So here's something I've been working on for quite a while and finally getting around to posting. I'd been surfing the net one evening when I happened across another blog (thebookladysblog.com) and saw inspiration for this idea (slightly different and with use of only specific genres) that matched up a bit with my previous Sound Effects posts. So I sat on the idea for a bit and worked through inspiration on a rough draft post until I was ready to share.
Ever see a lyric/lyrics and think "wow, that kind of reminds me of a book or show or movie..."?
I present you my list of five books and their song counterparts I thought were perfect matches.
P.S. I did not present music videos. But I do recommend listening to the song if you've never heard it. :P
P.P.S. This is not a meme or an activity or anything of that sort, but please feel free to create your own book-song pairings and provide me your links for me to see if you want!
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1. Splintered (too easy?) paired with Her Name is Alice by Shinedown
I invite you to a world where there is no such thing as time,
And every creature lends themselves to change your state of mind,
And the girl that chase the rabbit, drank the wine, and took the pill,
Has locked herself in limbo to see how it truly... feels.
2. The Delirium trilogy paired with Paradise by Coldplay
When she was just a girl
She expected the world
But it flew away from her reach so
She ran away in her sleep
And dreamed of
Para-para-paradise, Para-para-paradise, Para-para-paradise
Every time she closed her eyes
When she was just a girl
She expected the world
But it flew away from her reach
And the bullets catch in her teeth
Life goes on, it gets so heavy
The wheel breaks the butterfly
Every tear a waterfall
In the night the stormy night she'll close her eyes
In the night the stormy night away she'd fly
3. Daughter of Smoke & Bone/Days of Blood & Starlight paired with Angels in Everything (Blue October)
Only you can see the true me,
Through all the right, and wrong.
Take hold, the best has yet to come.
(Yeah)
You've given me the strength to believe in my heart again!
And now we're here to share this faith.
Stand together through it all.
Can you feel my heart,
Beating underneath these stars?
You're the Angel that came, and took these clouds away.
You made me believe!
Never be weak, be strong.
Live every moment like an Angel,
Flies...
4. Romeo and Juliet paired with Tragedy by Christina Perri
If you could envision,
The meaning of a tragedy,
Ooh, you might be surprised to hear…
It’s you and me.
But when it comes down to it,
You never made the most of it.
So I cried cried cried…
And now I say Goodbye.
And I won’t be made a fool.
Don’t call this love.
5. The Immortal Rules paired with Animal I Have Become by Three Days Grace
I can’t escape this hell.
So many times I’ve tried.
But I’m still caged inside.
Somebody get me through this nightmare,
I can’t control myself!
So what if you can see the darkest side of me?
No one will ever change this animal I have become.
Would you agree with these song choices? Have you read the above titles? What songs would you think you'd choose for the ones above? Feel free to create your own list at your blog (but please link back and share your link with me as well!) :)
So, I’m pretty far behind at the moment if you haven’t noticed. I’m playing catch-up. A post very soon will also get further explanation on this. Nonetheless, I had this 2013 End of Year Survey over halfway filled out before the end of December. I didn’t want to waste that amount of time I’d spent copying and pasting all of the questions, then filling everything out by NOT posting, so I’m just going through with it and posting this anyway. Even if I am a week late. BAHAHA. Hope you enjoy the answers either way.
(This survey was created by Perpetual Page Turner)
1. Best Book You Read In 2013? (If you have to cheat — you can break it down by genre if you want or 2013 release vs. backlist)
Best Supernatural/Paranormal (YA): The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, Warm Bodies
Best Fantasy (YA): Crown of Midnight, Desert Tales (Melissa Marr--no review posted at blog so no link back)
Best Fantasy (leaning more toward the adult side): Mistborn -- though I think this is the only one I read in that area for 2013 sadly.
Best Horror/Thriller (YA): Monsters
Best Contemporary (YA/NA): Just One Day, The Art of Wishing, Falling For Hamlet
Favorite Guys of 2013: Adrian, Willem, Prince Dorian, Gavriel, Kelsier, and Wolf.
Fave Gals: Tana, Ophelia, Sydney, Allison, Margo, Alex, Celaena.
