Showing posts with label Musing Mondays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Musing Mondays. Show all posts

Monday, June 27, 2016

Musing Mondays (55) Recent Nonfiction Favorites

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn at Books and a Beat, that asks you to muse about something book related each week.

My Musings for the Week...

Random weekly question from June 13th: What book have you wanted to read for a long time, but still haven’t?

Oh, probably Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor. I read the first two books in the trilogy, Daughter of Smoke & Bone and Days of Blood & Starlight. I really enjoyed them, and despite the books being some of my favorites I haven't gotten around to actually finishing the trilogy, 

Other Musings...

2016 has been a very good year for nonfiction. I haven’t read many biographical works of nonfiction, so I can’t really comment on whether or not I have a specific dislike for them. So, the ones I’ve read have mostly concerned history and/or science as the subject. Today, I’m going to share my recent nonfiction favorites. 
The Illustrated Compendium of Amazing Animal Facts: This was a cute book with random animal facts, illustrated by the author. It was kind of random, just featuring a bunch of interesting facts—some of which I had already known about, but others were totally new to me.

Rain: A Natural and Cultural History: This book was about rain facts. Of all the nonfiction that I've read, there hasn't been one specifically about rain. So, I was really excited to give Rain a try. Barnett did a good job of organizing the facts, plus the writing was excellent and engaging. The overall reading experience was interesting since Rain’s focus centered on the weather and the environment—and how changes to the natural landscape could have unintended consequences. Rain was definitely a highly memorable read.

Founding Myths: Stories that Hide Our Patriotic Past: This book can be summed up as: food for thought. It pointed out many historical inaccuracies that are sometimes considered to be actual fact related to the revolutionary war and the subsequent time after the end of it. Like Rain, Founding Myths left a lasting impression. It was memorable. Overall, a great read.
So, that’s about it for today. What books have you read recently?

Monday, June 13, 2016

Musing Mondays (54) Random Weekly Question(s)

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn at Books and a Beat, that asks you to muse about something book related each week.

My Musings for the Week...

Since I took a couple of weeks off, I'm going to get caught up on the random weekly questions I missed.

Random weekly question from May 23rd: Name a book you thought you wouldn’t like, but ended up loving.

I try to keep an open mind about books and reserve judgment until after I've started readingunless, of course, the subject isn't something I'm interested in. Anyway, the series' that I'm about to mention weren't ones I specifically thought I would dislike, but I was unfamiliar with the authors at the time.

So, to answer the question...

The first is the Elemental Trilogy by Sherry Thomas. And the second is The Darkest Minds Trilogy by Alexandra Bracken. Both trilogies were in the same boat. I'm glad I ended up giving them a chance, but at the time I hadn't read anything by Bracken or Thomas.

Question from May 30th: Name a book that disappointed you.

The Tapper Twin's go to War (With Each Other) by Geoff Rodkey. This book had its high and low points. Originally, I was really excited to give it a try, but it ended up being just alright for me.

Question from June 6th:What is your most favorite book from your childhood?

When I was a kid, I really enjoyed the Amelia Bedieia series by Peggy Parish, illustrated by Fritz Siebel. I haven't picked them up in a long time, but I do remember enjoying them.

Other Musings...

This week, I'm going to read Need by Carrie Jones.

4070493Synopsis from Goodreads...

Zara White suspects there's a freaky guy semi-stalking her. She's also obsessed with phobias. And it's true, she hasn't exactly been herself since her stepfather died. But exiling her to shivery Maine to live with her grandmother? That seems a bit extreme. The move is supposed to help her stay sane...but Zara's pretty sure her mom just can't deal with her right now.

She couldn't be more wrong. Turns out the semi-stalker is not a figment of Zara's overactive imagination. In fact, he's still following her, leaving behind an eerie trail of gold dust. There's something not right - not human - in this sleepy Maine town, and all signs point to Zara...

What are you reading this week?

Monday, May 16, 2016

Musing Mondays (53) What I'm Reading

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn at Books and a Beat, that asks you to muse about something book related each week.

