Monday, October 26, 2015

How to Survive a Horror Movie!!

In honor of it almost being Halloween I thought it would be both festive and helpful to share some of the best tips in regards to surviving a horror movie. All these tips are from the book How to Survive a Horrow Movie by Seth Grahame-Smith.
First off you have to determine if you are even in a Horrow movie. This is easy in that there are only three months Ina horror movie year: July, October, and December. Also, though there are 24 hours in a horror movie day 21 of those hours are at night. There are also multiple other tests to determine this. 
Second, you have to determine what type of horror movie you are in. The horror catagories include Slashers, Fangs, Evil Places and Things, the Undead, and of course Satanic 
Of course once you've discovered that you may have been sucked into a Terrorverse you must immediately "stop, drop, and roll" or, in the wise words of Seth Grahame-Smith, follow C.R.A.V.E.N.
(Cover, Recon, Arsenal, Vehicle, Escape, North) 
However just knowing all of this you still have to survive, so beware of the Seven Deadly Horror Movie Sins. 
1. Doubt 
2. Machismo 
3. Independence 
4. Ugliness 
5. Curiosity 
6. Irresponsibility 
7. Vehicular Sex 
So with the spooky season coming up "Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid." 
This incredibly helpful and absolutely hilarious book is really perfect for this time of year, not only does it help you with everything listed above but it also teaches you how to perform an exorcism, kill a vampire, vanquish a murderous doll, and so much more. 5/5 read 

Little Bits of Karma book Review

Little Bits of Karma by Luara Simmons

Little bits of karma is a cute romantic read blended with reincarnation, karma, and coincidence. I really enjoyed all the paranormal aspects, such as all of Holly's past lives. All that has happened between the characters in their past lives really added to they way they are in the current ones creating more depth to the characters and the story. The romances between the characters were also really sweet to follow. However there were a few small aspects to the story that made me feel a little indifferent to the book as a whole. Many of the conversations has a bit of an interrogation vibe and several of the "coincidences" seemed almost forced, making it seem a little ridiculous. Haha and I must comment on the fact that the story ends with "and they lived happily ever after", I mean, that is a little bit cheesy. 
Overall it was a pleasant read and I did enjoy it for the most part, however I feel a little indifferent to the book as a whole. It's a good, light, cozy read, but nothing overly fantastic. 3/5
*ps. I received this book in a giveaway* 

Monday, October 19, 2015

Hollow City book Review

Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

I am going to start off by saying that I never finished the first book, after the fist 200 pages I stopped and read the graphic novel instead.
I wanted so much to love this book, the story seemed awesome and everyone else has raved about. But I just couldn't really get into it. Ransom's writing style is so amazing and he does an incredible job at creating such a magically captivating world. The bizarre photos of the peculiar children just added to the story and made it that much more enticing. However part of me just couldn't get into it, I spent a large majority of the book forcing myself to finish it. As well thought out and captivating the story was, it just fell short a note or two for me. I in no way hated it, but its definitely not at the top of my list. Some of it felt a bit too convenient, even forced, especially when they were trying to find other loops. 
Overall the books was an A+ idea to me. I loved the idea of it but couldn't bring myself to actually get into it. I'd probably give it a 3.75/5 or 4/5


Sunday, October 18, 2015

Oct. Wrap-Up and Nov. TBR


 (My Wrap Up is ordered by date read)
OCTOBER WRAP-UP 
1. The Return of the King (Lord of the Rings #3) (4.5/5) 
The Lord of the Rings movies have always been some of my favorite so I am so happy I finally got around to reading the books. Love Love Love. And there's so much more to it than the movies which makes me really excited me. 
2. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. (The Chronicles of Narnia #2) (4/5) 
Again another series I am so happy to get around to reading. I know there are two different orders to which people read the books (I am reading it chronologically, so this is #2) and I am glad I read the magicians nephew first because it added a lot to the magic of the wardrobe. 
3. Little Bits of Karma (3.5/5) 
Pleasant read but for the most part underwhelming. 
4. A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire #2) (5/5)
Jon!!!! Damn I'm really getting into this series. 
5. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass (4/5) 
I forgot how much a love this book. Seriously the most nonsensical thing ever and it's freaking awesome. 



NOVEMBER TBR 
1. A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire #3) 
2. The Horse and His Boy (The Chronicles of Narnia #3) 
3. Fahrenheit 451
4. City of Bones (the Imortal Instruments #1) 
5. Red Rising (Red Rising Trilogy #1) 

Friday, October 16, 2015

Long Book Struggles: The Behemoth

I love the sweet feeling of having a huge book. I had to rewrite that sentence about a dozen times in hopes it wouldn't sound inappropriate and eventually had to settle with that. Anyways, for me long books actually give me so many mixed feelings. On one hand I love them because there is so much story, so much depth, so much muchness. The characters have more personality and complexity making them more interesting to follow. While on the other hand it can be so daunting to pick up a long book knowing you are going to have to dedicate so much time in order to finish it, even worse is when it is a series of crazy long books. I, for one, am currently try to get through the 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series where basically every book is around a thousand pages, which is a little ridiculous. Since I've started 'A Clash of Kings' (969 pages) I've taken breaks to read both 'The Return of the King' and 'The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe' and I have started 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' as well. It's like my brain doesn't want to commit...regardless I will probably never not read a book because of its length. That's even more ridiculous. 

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Top 5 Manga

My top manga! I really love getting into this kind of stories, manga is actually what got me into reading and I'm always going to fall back on these favorites.
1. Inuyasha
This manga/anime has got to be at the top of my list. It's an incredible adventure with a lot of humor, drama, and general awesomeness. Plus Sesshomaru is just too great not to to love. 
2. Ouran Highschool Hot Club 
I'm a sucker for a good laugh and this manga/anime literally made me cry with laughter. It's all over the place and crazy, in a good way, and always makes you wonder what they could possibly do next. 
3. Fruits Basket 
Beautiful and incredibly fun. I love all the different characters and how they are all helping each other through one of the craziest curses. The zodiacs all have differing opinions and yet all love each other with a strong bond to stick together. Such an incredible read through hardships, laughter, and change. 
4. Hollow Fields 
My all time favorite mysteriously interesting manga. This steampunk-themed greatness is just overall so much fun to read. It's full of mad scientists, deadly detention, and boarding school that is far from the ordinary. (Loving the reread during Halloween season) 
5. .hack//legend of the twilight 
So refreshing. This story is what got me into really loving manga, it's so fun, crazy, and oddly relatable with the relationships and need for adventure. An old love.




Monday, October 12, 2015

Series I am not going to finish (part 1)

Let's start off with the more popular series. 
1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I know this is a very popular series but because I made the huge mistake of watching the movies first I just can't get into the series. I have read the first book, the hunger games, however like many movie adaptions, so much is just thrown into the air and it's just not the same. 
2. Divergent by Veronica Roth 
I really enjoyed the first book in the series, I originally read it in preparation for the release of the movie. However there was something about the movie that put me off on the series as a whole. It's not that I don't like it, it's more that I am just no longer interested. 
3. The Selection by Kiera Cass 
Like Divergent, I really enjoyed the first book in this series and I was excited to read the second, however something about the tidles of the books took away form it. I mean, let's be honest, we all knew America was going to win, but they could have made us question it a little more, or at the very least, had a little more to the story. That and America was just up and down on my like scale, sometimes I thought she was being a little overdramatic/crazy/needed to be slapped and than there were times that I could really understand her struggle. 
4. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer 
Well all know the world has a love hate relationship with this series. Personally I'm in the middle somewhere. I can see why this series is very popular, but I just couldn't take it. The romance was cute, kinda creepy, but cute nonetheless. My biggest problem was that a lot of it was over descriptive and very unrealistic (yes, I realize that vamps and werewolves are not real, but I'm referring to the insta love and the relationships between everyone in general) 
5. The Wolves of Mercy Falls by Maggie Stiefvater 
Maggie Stievfvater is an incredible writer and I have loved every book of hers I have ever read. The only reason this series is on the list is because I long time ago (2011) when I was in California she was at a book signing in a small bookstore and my friend got signed copies of the three books. I read them and I loved them, it was a great series for me at the time, especially considering I wasn't that big of a reader at the time. Now I had no idea that she wrote a a fourth book for the series recently, I would read it but I would have to reread the first three books to know what was going on and that is just in no way going to happen considering I have so many books I have never read that I would rather get into. (E.g. The rest of the Raven Cycle series) 

Friday, October 9, 2015

Jackaby book Review

Jackaby by William Ritter

This was an overall pretty fun read. The characters were interesting and Jackaby was pretty peculiar, which I really enjoyed. The idea of the story in itself was what drew me to this book and its comparison to both Sherlock Holmes and Buffy the Vampire slayer made me pick it up. However, if you want a story that's going to really blow you away this isn't it. 
It is a relatively intising detective story and I can really see how it can be compared to Sherlock Holmes in that Jackaby is peculiar and kind of does his own this which gets him in trouble more often than not. The story is fun and faced passed, and it would be a great book to help you get out of a book slump and, if you aren't a very avid reader, it's light book to pick up. 
My favorite part about this book though, is it's incredibly stunning book cover. I love how the cover is both relevant to the story and just nice to look at, a great display cover. The book in itself though I would probably give a 4/5.


Gone Girl book Review

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

There are not enough words to describe how I feel about this book. I know this book blew so many people minds and it's very much loved so I must prepare you for a very unpopular bookish opinion. This book was so far from being my cup of tea. It was in no way mind blowing and I've never struggled so much to finish a book. I will admit that I partly knew what was going to happen before I started but that doesn't change the fact that this book was pretty dull. 
The whole thing revolves around both the wife and husband being incredible BSers and cunning to the point that it was actually kind of impressive. I have to give Gillian Flynn that, the characters were kind of awesome in the aspect that they were really smart (in a way) and quite damaged. I mean the wife herself is a full blown psychopath (which I absolutely love) and the husband is just stuck in this f***ed up situation, which he handles so incredible poorly. The characters are both so real and so...entertaining. And I must say that they really do deserve each other. 
Sadly that's all I can really give to the book. The writing style was perfectly adequate for this kind of book and the story in itself was obviously really thought out, but I just couldn't get into the story at all. I mean you can sort of guess the twist like 80 pages into the book and the ending seemed very drawn out like there was this hug build up and instead of dropping so much on us it was more of a roll or a light toss. There's was a pretty catastrophic nightmare in the middle but everything revolving around that was just lacking. 
Anyways, regardless I can definitely see why so many people loved this book and I would recommend it to those who are into mysteries, but overall it was probably a 3/5 for me.