Let's Talk! If I Won the Power Ball: Bookish Things I Would Buy

Now, we all have heard by now that despite popular belief, I did not win the biggest power ball jackpot in the history of the world. 

However, if I had won - here are some of the things I would buy. 

1.) Home Library

I do have a room sorta, kinda dedicated to books but it looks nothing like this. I have four large bookshelves filled to the brim with books of mine, and honestly I have more books than my room can handle. My dream would be something like the above. In fact, I wouldn't even need to move if you could just build that for me in my current house. 

2.) Funk Pops

This one may seem kind of weird since these really aren't horribly expensive (generally) but when it comes to spending money on things I am kind of weird. I really love the Funko Pop trend and I think they're adorable - I just can't warrant spending the money on them because I want them all. Plus, the purpose they serve is to just exist. It truly is an aspect of my life the lottery would fix. 

3.) Audio Books

I really enjoy listening to audio books throughout my daily life, but I never want to pay for them. I never, ever, ever steal or download anything illegally. My audio books normally come from Kindle Unlimited or my local library, but since I am a Kindle junkie I can add audible narration to any book I have for no more than $5. 

BUT I NEVER DO IT. 

Never. Even if I know I want to listen to it. So, if I won the power ball I would always buy the audiobook. 

Always. 

4.) Pretty Things. 

As many of you know, the above picture is of Arwen's necklace from The Lord of the Rings. They sell these, some super cheap -- others for hundreds of dollars. If I won the power ball I would buy a good one and play dress up in the best of ways. 

5.) All the Books. 

I would buy so many books I wouldn't know what to do. I would need to fill up the massive home library after all, so might as well add as many as possible. I also would share the books I love with those around me. No longer would I fear to lend out my books to acquaintances due to fears of wrinkled pages and cracked spines -- I could buy them their own without any problem. 

I would make sure my local high schools  had all the good stuff (even the banned things I would sneak in) and I would generally just make sure that access was available so options aren't so limited like they were when I was in school. 

Providing books to people essentially feels like a way to save the world. 

What would you guys do with your power ball earnings? 

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine!

February 2, 2016

For as long as she can remember, Gwendolyn Allister has never had a place to call home—all because her mother believes that monsters are hunting them. Now these delusions have brought them to London, far from the life Gwen had finally started to build for herself. The only saving grace is her best friend, Olivia, who’s coming with them for the summer.
But when Gwen and Olivia are kidnapped by shadowy creatures and taken to a world of flesh-eating sea hags and dangerous Fey, Gwen realizes her mom might have been sane all along.
The world Gwen finds herself in is called Neverland, yet it’s nothing like the stories. Here, good and evil lose their meaning and memories slip like water through her fingers. As Gwen struggles to remember where she came from and find a way home, she must choose between trusting the charming fairy-tale hero who says all the right things and the roguish young pirate who promises to keep her safe.
With time running out and her enemies closing in, Gwen is forced to face the truths she’s been hiding from all along. But will she be able to save Neverland without losing herself? 

What are you waiting on this week?  

2015 Releases I Meant to Get to but Didn't...

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish! 

This list is going to be depressing because there are way too many I just didn't get to! I have my excuses -- I was a college senior, I was just trying to graduate, but it makes this list no less depressing. 

Oh well, here's a go. 

On the bright side, I have a long list of books that need reading. 

What about you?

Were there any 2015 releases that you just haven't gotten to yet?

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins [Updated Book Review]

Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: September 8, 2008

Winning will make you famous.
Losing means certain death.

The nation of Panem, formed from a post-apocalyptic North America, is a country that consists of a wealthy Capitol region surrounded by 12 poorer districts. Early in its history, a rebellion led by a 13th district against the Capitol resulted in its destruction and the creation of an annual televised event known as the Hunger Games. In punishment, and as a reminder of the power and grace of the Capitol, each district must yield one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 through a lottery system to participate in the games. The 'tributes' are chosen during the annual Reaping and are forced to fight to the death, leaving only one survivor to claim victory.
When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as District 12's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart Peeta, are pitted against bigger, stronger representatives, some of whom have trained for this their whole lives. , she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature. 

** This is for the second reading of The Hunger Games which took place over five years after the first. I was shocked to see how differently my emotions were after this second reading, and because of this it warrants its own review.

I really enjoyed The Hunger Games the first time around, I finished it and I was prepared to continue the series and stick with Katniss and Peeta through the very end.

However, that never happened.

I never went onto the second book, I never wondered about the world after what I'd read and slowly but surely the world of Panem began to matter so little that I was pretty sure all of the hype was going to miss me forever.

My senior year of college as a English/Communications major obsessed with media theory, I started a research study on the popularity of YA books -- because of this subject I knew I would need to revisit The Hunger Games due to its popularity. Little did I know that I would become completely entranced in the world Collins created a second time, this time though because of the media's affect on Panem and the people themselves.

Media theory is one of my loves, but this aspect of the book would have completely missed me as a high school sophomore when this book first came into my life.

During this second reading I completely fell in love, continued, and finished the series. In the Hunger Games, Collins builds a world that is both different, but extremely similar to our own. The role the media plays on the people's reality seems extreme within the pages, but in reality it isn't all that different than our own world.

While we watch violence in the form of film, movies, sports, etc... these people's reality is a reality show where death is the only constant.

I love the growth of Katniss, and the slow development of this world's existence and its consequences for those around them.

