Top Ten Books With A Memorable Setting

So I know that for today's topic I was supposed to pick a specific setting, but that was too difficult so I took a different route.

Extraordinary Means by Robyn Schneider - This will forever be one of the coolest settings of all time--a half-hospital/half-boarding school for teens suffering from a new, incurable strain of tuberculosis.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl - I love Gatlin, the southern Gothic town this series takes place in! I really enjoyed learning all the town intricacies and quirks. And, of course, the underground community of witches.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld - Who can forget New Pretty Town, a place for all the new Pretties to go and party & live in mansions & drink champagne. They can essentially do whatever they want as long as they don't question the surgery to make them Pretty.

Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies by Laura Stampler - I know that New York City has been written about loads of times, but there was something about this book that really put me in New York and made me feel like I was there. MY REVIEW.

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs - Not only does this take place in Wales, but it takes place in 1940s Wales with a house full of fantastical creatures. MY REVIEW.

Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell - If you want to travel to a dark Neverland that shifts and changes at random, this is the book for you. MY REVIEW.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - Cuz Panem.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - I just adored reading about the Amsterdam adventures in this book! I'm fairly certain I've never read anything else that takes place in Amsterdam.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare - THE LONDON INSTITUTE <33333

And I Darken by Kiersten White - Somehow I always find a way to talk about this book. Because it's fantastic. And part of what makes it so spectacular is the setting. I mean, come on, THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE! MY REVIEW.

Lefty's Lowdown: The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder

The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder
(standalone)
Published: January 1, 2011 by Razorbill
Source: Purchased

Summary from Goodreads: 
Dry, sarcastic, sixteen-year-old Cam Cooper has spent the last seven years in and out hospitals. The last thing she wants to do in the short life she has left is move 1,500 miles away to Promise, Maine - a place known for the miraculous events that occur there. But it's undeniable that strange things happen in Promise: everlasting sunsets; purple dandelions; flamingoes in the frigid Atlantic; an elusive boy named Asher; and finally, a mysterious envelope containing a list of things for Cam to do before she dies. As Cam checks each item off the list, she finally learns to believe - in love, in herself, and even in miracles.

A debut novel from an immensely talented new writer, The Probability of Miracles crackles with wit, romance and humor and will leave readers laughing and crying with each turn of the page.

 I thought the premise of this book sounded different & interesting, I'd heard good things about this book, and the cover is SO PURRDY. Sounds like a recipe for success, right? Well, unfortunately I was disappointed by this book. I had a hard time connecting to the characters and becoming absorbed in the story.

My biggest issue with this novel was the protagonist. I don't usually mind dry and sarcastic, but Cam was also negative and a total downer. I get it, she has cancer so she has an excuse. I'd probably be the same way. That doesn't mean it was fun to read about. She didn't believe in anything, and not only did she make sure everyone knew it, but she also condescended on people when they did believe in something (like miracles, for instance). I feel like Cam was a fan of the old adage "misery loves company" because she clearly wanted everyone to be bitter and miserable like herself. And the other characters? They were all fine, but we don't get to know them all that well, and honestly I just didn't care about them that much.

I'll admit, there is a shift toward the second half of the book when Cam starts being more positive and lighter, funnier events begin to occur. However, the shift isn't a gradual transition. To me, it felt like a switch was flipped. All of a sudden Cam and Asher, the love interest, were in love and Cam was more open to miracles and everything was looking up. All I could think was, "What? Where did all this come from?????" Don't get me wrong--the second half is what saved this novel for me, but I just feel like it was all so sudden.

In the end, this story left me unsatisfied. I thought there was a general lack of depth and I still had some questions in the end. For instance, IS THIS BOOK MAGICAL REALISM?? I DON'T GET IT. This question still plagues me. Like, there were hints that the town really was producing miracles but was that magic or just coincidence or what? Also, a big part of Asher's storyline was that he was afraid to leave Promise, Maine and do something with his life and I don't feel like that was sufficiently resolved. Surprisingly, though, I did cry in the end. I really didn't expect to because I spent most of the book not caring much about the protagonist, but the ending was written beautifully and it just really got to me.

Clearly, this book didn't exactly do it for me. It was okay. I know I didn't really highlight a lot of the positive stuff , but there were some parts I enjoyed (mostly in the 2nd half of the book). Still, I'd say the parts that would make this book unique and make it stand out (the quirkiness, the weird stuff happening in town) were not as prominent as I would have liked them to be, so it fell flat.

3/5

Summer Blog Promo Tour #7: Krystianna from Downright Dystopian

So, today is the seventh week of the Summer Blog Promo Tour, hosted by the wonderful blog, The Book Bratz (seriously, they're awesome). This tour is exactly what it sounds like--bloggers promoting other bloggers! Every Sunday of July and August, a different blogger will be stopping by with a fun post to let you get to know more about them! And, of course, every week I will doing fun stuff on other people's blogs, so make sure to give them a gander.

I'm so so so excited about today's post because Krystianna from Downright Dystopian has combined two of my favorite things in the world: Doctor Who & music. She has put together a playlist of songs that remind her of Doctor Who! 

Here are her picks! 

Krystianna’s Soundtrack for Dr. Who

The Scientist by Coldplay // This song always makes me think of Rose and the Doctor. I just wanted them to be together so badly and I will honestly ship them until the end of time!

Starman by David Bowie // This is a song that I recently found and OH MY GOSH IT’S TOTALLY REMINISCENT OF THE DOCTOR.

Geronimo by Sheppard // Since Geronimo was literally the Eleventh Doctor’s phrase, I had to include this song.

All These Things That I’ve Done by The Killers // Okay, so the Doctor has been through so much stuff and that’s basically what this song is about. Plus, the line “another head aches, another heart breaks/I’m so much older than I can take” just reminds me of the Doctor so much.

Believer by American Authors // I’m basically choosing this song because even though the Doctor is constantly going through things in life he somehow is always looking towards the future, even after the toughest of times.

Come to Me by the Goo Goo Dolls // I just think of Rory & Amy with this song. It’s one of my favorites but since Amy and Rory ended up getting married, this song is literally perfect for them!

Everybody Hurts by R.E.M. // This song makes me think about how I felt every time the Doctor regenerated, especially when the tenth Doctor went. FIRST AND ONLY TIME I EVER CRIED WHILE WATCHING TV.

Gold Dust by John Newman // I always think of this song for Rose and the Doctor. The song is basically about a relationship that ended but had so many good memories, just like Rose and the Doctor.

If You Ever Come Back by The Script // This one makes me think of all the waiting that Rory and Amy had done for The Doctor, yet whenever he came back they were always willing to go on more adventures with him.

On Top of the World by Imagine Dragons // I chose this song because honestly I feel like everyone that spends time with The Doctor feels on top of the world for a while.

These are some really excellent choices! Now I'm all up in my feelings! If you're curious about these songs, I've compiled them into a spotify playlist for ya!

You should most definitely go follow Krystianna on all social platforms, listed below for your convenience.

BLOG | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

Are you a Whovian????? I WANNA KNOW. And are there any songs in particular that remind you of Doctor Who? 

Sunday Post #22

• I've definitely been a bit slumpy these past two weeks, which is annoying because I'd just come out of a blogging slump. But this was more of an everything slump. I didn't want to read or write or blog or make videos. I think I'm finally coming out of it, though. I've felt much more motivated to do ALL THE THINGS. 
• I've also been a bit sick. I felt a cold start to come on last Sunday, but it wasn't too bad. I still went to Branson with my dad to go out to eat and to go shopping on Tuesday, and then I went to see the movie Sausage Party on Thursday with my friend. I've also squeezed in a few shifts at work in an effort to make a little money before heading back to school. 

Reviews: 
- Vicious by V.E. Schwab

Memes: 
- Top Ten Books I Want To Re-Read

Misc:
- Book Blogger Creativity Project: Bookish Yearbook
- Discussion: Taking Notes While Reading
- Summer Blog Promo Tour: Krystianna from Downright Dystopian 

 Reviews: 
- The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder
- A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Memes: 
- Top Ten Books With X Setting (I haven't decided which setting I want to choose yet)
- Sunday Post #23

Misc: 
- Playlist Book Tag
- The Authors I Own The Most Books From
- Summer Blog Promo Tour Wrap Up

- And I Darken by Kiersten White (purchased) (we all know how obsessed I am with this book)
- The Loose Ends List by Carrie Firestone (won from No Bent Spines -- thank you so much Jackie!!)
- A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (purchased)

Here are some highlights from my instagram account this week. Give me a follow if you want to see everything I have posted/will post!

I've got my Sherlock pop figure & pop-up book!

A photo posted by The Left-Handed Book Lover (@leftyreads) on Aug 11, 2016 at 12:50pm PDT

WHAT HAS YOUR WEEK IN BOOKS AND BLOGGING LOOKED LIKE? 

Lefty's Lowdown: Vicious by V.E. Schwab

Vicious by V.E. Schwab
(Vicious #1)
Published: September 24, 2013 by Tor
Source: Purchased

Summary from Goodreads: 
Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong. Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find—aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end?

This book has received SO MUCH hype and I was thrilled when BookTube-A-Thon gave me an excuse to read it. While I did like it a lot, I didn't fall in love with it the way some people did. I think part of that may be due to the fact that I read it for a read-a-thon and therefore was more concerned with finishing it than savoring it. Because this is the book you need to savor. You need to luxuriate in the gorgeous writing and complex characters, and I didn't give myself the chance to fully appreciate the beauty of this book.

This was my first ever Victoria Schwab book, and I'd gone in with high expectations for the writing, as everyone raves about how beautiful it is. I will say, I was not disappointed in that regard, but I was surprised. It's not beautiful in the way I expected it to be. It's not lyrical and poetic and bursting with these artsy metaphors. Instead, Schwab wields words like a paintbrush, gracefully filling our minds with vivid images and sucking us into the story & characters. And I just think it is so funny that everyone talks about the beauty of this book when there is so much stabbing and shooting and killing.

Another thing that really makes Vicious stand out is the unique execution of a tired premise. At its core, Vicious is about two college kids who gain super powers. It's an idea that's been written countless times, right? Not like this. Schwab makes it feel fresh and new, like you've never read anything like it before. It was fascinating to see Victor and Eli, the two main characters, unravel how people develop these super powers, and even more interesting to read the ways they try to acquire powers themselves. My favorite part was, by far, the flashbacks to their college days as their mindsets and their relationship developed and changed.

Now, I don't think it's fair to discuss Vicious without mentioning the characters. It's kind of a daunting task, talking about these characters, because there is so much that could be said. Eli and Victor are complex and well-developed. Schwab brings the concept of heroes and villains into question, as well as intentions vs. actions. It's all kind of a giant mindfuck because you think you know who is the villain and who is the hero, but then your brain just gets completely scrambled because NOPE. You know who thinks they're the villain and who thinks they're the hero, but it's all so fantastically twisted. I have to say, I ended up really rooting for Victor, who is the protagonist. I didn't agree with all of his methods, and I didn't think he was a particularly great guy, but that's kind of the point. Humans are messy and selfish sometimes, but that doesn't make them evil. Victor was just kind of doing the best he could, in my opinion, and I love the fatherly role he begins to play for Sydney, a young girl he meets and adds to his team.

What prevented me from falling head over heels for this book, though, was the pacing. I found the novel to be a bit slow sometimes. I think a major part of that was all the jumping from character to character. There's a ton of perspective shifting and I understand why it was done, but it just got to be a bit exhausting sometimes. There were some parts that I just would have liked to stay in one person's head.

Vicious is such a complicated, intricate book, and even though I've written quite a bit already, I feel like I have not even come close to doing it justice. It is a dark, twisted book that will really make you think about the nature of humanity and right and wrong. It's truly a brilliant piece of literature and I now understand why everyone speaks so highly of it.

4/5 

Discussion: Taking Notes While Reading

I have a confession: I hate taking notes while I read.

This is something I've been thinking about a lot lately. I've had to take notes for a few books because I had specific posts planned for them, and doing so just made me realize the significant difference taking notes makes in my reading experience. And I don't like the difference one bit.

Firstly, taking notes kind of prevents me from completely immersing myself in the story. Like, I have to stop reading to write a comment, tear off the sticky note, then stick it on the page. No, I just want to fall into the action of the story, be swept away. I noticed in the books I'd taken notes in, there were almost no sticky tabs at the climax and resolution of the story because I was too absorbed to break away from it.

Also (and this one is more major) when I take notes while reading, I turn into a much more critical reader. I start picking the novel apart as I read it, paying more attention to the pieces than the work as a whole. I find all the flaws.

If you prefer to read this way, I'm not trying to criticize you! I think it is very important to have that perspective in this community, and I think critical reading is an extremely valuable skill to have. I'm an English major, so obviously I have to use and develop this skill all the time, but for me personally, there is a time and place for such intensive reading. And I don't want that time or place to be in my YA books.

If I'm reading outside of the academic sphere, it means I'm looking to escape into someone else's mind, world, & life. It means I'm looking to be entertained, to get out of my own head for a bit. When I'm reading, I like to sit back and enjoy the ride, not analyze the crap out of it. I want to respond without working too hard, and then when I'm finished, I might analyze why I responded that way.

For example, I was reading Patrick Ness's A Monster Calls last night, and it got me ALL UP IN MY FEELINGS, but I just let it happen. I allowed myself to succumb to the tidal wave of emotions without question. When I finished reading, I realized it affected me so much because it provoked some of my deepest fears to come out of hiding. I allowed myself to simply react first, and then I let myself think about what the book was doing to make me react that way.

That's just not something I can do when I am taking notes and being a critical reader. It's like I analyze first and understand what my reaction is supposed to be, rather than just letting myself feel.

Was this post a bit all over the place? It feels that way to me, but I guess the main idea I'm trying to relay here is that when I take notes, I end up looking at a novel in terms of syntax and word choice and individual lines of dialogues, rather than an entire work to enjoy in its entirety.

Do you take notes while you read? If so, do you find yourself facing any of the problems I mentioned? I'd love to know where you stand when it comes to critical reading. Also, what are some ways taking notes has enhanced your reading experience?

BBCP: Bookish Yearbook

You've probably heard of/been shown extreme kindness by Nori, the infamous poodle from ReadWriteLove28. Wellll, she is hosting this marvelous event to inspire book bloggers to have fun, work together, and create an original feature.

In honor of the new school year fast approaching, my group decided to do a bookish yearbook, with superlatives and "yearbook quotes." I know some people in the group chose books from the previous academic year, but I just picked books I read within the last year or so.

Here's our schedule:
Monday, August 8th: Bonnie @ A Backwards Story
Tuesday, August 9th: Charleigh @ Charleigh's Book Nook
Wednesday, August 10th: Lefty @ The Left-Handed Book Lover
Thursday, August 11th: Cheyenne @ Once Upon a Time a Review
Friday, August 12th: Nori @ Read Write Love 28
Saturday, August 13th: Karla @ Reads and Thoughts

Follow along to see everyone's answers! 

I'm so proud of myself and my group for coming up with this feature. Collaborating with an eclectic group of people can be problematic and frustrating at times, but I'm extremely pleased with what we've produced! 

goodreads | my review

Although even in the beginning it was obvious Lena did not completely buy into her society's beliefs, she still wanted to. She was scared and she played by the rules, but as the book and the series progresses we get to see her blossom, embrace love and feelings and freedom. The Lena she is in the beginning of the novel is unrecognizable compared to the Lena she becomes. 

goodreads | my review

This was soooo tough, but I made sure to pick a book I've read recently without repeating myself. This book has such pretty colors and a pretty font and this cover is truly underrated. 

goodreads | my review

This book is the very definition of eclectic characters! There are kids who can levitate and be invisible and create fire. If that's not a motley crew, I don't know what is. 

website

Okay, so I took a long break from blogging and when I came back, all of a sudden there was this author named Victoria Aveyard EVERYWHERE. Everyone had read Red Queen and most people loved it. I felt so out of the loop and knew that I needed to get on top of this book PRONTO. 

goodreads | my review

Okay, to say this ending was unexpected would be a lie. I knew things weren't going to end well for our protagonists (it's written in history) but I still had my fingers crossed that it WOULDN'T end the way it did and of course I had my heart broken. 

goodreads

Lara Jean basically epitomizes "the girl next door." She is sweet and innocent. And she's the girl who has always been around but you never think much of but then you get to know her and she's just awesome! 

goodreads | my review

This book was definitely EVERYWHERE when it was released. Even people who don't usually read contemporary or people who had never read anything by Morgan Matson ended up picking this book up because buzz buzz buzzzzzz.

goodreads

I don't care what anyone says, Levi is my book boyfriend of the year so far. He's kind & friendly to everyone and a bit of a nerd and just mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

goodreads | my review

Will I ever stop raving about this book? NO BECAUSE IT'S FRICKLY FRACKLY INCREDIBLE. I'm pretty sure I mention it in at least one post a week and tweet about it EVERY DAY. There's stabbing & kissing & unconventional gender roles whoooooooooooooooooo! I cannot wait to see where this story goes next after dat ending. 

goodreads

This book isn't even out yet and everyone loves it. I have no doubt this book is going to be successful, especially given the love for Marissa Meyer's other series. 

goodreads | my review

I'm straight up obsessed with this book. This is my favorite book by Morgan Matson and one of my favorite books that I've read this year. 

goodreads | my review

Idk why there aren't more people talking about this book. It's fantastic. It's all dark and pirate-y. Who is the good guy, who is the bad guy? Who do you trust in this dark rendition of Neverland??? YOU HAVE TO READ TO FIND OUT.

website

My queen forever and always. Saint Anything, her newest release, was 100% A+ perfect. Like, every time she releases a new book I get nervous because I feel like there is no way she can top the beautiful work she has already done but then she goes and DOES IT. 

goodreads | my review

No explanation required. 

goodreads | my review

Don't get me wrong--I loved this book, but there are some events that transpire toward the end that made me wat to HURL THIS BOOK ACROSS THE ROOM. I was shocked and sad. But I can say no more because spoilers and all that. 

Which of these choices do you agree with/disagree with? What books/authors/characters would you have put in this bookish yearbook?