My Favourite Romance Novels - Valentine's Day Edition!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Whether you are single, in a committed relationship or married, I hope you have had a lovely day with your loved ones. :) In honour of today, I have decided to list some of my favourite romances for those who need something to get into the romantic mood!

2015 End of Year Book Survey

Tag created by the Perpetual Page Turner

2015 is well and truly over and overall, I have had a great reading year. I have thought long and hard how to best capture my reading experiences in 2015 and then I discovered the End of Year Book Survey created by the Perpetual Page Turner. This idea is amazing as it not only captures your top books for the year but also all other aspects of your reading journey. So without further ado, let's begin!

2015 Bookish Goals

It is the beginning of a new year and I'm ready to set some challenges for myself book-wise. There are a lot of books coming out in 2015 that I'm really excited about. And there are also a lot of books still on my TBR shelf that I need to get through. So many books, so little time!

Dymocks - The best 101 books as voted by Dymocks booklovers

So recently, I came across Dymocks' list of the best 101 books as voted by their book buyers. For the complete list, you can click here. Curious, I grabbed the catalogue and started ticking the books that I have read and here were my results:

• In the top 10, I'm actually not doing too bad and I have read 6 of the top 10 with another 1, TFIOS, on my TBR list. Plus, 1984 is sort of tentatively on my TBR.
• In the top 11 to 50, I've only read 6 with another 2 on my TBR. I definitely fall short on the classics genre, which features heavily on this list. There's another 2 that I've started and can't really say I've finished - the Bible (read it sporadically in high school - I went to a Lutheran college) and Fifty Shades of Grey (sorry but I couldn't stomach the writing - made it partway into the first book and had to put it down)
• In the top 51 to 101, I've only read 5 (*sigh*) with a few on my TBR. 

I recognise most of the books on this list but I just haven't had the time to read them, especially the classics. Classics just takes forever to get through and although, at the end of it, they are worth the effort, I don't have that much spare time to devote to them.

My goal is to make an effort to be able to tick off most of the books on this list, starting from the top.

Top Ten Unique Books I've Read

TTT is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week, we have to list the top ten unique books we've ever read. Whether it is because the main character was really different, or maybe it was due to the way it was written, or it contains a very unique spin on a genre or topic etc. So below, I've listed 10 books that come to mind when I see this topic. However, it's not really in any particular order.

1. The Crucible by Arthur Miller

Of all the novels/poems/plays that I had to study in English during high school, this one stuck with me. I think this is really one of those things that the more you analyse, the more enjoyment you derive out of it. Using one tale to depict another, that really stayed with me.

2. Atonement by Ian McEwan

To say I was shocked by the ending would have been an understatement. The postscript practically killed me and whenever I think of Atonement, my heart always feels like it got torn into two.

3. Letters From The Inside by John Marsden

A novel written entirely as letters between two pen pals who have (I think, I can't really remember) never met each other. They slowly opened up to each other and started telling things that I think they would have had difficulty telling their friends in person. And the way the novel ended, so real and nostalgic.

4. The Ocean At the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

I don't honestly know why I'm putting this book onto the list. It just contains a sense of surrealism and the writing is so enchanting. I think someone on the Internet says it correctly that Neil Gaiman's works can't really be shuffled into a genre - it's simply a Neil Gaiman novel.

5. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

This novel is heartwarming and heartbreaking both at the same time. Never has a book had me going back and forth over the fence with indecision. And it really raises a lot of ethical questions that don't really have clear cut answers. Plus the fact that the movie had a different ending to the book really didn't help me decide. I think ultimately, I side with Picoult's novel ending as it seems more fitting with the whole theme of the book.

6. Animal Farm by George Orwell

I still remember being super creeped out with the subtitle "A Fairy Tale" the first time I read Animal Farm. There's nothing fairy tale about the novel. Like The Crucible, it's one of those stories that stick with you because of the hidden tale underneath.

7. The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot

A novel composed entirely of emails, instant messaging and formal letters. Strangely amusing and entertaining.

