Conversation about Books

Today's musing: do you keep your books pristine or abuse them (folding pages, writing in, hi-lighting, doodling, etc.)?

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26 SepRara ‏@rarabesh

@-------- Used, but not abused. Loved, but not worn out. Each break on the spine reminds me of each time I read and re-read a story.

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26 Sep

@rarabesh I love your poetic response <3

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I tend to look at my books as my collection. Collection in the same way someone would collect action figures, and keep them in a box for value. My books, my collection, has a very high value to me. In this way, I prefer to keep them as clean as possible - I want to have them forever. I'll never sell off or put a monetary value to them, and to me they'll all be priceless. 

Having said that, I like looking at a section of worn books (my Anne Rice paperback novels) and see the multitude of cracks in the spine and just know I had read them over and over and kept them in arms reach throughout a time. There might possibly be a chocolate or a candy stain, but that's alright, because it's MY stain. It is MY book and it's okay for ME to mess up MY book. 

I have a book, Bitten - By Kelley Armstrong. It is tragic how battered this book is. I would be upset, however!; I've lent this book to about 5 different girls and got them all hooked on a fabbbulous series. So, even though it pains me a little to see an unfamiliar stain, and that someone had dog-eared the book to keep place, it shows how enjoyed the story was. Would I buy another Bitten to look good on my shelf? No.  Had I lent the latest of her books out and it came back battered - yes, yes I would have. 

I like to go 'treasure hunting' (thrift store hopping) to find hardcover editions of books/series I discovered too late. Harry Potter, for example, I had discovered when my grandmother bought my brother the softcover of Philosphers Stone.  As I caught up to new released, I would buy the hardcover, and I've been digging for perfect looking hardcovers to complete the series.  Likewise, I've been searching for AGES for a hardcover of City of Bones/City of Ashes.

I love to collect books of stories I've read. There are very few, in fact, I think only 3 books total that are on my shelf that I haven't read - yet. This gives me the missing motivation to read them so I can confidently say EVERY book on my shelf has been read and enjoyed by me.

What do you think?

xox

R

Book Review: Fathomless - Jackson Pearce

Fathomless - Jackson Pearce

I drowned in this book.

If I was a twin, and this book was an 'angel', I'd be an ocean girl right now.

I don't know how to put my feelings of this book into a coherent paragraph that flows point to point.  So, I'm not going to do that. I'm just going to word-vomit wearing my fan-girl outfit. There are spoilers, btw.

I enjoyed the multiple-personality of Nadia. I'm not sure if this was intentional, but it was a great way to showcase the difference between a human with a soul, and something that's not 'human'. While Nadia/Lo shared the same skin, hair, eyes, and toes, there was a distinct difference between them. You could 'hear' it in their voice.  You could see it in their actions. And if I were to over-analyze the differences, I might therein see what Miss Pearce thinks the difference of a human to a non-human would be.

For example: Nadia is embarrassed when Celia sees her naked. Nadia will wear the towel/dress Celia offers her.  Lo doesn't care.  That difference of proprietary is significant to Nadia being a human and Lo letting go of her soul.

Another example: Nadia fights with her life to remember her past. Lo wants to forget, accept life as it is, and look toward the beautiful ocean and the angels that will bring her beyond.

What I really like, is that Lo isn't completely devoid of her humanity. While it's in her nature/instinct to kill, she doesn't want to but moreover; she CHOOSES not to. She CHOOSES at a point to save a life, as LO. As this non-human personality.

This makes me believe that perhaps, Nadia/Lo hasn't completely lost her soul, if that is where her humanity is kept. If she did lose her soul, then the humanity part must be part of something else that isn't so easily forgotten; and that part might be the key to bring down the antagonists.


I enjoyed the constant ebb and flow (get it) of water illusions in the book. I, too, feel drawn to the big blue waters, and I quickly got lost in the feelings of gargantuan power the oceans can have over a person. I loved it.

The nuances that connect the twisted fairytales books - While each of her previous books (Sisters Red, Sweetly) can be stand alone stories, each of these 3 stories are connected in the same universe. Miss Pearce connects and weaves them together like a subtle spiderweb. If you aren't diligent, you could miss it. I'm going to re-read all 3 books again until I can catch every connection.


From all this random fangirl word vomit, I loved this book, I continue to love Jackson Pearce, and I am already experiencing readers-frustration (a la sexual frustration) waiting for her next book; COLD SPELL.


Time to go for a swim...

Book Review: Cinder - Marissa Meyer

Cinder - Marissa Meyer

So, last week, I finished this book.  I had my eye on this story for nearly a year now. Sometimes, the mystery in your mind is more satisfying then a story that... isn't.

Twisted Fairytales seems to be a new sub-genre in YA fiction. This is where Cinder belongs. I might put it lower on the totem pole, below Miss Jackson Pearces' Sister's Red,  Sweetly and SOON TO COME OUT - Fathomless. 

I forgive the predictable plot that mirrors Cinderella, as it should, the predictable characters are less easier to forgive. Perhaps it isn't even that - perhaps I just was unable to connect with Cinder. I adored her sidekick Iko (think of Eve from Disney's Wall-e), and her step-mother with step-daughters were done well enough. The refreshing part of this story was 1 sister was not evil (although, predictable unlucky Cinderella puts this sister in jeopardy).

The romance between Cinder and the Prince fell flat. It was obvious the Prince had interest in her, but you never knew quite why. Cinder wasn't far enough on a scale to tip it in her favour. She wasn't extremely homely or extremely pretty or extremely funny or extremely brash.. I think to gain the Prince's favour in any way, she'd have to stand out from the crowd. So, WHY does Prince show her any interest to being with?

Cinder had good ambitions and had a good heart, she had good reasons to make the choices she did. I did feel pity on her and I did want her to 'win'.. and she might have 'won' but never 'triumphed'.

The other twist to the tale probably stems from the authors love of Sailor Moon (okay, you found me out - that's really the reason why I wanted to read this book so badly).  Maybe it was my imagination, but I could easily pick out the Moon-esque similarities (the gloves, the lunars, prince is an ethic tuxedo mask). It's not a BAD thing by any means, but perhaps these themes/ideals could have been woven more intrictaly in the story.

It felt like the narrator was an excited young girl trying to tell me an epic love story. Usually when that happens, details are left out. Atmosphere suffers. The mood is a constant high. 

I liked this book. I will read the sequel. When I want a 'twisted fairytale' done right, I'll go to my Jackson Pearce part of my bookshelf and re-read those. 

Fantastic Giveaway - Hurry!

Click here to enter a fantastic giveaway!

Over at a blog I follow (and read just about every day), they have been having a fantastic large giveaway, that ends in just a couple of days.

It all starts with Remembrance.  Lizzie Davenport, a classy lady reincarnated, has fate shoved in her face when Drew Carmichael transfers into her school. She's immediately hooked, fascinated, can't take her eyes off him... but, he's nothing but a cold icicle. 

If you haven't read this series, this give-a-way is a perfect chance in getting immersed into a fate-smashed, i love you but i don't love you story. The 3rd (and final) book has been revealed and it sounds like the story will take you right to the 'beginning' of their time.. 
I love history stories like this, and it sounds like it has a really great push and pull love-hate-fate relationship. 

Good luck to all entrents!

Book Review: Revived - Cat Patrick

Revived - Cat Patrick

This is the only non-zombie zombie book I've read. For the record.

It's taken me a little while to capture what I really want to say about this story -- it's more than just 'I really liked it'. While I did like it, very much, I wanted to point out several things this author achieves besides writing a captivating story.

A - Due to the nature of the secret-drug Revive, the agency calls the man in charge 'God'. The agents are thus denoted as 'Disciples'. Even as the story is told through a young woman's point of view, there is a definite symbology (a word I just created) to religion. She's lived this kind of life and taken for granted everything she's been told as the truth and nothing but the truth.  The perfect alignment of circumstances - she  begins to ask her own questions, and to see the grey areas of places she knew as Black or White.

I particularly liked this, and perhaps it is my own imagination, but it's a sly way for Cat Patrick to have Daisy identify with people coming of age, coming to realize they have to form their own thoughts and opinions around heavy issues - Life, Death, 'Religion' (the secret government agency she's with) and other Adults (when you realize, just because they are older, does NOT mean they are right).

B - Healthy detachment. Hear me out - a love story consists of person meeting person, person needing person, person doing everything possible to be with person, no matter the obstacle.  Cute, right? Sometimes.  In this case, Daisy is able to keep her love-interest at a healthy arms-distance, even through very difficult times. Maybe this is because she's used to just up and leaving? Maybe this is because there are more serious issues at hand? (MORE serious than a YA love interest?! Gasp, say it isn't so! BUT IT IS!) My point is, while I sat and rooted for this young couple, I was almost proud of Daisy's ability to separate when necessary, to have patience and believe in things will work out. To give the other person room to Breathe and sort his crap out. *

*Having said all this, there are times when they move mountains to be together. Thumbs up for that!


I'll stop the wall of text here.. and give you words that also describe this book;

-Awesome
-Gripping
-Fantastically well done - point of view wise
-Strong Heroine
-Page Turner (i was carrying this around with me, even into the bathroom)
-Surprisingly no zombies for a drug that revives people from the dead...

Book Review - The Selection, Kiera Cass

The Selection - Kiera Cass

I'm not in a writing mood, but I just had to get this one down on screen-paper.

Full disclosure, I got this story mixed up in my head. It was rec'd to me by a perfect friend, and we must've been talking about several books at once, because I thought this story was going to involve a plane crash and a deserted island full of beauty queens. Kept waiting for that plane crash to happen -- but when they landed safely, I was surprized! Anyway,

I --loved-- reading this book because:

- A strong female heroine, in the shadows of despair, is able to keep what's important in front of her and that's enough. She's not for wanting anything (except maybe more food) because she already knows what she has is great. That takes strength and character, and Miss Cass didn't have to heave on a sad backstory to make us see and believe it.  So, kick ass girl? Yep. Cool name? Yep.

- The love interest indeed sounds great. Seems special to her. Through America, we learn what HE has done, sacrificed, and what he would do for those he loved. Clearly they were on the same page in terms of values. Except... he has a tragic flaw.  Realistic relationship problems at that age? Yep. Ironic intrigue? YEP.

- When introduced to a world she can't have, America stays herself. Independence. Confidence in who she is, even when swarmed with temptations.  Good role model for impressionable ladies minds? Yep.

- Love triangle -- this is where things get good and juicy. The prince of the story? I like him. I like him because he's the boy from the other, other side of the track. At first unattainable, but then, he shows America something she hasn't had the freedom or space to see -- how a friendship can grow, and what that can mean for her.  Little by little, he wins her over. It seems clear to us that he see's a spark in her and is just as stubborn as she is, even though he can do it more diplomatically. I enjoyed their banter. Because - it wasn't oozing with romance. It had a much stronger foundation.

- I want America to be crowned.

- I want the next book in my hands tonight.

Preview: The Moon Dwellers (David Estes)

Okay, I am rampaging through the internet and coming up with all these other authors I've never seen before but immediately want on my bookshelf. I mean, their books. On the shelf. Not.. them.. really.. well..