Harry Potter Moment of the Week #102

hosted by Uncorked Thoughts and Lunar Rainbows Reviews.

Which character would be your study partner?

The obvious answer to this is Hermione because between the two of us, we would have everything done with excellence.  However, I think I'm going to go off the cuff today. Depending on the subject, I would choose different people.  

For Defense Against the Dark Arts, I would absolutely choose Harry.  The way he commanded and taught everyone in the DA is so impressive.  I know that I'd be able to master the practical aspect of that class with Harry helping me. 

For Herbology, Neville is the only person I want studying with me. Aside from how much I love this guy, he actually becomes the herbology professor at Hogwarts once he graduates.  If that doesn't tell you he's exceptional at the subject, I don't know what will. 

For Transfiguration, Sirius, James and Remus would be my study partners of choice. Granted, I'd probably only get work done with Remus, but it would be incredibly entertaining to be around these hooligans.

For Muggle Studies, Arthur Weasley would be a great study partner.  He loves all things muggles, so he would absolutely love to research everything that has to do with this class. We'd know so much extra information as well.

For Charms, Ginny would be perfect.  She's got a reputation for being able to cast a good hex, but I know she's got a lot more in her than hexes.  She'd be perfect to help with casting charms; plus she's just an awesome person. She wouldn't let us get too bogged down in studying.

For Care of Magical Creatures, I would ask Luna and Hagrid. Hagrid can be zealous about all the creatures, which is great. Luna has an expertise on what many people consider the fantastical creatures, the ones that supposedly aren't real. It's good to have all your bases covered, and besides I really like Luna. 

Harry Potter Month Readathon TBR

Faith of GeekyZooGirl and Micheline of Lunar Rainbow Reviews are hosting the Harry Potter Month in July and I'm on board! People can compete in the House Cup by accumulating house points. I'll be earning house points by posting about Harry Potter among other Harry Potter related activities! This year I will be representing Hufflepuff!

As part of Harry Potter Month, Faith and Micheline have come up with a readathon. You can read all the details here.  I thought I would put together a list of possible books for a TBR. I'm not sure how much extra reading I'll be doing this month, as I'm hoping to get through a couple Harry Potter books as well. But it's always fun to find books to match the categories! -- I'll be updating this post as I read.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone:

• Read the first book in a series
• The Raven Boys by Maggie Steifvater
• Read a book where someone finds out they're not who they thought they were
• 
  
• Read a book with a great friendship
• Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (7/9/17)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets:

• Read a book that features a funeral, a feast or a party
• Geekerella by Ashley Poston (7/27/17)
• Read a book with a ghost
• The Raven Boy by Maggie Steifvater
• Read a book with a terrifying monster
• 
  

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban:

• Read a book where someone is wrongfully accused or punished 
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• Read a book where a person hides who they are or wears a disguise 
• Safekeeping by Jessamyn Hope (7/20/17)
• Read a book with time-travel
• The Tomorrow Code by Brian Falkner

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire:

• Read a book with sports 
• Hawkeye Vol. 1 by Matt Fraction (7/30/17)
• Hawkeye Vol. 2 by Matt Fraction (7/30/17)
• Read a book with dragons
• Dealing With Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
• Read a book with a contest of some kind
• Fireworks by Katie Cotugno (7/20/17)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix:

• Read a book with a character you hate
• 
  
• Read a book which features a rebellion
• The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
• Red Rising by Pierce Brown
• Read a book with a prophecy
• The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan (7/13/17)
• Read a book of 800+ pages
• 
  

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince:

• Read a book that you expect will make you cry
• 
  
• Read a book with an anti-villain (or someone who's doing the wrong things for what they feel are the right reasons)
• Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (7/25/17)
• Read a book with a romance element
• Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers (7/16/17)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:

• Read a series finale
• The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson (7/28/17)
• Read a book with an anti-hero
• 
  
• Read a book with unrequited love
• 
  
• Read a book of 600+ pages
• 
  

Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them:

• Read a book with mythical or supernatural creatures (vampires, werewolves, dragons, magical animals all valid!)
• Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey 
• Read a book that's a spin off or prequel from something else
• Stars Above by Marissa Meyer (7/29/17)
• Read a book where the main character travels far from home
• The Hitchhichker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (7/13/17)

Harry Potter Moment of the Week #101

hosted by Uncorked Thoughts and Lunar Rainbows Reviews.

Would you rather face a dragon or the acromantula?

My absolute first thought was dragon, no doubt dragon.  I think I'm going to stick with that because I don't do spiders.  Ron and I are one and the same in this regard. Giant spiders are even worse.  I know the acromantula can talk, but I'm positive I couldn't talk my way out of an encounter with one of them. Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps. The dragon isn't much better, but at least the sight of it wouldn't induce fear.

Harry Potter Month 2017!

Faith of GeekyZooGirl and Micheline of Lunar Rainbow Reviews are hosting the Harry Potter Month in July and I'm on board! People can compete in the House Cup by accumulating house points. I'll be earning house points by posting about Harry Potter among other Harry Potter related activities! This year I will be representing Hufflepuff!

Hello fellow wizards and witches! I have good news, Harry Potter Month is back and I'm very excited to bring you the first of many posts. It is, once again, time to flood this blog with a bunch of Harry Potter content! This is my third year participating in this amazing event and I've got some good stuff planned. I can't wait to share it with you!

For those who might be new, here's a quick snapshot of who I am:

My name is Alex.
Hogwarts House: Hufflepuff (Last year, I gave you an entire post about how I was almost a Ravenclaw. Talk about identity crisis!)
Ilvermorny House: Pukwudgie
Patronus: St. Bernard Dog (I always thought it's be a wolf, something fiercely loyal and protective. This is just the more cuddly version. ;) )
Wand: 11 1/2", birch wood, dragon heartstring, slightly springy

I want to know who you are! Feel free to share all this information in the comments, I'll be looking for any fellow Hufflepuffs. :D (The other houses are great too...)

Happy Harry Potter Month.

Notable Quotable: Fredrik Backman (#157)

"The currency there is imagination; instead of buying something with coins, you buy it with a good story. Libraries aren't know as libraries but as 'banks,' and every fairy tale is worth a fortune."
     --My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated Books for 2017

hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

There are a lot of great books coming out in 2017. These are nine of the books that I'm excited to read in the second half of 2017.

1. Our Dark Duet by Victoria Schwab (June 13) - This is the sequel This Savage Song.  I own it, but haven't read it. This duology sounds like a really interesting story!

2. The Unlikelies by Carrie Firestone (June 6) - This one sounds like a fun, lighthearted summer read; perfect for a day at the beach.

3. Lucky in Love by Kasie West (July 25) - I will always pick up a Kasie West novel knowing that it will be a great romantic read. I loved her novel P.S. I Like You and am excited to explore more of her books. This might just be the next one!

4. The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell (July 18) - This sounds like a great magical adventure and it's set in past and present day New York!

5. Warcross by Marie Lu (September 12) - A female hacker and a game crazy world, I'm ready to read this book!

6. Renegades by Marissa Meyer (November 7) - I don't know much about this book, but if Marissa Meyer wrote it, I will absolutely read it. Superheroes and villians out for revenge, what could possibly go wrong.

7. Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia (May 30) - This book just sounds so interesting.

8. Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu (September 17) - I'm all about female empowerment and especially when it's the focus of a novel.  I can't wait to see the friendships build between the characters and the antiquated rules they bust up.

9. Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas (September 7) - This one might seem a little out of place on this list since I've only read Throne of Glass so far in the series. However, I really enjoyed that book and Chaol happens to be one of the stand out characters for me so far. I just hope I can get to through this series by the time this book comes out!

Notable Quotable: S. Jae-Jones (#156)

"Once there was a little girl who played her music for a little boy in the wood. She was small and dark, he was tall and fair, and the two of them made a fancy pair as they danced together, dancing to the music the little girl heard in her head."
     --Wintersong