8. Carrie by Stephen King

I knew this book was going to be scary but to be composed of a mixture of narration and  well as excerpts from textbooks and official documents. Plus, the ending was heavily foreshadowed right from the beginning yet it took nothing away from the climax and ending - if anything, it kept building the anticipation. It was scary, yes, but incredibly engaging at the same time.

9. The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells

A rare science fiction has made its way onto my list! Again, it's the ending that really got to me and made me think and remember this book.

10. Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut Jr

This is a short story but it contains a theme that really makes you think - what happens when society forces everyone to be equal in every aspect.

So there you have it, my 10 picks for unique books. What were your picks? Leave a comment and/or link down below and I'll be sure to check it out!

Top Ten "Gateway" Books/Authors in My Reading Journey

TTT is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week, we have to list the ten books and/or authors who have been the "gateways" to our reading experience. These may be the books that got us into reading, or books that opened up a genre to us or books that have helped us out of a reading slump. So here, below, in roughly chronological order, are my "gateway" books.

1. 25 Fairy Tales

This is the first set of books that my parents bought for me to read. It is all in Mandarin and is a collection of twenty-five very familiar fairy tales such as The Little Mermaid, Cinderella and The Little Match Girl. You can probably say these are the books that got me in love with stories and reading in general. My mother recalled that I would often sit there with a book in my lap and read out loud. My aunts were all amazed I was reading at such an early age but my mother would roll her eyes and say that I couldn't read, it was just that I had gone over the stories so often that I knew all the words off by heart. :P

2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

This is the first book that I picked up by myself and attempted to read (in English that is). Back in grade four, about three months since my migration to Australia, my teacher was reading Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone to us in class. I remember being bored out of my mind because I had no idea what was going on. We had to sit there, on the floor, cross-legged until our feet would go numb. Everyone else was so excited but I really didn't see the point in it all. So out of curiosity, I went to the library and borrowed the second book out and attempted to read it over the weekend. I think I manage to make it about four chapters in before I had to return the book.

3. Thoroughbred series by Joanna Campbell

This series was my staple read during primary school. I think I went through a whole horse-craze phase because of this series and I briefly considered being a jockey because of these books. I only ruled it out because in grade seven, at 1.7m and growing, I was way too tall for the sport.

4. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

My favourite novel of all time. There isn't enough praise I can heap onto this book. I picked it up in grade 8 and I couldn't believe I hadn't read it before. This is also the book that had me falling in love with the fantasy genre. After this, I simply couldn't get enough. From this, I moved onto Jennifer Fallon, Sara Douglas, Philip Pullman, C.S. Lewis etc.

5. The Diary of Anne Frank

You cannot read this book without being completely and utterly moved. I read it back in grade ten as part of the English curriculum and *shiver* it still haunts me today. This is the book that really opened up the experiences of World War II and made me view conflict and battles in a different light.

6. Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts and all her fabulous works made me fall in love with the experience of falling in love. I can't remember which one of her books I read first but afterwards, I was determined to rifle out every single one of her works that was available in the library. She is a prolific author and in turn, she made me into a prolific reader of romance. I eventually branched out and fell in love with the works of many other authors such as Diana Palmer (though her books always give me mixed feelings), Linda Howard and Elizabeth Lowell. But if I'm in the mood for romance, Nora Roberts is almost always my first choice.

7. Oscar Wilde

Another compulsory read of my high school English curriculum but I really did enjoy it. The Importance of Being Ernest was my first foray into classic plays that were not written by Shakespeare and I really had a blast.

8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Not sure if it's fair for Harry Potter to feature twice on this list but honestly, this series has been the book ends of my reading experience during school. The first two books was the beginning of my reading experience and the final book came out in grade twelve and was possibly one of the last books I read during high school. I was determined not to be spoiled (unlike the sixth book) and despite the fact I had upcoming exams and assignment deadlines, I finished the book in one night, staying up all the way until four o'clock in the morning.

9. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

This is the series that really brought me back into reading. I was in my last semester of university and for the five and a half years before that, I really didn't do much reading for enjoyment simply because I didn't have the time. But The Hunger Games created such a huge wave through modern culture that even a hermit like me found out about it. Intrigued, I read it and a) it was fantastic (with the minor exception of the final volume) and b) it reminded me how much I enjoyed reading. Once I rediscovered reading, there was no way I could go back to my former habits.

10. The next book I read

I'm going to keep this last slot open because I'm always going to be in the hunt for the next book that will mark a milestone on my reading journey.

So that is my list! What books did you pick to mark your reading journey? Leave a comment and/or link below and I'll be sure to check it out!

Top Ten Books on My Autumn TBR list

TTT is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

I know everyone in the northern hemisphere is doing their spring TBR list which sounds cooler, but here in Australia, we're heading into the cooler seasons so I had to adjust my title accordingly. Once again, I feel like this is going to be my shelf of shame as some of these books were also featured in a previous post - top ten popular authors I've never read. Anyhow, let's just get this list up and out.

1. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

Yes, I know, what is wrong with me? Why haven't I read this book yet?! I don't know the answer to that either. But I'm definitely aiming to get this read in Autumn.

2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

You don't need to say anything. I feel the shame already. I've made a start earlier this month and I will finish this, I promise.

3. A Game of Thrones series by G.R.R. Martin

I need more high fantasy saga in my life and everyone has been raving about this series. I know there's going to be a lot of deaths in this series but hopefully, I'll be prepared.

4. Pivot Point & Split Second by Kasie West

I have heard such good things about this series. The premise sounds really interesting, and the excerpts I've heard book bloggers and booktubers quote just makes me really excited. I can't wait to get started on these.

5. Prodigy and Champion by Marie Lu

I read Legend at the beginning of the year and I absolutely loved it. The only reason I didn't move immediately was because I wanted to give the dystopian genre a rest and chose to read The Silver Linings Playbook. I really want to get back to this world.

6. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

At the time of typing this post (which is a few days before Tuesday), I am in the middle of Anna and the French Kiss and so far, I'm really enjoying it. I think the people on the train all think I'm a bit crazy whenever I giggle or visibly cringe as I read on the commute to and from work.

7. The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith

I got this book awhile ago and I've been meaning to make a start on it. I just got distracted ... by other shining books. But I'll come back to this soon, I promise!

8. Delirium Series by Lauren Oliver

Another series I've heard amazing things about and that I want to get into. I think it's dystopian? But from the book summary, it seems some of fantasy as well. I guess I'll find out when I read the books!

9. Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Another book I've heard a lot of good things about. I genuinely don't know much about this series but I want to give it a try.

10. The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

I've ready to fill the Sarah Dessen hole in my reading experience. I heard this is one of her best works and comes highly recommended.

So that's my top ten books on my autumn TBR list. Clearly, I cheated as there's actually more than ten books mentioned on this list but I reckon those belonging to a series can be grouped under one. :P

What's on your spring/autumn TBR list? Leave a comment/link down below and I'll be sure to check it out!

Top Ten All Time Favourite Books in YA-genre

TTT is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

I hemmed and hummed over which genre I should pick for this week and I think in the end, the YA-genre triumphed over the fantasy genre. Mostly because I read extensively back in high school and I really needed this meme to remind me of some of my old-time favourites. It's been a while so I had to resort skimming through GoodReads to remind me of the books I read back in high school. So without further ado, here are my top ten all time favourite novels from the Young Adult section.

10. Letters from the Inside by John Marsden

Most people know John Marsden for his series Tomorrow When the War Began, which I think got made into a movie adaptation a few years back too. And yes, I really enjoyed that series too. Never got around to finishing it because towards the end, the volumes all seemed a bit repetitive to hold the attention span of a teenage girl in the midst of her final year exams. So I decided to pick another one of his works that I really enjoyed, Letters from the Inside. It is a weird format as it consists entirely of letters written back and forth between two pen pals but despite that, the story unfolds smoothly.

9. Jacko Moran Sniper by Ken Catran

This is sadly a relatively unknown novel that I picked up on a whim from the library back when I was in high school. I think it's out of print at the moment as well, which is a real shame as I really enjoyed this novel. It  isn't the type of thing I'd normally read but something about the story just stuck with me, even years after I read it. There's a quote that even now I remember, perhaps not the exact wording, but it goes something like this:

War didn't kill me. But peace did.

