|
No one puts bookworms in a corner...unless it's a reading cornerWelcome to book club. Let's get reading. I take pictures of every book I complete, as well as new ones as I buy them, and this picture is one of my favorites. It’s just so pretty and perfectly balanced.  The year of book rereads
This year, I’ve been rereading a few books in the mix of all the new ones I continue to buy. I have plenty in my own collection, so why wouldn’t I reread some of them every so often? There are always certain ones I come back to like, Harry Potter, The Royal We, Pride and Prejudice, etc. Old favorites that I could never not open again. They’re like friends you haven’t seen in a long time, but when you finally get together again, it’s like no time has passed. I spent January all the way through the first half of March deep in all seven Harry Potter books, and it was so joyful. I laughed and smiled and stared at the wall occasionally; I had forgotten a lot of the small details that made the series so special in the first place, and I had a blast discovering them all over again! And through my focus on old books, I’ve learned that there is a large number of people who think rereading doesn’t actually count as reading because you already know what happens. You make the rules for your own books First of all, reading any words from left to right counts as reading, I promise. A screen or paper, or a stone tablet- they all count. Even listening counts. Where are my audiobook lovers at? And second of all, every read after the first gets so much better because you are able to pick up new details and meaning. But if it feels too slow, you can put it down. And third, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks! The rules can be whatever you want them to be! They’re books that you’ve purchased with your own money. Enjoy them however you’d like. A one-woman book club is totally in right now. Own those rereads if that’s what you’re into at the moment. I hope you enjoy every part of your reading experience because it is uniquely and wonderfully yours. Have a great day and let me know what you end up reading next!
0 Comments
Obsession is an understatementWelcome back, friends! I did promise that we’d get here eventually. I am so excited for the endeavour before me: to explain the Zodiac Academy book series and why you should add it to your TBR list.
I started reading book one, The Awakening, in January. I bought it on a whim because, well, FOMO. I’d seen it in bookstores and online for years. But it took the endless drain of January for me actually to execute the purchase. There was one thing that shocked me before I even opened the first page. A Harry Potter reference on the back page blurb. Harry Potter exists in another fantasy world. I can die happy. I had almost no idea about this series going in. There was magic, and it was based on your zodiac sign. A trait I have as a reader is jumping in without any foresight, typically after I’ve bought the whole series. So here’s the deal: the main characters, Tory and Darcy, are twin sisters. Their parents died in a fire years ago, but they survived. They’ve been through the foster system and now live on their own in a bad part of Chicago. Darcy broke into an old foster home to steal money they stashed. However, she ends up losing the money in the ensuing police chase. Tory steals bikes and gets a cut when she sells them for parts. But so far there’s no magical academy with magical courses for magical powers. UNTIL… Tory sees a very attractive man watching her at the bar. She hightails it out of there. THEN… Mr. No Name FOLLOWS HER HOME. He has a whole monologue but here’s the to the point version in the most unhinged delivery ever: Tory and Darcy are not actually Tory and Darcy. They are fae princesses switched at birth. Their birth parents were the King and Queen of Solaria Solaria is a world that runs parallel with the human world, but there’s magic—their magic acts like a homing beacon, which is how the ‘politicians’ of Solaria found them. So then Mr. No Name persuaded them to come with him again. They travel by stardust to Zodiac Academy (imagine Floo Powder in Harry Potter). Got all that? It’s a lot to take in, especially as the book starts on a normal note. I truly love the magic system in this series! Your abilities stem from your star sign. That power development over the first few books is so cool to see. And the love interests bring chaosThere’s also the romantic element that adds more tension to the plot. It’s a bullies-to-lovers story, which I know doesn’t sound fun. The first book can be challenging to read because of it. As you come to understand motivations, the reasoning for this specific trope becomes clear—a ‘good intentions, horrible plan’ type. This entire world consists of three separate series.
This video is super informative for reading order. I’m onto Vicious Fae, the third overall Ruthless Boys book, but number four in the three series universe extravaganza. I like the plot of it, but I am not vibing with the romance trope. Please let me know if I’ve piqued your interest. Some parts might be a little on the vague side, but spoilers are for another time. 5/8/2025 0 Comments Book-movie adaptationsToday, we will talk about book-movie adaptations, which are the next best thing to books! The movie industry is no stranger to taking books from the page to the big screen. Production companies have been doing book-movie adaptations for nearly a century. Iconic literature like Dracula, The Great Gatsby, Pride and Prejudice, and Gone with the Wind have been made and remade by Hollywood greats; they’ve stood the test of time in a rapidly changing world. What makes them special enough to keep people coming back through the generations? Is the casting accurate? Are the monologues true to the source? Let’s discuss!
