BookBlogWriMo 2015 - Day 20: Book Pet Peeves

Today's Topic: Book Pet Peeves

Things that bother me in a book?  No problemo!  Here are five of my largest pet peeves.

1.  Insta-love.  I realize this is probably on everyone's list but it just annoys me so much when I'm reading a book and all of a sudden, in like an hour, a character has fallen deeply in love with someone.  One, this is entirely unrealistic.  And two, it trivializes love and what it means to love someone.  Personally, I really don't like throwing around the word love to people.  If I don't love you, I won't tell you I do.

2.  Drawn-out love triangles (or squares or pentagons or whatever!).  Quite honestly, I don't mind love triangles if they're done right.  But I hate it when a love triangle is drawn out simply to add tension to the book when clearly we know who the character is going to choose.  It's just terrible to keep reading a book when you know the other character doesn't stand a chance.

3.  Being unable to picture a scene because it doesn't make sense.  I really like being able to picture scenes in books so it's like a movie in my mind.  So it really irks me when authors write confusing passages or don't do any world-building so I can't imagine the space where the characters are.  I'm a very visual person so I like to have everything set up before the characters are dropped in.

4.  Cookie-cutter worlds/storylines.  Maybe it's just because I've read a ton of books but honestly it gets really annoying and boring real fast when every book has the same setting, the same world, or the same plot with different character names.  This especially bothers me in fantasy worlds because the author had the opportunity to make it their own and instead, they just went with something someone else already created.  And I'm fine with authors using pre-created worlds.  It's just when they refuse to chance anything.  At least add a little something!  Anything!

5.  Contractions.  This is such a big thing for me.  Actually, I'm reading a book right now where contractions aren't properly used.  People in the modern age don't say things like:

"I will not go with you."
or 
"I do not understand you."

No no.  Maybe in fantasy or historical worlds but not realistic fiction people (with the exception of the character's personality).  It makes everything sound so stiff and formal and just prevents me from diving into the story.


What are some of your book pet peeves?

BookBlogWriMo 2015 - Day 19: #ThirstyThursday - Book Character Crushes

Today's Topic: Book Character Crushes

Hmm this is a tough one!  I'll just list a couple ;)

Tamlin from A Court of Thorns and Roses

So obviously I have a thing for this book and the characters in it!  I don't know, immortal fey warriors are just so awesome to me.  Tamlin is just so sweet and so dangerous at the same time!  Haha I know that sounds horrible :)

Sergei from Queen of Someday

This guy is just so kind and understanding and warm and fuzzy and badass and amazing!  Love him to pieces!

Prince Kai from Cinder

He's my favorite love interest in The Lunar Chronicles!  He's so passionate and caring and has so much ambition.  Of course it doesn't hurt that he's a prince :)

Anden from Legend

While I'll always love Day and June together, my favorite character in this series is definitely Anden.  His temperament is so wonderful and, like Kai, is so passionate and caring and truly wants the best for the Republic.  He's adorable!

This is a list I pulled from the top of my head so there are dozens that I'm forgetting - obviously :D

Who are some of your book character crushes?

BookBlogWriMo 2015 - Day 18: Book Wishlist

Today's Topic: Book Wishlist

There are only a couple books I've had my eye on for a while in terms of buying a copy.  Here they are!

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

I read this a couple of weeks ago (review to come!) and I really want a hardcover copy to go next to the other books in the series that are sitting on my shelf!  I can't wait to read this book over, and over, and over again.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Same as above!  I really loved this book and it's a book that I'm going to want to read over and over again!  It would also look really pretty on my shelf :)

The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Same sort of deal here although I wouldn't mind getting an ebook copy of this series.  I'd love to reread this series and have it so I can reread it at my convenience.

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

I have an ebook copy of all of the other books in the series except for this one!  I'd really love a copy so I can reread the whole series in it's completion.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

I really liked this book (as well as the movie!) but really I'd only like a copy of this book and not the others in the series.  You know how you read a really good book but you never want to read it again?  That was what the rest of the series was like.  I really liked it, but I'll never want to reread it.

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

This is my favorite book of the series and I'd love to reread it!  It also has a gorgeous cover so that doesn't hurt :)

That's all for now!  What books are on your book wishlist?

BookBlogWriMo 2015 - Day 17: Your Review Process and System

Today's Topic: Your Review Process and System

Ha, quick side-note here... I really have to update my Rating and Review System tab... I haven't updated that actually since I've started this blog almost 2 years ago which is really terrible... Anyway!

I don't really have a solid system in place for my reviews.  I suppose I'll start with the star ratings.


1 star: I didn't finish this book.  I had to DNF (and I don't DNF lightly).  There was just so much that I found wrong with the book personally that I couldn't force myself to read any more.

2 star: This was a slightly okay book.  There was a significant number of things that I didn't like that outweighed what I did like although I did enjoy at least one aspect of the book.

