I Dare You Book Tag

I was tagged by the super sweet Mrs_Bookdragon over on instagram, to do the "I Dare You Book Tag", to which she was originally tagged by Thrice Read!

To my understanding, the original creator is Lena of BookFandom1001!

 THE RULES ARE THE FOLLOWING:

• You must be honest
• You can’t not answer a question
• You have to tag at least four people

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Which book has been on your shelves the longest?

Hmm, this could mean either books I've bought and left gathering dust for years, or books I've owned the longest, regardless of my reading procession of them. Both possible answers, though, can result in me reciting a long list of books. I am an obsessed bibliophile, and really have a struggle to exit a bookstore without any purchases, from a really young age, you see!

What is your current read, your last read and the book you’ll read next?

My current read (or, rather, audiobook) is Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince!
My last read was Stolen Souls by Stuart Neville.
And, my next read will either be Extraordinary People by Peter May, or the Johnson Road saga by Clayton E. Spriggs. 

What book did everyone like, but you hated?

I haven't hated many books. Most of them I just dislike. And, some, I don't find particularly exciting. A slow read had been the first book of Harry Potter for me, but on my second attempt I devoured the book. And, then I listened to the whole audiobook!
I've also dropped Narnia. But, who knows, one day I might try those books again!

What book do you keep telling yourself you’ll read, but you probably won’t.

All those ebooks I have managed to acquire within the last years. My kindle has filled and refilled, and I just don't scroll all the way down anymore!

Which book are you saving for retirement?

None actually, because the moment I decide that I want to save a book for later, that will be the moment I will NEED to read it the most!

Last page: read it first or wait till the end?

Definitely wait until the end. And, at the rare times that something happens and I get a glimpse, I instantly regret it.

Acknowledgements : waste of paper and ink or interesting aside?

Um, not exactly a waste of paper and ink. I just "acknowledge" them myself only when a book and its author have stolen my heart (which happens rarely, but then is the moment I will try to read every single detail that has been printed upon the new addition to my favorites!

Which book character would you switch places with?

Hmm, tough question, because all of the characters usually find themselves in rather grave situations. But, I would gladly switch places with people that go to boarding schools (a fetish of mine)!

Like my first bookish addiction: the Laura Leander series by Peter Freund.

Or, Hogwarts, for so many obvious reasons. Magic and beautiful setting among them!

And, I would even like to go to St.Vladimir's Academy from Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. I was very much into vampires back then.

Do you have a book that reminds you of something specific in your life (a person, a place, a time)?

Hmm, mostly my childhood books. That I have mostly connected with my parents and probably vacations we took.
Or, our weekly visit to my favorite super market (yes, I do have such a thing!), where I got to spend half of the day in the books aisle while my parents were grocery shopping, and then choose one book to get home with me and spend the other half of the day devouring it.

Name a book that you acquired in an interesting way.

Hmm, most interesting way... I've acquired quite a few books through giveaways, and it is always so exciting to find out I've won, so yeah!

Have you ever given away book for a special reason to a special person?

I've bought books as gifts countless times! I deeply believe that a book is the greatest present, so yeah! I've also lent books, but these times can be counted on the fingers of only one of my hands, as I feels quite overprotective of my precious!

Which book has been with you the most places?

Hmmm..... I'd say, my audiobooks! And, ebooks of course, but seeing as I listen to my audiobooks in my phone, yeah! Most of my audiobooks are my Harry Potter copies!

Any “required reading” you hated in high school that wasn’t so bad two years later?

In high school we were required to read mostly Greek literature, with a great emphasis on Ancient Greek scripts, but I really haven't gotten down to reading them again!

What is the strangest item you’ve found in a book?

Well, if we count pop-up books, quite a few things actually. I own a really spooky one, which I loved immensely, and in which I found so odd-smelling cards inside.

Used or brand new?

Usually brand new! I even have some issues when taking home library books, but if a used one is in a pretty good condition, I tend to forget about it.

