May wrap up

Hello!

This month I read 9 and a half books, and I am so proud of myself. I normally don't read this much, and I finished 9 books with a week to spare. This week I've been in a small reading slump and I am trying to finish attachments, and hopefully do that within the next couple of days.

So the books I finished this month, in chronological order, is:

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas. This got 5 stars.

The Archived by Victoria Schwab. This got 4,5 stars.

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut. This got 3 stars.

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan.
This got 4,5 stars.

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen. This got 4 stars.

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas. This got 5 stars.

The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas. This got 5 stars.

The Unbound by Victoria Schwab. This got 4,5 stars.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. This got 5 stars.

As you can probably tell I had a very good reading month. I really liked all of the books I read, except one, but that was still okay. I only read books I really wanted to read, and I have a feeling that that's why I was able to read so many. I never wanted to put any of them down, and therefor flew through them in a matter of days.

Did you have a good reading month?

View from page thirty: Fangirl

Book: Fangirl
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Genre: YA Contemporary

Goodreads synopsis:
A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love.

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.
Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan...
But for Cath, being a fan is her life - and she's really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it's what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere. 
Cat's sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can't let go. She doesn't want to.
Not that they're going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn't want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside her comfort zone. She's got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks that fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can't stop worrying about her dad, who's loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

Fo Cath, the question is: Can she do this?
Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories? 
And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?


My view from page thirty:
The first thing that came to mind was that Simon Snow reminded me a lot of Harry Potter. The second was how much I could relate to Cath, even in under thirty pages. I already like her, care about her and understand her. The writing style is a bit unusual and different for me, but I doubt I'll even notice it after thirty or so more pages.

And I absolutely love that the last page of every chapter is an excerpt from the Simon Snow books, it's fun idea and a way for us to have the opportunity to love Simon Snow as much as Cath does. 

Book Tag: Summertime Madness

This tag was originally created by JackEatsBooks, and you can find his video here

1. Show a book with a summery cover! i.e. Sun, Beach etc.
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. I think this cover just screams summer and nice weather.

2. Pick one fictional place that would be the perfect destination for your Summer Vacation!
Camp Half-Blood from The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan. It's seems like a great place to train and spend time with friends during the summer.

3. You're about to go on a flight to your Summer Vacation. But you want to read a book that lasts for the whole flight, so what novella do you choose?
Animal Farm by George Orwell. I would rather bring an entire novel, but my novella choice would be this.

4. You have a case of Summertime Sadness - what happy book do you pick up to shine a smile on your face?
Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins. This book is so wonderful and happy, and makes me feel all warm and gooey inside.

5. You're sitting at the beach all alone... which fictional character would be yur beach babe?
Jon Snow from A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin. I am completely in love with him.

6. To match your ice cream you want an icy cool sidekick! Which fictional sidekick do you pick?
Preferably Celaena Sardothien from Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. She's totally awesome, and I would never feel unsafe if she was with me (and my friend).

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Books I Think Make Great Beach Reads

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week we are listing out top ten books that will make great beach reads!

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, and the rest of the trilogy. These were the first books I thought, because they are just so perfect for beach reading. They are all light and happy, and you fly through them.

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen. This one is a light-hearted read that will make you feel good by the end of it, perfect for summer.

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks. Or any other books by him, for that matter. I associate summer with romance, especially in books, so there's no surprise Sparks showed up on the list. While these can be a bit sad as well, they are nice and gives your heart that warm feeling inside.

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab. To avoid a list with just romance books I added some fantasy as well, something for everyone. This is a stand-alone fantasy and it's not a big book. Even though it is fantasy and very little romance I remember enjoying reading it at the end of summer.

The Summer of Secrets by Martina Reilly. So this is an adult book, and while it's not so much about romance, it's a lot about finding yourself, even when you're an adult.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling. The Harry Potter series can be read year round, even in summer. I'll only mention the first one because the first books are much lighter than the later one.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. I'm currently reading this book, and absolutely loving it. It's so light and fun, and perfect to read while trying to achieve the perfect tan.

Paper Towns by John Green. Or any book by him really, but this one isn't one of the sad ones. It's funny, exciting and mysterious.

Animal Farm by George Orwell. This is a quick read, and very interesting. It's entertaining while you read it, and I can guarantee that it'll haunt you for a long time.

The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick. I love this book so much, and I'm definitely rereading this before summer's over. It's so wonderful, and has such a happy ending.

So these are my top ten books! Which are on your list? 

Review: The Assassin's Blade

Title: The Assassin's Blade (Throne of Glass #0.1-0.5)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Year published: 2015
How I got this book: Bookdepository
Why I read this book: Because it's a part of the Throne of Glass series
My rating: 5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:
Celaena Sardothien owes her reputation to Arobynn Hamel. He gave her a home at the Assassin's Guild and taught her the skills she needed to survive.

Arobynn's enemies stretch far and wide - from Adarlan's rooftops and it's filthy dens, to remote islands and hostile deserts. Celaena is duty-bound to hunt them down. But behind her assignments lies a dark truth that will seal her fate - and cut her heart in two forever...

My thoughts:
This book contains 5 novellas, and I will shortly say what I thought of each one.

The Assassin and the Pirate Lord (Throne of Glass, #0.1): In this novella we get to meet Sam, while he was alive. We know how he died and how much he meant to Celaena, but nothing else about him or their story. I really liked this, and that we get to know a different Celaena.
4 stars

The Assassin and the Healer (Throne of Glass, #0.2): This novella happens after the first one, but not immediately. The plot happens over a short period of time, and isn't entirely written through Celaena's point of view, which I really liked.  
5 stars

The Assassin and the Desert (Throne of Glass, #0.3): In this one I noticed that the novellas are written in chronological order. So this happens after the Assassin and the Healer, but not much later. This novella was a little longer than the first two, at just over 100 pages, but it was really good. We learn so much about Celaena and how she develops as a person and as an assassin. 
4.5 stars

The Assassin and the Underworld (Throne of Glass, #0.4): This was also around 100 pages. Here we meet Sam again and see his and Celaena's relationship developed while she was away, and how it turned to be the relationship she remembers in the main books. It takes place in Rifthold, and is the first of the novellas to do that. We get to really know Arobynn Hamel and learn about him as well.
5 stars

The Assassin and the Empire (Throne of Glass, #0.5): This one completely broke my heart, but it was so wonderful at the same time. Again, this was just over 100 pages, but I wanted it to continue forever, because I knew what would happen before it was done. We learn a lot about Celaena in this one, and how she changes after Sam's death (I don't think of that as a spoiler, since it's mentioned so early in the main books). We also learn about their relationship, and about Sam, and I am absolutely in love with him. I cried so much when he died, and we found out HOW he died.
5 stars

Overall I loved this book, and it was even more action-packed than the main books, because here we just read snippets of what actually happens. I feel like I know Celaena even better know, and understand her actions and thoughts a whole lot better. I read the first three books in the series before this one, but I think you could read it at any time, but you probably should read the first book first since it contains a lot of world-building.  

Book Tag: The Ultimate Book Tag

Hello!
This tag was created by the ladies at Chapter Chicks.

1. Do you get sick while reading in the car?
Fortunately, no. I read in the car all the time. 
2. Which author's writing style is completely unique to you, and why?
I don't really know, so I'm just gonna say Sarah J. Maas because I become completely immersed in her stories on seconds, the writing just draws me in.
3. Harry Potter Series or the Twilight Saga? Give 3 points to defend your answer.
Harry potter. Because 1. I grew up with him. 2. You can learn so many things from the series. 3. They are wonderfully written.
4. Do you carry a book bag? If so, what is in it besides books?
No, I just put the book I'm currently reading in my purse or car.
5. Do you smell your books?
No...
6. Books with or without little illustrations?
It doesn't matter to me. Some books work better without and some work better with.
7. What book did you love while reading but discovered later it wasn't quality writing?
Twilight..
8. Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood?
Unfortunately, not that I can think of
9. What is the thinnest book on your shelf?
Probably Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J. K. Rowling or something
10. What is the thickest book on your shelf?
I'm guessing one of the books from the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin. 
11. Do you write as well as read? Do you see yourself in the future as being an author?
No, and no. While I do love to write, I love reading more. I will work with books in my future, I just won't be writing them myself.
12. When did you get into reading?
I have loved reading as long as I can remember.
13. What is your favorite classic book?
This is hard, it's either Animal Farm by George Orwell or Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
14. In school was your best subject Language Arts/English?
We don't have Language Arts here in Norway, but English was definitely a good subject for me. 
15. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated...what would you do?
If possible I'd go back to the bookstore and get another one. If not, I'll keep it and maybe regift it to another person later.
16. What is a lesser known series that you know of that is similar to Harry Potter or the Hunger Games?
This series isn't like those, but the Starcrossed trilogy by Josephine Angelini
17. What is a bad habit you always do while filming?
I don't film, but while writing it is that I get easily distracted and do other things. 
18. What is your favorite word?
I have no idea.
19. Are you a nerd, dork or dweeb? Or all of the above?
If I HAVE to be one of them, I guess I'm a nerd.
20. Vampires or fairies? Why?
Fae. I love them in the Throne of Glass series.
21. Shapeshifters or angels? Why?
Angels, I mean, come on. It's angels.
22. Spirits or werewolves? Why?
Werewolves, because I used to be in love with Jacob from Twilight.
23. Zombies or vampires? Why?
Vampires, because I absolutely HATE zombies.
24. Love triangle or forbidden love?
It all depends on how it's executed. If it's written in a good way and everything makes sense, then both. 
25. And finally: Full on romance books or action-packed with a few loved scenes mixed in?
Action-packed, no doubt. I need the excitement from the fighting scenes. Just romance tend to be a bit boring.

