Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's theme is a freebie! So... 

Sunday Discussion: Reading Outside of Your Comfort Zone

Every Sunday I try to find a bookish topic and discuss.  Have an idea for a discussion post?  Let me know in the comments below or email me at christinathebookreader@gmail.com

Today I want to discuss reading things out of your comfort zone.

For me, my comfort zone is YA fantasy.  I will read most anything in this genre - high fantasy, fae, urban fantasy, dystopian fantasy, etc.  I have a few other genres that I really like as well, but let's say for now that I mostly love fantasy.  And that is really evident when you look at my shelves.

I never used to read anything except what I picked for myself.  Getting review requests and being on social media has really helped me open my eyes to the bookish world lately.  I have read more paranormal (which I used to be totally opposed to) and a lot more contemporary.  Before, I used to read some classics, but never any contemporary YA.  And I have found some wonderful books this way.

I have also noticed that reading broader gives me more insight when I write my reviews, and it helps my creative process when writing my own books.  Is my preference still fantasy?  Of course.  But I'm willing to try most anything now.  Is my preference YA?  Yes.  But that is mainly because of chapter lengths, book length, pages not having so many words they hurt my already blind eyes, etc.

So when I'm looking on goodreads for new books (because we all need more books, even if we have 200 on our TBR already...) I try to keep an open mind.  Does the story sound interesting?  Does it have good reviews?  

Do you read outside your comfort zone at all? 

Review: The Last Drop by Andrea Perno

Title: The Last Drop
Author: Andrea Perno
Publisher: Beau Coup Publishing
Release Date: May 4, 2014

Jeremy always said Space Academy was Earth’s last hope. People only dream of leaving a dying planet in search of better lives. Avery never expected he would be forced to do just that.

On the heels of his brother's murder, his father's disappearance and Earth's dwindling water supply now contaminated with a deadly virus, Avery and his younger brother have no choice but to leave Earth behind and join the survivors migrating the nearest habitable planet.

What they don't know is that the rarity of water extends far beyond Earth and they aren't the only ones fighting for survival.

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's Top Ten theme is ten book series I have yet to finish... And I am going to try not to count ones that haven't been fully published.

Book Review: A Step Toward Falling by Cammie McGovern

Title: A Step Toward Falling
Author: Cammie McGovern
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: October 6, 2015

Cammie McGovern follows up her breakout young adult debut, Say What You Will, with this powerful and unforgettable novel about learning from your mistakes, and learning to forgive. Told in alternating points of view, A Step Toward Falling is a poignant, hopeful, and altogether stunning work that will appeal to fans of Jennifer Nevin, Robyn Schneider, and Jandy Nelson.

Emily has always been the kind of girl who tries to do the right thing—until one night when she does the worst thing possible. She sees Belinda, a classmate with developmental disabilities, being attacked. Inexplicably, she does nothing at all.

Belinda, however, manages to save herself. When their high school finds out what happened, Emily and Lucas, a football player who was also there that night, are required to perform community service at a center for disabled people. Soon, Lucas and Emily begin to feel like maybe they're starting to make a real difference. Like they would be able to do the right thing if they could do that night all over again. But can they do anything that will actually help the one person they hurt the most?

Sunday Discussion: Book Slumps and Life

Each Sunday is a new discussion topic.  Have an idea for a topic?  Just leave me a comment or send me an email at christinathebookreader@gmail.com

I'm moving this topic up a week, because I would like to talk about book slumps and how life can generally get in the way.

Review: The Glowing Knight by Jodi Meadows

Title: The Glowing Knight

Author: Jodi Meadows

Release Date: September 1, 2015

Publisher: Epic Reads Impulse

Skyvale faces problems worse than anyone realizes. Secrets are building. Enemies are everywhere. Told from the perspective of Tobiah, the crown prince with a dangerous secret, and set two years before the heart-racing action of The Orphan Queen, this 100-page digital novella brings to life one of Jodi Meadows's most beloved characters.

Tobiah Pierce is ready to break free of his princely role—he's sick of the bodyguards that always trail him and is uncertain about the new girl at court, Meredith Corcoran, who his parents keep pushing toward him. When Tobiah's beloved tutor seems to be embroiled in a dangerous situation deep within the city, Tobiah jumps on the opportunity to throw off the royal restrictions and chase after him. But what happens in the narrow alleys and shadowy corners proves he doesn't know anything about the people he cares about—or the city he must one day rule.

The Glowing Knight is the second of four prequel novellas that offer existing fans a deeper insight into a favorite character and the complex city of Skyvale, while new readers will find a stunning introduction to this rich world and the heart-pounding fantasy of the Orphan Queen series