Seize the Tuesday #12: Reading Highs

Seize the Tuesday is a book blogger meme created by myself and the Let’s Get Lost Buddies Street Team, to share stories about how we’ve seized the Tuesday, with a special focus on the particular book we’re reading. We’ll share our posts online with the hashtag: #LetsAllGetLost. 

The idea is to share little ways in which you may have embraced Bree’s motto of seizing the Tuesday. To relate it to books, you can talk about what book you’re reading, and how you stole some moments from the day to enjoy reading. It doesn’t have to be about reading, but we all know that a well-read day is a day seized. The idea is not just to help spread the word on LGL, but also to remind people to live fully, even/especially if that means spending a part of your day reading.

The thing about reading is that there are different ways to do it. You can kick back and relax, read at your leisure; you can read in spurts when you have the time; and you can binge. I know you know what I mean. You're guilty of it, too. Reading super fast and plowing through book after book. Maybe it's a series you're really into, maybe it's your TBR, or maybe it's a stack that you need to finish before an event, but either way, we've all been there. 

I call this a Reading High. 

It's addicting, the feeling of starting and finishing a book and then immediately going to another... It's one of the best, most euphoric feelings.

 NOTE: These highs are legal. 

I'm currently plowing through a nice little stack of my own, and I'm having quite the time with it.

In the past week, I've read seven books, and the only reason I've stopped right now is to write this post and get reviews ready for the novels I've read.  I've gone from fantasy to contemporary, to paranormal and dystopia, and the switches and flip flops have been fantastic. These books are almost all series starters or standalones, so the cliff-hangers I'm getting aren't the most emotionally easy thing in the world, but nevertheless, it feels great to constantly be in someone else's world.

Eventually I'll have to get my head out of the pages, but for now, I'm content to snuggle up with my Ninja Turtle blanket and devour book after book.

When's the last time you were on a Reading High?

Review: SALT & STONE by Victoria Scott

INSERT COVER ART

     So guys, I just finished SALT & STONE by Victoria Scott, the sequel to last year's FIRE & FLOOD, and... I don't really want to review it.

     Now let me explain.

     I absolutely adored FIRE & FLOOD. So of course I requested an ARC at the earliest moment. Thanks to Scholastic, I got one in the mail and devoured it within a few days. So as I sit here, I realize that I don't really want to write a review. "Was it that bad?" You ask. On the contrary: It was exceptionally beautiful and I cried. Then why not review it? Because this book damaged my feels and I'm currently unstable and Victoria Scott, why must you do these types of things? I really just have so many thoughts running through my head at this moment that I feel like reviewing it would never make the impact necessary to tell people that YOU NEED TO GO GET THESE BOOKS AND READ THEM AND CHERISH THEM. 

That being said... the point of this blog is to review books, right?

*Sigh*

Let me try to work some reviewing magic. C'mon, brain, quit thinking about your SALT & STONE theories and confuddlements for five minutes.

Tella and Madox are ready to go-- The first half of the Brimstone Bleed is under their belts, and the second half is about to start-- and things are getting even more tense. Between the haunts of the first two legs of the race, and the stress of what's to come next, the Contenders have deserved the rest at the second base camp. But all good things must come to an end, and all Tella can think about is winning the Brimstone Bleed and getting the Cure for her brother. 

Things happen in the last half of the race. Things that I, quite frankly, am still not okay with, because... I can't actually tell you or that'd be spoilery and I refuse to spoil this book... but I'm still in denial over a few things. Things that have now made me make it a priority on my list to meet Victoria Scott in 2015 so that I can ask her WHAT THE HECK?!

So 5/5 stars to SALT & STONE. Fantastic read, full of danger, suspense, survival, annnd that little bit of romance that we all love. 

Go get it. But get the first book, first. And then come tell me what you think of it!

Book Review: The Last Time We Say Goodbye

  I've heard quite a few good things about Cynthia Hand's stories, but I hadn't tried any of her novels. When I learned about the Epic Reads tour, and that it was coming to Chicago, I went out and bought the book. Now, I too can say good things about Cynthia's writing.

  When someone you love dies, they take a piece of you with them. When that someone is your little brother, and they commit suicide, it really alters your universe. But what makes it worse for Lex, is that to a degree, she blames herself. She's lost touch with the person she used to be, and though she's trying to find that girl again, it's hard to do so when Tyler's ghost keeps showing up at home. The Last Time We Say Goodbye follows Lex on her journey through senior year without her brother, and you uncover more of the story with each chapter, until you finally find out why Lex lives with guilt over Ty's death.

   I love love loved this book. It's a tear-jerker, so be sure to keep some tissues handy! I give it four stars and recommend it to everyone, simply because it can really change a person's view on how they live their life. Go out and snuggle up with this book, and let yourself wonder... when was The Last Time YOU Said Goodbye?

