2013 Resolutions + January TBR

As 2012 is coming to a close, I am making a list of books I'm planning on reading in 2013.

1. Divergent #3 by Veronica Roth
2. Unwind by Neal Shusterman
3. The Book Theif by Markus Zusak
4. Princess Acadamy by Shannon Hale
5. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
6. Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys
7. Crossed by Allie Condie
8. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
9. Ever by Gail Carson Levine
10. The Mother Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Fredrick
11. Gone by Micheal Grant
12. The Selection by Kiera Cass
13. The Unidentified by Rae Martiz
14. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
15. Pride a Prejudice by Jane Austen
16. Eon by Alison Goodman
17. Eona by Alison Goodman
18. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
19. Legend by Marie Lou
20. Prodigy by Marie Lou
21. Mind Games by Kiersten White
22. The Knife of the Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
23. The Rules by Stacey Cade
24. Ashes of Twilight by Kassy Tayler
25. Fury by Elizabeth Miles

I'm hoping to read the sequels/series to the books that have them but I did not add them to my list just in case I don't like the first book. Comment if you have read any of these books and tell me what you think of them.

I am also going to be going with some more themes for 2013. I completed this task for the month of November, but then I didn't feel like reading any of the books for the theme of December, which was christmas. I think that this was because I planned too for ahead. Instead I'm going to announce at the beginning of each month what the theme is going to be, as well as 4 books to go with that theme. So... The theme of January 2013 is going to be realistic fiction. I feel like I haven't been reading much of this genre lately, and it's about time I try something other than sci-fi. A few books that I'm hoping to get through that are in this genre include:

• Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
• The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Fredrick
• What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen
• Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

I am also hoping to read more recent releases, as well as reading a minimum of 48 books.

What are your 2013 book resolutions and January TBR? Leave a comment below telling me.

:D

In My Mailbox: Nov. 16

Again, this has been lagging. Sorry for any inconvenience.

I haven't really been getting many book lately. In fact, the only books that I have gotten recently I got on Tuesday of this week (2 days ago). From the library I picked up the following books:

• Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder
• Winter Shadows by Margaret Buffle

I am also going on a trip the the library later to pick up Feedback by Robison E. Wells.

This was a really un-interesting post... Sorry!

What have you gotten this week? Leave a comment below!

WoW: Feedback by Robison E. Wells

Sorry... I haven't been keeping up with this....

Hope you don't mind! Anyways, for this weeks WoW I have decided to talk about Feedback by Robison E. Wells. After reading the first book and getting so jittery due to the nerve-racking ending, I have been so excited, ever since July this summer, for this book to come out. When I saw it I was like, "Yes!!!"

Feedback Synopsis: SPOILER ALERT! IF YOU HAVEN'T READ VARIANT DON'T READ THIS!! Benson Fisher escaped from Maxfield Academy’s deadly rules and brutal gangs. Or so he thought. But now Benson is trapped in a different kind of prison: a town filled with hauntingly familiar faces. People from Maxfield he saw die. Friends he was afraid he had killed. They are all pawns in the school’s twisted experiment, held captive and controlled by an unseen force. As he searches for answers, Benson discovers that Maxfield Academy’s plans are more sinister than anything he imagined—and they may be impossible to stop. Variant blew readers away with its breakneck pacing, flawless plotting, and impossibly high stakes. It earned starred reviews from both Publishers Weekly and VOYA, which described it as “an exciting, edge-of-your-seat read that combines psychological themes from works like Lord of the Flies, The Hunger Games, and Ender’s Game in a truly unique way.” In Feedback, Robison Wells delivers all the answers you’ve been craving—with enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing until the very last page.

What are you excited for this week? Leave a comment below and tell me about it!

Synopsis taken off of Goodreads.

Hex Hall Book Talk

Disclaimer: This is not a book review! It's more like a "Let's Talk" episode from theReadables (http://thereadables.tumblr.com).

No-Spoilers! I've finished this book in such little time... It was such a fast read! The pace was perfect, and the style of writing was amazing and easy to get through. It was obvious that Rachel Hawkins put in a lot of thought before starting this book because the story was a bit complicated, but was still easy to understand (if that made any sense).

SPOILER ALERT! I was so mad when Archer was an Eye. Although I was super glad he loved Sophie still (at least it seemed like it because he didn't kill her) but I was still terribly upset!! I was also unhappy when I found out that Alice was a demon. I mean, it was stupid of me not to notice before the end that that is what she was, but it still was frustrating.

