December 2016 Wrap Up

Jen

I ended up being a lot busier that I thought this month so I got much less reading done than I wanted to. I also hadn’t anticipated on reading a lot of manga this month but I was super in the mood for it. It means that I didn’t get to all the books that I wanted to and I’ll still have a few unfinished series that I’ll be finishing in 2017 instead, but that’s not such a huge deal because they will get read eventually!

Mockingjay (#3) by Suzanne Collins (Audiobook narrated by Carolyn McCormick) - 5/5

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling - 5/5

Wrecked by Maria Padian - 4/5

The Royal Book of Oz (#15) by Ruth Plumly Thompson - 2/5

The Blood of Olympus (#5) by Rick Riordan - 4/5

The Demigod Diaries by Rick Riordan - 4/5

The Silver Chair (#6) by C.S. Lewis - 3/5

The Last Battle (#7) by C.S. Lewis - 4/5

Happy Marriage?! Volumes 1 - 10 by Maki Enjoji - all 5/5 

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (#5) by J.K. Rowling - 5/5

J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World - A Pop-up Gallery of Curiosities - 3/5

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - Newt Scamander: A Movie Scrapbook - 3/5   

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - The Beasts: Cinematic Guide - 3/5

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - Character Guide - 3.5/5

Mel
I actually had a really good reading month! I didn't quite get through all of the manga that I wanted, but I did end up reading way more other books than I intended! I also lowered my Goodreads reading challenge to 75 books (which I completed!), since I knew there was no way I was going to reach 100. I still beat last year's challenge by 7 books though!

Fruits Basket Collector's Edition Volume 2 by Natsuki Takaya  5/5
Fruits Basket Collector's Edition Volume 3 by Natsuki Takaya  5/5
Fruits Basket Collector's Edition Volume 4 by Natsuki Takaya  5/5
Bleach Omnibus Edition Volume 4 by Tite Kubo  4/5
Bleach Omnibus Edition Volume 5 by Tite Kubo  4/5
One Punch Man Volume 1 by Yusuki Murata  4/5
The Young Elites by Marie Lu  4/5
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling  5/5
Heir to the Sky by Amanda Sun  4/5
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay by JK Rowling  4/5

November 2016 Wrap Up

Jen

I tried, but I didn’t get quite as much reading done in November as I wanted to. I did make some good progress on the series that I have been working on finishing before the end of the year, but I also deviated from my TBR towards the end of the month because I was just wasn’t in the mood for what I had planned on reading.

Anne’s House of Dreams (Anne of Green Gables #5) by L.M. Montgomery - 3.5/5

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Chronicles of Narnia #5) by C.S. Lewis - 4/5

The Making of Outlander: The Official Guide to Seasons 1 & 2 by Tara Bennett - 5/5

The Martian by Andy Weir (Audiobook narrated by R.C. Bray) - 5/5

The Magic of Oz (Oz #13) by L. Frank Baum - 3/5

Glinda of Oz (Oz #14) by L. Frank Baum - 3/5

Library of Souls (Miss Peregrine’s #3) by Ransom Riggs - 3/5

Tales of the Peculiar by Ransom Riggs - 4/5

Shine: The Making of the Australian Netball Diamonds by Jenny Sinclair & Megan Maurice - 5/5

The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys by Gerard Way, Shaun Simon & Becky Cloonan - 3/5

Summer Days & Summer Nights (Twelve Summer Romances) Edited by Stephanie Perkins - 3/5

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon - 4.5/5

Destroying Avalon by Kate McCaffrey - 4/5

In Ecstasy by Kate McCaffrey - 4/5

Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston - 3.5/5

The Hunger Games (#1) by Suzanne Collins (Audiobook narrated by Carolyn McCormick) - 5/5

Catching Fire (#2) by Suzanne Collins (Audiobook narrated by Carolyn McCormick) - 5/5

Mel

I managed to read a few books in November! And most of these were read when I was supposed to be writing! Lol.

Alex + Ada Volume 1 by Jonathan Luna  5/5
Alex + Ada Volume 2 by Jonathan Luna  5/5
Alex + Ada Volume 3 by Jonathan Luna  5/5
Clockwork Angel Manga by Cassandra Clare  5/5
Clockwork Prince Manga by Cassandra Clare  5/5
Clockwork Princess Manga by Cassandra Clare  5/5
Doctor Who: The Hounds of Artemis by James Goss  4/5 
Doctor Who: The Gemini Contagion by Jason Arnopp  3/5

Monthly Recommendations: Trilogies

Monthly Recommendations is a Goodreads group created by Trina (Between Chapters) and Kayla Rayne. The theme for the month of November is trilogies!

I was so excited when I saw that the topic was trilogies and I thought it would be easy to come up with a list of recommendations! Only to come to the realisation that I didn’t have as many as I thought I did to recommend. Quite a few are longer series rather than trilogies, and I also have numerous unread trilogies sitting on my bookshelf that I just have not gotten to yet! Nevertheless, here are my favourite trilogies! - Jen

I also have a problem with having more longer series than trilogies, but I apparently have an issue with not finishing series, so there’s a few trilogies I can’t recommend because I don’t know how they end! Anyway, here’s some that I have finished and enjoyed! - Mel

Dystopian

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

This series will always be special to me as it was the very first dystopian series I ever read and was what got me hooked onto this genre.

This is definitely one of my favourite dystopian series! (It may also have been the first one I read). I love the characters, the world, the plot, everything! There was quite a bit with Mockingjay that annoyed me a little, but I could still read the series over and over, which is why I recommend it.

Legend by Marie Lu

This is another fast-paced and action packed dystopian series. I read the entire trilogy in a matter of days because I just could not put the books down.  

The Testing trilogy by Joelle Charbonneau

This series has been criticised for being too similar to The Hunger Games, and while I can see the comparisons, I still thought that this was an excellent series and I really enjoyed it. For those who are interested, I have included a link to my review of The Testing. 

Fantasy

The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare

This is probably one of my all time favourite series. I loved the characters, the historical setting and the storyline was fantastic.

This series takes third place in my list of favourite series ever, only after Harry Potter and Throne of Glass. I love it so much that I named my cat after one of the characters!

The Precious Stone (Ruby Red) trilogy by Kerstin Gier

This is a fantastic time travel series that is a mix of modern and historical settings, has an intriguing storyline and great characters. 

Starcrossed trilogy by Josephine Angelini

This is a great fantasy series about demigods with a modern spin on the Helen of Troy myth. I love the characters, the world and the overall storyline is excellent.

Dark Heart Forever trilogy by Lee Monroe

This series has vampires, werewolves, faeries and a bunch of other fantasy creatures and was such a breeze to read. What’s not to love about that?

Contemporary

The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy by Jenny Han

This was such a great YA contemporary romance series. The characters could get a little annoying at times, but I sped through the entire trilogy in 24 hours because I could not put the books down. If you’re looking for a quick summertime read then I highly recommend this series.

November 2015 TBR

Jen

This is probably an over ambitious TBR, but I just have so many books that I really want to read at the moment! 

Harry Potter Page to Screen: The Complete Filmmaking Journey by Bob McCabe - I started this mammoth book in October and got a fair way through so I’ll be aiming to finish this one in November. 

Never Too Far, Forever Too Far & Rush Too Far by Abbi Glines - I picked up Fallen Too Far one day because I needed something fast paced and easy to read. I was completely hooked so I want to continue on with the series and read books 2 and 3 plus the companion novel told from the male POV. (At the time of posting I have already finished these three books and loved them!)

Devoted by Hilary Duff - I finished Elixir in October so I want to continue on and read the second book in the series.

The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin - I read the first two books in this trilogy in October and had planned to finish this third book as well but I just didn’t get to it so I will reading it in November.

Five Ways to Fall by K.A. Tucker - This is the fourth and final book in the Ten Tiny Breaths series. I loved the first book, hated the second one and loved the third one which got me excited to read this book.

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell - This is the November book pick for the Perustopia Book Club and Readalongs With April groups on Goodreads. There has been so much hype surrounding this book and I'm hoping that it doesn't disappoint.

Between the Lines & Off the Page by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer - It has been one of my goals this year to read all of my unread Jodi Picoult books and these are the last two on the list. I wanted to read both of these books in October but that didn’t happen so hopefully I can get to at least one of these this month and it will feel like such an accomplishment if I manage to finish them both!

The Hunger Games, Catching Fire & Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins - This will be another annual re-read of the entire trilogy for me in preparation of the movie release of Mockingjay Part 2 later in November.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by George R.R. Martin - This book was only recently released and I want to read it while I’m still on my Game of Thrones kick.

Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined by Stephenie Meyer - This was such a surprise when it hit the bookshelves and while I haven’t heard overly positive things from those who have read it, I do still want to read it for myself and see what I think.

I am also in the mood to read some darker YA contemporary books so any of the following are options for me to choose from:

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

All The Rage by Courtney Summers

Asking For It by Louise O’Neill

What Happens Next by Colleen Clayton

Live Through This by Mindi Scott

Stolen by Lucy Christopher 

Mel
I got so little read in October due to assignments, so I really want to make up for it this month! In addition to the following books, I'll be reading my friends' manuscript!

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J Maas - I want to finish this very soon, because I get to meet Sarah on the 24th of this month! I received an email from Dymocks saying that they'd organised a second event in Melbourne and OMG, only the first 300 people on the waiting list were sent the email! I accepted and got confirmation, so YAY!
The Next Together by Lauren James - this came in the October YA Chronicles subscription box and has gone straight onto my TBR because it sounds amazing!
The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J Maas - another book to finish before Nov 24th!
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas - same reason!
Doctor Who: After Life by Al Ewing & Rob WIlliams (writers)
Doctor Who: Revolutions of Terror by Nick Abadzis (writer) - these Doctor Who books are comic book style graphic novels and are just a quick read to help me reach my reading challenge goal.
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa - I've already started reading it, so I might as well continue.

Optional:
Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier
Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch
The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E Pearson
Parcy Jackson and the Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan