It has come to my attention that I am terrible about reviewing the books I read. I must only review about 10% of the books I read, which is really very few. If I reviewed more of them it might potentially help me have more posts for my blog and it might actually help me remember what I’ve read.
One of my reasons for not reviewing them is that I am lazy. Blogging is time consuming as it is, and I find writing reviews takes even more time as I contemplate a book and what I want to write about it. I’m not very skilled at writing my thoughts down coherently, I have to spend a lot of time contemplating what I want to say and reading things over otherwise I’m at risk of just typing out rambling sentences with no structure or coherence. I don’t think it is helped by the fact that I’m normally at work when I finish a book, or I’ve binge read it and finished in the middle of the night. Either way, there is no opportunity to write out some of my initial thoughts on a book as I am either sleeping or have to get back to work. This normally means that by the time I have chance to sit down and start writing a review I’ve begun another book and my initial need to write my thoughts out is gone, it leads to me forgetting some of the things I want to say and thus often a review does not get written even if I really loved the book.
When I do write reviews they tend to be for the books I either absolutely adored or invoked some other strong emotion from me that I need to write about. I also try and review books I’ve been talking about reading for ages and feel I should tell you what I thought, or books that I got a copy for from netgalley or what ever and it would be rude not to read and review. I think this is wrong though. There are plenty of books that I loved and enjoyed that I’ve not reviewed. I mention them in TTT posts and I mention how much I enjoyed them, but it turns out I have not in fact reviewed them for your reading pleasure, I want to try and change that. With series I would rather review a series as a whole, because it’s easier than writing bitty reviews whilst avoiding spoilers of the previous book, but for the numerous standalone books I read I would like to review more for you.
I don’t think it’s wrong I don’t review everything I read, because you don’t always have anything constructive, or even interesting, to say about a book. I don’t want to waste your time or mine on some books I read, but it would be nice to review more, it’s definitely something I should look into.
What about you guys, do you review everything you read, or are you a bit more selective? How do you decide which books you want to review and which you don’t? Is there are any hard and strong and fast rule you use for picking or is it more of a whim? And are there any books you choose not to review because you can’t say anything nice?
Series: #1 The Winner's Trilogy
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Dystopia
My Rating:
Winning what you want may cost you everything you love
As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.
One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.
I have not spoken about this book, I wanted to immediately write a review about it after I’d finished reading, but I knew my thoughts were too all over the place and it would become a bit of a rambling post about how this book was awesome. It is awesome, but I feel I can say a few more intelligent things about it than that.
I must admit, when this book first came out I did not hear that much about it because I didn’t think it was a book I wanted to read. I vaguely remember seeing good things about it, but I didn’t read the reviews, when it got mentioned in posts I generally ignored it because this was not a book on my TBR list. Then I saw it on offer for kindle, as I so often do with books, and I decided to buy it. Another impulse buy for me, an impulse buy that then sat on my kindle for about a month and then I figured I’d give it a chance. I know others felt the hype could ruin this read for them, for me I had completely avoided any hype and had no real expectations going into this book and I’m so glad for that.
This entire book is so well written, and the world building is so beautiful. It is also a difficult book to categorise, it felt a lot like a historical novel with the setting of this world, the use of slaves and the entire concept of conquering other countries to create an empire, and the way women are destined to marry all made it feel like a book set in the past in a period where Britain was conquering countries and building an empire. It did not feel like a stereotypical fantasy book, and although it is classified as a dystopian the elements of dystopian fiction are not obvious. It is very much its own individual book that feels like it cannot truly be classified, I only wish there were more fantasy books like this one.
Rutkoski’s ability to make me sympathise with both sides in this book, both the conquered and conqueror, was amazing. I was continually confused about who I should be rooting for when reading. I wanted to supported the enslaved, but then later on in the novel I could not help but feel that they were just as bad as those who had conquered them and they were targeting completely the wrong people in their revenge.
It’s a confusing book that really gets to you, your emotions will be all over the place and you will gripped from the beginning. You will not want to put the book down, it was unfortunate that I had chosen to read it during the week, I did not want to stop reading during my lunch break and throughout the working day my thoughts inevitably went back to the characters of this book, to Kestrel and Arin. This book lingered with me after finishing, I couldn’t help think back to it, especially after that ending. I was just upset I had not waited longer to finally read this book, maybe waited until it was closer to the release of the second book, but I am also extremely glad I didn’t wait because then I may never have found this book.
This is one of my favourite read of 2014, I’m glad I waited to read this book and I cannot wait for what comes next.
It’s like The Broke and the Bookish know me, because the theme for the week speaks to me on many levels, mostly on the level that I often buy books or intend to buy books then never get around to actually reading them. I’m trying to remedy this bad habit and attempt to buy less books, but I am pretty certain this will not happen.
Landline – Rainbow Rowell
This book was released in July 2014, I bought it basically as soon as it came out and now it sits sad and unloved in my TBR pile. I wish I had some excise, but I really don’t know what it would be. I have enjoyed all of Rowell’s books, which is why I ordered this one, I simply have not been in the mood to read it. That is no excuse, I think I’m also wary as I have seen some mixed opinions on this book, but I know I want to read it simply because the premise sounds interesting.
My excuse for not reading this when it was released is that I was in New Orleans. I reordered it, I intended to reread all the books on the flight over, because I am terrible at sleeping on planes, and then I discovered the wonders of watching films on a plane. I wanted to reread this series before venturing into the third book and I simply have not found the chance. Now I feel like I should wait for the arrival of the fourth book before rereading, but then I might never catch up on the series.
The Queen of the Tearling – Erika Johansen
I think there might be a theme here, I saw mixed reviews on this one too, not bad things, more like people had niggling little things that bothered them when reading that has led to me putting off reading this. I know I’ve heard plenty of good things too, but sometimes that is not enough motivation for me. I was so pleased when I bought this. I got it cheap from Tesco, and then I saw the version they were selling in Waterstones with the red pages and I wished I’d waited. I will read this book this year, honest.
I’m going to be honest about this one, this was pure impulse buy after seeing the pretty pictures of this book online. After Kelley over at Oh The Books mentioned I knew I needed this book in my life. I was so excited when it arrived in the post, and then promptly added it to my TBR pile, but I’ve just not been in the mood to get reading it. Damn my mood reading.
I’m including this on my list, but I have in fact started reading this now. I loved the premise of this book. It seems so relevant in the times when vloggers are a huge thing and everyone and their mom seems to watch beauty vloggers on youtube, then I just never really got around to it.
I was so damn excited that the Veronica Mars movie was coming out, and then when I discovered there was a book to follow on from that I was even happier. I instantly wacked it in my trolley and got a buying online. I then wanted to wait to rewatch from the beginning of the series. I did that, but for whatever reason I didn't continue by reading the book. It has now gathered a thick layer of dust on my shelf and looks a little unloved.
I was excited for this book for one simple reason, it was set in Louisiana. Then when Rachel over at Confessions of a Book Geek posted about how much she liked it I wanted to read it even more. Then I bought it, and for whatever reason that simple action made my desire to read it lessen some how. I still have it on my TBR and I’m hoping to resurrect my need to read it.
This book sounded so different and interesting I was immediately intrigued. Then I saw it on offer for Kindle, I decided to buy it, certain I would get to reading very quickly. I didn’t, it has been sat on my Kindle for months, I’m a little ashamed. I still am intrigued, though, and the cover is so pretty I need to start reading it.
There is one simple reason for me not reading this in 2014, apart from the fact it came out at the end of the year. I’m trying to hold off on buying it until it’s released in paperback because I like my books to be the same. If I get the very pretty hardback they won’t match on my shelf, that is something that is not acceptable to me.
I wanted this book as soon as I saw the cover for it. It was bound to be a good book with a cover like that. I still haven’t read it, though, or bought it for that matter. It is just so pretty, though, and I always find myself having to look what the book is about, because I never looked at that when adding to my TBR list. I’m shallow with books, sometimes. It sounds interesting, though, and I was really excited for this book so it’s going in my basket to be bought at a later date.
Those are my books I really should have read last year, but will most probably get read this year instead. Have you read any of them, maybe hearing your views will help motivate me? I’m like that, sometimes hearing a lot about a book is enough to get me to pick it up, I’m very suggestible.
I have been binge reading again guys. I was doing so well. I had variety in my reading and I was managing to not get stuck in one genre for too long. Then I decided to read some historical romance and got stuck in the genre. I had impulse bought a couple of books over Christmas on my Kindle and this is the result, not that I am complaining. It’s been really fun, but I do thing I may have to leave the Historical romance genre next week because I am at great risk of reading too much and not liking it.
I want to say I’ve done lots of fun and exciting things, but that would be a lie. I’ve been at work all week, my first full week at work and it has drained me a bit. I’ve barely done anything this week, I did go to the cinema and see Woman in Black: Angel of Death, I enjoyed it but it definitely wasn’t the first film. Maybe it was me watching in the cinema instead of watching it with four other people nesting on one bed with so many duvets it was ridiculous, like I did with the first. I don’t know, but it was decent, but I don’t know if I’d go out of my way to watch it again. Then, this weekend I’ve been attempting to get over the tail end of my cold, I have bouts of being able to breath through my nose, and my cough is subsiding, but I definitely used it as an excuse to sit in my pyjamas and nest in blankets Friday night.
New To Me
An Improper Proposal – Patricia Cabot (it’s Meg Cabot when she wrote a bunch of historical romance, in case you didn’t know)
What I’ve Been Reading
The Woodcutter – Kate Danley (this was exactly like reading a fairytale, and it was the first book I’ve read for the Fairytale Retelling challenge, it also counts as me Dusting off my Shelf because I bought it on the 10th January 213. Yes, 2013!)
And that is my reading week, six books in seven days is rather impressive if I do say so myself. You all thought I was lying when I said I’d been binge reading, this is my proof. It does mean I’ve barely written anything for my blog, but I’m hoping next week will be better. I’m dedicating weekends to blog things I think.
