Category Archives: 30 Day Challenges

Jul25

Book Challenge 25

Posted on by
Standard

Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most

Angel Crawford. I know that sounds crazy because I’m not really white trash and I’m certainly not a zombie but I grew up in a place, that even throughout high school when I said where I from from people would reply, “Ew you’re from _____.”

And so maybe I can get behind her, maybe I know what it feels like to be surprised when you’re doing well in life. Not many people in my public school class completed high school, not many in my high school went onto college and I’ve even met up with teachers in high school who weren’t sure I was going to make it that far. Even my parents were a little shocked that I did. I was that kid who “had so much potential.”

 

Jul24

Book Challenge Day 24

Posted on by
Standard

vmars 1Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read

The Thousand Dollar Tan Line because man do I love Veronica Mars and man did I truly, and utterly love this book like you cannot believe.

It was like sliding into Veronica’s head. I wish more people had watched the show, I wish people had seen the movie and I wish they would read this book.

It’s intelligently written, and it’s clever, parts of it were so suspenseful I was gripping the book hard and hoping for the best.

I truly can’t wait to see what comes next here.

Jul23

Book Challenge Day 23

Posted on by
Standard

Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t

Oh jeez oh jeez. I own too many books like this actually.

I just cheated and grabbed the last thing I could see on my GoodReads account which is from way back in 2009.

The book I’ve been saying I’m going to read is The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman. I own it, it’s sitting on my shelf and I still haven’t read it.

It’s also in my book tin so maybe one day that will be the title I pull out.

I’m excited to read it, everyone has told me that I will love it based on everything I currently love, and maybe that’s why I’m reluctant. Because what if I don’t? What if I actually really dislike it?

 

Jul22

Book Challenge Day 22

Posted on by
Standard

Day 22 – Favorite book you own

This is such a hard decision for me. I didn’t really know what I should choose. My actual favourite book, which I’ve read cover to cover multiple times or a book with sentimental value attached.

Or a book that taught me something.

photoI was originally going to go with a copy of Little Women or Emma my grandmother bought for me from a friend, because they’re in pristine condition after all these years and my grandmother loved so much that I love to read.

But instead I’m going to go with a book I’ve read countless times, that opened me up to a world I didn’t realize even existed. It’s a book that’s dog eared, and high lighted, with notes in the margins. Something I don’t normally do.

The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay. A book I picked up myself at my mother’s and probably my sister’s insistence and one that really opened my eyes.

It was the first book I read, that I believe challenged everything I knew, and really inspired me.

Jul21

Book Challenge Day 21

Posted on by
Standard

Day 21 – Favorite book from your childhood

HungryCaterpillarChildhood can mean so many things. My childhood before I got into young adult novels, my childhood when I got into young adult novels.

And the choices are endless. But I had two ultimately loved books from when I was a little kid.

The first, read for some reason, only in doctor’s offices, or at least the only time I remember having it read would be Green Eggs and Ham.

I can’t say why I loved this book so much, except that it was one of the first books I learned how to read aloud.

The other book is one that I have continuously given out to friends and family members having children, and that is The Hungry Caterpillar. I even appreciate it from an artistic standpoint as an adult.

Jul20

Book Challenge Days 16-20

Posted on by
Standard

Day 16 – Favourite female character

Oh the choices the choices I could make for this challenge are vast, and each as different as the next. So I’ve gone with two.

Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser from Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series. She’s a woman after my own heart. She’s tough, yet isn’t scared to be vulnerable around those she truly cares about and that makes her one of the best in my book. She’s a bleeding heart in some ways, and captured my attention from page one.

The other character I would choose is Thursday Next as written by Jasper Fforde. She’s clever, inventive and oh so hilarious and I can’t help but love her. She’s tenacious and just so wonderful.

Day 17 – Favourite quote from your favourite book

“For what you see and hear depends a good deal on where you are standing: it also depends on what sort of person you are.” -C.S Lewis, The Magician’s Nephew

Day 18 – A book that disappointed you

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness.

I’m actually re-reading this book, because my sister swears to me that the second book is better, and the third book was even better.

So I’ve decided to re-read it, but I’m finding that certain parts of it lag just like they did before, and I’m beginning to think that the descriptive nature of this book is just not my cup of tea. Though I’m still going to finish this book, as well as the second book because I paid for it, and sometimes that’s all it takes for me.

Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie

It’s not a book, or at least not a full length novel but my favourite book turned into a movie might surprise you. It is The Body by Stephen King, which was later turned into the movie Stand by Me starring River Phoenix, Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman and Jerry O’Connell.

It was one of those movies I watched over and over again, and one of those books where I did exactly the same. I just loved both, as they were a wonderful tribute to adolescence and the friendships you have in those times.

Day 20 – Favorite romance book

Not really a romance novel, but the book that had me squirming happily, squeeing and oh so happy was Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. I’m no stranger to fandom, and to wishing that things were different when I’m reading, or watching a TV show or movie.

This book felt to me, like I’m sure it does to a lot of people, like it was a reflection of who I had once been and in a way who I still am. It was gorgeously written, and captivating.

Jul15

Book Challenge Day 14 and 15

Posted on by
Standard

Day 14 – Favorite book of your favorite writer

My favourite book by Jane Austen is, as I said before Pride and Prejudice. There’s just something about Lizzie I have always responded to, for reasons I can’t truly explain. She is who she is, and she isn’t going to apologize for that. Not to her mother, or her father or Darcy who doesn’t seem to understand how great she is.

My favourite book by C.S Lewis, is as I said before The Magician’s Nephew. It is such a magical world. It’s so beautifully descriptive. It’s just so freaking good. I can’t even form my thoughts into words about how amazing this work is.
Day 15 – Favorite male character

Mr. Darcy. He’s completely and utterly flawed. He’s arrogant, he’s stubborn, he’s pigheaded. He can’t see what’s right in front of him until it’s almost too late.

He’s also loyal, honourable and steadfast. He’s a good big brother. Those are all qualities I quite admire in a person.

Jul13

Day 13 – Your favorite writer

Posted on by
Standard

Day 13 – Your favorite writer

I don’t have just one. I really don’t.

In terms of the classics, C.S Lewis, Jane Austen, J.R.R Tolkien and LM Montgomery reign supreme. I just love the detail and nuances of each of these authors. C.S. Lewis turned me onto fantasy fiction, Jane Austen wrote one of my favourite classic novels and LM Montgomery is probably my favourite Canadian author.

Current literature would be Diana Gabaldon, Kevin Hearne and too many others to name including J.K Rowling. My genres tend to switch quite frequently as you can see here and I love each for different reasons.

And in young adult I would say my main author in that is Scott Westerfeld.

Jul12

Book Challenge Day 12

Posted on by
Standard

Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore

That book is easy and makes me sad. Blood Secrets by Karen E Taylor. I loved this book when I was younger, it felt so risqué and naughty when I was reading it. I was too young to realize how problematic the relationship in this novel was.

Possessiveness, and emotional abuse are all present in this novel and when I went to read it I was so disappointed. The only reason I kept reading the books was because I’d paid for them, and now I am not going to continue the series beyond the trilogy.

Jul11

Book Challenge Day 11

Posted on by
Standard

Day 11 – A book you hated

I might very well get in a lot of trouble for this. Because this is a book which quite a few people actually enjoyed but I did not.

That book is The Sun Also Rises. 

Maybe I’m just not a Hemingway fan, but there’s also something that was lacking in this book for me. The emotion seemed so forced and Brett to me was one of the most unlikeable characters I’ve ever had the displeasure to read.

It’s not to say that there was nothing good in this book because there was, the imagery in this book was lush and full, and allowed me to picture the settings and characters quite clearly but I am definitely not a big Hemingway fan. It’s just not really my cup of tea.