The Raven Cycle

August Reading Wrap-Up

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Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire
(Beautiful, book 2)
Rating:  ★☆☆☆☆ – did not like it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  July 30 – August 3
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Ha!
Least Favorite Thing:  The fact that I actually read this with my own two eyes.

Honestly, I only read this book because my books were all packed and I had nothing else to read. It was even more trash than the first book!

My Posts About Walking Disaster

The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater
(The Raven Cycle, book 4)
Rating:  ★★★★★ – loved it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  May 24 – August 4
Read Count:  3
Favorite Thing:  The beautiful friendships. I dream of having a friend group like this.
Least Favorite Thing:  Piper is so annoying… (I know, I know, she’s meant to be obnoxious, but still.)

This was my third time reading The Raven King and I think I loved it even more this time than before.

My Posts About The Raven King

Elske by Cynthia Voigt
(Tales of the Kingdom, book 4)
Rating:  ★★★★★ – loved it
Review:  Yes
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  June 9 – August 9
Read Count:  5-ish
Favorite Thing:  Elske’s way of thinking through problems.
Least Favorite Thing:  Beriel’s way of thinking through problems.

I have such a soft spot in my heart for Elske…

My Posts About Elske

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  No
Format:  eBook
Reading Dates:  August 14 – 20
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Interesting pace of the author’s voice.
Least Favorite Thing:  Casual incest… Not even joking.

I read this book because I watched the film (because I love Saoirse Ronan) and I had to see if the book had the same off-kilter quality as the movie. It didn’t exactly, but it did have an interesting pace to the writing that kept it from being a two star book.

My Posts About How I Live Now

Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  August 13 – 23
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Interesting take on the Wicked Stepsister’s story.
Least Favorite Thing:  The romance was annoying…

This was a pretty good take on the classic Cinderella story. I liked that the Wicked Stepsisters got redemption arcs and that Ella wasn’t actually just perfect all along.

My Posts About Stepsister

Imposters by Scott Westerfeld
(Imposters, book 1)
Rating:  ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  August 26 – 27
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Watching Frey grow into her own person.
Least Favorite Thing:  Hello, Insta-love…

I loved the little moments where you saw how they viewed the events from Tally’s books now. And I loved the little sprinkling of pretty-speak.

My Posts About Imposters

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
Rating:  ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  August 28 – 30
Read Count:  2
Favorite Thing:  TUCK IS PSYCHIC OK???
Least Favorite Thing:  [SPOILERS] That creepy yellow-suit mother fucker was going to make Winnie drink from the spring and then injure/kill her in myriad ways to prove she was immortal like my god can you imagine the trauma! [END SPOILERS]

I decided to reread this book because of my fond memories about it from when I was in school. (And also because I got into an argument about whether the book or film was better. Which was ridiculous because obviously the book is the best one.) I am so glad I reread it because I really got a lot more out of the text than I did when I was a child.

My Posts About Tuck Everlasting

In Progress

Words from Books

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ebullient

/iˈbo͝olyənt/ or /iˈbəlyənt/
adjective

  1. cheerful and full of energy
Bad:  Twice Ronan got a phone call from his Ganseyfriend and both times he did not say anything to the phone, just listened to the ebullient patter on the other end and made grunting sounds in response.

– Maggie Stiefvater, Opal

 

December 2018 Reading Wrap-Up

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Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
(Grisha Trilogy, book 1)
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  November 29 – December 2
Read Count:  2
Favorite Thing:  Alina’s power
Least Favorite Thing:  They killed the poor stag…

It’s so weird because I’ve got a record of having read this book before, and now I’ve read it a second time through and I still can barely remember anything about it… Whatever, it was enjoyable to read regardless.

My Posts About Shadow and Bone

Opal by Maggie Stiefvater
(The Raven Cycle, book 4.5)
Rating:  ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review:  No
Format:  eBook
Reading Dates:  December 8 – 9
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  The way Opal describes things.
Least Favorite Thing:  Sad Ronan 😦

I’m so glad my library finally got this novella, it was even better than I expected it to be. I love the names Opal gives to all the things and people she encounters.

My Posts About Opal

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
(The Raven Cycle, book 2)
Rating:  ★★★★★ – loved it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  October 27 – December 9
Read Count:  3
Favorite Thing:  Maura/Mr. Gray. They were so adorable.
Least Favorite Thing:  I can’t think of anything.

