Top Ten Tuesday: Pre-Blogger Days

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Pre-Blogger Days

BookCupid was started in December 2012 -- not so long ago -- which gives me an ample choice of books to pick from. So to make things interesting, I chose books that I read before I became a blogger that were out of my regular reading genre.

1. If I stay: Sad, depressing books always made me look the other way. But I received this one as a gift and was hooked from the first sentence. Since then, I am less selective.

2. Heist Society: Honestly, I thought this book would be more middle-grade, with a Nancy Drew raised by Robert De Niro type of character. Again, I was very wrong. This book couldn't be more exciting.

3. Going too far: I loved this book. It steered away from Mary-Sue clichés and gave us a character that was sarcastic and strong.

4. Clockwork Angel: I read this one before City of Bones and fell in love with Cassandra Clare's writing. The book is pretty lengthy, but the pages turn themselves.

5. Lockdown: I couldn't put this book down; a teen locked in an underground jail for a crime he never committed.  Oh, what a plot.

6. Shark Girl: The very first poetry book I've read. Heartwrenching and poignant.

7. Midnight Sun: Okay, so I cheated by including a manuscript. But believe it or not, this is how I found Goodreads. There is a long petition in the discussion section for Stephenie Meyer to finish this book.


Can't wait to read your top ten.

Review: Level 2

What happens after we die? There are so many possibilities and Lenore Appelhaus gives us plenty. The idea of a second level, a sort of limbo between life and death, intrigued me and I was rooting for Felicia to get through the next level at any cost. 

But all she wanted was to find her boyfriend Neil. How could she have been certain that he was dead? And why did she refuse to view the memory of how she died knowing he was with her that day? Wouldn't you want to know how you died?  

I couldn't help feeling that the second part lacked depth. It was rushed. A lot of characters were introduced (Victoria was completely forgotten toward the end). And somethings like Felicia's hacking skills left me puzzled. 

Having said that, I would read book two and search for the answers this book did not offer.

Feature & Follow Friday: Gobsmacked

                                         

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

How lucky to be featured this week. I'm excited, and hyped, so let's get this show on the road. Once you comment be sure to leave me your link so I can follow you back.

Q: Have you ever read a book that you thought you would hate --? Did you end up hating it? Did you end up loving it? Or would you never do that? 

Oh, I judge -- and unlike Judge Judy I don't get paid for it. It's the cover or the length that sometimes gets me doubtful.

Last year, I helped a friend teacher organize a science fair, and to thank me a fifth grader gave me a copy of Stargirl. Neither the cover or the premise gave me an idea of what I was about to read. Had the student actually read it? I don't know. What I do know is that I loved it.

It's about loving yourself, not caring what others think. Something not easy to do in high school. I'm happy the student passed the book along and plan to do the same.

Review: Wild Children

Does a ten-year-old know right from wrong? The idea isn't that far-fetched. Children do need guidance but by then parents should've been able to provide them with some values. The problem is that as we start getting older, we will test many of them.

Wild Children is divided into acts, all staring a different character while rotating familiar faces. We experience what it feels to become wild -- half/human half/animal -- depending on the fault the child commited. And sometimes, like in the case of  Coo and Jinx, we see how they can make up for their mistakes.

I felt a strong connection with the characters, particularly Bray, as they are all well written and don't deserve what is happening to them. Although, I found the narrative too long, forcing me to put the book down at times, and wish more dialogue had been included instead. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Crushes

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Book Crushes, my favorite subject. This was a no-brainer. Here is my top guys that make me wish I was fictional. Each of them shares a very important quality I look for in a man.

Athletic: Dimitri Belikov from Vampire Academy. Imagine learning how to fight from a pro.

Respectful: Daniel Bianchi from The Gathering: He is the kind of friend you want to have by your side.

Funny: Fred and George Weasley from the Harry Potter series: A sense of humor in a man is always an important asset.  

Leader: Elder from Across the Universe. As the series progresses, so does his ability to lead a whole spaceship filled with people. Remarkable.

Protective: Four from Divergent.  What I like about him is that he is ready to help Tris but at the same time he doesn't try to control her. 

 Assertive: Jace Wayland from The Mortal Instruments series. He is not afraid to speak his mind and stand up for himself.

Reliable: Peeta Mellark from The Hunger Games. The way he is always there for Katniss makes me swoon. He has principles.