Have you ever read a Dan Brown book?

No, and I'm not sure I would like to, as religion is a complicated matter I'm not really into reading about on my spare time!

Have you ever seen a movie you liked more than the book?

Aaah tough one, too! Mostly because if I watch a movie before I've read the book, I rarely try the book afterwards. BUT! The Harry Potter movies, and especially the first ones, are so lovely and cozy I want to watch them all the time!

A book that should have NEVER been published

Only one comes to mind that I found down-right repulsive when I first read. It's probably unknown to almost everyone, and it fell to my hands because it was supposed to be written by an Anonymous person, which greatly intrigued me!

Have you ever read a book that’s made you hungry, cookbooks excluded?

Um, yes, definitely, I can be hungry all the time!

Who is the person whose book advice you’ll always take?

Um, not anyone in particular! I like to take advice and recommendations by everyone, but lots of factors contribute to what I will finally read, like the cover, the description, everything!

~~~

I will be tagging some of my fellow bloggers on an Instagram post,

but if you happen to fall upon this blog post, feel free to tag yourself, too, and everyone you wish, to this awesome and fun tag!

Reading Challenges 2013 - Reviewed

My 2013's resolutions included achieving my goal to read 100 books. Every year, I participate in Challenges, but sadly, I can never achieve them. In 2012 it was a busy semster, indeed. But this year? This year I was just lazy. And, there was a point where I was so bored of reading the same things again and again, I was constantly looking for new books and new authors! I found some, not many, and I liked even less.

2013 Reading Challenge

Cat has read 54 books toward her goal of 70 books.

54 of 70 (77%)

Nevertheless, I achieved reading 54 books towards my Goodreads goal of 70! Of course, I've read much much more this year, considering all these projects I have for university, demanding from me to read scientific articles of 100 pages and more! But, of course, I can't have all these articles, essays, and even some of those books, listed on Goodreads. This would take too much time, which I'd rather spend otherwise.

I also, participated in Book Chick City's 100 Books In A Year Challenge 2013. Of course, according to this challenge, I had to read 100 fictional books in a year, something I didn't really achieve! But, well, there is always next year!

Fictional Books I read during 2013:

1. A Cajun Werewolf Christmas (Stormy Weather #6) by Selena Blake
2. The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines #3) by Richelle Mead
3. Witches 101: A Witches of East end Primer (The Beauchamp Family) by Melissa de la Cruz
4. Storm Born (Dark Swan #1) by Richelle Mead
5. Kidnapping the Laird by Terri Brisbin
6. Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson #3) by Patricia Briggs
7. Rogue (Shifters #2) by Rachel Vincent
8. The Gauntlet (Cassandra Palmer #0.5) by Karen Chance
9. The Queen's Witch (Cassandra Palmer #0.6) by Karen Chance
10. Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
11. Matched (Matched, #1) by Ally Condie
12.The Hot Girl's Friend by Lisa Scott
13. Dirty Little Secrets (J.J. Graves Mystery #1) by Liliana Hart

BCC's Zombie Reading Challenge 2013 - Reviewed

With 2013 coming to a closure, and soon giving its turn to 2014, it's time for a review of the books I read this year.

My goal for 2013 was to complete the minimum of the Book Chick City's Zombie Reading Challenge for 2013, which meant I had to read at least 6 books about Zombies.

Sadly, I did not achieve that One Chomp. In fact, I must regrtfully admit that I did not read a single book about Zombies the whole year. I'm really sad about that, because I wanted to get my hands on one and read it. I've seen many movies and series about Zombies, but never read a book, and I'd really like to see what they are like.

Anyway, I hope 2014 gives me the chance to read at least one Zombie Book.

My 100th Review on Goodreads: Dirty Little Secrets (J.J. Graves Mystery #1) by Liliana Hart

Two days ago I finished reading a book I particularly enjoyed. I found it by chance in an app of a site I've been a member of, for more than 4 years. And, I started reading it completely by chance, too. I had no idea it was a published book that was there only for advertising reasons. I had the impression it was just another book a self-published author decided to upload on Wattpad.

Imagine my surprise when it proved to be a quite awesome read. It was exactly what I needed after  long month of no reading at all! Not to mention my recent love for criminology and stuff. So, it all blended quite nicely.

I absolutely recommend that book to anyone. There are murders, but not gruesomely described or anything, so it will provide a nice read even to people that aren't particular fans of the mystery/crime genre.

Take a taste below.

Dirty Little Secrets (J.J. Graves Mystery #1)

by Liliana Hart

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17153446-dirty-little-secrets

My Review on GR:

One of the best books I've read lately, found completely by chance on Wattpad. For quite some time I've been interested in such matters and reading this book made me even more enthusiastic. The author completely achieved making me relate to the heroine and the passions in her life. Everything was well-written and progressed smoothly. There were many surprises, which was expected and accepted, seeing as it was a mystery novel. [(Spoiler Alert - Do not keep reading past that point, because of potential spoiler ahead) My only comment would be for the actual culprit, not to be so indifferent in the rest of the story. I would like it very much if there were many suspects and one of them was the actual murderer. That doesn't mean there weren't quite a few suspects already, though. For some of them I was even sure for the most of the novel, until they became the victims. (hide spoiler) (End of potential spoiler - Keep reading after that point)] There was quite much suspence and intense cliffhangers between the chapters. All in all, I loved the novel and I'm glad there more novels about J.J. Graves and her lives.

How do you keep track of your current place in a book?

* I use random scraps of paper

 

  23706 votes, 26.1%

I read ebooks, so it's easy

 

  18243 votes, 20.1%

I use ordinary bookmarks

 

  17326 votes, 19.1%

I use fancy bookmarks

 

  11237 votes, 12.4%

I dog-ear my books

 

  7752 votes, 8.5%

I remember

 

  6359 votes, 7.0%

I use the dust jacket flap

 

  1299 votes, 1.4%

I use goodreads progress updates!

 

  1231 votes, 1.4%

I finish books in a single sitting

 

  810 votes, 0.9%

* My vote!

 90878 total votes

This was a very interesting poll I found in Goodreads.
Check it out, too. There is a selection for write-in answers you can submit yourself.
So awesome!


http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/61677-how-do-you-keep-track-of-your-current-place-in-a-book

xcx

Psychology of Fiction

So, lately I've been very interested in the subject of Psychology of Fiction.
This research area includes diagnosing the fictional characters you read about.
I would love to actually do this with many of my favorite, or not, characters!
It's so interesting!

Also, it can be very helpful.
According to DeFife "when people find out that someone is a psychologist, the first thing they usually say is: "That's cool." This is followed by: "Uh oh, you're analyzing me right now," (and usually we are), or "You know, I took a college course/got an undergraduate degree in psychology" (worth major academic street cred), or "Hey, I bet you can read my mind," (ESP being one of the required courses in psychology graduate school).  Next, they want to hear how one would diagnose their friend/family member/self/dog.
[...]
Talking about famous figures that almost everybody knows something about is one way that psychologists might try to avoid this conundrum. Unfortunately, it's not ethical for psychologists to diagnose people they've never met or interviewed. It's not polite either, because no one wants to be called things by people they've never met. [...]

Fictional characters, on the other hand, are ideal targets for psychologists to diagnose with mental illnesses or personality defects. Diagnosing fictional characters is fun (because people love good fictional characters), allows the public to learn about mental illnesses which they may or may not have, and offers opportunities for psychologists to feel smart and get public recognition. Everybody wins. Except for the fictional characters who might get a bad reputation, but they don't have their feelings hurt by such discussions."

{Written in PsychologyToday.com with the title Stuff Psychologists Like - Diagnosing Fictional Characters  by Jared DeFife, Ph.D. in The Shrink Tank}

More interesting diagnoses about well-known fictional people can be found at quora.com and specifically at the thread http://www.quora.com/Which-epic-fictional-characters-show-classic-symptoms-of-psychological-disorders with some awesome examples such as

Cornelius Fudge in Harry Potter: Paranoia

