Bilan [2013]

Alors alors, bien le bonjour tout le monde! Nous voici réunis pour faire mon bilan sur cette année 2013 qui est également la première année de mon blog. C'est pas mal pratique d'avoir commencé le blog en Janvier.

Ne me demandais pas pourquoi j'ai choisi d'illustrer cet article avec cette photo qui n'a rien à voir avec le sujet, évidemment. Je la trouve juste sublime..D'ailleurs

Glitch, tome 3 : Insurrection

Auteur : Heather Anastasiu
Titre VO : Glitch, book 3 : Shutdown
Traduction : Cécile Ardilly
Genre : Dystopie, Young Adult
Edition : Robert Laffont - Collection R
Parution : le 14 novembre 2013
Pages : 463 pages
Prix : 17.90 euros

*Commander sur amazon : Glitch, tome 3 : Insurrection*

Résumé:

La bataille ultime est proche de son terme, et tout espoir semble s'être envolé : Zoé et ses compagnons de la Résistance battent en retraite après avoir perdu leur base et leur chef. Ils sont écrasés en nombre et en puissance de feu par l'omnipotente corporation qui a asservi le monde. A sa tête, la cruelle Chancelière est à deux doigts d'exécuter un plan à même de détruire la quasi-totalité de l'humanité.

La seule option qu'il reste à Zoé, c'est de réaliser son rêve de toujours : mettre un terme à l'odieux système du Lien, et de ce fait libérer la population du joug informatique qui bride leurs pensées et leurs émotions, en espérant ainsi déclencher une révolution. La mission de Zoé d'infiltrer la redoutable Communauté est presque impossible, mais elle est pourtant la seule à pouvoir la mener à bien.

Mon avis:

Glitch est une série ma foi fort sympathique dans le genre dystopique. Sans être extraordinaire, le premier tome fut une bonne lecture, le second a monté la barre bien plus haut et ce troisième tome m'a paru trop ordinaire. Si ma lecture de cet ultime tome n'aura pas été aussi bonne que je l'espérais, ma plus grande satisfaction c'est d'avoir terminé une nouvelle série. Mais bon le bilan n'est pas catastrophique.

Le récit a bien commencé, l'ouverture de ce dernier tome commence de telle façon à bien lancer l'intrigue et tout s'est très bien déroulé pendant plusieurs dizaines de pages. Les événements s'enchainent et on n'a pas le temps de s'ennuyer. Puis arrive une nouvelle catastrophe qui permet à l'auteur de régler, ou tout le moins en partie, une situation pour le moins épineuse entre certains personnages. Si je comprends tout à fait ça, et trouve même que c'était nécessaire, et bien cette partie de l'intrigue qui s’étale quand même sur prês de 100 pages n'était pas des plus palpitantes.

C'est d'ailleurs un peu le constat que je fais pour l'ensemble de l'histoire. Oui il y a de l'action, l'auteur n'y va pas de main morte parfois, mais j'ai trouvé qu'au final elle ne prend pas assez de risques et qu'elle mène son dénouement un petit peu de façon ordinaire. Je n'ai pas été tellement surprise par certaines choses, non pas que ça soit attendu, mais ça reste globalement sans éclat, le genre qui m'aurait fait trembler et stresser. Je ne sais pas dans ce genre (le genre dystopique) j'aime être secouée, surtout que les enjeux sont éminemment importants, l'ennemi est de taille et nos personnages rebelles sont dotés de capacités hors normes. Il y a quand même matière à faire en sorte que ça aille plus loin que ce que se contente de faire l'auteur.

Et, je ne sais pas ça manque d'intensité. Je me suis rarement sentie happée lors des moments importants, la plupart batailles sont menées assez simplement. Elles restes peu démonstratives si je veux être précise, on ne voit pas assez tout le monde en action. J'entends d'ici quelques cris insurgés, mais repensez par exemple au grand final, Zoé en bave, certes et elle en bave pas mal tout au long du roman, mais ses soucis sont un peu toujours les mêmes et vu son pouvoir sincèrement il y a certaines choses qui demeurent un peu trop faciles. Je ne dis pas que c'est le cas tout le temps, juste que je pense que j'aurais aimé que l'auteur aille encore plus loin. Et puis la confrontation avec La Chancelière, excusez-moi, mais c'est tout ? C'était censé être un passage important, crucial, vu le personnage je trouve qu'on a le minimum. Certes c'est bien fait, mais ça n'est pas assez percutant pour moi.

