Rei'sa al Ghul; life, books, tea and other things!

Now, while I may love the convenience and feeling of a good paperback... I do have some... hatred for it.

1. Over glueing.

Seriously. I have/have had pages rip, stuck, not useable due to sloppy/shoddy binding.

2. Mass Market Paperback weird/awkward cuts.

I have had books of the Mass Market quality (while most are great!) be cut so weird that words/chunks of pages are missing,  fit at a weird angle, plain not readable.

JUST BECAUSE IT'S MASS MARKET DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE EXCUSE TO DO SHODDY WORK.

Also on the MM trend...

3. Pages duplicated, missing, upside down or not from the same book?

This happens WAAAAY too often at Wally World. Most recent was a MM of Beautiful Creatures with missing/repeated pages and upside down/Recall number two.

I consider this book abuse by the manufacturing companies. Sure, you get your money, but what about customer satisfaction?

Oy.

- Ranting Reisa



------

Reisa Marie Odette Dragunov

So, I have been diving in and out of a lot of books lately.

 

I can't seem to focus on just one. I mean, I am still on chapter 12 of Divergent. D: 

 

TWELVE!!!

 

I don't know how to get out of this funk. It's really eating me apart. I am just happy it didn't affect Fangirl. 

 

 

I have so many I want to read, so many I cannot read and so many I am just bleh with.

 

I love the stories, but I just cannot stick to one. It's like there is a rainfall of so many good books!

 

 

Do you ever have the same problem that I do? Just the inability to finish a book before you start another?

 

I feel like a bad reader. D:

 

 

I mean, I should have atleast 14 books done by now. Do I? Nooooo. 

 

 

I also have been downloading quite a few freebies...

 

And I almost screamed when I got The Testing for free on Kindle. 

 

 

It was like, magic.

 

 

 

Sooo... I thought that I might give a small insight in what I am reading!!

 

 

 

THIS MONTH:

 

 

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

 

 

Divergent by Veronica Roth

 

 

The Diviners by Libba Bray

 

 

Starters and Enders by Lissa Price

 

 & 

 

I also finished an ARC of Words Wound: Delete Cyberbullying and Make Kindness Go Viral by Justin W. Patchin and Sameer Hinduja. 

 

 

It was very informative, and something I really do believe that should be used in all schools. Cyber bullying is slowly becoming a huge thing, nd like they say.. Once it's on the internet, its there forever. It's really sad how mean kids and parent can be to other kids.

 

 

Anyways, other than wishing you a happy holidays, I think I am gonna jet for now!

 

Loootss of reading to do. 

 

 

Please, if you don't mind, drop me some suggestions for books, reading habits or just to chat!

 

 

Peace and Love!

 

 

- Reisa 

Title: Fangirl

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Series: No.

Age Range: I would say 16 and up.

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Coming of Age

Would I recommend it to anyone: HELL YES.

Description on Goodreads:

From the author of the New York Times bestseller Eleanor & Park.

A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love. 

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . .

But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?

Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?

And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

Review:

Holy shit balls.

HOLY SHIT BALLS.

If you have not heard of this book, you are about too!

As it said in the Goodreads blurb, Cath is pretttyyy much your typical Fangirl... What with the fanfiction, the slash (paring up characters un canon) and 9 times out of ten being an introvert.

She did NOT want to be separated from her sister, the only person in the world who understood her love of the world of Harry Potter Simon Snow! HOW COULD SHE JUST LEAVE HER TO GET A ROOMATE SHE DOESN'T KNOW?!

This book is almost like a diagram of how I would and DO react in most situations!

I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I must say that this book took me my surprise. Ever since Lola and the Boy Next Door (Review upcoming), I have been on a HUGE contemporary kick, and this just fed my addiction.

More than the Harry Potterkids can understand the feelings of a fangirl. Those needs, those emotions. How you clutch your books right and cry when [Insert Character] died/was injured/got kicked into nothingness basically. How you squealed and danced when something good happened! When the couple has their first kiss/hug/awkward realization that... Hey. I like this person. OH FUCK.

This book... this is a must in every fan girl, boys, undecideds bookshelf in my opinion.

As this was my first (and DEFINETELY NOT LAST) Rainbow Rowell book, I must tip my hat to this wonderful lady.

You made a fangirl of you, the worlds you created.. and I hope to CROWLEY you make the Simon Snow series a reality.

Also.

YAY LEVI<3

My Rating: 10/10

Goodreads Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16068905-fangirl

 



PS: A THANK YOU TO MY FRIEND, THE NERDIEST OF BIRDS FOR READING IT ALONG WITH ME. :)

I have been meaning to post.

 

 

Serious.

 

 

I MEAN IT.

 

 

I AM SORRY!@

 

I promise this week will be full of updates.

 

 

Book reviews

 

 

and lots more.

 

 

I love you bbeee.

 

plz don't go

So, I am RIGHT in the middle of reading Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl, right? About 51% done. 

 

 

I AM STUCK DUE TO OVERWHELMING FEELINGS.

 

Does this happen to you guys? AM I ALONE IN THIS?

So, it's been a little while...

 

Since the last time I posted, I hve been though QUITE A BIT...

 

 

I broke my glasses (more), I have been sick and random babblings.

 

 

I have got quite a few books, including the last three Vampire Academy books and The Golden Lily...

 

 

I would have Bloodlines and the first three if it hadn't been for some woman snatching them off my safe table. >(

 

I found a very nice boxset of Lord of the Rings + The Hobbit!!! I will be posting pictures (maybe) soonish of my bookhauls!

 

I am still debating making a booktube account. D: It scares me but I have been easing myself into it with my Instagram account.

 

Currently I am reading Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell with a friend. OH MY GOD I AM LOVING IT.

 

 

WHY AM I SO MUCH LIKE CATH!?!?!?!

 

I am also active now in NaNoWriMo! :D

AND I HAVE WORKED ON MY SUBREDDIT!!

I am running two DIVERGENT CONTESTS SO COME CHECK THEM OUT!!!

So, this is where I will stop typing for now and ask you to comment and ask me questions or suggest me books!

 

 

I MISSED YOU GUYS!!!

 

 

ALSO,  A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE IS RUNNING A CONTEST FOR HER NEW BOOK'S COVER REVEAL! 

 

Come check out her blog, for The Murder Complex's cover reveal my Book Nerdigans!!!

 

 

Reisa out!

Thinking about making a haul video. Not quite sure yet. :)



------

Reisa Marie Odette Dragunov

So, 

 

Lately I have been wondering if it would be worth it to get a type writer. Does anyone have experience with one? Could you give me hints and tips?

 

I have always had a fascination with them. The touch, the feel. Just the pure.. Power of them. Once you write, there is no back space. There is no do over. You have to do the whole damn page over again. It just feels so final.

 

it's something I have always wanted. I love the smell of a type writer. I love thinking of what COULD be. What IS to be. Something that is beyond comprehension. I guess it's like a long lost love feeling.

 

I have always loved writing. When my main laptop is fixed, I plan on starting my manuscript again. I know what I want to write. What story is locked inside and I know it will explode onto the pages.

 

So, if you have any points, tips, or good affordable (120$ and under) brands you can share, I would love it! 

 

- Reisa

Due to a death in our family, and my Aunt being in a multicar wreck I have been MIA.

 

I have been reading Ruby Red, on chapter 6 and loving it. Hopefully I will be done it by next Tuesday.

 

Just remembered that Chuck Palahniuk's sequel to Damned, Doomed comes out on the 8th! A lot of releases are coming on that beautiful date.

 

And the 22nd calls the end of the Divergent series!!

 

 

I will be posting a book haul soon, Please note that a lot of the books will be gifts from friends.

 

Anyways, I am gonna jet. =]

 

- Reisa

 

 

Also, on the 12th comes...

 

 

 

POKEMON!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOO!

Hello and welcome!!

This is my first monthly post and I am very excited to tell you about my TBR's, list some new releases and I am super super SUPER excited about Read Potter month!!

First and foremost,

TODAY IS THE RELEASE OF KRESLEY COLE'S ENDLESS KNIGHT!!!!!

I got to pre-order it, as a surprise the other day. It will be AWESOME! I plan on doing a review on both of them by the end of the month!

SPEAKING OF TBR'S...

On my TBR list this month is...

• Poison Princess by Kresley Cole (just a quick re-read to prepare for...)


• Endless Knight by Kresley Cole (Second in the Arcana Trilogy)


• Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (First in the Grisha Trilogy)


• The Harry Potter Series ( YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY)


• Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (More like TBFinished/ DoS&B Trilogy)


• Animal Farm by George Orwell


• Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier (#1 in the Precious Stone Trilogy)

I am very very excited about this months TBR.

Why is it so long, Reisa? 13 books?!

It looks big and intimidating. It really does. But, I can get through Potter with ease!! 3 are partially read already and the others will be grand adventures.

-----

I AM SO EXCITED!

It is offically READ POTTER MONTH!!



I AM AS HAPPY AS HERMIONE AFTER PUNCHING DRACO!!!!

