quotes Elisquared likes


"Saying 'I notice you're a nerd' is like saying, 'Hey, I notice that you'd rather be intelligent than be stupid, that you'd rather be thoughtful than be vapid, that you believe that there are things that matter more than the arrest record of Lindsay Lohan. Why is that?' In fact, it seems to me that most contemporary insults are pretty lame. Even 'lame' is kind of lame. Saying 'You're lame' is like saying 'You walk with a limp.' Yeah, whatever, so does 50 Cent, and he's done all right for himself."— John Green

Showing posts with label ereader. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ereader. Show all posts

1.07.2016

Babbling About Books - A Little Reading Q&A for the New Year


First, I'd like to apologize; I know I've been in and out of things here on Eli to the nth, and I really don't have an excuse other than life happens. I've been clocking in the hours at my full-time job, so this volunteer and fun job got put on the back burner.

To start out I'm going to get back in the groove of thinking, writing, eating, breathing books with this really awesome survey I found at Eve's Fan Garden. I love doing these surveys, and I hope some of you do it too!  There will be reviews coming, so please bear with me; the content is coming again, I promise! :)




1. Favorite childhood book?

My favorite childhood book changes in the expanse of my childhood. When I was really little I loved Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd. I couldn't get enough of that book. My parents and I would spend an hour saying goodnight to everything in my room just like in the book. Then as I got older (5-7) I devoured The Berenstain Bears series by Stan and Jan Berenstain.  When my little brother was born, my parents got me The Berenstain Bears and the New Baby just so I could relate to what I was about to go through!  
I had so many of them, and I still love them now!    

2. What are you reading right now?

I am currently reading: it changes constantly!  While 2015 was a sloooooow reading year for me, I still read all over the place genre-wise.  Of course, the books are 99.99% YA.  YA is bae.  But I am enjoying the hell out of the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas!  I don't know why I waited so long to devour these books!


3. What books do you have on request at the library?

Here's the thing about me and the library: I have a problem with returning my library books on time. After the 50th time of this happening I've put a personal band on myself. This is really funny considering I have a degree in Library and Information Sciences. I'm a librarian who can't even check out books from the library.

4. Bad book habit?

If I'm reading books I personally own, I have a tendency to write in them. This is an unfortunate habit left over from my undergraduate days as an English lit major. We have to explicate everything, so it is just automatic for me. If it's not my book then I have the bad habit of not returning them on time (I never want to let any books go!)

5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?

Nada (see #3)


6. Do you have an e-reader?

I use to have a Nook Color, but we all know what happened to that e-reader.  I much prefer a hardcopy anyway.  I love the smell, weight, and texture of a real book.  Nothing can replace it, even for convenience sake.


7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?

I read several books at once. This usually happens because if I get a new book I have to start reading it! Right now I'm reading six books, and starting three reviews. I also have like 100 books in my TBR list. It's a problem.


8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?

My reading habits continually fluctuate, and I wouldn't say it's due to my blog.  I've always been a reader, but with college my reading became more discerning.  I read not only for pleasure now, but I also analyze books more closely.  But I suppose there is a change due to blogging, just because I don't always get to choose when I read certain books, especially if they are specifically for review purposes.

9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far)?


I'm going to go with 2015 since I've only read 3 book so far in 2016.  Out of all the books I read in 2015, I only had one Did Not Finish: One Thing Stolen by Beth Kephart.  The premise sounded intriguing, and I got the book for review, but I just could not get through it.  The style of writing was strange, and it was confusing right away.  I think that might have been the point, but I just could not get into it at all. 

10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?


Again, looking at 2015, hands down, no question about it, Uprooted by Naomi Novak was my FAVORITE BOOK! Maybe not even of the year, but Top Ten ever!  It was such an amazing book, full of intriguing characters, beautifully built settings, and a non-stop engaging plot.  If you like fantasy even a tiny bit, then you must get a copy of Uprooted!


5.25.2012

Intangible: Review and Interview with J. Meyer

Title: Intangible
Author(s)J. Meyers
Edition: eBook, 264 pages
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: January 31, 2012
Source: Received from author for review

GIVEAWAY: Enter to win an e-book copy of Intangible!  Giveaway is OVER





The Summary
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Twins Sera and Luke Raine have a well-kept secret—she heals with a touch of her hand, he sees the future. All their lives they’ve helped those in need on the sly. They’ve always thought of their abilities as being a gift. 

Then Luke has a vision that Sera is killed. That gift they’ve always cherished begins to feel an awful lot like a curse. Because the thing about Luke’s ability? He’s always right. And he can’t do anything about it.
My Opinion
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was lucky to be contacted by J to review her wonderful book Intangible. I'm often hesitant to read self-published books due to the lack of editing that often happens.  But the premise sounded really good, and I love a story with siblings who actually love each other.  After finishing Intangible, I can add it to my "Good Books" list!

For me, it is all about the characters, and while their are many we meet throughout the relatively short book, each stands out.  Sera and Luke are my favorites, 1) because they are the protagonists, 2) they're siblings who love each other, and 3) they are really well written! I love that they share this connection which each other, one that isn't just supernatural in nature but familial as well.  My next favorite would be Marc.  He is a great character because you can really see the conflict he goes through.  At first you think he's just a villain, but the way his character is crafted, you learn there is much more to him.  He also loves coffee A LOT just like me!

