Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday III


Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by 


October 29: Top Ten Scariest Looking Book Covers (thanks to Abbi!) or if you haven't done Top Ten Best Books To Read For Halloween when we've done each year you can jump on that!



These are more dark, subtly creepy rather than really really scary. And then there’s bloody, but I’m not going to even go there. I’m going to consider these hauntingly beautiful or just plain...creepy. I couldn’t make a list of top ten to read for Halloween since I haven’t ever read that many...still, I could make a list of my top ten to-be-read for Halloween...I might do that closer to Thursday...
























Darkitty

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Showcase Sunday III


Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme run by Books, Biscuits, and Tea. Its purpose is to give bloggers a chance to show off any book related news from the previous week, such as books you've gotten.

So I got a few more books, for school and for Halloween. I really need to get less, though, since I hardly have anytime at all to read anything recently. I hoard books, all the time, thinking I'll have more time than I do. :P

The Metamorphoses of Ovid
I picked up Ovid's Metamorphoses because I am writing a sculpture comparison for one of my art history classes and one of the sculptures' myth, the one of Apollo and Daphne, is featured in this book. I might not read the whole thing, since it's quite a mouth full and is as heavy as your basic dictionary...but it is very interesting...


The Metamorphoses (or The Golden Ass) by Apuleius
I got to explore my college library for this one, and I'm a bit annoyed I couldn't find the cover online (it's red with golden lettering) or at least a good picture of it. So this is not the correct edition, but oh well... It's actually in two volumes, and I also picked up several other translations and explanations regarding Apuleius' Metamorphoses. My other sculpture's myth, of Cupid and Psyche, is featured in this book. I probably won't read it all, either...


A Monster Calls
And then I picked up one last book for Halloween, saw it on display at one of my libraries in the YA section and decided to just snatch it up. I've got a lot of thin, creepy books this years since I really don't have time for any of the thick ones. Really, I like tiny books. :) Plus there's pictures! So yeah, I hope to finish at least one or two of my Halloween picks before the month is through....



Darkitty

Friday, October 25, 2013

Flashback Friday II

So this week I didn't get much reading done, either, for I've been pretty much swamped with hw and...stuff. Did manage to start Coraline, though, and I think I'll be able to finish at least that this month! Pathetic, I know... No free time! Anyway...hopefully next week I'll be able to post more, maybe even a review...

I think this post will be short, mainly because I have very little time and I have so much studying to do this weekend. I can't even begin to ramble on about it...got a few things worked out that had me really stressed, so that's one good thing. I still have a lot to do, though...

Oh but before I forget, my new laptop arrived! Yay! I'm still working on ordering my art tablet but I have gotten everything else. I'm so happy! It's beeeeautiful! And now I have CS6! :D And I got the coolest case ever, it's one of those Book Book cases. So awesome! :P



Darkitty

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday II


Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by 


October 22: Top Ten Character Names I Love or Top Ten Unusual Character Names

I have so many favorite characters and tons and tons of names I love. Some are unusual, some are somewhat normal. Still, I managed to narrow it down to some of my favorite books and selected one name from each...generally this is my favorite or one of my favorite characters from that particular book/series.


10: Dust Lands series by Moira Young (June 2012):
DeMalo

9: The Vampire Diaries series by L.J. Smith (Jan 2012):
Stefan Salvatore

8: The Crusade Trilogy by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguié (Dec 2011):
Antonio de la Cruz

7: Théâtre Illuminata Trilogy by Lisa Mantchev (Oct 2011):
Ariel

6: Incarceron series by Catherine Fisher (Dec 2010):
Keiro

5: Howl's Moving Castle by Diane Wynne Jones (July 2010):
Howl

4: Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan (June 2010):
Nico di Angelo

3: Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (Oct 2009):
Severus Snape

2: Inkworld Trilogy by Cornelia Funke (2008):
Dustfinger

1: Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini (2007):
Murtagh



Darkitty

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Showcase Sunday II


Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme run by Books, Biscuits, and Tea. Its purpose is to give bloggers a chance to show off any book related news from the previous week, such as books you've gotten.

