Day 29 You don't know them??

Day 29 of the 30 Day Book Challenge asks which author I personally wish was more well known.

I guess Daniel Quinn would be an author that I wish was more well known. I love his Ishmael books and I love the philosophical focus of his writing, but I feel like he is really not that well known. 

Everyone should read his books. You will actually learn something from reading his books, and that is the sign of a book worth the name.

Day 28 First thing I remember....

Day 28 of the 30 Day book challenge is a throwback one. I have to try and think of the first book that I read on my own.

I actually have a pretty bad memory for these kinds of things.

If anything, it is more than likely a Berenstain Bears book that I finished on my own. I read a lot of these books growing up and I really liked them. I still think they are cute for new readers. :)

Day 27, The Day of the Genre

Day 27 of the 30 Day Book Challenge asks the question that everyone else asks, what is your favorite genre of books?

Why do we have to put labels on things? Can't we all just call them books, and leave it at that? Why make me label what I have?

haha :) But seriously, my favorite genre is kind of specific...

It would be: Historically-based-Mystery-Conspiracy-Action

What....a mouth full. I know. But seriously, give me a book with that and written well, and I am in love. Which is why Steve Berry is my favorite author.

I just love when I get sucked into these books and they're using old clues that might possibly not be there anymore. It is just an awesome ride.

If you know any other good authors that write books like this, please let me know!

What is your favorite book genre?

Day 26 Non-Fiction is Hilarious!!

Day 26 of the 30 Day Book Challenge is all about my favorite kind of non-fiction books.

Did not even have to think about my answer.

It would be memoirs written by comedians. Especially funny, female comedians. My favorites are those by Chelsea Handler!!

These are the ones that I have read and ABSOLUTELY love!

My Horizontal Life

Are You there Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (by Mindy Kaling)

Day 25 Nerd Time

Day 25 of the 30 Day Book Challenge asks what the nerdiest book is that I have ever read.

Honestly, I have no idea.

I just really cannot think of something nerdy for some reason that I have read....

I guess maybe the Captain Underpants series that I read in Elementary School would have to be the nerdiest books that I have read. They are pretty funny comics. I guess that is kind of nerdy??

Here are two of the ones that I have read. They even LOOK funny haha :)

Where is Day 24?? My Favorite Series

I'm so sorry that I haven't posted in two days! I just moved back to my place in my college town, so things have been a little crazy!!

Day 24 of the 30 Day Book Challenge asks what my favorite book series is.

I do really like to read book series, only sometimes I just can't keep up or I just do not really have the ability to get the new books in the series. It can be frustrating.

For this post, I picked the Body Movers Series by Stephanie Bond. I have read the first three and I own the fourth one, I just have not gotten around to finishing it just yet. I believe that there are six books out currently in the series. Even though I am not fully up to date on the series and caught up, these are seriously really good!!

Obviously, she does write romance books, so do not be surprised by some adult content, but there is also a mystery and comedy element to the books that make them really well rounded. I like how the books smoothly move into the next ones and you do not feel like there is a lull in the action of the plot.

They are really a good series that I definitely recommend to anyone! (age appropriate, of course :) )

Day 23 Oh How I used to Hate you...

30 Day Book Challenge, you challenge me!! Haha :)

A book that I used to hate, but not any more...

I guess I kind of have to say Twilight. Only because I hated it before I read it. I know! I'm such a judger!!!

Once I did read the books, I did actually like them more than I thought I would have. The only reason I DON'T love them still is because of Bella. I'm pretty sure she is on my list of characters I hate. If I forgot her, I'm sorry, but she is like number 2.

I just cannot like her, but I do like the books. Mainly because of Edward. I love him. :)

Day 22 I used to Love you

Day 22 of the 30 Day Book Challenge asks what book did I used to love, but don't really love anymore.

I think the books that would probably fit this most would be the RL Stein Fear Street books. I used to read those a lot when I was younger, and I even owned quite a few myself.

I just don't really feel like the books would really interest me at all anymore. They are just not as mature as some of the other horror books that I have read. They are just a different level of reading and maturity than I am at right now.

Are there any books that you used to really like and just don't anymore?

Day 21 That's Disturbing...

30 Day Book Challenge still going strong. Today is all about a book that I've read and found disturbing.

There was immediately one book that came to my mind.

The Lucifer Effect by Phillip Zombardo.

Now, I have yet to finish this book, but that is mainly because the book was kind of disturbing. If you do not know, this book is about how people are capable of doing horrible things like genocide.

The book includes details about the Abu Ghraib situation in the Middle East, genocide in Africa, as well as the Stanford Prison Experiment that Zombardo was in charge of in the 1970's.

This book delves into the fact that we are capable of horrible things, even if we are otherwise good people.

Have you read this book? What book was disturbing for you to read?

Day 20: Where Do I Read??

Day 20 of the 30 Day Book Challenge, asks which environment do I like to read the most in.

I read pretty much everywhere. I think my favorite environment to read is a comfortable one. Blankets cuddled up around me. Pillows everywhere. A soft perch to plop down on. Enough light to read, but not too much to make it hurt my eyes.

Also, I prefer quiet. I have tried reading while listening to my iPod, but I end up finding out by the time I'm done reading that what I was listening to was done long before I even noticed. I block out sounds when I start to really get into a book that I am reading, but it is much preferable for me to just have it quiet anyways so that I do not have to worry about getting distracted.

What environment do you prefer to read in?

Day 19 Late again! and Underrated

Hello lovelies!

Day 19 of the 30 Day Book Challenge was about what book I think is really underrated.

One of the reasons I think I forgot to put this post up yesterday would be that I am absolutely at a loss about a book that I think is underrated!

I just really cannot think of anything that I have read and was like, "Wow. Why doesn't EVERYONE love and read this??"

The only book that I can possibly think of, would be The Red Tent by Anita Diamant.

I don't think that this is really a book that males will find interesting or useful or powerful, but I DO think that every woman should read this book. This book retells the mysteries of womanhood that have been lost to us since the past.

This book is definitely about the power that a woman, any woman really, has. A woman doesn't have to be a queen to be powerful in this book, and that is something that every woman should understand.

It is a beautiful, powerful, even painful book.

Is there a book that you think is painfully underrated??

Day 18 Soooo Overrated!!!

Day 18 of the 30 Day Book Challenge asks which book I think is completely overrated.

This is actually a book that I have never read. I'm sorry, but I have not read this book mainly because I feel like it is really over-hyped.

The Hunger Games.

Stop be mad and yelling!!

Seriously though, when was the last time you saw a book this hyped?? The answer is Twilight. And I actually really liked the Twilight books, it was the movies that were a complete disaster. I want to read about a love story of two people that should not be together and how Bella almost dies a few times. Her almost dying definitely made it better! (In my humble opinion) However, why would I want to read about a bunch of kids trying to kill each other? Give me a really good answer and maybe, just maybe, I might read the books and/or watch the movie.

Also! Have you seen your local Wal-Mart? Does yours have a HUGE display blocking part of the aisle for just freaking Hunger Games merchandise? Well mine does. Not appreciated. Not really appreciated at all.

Obviously, there seems to be an obsession with the dystopian society novels today. Clearly this says a lot about our own society, but that would be for another discussion and probably a lot of people's topics for English theses.

Eventually, I probably will read this series, but for now I am just going to sit back and watch the hype spiral.

Day 17. Why can't I just like this book??

Day 17 of the 30 Day Book Challenge is all about a book that I have read, and do not like, even though I want to like it.

Now, most people who know me and hear my nerd side come out a lot will probably be shocked by this answer, but the book that I just cannot bring myself to love nearly as much as the one before and after it is.....

The Two Towers by J R Tolkien. Gasps! Yes! I know!!! I'm horrible....

But I just cannot bring myself to like it nearly as much as the other two books. Don't get me wrong, there are some really good parts in the book! (The second half of the book anyways...)