My Musings for the Week...

Random weekly question: What do you think is the most overrated book?

16035541I think any book can be overrated, depending on the person who you're asking. A probable cause could be personal preference in regards to taste in books. Needless to say, I've had that thought more times than I can count on one hand. However, some of the books weren't bad, I just didn't love them. Anyway, one book that, for me, was a little overrated (or too hyped would be a better way to describe it), was Alice in Zombieland. The book wasn't necessarily the worst thing I've every read, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. The hype surrounding it drove my expectations up way too high, and the story I got wasn't what I was expecting. Still, the plot itself was alright, and the coolest part were the zombies. I don't typically read books that feature zombies, which is saying something since that happened to be my favorite part about Alice in Zombieland. So, two thumbs up for well-done zombies.

Other Musings...

To start out this week, I’m taking a short break from fiction with my current read, Founding Myths by Ray Raphael. I picked this book up at Barnes & Noble since it was on sale for a good price. I started reading it over the weekend, and so far it’s been really interesting to see the historical inaccuracies that are commonly mentioned/interpreted as being true, while also being based on actual fact.

2427601
Synopsis from Goodreads...

Much of what you thought you knew about American history is wrong...

Our best-loved tales actually sell America short, Raphael says. This nation was founded not just by the handful of "founding fathers" we have come to admire, but also by the revolutionary activities of innumerable and nameless patriots who are not mentioned in textbooks. Why should only a select few get the credit? The collaborative spirit and effort of the American people is an important concept for children (and adults) to learn...


What are you planning to read this week?

Monday, May 9, 2016

Musing Mondays (52) It's All Historical...

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn at Books and a Beat, that asks you to muse about something book related each week.

My Musings for the Week...

Random weekly question: What is the best book you read LAST year?

The beginning of last year was significantly better for me, in terms of reading. 2016 has been pretty hit or miss—mostly hits, but the handful of misses happened back-to-back, and almost had me in a reading slump. Luckily, I avoided that.

Anyway, one of the best books I read last year was Coraline by Neil Gaiman. I was pretty late getting to the book, and I saw the movie before I read it. I liked the ending of the book more than I did the film version—mainly because of the obvious changes—but both were great anyway. The animation from the film was done in one of my favorite styles—stop-motion animation—so that was a big plus. All-in-all, Coraline was a great book.

Other Musings...

Today, I'm  sharing some of my favorite historical fiction, alternative history, and historical fantasy novels/series. Basically, books with settings based in some kind of historical time period no matter how altered, strange, or mysterious. Honestly, historical based novels are something I don’t read enough of, considering how much I tend to enjoy the books. However, I have read enough to compile a short list for today’s post.
  • The Madman’s Daughter by Megan Shepherd
  • Wonderstruck, The Marvels, and The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
  • The Agency Series by Y.S. Lee
  • Kat, Incorrigible series by Stephanie Burgis
  • The Diviners by Libba Bray
  • Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger
  • Leviathan, Behemoth, and Goliath by Scott Westerfeld
By now, I know which genre’s I immediately reach for, and clearly, I’ve still got some work to do when I pick out books. I still fall into the same pattern of picking fantasy, which is hard to get away from when there are so many books I want to read from that particular genre. It’s a real dilemma sometimes.

Anyway, what are you reading this week?

Monday, May 2, 2016

Musing Mondays (51) Random Weekly Questions

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn at Books and a Beat, that asks you to muse about something book related each week.

My Musings for the Week...

This week, there won't be any Other Musings since I don't have anything I want to specifically talk about, but I am answering two random weekly questions.

Random weekly question from April 18th: Name your least favorite plot device employed by way too many books that you actually enjoyed, otherwise.

Well, I think most plot devices (or tropes) can be okay when used in the right way to benefit the story rather than hinder it. However, one that annoys me the most is the lack of female friendships between the main character and others around her. Sometimes this works, but at other times no reason is ever given for such open hostility (and at other times the reason seems almost trivial; just my opinion of course). Either way, it is a plot devices that gets on my nerves, but otherwise, I won't dislike a good book because of it.