The Harry Potter series is something big in my life. In my family. All of my cousins and I on my mothers side LOVE LOVE LOVE Harry Potter, It has a special place in each of our hearts, I cannot wait to read it again.

I know this is cliche, but I much rather read the books than see the movies. There is just something about creating your own vision of the world. About pretending you are there along side Harry and the crew. Being in the closet with him, to the first meeting of Hagrid and to Diagon Alley.

The whole emotional ride that is the Wizarding World.

I am still waiting on my owl. :)

I will be doing a review on Mr. Potter, and no points will be taken from Gryffindor.

----

UPCOMING RELEASES!

What are you waiting for?! This will be a monthly thing I do at the end of " xmonth Reads and goals! " posts!

Coming this month that I am excited for is:

• Allegiant by Veronica Roth ( :D :D :D)


• Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken


• Unbreakable by Kami Garcia


• Endless Knight by Kresley Cole (EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!)


• Tandem by Anna Jarzab


• Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier


• Revealed by P.C. Cast


• Entangled by Amy Rose Capetta


• The Beautiful and The Damned by Jessica Verday


• The Eyes of Minds by James Dashner


• Teardrop by Lauren Kat


• How to Love by Katie Cotugno


•  Six Months Later by Natalie Richards


•  Everything Breaks by Vicki Grove


• The Midnight Dress by Karen Foxlee


• Eve and Adam by Michael Grant


•  Midnight City J. Barton Mitchell

I didn't cover *all* the YA releases, but I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to know what YOU are excited for!! Maybe you could recommend me something!

----

Alright gang, I think that is a wrap for now! Don't be afraid to leave me a comment below or hit me up on twitter, I always follow back and love to talk!

Read on and prosper!

It's been a week since I stopped reading Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I have decided officially it's time to take a break.

This book has caught me by surprise. Not my normal story type. :)

Loving it so far!



------

Reisa Marie Odette Dragunov

Alright, I know this is my book blog...

But I feel the need to talk.

Hello my readers. How are you? What are you up too? Are you happy? Sad? Content? Leave me a comment and talk to me. :)



------

Reisa Marie Odette Dragunov

First review since coming back!!

------

Title: Of Mice and Men

Author: John Steinbeck

Series: No.

Age Range: 14 and up.

Genre: Classic, Young Adult, Historical Fiction

Would I recommend it to anyone?: Yes. A million times yes.

Description on Goodreads:

The tragic story of the complex bond between two migrant laborers in Central California. They are George Milton and Lennie Small, itinerant ranch hands who dream of one day owning a small farm. George acts as a father figure to Lennie, who is a very large, simple-minded man, calming him and helping to rein in his immense physical strength. 

Review:

This is a classic. Something I read a long time ago, but one of my absolute favorite reads.

The story follows Lennie and George.

Lennie is a lovable, but slow oaf who is always getting in trouble just trying to be himself.

George is a short, and even short tempered man who protects Lennie from life and others.

The story follows them both from being chased out of the first town, to their new adventure, new job and new troubles!

There they meet Candy and his dog, who both are a precursor to the whole story. Candy is an aged man, who still works his hardest despite only having one hand, and his only love in life is his dog. Old, smelly and just wanting to make his master smile.

Then there is Curly and his wife. A protective and jealous man, even shorter tempered than George, with a wife who in every sense of a tart, Always angering him my flirting with the farm hands.

The book shows the beauty of a strong male bond, companionship and what we are willing to do for our friends. What we will do when given the choice of hard or harder. Pain or true suffering. What is to be gently touched, and what we should avoid. Temptations hard and searing.

This book, at its core is something I am glad I read growing up. It taught me there isn't always rainbow and sunshine, there sometimes isn't a happy ending, but a needed ending. Something to grow on.

Lennie and George will always have a place in my heart, and I promise not to pet the puppies to hard on my road of life. :)

My Rating: 10/10

Goodreads link:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/890.Of_Mice_and_Men?ac=1

----

An added thank you to Ashley and her husband for making this possible. You two are simply amazing. I love you both immensely,

A friend sent me her old laptop until I get mine fixed, so now I have my sanity back.

 

I feel whole again.

I think I found my next TBR (TO BE READ) Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell. It looks fabulous!

Here is a gooodreads link.

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.

1. The sample drew me in.
2. From what I have read it looks like a glance into myself.
3. Its kinda controversial right now because it's a YA book and it has the word FUCK in it a lot. People are banning it.

I SOON WILL NOT BE POSTING FROM MY PHONE AS MUCH!!!! 

 

FRIEND IS GIVING ME HER OLD LAPTOP SO I CAN HAVE SOMETHING UNTIL MINE IS FIXED!!

SO I CAN BOOK BLOG MORE!!!!!!

 

WOOOHOOOOOOO!~~

Anyone hear anything good about this book?

Mind you, this is my first Rainbow Rowell book. I already can identify with Cath. I know those clinging insecurities. I think after Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Styxx might have to be put on hold.

Ever have those biting questions? Those thoughts of, what if? Why is X talking to Y? Why is it so have to get to Area C? If so, drop them in my comments! It can be about any book

I nearly screamed when I saw this, :D

Title: The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green

Series: No.

Age range: I would say 14 and up.

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Would I recommend it to anyone: This should be required reading.

Description on Goodreads: Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

 

Review:

 

Okay, I actually finished this almost a month ago.  I have been stalling making a review, well, because...

 

THAT IS HOW LONG IT TOOK TO RECOVER FROM THIS BOOK. 

 

Dear GOD, this book is something completely out of left field. I was expecting:

 

1. Over hyped drivel. (After [redacted], it hard to believe anything that is OMG POPULAR is actually not just the same story with generic characters, some authors wet dream or just what seems like a fan fiction of someone elses characters with slap of a new name.

2. Standard YA Lit.

3. Just some random book, might be good but not DROP EVERTHING AND CRY FOR A MONTH

And finally...

4. Not life changing.

 

 

I WAS DEAD WRONG.

 

After having like, 10 people tell me to read this book over a few months time, I finally decided to finally reach over, grab it off my shelf and read it.

 

At first? I kind of disliked Hazel. Not gonna lie. She seemed kind of dry. But, in her circumstances, who wouldn't be? I really was hesitant to read it when I saw the fact it was a "cancer book". Cancer is something very touchy with me. So, picking this up and reading it was hard for me. So, for valentines day, I was given no choice haha. A friend got me the book. So I stared at it. For days. Weeks. Months. Until another friend reminded me that I needed to read it. Again, due to what the book contains, I was kind of hesitant to start.

 

But when I did... Well.

 

After getting to know Hazel through the book, she is definately more than a cancer patient. The book really isn't a cancer book. It's more of a " oh yeah, she has cancer. Lets see what her and Augustus are up too. "

 

Speaking of Augustus... Whew. I have never fell for a book character as fast as him. He was far from you typical book main protaginist. he was... his own thing. A " cancer kid " himself, he was far from showing it. Lively, adventurous and charming. Something that I wish most kids these days were.

John Green really must have thought long and hard on these two. They honestly will be names that stick with me my whole life. 

 

I don't want to put any spoilers, but I will say this: DO NOT SKIM. DO NOT SKIP ANYTHING BECAUSE YOU THINK IT IS BORING(not that I did, but I know people who do. -_-). EVERYTHING IS VERY IMPORTANT. EVERY DETAIL.

This book truly is something I think should be required reading. Something for the ages, and that I will be sharing with others. 

 

I will end with this quote"

 

"My thoughts are stars I can't fathom into constellations."

 

My Rating: 10/10

 

Goodreads Link:

 

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11870085-the-fault-in-our-stars

 

Title: Dead Until Dark

Author: Charlaine Harris

Series: Sookie Stackhouse Mysteries

Would I recommend it to anyone?: Yes.

Age range: I'd say about 16 and up due to come content.

Genre: Mystery/Paranormal/Romance/Fantasy

Description on Goodreads: Sookie Stackhouse is just a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. Until the vampire of her dreams walks into her life-and one of her coworkers checks out.... Maybe having a vampire for a boyfriend isn't such a bright idea.

Review:

This book is nothing but a delight and a wonderful way to start the series! Sookie is a bar waitress in Bon Temps, Louisiana. Just your average, run of the mill girl... who can hear peoples thoughts. That is until someone comes in whom she cannot.. Bon Temps first vampire. Since Synthetic Blood (True Blood) had came into creation, vampires were finally coming out of the woodwork! And this one couldn't have come sooner. 

 

Bill, the vampire who walks into Sookie's life turns her life upside down. Secrets of her bosses life come out and murders come to fruition! And who else is to blame.. since they all are on the darker sexual side than the new vampire... until evidence leads to Sookie's brother; Jason. 

Side Notes:

This obviously is my first review, so if you have pointers please point them out! :) I really would suggest this to anyone who is a fan of the show, vampires or just a good murder mystery! I will be continuing this series. :)

My Rating: 9/10

Goodreads Link: 

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/301082.Dead_until_Dark

 

I have decided in the near future I will be moving my tumblr book blog here. :)