Chose assez incroyable, c'est le détachement que j'ai ressenti envers les personnages. Zoé en tête, mais aussi Adrien et tous les seconds rôles. Avec Zoé, je ne me suis pas toujours sentie en phase avec elle et j'ai parfois manqué d'intérêt pour ce qu'elle vivait.Je ne sais pas trop ce qu'il s'est passé, on va dire que je l'ai juste moins aimé, mais dans l'ensemble ça reste une bonne héroïne. Avec Adrien je dirais qu'il est trop effacé et je l'aurais aimé plus présent. Pour les autres idem, ils sont trop peu présents, oui ce sont des rôles secondaires, mais je les ai trouvés trop peu actifs. Il n'y en a que pour Zoé, logique, mais ça manque d’interaction entre elle et les autres Glitchers. Pourtant le livre est long.

Cette conclusion est bonne, mais ça ne va pas au-delà. J'en attendais peut-être trop, même si je n'aime pas dire ça, il est vrai que j'avais adoré le tome 2 et que naturellement je voulais accrocher à Insurrection. Il ne manque pas d'intérêt, quelques moments de tension et de passages musclés sont présents, mais le souci c'est que j'aurais aimé être plus secouée par ma lecture, tout était là pour faire quelque chose d'énorme et le résultat n'a pas été à la hauteur de mes espérances. D'autant plus qu'avec les personnages je me suis sentie bien plus extérieur que d'habitude et le grand final m'a paru bon mais quelque peu « facile ». Ceci dit, l'épilogue est bien fait, l'auteur boucle ce qu'il y a à boucler. Néanmoins je ne referme pas ce livre déçu et globalement j'ai passé un bon moment.

Une lecture agréable

Retrouvez d'autres avis sur la page bbm du livre:

Glitch, la série:

1. Glitch

2. Résurrection

3. Insurrection

-Série terminée-

Year in Review: The Best of the Best

My absolute favorites of the year:

If I had to pick just one board book: Not That Tutu! Michelle Sinclair Colman. 2013. Random House. 20 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
If I had to pick just one picture book: Pete the Cat And His Four Groovy Buttons. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2012. HarperCollins. 40 pages. [Source: Library]
If I had to pick just one chapter book:  Mr. Putter & Tabby Drop the Ball. Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Arthur Howard. 2013. Harcourt. 44 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
If I had to pick just one YA novel: All The Truth That's In Me. Julie Berry. 2013. Penguin. 288 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
If I had to pick just one MG novel: Paperboy. Vince Vawter. 2013. Random House. 240 pages. [Source: Library]
If I had to pick just one adult novel: Blackmoore Julianne Donaldson. 2013. Shadow Mountain (Proper Romance). 282 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
If I had to pick just one classic: Les Miserables. Victor Hugo. Translated and Introduced by Norman Denny. 1862/1976/2012. Penguin. 1232 pages.
If I had to pick just one book by L.M. Montgomery: Rilla of Ingleside. L.M. Montgomery. 1921. 280 pages.  [Source: Book I Bought]
If I had to pick just one book by Georgette Heyer: Venetia. Georgette Heyer. 1958/2009. Harlequin. 368 pages. [Source: Gift]  
If I had to pick just one nonfiction book: Viking: The Norse Warrior's (Unofficial) Manual. John Haywood. 2013. Thames & Hudson. 208 pages. [Source: Library]
If I had to pick just one nonfiction picture book: Miss Moore Thought Otherwise: How Anne Carroll Moore Created Libraries for Children. Jan Pinborough. Illustrated by Debby Atwell. 2013. [March 2013] Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.  40 pages.
If I had to pick just one Christian novel: The Tutor's Daughter. Julie Klassen. 2013. Bethany House. 412 pages.

If I had to pick just one nonfiction Christian book: Gospel: Recovering the Power That Made Christianity Revolutionary. J.D. Greear. Foreword by Timothy Keller. B&H Books. 266 pages. 
If I had to pick just one short story collection:  The Inimitable Jeeves (Jeeves). P.G. Wodehouse. 1923. 225 pages.

Favorites of the year.

I read 21 board books. My top two board books were:

1. Trains Go.  Steve Light.  2012. Chronicle Books. 16 pages. [Source: Library]
2. Not That Tutu! Michelle Sinclair Colman. 2013. Random House. 20 pages. [Source: Review Copy]

Honorable mentions:

Baby and Me. Emma Dodd. 2013. Candlewick. 16 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
Little Bear's Little Boat. Eve Bunting. Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter.  2003/2012. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 30 pages. [Source: Review copy]

I read 85 picture books and/or early readers. My top eight were:

1. Sophie's Squash. Pat Zietlow Miller. Illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf. 2013. Random House. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]   
2. That Is Not A Good Idea. Mo Willems. 2013. HarperCollins. 48 pages. [Source: Library]
3. How To Train a Train. Jason Carter Eaton. Illustrated by John Rocco. 2013. Candlewick Press. 48 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
4. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2010. HarperCollins. 40 pages. [Source: Library]
5. Pete the Cat And His Four Groovy Buttons. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2012. HarperCollins. 40 pages. [Source: Library]
6. Exclamation Mark. Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. 2013. Scholastic. 56 pages.
7. Mr. Putter & Tabby Drop the Ball. Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Arthur Howard. 2013. Harcourt. 44 pages. [Source: Review Copy]  
8. A Big Guy Took My Ball. Mo Willems. 2013. Hyperion. 58 pages. [Source: Library]

Honorable Mentions:

Olive and the Bad Mood. Tor Freeman. 2013. Candlewick Press. 32 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
Penny and Her Marble. Kevin Henkes. 2013. HarperCollins. 48 pages. 

I read 178 MG and YA books. My top twenty. In no particular order.

1. Paperboy. Vince Vawter. 2013. Random House. 240 pages. [Source: Library]  
2. The Boy on the Porch. Sharon Creech. 2013. HarperCollins. 160 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
3.  Fortunately, The Milk. Neil Gaiman. 2013. HarperCollins. 114 pages. [Source: Review Copy]  
4. Every Day After. Laura Golden. 2013. Random House. 224 pages. [Source: Review Copy]  
5. Serafina's Promise. Ann E. Burg. 2013. Scholastic. 304 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
   
6. Beholding Bee. Kimberly Newton Fusco. 2013. Random House. 336 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
7. All The Truth That's In Me. Julie Berry. 2013. Penguin. 288 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
8. The 5th Wave. Rick Yancey. 2013. Penguin. 457 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
9. Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures. Kate DiCamillo. 2013. Candlewick Press. 240 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
10. Prisoner B-3087. Alan Gratz. 2013. [March 2013] Scholastic. 260 pages.  
11. Rose Under Fire. Elizabeth Wein. 2013. Hyperion. 368 pages. [Source: Library]
12. The Phantom Tollbooth. Norton Juster. Illustrated by Jules Feiffer. 1961/2011. Random House. 272 pages. [Source: Review copy]  
13. Imperfect Spiral. Debbie Levy. 2013. Bloomsbury. 352 pages. [Source: Review copy]
14. The Testing. Joelle Charbonneau. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 344 pages.
15. Catherine. April Lindner. 2013. Little, Brown. 320 pages.
16. The False Prince. Jennifer A. Nielsen. 2012. Scholastic. 342 pages.  
17. The Runaway King. Jennifer A. Nielsen. 2013. Scholastic. 352 pages. 
18. Kizzy Ann Stamps. Jeri Watt. 2012. Candlewick. 192 pages.
19. Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library. Chris Grabenstein. 2013. Random House. 304 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
20. Dark Triumph (His Fair Assassin #2) Robin LaFevers. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 387 pages. 

