December Review

Ending the year on a high note!

In December I finished 6 books!!

Let's just get through this:

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

Published September 2017, by Margaret K. McElderry Books

So this one I got in my November Uppercase box. I hadn't heard of it before hand and was actually pretty excited about it. Despite there being a person on the cover I think the art is well done enough I didn't mind it. The font however, there needs to be more of a contrast. The story itself....well here's the synopsis real quick:

We follow Isobel, a human who's good at her craft in a world where the fae crave craft. The fae cannot produce any craft of their own, so they seek human craft. Isobel is a portrait artist who's name is starting to be well known through out the fae kingdom's. So when she get's commissioned by the Autumn Prince, Rook, she feels confident that her craft will create a stable living for her, her aunt and her two sisters. But when she makes the mistake of painting human sorrow in the Prince's eyes, Isobel must stand trial, as the mistake could cost Rook his crown. Rook escorts Isobel personally to the Autumn court but along the way they find challenges with The Hunt and the Alder King of the Summer Court. They must rely on each other if they want to survive, but will their feelings get in the way?

So...I actually thought the synopsis sounded really interesting, and as I read the book I was actually loving the detail of the writing, and the characters. However, some characters felt flat, and the plot really wasn't there. I loved the feelings that came from Isobel and Rook, and the fun banter and the magic, until the end.

Spoiler Alert:
I mentioned this in a couple other posts but I'll repeat it here, the cliche of "Four dates then marriage" is so irritating to me. This is how the book ends, with Isobel defeating the Alder King, and because the Fae Courts don't get past down by blood line but rather through challenges and defeats, Isobel is now considered Queen of the Summer Court (the highest court as it would seem) and Rook purposes marriage because this is the only way he get's to be king. Not only was the fight with the Alder King very anti-climactic but the fact that the book ends with both of them thinking that marriage will be a breeze compared to their adventure was bit...abrupt. I personally felt it left more questions than answers.

Aside from that thought the detailed writing of the environments and the characters of Rook and Isobel were fun. 3 out of 5 stars

The Little Reindeer by Nicola Killen

Published September 2017, By Simon and Schuster

This was a fun little quick read that my co-worker gave to my niece. The illustrations themselves were very nice and I enjoyed the monochromatic scheme with tints of red and silver. There were also creative pages in which the interacted with each other through cut outs, which was a nice surprise. One thing I did have an issue with was that in a couple of random spots the text didn't flow like it did through out the rest of the book. Like most picture books the text was along the bottom of the pages, but here and there (thinking about it I'm pretty sure it was only one page....it was enough to bug me....) the text was in the upper left hand corner, which felt random. If every other page had done so or if the whole book was structured like that, I wouldn't have minded but this one page just felt unorganized.

Over all not a bad book, it follows a little girl who finds a reindeer and she befriends it. 3 out of 5 stars. Decent but a bit forgettable.

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

Published December 2015, By Boom! Box

This graphic novel series follows three girls going through college. Helping each other get through break ups, sickness, hangovers, sexuality discovery, and classes.

So far this is very entertaining. I love the illustrations and the over all theme is fairly fun and light hearted with some heavy undertones. With this being the first one it wasn't too much of a "wow" factor for me, but it was fun enough that I ordered the next two volumes. Plus it's about college, which, I mean, is always fun. 4 out of 5 stars.

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado

Published October 2017, by Graywolf Press

I'm not sure how to describe this book. Aside from that it was a collection of short stories about women. It pushed boundaries psychologically. All of these stories could be considered "weird" but some of them pushed it beyond. The odd thing about this book, and I think the whole intent was to get us thinking. There were a couple of stories where I just found myself lost in my own thoughts afterwards. I'd have to set the book down, and just think. A couple of them stuck out more than others but over all a very entertaining and thought provoking read. I also really enjoy the complexity of the cover. 4 out of 5 stars.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Published September 2008, by Harper Collins

This book follows Nobody Owens, a child who escaped the murderer who killed his family and wondered into a graveyard, where the ghostly inhabitants agreed to raise and protect the boy.

So I listened to this on an audio book. And started it around Halloween... I, for the most part, really did enjoy this book, however I think I would have enjoyed it a bit more if I read it physically. There were parts in the audio that were hard to understand. mostly the Seer, this snake like ghost that protects a treasure buried in the graveyard, it's the oldest thing there, but the voice representing it in audible was so hard to understand at times that I just became disinterested. Other than that it was just a case of wanting to move on to other books, but a good book nonetheless. 4 out of 5 stars.

And finally, the last book I read for the year

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

Published October 2015, by Arthur A. Levine Books

Ok how could I not? To be fair though I switched from this illustrated version to the regular hard back edition, just because I found the illustrated one a bit big to carry around with me everywhere. Plus I thought it'd be a perfect ending to 2017.

And there you have it! with those I have completed my 2017 Goodreads goal of reading 52 books this year and have already made plans to increase that to 60-65 for 2018

I thank you for reading and hope to see you in the new year!

Litta

Around the Year in 52 Books 2018

As we start with a new year, so shall we start with a new list of challenges for the "Around the Year in 52 Books" challenge. You can find the challenges Here on their Goodreads page.

In 2016 I tried making a TBR that fulfilled these challenges, only to get frustrated at the books I felt I had to read. It was just too...."set in stone" for me despite knowing I could change it.

This last year (2017) I pretty much ignored the challenges and saw what fit each challenge at the end of the year.

2018 will be different. I still wont have a set TBR, but my hope is to track my through out the year and get at least a couple completed each month. I'll keep updating this list, as well as mention which ones I have been able to complete at the end of every month.

If it's separated and the challenge is in bold it's completed, if just the number of the challenge is bold, it's in progress.

Let's see how this goes

Around the Year in 52 Books 2018

1) A book with the letters A, T & Y in the title: Giant Days Vol. 2 by John Allison

2) A book from the first 10 books added to your To Be Read List: The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

3) A book from the 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screen Play by J.K. Rowling

4) 4 books linked by the 4 elements: Book #1 Earth (in title, cover, content, setting, author...)

5) A book about or inspired by real events: Hearts of Resistance by Soraya M. Lane

6) A book originally written in a language other than English: Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Bachman

7) A gothic novel: Interview with The Vampire by Anne Rice

8) An "own voices" book: This is Me: How to Love Yourself Today by Chrissy Metz

9) A book with a body part in the title (heart, bones, teeth, skin, blood, etc...): The Haunted Vagina by Carlton Mellick III

10) An author's debut book (their first book to be published): The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

11) A literary fiction: Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

12) A book set in Africa or South America

13) A book with a plot centered around a secret (forbidden love, spies, secret societies, etc...): Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie

14) 4 books linked by the 4 elements: Book #2 fire: Brisingr by Christopher Paolini

15) A book with a unique format/writing structure: The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James

16) A narrative nonfiction: Consider the Fork: A History on How We Cook and Eat by Bee Wilson

17) A book you expect to make you laugh: Rat Queens Vol. 2: The Far Reaching Tentacles of N'rygoth by Kurtis J. Wiebe

18) A book with a location in the title: The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams

19) A book nominated for the Edgar Award or by a Grand Master author (books & authors)

20) A book rated 5 stars by at least one of your friends: The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan

21) A book written in first person perspective: Sourdough by Robin Sloan

22) A book you have high expectations or hope for: The Secret Lives of Color by Kassia St. Clair

23) A medical or legal thriller

24) A book with a map: Eldest by Christopher Paolini

25) A book with an antagonist/villain point of view
26) A book with a text only cover

27) A book about surviving hardship (war, famine, major disasters, serious illness, etc...): Educated by Tara Westover

28) 4 books linked by the 4 elements: Book #3 water Everything is Teeth by Evie Wyld

29) A book with a "clue" weapon on the cover or title (lead pip, revolver, candlestick, dagger, wrench, rope)

30) A short book: Chilling Adventures of Sabrina #1 by Roberto Aguerre-Sacasa

31) A book set in a country you'd like to visit but have never been to
32) An alternate history book
33) A book connected (title, cover, content) to a word "born" in the same year as you (link)

34) A suggestion from the AtY 2018 polls, that didn't win but was polarizing or a close call (link): A book with a supernatural character: (vampire, werewolf, witch/wizard, zombie, ghost, etc.
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

35) A book featuring a murder: The Address by Fiona Davis

36) A book published in the last 3 years (2016, 2017, 2018) by an author you haven't read before: The Magic Misfits by Neil Patrick Harris

37) A Women's Prize for Fiction winner or nominee (link1, link2)

38) A science book or a science fiction book:
StarWars: Phasma by Delilah S. Dawson

39) A book with a form of punctuation in the title:
40) A book from Amazon's 100 books to Read in a Lifetime list

41) A book by an author with the same first and last initials: Circe by Madeline Miller

42) A book that takes place in, on or underwater
43) A book with a title that is a whole sentence

44) A ghost story: City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab

45) A book that intimidates/scares you: Clean Room by Gail Simmone

46) 4 books linked by the 4 elements: Book #4 air

47) A book where the main character (or author is of a different ethnic origin, religion,  or sexual identity than your own: The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

