Booktubeathon...A TBR

OK so I know I did a tag that explained that why I don't tend to like to do TBR's but to be fair this is for a read-a-thon.

And not just any read-a-thon: Booktubeathon
This read-a-thon is was ultimately made me realize how much booktube could be fun and really really interesting.

Booktubeathon was created by booktuber Ariel Bissett

It's a book-a-thon that, like most book-a-thons, encourage reading, and reading whatever your heart desires really. You can check out the video for it --> [--HERE--]

But there's more fun than just reading, there's youtube challenges for the booktube community, that get announced the week of booktubeathon. There are also Instagram challenges, and this year there is even a book pick. There are also games and events happening on Instagram, twitter and youtube.

This year the Booktubeathon goes from July 24th - July 30th

and the book pick is Juniper Lemon's Happiness Index by Julie Israel

Published June 2017, by Penguin

I can't say I'll read this just because Booktubeathon is less than a week away...and looking at how many books I've already bought this month....nah....

I've never done a read-a-thon before, so I'm not holding my breath on anything.

So with Booktubeathon there are also reading challenges that change every year, and that pretty much constructs everyone's TBR for the week. However, we are not restricted to these reading challenges, it's just something fun.

So that's what my TBR is going to be about. I also know this is mainly a youtube themed...thing.... so it almost seems odd to me to be doing this on a blog but if you see a link

[--HERE--]

know that I dove in and made my first ever youtube video. If that's not clickable, I chickened out and inside I'm beating myself up.

[Update] Holy hell I did it..... Still a little unbelievable to me....hyperventillating a bit but feeling pretty good. I know it's not that great, I realized going in that I have no idea how to edit with Premier Pro CC just kind of winged it....but I hope it'll get better the more I do it.

But really, once the announcement for Booktubeathon came out this year I kept telling myself "now's the time, it's perfect, just do a tbr and get started, just vlog during that week and get used to the camera" so let's see if I do it!!
\....Makes me nervous just typing it...

But for those who wouldn't care to see my face, or go to youtube to see my tbr for this read-a-thon, here's my tbr based of the Booktubeathon 2017 reading challenges.

The list of challenges will also be listed down below for any of you who would also like to do this.

1. A book with a person on the cover

I don't have many of these, because I feel like it ruins my image of what that character should look like, but I picked a book with a character we all just know the image of and that's:

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Expery

Published 1964

This book is the translated french book. I watched the netflix movie adaptation and fell in love with it (seriously it's beautiful). This book is about a little boy who leaves the safety of his planet and explores the universe, Earth included. Through his encounters he finds the vagaries of adult behavior.
At 83 pages I think I can get this one done in a week.

2. Read a hyped book

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

Published August 2015, by Hodder and Stoughton

This book follows a ship of wormhole builders that hop from planet to planet on there way to a job of a life time. But the everyone one of the crew members have their own story. A martian woman trying to put some distance between her and her what she's left behind, an alien pilot navigating life with out her own kind, and a pacifist captain awaiting a loved one to come back from war.

This one is still in the mail. The one I ordered is the UK cover (seen above) but if I don't think it'll get here with in the week then I'll get on amazon prime and snag the US edition

US Edition

 I actually like both covers for different reasons, I wont know if one fits the story better than the other until I read it. But the UK one I love just because that photo is amazing, and I'm a sucker for night skies. The US edition I love because it just screams Sci-Fi, it reminds me of the old Sci-Fi cover art, dramatic and daunting. I can't wait to pick this book up, but at 467 pages this is my biggest book on  my tbr.

3. Finish a book in one day.

For this one I'm choosing a graphic novel, and it's actually a re-read because it's sequel is also on this tbr, and I wanted to re-fresh my memory of what's happened, and that's:

 DC Bombshells: Volume 1 Enlisted by Marguerite Bennett and Marguerite Sauvage

Published March 2016 by DC Comics

So this takes the origin stories of a few of the known DC comic Heroines and puts them during WWII, as well as puts them into these 50's pin up style outfits. I remember seeing the art for this and fell in love with it. The art though out is just so pristine and sharp, and this style is adorable (I want Wonder Woman's outfit)

But I figure this would be a could quick re-read read for this read-a-thon

4. Read a book with a character completely different than you.

Words on Bathroom Walls by Julie Walton

Published July 2017, by Random House for Young Readers

This book follows Adam. Adam has schizophrenia. He sees and hears people that aren't really there. You would think he could tell the difference between his imagination an reality with some of the characters he sees, but he can't. So when a trial drug comes along to suppress these images, Adam goes for it. He feel's like he can have a life, even a love life, but when the trial drug begins to fail, Adam is determined to keep his secret hidden among his new found friends.

I got this book in the mail (you'll see in my book haul for this month) and I hadn't heard a thing about it. The concept seems interesting, and I think for this challenge the fact that the protagonist is of male gender and has a mental illness is pretty different from me.

5. Read a book completely outside

A Robot in the Garden by Deborah Install

Published June 2015, by Random House Canada

Ben Chambers, at 34, feels as though he hasn't done much with his life. So when he finds a robot, Tang in his garden, he's determined to achieve something. Where did this robot come from? How did it get here? Ben is willing to cross the globe to find out these answers, even if it means losing his wife in the process.

I saw this on Book Outlet, and it reminded me of my friend who had an idea for a robot book, she asked me to let her know how this one is.

6. Read a book you bought because of its cover.

This could really be any of my books. I think judging a book by its cover is critical in the book buying process. If I don't like the cover it makes it hard for me to justify buying the book.The cover is part of the book's sales pitch. Bad cover, bad pitch. Of course covers and their art are subjective. So what I think is "good" or "bad" may not be the same for someone else. 

 But for this challenge I chose:

Snow White by the Brother's Grimm Illustrated by Camille Rose Garcia

Published February 2012 by Harper Design

I have owned this book for a while. For a bit in early college I was obsessed with Camille's art work. I still love it, I'm just not actively seeking it at this point. But it's Snow White's story just illustrated by Camille. So it's this over dramatic grotesque type work that I think will be interesting to the story.

7. Read seven books.

So this is where that sequel comes into play (you forget about it?) Another Comic book because I don't know how else I'll get seven books read in a week.

DC Bombshells: Volume 2 Allies by Marguerite Bennett and Marguerite Sauvage

And with that, that is my Booktubeathon 2017 TBR

I hope to keep updating my youtube channel and encourage you to check it out as well. I'm hoping it gets a little better as I get more used to looking at the camera and talking rather than typing about books, and editing.

Let me know if you're going to participate in booktubeathon! What's your TBR?

See you next time

Litta

Booktubeathone 2017 Reading Challenges

1. A book with a person on the cover

2. A Hyped Book

3. Finished a book in one day

4. Read a book with a character that's completely different from you

5. Read a book completely outside

6. Read a book you bought because of it's cover

7. Read seven books 

Nope. Book Tag

Today I'll be doing another tag, this one is called the Nope Book Tag created by Farah at A Booktube Book

As always questions will be at the bottom if you would like to do this yourself.

As always these responses are my opinion alone, if you have differing opinions than I do, then great, we're human. Please try not to be offended by my opinion and if you are I please ask that you leave.

1. Book Ending: a Book ending that made you go NOPE either in denial, rage or simply because the ending was crappy.

I Am Radar by Reif Larson

Published March 2016, by Penguin Books

First off, cover love, otherwise this book was interesting and entertaining, but the ending. THE FUCKING ENDING! Did NOT answer a damn thing. It left soooo many loose ends I threw the damn book.

2.  Protagonist: A main character you dislike and drives you crazy.

Gwen from Everland by Wendy Spinale

Published May 2016, by Scholastic Press

The book itself probably didn't help much but I found her and the story unbelievable and hard to connect with.

3. Series: A series that turned out to be one huge pile of NOPE after you invested all of that time and energy into it, or a series you gave up on because it wasn't worth it anymore.

The above could count for this as well but I'll choose another one.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children  by Ransom Riggs

Published June 2011, by Quirk

I finished the first book, and found it didn't live up to the hype. There wasn't anything particularly wrong with it...I lie, everyone found the photographs really cool and interesting, and yes although interesting I found them distracting and felt like it brought down the book a bit. Not going to be picking up the rest of them.

4. Popular Pairing: A "ship" you don't support.

Maribella and Joseph from Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

Published September 2016, by Harper Teen

No, Joseph and Maribella. I. Can't. It makes me hate Maribella when I did feel sorry for her. I don't even know why, it's not like it was her fault. I hate Joseph because of it too, he can make up whatever excuses he wants just no!

5. Plot Twist: A plot twist you didn't see coming or didn't like.

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Published February 2017, by Grand Central Publishing

It was just one thing after another with this book. I expected hard times to fall on this family but what happened with Sunja's eldest son...So many tears, I had...just...ugh!

6. Protagonist action/decision: a character decision that made you shake your head NOPE.

The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Phillip Sendker

The fact Tin Win just went to this "uncle" so willingly ticked me off, same with when he didn't say anything about getting his sight fixed. There was nothing wrong with his life with Mi Mi why change it?! I had a fear that he'd lose his unique hearing abilities if he got his sight back.

7. Genre: a genre you will never read.

I don't think there's a genre I won't look at and reach for. Perhaps skeptically, but I wont say I'll never read a certain genre. My mood on books changes consistently so I may not reach for a genre today, doesn't mean I wont reach for it in a couple months.

8. Book format: Book formatting you hate and avoid buying until it comes out in a different edition:

Mass production paperback. My boyfriend gets them and I just can't... I'm not a big fan of paperback in general, but I can hand like the floppy paper backs or the ones that aren't crazy cheap where I know I won't break the spine once I open the book.

Also another one I don't tend to go for right away is Audio, I get particular, biographies and memoirs, sure, it makes sense, other wise I listen and relisten to the sample before determining I want it. Same with Kindle/e-books. physical copies are just easier for me.

9. Trope: a trope that makes you go NOPE.

Under-qualified protagonist succeeding above overly qualified supporting characters- with this the under-qualified tends to be Caucasian who also happens to be "the chosen one" and just kind of skips to a finish line while the supporting characters are people of color who have worked all their lives to get their qualifications but they can't win with out the help of said random Caucasian protagonist.

Also love triangles, especially ones that don't make sense, like there's clearly one the protagonist should choose over the other because one is absolute shit, but they still ponder about it through the whole book to the point where I'm like "you know what if you're having this much trouble, you don't deserve the one you should obviously be choosing and I hope they deny your finicky ass."

10. Recommendation: A book recommendation that is constantly hyped and pushed at you that you simply refuse to read.

I haven't had much pushed at me in my personal life. But on booktube people are really pushing for:

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Published March 2005 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Every other booktuber talks about this book, and I just have no interest. If a book gets too hyped or someone wont stop talking about it, I just wont pick it up. Mostly because you put too much hype into it and I no longer believe it will hold up to that hype.

11. Cliche/Pet peeve: A cliche or writing pet peeve that always makes you roll your eyes.

This one feels similar to the tropes I dislike but: Beauty Blind: when a female protagonist describes herself as ugly when she's actually really pretty, or argues with family who says she's beautiful or can't understand why a love interest would find her attractive. Stop. Be body positive, and just say "thank you" 

also insta-love and the whole "bad ass brooding" guy becomes "even hotter" when he's being a brooding asshole.

12. Love Interest: The love interest that's not worthy of being one. A character you don't think should have been a viable love interest.

I feel terrible for saying this but I don't think Hermoine should have gotten with Ron. I liked the thought of her and Harry together for a bit, even though that one was a little obvious, and her and Krum...eh... I don't think Krum was the best for her intellectually, but just something else, either that she was happy just being single and having fun every now and then or maybe a lesbian? I feel like Hermoine just kind of deserves more and feel like Rowling just settled on Ron because of how much they've been through.

13. Book: A book that shouldn't exist.

I don't think a book concept shouldn't exist (to an extent) I may dislike Everland the the reason I picked it up to begin with was due to the interesting concept. How about a major re-write? Everland would be my answer


14. Villain: A scary villain/antagonist you would hate to cross and would make you run in the opposite direction.

Professor Dolores Umbridge from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

Movie or book, I don't want to mess with this character. If I lived in that world in the time in which she was a professor I'd be avoiding her like the plague.

Also I'm not sure if this counts or if it's considered "cheating" but Catherine from Heartless by Marissa Meyer.

Published November 2016 by Feiwil and Friends

The reason why I'm curious if it should count or if it's considered "cheating" is because in this book Catherine is the protagonist, but it's also an origin story for the Queen of Hearts from Alice's Adventure In Wonderland by Lewis Caroll. After reading what she "went through" by Marissa Meyer's view point, nope, wouldn't want to cross her path.

15. Death: The death of a character that still haunts you.

I mean aside from the obvious Harry Potter characters

The Lonely Hearts Hotel by Heather O'Neill

Published February 2017, by Riverhead Books

I can't say anything due to spoilers....but this...yup...

