Chit•Chat with Patricia (Book Exhibitionism)

Welcome to my new feature called


Chit•Chat!


What is Chit•Chat?

Well, it's me interviewing some fellow bloggers! :)

If you'd like to know more or like to participate,
just go here!

I'm so happy to introduce my first guest, Patricia from Book Exhibitionism!
I love her snarky reviews and hope you'll love them too.

Click here to visit her blog!
And now, let the grilling begin! ;)

Tell us who you are!

My name is Patricia, I'm a 19 yrs old German bookblogger. I've been stuck at home for the last 2-3 years now because of my health (insert melodramatic coughing and moaning in pain) and that's actually also the reason why I read as much as I do: I have the time and it helps me a lot. :)

I also don't love cookies.

How long have you been blogging? When and why did you decide to start blogging?

I've started bookblogging in February/March 2011, though back then in German. As for the Why. Well, I've been blogging for years, but never only about one topic.

Then I realized how big a part of my life books became and it felt natural to talk about them. I wanted to share my opinions and question them, get them questioned. I also wanted to have something like a reading diary, you know? A place where all of my reviews would go.

In May or so I realized that blogging in German wasn't nearly as satisfactory as I had hoped, so I switched to blogging in English, got my own webspace and domain and the rest is history.

Favorite and least favorite things about blogging?

Talking books is the best thing ever. I don't think I'll have to explain that to you, though. ;)

Not so cool.. Captchas, Copypaste-comments and when people don't read posts but leave comments anyway that contradict everything that has been said in mentioned post.
(I read a comment a few weeks ago that cracked me up. Below a rant.. And the comment said "I totally agree, I loved that book!!" - I suppose the commenter only looked at the two gifs, both of which made it seem as if the reviewer liked the novel.)

If you want more followers or higher stats in general, well, you'll have to work for it.

If you could be any book heroine, who would you be and why?

I wouldn't want to be someone else, though I would like to live in Nalini Singh's Psy Changeling world.

Which four books are at the top of your TBR pile?

I have no TBR hierarchy, sorry. ;D

Who is your favourite literary villain and why?

I have dozens. There is a funny story here, actually: I loved Ken from Digimon Adventures Two. I always liked the evil guys. But when he became the tortured "Woe is me" dude I fell out of love.
I was around 7 yrs old at the time, and think it's sort of silly to see how strong my opinions about tv shows and characters were then, and how easy it was for me to admit that, considering how hard it became when I grew older.

I also like Algaliarept, a millenia old demon from Kim Harrison's Hollows series. He is sophisticated, and in a very twisted way, honest.

Hannibal Lecter simply rocks, though I'll be honest and admit that I haven't read the books out of fear that they'd creep me out too much.

The thing is, I want my villains to be highly intelligent. Considering all the villains I liked so far, they have that in common. They are sophisticated, probably educated, clever. They are very true to their nature, they are honest when it comes to that, too. Yes, they might manipulate people, but they won't pretend they don't.

Vampire, werewolf, or something else?

Shapeshifter. But not just lupine or feline. I want to be able to shift into anything. :D

What is your favourite movie adaptation of a book? Or if there's none, what book would you love to see turn into a movie?

None. God, I hate movie adaptions. Okay, no, I don't hate them, but books, music and movies.. They all tell a story, but differently. They have a format and trying to translate a song into a book is just as hard as trying to make a movie based on a novel. Stuff will be added, other things will get lost. I wish I could take movies just for what they are, but I really can't.

What is the ONE book you tell everyone they 'have to' read? What is your favorite scene in the book and why do you love it?

Oooh. Hard one! I suppose I'm not allowed to say Harry Potter? Well, then.. Probably something by Kelley Armstrong or Nalini Singh?
I love those two ladies.

I also loved the Windflower by Sharon Kurtis. That book cracked me up. The heroine tried to run away with another guy and he gets eaten by a crocodile!

Also just finished A Week To Be Wicked by Tessa Dare. If someone wanted a Historicals recommendation.. Those two are the first that come to mind. In A Week To Be Wicked the hero always made up stories while he and the heroine travelled to Scotland, those were hilarious.
But despite those funny parts, the book still managed to be deep and complex. There was one scene, and mind you, I've been waiting for such a scene for more than 7 months now, in which the two of them are someplace, and there are lots of other people, but he cuddles her to him and says that she should just rest a little.. And it's so sweet, and comforting, because she really relaxes and feels safe. There's nothing sexual about it, but it was so intimate. LOVED that scene.

In Bitten by Kelley Armstrong Elena, Clay, Karl and another werewolf are at the police department and Clay is behind this one-way-mirror, so he can't really see them. Elena is alone with the other two werewolves and they are sort of the bad guys. One of them tries to intimidate her (douchebag) and she goes to the mirror and looks at Clay, he walks to it and places his hand exactly where hers is. Even though he can't see through that freaking mirror. And it spoke volumes. Also.. That was totally one book.

What movie/book do you watch/read that you'd be embarrassed to admit?

Over the last few months I actually learned how to admit to my guilty pleasures, so there isn't much I could say here. *shrugs* And the things I am embarrassed about.. Well, they are so embarrassing that I won't name them. *grin*

A few months ago I'd probably have named Paranormal Romance novels. They were my junk and I felt weird reading them..
But nowadays and mostly because of blogging I realized that they are.. well, they are good. There is lots of good things in them, things I can carry away from then, lessons I have learned. What's there to be ashamed of?

If you could be one of the Greek Gods, which would it be and why?

Oh no! I don't want to be any of them! I read the Illiad and other such works in Latin and later just for fun and research. I love them, but they are full of incest, cannibalism, rape, betrayel and revenge. Do I really want to be a powerhungry douchebag who is the child of a rapist and his daughter? Yeah..

BUT I can relate to Persephone, so I'd probably be her.. Hades is one hot dude, too, and I think there's lots to him people don't see. (You know, because he's a real person and all..)

One food you would never eat?

Human? Though I'm not sure. Maybe I would eat human..

Describe your most embarrassing moment.

I almost send this email with the initial story, which was about my biology-teacher, the new girlfriend of my then-ex and me being called something close to Pussy by said biology teacher in front of her and all of her friends. (It's an inside joke between him, me, and some other classmates)

But that's too embarrassing, right? ;P

Tell us 5 random, non-bookish things about yourself!

• I've been diagnosed with burn out. (When I was 17. It still cracks me up.)
• I'm in an on-off-relationship with vegetarism. (I do eat meat, but only if it's from humans. Obviously.)
• I love forearms. Seriously. (Look at Timothy Olyphants forearms in any of his movies and shows.)
• I want to go to a slutwalk.
• I know how to say "Do you want to pee with me?" in Vietnamese.

Favorite place?

With my mom.

Best present ever?

I have no clue.

Favorite Book?

Right now.. The Tales of Beedle the Bard.

Favorite author?

Plural, please? Kelley Armstrong, Ilona Andrews, Nalini Singh, Meljean Brook, Kim Harrison, Julie James.. Dozens.

Favorite smell?

I have a new soap (actually also shampoo) and it smells like lemon cake. This is just absolutely amazing!

Nickname?

Erbse. Which means "pea". Maybe I was green and round when I was a baby?

Favorite movie?

The Silence of the Lambs was very impressive. Serenity killed me. I love the Doctor Who Christmas Specials and I consider every Season of Sherlock a movie, so those, too.

Favorite color?

A mixture of green and yellow.

Favorite quote?

Either

"We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are."
- Anais Nin

or

"Dear diary... A chipmunk asked me my name today. I told him it was Joe. That lie will haunt me forever."

because both of them are so very accurate.

Favorite ice cream flavor?

Again, I haven't got the faintest.

