Top Ten Books At The Top Of My Summer TBR List (25)

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This weekly feature has book bloggers post a Top Ten bookish list for the fun of it! This week's TTT is:

Top Ten Books At The Top Of My Summer TBR List

1. Joyland by Stephen King - It's Stephen King's newest release, and I am dying to get my hands on it and read it in one sitting! Which is actually possible for once with a King book because it is only 283 pages! Wow, that's short for Stephen King!

2. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline - Every once and awhile, I need a break from YA and I just want some adult fiction. Can you believe that there was a point in time where all I read was adult books? Ready Player One sounds like a nostalgic, genre-defying, AMAZING read! Just my type of book!

3. The Twelve by Justin Cronin - I constantly gush about the first installment of this series, The Passage, but The Twelve remains unread on my bookshelf. It's even a Goodreads Choice 2012 Winner! I need to just pick it up and dive in.

4. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss - This series has received so many stunning reviews, and I cannot wait to read this! Besides, I'm always looking for more fantasy to read!

5. The Stand by Stephen King - Okay, I can do this. I believe this is the second TBR Top Ten List I've included this on, but it is still unread. This is unacceptable! I must get to reading this!

6. Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride - This book screams Courtney! A horrific yet humorous read about raising the dead for cash? Yup, I need to read this!

7. In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters - I've heard great things about this book, and I don't know why I haven't read it yet. It's sitting on my shelf right now. I definitely intend to read this sometime during the summer!

8. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch - I will admit that I was attracted to this book for a superficial reason. I liked the purple in the cover. But I am so happy I stumbled upon this book because it is a must read for the future!

9. House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski - I have had this book for years. YEARS! It is a very challenging read, seeing as it's made with an odd assortment of papers with footnotes and appendices and who knows what else. But I will finish it!

10. The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima - I've been meaning to get to this series for some time because I'm sure it will become a new favorite. Someday, I know I will read this, and I'm hoping for this summer!

Half of these books I already have sitting on my shelf, just waiting to be cracked open. The other half I don't have in my possession, but I fully intend to purchase or borrow them in the future. The only problem is finding the time to read them... 

Have you read any of these? What were your thoughts on these books? And what books do you plan to read over the summer? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Stacks of Shame

I'm borrowing this idea from booksaremyfavouriteandbest because I think it's the perfect post for an insane book buyer like me. Stacks of Shame is basically my reality check. It's when I realize how many books I've bought that still remain unread. And then hang my head in shame.

I buy way too many books, and simply don't have the time to read them all. It will take me awhile to finish all of the unread books stacking up on my shelves. In fact, I'm running out of room. I have three bookshelves, and I've doubled up the rows on each shelf. I've even started putting books on top of those rows, squeezing them in wherever I can. I'm literally surrounded by books. But do I learn? No.

I keep buying because I take comfort in books. I just need to have my own copy. And, as anyone with an addiction does, I try to justify my actions..

1) It takes me FOREVER to return borrowed books, and knowing how anal I am about keeping my books in pristine condition, I'm terrified of something happening to the lender's books. 

2) I hate the due dates of library books. If I know I have a time limit, I feel pressured to read the book and suddenly, I can't enjoy the book as much.

3) I prefer actual books to ebooks because I can actually feel, smell and see the pages stacking up on the left. Plus, a physical book doesn't run out of battery.

4) I want to have a room just for my books, basically a library, when I have my own house in the future. I keep telling myself this and now I almost believe it will happen.

There are other reasons. Yeah, I know I'm weird. That thought has crossed my mind. And if there was a fire, I would make sure that the people and animals were out of the house before I ran up to my room and started throwing books out the window to save them...

My book love isn't exactly unhealthy, but I can't ignore reality any longer! As you can see, my TBR pile is humungous, and I'm overwhelmed.

And there's more...

Sadly, that's not all of it but I got sick of gathering all of them together. And that doesn't even count all of the ebooks I still haven't read.

I'm trying to take control of my TBR pile little by little, but there's just so many books I want to read and not enough time. I'm definitely going to have to be more selective with books I buy in the future. Or I should just force myself to stop buying books until I make a HUGE dent in my TBR pile. I have to avoid bookstores or I'm a goner...

What about you guys? Do you buy books when you still have ones to read at home? Are your bookshelves crammed like mine? If all your unread books came to life, would you have an enormous army?

Showcase Sunday (2)

Showcase Sunday is hosted by Books, Biscuits, and Tea. Showcase Sunday is a weekly feature where book bloggers highlight the books and book swag they received, borrowed, etc over the past week.

Bought:

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo - I'm just about to start this one and I am SO EXCITED! I absolutely loved Shadow and Bone, and I cannot wait to continue this series!

Borrowed:

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley - I've heard you can't go wrong with books by an Aussie YA author, and I'd believe it after reading some of Melina Marchetta's work. So many people rave about Graffiti Moon, and I'm anxious to read it!

Dark Triumph by R.L. LaFevers - I love that Dark Triumph's protagonist is Sybella! I loved her in Grave Mercy, and I'm sure this book will be action-packed and filled with assassins doing kick-ass stuff as they always do!

I also snatched up some Kindle books that were on sale! How could I resist 1.99 and 2.99 deals?!

Sanctum by Sarah Fine - I had borrowed this from the library at one point, but it had started off a little slow for me, and I ran out of renewals before I finished it. I'll have to give it another try because it seems like a really popular book.

The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney - I've been eyeing up this book for awhile, and it looks like my type of fantasy read - all sorts of spooky!

Something Like Normal by Trish Doller - I've been wanting to read this book for some time so the discounted price was all I needed!

So what books did everyone else receive this week? Let me know and leave a link in the comments below!

Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness Book Review

Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Publication Date: May 3, 2010
603 pages, Chaos Walking #3
Rating: 5 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

“War makes Monsters of Men.” 
― Patrick Ness, Monsters of Men

*Warning: Ahead, there are spoilers for the first two books of this series. Proceed with caution...*

Synopsis
In the riveting conclusion to the acclaimed dystopian series, a boy and girl caught in the chaos of war face devastating choices that will decide the fate of a world.

As a world-ending war surges around them, Todd and Viola face monstrous decisions. The indigenous Spackle, thinking and acting as one, have mobilized to avenge their murdered people. Ruthless human leaders prepare to defend their factions at all costs, even as a convoy of new settlers approaches. And as the ceaseless Noise lays all thoughts bare, the projected will of the few threatens to overwhelm the desperate desire of the many. 

The consequences of each action, each word, are unspeakably vast: To follow a tyrant or a terrorist? To save the life of the one you love most, or thousands of strangers? To believe in redemption, or assume it is lost? Becoming adults amid the turmoil, Todd and Viola question all they have known, racing through horror and outrage toward a shocking finale. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
I'm simply at a loss for words. Yet somehow, I'm still typing, still forming coherent, hopefully, sentences, while my mind is a churning mess of emotion and feels. Monsters of Men was everything I wanted and so much more. It was the electrifying finale to a series I have fallen head over heels for, and I just want to reread it again and again so I never leave the world of the Chaos Walking series behind. I know what you're thinking. She's talking all sorts of weirdness. But I'm dead serious, and if you've read this series, you must know exactly what I'm going through. It is rare for a series to continue to be exceptional as it progresses, and it is even rarer for a series to get better with every book when you thought it was impossible for it to improve. But the impossible is now possible. The Chaos Walking series is that series, and you need to read it right now. I told you I wasn't kidding.

Monsters of Men was an action-packed, intense conclusion to a beloved series. Just when you think the ending is near, there's even more heart wrenching scenes and unforgettable twists, and the intensity continues to build until you wonder if you can handle any more. It's an edge of your seat read, written to keep your eyes glued to the pages from start to finish. So much happens, and I was constantly fearing for the lives of my favorite characters and even the most despicable characters you will ever meet. How does Patrick Ness do that? How does he make me care for even the worst of humanity - the characters I should want to die? But he does it, and it amazes me beyond belief. All of his characters are so complex and wonderfully developed that it's almost scary. I kept expecting them to reach out of the pages and punch me in the face or tap me on the shoulder. They're that real.

I have to warn you that many scenes in Monsters of Men are painful and emotionally gripping. There's no way you can read this book calmly and unflustered; my emotions were all over the place. There is a full out war going on, and when is war ever pretty? But somehow, I sympathized with every side. The Mayor's soldiers, who blindly follow their leader into battle. The Answer, who believes that their way is the only way, and that terrorism will end the bloodshed and bring about peace. The Spackle, the native species of the planet, who are trying to avenge their fallen and wipe out all of men, who they see as an invasive species (which we kind of are). Then there's the new settlers - the two who have already landed and the convoy who is slowly approaching their new home, unaware of what awaits them. And, of course, there are Todd and Viola, who are a part of one side and yet, at the same time, they are not. Their love for each other and their unfailing hope in a better future, a future that the first settlers have forgotten was their goal when arriving here, is the only hope left for everyone on this planet.

