The TBR Tag

TBR TagMy good friend Lisa over at Read.Breathe.Relax tagged me for the TBR tag post! It’s time to take a serious look at the dreaded To Be Read pile.

The TBR Tag originated over at Dana Square and A Perfection Called Books.

 

So let’s examine my TBR pile!

How do you keep track of your TBR pile?

I mainly use Goodreads. I have a wishlist over on Barnes & Noble but I rarely check it. Goodreads is great because I can tag different books under different categories and even put my TBR in reading list order. I also have two bookshelves in my house: one full of books already read and another full of books to be read! That makes it easier to just grab and go.

Is your TBR mostly print or ebooks?

Definitely ebooks. They’re just so much easier because I can have them all on one tablet so when making the choice between print or ebook I usually choose ebook.

How do you determine which book to read first?

I usually tell myself that I need to read the books that I already own before buying something new to read but that almost never happens. I’ll be on Goodreads and see that the sequel to something got released and then I’ll immediately download the ebook and read that instead of something I already own. Or I’ll request it at the library and then when it comes in I’ll end up reading that first because I have limited time to read it. I definitely pick what to read based on my mood also–sometimes I’ll be really sick of one genre and I’ll be craving a different genre. Lately I find myself reading a lot of contemporary but I’ve been craving a bit of sci fi.

A book that’s been on your TBR the longest?

Outlander by Diana GabaldonOutlander by Diana Gabaldon. My mom is a HUGE fan of this series and has been trying to get me into it for years. I added this to my TBR back on July 15, 2011. I haven’t read it yet because it’s not YA but now that the TV show is on (which is awesome by the way) I definitely will be bumping this up on my reading list.

 

 

 

 

A book you’ve recently added to your TBR list?

The Heir by Kiera Cass Preview

The Heir by Kiera Cass. Just added this morning! So excited that there will be another book in The Selection series!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

A book on your TBR list strictly because of its beautiful cover?

Elusion by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam

Elusion by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam. Such a pretty cover and the story sounds interesting!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A book on your TBR that you never plan on reading?

The Hobbit by J.R.R. TolkienThe Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Sorry, but it was hard enough getting through The Lord of the Rings books. Everyone says The Hobbit isn’t as hard to get through, but after seeing the movie (which I almost fell asleep during) I’m gonna pass on this one.

 

 

 

 

 

An unpublished book on your TBR that you’re excited about?

The Winner's Crime by Marie RutkoskiThe Winner’s Crime by Marie Rutkoski, sequel to The Winner’s Curse. The first book was excellent and ended on such a cliffhanger! It’s going to be hard to wait until March 2015 for this one!

 

 

 

 

 

 

A book that everyone’s read but you?

Shadow and Bone by Leigh BardugoShadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. Everyone seems to love this one but for some reason I haven’t read it yet. Must read soon!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

A book on your TBR that everyone recommends to you?

The 5th Wave by Rick YanceyThe 5th Wave by Rick Yancey. It seems like everyone loves this one and I keep telling myself I’m going to read it next but then a sequel to something else comes out and this one gets pushed back again.

 

 

 

 

 

A book on your TBR that you’re dying to read?

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra ClareCity of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare. I had this pre-ordered forever and now it’s just sitting on my shelf. I’m dying to read it but it is HUGE!!! I know that it’ll take me awhile to read, especially now that the baby is here, so I’ve been avoiding it for awhile. However, I need to know how the series ends!!!

 

 

 

 

 

The number of books on your TBR shelf?

An overwhelming 518!! I need to get on that…

 

 

Top Ten Gateway Books/Authors

Top Ten Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s theme is Top Ten Gateway Books/Authors. Here’s my Top Ten:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling–this was my gateway book into fantasy and the wonderful world of  Harry Potter. There’s a funny story behind my reading this actually: my younger brother had to read it for school when he was about 9 years old and I was 12, and since he hates reading so much it was taking him forever to finish it. I bet him that I could start the book and finish the entire thing before he could finish the second half of it, and I loved it so much that I ended up reading the first three books before he finished the first!

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare–my gateway into Steampunk. I really had no idea what this genre even was until I read this book, and once I picked this one up I was hooked!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins–this was my gateway dystopian novel and also the book that made me realize how much I loved books with strong female protagonists. Katniss was one of the most kickass heroines I had ever read about and it made me want to read more books like this. Now, years later, dystopian novels are one of my favorite subgenres.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan–this book made me love zombie novels!! I have always been a huge fan of all things zombie but mainly just movies and video games. Once I read this book, it made me want to hunt down more zombie novels!