So here's all the books I got my hands on last week...technically, they're all still at the library but I'll be picking them up soon. I'm still not certain what I'll read in time for Halloween, or if I'll gather more before then (probably), but this is the haul so far...

The Small Hand by Susan Hill


Dolly by Susan Hill 


Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann


Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Darkitty

Friday, October 18, 2013

Flashback Friday I

I dedicate my Fridays for a look over of the read material for the week, if any, with a heads up of upcoming reviews, exciting prompts/posts, new books, hiatuses, contests/events, quizzes/links, or anything I'm pumped about. It also may become my rambling post option, though I'll try and keep it short (ha!) since I want to continue with the Showcase Sunday and Top Ten Tuesday posts each week. I also would actually like to start reviewing books but I might hold off on that until November. I would like to ordain a day for my reviews, either a separate one for manga and novels, or combine the two...we'll see...

So for this week, I didn't finish any of my novels or manga volumes, unfortunately...


I read a bit more of The Dream Thieves, though not as much as I wanted over Fall Break... I really want to finish it this month, though, so that is my main focus. I finally picked up Unbreakable, but I might hold off since it seems more appropriate closer to Halloween. Read the first chapter, though, and it looks good. 


I also read half of the first volume of Are You Alice? and...yeah. That...was kind of a struggle. I'm not sure if I'll read the second or not now, (or reread it I guess you could say) though I will finish the first... True, it made more sense this time around, but...meh.

I suppose that's it for now. I still wanted to post my bunker story, but I might not now... Oh! And when I was over my friend's house over break, we went to this lovely tea house and that was fun. I got a nice new loose tea for my mom, Spiced Carmel Apple, but have yet to try it. I've gotten more into tea drinking now that the weather's gotten a bit chillier. I guess I just have to be in the mood for such things and it's nice to have to "destressify".


I'm anxious to post my Showcase Sunday for the week, as well as my Top Ten Tuesday, since I got ahead in that...which is probably a good thing, since I didn't finish all my hw before break and I had a class yesterday, and the day before but didn't do anything, and barely anything yesterday, either. Least I don't work this weekend...


On one last note, I finally did my big purchase and ordered my new laptop and...stuff. Very excited for it to arrive. :)

Darkitty

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday I


Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by 

October 15: Top Ten Books I Was "Forced" to Read (either by teachers, friends, other bloggers, book club) -- doesn't necessarily have to be a BAD thing. Could be required reading, yes, but also book club, or just super enthusiastic friends "making" you read something! 

While I will not include textbooks, most books I read in high school I was given a choice on what to pick...still, I had to pick something from a list. My family used to listen to audiobooks a lot and many of them I just wanted to end. Some I read for the DAC last year and so I was the one that pretty much forced myself to read... At one point there were various Shelfari Book of the Month groups I was involved in. There are probably more I've forgotten to mention, but these following books were the most prevalent, and generally ones that I did not enjoy. *note: a majority of these I actually gave ☆ on Shelfari but I've changed that since it no longer feels accurate. Just because I gave them ☆ doesn't mean they were awful...I, personally, just didn't enjoy them...



10: Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard: Aug 2012  
I pretty much forced myself to read this last year for the DAC (Debut Author Challenge). I really didn't enjoy it at all. It was steampunk so I had high hopes for it, but the writing, the plot, and the characters didn't meet my expectations.


9: Ripper by Amy Carol Reeves: May 2012  
I also read this last year for the DAC. I also did not enjoy it as much as I would have liked. I like this time period and I was interested in reading another take on Jack the Ripper. But it was short, and felt rushed, and I really never got into it.


8: Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers: April 2012  
Again, another book for the DAC. I guess I didn't have much luck last year...though, to be fair, there were a few debut author's books last year that I did enjoy. This one, though, felt a little bit dry. I really didn't expect the psychological plot twist ending, so there's that...but it wasn't even hinted at. It wasn't an awful book, just...okay.


7: Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham: Jan 2012  
This book my family decided to listen to the audio. To be fair, this was juvenile, and there aren't very many that can still keep my interest. True, I love children's fiction, but I just didn't like Grisham's approach or the straight forward plot. I might have liked it more if it wasn't obvious who the bad guy was, if there was back and forth plot twists, a little bit less lawyer mumbo jumbo. It might also have been the genre that I didn't enjoy, or the narration.


6: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins: June 2011  
I read this for a Book of the Month group, and it really isn't something I would generally pick up on my own. I mean, the title alone is like...no. There were parts that were interesting, like all the info on France, for example...but I wasn't really interested as much in the characters or their relationships, and all the angsty drama...


5: The Mermaid's Mirror by L.K. Madigan: May 2011  
I also read this for a Book of the Month, and yet again, it wasn't really something I would pick up on my own. The plot felt a little bit lacking and I guess it just wasn't really my thing...


4: Pay the Piper by Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple: April 2011  
I read this along with a friend for a Book of the Month. I don't even remember who picked it or why, but...it was interesting. Just very short, not too much depth to it. Seeing as how I can't remember much about it except that the Piper was a modern day rock star, it didn't really stick...


3: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'engle: Oct 2010  
I was forced to listen to this and I hated it. I absolutely hated it. It was unbearable. If there was only one book I loathed, this would be it. I don't know if it was just the narration, but the plot just dragged on and on and didn't interest me in the slightest.


2: Child of the Dark Prophecy by T.A. Barron: June 2010  
I decided to study the Middle Ages during my senior year, and I read alot of King Arthur type legends during that time. I can't remember how much this particular book was related to this, but not by much. I don't recall much of the plot, except that I wasn't really compelled by his writing style...


1: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain: Dec 2009  
I read this my senior year of high school. Being homeschooled, I was able to pick my literature and I had always wanted to read about Tom Swayer and Huckleberry Finn. I really wanted to like it, too, but it was a struggle. I believe in the end I tried just listening to it instead of slowly trudging my way through it. It's a good story, it's just the vocabulary was tough...

Darkitty

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Showcase Sunday I


Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme run by Books, Biscuits, and Tea. Its purpose is to give bloggers a chance to show off any book related news from the previous week, such as books you've gotten.



So I decided to do this, just because I generally do grab a few books when I'm at work...and I generally don't read even half of them. But I just thought it might be interesting to see what comes in and goes out without being read and which are the chosen ones. :P I still have some books lying around that I did not mention last time, but I won't bring them up until I restart them... So anyway... Over the last two weeks, I decided to set aside most everything that I was "currently reading", except The Dream Thieves. I plan to work on that some more now that I'm on my fall break.


I also got my hold on The City of Bones...again. I just don't seem to have any time for it, and keeping returning it...and, of course, everyone wants to read it. I think the movie didn't do so well, so I'm not really anxious to get my hands on it anymore...






I also picked up The Fault in Our Stars, because I've heard it was good and I've heard good things about the author, too, but I've never read anything else by him. I may or may not get to it. I'm actually starting to think that I might not be able to handle it, since I know only two things about it...






And then I surprisingly got my hold on Unbreakable, which I am looking forward to. It will be interesting to see what she does flying solo, plus it's much shorter than those lovely thick black books, so it's not as intimidating...






I also downloaded this lovely little novella for my Kindle app because I thought, why not? It's free! (it still is on Amazon *hint hint*) I haven't actually finished the series, but later on, I'm sure I'll want to read it, so...





And then, since I only got one manga volume, I'll include that here. Of course, I have several volumes from almost all of the series I mentioned last time, but this is the only one I've gotten recently. And I'm also not ready to start it since I have yet to reread the first volume...of course, that tells you how long the first has been sitting on my shelf since I put them both on hold when they were on order...







Darkitty

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Currently Reading: Manga Edition

So last week, I decided to list all my currently reading novels in the hopes that it might spur me on to finish up quickly. I do not have much time, but we shall see. I also have a lovely pile of manga at the moment. I did recently give up on a few series, for now, but this what I still have at the moment and want to try and get through this month sometime...should not be too difficult, actually. I cannot wait for my fall break this weekend! :D



I was going to attempt to do these in some order but I've started a few and haven't gotten very far in most and I can't remember which one I've been stuck on the longest. I will start with Black Butler: volume 14. I've read them all online, but have been rereading through them as they come out in book format. And purchasing them. The same goes for the Pandora Hearts series. While I am a bit behind in the online updates, I've been planning to read this one for awhile. It's not really at my favorite part of the story line, zombies on the cruise ship arch for those that follow. But I do love the revelation at this point in the story, with the Undertaker, who makes his appearance on the lovely cover of this volume. ;P So yeah. I'll probably finish this one up first...



I am a bit behind in Pandora Hearts... I actually have volumes 15, 16, & 17 to read through. I can't remember if I started this one or not so I may just start over. Plot wise, it's kind of at one of those confusing points. I find this series interesting, and it's been very helpful rereading through it, but....there are some slow points or parts where you feel like the author kind of just made something up, changing their mind about the direction of the story...and yet at the same time you feel like they've been planning it all along, and have just been messing with your mind the whole dang time. Which I love, I really do...



And then there's The Earl and the Fairy: volume 3. I haven't started this yet, but it's been on my shelf for months. One of my bestie's introduced me to the anime series, which I also have not finished, this past summer. There's only four volumes total, I believe. I just have to finish... For the most part, it's been somewhat similar to the anime, but again...it's been awhile. I don't really want to reread the first two volumes or restart the anime, but I might have to. It is interesting and the art is pretty, but it can also have its slow points. But battle manga has ever really been my best friend, so I think I just need to give these more girl ish mangas a chance...



Again, same friend introduced me to the anime, which I absolutely adored. Like, watched it within a few days adored. Ouran High School Host Club manga series is a bit slower, and the art style is old...but it's not that reeeeally old one that I despise. I don't know how else to describe it without hating on another series, so I won't. So anyway. I do like this, it's just taking a while since it's older. I might have started this volume, I can't remember, so I might just start this one over...



Then we have Azu Manga Daoih! volume 2. It's cute, and short, the storyline is broken up into these little stories. I think I liked her Yotsuba series more, but I'm still sticking with this. I have the Omnibus volume now, so it's a bit more intimidating having all the volumes in one big book. I also tried the anime, but it's a bit slower than I like.



Are You Alice? volume 1 I read online a few years ago. I really didn't get it. I think the translation was not done very well, so I wanted to give it another try and read it in book format. Of course, it's just been sitting there for a very long time since I'm not that excited about it. Alice is a guy. I think the Queen's a guy, too, which wasn't really explained, but hinted at. I don't really know... I enjoy Alice in Wonderland retellings, as is obvious by this and those below, but...some feel a bit dry. I haven't made up my mind with this one yet...


Alice in the Country of Clover: The Cheshire Cat Waltz, volume 5, I've had for a bit. I think, with the last one, I've just grown a bit hesitant. This series has gone off in so many directions, making the main character have different lives and different love interests. The art is pretty, but sometimes the plot feels lacking... Also, this is an adult manga, and it did get a bit more risqué in the last volume.



Alice in the Country of Joker: Circus and Liar's Game, volume 2 I stopped somewhere in the middle, tried to find my place, tried to restart, and kind of gave up... Again, this series just keeps going on and on and I don't really understand where it's going anymore. I might try and restart it later on...



Alice in the Country of Hearts: My Fanatic Rabbit, volume 1, I have yet to start, but I've looked through it, as I have looked through all of them. I believe it is a different artist, though, so it's going to be another take on this tale, and maybe I'll like it better since it will be somewhat fresh, who knows...



Darkitty
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