I Have To Get This Off My Chest...

I Have To Get This Off My Chest...

One of my 2015 blogger resolutions was to do more non-review posts. I have thoughts. Lots and lots of thoughts. I'd love to hear yours too. Today, the thing on my mind is

Books to Movies

So, right around the corner is the debut of the movie version of this little book called FIFTY SHADES OF GREY. As I troll Twitter and Facebook and poll my friends who’ve read the series, opinions on this seem to fall into two camps. There’s the “OMG, I CAN’T WAIT” group, and the “I HATE JAMIE DORNAN AS CHRISTIAN GREY, SO I REFUSE TO GO SEE IT” group.

And, it got me thinking about this whole books-to-movies phenomenon that seems to have really taken off in recent years, thanks to the Twilight and Harry Potter franchises. Is it a good idea? Should Hollywood keep doing it? To answer those, you should ask yourself a few questions.

Question 1: Does casting matter?
Okay. Full disclosure, right? I tend to get pretty annoyed at how much emphasis some place on casting. There are some that get so worked up about it, that they make the decision to skip the movie version of a beloved book simply because they can’t picture the casted actor(s) in the roles of their favorite characters. Can I tell you something?

THEY ARE ACTORS.

They are getting paid millions of dollars to make you believe they are who they say they are. Don’t underestimate their abilities, and don’t pass judgment without having first-hand knowledge. Case in point – Sam Heughan.

When I learned he was going to play Jamie Fraser in the television production of Outlander, I was scratching my head. I just couldn’t see it, but then, I love Jamie so much, I don’t think ANYONE would’ve measured up. I was thinking, “He’s too old. His hair isn’t right. He’s not ‘big enough’ for the part.” Thank goodness my hang-ups didn’t prevent me from watching, because on screen, Sam Heughan absolutely embodied Jamie Fraser. I found myself not noticing the physical discrepancies at all. His acting and the acting from the supporting cast more than made up for them, and I found myself absolutely believing he was Jamie.

Sure, I would’ve probably preferred someone different to play Christian Grey. But, I’m confident that if the producers get everything else right, it won’t matter. Jamie Dornan seems to be a good actor from what I've seen, and as long as he embodies the essence of Mr. Twitchy Palm, I'm confident it won't matter what he looks like.

Question 2: Book first? Or movie first?
For me, Harry Potter will always look like Daniel Radcliff. This is because I watched the first few movies before I ever opened Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I read all seven books quickly, and managed to get them all done before the first Deadly Hallows movie came out. But, still. As I was reading those first books, I had the movie actors in my head.

Although it may spoil the ending of the movie for you, I definitely think that reading the book first is the best way to go. You can formulate your own opinions of how the characters should appear. And, it gives you good background information when you watch the movie, since they inevitably need to leave out some things.

There are a few instances where I know I would’ve enjoyed the movie, had I watched it first. The Percy Jackson movies, for instance. The effects were good, and the story was interesting. But, the movie was NOTHING like the book, and therefore, ruined for me. So, there is that.


Question 3: Is it possible for the movie to actually IMPROVE upon the story?
I do think it's possible for a movie to actually be better than the book. But, it's super hard to get there. Take, for instance, Mockingjay.

Who here was not a big fan of the final book in the trilogy. Go ahead - don't be shy. It's fine to admit that it just didn't live up to the awesomesauce that was The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. Katniss had turned into a whiny baby that was too riddled with guilt and despair to do anything about her situation without being forced. She was a shadow of the strong young woman we were introduced to.

The movie portrayal of Katniss in Mockingjay, however, was So. Much. BETTER. Was it just me, or did Jennifer Lawrence's portrayal of her make Katniss seem so much stronger? I'm so looking forward to the final Mockingjay to see what else is improved. I'm hoping the very ending. Like, the epilogue. Some true happiness from Katniss would be nice.

So, here's what I want to know from you:

1. Does casting matter?
2. Book first? Or movie first?
3. Is it possible for the movie to actually improve upon the story?
4. Do you plan to go see 50? (Because, I'm totes going to be there.)

2014 Goals... and Cats

Goals are a good thing. They keep you focused. And accountable. Maybe that's why I don't set many goals. Because then, if I eff up, I won't feel guilty. No. No - goals are a good thing. Especially when it comes to blogging.

