November Weekly Wrap Up #2

I read 3 books and 1 short story this week!

Check out this video to hear my thoughts.

What did you think of these books?

Booking Through Thursday #2 - Nostalgic Books

What book (or books) from your childhood do you think about most often? That had the most effect on your life?

I think of my childhood books in terms of age.

I was a pretty faithful reader and I would stick to my favorites and read them over and over again.

Here is my list by age: 

• Bernstein Bears (age 2-6)
• I learned to read with this books. I read them until I fell asleep and before I could read, I would memorize them as my parents read them to me. That's how I learned -- I would recite it by memory and then go back by myself and say the words until I was actually reading.
• A special memory I have is that every Sunday afternoon after church, my dad would take me to the local bookstore and let me pick out one Bernstein Bear book. Then we would go for bagels at the bagel shop across the street. It was highlight of my week for years :)
• Mandie (age 7-12)
• Mandie books are sort of the Christian Nancy Drew. They each deal with a new mystery and Mandie is always the girl to solve them. I haven't read them in 15 years but I kept them to read with my daughters, who will be old enough in a few years :)
• My mom would lie in bed with me and read me a chapter a night (sometimes two if I could get it out of her) and that was out nighttime routine. Reading was always important in our house and the Mandie books remind me of that.
• Harry Potter (age 10-18)
• What do I even say about Harry Potter?
• This book series doesn't even really fit on this list because I still read it in my late twenties and I will always read them.
• To put it simply, Harry Potter is everything. I would not be who I am without those books. They were so special and I was lucky enough to grow up with Harry, as the books came out. It was a phenomenon and such a wonderful time to be a reader. Harry Potter single-handedly brought reading back to children and I am forever grateful.
• The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (13-18)
• I didn't read as much in high school, as I was busy with sports, friends, school and boys, but one series I did read and love at the time was Sisterhood. I loved these girls and I also loved the movie they made.
• I loved how each of them was so independent from the rest but they also formed the perfect circle of friends. I was lucky enough to grow up with 3 girls who are still my closest friends, so I felt I could relate to this series a lot.
• My Sister's Keeper (age 15)
• One of the only stand-alone books I read in high school was My Sister's Keeper. It was my first Jodi Picoult book and it blew my mind. I still remember reading it like it was yesterday. I read it tucked away in a corner in my high school's library.

What are the childhood books that you think about most often?

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly bookish meme :)

 

Waiting on Wednesday #2 | Frozen Tides by Morgan Rhodes

Frozen Tides

Falling Kingdoms, Book 4

by Morgan Rhodes
Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Publication Date: December 15, 2015
Publisher: Razorbill
ISBN: 9781595147073

Available for pre-order:
Amazon | Book Depository

**PLEASE READ: This synopsis is for BOOK 4 in a series & may contain spoilers for previous books.**

Rebels, royals, and monsters wage war over the Mytican throne in the shocking fourth book of the Falling Kingdoms series, from New York Times bestselling author Morgan Rhodes.
CLEO: Reeling after a bloody showdown in Limeros ending with Amara’s abduction of the water crystal, and a vacancy in the Mytican throne, Princess Cleo must cast aside her feelings and look toward her kingdom with the eyes of a Queen.
MAGNUS: With the kingdom in chaos, Princess Lucia still missing and quite possibly in danger, and a shocking realization about Cleo, the steely prince is once again torn between love and duty, leaving him wondering whether he’s strong enough to rule his people.
LUCIA: The young sorcercess has had her vengeance after the cruel death of her first and only love. Heartbroken and unable to trust anyone, she allies with the awoken Fire god, who also seeks revenge.
JONAS: After escaping death by the skin of his teeth, the defeated rebel—along with a mysterious stranger–leader reunites with Princess Cleo, only to find himself a mere pawn in a dangerous hunt for the elusive Kindred.
KING GAIUS: Abandoned by Melenia and betrayed by his own children, Gaius flees Mytica and sails to Kraeshia, where he attempts to ally with the famously brutal emperor across the Silver Sea.

Falling Kingdoms is a series that is the epitemy of YA fantasy.

It is fun and alluring, full of shocking twists and turns.

I read books 1-3 earlier this year as well as book 1 in the spin-off series.

I am HIGHLY anticipating this new book because I think it will offer new and exciting adventures and places we haven't yet been in the FK world.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday? 

*Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Top Ten Tuesday #2 - Upcoming Movie Adaptations

Top Ten Book To Movie Adaptations I'm Looking Forward To

*This list is in no particular order.

• A Monster Calls 
• Patrick Ness. Enough said.
• A Monster Calls was one of my top books of 2014. I was so moved and captivated by it and I think a movie adaptation will be SO interesting.
• I'm trying to view it as a new and separate work, so I don't get my expectations too high, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't dying to see it!!
• The Shack 
• This is a book I need to reread. I read it in college (so a long time ago) and it's a book that has always stuck with me. It's so abstract and out there, so I'm SUPER interested to see how they do it.
• Me Before You 
• This is sort of becoming the list of books I need to read before the movies come out :)
• I have Me Before You sitting on my shelf for quite awhile now, but I have been hesitant to pick it up because I was spoiled on the ending.
• I still plan to read it and I know the movie adaptation has Sam Claflin (Catching Fire) and Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) starring... so despite being spoiled, I still plan to pick it up before the movie release!
• The Fifth Wave 
• Yet another TBR book. Sort of.
• I have to admit I've lost steam to pick up The Fifth Wave in the last year.
• It was very hyped a couple years ago when I found BookTube and the book review world, but I feel like it has lost steam and has move mixed reviews now that the hype has died down...
• But still, I would be interested to see how Chloe Grace Moretz handles this sci-fi story.
• Allegiant 
• Oh, Allegiant. How though is detested by many.
• I am not one of those people who HATES Allegiant, but I also wasn't completely blown away like I was with Divergent.
• Still, I plan on seeing both films, though maybe not in theaters.
• Ascendant 
• Allegiant Part 2 has gone rogue and renamed itself Ascendant.
• I have no idea what this title change means but I think it's at least interesting.
• This is the film that people have been waiting for and I think that it's going to be a hot mess.
• I'm sorry... I thought Insurgent was terrible and I have little hope left for the last two films. But I will see them.
• Mockingjay Part 2 
• This is the film we are SO CLOSE to getting and the one that is probably at the top of my anticipation list (okay, it's second)!
• I have loved all 3 films we have gotten from this series and I am waiting on baited breath for the final installment in a few weeks.
• My body is not ready.
• Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children 
• Nobody shoot me, but I haven't actually read Miss Peregine's.
• Waits for pitchforks...
• I meant to years ago and even my sometimes reader husband has read it over a year ago.
• This adaptation is coming out in 2016 and is already filmed.
• It was directed by Tim Burton and will be a big success at the box office.
• Now to read it.
• Maze Runner: The Death Cure
• I will be the first to tell you that I have no intention of reading the Maze Runner series.
• I've just heard enough bad things about the books, that I've lost all motivation to press on.
• However, I did LOVE the first movie, The Maze Runner. I thought it was fun and much more action-packed than I was anticipating.
• I haven't yet seen The Scorch Trials, but I'm excited to get to it soon!
• The Death Cure is the third book in the original trilogy and I look forward to the movie adaptation!
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
• Have you seen the pictures?
• Have you heard of JK Rowling?
• Have you heard of Harry Potter?
• Are you from Mars?
• I cannot express how excited I am for a fresh new story set in the Harry Potter universe. I'm excited for the time period, the story, the ACTORS.
• Seeing all the promo release stills of Eddie Redmayne as Newt is DOING THINGS TO ME.
• The best part of being in the HP fandom right now is that JK Rowling is letting the world live on with plays, movies, and new books. She is giving us more of the world because frankly, there is an infinite quantity left to give.
• This movie is going to be amazing... no if's and's or but's about it.

What upcoming book-to-movie adaptations are you anticipating?

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature by The Broke and Bookish.

Can You Keep a Secret?

Can You Keep a Secret?

by Sophie Kinsella
Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Publication Date: February 26, 2008
Publisher: The Dial Press
ISBN: 9780385336819

Available to purchase:
Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble

Meet Emma Corrigan, a young woman with a huge heart, an irrepressible spirit, and a few little secrets:
Secrets from her mother:
I lost my virginity in the spare bedroom with Danny Nussbaum while Mum and Dad were downstairs watching Ben-Hur.
Sammy the goldfish in my parents’ kitchen is not the same goldfish that Mum gave me to look after when she and Dad were in Egypt.
Secrets from her boyfriend:
I weigh one hundred and twenty-eight pounds. Not one eighteen, like Connor thinks.
I’ve always thought Connor looks a bit like Ken. As in Barbie and Ken.
From her colleagues:
When Artemis really annoys me, I feed her plant orange juice. (Which is pretty much every day.) It was me who jammed the copier that time. In fact, all the times.
Secrets she wouldn’t share with anyone in the world:
My G-string is hurting me.
I have no idea what NATO stands for. Or even what it is.
Until she spills them all to a handsome stranger on a plane. At least, she thought he was a stranger.
But come Monday morning, Emma’s office is abuzz about the arrival of Jack Harper, the company’s elusive CEO. Suddenly Emma is face-to-face with the stranger from
the plane, a man who knows every single humiliating detail about her. Things couldn’t possibly get worse—Until they do.

Review

As you can tell, I've been on a Sophie Kinsella kick the last month or so. This is the sixth book I've read by Kinsella and none have them have been a disappointment. I have my favorites, of course, but they all pack a successful punch and I am happy to continue my delve into her chick-lit world.

Can You Keep a Secret? proved to be no exception. It was on trend for the classic Kinsella formula and I thought the premise was a lot of fun, full of laughs and classic Kinsella cringe-worthy embarrassment.

I didn't love the main character as much as other Kinsella books but I still had a great time. I bit of a stretch for believability as well but it didn't take away from the overall enjoyment. Overall I had a lot of fun but I don't know if I'll remember this story as much as some other ones by this author.

4 out of 5 stars

The Grownup

The Grownup

by Gillian Flynn
Website | Facebook | Goodreads

Publication Date: November 3, 2015
Publisher: Crown
ISBN: 9780804188975

Available to purchase:
Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble

A canny young woman is struggling to survive by perpetrating various levels of mostly harmless fraud. On a rainy April morning, she is reading auras at Spiritual Palms when Susan Burke walks in. A keen observer of human behavior, our unnamed narrator immediately diagnoses beautiful, rich Susan as an unhappy woman eager to give her lovely life a drama injection; however, when the "psychic" visits the eerie Victorian home that has been the source of Susan’s terror and grief, she realizes she may not have to pretend to believe in ghosts anymore. Miles, Susan’s teenage stepson, doesn’t help matters with his disturbing manner and grisly imagination. The three are soon locked in a chilling battle to discover where the evil truly lurks and what, if anything, can be done to escape it.

Review

There's not a whole lot to say about this one. It started SUPER interesting -- in a completely differently place than I was initially anticipating. I was really excited to see what dark and twisted places Gillian would take the story and while it did go some weird places... it didn't pay off for me in the end. I wasn't WOWed or really interested by the end. I finished it and was like, "okay... that's it?" It just felt like it could have been more. It's obviously a work of short fiction, so for the amount of pages it had, I think it did pack a punch. Bottom line, however, is that it was forgettable.

3 out of 5 stars 

On My Shelf #2

The tag is simple.

Pick 5 books randomly off your shelf & talk about them :)

Do you have any memories with these books?