Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Bucket List

hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

I have a partial list today, but they are all good ones.

1. J.K. Rowling - This is probably on many people's lists, but I would absolutely love to meet her.  She is one of the major reasons I love reading and writing and to tell her so in person would be so cool!

2. Book Conventions - I've never been to a book conference or convention, but I would absolutely love to go to one like YALLFest or  BEA.  It would be so cool to be somewhere where there are hundreds of other who love books just as much as I do.

3. LeakyCon - I've wanted to go to LeakyCon since it's inception but I was too young and then not able for various reasons. There are so many cool aspects of it now that I absolutely must go.

4. Teenreads's Ultimate Reading List - I started this list in high school and now I'm determined to finish it.  It has over 500 books on it and it's been overhauled a couple of times, but I will finish the list one of these days.

5. John Green - He is someone that I admire greatly as an author and a human being.  It would be so cool to meet and interact with him.

6. Classics - As someone who loves literature, I feel like it's my duty to read "the classics" ei Bronte, Austen, Dumas, Hugo, Shakespeare, Doyle, Joyce, Twain, Verne... More than my duty really, I actually want to read these books.

7. Publish - I'm going to publish a book one of these days.  I've written a couple, but now I want to go to the next step and get published.

8. Library - I want to own a house with a library, but just any library.  I have an idea in my head and it would amazing if it came to existence in my home, secret room and all.

Notable Quotable: Stephen Chbosky (#33)

"Sometimes, I look outside, and I think that a lot of other people have seen this snow before.  Just like I think that a lot of other people have read those books before.  And listened to those songs.  I wonder how they feel tonight.'"
     --Perks of Being a Wallflower

Top Ten Tuesday: Spring TBR

hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. 

Okay, okay.  I feel like I'm a broken record with a lot of these books, but you know what?  This spring is the spring that I quit putting off the books I want to read.  Here we go!

1. Insurgent by Veronica Roth
2. Allegiant by Veronica Roth
3. Champion by Marie Lu
4. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
5. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
6. Hollow City by Ransom Riggs
7. Matched by Ally Condie
8. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
9. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
10. The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick

Cress

By Marissa Meyer

Published: Feiwel and Friends

Pages: 550 

Cinder and the gang are still running from the law both on Earth and Luna. When they come in contact with a young lunar shell named Cress who has spent the last seven years cooped up in a satellite, they decide that she might make a valuable ally. However, when things don't go as planned in the rescue, it is up to Cinder to pull everyone back together. Meanwhile, Cress must come to terms with the idea that she might not live long enough to make a difference in the fight for good. 

The thing about this book is that the momentum never quits. There is never a moment in the book where I felt like it was a good place to put the book down for a while. I just wanted to keep reading the entire time. I needed to find out what happened next. It was time for events to converge and people to interact and butts to be kicked. This roller coaster of a book kept me guessing who would come out on top and at what costs.

I've said it before, but I'm going to say it again. I love fairy tale retellings and I find it particularly impressive when they are linked. Marissa Meyer has done it again.  She tells the story of Rapunzel in a unique and interesting way that has me thinking more complexly about the characters. She weaves this story seamlessly with the other stories in this genuinely incredible world she has created. 

The further we dig into this world, the more learn about it's crazy cast of characters.  Cinder is honing her gift and Thorne shows a more compassionate side. Wolf and Scarlet are as feisty as ever and Dr. Erland discovers more about the plague. Kai shows his true feelings about being engaged to the lunar queen. And we meet a lovely addition, Cress, who happens to be incredibly gifted with hacking and dismantling technology. All of these attributes are just the tip of the iceberg in the book. I'm in love. 

I really have no complaints about this book other than I have to wait for the conclusion! Bravo Marissa Meyer, you have me under your spell. I cannot wait to see what the finale holds.

Stars: 5/5 

Praise:

"Once again, Meyer  offers up a science fiction fantasy page-turner that salutes women's intelligence and empowerment...Old and new romance, unfinished story lines, and the prognostication of wartime horrors all pave the way for Meyer's much anticipated next installment."
     --Booklist

"This multilayered, action-packed page-turner is sure to please series fans."
     --The Horn Book

"Meyer continues to show off her storytelling prowess, keeping readers engaged in a wide cast of characters while unfolding a layered plot that involves warring governments and a fast-spreading plague.  The momentum Meyer built in the first two books continues to accelerate as the stakes grow higher for Cinder and her friends.  The next installment cannot come fast enough."
     --Publishers Weekly, starred review

This is a 2014 Eclectic Reader Challenge book!

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite books in Fantasy

hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.

1. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling - I love this entire series, but if I had to choose one that would make this list it would be this one.  It is definitely my favorite book of the series with closely following sequels and prequels.

2. The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis - I really enjoyed reading this series as well but there's nothing like the tale battle for Narnia.  I love all the characters and the introduction the the Pevensies have to the world.  I just love that it was Lucy who found Narnia and introduced it to her siblings.

3. Lord of the Rings: Two Towers by J. R. R. Tolkien - This is my favorite of the series for one reason alone: The Ents.  I love the Ents.  (I could argue the The Fellowship of the Ring is my favorite because of Tom Bombadil or that the Return of the King is my favorite because of the Eagles.)

4. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien - I absolutely love this book.  I could read it again and again forever.  It is so magical and humorous.  At the same time the adventure is dangerous and nail biting, everything that makes a good fantasy story.

5. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer - It's hard to pick a favorite book from this series because it's not finished yet, but I think these books are the best fairytale retellings I've ever come across.  I absolutely love them.

6. Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series/Heroes of Olympus Series by Rick Riordan -  I love these characters, they are incredible unique from one another and the chemistry between everyone is completely believable.  It's one of the most creative and entices series I've read.

7. Sisters Grimm Series by Michael Buckley - This children's series is another excellent fairytale retelling.  I think the way the characters are incorporated into the overall story is fun and engaging.  I really enjoyed reading them.

8. The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke - Italy is a beautiful setting for mischief, magic and unexpected adventure.  Every time I read this book I fall back in love with the characters and the mysterious side of Italy that we see.

9. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - The language in this book is just eloquent and beautiful; that's probably my favorite part of reading this.  Also, it's got an unique and interesting use of magic and there's a circus!

10. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor - a classic tale of angels and demons, but with an interesting and quite unexpected twist.

City of Ashes

by Cassandra Clare
published: EcElderry Books, 2009
pages: 453

Clary, now fully sucked into the life of a shadowhunter, just wishes she could forget everything. She wishes she had never met the evil Valentine or the handsome yet annoying Jace and his friends. She wishes her mom was awake and that she could go back to spending more time with her best friend, Simon.  However, her wishes are just that, wishes. Clary has found herself in the middle of a crazy revenge plot that includes the deceiving Inquisitor, who has it in for Jace. The Inquisitor accuses Jace  of being in league with Valentine and creates chaos that leaves a window open for Valentine to attack. Is it possible that Clary, Jace and the other shadowhunters no longer possess the ability to overcome Valentine's evil plot?

This sequel held a lot of promise and more importantly some of the answers to questions the first left me dying to find out.  However, there were definitely some scenes that were painfully awkward to read, but not because of the writing, more so because of the situation in which the characters have cornered themselves.  I would have preferred that they weren't in the story, but those scenes added to their character so I sucked it up.

Character development!  The one thing I absolutely cannot stand is characters that don't develop, that don't learn and grow.  (I know sometimes those kinds of characters make great antagonists, but still.)  Clary, Simon, Jace and the whole gang DO show character growth.  They change, some much more so than others,  but everyone seems to exhibit some sort of personal growth. We, as readers, learn more about them and become more attached.  I can firmly say that I am invested in the well being of Clary and her mother now.  I care. 

This books leaves room for conclusions to be drawn, and because I am unable to not theorize what's going to happen next I've made my educated guesses.  At this point in the series, I cannot wait to find out what happens next, and I only hope that some of my more optimistic theories are true. Cassandra Clare don't let me down!

Stars 4/5

Praise:

"A gorgeous fantasy that's so good, it's dangerous."
     --Holly Black

"Trust us, you'll be so into this smart, funny, romantic read taht you won't even be frustrated at at the cliff-hanger ending."
     --Cosmo Girl Magazine

Notable Quotable: Markus Zusak (#32.5)

"He stood waist-deep in the water for a few moments longer before climbing out and handing her the book. His pants clung to him, and he did not stop walking. In truth, I think he was afraid. Rudy Steiner was scared of the book thief’s kiss. He must have longed for it so much. He must have loved her so incredibly hard. So hard that he would never ask for her lips again and would go to his grave without them."
     --The Book Thief