I actually decided to up my rating from 4-stars to 5 because I love this series so much and I don’t know why I was holding back on rating it 5 stars.

My Posts About The Dream Thieves

The Girl of Fire and Thorns Stories by Rae Carson
(The Girl of Fire and Thorns, book 0.5 – 0.7)
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  December 2 – 14
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Alodia’s point of view. I’d read a whole companion series from her perspective.
Least Favorite Thing:  Lord Solvaño didn’t suffer enough.

I’m really glad I finally got around to reading these stories, even if it’s been years since I read the novels. But actually this has made me want to reread the novels so maybe that will happen soon.

My Posts About The Girl of Fire and Thorns Stories

Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
(Girls of Paper and Fire, book 1)
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  December 6 – 24
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Gaaayyyyyy
Least Favorite Thing:  She had to come back at us with that final page? Rude.

This book was so chock-full of good representation it was like a breath of fresh air. I recommend it to anyone looking for diverse fantasy.

My Posts About Girls of Paper and Fire

You by Caroline Kepnes
(You, book 1)
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  December 15 – 26
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Well written.
Least Favorite Thing:  Made me need 10 showers.

This is one that I felt a little weird rating. It’s not a feel-good novel. It will definitely make you feel a little dirty being inside Joe’s mind.

My Posts About You

Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman
Rating:  ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  December 26 – 29
Read Count:  2
Favorite Thing:  The little touches of history woven throughout the story.
Least Favorite Thing:  People kept kicking the poor dogs!

I first read this back in elementary school with my class, and I remembered loving it. It’s been sitting on my shelves for a bit and the nostalgia just kept calling to me; I had to reread it. I’m so glad I did.

My Posts About Catherine, Called Birdy

Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie
Rating:  ★★★★★ – it was amazing
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  December 30
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Descriptions of fairies.
Least Favorite Thing:  Forgetting.

One of my all time favorite stories is Peter Pan, but I had always been afraid to read the book in case that soured my enjoyment somehow. This was profoundly stupid. The book only increased my love.

My Posts About Peter Pan

In Progress

 

1000 Pages Read-a-Thon – Day 8 (The End)

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Woo I did iiiiiitttt!!!!!! I’m really proud of myself because I’m really struggling with my reading this past week or so. I’m desperately trying to avoid this becoming a full-on slump, which is part of the reason I did the read-a-thon at all. I think all-in-all it was successful in motivating me during my almost-slump.

64 pages – The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
107 pages – My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, & Jodi Meadows
Previous Total:  851 pages

Total Pages:  1,022

Musing Monday: July 9, 2018

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Musing Mondays is a weekly meme, hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker, that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

I’m currently reading…
Up next I think I’ll read…
I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
I can’t wait to get a copy of…
I wish I could read ____, but…
I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: How does reading making you feel?

I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)… I got some book merch recently for the new house and I’m so excited about it. It’s all Raven Cycle merch, but I got a print and some throw pillows off Redbubble.

I’m not at the new place right now, but tomorrow I’ll come back here and add pictures of the stuff.

I got:

How does reading making you feel?
Well, it’s a satisfying experience no matter what, but when the book is really good it’s way better. Like it empties my mind and my stress and fills it all back up with another world and a kind of ultra-contentment. There’s nothing at all like it. Which is probably why I consider access to reading material pretty much the most important thing in life.

Top 5 Wednesday: May 9, 2018

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Characters You’d Want as Family

You can say this in a broad way or be specific (i.e. _______ would be a cool aunt, ______would be a great older brother, etc.)
To participate in Top 5 Wednesday, head over to their Goodreads Group!

Almost every main character from The Tillerman books // The Tillerman Cycle by Cynthia Voigt

This is probably cheating to be like “oh yes the entire extended family unit from 7 whole books” but whatever! I love the Tillermans more than I’ve ever loved any characters from any media.

