Musing Mondays #26

By Should Be Reading!

This week's musing asks…

What is the weirdest/strangest/craziest book you’ve read?

I had a friend who recommended The Dark Is Rising series by Susan Cooper and The Solitaire Mystery by Jostein Gaarder for me when I was about 10 years old?
And I did read those books, I don't remember much but they definitely fall to the "strange" category! Those are probably only weird books I've read.
She also recommended me The Egyptian by Mika Waltari, but I'm pretty sure I won't be reading that unless I have to (in school or something)!

Over Sea, Under Stone (The Dark Is Rising #1) by Susan Cooper


On holiday in Cornwall, the three Drew children discover an ancient map in the attic of the house that they are staying in. They know immediately that it is special. It is even more than that -- the key to finding a grail, a source of power to fight the forces of evil known as the Dark. And in searching for it themselves, the Drews put their very lives in peril.

This is the first volume of Susan Cooper's brilliant and absorbing fantasy sequence known as The Dark Is Rising.

The Solitaire Mystery by Jostein Gaarder


Hans Thomas and his father set out on a car trip through Europe, from Norway to Greece - the birthplace of philosophy - in search of Hans Thomas's mother, who left them many years earlier. On the way, Hans Thomas receives a mysterious miniature book - the fantastic memoir of a sailor shipwrecked in 1842 on a strange island where a deck of cards come to life.

Structured as a deck of cards - each chapter is one in the deck - "The Solitaire Mystery" weaves together fantasy and reality, fairy tales and family history. Full of questions about the meaning of life, it will spur its listeners to reexamine their own.

Musing Mondays #25

By Should Be Reading!

This week's musing asks…

Do you read magazines? If so, which ones? If not, why not?

Not so much. There's few magazines I "read", meaning mostly look pictures ;D

I mostly read knitting and sewing magazines, also occasionally browse through some magazines about cooking and decorating.

Musing Mondays #24

By Should Be Reading!

This week's musing asks…

What is the longest book you have ever read? How long did it take you to read it?

I could change the question from "ever" to "lately", because I seriously can't remember every book I've ever read :/ Since I've added my books to Goodreads only for a year, there's 27 years I can't remember..!

But one of the longest books I've read is Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix with 870 pages.
I know it's not that long, but I seriously can't remember the books I read 10 years ago when I had my "I'm such a smart teenager, look how big my book is!"- period..

And it took me day or two to read it.

Musing Mondays #23

By Should Be Reading!

This week's musing asks…

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop and look it up right away?

Nah, I don't do that kind of things :D Usually I just keep reading and try to use the context to understand the word.

Sometimes this goes to pooper, meaning I think I know what it means, but it actually means the complete opposite. This happened once, otherwise I've managed to understand weird words pretty well.

And since English isn't the language I usually speak, I find this great way to learn new words :)

Musing Mondays #22

By Should Be Reading!

This week's musing asks…

Do you tend to read to the end of a chapter or can you stop anywhere?

I actually take this to some extremes; I usually stop reading in the middle of a chapter and usually in the middle of some exciting moment.

I have no idea why I do this, guess I'm just so excited that I actually have to take a break of it all or something.

I know this is somewhat masochistic habit, but then again, if I stop reading during some boring scene, it may take days or weeks to get back to that book. At least this way it's guaranteed I'll be reading that book ASAP!

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! ;)

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! :)

Musing Mondays #19

By Should Be Reading!

This week's musing asks…

What are you currently reading? And, is it better, as good as, or worse than your last read?

I'm currently reading Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy #6) by Richelle Mead, and before that (surprise, surprise!) I read Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy #5) by Richelle Mead.

I've only read three first chapters from Last Sacrifice, so it's kind of hard to say whether it's better or not.

But I'm pretty sure it's quite equal with the fifth book, which was quite readable :)

Musing Mondays #18

By Should Be Reading!

This week's musing asks…

Have you ever found a book out of the blue, read it, and then had it be surprisingly good — one that stuck with you for years? If so, what book was it?

I remember the day like it was just yesterday. It was year 1998.
I was visiting library, like I did every day after school. Then I noticed a book on the table, it was brand new and I was the first one to borrow it!

The cover was little funny, but synopsis sounded quite interesting.

If you checked the cover, you know what I'm talking about. Harry Potter, of course! Still one of my favorites :)

Musing Mondays #17

By Should Be Reading!

This week's musing asks…

Would you choose to review a book if its description sounded interesting but the cover was terrible?

I have done this many times! :)

I know, I judge many books by it's cover, but if it actually sounds interesting, I want to give it a chance.

As I've mentioned, I usually look for three things: Great cover, intriguing synopsis and good reviews. And even though I'm quite picky, I can do with just one of these things. Absolutely breath taking cover sometimes overruns bad reviews, and intriguing synopsis overruns fugly cover.

My to-read- list in Goodreads (837 books) probably proves my point! ;)

Musing Mondays #16

Musing Mondays is hosted by Should Be Reading!

This week's musing asks…

Do you read books that are part of a series?

Do you collect all the books in the series before starting?
What if the series is brand new, and the only book that’s been published so far is Book one? As subsequent books in the series are published, do you go back and re-read the preceding books?

