Weekly Updates: House Hunting and Summer Co-blogging!

Hi everyone!

So this week has been a bit busy, especially with house hunting, school work, and blogging. I'm currently doing my taxes now for the first time ever. I'm hoping to get some money back, for books and yumyums.

I am still homeless for the next school year!

My roommates and I will be looking at another house today at 5PM, but I'm not sure whether they'll let us lease it in August...OH WELL. We do have one house that will let us, but we won't be visiting that one until next week.


Now onto the good news! I have recently roped in my best friend Vanessa, ex-roommate from high school, into  co-blogging with me over the summer!

Sorry not sorry I stole this from your Facebook Vanessa love ya.

When I first asked her about co-blogging with me, I'm PRETTY sure she was excited about it. I don't think she knows what she's getting herself into, but it'll be more like she's guest posting. And it's only for the summer because college really takes a toll. She did say "yes" so look forward to her reviews/posts. She got mad that I didn't use Wordpress. She was like "Val why the heck not" and I was like "I forgot it existed at the time please forgive meeeee"

Here are a couple of photos of us together from the years:

Anyways, look forward to a lot of changes throughout the summer! I'm going to be going to the library sooooo much. I'm also going to try to get a summer job but I don't know if I'll be able to. And also Vanessa and I are going on a road trip from May 26th to June 6th. We're going to be setting up a travel blog for that on Wordpress sometime soon.

Thanks for reading my ramblings!

Review: Cinder

Cinder by Marissa Meyer
The Lunar Chronicles #1
Publisher: Feiwei & Friends
Released: January 3rd, 2012

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Taken from Goodreads

Start: 4/6/2014 | End: 4/8/2014 | Pages: 387 | Rating: 5 Stars  

My Thoughts:

I just finished Cinder five minutes ago, and I am speechless. I'm at a loss of words. Really, anything said in this review cannot express how amazing and wonderful this book is. My review does no justice.

I'm literally going to be walking around like a limp noodle for the next few days, in a daze over THIS BOOK.

This gif totally fits bwahaha

But honestly, where do I begin. Obviously with forcing everyone who hasn't read Cinder to go read it now. Cinder is the story of a cyborg mechanic in a far off future where the letumosis plague is eating everyone away. Stuck with her "evil" stepmother and her two daughters Pearl and Peony, she manages to survive by supporting them with her genius mechanical skills.

Everything changes when Peony catches the illness, and Cinder is sent away for the "voluntary" cyborg draft, where she will be tested on to find a cure. And everyone knows no cyborg comes back from those tests. No one except for Cinder, because she's the only hope for Earth when it comes to the Lunar race, and more importantly the Lunar Queen.

The moment I met Cinder, I instantly loved her, and her sarcasm. After reading so many YA books with mediocre heroines, Cinder blew me away. I really can't describe it right at the moment, nor am I emotionally capable of writing this review at the moment, but Cinder is a smart, kickass MC, who makes smart, and reasonable, decisions that aren't questioned by the reader. Plus she's a cyborg, which I know is looked down upon in the book, but I personally think that's awesome.

All of the minor characters were mostly or fully developed. The reason I know this? Because I fell in love with every one of them, even Adri and the Lunar Queen (I don't actually "love" them, just the characters themselves.....blagh it's hard to explain, hopefully you know what I mean? What I'm trying to say is that they were done well).

Iko and Peony were definitely my favorites.

And PRINCE KAI! Oh I have mixed feelings about you! Especially at the end there. But I leave further judgements to the next book.

This is one of the best world-building I have ever read about in a YA novel. It's absolutely stunning. 

Everything about New Beijing is well put together. There's no info dump, everything is gradually put on you. The context of the story gives you accurate descriptions of the environment and the new tech, like androids, hovers, IDs, etc. If an author had to learn one thing from Meyer, it's that you don't just tell us what this or that is, you show show show SHOW. 

I am in love with this fantasy, science fiction, dystopian mix of a genre. ABSOLUTELY IN LOVE, and I really cannot contain my inner fangirlness!

I'm dying to read the next book. I want more! I read half of the book in one sitting and the rest just now, and I seriously need the rest of the series. Someone send me Scarlet now please!  

✰✰✰✰✰

Top Ten Tuesday #7

Hosted by the Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Most Unique Books I've Read

This is not going to be the most easy topic, because I really can't think of any on the top of my head at the moment. I've read most 100 books in the past four years (yes I know, it's a sad number) so the chances of any of them being "unique" to me are pretty slim. So technically this will be my top five instead of top ten.

1. The Road by Cormac McCarthy

There is absolutely no quotation marks or true dialogue you would find in other books. I'm not sure if I'm describing it correctly, but basically no punctuation is used throughout the road.

"A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don’t know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food—and each other."

2. Machine of Death by Ryan North

My favorite anthology of all time, because it has one of the most unique concepts I have ever read about. Seriously, everyone should go read this.

"The machine had been invented a few years ago: a machine that could tell, from just a sample of your blood, how you were going to die. It didn't give you the date and it didn't give you specifics. It just spat out a sliver of paper upon which were printed, in careful block letters, the words DROWNED or CANCER or OLD AGE or CHOKED ON A HANDFUL OF POPCORN. It let people know how they were going to die."

3. A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

I didn't like this book, but I thought it was pretty different that each character was linked to one another. And the Mountains Echoed and the History of Love are more examples of this.

"Bennie is an aging former punk rocker and record executive. Sasha is the passionate, troubled young woman he employs. Here Jennifer Egan brilliantly reveals their pasts, along with the inner lives of a host of other characters whose paths intersect with theirs. With music pulsing on every page, A Visit from the Goon Squad is a startling, exhilarating novel of self-destruction and redemption."

4. The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

One of my favorite books from 2013. Wecker takes two religions and weaves them together, literally by using a golem and a jinni.

"Chava is a golem, a creature made of clay, brought to life by a disgraced rabbi who dabbles in dark Kabbalistic magic. When her master, the husband who commissioned her, dies at sea on the voyage from Poland, she is unmoored and adrift as the ship arrives in New York in 1899. Ahmad is a jinni, a being of fire, born in the ancient Syrian desert. Trapped in an old copper flask by a Bedouin wizard centuries ago, he is released accidentally by a tinsmith in a Lower Manhattan shop. Though he is no longer imprisoned, Ahmad is not entirely free – an unbreakable band of iron binds him to the physical world. The Golem and the Jinni is their magical, unforgettable story; unlikely friends whose tenuous attachment challenges their opposing natures – until the night a terrifying incident drives them back into their separate worlds. But a powerful threat will soon bring Chava and Ahmad together again, challenging their existence and forcing them to make a fateful choice"

5. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

I've read books that featured emails, like in The Boy Next Door and Attachments, but I loved the idea of a story being told in letters.

"Charlie is a freshman. And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it. Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mix tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But he can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor."

Feel free to comment and link up your TTT below :)

Book Discussion: When Updating Becomes Frustrating

Hey guys! Every day, I try to come up with new ideas or features to post about, especially since I don't read as fast as some other bloggers do. And sometimes, it's just REALLY frustrating, because I can't find the time to write up posts. 

Until now! That's why I'm adding this new book discussion feature! I've seen other bloggers discuss book issues as well, and it just seems like a lot of fun, or frustrating. But whatever.

Updating, and why it's a pain in the butt sometimes

I absolutely love having a book blog. It's only been a couple of months, and I'm incredibly impressed with how far this has come along. However, every once in a while, I find myself stuck. Either I don't want to read, or I don't want to write about it. I procrastinate! 

For me, writing has been the hardest to grasp. I have a ton of trouble putting words together. WHY DO I HAVE THIS TROUBLE.

Over the past few reviews, I've been slowly changing my style to be fun and all gif-ed up, but still also a little formal. But I still stumble over my words a lot. And it's absolutely driving me crazy. Especially STARTING posts. Raise your hand if you have trouble figuring out how to start a post. *raises hand*

Sometimes I even look at other blogger reviews to get the gist of how I'm supposed to be writing the beginning. I also do this for book blog layouts that I admire. 

This week, I'm trying to schedule a post for every day of the week, which is going to be especially hard, even though I have a decent amount of free time. Well, maybe not every day, but I don't know. It just feels so satisfying to constantly see new posts on my blog (I often refresh my blog to look at it because I'm a perfectionist). 

So I was just wondering, does anyone have just as much trouble as me when it comes to scheduling posts and updating? I'm trying to schedule more posts up, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to keep it up.

Review: Dragon's Bait

Dragon's Bait by Vivian Vande Velde
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Released: April 1st, 2003

Fifteen-year-old Alys is not a witch. But that doesn't matter--the villagers think she is and have staked her out on a hillside as a sacrifice to the local dragon.

It's late, it's cold, and it's raining, and Alys can think of only one thing--revenge. But first she's got to escape, and even if she does, how can one girl possibly take on an entire town alone?

Then the dragon arrives--a dragon that could quite possibly be the perfect ally. . . .

Taken from Goodreads

Start: 4/2/2014 | End: 4/4/2014 | Pages: 208 | Rating: 3.5 Stars  

My Thoughts: 

I discovered this book through Tumblr, surprisingly, because the post summarized the plot of it but NEVER gave out the title. I literally had to search through the notes in order to see who answered the poster's question, and I FOUND IT. 

Dragon's Bait is a pretty old book, being published around 11 years ago. I'm surprised I never read it when I was younger, because this would have been perfect for me. There is only a tinge of romance in it, since it's technically classified as a children's book. It FEELS like a children's book. 

Our main character, Alys (such a cool name), from the start of the book, is accused of being a witch *gasp*. Her father is currently suffering from some sort of disease, and promptly dies while she's being taken away. However, instead of being burned at the stake, the Inspector, Atherton, decides to feed her to the nearby dragon as a sacrifice. This way both her, and the dragon, will be gone. 

Luckily for her, this doesn't happen, and instead, we see her befriending the dragon, Selendrile. And not only this, but the dragon can also change into any creature, including human. The reason why he rescues her is unknown, maybe it's because of her thirst for revenge at the townspeople, and the people she thought were her friends.

Don't get me wrong, I really liked this book. It was very fast-paced, and I liked both Alys and Selendrile. But the truth is, I really wished that there was more. 200 pages simply isn't enough. It's really not fair that this is a children's book, because this concept has sooooo much potential as a young adult novel. SO MUCH POTENTIAL. I would absolutely love a love story between these Alys and Selendrile. A sequel to this book would be amazing.

But no. I'm just stuck with a couple of shy glances here and there from Alys, with Selendrile just smirking from a distance. Like I can FEEL the attraction but I'm given nothing substantial.

Then again it is a children's book and I just have to calm down. (Though seriously if anyone's heard of a book similar to this one let me know asap)

I really liked how this book showed the difference between the two characters. Alys is pretty innocent, and she doesn't understand how evil the world can be sometimes, though her accusation kind of shows her this. Yet, it's not like she wants the world to burn. The revenge she seeks is fairly innocuous, like wanting to ruin the reputation of both men who accused her. She never thinks about burning the town to the ground. 

You would think that dragon boy over here would think otherwise, but he NEVER questions her! He doesn't suggest, hey let's just burn the town to the ground, but instead helps her think of ways to get revenge. The bulk of the book takes place carrying out their plans, rather than bonding (which is what I had in mind). But then there are some things he does in the background that really makes you (and Alys) question where he got it, how, and whether this should actually be a children's book or not. 

But you know what!? You can totally tell that he really likes her, whether it's romantically or not. Even though Alys keeps on telling herself not to trust him, in the end she does, and honestly I don't know how she does it. I don't want to spoiled the ending for you, but I have a head canon that both Alys and Selendrile become the best of friends. I don't care if there's another book that says otherwise.

It wasn't the best of books, but it was really fun to read. I read more than half of it in one sitting, and then the other half in the next. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a very quick read, and also misses children's books. This book also has some moral to it, like "people only believe in what they want to believe" or something like that, but I'm not sure if I caught on to it entirely. 

And yes I love HTTYD, and no it's not relatable to this book at all except DRAGONS. Excuse for me to use the gifs haha.

✰✰✰

Stacking the Shelves #2

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Paperbacks! Finally got them this week!

Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

I'm super stoked to actually have physical copies of these books, especially Cinder. The last time I bought physical books was....last year! Usually I just get everything on my kindle, but I love having actual books. I'm excited for Shadow and Bone, because I see it EVERYWHERE on Goodreads and other blogs. Code Name Verity is going to be a change from what I usually read (about the Holocaust), but I read basically everything. 

For Review

Dragon's Bait by Vivian Vande Velde

The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pène du Bois

These books are very quick reads. I'm reading Dragon's Bait right now, and I'm currently loving it! Also I have to read the Twenty-One Balloons for book club, and it will be the last book of the year.

Feel free to leave comments and your STS!

Top Ten Tuesday #6

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten "Gateway" Books/Authors In My Reading Journey

Oh wow, I have a vague idea of which books will be on my list. My reading journey started in elementary school, then I took a break during high school, and now I'm back! Well, technically that's not true, but compared to elementary school and college, I read the least amount of books in high school. Damn those standardized tests. And English classics.

And without further ado, here's the list!

1. The Magic Tree House Books by Mary Pope Osborne

I would like to start off very early, more specifically, when I was a little kindergartener! I made my parents buy most of the series, because my teachers were reading it in class. I'm gonna bet that this series was officially my first gateway to the reading world! (picture books read to me do not count)

2. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

Completely obsessed with this book in elementary school. I absolutely loved fantasy, and this got me into the children's fantasy genre. Plus, after Inkheart, I read all of Cornelia Funke's other books as well, including Dragon Rider and Thief Lord. She was my favorite author growing up.

3. Matilda by Roald Dahl

My second grade teacher read every single one of his books during circle time. Matilda was my absolute favorite because she loved books, and she could move objects with her mind. Plus the headmistress and Matilda's parents got what was coming to them. 

4. Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce

I read this entire series in middle school, because it was just pure awesomeness. This was one of the first books that introduced me to YA fantasy, and also an amazing, kickass heroine. I can't wait to read it again over the summer!

5. Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

I read this last year in only one day. This book got me out of my book reading slump in college, and I'm so glad I stumbled upon it on Goodreads, and then decided to buy it off Amazon.

6. Hate List by Jennifer Brown

I actually hate books about drugs and school drama. But the Hate List was different. I made myself read this book for an All About Me challenge, since the main character's name is Val. I really didn't want to read it, but after I started, I couldn't stop. It made me think about who is really blamed for a school shooting, and how people just assume things so easily. It really adds a whole new perspective regarding these sensitive topics. 

7. The Mediator Series by Meg Cabot

My all-time favorite YA series, that introduced me to the YA paranormal genre. I absolutely loved The Mediator, and I am so glad I stumbled upon it in the library in middle school. One day, I will own the entire series.

8. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

I highly recommend this book. It's about the life and times of an autistic boy, named Christopher, who knows every single country in the world and every prime number up to 7057. This book led to read more fiction books about autism and other cognitive disorders, like Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend, Still Alice, and Flowers for Algernon.

9. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain

This is the first non-fiction book that I thoroughly enjoyed AND read on my own free will! I recommend this to anyone that is interested in psychology, or is an introvert. It explains everything using easy to understand words, unlike some other non-fiction books. Due to this, I am now more interested in non-fiction, and also memoirs.

10. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

This is an obvious choice. I LOVE HARRY POTTER!

I started reading the series in elementary school, and then waited for the rest (books 5, 6, and 7) to come out as well. My mom actually HID the one I was reading at the time because I just wouldn't stop reading it. Nevertheless, I got it back (thank god) and then just continued to read it. I'm pretty sure it led to other fantasy books, like Inkheart, but overall it increased my interest in reading.

How about you? Link your TTT below!