Book Review: 10 Things I can see from here

Book Review:

10 Things I can see from Here

by: Carrie Mac

 I will have to say - I was not a huge fan of this book. So far almost all of the books I have gotten have been great but this one wasn't for me. I loved the color of the book as soon as I saw it but then I flipped it around and saw the cover. I do not like the shadow in back of the words. I think it looks stupid. I started reading it, thinking it was going to be cute and something I could relate to but it just seemed so childish to me. I didn't like any of the characters or the way the story went. I was hoping for a totally different ending. If you enjoyed the book then I am so happy for you but it was not my cup of tea. 

 

The Goodreads Tag

The Goodreads Tag

If you are not familiar with Goodreads then let me tell you about it. It is a site that is all about books, you can put in what your reading, any updates, have lists of what your reading or what you want to read, giveaways and so many other things. If you are a huge reader and love booktube and your not on Goodreads then you are missing out! 

1) What was the last book you marked as 'Read'?

"The Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line" - I loved this!! I just got off of a Disney Cruise and I needed some more Disney! Can't wait until the 2017 version is out!

2) What are you currently reading? 

"Children of Eden" by Joey Graceffa. It is a fiction novel about a different world. I am excited about this but I don't want to say much because I will be doing a review! 

3) What is the last book you marked "to-read"?

"Curse of the Boggin" by D.J. MacHale. This is a book about ghosts and horror things within a library. It is right up my ally!! 

4) What book do you plan to read next?

"Talking as fast as I can" by Lauren Graham. I am so excited to read this because I am a huge Gilmore Girls fan and want to see what she has to say. 

 

5) Do you use the star rating system? 

Yes I do, I am sometimes lax on them just because there is no 1/2 stars but I always put some sort of star rating on it.

6) Did you do a 2016 reading challenge? How did you do?

Yes I did. I try to do one every year, the amount of books always differs but I always need to be consistently reading! This year I was doing really good in the start but then moving and jobs got in the way so I am not doing great now but I am trying to finish it and going to do better tomorrow. 

7) Do you have a wishlist?

I am not sure if I do on Goodreads but I do in my head haha

8) What book do you plan to buy next?

Probably something for Sarah for christmas, nothing for me. We do not have much money for me to buy books. 

I would love if you guys wanted to comment your answers!! I love hearing from you guys! I hope you all are doing well. I know I have not been on here much and not doing 100% the best posts I can but I promise I will do so much better! Make sure you go check out my youtube channels! 

https://www.youtube.com/user/kwells7788

and

   https://www.youtube.com/user/truehappines365    

Up in Space

Spaceman

I liked this book because it was such a different book than I normally read. I had a hard time getting through it because like I said its not something I normally read but some of the information was really cool to read. When I first got this book I thought that I would hate it but to see another side of something that I know nothing about was pretty cool.  I never knew that I would know this much about this. My fiance loves everything to do with space so of course she also read this and thought it was one of the best bio books that she has read.

Ghosts are real!!

Ghosts from our past

I loved this book so much! I didn't want to read it until I had seen the movie just in case there was anything that would spoil it. I loved how the cover was so similar to the same book in the movie! I t was really cool to read through this book with all different types of ghosts. Wither they are real or not real - it gives me chills! I will love reading and rereading this book! If you are into the new Ghostbusters movie or seriously into ghosts then this would be a great book for you!

Newest Book video!

Hey guys!!

I am not sure if you know this but I am on youtube as well.

I have been posting for years but only have around 200 subscribers.

I do a lot of reviews, hauls, back to the librarys, and so much more. 

Here is the newest video on my channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XKOX0R4viI

Thanks for checking it out...

Make sure you like, comment, share and subscribe!! 

Best game of the year: Punderdome!

Game Review:

Punderdome

 If you have never heard of this, this is a game that deals with puns. You get two cards and a little pad of paper. You are to make the best pun you can with the two cards you get. Then once everyone has one, you all read them out and the funniest/best one is the one that wins. 

This sounds so much fun right?? Yes! It is so much fun!! If you can think of puns right away. This can be hard if your not good at thinking about these things fast but you get better the more you play. 

I would totally give it a 4 out of 5 stars because it is hard but if some of the players are good then you will just keep on laughing!

Would you rather? Booktube Edition!

Hey Everyone!!

Thought I would give a little break from the reviews and do some Would you rather...

Make it the Booktube version though :) 

If you didn't know I am also a booktuber - go check out my channel and make sure you subscribe!

youtube.com/c/kwells7788

Would you Rather? Book Edition

1) Read only trilogies or stand-alones? 

This one is not that hard for me...I love the trilogies because then the books have enough time to say everything they need to but I would totally pick stand-alones because then I don't have to wait for the new ones to come out or worry about reading 3 books when I can know the whole story in one. 