I hope I'm allowed to do some self-promotion while I'm here: Every (sort of meaningful) comment on this interview counts as an entry for the Giveaway I'm hosting right now over at BookExhibitionism. The more followers BE gains in this time, the more books I'm going to give away, so maybe check it out while you are still young and fresh. (Or not so much)

Sorry for any mistakes I made, my only excuse is that I am still on painmeds after an evil dentist cut me open and all. *grin*

Satu, thank you very much for having me, and also for not throwing up in my face when you read the questions I had in mind for your interview over at my blog. (Wow, I'm good with the self promo today)

Did I mention the word "interrogation" earlier..? I may have got little excited about this! So again, thanks to Patricia for putting up with my questions! :)

And I love your nickname! I was basically called "troll" when I was a baby, because I was all hairy and stuff.
So I'd definitely prefer being pea, or even a green mini-shrekbaby over hairy troll! ;D

Oh, and I'll come for you if I ever need to learn Vietnamese and if I'm afraid it'll get too lonely to pee alone!

Waiting on Wednesday #25

Hosted by Breaking the Spine!

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Expected publication July 31st 2012


"I won't tell anyone, Echo. I promise."
Noah tucked a curl behind my ear. It had been so long since someone touched me like he did. Why did it have to be Noah Hutchins? His dark brown eyes shifted to my covered arms.
"You didn't do that - did you? It was done to you?"

No one ever asked that question. They stared. They whispered. They laughed. But they never asked.

So wrong for each other... and yet so right.

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.

But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible. Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

Hate List by Jennifer Brown

Hate List
by Jennifer Brown

Published: September 1st 2009
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 405
Series: -
Source: Borrowed from library
Amazon |
Book Depository

Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria.

Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate, but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create.

A list of people and things she and Nick hated.
The list he used to pick his targets.

Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year.

Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life.

*MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*
Hate List will leave you stunned, that I can most certainly guarantee.
I wish this book was mandatory to read in school, because this is such a realistic portrayal of a such a difficult subject.
I loved how the author didn't try to sensationalize the school shooting or try to idolize the shooter. She manages to describe the life after shooting so lifelike you wouldn't believe it.
This is a heartbreaking story you wish you'll never have to witness, but just to read about.





Do you remember those freaks in your school, those who used to be bullied, but they just give you the finger like they couldn't care less?
The ones with the black clothes and all, so they really must be freaks?
Well, this is story about those freaks. And bullying. And what it's like after everything goes horribly wrong.

Nick and Val are perfectly happy. Or so Val believed, before Nick came to school with a gun and started shooting people. The people from their hate list.
After that, Val was left behind to face the consequences. Even though she didn't do anything wrong, just got shot herself while saving an enemy.

This book was so horrible, in a good way though. It was awful to see how Val was treated, given that she's just been shot and she lost love of her life. And everyone thinks she's a murderer, which really doesn't help!
Of course, it's understandable, but it's still not fair.

I don't want to spoil this book, because you definitely need to read this yourself. It's a hard book to read, but it's definitely worth it.
And like I mentioned earlier, I wish that every parent and every kid would read this.

This book will make you think about those days you were in school, whether you were a cheerleader or a freak. I was one of those freaks in black clothes. I was one of those who had to stand bullying every day for years. I was also one of those freaks who wrote hate lists.
But there's a difference between freaks too, some of them write hate lists, some of them act on it.
I don't know any school shooters, but I know many people, who hurt themselves. One 13 year old boy got so sick and tired of bullying that he rather shoot himself than go to school ever again.
Most of the guys I dated as a teenager had at least once considered shooting themselves.

Even Finland has school shootings. And school stabbings. And school-add-any-violent-action. I remember one time, when that "freak in black clothes" started shooting in school. In Finland. Everyone were shocked and started blaming his parents and how he played too much games (WoW and CoD are classics in this kind of scenario) and he listened to heavy metal and those were the reasons he did what he did.
People all over the country started sending hate mail to his parents, telling they should've been tougher parents and not some stupid ass hippies. After little while, they moved away somewhere, nobody really knows.
I get that people are angry, and if the shooter is dead, you can't really blame him. But people also should realize that shooters do have families, friends etc., and they also lost someone in the shooting. And the shooters should also stop being selfish and think about the guilt and anger they leave for their close ones to deal with.

I know, I know, this isn't much of a review anymore. But this is the reason why I loved this book. Maybe it can give some idiot bully reason not to bully someone anymore. Or stop a bullied from doing anything stupid. Everyone just stop being stupid :) Because there definitely is a life after high school, you just have to believe it. I told myself everyday that it can't get worse than this, soon I'll graduate and get the hell out of this hillbilly village. And I was right! :)
I know, it sounds lame and time goes slow. But while waiting graduating, read this book and think about the consequences.

