Borrowed Book Inventory

I have a nearly daily flow of books from the library (I am an immensely fast reader, and my need to read is larger than my bank account). So I figured I'd take a weekly inventory of the books I have out and what their statuses are. I re-read a lot of books alongside new ones, so my goodreads isn't always accurate as to how much I've really read in a year. 

I read three books at a time, five to ten chapters each (depending on the length of the chapters). It may seems odd, but it actually helps me focus. No matter how much I love a book, I get bored after so long of the same style and plot and start skipping details and phrases. By reading three, I actually read faster because I dont have to take a break. The only time I don't is if I'm desperate enough to know an ending!

Currently reading will always be listed first, followed by books I will be re-reading. After that, there is no particular order. I may leave notes. 

This week, I have:

• "The Fallen" by Thomas Sniegoski - Currently Reading
• "The Immortals" by Jordanna Max Brodsky - Currently Reading
• "The Glittering Court" by Richelle Mead - Currently Reading
• "A Scanner Darkly" by Phillip K. Dick - Will Be Re-reading (I have read this many times, I love Phillip K Dick! It's one of my favorite books. The movie was pretty amazing too)
• "1984" by George Orwell - Will Be Re-reading (Another of my all time favorites. I had a copy that got stolen in my cross country move so now the library is the answer to me re-reading needs)
• "The Coffin Club" by Ellen Scheiber - Will Be Re-reading (I started this series years ago in middle school and have re-read it steadily so that I can finish it properly. This is the final book in the series I read long ago, so it will be fresh reading in the series from here)
• "The Thief Lord" by Cornelia Funke - Will Be Re-reading (I read it so long ago and only just recently remembered it, so I decided to re-read it)
• "Leviathan" by Thomas Sniegoski
• "Little Vampire Women" by Louisa May Alcott and Lynn Messina
• "Little Women and Werewolves" by Louisa May Alcott and Porter Grand
• "Omens" by Kelley Armstrong
• "Strange Angels" by Lili St. Crow
• "The Girl In The Spider's Web" by David Lagercrantz (a Lisbeth Salander novel, the continuation of Stieg Larsson's series. I am beyong excited for it!)
• "Throne Of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas
• "Magic Bites" by Ilona Andrews
• "Red Queen" by Victoria Aveyard
• "The Shadow Queen" by C.J. Rewine
• "Spirit" by Brigid Kemmerer (Third in the series and I love it!)
• "Infinity" by Sherrilyn Kenyon
• "Carry On" by Rainbow Rowell
• "Royal Blood" by Ellen Schreiber

I know, it seems like a lot. But I read a lot, barring real life emergencies. I have four unlisted that I'm turning in tomorrow. So That's what I have this week. See you next week?

The Lying Game Series by Sara Shepard

Not to be mistaken for its unconnected, but similar, and much more popular series by the same author -“Pretty Little Liars” – “The Lying Game” series feels just a tad bit more complex, grown up, and realistic.

I don’t remember what I was expecting when I picked up The Lying Game (Book one of six) but I don’t think I’d expected to love it so much. It’s a YA mystery novel, based in a rich neighborhood in Arizona.

Orphaned since her mother abandoned her at the age of five, Emma is used to blending in anonymously in the world of normal teens. She has bounced around in awful foster care most of her life and her current situation is no better. Then, due to an odd film online, she discovers her long lost twin sister, Sutton, who  was adopted by a well off family in another part of Arizona. She contacts her and immediately sets up a meeting… Except this same sister is hovering, ghost-like and unseen, with Emma everywhere she goes – and she definitely didn’t send Emma that response.

Upon arriving at the destination, Emma is thrust into a world where she must pretend to be her long lost sister, who was insanely popular, and seems to be dead. No one will believe she isn’t Sutton, and the supposed killer is threatening her should she break character, forcing her to keep her head down and play Sutton. Her seemingly deceased twin is always hovering near,  but she retains little to no memories of what happened to her. They are periodically unlocked by traumatizing moments in Emma’s task at finding her sister’s killer, her own blackmailer. She must secretly investigate everyone in Sutton’s life to eliminate suspects and put the murderer behind bars.

There are six books total in this series, each one named for a game that is played in the previous book, or something of grave significance.

• The Lying Game
• Never Have I Ever
• Two Truths And A Lie
• Hide And Seek
• Cross My Heart, Hope To Die
• Seven Minutes In Heaven

I was watching American Horror Story: Freak Show simultaneously, so my fan-cast is a little strange and not always physically accurate, but I picture:

• Emma/Sutton – Lizzie Brochere
• Ethan Landry – Evan Peters
• Thayer – Wes Bentley
• Laurel – Taissa Farmiga
• Mrs. Mercer – Frances Conroy
• Senior Mrs. Mercer/Medium – Jessica Lange
• Becky – Sara Paulson
• Madeline – Alexandra Breckenridge
• Mr. Mercer: Denis O’hare
• Gabby – Emma Roberts
• Lili – Kate Mara
• Garrett – Fin Wittrock (Though Im second guessing myself. He’d be a fair Ethan)
• Charlotte – Grace Gummer
• Mr. Vega:- Zachary Quinto
• Mrs. Chamberlin – Christine Estabrooke
• Mr. Chamberlin – Dylan Mcdermott
• Officer Quinnlan – Joseph Fiennes
• Celeste – Lily Rabe
• Alex – Ashlynn Ross
• Nisha – Jennifer Lynn Warren

To tell you the truth, I figured out who the killer was in book one, and that was repeatedly confirmed by certain choices the author made in each book. That is not a bad thing, however, as the things I like about this series don’t have anything to do with being shocked. Not to mention, the big reveal at the end was written in a way that, for me, was still suspenseful even knowing who the killer was already.

I like the wake up call the characters get from their perfect little lives. I like that it deals with mortality (impending death) and basic human kindness (How we treat people). I like that each book had it’s own little mystery and side story shockers.

Being perfectly honest, it was touch and go around mid series. It got a little monotonous at times, repetitive. But if you can get past it, I feel it’s worth it

Continuing in perfect honesty, the last couple chapters of the final book had me tearing up. It’s all around a good series.

B+

A Tantrum on Classics

I cannot count how many times I have heard someone regard someone else’s love of books as lesser, simply because they do not favor the classics.

Classics are classics for a reason. They should be remembered and studied and used as great examples of grammar and flow.

However, disliking classic contemporary fiction does not lower your own reading abilities. Because I can not really stand the story of Pride and Prejudice does not make me illiterate. I can revere them, study them, and learn from the writing styles, but it will never make me relish romantic fiction.

Personally, I love stories like “Great Gatsby”, “Dracula”, “1984”, “Wuthering Heights”, and “The Picture of Dorian Gray”. I just can’t stand Jane Austin. Or a majority of the Bronte’ sisters (Wuthering Heights excluded).

So remember: Taste in books, the genre of a book, really even the kind of publishing does not measure skill in reading. That can only be determined by how the book is written.