Tag Archives: Markus Zusak

Top Ten Tuesday {8}: Books That You Wish Were Taught In Schools

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by

top ten tuesday banner

It’s Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish! This week’s theme is …

Top Ten Books That You Wish Were Taught In Schools

  1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
  2. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
  3. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
  4. Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta
  5. The Piper’s Son by Melina Marchetta
  6. The Divergent series by Veronica Roth
  7. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
  8. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
  9. Looking for Alaska by John Green
  10. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (I’m actually not sure if this is taught in schools or not, but since it wasn’t taught at my school, I’m adding it!)

Most of these books I fell absolutely in love with, but even if I didn’t love them, these books would still make it into my list. Because these 10 books really changed my outlook in life. They truly spoke to my heart, and they’ll always have a special significance to me. And it would be incredible if they were taught in schools, so other students could also fall in love with them.

What about you? What books do you wish were taught in schools?

lacey

Book News, Weekly Recap, & Upcoming Releases! {1}

Posted in Book News by

Did you know….

That there’s going to be a movie of THE BOOK THIEF????

Noo????

Well, me either!!! At least, I had no idea until today, when I saw a post by the author, Markus Zusak! I’m so sad that I honestly had NO IDEA there was going to be a movie 😦 You can read everything about the upcoming movie and trailer here on the author’s tumblr!

Psst… the trailer has already been released! Go check it out here! The Book Thief is one of my all-time favorite books ever. It’s the type of book that strikes at your heart and makes you think and doesn’t leave your head for a long time, if ever. So go read it if you haven’t! You will not regret it, even as your heart is tearing apart at the end…

So I’ve just finished Shooting Scars by Karina Halle, and… I’m a bit sad. I didn’t think it was as good as the first book, which I loved. I’ll be posting my review of it soon, and for now, I’ve started Breaking Nova by Jessica Sorensen! I got an advanced copy from Netgalley, along with The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa, which is like, OH MY GOD!!!!! Julie Kagawa is one of my favorite authors ever, and to get an advanced copy of her book…. *faints* I love love love her Iron Fey series and The Immortal Rules, and getting an early copy of one of her books is like a dream come true! *hyperventilates*

Shooting Scars by Karina HalleBreaking Nova by Jessica SorensenThe Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa

What I reviewed this past week:

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway on the blog! You can win 2 books, a finished book and an ARC!

hopbanner

The Last Hurrah Giveaway Hop (ends in 1 more day!)

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Trust in Me by J. Lynn

AAAND, can’t forget about some new releases coming out next week!

  • The Bitter Kingdom (Fire and Thorns #3) by Rae Carson (OMG I’m SOOOOO excited for this one!! I need to have this asap. HECTOR!!!!)
  • Sometimes It Lasts (Sea Breeze #5) by Abbi Glines (I should really to catch up on the series! I only have the 4th book to go before Sometimes It Lasts.)
  • Origin (Lux #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Oh gosh, I can’t WAIT for this! Dual POV! Eeep!)
  • Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2) by Sarah J. Maas
  • Descendent (Starling #2) by Lesley Livingston (I really liked the first book, so I’ll definitely be reading this!)
  • Heart of Venom (Elemental Assassin #9) by Jennifer Estep (I’ve heard this urban fantasy series is really good, so maybe I should start it!)
  • Untold (The Lynburn Legacy #2) by Sarah Rees Brennan (AAAHHHHHH I NEED THIS BOOK NOW NOW NOW. GIMME GIMME. I cannot wait for 6 more days!)
  • Deception (Defiance #2) by C.J. Redwine
  • The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson Sometimes It Lasts by Abbi Glines Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas Descendant by Lesley Livingston Heart of Venom by Jennifer Estep Untold by Sarah Rees Brennan Deception by CJ Redwine The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

lacey

Top Ten Tuesday {6}: Favorite Beginnings/Endings In Books

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by

top ten tuesday banner

It’s Top Ten Tuesday again, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish! This week’s theme is…

 Top Ten Favorite Beginnings/Endings In Books

The ones we chose for the best endings MAY HAVE SPOILERS, so read at your own risk!

  • Beginning: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak: Honestly, this entire book is amazing, but what really stood out to me in the beginning of the book was that at first, you’re not sure who the narrator is, but then later on, you realize it’s Death. The beginning just hooked me in and I couldn’t stop reading.
  • Beginning: Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan: Loved the beginning, but hated the ending because the ending totally ripped and gutted my heart. Technically, the scene that I love isn’t actually at the very beginning, but it’s close, so I’ll just count that. It’s the scene where Kami and Jared are meeting for the first time in the elevator and they freak because they finally realize the voice in their heads are real and each other.
  • Ending: The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay: I honestly had no idea that the ending was going to connect with the whole Sea of Tranquility thing, but OH MY GOD, Katja Millay, you are a genius. (Cathy’s side note: And remember when she first ran to Josh’s house and thought it looked familiar? IT ALL ADDS UP. AHHH!! <3)

And if my Sea of Tranquility were real, it would be this place, here, with him.
I don’t say anything right away, because I just want one minute to look at him before I give him my last secret.
And then I tell him.
“Your garage.”

“My name is Edith Prior,” she says. “And there is much I am happy to forget.” Then the screaming begins.

NOW THAT’S A CLIFFHANGER. 😉

  • Ending: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green: Augustus’s letter in the end was just… *sniffles* It was so beautiful and emotional, and I loved that we got to hear from Augustus one last time even after he was gone.

The Book Thief by Markus ZusakUnspoken by Sarah Rees Brennansea of tranquility 1Insurgent by Veronica RothThe Fault in Our Stars by John Green

  • Ending: This Girl by Colleen Hoover: PERFECTION. Just utter perfection, this book. The very last slam, about their baby girl, was just beautiful.
  • Ending: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell: Even though there wasn’t a definitive Happily Ever After, I still adored the ending. I thought it was the perfect way to end Eleanor and Park’s story, because even though it doesn’t explicitly say what happens for them at the end, you know that they’ll find a way to get their HEA for sure.
  • Ending: With All My Soul by Rachel Vincent: This ending was absolutely epic, and so not how I ever expected the series to end. Kaylee’s story definitely ends with a bang, but I’m so sad that the series is over.
  • Ending: If I Stay by Gayle Forman: If this isn’t perfect and heartbreaking and beautiful, then I don’t know what is:

“If you stay, I’ll do whatever you want. I’ll quit the band, go with you to New York. But if you need me to go away, I’ll do that, too. I was talking to Liz and she said maybe coming back to your old life would be too painful, that maybe it’d be easier for you to erase us. And that would suck, but I’d do it. I can lose you like that if I don’t lose you today. I’ll let you go. If you stay.”

  • Ending: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare: I can’t think of another book that made me bawl my eyes out as much as Clockwork Princess (maybe Losing Hope, actually). I just loved the entire ending. It was both happy and heartbreaking, since it’s the last book of the trilogy, but I couldn’t have hoped for a better ending.

This Girl by Colleen Hoovereleanor & parkwith all my soulIf I Stay by Gayle FormanClockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Top Ten Tuesday {1}: Books Dealing with Tough Subjects

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by

top ten tuesday banner

Today we’re participating in our very first meme that’s hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday theme is:

Books Dealing with Tough Subjects

1. The Fault in Our Stars by John GreenThe Fault in Our Stars by John Green

This book is one of our absolute favorites! Cancer by itself is already a tough subject, and these characters are cancer patients who deal with death getting closer and closer every day. And Augustus Waters? *wipes tear* That boy and this whole book was so heart-breaking and incredible.


Hopeless by Colleen Hoover2. Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

This book pretty much tore out my heart. I don’t want to say exactly what happened to Sky, since it is spoilery, but it was one of the sickest, most vile things I’ve ever read. I almost wanted to take a breather, but I COULDN’T stop reading. Loved this book so, so much. Hopeless is a definite must read.

 

3. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarryPushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Noah is an orphan whose parents died while he was still in high school, and he’s fighting for custody of his two younger brothers, who mean the world to him. Echo is a girl who has scars all over her arms and nearly died because of an incident with her mother. Both of them are emotional wrecks and are in immense grief, and I love how they found love with each other in a time when they couldn’t possibly be happy.

Easy by Tammara Webber4. Easy by Tammara Webber

At the start of the book, the heroine, Jacqueline, is attacked and nearly raped by a friend of her ex-boyfriend. The book focuses on the consequences of the attempted assault, and on Jacqueline’s relationship with Lucas, who has a past that was so sad and heart-breaking to read. LOVED this book.

 

5. The Sea of Tranquility by Katja MillayThe Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

Nastya’s life was ruined at a very young age from a traumatic event, and Josh doesn’t even care about anything but work ever since lost his family. The two are very broken, but what I love about them and this book is that they find a way to move past and accept their grief and be happy with each other. This book was SO FREAKING AMAZING.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman6. If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Mia and her family get into a car accident, and everyone-her mother, father, and younger brother-dies except for her. Mia is able to see what happens while she in a  coma, and we experience the intense grief that Mia goes through, knowing that by the time she wakes up, she’ll be alone in the world. This was so heart-breaking to read, but I loved the 2nd book even better.

 

7. Wait for You by Jennifer L. ArmentroutWait For You by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Avery was sexually assaulted when she was a young teenager, and even though she’s starting college now, the effects of that experience have not waned. She goes through so much emotional pain that you can’t help but wish she gets her happily-ever-after with Cam (who is the most adorable guy ever!).

 

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak8. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

A fictional book set during the Holocaust, The Book Thief is one of my favorite books ever, but made me an emotional train wreck by the time I was done.

 

 

9. The Coincidence of Kallie and Kayden by Jessica SorensenThe Coincidence of Kallie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen

Callie also goes through something horrific, and keeps to herself constantly, never allowing herself to reach out to others. Eventually, she finds a connection with Kayden (who also has problems of his own), but it takes a long while before she can open herself up to him.

 

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher10. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Hannah tells her story through recorded tapes to the people who caused her to commit suicide. There is so much pain and suffering, and the book makes you think a lot about the effect you have on other people and how careful you should act towards others.

 

So, these are our top ten! Let us know which of these you agree with or what books you think should be added. And be on the lookout next week for our next Top Ten Tuesday (the next theme sounds SO FUN)!