DNF'ing Books

This is something that's been on my mind a lot lately. I'll admit, I don't go into every book expecting to like it. I've read books because everyone else is talking about it and, although I'm not expecting to like it, I read it anyway. (Hello, Clockwork Angel - but that's another subject entirely.) Most of the time, I want to like the book.

I want every book I read to be fun and enjoyable and leaving me looking forward to the next in the series/by the author. Sadly, that can't always happen. Beyond that, sometimes a book sets so badly with me that I have to DNF (did not finish) to save my sanity.

Just last month I DNF a book after reading over 150 pages. The book hadn't been speaking to me at all and by that point I was bored and just said enough was enough. (Reading some of the reviews made me think I made the right decision.) As I'm writing this (earlier in June) I just started a book. Awesome hook. A little gritty for my tastes but things were set to be interesting - then I reached page nine and was left feeling sick. In the first thirteen pages, there have been no less than three moments that I would have been much happier without. (Decomposing corpse with no legs in the alleyway; 'we're eating this adorable puppy for dinner'; skeletons attached to the airship clock.)

The truth is, I hate not finishing a book. It's for this reason that I've never been a fan of watching movies that are aired on TV. When I start something, I feel this compulsion to finish it. Even if I'm not actually enjoying it. I need to know how it ends. But sometimes there's just something in the book that makes me step back and go 'I quit'. (Like EATING A PUPPY!)

How about you? Do you finish every book you start? Do you have a hard time DNF a book? If it hasn't gripped you by the first chapter, do you have no problems putting it down? Do you limit yourself? Like if you've made it past the half-way point, you have to finish it? (I used to be like that.)

Review: Heist Society by Ally Carter

Heist Society by Ally Carter

Series: Heist Society #1
Genre: Contemporary/Thieves
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When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring Kat back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.

For Kat, there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family's history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

Top Ten Books On My Summer TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

Lately I've been using a TBR Jar and drawing from it at the beginning of each month to show what I'll be reading for that month. I'm not sure how accurate any other TBR list I put together will be, but these are the books I hope to read this summer.

Inside Out Book Tag

You know what it's time for again? Book Tag! A lot of people have been doing this one, but I originally found it over at Spines & Covers.

Inside flap / Back of the book summaries: Too much info? Or not enough (Discuss)

Too much. I don't want things that happen in the last chapter - or how the book turns out - spoiled by the synopsis. Give me the basics, but then let me discover the rest for myself.

New book: What form do you want it in? Be honest: audio book, e-book, paperback, or hardcover?
Paperback - but only if it's a mass market trade paperback. Besides being cheaper, I have more room on my shelves for them. I hate how all paperback ya books are those oversized paperbacks. Seriously? They're the same size as adult hardbacks! And don't even get me started on those oversized ya hardbacks.

Scribble while you read? Do you like to write in your books, taking notes, making comments, or do you keep your books clean clean clean? (Tell us why)

Sacrilege! You will not mark up books if you know what's good for you! I like keeping my good books nice and neat. The most writing in them I've ever done it a little note at the very back of the book letting me know if it was something I actually liked. (And I think I did that twice.) I won't mark up good books - too distracting - and I won't mark up books I want to get rid of - too unclassy.

In your best voice, read for us your favourite first sentence from a book.

I don't actually have a favorite first sentence. How about a very memorable one from Crypt of the Moaning Diamond by Rosemary Jones?

*Ahem*

Ivy punched the camel.

If that's not attention-grabbing, I sure don't know what is. Now don't you want to know why, exactly, Ivy punched the camel?

 Does it matter to you whether the author is male or female when you’re deciding on a book? What if you're unsure of the author’s gender?

Don't care. Why should I? I don't read as many male authored books as I used to (or want to, truth be told) but that's not because I actively avoid them. It's the price of reading mostly ya fantasy. It's more of a female world than male.

Ever read ahead? Or have you ever read the last page way before you got there?

I might skip ahead to find out when this particular part of the story ends - say we're following someone I don't really like - but not very often. I like to skip to the end just so I know how many pages are in the book, but I try very, very hard to not read anything on the last page.

&

Organized bookshelves, or outrageous bookshelves?
Well, I can find everything. Doesn't mean anyone else can. You see, I have a system. One that only I know. I'm like those geniuses whose office is a mess but they can lay hands on whatever they want.

Under oath: have you ever bought a book based on the cover (alone)?

Nope. Sometimes that will cause me to read the summary, but if I don't like the sound of it, I won't bother.

Take it outside to read, or stay in?

Stay in, please. I am not an outdoorsy girl. Bad temperature, too many bugs, you have to follow the sun around in your yard... I'd much rather sit inside with my ac/heater and turn my reading light on and relax.

I tag you, and you and you and you. (But not you, because I don't like you.) (jk) Seriously, though, anyone that want's to do this that hasn't yet, consider yourself tagged.

Small Blog Happiness

Recently I broke down (finally) and bought myself a kindle. It was on sale and I've been wanting one for awhile, so I thought 'why not'. Then, I think it was the day I got it, I signed up for NetGalley. I love the idea of getting ARC's - and eARC's seem to be a slightly more available version. However, when I was looking at all the requirements to actually get a ARC from NetGalley, I was starting to wonder - why should I bother?

I've been blogging for over a year and I have yet to receive an ARC. I've never even requested one. I've requested a few books from Goodreads First Reads program, and never won any of them. That's okay. I don't enter unless I really want the book anyway and I'll probably buy it eventually.

Let's be honest, I'm a small fish in a huge pond.

I kind of like it that way. My blog's small, but I know the people that comment. 'Oh, yeah, this person is actually the reason I read this book' 'I remember you, you liked this series' 'Oh, lookit, we've read the same book'. So, I'm not going to stress out about it. I'll never compete with some of those huge book blogs and, honestly, I don't think I'll ever want to. I don't like those big blogs, they seem so impersonal. And besides which, the moment I'd try to compete with them is the moment that my blog is no longer a hobby.

And for me, that's the best thing about my blog. I don't have obligations to anyone but myself. Sure, I felt a little bad last year when I went on an extended hiatus - but that was bad for myself because I wasn't even reading other blogs during that time and I discovered I really missed the community. I have a few readers (those that stop by and comment often) and I'll admit, little makes me happier than seeing comments on my blog - but I think that the best thing for me to do to get more is to be more active on others blogs and Twitter (I'm trying) as opposed to trying to make my blog more…well, more.

So, I like my small blog. How about you? Do you have a small blog and love it? Or do you have a huge blog and think it's the best thing ever? Or maybe you're somewhere in between? I guess what I'm really asking is, are you happy with your blog right now?

Tips For Combating A Reading Slump

We've all been there. Either you just don't want to read or you can't find anything good. Currently I'm hip deep in the latter and hoping I don't drown in average, ugly or DNF books.

Of the last 10 books I've started, I liked three of them enough to recommend and three were DNF's. (That's horrible averages.) My problem is I'm just not feeling the books I'm reading. I want to like them but I'm also reaching the point that I won't force myself through a book I'm not liking. (Except that one I desperately wanted to write a review for.)

So, here are some suggestions if you find yourself in a reading rut/slump.

#1
Take a break from all reading.
This probably works best if you're not actually wanting to read. I can see it helping out a lot.
(Not trying this because I want to read. I just want to read something good.)

#2
Read something very different.
A perfect chance to read some fan fiction or that non-fiction book you've been wanting to. (Personally, I might try catching up on my Discover magazine.)

#3
Try another genre.
Especially helpful if you're just not getting excited to read.
(I might try this, considering the fact that the worst books I've read recently are in my favorite genres.)

#4
Read an audio book.
(I'm sure I'd love this suggestion if the audio book I started was actually good.)

#5
Play a game instead.
Related to #1, but if books just aren't working for you, spend your time playing a computer or video game. Or go outside and play something.
(If all else fails I might try one of my computer games, but I'm having problems getting interested in them too.)

#6
Read with friends.
Self explanatory.

#7
Re-read a favorite book.
(This is what I'm doing.)

So, how do you combat the slumpy feelings? Have any of these worked for you? Have any suggestions for me? (Seriously, leave suggestions. Please? Because if some of these don't work for me, I don't know what I'll do.)

Review: Sora's Quest by T.L. Shreffler

Sora's Quest by T.L. Shreffler

Series: The Cat's Eye Chronicles #1
Genre: Fantasy
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This book is permanently free on Amazon, BN.com, Apple, Kobo and more!

Sora Fallcrest always dreamed of adventure, but as a member of the nobility, she learned the ways of a Lady instead. Now seventeen, she is expected to choose a husband and marry. She plots to run away, but just as she is stepping out the door, she runs into a mysterious man--and is kidnapped.

Abducted from her manor, Sora is plunged into a world of magical races, arcane jewelry and forgotten lore. She finds herself at the mercy of a dangerous assassin, haunted by an even darker past. She yearns for freedom, but he won't let her go--not when her Cat's Eye necklace is the only thing that can save his life.

But the necklace itself presents a problem. It is an ancient device from the long forgotten War of the Races, and its magic has the ability to steal souls. Can Sora learn to wield its power -- or will the power wield her?