Blogmas: December 12th, 2019

Hi all and welcome to the 12th night of Blogmas. I’m a bit exhausted from work today so this is going up a bit late. Sorry ’bout that.

Anyway, I was googling for holiday-themed tags again and spotted the Harry Potter Christmas tag over on Adventure’s of a Bibliophile. This tag was created by Charleigh at Charleigh Writes.

It looks like a lot of fun, so here we go-

It’s your first Christmas at Hogwarts. What’s one book you’ve asked for this year?

Barnes and Nobles has some really fancy copies of Children of Blood and Bone that I’d love to hoard.

You spot Hagrid hauling the Christmas tree through the grounds. What is the longest (or heaviest!) book you own?

Probably Roots. I almost wish the book came in a set it’s just so intimidating looking.

It’s time for the famous Great Hall feast. What’s one book you can’t read without snacks?

Reading Harry Potter used to make me hungry. I am deadly serious. Part of me blames the feast scenes but to be completely honest I’ve always craved those train car treats.

Well done, you’ve brewed your first Polyjuice potion. What’s one book you’d change the cover of?

The cover of The Eternity Cure. It’s not a bad cover at all but I loved the cover of the first book in the series, The Immortal Rules so much better.

You receive a brand new Firebolt for Christmas. What’s one book you read super quickly?

Blondie by Joanne Ganci. I stayed up until almost 4 am reading this book and loved it so much I immediately had to read her first book Their Book Nerd. And I still vow to read everything she writes. Blondie was just that good.

You join Harry for his first proper Christmas. What’s one book you’d love to receive this year?

Any books I get would be things I’d be thankful for. Except for another copy of Lord of the Flies. I do not need to be tortured by that.

You get hit by one of Fred and George’s flying snowballs. What’s a book you wanted to throw across the room?

I literally threw Harry Potter and the Halfblood Prince at a wall when I was reading it. I was just so upset about what was happening with Dumbledore that I got furious.

You’ve just visited Hogsmeade for the first time. What’s one popular book you haven’t read yet?

Oh, this one’s easy- Wayward Son. Also, Daisy Jones and the Six but you did only ask for one so I suppose I’ll stop.

Congratulations, you’ve been invited to the Yule Ball. What book about Christmas do you love?

You find Ron’s deluminator. What’s one book that’s helped you through some dark times?

Do you even have to ask?

Until tomorrow,

Amber

Throwback Thursday: Top Five Wednesday, May 10th, 2017

Books as Event Themes

MAY 10, 2017 ~ 

Hello you saucy people you,

At first, I was a bit confused by the topic chosen for this week’s Top 5 Wednesday post. I was also really, really, unsure that I would be able to come up with five books that would make good event/party themes because I’m just not the party throwing or party going sort of gal but once I sat down to really think about it I realized that I just might have five books in mind.

So without further ado let’s get on with it,

1. Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake.

Can you imagine it? An event centered around the poisoner parties? I mean that aesthetic. It is officially goals. Of course, I’m just talking about the ambiance, lighting, and overall mood of the event, not necessarily the death-inducing food since we’re not exactly blessed with an immunity to dangerous and life threatening poisons. But seriously, that dark dinner vibe with the banquet style layout and the all black clothing/decor and do I even need to mention the snakes? Warms my little Slytherpuff heart.

2. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Now hear me out, an Illuminae themed laser tag party. Can you imagine? We could have opposing sides, someone playing the role of the super crazy A.I., and maybe even like a room where there’s like a bounce house type vibe. I’d say anti-gravity chamber but come on guys, the likelihood of that ever happening is pretty darn slim but still, a space-themed laser battle? I’m in and it doesn’t even exist.

3. I Hate Fairyland by Skottie Young

Yes, I am aware that this is a comic but honestly, I’ve just always wanted to throw a party with bright whimsical colors where everyone has to dress in a sort of fairyland aesthetic. It’s just pleasing to me and while I wouldn’t want the death, destruction or the potential bar fight I would be lying if I said that my friends and I didn’t swear like the characters in this book do because- we do. See? I’m not that ashamed to admit it.

4. Firebug by Lish McBride

Now, my reason behind this is simple. I want to go to the club/restaurant that serves as the headquarters for the gang of miscreants that live in this story. Every floor of it just sounds so friggin cool and wonderful (okay, maybe not the bottom floor of doom but that gets turned into a pretty decent office/operations setting in the second book, Pyromantic). Who wouldn’t want to throw an event where things are heaven and hell themed?

5. The Selection by Kiera Cass

Yes, I am fully aware that this is on a lot of people’s lists but hey, who doesn’t want an excuse to eat like a potential future princess and wear a gorgeous ass ball gown? I do.

Well, there you have it, my top 5 book inspired event themes.

Honorable mention goes to the comic book series Scott Pilgrim because that whole series and movie are everything to me. I mean seriously, a video game themed party and not the typical Pacman stuff? Who wouldn’t be in favor of that? And besides, it’d give me an excuse to rock some pink hair.

Blogmas: December 11th, 2019

Hello everybody and welcome to Blogmas day 11! Man, is it just me or is December going by insanely fast?

I decided to give the Greek Mythology tag that I found on the Book Loving Nut  a shot. Greek mythology is my jam after all.

Let’s get dangerous:

1. Zeus, The King Sky God-

Favorite book…

Okay, well this is obviously not as hard as one would think. Not for the girl who professes her infinite love for the same book so many times on this blog I’m not surprised it hasn’t driven anyone nuts yet.

I mean are you even surprised at this point?

Onward!

2. Poseidon- God of the Ocean

A book that drowned you in feels…

Gemina had me bawling like a baby man. I remember being so traumatized when I thought something horrible had happened to one of my favorite characters. I shed a lot of tears while reading this book. While reading the entire trilogy really.

3. Hades- God of the Underworld

Favorite dark book…

For this one I have two answers, the first being my favorite dark romance and the second being a dark book that genuinely fucked me up.

Sins is gory and somehow wonderfully twisted. It’s my favorite romance of the year, or at the very least in my top five. Misery is the book that fucked me up for life that I still think about to this day. Bonus goes to Lord of the Flies because that also scarred me for life. And yet, somehow I cannot stop thinking about it.

4. Hera- The Queen Goddess of Family and Marriage

Cutest couple…

Not going to show pics for this one because there’s actually a few I want to mention-

Damen and Laurent, Rufus and Mateo, Matt and Hope, Ava and Lock, Levi and Evie

I feel like that’s enough for now, after all, 5 is kind of a lot and Valentine’s Day is coming so I’ll have plenty of time to bombard you with my favorite ships then.

5. Athena- Goddess of Wisdom and Battle Strategy

Favorite intelligent heroine…

I’d have to go with Luna Lovegood and Hermione Granger, both super-intelligent in completely different and unique ways. What can I say? You never forget your first loves.

6. Gaea- The Great Mother

Favorite world-building book…

I have to go with the Illuminae Files for this one. That whole world is spectacular and one I can easily picture in my mind. But also, space? I like it.

7. Aphrodite- Goddess of Love and Beauty

Most gorgeous cover…

Never will I ever get over this cover.

8. Ares- God of War and Battle

Most violent book you’ve read…

See answer to number 3 because those are what I’m going with.

9. Hephaestus – God of Blacksmiths and Flame

Hottest book you’ve ever read…

All of the rh I read tends to be pretty hot. Same for most romances I read. I mean, isn’t it what we read them for?

10. Artemis- The Virgin Goddess of the Hunt

A heroine who doesn’t need a man to save her.

Every female heroine in the Illuminae Files. Ava from Firebug. Rachel Morgan from the Hollows series. Sabina Kane .

11. Apollo- God of Music, Light, and Healing

A book that is the exception to a genre you don’t like…

I don’t actually have an answer to this. I mean, I’ll read everything at least once.

12. Hermes, God of Messages, Travelers, and Thieves-

A book that stole your heart…

Let me show you a book that is currently stealing my heart-

This book is spectacular. I’m almost half in and I have loved every story so far. Every. Single. One.

13. Hestia- Goddess of Hearth and Home

A book you go back to for comfort…

That answer will always be Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.

14. Demeter- Goddess of Agriculture and Fertility

Favorite book setting…

Xanth. Everything is just so topsy turvy and fun there.

15. Dionysus, God of Wine and Feasting-

A book you are most anticipating in the next year.

And it comes out two days after my birthday!

16. Hecate, Goddess of Crossroads and Magic

Favorite magical read…

Can I say Artemis Fowl? I just like the magic and technology intermingling in it.

17. Nemesis, God of Revenge-

Favorite revenge story…

Those aren’t really my Jam but I’ll have to go with-

It’s a pretty good revenge story with a twist.

Until tomorrow,

Amber

 

Blogmas: December 11th, 2019

Hi guys and welcome to another Blogmas post,

Last night I’d decided to google book tags so that I could get some ideas for Blogmas and I found this Tis the Season Tag scrolling through Alyssa of Reading, Reading, Reading’s backlog. (Click the link to view her post).

1. Do you have a favorite winter read?

Not exactly but you can find some wintry reading suggestions here

2. Find a book with blue on the cover!

 3. Find a book you’d use as the star on a Christmas tree!

 Look how bright and shiny it is! Bonus for being gold as well, which I think is a color that’d match my tree rather nicely.

4. Pick one fictional place that would be perfect for a winter vacation!

Can I just be typical/cheesy and pick The Burrow? I would love to spend Christmas there. Eat all the food, get a matching sweater, and have Molly’s home cooking.

5. Pick one fictional character you’d take with you on your winter vacation!

Now, this might be a weird answer but I would bring either Holly Short or Legolas Greenleaf because I’d like to know if they would appear their normal elvish shelves per their universes or if they’d suddenly look like house-elves.

6. Name one book on your wish list this year!

I’d love a new copy of Wicked.