16. Author: An author you had a bad experience reading for and have decided to quit.

Jamie McGuire for this reason

Published May 2011, by Altria Books

This book. I don't understand why it has such a high average rating on good reads. This book made me feel sick. I never read the Twilight series but I've seen the movies and I know the gist that Edward Cullen and his relationship with Bella should not, I repeat, SHOULD NOT be romanticized, the same goes for Christian Grey and Anastasie Steele. This book takes that Edward Cullen/Christian Grey trope and gives it steroids, and takes away the vampiric "romance" and sexy-ness out of it. This book makes me re-think of books that should exist (obviously I forgot about it until now) The reason why I'm done with this author, is because this book is part of a series. It eludes me as to why....just why? I'm done and wash my hands of this.

Alright and that's the Nope. Book tag.

If you've done the questions either via blog or youtube video link it to me, I'd love to read/see it.

Until next time!

Litta



NOPE. Book Tag Questions:

1. NOPE. Ending: A book ending that made you go NOPE either in denial, rage, or simply because the ending was crappy. 

2. NOPE. Protagonist: A main character you dislike and drives you crazy. 

3. NOPE. Series: A series that turned out to be one huge pile of NOPE. after you’ve invested all of that time and energy on it, or a series you gave up on because it wasn’t worth it anymore. 

4. NOPE. Popular pairing: A “ship” you don’t support.

5. NOPE. Plot twist: A plot twist you didn’t see coming or didn’t like. 

6. NOPE. Protagonist action/decision: A character decision that made you shake your head NOPE. 

7. NOPE. Genre: A genre you will never read.

8. NOPE. Book format: Book formatting you hate and avoid buying until it comes out in a different edition

9. NOPE. Trope: A trope that makes you go NOPE. 

10. NOPE. Recommendation: A book recommendation that is constantly hyped and pushed at you that you simply refuse to read. 

11. NOPE. Cliche/pet peeve: A cliche or writing pet peeve that always makes you roll your eyes.

12. NOPE. Love interest: The love interest that’s not worthy of being one. A character you don’t think should have been a viable love interest.

13. NOPE. Book: A book that shouldn’t have existed that made you say NOPE. 

14. NOPE. Villain: A scary villain/antagonist you would hate to cross and would make you run in the opposite direction.

15. NOPE. Death: A character death that still haunts you.

16. NOPE. Author: An author you had a bad experience reading for and have decided to quit.

A "New" to Me Idea

Blog Update

So I had an idea for a series of blog posts: Book to Movie Adaptation of the Month.

Essentially I will pick a book with a movie adaptation, watch the movie, then read the book and do a compare and contrast review mid-month. This wont necessarily be a new release of that month, I will be looking into a range of adaptations of current releases as well as releases of old.

The only issue that comes from this is that I cannot watch a movie adaptation of a book I've already read. I just can't, I get so frustrated and irritated essentially I get an image of what characters should look and sound like and more so than not the movies upset me, because I'm not the director. I'm not the casting director. I have no control of who they cast as the characters I've grown attached to. And I'm sure that everyone sees something a little different when they imagine characters, and these directors imagine something different, it's wrong, but it's what they see. This mostly applies to (curently):

Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen

and

The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins

I read these in my middle school/high school years, and a year or two after I read them the movies came out.

I hear they're good, but not necessarily from people that have read the book... Not that I don't think that it wouldn't be good. It's just I know I wont enjoy them. I'd spend the whole time critiquing the movie and that's not fun for anyone.

Hypocritically I wont be doing Superhero movies, or movies based off comic books. I am a comic book reader (I haven't picked one up in a while) but comparing and contrasting several comics to one movie could in a sense be a simple thing to do, but, I mean, why? It's easy, for me, to forgive director's casting calls for comics, it's easy to forgive plot changes, and that's mostly in part of DC and it's multi-universe. Every new artist that comes aboard DC and starts drawing one of it's many characters, with a new writer ready to put the next spin on a character's background, theme, look is a new universe. And so, I feel, is animated adaptations, as well as movies.

I also wont be doing series, so Harry Potter is out.

But ultimately I've realized I've been reading quite a bit of books I've seen the movie adaptations to, or I really want to read them.

I'm essentially going to start fresh, so any books I have read and movies I have seen I'll re-read and re-watch and review them fresh in my mind.

I probably wont be posting an Adaptation of the Month this month, July, unless I'm able to snag a movie here in a couple of weeks. Although there are a handful I could put those "re"'s to, I'm not going to pick them up right away but will have a set plan to do so in the future.

But I can tell you that the two I'm currently looking at are:

The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman

Published September 2007 by W.W. Norton Company

 This book is set in World War II, following Jan and Antonina Zabinski. This couple owns a Zoo in Poland, and when Germany invades, Stuka bombers destroy the city and the zoo along with it. With a lot of their animals dead, the Zabinski's start smuggling Jews into the empty cages and their large villa, where they hide during the day and dine and communicate at night. Jan is part of the Polish Resistance, hiding ammo and explosives in an empty elephant enclosure while Antonina keeps her unusual household afloat caring not only for her Human guests but her animals as well.

I saw the movie preview when my boyfriend and I went to go see another movie in theaters.... think maybe A Monster Calls...maybe? And I remember seeing that it was based off a book and went "I need to read that!" in which my boyfriend promptly told me "Not til we see the movie otherwise I'll never be able to see it." fair point.

Out April 7, 2017

The movie is directed by Niki Caro who has also directed Whale Rider and is set to direct Mulan.

The screenwriter was: Angela Workman

And stars: Jessica Chastain, who's been in Crimson Peak (Lucille Sharpe) and The Martian (Melissa Lewis) and much more. As well as Johan Heldenbergh a actor and writer from Belgium known for The Broken Circle Breakdown and Moscow, Belgium.

I have a feeling I will cry during the movie, most WWII movies do. I'm hoping to find it on Netflix but if need be I'll buy it. 

The other adaptation I was looking into was:

Horns by Joe Hill

Published March, 2009 by William Morrow

This book follows Ignatius Perrish (Ig) who spends the one year anniversary of his girlfriend's death drunk and doing terrible things. When he wakes up the next morning with a terrible hangover and a pair of horns growing out of his temples. 

Thinking they're the hallucinating product of a mental break down, Ig has spent the last year in a lonely, silent purgatory after his late girlfriend was found raped and murdered. But these horns are as real as they get. Ig was the only suspect in his girlfriend's murder, he was never charged or tried, but never cleared. The public opinion is that his privileged and well connected background led to everything being swept under the rug. Now with no one at his side, not even God, Ig uses the Devil inside to find out the truth behind his beloved's murder.

Out October 2014

This movie is directed by Alexandre Aja known for The Hills Have Eyes and Piranha 3D

The Screenwriter was: Keith Bunin

And stars: Daniel Radcliffe which, if you didn't know, is known as Harry in the Harry Potter Series and Max Minghella who recently played in The Handmaiden's Tale television series (Nick Blaine)

I've seen the movie before and thought it was interesting and pretty entertaining. So in theory I could start reading Horns now and hope to find the movie with in the month, but I'd like to just have both either physically of digitally (like Netflix) with in my grasp.

So those are the two that are on my radar right now. So keep a watch here with in the next 30 days to see which one I did and which adaptation I plan on doing next.

Until next time!

Litta

The Summer Book Tag

Today, despite that I should be packing for a camping trip, I'm going to be doing the Summer Book Tag.

To get me into that summer time feel.

Where I live summer doesn't really feel like "summer" until late July- October. Even town/cities nearest us are surprised as they try to escape the heat of 110 degrees and come to the cost to find it a balmy 65 and foggy.

This tag was originally created by Kaelyn at misskaelyn on youtube. Questions will be listed at the end if you feel like doing this too.

The Summer Book Tag

1. What book cover makes you think of summer?

I've mentioned this book before:

The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon

I can't find the artist of this particular cover, but this cover was basically what made me buy this book. It looked like a summer read. The abstract waves? or perhaps wind? with they dry yellow and gold yellow sparrow. I can almost smell sand and the salt of the sea.

2. What book has brightened your day

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Frederik Backman

This book was so witty and adorable, despite the character understanding grief, the book is just makes me smile with the antics and imagination.

3. Find a book cover with yellow on it.

I have a couple but I'm choosing:
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Just to mention it as it's story has stuck with me. The conflict between Japan and Korea and how Koreans were treated in Japan and following this family and wanting it all to work out some how. It still makes me wonder how the family is doing.

4. What is your favorite summer beach read?

Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk

The setting of this book is on an isolated island, and the detail of the beach makes me want to sink my toes in the sand and feel that wind on my face.


5. What action book had you running for the ice cream man?

When looking for a book to fulfill this question...I can't find an action book. At least not one that made it hard for me to put down....or had enough action in it for me to call it an "action" book.

6. "Sunburn" what book has left you with a bad and/or painful ending?

Everland by Wendy Spinale

I just unhauled this it ticked me off so bad.

This is a Peter Pan retelling, that's set in a dystopian. The synopsis was actually kind of exciting if not a slight rip off from the Hunger Games. A virus is killing off adults, and slowly some kids are starting to have signs of this virus as well. Gwen and her brother seek help from a band of Lost boys to rescue their sister from Hook, a boy who is the son of the woman who is trying to take over England. Sounds interesting right? But insta-love as well as unrealistic expectations of children under the age of 14. That's just my personal opinion.

7. "Sunset" What book gave you the happiest feelings when it ended?

I could very well say My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry again...but out of interest of not repeating myself I'll say:

Of Bees and Mist by Erick Setiawan

This book has magic realism up the whazoo. Meridia is such a strong character that grows into herself so well, and handles herself with confidence and grace. I wasn't sure how this book was going to end, but it tied everything up so nicely that I was relieved and completely satisfied with how the book ended. Plus it's one that pops into my mind often due to how unique it is.

8. What book cover reminds you of a sunset?

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

This is the movie poster edition of this book, and it is literally a sunset. I adored this movie and cried so hard at the ending, and the book was no different.

9. What is one book or series you hope to read this summer?

So for some reason I thought I'd want to read a lot more contemporary girl-ish books but now I'm having this craving for something a bit darker, and one in particular, that I don't have yet, that I really want to read in August, at the latest, is:

Horns by Joe Hill

I've seen the movie with Daniel Radcliff, and thought it was interesting, and at the beginning of the month I saw one of my local book stores had it on sale, but with two books in my hands anyway and my boyfriend pushing me out the door, I was unable to snag it. It's been on my mind ever since.

Alright that is the summer book tag. What book do you hope to get to this summer? Do you recommend one that really has the "summer feel" for you?

Let me know!

Until next time!

Litta


Summer Book Tag Questions
What book cover makes you think of summer?
What book has brightened your day?
Find a book cover with Yellow on it.
What is your favorite summer beach read?
What action book had you running for the ice cream man?
(Sunburn) What book has left you with a bad and/or painful ending?
(Sunset) What book gave you the happiest feelings when it ended?
What book cover reminds you of a sunset?
What is one book or series you hope to read this summer?

Childhood Discovery Reads

In my previous post I mentioned my boyfriend and I have an unspoken agreement to read books of each other's child hood. Well that got me thinking.

What was the biggest book series when you were a kid?

not like a little little kid when you first start to read but you know that sweet age where you start to find books on your own. Perhaps you find them at your school or local library and get hooked, but you're still too young to really have money so you beg your parents for the book, and continue doing so when the sequels start getting published. Then suddenly everyone's reading them. Did you ever have that? and what were the books series?

Two come to my mind. The first being Harry Potter by JK Rowling

This little gem got published in 1998, and at first didn't get much hype. in '98 I was in first grade but I didn't start hearing about it until my third grade year. By the time my mom had tried to get me into it, and actually bought me the Sorcerer's Stone, was my fifth grade year. But I can't say I was interested in it at the time. Probably because the movie was just about to come out. When the movie came out I was 10 and, in my opinion, a perfect age to introduce the Harry Potter series. I grew up with Harry, Hermione and Ron, as they met each other and started being friends at this new school, I was getting ready to move from my elementary school to a middle school. There wasn't a kid I knew that hadn't read the books or watched the movies. I remember taking a field trip to see Chamber of secerets in theaters. While other books were being picked up: Twilight and The Hunger Games.

I didn't get into the books until I saw Order of the Phoenix. I remember when watching that there was so much time lapse I felt like I was missing some key details. It had kind of happened in the Goblet of Fire, but not to the point where I felt like I missed something important.
I got pissed, not only because Professor Umbridge was the perfect villian you'd love to hate, and the time lapse made me feel lost, but because how they portrayed the time lapse in the movie. News article after news article, flying past. My vision sucks, I can't go to 3-D movie's with out getting a headache, even some action movies (damn shaky cam), there needed to be a focus and there wasn't. I get that was kind of the point, to be able to just catch a couple headlines here and there to get the general gist of what was going on, but it infuriated me because if I was able to snag a title or two my head would start hurting and I'd forget what it was anyway. I made the decision to not see any more movies until I read the books and found out what happened.

I didn't pick up the books until 2009. Fresh out of high school and onto a junior college where I found it hard to make friends and found the library disappointing. I picked up a used copy of the Sorcerer's Stone at a used book store, and devoured it. I was 10 again, waiting for my 11th birthday, getting excited about learning new things and if Harry was excited about learning new things at Hogwarts. When I was about done with one book I'd go to the local used book store and look for the next one. Sometimes slowing my reading pace because I'd have to wait a week or so before they got the next book in.

By this point all the books were published and The Deathly Hallows were under controversy due to a potential rating of "R' due to Hermoine showing boob in a scene. It was dropped to PG-13 and the movie was going to be in two parts.

By the end of me finishing the series of books I was crying and cursing JK Rowling for killing who she did (despite knowing due to Deathly Hallows book coming out my junior year of highschool) and critiquing the rest of the movie adaptions. I also dove into the fandom, found out my House (Hufflepuff at the time, after re-taking the quiz Ravenclaw and I'm going to say pending on the day I could be either or) wearing my hufflepuff cardigan proudly and defending the house of any ill conceived notions  and was devouring the information on Pottermore. And like the rest of the Potterheads I want more about the world and was ecstatic about Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them.

I have yet to read Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the play by Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, and backed as the 8th book by JK Rowling, our of pure fear. I got it with the intention of reading it after my boyfriend finished the series. But I was also getting into Booktube and it was just critique after critique about how Potterheads don't except this book as canon. So I'll wait on that a bit.

The second series that comes to mind recently got hyped up again due to Netflix producing the series staring Neil Patrick Harris, and that's A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket.

First published in 1999, I didn't get into them until 2004. This one I picked up due to a challenge my mom had presented to us kids. While we were at a book fair at my old elementary school she'd said she'd get the first three if I would read them before the movie came out (which it was due to that December). From what I remember I got through seven of them, and hated the movie. The movie starred Jim Carry playing Count Olaff and Jude Law as the narrator, and was only focused on the first three books, which I get, there's thirteen but they were off to a good start when I learned that this was going to be the only movie. I found Carry way to animated to be count Olaff. Though I did enjoy Law's narration (find me someone who doesn't love his voice). The movie also irritated me because the events weren't in order. This movie adaption was an early example of why I can watch the movie after I read the book.

The books themselves were charming, and though I didn't finished the series (I do intend to at some point) They held my interest for quite a bit. I was unable to finish due to the lack of access, my mom did buy me the first three, the next four I was able to get from my middle school library, but when in high school our library didn't carry them.

I do feel bad for this series as Harry Potter was just picking up steam about that time, the movies were being produced, the books of the series were still coming out. Even though Lemony Snicket's series was coming out as a movie, it was a flop and therefore over shadowed.

When asking my boyfriend (who is 5 years younger than I am) he said that the series that were popular at the time, were

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

and

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Also when asking my mom (who is 23 years older then me) this same question she came up with:

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardobe by C.S. Lewis

and

It by Stephen King

Though they both wanted to note that they're not entirely sure if these books were "popular" at the time but rather they were into them. Which I get.

The three of us were those children you would find in the library rather than on the playground. My mom was a "jock" and got along better with boys, but because she wasn't a "boy" didn't always get to hang out with them, so she spent most her time in school reading and doing extra curricular activities. My boyfriend and I realized that we were both those "awkward" kids. Not in any offence to any one, we both switched schools at an awkward time, and found it hard to make friends, the library was a safe haven, and it's books filled that void.

So what series did you first discover and devour as a kid?

Until next time

Litta

TBR Book Tag

So normally at the beginning of the month, bloggers/booktubers post what they plan on reading for that month.

This is normally called a "(month) TBR!" of some sort (TBR meaning To-Be-Read for those unfamiliar)

I can't say I'll do that... and this tag will probably give you a better understanding of why.

This tag was created by the blog A Perfection Called Books and Dana from Dana Square

List of questions will be down below

1. How do you keep track of your TBR pile?

My Goodreads "to-read" list, as well as the three piles on my floor in my bedroom, I have five piles over all because I still need to sand and stain my bookshelf, so anytime I read a book it goes from the "un-read" pile to the "read" pile.

2. Is your TBR mostly book or e-book?

Mostly physical, printed books. I do have a handful on my Kindle but I don't mark them on my Goodreads list  until I've finished them, and since it's a little hard for me to get into books on my Kindle it's not often.

3. How do you determine which book to read next?

Mood. Any time I finish a book I take a look at my piles and pick which one I feel more into at the time. I can't do a designated "TBR List" and say "this is the list of the books I'll read this month." because then it's more like work than fun and I wont do it. Plus, also pending on my mood is how fast I read so I can't really determine when I'll be done with a book, it just depends on the book and how I feel about it. If it's kind of slow and a bit of a chore, it will take me longer. It will also take me longer if it's a bit confusing and has a lot of detail. I can finish a book faster if I'm more into it and am determined to get to the end.

4. Name a book that's been on your TBR the longest?

Well according to my Goodreads, which I just cleaned up recently, it's Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling.

Goodreads says I've had it on my list since September 23 of 2012, but I only got a physical copy for a white elephant present a couple years back....and just haven't picked it up....Couldn't say why.

5. A book you have recently added to your TBR?

I'm going to give you two answers for this.

Most recent book I added to my Goodreads TBR is Small as an Elephant by Jennifer Richard Jacobson

I was looking something up on Book Despository and came across this cover, I thought it looked adorable, I thought the title was interesting and after finding out what the book was about it's now on my Goodreads TBR list.

A book that I recently added to my TBR pile is Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

The difference is the simple fact that my TBR pile, is a physical pile. So once I'm done with the book I'm currently reading I can look at these piles and go "I'll read this one next" as opposed to my Goodreads TBR that I can hope and wish that that is the book I'll read next but unless I have a physical copy *shrug* tough luck. Goodreads is more of a wish list of TBR books, though the books I do own are on a list or "bookshelf" of "physically owned" books.

But Six of Crows is my most recent purchase and most recently added to the pile (a little sneak peek at July's haul)

6. Name a book that is strictly on your TBR because of its cover

Could say most of them but the two I added to my Goodreads TBR for the cover first only to then read the synopsis are:

Drawing Blood by Molly Crabapple

and

Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger

I love the covers of both of these, which makes me almost terrified of getting the books out of fear they wont be any good.

7. Name a book your never really intend on reading

So with this it's going to my physical pile, as I now often go through my Goodreads to get rid of these.

RoseBlood by A.G. Howard

I got this in an Owlcrate box with the theme "classic-remix." I dislike the cover, I'm not interested in the story. It's buried at the bottom of the pile, I should just got through that too and make a donation pile of books I know I wont pick up.

8. Name an unpublished book you're excited for

To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo.

This book isn't set to come out til March 2018 and it still has yet to have a cover reveal. But there are Sirens and the ocean and a Siren is turned human and has to go get a Prince's heart for her mother to return home. It sounds amazing.

9. A book on your TBR basically everyone has read but you?

Aside from all the Harry Potter extras

The Thousandth Floor by Katherine McGee

Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel

and

The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

just to name a few I'm still angry at myself for just not getting and reading yet.

10. A book on your TBR that everyone recommends to you

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R Tolkien

in reality the whole lot of the Lord of the Rings books. I've read the Hobbit, that one was easy and I enjoyed it. These though...These....ugh I've tried. I keep planning to try but someday...not right now.

11. A book on your TBR you're dying to read?

I feel like this question is repetitive. Uhm on my Goodreads:

 The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

After finishing the first book of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy I've been craving more space books.

And in my physical pile

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

12. How many books are on your TBR list?

Goodreads: 240

Physical Pile: hold on let me count...60 ish?

Alright that's the TBR book tag. Let me know if there's anything I mentioned that you want to read as well, is there any thing on your TBR list that you're dying to read? Any that you're upset because it's not published yet?

Let me know and until next time!

Litta

TBR Book Tag Questions:

1. How do you keep track of your tbr pile?
2. Is your tbr pile mostly book or e-book?
3. How do you determine what to read next on your tbr?
4. What book has been on your tbr the longest?
5. What book have you recently added to your tbr?
6.What book is only on your tbr because of its cover?
7. Name a book on your tbr that you don't intend on reading
8. Name an unpublished book on your tbr you're excited for
9. What book on your tbr has everyone else read but you?
10. Name a book on your tbr that everyone recommends
11. What book on your tbr are you dying to read?
12. How many books are on your tbr list?