2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
Requiem by Lauren Oliver, Joyland by Stephen King, and Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead.
3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2013?
Falling For Hamlet
4. Book you read in 2013 that you recommended to people most in 2013?
Just One Day, Falling For Hamlet, The Art of Wishing, Warm Bodies, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, Mistborn, and The Humans (also since I love Sarah J. Maas and Ilsa J. Bick so much, I’m always recommending their books--and loved Crown of Midnight and the two Bick books I read in 2013 as well).
5. Best series you discovered in 2013?
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2013?
Lindsay Ribar
7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
Mistborn
8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2013?
Seriously. The answers are going to start getting repetitive. I can’t pick just one on this one either. Sorry. Three: Mistborn, Crown of Midnight, and The Coldest Girl in Coldtown.
9. Book You Read In 2013 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2013?
Loved these covers particularly--even though I didn’t always love the book:
Tandem, The Art of Wishing, How My Summer Went Up In Flames, Rush, Blaze, Joyland, Cruel Beauty
11. Most memorable character in 2013?
Wolf from Monsters by Ilsa J. Bick. I think he’s just one of the most memorable characters EVER for me. Also Gavriel from The Coldest Girl in Coldtown and Kelsier from Mistborn. (Are you seeing my pattern yet with my favorites??)
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2013?
Mistborn.
13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2013?
Guess. *cough cough* Mistborn. The Coldest Girl in Coldtown. Crown of Midnight. Monsters. (Monsters… why did this trilogy have to ennnddd??!)
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2013 to finally read?
Mistborn!
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2013?
I don't know to be fair. I can completely fawn all over it a book, but unless I re-read a couple times, it's hard for me to memorize exact lines very often. I do like this one quote from Warm Bodies (which I read just before the movie released on DVD or something like that).
"What wonderful thing didn't start out scary?" -Warm Bodies
16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?
Shortest book would probably be Will O’ the Wisp (haven’t reviewed yet--graphic novel). Longest would have to be Monsters at just over 820 pages.
17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!
Several. I’m always left with these moments, especially when it comes to ARCs. Only downfall about them. I’d had an ARC of Requiem by Lauren Oliver and I remember absolutely freaking out and just wanting to scream at my bestie, but I couldn’t because the book hadn’t released and she hadn’t got a chance to read it yet. :/ LOL.
18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2013 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).
Loved Gavriel and Tana. And the friendship between Kelsier and Vin.
19. Favorite Book You Read in 2013 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, Desert Tales, Crown of Midnight, Monsters
20. Best Book You Read In 2013 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:
Mistborn -- thanks to Reader of Fictions and PaperFantasies for the endless bugging of needing to be read.
21. Genre You Read The Most From in 2013?
Seems I was a bit all over the place in reading. Hahaha, but I think I read more out of the Contemporary and Fantasy sides than anything else.
22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2013?
Gavriel.
23. Best 2013 debut you read?
The Art of Wishing
24. Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read in 2013?
The Eternity Cure, The Coldest Girl in Cold Town, Mistborn
25. Book That Was The Most Fun To Read in 2013?
The Art of Wishing, Falling For Hamlet, Just One Day, The Indigo Spell, Crown of Midnight, and The Coldest Girl in Coldtown.
26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2013?
Crown of Midnight, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, Mistborn
27. Book You Read in 2013 That You Think Got Overlooked This Year Or When It Came Out?
The Art of Wishing
Book Blogging/Reading Life 2013
1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2013?
Bekka’s at Pretty Deadly Reviews (but now she is a co-blogger with a fave, Great Imaginations), Jessie at Ageless Pages Reviews, Alexia at Adventures in Reading, Debby at Snuggly Oranges, There Were Books Involved, and Writer of Wrongs.
2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2013?
Positive: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown.
Negative: The Dark Heroine.
3. Best discussion you had on your blog?
Had a few I really enjoyed putting up. Some with a bit more recognition than others, but eh, oh well. Haha. I liked doing Books and Crafts, Bookish Bucket List, Let’s Talk About Sex, and What Makes a Person a True Fan.
4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else’s blog?
I honestly couldn’t tell you. I enjoy a lot of posts from regularly-visited blogs… Or else I wouldn’t visit them regularly. :P I did want to add that I always love doing group reads/reviews and a couple of months back took part in one with Amelia Anne is Dead & Gone--and that was a thought-provoking discussion amongst ourselves that we shared across our blogs. Those are always fun!
5. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?
For this year I really loved participating in Armchair BEA and the Halloween Hop Kara & Lyn hosted at Great Imaginations. Also really loved the 15 Day Blogger Challenge! Really wish I could’ve went to an actual event, but I don’t have any signings near me unfortunately. Buuuuttt, I am going to BEA 2014, WHOOP WHOOP!
6. Best moment of book blogging/your book life in 2013?
Getting my first-ever physical ARC of a requested book from a pub--the last book to a one of my fave series ever, and then completely devouring it (Monsters by Ilsa J. Bick). :D Also made some new friends through Twitter/met through another blogger bestie and so happy to know them now & excited to meet them in the coming months at BEA! I don’t know what I’d do without ‘em. :D
7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
With views it was the group review with Jessie and Lyn of Amelia Anne is Dead & Gone
8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?
All of my Sound Effects posts. It was/is a feature I love doing, but never get any kind of attention on it. Lots of page views, no comments. Lol. So I am always putting it off for a period of time instead of posting it a regularly as I used to when I first started the feature. Haha.
9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
BookLikes. :D I don't post there often, but I do think the Tumblr-style site for bookish people is great!
10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
Yes. I completed the 2013 reading challenge I set for myself. While it was much lower than I normally set, I was relieved to have get it done at least. It’d been a busy year, and so far 2014 seems to have started out as quite hectic as well (but will at least be easier on me than last I’m sure).
Looking Ahead:
1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2013 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2014?
It’d been marked as ‘currently reading’ and I’d read about 100 pages but then I got busy with a lot of things, so it’d been put on the back-burner for a bit: For Darkness Shows the Stars, then immediately on to its companion: Across A Star-Swept Sea.
2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2014 (non-debut)?
DREAMS OF GODS & MONSTERS, Y’ALL!
3. 2014 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?
Prisoner of Night and Fog (Anne Blankman), Stolen Songbird (Danielle L. Jensen), A Shard of Ice (Alivia Anders), Red Rising (Pierce Brown)
4. Series Ending You Are Most Anticipating in 2014?
Dreams of Gods & Monsters (Laini Taylor), Into the Still Blue (Veronica Rossi--even though I still need to read the second book ughhh), The Creators (Tiffany Truitt),
5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2014?
I know I definitely hope to get more involved with my blog this year after having a busy last-half of 2013. Blogging has been such a huge part of my life for nearly three years and I never plan to lose that--even if I do get a little behind from time to time. I want to participate in more memes, features, etc. I want to get a lot more active in the community. I’m looking to pick a co-blogger with me soon and get things really rolling around here also. I hope to get more classics read. To re-read some of my favorites. Read more outside of my usual comfort zone, too. I know it said ‘one thing’ but I don’t care. Haha.
Well, that seems to be it! Hope you all had a great end to your 2013 and all off to a fabulous start with your 2014!
You may remember recently I made a post giving you all a chance to ask me questions. I gave it some time and then I was going to answer them. I'd meant to make this post a couple of days ago actually, but with all of the Goodreads drama this last week I really didn't feel like doing much of any blogging for a few days until I settled my nerves. I may or may not make a post on that whole debacle myself with my own thoughts, but not sure yet. If I do, then I do. If not, oh well. Either way, thanks for understanding and being patient for this post. :) Here are the answers to the questions asked from the post HERE (click for more information and links to the blogs that provided the inspiration for the idea!)
Red asked:
Have you ever had the pleasure of enjoying an audio-book? Would you try it or do you consider it "cheating" since you're technically not reading?
I actually have never tried an audio-book before. I have this pet peeve where I really can’t stand when people read out loud to me. Huge annoyance. Weird, I know. Anyways, this has caused a general fear of giving audio-books a chance when I’ve heard nothing but great things about them--especially for someone who is always on the go during the school year like myself. I do want to give them a try sometime. I just think I’ll have to start off with an audio of something I’d already read before so that it will likely be an easier (and less frightening, maybe) transition. No I don’t think it’s cheating at all! Whatever works to get a person interested in books is a bonus I say. Some people are understandably too busy to just sit down with a book, but can pop in a set of headphones or put in a disc while in the car and go, and I think that’s great!
Think of your top five books (a series counts as one). One of them has to be wiped from existence, including all memory of it in all its forms (movies, tv etc). Which one do you choose?
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr (P.S. This better be one of those ‘wiped from existence so that you could re-experience it for the first time’ questions) O_o
You come in contact with an alien on a scavenger hunt around the cosmos (shut up, its my question. Just go along with it). On Earth s/he must find two pieces of literature. One near perfect in its storytelling, the other its polar opposite in quality. Both must be works of fiction and both must be published pieces. This alien is incredibly charming so you decide to help, besides, this would make an awesome blog entry later! What books do you give s/he & why?
Oookay. Interesting question. I’m going to assume by it that you mean one book I would highly recommend to this alien (because it’s so near perfect in my opinion), and the other is one I dislike/hate so much that I would tell the alien it’s not recommended but to read if they’re interested?
With that, the books I would give are Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, being the highly recommended/near perfect story-telling work, and The Dark Heroine by Abigail Gibbs, being its polar opposite (and maybe a bottle of headache medicine to go with that one).
Marry, Boff, Kill - Count Chocula, Boo-Berry, FrankenBerry... because reasons.
Ha! Okay. Marry Count Chocula (it’s the Count…He’s the keeper), Boff Boo-Berry, and Kill FrankenBerry (I’m allergic to real strawberries, and most artificial strawberry products like that taste funky to me… unless it’s strawberry-flavored Tootsie Pops or something.).
Lyn from Great Imaginations asked:
Will you marry me?
Of course! You may have to share with a cat, a dog, some kids, husband…. But we will make it work. ;)
Since you are a woman of both worlds (a reader and an author), do you find book blogging harder or easier, or does it make a difference?
First and foremost, I’m a reader before author. I knew when I started the blog that I was going to publish, whether it was self-publishing or something a little more traditional--I just didn’t know at the beginning how serious I was going to be with the blogging and reviewing, or if I was going to even continue once I published. It was about halfway through my first year when I made that decision and knew I couldn’t stop reviewing once I released anything because why would I give up one passion to continue with my other when I could just do both?
After I published, I did find blogging a little harder at first. I was afraid of saying the wrong thing in my reviews and then getting attacked or “black-listed” or something, so I did take it really easy for a little while with them. Then one day, I don’t know why or what it was, I just woke up and decided I wasn’t going to do that anymore. I’d decided I’d always been a reader. I’d always happily wrote out my honest, complete thoughts without worry, and I shouldn’t let anything stop me. If someone wanted to point out flaws (even the same flaws I’d pointed out in others’), they were more than welcome. If someone wanted to put me on DNR lists because I critically reviewed, posted GIFs, etc., they were more than welcome. I no longer let any worrisome thoughts get to me--and the whole thing became a lot easier.
The only thing that makes it slightly on the hard side being an author in the book blogging community is that I don’t want anyone assuming I’m out to spam them with my work if I follow/talk with them. That’s the last thing I want actually. I rarely ever tweet, FB (except on my FB author page on occasion), talk about my books, but I get that sinking feeling when meeting new people sometimes because the info can be found in my profiles, I know.
So now--being an author and blogger--I would say I find book blogging about the same, if not easier, compared to when I started out.
What do you aspire to be in 5 years?
Good question! I aspire to hopefully have my very own agent that I can tweet little inside jokes with maybe… on the road to getting traditionally published… or to be a real-life superhero. Pipe dreams. Hope to NOT be the world’s youngest grandmother (my oldest is about to be 17 now, so in 5 years that is highly possible and that scares the shit out of me).
What is one of your most favorite memories?
Staying with my older brother half the summer during my high school years, playing on his PlayStation the majority of the days while I beat games like Tony Hawk and Spyro--and also going to my first concert with him when I was fifteen (Motley Crue).
