Tuesday Talks | 2016 Bookish Challenges

Hey guys and welcome to yet another Tuesday Talks. If you don't already know, Tuesday Talks is a Goodreads group started by Janie and Janelle where we discuss bookish topics every Tuesday.

This week's topic is regarding bookish challenges for 2016.  This is going to be a fairly quick post since I really don't plan on doing any challenges. I love the concept of challenges but I always have an exam or something during them that really prevents me from doing them to my full potential.

I really just plan on constantly reading throughout the year, and if a bookish challenge works out then I'll do it.

Do you guys plan on doing any challenges this year? Let me know in the comments below!

Tuesday Talks | 2016 Bookish Resolutions

Hey guys, welcome to another Tuesday Talks. Tuesday Talks is a Goodreads group where we discuss book related topics every Tuesday. Today we're going to talk about our bookish resolutions for 2016.

I have to admit, in 2015 I fell a bit short with my bookish life. With my entire transition to college my bookish life was put on hold and as a result, I haven't been posting as much on my blog nor have I been reading and reviewing as many books as I wanted to.

My first resolution of the year is to keep mostly up to date with my blog posts. I'm definitely going to try to keep up with Tuesday Talks. If I can keep up with that I may include some other weekly posts as well, but we'll see.

My second resolution is to read more. I was recently elected as the treasurer of my college's book club and as a result, I really hope to read more and get more involved in the book community.

My third resolution is to write more. One of my life goals is to write a book, and I want to write more about my college life. So I hope to document more of my life. I probably won't post most of it, but as long as I'm writing, I consider my goal complete.

Those are some of my resolutions for the year, let me know in the comments below what some of your resolutions are, bookish or nonbookish!

Tuesday Talks | Favorite Books/Series of 2015

Hey guys welcome to another Tuesday Talks, Tuesday Talks is a Goodreads group started by Janie and Janelle where we discuss book-related topics every week.

Before we jump into this post, I wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year! Honestly I can't believe it's 2016 and I'm going to try my hardest to be more on top of my blog.

So, in order to commemorate 2015, this week we're going to commemorate the top five best books/series of 2015.

5. Hello, Goodbye and Everything in Between

I'm not too much of a romance reader, but there were so many aspects of this book were relatable including the change in friendships from high school to college. The reliability of this book definitely catapulted it to my top five.

4. From the Ashes

I got the opportunity to interview Shelby Morrison and read her book early in 2015. This book completely surpassed my expectations. While I'm not a heavy fantasy reader, the writing of the book just sucked you in, definitely a book worth reading.

3. The Mistborn Trilogy

I began this series as a read along with Courtney from CourtneyReads and while we never got to finish reading the series together (due to my hectic college schedule), it was a fantastic read. I'm halfway through the last book and hopefully I'll finish it soon to move onto other Brandon Sanderson books.

2. Lunar Chronicles

I began Cinder in January and just in time for the release of Winter, the finale of the series. Overall this was a fantastic science-fiction retelling and definitely a series that everyone should read!

1. Queen of Shadows

And down to my number one book of the year: Queen of Shadows. This was probably one of the most anticipated books of the year and it did not fail to disappoint. While most series typically decline throughout, this has continue to surpass my expectations and I cannot wait for the release of the next book.

These are my top five for the year, what are some of your favorites for this year? Let me know in the comments below!

Tuesday Talks | Booksites besides Goodreads

Hey guys welcome to another Tuesday Talks post. Tuesday Talks is a Goodreads group started by Janie and Janelle where we discuss book-related topics every week. Today we're going to talk about book sites other than Goodreads.

Honestly, it's so hard to keep up with Goodreads and every group on there, I can't imagine having to continually keep up with other websites. Nonetheless I do use social media like Facebook, Twitter, Bloglovin' to promote my blog post, but other than that I really don't use any book related sites like Goodreads.

Do you guys use any other book-related websites? If so, are they better or worse than Goodreads? Let me know in the comments below! 

Tuesday Talks | Favorite Christmas Stories/Books

Hey guys, so it's been quite a while since I've done a Tuesday Talks post, but I hope to get back at it and this is my first attempt, we'll see how long my streak lasts.

If you don't already know, Tuesday Talks is a Goodreads group started by Janie and Janelle where we discuss book related topics every week. And in the theme of the holiday season we're going to talk about our favorite Christmas stories/ books.

This'll be a fairly short post because I don't usually read/watch Christmas-related books/movies unless it's something shown in school. I feel like it's definitely something I've missed out on as a child and as a result I want to spend my adult life catching up. So let me know some good Christmas/ holiday themed books and stories that are cute, fun and set the mood for the holiday season! 

Tuesday Talks | Book Synopses

Hey guys! Welcome to another Tuesday Talks. Thankfully I've found time this week to sit down and blog so hopefully I'll be posting more reviews and interviews soon, as well as more updates on the college life. Anyways, if you don't already know Tuesday Talks is this really awesome Goodreads group started by Janie and Janelle where we discuss book-related topics every week. Today we're going to be talking about book synopses.

Book synopses are the short summaries usually on the back of the book or on the inside cover that describe what the book is about. I have a theory about book summaries: it's that they never make the book sound interesting. It's usually some cliched and generic summary that's used as a marketing ploy to draw readers in. Don't believe me? Pick up the book nearest to you and read the summary out loud. Odds are that it says something about it being a New York Times Bestseller or that it's a timeless classic or an epic love story. I really believe that rarely, if ever, are synopses a good indication of the actual book.

For example, most of us know and love The Fault in Our Stars as a book past the traditional cancer love story. We love it for its quirky and sarcastic dialogue, as well as the complexities of the characters. Here's its synopsis:

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green's most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

I really can't take this summary seriously when it refers to Augustus as "a gorgeous plot twist" in an attempt to market to a demographic of young girls.

Another thing I don't like about synopses are the blatant spoilers, especially in books of a series. There are the more subtle, obvious spoilers; like when a love story says that a couple falls in love in the synopsis. And then there are the spoilers to previous books, summarizing the entire series in a sentence to set the scene for the next book. The whole point of reading is to discover these facts on your own, regardless of how subtle they may be. Summarizing the entire book takes away the fun of going through the journey yourself.

Strangely that doesn't mean I don't read synopses. Unfortunately they're still a good way of deciding whether that book will be of interest to me. I just try not to determine the quality of the book by the quality of the synopsis.

What do you guys think? Do the benefits of a synopsis outweigh the negatives? Leave me some of the dumbest synopses you've found in the comments below! 

Tuesday Talks | My Reading Experience

It's Tuesday again (well let's pretend it's Tuesday) and it's time for another Tuesday Talks post. Tuesday Talks is a Goodreads group started by Janie and Janelle where we discuss book-related topics every Tuesday. I missed last week and hopefully I'm back on track starting this week.

So this week we're talking about how reading began for us and who are biggest influences were in reading.

I started reading when I was very young, so I don't have that particular 'moment' where reading changed my life, it's just always been there. And quite honestly, it confuses me how I got into reading fiction. My mom hates the concept of reading, not that she prevents me from doing it or anything but she just finds the concept to be boring, which is understandable. And although my dad reads, he reads work-related books like "how to program" and things like that.

I do have a vivid memory of when I was little (about seven or eight years old) and sick and my dad came home with the Magic Tree House books and introduced me to them. I really think it was a mix of luck that the library was close by and that I was an only child. So a lot of my childhood was about keeping myself entertained and since the Internet wasn't as prominent of a source as it is now, reading was what I went to.

How did you guys start reading? Do you guys have any interesting stories? If so, let me know below! 

Tuesday Talks | Buddy Reads

It's Tuesday again and that means it time for another Tuesday Talks. If you don't know, Tuesday Talks is a Goodreads group started by Janie and Janelle where we discuss book related topics every Tuesday. Today we're talking about buddy reads and what we think of them.

Buddy reads are a hit and miss for me. I think ideally it's a great idea. I love the concept of making an individual idea something collaborative and interactive, but on the other hand it's also really restrictive. Sometimes people don't read the pace you want them to or your schedules don't necessary line up.

Nonetheless I have been doing a buddy read over the summer and it has been relatively successful. It's definitely been harder to keep up with the reading and blog posts in conjunction with my classes, but it's a really good motivation to keep me reading. Because this particular buddy read has been so successful, we're actually trying to get a group of bloggers, which will us the opportunity to network and read fantastic books together. Our group is called Read Together, Blog Together so if you're interested feel free to join us, the more the merrier! 

Tuesday Talks | First or Third Person Narrative?

Welcome to another Tuesday Talks, a GoodReads group started by Janie and Janelle where we discuss book-related topics every Tuesday. Today we're going to discuss the pros and cons of first and third person perspectives in books. I honestly think that both of them have advantages and disadvantages and different books and authors work differently with each perspective.

First person narrative is really good for coming of age and contemporary novels. Through first person we get to see directly into a person's brain. We get to see their course of action and why they do what they do (a skill I wish I had in real life), which is really helpful especially when the protagonist makes a grand revelation. However first person is restrictive, we only get to see from one person or a small number of people.

Third person is a bit more interesting because we can get so many different perspectives but still get some amount of internal thought from the characters. It's not as deep as a first person narrative but still gets the job done. I think third person is really good for action and adventure books, where most of the plot and conflict is external. Third person allows us to see different sides of the same external event which is an interesting way to build the storyline.

I don't think that I can objectively say whether one type of narrative is better than the other. Both have some pros and cons and I really think that these different types are better applicable in different genres. What do you guys think? Do you like one type of perspective more than the other? Let me know in the comments below! 

Tuesday Talks | Book Enjoyment

A week has passed and it's Tuesday yet again, which it's time for another Tuesday Talks. Tuesday Talks is a GoodReads group started by Janie and Janelle where we discuss book-related topics every week. Today's topic discusses how long past enjoyment we'll stick with a book.

For me it honestly depends on why I'm reading the book. If it's a book that someone requested me to read and review I most definitely finish it, even if it takes me months. As a book reviewer I find that it's unfair to both the author and potential readers of the book if I review a book without completely finishing it, so I power through regardless.

If it's a book for personal enjoyment I typically won't power through if I don't immediately at least somewhat like it. I'll procrastinate reading it, eventually fall into a reading slump, pick up another book and months pass before I even think about the book I previously read. Maybe, if I'm feeling optimistic I'll pick it up and give it another try, but usually I don't. It spends the rest of its days collecting dust on my shelves.

Personally I don't enjoy keeping myself occupied with something I don't enjoy. So unless I have to, I don't. But I might be the only one, so let me know in the comments how you guys fare with unpleasant books. Do you keep reading them or abandon them as soon as you lose interest? Let me know in the comments below! 

Tuesday Talks | Multiple POVs

Hey guys, welcome to another Tuesday Talks, a GoodReads groups started by Janie and Janelle where we discuss book-related topics every Tuesday. Today we'll be talking about multiple POVs in books.

I think the idea of multiple POVs depends on the author and the book. The art of mastering multiple POVs is a complicated one. The author has to be good enough to write in two distinctly different voices while still making it relevant to the plot. There are so many authors that have been able to make it work, but I want to talk about one specific example that doesn't work: Allegiant by Veronica Roth.

I know there are a lot of arguments against this book because of the ending, but I want to take a step back and talk about the book in comparison to the others in the series. Allegiant was the only book in the series that had both Tris and Tobias's perspectives and we all knew how that ended. I listened to this book through an audiobook so there was a change in voice when the narration changed, but there were several people who weren't really able to separate between Tris and Tobias, frequently having to look back at the chapter headings to figure out who's voice it was.

