“I’m Alive!”-Sia

*runs towards all of you, screaming “I am NOT GONE yet!”*

Hello! Long time, no see… (Since Valentine’s Day! Whoa…) *wonders if people are still interested in my posts*

This semester was draining… but good results came from it, so that’s great! *smiles at my brand new GPA*

Summer has now arrived (finally, after finals were postponed a week because of my uni’s strike…*), and with it a sense of happiness and peace I hadn’t felt since forever. Incredibly, I have not finished any books (apart from one I read during finals but that one didn’t count), so if you have any suggestions as to what in the world I can do to get rid of this horrible reading slump, they are mostly welcome. A little more than a month ago I tweeted a poll (see below)

What should I read next?

— natalie. (@AelinsFireheart) April 24, 2016

and I still have to keep my word. I’ll keep you posted on if I like Lady Midnight. I’ve been trying to listen to the audiobook… (trying being the main word. Perhaps it will work when I start working out this summer? Only time will tell)

Since I can’t read much because of the slump, I’ve been watching Korean dramas. My mother basically passed on her addiction to me. I’ve been also watching Les Interprètes, a Chinese drama, which is SO GOOD (and extremely addicting, so please do NOT do as I did and watch it slowly. Do not binge on 14 episodes in one day. It’s not healthy and you’ll run out of episodes soon.) I did not think I would enjoy something like this so much, but I love how it involves both languages in such a natural way!

A lot of things have also happened. My dad came here for 2 weeks… during which I was on my finals so I did not get to spend as much time as I wanted with him (boo…) BUT he did promise he would try to come here more often. I was not able to go to my brother’s graduation (Thanks, Developmental biology) BUT I did get a good grade on the class so it was (kind of) worth it.

In other words, I’m free, like Dobby (for the next 2 months, anyway), even though I plan on studying for the PCAT. *crosses fingers* I also have other plans for this summer… I hope I can do it all… (And keep this blog more updated, hopefully.)

*I guess that would have been a good topic for a blog post… but I did tweet about a lot of my thoughts… xD

P.S. Do you all like my new blog layout? I’m trying some things out. 🙂

 

 

So… I’m finally out of that reading slump.

Hello, everyone!

This is (hopefully) the last day of two (or three) very stressful weeks. Only one exam left! \o/

Anyhow, apart from watching the last episodes of Glee and recovering from an awful cold, I’ve been reading. Finally.

It has been a while, as you know. If you’ve been following my Twitter and/or Goodreads, you will know I read Throne of Glass, finished it, and started Crown of Midnight.

Celaena is one of my favorite female characters of all time. She’s funny, sarcastic and totally badass. 🙂 If you haven’t already, you should read them. Guys, they are worth it. They’re beautifully written, and I can visualize everything that is happening… They’re full of action, tasteful relationships and everything I have ever wanted in a book. I haven’t felt this way since reading Graceling, Shatter Me, or Mara Dyer. (And those are my favorite books. I had wondered if I would feel that way ever again.)

I have been wondering why in the world I hadn’t read them before. People had told me to read them for years now, but I didn’t listen… but I guess it was time. *shrugs* And it is also time for you to read them as well. I will most definitely NOT spoil them for you, since:

1. I haven’t read the whole thing yet
2. I wouldn’t like anyone to spoil them for me.

Well, I’m going off, since I still have an exam tomorrow. I will probably be back soon. I will have some time to blog and study next week.

xoxo

Nat

Reading Slump.

Have you ever gone through a reading slump?

I don’t know how or why, but starting new books has been really hard for me these days. I did finish The Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead, which was flawless *starry eyes*, but that’s an exception. I’ve been trying to pick up In The Afterlight about 1000x, but it has been impossible, which is rare for me. Maybe it’s the stress, maybe it’s fear that I’ll lose my favorite characters, but I don’t know. I do have lots to do for Uni and I don’t have much time for other things, but I always saved those special hours for books. (Usually Friday nights) Why is this happening? Maybe I don’t have as much time as I used to…

I’m trying to change up my game, though. One of my classmates told me that she listens to audiobooks on her way to Uni, so Im trying to do the same. Surprisingly, I do like this audiobook thing, even if it’s not the same as reading it myself. Right now I’m listening to Lola and the Boy Next Door. Lola‘s one of my favorite books. (I had read it before but it’s different now. It’s like she was telling me her story herself.) Maybe this will become a normal thing for me, even if I won’t give up on my physical/e-books. Those are sacred for me.

What do you do when you reach a reading slump?  Do you wait for it to end, or do you do something about it? Why do you think they exist for? I want to know!

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.