February/Contemporary-A-Thon TBR

No Top 5 Wednesday this week, I felt the topic was above me in that I can't think of 5 books in a favorite genre that didn't as much hype as I think they should get.....So I'm giving you a TBR instead

So you don't normally see me doing a tbr very often, but for some reason through out December and January I kept getting and putting aside books thinking "this would be a good read for February" and even at the end of January/beginning of February I'm setting aside books I want to get to in March....Crazy, you may see a TBR for March too!

So February is going to be mostly filled with contemporaries. At least that's my plan. So here I'll give you my TBR for February as well as my TBR for Contemorary-A-Thon, a contemporary themed read-a-thon.

Contemporary-a-thon is a read-a-thon created by Chelsea at Chelseadolling reads and Julie from Pages and Pens.

They created this last November and I didn't really do much for it, as you know November wasn't my best month.

But this is Round 2 which will be co-hosted by Natasha at myreadingisodd.

So the read-a-thon is a week long from:

February 12th to February 18th

and on February 17th they will be hosting a drunk live show on Julie's Channel 9 pm EST (6 pm PST)

This is essentially just a live show where the three drink and have fun and chat with viewers about the read-a-thon as well as other books, it's quite fun and enjoyable I have to say.

With most read-a-thons there is usually twitter sprints, however these ladies found they never apply themselves to sprints but have created a hashtag for twitter for those of us who still would like to chat about it: #contemporaryathon

With the contemporary-a-thon there are reading challenges, these are by no mean supposed to restrict your reading but rather have fun with the books you pick for your tbr.

So this is going to be my tbr. I know it's not going to be seven books, I'm lucky if I get through 2 in a week. So what I've done is found a couple books that fulfill multiple challenges, which is fine and encouraged.

Challenges:

1. Read the most recent contemporary book you've acquired
2. Read a book with Pink on the cover
3. Read a hyped book
4. Read a diverse book
5. Read a dark/taboo contemporary
6. Read a contemporary graphic novel
7. Read a contemporary that was recommended to you

My TBR

I know I'm not typically one for TBR's however I feel pretty good about this one. So far in January I've been reading everything but contemporary: Sci-fi, Fantasy. So I am ready for some contemporary, to the point where I was setting my contemporary books aside in hopes to read them for February, before I even knew this read-a-thon was happening.

My first book can actually fulfill three challenges, I almost want so say four.

Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie

This book follows Isma, who feels she is finally free to follow her long defered dream when she accepts an invitation from an American mentor. However, after years of taking care of her beautiful, head strong sister Aneeka, and her brother Parvaiz , back in London, after their Grandmother and their Mother die in the same year, Isma can't help but worry. Parvaiz is wanting to follow his own dream, by trying to prove himself to the dark legacy of the jihadist father they've never met. So when Parvaiz disappears only to re-appear half a globe away, Isma's worst fears are confirmed.
Meanwhile the son of a politician enters into the sisters' lives, but with a birthright of his own to accept or defy will he a chance at love? Will he be Parvaiz salvation?

As I said this can put into three challenges for sure.
1-my most recent contemporary purchase
2- a book with pink on the cover (cover is one of the reason I got it)
4- a diverse book, this is about a Pakistani family by a Pakistani woman
and I'm hesitant to say
5- a dark/taboo subject matter, with a brother trying to prove himself to a jihadist father? I would imagine that's not something that's easily talked about (Chelsea, Julia, Natasha, if you're reading this (and if you are, holy shit!) ugh-hrm...thoughts?)


Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde

I don't know two much about this one, I feel like it takes place at some kind of comic-con? I know it features a bisexual main character...I bought it for the cover ok...you got me.

This book covers four of the challenges:
2- A book with pink on the cover
3- A hype book, I don't hear about so much now, but when it came out back in March, it got real hyped
4- A diverse book, a character is bi-sexual
7- A book that was recommended to you, I'm sure if I scour through booktube I could find a couple booktubers recommending this book to their viewers

Giant Days Vol 2. by Allison + Treiman + Sarin + Cogar

Since this is the second volume I don't plan on revealing the synopsis, just know it's about three students new to university, trying to figure out themselves, sexuality, college, drugs, and the flu.

This book completes three challenges:
3- a hyped book, again booktube
6- a contemporary graphic novel, ok it doesn't say "contemporary" anywhere that I see in Goodreads, however it doesn't have any magical or fantasy or futuristic or sci-fi elements to it so I'm counting it.
7- A book that was recommended to you, thank you booktube.