But seriously, I took a two YEAR break in the middle of reading this book. Obviously, something was not going right here. I couldn't help it either!!! It was just soooo boring! I couldn't take another chapter about Aragorn and Gimli and Legolas running around trying to find Merry and Pippin. I just could not read any more about it.

I love the movie, but even the movie is slightly boring when they are doing that, but luckily the movie goes back and forth. The book does not.

As a Lord of the Rings fanatic, it is probably blasphemy for me to not like this book as much as the others, but I do still respect the book. I just cant love it as much as the others.

Is there a book that you want to love, but for some reason or other, you just can't??

Day 16. I will never read you!!

Day 16 of the 30 Day Book Challenge wonders about which books you would never, ever read.

I actually had a hard time trying to think about which book I could say I will never read. I don't want to commit to never reading anything, because you never know. I just don't even think about books that I'm not interested in usually. Why think of them if I'm not going to read them??

I could only come up with one book that I never, ever plan on reading. (Though reading this book would help me out with the Tea Book Challenge!)

That book is War and Peace. Thank goodness that I never had a literature class that made me read this book!!! If you don't know, War and Peace just so happens to be 1392 pages. Yep. You read that right. Don't get me wrong, I can do it. I read all three Lord of the Rings books. Over 1400 pages. (I had the version with them all together). I just never want to read this book.

I have seen the movie. It had Audrey Hepburn in it, it was pretty much a no-brainer for me to watch. I'm kind of obsessed with her. No big. So I DO know what the book is about, and I would fall asleep after trying to read a page. Of this I am 100% sure. I'm sorry, but it is just not something that grabs my attention! I understand that this is a classic novel and people rave about it in the academic literary world, but it is just not my cup of tea.

Another good reason not to read it, Leo Tolstoy. He is the author, if you were not aware. I did not even like The Death of Ivan Ilych. I did not really like it, or get it. If I don't like your book that is only 88 pages, how on earth do you think I am going to like your 1392 page book?? I would probably go looking for a cliff to jump off of. (Just being a drama queen! I promise I won't jump off a cliff. I'm afraid of heights!)

So there it is. The book that will never be on my shelf to read. What book do you know that you will never read?

Day 15 A Book on My TBR List? Seriously?

Day 15 of the 30 Day Book Challenge is kind of crazy. They want me to pick a book on my TBR (To Be Read) list. I have a list of about 800 books. Yea. This is asking a lot.

I don't even know where to start for picking just one off of my list.

I guess the next book that I am the most excited to read would be The Emperor's Tomb by Steve Berry. The only reason I'm really picking this book is because it is the next book of Steve Berry, one of my all-time favorite authors.

Day 14 All About Regrets

Day 14 of the 30 Day Book Challenge asks what book you regret not having read sooner than you did.

Usually, I don't really ever regret reading a book later than I originally planned. When I read it, I read it and that's fine with me. Just as long as I read it, it's all good.

If there is one book that I probably will regret not having finished sooner, it will probably be My Ishmael. I started reading this book after getting it soon after reading Ishmael. I own it and have it somewhere, I just haven't finished.

I'm sure the book will be amazing. The first one was. It blew my mind.

Day 13 My Favorite Book From Childhood

Day 13 has me almost stumped. My favorite book from childhood is kind of hard to pick. I have always loved reading, and I would read many different kinds of books and loved so many of them.

The one that I decided on was......wait for it.......

The Boxcar Children #1. I loved this series, and I especially loved the first one. I've read it quite a few times and I can still remember some of the details of the book. This series was one of the first mystery series that I ever read, and probably started my love for mystery. 

Late Post! Day 12 My Favorite Authors

Day 12 of the 30 Day Book Challenge is all about my favorite authors. These are the authors that I will read pretty much anything by, and more than likely love.

1. Jane Austen. I don't care how over-loved some people think Jane Austen might be. I love everything Jane Austen. The only problem is reading and watching all of it! You wouldn't believe how many Austen-based books there are! And then there are at least two different film adaptations for each of her books, and even film adaptations of some of the books based on Austen! It is an obsession for me.

