Should I Move to Wordpress?

Sometimes I wonder if Blogger is the best place for me and my blog. I started using Blogger three years ago when I made a blog for one of my classes to give chapter summaries. I thought it was an easy system to use, and had some fun templates to work with, so I decided to start my own blog.

Also, I'm not fully feeling my blog name anymore...because I don't fully have a theme on my blog and my blog name, Fiction Food and French, almost seems like a theme...but I have never blogged about food yet...which like...should I blog about food soon? Maybe if I ever go to a famous restaurant or try something cultural? I just don't know.

But I also know that fiction, food, and things French are a big part of my life and personality. I like writing and reading fiction, I like food, and I'm a French major with such a passion for the language and culture.

But it's also not just French that I like the language and culture for. I have a long list of other languages that I wish to learn soon and I love learning all I can about different cultures and the people who celebrate them.

I just feel that a large majority of people use Wordpress, and when I do tags and fun little bookish posts, I can't do the Pin-Back feature that Wordpress allows you to do to notify people that you tagged them. And I feel like that is a really cool and interesting feature that should be used.

I've looked at Wordpress before, and I'd be able to import all of the posts that I have made here onto a Wordpress account/blog if I made one, and I've also always wanted to have my own website and that's another thing Wordpress can have connected to the blog (I have no idea if Blogger can do that, and also Google getting rid of Google+ probably changes a lot of things about Blogger).

Mainly what I'm asking is those who use Wordpress: what are the best parts about it? How easy is it to create your own website/blog and what are your favorite parts of having a Wordpress blog? Does it matter which package I get, and like...are they really that expensive in the long run? I'm about to get out of school and make more money than small part-time jobs so it would probably be easier for me to pay for it.

And for those who use Blogger...what are features that I'm missing? Do you not care about not having the Pin-Back feature to tag other bloggers? It is maybe my inability to code that makes me just...not want to think about customizing my blog at the moment or thinking that it's too hard? Should I just not care about what platform I use and continue to use Blogger? Because I like having my blog...but maybe this platform just isn't right for me? Thoughts?

I know I need to learn how to code if I want to use Wordpress too...so either way I have to learn it.

For those with blogs that don't use either Wordpress or Blogger...what's your platform and what do you like about it?

Lately I've been really thinking about where I want to take this blog, the types of posts I want to do, and I want to revamp the whole look of my whole blog. I'm going to keep the posts I just want to change like the theme and look of the blog and maybe pick a new name that fits that just a bit better, and I don't know how to get myself to that point on my own.

à bientôt!

Photo/GIF creds: Elmo thinking, shrugging man,

Goodreads Book Tag

I am stealing this tag from Amber at The Literary Phoenix because I really liked it and I thought it would be fun to look more towards my Goodreads besides the system I put books into.

Now, some of these answers may be different from when you read this to when I have written this, but that's because I go one a lot and update everything at least once a week.

What was the last book you marked as read?

Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh

What are you currently reading?

I have four books in my currently reading at the moment haha, but three of them are school related. I am reading:

1. Maria Chapdelaine by Louis Hémon
2. A Distinct Alien Race by David Vermette
3. The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell
4. Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis.

What was the last book you marked as TBR?

Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan

What book do you plan to read next?

Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa. I plan what books I read next with the whiteboard in my room back home and write down like ten books I plan to read and in what order I plan to read them.

Do you use the star rating system?

Yes I do! And like many of us, I wish there was the option to use half stars, or even more stars than five, but I work with what I have!

Are you doing a 2019 reading challenge?

Yes I am. I normally don't set too high a goal for myself because I'm not that fast of a reader like I used to be. My goal this year is 15 books, I have only read 1 so far, and Goodreads is telling me I am 2 books behind schedule. But I currently two of my school books have to be done soon so that will change within the month.

Do you have a Wishlist?

I loved Amber's idea of having a 'To Buy' shelf on her Goodreads (and then added said shelf to my account after). I do have a wishlist on Amazon of the books that I want, but it's also a list mixed with movies and TV show seasons that I would like to own as well.

What book do you plan to buy next?

Song of the Dead by Sarah Glenn Marsh. Other than that I never know what books I plan to buy next. There are always so many choices and I'm bad at making those choices haha. I usually pick what book is next while standing in the bookstore or staring at my wishlist.

Favorite quotes?

This is one of the functions that I don't use that often on Goodreads, but I do have a few here, and you can see that there are a lot of Edgar Allan Poe ones.

Favorite authors?

My favorite authors are Edgar Allan Poe, J.R.R. Tolkien, Julie Kagawa (who is the only one featured on my profile), and I think the last time I checked, my most read author was Cassandra Clare (because I do each novella individually) so I guess I should include her here as well. Also, I can't find where that list is again to double check who is second but oh well!

Have you joined any groups?

I am currently in one group, which I joined like...actual years ago. I think I was a sophomore in high school so about seven years ago, and the group hasn't been active in five. It's a Witch and Wizard group called "Witches and Wizards" and it was a roleplaying group. I might look for different groups in the future, any suggestions?

Do you use Goodreads? Have any tips or anything that you think I'd like for it? Just want to be friends? I love friends!

À bientôt!

Photo/GIF creds: my photo of Shadow of the Fox, covers from Goodreads, writing,

10 Characters I’d Switch Places With (Just For A Day)

I saw Amber from The Literary Pheonix do this post, and I thought it would be fun to try myself! (Also check out Amber's posts she posts so many fun things and great reviews)

As a reader, I find myself connecting to characters all the time. But would I ever want to trade places with them for a day? Well, some of them I would, and I'll tell you why!

