Book #16: Aslyum May 26, 2015

The sixtenth book I read for my 50 book challenge was Aslyum by Madeleine Roux. This book covers my “A book with a one-word title” and I finished reading it on 5/5/2015.

Overall I rate this:

I read this book because my friend Rachel and I are working on a creepy novel and I wanted some inspiration. Of course the cover inspired me to pick this book, as did the title, since I wanted something that was twisted, and involved people breaking. While it didn’t fit perfectly with what I was looking for it was still a very good book. The characters were well written, the world’s history was believable and interesting, the twist at the end was suprising (to me at least). There were moments where I felt the anxiety that the characters were feeling while looking at things they shouldn’t look at.

I adore the fact that they used pictures to bring the world to life as well. I absolutly adore this, just as much as I did in Miss Peregreine’s Home for Peculiar Children. I want more books to do this, to bring life through pictures into their story. It makes a world of a difference to me to SEE what the author is seeing.

I will definitly be buying the second and third book in this series.

Anya’s Ghost May 19, 2015

I read Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol. I finished it on 04/28/2015. It doesn’t fall under any categories because I already read my graphic novel.

Overall I rate this book:

This graphic novel was a short little read but I honestly really liked it. I feel like a lot of girls can relate to Ana, especially the outcasts. I didn’t expect the ending, that’s for damn sure. While it’s short it packs a punch and a deep meaning behind it, that I think a lot of girls should read at any age. A reminder that not everyone has their shit together, and not everyone who is polished and poise on the outside is perfect on the inside.

One saying that I read today that fits perfectly is:

Read this if you need a bit of a pick me up, or a reminder that you’re awesome.

Book #12: Hollow City: The Second Novel of Miss Peregine’s Pecuilar Children April 14, 2015

For my twelvth book that I read for my 50 book challeng was Hollow City: The Second Novel of Miss Peregine’s Pecuilar Children by Ransom Riggs. It covers my “A book published this year” (paperback came out in 2015, and that’s the one I read), and I finished reading this on 03/16/2015.

Overall, I give this book:

I was on a reading spree this weekend and today was no exception. I picked this book up this morning of all times and finished it a little after midnight. I put it down a handful of times to eat, play a game of Cards Against Humanity, and do some dishes. Otherwise, I was engulfing this book. This is pretty much all I did was just read, and I loved it so much there was no way I was going to bed before I could finish it. Like I’m sure I said in the first book, I adore the picture aspect of this series. I am absolutly in love with seeing the characters come to life, and seeing them in their “natural habitat”. This story had twists and turns that I was not expecting, which is wonderful since the first one I kind of pegged the ending about two-thirds in.

It’s amazing to see how much Jacob is growing in this book too, and how much it opens up for the third book, gah! I can’t wait for that, and I have to wait until September! UGH! Such a long wait! I really do hope this is going to keep going past three books, but I think it’s only going to be a trilogy…if anyone knows differently please let me know because I am in love with this book.

Also, there are rumors that the first book may be picked up to be made into a movie, and if that happens that will be one movie I am definitly not going to be fighting my husband to go see. No sir, I will be in that midnight release (well, within reason depending on my schedule, you know) and watch the shit out of that.

If you haven’t gathered already, I really enjoyed this book.

Book #11: Serenity Leaves on the Wind April 7, 2015

**Warning: Possible spoilers from the TV show/movie, so, I warned you**

The eleventh book that I read for my 50 book challenge was Serenity: Leaves on the Wind by Zac Whedon and Georges Jeanty. This book covers my “A graphic novel”, and I finished it on 03/15/2015.

I would rate this:

And holy crap…Holy. Actual. Crap. This was great, wonderful, fantastic. *sighs* I miss Firefly so much, and now I have the urge to rewatch the all of it again. This comic gives a bit of closure but opens up some more things as well. You get to see Wash and Zoe’s baby, you get to see what happens thanks to them announcing everything to the world. There’s more alliance, more shooting, more flying, and more sex. It’s just…*sigh* so wonderful.

Seriously though…I need to re-watch this.

Book #6: Skinwalker February 17, 2015

The sixth book I read for my 50 book challenges was Skinwalker by Faith Hunter. I’m counting this book towards “A mystery or thriller”. I finished it on 01/31/2015.

Overall I give this book:

It was pretty amazing. While the beginning took a bit to get me drawn in once they started to add in her history and why Jane was who she was I was hooked! I love how kickass she is, and yet she still messes up and has inner problems. Jane isn’t a “Plain Jane” and she’s not overpowered as some female’s tend to be. She enjoys a little romance and flirtation, but doesn’t let it take over her mind. That’s one of the biggest issues with a lot of female protagonist is they tend to focus on the romance not the kickassery.

The Jane Yellowrock series has a new fan, and I definitely plan on buying the others (already got the second!) Pretty excited!

Book #5: Being Buddha at Work February 10, 2015

The fifth book that I read for my 50 book challenge was Being Buddha at Work: 108 Ancient Truths on Change, Stress, Money, and Success by Franz Metcalf and B.J. Gallagher with a Foreword by His Holiness The Dalai Lama. It covers my “A nonfiction book”, and I finished it on 01/30/2015.

I picked up this book because I have been having some stress from work. I bought the audiobook through Audible using one of my credits for the month.

Overall, I rate this:

The audiobook is read by three different people, two guys and a woman. There are 108 different questions, and each question is read, and then someone reads a quote that fits with the question, and the woman reads a page or two to answer the question. Some of the questions are things like “What Role Doe Expectations Play in Personal and Organizational Success?” or “Can the Buddha’s Teachings Help Boost Employee Morale?”.

The major thing I like about this book is it focuses on all aspects of a company, and it doesn’t only focus on management or underlings. There are some that deal with a difficult boss vs a horrible boss, or a problematic employee. All of them are put into a realist goal, and they understand that no one is perfect.

I’m not a Buddhist, but I do enjoy Buddism. I have attend temple before, though it’s far away and I haven’t gone in a few months. The concept behind it is what intrigues me, that people find inner peace instead of through a higher power. For someone who has to see things to believe them, that makes me happy. Even if you’re not a Buddhist this book would be helpful because a lot of them help you understand basic human nature and things to do that will make your life easier in the workplace.

I saw one person who read one per day for 108 days each morning. That is definitely something you could do, and spread out the positive thoughts throughout this book, or you can read it relatively quickly since it’s only 180 pages.

Book #4: The Cat Who Saw Red February 3, 2015

The fourth book that I read for my 50 book challenge was The Cat Who Saw Red by Lilian Jackson Braun. It covers my “A book you can finish in a day”, and I finished it on 01/16/2015.

This book was recommended to me by my amazing friend Rachel. It took me less than 24 hours to read, though it was split up over two days (minus the first 30 or so pages that I started back in November) because of a headache.

Overall, I give this book:

It was a decent book, I enjoyed the cats; however, it was a very slow read. Slow in the sense that I wanted to scream at the main character to open his eyes and see the truth. At one point I was actually speaking outloud and saying “Seriously?” and my husband was chuckling at me because I was talking to a book.

Random tidbits that kept be intrested kept popping up, so I enjoy that, and I did finish the book, but I don’t think I’ll read the other 28 books in the “The Cat Who…” series. I can see where someone would like the cozy, slow paced mystery, it’s just not for me.

I’m glad I stepped out of my normal reading zone though. Thank you for the suggestion, Rachel!

How I Read 6 Books in January January 31, 2015

I love to read, and there was a time when I would read six books in a week, purely because it consumed my very being. That time was high school, when I didn’t work, I had little responsibilities, and homework was for the weak (or for the worried by lava lamp at 3am when I finished reading my book).

I’ve always read, and then suddenly stopped when I hit college and was introduced to a computer screen. Computer started to take over my life and reading was a long forgotten memory. I picked it up again for about a year (when I took a bus everywhere) and then again forgot about it.

Last year I decided to change that. Last year I read 44 books and that still wasn’t enough; however, with a full-time job, school, and other responsibilities it was harder to find the time.

This year my goal is at least 52 books (one per week) if not more.

Currently I’m ahead of schedule, and I’m so thrilled! I have read six books this month:

• Fractured Fairy Tales (anthology) – 01/04/2015
• A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore – 01/08/2015
• Fool by Christopher Moore – 01/14/2015
• The Cat Who Saw Read by Lilian Jackson Braun – 01/16/2015
• Being Buddha at Work by Franz Metclaf – 01/30/2015
• Skinwalker by Faith Hunter – 01/31/2015

The first book was pretty sure, and I was on vacation, so I was able to finish it pretty easily. The second book was just amazing and I got a good chunk of it done on my vacation, but finished it on my lunch breaks.

The third book I introduced audiobooks to the mix, because with working it’s difficult to find the time to read. I would listen whenever I got the chance, but it took me a bit longer. I tend to read faster than the voice actors speak, but honestly I enjoyed listening to this voice actor.

Being Buddha was also an audiobook that I listened to when I couldn’t read, and at the same time I was reading Skinwalker when I could sit and focus on reading. Most of my day free time Friday and Saturday were determined on finishing Skinwalker (IT WAS SO GOOD!)

Basically, I mixed it up. I kept it entertaining and made sure that I had some short books and long books intermixed. Granted, nothing was over 400 pages, so nothing was TOO long, but The Cat Who and Being Buddha were both 250 or fewer pages.

If you don’t use audiobooks I highly recommend it. A friend of mine, Denise, has a great post on the 9 Benefits of Audiobooks, check it out. A lot of the points she makes stands, though I have noticed that my particular library isn’t as well stocked with audiobooks that I want to read, so I tend to use Audible.com a lot more. Also, I think it adds something to the book sometimes, like Fool I wouldn’t have been able to read without the audiobooks, and my best friend just finished reading It by Stephen King and LOVES the voice actor for that one (she says the voices make it super creepy).

Keep on reading! What books have you been reading lately?

Book #3: Fool January 27, 2015

The third book I read for my 50 book challenges was Fool by Christopher Moore. It covers my “A Funny Book” challenge, finished on 01/14/2015.

This book was great! It had me laughing randomly througout it even if it was due to random childish cursing or terms.

Overall I give it:

While I did enjoy the book it was a very difficult read for me. I love the stories and concepts behidn Shakespeare but the language makes me enjoy reading it as much. Also, there were times where it was confusing to follow the story, though that could be due to the original concept of the book and not Christopher Moore. I would recommend this book though if you like cursing, random sex, hilarious outbursts, and just laughing your ass off.

If you’re able to put out the extra money listen to the audiobook! It definitly MAKES the book. The voice actor did a wonderful job of capturing all the characters, especiall Pocket and Drool!

Book #2: A Dirty Job January 20, 2015

The second book I read for my 50 book challenge was A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore. It covers my “A book recommended by a friend”, as it was recommended by my friend Em on Facebook. I finished this book on 01/08/2015.

This book…this book was absolutly fantastic! It was recommended to me by my friend Em because of a short story character I write about named Nessie. And Holy Crap, guys, I loved it!

I give it 5 out of 5 stars!

It follows a guy named Charlie and his life. Charlie is a Beta Male, as he reminds the readers throughout the story. He is very imaginative, and he has a hilarious thought process, that we all secretly keep hidden. I think I just click with Charlie because he seems to match my inner paranoia, just he says it out loud.

A Dirty Job is well written, keeps you on your toes throughout a lot of the story, has a ton of moments that made me literally laugh out loud, and is just over all enjoyable. While there are moments were you want to skip a head a few paragraphs to get to the point it is well worth the read and did not take away from the story at all. I am definitly a forever fan of Christopher Moore now.

So much so that I have already picked out my next book, “A Funny Book” to be Fool by Christopher Moore! Can’t wait for that one!