25 Bookish Things About Me!

1) When it comes to books, if I have the choice between physical books over e-readers, physical books will win every time.
2) When I read, I need to end at the end of a chapter. If I must put the book down, it has to be at a paragraph break.
3) I’m with the minority but I actually prefer paperbacks over hardcovers.
4) I used to read strictly murder mysteries but I have discovered a love of the fantasy genre, however, I find them daunting at the same time.
5) I didn’t read much YA fiction when I was of that age range. I always read at a higher level than my peers and I pretty much went from middle grade fiction to adult fiction. Plus back in the day, the YA selection was dismal.
6) I used to always finish a book even if I couldn’t stand it. I’ve come better at DNF-ing books now. I generally give a book about 100 pages before I put it away if I’m not feeling it.
7) I use the library a lot. I mean A LOT. I still buy a lot of books but I love my library. The librarians know me by name.
8) I am not a fan of the romance genre, however, if there’s a paranormal aspect to it, I’ll be all over it.
9) Series. I’m terrible at starting them and I’m even worse at finishing them. I have 20+ unread series right now.
10) I can have the tv on when I’m reading but I can’t listen to music while I read.
11) I generally strongly dislike anything popular book until the hype dies down. Harry Potter? Hated it until around the time Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was released.
12) I’m also generally late to the bandwagon when it comes to popular series.
13) I always have a book with me no matter where I go.
14) I do most of my reading before bed although I generally don’t get much read before I fall asleep.
15) I like to drink coffee or tea when I read.
16) I need to use a bookmark. No dog-earing pages for me.
17) I generally don’t lend my books out. If I know someone will take good care of my books, I don’t mind but I have rules when I lend my books out: No dog-earing pages and no breaking the books spine. If a friend doesn’t return my book or it comes back damaged, they are banned from borrowing anymore of my books. For life.
18) I’m not a re-reader. I generally only read books once but I’m trying to change this. I’d love to re-read the Harry Potter series this year.
19) I have 5 versions of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. It’s my favourite book.
20) Despite my love of reading, I hated the required reading in school. Out of the approximately 20 books that I had to read in high school, I read less than 5 of them. Though if I were to re-visit the books now, I’d probably enjoy them. I hate being forced to read.
21) I’m a mood reader. I think this is why I have so many unfinished series. Marathoning a series is impossible for me as if I’m feeling something else at the moment, I will pick that book up instead of carrying on to the next book in a series.
22) I have never been to a book signing event. I want to go to one but there’s really not many of them here in Canada.
23) I get insanely annoyed if I’m reading and someone tries to hold a conversation with me (*cough*Mom*cough*).
24) I find bookstores and libraries insanely relaxing. If I’m having a bad day or I’m stressed, I wonder the library or bookstore and I find myself calming down.
25) I find giving book recommendations extremely hard. I generally tell people to go look at my Goodreads account.
I tag Kristine from the Writer’s Inkwell to do this tag!!

No. 4 for 2016!

Title: Storm Front (Dresden Files #1)
Author: Jim Butcher
Rating: 4/5
Book: 4/50
Pages:  352 pgs
Total Pages: 1,115/15,000 pages
Version: Book
Next up: Corrupted (Rosato & DiNunzio #3) by Karin Slaughter

This book was okay. It was a little slow for my liking but I have heard that the other books are better so I definitely will be checking out the other books.

 About the Book:

Lost items found. Paranormal Investigations.
Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates.
No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or
Other Entertainment.

Harry Dresden is the best at what he does. Well, technically, he’s the only at what he does. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal creativity or capability, they come to him for answers. For the “everyday” world is actually full of strange and magical things — and most of them don’t play well with humans. That’s where Harry comes in. Takes a wizard to catch a — well, whatever.

There’s just one problem. Business, to put it mildly, stinks. So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry’s seeing dollar signs. But where there’s black magic, there’s a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry’s name. And that’s when things start to get… interesting.

Magic. It can get a guy killed.

No. 3 for 2016

Title: Very Good Lives: The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination
Author: J.K. Rowling
Rating: 5/5
Book: 3/50
Pages:  69 pgs
Total Pages: 763/15,000 pages
Version: Book
Next up: Storm Front (Dresden Files #1) by Jim Butcher

Simply beautiful. Everyone should read this.

 About the Book:

In 2008, J.K. Rowling delivered a deeply affecting commencement speech at Harvard University. Now published for the first time in book form, Very Good Lives offers J.K. Rowling’s words of wisdom for anyone at a turning point in life, asking the profound and provocative questions: How can we embrace failure? And how can we use our imagination to better both ourselves and others?

Drawing from stories of her own post-graduate years, the world-famous author addresses some of life’s most important issues with acuity and emotional force.

No. 2 for 2016

Title: The Mistletoe Promise (Mistletoe Collection)
Author: Richard Paul Evans
Rating: 4/5
Book: 2/50
Pages:  251 pgs
Total Pages: 694/15,000 pages
Version: Book
Next up: Not sure yet.

I liked this book. Not quite as much as The Mistletoe Inn but it was still an enjoyable and fluffy read.

 About the Book:

A love story for Christmas from the #1 bestselling author of The Christmas Box and The Walk.

Elise Dutton dreads the arrival of another holiday season. Three years earlier, her husband cheated on her with her best friend, resulting in a bitter divorce that left her alone, broken, and distrustful.

Then, one November day, a stranger approaches Elise in the mall food court. Though she recognizes the man from her building, Elise has never formally met him. Tired of spending the holidays alone, the man offers her a proposition. For the next eight weeks—until the evening of December 24—he suggests that they pretend to be a couple. He draws up a contract with four rules:

1. No deep, probing personal questions
2. No drama
3. No telling anyone the truth about the relationship
4. The contract is void on Christmas Day

The lonely Elise surprises herself by agreeing to the idea. As the charade progresses, the safety of her fake relationship begins to mend her badly broken heart. But just as she begins to find joy again, her long-held secret threatens to unravel the emerging relationship. But she might not be the only one with secrets.

No. 1 for 2016!

Title: Fangirl
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Rating: 5/5
Book: 1/50
Pages:  443/15,000 pgs
Total Pages: 443 pages
Version: Book
Next up: The Mistletoe Promise (Mistletoe Collection) by Richard Paul Evans

I absolutely LOVED this book. I really didn’t think that I would as I tried to read Rowell’s “Elenor & Park” and couldn’t get into it so I was skeptical about picking this book up but I’m glad that I did! I totally recommend this book!

 About the Book:

CATH IS A SIMON SNOW FAN. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan… But for Cath, being a fan is her life–and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fanfiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath that she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend; a fiction-writing professor who thinks fanfiction is the end of the civilized world; a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words…and she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?