However, lately, I have read some books where female friendships  played a bigger role, and the main character wasn't just surrounded by guys for no explicable reason. So, that was pretty great, and I look forward to finding more books that display some spectacular and also diverse friendships.

Today's Random Weekly Question: Name any 5 books from your “to be read” pile (even if it’s a “virtual” pile).

Well, this makes it easier on me. Normally, I could go on and on about the books I want to read, but just five on my current TBR is ridiculously easy to choosebecause I already have them on my shelf. I don't know when exactly I'll read the books, but it'll definitely be sometime soon...

The first is Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett. I've had this book for a long time, and it's part of my goal to revisit some old novels I enjoyed.

The next one is The Traitor in the Tunnel by Y.S. Lee. Like Wintersmith above, The Triator in the Tunnel is part of my goal, and the last book I have by Y.S. Lee. I do want to get the last book in the series to see how it all ends.

Next is The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black. I've read several of Black's other novels, and I have thoroughly enjoyed them. So, I'm looking forward to finally reading The Darkest Part of the Forest. 

And then there is Need by Carrie Jones. I did read this book a very long time ago. I remember that I liked it but I don't remember much of the details (not even how the book actually ended). So, I look forward to this one again soon.

And, last but not least, In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters. I'm pretty excited for this one.

That's about it for today. What are some of the books off your TBR pile? 

Monday, April 18, 2016

Musing Mondays (50) What I'm Reading This Week

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn at Books and a Beat, that asks you to muse about something book related each week.

My Musings for the Week...

Random weekly question from April 11th: Name a book everyone should read at least once.

For this question I'm going to go with Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, which I recommend for fans of books with fantasy and alternative history elements. It was a really great introduction to the trilogy, and I liked Westerfeld's take on historical events. He created a truly unique alternative retelling of history filled with fantasy elements such as advanced machinery that reminded me of mecha, and genetically modified creatures that almost seemed mechanicalall around, a cool concept. Plus, Keith Thompson's illustrations were pretty awesome.  

Other Musings...

Today, I'm just going to be sharing what I plan to read this week. I have two books I definitely want to get through. One of them is really short, so it won't be hard to read them both while possibly picking up a couple more books, depending on what catches my attention. The first one is Dead is a State of Mind by Marlene Perez, and the second is The Body at the Tower by Y.S. Lee. You can read more about them below...

3392285Synopsis from Goodreads....

Welcome to Nightshade, California—a small town full of secrets. It’s home to the psychic Giordano sisters, who have a way of getting mixed up in mysteries. During their investigations, they run across everything from pom-pom- shaking vampires to shape-shifting boyfriends to a clue-spewing jukebox. With their psychic powers and some sisterly support, they can crack any case! There’s a gorgeous new guy at Nightshade High: Duke Sherrad, a fortune-teller claiming to have descended from Gypsies. Even though she’s psychic herself, Daisy is skeptical of Duke’s powers. But when a teacher who was the subject of one of his predictions ends up dead, she begins to wonder if Duke is the real deal after all. Maybe if Daisy can track down the teacher’s killer, she can find out the truth. The only trouble is, all signs point to the murderer being of the furry persuasion. Is Daisy any match for a werewolf? Maybe she is . . . in more ways than she bargained for!

7507889Synopsis from Goodreads...

Now nearly a full-fledged member of the Agency, the all-female detective unit operating out of Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls, Mary Quinn is back for another action-packed adventure. Disguised as a poor apprentice builder and a boy, she must brave the grimy underbelly of Victorian London - as well as childhood fear, hunger, and constant want - to unmask the identity of a murderer. Assigned to monitor a building site on the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament, Mary earns the confidence of the work crew, inching ever nearer her suspect. But if an irresistible desire to help the city's needy doesn't distract her and jeopardize her cover, unexpectedly meeting up with an old friend - or flame - just might.

What are you reading this week?