I'd really like to get my hands on a copy of this now but sadly, as I mentioned before, I can't seem to find it anywhere :(

8. Holes by Louis Sachar

I read this in class in primary school, I think, back before the movie adaptation came out. I remember being really frustrated as I didn't quite grasp the concept of the alternating between the present and the past. But then when the plot was revealed and everything clicked together, I was like, wow, this is awesome.

A few years later, our high school class went to watch a movie together. I initially started off thinking this plot seems strangely familiar and it wasn't until halfway through the film I realized this was a movie adaptation of a book I'd forgotten I'd read long ago.

7. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

I absolutely adored this book. Just thinking about it brings back fond memories. While admittedly, I initially picked up this book due to my obsession with horses, this story is really timeless and it is much more than just a story about a horse. Through the eyes of Black Beauty as he weather various jobs and lives, the reader was given a beautiful clear imagery of turn-of-the-century London.

6. The Redwall Series by Brian Jacques

No one does epic fantasy sagas for children better than Brian Jacques. I grew up with the Redwall series. While some outshine the others a little bit (Salamandastron, Triss, Lord Brocktree to name just a few), each one of them holds a special place in my heart. Admittedly, they are not for everyone and the beginning tends to be quite slow in terms of pacing, but for anyone looking for a good story to chase out the winter chill, these are fabulous.

5. Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta

I think Looking for Alibrandi may be Melina Marchetta's better known novel as that was made into a film back in 2000 (wow, that long ago?!) but I always enjoyed Saving Francesca just that little bit more. In this story, Francesca is attending a high school that has recently just turned co-ed (by that, it meant the school put in a female bathroom and that's it). If that wasn't enough for her to deal with, her mother has had a breakdown and spends most of the day curled up in her bed. This is just a really good empowering coming-of-age book.

4. His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman

Consisting of The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. Oh man, stumbling onto this on GoodReads makes me wonder how on earth I could have forgotten about this series. If you haven't heard of this series, please, whatever you do, do not watch the movie! The books are much better.

3. A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

I picked up this series purely because a friend of mine mentioned the beginnings are funny. And she was right. I have yet to come across another series of books which start by trying to dissuade readers from continuing on with the book. These tales are funny, engaging and just an overall enjoyable read. I must admit I did fall off the band wagon at volume 9 and have yet to complete the series. But the earlier volumes remain some of my favourites and one day, when I get the chance, I'll definitely come back and finish this series.

2. Percy Jackson & the Olympians series by Rick Riordan

I only started reading Rick Riordan this year and already, his works are some of my all-time favourites. I loved the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series and again, you should avoid watching the movie adaptations. They took everything that was good out of the books and threw it all onto the ground. I feel like the only thing they took was Percy Jackson's name and uhm... that's about it.

I'm part way through The Heroes of Olympus series and I can't wait for the final volume to come out this year.

1. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

I don't think any YA-fiction list can be complete without J.K. Rowling's magical Harry Potter series. These books literally were the bookends my childhood. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was one of the first that was read out aloud in class by my primary school teacher, back when I was still a recent migrant from China and had no idea what she was reading. And the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, came out in the middle of my final year in high school. It was a stressful year but we all made time to read the book (I ended up reading till 4AM to avoid getting spoiled by anyone).

So there you go, these are my 10 picks from the YA-genre. What are some of your favourites? Or perhaps you picked a different genre to highlight this week. Either way, leave a comment/link down below and I'll be sure to check it out!

Top Ten Reasons I Love Being a Blogger/Reader

TTT is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

I'm going to split this topic up and do 5 reasons each.

Top 5 Reasons I Love Being a Reader

Ever since I was little, my parents fostered a love of reading in me. I remember I had a collection of 25 fairy tales like Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella etc (all in Chinese of course) and my parents read them to me so many times that I memorized it all. My aunts and uncles were all really impressed with me sitting there with the books in my lap, reading out loud, never realizing I was reciting from memory and couldn't actually recognise all the characters. :D

English is my second language. Back in primary school, about 6 months after I moved to Australia, my grade 4 teacher was reading Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone to the class and I had no idea what was going on. I can still remember how bored I was sitting cross-legged on the floor, listening to the teacher droning on and on in a foreign language. Curious, I went and borrowed The Chamber of Secrets and read the first five chapters or so - it made absolutely no sense to me. It was just a jumble of words on a page that I got through rather painfully. But yes, that was my first foray into reading. But afterwards, I just kept reading and never looked back.

1. Escapism

Books are such a great gateway to other countries, planets or universes. While you are immersed in between those covers, you could literally end up anywhere, in anybody's shoes and experience their lives. For those few hours, you get to escape from the problems and issues of your own lives and live vicariously through others.

2. Basking in the feels

There's nothing better than sinking into a good book and feeling all warm and fuzzy from the romance blooming in front of your eyes, or share in the triumph of the protagonists as they overcome obstacles.

3. De-stress

Now that I've commenced work this year, I often come home exhausted and still mentally going over whatever happened during work. So grabbing a book and reading on the train for 20 minutes has been a great de-stress therapy for me.

4. Knowledge is power

I've picked up a lot of knowledge from the various books I've read over the years. Sure, most of them are probably only applicable in the universe from which they originate, but you never know when you might need to know something. For instance, the Thoroughbred series is one I followed avidly as a child and now, whenever I watch the Melbourne Cup, I actually know vaguely what's going on.

5. Sharing is caring

When discussing the books we've read, I can actually have a decent meaningful conversation with friends rather than just talk meaninglessly about the weather or some brainless celebrity.

Top 5 Reasons I Love Being a Blogger

This blog is still very much in its infancy. But I have internally debated about whether or not I should start a book blog for quite a long time now. Now that I have, I must admit it was a good idea and these are the top 5 reasons why.

1. Meet people with similar loves and interests

There's nothing better than meeting people from all around the world who share similar reading interests as I do. All these wonderful people are from all walks of life with all different experiences. We can have an exchange of book recommendations and learn from each other.

2. Share my reading experience

Not all my friends share the same intensity of love for books as I do. And whenever I gush about a book I've read or compare a book to the movie, they all stare at me blankly or admit they've only watched the movie. So shouting out to the world wide web allows me to share my reading experiences with people who actually gets what I'm on about.

3. Broaden my horizon

I've been living in a literary hole for the last six years or so while I was slaving away in university. Thus, without the web and all the bloggers/booktubers I follow, I would never have stumbled across some fantastic works and/or authors. Can you believe I've never heard from John Green or Neil Gaiman until this year?!

4. Challenge myself

Without my blog holding me accountable, I would probably sink into a nice comfortable groove where I only read the books that I know I will enjoy. While there's nothing wrong with that, it also means I would never challenge myself to read outside of my comfort zone and discover great new works and/or authors.

5. De-stress

Again, blogging is a good therapeutic experience for me. For instance, I just had a really long day at the hospital today and am about to go to my volunteer organization in about 10 minutes from now. However, even as I sit here typing these words, I find myself calm and relaxed.

So there you go, those are the top ten reasons I love being a blogger and reader. I'd love to hear about your reasons too. Leave a comment or a link below! 

Top Ten Books That Will Make You Swoon

TTT is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

When I saw this topic, I was a bit stumped. Even though I have read a lot of romance novels, the word "swoon" makes me think of those romance novels that are really really special. And for a moment, I really had to think about this list. This, by the way, is not ordered by any means. It's just the order in which these books and authors came to my mind.

I limited my list to one book per author but rest assured, for the authors below, I loved almost all of their books so definitely check out their other novels too.

1. The MacGregor Grooms by Nora Roberts

When it comes to romance, you can't go past Nora Roberts. She has over 200 romance works to her name and is the first author to be inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame - that is how good she is! There are a lot of books by her that I love but for a quick lighthearted read, I always gravitate towards the MacGregor series. All 11 of them are really good but my personal favourite would have to be The MacGregor Grooms, which is a collection of three novellas. 

