Why To Stop Reading A Book

Hey! Look at this! A second post up in less than a week! (I'm praying I keep it that way. ;P)

Okay, so I thought I would write down some reasons why I have STOPPED reading a book. Yes, you read that right. Stopped. Even when I'm halfway through, and as an avid reader it kills my little OCD heart to not completely finish a book, I have decided to walk away from some. 

If you're above the age of 12 and have starting branching out into more uncharted reading waters, then you probably know what I'm talking about. Here are some reasons why I stop reading books:

Language:

I have grown old enough that language does not bother me as much as it might have before, even large amounts of it. But there have come points in several books where the language was simply overwhelming and making the book completely unenjoyable. Most secular authors probably don't realize how distracting it is, or, if they do, they don't care. They assume everyone talks like this. But curse words can act like an attention-magnet. Instead of carrying the story, the characters, and the characters' speech forward, when they're used, they suck all of the attention away from the sentence to fixate on that one word. 

Adult Scenes:

I've stopped trying with YA novels. Anything remotely romantic-related turns out to be all romance. When that happens, the authors usually feel the need to spell out every detail, something I personally do not care to read. You can have adult-content without describing every detail of that. Imagine how much more appropriate books would be if that were the case. But since authors assume you DO want to read all about it, they do write it.

Now, I can overlook those two things usually, IF it has at least one, sometimes two (depending on how bad the language and content is) of the following:

Good/Interesting Characters:

There have actually been few books--nowadays, at any rate--where the characters are compelling and interesting and deep enough to make me want to keep reading. I tried to get into The Raven Boys Trilogy, finding the characters well done, but ultimately not interesting enough to carry the weight of the boring/weird plot, the amount of language, and the complete lack of any sort of moral values. (Now, I know by using this as an example, I've possibly opened a can of worms. I know that the Raven Boys is a pretty big deal for some people, but, sorry, this is my opinion.) 

The Throne of Glass is another example I could use. The language I could take, the occasional adult content I could take, but I couldn't stand Celaena after the second book in the series. She wouldn't stop whining. While the first book kept me interested, and the second book I read for the romance, there was nothing left for me to gain from Celaena's character after that. She was all dried up. And, by taking away the intrigue of the plot of the previous books and the other, more interesting characters, I found that she had been just as whiny and annoying throughout whole series.

Intriguing Plot:

The plot is supposed to be what keeps you reading. You can get away with stupid characters and badly written prose if you have an exceptionally amazing plot. Now "exceptionally amazing" varies due to peoples different tastes. I read a book a while back about the idea that souls are used again and again, but in different bodies throughout time, and boy who could remember his "past lives." He was in love with a girl he kept meeting during those various lives who couldn't remember. (By the way, I DO NOT recommend this book.) The writing style was fairly good, if vague, but otherwise is was an awful book. The only thing that kept me reading was the plot. I wanted to know how it ended. I wouldn't say it was an "exceptionally amazing" plot, but it was intriguing enough that I overlooked all the flaws.

Good Writing Style:

The City of Bones is a good example for this one. It was one of the few books I've read that I read solely for the writing style of the author, and nothing else. I picked it up, intending to enjoy it because I had heard good things about it. Instead, I found the characters dry and devoid of any real standards or morals, the plot predictable, slow, and typical, and the language distracting. I kept reading it doggedly, because I decided that even if it ended terribly, the author was a good writer and I maybe I could pick up on how she did it. 

Enders Game is an amazing book. Great plot, well developed characters, and nicely done writing, but after reading it, I felt like I needed to take a shower. There was a lot language. But, ultimately, it was worth the language for everything else the book gave me. I gained more than I lost. Faerie Wars on the other hand, I put down because it wasn't worth my time. While there wasn't a whole lot of language, the characters, the plot, and the writing were nothing spectacular, there was nothing I could gain as a writer or as a person, and I eventually just decided to put it down. There are better books out there for me to spend my time on.

The older I've gotten, the more books I've put down. One, because I've started to realize that time is precious and I need to use my reading time to its fullest extent. And secondly, because, as I branch out into stranger territories in search of new and exciting things to read, the more flak I have to wade through to get the really good stuff. 

Do you stop reading many books? Do you have a hard time like I do not finishing something simply for the sake of finishing? What makes you stop reading? What makes you keep reading?

Have a lovely afternoon,

~The Scribbler in the Attic

April Reading List \\ The Book of Time Adventures in Samarkand Gate

Hey! Long time no post. It's been an absolutely crazy few weeks, which is why my monthly book review(s) post is late. I combined both March and April's lists because I didn't read much either month. 

