Behind the Blog: I'm Back!

 Once upon a time I had a book blog. I read a lot of books and wrote reviews on them. Sometimes I also had other book related content. In short, that blog was about books and only books.

Then I got burnt out on it.

About two years ago I more or less lost the desire to read. I went from reading over 100 books a year to maybe dragging myself through 10. I also didn't want to write reviews. I just felt so pointless.

In the time since then, I have branched out to other hobbies. And while reading stayed. I definitely was doing it less and less. I would color, play video games, craft, do a lot of different things really. While in the back of my mind I would be telling myself to get back into blogging.

And why shouldn't I? I enjoyed it. It was another creative outlet. But the idea of solely writing about the books I hadn't really been reading was just not very enticing to me. Neither was the idea of posting solely about anything else I am interested in.

For awhile now I have been thinking about how I shouldn't be only about books. I am into way more than the written word, even when I find those words to be quite lovely. And then, while reading tonight (yes reading! I am slowly getting back into it FINALLY), I decided that I am going to do it, that I am going to blog again!

So here I am. I really have no specific aim for this blog other than to share my interests with you. I will still share book reviews and bookish goodness with you, but I intend to share much more than that. I really hope you enjoy what you find here.

Behind the Blog: What Have I Been Reading

 It seems it is harder break old habits than I thought. So here I am, writing a post that involves books and reading.

My typical go to genres are almost anything that is labeled young adult, paranormal, or fantasy. However, at some point during my reading slump I found myself wanting to read books in the horror, psychological thriller, suspense genres.

I am not 100% why this switch happened. I think there are actually a few factors to this. The first and foremost one that comes to my mind is my 6 year old. She some how was discovering she liked kind of scary (but not too scary) things. So then I was trying to find age appropriate books to see if that would help get her to read more. The second was I had some pretty toxic people in my life not too long ago that were so against "darker" things that I think I may have been passive aggressively driven towards them. Yes, I realize that probably says a lot about me right there, but maybe we will cover that in a different post some day.

Also, this interestingly, does not extend to me watching shows or movies that are horror. I really have almost no desire to watch those. I prefer what my imagination can come up with from what I am reading to what some person decided would be cool to show me. And I am not really a fan of the pop out scare. Or the gross out for that matter. A nice, detailed description is all I need and my mind can take it where it needs to go.

Sadly, I don't usually find myself all that scared, psychologically thrilled, or dealing with too much suspense. Maybe I am just reading the wrong things. Maybe I have too high of expectations. Maybe this is the real reason I have been drawn to read these types of books lately. To see if I can find one that will get to me and satisfy what ever it is in me that needs to be satisfied.

This all being said, if you have any recommendations for me, from any age group, please let me know. I am always looking for something to help keep from falling back into my slump!

Sweet Treats to Eat While Reading a Frightening Tale

In celebration of this trilling middle grade read:

I am here to share with you some yummy treat ideas you could nom on while reading it!

First and foremost, seeing how Halloween has just happened I highly recommend grabbing a handful of that Halloween candy you collected before sitting down and snacking right on all that sugary goodness. 

Second, we cannot forget the cupcakes.  They are very necessary to all things and make everything better.  And there are so many flavor options.  You just cannot go wrong with this option.

For those who need caffeine in their life, another great option would be a frap coffee beverage.  Tasty, with many options, and it will help you out with your late night binge read. 

Cookies would be another yummy option.  And again, there are many different flavors.  White chocolate chip with macadamia sounds really good to me right now actually!

All in all, as long as it isn't too messy, nom on what you will!

Behind the Blog: What's Been Going On

Hey Everyone,

I realize I have been absent a bit in the last few months.  Is there a real reason why?  No, honestly there isn't.

I just haven't found the will or drive to do too much creating of things.  I haven't been coloring, crafting, or making any sort of art....so in kind I haven't found the drive to write a blog post.

Really, I am pretty much forcing myself to do this just so you all know that I am still here and that this blog is still going to be updated.  I love it too much to give it up.  It was there when there really wasn't much else and I don't intend to let it go.

Have I at least been reading?  Yes, I most definitely have!  I have sooooo many reviews I need to sit down and write.  And I have read some really good ones!  Ahh.  I feel like I am failing you all!

Also, I opened up my own Little Free Library in my neighborhood.  A post about this will come your way.  I love my little library!  Not many use it yet, but it is there for them!

I also started a Facebook book club.  So many people I know love to read, but none of them live near enough to anyone else to really have a physical book club...so I figured that this would be the next best thing!

So, in short, I am still here.  I am still sharing the book love with others.  And I am going to be better about posting!

Review: The Piper's Apprentice by Matthew Cody

Title: The Piper's Apprentice

Author: Matthew Cody

Series: The Secrets of the Pied Piper #3

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: October 24, 2017

Source: Publisher

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Well here we are.... with the third and final book in The Secrets of the Pied Piper series by Matthew Cody...

