Fan-fiction, Freaky Dreams, and Fugitives (What Are You Reading Wednesday?)

I'm linking up with Marrisa from "Marissa Writes" for her "What Are You Reading Wednesday?" link-up! It looks super fun and it's really simple. You share what you're reading and talk about it using the five questions Marissa gives. I've almost done it several times, but never posted anything for it. That all changes today. So what am I reading?

Juuuust kidding (sort of). I'm actually only reading three things right now, which is a surprisingly low number for me. Three is kind of my minimum number. If I only read one or two books at a time, I tend to procrastinate reading them at all if I don't really like them. Luckily, I like all three of these books!

1. Why did you decide to pick up this book - cover or content?
 
Content (although who can resist that playful cover?). This one is actually a reread. Lately I've been including well-beloved YA books in the stack on my nightstand, just so I have something fun and familiar to return to if I'm not really in the mood for anything else. Recently I finished rereading Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda that way. I haven't read Fangirl since it first came out in 2013, so I'm looking forward to loving it all over again from an older perspective, especially as a recent fan-fiction lover and soon-to-be college student.

2. Who is your favorite character so far, and why?
 
I'm one chapter in so far, but I already have the feeling it'll be Cath because of how much I'll relate to her as a writer and introvert.

3. Will you finish this one?
 
Yep!

4. Finish the sentence:  This book reminds me of... (other books, movies, TV shows...)
 
The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet if it were set in college, maybe? I'm not sure.

5. What type of read is this one? (slow but interesting, cannot put it down,...)

It's hard to tell one chapter in and I don't really remember, but I'm going to guess that it will be super fluffy and addictive.

1. Why did you decide to pick up this book - cover or content?
 
Content (can't say I'm really a fan of this cover). After enjoying Fun Home, I figured I should pick this one up to complete the picture of what Alison's family was really like. I'm enjoying this one less, only because it's much harder to pick up and dive back into. You have to give this book your undivided attention to take it all in.


2. Who is your favorite character so far, and why?
 
This isn't exactly a "favorite character" sort of book, but I'll go with Alison. I like her and I also feel sorry for her.

3. Will you finish this one?
 
Eventually!

4. Finish the sentence:  This book reminds me of... (other books, movies, TV shows...)
 
There's really nothing like this. It's a one-of-a-kind memoir.

5. What type of read is this one? (slow but interesting, cannot put it down,...)

"Slow, but interesting" is definitely the right descriptor. It's deep. Lots of the psychological analysis is going right over my head, but the parts I do understand are fascinating. There are a lot of sections where Alison analyzes her dreams and it always astounds me how much she can connect them to her real life, down to the tiniest detail.

1. Why did you decide to pick up this book - cover or content?
 
Content (I never like covers that include brooding men staring at me). After reading Cait's glowing review on Goodreads, I picked it up at the library on a whim.

2. Who is your favorite character so far, and why?
 
Monty, even though he drives me crazy. He's such an idiot sometimes, but he can be really charming and hysterical.

3. Will you finish this one?

Absolutely.

4. Finish the sentence:  This book reminds me of... (other books, movies, TV shows...)
 
Ummm . . . Six of Crows if the characters had more morals? Gentleman's Guide is also about a group of fugitives and Monty sort of reminds me of Jesper, who was also one of my favorite characters from the Six of Crows series.

5. What type of read is this one? (slow but interesting, cannot put it down,...)

For a book this big and daunting, it moves pretty fast. I was surprised how quickly I got into it.

What are you reading this Wednesday?

What Does the Cover Say? (A Linkup)

The "Notebook Sisters" are having another linkup! This one is all about blog covers. Check it out HERE if you want to participate!



(Note: As I'm writing this, I have "What Does the Cover Say?" to the tune of "What Does the Fox Say?" stuck in my head. So annoying.)

"I'm secretly plotting your demise and wondering if your eyes should be described as emerald-green or sea-green in my book."

"ENOUGH WITH THE FAN ALREADY."

"Be afraid. Be very afraid."

"I'm wearing a dress I never once wear in this book, because it would be impossible to put my sword through your spleen with it on."

"Oh! I, um, was not expecting company. Uh . . . this is awkward . . ."