Monday, March 28, 2016

Musing Mondays (49)

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn at Books and a Beat, that asks you to muse about something book related each week.

My Musings for the Week...

Random Weekly Question from March 14th: Approximately how many books do you usually read per week? Per month?

There's no definite answer I can give to this question. I read at random, which means sometimes I read more than two books a week, even three. At other times, I don't read at all. It really just depends.

Other Musings...

Lately, I’m having fun with lists. It seems like a great way to revisit some series and talk about books I’ve already read (the ones I don't have any current plans to reread). So, for today, I’d thought I’d do another one. This time, I’m listing five series or trilogies that have a magical or supernatural flare to them...
  • Kat, Incorrigible series by Stephanie Burgis: This is a middle grade series, but I definitely like Burgis’ writing style, and how she incorporated the magic into the story.
  • Hex Hall Trilogy by Rachel Hawkins: I liked Hawkins’ spin on magic in the books. I had a few problems with the series, but overall it was pretty great.
  • The Cambion Chronicles by Jamie Reed: I liked these books because of the characters and the story. The supernatural elements worked really well, and I liked the way they were introduced into the plot.
  • The Archived series by Victoria Schwab: There were a lot of great elements combined with an interesting concept, good writing, and intricate storytelling.
  • The Night Has Teeth by Kat Kruger: This one was a more recent read, but the supernatural elements were definitely cool. I liked the way Kruger incorporated werewolves into the story, and showed how these sudden changes affected the character’s life.
So that’s it for today. I want to know. What are some of your favorite magical or supernatural themed series/trilogies or books?

Monday, March 14, 2016

Musing Mondays (48) 6 Books, Series, or Trilogies With Settings I Would Never Visit

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn at Books and a Beat, that asks you to muse about something book related each week.

My Musings for the Week...

Random Weekly Question from March 7th: Which characters (from which book) do you think deserve their own spin-off story? Why?

Oh gosh, this question is kind of hard. I have a multitude of favorite side characters, many who could have their own stories. But, for today, if I had to choose one character who I would like to see get their own story, it would most likely be Blake from Finding Serendipity & A Week Without Tuesday. He is a prominent character in the books. I would still like to read a book entirely from his point of view, just to learn more about him and his writing process. I think it could be cool.

Other Musings...

So, this post is kind of inspired by a Musing Monday post I did a couple of weeks ago. I listed some of my favorite book settings, just a few of them. It got me thinking about all the wonderfully complex settings, in many different books, I wouldn’t visit them even if someone tried to pay me to do it. These are the worlds that I’m really glad don’t actually exist, mostly because they’re dangerous—primary villains, natural disaster type perils, and so on. They make for a good story, I just wouldn’t visit them.

6 books, series, or trilogies with settings I would not visit even if someone paid me to do it...

  • Coraline by Neil Gaiman: this book is definitely one of my favorites. However, because of the Other Mother, I would steer clear of this setting.
  • The Madman’s Daughter by Megan Shepherd: back in the nice little post about favorite settings, this one ended up being on the list. It fit so well with the story, but this is another one I would avoid altogether. There are many reasons for this, but I won’t say—too many spoilers.
  • The Elemental Trilogy by Sherry Thomas: The world in these books was pretty cool, but the villain turned what would have been a nice place into an absolute nightmare for the main character.
  • Mythos Academy Series by Jennifer Estep: The mythology was used in a pretty cool way, but Mythos Academy is a place I would avoid.   
  • The Darkest Minds Trilogy by Alexandra Bracken: This is another favorite trilogy. The characters, world building, and plot were all fantastic. Still, I wouldn’t want to visit Bracken’s version of the US. The environment was constantly dangerous, but it made for a really good trilogy. 
  • The Watchers series by Veronica Wolff: I might not have enjoyed The Keep as much as I did the previous three books. However, this series, undoubtedly, belongs on this list. The Isle of Night was six different kinds of terrible. I wouldn’t go there. Period. End of Discussion. The vampires are my main reason for this—they ruled the Isle, and their rules were unnecessarily strict and completely absolute.
So, those are six books, series, or trilogies that are some of my favorite books, but they just have settings I wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole.

