Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Read In 2013

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday! Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week bloggers post a top ten list related to a specific theme. This week's theme is Top Ten Books I Read In 2013. These books are all SF&F. I did a non-genre list of the top ten books I read in 2013 previously. All links lead to GoodReads.

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken


1. The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
This is a great post-apocalyptic/dystopian YA story about kids with psychic abilities.

His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik

2. His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
There are talking dragons that fight in the Napoleonic Wars! The later books are fun, but none are as good as the first book in this series.

Doomsday Book by Connie Willis

3. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
Oxford student Kivrin decides to go back in time to study how people celebrated Christmas in the Middle Ages. Things go horribly wrong.

Among Others by Jo Walton

4. Among Others by Jo Walton
One can argue that this book is not a fantasy story. In any matter, the protagonist is a teenager girl who reads a lot of SF&F books that she gets from interlibrary loan.

Feed by Mira Grant

5. Feed by Mira Grant
Zombies done right. 

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

6. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Although I enjoyed all three of the Gentleman Bastards series, I loved the first book the most.

The Curse of Chalion by Lois Bujold Masters

7. The Curse of Chalion by Lois Bujold Masters
This is a great political intrigue story set in a fantasy realm. This story is far less confusing than A Game of Thrones.

A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent by Marie Brennan

8. A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent by Marie Brennan
This is a great memoir of a woman who studies dragons.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

9. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
A great book for a child of the 80s who loves video games and SF&F.

Leviathan Wakes by James SA Corey

10. Leviathan Wakes by James SA Corey
This is space opera at its best.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell: Review

Rainbow Rowell Readathon
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Title: Fangirl
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: September 2013
Length: 433
Series: Stand Alone
Reason for Discovery: the Internet

From GoodReads:

Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . . But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving. Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere. Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to. Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone. For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

Twin sisters Cath and Wren are starting freshman year of college. Unlike Wren who is excited about starting a new chapter of her life and making friends with people who don't know her as a twin first, Cath is scared. Cath is used to her life, which includes taking care of her father who suffers from manic episodes and writing Simon Snow fanfiction (aka Harry Potter fanfiction). Slowly yet surely, Cath starts to make friends but she isn't ready to let go of her high school life just yet.

I had high expectations going into this book. I had really enjoyed Attachments and Eleanor & Park plus the Internet as a whole seems to be in love with this book. I don't know why I was worried, because Rainbow Rowell knows how to deliver. Seriously, this book is very adorable. 

First of all, I love the premise that Cath is a big fanfiction nerd. I read my fair share of fanfiction over the years, including The X-Files, Harry Potter, and Doctor Who, so the idea that Cath writes fanfiction just seemed very cozy to me. If you never read any fanfiction, you will not be out a limb with this book. The main point of this story line is that Cath spends a lot of time writing for her Internet fans and feels devoted to them. You know, kind of like book blogging. ;) Rainbow Rowell separates chapters with excerpts from Cath's fanfiction and from the Simon Snow books. By the end of Fangirl, I really wanted to read both Cath's work and the Simon Snow books. I sense a Harry Potter rereading coming on!

Second, I really enjoyed all of the characters in this book. They were sweet and endearing but still had their flaws. These characters reminded me of people that I knew in college back in the day. These characters felt genuine and not over the top. Cath and Wren (and the rest of the characters) appeared to act consistently within themselves and dealt with issues in a way that seemed natural for them. I never felt like characters were suddenly acting in bizarre ways to help the plot. 

Third, the plot was super cute. Fangirl is a combination of a finding yourself story and a romance; however, Cath also deals with some "heavy" issues. I was pleasantly surprised that the story wasn't all super adorable all of the time. The heaviness of some of the story balanced things out, so the story didn't end up feeling cheesy. At the same time, I was happy that the heavy issues were not so crazy that I felt like I was just being voyeuristic regarding someone else's horrible tragedy. In other words, Cath's story was sweet and lovely but also realistic. Of course, the story does end on a high note, but it is a story after all. 

Overall, this book was very lovely. I can see why the Internet loves this book so much. If you are looking for a contemporary romance/finding yourself book YA/NA (Cath is in college, does that count as NA?) book, Fangirl is for you. I read it in less than a day, and it made me smile for at least two days now (and counting!).

I give Fangirl a 5 out of 5.

5 out of 5

Sunday Update!

This has been a pretty quiet week. I spent most of my time hanging out with family and playing board games. I only really picked up a book yesterday. It was nice taking a little break from everything, but I am looking forward to reading and blogging more in the new year. :)

Book Haul
From Giveaways

 
What the Tweet!

I received What the Tweet? by Bill Liao and Deirdre Nuttall from the GoodReads First Reads program.


