It's a Book Life

January 27, 2013

Top Bookish News of The Past Week

Here are all the interesting bookish stories, pictures, and blog posts I found this past week.

All of the titles are linked up to their respective articles/blog posts. Click away!

BLOG POSTS

The Readingista started up a new site: Book Blog 411

The site includes a book blog directory, lists of memes, and more! Sign up your blog today!

Are you Kidding Me? - Banned/Challenged Books

You have to read this blog post. You won't believe some of the books on this list. Plus, Christine brings up interesting things to think about/discuss.

Release Day Review: Slated by: Teri Terry

After reading this review and discovering this awesome sounding new book...I added it to my TBR pile.

ARTICLE

Delirium Trilogy Heads to the Small Screen

I'm sure you have all heard about this news already, but it doesn't hurt to repeat it!

PICTURE

I found this picture on Pinterest. Plates shaped like books! Click on the picture and it will bring you to the site they are from. I love how they look, but would they be awkward to eat off of because they seem kind of deep? What do you think? I know they look delicious!

I feel like my bookish news this week is kind of short. If I'm missing anything or if you have something to say about anything I posted please comment away!

6 comments

January 24, 2013

Click. Click. Click. - "Add to goodreads" Button Addiction

I LOVE this button...maybe just a little bit too much.

I am a New goodreads Addict
I have only recently really gotten into my goodreads account. I started one years ago, but I never used it much except to get book recommendations. Since I started blogging I have started using the account more, daily actually. I am keeping track of how many books I am reading this year (so far 7/100, 1 book ahead of schedule!), I post my reviews on the site, and I now enter giveaways (I've only won one book so far, but I'm determined to win a few more). I also never really did a lot with my to-be-read shelf... until I discovered THE + Add to goodreads BUTTON. I'm calling it a button. I don't know if that is the correct term.

Why I Love The Button
I love reading reviews, I find so many new books that I want to check out, and some of course that I care to forget. One day, while browsing through my list of book blogs that I love, I noticed a few that had the "Add To goodreads" button. When I realized that this button will automatically take me to goodreads so I can add a book to my to-read shelf I got really really excited. I can't tell you how many times I've read a review and thought to myself...hmmm I need to write this down or remember to add it to my TBR list later, and then promptly forgot.

This button opened up a whole new world of awesomness to me. Who knew that one button could change my life? Okay, I may be over exaggerating but I really don't care. This has made my life so much easier, except for one small thing...my TBR pile is growing at an alarming rate. I can only read so fast and this is a problem. But for right now I have decided that I'm just going to enjoy my use of this button. (At least I only add books that I would really like to read, I haven't gone all clicking happy yet.)

I Will Now be Using The Button
By the way, all my reviews will now have this button on it. I'm just trying to help you other goodreads "to-read" shelf addicts out there. It took me a while to figure out how to do it, but I think I got it all worked out. It's really a picture with a link. (Who knew it would be so hard to add one button on your blog, maybe because it is the best button ever!)

Your Opinion on The Button
What do you guys think of this button? Do you use it a lot? Have you even really paid attention to it? I want to know your thoughts. I really hope I'm not the only one addicited to The Button, or goodreads in general.

I'm done rambling about The Button now. I promise.

22 comments

Review: A Kiss in Time by: Alex Flinn

A Kiss in Time by: Alex Flinn (2010)

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

383 pages

Genre: YA/Fantasy/Fairy Tale

Summary: This is a modern retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Talia fell under a spell after touching a spindle. Jack was on a tour group and came across the hidden castle with Talia and everyone there fast asleep. With one kiss Talia awakes, and chaos ensues, including an evil witch, Talia discovering the 21^st century after being asleep for years, parental problems, and some romance thrown in.

Review: I love a good fairy tale retelling and I enjoyed Beastly by Alex Flinn, but this one wasn’t a hit out of the park, it was more like a double. I don’t know what it was about this book, but it just wasn’t as captivating as I had hoped it would be.

This was still a cute read, and it had me laughing during a lot of it. After Talia was asleep for so long, it was rather humorous to see her reaction to new technologies, such as a cell phone. I also enjoyed how Flinn spun the story of Sleeping Beauty, it was a fun take.

