books

What’s a Spoiler??

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My friend Mischenko has started an amazing conversation about spoilers in book reviews. You should definitely check it out… so many comments already from all her followers. Great perspectives in this post. Nice job! #spoilers #bookreview #awesomepost #reading

ReadRantRock&Roll

Spoiler is typically defined as a person or thing that spoils something, but it’s not that easy is it? I’ve been thinking a lot lately about spoilers when it comes to book reviews. On Goodreads, there are people that will straight up lash out on others for including spoilers in their reviews, but just what exactly is considered a spoiler?

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I recently reviewed a book and compared my review to somebody else’s review on the same book and they had many labels for spoilers that I really didn’t consider spoilers at all. It made me reflect on my review writing and I’m questioning if I’m giving out too much information about the content.

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TAG: TBR Books

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Many thanks to Noriko @ BookfiendSite for tagging me on the To Be Read (TBR) Books tag. It’s been a lot of fun, but her site is so much more fun than this tag. So click the link and check out all the marvelous book reviews she’s posted!

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Questions:

How do you keep track of your TBR pile?

  • I don’t. I’d go crazy if I tried. I add books to it all the time. I limit myself to a few outstanding books on NetGalley at any one time, so I can stay focused on those. I get at least an ARC a week from publishers, so I have to read those. And any new releases from my favorite authors get shifted to the top. Otherwise, it’s whatever I can get free or whichever book my friends push the hardest for me to read!
  • I know I’ll never get to everything on my TBR, so I created my Book Bucket List. It’s a list of the top 12 books I want to read, and I must pick one a month from it. After I read the book, I am allowed to add a new one. I keep track here.

 

Is your TBR mostly print or e-book?

  • Mostly print books. I will find a few e-books, but it’s rare I search for those. I think most items on my TBR come from Goodreads Giveaways, NetGalley or friends’ recommendations.

 

How do you determine which book from your TBR to read next?

  • I read about 10 books per month these days, given I’m also building my blog and working on my own novels I’ve either written or about to publish. It gets divided usually as follows:
    • 2 NetGalley
    • 2 Publisher ARCs
    • 1 Favorite Author
    • 1 Goodreads Giveaway
    • 1 Book Bucket List
    • 3 Whatever My Friends Push on Me the Most

 

A book that’s been on your TBR the longest.

  • The first book I added to my Goodreads TBR was Memoirs of a Geisha, on January 7, 2012. I still haven’t read it, though I’ve seen parts of the movie. It wasn’t high on my list, which is why it’s probably been there for the longest period.

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A book that you recently added to your TBR.

  • I added Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker just this week. I’ve seen so many good reviews, I had to give it a shot. I might check NetGalley to see if it’s available.

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A book on your TBR strictly because of its beautiful cover.

  • The Revenge by Jayne Hannah. I love the title but especially all the angles and shadows in the photo.

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A book on your TBR that you NEVER plan on actually reading.

  • Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Only because I saw the movie, and while it was good, I think the book would lose the suspense factor, which is my favorite part. There are tons of other ones I want to read.

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An unpublished book on your TBR that you’re excited for.

  • A Column of Fire by Ken Follett. It’s the third in the Kingsbridge Series and he’s my favorite author. How could I say no?

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A book on your TBR that basically everyone has read except you.

  • A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah Maas. At least everyone who reads this genre has read it but me.

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A book on your TBR that everyone recommends to you.

  • A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin. There are so many and they are so long. I’ll never get thru my TBR if I pick huge books.

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A book on your TBR that you’re just dying to read.

  • Citadel by Kate Mosse. It’s the third in a trilogy, and I loved the first two. I didn’t even know until last year she wrote a third several years ago.

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The number of books on your Goodreads TBR shelf.

  • 1247 — someone please help me

 

Tagged

 

 

About Me & the “365 Daily Challenge”

I’m Jay and I live in NYC. By profession, I work in technology. By passion, I work in writing. I’ve always been a reader. And now I’m a daily blogger. I decided to start my own version of the “365 Daily Challenge” where since March 13, 2017, I’ve posted a characteristic either I currently embody or one I’d like to embody in the future. 365 days of reflection to discover who I am and what I want out of life.

