31 December 2013

Top 13 Tuesday + Teaser Tuesday


Top Ten Tuesday is as usual hosted by the team at The Broke and The Bookish
This Tuesday it is all about the best books we read this year, since it is 2013, I wanted to choose 13 books instead of 10. But in no particular order:


  1. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, I think you may have noticed how much I love this book, I think I chose TFiOS for most of the answers in the End of the Year Survey
  2. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. I just read this like, last week and OMG! This book was so good! I laughed, cried and was just way to excited about everything that happened! I was literally on the verge of tears most of the time.. Because I get way to emotional
  3. Unbreakable by Kami Garcia... In my review I explained how scared I got while reading this book - and that does not happen often. But all I have to say is that you seriously have to read this book - but only if you have the lights on! (review here)
  4. Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion. I seriously love Isaac Marion, he is an amazing author and storyteller. His short story Somnia, is actually my favourite one ever!. But how can you not love a book that is written from a sweet zombie's perspective? 
  5. The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, the movie is one of my all-time favourites, so of course this is obviously one of my favourite books.
  6. Let it Snow by John Green, Lauren Myracle & Maureen Johnson. I loved this book, so many feelings, so many snowflakes! and all in all 3 wonderful intertwined stories. (review here)
  7. The Help by Kathryn Stockett, I love reading about segregation, because I think it is so interesting and macabre how it "worked". This book was so good, Stockett is amazing with words and voices. I had different voices in my head every time the story switched to another person - it was amazing
  8. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. This book is amazing! and that is all I have to say - everybody can probably relate to this book
  9. Divergent by Veronica Roth, I read this entire series and I really enjoyed it. I loved the idea about factions and having to choose where you feel like you belong. (series review here)
  10. Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan - this book is intriguing, fun, heart-warming and overall extremely enjoyable. I love everything about it!
  11. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell. This book was the first one I read from Rowell, and needless to say I LOVED it. Not as much as Fangirl - but nearly! I read it in one sitting and smiled the whole time!
  12. 4 to 16 Characters by Kelly Hourihan, I laughed every time Gary was in the picture and every time they were talking, Gary is such a fun, awkward and quirky character that you cannot do anything but love him! Jane was not my favourite main character ever, but I still enjoyed the book
  13. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss. I love children’s literature, it is so sweet and light-hearted. This one was not an exception - and it comes with a message that many children could learn from!




Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Want to join? All you have to do is grab your current read, flip open to a random page and share a non-spoiler teaser. Easy, right? Then just write it in the comments or make your own post and put the link in the comments. - But I like to share 2 teasers instead of one.

Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2)
Since I am taking a little break from reading, so I can spend some time with my boyfriend before going back to school, I am only reading 1 book right now, and that is Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins - which is tecnically a re-read. But lets get on with the teasers. 

"There's no question of privacy. When it comes to my body, we have no secrets, these three people and me."

"But what can he do? The Games were such a hit here,where the berries were only a symbol of a desperate girl trying to save her lover."



Remember, that if you leave your link to either your Top Ten or Teaser I will gladly check them out and leave a comment! Happy reading!





    30 December 2013

    2013 in Conclusion and Looking Forward to 2014


    For 2013 I had only 1 reading goal/challenge, and that was the Goodreads one where you set a goal of how many books you want to read/hope to read the upcoming year. My goal for this was 50 and I can say that I have definetely completed that goal!

    I have read 24 graphic novels, 24 short stories and novellas, 1 audiobook, 19 ebooks and 51 physical books. All in all: 123 which means I have completed my goal 245% (according to Goodreads) (apparently Goodreads will not accept that I read Hunger Games this year)

    2013 Reading Challenge

    2013 Reading Challenge
    AmandaEmma (little miss reader) has completed her goal of reading 50 books in 2013!
    hide



    For 2014 I have a bunch of updates, challenges and goals.