Rachel over at Confessions of a Book Geek nominated me for this award last week I think, but during my little Christmas break anyway, so here is my attempt to answer these questions and help you guys to get to know me.
1. Did you have a book that meant a lot to you as a child? One that was gifted from a favourite relative, or a repeat bedtime story?
My immediate instinct is to say Harry Potter. My nan initially bought the first two books from my brother, and I obviously immediately read them after him and fell in love with the wizarding world at the age of about 8. I know that is a very obvious choice, though.
I remember we had a book by Dr Seuss, it was the Sleep Book. It’s a first edition that I believe was my dad’s, we have no jacket cover to it, it’s just the book and as a child I used to play library (that is a story for another time) and so it is covered with stamps that I put in the book. It was a book I used to read to myself when I couldn’t sleep because it was guaranteed to make me yawn and I absolutely adored it. I think it was one of my favourite childhood books that was actually written for children.
2. Is there any author or book that you collect, and will always welcome multiple editions of the same title?
I don’t really collect books, I don’t own multiple copies of any book or search out specific book covers or anything. I do have certain authors I go out of my way to buy books for. Authors such as Cecilia Ahern, Meg Cabot, and Sarah Dessen are ones I am committed to buying books from, but I certainly wouldn’t say I collect them.
3. Say that you find yourself judging a book by it’s cover (not that we ever do that!!!); what sort of covers do you go for? Are there any that are an absolute turn off?
I will allow the above book cover do the talking for me, I adore them, definitely some of my favourites.
4. If you could pick any imaginary animal to bring home to Mom with an earnest, “Can we keep him???”, what animal would it be?
This is a hard one for me because I’ve never really wanted an imaginary creature. I always kind of wanted a daemon from The Northern Lights series, because they seemed totally awesome. I also wanted a pygmy puff because they were so God damn adorable in Harry Potter.
5. Is there any book to movie adaptation that you simply refuse to watch? No way, no how, you’re not even giving them the opportunity to mess it up??
I’ve not seen The Fault on Our Stars film yet, because I’ve not been in the mood to sit and cry uncontrollably over a film, which I know is how it would end. I’ve not seen If I Stay for the same reason. I haven’t seen Divergent because the third book put me off the series so I don’t know if I’m willing to watch the film.
6. What is the most unusual book you’ve ever read? (Plot, writing style, chapter layout, etc.?)
That’s a difficult one, I’ve read a lot of different book but I don’t know what is the most unusual. Maybe it would have to be Matthew Reilly's Jack West Jr series simply for the way they are written. The chapters often feature diagrams fo the place where the main character is, to help demonstrate what the author is describing, but there isn't really a lot of description. The books are all about action, they are fast-paced and very like a movie and very different to the books I would normally read. I really enjoyed those books and I hope there is more to the series at a later date.
7. Is there any book or series that you’ve read that is so totally outside of your normal genre, but you loved it and would recommend it to others as a “take a risk!” type of book?
I read Gone, Girl, which is completely different to anything I normally read, it stayed with me for days after finishing because of that ending. Then there are some of the biographies I’ve read, such as Amy Poehler’s, which I enjoyed and they are not normally a thing I like to read. Last year I read MWF seeking BFF by Rachel Bertsche which I really enjoyed all about a woman’s search for new friends when she had moved to a new city with her husband. It was such an interesting read, nice to read about someone's real struggle to make friends, it’s very relatable and I did want to buy it for all my friends.
8. Do you have any bookish collections, or anything you covet and hope to someday collect? Candles, artwork, bookcases?
I would love to collect bookish artwork, but I would also love to have more bookshelves. I’ve always really wanted a library in my home like in Beauty and the Beast. I don’t know if I’ll ever get the library, but more bookish artwork is definitely a thing I can aspire to.
9. What books has been on your TBR list the longest, but you just can’t convince yourself to pick it up?
I’ve had the book Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell on my TBR pile for over a year now, I think I bought it after seeing the film trailer. I’ve still not watched the film either, it’s terrible really. Then there are books which have probably been left unread on my kindle for longer than that. I’m a shameless impulse book buyer, though, I see a book I have been interested in for a while in a shop on offer and I’ll buy it even if I know I’m not in the mood for it or don’t have the time to read it. It’s quite embarrassing, I should probably stop buying more books and do something about my unread book pile.
10. You get a $500 gift card for all things bookish – do you run to your nearest bookstore and spend like a fiend? Or do you create pro/con lists (a la Rory Gilmore) to make sure you get just the right & perfect & wonderful bookish things? Or are you eyeing a particularly expensive bookcase somewhere?
I want to say I would be really sensible planning out all the things I want to by and finding the best deals, but that’s a total lie I would go absolutely mental, I’m sure. I would buy every book I had even the most passing of interests in and my TBR pile would be obscene.
I am terrible at keeping these awards going because I hate having to go around tagging folk, so if you want to do this then please, continue on from me and link me, because I love getting to know people, just answer the questions I have and you’re sorted.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
Social Icons