I read 142 adult books--fiction, nonfiction, short stories. Because I've already made a top ten Georgette Heyer, I'm excluding her from this list. Same goes with L.M. Montgomery, here's my top ten list. My top fifteen:

1. Blackmoore Julianne Donaldson. 2013. Shadow Mountain (Proper Romance). 282 pages. [Source: Review Copy]  
2. Viking: The Norse Warrior's (Unofficial) Manual. John Haywood. 2013. Thames & Hudson. 208 pages. [Source: Library] 
3. The Time Traveler's Guide to Elizabeth England. Ian Mortimer. 2013. Viking. 416 pages. [Source: Library]  
4. Prince of Foxes. Samuel Shellabarger. 1947. 433 pages. [Source: Library] 
5. Great Tales from English History, vol. 1. Robert Lacey. 2003. Little, Brown. 272 pages. [Source: Library]
6. Blood & Beauty: The Borgias. Sarah Dunant. 2013. Random House. 528 pages. [Source: Library]  
7. William Shakespeare's Star Wars. Ian Doescher. 2013. Quirk. 176 pages. [Source: Review Copy]  
8. Wool (Omnibus Edition, Wool 1-5). Hugh Howey. 2013. Simon & Schuster. 508 pages. [Source: Library]  
9. Death on the Nile. Agatha Christie. 1937/2007. Black Dog & Leventhal. 352 pages. [Source: Library]
10. The Daughter of Time. (Inspector Grant #5). Josephine Tey. 1955/1995. Touchstone. 206 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]
11. Les Miserables. Victor Hugo. Translated and Introduced by Norman Denny. 1862/1976/2012.
    Penguin. 1232 pages. [Source: Library]
12. Ruth. Elizabeth Gaskell. 1853. 432 pages. [Source: Book I Bought] 
13.  The Inimitable Jeeves (Jeeves). P.G. Wodehouse. 1923. 225 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]
14.  Can You Forgive Her? Anthony Trollope. 1865. 848 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]
15.  Nicholas Nickleby. Charles Dickens. 1839. 817 pages.  [Source: Book I Bought]

One of the best, best, best discoveries of the year was not a book, but, a British TV series: Horrible Histories. 


My favorite, favorite tribute video: What Makes You Beautiful
My favorite song about Vikings: Vikingland AND Literally (as if I could ever, ever choose between the two?!)
My favorite song from Series 1: Born 2 Rule, the 4 Georges
My favorite song from Series 2: Pachacuti
My favorite song from Series 3: Richard III (the song that started EVERYTHING!)
My favorite song from Series 4: RAF (World War II Pilots)
My favorite song from Series 5: We're History (Finale)

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

2014 Reading Challenges: British History

Host: Impressions in Ink
Name: British History Reading Challenge
Dates: January - December 2014
# of books: my goal 9 to 12

What I read:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

What I want to read:

Neither fiction nor nonfiction:

• 1066 And All That. W.C. Sellar & R.J. Yeatman. 

Nonfiction:

• The Birth of Britain (History of the English Speaking People #1). Winston Churchill.
• The New World (History of the English Speaking People #2). Winston Churchill.
• The Age of Revolution. (History of the English Speaking People #3). Winston Churchill.
• Royal Affair: George III and His Scandalous Siblings. Stella Tillyard.
• In Search of England. H.V. Morton.
• The Courtiers: Splendor and Intrigue in the Georgian Court At Kensington Palace. Lucy Worsley.
• Dick Turpin: The Myth of the English Highwayman. James Sharpe.
• The Heir Apparent: A Life of Edward VIII. Jane Ridley
• Elizabeth of York. Alison Weir
• The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England. Dan Jones.

Fiction:

• When Christ and His Saints Slept by Sharon Kay Penman.
• The Merry Monarch's Wife by Jean Plaidy.
• Victoria Victorious. Jean Plaidy.
•  The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman
• Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman
• Falls the Shadow by Sharon Kay Penman
• The Reckoning by Sharon Kay Penman
• Sarum by Edward Rutherfurd
• London by Edward Rutherfurd
• The Revolt of the Eaglets by Jean Plaidy
• The Courts of Love by Jean Plaidy
• Lady of the English by Elizabeth Chadwick
• Duchess of Drury Lane by Freda Lightfoot

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

December Reflections

This month I read 46 books.