2. The Playboy by Carly Phillips

The Playboy is the second book in the Chandler brothers series, which starts with The Bachelor and finishes with The Heartbreaker. All three are really good reads, but I love The Playboy the most if only for the comedic factor. Imagine a town where all the single ladies are throwing themselves at this single cop. Toss in a meddling mother who's faking sick so that her boys will settle down, start a family and give her grandchildren before she dies. Then finish it off with a bride in a wedding dress stuck just outside of town needing police assistance. It's definitely a fun read and I absolutely adore the main characters.

3. The Paid Companion by Amanda Quick

Amanda Quick is my go-to author for historical romance (well, her and Julia Quinn) and The Paid Companion is the novel I regularly refer to when I feel like doing a quick re-read. Elenora Lodge lost her family inheritance when her stepfather squandered the whole lot, forcing her to go into employment as a paid companion for income. Unfortunately, she's a bit too brash and opinionated to be suitable as a demure obedient servant. Arthur Lancaster, the Earl of St. Merryn, is looking for someone to pretend to be his fiance so that he could wander around London's social scene without getting interrupted while he's hunting for a murderer. The two of them are constantly at odds with each other and sparks almost always flies. Amanda Quick, in this novel, I think balanced Elenora well so that she is independent and inquisitive without being too pigheaded. 

4. Dream Man by Linda Howard

Some of Linda Howard's novels always makes me want to fan myself and this one is definitely one of them, which is quite a difficult feat considering this book is about murders. Marlie Keen is content to lead a quiet normal life. She thought her clairvoyance had disappeared after the nightmare in her past so she was shocked when one night, all of a sudden, it came back with a vengeance. Meanwhile, Detective Dane Hollister is busy trying to track down a serial killer and has no patience for the psychic Marlie. But at the same time, he can't help feeling attracted to her. Watching Dane turn between 

5. Remember Me by Sharon Sala

This book doesn't make me swoon as much as it makes me sigh contentedly. I find some of Sharon Sala's works to be a bit too cheesy at times but sometimes, you need some cheese in your life. Life was beautiful for Clay LeGrand until one day, his wife suddenly disappears from their home and he is being grilled like a criminal. Two years later, he returns to work to find his wife, Frankie, sleeping in bed and acting as if the last two years never happened. Where has she been for the last two years? And why can't she remember any of it?

6. Brighter than the Sun by Julia Quinn

This book got me right at the beginning, as Charles Wycombe, the Earl of Billington, crashed out of a tree and landed at the feet of Eleanor Lyndon. Upon learning that she was single, he immediately proposed marriage as he needed to marry before his 30th birthday in order to retain his inheritance. This book had me giggling right from the beginning. Charles and Eleanor are so adorable together, I loved their interactions and the way the story unfolded.

7. Only Mine by Elizabeth Lowell

To be honest, I enjoyed every single book in Elizabeth Lowell's Only series. This one sort of just pipped the other ones to the post. Every single one of Elizabeth Lowell's regency novels are moving in their own right and this one is no exception. It's interesting to follow the journey of how a rugged nature-hardened Wolfe Lonetree slowly and reluctantly falls for the pampered, innocent Lady Jessica. Meanwhile, Jessica has to adapt to a married life in the harsh landscape of America. You can't not feel the emotions written on the pages and when the two of them finally admitted their feelings to each other - it's amazing.

8. September Morning by Diana Palmer

I have a love-hate relationship with Diana Palmer. Her books are very emotional and moving yet almost all of her books depict strong dominant men and submissive women who love those men regardless of how much verbal/psychological abuse they dish out to them. It makes a tumultuous read but sometimes, the happy ending is worth all the emotional turmoil us readers go through. September Morning, I'm happy to report, is one of those books. You feel torn and heartbroken right alongside Kate and then, when everything comes together at the end, you bask in her joy too.

9. Dark Prince by Christine Feehan

There is something very addictive about Christine Feehan's The Carpathians series. Call it guilty pleasure if you want to but I simply adore reading these books and finding out how the couple found each other. Dark Prince is the first one in the series and it's still the one I enjoy the most. The plots of these books might be a bit weaker than those of other paranormal novels but the chemistry between the Life Mates makes it an enjoyable read nonetheless.

