characters through a story that has multicultural elements and magical realism, but also has central LGBT themes—a transgender boy, the best friend he’s falling in love with, and both of them deciding how they want to define themselves.

To everyone who knows them, best friends Miel and Sam are as strange as they are inseparable. Roses grow out of Miel’s wrist, and rumors say that she spilled out of a water tower when she was five. Sam is known for the moons he paints and hangs in the trees, and for how little anyone knows about his life before he and his mother moved to town.

But as odd as everyone considers Miel and Sam, even they stay away from the Bonner girls, four beautiful sisters rumored to be witches. Now they want the roses that grow from Miel’s skin, convinced that their scent can make anyone fall in love. And they’re willing to use every secret Miel has fought to protect to make sure she gives them up.

2. Timekeeper by Tara Sim (November 1^st, 2016)

Two o’clock was missing.

In an alternate Victorian world controlled by clock towers, a damaged clock can fracture time—and a destroyed one can stop it completely.

It’s a truth that seventeen-year-old clock mechanic Danny Hart knows all too well; his father has been trapped in a Stopped town east of London for three years. Though Danny is a prodigy who can repair not only clockwork, but the very fabric of time, his fixation with staging a rescue is quickly becoming a concern to his superiors.

And so they assign him to Enfield, a town where the tower seems to be forever plagued with problems. Danny’s new apprentice both annoys and intrigues him, and though the boy is eager to work, he maintains a secretive distance. Danny soon discovers why: he is the tower’s clock spirit, a mythical being that oversees Enfield’s time. Though the boys are drawn together by their loneliness, Danny knows falling in love with a clock spirit is forbidden, and means risking everything he’s fought to achieve.

But when a series of bombings at nearby towers threaten to Stop more cities, Danny must race to prevent Enfield from becoming the next target or he’ll not only lose his father, but the boy he loves, forever.

The stunning first novel in a new trilogy by debut author Tara Sim, Timekeeper is perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare and Victoria Schwab.

3. Blood For Blood by Ryan Graudin (November 1^st, 2016)

*Contains spoilers for Wolf by Wolf*

There would be blood.

Blood for blood.

Blood to pay.

An entire world of it.

For the resistance in 1950s Germany, the war may be over, but the fight has just begun.

Death camp survivor Yael, who has the power to skinshift, is on the run: the world has just seen her shoot and kill Hitler. But the truth of what happened is far more complicated, and its consequences are deadly. Yael and her unlikely comrades dive into enemy territory to try to turn the tide against the New Order, and there is no alternative but to see their mission through to the end, whatever the cost.

But dark secrets reveal dark truths, and one question hangs over them all: how far can you go for the ones you love?

This gripping, thought-provoking sequel to Wolf by Wolf will grab readers by the throat with its cinematic writing, fast-paced action, and relentless twists.

4. Heartless by Marissa Meyer (November 8^th, 2016)

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland — the infamous Queen of Hearts — she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the yet-unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend and supply the Kingdom of Hearts with delectable pastries and confections. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next Queen.

At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the king’s marriage proposal, she meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship.

Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

5. Flashfall by Jenny Moyer (November 15^th, 2016)

Orion is a Subpar, expected to mine the tunnels of Outpost Five, near the deadly flash curtain. For generations, her people have chased cirium—the only element that can shield humanity from the curtain’s radioactive particles. She and her caving partner, Dram work the most treacherous tunnel, fighting past flash bats and tunnel gulls, in hopes of mining enough cirium to earn their way into the protected city.

But when newcomers arrive at Outpost Five, Orion uncovers disturbing revelations that make her question everything she thought she knew about life on both sides of the cirium shield. As conditions at the outpost grow increasingly dangerous, it’s up to Orion to forge a way past the flashfall, beyond all boundaries, beyond the world as she knows it.

What are some of your most anticipated releases this fall? Let me know in the comments!

-Ariana

25Aug2016

The Great British Bake Off Book Tag

Posted in Tags by TheQuirkyBookNerd

I have wanted to do this tag for a while now, and since the newest season started this week, I figured this would be the perfect time to do it! I discovered The Great British Bake Off a couple of years ago and binged watched the first four seasons in about week! I do live in the US, so it can be hard to keep up with the show, but it is one of my favorites of all time and I’m so excited about this new season!

This tag was originally created by Jack from Reading With Jack, and I discovered it through Sam from Sam’s Nonsense.

CAKE: The cake has sunk in the middle. Pick a book that didn’t rise to your expectations.

The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone by Adele Griffin

This novel was pitched as being sort of like the “found footage” of literature (made clear from the start that it is fictional). On top of that, it was interspersed with artwork and photography, as the biography was about an artist. That sounded absolutely awesome, so naturally, I had very high hopes for it. Oh boy, what a letdown it was. The art aspect was fantastic, but the actual text of the novel was like reading transcripts of interviews rather than an actual biography. Very boring, very paperwork-esque, and so disappointing.

Click here to check out my full review!

BISCUITS: Once you’ve eaten one, you’re hungry for more and each time you eat another, they get more and more delicious. Pick a book series or trilogy that got progressively better.

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Throughout my life so far, I’ve mostly read standalones, so this was sort of hard to come up with an answer for. I’m not actually finished with The Lunar Chronicles series yet, but it’s the only series I can think of to fit this question. I enjoyed Cinder, and Scarlet—which is the only other book I’ve read so far—was even better. Most people say this continues to be the case through the rest of the series, so I’m excited to continue!

BREAD: Kneading dough requires hard work and determination. Pick a book that you put off reading for ages and needed a lot of determination to pick up.

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

Even though I already knew I loved the television series, I put off picking up this novel for ages because of its (and all the other books in the series’) size. However, I finally got up the courage this summer and started it while I was traveling. I’ve been reading it in very short bursts lately because I have a lot of review copies to catch up on, but I (unsurprisingly) love it so far. I’m looking forward to getting through the rest of it and continuing on with the series when I can.

DESSERTS: Foreign deserts such as crème brûlée and Spanische Windtorte are on the menu. Pick a book set in a foreign country.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

I’ve read a lot of books set in foreign countries, but this novel is by far one of my favorites of all time. It is such an important and meaningful read with absolutely beautiful writing to boot. If you have not read this yet, I very highly recommend it.

ALTERNATIVE INGREDIENTS: Not usually used, but surprisingly good. Pick a book from a genre you wouldn’t normally read but ended up loving.

Wolf by Kelly Oliver

This is primarily a crime novel, so that’s not an unusual genre for me, but this also falls into the category of feminist literature, which is not something I would typically go for. Don’t get me wrong, I’m clearly a feminist, so I don’t avoid it due to disagreeing with the perspective—rather, I find that it can get a bit over-the-top sometimes. I prefer when a heroine is a bit subtler in their strength and it’s not all constantly in your face girl power (if that makes any sense). Show rather than tell! However, Kelly Oliver did a solid job with it in this novel. There were a few exaggerated moments, but nothing I couldn’t get past, and I ended up really enjoying the story. Review to come soon!

PASTRY: Shortcrust pastry can crumble easily. Pick a character who you initially liked, but as you read more and more, your relationship with them crumbled apart.

Mare Barrow from Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

I’m not sure if this one technically counts because I didn’t really like Mare at any point in the novel—but this is the closest I could get. I definitely liked her more at the start of the novel than at the end. She very quickly got on my nerves—which is unfortunate seeing as she is the narrator—and things continued to go downhill for us…

Click here to check out my full review!

VICTORIAN/OLD-FASHIONED BAKES: Recipes from the past that still taste delicious today. Pick your favorite classic novel.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

I was trying to think up an unpredictable answer for this one, but…here we are again. This really is my favorite classic, and it definitely “still tastes delicious” every time I devour it! 🙂

PATISSERIE: You’re eating a chocolate éclair but there’s barely any filling inside. Pick a book that lacked substance and fell flat.

A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall

I think most of you know by now that, though I am totally a hopeless romantic, romance is not my preferred genre to read. However, I have occasionally found some hidden gems. This was not one. It had an interesting and unique premise—boasting fourteen different viewpoints—but it ended up falling flat for me. This main selling point turned out to be the novel’s biggest weakness as it failed to allow the author to create any sort of depth in the characters or plot, instead causing a very disjointed feeling.

Click here to check out my full review!

CHOCOLATE: Chocolate is a comfort food for many people. Pick a book you could read again and again and still find comforting.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

Obviously I have to choose my go-to cozy read! These mysteries never fail to give me the book nerd warm fuzzies. ❤

Click here to check out my full review!

