Top 10 Books Everyone's Read But Me (Sept. 20th)

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Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

This Week's Topic Is: Top 10 Books Everyone's Read But Me

There are many reasons that someone can end up out of the loop about books. Maybe a book comes out and you don't hear about it. Maybe it released before you got really interested in reading as actively as I do now. Maybe something about a book has you wary to pick it up. Or maybe it's just not in stock or you don't have enough cash at the time. In all truth, though, it boils down to this: books you're dying to read and books you're wary to read. So that's how I'm splitting it up this week, 50 / 50. Lets get the bad news done first, shall we?

Books I'm Wary To Read:

1. Twilight

by Stefenie Meyer

*Prepares to duck an in-coming tomato.* 

Why I Haven't Read It: I've had Twilight on my shelf for ages. I've picked it up and tried to start it a time or two. But it never sticks. As someone who writes paranormal and fantasy romances, it's pretty much required reading. But I'd rather by reading Shakespeare or Dickens if something is going to be considered "required reading". Twilight has an interesting concept and I can understand why people love it. But the writing just doesn't book me. Yet I don't want to get rid of it. I want to read it and "understand" for myself. It's a no win situation.

2. City of Bones

by Cassandra Clare

Why I Haven't Read It: Another series that people seem to love. Another series that I have two books from that are collecting dust; books I don't have the heart to get rid of because I don't want to tell people I gave up on them. City of Bones suffers from the exact same problem I just described for Twilight. I want to like it. I want to "get" it. But it just doesn't seem able to click with me for whatever reason, despite the fact that it should really be my kind of book. Yet again, a real shame. 

3. Shiver

by Maggie Stiefvater

Why I Haven't Read It: I grabbed this as a freebie when Chapters had their buy 3 get 1 free deal on. Then I read a few reviews that have made me pretty nervous. On one hand, lots of people seem to like this series. On the other hand, look at the two series I just finished telling you that I can't seem to click with. Big sale popularity does not necessarily guarantee that a book will be my thing. I'm sure I'll get around to this. I need to make sure I go into it without bias when the time comes, though.

4. White Cat

by Holly Black

Why I Haven't Read It: Here's a catch 22: I love the premise for this book, but the only thing I've ever read by this author ended up being a book that I really did not like (Tithe). I liked its premise, too. I find it very hard to trust an author if the first book I read by them ends up not being my thing. Might not be totally fair, but the truth is the truth. I might check this out eventually ... Maybe I'll see if Amazon has a sample I can read? But for now it can wait. 

5. Hush, Hush

by Becca Fitzpatrick

Why I Haven't Read It: I can think of at least three occasions where I've almost bought this book and stopped myself. Which really might be a shame, because there was a time when I was totally dying to read it. Before I read Fallen. I've heard lots of people say that if you don't like one, you won't like the other. I've also heard connections between this and Twilight, which has added to my wariness about reading it. These reasons might not be terribly fair, but there are so many books that I want to read that I have to choose carefully.

* + * + * + *

But relax! It's not all doom and gloom. There are tons of books that I can't wait to read, but here are five that I bet a lot of you have beaten me to a thousand times over. :) 

Books I'm Dying To Read:

6. Paper Towns

by John Green

Why I Haven't Read It: I picked up Will Grayson, Will Grayson at the Chapters sale. Since I've never read anything by John Green before, that may or may not have been a good idea. (I haven't started it yet, so I can't tell you.) Yes, I can hear some of you gasping in horror at this admission. ;) But rest assured, I am interested in reading Paper Towns and it is also one of the books I've had requests from people to review. I'll tell you what I think of it then. ;)

7. The Near Witch

by Victoria Schwab

Why I Haven't Read It: I haven't done a new book order since I heard about it. I'm planning one soon, but I have a ton of newly released books that I want so I'll have to wait and see whether I can squeeze this in. Maybe... It could fit in nicely with some of my plans for October. A lot of my friends seem to have enjoyed this book so I would love to check it out and share my thoughts, too. We shall see. 

8. Cracked Up To Be

by Courtney Summers

Why I Haven't Read It: The only reason I haven't read this yet is because the Chapters I went to at the start of the month was sold out. This was on my list for that trip but it just wasn't meant to be. There are lots of reasons that I want to read it. I've heard great things about Courtney Summers and this book looks interesting to me. I'm sure that I will get around to it eventually. A lot of people who have recommended books to me seem to enjoy this, so I figure it will be worth checking out. 

9. The Iron King

by Julie Kagawa

Why I Haven't Read It: I've been sleeping under a rock. No, wait. That's not quite the truth. Okay, the truth is... I heard about The Iron King shortly after trying Tithe and Wicked Lovely. Neither of those books worked out for me, which I found very upsetting since I figured that I would love books about faeries. But I think I'm ready to give faeries a try again, and this always looked like it had potential. So I think I might give this a go and see how it goes. (On a less serious note, my Team Peeta badge is lonely.)

10. Twenty Boy Summer

by Sarah Ockler

Why I Haven't Read It: This book just keeps getting pushed to the bottom of the list. Or not being in stock when I go to buy it. Or... You get the idea. I've heard lots of good things about Twenty Boy Summer and I have been looking forward to reading it. But it's one of those books that has eluded me for some reason or another. Eventually I will get it and fix that problem. But for now I need to wait for the right time to make that happen. 

* + * + * + *

Well there you have it. My list. So, what do you think? Are there any of the titles on the wary list that I should try again? Any titles on my 'dying to read' that aren't as amazing as I've built them up to be in my head? Or perhaps you agree with something I've said?

I'd love to hear your thoughts and see what you've chosen for this Top 10. Feel free to leave me a comment. :) 

Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

My Rating: <3 <3
Okay

I was really anxious to read this book. The idea sounded interesting, and I was curious to see what I thought of images and writing being combined to enhance a story. I'd read some reviews before I picked it up and the largest complaint I noticed was people claiming that this was a rip-off of the X-Men. Alright, I thought. I can handle that.

But I must say, I disagree. My rating is not based on that at all. Don't misunderstand: there are things that Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children does very well. But there are too many things that went wrong; things that resulted in my feeling relief when I closed the cover. That is never a good sign. Anyway, read on and I'll tell you what I think of it. You can make up your own mind.

The Plot: (Summary from GoodReads)

A mysterious island.

An abandoned orphanage.

A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography,Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

The Plot for this book moved very, very slow. For the first five chapters I was bored. If I wasn't reading this for the Fall Book Club, I don't think I would have made it that far. 

I understand that when writing anything that is strange or different, that you must set things up and build them in such a way that the reader can follow along and understand. But I felt like everything in this book was dragged out too much. I had a hard time staying focused and found myself skimming lengthy descriptions about things I was not interested in. 

The plot does pick up (slowly) as the book progresses, and by the end there was some interesting stuff happening, but under normal circumstances I would never have made it that far. I must admit, though, that the "ending" does make me wonder whether I will buy a sequel if one comes out. I'll give Riggs that. 

The Characters:

So if the plot is as slow as a turtle, that means the characters got lots of detail, right? Nope. Or at least, I did not find myself really connecting with them in any meaningful way. 

I did not connect with Jacob. I'm not sure if he was not interesting enough for me, or perhaps if this is how a guy feels when he picks up a YA book that stars a girl. I'm going to go with the first statement, though -- I love the Harry Potter books, for instance, and my favorite characters are Snape and Draco. So... Jacob. What can I really say about him? He loved his grandfather, which is something I can admire. And he proved to be a noble character, considering the choices that he ultimately made. (Spoiler: Potentially never seeing his family again or dying is much more serious consequences then being a "drug store lord" as he was complaining about in the beginning. The point being that when it ultimately matters, he does not run away.)

The children at the Home had lots of interesting powers, but for the most part they were either defined by them or by a generally singular trait or "type". Milard was invisible but smart (I'll give him credit for being brave eventually, though), Emma, who used fire, had a fiery temper to match; Wyn was strong but not very smart. Horace could see the future but was (fashionably and in his mannerisms) stuck in the past and Enoch could raise the dead but, in large part, seemed to be devoid of a conscience (which I suppose might be helpful, considering. He's not totally "evil"... he just sees things differently.)

Jacob and Emma:

I'm not going to call this "The Romance", because to me it was actually the creepiest thing in the entire book. I don't know how Riggs managed to make me feel so weirded out by what happened between these two, but he definitely did. I've seen thousand year old vampires end up with twenty-somethings and not blinked over it. Maybe it was the fact that she was previously with his grandpa? I'm not sure. All I know is that I found it awkward and weird and I did not want them together. Which is highly unusual. 

In General: 

The pacing was very uneven here. A slow beginning and drawn out middle are paired with a rather exciting conclusion that will leave the reader wondering what will happen next. I didn't "hate" this book, but reading it felt like walking through one of the bogs that Riggs describes -- I wasn't sure how I was going to reach the other side. 

If you are curious about this book, go ahead and check it out. The images are neat and the story does get interesting. Just be prepared to ride it out until that happens. Depending on what you want from your books, your mileage may vary. Unfortunately, this just wasn't for me. 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (Sept. 19th, 2011)

This week did not go at all as planned. Big surprise there. ;)

I couldn't get motivated to start Firelight. Something kept holding me back. I think I'll hold on to it until next month. You'll see why. ;)

So, what did I read last week?

Graffiti Moon
by Cath Crowley

I have to say, this was absolutely fantastic! Even though I have read it, I still have every intent to add it to my collection when it releases next year. The only reason I have not released my review is because I am still not certain when I am suppose to do that. I got this through Net Galley, from Random House Children's Publishing. Trust me, though. This one is a keeper.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
by Ransom Riggs

This is moving much slower then I expected and I am finding myself pushing through it as if I am stuck in a swamp. Not my cup of tea. That's really too bad, because I was really anxious to read this book. *sigh* I am up to Chapter 6. There is still hope that this might get interesting. Things are starting to happen. But so far I would have to warn potential readers that if you aren't a fan of slow starters this might not be your book.

What I Hope To Read This Week:

First up, I need to finish Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, since it is the book we're reading for the Fall Book Club.

Once I am done with that I think my next book will be either Will Grayson, Will Grayson or I might read Love Story by Jennifer Echols. For anyone who's wondering: I'm saving a lot of the more fantasy / paranormal books on my reading list for next month. I have some (hopefully!) interesting things planned for October, but you're going to have to wait and see what they are. ;)

Anyway, thanks so much for dropping by. The list is short and sweet this week because I am already painfully behind, I'm having trouble finishing Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, and I might have company coming soon -- Jay is planning to visit. :D

So, how were your books last week? What are you hoping to read this week? I'd love to know. :)


Interesting Things I Found This Week:

Hands and Home is having a very awesome giveaway. One lucky winner is going to get their choice between one of four different prize packs. Click here to find out more.

The Post of Awesome + Giveaway: Carrier of the Mark / Lola and the Boy Next Door!

Step 1: Get some of this

The last 24 hours have been filled with several moments of sheer awesome. Since these moments are to do with my book blog, I could not resist sitting down to share them with all of you. :) So sit back, sip some cocoa (It's cold outside) and join me for a moment in the sun.

Awesome Thing #1: Win A Copy of Glow

I don't know how this book managed to slip my attention, but when I found out about it a couple of weeks ago, I began to be very excited. I have watched and enjoyed a lot of sci-fi on TV. But my experience with science fiction as a written genre as opposed to via a television has mostly been limited to a course that I took at Trent. Truthfully, it really wasn't my cup of tea.

But Glow sounds more like my kind of book and less like something that would be assigned by an English professor. Plus, now that Jay has looked the book up he is excited for it as well.

What we didn't know was that it released this week. Along with a ton of other books that have my attention this month.

Well, I still might end up needing to buy Glow. But there is also a chance I could win it. How? I want to draw your attention to a totally awesome giveaway going on over at The Non Reluctant Reader. Three copies of Glow are up for grabs from now until the 22nd of September. If you want to have a chance at winning one of them, you should check out the giveaway post here.

<3 --- <3 --- <3

Awesome Thing #2: I'm Reading Graffiti Moon

Last night I got an e-mail that made me feel like this:

That's because the lovely people at Random House Children's Books are letting me read this:

First, I'd like to thank Jenna from Fans of Fiction for suggesting that if I wanted to read Graffiti Moon, that I should request it from Net Galley. I still have such a long way to go as a book blogger: I didn't even know a site like Net Galley existed.

I'm sure I have mentioned how anxious I am to read this a few times now. Ever since I heard about it over on Absolute Write it's been sitting on my wishlist over on Amazon and Chapters. So, how's it going?

So far I am roughly 45 pages into Graffiti Moon.

What do I think at this point? (Please realize I am not done this book yet!):

"So far... So fabulous."

I am very glad that I am reading this. I can't believe I would have been waiting until February 14th of 2012 otherwise.

<3 --- <3 --- <3

Awesome Thing #3: I've Gained Over 50 Followers! 

Okay, this is actually a bit late. As of this posting I have 60 followers. :D Do you realize what that means? It means that part of the awesome of this post is you, sitting there on the other side of the computer right here, right now. Without people to share thoughts, ideas and opinions with all of this posting I do would not be worth it. Thanks so much for visiting my blog, whether you are a reader, someone who comments, a follower or a lurker who takes part in my weekly polls. It means a lot.

<3 --- <3 --- <3

So Now It's Time To Give Something Awesome Back...

