Top Ten Tuesday #21

This Week’s Theme:  Top Ten Books That Were Hard For Me To Read (because difficult of book, subject matter, because it was cringeworthy– however you want to interpret) < also as in boring, language was difficult etc.

1. The book was using a lot of german words that I weren’t familiar with and, unfortunately, I was also lacking in knowledge about Hitler so at times I was struggling with either the way he though or acted or even events that were referenced and such.

2. Love it! But being a classic, it is obviously written in English that is unfamiliar and not used anymore.

3. I got bored and didn’t like it after the twist, so it was personally difficult for me to read and finish.

4. Same as three; bored me and had to finish it, it was a review, and sometimes did take a bit to get me through it.

5. All three, of course, just for the way it’s written so it definitely slowed me down, but never stopped me from loving it!

6. It was the end of an amazing era and a childhood – of course this one I didn’t want to finish and was hard to read! ='[

7. My first Shakespeare, therefore was hard to understand the language and meaning.

8. [Wide Sargasso Sea] Hate, hate, hated this book! Couldn’t have cared less about the characters! Had to read it for English class and was hard to finish!

9. Another for English class that just bored the pants off me and found it hard to read/finish.

10. Dare I explain this one? Just… ugh… poorly written, repetitive, awful. Hard [in more ways than one technically].

Same Time, Next Week!

Stacking the Shelves #7

This is a segment, started over at Tynga’s Reviews but I do it a little differently (see here).

Been a while since I did one of these. But I just thought I’d do one seen as I did get things to add to my collection lately…

Finished Books – one in this entire month, so far – eek! Review is here. O wait! I read 4 manga volumes this week! =] so that’s 140 pages. And, read like 100 pages of GoT this week too xD hehe

  

Kindle Freebies – I really got lucky this week with Robin Hobb! The others are ones I’ve gotten this month.

   

ARCS Received – I should stop looking on net galley xD

 

GoodReads Newly ‘To Read’ Books – obviously there have been a lot of adds since the last time I did one of these, so we’ll just do like the most recent 10.

    

    

What happened in your book world this week/lately?

PS. I was thinking of doing a ‘writing wednesday’ or something where I write and post short stories on here every week or two weeks in order to get and keep me being creative and improving my writing and y’all can write comment and critiques [provided you follow Brandon Sanderson’s group-work critique rules] and stuff. What do you all think?

September 26th 2014 #FridayReads

Hey guys! Quickie update! As I’m back at Uni I obviously have reading to do, so!, this weekend’s reading list is:

– Chapter One of The Asian Pacific by Vera Simone
– The Trans-Pacific Partnership – New Paradigm or Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing by Meredith Kolsky Lewis [link here]

And then I also have my leisure reading which is…. surprise, surprise:

Have a great weekend! What are you reading?

Top Ten Tuesday #20

This Week’s Theme: Top Ten Books On My Fall Autumn To-Be-Read

I have to put into account that Uni will likely get very busy and hectic so I should focus on shorter books (and the books I actually brought with me to Uni), for the Year-a-Thon we have Horror in October for example and also take into account that it’s going to be Halloween in Autumn xD Christmas isn’t in Autumn right? hehe wait…. this list is coming a bit late isn’t it? Cos November is winter so…. this list only for the next month anyways….

1. Because of the film xD and it’ll be a re-read.

2. I started reading this ages ago – need to get back into it!

3. I really really really wanna watch the film but always said I’d read the book first -_- still waiting and wanting to watch this film!! Also fits in with October =] kinda…. right?

4. Been reading this one for years… =/

5. Just thinking about Halloween stuff =] also it’s short xD

6. Zombies!!

7. Vampires!!

8. So I can carry on with this series =]

9. *cough* because I’m currently reading *cough*

10. Anyone not surprise I’m still reading this?!

What do you think? Link me to your lists! Any I should read ASAP?

The Rain by Virginia Bergin

OMG A YA NOVEL THAT I LIKE?! Well this is rare…

It’s in the rain…and just one drop will kill you.
They don’t believe it at first. Crowded in Zach’s kitchen, Ruby and the rest of the partygoers laugh at Zach’s parents’ frenzied push to get them all inside as it starts to drizzle. But then the radio comes on with the warning, “It’s in the rain! It’s fatal, it’s contagious, and there’s no cure.”
Two weeks later, Ruby is alone. Anyone who’s been touched by rain or washed their hands with tap water is dead. The only drinkable water is quickly running out. Ruby’s only chance for survival is a treacherous hike across the country to find her father-if he’s even still alive.
[GoodReads]

Quickie Review: 3.5 out of 5 Stars.

I absolutely loved the premise for this novel! And I love how it delivered in my expectations for the premise and loved how the story developed. I am going to be honest it scared me! And I swear to god, the day it rains here, I know I’ll be like ‘which world is it that has the killer rain?!’ because believe me, for some reason I found the science of it and the story so believable, that I was like ‘shiiiit, what if this is actually real! I haven’t seen or been in rain for a while!’ xD

The story was interesting and kept me interested and involved in terms of the characters and their lives.

The negatives are; when I wasn’t reading it, I wasn’t thinking about it, so it didn’t have the wow factor that makes me give books 4.5/5 stars. Also, I felt that Ruby was very immature and naive for 15 years old – either that or I was a strangely mature 15 year old! – but sometimes I would stop reading and think ‘was I that immature when I was 15? Did I think those things when I was 15? Was make up and boys really that important when I was 15?’ and my main thought was ‘how would I have coped at 15’ and to be honest; don’t think I could have! So she is brave and intelligent as well, which is a plus!

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and took my time with it to enjoy it. I highly anticipate the next installment!

What Am I Taking to Uni?

I am now back at uni and once it kicks in, it will affect my posting schedule most likely, but for now, here are the books I have brought with me and hope to read between now and Christmas! =]

A Game of Thrones
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy [in four parts]
Leviathan Wake
Mockingjay – plan to re-read before the film comes out!
Peter Jackson: A Film Maker’s Journey

Tokyo Bangwagon
You Like the Bad Boy? – Again bad Japanese translation = works in Japanese and not in English!
Death Note Vol 1 [in Japanese]
Sourcery
Warm Bodies
The Silver Chair
The Last Battle
The Lies of Locke Lamora
Travelling to School ~ Yours and My Room

The Well of Ascension
The Hero of Ages
BRANDON SANDERSON!! ❤

Magik
Joker Game
Me, Me
Eldest
Harry Potter [in Japanese]

There you have it! Reckon I can get through them? I tried to bring more shorter or easier books than longer ones; did I succeed?

Top Ten Tuesday #19

This Week’s Theme:  Top Authors I’ve Only Read One Book From But NEED to Read More

I am looking forward to this theme! At first I didn’t think I’d have that many, and then I started looking! =] and in no particular order:

1. Trudi Canavan – first read her latest book as an arc and I loved it. She’s one of those authors who’s books you always see in the store, are intruged by but never pick up – now I really want to pick the rest of her’s up!

2. Orson Scott Card – while I don’t agree with him as a person, I absolutely loved Ender’s Game and must have more!

3. Michael Coorlim – only if I have time and if he makes it up towards my highest priority list but I will say, I really enjoyed his book – that I got as a kindle freebie 😉 – and wouldn’t mind reading more.

4. Murakami Haruki – first hand I had of his work was actually the Norwegian Wood film, which me and everyone else hated and took the piss out of, then me and my friends all circulated the book between us and we all loved it! And I definitely will read more of him!

5. Christopher Paolini – loved Eragon and will continue! Also, I hope he brings out something new soon…

6. Anne Rice – was always going to read more from her, got most of her books!, but not had the chance yet.

7. Brandon Sanderson – need I say more? He is a god! I just need to kick my butt and find money and get all his books! I am ashamed that it’s been over a year since I first read him and still not carried on, regardless of the fact I have all the Mistborn trilogy -_- I honestly can’t fit in a big book right now, minus Game of Thrones cos I’ve seen the TV show and I’m making notes as I go so I don’t lose track, and I want his books to be my only attention when I decide to read them.

And there you have it! =] not 10 but 10-ish xD

What Authors Were Yours? Link me to your TTT below or just simple comment!

Same Time, Next Week.

Re-Reading Books?

Just wanted a small discussion with you guys today about re-reading books and giving 2nd chances…

Naturally I re-read my favourite books; Harry Potter, The Hobbit, A Series of Unfortunate Events etc. but what about books that you didn’t necessarily like but would consider giving a second chance to?

I have been thinking about this a lot recently. Especially with the books Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Noughts and Crosses and The 5th Wave, and here are my reasons:

– Daughter of Smoke and Bone – hated it after the plot took a 180 degree change but everyone raves about it, so was I just in the wrong mind set at the time? Don’t get my wrong, I adored the writing style and everything up to that point where it dramatically changes – you all know which point I’m talking about right?
– Noughts and Crosses – I remember loving this book, absolutely loving it, until the ending where I was like ‘I hated it! *throwns down* never reading again!’ and that was like 7 years ago! So I’m thinking maybe I should re-read it, especially seen as I can’t actually remember now all that happened, and again it’s another series people love, just the ending I really did not like.
– The 5th Wave – obviously the sequel is/has come out this weekend and I did actually like this book until about the last 100 pages where for some reason I got bored and I did not like it when the love interests were introduced and got rather romantic. But again, everyone loves this book and I enjoyed 80% of it too!

And whether I don’t re-read them or if I do and still don’t like them then they’re being unhauled and taken to charity anyway.

So what do you guys think? Should I give them another chance? What books do you normally re-read aka. your favourites to re-read? Do you ever give 2nd chances? Let me know in the comments below! =]

Series Part 4 – Series I Don’t Want To Finish

Part 4! And most likely the final part – however I do have an idea of staying negative and doing ‘Series I Don’t want to Start’ too harsh? Again two categories, so let’s go!

Not Sure I Want to Continue

 

Mainly the first two books are here because I’m still reading them and therefore have no idea whether I’ll end up enjoying the book and wanting to continue on or not; but currently I am enjoying both of them. The other two are, while I did enjoy them, it purely comes to down to ‘will I ever get through all my ‘really want to read’ books and have time to get to ‘enjoyed but definitely not at the top of reading list’?’ but we shall we, who knows, they might go up the reading list as time moves on.

Definitely Do Not Want to Finish

 

These books aren’t being continued for one of three reasons;
1. I seriously did not enjoy/hated the book – 50 Shades, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, The 5th Wave, The Queen of the Tearling, Noughts and Crosses
2. I feel I’ve grown out of the themes and no longer part of the aimed at audience and probably wouldn’t enjoy reading them now as an adult; Stormbreaker, Girl 15
3. I just didn’t care enough for the series or it was okay to read but not one to want to carry on with for me personally; Walking Dead, Because I’m a Maid, Pixie Chyx.

There you have it! Sorry if a book is here that you seriously loved – I just didn’t have a good experience with it clearly and wasn’t for me.

Can you persuade me to carry on any of these series? Are you glad I’m not continuing on with a series? What other ‘Series’ stuff should I do? Let me know below!!

Top Ten Tuesday #18

This Week’s Topic: Top Ten Underrated Authors or Books in X genre. – but I am taking this fellow blogger’s idea and changing it to Top Ten Under-Rated Books I’ve Read

         

Any here that you recognize? Any that you’ve read? Link me to your TTT below!

Same Time, Next Week!….?