Things I *insert heart emoji*

Reading posts like this always make me happy, as sometimes it is nice to be reminded of the things that we enjoy in life. I love going through the words knowing that the person is really excited about what they are writing. It’s one of the things I love the most about Tumblr, for example, or at least the fandom side of it -until they start fighting about things that don’t make any sense…- but I’m rambling now.

My second assignment for Writing101 is to make a list -of things I love, of things I have learned, or things that I wish. I planned on writing a post of things I wished I had told my younger self, but I decided on keeping it simple for today. I also wrote a post like this last September, so it’s nice to revisit it! This one is way shorter, but I have been busy… and I am already a day late on this assignment, so here it goes! *goes back to the study cave after this*

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1. How books make me feel. It might seem like a cliché, but it is true. For some hours, I can become someone else, learn new things and just immerse myself in new things. (Or even better, to reread a book I have loved for years. I could list some books like Graceling and Harry Potter in this category). This is  why I hate reading slumps so much -they take a really important thing from me, for months, sometimes.
2. How awesome my family actually is. Kudos to them for helping me become the person that I am. My parents have always wanted me to make my own choices, and if they didn’t agree or I just couldn’t do it they talked to me and helped me understand. Plus, my love for the natural sciences and reading is mostly due to my mom. My dad has always worked for us to have a good life, and I will always be grateful for that. Last but not least is my “little”, annoying brother. Sometimes I just can’t stand him… but he has always wanted the best for us. He has the best intentions. Oh, well. xD
3. My friends, however few they actually are: Seriously, these are people that can actually stand me in my good and not so good days, AND there’s no blood relation between us (unless we’re talking about that one blood oath… but shhh xD). But really, it’s impressive, and I appreciate those people, even if I don’t deserve them. AT ALL.
4. College (And I’m not even kidding here). It’s hard as hell and sometimes frustrating, but it’s one of the most satisfying things I have ever done. And I’m not halfway done with what I want to do, so I hope I can keep on feeling like this for however long I stay.
5. This blog: Lately I don’t post as much as I used to, but this course is definitely sending me on the right path. SB&ST has helped me through some hard times, and there are people who I know will always be there for me. I also consider those part of #3 on my list!

The Gif Tag

Hello, people. I wasn’t tagged on one of these, but it sounds so fun and I really wanted to do it! These are some of my favorite things and I wanted to try it.

Basically,

The idea of this tag is that the previous person will tag someone with ten books that they have to respond to with gifs. Hopefully that makes sense, but I think it will become clearer once the actual tag gets started.

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The books that Stay and Watch the Stars chose were

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

(sorry, sorry) I do like the first book. I read it years ago, and I remember not being able to put it down! I loved the premise, and I do love how Katniss is portrayed. (Both in the movies and the books.) She’s not exactly a likeable character. She’s just working to survive at first. Anyway. I do like these books.

Ash by Malinda Lo

I don’t know this one, sorry :3

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

I must admit, I was a Twihard. I still love the books and am planning to reread them soon. I regret how much hate the books have gotten… I liked some of the characters… but Bella… well, I didn’t like her much. 😀 Twilight is one of my guilty pleasures now.

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

I haven’t read that one yet 😦

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

I don’t know 😛

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Sorry (?)

The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

This is the perfect gif to represent my relationship with these books. I love Cassie’s writing and I own some of her books (TID!!) but I sometimes felt like the books had dragged on. I didn’t know whether to go on or to stay (CoHF was amazing, though. I’m glad I stayed) So I don’t know. She made up for it on the last books. 🙂

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Okay, you get the feeling. Graceling gave me the feels. I can read it, reread it over and over and I’ll still feel the same way. It’s one of my favorite books by far, and I wish it got more recognition. 🙂 Po ❤ I love him, I love the plot, I love the writing and it is one of the books I will always recommend to my friends.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

(Sorry)

Guy in Real Life by Steve Brezenoff

Again,

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My list of books:

1. Percy Jackson & The Olympians by Rick Riordan
2. The Mara Dyer trilogy by Michelle Hodkin
3. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
4. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
5. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
6. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
7. Landline by Rainbow Rowell
8. Graceling by Kristing Cashore (Because I love it that much)
9. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
10. Looking for Alaska by John Green

So… Who am I going to tag?

1.  Inertial Confinement
2. I Can’t Be Possibly Be Wrong All the Time
3. One Less Lonely Blog
4. I Prefer Deep Blues and Sea Foam Greens

… And whoever else wants to do it! It was so fun!

Nat’s Top 10: Books Published in 2014

As you probably know, I was a book blogger for a while, and old habits die hard. 2014 was something else entirely for me. Reading, like I’ve said before, is my shelter, so the books I choose tend to be important. I read a lot of books this year, and I wanted to share my Top 10. These books were published this year, and each of them was amazing in its own way. I hope you like my list, and that some of your books coincide with mine!

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10. Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead

This is book 5 from the Bloodlines series. Last book ended with quite the cliffhanger and Richelle worked it out better than I thought. Something amazing happened.*starry eyes* (I still wonder how I didn’t see that one coming). This one also ended with a cliffhanger, so I guess that’s her style! (I should have gotten used to this a while ago *shrugs*). I started reading the Vampire Academy series last year and I couldn’t believe how good it was! Now Bloodlines is about to end and I will miss the characters! I can’t wait for what’s next for them.

9. The One by Kiera Cass

I waited a while for this one. I hoped for this ending, I really did, and I’m so happy about how it ended! It was all I wanted and more. America really evolved as a character during the trilogy, and Maxon did as well. This book almost made me cry for a while there. I care so much about these characters and when Kiera said there would be more books, I couldn’t be happier. I want more Selection books ASAP. (I will reread these books soon!)

8. Split Second by Kasie West

Pivot Point was one of my favorite surprises ever since one of my Twitter friends recommended it to me. Ever since I read it, I couldn’t wait for Split Second. When it came out, I had to have it… and it was worth it! The plot was as good as the first one (and as desperating) and the ending was satisfying. This book was different, and I want more like it!

7. Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

I read Miss Peregrine’s and this one, one after the other and really fast! This book was desperating, and intriguing and amazing and Ransom Riggs is a genius! I definitely love the “realistic” touch the photographs give it! I hope the movie can do these books the justice they deserve, because I would hate it if they did.

6. Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi

This book. You can’t understand how much I love this trilogy. I love Perry and Aria and Roar and how they met! I suffered while reading this book, and I smiled and I laughed and then I was anxious for it to end but then I didn’t want it to ever stop. I didn’t expect how much I would love books like this one, until I read them. I hope you read them and love them as much as I did. 🙂

5. City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

People, Cassandra Clare is a genius! She could tie two storylines with this book, and still has room for more. Cassie’s Shadowhunter Chronicles are some of my favorite books. I loved how she worked everything out, how she tied all the loose ends! (The ones she left loose were left on purpose for the next books! :D) Personally, I love everything related to Magnus Bane…! I can’t say anything else because I will definitely drop a spoiler and I don’t want to 🙂

4. The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan

The only flaw I could find with this book was the lack of Percy and Annabeth’s POV. Everything else? Flawless. Reyna’s trip to PR (which I loved!), Nico’s evolution as a character, Leo’s journey, even Jason! Ooh, and the ending. I suspected it would happen, but I wanted more. I. Wanted. MORE. I hope Rick’s new series features Annabeth, even a little. I mean… he’s her cousin… right? Now, I loved this book and I read it really fast, and then I regretted reading it that fast, since I waited too long for this to end.

3. Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

I usually don’t like entirely cheesy stories, but Stephanie Perkins’ books are my weakness! Now… I didn’t know what to expect with Isla. I listened to the audiobook and I instantly felt in sync with her character, with her strengths and her weaknesses. I am glad to have met Isla. Isla and Josh’s story was so cute, and then there were cameos from Anna, Lola, Etienne and the gang! Seriously, I fell in love with both of them and I wouldn’t have it any other way with them. It was perfect. *starry eyes*

2. Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

Ooh, someone give me some water and a fan because this one was hot! I loved this book, not just for the sexy times *wink, wink*, but for how much Juliette evolved during this trilogy. Seriously, she was this weak character that couldn’t defend herself, and now she is this amazing leader! Now, about those sexy times… Tahereh can write them right!! I couldn’t stop squealing and jumping from sheer happiness! *cough* chapter 55 *cough* I will always love the Shatter Me trilogy. Every single one of you should read it. 😉

Now, for #1. Can you guess what it is? I bet you can, if you read my tweets and saw my Instagrams… or were just close to me on the waiting period.

#1 is… The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin!!!

I waited 2 years for this book. Two. Damn. Years, and they were so worth it! Incredibly, it was better than I expected. I didn’t know what Michelle would do, I just knew it would be amazing, and she managed to surprise me. There they were, the answers I had been waiting for all along! The last book had ended on a note that had left me speechless for a while, and then I couldn’t stop talking about it, and recommending the book to everyone so my friends could read it and suffer as much as I did. (Bookworm love, I guess!) I will most definitely not tell you how it ended so you can die- I mean, read it and then tell me what you think. I really hope you love it as much as I did. The Mara Dyer trilogy has been my absolute favorite for a while. (and it probably will always be. Thanks, Michelle.)

Honorable mentions!

These were two amazing books that I read this year and that were almost on my list. Lizzie is there because… well, it’s Lizzie Bennet and I could listen to her, read her story or watch her videos forever. Positive is here because Paige Rawl’s story is inspiring and I wish more people could be touched by her words. I hope her story will be read by people for years, and that they learn from her.

Today’s my birthday!

Happy birthday to me!

I’m officially nineteen. I have not done much to change my life during the last year, apart from starting this blog. Starting SB&ST feels like a milestone, you know. I have realized how much I love writing and keeping a record of what I think at a certain moment. I have made new friends, left some behind, and I don’t regret any of my choices. One should never regret the past.

As for now, I want to start fresh, you know. New year, new life. Now that I’m nineteen, I have 19 goals I want to achieve (sooner or later)

1. Post more regularly, and about things relevant to other people.
2. Get my blog to be (if not famous) a smart thing to read, not just light reading.
3. Get my GPA up. Seriously, that is a must for me!
4. Start looking for internships. I will probably take a class this summer while I achieve goal #2.
5. Participate during my classes (And life in general)
6. Wear more dresses.
7. Spend less time online and socialize more.
8. Care less about everyone’s opinion of me.
9. Develop an opinion.
10. Share said opinion with the world.
11. Read more books.
12. Start a hobby (Preferrably a novel)
13. Get a job (at least during the summer)
14. Buy a car.
15. Be more independent.
16. Start saving for a London trip.
17. Exercise more.
18. Eat better.
19. In general, to Keep moving forward. This is my motto for my next year.