*Drum Roll, Please*

Guys, I have some news. I don't know whether it's good or bad, I guess that's up for you to decide. I think it's good.

I'm not so good with breaking news, so I'm just going to give it to you straight: I'm moving my blog. It will no longer be just a book review blog. Basically, I'm integrating all of my blogs into one big, fat, overly pink and shiny one. Huzzah.

So if you'd like to follow me there, you can find my link here.

If you're frustrated with me and want me to jump off of a bridge, well, shame on you.

I just want to thank you all for your love and support of my crazy obsession, and I hope you will have as much faith in my new blog as you did in Slaying Books.

Love you all,

Sydney

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

She's just a New York City girl living with her artist mom... News Flash: Dad is prince of Genovia. (So that's why a limo meets her at the airport! Downer: Dad can't have any more kids. (So no heir to the throne.) Shock of the Century: Like it or not, Mia Thermopolis is prime princess material. Mia must take princess lessons from her dreaded grandmére, the dowager princess of Genovia, who thinks Mia has a thing or two to learn before she steps up to the throne. Well, her father can lecture her until he's royal-blue in the face about her princessly duty--no way is she moving to Genovia and leaving Manhattan behind. But what's a girl to do when her name is Princess Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo?

Okay, okay, okay. I know I haven't posted a book review in ages. I've been busy, finals are coming up. Bite me. 

I actually started reading this book while trying out a service called Oyster, which is basically the Netflix for books. Kind of like that thing called the library, except you pay $9.95 a month to read a smaller selection of books. I don't recommend it. 

Anyway, this book was a delightful surprise. I had always heard that Meg Cabot was one of those sassy authors with a knack for teen voice. It's totally true. 

Mia was such a hilarious character, even more so than she is in the movie (in which Anne Hathaway worked her magic). She reminds me of everything I was when I was a freshman in high school: hopelessly "in love" with a senior, whiney about everything, and in a constant annoyed mood with grandmothers and their pretentious, better-than-you attitudes. The only difference is that Mia Thermopolis is a princess, and I'm just your average book reviewer. But other than that tiny detail, she gave me nostalgia as I read through her "diary." 

The plot wasn't anything too spectacular in the beginning. Just a normal girl turning into a princess. We've all seen the film. But what the movie leaves out (from what I can remember of it) is the self-realization that Mia goes through when she realizes the boy of her dreams isn't what he seems. I know this is a middle school-level read, but the deepness of the last few scenes really stuck with me. 

I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a cute, funny, and overall fantastic light read. 

I gave it 4/5 stars, because I did enjoy it, but again, it was just something to hold me over until I could decide whether or not to keep using the service Oyster.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. 

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

As many of you know, I've been wanting to read this book for quite some time. As the months went by and it sat on my bookshelf still unread, I became a tad bit skeptic just because I started assuming that it was going to be your typical teen novel. Sixteen year-old heroine saves the day and gets the guy even though she's 90% sure he'll hate her. 

I'm really happy to say that Cinder was nothing like this. The story line was amazing, and it seems like in every chapter, there was a new plot twist. It definitely kept me on my toes and turning pages. As busy as I am, I'm actually surprised that I finished it this quickly. 

The characters were really well developed in my opinion, although I feel like Cinder was older than she acted. I feel like she was more in my age group (eighteen-nineteen) than sixteen. Maybe it has something to do with her dystopian environment, who knows. The antagonist of the story, the Lunar queen, was just pure evil. I love to hate her. That makes her the best kind of villain. 

What I really liked was the world-building. It wasn't overwhelming, but Meyer definitely conveyed a lot of information about the new Earth that she's created through dialogue. 

At the moment, I'm searching frantically for somewhere to purchase the sequel, because the last chapter was definitely a cliff-hanger. 

I seriously just cannot express how much I loved this book. Its fairy tale elements, its suspenseful plot, just everything. (Oh and a mega-hot prince). 

Most definitely deserves a rating of 5/5 stars. 

If you haven't read this book yet, go. Just go now. Exit out of my blog and go. GO. 

October TBR

Okay this may be a little late this month, but better late than never, right?

My History professor has been assigning us books to read like crazy (no fun!), so I haven't had much time at all to read for pleasure (double no fun!). Here's a little tip guys: never be a History major. No matter how much you like it. It's horrible.

I was originally reading The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith/J.K. Rowling, but I had to put onto the "didn't finish"/"read later" pile. It just wasn't anything too gripping, and I just couldn't get into it with the amount of coursework I've been doing.

I did, however, go home one weekend and see something that has been on my "to-read" pile for, well, forever and decide to start it. So, if I only finish one book this month (that isn't assigned reading), it'll be Cinder by Marissa Meyer.

I really apologize for the delay guys, really I am sorry. I'm trying to make my blog one of my higher priorities now that I've settled down with university life. 

Oh, and Clemson plays tomorrow! (In football, for you sheltered folks). 3:30PM against Boston College. Everyone should watch because we're pretty awesome.

See you guys super soon! You can keep up with my progress with Cinder on Goodreads! 

Guys, I SWEAR I'm not dead!

I haven't done written a post for this blog in a whole month! Much apologies, but I've just been so busy with university things and classes and sjkdfskdfh. I haven't even been able to read for pleasure because I've been reading so much for my classes.

Just bear with me, I promise I'll be posting soon(ish).

I still love you all,
Syd.

August TBR

This month's To Be Read pile will be short and sweet. I have so much going on this month with move-in and rowing tryouts and such. Hopefully I'll get everything on this list read.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

First and foremost, I want to reread one of my favorite books in the Harry Potter series. There isn't much to say about this one, it's pretty much given that it'll be amazing. 

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

I bought this book a while back, and it was featured in my first (and only) Wishlist Wednesday, but I haven't gotten around to reading it. I've only heard good things about it though, so I'm really excited to start! 

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling)

This book is shipping to my house from the UK as I type this. I really hope it gets here by the time I head to college. I am dying to read it! 

So that's basically it for what's coming up in August, I'm really excited to read all of these brilliant books. 

The Elite by Kiera Cass

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Compared to The Selection, this book was a real let-down. I was so excited when I finally got to sit down and read it. But from the very first pages, I could tell it wasn't going to "wow" me. 

I feel like Kiera Cass couldn't decide whether or not she liked Prince Maxon while she was writing this. I seriously imagine her sitting at a desk, typing away about how lovely he is, just to realize that she prefers Aspen. So she then types another forty pages or so about Maxon completely ignoring America. Cass literally made me hate Maxon for about half of the book, which is something I never wanted to do. I feel like she didn't plan this out, at all. 

What also bothered me was that America seemed to whine so much more in this book. She complained to Maxon that she needed time to think about whether or not she wanted to be with him, but then when he asked for time, she completely shut him down. America claimed to be seventeen years old, but she honestly acted like she's fourteen throughout the whole book. She couldn't make up her mind about anything, and it was rather frustrating. 

Although I was really disappointed with this book, there were a few good things I'd like to point out. I couldn't really tell if the writing was engaging because it was interesting, or because it was so simple. The Elite didn't provoke any sort of thought while I was reading it (not anything deep or meaningful, anyway), but for some reason or another, I just couldn't put it down. I also really liked that the book also focused on the politics of Illea more than The Selection. I guess that was the only thing stopping The Elite from being an episode of "The Bachelor." 

I also really enjoyed the some of the characters, although the Elite girls got on my nerves. They were just too perfect. I did love reading about Marlee, Carter, and the maids, though. They, along with America's sister May (her fangirling was phenomenal), were what kept me going in the slow parts of this book. 

I know I'll end up reading the new Selection book when it comes out in 2014, but I can't say I'm not afraid of it. I don't want it to be just another teen novel with another love triangle, because that's pretty much all The Elite was for me. 

A bit of a disappointment, I rated it 3/5 stars. Mainly for Maxon still being a cutie. 

July Wrap-Up

Yet again I've had another not-so-great reading month. I've still just been so busy with college stuff. However, I did manage to read:

The Selection by Kiera Cass

At first, I wasn't thrilled with this, but I ended up absolutely loving it. Definitely a swoon-worthy book full of kingdoms and princes and all that jazz. 5/5 stars. My review of it is here.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

I started rereading this because I mean, come on, who doesn't like a good dose of Harry Potter to de-stress? 5/5 stars, of course! My review of this can be found here.

And finally, 

The Iguana Tree by Michel Stone

I was so, so, so moved by this book. It was simply amazing. 5/5 stars. Review is here.

This may be one of the few months where everything I've read has gotten a perfect rating. Maybe it's been a good reading month after all. Quality over quantity, I always say. 

The Iguana Tree by Michel Stone

Set amid the perils of illegal border crossings, The Iguana Tree is the suspenseful saga of Lilia and Hector, who separately make their way from Mexico into the United States, seeking work in the Carolinas and a home for their infant daughter.

At my college orientation a few weeks ago, we were given this book to read over the summer for a book report we will have to complete sometime this fall. Naturally, I wasn't too ecstatic. I can't recall a time that I enjoyed a book assigned for me to read. 

This time was totally different. The Iguana Tree was a beautifully-written tale of a hardworking Mexican man named Hector and his struggle with his hard-headed wife to find what's most important to them. 

I can't write too much in this review without giving away the many twists and turns this plot takes. What I will say, however, is that this is one of the only books that has made me laugh out loud while crying all at the same time. I'm not joking, people, this book literally made me bawl. 

The characters were so believably hilarious and endearing. Michel Stone (being from South Carolina herself, a Clemson grad!) really captured the essence of the friendly, honest Southerners. We'll do anything for people who are kind to us. 

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a heart-wrenching story. Heck, I think this could even become a movie. I'd watch it. 

I rated The Iguana Tree 5/5 stars, just because I fell in love with the characters almost immediately. This book solely relied on them, and a plot as amazing as this one couldn't have been executed without the amazing characters behind it. 

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter has never played a sport while flying on a broomstick. He's never worn a Cloak of Invisibility, befriended a giant, or helped hatch a dragon. All Harry knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley. Harry's room is a tiny cupboard under the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in ten years.

But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to a wonderful place he never dreamed existed. There he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic around every corner, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him... if Harry can survive the encounter.

If you readers are anything like myself, you've grown up on this series. Reading and rereading the books, joining the fan clubs, going to movie and book premieres at midnight, decked out in Gryffindor robes with wands in hand. The works.

When I decided to reread the series for fun this year, I was little scared that the magic was going to die for me. I was afraid that I was too "grown-up" for a middle-grade adventure book. I was so happy when I got through the first few chapters and realized that I was wrong.

The writing in this book is something that I can't even compare to even the other YA and adult books that I've read. The descriptions and the plot just blow everything else out of the water. I became immersed in a world that I haven't truly visited since my childhood.

The characters were just brilliant, too. You've got Harry, the scrawny kid who proves that good will always triumph over evil, along with his sidekicks, Ron and Hermione, who are just as lovable. Together, they have to reveal the secrets hidden within their school of witchcraft and stop someone from stealing the Sorcerer's Stone for the evil Lord Voldemort (who is also the most evil villain I have ever encountered in a series. Seriously, he gives me the heebie jeebies).

Overall, I gave this book 5/5 stars, which isn't surprising. Anyone who hasn't read this book, please, please, for the love of all that is good, read it. I promise you'll love it, and the series only gets better from here. I hope to re-read the rest of the series by the end of this year, between all of the other books I have in a big TBR pile!

(Mini) Book Haul #2

GUYS, LOOK WHAT FINALLY CAME. 

But sadly, I can't start it until I finish the book that Clemson is required us to read over the summer. It's called The Iguana Tree by Michel Stone. From what I've heard about it on its Goodreads page, I think I'll really enjoy it. I plan on starting it once I finish The Sorcerer's Stone (and reviewing it, of course!). Its cover looks a little something like this:

So yeah. Cool things to come. 

July TBR **UPDATE**

Okay, so, I have quite the predicament on my hands. With my copy of The Elite by Kiera Cass in transit to my house as we speak, I won't have time to finish The Luxe by Anna Godbersen before it gets here. Not to mention that The Luxe is beyond boring! 

So I figured my best option would be just to read something short and sweet while I wait on The Elite. What's shorter and sweeter than Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone? It's one of my favorite childhood books, and so I've decided to reread the series between new books this summer.

July TBR

Since I finished The Selection and posted a review of it today, I figured I might as well post my July TBR pile before I decide to change it. It was hard to choose what to read this month, but this is my final decision:

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

I'm really interested in reading this mainly because I haven't read Historical Fiction in such a long time. From what I've heard, this series can be a bit scandalous. So I guess my curiosity got the best of me. 

The Elite by Kiera Cass

I literally just ordered this from The Book Depository, and I can't wait for it to get here. I need to know what happens in this series! If I don't, I might just explode. 

Also, if there is enough time in the month and I enjoy The Luxe, I plan on reading its sequel, Rumors.  

That's basically allI have planned for reading this month, because I have other things going on college-wise. But hopefully it'll be a good month, and maybe I'll get in a few short standalone novels as well!

The Selection by Kiera Cass

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

I did it! I finally read The Selection! It only took me forever. I'll admit, at first, I was scared of what I was getting into. The first few chapters were filled with nothing but America Singer (such an unfortunate name) whining about not being able to marry Aspen, the boy she has been secretly dating for two years. I found this a bit ridiculous because if I remember correctly, she's supposed to be sixteen. That would mean she started "dating" Aspen at the age of fourteen. I can vouch for the majority of girls when I say we don't know what love is at the age of fourteen. At all. 

Despite the lovey-dovey crap, I read on, and I'm really glad I did. I was introduced to Maxon, the glorious prince. He's such a gentleman, and I really loved his character. Heck, I'd marry him. 

My only complaint about the plot was that the political disputes weren't given much detail. But maybe Kiera Cass will delve into them more in the sequel, The Elite, which I definitely plan on reading, despite all of the bad things I've heard about it. 

Overall, I gave the book 5/5 stars. Mainly for Maxon, but whatever. He's definitely typical swoon-worthy prince. I guess it's safe to say that I'm Team Maxon from today on. 

June Wrap-Up

Okay, so maybe I lied. I didn't finish  The Selection by the time July started. I'm just not thrilled with it so far, and it doesn't help that I've used my graduation money to buy a new toy: a 4th generation iPad. My parents bought me a Bluetooth keyboard for it yesterday, so of course that's what I'm using to publish this blog post. Which is further putting off reading The Selection. Whatever.

The only book I read this month was The Diviners by Libba Bray. I really, really loved it. Everyone reading this blog: go pick up a copy this very second. It will not disappoint. You can find my review of it here.

So that's basically it for June. Not too exciting on the book-reading side. I hope to read more books during July. I have more free time; the only thing remotely important that I have going on is Clemson orientation.

I'll have a TBR pile up soon, once I decide on what I definitely want to read. See you soon!

Not exactly book-related...

But I figured I'd announce that I'm finally back to Europe, and I'm about 1/4th of the way finished with The Selection by Kiera Cass. I'll definitely finish that by the time the month is up, so be expecting both a review and a June Wrap-Up as well as a July TBR.

I may also post a little sneak peek of my Camp NaNoWriMo project if I get around to it next month.

See you all very soon!

The Diviners by Libba Bray

Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."

When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first.

I have one word for what I thought of this book: Wow. Just wow. 

I loved this book through and through. I don't think I can stress that enough, although I was a little hesitant about it at first. I'm not a fan of paranormal YA, mainly because it usually entails the average-looking main character falling for some gorgeous supernatural bad boy within the first three chapters. However, I put aside the fear of this happening, and I sure am glad that I did. 

The dialogue was surprisingly clever for a YA novel, and the plot was surprisingly creepy. I wasn't expecting any of the twists in plot, which made it all the better. The villain, "Naughty" John Hobbes was by far one of the most sinister antagonists I've ever encountered. He's right up there with Voldemort. Just the mention of his name, or the little song he sings throughout the book, sent shivers down my spine.

I was simply blown away by the amount of research that went into making The Diviners the perfect flapper novel. Libba Bray nailed the "Roaring Twenties." She even added in the slang of the period, which annoyed a lot of the reviewers on Goodreads, but I personally loved it. I'm honestly surprised that the book was only 578 pages, with the amount of information piled in there. I'm also surprised that I finished it in a little over a week. 

If there isn't a sequel in the works, I will be highly disappointed. 

Overall rating: 5/5 stars. I definitely recommend it to anyone who loves to read, regardless of the genre.

Book Haul #1

How exciting! This is my first book haul on this blog! I had a graduation party yesterday, and I figured: what better way is there to spend money than on books? So needless to say, I had a little shopping spree at the out-of-town bookstore today. I bought:

Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
I was recommended this book by my lovely boyfriend and some of the other people in his Literature class. I've heard it was really good, and I haven't read a classic in a while, so I picked it up. 

A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

Everyone raves about the amazing world-building hidden in the pages of this series. There was no way I could let myself not buy this.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

So many book bloggers have recommended this book to me when I posted it as my last week's Wishlist Wednesday. This was one of the more expensive books in my haul. Hopefully it'll be worth the arm and the leg I paid for it. 

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Again, this is a book I've only heard good things about. I have it as an eBook, but the formatting went wrong and I never got around to actually reading it. Picked up a paperback copy today just for the heck of it. 

 

The Luxe and Rumors by Anna Godbersen

Today, I also invested in the first two books in The Luxe series. I haven't read Historical Fiction in so long, so I'm really excited to start these because HF was my favorite genre as a child. And I just love Victorian Era Manhattan.

On an un-book-related note, I also bought the 30th Anniversary ANNIE Broadway Cast Recording for $3. What can I say? I'll always be drawn back to my musical theatre roots. The highlight of my :"career" began with that one role: Annie. Now I'm just obsessed. 

Wishlist Wednesday #1

I found this really cool meme hosted by the Pen to Paper blog (which has some really lovely reviews, so definitely check her out!). Basically, you just post a different book from your wishlist every Wednesday.

I figured this would  be a way to make sure I update at least every week, because I won't be doing very many reviews this month.

Now comes the tough part: deciding which book on my to-be-read list to have the honor of being my first Wishlist Wednesday choice. After a lot of debating, I've decided on Cinder by Marissa Meyer.

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . 

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

This is actually unlike anything I've ever read, and the synopsis intrigues me to no end. I've only heard good things about the Lunar Chronicles, so I feel like I absolutely have to get my hands on a copy of this. I can't seem to find it anywhere offline, though. I'll keep my eyes peeled.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

It's the year 2044, and the real world is an ugly place. 

Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes his grim surroundings by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia that lets you be anything you want to be, a place where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets. 

And like most of humanity, Wade dreams of being the one to discover the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this virtual world. For somewhere inside this giant networked playground, OASIS creator James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles that will yield massive fortune--and remarkable power--to whoever can unlock them. 

Honestly, I'm torn. I'm not entirely sure how I felt about this book. In the beginning, I was struck with this awesome sense that this book was going to be righteous, because the idea was just that good. But now that I've finished it, I feel like Ernest Cline did a really poor job of executing his great idea.

The story line was magnificent, and for that I gave it 4/5 stars. However, sometimes I felt that the characters were a little hard to relate to, because they were so smart. Too smart. No teenager, not even in the year 2044, could possibly possess half of the information that Wade does. I feel like if Wade Watts was a real, truly live human being living in the world, he wouldn't be stuck living in a trailer park. People with his intellect get jobs, no matter what the year. So it was a little annoying to me, how he constantly whined about his life, when he did absolutely nothing about it other than log into the OASIS every single day.

However, I must say that the world and plot-building was right up my alley. I love the 1980's and I really enjoyed learning trivia about the '80's pop culture along the way.

I didn't like this book as well as I thought I would, but I still gave it 4/5 stars because the story line was just amazing.

June TBR

I'm not planning on finishing too many books this month, just because of the sheer size of the first one that my loving boyfriend so graciously picked up for me at the library just last week. I also have a lot going on this month, I have graduation next Friday (woo!) and I leave for Europe on the 17th (double woo!). So this month, I'm only setting a goal of reading two books.

The Diviners by Libba Bray

As I mentioned in the intro, this book is an absolute monster read, coming in at around 578 pages. With everything I have going, I'll be surprised if I finish this by the end of the month. However, it's a book that I've heard several BookTubers rave about, so I figured I'd give it a go. Especially since it's set in my favorite time period. I'm a flapper at heart. 

Dreamland by Sarah Dessen

I've had this book in my collection since the start of my 9th grade year, when it was a required read. So, of course, I never even touched it. I've never been able to make it through a Sarah Dessen book, but from what I've been told, once you get through the slow beginnings, they turn out to be really worth the read. I sure hope that's the case.

If I miraculously finish both of these books this month, I will probably end up starting either the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin or The Selection series by Kiera Cass. I plan on reading a lot over this summer holiday, because I know I probably won't be able to read much when I start college in the fall (go Clemson!). 

May Wrap-Up

May wasn't a very good reading month for me, honestly. But then again, being in my senior year of high school, 2013 so far hasn't been a very good reading year. Now that I'm finished with schoolwork though, I plan on reading a whole lot more! This month I only really finished two books, A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (to which you can find a review here) and Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (to which a review should be posted sometime within the next week).

A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - I was pleasantly surprised with how well I liked this novel. It was the perfect mix of quick humor and historical mystery. Love love loved it. 5/5 stars.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline - Okay, so I haven't technically finished reading this yet, but I know I will by the time May ends (so midnight tonight). So far, I really enjoy this book! It has a few things that get on my nerves, like the constant use of the term "asshat" and the fact that Cline seems to repeat himself a lot in his writing. But other than that, I give it 4/5 stars so far. It better have one kickass ending.



P.S. - Happy birthday to me! I'm officially a legal adult! Crazy.

A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

"A Study in Scarlet" is the first published story of one of the most famous literary detectives of all time, Sherlock Holmes. Here Dr. Watson, who has just returned from a war in Afghanistan, meets Sherlock Holmes for the first time when they become flat-mates at the famous 221 B Baker Street. In "A Study in Scarlet" Sherlock Holmes investigates a murder at Lauriston Gardens as Dr. Watson tags along with Holmes while narratively detailing his amazing deductive abilities.

I'm going to be honest with you all here. About a year ago I went through a BBC's Sherlock obsession. I wanted to be an expert on all things Sherlock Holmes, so I went out and bought the first volume in the Bantam Classic Sherlock Holmes collection, assuming I'd finish all of the short stories and novels within a week or so. Oh, how wrong I was.

I tried to work through A Study in Scarlet for ages, but it just was never something I could make myself read. The volume collected dust on my bookshelf until about two days ago, when I finally decided to tackle the task of reading it. This time I was determined.

I'm so glad I made myself read past the first twenty or so pages. I fell in love with the smart-ass attitude of Sherlock Holmes immediately. Sure, Benedict Cumberbatch is a fine, snarky Sherlock, but nothing compared to the dialogue written in this novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

It was a bit slow at parts, but maybe that's because I already knew who committed the crime (thanks, BBC). I think what I liked most about A Study in Scarlet was the small break in the middle of the novel. It's broken up into two parts, the first part being a recollection of Dr. John Watson meeting and living with Sherlock Holmes in the midst of a terrible crime. The second, which was my favorite, started out with a third-person narrative explaining the back story of the killer, who was rescued by Mormon pilgrims in America. I'm in love with American history, so this was a really nice touch for me. Everything flowed together seamlessly, building up to an amazing ending in Watson's point-of-view.

I was not expecting to like A Study in Scarlet as well as I did at all. I definitely would recommend it to any classic or Holmes fan... or any human being period. It's instantly become one of my favorites of all time. 5/5 stars. Blew me away.

Hello world!

Chances are, if you're reading this, you have stumbled upon this blog by accident while it is under construction. Either that, or you're my mother (hi, Mom). However, if by some miracle you're actually here for the former reason, hello! I've been inspired here lately by many of my Goodreads friends to create a blog for my book reviews. I figure this is a much more fool-proof system than writing my every thought down in the book review Moleskine journal I bought last year--because honestly, who can be bothered to actually write stuff down these days? This is the technology of the 21st century! Journals are becoming blogs, books are becoming ebooks (I can't say I'm totally on board with this one though).

So if you're feeling faithful at all in this blog, please stick around.

I'll be posting reviews every time I finish a book, and I may even do a book haul every once in a while (but being a broke soon-to-be college student, I won't have much money for books in the foreseeable future. Sad life).

So with this, I bid you adieu.

Find me on Goodreads!