Monday, April 30, 2012

Book Club Read #2: "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society"

Has it really been over a month that I have read this book? I cannot believe my post is a month late, and it's not because of the book at all. I really, really enjoyed reading "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, and am glad I got to discover it for myself, though the name alone is certainly a mouthful.



Goodreads description:

“ I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.”
  
January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.

Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.


I didn't know anything about this book when it was chosen as one of our book club reads, but quite a few people said it was a fantastic story with many amazing characters. All this is so true. Like the first book club pick, I probably would have never read this book, and that would have been a shame. Even though it takes place during a very dark and scary time period, it is so light-hearted at times, you can't help but laugh.  All the characters are extremely relatable and they make you wish you could just pack up all your things and move to the island of Guernsey - or if not move, at least go for a long visit. I know I would have loved to be a member of "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society".

I would definitely recommend it to any book lover, no matter which genre they prefer. This is one of those few stories, everybody will enjoy.

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

*****

Since I didn't finish our April read, I won't be doing an individual post about it, but rather just talk about it right here. We were supposed to read "Galileo's Daughter" by Dave Sobel, but I simply could not get into it, and honestly, I was really relieved when I learned only two people from our group actually finished it. It made me feel a little better, because I hate not finishing a book. I am already certain, however, I will finish this month's book "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho. It sounds like a great, quick read, and I am already looking forward to it, so watch out for my next "Book Club Read" post some time in early June.


Tuesday, April 24, 2012

TTT: Top Ten All Time Favorite Characters In Books

"Top Ten Tuesday" is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. I haven't participated in this feature in a while and was actually working on a review when I stumbled upon this week's topic. As soon as I saw it, I knew I couldn't not do a post for it. My review will have to wait one more day.



Top Ten Tuesday for this week:

Top Ten All Time Favorite Characters In Books

My character choices are mainly from YA books, however, there are two who are not YA. Apart from the first three there is no particular order.




1. Tod Hudson from Rachel Vincent's "Soul Screamers" series

Oh, how I adore this reaper! He is hilarious, caring, passionate, and also extremely infuriating at times. I just love him. He is definitely my favorite book character.




2. Carter from Richelle Mead's "Georgina Kincaid" series (NOT YA!!!)

He is a very close second to Tod. Even though he is only a secondary character in the series, he is by far my absolute favorite. He's an angel with so many amazing lines. I cannot get enough of him!

Looky here, I just noticed I have a reaper and an angel in my first two spots - everybody has a place in my heart.


3. Donovan "D" from Alexander Gordon Smith's "Escape from Furnace" series

He is another minor character who captivated me right from the start. There is just something about him that draws you in. He can seem very cold and distant when he has to, but he has a very big heart and deserves a place in my top three for sure.


4. Kaylee Cavanaugh from Rachel Vincent's "Soul Screamers" series

It's time for a girl and who better than bean sidhe Kaylee Cavanaugh. She is an incredible heroine - she is fierce, selfless, loyal (sometimes more so than it is good for her), fearless, and so unbelievably strong - and I don't mean physically. She is amazing!


5. Gabe from Leah Clifford's "A Touch Trilogy"

I adored him in "A Touch Mortal" and am dying to find out what's going to happen in "A Touch Morbid". He always had this intriguing aura about him, and after the way things ended in book one...


6. Adrian Ivashkov from Richelle Mead's "Vampire Academy" series

He is this loner, bad boy type and I always had a soft spot for him. There is something about him that simply makes him special.


7. & 8. Rose Hathaway & Dimitri Belikov from Richelle Mead's "Vampire Academy" series

I cannot talk about Rose and not include Dimitri and since I love them both very much, I might as well put them both on my list. I don't think I even need to explain why they made my list. She is strong-willed, courageous, fearless, and he his handsome, strong, and an incredible fighter.




9. Ponyboy Curtis from Susan E. Hinton's "The Outsiders"

This book is one of my all time favorites, one I can read over and over again, and still enjoy it like the first time. I love Ponyboy. Everybody should read this book and see for themselves.





10. Alex Cross from James Patterson's "Alex Cross" series (NOT YA!!!)

I have devoured each and every Alex Cross book I could get my hands on. James Patterson is an incredible writer and the way he brings his characters to life is amazing. Alex will always be one of my favorite male characters.


This time I even have to include a few honorable mentions: Alex and Aiden from Jennifer L. Armentrout's "Covenant" series; Tris and Four from Veronica Roth's "Divergent" series; Emma Marshall from Rachel Vincent's "Soul Screamers" series; Jules Marchenoir from Amy Plum's "Revenants" series, and so, so many more.

*****

Who are your favorite characters? What makes them so special in your eyes? I would love to hear from you.

Friday, April 20, 2012

TGIF at GReads! {3}: Book Blogger Influences: Fiktshun



TGIF at GReads! is a weekly feature created by GReads! to re-cap the week's posts and propose a question to followers.




The question for this week is:

Book Blogger Influences: Has there been a particular book blogger who's influenced what you read? Share with us a review/book blog that convinced you to pick up a certain book.


I haven't participated in this feature in a long time it seems like, but when I saw the question, I knew I just had to write a post.

My biggest blogger influence is Rachel from Fiktshun.




I absolutely adore her blog - all her blogs, really. If it wasn't for her, I would have missed out on two amazing series which I now can't live without.




The first is the Soul Screamers series by Rachel Vincent.
It was Fiktshun's passion and enthusiasm about the characters and the world that got me to pick up these books. Right now she is hosting the Soul Screamers Reading Challenge and it's been an absolute blast so far. My favorite fictional character is Tod Hudson and without Rachel I would never even have known about him.






The second is the Escape From Furnace series by Alexander Gordon Smith.
I think I first saw the cover for Lockdown on her facebook page and it creeped me out so much, I had to check out her review for it. It was pretty much instantly that I knew I had to pick it up and give it a try. Needless to say, it was fan-freakin-tastic as well. I'm actually reading book four, "Fugitives", right now. It's one of those amazing series that grabs you and won't release you until you have fully lost yourself in it.




Come to think of it, I can honestly say about 90 percent of the books I pick to read, are because of Fiktshun. I trust her opinion completely, and so far I haven't been disappointed once. If anything, I have gotten to know a few amazing authors and their books because of her. That's only one of the few reasons I am dedicating my TGIF post to Rachel from Fiktshun. You rock, girl! Keep up the incredible work you're doing! I am so grateful to have found your blog and all the awesome books you have recommended so far.

*****

Now it's your turn! Is there one particular blog you go to to find out about books? One blog whose opinion on books you trust? I would love to hear from you, and maybe learn about a few new blogs for me to check out.

Happy Reading!



Wednesday, April 18, 2012

WoW: Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

"Waiting On" Wednesdays is a weekly meme created by Breaking the Spine, where you highlight a book which you are dying to read.


My pick for this week is "Girl of Nightmares" by Kendare Blake which is book two in the Anna series. Clicking on the picture will bring you to the Goodreads page.





Goodreads description:

In this follow-up to Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas begins seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he’s asleep, and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong. These aren’t just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.

Cas doesn’t know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn’t deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it’s time for him to return the favor.






I had never read a story about ghosts until reading "Anna Dressed in Blood", and I really wasn't sure about the subject at all. As soon as I started it, however, I immediately fell in love with it. It's an amazing story with fantastic characters. I devoured this book in no time and have ever since then wanted to have book number two in my hands. Unfortunately, I will have to wait a few more months.

"Girl of Nightmares" is set to be released on August 7th, 2012 by Tor Teen.

I thought the cover for "Anna Dressed in Blood" was stunning, but this one is just as gorgeous and so haunting.

*****

Is there a book you are very excited about and which is going to be released within the next few months? I would love to know what books you are dying to read - maybe I can find a few more to add to my reading pile.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

In My Mailbox #6 ~~ My Reading Pile #5

"In My Mailbox" is a weekly feature hosted by The Story Siren, where you share what you received in the mail during the week.

I only received one book this past week, but it is full of awesomeness and I cannot wait to get sucked right back into this mind-blowing world.



Yes, yes, I received Leah Clifford's "A Touch Morbid"!!! Isn't it gorgeous??? I won it a little while back during the #ATMparty on twitter, which was hosted by the wonderful @lexcade and @katelyntorrey. The two of them were lucky enough to attend Leah Clifford's InsaniTea party which launched "A Touch Morbid's" release. So, not only did I get this amazing book, but it is also SIGNED by the fantastic Leah Clifford!!! I am beyond thrilled!!! Thank you so, so much to all three of you!!!

As if that wasn't enough, they also send me some beautiful bookmarks. I LOVE the writing on the back of the "A Touch Morbid" bookmark. It's so pretty. The super surprise, however, was the "Witch Eyes" bookmark. I am in love with it! I loved the book with its amazing cover, and now I can call this stunning bookmark my own. These eyes...


My Reading Pile #5


The lovely Rachel over at fiktshun came up with this idea, where you share what you are intending on reading during the upcoming week. So, as I am sharing my pile today, I am giving credit to her creative mind.

Of course, I had to add "A Touch Morbid" to my pile right away. As soon as I am finished with Alexander Gordon Smith's "Fugitives", it will be next.

I am so stoked I am finally reading "Fugitives". I have been waiting so, so long for this, and last night I just had to start it, even though I was beyond exhausted. I am hoping I can squeeze in at least a couple more chapters tonight.

The other book still staring back at me is "Galileo's Daughter". I only have eight days left to read it, but I still don't see myself finishing it until then. There were a few times I was somewhat tempted to pick it up and give it a try, but I never did. I am going to at least flip through it though before our next Book Club meeting.

*****

Did you receive any books in the mail this week? Did you buy any great books? Is there a book you are dying to read this week? I would love to hear from you!

Happy Reading!!!


Saturday, April 14, 2012

SSRC: My Soul To Keep


Wow, I cannot believe month three of the Soul Screamers Reading Challenge is almost over. The challenge, which is, of course, hosted by the amazing Rachel over at fiktshun, is over halfway done, but there is still plenty of time to join in on the fun - simply click on the gorgeous SSRC button.
Oh hey, I just noticed how perfectly the SSRC button and this month's book "My Soul To Keep" work together with all their purple beauty.

Last month I was in a little bit of a panic situation, and even though it's the last day for this month's challenge, I'm pretty relaxed since I finished the book a couple of days ago and still have a few hours to finish this post.

As I have already mentioned, this post is dedicated to "My Soul To Keep" which is the third book in Rachel Vincent's Soul Screamers series.

  
  


Goodreads description:

Kaylee has one addiction: her very hot, very popular boyfriend, Nash. A banshee like Kaylee, Nash understands her like no one else. Nothing can come between them.

Until something does. 

Demon breath. No, not the toothpaste-challenged kind. The Netherworld kind. The kind that really can kill you. Somehow the super-addictive substance has made its way to the human world. But how? Kaylee and Nash have to cut off the source and protect their friends—one of whom is already hooked.

And so is someone else…



When I first picked it up to start my second read-through, everything was a little bit hazy. I couldn't remember a lot of the details, but once I started reading, everything came crawling back. One thing I had totally forgotten, however, was the long wait for my favorite reaper, Tod, to appear. It seemed like forever for him to show himself, but when he did, it was on! There are so many things he said and did - even some of the smallest gestures - but I can't share any of them because I wouldn't want to ruin anything even just the tiniest bit.

As for Kaylee, with everything she has been through already, this is probably the toughest and most emotionally draining experience for her. Honestly, if it would have been me, I probably would have felt like curling up into a ball and hiding in a dark corner somewhere. Not Kaylee though - or if she does, she surely doesn't show it. Once again she puts herself in harm's way in order to save the ones she loves the most, even after being betrayed. I have said it before and I'm saying it again, I admire Kaylee's strength and loyalty and utter selflessness.

I cannot believe how hard it is for me to write this post. There are so many things I want to say and talk about, but it would include so, so many spoilers...

Nash... well, this is the book which proofed me right. I always felt a certain way about him and now it all came true. I won't say any more...

I can't talk about "My Soul To Keep" and not mention Avari. He is so purely evil, it's extremely frightening. Seeing Addison again and hearing Tod talk about the things she has to endure each and every day is simply sickening. The incredible joy he feels in other people's misery and pain is simply disturbing. This book really showed why he is the "Hellion of Greed". He is one selfish and greedy son of a gun.


We also get a new edition to our "gang". Alec. Oh, how I like Alec. This might sound weird, but I liked him right away. There was just something about him, I found intriguing. I guess I kind of have a soft spot for him. I'm really glad Rachel Vincent decided for him to show up and be a part of this amazing world she has created. 

*****

It's always so incredibly hard to pick a favorite scene or quote because everything seems to be too spoiler-y. There are so many things I would love to share, but I just can't without giving way too much away. So, this time I decided on a quote from Emma. Some might consider it semi-spoiler-y, so if you're worried, just skip over it. Part of the reason I chose this one is that it shows why I love Emma so much. Yes, she is very loyal, but she is also not afraid to be brutally honest - even with Kaylee. Here is a little piece of her honesty which I love, love, love.


"I'm just saying guys only come in a couple of models, and Nash didn't exactly break the mold. So lay off my boyfriend until you're ready to take a closer look at yours."



I found another quote I love and that I can actually share. I did take out a name though, just in case. The first sentence is from Kaylee and the reply is Tod's - you didn't think I would do a post and not include something Tod-related, did you?


"You were supposed to get rid of [...] without hurting the host!"

"Yeah, I didn't get that memo. Maybe next time you should be a little more specific when you boss me around while I'm saving your ass. Though, frankly, this whiny little shrew is lucky she only has one bump, 'cause she's had this coming for a while."


Ah, Tod, never has any problems coming up with a genius comeback. I loved this whole scene, jeepers, I loved the whole book - even more than the first time which seems to be a reoccurring theme with every book. So amazing!!!

This shall conclude my little post and now I'm anxiously awaiting my inter-library-loan copy of "My Soul To Steal". My library doesn't carry any of the Soul Screamers book, but I did request it, and hopefully, they will get it from another library soon.

*****

Now it's your turn! What did you think of "My Soul To Keep"? Is it maybe your favorite book in the series so far? Do you have any favorite scenes or quotes? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you are enjoying this Soul Screamers Reading Challenge as much as I am.



Saturday, April 7, 2012

In My Mailbox #5 ~~ My Reading Pile #4

Gosh, I cannot believe it's been over a week since I last posted something. I am so sorry, but it's been kind of a hectic week. At the end of the day, I was always so exhausted, I couldn't even think about writing anything - especially something that's suppose to make sense. I didn't even really read anything either.

Enough with the rambling though. As I am sharing what's "In My Mailbox" this week - and last week, to be correct - I'm giving credit to Kristi from The Story Siren who came up with this weekly feature.

Here are the two gorgeous books I received:


I won both these books. "My Soul To Keep" I won from fiktshun as part of the Soul Screamers Reading Challenge. Isn't the cover just stunning? Oh, I love it so much! I have already started reading it too, because I don't want any of the last minute panic I had last month...

"Hex Hall" I won through a giveaway which the sweet Mag over at Geek Chic held a little while ago. To add to the awesomeness of this book, it is also SIGNED by the author, which is super cool! I have heard only great things about this series and cannot wait to discover it for myself.

Thank you both so, so much, Rachel and Mag!!! You are amazing!!!


*****This week at the library


Since my stack of books here at home has gotten pretty high, I didn't really want to borrow anything from the library, but what can I say...


The cover of "Eyes To See" by Joseph Nassise had been staring at me from the presentation shelf for almost a month. It's this shelf right by the check out where the latest additions to the library are displayed. When I first laid eyes on this cover, I was immediately drawn to it. I kept walking by it a few times, because I already had four books signed out at the time. Then one day I grabbed it and read the back cover of it, but ended up putting it back again. The next time I picked it up, I actually started reading the first few chapters while at the library, and then I just couldn't put it back again. The cover still blows me away every time I look at it.

Now, the second book is "Galileo's Daughter" and it is my Book Club read for this month. Honestly, though, I'm almost certain already, I won't be reading it - or at least I won't be finishing it. Don't get me wrong, I find Galileo very fascinating, but I have to be in the right kind of mind for this sort of book, and I am simply not there at the moment. We shall see, though, I still have two and a half weeks left to read it. Anything is possible.


My Reading Pile #4

"My Reading Pile" is an idea fiktshun came up with, where you share what you plan on reading in the upcoming week.

My hope for this week is to finish "My Soul To Keep" as well as my review copy for "The Forsaken" by Estevan Vega. I feel so bad I still haven't finished it, but this past week just flew by in a blur, and I wasn't really in the right frame of mind to do anything.

No matter what happens next though, when I'm done with these two, I'll only have eyes for one book - Alexander Gordon Smith's "Fugitives". I will not be able to contain myself any longer, it's been hard enough as it is already.

*****

Well, this is it for today. What about you? Did you get or buy any great books this week? Do you have a reading pile? I would love to here from you! 

***** 

Happy Easter and Happy Reading!!!