Epic Recs: December 2013

Last month, Danika and I joined in the activity of "Epic Recs", created by Amber and Judith. For more information, go to booksofamber.com

So... last month... Okay, here's the deal: we didn't do it. We both really wanted to, but it didn't happen. Fortunately, we still have the opportunity to read our books this month, so now we will just be reading two books for our Epic Rec shebang.

Therefore, this month I will be reading Shadow and Bone, as well as Grave Mercy by Robin Lafevers.

I have recommended that Danika read Partials (last month) and The Giver by Lois Lowry (this month).

Thanks for stopping by my blog and I encourage you to join in the fun of Epic Recs. Happy reading!

November Wrap-Up/December TBR 2013

It's been a while since I've posted a wrap-up or a TBR, and that is simply because I didn't feel like it this past month so... I'm sorry. Now I come to you with a few books that I would like to get to this month, and the books that I read in November. So without further ado... books!

November Graphic Novel Count: 6
This month the majority of my reading came from graphic novels. I was on a huge kick! It was great, and it really boosted my goal even though it didn't really need any boosting. I'm really excited to check out some more, so if you have any suggestions please leave them in the comments below! Also, if you would like to see a full review of any of these graphic novels then tell me that as well.

1. The Library by Joe Brusha: This graphic novel was SO GOOD. It is a great fantasy that I recommend to anyone who enjoys the magical stuff. (****/)
2. Disney's Alice in Wonderland by Alessandro Ferrari: I just watched the movie and the graphic novel was just as great. The photos were wonderful and the visuals were perfect and I just... Really good and I recommend it. Especially if you like the book and/or the movie. (****)
3. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Tom Ratliff: Probably my least favourite graphic novel of the bunch. It was set up at less of a graphic novel so it wasn't as engaging, and the story wasn't my fav. but it was nice to get into the story without it being too difficult to read. Recommended to anyone who wants to try out the story but the actual classic scares them. (***)
4. Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge: I wasn't planning on reading this at first but I'm really glad that I did. The artwork is AMAZING. That's what made this book for me. he plot was sort of dull, although cute, but THE ARTWORK!!!!!!! So good. If you are looking for a (really) light read or something with amazing photographs then choose this book it's the best for that. (****)
5. All-Action Classics No. 4: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Ben Caldwell: This book was another great look-back on the classic fairytale. The only other expirience that I've had with this story was the VeggieTale, so it was great to see some perspective. And Scarecrow... I love him. So funny and a great book to read if you are feeling sad or you just want a fun book. Pick this one. (****)
6. The City of Ember: The Graphic Novel by Jeanne DuPrau: I am reminded once again about how much I love this middle-grade novels. Although this book isn't quite as good as the novels, I suggest you taking a look at it if you liked the original story of movie. So easy to get through and so much fun! (****)

November Novel Count: 1
Uh, yeah... Sorry to say I only read ONE NOVEL. Ahhhh! And I thought the last couple months were bad... Oh well, the book that I DID read was pretty good, so I'm not too disappointed. And remember, I'm only one book away from my goal! I have nothing to worry about.

1. Allegiant by Veronica Roth: I have a full review of this up on my blog which you can view by clicking here. But... well, I liked the ending. And I didn't cry! That's a serious improvement for me. I literally cry in every book...

Winter-ish Books TBR
This month I don't really have a theme TBR. I just have a bunch of book lying around that I am hoping to finish by the end of 2013. However, there are a few christmas-y books that I am wanting to get through, so I guess I could show you those...

1. Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Miracle: Sounds really good and I like stories in which there are multiple perspectives/main characters, and then there stories come together. I don't really know too much else about this but I am looking foreword to reading these a lot!
2. Winterling by Sarah Prineas: This is a middle grade fantasy that is sort of winter themed. That is about all I know about this book. At first, I wasn't sure if I should read it or not, but the shortness and the theme won me over so I got it from my local library. This is a possible read-along with other book bloggers, so let me know if you would like to see that happen!
3. Chicken Soup for the Soul Christmas Treasury for Kids by Jack Canfield: Although I'm not planning on reading this whole book, it is a tradition for my family and I to sit down and read one story every couple of nights from this book just to warm our hearts. I think that it would be interesting to talk about some of these stories specifically in a separate post. Again, let me know if you are interested!

Other Random Books That I Might Get To

All in all, this list is 17 books long. And as much as it pains me to say it... I'm not going to get them all done. However, this list is basic, and I will probably be randomly choosing some books from this list to read throughout the month (which will hopefully be better than last month... and the month before that...). I may prioritize some if you want to see a review! Right now, they are in order of what I want to read first, to last.

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (re-read): I have already started this book and am pretty close to finishing it so I am hoping to finish it off first thing this month, which will also complete my goal of reading 72 books this year! Yay!!!
2. The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black: I started this book a while back but I had to put it down for various reasons. How disappointing! The storyline is so great and I really want to dive back in and finish it for y'all.
3. Champion by Marie Lu: Yes... Yes... The last book in a (so-far) fantastic trilogy. I've been hearing some great things about this book so far and I have high hopes for it. And after being reminded of what happened in the last couple of books... GIVE IT TO ME NOW!!
4. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein: I've had this book on my radar for a while, so I think it's about time I pick it up and read it! I've been in the mood for a historical lately as well, so this is just the thing to fulfil my wants and needs. 
5. Ask The Passengers by A.S. King: I have heard some great things about this author and her books, and I am really wanting to read something that is nice and a bit more relaxing than the other books that I've been reading lately. So yes, this is on my list.
6. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins: With the movie out, and the re-read of the first book... Come on, this is a must. Must. Fill. Finnick. Desires.
7. Blackout by Robison Wells: This is the second "series" that Wells has created, and since that I loved Variant (Feedback was alright as well), it is natural for me to need this book. Like, now. The plot sounds so cool as well. I just... I need to start reading it! I can't even...
8. Unwind by Neal Shusterman: Okay... This book needs to be read. It's calling for me. I read the first few pages. Already amazing... I need it!
9. Hold Me Closer Necromancer by Lish McBride: I was going to read this for October – didn't happen. I was going to read this for November – didn't happen. I am GOING to read it this month. It looks and sounds amazing, and I have heard many good things about it already.
10. 172 Hours on The Moon by Johan Harstad: Ever since Ariel and Raeleen read this and raved, I couldn't help but want it... and now I have it... and I really want to read it.
11. Unspoken by Sarah Brennan: Yes please. Need I say more? The cover is beautiful, the plot sounds amazing... Yes please.
12. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry: Ever since reading The Giver three years ago, I have wanted a sequel in my hands. Now I have it. It's about time, hey?! If anyone could give me a reminder of what happened that would be great as well...
13. Necromancing the Stone by Lish McBride: I love this cover! The wold, the blue... And if I enjoy the first one, I'm sure this book will come up in my priorities.
14. Unwholly by Neal Shusterman: Same deal here as Necromacing the Stone. If Unwind is good... Yum, yum... Unwholly come to me! You look so pretty too! I can't even...
15. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo: This was my Epic Rec for last month but I didn't get it done. Thankfully, Danika didn't either so I look a little more innocent. This is going to be the first of two books that I am going to be rec-reading this month.
16. Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers: More on this in a post to come (later this week)!
17. Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard: I wasn't planning on having this on my list... but here it is. It actually came in as a hold from the library by accident, so I might as well read it! Plus, I may need a bit of a (sort-of) break to keep me from exploding in all of these intense books. Not saying PLL isn't intense... but you know. Easy to fly through...

Okay, that was long. If you made it to the end, I congratulate you! In fact, comment saying "Moo" if you read this far. I'm interested to see how many of you read all of that. Anyway... Cheers to December, and happy reading!

Allegiant Book Review

Title: Allegiant
Author: Veronica Roth
# of Pages: 526
Series #: Divergent #3
Reading Span: October 29th - November 17th
Rating: ****/

Allegiant, as I'm sure all of you know, is the final book in the Divergent trilogy written by Veronica Roth. Before going into the book, I heard some very mixed things, particularly surrounding the ending, so I was a bit hesitant to like it at first. All I have to say to this is that I thought that everyone was wrong. I didn't cry... I'm heartless.

Okay, they weren't necessarily wrong, and yes, it was sad. BUt the ending I thought fit the book absolutely perfectly, like the missing piece of the puzzle. Especially how it was written. If it were anyone else that had written it, I don't think I would have lived through it. So well done!

Okay, enough of "ending talk". I want to dig deeper into characters, as they really stood out to me in this novel especially. There is a lot more character development, and we get to know a lot more about Tris, Four and the rest of the gang. Roth also goes into detail of specific relationships and I think that really added to the overall story and plot line. There were also lots of family and value issues floating around which I really liked.

The plot of this story was a lot slower paced than the other two books in the series, which was great because it gave Roth more opportunity to get into the characters and world-building. That being said, I think that the 500 plus pages was a bit long for what was actually there, and it could have been shortened to at least 300, and maybe even less.

SPOILER ENDING DISCUSSION
I had suspicions about the ending and what was going to happen before, so I wasn't really surprised when Tris died. I thought that it showed who Tris really was, and that was a wonderful addition to the story. The epilogue was sort of random though, and I didn't buy the fact that everything was perfectly okay. It did leave me satisfied though, so I guess it gets points for that.
SPOILER OVER

One last random thought. You know the cliff-hanger at the end of Insurgent (by the way, if you haven't read Insurgent yet then don't read this part)? Well, that "fact" wasn't really put into play in all of Allegiant, and that frustrated me. And the title as well... Just... grrrrrrr.

Okay, that's it from me! I hope you enjoyed this review of Allegiant. If you have read the other two books in the series, then I defiantly recommend you check this final instalment out (although make sure you remember what happened in them before reading Allegiant). Until next time, happy reading! And may the odds be ever in your favour.

GINS Meets Consumerism

Consumerism affects us all, whether we like to admit it or not. For this post, I am going to be thinking about how consumerism affects others by comparing the two projects that I have been working on these past few weeks; The Global Issues Novel Study (GINS) and my Consumerism Tumblr. Links to both of these “projects” are linked on my blog sidebar.

In my novel, Gabrielle’s parents encourage her very strongly to continue in school, no matter what the cost. Many of the people in Gabrielle’s peer group are unable to attend because it cost too much money that their families need for food and other basic needs. In fact, Gabrielle’s family suffers from food shortages as well, since she is going to school. This is one example how the economic system affects my book.

After finding out more about Guatemala and it’s circumstances (2006-2011), I came across the fact that 14% of the Guatemalan population is below the international poverty line of the United States ($1.25) per day. This really puts perspectives on the difference between the girl in my book compared to myself. When reading, it’s sometimes is a bit hard to wrap my head around her living conditions, and this fact really brings that to my attention. This fact also shows how much Gabrielle’s family was really giving up to let her go to school, and why they were so desperate that she continues with it even as the genocide started.

  I hope that this informed you well and that you well and that you will consider it the next time you read Tree Girl. Happy reading!!

GINS: Roundtable Discussion (2)

Welcome to another roundtable discussion post! Prior to this roundtable, we were to research a little bit more about our book and the issue that it faces. Then, in a group of three, we discussed answers to the following questions.

1. What did you find out that surprising or powerful in your research?
2. What are you still wondering about?
3. Now that you have more information and background on your novel and its issue, what do you think might happen as you read further on in your novel?

Group Members:
Grace @ Reading you life away
Omar @ The Need to Read
Myself

Books Mentioned:
The Translator by Daoud Hari
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Tree Girl by Ben Mikaelsen

Link: https://soundcloud.com/user68152905/gins-roundtable-2

Happy reading! Look out for a few reviews and other posts coming VERY soon. I just finished Allegiant! Ahhhh!

Epic Recs: November 2013

Today I am here with a post that I am super excited about. I'm sure that you have all heard of Amber from Books of Amber. Well, she does this thing called epic recs (you can visit her blog to find out more). And now, I am taking part in it along with Danika from Books to Dream.

Each month we will recommend a book to the other person that we are required to read. Also, we will each have a secret back-up book that we will share with you if we can't get the top choice recommendation in our hands.

For the month of November, I have recommended Partials by Dan Wells to Danika, and Danika has recommended Shadow and Bone to me. I am super excited to start this book and this series, and watch out for more posts like this one in the months to come. Happy reading!!

New Consumerism Tumblr

Hello lovely viewers! Today I come to you with an announcement about a new assignment that I have started. In this assignment I will be creating a tumblr that expresses my consumer identity. If you are interested check it out in the sidebar!

Happy reading, and have a great day!

Link: http://briannnac.tumblr.com