I don’t even think I can properly explain it, but if a god came down from some heaven and was like “I will reset the world and let you invent a family for yourself, tell me what you want” I would just dump these books in their lap and just:

“I want Dicey, Sammy, James, Maybeth, and Gram first of all. And I still want my real Granny too because I think she and Gram would get along scarily well, so just keep that in mind. Secondly, Bullet needs to be alive and HAPPY and if you have the time to make Miss Liza not go crazy and die that would be great. No no, I have no need for John the abusive husband, that bitter prick can die. I don’t want Francis Verricker either. He doesn’t count as a part of that family and if you bring him to life I will kill him myself so don’t waste your time. Feel free to throw in Mina Smith’s whole family AND Tamer Shipp (and his family probably he seems to like them) and Jeff Greene’s too. Actually wait, just Jeff, Brother Thomas, and the Professor. Melody’s whole side of the family can choke. Okay great get crackin’ on all that I’m going to go reread the series.”

And whatever god offered me this option would completely regret it, but I would insist we shake on it as soon as possible so they’d be locked into that whole deal.

The Gangsey // The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater

Yep, I’m still cheating. But honestly after my last answer this one probably seems like nothing at all. In fact, you might even let me get away with having Blue’s Fox Way family and the Gray Man? Yes. Excellent. So all the decent humans from The Raven Cycle. Check.

Ripred // The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins

Who wouldn’t want a GIANT FUCKING RAT who is excellent at killing as family?

Honestly though, he would be excellent to have around. He’s sarcastic and rude which I can dig because I too am sarcastic and rude, he can kill anyone so Guard Rat, and he mostly just wants to eat shrimp in cream sauce and read books so like…. A nice companion all in all.

Dashti // Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

She’s so kind and loyal and a great friend. Plus she has healing magic that can also help relieve the pain of chronic injuries so… Useful. Fuck you Mr. Chiropractor my new fam Dashti the Mucker can help me by just laying her hand on me and singing me a nice song. Eat it.

And like she’s lovely and brave and I always thought she’d be an excellent friend.

Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy // Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Okay so first I was torn between the two. The sassy lady or the most awkward man to ever live… And then I decided I’d just take them both!

I’d get to enjoy the sass of Eliza Bennet and the awkward kindness of Fitzwilliam Darcy AND if we were related…um….you know… HE’S SUPER RICH AND I WANT TO BE SUPER RICH BY PROXIMITY SO DEAL WITH IT. But mostly I just like them. The money is only a bonus.

Wow I am very demanding in my list of potential family… What about you? What book characters would you wish to have as family?

Top 5 Wednesday: September 27, 2017

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Books You’ve Read Because of Booktube/Blogging/etc.

Discuss the books you’ve picked up because you’ve heard of them in the online book community or platform you use.
To participate in Top 5 Wednesday, head over to their Goodreads Group!

  1. The Raven Cycle // Maggie Stiefvater
    Well I had to put this series first because it’s the one I’m the most grateful to booklr for convincing me to read. I had seen The Raven Boys (book 1) on a shelf before, but had specifically not even picked it up because of the title. Then even when I did pick it up and read the blurb, I remember thinking it would be just a dumb romance about private school boys and setting it back down! (I’m ashamed to even admit that…) So it wasn’t until several posts from booklr peeps and direct cajoling from a reader friend that I finally decided to give it a chance.
  2. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
    This book comes second because I think it’s the second most important in that it taught me not to blindly trust booklr hype! I reviewed it, if you want to know more, but long story short: booklr straight lied to me about this book; it was trash.
  3. The Lunar Chronicles // Marissa Meyer
    I was pretty resistant to reading this one, but now that I have I can’t remember what my reasoning was… I should have known I would enjoy a sci-fi fairytale retelling series!
  4. Snow Like Ashes (Snow Like Ashes, book 1) by Sara Raasch
    Anyone on booklr knows how all over this series the community was for a while there. I bought into the hype of course, because I’m weak, and found this to be a pretty enjoyable book. I was reading it when I went to sign my pre-trial diversion paperwork and my lawyer and I talked about it at length. (Apparently it’s one she recommends all the time.) Unfortunately I couldn’t get into the sequel despite repeated tries and wound up abandoning the series.
  5. Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children // Ransom Riggs
    This is another series I am so grateful to the booklr community for recommending! There’s just so much to love about this series. The first time around, back in 2014, I really liked the story, but I don’t think I appreciated it as much as I did when I went back and reread it at the beginning of this year.

I’d love to know about some books the online book community you are a part of convinced you to read! Comment or make your own post and leave me a link.