THE GRAND FINAL: Everyone is out to impress with extravagant show-stoppers! Pick your favorite book of the year so far that really impressed you.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I’ve had incredibly good luck reading-wise so far, and have read a number of truly amazing books. But I don’t think anything quite tops The Book Thief for me yet. It took me years to get to, but I finally did and I’m so glad—it was everything I hoped it would be and so much more.

I Tag:

Everyone! I’m not sure who is a fan of this show, so I’m not going to tag anyone specific. But if you like GBBO (or this tag!), then consider yourself officially tagged! 😀

24Aug2016

Top 5 Wednesday – August 24th, 2016

Posted in Top 5 Wednesday by TheQuirkyBookNerd

Top 5 Wednesday was created by Lainey at Gingerreadslainey and is now hosted by Sam from Thoughts on Tomes. 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 the top five books you want to read before the end of the year. Welcome to yet another installment in the “Ari’s TBR Shame” series! Today, we’ll be doing a bit of New Year’s reading resolution shaming, as I believe that all of these books are off of my “16 in 2016” TBR from the beginning of the year. However, on the positive side of things, I have a fairly good feeling I’ll be able to finish all of these novels by the end of the year (she says with eternal optimism…). 🙂

5. The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

This one comes straight off my “been on my TBR for way too long” list from yesterday. Even though I’m sure I’ll love this one, I am so overloaded with books right now, I think I’ve been putting this series off mainly because of the length. I’ve been trying to put a bit more of a dent in my TBR before starting on this one, but I’m going to make sure it gets read before the year is out!

4. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

Tying in with yesterday’s Top 10 Tuesday post, this is a book that I’ve had sitting on my TBR for a very long time—definitely since well before I started blogging. In fact, it was one of the first books I added to my Goodreads TBR. I’ve started working on this one already, so my finishing it before the end of the year is pretty certain.

3. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

This is another one that’s a duplicate from yesterday’s list. I’ve owned a copy of this novel since it was first released and have been dying to read it for years—and yet, it’s still siting on my TBR. I started it at one point, got really busy with schoolwork, and unfortunately had to put it aside. But I already know I love the story—or at least what I’ve read—so this is a must read before the end of 2016!

2. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

As I said before, this was on my list from the beginning of the year, and it’s been a goal of mine to read my first Tolkien novel in 2016. Thus, The Hobbit makes it onto this list. I figure this will be a good one to start off with, and then I can jump into LOTR later on.

1. A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

And once again, another one rolling over from yesterday’s list! I’m really determined to get some of these ones that have been sitting on my TBR done soon. Though this has been on my list the least amount of time out of the five I’ve chosen, this is by far the craziest one. Victoria Schwab is one of my favorite authors and it is absolutely insane that I haven’t begun this series yet! This is a top priority!

What books are you guys hoping to eliminate from your TBR before the end of 2016? Let me know in the comments!

-Ariana

23Aug2016

Top 10 Tuesday – August 23rd, 2016

Posted in Top 10 Tuesday by TheQuirkyBookNerd

This week’s Top 10 Tuesday topic is the top ten books that have been on your shelf (or TBR) from before you started blogging that you STILL haven’t read yet. Well, this is quite an easy list for me to make. Or rather, a hard one because I have too many to decide between! 😛

Now, I’ve only been blogging for a year, but there are still some pretty embarrassing books sitting in my TBR pile. So I chose the ones that I am most mortified about still having not read—ones that I’ve been consistently saying for this past year of blogging that “I’m getting to them next” and then don’t. Most of the books that I picked out for this list have been in my pile for much longer than a year, and you may see some of these popping up in tomorrow’s Top 5 Wednesday post as well…

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

More Than This by Patrick Ness

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Soulless by Gail Carriger

What books have been on your TBR the longest? Which ones do you keep saying you’ll get to next, but then put off? Let me know in the comments!

-Ariana

19Aug2016

The Reader Confession Tag

Posted in Tags by TheQuirkyBookNerd

I was tagged to do the Reader Confession Tag by my two blogger besties—Heather from The Sassy Book Geek and Anna from My Bookish Dream! Anna and Heather are not only incredible book bloggers, but also two of the kindest people ever. I love these girls and their blogs so much and I know you guys will too! You should totally already be following them, but if you’re not, please make sure you stop by and check out both of their wonderful blogs!

1. Have you ever damaged a book?

I may have done when I was little, but to the best of my recollection (and by looking at the books I currently own), I haven’t damaged any of my books. I may be just a tad bit overprotective of my books, so they typically stay in very good condition. 😛

2. Have you ever damaged a borrowed book?

I can say with complete certainty that I’ve never ever damaged a borrowed book!