I set goals for 2013. Let's see how I did:

1. Blog redesign - Yup. I did this in February. My new design made my blog look so much more professional. I've had to deal with some quirks, but all-in-all, it was a fantastic decision.

2. Daily weekday posts - I've missed two weekday posts this year - one in January on the day my family was flying home from our Disney vacation, and one just last week on Christmas day. Not too bad.

3. Author interviews - I still haven't done too many of these. I think in 2013 I did three.

4. Book tours - Holy mama, have I embraced blog tours. I do four or five a month (I have seven scheduled for January!) now.

5. More giveaways - Oh yeah. Blog tours help with that, but I did a bunch of my own this year, as well as participated in several giveaway hops.

6. Adopt a meme and stick with it - Top Ten Tuesday was my meme of choice, and I've only missed a few Tuesdays the entire year.

7. Develop a Facebook page - Check. I actually started that in December 2011. And, I now have almost 700 fans. <3

8. Cross-post reviews on Goodreads and Amazon - I'm doing much, much better with this one. I struggled still with a good workflow in the first half of the year, but I think I have it down now. Nearly all my reviews are posted on GR, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

9. Get organized - All my posts go live at midnight. I Tweet and Facebook them every morning before 9 a.m. I now keep a daily planner to keep track of my commitments. Call me Ms. Organization.

10. Get to know my fellow bloggers - I still don't comment on as many other blog posts, Tweets and Facebook messages as I would like. Sometimes (hell, most times) there just aren't enough hours in the day. But I do engage in this more often than I did last year. And yes. I did make it to BEA. And it was EPIC.

So, what about goals for 2014? 

1. More of the same - The goals I set for myself for 2013 were good goals. I want to keep doing what I'm doing. I'll keep up with the daily weekday posts (weekends are reserved for my family, though), do more author interviews, stick with Top Ten Tuesday - these are all good things.

2. Add ads - Sorry guys. I know this is probably not the best news for you, but it'll really help this girl out. As my habit grows, I need to find a way to fund it. Many blogs have ads on them. I would guess mine will be one of them soon. I'm still investigating the best way to do it without it being too obtrusive for you, though.

3. Attend more events - I attended some pretty awesome events in 2013. I met some amazing authors. It's one of my most favorite things to do. In January and February 2014 alone, I already have plans to see Maria V. Snyder, Brigid Kemmerer and Jeaniene Frost. And yes - I am going back to BEA. I'm so excited, I could pee my pants.

4. Help organize a blog event - I participated in several blog events this year - New Adult Readathon, Netgalley November and 25 Days of Book Boyfriends to name a few. I'd love to get in on organizing some of these cool events. They're a super fun way to engage the blogging community.

5. Chillax - I must admit - blogging became a bit of an obsession for me in 2013. As mentioned, I missed only two weekday posts. I posted over 290 posts - that's more than one per weekday. I was focused on hitting that 1,000 follower mark, And, I've done that now. So, I'd really like to just take some time to remind myself why I started blogging in the first place. To talk about books with people who get me. To meet cool people. To have fun. I don't want this to be a job - I have one of those already. Plus, I'm a wife and a mom. Blogging and reading is my spare time activity. Not that you don't deserve consistency. But, if I miss a day here or there - no big.

So, there you have it. Goals ARE a good thing. What are yours?

A Bookish Recap of Christmas

I'm sitting here at 9:30 p.m. on Christmas night trying to grasp the fact that, once again, it's all over. All the planning, madness, obsessing, spending, wrapping, baking and excitement is over in just 12 short hours. It's a good thing, really. I'm very much looking forward to getting on with life as I know it. And, 2014 is going to be a busy year - I'm ready to get started.

But, first, a recap of Christmas. Of course, every year I ask for books and book-related items. I had about a dozen books on my list this year, as well as things like bookshelves and blogging essentials. Here's what I got.

1. 2014 planner - I actually got this for my birthday a few weeks ago, but it was on my Christmas list. I would lose my mind without my planner. It keeps track of all my blog tour commitments, signings I want to attend and ARC review posting dates. A new one for 2014 was a MUST - if I hadn't gotten it as a gift, I would've bought one myself.

2. Books - I received two books this year. Yup. Two. It's all good. I received a bunch for my birthday, and I've been so very fortunate this year to have made some really amazing contacts with major publishing house publicists, who have managed to keep me busy with some really cool ARCs. So, really, I can't complain one bit. The two books I received were Rush, by Maya Banks and The House of Hades, by Rick Riordan.

3. Amazon GC - My parents know that a good stocking stuffer for me is always an Amazon gift card. I got one worth $25 this year. So, now the big question is, what do I spend it on??? I'm leaning toward these two pre-orders:

4. I-Pod Nano - My big gifty this year came from my wonderful husband. I had been complaining about

having to listen to my audiobooks on my Droid smartphone because when I get texts or e-mails, it cuts out the audio for a few seconds. If I'm listening to a borrowed audiobook from the library, I don't get those seconds back. If I'm listening to a book downloaded from Audible. it repeats the last 5 seconds or so right before the alert noise. Either way, it's irritating. So, my husband got me my very first I-gadget ever. I'm excited to start playing with it and listening to some books on it.

So, what bookish Christmas presents did you get? Any books? What didn't you get that you really, REALLY wanted?

A to Z Book Survey

I saw the A to Z Book Survey on Jamie's blog, The Perpetual Pageturner, awhile ago and was saving it for just the right moment (in other words, for when I didn't have another review all ready to go :D). So, let's get to it, shall we?

Author You've Read the Most Books From

This is a tie between J.R. Ward and Jennifer L. Armentrout with 13 books each. 

Best Sequel Ever

WOW. Hard question. It's a toss-up between Dragonfly In Amber (Outlanter #2), Voyager (Outlander #3) and Clockwork Princess (Infernal Devices #3). It's been years since I've read either Outlander book, but I think there are details in each that will stick with me forever. And, Clockwork Princess and Dragonfly In Amber probably tie for the most emotional ending ever. I bawled buckets over both books. BUCKETS, people. That's good stuff there. 

Currently Reading

Reading:  Tragically Flawed by A.M. Hargrove

Listening to:  Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

Drink of Choice While Reading

Coffee. It's my drink of choice when I'm doing pretty much anything.

E-reader or Physical Book?

Both have their place. I love my e-reader for the ease of use, convenience for traveling, and accessibility to ARCs through NetGalley and Edelweiss. Also, since I'm a huge new adult fan, and many NA books are only available in digital format, an e-reader is a must. But, there's just something about a physical book that can never be replaced. That, and they look so pretty on my shelves. 

Fictional Character You Would've Actually Dated in High School

Tough one - they are all so gorgeous and interesting, it feels like none of them would've looked twice at me. But, if I had to pick one, I'd say Etienne St. Clair from Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. He's smart, has goals, isn't pretentious and is shorter than me. That's pretty much par for the course. If only I could've dated a guy with his accent, though...

Glad You Gave This Book a Chance

Moon Called (Mercy Thompson #1) by Patricia Briggs. I hadn't had much luck with urban fantasy up until this point, so it was with great reluctance that I gave it a go. I am completely in love with this series now.

Hidden Gem Book

Waterfall (River of Time #1) by Lisa Tawn Bergren. It's listed as "christian fiction," and I think that scares most people away before they even give it a try. To be honest with you, I didn't even realize it was classified as that until AFTER I had read it, and it's sequel, Cascade. This is an AMAZING series full of action, adventure, a little sci-fi and tons of delicious romance. It is very light on the Christian aspect - mostly reflective and never in your face. 

Important Moment In Your Reading Life

Reading Outlander in 2005. It was recommended by some friends, and up until that point, I hadn't been reading much (although I read a lot in high school). Once I read Outlander, though, I tore through the series, and then immediately started the Harry Potter series to fill the hole that was left in my life afterwards. From there, the rest is history. 

Just Finished

Deceived by Julie Anne Lindsey

Kinds of Books You Won't Read

horror, self-help, "women's lit"

Longest Book You've Read

In my recent reading history, it is Breaking Dawn (Twilight #4) at 756 pages. If we're talking EVER, it is The Fiery Cross (Outlander #5) at 1,443 pages (mass market).

Major Book Hangover Because of

My biggest book hangover came after I finished Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows. I had read all seven Harry Potter books all in a row, and I was so, so sad that it was finally all over. 

Number of Bookcases You Own

Four.

One Book You Have Read Multiple Times

I've read both Obsidian (Lux #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout and Outlander (Outlander #1) by Diana Gabaldon four times each. That's the most so far. 

Preferred Place to Read

On my couch. 

Quote That Inspires You/Gives You All The Feels From A Book You've Read

Quote that inspires me: "Courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision that something is more important than fear." - from Waterfall by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Quote that gave me tons of feels: “My name is Ashallyn'darkmyr Tallyn, third son of the Unseelie Court...Let it be known--from this day forth, I vow to protect Meghan Chase, daughter of the Summer King, with my sword, my honor, and my life. Her desires are mine. Her wishes are mine. Should even the world stand against her, my blade will be at her side. And should it fail to protect her, let my own existence be forfeit. This I swear, on my honor, my True Name, and my life. From this day on..." His voice went even softer, but I still heard it as though he whispered it into my ear. "I am yours." - from The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

Reading Regret

Not sticking with it through college. I was an angsty, emo mess in college at times. Books would've helped remind me that I wasn't alone in that. 

Series You Started And Need To Finish

The Soul Screamer series by Rachel Vincent. I've read the first two. 

Three of Your All-time Favorite Books

Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon

Obsidian, by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Vampire Academy, by Richelle Mead

Unapologetic Fangirl For

Honestly, I don't fangirl too often. Maybe it's my age talking (I'm 37). But, I'm not all about the ZOMGs and SQUEALs. I will gush, however, about any book that captures me and doesn't let me go. There are a bunch of those. Some of the 5-star books I've gushed about so far in 2013 include:

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Halfway To The Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer

Twisted Perfection by Abbi Glines

(There were more, but I picked five of my favorites from five of my favorite authors.)

Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others

Another one I just can't possibly narrow down. I can think of three 2014 releases that I am DYING to read:

Into The Still Blue (Under the Never Sky #3), by Veronica Rossi

Up From The Grave (Night Huntress #7), by Jeaniene Frost 

The King (Black Dagger Brotherhood #12), by J.R. Ward

Worst Bookish Habit

Peeking at the back of the book to see what happens. 

X Marks The Spot - Start at the Top Left of Your Shelf and Pick the 27th Book

 Reached (Matched #3) by Ally Condie - hardback

Your Latest Book Purchase

Unchained (Nephilim Rising #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Zzz-snatcher Book - The Last Book That Kept You Up Way Late

Lost and Found by Nicole Williams

 
So, there you have it. What do you think? You want to scream at me for admitting that I peek at the back of the book from time to time, don't you?

Tournament Madness

First - HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY to all my American peeps! Enjoy the hamburgers, hot dogs, watermelon and fireworks today - I know I will!

So, now on to bookish business. You may have heard about two little friendly tournaments going on right now - the YA Crush Tourney and the NA Crush Tourney. Don't know what I'm talking about? Well, allow me to enlighten you.

Sponsored by The YA Sisterhood, this is the third year they have conducted the YA Crush Tourney, and every year it is CA-RAZY popular. Readers nominate their favorite crushes, and once the forerunners are chosen, blogger advocates are chosen as sort of virtual cheerleaders.

It's absolutely no doubt that the YA Crush Tourney is the best kind of fun. We bibliophiles get to embrace the sometimes intense love we feel for our various book boyfriends and share it with the masses in extreme ways. New match-ups are posted every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and voting takes place for 24 hours for each match-up.

This year's bracket is packed full of amazing choices. I enjoy downloading it every year and filling it out before the match-ups even start to see if I can predict who will win. My choice for 2013? Will Herondale. Clockwork Princess just came out a few months ago, and thousands have read and ADORED it. The very first winner in the YA Crush Tourney was Jace from the Mortal Instruments series, so Cassandra Clare's ability to create incredible book crushes is well proven.

This year, for the first time, another crush tourney is being held at the same time as the YA Crush Tourney - the NA Crush Tourney.

With the explosion of new adult books on the scene in recent months, it was decided to hold a separate tournament for those NA fans to pay homage to the amazing bad boys we fall in love with every time we read a new NA book.

Hosted by NA Alley, the set-up is much the same as the YA Crush Tourney. Readers submitted their top crush choices, and the field was eventually narrowed to 20 amazing choices. Voting is taking place on Tuesdays and Thursdays and voting is available for 24 hours.

This tourney is going to be much more challenging for me. I've read 11 of the 20 books featured in the match-ups, and all of the guys picked are most definitely swoony. It's much more difficult for me to pick a front-runner in this tourney. Lucas from Tammara Webber's Easy is the first seed. But, honestly, it's really anyone's game.

You may have noticed by my Twitter avatar that I'm throwing my weight behind Garrick from Cora Carmack's Losing It. Not only do I think he has a good chance of winning, but I really, truly love this guy. He's hot (of course), British, loves to read, snuggles with kitties, and best of all, he loves and takes care of his girl. Today is his day - so, don't forget to go vote for Garrick!

Have fun in these two tournaments! Who do you think will win the YA Crush Tourney? The NA Crush Tourney? Do you have a favorite? Who is it? 

Feeling Duped

You may notice my post count for the week is one fewer now than it was at this time yesterday. That is because my New Adult Mondays post from this past Monday, June 24, has been removed. It was a review for AMAZINGLY BROKEN by Jordin Williams. A work that information brought to light today revealed was plagiarized from Tammara Webber's EASY and Jamie McGuire's BEAUTIFUL DISASTER.

Most of you are already aware of this. Let's face it - good drama is good drama. I eat it up as readily as the next person. In case you haven't caught the original post that outed this issue, check out here:  http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/the-plagiarizing-of-tammara-webbers-easy-by-jordin-williams/

I struggled with whether to post this and give even more page time to this person. In the end, I decided that it was worth posting something so that I could at least apologize to you all for posting something that ended up being a complete and utter farce. I have become quite proud of this blog and its content, and the fact that this has marred my history... well, to be frank, it pisses me the hell off.

What makes me even more angry is that I've read both EASY (my review found here) and BEAUTIFUL DISASTER (my review found here). And LOVED them! I feel like I let both Tammara and Jamie down by not recognizing the shenanigans that went on myself. I know that's an irrational thought, but there it is.

Let me go on record as saying plagiarism is for cowards. If you want to be an author, good for you. It's a great dream and one you should most definitely pursue. Don't be afraid of criticism - it will only make you better. Don't be afraid of rejection - it's to be expected. Don't be afraid of never making it big - the fact that you're expressing yourself and chasing your dreams is impressive and admirable.

But, do not let your fears drive you to copy already celebrated and established works. Because those authors waded through their own sets of fears to get where they are today and by you watering down their words and repackaging them as your own, you're hurting them and selling yourself short.

From what I understand, Amazon has already removed AMAZINGLY BROKEN from it's site, and if you've already purchased it, your money will be refunded. To Tammara Webber and Jamie McGuire, I'm sorry this happened to you, and I'm sorry I was part of the grassroots campaign to market this book. Please know I truly respect both you and your exceedingly difficult job, which you do incredibly well.

This is the last I'm going to speak about this. I'd much rather get back to the fun business of writing reviews, hosting giveaways and doing all sorts of other fun bloggy things. Back to your regularly scheduled programming...

Blog Redesign!

Wait! Don't go anywhere! You ARE, in fact, in the right place (unless you were looking for new shoes or to book a trip to Panama - can't help you there). I'm finally able to cross another item off my 2013 Blog Goal list. I'VE BEEN REDESIGNED!

Hope you like it!

DEEP THOUGHTS: An Expensive Month

How do you manage things when you have a long list of books you want to buy and no patience to wait until the library gets them in a month or two from now? Do you have a monthly book budget? If so, how do you prioritize?

Here's an even crazier question - have you seen the list of March releases??

I give myself a rough book budget of $50 per month, and that needs to cover any giveaways I do too. Some months it's not hard to stick to that limit. Others, like this month, are much more difficult. So, that is when prioritizing your purchases becomes very important. March is going to be a crazy month for books for me. There are so many that I want!

In order to stick as close to my budget as I can, this month, I intend to only buy books that are a continuation of series I've already started.

March 5:  Requiem (Delirium #3) - Honestly, I may not buy this one. I'm really nervous about how the love triangle will be resolved.

