Bookish Wanderlove: Top 5 Books I'd Bring If Stuck On An Island

Hey bibliophiles!

Patty here from Bookish Wanderlove, and today I will be sharing with you my Top 5 Books I'd bring if stuck on an Island. This was a fun and entertaining list to put together, but it was also hard to only pick 5! Okay, so I kind of cheated and didn't stick to 5...sue me! :)

 

HERE WE GO!!

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The Classics

Pride and Prejudice is one of my all time favourites, actually all three of these are! I try to reread each of these yearly, most times I'm able to get to 1 or 2 of them. I've reread each of these more times than I can remember. Pride and Prejudice would make it with me to the island because there's never a dull moment with Elizabeth Bennett's sass to Mr. Darcy. I love Jane Austen's writing style and the development of each character. Jane Eyre, tell me how I'm suppose to breathe with no Eyre...no? Well I thought it was funny...The Alchemist, a perfect book that covers adventures, self-discovery, inspiration, and spirituality.

Poetry

This is where I cheat and classify this as 1 pick. Beautiful illustrations with poems that cover so many different emotions!

Swoon Worthy

A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall is one book I can never stop gushing over! It's cute, adorable, funny and such a unique read. I mean, how many other books have 14 different perspectives and none from the actual two main characters!? Not to mention the interesting perspectives from a bench and squirrel :).

Forever Young

Neil Gaiman, this was the first book I ever read by him and I LOVED IT!! Being stuck on a island can make you go insane, or imagine crazy things. This is the perfect book to hence my imagination of strange and hilarious adventures.

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About the Blogger

A 20-something year old dreamer who lives in Ontario, Canada. See that girl sitting in Starbucks? Glasses on, headphones in, and deep in thought? That’s her. And when she’s not in Starbucks reading or in Chapters buying more books (to add to her never-ending TBR-list), she’s curled up in bed or a comfy chair deeply engrossed in a book.

Thanks for stopping by!

Review: Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Brief Description

Maybe Someday is about a college girl who finds out from her neighbor that her boyfriend is cheating on her with her roommate on her birthday. Her neighbor generously lets her stay in his apartment and feelings start to blossom.

I went into this book with no expectations whats so ever and i was not the least bit disappointed. The writing is simply fantastic and the chemistry between Ridge and Sydney? unexplainably amazing. It wasn’t just realistic but also heartfelt without being corny or sounding too poetic.Dispute Ridge’s circumstances around him being deaf he found numerous ways to connect with Sydney without even talking. Also i’m completely in love with Ridge and his passion for music. The book’s focus was definitely music and i’m glad it didn’t stray from that even towards the end. Sydney is a great character, she’s a wonderful example of an understanding person when it comes to dealing with Ridge and also Maggie. I was glad i got to read some positive girl friendships this month.

What i also found realistic was the relationships among the characters not just between the two main ones but their friends and others like Warren, Bridgette and Maggie. Like i said in my The Game Of Love And Death review is that relationships aren’t always black or white and that grey area really needs to show. Conflicting and difficult relationships happen and the book shows a bit of that with Ridge and his girlfriend Maggie along with Warren and Bridgette. 

Though the story was compelling it was drawn out a bit towards the end. The ending was beautiful and left me in a state of longing in my loneliness its just many things that happened prior to it was extra fluff that didn’t need to be drawn out, there could’ve been a bit of a time skip even to erase that. 

I love Ridge and Sydney with all my heart but they cried…too much. Even at times where i thought it was unnecessary. It took away the feeling of majority of the scenes that happened a lot later in the book because three pages before that they were crying too. 

Ridge’s brother was always mentioned but hardly shown yet i still liked his character. I really felt his character could’ve had more importance to the story and to Ridge so that way we could’ve truly gotten some family feel that wasn’t physically shown in the book.

Overall the story was fantastic, i highly enjoy romance novels such as this one and i recommend it to those who enjoy romance novels too. 

Still want to check it out yourself?            
           

                   Goodreads

                     Amazon          

             Barnes And Noble

              Book Depository

Review: The Game Of Love And Death By Martha Brockenbrough

Brief Description

Love and Death are frenemies that place bets on humans by picking two souls and have them make the decision of choosing love or death in a certain time frame. Love wins if the couple chooses to love each other despite whatever difficult circumstances they’re in. Death wins if they choose not to love each other which results in one or both deaths of the two souls. The story takes place around the 1940s, love have chosen a white boy adopted into a wealthy family and death has chosen a black female who has lost both her parents and lives with her grandmother. By Love and Death they meet and the clock starts ticking towards their decision.

What i love about this book is that it has amazing and relatable characters (black girl = me). The time setting and the love between flora and henry was matched and written very well. I also love that love and death though are competing against each other are compassionate towards each other. Theres evidently no ‘hate” between them. Their relationship shows that not every relationship is either a love or hate one. That it can be very conflicting and often times thats not shown in YA. 

It was very diverse not just in terms of the two main characters’ race but also in supporting characters as Henry’s handsome yet kind of troublesome best friend who he lives with is gay and the book also identifies his struggle in this time period. Also there is the diversity of different kinds of households and living environment between Henry and Flora.

I felt like it was very insta-love on Henry’s side. Their souls are drawn to each other but i’ve realized when reading books with interracial relationships with black females and white males that it is often the white male that is the first to identify this connection as love and the black female is the first to disregard it? It doesn’t bother me that much because i know its the time period in which the book takes place in but its something i’ve noticed and didn’t really understand.

Close to the ending i felt it being a little rush as Henry and Flora believed the situation they’re in too quickly. I didn’t understand how they could believe Love and Death have personified themselves into humans and placed bets on them. It definitely took out the realism from out this book and that disappointed me.

I usually never read books taken place in the 1900s but i did enjoy this and it was fantastic.

Still want to check it out yourself?            
           

                   Goodreads

                     Amazon          

             Barnes And Noble

              Book Depository

About Brittany:

NYC Blogger of Brittany’s Book Rambles. Brittany is a self-proclaimed bookworm, Grisha, Potterhead, Dauntless, Fangirl, and excessive rambler. She is shameless in her love of the written word. No matter where she is, most of the time you can find at least one book in her purse. On Brittany’s Book Rambles you’ll find book reviews, giveaways, and fun memes such as Forgotten Fridays and Books vs. Movies. 

Hi everyone! Here is a list of my Top 5 Book Boyfriends. This was so hard to narrow down but that doesn't mean I love my other book boyfriends any less. I'm sure some of these guys are on your guys lists as well. 

1) Malyen Oretsev (The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo)

He’s my number one book boyfriend of all time. I just love everything about him. Even all of his flaws. He’s strong, loyal, sarcastic, and very caring. No matter what he was there for Alina for whatever she needed. Even when it hurt him. 

Quote from Mal: "He tapped the sun over his heart. 'I came here for you. You're my flag. You're my nation.’”

2) Nikolai Lantsov (The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo)

I know, I know. I’m so greedy by wanting two men from the same book but Nikolai is just awesome. He’s hilarious, charming, witty, calculating, and also loyal. He’s someone I’d want in my corner every time. 

Quote from Nikolai: "Anything worth doing always starts as a bad idea." 

3) Alex Sheathes (Delirium Trilogy by Lauren Oliver)

How badly I wished I was Lena while reading Delirium so Alex could love me the way he loves her. He’s just so incredibly sweet and romantic. Maybe some people find him cheesy but I don’t care. I think there isn’t enough cheesy..ness in the real world. 

Quote from Alex: "Everyone is asleep. They've been asleep for years. You seemed...awake." Alex is whispering now. He closes his eyes, opens them again. "I'm tired of sleeping." 

4) Niklass (Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay)

Nicholas reminds me a lot of Nikolai without the resources. He’s a prince but he’s a jack of all trades kind of character. He has a good heart, a great fighter, and a great sense of humor. I loved reading from his POV in Princess of Thorns.

Quote from Niklass: "I didn't want a girl to marry me because she felt sorry for me. I wanted to win a wife based on my own merits."

5) Peregrine (Under the Never Sky Trilogy by Veronica Rossi)

Oh Perry, he can be so stubborn. But once he warms up he’s incredibly sweet and caring. Plus all that aggression and stubbornness can be sexy if it’s for the right cause. I know a lot of people prefer Roar (he’s one of my book boyfriends as well) but Perry had this special aura about him. He wasn’t someone you could easily read and I wish I could learn more about him.

Quote from Perry: “What I was trying to say,” he whispered, “is that I see you in everything. There isn’t a word for you that means enough, because you’re everything to me.” 

Book Blogging Interview With Confessions of Carlisa

Interview With Confessions Of Carlisa

Book blogging has increased significantly so far this year. Most say its their love for books that started this wondrous journey but I decided to interview a fellow book blogger, Confessions Of Carlisa to get her say of why she herself started book blogging. Along with other questions relating to blogging, books and reviews.

