E-Book Challenge Recap

I never really thought I liked ebooks, but having a device to read them on makes them so much better than having to sit at my desk and read PDFs. Once I got the hang of reading them (it is a little different from a physical book), I began to enjoy it, so I easily made the E-Book Challenge goal I chose, Curious (3 books). If there is one for 2012, I will definitely do it and try a higher level. Here are the books I read for the challenge:

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

2. Trevor's Song by Susan Helene Gottfried

3. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

The Poison Diaries

Title: The Poison Diaries

Author: Maryrose Wood with The Duchess of Northumberland
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
ISBN: 978-06-18023602
Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Horror & Urban Fantasy, iChallenge

Thoughts: What surprised me the most about The Poison Diaries is how atmospheric it was. The mood was set from the very first page and never strayed. Very dark and intense and a wonderful quick, engaging, and very unique read. The twist at the end was riveting, and I cannot wait to see what happens next.
Rating: 5 stars

Reading Challenge Addict Challenge Update

As the end of the year is approaching, it is time to look at how I did on all the challenges I sign-up for. Since I signed up for so many, when I joined the Reading Challenge Addict Challenge, I chose the highest level, Out of this World (16+) books. Obviously the year is not over yet, so here is where I currently stand with that (ones in bold are completed). I will be talking about each of these challenges individually in the coming month.

1. E-book Challenge (3/3)

2. Mystery & Suspense Challenge (12/12)

3. Audio Book Challenge (3/3)

4. Graphic Novels Challenge (3/3)

5. TBR Pile Challenge (7/12)

6. 1st in a Series Challenge (3/3)

7. 100 Books in a Year Challenge (100/100)

8. YA Series Challenge (5/5)

9. Debut Author Challenge (10/12)

10. Young Adult Contemporary Challenge (13/13)

11. Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge (5/5)

12. Off the Shelf Challenge (1/5)

13. People of Color Challenge (3/3)

14. Full Steampunk Ahead Challenge (3/10)

15. Manga Reading Challenge (12/12)

16. Gothic Reading Challenge (1/1)

17. YA Historical Fiction Challenge (3/3)

18. Historical Fiction Challenge (2/2)

19. Chick Lit Challenge (4/8)

20. Eastern Europe Challenge (1/4)

21. Horror & Urban Fantasy Challenge (21/24)

22. Classics Challenge (4/5)

23. Borrowed Book Challenge (4/12)

24. Aussie Author Challenge (1/3)

25. International Challenge (8/12)

26. Historical Romance Challenge (1/12)

27. Non-Fiction Challenge (3/3)

28. iChallenge (8/10)

29. Show Me the Free (4/12)

30. Vampire (4/20)

31. Wilde (0/2)

32. Fantasy (3/3)

33. Chunkster (1/4)

34. Chinese Literature (1/3)

In My Mailbox 11/13-11/19

Won:

The Deepest Cut by J. A. Templeton

My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me by Kate Bernheimer, ed.

Thrall by Steven Shrewsbury

Swaps on Swap-Bot:

Goodbye Tsugumi by Banana Yoshimoto

This fun weekly meme comes from The Story Siren.

All images come from Goodreads.

The Mammoth Book of Best New Manga 3

Title: The Mammoth Book of Best New Manga 3

Author: ILYA, ed.
Publisher: Running
ISBN: 978-0-7624-3399-5
Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: n/a

Thoughts: I always enjoy anthologies of any kind because they introduce the reader to a variety of authors. With manga anthologies, I especially like to be introduced to non-Japanese manga-ka as I feel they do not get enough limelight. This was a wonderful full-color anthology with some great manga. My favorite, though, were the series of omake Carlos & Sakura by Joanna Zhou - they were just too cute!
Rating: 4 stars

The Poison Diaries: Nightshade WINNER!

Thank you to everyone who participated in The Poison Diaries: Nightshade contest sponsored by . The publisher has just sent me the winner, and that person is...

Joanna Ward!

Joanna, please follow this link to claim your prize.

Gratitude Giveaway

It's the time of year to give thanks, and that is what the Gratitude Giveaway is all about - thanking my blog followers. For this swap, I will be passing on the CD of Jennifer Weiner's short story, The Half Life that I won earlier this year, and I will be adding in something every reader needs - a handmade bookthong!

To enter:

Fill out the Form.

Follow me via GFC

Don't forget to check out the other great giveaways: