Basic Literature Quiz

I got 83% on this test! I am proudly deemed a book nerd, though I prefer the term "geek".

Take the test and see how you do!

Let me know in the comments!

Basic Literature Test

Manga Classics: Pride & Prejudice

From Goodreads:    "This adaptation retains all of the charm and fun of the characters and situations, and is a great way to expose those without the time or inclination to pick up the novel."

"Good Comics For Kids (School Library Journal)." 

Beloved by millions the world over, Pride & Prejudice is delightfully transformed in this bold new manga adaptation. All of the joy, heartache, and romance of Jane Austen's original, perfectly illuminated by the sumptuous art of manga-ka Po Tse, and faithfully adapted by Stacy E. King.

My Thoughts:

-    I was SO excited when I found this!

-    The illustrations were beautiful and amazing! I wish they had been in color. I loved the character designs. Everyone was perfect! They way Mr. Collins is depicted cracked me up! Elizabeth and Jane were gorgeous! The clothes and hair were amazing! These were some of the best illustrations I've seen in Manga! I loved it!

-    This is my new favorite adaptation of Pride and Prejudice! I'm really excited to read the other books in this series!

-    I loved this book! I just can't contain how awesome this is!! Austen Manga!!!!! GENIUS!

Memoirs of a Geisha

Goodreads Synopsis:    A literary sensation and runaway bestseller, this brilliant debut novel presents with seamless authenticity and exquisite lyricism the true confessions of one of Japan's most celebrated geisha.

In Memoirs of a Geisha, we enter a world where appearances are paramount; where a girl's virginity is auctioned to the highest bidder; where women are trained to beguile the most powerful men; and where love is scorned as illusion. It is a unique and triumphant work of fiction—at once romantic, erotic, suspenseful—and completely unforgettable.

My Thoughts:

-    The story was interesting, but it was very slow and some parts were boring. 

-    The MC would go on and on in these monologues about trivial things, and it got old.

-    For a book about a Geisha, I thought it was pretty clean. There were some uncomfortable moments, but overall it is fairly clean.

-    I thought the ending was a little convenient. It wrapped up all nice and happy, and it just didn't seem believable. 

-    I enjoyed reading about the Japanese customs and culture.

-    I enjoyed the first half of the book better than the second half. I got bored of the character and the writing.

-    I don't understand Sayuri's obsession with the Chairman. I understood her teenage crush/infatuation, but it should have worn off when she was 30. I felt like Sayuri never really matured or grew up. She didn't have the finesse and wisdom like Mameha, and I was expecting her to become more like Mameha. 

-    I'm glad I read this, but I probably wouldn't pick it up again. 

Happy Mother's Day

Today was my first Mother's Day as a mom of two amazing girls! I love being a mom, and I know there is nothing better I could be doing with my life right now.

  Hubby and Gnome gave me some awesome gifts today!

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there! 

Adulthood Is a Myth

From Goodreads:    Are you a special snowflake? 

Do you enjoy networking to advance your career?

Is adulthood an exciting new challenge for which you feel fully prepared?

Ugh. Please go away.

This book is for the rest of us. These comic document the wasting of entire beautiful weekends on the internet, the unbearable agony of holding hands on the street with a gorgeous guy, dreaming all day of getting home and back into pajamas, and wondering when, exactly, this adulthood thing begins. In other words, the horrors and awkwardnesses of young modern life.

My Thoughts:

-    This book was HILARIOUS!!! It nailed so many things! From clothes, to books, to dealing with people, this book was SO me!

-    I laughed at so many pages that my husband read this as well, and he thought it was really funny. He also saw me in most of the pages.

-    The artwork just adds to the humor. The girl is so weird looking, and he eyes are so funny. They get really buggy..

-    This is a must read for any book lover and introvert. 

The Winner's Kiss

Goodreads Synopsis:    Some kisses come at a price.

War has begun. Arin is in the thick of it with untrustworthy new allies and the empire as his enemy. Though he has convinced himself that he no longer loves Kestrel, Arin hasn’t forgotten her, or how she became exactly the kind of person he has always despised. She cared more for the empire than she did for the lives of innocent people—and certainly more than she did for him.

At least, that’s what he thinks.

In the frozen north, Kestrel is a prisoner in a brutal work camp. As she searches desperately for a way to escape, she wishes Arin could know what she sacrificed for him. She wishes she could make the empire pay for what they’ve done to her.

But no one gets what they want just by wishing.

As the war intensifies, both Kestrel and Arin discover that the world is changing. The East is pitted against the West, and they are caught in between. With so much to lose, can anybody really win?

My Thoughts:

-    This was a decent ending to the series. I didn't love it as much as the first book, but I was good with how things wrapped up.

-    Because of what Kestrel endured in prison, her character really changed. I didn't like the new/broken Kestrel. I liked strategically minded Kestrel better. 

-    Arin seemed a bit broken as well, and he wasn't as clear minded.

-    One of the things I loved about the series was the tension between Kestrel and Arin, and I didn't get that as much in this book. The cleverness and meeting of the minds wasn't as prominent. 

-    Arin hearing a voice in his head was weird. I didn't like it.

-    I liked the battle scenes, and I wish there had been more. A lot of the book happened while traveling or in camp. I wish there had been more action.

-    Just like with the previous books, my heart broke for Kestrel and Arin. They have endured so much, and I understand that it has taken its toll on them physically and mentally. 

-    I really liked Roshar's character. I didn't know whether to like him or hate him. He was a fun character, and I liked his interactions with Arin.

-    Overall, I liked this book. It was a fitting ending to the trilogy. I just didn't feel strong emotions like I did reading the first two, but I did read this right after having a baby.

Previous books in The Winner's Trilogy

(cover is linked)