Being brutally honest about books

Showing posts with label meme. Show all posts
Showing posts with label meme. Show all posts

Sunday 28 August 2016

Goodreads Book Tag

I came across this cute little book tag on The Review Room and decided to share what I've been reading recently. As you may know from an earlier rant, I love Goodreads and use it every day, so if here's what my profile kind of looks like at the moment.


What was the last book you marked as read?
If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho

If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho by
What are you currently reading?
13130788
I've been reading this for months. It's soooo long!

What was the last book you marked as TBR?
25497701

Rooks and Romanticide by J. I. Radke

What book do you plan to read next? 
Either one of three books on my bookshelf (Strange Are the Ways by Teresa Crane, Pompeii by Robert Harris, Sacred Country by Rose Tremain) or Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace on my ereader.

Do you use the star rating system?
Yep, I find it very helpful. My rating system is the same for this blog and Goodreads.

Are you doing a 2016 reading challenge?
Nope. I last did a reading challenge in 2012. So on the challenge box it just says, "I want to read books in 2016," which is very accurate. I just want to read books this year, not a specific number.

Do you have a wishlist?
I have a to-get list, but since books are so expensive it's a very short list. This is it:

Blank 133x176

Darkbane (The Legendsong #3) by
Cleopatra's Shadows
Cleopatra's Shadows by
Do you have any favourite quotes? Would you like to share a few? 
With pleasure! 

“The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.”
Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey
“A room without books is like a body without a soul.”
Marcus Tullius Cicero 
“We read books to find out who we are. What other people, real or imaginary, do and think and feel... is an essential guide to our understanding of what we ourselves are and may become.”
Ursula K. Le Guin 
“We don’t need a list of rights and wrongs, tables of dos and don’ts: we need books, time, and silence. Thou shalt not is soon forgotten, but Once upon a time lasts forever.”
Philip Pullman 
“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.”
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring  
Who are your favourite authors?
My three most-read authors are Tamora Pierce, Louise Rennison, and John Marsden but they aren't necessarily my favourites. I'm still just getting my foot in the door of adult books so I haven't found any favourites yet there.
 
Have you joined any groups?
I did, but I've since left them. I don't remember if I ever posted anything in those groups. I've actually never been in any book groups, online or offline. I'm not sure that they'd work for me.

I tag...

Everyone reading this who uses Goodreads!

Tuesday 16 August 2016

Top Ten Books Set in the Future

Top Ten Tuesday is an awesome meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is Top Ten Books With X Setting (top ten books set near the beach, top ten book set in boarding school, top ten books set in England, etc). If you read my blog you'll know how much I love historical fiction, but you may not know that sci-fi is also one of my favourite genres, and I love futuristic settings a LOT.
Click the covers to go to the Goodreads links. 

1.
Uglies (Uglies, #1)
The Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld
2.
Diverse Energies
Diverse Energies edited by
3.
The Comet's Curse (Galahad, #1)
The Galahad series by Dom Testa
4.
Blood Red Road (Dust Lands, #1)
 The Dust Lands trilogy by Moira Young
5.
Genesis (The Rosie Black Chronicles, #1)
 The Rosie Black Chronicles by Lara Morgan
6.
Adaptation (Adaptation, #1)
  The Adaptation series by Malinda Lo
7.
The Carbon Diaries 2015 (Carbon Diaries, #1)
The Carbon Diaries series by Saci Lloyd
(Wait....)
8.
Titanic 2020 (Titanic 2020 #1)
Titanic 2020 by Colin Bateman
9.
Exodus (Exodus, #1)
The Exodus series by Julie Bertagna
10.
The Mammoth Book of SF Wars
The Mammoth Book of SF Wars edited by Ian Watson & Ian Whates

What are your favourite futuristic books? Have you read any of these? Do you have any recommendations?

Tuesday 9 August 2016

Top Ten Books by New Zealand Authors


Top Ten Tuesday is an awesome meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is Top Ten Tuesday REWIND - go back and do a topic you missed over the years or recently or a topic you really want to revisit. I missed 19 July's Ten Books Set Outside The US, but since that's too broad I thought I'd narrow it down a bit and show my international readers what they should be reading. These books aren't all set in New Zealand, but they're not set in the US, either.

1. 


Love in the Land of Midas by Kapka Kassabova

2.

Rosetta by Barbara Ewing

3.

4.

I Am Not Esther by Fleur Beale

5.

6. 


7.

Juicy Writing: Inspiration and Techniques for Young Writers by

A Necklace of Souls by



Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy by Lynley Dodd
(C'mon, it's a classic!)

Talk to me... 

Do you have any favourite New Zealand books? Are you going to try any of the ones on this list? How well do NZ writers compete internationally?

Monday 1 August 2016

Thirty Bookish Facts About Me

Thank you Cait at Paper Fury for sharing these questions!

1) Currently reading?

Music & Silence by

2) Should’ve read, like, yesterday?

Throne of Glass by

3) Book that impacted you?

One? Just one?!

5) Current series crush?

 Don't have one.