Review: Heir of Fire

*This review will contain spoilers from the Throne of Glass series, as this is the third book*

Title: Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Year published: 2014
How I got this book: Bookdepository
Why I read this book: I am in love with the entire series, so it's obvious
My rating: 5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:
She was the heir of ash and fire, and she would bow to no one. 

Celaena Sardothien has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak - but at an unspeakable cost. Now she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth...a truth about her heritage that could change her life - and her future - forever. 

Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. To defeat them, Celaena must find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to battle the evil that is about to be unleashed.

My thoughts:
I love this series so much, that I can't say anything bad about it. And I absolutely adore Celaena, and the other characters.

In the previous books we have read from three perspectives, as Celaena, Chaol and Dorian. But they have all been in the same place and experienced things together. In this book however, they are split up. Celaena is in Wendlyn while the two others are still in Adarlan. We continue to read from all of their perspectives, and Maas has even added in two more. Sorscha - a healer in the castle - and Manon Blackbeak, a witch. When we first read from Manon's perspective I didn't really understand why, but as the book went along it became clear. While they didn't really do much to the story in this book - at least not in the main plot - it's obvious that they will be important later in the series, and by allowing us to read from Manon's perspective Maas' has shown us that not all witches are bad all the way through. 

There were two other new, important characters we got to know in this book as well. There is Aedion Ashryver, who is the general for the King of Adarlan, and a cousin of Celaena. And there is Rowan Whitethorn. How I despised him in the beginning, but as Celaena got to know him I liked him more and more. (And I'm really hoping that they get together at some point in this series.)

The character development in this book is fantastic, and you can see it so clearly in Celaena. She changes to much as a person, and learns much about herself. I thought I really knew her from the two previous books, and boy was I wrong. As she discovers things about herself, we learn how much everything she's been through has actually affected her, in ways we haven't seen before.

I don't even know what else to say about this book, I can't say enough good things about it, so I'll just stop myself here. I haven't really been this big high fantasy fan, but the Throne of Glass series has changed that for me, and has inspired me to pick up Game of Thrones as soon as I have the chance.

Have you read Heir of Fire?

Top Ten Tuesday Freebie: Inspiring Quotes

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Hello! This week we are able to choose our own Top Ten Tuesday, and I chose Inspiring Quotes from books. They had this April 14, but I haven't started yet, and I think it'll be fun! So here are the quotes, in no particular order

"It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to your friends"

 - J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

"It is so hard to leave - until you leave. And then it is the easiest goddamned thing in the world."

- John Green, Paper Towns

"He would say that God had given him a tail to keep the flies off, but that he would sooner have no tail and no flies."

- George Orwell, Animal Farm

"If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals."

- J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

"Things change. And friends leave. life doesn't stop for anybody."

- Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

"I want everyone to meet you. You're my favorite person of all time."

- Rainbow Rowell, Eleanor & Park

"We accept the love we think we deserve."

- Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

"Do not accept an evil you can change."

- E. Lockhart, We Were Liears

"It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart."

- Suzanne Collins, Mockingjay

"I just wanted to tell you that I understand if you go. It's okay if you have to leave us. It's okay if you want to stop fighting."

- Gayle Forman, If I stay

So these are my pick for the ten quotes, and it was harder then I thought it would be to pick 10. There are so many great ones out there, and some actually feel too personal to share (I hope I'm not the only one who thinks like that). 

It would be great to hear your favourite quotes as well!

Book Tag: Social Networks (Modified)

Hello!

This tag was originally made by Reagan Donald at faultydevices on youtube. The link to the original video is here. The version I'm doing has been modified by Ariel Bissett, and you can find her video here.

Twitter - Your favourite shortest book.
My favourite short book is either Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck or Animal Farm by George Orwell. Both of these books are wonderfully written and the plots are captivating.

Facebook - A book everyone pressured you into reading.
This is a hard one for me, because I can't really remember being pressured into reading anything. But I ended up picking We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. Now, don't get me wrong, this book is one of my all time favourites, and it wasn't like I didn't want to read it. But it was everywhere on booktube and bookblogs, and I wanted to know what all the hype was about. And then my mum read it, and she started telling me that I just HAD to read it, because she needed someone to talk about the book with.

Tumblr - A book you read before it was cool.
I knew the answer to this one immediately. It's The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I found this book randomly in a bookstore back in 2009, and I had never heard of it before. I bought it and immediately read it and loved it, and wanted everyone else to read it as well. I remember hoping that it would be a movie for a long time before the announced that it would happen.

Myspace - A book you don't remember whether you liked or not.
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke. I got this book from my uncle several years ago, and I started reading it and didn't finish it. I don't know why I didn't finish it, because I don't think I disliked it. I've thought about picking it up again, but I've never gotten around to actually doing it.

Instagram - A book that was so beautiful that you had to instagram it.
I don't have one book, but a series that I absolutely had to instagram. And it was Harry Potter, absolutely shocking, I know. As you can see in the picture, I have one self dedicated to Harry Potter. I have all of them in norwegian hardbacks, two in english hardbacks and all of them as a paperback box set with the new US edition. And I love them, they are so pretty. Both the spines and the actual covers.

Youtube - A book you wish could be turned into a movie
There are way too many to only choose one for this. The first one that comes to mind is See You At Harry's by Jo Knowles. This was a book I couldn't put down, and I flew through it. It has the potential to be such an amazing, heartbreaking film.

Goodreads - A book you recommend to everyone
Not thinking about the obvious one - Harry Potter - I have to say the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Technically this is more than one book, but they are so great that I don't care. They are easy to read and to follow, and so entertaining.

Review: The Truth About Forever

Title: The Truth About Forever
Author: Sarah Dessen
Publisher: Penguin
Year published: 2004
How I got this book: I read Someone Like you by Sarah, and really liked it so I wanted to read another book by her
Why I read this book: Same as above
My rating: 4 stars

Goodreads synopsis:
A long, hot summer...

That's what Macy has to look forward to while her boyfriend, Jason, is away at Brain Camp. Days will be spent at a boring job in the library, evening will be filled with vocabulary drills for the SATs, and spare time will be passed with her mother, the two of them sharing a silent grief at the traumatic loss of Macy's father.

But sometimes, unexpected things can happen - things such as the catering job at Wish, with its fun-loving chaotic crew. Or her sister's project of renovating the neglected beach house, awakening long-buried memories. Things such as meeting Wes, a boy with a past, a taste for Truth-telling, and an amazing artistic talent, the kind of boy who could turn any girl's world upside down. As Macy ventures out of her shell, she begins to wonder. Is it really better to be safe than sorry?

My thoughts:
I was a little unsure when I started this because I hadn't read contemporary in a long time, but immediately liked it when I got into it. I worried about how much focus there would be on romance in this book, and was pleasantly surprised. The focus was on Macy as a person, and how she matured over the summer, and not just about her having feelings for a boy. 

The characters in this book were wonderful, and I liked them all. Macy's mother annoyed me at times, but I felt so invested in them that I didn't mind. All of the characters were so developed, and it was clear that even though we didn't get to read the backstory of them all, Dessen knew about it and had it all planned out.

I realized that about halfway into the book I started to really care bout Macy, and I kept giving her advice in my head and wishing that she would listen to me. Normally, I don't get that invested with characters when it's a stand alone, because I don't spent that much time with them, but this book was so amazing. And while something really tragic happened in this book, it wasn't depressing and sad to read. I've read too many books that are sad and depressing through and through, and it was nice that this book wasn't like that. 

I found the plot in this book to be very realistic, and the characters as well. The dialogues didn't seem unnatural - as they do one too many times - and the relationship between the characters also developed realistically. 

As a whole, I really liked this book and I would definitely recommend it to people, especially people around my age. There were many times that I could see myself in Macy. And yesterday I was actually only a little over halfway through it when I went to bed, but I didn't want to stop reading it and told myself "Okay, just one more chapter" and before I knew it, it was 1 AM and I had school the next day.  But at least I finished it.