7. Favorite holiday drink, treat, & movie?

Hot cocoa for sure for the holiday drink portion but also peppermint mochas from Starbucks. Don’t make me choose between them. For movie, well I really love While You Were Sleeping and watch it every holiday, sometimes even all winter long. I don’t really have a favorite holiday treat though so I’m not going to answer that one.

And that wraps up the Tis the Season tag.

Until tomorrow,

Amber

Blogmas December 10th, 2019

Hello all and welcome to day 10!

Today’s topic is books I would gift my children-

The Magician’s Nephew-

I want my kids to be introduced to this series the way I was introduced to it, with this one being their first peek into this amazing world. I want them to be able to witness the creation of Narnia and the wonder of it.

 

 

 

 

Christmas After All: The Great Depression Diary of Minnie Swift-

This is my favorite Dear America book of all time and I cannot wait for my daughter to be old enough to enjoy it, or my son if he shows interest. There’s just something about Minnie and the entire Swift family that is just so endearing. I want this story to linger in their minds for as long as it has mine and to give them hope, even in struggling times.

 

 

 

 

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone-

Noah has actually already shown interest in this book and has actually, as a third-grader, tried reading it himself. Unfortunately, the copy we had something bad happen to it and we’re now in need of a new copy. I’d really like to get him one and possibly start a mother/son buddy read of sorts.

 

 

 

 

Kaiulani: The People’s Princess

I feel like Kaiulani is a Princess we don’t hear about often and I think it’s extremely important that my children learn about her and about some of the not so savory pieces of American history. I remember reading this book and wishing I’d known about Kaiulani sooner and also wondering what it would’ve been like to have a poet for a best friend and peacocks for pets but also to have everything you thought was going to happen, changed in an instant.

 

 

 

Sideways Stories From Wayside School-

Noah already loves slightly wacky stories and for me, this was my introduction to slightly wacky stories. He’s already semi-familiar with Wayside School but I’d love for him to jump headfirst into it.

 

 

 

 

 

Bunnicula-

I remember thinking about how cool it would be to have a vampiric rabbit. And I think both of my children would get a huge kick out of this.

 

 

 

 

and of course,

Artemis Fowl-

This book is one of the literary loves of my life. I don’t know if I’d be as into reading as I am if I hadn’t read it in 5th grade. And I would love to get a young boy’s perspective on it.

 

 

 

 

Until next time,

Amber

Top Ten Tuesday: December 10th, 2019

Hello and Welcome to another Top Ten Tuesday,

(Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that was created by The Broke and the Bookish and is currently hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.)

This week is a freebie so I decided to be a bit Voldemort-y and share with you which 10 books would be my Horcruxes. In no real order, let’s go- Oh and I’m also including incredibly vague reasons why so enjoy,

 
Crimson Bound-

For reasons of love and vanity.

 

 

 

 

 

Obsidio-

Brings it full circle.

 

 

 

 

They Both Die at the End-

Hits right in the feels.

 

 

 

 

 

Firebug-

The family I always wanted.

 

 

 

 

 

Carry On-

Kind of obvious but also, hilarious.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ogre, Ogre-

Favorite number, potential start of a future book-related problem.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dead Witch Walking-

Might be able to summon demons with it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One Last Wish-

Destroyed me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hibiki’s Magic-

So pure and fluffy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Othello-

The Start of a strange love affair.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until next time,

Amber

Blogmas December 9th, 2019

Hi guys and welcome to day 9 of Blogmas,

Today’s topic is Five Holiday Themed Books I Would Like to Read This Season:

It Started With a Sleigh– This one doesn’t have a tagline but from what I’ve heard about it in some of the facebook groups I’m involved in, it sounds like Christmas crack and I’ve gotta say, a big part of me is curious.

For those wondering, I remember this being a Reverse Harem book involving supposedly sexy elves. And that’s literally all I remember.

 

 

 

 

My Mistletoe Mix-Up– She was supposed to kiss her crush under the mistletoe. She didn’t expect to kiss his bad-boy twin.

I actually have a random sample of this on the kindle app on my phone. I don’t remember downloading it but that tagline has me hyped for it. I just love mix-ups like this and I am ready.

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas at the Log Fire Cabin– Curl up by the fire this Christmas with the ebook bestseller Catherine Ferguson.

This was actually on my holiday tbr last year which is the main reason I’d like to read it this holiday season. I have no idea what it’s about outside of it being set at a cabin. But the cover looks cute and it does say it’s an ebook bestseller. So maybe it’ll be cute?

 

 

 

 

 

The Christmas Deal- Will fake boyfriends become the real deal this holiday?

Who doesn’t enjoy the fake dating trope? I certainly do and I’ve got to say there are definitely parts of the synopsis that have me curious, such as how does one end up a single father to a step-son?

 

 

 

 

Eight Cozy Nights– It’ll take a miracle for the two of them to last more than eight nights…

Now, this is technically a reread. I read it last year and remember loving it and I would like to read it again to see if my tastes might have changed since then.

 

 

 

Until tomorrow,

 

Amber