I'm so excited to read the second book! Have you read any of the books in the Hex Hall Trilogy? Leave a comment below with your thoughts!

The Maze Runner Book Talk

Disclaimer: This is not a book review!

Spoiler-Free Discussion: I really liked how this book was played out. It sounded a lot like Variant by Robison E. Wells, which is one of my favorite books of all time. Also, some of the characters were a lot like people I know in real life. For example, 13-year-old Chuck is very much the same as one of my best friends. She is a bit annoying at times, yet I'm still very grateful to have her as a friend, just as Thomas was glad to have Chuck. Minho also reminded me of a couple people in my generation. His annoying, defined personality is very much the same as a few of my peers. Other characters such as Gally (the mean and crazy boy), FryPan (the cook) and Theresa (Thomas' companion) also remind me of people in real life. I found it especially interesting to read The Maze Runner because of the well established characters.

SPOILER ALERT: If you are reading this now then you should have read the book. So... When Chuck died it was almost like Rue from the Hunger Games died all over again! I felt really connected to Chuck, especially because his character reminds me of my friend. Also, this book was so intense. At the end of each character it was either, "The doors of the Maze slammed shut." or "She sat up with frozen blue eyes." (VARIANT SPOILER!) I thought she was going to be a robot like Jane was in Variant! (VARIANT SPOILER OVER) 

What did you think of The Maze Runner? Did it remind you of people you know in reality as well? Leave a comment below and tell me about it!

Also, be sure to look out for another post of The Maze Runner!

Reading Update (3)

Over the weekend I have read quite a bit. Due to the 5 hour bus ride going to my destination and the 4 hour drive back, I had a lot of time to read! I finished The Maze Runner, which was a really good read. I can understand even better now why people enjoy it so much!

Since I had so much time to read, I also read a little bit of Duck Boy which I'm really liking so far. It's really interesting to see Bunn's writing style because I've always known him for how he speaks in real life.

I know it's a sin, but I've also started to read my Literary Olympic book for the Relay Race. I need to read it soon so that my friends that I am passing it on to don't read it before I do! I'm really liking it so far, and I love the vamp!

I'm also decided to ditch The Book of Awesome because I just can't get through it. It's really slow, and although I enjoyed it at first in those moments when I was in the mood, the rest of the time it was a pain. I made it to page 244, and it's not going to go any further.

So that's that! I'm done 2/4 of the books that were on my November TBR list, started on the third. The last book that I'm planning to read is Inside Out by Marie V. Snyder. I'm super excited, but getting kind of annoyed at the same time. I'm in 2nd place in the hold list at my local library, have been for weeks! You know, I bet that someone has it sitting in their bedroom and it's getting ignored. RETURN IT TO THE STINKIN' LIBRARY!

What have you been reading so far this month? Leave a comment below to let me know.

Variant Book Talk

I read this book over the summer... and I loved it!!! It was defiantly a 5 star read.

Non-Spoiler Section: At the beginning of the book I hated Benson. He was so well made that Benson's annoying now-it-all personality. The other character's were just as good. The plot was also very fast-paced (my type of book), it got into the action right away. So did the maturity. In the first few chapters of the book a couple inappropriate topics were mentioned, but it didn't carry on. But you should keep on going, read this book, and enjoy it!

"Keep calm and read Variant!" - Brianna >:P

SPOILER ALERT!! Don't make me ruin you. If you haven't read this book yet then stop reading this paragraph. Seriously. You're still reading this? Whoa. You're a bad kitty. Anyways... I couldn't believe it when Jane turned out to be a robot. She felt so real with personality, and Benson lost his lover. It made me so sad! I thought that when Jane took off her black ear that she was a real person... it was a pretty darn nasty image in my mind. I was really excited to see that the characters I hated were robots to. He he he. Oh and the end was so creepy. I read this before I knew there was going to be a sequel and I literarily threw the book on the ground and was like, "Seriously!!! I need you sequel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"I couldn't handle Jane coming back. It still gives me butterflies in my stomach when I think about it. (Behind the Scenes: The people around me are looking at me creepily because I'm putting my hands to my face and screaming. I promise you, I'm not insane. You will understand as you come to the end.)

So please read Variant. Please.

WARNING! It is not guaranteed that the comment section with be spoiler free.