Well-known book-movie adaptations Pride and Prejudice (2005) Jane Austen's 1813 novel is the pinnacle of regency-era literature. I have read the book and watched the 2005 movie adaptation. First of all, the casting of Keira Knightley and Matthew McFadden as Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy is perfection. The atmosphere of the movie is immediate. A significant part being the instrumental score playing behind the English countryside at dawn. There's so much meaning as the music plays over key scenes. This ultimately adds a nuance to the idea of home and comfort. McFadden delivers Darcy's proposal with seriousness while being unconcerned that her disdain of his character could lead to a rejection. The finale pulls it all together. Darcy walks across the field. His silhouette is slowly becoming visible through the fog. The two meet. Finally, a swoon-worthy declaration of love from both parties subsequently follows without delay. 1,000 stars. Little Women (2019) Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 novel is a tale about that cusp of time between child and adulthood. Beth, Jo, Meg, and Amy, navigate life as they pursue dreams and subsequent struggles.The characters bring a depth to the screen that is relatable even today. Beth wants to be an artist in a man's world. Comparatively, Meg doesn’t want to struggle putting food on the table or buying new clothing. Each girl has a set of expectations that they want to break free from. It's such an innately human story. We'll always return to movies like those above for the heart of the story. We will always be enchanted by tales of love, loss, and perseverance. Time can never touch what impacts us so deeply. Over spring break, I went to Hilton Head Island and enjoyed some much-needed R & R.
And while the ocean waves were a wonderful view, I still managed to find myself in familiar territory: the island's singular Barnes and Noble. I went in there with one goal: to buy the new Hunger Games book. I found it immediately at the front of the store but there was time to kill for a further store perusal. *Happy Noises!* I made a beeline for the fantasy books and was met with a wonderful sight for a book lover: the complete Plated Prisoner series. *cue angelic chorus* These books are a King Midas retelling with magic, warring kingdoms, and top-tier banter. Linked here because it's so underrated! I read the first two books over the holidays and hadn't had a chance to get the next four, mostly because I was spending money on other books (we'll get to Zodiac Academy later). I had to take advantage of the moment because only one copy of each book was on the shelf. The horror! Just in case you're counting, we're up to five books now. I talked to myself out loud, alone in this aisle because I'd reached the limit of impulse book buying. ... Then I passed the history section on the way to check out. ... Book six ended up being a recollection of European leaders trying to save the Russian imperial family from execution post-Russian revolution. My one-book mission turned into a six-book extravaganza and $119.00 down the drain. But! I get reward points with every $10 spent. I already had $5 worth, and the Hunger Games book was discounted too! Once the dust had settled, I had to maneuver my bank accounts, and I managed to make it all fall even without having a panic attack. Thank goodness for savings account caches, honestly. With these six books, I brought nine books home from vacation (I bought three others at a separate shop). Did I mention I brought six with me originally? So, I had to fit fifteen (manic laughter) very large books in my carry-on for the return trip. My mom was truly thrilled. I guess my book-buying love doesn't disappear when I cross state lines. The books I've read in 2025 so far:
The above drop-down includes the books I've read so far this year- my total goal being 130. Last year, I got to 124, and I'm hoping to knock a lot out over the summer. I'm considering 2025 my year of rereading. Yes, rereading counts! I've gotten through Harry Potter and am in the last stretch of Victoria Aveyard's Red Queen quintet. I remember loving Red Queen when I read it in middle school but now being an older, wiser, more experienced reader, it's lacking something. The plot is cool and the magic system is well-developed, but the main character... annoys me now? Like, give me more of steel princess, Evangeline or more time in Cal's POV because he literally wields fire and is actually trying to solve problems when he has all the right in the world to mope and be self-pitying. But that all goes to our main female lead, Mare. She's the primary POV and while her story has been traumatic, she's very stuck in her own issues. I'm almost a third through the last book and she's finally not on my last nerve after the last book had me in. The. Trenches. This is after I've read Onyx Storm and Throne of Glass by the wonderful Rebecca Yarros and Sarah J. Maas, respectively. They've honestly ruined YA fantasy for me because their series's are so well done. Both the Empyrean and TOG worldbuilding is supreme and I recommend both even if slightly traumatizing (but that's how you know the story is worth it!). I've linked all the series Goodreads pages that will make it easy to track down titles and other details straight from this page. What will you read next? |