    In January me and Anatea from Anatea's Bookshelf are doing a read-a-long on the Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

    I have found a Book Buddy! And that is Jayd from books, food & other things. We will be reading 6 books together (1 every two months) during 2014. There will be a discussion on one blog and a wrap up and rating post on the other about each book! The 6 books are:


    1. Antigoddess by Kendare Blake
    2. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
    3. More Than This by Patrick Ness
    4. Splintered by A.G. Howard
    5. The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong
    6. The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson


    I have also joined a book club where we will be reading 3 books 1 each month from February through April. . 

    When it comes to reading challenges, I have joined a bunch. If you want to see how well I am doing or my plans for the reading challenge. Just click here and it will take you to my reading challenge page. 



    Bookish

    This is just about reading books on your TBR list or from your TBR pile, I will try this at level easy, meaning 1-10 books. Any genre, length or format of book counts, as long as it is a book that's been sitting on your shelf for some time now. Short stories and novellas are OK, too! Only books released in 2013 and earlier! NO  2014 ARCs and 2014 fresh-off-the-press releases allowed! 







    This one is, surprisingly enough, about finishing series. I will try this at level 3, meaning I will hopefully complete at least 3 series during 2014. 







    This one is a bit different than the other challenges. You have a card with 25 slots, and within each one there is a category, and you have to read a book for each one of those - which in the end means 25 books. 







    And then there will be some changes blogwise,
    • I was planning to have my new design ready for January, but then I finished earlier, and decided, that I should just change the blog sooner rather than later. So the design you see know is the new one.
    • When it comes to posts I have made a "schedule"
      • Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday + Teaser Tuesday
      • Thursday: TBR Thursday
      • Friday: #FridayReads
      • Saturday: a review
      • That means, that on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays I can write about what I want! 
        But I am thinking about making a "Monday Madness" post, with a bunch of different things, but I am not sure yet!
    • There will also be "monthly wrap ups" with a bunch of different stuff.


    29 December 2013

    Sign up post: Full House Reading Challenge



    This challenge is hosted by Book Date. I made a rule the day I first found out that people where hosting reading challenges - because I thought it was goals or guidelines that you just set for yourself, but the rule was that I would only participate in 3, since it would be too much otherwise. So this is the 3rd and final challenge.

    The guidelines:

    Challenge will run from Jan 1st to December 31st 2014

    Write and publish a post stating your intention to participate. In the post please include the Challenge graphic and a link back to this post. Then link your intention post at the bottom of this post.  Make sure it is the actual post and not just a generic link to your blog.

    Entries will be accepted up until the end of November 2014.

    Add your reviews here. At the end of every two months there will be a U.S. $10 prize with a book of your choice from the Book Depository or Amazon voucher, (International) for the entries. There will be a new list then for every two months until the end of November.


    One book per category, no crossover within the challenge - so 25 books in all. However books can crossover from other challenges


    So the challenge is: 
    Complete the card below.  You can do it in any order you wish.  You are allowed "one free exchange", if there is something on the square you really dislike you may change it to something of your choice. Once you have played this free card that is it. Mention the exchange in the final summary post.


    28 December 2013

    Update!

    So as you maybe can see, I changed my blog layout and design. I was tired of the design I had before I changed it to my Christmas themed one - but this one I really like, and I hope you do too.

    That was actually all I wanted to say, I have been working on a new design for a couple of weeks and I am almost done! The last couple of things are stuff for posts, so they are not as important!

    But happy reading!

    27 December 2013

    What I got for Christmas!


    I should probably explain how Christmas is here in Denmark, so here we go. We get our present after dinner or sometime along the evening the 24th of December - also because my parents are divorced, me and my siblings get 2 Christmases, one the 22nd and another the 24th since they live far apart so we travel the 23rd. But on the 22nd and the 24th we prepare a wonderful dinner and then we relax and talk, and then we dance around the tree singing Christmas songs, and then we exchange presents - one at a time. And lastly we have dessert! And then we just talk and I read and check out reviews on Goodreads and read the back of my new glorious books!.
    If you have any questions about Christmas in Denmark, feel free to ask in the comments :)

    But my presents from the 22nd are: 



    This amazing "tea experience"-box from my dad. Which includes 9 different sample sizes of high quality tea, and then I can either choose to get 4*100g of high quality tea of my choice from the company OR I can choose to take on this "tea experience"-tour where some person talks about tea and I get a bunch of different tips and tricks and we get to taste tea and so on. There is actually also a little book in the box about tea and there is also a quiz! 
    I am thinking about buying my dad a box like this for his birthday, and then we can go on the trip together. 


    The 24th I got:
    The "Fjällbacka" series (formerly known as the "Patrick Hedström" series) by Camilla Läckberg, who is a swedish author. My boyfriend's family actually bought me this whole series, it is crazy! All I know about this series is that is a crime/mystery/thriller series - which is something I enjoy reading :)


    I also got the snowflake bookmark from my "bookish gift guide" post, along with the John Green/TFiOS cover. Both was gifts from my boyfriend. 

    What did you get for Christmas?

    26 December 2013

    TBR Thursday

    TBR Thursday is as usual a meme I cannot figure out who's hosting, but I am still doing it, since I think it is interesting!

    But if you want to join just see how many books there are on your TBR list and then go to random.org and get a random number. Then you see which book has that number and tell people about it! If you leave a link in the comments I will check it out!

    This Thursday i got the number 166, and the book is:

    Splintered (Splintered, #1)Splintered by A.G. Howard

    Summary from Goodreads
    This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

    When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

    This book sounds so intriguing, I love the world in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, so this will be perfect, I believe me and Jayd will read this in August - but I am sure that we will read it in 2014!

    25 December 2013

    Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle

    Let it Snow: Three Holiday Romances
    Series: N/A, Standalone
    Publication date:  2012 (first published October 2nd 2008)
    Publisher: Speak
    Genres: YA, Contemporary
    Format: Paperback
    Source: Bought from the Book Depository 
    Pages: 352


    An ill-timed storm on Christmas Eve

    buries the residents of Gracetown under multiple feet of snow and causes quite a bit of chaos. One brave soul ventures out into the storm from her stranded train and sets off a chain of events that will change quite a few lives. Over the next three days one girl takes a risky shortcut with an adorable stranger, three friends set out to win a race to the Waffle House ( and the hash brown spoils), and the fate of a teacup pig falls into the hands of a lovesick barista.



    A trio of today's bestselling authors - John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle- brings all the magic of the holidays to life in three hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and kisses that will steal your breath away.

    The Stories
    Since this book is 3 different stories that is intertwined, it is easier reviewing each story and then as a whole.

    The Jubilee Express by Maureen Johnson
    I LOVED this one, I gave this particular story 5 stars! I really liked Jubilee, she was down to earth and funny. Also, I loved how focused and purposive she is. When she sets herself up to something, she actually does it! For example, there is this big storm outside, and she goes out into the storm and finds the Waffle House - IN THE STORM. 
    Stuart is so sweet! I could not help but smile everytime they talked or just sat together. 

    A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle by John Green
    This one was not really one of my favorites, but I still gave it 4 stars because it was cute. Tobin was sweet - not as much as Stuart - but still sweet. I really liked the friendship between Tobin, "the Duke" and JP, also their big adventure in the snow is funny! JP is definetely the funny one!

     The Patron Saints of Pig by Lauren Myracle
    This one was okay, I did not really get it most of the time, and even though this one is actually the longest, it felt like the shortest one, because not much happened. But I still gave it 4 stars, because it tied the stories together wonderfully!

    So all in all this book got 4.5 berries, since I LOVED the first story that much! The ending was perfect and really tied everything together. I loved how intertwined the stories were, the authors did a wonderful job!

    Also, I just have to comment on the design of the book! I REALLY love the cover, snowflakes are possibly my favorite thing ever! Also, snowflakes are all over the pages, chapters and around the pagenumbers! It is amazing and so festive!



    24 December 2013

    Top Ten Tuesday + Teaser Tuesday

    Top Ten Tuesday is as usual hosted by the team at The Broke and The Bookish.
    This tuesday it is all about the books we want Santa to bring us - basically the top ten books on our wishlists.

    As usual in no particular order:

    The Chronicles of Narnia (Chronicles of Narnia #1-7)The Psychology of Harry Potter: An Unauthorized Examination Of The Boy Who LivedJane Austen: A LifeShatter Me (Shatter Me, #1)
    Jane Austen: A life by Claire Tomalin 
    A Shatter Me Series Box Set! by Taherah Mafi.. (I don't know if it exists, but if it does, I want it!)