2. Steve Berry. I just love every one of his books. I don't know how he comes up with all of the amazing quests that his main characters go on. And all of that historical information and all the different places that they visit throughout the world. I just can't get enough.

3. Stephanie Bond. I'll admit, I started reading her books because that would be my name if I was married to James Bond. Silly, I know, but I found a really good author from that bit of silliness. I love her romance novels :) Especially the ones that involve murder mystery.

These are my main favorite authors that I read all the time and even put forth the effort to own most books by each author!

What are your favorite authors? Are they ones that you just HAVE to own all of the books of??

Day 11 Worst Film Adaptations!

Day 10 of the 30 Day Book Challenge is all about the worst film adaptations that I have ever seen. This is actually really hard because if you have seen any film adaptations of books, then you know that many of them are just terrible. Here are my three least favorite book adaptations to film.

1. Under the Tuscan Sun. If you have seen this movie, then you are probably wondering why it is on this list. Unless you have read the book too. I happen to LOVE this movie! I knew that it was based off of a book, but until recently, I had never read it. This book is NOTHING like the movie. Seriously. Where on earth did they get all that stuff from that book? About the only things that are the same are the Polish workers and the work on the house. Everything else is just a good film writer and not part of the book. The only thing that even made me like the book was the descriptions of the food and the recipes. But I still love the movie! It is just a terrible adaptation.

2. Pride and Prejudice (the one with Kiera Knightly). I know what you're thinking. Why is this on here when she had one version on her favorite list?? Because this is one of the worst versions of this classic book that I have seen. (the black and white one isn't really great either) They left SO much out! There is a reason for the good versions being mini-series. Because you HAVE TO to put everything in there! I do like the little bit they added at the very end with what he should call her because I think it is just adorable, but the movie just really disappointed me.

3. Ella Enchanted. I love Anne Hathaway, but I'm sorry, the movie was just not what it should have been. There are no giants in the movie. There is no plot to kill her prince. I just think that they made something about the strength that Ella gains for herself into a side show musical :( I read this book like 10 times when I was younger, and I was just disappointed in the movie.

Day 10 Five Absolutely Great Film Adaptations

Day 10 of the 30 Day Book Challenge is all about Great Film Adaptations. This is a very difficult subject for many book lovers. Movie adaptations are a very touchy subject for many book lovers, especially since MANY movie adaptations are horrible. To find 5, I thought I would have a problem, but actually I didn't :)

1. Pride and Prejudice (The BBC Version with Colin Firth) I had to be specific about the version of Pride and Prejudice because there are about 6 versions of Pride and Prejudice, and some of the other ones are NOT true to the book. There is barely a word changed or a sentence missing or added in this version. It is true to the book in the best possible way. Also, it has a handsome young Colin Firth in a wet shirt. Seriously, WATCH IT!

2. In Her Shoes. This one does have a few differences from the book, but it does not detract from the real meaning of the book. It focused on the sisters and their relationship, which is the heart of the book and I think that they did a wonderful job on the movie. I definitely recommend them both!

3. Lord of the Rings. I am putting all three together because otherwise they would be almost the whole list! Peter Jackson did a wonderful job at giving the Lord of the Rings the film adaptation that the epic deserved. The really are a different world and they are a beautiful world too.

4. Harry Potter. Now, obviously not ALL of the Harry Potter films are great adaptations. Just talk to any HP fan and you will quickly find that out. The two that stick out to me the most as the best adaptations are Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Oder of the Phoenix. These two really captured each of the books for me. I was just as excited as Harry at first going to Hogwarts and I was just as angry at the situations that happened in the Order of the Phoenix.

5. Bridget Jones's Diary. I actually think that the movie surpasses the book in this one. The book was funny and relatable, but the movie was even more so! They did a wonderful job picking the actors and I think they really got the neuroses of Bridget very well. :)

These are my favorite film adaptations. Are there movie adaptations that you were like, "Yes! They got it right!" about??