The vivid descriptions of Capitol life compared to life in the Districts felt to me like a comparison to our own reality in a world where class standing is real.

I loved the role Katniss played towards altering her own state and using the Capitol's rules against them, because what better power is there than to use their own games against them.

The Hunger Games has become one of my favorite series (if not my favorite) and I have spent the past few weeks obsessed.

The moral of the story here is that you can't judge a book ever. Even after you've read it. Books sometimes surprise you and take on hidden and deeper meanings depending on the stage of life you're in. It only took six years, but I understand the hype!

Let's Talk: Graduation and The Hunger Games

You know how I said that I wouldn't be around for the latter half of my senior year final semester?

Well, that time has passed. College is over.

AND I AM FREE! 

I am so excited to be a (mostly) free woman! Think about all the books I can read when homework isn't a thing?

I mean, I'm going to be working full time and all of that jazz, but I read for a straight three hours the other night. I don't remember the last time I was able to do that! 

Now, for the more pressing matter, I did a final senior project/research paper on a media theory look at certain Young Adult novels. 

I chose The Hunger Games as a focus and was greatly shocked to discover that my itty bitty like I had for the book upon first read has grown into an obsession. 

I read The Hunger Games years ago, and I liked it. I actually liked it a lot, but I never felt the need to continue which for me says a lot. Upon this second read I was so much more drawn into it and now I am eagerly continuing on with the series. 

After my first read I wanted to continue, as I had really enjoyed book one, but Catching Fire ended up being a DNF for me.

This goes to show that you can't judge a book completely even when you read it. I know this sounds odd, but at the point in my life when I first picked up The Hunger Games I didn't get it... but now I SO GET IT. 

I just wasn't ready then. Now I'm over here like... 

So, next time you think you aren't feeling something just give it five years.

 It will come eventually.

Have you ever read a book later on and felt completely different? 

Let me know in the comments! 

Sophmore Novels I'm Looking Forward To!

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish! 

I loved these author's debut titles, and their sophomore titles look just as fantastic! 

I LOVED Snow Like Ashes and it is the book that I am constantly recommending. I'm reading the sequel now and loving it. 

Though not as wonderful as I hoped, this was another sophomore title that I have been looking forward to for months. 

I really loved The Sin Eater's Daughter, and I can't wait to see where the author takes it in the sequel. 

I loved Cammie McGovern's first title, and I'm hoping this one is another tear jerker that changes my view on life. 

What sophomore titles am I missing? 

What else should I be excited for?

The White Rose by Amy Ewing [Book Review]

Title: The White Rose
Author: Amy Ewing
Series: The Jewel #2
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: October 6, 2015

Violet is on the run. After the Duchess of the Lake catches Violet with Ash, the hired companion at the Palace of the Lake, Violet has no choice but to escape the Jewel or face certain death. So along with Ash and her best friend, Raven, Violet runs away from her unbearable life of servitude.

But no one said leaving the Jewel would be easy. As they make their way through the circles of the Lone City, Regimentals track their every move, and the trio barely manages to make it out unscathed and into the safe haven they were promised—a mysterious house in the Farm.

But there’s a rebellion brewing, and Violet has found herself in the middle of it. Alongside a new ally, Violet discovers her Auguries are much more powerful than she ever imagined. But is she strong enough to rise up against the Jewel and everything she has ever known?

The White Rose is a raw, captivating sequel to The Jewel that fans won’t be able to put down until the final shocking moments.

I'll begin by saying it took me two weeks to finish this book. It was a struggle, but I had to finish it because I really, really liked The Jewel and I refuse to give that up.

Ultimately, this sequel had major second book syndrome and the majority of the story just drug on and on and on and on...

The story begins immediately where we let off from the first book, and the cliffhanger ending that was experienced in book one was really underwhelming once it came to fruition. I found this to be really disappointing, and I just kind of meandered on reading while never really becoming indebted again.

Much of what was told to us in this second book could have been summarized or shortened because it takes so long for us to get anywhere.

The like I had for Violet in book one kind of dissipated due to some of her choices. We got so much of Violet's feelings that I really stopped caring to a degree, but yet I couldn't get my self to DNF it because a part of me still cared.

There are new-ish characters that are suddenly important, and twists and turns that explain some choices, but my emotional pull just wasn't there. 

There is far less explanation of what is happening at The Jewel in this novel, and I did enjoy the traveling aspect and the time we were able to spend in the different districts such as the Farm. 

I still enjoy the world building and I do want to know what does happen to Violet and her merry gang, though I hope the third installment has more action and less whining.

Ash in this book didn't impress me which I found to be very depressing as I loved him last book. The romance is not as prevalent, but the illusions to it that we do experience didn't feel as genuine or sweet to me. I don't feel that Ash and Violet grow as a couple this book, which left me feeling indifferent about their relationship as a whole. 

Raven and Violet's friendship in this one was much different in this one, and I found parts of it odd. I don't see the friendship vibe as much as I felt like Violet was Raven's mother, which I doubt is completely intentional. 

If you're going to read The White Rose I definitely recommend at least skimming The Jewel if not rereading it entirely. They point back to things often in detail that i found myself being unable to place. There is very little reminding or explaining being done in this one, so the more information ou know, the more indebted you are sure to be. 

I will be reading the next installment, but I will be hoping that we get more story, more relationship building, more self building for Violet, and just more awesome in general. 

I am not giving up hope yet. 

Go ahead and be like me, give The White Rose a chance - if only so we can finish the trilogy together!