Musing Mondays (17 Feb 2014)

Hey Everyone!

So for today's Musings Mondays I thought I would talk about book buying places. Mostly Amazon versus Barnes & Noble.

This weekend was my sister's birthday and my Prime had ended on my Amazon account so I wasn't able to shop on there without paying a shipping & handling fee. So, instead I went to Barnes & Noble and was shocked at how much books cost outside of the internet world. I spent $19 on two soft cover books. One of them was $9 and I bought this book for my roommate a few weeks ago for a little over $5.00 and I bought another soft cover for $10. My Dad bought a hard cover for $20.

I am seriously wondering why books are so expensive outside of amazon? I get that you're paying the store and all, but why is it that going to Barnes & Noble makes me want to shop on Amazon even more? There is very little tax (there used to be no tax, but my state built an Amazon shipping plant so there is now tax) and it is just cheaper.

What do you guys prefer to do? Shopping in person or online?

WWW Wednesdays (12 Feb 2014)

Hey Everyone!

Here is this week's WWW Wednesday! I hope you like it!





What are you currently reading?

Legacy by Cayla Kluver (book 1 of a trilogy)















What did you recently finish?

Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened by Allie Brosh













What do you think you will read next? 

Allegiance by Cayla Kluver (book 2)

Teaser Tuesdays (11 Feb 2014)

Hey Everyone!

The book I chose this week is The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (pseudonym for J.K. Rowling).

First Teaser:

"And yet he was close to feeling about her as he had felt towards a grass snake that he had succeeded in trapping in Trevaylor Woods when he was eleven, and about which he had had a long, pleading argument with his Auntie Joan: "Please let me keep it...please..."" 

"It was the first grin he had ever dared give her. He supposed he ought to be annoyed with himself, and yet Strike stepped out into the cool early afternoon with no feeling of regret, but rather a curious sense of renewed optimism."

Both excerpts from pp. 83 of the hardback version.

Top Ten Tuesday- Top Ten Books That Will Make You Swoon

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish. They'd love to share their lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Click here to visit post.

This week's topic is "Top ten books that will make you swoon." I'm going to take this as books that haven't come out/ I haven't read yet. 

1. The One by Kiera Cass

If you know me at all on here, then you will definitely know how much I adore this series. I am so excited for May, you have no idea. The cover looks absolutely stunning and the characters (mostly America and Maxon) definitely make me swoon. I love Cass' writing style and just the overall storyline of this. I can't wait to hold this book in my hands and own it and read it and love it. 

2. Insurgent by Veronica Roth

I loved Divergent. It was so good and I'm aware, I'm two books behind. Sue me! I read the first book before summer began in 2013. I need to reread it and then I will definitely read this one. TRIS AND TOBIAS FOR THE WORLD!

3. Legend by Marie Lu

I picked this up way before I heard all the hype about it. I admit, I bought it because I loved the cover and love me some dystopian. Now it's been sitting on my shelf and my sister has been the only one to read it. She loves it, she's read the whole series by now. I need to get on this one.






4. The Archived by Victoria Schwab

I have been hearing things about this for months. I snagged it over the weekend when it was $0.99 because I couldn't pass it up. Though I prefer having the hard copy of the book (which I will eventually buy), I am sure I will love this. The story sounds beautiful and the cover itself makes me swoon.






5. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

I have heard about this from booktubers and friends on a variety of occasions. I have owned this book for a few months and I think it is time I read this. I heard Eleanor and Park have the cutest little relationship, but the ending is sad (thank you sister, I hope you're very happy about telling me this).






6. City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

Again, this one is kind of a standard one. I love Cassandra Clare and I have loved every book she has written about this world, I can't wait to read more. Jace is one of my favorite characters...EVER!







7. Control by Lydia Kang

I heard about this from JessetheReader on YouTube. He invited me for a read-a-long and I am planning on reading this soon. Though it probably won't be for the read-a-long, it will be soon. I am sure I will love it, it sounds absolutely amazing.







8. The Sound of Letting Go by Stasia Ward Kehoe

I have mentioned this book before and it sounds absolutely amazing. This sounds like the sweetest story ever. That is all I need to say to this.








9.  When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney

I heard about this from MelissaBooks on YouTube and this sounds like an amazing contemporary novel. I am starting to love these, I can't wait to read it.








10. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

I don't think any of you should be surprised by this. I am practically a professional fangirl (my walls of One Direction appear to prove this to be true) and I have wanted to read this since the summer. I bought this for my roommate for Christmas and want to read it so  badly. I'll buy it eventually, just you watch.

Until Next Time,
Feel free to leave your thoughts below :)

Musing Mondays (10 Feb 2014)

Hey Everyone!

For this Musings Monday, I need to talk about my reading "schedule" as the semester has begun and I am STRUGGLING.

I think college is definitely the time to have fun, but for those of us who love books as much as one loves their video games, we find difficulty finding time in the day to sit down (comfortably, might I add) to enjoy reading a good book. Even though it is just the start of week two of semester, I am already struggling.

Reading has always been important to me, and this blog is definitely important to me as I am blogging about books. Classes have seemed to get in the way of me reading and reviewing on here. Sometimes, the thought of vlogging passed through my mind, but for some reason, I can't bring myself to vlog. I think the reason is that my roommate and I spend a great deal of our free time in the dorm room leaving very little privacy for the both of us.

Last semester, I read my books between classes (if I had time) and at work (I work a desk job in the school's library). Work was the easiest place to read as there is a lot of down time and she lets us read a good book. Though, during summer, she gives you projects instead of letting you read. That's a little messed up, right?

If you're in college, or were, what would you suggest? is there something you did to find time to read?

Top Ten Bookish Resolutions - Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. To find out more about it and its future topics, click here

 *~*~*~*~*~*~*

Hey Everyone,

So I was going to do something like this, and what perfect timing this Top Ten Tuesday had! I have so many reading related resolutions that I want to do in 2014. 

Read more than 50 books. Last year, I read 37 and that is only because my goal was 30 and I had a slow start to my reading year. Therefore, this year on goodreads, my goal is to hit 50 books.

Read classics. I admit, I am the person to only read classics when I have been told to read them. I have purchased five or six classics and will be reading them.

Blog about book reviews more. I admit, I don't do book reviews as much and am still getting the hang of things in book review world, so I want to better my reviews and get the hang of things.

Read whenever I don't have a lot going on. My problem last year (namely September through December) was that I spent too much time cramming reading in that I forgot to study sometimes. I'm changing that, though. I want to read more on the weekends and study more during the week. Yep, that is what I am doing.

Be more critical of the books I'm reading. I find that I will love a book for what it's worth and appreciate it no matter how bad the writing is. I want to be more harsh and more critical.

Ignore reviews when buying a book. If I see a book that I want, I want to not care what other people have thought and just focus on what books I want. I've done this already, but I want to not look at the ratings and reviews until after I read the book.

Read more debuts and new releases. I was a little behind on the John Green, Cassandra Clare, and the Kiera Cass bandwagon's so I want to get on the new releases that are most anticipated quickly. I am still catching up from 2013!

Happy New Year!
Leave your own Top Ten Tuesdays in the comments below!

Musing Mondays (6 January 2013)

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme created by Should be Reading

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week…

• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it! 
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it.
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!
• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!

MY MUSING MONDAY:

This is my first one, so I think I'm going to start off with my reading habits since this is something I need to improve. This past year, my reading has been slowly going downhill due to school. When I started University, I found it hard to read, but I found the perfect time to read and that was when I was at work. I work in the library, so it only seemed fitting that I read there.

I could finish a book in two days of working and I loved that about my job. However, when the term ended almost a month ago, my reading began to go down hill. I just didn't have a great reading streak. I have to find time to fit reading into my nonexistent schedule and it's harder than it looks. Sometimes, I want to read, but I just can't be bothered.

If the books I am reading are some of the best books I have ever read, then yes, I will make an effort to read them quickly. 

One of the hardest things for me is finding a place to read. I love sitting in a big chair with music playing. The hardest part at home is finding that kind of space since my siblings are always around and they seem to love making loud noises. I need to get a comfy big chair where I can do all of my reading.

I tried reading before I went to bed, but I ended on a really good part and it kept me up most of the night thinking about it. Reading when I go to bed just doesn't work for me.

The Friday 56 (3 January 2013)

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by fredasvoice.

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

"I couldn't breathe, my lungs shuddering with sobs, my nostrils plugged by the heel of his palm. Spots danced before my eyes; my chest burned. I fought again... needing air.. desperate for air -"

~Sylvia Day, Reflected in You book 2 of the Crossfire Series (page 56)

Friday Finds (3 January 2014)

Friday Finds is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading

FRIDAY FINDS showcases the books you ‘found’ and added to your To Be Read (TBR) list… whether you found them online, or in a bookstore, or in the library — wherever! (they aren’t necessarily books you purchased).
So, come on — share with us your FRIDAY FINDS!

• Timebound by Rysa Walker | Goodreads
• My Name is Rapunzel by KC Hilton | Goodreads
• Wither by Lauren DeStefano | Goodreads

• The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson | Goodreads
• Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky | Goodreads
• The Annihilation of Foreverland by Tony Bertauski | Goodreads

• Nameless by Lili St. Crow | Goodreads
• Winger by Andrew Smith | Goodreads
• This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales | Goodreads

• The Locket Thief by Daniel Patrick | Goodreads
• Forecast by Elise Stephens | Goodreads

The Friday 56 | How to Love by Katie Cotugno

Hey Everyone!

Today I am doing a meme from Freda's Voice and it intrigued me so I thought I would give this a try. Here are the very simple rules:

*Grab any book
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in ereader
*Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

The book I grabbed is:

Amazon

"In all the years I had known him--and I'd known him, more or less, since I was born--Sawyer had never once asked me to go anywhere."

Top Ten Tuesday: 2014 Releases

Hey Everyone!

So this week, I found a new tag (shocking, I know) and thought I would give this one a whirl with a whole lotta research. Yeah! Book search! 2014 books!

This is a meme created by The Broke and The Bookish here on blogger and they are wanting to know the books we are most looking forward to in the next year.

1. City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

I am so excited for this book, words cannot describe how excited I am! I fell in love with The Mortal Instruments back in October and can't get enough of it. I love the world, I love characters, and I can't wait to see what will happen to end this series.


Release Date: May 27, 2014

2. The One by Kiera Cass

I haven't read the second book yet, but I did order it via my father's credit card for Christmas (don't jude-- he lets me order my own Christmas gifts). I loved The Selection and I am not going to lie... this cover is TO DIE FOR. It is gorgeous.


Release Date: May 6, 2014

3. The Queen's Choice by Cayla Kluver

I absolutely loved her first debut book which she wrote when was around 14 or 15. I have all of her books thus far, her latest one, Sacrifice, being officially signed. I have a connection to her as she is from my home state so I also feel obligated to buy all of her books :D I'm okay with this, though! It looks amazing!

Release Date: January 28, 2014

4. The Shadow Prince by Bree Despain

I have never read anything by this author, but the description on Goodreads sounds amazing! I am excited to get this book!



Release Date: March 11, 2014

5. The Falconer by Elizabeth May

I am not even going to lie when I say I look forward to this book. I think I am excited to read something that takes place in Scotland because I don't think I've read any that do. Plus, the storyline sounds so good! Plus, it sounds like it's vastly different from anything else.


Release Date: May 6, 2014

6. Deception's Princess by Esther Friesner

At first, when I saw the cover, I thought of Disney's Brave, but when I read the description, it was more of a Young Adult version of the Disney movie and I can't wait to read it.



Release Date: April 22, 2014

7. The Sound of Letting Go by Stasia Ward Kehoe

I am not going to lie, I am excited for this book. I have never read any books by this author, but my God, does this book sound amazing. The main character has an autistic sibling, as do I, and so I have a connection in that sense and of course, there is some UK flair in the story with the exchange student.

Release Date: February 6, 2014

8. The Museum of Intangible Things by Wendy Wunder

I think this book sounds amazing and I have always wanted a best friend who I live near to go around and travel with me in a way that these two do. Plus, who doesn't love the cover? It's so freaking cute!


Release Date: April 10, 2014

9. Fan Art by Sarah Tregay

This book sounds amazing! The whole story sounds cute and would be good for anyone who loves a little contemporary in their lives.



Release Date: June 17, 2014

10. Darksoul by Eveline Hunt

Not going to lie... THIS SOUNDS AMAZING! I am so excited to get my hands on it! Going to buy it as soon as it is released.





Release Date: March 2014 (didn't give a specific date)

I hope you all enjoyed the books on the list for this Top Ten Tuesday tag! Don't forget to leave your feedback on any books you are looking for or if you liked any of these!

Until Next Time,