My top five:

Pete the Cat And His Four Groovy Buttons. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2012. HarperCollins. 40 pages. [Source: Library]
Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2010. HarperCollins. 40 pages. [Source: Library]
Beholding Bee. Kimberly Newton Fusco. 2013. Random House. 336 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures. Kate DiCamillo. 2013. Candlewick Press. 240 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
The 5th Wave. Rick Yancey. 2013. Penguin. 457 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Children's Books

1. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2010. HarperCollins. 40 pages. [Source: Library]
2. Pete the Cat: Rocking In My School Shoes. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2011. HarperCollins. 40 pages. [Source: Library]
3. Pete the Cat And His Four Groovy Buttons. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2012. HarperCollins. 40 pages. [Source: Library]
4. Pete The Cat Saves Christmas. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2012. HarperCollins. 40 pages. [Source: Library]
5. Pete the Cat And His Magic Sunglasses. Kimberley and James Dean. 2013. HarperCollins. 40 pages. [Source: Library]  
6. The Smallest Gift of Christmas. Peter H. Reynolds. 2013. Candlewick. 40 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
7. My Pen Pal, Santa. Melissa Stanton. Illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell. 2013. Random House. 32 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
8. Star Wars: A Very Vader Valentine's Day. Scholastic. 2013. 16 pages. [Source: Review Copy]

Middle Grade and Young Adult Books

1. Serafina's Promise. Ann E. Burg. 2013. Scholastic. 304 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
   
2. Beholding Bee. Kimberly Newton Fusco. 2013. Random House. 336 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
3. Better To Wish. (Family Tree #1) Ann M. Martin. 2013. Scholastic. 240 pages. [Source: Review copy]  
4. The Long Way Home (Family Tree #2) Ann M. Martin. 2013. Scholastic. 240 pages. [Source: Review copy]
5. Jane of Lantern Hill. L.M. Montgomery. 1937. 274 pages. [Source: Bought] 
6. Anne of Ingleside. L.M. Montgomery. 1939. 274 pages. [Source: Bought] 
7. The 5th Wave. Rick Yancey. 2013. Penguin. 457 pages. [Source: Review copy]
8. Unsouled. Neal Shusterman. 2013. Simon & Schuster. 416 pages. [Source: Library] 
9. Dangerous. Shannon Hale. 2014. Bloomsbury. 400 pages. [Source: Review Copy]  
10. Across A Star-Swept Sea. Diana Peterfreund. 2013. HarperCollins. 464 pages. [Source: Library]
11. The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles. Julie Andrews Edwards. 1974. Scholastic. 288 pages. [Source: Bought]
12. Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures. Kate DiCamillo. 2013. Candlewick Press. 240 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
13. The Book of Lost Things. (Mister Max #1). 2013. Random House. 400 pages. [Source: Review copy]  
14. Alvin Ho: Allergic to Babies, Burglars, and Other Bumps in the Night. Lenore Look. Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. 2013. Random House. 183 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
15. Bluffton: My Summer with Buster Keaton. 2013. Candlewick Press. 240 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
16. Vader's Little Princess. Jeffrey Brown. 2013. Chronicle Books. 64 pages. [Source: Library]
17. Darth Vader and Son. Jeffrey Brown. 2012. Chronicle Books. 64 pages. [Source: Library] 
18. Star Wars: Jedi Academy. Jeffrey Brown. 2013. Scholastic. 160 pages. [Source: Library] 
19. Star Wars Science Fair Book. Samantha Margles. 2013. Scholastic. 128 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
20. Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out. Based on the TV Special. 2013. Scholastic. 48 pages. [Source: Review Copy]   