Have you read The Truth About Forever, or any other books by Sarah Dessen? If so, which do you recommend?

Review: The Lost Hero

Title: The Lost Hero (The Heroes of Olympus #1)
Author: Rick Riordan
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Year published: 2012
How I got this book: I bought it at The Strand in 2013
Why I read this book: I've read Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Riordan, and I really enjoyed them. Also, my favourite thing to read about must be Greek Mythology. 
My rating: 4,5 stars

Goodreads synopsis: Jason has a problem. He doesn't remember anything before waking up in a bus full of kids on a field trip. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper and a best friend named Leo. They're all students at a boarding school for "bad kids". What did Jason do to end up here? And where is here, exactly?

Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, ever since she had that terrifying nightmare. Piper doesn't understand her dream, or why her boyfriend suddenly doesn't recognize her. When a freak storm hits, unleashing strange creatures and whisking her, Jason and Leo away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood, she has a feeling she's going to find out.

Leo has a way with tools. When he sees his cabin at Camp Half-Blood, filled with power tools and machine parts, he feels right at home. But there's weird stuff, too  like the curse everyone keeps talking about. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist that each of them - including Leo - is related to a god.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this book from page one. This is a middle-grade book, and I honestly like reading middle-grade. They are fast paced, and never boring, and a great way to get out of a reading slump if you're in one. While The Heroes of Olympus is a series of it's own, it is also following the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. We have three new main characters, and we alternate between whose point of view we're reading. I have never read a book with 3 POVs before, and in this book at least, I really like it. Each of the characters are so complex and have such an important backstory, that I think this is the best way this could have been told.

As I mentioned, the characters here are complex, and I can't wait to read the rest of the books in the series to see how they evolve. Leo was probably my favourite character to read as, I just enjoyed experiencing the story from his perspective. I mostly liked all of the characters, but Piper annoyed me quite a bit some times. I won't go into great detail, because I don't want to spoil anything, but the way she felt about Jason and that she was so sure she would get him eventually. 

Something else that I thought was great was the fact that we meet old characters again, like Chiron, Thalia and Annabeth. I wasn't the biggest fan of Annabeth in the Percy Jackson series, but I quite liked her now. And Thalia as well, and it was interesting to see how the stories of the new characters intertwined with the "old" ones. 

I flew through this book, and enjoyed every page of it. I didn't want to put it down, and read the entire thing in a couple of days. I don't have any of the other books right now, but I think I have to buy them when I'm going to the States this summer. 

This is a book I would recommend to anyone, even though this genre may not be their preference. It's easy to read and follow, and it's very fast paced. 


Have you read The Lost Hero?

View from page thirty: The Truth About Forever

Hello!
 A view from page thirty is something I found on The Broke and the Bookish, and it sounded really fun!

Book: The Truth About Forever
Author: Sarah Dessen
Genre: YA Contemporary

Goodreads synopsis: 
A long, hot summer...

That's what Macy has to look forward to while her boyfriend, Jason, is away at Brain Camp. Days will be spent at a boring job in the library, evening will be filled with vocabulary drills for the SATs, and spare time will be passed with her mother, the two of them sharing a silent grief at the traumatic loss of Macy's father.

But sometimes, unexpected things can happen - things such as the catering job at Wish, with its fun-loving chaotic crew. Or her sister's project of renovating the neglected beach house, awakening long-buried memories. Things such as meeting Wes, a boy with a past, a taste for Truth-telling, and an amazing artistic talent, the kind of boy who could turn any girl's world upside down. As Macy ventures out of her shell, she begins to wonder. Is it really better to be safe than sorry?

My view from page thirty:
I'm not sure how I feel about this book yet, and it's been a long time since I read contemporary. I usually find them enjoyable, and I hope that will happen with this book as well. So far it hasn't happened a lot, it's been a lot of background stories and setting up the story. 

I'm not exactly excited to read this book, but I need something to read while I wait for my new books in the mail. It's not boring so far and if it continues likes this I think I can really like it, but I'll have to wait and see. I'll write a review for this once I'm finished!

Have you read The Truth About Forever?

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Authors I Want To Meet

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

There are so many authors I want to meet, and I have yet to meet any of them. I live too far away to go to signings, and they don't travel to Norway either (which is completely understandable)

J.K. Rowling - This is an obvious one, being the Harry Potter nerd I am. She has written the most amazing books, and her mind must be brilliant. To even just say a quick "Hello" to her, would be a dream.

