Tag: romance

Stay away from….?

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Are there any specific genre’s that you typically steer clear of? Why?

I typically don’t read any non-fiction. When I’m reading, I normally read for the fun of it or because it offers some sort of entertainment value. I don’t think I’ve read any non-fiction since I was in school, if my memory serves me right. Anyway, if I’m not entertained at all by the book I’m reading then I’m not going to continue reading it.

I also don’t read a lot of romance. I will read a romance once in great while but it is rare. There may be some books I’ve read that may have some elements of romance in them or it’s a side story going on in a book but it’s not the main theme of the story.

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“What the Night Sings” by Vesper Stamper

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Well, I can add another book to my list of books I’ve read this year. I had read “Anne Frank: The Diary of A Young Girl” a couple of years back. It gave me the perspective of what it was like to be a Jew who was trying to hide from the Nazi’s during WW2 in the hopes that they can stay hidden until the war is over. This book gives you a completely different perspective and shows you what it’s like to be a Jew who actually got caught by the Nazi’s, separated from your family and sent to live in a concentration camp before finally being liberated. If you want to read something different that will change how you look at history, this will be a good book.

Synopsis: After losing her family and everything she knew in the Nazi concentration camps, Gerta is finally liberated, only to find herself completely alone. Without her papa, her music, or even her true identity, she must move past the task of surviving and on to living her life. In the displaced persons camp where she is staying, Gerta meets Lev, a fellow teen survivor who she just might be falling for, despite her feelings for someone else. With a newfound Jewish identity she never knew she had, and a return to the life of music she thought she lost forever, Gerta must choose how to build a new future.

Recommendations!

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I’m always looking for that next book to read so I’m willing to take recommendations from others, especially if I know that person likes to read similar books. Anyway, if you like to read, I wouldn’t mind hearing your recommendations for some new literature for me to read.

Genre: Horror, science fiction, fantasy, mystery & thriller. I can take in the occasional romance if it’s good.

Have read: The Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, the Chronicles of Narnia series by C. S. Lewis, the Last Apprentice series by Joseph Delaney, the Locke & Key series by Joe Hill, the Stoneheart trilogy by Charlie Fletcher, the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer, the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie, Murder Has a Motive by Frances Duncan, Murder for Christmas by Frances Duncan, The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly, The Cellar by Natasha Preston, The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle by Janet Fox, Carrie by Stephen King, The Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill, The Host by Stephenie Meyer, etc.

Books I refuse to read: The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian. I read this book once upon a time and I really got into it at first but the ending disappointed me. This book really turned me away from that particular author and I won’t read anything remotely similar again.

Age Range: I normally read young adult and up. I will read children’s literature if it’s good enough to hold my interest (Harry Potter series is a good example).

Favorite genre?

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As far as a particular genre, I’ll switch back and forth between several different ones depending on what I feel like reading when I’ve finished reading a book and I am picking up another one. So, it’s hard for me to pick up just one genre or another.

horror = Sometimes I’m in the mood for something scary. Something from either Stephen King or Joe Hill. They are fun to read whenever there is a thunderstorm going on outside.

mystery = I like a good mystery from time to time. Something that makes you think. Agatha Christie and Frances Duncan are authors who can write a good mystery.

suspense/thriller = These are good to keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page….not that you can’t do that in horror as well.

fantasy = The Harry Potter series or the Chronicles of Narnia series are what come to my mind when someone says fantasy. They are books that take you off into other worlds.

romance = While I have read the Twilight series, I don’t read this genre very often. Of course, there are some books from some of the other genres that will have bits of romance in them. Like the Hunger Games or Divergent series…..I would file those under fantasy but I can see having bits of romance in them.

There may be some books that I’ll read that don’t really fit into any of the above genres and that’s okay. I’m one of those people that is open to other things, especially if it sounds interesting enough. What is your favorite genre to read from?

Valentine’s Day Picks

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Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope every is enjoying their day so far or has something good planned for their day. For those of you who happen to like Valentine’s Day, I have some literature you can read to help enjoy the holiday even more (or these could also be purchased as gifts for that special someone on your list who likes to read).

“Twilight” series by Stephanie Meyer = Okay, I know this one may be kind of obvious but it is very romance-y. There is some fantasy elements to it since it has vampires and werewolves in it. I’ve read all the books, plus, there are movies based on the novels that you can watch with your special someone if the two of you like to watch movies together.

“You Will Be Mine” by Natasha Preston = If you want a stand alone book to read, then this will be a good one. Yes, I know this is a mystery/thriller but there is a lot of romance happening throughout the story.

“The Host” by Stephanie Meyer = A friend of mine let me borrow her copy of this book and I really did enjoy it. It may be equal parts romance and fantasy by Stephanie Meyer but it’s set in a different world than her Twilight books.

“Shiver” trilogy by Maggie Stiefvater = If you are a fan of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series, then you’ll probably like this one as well. There are wolves in this one but no vampires. Lots of romance. You’ll see when you start reading them. Also, there is a 4th book….it doesn’t really have anything to do with the story from this trilogy but it takes two of the supporting characters from the books and tells their story for just a little bit longer.

“The Hunger Games” series by Suzanne Collins = Yes, I know these books are fantasy but there is a lot of romance going on throughout. It actually plays an important part during the story.


My goal for 2019!

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I spent the 2018 year trying to see how much I could read. I wasn’t really trying to set any goals for 2018. My only goal now is to see if I can read more in 2019 than I did in 2018. If you’re interested in what I read during the 2018 year, then you can view the list below. I’d be happy to discuss any of the books listed if you want my opinion on them.

  • Queen of Hearts by Colleen Oakes (paperback)
  • The Cellar by Natasha Preston (paperback)
  • And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (paperback)
  • The House of Dies Drear by Virginia Hamilton (e-book)
  • You Will Be Mine by Natasha Preston (paperback)
  • The Mystery of Drear House by Virginia Hamilton (e-book)
  • Hell House by Richard Matheson (e-book)
  • Murder has a Motive by Francis Duncan (e-book)
  • The Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum (paperback)
  • The House with the Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs (e-book)
  • Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury (paperback)
  • The House Next Door by Darcy Coates (e-book)
  • The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich (paperback)
  • An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena (hardcover)
  • The Women In The Walls by Amy Lukavics (hardcover)
  • Court of Shadows by Madeliene Roux (hardcover)
  • The Haunting of Ashburn House by Darcy Coates (e-book)
  • We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson (paperback)
  • Ten Dead Comedians by Fred Van Lente (paperback)
  • The Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn (hardcover)
  • The Apartment by S. L. Grey (paperback)
  • Murder for Christmas by Francis Duncan (e-book)