Dewey's 24 Hour ReadAThon - Wrap Up!!

It's done!! The past 24 hours (32, by the time this goes live) have been completely hectic, and I'm now very, very tired. I will be uploading a video where I talk in more detail about my readathon experience, but in the meantime, you can all read a quick review about the books I read here. Also, if you want to find out more about any of these books, click the book title to visit their Goodreads pages (I know, I'm a technology whiz).

MAUS - The Complete Volumes by Art Spiegelelman
I'm not going to talk about these separately because I read them right after each other, with only a few hours sleep in between. This was my first experience with a graphic novel, and it was a good one. The story was told in a way that really suited the content, and I was really engaged in the narrative. I'm so glad that I read this story, and it's sticking in my mind still, which is always a good sign! I would really recommend this graphic novel to everyone, because it deals with really important historical content and themes.


Slaugherhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
I picked this book up for the weekend because it was really short (only 175 pages) so I knew I would easily be able to get through it in the 24 hours. It did take me a lot longer than I thought it would, because the content of this book is somewhat strange... But I loved this story and it contained so many amazing quotes that I couldn't help but highlight. It's hard to tell you what genre this book is in, and I can only describe it as a mixture between dystopian, science fiction and historical fiction, as well as a reflective piece about a character's life... If that sounds like your kind of book, then for sure read this.


Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
I only read 51 pages of this before the 10pm cut off, but I really love it so far. The world is so interesting and I'm very invested in the story at the moment. I'll be sure to post a full non-spoiler review on my blog when I finish it, and if I have anything somewhat interesting (and spoilerly) to say about it then I might post a video as well.

Make sure you all let me know how your readathon went if you participated. As always, happy reading!!

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A Subjective Guide to Genre - Choosing Your Next Book

**A note on my notes: This post is of my opinion only, and I'm not an expect.**

Choosing your next book is hard. 

We've all been there - when you have so many books that you haven't read, but you have no idea how to choose which one to read next. When this happens to me, I tend to choose a genre that I'm in the mood for and pick a book from it. These are the genres that I usually feel in the mood to read.

Contemporary
If you're searching for a light, easy read, then the contemporary genre is where you need to look. Often featuring cute romances and beautiful friendships, good books from this genre can easily make you laugh and cry within a few pages. If you're in a reading slump, then contemporary is usually a good genre to dive into because they're often short, stand-alone books that you can get through quickly. Some of my favourite contemporary author's are Rainbow Rowell, Nicholas Sparks, and I'd also 100% recommend Wonder by R.J. Palacio and The Simple Gift by Steven Herrick.

Fantasy
Fantasy books are often a commitment because they usually come in a huge series. Fantasy is split into two sections (that I read, anyway): urban fantasy and epic fantasy. If you're new to the fantasy genre or if you don't really feel like learning a whole new world, stick to urban fantasy (which is set in the world as we know it, but with fantastical elements, while epic fantasy is in an entirely different world). Some fantasy series that I love are the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, the Obernewtyn chronicles by Isobelle Carmody and the Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare. If you're looking for some fantasy stand-alones, then I would recommend Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta or Stardust by Neil Gaiman.

Dystopian 
This is one of my favourite genres, and I think that it always is the most enjoyable when you hate the world. If you're feeling depressed about something that's happening in the world that you can't change it, or if you're reflecting on how shit people are or how nothing is fair, then you need a dystopian book. These books often come in trilogies, although there are several classic dystopian stand-alones that I really enjoyed. Of this genre, I would recommend The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, the Divergent trilogy by Veronica Roth and any dystopian I mention in the classics section.

Science Fiction
I love science fiction a lot, but it's not a genre that I read that often. I often find that sci-fi is a good cross between fantasy and dystopian, so if you're feeling like one of those genres but can't quick pick something, try looking in the science fiction genre. Some of my favourites include Ender's Game and Pathfinder, both by Orson Scott-Card, as well as The Host by Stephanie Meyer. 

Classics
It's not often that I'm in the mood for a classic, but when I'm feeling really smart (or that I need to be more well-read), I usually quite enjoy them. Most classics are a challenge, so don't pick them up when you're looking for something to read quickly. For me, classic dystopians are my favourite, and I'd recommend reading Nineteen Eighty-Four and Animal Farm by George Orwell, as well as A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess. Other classics that I've enjoyed have been Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (although don't expect to get through this quickly), To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee and The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

Historical Fiction
I don't read much of this genre either, but the books that I have read from it have been really good. Books from this genre often tug at your heart strings, so if you want an emotional book, something from this genre will give you that (especially some World War II fiction). My favourite historical fiction books are The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.

Hopefully, the next time you're stuck trying to choose your next book, you can come back to this list and make an informed decision. Happy reading!

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Things I Hate - Book Edition Part Two

**A note on my notes: These are my opinions only.**

I still hate a lot of things. 

A few weeks ago now I made a post that listed all the things that I hate in regards to books. As soon as I posted it, I thought of a couple more things that really just get on my nerves. So this is part two of Things I Hate - Book Edition. 

1. Big font

I will often not buy a copy of a book that I really really want if the font in it is huge. And I'm not talking about books that are specifically designed for those with poor eyesight, I'm just talking about normal books on the shelves that have huge font. It makes me so angry because it makes the book appears so much longer than it actually is, which I really don't understand because people are drawn to shorter books, right? So why don't you make the book look shorter by giving it a normal font size!!

2. Books that are really tall or really short

I don't understand why publishers make books all sorts of different sizes. I really don't like reading from books that are really tall because it feels weird, and the same goes for those mass produced paperbacks that are really short. Books should all be the same size and it's really not that hard to make them that way. 

3. People who don't read certain kinds of books

If you're the kind of person who turns your nose up at people who read anything other than classic literature, PLEASE GET OVER YOURSELF. You're not any better than any other person based on the fact that you exclusively read classics. Also, people who look down upon YA and children's books. Seriously?

4. Stickers

If you want to ruin a book quickly, put a sticker on it. If you want to really make me angry, put the price sticker over the synopsis so I have no idea whether I want this book or not. If you want to further piss me off, put a sticker telling me this book will soon be a movie smack bang in the middle of the front cover. WHAT ARE YOU DOING!

5. Series that aren't numbered

Is it really that hard to put a tiny number on the spine of a book that tells you what book in a series it is? Really? Is that actually too much to ask for? 

6. Character names

Authors know that their readers can't listen to how their character names are pronounced. That's not a thing yet. SO WHY DO THEY STILL GIVE THEIR CHARACTERS NAMES THAT NO ONE HAS ANY IDEA HOW TO PRONOUNCE?  

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Top 5 Book Casts

Character development is essential for a novel to be successful. Often, I'll continue reading a book that I think is weak in terms of plot in order to discover what happens to the characters. As a reader, I love when a book has characters that I can invest emotionally in, because it only adds to the story. This post lists the books or series of books that have my favourite cast of characters.

5. Wonder by R.J. Palacio
This book is one that I've read in 2014 and I absolutely loved it. The characters in this book are just so perfectly developed and they are so realistic. If you haven't read this book, I would definitely read it (and I've done a review of it here if you're interested). This book has multiple perspectives, which enhances each character so much and hearing a different perspective on certain issues always manages to change your opinions somehow.

4. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Not only is this book narrated by an interesting character (Death), but it's filled with so many more complex characters that interact so well with each other. Mama and Papa are just beautiful human beings that are so realistically described and Liesel and Rudy are both incredibly accurate characters in terms of them both being children. These characters are just beautiful and I would read this book if you haven't already (and I've done a review of it here).

3. The Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare
If you haven't read this series, you really should (I haven't done a review, but Google these books and you'll fall in love). It contains some of the most brilliant characters I've ever read. Magnus Bane is a hilarious gay warlock (which definitely makes him sound as awesome as he is) who brings a unique perspective to life due to his insane age (he's very, very old.). Then there's Will Herondale and Jem Carstairs, who have the most beautiful friendship and interact so well together. And of course, Tessa, who isn't my favourite character, but she works so well in this trilogy.

2. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
This book is easily one  of my all-time favourites (review), and the incredible characters play a huge part in this. Cath is so easy to relate to and has a million qualities that so many people can identify with. The same goes for all of the characters. The issues and struggles that each character has to overcome are so realistic. They all feel so personal. And they're all so loveable.

1. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
(If you haven't read these books... what are you doing with your life?). I believe that part of the reason for the success of these books is the characters. Although they're all so unreal in that they are witches/wizards that are from a world that we know we can never visit or relate to, they are so easy to understand as human beings. Children from all over the world were able to identify with these characters because not only do they have to save the world, but they also have to deal with real-world issues, like being outshone by your best friend, falling in love and growing up.

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Things I Hate - Book Edition

**A note on my notes: These are my opinions only.**

I hate a lot of things.

People in real life get sick of me complaining about everything. And by everything, I really mean everything. There are some issues that real life people will rant about with me for a few minutes because they understand. Books, however, are not one of those topics. So you're going to be subject to these complaints, and I'm not sorry for it.

1. Cover Changes
Sometimes, I really don't understand cover changes. How can anyone possibly think that a picture of a girls face will make a better cover than one of the most beautiful illustrations I've ever seen? I'm talking about the Delirium trilogy right here, if you're unaware. I seriously have no idea why a publisher will decide to change the cover of a book series halfway through... What on earth would make you decide that forcing people to have non-matching editions a good idea? What is wrong with you?

2. Covers with faces on them
Why do you think that people would want to own a book that has a huge face on the cover? You know that people judge books by their covers. You know that people will not buy a book they know nothing about if the cover doesn't catch their attention. You know all this. SO WHY DID YOU JUST PUT A GIRL'S FACE ON THIS COVER THAT IS ABOUT WAR AND REBELLION. Yes, I'm talking about Delirium again.

3. Huge copies before small copies
If you've ever followed a series from a time before the final book is released, then you probably know what I'm talking about. What I mean here is that, for example, the first two books in a trilogy are both a normal book size, but when the final instalment is released, the only copy I can buy is HUGE, and it's not until months later that a normal size edition is published. WHY. This happened to me both with Clockwork Princess and City of Heavenly Fire, and it seriously makes me so angry. I don't understand why anyone would think this was a good idea.

4. Not having books on the release date
If a book has been advertised as being released on a certain date, RELEASE IT ON THAT DATE! You don't get to allow people to buy it earlier. You should have the book on the shelves ready to be purchased on THE DATE THAT THE BOOK IS SUPPOSED TO BE RELEASED. People shouldn't be frustrated by driving all the way to whatever store just to buy a book on the day that it's released, and to be turned away because they don't have it. GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER AND FOLLOW SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS, LIKE THE DATE.

5. Prices
I live in Australia. Books are more expensive than everything. You can expect to pay around $25 for a paperback. A PAPERBACK. If you want a hardback copy, you'll probably have to search every book store for weeks before you find one, and you can expect to pay around $30-$40 for it. If you to buy books online, you better hope they're coming from Australia, because international shipping will set you back about $30 too. Think you're saving money by buying books from the Book Outlet online? Nope, because the shipping will cost you more than the books did.

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Favourite Book to Movie Adaptations

**A note on my notes: These are my opinions only and I'm not an expert on this subject (although I wish I was). Accept that perception is a real thing that exists and don't claim that I'm wrong or you're more right.**

I love books. I also love movies. I don't always love book-to-movie adaptations. So when one of my favourite books is about to be turned into a movie, you could understand why I get a little nervous. I mean, you saw The Hunger Games (or didn't see, with all the shaky camera...) or Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief (yes I know I haven't read the book, but the adaptation was still terrible) so you probably all know exactly what I'm talking about.

While book-to-movie adaptations definitely make me nervous, and I do end up hating a lot of them, there are some that just get everything right. Here is a short list of all the book-to-movie adaptations that I am truly grateful for. (Note: the list is in no particular order.)

