Posts Tagged ‘Books’

2012 Reading Challenge Update

Nov 24 |11:47

There are only 5 weeks left in 2012, so I figured now was a good time to see where everyone is on their reading challenge. I’m personally on track to meet my goal of reading 60 books (which is child’s play for some of you). I’ve read 53 out of 60 so far, which means I’m going to have a busy December, as I typically read one book a week.

2012 Reading Challenge Update

Are you on track to meet your 2012 reading challenge? What has keep you motivated to meet your goal or what has distracted you?

2012 reading challenge stats


For me, just meeting my goal keeps me motivated. I’m very much an end-result driven person, and I aim to keep promises I make to myself. Although…I get distracted by so many things like holiday events, weddings (I’ve been to 3 this year which includes being my best friend’s matron of honor, and does not include one today) and Alias – all 5 season are on Netflix (!!!).

Will you make a higher or lower reading challenge goal for next year?

 
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Top Ten 2012 Books & Authors I’m Thankful

Nov 20 |08:46

I am truly thankful for so much this year. In terms of fantastic books and authors yes, but definitely with friends, family and my career.

Not to get all cheesy on you either, but I’m especially thankful for you guys too – for reading my blog and letting me be part of this awesome community.

Top Ten Tuesdays are hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Join the meme and link up on their site!

Top Ten 2012 Books & Authors I’m Thankful For

holly black

1Holly Black- She’s written some of my most favorite books. She’s talented and funky and weird, and I love it.

2Shadow and Bone- One of my absolute top books of this year. I’m so thankful I’ve “met” Leigh Bardugo and her awesome new series.

3Stephenie Meyer- Random, right?! Without this autor of the Twilight series I never would have seen CG baby Renesemee, glittering Edward or the fantastic last movie.

4Skylark- Phew, another standout book this year. Dark and spooky and intense – all things right up my alley.

5The Raven Boys- The currently untitled next book in the series is DEFINITELY one of my most-anticipated books next year.

6Glitch- I feel super invested in this story and am thankful someone thought to write about futuristic mind-controlled teens.

7Throne of Glass— I’m super thankful for kick-ass heroines like Celaena who can take a punch but look fancy in a dress too.

8Maria V. Snyder— This lady is one of my all-time faves. Plus, she just keeps going. The second Healer book is out in December!!

9The Veronica’s (Roth and Rossi)— These ladies are dynamite. Between the Divergent and the Never Sky series, my world has been rocked.

10The Selection- Say what you will, but this book was unputdownable (yeah, that’s the only word that will work).

What books and authors are you thankful for?

 
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Authors Who Hated the Movie Versions of Their Books (Mental Floss)

Jun 26 |08:02

One of my friends told me about this article on Mental Floss about authors who hated the movie versions of their books.

Authors Who Hated the Movie Versions of Their Books

For those of you who just want a quick run down, the authors and movies are:

  • P.L. Travers and Mary Poppins
  • Stephen King and The Shining
  • Anne Rice and Interview with a Vampire
  • Winston Groom and Forrest Gump
  • Clive Cussler and Sahara
  • J.D. Salinger and Ugly Willy in Connecticut/My Foolish Heart
  • Anthony Burgess and The Clockwork Orange
  • Brett Easton Ellis and The Informers
  • Roald Dahl and Charlie and The Chocolate Factory (the Gene Wilder one)
  • Ken Kesey and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
  • Richard Matheson and I Am Legend (all of the remakes)
willa wonka and the chocolate facotory

First of all, I didn’t realize a few of these movies were originally books, like Mary Poppins and Forrest Gump. Also, Stephen King basically implied The Shining wasn’t scary enough….Um what?? God help us from his mind!!

Also, I saw Sahara….and yeah, it wasn’t that good. :/ Also, I wonder what Roald Dahl would have thought of the 2005 version of his book with Johnny Depp AND the Wes Anderson take on Fantastic Mr. Fox (<--One of my FAVE movies).


As for me, here’s my top list of books that I liked better than the movies (ie this could be a very long list, so I’m going to limit myself to 5):

  • Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (the 6th book) – This book was one of my favorites in the series, and I was disappointed in this movie.
  • Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine – I was obsessed with this book in 6th grade, and although the movie is cute, it didn’t do the book justice at all.
  • Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit – Again, the movie was just ok. This book was one of my favorites growing up, so I had a ton of expectations for the movie.
  • Eragon by Christopher Paolini – Ugh. For those of you who have even seen this movie, it was really, really bad. Which is probably why they never made the rest of the books into movies.
  • Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak – I know we’re talking about a 20-ish page book here, but the movies was SO WEIRD. I think they were really trying to expand the storyline and it just messed with the whole vibe of the book. The only good thing was the soundtrack with Arcade Fire.

Your turn! Name some books you liked waaaay better than the movie!

 
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How Do You Discover New Books?

Jun 24 |13:12

I stumbled across a few Goodreads infographics that illustrates how people add books on Goodreads and where they found out about the book.

The two most popular ways that people add books on Goodreads is a tie between adding them manually and being recommended books when they sign up for a Goodreads account.

Check it out:

Goodreads how you find books


Goodreads also found that book recommendations by real friends and Goodreads friends dominated how people heard about books. That’s amazing! So all the book advertising is a factor – but not as big of a factor a personal recommendation.

discovering new books goodreads


What about blogs though? I don’t think that fell into any of the channels they listed in the above chart.

What about you? What is the main place you discover new books?

 
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Book Expo America for Beginners

May 14 |07:30

In the beginning of June, I will be attending Book Expo America and BEA Bloggers Conference (formerly Book Blogger Con)! I am SUPER pumped and cannot wait to meet authors, publishers and other bloggers!

Because this is my first time attending this event, I have no idea what to expect. As the time gets closer, I know my nerves will kick and and I’ll be super anxious about it (such is my personality), BUT I’m really looking forward to putting myself out there and learning more about this exciting industry.

book expo america

I will definitely read up more about Book Expo America before I go in a few weeks, but right now I have the basic plans (plane, hotel, schedule) set and have no idea where to go from there.

I figured I would share my journey with you and any other beginners out there in the hopes that others can learn from my mistakes or successes. I am definitely open to suggestions, so if you have any advice to give me about Book Expo America or BEA Bloggers Conference, please feel free to share it!

My Plan for Book Expo America

The Deets

I’m planning on staying at the Travel Inn Hotel In New York City, which is approximately .7 miles from the Javits Center (where BEA is being held). It’s about an 11 minute walk, and I think there may be shuttles available as well to the Javits Center.

I picked the hotel because of its proximity to the conference and because it was fairly good deal. Easier is better in situations that I know will be managed chaos at best.

I’m also flying in a day early (Sunday, June 3) to get some down time and maybe meet up with a few friends. I’m attending the BEA Bloggers conference Monday, June 4 and staying an additional day and a half to attend Book Expo America and other events.

I hope to also attend a few publisher events, and have confirmed a Random House Power Reader Breakfast. I am BEYOND excited about getting a behind-the-scenes tour of this major publishers headquarters. I promise to take as many photos/videos as they’ll let me before booting me off the premises. ;)

Tips & Tricks

A few BEA tips that I’ve heard are:

  • Mail your books home (this will save on tons on bag checking costs)
  • Get to the Javits Center early every day
  • Dress comfortably but professionally (ballet flats it is)
  • Bring your business cards (I’m making mine now – hurry shipping, hurry!)
  • Network like a fiend

Like I said, I will be blogging like a crazy during and after the event and will share if the advice I’d found was helpful. Plus, I’ll share my own insights too.

Meeting with people who are as insanely obsessed about books as I am is GOING to be a good time, I can tell. :)

What should first-timers to Book Expo America know before they go?

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