What are you reading this week?

Monday, March 7, 2016

Musing Mondays (47) Random Weekly Questions & Short Stories

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn at Books and a Beat, that asks you to muse about something book related each week.

**Quick note: Musing Mondays is still being hosted by Jenn, but not at A Daily Rhythm, instead, it's now over on Books and a Beat.**

My Musings for the Week...

Before I move on to my other musings for the week, I'm going to get caught up on some of the random weekly questions I missed...

From February 22: How do you choose which books you read?

I mostly pick books at random, which solely depends on what I want to read at the time. However, if I have books that I'm required to read like ARCs that I have a blog tour for, then I'm more likely to read those first--just to get them out of the way and have the post done early.

From February 29: What was the last book you didn’t finish? Why?

The Love that Split the World was a book that just didn't turn out to be for me. I was really disappointed. If you want to know my full thoughts, check out my review here: ARC Review: The Love that Split the World.

Other Musings...

Today, I want to talk about short stories. No, this won't be a post about some of my favorite ones. Although, I could have done that, only, I haven't read enough of them to give me a reason to write a full post about them, well, yet anyway. Instead, I want to talk about how the stories are being published.

Untamed (Splintered, #3.5)I don't know about anyone else, but I do like short stories when they're collected into just one edition--this is especially so when all the stories are by a single author (such as Untamed by A.G. Howard). For me, it's convenient, plus, I do enjoy paperbacks/hardcovers more than I do ebooks. So, really, this works out well for me.

Guys Read: Terrifying TalesOf course, I also enjoy anthologies like Guys Read: Terrifying Tales, because it gives me a chance to sample the writing styles of author's I'm unfamiliar with. Which is great, because if I like the stories enough, I'm more likely to be interested in potentially buying or checking out full length novels from my local library.

So, how do you feel about short stories being collected together in print format? Do you prefer having them in one print edition, or do you like to buy them separately as ebooks?

Monday, February 22, 2016

Musing Mondays (46) Favorite Book Settings


Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn at A Daily Rhythm, that asks you to muse about something book related each week.

My Musings for the Week...

Random Weekly Question from January 11th: What book(s) are you most excited to read, this year? Is there anything special on tap?

 I read some amazing books last year and I'm just sitting around waiting for the next books in the series. So, I want ALL of the sequel's.I've already read some of the ones I was looking forward to. Some of them have been great, while others fell a little short. However, there are some new books on my radar, so here are just a few I'm still desperately waiting for:
  • Gemina by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
  • Love Charms and Other Catastrophes by Kimberly Karalius
  • Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton 
  • Blood for Blood by Ryan Graudin
This list is not exact, so there will probably be other books that catch my interest later in the year. But for now, those are the one's I'm definitely looking forward to.

Other Musings...

One of the aspects I look for in a book is the setting. The world is what draws me in, and I always look for the rules that the author has come up with to base that fictional world around. Characters and plot are also important too, but setting, for me, is one of the best parts. So, for today, I wanted to talk about some of my favorite fictional book settings.

The Iron King (The Iron Fey, #1)To start off this list, I'm going with Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series, the first four books. Don't get me wrong, the first four books are some of my favorite novels, and I absolutely adore them. But I haven't finished the spin-off series, not that it's bad, but I just haven't. Anyway, I liked the way Kagawa handled the fey in the novels, and to be honest, the books had one of my favorite settings of all time because it was developed so well.

Hover (The Taking, #2)Up next is Hover by Melissa West. I liked a lot about the book, and the setting was pretty much perfect for the story. The alien planet and their method of travelling from there to earth was pretty cool.

The Radiant Road by Katherine Catmull also had an interesting setting, which ended up being one of my favorite aspects about the book. It was developed pretty well and it was magical.

