Cait and Meme over at The Notebook Sisters are hosting all sorts of Alice in Wonderland themed games and tags this week for their 3rd Bloggy Birthday! Today’s celebrations include a 10 Questions tag and the chance to win some beautiful Alice in Wonderland themed notebooks (you should go check it out!). On to the questions!
1. Just Alice: What book cover(s) has made you super curious?
Easy, the new covers of the Shatter Me series. Even before all of the hype surrounding these books exploded on the blogosphere, those covers were just absolutely delicious and I wanted to own them/read them/stare at them. I’ve heard some mixed reviews so instead of rushing out and buying the whole series, I was very restrained and just bought the first one. It’s next on my to-read list after I finish The Book Thief. I series-binge so I think I’m putting it off because I’d rather have the rest of the series ready to go…
2. Mad Hatter: List the craziest character(s) you’ve ever read.
- Kevin, from We Need to Talk About Kevin
- Triss, from Cuckoo Song (I DNF’d this)
- Frank, from The Wasp Factory
3. Red Queen, Off With Your Head! What book have you felt like beheading?
Gone Girl for that ending, Cuckoo Song for frustrating me and my inability to continue reading it , and Allegiant because…you know.
4. White Rabbit: What books or series have been insanely popular but you’ve been “late” to pick them up?
Loads! I used to read A LOT when I was younger, and then my teenage years happened (16-18), and then University happened (required reading lists, recommended reading lists and text books became all I read for 4 years). When I graduated the first thing I did was pick up a book and read “for fun” again. At the time, the talk everywhere was 50 Shades of Grey. I binge-read the series in 4 days. I still didn’t read a huge amount, by this time I loved TV shows and movies nearly as much as I loved books, so my time was divided. I started blogging at the start of this year, so now I’m aware of all the reads I missed out on. But I’m catching up. Slowly. I’m currently reading The Book Thief, and I’d say that is definitely one I was late picking up.
5. Caterpillar: What’s the most confusing book you’ve read?
Again, The Cuckoo Song, and The Wasp Factory, two books I haven’t been able to finish. I requested Cuckoo Song via NetGalley and thought the cover was stunning. The story just confused the hell out of me. I felt that it was world-building gone wrong. It was over-complicated, over-descriptive (in the wrong places) and that there was too much going on that wasn’t being explained properly. I looked it up on Goodreads and was surprised to find a ton of comments that said how great this author’s work is and how much people were looking forward to this new book. So maybe I’m on my own with this one. The Wasp Factory is just insane. The protagonist is very dark and psychotic and I can’t wrap my head around the story.
6. Dormouse: What was the last book that sent you to sleep?
There hasn’t been one in a while… I usually read before bed anyway, but I can’t say any books have been responsible for sending me to sleep. I’ve talked before about having difficulty DNF’ing a book I’m not enjoying, but I’m getting better at it.
7. Cheshire Cat: Book that made you laugh and smile?
The most recent one was Maybe Someday (you can read my review here), it definitely made me laugh (out loud) while reading it, and gave me all the happy, gooey factors. Very good book.
8. Knave of Hearts: Most recent character who stole your heart?
Ridge, from Maybe Someday. But I don’t want to use the same book twice. So I’ll say Nate from Boys Like You (here’s my review)!
9. Jabberwocky: Best villain you’ve read this year?
This year, it would either be the bullies in Tease or the guy from Room. I struggled a little with Tease (OK, maybe more than a little), because the main characters were so unlikable, and the story itself wasn’t “comfortable” to read. But it definitely got me thinking, and stayed with me when I finished it (here comes the review link). I have to say “the guy” from room because if I say anything more it might give away part of the story. For anyone who hasn’t heard of Room (can you guess what this is? Yup, it’s my review), definitely give it a go. It was surprisingly good – tense, interesting view point, based on real-life events…
10. Down the Rabbit Hole: What’s the latest book/series/author that’s completely swallowed your interest?
Since reading Maybe Someday, I would say Colleen Hoover. I’m hoping her other books are as good (I want all the Colleen Hoover books!), but I think Maybe Someday will be a tough act to follow because of the mixed media it uses. This New Adult genre has been receiving a lot of negativity, and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but if Maybe Someday is anything to go by, Hoover has it down.
Have you visited The Notebook Sisters? Going to take part in the tag? If you do, link me up!
Confessions of a Book Geek 
Eeeeeeh, THANKS FOR LINKING UP. *showers with party cake* ALSO: Yes to the Book Thief, although I still haven’t read it, it’s one I’m dyyyyying to read just because of all the hype. Also, omg, I will never stop drooling over those Shatter Me covers. I only own one and it’s the UK version so the covers is awful. But someday! I will own all the cool eyeball ones, just because. They’re beautiful. Oh and I have difficulty dnf’ing books too. *sigh* I think it’s my OCD speaking, but I just hate having unfinished books lying around!
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No problem! Sounds like it’s going to be an interesting week! The Book Thief is going slow at the minute, I’ve other things on too, but because the narrative is so different it is taking me a little longer to get through, the story is good though. If I can’t finish I get rid – I can’t have them on my shelves looking at me accusingly, so they get donated to a local charity shop sharpish!! Thanks for commenting! 🙂
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*whispers* I only just read The Book Thief a few months ago, so you’re not alone! 😉
And I absolutely agree about your choice for the villain. I just finished Tease a few days ago and found Sara and Brielle to be such complex characters. I found the study of how social status affects your way of thinking and the influence your friends have on you to be really well done on Maciel’s part.
Thanks for sharing! ❤
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Not just me left who hadn’t read it then?! I’m no further along with it at the minute 😦 Tease was so complex. At first I hated it, because the bullies seemed so, so ignorant of their behavior, and Sara was Brielle’s puppet, and even the victim came across as a bit of a not nice person. But then I realised that just like with everything else in life, it is never black and white, and maybe there are bullies out there who don’t realise what they’re doing, or feel remorse for it. I also felt that Maciel was making it clear that Emma had a previous history of some form of depression, or at least some form of mental health issue, which was compounded by the bullying. And I thought about the story for days, probably weeks. So much so that I had to change my rating and opinion of the book. Not because I enjoyed it anymore, it was an uncomfortable read, but because of the obvious impact it had on me. I still don’t quite know what to make of it.
Thanks for commenting!
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Oh no, I’m sad to hear you didn’t like Cuckoo Song! I’m so excited for that book, since I’ve read all the great reviews and it seemed like something I would be really interested in (any book that gets compared to Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere is a book I will jump on immediately)… I’m still going to read it, but I hope I enjoy it and don’t find it too confusing. D:
The reviews for the Shatter Me series do seem so mixed! I was put off by all the negative reviews… Don’t think I’ll be reading that any time soon since I do have lots of other things on my TBR, but yeah, the covers are sooooo tempting.
I completely agree with your answer for #4! I’m in my second-year at uni but the last few years my reading has dramatically decreased, I used to read so much! That’s why I started my book blog, to make myself read more again. It’s so difficult to find the time to read, but I like the challenge, I guess?
Here’s my tea party blog tag!
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Please don’t take my word for it! I was quite surprised there were so many people raving about it on Goodreads before they read it, like people were leaving tons of comments about anticipating Cuckoo Song because they love her other work – if it’s a genre or type of writing you are into I’m sure you’ll like it. I just found descriptions to be overly long and there were so many metaphors, the descriptions felt like they weren’t adding much context to the story, and there wasn’t enough world-building for some elements that could have used it. I thought that the main points could have been reached quicker, it wasn’t a very long book but two weeks in and I was getting nowhere with it. I kept reading hoping it would be one of those books where it would get to a certain part and it would all become clear and I’d love it, but around 40% in I just had to give up.
Shatter Me does seem to get mixed reviews, but most of those that are mixed have also said they read on to book two and three and loved it then. I’ve read snippets of it and I think I’m going to love the writing style. Either way I had to just own that cover!
If you can keep any reading for fun up during uni you’re doing well. The sense of freedom when you finish and the enjoyment you get from reading again is lovely, and make sure you enjoy it before starting full time work, because your reading kind of goes back to how it was in uni all over again!!
Thanks for commenting! 🙂
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