John Green - Again, an obvious one for me. I really like his books, and I follow him on tumblr and on youtube. He seems like a really funny person, and just talking to him, and hearing his thoughts about random stuff would be fun.

John Steinbeck - His writing is fantastic, and that's reason enough for me. I don't really know if this list is only supposed to consist of living people, but I still want to meet him.

George Orwell - Same as above.

Sarah J. Maas - I've seen her on some videos and follow her on twitter, and she just seems really funny.

J. R. R. Tolkien - An amazing author and he certainly had an amazing mind as well.

William Shakespeare - Come on, who wouldn't want to meet Shakespeare?

Ransom Riggs - I love his books, and it would be great to hear how he develops his stories based on old pictures he finds.

Sarah Dessen - Her books are so captivating and wonderful, so I can only imagine how she is in person.

Rick Riordan - How amazing would be to to talk about greek and roman mythology with him? Imagine all the things he know about it, and how he has envisioned the gods.


Which authors do you want to meet?

Book Tag: Reader Problems

Hello!

I'm a big fan of Booktube and the people on it, and there are always some sort of a tag going around. I haven't seen this much on blogs, and I wish I did. Tags are fun! And it's just as fun to read them as it is to watch them. Therefore, I have decided that I will be doing tags here, even though I haven't been tagged. Tags are for everybody who wants to do them!

The first tag I'm going to do is Reader Problems, and you can find the original here.

1. You have 20,000 books on your TBR. How in the world do you decide what to read next?
There are several ways I decide what to read next. Most of the time I have a book that I really want to read, and I'll just read that. But if I don't know exactly what book I want to read, but maybe genre, I will find a selection and ask someone to pick for me. I guess that's what I would do if I had that many books, or maybe I'd just take a random one.

2. You're halfway through a book and you're just not loving it. Do you quit or are you committed?
This completely depends on the book and my mood. Most of the time I'll finish it because I hate quitting, but sometimes that's just not possible.

3. The end of the year is coming and you're so close, but so far away on your Goodreads reading challenge. Do you try to catch up and how?
I've never had the problem of not reaching my reading goal, because I don't make it that high. I never know what the year will bring and how
much I'll be able to - or want to - read. I usually change my goal during the year, because I start with a rather easy goal - around 20 books - and when I've finished that, depending on when in the year, I add maybe 5 or 10 books to the goal.

That being said, if I was close enough I would try to catch up. It all depends on how many books I have left. And even though I consider it "cheating" I would try to catch up by reading small books I'll fly through. The Goosebumps series by R.L Stine would be a great thing for this. You can read several in one day.

4. The covers of a series you love do. not. match. How do you cope?
I usually cope well, even though I find it irritating. Luckily, I don't have many that doesn't match. Some are changed a little bit, but not so much that they don't fit well together.

5. Every one and their mother loves a book you really don't like. Who do you bond with over shared feeling?
Tumblr. Honestly, you can always find someone on the internet that shares your feelings, so I don't think it's a big deal.

6. You're reading a book and you are about to start crying in public. How do you deal?
I stop reading. This depends a little on the setting - and if you count school as public - but I don't want to cry in front of people I don't know. At school I could continue, if I'm in the classroom, but nowhere else.

7. A sequel of a book you loved just came out, but you've forgotten a lot from the prior novel. Will you reread the book? Skip the sequel? Try find a synopsis on Goodreads? Cry in frustration?!?!?!?
It depends on how big it is. If it'd a monster of a book, I'll probably find a (several) synopsis Goodreads to catch up, and as I read the sequel the first book will come back to me as well. If the book is only a couple hundred pages I'll reread it, no doubt.

8. You don't want anyone. ANYONE. borrowing your books. How do you politely tell people nope when they ask?
I'm really bad at saying no to people when they want to borrow a book from me, because I want other people to read, even though I hate not having my books with me. But to some people I just say no, plain and simple, and when they ask why I'll just say that I don't want that book away from me or something.

9. Reading ADD. You've picked up and put down 5 books in the last month. How do you get over your reading slump?
Reread a book you know you love. For me, I'll probably read a Harry Potter book. And then another one. And all of a sudden I've read the whole series again, but hey! At least I'm not in a reading slump anymore, right?