There are these two books coming out in October that I'm really excited about. They both look like they should be great reads and totally amazing in their own way. Heck, they're even releasing the same day...

Maybe you've heard of them?

Carrier of the Mark
by Leigh Fallon

Summary: (from GoodReads)

Their love was meant to be.

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRís.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.

AND

Lola And The Boy Next Door

by Stephanie Perkins

Summary: (from GoodReads)

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

<3 --- <3 --- <3

Have I Got Your Attention? Awesome.

Here's what's happening: someone is going to win their choice of either Carrier of the Mark or Lola and the Boy Next Door. Pretty cool, huh? 

But wait! There's more...

If I reach 100 followers, I will draw a second winner and give away another book. Each winner will receive their choice of Carrier of the Mark or Lola and the Boy Next Door.

Here's How To Enter:

To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is be a follower and leave a comment with your e-mail. If you are an OLD follower (You were following I Write, I Read, I Review before I posted this topic.) you will receive two entries when you enter since I'm having this giveaway to celebrate how far my blog has come.

Want More Entries? Here's How To Get Them:

Share The Love:

Remember that Glow contest at the top of the page? Well, click that link, copy it and tweet about the giveaway for another entry in my giveaway. (+1)

You might have noticed that awesome Zompacolypse button I'm sporting right now. Click it and tweet about Zompacolypse for another entry. (+1) Or go the distance and pop the Zompacolypse badge on your own blog for (+2) entries. 

Easy Entries:

+1 If you follow my twitter or are already a follower.

+1 If you friend me on GoodReads

+1 If you like I Write, I Read, I Review on Facebook

+1 Tell everyone which book you'd like to win! (And make sure to come back next week to vote in my second Book Wars event, which will be featuring these books!)

+1 If you tweet about my giveaway.

A Little Elbow Grease:

+ 3 If you add my button to your blog

+2 If you recommend a book that I should review

A Tremendous Help:

+5 If you blog about my giveaway on your own blog.

So...

If you add it all up, that means that new members can earn a grand total of 20 entries and old members can earn a grand total of 21 entries.

Please make certain that you include all appropriate links so that I can see what you have done. If you need to post more then once (for instance, if you end up writing about my giveaway) that is alright, but please let me know it is a second post so that I can avoid confusion.

This giveaway is available to residents of Canada and the US only. My sincerest apologies to international readers, but the shipping charges can get very costly.

Entry for this giveaway will end at 12:00 p.m. EST on Monday, October 3rd 2011. Winners for this giveaway will be drawn on Monday, October 3rd at approximately 6:00 p.m. EST 2011.

Good luck and have fun!

TGIF At GReads (Sept. 16th)

I'm not a "book bully". If I think I am going to hate a book, odds are I'm not going to read it. And I'm definitely not going to review it. But then again, the reason that I review books is that it can be tough to tell whether a book is for you. Even with previews, reviews, book trailers, first pages and everything else out there. A premise can sound fantastic. A book can start out strong. But then, suddenly, things can take a turn for the weird. Or something that seemed to have so much potential can utterly fail to connect with me.

I want to make it absolutely clear that just because I do not like a certain book, that does not mean the book is "awful", or that no one else will like it. Reading a book is a very personal experience. Having a book blog makes it a lot more social. But as a book blogger and reviewer, I feel it is my responsibility to ensure that nothing gets lost in translation when I talk about books. Which means when I do a review I am telling you my personal opinion on that book.

So, why am I giving you all this pre-amble? Because of this week's TGIF topic. It's the kind of discussion that could upset someone, and I want to be clear that is not my intent. So, on to the main event:

Book Disappointments: Have you ever come across a book you were so stoked to read, but it failed miserably in your eyes?

I just know that somebody out there just went "What?!".

How could the person who created The Princess Diaries possibly write something that I felt "failed miserably"? Let's keep this short and sweet:

The heroine was too whiny.

The plot was bogged down with too many flashbacks.

The hero did not have enough of a presence.

The book just didn't grab my interest.

This was totally and utterly heartbreaking. Here was an opportunity to create a completely fresh spin on the Hades and Persephone myth ... One of my favorite pieces of mythology ever.

Now, to be clear and fair: I am not complaining that she screwed up the myth. I realize that her goal wasn't to create Hades and Persephone. My issue is that the story that she created and the characters she made to tie into what I felt was a fantastic concept (multi-sectioned underworld with different people in charge? Very unique.) just didn't hold up to the idea itself. 

I wanted to like this book. I tried very hard to get into it. But in the end, it was a DNF for me. Truly a shame.