1. How long have you been blogging?
"I've been blogging since middle school or early high school...so for like six, seven years. That type of blogging was essentially just a sporadic journal that I published to the world whenever something interesting happened to me. It wasn't until January of this year that I start exclusively book blogging, and I've never looked back."

2. What do you like and dislike about blogging?
"Blogging has always been a way for me to express myself. And with book blogging, I'm writing about something I'm very passionate about. And people are listening and responding. And to me, that's just amazing.
What I dislike...hm...I  wish I was a graphic designer, so I could make my blog as pretty as I imagine it. So that's not really disliking anything about blogging. I just wish graphic design and coding Wordpress themes was not as complicated as it is, lol."

3. Do you have any tips for new bloggers?
"I'm really a new blogger myself! But one thing I've learned is not to go crazy on Netgalley. When I first heard of Netgalley, it seemed like a booklover's dream. But, alas, I ended up requesting a lot of books that I really had no desire to read when the time came. So now my Netgalley requests are very limited...and that's a good thing."

4. Why did you want to book blog as oppose to any kind of blogs?
"Like I said, I started out just doing a normal blog. I don't know if there's really a way to describe how I was blogging. Not lifestyle...because it was just my life. Anyways, my blog had no direction. And I wanted to write on it. I had that desire...but I didn't have things to write about. Until I started reviewing books and coming up with content related to that. And I've discovered that even if I'm a "book blogger," I can write about other things to. And people will listen."

5. Is there a book you found hard to review?
"So many books are hard to review. If I don't take notes, reviewing is very difficult for me unless I have a ton of things to say. And then most likely I'd have taken notes. One book recently was Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. I just really got annoyed with the narrator and the lack of a moral...but it was obvious that the author made the narrator annoying and unlikeable on purpose and that he didn't make a moral on purpose. It was very deliberate. So...that means the author did well, right? I didn't like the book but I wasn't supposed to like the book so that means it was written well and that means it was a good book. Right? I don't know. I ended up giving it 2.5 stars, but it was a struggle. You can read it here."

6. Whats something that makes your reviews unique?
"I try to speak with my own voice. And I try not to let other people's reviews get in my head while I'm reviewing...because that would definitely affect my opinion. I don't know that I have anything super unique about my reviews. I don't set up them up the same every time. I just go with my gut. But I am an English major so I'm trained to critically analyze books...and sometimes I definitely do that with the books I'm reviewing. But, yeah. I'm still new, still trying to figure out my blog's identity in the giant world of book blogging. But I like to write them and I hope people like to read them."

7. How long after you read a book do you review it?
"Normally I do it within a day. If I wait longer than that, I most likely won't write the review. That happened to me twice this past month with Cruel Beauty and The Winner's Curse. Both are enjoyable books and I had things to say...I just didn't write the review right after and then I started something else and lost my flame for that book."

8. Worst and best book you’ve reviewed?
"Worst: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. I gave this a 2. Now, I'm thinking I was being too nice as it was one of my first book reviews...and it should have gotten a one. But this one was so hyped. People love it. And I just hated it. For many reasons. And I tried to find a redeeming quality, and I did in that the ending was unexpected. I didn't see it from the beginning. So I gave it a 2. But I just didn't like it. Here's the review.
Best: This is hard. Buuut, I'm gonna say The Night Circus. I think this was my second book reviewed on my blog but I. Loved. It. It enchanted me and it drew me in and it was just magical. And I want to read it again. So badly. But here's my review."

And last but not least. About Carlisa.

9. What is your blog and all your other social media outlets? My blog is Confessions of Carlisa.

You can follow me on Twitter or Instagram @carlisajc.

Or let's be friends on Goodreads here.

And you can see all the awesome things I'm pinning here.

Review: Shadow And Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Brief Description

In Alina Starkov’s world people live in fear of sailing across the Shadow Fold, an area of darkness that is infested with creatures. One day, Alina, a regular ol’ mapmaker, has to sail across the Shadow Fold with her regiment but everything goes down hill once they’re attacked. In the midst of chaos, she witnesses the almost death of her childhood Mal which causes light to pour out of her thus scaring away these creatures. This, to her dismay means that she is the one town folk have been looking for to free their war-ravaged country. Unfortunately, many people will be after her for good and bad reasons and thats where the story begins.

The Good

The basics of this plot isn’t very original. I won’t spoil beyond the idea that she’s a regular girl who realizes she’s not exactly a regular girl but the book does takes it farther than just that. The story is rich filled with great supporting characters. What i like is that i haven’t figured out everyone yet. Some books give you everything about a character from the first book which doesn’t leave room for getting to know them or seeing them in a different light. Even though Alina knows she’s special now i can definitely foresee major development. She’s a powerful and compassionate character. I had thought about calling her naive once but by the time i finished i don’t really see her that way anymore. She made a couple bad decisions and she’ll make a couple good ones. The story flowed exceptionally well. I didn’t feel like the story was moving too fast even though i usually feel adventure-like books tend to do so. It also didn’t have any extra or unnecessary bits and thats probably why it flowed. Everything that had happened happened for a reason and thats what i really liked. 

The Bad

I don’t feel anything for Mal, nor the darkling as love interests. They’re great characters like i mentioned above but this book doesn’t give me enough reason to see them as love interests. The ending does give the initial idea that they are though but hopefully someone else, more likable, will come in or the author expands on Mal and the darkling. I also think that by the time i see Mal and the darkling as love interests it will be the time when i’m finally attached to these characters. I felt very neutral with every character and i think its because i haven’t gotten to know them yet. 

The ending also felt like the ending of a stand alone. Yes, there is unfinished business to it but there was nothing that was additionally revealed like a plot twist or something. It ended with the current problem the characters are facing and so i’m not motivated enough to immediately pick up the next book. I will eventually pick it up because i did buy the third book a while back before i bought Shadow and Bone so i will buy the second book. But with all the books i’m reading now i just don’t see the haste to read buy it now.

Still want to check it for yourself? 

Check the goodreads page for it right here!

If you want to it buy here are three links.

Amazon

Barnes And Nobles

BooksDepository *ships free worldwide*

The Book Shelves review of Paper Towns by John Green

Paper Towns by John Green
Date Released: September 22, 2009
Publisher: Speak
Pages: 305 pages
Format: Paperback
Source: Target
Rating: Amazing 4 Stars
Series: Standalone

Goodreads Synopsis: Two-time Printz Medalist John Green’s New York Times bestseller, now in paperback!

Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs back into his life—dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge—he follows.

After their all-nighter ends and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues—and they’re for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees of the girl he thought he knew 

From  Goodreads

Reading The Fault in Our Stars before Paper Towns I had a sense of John Green and his killer writing, he's third novel is fully amazing. It's provocative, engaging, and utterly moving you connect with all his characters and really feel their experiences. I think John Green gets every reader both emotionally and physically and you guys don't know how excited I was so pick up Paper Towns for the first time!

In Paper Towns, we meet Quentin Jacobson who always had an eye for Margo Roth Spiegelman. They even have their rooms right across from each other and they could see each other from their windows. Most of John Green's characters we meet were so real and whole-hearted you connect. It was like PB&J if you think of it that way *gets hungry and makes one* As the novel progressed, Q grew and the adventures we see him and Margo go through in the beginning was amazing. It's like those moments where you dream of doing all the bad things you want to, reading those pages was an escape.

I mean who wouldn't want to play pranks on the school bully or the most perfect girl in school and see they react? *raises hand* But after all those adventures Margo disappears and it's now up to Q to piece up the clues to find her in a Paper Town world.

The idea of a Paper Town was wickedly genius, especially the plot like. It was so unexpected and not formulaic at all, I love books that do this. So it makes it a true YA classic for me, because when ever you decide to pick it up again you never know what to expect. I LOVE that a lot, great job John Green *throws confetti* I actually had a couple thing I didn't like with John Green's writing, like it was too loose. By that I mean at time it was all over the place and it didn't hook me, then other times it did. I wanted consistency and I didn't fully get it.

Margo

-Margo honestly was one of those annoying characters in the beginning, but towards the end you finally see they struggles she had to face with her and family. It was tough.

-Real and honest

-Honest Question: Who would leave on a limb just after a night of adventures? I would so stay and see how it all plays out...That's me but what about you?

I started to hate her in the beginning, like who honestly does all those stuff. She had that kick back attitude.

Overall, I loved Paper Towns a lot, it's definitely one of those rainy day books or a sunny day read. It's one of those book you definitely have to buy and own because when you re-read it again you never know what other meanings John Green has in store. 

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Goodreads

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