So that covers all the challenges, except I'm still a little iffy with 5. I'd count it for sure for Home Fire but just in case I find I have time I may be picking up:

Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira

This book follows Laurel, who start's writing letters to the dead for a class assignment, however the one she wants to write to is her recently deceased sister May.

I think death is still a taboo subject, despite it being an occasional topic in terms of "loss" in YA books, it's still not as widely talked about.

So that's my goal in terms of Contemporary-a-thon. But I'm trying not to put too much pressure on myself. My boyfriend and I are going out of town later that week to celebrate our two year anniversary, so I'm trying not to put too much pressure on myself to read these and just have fun. I mean that's what it's all about.

February TBR

So the rest of these books I'd like to get to in February. I feel like they kind of "belong" to February...does that make sense? in my mind it does.

The Haunted Vagina by Carlton Millick III

Steve is madly in love with his eccentric girlfriend, Stacy. But their sex life has been suffering as of late. Steve is worried about the odd noises coming from Stacy's pubic region. Stacy says her vagina is haunted, but doesn't think it's that big of a deal. Steve begs to differ. When a living corpse crawls out of her during an awkward night of sex, Stacy and Steve found her Stacy's vagina is actually a doorway to another world. Stacy's persuades Steve into crawling inside her, to explore this strange new place. But getting out isn't going to be easy, especially after he meets an attractive woman named Fig, who resides within the lonely haunted world between Stacy's legs.

How many times did you go "what the fu...?" right?! this just seemed like an odd and interesting read. I found it about a year ago when I found some satire books for my brother to read: Ass Goblins of Auschwitz by Cameron Pierce. It just seemed ridiculous and I think it'll give me a good laugh (which is a challenge in the 52 Books Around the Year Challenge)

Dear John, I Love Jane: Women Write About Leaving Men for Women by Candace Walsh, Laura Andre and Lisa Diamond

This is a non-fiction anthology with varies essays of women leaving men for women.

In all honesty I thought it'd just be an interesting read, there's another topic that isn't talked about much.

Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

This one is supposed to be similar to the movie You've Got Mail in that this guy and girl e-mail each other, she believes herself in love with him but is very wary of the fact she doesn't know him in real life. She ends up moving to California, where he lives, but doesn't tell him. She works at a museum where she finds that one of her co-workers is a bit annoying and becomes her "archnemesis" only to find her feelings for him may be more than that.

I wont kick myself if I don't get to this one in February, but I through it on here if by some miracle I manage to get to it.

I also hope to get to

Giant Days Vol. 3

which I'm sure I can squeeze in.

As well as finish:

Sourdough by Robin Sloan

and
Hearts of Resistance by Soraya M. Lane

I hope to get to others in terms of audio books, but I never know what I feel in the mood for with audiobooks until I actually go seek it out and listen to the narrator a few times to makes sure I can stand them speaking.

And that was my February/Contemporary-a-thon TBR.

If you've read any of these let me know your thoughts (no spoilers!)

Until next time!

Litta

January Review

Well January came and went didn't it?

This month I read 6 books...not bad, start out the year how I ended the last which I thought was pretty strong.

I'm currently reading two books, one physically and that's Sourdough by Robin Sloan: I'm enjoying it so far, I now want to make bread, and eat it...while reading this book. I'm also listening to an Audio book Hearts of Resistance by Soraya M. Lane which I am also enjoying so far, though my critique off the bat is that the narrator sometimes speaks in whispers which makes it hard to understand what she's saying.

For the six books of January I read:

1 fantasy
1 children's
1 sci-fi
1 anthology
1 graphic novel
and
1 non-fiction

of those 2 were Audio books

All together it was about 1398 pages, about 45 pages a day.

For the 52 Books Around the Year challenge I was able to complete three:

16. A narrative Non-fiction
34. A suggestion from the AtY 2018 polls, that didn't win but was polarizing or a close call. I chose A book with a supernatural character
38. A science book or a science fiction book

The first one book I finished in 2018 was an audio book

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman, Narrated by Christina Moore

Published June 1995, by Putnam Adult

This book follows Gillian and Sally Owens, sisters left in the care of their eccentric conjuring aunt's, who raised them not with square meals and curfews but with spells and respect for the powers of the nature.

This book was my Move/Book Adaptation Review for January that I will put a link to HERE which is taking me longer to put up than I would like due to not being able to find the movie....which I knew we had....So that will be up soon with more of my extensive thoughts.

For now I will say I enjoyed the book over all 4 out of 5 stars, I just wish there was a bit more magic in it. The book was more character based than anything, which was great, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't nearly as magical as the movie.

This book completed Challenge 34 for the 52 books challenge: A book featuring a supernatural character (ie- witches)

Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers

Published November 2017, by Penguin Young Readers

This one was just too cute in that it's essentially a father's note to his new born son about planet Earth and explaining that there's land and water and the different landscapes and the different people and animals that live on Earth. The art was cute in that it was stylized but still recognizable in it's symbolism. I want this to be a series of books and have him illustrate different aspects of Earth Science for children. Five out of Five stars

StarWars: Phasma by Delilah S. Dawson

Published August 2017, by Del Rey

This book is the history of the ruthless Captain Phasma.

The cover of this book is what drew me to it. I remember the chromed storm trooper from StarWars: The Force Awakens and was all "whaaaaaaat?" So when I saw this book I was hoping it would give me some insight on this character.

Not to say it didn't, I definitely got to know Captain Phasma's history, I just...was a little disappointed in how this book was formatted. So you learn about Captain Phasma through a captured Resistance Spy. This spy was captured by Captain Cardinal, the storm trooper captain decked in red armor....Yeah I didn't know who he was either. Right off the bat we get that Captain Cardinal has something again Captain Phasma and want's information on her past, and this Resistance Spy is going to give it to him. Now going into this book I was expecting this whole space adventure to unfold. Not the case. It was Phasma's story told by a restistance spy. That's it. The spy eases into the story as Captain Cardinal tortures her, they both think they know how to play each other. We get a to know a little bit of Captain Cardinal through out this process, but little to nothing about the Resistance Spy other that she's good at her job. Perspectives switch constantly, from Resistance Spy to Captain Cardinal to the story the Resistance Spy tells, which was hard for me to get into at first, but as the book gets going, so does the story, and about half way through, that's when I hit my stride and didn't want to put the book down. It was thrilling and startling at times as we follow Phasma and her companions on her home dead planet. But when the story of Phasma ends, the rest of the book kind of becomes predictable, as the story gets you to understand Phasma's character and what she's capable of as well as how the First Order works, it's not too difficult to figure out the ending. Still an interesting read nonetheless. 3 out of 5 stars.

This book completed challenge 38 of the 52 books challenge: A book about science or a science fiction book.

Snotgirl: Vol. 1 Green Hair Don't Care by Bryan Lee O'Malley, Illustrated by Leslie Hung, Colored by Mickey Quinn, Lettered by Mare Odomo

Published February 2017, by Image Comics

Who is Lottie Person? She is a gorgeous fun-loving social media star who's life is nearly perfect, if not for her allergies which makes her a snotty mess. Enter a world of snot, blood and tears.

I am not sure what I had thought I was getting myself into when I got this book. I loved the cover, I thought this comic was going to be fun, witty, and perhaps a little sultry. I have not been more disappointed. I'm not sure if this was supposed to be satire, but I just found it irritating. Lottie is apparently "perfect" by her own standards, aside from her terrible allergies. She's a flashion blogger in LA and doesn't understand why her boyfriend would need a break from her when "everyone want to be her!" Half the content it chat speak or emoji's. All of her friends are also bloggers, but she can't remember who they are with out nicknames like "normgirl" "cutegirl" and "hotguy."

I just couldn't with this comic. I kept expecting it to get better, but no it pretty much stayed at a constant annoyance the whole time. I've stepped in puddles deeper than this. There was even a slight perk of interest as a potential murder happened, but there were so many scenes that were skipped and barely mentioned while other's, that just helped clarify how shallow these characters were, dragged out. Was there just something I missed? I don't understand. 2 out of 5 stars, and that is only for the art work.

Difficult Women by Roxane Gay

Published January 2017, by Grove Press

This book is a collection of short stories about a variety of different women, those who live in privilege and those who live in poverty. Those in happy marriages, and those haunted by lovers.

I enjoyed this book. It started strong with the first story and just hit the ground running. there were a few stories I liked more than others, one in particular that I can't think of the title at the moment, I could see images so clearly and it was so inspiring and magical. Trigger warnings for rape, loss, and abuse. 4 out of 5 stars.

The last book I read in January was

Consider the Fork: A History on How We Cook and Eat by Bee Wilson , Narrated by Allison Larkin

Published October 2012, by Tantor Media

The cover pretty much described the content of this book. It's a non-fiction history on cooking and how we eat. I enjoyed it as the narrator did a fine job getting Wilson's wit in there. Over all really interesting, it just got a bit repetitive after a bit and toward the end it just became back ground noise. It didn't end as strong as it started it my opinion. 3 out of 5 stars.

This book completed challenge 16 of the 52 books challenge: A narrative non-fiction.

And with that that is my January Review.

What books did you read during the month of January?
Have you read any of these? what were your thoughts?
If you are doing the 52 Books Around the Year Challenge which challenges were you able to complete this month?

Until next time!

Litta

Top 5 Wednesday: Love to Hate Books

Welcome back!

My last post was a Top 5 Wednesday post....I'm working on content, just trust me.

This week's Top 5 Wednesday  are books we love to hate. More accurately; book's we disliked but love to discuss.

I don't hate a whole lot of books, and actually all the ones that I do I think I mention here...So it's interesting to me to actually dislike these books because I don't hate books so often.

Mine are in no particular order, and don't get me wrong, I dislike these books, but I will talk your ear off on why.

1. Snotgirl Vol.1: Green Hair Don't Care by Bryan Lee O'Malley

You'll see me talk about this one in my January Review. Ultimately though I disliked this graphic novel. I don't know if O'Malley did this purposefully to make fun of bloggers or millennials but I just...couldn't. All the character's were shallow and underdeveloped in personality. The format is occasionally emoji's or chat speak. The plot and flow was choppy and confusing leaving out details and scenes I feel were necessary while keeping other's I didn't think needed to be there. The main character...supposedly her biggest flaw is that she has allergies, otherwise she's wonderful and amazing, and much more interesting than any of her blogger friends whom she can't remember unless she gives them nicknames like "hotguy" or "normgirl"or "cutegirl"  I love love love the art though, so I don't just want to get rid of it. I just feel like going into it, I was hoping to see some kind of retro meets contemporary graphic novel about a spunky girl with green hair. Proof that despite enjoying the art I disliked the content.

2. Get it Together Delilah! by Erin Gough

I had talked this book briefly in a previous review. Another one where the cover made me think I was going to love the book and it disappointed me so much. What I ultimately didn't like about this book was that the over all message I got from it was "if you lie to your parents, and something goes wrong, fix it before they find out and you'll never get in trouble." The book was also just very unrealistic, to me, I know that it's based in Australia but, I mean, how common is it for parents to just leave there teenage kids to go on vacation for months, and just keep extending said vacation? Especially if they own a business! The lack of communication between father and daughter in this book was infuriating especially considering the type of "relationship" they supposedly had. Plus the main character was really hypocritical in the fact she wanted to be excepted as a lesbian that it shouldn't be a big deal, only to make a huge deal when her love interest tried to explain to her that she, the love interest, is new to the whole "liking girls" thing and wants to take things slowly because her family is everything to her and they aren't particularly open to same sex relationships. It just....It brings up an interesting topic of cultures and their differences and their family dynamics that come from it and introducing "new" or "non-traditional" sexuality into the picture, especially when it comes to older generations.

This next one may be an un-popular opinion but...tough

3. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Page

This one I don't think I've discussed, but when going through my Goodreads "read" list it came up and I just feel like it's a good fit in here. I actually like re-tellings for the most part. The concept of them are really interesting, I haven't found one that I've fallen in love with yet, but for the most part I'll pick them up. This one....interesting concept, but the whole book read like a fan-fiction. And maybe to an extent, isn't that what all re-telling's are? But this one in particular didn't grip me, for the most part I didn't like the main character, the story itself was a little predictable, and there were just too many "fantastical" elements that worked out for the main character if that makes sense. It felt as though once they reached one issue, oh look this magical thing you can now suddenly do/use can easily fix that if you think about it hard enough. It was also very anti-climactic, with the repetitive notion of "Dorothy Must Die" you'd hope she would. It was also just slowly paced, and I think that's what made it feel like a fan-fiction for me. Like being slowly paced was purposeful so that the story could drag out to make it a series but also to prove that Amy and Nox aren't insta-love because look how much they're training together! As well as try to help prove that these random magical elements belong in this story because they're new to Amy so she must train to use them! More time with Nox! but we'll go into inner monologue on her feelings for him rather than talk about how these new magic tricks work and how she's not surprised with all this sudden witchy she's able to do. Not to mention issues with subtle slut shaming, beauty standards towards women, and how the world of Oz and it's characters didn't feel right. And I get it's because it's a different story but based on the original story as well as the movie, these characters don't fit, and the same goes for the random magical elements.

...A similar re-telling that feels the same to me is Everland by Wendy Spinale

4. All the Broken Things by Kathryn Kuitenbrouwer

....This one and the one that follows still tick me off. This one in particular because it was not only anti-climactic but there was no real "villain." Yes there is a "bad man" that has the main character's sister, but nothing really comes from that, in-fact it turns out to be, to an extent, was a misunderstanding due to lack of communication between the main character and his mother. The lack of communication was infuriating. After I read this book I felt like it accomplished nothing. I did not feel satisfied but rather that my time was wasted.

5. I am Radar by Reif Larson

The reason this book still ticks me off is that it actually kept me entertained and interested through out most of the book, but the ending....the damn ending was so confusing, it created more questions than answers. It infuriated me so I quite literally threw the book after completing it and gave it a low rating. Because NOTHING was answered. I couldn't even tell you what this book is about, or the problems it contains. I can't discuss this book in anymore depth than what I've just done.

And those are my Love to Hate books....though if I'm completely honest I don't really love to hate I Am Radar....I'm disappointed that I hate it, but I find it interesting that the ending has me hating it so much.

What were some of the books you hate to love?

Have you read any of these? what were your thoughts?

Until next time!

Litta

Top 5 Wednesday: Forgettable Books

Today's Top 5 Wednesday is Forgettable Books.

They weren't bad but they just weren't quite where you wanted them and there for are hard for you to remember.

This list is of my top five most forgettable books....more so just under whelming more than anything, to the point where I had to look at my Goodread's read list to find them and remember I even read them....so yeah.

5) Big Fish by Daniel Wallace

Published 1998

I remember enjoying the book for the most part, but whether it's because I've seen the movie and that's all I can picture or what, I can't remember a whole lot of detail from this book. I remember a few bits here and there because they were different from the movie itself but otherwise, it's not a book I recall easily.

4) The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher

Published October 2016, by Blue Rider Press

The concept of this book was interesting, and I remember retaining a couple of details I found entertaining, but what I ultimately gathered from this book was that Carrie Fisher didn't have much self confidence even when older. The idea that she kept a journal when she played Princess Leia was and interesting prospect but also a bit boring, I remember skimming and eventually skipping that bit of the book. Maybe later I'll go back through and hopefully find it a bit more interesting but for the moment....

3) Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling

Published November 2011, by Crown Archetype

I feel like I would have remembered this one and perhaps even enjoyed it better had I listened to it on an audio book. As it was I thought it a bit slow and I can't remember much about it aside from finding out she was one of the writers for The Office....yet I still have an interest to pick up her second book.

2) The End, Or Something Like That by Ann Dee Ellis

Published May 2014 by Dial Books

I remember really wanting to like this book because I enjoyed the cover so much. However I just feel like it was kind of "typical." Even as the book tried to give it a "twist" (which I forgot about until reading the comments) where Emmy can see and talk to dead people didn't seem necessary.

1) Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Published June 2013, by Quirk Books

 This books seems to have it's divide of hard core fans and those who just didn't care for it. By the fact that this book showed up on this list should say which side of of the spectrum I'm on. This book was just so overly hyped, I went in thinking it was going to be scary and mysterious with some fantasy/paranormal elements. There was one scary-ish part but otherwise I found this book lacking. It was hard to care for the protagonist he was a white male who had typical family and teen angst, Miss Peregrine was the only character that stuck out as she reminded me of Professor McGonagall, the children...there was just so many of them it was hard to keep track of who was who and what their "peculiarity" was. This book didn't entice me into it's series or fan base.

And that is my top five forgettable books! Did you feel the same about any of these? let me know!

Until Next time!

Litta

The First Date Book Tag

Hm, I haven't done a book tag in a while...Let's do one because I don't have anything else readily available for content.

As the title says this is the First Date Book Tag created by Kate at the youtube channel Katesbookdate

Let's get started with the questions (which will also be listed below)

I apologize in advance if it's a little repetative of last year's books, it is after all still January.

1. The Awkward First Date - A book where something felt off, it wasn't a bad book, but it lacked that spark:

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Don't get me wrong, I still really did enjoy this book, I just know I could have enjoyed it more, but unsure of how. I have a theory that if I read it it would have been better as opposed to listened to it on audio book, the full cast production was again, great, just certain parts of it were difficult to understand.

2. The Cheap first date - A book that turned out less than you expected:

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

Again I did enjoy this book for the most part. The beginning had me enthralled and wanting so much from this book, but the ending was a bit of a disappointment.

3. Well-prepared first date - A book that was better than expected:

The Wonder by Emma Donoghue

This book actually had the opposite effect as the last, I didn't expect much when I began, it seemed kind of dreary and slow, but by the end really picked up and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

4. Hot but dumb - A pretty book, but not so hot inside:

Snow Girl: Green Hair Don't Care Vol. 1 by Bryan Lee O'Malley

The cover attracted me to this graphic novel, and as you'll hear in my December review, disappointed me. I don't know what I was expecting really, but what I got wasn't it. I don't know if I just didn't get the humor or what, but ultimately found the content of this book very irritating. That illustrations were the only thing I stuck around for.

5. Blind Date - A book you picked up not knowing anything about it:

Everything All at Once by Katrina Leno

I had gotten this book in an Uppercase box and hadn't heard anything about it. I had read the synopsis and just kept reading the book. Glad I did it turned out to be pretty good.

6. Speed Dating - A book you read super fast:

Chemistry by Weike Wang

With out getting into graphic novels (which I can't typically finish in an hour) or middle grade, this adult book was actually pretty quick. I know three days doesn't sound quick but I'm usually pretty happy if I can get a book done in a week. This one was interesting enough to keep me reading at a pretty good pace and it was short enough that it was done pretty quickly.

7. The Rebound - A book you read too soon after a book hangover and it kind of ruined the book for you:

can't say I have a book for this....I usually get to talk out books with my boyfriend, otherwise I move on pretty quickly.

8. Overly Enthusiastic Date - A book that felt like it was trying too hard:

The Anatomical Shape of Heart by Jenn Bennett

...So it's not like it was trying too hard, there were just certain aspects of it that I felt were a little unbel....you know what yeah it was trying too hard. It was still cute, it was just hard to believe and/or connect with some of the events that took place.

9. The Perfect First Date - A book that did everything right for you:

I'm just going to leave this here

10. Humiliating First Date - A book you're embarrassed to admit you liked/embarrassed to be caught reading in public for whatever reason:

Any E.L. James books ...you know the Fifty Shades series. I enjoyed them for the most part when I read them originally. But of course its a name that quickly got everyone's attention for it's content. I had my negatives about it only to have friends point out more that I agreed with, and then over all there series was ruined for me after a friend had me listen to Gilbert Gottfried reading from it. Just over all know, after everything I just didn't want them on my shelves or in my room, they were just kind of ruined for me.

And that was the First Date Book Tag

Hope you enjoyed,

Until next time!

Litta

Questions:

1. The Awkward First Date - A book where something felt off, it wasn't a bad book, but it lacked that spark:

2. The Cheap first date - A book that turned out less than you expected:

3. Well-prepared first date - A book that was better than expected:

4. Hot but dumb - A pretty book, but not so hot inside:

5. Blind Date - A book you picked up not knowing anything about it:

6. Speed Dating - A book you read super fast:

7. The Rebound - A book you read too soon after a book hangover and it kind of ruined the book for you:

8. Overly Enthusiastic Date - A book that felt like it was trying too hard:

9. The Perfect First Date - A book that did everything right for you:

10. Humiliating First Date - A book you're embarrassed to admit you liked/embarrassed to be caught reading in public for whatever reason:

Top 5 Wednesday: Missed Books of 2017

This week's Top 5 Wednesday is Missed books of 2017, so books we meant to read in 2017 that we're prioritizing in 2018.

These books are in no particular order, just books I had wanted to read in 2017 and just either put them off too long or didn't get them in time.

5) Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

Published April 2017, by Simon Pulse

I read The Anatomical Shape of A Heart by Jenn Bennett last May. It was a decent enough YA romance, but I heard that this one was supposed to be similar to the movie You've Got Mail, which is an adorable fricken movie that I watch around Christmas every year. If you remember one of my earlier posts I wanted to wait until I could get the UK cover which, in my opinion, is a little better than this one, however it's only available in paper back...you know how I feel about paperback. So I decided to get this hard back, it was on sale at Book Outlet, I was hoping to get it before the New Year....But I'm still waiting on it. I'm hoping that when this comes in I can read it in February.

4) Difficult Women by Roxane Gay

Published January 2017, by Grove Press

This is a collection of short stories about a variety of "difficult" women. I snagged this up a while ago, loving the cover and have just been putting it off for no particular reason, but I would like to get to it, again probably one I'll be picking up in February.

3) Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

Published August 2017, by Random House Children's Books

Wonder Woman was hyped up this last summer, and even though I didn't see the movie I was still excited about the book. I'm a big DC Comics fan so to have a variety of author's creating this DC Icon's series is pretty cool. I picked this up and also have Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu, and I'd like to get this one before picking that one up.

2) The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

Published August 2015, by Hodder and Stoughton

This is another one I had been hearing nothing but good things about, I had finally picked it up over the summer, after much deliberation about which cover to get. It's just fallen at the waste side and I've been needing to pick it back up.

1) Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Published September 2015, by Henry Holt and Company

I had meant to pick this one up in October, and just never did. I'm going to say it again, I've heard nothing but good things about this book. It had been catching my eye for a while before I bought it, I love the format, the black pages, the unique dark cover. I just am so worried it's been over hyped...

Have you read any of these books? what were your thoughts? I'd be interested in hearing them.

What books did you mean to read in 2017 that your putting at the forefront to read in 2018?

Let me know!

Litta

December Haul

My December haul, books I bought including book I was given for Christmas. I apologize for the lack of synopsises....synopsi? of some of these books, some of them I didn't want to know a whole lot about.

Her Bodies and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado

Published October 2017, By Graywolf Press

This book is a short story collection that deals with women. It's psychological realism, comedy, horror, thriller, etc. these stories have no boundaries really.

I am not describing this book with any justice and I apologize. It's interesting and creative, very thought provoking. I had heard great things about this book and snagged it right up.

The Beginning of the World in the Middle of the Night by Jen Campbell

Published November 2017, By Two Roads

Another story collection of modern day fairy tales, with a BEAU-T-FUL cover. I wish I can get my hands on the monochrome cover.

Edit 1/10/2018: Oops! I'm sorry! This one was my pick for Book of the Month

The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor

Published January 2018, by Crown publishing Group (NY)

This book follows Eddie. When Eddie was young, he and his friends would leave each other messages with "chalk men" but one day one of these chalk men leads Eddie and his friends to something they wont soon forget, a dead body. Years later Eddie refuses to think about that time in his life, now an adult he has better things to think about. Until he receives a chalk man in the mail. He think's it one of his old friends playing a practical joke, until he here's one of them has died. Now he has to face the past and figure out the truth behind these chalk men.

To Capture What We Cannot Keep by Beatrice Colin

Published November 2016, by Flatiron Books

This book is set around the time of the construction of the Eiffel Tower. A Scottish Widow and a French Engineer struggle to fall in love, faced with class and wealth constraints.

Mad Miss Mimic by Sarah Henstra

Published May 2015, Penguin Canada

Leo was born privileged. She doesn't lack trinkets or dresses. Living with her married sister, Leo seems a typical ordinary child of wealth. That is until she talks. Leo has a stutter, but can mimic some ones voice, speech patter, and accent to the T. She doesn't mean for it to be rude, she just prefers it to her own voice, however, she scares of suitors that come to her door, leaving the house staff whispering their nickname for her "Mad Miss Mimic" behind her back. Mr. Thornfax, however, isn't scared off. Incredibly handsome, he seems very interested in Leo, but why? And does he have connection with the mysterious Black Glove group? All these questions that Leo wants to find the truth behind while in a city under siege by terror attacks and gripped by opium fever.

I had heard about this a year or two ago, The cover is striking to me, and the summary doesn't sound too bad as well. .

From Uppercase this month:

Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills

Published December 2017, By Henry Holt and Co.

I think this is a contemporary romance read focusing or theme-ing around A Midsummer's Night Dream....That's all I really know about this. The cover is gorgeous, but the synopsis wasn't too interesting to me. This is actually my last Uppercase box just due to the fact I'm getting to the point where I have so many books that I don't necessarily want to pay for random books I may or may not be interested in and probably wont read for a bit coming in.

I finally caved and started ordering from Barnes and Noble mostly because they had better deals on these graphic novels:

Giant Days Vol 1 by John Allison Illustrated by Lissa Treiman and colored by Whitney Cogar

Published December 2015, by Boom! Box

Giant Days Vol 2 Also illustrated by Max Sarin

Published April 2016, by Boom! Box

Giant Days Vol 3 Lettered by Jim Campbell

Published October 2016, by Boom! Box

This series follows three friends in their first semester of college, as they live in the dorms. They get through drunken nights, rumors, discovering sexuality, and the what not as they navigate their way through their classes. It sounded really fun, and I'm missing college right now.

This next one was a sort of gag gift from two great friends of mine, that held a gift card for my favorite local bookstore, Northtown Books, so when I buy a book with that I'll definitely mention them again, but in the mean time I have:

Savage Thunder by Cassie Edwards

Published January 2001, by Leisure Books

I'm curious to read this but sadly this is #15 in the series.....among other things this is making me resist....We'll see though....It's smut....straight up racist looking smut. I haven't looked at the synopsis....

Another gift is the start of a series from my brother and that's:

Gardens of the Moon by Steve Erikson

Published January 2005, by Tor Books

Honestly not sure what this is about.

I got four books from my dad and his wife, one of which was a steampunk book that I consider more of a coffee table book/instructional. One of those ones you don't read all the way through unless you do all the things in it, so I'm not going to "haul" that one, but the other three, I'm super stoked for:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling Illustrated by Jim Kay

Published October 2015, by Arthur A. Levine Books

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Published October 2016, by Arthur A. Levine Books

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Published October 2017, by Arthur A. Levine Books

The next two I'm going to credit my lovely sister for, as she got me the gift card that made them available to me through amazon. Thank you sis!

The first one being one that I've had my eye on for a while now: Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde

Published March 2017, By Swoon Reads

Charlie is an vlogger and an actress, promoting her first movie at Supacon. She's determined to show her fans she's over the break up of her co-star Reese. When internet-famous cool-girl actress Alyssa is a surprise guess, it seems Charlie's long time crush isn't so one sided.

Taylor likes to blend in. Her brain is wired differently so she doesn't like change. One thing she knows will never change is her friendship with guy friend Jamie, no matter how much she wants it to. When Taylor her's about a fan contest of her favorite fandom she starts re-thinking her rules of playing it safe.

I've heard good things about this book. Ultimately I love the cover of it. The play with the font and the hair is really creative. No it's not the main reason why I wanted this book, but it helped.

And second is: Snow White: A Graphic Novel by Matt Phelan

Published September 2016, By Candlewick Press

This book, I had heard about it and loved the concept. Snow White's story set in 1928 New York. We have the King of Wallstreet who survives the stock market crash, only to mysteriously die. We have the Queen of the Follies, a mysterious stock ticker, who keeps giving her wicked words "Another...More Beautiful....Kill!!!" 7 street urchins who will protect a girl pure as snow. And of course Samantha Snow, who's come back after being sent away by her step mother years before.

The art is supposed to reflect dramatic cinematics that is Noir. So I'm pretty stocked about that. The one issue I'm having is that with most the graphic novels I get, I would like to see the art work first....I have yet to do that with this book. I have it in possession, but I think I'll wait and see how this goes when I read it...

And Finally this book.... This book I've also been wanting for a while, it was a month of getting books I have been eyeing too long and wanted here and now.

The Secret Lives of Color by Kassia St. Clair

Published October 2017, By Penguin Books

This book tells the unsual stories of 72 different and unique shades, tints and hues. From blonde to ginger, these fascinating stories run like a bright thread through out history. Kassia St. Clair has taken her obsession with color and where they come from and turned it into the study of human civilization. Across fashion and politics, art and war, the secret lives of color tell the vivid story of our culture.

I know the publication says it's actually relatively recent, But I heard about it about six months ago from a Youtuber based in the UK. Don't know if she had an advanced copy but it sounded amazing, and I've been biting at the bit to get it and finally have it and can't wait to dive in. One thing I have to say I'm already the littlest....tiniest bit disappointed in is the cover. I was expecting hard back (which it is) but to also have a dust jacket (which it doesn't) that came off and had holes in so you could see that the hard cover was just an array of color. Just my own personal opinion, but I would think that would be extremely creative and fun.