    The Story of Beautiful GirlIt's Kind of a Funny StoryUnder the DomeWonder
    It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini. I have had this book on my TBR or Wishlist for what seems like forever, and now that he is gone, I want to read his books that much more, because I want to know what I missed while he was alive...If that makes any sense
    Under the Dome by Stephen King, I really want to read this monster of a book!
    Wonder by R.J. Palacio


    The Mistborn Trilogy from Brandon Sanderson, this sounds SO good!




    Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Want to join? All you have to do is grab your current read, flip open to a random page and share a non-spoiler teaser. Easy, right? Then just write it in the comments or make your own post and put the link in the comments. - But I like to share 2 teasers instead of one.

    Fangirl
    I am currently reading Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, and I am up to page 90 or so - meaning my teasers will be somwhere from page 1 to 90.

    "Cath almost said yes. Instead she shook her head."


    ""I still wish you'd get a dog," she said. "I'd never remember to feed it." "Maybe we could train it to feed you."

    23 December 2013

    Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers

    Life on the Refrigerator Door
    Series: Standalone
    Publication date: August 3rd 2007
    Publisher: MacMillan UK 
    Genres: YA Contemporary
    Format: Hardcover
    Source: Library


    Claire and her mother are running out of time, but they don't know it. Not yet. Claire is wrapped up with the difficulties of her bourgeoning adulthood—boys, school, friends, identity; Claire's mother, a single mom, is rushed off her feet both at work and at home. They rarely find themselves in the same room at the same time, and it often seems that the only thing they can count on are notes to each other on the refrigerator door. When home is threatened by a crisis, their relationship experiences a momentous change. Forced to reevaluate the delicate balance between their personal lives and their bond as mother and daughter, Claire and her mother find new love and devotion for one another deeper than anything they had ever imagined.


    Heartfelt, touching, and unforgettable, Life on the Refrigerator Door is a glimpse into the lives of mothers and daughters everywhere. In this deeply touching novel told through a series of notes written from a loving mother and her devoted fifteen-year-old daughter, debut author Alice Kuipers deftly captures the impenetrable fabric that connects mothers and daughters throughout the world. Moving and rich with emotion, Life on the Refrigerator Door delivers universal lessons about love in a wonderfully simple and poignant narrative.

    I have seen this book multiple times, I just never picked it up. But then one of my best friends recommended it, and then I had to read it. This book is really short, even though it is about 250 pages, it only took me an hour to read - because most of the pages consist of a couple of lines or the text only fills half the page. 

    I really liked reading this book, even though you do not get to actually see the characters in action, you only get to know them through the notes. 
    I liked seeing how the relationship between the mother and the daughter was - because it is very similar to me and my mothers relationship. 

    This book teaches a valuable lesson, to appreciate what you have when you have it, and not just start when you find out somethings wrong. 


    I thought this book was a happy one, in a way it is but something will change that!


    19 December 2013

    TBR Thursday

    TBR Tuesday is a weekly meme which I cannot figure out who is hosting it, but I am doing it anyway!

    This tuesday I got the number 28! And 28th book on my TBR shelf on Goodreads is;

    The Book ThiefThe Book Thief by Markus Zusak

    Summary from Goodreads:
    It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.

    Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids 
    as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement. 

    In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak, author of I Am the Messenger, has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.


    I am actually reading this with Anatea from Anateas Bookshelf in January so that will be exciting, check her blog sometime around January because there will be sign up posts so you can join us! 

    Name a book you are looking forward to read!

    17 December 2013

    Top Ten Tuesday + Teaser Tuesday


    Top Ten Tuesday is as usual hosted by the team at The Broke and The Bookish.
    This tuesday it is all about the great new authors we have come to know during 2013 - and I have "met" a bunch!