3. How long does it take you to read a book?

This depends on: a. the book, b. my schedule, c. my stress/fatigue/distraction level. Lately, I’ve been in a bit of a slump, so I’m not at all up to my usual amount of reading. However, if mostly all of these factors are in my favor, I can get through a normal 300-500 page book in two or three days, and on average I would say I read three to four books a week.

4. Books that you haven’t finished?

I barely ever stop in the middle of books even if I hate them, so my DNF list from over the years is pretty small:

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Dead Rules by Randy Russell

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

5. Hyped/Popular books you didn’t like?

I admit, I don’t really rush to read a lot of hyped/popular books (though I do sometimes)—I’m always pretty wary about hype. I am extremely picky about the hyped books I do pick up, so a lot of times, I end up really enjoying all the ones I read. However, I can think of a couple over the years that weren’t a big hit with me. The Twilight series for one was just never my cup of tea, and recently Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard sort of failed to meet my expectations for it.

6. Is there a book you wouldn’t tell anyone you were reading?

Nah, I don’t think so. I don’t really care what people think of what I’m reading—I’ll read whatever the heck I want, thank you very much!

7. How many books do you own?

I don’t have an exact number but I would say, between my physical library and my Kindle books, I have…brace yourselves…probably about 800 books, maybe a bit more.

8.Are you a fast reader or a slow reader?

I’m never sure what to say when asked this question. I tend to think of myself as a fairly slow reader because it feels that way to me when I’m reading. But then I end up get through books in a reasonably short amount of time, especially if I’m really enjoying them—and like I said earlier, I can many times read three to four books in a week. So I’m not really sure what I am because it fluctuates…I’m delightfully quirky! 😛

9. Do you like to buddy read?

I LOVE to buddy read! One of my favorite things in the world next to reading books is talking about them. I used to do it all the time with my friends when I was little and now I’ve been getting the chance to do buddy reads with my fellow book blogger friends. Reading is fun no matter what, but nothing compares to the experience of reading and discussing a book with someone else, whether you end up enjoying the book or not. It’s nice to have another person to compare thoughts with and to think about the story in ways you might not necessarily have considered on your own. Also, if you both really enjoy the book, it can be pretty fun to fangirl with someone else!

10. Do you read better in your head or out loud?

I read SO much better in my head! I’m absolutely terrible at reading out loud—I get all shy and awkward and tongue-tied. I used to hate to be told to read out loud in school. And in terms of actual reading comprehension, that’s basically nonexistent for me when I’m reading out loud! 😛

11. If you were only allowed to own one book, what would it be and why?

I would definitely choose The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Not only is it one of my favorite novels of all time, but also, since it’s a collection of short stories, it doesn’t feel quite as repetitive when you are rereading it over and over again. And honestly, this is just one of those “cozy reads” for me, so I love immersing myself in it! 🙂

I Tag:

Jessica @ The Awkward Book Blogger

Aubrey @ If Mermaids Wore Suspenders

Emily @ Rose Read

Fran @ Nightjar’s Jar of Books

SSJTimeLord

Zezee @ Zezee with Books

Michelle @ Book Adventures

Fatima @ NoteablePad

Cheyenne @ Cheyenne Raphael Writes

17Aug2016

Top 5 Wednesday – August 17th, 2016

Posted in Top 5 Wednesday by TheQuirkyBookNerd

This week’s Top 5 Wednesday topic is your top five favorite first sentences of books. A first sentence is by far one of the most important aspects of any novel. It’s what draws the reader into the story by immediately making them want more. It creates a feeling of mystery and intrigue, causes a reader to question what might happen next or why the first sentence says what it does. Making a good first impression on a reader is key in any good book.

Here are five of my all-time favorite first sentences. Some are gripping and enticing, others just have that nostalgia factor for me. Either way, each of these opening lines holds a fond place in my heart.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

“I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975.”

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

“The monster showed up just after midnight. As they do.”

Alice by Christina Henry

“If she moved her head all the way up against the wall and tilted it to the left she could just see the edge of the moon through the bars.”

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

“When I think of my wife, I always think of her head.”

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

“First of all, it was October, a rare month for boys”

Nostalgia Bonus! 😀

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

“Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.”

