ARC Review: Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy

Title: Side Effects May Vary
Author: Julie Murphy
Published: March 18, 2014 by Balthazar and Bray
Amazon Goodreads

Synospis:  What if you’d been living your life as if you were dying—only to find out that you had your whole future ahead of you?

When sixteen-year-old Alice is diagnosed with leukemia, her prognosis is grim. To maximize the time she does have, she vows to spend her final months righting wrongs—however she sees fit. She convinces her friend Harvey, whom she knows has always had feelings for her, to help her with a crazy bucket list that’s as much about revenge (humiliating her ex-boyfriend and getting back at her arch nemesis) as it is about hope (doing something unexpectedly kind for a stranger and reliving some childhood memories). But just when Alice’s scores are settled, she goes into remission.

Now Alice is forced to face the consequences of all that she’s said and done, as well as her true feelings for Harvey. But has she done irreparable damage to the people around her, and to the one person who matters most? 

My Review:

I received an ARC of this book from the fabulous ladies at On the Same Page as part of their ARC Tours. Thanks again to Brittany and the other lovely ladies!

This book is not your your average cancer book. It is not sweet or sentimental. It is not sad and heartwarming. Nothing that happens in this book is glamorous or fluffy.  It is dark and tough to read at times but that's part of it's charm. It's more Heathers and less The Fault in Our Stars.

I personally found the spin on the contemporary novel to be completely unique and engaging. Julie's writing sets a dark and gritty tone and establishes characters that feel very real. Throughout most of the book I was very unsettled. It made me think a lot about how I would handle such a situation. Would I resign myself to dying slowly and quietly? Would I seek revenge on those who have wronged me? How would I want to live out my final days? It also makes you think a lot about the consequences of your actions. It's like those people who win the lottery and quit their jobs then blow it all and have to file for bankruptcy. This book was more a blueprint on how not to be than advice on how to live your life to the fullest. I enjoyed that unique story that Julie chose to write. It's definitely not like something I have read before.

What also made this story unique is the way it was told. It's not a linear timeline. We begin the story in the middle, Alice is told that she is in remission. Then two timelines branch off from there. We go back to the "THEN" timeline where Alice was diagnosed with cancer and we follow her as she deals with her impending death and checks things off her bucket list. These chapters are peppered with the "NOW" timeline where Alice deals with the fact that she isn't dying and has to live with the consequences of what she said and did to people when she thought she would never have to see them again. The book is told from both Alice and her best friend, Harvey's, perspectives. Between the alternative timelines and the duel narrators things do get a little confusing at times. I found myself having to go back to the start of a chapter to remind myself who was telling the story and when it was happening.

As far as the characters go, they are not very likable but they are sympathetic. Alice is diagnosed with leukemia shortly after a very traumatic life event and she is not dealing with it very well. Already having a bit of a mean streak she acts out in unbelievable ways and becomes downright nasty to practically everyone she ever meets. Even after she finds out she's not dying her attitude problems persist and honestly she gets worse. She's stubborn and reckless but I understand where she is coming from, her anger of the situation was completely displaced and she was taking it out on people who didn't really deserve it (okay some of them did, but still). Even sweet and devoted Harvey is not immune to her negativity. He allows her bad attitude to affect him and as the story goes on, even he becomes less likable. As the story evolves both Alice and Harvey have "aha moments" and compelling characters arcs that I always love reading about. As time goes on and I learn more about what they are doing and why I started to feel invested in their happiness despite the fact that they annoyed me to no end. I wanted them to have a happy ending.

This is not your average contemporary novel but if you're looking for something gritty and unique then I would definitely recommend Side Effects May Vary. It is worth the read.

I give Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy a 7.5 out of 10

About the Author

Julie lives in North Texas with her husband who loves her, her dog who adores her, and her cat who tolerates her. When she's not writing or trying to catch stray cats, she works at an academic library. Side Effects May Vary is Julie's debut novel. Julie can best be found on her website (www.juliemurphywrites.com), tumblr (www.andimjulie.tumblr.com), or twitter (www.twitter.com/andimjulie).

BUY LINKS:
IndieBound: www.indiebound.org/book/9780062245359
B&N: www.barnesandnoble.com/w/side-effects-may-vary-julie-murphy/1115554719?ean=9780062245359
Amazon: www.amazon.com/Side-Effects-Vary-Julie-Murphy/dp/006224535X

To celebrate the release Julie is asking everyone to share what's on their Bucket Lists. In the book when Alice finds out she doesn't have long to live she sets out to accomplish a list of things so that she can feel accomplished. What are some things you want to accomplish before you die? Most of what I want to accomplish is related to travel. When I think about the things I would want to if I found out I had less than a year to live they all involve going somewhere and seeing something. Places I've read about in books or places I have studied in school. They're historic landmarks, seven wonders, once in a lifetime experiences.

Places to Go and Things to do Before I Die:

Fake whale, real fun!

-Hug a redwood tree in Muir Woods

- See where my Dad was born in Australia (swim the Great Barrier Reef and pet a koala)
-Go on a whale watch

-Cross-country road trip (visit the Grand Canyon, Mt Rushmore, Joshua Tree, and obscure things like the world's largest ball of twine (if that exists))
-Hike the entire Freedom Trail in Boston

-Visit every Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC

-Climb the Eiffel Tower (and do other Parisian things)

-Go on an African Safari

-Visit Disneyland (high five Mickey)
-Attend Bonaroo music festival

-Visit the Rome (see the Vatican, Colleseum, Forum, throw a penny in the Trevi Fountain)

-Visit Machu Pichu in Peru

-Cliff Jumping in Hawaii (climb a volcano too)

 -Visit all seven the continents

-Try to get to Hogwarts (Platform 9 3/4 is your best course of entry while in London do other things)

- Visit Russia (St Petersburg and Moscow)

-Move somewhere that you know no one and start a life
-Attend BEA

 -Wallpaper apartment with maps of all the cool places that you've visited!

-Add more things and see more places

Leave me a comment with the things you want to do before you die. And if you've read Side Effects May Vary, what were your thoughts? HAPPY READING!

Waiting on Wednesday: Daughter of Chaos

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Title: Daughter of Chaos Author: Jen McConnel Publication Date: March 25th Amazon Goodreads Synopsis: There comes a time in every witch's life when she must choose her path. Darlena's friends have already chosen, so why is it so hard for her to make up her mind? Now, Darlena is out of time. Under pressure from Hecate, the Queen of all witches, Darlena makes a rash decision to choose Red magic, a path no witch in her right mind would dare take. As a Red witch, she will be responsible for chaos and mayhem, drawing her deep into darkness. Will the power of Red magic prove too much for Darlena, or will she learn to control it before it's too late?

 Why I'm Waiting 

I don't often pre-order books. I usually wait until they come out and get them from the library. For Daughter of Chaos, however, I made an exception.

This book was completely off my radar until I joined the YA Vals Formal twitter chat. My first question for the amazing authors who joined the chat was for them to describe their book's romance. I wanted to see if it was a fluffy or tortured kind of story. Jen McConnell's answer seriously intrigued me. I love a good complicated romance, Wuthering Heights is one of my favorite books after all. When I heard how her main character is still in love with her ex I was hooked.

Plus it's a book about magic. I love fantasy and stories about magic. By the sounds of it this is not your average fantasy story about a hero or heroine who saves the day with magic. This is a book about red magic, chaos magic. Not even magic is black or white in this world. I'm really interested to see how this magical system operates. I'm always looking for something unique that is not just doing spells or controlling the elements.

And by the description the main character will have to fight an internal battle of good versus evil. This book is right up my alley. I love stories where characters walk that fine line between right and wrong. I love characters who gravitate towards the dark side but aren't stereotypically evil.

I can't wait for March 25th to arrive so I can start this intriguing new fantasy series! I heard rumors that Amazon may be releasing the books sooner if you pre-ordered and I can't wait!

What are you waiting for this Wednesday?

Are you excited about Daughter of Chaos? What are you waiting for? Leave me a comment and of course... HAPPY READING!

Release Day Review: The Lost Sisterhood by Anne Fortier

Title: The Lost Sisterhood Author: Anne Fortier Published: March 11, 2014 (TODAY) by Balantine Books Amazon Goodreads Synopsis:  Oxford lecturer Diana Morgan is an expert on Greek mythology. Her obsession with the Amazons started in childhood when her eccentric grandmother claimed to be one herself—before vanishing without a trace. Diana’s colleagues shake their heads at her Amazon fixation. But then a mysterious, well-financed foundation makes Diana an offer she cannot refuse. Traveling to North Africa, Diana teams up with Nick Barran, an enigmatic Middle Eastern guide, and begins deciphering an unusual inscription on the wall of a recently unearthed temple. There she discovers the name of the first Amazon queen, Myrina, who crossed the Mediterranean in a heroic attempt to liberate her kidnapped sisters from Greek pirates, only to become embroiled in the most famous conflict of the ancient world—the Trojan War. Taking their cue from the inscription, Diana and Nick set out to find the fabled treasure that Myrina and her Amazon sisters salvaged from the embattled city of Troy so long ago. Diana doesn’t know the nature of the treasure, but she does know that someone is shadowing her, and that Nick has a sinister agenda of his own. With danger lurking at every turn, and unsure of whom to trust, Diana finds herself on a daring and dangerous quest for truth that will forever change her world. Sweeping from England to North Africa to Greece and the ruins of ancient Troy, and navigating between present and past, The Lost Sisterhood is a breathtaking, passionate adventure of two women on parallel journeys, separated by time, who must fight to keep the lives and legacy of the Amazons from being lost forever.

I received an advanced copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. My opinion is not based on that fact.

I haven't read a historical mystery like this in awhile. I used to read them all the time but they got a little formulaic. After awhile it felt like the literary version of rom-com. Fun and fluffy but a predictable story. But this book made me remember why I love the genre so much.


There was a ton of mystery in this book. I was trying to piece together the clues that would lead to explaining the mythological connections between the actual Amazon's and the stories from antiquity that I am intimately familiar with. Anne Fortier does a great job of making those connections and surprising me with their reveals. The book almost felt like a creative retelling of The Iliad with lots of other classical mythology. It made me want to reread The Iliad which I have not done since college. I was also intrigued by the modern story and the mystery that was involved in hunting down the truth as well as who was trying to help the main character and who was trying to harm her. I spent a lot of the book developing elaborate theories and ideas to explain what was happening. That to me is the mark of a good mystery. It makes you think and speculate.
As usual in these kinds of books the two perspectives intertwined as Diana, a professor with an yearning to learn the truth about the Amazons, starts to find the facts. At the beginning I found myself much more interested in the story of the actual Amazons and not so much on the modern side of the story. Then about halfway through the book that changed and I was more interested in Diana's story. Throughout the whole book both plot lines had a lot of mystery.

The characters are complicated and interesting. Especially our two protagonists who are easy to relate to and root for. I loved Myrina, the ancient Amazon character. She was trying to find her way in the world and be happy even though she doesn't know what she wants a lot of the time and ends up making a lot of mistakes. I also liked that while she is a good fighter and hunter she is also nurturing, vulnerable, and concerned about others. As far as Diana's perspective I was much more compelled by the secondary characters. There was also a whole host of people that often made me questions their motivations and if they were on Diana's side or not.

The characters were however very indicative of this genre. There was the slightly insane older academic that provides important details that everyone previously discounted, the menacing corporation trying to use the findings and relics for their own personal gain, and our heroine's stoic mentor. Then of course there is the main character, a female academic pulled to an obscure topic in history because of some unlikely connection to the subject and a swarthy male adventurer who reluctantly helps our heroine and along the way sparks fly. My main criticism with the genre is the romance. There is always romance and while it is slow-burning it is always predictable. I will say this about the romance in The Lost Sisterhood, it wasn't that bad. I knew it was coming but I still enjoyed it. The men were swoonworthy and I shipped the ships.


My main piece of criticism is that it's very long. Long is okay if for the length of the book you are engaged and riveted by the story, but this was the kind of book that feels long. I spent a lot of the beginning of the book waiting for it to get interesting. It had a bit of a slow start but about two-thirds of the way through the action starts picking up and elements of the mystery started being revealed.While it is enjoyable it takes a while to get to the big payoff. It's the kind of book that is an investment. If you take the time and effort then you will enjoy it.