And now it's out of my system, to happier thoughts! :)

Musing Mondays #21

By Should Be Reading!

This week's musing asks…

If you were going to write a book, what would you write about? Would it be fiction, or nonfiction?

I would stick with what I love, meaning YA books. And since I mostly read paranormal romance, I'm pretty sure that would be my genre of choice!

Occasionally I do read some contemporary, so I think it wouldn't be an impossible idea to write one of those, too! :)

Though these books only exist in my head, since I really am a reader, not a writer. But you can always dream, and man, do I! ;)

Waiting on Wednesday #24

Hosted by Breaking the Spine!

The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda

Expected publication May 8th 2012


Don’t Sweat. Don’t Laugh. Don’t draw attention to yourself. And most of all, whatever you do, do not fall in love with one of them.

Gene is different from everyone else around him.
He can’t run with lightning speed, sunlight doesn’t hurt him and he doesn’t have an unquenchable lust for blood.
Gene is a human, and he knows the rules.

Keep the truth a secret. It’s the only way to stay alive in a world of night — a world where humans are considered a delicacy and hunted for their blood.

When he’s chosen for a once in a lifetime opportunity to hunt the last remaining humans, Gene’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble around him.
He’s thrust into the path of a girl who makes him feel things he never thought possible — and into a ruthless pack of hunters whose suspicions about his true nature are growing.

Now that Gene has finally found something worth fighting for, his need to survive is stronger than ever — but is it worth the cost of his humanity?

I just loved the trailer, remember to check it out! :)

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

The Immortal Rules
by Julie Kagawa

Published: April 24th 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: Ebook
Pages: 485
Series: Blood of Eden #1
Source: From NetGalley for review
Amazon |
Book Depository

In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity.

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die… or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what — and who — is worth dying for.

*MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*
Can you believe this is the first book I've ever read from Julie Kagawa? I know I can't, I've meant to read Iron Fey series for ages, but as many readers know, there just isn't enough time!
Well, I wasn't disappointed! Even though I was expecting lots and lots of romance, there actually wasn't that much. But thanks to good plot, it didn't bother me :)

In the beginning, Allie is just a scavenger, trying to survive in a world ruled by vampires. But after one unfortunate incident, she becomes a vampire herself. This obviously isn't easy for her, since she's hated vampires all her life and considers them monsters. And it doesn't get easier when she's forced to flee her city.
But even though she considers herself a monster, she's doing everything she can to hold on to her humanity.

I really liked Allie as a character. She's stubborn and cute and she's a born leader. I just love how she doubts herself, but still does everything she can to live. She's a fighter, and I just love that!
Though it was heartbreaking to see how she trusts people who aren't worth it.

I also liked Zeke and Kanin. Zeke is suppose to become a leader, but he's still not too tough or rude or anything like that. A little too nice, so nice that he'll just gets himself hurt. Like Allie often tells him.
Kanin is a stoic mentor with awful past. A past he's tormented by, and can't move on. We'll probably see more of him in the next book (which will be next year, OMG, poor guy will be tortured for a whole year! *sob*), or let's just say hopefully.

Can you guess my least favorite character? If you guessed Stick, you're right! I just can't stand that kind of characters (or people!), who doesn't have any kind of backbone and who are willing to stab their best friend (who sacrificed themselves for that a$$!) in the back. That kind of people just suck so bad. I wish he'll face the most horrible kind of death. Nice, aren't I? :)

BTW, a fair warning: prepare yourself to some serious walking! I'm not kidding, this whole book is filled with walking. And I don't know what's my problem with walking, I just don't really like that kind of books.
Maybe I'm just so freaking lazy, that I prefer reading books where MC just sits on her/his ass and thinks. How lazy can a person be??
Even though there was lots of walking, I didn't end up hating this book. Hooray for that! :)
Because I just loved Allie, the katana swinging cutie, she just made my day! I can definitely recommend this to anyone looking for some serious ass kicking with some sweet romance! :)
Remember to watch the trailer, I just love it!