Seize the Tuesday #11: Reading with a Friend

Seize the Tuesday is a book blogger meme created by myself and the Let’s Get Lost Buddies Street Team, to share stories about how we’ve seized the Tuesday, with a special focus on the particular book we’re reading. We’ll share our posts online with the hashtag: #LetsAllGetLost. 

The idea is to share little ways in which you may have embraced Bree’s motto of seizing the Tuesday. To relate it to books, you can talk about what book you’re reading, and how you stole some moments from the day to enjoy reading. It doesn’t have to be about reading, but we all know that a well-read day is a day seized. The idea is not just to help spread the word on LGL, but also to remind people to live fully, even/especially if that means spending a part of your day reading.

We all love to read, and if you're lucky you have friends who like to read as well. Have you ever recommended a book to such a friend? And then they've read it and you get to talk about the story and fangirl together? It's the best thing.

But there's something that can top it.

Have you ever read with a friend? Not, like, sitting side by side and reading the same book, waiting for each other to finish before you can turn the pages, but with a friend who lives quite a ways away from you?

Let me tell you, it's quite an amazing experience.

I have a super close friend who lives back East, and there's not a time when we're both awake that we aren't talking. When City of Heavenly Fire came out last year, we somehow came to the decision that we should read it together. Which means that we sat down every day and read the same amount of pages or chapters, and texted back and forth the whole time.

It worked out really well... we laughed and pointed out certain things to each other and made each other take breaks when the emotions ran too high and we were crying so hard we couldn't breathe (We're those kind of readers, okay?) and then at the very end we got on the phone and verbally freaked out and discussed all of the possible things to discuss.

I can honestly say that reading COHF like this has been one of my favorite reading experiences in the history of my life. Having someone else going through the exact same emotions as you at the exact same time and being able to talk about it was fantastic (Better than watching a movie with someone, I promise) but what was the best is that you could see the little things that were important to your friend, and after a while, you could point those things out to them, and they you.

We both received JACKABY by William Ritter for Christmas, and we're planning on reading that together soon. A much shorter book, but still great fun!

If you haven't tried this, I suggest that you jump at the next opportunity.

You won't regret it.

Book Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

     Red Queen was one of the most highly anticipated releases of 2015. I tried and tried to get an ARC, but that didn't happen, so I went to my local indie store on the book's birthday and snatched up a copy. I had extremely high expectations for this one... and it did not let me down.

     I've literally just finished it, and considering I have a list of thoughts and questions running through my head right now, I'm going to use the description from Goodreads. I do not trust my own words in this moment.

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of
those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

    Red Queen is the best book I've read this year... the best book I've read in a while... and it absolutely lives up to the hype. The characters are real, the plot is thick and suspenseful, and I counted three plot twists that took me by total surprise. I give Red Queen a glowing five stars, and I recommend it to anyone who likes dystopia and rebellion. Standing ovation for Victoria Aveyard.

A Bookish Thought Brought On By the GRAMMYS

Along with a good chunk of people, I watched the GRAMMYs on Sunday night. And through the evening, as my favorite artists lost, I had a thought.

A bookish thought.

Here it is:

WHY DO WE NOT HAVE A FANCY AWARDS SHOW FOR AUTHORS AND BOOKS?!?!

Guys! Think about how amazing this would be!

Debut authors, Veteran authors, Future authors, editors, publishers, agents, and (of course) readers could all get dressed up and go to this awards show--which I have ideally dubbed as the BOOKMMYs in lieu of the "MMY" awards show pattern-- and books/authors receive awards for their works.

Categories could include: Breakout Author, Series of the Year, and Standalone of the Year, Publisher of the Year (based on stats), as well as winners for each YA type (High fantasy, contemp, dystopia, etc.), Best Book-to-Movie Adaptation, and we could honor classic authors or authors who have really changed the playing field by giving them a lifetime achievement-type award. Instead of watching performances, we could watch clips, or book trailers, or hear authors speak.

We watch Epic Reads' Tea Time on Wednesdays... now let's graduate to a show! It doesn't have to be televised-- it could be livestreamed-- and it would be the best awards show of the year, let me tell you.

I think we need this.

Now, the question is: How do we make this happen?

Seize the Tuesday #10: Struggling With Not Being Able to Read

Seize the Tuesday is a book blogger meme created by myself and the Let’s Get Lost Buddies Street Team, to share stories about how we’ve seized the Tuesday, with a special focus on the particular book we’re reading. We’ll share our posts online with the hashtag: #LetsAllGetLost. 

The idea is to share little ways in which you may have embraced Bree’s motto of seizing the Tuesday. To relate it to books, you can talk about what book you’re reading, and how you stole some moments from the day to enjoy reading. It doesn’t have to be about reading, but we all know that a well-read day is a day seized. The idea is not just to help spread the word on LGL, but also to remind people to live fully, even/especially if that means spending a part of your day reading.

