TMST - Review Books for Publishers or Yourself?

I want to thank Rainy Day Ramblings once again for hosting this fun discussion. This week's Tell Me Something Tuesday topic is "Are most of your review books for publishers or are you reviewing books of your choice?".

Books I Disliked/Hated But Am Glad I Read

This week I am splitting my Top Ten Tuesday into two parts: Books I Disliked But Am Glad I Read, and Books I Originally Disliked But Grew To Enjoy. I don't tend to typically dislike a lot of the books I read because I am rather picky about what I choose, however every once and a while there is something that just doesn't sit well with me. So, here's my entry for this week's topic hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, split into two lists:

Books I Disliked But Am Glad I Read

1) The Professor - Charlotte Brontë
Yes, my beloved Charlotte is on this list. As much as I adore Jane Eyre, this book just didn't work for me. I'd like to pick it up again in a few years to see if my opinion changes, but I am still glad I got to read more of her work in order to get a more thorough understanding of her writing.

2) The Catcher in the Rye - J. D. Salinger
I hate this book. Sorry to all of you who love it, but it is one of my most hated novels of all time. I'm glad I read it only because I at least tried, and can honestly say it isn't my thing.

3) The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
Although I don't hate this book, I really just found it dreadfully dull. I wanted to gain a further understanding of Plath, and to some degree I did, but it felt overall rather stagnant (I suppose that's the point). It was interesting in the sense that it is semi-autobiographical though.

4) Wuthering Heights - Emily Brontë
Charlotte's sister also makes an appearance on this list! There are some wonderful moments in this book, and it is hands-down one of my favourite stories, but I didn't particularly enjoy the book. The cockney slang was nearly impossible to follow, and I found it took away from the feeling of the story in a lot of ways. It's one that I think works much better as a movie (*gasp*) and I do think I will re-read it again one day to see if it improves (but really, just watch the 1992 film because it is one of the best movies ever).

Breakfast Book Tag

I decided a while back that I wanted to work on a few book tags because they look so fun. So, mining through the great expanse of the internet looking for ones to complete, I came up with one of my own! As this one is of my own creation, please feel free to use it (images and all, if desired), but please link back to either this post, or my blog, Clockwork Bibliotheca, in general. Be on the lookout for more tags over the next while from me. Here we go!
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1) Sunny Side Up - A book that just makes you happy every time you read it.

Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott always makes me smile. It's just a lovely feel-good story with the sweetest ending. Read Eight Cousins first though to get the full experience of the characters and their growth.

2) Crispy Bacon - A couple that has a sizzling romance.

I've got to go with Claire and Jamie from Outlander. If these two don't get you...well, I think we're going to have drastically different tastes in romance. Their romance is sweet, hot, and passionate as hell.

3) Maple Syrup Pancakes - One sweet moment from a great book.

In Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë, there is a lovely little moment when Mr. Weston helps Agnes to pick some primroses that she has difficulty reaching. It's a sweet display of gentlemanly behaviour.

Ten Books With Green Titles

This week's topic for Top Ten Tuesday from That Artsy Reader Girl is "Books With My Favorite Color On the Cover (or In the Title)". I've decided to specifically go with green in the title, including different shades. I had a bit of a tough time with this. I got through about four before I had to start Googling, and then I thought of more, then had to Google again, etc...but I made it! Here's this week's list:


1) Green Eggs and Ham - Dr. Seuss

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(Do I get a bonus point for
picking the green cover?)

2) Under The Greenwood Tree - Thomas Hardy

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3) Gooney Bird Greene - Lois Lowry

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4) Green Angel - Alice Hoffman

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5) Anne of Green Gables - L. M. Montgomery

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The Five People You Meet in Heaven (Mitch Albom)

This post will essentially be Spoiler Free, however comments by other users may possibly contain information that spoils portions of the plot, so read at them your own risk. This book is actually the first one that I've completed for my 2018 TBR Challenge, so I have to pick up the pace big time!

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What it's about:

Eddie heroically dies in a tragic accident and is immediately swept off to heaven. Yet the afterlife isn't the luxurious paradise he imagined. Eddie meets five people whose lives his actions have impacted, or who have impacted his - whether knowingly or not. Each has a lesson to share with him to explain the events of his life. Reflecting on his past experiences, each lesson move him through the stages of his new existence.

TMST: Things That Annoy You...

What are things that annoy you right now in the book market?

That's this week's topic from Rainy Day Ramblings for Tell Me Something Tuesday, and I am going to dive right in.

Mass market paperbacks with movie covers. Although I support any and all things that encourage people to read (I really do), I really hate these versions of books most of the time. I feel like the movie adaptation on its own should entice people to read the book and the movie cover is just one more way it feels like they are trying to get extra money. These covers are usually poorly done, as well as the book is on cheap quality paper with below par binding.

Do I hate mass market paperbacks? No, I think they serve their purpose and I love that it makes books more accessible to people who want to own a copy or don't want to suffer through the long wait list at the library without paying a fortune. However we are kidding ourselves if we think the physical book is a good quality. So, combining that with a cheesy-looking movie cover can really put me off of a book.

I'm not really a huge fan of movie covers in the first place, however there are a few exceptions that I don't mind so much. I still prefer the original or non-media covers, but they don't irritate me quite as much. Perhaps that's hypocritical, but ah well...

Books I'd Slay a Lion to Get Early

The wonderful day that is Tuesday has finally arrived. Why is it wonderful? Well, it's because of the beloved Top Ten Tuesday by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's topic is all about books that you are desperate to get your hands on. I have a few, but I couldn't think of tons of series that I was reading, or books I was really waiting for. However, there are some that I really want to know what the resolution of their stories ends up being (even to just read someone else's synopsis), so I've decided to include those as well! Here's my list:

1) The Queen of Air and Darkness - Cassandra Clare
The number one book I am dying to get my hands on. I've already pre-ordered my copy, but the wait until December is painful

2-4) The entire The Last Hours series - Cassandra Clare
Yes, I'm cheating and counting this as three - it is a trilogy, anyway! More Will and Tessa? Yes please. I'm so in love with these two, it's ridiculous, and being able to see the antics of their children will I'm sure be brilliant.

5) A Dream of Spring - George R. R. Martin
That is, assuming this is the last one in A Song of Ice and Fire. Yes, I do want to know what happens in The Winds of Winter, but I am more interested in how everything resolves at the end.