Odessa

Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh

One of the first characters I really fell in love with as a person, because she was so close to me. I just want to live in her world and experience the other side once.

Meredy

Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh

I love the magic of being able to control an animal and work with them, I want the BEAR! I can't wait to see more of them both in Song of the Dead!

Meghan Chase

Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa

I think the fact that she has a mix of Iron and Summer glamour is really cool and interesting, but I wouldn't want to get mixed up in all the danger, just a day in the life of the child of Oberon, please.

Gandalf

The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

He doesn't come into contact with the spiders in the books...also I want to do magic.

Wanda/Melanie

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

The concept and the underground world always intrigued me. I think it'd be fun to talk to a voice in my head that wasn't just my thoughts too.

Esme Cullen

Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer

Her motherly instinct and family are amazing, also the chance to be a vampire...YES PLEASE!

Clary Fray

Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

I want her ability to make runes that aren't in the book, and I've also always wanted to be a red-head as well.

Effie Trinket

Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins

Just think of the OUTFITS that I could wear. Also, I definitely like the movie version of Effie slightly more than the book one (because she didn't just vanish) so I want to be both.

Wisteria "Wisty" Allgood

Witch and Wizard series by James Patterson (and others)

As the series that got me into reading, of course, I would pick someone as amazing as Wisty. She can burst into FLAMES and uses a drumstick as a wand. Sooooo, I like her.

Ember Hill

Talon series by Julie Kagawa

One, she is a twin (I forget if she is the younger one or not). Two, I want to shapeshift into a dragon and travel all over the world with Riley.

There are other characters that I'd want to switch places with, but these are the current top ten in my mind. What are yours?

À bientôt!

Photo/GIF creds: all book covers from Goodreads (my canva edit to connect them),

Wonder Woman Book Tag

If you know me, you know that I love superheroes, especially the women ones (because who doesn't????). And I love Wonder Woman. The Wonder Woman movie by Patty Jenkins was AMAZING and I even wrote a paper on it with a research partner on how the movie changed the film industry view on women, and we won an award...so I'm passionate about all of this.

So when I saw Kathryn at Nose Stuck in a Book doing this tag, I had to do it too! Also I fell in LOVE with the photo she had at the top of her blog so I'm going to put it on mine so more people can see her work. Here's her post on it. Now let's get into this!

Wonder Woman: Your favorite badass female book character =

For me, it's always been Katniss Everdeen. To me, she's such a dynamic character who went through some terrible events in her life, and her reactions to it all and what was going on around her was so real and I felt that I could connect with her in her struggles. I'll always love her.

Fantasy Island: A book setting you want to escape to =

Am I allowed to choose the secret island full of strong women? Comics count as books right?

A book setting that I have always loved is the Nevernever from the Iron Fey books. While I'd probably DIE within a week of getting there because I am not aware of my surroundings, I've always found it really pretty there.

Panem is next of course, because I want to live in the world after the games and explore all the old arenas and stuff like that. Imagine the finds you'd get...and the ghosts!

London: A hyped book that let you down =

I tend not to read many hyped books that I didn't like. I do research on the books and look at other reviews from people I trust to figure out if the book is something I would want to read. For me, the hype that let's me down comes from movies and TV shows.

Steve Trevor: A book that has a beautiful cover and a great story (i.e. good personality) =

Reign of the Fallen. The cover was so pretty and the story behind it was full of mystery and just all around a great story with a deep plot and realistic characters. While the cover wasn't all of the place with decoration and designs, the lone diamond-esque skull with the crown was beautiful and didn't take away from the book.

Lasso of Truth: A book you hated =

For Whom the Bell Tolls will always hold this spot for me. I've never read a book as terrible as this one. I get that Hemingway is supposed to be one of the greats in the 'forgotten children' generation or whatnot...but I hate his writing and how he wrote on the female characters and constantly comparing them to rabbits...no...never again.

Wonder Woman's Shield: A book so sad that you need a shield =

Honestly, the strength in this scene still gets me.

For me there are two books that work with this.

First: The Host, when I got to that last chapter where they were taking out Wanda I almost sobbed, I was ready to be so upset, but then everything was okay.

Second: Witch and Wizard: The Lost, it was the end of the series for one (last I knew) and what happened to one of the characters was so shocking and rocked me to my core because those books got me back into reading so it was like losing a friend.

Ares: A villain that is scary, but you can't seem to hate them =

My Iron Fey friends know that I love Rowan even though he's a terrible person...but it's also not the canon Rowan I love as much as the Rowan we have within our fandom. I also agree with Kathryn that Sebastian Morgenstern is a character that I love to hate.

The Amazons: A book that you wish had more/better LGBT+ representation =

Speaking as a member of the LGBT+ community...a lot of them. If you don't even have at least two LGBT+ characters in your book...it's a little unrealistic to me. I mean, it's hard to live in the real world and not know at least three people who are LGBT+, why make your book not reflect that?

Justice League: What superhero friends do you tag =

I don't really have many friends I interact with on here at the moment (I am going to change that by being more active here once I graduate and have more time for this stuff), so I tag anyone who reads this post and wants to also do the tag! Whether just in the comments or on your own blog, I love seeing other people's answers.

What are your answers to these questions? Do you love Wonder Woman as much as I do? Let me know in the comments below!

