One of my favorite activities is to go for a walk while listening to an audiobook. Hell, I like listening when I clean, empty the dishwasher, do laundry, really just when I'm doing something potentially boring. It's a great way to be productive while at the same time being absorbed in a book and let's be real, if you're reading this that is what you love most. But the enjoyment of an audiobook often depends as much on the performance of the narrator as the actual story. Five Stephen Fry is just great, I really enjoyed his performance of the first Sherlock Holmes book, A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He narrates Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive collection, which is 72 hours … [Read more...]
Top Five: Least Favorite Romance Tropes in YA
FIVE Love triangles. Now this is one that can be done right, but is mostly done wrong. It's simply unrealistic, at least for most people. I can't recall ever reading about a love triangle with two girls fighting over a guy, but the other way around is so common in young adult. A series that does it right is Cassandra Clare's Infernal Devices. I'm team Will, but both Will and Jem are just so great. Tessa is lucky to have been loved by two such lovable characters. I loved reading about the three of them fighting demons and sharing a strong bond of friendship and love. I can only think of a few examples where I enjoyed reading about a love triangle, the rest fall … [Read more...]
Top Five: Bookish Buzzwords
When looking for my next read, there are certain buzzwords that makes me instantly intrigued and excited. Here are my top five: FIVE Stories with a historical setting and occult or supernatural elements. The first book that comes to mind is The Diviners by Libba Bray. It's equal parts fun and scary. While solving a supernatural problem it also includes fashion and trends from 1920's New York, which I absolutely loved reading about. Another interesting book that fits is the second book in the All Souls Trilogy, Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness. It takes place in London in the year 1590, where we meet several historical figures while searching for a mysterious book. Dark Days … [Read more...]