Purchased


Doctor SleepThe Scorpio Races
 
I purchased The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater and Doctor Sleep by Stephen King as e-books for $1.99 each! Because I can get most books at my library or through galley websites, I try to keep my book purchasing to a minimum. I try not to buy e-books for more than $3. This doesn't always work out, but I like the challenge. :) 

Currently Reading

A Study in Ashes by Emma Jane Holloway: I didn't do a lot of reading this week, so I am still working on this book. I just discovered this is the final book in a trilogy. I picked it up under a misunderstanding that I will explain in my review. I am enjoying it though.

A Dance with Dragons by GRR Martin: I haven't had a chance to listen to this book at all this week. I need to carve out a little time in the coming week.
 
Read This Week

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell: Review

Rainbow Rowell Read-a-Thon
Title: Eleanor & Park
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: February 2013
Length: 328
Series: Stand Alone
Reason for Discovery: Rainbow Rowell Read-a-Thon

From GoodReads:

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.
 
On Eleanor's first day of school, she desperately needs to find a seat on the bus. Because Eleanor doesn't look like a cool kid, no one wants to share his/her seat with her. Although Park loves having a seat all to himself on the bus, he feels bad for Eleanor and lets her share his seat. Over the course of the school year, Eleanor and Park continue to sit next to each other and feelings of friendship, and later love, develop over sharing their love of comics and music. Eleanor and Park share almost everything with each other. Although Eleanor cares greatly for Park, she can't tell him what her home life is like.
 
When I started reading this book, I thought this was going to be a simple YA love story. Based on the GoodReads blurb, I figured that the two characters would grow apart or something but that would be the extent of the story. I was really wrong. This is a story about two teenagers falling in love even though they are not necessarily prom king and queen material. However, this is also a story about a lot of heavy issues including racism, poverty, and domestic violence. I really was not expecting this at all. In regards to Park, he is Asian and experiences varying levels of racism from his classmates and others. This storyline is fairly minor, but it is touched upon in a very thought out way. In regards to Eleanor, her step-father is an alcoholic and hits Eleanor's mother at times. Eleanor's family is also quite poor. Eleanor's home life issues were central to how Eleanor and Park navigated their budding relationship. Although I though this was discussed in a genuine and thoughtful way, if domestic violence is a trigger for you, this may not be a book for you. 
 
I was really impressed with how Rainbow Rowell navigated heavy topics such as domestic violence and racism in a YA romance without feeling like it was over the top. I feel like a lot of books will add in a bit of domestic violence to make the book feel unique or gritty. Rowell does a great job of discussing this heavy topic without having it feel like an after school special or gratuitous. This was a heavy book that I probably would have been more hesitant to read, if I knew what the book was about; however, I am really glad that I read this book, because it was really good. I could not put it down.
 
I don't think I can say enough positive things about this book. The characters were well written and were consistent within themselves. Also, I thought that they felt like genuine teenagers; they did not feel wise beyond their years like can sometimes happen in YA books. Like I mentioned earlier, the social issues in the book were done in a respectful way. Also, I feel that this book could be used to discuss issues like domestic violence and poverty with teenagers. Finally, I thought that the romance between Eleanor and Park and their story in general felt honest and real. It did not seem over the top. 
 
This was such a wonderful book. I give this book a 5 out of 5.
 
5 cats
 

Thoughtful Thursday: Movie & TV-related Book Franchises

Thoughtful Thursday
It is time for Thoughtful Thursday and the bookish questions that pop up while I am reading. Please share your thoughts on the bookish question of the week. I am curious to hear what you have to say! There are no wrong answers. Questions about Thoughtful Thursday or future Thoughtful Thursday posts? Check out my Thoughtful Thursday section. Alright, on to the question!

How do you feel about books that are related to movie/television franchises (e.g., movie novelizations and extended universes)?

I have been reading a lot of comics that are supposed to be additional seasons of television shows (e.g., The X-Files and Buffy: The Vampire Slayer), and these comics got me thinking about all of the Star Wars books I read when I was a kid. When I sat down and thought about the number of books that I read that are related to a movie or television franchise I was a bit surprised. I haven't read a lot of books that are directly related to movies or television shows as an adult, but I read a ton of these books as a kid. I read the novelizations of Stars Wars: Episodes IV, V,  and VI (A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi). In addition, I read a lot of the extended universe books that involved the married life of Princess Leia and Han Solo. Thinking back on the Stars Wars books and on the recent venture into The X-Files and Buffy: The Vampire Slayer comics, I must admit that I generally enjoy these books. There were definitely a few bad apples, but overall, a lot of these stories were fun. I enjoyed imagining my favorite characters from these movies and television shows going on adventures.

