My Spook-A-Thon 2017 TBR

This year I have decided to join Spook-a-thon, a read-a-thon that lasts a week. This will be my first time doing a week long read-a-thon and I am excited to see how much I can read in a week. There is still time to plan so if this sounds fun to you, here is the announcement video!

Spook-a-thon 2017 is being held from October 16th–22nd. There are five challenges that you can attempt and also a photo challenge on Instagram. I have decided to attempt all five challenges.

My TBR:

1. Read A Thriller: Vicious (Pretty Little Liars #16?) by Sara Shepard. I was planning to read this anyway so this it perfect. I am so happy to finally be about done with this series. The books are fun but there are seriously way too many books!

2. Read A Book With A Spooky Word in The Title: I’m going to re-read I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga so I can finish the trilogy this year.

3. Read A Book That Deals With A Childhood Fear: Ghost Beach by R.L. Stine. I’m also reading this for Richard’s Goosebumps-a-long! I used to live in a house that I am pretty sure had some kind of ghost activity in it and the idea of ghosts used to freak me out as a kid.

4. Read A Book With A Spooky Setting: Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young is supposed to take place in a haunted hotel so that seems pretty spooky to me. Someone once compared my book, Evil in the Walls, to this so I am intrigued to read it. Haunted hotels are usually a win for me.

5. Read A Book With Orange On The Cover: Dracula by Bram Stoker. I planned to read this for my classic anyway and maybe it’s hard to tell from this picture, but the front cover has some yellow-orange on it.

 

So there’s my Spook-a-thon TBR! I am excited for my first read-a-thon. Halloween is my favorite and I celebrate all month long so I am here for the spooky reads! If you are participating, what are you planning to read?

 

jnc

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The Book VS the Movie: The Princess and the Goblin

Book written by George MacDonald, 1872
Movie directed by József Gémes, 1991

Synopsis from Goodreads.com:

Princess Irene lives in a castle in a wild and lonely mountainous region. One day she discovers a steep and winding stairway leading to a bewildering labyrinth of unused passages with closed doors – and a further stairway. What lies at the top? Can the ring the princess is given protect her against the lurking menace of the boglins from under the mountain?

 

VS

Which I Viewed First: The movie, as a child.

Which I Enjoyed Most: The movie, slightly.

Out of 5 stars, the Book Gets: 3.5 stars.

Out of 5 stars, the Movie Gets: 3.75 stars.

Things the Book Did Better: For such an old book, I feel it was still pretty enjoyable for this day and age. The story was also solid and more interesting.

Things the Movie Did Better:  The characters seemed a bit more developed/likable. Songs also work better in movies for me than they do in books, even though Curdie’s song tended to get stuck in my head.

Verdict?: Movie, slightly. Enjoyed both about the same though.

Should the movie be re-made?: A live action version could be interesting but I feel the animated movie does a pretty good job.

What do you think? Agree, disagree? Would love to hear your thoughts!

 

See more Book VS Movie posts HERE.

 

Books in January 2017

For 2017, I have challenged myself to read 80 books. In January, I read seven.

 

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New Favorite: FrostBlood by Elly Blake

Least Liked: 5th One Piece (For Whom the Bells Toll) by Eiichirō Oda

Classic: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Old Favorites (Re-Reads): Heaven by V.C. Andrews, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling.

I loved Harry Potter as much as I always have and reading the new illustrated version was a wonderful way to re-read the book.

I also loved Red Queen. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up was inspiring. The 5th OnePiece manga was decent, but far from my favorite. Overall, I had a great reading month!

Also, if you recognize this background, that’s because you saw it in my book pictures last January–only there was snow then. I decided to revisit this place (the inside of a large bush at my apartment complex of all places) because I think it’s a beautiful backdrop.

 

 

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My “new” favorite read for January 2017. This happened to be a review book, too.

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My classic read for the month.

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This year I decided to re-read the Harry Potter series. My husband got me this beautiful special illustrated edition of the Philosopher’s Stone to begin. The illustrations are wonderful!

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The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo has been a huge inspiration to me de-cluttering my life. So far I am more than halfway through my apartment and parting with clutter as well as re-organizing my life has helped so much. Being surrounded only by things I love, need, and use is so much better than hanging onto things I didn’t truly love. Highly recommend if you are looking for a positive change in your life.

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I also decided that I would re-read the Casteel series by V.C. Andrews as well as her original stand-alone, My Sweet Audrina, and the new sequel to MSA. Since VCA died in 1986, only a few books under her name were actually written by her. Heaven was one of the ones she did and I somehow loved it even more now than I did when I first read it at 14 or 15.

Heaven Leigh Casteel will always be one of my favorite fictional characters of all time and while this series is tragic, I am also always there to root for her and her dreams. If you want a book that will touch you, disgust you by the cruelty of the world, and make you want the main character to succeed no matter what, I highly recommend this one. I will be reading the next one in Feburary!

So what did you read in January and what were your favorites? How many books are you tackling for 2017?

jnc

Late Autumn & Christmas Book Hauls!

Hi guys and apologies for the hiatus! I managed to get sick yet again right before Christmas. I’ve also been working and visiting family and friends but I have some time off coming up so hopefully I will be able to post more and then back to a regular weekly schedule!

Since December isn’t quite over and I still have time to accomplish my December goals as well as my books, I thought I would share some of the books I’ve gotten since my last haul. These are from October to Christmas!