The Madman’s Daughter (The Madman’s Daughter, #1)The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd. Shepherd managed to create a setting that was seemingly innocuous but also mildly unsettling, which was absolutely perfect for the story. I'm not joking, the setting basically set up the atmosphere that, to me, was necessary in terms of execution. And Shepherd did a wonderful job at it.

Love Fortunes and Other Disasters (Grimbaud, #1)This next one is kind of obvious, but it is one of my favorites. The town of Grimbaud from Love Fortunes and Other Disasters by Kimberly Karalius. It was cute and charming, but also a little dangerous despite is romantic atmosphere.




I'm going to leave it there for today, but there are more books that I have read that had some fantastic settings. So, how about you? What are some of your favorite fictional settings/worlds? (It can be in movies or books, doesn't matter as long as it's one of your favorites.)

Monday, February 15, 2016

Musing Mondays (45) Random Weekly Questions

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn at A Daily Rhythm, that asks you to muse about something book related each week.

My Musings for the Week...

Today, I'm going to keep it short by answering some of the random weekly questions I missed.

What do you do with your books once you’ve read them?

I review them before finding a place to fit them on my bookshelf. I typically like to keep my books because there's always a chance I'll want to read them again later.

What would you say is the best children’s book you’ve ever read?

Sometimes, I hate questions like these because I have a lot of favorites. So, for that reason alone, I'm going to stick with some of my more recent reads. One of the best children's book I've ever read was probably Finding Serendipity and its sequel, A Week Without Tuesday. You can see what I thought about them HERE & HERE. Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick was another good one. Oh, and the entire Double Vision trilogy by F.T. Bradley.

What are you reading this week?

Monday, January 25, 2016

Musing Mondays (44) Rereading Books Years Later...

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn at A Daily Rhythm, that asks you to muse about something book related each week.

My Musings for the Week...

Random weekly question from January 18th: Do you have any particular “quirks” when it comes to reading? (eg. taking notes while reading, etc)

I do occasionally take notes when there's something I specifically want to remember (especially if it's relevant to my review, such as details I want to make note of). I'm good at remembering what I liked and disliked about a book, so notes aren't necessary most of the time. I also listen to music while reading. Having good music in the background just sort of works for me. Lately, I've listened to a lot of music by Grimes, Janelle Monae, Angel Haze, Tove Lo, & Halsey.

Other musings...
The Body at the Tower (The Agency, #2)
One of my goals this year is to read some of the older books I have. But one of the things that crossed my mind is: Will I enjoy the books as much as I did the first time I read them? The answer to that, is that I'm not too sure. I liked them when I read them, but that was, as it stands, years ago. My reading tastes were different.

The Traitor in the TunnelI'm sure I'll still enjoy them, but wondering about my reactions (and possible differences) was something to think about. One series I plan to revisit is The Agency series by Y.S. Lee. I haven't read the last book (Rivals in the City). I do have the first three, which I binge-read back in 2012. From what I remember, they were really good.

A Spy in the House (The Agency, #1)I think my worry comes from the fact that my reading tastes have changed a lot. But on another breath, I still have my preferences and dislikes. That, at the very least, couldn't have changed too much where some of my favorite books are concerned. So, I look forward to tackling some of the older books as part of my 2016 blogging resolutions.

What kind of music have you been listening to lately?

Monday, January 18, 2016

Musing Mondays (43) Books Beyond Fiction

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn at A Daily Rhythm, that asks you to muse about something book related each week.

My Musings for the Week...

Random weekly question from January 4th: What do you do when you finish a book? Do you immediately start another one?

Most of the time I don't start another book right after I've finished one. Usually, I have to finish reviews before I move on. So it take a little time to let the information process and find the right words to describe how much or how little I liked a book. Only then do I start to think about what I want to read next.

Other Musings:

Post #43, a.k.a. the first Musing Monday's post of 2016. **throws confetti** It's been a while, and I figured that it was time to get back into the swing of things. And Musing Monday's seemed like a good way to do it.