3 star: This was a solid meh book.  There were an equal amount of things that I liked and that I didn't like.

4 star: I would recommend this book to someone.  There were some things I didn't like but what I liked vastly outweighed that.

5 star: Amazingly awesome book that struck a chord with me.  I loved it so so much and would definitely recommend it.


So let's talk about the process.

First, I have to find the book that I'm going to read.  This will come from my TBR, blog posts, or recommendations from friends.  I'll request the book from the library 99.99% of the time.

Then, when the book comes, I'll put it on the stack!  I read books in the order that they come to me (although if one is due back in 2 weeks because it's highly requested, I'll read it right away).  It normally takes me 2 nights to read an average book, but I usually take up to a week for R&R books.  While I'm reading, I'll be highlighting (only on ebooks) quotes I really like.  If it's a print book, I won't write any down and just look on Goodreads for quotes.  If there isn't the one I want on Goodreads, I'll go back and find it in the book for my review.

Next, I'll put together my notes.  I keep a notebook and every time I finish a book, I'll go to the next open space and write my shorthand of everything that I liked and didn't like as well as significant plot points or characters I want to mention.  Normally, the notes take about half a page.

Finally, I write my review!  I've really been loving the list style lately - it really helps me to not forget things to mention.  I try to make my reviews about 4-6 paragraphs with The Final Verdict section at the end.  Then, if it's an R&R book, I'll post my review to all of the outlets and contact the author to let them know that the post is scheduled and my review is up!


What's your review system?  Do we share anything?

BookBlogWriMo 2015 - Day 16: Blog Tours or Independent Reviewing?

Today's Topic: Blog Tours or Independent Reviewing?

Personally, I prefer to do more independent reviewing.  The whole point of this blog is to have an outlet for my opinions on the books I read, be able to keep track of what I thought of the books I've read, and to provide reviews for authors who are hunting for reviewers to get their book noticed.

I do participate in blog tours from time to time although it just doesn't seem as important to me.  I'll often sign up for blog tours for authors who I have a good relationship with and have read their books (and liked them!).

I certainly don't have anything against blogs that are more focused on blog tours but personally, I find myself deleted a lot of those posts from my inbox without looking at them.  They just aren't as interesting to me as reading a review.  I really liked to know how people felt about a book rather than just learn about the book itself.  There are instances when I'll look at blog tour posts, but I usually find them just meh.

What's your opinion?  Do you read blog tours or do you skip over them?

BookBlogWriMo 2015 - Day 15: Author Buddies

Today's Topic is: Author Buddies.

This topic is all about who my auto-buy authors are/authors who I follow religiously!

I have to say I don't really have any auto-buy authors.  I have auto-read authors, just not auto-buy ones.  The thing is, I really don't have the funds to buy a bunch of books and then not want to read them ever again.  So normally what I do, is I check out books from the library and if I like them and think I'd read them over and over and over and over, I buy a copy!  So I have auto-read authors.  Who are they?  Here are a couple:

Sarah J. Maas

Author of the Throne of Glass series and the A Court of Thorns and Roses series

Rick Riordan

Author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, The Kane Chronicles, and countless other series'

Josephine Angelini

Author of the Starcrossed series and The Worldwalker Trilogy

Shannon Hale

Author of Dangerous, The Books of Bayern series, the Princess Academy series, Book of a Thousand Days and more

Marie Lu

Author of The Young Elites series and the Legend series

Julie Kagawa

Author of the Talon series, the Blood of Eden series, and the Iron Fey series (and companion series The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten)

Kiera Cass

Author of the Selection series

Jennifer L. Armentrout

Author of the Lux series, the Covenant series, the Titan series, the Dark Elements series, and A Wicked Saga

Wendy Higgins

Author of the Sweet series and the See Me series

There you go!  I know, it's quite a list that's kind of female heavy.  I'm trying to find more books by male authors but so far I haven't found any that I'd follow to the extent I do these people.  I'm sure there's someone out there!

Who are some of your author buddies?

BookBlogWriMo 2015 - Day 14: What Role Do Books Play In Your Life?

Today's Topic: What Role Do Books Play In Your Life?

I touched on this on one of the previous day's but let's get more in depth shall we?

Books actually do play a pivotal role in my life.  They're my stress management system: whenever I'm upset, I just read a book before I do something I regret.  They are the sole reason why I am such a mild-mannered and balanced person.

Books also serve as some of my knowledge.  I read both fiction and nonfiction as well as fiction that is drawn from the truth.  You'd be surprised how much you can learn from books if you'd only listen.  One of my favorite quotes from the Throne of Glass series is:

“Libraries were full of ideas–perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons.” 

Isn't it just perfect?

So there you have it!  Books are an integral part of my life and they aren't leaving anytime soon!

What role do books play in your life?