48) A book related to one of the 7 deadly sins (pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, sloth): Horns by Joe Hill

49) A book from on of the of the Goodreads Best Books of the Month list

50) A book with a warm atmosphere (center on family, friendship, love or summer): Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

51) An award-winning short story or short story collection

52) A book Published in 2018: Moonstruck Volume 1: Magic to Brew by Grace Ellis

2017 A Year in review

It is the final days of 2017 and with that a new year and new books to get read. Here I will go over a quick review of my 2017 reads and the "Around the Year in 52 Books" Challenge as well as the End of the Year Book Survey....sort of an all in one inclusive blog post.

So Over all for 2017 I completed my Goodreads challenge and read 52 books this year.

Of those books my shortest was: Imagine a City by Elise Hurst at 32 pages

My longest book was: American Gods by Neil Gaiman at 592 pages

The average length was 262 pages


Ratings:

5 Star Reads: 8

4 Star Reads: 28

3 Star Reads: 13

2 Star Reads: 2

1 Star Reads: 1

My Highest rated and most loved book of this year was (can you guess it? I bet you can):

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

My lowest rated and most disappointing book of the year is:

All the Broken Things by Kathryn Kuitenbrouwer

My Average rating is 3.7



Genres:

Middle Grade/Children's: 10

Young Adult: 16

Fiction: 15

Non-Fiction: 3

Graphic Novels: 4

Short Story Collections: 4

Looking at it like this is interesting, for some reason at some point I'd like fiction to be more than anything. Arguably a lot of these are essentially sub-genre's of fiction, but I'm meaning adult fiction.

Format:

Audio: 5

Physical: 47

E-Reader: 0

This I'm not too surprised about. I tried the Amazon Fire Tablet this year and although I did read a good amount of it decently I still wasn't able to finish a book on it. I'm trying to think of ways to go about this, whether I should just take it camping or road trips, etc. So I'm not carrying more weight than necessary. I'll work it into my 2018 Reading goals

End of the Year Book Survey 2017
Created by Jamie at Perpetual Page Turner

Just a small note, I'm picking and choosing quite a few of the questions I want to answer from the original survey, for the sake of not repeating myself.

1. Favorite Cover of a book read in 2017:

Did you expect me to pick just one?

The gold lettering, the unique and fun font, and you know I'm a sucker for moon and stars on my covers. This book captured me in looks and content.

I think this book is so unique in it's cover design, simple and creative, and I am in love with how vibrant it is.

This design is just so fun. The purple is stunning, the illustrations are elegant and flow so smoothly with the text.

Bold and simple, I wasn't sure about the story but this cover made me come around and read it. I'm so glad I did.

2. Most memorable Character in 2017

Elsa, from My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman

She stuck with me in that she was very grown up in some ways for her age but her imagination was so grand and fun.

Mr. Wednesday from American Gods by Neil Gaiman

 Mr. Wednesday was just all around a fun complex character that I never knew if I should trust or not. But he had valid arguments and cons that it made me like him anyway with just how persuasive and creative he could be.

3. Book you were most excited about and thought you would love but didn't?

Get it Together Delilah! by Erin Gough

I loved the cover of this book, I thought it was creative and fun and the premise of the book sounded really interesting. I felt like I must read it. But I found the main character just very self centered and unforgiving. She irritated the hell out of me, and when everything worked out for her in the end it irritated me even more. I also just felt like this book was unrealistic and sends the wrong message: That it's ok to lie to your parents as long as you clean up your mess before they get home you'll be fine.

4. Best book you read in 2017 that you solely read based on a recommendation from someone else

Scythe by Neil Shusterman

It was one of those books that I had on my radar but found some excuse not to buy it at my local book shop until my boyfriend expressed interest in reading it, I bought it, but still didn't read it, thinking it was just going to be one of those book that stayed on his shelf that I'd eventually forget about. But after he read it he kept prodding me with it, saying it was pretty decent. Ultimately I'm sure it's so he could have someone to talk to about it, but I did finally read it and am glad I did.

4. Favorite relationship from a book read in 2017 (friendship, romance, etc...)

I actually really enjoyed the family dynamic in Everything All at Once by Katrina Leno

It was very refreshing to see a family that communicated and had very little problems among one another.

5. Newest fictional crush from a book read in 2017?

Rook from An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

I just really enjoyed his character. Kind of cocky, confident, and the fact he was an adorable raven was a plus, and he took care of Isobell!