Kara from Great Imaginations asked:
Tell us about your tattoos!
Okay! I have four tats so far. All of them have a bit of a theme to them I guess you could say since I have a thing for stars and night things. I have a half-sleeve of an elf girl in black and gray with stars around her and an Om symbol (Most know the Om stands for universal spirituality and meditation).
I have a heart shooting stars out of the top of it on my chest. It’s very girly with swirls and lots of bright color. Haha. Hurt like hell, too. This was a just-for-fun tat, I think. I don’t really remember any real meaning behind it other than sticking with that night theme and the colors that I loved.
I have a large lily on my left arm that has a night scene (moon, stars) within the flower petals. Also color. Lots of purple, black, some pink, and light greens and blues. This one was for my father because my favorite flowers are lilies, and when I was a little (and things were still somewhat normal around the age of 6 or so), him and I used to sit outside under the stars all the time--or we’d go camping, or chase fireflies. I’m a major night person, and I think it’s because of him.
And last, I have 3 large purple stars and a blue crescent moon with black swirlies on my left forearm. This one I got done to represent my 3 step-kids and husband, without actually getting any names done because I’m very strongly against getting names tattooed. But I know personally what it means to me.
Also--I drew them all myself. I would LOVE to get another tattoo real soon. I’ve got the itch. I have been wanting to get a Shakespeare quote with a feather quill pen for the longest.
What's your favorite holiday and why?
That’s actually hard to answer! =P
Halloween. I’ve always loved it. Something about the time of year. Costumes. Decorations. Some candy. Music. Scary movies. Plus, in Texas, it finally starts getting cold. Haha!
I also love Thanksgiving. Because… pie.
Thank you all for your questions! I might do another one of these someday. :)
(Warning: Some of these answers may be lengthy. I do get chatty when it comes to books and I can’t help that. Plus, I love these survey things and this is a totally adorable idea, right?! All credit goes to Jamie at Perpetual Page Turner for creating this awesome survey. Check it out, leave your comments, participate also! I’d love to see your answers so leave a link if you--or you’ve already done so--do it!)
Author you’ve read the most books from:
This is a toss up between William Shakespeare and Richelle Mead probably. A huge gap, huh? Haha.
I’ve read a good majority of Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets. When I was in school, I got picked on a lot for being a “Shakespeare Geek” and especially around the time when it came to the class reading and I’d already read that particular play probably a year or two before everyone else as they were just getting introduced to it. I have officially read 12 plays so far in my lifetime. My favorite is still Romeo & Juliet.
I didn’t pick up Mead’s work until my early twenties and completely fell in love with the Vampire Academy series. Became a huge fan girl (guess I still am), and had to wait around on each book to release. It was torturous. But it was easy to decide I’d always read a book if her name was on the cover. With that, there’s all six books of the VA series, 3 books of the Bloodlines spin-off so far (soon to be 4 coming in November!), two books of her Dark Swan series (I really need to finish this one because I love it), Gameboard of the Gods, and the first book in the Georgina Kincaid series (Succubus Blues). Whew.
If there was an author I’ve read just as much of as these two, it would be another series author like Charlaine Harris (9 books in the Sookie Stackhouse series), JK Rowling (HP), and JR Ward (8 books in Black Dagger Brotherhood series).
Best sequel ever:
How can I name just one? Seriously? Sequels are hard though, for real. I think they’re a make it or break it with me when it comes to whether I’ll continue that series right away when I can or not. In recent years, I’d probably say a true good sequel would be Shadows, the sequel of Ashes, by Ilsa J. Bick. If you liked Ashes, this one takes you on a mind-bending ride. Hell, even if you thought Ashes wasn’t quite up to your expectations, Shadows may change your mind. Completely different type of style. New characters. Gritty. Insane. Haha.
Also, it may just be me, but Catching Fire. Finnick. Am I right or am I right? =D
Currently reading:
I’m currently reading Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning. Though not really reading. I’ve been in a bit of a slump so I haven’t had the urge to pick up the book lately really so I’m still in chapter one. :/
Drink of choice while reading:
Usually tea or Sobe Life Water. Sometimes a Monster Absolute Zero.
E-reader or physical book:
Physical book definitely. I have a Kindle Fire, but don’t use it for reading. I can barely understand how to (as far as downloading the approved galleys directly to it) and I’m ashamed of that. Haha. So all of the e-books I read for review are read on the computer. No biggie really.
Fictional character you probably would have actually dated (in high school):
Hmm… This is where the problem may start. I read more paranormal I think, soooo… a fictional character I might choose would probably not even exist in the real world even then? Bahahaha! Hilarious. I think the character I would’ve actually dated would’ve been a bit like a Seth type (Wicked Lovely). The rocker guy with piercings, a few years older, maybe already graduated or dropped out and has GED, my best friend, a hard-ass on the outside but complete care-bear.
Glad you gave this book a chance:
The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I’d been hearing about it for years, but only just gave it a shot late last year to find that it ended up on my favorites list. I never thought I would like it so much. TBH, it’d never really appealed to me before. So yep, glad I read it after all! =P
Hidden gem book:
Ultraviolet (and its companion, Quicksilver) by R.J. Anderson. Seriously, if you haven’t read this set yet, you’re missing out.
Important moment in your reading life:
Uh, yeah, this is something I don’t get into much. But it is important both in my reading and writing life and I guess I could share. When I was 10-12 years old, I was molested everyday by my mother’s boyfriend at the time. I became suicidal. I starved myself. I was depressed. Everything I loved before, I just stopped having the motivation to do or care about. Which of course included reading--I hadn’t given much thought to writing yet at the time even though I had written short stories and poetry before--and I think losing reading made my dark mood worse in the long run. It's not fair or right for any kid to have to have those feelings at an age like that, but I dealt with it, and I still struggle with some of those thoughts. The important moment came when one day, shortly before I turned 12, I was digging around in some boxes, mostly trying to keep occupied and hidden away from that nasty jerk for a couple extra hours, I found a couple books. Some Anne Rice, some Stephen King. Not many. But nothing I’d read or heard of before. I started reading the Stephen King book right there and found myself immersed in my first adult book and wanted more (it was The Shining, btw). Soon after I even found myself writing stories of my own again and journaling in a notebook that I'd picked up off the ground at school. I found my mood changing. I kept thinking I couldn’t let myself just give up or else I’d never be able to read all the books I want to, or write the stories that had started bubbling in my head again. It took another few months to finally get my mother to believe me (this is a whole other story in itself that I'd rather not discuss or bore you with), but I didn’t give up and kept fighting it. So yep. Finding and opening that one Stephen King book I guess would be the important moment in my reading (and writing) life.
Just finished:
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black
Kind of books you won’t read:
I’m not too terribly picky, but I generally won’t read strictly Christian Fiction (or Christian Non-fiction) because I’m Atheist and I can’t read a book in that category without it feeling uncomfortable to me in most cases. Needless to say, I do respect readers’ and the authors’ beliefs, but I’m not of that audience so I wouldn’t be a suitable fit. I have read Christian Fiction in the past that I personally requested and didn’t realize I had, but it turned out to be a nice read without any problem. So I can enjoy books in the category at times--I just prefer to try and avoid them so as to be fair.
I also usually can’t stand most erotica reads (though I have enjoyed some depending on story/author)--especially this sudden “demand” of BDSM. Obviously you will not see me reading Fifty Shades. What else does this mean? I effing hate published fan-fiction, too, now that I mentioned that.
Longest book:
Earlier this summer: Monsters by Ilsa J. Bick (821 pages)
Major book hangover because of this book:
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black. I just finished this one recently and I think this is why I have been in a reading slump. Haha.
Number of bookcases you own:
Two. But only one for me. The other is the kids’ shelf for their folders, notebooks, games, a shelf used for the books they own, etc.. They are built-in-the-wall bookcases four shelves each. On mine, I use three (the very top shelf I not only couldn’t reach anyway, but it’s being used for fam photos and that sort of thing). At least they hold close to a hundred of my books at a time, not including all the books I stack on top of each other inside the shelves in all kinds of chaos. Haha. Other places I keep more books: A pile on the side table right in front of the bookcase, a box under the side table, small pile on my dresser and nightstand, and then there’s also about 6-7 large full boxes closed and put up in our small storage building outside.