Severus Snape in Harry Potter: Schizoid

Another interesting factor that can be discussed is how people subconsciously become their favorite fictional characters, according to http://www.medicaldaily.com/news/20120514/9878/book-reading-experience-taking-psychology-character-fiction.htm
Psychologists have discovered that while reading a book or story, people are prone to subconsciously adopt their behavior, thoughts, beliefs and internal responses to that of fictional characters as if they were their own

There is also a book about Dexter, the famous protagonist of the homonymous popular TV series.
It's called The Psychology of Dexter, and is written by Bella DePaulo.
I totally plan on reading it soon.
After watching the series, of course, because I've noticed by reading the reviews that many spoilers appear on the book.

All in all, I find the whole subject of psychology of fiction very interesting.
I totally plan on researching it more.

xcx

Some Books about the Psychology of Emotions

I've started getting ready for the final exams of the Spring Semester 2011-2012.
So, I started reading Understanding Emotions by Keith Oatley. The greek version, of course.
This book is used for the course of Psychology of Emotions.

The blurb about it on Goodreads:

" This new textbook is the first book to fully span the fast growing field to research on emotions. It ranges across a broad range of disciplines, covering the entire lifespan from infancy to adulthood. Its main theme is that emotions have functions: they set priorities among our concerns and they provide the underlying structure of human friendships, to the excitements of sexuality."

By the way, I found another book by the same author, which I believe every reader probably should read. Its title is Such Stuff as Dreams: The Psychology of Fiction. I haven't read it yet, but I totally plan it! After all it "demonstrates how reading fiction can contribute to a greater understanding of, and the ability to change, ourselvesInformed by the latest psychological research which focuses on, for example, how identification with fictional characters occurs, and how literature can improve social abilities".

And, another very interesting book that was mentioned into Understanding Emotions is Human Relationships by Steve W. Duck.
I definitely would love to get my hands on that book.

xcx

VA love. Scratch that... Addiction!

I've started reviewing books I'd long ago read for the "Reviews from Depth of Time" Marathon, and thought it would be a good idea to provide an update about it.
The thing is, I started with the books I like the best. Which means that I just finished reviewing the Vampire Academy books. Well, I still can't really believe I hadn't written a review for Last Sacrifice, the last installment in the VA series. I can't understand why.

But, anyway, I decided to publish this book because of exactly the reason why I decided to start this Marathon.
Even if I didn't read all those books again from the beginning, just digging inside my memories and heart for the right things to say about them, was an awesome experience.
I got a unique to chance to experience all these feelings all over again, something I truly enjoyed.

And, some minutes ago I realized that by the time I stopped writing the review and actually published it, I had a dreamful expression on. Identical of the one I had when I actually finished reading this book and those seriess, in general. All this relief for Rose and Dimitri comes out again.

And, of course, just like this day on July when I first finished the last book on the VA series, I feel once again that I can't really get into another book for awhile. After such an experience  it seems pretty useless to try to concentrate on a storyline after still feeling all those things just for one book.

But, this time, I don't have the same luxury.
What must be done, must be done, and, I'll give myself just a small break because I go back to reviewing books I'd read some time ago!

xcx

I'm heading to Crazytown, along with Bella.

Originally posted on Thursday, 5 January 2012, 18:39 at Chibi Neko

My sweet blog is soon to reach 8000 pageviews, and I'm nearly mad.
I'll be a mad scientist. Ugh. I can't be a mad psychologist. Not fair for my clients...
But, anyway!

After my ramble, I have to make an announcement.
I just discovered something fabulous. My friends will be proud of me!

Bella Swan (lately, Bella Swan-Cullen) suffers from Flat affect!

Think I'm just being crazy? Nuh-uh!
Check it out.

Flat affect is an emotional state where virtually no emotion is expressed whatever the stimulus. Emotional expressiveness is blunt, or lack of muscle tone is noted in the face.