    Just so you know, the links will take you to their author profile on goodreads. So lets start, as usual in no particular order: 
    1. John Green, I read The Fault in Our Stars and the Zombicorns duology 
    2. Kami Garcia, I read her new release Unbreakable (review here), which is also the first book in a new series. 
    3. Kelly Hourihan, I really enjoyed reading 4 to 16 Characters (review here)
    4. Maureen Johnson, tecnically I have not yet read a book written by her, but I have finished reading the part that she wrote in Let it Snow (co-wrote with John Green and Lauren Myracle) and I loved it. So she counts!
    5. Kathryn Stockett, The Help was a really interesting read and I really enjoyed it. Also, I have in a way black mailed some of my friends into reading this one...
    6. David Levithan
    7. Rachel Cohn, Dash & Lily's Book of Dares was one of my favorite books in 2013 so how can I make this list without those 2? I am hoping to read more of both of them in 2014.
    8. Rainbow Rowell, I have only read Attachments (so far) but I just ordered Fangirl so I will be reading that one sometime soon!
    9. Veronica Roth, as I said in my End of the Year Survey, I jumped on the Divergent bandwagon really late - but I read it and reviewed it (review here) so that is all that counts! 
    10. Teri Terry, some friends of mine recommended Slated to me, I read it and now I am hooked. I cannot wait until the 3rd and final book comes out - IN MARCH! please kill me now....



    Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Want to join? All you have to do is grab your current read, flip open to a random page and share a non-spoiler teaser. Easy, right? Then just write it in the comments or make your own post and put the link in the comments. - But I like to share 2 teasers instead of one.

    Since the only book I have with me right now is "'Twas the Night before Christmas" by a bunch of different authors (literally 30 or so). But the following 2 teasers will be from 2 different stories, I will write which one!

    Twas the Night before Christmas and Other Christmas Stories

    From "A Christmas Dream and How It Came True by Louisa May Alcott
    "Never give up your faith in the sweet old stories, even after you come to see that they are only the pleasant shadow of a lovely truth."

    From The Fir Tree by Hans Christian Andersen
    "But the fir tree did not rejoice at all, but it grew and grew; winter and summer it stood there, green, dark green. The people who saw it said, "That's a handsome tree!" and next Christmas-time it was felled before any one of the others."

    Which book are you currently reading? And share your teaser(s) if you like!

    15 December 2013

    Winter Wonderland Tag

    This tag was created by Jack from JackEatsBooks on youtube. 

    1. What book is so happy and sweet that it warms your heart?
    Dash& Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, I really really enjoyed reading it - and if I hadn't just read it in February I would probably be re-reading it right now!
    Also the part from Maureen Johnson in Let it Snow by her, John Green and Lauren Myracle (halfway through, so I do not know whether the others parts are as good)

    2. What is your favorite book with a white cover? 
    Warm Bodies (Warm Bodies, #1) 


     Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion 
    This book is amazing, instead of just being ABOUT zombies, the book is written in the actual zombies PERSPECTIVE instead - that is plain out amazing!




    3. You're sitting in a nice comfy chair, wearing a onesie, with a lovely warm hot chocolate but what MONSTER read are you reading? 
    Since the next couple of massive/monster books that is on my TBR-list is Under the Dome by Stephen King, The Final Empire (Mistborn #1) by Brandom Sanderson and We, the Drowned by Carsten Jensen (the original danish version). I will probably snug up in my panda onesie - yes, I have an actual panda onesie, and read one of those.

    4. It started snowing so you decided to have a snowball fight! What fictional character would you love to have the snowball fight with? 
    Stuart from Let it Snow - he is so sweet, he will probably not be mean! He will be very sweet and not throw hard balls. Also, he probably looks really good in snow... At least he does in my head, and that is enough for me.

    5. Sadly, your fire is beginning to go out. So what book would you tear the last few chapters out to throw into the fire? 
    The Perks of Being a Wallflower from Stephen Chbosky - not because it is bad, I would just like to have Charlie not know what he knows in those chapters.. because it broke my heart. 

    6. What book is so close to your heart that you would gift to someone this Christmas who hasn't read before but wants to get into reading?
    Harry Potter!... I will not give them The Fault in Our Stars since it will kill them and that will not get them into reading!

    If you do the tag, leave a link in the comments so I can check it out!