Book Haul: February

Another month has passed! I'm getting a little tired of winter and snow and cold winds, but it won't be long until spring now. February was a good month nonetheless, and I got some cool new books!

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

The Ask and The Answer by Patrick Ness

Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness

Haiku by editor Patrick Washington

Poems by Robert Frost

Can't wait to read all of these. I hope you've had a good month too!

ALL LINKS ARE AFFILIATE

#Fridayreads

Bookish Reflections: Romance in Books & Why It Sometimes Bugs Me

Romance is its own genre of books, but as we all know, genres float into one another. Romance especially has a tendency to creep its way into all genres, because it is a very important feature of the human condition.

I am not a huge romance reader, and I don't often read pure romance novels. It's just not my cup of tea. And it annoys the living bees out of me when I pick up a book that promises a certain thing, and I spend half the book reading about some mysterious boy who is secretly the prince, who acts like a douche, but is secretly really wounded and nice and blah blah blah. And I think that's fine for books that say they are in the romance genre, but when it's not...

I need a t-shirt that says "I came here for dragons, and all I got was this stupid love triangle."

Now, I feel like this needs some discussion, so I have written down a few points as to what I like and dislike.

I LIKE 

romantic relationships in books that are either 1. actually important to the story, 2. doesn't take up a lot of the story, but rather adds another dimension to it, 3. a relationship that is a natural part of the story, and when it would be odd if something didn't happen.

I LIKE 

good pacing when it comes to relationship. I like it when things develop over time. I like when things don't always work out, and that's not a big deal. I like it when it's a natural part of the story, and not some huge thing everything evolves around.

I LIKE 

good relationships, between people who would naturally be attracted to each other. I also understand why sometimes relationships are bad because of a well-crafted reason, and I think that can add something to a story too.

However...

I DISLIKE 

instalove. This is something a lot of us book lovers really despise. The "Hi, I just met you, but I love you" type of situation (this is only cute with dogs). It's one thing to be immediately attracted to someone, but another thing when a relationship goes from strangers to old lovers in 2.0 flat.

I DISLIKE 

love triangles. Unless they're really necessary. I think most of the reason why I don't like it is because I've read it so many times, and it's always the same thing, and I'm just over it.

I DISLIKE 

the cliché character of the mysterious boy in school that never talks to anyone, but when this particular girl starts the same class as him, he's all into her and she's going to save him from his devious ways. This is also because I've read it, or something very similar, a thousand times.

I DISLIKE 

the romanticising of bad boys and abusive relationships. Enough said.

Now, I feel like those are pretty good points, but this last one is the one that really gets me going:

I HATE IT 

when female characters are only driven by their desire to be accepted by a male character who couldn't care less. It's one thing that we all wish to be loved, but when the whole book is just about this, I just can't deal with it. It's one thing if you've actually picked up a romance novel, because then that's what you signed up for. But in an epic fantasy? Girl, you go to war with the trolls or whatever for yourself. You do you. (Again, different if it's actually a romance novel).

It's no better if it's a guy doing the same pining for a girl, by the way.

Am I making any sense? What do you think? I actually think I'd like romance novels more if I hadn't read so many bad ones, so let me know if you know some great ones!

Book Review: Saga Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan

Title: Saga Volume 3
Author: Brian K. Vaughan (writer), Fiona Staples (artist)
Published: 2014
Language: English
Pages: 144
Rating: 5/5

This is the third volume in the Saga series. You can read my review of Saga I here and Saga II here. This review will contain spoilers.

Summary:
Alana and Marko have made their way to Quietus, but their pursuers are finally closing in on their targets...

Review:
I feel like we're really getting into the story with this volume. I enjoyed having the different story lines and characters. I especially liked going on the emotional rollercoasters of the characters in this one.

Again, the world is amazing and I love the artwork. I just love the world its set in, and the way the artist captures the characters spirit.

I'm quite excited about the next book, I can't wait to read it!

I would recommend this to people who enjoy science fiction. As mentioned before, I think this series is a good way into graphic novels, but it is best suited for a mature audience.

You can get this book at The Book Depository*
You can read more about it on Goodreads

*AFFILIATE LINK

Top 5: Series I Want to Read IV

It's time for another look at some series I want to read! You can check out the others I've done; I, II, III.

The Arcana Chronicles by Kresley Cole

To my knowledge, this is a young adult paranormal series about a girl who can see into the future, with some romance aspects to it. Sounds pretty interesting, and I've heard great things.

The Mediator by Meg Cabot

Someone recommended this to me recently, as they thought it would be right up my alley, and I'm intrigued. This story is about a girl who is a mediator between the dead and the living.

Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card

A fantasy book about a boy who can see paths where people have gone in the past. Sounds really interesting.

The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater

I keep seeing this everywhere and apparently everyone loves it, so I want to know what the buzz is about. 

Reckoners by Brandon Sanderson

This is about superheroes, but they're not good people, they're bad. Which sounds amazing.

Let me know if you've read any of these and what you thought of them!