March 5:  The Prince (The Selection #0.5) - I LOVED Maxon in The Selection. I just want more of him while I wait for The Elite to come out next month.

March 5:  Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson #7) - Mercy Thompson was the first urban fantasy series that I fell in love with. I'm so excited to see what happens next.

March 19:  Clockwork Princess (Infernal Devices #3) - We have all been waiting for the conclusion to this amazing series for well over a year now. My copy is already pre-ordered.

March 26:  Twice Tempted (Night Prince #2) - Vlad stole my heart in Once Burned. I'm excited to see him again.

March 26:  Lover At Last (Black Dagger Brotherhood #11) - This is the one I'm most excited for this month. I absolutely love this series and I can't wait to see what's next!

So, how about you? Do you have a book budget to stick to? How do you decide which books to buy?

And, the WINNER is....

My first blogoversary giveaway is over, and the winner of a January 2013 new release is...

Crystal Y. 

Congratulations, Crystal! And, thanks to all of you for all the love over the past month. I love getting comments, and I've been getting so many more of them recently. I've hooked up with a few blog tour groups and am now signed up to participate in several tours over the next six weeks or so.

Things you can look forward to in the next few months include a bunch of new giveaways, a new blog design and some exciting new ARC reviews!

I have to tell you, this blogging gig is so awesome!! I love to read and I love to write, and it's like the best way to do both and meet a bunch of cool people in the process.

So, thanks again, and stay tuned for a lot more fun!

2013 Blog Goals... and Cats

I can't believe it's been nearly a year since I started this blog! On January 3, 2012 when I made that first post, my goals and aspirations for Krista's Dust Jacket were different from where I am now. Goals are good - necessary, even. But, it's also a good thing to know when it's okay to shift those goals as you meet others and learn from them. Which is what happened to me. I've been introduced to an amazing blogging community with a shared love of the written word. I've learned so much from all of them, and I look forward to continuing my education in 2013.

So, being the goal-oriented person that I am, I need a new list. Behold, my top ten blog goals for 2013:

1. Blog redesign - You all have been looking at the same basic layout for 12 months now. I'm going to implement a new layout complete with social media buttons and a graphic rating system. Can't wait!

2. Daily weekday posts - I've been pretty consistent in my posting, but it hasn't happened every single weekday. You deserve consistency from me.

3. Author interviews - Part of the book-loving experience is connecting with the authors that inspire you. I want to help bring that to you.

4. Book tours - I love any chance I get to work together with my fellow bloggers, so be looking for me to participate in more book tours as a way to do that.

5. More giveaways - Who doesn't love good giveaways?! I've done three this year. I intend to do a minimum of one per month in 2013.

6. Adopt a meme and stick with it - I tried two memes earlier in the year, and it was hard to keep up with them. I plan to find one that works for my schedule and follow it consistently.

7. Develop a Facebook page - A Facebook page is the only major social medium that Krista's Dust Jacket doesn't have. It will soon.

8. Cross-post reviews on Goodreads and Amazon - In keeping with my desire to remain consistent, I plan to cross-post portions of my reviews on Goodreads and Amazon.

9. Get organized - I intend to develop a process workflow to make sure that I post every day in the same places around the same time so that my readers know what to expect from me.

10. Get to know my fellow bloggers - I want to visit more book review blogs, comment on more posts, do some guest posts, and most of all, MAKE IT TO BEA 2013.

I know it's an ambitious list, especially for someone like me who tries to fit blogging in the cracks between working full time as a marketing and communications professional, mothering my two young kids, being a wife to my supportive husband, and of course, reading a lot of good books. But, this is my personal creative outlet, and I enjoy it so much. I want to make The Dust Jacket the best blog that I can make it. If you want to see something that isn't on this list, let me know!

This year isn't over yet, so you will still see lots of review posts in the next few weeks about everything from assassins to werewolves to gods to vampires. I hope you stay tuned as I start to implement my 2013 goals - and let me know how I'm doing!

Exciting Bookish News!

It's been an exciting day for me! First, tomorrow is my birthday, and I know. I've waited this long to open my birthday presents from my best peeps on Goodreads, so what's one more day? I should really open them on my actual birthday, right? What can I say? I guess there's a little girl left in my after all. I just couldn't wait one more minute. And, lookie at what I got!

