Stacking the Shelves 03/31/15

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit the official launch page!

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KINDLE (basically all free)

Valentine: A Dublin Street Novella by Samantha Young

After searching for On Dublin Street for my kindle, I saw this was free and didn't know if the price would go up, so I bought it for when I did finish the series. FREE ON AMAZON

The Mystic Wolves by Belinda Boring

I've recently been really into the whole possessive, alpha-male thing, like Decebel from Prince of Wolves so I thought this might be a good investment. FREE ON AMAZON

Come Away With Me by Kristen Proby

I see this one on goodreads a lot and get recommended it over and over, so I figured why not. FREE ON AMAZON

Lost in Me by Lexi Ryan

I hear awesome things about Lexi Ryan, so why not? FREE ON AMAZON

Fixed on You by Laurelin Paige

This is yet another one I've been recommended over and over and it was another freebie. FREE ON AMAZON

Crave by Monica Murphy

This was impulsive. I had about $1.50 left on my gift card balance and I saw this come up in my "Recommended to You". It was only $1.26 so I bought it. I loved Monica Murphy's other books, so hopefully I love this one as much as the others.

BOUGHT

Beautiful Disaster

Sort of another impulsive buy. I wasn't going to, but something in my head said "get it... get it... GET IT!"

FROM THE LIBRARY

Rumble by Ellen Hopkins

I saw this one and, even though I've previously not loved Ellen's books, I thought why not. I'm a Christian and thought it would be interesting to read a book about faith.

Bad Words (movie)

I heard this is hilarious and I waited in the "hold line" being at position 132 at the beginning, so I've waited a while for this and hopefully I like it.

Review: Uglies by Scott Westerfield

Uglies by Scott Westerfield
Read for book club

Synopsis
Everybody gets to be supermodel gorgeous. What could be wrong with that?

Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license - for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there.

But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all.

The choice Tally makes changes her world forever...

SCOTT WESTERFIELD
Scott Westerfeld is a New York Times bestselling author of YA. He was born in the Texas and now lives in Sydney and New York City. In 2001, Westerfeld married fellow author Justine Larbalestier.

He is best know for the Uglies and Leviathan series, and his next book, Afterworlds, comes out September 23, 2014.

His book Evolution's Darling was a New York Times Notable Book, and won a Special Citation for the 2000 Philip K. Dick Award. So Yesterday won a Victorian Premier's Award and both Leviathan and Midnighters 1: The Secret Hour won Aurealis Awards. Peeps and Uglies were both named as Best Books for Young Adults 2006 by the American Library Association.

REVIEW

Before I really start my review I wanted to say this: the author did an amazing job on writing. He thought of an idea that, maybe nowadays seems less shocking, but it came out in 2005. I was surprised at the thought put into the novel, and his attention to detail so I just wanted to recognize the great job on the writers part.

While I was reading this book, it kind of broke down into two sections for me. Before the smoke, and after the smoke. Before the smoke, I hated the book. I was suffering through and trying so hard to read it for the deadline I had set for myself, but it was so boring. Tally was a whiny brat who frustrated the crap out of me. And I actually liked that she frustrated me because it was refreshing from always liking the protagonist.

I imagined Tally like a nice looking young girl, until she would always bang on herself, saying her frizzy hair looked terrible, and her noise was flat, and her lips were too thin. You want to know how I imagined her every time she said that?



I tried so hard not too, but I couldn't help it. She just kept describing herself ugly (go figure). I also got frustrated with the fact that, on the BACK OF THE BOOK, it says"When Shay runs away..." but that didn't happen until about 75-100 pages in. It was frustrating waiting around for the story to really begin. That is what I wished was different about this book; I wanted action from beginning to end.

After she entered the Smoke, Tally got more bearable. I started to actually like her because she changed; she started to see life in another way and I was happy with that. And I actually really liked David too. But I couldn't even tell myself that Shay and David were dating until Shay actually said it to Tally. I thought she just had a crush of some sort but, nope. Apparently they were dating, and when I found that out I kind of saw David in a different light. And I imagined David as an attractive young man.



But then, Tally would proceed to describe him as ugly, and thin, and my mind couldn't help but warp him to a scrawny boy.



Believe me, I tried so hard to go back to the old way but every time Tally would describe his leather clothes, or his large nose, the image would just come back.

I really enjoyed reading the book after Tally left Uglyville because the story really picked up the pace and got exciting. I felt it made up for when I actually hated the book and couldn't get through 10 pages in one sitting. I actually sat down and read 200 pages in an hour because I was so in depth with the story, the characters, that I couldn't put in down for a minute. However, I still couldn't give this book an amazing rating for the fact of the beginning. I actually almost put down the book and wanted to stop reading it in the beginning. I'm really glad I didn't but if I had, that would have been a book I never read. I find the beginning of a book crucial and some of the scenes maybe weren't needed.

Just one final thing to mention: I find it funny that I think the cover of Uglies is ugly. However, I find the cover of Pretties really pretty. I feel that I will continue with the series, but maybe only to book two. And on one final, final note, the ending. Oh, that ending and that cliffhanger.

The Taylor Swift Book Tag

This is a book tag I saw on polandbananasBOOKS on youtube and was so excited to be able to do this tag myself. It was created by The Book Life on youtube. You take books that relate to a song by Taylor Swift and I must say, I'm excited.

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

(this is a book that you thought you loved... and then you didn't)

Frigid by J. Lynn. I loved this book... and then it just disappointed at the ending.

Red

(a book with a red cover)

Reboot by Amy Tintera. Awesome cover.

The Best Day

(the book that makes you feel nostalgic)

We Were Liars. It reminded me of my summers at my cottage; it just made me feel amazing, even though I may not have actually liked the book so much, I like it due to the nostalgic feelings I got when reading it.