Today I wanted to talk about books, or more specifically, types of books. I enjoy fiction--from the occasional paranormal to science fiction and fantasy--there's nothing wrong with that. But, I do enjoy other books beyond that. So, what about the other types of books? Biographies, history, how-to's, science, essays--all the subcategories that fall into the nonfiction side of the bookish spectrum.

What other kinds of books do I actually enjoy reading?

I have a few specific topics that I particularly enjoy. History is one of my favorites. I could read about history all day and not really mind (I always feel like there's something to be learned). I also enjoy exploring science. Cooking, obviously, because I enjoy baking--plus its also nice to have extra recipe's on-hand.

The common theme is that a lot of the different types of books I read are based around my interests. Cooking, because I love to bake; books on art techniques, because I'm always looking to refine my skills; history because...well history is history. I look forward to reading more of these books in 2016. You know, I just want to step into genre's that I might not typically read.

So, what kind of books do you enjoy reading besides fiction? Or, what was one of the books you read in 2016?

Monday, December 7, 2015

Musing Mondays (42) Holiday Movies

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn at A Daily Rhythm, that asks you to muse about something book related each week.

My Musings for the Week...

Despite the title of this post, it actually does have something to do with books. But first, I'm going to start with the random weekly question that I missed last week:

What makes a book really enjoyable for you? And, conversely, what would turn you off about a book?

Just to name a few: good characters, interesting story, and world building most of the time. Mainly it’s a combination of reasons, and even if something is missing I might still like a story anyway just because I enjoy it. After all, I read to be entertained. If it’s got my attention, I’m bound to stick with it despite the faults. There’s no telling how I’ll react to a book until I’ve picked it up and started to read it.

Now things that I don’t enjoy could also be things that could make me like a book. It just depends on the book—like in some cases repetitive dialogue could be used to make a point and indicate moments of suspense/worry, which works, but in other instances the effect might end up as an element that I didn't enjoy. Really, it could go either way.  

Other Musings:

The holiday season is here! Well, technically it started a while ago, but Christmas is just weeks away. So, for today I wanted to talk about a few of my favorite Christmas movies based off of books. (**Note: just because I like the adaptation(s) doesn't necessarily mean that I've read the book; yet, this fact doesn't affect my enjoyment of the film(s)**)
  1. First and foremost, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, which is a classic. I think what I enjoy most is how Scrooge learns his lesson by the end. So far, I’ve enjoyed many of the adaptations of this book. Currently, my favorite is the 2009 version.
  2. This one is kind of obvious: The Grinch Who Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss. This is just a movie I enjoy every year (the animated version). 
  3. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. Oh gosh, I absolutely adore the movie! The animation was done so well that even now I still enjoy watching the movie when it comes on.
A Christmas Carol How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Polar Express

What about you? Do you have any favorite Christmassy movies? Or, what’s your favorite seasonal food/drink? (A favorite of mine is the Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride Tea, which is absolutely fantastic.)

Monday, November 30, 2015

Musing Mondays (41) What I'm Reading

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn at A Daily Rhythm, that asks you to muse about something book related each week.

My Musings for the Week...

I have an ARC to finish, but that review won’t be going up for a while. So, for my musing’s this fine Monday morning, I’m going to share about the book I will read this week: The Perilous Sea by Sherry Thomas. After the ending of book one, The Burning Sky, I'm excited to continue on with this trilogy.

The Perilous Sea (The Elemental Trilogy, #2)About the book (Synopsis from goodreads)… 

After spending the summer away from each other, Titus and Iolanthe (still disguised as Archer Fairfax) are eager to return to Eton College to resume their training to fight the Bane. Although no longer bound to Titus by a blood oath, Iolanthe is more committed than ever to fulfilling her destiny—especially with the agents of Atlantis quickly closing in.

Soon after arriving at school, though, Titus makes a shocking discovery, one that makes him question everything he previously believed about their mission. Faced with this devastating realization, Iolanthe is forced to come to terms with her new role, while Titus must choose between following his mother's prophecies—and forging a divergent path to an unknowable future...

What are you reading this week?
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