Top 5 Wednesday #3 - August 31.

Hi booklovers

Today's Top 5 Wednesday topic is 'Books I will never read'.

Top 5 Wednesday is a Goodreads group where every Wednesday you post your top 5 books about a certain topic.

Please note that these are my personal opinions and I don't mean to offend anyone. Also, these books are in no particular order.

#1 The Dwarves series by Markus Heitz

I've read the first and about halfway through the second book. One event in the second book - the main character does a 180 at some point - made me put the book down and even get rid of it. Urgh, I really hated the books because of that turn of events.

#2 The 50 Shades of Grey series

by E.L. James

I've never been interested in picking up this series. It was way overhyped and whenever I heard colleagues talking about it, I actually cringed a couple of times. I don't mind sex in novels, but there also has to be a story!!

#3 Any Victoria Schwab book

I don't know why, but every time I hear someone talk about those books, I find they don't appeal to me.

#4 The final two books in the Rosemary Beach series by Abbi Glines

I really enjoyed the first books in this series, but once you read a similar storyline for the third time in a row (SPOILER: I mean, how many times can you use the 'Oh no, I got pregnant by having unprotected sex once' type of story?) it gets too much. Abbi Glines' books were my first introductions into NA, but I've since found series that are way better than hers.
I'm not sure I will ever pick up a book by her.

#5 The last books I will never read are from a Belgian author Patrick Lagrou

The reason I won't ever pick up any of his books anymore is because this author is such a prick. A couple of years ago he came to my school to talk to the first year pupils. I had to welcome him and accompany him to where he needed to be. From the very first moment he was very arrogant and annoying and very demanding and his attitude didn't improve during the day. Because I was so disgusted by his behaviour I vowed I would never read any of his books ever again. I know this might be a bit biased, but I've met a couple of other Belgian authors at our school since then and they have been much more pleasant and nice!

Which books will you never read and what's the reason? Let me know in the comments.

Bye for now

Annelies

Top 10 Tuesday #3 - August 30.

Hi booklovers

This week's Top 10 Tuesday's topic was a 'Back to school freebie'.

Created by The Broke and the Bookish

Being a language teacher and an avid reader I really try to encourage my pupils to read. So, I picked 'Books I would put in our high school library to learn pupils that reading can be fun'.

I divided this list up according to the 'appropriate' age-groups:

1st and 2nd year (12 - 13/14 year olds)

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

This is a wonderful story about a boy with a deformed face who goes to school for the very first time. This story is so beautiful and it deals with bullying in a very good and realistic way.

The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

No explenation needed.

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

The wonderful world of Narnia is so fantastically created, everyone should go through the cupboard at least once in their lives.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

This was the first dystopian story I read and I really liked it. I know it's also a series that has gotten a lot of young people into reading, so that's why I would add it to the school library.

The Origami Yoda series

by Tom Angleberger

This combines Star Wars, easy stories and funny drawings. I believe this would be ideal to get those pupils who don't really like reading to at least give it a try.

3rd and 4th year (14 - 15/16 year olds)

Illuminae
by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

This is such a different format, I think it might appeal to those pupils who don't really like to read because they get bored easily.

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

In the 4th year Dutch lessons pupils learn about 'fairy tales', so these fairy tale-retellings would be a nice addition to the library.

The Grisha trilogy by Leigh Bardugo

I think this wonderful fantasy trilogy is a good starting point to venture into this genre.

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

I read this trilogy for my dissertation when I was studying at teacher-training college and I absolutely loved it. This has so many aspects woven into these amazing stories, highly recommend.

5th and 6th year (16 - 18 year olds)

The His Fair Assassin trilogy

I absolutely adore these kick-ass female protagonists. This would also help get rid of the trope that only boys like reading fantasy stories!

The Saga graphic novels

by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Since this is a very graphic graphic novel series I would only recommend it to the 6th years, but the story is so great, I think they should really give it a try.

The Fables graphic novels

by Bill Willingham.

Again, I think these fairy tale 'retellings' are a great way to get pupils to read.

When I first started thinking about this topic I thought I wouldn't get to ten books and now I even have twelve :-)

Which books would you add to the school library? Let me know in the comments.

Bye for now

Annelies

Top 5 Wednesday #2 - August 24.

Hi booklovers

I know I'm a day late, but I still wanted to post my answers for the Top 5 Wednesday topic this week.

Top 5 Wednesday is a Goodreads group where every Wednesday you post your top 5 books about a certain topic.

This week's topic is 'Top 5 books you want to read before the end of the year'.

These are in no particular order, btw. Also, these are books I already own.

#1 Winter by Marissa Meyer

I've been putting off reading this book, because this book is massive, but I would really like to finish it before the end of the year.

#2 Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb

I read Assassin's Apprentice almost a year ago, so I think it's high time to continue with this trilogy.

#3 The Lies of Locke Lamore

by Scott Lynch

I have heard so many people raving about this book, I'm really intrigued by the premise.

#4 The Colour of Magic

by Terry Pratchett

I've heard this is such a funny book, and I've had it on my shelf for a while now :-)

#5 Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

I really, really, really want to read this one before Crooked Kingdom comes out.

