Feature and Follow Friday: Absorbing Fuel

Parajunkee / Alison Can Read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

Once you answer be sure to leave me your link so I can follow you back

Q: Your house is burning down and you have time to select three books you own to take with you. What three books?

Une photo publiée par natalia (@natyuniverse) le 10 Nov. 2014 à 15h27 PST

#1. Gears of Brass

It's the first short story I've published, so I would take my copy for sentimental reasons.


#2. Little Women

I have read the paperback about a dozen times. Alcott was the reason I started writing in the first place. Of course, that means my artistic instincts crave bittersweet love stories. I need to work on that.


#3. Fahrenheit 451

I mean how could you let that one burn?!?


Which books would you save?

Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

No one survived but her...

Mara Dyer's past is a blur. In one night, she lost her best friend and boyfriend to a tragic fire that no one dares to discuss. And so her family relocates to a new town, where Mara will come to terms that the past just can't stay hidden.

It was a struggle to link the book to a specific genre, as it kept on changing from mystery to romance to paranormal -- all linked to create what became a trilogy. The main love interest was surprisingly presented as shallow, referred to as ''The Shaw'' a player that no girl should come near, especially one like Mara who is still sensitive due to the incident. But Noah ends up being a bookworm, who cares to integrate her into the new school. Why he needs to maintain a persona is explained in the book, making the story even more climatic.

Looking forward to reading the sequel (blame it on the cliffhanger ending).

Feature and Friday Follow: Divergent Pursuit

Parajunkee / Alison Can Read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

Once you answer be sure to leave me your link so I can follow you back

Q: Do you like fantasy or realistic books?

Une photo publiée par natalia (@natyuniverse) le 20 Févr. 2015 à 9h42 PST

Both.

Sometimes I need a check with reality. Particularly when I'm feeling down or alone --  a good book that deals with life's troubles reminds me I'm human. Everyone has ups and downs.

Of course, like any avid reader, I also like to escape to strange lands. Fantasy books are a cheap way to travel that can take you to destinations beyond your wildest imagination.

So, yeah... I need to read and review both.


Do you have a favorite?

Review: The Long Haul

Greg's mom is searching for yet another idea to spend some quality family time. And so everyone else must follow and get in the van for a long road trip across the US. Of course, Greg's dad insists on bringing a boat he found in the garage. Rodrick is placed in charge for more responsibility than he can handle. And Manny adopts a pet pig while Greg trying to cope with it all, makes some strange enemies along the way. 

This was Kinney's 9th book in the series, and he proved he still got that funny bone by plotting gag after gag. There isn't a dull moment during the trip. As Kinney says in his youtube video "If you keep coming up with a series of problems for your characters to solve, your reader is going to root that much harder for them." 

Another great addition to the series. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Bottled up till now

 

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

TOP BOOKISH PROBLEMS I HAVE

Shopaholic

I don't read every book I buy. Most of the time I just leave them in by bookcase, stare at them every day, then go to the library to borrow books. I need a cure!!

Say no to DNF

I'm currently reading a book that I cannot stand. But I will finish it, because once I start anything I need to finish it.

Fear of bad influences

If there is a movie adaptation of the book, then I cannot watch it until I have read said novel in it's entirety. This week I told my friends no to hanging out because they had rented Gone Girl, and I have not read it yet. 

Trying to get others to read

I'm the girl who reads in the subway and smiles if I catch you peeking at the cover. If the book is any good I will personally recommend it.  Let's just say not everyone wants to read. Then you get stuck with someone who just wants to talk about the weather and ethnic food while I could be reading.

Am I the only one?

Review: Along for the Ride

We regret more the things we didn't do, than those we did.

When Auden opts to take some time off studying and visit her dad, she expects to spend quality time with him. But instead she gets stuck with her stepmom and new baby sister in a small town, that hosts only one coffee shop. Her introvert self doesn't mind the quiet - if only is were quiet. Her dad keeps nagging about his writer's block leaving her stepmom alone to care for the baby. So Auden takes over the responsibility of babysitting and managing the accounts of her stepmom's store. Will Auden ever be able to let go and have some fun?

Dessen won a Goodreads Choice Awards for this novel, and it's easy to understand why. The character development goes deep. Everyone has flaws and qualities, including Auden. As always, a male protagonist is introduced to help balance her out. But Eli isn't just there to fill up the pages. He has scars of his own that need proper attention.Divorce is major topic and profusely addressed although it could have been about 80 pages shorter and still kept it's meaning.

All work and no play makes everyone go dull, so remember to unwind from time to time and go ride a bike.

Happy Valentine's Day

Une photo publiée par natalia (@natyuniverse) le 14 Févr. 2015 à 13h14 PST

I would like to wish everyone a Happy VD filled with chocolates and books. Here are some of my favorite romance novels for this season:

What is your favorite romance novel?

Review: We can Work it Out

Penny, leader of The Lonely Hearts Club (an association for single girls with a broken heart), thinks she can handle it all. Club parties and gatherings with the girls every Saturday night, school, family nights, and of course manage to spend time with her new boyfriend Ryan -- the girl can really stretch her schedule.  Plus, Ryan's so compliant when it comes to organizing his time around hers. He even forgives her for being uncomfortable with PDA, in case The Lonely Hearts Club members resent her for it. But how long will Ryan keep this ''we can work it out'' attitude? Is Penny asking for too much?

Most of Penny's troubles were actually in her head. Creating a single girls group was a fantastic idea, especially one that meets on Saturday nights and spends Valentine's day together. But she took it too far by not wanting to delegate any of the functions. There's no reason to be ashamed of meeting Mr.Right and that is something Penny had to learn the hard way.

Prepare for some teary-eye moments, and giggles as author Elizabeth Eulberg demonstrates how obsessed Penny's family is with the Beatles.

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Thinking Out Loud

 

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

TOP TEN THINGS I LIKE/DISLIKE ABOUT ROMANCE NOVELS

Likes

You can learn a lot from reading romance novels. There's something about looking at a relationship from afar that makes you say ''Why does she stay with him if he always puts her second?'' SO...

1) The life lessons you learn by reading them

2) Inspiring sweet romantic ideas 

3) Books that contains some poetry 

4)Exotic locations 

5) When they make me cry 

Dislikes

6)Temporary Breakups when they should be together

7) Love triangles 

8) Instalove 

9) Needy characters (the girl stays with a creep just because) 

10) Unrealistic couples (they don't get into a single fight)

What do you like/dislike about romance novels?

My Batmans have never looked this hot

Let's face it, with shows like Gotham, toy demands, movies and comic books -- superheroes are not going anywhere. We are better off learning how to draw them, whether to recreate personal fantasies or to please our inner child. 

I admit it -- I'm not that good at drawing. This was me before the book:

It's difficult finding the correct posture and the right places to shade. And the face! How do you go from a stick figure to an actual human being? That's why this book provided me with lots of help. Not only does it contain action scenes. But it shows you how to begin by drawing the faces and then moves on to the entire body. It also includes all DC favorites such as The Kents, the Batmobile, Black Canary and Harley Queen. All the bios were written to help boost super heroes and villains knowledge.

A great help for DC fans.

Feature and Follow Friday: Double Trouble

Parajunkee / Alison Can Read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

Once you answer be sure to leave me your link so I can follow you back

Q: Do you read more than 1 book at a time, and if so, how, like a certain amount of pages before moving on to the next one in queue?

Une photo publiée par natalia (@natyuniverse) le 16 Janv. 2015 à 8h59 PST

Can you be at two places at once?

Nah.

I admit that sometimes I ''multiread''. But since I'm being honest, this only happens when I'm not feeling a certain book and yet part of me refuses to let it go. Maybe because it had a good beginning but now is dragging -- or because it came highly recommended. Whatever the reason is, if I were enjoying the book I wouldn't go look elsewhere.

Do you multiread?

Review: Love, Lucy

An exotic love story or a ''what was his name'' fling?

After this summer, Lucy's life is going to get serious. Her dad coerced her to drop acting and pursue a career in management. Goodbye artistic dreams, goodbye hope. But wait! Summer isn't over yet, and what a better place to fall in love and godspeed her dreams than in Italy. What Lucy didn't expect was that saying goodbye to a lover or a dream isn't as easy as it seems. 

Lindner tackled two of life's big choices: love and career. When Lucy bids farewell to Jesse, the boy who stole her heart in Italy, she didn't imagine to pine over him for so long. It seems that every other boy she meets is instantly compared to  Jesse, as she desperately searches to recreate that same connection. Lindner's descriptions were detailed enough to transport us along to the European coast and college. 

Cleverly written, Love, Lucy is filled with passion and romance, talks about the pros and cons of travelling with a girlfriend (what happens with her when you meet a guy), and most importantly why sometimes we are unable to admit we've fallen in love.

Top Ten Tuesday: Get Ur Book On

 

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

TOP BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS I SKIPPED

Lack of time? Overbooked? 

Enough with the excuses. I skipped these book recommendation for the simple reason that I always forget to pick them up at the bookstore. I need an App.

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

I'm definitely in the minority pile of Colombians that have not read a Garcia Marquez book. This one in particular is often raved about and I've been told to start getting to know the author with this Nobel Prize winner.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

"I can't go see the movie with you," I told my girls.

"But we are all going, Cupid. It's just a couple of hours."

"I ... haven't read the book yet." 

N0S4A2 by Joe Hill

This license plate came strongly recommended. An impossible to put down book. I vowed to pick it up as soon as I finish The Stand --  which is still laying on my night stand. 

Feed by Mira Grant

Zombies!! Oh, and just before bed time. I love it -- need to remember to pick this one up. 

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

I adored the first two books and can easily imagine why everyone keeps recommending me this one. 

Which book topped your list?

Review: The Jewel

Being special works for and against you.

Violet was chosen to be a surrogate for royalty, who due to a medical condition are unable to procreate on their own. Her pretty face and magic auguries scores, land her on top of the most wanted list and places her with a very prestigious family. But Violet isn't blinded by the riches. She sees how unhappy, jealous and competitive the royals are against one another. And now that one lucky new born will get picked as the future ruler's betrothed, the competition gets even more fierce. Can Violet fulfill her mistress' wish and give birth to a baby in just three months?

All through the book, the surrogates were treated like slaves. They were leashed, coerced into hurting themselves for the royals entertainment, lobotomized -- the list is long. And yet, Violet maintains her survival instincts. Men aren't spared. The handsome ones are purchased to keep lonely girls company until they find husbands. The power division in the society is incredibly corrupt. People are dying of hunger while the rich throw their money away buying humans. Amy Ewing does a great job at heightening the stakes as Violet begins to yearn for her freedom.

A fast read with a compassionate MC and magic rituals.