1. Catching Fire
The Hunger Games movie was bitterly disappointing. Granted, it had a few moments where I was happy, but overall, the entire movie was a let down. Because of that, I really wasn't that excited for Catching Fire to be released, because I was preparing myself for a re-emergence of the bitter disappointment I'd felt with its predecessor. However, I didn't need to prepare for that at all! Catching Fire was such a beautiful movie, because it so accurately portrayed the book. I was completely happy with this movie. Johanna. That's all I'm going to say.

2. The Book Thief
Now I read this book after I saw the movie, so my opinion of the movie might be a little different had I read the book first... But I also highly doubt that, because I read the book straight after and noticed hardly any differences between the book and movie. I think the casting for this movie was perfection. The acting was just beautiful. I also thought the portrayal of Death as the narrator was done well, which would have probably been the thing I was most worried about if I read the book first. But I didn't need to worry because it was done right.

3. Harry Potter in general
This is kind of a hard one to judge for me, because the time between when I read the books and when I watched the movies was so huge that I mostly didn't even remember what was going to happen. Because of that, it's hard to judge whether the movies were accurate adaptations, but they're on the list because I do remember that when I watched the movies I loved them just as much as I loved reading the books. The whole Harry Potter universe is just incredible, so I would love anything that is a part of the Wizarding World.

4. Water for Elephants
This is another one where I read the book after seeing the movie, but in this instance it was a couple of years after. However, I remember that I loved the movie when I first watched it, and then I loved the book when I read it in July of this year. I can't say whether it was an accurate adaptation, but from what I gathered, the major details were the same and I did really enjoy both the movie and the book, which is why it's on the this list.

5. The Perks of Being a Wallflower
This book was brilliant, and so was the movie. It was such a faithful adaptation and the movie really captured the essence and tone of the book and its story. I think the acting in Perks was perfect, and the casting was so accurate. I was extremely happy with the way this movie turned out.

6. Divergent
I really enjoyed the Divergent book series, but to be completely honest, I wasn't expecting the movie to amount to much. I thought that there were a lot of emotional scenes that just wouldn't work on screen as well as they did in the book. But I was pretty impressed with the adaptation! It's not my favourite movie and there were a few things that I wasn't happy with, but overall, the movie just made me so pumped. There was so much adrenaline running through me after seeing it, which is why I'm putting it on my list of favourites, because it captured the tone of the book.

Those are six book to move adaptations that I think were extremely successful. Let me know what your favourite adaptations are. Happy Reading!

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Embarrassing Unread Authors

If you haven't already guessed, I read quite a lot of books. Despite this, there are still some authors that are insanely popular, have written insanely popular books or are simply highly praised that I have never read. For example, it wasn't until about May this year that I read my first ever John Green, Rainbow Rowell or Markus Zusak novel. I know, it's shameful. So here are 5 authors who I'm embarrassed to say I have never read.

1. Neil Gaiman 
This really upsets me because I really want to read The Ocean at the End of the Lane and The Graveyard Book, but I just haven't gotten around to it yet.

2. Patrick Ness
I saw a review on More than This, which made me extremely interested in Ness as an author, but I never got around to picking up the book.

3. Brandon Sanderson
I am huge fan of books of either fantasy or dystopian genres that cross over with science fiction, so I know that I would absolutely love so many of Sanderson's novels. Alas, I own none and have read none.

4. J.R.R Tolkien
No, I haven't read Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit. I own them, but I've just ever gotten around to reading them which is a real shame because I think I could be really invested in the world.

5. Rick Riordan
For someone who watches the BookTube community (and now even makes videos myself!!), it's very surprising that I haven't been convinced to read the Percy Jackson series. I saw the first movie when it came out and it just really put me off reading the books.

Those are five authors that I'm embarrassed to say I haven't read. However, I plan on reading at least one book by each of these authors (except maybe Rick Riordan) by the end of the year. If you have any embarrassing authors like me, let me know!! Happy Reading!

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