Wordsmithy 

by Douglas Wilson

A short book about writing and the writing lifestyle. I really enjoyed it (especially Douglas Wilson's humor. One of my favorite jokes ever is in this book :D ), and it is among the top of the list of books that have impacted my writing the most. He's down to earth, not afraid to tell aspiring writers they're doing it wrong, and uses that to make you motivated. It is also definitely the kind of book that you would get more out of reading it two or three times. I indubitably will. 5 stars. 

The Time Fetch 

by Amy Herrick

I WANT A SEQUEL NOW. Ahhhh. I loved this book so much. It left my heart feeling squeezed and sore and perfectly drooling for more. It's got time travel, fairy tales, magic, school drama and creepy villains--but that's not why I loved it. Actually, the plot was a little wonky, and the pacing odd. But as I was saying--I loved it for the characters. Edward, the main character, was awesome. I found a really original kind of spirit in him that really stuck with me. Feenix, second main character, was very cool, and not the typical "bad girl" or "good girl". She was unique, and a perfect foil to Eddie. I heard a rumor Amy Herrick may be working on a sequel and I REALLY REALLY HOPE THAT'S TRUE. 4 1/2 stars, only because the pacing was a little off, and Edward was a devout atheist, which was annoying (but also added to his character. It's complicated...)
(There were a few instances of taking the Lord's Name in vain, that was it.)

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

by Mark Twain

Pure awesomesauce in 200 pages. This is one of the few classics I really enjoyed reading. I'm not usually one for just fiction--but this was an exquisite pleasure to read. And it's not just because I relate to Tom, living out in the country. :) Both fast paced and laid back, absolutely worth every minute. 5 stars, definitely! (They do take the Lord's Name in vain several times, and there is a scary murder involved.)

The Book of Time (Book of Time #1)

by Guillaume Prevost 

I picked this up at McKay's for $2. I started the book not at all impressed. It sounded like it was written for eight year olds. But the longer I read, the less rocky it got, and the author's voice finally settled in my head. It was still gut-churchingly juvenile (the dude used at least three exclamation marks in a single paragraph. No kidding.) but the story grew more and more intriguing, and I was starting to like the main character, Sam. Sam's father disappeared two weeks ago, and no one seems overly concerned. One day, Sam goes into their basement and finds a secret wall hiding a strange stone beyond. Next to the stone is a strange coin with a hole in the middle. Oddly enough, it fits exactly into a crevice in the stone. Instantly, Sam is thrown back in time, and, consequently, thrust head-first into a hunt for his father that involves monks, World-War I, mummies and Dracula. By the end of the book, I was intensely invested and immediately went and bought the sequel on Amazon. 3 1/2 stars, for various reasons, but still a very fun/short read. (They do take the Lord's name in vain a few times, and there is a minor curse word once or twice. Also, talk about drugs.)

The Gate of Days (Book of Time #2)

by Guillaume Prevost

Just as good as the first, if not better. This time, Sam has to battle Chicago mobsters, neanderthals and medieval soldiers while trying to discover the meaning behind the strange horn-and-sun symbol that has been following him through his time travels. It was a great follow-up to the first one, much better written, and Sam finally smartened up. 4 stars. (Again, a few minor curse words and taking the Lord's name in vain. Also more drug talk and descriptions of different kinds of medieval torture.)

The Amulet of Samarkand (The Bartimaeus Trilogy #1)

by Jonathan Stroud

I was not expecting much, so I was really surprised when I ended up absolutely loving this. I picked the series up on a whim, without any previous research, from the library. The titles caught my eye, and I decided to try them out. The writing is surprisingly well done, the author has a very extensive vocabulary, and it brings a high level of class. His character, a dijinn called Bartimaues is a witty, snappy demon summoned by a young magician, Nathaniel, to help him take revenge on a powerful magician who humiliated him two years ago. 
Despite the vengeance agenda of the book, I really liked it, and the plot. The characters were the best part, though, especially Nathaniel. He's original, he's got depth. A twelve-year-old cross between a psychopath, a mastermind, an awkward teenager and, in the end, a hero. He's selfish and insufferable and annoying, but in a surprisingly un-annoying way. I give it 4 1/2 stars. (There is two or three minor curse words, a few instances of taking the Lord's name in vain, and some rather... uh, shall we say, colorful sentences now and then.)
--And just a side note, I am extremely annoyed at the people who say that this series steals from Harry Potter. The only resemblance between the two is that the conflict revolves around magicians in England. The similarities end there. 

Have any of y'all read these? Let me know what you thought of them if you did.

I've been finding many more good books lately, which is very nice. If you have any suggestions, I'm always open! I love getting recommendations. 

Tiredly-Because-It's-Eleven-Thirty-At-Night,
~The Scribbler in the Attic

March Reading List \\ The Obsidian Blood Throne of Doom and Olympus Staff

Hey y'all! Sorry I've been neglectful with posting this last month. It's been super busy around here. :)
Maybe I'll actually get March's "Reading List" post up before the month ends this time. :P

The Obsidian Mirror (Chronoptika #1) 

by Catherine Fisher 

This was such a good book! It finally came in at our library and I found myself completely transfixed. Catherine Fisher has long been one of my favorite authors, both for her stories and her writing style, which is chilling and enchanting all at once. The Obsidian Mirror is about a boy, Jake, who's father was murdered. Jake suspects his new guardian, Oberon Venn, the man who was his father's best friend, to be the murderer. But when Jake goes to Wintercombe Abby to confront him, he finds only secrets and a strange black mirror. I give this book 4.5 stars. I wish I had just gone ahead and bought it! (Side note: There is a good deal of mild language throughout.)

The Shadow Throne (The Ascendance Trilogy #3)

by Jennifer A. Nielson

This. Was. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. This series has become my favorite book series ever, and I was not disappointed by the conclusion. I loved every bit of it! If you haven't heard of this series go buy it right now. :D I wish I could give it more than 5 stars!

Day of Doom (The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers #6)

by David Baldacci

This was pretty good. It was the last book of the series and tied up everything really well. A very good sequel series to the original 39 Clues. 3.5. stars is my humble opinion. (It does take the Lord's Name is vain three or four times, as well as using two mild curse words.)

The Blood of Olympus (Heroes of Olympus #5)

by Rick Riordan

Eh. I can't complain. It was exactly like all the others, which is to say, they travel around and fight monsters. It was actually rather boring until the very end, at which point I finally started to enjoy myself. It was a lot of fun and had several parts that made me laugh out loud. But I won't say anymore so that I don't spoil it for any of you who haven't read it. 3.5 stars. (Just fyi, there is a gay character in here. But nothing "happens" per se.)

The Staff of Serapis (PJO and KC Crossover #2)

by Rick Riordan

Dude. I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS! If you haven't read The Kane Chronicles and Percy Jackson, pick them both up and then read The Son of Sobek and then read this. Worlds collide. It's awesome. 4.5 stars, definitely! 


What did you guys read this month? Any recommendations?
Adios,
~The Scribbler in the Attic

January Reading List \\ The Hangman's Midnight 39 Crown Revolution of Clues

One of my goals this year is to read 101 books. Whether I'll make that or not, I've no clue. But I would only have to read 8 and 1/2 books a month to reach it, so that shouldn't be too difficult, right?

Have any of you ever set any large reading goals? If so, any advice?

Well, here's what I read this month. I only got around to 6, so I suppose I'll have to make up for that next month...

The Hangman's Revolution (W.A.R.P. #2) 

by Eoin Colfer

This. Was. Awesome. And so funny. I always enjoy Colfer's sense of humor and how he blends absolutely impossible scenarios with believable action and original characters. I give this book 4.5 stars. (There is a lot of mild language, and a lot of gory action, but nothing waaay over-the-top.)

Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2)

by Sarah J. Maas

I read the first book in this series and enjoyed it, so I checked out the second book on our online library... and still don't quite know what to think. It was good, maybe 3.5 stars, but the main character did a lot of things that were completely and breathtakingly wrong and, quite frankly, evil. I don't think I have ever seen the line of good-and-evil so blurred. I couldn't even tell where the line was. So... the plot was pretty good, even if it lagged a little, but the characters (except for Chaol, who is awesome) were really pretty terrible and had little in the way of true character development. (The language gets pretty PG-13 now and then, and because of the adult innuendo and content, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone younger than 15.)

The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers (books 2-5)

by a bunch of people

Oh! These are so good! Such a great sequeal-series to the original 39 Clues. I'm right in the middle of the last book, and seriously have no idea how it's all going to end up okay. Definitely give these 4.5 stars. (On the language: there is taking of the Lord's name in vain a few times, and three very mild instances of cursing in the 5th, Trust No One.)

Hope this broadened some of your reading horizons. :)

Got any suggestions for me? (Seriously, I have to read 101 books this year, and I need more material for my list!)

~The Scribbler in the Attic

2014 Top Ten Book Recommendations

I read a lot of books this last year, and thought I'd share my top ten favorites:

Airman by Eoin Colfer

A very thrilling, fun and well written historical fiction. It takes place during the era where learning to build the first flying aircraft was a race and everyone was in it to win. 

The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forrester

I did a review of this book back in March. Everything about it was so incredibly charming, and it was original and classic at the same time, if a little predictable. :)

(Ascendance Trilogy) The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielson

The. Best. Book. I. Have. Ever. Read. Ever. (Not including the Bible. ;D) Ah, where to even begin? You'll just have to look it up and read it. ;)

(Relic Master) The Dark City by Catherine Fisher

The characters in this one are just so well done and unique. It's really what sold the rest of the series for me. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes the combination of sci-fi and fantasy and talking cats.

Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne

Have you ever read one of those books that just makes you... happy? This was that kind of book for me. This is one of the greatest classics of all time, if you ask me. 

(Fablehaven Series) Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary by Brandon Mull

This is my favorite book out of the whole series. I recommend the whole Fablehaven series, but this was the book that stood out to me the most. 

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

A beautiful and well done story of a girl who moves from the beaches of the Caribbean to the outbacks of America. I really enjoyed this, and I'm not usually one for historical novels. 

The 39 Clues Series by... A Lot of People

The premise is just so out-there, there is no way you want enjoy this as much as I did. Crazy action and adventure, crazy plot, and most of all, completely crack-pot characters. It was awesome!

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

I really enjoyed this book which was basically just one long play on words. It rocked. :D 

The Swamp Rat by Carter Crocker

Ahh! So good! I loved this book, and I honestly have no idea why. It's told from the perspective of animals living in a swamp. I've never been one for stories told by animals (besides Redwall, of course), but this is was such a delightful and laid-back read. 

How many books did you read this last year? I would love recommendations! What were your favorites? Have you read any of these?

Over and Out,
~The Scribbler in the Attic

Monday Musings \\ Treasure Hunting: What I Read

Leepike Ridge by N.D. Wilson

This probably wouldn't "officially" be shelved with the treasure hunting genre, but it involves the theory of Chinese and Phoenician discoveries of America, and that's good enough for me. 

The story follows Tom as he is accidentally pulled into an underground river and has to find a way out of the subterranean world. N.D. Wilson yet again spins an amazing, fun, and quirky story that I will definitely read again.

Treasure Hunters by James Patterson

This is as juvenile as juvenile fiction can get. My nine year old brother would be able to breeze through it, but I picked it up anyways. Half of the book is illustrations. I really enjoyed it, though. 

The four kids (twins Bick and Beck, 14-year old Storm and "Tail-spin" Tommy), and coincidentally "Kidd" siblings, have grown up their whole lives treasure hunting with their parents. But when their parents are kidnapped, they must travel the globe to find them again--along with some treasure. 

Vanished Smile: The Mysterious Theft of Mona Lisa by R.A. Scotti

This was such a good book! It's a non-fiction account of the theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911. I read it to get some background on art theft, as well as art history, and this fit the bill perfectly. I learned a little about the beginnings of forensic sciences, as well as the history behind stolen masterpiece. 

(On a parental guide note, it does have some adult-themes and some language.)

The 39 Clues by... A Lot Of Different People

I haven't actually finished this series completely (so if you've read it, don't spoil anything!), but I don't have to to give a shining review. The plot and characters are so well done by the various authors who write in the series, and I couldn't give a higher recommendation if you're looking for treasure hunting books to read.

Amy and Dan Cahill are given a choice: Two million dollars or the first clue to a treasure hunt that could either kill them, or lead them to the ultimate prize. A prize that would make them the two most powerful people in the world. Along the way, they have to battle relatives, sharks, Russian spies, and *shudder* museum curators. 

(Language note: They do take the Lord's name in vain several times.)

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Do I need to give an explanation for why I read this? It's the treasure hunting novel of all treasure hunting novels. As well as one of the worlds most famous classics. 

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart

Being the 2nd installment of The Mysterious Benedict Society series by T.L. Stewart this is a fun story about Reynie Muldoon and his friends Sticky, Constance, and Kate. Four orphans who are recruited to help save the world, in this sequel they must set off on a journey that takes them across the globe to save their friends. 

I read this one a while ago, but enjoyed it a lot. The characters are so unique, and Stewart's writing is so well done. The only thing I didn't like about it was that the kids disobeyed their guardians, who were only looking out for their own good, even if it was to do the right thing.

The Century Quartet by P.D. Baccalario

I literally just finished the last book in this series half an hour ago. It. Was. So. Good. A very unconventional treasure hunting story, but refreshing in its premise.

At a hotel in Rome, four kids, Harvey from New York, Mistral from Paris, Sheng from Shanghai, and Elettra, the hotel owner's daughter, come together, apparently by chance on New Year's, and soon find out that they were all born on the same day: Febuary 29th. Their destinies become entwined as they are all pulled into a mystery involving a briefcase which contains clues leading to ancient mystical artifacts, given to them by a man who is murdered the very next day. 

Character development was really one of the highlights of these for me. Harvey and Sheng especially. The last book was perfectly done. I loved these so much, and was so happy to have picked them up when I was wandering the library, at a loss as to what to get. And just when I needed some good treasure hunting books!

(There is some mild cursing in here, teenagers kissing, and complete contradiction with the Creation account, but it had a relatively good message, and it didn't push the contradiction in your face, so it didn't really bother me or ruin the story.)