My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Teen for providing a review copy! :)

Monthly Recap: April

w00t, the month is over?? It's been crazy, since I started as a trainee in a new job, and I just love it! :) My reading has suffered a little, probably, but at least I managed to read something!

I read

I tried to make a list about best reads, but.. I really can't! So consider the earlier list also the "best reads" list! :)

Musing Mondays #20

By Should Be Reading!

This week's musing asks…

Do you listen to audiobooks? If not, why not? And, if so, what has been one of your favorites, so far?

When I was younger, all I did was listen to audiobooks and make puzzles at the same time. That was my favorite hobby for years! :)

Then, in some point, I just kind of forgot about it. Probably because I thought there's no adult (or in my case young adult ;) ) audiobooks, which was just silly to think. But they're actually pretty hard to find in Finland, at least that's how I feel.

Anyway, I read, sorry listened, half of the House of Night series in audiobooks. And the first book from Stieg Larsson's Millennium series.
Which I loved, and think that was the best of the audiobooks I've listened to lately! :)

Banshee Charmer by Tiffany Allee

Banshee Charmer
by Tiffany Allee

Published: January 24th 2012
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Format : Ebook
Pages: 159
Series: From the Files of the
Otherworlder Enforcement
Agency #1
Source: From NetGalley for review
Amazon

When she’s sent to a crime scene and finds her second dead woman in as many weeks, half-banshee detective Kiera “Mac” McLoughlin is convinced a serial killer is on the loose.

Incubi are extinct, her boss insists. But what else can kill a woman in the throes of pleasure?

When her partner is murdered after using witchcraft to locate the killer and Mac is thrown off the case, her frustration turns to desperation.

Certain the killer is an incubus, Mac works behind her department’s back to chase down slim, sometimes perilous leads.

While the killer eludes her, she does discover handsome Aidan Byrne, an investigative counterpart from the enigmatic Otherworlder Enforcement Agency.

Mac typically runs her investigations fast and hard, but with Aidan at her side, she’s running this one “hot” as well.

But Aidan knows more than he’s letting on—something that could shatter their blazing romance and add Mac to the killer’s growing body count…

*MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*
Kiera “Mac” McLoughlin works for police in a world where is completely normal to have supernaturals hanging around. What makes Mac so special is that she's a half-banshee. Which isn't such a great thing for her, since that makes her unsuitable to live with the other banshees. So she's been living with humans all her life.
Now, they have serial killer on the lose, and Mac is determined to find him. Especially when her best friend is one of the victims.

I really liked the part telling about Mac's past, but unfortunately that was the "deepest" the story went. Otherwise, it was mostly just action. Which isn't a bad thing, this was definitely an entertaining book!
Mac was quite likable character with tough exterior, yet sensitive on the inside. Though I expected more banshee- action, especially since even the cover says "Scream for me."! That's probably the main reason why I liked the part about Mac's past and what it meant for her to be a banshee living with humans. But it would've been awesome if we'd seen more of her insane screaming skills!

Luckily, I wasn't left without any romance. Aidan was also quite interesting character, though kinda shady, since nobody knew anything about him. But there's some funny moments when he's involved, and especially when he's browsing through Mac's books ;)
And even though I knew this wasn't an YA book, I didn't expect some scenes to be so.. descriptive, if that's the correct word? I mean, I do like when books have some heated scenes, but there can be too much information! Call me a prude ;)

But as I said, this really was an enjoyable read! And I'm definitely looking forward to read the second book too. Though I have some obsessive "character loyalty", so of course I'd like the next book to be about Mac too :)

My thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for providing a review copy!

Teaser Tuesdays #24

By Should Be Reading!

Silence stretched
between us, but his hand, his gentle fingers, never left my skin.

"Say something," he
murmured at last, cupping my cheek like he couldn't bear to pull back.

"I can't see you, so.. I don't know what you're thinking. Talk to me."

"And say what?" I
whispered.

"I don't know. Just.."

Zeke bowed his head, his voice quietly desperate.


"Just.. tell me I'm not crazy," he whispered.

"That this.. isn't as insane as I think it is."

The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) by Julie Kagawa