[Weigh in Wednesday] #13 Adult fiction vs. YA Fiction

Tags

book, discussion, habits, meme, reading, reading habits, recommendations

Weigh in Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Lauren at Epilogue, and is a interactive, discussion meme.

When you’re trying to read, but you can’t find a comfortable position. -9GAG

Weigh in Wednesday #13: Adult fiction vs. YA fiction
Don’t care. Just give me an interesting plot, well-developed (believable if not likable) characters, thought-provoking themes, and I’ll be sold.

That just sounded like I avoided the question. I read a mix of both Adult and YA fiction, and I am leaning towards YA. I suspect it’s because as a 19-year old, I am technically still in my “teens.” YA fiction is generally much more fun and easier to read. I can relate to the teenager character more than the adult character suffering depression, marital problems, or the loss of a baby. Those things are foreign to me. Generally, adult novels are filled with more emotions and angst as well; so I often read a YA to “take a break” from the tension. However, I feel the more philosophical, thought-provoking books fall in the Adult genre–even if often emotionally draining. And horror is better not censored for YA, just sayin’.

On a separate note, I can’t get into middle-grades anymore.

What are your reading tastes? YA or Adult Fiction?

[Weigh in Wednesday] #10 Reading one book at a time vs. Reading multiple books at a time

Tags

book, discussion, habits, meme, reading, reading habits, recommendations

Weigh in Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Lauren at Epilogue, and is a interactive, discussion meme.

When you’re trying to read, but you can’t find a comfortable position. -9GAG

Weigh in Wednesday #10: One book at a Time vs. Reading Multiple Books at a Time
Currently, I am reading two books “at the same time” because my TBR pile is too humongous, and there are so many books I want to devour before my summer break ends. Okay, that’s only part of it…it’s because the review book I have an obligation to read is not as intriguing as the “leisure” book I want to read (aka. I need to escape from being bored out of my mind.) I usually stick a “schedule” where I promise myself to read at least one chapter of the not-so-intriguing-review-book, and then I can have free reign over reading my leisure book, like a reading reward system. It’s my way to assure that I get my review obligations, while not driving myself crazy. And don’t get me wrong, the review book really isn’t that horrible, in fact I’m quite liking it…just that I need a breather in the midst of the angst, and poignant emotions. I try really hard to finish a book, even if I’m not liking it, and reading multiple books helps me still enjoy reading–it’s how I got through reading Hemingway and Faulkner for American Literature. If I dislike both books…well, I guess I will just add in another book. I’ve read that reading multiple books also makes you read faster, but I prefer not to think about my sluggish reading speed. How in the world are some reviewers churning out book reviews like batches of cookies?

However, I usually don’t need multiple books when I am reading a tense, heart-pounding thriller; a light, “fluffy” romance; or a YA novel. Usually, I stick with one book at a time if I can get through the book without an emotional breakdown, or wanting to hurl it out the window; I hate to leave books half read and I will try my best to finish every book I start. I feel proud of myself when I see my stack of “finished” books–and then I donate them because I need to make space for new books.

For me, reading one or reading multiple books mainly depend on my review schedule, the emotional angst in the book I’m reading, and if I’m liking the book.

What are your reading habits? Do you prefer reading one book or multiple books?

[Waiting On Wednesday #5] The Hollow City by Dan Wells (2012)

Tags

book, books, horror, meme, mystery, psychology, psychotic, schizophrenic, suspense, TBR, thriller, upboming books

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

The Hollow City (2012)
by Dan Wells (blog.)
Publication Date: July 3, 2012
Publisher: Macmillian: Tor Books.

preorder a copy via Amazon.
check out the book at Goodreads.

Michael Shipman is paranoid schizophrenic; he suffers from hallucinations, delusions, and complex fantasies of persecution and horror. That’s bad enough. But what can he do if some of the monsters he sees turn out to be real?
Who can you trust if you can’t even trust yourself? The Hollow City is a mesmerizing journey into madness, where the greatest enemy of all is your own mind.
-description from Macmillian.

My Thoughts:
I originally had another book (coincidently, another Macmillian book) I was planning to feature for this week’s Waiting On Wednesday since I already posted about Dan Well’s Isolation on last, last week’s WOW and it felt like I was violating my imaginary rule of “don’t post too much about one author, it will bore your readers.” I ended up shifting the book I planned to post this week over to next week because if I waited another week, this book would already be released, and that can’t happen–it would ruin my plans of being a hipster. And I ignored my imaginary rule because I don’t have readers anyway.
So what made me reschedule my post? Dan Wells’ podcast, Writing Excuses did. That podcast is oddly addicting…even if I have no plans to become a novelist. I happened to be listening to the episode about Pitching last week, when Wells presented his one-line pitch for The Hollow City: “the story a guy with schizophrenia who realizes that some of the monsters he sees are real.” And that sold me.

So in adherence to my imaginary rule, I will put myself on a Dan Wells posting ban until…well, the release of Isolation probably.

Do you have a book that is making you count down to its release date? Leave a comment, I would love to know.

[Weigh in Wednesday] #8 Kindle vs. Nook

Tags

book, discussion, ereaders, kindle, kindle touch, meme, nook, recommendations

Weigh in Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Lauren at Epilogue, and is a interactive, discussion meme.

Weigh in Wednesday #8 Kindle vs. Nook
I currently own a Kindle Touch, which I won in a blog tour giveaway. I was actually given the choice between a Nook or a Kindle, and after about an hour or two of “research”, I happily settled on the Kindle. I can’t say I really wavered, because two things solidified my decision: a Kindle Touch can play audio files while I read (since I love playing some soothing instrumental music while I read), and there is a Web Browser (it was slow, but came in handy if I wanted to check email, Facebook, or Twitter.) Not to mention, I am a big fan of Kindle’s free ebooks, which I can download onto my Kindle in one-click and their Send to Kindle service which allows me to send any supported format onto my Kindle via WiFi (I sent my study guides from my PC to my Kindle during finals season to study to the bus.) The Nook maybe look prettier, open epubs, and fit better in the hand, but I knew I wanted the music, and my Twitter.

Kindle’s new translation features are a charm as well, and comes in handy when my mom reads her Chinese ebooks on my Kindle. I wish I could disable the page numbers/percentage read though, since I inevitably get antsy once I reach the last few chapters of a novel, racing to the end so I can open a new book from my towering TBR pile.

For me, there’s just no contest between a Kindle and a Nook. The Kindle wins, hands down.

What e-reader do you have, or planning to own? Would you choose a Kindle or a Nook, or perhaps a Kobo or Sony e-reader? Leave a comment, I would love to know.

[Waiting On Wednesday] Broken Universe (Universe #2) by Paul Melko (2012)

Tags

book, meme, sci-fi

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Broken Universe (Universe #2) (2012)
by Paul Melko
Publication Date: June 5th, 2012
Publisher: Tor Books; First Edition Edition
preorder a copy via Amazon.
Goodreads.

When Possessing technology that allows him to travel across alternate worlds, John Rayburn begins building a transdimensional commercial empire, led by him, his closest friends, and their doppelgängers from several different parallel universes. But not every version of every person is the same, and their agendas do not always coincide.

Despite their benign intentions, the group’s activities draw unwanted attention from other dimensional travelers who covet their technology and will kill anyone to control it, a threat that culminates in a nuclear standoff for dominance throughout the multiverse.
-description from Goodreads.

My Thoughts:
Well, since this book’s release date is released today, I don’t know if it counts…but I just found out about this book today, and I just had to share it. The plot, the idea of multiple universes reminds me of a story out of David Eagleman’s Sum, which I loved to pieces. Apparently, this is the second book in the series; the first in the series is The Walls of the Universe (Universe, #1). I am likin’ the cover as well!

Do you have a book that is making you count down to its release date? Leave a comment, I would love to know.

In My Mailbox #3

Tags

book, fiction, gifts, in my mailbox, meme, netgalley, publisher, reviews, won

The Story Siren‘s In My Mailbox meme: for book bloggers to share their book haul from the week, or month…or whatever. I was extremely busy last week, so I didn’t do an IMM. Actualy, I also busy this week…BUT I GOT SO MANY GOODIES, I couldn’t resist not showing them off sharing, including a brand new Kindle Touch I won from Jordan K. Rose‘s blog tour for her book Perpetual Light. (It was the grand prize and came with a copy of her book!) Seriously, sometimes I think I must’ve been a martyr in my previous life to be blessed with such luck… Finally my e-reader free days are over! But the feel of a physical book, the smell of a new book…will always be dear to me. Even if it’s heavier.

I just synced the Chinese edition of the The Hunger Games trilogy on the Kindle for my mom to read, since I can’t find a physical copy…online or off. She wanted to read the books after watching the movie, but I only have the English editions.

AND…another extra-exciting thing I received was Michael Olson’s Strange Flesh, a book I’ve been DYING to read since two months ago when I saw it on Goodreads. Simon & Schuster sent me the wrong book last week, and I admit I was disappointed: imagine ripping off a wrapping paper expecting the book you’ve been anticipating for weeks…only to get something else (granted, it was a free book, so I guess it’s a bonus?) I couldn’t help starting it even though I had exams and school projects to worry about. So far, I am only three/four chapters in, and it’s SOOOO GOOODDD. Now if only I can put down my Kindle long enough to continue.

ANDDDD…A gigantic box of desert goodies from Debbie’s. (I know it’s not book related, but I couldn’t resist) At first I thought it was board games, but it was 2 boxes of cakes, 1 box of brownies, and 2 bags of muffins. A wonderful surprise…and those blueberry muffins were delectable!

And now onto all the other goodies I received these past two weeks…

IN MY MAILBOX:

• Sense of An Ending by Julian Barnes
  (Thank you Kim @ Baggins’s Book Blabber!)
• Even Tough Girls Wear Tutus by Deborah Jiang Stein
  (Thank you, Deborah!)
• Terminal Value by Thomas Waite
  (Won from Shelf Awareness! Thank you, Thomas!)
• Good Christian Bitches by Kim Gatlin (+ Essie Nail Polish, Nail Files!)
  (Won from ABC’s GCB promotion!)
• The Virgin Cure by Ami McKay
  (Thank you, Zara!)
• Slide by Jill Hathaway (signed!)
  (Thank you, Jill!)
• The Whisperer ARC by Donato Carrisi
  (Thank you Martha @ Martha’s Bookshelf, Mulholland Books, and Little Brown & Co.!)
• The Language of Flowers ARC by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
  (Thank you, Lisa @ Books in the Burbs!)
• Strange Flesh: A Novel by Michael Olson,
  (Thank you Simon & Schuster!!)
• The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
  (Thank you Kim @ Baggins’s Book Blabber!)
• Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind (Shabanu, #1) by Suzanne Fisher Staples
  (Thank you, Sara @ So Simple Sara!)
• The Anybodies (Anybodies, #1) by N.E. Bode (Julianna Baggott)
  (Thank you, Sara @ So Simple Sara!)
• The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, #1) by Ann Brashares
  (Thank you, Sara @ So Simple Sara!)
• My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
  (Thank you Melissa @
  Melissa’s Midnight Musings!)
• Second Glance by Jodi Picoult
  (Thank you Melissa @
  Melissa’s Midnight Musings!)
• Living Proof
  by Kira Peikoff
  (Thank you Kira!)
  Another book I was highly anticipating!

What did you get in your mailbox this week? Leave a comment, I would love to be nosy!

FROM THE LIBRARY:

• Croak (Croak, #1) by Gina Damico
  Only one book this weeks since I already have a towering TBR list…but I couldn’t resist.

In My Mailbox #2

Tags

book, fiction, gifts, in my mailbox, meme, netgalley, publisher, reviews, won

The Story Siren‘s In My Mailbox meme: for book bloggers to share their book haul from the week, or month…or whatever. I was going to only post an IMM once a month, but this week’s haul was especially big. I learned from last time that the longer I wait, the more the pile grows, and the lazier I get to list them all out.

IN MY MAILBOX:

• Vampire Mine (Love At Stake #10) by Kerrelyn Sparks
  (Thank you Dani @ Paulette’s Papers!)
• At Your Pleasure by Meredith Duran (signed!)
• The Child Who by Simon Lelic
  (Thank you Penguin Books!)
• Julia’s Child by Sarah Pinneo
  (Thank you Melissa @ Chick Lit Central!)
• Mr Maybe by Jane Green
  (Thank you Melissa @ Chick Lit Central!)
• Pug Hill by Alison Pace
  (Thank you Melissa @ Chick Lit Central!)
• Balancing Acts by Zoe Fishman
  (Thank you Melissa @ Chick Lit Central!)
• The Lady of the Rivers by Philipa Gregory
  (Thank you Simon & Schuster Books!)
  It’s nice, but suspect they sent me the wrong book since I think I was supposed to receive Michael Olson’s Strange Flesh instead.
• Glimmer ARC by Phoebe Kitanidis
  (Thank you Shannon @ Book Dreaming!)
• Girl Land by Caitlin Flanagan
  (Thank you Hatchette!!)
• Are You Smart Enough to Work at Google?r by William Poundstone
  (Thank you Hatchette!)
• The Guy’s Guy’s Guide to Love by Robert Manni (signed! + $50 Victoria Secrets gift card)
  Won in Robert Manni’s Valentines Day giveaway! I already have a copy of this book (featured in the last IMM), but I had this signed to my sister for her birthday later this month.
• The Boy Who Fell To Earth ARC by Kathy Lette
  (Thank you Transworld Publishers!)
  Illustrated and vector covers make me giddy with uncontainable joy. The ARC/uncorrected proof features a black cover, but SO PRETTY nonetheless.
• A Place to Die
  by Dorothy James
  (Thank you Elle @
  Simple Wrydings!)

What did you get in your mailbox this week? Leave a comment, I would love to be nosy!

FROM THE LIBRARY:

• Scored by Lauren McLaughlin
• A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan
• Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain by David Eagleman

FOR REVIEW FROM AUTHOR:

• Socialpunk (Socialpunk #1) EBook by Monica Leonelle
  (Thank you Monica!)
  I am also participating in the Socialpunk blog tour, so look out for that soon!

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9GAG-Patrick Star on The Hunger Games

Tags

meme, movie, patrick star, the hunger games

“Or just, you know, offer them as tributes. :/
May the odds be ever in your favor.” -Clay Kim from 9GAG

This is what I wish my friends (who watched the movie with me) would do, but they just kept asking me if Peeta dies.

And also my parents (I drove them to the theater to watch the movie yesterday), who kept thinking it was just a teen romance flick. But it’s so much mooooreeeee…*cries in a hole*

Your soul-less 9gagger of a webmistress,
Lilian

In My Mailbox #1

Tags

book, fiction, gifts, in my mailbox, meme, netgalley, publisher, reviews, won

This is my first time participating in The Story Siren‘s In My Mailbox meme, so I hope I do this right. I didn’t really plan to do this, but I’ve received so many wonderful books these past two weeks that I just had to make this post. There’s just so many goodies that I would love to share, but haven’t yet found the time to read and review. This stuff is hard, I think I will only do this once a month.

IN MY MAILBOX:

• The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks
  (Thank you Drey @ Drey’s Library!)
• After The Snow ARC by S. D. Crockett
  (Thank you Wendy @ Minding Spot!)
• Me and Earl and the Dying Girl ARC by Jesse Andrews
  (Thank you Aeicha @ Word Spelunking!)
• Nitt Witt Hill by Sebastian Gibson
  (Thank you Zohar @ Man Of La Book!)
• Doughnuts for Amy (Volume 1) by John Malik (signed)
  (Thank you Stef @ City Girl Blogs!)
• The Guys’ Guy’s Guide to Love by Robert Manni (signed)
• Ripper by Stefan Petrucha
• Partials ARC by Dan Wells
  (Thank you Aeicha @ Word Spelunking!)
• Lucky Bastard ARC by S. G. Browne
  (Thank you Gallery Books!)
• Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything by Joshua Foer
  (Thank you Penguin!)
• Starters ARC by Lissa Price (signed+wristband!)
• Angelmaker ARC by Nick Harkaway
  (Thank you First Lit!)
• Bond Girl by Erin Duffy
  (Thank you Lydia @ Novel Escapes!)
• H2O the Novel (The Eternal Elements) by Austin Boyd & Brannon Hollingsworth (signed)
• Protection For Hire by Camy Tang (signed+swag!)
  (Thank you Megan @ Hardcover Feedback!)

FROM NETGALLEY:

• The Philosophical Practitioner by Larry Abrams
  (Thank you Telemachus Press, LLC!)
• Instruction Manual
  for Swallowing by Adam Marek
  (Thank you ECW Press!)

What did you get in your mailbox this week? Leave a comment, I would love to be nosy!