2015 Wrap

This was a great year of reading for me. I'm separating my list into a few different categories since I like a lot of stuff. Books, music, movies, YouTubers, all that jazz. Without further ado, my favorites from this year in no real order:

Books
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas--I think this book actually was my favorite. It was everything I wanted. My heart swells with joy when I remember all the anxiety it put me through. Where will this series go next year? I cannot wait to find out!

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell--This book was just really really cute. I think the only issue I have with it is that there won't be more. If I could get an entire book about Simon and Baz, I'd jump out the window from pure excitement. But year, except for that, everything is good.

Winter by Marissa Meyer--I made a whole review on things I liked about this book, and things I didn't like. I complained in the review a lot more than how I actually feel about it. It truly was a magnificent conclusion to the series.

Eve: The Awakening by Jenna Moreci--aye, I talk about her just a little bit later in this wrap up under the YouTubers section. She's great, her book is great, it's the best new-adult-science-fiction you'll ever read. Eagerly awaiting the sequel.

The Martian by Andy Weir--I was skeptical at first, since there was so much hype built around it. I wasn't disappointed though, it was the most humorous science fiction I've read. I grew to love the science-y aspects as well as Watney's charismatic personality. The movie was grand, too.

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins--I read this forever ago, it was one of the first books I read this year so I don't really remember it. But I really enjoyed it. This whole series in general just blew me away with cuteness. Wow, I'll probably regret that sentence.

The Chosen by Chaim Potok--This book was really important to me, I learned so much about people from it. I enjoyed the characters, the story, it made me feel a lot of different emotions, which I think is good.

Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson--Holy crap is Sanderson good at world building. And I really tried to get into the second book, but I'm finding it hard without *spoilers* my favorite character. That ending just drained me.

Some honorable mentions! I liked these books a lot, but I didn't entirely think they were my favorites.
Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
1984 by George Orwell (I also just reread Animal Farm, which was great)
A Court of Thrones and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

*I did alright in terms of my 2015 reading goals. I read 7.5 of the books on my list. It's not as great as I'd have liked, but I'm honestly proud of even doing that much. In my goals for next year, I'll address the issue of my growing TBR...

Music
Hamilton: The Musical (It's genius, really. I can't. It's show-tune rap about ALEXANDER HAMILTON.)
No Mythologies to Follow by MO (I've listened to it countless times. Best thing ever.
Oh Wonder's album is up there, it was another good summer jam
Blurryface (Twenty One Pilots--so good. Excited to see these two beans in concert)
Misterwive's Our Own House was spectacular and great to listen to in the summer
I listened to the HTTYD scores more than I should have probably.
The new Star War's "March of the Resistance" is definitely a jam, oops.
My love for Bleacher's Strange Desire exceeds all limits
BORNS is amazing. They were on the Old Navy playlist so much it hurts. I also love the acoustic versions.
Dotan, my man
Elvis Presley, my king
Halsey makes this list, of course. Her album Badlands is mind blowing.
Honorable mention songs: Howl's Moving Castle theme, Make Up Sex by G-Easy, and Virtual Insanity by Jamiroquai


Movies

Saw, Mockingjay Part II, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Jurassic World, Paper Towns, Kingdom of Heaven. I don't want to explain each one and why I liked it and why it made the list. Saw II was also good, but nothing beats the original. These aren't in any order. Don't overthink it. They're just books I liked.

*An honorable mention to the TV show The 100. I didn't watch a lot of TV shows this year, so I didn't want to make a whole section for shows (because it would be about 1 or 2 long, oops). The 100 was a fantastically enjoyable show with a great plot and cast of characters. I look forward to the new season next month.

YouTubers
Jenna Moreci is just a fantastic human being cyborg! Her vlogs on writing are hilarious and I read her debut book Eve: The Awakening which was absolutely gripping.

Doddleoddle was someone I discovered only a few days ago. Dodie has the sweetest voice, and I really enjoy the videos of her singing to her ukulele (especially her duets!). I will definitely be watching her videos well into the new year.

Savannah Brown has some really beautiful slam poetry and some nice views on stuff. Her channel feels nice and fresh. Throwing much love her way.

For Booktube this year, I really enjoyed watching Ariel Bissett's videos (once she finally came back from her study abroad!) and Peruse Project (I've grown to respect her opinions and recommendations as if she were someone I know, maybe that's weird).

Sorry if I'm forgetting anyone I really love!

To recap, I read 34 books, 13000 pages, with an average book length of 390 pages. Of course, my AP US history textbook really skewed these numbers, but that's APUSH for ya, messing everything up.

I'll have a 2016 Reading Goals post up in a few days. I'm not quite sure what it'll talk about, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

I'm rambling. I'm tired.

2015 out *peace sign emoji*

May Wrap-Up

I read three books this month! I also finished my AP US history text book (all 921 pages of it) and started another book.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas was spectacular, but I already wrote about it here so I'm not going to go into depth. 

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson was amazing. Amazing doesn't do it justice, but I don't know how else to describe it. The writing was so easy to read, and I read it so quickly. I fell in love with a lot of the characters, and though it wasn't a perfect book (at times, I wasn't a fan of Taylor and Henry's romance) I liked it enough to grant it 4 starts on Goodreads.

Lastly, I read The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Sallinger. I really didn't like it. Holden was too unlikable, and his narrating seemed too unreliable. The ending was good-ish but it ended too soon. No wrap-up, no explanation, no Jane Gallagher. Overall, pretty disappointing.

In addition, I started Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson and I'm eternally grateful to BookTube for suggesting this to me. I'm blown away by the plot and world building. I haven't been reading it for a few days, but I've been busy with homework. Hopefully I can get to it tonight for awhile.

Next, I plan on reading An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. Maybe I'll tune into the Booksplosion discussion taking place next weekend.

On a similar note, it's Book Expo America this weekend, and I'm sad because there's no place I'd rather be. Alas, I am stuck in the cool and rainy Midwest. Perhaps someday.

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current music : lose it : oh wonder : oh wonder

2014 Wrap

The new year is finally here! I decided the best way to kick off the blog would be to wrap up 2014's (loose) top ten favorites reads and some book awards, so here they are.

Favorite Books of 2014

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

I read this book in English class last year in the spring. It was short, but beautifully written through short vignettes. It was one of my favorite books I read for school last year--which is a weighted statement because I read so many great books in ninth grade.

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

In some ways, 2014 was a year of marathoning series. I got through the first five books in The Mortal Instruments in a shameful amount of time. I'd caught up in time for City of Heavenly Fire, which wasn't a disappointment. I loved how fast paced the book was. My brother and I agree that there were no slow parts, and that all of the sub plots were interesting.

Raging Star by Moira Young

A stunning conclusion to my favorite YA dystopian series. The Dust Lands Trilogy will always have a special place in my heart, especially after the (somewhat shocking) ending of this book. I read it too fast to remember what all happened (oops), but I know I must have enjoyed it.

We Were Liars by E. Lockheart

This book. THIS BOOK. It gets to me. It gets to me in ways books should not get to people. Read this book. Get your friends to read this book. Get your pets to read this book.

If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Foreman

I enjoyed both books immensely, but remember liking the second one a bit better. I think it was because of the Shooting Star lyrics at every chapter, and seeing things through Adam's point of view. Bonus points: the movie was spectacular.

Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

These books, I've decided, were my all-time favorite books of 2014. This was another series I marathonned, though there were only three books out at the time I started them. Favorite aspect: characters. No wait, plot. Or world building. Favorite character: Rowan Whitethorn (but I bet you already knew that).

The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan

Unfortunately, I felt obligated to include this book. By the end, I had lost a lot of respect for Riordan. I enjoyed the first two thirds of the book, but I had trouble accepting the ending. Maybe I'll get over myself once his Magnus Chase series comes out next fall.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

As every minute goes by, I feel myself shaking until I get another fix of Stephanie Perkins. These books are like crack. I'm so glad Anna and Étienne were the way that they were. It was all just so lovely.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

I have such mixed feelings about Ari and Dante. On one hand, it made me sad. On the other hand, I like books that make me sad, because they make me feel something (and if not to feel, then what else is the purpose of a book?). On my other third--and nonexistent--hand (I just need it to prove my point), I found myself unsatisfied with the characters and the wrap up. Still, I'm inexplicably drawn to the story in a way I can't begin to describe.

Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

The only classic making it onto the list, I adored this book. I finished it on the last day of the year. It's a book for school, but the most enjoyable one (so far) of tenth grade. Huck is such a likable character, and his childlike humor makes the book entertaining and enjoyable.

2014 Book Awards

Best Female--Celaena Sardothien from the Throne of Glass series (Sarah J. Maas)

She kicked butt more than any other female I encountered this year. With each book in the series, her emotions and motives became more and more layered. Celaena was unbelievably well written and I can't remember ever getting sick of her. 

Best Male--Rowan Whitethorn from Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas)

I really loved these books, if you can't tell. Finally a wonderfully written male who didn't become the female protagonist's love interest! By the end of  Heir of Fire, I think 90% of my tears and emotions were directed towards him. Thanks, Rowan--I'll love you forever.

Best Plot Twist/Twist Ending--We Were Liars (E. Lockheart)

I'm afraid I'll say too much for those who haven't read it. I don't want it spoiled for you. Just gonna leave this here...

Best Book to Movie Adaptation--The Fault in Our Stars (John Green) and If I Stay (Gayle Foreman)

What can I say? I loved them both dearly. I reread TFIOS before the movie came out so it was fresh, and because it turned out so well, I'm even more excited for Paper Towns. If I Stay was so lovely, and now I should probably do some research to see if they're making a Where She Went movie. 

Best Antagonist--Sebastian from City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare)

HE WAS SO EVIL. I loved how he was kinda/sorta good in the end? Not really. I mean, not at all. But when he died, he kind of made you wish he wasn't dying.

Best Supporting Characters--Meredith, Rashmi, and Josh from Anna and the French Kiss (Stephanie Perkins)

I was rooting for them the whole time. The dynamic of the group suffered when just one of them was missing, and the book would have lost a lot of its magical quality if they hadn't been there.

Best Friendship--the 7 demigods (+ Nico and Reyna) from The Blood of Olympus (The Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan)

True friendship can save the day, yadda yadda yadda. I love every single one of them, but especially the underdogs who aren't as loved. Reyna, Jason, Piper, I'm looking at you. Besides, Percy and Annabeth will always have a special place in my heart. Maybe if they were in the book more...

Best Couple--Anna and Étienne from Anna and the French Kiss (Stephanie Perkins)

I can't, with these two. It was the cutest, fluffiest book I read this year. I just want more Stephanie Perkins. I'm on withdrawal right now.

Best Setting--Beechwood Island from We Were Liars (E. Lockheart)

The mysteriousness. The nooks and crannies. The...incident.

Oh darn, I think I've said too much.

Best Ending--Raging Star (The Dust Lands Trilogy by Moira Young)

There was something so simple and unexpected about how the series wrapped up. It wasn't too fluffy or too sad. Just the right amount of realism to keep me guessing and thinking.

Book That You Threw Across the Room the Hardest--The Blood of Olympus (The Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan)

Was that ending even real? It was so bad. So so bad. Everything neatly wrapped up in little boxes. And the last chapter killed me inside, not in the good way. Why did it have to end like this?

Overall, I had an amazing year of reading. My original goal was 25 books, which I surpassed. In all, I read 35 books, over 400 pages of my AP U.S. History textbook, and a whole lot of fanfiction.