The world J crafted is very realistic, even with all the supernatural elements.  I love that it is set in Vermont, a state that doesn't get a lot of love.  Then there are all the references to coffee shops!  I find coffee shops to be a great vehicle in stories: they can be meeting places, hang outs, a stop during transit; so many options!  And of course, with the realistic side, there is great mix of the supernatural.  And not just one supernatural creature is in this book, but vampires, elves, and gifted humans.  There are also these nasty shadows, but that's all I'm saying there.  A really fun, realistic, and dangerous world is found within the pages.

Overall, this was a good read!  There is a hinting at the end to where the story is going in the next book, and I am really excited to read it!  Please check out the short story Intuition, and my giveaway to win an ebook copy of Intangible (link above).  You won't regret it!
Extras
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Don't forget to check out the short story Intuition, a prequel to Intangible!
It's free!

Final Rating
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Book Cover: 4/5
Book Title: 4/5
Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 44/50: B+
Author Interview with J. Meyer
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What inspired the story of Intangible?
The idea of a girl who could heal with a touch of her hand was inspired by Reiki, a hands-on alternative healing method I'm very familiar with. And one night I was flipping through a superhero encyclopedia, marveling at all the cool powers they have, and I thought "What if there were teens cropping up all over the world with special abilities? That would be SO cool!"

Oh I'm not familiar with Reiki, but after reading the book, healing by touch is definitely very cool!

There is a great mix of supernatural creatures in Intangible. What made you bring in so many?

Well, I knew I wanted vampires in it because Sera heals a vampire and transforms it back to human. But I also didn't want this to be just another vampire book. So the idea grew and expanded to include all sorts of supernatural beings--since the Realm is home to them all. I love having that whole other world to imagine and play with.

Well I loved the mix of supernatural creatures for sure!

With all the mention of coffee in the book, are coffee shops one of your favorite places?

I love coffee shops. I love the cozy, warm feel they (almost) always have--the sweet and slightly bitter smell of all sorts of coffees and concoctions as well as the baked goods that often accompany them. There's something really homey, safe, and secure about a coffee shop no matter where you are in the world. And I find it's one place you can go by yourself without feeling conspicuously BY YOURSELF, you know? I've never been terribly comfortable going to a restaurant by myself, but totally fine going solo to a coffee shop.

Coffee is probably one of my favorite vices; I drink too much of it!

Do you have any plans on writing a second book?

Yes! I'm actually working on the second book right now and have all my fingers and toes crossed that it'll be out by the end of the year.

Awesome!  I can't wait to read it!

Besides fantasy, what other genres would you be interested in writing?

I don't know, maybe contemporary, but I honestly don't know if I could pull it off. I love fantasy. I love bending the rules of real life and making things happen that really can't. I love imagining magic, love the endless possibilities of the supernatural. I believe all my book ideas at the moment are fantasy, so I'm not sure I will ever write in another genre . . . but never say never. ;-)

I would look forward to any genre you want to dabble in ; )

What are some of your favorite authors and books?

The Dreamdark series by Laini Taylor
The Attolia series by Megan Whalen Turner
Chime by Frannie Billingsley
This is All: The Pillow Book of Cordelia Kenn by Aidan Chambers
Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore
Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
The Magic Thief series by Sarah Prineas


Some of these I haven't read; I'll have to check them out.

Besides writing, what are some other things you do?

Spend time with my family--that's my favorite thing to do. I also bake (too much), sew (a little), and knit (not enough). I read a lot (almost exclusively YA lit) and love spending time outside going for walks, hikes, skipping rocks at the lake, and taking in the splendor of nature. (Also? I love putting things in parentheses.) (I know it's hard to tell.) ;-)

Thanks so much for the interview, J! I really appreciate it!

Thank YOU, Eli! It's been fun. :-)

J. Meyers grew up in Vermont and now lives in Central New York. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s chasing her four kids around, exploring the outdoors with them, relishing the few quiet moments she gets with her husband, baking sweet treats, and forgetting to make dinner. Though she cannot actually see the future nor heal with a touch of her hand, she likes to think her children believe she can. Intangible is her first novel.  Check out her website, add her on Twitter, and like her on Facebook!

5.06.2012

Nook Bargins (12)


I have a nook color, which I love!  But whenever I see e-books on sale, they're always for the Kindle. 
So I thought I might start my own round-up of sales on e-books that are for the nook to help my fellow nookers (yes I've just made that word up).
The catch is that some of these books are on-sale for a limited time, so get 'em while they're hot!
All of these books are pretty awesome and cheap, but some are only on-sale for a limited time, so you better hurry and get them before it's to late:


The batch up this time are all really amazing books for such a great deal!


13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson - $2.99
The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell - $2.99


Epic Fail by Claire LeZebnik - $2.99
Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan - $2.99
Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith - $2.99
L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad - $2.99
Love and Other Things I'm Bad At by Catherine Clark - $2.99
Monster High by Lisi Harrison - $2.99
Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley - $2.99
Die for Me by Amy Plum - $1.99
Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini - $0.99

4.05.2012

The First Time (Review)


TitleThe First Time
Edition: ebook
PublisherJessica Verday
Publication Date: October 29, 2011
Source: Bought from Nook Store












The Summary
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You never forget your first...

In The First Time, 25 young adult authors contribute 25 stories all about firsts: first loves, first kisses, first zombie slayings, and more. Featuring New York Times bestselling authors Carrie Ryan and Jessica Verday, plus a host of others. From humor to horror, and everything in between, these stories will make you laugh, cry, cheer, (and maybe even scream) as you experience something brand new from the authors that you love.
My Opinion
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I found this anthology completely by accident when I browsing the digital shelves of Barnes & Noble.  And I'm glad I did!  This anthology is filled with delightful stories about all sorts of first times.  Each author does an amazing job in such a few short pages, and you can't beat the price at $2.99!

There is such a great mix within the anthology as well!  There are the contemporaries, the fantastical, and the supernatural.  Pretty much something for everyone.  Some authors write in worlds which may be familiar to their readers, and others start in a new world.  But each story doesn't leave you in the dark, and that's what makes an anthology like this work.

Each story is able to stand-alone on it's own merits, allowing the reader to enjoy them even if they haven't read the book series the tale may be set in.  A high selling point for me!  Of course I did have my favorites of the bunch: The Trouble with Firsts by Charity Tahmaseb, When Skies are Gray by Leigh Brescia, Freedom by Cyn Balog, Selling Mr. Peanut by Lara Zielin, Once Burned, Twice Shy by Jessica Verday, Turn Here by Jackson Pearce, and Heart On by Rohnda Stapleton.

Each story was as different as night and day, but all were so well-written and engrossing I wanted more.  When I want more I know the book or story or poem was really something.  I laughed, I cried, I screamed, and I cringed at one point or another in each story.  When authors really dig into human characteristics like that, it is a gift.

If you're looking for an amazing anthology that is an amazing deal then look no further, The First Time will satisfy that need!  However, as with too much of a good thing, you can overdose if you try to read the whole anthology in one sitting.  The rollercoaster of emotions, styles, and plots will have you dizzy by the end, so I suggest flipping through and reading two to three at a time.  This way you can really experience your first time with the story (see what I did there? Huh? huh?)!

Final Rating
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Book Cover: 3/5
Book Title: 5/5
Plot: 9/10*
Characters: 9/10*
Writing: 9/10*
Ending: 9/10*
Overall: 44/50: B+
*This is a combined score of the short stories.  Some may be judged higher or lower individually.

3.24.2012

Nook Bargains (11)



I have a nook color, which I love!  But whenever I see e-books on sale, they're always for the Kindle. 
So I thought I might start my own round-up of sales on e-books that are for the nook to help my fellow nookers (yes I've just made that word up).
The catch is that some of these books are on-sale for a limited time, so get 'em while they're hot!
All of these books are pretty awesome and cheap, but some are only on-sale for a limited time, so you better hurry and get them before it's to late:


Free:
Glimpse by Stacey Wallace Benefiel - FREE










Summer's Crossing by Julie Kagawa - FREE









Tortured by Caragh M. O'Brien - FREE









Fallen from Grace by M. J. Putney - FREE










$0.99:
Black Hole Sun by David Macinnis Gill - $0.99









Oppression by Jessica Therrien - $0.99










Remembrance by Michelle Madow - $0.99










Vengeance by Michelle Madow - $0.99











$1.29 - $2.99:
The Goddess Hunt by Aimee Carter - $1.29
Never to Sleep by Rachel Vincent - $1.31










Boyfriend from Hell by E. Van Lowe - $1.99










Gone by Michael Grant - $2.99










Girl Parts by John M. Cusick - $2.99










Callum & Harper by Fisher Amelle - $2.99










White Cat by Holly Black - $2.99










The Boyfriend Thief by Shana Norris - $2.99










Bourne by Lisa T. Bergren - $2.99











$3.59 - $5.03:
Need by Carrie Jones - $3.59
Finnick of the Rock by Melina Marchetta - $3.99










The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa - $4.50
Glimmer by Stacey Wallace Benefiel - $4.95










Glow by Stacey Wallace Benefiel - $4.95










The Iron King by Julie Kagawa - $4.99

Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough - $4.99








The Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines - $5.03










Skinny by Ibi Kaslik - $5.03

1.29.2012

Nook Bargins (10)


I have a nook color, which I love!  But whenever I see e-books on sale, they're always for the Kindle. 
So I thought I might start my own round-up of sales on e-books that are for the nook to help my fellow nookers (yes I've just made that word up).
The catch is that some of these books are on-sale for a limited time, so get 'em while they're hot!
All of these books are pretty awesome and cheap, but some are only on-sale for a limited time, so you better hurry and get them before it's to late:


THESE ARE ONLY ON SALE THROUGH JANUARY 31ST!  SO HOP TO IT!  

10 BOOKS FOR $10 IS A STEAL!
















































































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