Showing posts with label V.C. Andrews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label V.C. Andrews. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

Happy Blogoversary Month

Happy Blogoversary Month
the big 13

Celebrating my book blogging years by reflecting on 13 books that stood out.

*+* 2009 *+*
Flowers in the Attic
by V.C. Andrews | Goodreads
the book that triggered the creation of this blog

*+* 2010 *+*
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
by Stieg Larsson | Goodreads
blew my mind in regards to the mystery thriller genre

*+* 2011 *+*
Random Magic
by Sasha Soren | Goodreads
sparked a bunch of whimsy with author and virtual events on the blog

*+* 2012 *+*
Fifty Shades of Grey
by E.L. James | Goodreads
fun hype and hullabaloo

*+* 2013 *+*
A Spear of Summer Grass
by Deanna Raybourn | Goodreads
for the ambiance

*+* 2014 *+*
A Discovery of Witches
by Deborah Harkness | Goodreads
discovered and fell for this paranormal crew

*+* 2015 *+*
All the Light We Cannot See
by Anthony Doerr | Goodreads
beautiful ugly

*+* 2016 *+*
A Little Life
by Hanya Yanagihara | Goodreads
emotional punches

*+* 2017 *+*
Eileen
by Ottessa Moshfegh | Goodreads
wow!

*+* 2018 *+*
Crazy Rich Asians
by Kevin Kwan | Goodreads
escape into a world of wealth with all its complications and drama

*+* 2019 *+*
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead
by Olga Tokarczuk | Goodreads
championing the horrors of our world

*+* 2020 *+*
The Snow Leopard
by Peter Matthiessen | Goodreads
first co-read with fellow book blogger, Naida at the bookworm

*+* Honorable Mention *+*
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
by Ocean Vuong | Goodreads
beautiful and moving passages of painful memories

~*~

* image header source: cover for The Widow Cliquot by Tilar J. Mazzeo

Monday, May 14, 2018

Bout of Books 22

Bout of Books 22
read-a-thon
hosted by Bout of Books
May 14 to 20, 2018
signup | details | daily
#boutofbooks @boutofbooks

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 14th and runs through Sunday, May 20th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 22 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

~*~

TBR pile:

Brave New Girl
(Brave New Girl #1)
by Rachel Vincent
-Dystopia, YA
Amazon | Goodreads | my review | my rating: 5

Strange New World
(Brave New Girl #2)
by Rachel Vincent
-Dystopia, YA
Amazon | Goodreads | my review | my rating: 5

~*~

CHALLENGES:

Monday 5/14
Introduce yourself #insixwords

adventurous, curious, whimsical, foodie, bibliophile, cinephile


Tuesday 5/15
Year of You
Share a book that was published the year you were born. If you don't wish to disclose your age (that's fine; you'll get no judgment either way here), pick a book that was significant to your childhood.

Flowers in the Attic (Dollanganger series)
by V.C. Andrews
Amazon | Goodreads | my review

I've said this before...
This is the ONE that hooked me to reading. It was a book I found in the library in the adult section of the library. At the time I was a tween. What got me first was the super cool keyhole cover on the paperback version. And then, the story about the forbidden.


Wednesday 5/16
Show Me Your Precious
Everyone has a book that they love; now is your time to bring out your precious and shine. Share your favorite book (in whatever format you choose)! You know the one that has that beautifully illustrated map, or gorgeous writing, or whatever it is that draws you to it. Share with the world what makes that book your precious!


I am currently loving these whimsical Pushkin Press Japanese Novella paperback covers.


Thursday 5/17
Read Alikes
If you liked a particular book, then recommend a book(s) similar to the one you liked. If you've played our "If you like . . . try . . . " challenge before, you've got the idea!

Eileen
by Ottessa Moshfegh
-Historical, Mystery, Thriller
Pen/Hemingway Award 2016
Amazon | Goodreads | my review

IF you like Hitchcock thrillers, this may be one for you!

Friday 5/18
Space Scavenger Hunt

Mercury - Favourite short story/novella:
Strange Weather in Tokyo
by Hiromi Kawakami
Amazon | Goodreads | my review

Mars - Favourite book with a red cover:
The Handmaid's Tale
by Margaret Atwood
Amazon | Goodreads | my review

Jupiter - Favourite tome over 500 pages:
A Little Life
by Hanya Yanagihara
Amazon | Goodreads | my review

Venus - Favourite book with female protagonist:
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
by Stieg Larsson
Amazon | Goodreads | my review

Uranus - Favourite book set in winter:
Secrets in the Snow
by Michaela MacColl
Amazon | Goodreads | my review

Space - Favourite book set in space:
Illuminae
by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Amazon | Goodreads | my review

Moon - Favourite book set anywhere other than Earth:
Alienated
by Melissa Landers
-aliens, YA
Amazon | Goodreads | my review

Sun - Favourite book set in summer:
Amy and Roger's Epic Detour
by Morgan Matson
Amazon | Goodreads | my review

Saturn - Favourite book with circle/ring on the cover/in the title:
Ring
by Koji Suzuki
Amazon | Goodreads | my review

Neptune - Favourite book set at sea, on a boat, or under water (for the most part)
Manhattan Beach
by Jennifer Egan
-Historical, Literary
Amazon | Goodreads | my review

Pluto - Favourite books featuring a dog/with a dog on the cover (twist... this is one I want to read)
The Friend
by Sigrid Nunez
Amazon | Goodreads

Earth - Favourite book about nature/nature word in the title (twist... this is one I want to read)
The Overstory
by Richard Powers
Amazon | Goodreads


Saturday 5/19
Share Your Favorite Bout of Books Moment

I like being introduced to books to add to my tbr pile.