I'm curious to see whether or not I will get to these before 2017 or not.

What are some of the books you would like to read before the end of the year? Let me know in the comments.

Bye for now

Annelies

Waiting on Wednesday #3 - August 17.

Hi booklovers

This is created by Breaking the Spine

For this week's Waiting on Wednesday post I'm going with Heartless by Marissa Meyer.

I've read Cinder, Scarlet, Cress and Fairest by Marissa Meyer and I really love her writing style. I'm also a big Alice in Wonderland fan, so when I heard that this was a prequel to Alice in Wonderland I was immediately intrigued.

Heartless tells the story of The Queen of Hearts before she became the QoH, but was still Catherine, the daughter of a Marquess, who wants to open a bakery with her best friend.

This book comes out on the 8th of November.

What book are you excited to be released? Let me know in the comments.

Bye for now

Annelies

Top 5 Wednesday #1 - August 17.

Hi booklovers

Today I'm posting my very first Top 5 Wednesday post. Top 5 Wednesday is a Goodreads group where every Wednesday you post your top 5 books about a certain topic.

This week's topic is 'Favourite First Sentences':

#5 The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

'In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.'

#4 The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

by C.S. Lewis

'There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it.'

#3 Wonder by R.J. Palacio

'I know I'm not an ordinary ten-year-old-kid. I mean, sure, I do ordinary things. I eat ice cream. I ride my bike. I play ball. I have an XBox. Stuff like that makes me ordinary. I guess. And I feel ordinary. Inside. But I know ordinary kids don't make other ordinary kids run away screaming in playgrounds. I know ordinary kids don't get stared at where they go.'

#2 Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

'I bear a deep red stain that runs from my left shoulder down to my right hip, a trail left by the herbwitch's poison that my mother used to try to expel me from her womb. That I survived, according to the herbwitch, is no miracle but a sign I have been sired by the god of death himself.'

#1 The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

'The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In one Age, called the Third Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past, a wind rose in the Mountains of Mist. The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was a beginning.'

What are some of your favourite first sentences? Let me know in the comments.

Bye for now

Annelies

Top 10 Tuesday #3 - August 16.

Hi booklovers

This week's Top 10 Tuesday topic is 'Top 10 books set in X setting'.

Created by The Broke and the Bookish

I didn't really know which setting I should pick until I took a good look at my bookshelves and saw that I have quite a few books that feature dragons. So, I decided to look for my top 10 books set in a world where dragons roam the earth.

These books are in no particular order, but I am going to divide them into 'books I've read' and 'books I own but haven't read'.

*Books I've read:

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

I don't think Smaug needs any introduction :-)

The Dragonvarld trilogy by Margaret Weis

Mistress of Dragons, The Dragon's Son and Master of Dragons. (I read these in Dutch)

Talon by Julie Kagawa

The Inheritance cycle by Christopher Paolini

I've only read books 1 and 2 but I want to continue with the series.

Drakenkoningin by An Janssens

This is a book by a Flemish author. I own the second book, but I haven't read it yet.

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

Although dragons aren't the main focus of these books, they do sometimes play important roles.

*Books I own but haven't read:

The Dragonlance Chronicles trilogy by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Dragons of Winter Night, Dragons of Spring Dawning.

The Dragonlance Legends trilogy by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

Time of the Twins, War of the Twins, Test of the Twins.

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Dawn of a Dark Age by Jane Welch

This is my latest book purchase.

Do you like books about dragons? If so, tell me some of your favourite books where dragons roam the world.

Bye for now

Annelies

The Selection by Kiera Cass - non-spoiler review.

Hi booklovers

Today I'm going to review a book I've had on my wish list for ages, but since I wasn't sure whether or not I would like it I decided to get it from the library and that is The Selection by Kiera Cass.

Title: The Selection
Author: Kiera Cass
Genre: YA, dystopia

Format: paperback

*Story:
The story begins with hundreds of girls receiving a letter inviting them to participate in 'the Selection', a chance to become crown prince Maxon's bride. One of these girls is America Singer, a talented musician. America doesn't want to participate but both her secret lover and mother insist that she does. Reluctantly, America does enter and of course she gets chosen to be one of the 35 contestants.

*Characters:
-America Singer: She's a 'five' who's in love with Aspen, a boy from 'six'. (I had to stop myself from putting District in front of the numbers.) Although she doesn't want to, she decides to enter the Selection anyway. When she gets chosen to be one of the Selected, this is the perfect opportunity for her to get away from Aspen, since he told her he can't see her anymore. America constantly downplays her own qualities and beauty, which make her more loveable - at least according to the audience watching the Selection - but really got on my nerves.

-Aspen Leger: America's secret lover. I found Aspen to be a typical 'male' because his pride doesn't let him appreciate what America does for him. He 'has to be' the caretaker and provider. Can you tell I'm not that fond of him?

-Prince Maxon: He seems to be a very stiff, spoiled guy at first, but he's actually rather witty. Typical for his 'position', he doesn't seem to be aware of what goes on outside the palace. Being forced to choose a wife through 'the Selection' seems to bother him sometimes, but he can't do anything about it.

*Plot:
In this 'dystopian' world, the population is divided into castes. It's almost not done to marry into a lower caste. Each caste has its own 'profession' or 'talent'. Like I said before, I had a hard time not comparing this to the Hunger Games.

*Overall rating:
I went into this book with low expectations. Like I said, this book has been on my wishlist for a couple of years, but after hearing/seeing a lot of mixed reviews I put off buying it. In the end I decided to get it from the library and I'm glad I did. Glad because I didn't spend money on it. I enjoyed reading it and I flew through the story, but it also definitely has a lot of flaws.
The difference between America and the other girls is a bit too obvious, making her the one to stand out. We don't really get to know the other girls either, just how they behave towards Maxon or one another.
There is very little world building, it's more of an info dump, but nothing memorable. The caste system isn't explained very well either. Even though they talk about the differences between the castes, we don't really get to experience what it's like to live there.
SPOILER:

I also found that the story of the rebels wasn't done very well either.And of course, there is the typical YA trope: the love triangle :-s

I gave this book three stars, because even though this story isn't the best dystopian story I've ever read, I did find myself wanting to keep reading.
I've already read The Elite and also gave it three stars.

Have you read this book? What did you think of it? Let me know in the comments.

Bye for now

Annelies

Birthday bookhaul.

Hi booklovers

It was my birthday on Sunday so I thought I'd share the things I bought/received for my birthday.

On Saturday we went to Bruges, which is one of my all-time favourite cities and there I went to the Bruges Bookstore (Brugseboekhandel) and in the clearance section I bought two books:

*Dragons of Winter Night by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman (this is the Dutch version, since I already have books 1 & 3 in the Dutch version).

*Dawn of a Dark Age by Jane Welch. I have never heard of this book / author, but the synopsis sounded good :-)

At the comic books store De Striep I treated myself to Saga Volume 2 and 3 and Locke & Key Volume 2.

My boyfriend gave me an Alice in Wonderland book figurine which I absolutely love.

My godson bought me the Harry and Hagrid Funko Pop Figures at Facts convention last spring :-)

Two weeks ago it was my boyfriend's birthday and I gave him the Gringotts coins :-)

I'm really happy with the books I bought and the gifts I received :-)

Bye for now

Annelies

Waiting on Wednesday #2 - August 10.

Hi booklovers

This is created by Breaking the Spine.

For my second Waiting on Wednesday post I'm going to go with 'Gemina' by Amy Kaufman and Jay Kristoff.

I'm reading Illuminae at the moment and although it took me about 100 pages to get used to the format of the book I'm really loving it. I'm even thinking of pre-ordering the book through theyachronicles.com.

This book comes out on the 18th of October.

What book are you excited to be released? Let me know in the comments.

Bye for now

Annelies

Top 10 Tuesday #2 - August 9.

Hi booklovers

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic is 'rewind'.

The creators of the meme The Broke and the Bookish compiled a list with almost all the topics of the last six years that we could pick from.

I decided to go with 'Top 10 Auto-buy Authors'. I did a post about this last year, but since then I've discovered a whole bunch of new auto-buy authors.

The two authors that were already on my auto-buy list are:

Katie McGarry

She writes ya contemporary stories and is the author of The Pushing the Limits and the Thunder Road series. Her PTL series were some of the first YA contemporary stories I read and they made me enjoy the genre very much.

Cora Carmack

Another (mostly) contemporary writer but this time in the NA genre. I've read all of the books in the Losing it and the Rusk University series and the first (and currently only) book of the Muse series. I'm eagerly awaiting the next books in the RU and the Muse series :-)

These are my other auto-buy authors:

Morgan Matson

I only need to read the Unexpected Everything and then I will have caught up with her books.

Krista and Becca Ritchie

Although I still need to catch up with some of their books, I plan on buying and reading everything these twin sister ever release. The Addicted series is one of my favourite NA contemporary series ever!

Leigh Bardugo

Moving on to the fantasy genre. I have read and adored the Grisha trilogy and I plan on reading Six of Crows before Crooked Kingdom comes out.

Sara Raasch

I really enjoyed the two Snow Like Ashes books that are currently out, so I'm definitely going to read the final installment in the trilogy. And it's safe to say I'll be buying every other books Sara Raasch releases :-)

Victoria Aveyard

The same goes for Victoria Aveyard. I really enjoyed Red Queen and Glass Sword. Even though I didn't enjoy Cruel Crown all that much I'm still going to continue with the series and buy every other book she'll release.

Bre Faucheux

Bre is a self-published author and I really enjoy her books. I might be a bit biased, because Bre is a good friend of mine, but she is a good writer and I will always read anything she releases!

Marissa Meyer

And lastly, even though I haven't read Winter or Stars Above yet, I am going to (pre-)order Heartless :-)

Robert Jordan

Even though I know this is an author I can't buy any new books from since he passed away a couple of years ago, I still own every book in his The Wheel of Time series and I would have bought every other book written by him.

Of course I hope I will add more auto-buy authors to this list.

Who are some of your auto-buy authors? Let me know in the comments.

Bye for now

Annelies