6) How strong is your self-control around books?

 Well, if I see a book lying around anywhere, I pick it up to look at it. But apart from wanting to look at all the books, I'd say I have good self-control, especially about buying them.

7) Plot vs characters? 

Strong, interesting, and unique characters are necessary for me to love a book. However, I find narrative a very interesting topic to study (I'm a Media student, I've studied it twice). When a book has great characters and little plot, it can be okay. When a book hasn't got great characters but has a very interesting plot, it can be good. So I might go with plot.

8) Would you write under a pseudonym?

Yes. But I also want recognition. So I don't know.

9) Would you marry your bookshelf?

We live together anyway, I don't need a document to prove my love. I guess we're living in sin, then.

10) Do you ever get sick of reading?

Yes. Doesn't everybody? 

11) Random bookish memory?

 "Companionably reading" with one of my old friends. Our whole friendship was mostly based around this - we would usually sit in her room and each read our own book. I need a new friend to do this with; it was great.

12) Character you relate to? 

I find it very hard to relate to characters in books and I can't think of any.

13) Do you own bookish merchandise?

I have a rune necklace from when I got my book signed by Cassandra Clare.

14) Controversial opinion? 

Romance is unnecessary in books for young people. That includes eleven-year-olds and eighteen-year-olds. I'm not saying don't put romance in any book at all (I agree, but no-one would take me seriously) just that it's unnecessary.

15) NOTP?

  Plenty but none I can think of specifically.

16) Why didn’t I love this?

What is this question asking? No comprendo. 

17) Hardcover vs paperback?

Paperback. (Hardcovers are just so hard to hold.)

18) Do you ever like villains?

Yep 

19) Cringeable reads? 

Paranormal fiction in general.

20) Where do you get your books from?

Libraries, for the most part. 

21) Haunting read?

I'm sure I've read some, but I can't think of any. 

22) Highly anticipated upcoming release? 

I don't actually have any, for once in my life. I'm not anticipating any upcoming releases. This is a good thing, though.

23) Annoying character qualities?

 Moody, "popular", "unpopular", spoiled brat, too noble or selfish to sacrifice one person/thing for the greater good.

24) Least favourite genre?

Animal stories. Although I have read a surprising number of horse books for someone who doesn't like animals.

25) Best tropes?

 Girl dresses as boy. Hate-love. Female warriors. Anti-heroes.

26) Rereading?

Only for books I love

27) Have you abused a book?

I nearly threw a copy of one of the Lord of the Rings books out the window on accident. 

28) Series you quit on? 

 Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunters universe. I loved The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices, but I have no interest in reading the new series because there's a bit of sameness and I've just grown out of it.

29) Wish it wasn’t a standalone?

 I can't think of any. For at least the past year, I've preferred to read standalones over series. 

30) Bad bookworm side-effects? 

Getting writing inspiration from every book you read, so that while you're reading a book you're thinking of your own writing and therefore don't take in the book you're reading.

Monday 25 July 2016

Get To Know Me Tag

Thank you to Alise at Readers In Wonderland for the tag. Readers, here are some never before revealed facts about me!

Basics

Name: pen name Alexandria
Nicknames: not really
Birthday: 7th November
Star Sign: Scorpio
Occupation: student

Appearance

Hair colour: naturally brown, currently blackish
Hair length: long
Eye colour: blue
Best feature: eyes
Braces: never
Piercings: ears. I want to get a nose stud, too.
Tattoos: no 
Right or left handed: left

Firsts

Best friend: a girl at kindy
Award: can't remember
Sport: netball
Real holiday: what does a "real" holiday mean??
Concert: The Wiggles!

Favourites

Films: The Brothers Grimm, Pirates of the Caribbean, Lord of the Rings
TV Shows: Xena: Warrior Princess, Spartacus
Colours: red, black, navy blue
Song: currently Pas De Deux Femmes
Restaurant: I don't have one
Shop: also don't have one
Books: you don't wanna go there, it would take too long
Shoes: black ankle boots with high heels and gold zips on the sides

Currently…

Feeling: tired of life
Single or Taken: single and happy
Eating: nuts
Thinking about: this tag
Watching: Westside, War & Peace, rewatching some Xena episodes with my sister
Wearing: red jeans, black shirt, denim jacket

Future

Children: no
Marriage: not if I can help it
Careers: writing (fingers crossed!)
Where you want to live: I don't actually know

Do you believe in…?

God: no
Miracles: no
Love at first sight: no
Ghosts: no
Aliens: no
Soul mates: no
Heaven/hell: no
Kissing on the first date: do what you both want, honestly, why ask me?
Yourself: usually

I tag…

Everyone reading this post!

Tuesday 12 July 2016

Top Ten Random Facts About Me

Top Ten Tuesday is an awesome meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is Ten Facts About Me. 

1. I'm in my first year of university, studying Communications

2. I'm left-handed

3. My favourite picture book is Weslandia by

Wednesday 8 June 2016

Top Ten Reasons I Love Xena: Warrior Princess

Top Ten Tuesday is an awesome meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is Ten Reasons I Love X. I thought and thought about what I was going to do, and finally decided on one of my two favourite TV programmes, the 90s cult classic Xena: Warrior Princess. 

 For those who don't know (gasp!) it's about Xena (Lucy Lawless), a warrior woman who kicks arse around Ancient Greece and the rest of the known world with her gal pal Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor), a bard and Amazon princess/queen. It's an American show filmed in New Zealand, but most of characters speak with - or try to speak with - American accents, which can be both distracting and hilarious. Physics does not exist in this show.

Okay, now you know the basics, here are just ten of the things I love most about this show.

1. It's so absurd and even the creators didn't take it seriously. The humour, the AU episodes, the WHOOSHes... Ridiculousness will rule the show!


Nigel interviewing Gabrielle and Xena in an actual episode

2. It has two of the best female villains ever. Be afraid. Be very afraid.


                 

Callisto                             Alti


3. Women everywhere! This is possibly the most feminist TV show, even today, not just because of all the lady warriors, but because it's about inner strength as well. They don't shy away from female relationships, either, which is pretty special.

 

Gabrielle and Xena fight together

4. It's set mostly in Ancient Greece and includes a lot of Greek mythology, including the gods (my favourite is Aphrodite, but Ares is the star) but they also travel to Britannia, Rome, Egypt, India,  China, Japan, North Africa...

Ares and Aphrodite

5. It's anachronism central! Gabrielle meets Homer one episode after she and Xena meet Helen of Troy, which is ten years after Xena meets Julius Caesar; Xena invents CPR and the kite, she and Gabrielle get crucified and get sent to hell and heaven and meet archangels... There is a very long list of historical inaccuracies, and it's brilliant because it's not meant to be accurate.


Ancient Greek underwear??

6. The "subtext", or as I call it, "text".



7. The same actors are recycled into different roles. Spot The Karl Urban is a favourite game that Xenites like to play.

 

Karl Urban as Julius Caesar, Cupid, Mael, and Kor


8. One of the main themes is tolerance: of different cultures, religions, world views, personalities, genders (there is a very progressive episode in which Xena kisses a transgender character, whose actor (also transgender) was actually HIV positive, to show the audience that you can't contract HIV from kissing someone who has it), etc.

 9. There's a musical episode! (Actually there's two, but the second one is terrible.)

 10. And of course, Xena and Gabrielle's relationship. They are the most married of couples you can conceive of. They have the closest friendship and the deepest love. I saw someone refer to them as the "mothership", on account of the show being very influential on general fandom. One of my favourite things about this show is that it's about a positive loving relationship between two women, back in the 90s! No wonder it's so important to millions of wlw around the world.


 I could very easily add ten more things I love about this show, but I'll stick with the prescribed number. 

What are your feelings? Nostalgia? Overwhelming fannish feels? Have I convinced any poor souls who aren't familiar with the show to watch it? Will you watch the reboot?

Wednesday 25 May 2016

Top Ten Books I Feel Differently About After Time Has Passed



Top Ten Tuesday is an awesome meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is Ten Books I Feel Differently About After Time Has Passed. Click the book covers to go to the Goodreads links.

1. The Color Purple by Alice Walker



I studied this for English last year and I didn't really enjoy it while I read it, but afterwards I really appreciated the themes and symbolism and what-have-you. 

2. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller



This is still one of my favourite books, but seeing other people's criticisms of a) how Patroclus was characterised and b) how Thetis (one of few female characters) was essentially demonised made me think a little less of it.

3. The Selection by Kiera Cass



What was I thinking, honestly?! How did a dystopian version of The Bachelor appeal to me AT ALL????

4. Inheritance by Malinda Lo



I didn't like this book as much as the first one because at the time I was uncomfortable with the idea of polyamory. Now, though, I'd like to read it again with a more open mind on that subject.

5. Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray



I actually dropped my Goodreads rating on this one, due to being very unhappy with the characterisation of Augustus and Livia after I'd learnt a bit more about them.

6. Love in the Time of Global Warming by Francesca Lia Block



This book is based on The Odyssey and has a transgender love interest. I really should read it again to appreciate it more.

7. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams



When I read it, I just thought it was weird and didn't understand the humour. After watching the film and reading the next few books, I get it now. 

8. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl



I didn't love it at the time, but now I just think of this book and roll my eyes. It's so clichéd and pointless.

9. Matched by Ally Condie


 Yawn. I hadn't read much dystopian fiction when I read this, so it was vaguely interesting and original at the time. Now I've read more of the genre? Pfft.

10. Wildthorn by Jane Eagland



I can't believe I only gave this 3 stars! It's about a Victorian lesbian and being locked up in a mental asylum! Not to mention the cover is gorgeous! Dear younger self, you don't know what you were missing.

What about you? Do you share the same opinions? Do you have other books you think differently of, now that time has passed?

I'm Alexandria, a 19-year-old reader/writer/blogger from New Zealand. I love language, history, and sci-fi. Hi! I'm always around if you want to talk, which you can do via comments, the contact form, or Facebook.

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