Sunday 5/20
Stretch Goal

Almost done with the second book I have slated for this challenge. The review link should be active later this evening. So, yeah - will be reading most of today ;-)

Twitter Chats
(chats last approximately one hour)

Monday: 6pm PST
Saturday: 8am PST

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Dewey's Readathon: October 2015

Dewey's 24 hour Readathon
October 17, 2015 (details)

Pre-Dewey post with reading list (here)
Dewey post pt 2: Hours 13-24 and Wrap-Up (here)

HOUR 1: 5am PDT (start time)
Got up 5 minutes before the alarm and read in bed for about 20 minutes. Then finished up a solo game of Words with Friends that I started last night.

HOUR 2: 6am

Made breakfast and went to check out the Dewey site.

Read some history about Dewey (The Hidden Side of the Leaf – Dewey’s archived blog).

INTRO SURVEY says:

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? --> California
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? --> Illuminae
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to? --> chips
4) Tell us a little something about yourself! --> Recently became an empty nest-er, as my daughter went off to college last month. So, immersing myself in books and movies these days.
5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to? --> I participated back in 2009 and found that I really like the interaction bit with the read-a-thon. So, I will not push to hard on getting a high reading page count.

Started reading...

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Amazon | Goodreads

Mini Challenge: Cover Escape! (here)

Doon (book 1) by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon
Amazon | Goodreads

HOUR 3: 7am
Updated blog. Checked email. Worked on mini-challenges. Read.

Mini Challenge: Diversity Shelfie (here)

The Red Sheet by Mia Kerick
Amazon | Goodreads | my review
=====> Loved the superhero theme used to drive the main character throughout this coming of age (closet) story.

HOUR 4: 8am
Caught up on mini-challenges. Read.

Mini Challenge: Kids Challenge (here)

Little Miss Austen: Pride & Prejudice by Jennifer Adams
Amazon | Goodreads
Little Miss Austen: Sense & Sensibility by Jennifer Adams
Amazon | Goodreads
=====> Never too early to introduce the amazing Jane Austen!

HOUR 5: 9am
Visit fellow read-a-thon-ers. Read.

Mini Challenge: Goodreads Road Trip (here)

=====> My postcard entry:
Hey Sweetie,
I am currently on a wild truck ride with Kady and Ezra (of Illuminae). They just broke up so tensions are strained and it feels awkward. But, I am having a great time getting to know these two and look forward to where they take me in the next 24 hours. I might be going into outer space.
See you soon.
--vvb

HOUR 6: 10am
Went to the gym and read while cycling. Picked up a sandwich, chips, slice of cheesecake and small mocha at the deli.

Mini Challenge: Power of Love (here)

Describe how a book (or books) have made you fall in love with them.

Flowers in the Attic (Dollanganger series) by V.C. Andrews
Amazon | Goodreads | my review
=====> This is the ONE that hooked me to reading. It was a book I found in the library in the adult section of the library. At the time I was a tween. What got me first was the super cool keyhole cover on the paperback version. And then, the story about the forbidden.

Funny thing to note: my blog started because of a V.C. Andrews reading challenge post I came across.

Mini-Challenge: Top 10 list of something that has to do with the read-a-thon (here)

1. READ
2. Change reading seat location
3. Do mini challenges
4. Visit fellow read-a-thon-ers
5. Eat and drink favorites
6. Take a short walk outside
7. Watch/listen to a couple of the Dewey youtube videos shared
8. Take a quick nap
9. Take a shower or freshen up
10. Continue to READ

HOUR 7: 11am
Back home and lunching while catching up on reading fellow read-a-thon-er posts. And then, back to reading.

Mini Challenge: Halloween Prepartion (here)

Night Film
by Marisha Pessl
-Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Amazon | Goodreads
=====> I plan to crack this one open this Halloween season. Been wanting to read it since last year.

HOUR 8: 12pm
Worked on tweaking this post.
Still reading Illuminae and loving it.

Mini Challenge: Armchair Traveling (here)

I would like to travel to Paris of this book and definitely visit book and chocolate shops.
The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George
Amazon | Goodreads

HOUR 9: 1pm
Seems like the time is flying by.
Working on more mini-challenges and then back to reading.

Mini Challenge: Book Scavenger Hunt List (here)

from: Illuminae by Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
1. Something hard - Battlecarrier Alexander - 78V
2. Something fast - Kady Grant and her mad survival skills
3. Something sweet - Ezra Mason and his soft spot for Kady
4. Something high - Hypatia -a long range scientific exploration vessel, ideally suited for deep space recon/assessment
5. Something funny - verbal exchanges between Ezra and Sgt. J. McNulty

HOUR 10: 2pm
Spent the hour on the couch reading Illuminae. Almost halfway through the book out of 600 pages - a chunkster. Couple cat naps snuck in.

I should mention the morning was cold with spitting rain now and then. Now, the sun is shining and the sky is a beautiful blue.

Mini Challenge: Classics and Comics (here)

In Search of Lost Time: Swann's Way: A Graphic Novel by Marcel Proust
Amazon | Goodreads
=====>Would like to read this as an introduction to Proust works.

HOUR 11: 3pm
Changed the reading venue to a local cafe. People and background music help keep the eyes from drooping. And, got a Pumpkin Spice Latte inspired by the hour's mini challenge.

Mini Challenge: Pumpkin Spice or Naw (here)

Thumbs up for a Pumpkin Spice Latte with book ;-)

HOUR 12: 4pm -half way mark! woo hoo!

Mid-Event Survey: (here)

1. What are you reading right now? --> Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (past the half-way point)
2. How many books have you read so far? --> working on one chunkster
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? --> A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
4. Have you had many interruptions? --> just one phone call which was a quickie
5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? --> how fast time flies when doing mini challenges along with reading

~*~

* created a part 2 Dewey post (here) - for Hours 13-24 and Wrap-Up

Thursday, July 2, 2009

If There Be Thorns by V.C. Andrews

If There Be Thorns
by V.C. Andrews

Genre: Horror
Published: 1990
Paperback: 384 pages
Rating: 2

Inspiration: Part 3 of the Dollanganger series. I'm in for more wacky horror. Also, I'm working on my VCA Challenge

Description from amazon.com:
Chris and Cathy made such a loving home for fourteen-year-old Jory -- so handsome, so gentle. And for Bart,who had such a dazzling imagination for a nine year old. Then the lights came on in the house next door. Soon the Old Lady in Black was there, watching them, guarded by her strange old butler. Soon she had Bart over for cookies and ice cream and asked him to call her "Grandmother".

And soon Bart's transformation began...

Fed by the hint of terrible things about his mother and father...leading him into shocking acts of violence.

Now while this little boy trembles on the edge of madness, his anguished parents await the climax to a horror that flowered in an attic long ago, a horror whose thorns are still wet with blood, still tipped with fire.

My thoughts:
In-a-word(s): Good golly, no more.
I was struggling through this reading which is my second read-through. When I read this way back when I really enjoyed it. Maybe I'm just not in the mood. Anyhoo, I got annoyed with how Cathy was acting. Also, Bart's brainwashing sessions with the butler was hard to read. I don't think I'll continue with this series. However, note that I did read the next two books when they came out so I'm not missing out. I vaguely remember them as being alright.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Celeste by V.C. Andrews


Celeste
by V.C. Andrews
Genre: Horror
Published: 2004
Hardback: 405 pages
Rating: 3

Inspiration: VCA Challenge

Description from book:
Celeste and her identical twin brother, Noble, are as close as can be -- until a tragic accident takes Nobel's life. It's a loss that pushes their mother, a woman obsessed with New Age superstitions, over the edge...

Everyone in Celeste's tiny rural town gossiped about Sarah Atwell and her strange beliefs in crystals and herbal potions. But no one except her daughter, Celeste, can know the depth of her madness in the wake of Noble's death. Desperate to keep her son "alive," Sarah forces Celeste to cut her hair, wear boys' clothes, and take on Noble's identity. Forbidden any contact with the outside world. Celeste has virtually disappeared -- until a handsome boy moves in next door, and Celeste will risk her mother's wrath to let herself come back to life.

My thoughts:
In-a-word(s): half an ear
All the elements of the V.C. Andrews template were in place, but the crazy Mother's antics just left me with the question WHY? I didn't mind that she was New Age-y and that she could commune with ghosts. But what was her motivation for treating Celeste the way she did?

Poor Celeste. I felt no sympathy for her. She was obedient and followed along naively. Her predicament made me think of what hermaphrodites must go through when forced to pick a gender and the struggle that occurs.

I think I'm gonna stick with the classic V.C. Andrews novels for the rest of the VCA Challenge.

Gemini Series:
Celeste
Black Cat
Child of Darkness

Thursday, April 2, 2009

V.C. Andrews Quiz results

Here is a fun quiz created by The Chick Manifesto. I'm a Heaven heroine! Take it and see who you are.

Which V.C. Andrews Heroine are You?

My Result: Heaven Casteel
View user's Quiz School Profile


You're Heaven Casteel! You're a raven haired avid reader who grew up dirt poor with nothing to eat and ended up living in a mansion and falling for a handsome, brooding heir. Sure, there's the whole "you're related" thing, but it's not like you knew that getting into this! You dream of going back to your childhood home and showing them you're not the trash they thought you were.

Quiz SchoolTake this quiz & get your result
 
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