TTT: Best reads of the year 2013

I have read a LOT of great books this year, so this was very difficult!

1. Days of Blood & Starlight: (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #2) Fantasy about a generations old war between seraphim and chimera. This is becoming a favorite series of mine. Just waiting for the last installment.

2. The Book Thief: If any of you haven't read this it is one of the best stories ever. This is the journey of a little German girl during WW2 as told by Death. It is extremely touching and well written. Review.

3. Let's Pretend This Never Happened: Jenny Lawson (The Bloggess)'s memior. This women can take any moment that would crush most of us and make it funny without taking out any of the emotion. This story makes me feel better. I have the audio book and I listen to part of it at least once a week. I've been down a lot lately and it's a great pick me up.
 

TTT: Summer TBR 2013

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

1. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time: The begginning was great and it's been recommended by two trusted sources.

A Game of Thrones



2. A Game of Thrones: Mostly a conversation piece, guys at work are reading it. Also it's challenging my comfort zone, it's what I usually consider a boy book (that certain kind of Sci-fi, like Redwall series) and avoid.

3. Delirium: This story seems addicting. Honestly I just haven't gotten to it. I read mostly in bed with my kindle lately. (I love that it's its own light source.) Anyway the copy I own is a hardback, and I've been too lazy for hardbacks lately.

Delirium

TTT: Great books with a travel focus

 

 

 

                                                   

 

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight                        Beauty Queens                

 

1. A cute story of two people who connect very strongly at an airport, then over an international flight. The writing/MC point of view is fun and kind of snarky.

 

2. Starts with a plane crash. Beauty Queens stuck on a desert island learning they can take care of themselves and choosing who they want to be as opposed to being told who they should be. Introspective characters mix with the crazy writing full of satirical commercials.

 

3. When Ginny's aunt dies she sends her a a series of letters with instructions meant to help Ginny be more spontaneous and independent. This book made me obsess of Maureen Johnson's writing, she became one of my buy everything authors. (She also has a very amusing blog.)

 

 

13 Little Blue Envelopes

 

 

TTT: Best Read in 2013 (so far...)

 

 I have read so many great books this year... 
                                         But I think these are the best!

1. Days of Blood and Starlight: True Story: Karou has one of the strangest upbringings you've ever heard. But it's only the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more she doesn't know.This series is wonderful so far. It could very well breach my favorite stories, as long as the last book stands up to the other two and concludes everything well. I am anxiously awaiting.  
2. The Book Thief: A story of a young German girl in Nazi Germany circa WW2. This book is SAD. It is not easy to get through. And it is basically a necessary read for all living beings.
3. The Phantom Tollbooth: Story of a young boy with no ambition and his journey figuring out the importance and fun of learning and trying. I can't believe no one exposed me to this when I was a child. My love of words could have begun so much younger. Anyway this is fun even as an adult.

 

 

What's your favorite story of the year?

TTT: Great books with Great Covers

     

1. Ella Minnow Pea: The literal nature of of the pictures fits very well with the story and the writing, and I love it.
2. A Great and Terrible Beauty: I just think corsets are beautiful. The cover is soft and artful in person so much so that I saved for the hard backs of the whole series. I think it fits the story and it's always been one my favorite covers.
3. Anna Dressed in Blood: The image is a specific scene from the story and it's a powerful one. I love this story and this cover is beautiful and scary and everything I could want from the cover of this book.
4. Twilight: original cover series. I love the artistic red on white. I always see this tiny corruption and seduction in it.

 

 

Five Reasons I Like Iron Man 3

1. The new suit. The suit becomes more and more a part of Tony.


2. Tony Stark's anxiety. A strong person (a hero, even) showing it's ok to be vulnerable and have emotional scars.


3. More interesting action movie. Big brains are more interesting than big muscles and tits (makes the 145 minute theatre time just long enough).


4. Mr. "I don't like to be handed things" relates to others, including a child. BUT in a way that can only be enduring done by Tony Stark.


5. Pepper Potts -- We get to delve into Pepper a bit more. She gets to be the focus of scenes instead of supporting.

TTT: Words/Topics That Instantly Make Me Buy/Pick Up A Book







These three have all my top discriptives in droves:

 



Days of Blood and Starlight   Anna Dressed in Blood   The Phantom Tollbooth

1. Witty Dialogue.
2. Finding one's place.
3. Supernatural (especially Vampires, Ghosts, Faeries, Greek Myths).

	What's the wittiest book you've ever read? I'd love to add more to my TBR!

TTT*: Books I thought I would like more than I did





    

1. A Separate Peace: This is a high school reading assignment that I DNF. It was beloved by my English teacher, one of her favorites, who made me love literature, but I just couldn't get into to this. I thought it was whiny.
2. On the Jellicoe Road: This is a favorite of many bloggers I like but I felt like it was all over the place. I read 5 1/2 chapters and just couldn't get into it.
3. The Forest of Hands and Teeth: This was recommended by many of my favorite authors. The beginning is wonderful and more creative than most zombie tales. The rest of the story is ok, even some very searing images, but the filler is ridiculous. I barely made it through.

Have you guys read any of these? Tell me why I'm wrong (or why you agree :) ).

*I don't read as fast as many books or as fast as most who participate in this meme so I decided to do a Top Three. This way my posts wont be so repetitive and I can still play with you guys. Love you all. Please tell me what you think of my list and link yours.

TTT*: Books I wish I read as a kid

     

1. Harry Potter And The Sorcerers Stone: I read this, but after I saw the movie, and it didn't have the effect on me that it's had on many people my age. The sense of connectedness and passion that Pottermores have is something I feel I missed out on.
2. A Monster Calls: So moving. This story is so full of love, pain, and acceptance. Every page is a catharsis. Also the artwork is invigorating, perfect for the story.
3. The Phantom Tollbooth: The passion of wordplay is amazing and I wish I'd know of it sooner. A lot of blogs I've seen praise this book as THE book of their childhood, the one that made them love words. Even as an adult this book is an amazing accomplishment in understanding language and communication.

What about you guys? Which book from your childhood is still a great read for adults?

 

*I don't read as fast as many books or as fast as most who participate in this meme so I decided to do a Top Three. This way my posts wont be so repetitive and I can still play with you guys. Love you all. Please tell me what you think of my list and link yours. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

TTT*: Before Blogging

I want to reread these just to get reviews up.

     

1. Perk's Of Being a Wallflower: All time top three. I've logged more rereads than any other story but never reviewed because it was pre-blog. I'll just say Charlie is so lovely with his steadfast personality. He's weird, emotional,studios, and just a good guy. I love that he doesn't let life take that away from him.
2. A Great and Terrible Beauty: The imagery is so wonderfully vibrant. Enthralling story.
3. White Oleander: The story was brutal, and touching. One of my favorites but I've lost mostof the details.

*I don't read as fast as many books or as fast as most who participate in this meme so I decided to do a Top Three. This way my posts wont be so repeatitive and I can still play with you guys. Love you all. Please tell me what you think of my list and link yours.

Review: The Book Thief

Published: March 14th 2006 by Knopf Books for Young Readers    
Pages: 550
Part of a Series: No
Recommended By: Everyone

Teaser: "Stars of David were plastered to their shirts, and misery was attached to them as if assigned. “Don’t forget your misery …” In some cases, it grew on them like a vine."
In a sentence or so: A young girl growing up in Nazi Youth must decide which words in life to believe in."

*Rating: 10/10
GoodReads Description:
It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery....

Narrated by Death, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a young foster girl living outside of Munich in Nazi Germany. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist – books. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever they are to be found.

With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, Liesel learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids, as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

1. Type of story: Historical Fiction. (Free 1 point)
2. Consistency: Lost in it. (1 point)
3. Flesh: Hans with the silver eyes and sad lolling accordion. Rosa  seemed so mean spirited with her constant insults but loved her family so deeply. Max hiding in a basement and dreaming of fighting The Fuhrer. The Mayor's Wife so broken. Rudy standing up for what's right and only wanting a little in life: to run fast, eat his fill, and get a kiss from the extraordinary girl next door. Liesel growing up amongst this seeing horror but still finding some happiness in friendship, some knowledge and comfort in words and growing into a young woman those around her could be held up by. The girl who saved others with words. So many others each unforgettable.(1 point)

4. Flow: The story moves slowly but not in a bad way. Every piece of it is worth time, so take your time with it.(1 point)
5. Character Growth: Talk about growth: Liesel starts off just a sad girl missing her mom and brother. She has to learn the bigger picture of what it means to be a German girl in Hitler's youth, what war and the men who start it are, and who she chooses to be in the circumstances. (1 point)
6. A Point/ Purpose/ Journey: One of my favorite (because it applies to me as well): Books save lives.  (1 point)
7. Witty Dialogue: Yes, the clever snaps of friendship. Though some of it is in German. There is just enough to show the resilience of humanity, no matter what, when loved, people can choose to go on living. (1 point)

8. Love: All of these characters are so full of love, for those around them and those lost in war. Love and sorrow.(1 point)
9. Evoke Realistic Images: I saw every basement, classroom, cold river, everything and I don't remember how it was done. Flawless.(1 point)
10. If anyone ever thought about it, "What's the best way to tell a story about war?", they should arrive at the same conclusions as Markus Zusak. Death should narrate. Death sets the pace of war.  Sometimes there are many, some days there are few. Sometimes you know them, and sometimes not. Sometimes the brutality of war bleeds together. (1 point)

Reread Worthy: Yes.
Recommendation: Anyone trying to survive.

Review: Paper Towns by John Green

 

Published: October 16th 2008 by Dutton Juvenile
Pages: 305
Part of a Series: No
Read For a Challenge: No
Recommended By: Nerdfighteria
Teaser: "You know your problem, Quentin? You keep expecting people not to be themselves. I mean, I could hate you for being massively unpunctual and for never being interested in anything other than Margo Roth Spiegelman, and for, like, never asking me about how it's going with my girlfriend - but I don't give a shit, man, because you're you. My parents have a shit ton of black Santas, but that's okay. They're them. I'm too obsessed with a reference website to answer my phone sometimes when my friends call, or my girlfriend. That's okay, too. That's me. You like me anyway. And I like you. You're funny, and you're smart, and you may show up late, but you always show up eventually."
In a sentence or so: Realizing fully that no one's life is perfect. Taking a closer look at the person you idolize and seeing that when you thought they were laughing they were actually crying.
*Rating: 10/10
GoodReads Description:
Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs back into his life - dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge - he follows.

After their all-nighter ends and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues - and they're for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer Q gets, the less Q sees the girl he thought he knew.


1. Type of story: YA Mystery (Free 1 point)
2.Consistency: Weirdness of word choice: Long and sorted VS Long and storied. This happened twice in the story. I am accustomed to the first and John uses the second. This gave me pause while reading but instead of annoying me it enhances a feeling I have for this book. The feeling I get from this book is an intense concentration on word choice. The word choice in this book seems so deliberate that this book stands out to me as a tribute from John to many authors that influenced him and changed his life but at the same time the writing in this book is uniquely John Green. (1 point)
3. Flesh: The characters in this book are more real than many because of the journey they go through imagining each other complexly. The fullness of these personalities is so infiltrating they may make you realize some wrong imaginations you've been making about people around you. This makes everyone more real than they had been to you before. (1 point)
4. Flow: Quick ups and longer downs. The pacing runs the way I would think an investigation would: fast when you discover a clue then frustratingly slow as you try to piece it together in the big scheme of things.(1 point)
5. Character Growth: These characters learn about what's most important to them and confront assumptions they make about people in their lives.  (1 point)
6. A Point/ Purpose/ Journey: Imagining others complexly and knowing the damage caused when we don't. (1 point)
7. Witty Dialogue: These kids play Metaphysical I-Spy, where in what you spy can not actually be seen, enough said.
8. Love: Through admiration, glorification, and finally through the cracks. Friendship in the truest way is found in these pages.  (1 point)
9. Evoke Realistic Images: I will leave you with a couple examples. "Giant white wall of cow" and ""IT IS NOT MY FAULT THAT MY PARENTS OWN THE WORLD'S LARGEST COLLECTION OF BLACK SANTAS.” You can't shake those images, can you? Yeah... read this book.(1 point)
10. Writing/Story telling: Another thought provoking tale from John Green. It will change you if you let it. (1 point)

Reread Worthy: Yes. Good to have around when you're drowning in feelings of "WHY WOULD ANYONE EVER DO THAT?!?!?" You'll need help to imagine them more complexly.
Recommendation: Everyone who has to coexist with other people. Fans of John Green, Maureen Johnson, Markus Zusack, Walt Whitman, ...any writer really, if you like to read you should read this, it's worth your time.

*Click Rating to see post about my 10 aspects of a great book.