Top Ten Tuesday #36

Welcome! Thank you for stopping by today. Pull up a chair and relax for a bit while we talk about books.
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Head on over to their blog for all sorts of goodness!

This week's Top Ten:   Top Ten Favorite Book Covers of Books I've Read   Oh yay!! I love talking about pretty covers, though I generally do it in person and not on the blog. I don't know why that is. I may need to join a Cover Love meme or something. 
(Click the cover to visit the Goodreads page for the book)  

1. The Sweetest Dark, Shana Abé

 

 

 

I love the ethereal feel of this cover, because it perfectly matches the story. Also, purple is one of my favorite colors and it's woefully underused.

 

2. Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow, Jessica Day George

 

 

 

This cover fits the beautiful simplicity of the story. There isn't anything I don't love about it.

 

3. Unspoken, Sarah Rees Brennan

 

 

 

It's so pretty! It's pink! It's totally what drew me to the book in the first place.

 

4. Nevermore, Kelly Creagh

 

 

 

Truth be told, there isn't anything I don't love about this cover either. The male model is absolutely PERFECT for Varen. I love his gothic look and how he could totally BE Edgar Allan Poe. I also love the title font and the scripty font on the models. Perfect.

 

5. Enshadowed, Kelly Creagh

 

 

 

Why yes, I AM choosing the second book in the series as well. The first cover blew me away and the second one is EVEN BETTER. I love how Varen is kind of in the background, all ghosty-like. It fits with the story perfectly. (And I really NEED to see the third cover!!!)

 

6. True Honor, Dee Henderson

 

      

 

Okay, I'm just going to admit it. I love this cover because of the FREAKISHLY HOT MAN on the cover. I could look at that all day. (Hey, I'm allowed one shallow pick!) 

 

7. Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, Lish McBride

 

  

 

One of the things that drew me to this book was the male MC. I like that he's portrayed on the cover as well, and that they didn't try to go for girly appeal by putting a pretty girl in a ball gown on the cover. I have nothing against those covers, btw. I'm just glad that this one is so fitting.

 

8. Anna and the French Kiss, Stephanie Perkins

 

  

 

Oh, this cover!! I adore it. I love Lola's story better, but I'm definitely a bigger fan of Anna's cover. Hello, PARIS.

 

9. Die for Me, Amy Plum

 

  

 

Oh heavens, this cover! THIS COVER!! I love the scrolly bits, the fonts, and especially Paris in the background. How could it NOT be a hit for me?! 

 

10. Defiance, CJ Redwine

 

 

 

Doesn't this cover just SCREAM defiance?! I love that it's so fitting for the story. Also, I love the colors and the pop of her red hair against the background. It's so perfect.

Which covers made your list? Leave me a link!

#BoutofBooks 7.0 - Wrap Up

Well, I did exactly what I thought I'd probably do...I looked at my goal list and my stack of TBR books and threw the goal list out the window. I'd get started on a goal book and then LOOK! SHINY!! I got distracted by another book I wanted to read.   Ah well, at least I got some books finished, right?!   Here's what I finished: The Dark Unwinding, Sharon Cameron (goal book) Deadly Pursuit, Irene Hannon (shiny book) The Devil Wears Plaid, Teresa Medeiros (shiny book) Charmed Vengeance, Suzanne Lazear (goal book)   Started, but didn't finish: The Fault in our Stars, John Green (shiny book)
Goals:

1. Bloodrose, Andrea Cremer
2. Shatter Me, Tahereh Mafi
3. The Crown of Embers, Rae Carson
4. The Madness Underneath, Maureen Johnson
5. The Dark Shore, Kevin Emerson
6. Othermoon, Nina Berry
7. Wicked Kiss, Michelle Rowen
8. Strands of Bronze and Gold, Jane Nickerson
9. Unbroken, Paula Morris
10. Annihilation, Drew Karpyshyn
11. The Dark Unwinding, Sharon Cameron
12. Charmed Vengeance, Suzanne Lazear

Special for Sundays #71

Welcome back to Special for Sundays! We're still talking about Dave Wolverton/David Farland this month. Today, I'd like to talk about the book I love the most.

I really, really loved The Courtship of Princess Leia. It's the book that introduced me to the author, and I knew I had to keep reading his books.

BUT.

It's not the focus of today's post.

See, I REALLY, REALLY loved Runelords: The Sum of All Men.

The storytelling and world-building in this book are stunning. I could picture myself in the setting just as easily as I could picture the characters. It was really a masterpiece of storytelling. I was invested all the time. 

This is not an easy thing to do with high fantasy. It's easy to get bored and tired of the details, but that never happened here. It's a long book and I read it pretty quickly. Even my favorite high fantasy (Lord of the Rings) isn't a quick read.

I love a book that's totally engaging and keeps me wanting more. I would highly recommend this series to anyone looking for a great high fantasy read. I'm about to start the second book, and I can't wait to dive back into this world!

I feel like a bad person...

Why do I feel like a bad person, you may be asking yourself?

Well, because I didn't finish The Fault in our Stars.

I KNOW.

I feel like the world's biggest tool right now.

BUT.

I have REASONS.

See, there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with this book. The writing is flawless, the story is engaging, it's all so realistic.

That, my friends, is the problem. It's TOO realistic for me.

See, my younger brother went through cancer when we were kids. There were times when we thought we might lose him. It was the scariest time of MY life, and I wasn't even the one who was sick. It's not a time that I relish reliving, but I thought maybe I was ready.

I wasn't.

Not even a little bit.

I UGLY CRIED through the parts of the book that I did read (I got about 2/3 through before it just became too much). I went down a road that I thought I was ready to travel, but I really wasn't.

I thought to myself that I could have been terribly offended by the humor in the book. I wasn't. That's how cancer is. The gallows humor gets you through some of the hard times.

I could have taken issue with the fact that I laughed in a cancer story. I didn't. See, there are times when you MUST laugh. Otherwise, you are smothered by the sadness and overwhelming feeling that it's never going to be okay.

There were things I loved about the parts that I was able to finish. I loved that both teens are deliciously sarcastic and so intelligent. Their lives weren't about the latest trend, device, or whatnot. They were focused on LIVING and making memories. I loved that. I loved that they had supportive, amazing families (I don't know if that changes later on in the book, but I highly doubt it). I loved that they were able to look their disease in the face and KEEP ON LIVING. See, John Green is a genius. Really and truly. The man can write. I will be reading more of his stuff.

The only thing I didn't love about this book was my reaction to it. I just wasn't ready for the torrent of emotions that jumped out at me. I wasn't ready to go back down that road. I couldn't handle the onslaught. I didn't want to keep ugly crying in public (yes, I DID THAT - right in the middle of a grocery store. I had to leave.).

In the end, it's a book that I would HIGHLY recommend to anyone needing a realistic look at an issue. It's just not one that I can read myself.

*ETA: My brother survived several bouts with brain cancer and then thyroid cancer. He's healthy now and we're extremely grateful.

Review: Dr. Frankenstein's Daughters by Suzanne Weyn

Goodreads Barnes and Noble Amazon
Source: eARC via NetGalley
Published: January 1, 2013
Scholastic Press

Synopsis: A new generation is creating a monster.... 

Giselle and Ingrid are the twin daughters of Doctor Victor Frankenstein, but they are very different people, and when they inherit his castle in the Orkney Islands, Giselle dreams of holding parties and inviting society -- but Ingrid is fascinated by her father's forbidden experiments. (Source: Goodreads)

*Many thanks to Scholastic and NetGalley for allowing early access to this title*

Quick Review...for when I don't have a lot to say...

It seems like I've been on quite the gothic horror kick lately. I devoured Kenneth Oppel's Frankenstein series, and just HAD to have this one. I was intrigued by the idea of Dr. Frankenstein having daughters. It was one of those ideas that was kind of repugnant to me, but intriguing all the same.

This take on the legend was interesting. It was told in a diary fashion, with each sister alternating chapters. The switch kind of threw me at first, but then I got into the rhythm and could figure out who was talking. They did have different styles of speaking.

I never really quite connected to either of them though. There was something off-putting about them that made it impossible to know them. I didn't really WANT to know them. They felt like the kind of people who would make friends and then cut off your limbs to use in experiments.

Ugh.

The story was interesting, if somewhat predictable. I wasn't ever really on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next like I was with Oppel's books. This just didn't quite connect. 

It was okay. It's one that I won't read again, but have no regrets about having read. 2.5 Eiffel Towers.

Content Advisory
Language: Mild
Violence: Moderately heavy
Sexuality: Mild

Bout of Books 7.0 Mid-week Update

I'm having a blast doing Bout of Books this time around!
Here's what I've accomplished so far:
Books finished - The Dark Unwinding, Sharon Cameron Goals:

1. Bloodrose, Andrea Cremer
2. Shatter Me, Tahereh Mafi
3. The Crown of Embers, Rae Carson
4. The Madness Underneath, Maureen Johnson
5. The Dark Shore, Kevin Emerson
6. Othermoon, Nina Berry
7. Wicked Kiss, Michelle Rowen
8. Strands of Bronze and Gold, Jane Nickerson
9. Unbroken, Paula Morris
10. Annihilation, Drew Karpyshyn
11. The Dark Unwinding, Sharon Cameron
12. Charmed Vengeance, Suzanne Lazear

I've also set a goal to review at least four of the books I finish this week. The reviews won't POST this week, of course, but I want to get them written up and scheduled.
I thought I'd be further along, but I have a very good reason for not being as far as I thought...I kind of took Tuesday off from reading to go down to Salt Lake and meet Margaret Stohl, Stephanie Perkins (!!!!!), Shannon Hale, and Ally Condie. I'll have details and pictures later on.
See, good excuse for not reading, huh?!

Top Ten Tuesday #35

Welcome! Thank you for stopping by today. Pull up a chair and relax for a bit while we talk about books.
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Head on over to their blog for all sorts of goodness!

This week's Top Ten:
Top Ten Books Dealing with Tough (for you) Subjects
1. If I Stay, Gayle Forman - This book absolutely killed me. The death of my family is something that terrifies me, so to read about it was hard. But Forman handled it SO well. I couldn't ask for a better handling.
2. Where She Went, Gayle Forman - The continuation of Mia's story and how the aftermath affected Adam. Loved it. 
3. The Fault in Our Stars, John Green - I am reading this one right now. I held off for a long time, because I have a brother who dealt with cancer for years and years. I wasn't sure if I was ready to read about it. So far, it's done in a way that doesn't make me hurt. Sure, it makes me cry, but they aren't tears of despair and sorrow. Rather, they're tears of remembrance. Tears for what my brother went through. Tears for what our family went through.
4. The Truth About Forever, Sarah Dessen - Mean girls, breakups, death of a beloved parent...yeah, it's all here. It's done SO well. I loved this book. It's actually the only Dessen I've liked, but I'm so glad I have this one.
5. Size 12 is Not Fat, Meg Cabot - Wait, this can't be an issue book! It's funny! There isn't any angst! Oh yes there is. Especially for a girl who suffered years and years of eating disorders because size 12 WAS considered fat. Oh yes, this book has major issues for someone who's been there, done that. Yep. I'm just glad that it's handled in a humorous way. Eating disorders are the one issue I still refuse to touch in serious books. I just can't handle them.
Okay, I couldn't think of any more 'issue' books. I don't really read issue books, so it's a short list this week.
Actually, maybe I should list another five books that I read to GET OVER the issue books...
Okay, yes.
1. Anything by Maria V. Snyder - These books are sure to get me out of an issue book funk. LOVE them. So much.
2. The Chronicles of Prydain, Lloyd Alexander - Going back to these books just makes me happy and makes all the issues go away...even though there are issues in these too. Don't ask me to explain. I can't.
3. Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling - The magic! The mystery! The fabulousness of it all! Yes, these are go-to reads when I need a post-issue book pick-me-up.
4. Anything by Brandon Mull - Oh, how I adore these books. And this author. Pretty much anything he's written will help me get over an issue book.
5. Pretty much any Star Wars book - yes, I am a geek (loud and proud, baby!) and I read the Star Wars novels. They make me happy. Happy is what I want after an issue book.
What books made your list this week? Leave me a link!