Well, I hope you guys now have some new material for your reading lists. Have a great day!
~The Scribbler in the Attic

Monday Musings \\ The Burning Sky - Book Review

The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas

Premise: Iolanthe Seabourne is the greatest elemental mage of her generation—or so she's been told. The one prophesied for years to be the savior of The Realm. It is her duty and destiny to face and defeat the Bane, the most powerful tyrant and mage the world has ever known. This would be a suicide task for anyone, let alone a reluctant sixteen-year-old girl with no training.
Guided by his mother's visions and committed to avenging his family, Prince Titus has sworn to protect Iolanthe even as he prepares her for their battle with the Bane. But he makes the terrifying mistake of falling in love with the girl who should have been only a means to an end. Now, with the servants of the tyrant closing in, Titus must choose between his mission—and her life.

Language: The occasional mild-to-medium curse words.

Content: Magical powers, torture, murder, insane people, lying, and boy-girl innuendo.

Stars: 3.8 or around there. Just not quite a 4.

I found this book really refreshing because its secret society of wizards was set in 18th-century England.

I was all set to hate this book because I got it off of our eLibrary digital without really looking it up much. The cover hooked me and the reviews on goodreads sounded fine, and I was really bored, so I thought I'd at least give it a try. Safe to say, it was hard to put it down.

Despite the sound of its premise, it's actually only halfway a YA romance. With most YA romances I've read (which isn't a lot) the main girl is usually a washed-up cry baby for most of the book, or she has horrible values, or…well, the list could on for a while.

Iolanthe was none of these. She was smart, sassy, refused to fall for the boy right away, strong, level-headed, and had very believable problems with bravery and selfishness. She was a reluctant hero, but a well done reluctant hero.

Titus, however, was what made this book. He. Was. Awesome. And not just because he was a prince.

There was a lot standing in his way, and he had a lot of problems at the beginning of the book, but Sherry Thomas did a wonderful job of actually giving him character development. Titus was both ruthless and gentle, strong and weak, with wit, self-deception, and good looks thrown in there.

The badguy also was a huge player in making me like this book. The "Inquisitor" as she is called, is not your usual blend of insane, puffed-up, needlessly-killing-stupid-henchmen-when-she's-angry villain.

In conclusion, this book isn't exactly on the "original premises shelf," but the characters themselves were very original, vibrant and enjoyable, and the different plot elements twisted into a story that kept my computer running long into the night. Just for the boy-girl innuendo, though, I would recommend it to 15+. 

~The Scribbler in the Attic

Monday Musings \\ Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo - Book Review

Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo by Obert Skye

Premise: Fourteen-year-old Leven Thumps lives a wretched life in Burnt Culvert, Oklahoma. But his life is about to change and his destiny be fulfilled as he learns about a secret gateway that bridges two worlds -- the real world and Foo, a place created at the beginning of time in the folds of the mind that makes it possible for mankind to dream and hope, aspire and imagine. But Foo is in chaos, and three transplants from that dreamworld have been sent to retrieve Lev, who alone has the power to save Foo.

Enter Clover, a wisecracking, foot-high sidekick; Winter, a girl with a special power of her own; and Geth, the rightful heir to Foo. Their mission: to convince Lev that he has the power to save Foo. Can this unique band of travelers help Lev overcome his doubt? Will Lev find the gateway in time? Or will Sabine and his dark shadows find the gateway first and destroy mankind?

Language: None.

Content: Talking about killing people, parental abuse, and stealing a car.

Stars: 2

I'll start with my positive thoughts, what little I have of them…

For one, the cover is awesome. But,  as they say, you can't judge a book by its cover. And certainly not this book.

The characters are new and unique, with good dynamics. I really loved how awful Leven Thumps relatives are to him. Of course, it sounds like the Harry Potter situation all over again , but Lev's aunt and uncle are the complete opposite kind of awful. They're messy and lazy and live in a gross house. I know it sounds awful of me to like that they're abusive to him, but it adds a good layer to the story.

Winter was very cool--wait, okay, seriously, no pun intended. She leaves a bad family situation, but learns to have confidence in herself, despite being told her whole life that she's nothing. Her back story, what there was of it, was intriguing.

Now, for what I didn't like:

Basically everything. Leven was selfish, way too weak-minded, and whiny. I'm all for the hero-underetsimates-himself-but-then-discovers-self-confidence-and-becomes-super-awesome. With Leven, the author just took it over the top and almost the entire book was nothing but Leven's friends trying to convince him that he isn't worthless and can save Foo. Suck it up and try anyways, dude.

The dialogue was cheesy, the jokes fell through, the writing itself was nauseatingly  bad, and the pacing lurched. It was excruciatingly boring, and the only thing that kept me reading was the action and the tiny little part of me that really wanted to like this book.

I'm not saying that the action was good, however. In fact, it was some of the worst action I've ever read. Not well described and too bizarre. It had no structure, no rise-and-fall, no order. Of course, action isn't supposed to be "organized" but it shouldn't feel like something that was just plopped into the story and made to fit.

But the thing I probably could stand the least about this book was the bad guy, Sabine. Cheesy, poorly conceived, and horrific--I mean truly horrific--dialogue.  If you're going to build an antagonist up to be something as powerful and cruel as Sabine, you better deliver.

My conclusion--this book looked very charming at first, but I'm not planning on reading the rest of the series.

Laters,

~The Scribbler in the Attic

Monday Musings \\ Darkwater - Book Review

Darkwater by Catherine Fisher

Premise: Sixteen-year-old Sarah Trevelyan would give anything to regain the power and wealth her family has lost, so she makes a bargain with Azrael, Lord of Darkwater Hall. He gives her one hundred years and the means to accomplish her objective--in exchange for her soul. Fast-forward a hundred years to Tom, a fifteen-year-old boy who dreams of attending Darkwater Hall School but doesn't believe he has the talent. Until he meets a professor named Azrael, who offers him a bargain. Will Sarah be able to stop Tom from making the same mistake she did a century ago?

Language: There are several instances of taking the Lord's name in vain, three or four mild obscenities, and one a little-above mild curse name.

Content: Gambling, whipping children, dark ghost-like forces called "shadow hounds", alchemy--and, well, the Devil (sort of).

Stars: 2 1/2

Have you ever read one of those books that by the time you finish you just sort of shrug and go "Okay, guess that's over, then."

Like, it ends really lame, but you just stopped emotionally investing so early in the book that you don't care that it didn't end the way you wanted it to or thought it should?

Yeah, well, this book was like that for me.

As a Christian, the premise looked more than a little iffy. If it weren't for the fact that Catherine Fisher is one of my favorite authors, I never ever would have picked up this book.

Sara's character is good, only in the sense that it isn't your typical always-has-perfect-morals-thinks-about-everyone-but-herself. She is conflicted, selfish, but strong and independent. By the end she has matured enough as to be not quite so self-centered.

Tom started out cool, made some bad decisions, but then was cool again at the climax. He was selfish in some of his decisions, but it was less obvious because he was (sort of) an only child.

Azrael was… I don't know. If Fisher meant to make him the Devil, she did a really horrible job of it. He wasn't evil enough, and by the end, she sort of made him out to be this kind, sad man--and I'm just reading like "Say whaaaat?"

The book ended with only half the questions she raises with the plot answered. The way they solved their problems wasn't well done, either. The whole book, Sara struggles with the fact that she sold her soul to Azrael and will have to die and go with him at the end of one hundred years. And the whole book the little voice in my head is screaming "There's a way out that doesn't include finding a different soul for Azrael to take!"

Catherine Fisher is by no means a Christian author. So I knew there was no hope of her using the Lord's unfathomable Grace of salvation to save Sara. But I still couldn't help yelling that there was a better solution at the characters as they tried to sort out their problems.

Anyways, if you were ever considering reading this, I can't really recommend it. It's not that I wish I hadn't read it. I just didn't get-- (literally nothing)--out of it.

Adioso,

~The Scribbler in the Attic

Monday Musings \\ Top Ten Authors I Own The Most Books Of

I've been wanting to do a post like this for a while, ever since I got the idea from Imogen Elvis's blog (go check it out, it's awesome.) I'm just going to list the top ten authors I own the most books of, and a little of why. 

Trenton Lee Stewart

A few years ago my sister and I got hooked on his Mysterious Benedict Society series, and received the entire box set for Christmas. His writing style is actually, I think, I a lot like J.K. Rowling's, which is probably one reason that I really enjoyed his books. But what I really loved best were all the characters he crafted. They were all the perfect kind of quirky that I like to read about.

Linda Windsor

Before Linda Windsor I had never read Christian Romance. Her Fires of Gleanmara series is seriously the best Christian book series I have ever read. She has some modern-day-romances, but all of the books I own of hers are set in medieval/Celtic history settings. Her research about the times, while not terribly in depth, is accurate, and I love reading about the rise and fall of Christianity during the Dark Ages, and always incorporates it so well into her romances.

Rick Riordan

At the moment I only own his Heroes of Olympus series. I wish that when I picked up the original Percy Jackson series that I had just bought them, because they are some of my favorite books ever. The Heroes of Olympus is not nearly as awesome as Percy Jackson and the Olympians, but I still love his books and his characters, and most especially his sense of humor. His books are the perfect ratio of deep/stupid/make-fun-of-themselves/informative/and well written.