  

2) Read only female or male authors?

I don't know if I can answer this because it doesn't matter who the author is. Honestly half the time I am reading the book I don't even know if it's a man or a woman until the end and I see their picture. 

3) Shop at Barnes & Nobel or Amazon?

This is such an easy question for me. I will go and shop at Barnes & Nobel any day! I would rather go and be able to look around and find so much then have to look up what I want. Yes it can be easier to shop on amazon because it would be in your own home but you would miss out on the experence of going into the store. 

4) All books to become movies or tv shows?

This one is really hard!! I love both tv shows and movies and I can see the positive side to both because movies are always amazing but then tv shows go on for months so I would have these amazing shows for a long time. If I had to pick one I would have to pick movies because it seems like the movies come out so much better than the shows. 

5) Read 5 pages a day or 5 books a week?

Even though I would love to be able to read 5 books a week I would totally rather only read 5 pages a day so that I could actually retain some of what I'm reading. 

6) Be a professional reviewer or an author?

I would rather be a reviewer because I love having conversations with other people about books. I know I could being an author but I wouldn't be out there as much as I would if I was a reviewer. It makes me happy to be able to read a book and talk to people about it. 

7) Only read your top 20 books over and over again or only read books you have never read before?

OMG another horrible question that I cannot answer. Even thought I wouldn't be a reader without some of my favorites I would have to say I'd read only new books because I feel like I would get annoyed with only having those 20 books to read. 

8) Be a librarian or a bookseller? 

Well, I am going back to school to become a librarian so I guess I would have to pick that. But it would be amazing to be a bookseller. I have visions of being Ellen on The Ellen Show because her shop was so cute. 

9) Only read your favorite genre or the opposite?

This one is super easy! Of course I would read my favorite genre. If I got the choice why would I ever read something I hate over something I love. 

10) Only read hardbacks or only e-readers?

I hate hardbacks....but I hate e-readers so much more. I would totally take hardbacks because then at least it would be a physical book in my hands that won't die like an e-reader. 

       

Book Review: An Ember in the ashes

Book Review:

An Ember in the Ashes

By: Sabaa Tahir

General Information

Copyright date: 2015

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy

Pages: 446

Price: $12.07 (at the link below)

ISBN: 9781595148032

Synopsis: Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear. It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do. But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy. There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

Cover: This cover is beautiful!! It is one of the main reasons why I picked it up in the first place. The colors and design really goes with the mood of the book. I felt like it really captured the essance of the book.

 

Theme: No theme really stood out but I can tell it's going to continue into the next book. 

 

Point of view: It was written in 3rd person but it shifted back and forth between Elias and Laia. 

Intended Audience: This is written for young adults but more towards the older side. A lot of YA books are written for the younger side and makes the reader feel kind of stupid but this was totally the opposite than that. 

Author Style: Sabaa Tahir is such an amazing writer and so easy to follow! She likes to write with some big words and makes you think. I loved the way her writing just flowed from one paragraph to another.

Characters: Elias- He always felt trapped...I liked him but he never really changed. But I do have to say that he was very selfless when it came to others asking him to be something hes not. She wrote him very well.

Laia- Yet again she was also written well but she seemed a little whiny and didn't really stand out. It did seem like shes changed a little throughout the book. 

Plot: When I first started the book it seemed kind of confusing because there were two different story lines but of course it came together at the end. I am excited to see where it goes into the next book. There were no holes that I could see because it was so very well thought out. I read this book so quickly because it flowed so well and was such an amazing book.

Setting: It was set in Black Cliff and Scholars quarter. Of course not in the USA and since it is fantasy it is in its own world. 

My Opinion: Ohh My God this book was amazing!! I loved this book and cannot wait to get my hands on the next one. When I was reading I really got to escape reality because the world was written up so much that I just got sucked in. There was so much hype for this book that I was hesitant to start reading it but it seriously lived up to the hype and more.

Book #2 A Torch Against the Night comes out August 30, 2016! 

Score:

Would you recommend it? YES

 If you liked this book- check out these ones:

        

New Booktube Video!

Hey guys!! I have a new video on my book youtube channel! 

Go check it out and make sure you like, comment and subscribe!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z6NJ34SptU

You can also go on to my vlog channel and see how our Disney vacation went!! Make sure you subscribe to that channel too!! 

https://www.youtube.com/user/truehappines365 

Book Review: The Program

Book Review: 

The Program

by: Suzanne Young

 

General Information:

Genre: YA; dystopian

Copyright: 2013
Pages: 405
Price: $8.87
ISBN: 9781442445802


Synopsis: In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program. Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories. Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.