Unlike "fan fiction", I believe that The X-Files, Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, and the Star Wars books are all considered cannon (i.e., are officially sanctioned by the creators and are supposed to have actually happened to the characters). Although I am all on board for my favorite characters going on new adventures, I have mixed feelings about these books being cannon. I don't consider the books not to be cannon. It is just that I think about them differently. When I think about how the television shows and movies end, I imagine a world of infinite possibilities that are now open for the characters. I don't immediately think of what happens to the characters in the books or comics that continue these stories. I just imagine that the story ends. At the same time, I will read the comic and book continuation of these shows to discover what happens to the characters. I guess that I imagine at the end of the movie/television show that there is a fork. One prong is the comic/book storyline, and another prong is the world of infinite possibilities. I think what I am trying to say is that although I read the comics and books that are extensions of beloved television shows and movies and that are considered to be cannon, I don't see the comics and books as direct and permanently attached extensions of these movies and television shows. I just see these comics and books as one possibility.

So what do you think? How do you feel about books that are related to movie/television franchises (e.g., movie novelizations and extended universes)? Do you read anything you can get your hands on? Do you avoid these things like the plague? Once you read something in the comics or books do you have a hard time separating it from the movies/television shows?

Merry Christmas!


Christmas knitting

To all of you who celebrate Christmas, Merry Christmas! To all of you who are celebrating Wednesday, Merry Wednesday!

A freak snowfall delayed our plans to visit my mom and brother yesterday. It snowed right between where my mom lives and where we live. It was so bizarre, because all of the weather reports stated that Christmas Eve was supposed to have clear weather. Oh well. We shall go today.

I will see you tomorrow for a Thoughtful Thursday post.!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Leaving Me

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday! Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week bloggers post a top ten list related to a specific theme. This week's theme is Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Leaving Me.These are all books that are available for purchase and that I can't get at the library immediately. I feel I have been posting my 2014 most wanted list a lot, so I wanted to change things up a bit; however, if Santa wants to leave me ARCs, I will totally take them. All links lead to GoodReads.

Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken

1. Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken

I read The Darkest Minds a few weeks ago, and I loved it! I need to know what happens next. I am waiting to get this book from the library.


Dangerous Women by GRR Martin & others

2. Dangerous Women by GRR Martin & others

This is a collection of short stories by Martin and other writers that are about women in their particular universes (e.g., SOIAF, Dresden Files, Outlander).

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman

3. These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman

I keep hearing lovely things about this book, so I am excited to read it for myself.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

4. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

I have heard mixed things about this book, with slightly more people enjoying it. I would be curious to try it out.

Bellman & Black by Diane Setterfield

5. Bellman & Black by Diane Setterfield

I loved The Thirteenth Tale. I have heard that this book is not as strong and those who enjoyed The Thirteenth Tale did not like this book very much; however, I really want to see what it is like anyhow.

Vicious by Victoria Schwab

6. Vicious by Victoria Schwab

This sounds like a fun book, and I keep hearing good things about it.

The Archived by Victoria Schwab

7. The Archived by Victoria Schwab

Again, I keep hearing good things about this book, so I am excited to give it a go.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

8. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

This is another book, which had mixed reviews, but the premise sounds promising, so I want to give it a whirl.

Under the Dome by Stephen King

9. Under the Dome by Stephen King

I didn't watch the television show, but the premise of the story sounds really neat, so I would like to read it.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

10. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

I know nothing about this series, but I like the covers. Also, I keep hearing good things about the series.

The X-Files: Season 10, Volume 1 by Joe Harris & Others: Review

The X-Files: Season 10, Volume 1
Title: The X-Files: Season 10, Volume 1
Author:
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Publication Date: December 2013
Length: 104
Series: The X-Files: Season 10 (Volume 1)
Reason for Discovery: Galley

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
 
From GoodReads:
 
For years they investigated the paranormal, pursued the 'monsters of the week,' and sought the truth behind extraterrestrial activity, along with the grand conspiracy surrounding it rooted deep within their own government. But when AGENTS MULDER and SCULLY reunite for a new, ongoing series that ushers THE X-FILES into a new era of technological paranoia, multinational concerns and otherworldly threats, it'll take more than a desire 'to believe' to make it out alive. The X-Files: Season 10 also sees creator Chris Carter return to the fold as Executive Producer!
 
Mulder and Scully are living a nice and quiet life in the suburbs. Fortunately for fans of The X-Files, Skinner visits the two ex-agents and warns them that something dangerous is afoot. Mulder and Scully discover that a strange group of mysterious figures is after Scully's baby! Also, Agent Doggett is on a case of his own. 
 
