Tag: Reading Habits

So recently I searched Book Tags on YouTube and my interest immediately sparked as I love to watch them. With that being said, I figured I would start doing a couple a month on here for funzies. This one is an old one, also if you would like to see the creator and her video the link is here.

Let's get started!

1. Do you have a certain place at home for reading?
 - I mainly read in my bed or in a comfy couch or chair.

2. Bookmark or random piece of paper?
 - Random piece of paper, I always end up losing my bookmarks or they'll get damaged and I toss them. I really like using paper clips or post-it notes and the occasional receipt or corner of notebook paper.

3. Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a chapter/ a certain amount of pages?
 - I usually find that I give myself book checkpoints! I'll either read a certain amount of pages or read to a chapter nearest to 1/4 or 1/3 or the book. (I hope that made sense!) If I can't do that I'll try to find a stopping point at the end of a scene at least.

4. Do you eat or drink while reading?
 - COFFEE, and more COFFEE :) ooooh and chocolate too, yes chocolate!

5. Multitasking: Music or TV while reading?
 - I prefer to read with the TV on low in the background in my room, just so that it isn't completely silent. Otherwise when I used to read in school, I could stand to have my headphones in with my music on low too.

6. One book at a time or several at once?
 - Several at once.... but I'm trying to commit myself to one at a time, so I can make sure my stories don't run together. (especially if I'm reading books with similar themes at the same time)

7. Reading at home or everywhere?
 - I really only read at home now, or in my dorm room while I'm at college.

8. Reading out loud or silently in your head?
 -Both. If I'm alone I'll occasionally read out loud for a little while. Otherwise I'm reading in my head the majority of the time, especially if I want to read faster or if the book gets really good!

9. Do you read ahead or even skip pages?
 -Unfortunately... guilty of both! It's really a bad habit that I need to get out of doing! If I get too anxious or excited to see what's going to happen to a certain character or in a certain scene, I'll look a couple pages ahead to see if I see their name or see what happens next. Also if the story is excruciatingly slow, then I'll only read the dialogue and skim the rest until its bearable.

10. Breaking the spine or keeping it like new?
 - With hardcovers you can't tell after one read and after you put the dust jacket back on, so I'm not so concerned with those. But regular paperback books, out of habit and the way I hold my book when I read, I usually don't have too many broken spines. With mass market paperbacks, a broken spine is inevitable.

11. Do you write in your books?
 -I've never felt comfortable writing in books so I don't do it. Even with my school textbooks, usually highlighting is good enough for me.

12. Who do you tag?
 -I tag anyone who wants to do this tag! I know this is an older one but it's really quick and simple, so if you haven't done it feel free to do it and let me know you  posted so I can check your answers out! 

Happy Readings!

Weekly Reading Update (WRU, #8)

Haven't done one of these in a while! Thinking about bringing these posts back if I can continue to read on a consistent basis especially since I'm out of college for the next couple of months for summer break.

  The Ring and the Crown

Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Pages: Currently reading on page 293 of 372
Acquired: Library
Published: 2014



Goodreads Blurb:
Princess Marie-Victoria, heir to the Lily Throne, and Aelwyn Myrddn, bastard daughter of the Mage of England, grew up together. But who will rule, and who will serve?

Quiet and gentle, Marie has never lived up to the ambitions of her mother, Queen Eleanor the Second, Supreme Ruler of the Franco-British Empire. With the help of her Head Merlin, Emrys, Eleanor has maintained her stranglehold on the world's only source of magic. She rules the most powerful empire the world has ever seen.

But even with the aid of Emrys' magic, Eleanor's extended lifespan is nearing its end. The princess must marry and produce an heir or the Empire will be vulnerable to its greatest enemy, Prussia. The two kingdoms must unite to end the war, and the only solution is a match between Marie and Prince Leopold VII, heir to the Prussian throne. But Marie has always loved Gill, her childhood friend and soldier of the Queen's Guard.

Together, Marie and Aelwyn, a powerful magician in her own right, come up with a plan. Aelwyn will take on Marie's face, allowing the princess to escape with Gill and live the quiet life she's always wanted. And Aelwyn will get what she's always dreamed of--the chance to rule. But the court intrigue and hunger for power in Lenoran England run deeper than anyone could imagine. In the end, there is only rule that matters in Eleanor's court: trust no one.

***** 

Tell me what you're currently reading or what you've read this week!

Since You've Been Gone

 

Author: Mary Jennifer Payne
Series: none
Pages: 224
Challenge: Goodreads Challenge 2015
Genre: Contemporary
Acquired: Netgalley
Rating: ★★★

*****

Goodreads Summary:

Is it possible to outrun your past? Fifteen-year-old Edie Fraser and her mother, Sydney, have been trying to do just that for five years. Now, things have gone from bad to worse. Not only has Edie had to move to another new school she's in a different country.
Sydney promises her that that this is their chance at a fresh start, and Edie does her best to adjust to life in London, England, despite being targeted by the school bully. But when Sydney goes out to work the night shift and doesn't come home, Edie is terrified that the past has finally caught up with them.
Alone in a strange country, Edie is afraid to call the police for fear that she'll be sent back to her abusive father. Determined to find her mother, but with no idea where to start, she must now face the most difficult decision of her life."

  *****

 My Thoughts:

Since You've Been Gone follows sixteen year old Edie Fraser as she struggles with her ever- changing life of constantly moving from city to city and school to school. Edie hasn't lived in a stable, permanent home since she was ten. That's when it happened, and she and her mother quickly packed and fled their home to never look back again. But as soon as things start to look brighter, he finds them.... he always finds them.

Starting off with Edie's character, I really liked her personality and determination. I also liked how real of a person she seemed to be... as in I didn't feel like I was reading about a made up character, this story has the very real possibility of happening in the real world .... and how as a reader I could connect to her story better because of this.

 I thought this book was good at portraying real life examples and events such as abuse, racism, bullying, and also sickness. Reading about these events whether they directly affected the main character, Edie, or not definitely makes connecting to the story easier as most people have gone through at least one or more of the same situations these characters have experienced.

Problems?... I felt some parts in the book were rushed through or either could have been explained more. Knowing more about Edie's past could have helped me to better understand why the main storyline in the book even happened. I just felt that I had a lot of questions about Edie's mother and father that could have been explained better.

Liked Most: the relatable events and mystery of the book as a whole
Liked Least: the pacing, rushed through some parts then dragged in others

For me, personally, the plot was predictable. I could accurately predict the ending and most of the other events in the book, so that was disappointing seeing as the mystery element in the book wasn't very strong. Overall the plot was okay.

Ending: Mehhh, the ending tapered off and stopped all at once. The main climax of the book was rushed and glazed over. I spent most of the book waiting for the climax to blow me away and leave me feeling like the book was worth it, sadly I didn't get that feeling. Actually the climax wasn't much of a climax, the mystery aspect of the book was summed up in what felt like half a page.

Rating: 3/5... it was an OK read for me
Recommend: I would recommend this to those who like reading about realistic serious issues like abuse, bullying, etc.

RECIEVED FROM NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.

If you have read this book, let me know your thoughts below!!

*****