"HUMAN LOOK FUNNY. CARDBOARD MAN EAT HUMAN."

"Hey, is anybody going to paint on my other eye? Hello?"





"Yeah, you. I'm looking at YOU."

Notebook Sisters Linkup

I'm linking up with the Notebook Sisters's "Book and Writing Insanity Linkup"! :D But instead of typing out the answers for the meme like I normally do, I answered the questions in a vlog. (My first EVER vlog, to be clear, so go easy on me. I'm not used to talking to a camera.) ;)





 

Questions I asked in the video that you may have forgotten by now: 

Which actor/actress do you think was the best fit for my characters? (Go to 10:17 to see them again).
Which quote was your favorite? (Go to 15:05 to listen to them again).
Which first line was your favorite? (Go to 18:27 to listen to them again).
Do you have any idea who Erica Durance is?

How I Like My Eggs . . . Er, Books

Prompt: How do you like your eggs . . . er, books? Make a list of your usual reading locations, a list of favorite genres (substitute authors if you wish), and a list of reading snacks. When you're done, try combining items from each list. Which combo sounds best to you, right at this moment? You can take this as far as you like and make multiple combinations for all occasions.

Locations
1. My bed underneath all of the covers, surrounded by all fifty-something of my stuffed animals.
2. On the couch, with my dog.
3. In the reading nook in my room.
4. In the car on long road trips.
5. Outside in the grass.
6. In the library.
7. At the coffee shop.
8. Outside on the porch.

Genres
1. Fantasy
2. Contemporary
3. Dystopian.
4. Medieval Fantasy
5. Young Adult

Snacks
1. Any kind of cookies
2. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
3. Hot Cocoa
4. Milkshakes
5. Ice cream
6. Milk
7. M&M's

The combo that sounds best to me right now is a good fantasy book, with a chocolate peanut butter milkshake, in my bed underneath all of the covers, surrounded by all fifty-something of my stuffed animals.

How do you like your books? Leave a comment! :D

All the Feels

Yet another blog link-up from "The Book Chewers."

Prompt: It's all about the feels this week! Walk us through the books that have had a profound emotional impact on you. Use the list below as a guideline, but feel free to adjust it to suit your purposes.

Made you laugh

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green, Going Bovine by Libba Bray, any of the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling, Wonder by R.J. Palacio, The Host by Stephenie Meyer, any books from the Darkness Rising trilogy and many others.

Made you cry

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green, the later Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, The Host by Stephenie Meyer, Wonder by R.J. Palacio, The Rising by Kelley Armstrong, Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, and How I Lost You by Janet Gurtler. That's just off the top of my head, but I cry easily when reading books. If they're really good, I cry during endings, because I'm just so sad that it's over.

Left you depressed

Ugh, The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. The Host by Stephenie Meyer got me in a serious reading funk (but that book isn't exactly peppy, unicorns and rainbows to begin with). The Rising by Kelley Armstrong had a sort of bittersweet ending, but that might've just been me, because I didn't want to say goodbye to the characters right away. The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester is pretty dark, too.


Stunned or shocked you

Oh my Gollum, Insurgent for sure. Who else had no idea that that ending was coming? *Raises hand*

Left you inspired

Requiem by Lauren Oliver, The Host by Stephenie Meyer, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, Wonder by R.J. Palacio, and The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet by Stephanie Morrill. After I read it I wanted to get up and write or get up and do something. But when I'm inspired after reading a book, the book that I start writing is pretty much exactly like the book I just read.

Mixed emotions

Wonder by R.J. Palacio, The Host by Stephenie Meyer, and any of the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling. I laughed, I cried, and I cried some more.

Huh. A lot of these books crossed over into different categories. The Host, Harry Potter, and Wonder, especially.

How many of these books have you read? Do you agree with the categories I put them in? Leave a comment! :D

ABC Book Challenge

Another prompt from "The Book Chewers."
 

Prompt: Have you read a book starting with every. single. letter from the alphabet?! Make a list of books you've read, from A to Z! (Bonus points to those who've read those tricky letters, like X and Z). Also, you can bypass "the" or "a" in titles, if you need to.

Here goes nothing . . .


A - All Men of Genius by Lev A.C. Rosen
B - Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
C - Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
D - Delirium by Lauren Oliver
E - Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
F - The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
G - The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
H - How I Lost You by Janet Gurtler
I - Insurgent by Veronica Roth
J - Jake and Lily by Jerry Spinelli
K - Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata
L - The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.
M - Matched by Ally Condie
N - Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
O -  One For the Murphys by Lynda Hunt
P - The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Q -  Quidditch Through the Ages by J.K. Rowling
R - The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet by Stephanie Morrill.
S - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
T - The Tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo
U - Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
V - The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
W - Wonder by R.J. Palacio
X - 
Y - You Are A Writer by Jeff Goins
Z -

Well, 24 out of 26 isn't bad, right? ;) But I was so close. (Does anyone know any good books that start with "X" or "Z")?

Be sure to check out my interview with authors Stephanie Morrill and Jill Williamson down below! :D

Book Peeves

Here is another post prompted by "The Book Chewers."

Prompt: Book peeves. They're like pet peeves, but they're book related. What are yours?

1. When classics don't have the plot written on the back of the book and instead have things like, "Now with over 13 million copies in print and translated into ten languages, this regional story by a young Alabama woman claims universal appeal." (We don't all know what the book is about)!!!
2. When the author's name is bigger than the book title.
3. When I ask somebody if they've read a book and they say, "No, but I've watched the movie, and what's the point of reading the book now that I already know what's going to happen?" (Infuriating).
4. When I finish a book in a series and I still have to wait a year or two for the sequel to come out. (*COUGH* Divergent *COUGH*)
5. When authors are under the impression that teens swear all. The. Time.
6. When I have to read through three pages of unnecessary description to get to the good stuff.
7. When characters delete all of their photos because they're mad at their best friend/delete all of their stories because there's no way that they can become a writer. (This makes me cringe. As a writer, one of my worst fears is that my stories will somehow be destroyed. That's not something you can get back very easily).
8. When books have nothing but cliché characters in them. (I like a little more variety than "the jocks" and "the nerds.")
9. When fifteen (or so) characters are introduced right off the back. (They're hard to keep track of)!
10. When an author executes a poor love triangles. (Note to authors: They've been done to death and unless you can make them convincing, give it up. You're not fooling anyone).
11. When libraries block half of the title or the name of the library with a barcode or some other annoying sticker.
12. When books claim to be, "The next Harry Potter!" (They never are).

What are your Book peeves? Leave a comment! :D

(Psst! Check out Karoline's book review of Matched below)!

The Impossible Bucket List

"The Book Chewers" are hosting a weekly link-up. The first link-up was a few days ago, and their prompt was this.

Prompt: It's been said that a reader lives a thousand lives, and it's true. We have an advantage over the rest of the population. We sit on our beds, crack open a book, and we're whisked away to far-off lands where we meet fascinating characters and go on the finest adventures words can write. But this comes with disadvantages. Real life disappoints us. Other people just want to go on a cruise or ride in a hot-air-balloon. We'll always be looking for something slightly more ... magical. A reader's bucket list is an impossible bucket list. What's on your impossible list?

MV's Impossible Bucket List:

1. Attend Hogwarts and become a fully-trained witch.
2. Play Quidditch with the Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione behind the Burrow.
3. Buy an owl in Diagon Alley.
4. Drink Butterbeer in The Three Broomsticks.
5. Participate in the reenactment of The Battle of Honey Hill with Ethan.
6. Sit with Lena on her ceiling.
7. Have the brownies in Grandpa Sorenson's house cook me something delicious.
8. Go hunting with Katniss.
9. Travel in the Magic Treehouse.
10. Play Calvinball with Calvin and Hobbes.
11. Attend one of Maya's awesome birthday parties and race up the rock wall with her.
12. Read "An Imperial Affliction" and discuss it with Hazel and Augustus.
13. Send Hilly a chocolate pie.
14. Play soccer with Jared, Ian, Jamie, Melanie, and Wanda.
15. Eat at Bilbo's house with the dwarves.
16. Fence with Alanna.
17. Play Capture the Flag with Tris and Four.
18. Sit with Summer, Jack, and August at lunch.
19. Yell, "For Narnia!" in Narnia.
20. Become a member of Dumbledore's Army.

What's your impossible bucket list? Leave a comment! :D