Let's Evaluate: December 2013

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

2013: December Recap & January TBR

Below is a recap of what I read in December, what I am currently reading, and what I plan to read in the coming January. Although the to be read list is subject to change, these are the ones currently on my mind. Links will connect you to the books Goodreads page.

I hope to have reviews caught up soon, but if you want to see my overall star rating of any of these books, just head over to Goodreads and friend me if you would like. I am always up for new book loving friends :) My Goodreads page can be found here.

DECEMBER RECAP

'Anya's Ghost' by Vera Brosgol

'Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood' by Marjane Satrapi

'Last Sacrifice' by Richelle Mead

'The Cuckoo's Calling' by Robert Galbraith

'American Born Chinese' by Gene Luen Yang

'The Walking Dead, Vol 1: Days Gone Bye' by Kirkman & Moore

'The 100' by Kass Morgan

CURRENTLY READING

'A Game of Thrones' by George R.R. Martin

JANUARY TBR PILE

'Daughter of Smoke & Bone' by Laini Taylor

'Wintergirls' by Laurie Halse Anderson

'The Walking Dead, Vol 2: Miles Behind Us' by Kirkman & Adlard

'Fangirl' by Rainbow Rowell

'Embroideries' by Marjane Satrapi

'The Darkest Minds' by Alexandra Bracken

'Daughter of Smoke and Bone' is the only definite pick for January since I will be reading it for the 2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge's January read-a-long. The post announcing this as January's pick can be found here. Comment below and let me know what you read in December and hope to read in January!

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Stacking the Shelves 12/29/2013

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly feature hosted by Tynga's Reviews that consists of highlighting the books, and book related items, that you have recently picked up and are adding to your shelves! Since Christmas was just a couple of days ago, this is going to be solely the books I received for the holiday! :)

'Falling for You' by Lisa Schroeder

'Me Before You' by JoJo Moyes

'Half the Sky' by Nicholas Kristof & Sheryl WuDunn

Next week I will be featuring books I have purchased since I am waiting on a BookOutlet package right now. Come below and let me know if you have read any of these and books and what you though of them. 'Half the Sky is a nonfiction book that focuses on the global health of women, the field I hope to get into with my degree in public health.

Make sure to also link your Stacking the Shelves, IMM or holiday posts below, so I can stop by and check it out! :)

Saturday, December 28, 2013

'Shades of Earth' by Beth Revis

Length: 369 pages (hardcover)
Publication Date: January 15, 2013
Publisher: Razorbill
Source: library
Overall rating: 4 / 5 stars

Since this is the third book in the Across the Universe series, this will be a very short and vague review of this book. If you have not started this series, check out my review of the first book, it is linked at the end of this post. Overall though I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who it interests, it has a great balance of mystery, sci-fi, space, and romance.

I really enjoyed this last book of the series, it wraps everything up very nicely and didn't leave me confused. I can often be critical of endings of series, but Revis didn't leave me needing more (in a good way). There are a lot of twists and turns in the storyline, just like with the first two, so it really kept my interested throughout.

The first two books did a great job overall of connecting me to the characters and really feeling for them, but I feel 'Shades of Earth' was a bit different in that it relied heavily on the plot. There are definitely pros and cons to both, but in the end I was happy with the tone of the story and was left very satisfied. I did get a bit frustrated with Amy and Elder in this book though, at times they seemed naive and like they hadn't learned anything from being on the ship, but by the end it was wrapped up well.

Overall I really enjoyed this series and if you have read the first two, I would highly recommend picking up the final book and finishing the series off. If you haven't started the series, I would recommend it to sci-fi and space travel fans.

You can check out my review of 'Across the Universe' by clicking here.
You can check out my review of 'A Million Suns' by clicking here.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

'Ender's Game' by Orson Scott Card

Length: 324 pages (paperback)
Publication: originally 1985
Publisher: Tor Science Fiction
Source: bought
Overall rating: 3.5 / 5 stars

'Ender's Game' is a futuristic story about a young boy named Ender that is chosen to be trained as a military leader at Battle School in space. We see Ender's progression through this story of him learning and training to leader soldiers in an inevitable attack against Earth.

Once I heard that 'Ender's Game' was being turned into a move, I knew I needed to get to this science fiction before the end of the year. As a huge sci-fi fan, this has been on my wish list for quite a while.

I really enjoyed the writing style of this book, as well as the character development throughout. We really get to see a large stretch of time of Ender's training and the development and insight was one of the strongest elements, especially for Ender and Valentine. This book is also full of themes that still ring true, whether you read it now or when it was written in the 1980s, like the battle of good and evil within ourselves. I didn't see the ending coming in this one though and it was definitely a pleasant surprise that fit well into the story.

Unfortunately I did find this book to be quite predictable, until the last 50 or so pages. At times that made the storyline quite boring for me and wanting it to move along a bit faster. I also wished there had been a bit more of sci-fi/space elements in the story, since the zero gravity mock battles were the only elements that really intrigued me. Since this is a futuristic novel, I would have liked to see more of Orson Scott Card's imagination, making it more unique.

Overall, I felt very connected to the characters, but would have liked a bit more from the storyline, especially for the first two thirds of the book. It is pretty well known that this story relies on character development and the themes it brings out, but I guess for a book that takes place in space, I wanted more world development and context.

If you are a sci-fi fan like me, this is definitely a classic science fiction story that I would recommend. Right now I do not have plans to continue the series since I hear 'Ender's Game' is the highlight, but at some point down the road, I may pick them up out of curiosity of what happens.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday [10] : Pretty Please Santa? :)

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish so head over there if you want more information or want to participate. This week is a top ten books you wouldn't mind if you got as holiday gifts this year. Although I definitely do not expect to get all these as gifts, these are the books that are at the top of my wish list.

These books are currently at the top of my wish list, and even if I don't get them this holiday season, expect them to pop up again in the new year. I am especially excited to get my hands on 'More Than This' and 'All Our Yesterdays' soon.

Make sure to link your Top 10 Tuesday below, so I can stop by. Thanks! :)

Monday, December 23, 2013

Recommend A... [2] Completed Book Series

Recommend A... is hosted by Vy's Blog. Future Monday prompts can be found here as well as more information on this feature. All you have to do to join in is answer the week's prompt and add your link through Vy's current post.

This week's prompt is: Recommend A... Completed Book Series: Across the Universe Series by Beth Revis:

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the braze new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone - one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship - tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secret. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming. [Synopsis from Goodreads]

'Across the Universe' (Across the Universe #1) by Beth Revis

'A Million Suns' (Across the Universe #2) by Beth Revis

'Shades of Earth' (Across the Universe #3) by Beth Revis

I finished up reading the Across the Universe series this fall and absolutely loved it. It definitely one of my favorite series that I have completed and I would recommend to all sci-fi/space readers. The last book was probably my favorite, so definitely continue on with the series, if you have started it.

Comment below and let me know what you thought of the Across the Universe series, or if you hope to read it soon. Also leave a link to your Recommend A... post, if you participated this week.

Sunday, December 22, 2013

'Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children' by Ransom Riggs

Length: 352 pages (hardcover)
Publication: June 7, 2011
Publisher: Quirk
Source: bought
Overall rating: 3.5 / 5 stars

I knew that for Halloween this year that I would want a creepy read to help myself get into the mood and a story about a teen who travels to an island off of Wales to learn more about his grandfather's home, seemed like a good fit. Jacob grew up with his grandfather telling him outrageous stories from his childhood along with eerie photos of the children he grew up with.

I believe the most unique part about this book is the old photographs through the story, which are all real, that really start to add a creepy element and a visual for a lot of the children Jacob is told about. Most of the photos really added to the story, but there were a few that I thought interrupted the flow and were not necessary.

I enjoyed most of the characters that Jacob comes to meet in his journey, but I also thought Jacob himself could have been a stronger character, with a stronger voice and more control. The plot of the story was quite different than I expected going in, but did end up liking that it wasn't really a horror story. I also found the writing to be enjoyable and fit the story's mood very well.

I wasn't personally a huge fan of the romance in it though. Although it definitely wasn't the center of the story at all, I often felt it was a little forced and uncomfortable. I guess it just seemed like there were more important things to worry about but the the characters still managed to worry about petty feelings. Overall I just think it didn't add anything substantial to the story.

Overall I would definitely recommend this to YA readers, it is very unique and a nice break from stereotypical YA. I definitely plan on reading 'Hollow City,' the next book in the series.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge!

I have decided to participate in the 2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge. Click here to head over to the sign up post and learn more about this challenge. It is pretty easy to guess that the main goal of this challenge is to work through reading the books that have been on your TBR pile for quite some time. There are some guidelines and levels for this challenge so make sure to go check that out, as well as link up your post!

I have challenged myself to read 17 books for this challenge (it is my lucky number) and that puts me into the 'A Friendly Hug' level for the challenge.

The list below are the books I have accomplished reading in 2014 and will be continuously updated to see my progress. You can also click the "2014 Challenges" tab above to check out my progress.

1. [Jan 2014] 'Wintergirls' by Laurie Halse Anderson

2. [Jan 2014] 'Daughter of Smoke and Bone' by Laini Taylor

5.
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Hope everyone has a good year of reading and works their way through the piles of books we all have. :) Comment below and let me know if you enjoyed any of the books and what you plan to read for the challenge.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

'172 Hours on the Moon' by Johan Harstad

Length: 355 pages (hardcover)
Publication: April 17, 2011
Publisher: Little Brown
Source: borrowed from library
Overall rating: 3.5 / 5 stars

I had been seeing this go around a lot of blogs lately and even though it isn't my typical genre, I thought the suspense and thrill of it would be worth the read. The story follows three teenagers are they are given the chance to venture to the moon, after NASA hasn't been there in years.

I really loved the concept behind this story, it was unlike anything I had read before and I knew the mystery behind what they find at the moon would chill me to the bones. About half way through the story turns into a sci-fi, horror story, that left me creeped out after finishing it around midnight.

Initially I didn't really connect with the characters and found them ungrateful for the experience they were going to have, with Midori being the only exception. Mia and Antoine never really changed through the story and I would have liked some development from them. Fortunately, the plot made up for the lack luster characters. The writing also took me a bit getting used too, but I appreciated most of images and graphics that were thrown in the novel.

I don't want to give away anything about the twist at the end because knowing it before hand would take away from the creepiness of actually reading it, but I would definitely recommend this to horror and sci-fi fans that are looking for a young adult version. This isn't too gruesome or disturbing as a lot of other horror and I think that is a big reason I enjoyed it so much.

Overall, I wasn't too impressed with or connected to the characters in the story (which I usually need to enjoy a book) but luckily the plot twists and turns were enough to make up for it, and left me overall enjoyed the story.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday [20]

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This feature highlights a future release that you are eagerly waiting to come out.

'The Impossible Knife of Memory'
by Laurie Halse Anderson

Length: 472 pages (hardcover)

Expected Publication: January 7th 2014

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

For the past five years, Hayley Kincaid and her father, Andy, have been on the road, never staying long in one place as he struggles to escape the demons that have tortured him since his return from Iraq. Now they are back in the town where he grew up so Hayley can attend school. Perhaps, for the first time, Hayley can have a normal life, put aside her own painful memories, even have a relationship with Finn, the hot guy who obviously likes her but is hiding secrets of his own.

Will being back home help Andy’s PTSD, or will his terrible memories drag him to the edge of hell, and drugs push him over? The Impossible Knife of Memory is Laurie Halse Anderson at her finest: compelling, surprising, and impossible to put down.

[Synopsis from Goodreads]

Laurie Halse Anderson is definitely known for writing powerful books and this sounds like no exception. PTSD is definitely a difficult subject, but Anderson seems like the perfect writer for it. Comment below on your thoughts about 'The Impossible Knife of Memory' and link your WoW, if you participated this week.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday [9] : New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2013

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish so head over there if you want more information or want to participate. This week is a top ten new-to-me authors. So for me, I am going to list the top ten authors that I read a work by them for the first time this year. And since it is a top ten, these are also authors that I want to read more from. The links below connect to their author page on Goodreads. :) So here is my list:

1. Marjane Satrapi: after reading 'Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood'

2. Marie Lu: after reading 'Legend' and 'Prodigy'

3. Johan Harstad: after reading '172 Hours on the Moon

4. Marissa Meyer: after reading 'Cinder'

5. Katie McGarry: after reading 'Pushing the Limits'

6. Courtney Summers: after reading 'Fall for Anything'

7. Tahereh Mafi: after reading 'Shatter Me'

8. Cat Patrick: after reading 'Forgotten'

9. Gillian Flynn: after reading 'Gone Girl'

10. Jay Asher: after reading 'Thirteen Reasons Why'

I enjoyed being introduced to theses author's work this year and look forward to reading more from them in the coming year. High on the top of my list is 'Scarlet' by Marissa Meyer and 'Champion' by Marie Lu. Comment below if you have any recommendations of these author's work. :)

So there is my list as of now! Make sure to link your Top 10 Tuesday below, so I can stop by. Thanks! :)

Monday, December 16, 2013

Recommend A... [1] Book That Lived Up to Expectations

Recommend A... is hosted by Vy's Blog. Future Monday prompts can be found here as well as more info on this feature. And also check out last week's introduction post. All you have to do to join in is answer the week's prompt and leave a link.

This weeks prompt is: Recommend A... Book That Lived Up To Your Expectations:

'Pushing the Limits' by Katie McGarry

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with freaky scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.

But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again. [Goodreads synopsis]

Overall I gave this book 4 / 5 stars and really enjoyed reading it this past summer after hearing so much about it. Contemporary fiction is not always my favorite genre, but this didn't disappoint.

Comment below and let me know what you thought of 'Pushing the Limits' and leave a link to your Recommend A... post.

Bout of Books 9.0!

It is time to sign up for the Bout of Books 9.0 read-a-thon! This year I will be participating and I hope all of you are too! It is a low stress read-a-thon, so definitely still participate even if you aren't sure you will be able to read like crazy! :) Click here to head to the sign-up post!

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal! It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01 AM on Monday January 6th and runs through Sunday January 12th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 9.0 information and updates, be sure to sure the Bout of Books blog!

Back in October 2011 I participated and hosted a challenge/giveaway on my blog for Bout of Books 2.0 and am excited to take part in it again!

It's Monday! What are you reading? [21]

'It's Monday! What are you reading?' is a meme hosted by Book Journey and consists of sharing what you have read this past week, what you hope to read this week, and whatever else fits in too. So here are my books for this week:

JUST FINISHED: 'The Cuckoo's Calling' by Robert Galbraith

READING NOW: 'A Game of Thrones' by George R.R. Martin

TO READ NEXT: 'The 100' by Kass Morgan

Friday evening I finished up reading 'The Cuckoo's Calling' and rated it 3 / 5 stars. I started 'A Game of Thrones' a week or so ago but since I am under no impression that it will be done this month, since the holidays are coming up, I plan to start 'The 100' soon, since I received it from a Goodreads giveaway in October and need to get my review of it up! :)

Comment below if you have read any of these and let me know your thoughts on them. And also make sure to link your 'It's Monday! What are you Reading?' if you are participating this week. Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Thursday, December 12, 2013

2013 End of the Year Book Survey - Part 1!

As this year comes to an end, I thought I would participate in the End of the Year Book Survey 2013 hosted by The Perpetual Page-Turner. This provides the opportunity to look back on your reads for 2013 and answer some questions based on the books you read.

Click here to check out the original blog post and get all the info you need to participate, as well as to link up your post (no matter if you do it now or after the year is over).