Photo/GIF creds: Kathryn's art board of WW, glowing bracelets, Themyscira, Steve Trevor, lasso toss, shield, ares (its a YouTube thumbnail), amazons, justice league promo, WW logo

Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh - A Book Review

WOW!  I really liked this book. It was great and had so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming. The way you felt about a lot of characters changes throughout the book, either subtlely during a chapter or in one short sentence.

There are some spoilers, but I'll put major ones in RED TEXT so you can skip them if you haven't read it. If you don't care about spoilers then go ahead and read it all!

I got this book from Page Habit in a sale box, and I chose this book because the story sounded great, and I wanted to read a book with a character closer to me than some of the other books that I have read, in the sense of romance.

It was important to me to read this book because Odessa was bisexual. I haven't read a lot of books that even touch on my sexuality and having the main character being bi? YES PLEASE. And I also liked how, I guess, normal it was to just be who you were and love who you loved.

With that being said, I liked how Odessa started with her and Evander, but part of their dynamic just didn't work for me. Maybe it was because they had that fight about change and exploring the world. But I did think that they worked for each other. Damn did it hurt when he died like I didn't think that's how it would go, and seeing what it did to her was rough to read. I know heartache like that, that burns inside you.

I LOVE KASMIRA! From the first meeting on the boat, I wanted more of her in the books. I wanted her and Odessa to kiss. I would have wanted to kiss Kasmira too, and I would have. Where is my beautiful weather mage-boat captain? I only wish for the simple things in life.

I hope I have friends like Valoria and Meredy who would sit by me in my greatest downfall and help pull me back up as hard as they could. Valoria was such a strong character too, and interesting too with her knowledge and powers. And with Meredy, I really liked her, and with her description and clothing, I got MAJOR Sansa Stark vibes. Just as tough, maybe even more, and with a bear to back it up.

The fighting and the conflict in the story, as well as the world-building, were so thought-out and different. During the book, I was always trying to figure out who it could have been, but everyone had seemed so nice and worried about the conflict themselves, that I never saw it coming.

Symbolism in the book

Flowers - I loved how flowers popping up on graves being something dangerous and wrong. A message sent from the dead, that's cool! I don't care what anyone says. I think taking what a lot of people think about flowers, that they are a symbol of love and purity, and using it the way Marsh has, is an incredibly creative thought.

Eye Color & Magic - I thought that having a certain eye color being an indication of certain jobs that you can have was also very creative. But I also feel like I need to know more about the different colored eyes and what they can do, and if there are more types of colors somewhere.

I give RotF: 5 Stars!

I can't wait for the second book. It seems even more action-packed and I can't wait to read more about Odessa and Meredy (and hopefully Kasmira). And connect even more with the characters and story like I did with this book. The ending had such large amounts of hope and happiness, that I want to see it all happen again, even if it will bring heartache to the characters (and me) while reading.

Have you read this book? Are you planning on reading it? I want to talk about it as much as I can! Comment down below. I want to know your favorite parts!

À bientôt!

Photo/Gif creds: my photo of the book, flowers gif, guy reading,

New Year, Same Me, New Adventures, New Stories

So this is my first post of the year. And I had planned to do about two others before 2018 had ended, but oh well. My body wanted to rest and my friends wanted to see me. I was able to bust out of my depression for that.

However this year has so many exciting things coming my way, and I'm so excited for them. So excited I'm going to make a list. Lists are fun.

1. I am going to be graduating from college (undergrad) in May with TWO bachelor's degrees! One in French and the second in Media Studies Communication. It's bittersweet to be ending my undergrad career, but I've also been looking forward to this day since I started.
2. I'm going to see my twin sister and nephew again! They are (hopefully) coming up for my graduation and our birthday. I haven't seen either of them since about a month before they moved to Texas, a very far distance away from me.
3. When I go back to school this semester I will be working with the Communication department again like I did the last two(ish) years. I loved working with my professors and the admin and the only reason I wasn't working there last semester is because I was supposed to be in Canada, but that's explained in this earlier post.
4. There is a possibility of my mother taking me to Quebec after I graduate (and after my sister leaves) for a long weekend or a week so that I can still experience the city. But of course, I'll go back for a longer period of time for another vacation.
5. I have an opportunity to teach English in France for seven months starting in October. I still have to finish my application but I'm excited to find out if I get accepted and finding a place and learning where I would be teaching. It'd be such a great experience. I'm even going to be sitting in on a TESOL class to give me some insiders and skills for teaching English.
6. If I don't get into that program (I can always reapply later for different years), I would take a year off of school to start looking into grad schools and choosing a program. Because I need a break from schooling. Part of me wants to just jump right into grad school after undergrad if I don't get into the France program, but I also know that I need to give myself a break, or I'll burn myself out.
7. THIS is the year I'm going to get my license. Depression and anxiety have caused me to take a really long time to get into driver's ed (right before college) and I have taken the driving test, but I failed. School has made it hard to practice, but I am going to be working with my mother while I am home and hope to get my license either before the start of this semester or after during the summer. I need to get a license and start being more independent with my life.

That's most of what I'm excited about this coming year. I don't say it often because normally I don't think of myself as a 'go-getter' but I want to make this year, MY YEAR. I'll let you all know if that actually happens.

I've made a reading challenge this year of 15 books, like last year, and I have a list of books that I want to get done this year. And if I get into this French teaching program, I'll be able to take my tablet and read the books on there so I can save some room in my suitcases haha.

I hope you all also have some exciting things coming for you in 2019, even if you don't know about it yet. Whether it be love, or success, or graduating (from school or a certain time in your life), maybe even just finishing up one of the goals that you've had for years. I will wish only good onto your lives, because that's what I wish for my life this year.