It has been a fun and wild ride.  The adventure was grand, the characters were (mostly loveable...dang villains!) and the story was a lot of fun.

The whole series is a take on the Pied Piper story.  You know the one....the Pied Piper comes in an plays his flute and all the rats follow him and leave the town.  Well in this one, the legend has it that the Pied Piper was angry at the town after he helped them, they didn't pay or something, so he came and took a bunch of their children away and never brought them back!

Then centuries later, our main characters, a set of siblings, find themselves neck deep in this legend.

As I already stated this book was a lot of fun.  It is the third installment to the series, so there isn't a lot that I can say that won't be a spoiler for some where in the story line for those that haven't read it yet.

But I can say that it is a continuation from where the 2nd book ended.  Not much time, if any has passed and the story does end in a way that is satisfying.  I will, however, miss these characters and this adventure.  I loved this creative world and the imagery it possessed.

Sorry, if this feels more like a review for the whole series rather than this book alone, but at this point, I can't really separate the books.  I enjoyed all of them, including the final one and did not find myself disappointed with it at all.

My Rating

4 Stars

This review is based on an eARC provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone.

Review: The Magician's Key by Matthew Cody

Title: The Magician's Key

Series: The Secrets of the Pied Piper #2

Author: Matthew Cody

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: November 8, 2016

Source: Publisher

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

This series is just too much fun to pass on you guys!

The Magician's Key takes off where the first book in the series ended.  No pause in the story for us!  But I am definitely not complaining about that, it would have been weird if the author had left that gap.

That being said, if you haven't read book 1, but choose to read this review on book 2, you will most likely find yourself reading a spoiler or two for book 1.  You can find my review for book 1 right HERE though.

So in this story we still have our two main characters, but they are separated.  Max made it back to the regular world, but Carter is still hanging out on the Summer Isle.

Both have their separate adventures, but they tie in beautifully and it is very easy to follow the story even though it switches between the two and what each one is individually doing.

We also get to meet some new characters and get to know some of the old characters from book 1 even better.  It is quite a treat!

Carter is actually with the Pied Piper a good bit, so we really get to know him and some of his back story.  And Carter gets some great character development.

Max is the one who really ends up meeting most of the new faces that we come across in this story.  And, in my opinion, she probably has the harder adventure of the two.  She is the one who meets our newest villain in the story Vodnik.

We also get to learn more about the creatures that should be in the Summer Isle but are stranded back in the regular world not quite fitting it.

This book really brings the story even more to life than the first one did.  A great continuation to a wonderful adventure story!

My Rating

4 Stars

This review is based on an eARC provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone.

Review: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Title: Ready Player One

Author: Ernest Cline

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: August 16, 2011 (Original)

Publication Date: Crown (Original)

Source: Blogging for Books

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

This is actually a review of a reread.  See, I read it a few years ago on a recommendation...I think before the talk of a movie was even really happening.  But I had been wanting to reread it before the movie, and so when I saw it on Blogging for Books I thought it was the perfect opportunity.

And OMG you guys, I really forgot A LOT.  Definitely made the reread worth it.

Anyways...

The book is about a boy who lives in a dystopian type of world.  People are poor, they are hungry, the literally live in motor homes stacks upon each other to crazy high levels.  They also spend a lot of their time playing a video game.

See the video game in this world is better than reality.  They can do things in the digital world just like you can do in the real world.  Play sports, read books, play other video games, go to school, work, etc.  But the digital world lets them leave the real them behind and be whoever they want to be.  It changes reality and makes it better.

And then the creator, upon death, announced the ultimate challenge.  To find the hidden easter egg in his game.  For those who are not in the know, an easter egg is a hidden something that the developer of a game hides some where in it for people go discover.

And a lot of this story revolves around this hunt.  You have people wanting to find it and reap the amazing rewards.  And you have people wanting to find it to control the game and make more money off the already poor....that will do pretty much whatever it takes to keep themselves in the lead.

So a lot of the book, especially the beginning half contains quite a bit of world building.  So much so you might start finding yourself getting bored.  But it is kind of necessary.  The world is pretty detailed and works a special way.  And it is really kind of well done in the sense that you can easily imagine that our world has actually turned into the one that Ernest Cline created for this story.  It really isn't too much of a stretch.

Being a video game fan and a fan of the 80s will actually help you enjoy this book.  These are two things that are huge throughout the entire story.

Also, aside from world building and random 80s trivia, there is quite a bit of action.  It doesn't get too intense in my opinion, but it is definitely there.

Then there is character development.  You definitely see it in this book.  And you do find yourself caring about the characters.....  Personally I was smiling at one point.  It just filled me with happy.

Totally glad I did a reread of this book.  It was quite enjoyable.  I have no idea how it is going to be turned into a movie though.  Pretty sure a good bit is going to be changed.

My Rating

4.5 Stars

This review is based on a copy provided by the Blogging for Books in exchange for a fair and honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone.