It's Monday, What are you Reading? #26

Thanks to 

One Person's Journey through the World of Books 
for hosting the weekly Link-up!

This week I finished....

• The Day Before  - Lisa Schroeder  - 4 Stars!
• Dirty Little Secrets from Otherwise Perfect Moms - Trisha Ashworth  - 3 Stars!
• Because I'm Worth It (GG #4) - Cecily Von Ziegesar - 4 Stars!

Reading This Week....

• Outside In (#2) - Maria V. Snyder
• Three Stages of Amazement - Carol Edgarian
• Confessions of a Prairie Bitch - Alison Arngrim

Reviewed

Genesis by Bernard Beckett 

Hope everyone got a lot of great reading done this week! 

Book Blogger Hop #24

More Book Blog Hopping Fun!

Thank You to Parajunkee and Crazy for Books for hosting!

This week Parajunkee wants to know:

Q. Share your current fav television show! Tell us a bit about it...

The Office & Parks and Recreation are my two faves. I am starting to get more into Glee, but I haven't seen the first season. I'm the same way with books as I am with TV, if I haven't seen it from the beginning then I feel like I don't know the whole story. 

This week Crazy for Books wants to know:

 "Do you ever wish you would have named your blog something different?"

NEVER! I thought for a long, long time about my blog name. It's totally me, plus it's taken from one of my all-time favorite books "Taming the Beast"....Get it "Taming the B......ookshelf"? So not only a literal meaning, it's also sentimental to me! 

Have a great weekend everyone!

Please leave me a comment

so I can check out your book blog!

The Day Before - Lisa Schroeder

I finished Lisa Schroeder's "The Day Before" yesterday night. Wow, LOVE. I absolutely adore books written in verse, and this one did not disappoint. I picked it up yesterday afternoon, and didn't put it down until I was finished. This is a such a great summer love story, yet with a lot of depth. (Does that make sense?) I'm hoping SEQUEL?! This book doesn't come until June 28th, so I'll post my GLOWING review closer to the publication date! 

GoodReads | Amazon

Review: Genesis by Bernard Beckett

Genesis

Author: Bernard Beckett

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Hardcover: 150 pages 

Published: April 20,2009

GoodReads Summary: 

“What does it mean to be human?” The answer lies within the mystery of Genesis. Set in a postapocalyptic future, the novel takes the form of an examination undergone by young Anaximander as she prepares to enter an enigmatic institution known simply as The Academy. For her subject she has chosen the life of the philosopher-soldier Adam Forde, her long-dead hero. It is through Anax’s presentation and her answers to persistent questioning by her examiners that we learn the history of her island Republic, along with the rules and beliefs of their society. At the completion of the examination, when everything has been laid bare, Anax must confront the Republic’s last great secret, her own surprising link to Adam Forde, and the horrifying truth about her world.

Like the great writers Isaac Asimov and Philip K. Dick, Bernard Beckett explores the relationship between humans and technology in a brilliantly rendered novel that will keep readers guessing until the final page.

My thoughts:
This book is the transcript of Anax's Interview with The Academy. Although the story's timeline takes place within a day, we are given a "history lesson" that spans hundreds of years.

This book really disappointed me until the ending. The ending was completely unexpected, and semi-redeemed the rest of the books flaws. This book was much too short. I felt like I barely got to know any of the characters. I think that there was an excellent storyline there, but page after page I was pounded with tons of information.

There were definitely some interesting aspects in the story (her relationship with her advisor, the interludes with the boy out in the hallway). I would have much rather expounded on some of these scenes, than hearing information that didn't apply to anything else in the story..

Although the book fell short in some areas, it really did make me think about humanity and what makes a human ACTUALLY human. What makes us different from other forms of life and robots? (Yes, the book has robots...don't worry, that part is well done). The robot poses the question to one of the characters in the book...What is the ESSENTIAL difference between us all. Morality? Love? It deals quite heavily in philosophy (for a YA novel), which can be a turn off for some.

Overall, I think this book would make a great prequel or a companion novella to a series. The ideas behind the book were wonderful, but the characters fell completely short for me.

Judge a Book By It's Cover: The cover is alright. It's a scene from the book, but it's kind of boring. The grey doesn't do a whole lot for me.  

  3 Stars! 

Amazon / GoodReads / Book Depository

*Disclosure: I acquired this book on my own! 

It's Monday, What are you Reading? #25

Thanks to 

One Person's Journey through the World of Books 
for hosting the weekly Link-up!

This week I finished....

• Captivate (#2) - Carrie Jones  - 3 Stars!
• Chocolate & Vicodin - Jennette Fulda - 4 Stars!

Reading This Week....

• The Lover's Dictionary - David Levithan
• Darkness Becomes Her (#1) - Kelly Keaton
• Inside Out (#1) - Maria V. Snyder
• Because I'm Worth It (GG #4) - Cecily Von Ziegesar

Bookish Thoughts....

- I had an awesome time with my Mom who was in town last week. I didn't get a chance to do much reading or blogging, though. But this week, I'm back to my regular blogging/reading schedule.

- So sad that Borders is closing down. They are pretty pricey, though. I would much rather see a Books-a-Million around here. My closest bookstore will now be 20 minutes away. It's a Borders, but one I DO NOT LIKE AT ALL. 

- Borders CLEARANCE VENT. Come on, people. 20% off is NOT worth waiting in a 250+ person line for. Am I the only one getting the weekly 30, 40 even 50% off coupons? Let me know when it's at 60 % off of more......

- Anxiously awaiting the opening of eBookFling.com  ....

What are you reading this week?

Supernaturally Cover Reveal

The cover wraps around the back! Incredibly Gorgeous! 

I loved Evie and her pink Taser in Paranormalcy. I'm so excited for more of Kiersten's amazing writing in book #2! Unfortunately, we have to wait until AUGUST 30th for this one! 

Kiersten White's Blog / Amazon / GoodReads

Look a fluffy fluff post so maybe you won't notice that I've barely posted all week! My Mom has been in from out of town (HI MOM! - Yes, my Mom reads my blog...she's cool like that). So we've been busy having fun with the baby, shopping and chatting up a storm. I have so many awesome reviews/giveaways coming up (think dystopian set in Chicago...comes out in May...Debut Author.....) that you all will love! 

Book Blogger Hop #23

More Book Blog Hopping Fun!

Thank You to Parajunkee and Crazy for Books for hosting!

This week Parajunkee wants to know:

"If you are a fan of Science Fiction what is your favorite book? If you haven't read Science Fiction before...any inkling to? Anything catch your eye?"

I enjoy the Sci-Fi Dystopian type books....But off the top of my head I can't think of any Sci-Fi books I've read lately.....

This week Crazy for Books wants to know:

 "Tell us about one of your posts from this week and give us a link so we can read it (review or otherwise)!"

Here's a link to my review... The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

Have a great weekend everyone!

Please leave me a comment

so I can check out your book blog!

It's Monday, What are you Reading? #24

Thanks to 

One Person's Journey through the World of Books 
for hosting the weekly Link-up!

This week I finished....

• If I Stay (#1) - Gayle Forman  - 4 Stars!
• Patient Zero - Jonathan Maberry - 3 Stars!
• Need (#1) - Carrie Jones - 4 Stars! 
• All I Want Is Everything (GG #3) - 4 Stars!

Reading This Week....

• Darkness Becomes Her (#1) - Kelly Keaton
• Captivate (#2) - Carrie Jones
• A Reliable Wife - Robert Goolrick
• Freedom - Jonathan Franzen

I Reviewed....

• The Frugalista Files - Natalie McLean - 3 STARS!
• The Lying Game (#1) - Sara Shepard - 4 STARS! 

Bookish Thoughts....

- Book lover? You MUST MUST MUST MUST go to Swap.com ! I have received so many amazing books! (Seriously, I have over 150 trades there). Swap.com (formerly Swaptree) revolutionized my library. 

- WHO GOT THE S&S FEBRUARY GALLEY GRAB NEWSLETTER? I have heard rumors it was out, but haven't actually heard from anyone that's received it.

-  I might be vlogging this weekend. Please don't laugh :) What editing programs do you recommend? Are they cheap?Free? Easy?

- HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! I hope your Significant Other's shower you with lots of books...if they don't...perfect opportunity for a present to yourself from the Bookstore!

What are you reading this week?

In My Mailbox #20

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by  
The Story Siren.

I also linked up at Mailbox Monday, hosted this month by Library of Clean Reads!

These are books I've acquired the past week, not just what arrived in my mailbox! Click the titles and add them to your GoodReads!

FOR REVIEW

(Thank You S&S Galley Grab!)

• Possession - Elana Johnson
• The Day Before - Lisa Schroeder
• Nocturne (#2 Claire De Lune) - Christine Johnson

Nook LendMe

(Books for Nooks is awesome!)

• Captivate (#2 Need) - Carrie Jones
• A Reliable Wife - Robert Goolrick
• Freedom - Jonathan Franzen

E-Books From the Library

• Inside Out (#1)  - Maria V. Snyder
• Super Sad True Love Story - Gary Shteyngart
• Running the Books  - Avi Steinberg

I'm most excited to read: 

I could not decide between these two because they are both so amazing! I have been wanting to read Possession for months now, and was so excited when I got my eGalley! I've had Inside Out on hold at the library FOREVER. I think I actually squealed when I found out it was ready!

I can't wait to see what everyone else got in their mailbox this week!!!! I'm NOT kidding when I say that...for the past two weeks I've visited EVERY FREAKING SINGLE IMM POST! 

QUESTION! I was thinking of embarrassing myself  doing a vlog. What editing programs do you recommend, my wise book bloggers!?