NaNo-Prep: Only two days left!

Yesterday I spent a few hours NaNo-prepping. Today is the 30th of October, so NaNo is only two days away. Exciting!

My November:

I might have mentioned it in an earlier post, I'm not sure, but in any case I will be revising the novel I finished this summer during NaNo this year. Meaning, I won't be working towards a word count, but rather towards revising the entire novel during November.

Yesterday I structured up the entire thing, and came to the conclusion I will have to revise 1 chapter each day. Which will be really intense and take most of my time, but NaNo is the time to make what sounds impossible possible.

HOW I AM GOING TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE:

• Do as much homework as I can in advance
• Buy lots of candles and chocolate
• Make pep-notes to myself
• Make sure my friends and family understand why I won't have time for them next month

So that is what I will be doing for the next two days. And then I will make sure I'm off to a good start, because the beginning is everything. How are you guys prepping for NaNoWriMo?

Book review: 1984 by George Orwell

Title: 1984
Author: George Orwell
Genre: Dystopia
Pages: 328
Published: July 1st 1950

Summary: The year 1984 has come and gone, but George Orwell's prophetic, nightmarish vision in 1949 of the world we were becoming is timelier than ever. 

1984 is still the great modern classic of "negative utopia" -a startlingly original and haunting novel that creates an imaginary world that is completely convincing, from the first sentence to the last four words. No one can deny the novel's hold on the imaginations of whole generations, or the power of its admonitions -a power that seems to grow, not lessen, with the passage of time. - Goodreads





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Review: (Spoiler-free)

This will be a short review, mostly because I don't have a lot to say. The booktuber Ariel Bissett has been talking a lot about 1984 and so when I got the chance to read it for English class in school, I did. If I hadn't read it for school, though, I probably wouldn't have finished it.

Fact is that I like it more now than I did when I read it, because it was so slow and boring to read, but it has a message that is interesting. I read more for entertainment and this was focused on the political message. Maybe if it had been written differently I would have enjoyed it more.

What is good about it is that it differs from other dystopian stories. Firstly, it isn't YA so of course some elements are different from what I usually read, but mostly because of the ending, which I'm not gonna spoil. The end saved the book in my opinion, because it's what I remember most afterwards.

I don't really recommend this book. It has a good political message and it's a classic, so a lot of people know about it, but I found it slow and frankly, quite boring. If you want to read it though, don't let this review stop you.

Have you read it? Did you like it?

Book Review: Beautiful Oblivion by Jamie McGuire

Title: Beautiful Oblivion (Maddox Brothers #1)
Author: Jamie McGuire
Genre: New Adult, Romance
Pages: 337
Published: July 1st, 2014

Summary: Fiercely independent Camille "Cami" Camlin gladly moved on from her childhood before it was over. She has held down a job since before she could drive, and moved into her own apartment after her freshman year of college. Now tending bar at The Red Door, Cami doesn’t have time for much else besides work and classes, until a trip to see her boyfriend is cancelled, leaving her with a first weekend off in almost a year.

Trenton Maddox was the king of Eastern State University, dating co-eds before he even graduated high school. His friends wanted to be him, and women wanted to tame him, but after a tragic accident turned his world upside down, Trenton leaves campus to come to grips with the crushing guilt. 

Eighteen months later, Trenton is living at home with his widower father, and works full-time at a local tattoo parlor to help with the bills. Just when he thinks his life is returning to normal, he notices Cami sitting alone at a table at The Red. 

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Review: (Spoiler-free)

So, I don't know if you knew this but one of my all-time favorite books is Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire. It was one of those you need to keep reading, but don't want to because you don't want it to end. When I heard every Maddox brother would have a book of their own, I was all for it.

Beautiful Oblivion is the first of the books in the series The Maddox Brothers, alas the first brother of Travis to have his story told. We get to follow the story from Cami's perspective, and one of the things I really appreciate is that she's a person of her own, with a different voice from Abby (Beautiful Disaster). I feel like often when spin-off series are made, they are too similar to the original story, character-wise. Beautiful Oblivion is not, instead it is compelling for it's own reasons.

Let's start off by swooning a little over Trenton. A lot, more like it. I don't know what it is, but every single one of those brothers have me drooling, and Trenton is definitely no exception. He is a tattooer, a bit rougher than his younger brother but with a soft side. He's light with an easy smile, but carries a sorrow that sometimes cuts through and calls for truth. Which is perfect for Cami who, bartender and all, is a bit tough herself but needs someone who one back down on her.

“I was just thinking now was as good a time as any to acknowledge that you’re perfect and it wouldn’t suck if you fell madly in love with me anytime soon."

There was this underlying secret, never outright named but always there, as to why Cami wouldn't just break up with her boyfriend and go be with her obvious right choice, Trenton. I had a feeling of what it was and was right too, but at times I felt it became a little too much - just tell him already, you know? It only bothered me a little, though. The story still had enough conflict to keep me going, witty dialogue and good pace.

I loved revisiting the places, the people, and I really liked how McGuire managed to make this a story of it's own, sometimes recognizing the characters from her first book but not letting them take over - this was the story of Trent and Cami, and it was good enough for me to read it again sometime. I definitely recommend it if you liked Beautiful Disaster, and if you haven't read that and think this one seems good, I'll recommend you start by reading it first. You'll get this story better if you do. Happy reading everyone!

The Maddow Brothers: (Links to Goodreads)
1. Beautiful Oblivion
2. Beautiful Redemtion (Review)
3. Beautiful Sacrifice
4. Beautful Burn

Book Review: Legend by Marie Lu

Title: Legend (Legend #1)
Author: Marie Lu
Genre: Dystopia, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 305
Published: November 29th 2011

Summary: What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets. 

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Review: (Spoiler-free)

I've wanted to read Legend for quite some time now, because it's one of those books that has been all over book blogs the last couple of years. I'm glad I finally took the time to do it, because Legend was a hit.

The thing with dystopians nowadays is that even though I love them, sometimes they tend to blend together from being to alike. I can read a book and puzzle together pieces of it that I have read about in other books, until nothing is really original about it. I didn't feel this way with Legend - from the moment I picked it up, I couldn't get it out of my mind. Some parts of it, like mentioned above, is similar to other books but it still draws me in and the similarities I do find have a fresh take. Thumbs up.

“If you want to rebel, rebel from inside the system.That's much more powerful than rebelling outside the system.” 

I love to follow both June and Day, because they are smart and passionate and unselfish, constantly trying to save or avenge the people they love. Without too much insta-love, they have chemistry from the start, and what feelings they develope through the book feels realistic and still intense. I won't spoil you, you'll just have to pick it up and read for yourself, but as the story goes and you learn more and more, details fall into place, I think the story gets even better. They are two kids trying to make the best out of their situations and their feelings, and that's what pulls me in. I could relate to them.

Also, hints of something bigger, nastier in the background makes me drool for the next book, which - thankfully - I have waiting for me on my bookshelf. The government is obviously up to no good, and I want Day and June to find out what's going on and put a boot in their faces, which I have a feeling they will.

It's a slow burner - it wasn't mindblowing but I feel a pull towards it, and still afterwards it makes me smile. I think I will continue to put in a good word for this one for a long time forward, even after I've forgotten the details. Right now, I'm telling you to go read it, because you won't regret it. I certainly don't.

The Series: (Links to Goodreads)
1. Legend
2. Prodigy
3. Champion

Have you read Legend? Did you like it as much as me?

September: Wrap up + October TBR

This month has been good, but even though August feels like years ago I can't believe yesterday was the last of September. Anyways, this was my reading-month.

~ BOOKS I READ ~

Legend by Marie Lu

I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson

1984 by George Orwell
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

The review for I'll Give you The Sun is already posted, both the others I am still working on. Titles are linked to Goodreads!

Reviews: 5
September-favorite: I'll Give you The Sun was amazing.
Pages read: 980
In progress: None

I've also read about seven different manuscripts for school this month, which have taken time. I'm so looking forward to Fall break in a month when I'll have lots of time for reading, hopefully.

WRITING: 
This month I printed the first draft of my fictional story, and I had never before printed something I'd written so it was a pretty big deal. Now I'm in the process of editing but things are going slow. I hope I can pick up inspiration and speed during October, and then NaNoWriMo is upon us after that! Puh...

CURRENT OBSESSIONS:
• What little spare time I can find
• My new Bookstagram-account, @teacupreads , do check it out if you want to :)

~ OCTOBER ~
• An Ember in the Ashes
• Blue Lily, Lily Blue
• Throne of Glass

All of these books I have recently gotten home (bookhaul is on its way) and I'm so excited to read them, I'll definitely make space in my calender to read them during October. I like to leave some space though in my monthly TBR so that I can read whatever I feel most like :)

What have you been reading in September? What are your plans for October?