Comment below if you enjoyed this post!

If You Liked... The Maze Runner by James Dashner

I'm 54 pages into The Maze Runner and I knew right from the first few sentences that I was going to like this book. It was so much like Variant by Robison E. Wells. The plot was very much the same. The trap, the secret. The death.

The Maze Runner Synopsis: He wakes up in the elevator with no memory of anything but his name. Thomas doesn't remember anything about his parents, his home, or where he got where he is. It's like his brain is empty. But he isn't the only one. The the doors open boys surround him and introduce him to the Glade, a large, open space surrounded by stone walls. They too don't remember anything more than Thomas does, except that every morning (as far as they know) the stone walls to the Maze that surrounds them opens. The doors also close every night, and know one wants to be in there after nightfall. Every thirty days a new boy is delivered in the lift, so they were expecting Thomas' arrival. The thing that they wren't expecting was an arrival the next day, a girl for the first time in history. And more surprising yet is the message she explains, the thought that maybe the Maze can't be resolved. But there's more. The girl's arrival is starting to make Thomas feel different. Something is telling him that he might have some answers, if only he could take them out of the dungeons within his mind. "Everything is going to change..."

Variant Synopsis: When Benson Fisher was accepted to Maxfield Academy, he thought that it would be a good escape from his boring life. But he was wrong. Dead wrong. The gates are razor-wired, video camera's watch every single move of every student, and there are no adults. He has been trapped in a prison where kids split into tribes to survive. Where breaking rules is death. It gets even worse when Benson finds out what the school's real secret is, and knows that following the rules may create a fate worse than death. His only real hope for survival is escape, the nearly impossible mission. "Trust no one."

So if you liked The Maze Runner, be sure to check out Robison E. Well's Variant.

Have read these two books? Do you agree that they are similar? Comment below with your thoughts.

The Maze Runner synopsis based off of the back of the paperback edition of the book.
Variant synopsis based off of the description on Goodreads.

Notice!

Here's the news: I will be gone on both Friday and Saturday for a trip so I will be unable to complete my first "If You Like..." post on time. Fortunatly, I will have time today (Thusday, November 8th, 2012) to get this done. Yay! Early post!!!

WoW: Duck Boy by Bill Bunn

You have no idea how excited I am to read this book. Having a special connection to the author, Bill Bunn, this book is an absolute must-read. Yes, that is party why I am going to read it, but that's not all. The plot sounds really interesting as well, plus I want to read more realistic fiction and this is the perfect way to start off.

Synopsis: His mom disappeared without a trace. Believing his mom abandoned the family, Steve Best can barely function. School is a failure. Home is a disaster. Even his attempt to save a duck from the school bullies led to the nickname he’s dying to forget. When he’s sent to his Great Aunt Shannon’s house for the holidays, he encounters a curious power that lets him travel and transform the world. He might be able to use it to save his mom–but only if the thugs or the police don’t stop him first.

Is Duck Boy on your TBR list? Are you excited to read it? Leave your answers in the comments below.

Synopsis Taken Off: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15729034-duck-boy

In My Mailbox - Nov. 5

I hope you guys have all had a great past week! I know that I have had a great one, collecting books from the library to share with you. I haven't gotton too many, but I'm still super excited for me first "In My Mailbox" post.

From the Library:
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha

What books did you pick up this week? Comment below!

Reading Update (2)

I was looking through book blogs advestised on Goodreads and I came across a couple blogs. The first blog that I found out about was http://thebookbubble.blogspot.ca (amazing blog, feel free to check it out). Over at the "book bubble" the author of the blog does a few weekly posts, and I have decided to try some of them out. Here's a list of the ones that I will try, plus a brief description of what the post is.

• WoW: stands for "Waiting on Wednesday" and names one book that you are looking foreward to reading
• In My Mailbox: a haul of books that you have collected during that week (from the library, given as a gift, bought yourself) (I will do this post every Monday)

The next blog that I stumbled upon was http://magicofreading.blogspot.ca who doesn't specifically have a weekly post, but from her blog I came up with my own.

• You May Like...: a post that recommends books according to other books that are similar

If you have any other weekly posts that you would like to share, please leave your ideas in the comments below. Have a great day!

Some of my Favourite Book Quotes

You can't get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me. ~ C. S. Lewis

This quote really relates to me because I love tea (can't get enough of it) and I love books (can't get enough of them).








