Top 5 Wednesday: Books You Wanted to Start Yesterday

Posted on April 8, 2015 by Rayna

Welcome to another Top 5 Wednesday! Today’s T5W is all about books you wanted to start yesterday, and let me tell you, I have a lot. So I’m going to do my best to narrow it down to the top five I wanted to start forever and a day ago. These aren’t necessarily in a particular order for this week, but definitely books/series I wanted to start a long time ago but just haven’t.

5. “Shadow and Bone” by Leigh Bardugo

This trilogy has been floating around for a while now, and it sounds super intriguing and right up my alley for types of books that I enjoy reading, so this definitely makes the list. Action, adventure, darkness, fantasy, powers, romance… I mean, c’mon. I need to get on this bandwagon.

4. “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins

Speaking of bandwagons, I’m probably one of the few readers out there that have yet to pick up this very popular book-to-movie trilogy. Seriously. I’ve seen all the movies thus far and have highly enjoyed them, but when I started to read the first book years ago when the first movie was coming out, I couldn’t get into it. Maybe that’ll change since I’ve been much bigger into reading this past year. Who knows?

3. “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen

This was also a book-to-movie adaptation that I really wanted to see and read. I started it and loved the writing, but I never got far into it. I think I was at a point in my life where I just was more stressed and worried about school than anything. Well, now that I don’t have school to worry about, I can pick up this book and see for myself if it deserved a movie or not (though I heard the movie was good, too).

2. “Sabriel” by Garth Nix

Old school YA fantasy that lead to many of my favorite books being published later down the line? Uh, yes. I needed to read this yesterday. I mean, I’ve never read Garth Nix before, but I’ve seen him being interviewed and he seems like a funny guy. Maybe that’ll transfer over to the book? I’ve heard it’s a really good fantasy series and I really want to get into it.

1. “Clockwork Angel” by Cassandra Clare

Okay, don’t slaughter me. No, I haven’t read the Infernal Devices trilogy yet. I haven’t even finished all six Mortal Instruments books. So, yeah, this definitely makes the list because I wanted to read it when it first came out, I just never got around to it. I’m a horrible person, really. I love Cassandra Clare’s writing, though, and the world around the Shadowhunters is amazing. I even hear that it’s better than TMI, so I definitely need to get on this bandwagon. Don’t worry, it’s a definite upcoming read.

Accompanying video: T5W | Books You Should’ve Started Yesterday

Top 5 Wednesday: Favorite Jokesters

Posted on April 1, 2015 by Rayna

Welcome to another Top 5 Wednesday! Today’s T5W is all about your favorite jokester characters. We all have those loveable, slightly annoying, release-the-tension, funny characters, and so today I’m going to talk about my top five (technically six) peeps that fit this category!

5. Puck from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare

Who doesn’t love a good amount of faerie mischief? As this is my favorite play by Shakespeare next to “Romeo and Juliet,” I had to include Puck in my list. He’s always causing mayhem and finding that all the problems that his mischief causes is hilarious to himself. He’s a fun character and I really like it when he’s adapted into more modern books, like The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa.

4. Levi from “Fangirl” by Rainbow Rowell

He was definitely just a funny character all around. Sure, he had his serious moments, but that’s all they were: moments. Levi always had me smiling or laughing and it made me like him that much more as the book went on. Plus his love for Cath and her stories just made it that much better.

3. Tyrion Lannister from A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin

Tyrion is the dwarf in this series, as many of you may know, and he often brings the humor to an otherwise serious series. He’s full of wit, sarcasm, and a quick tongue. I find his character to be very likable and I’m sure that as the series progresses I’ll still enjoy reading about him (I’m still only part way through the first book).

2. George & Fred Weasley from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

These two are such a funny duo, always playing pranks on their family and friends, even headmasters, throughout the series. Though I’ve only read the first three books in full, I have seen all the movies and loved the antics used in both film and book. These two are classic jokesters that will hold a place in my heart for a long time to come.

1. Magnus Bane from The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

Oh, Magnus. He may not always be super hilarious, but he definitely fits the category of the jokester in this series. He’s always around when Clary and everyone needs help, but he’s always there with something sarcastic or witty to say. Plus he’s a super flamboyant, gay, sparkly High Warlock of Brooklyn. I mean, what’s there not to love about him? Seriously, love Magnus so much.

Accompanying video: T5W | Favorite Jokesters

What are some of your top jokesters in books? Let me know!

Top 5 Wednesday: Bookish Habits

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Rayna

Welcome to another Top 5 Wednesday! Today is all about bookish habits, and I believe any and all readers have them. So, without further ado, let’s get started!

5. I smell my books.

I’m pretty sure everyone does this. (No? Am I weird?) There’s just something about physical books and smell, man. They smell like nostalgia and they just smell… nice. xD I don’t know how else I can really explain this one, but yes, I sniff my books.

4. I don’t let people borrow my books.

This isn’t really a habit, but I just hate letting other people take hold of my possessions. It’s a thing I’ve had for a long time ever since I let someone borrow a book and it came back to me with the cover completely ruined (and she tried to say I gave it to her like that when I KNOW it was in pristine condition). Ever since I don’t let people borrow my things unless I have 100% trust in them that they won’t somehow wreck them.

3. I start multiple books at a time.

I start reading multiple books at the same time sometimes. Even though I do this I can still separate the worlds from one another and enjoy each story individually rather than getting them confused.

2. I flip to the back and read the last paragraph or two of the book.

I do this before starting a book. I’ve been better lately and haven’t done it in a while, but I still just want to know the end so I’m not surprised. Is that bad?

1. I have to finish a chapter before I put the book down for the night.

When I’m reading a book it’s really hard for me to just put it down and pick it up later if I stop at a random place. I need to finish the chapter or a section before putting it down. It feels more completed that way and it’s easier for me to remember what I read last.

What are your top five bookish habits? Let me know!

Top 5 Wednesday: Books That Made You Think

Posted on March 11, 2015 by Rayna

Hey, it’s time for Top 5 Wednesday again! This week is all about books that made you think. Well, hmm, that seems a little vague. But I guess find the deeper meaning or made me think about something that reflected in my life? Sure! We’ll go with that!

5. “The House of the Scorpion” by Nancy Farmer

I know I used this book in last week’s T5W, but this book was just so impactful on me as a teen. It made me think more about what if: what if we lived in a society like that? What if I was a clone and had to give my life to someone I didn’t even know (myself, essentially)? What if I hadn’t read this book; would I still love reading as much? (Yes, most definitely.)

4. “This Star Won’t Go Out” by Esther Earl

This book was non-fiction and had many writings by Esther, as well as her parents and others. It was a true story about her life with cancer and how she ultimately died from that cancer. It just made me think what if I had cancer? Would I keep my faith like her? Would I have so much will to live and vitality as Esther? Would I blog about it? Start a charity around it for those with the same cancer?

3. “A Certain Slant of Light” by Laura Whitcomb

This was one of my favorite books as a teen (plus it was the only book I ever actually read for required summer reading) and it had a big impact on me and why I loved to read. It was beautifully written and was a great tale about love, loss, and dealing with being dead. It made me think about just how beautiful it would be to live the life the characters did and how they lived could affect others, ultimately making them better people. It’s amazing the power of a story, really.

2. “Trolls” by Brian and Wendy Froud

I love their art and storytelling, I really do. This book is more art than story, but it still tells a great many tales about trolls that I had never known about. It made me think of how much of the magic we had as a kid gets lost as we grow older, dealing with “reality” rather than “unreality.” I love to think that there are things out there, special things, magical things. It makes the world just a little bit more interesting.

1. “Stardust” by Neil Gaiman

As my first Gaiman book, this was a beautiful piece of art. Seriously, art. I loved the way he wove the story and told it from so many perspectives, eventually linking them all together and having the story come together as one. It made me think of my own writing and how I want to become a published author one day. His style is definitely an influence on my own and I just think that his writing has its own life, breathing and alive. I want to strive to get my own words to be like that one day.

So that’s it for this T5W! Let me know what your top five picks would be for this topic!

Top 5 Wednesday: Books You’d Save in a Fire

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Rayna

Okay, so I’ve been wanting to do Top 5 Wednesday for a while now, but I haven’t participated because I never think to do it until Thursday or Friday, and that just defeats the purpose of it being on Wednesday. Well, now I’m going to do it! So, the topic for today’s T5W is: Books you’d save in a fire. (The way this works is you count down from 5 to 1 in order of the books you’d be less likely to most likely… but they’re obviously top five… anyway…)

5. “Twilight” by Stephenie Meyer

The reason this makes the list is because during the time that the book first came out, yes, I was a huge fan. Yes, I still like the series. And it’s signed. So… yeah. Plus it’s my most read book to date.

4. “The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh” by A.A. Milne

I bought this on my first trip to Disney World for my honeymoon in December and I love how beautiful the edition is. I grew up with Winnie-the-Pooh in movies, but I was never able to read the books because, well, I never owned them until now! Definitely a must save.

3. “City of Heavenly Fire” by Cassandra Clare

Though I have yet to read this book, it’s a massive thing and it’s the wrap up to the entire series. I love the Shadowhunter world and how Clare writes, so I’d definitely want to keep this book.

2. “The House of the Scorpion” by Nancy Farmer

This was one of my favorite books as a teenager. I just have so many memories of reading it and rereading it and how it actually made me want to read more. This is definitely one I would try to save in a fire if possible.

1. “Heir of Fire” by Sarah J Maas

I love this series SO MUCH. Like seriously, I can’t handle it. I’d definitely have to save this book, if not the whole series if I can grab them in my hands. It’s currently my favorite fantasy series and it’s just one of the best series I’ve read in a long time.

So there you have it! T5W is complete!

Accompanying video: T5W | Books You’d Save in a Fire

Let me know what your top five picks for books you’d save in a fire would be.

Reader Rayna

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