Brian Jacques

I think Brian Jacques is one of the unsung heroes of fantasy fiction. His Redwall series is one of the things that helped me (and this is probably going to sound really weird) get over my strong apprehension of anything gory/gross/bloody. The series is set in Mossflower woods, which is populated by sword-wielding mice, arrow-shooting squirrels, dagger-throwing weasels, stoats, ferrets, potion-making foxes, sling-shot-slugging moles, and rapier-twirling shrews. Since all of the gore/violence was happening to animals, it worked as a nice transition for me to suck-it-up and get used to it with humans too. 

N.D. Wilson

Every single of his books are absolutely brilliant. That's basically all there is to say. I loved his One Hundred Cupboards series, am currently reading through his Ashtown Burials series, and really adored Leapike Ridge. His writing style takes a little getting used to, but once you do, you'll enjoy it immensely.

Andrew Peterson

While I have yet to read the latest book of his I bought, the last in his Wingfeather Saga, his books made me realize that I didn't just want to write stories about orphaned kids with no authority figures or parental guides. His characters manage to have exciting, breath-taking adventures without their parents getting killed or being dumped in an orphanage and forced to make world-altering decisions on their own. 

Lloyd Alexander

Half of the time I'm reading his Chronicles of Prydain series, I love it. All his characters make me laugh and his plots are awesome. The other half I want to slap the main character, tell him to suck in his pride and stop acting like a dufus. Taran, the main character, does make the right choice by the end of every story, and the very last book in this series is really one of the best ending-books I've read. 

John White

I'm not quite sure what to say about his books. He is the author I own the most books of, only for the reason that I got his whole Archives of Anthropose series for Christmas. His characters were okay, his plots were okay, and the world he built was okay, but I just couldn't really get into it. It took too much from Narnia and used way too many medieval-fantasy cliches.

Suzanne Collins

NO, I DO NOT OWN THE HUNGER GAMES TRILOGY.
Sorry, just had to get that out of the way. I liked the first two books in the Hunger Games, but wanted to throw the last book across the room (and would have, if I hadn't been borrowing it from a friend).
No, I own her Gregor the Overlander series. I have a love-hate relationship with these books. Her last book left me wanting more, and not in a good way. But Gregor was an awesome character for the most part, and the world she built was very well done. I'm glad I own the series, at any rate, though. :)

Eoin Colfer

I saved the best for last. Do you ever read one of those books that just makes to happy every time you read it? Everything hits in just the right way, and it's like honey-moon-mode all through the series?Most books I read, that feeling wears off by the last book, but with Eoin Colfer's books it stays like that the whole time. They just make me happy. His Artemis Fowl series especially. Each book of his is always awesome and his characters are superb.


Well, hope you guys enjoyed this and hoped it broadened your horizons for reading material!
Adios, 
~The Scribbler in the Attic  

Monday Musings \\ BR - The Maze Runner Series

The Maze Runner Series by James Dashner

Premise: When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by strangers--boys whose memories are also gone.
Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It's the only way out--and no one's ever made it through alive.
Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying. (Taken from goodreads)

Soon, Thomas and the others find themselves in the midst of a battle, and neither side looks like the good side.

Language: There is lots of mild language scattered through out all three books, and the characters use a lot of made-up slang that sounds dirty but aren't really curse words.

Content: Murder, lots of gory deaths, fist-fights, a rather disturbing disease, corpses hanging from the ceiling, shooting, disturbing zombie-like creatures that they have to fight, and grisly death-by-lightning scenes.

Stars: Three for the over-all series, four for the first book (The Maze Runner), three for the last two (The Scorch Trials, The Death Cure).

I was all ready to enjoy this series and get a lot out of it.

I was deeply disappointed.

I really liked the first book. It was intriguing, never had a dull moment, had me on the edge of my seat constantly. The plot was a little blotchy, the main character's emotional range somewhere between Mount Everest and the Grand Canyon (plus, sometimes what was happening and what Thomas felt about it really didn't make sense and made you want to slap him), but it was still very enjoyable.

And then came the second book. One of my favorite characters just sort of disappeared during basically the entire thing except for the very beginning and the end. But the plot smoothed out from the first book, and all of the action was really cool and Thomas made a pretty awesome character.

Then… the third book.

I have a tendency to yell or squeal at books when I see something coming that I don't like and I'm basically threatening the author "DON'T YOU DARE!" or "Really, you use that line?" I did that for literally the entire climax of the last book. And the author still did exactly what I yelled at him not to do.

I really wanted to love to series. But I was disappointed. By the end, Thomas was acting like an idiot (though, he was still a very cool character), and the ending was (mostly) satisfying, but not exactly well done.

I have to give the author kudos though, for having absolutely no compassion on his characters. He just threw horrible thing after horrible thing at them, and it was all done masterfully and carried the story well.

