Books of Amber

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The Dystopia Challenge

01/12/2010 5 Comments

This challenge is hosted by Dutchie at BA Reading Challenges. It’s pretty simple, all you have to do is read as many dystopian novels – YA or adult – as you can before the year is up.

I’ve decided to start at the Contagion (15 books) level, but I expect I will read more. I just didn’t want to set my level too high, just in case!

Read:

– Inside Out by Maria V Snyder

– Outside In by Maria V Snyder
– Delirium by Lauren Oliver
– Across the Universe by Beth Revis
– Divergent by Veronica Roth
– Wither by Lauren Destefano
– The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan
– Enclave by Ann Aguirre
– The Legacy by Gemma Malley
– Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan
– Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts

Current Total: 12

My Possible List:
(so far; that will probably change more than once)

1. Feed by M T Anderson

2. 1984 by George Orwell
3. Matched by Ally Condie
4. Unwind by Neal Shusterman

5. The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E Pearson

6. The Road by Cormac McCarthy

7. The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
8. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
9. The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness
10. Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness
11. Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
12. Sapphique by Catherine Fisher
13. The Giver by Lois Lowry
14. Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
15. The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer
16. This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer
17. City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
18. The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau
19. Bar Code Tattoo by Suzanne Weyn
20. Bar Code Rebellion by Suzanne Weyn
21. Obernewtyn by Isobelle Carmody

The Dystopia Challenge starts one minute past midnight, 1st of January 2011 and end the 31st of December 2011.

Challenge Levels

Asocial– Choose 5 books to read

Contagion – Choose 15 books to read

Soldier – Choose 30 books to read

Drone – Choose 50 books to read

Conditioned – Choose 75 books to read

For extra hard challenges

Brainwashed – Choose 76-125 books to read

Totalitarian – Choose 126-200 books to read

The 350 Page Books Challenge

01/12/2010 Leave a Comment

This is my page for the 350 Page Books Challenge, which is hosted by Ashley at What’s Your Story?

The challenge will last from January 1st, 2011 to December 31st, 2011

Read:
– Alpha by Rachel Vincent (Adult)
– Wereworld: Rise of the Wolf by Curtis Jobling (YA)
– Delirium by Lauren Oliver (YA)
– Across the Universe by Beth Revis (YA)
– My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent (YA)
– Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles (YA)
– Hungry For You by Lynsay Sands (Adult)
– The Iron King by Julie Kagawa (YA)
– My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent (YA)
– Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead (YA)
– Blood Promise by Richelle Mead (YA)
– Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead (YA)
– Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead (YA)
– You Against Me by Jenny Downham (YA)
– Divergent by Veronica Roth (YA)

Current Total: 15

Forget Me Not (1)

30/11/2010 5 Comments

Forget Me Not is a new meme hosted by Steph at The Thoughts of a Book Junky. The idea is to show off a book that is fairly old, but one that you still love and enjoy.

The book that I am going to share with you all this week is the first book in The Saga of Darren Shan – Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan.

Darren Shan seems like your average boy–he likes playing football with his mates, passing notes in class and loves spiders. Then, one day, his best mate Steve gets tickets for a banned freak show and Darren starts experiencing things that no average boy would dream of. At the Freak show he sees a limb-chewing wolf man, a woman who can grow a beard in front of your very eyes, a snake boy and a goat-eating tarantula called Madame Octa. But what about the mysterious people in blue-hooded robes whose faces you never see? And is Mr Crepsley really a vampire?

Don’t be deceived by the facetious tone of the narrator, this book will have you screaming out in revulsion and horror. Wrap yourself up in your duvets and get prepared to be scared. This is outrageously gruesome:

Anyway, that’s enough of an introduction. If you’re ready, let’s begin. If this was a made-up story, it would begin at night, with a storm blowing and owls hooting and rattling noises under the bed. But this is a real story, so I have to begin where it really started … It started in the toilet.

Cirque du Freak is Darren Shan’s first novel and the first in a series highlighting Darren’s adventures and misadventures. You’ll be baying for blood if you miss out.And, remember, it’s all true. (Age 10 and over) – Amazon UK

I first read this book when I was around nine years old, and completely fell in love. The Saga is a set of twelve books which follow the adventures of a newly turned vampire – Darren Shan. The whole world that the author has created was amazing, and the way of life for vampires was very interesting. It shed a whole new light on the vampires. And yes, before you ask, Shan’s vampires drink blood!

I totally recommend these books – not just the first one. I love them so much and they are by far my favourite series of all time.

A movie was recently made covering the first three books in the series, and if you have seen that, then you’ll know basically what these books are about. However, as is almost always the case, the books are so much better!

New Followers, Giveaways and Pickles

27/11/2010 3 Comments

I just wanted to say a a huge welcome to all of my new followers! It means the world to me that I now have over 50 of you following my blog. Thank you, all of you!

Because of how amazing you all are, I’ve decided that I’m going to do a giveaway! But wait before you get excited and start happy dancing. I’m not doing a giveaway until I reach 100 followers here on my blog, and 100 subscribers on my YT channel. This isn’t because I want more followers (which, you know, I wouldn’t mind ;)) it’s just because I have no money right now, and it’s so close to Christmas I doubt I’ll be able to borrow any. So, I’m waiting until I reach those two goals. Okay? 🙂

And onto my third point of the day – pickles. Actually, there is no point. I was watching Spongebob and they were talking about pickles.

Thanks again, and I hope you all have a brilliant weekend!

In My Mail Box – (7)

27/11/2010 3 Comments

IMM is a meme created by Kristi at The Story Siren. Basically, you just take a picture/make a video showing what you got in the mail this past week. Pretty simple, yes? So, here’s what I got this past fortnight.

Books:

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer (Goodreads|Amazon US)

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (Goodreads|Amazon US)

Savannah Grey by Cliff McNish (Goodreads|Amazon US)

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E Pearson (Goodreads|Amazon US)

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Book Blogger Hop (1)

26/11/2010 13 Comments

I’ve seen this Book Blogger Hop meme all over the blogosphere, but I’ve never really paid attention to it. However, Alice from The Reader Room did a post on it this week, and I read it and finally understood what it was all about. Thank you Alice:)

All you basically do is answer the weekly book related question, and then link your blog on the list. Pretty simple, yes? I don’t know why I felt so overwhelmed before. Well, you all know I’m an idiot haha.

This week’s question is:

What is your favourite book cover?

I’m pretty bad and I am one of those people who does judge a book by its cover. Honestly, if a book has – in my opinion – an ugly cover, I will nine times out of ten not pick it up. I told you, I’m horrible.

Anyway, I have a few favourite covers. However, my favourite one at the moment is, by far, the most beautiful cover I have ever seen. (I say that all the time, so don’t take me too seriously!)

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer has the most stunning cover. The glitter and the purple/lilac go so well, and the lilies, and the hair, and the yellow eye.. Just – WOW!

I’ll be honest and say that I did, at first, only pine for this book because of the cover. But after reading some reviews and then going forth and actually reading the book, I saw that the content was just as beautiful as the picture.

And the pages are all kind of.. rough and old looking. Gorgeous.

End of an Era

The Maid by Nita Prose | Book Review

Top Ten Books I Was SO Excited To Get… But I Still Haven’t Read