As I've mentioned many, many times before, I'm huge fan of series!

Usually I don't care if there's only one book out, if it sounds like a great read, I just have to read it.

And since I read so many series, I wouldn't have anything to read if I always waited for all the books to come out..!

And do I re-read preceding books? That depends, I guess. Like now I pre-ordered Pandemonium, but I'm not gonna read Delirium, since I still remember what happened and how it ended etc.
But I'm pretty sure that when the third book in Hex Hall comes out, I'm going to read the first and second book again, cause they were just so awesome!

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your answer in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

Musing Mondays #15

Musing Mondays is hosted by Should Be Reading!

This week's musing asks…

What is your favorite romantic book –or book that includes a love story?

(an adult romance, young adult, kids’ story, anything)

Weeeell, I have to say that Twilight series is something that I have to read over and over again.

Guess this is my guilty pleasure..!

I'm still in love with the Hex Hall series!

Forbidden love, love triangles.. It's so juicy! And the third book will be out soon, yay!

You just have to love the drama of The Mortal Instruments series!

Also forbidden love, also love triangles, ooooo. Though I didn't enjoy City of Fallen Angels. But I have high hopes for the fifth book!

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your answer in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

Musing Mondays #14

Musing Mondays is hosted by Should Be Reading!

This week's musing asks…

How far along are you in your current read before you start thinking about what you’ll read next?

That depends of the book I'm currently reading. Meaning, if it's really good, I don't think about any other book. Or if I think about the next read, it's usually the next book in the series.
I usually get so obsessed with a good book that I don't have time to think of any other books! :) After I've finished that book, I can think about next one.

This is probably the main reason why I read only one book at a time. I don't have to time to think about other books :)

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your answer in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

Musing Mondays #13

I'm back again! My daughter had her 5th birthday this weekend, so I spent my time baking, cleaning, cooking and so on. But it's Monday again, and time for the Musing Mondays!

Musing Mondays is hosted by Should Be Reading!

This week's musing asks…

Why do you think that the Young Adult genre is so popular with even the adult readers? Do you read YA books, yourself?

Well this is a tough one! Even though I do read mostly YA.

Why I like them myself is mostly 'cause they're so full of life. Usually there's teenage problems, they're easygoing, many times there's also some comedy included.
There's always new love, full of excitement. And with that you also get that rush of adrenalin, cause it's just so exciting!
They're also quite easy to read, which is quite pleasant, considering I only use English when reading books (and writing here, right! Oh, and commenting. And emailing. Okay, so I use lots of English, just not IRL).
There's also amazing storylines, everything is possible!

So I guess the main reason for me reading these books is that I'm still quite young at heart (even though I'm old at face, I mean, age) so it's nice to experience those teenage feelings without having to live them through again. When I was a teenager, it was matter of life and death just when I didn't get to see my friends. Geez, dramaqueens!

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your answer in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

Musing Mondays #12

I'm back again! My daughter had her 5th birthday this weekend, so I spent my time baking, cleaning, cooking and so on. But it's Monday again, and time for the Musing Mondays!

Musing Mondays is hosted by Should Be Reading!

This week's musing asks…

What devices –if any– do you read books on? Do you find it enjoyable, or still somewhat bothersome? Or: If you only read the print books, why haven’t you chosen to read on any devices?

Real book is always better than ebook, no surprise there!

I do read ebooks, with my PC or laptop, mostly because that's the method authors prefer. Of course, it's cheaper and faster to send digital copy with email. And I've found free ebooks (like in Amazon), which doesn't happen with bound copies.

But even if I have a digital copy of a book on my computer, I don't really count it until I have a physical copy of it in my bookshelf, then I got the book. And if I read a really good book, I have to buy it.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your answer in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

Musing Mondays #11

A meme hosted by Should Be Reading!

This week's musing asks…

Are there any “raved reads” –books that everyone seems to be talking about– that you’re hoping to get read this year, yourself? What books are they, and why are you hoping to read them? Is it because you want to say you’ve read it? Or, would you have chosen to read it, even if you’d discovered it yourself, and no one was raving about it?

Only hundreds of them! But here's few for now :) And I want to read them because of the recommendations, since they count for something.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your answer in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

Musing Mondays #10

A meme hosted by Should Be Reading!

This week's musing asks…

What is/are the first book(s) you’re reading for the new year?




Well, yesterday I finished My Life in Pink & Green by Lisa Greenwald, didn't really like it.

Today I read A Bite's Tale (A Furry Fable) by Veronica Blade
(though I know it's not on my TBR list, but it was only 155 pages, so that's okay?! And the author needed it read like in a day, so I read it this morning. So it doesn't count, right?!).

And next I'll probably start reading Seeing Cinderella by Jenny Lundquist.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your answer in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

Musing Mondays #9

A meme hosted by Should Be Reading!

This week's musing asks…

What's one book you always recommend to just about anyone?




I think I haven't recommend so many books to people, but here are few I could recommend.

Click on the image to get the blurb!




My husband read the City of Bones, and now he's finally reading books in English, too! Two birds with one stone :)

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your answer in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!