The goal: Knowledge. Acceptance. Understanding. Optimization. Happiness. Help. For myself. For others. And if all else fails, humor. When I’m finished in one year, I hope to have more answers about the future and what I will do with the remainder of my life. All aspects to be considered. It’s not just about a career, hobbies, residence, activities, efforts, et al. It’s meant to be a comprehensive study and reflection from an ordinary man. Not a doctor. Not a therapist. Not a friend. Not an encyclopedia full of prior research. Just pure thought, a blogged journal with true honesty.

Join the fun and read a new post each day, or check out my book reviews, TV/Film reviews or favorite vacation spots. And feel free to like, rate, comment or take the poll for each post. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.

TAG: Amsterdam Books

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Many thanks to Sophie @ Blame It On Chocolate for tagging me in this fun tag. If you haven’t checked out her site, please go visit it now, then come back and read this tag post. Thank you for playing along.

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WHY DO WE HAVE SO MANY CHEESE STORES IN ONE STREET? — A CHEESY READ

Murder on the Oceania: Thought it would be a fun way to have a mystery, but they solved it in two chapters… it was supposed to be an intro to a new series, but at over 125 pages, it needed more substance

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CANAL PARADE — A BOOK THAT CELEBRATES THE LGBT-COMMUNITY

Will & Patrick Wake Up Married: It seems I don’t read a lot of books that out-and-out celebrate LGBT… mental note to fix that… but this was the last book I read that prominently displayed gay characters. I had one other to pick, but the character who comes out in the book is a surprise, and I don’t want to spoil the read for anyone.

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ANNE FRANK HOUSE — A BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY

The Mother’s Promise: I felt her pain of wanting a child of her own, but never being blessed.

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MUSEUM SQUARE — AN ARTSY BOOK

A Trip to the Hardware Store: Made me laugh with all the fun stories…

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PIGEONS, PIGEONS EVERYWHERE — AN ANNOYING CHARACTER

The White Feather Murders: I couldn’t get into these two detectives. I’m good with historical fiction, but they seemed so unable to listen to anyone other than themselves…

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RED WHITE BLUE — RECREATE THE DUTCH FLAG USING BOOKS

 

I Tag:

 

About Me

I’m Jay and I live in NYC. By profession, I work in technology. By passion, I work in writing. Once you hit my site “ThisIsMyTruthNow” at https://thisismytruthnow.com, you can join the fun and see my blog and various site content. You’ll find book reviews, published and in-progress fiction, TV/Film reviews, favorite vacation spots and my own version of the “365 Daily Challenge.” Since March 13, 2017, I’ve posted a characteristic either I currently embody or one I’d like to embody in the future. 365 days of reflection to discover who I am and what I want out of life… see how you compare! Feel free to like, rate, comment or take the poll for each post. Tell me what you think. Note: All content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.

TAG: How I Choose My Books

Posted on Updated on

Many thanks to my friend Noriko @ BookFiendSite for tagging me on this very fun game. She has a fantastic blog and was my 365 Daily Challenge Recommended Blogger last week. Go check out her site to find awesome book reviews, tags, memes, wrap ups, throwbacks and recommendations.
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Questions

 

1. Find a Book on your shelves or e-reader with a blue cover. What made you want to pick up this book?

 

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It’s the third in a trilogy that I adore, but I’ve got some ARCs and buddy reads due soon. I won’t get to it for another month. Sad.

 

2. Think of a book you didn’t expect to enjoy, but did. Why did you read it in the first place?

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The Book Thief is about the Holocaust, which is a tough subject for me to read. I kept saying no to by book club, but they were relentless, so I had to give in. It’s not in my top ten favorite books. Lessons learned. Trust your fellow book buddies who know you well.

 

3. Stand in front of your bookshelf with your eyes closed and pick a book at random. How did you discover this book?

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So many fellow Goodreaders were talking about it. Then I saw it on the bookshelf in the library of my apartment building. I snatched it up and plan to read it later this year.

 

4. Pick a book that someone personally recommended to you. What did you think of it?

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Recommended as a buddy read with Medhat, a buddy from Goodreads. I loved it. Now we’re doing a buddy read this week on its sequel, Hidden Bodies.

 

5. Pick a book that you discovered through YouTube / Book blogs. Did it live up to the hype?

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Beartown definitely lived up to the hype. It’s an amazing and powerful book that will absolutely rock your core to the point where you scream at the characters and the way people behave.

 

6. Find a book on your shelves or e-reader with a one-word title. What drew you to this book?

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Nel @ Reactionary Tales recommended it. I put it on my Book Bucket List. Now I’m planning to read it in September.

 

7. What book did you discover through a film / TV adaptation?

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I hadn’t realized this was a book first when I watched the movie many years ago. I wish I had read it first…

 

8. Think of your all-time favorite book/s. When did you read these and why did you pick them up in the first place?

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I read this in middle school and enjoyed it, but then I read it a few more times afterwards, which is where I found a love for the characters, messages and setting. It is nearly unmatched in my opinion…

 

Nominees

 

About Me

I’m Jay and I live in NYC. By profession, I work in technology. By passion, I work in writing. Once you hit my site “ThisIsMyTruthNow” at https://thisismytruthnow.com, you can join the fun and see my blog and various site content. You’ll find book reviews, published and in-progress fiction, TV/Film reviews, favorite vacation spots and my own version of the “365 Daily Challenge.” Since March 13, 2017, I’ve posted a characteristic either I currently embody or one I’d like to embody in the future. 365 days of reflection to discover who I am and what I want out of life… see how you compare! Feel free to like, rate, comment or take the poll for each post. Tell me what you think. Note: All content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.

TAG: I Messed Up Books

Posted on Updated on

Many thanks to two great bloggers who nominated me on the same morning to participate in this fun book tag. Both ladies have fantastic blogs, so please go read them ASAP!

Stephanie @ StephsFictionandFamilyLove

Ann @ Ann’s Reading Corner

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QUESTIONS IN THE TAG

A character appearance that you misread or imagined differently:

  • I think I have a different take on Robert Langdon in Dan Brown’s books. I would not have pictured Tom Hanks.

 

A character name that you’ve been pronouncing wrong:

  • When I read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I mispronounced a name:
    • It’s ‘Vie-Ah-Let’ Bore-R-Garrr’ and not ‘Bore-Ruh-Gard’ 

An overused trope that is your guilty pleasure:

  • Bringing characters back from the dead. It is an awesome way to surprise people, but if you do it too much, then it feels like something you always expect. It’s happened on a lot of horror things lately, and I want to slap the authors, then hug them for seeing both sides of the trope.

 

A cliché character type that you like better on screen than reading about:

  • The moody male protagonist. In books, he often comes across as a jerk and someone you want to beat the crap out of. Then they hire some hot actor to play him, and you’re like… “Well, yeah maybe I’d do him.” 

 

A word/phrase you learned because of its use in a book:

  • Yes, lots… especially southern expressions, such as “Bless Your Heart” is not actually a very nice thing to say to someone.

 

Have you ever not read or completed a required-reading book for school?

  • Yes! I skimmed a few in a Shakespeare class that I had at 8am on Saturday mornings. I sometimes couldn’t catch up during the week and needed my weekends to finish reading. I had no opportunity with this course, so I had to read cliff notes to be able to say something valuable. But I always finished it afterwards.

 

Have you ever skipped (or wanted to) a chapter from the point of view of a character you weren’t interested in? 

  • Done it – No
  • Wanted To – Yes
    • If the book alternates between characters and there’s a major suspenseful moment, I really can’t wait to get back to that character. And go figure, that’s exactly what I built into my first novel… alternates between 5 brothers and even writing it, I’d tick myself off having to wait to go back to write the next chapter for the brother I was totally focused on.

 

Have you ever canceled social plans to read a book?

  • Friends reading this – No, never. Now all friends, please close this post as I need to reveal a surprise gift I have for you… All shut down?  Good, thanks.
  • My real answer: YES! I have… a few times… made up excuses to finish a book. Sorry!!!

 

I TAG

 


 

My Very Own “Book Bucket List” – June 2017

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It’s been 1 month since I started my Book Bucket List and I’ve knocked the first one off the list: Jenn McKinlay’s A Likely Story. You can see the review here.

 

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In it’s place, I’ve added Envy by Sandra Brown, as a recommendation from my blogger friend Nel @ Reactionary Tales. Go check our her site!

Below is the link to the on-going Book Bucket List and a background on what it’s all about. Please take a look and help me decide which book I should read in July to satisfy this mini-challenge. You can vote in the poll below until June 30th, 2017.

Source: My Very Own “Book Bucket List”  —  Click here for the on-going detailed Book Bucket List

 

TAG: Candy Books

Posted on Updated on

I stumbled upon this tag when perusing the lovely Eva’s blog @ BrilliantlyBookishSite, where she talks about reading, tea and the smell of books! Go visit her site. And it seems that the tag was created by Jessica @bookishserendipity but I can’t find the site. So if you can, please thank her and let me know!

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The Tag

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I’m still trying to figure out the point of this tag, but the pictures and the commentary were so fun, I had to participate. I don’t like candy apples, but it’s considered healthy as the note above says, so… I’ll pick a book that’s supposed to be good but that I wasn’t totally thrilled with: Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. It was a bit too sour for my taste, and I don’t like the mix of something sweet and healthy and sour and sugary all at once. That’s what the book felt like to me. Too many things going on at once to focus.

milk chocolate

Milk chocolate isn’t too rich, so I don’t want this to be a majorly popular one. It’s also a go-to food when you need a quick sweet bite of something, so it should be an author you can visit frequently. I’d go with an Agatha Christie book, but not her most popular or best ones. So… The Mysterious Affair at Styles because it’s a gateway into her entire canon just like milk chocolate is a gateway into the entire world of available chocolates.

black jelly beans

I happen to like licorice, so I’m choosing a book that’s just OK but not really good enough for everyone to read. I might get some flack for this choice, but I’m going with Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale. It’s fine. There’s lots of flavors in the jelly bean family just like there are in his plays. This play is near the bottom of his barrel for me. Just like I would leave this jelly bean flavor for last.

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I don’t read a lot of romance, so this will be hard for me to choose. If I had to pick one with a great romance, I’d probably choose Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. I do love my Estella and Pip. They were nothing extraordinary in the grand scheme of things, but reliable for understanding the basics of love. Just like chocolate kisses. Pair them with peanut butter, you’ve got a winner. Put them in cookies, they are divine. Stick a flavor in the middle, it’s awesome!

Gummy Spiders

Ooh… now we’re talking. I love horror. I am going to pick something I read recently which had some crazy horror in it:  Richard Parker’s Be My Killer. I could have picked some classics, but I want to show something new here. The ways in which the people are murdered by this serial killer are fantastic! I never get scared enough to check under my bed, but this did make me think twice about how much I said on social media!

jumbo lollipop

I struggled with Donna Tartt’s The Secret History the first few times I tried to read it. I put it down for a few months and went back to it, and it still took at least a week, which is long for me. The characters were a bit too full of themselves and quite adrift for awhile. That’s the kind of novel it was, so I had to settle down and go with. Once I did, and the murder plot kicked in, I felt much better. Sort of like how you feel when you take on the jumbo lollipop. I think I can, I think I can, I cannot, I cannot. Put it down. Ok, I have to finish it. Lick Lick Lick. How many licks does it…. wrong candy, Jay. Oh, I’m done. Yay!

Cotton Candy

All the Dr. Seuss books. Just precious. Can read them anytime and still find something new! Cat in the Hat. One Fish, Two Fish. Oh, The Places We’ll Go.

 

Oh no! The tag is over. But I want more candy now…

 

Tag Nominations

  • Since I didn’t officially get tagged, I don’t think I can tag anyone else; however, you can choose to do this one. And if you do, please create a link and pingback to me so I can see your answers. {Except Nel, she’s required to do this one.}

 

About Me

I’m Jay and I live in NYC. By profession, I work in technology. By passion, I work in writing. Once you hit my site “ThisIsMyTruthNow” at https://thisismytruthnow.com, you can join the fun and see my blog and various site content. You’ll find book reviews, published and in-progress fiction, TV/Film reviews, favorite vacation spots and my own version of the “365 Daily Challenge.” Since March 13, 2017, I’ve posted a characteristic either I currently embody or one I’d like to embody in the future. 365 days of reflection to discover who I am and what I want out of life… see how you compare!
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