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins–while I had read some contemporary stuff before I read this, this was definitely the book that made me a huge contemporary fan. I literally could not put this down, and once I had finished it a second time I had to search for books just like it.

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot–I read this many, many years ago and I’m pretty sure this was what really got me started on my love for young adult fiction. This was such a great story and a great way to be introduced to my favorite genre.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis–this was definitely my gateway into sci-fi. I was a bit apprehensive about reading this one but once I started it, I couldn’t put it down. This book made me interested in the exciting world of outer space, and led to me reading other great sci-fi novels like Cinder and These Broken Stars.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green–my first John Green novel, which made me want to read every book he’s ever written! This book was so amazing/heartbreaking, and I am slowly but surely working my way through the rest of John Green’s novels.

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund–this was my gateway into retellings. This book was such an amazing retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion and it really made me love retellings of all kinds–fairy tales, classics, and more! There’s just something about someone being able to reinvent a story that you’ve read before and make you feel like you’re reading something entirely new.

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire–my gateway into New Adult. I loved this book and couldn’t wait to read more like it! Unfortunately, the New Adult genre is saturated with books that are borderline erotica, so my New Adult reading has been very limited. There are definitely a few gems out there though, and this was one of them!

 

What books/authors made your Top Ten this week?

Top Ten Books That Will Make You Swoon

Top Ten Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish! This week’s theme is Top Ten Books That Will  Make You Swoon, in honor of Valentine’s Day! Here are my top ten in no particular order:

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins–Etienne St. Clair himself is enough to make you swoon: gorgeous guy with a British accent who also speaks French! Throw in a boarding school in the middle of Paris and Anna, who tries not to give in to her feelings for St. Clair, and you’ve definitely got a swoon-worthy book!

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick–I just finished this one last week (review to come soon) and loved it! It’s such a cute love story about a girl named Samantha whose mother is an uptight senator so she spends all of her time watching her next door neighbors, who have a huge and all over the place type of family but are surrounded by love. She falls for one of the boys, Jase, who is such a great guy–he can fix just about anything, it devoted to taking care of his younger brothers and sisters, and legit climbs a trellis to introduce himself to Samantha. Definite swoon!

Dare You To by Katie McGarry–Beth has lived a difficult life of taking care of her alcoholic mother and being beat up by her mother’s boyfriends, so she has always had a hard time trusting people. Ryan is the quintessential rich jock, with a father who runs half the town and a great baseball career in his future. Beth doesn’t understand how someone like Ryan could want anything to do with her, but as the two get to know each other they realize they have more in common than they thought. This was a great love story with some really great swoony moments!

Wait for You by J. Lynn–Avery is trying to escape her past by going to a college far away from home and the memories that still haunt her. She wants to do nothing more than focus on school, but she is constantly distracted by her neighbor Cameron, a gorgeous guy who keeps crossing her path. She has to learn how to overcome her past and trust someone again, and Cameron is the perfect guy to help her do it. Great love story from J. Lynn, andddd there is a companion novel that came out last week!!

The Selection by Kiera Cass–Not particularly just a romance book, but the love story that blossoms between America, a girl from a lower class and Maxon, a prince, is great and makes it impossible to put the book down. The story got even better in The Elite and I can’t wait to see how America and Maxon end up in the final book!

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green–One of the greatest love stories I’ve read! Hazel and Augustus meet in their cancer support group, and though Hazel is hesitant to start a romance because she is not sure how long she has left to live, she can’t help falling for Augustus. This was a beautiful book that will not only make you swoon but will leave you in tears.

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins–A companion novel to Anna and the French Kiss about Lola, a girl with a quirky sense of fashion, and Cricket, the boy next door that she has tried to deny her feelings for. A cute love story with a bonus–we also get to see how Anna and St. Clair are doing!

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith–Such a cute story about love when you least expect it. Hadley is on her way to her father’s wedding in London and would rather be doing anything else. She meets a cute British guy in the airport and it turns out he’s sitting next to her on her flight. They spend the flight getting to know each other but then lose each other once they go through customs. Hadley has to figure out if it was just chance that they met, or if it was fate.

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner–A dystopian novel set in space, These Broken Stars is so much more than just a romance, but the love story between Lilac and Tarver is absolutely swoon-worthy. These two completely different people from different social classes learn to trust and care for each other as they travel across an unknown planet in search of rescue.

One Tiny Lie by K.A. Tucker–Livie is trying to live up to her father’s hopes for her: going to Princeton, graduating with honors, and going on to med school. But when she goes to her first college party and meets Ashton, the captain of the rowing team, her plan suddenly seems much harder to follow than she thought. The two have a whirlwind back and forth romance that makes Livie realize that she can’t live her life for other people.

What books made your Top Ten this week? What swoon-worthy books are you planning on reading for Valentine’s Day?

 

Top Ten Books I Wish Had Sequels

Top Ten TuesdaysTop Ten Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish! Today’s theme is books that you wish had sequels. Unfortunately I was only able to come up with six this week because it seems like nearly every book I read lately actually does have a sequel in the works! Here’s my top six in no particular order:

1. This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers–This was such a fabulous standalone book, but the ending was left a little bit up in the air and I would love to know what actually happened afterwards. Plus, the writing was so beautiful that I would probably read anything Courtney Summers writes!

2. The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan–Okay, so this is cheating a bit since this is already a sequel, or rather a sequel to a sequel. I loved the way this book ended but this series was one of my favorites and I would love to read many more books about this world.

3. Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross–This was a bunch of fairy tale retellings in one story and it seemed to me that the ending was left open for a possible sequel. So far I haven’t heard any news about one, but I would definitely read it if Sarah Cross decided to write it!

4. Every Day by David Levithan–This was such a great book and I loved A’s character. I would love to see how the rest of his life turned out and if he ever found the answers he was looking for.

5. The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester–I read this years and years ago so I don’t remember much of it, but I do remember that when I read the end of the book I felt like there was definitely a hint that there might be a sequel. However, many years later, there is no such book and I find myself still wishing there was!

6. Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore–I know, this is already a sequel, but I am a huge fan of the Graceling world and would love to read more about it. Plus, I really loved Bitterblue and I would love to see how she is doing after everything that happened in the last book.

Which books made your Top Ten this week? Are there any books that have sequels that you wish didn’t?

Top Ten Best/Worst Movie Adaptations

Top Ten TuesdaysTop Ten Tuesdays are hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and this week’s topic is Top Ten Best/Worst Movie Adaptations! Here is my Top Ten in no particular order:

BEST

1. All of the Harry Potter movies except for Prisoner of Azkaban–I figured it would be cheating to name each one! These movies were so well done and I can’t imagine a better cast to play these characters.

2. Matilda–One of my favorite movies from my childhood, and also one of my favorite childhood books!

3. The Hunger Games–This was really well done and I think Jennifer Lawrence exceeded my expectations as Katniss.

4. The Lord of the Rings movies–While these books put me to sleep, the movies were amazing. Definitely a bit long, but worth it!

5. The Chronicles of Narnia movies–Another great series that really translated well on to the big screen. I’m glad they decided to do more of these movies!

6. The Princess Diaries–This is where Anne Hathaway really made her start in movies and she did a fabulous job as Mia Thermopolis. This was such a great adaptation!

WORST

7. The Twilight movies–I guess they were okay adaptations because they were nearly as bad as the books, but Kristen Stewart made them so much worse than necessary.

8. Percy Jackson and the Olympians–While I really enjoyed this movie, it was completely not true to the book. The main characters are all practically in their twenties when Percy and his friends are supposed to be in junior high. Also, most of the characters look nothing like they are described in the book.

9. The DaVinci Code–This is a book that kept most readers on the edge of their seat, while the movie put me to sleep.

10. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban–The kids walking around school in jeans and hip clothes? A shrunken head on the Knight Bus? A random bridge in the middle of the school grounds, and Hagrid’s hut a million miles from where it originally was? Plus, a horrible casting decision for one of my favorite characters, Remus Lupin, and a super speedy version of the best scene in the book (the scene in the Shrieking Shack where Sirius Black reveals himself). Overall, a huge disappointment!

What do you think are the best/worst movie adaptations? Did any of mine make your list?

Top Ten Most Intimidating Books

Top Ten TuesdaysTop Ten Tuesdays are hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and this week’s topic is Top Ten Most Intimidating Books. Here’s my Top Ten in no particular order:

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card–I’ve heard so many mixed reviews about these books. Some people hate it, some love it, and I’ve heard a lot of people say that they don’t like the way Orson Scott Card writes women. I want to read this because the movie is coming out this year, but I’m not sure I’ll like it.

Sever by Lauren Destefano–I got this book the day it came out but it has been sitting on my shelf ever since. Wither was fantastic but the sequel, Fever, was a big disappointment. I think the reason I haven’t picked this up yet is because I’m worried it won’t live up to my expectations.

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling–This is another book that has gotten a lot of mixed reviews. I am a huge Harry Potter fan so I feel like I should read everything Rowling ever writes, but to be honest the plot of The Casual Vacancy really doesn’t interest me at all.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater–I’ve had this book on my Nook for awhile but haven’t read it. I didn’t like Stiefvater’s Shiver series but I love The Raven Boys so I’m wondering how I will feel about this one. It did win a bunch of awards, but I’m not sure if the story is one I would like.

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin–Aside from the size of this book, the amount of huge books in this series is very intimidating. I feel like once I start this book it’ll take me months to get through the series, so I’ve yet to start it.

Rapture by Lauren Kate–I had mixed feelings about the first book in this series but the second and third were just plain awful. I have a thing about wanting to finish the entire series no matter what, but I haven’t been able to bring myself to read this yet.

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare–I love this series but I haven’t started this final book yet because, aside from it being huge, I haven’t decided myself how I want it to end. This is one of those love triangles where I like both choices so I think I would be happy however it turned out, but I’m nervous about how it will end.

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini–The problem with this series is that the books came out so far apart. There were three years between the release of each book, so by the time the next book came out I had already forgotten what happened in the previous ones. This is another series I just need to finish, but the fact that this book is huge and I don’t even remember what happened in the past few books is intimidating.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien–I read all three of the Lord of the Rings books and wanted to pull my hair out the entire time I was reading them. I’ve heard that The Hobbit is not as bad as those books, but I’m still hesitant to read it.

Blood Red Road by Moira Young–This is a really popular series that I’ve been meaning to get into, but I’ve heard that a lot of people have problems reading it because it’s written in dialect. I’m not sure if this would bother me, but it has stopped me from picking it up yet.

Which books do you find most intimidating and why? What is your Top Ten this week?

Top Ten Books I’ve Read So Far in 2013

toptentuesday2This is my first Top Ten Tuesday post, yay! Top Ten Tuesdays are hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and this week’s topic is Top Ten Books I’ve Read So Far in 2013. This is a tough one because I have read so many good books already!

1. The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater–I cannot describe how unbelievably excited I was to get an ARC of this at BEA 2013! The Raven Boys was one of my favorite books from 2012 so I had high expectations for this one. Stiefvater managed to surpass those expectations and leave me even more excited for the next one. I’ll be posting my review of The Dream Thieves this summer!

2. The Elite by Kiera Cass–another book I had been highly anticipating. The Elite was one of those books that I literally could not put down until I had finished it. I love how America has grown through the series so far and I’m excited to see how this trilogy wraps up.

3. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer–another great sequel! I like how Meyer is able to retell a fairytale but completely reinvent it at the same time. I loved how Scarlet and Cinder’s stories overlapped and I’m excited about the rest of this series.

4. The Madman’s Daughter by Megan Shepherd–this was a fascinatingly creepy story that I absolutely loved! I’m so glad that there is going to be another book and I can’t wait to see how much more twisted it gets!

5. The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken–this book reminded me of X-men but still had its own originality. I really enjoyed this and I’m excited to read the sequel!

6. Dark Triumph by R.L. LaFevers–I loved the fact that this story was told from Sybella’s point of view and I honestly liked her story more than Ismae’s. Sybella had a haunted past that deeply affected her and it was amazing to see how she was able to overcome all of that and fight back.

7. The Archived by Victoria Schwab–this was definitely one of the most original stories I’ve read in awhile. The main character travels through doorways to hunt Histories, which are basically human souls that need to be returned to their dead bodies that are filed away in the Archives. This was a mix of spooky, mystery, and the supernatural, and overall a fascinating read.

8. Asunder by Jodi Meadows–this book continued the incredible story of Ana, a Newsoul born into a world of souls that reincarnate. It was a great sequel to Incarnate and I honestly have no idea how the series will end, but I’m sure it will be amazing!

9. Shades of Earth by Beth Revis–this was such a great ending to the Across the Universe trilogy. Revis is excellent at world building, and the world she builds in Shades of Earth is both horrific and incredible.

10. Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi–I’m so glad that I finally got into this series! I love Aria and Perry and I was so glad that we got some more of Roar and Liv’s story in this book. I’m eager to see how it will end!

What are some of your favorites from 2013 so far? Did any of these books make your top ten as well?