Love Story

(a book with forbidden love)

Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren. Since the main characters work together, they're kind of not suppose to date. Just pointing that out...

I Knew You Were Trouble

(a book with a character you knew was trouble, but couldn't help but like)

If I understand this correctly, it's basically a bad boy. I choose Leo Maddox from He Belongs With Me. I LOVED the book and, especially him.

Innocent

(a book that had the ending ruined for you)

Identical by Ellen Hopkins was ruined for me, but that didn't stop me from reading the horrendous thing. I mean, I'm a twin and do not like to think of those things. Thank you.

Everything Has Changed

(a character from a book that went through strong character development)

Fable from the One Week Girlfriend series. She was so different in book 1, then she was in book 3.5.

You Belong With Me

(a book you can't wait for release)

When I'm Back by Abbi Glines. I got an ARC of When I'm Gone and can't stop thinking about the next one!

Forever and Always

(favourite couple from a book)

Oooh this is hard! I love so many couples... at the moment, I adore Decebel and Jen from the Grey Wolves series.

Come Back, Be Here

(book you don't want to lend out)

None of my books. Ever. I never lend books unless it's to my sister because she totally understands how I feel about my books.

Teardrops on my Guitar

(the book that made you cry... a lot)

Books don't make me cry. I'm not soulless, but I usually don't cry at books. But if I was, it would most likely be Ugly Love. Seriously so sad!

Shake It Off

(you just shake off the haters of this book because you loved it so much)

Losing It by Cora Carmack; I know there's not a lot of haters of the book, it's actually other people I tell I'm reading the book. They look so disgusted by the synopsis, so I just shook it off and read it and loved it!

There you go! My Taylor Swift book tag! I'm not going to tag anyone, but if you see this, feel free to do it, and comment below linking to yours!

The Ultimate Book Tag

This is a book tag created by Chapter Chicks, asking you questions about reading and books in general! If you do one, please comment below with your link so I can look at yours!

The ULTIMATE Book Tag

Do you get sick reading in the car?

Definitely; I never used to until I started taking a bus to school when I was younger. It just happened one day and now I can't read in the bus. The car.... sometimes.

Which author's writing style is completely new to you, and why?

I recently read I Hate Myselfie by Shane Dawson and his writing style was so new to me because he told it in a different way from authors I normally read.

Harry Potter or Twilight? AND give three reasons why.

I haven't read either so... sorry. Yes, yes, I know... I'm a rare species.

Do you carry a book bag? And what's in it?

I used to. I always had a book and a chocolate bar in it.

Do you smell you books?

Who doesn't?? I actually hug them and sometimes, if they're lucky, I bring them with me in public.

Books with or without illustrations?

After I read CONFESS by Colleen Hoover, I love having little illustrations, but usually I didn't like them very much other then the works on art in that story.

What book did you love while you read it, but found out it wasn't actually quality writing?

Prince of Wolves by Quinn Loftis. I still love them so very much, but the writing could go through some editing.

Funny stories from your childhood involving books?

I used to take those books with thin sheets and drawings and cut out the people. I know, I was a cruel, cruel child.

The thinnest book on your shelf?
My Spider-Man comics are the thinnest, one of them at 12 pages.

The thickest book on your shelf?
Most likely A Dance With Dragons by George R.R. Martin (the guy who did Game of Thrones.... I'm sure you've heard of him) at around 1000 pages.

Do you read and write? Could you see yourself as an author?

I love to write, but could not be an author. It isn't that I don't want to, I just would never have the time. Or patience. I get easily frustrated.

When did you get into reading?
In 2012. I read 55 books in the year and knew then that it was my calling....
Actually I just read a few books with sequels and decided that reading was fun. In 2013 I got serious about reviewing and created my blog.

Favourite classic?
I don't have one because I usually avoid them at all costs; it reminds me of school.... which leads to not so fond memories.

Was your best subject English/Language Arts in school?
No, it was actually home time; I left so fast. If it had to be a subject probably... art or gym.

If you were given a book as a present you read before and hated, how would you react?
Depends on who gave it to me; if it was a close friend, I'd joke about it with them, but if it was a relative or acquaintance I'd politely accept it and then leave it on my shelf to collect dust.

What is a lesser known series that you know of that is similar to Harry Potter or Hunger Games?
I honestly don't know because, as some may know, I've never read either of those series.

What is a bad habit you always do while filming?
When I'm filming something, I tend to look away a lot, almost like I'm talking to a cute boy.

Favourite Word?
Awesome; it's just that awesome of a word.

A nerd, dork, or dweeb? Or all of the above?
Dork. I am usually called smart, but I can be so dorky its quite humorous to watch me in action.

Vampires or Fairies? Why?
Vampires; fairies just seem so childish to read in a book. Vampires have this certain appeal to them... almost like a brooding bad boy image.

Shapeshifters or Angels? Why?
Angels; a lot of them I've read or heard of where amazing. And Unearthly... need I explain?

Spirits or Werewolves? Why?
Werewolves! I can't explain the amazingness of this question. Read Just One Drop by Quinn Loftis (it's the third in a series) and then tell me you wouldn't ask for a Decebel any day, anytime.

Zombies or Vampires? Why?
I wouldn't choose between either because zombies eat your brains, and vampires suck your blood. But, vampires, like I said, kind of have a brooding bad boy thing. And they are also not one minded.

Love Triangle or Forbidden Love?
Love triangle probably for now because there's always two teams to choose from and, if the author's really good, she (or he) can make you like both instead of just the one the main character will obviously end up with.

LAST: Full on romance or action-packed with a few love scenes between?
Full one romance! I LOVE romance so much, and prefer it to action. Unless it's a movie.

Hope you enjoyed! Comment below with your post!