I find the television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book. ~ Grucho Marx
If you knew me really well, you would know that I don't like TV and I don't watch it... Ever.








All images are copyright free, taken from Google images.

Loki's Character Playlist

Loki is one of my favourite, it not my absolute favourite character in the Trylle Trilogy by Amanda Hocking. He is so flirty, sweet so he's hard not to enjoy reading about. Therefore, I have decided to create a fun, creative character playlist for this character. I made notes on little details, like how he through rap out the window (literally) in the short story of Switched and the artists he listened to when taking Wendy to the Vittra palace. I hope you enjoy!

       Neil Young

o   Heart of Gold

§  I chose this song because Loki cares so much about Wendy and he has a Heart of Gold himself. The song also says that the person is searching for a heart of gold. To me, it seems like Wendy is Loki’s “heart of gold”. She likes to help people and her kingdom, even if it means sacrificing herself to the Vittra King. Seen in Torn and Ascend.

o   The Needle and the Damage Done

§  I chose this song because Loki has seen so much damage done and has experienced so much damage (his father, Queen Sara, Wendy, himself). I thought that this song relates to him well and that he would feel very connected to it. From the last two books in the Trylle Trilogy, Torn and Ascend.

·      Ryan Adams

o   If I Am a Stranger

§  I chose this song because I feel like the lyrics explain the things that are happening between Loki and Wendy. I think that if Loki was a song artist that this is the song that he would write and dedicate to Wendy. This song repeats how if he lets the love go than he may not be able to be there. This is almost exactly what happened in the final book, Ascend.

o   Ashes and Fire

§  This song speaks of how “his” heart getting gnawed away and how “she” cries. It s assumed that they are heartbroken for each other but it just cannot be. This is the exact same situation that Loki and Wendy were in throughout Torn and Ascend.

·      The Raconteurs

o   Steady As She Goes

§  Loki, being the flirty guy he is, fits perfectly into this song. Right from the beginning, it just seems like something he would say to Finn or Tove. In the real song it says, “Find yourself a girl and settle down. Live a simple life in a quiet town.” If I were to “translate” this into Loki’s language, this is how it would go, “She’s mine suckers. Go and yourself another girl and leave Wendy alone.” Seen in Torn and Ascend especially.

o   Many Shades of Black

§  “It’s been a completely wasted-free year.” It’s like the Raconteurs took this line right from Ascend or maybe vice versa. In Ascend Loki says to Wendy, “Everything I went through. For you. It was worth it.” There are some things in this song that don’t relate to Loki such as the line, “Everyone sees, and everyone agrees that you and I are wrong.” But this song still relates to him a lot.

·      Bob Dylan

o   Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door

§  This song reminds me a lot of Loki’s death in Ascend. He was “knock knock knockin’” on Heaven’s door before Sara and Wendy used their powers on him to bring him back. I think that Loki would have this song on his iPod to remind him of this.

o   Lay Lady Lay

§  From just the title this is sure to relate to Loki and Wendy’s relationship throughout the Trylle Trilogy, especially Ascend. The song says, “Lay lady lay on my big brass bed.” This is practically what Loki asked Wendy to do.

Do you think I made the right choices for Loki's playlist? Leave comment below on what you think.

·     

Reading Update (1)

This post is just an update on the books I've been reading lately (well, since I opened this blog up) and books I'm planning to read in the next little while.

* = 1 star
** = 2 star
*** = 3 star
**** = 4 star
***** = 5 star

August
Specials by Scott Westerfeld: *****

September
Extras by Scott Westerfeld: *****
Matched by Allie Condie: ***
Switched by Amanda Hocking: *****
Torn by Amanda Hocking: *****

October
Divergent by Veronica Roth: *****
Insurgent by Veronica Roth: ****
Ascend by Amanda Hocking: *****
Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

November (Theme: Awesome/Books Recommended)
The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha: **
Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder:
The Maze Runner by James Dashner: *****
Duck Boy by Bill Bunn:

December (Theme: Christmas/Winter)
Winter Shadows by Margaret Bufflie
Winter Garden by Kristen Hannah
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Literary Olympics Reads
The Notebook by Nicklas Sparks (Sprint)
The Host by Christopher Paolini (Marathon)
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins (Relay Race): *****

Other Random Books to Read In-Between
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan
Feedback by Robison E. Wells

If you have read any of these books please comment below and tell me about them!