Cover: I believe the cover went with the book but I didn't like it all that much. I thought it was well designed for the book because the "program" is very clean and pristine which is what the cover looks like.  Of course this review is only for The Program but I do not like that the second cover doesn't go with this one. Series covers should all look similar but these don't. 


Theme: This is a dystopian book so it is set far into the future in a world that is not like ours but an over lying theme that you can take from this is to stick up for yourself. I understand the rules of the world but you can still stand up! 


Point of View: The narrator is Sloane; everything that happened was in her point of view. It was in first person.

Intended Audience: This is a YA book. It was written for the older bracket of YA because there were bigger words and not written below teenagers. 

Author Style: It sounded like Suzanne Young was a very smart writer and knew what she was talking about. I even had to look up some words!

Characters: Sloane: I really liked her in the beginning because she genuinely stuck to her guns and was open and honest. By the end of the book she totally changed in what she was doing and her attitude. The author really wrote her well because it felt like you actually knew her. 
James: Yet again I loved him in the beginning because he was such a good person but I don't know if he was supposed to be perceived as this but by the end of the book he was a horrible person! He was one of my most hated characters. 

Plot: The idea of this book was really cool but I wish the world was a little more built up. Suzanne Young wrote the entire plot really well to make it flow really well. But I will have to say that there was a lot of information included that was not important to the story.

Setting: It took place in the future. It was set in a neighborhood and in the program. 

My Opinion: I really liked the book because all in all it was a great story and world. It left me wanting to read the next one right away. It did have a lot of slow parts but I have to remind myself that it is only to give the information that's needed. But on the other hand there were no really big 'Wow' moments. I am going to be picking up the next book in the near future but it didn't live up to the hype. If you are looking for a good dystopian you could pick this one up but you might want to look for another one.  

Score:

Would you recommend this book?  Maybe 

If you like this book then check out these: 


     

Booktube-a-Thon

 

Hey guys! I thought I would just put this up here as a little update!

Remember the Booktube-A-Thon  is running : 3rd -9th (Of August)
There are 7 challenges and sprints on twitter for this!

I would love you all to join me and connect with me on here, twitter (lovsingdance), goodreads, or instagram (lovsingdance) while its going on!
There are a lot of giveaways happening throughout if you pay attention to the sites!

The challenges are:
1) Read a book with blue on the cover
2) Read a book with the same first letter of your last name
3) Read a book without letting go of it
4) Read a book you really want to read
5) Read a book that you recently acquired
6) Read someone else's favorite book
7) Read seven books


My update: I have read two books and finished them! Finished challenges 1 & 3! I started another book but didn't really like it so read about half and decided I was going to put it down and pick another book for the challenge. I am hoping to get things done but we will see!

Thanks for coming over and seeing my update! Hope to hear from you about your updates!! 

Mini Reviews

Here are some mini reviews for some small books I have read! 

Mini Reviews!

1) A Heart Like Ringo Star - by Linda Oatman High

     Verse book; 250 Pages; 2015

      

      I really enjoyed this book! It was a great read and fast paced book. I like reading verse books but sometimes its hard because there are many times authors that write like this leave out a lot of details. I felt like Linda Oatman High really paid attention to the story. It flowed extremely well. There was never a page that was confusing or made me think about it.

When I first started reading this I thought it was just about why people die but it was a totally different story. Of course I am not saying this in a bad way I just wish the cover and description on the back was a little more descriptive. It ended up being about someone with a heart condition and not wanting to die. I loved how emotional this book got and how it really showed the feelings behind this issue that many people wouldn't or even couldn't understand. 

I read it in one night! This was such a quick read which many people think you can't get a great book out of that but it had so much within it! I couldn't put this book down. I will be honest - no this book didn't blow me away but it did leave me with some great feelings and loving this authors style!

Stars:

2) Kiss of Broken Glass -By Madeleine Kuderick

Verse book; 224 pages; 2014

When this book started it was amazing! I lost a lot of feelings for this book before it was over but in all it was such a great book! I have never really put this information out there but I could seriously relate to this subject. Growing up I didn't have the greatest childhood and a lot of things that happened made me develop major depression and anxiety so I started dealing with the issues in the wrong way. This leads me to my biggest problem with this book. All the main characters cut themselves just because it was the "cool" thing to do and because everyone else did. I can totally understand that this is a big thing with some kids these days and it shouldn't be happening. But on the other hand it kind of feels like the author is making a parody of people who cut for real reasons. I would totally make this a fave of mine if there was a real reason because the way the author talks about the feelings behind the cutting is so extremely true it was kinda scary!
I do have to say that she did write this story beautifully! With all the emotions she gave and how extreme the details were when it is a verse book I will be looking for some other work from her!
Stars: