2014 Reading Resolutions

It's the end of 2013, and yeah, I  know, I haven't really been review that many books. Mostly because I got all tuckered out by all the books I had reviewed in 2012. There are so many stories that stuck in my mind and that I was experiencing all at once everyday that I thought it would be best if I didn't add more to my hallucinating state. 

My plans for the New Year is to only read books that I am genuinely interested in, and give the most honest and out truth reviews I possibly can, because I miss this connection and habit that I built up to write down my thoughts on a book I just finished. Some books I'm planning to read are:

Allegiant by Veronica Roth (Book 3 of Divergent Series)

My review for the Divergent and Insurgent are hyperlinked. So go ahead and feel free to read my thoughts on the series. 

Summary:

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories. 

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love. 

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

from goodreads

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Summary:

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.

from goodreads

I've heard really good things about this book, and I have been wanting to read a really cute and girly love story lately. 

The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson

Summary:

There's a creepy new terror haunting modern-day London.

Fresh from defeating a Jack the Ripper killer, Rory must put her new-found hunting skills to the test before all hell breaks loose…

But enemies are not always who you expect them to be and crazy times call for crazy solutions. A thrilling teen mystery.

from goodreads

I have had this book on my shelf for what seems to be close to a year, and have not been in the mood to read a ghostly story. Hopefully I will get to this book in 2014. 

There are many more indie books of series I want to finish of course, and much more to come. 

Happy reading

Clara

Post-NaNoWriMo

I use Grammarly plagiarize check because I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.

November 1st, 2013 was the second year that I tried to complete nanowrimo. Last year I was new and extremely excited to be writing 50,000 words in the course of a month. I spent hours inside wearing my bright florescent sweater and drinking tea, writing word after word like my life depended on it. This year was quite different. I did not plan out and set up a plan for what I was going to write this year, and that is why I failed and was not able to complete those 50,000 words I wanted so badly to be put down.

I congratulate those of you who have been bathing in the glory and success you got on the last day. So not letting this be a pity party of me not accomplishing my goals, I have some tips for you guys that will be helpful for editing and getting a published copy of your book.

1. check out the nanowrimo website and use all of their resources-there are so many opportunities that are in the sponsor tab of the website. All of which you should take advantage of like Amazon's CreateSpace which gives you two free copies of your novel. 
2. get a writing partner-if you didn't already have one, there's no better time than right now, right? I mean you've got a loose rough draft ready to be teared apart and then put back into the beauty it is. Tumblr's writing tag can be helpful to find others that are looking for writing partners like you. Also goodreads, for example the Beta Reader Group, which I am a part of. Plus, I'd love to read anything you've written during nanowrimo. Just send me an email at clarareads@gmail.com
3. use Grammarly.com-this website is like your own personal editor that you can use anytime of day you want. Basically someone who won't get annoyed or be too busy to help you when you most need it. :)

If you guys have anymore ideas or suggestions that I can add to the list feel free to leave a comment below. 

Have fun writing/editing 

Clara

Know Me Better (#1)

Hi guys! I found out about this meme from Forever YA. The meme is actually from I am a Reader, Not a Writer  So, basically it is a meme of five questions for you guys to know me better.
Here are the Qs&As




•What was the last thing that made you cry?

Growing up I learned that a known is a person, place or thing, so I won't say who or where. The last thing that made me cry was The Perks of Being a Wallflower movie.

•What chore do you absolutely hate doing?

I hate cleaning the bathroom. Also making my bed.

•What is your favorite form of exercise?

Dancin' with my earbuds in and just rocking out.

•What is your current desktop picture?

•You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere. You have to depart right now. Where are you gonna go?

London, England and then I'm heading to France.

In My Mailbox (#19)

The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson

After her near-fatal run-in with the Jack the Ripper copycat, Rory Devereaux has been living in Bristol under the close watch of her parents. So when her therapist suddenly suggests she return to Wexford, Rory jumps at the chance. But Rory's brush with the Ripper touched her more than she thought possible: she's become a human terminus, with the power to eliminate ghosts on contact. She soon finds out that the Shades—the city's secret ghost-fighting police—are responsible for her return. The Ripper may be gone, but now there is a string of new inexplicable deaths threatening London. Rory has evidence that the deaths are no coincidence. Something much more sinister is going on, and now she must convince the squad to listen to her before it's too late.

In this follow-up to the Edgar Award-nominated The Name of the Star, Maureen Johnson adds another layer of spectacularly gruesome details to the streets of London that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

from goodreads


I was so excited to find this book in my local bookstore, and have it signed!! I knew Maureen Johnson stopped by the area I live in during her book tour, but I didn't know she went to my bookstore! It was the most wonderful surprise. The novel seems shorter than the first novel, but I am hoping to read it sometime during spring break. :D

This or That Book Tag

I found this on tumblr, by manelreads. Thought I'd like to do it. I will be tagging the people below:

Delaney from http://theawkward-ness.blogspot.com/
Grace from http://www.thehumblewatermelon.blogspot.ca/

Though anyone can do this tag if you'd like!!
audio or book in hand?

In all honesty, audio books are more handy for me, but I can't afford audiobooks as often as an actual book.

soft cover or hardback?

Hardback cover, I think I actually wrote a post about this, here.

fiction or nonfiction?

Fiction

fantasy world or real life issues?

Fantasy World

harry potter or twilight?

Harry Potter

kindle, ipad, or other?

Nook, and ipod

borrow or buy?

Buy, I feel more at ease than borrowing.

bookstore or online?

Definitely bookstore

tell me one time or total trilogy?

Paranormal Romance: one time because there's just too many triologies out there for that genre.

Action Adventure: Total Trilogy, or series

monster read or short and sweet?

short and sweet, to get the review up faster

starry eyed romance or full of action?

Full of action, and sometimes starry eyed romance thrown in there once in a while

curl up in your snuggie or bathe in the sun?

Snuggie

hot chocolate or latte?

Hot chocolate

read the review or decide for yourself?

Decide for myself, but find books from other people's reviews, if that makes any sense.

Don't Quote Me (#27)

Review:Busgirl Blues by BR Myers

Sixteen year old, magazine quiz junkie, Kelsey Sinclair wants to make this summer unforgettable by (hopefully) seducing her secret crush, Blaine Mulder. Armed with romance advice articles, Kelsey tackles true love with scientific precision, including getting a job at the seaside restaurant that overlooks the yacht club where Blaine teaches sailing.

However, visions of rendezvous on the beach are clouded when the new kitchen guy's laid back attitude and smouldering stare quickly get under her skin. With his renegade demeanour and unpredictable stunts, Luke is the opposite to Blaine's golden boy reputation. 

Determined to follow through with her original goal, Kelsey ignores her growing attraction to Luke, certain he's not the guy for her. But when she finally manages to get Blaine's attention, Kelsey worries the magazines are all wrong, and that sometimes the best matches are the ones you least expect.

from BR Myers' Blog

BR Myers is one of the few authors I actually follow on twitter, and blog. So, when I found out about Busgirl Blues going to be on wattpad for free, I had to check it out. This short novel made me sad in a good way. It made me feel embarrass for the main character, delightedly giggle, and was just a feel good book. 

It took me about five or six hours to read the novel. That might sound long for some people, but for me that's a quick read. BTW I read it while it was being published each chapter every few days. There were edge of the seat cliffhangers. Something to be aware of when reading a novel online, whether its on wattpad, or fanfiction.net, or what else, there are going to be grammatical errors. Not the entire novel, but there will be some, and you have to deal with it. I, personally, don't mind it, unless it's in every sentence or so. Anyways, I think Busgirl Blues was well paced, and I just loved how everything kind of weaved itself together. 

I felt like the main character, Kelsey, was a stereotypical teenager. I'm not sure if it's an accurate interpretation completely, but there were some parts of Kelsey that I could see some of my good friends in her. It was difficult to get into Kelsey's mind though, because her doing a plan to kiss a guy she's had a crush on forever is just way too out there, and I guess I've never met anyone that'd actually do that. But, it is fiction after all. Kelsey repeatedly makes mistakes, after mistakes, and it got really annoying after a while, because I know characters are suppose to have mistakes, but Kelsey seems like she makes more mistakes than not, and that's just...wow. I feel very vague, so just go read the book, and you'll know what I mean. Her mistakes aren't things that I'd pass by and forget, and I don't fully understand why Luke does. 

Falling in love, or thinking that you are, is a weird thing. I can't see why Luke is attracted to Kelsey. I do want them to be together through out the book, but that's because there are no other guys that are better than Luke for Kelsey. Though Luke has problems of his own, I wouldn't see how'd he and Kelsey get along, past a summer of fun. But the novel is, just a summer of fun. 

Busgirl Blues is that book you want to bring on the beach during spring break, or just to read during spring break, you don't have to go to the beach. It's that book that I bet most of you can finish in about two hours. It reminds me of a Sarah Dessen and Stephanie Perkins book, but I haven't read any of their books, though I know what they write, and this goes under that category. I say go read it for yourself, it's free, and if you like free things go check it out. I give Busgirl Blues by BR Myers a head nods, thumbs up. (4 out of 5)

Go read BR Myers' new novel Butterflies Don't Lie