Time to spend the rest of this third day of the year to watch Criminal Minds with my mother and do some cleaning in my room.

À bientôt!

Book Feels Tag

So, of course, I got the idea to do this tag after seeing Nose Stuck In A Book do it on hers, so I had to try it out for myself! You should try it too! Now it's time to get into my feelings about books, and I have a lot of them so I'll try to keep my answers as short as I can, haha.

A book/series that made you smile or laugh

Oh, most of them honestly. I always find the happiness or the small amount of humor within a lot of books. I like finding those little moments while I read. And I think mainly the series that made me smile the most was the Iron Fey series.

A book/series that made you sad or want to cry

While the whole series didn't make me want to cry, the last book of the Witch and Wizard series really hit me hard. I was not okay for like three days afterward, and still not okay because of it.

A book/series that you love

The Hunger Games trilogy. I will sing its praises for all my life. I know that not everyone loves it, and that some people have so many things wrong with it, but I loved it. I read the books when I was in high school, and I fell in love with them. I also read them with friends and saw the movies during premieres with them, so it's a sentimental love I have for them as well.

A book/series that you didn't particularly like

I mean...it's not that I don't like it. I've never read the Harry Potter series. I am currently watching the HP movies with friends, I just don't think I'll ever read the books.

A book/series that was made into a movie that you liked

The Hunger Games movies were GREAT in my mind. I loved them, especially when the second director came into the scene. He really captured the storyline. I will always love that trilogy as well and always will. I need to read and watch them all again.

Also the Divergent movies (only the first two). I loved them and it felt like I was reliving the series over again in a different way. And the way Insurgent ended, I felt like a nice closing and don't even need to watch Allegiant.

A book/series that was made into a movie that you didn't like

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones movie is not what I thought would happen, and don't like all the changes they did with it. The TV show though, I really liked it.

A book/series you have mixed feelings about

Lord of the Rings. I want to finish reading it, I really liked The Hobbit. But it's so long and some of the parts are so long (he needed someone to edit some of those parts down) that's it's going to take me so long to get through. I love the movies and the world of Middle Earth, I'm just trying to figure out if I'll ever finish it or not.

A book/series you haven't read but are totally excited about

Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh. I am going to start reading Reign of the Fallen after I finish this post so I am very excited about that. I got my copy from PageHabit so it has annotations from Marsh throughout the book. I love reading those!

Also anything by Julie Kagawa and The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell, which I got as a Goodreads giveaway.

A book/series that made you angry

Moby Dick or anything Hemingway. I read those during a really bad time in my life so they hold really bad memories to them. It was when I was in an honor's English class that I shouldn't have been in. The books took a lot out of me, as well as the teacher herself because she wasn't even close to a nice person to those she didn't like. I'm only happy that I didn't get to spend the whole year in her class, I got out half-way through and then actually enjoyed myself in that subject again.

A book/series you feel like you can relate to

At this moment, I have found very few series that I can fully relate to in a sense of who I am as a person. I love the Talon series for its usage with twins, as well as Ty and Livvy. I haven't read any books yet with a bisexual MC, but I know once I read those I'll connect that way with those books.

I think that I need to look more into the world of books and find more stories with characters I could relate to on deeper, more emotional levels as well. If you have any suggestions based off of what you know of me, please let me know as well!


I liked doing this and reaching into my feelings of books. Though it's actually not that difficult, I'll always talk about books!

À bientôt!

Photo/Gif creds: my photo of ROTF, lady with book,

Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare - A Book Review

I finished this book when I should have gone to bed, and I'm writing this review when instead I should sleep on it. You know what, I'm going to go to sleep. And when I wake up, I'll finish this review. I'm just full of emotions right now and I want to SCREAM TO THE HEAVENS because wow...

Okay, I napped for a long while, let's start.

Now, as you saw from my review of the Shadowhunter Academy stories, I love this world, but this book might just be my least favorite, for a few reasons. As I write this, I am still trying to decide on three or four stars (you'll find that out at the end...as will I).

Because I did like a lot of it, but there are just so many things within the narrative of this one book that I didn't like, and a lot of them were at the very end. Which tends to happen with a lot of CC books. She shoves a blade through your heart just when you think the damage couldn't get any greater. You'd think by now I would have learned, but alas, I have not.

So I want to start with the things that I did like because I feel that will be nicer and easier for me at the moment. I'll try to be as spoiler-free as I can be, but honestly, it's not easy for me and I don't read books when they first come out so most people interested in the book have probably read it. But I'll keep the big stuff hidden. It's the smaller things I normally have a harder time keeping secret.

Likes

I have always loved Diana, and this book just made that fact more solid for me. She is a dynamic character and now I ship her and Gwyn, thanks for THAT. Gwyn saying to Diana that she's been in his dreams swept me off my feet, and I was laying down when I was reading it. Need me someone like that.

Also, I do love how CC likes to bring in so many different types of characters, just to show that they are the same as humans, how we are all unique and it's just so fake and weird that everyone would be straight/cisgender all the time soooo. That's always a plus in my book. Mark, Alec, Magnus, *name struck out due to spoiler*, Helen and Aline (always a fan of them).

I want my own Clary Fray to comfort me on a rooftop and tell me everything might be okay. Because I need reality at some points in my life and I don't like being lied to. I wish she was more in the series, but at the same time it makes sense since this isn't her series anymore...but I still miss her.

The mention of Marisol and Jon in this book made my heart so happy and light, my small children! Happy together! Great, so happy.

Diana SHUTTING DOWN Zara like a damn Queen will forever live on my memories. How sweet it is to read a bigot get yelled at and put in their place.

The relationship between the twins and Kit was a great friendship and I felt beautifully written.

I also loved reading as Kit learned more about Ty and why he does what he does, and how Livvy works with him. And how Kit learned his own ways to work with Ty. It made me smile to see things like that, making anxiety attacks, and being different or even autistic (I don't think they said it outright that Ty's autistic and I could be wrong, maybe it's just close to that but not labeled that) is just something that is. And you have to just accept someone for who they are as a person and be there for them.

While I didn't like that he left so soon because I liked his character, Arthur's sacrifice (sorry small spoiler) for his family was so caring and an amazing final moment in his life. Something they can all think of, it was for them, because he loved his family.

Dislikes

*this section has slight spoilers because of my FEELINGS, please enter at own risk*

HOW DARE YOU TAKE AWAY JON! His character grew so much in the Academy and I thought he could be more in this book and work with the Blackthorns but NO!, just rip my heart right out again. I just want happiness at some point within these books. please cassie

Zara reminds me of so many people. I hate extremists and just the type of people like her. It's so fitting to read of someone like her, who hates anyone who is different or not 'normal' in her eyes. While it's fitting to reality, doesn't mean I LIKED IT BECAUSE SHE WAS MEAN. Also while I disliked her character, I liked her addition to the plot because of the different Downworlders that have always helped the Blackthorns and other shadowhunters since...a long time ago.

As much as I love a forbidden romance, the whole 'parabatai curse/against the law' plot with Emma and Julian, wasn't a fan. I felt it was almost unneeded with the rest of the story going. I see where certain plot points would not be able to be there without the forbidden love, but so much of the rest of the plot would remain the same if taken out, in my opinion. I just...it was something I felt didn't need to be in the book.

However, I am one person and most likely not in that majority and I'm fine with that. I'll still read the rest of the series.

I think that it's mainly because it's more of a law and a curse and not like...two families who said: "no don't do that". I like things like that where it's more of a principle that they can't be together, and not a curse.

Also, something I find that happens a lot with CC books: a large majority of bad stuff happens to multiple people at the same time during a mass chaos situation at the end so you can't SLEEP afterward. Like what happened here in Lord of Shadows. Like, please Cassie, STOP HURTING THEM! They've all been through so much already.

Now one final note,

To the piskie with its whole head in a bowl of milk: 

I just want you to know, from the bottom of my heart and soul; BIG MOOD.

Stars given: 3.75 (4 on Goodreads). This is because of the things that I did not like.

I love the world, I love the characters, but so many other things I just...I can't fully put my heart into it. So much loss, and so much destruction and death, the curse. Sometimes I just can't get past it if so much blood has already previously been spilled as well. However, perhaps in time, I won't think this and I'll have a different opinion. This is just my current one.

*Michael Cera voice* well, that's my review, let's talk about it.

À bientôt!

Photo/Gif creds: shadowhunters, michael cera,

Disney Princess Book Tag

So, of course I got an idea from Nose Stuck In A Book, and you should all go and read her post on this tag, but I also wanted to try this due to my love of books and my love of Disney. If only that was my college major. Books and Disney. Imagine the homework!

The Rules (copied right from Kathryn's blog)

• Mention where you saw the tag/thank whoever tagged you because that's always good fun
• Tag Book Princess Reviews and Zuky with your posts so we can check out the wonderful Princess fun throughout the blog world (BPR is this link and Zuky’s is here) (I can't do ping backs off here so I can't do this, sadness)
• Play a game of tag at the end!

Now the ladies:

Snow White: This Book (like the Movie) Started it All

Favorite debut book from an author

I guess I can say that my favorite debut book is either The Iron King or the Hunger Games. I loved those books so much, they helped really fuel my reading life and the kinds of books that I read (and I know Suzanne Collins wrote other books before THG but they weren't in the same genre/age-range so I don't count it personally).

Cinderella: A Diamond in the Rough

Just like Cinderella, you either didn't expect much out of this character in the beginning but turned out be a total JEM

I guess this comes with most books, there's a character that I just don't like, but I end up being okay with them by the end of the day. I honestly can't think of a specific person at the moment.

Aurora: Sleeping Beauty

A book that makes you sleepy or just could not hold your attention 

I read at night so many books make me feel sleepy, but books that don't hold my attention don't stay in my mind or my Goodreads. Also, reading the Lord of the Rings books always makes me sleepy but I'm interested in the story.

Ariel: Under the Sea

A book with a water/ocean setting

I mean, I haven't read it yet, but the Seafarer's Kiss has an ocean setting with a female Viking and a mermaid. I just have to get my hands on a copy of it. Only thinking of the books I have read, no ocean settings.

Belle: Beauty and the Books

Name a book with the best bookworm/book lover 

I mean, I have read one of the original Beauty and the Beast novellas so I guess that one. Also, Tessa Grey and Will Herondale from the Infernal Devices books really liked to read, so I'll include them in here as well. As I was typing this I remembered them haha.

Jasmine: The Thief and the Princess

Name a book with an unlikely love story (either in terms of romance or a book you didn't expect to love so much)

Most of the time I only read books that I know I'll like, but I guess I can say that it's Witch and Wizard by James Patterson. I've talked about this story a lot but basically I was told to read this book for a homework assignment and fell in love with books again. So thanks Wisty and Whit.