What to read first?

And then, I saw some very exciting news on Facebook. One of my favorite authors, Lisa Tawn Bergren, will write one more book in her River of Time series. SQUEE!!!! As much as I adore her series, I was a bit bummed out at the end of the last book because I didn't get to see everything happen that I wanted to see happen. And, now that will be rectified! Thank you Lisa!

And then, if that weren't enough, I saw this drool-worthy photo over on Jennifer L. Armentrout's blog:

Meep! We're now less than four weeks away from the release of Opal, the third installment in the Lux series. More Daemon. More Daemon and Katy. Gah, I can't wait! And, Jennifer is giving away several copies of Opal on her blog, so hop on over there and try your luck. I know I did!

My "Frankenstorm" Reading Pile

Hello, Sandy. This is what my day has been like. As much as I'd like an extra day off work, this wasn't exactly what I had in mind. The only saving grace in all this is that, should we lose our power for several days, I have lined up my planned reading pile. Don't you love that reading requires absolutely no electricity?

My first Sandy book is actually already done - I finished it earlier today. I read Hourglass (Hourglass #1) several months ago, and I've been holding on to Timepiece for a few weeks now waiting for the right time to start it. Now was as good a time as any, right?

Next is Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson spin-off series, Alpha and Omega. I have the intro novella and the first two books in the series on hand now. If they're anywhere as good as the Mercy book (and many have told me they're better!), these will go fast.

And, finally, I have had several of Megan Hart's books waiting in the wings for me ever since my good friend Jen from At Random got them for me at a signing over the summer. They'll certainly spice up a wet, windy day, eh?

So, for those of you in the path of the storm, what are your plans to ride it out? Whatever your plans are, I hope they include hunkering down and staying safe.

A Few Words About Novellas

I wanted to say a few words about novellas. In my experience, novellas are like the cherry on top of the sundae - an addition to what would otherwise be a final product that makes the whole just a little sweeter. But, ultimately, it's wholly unnecessary. Because the real stars of the show are the vanilla ice cream, the hot fudge and the peanuts. And the caramel. And the whipped cream.

I didn't mean to get distracted by thoughts of frosty goodness (note to self - a trip to DQ is on tap for tomorrow). The point is, novellas are short add-ons to enhance the main story. Do you "count" novellas? What I mean is, when you think about the books you've read, do you count the novellas in the pile as full-fledged books?

I don't. And, it's mostly because, in my mind, they really are just extra-specials. If I didn't read them, I'd probably not miss anything. I don't count them in my book count here on my blog. And, although Goodreads counts them in my count for the year, I also keep them in a separate folder after I've finished them.

Above are a few of the novellas I've read this year. I've also read a lot of extra content on author's blogs and websites that they offer for free (don't you just love it when they do that?!). I love what they bring to the story overall, and I fully intend to keep seeking them out as I get involved with new series. What about you?

The Kiss of Death

In my very humble opinion, the worst fate that a book can encounter is apathy. Ambivalence.

The "Meh" Factor.

You know what I'm talking about - the point where, either halfway through the book, you're wondering what in heaven's name you were thinking by starting it in the first place, or you're part of the way through a 4-, 5-, or 6-book series, and you just don't really want to see it through. I frickin' hate the Meh Factor. Especially in the latter scenario. You feel like you spend so much time getting to know these characters and feel invested in what happens to them. And, then, you get to the point where you just don't give a crap anymore. It's sad.

I've started the fifth and final book in the Fever series, and I'm dangerously close to encountering some serious Meh. I've grown to care about Mac and Barrons, so it's especially distressing when I'm all of a sudden seriously considering cutting my losses and not finishing their story. There's an incredible amount of info dumping in this final book, which causes it to plod along. Adding to that, the author can't just, for the love of God, have Mac make up her mind one way or the other about Barrons. She's constantly plucking that daisy - I love him. I love him not. I love him. I love him not. O. M. G. It's BOOK FIVE. It's OLD.

You may notice that I've been working at this book for longer than the typical two or three days that books of this length take me. The Meh has affected my motivation. Despite all my moaning and complaining, there's no doubt that I will continue and finish the book. Perhaps I'm a glutton for punishment. I guess we'll see.