Borrowed:
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Showcase Sunday / The Sunday Post / Stacking the Shelves XI
Well, I just got one book this week..........so, yeah.... ;P
Friday, March 28, 2014
Flashback Friday IX
Sooooooo....here's this week's read list...
Manga:
Manga:
Novels:
(for my Chinese Art History II class)
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Top 5 Wednesday IV
March 26th - Top 5 Books You Would
Recommend to New Readers
There have been a lot of books I've loooved and would definitely recommend, but for this post I'm trying to keep it geared towards both male and female readers.
Bonus! 7.
Bonus! 6.
5.
4.
3.
2.
1.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Top Ten Tuesday VII
March 25: Top Ten Things On My Bookish Bucket List
(could be blogging related, book related etc. -- meeting authors, reading x many books per year, finishing a daunting book, etc.)
10.
This seems kind of important (and I've been typing these all in ascending order while trying to make them sound like they are in the descending order) so I don't really know if I should have saved it for the last, but here it is...I would like to read ALL the books on my real shelf and on my Shelfari shelf (or just get rid of the ones I am no longer interested)...someday...
9.
I would like to also, one day, be able to purchase all the books I so very much love but do not have the money for currently. *sighs dismally*
8.
Blog related but I want to complete the DAC (Debut Author Challenge) this year.
7.
Blog related again, but I want to get some of these challenges accomplished. I want to be able to pick at least one book from the TBR jar per month, and read/review it.
6.
Book related, and a bit similar to my second top goal, but I would like to read at least one manga volume per day. Yes, it it entirely possible, and yes I have done it before. It will keep me on top of my higher goal.
5.
This is also book related, and somewhat similar to my top goal...but I would like to have at least one novel finished per week. Right now, that probably isn't going to happen. While I can be a fast reader, and have finished some books in a day or two, I haven't had much time or energy for it as of recently...
4.
This goal is more blogging related. I've been trying to keep blog more active these past fews months, despite the fact that I feel the most busiest I have felt in years...but I like writing, and I haven't done much of that beyond rpging here recently. But I'm a bit annoyed I haven't gotten out any reviews... So I would like to have at least one manga or novel review every two weeks.
3.
I get extremely nervous over the concept of meeting authors, especially authors I admire and adore the writings of...but I would like to meet some of my favorite authors/have my books signed by them one day...
2.
My second highest goal would be to beat my goal of 350 manga volumes in one year (I got terribly close to acchieving this in 2012 I believe). I would like to be able to read 400 manga volumes in one year (though probably not this year or next).
1.
Well, my top goal would have to be to read 100 books in one year. I have yet to accomplish this...
****************************************
Also, I decided to link this up with the 50 Bookish Things You Must Do Before You Die!
from Love at First Book & The Book Wheel
Monday, March 24, 2014
Review: Gate 7 Volume 1
The last time I reviewed books, I usually broke it down into summary, and my review on plot, characters, art (if it was manga or had illustrations), along with a favorite quote, character, and my star rating, and then disclaimers. Sometimes I would possibly include minor spoilers in the last section, if necessary. I don't think I'm going to stick so rigidly to that format this time around, but we'll see...
Clover Volume 1 was first book I ever read by CLAMP, but I do recall not really liking it very much at all. And then I believe I read Volume 1 of Cardcaptor Sakura, and thought it was "okay". That being said, I then read their Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles series, and loved it! I've been meaning to pick up their Chobits series for some time, as well as their xxxHolic series. I don't remember how I first stumbled upon Gate 7, but it looked interesting. I've just got to say that their art is gorgeous. It's so whimsical and airy feeling, and I just love the character designs, and their intricate plot twists. I figured it was high time I got back into reviewing and since this is one of the only first volumes in a series that I have read recently, I might as well start with it.
I've always felt this way about CLAMP: You start reading, it takes a bit of time to get into, mainly because the art isn't at that eye-catching stage or there's a lot of dialogue or background info in their beginning chapters, and the plot just really hasn't kick started yet. But once you get into it, you're sucked in. I feel that if I continue with this series, it will probably make its way into my top 10 favorites.
Summary:
Chikahito Takamoto has always read about the beauty and mystique of Japan's ancient capital city, Kyoto. Now, two years into high school, he's finally visiting there for real. But wandering the grounds of Kyoto's legendary Shinto shrine of Kita no Tenmangu, he chances upon a mystery that his guidebooks didn't prepare him for - two handsome men and an attractive woman, all strangely-garbed, wielding powers...and fighting monsters! The two men treat poor Chikahito with suspicion - but the girl seems to like him. They aren't worried about what Chikahito's just seen, because they have the power to erase his memory...except for some reason, that power doesn't work! And why does the girl kiss him before sending him away? One thing's for sure: Chikahito is going to be seeing a lot more of these three strangers... (taken from Shelfari)
Gate 7 currently has four volumes out. I was previously unaware that it was their newest series, but now that makes sense. It's an ongoing Shōnen (geared more towards the male audience, generally 10+, basically, battle manga) series that began as a one-shot in December 2010, and then was originally run in March 2011 in Jump Square. Currently, the series is on hiatus, unfortunately (CLAMP Wiki).
Summary:
Chikahito Takamoto has always read about the beauty and mystique of Japan's ancient capital city, Kyoto. Now, two years into high school, he's finally visiting there for real. But wandering the grounds of Kyoto's legendary Shinto shrine of Kita no Tenmangu, he chances upon a mystery that his guidebooks didn't prepare him for - two handsome men and an attractive woman, all strangely-garbed, wielding powers...and fighting monsters! The two men treat poor Chikahito with suspicion - but the girl seems to like him. They aren't worried about what Chikahito's just seen, because they have the power to erase his memory...except for some reason, that power doesn't work! And why does the girl kiss him before sending him away? One thing's for sure: Chikahito is going to be seeing a lot more of these three strangers... (taken from Shelfari)
The main characters (from left to right) are Tachibana, Hana, Chikahito, & Sakura.
As a whole, it's a nice blend of fantasy art, action, and humor. CLAMP knows how to mesh all these elements together brilliantly to create an interesting story that keeps one turning the page. I personally wouldn't categorize this as a battle manga, since most of CLAMP's "battle manga" don't fall under the same level of violence as, say, Bleach. It's all about the art.
I love how each character has their own intriguing personality. We have Hana, the innocent looking, noodle loving (love interest?) for Chikahito, our average high school student, who apparently is not quite so average, and Hana's two older comrades, the stern, quiet Tachibana, and the much more carefree (but possibly dangerous?) Sakura.
Oh yeah, and there's kissing...
Without spoiling anything, the plot of the first book focuses on Chikahito's move to the city of Kyoto and his interactions with these strange people and their mysterious powers, and how he relates to this world of magic...
★★★★☆
So far, Sakura's my favorite...
Let me know if you decide to check it out! Enjoy!
Next week's review:
Crimson Shell
Next week's review:
Crimson Shell
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Flashback Friday VIII: Saturday Edition
So I actually got some reading done over Break! But guess what kind of reading? Go on....guess.... xD
Manga:
- 17: Gate 7 Volume 1
- 19: Crimson Shell
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Top 5 Wednesday III
March 19th - Top 5 Sequels
Generally, for me, I'm not usually a fan of most sequels...or I just never actually get around to reading them. I usually like the first and/or third book in a trilogy best, and I don't usually read much longer series than that unless I become extremely addicted right off the bat. But anyway...here's my Top 5 for the week!
5.
The Sea of Monsters
4.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
3.
The Struggle
2.
Perchance to Dream
1.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Top Ten Tuesday VI
March 18: Top Ten Books On My Spring 2014 TBR List (to be read list)
10.
City of Bones
9.
Blood Feud
8.
Fangirl
7.
Storm
6.
The Secret of Abdu El Yezdi
5.
Nightfall
4.
Dangerous Creatues
3.
Insurgent
2.
Hollow City
1.
The Dream Thieves
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Showcase Sunday / The Sunday Post / Stacking the Shelves X
So here's this past week's book haul...I did pretty good, I think. Well, what do you know! It isn't all manga. ;P Anywho! Got to check out this little local indie bookstore last week with a friend, so of course I bought some books...
Bought:
Borrowed:
I own this, but I don't like ruining new books, so I borrowed a copy from the library, again. I've set this aside so many times before but this time, I really need to read it or my dad is going to pass me! D: Oh, the horror! Anyway, I should have some time now that I'm on Break. ;P
Looks really, really, really good. Love Gris Grimly.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Top 5 Wednesday II
March 12th - Top 5 Book Parents (parent/guardian/adult figure)
5.
Count Volger, Leviathan
4.
Butler, Artemis Fowl
3.
Malcom Ravenwood, The Caster Chronicles
2.
Sirius Black, Harry Potter
1.
Molly Weasley, Harry Potter
And as a side note, this is apparently my 100th post. Woot! ;P
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Top Ten Tuesday V
March 11: Top Ten All Time Favorite Books in X Genre (you pick the genre!)
I picked fantasy. Duh. I read some paranormal and some steampunk, but generally, it's got some fantasy element in it, somewheres... (they're not really in any particular order this time, fyi) Also, originally I had 14, but I somehow managed to narrow it down...
10.
Spiderwick Chronicles
9.
Sorcery & Cecelia
8.
Inkheart trilogy (only read the first two) & Dragon Rider
10.
Spiderwick Chronicles
9.
Sorcery & Cecelia
8.
Inkheart trilogy (only read the first two) & Dragon Rider
7.
6.
Artemis Fowl series (sci fi/fantasy)
5.
Flora Segunda (trilogy, but I especially liked the first book)
4.
Howl's Moving Castle (trilogy, but I adored the first)
3.
2.
1.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Showcase Sunday / The Sunday Post / Stacking the Shelves IX
So I just got one book this week...oh whaddaya know? ;P Haven't picked it up yet, but whatever. Details, details...
Borrowed:
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Top 5 Wednesday I
I'm really excited to start on this prompt. Check out the goodreads group: T5W and all the other wonderful people blogging or vlogging along as well. Only came up with four for this first one, though...
March 5th - Top 5 Friendships
4.
Polar opposites, and terribly amusing at that. I just love Swinburne's eccentric nature and the friendship the young writer and the aged explorer share.
3.
I just loved these guys. I think I read more for Link than for any love interests in these books.
2.
Though there are ups and downs, of differing sorts, I just love the bromance between these guys.
1.
Hands down, my favorite book friendship in all of existence. Period.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Top Ten Tuesday IV
Ooh, this week is a good one! There are soooo many popular authors that I've never even checked out their reading. I'm sticking with just YA *mostly* since the list is so long to begin with. :P
March 4: Top Ten Popular Authors I've Never Read
10.
9.
8.
7.
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.
Monday, March 3, 2014
Currently Reading: Manga III
And here's the manga...
Currently Reading:
Plan to Read:
Plan to Finish/Restart:
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