What are some of your favorite opening lines from novels? Let me know down in the comments! 🙂

-Ariana

16Aug2016

Top 10 Tuesday – August 16th, 2016

Posted in Top 10 Tuesday by TheQuirkyBookNerd

This week’s Top 10 Tuesday topic is the top ten books with X setting (ex. top ten books set near the beach, top ten book set in boarding school, top ten books set in England, etc). I’ve decided to do my own little twist on this topic by picking ten books that take place in or have a connection to my personal top ten travel destinations.

Iceland

Burial Rights by Hannah Kent

Prague

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Egypt

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

Italy

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke

Scotland

Macbeth by William Shakespeare

England

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

New England/Boston

Jackaby by William Ritter

Russia

The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

Germany

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

France

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Super special fictional extra bonus place! 😛

Narnia

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

What are some of your top travel destinations? Are there any books that you’ve read or are interesting in reading that take place there? Have books ever inspired you to want to travel to a particular place? Let me know in the comments!

-Ariana

14Aug2016

The Olympics Book Tag

Posted in Tags by TheQuirkyBookNerd

I was tagged to do the Olympics Book Tag by the wonderful Richard from The Humpo Show. Richard is an absolutely fantastic blogger who writes a wide variety of very interesting posts about both books and films, so please make sure to stop over and check out his blog.

I have been enjoying watching the Olympics so much this year—in fact I am watching them while I’m writing this up—so this is definitely a very fitting tag to do right now! I did the seven from Richard’s tag and tacked on three other topics I found at the end.

100m | A book you have raced through.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Not only is this by far the most gorgeous novel I have ever read in my life, I also absolutely sped through it. It’s not a long book and, on top of that, it was so captivating there was no way I was going to put it down before I turned that final page. It only took me about an hour and a half at most to read this, which is pretty fast for a generally slow reader like myself!

Michael Phelps | The best book you’ve ever read.

It is incredibly difficult to think of just one book that is best out of the hundreds I’ve read throughout the years. It would probably be a three-way tie between A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle. All three of these books are so unique compared to each other in all types of ways, and I love them all for different reasons—it would be impossible to say that one is better than the others.

Synchronized Diving | A perfect couple.

Percabeth

In trying to answer this, I realized just how few books I’ve read that actually involve romance and couples—to any extent, but at least between main characters. But I do have one particular favorite, and I am in complete agreement with Richard. Percabeth is the best!

Simone Biles | A short and sweet book.

The Little Android by Marissa Meyer

This is a novella that Meyer wrote in the same world as The Lunar Chronicles series. As the name suggests, it is a retelling of The Little Mermaid, and I found it to be such a quick and truly enjoyable read. In just a short time, she packs this story with a huge range of emotion, staying true to the original tale by Hans Christian Andersen while putting her own unique twist on it. Though it was a sad story, overall, it was an incredible short and sweet read.

Rugby 7s | A tough book you struggled to finish.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

In terms of the text and writing itself, this is not a difficult book to read. However, I just could not get into this novel—despite absolutely loving Divergent—and I ended up really not enjoying Insurgent much at all. Everything I loved about Divergent was missing from the sequel, and I somehow could not manage to connect with the characters in the same way. It took me almost a month of on and off reading to finally finish it, compared to the four days in a row it took with the first.

Golf | A new genre outside of your comfort zone.

Romance/Young Adult Romance

Though I am totally a hopeless romantic, for some reason, the romance genre is not a favorite of mine, and these two novels—The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight and Love and Other Unknown Variables—were way out of my comfort zone. However, I found them both to contain a lot of serious subjects that were dealt with in an intelligent and mature way, and I ended up thoroughly enjoying both. While these books have a concentration on romance, there is also a good amount of attention given to different types of love, such as that of friendships and the relationships between family members. Neither novel falls victim to the clichés of many that have a focus on romance, particularly those that are young adult.

Heptathlon | The best series.

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

Like I’m sure many people would, I am going to agree with Richard on his choice once again and say Harry Potter is the absolute best series of all time. There is so much to adore about this novel—so much for people of any age to connect with. It’s hard not to enjoy immersing yourself in this magical world. For me, it was just such a huge part of my childhood and played an important role in the discovery of my passion for writing and storytelling. I know that there is no way that any series could top this one for me.

Gymnastics | A book with a lot of plot twists.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

I think if you look up the meaning of “plot twist” you just get a picture of Gillian Flynn. She is the master of making complex and twisted plots, and Gone Girl is completely packed with examples of this. It’s a beautiful portrayal of Flynn’s skill as a writer and her ability to captivate and constantly shock her readers. Even though I had been spoiled on a bit of this novel before reading it, I was still in utter disbelief through most of the story.

Swimming | A book that made you sob.

Love and Other Unknown Variables by Shannon Lee Alexander

I very rarely ever cry while reading books, watching movies, anything like that. A Monster Calls is probably the book that I cried over the most out of everything I’ve read, but since I’ve already used that twice, I figured I should choose a new book. Love and Other Unknown Variables was a novel that took me completely by surprise in terms of how much I ended up enjoying it, and it totally made me bawl my eyes out!

Trampoline | A childhood favorite.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

Next to Harry Potter, the Narnia series pretty much defines my childhood as a book nerd. A favorite of my mom’s when she was a kid, she passed them down to me and I completely fell in love with these stories. I have many fond memories of reading these books over and over again, never getting tired of them. And of course, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is my favorite in the series!

I Tag:

Lashaan and Trang @ Bookidote

The Orang-utan Librarian

Ellie @ Ellie’s Bookshelf

…and anyone else who wants to do this, I tag you! 😀

Apple Picking: A book on your TBR that looks so delicious you can’t wait to take a bite out of it.

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff and Timekeeper by Tara Sim

Corn Maze: A book that’s so much fun to get lost in.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

Haunted Houses: A book that scared you silly.

The Shining by Stephen King

Pumpkin Patch: The latest book you picked up (purchased).

When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore

Scenic Drives: A book that is lyrically beautiful.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Pumpkin Carving: A book you didn’t like and wouldn’t mind carving up.

The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone by Adele Griffin

Hiking: A book that was a highly enjoyable romp.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Drinking Apple Cider: A sweet book to curl up under the covers with.

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

Jumping In A Leaf Pile: A book that reminds you of your childhood.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

and

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

Scary Movie Night: Your favorite spooky read.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Bonus! Costume Party: A book with an eclectic cast of characters.

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

I Tag:

Loki

Sherlock

Atticus

Aslan

Lily

Luna

Cerberus

Rochester

Gatsby

Prufrock

Extra Bonus: Hedwig

1. When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore (October 4th, 2016)

2. Timekeeper by Tara Sim (November 1st, 2016)

3. Blood For Blood by Ryan Graudin (November 1st, 2016)

4. Heartless by Marissa Meyer (November 8th, 2016)

5. Flashfall by Jenny Moyer (November 15th, 2016)

CAKE: The cake has sunk in the middle. Pick a book that didn’t rise to your expectations.

The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone by Adele Griffin

BISCUITS: Once you’ve eaten one, you’re hungry for more and each time you eat another, they get more and more delicious. Pick a book series or trilogy that got progressively better.

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

BREAD: Kneading dough requires hard work and determination. Pick a book that you put off reading for ages and needed a lot of determination to pick up.

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

DESSERTS: Foreign deserts such as crème brûlée and Spanische Windtorte are on the menu. Pick a book set in a foreign country.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

ALTERNATIVE INGREDIENTS: Not usually used, but surprisingly good. Pick a book from a genre you wouldn’t normally read but ended up loving.

Wolf by Kelly Oliver

PASTRY: Shortcrust pastry can crumble easily. Pick a character who you initially liked, but as you read more and more, your relationship with them crumbled apart.

Mare Barrow from Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

VICTORIAN/OLD-FASHIONED BAKES: Recipes from the past that still taste delicious today. Pick your favorite classic novel.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

PATISSERIE: You’re eating a chocolate éclair but there’s barely any filling inside. Pick a book that lacked substance and fell flat.

A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall

CHOCOLATE: Chocolate is a comfort food for many people. Pick a book you could read again and again and still find comforting.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

THE GRAND FINAL: Everyone is out to impress with extravagant show-stoppers! Pick your favorite book of the year so far that really impressed you.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I Tag:

5. The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

4. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

3. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

2. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

1. A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

More Than This by Patrick Ness

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Soulless by Gail Carriger

1. Have you ever damaged a book?

2. Have you ever damaged a borrowed book?

3. How long does it take you to read a book?

1. When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore (October 4^th, 2016)

2. Timekeeper by Tara Sim (November 1^st, 2016)

3. Blood For Blood by Ryan Graudin (November 1^st, 2016)

4. Heartless by Marissa Meyer (November 8^th, 2016)

5. Flashfall by Jenny Moyer (November 15^th, 2016)