One you’ve read multiple times:
I am a major re-reader. I love re-reading favorites. Unfortunately I haven’t had the chance to do this much in the last year and a half or so. But ones I have on multiple occasions would be Wuthering Heights, the first four Harry Potter books (Can you believe I’ve only read HP 5, 6, & 7 once? I’m ashamed of this. I just haven’t had the chance to re-read those. The first four I got to long before the releases of the others.), Romeo & Juliet, Macbeth, the first three Vampire Academy books, and Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson.
Preferred place to read:
On my couch--the best corner against the armrest.
Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels (from a book you’ve read):
“Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love.” --Hamlet, William Shakespeare
Reading regret:
Several.
Most recent would be Uses For Boys. Gah. I don’t even want to get started on that.
Series started, but need to be finished (all books are released):
There are a few because I have this strange attraction to series’ books. It’s a love/hate thing. Ha. I need to finish the Chemical Garden trilogy (Wither) after reading the first two, and still have not bought the last book. If I’m not mistaken, all of the books in the Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz are released. I’d like to finish it. It’d been a favorite at one time a few years ago--despite my hatred of most of the characters--because I did like the plot. I think I read 4 or 5 books? I’m pretty sure I’d have to re-read them all to refresh my memory before I continued with the series (which would be interesting to see where I would stand in opinion now a few years later as well). And I also need to finish the Dark Swan series by Richelle Mead. It’s a fabulous adult/urban fantasy series and I’m interested to find out what happens with the characters. Unfortunately I haven’t continued because I’ve heard some spoilers and it makes me reluctant to bother. I probably still will in near future anyway though. And then there’s the Sookie Stackhouse series. I’ve managed to stay away from all the final book spoilers. Yes! So don’t you dare. Haha. I’m on book ten, but I have been slow because the last bit of this series just hasn’t been that great for me, tbh. I read the first six books last year in a week. But by this point, I just haven’t been in a rush to pick them up like I had once been. Guilty Pleasure: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. Loved it. Jumped right into book two. Then I hated the second installment. So I guess you can say I started that series and haven’t finished. But I don’t really have any intention of ever doing so like I do with the others I mentioned before.
Three of your all-time favorite books:
Harry Potter. Hunger Games. The Fault in Our Stars. (That was hard. My all-time faves list consists of at least ten. Ha.)
Unapologetic fan girl for:
Anything that has to do with Vampire Academy, Hunger Games, or Harry Potter. Well okay, I’m also a fan girl for Wicked Lovely, Daughter of Smoke & Bone, and Shakespeare. And I’m a comic book nerd (X-Men!)… Does that count? But mostly the first three.
Very excited for this release more than all others at the moment:
Movie or book? For movie it’d be a toss up between Catching Fire and Vampire Academy. Can’t wait to see both. Excited! For book: Well that’s tough. My “highly anticipating” list is always changing because I either get access to a galley and read early, or another just as awesome-looking book comes along and it gets bumped up there. Ha. At the moment, my highly anticipated read would be These Broken Stars.
Worst bookish habit:
I can’t say if I have any real bad bookish habits? Probably the worst is when I start reading, I may get sidetracked easy if my attention isn’t grabbed right away (and I do read more than one book sometimes), so this has caused me to either DNF more books than I like, or take longer to read one. I used to never DNF a book, always forcing my way to finish no matter how long it took me, but the last 2+ years of blogging have changed some of those habits. Also maybe reading multiple books at once isn’t a good habit either. I usually do it as a time maneuver, but may go back to reading one book at a time and see how that helps also.
X marks the spot: Start at the top left side of your shelf and pick the 27th book:
My signed copy of The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa =D
Your latest book purchase:
An X-Men novel. I haven’t done much shopping the past few days. Going to buy a few books this weekend though!
ZZZ-snatcher book: The last book that kept you up WAY late:
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown. I stayed up until almost four in the morning to finish that book and it was worth every hour of sleep lost.
Wow, okay. That was long. Bahaha. Thanks for putting up with me and my answers!