I give The Lost Sisterhood by Anne Fortier 8 out of 10

I recommend The Lost Sisterhood to anyone who likes Historical Fiction, Mystery, or Both. I would also recommend it to fans of Greek Mythology and novels about adventure and exploration through history. This book felt like a more grown-up Percy Jackson and the Olympians. The book does an even better recommendation:

"I know it is not only crazy people who dream about the Amazons, but also people who love mystery and adventure"

Top Ten Tuesday: Historical Fiction

A weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This weeks topic is incredibly vague and open-ended so it took me a little while to decide what genre to decide. I just finished a Historical Mystery and really liked it and thought I would do that but that sort of backs me into a corner so instead I decided to just do Historical Fiction. I keep seeing a lot of bloggers say that they just warmed up to Historical Fiction so I thought I would recommend a few of my favorites.

Middle Grade 
 

Johnny Tremain by Ester Forbes
This book was my jam when I was ten. I loved the story, the characters, the use of real historic events. This is the book that made me love Historical Fiction.

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
If you ask me Lois Lowry is flawless! Everything she writes is brilliant. Number the Star is an incredibly well-written, well-reasearched, and heartbreaking story set during the Holocaust. I loved it as a child and I love it as an adult

Young Adult

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
This book is Historical Fantasy but it does a great job of setting the tone of the historical period and uses the magical side of the book to demonstrate that the fact young woman at the time often felt like they were trapped between two worlds. It's also a great series!


A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller (my review)
A new addition to the list but this book is a great piece of classic Historical Fiction. It weaves actual historical events around made up characters and is incredibly well-researched. You feel emmersed in the era but it's effortless and enjoyable. If you want to try Historical Fiction this is the book to start with.

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen (my review of the series)
I know, I know, put the stick down the horse is dead. I have been spreading my love of this series a lot lately but I think it is a fantastic Historical Fiction novel and incredibly engaging. It's Gilded Age Gossip Girl after all!

Historical Mysteries

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Another one that should not be a surprise to older followers of my blog. I talk about this book a lot. It's an interesting and trilling ride through history as the characters explore the truth about Dracula. I had to include on this list.

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay (my review)
This is a book that I expected to be a lot like all the other Historical Mysteries I have read but things took a very different turn and I became emotionally invested in the story. It is about an obscure and sad event during World War II and the Holocaust that is told masterfully.

Adult Favorites

The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory
Gregory is the master of stories from Tudor England. She does a great job at fictionalizing real people and their lives. The stories are so interesting and everything is so well-researched that it's hard to know what is real and what isn't. 

Atonement by Ian McEwan
Set during in Europe during the 1930's it is a book about love, war, and growing up in a challenging time. The best part about this book however is the unreliable narrator who makes you question what exactly is really happening. McEwan's writing is gorgeous and this book has a woderfully tortured love story.

Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
This book gutted me! It so hauntingly sad and beautiful. Set during the 1950's it is a story of a couple that seems to have it all together but just below the surface is so much angst and unhappiness. It really shows a darker side of the hopeful post-War America.




Those are my Top Ten Favorite Historical Fiction novels. What are your favorites? Have you read these books? What did you think? Leave me a comment and of course HAPPY READING!

Feature and Follow Friday #16

A weekly meme hosted by Alison Can Read & Parajunkee's View

How it Works: 

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee's View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it'll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work? First you leave your name here on this post, (using the linky tools -- keep scrolling!) then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them "hi" in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

What sets this Hop apart from others, is our Feature. Each week we will showcase a Featured Blogger, from all different genres and areas. Who is our Feature today? Find out below. Just remember it is required, if you participate, to follow our Features and you must follow the hosts (Parajunkee & Alison Can Read) as a courtesy. How do you follow someone? Well, if you have a preference, state it in your #FF post. A lot of blogs are transitioning to Wordpress in which they do not have the luxury of GFC, so an RSS subscription is appreciated or if you choose an email subscription. If you don't have GFC please state in your post how you would like to be followed.

This Week's Question:

Recommend some of your favorite back-list books - books that are at lease a few years old (I'm thinking 5-10 years old rather than classics)

 

  This Week's Answer:

1.) The Infinities by John Banville
Amazon     Goodreads

This is a book about how the Greek Gods are still up to their old tricks in the modern era. They are meddling in our lives, having extra-marital affairs, and fighting amongst themselves. Banville's prose is hauntingly poetic and this  book is beautiful. Check it out if you like Greek Mythology or stories that have a messed up family dynamic.

2.) The Luxe by Anna Godbersen
Amazon     Goodreads

I've mentioned my love of this book before in a post (here) but I've noticed a lot of bloggers just warming up to Historical Fiction. This series is like Gilded Age Gossip Girl. There's lots of back-stabbing, romance, and strong female characters trying to be who they want to be in a society that wants to relegate them to a certain role. If you liked A Mad, Wicked Folly read The Luxe. 

3.) The Sherlockian by Graham Moore
Amazon     Goodreads

This is a Historical Mystery and I read it at a time when I was getting bored with the genre. I picked it back up recently and loved it. The mystery is great, there's tons of action, and I love the characters. I know the TV show Sherlock is really popular so if you are looking for a little fix when it's off the air check out The Sherlockian. 

Have you read any of theses books? What are your back-list books? Leave me a comment!

This is a blog hop so take a look around if you like what you see feel free to subscribe and leave me a comment so I can follow you back. I'm indifferent to the method you follow so pick your poison... GFC, Bloglovin, or Twitter. Thanks for hopping by and HAPPY READING!!!
 

Book Review: Cress by Marissa Meyer

Title: Cress Series: The Lunar Chronicles Book 3 Author: Marissa Meyer Published: February, 2014 by Macmillan Amazon Goodreads Synopsis:  Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard. In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army. Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker—unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice. When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

This series keeps getting better. It's such a fantastic and interesting Science Fiction series with interesting characters, a creative world, and lots of action and adventure.

First and foremost, the best part of this series is the characters and this book didn't let us down with our old favorites and some awesome new characters. Cinder and Iko were back and fantastic! Iko had some great parts in this book that made me laugh. We also got to catch back up with Dr. Erland who I found so interesting in Cinder. We also got to spend a lot more time with the wonderful Captain Thorne. I liked him in Scarlet but I LOVE him in Cress. He is still his hilarious and sarcastic lovable roguish self but he is also a delightful romantic lead. He made me laugh, he made me swoon, he was WONDERFUL! Then we have our new characters. Most notably we have the title character Cress, who is just adorable. She's energetic, easy-going, and this badass hacker who has a great character development throughout the book. We also get to spend more time with Jacin Clay (do you say it like Jason or like Jake?) who is a Lunar guard. He is so intriguing to me and I'm not exactly sure where his allegiance lies and why he does the things he does. I'm excited to learn more about him in Winter. I am also excited to learn more about Princess Winter. We get to meet her in Cress and she is totally cuckoo. I know she is going to be absolutely hilarious and I love the dynamic between her and Scarlet.

My other favorite thing about this book was the romance. The two relationships that were introduced to in the previous books were there growing and developing but the real romance was between Thorne and Cress. I absolutely loved them together. They seem to have the most solid relationship. They both really cared for one another and needed one another. It wasn't at all insta-lovey and grew deeper and more serious as time went on and they spent more time together. Their romance made me swoon and smile throughout the entire book. But all the relationships are great, whether they are romantic and otherwise. There is so much witty banter and great friendships developing in this team of unlikely heroes.

And just like the previous books the world-building continues to be subtle and interesting. We are never overwhelmed by details about this interesting and unique future society. What I liked about Cress is that as the series starts winding down we get more questions answered than asked. I love a big reveal and there is more than one in this book. Part of what is built into this world and what makes it really different is the post-modern princess idea. Marissa Meyer always plays with the classic fairy tale stories that serve as the basis and adds a Sci Fi twist. I am not as familiar with the Rapunzel story as I am with the previous two but the moments that I did recognize were so creative they made me smile and laugh. But postmodern princesses also flip the damsel in distress trope on its head. These are some strong female characters and despite the romances they develop, they don't need a man to save the say. Even Cress who is a self-proclaimed D. I. D. turns that idea around and is a hero.

As far as the plot goes, we continued to build on the story that was previously begun in the first two books in the series. And while it does have the independent story of Cress, it didn't feel as much like its own entity like Scarlet did. It felt more like Cress' part in the larger story of Cinder.  There were also so pacing issues for me as the books started out strong with lots of action and then devolved into another travel montage that you know I'm not a fan of. That being said there was so much more action and mystery in Cress than either of the two books and when things did escalate they did so quickly and were incredibly thrilling. I spent most of the last 100 pages of the book with my mouth agape shouting "NO!NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!" Things took a very dramatic turn in this book and I cannot wait to read Winter and see how this series goes.

I give Cress a 9 out of 10

I definitely recommend reading if you like Science Fiction, Fairy Tale Retellings, or for books with lots of humor and romance. Have you read Cress? What are your thoughts? Leave me a comment and of course... HAPPY READING!

Liebster Award!

Wow! I got nominated three times last week for a Liebster Award! The Liebster Award is rewarded to up and coming blogs that currently have less than 200 followers. The German word, Liebster is translated in English to: Sweetest, Kindest, Dearest, Etc. So it is an honor to receive this award!! 

 Thank you so much to Danielle at Thee Daily Prophet, Kristen at Pretty Little Pages, and Elizabeth at Redhead Reader. You three are the sweet ones. In the immortal words of Sally Field, "You like me, you really like me." It's very sweet to be considered and I decided after the third time, I should probably go ahead and accept the honor and the challenge.

 THE RULES: 

- List 11 facts about yourself.
- Answer 11 questions chosen by the person who nominated you.
- Ask 11 new questions to 11 new bloggers. They must have less than 200 Bloglovin followers. (You cannot renominate the blog that nominated you.)
- Go to their blog and inform them.

MY FACTS:

- I grew up in a small town in upstate New York. It was great to have room to play and explore and it
is honestly a beautiful part of the state with rolling hills and lakes but it was also incredibly dull.
- I am the second of three kids and a classic middle child. Not only am I the diplomat who is always willing to compromise but I am also often desperate for attention.
- I am 6'2" and the tallest person in my immediate family. I know this because my Dad often makes me stand next to him to compare. I am only slightly taller than him.
- I went to Syracuse University and decided to go there because of their basketball team. My senior year of high school they won the national championship and that weighed very heavily on my pro-con list when deciding what college to attend.
- I work for an environmental non-profit organization but never considered myself an environmentalist. I didn't really see environmental issues as pervasive as they are until I graduated college.
- My favorite color is purple and I am absolutely obsessed with it. My friends harass me because I am usually wearing purple and will refuse to buy something if I can't get it in purple.
 - I have an irrational fear of aliens. It started when I was a kid and my older brother would torture me with an ET doll and then as a teenager it got worse after seeing Mars Attacks. People are always trying to get me to watch things with aliens in it to break me of this fear but it never helps.
-I lived in Providence, Rhode Island for six years where I developed a pretty serious obsession with Colonial American History and the American Revolution. I spent a lot of time in Boston and the surrounding areas visiting historic sites much to my friend's chagrin.

- I love maps. I think they are so cool and so pretty. I used to joke with my friends that I was going to wall paper my house with maps. Recently I decided that they would make the perfect souvenir so now when I go anywhere on vacation I buy a map and then hang it on my wall.
- I have a talent for voices. If I'm watching a cartoon or a commercial I can almost immediately tell who the actor doing the voice is. I can even connect voice actors to other characters they have done. It's actually kind of annoying and makes it hard for me to suspend disbelief when I realize who the actor is.
- I thought I was a dog person until I owned a cat. Dogs are too much work. Dogs require that you walk them and play with them. Cats just want you to pet them and play with them for like an hour a day. Plus when you actually own them you realize they are truly affectionate. Now I love all cats, but mostly my cat Eponine.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS FROM NOMINATING BLOGS: (I picked a few from each)

1.) If you could have dinner with one character from your favorite book, who would it be? Why?
My favorite book is The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova and Dracula is a character in that book. So clearly I would have dinner with Dracula, as long as he agreed not to eat me. I'd ask him to explain vampires, his origin story, and all the historical events he witnessed.

2.) Do you prefer paperbacks or hardcover?
Paperbacks. I like my books to be more portable. I take public transportation to work so I like have books that are smaller and lighter to carry. Plus you can fit more in a bookshelf.

 3.) Which author would you be best friends with? Why?
Leigh Bardugo. I like her sense of humor and I think we have similar interests. If we were best friends we would watch Game of Thrones together, visit Russia, and she'd let me read Ruin and Rising before it gets published.

4.) You get one week to do whatever you want. Money isn't an issue, and there are no consequences for what you do. So what do you spend your week doing?
I would go on a cross-country road trip to visit all the family and friends I haven't seen in forever and the landmarks I've always wanted to visit. But I wouldn't drive myself. I'd hire a chauffeur so I could read the whole time. I know that's kind of a lame answer but despite the fact that there won't be consequences I'd rather not go on a crime spree.

5.) If you could read one book for the rest of your life as many times as you wanted, which one would you pick? Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I have read this book so many times and never get sick of it. It has all the feels, is funny, and complicated enough that I get something new out of it every time.

 6.) What made you want to blog?
 I read The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo and wanted to talk about how much I loved it. I don't have a lot of friends who are as dedicated to reading and want to spend forever talking about the books so this was a great way to do that. Then this fall I read a book I hated and wanted to explain why I hated it so much. I had forgotten about my blog so I revived it and then ended up finding this awesome community.

7.) What about blogging do you find the most challenging?
 Keeping up with the trends. Since getting involved with the book blogging community I have felt pressured to read the newest and most popular books. The urge to be up on a trend or read something new can be stressful at times and it sometimes makes me feel uncool if I haven't read something everyone else has. This also leads to pressure to read ARCs and books before they are even released. Book bloggers can be such hipsters sometimes!

8.) If you could live in any book world, where would you live?
 Hogwarts. Seriously who doesn't want to attend Hogwarts, be sorted by the Sorting Hat, learn magic, play Quidditch. I assume that my Hogwarts letter got lost in the Owl Post.

9.) If you could be any book character who would you be and why?
Cath in Fangirl. I love her friends and then of course there's Levi to look forward too. I feel like I had a similar freshman year of college and as much as I don't want to go back to those days, I'd still like to be Cath.

10.) If you could have the privilege to kill any book character without any consequences who would you rid the world of?
This may come as a surprise but I would kill Emma Woodhouse from Emma by Jane Austen. I HATE her as a character. She's obnoxious, self-centered, and gets involved in things she shouldn't get involved with. She's a life-ruiner, she ruins people's lives. And spoiler alert... in the end she wins! Emma Woodhouse should lose and I will make her lose!

11.) What is your favorite song currently?
I am totally obsessed with the Katy Perry song Dark Horse. I listen to that song on the regular!

QUESTIONS FOR MY NOMINEES:

1.) If you were down to your last $3 what would you spend it on? (You have to spend it!)
2.) Do you prefer to read the book or watch the movie first?
3.) When it comes to trilogies what book do you usually like the best? Which one do you usually like the least?
4.) What book did you absolutely hate and why?
5.) If you met a book genie who offered you three book wishes, what would they be?
6.) What book have you never read and are so ashamed about it that you have considered lying about having read it?
7.) If you were trapped on a deserted island what fictional character would you call to help rescue you and why?
8.) If you were trapped on a desserted island, what dessert would your island be made out of?
9.) What is the best place you have ever been on vacation?
10.) If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
11.) Coffee or tea? How do you take it?

MY NOMINEES:

Becca at Pivot Book Reviews
Violet at Paper Worlds & Swirls of Ink
Lindsay at Broke Book Girls
Rinny and Kimmy at Opinionated Cupcakes
Kaylie at Potterhead Reviews
Justine at Paperback Heart
Melissa at Bookmark Dragon
Stormi at Books, Movies, Review Oh My!
NicoleLynn at PopCrunchBoom
Stephanie at Her Reviews of Books, Movies, and Everything
Mary at Reading and Running

Thanks to the lovely ladies that nominated me and I look forward to seeing the responses from the eleven blogs I nominated! Post back your link so I can read your responses! HAPPY READING!