Reader Rayna

Month: November 2014

  • October and November Collective Book Haul

    I totally forgot to tell you about my book hauls from October and into November! Gosh, I’m horrible. Anyway, I got a bunch of books, so take a seat because this one’s going to be a doozy.

    In October I got:

    • “Afterworlds” by Scott Westerfeld. It’s a book that is about a young writer who gets her work published and somehow is transported into the world she created. It sounds really interesting and I can’t wait to read it.
    • “Fangirl” by Rainbow Rowell. This is one of Rowell’s most popular and loved books, and after reading the premise of it, I think I’d have to agree. I haven’t read it yet, but it’ll definitely be a contender for when I’m in the mood to read a contemporary!
    • The Mortal Instruments series and The Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare. Yes, I bought all six books in the TMI series and all three in the TID trilogy. I’ve owned the first three on my nook for years, but have been dying to have them all in hard copy, and so I got them all. I love them so much and can’t wait to read all of them! The way I’ll be reading them is in order of publication because I’ve heard there are some instances where there are crossovers with characters.

    In case you lost count, that’s eleven books total. Homigosh.

    The books I got in November are:

    • “Exquisite Captive” by Heather Demetrios. I’m currently reading this book and so far am enjoying it. I enjoyed the premise of it being about “jinnis,” aka genies, and how they operate and about the jinni who’s in the dark caravan as a slave to someone and… well, it’s good and I recommend it so far.
    • “Snow Like Ashes” by Sarah Raasch. Again, love the premise of this book. It’s about the four seasons and how Winter has lost a battle and has been enslaved and how it has to be saved. It’s high fantasy and sounds really fun and interesting, and I can’t wait to read it.
    • “Falling Kingdoms” by Morgan Rhodes. I just couldn’t escape the fantasy element as I grabbed this book. There’s a society in turmoil, political intrigue, romance, fighting, death… Pretty much all things I love in a book. Can’t wait to read this one!
    • “The Ice Dragon” by George R.R. Martin. I did a review of this book and I found it quite enjoyable. It’s incredibly short with many illustrations and is a definite must read for any fan of the Song of Ice and Fire series.

    But wait! There’s more. So, if you live in the United States you know that today, November 28th, is Black Friday. If you don’t know what Black Friday is, good. But if you’re wondering it’s the day after Thanksgiving where people trample over each other for the best deals. Well, Barnes and Noble was having a sale and had signed copies of books available and so I couldn’t resist. The two books I got that are signed are:

    • “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” by Jenny Han. It’s a book about a girl who writes loves letters to all the boys she’s ever loved – five in all. But she never sends out these letters, allowing herself to be able to pour her heart out onto paper. But someone mails the letters and chaos ensues shortly after. It sounds fun and funny and serious all at the same time, and it’s definitely for a lighter read.
    • “The Bane Chronicles” by Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson, and Sarah Rees Brennan. This was the book I was most anticipating on getting to complete the works of the TMI series. It’s a book that focuses mostly on Magnus the warlock and his life as a warlock before we know him as he is in the TMI series. I can’t wait to read it, but I have so many to read beforehand!

    So those are all of the books that I’ve gotten over the last two months; 17 books total! Wow, that’s a lot. But I’m very happy and excited to read them. I’m a slower reader, and my interests change with my mood, but I will finish all of these books eventually!

    Accompanying Video: Black Friday Book Haul | NaNoWriMo Day 28

  • How I Rate Books

    This has been a topic going around the Booktube stratosphere for a few weeks now and I figured I’d chime in on the subject.

    The way I rate books is one of two ways, either I:

    1. Rate it based on how much I enjoyed it, plus how I thought each character, plot, etc fit with each other.
    2. Rate it based on the literary context behind it and critically analyze it.

    It really depends on the book and what I’m looking to get out of it.

    Oftentimes, YA books that I pick up, or any fiction book I pick up, really, are rated based on my level of enjoyment. I oftentimes also look deeper into whether or not the main character was well developed, if I connected with any characters, if I found that the setting was appropriate and well used for what was being discussed, etc.

    Now this might mean that a lot of books I read get high ratings – and that’s fine. Why would I purposefully read something that I have no interest in? Throughout school years we are often forced to read books we oftentimes hate because they’re boring, whether in content or character or language. But when we read for pleasure, we find that we gravitate toward a certain genre or toward a certain direction. And that’s perfectly fine.

    The other times that I critically analyze books, such as reading them for hidden messages, research backgrounds, history, contexts, etc, is generally only when I am researching in a classroom setting or for my own personal interest. Generally I critically analyze a book when it has great literary standing, such as many novels before the modern era (generally before the 20th century). These books have had thousands upon thousands of papers written about them from the time they are written and well beyond, and so there is much detail and theories out there to research and take a look at.

    Whether books are rated simply for pure enjoyment or whether they’re rated with a critical outlook, just remember that the way you rate them is your choice. You don’t have to rate it one way or another. If you think a book deserves five stars just because, then go for it. But if someone asks you why you did so, just try to have an answer ready for them.

    Also, the question that might come up is: where do you rate them? I use Goodreads as a way to find books, add them to “shelves” on the site, and also rate them as I finish them. There are thousands upon thousands of reviews to look at, so check them out! I try to not take them too much to heart unless a book is rated below 3.5 stars. But that’s to each their own!

    Accompanying video: Discussion | How I Rate Books

    How do you rate books? Let me know in the comments below!

  • The Ice Dragon Book Review

    theicedragon

    Title: The Ice Dragon
    Author: George R.R. Martin
    Illustrator: Luis Rayo
    Publisher: Tor Teen
    Publication Date: This edition: October 21, 2014 (originally published 1980)
    Genres: Young Adult – Fantasy
    Pages: 121
    Format: Purchased Hardcover

    This was definitely an interesting find when I opened up the Barnes & Noble website to look at new releases for teens. I saw “The Ice Dragon” by George R.R. Martin on the list and was stunned. His books are usually geared toward adults with his much more adult writing and views, considering his biggest bestseller of the moment is the “Song of Ice and Fire” series, better known as the “Game of Thrones” series.

    When I first picked up the book (like literally held it in my hands) I was shocked at how small it was. It’s a story of under 120 pages about a girl named Adara who was born during the terrible winter that is also set in the “Song of Ice and Fire” series. Her mother died giving birth to her, and as she grows up she is unlike any other child because she doesn’t throw tantrums, doesn’t make a fuss when she’s hurt, and barely smiles. She is a “winter child,” as said by her father.

    It tells the tale of Adara and the ice dragon, a large beast unlike the fire breathing dragons of the dragonriders that her uncle is a part of, and how the two become friends of sorts. She would ride the dragon for long periods of time, and each time the ride would last longer – as did the winter.

    The story heralds a war and a sacrifice of a dragon protecting one who’s heart is frozen until dire circumstances and her family’s safety thaw her heart and she sets to fight back. Though she is only seven years old when this happens, I felt that the sacrifice she wanted to make was sweet and brave of her.

    I also felt that this story missed something. I wished that she and the dragon had escaped to colder lands to be together, but at the same time I feel that the story was trying to accomplish at telling the tale of how important family is and how much love you should have for one another.

    The illustrations by Luis Royo are lovely and very detailed, and the whole book is done in a blue ink, including the typography. I wasn’t expecting so much detail in what could be considered a children’s book, but it was nice nonetheless.

    I’m also not sure that I would classify this as a teen book, but I wouldn’t quite place it at children’s. Maybe middle grade to teen age. It was a quick read, it held deep meaning, and I enjoyed it.

    I rate the book 4/5 stars.