Think Out Loud #14

Think Out Loud.

This is a weekly meme used for bloggers

to post something they would normally not post.

So, post whatever YOU want!

My literary highlights and downsides of 2014

O Brave New World, 2015 is  upon us! Are we entering a more enlightened age or...are we falling into the rabbit hole backwards to 1984. I'll leave it to time to answer that. I suppose doom and gloom isn't very cheery to start the new year with, so I won't bore you with my apprehension for the future of mankind. I'll just stick to literature, our one true love and drug.

2014 wasn't a particularly good year for reading. I was way too busy with college and stressing about college to actively and properly READ. Of course this doesn't mean I read nothing. ha.ha. I read some books, considering college I challenged myself to read less books. I started out with a goal of 20 ( college is important...) then I hit my mark and adjusted it to 30 ( ..procrastination set in). I hit the mark again and just kept reading. I ended up setting it to 50 and unfortunately I didn't hit this mark. I ended 2014 having read 44 books. Anyways..

Let's get this show on the road, here are my literary highlights and downsides from 2014:

-+ According to Goodreads the longest book I've read this year is Styxx by Sherrilyn Kenyon with 836 pages. I was really looking forward to Styxx's story, although I was a bit disappointed.  The cover is nice though: the color and the bird...thing...

+ Another book I was looking forward to reading was Dark Skye by Kresely Cole: I was counting the days to Dark Skye and going insane with excitement. Melanth and Throno's story was one I was eager to read. Just like Styxx, only it wasn't disappointing. Lots of hate and love stuff and NIX! It did get sappy towards the end but it's to be expected. The cover sucked -->

-+ Mockingjay lives ! My friends and I went to watch the first part of the Mockingjay movie. It was an exciting and surprising night. I felt guilty joining in on the frenzy to watch the movie because the hype around the movie felt contradicting to the book's message. Almost like we, the viewers, were going to the arena to watch Katniss in the Games. Also Mockingjay the book wasn't the most cheery book of the series. The night turned out great and inspirational. We all wore our mockingjay necklaces and one wore a pin, who we continued to refer to as Madge. The first part of the movie seemed a bit lighter than the book, I suppose the heavy part will be in part 2. The scene where president Snow talks about and denounces the Mockingjay symbol as criminal made me feel like a rebel! And fear for my life while being thankful it was just a movie. ( but is it? recent developments make what the Hunger Games is about very relevant).

-+ I watched Divergent (Veronica Roth) and read the book. The movie was sociologically interesting. The way society was constructed and the division into factions got me interested in the book ( which I was reluctant to read) also Theo James. The concept of factions angers me and fascinates me.  It would have been better if people were free to choose their place rather than forced into one. I'd rather be factionless than dance to societies warped and butthurt ideas of efficiency......of course, I'd die homeless and hungry. The book wasn't as engaging as the movie; I read spoilers on it and ...what happens in Alegiant depressed and discouraged me enough not to continue with this series.

+ Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan, the spin off series to the Percy Jackson series. This was an awesome series. The introduction of an alternative halblood camp was fantastic. A roman counterpart to the Greeks camp halfblood. Unlike my friends, I enjoyed the Romans camp Jupiter: the discipline and order. Less magic and humor but still good. Although I respect the Romans way , I'd still pick camp half-blood. My favorite characters out of the seven was Leo. I identified with Leo more, him being the the seventh wheel and him using Morse code the way I use Korean. Further more I liked the diversity of the group.

+ This year I read more Shakespeare and more Jane Austin! Shakespeare is awesome, if you disagree you just need to give the guy a chance. If you still can't get into it, then wait a couple of years and try again.  I finished Taming of the Shrew this year, a book I started reading years ago. It was different than what I expected. Hamlet! This is easily my favorite for this year! I went to watch the Globe theater performance of the play! And  it's one of the most memorable things of the year!....From now on ask my what I'm reading and I'll say words, words,words!

+ Jane Austen, I'd like to think I'm an austenite now. Persuasion and Northanger Abby were amazing! Captain Wentworth's letter was so moving: half agony, half hope.  I finally got to watch the 2005 movie of Pride and Prejudice and it was moving, Darcy's proposing scene in the rain, the way he whispers .."please.." had me overwhelmed-like. Jane Austen has bewitched me body and soul and I love,love,love her! 

+ finally read some more Neil Geiman!

+ A friend let me burrow her E-reader and added a bunch of my TBR books on it. Giving me the opportunity to read more Neil Geiman, Shakespeare and Jane Austen books. Although I prefer the printed word, I now have a better understand of both sides of the book VS Ebooks debate. 

+ I also got to do a buddy-read with her, we're both currently reading the Hallows series by *Kim Harrison. 
+ I got an editor now. ClarA RowlKin.

+ The Cuckoo's Calling by J.K Rowling! I was happy to get the opportunity to read this book. If it wasn't JKR who wrote it, I'm not sure I would have read it. It's true my interest for the book stems from my HP bias. Either way the book in it self is wonderful. It's not the most original story, but the way it's written and the characters is what make it a winner. Reading this book was magic! it's far from modern simplistic writing we find now in some YA novels. This is easily one of the most well written books I've read in 2014. Well next to Practical Magic.

+ Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman was a whole different experience. It was magic as well. I'm a fan of the movie and finally got around to reading the book. The writing really gives that homey feel the movie gave. However the movie pales in contrast to the book. The book was more dramatic and scary.
+ The Page has mascots now! pandas ( Haru and Sofia)
- The page went on hiatus because college sucks the fun out of everything. 
- I decided to no longer accept review submissions. 

It seems I read some awesome quality books this year to compensate for the quantity of books. As I look to the year 2015 , I'm thinking I should dedicate the year to some classic books, to downsizing my TBR list and to start reading some of those new authors and books I've been eyeing. Like Kurt Vonnegut, Harukami, Hemingway, the Art of War, The Island of Dr. Moreau. Of course more Shakespeare and Jane Austen. NO Mark Twain! and definitely The Hunchback of Notre Dame. I suppose I have my literary resolutions down as well. Tell me yours in the comments below and have an awesome new year, you filthy animals!

Think Out Loud #8

Think Out Loud.

This is a weekly meme used for bloggers

to post something they would normally not post.

So, post whatever YOU want!

My literary highlights and downsides of 2012

It's already 2013?! Well that went by fast. So here's a random  unstructured post where I review all things related to books and this reviewing page during the year 2012. 

I started reviewing in October 2011 and I'm still going strong today. How about that? this is the most committed relationship I've ever been in. I'm not sure I should have said that.....

Although I am kind of disappointed . This year I didn't finish my Goodreads challenge  which is ironic because my Goodreads challenge for 2011 was 100 books which I completed by 110. This year I reduced it to 75 books which  I didn't complete by 25 (only read 50). It really bugs me ! Of course one shouldn't dwell on the amount of books one reads but the quality right, there's a phrase for that, I can't remember it. 

The best of the 50 books I've read:

#1 Highlight is discovering the ASOIAF saga by GRRM. I'm still not finished with a Dance with Dragons. I'm going slow on purpose . Who knows when GRRM will finish the other two books and S3 of a Game of Thrones isn't coming out for a long time yet.  My reviews of the first four books are my favorite reviews I've written so far. Although they do border on rants. especially a Storm of Swords, which coincidentally is the longest book I've read this year (according to Goodreads)    

#2 Discovering  new authors . James Patterson, I had always seen his name or heard him mentioned along with other authors  I'm ashamed to admit I intentionally didn't pick his book up sometimes. We all have regular authors we read. and although we all know "you should never judge a book by it's cover" we still do! either way Patterson is an awesome writer,  the characters he creates are amazing and talented and human. It's just really easy to connect with them.It's annoying. Neil Geiman, after reading his poem instructions on a fellow reviewers page I was sold. Instructions is a poem about what to do if you find yourself in a fairy tale.  It's an awesome poem and listening to this guy read is like going to a really mellow rock party. I also got the chance to read his comic  The Sandman vol.1 . 

#3 Finishing The Hunger Games. I had hoped for a happy ending when I had finished book one. can't say it was met tho. The ending was bittersweet.  The Hunger Games , The Confession and The Lost Symbol are the most substantial books I read this year.

- The Night Circus is easily the most imaginative book.

- The Silent Girl was the most thrilling

- The funniest now this one's hard: the Scott Pilgrim comics were pretty funny and absurd, so was the manga Yotsuba  and I got to read my first Jane Evanovitch book, Lean Mean Thirteen. I'm impressed by her humor and will definitely be picking up more of her books.

-The twisted, psychological  reads: This is gonna be a tie. but the #1 goes to Red Dragon #2 goes to Johnny the Homicidal Maniac. The title is pretty accurate. Although Johnny is psycho the comic is pretty funny in  a twisted way and has a morbid perception of social life and people. My favorite  sketch will always be Wobbly Headed Bob.

#4 books I bought over the year;

I currently own all four books from the ASOIAF saga and I got the box set for The Hunger Games . I also caved and bought the ASOIAF 2013 calendar. I bought my first mangas, Bleach vol .36 and 37 ( The Pendulum arc) and another Tess Geritsen book, The Silent Girl. Roro @ Roro Is Reading gave me Lothaire (IAD #12)  as a present and I bought the last book in the Lords of the Underworld series #9, The Darkest Seduction. That's two out of the six books I wanted to read in 2012. 

#6 finally picking out a background image for the page . 

#7 garnered some new followers. but My #1 comment-er will always be Kah Cherub @Not Just Nonsense  . and my #2 spot goes to my faithful or maybe occasional readers Mark and Maayra. Who make my day.

#8 this year I received my first autographed book! By none other then one of my friends who won a writing competition and got one of his short stories published  He's well one his way. He's also started reviewing so stop by his page @ Zera's Comic Shelf 
#
#9 I wrote my first review on request which was  for a Bizarro book, A Hollow Cube is a lonely Space. Bizarro fiction is a genre that uses satire and a lot of other crazy stuff to  make weird ,crazy, disgusting stories. A Hollow Cube is a Lonely Space is pretty decent compared to the other titles I saw from this genre. Although it's the only book from this genre I've read so  I can't say that, can I. but I saw some really weird titles. So you've been warned.

#10 I got my second request  to review Good Gladys by Martin Renaud two months ago. finished it yesterday. Review pending.

#11 downside : Helena said Sherlock Holmes had no personality and the plot was obvious .I know everybody is allowed an opinion and I should.. let this go. but really...? no personality..really

#13 the best covers 2012: 

#1 Angelfall by Susan Ee. Awesome book , unpredictable hero and ridiculous but feisty heroin.


#2 The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern 

#3 Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

My long term relationship with certain books keep increasing while new ones bloom. According to Goodreads I've been reading Grimm's Fairy Tales since May 2010 and It by Stephen king since June 2010. There are in total 17 books I haven't finished reading. but I do read them on and off, for 2 and a half years apparently . I mean come on, It is a pretty lengthy book and not easy to read. I think the last  thing I read was where this guy was talking to something through the sink. a scary demonic voice that said it was Legion. I'm sorry, but that's the cue to stop reading and run! NOT that I was scared or anything

Then there's a bunch of books I've burrowed but haven't read . and the ever increasing TBR list. But there's still time , there's this new whole year in front of me to read and finish reading books, so come at me 2013.