Adult Books

1. Cousin Kate. Georgette Heyer. 1968/2009. Sourcebooks. 384 pages. [Source: Bought]
2. Charity Girl. Georgette Heyer. 1970/2008. Sourcebooks. 282 pages. [Source: Review copy]
3. Lady of Quality. Georgette Heyer. 1972. Sourcebooks. 300 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
4. The Story of Britain. Rebecca Fraser. 2003. Norton. 828 pages. [Source: Library]
5. Viking: The Norse Warrior's (Unofficial) Manual. John Haywood. 2013. Thames & Hudson. 208 pages. [Source: Library]
6. How To Create the Perfect Wife: Britain's Most Ineligible Bachelor And His Enlightened Quest to Train the Ideal Mate. Wendy Moore. Basic Books. 344 pages. [Source: Library] 
7. I Will Repay. Baroness Orczy. 1906. 220 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]
8. Shift by Hugh Howey. 2013. CreateSpace. 608 pages. [Source: Book I Bought] 
9. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. George Lucas, Alan Dean Foster. 1977. 247 pages. [Source: Own] 
10. Star Wars: Episode V: Empire Strikes Back. Donald F. Glut. 1980. 214 pages.  [Source: Bought] 
11. Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. James Kahn, George Lucas, Lawrence Kasdan. 1983. 181 pages. [Source: Bought]

Christian Fiction and Christian Nonfiction 

1. Isaiah Chapters 1-35 (Thru the Bible). J. Vernon McGee. 1991. Nelson. 225 pages.  
2. Adventure Bible Storybook: Deluxe Edition. Catherine DeVries. Illustrated by Jim Madsen. 2009. Zonderkidz. 288 pages. [Source: Review Copy]  
3. When Hope Springs New. Janette Oke. 1986. Bethany House. 216 pages. [Source: Book I Own]
4. What is Biblical Theology: A Guide to the Bible's Story, Symbolism, and Patterns. James M. Hamilton Jr. 2013. Crossway. 128 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
5. A Light in the Window. Julie Lessman. 2013. Ten Talents Press. [Source: Book I Bought]
6. An Amish Christmas. (Brides of Amish Country). Patricia Davids. 2010. Steeple Hill Love Inspired. 224 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]
7. A Home for My Heart. Anne Mateer. 2013. Bethany House. 352 pages. [Source: Review copy]

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

More Glam Wrapping

Some more of my prezzies GLAM WRAPPED ! So absolutely enjoyed gift wrapping at this time of the year. I do have a hard time wrapping anything that doesn't come in a box though, so I was stumped when it came to the cylindrical shapes. Some I wrapped as bonbons and some trimmed with ball ribbon.....they turned out alright. When the recepients say, "I don't want to open it as its too pretty to spoil" then I know I got it right !

Belle année 2014 !!

C'est toujours un peu délicat les vœux de nouvelle année. Il y a bien sûr les formules usuelles et consacrées qui font toujours plaisir mais sont aussi un peu tout le temps les même, n'est-ce pas ? 

Essentiellement, j'ai envie de vous souhaiter de l'épanouissement personnel et de la liberté (d'expression, de mouvement, de penser, de vivre pleinement, d'être vous...) et puis pleins de livres aussi, mouhahahahaha !

Pour le reste, à vous de compléter la phrase avec ce dont vous avez le plus besoin/envie :

"Je te souhaite beaucoup de ..., de ... et bien sur de ... Il ne faut pas oublier aussi ... ainsi que ... pour cette ... année 2014 !"

And More Cheap Nancy Drew Books with Jackets

Two days ago, I found three more Nancy Drew books with jackets that I had missed.  Yesterday I found another, and it turned out to be a first printing.  These books have been listed on either Bonanza or eBay.  The more desirable printings are on Bonanza, in order to avoid potentially troublesome buyers on eBay.  The more ordinary printings are on eBay.

I have also taken some desirable printings that were already up for sale on Bonanza and eBay and drastically cut the prices.  Those books have been placed on Bonanza as newly listed items so that they can be found easily.

Jennifer's Series Books on Bonanza

The next link is to my eBay store.

Jennifer's Series Books on eBay

Here is a more specific link to my Nancy Drew books with dust jackets on eBay, since they are not showing near the top on the summary store page.

Nancy Drew books with dust jackets

Remember that I do not mind if my books are purchased to resell.

Bon réveillon du jour de l'an

Je vous souhaite un très bon réveillon du jour de l'an. :) 

Profitez bien de votre soirée et à l'année prochaine pour de nouvelles découvertes

Top 13 of 2013

Julie:

It's that time of year, where we talk about our favorites. A bit delayed because I've been on a reading binge for two weeks and wanted to count as many of those titles as possible. And of course, now that I’m done, I’m cheating a bit. I combined my three favorite companion series into one listing, because honestly, think about it, if I read three books by the same author in one year (more in some cases) don’t they deserve it? I also decided to let the 4 books on this list that I read in 2012, but came out in 2013, a bit separately so I could have my 13 for this year. The list isn’t in favorite order, but some approximation of order I read them.

Read in 2013: 

The Archived by Victoria Schwab - Oh Victoria. The world she created in this series is so entirely different from any other I’ve experienced. And her characters were so rich and vibrant. I also had to appreciate that, while there is a sequel, the plot of this book was very much wrapped up. Often I read the first book in a series and feel like I have to read the sequel because the story wasn’t finished. I only want to read The Unbound because Victoria’s a good writer and I love these characters.
 
The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson - Speaking of sequels, this is the best end to a trilogy I have read in my life so far. I’ve loved Hector and Elise for a long time. All of the books in the series have made my Top lists, in fact. But the way Rae Carson ended this story? It’s magical, guys. I’ve never read such a complete, well thought out end. Ugh. Just ugh. Go read this series.
 
This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith - I fell in love with Jennifer’s last book, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. This one sounded even more like my kind of book because it has a famous person in it. And it’s also like three times as long and practically perfect in every way. I got her older YA, You Are Here, for Christmas and may or may not be prepared to kill a man for her next, The Geography of You and Me.

Picture Perfect/Subject to Change/Drop Everything Now by Alessandra Thomas - Picture Perfect was my first NA. Ever. And it’s probably my favorite. Except then I read Alessandra’s other books in this companion-ology and now I’m really not sure which is my favorite. In each story, the main character has legit college/20s related struggles, not just relationship problems. They’re all so incredibly realistic and about more than just sex and there’s fantastic character development and ugh. Ugh. I’m refusing to wait for her next book. REFUSING.
 
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell - I picked up this book after watching Rainbow and David Levithan act out a scene from the book. I decided after that magic that it had to be good. And oh, friends. I sat in my bed, procrastinating homework, and read the crap out of that book. Then I finished it and stared at it for several minutes, trying to not cry. Then I shoved my face in a pillow. Then I threw it on to my roommate’s bed. The amount of regrets I have about not sticking around that night to get it signed are immense. IMMENSE.

Infinityglass by Myra McEntire - I know I mentioned perfect endings to a trilogy with The Bitter Kingdom. But this one’s pretty much tied because it went about things in a different way. The perspective was from one character who was rather minor in the previous books and one character we’d never met. They had this amazing chemistry and incredible voices and the stories they had combined beautifully with the overall story arch and it was kind of a masterpiece.  


Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell - Yet again, a scenario in which I already loved the author, but this time the plot line was SO more my style. Fangirl is kind of my life. Not word for word, but in spirit. I felt for Cath SO MUCH and then there was Levi. LEVI. And this book is so incredibly perfect I don’t want to hear a single word that says otherwise.


The Distance Between Us by Kasie West - This was definitely a case of Right Book at the Right Time. It was adorable and fluffy and the characters were so wonderful. It’s a really light read that on a normal day may have just been a fluff read, but with the incredible characters and story line and just being read at the right time, it became an instant favorite and Kasie West’s contemporaries will forever be on my shelves.


Beautiful Bastard/Beautiful Stranger/Beautiful Player by Christina Lauren - I’ve talked about my history with this series before. It’s long and immense and the authors are two of my favorite people ever. I don’t think I can really say anything else except that this series just got better with each book and I’m eagerly waiting for both their YA and their next adult series. 


OCD Love Story by Corey Ann Haydu - This was a bit of a surprise for me. I expected to enjoy it. I like Corey and a reading she did impressed me. But I didn’t expect to enjoy it so much. I groaned for Bea many times, feeling for her. This also came at a time someone in my life was being diagnosed with OCD after their own rather extreme event, so I really felt like I was getting it. I was getting OCD. It was really incredible how Bea was portrayed and I have to admire Corey for that so much. 


The Book Thief by Markus Zusack - I finally jumped on the bandwagon after being invited to the movie screening and Oh. My. God. Oh my God. This book. THIS BOOK. I was up until 6 am reading it and crying and now I’m making all my family members read it before seeing the movie. Another family member has since read it and then gifted it to another family member the same day she told a third family member to read it. DO IT.

Sex with the Queen by Eleanor Herman - This was a bit of non-fiction fun for me. I’ve been really into non-fiction for the past couple of weeks, and this is my favorite so far. The writing style is phenomenal and it balances telling a lot of stories with fleshing out the stories really well. I’m incredibly impressed with Herman and have ordered one of her other books with my Christmas money.


A Little Too Far/A Little Too Much/A Little Too Hot by Lisa Desrochers -  Lisa and I go way, way back to the first year or so of this blog. So when I found out she had an NA series? I was THERE. I mean, her YA was incredibly sexy and steamy, so imagine her NA. And she did not disappoint. At all. A Little Too Hot technically comes out next month, but I think it’s my favorite of the three. Mostly because of the plot twist I genuinely didn’t see coming. They’re so, so good guys. SO GOOD.

Read Before 2013:

Deception by C.J. Redwine - Maybe I’m biased, but C.J.’s series is one of my favorite dystopians ever, as proven by the fact I didn’t stop after book 1 and I actually remember what happens. There’s this wonderful balance of action and romance and friendship and it has a fantasy twist to it and just…love. All the love. Logan 4eva.
 
Spies and Prejudice by Talia Vance - I love Pride and Prejudice, so I was obviously on board. It’s also mixed with Veronica Mars, which I love. WHAT COULD POSSIBLE GO WRONG FOR ME? Nothing. Nothing went wrong for me. The characters and the storyline and it was fun and a nice twist on Pride and Prejudice and I loved it so much. I’ve been craving a reread for ages and that really does need to happen. Soon.

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi - Another sequel! Another YA dystopian I adore and remember well. Tahereh has an incredible, distinct writing style and I love her villain. LOVE. This book just gets more twisty and crazy than Shatter Me was and I eagerly wait for Ignite Me. EAGERLY WAITS. *stares down anyone who gets in my way of this book*


Asunder by Jodi Meadows - Basically, 2013 was the year of Book 2 YA Dystopias Julie Loves. This is another that has a fantasy bend to it, but it’s still so different. I think I have a thing for dystopias that don’t fall in line as much. This one is…”softer” I guess? Still has a lot of action, but it felt less intense and violent, but still every bit as addicting and page turning. And the romance between Sam and Ana is one of my favorites ever. EVER.  


So, that was my year. There were some romance novels, other NA books, other contemporary YA, and non-fiction titles that almost made the cut, but not so much. And since I loved talking about these books, I may do some full reviews soon.


--Julie

Lanna:

It doesn't feel like I've read many books this year. But, of the books I have read, there's been quite a few good ones. There's even been a few additions to my favourites shelves.

I'm not going to say anything about the books, like I usually do, because with some of them they seemed amazing when I read them but my feelings have dulled a little and I'm not sure which counts for more--that initial reaction, or the way I feel about them now (I will say which ones have made my all time favourites list though, my feelings for those haven't dulled at all).

These are in the order I read them in (I think), not order of preference:

1. Just One Day by Gail Forman

2. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

3. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell (Favourite)

4. The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

5. Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

6. Second Helpings by Megan McCafferty (Favourite)

7. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (Favourite)

8. Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

9. The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simmons (Favourite)

10. Carter Reed by Tijan (Favourite)

11. The Year of Secret Assignments by Jaclyn Moriarty (Favourite)

12. Poison by Bridget Zinn

13. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (Favourite)

And a few honorable mentions:

• Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh

• Regency romance novels by Eloisa James. I hadn't really read any of this genre until this year, but I read one of hers and basically, she sparked a love of the genre. I really recommend her fairytales and Duchess in Love quartet (not every book in each series is really good, but they're all enjoyable).

• Jellicoe Road audio book. This is the first audio book I've ever listened to. Jellicoe Road is one of my favourite books anyway and I figured it'd be a good audio book to try first because I already love it. I didn't think I could sit and have a story read to me, but once you get used to having to pay attention to someone else's voice and get over the novelty of it, it's actually really good.

So...yeah, you should go check those out if you haven't already. What were some of your favourites from this year?

Later.

Stock image credit.