Pocahontas: The Real Life Princess

Name a book that is based on a real-life person you want to read/have read 

So I while ago I got a book called 'Suite Française' by Irène Némirovsky. While it's not exactly about her life, it's two parts of a five-part story that took her years to write, and then she got arrested during the process, and her daughters hid the book, only to bring it out years later when it was safe and have it published (and translated). She was killed in WW2 before she could complete it, and I think that's just the saddest thing to me right now, and also a fear of mine.

Mulan: The Princess that Saved Her Country

Name the fiercest heroine you know 

One heroine in any book series that I loved is Katniss Everdeen from the Hunger Games. I will defend those books and Katniss with my life and a new fire has been lit of my love due to the 10th-anniversary editions of the books came out. I have such a large need to reread them, but I no longer own the books (long story).

Tiana: The Princess With the Coolest and Most Diverse Crew

Name a diverse book whether it is a diverse set of characters (like Tiana's group of Naveen, Louis, Ray, and more) or just divers in general 

The first two books in the Galahad series, Comet's Curse and Web of Titan. I feel they're two of the most diverse books I've read in a while because all the characters are under the age of 16/17 (could be younger) and they come from all ends of the earth. I think it had said in the book it wanted to save all cultures or languages or something of that nature, or that was my own thought process. The premise of the world ending from a curse and the only ones saved were these kids in a large ship...was also pretty cool to read.

Rapunzel: Let Your Longggggg Hair Down

Name the LONGEST book you've ever read 

Under The Dome is the longest book I've read if I combine both parts that I read because I had them separate and not in the same book, it's around 1,070 pages.

Merida: I Determine My Own Fate

A book where there is no love story/interest or isn't needed

Out of all the books that I have read, The Hobbit is the one that I pick for this. There was no romance within the story (at least none that I can remember). I know there is another book on my shelf that is like that but I can't picture it/remember it at the moment.

Anna/Elsa: Frozen Hearts

A book in a winter/cold setting 

A book that I read three years ago (I've been meaning to get to the other two but I'll probably have to reread the first one again for refreshing) is Greta and the Goblin King. I got it on my Kindle for free and one day decided to try it out and see what it was all about. It had intrigued me enough to download. In the end, I found the book was very good and unique from other books in the same genre.

Moana: How Far I'll Go

A character that goes on a journey

Basically, every book that I have read a character has gone on a journey, whether it be a physical one or an emotional/mental/educational one. There's always a journey to a story.


Those are my princess books! I had a lot of fun doing this (even though it's taken me so long to actually get this out because school is kicking my butt). Let me know what your answers for each princess was, I'm always curious for other people's answers.

À bientôt!

Photo/Gif creds: snow white, cinderella, aurora, ariel, belle, jasmine, pocahontas, mulan, tiana, rapunzel, merida, anna/elsa, moana,

"I Dare You" Book Tag

Bet you can't guess where I got the idea to do this tag! Or maybe you did, because I always do the tags from her blog because I like them so much. You should totally follow Nose Stuck In A Book if you haven't already, she's great and has a lot of bookish content!

The Rules

• You must be honest
• You must answer all of the questions
• You must tag at least 4 people (this one I can't really do but for everyone else go ahead!)

* I tried to answer all of these to the best of my ability, but being at school makes some of these a bit hard!

1 - What book has been on your shelf the longest?

There's so many. And I'm not at home to look at all my books at the moment to actually see the books and figure out which has been there longest. I'll edit when I get home next.

2 - What is your current read, your last read, and the book you'll read next?

Current - Lord of Shadows, Last - Tales From the Shadowhunter Academy, Next - Reign of the
Fallen/Shadow of the Fox.

3 - What book did everyone like, but you hated?

I used to really like them, but now I find John Green books sort of overrated. I want more magic and realistic characters in my stories. It shows sometimes in the books that he doesn't fully understand the characters he's trying to make. At least that's how I see them. Also his books weren't really in my normal genres so maybe that has something to do with it.

4 - What book do you keep telling yourself you'll read, but you probably won't?

Half the books on my TBR list honestly. Like the Dark Tower series. I only have the second and third. Might just read a quick synopsis and then watch the movie. I have so many books that I need to read so those will always be at the end until I can find the first one to start it. I also have a few diet books that I probably won't get to, at least not any time soon.

5 - What book are you saving for your retirement?

Any of the books that I haven't read by then/any books that come out by the time I'm retired. I really don't have any books that I'm saving for that time, and only being 21 years old makes that seem like hundreds of years away for me. I might never retire.

6 - Last page -> read it first or wait 'til the end?

I will wait. The only time I will read the last page before reading a book is if I wrote it, or someone is forcing me to/paying me to. That's it. I just want to read, I won't spoil a book for myself. People who read the last page first give me anxiety because YOU'RE RUINING THE BOOK FOR YOURSELF! But to each their own I guess!

7 - Acknowledgement: Waste of paper and ink, or interesting aside?

Honestly I love it. I think it's great to read the other people who were there to help create the wonderful book I've just read (normally don't read it if I didn't like the book that much). It's also something personal from the author so I like that aspect as well.

8 - Which book character would you switch places with?

Honestly, with the types of books that I read, I don't know if I'd want to switch places with them. They are always having attempts at their lives or they are charging straight into a battle...which I just could not do. I guess I could say that I'd want to trade places with someone from the Iron Fey series, at least then I could get some cool powers!

9 - Do you have a book that reminds you of something specific in your life? (place, time, person?)