10. There are so many new books coming out that you're dying to read! How many do you actually buy?
Not even half of them. Books are expensive in Norway, and even when I buy them online they're like 14 dollars at best. I can't afford to buy all the books I want, so I have to chose some of them.

11. After you've bought the new books you can't wait to get to, how long do they sit on your self before you get to them?
Some books I'll start reading immediately, and some may sit there a year. It completely depends on what I have already planned to read.



That was the Reader Problems book tag! I hope you liked it, and if you did, it would be fun if you'd answer these questions as well!

Review: Slaughterhouse-Five

Title: Slaughterhouse-Five
Author: Kurt Vonnegut
Publisher: Delacorte
Year published: 1969
How I got this book: I don't really remember, but I guess I bought it at Bookdepository, since I get most of my books there
Why I read this book: I felt like reading a classic, but I didn't want to dive into a large book.
My rating: 3 stars

Goodreads synopsis: Prisoner of war, optometrist, time-traveller - these are the life roles of Billy Pilgrim, hero of this miraculously moving, bitter and funny story of innocence faced with apocalypse. Slaughterhouse 5 is one of the world's greatest anti-war books. Centering on the infamous fire-bombing of Dresden in the Second World War, Billy Pilgrim's odyssey through time reflects the journey of our own fractured lives as we search for meaning in what we are afraid to know.


My thoughts: I don't even know what I think about this book. I thought it was a bit confusing, especially with all the time-travelling at seemingly random places. When I first started reading it I didn't understand what was really happening in the story, but as I continued I understood more. This book is definitely a book that will haunt you for a while, and Vonnegut doesn't reveal everything in the book, so you're left wondering what was really going on with some of the characters, especially Billy Pilgrim, the main character.

The writing style was unusual for me, but I did expect that since I mostly read YA. One thing that really annoyed me was "So it goes.". If you've read the book you'll know what I mean. He kept repeating it over and over, and after a while my eyes just jumped straight to the next sentence, because I couldn't be bothered to actually read it.

The characters were the best part of the book for me. I didn't really like Billy in the beginning, he confused me, but after a while I started to feel like I understood him, and I rooted for him all the way. I found most of the characters likeable, or at least I enjoyed reading about them. Paul Lazzaro is an exception here. I thought he was selfish and mean, and I simply did not like him at all. Then we have the Tralfamdorians, and I can't quite decide if I like them or not, I just don't really understand them. Vonnegut did a great job in inventing and writing about them though, I just don't know what I think of them. 

So, I don't really have anything more to say about this book, because I don't want to spoil anything for those who doesn't know what happens in this book. I do think that this is a book everyone should read at least once in their life, and I would recommend it to people. But don't expect a thrilling book, while it was good I didn't really feel like much happened (even though it obviously did). 


Have you read Slaughterhouse-Five? If so, what are your thoughts about it?

View from page thirty: The Lost Hero

Hello!


This is something I "stole" from the wonderful The Broke and the Bookish. I won't be doing this with every book I read, but right now I want some posts on my blog to "get it started". I will - of course - review this book once I am finished with it.

Book: The Lost Hero (The Heroes of Olympus #1)

Author: Rick Riordan
Genre:  Middle Grade fantasy

Goodreads synposis: Jason has a problem. He doesn't remember anything before waking up in a bus full of kids on a field trip. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper and a best friend named Leo. They're all students at a boarding school for "bad kids". What did Jason do to end up here? And where is here, exactly?

Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, ever since she had that terrifying nightmare. Piper doesn't understand her dream, or why her boyfriend suddenly doesn't recognize her. When a freak storm hits, unleashing strange creatures and whisking her, Jason and Leo away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood, she has a feeling she's going to find out.

Leo has a way with tools. When he sees his cabin at Camp Half-Blood, filled with power tools and machine parts, he feels right at home. But there's weird stuff, too  like the curse everyone keeps talking about. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist that each of them - including Leo - is related to a god.

My view from page thirty: I never doubted that I would like this book. I have read the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, and they're entertaining and you fly through them. As you know, I'm only on page 30 in this book, but I already like it and I feel immersed in the story (technically only 1/3 of it, as I've only read from Jason's point of view so far). 

This book has 3 main characters, and 3 points of view. From what I understand so far this is chapter based, and the chapters are either called Jason, Piper or Leo, based on whose's point of view it is. The first two chapters are from Jason's point of view, but the next one is from Pipers. 

While it has been a while since I've read Percy Jackson's story, it still helps me get into the world faster. Heroes of Olympus is an entire new series, so you should not need to have read Percy Jackson and the Olympians, but if you've read that you already know this world works and you are familiar with Annabeth - who has appeared in this book already - and Percy who I have no doubts will show up eventually. 

I doubt it will take me a long time to get through this book, even though it is over 500 pages long. It's so easy to read, and there has already been action in this book. 

I'm giving myself about a week to read this book, and when I'm finished you'll get a proper review of it, so look out for that!

Review: The Archived

Title: The Archived

Author: Victoria Schwab
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Year published: 2013
How I got this book: Bought it on bookdepository in 2014
Why I read this book: I heard a lot about it on booktube, and people seemed to really like it. So I figured, why not give it a shot.
My rating: 4,5 stars

Goodreads synopsis: The dead rest on shelves like books. Each body has a story to tell, a life in pictures only Librarians can read. The dead, called "Histories", rest in the Archive. 

Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da i dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often-violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper is dangerous and a constant reminder of those she lost, Da and her little brother. Mac wonders about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. Yet someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

My thoughts: In the beginning I had trouble getting into the story, and had some trouble adjusting to the writing style. But after 30 pages or so I was completely immersed in the story, and I read the second half of the book in one sitting. Even though I was supposed to be sleeping and had school in the morning. There was a few things I didn't like, but they weren't that big and didn't ruin the story for me. I can't wait to get my hands on the second book, The Unbound, to see where Mackenzie's story will develop.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I'll Probably Never Read

Books I'll Probably Never Read

This is my first post on this blog, and I always think first posts are a little bit awkward. So I figured that I'll jump right into what I actually want to blog about, and skip the awkward stage. (Hopefully) 

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and they are actually the reason I started this blog. I've always wanted to blog about books, I've just never done it. And now I have something to write about every Tuesday at least. 

So without further ado, here is 10 books i'll probably never read. In no particular order. 

Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James - I have seen this book on several people's list, and I agree. This book is not something that interests me, and I've already read so much about it on tumblr and other sites that I know that I'll just hate it. For several reasons. If I ever where to read it, it would simply be so that I could have even more reasons to hate it. 

The Mortal Instrument series by Cassandra Clare - Don't hate me. I've never read any of the books, and I don't know a whole lot about the plot. The series just doesn't interest me, there are so many other books I'd rather read. 

The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead - Again, don't hate me. I know many people love this series, and I'm glad you do. I'm just tired of vampires. I've read the entire Twilight series, and that's enough vampires for me.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson - Or any other books in the series. Honestly, I don't really know what the series is about, and I haven't seen the movie based on the first book either. And I have no plans of doing so. It's simply because I'm a YA or romance girl, so this doesn't interest me.

Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder - This is not for a lack of trying though. My school set up a production of the musical based on this book, and I figured "Hey, I should read it so I really understand what's going on." Since the story is kind of confusing. So I picked it up, and I tried. I tried so hard to read it and to like it. My problem with this book is that the story is interrupted by philosophy lessons all the time, and I couldn't keep up. I put it down, and don't plan on picking it up again. Still, the musical was great though, and a lot more entertaining. 

It by Stephen King - Again, this is not for a lack of trying. I picked it up a couple of years ago, and started to read it. I have a love/hate relationship with King's writing. It's amazing, but sometimes a little bit too scary for me. This is what happened with this book. I started, got really into the story and started having nightmares. So I had to put it down. The fact that it's about a killer clown doesn't really make it any better either, so I don't think I'll try this book again.

The Holy Bible - This is a sad one for me, because I would love to read it and recently bought my own copy of it. I just think it's too big, too intimidating that I'll actually ever start reading it. 

The Casual Vacancy by J. K. Rowling - This one is also a sad one. I am a total Harry Potter nerd, and I adore Rowling's writing. However, I am only 18 and I think this book is a little too "adult" for me. Hopefully I'll read it when I'm older, maybe 10-15 years from now, but right now it's just not something that I think I'll really enjoy.

Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl - or the rest of the series. I read the first one, and it was okay. But it didn't really make me want to read the other three books in the series. I own all for books, so even though I think it's unlikely, I hope I'll finish the series some time. 

Evermore by Alyson Nöel - I have had this book on my self for as long as I can remember, and I have simply just lost interest in it. I'm sure it's a great book, and maybe I would love it, but the excitement is gone and now it's just taking up space at my shelf.

So these are the ten books I'll probably never read, and I actually had a surprisingly hard time thinking of all of these. I tend to just remember the books I have read or the books I actually want to read.