I think that the idea of multiple POVs can be incredible useful in telling a story, giving the audience a broader understanding of the characters and their personalities. But it's a very delicate art, something that's not necessary or good in every book. For me it just depends on the book and the author's skill level.

What do you guys think about multiple POVs? Love them, hate them? Let me know in the comments below! 

Free For All Friday | Cancun Vacation

So over the past week my family and I were on vacation to Cancún, Mexico (which is why I missed a Tuesday Talks post) and I wanted to share my trip with you guys.

Day 1: Flying 

The original plan was to leave at about 4 am and reach Mexico at about 2 pm, but of course things rarely go to plan.

We had a connecting flight from our hometown to North Carolina where we met up with some of our friends. From there we were supposed to have a flight to Mexico. Our original flight got delayed an hour but finally we were able to board. Coincidentally, as soon as we had finished boarding lightning and thunder started and a combination of weather of "air maintenance" problems cancelled the flight and evacuated the passengers.

Almost instantly complete chaos broke loose. There is nothing scarier than watching at least one hundred Americans be detained from their hard earned vacations. There was yelling and cursing and general mayhem. Finally after arguing and negotiating, the airlines booked us on a flight the next day and gave us a hotel for the night.

Day 2: More flying 

So finally we got on the plane and fly to Mexico with, thankfully, no detours. Once we finally make it to our resort I ditch my parents and run to the all-inclusive restaurant, do I really need to explain myself. After waiting the required thirty minutes we changed into our bathing suits, went into the pool and played a bit of beach volleyball (which is a sport I'm fairly bad at). The night ended after another all-inclusive dinner buffet and we went to bed tired but excited.

Day 3: Tulum Ruins 

On the next hot, humid, Mexican day we went to the Tulum ruins. Tulum is a Mayan site, where the Mayan people lived for a while. We toured the area which consisted of lots of stone structures and very little shade.

Day 4: Adrenaline Rush 

This day was probably the best one of the whole trip. After eating breakfast, we left fairly early in the morning to travel to a camp site full of adrenaline filled activities. The first thing we did was ziplining, which consists of being harnessed to a wire line and sliding from one station to another. We were at least five hundred feet or more off the ground. Next we went snorkling in a cave. I am extremely scared of water and putting my head under the water, so there was more fear than excitement for this activity. But thankfully I used that fear to fuel me and was able to swim in a dark cave with my head underwater (though it did help that we had life jackets). Finally we drove ATVs to another location where we ziplined over a sinkhole of water and jumped in. This was by far the scariest activity but I think I did it at least four or five times. While being shoved underwater was not a pleasant experience, the adrenaline of falling was too much to resist. Once we finished our day of exhilaration, we went to an Italian restaurant for dinner and retired to our beds, exhausted and content.

Day 5: Relax

After an exciting day, we decided to spend our last day at the resort unwinding and making use of the resort's facilities. We spent the day drinking virgin drinks from the open bar and swimming around in the pool. Unfortunately we didn't get to go on the beach as much as we wanted because of the massive amounts of seaweed on the beach. The end of the day signaled the end of the trip.

Day 6: Flying home 

Thankfully on the way home, we had no unexpected delays and we reached home and two am and fell asleep, looking back on the fantastic memories we made.

Have you guys done anything fun this summer? Comment below! I want to hear all about it! 

Tuesday Talks | Tall Mass Market Books

It's Tuesday, which means it's time for another Tuesday Talks, a GoodReads group started by Janie and Janelle where we discuss book related topics every week.

Today we discuss the topic of tall mass market books. Typically I don't really run into these types of book. If I purchase a paperback, it's usually the regular version so the tall mass market ones don't really bother me.

However I'm not a huge fan of them. The larger book is harder to carry and it's bulkier to carry around. And it especially bothers me when, in a particular series, the heights of the books don't match up.

There's not much I have to say about this topic simply because the tall mass market books haven't really been an issue for me.

What about you guys? Which ones do you prefer? Let me know in the comments below! 

Tuesday Talks | Series, Standalones, or Trilogies?

It's Tuesday again, which means it's time for another Tuesday Talks! Tuesday Talks is a GoodReads group started by Janie and Janelle where we discuss book-related topics every Tuesday.

Today we discuss our preference of books, as stand-alones, series, trilogies, etc.

My preference depends on the book honestly. Series are great when I don't want the book to end. They're great when I'm so invested in the characters and the plot that each consecutive book is something I'm excited to read rather than an obligation.

Though lately, I do feel that the marketing aspect has misused the power of series simply in order to make money. Books that would do well as a stand alone are often being dragged out into duologies or even trilogies for marketing purposes, one of the reasons I'm not as into series as I used to be.

There are so many factors that play into what types of books I like, it usually depends on the time period and my mood as well as the character and plot development of the actual book.

What do you guys think? Do you have a preference between stand-alones, series, trilogies, etc.? Let me know in the comments below!

Tuesday Talks | Requesting ARCs

Welcome to yet another Tuesday Talks, a GoodReads group started by Janie and Janelle where we discuss book-related topics every week. Today's topic continues last week's discussion of ARCs, whether or not we request ARCs.

When I was relatively new to blogging and reviewing, the idea of free unpublished books was like heaven. While I still love the idea, it's so much harder to manage all of the ARCs I receive. Unless a book really stands out to me I don't really request it just so I don't overwhelm myself.

I'm not a huge fan of digital books so eARCs don't really appeal to me unless it's a book I'm really looking forward to. While Netgalley is an incredible resource, I usually don't scour it because I'll end up requesting everything and then forgetting about it a few days later.

While I love reviewing books for publishers and authors, I usually don't go out of my way to unless some special condition holds.

What about you guys? Do you guys like requesting ARCs? Let me know in the comments below! 

Tuesday Talks | Pros and Cons of ARCs

It's Tuesday again which means yet another Tuesday Talks, a Goodreads group started by Janie and Janelle where we discuss book-related topics every Tuesday. Today's topic is ARC books. For those of you who don't know, ARC stands for Advanced Readers Copy, essentially a finished, bound copy of the book before the publication date. As a reviewer I've gotten many ARCS and I've found there are many pros and cons associated with them.

PRO: You get to read the book before it comes out. 

I think this is by far the biggest PRO from this whole list. It's one of the main reasons we usually read ARCS. Sometimes we can read and review it for an author to make miniscule changes before publication, other times we get the opportunity to promote and spread the book around. While you may not have many people to discuss the book with, you get to go into the book with a clean slate, no hype or expectations.

CON: You'll probably have to wait longer for the sequel, assuming it's part of a series. 

Unfortunately while you get to read the book earlier, usually the second book isn't available as an ARC and the waiting period between the first ARC and the official release of the second book is longer than the period between both publication dates. Essentially it's just a few more months of waiting.

PRO: ARCS are usually free. 

Another big pro is that ARCS are usually given either by the author or the publishing company, so you don't spend as much money on books.

CON: Most likely, you'll get the paperback version. 

Since you aren't sold the book, you don't get a choice on the format. Usually the book is paperback and sometimes it doesn't even have a cover.

PRO: You get the opportunity to network 

Like I mentioned earlier, ARCS are usually associated with authors and publishers, people who are influential in the publishing business. Reviewing an ARC for a publisher tell them that you would be open to reading more books from them. Not only does it help them promote their book/ company, but it helps you promote your blog. It's a win win situation for everyone.

CON: Sometimes authors change things between the ARC and published copy. 

There are many times when the author of an ARC has emailed me and told me they took some of my thoughts into consideration and changed minute details within the book. I find it amazing that I have any type of influence on a book and I really want to read the changes made to the book, but I usually don't have time to reread the entirety of the book.

Generally I love ARCS. For me the PROs completely outweigh the CONs and I love getting ARCs, so much that I usually promise reviews to more people than I can handle.

What do you guys think about ARCS? Hate them, love them? Let me know in the comments below!

Tuesday Talks | Book Buying Bans

Welcome to another Tuesday Talks, a Goodreads group started by Janie and Janelle where we discuss book-related topics every Tuesday.

Today's topic is Book Buying Bans. There are several reasons why one might go on a book buying ban. They can be against a specific series, author or genre or they might be for practicality purposes like saving space and money.

I'm not completely against book buying bans, especially not ones used for practicality purposes, but I am a little iffy on those against particular authors and genres. I'm not necessarily sure in what scenario one would completely ban a specific author, but I would think it would be in a situation where the author has done or said something to give them a bad rep.

In general I try to keep the author and the story separate. Even if I don't love the author, I wouldn't band his/her books because of it. Especially if the books are thought to be very good.

However a book buying ban on a practicality basis I completely understand. While I don't officially declare book buying bans, I typically span out when I buy myself books. For example, I'll allow myself buy new releases and books on special occasions like birthdays and graduation. But I'm fairly stringent on spending otherwise. Not only that but recently I've found that my bookshelves are very full these days, especially after BEA so I need to restrict my purchases further.

Do you guys go on book buying bans? To save money, space or just because you don't like an author? Let me know in the comments below! 

Tuesday Talks | Underdog or Hero?

Welcome to another Tuesday Talks, a GoodReads group started by Janie and Janelle where we talk about book-related topics every Tuesday. Today's topic is the battle between the underdog and the hero.

I have always rooted for the underdog. In every book, usually a love triangle romance, I am most always rooting for the one that isn't going to win.

I love the unpredictability of a book. Learning of an incredible plot twist and being spun on a completely different path is one of the best parts of reading. That being said, it's fairly obvious that the hero is going to come out alive, but we never really know with the underdog.

There's not much I have to say on this topic but I would definitely pick the underdog over the hero. Who would you root for? Let me know in the comments below! 

Tuesday Talks | Favorite Characteristics of a Female Protagonist

Welcome to yet another Tuesday Talks, a Goodreads group started by Janie and Janelle, where we talk all things bookish every Tuesday. Today's topic is female protagonists.

We've all seen them and we've all read about them. In fact some of the biggest series and standalones feature female protagonists, some fantastic and strong, while others not so much.

One of my favorite female protgaonists is Tris from the Divergent Trilogy. For me, the biggest quality I look for in a protagonist is independence and bravery. She has to be able to do things on her own. While a boyfriend and a best friend serve to add to the dynamics of the protagonist, they shouldn't be supporting her.

Female protagonists should be able to stand on their own, but so should male protagonists. Nothing bothers me more than protagonists who spend the majority of the book depending on other people or pining over other people.

What are some of your favorite characteristics of female protagonists or protagonists in general? Let me know in the comments below! 

Tuesday Talks | Biggest Reading Influence

Welcome to another Tuesday Talks, a Goodreads group started by Janie and Janelle. Today we're going to delve deep into my past and talk about the biggest influence that galvanized my reading.

My passion seems to have arouse from nowhere. Neither of my parents were huge readers, nor were any of my close relatives or friends. Back in the time when Internet wasn't as ubiquitous as it is now, an only child didn't really have much to occupy herself and so I picked up a book. I travelled to other worlds and realized how much I loved it and the habit has stuck with me ever since.

There's just this feeling that only a good book can give you. The feeling when you know the characters and are invested in their lives, when you wish you could be a part of the book. For some people it happens with movies, with others comic books. For me it happens with novels.

There's no big influence for me. It's a hobby I tried and loved as a kid so I do it now. And I think that's the best kind of hobby.