I discovered The X-Files late into the show's history. Season six was on air at the time. Between Fox and FX, I was able to quickly catch up with the series. I loved the chemistry between Mulder and Scully and the fun adventures they went on. I used to frequent X-Files websites and discussed conspiracy stories about the black oil and grey aliens.
 
Before I review the comic, I should note that this is not a good book for someone who is new to The X-Files. Readers need to be familiar with the basic mythology of the show. As I mentioned in the summary, this adventure focuses on Scully's baby, which was a plot point in one of the last seasons of the show. I didn't see all of the episodes in the final season, but I felt comfortable with what was happening. If you didn't complete the series' run, I would recommend at least reading the Wikipedia page, so you know what is up.
 
This is a tricky book to review, because this is the first volume of the story. There are a few things that bothered me, but these issues may be resolved in the next volume. Let's talk about these issues and end on what I liked. :) First, I am a little iffy on how Mulder and Scully are being written. They don't feel like Mulder and Scully to me, especially Mulder feels a bit off. I have been watching the early seasons of the show, so this might be biasing me as to how the characters act, since Mulder and Scully did grow and change through the series. Second, in the final seasons of the television show, there were several character deaths. Some of the characters appear to have returned from the dead in this comic. One of the characters who has risen from the dead seems a bit off, so maybe the character isn't who the character says the character is. Other characters who have returned from the dead for the comic state in this book that they never died. I find this to be in poor taste. I don't want to say more in fear of spoilers. Of course, this is the first volume in the series, so maybe this situation will change in the later volumes.Third, the text was really hard to read. This may just be a galley/e-book problem; however, I wanted to mention it, especially if you are going to buy the e-book. This text problem is a routine issue in galleys though.
 
Let's discuss what I liked! I was very happy the season appears to be written in one straight forward plot arc. In Buffy: The Vampire Slayer: Season Eight, some of the issues would go off into a weird direction and wouldn't always connect with the rest of the story. Also, some of the issues in Buffy would incorporate a different illustration style. The X-Files had a nice consistency through the book. Although I am a big fan of the monster-of-the-week episodes, I liked that the story is opening with a big conspiracy storyline. I think it is necessary, if we are going to have an X-Files comic. It would be nice to see a separate storyline with just monster of the week episodes. They could even be stories that take place during the television series.
 
Overall, I am cautiously optimistic for this series. I have to give the single volume a 2 out of 5, but I could see myself bumping it up to a 3, if the future volumes are stronger (and my concerns with the current volume are explained away).


 
 

Sunday Update!

I hope that everyone is doing well! The last few days have been busy with getting ready for the holidays. :) I got caught up last night with most of the blogging activities, but I still need to respond to comments. I need to figure out a better system. 

In other news, my mother-in-law got my kitty a Cat's Meow. It is this battery-operated device that mimics a tiny objects moving underneath a piece of nylon. Lunabelle, my kitty, loves it so much. I made two videos and put them up on YouTube to show my mother-in-law. Here are links Lunabelle playing with the Cat's Meow and another video of her playing with the Cat's Meow. If you were considering getting one, check them out. When my husband or I put it away, she cries for it. We call it her Kitty X-Box.


Book Haul

From Giveaways
 
I receive from V Is for Virgin by Kelly Oram from the Dreamy December Read-a-Thon. I also won the Harlequin Teen Another Little Piece of My Heart Giveaway, which was hosted by Lauren from Lose Time Reading. In addition to some swag, I got The Juliet Spell by Douglas Rees, My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent, and Inside Out by Marie V Synder. I also received some swag and a copy of Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman from Jennifer from the The Bawdy Book Blog as a prize from the Ho Ho Ho Read-a-thon.



Purchased



I got it in my head that I needed the American version of the Harry Potter books in physical form (I have the e-books). I didn't want to pay full price for them again (I used to own but gave them away after getting the e-books and the hardback British editions). I popped over to the local Goodwill and picked up Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. They are categorized as "children's paperbacks", so I got them for $0.69 each. I am hoping to find the rest of the series over time. My husband said that I should try to collect all of the different versions of the books. It is going to be a fun little challenge! I also picked up Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. Because this was an adult paperback, I spent a whole $0.99. 

Currently Reading

A Study in Ashes by Emma Jane Holloway: I am really enjoying this steampunk, magic tale of Sherlock's spunky niece.

A Dance with Dragons by GRR Martin: This is going to be a slow read for me, because I don't have a lot of time to listen to an audio book. I will probably be listening to this book when the next book comes out! :)
 

Read This Week


Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell



Readathons


Holiday #Readathon

This will be my last Holiday #Readathon post. I just wanted to thank Fiction State of Mind for the tea that she sent me! :)


Dreamy December Read-a-Thon

I received a signed bookmark from Lissa Price!

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