Thinking about the Hunger Games trilogy makes me think of three separate people. My aunt Rachel - who told me to give the books a chance. My friend Ashley S. - who sat beside me in lunch and watched me read/gave me vague spoiler-ish things that would cause me to read faster. And my friend Ashley B. - who let me come over her house to watch the first movie.

Then Ashley B., Ashley S., and I went together to see the Catching Fire premiere in theaters. It was a stressful night because we didn't buy the tickets until that night and they were almost sold out, but then the theater opened up another screening for the premiere so we were all good.

10 - Name a book that you acquired in an interesting way.

So I've had two different posts about my local library having $10 book sales. You just bring a bag (or take a paper one from them) and fill it with books. Then you pay $10...which is such a deal if you find really good books. Which is what I did a few times.

One time at a one of these book sales I found a 50th edition of the Hobbit. it was gold with green runes on the edges and had a box that it can slide into. I was SHOOK when I saw it there. And it wasn't a library book they had in circulation because it didn't have a tag on it. So I shoved the right into my bag and it still sits on my shelf in my Tolkien section.

11 - Have you ever given a book away for a special reason to a special person?

Honestly...no. I don't know many people who want books. Most of the people that I know personally that like books, buy their own books, and I don't know most of the books that they would like that I could give them. That's the problem sometimes with friends who like books, they get them themselves. And the ones that don't like books...well you see the issue there.

12 - Which book has been with you most places?

Most of my books have been with me to a lot of places if I'm currently reading them. I keep them in my bag, even if I don't have the time to read. It's a comfort to me to have a book with me at all times. It all depends on the time of year I am reading in too because I don't go to as many places in the summer as I do in the winter (which I feel is opposite compared to most other people).

13 - Any "Required Reading" you hate in high school that wasn't so bad two years later?

Not any that I've found again two years after but I thought reading the Hobbit in high school was going to be a drag but I ended up loving it and now I'm a Tolkien girl! I also really liked the short stories from Washington Irving that I read in high school. Rip Van Winkle and Sleepy Hollow were something that I found intriguing and I remembered the plots easily for class discussions.

14 - Used or brand new?

Both, I'm not picky on the types of books I get as long as it stays together while I read it. I have had books that fall apart in my hands. And while that might show that it's been loved, I also feel that it's a sign that the book wasn't taken care of during the many times it was read.

15 - Have you ever read a Dan Brown book?

Nope. Don't think I will, but I might watch the movies off of his books. I mean like the plot is interesting...but I would rather have more fantasy and magic tied into the books that I read.

16 - Have you ever seen a movie that you liked more than the book?

Game of Thrones, just because those are too long to read and I really like the show. I know there's a lot of stuff wrong/controversial but I love Arya and dragons sooooooooooo. I hope that this counts. I can't think of any movies I like more than the book.

17 - Have you ever read a book that's made you hungry, cookbooks included?

No, I mean sometimes the food sounds good, but it doesn't make me hungry. I also don't use cookbooks that often because I'm in college so all I make is pasta and instant mashed potatoes. However, now that I'm typing this I'm getting hungry so I'm going to go eat after this.

18 - Who is the person whose book advice you'll always take?

Honestly, anyone on Book Twitter that I know has actual facts behind their reviews/feelings towards books and authors. Also, my friends Seth and Emily because they know the good stuff.

19 - Is there a book out of your comfort zone (outside of your usual reading genre) that you ended up loving?

My comfort zone really includes everything except romance and non-fiction. And I really don't read anything outside my comfort zone except for my school-work...and I can't say that there is a lot of those that I liked so much to say that I loved it. I can say that a book I just read for my French World class "Une si longue lettre" was really good. I would suggest anyone who wants to learn more about a different culture/religion to pick this up. There are English translations (and probably other languages) available online.


Agree with me? Probably not.

Photo/Gif creds: Han Solo, Hunger Games books, Arya, Matilda, books, 

90's Kid Book Tag

So I saw this tag on Nose Stuck In A Book, and I wanted to try it, just like all the other tags she does.

While I may have only been born in 97, I still enjoyed many of the fads of the 90s while growing up because the early 2000s were a lawless land. Don't believe me? Go google the top fashion.

THE RULES

*copied from 'The Literary Phoenix'

1. Please, please, please steal this tag and spread it around! I only ask that you link it back to The Literary Phoenix so that I can see everyone's answers!
2. Freeze tag was all the rage in the 90s. Tag someone (or many) you think would have fun with this!
3. Have fun!

*anything in asterisks are my personal feelings/memories with each 90s fad because I have many a story*

Pokemon

A GBA game and trading card game where you balled pocket monsters and strived to catch them all. Back in the day, there were only 150 Pokemon. *my mom didn't let me watch Pokemon so I didn't get to play until Pokemon Go came out, my favorite is Vulpix*

The author you need every book from: Julie Kagawa. I love all of her stories. It started with the Iron Fey series, and now I have at least one book from each of her series. Here's to getting them all!

AIM

AOL Instant Messaging - how 90s kids communicated with their friends after school before everyone had a cell phone. *I actually never used AIM because I didn't have friends during this fad*

Book that connected you with your best friend: I read a lot of books that my friends also read. However, Twilight is a reason why my roommate Emily and I got along so well. We both read the books during important/difficult times in our lives and when we met, we both mentioned that we liked it, and there began our Twilight Trash adventures and movie binges. (also Seth but I met him through Emily because of Twilight and just her in general lol)

Furby

Creepy needy robots you could teach to talk and were probably demon possessed. Somehow these made a comeback? *Furbys scare me and I'm glad my mother never got me one*

Book that seemed like a good idea but was actually a monster: MOBY DICK. The premise is good, but I hate the book and let the furbies eat it.

N'SYNC

90s quintessential boy band. You may have heard of Justin Timberlake? *I know few songs from this band but I know most of the memes....ITS GONNA BE MAY*

Book that you hated to say Bye, Bye, Bye to: The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I loved it so much and I thought the story was so interesting, also I wanted to follow Wanda more and see more of her working the world around her in a new body.

Slimed

Getting green slime thrown on you, courtesy of the show Figure it Out. Also apparently still a thing at the Kid's Choice Awards? *this is still on my bucket list*

A book that everyone loved but you hated: I mean, most books that I liked, everyone that I know also liked it. I don't know many people that liked the few books that I hated. Most people know the books that I dislike.

I will put a side-ish note here that there are books that I will not read due to stuff other reviewers say about it/or the author. One of them is The Black Witch. From honest reviews I have found about this book it's just not good, and problematic, and the fans of the book and author attack the reviewers who didn't give it a 4-5 star review so I don't want to be a part of any group like that. I see the book all over the internet so I guess that this one can fit this category.

Oregon Trail

90s computer game you could usually play at school, which was great. It taught us people used to die a lot of gruesome, messy deaths. *I only heard about this game like last year at some point because they made it a mobile game*

A book that made you wish you died of dysentery: For Whom The Bell Tolls get's this spot, hands down. I had to read this book for an English class in high school, and I liked the first two summer reads my professor assigned so I went into For Whom The Bell Tolls with hope, but THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT. The book was so boring to me and the way Hemingway wrote made me wish I was suffering any other way than by him.
*I looked up what dysentery was and I'm shook*

Mixtape/CD

Back before everyone had music on their phones (remember, we didn't have cell phones!) folks would rip their CDs and make mixes for each other. *my mom made my sister and I mixtapes to play on our little personal CD players. It was great. I honestly remember the rise of all the music sharing and streaming and it seems so far away*

3 books you recommend to anyone, anywhere, no matter what:

1. The Iron King from the Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa (I could literally talk about this and it's spin-off series for the rest of my life).
2. The City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (as well as the rest of the Shadowhunter Chronicles because the characters are good and so is the story).
3. Life and Death by Stephenie Meyer. (I'd say Twilight but while I love the series I love Edythe just a bit more)
4. *I just wanted to extra one* The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. (I love these books too and I'm sort of sad their hype has died down but at the same time I understand why)

Dial-Up Internet

You know how it's annoying when you aren't on LTE? IMAGINE WAITING 10 MINUTES FOR INTERNET TO START AND ANOTHER 20 MINUTES FOR GOOGLE TO LOAD! *I can honestly say I don't remember having dial-up...maybe I just wasn't allowed online during the time my mom had it. I always remember not waiting too long for things. Then again I was young and maybe I just don't remember the passage of time that well*

A book that took FOR FREAKING EVER to read: Lord of the Rings. I've only made it past Fellowship of the Ring as of this being posted so you know it's going to be a long time before I ever come out with a review or just any type of post about them. But I still love Middle Earth.

Kenan Thompson

He's that guy who's been on SNL forever. Also Mighty Ducks. Good Burger. Keenan and Kel. All That. Everything. *I watched like none of these...I know I've seen GB but I blocked that the hell out of my brain*

The book you see referenced everywhere and is in everything, but that's okay because it's awesome: The Shadowhunter Chronicle books go here again! Almost every blog and bookstagram that I follow have mentioned them and that's okay because I love them too.

Thumbs Up, Seven Up

A game where most the class closed their eyes and seven people tapped someone's thumb and you had to guess who did it without peeking. *I still love this game and will also say yes to playing it again*

Book where you peeked just REAL quick at the ending because you don't like guessing games: I don't do this because it gives me anxiety. I watched a friend read the ENTIRE last page of a book before starting it and my heart actually stopped in my chest.

Dunkaroos

These were basically just Teddy Grahams dipped in frosting, which is still a wonderful snack idea. *while I did like these, I really only remember eating the Shrek edition of them...and now I want them again*

You ideal bookish snack: Honestly anything. I could be eating my dinner while reading. As long as I don't get too much on the pages I call it a good day. But I do like having tea, cider, or hot chocolate when I read.

Scary Stories to Tell In The Dark

Collections of short stories that would scare any sensible kid! Plus, there were illustrations... *yea screw these I like watching Buzzfeed Unsolved but not these lmao, just the photos give nightmares*

A book that kept you up all night: I've never read something so scary to keep me up all night if that's how we want to go. But I have stayed up late reading The Iron Knight (Iron Fey #4) and The Lost (Witch and Wizard #5) before.

Bill Nye the Science Guy

Basically the coolest thing you got to do in science class was watch Bill Nye. He has a Netflix show again! *I never watched him in class until like a clip or two in college...which is weird but yea*

A book that taught you something new: I read a book for one of my history classes about the French Revolution (which is one of my favorite time periods) and it talked about EVERYTHING that lead to the revolution. Before I had only known about how it affected the royal family because I was a big fan of Marie Antoinette.

Now, while I don't know a lot of other book blogs (I need to start looking up others and make more friends in the bookish community) I can't tag anyone outright, but if you want to do this, do it! Let me know as well because I wanna see all your answers!

À bientôt!

Photo/Gif creds: vulpix, furby, N'SYNC, John Cena getting slimed, mixtape CD, shadowhunters, Shrek dunkaroos, Bill Nye,