I have this problem in that school has overrun my life and I now have no free time.

Reading?
 What's that?
 I can't remember.

So my Seize the Tuesday is probably going to be very boring this week. I'm sorry.

But you can seize non-reading days by driving your friends and family nuts with your book talk. Trust me, it's what I'm doing. Books and authors and characters and ohmygoshmomandthenthishappened until their eyes have grown dull and distant. Yep.

Barnes & Noble Forever (Or Not?)

   

     Going to the bookstore has always been one of my most favorite things to do. There's not a lot of entertainment in my town other than the movies, skating, and bowling, and those all grow old after a while, and with me being such a book enthusiast, a common  hangout for my friends and me is the local Barnes & Noble. We go in, head to the YA section, and its basically an hour or two of my friends pointing to a book and asking if I've read it (My most used answer: "ohmygosh yes I've read the whole series"). We always buy AT LEAST one book... generally I buy a stack.... and nearly every time we're in there, the place is bustling with business.

     Apparently that's not the case everywhere else.

     Barnes & Noble's top executive, Mitchell Klipper, has announced that the company will close 10 stores a year for the next 10 years, and it's noted that nearly half of our B&N's will be up for lease by mid 2016. Klipper says that most will be renewed, but that's 100 book stores that will be closing in the near future. (Read the article HERE)

     What does this mean for readers?

     I remember when Borders was around. Ah, the good days. Used to be my favorite place! I was on a first name basis with the employees at my local store, and they always made your book shopping experience a personal matter, being sure to ask each time I came in how the last book was, and why I was trying this book, and have I read that series? And then Borders went out. My world came crashing down, but I took my book money to B&N.

     If Barnes & Noble starts closing stores, where are we going to go next? When Borders closed, we had Barnes & Noble; if Barnes & Noble closes... what do we have? Half-Price? Books A Million? Maybe. Some of you have those smaller chain stores. I, unfortunately, do not. Nor do I have any indie stores. I hate to be that person, but I've read most of the YA books at Walmart, as well as Target, and that leaves me without a single bookstore. The closest one, in fact, is approximately two and a half hours away.

    To quote my blogger friend from The Hopeless Reader "I refuse to buy books off Amazon!"

    Not that there's anything wrong with books from Amazon, or Book Outlet for that matter, because I'm a big Book Outlet fan, but there's something so... intoxicating about hand-picking your book off of the shelf, flipping through it, choosing which exact copy you want. You lose that when you order books online. And you lose it even more so when you use E-Readers.  The feeling grows distant and soon, you won't even remember what it feels like to walk into a bookstore and instantly feel at home. To sit between the shelves reading, walking up to random people holding a book you've read and loves and telling them how fantastic it was, and then seeing them buy it. Those feeling's will just be a memory.

     Keep on buying, readers. Support your authors, support your local stores, and Mitchell Klipper, if you're somehow reading this... don't close our homes. Where else are we going to go?

Seize the Tuesday #9: NEVER, ALWAYS, SOMETIMES Cover Reveal!

Seize the Tuesday is a book blogger meme created by myself and the Let’s Get Lost Buddies Street Team, to share stories about how we’ve seized the Tuesday, with a special focus on the particular book we’re reading. We’ll share our posts online with the hashtag: #LetsAllGetLost. 

The idea is to share little ways in which you may have embraced Bree’s motto of seizing the Tuesday. To relate it to books, you can talk about what book you’re reading, and how you stole some moments from the day to enjoy reading. It doesn’t have to be about reading, but we all know that a well-read day is a day seized. The idea is not just to help spread the word on LGL, but also to remind people to live fully, even/especially if that means spending a part of your day reading.

As you know (And as the italics above say), these Seize the Tuesday posts that you've been seeing on some of our blogs are due to us being on a Street Team for Adi Alsaid. The posts have been all about our Seizing the Day like a character from Alsaid's novel, LET'S GET LOST, so I'm seizing this Tuesday to show you guys the cover of Adi's latest book!

So without further ado.....

Keep scrolling

Don't you hate it when people do this?

Mwahahahah

Drum roll?!

TA DA:

Magnifico, eh?

Here's all that we get in way of Goodreads Description

"...two best friends, a boy and girl, make a list of the cliché things they will never do their senior year."

Ahem. 

Mr. Alsaid?

Yes, we'd like a little more.

No, of course we're intrigued.

But we're also very anxious.

And chomping at the bit.

And we already have to wait all the way until August.

Why must you torture us so?

Anyways! 

More news to come (Hopefully?!?) and you can be looking for my review after the release date (August 4th, from Harlequin Teen).

Go out and Seize yourTuesday!