Book Review: Dreamer's Pool by Juliet Marillier

Title: Dreamer's Pool
Author: Juliet Marillier
Published: 2014
Language: English
Pages: 448
Rating: 4/5

Summary:
A woman waits in prison. She has waited over three hundred days to tell her story. But when a particularly mean guard tells her she won't have the chance - they will kill her in the night, to silence her - she cannot believe it.

But before it can happen, a strange being comes to her and asks her if she wants her freedom. The stranger has one condition; she will have to wait seven years for her vengeance.

Review:
I really enjoyed this book. It is a solid historical fiction/fantasy hybrid. The author weaves an intricate tale of magic and lore.

I quite enjoyed the characters, and reading from the different perspectives. I felt like they all had a clear voice. I love the dynamic in the friendship between the main characters. I really enjoyed reading about Dreamer's Wood and the magic in the forest.

I feel like this laid a great foundation for the next books. You get a conclusion to parts of the story, with the bigger storyline in the back. I can't wait to read what happens next, as I think this will be a great series.

I would highly recommend this to people who enjoy historical fiction with a touch of magic.

You can get this book at The Book Depository*
You can read more about it on Goodreads

*AFFILIATE LINK

Vintage Classics: Sense & Sensibility

The gorgeous Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen.

Book Review: Saga Volume 2 by Brian K. Vaughan

Title: Saga, Volume 2
Author: Brian K. Vaughan (writer), Fiona Staples (artist)
Published: 2013
Language: English
Pages: 144
Rating: 4/5

This is the second volume in the Saga graphic novels series. You can read my review on the first one here. This review might contain spoilers.

Summary:
Thanks to her kick-ass parents, Hazel has survived assassins, armies and monsters, but an even bigger adventures lies ahead...

Review:
A great continuation from the first book in this series. I really liked learning more about the past of the characters, and we get an even bigger understanding of our narrator, Hazel.

The artwork is, as in the first one, really great. I especially enjoyed the action scenes.

I especially enjoyed learning more about the world, and the ongoing war. I also really like that the characters have these "normal" problems in between all of this, as it brings a little relief (comical and otherwise).

As with the first one, I am left wanting more!

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys science fiction and great artwork. It does contain graphic sexual scenes, so it is better suited for a mature audience.

You can get this book at The Book Depository*
You can read more about it on Goodreads

*AFFILIATE LINK

#Fridayreads

Book Review: Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham

Title: Not That Kind of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She's "Learned"
Author: Lena Dunham
Published: 2014
Language: English
Pages: 265
Rating: 4/5

Summary:
Lena Dunham is an acclaimed creator, producer and writer. In this essay collection, she tells of her experiences of falling in love, feeling alone, growing up, coming to terms with your body, having to prove yourself and all those things that's led her to where she is today.

Review:
This was something completely new to me, as I have never really read an autobiography and as I very rarely read non-fiction. So I was a mix of curious and apprehensive going in.

And I'm happy to inform you, I was positively surprised! I thought this was honest, raw, and incredibly funny. I thought the author had a really clear voice, and I thought the stories were intimiate and surprising.

Though I could not relate to everything, I thought it was fascinating to read about the life of someone quite different from myself.

I would recommend this to someone who wants to read a bunch of sometimes funny, sometimes painful, sometimes wonderful stories. I also think this is quite an important read for women, because I think all of us can find something to relate to in this.

You can get this book at The Book Depository*
You can read more about it on Goodreads

*AFFILIATE LINK

Great Food Series: Eating with the Pilgrims and Other Pieces

Eating With the Pilgrim and Other Pieces by Calvin Trillin.

Top 5: Favourite Costume/Period Dramas

Now... this week, I'm not keeping this completely book-related. But, I just absolutely love watching movies, especially costume and period dramas, and I just had to share my favourites.

Pride and Prejudice (2005)

Apparently, this is sort of an unpopular opinion, but I really, really love the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice. I just love the scenery, and it was one of the reason I started reading Jane Austen. The soundtrack of this is also amazing. This is set in the 19th century.

Downton Abbey (2010)

This is a very popular TV-series that I absolutely adore. I watch it incessantly. I just love all the characters, and it's so beautiful and wonderful and heartbreaking at times. Season one starts in the years leading up to World War I, and it's about all the people who live at Downton.

This currently has five seasons.

Marie Antoinette (2006)

This is a little bit different from the average costume drama, and has a modern twist, especially when it comes to music. I just really enjoy it. This is set in the 18th century. It tells the story of Marie Antoinette.

I think this is the kind of movie you either love or you hate, I don't think it's for everyone.

The Duchess (2008)

I movie I also very much enjoy, a lot of it because of the costumes. This is about an 18th century aristocrat, Georgiana, who was revered for her sense of politics and fashion.

The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

One of my favourite movies of all time. The Phantom of the Opera is a musical, and it is absolutely beautiful. This is about a young soprano who becomes the obsession of a disfigured genius who lives beneath the opera house.

Thank you for letting me cheat a little bit this week! If you have any movie recommendations for the same genre, I'd be happy to hear!