How I Got Into Reading

Some of us have been reading all of our lives. Some of us started a little later. And some of us are just starting. But the most important thing is that all of us started. We stepped inside the covers of a book, into the world of endless possibilities.

My story started years ago with a book that may sound like a cliché:  Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. I was around seven years old and in first grade. Everyone else was reading picture books or books with the words chopped into syllables. But me? I read Harry's story.

Review: More Than A Slave

★☆☆☆☆

 Potential, so much of it. Unfortunately most of it went unnoticed because of the technical problems. I'm going to cut the chase and go straight to business.

I'm not totally against romanticising slavery, it can be done tastefully, in a Cinderella-ish way, or not-so-tastefully. More Than A Slave didn't go too much into the untasteful side of it and some parts could've been written in a better way. But the romanticising of slavery was not what bothered me the most here.

Problem Number 1: What big secret that no one would want to know?
I didn't find it. I have a few strong candidates for it, but none of them are clear and perfectly fitting to the role. And if the 'big revealing' was the one I am thinking, then why it was hyped so much beforehand.

# The Sick Book

If you're wondering why there was no review on Monday, the reason is a huge scheduling problem. I was supposed to review Cara Brookins' Rise, but I had to prioritise Anaelle Gadeyne's More Than A Slave because of it's launch date on Wednesday. In the end, Gadayne's book's launch date got pushed back to next Wednesday (8.3.) so, this week just got skipped.

We've all been there. Burrowed between blankets, cold sweat on our foreheads and wishing it to be over. And no, we're not talking about the finals. But the sickness.

When sick most of us feel clammy and tired and what not, but there are advantages to being sick. A free day and an opportunity to lounge and read all day. So, even if being sick sucks think books.

I hardly ever get sick but when I do, I'm on the verge of crossing over to death. That happens maybe every other year. I do get a light snuffle every fall or a headache now and then, but nothing too serious that I need to skip school or workdays. That's why the only way for me to get familiar with sicknesses is doing The Sick Book Tag!

Read everywhere - literally

When your everyday consists of To Go-coffee cups and quick snacks, there simply isn't time to sit down and read. Fret not! There is an easy solution for this problem and nowadays I live by it. Just read. Anywhere. Anytime.

Here's the three step program:

Review: Spectra

             ''  Lord, those who die still live in Your presence, their lives change but do not end.  ''

★★★★★

We see what we want see. But before our eyes lies a city full of paranormal, the city of Nachtwelt. They have their own society and laws. They look like us on the outside, but what's inside matters the most.

Spectra helps people to disappear. Her life seems pretty straightforward for an outsider but when stepping into her shoes, one realises that she is much more than a mere human forger. In fact, she isn't a human. And if not a human, then what?

Review: Wayfarers Highway

★★☆☆☆

'' '' Our tale isn't a happy one. It deals with many things that are powerful and dangerous in our time. Worst of all, it's a story that hasn't ended yet. And much of it is happening because Orson here ruined his entire life.'' ''

When I read those words, I had high hopes that the story would take a turn out to be a great one. I must say I'm a bit disappointed. I was looking for something full of humour and fast paced. Instead with widely descriptive language Wayfarers Highway turned out to be something else entirely.

The story is mostly told from the point of view of the protagonist

# The Ultimate Book Tag

The Ultimate Book Tag. I was a bit afraid to take this on, but here I am, on the verge of diving.

1. Do you get sick while reading in the car? 

No, I tend to zoom into the page so effectively that the outside world simply ceases to exist (on the rare occasion I actually have time to read in the car).

2. Which author's writing style is completely unique to you and why?

Review: Reaper's Claim (Satan's Sons MC #1)

★★★★☆

''Our story was never a love story. It was more of a cocktail of sorrows mixed with the odd good moment. It was short, it was bitter, and it left a permanent scar on my great; not to mention a bad aftertaste.''

 There's something pulling me towards Motorcycle Club books, specially if there's a love story behind it. I haven't read a lot of them, but from those I've read, this was the best.

 Told from the multiple point of views, Reaper's Claim kidnapped me and held me captive until the last page. Being inside the MC's life and ways felt realistic to me, since my knowledge is based only on the books I've read. And I can't complain about the guys, they just seem to be on fire.

How to save a life - I forgot a book inside a bag with a wet towel

There are two things with what books don't mix: Fire and Water. In my case, it was water.I was coming from work and forgot  Furies' Bog inside my bag. No biggie, right? Except if you work as a swimming teacher and your bag is full of wet towels and other equipment.

So if you're wondering why there was no Friday Ramble ON Friday, the reason is that I wanted to wait until Furies' Bog had a chance to recover so I could get the 'After' picture. And since it has been recovering the whole weekend, I obviously could not have read it. Fret not! There's still going to be a review on Wednesday!

Review: Empire of Storms

SPOILER ALERT.

Have you already read Queen of Shadows and/or Empire of Storms?

If you answered 'yes', you may continue.

If you answered no, proceed at your own risk.

'' The world began and ended in fire. ''
  
★ ★ ★ ★ ★


 

February's TBR and a bit more

I've been a bit lazy reader in January, only to finish five books. Now that the month of February is here and my reviewing schedule intensifies by a lot, I thought that I'd let you know what's happening in the next five weeks.

If I complete all these reviews on time, I become unstoppable. The Magician's Workshop being the shortest book, with 247 pages, but the rest of them on my list are a bit longer. [Author's gaze zooms to the distance and a hint of desperation can be sensed, as she realises the number of pages she's going to read in the next five weeks.]

Review: We Were Liars

''Be normal, now. Right now.
Because you are. Because you can be.''

★★★★★

Once upon a time, on an island, lived four liars. They were beautiful children from a beautiful family. The perfect children smiled when told to, spoke as expected and kept their heads up high. They were the Sinclairs. They had square chins and fair hair. They were perfect. That's how you see them. Underneath the surface lies the truth. And the truth has never seen the light of the day before.

Cadence Sinclair Eastman spends her summers on the Beechwood island, owned by her Grandfather, Harris Sinclair. As a first born grandchild, a lot is expected from her. She doesn't want to meet those expectations, though. She wants to rebel. She just wants her family to be normal, not the Sinclairs with a stiff upper lip.

# The Seven Deadly Sins

 Tell us all your secrets. Confess your sins. What are you hiding in your closet? I can't say anything for you, but me. I have lots of dusty skeletons buried.

I Originally found this tag on Tumblr ages ago and, honestly, haven't got the faintest of idea on whose blog it was. So sorry, thank you for ´the original creator though, this was a lot of fun. 

It's time to confess my seven deadly sins. Tag yours in the comments below if you have confessed your own and I'll be sure to check them out!

Review: The Infernal Devices trilogy

★★★★★

“Only the very weak-minded refuse to be influenced by literature and poetry.”

Oh boy, did I get influenced. The trilogy that changed my world. I read these after I'd read the City of Ashes, from the Mortal instruments series, and after I had one of my worst reading slumps.

Following the story of the Tessa, Will and Jem in the London Institute changed the way I saw the world. This trilogy made me laugh, made me cry, made feel. Following their life through their hardships made me see another angle of life. 

Pancakes for breakfast and reading in public

I made pancakes. I never make pancakes, especially not for breakfast. But here I am, eating pancakes and drinking hot chocolate. Usually my breakfast consists of caffeine, sugar and caffeine.

Anyways. You know the feeling when you're reading in public and someone just stares at you? Like shamelessly gapes? Hello, you random! Yes, I'm reading, no, it's not weird.