The villain in Monsters of Men is one of the best, most convincing villains you will ever read about. He's unnervingly persuasive, and before you know it, he has you won over and on his side. You can never tell exactly what he's up to, and he shocked me time and time again, which was sometimes good and other times, not so good. Without the Mayor, this series would be definitely lacking because he stands for so much - the corruption of mankind but also a hope for redemption. Can he ever be forgiven for all of his horrible deeds? And can he ever be redeemed? Can a man change that much? While I highly doubted that the Mayor would be saved, I couldn't help wanting him to be, especially after seeing the growing connection between Todd and him. The Mayor has to be one of my favorite villains of all time, even over Disney villains like Scar and Maleficent, and his development is endlessly fascinating.

There's a little romance in Monsters of Men, but the little there is was wonderfully done. Just everything was wonderfully done. I couldn't imagine this series ending any other way. The romance between Todd and Viola, the antagonism between Mistress Coyle and the Mayor, the popping up of old characters we have grown to love, the Spackle's hunger for vengeance...all of it came together to make for a stunning final installment to a series I never wanted to end. A series that explores the possibility of peace when so many grudges remain and how men act when society itself is falling apart. Men that traveled for decades to settle on a new home and hopefully create a paradise, only to fail because of greed and vanity. But Monsters of Men also shows that there is still hope for mankind. Among the many who are selfish and weak, there are the strong and the brave who refuse to give in. Like Todd and Viola and so many others that I couldn't help but admire.

I could gush on and on about this amazing series, but instead, I implore you, I beg you to read the Chaos Walking series. I was impressed by both The Knife of Never Letting Go and The Ask and the Answer, and Monsters of Men was a brillant addition. In fact, I think it was my favorite book of the entire series. I fully intend to spread my love for this series as much as possible so that others have a chance to discover it.

Waiting on Wednesday (34) - Raven Flight by Juliet Marillier

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. Every Wednesday, book bloggers spotlight upcoming releases they cannot wait to get their hands on.

Raven Flight by Juliet Marillier

Hits Shelves on July 9, 2013

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis

Neryn thought she had lost everything and could trust no one, not even her mysterious companion, Flint.

But when she finds refuge at the rebel base of Shadowfell and discovers her canny gift as a Caller, she feels the first stirrings of hope.

Now she faces a perilous journey with the rebel Tali and the Good Folk, who shadow her steps. She must find the three Guardians who can teach her how to use her unwieldy gift – one that it is rumoured could amass a powerful army.

Can Neryn master her magical power to save Alban from King Keldec's stranglehold?

Or will she be too late? (Goodreads)

Why I'm Waiting

Shadowfell was my first Juliet Marillier read ever, and I fell in love with her writing from the first page. It was fantasy done right, and I cannot wait for the sequel!

I just wish the covers for Marillier's books were more appealing. I was disappointed with the cover for Daughter of the Forest, and many of her other books deserve beautiful covers but unfortunately, the opposite is true. Shadowfell's cover was stunning, but the cover for Raven Flight is disappointing. I'm a bigger fan of the Australian cover, but that's just me being picky.

Let me know what you're waiting for this week! Leave a link to your WoW post in the comments below!

Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler Book Review

Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: January 3, 2012
378 pages
Rating: 3 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

“It takes forty muscles to frown, and only twelve to jam a cupcake in your mouth and get over it.” 
― Sarah Ockler, Bittersweet

Synopsis
Once upon a time, Hudson knew exactly what her future looked like. Then a betrayal changed her life, and knocked her dreams to the ground. Now she’s a girl who doesn’t believe in second chances... a girl who stays under the radar by baking cupcakes at her mom’s diner and obsessing over what might have been.

So when things start looking up and she has another shot at her dreams, Hudson is equal parts hopeful and terrified. Of course, this is also the moment a cute, sweet guy walks into her life... and starts serving up some seriously mixed signals. She’s got a lot on her plate, and for a girl who’s been burned before, risking it all is easier said than done.

It’s time for Hudson to ask herself what she really wants, and how much she’s willing to sacrifice to get it. Because in a place where opportunities are fleeting, she knows this chance may very well be her last... (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
I decided to read this book after Rather Be Reading highly recommended it. I've been making it my mission to sample more of the contemporary genre. I used to think I would never be a fan of YA contemp, but I was proven wrong. While fantasy remains my favorite genre, I've found some fantastic books in this neck of the woods. This was my first Sarah Ockler book ever, and I found it to be a cute, enjoyable read. I strongly suggest that you have sugary treats on hand before reading this! Each chapter in Bittersweet was titled after a cupcake name, followed by the cupcake ingredients, that tied in perfectly with the plot developments. The cupcake names were witty and fun, and the descriptions seriously had me drooling. 

When I first saw this cover, I mistook Bittersweet for a light, fluffy read, but that is far from the case. In Bittersweet, our protagonist, Hudson, is still recovering from the shock of her father's infidelity and her parents' resulting divorce. When it came to ice skating, her father had been her biggest supporter, always attending competitions and encouraging her to try her best. After he leaves his family in the dust, Hudson has herself convinced that she was responsible for her parents' separation. She keeps wondering if her parents would still be together if she hadn't shown her mom the bra she had found, an undergarment that was completely out of place in their house. Suddenly, Hudson finds it difficult to muster up any of the old excitement she felt for ice skating. Without her dad cheering her on from the stands, the sport is just not the same. And as her mother struggles to make ends meet as a single mother of two and the owner of the local diner, Hudson chips in with her out of this world confectionery skills and by babysitting her little brother, Bug. When an opportunity presents itself, Hudson jumps on it, terrified that if she doesn't, she will be stuck in her hometown forever.

I may not have loved Hudson, or even liked her most of the time, but I give Ockler props for creating such a realistic character. Hudson isn't the nicest of girls. She has an awesome best friend, Dani, who's full of spunk, but Hudson constantly blows her off for time on the rink with the high school's hockey team, the Watonka Wolves, or for alone time with one guy in particular. That's not cool. Dani may have trouble understanding why Hudson is so desperate to quit town, but she is still a loyal friend who is concerned about Hudson. And every time Dani tries to understand Hudson's actions, Hudson once again makes up excuses for why she doesn't want to talk about what she's going through. Yet I understand that Hudson is not exactly clear-headed in Bittersweet. She is under a lot of stress, and she's feeling that pressure constantly. And Hudson is extremely confused about what she wants in life. I mean, who isn't in high school? I'm still lost as to what I'm going to do in the future, and I'm out of college. But Hudson doesn't have to have everything figured out, and it would be ridiculous for anyone to expect her to. I'm happy Ockler portrayed a character who doesn't have her shit together and is still trying to discover herself.

Besides her hectic schedule and numerous responsibilities, Hudson also has difficulty getting along with her mom. I loved how Bittersweet  didn't suffer from Absent Parent Syndrome. Hudson's mom may be busy running the diner, but she's a regular fixture in Bittersweet. She's constantly asking Hudson to put in more hours at the diner or watch Bug when she simply can't leave work. I LOVED Bug btw. He was mature beyond his years, and his oddities and mannerisms amused me. And it was touching to see two siblings that were so close. As her mother shows Hudson the workings of the diner, Hudson fears that she will never escape this town. While managing and then eventually owning the diner was her mother's dream, it's definitely not Hudson's, and she has difficulty getting that message across to her mom. But while relations between Hudson and her mom are tense, they still come through for each other. Hudson, her mother, and Bug all share some heartwarming scenes. Although, a member of their family is missing and they feel the sharp pain of that loss, they still have fun together and work as a team. It was moving to see them support each other when times were rough.

I will admit there were some aspects of the book I was less than happy with. I wish that Bittersweet had focused more on Hudson's ice skating dreams than on the high school drama. I could have cared less about the hockey team "wives" or the team's coach and his scheming. And then there was the romance. I liked Josh Blackthorne. Except it takes him forever to even make a move. It felt like their relationship kept being put off, and I wanted to scream, JUST KISS ALREADY! There wasn't enough interaction between them for me to completely buy their feelings for each other. Hudson fell for him fast and hard, and I felt like that came out of nowhere. And it made absolutely no sense for her to be with Will when she had these feelings for another guy! Will and Hudson didn't fit together at all, and I don't understand how that played into the story, besides frustrating the hell out of me. Oh yeah, and causing some serious tension between Josh and Will. It was unnecessary.

There was also just too much going on in this book. There's Hudson's cupcake concoctions, her waitressing, her ice skating dreams, her absent father, her fights with her mother, the rough spot she has with her best friend, drama with an ex best friend, that damn love triangle...and I'm going to stop there because this list is way too long. I found it difficult to keep up, and perhaps, it was meant to be overwhelming for the reader, just as it was for Hudson? But I often felt like I was reading more than one book. I also found some of Hudson's decisions absolutely maddening. I just wanted to shake some sense into her. But stuffing a cupcake in my mouth would probably be a better alternative.

I liked Bittersweet more than I expected, and I certainly don't regret reading it. Despite some complaints, I found Bittersweet to be, as the title suggests, a wonderful mix of sweet, uplifting moments and heartrending, bitter scenes.  Plus, it had me wanting to bake cupcakes! Or just eat them...

*Speaking of cupcakes, this Bittersweet book trailer is drool-worthy!*

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness Book Review

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
(Inspired by an idea from Siobhan Dowd)
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Release Date: September 15, 2011
215 pages
Rating: 5 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

“Stories are wild creatures, the monster said. When you let them loose, who knows what havoc they might wreak?” 
― Patrick Ness, A Monster Calls

Synopsis
The monster showed up after midnight. As they do.

But it isn't the monster Conor's been expecting. He's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming...

This monster is something different, though. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.

It wants the truth. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
Back in the day, I was a BIG Roald Dahl fan. At the start of A Monster Calls, I was reminded of The BFG, short for The Big Friendly Giant. In both books, a large monster, or giant, comes in the middle of the night to the bedroom window of a child, or teen, who is having trouble sleeping. After that, all similarities between these two stories cease, and A Monster Calls veers off onto a darker path. It almost made me long for the adventures of Giant Country because A Monster Calls is not an easy book to read, but it is still such a rewarding, meaningful read nonetheless.

In A Monster Calls, Conor's mother has fought cancer for several years now, and while she has always gotten better before, the treatments aren't working as well anymore. Conor is having trouble facing this reality, and he refuses to believe that his mother may be gone soon. With his father living in another country with a new family, bullies at school, and constant nightmares of a monster disturbing his sleep, Conor is barely holding it together. That's when the monster arrives. Instead of feeling terrified, a natural reaction to seeing a monster, Conor could care less. This monster is nothing compared to the other monster that awaits him in his sleep. 

A Monster Calls brilliantly explores the darker sides of reality by entering into fantasy. For Conor, the reality that he will lose his mother soon is too painful to accept. I loved how the monster's storytelling and visits forced Conor to slowly emerge from his state of denial. Despite the elements of fantasy, A Monster Calls is very realistic and emotionally moving. In fact, the slivers of fantasy help the reader better understand Conor's suffering. The story was beautifully written with all these genius subtleties; I couldn't help but be blown away. After I turned the last page, I realized that there were so many lessons to be learned from this book and I was taken completely unawares by each and every one of them. None of them were screaming and clamoring to be heard. They were skillfully worked in so that they snuck up on you.

Conor felt unbelievably real to me. I may not have wanted to dive headfirst into his sorrow, but I was helpless to put down the book. The story captured my attention and held it until the ending. Conor was far from a static character. I witnessed his rage, his depression, and his cries for help and attention. I watched as he endured this difficult time in his life all by himself. I shared in his frustrations and his vehement denials. I really sympathized with Conor, and I think A Monster Calls will deeply resonate with anyone who has ever lost a loved one or has felt overwhelming grief. Just be prepared with a box of Kleenex.

I enjoy nothing more than a well-written story, and A Monster Calls offers up a few thought-provoking, fascinating tales. These stories blur the lines between right and wrong, black and white. I was anticipating a predictable ending for each of these, but, boy, was I ever wrong. These stories raise some interesting questions, leading you to doubt all your moral beliefs. 

A Monster Calls was inspired by Siobhan Dowd's original idea. Unfortunately, Dowd was unable to write this book before she died from breast cancer:

"She had the characters, a detailed premise, and a beginning. What she didn't have, unfortunately, was time."
-Patrick Ness

Ness wrote the book and did a damn good job bringing Dowd's dream to life. I like to think that this story made sure it was heard, and I am so happy it was written despite the sad loss of its intended author. A Monster Calls was an exceptional read that I would recommend to anyone and everyone.