6. Best 2017 debut book you read?

Words on Bathroom Walls by Julia Walton

7. Book with the most vivid world/imagery you read in 2017?

Aside from Harry Potter, I'd have to go with An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson. It's one of the reasons I enjoyed the book so much.

8. Book that made you cry/nearly made you cry?

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

9. Book you wanted to read in 2017 but will be your first in 2017

There's a handful of these but for now I'll just say Phasma by Delilah S. Dawson

10. Book you are most anticipated for 2017 (non-debut)

A Conspiracy of Stars by Olivia A. Cole

11. An anticipated 2018 debut

Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian

12. One thing you hope to accomplish or do in your book blog for 2018

I'd like more original content. Whether it's to mix it up with some art posts, or to some how come up with more interesting book posts. We'll see. But that's my hope

Around the Year in 52 Books

I was able to complete 37 of the 52 challenges. Below is the challenge list and the books I was able to complete the challenge with.

The 2017 List

1) A book from the Goodreads Choice Awards 2016

2) A book with at least 2 perspectives (multiple points of view):They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

3) A book you meant to read in 2016: Our Chemical Hearts by Krystal Sutherland

4) A title that doesn't contain the letter "E": Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

5) A historical fiction: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

6) A book being released as a movie in 2017: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

7) A book with an animal on the cover or in the title: Hey Duck! by Carin Bramsen

8) A book written by a person of color: American War by Omar El Akkad

9) A book in the middle of your to be read list: Dark Life by Kat Falls

10) A dual-timeline novel: Big Fish by Daniel Wallace

11) A category from another challenge- Nothing But Reading Challenges BOTM: The Child Finder by Rene Denfeld

12) A book based on a myth

13) A book recommended by one of your favorite authors

14) A book with a strong female character: The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

15) A book written or set in Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland): Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

16) A mystery: The Wonder by Emma Donoghue

17) A book with illustrations: Giant Days by John Allison illustrated by Lissa Treiman and colored by Whitney Cogar

18) A really Long book (600+ pages)

19) A New York Times best-seller

20) A book that you've owned for a while but haven't gotten around to reading: Snow White by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm and illustrated by Camille Rose Garcia

21) A book that is a continuation of a book you've already read: DC Bombshells Vol. 2: Allies by Marguerite Bennett and Marguerite Sauvage illustrated by Laura Bragga, Mirka Andolfo, Sandy Jarrell, and Maria Laura Sanapo

22) A book by an author you haven't read before: Scythe by Neil Shusterman

23) A book fro the BBC "The Big Read" list: Matilda by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quetin Blake

24) A book written by at least two authors: Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

25) A book about a famous historical figure

26) An adventure book

27) A book by one of your favorite authors: American Gods by Neil Gaiman

28) A non-fiction: The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines

29) A book Published outside the 4 major publishing houses (Simon & Schuster, Harpercollins. Penguin Random House, Hachette Livre): The Anatomical Shape of a Heart by Jenn Bennett

30) A book from Goodreads Top 100 YA Books

31) A book from a sub-genre of your favorite genre: Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

32) A book with a long title (5+ words, excluding subtitle): My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman

33) A magical realism novel: The Lonely Hearts Hotel by Heather O'Neal

34) A book set in or or by an author from the southern hemisphere: The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon

35) A book where one of the main characters is royalty: An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

36) A Hugo Award winner or nominee: The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher

37) A book you choose randomly: All the Broken Things by Kathryn Kuitenbrouwer

38) A novel inspired by a work of classic literature: Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

39) An epistolary fiction: Words on Bathroom Walls by Julia Walton

40) A book published in 2017: Wicked Like a Wildfire by Lana Popovic

41) A book with an unreliable narrator

42) A best book of the 21st century (so far)

43) A book with a chilling atmosphere: The Little Reindeer by Nicola Killen

44) A recommendation from "What Should I Read Next"

45) A book with a one-word title: Chemistry by Weike Wang

46) A time travel novel

47) A past suggestion that didn't win: A book with liquid on the cover (water, blood, juice...): Get it Together Delilah by Erin Gough

48) A banned book

49) A book from someone else's bookshelf

50) A Penguin Modern Classic - any edition

51) A collection (i.e.- essays, short stories, poetry, plays): American Housewife by Hellen Ellis

52) A book set in a fictional location: Imagine a City by Elise Hurst

And that's it for my reading for 2017. Thank you for sticking around and I hope to see you again in 2018!

Happy New Year!

Litta

Top 5 Wednesday: 2018 Wishlist

This is the last Top 5 Wednesday of 2017. It's been a good month, I enjoy'd doing these, and hope you have enjoyed reading them.

This week Top 5 Wednesday is our 2018 Wishlists. Not specific books, but genre's, tropes, plots we want to see more of in 2018.

So here is mine, know that it's not in any particular order.

1. More Standalones:
I don't mind a good series, I really don't. But this year I had multiple books on my TBR that I just didn't pick up because I found out they were a start of a trilogy.

Whether they have been for years or the author had just announced it, it was hard for me to commit to a series. Couldn't tell you why really. I'd just like a good book that gives me all the information I need to know with a decent story in one good book.

2. Good/Uplifting Mental Health Rep:
I read Words on Bathroom Walls by Julia Walton this year, and it was just really refreshing to get someone with mental health issues as the protagonist, and see them cope and work through their struggle. It'd also be nice if we had more diverse Mental Health Rep. I mean this in two ways: It felt like there was a lot of anxiety rep this year, which is great, don't get me wrong, but like I said Walton's book was refreshing because it was Schizophrenia, lets see more that tend not to be talked about: Suicide/depression, PTSD through trauma (war, rape, abuse, etc...) Bi-Polar. Don't get me wrong I'd still like anxiety/panic disorder representation, I feel like it connects with a lot of readers, particularly those who are still in school. I also mean diversity in terms of culture/race, now I don't specifically remember if Adam is ever defined as Caucasian or "white" or anything else, but more often than not, if an author doesn't describe the protagonist specifically as having "colored" skin or coming for a specific culture, I assume their Caucasian. So have Mental Health representation in a diverse culture would, I think, be really cool to see more of.

3. Slow Burn Romances:
I just talked about the "Four dates then marriage" cliche in The Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson. How the romance itself, to me, felt slow burning but by the end of the book they were ready to marry when it seemed to come out of no where for me and was completely ridiculous. It'd be nice to see romances that took time, that don't try to solve a problem with marriage. That get's me frustrated because they are clearly right for one another but they have personal issues they want to work out before that first kiss that makes me release a breath I didn't know I was holding and go "FINALLY!' Where by the end of the book they don't feel rushed to meet that "happily ever after" ending but are satisfied with their current predicament and know they have more to work on before their next step. Is that so much to ask?

4. Creative Covers:
This one is purely my own bias. 2017 had some gorgeous covers, and some of the cover reveals I have seen so far for 2018 look awesome too. Let's just keep that up. I'd like to see no stock photo covers, particularly when it comes to chic lit/romances because I straight up wont read them. Don't ruin how I'd like to see these characters with your typical stock photo cover that looks like every other romance cover out there.

5. "Flawed" (Aka Real) Protagonists/Characters:
Not a character that says they're weird but does nothing to prove it, or does something only for it to be completely normal. Give me a thick girl who doesn't call herself "fat", wear's glasses, has days where she doesn't want to wear pants, that thinks too literally ruining almost every joke by over thinking it, who see's abstract vagina's in wood grain. Or something like that....I don't know. I guess I'm trying to say I'd like to see more diverse and more real/"flawed" characters in books that are more than just "nerdy" or "moody." Give me a love interest with more personality and more awkward moments.

Alright I think that's it....I mean that's five so yeah that's it.

Let me know what you all want to see more of 2018.

Until next time!

Litta

Top Five Wednesday: Best of 2017

Everyone have their holiday shopping done? Less than a week and counting...

I think I have everything....nearly....just a couple more things to get and wrap and I should....should be good. Let's hope.

This week's Top Five Wednesday is our top five books of 2017

Before I get into my countdown, I'd like to list off some honorable mentions that didn't quite make the cut but I still wish to acknowledge:

Swimming Lessons by Claire Fuller

This book was one of my first books from Book of the Month, and I chose it kind of dishearteningly thinking I was choosing the best one in a bunch of books I didn't really want. But the synopsis interested me despite how much I didn't like the cover.

Ingrid Coleman writes letters to her husband, Gil, but instead of giving them to him she leaves them with in the pages of his many many books he's collected over the years. Her letters shed light on their marriage. When the last letter is written Ingrid disappears from a Dorset beach, leaving behind her beautiful but dilapidated house on the beach, her husband, and their two daughters, Flora and Nan. Twelve years pass and Gil thinks he's sees Ingrid outside a bookshop. But he's getting older and this unlikely sighting is presumed senility. Flora has never believed her mother drowned, so when she returns to care for her father she tries to figure out the mystery behind her mom's disappearance. Not knowing that the answers or lodged in the books around the house.

This book was just very complex, I found myself feeling sorry for Ingrid, mad at Flora, and irritated with Gil as his and Ingrid's marriage came to light after each of her letters.  

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman translated by Henning Koch

I've talked about this one before. It was one of the first audio books I listened to and I adored it.

Elsa is seven and different. Her grandmother, seventy-seven and crazy but she's Elsa's best and only friend. At night Elsa takes refuge in her grandmother's stories in the land of Almost-Awake and the Kingdom of Miamas where everyone is different and no one needs to be normal. When Elsa's grandmother dies, a series of letter are left for Elsa to find, apologizing to everyone she's wronged, this will be Elsa's biggest adventure yet, exposing the truth of the Almost-Awake and the Kingdom of Miamas.

The narration of this book sold it, in all honesty, it got a little troubling at times as Elsa and her grandmother occasionally had the same tone, but otherwise I absolutely loved it. The perspective of this seven year old is endearing and magical.

Now into my top five book of 2017

5) Words on Bathroom Walls by Julia Walton

Adam is diagnosed with Schizophrenia. He hears and sees people who aren't really there. With a new trial drug Adam starts fresh at a new school, hoping to keep his diagnoses a secret. As he begins to make new friends the trial drug isn't working as it should, and he's taken off the drug, but Adam is still determined to keep his secret.

I haven't read any books on or about schizophrenia. Because I don't have it or know anyone with it I can't say for certain if this is a good representation, but I feel like it is....if that's not too presumptuous. Right off the bat the author illustrates Schizophrenia and says what it's not vs what it is. I came to want to protect Adam. The book was also interestingly formatted with letters from Adam to his therapist which lends to an interesting perspective.

4) American War by Omar El Akkad

Sarat Chestnut was born in Louisiana. She's six when the second civil war breaks out over the United States. Oil is outlawed, half of Louisiana is underwater, and unmanned drones fly through the air with the possibility of dropping explosives at any moment. When Sarat's father is killed, she and her family are moved to Camp Patience, a refugee camp for displaced people, but not everyone there is as they seem. Sarat befriends a mysterious functionary, who under his influence, Sarat begins to turn into a deadly instrument. Every decision she makes will have tremendous consequences not just for Sarat, but for her family, her friends, her countrymen and kin alike.

This book was intense. It takes place over the course of a couple years starting in 2072 and in all honesty it doesn't feel too far away from the truth. Sarat was a complex character that I could never tell if I liked or disliked but her story was heartbreaking and an eye opener.

3) Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Pachinko is a generational story that ends up following Sunja, the daughter of a poor but proud family who's unexpected pregnancy threatens to shame them all. Left by her lover Sunja is saved by a tubercular minister who offers to marry her and take her to Japan.

We then follow her life, the life of her two sons and their struggle through exile.

For a while I thought the only historical fiction books I liked were that dealing with World War II, and even though this kind of deals with that it's part of a conflict I never new about, and helped shed some light on. The fact it's fiction makes it no less real to me as the author did her homework. Again I hope this isn't presumptuous, as I'm not Korean nor do I have Korean friends, so I can't say for sure if this is a good representation. But the references and families this author talked to. And the family of the book itself. I kept rooting for them and every time, something would happen that would make my heart break for them.

2) The Lonely Hearts Hotel by Heather O'Neal

I talked about this one a lot when I first started this blog about half a year ago. But I still hold it close.

This book follows Rose and Perot, both orphans in Canada during the Great Depression. In the orphanage they have a dream to make a circus together, as they travel from house to house in the upper class neighborhoods to perform. Perot playing the piano and Rose dancing. But as they are suddenly separated and have to live their lives apart from one another, they never let go of the dream they had.

I don't know how to accurately describe this book. It's historical fiction, its magic realism, it has triggers for rape, drugs, and abuse. It was not a book I expected but I adore it.

1) American Gods by Neil Gaiman

I'll never grow tired of mentioning this book.

Shadow is just let out of jail. Shadow just wants to live in peace with his wife Laura. But Laura and Shadow's best friend are found dead. A mysterious man, who knows more than he should about Shadow, offers Shadow a job. Mr. Wednesday is what the man want's to be called. A con artist who want's Shadow to be his bodyguard, his driver, his errand boy, should be easy, shouldn't it? But the job is more dangerous than Shadow ever imagined. A storm is brewing, an epic war for the very soul of America, and Shadow is in it's path.

Another one I listened to on Audio book. I always thought Coraline was going to remain my favorite of Neil Gaiman's but no. This one....if you get the chance listen to the ten year release full cast of this audio book. I never noticed Ian McShane before now. The book was fun, intense, interesting, insightful, thought provoking, just....I can't give it enough praise.

And that is my list of the best books of 2017

have you read any of the ones I've listed? What's on your own list? I'd love to know!

Until next time!

Litta

Top 5 Wednesday: The Naughty List

It's Wednesday again, and that means another top 5 Wednesday theme. This week it's : The Naught List.

This can feature your favorite villains or characters you straight up don't like.
Let's go with villains that I love to hate. Not Because they were written badly but they were a good character to just get under my skin.

I'll try to leave out Voldemort and Professor Umbridge

Let's see how this goes....

Litta's Naughty List:

5) Emily from Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

This one surprised me. The graphic novel itself was actually interesting and different, the art style is simple and bold. This character though, turned out better than I had anticipated. With out spoiling (though I guess considering she's on this list it's a bit of a spoiler...oops) her personality definitely took a turn I wasn't expecting.

4) Babs Yagg from Vassa in the Night by Sarah Porter

Oh how I wanted to love this book more. I actually thought the best part about it was Babs, I wanted more one on one time with her and the protagonist rather than her severed minion hands. Pretty sure the only reason why I liked her too was because she reminded me so much of Yubaba from Spirited Away.

That was part of the issue I had with the story anyway, was that we never quite delved more into Babs's story. But even what we got was just wicked, I mean severing the heads of shop lifters and displaying them in your store's parking lot? Jeebus!

3) Eva from Of Bees and Mist by Erick Setiawan

This woman tormented me as she tormented the protagonist in this book, and good god I just wanted to slap her, and for that I almost enjoy her. She managed to frustrate and infuriate me with her back stabbing, slight remarks, back handed compliments and the manipulation! 

2) The Other Mother from Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Both the book and the movie adaptation Laika did managed to make the Other Mother profoundly creepy. I wasn't sure what to expect when I first watched the movie but man she wasn't it. It was one scare to the next. Even in the book she had that overly obsessed "I hurt you because I love you" vibe that you weren't sure where it was going to take you or how she was going to react to something no matter how small. This was another one where the movie and the book played well with each other in helping understand what was going on.

1) Mr. Wednesday from American Gods by Neil Gaiman

I use this gif as Ian McShane playing Mr. Wednesday in the Amazon Prime adaptation, because he also voiced Mr. Wednesday in the full cast audio book. And by golly I love his voice and I love to question the hell out of this character. Through out the whole book you never quite know Mr. Wednesday's game. Good, bad, chaotic? Evil? All of the above? I enjoyed him so much, every twist and turn of the book, and despite always having suspicions about his motives, he'd always surprise me. And because Ian McShane voices him as well as plays his part in the adaptation, I feel I can go from book to adaptation with little criticism (no promises) Does Amazon put their series on dvds? I'd love this one, next day shipping please!

Alright that's in for my Naughty List. What characters would you put on yours? Why? I'd love to know!

Until next time!

Litta

November Haul

Not too bad of a haul for November actually. My boyfriend is still looking at me like:

Well let's get on with it then.

Iron Cast by Destiny Soria

Published October, 2016, By Harry N. Abrams

This book is set in 1919 and follows Ada Navarra, a daughter of immigrants, and Corrine Wells, a devil may care heiress. They are an unlikely pair, but together their "afflicted" blood they are able to create illusions through art, weave magic under the employment of Johnny Dervish, club owner and notorious gangster. On stage at night together, by day Ada and Corrine use the same skills to con the city's elite to help keep the club afloat. But when Ada is arrested she realizes they are on the precipice of danger. Only Corrine can break her out of the Haversham Asylum, facing betrayal at every turn.

I saw this cover at Barns and Noble last spring. But instead of picking this one up I picked up The Lonely Hearts Hotel, and we know how that turned out (love it!) But this cover is striking and I haven't been able to let it go. So I finally snagged it up.

These next few I got from Book Outlet

The first being:

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Published June 2002 by Harper Torch

This book follows Shadow, who, after getting released from jail, just wants to live a peaceful quiet life with his wife. But after he finds out she's dead he's recruited as a personal assistant to Mr. Wednesday, who's not an ordinary con-artist, and knows much more about Shadow than is possible. There's a bigger storm coming, Mr Wednesday warns.

I talk about this book quite a lot, if not on here, then in person. I love it. I listened to it on audio back in June and wanted a physical copy. I was so excited that not only did Book Outlet have it, but they had it in hardback!!

House of Many Ways by Dianna Wynne Jones

Published June 2008, By Greenwillow Books

So it wasn't until I looked at goodreads that I realized that this is the third book in the series....I need the second as I haven't read it yet....So I'm just going to tell you the synopsis of the first.

Sophia is the eldest of three, a grave mistake as she'll fail miserably if she ever leaves her home to seek he fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the attention of the Witch of the Waste, she get's cursed by a spell that turns her into and old lady. Her only chance to break this spell is to seek the moving castle in the hills. The wizard who lives there is Howl, a heartless womanizer that Sophie has to handle as she strikes a deal with a fire demon and face the Witch of the Waste head on. Along the way she finds out there's more to Howl and herself than she had originally thought.

So if you know Studio Ghibli, then I'd hope you know Howl's Moving Castle all too well. Yes it's the same story line, and what I found was that the book and the movie help each other. I saw the movie first and found it a bit confusing in areas. While with the book I found it a little hard to imagine with out some of the movie clips. So they differently helped each other out. The book leaned on the creepier side of things as the Witch of the Waste and Turnip-Head were a bit more grotesque than those represented in the movie, but I still enjoyed it. And hopefully I can find the second book and finish the series.

The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne and illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard

Published October 1996, By Dutton Children's Books

This I got for my niece for Christmas. I never quite know how long Book Outlet is going to take in terms of shipping (a bit better than Book Depository) so I wanted to make sure I got this as soon as I saw it available. It's the complete works as it said. And I'm hoping I don't have to go into who Winnie the Pooh is to this crowd....you know what, google is your friend.

The next two I got from Book of the Month

My pick for the month was:

The Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich

Published November 2017, By Harper

The world is ending. Evolution is running backwards as women give birth to infants who appear to be a primitive species of human. Martial Law is in order, Congress are confining pregnant women, registering them and rewarding those turning them in. In Cedar's adoptive parent's home town, street names are changing to Bible verses. She's watching family's be wretched a part as they take custody of mothers. Cedar is four months pregnant, and her adoptive parents don't know. She wants to find her birth mother as she's becoming a mother herself, wanting to understand both her and her baby's origins. Cedar goes back to her biological beginnings as society is crumbling, fueled by panic at the end of humanity.

This books sounds intense. One thing that interested me was that Cedar's birth mother is Ojibwe and I was curious to see how that played into the story.

My extra book for this month was:

Uncommon Type: Some Stories by Tom Hanks

Published October 2017, By Alfred A. Knopf

I don't know jack about this book, aside that it's filled with stories written by Tom Hanks....That's good enough for me.

My Uppercase book of the moth was:

Rosemarked by Livia Blackburne

Published November 2017, By Disney-Hyperion

I hadn't heard of this at all

Zivah has fallen prey to the deadly rose plague. As a healer, she knows nothing can be done and it's only a matter of time before it over takes her. She's put into isolation, away from those she cares for, unable to practice her skill. Until a threat to her village creates a need only she can fill.

Dineas will have his revenge on the Amparan Empire, against his captors. Now escaped and reunited with his tribe he will do anything to free them from Amparan rule, even is his plan not only takes his life but his very self.

Thrust on a high stakes mission to spy the two couldn't be more different. Zivah deeply devoted to healing, Dineas set on vengeance. But their mission forces them to find a common ground enable to save those they love. Amidst the common feat of discovery the two grapple with mutual attraction that could break their carefully guarded hearts.

Sound interesting enough.

Phasma: Journey to Star Wars the Last Jedi by Delilah S. Dawson

Published September 2017, by Del Rey

This one my boyfriend actually pointed out to me when we went for a visit to Northtown. As much as I would have liked to buy it then and there and support my local businesses....$30 is a bit much, so I found it online for a bit less.

This book is about Captain Phasma's mysterious past, one of the most cunning and merciless officers of the first order. She commands the favor of her superiors and the respect of her peers and the terror of her enemies, but remains virtually unknown. Until an adversary seeks to uncover her origins, a secret she guards as ruthlessly as she serves her masters.

The last book I've actually had for a while, it's just changed hands a couple of times, and I finally have it back, and that's:

IT by Stephen King

Published September 1986, By Viking Penguin

So I have an old worn hardback version of this that was my aunt's. I remember my mom....not sure if she really gave it to me or loaned it, but I got it sometime in middle school. I remember trying to read it but couldn't get into it, and with the new movie out, and the new book cover released, I felt like I should maybe look into picking it up again.

I've watched the original movie before, I think the current movie adaptation just recently stopped being played in theaters but I heard it was good. Not so much scary but good.

Alright those are the books I got for the month of November.

Let me know if you read any of these and what your thoughts were.

Until next time!

Litta