 

Can you believe I got these for a dollar each at Dollar Tree? Always check the book section. Usually I don't find anything but every once in a while I am surprised!
Can you believe I got these for a dollar each at Dollar Tree? Always check the book section. Usually I don’t find anything but every once in a while I am surprised!
I got this big stack for a few bucks at our local library's big book sale they always do in October. The deal was $3 a big brown bag and that's exactly what I paid here. Some books I am taking to the used book store or gifting but overall they are ones to add to my TBR.
I got this big stack for a few bucks at our local library’s big book sale they always do in October. The deal was $3 a big brown bag and that’s exactly what I paid here. Some books I am taking to the used book store or gifting but overall they are ones to add to my TBR.
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This super cute tea themed coloring book was $1 at Dollar Tree!
I got these at my library outlet's store for a few bucks.
I got these at my library outlet’s store for a few bucks.
Here is a closer view of the "pretty" little books I found for my decorative shelf.
Here is a closer view of the “pretty” little books I found for my decorative shelf.

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I got all of these at Ollie's Discount Outlet for a few bucks.
I got all of these at Ollie’s Discount Outlet for a few bucks.
I needed this for the election.
I needed this for the election.
I got this in my last Horror Block!
I got this in my last Horror Block!
Book Outlet was having a Black Friday sale so I could not resist.
Book Outlet was having a Black Friday sale so I could not resist.
I got this to color during the Christmas season.
I got this to color during the Christmas season.
Here's how the cover turned out with Lolliz gel pens!
Here’s how the cover turned out with Lolliz gel pens!
My awesome in-laws got me some Harry Potter items for Christmas!
My awesome in-laws got me some Harry Potter items for Christmas! I have an item on the way from my husband as well but I will share that in my next haul!
Also a Christmas present from the in-laws. The movie was "fantastic"!
Also a Christmas present from the in-laws. The movie was “fantastic”!
Christmas gift from in-laws.
Christmas gift from in-laws.
Have I mentioned that my in-laws are way too good to me?
Have I mentioned that my in-laws are way too good to me?
My in-laws are super awesome.
My in-laws are super awesome.
I also got this because I was impressed with the last book and it was on sale.
I also got this because I was impressed with the last book and it was on sale.

So that’s a ton of books! I definitely got way too many but I don’t regret a single one of them. What books have you hauled recently?

jnc

Books in November 2016

For 2016, I have challenged myself to read 100 books. In November I read eight!

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Favorite: Fairest by Marissa Meyer
Classic: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Least Liked: Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk


I also loved Labyrinth Tales. Uses For Boys was pretty good, The Elite was good, and Delirium Stories & The Fever were OK.

 

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My favorite read for November 2016.

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My classic read for November 2016.

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I am a huge Labyrinth fan so I loved this one as well.

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What did you read in November and what were your favorites?

 

jnc

Books in October 2016

For 2016, I have challenged myself to read 100 books. In October, I read nine!

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I read the three Goosebumps books for my first read-a-thon which was called the Goosebumps-along by Richard from Books and Bullshit. Check him out on Booktube (Youtube)!

Since I decided to go as Dexter for Halloween, I decided to do my book theme based around that. I also read a Dexter book so I feel it was a perfect one to go with. I love how the setup and my costume turned out!

Favorite: The Haunted Mask by R.L. Stine
Least Liked: Kiss by Ted Dekker
Classic: Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

I also really enjoyed the rest of the books, though The Murmurings had a really slow first half. The second half made the book worth it, though!

 

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My favorite read for October 2016.

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My classic read for October 2016

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Double Dexter ended up being my second favorite in the series
and a runner up for my favorite read for October 2016.

What did you read in October and what were your favorites? Also, did you dress up for Halloween? If so, what did you dress up as? If you have pictures, feel free to link me to them!

jnc

 

The Book VS the Movie: Something Wicked This Way Comes

seth-grahame-smith-direct-something-wicked-this-way-comes

Book written by Ray Bradbury, 1962
Movie directed by Jack Clayton, 1983

Synopsis from Goodreads.com:

A carnival rolls in sometime after the midnight hour on a chill Midwestern October eve, ushering in Halloween a week before its time. A calliope’s shrill siren song beckons to all with a seductive promise of dreams and youth regained. In this season of dying, Cooger & Dark’s Pandemonium Shadow Show has come to Green Town, Illinois, to destroy every life touched by its strange and sinister mystery.

And two inquisitive boys standing precariously on the brink of adulthood will soon discover the secret of the satanic raree-show’s smoke, mazes, and mirrors, as they learn all too well the heavy cost of wishes – and the stuff of nightmare.

something-wicked1

 

VS

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Which I Viewed First: The book.

Which I Enjoyed Most: The book.

Out of 5 stars, the Book Gets: 4.5 stars.

Out of 5 stars, the Movie Gets: 3.5 stars.

Things the Book Did Better: Story itself was better, darker, things felt more dire & horrifying, characters were deeper, great scenes such as the dust witch on the roof & Will’s father shooting at her were not in the movie.

Things the Movie Did Better:  Seeing the mirror maze and carnival helped paint a better picture in my head, casting overall good, outcome of some of the characters was a little less depressing than in the novel.

Verdict?: Book.

Should the movie be re-made?: Yes–I’d love to see a darker version. This was dark for a Disney movie, but didn’t quite capture the mood as much as I’d hoped.

What do you think? Agree, disagree? Would love to hear your thoughts!

See more Book VS Movie posts HERE.

jnc
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