This week I interviewed Christine from PolandBananasBOOKS!
Make sure and check out Christine's channel if you haven't already!
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Monday, February 24, 2014
Friday, February 21, 2014
If We Were Having Coffee...
I saw another blogger, Ashley, do a post like this and thought it would be fun to do! Sometimes we forget that booktubers and bloggers have lives outside of blogging and reading, and so I thought it would be fun to chit chat over some "coffee" with you guys!
Grab your beverage (I actually have tea) and lets getting chattin!
If we were having coffee... I'd tell you I'm SO HAPPY that's it's finally Friday. Although this week hasn't been NEARLY as tiring (well, at least as far as school goes) as last week.. it was still a long week.
If we were having coffee... I'd tell you how excited I am about my new bookshelf! I've been "needing" a new one for many months. I've been hiding books behind books on my shelf just to make them fit. I knew it would be awhile before Jake could build me another amazing bookshelf like he did last Christmas (plus buying all that wood was expensive) so I just went to Walmart and bought a cheap one! I think it hurt Jake's feeling at first, like maybe he thought I didn't want him to build me one now. I assured him that I will be needing MANY more bookshelves if I'm going to fulfill my dream of having a library in my house.
If we were having coffee... I'd tell you that I had a lot of fun at the Mexican restaurant last night with my friends (and with $1 margaritas) but that I'm a little embarrassed by my obnoxious tweets that I posted.. opps.
If we were having coffee... I'd tell you that I wish I could go home and visit my family this weekend, but my homework is overflowing currently. My goal is to knock out quite a bit of it this weekend and maybe I'll get to visit my family next weekend!
If we were having coffee... I'd tell you that I've been really wanting to exercise a bit more, but I'm not a huge fan of the gym. Why is it that I don't mind running/jogging/walking outside, but I don't care for treadmills? I love hiking and walking on trails with Jake and Piper (and sometimes with our other friends too). I don't know. There's something about "working out" in nature that I love.
If we were having coffee, what would you tell me?
It can be anything!
Let me know in the comments below!
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Waiting on Wednesday: Plus One by Elizabeth Fama
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine
By Elizabeth Fama
Pub Date: April 8th, 2014
Add on Goodreads
Divided by day and night and on the run from authorities, star-crossed young lovers unearth a sinister conspiracy in this compelling romantic thriller.
Seventeen-year-old Soleil Le Coeur is a Smudge—a night dweller prohibited by law from going out during the day. When she fakes an injury in order to get access to and kidnap her newborn niece—a day dweller, or Ray—she sets in motion a fast-paced adventure that will bring her into conflict with the powerful lawmakers who order her world, and draw her together with the boy she was destined to fall in love with, but who is also a Ray.
Set in a vivid alternate reality and peopled with complex, deeply human characters on both sides of the day-night divide, Plus One is a brilliantly imagined drama of individual liberty and civil rights, and a fast-paced romantic adventure story.
This book sounds so unique! I can't wait to get my hands on it!
Which books are you eagerly awaiting?!
Let me know in the comments!
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
By John Green
Pub Date: Jan 10th, 2012
Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.
My Rating:
My Thoughts:
I first read this book back in 2012 when it came out. (This was before booktubing, blogging, and Goodreads and I didn't have a chance to share my thoughts.) This was also the first John Green book I've ever read. I've been wanting to reread this book for a few reasons. One, was because of the movie coming out this year (which looks amazing), and I realized that I had forgotten quite a bit.
The second reason, was because the first time I read this book, I didn't give it a fair rating. I've always been a huge reader and lover of books, but it hasn't been until really this past year or so that I've really started reviewing and seriously thinking about the ratings that I give books. Once upon a time, without really realizing what exactly I was doing, I would rate books on the overall lasting impression they gave me. I would mostly look at how the story wrapped itself up, and not so much about the story as a whole. I realize now that this is an injustice to the author and the book itself.
This is why my rating has gone from a 3 star rating to a 5 star rating. (I'm now rating the book on what I should actually be rating, ya know, the whole book.)
So now onto my actual thoughts. I really enjoyed this book and I believe that John Green has an uncanny ability to create realistic characters that we can relate to. While reading this book, I kept thinking over and over how much fun it would be to be friends with Hazel and Augustus. I can't tell you how many lines I marked in this book. It would be some of the most simple conversations, say like why eggs are only considered a breakfast food, that would really get me thinking. This book changes you. I love Hazel's outlook on her life. She doesn't feel bad for herself. She's accepted her fate.
The characters and John Green's amazing writing style is what really made this book a five star for me. I adore Hazel and Augustus's characters and wish we could have gotten a little more of their story..
I highly recommend this story to everyone, especially lovers of contemporary. Read this book, you won't regret it.
Monday, February 17, 2014
Booktube Interview with Ermahgerd Berks!
This week I interviewed Jamie from Ermahgerd Berks!What's your favorite color?
Aqua blue! I also love coral! Is that too specific? Maybe just any blue..and pink… I also really enjoy a good yellow. My favorite color changes often!
Favorite animal?
This is another complicated question! I love all animals and I always have! I used to do little reports on different animals when I was a kid for fun! I wanted to be a zookeeper so badly! Ha If had to choose…I will say… Cheetah! Or Giraffe, fox, owls, otters, dogs, cats…yeah I can’t choose!
Speaking of animals, do you have any pets?
I do have pets! I have 2 kitties, Albi Cat, named after a Dragon from Flight of the Conchords, he is a very pudgy black cat with one little white spot which kind of looks like a bow tie, and Carl Otis Winslow, who is our little orange kitty, Jeff named him Carl Otis Winslow after the father from Family Matters, we just call him Carl for short, and one puppy Caia, she is our little rescue puppy, we aren’t really sure what kind of dog she is but we think she is a German shepherd border collie mix! Pictures are attached! I also have 2 dogs (Lilo and Pippa) and 2 cats (Piper and Little Miss Beaujangles) that live with my parents!
What do you do? (I know we all wish we could say that we read books for a living).. are you a student? Do you work?
I work full time as the Coordinator, Volunteers and Community Development with Volunteer Greater Fredericton and Greater Fredericton Social Innovation. I am shared by the two organizations, both of which are non-profit! Basically I help all the non-profit organizations in our city find volunteers, I do workshops and presentations on the importance of volunteering and how to be involved in your community, and I plan events in the community! As well as many many other things! It keeps me very busy! :)
What can you be found doing in your down time (when you're not reading)?
In my down time I can be found lounging with Jeff and the animals! We both work a lot and we really enjoy spending out free time relaxing! We also love going to the market on the weekends, watching movies and traveling around when we can! I also love to bake and I do it as often as I can! J
Do you have any other favorite YouTubers aside from booktube?
I love Jenna Marbles, she was the first Youtuber I was actually subscribed to! She never fails to entertain me! I also love Grav3yardgirl, Leighannsays, essiebutton, missglamorazzi, Wonderly, Laura in the Kitchen, My Cupcake Addiction, and there are many more that I watch frequently!
What's your favorite ice cream?
I don’t discriminate, I will eat it all!!! Ha But if I had to choose, I like anything chocolate, for example Death By Chocolate! YUM
What's your top 3 favorite TV shows?
New Girl, The Office, and Teen Wolf, I’m not sure if that’s accurate but Teen Wolf is all I can currently think about! J haha The Office will forever be my favorite show and New Girl is my love, I have seen each season 6 times over!
Where are you dying to travel too?
The world!! I want to go everywhere! But if I had to choose I would love to go to Greece!
What's one of your greatest pet peeves?
Bullies! I can’t stand when people are mean and rude to others!
What's your favorite season, and why?
I love Fall! It is perfect sweater weather! I hate being hot and I hate being cold, so I enjoy the in between of Fall! I also love the colors and the leaves and how everything in pumpkin flavored!
Were you named after anyone?
I was weirdly named after Jamie Lee Curtis! Haha My mom just liked the name! Only my name is spelt Leigh rather than Lee! Very random!
Do you have any tattoos? If so what of/where?
I don’t have any, but I have been considering getting one!
Have you ever left the country?
I have! I have been to many of the states in the US and I have also been to Cuba and the Bahamas!
Top 3 movies?
Forrest Gump, Step Brothers (or any other Will Ferrell movie) and Billy Madison (Bonus: Catching Fire and all Disney films!)
What's your top 3 favorite bands/artists at the moment?
Of Monsters and Men, The Lumineers and Imagine Dragons ….and Backstreet Boys (ALWAYS haha)… Also Taylor Swift, her CD is always in my car, I love her.
Are you right or left handed?
Right Handed! But I can write with both, which came with many years of not paying attention in class and practicing writing with my left hand!
Do you have any neat tricks?
I have been professionally trained to make balloon animals! Which oddly enough has come in handy over the years! haha
What's your favorite song on the radio at the moment?
I don’t listen to the radio very often, but if Let It Go by Demi Lovato is on the radio, lets go with that one…because like everyone else, I am obsessed with Frozen!
Whats your favorite food? Least favorite?
Favorite food is cookies and least favorite is shellfish, ugh so gross! Cookies are so yum, I love them all! I would eat cookies for any meal!
You can find Jamie here:
Jamie's most recent video!
Friday, February 7, 2014
Favorite Literary Couples + Giveaway!
Go to PulseIt to create your free account!
If you are entering the giveaway, please leave your pulseit username in the comments! (and your favorite literary couples if you want to!)
Giveaway Info:
1. START DATE: 2/7/14 END DATE: 2/15/14
2. ELIGIBILITY—US citizens, 14 and older
3. PRIZE DRAWING— Random drawing from the comments section of this video.
Winners will be announced via video on 2/15/14
4. PRIZES— 5 people will win 1 copy of Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
http://www.pulseit.com/?couponcode=priceiswong
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Published February 21st 2012
Goodreads link
A lyrical novel about family and friendship from critically acclaimed author Benjamin Alire Sáenz.
Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world.
When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime.
And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.
The books in this video:
Book Satisfaction
I feel like there is some dissatisfaction going around in the booktube community (and in the reading world in general) about "over hyped books." I have many mixed feelings about this, and I'm going to try and share some of my thoughts here.
At the beginning of this year when I was thinking of some of my reading and booktubing resolutions. I thought that I might try and hold back a bit on getting too passionate about some of the books that I read. I didn't want to talk the book up too much, so then people's expectations would be too high. They could possibly become disappointed with that book because of the standards that I set for that book. But then I realized how silly this is. I'm a very passionate person and reading is just one of my passions. If I'm really excited about a book, I'm going to show it.
I myself have bought many books before just because so and so loved it and they hyped it up. I felt like I just had to buy it. (We've all been there.) Usually in these instances I'm not paying as much attention to what the book is about, just that the person loved it. What if that person and I don't like the same types of books?
I feel like if more booktubers took just a minute longer to really describe the book they are gushing about, not as many people would just immediately jump to amazon to purchase it. I'm sure the authors and publishers love that we have this effect on consumers (and on other booktubers) because of the money it brings in, but it can lead to dissatisfied readers. (And then flipped around, we as the viewers need to actually listen to what the booktuber is saying and see if this is a book that we would like.)
This seems like such common sense, but I see this happening all the time.
Make sure that the book is something that would interest you before you immediately buy it. I would recommend borrowing it first from a friend or going to your local library first. Those are free options, and if you end up hating it, you can give it back. We spend a lot of money on books, and so many of those books we don't even know what they are about. We just buy them because of the beautiful cover or because so and so liked it.
So summed up we can fixed this by 1.) Giving reviews for books that include what the book is about, not always just our feelings about it which is a lot more common that you would think. (I myself accidently do this a lot because I just want to gush about the book instead of giving useful information about it haha)
2.) As viewers we can listen more and really ask ourselves, is this a book that I might enjoy? I mean, it's great that say, your favorite booktuber likes it, but will you? If not, I'm sure there are thousands of other books that you will enjoy more.
3.) Limit our insane intake of books that we don't know anything about. (I'm guilty of this.) Again, I strongly encourage you to borrow books! The library is your friend!
I would love to hear what you guys think about this topic. There is more that I wanted to talk about, but this was a good starting point I think. Let me know in the comments!
At the beginning of this year when I was thinking of some of my reading and booktubing resolutions. I thought that I might try and hold back a bit on getting too passionate about some of the books that I read. I didn't want to talk the book up too much, so then people's expectations would be too high. They could possibly become disappointed with that book because of the standards that I set for that book. But then I realized how silly this is. I'm a very passionate person and reading is just one of my passions. If I'm really excited about a book, I'm going to show it.
I myself have bought many books before just because so and so loved it and they hyped it up. I felt like I just had to buy it. (We've all been there.) Usually in these instances I'm not paying as much attention to what the book is about, just that the person loved it. What if that person and I don't like the same types of books?
I feel like if more booktubers took just a minute longer to really describe the book they are gushing about, not as many people would just immediately jump to amazon to purchase it. I'm sure the authors and publishers love that we have this effect on consumers (and on other booktubers) because of the money it brings in, but it can lead to dissatisfied readers. (And then flipped around, we as the viewers need to actually listen to what the booktuber is saying and see if this is a book that we would like.)
This seems like such common sense, but I see this happening all the time.
Make sure that the book is something that would interest you before you immediately buy it. I would recommend borrowing it first from a friend or going to your local library first. Those are free options, and if you end up hating it, you can give it back. We spend a lot of money on books, and so many of those books we don't even know what they are about. We just buy them because of the beautiful cover or because so and so liked it.
So summed up we can fixed this by 1.) Giving reviews for books that include what the book is about, not always just our feelings about it which is a lot more common that you would think. (I myself accidently do this a lot because I just want to gush about the book instead of giving useful information about it haha)
2.) As viewers we can listen more and really ask ourselves, is this a book that I might enjoy? I mean, it's great that say, your favorite booktuber likes it, but will you? If not, I'm sure there are thousands of other books that you will enjoy more.
3.) Limit our insane intake of books that we don't know anything about. (I'm guilty of this.) Again, I strongly encourage you to borrow books! The library is your friend!
I would love to hear what you guys think about this topic. There is more that I wanted to talk about, but this was a good starting point I think. Let me know in the comments!
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
By Sarah J. Maas
Pub Date: August 27th 2013
Series: Throne of Glass #2
After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king's contest to become the new royal assassin. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown – a secret she hides from even her most intimate confidantes.
Keeping up the deadly charade—while pretending to do the king's bidding—will test her in frightening new ways, especially when she's given a task that could jeopardize everything she's come to care for. And there are far more dangerous forces gathering on the horizon -- forces that threaten to destroy her entire world, and will surely force Celaena to make a choice.
Where do the assassin’s loyalties lie, and who is she most willing to fight for?
My Rating:
(Yes I rated it 6/5 ice cream cones! It was THAT good!)
My Thoughts:
I thought that I loved the first book, but this book shined even brighter than the first! I realize now that the first book's events just had to happen so that we could set up this world and this series. I've been reading the author's blog quite a bit, and I'm thrilled that she plans to write at least 6 books! I loved that we got to find out more about the wyrdmarks, but I still want to learn more about the Fae! (Hopefully in this next book?) I still continue to adore Celaena in this book and her relationship with Chaol. *sigh* This book made my interest in Dorian grow and I can't wait to continue to read more about him! I must say, I did not see that ending coming. At all. Maybe it was obvious to some, but that hit me in the face like a ton of bricks. It's going to feel like a very, very long time until book three is out, but at least we have the novella bind up that comes out next month!
What did you all think of this book? Let me know in the comments below!
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