10. Vampire, Interrupted by Lynsay Sands

My favourite of the Argeneau Vampires series, a bit surprising since when it comes to a series, I tend to enjoy the younger generations more. But Marguerite and Julius Notte - their history is just so interesting and heartbreaking when you realize exactly what they lost in the years they have been apart. Their chemistry is palpable on the pages and I think I gobbled this book up all in one sitting.

So there you have it, these are my picks. Let me know if the comments below what are yours, or post a link to your list - I'd love to check them out! I'm always on the hunt for more romance! ^_~

Library Haul: I lack self-control

Yesterday, I went to my local library for the first time in a very very long time. The last two and a half years, I was busy with university clinical placements and never had the time to read novels let alone go to a library. But today, on a whim, I decided to go and see what I can find.

And I came home with 14 books.

I clearly need to exercise more willpower!!!

In my defense, however, I could have easily walked home with more than that. Once I got a pile from waist to chin (the most I can hold in a single pile), I determinedly walked past shelves that I would have otherwise browsed. Also, I think I ended up putting 4 or 5 books back on the shelves. But yes, it was difficult carrying the whole pile from library to my car. 

Click below to find out what books I got!

My 5 Reading Goals for 2014

I'm planning on (re)starting my reading journey by defining a few goals for myself. As I have mentioned in my last post, I did sign up to Goodreads' 100 books challenge but reaching that goal is not the problem. I simply felt I was reading books of similar genres and that I wasn't really expanding my horizons. I'm still keeping the 100 books challenge but I'm going to further expand on it below.

1. Goodreads 100 books challenge

So far this year, I have already finished 33 books (and that is not including rereads). I will put up my 2014-read list up on a separate page up the top soon so you can keep track along with me all the books I have read. But as you will probably find out, a lot of my books fit into the YA-fiction fantasy/dystopian series genre (it'll make more sense once you see my book list). But in addition to what I will usually read, I plan on tackling the following challenges below.

2. Read 10 classics

I am not a classics fan. Sure, my favourite book of all times is J.R.R Tolkien's Lord of the Rings but beyond that, there are not a lot of classics that I like. Even Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, which has the adoration of all my female friends, wasn't more than simply a semi-pleasant read for me. So I want to see if I can change my opinions on this genre (as I know there are a lot of awesome books in here). My goal is to read 10 classics and since we're already in February, it's sort of roughly 1 classic a month with 1 month as a back-up just in case. If I find this experience enjoyable, I would definitely like to expand my classics goal next year.

3. Read 10 books from the genres Science Fiction, Crime/Mystery, Memoir & Historical Fiction

Again, these are genres I don't usually read from at all so I would like to expand my horizons. There are a couple of books I already have in mind such as Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series, Frank Herbert's Dune (I couldn't finish this one back in high school) and Robert Galbraith's The Cuckoo's Calling. The one genre I did not include here is "Horror" and that is because I have a very low fear threshold. I have only watched one Japanese horror film and that was on a roadtrip with my university friends. Boy did they regret forcing me to watch it. I was so terrified I couldn't sleep and if I couldn't sleep, no one in the entire household was going to get any sleep either. I remained terrified for about two months after the incident too. I have read one of Stephen King's short stories and even that gave me a mild fright. So yeah, I'm not too keen on branching in the horror genre. But everything else is fair game.

4. Read at least 1 play and 1 book of poetry

Believe it or not, I really enjoyed my English classes back in high school. Poetry analysis really made me appreciate something that initially just didn't make sense to me. And poring over Shakespeare's plays line by line really made me enjoy them a lot more than I would normally have. So yeah, I would like to at least read another play and a book of poetry by the end of the year.

5. Write reviews for at least half of the books I read

I find sometimes when I go on a reading spree, I tend to just consume a lot of books without much thought, which I think defeats the whole purpose of reading books in the first place. So by forcing myself to sit down and actually write out my thoughts on the books I've read, I think I'll be able to gain a better appreciation of the books and also learn from them a little.

So yeah, that's all my reading goals for this year. They don't seem like a lot but given what I've been reading for the past month, it might take a lot of willpower to change my ways and try something new. I'll keep you guys posted.

Until next time!