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?

I 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.

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?

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 mechanical—all 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...

Synopsis 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!

Synopsis 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?

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.

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?

Musing Mondays (25)

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

My Musings for the Week...

This week I'm going to be reading John Shaw's Guide to Digital Nature Photography by John Shaw.  This book is considerably shorter than the Space Exploration book I finished reading over the weekend, and I have to say that I'm pretty excited about this one. So, what are you reading this week?  If you want, tell me in the comments below.

Musing Mondays (19)

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading, that asks you to muse about something book related each week.

My Musings for the Week...

This week I'm going to share a bit about the book I'm currently reading. I literally just started an ARC of Finding Serendipity by Angelica Banks. This is a middle grade novel that was released on February 3, 2015.

Goodreads     Amazon     Barnes & Noble     Book Depository

More about the book (Summary from Goodreads)...

When Tuesday McGillycuddy and her beloved dog, Baxterr, discover that Tuesday’s mother—the famous author Serendipity Smith—has gone missing, they set out on a magical adventure. In their quest to find Serendipity, they discover the mysterious and unpredictable place that stories come from. Here, Tuesday befriends the fearless Vivienne Small, learns to sail an enchanted boat, tangles with an evil pirate, and discovers the truth about her remarkable dog. Along the way, she learns what it means to be a writer and how difficult it can sometimes be to get all the way to The End...

What are you reading this week?