It's hard not to say too much without giving everything away, but basically, when I finished this, I had to hug my sister for about 10 minutes, and told her I'd given up hope for Young Adult fiction.

But at the same time, I wouldn't say it isn't worth reading them. I did enjoy them, I just didn't like them.

Either way, I guess this review isn't really going anywhere. Mostly I just needed to post something today…

To conclude, frankly, this series has left me traumatized after lifting my hopes so high and then dropping me all the way down into the fiery center of the earth.

*sighs and finds a stuffed animal to hug and cry on*

~The Scribbler in the Attic

Monday Musings \\ The Relic Master Series BR

The Relic Master Series by Catherine Fisher

Premise: The only hope for the world Anara lies in a Relic Master, his apprentice, and the ancient relics they've dedicated their lives to searching for and protecting. As Anara's political order crumbles to chaos and everybody is spied on by the Watch, Galen and Raffi will be tested to their limit. Hunted, watched and betrayed at every corner, can they survive long enough to bring peace back to their world?

Language: Some mild cursing, and possibly one above-mild curse word name.

Content: Fighting, sorcerery-like powers, minor injuries, mutants, talk of experiments, and animal/alien-creatures/humanoids.  

Stars: 4

Wow… How to start this review…?

This is possibly one of the most bizarre series I've ever read. It was incredibly written, the characters were suburb and very believable, the action as well, the underlying premise itself very intriguing, the back story great, and the actual plot well played out, but everything in between… just bizarre.

 The book begins with the main characters--a young apprentice (Raffi) and his Master (Galen)--who are dedicated to an order that finds and preserves relics (objects left by the "Makers") both for the relics sake, and for the protection of the people of Anara, who aren't trained to handle these things. I won't give the whole story behind all that away, because it is one of the biggest supporting beams for the story plot, but basically the books start out with Raffi and Galen almost worshipping these Makers. As the series progresses, they come to stop thinking of the Makers as gods, and stop giving them that sort of attention, if you will.

I really would not have enjoyed this series if it weren't for one character: Galen.

Seriously, one of my all time favorite characters of any series.

And that's saying something.

Galen is just, in a word, awesome. Not in a swashbuckling, clever-repartee' sort of way. He gets angry easily, he's dark and moody, but he's sharp and he's never fooled. His relationships with the other characters are also very good, and I really loved the different ways Fisher played out the tension or the love and loyalty between them and used it to build him.

The other characters, though, were also very well done. There were developments in each of them, and each development was well done and not overplayed.

Age-Range: I'd say 14+ (but only because of the one curse-word name, in which case it'd be 12-13+)

Basically, if you don't mind animal-humanoid-aliens, unexplainable powers, and a weird religion that eventually resolves itself into just an order of moralistic values, and you like spies, hunts, freaky-awesome mind powers, beautiful descriptions, a city made of shadows, betrayal and redemption, check this series out. 

Sincerely, 

~The Scribbler in the Attic

Monday Musings \\ Graceling BR

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Premise: Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight. She is one of the rare people throughout the kingdoms Graced with an extreme skill. And hers is combat. She is a Graceling killer.

Held under her uncle's thumb for eight years, forced to do his dirty work for him, Katsa does not taste true freedom until she meets a mysterious prince, Po, from across the sea.  Secrets lie deep throughout the seven kingdoms, and together they must uncover them. But never in her wildest dreams would she imagine how this prince would change her and her life forever.

Language: None

Content: Lots of fighting, breaking and dislocating a lot of bones as punishments, animal cruelty, children being abused, kidnapping, murder. There was some kissing, and one scene of sensuality between two rather young people.

Stars: 2

Alright, my first negative book review. Let's see how I do, shall we?

I have yet to read a young adult romance/action book that hasn't left me detesting the heroine by the end. And this one was no different. I almost couldn't finish it.

One, because it was boring more than 3/4 of the entire book. It slowed way down after the first several chapters. The beginning started out wonderful, very intriguing, and pulled me right in. The premise promised me an action book, not a romantic, feminist flick.

Two, because it was a feminist flick. The girl refused to marry because she didn't want to have "her freedom taken away" or "be under the control of anyone but herself". Po had the makings of a wonderful, strong male character, but instead he bowed the Katsa's whining and let her have whatever she wanted.

Three, Katsa was simply unpleasant. She didn't actually become someone to look up to until halfway through the book, and without the conflict of her character and morals, it left her flat. She cried too much, whined too much, and was constantly selfish. Mostly when it came to the prince, Po.

Because of the adult-things in it, I'd have to give the Age Range a 15+.

In conclusion, if you were thinking of picking this book up to read, I don't really recommend it. While I did get a few things out of it, it almost wasn't worth reading in the first place.

 Critically,

~The Reader in the Attic