What bothered me so much about this book wasn't that I didn't like the plot, although at times it was kind of boring, my problem was with the two main characters. There was too much emphasis on looks, seriously, we get that Talia is beautiful, thanks. I know that she is a princess, but it is kind of sad that we, as the readers, are reminded over and over again of her beauty, there was more to her than that. Okay, maybe not a whole lot more, which was part of the problem. She was good at listening and giving advice, but other than that she seemed a little bit too spoiled and too much of a brat. I know there is reasoning behind why she acts that way, but it was just too frustrating for me. I was hoping for a stronger female lead. Not to mention Jack, he is naive and superficial at times, actually most of the time. I know they are teenagers, but still. I guess I just couldn’t really enjoy this book because I didn’t have any attachment to either of the main characters. I hate when that happens.

Overall, this book was just an okay book, but there are many out there that have enjoyed it more than me. It just didn’t do it for me personally.

Sadly, I could have been sleeping beauty through a good portion of this book.

Rating: 2.5/5 BUY A Kiss in Time

5 comments

January 23, 2013

Library Loot #6

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries.

MY LIBRARY LOOT
I'm really hoping to read all of these. I still have one left over that I still need to read from the last time I went to the library.

This was a random book that I found on the shelf. I read the synopsis and thought it would be worth a try.

Hacking your way into college? Sounds like an interesting read to me.

I finally snagged this one at the library. With all the hype out there about this book... I can't wait to see what I think of it.

According to many, John Green is a must read author. I have yet to read anything by him, until now!

I was so excited when I found out that Meg Cabot had a new Heather Wells mystery novel out that I had to get it. So far I am enjoying it.

9 comments

January 22, 2013

Teaser Tuesdays #3

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
Make sure to share the title and the author too!

My Teasers

I know I did one from a quirky romantic mystery comedy novel last week, but I just so happen to be reading another one like that this week! Enjoy!

"Ankle holsters make you chafe. You can carry a Glock on your belt, but then everybody's gonna see it, unless you wear a jacket or keep your shirt untucked. You ladies have it easy, with your purses. You can hide anything in there." (pg. 149)

"Racing up the stairs to the second floor, my heart pounding - I'm a walker, not a runner. I try not to race anywhere unless it's an emergency, and according to the call I received, that's what this is - I find the corridor dark and deserted." (pg. 1)

~ Size 12 and Ready to Rock by: Meg Cabot

I am enjoying this funny Heather Wells Mystery. I haven't read one of these books in forever.

28 comments

January 21, 2013

Review: Checkmate (Neighbor #3) by: R.L. Mathewson

Checkmate by: R.L. Mathewson (Neighbor #3) (2012)

Publisher: Self Published

350 pages

Genre: Steamy Romance/Comedy

Goodreads Summary: “There’s nothing worse than living next door to your childhood nemesis, except maybe being forced to share your dream project with him, being blackmailed into going along with something that was just wrong on so many levels, and having your hot cocoa stolen by the person that drove you to drink it in the first place.

As long as she has plenty of hot cocoa, a pair of pliers on hand and is able to resist Connor O’Neil’s bad boy charm then Rory James should be able to make it through this project with her sanity intact. If not…..

She’d probably face a few more nights in jail, have a few more restraining orders slapped against her and lose her heart to the man that ruined her life.”

Review: This series is full of laughs, love, and cuteness. I just discovered Mathewson last year, and I’m glad I did.

This is a steamy romance novel that will have you laughing until your eyes water. At times the comedy can be totally unbelievable, (I’m warning you now) but it doesn’t change the fact that this book is a perfect light read. It will put a smile on your face no matter how bad your day may be going.

Rory is a cute and strong goal driven woman. She is a pretty loveable character. I enjoy her need of hot chocolate, especially when she is stressed. The pranks she plays against Connor are sometimes so good, that I kind of wanted to do them myself, but I won’t of course. Connor on the other hand, can be a jerk, and I know he has the bad boy thing going for him, but seriously? Sometimes his thinking is sexist; it can be and was very frustrating. He did however grow on me, and he does change. So I do award him some points, plus it doesn't hurt that he is a hunk.

The Bradford guys from the previous Neighbor novels make an appearance, and I’m glad they do. I just love those always hungry can never be given enough food crazy men.

I enjoyed this book, but I still think the previous two books were better. Either way, you should check out this series, or at least this author. She has some other good books too. Although some have a few errors in them, they are self-published, there aren't enough to really take away from the novel as a whole.

Looking for a light read with a little bit of steaminess and a lot of laughs? This is your book.

Rating: 4/5 BUY Checkmate

This book counts towards my Series Catch-Up challenge. Check it out HERE.

0 comments

January 20, 2013

Top Bookish News of the Past Week

Here are all the interesting bookish stories, pictures, and blog posts I found this past week.

All of the titles are linked up to their respective articles/blog posts. Click away!

BLOG POSTS

Quote of the Week