(Taken from the notes of my Clinical Psychology professor.)

Actually, the other day, we were talking about Bella with my (totally crazy, psychologists-to-be) friends, after we watched Breaking Dawn / Part I . To be more specific we were commenting on her tendency to be so unexpressive, no matter what she does.
Bella meets Edward, the man of her dreams, blah blah blah, she remains blunt.
She becomes his girlfriend, the same.
She has an accident and the vampires of the house want to attack her, more bluntness.
Someone tries to murder her, you guessed it! Blunt.
She gets married, with a passive expression on, of course!
She shares more intimate moments with Edward, and again blunt.
She learns she's pregnant, TA DA, if you haven't guessed she stays blunt.

Thank God, while in pain she has a less passive expression on. But, still, not quite close to energetic.
So, we were wondering how people can really be on Team Bella.
I gave you quite a few examples of her passiveness.
And, those are only what you can see. Imagine combining with some of her actions, too!
Ugh. The only energetic thing she ever did, in my opinion, was her persistence on staying close to Edward. But, other than that? Nothing.
I'm not gonna say more, because I respect all those Twilight fans, and all the people that haven't read the whole series, yet. Don't want to ruin it for them.

So, if you haven't really guessed what team I'm voting for, take a hint by the photo. Rose is the #1 heroine of all time, for me. She is the exact opposite of Bella, and I deeply admire her for that. And, of course, I understand she passed through a Bella-phase, as many people called it, but come on. It was nothing like New Moon. While I loath that book and the behavior of its heroine in it, we have to admit that Rose had some similarities with her through that phase. But, she was in love! And something terrible happened to the man of her dreams. He didn't just dump her! And, most important of all? She didn't remain passive, waiting for someone to help her. She actually went on a journey to find him. And, anyway, it was quite good to actually see that side of her. The one that is in love. To see that she really deeply fell in love with Dimitri and he wasn't just a fling like all her previous ones. I can't say the same for Bella, though. Did her depression show us something different? Only that she was really in love. But a whole book with just her dpressing thoughts? Come on! She could do better than that! Probably...

Anyway, I'll stop rambling because, although I tried to stick to what blurbs let be known, I could be accused for Spoilers... Something I really don't want.

And, okay, as a final thought, I might be a little biased seeing how I simply adore Vampire Academy (and recently Bloodlines, too). But, I guess that's the whole point. Part of why I love these series is the heroine herself. So, yeah!

(I started from studying for my Psychology assignments, and ended up rambling about VA. Yet, again! That's what I call obsession!)

xcx

Books... Books! Did I mention books?

Originally posted on Wednesday, 4 January 2012, 23:31 at Chibi Neko

After my (finally successful) tries of being left in peace and quiet, I decided to write a post, although I have to admit I wasn't really in the mood before...
After going to my favorite super marker (yes, I DO have one) with a bunch of (important -- to me) people, and thinking so much about all the studying I'll have to do tomorrow, and, of course, that which I did yesterday (although, I ended up with an awful headache), you can't really blame me, can you?

The truth is, this month I'm gonna complete for projects for the university, have some tests and quizzes and, of course, the semester's exams... Ugh. I got tired, just with enumerating them!

Anyway, back to my point, I wasn't really in the mood to write anything today, until someone changed my mind. And, who's that? The blogger behind Books Over Boys blog!

Why's that? Well, today I decided to start reading the short prequel of a series I've been planning to read for quite some time, but I never actually do it, because I'm afraid I'll become addicted to it... And I can't afford that! I have too much studying.

So, after reading it throughout the whole afternoon today and some searching I found that blog, and TA DA! I read the second post and got totally hooked!

I absolutely need to quote this blogger's words, in order for my point to be successfully understood.

''But out of all of Alex's matches, the one where she went up against Rosemarie was definitely my favorite because 1.) both gals put up an amazing fight, 2.) it was super friendly and fun, 3.) the support that came from boths sides was unbelievable, 4.) it was crazy intense, 5.) it was challenging, and 6.) it went exactly how it would have gone if Alex and Rose were in a real life, fictional battle - head to head, where one wasn't falling completely behind. Man, if only Alex and Rose could meet in real life.''

The truth is, I'd really, really like to be a part of that voting round (hosted by The YA Sisterhood), but I hadn't actually realised it was going on... Although, I'd definitely vote for Rose ('cause she's the best heroine I've ever encountered, and I haven't really read the Half Blood series, yet), I'd just love the idea of participating in something like that and sharing that stress and anxiety with all the other participants. Also, I'd like so much to imagine it as a battle that indeed happened between two good and quite loved heroines.
Sigh.
I'll just have to keep an eye for similar events in the future...

So, another thing I'd like to mention, because it's getting late and I'm quite tired, I'm up for a change in my blog...
Part of it is already visible, with all the stuff I've been adding to my side bar.

Oh and you can also find banners of your favorite series here
 http://imlovingbooks.com/freebies/mini-series-banners

And, also stickers for your favorite teams!
http://imlovingbooks.com/freebies/team-stickers

Smwats, for now! I'm going back to my copy of Blood Ties by Poole, and to my favorite video game (in which i'm currently naming the people out of my favorite book characters :D)

xcx

Once a Witch, Always a Witch...

Originally posted on Friday, 15 July 2011, 00:49 at Chibi Neko

Actually the title of this post is about the titles of 2 books that belong to the same series written by Carolyn MacCullough! :D

I think this is very creative! Combining a saying with 2 of her books!

If you get what I mean, actually... It's hard for me to put t to words that late at night :p [It's not too late, but that does not prevent me from being SLEEEEEPY :O]

But anyway, right now I've started reading another book! :D

An after I end those series I'm gonna start a stand-alone book...

I hadn't realized I missed those, utnil Donna from 'Book Passion for Life' mentioned it! Yup, I've become addicted to Jessica&Donna's blog.. Whenever I'm online I'm looking for reviews, soo yup! :D

 

 xcx

The last book of my favorite series!

Originally posted on Tuesday, 7 July 2011 on 21:33 at Chibi Neko.

Some minutes ago I finished it!
It was breath-taking as every other book in those series!
It wasn't even in my maternal language [so, I enjoyed it much more! ;p]
Thankfully, there's a spin-off coming soon [did someone get a hint of the series I'm talking about?? ;D]
Anyway, the point is, I wanted to talk a bit about the subject "books"...

I like reading books...
But, I love reading well-written books with an interest story, that has the happy end I was hoping all through the time I read the book! I guess, that's what everyone would want, huh? Or, ok, almost everyone, I dare to say most of the people [who actually still read books *sigh*]
That's what this book, these amazing series and most of all their amazing author accomplished!

I can tell you, for sure, that they are my 6 favorite books [more hints ;)]...
At least, my favorite teenage/young-adult/english-languaged books!
I've read some [translated from english, of course] books that they became my favorite when I was a child.. A smaller one, anyway :pp

There have also been books that I just CAN'T read... :O
There is a certain book, whose 'identity' of course I'm not gonna reveal, written in a specific style that I just don't like.. It reminds more of my own type of writting... I can't really elaborate into details when I try to write something and sometimes I am just bored to describe...
Or, I find a hard time doing it, I don't know the way...

But, anyway! There are many books I've liked, a lot some of them actually!
But nothing compares to what happened to me with that book...
Even now that I finished I don't seem capable of just putting it away with the other books in my bookcase... So, what I do? I carry it all around wherever I go, just to feel like I'm still into the story... Like I'm sharing this happy end with my favorite heroes!

The truth is that I have some worries about the spin-off series because of the change of characters!
But the thing with this author is that her [hint hint ;O] style of writing captivated me, her humor and just the way the plot was 'organised' and described!
So, I'm positive this new book will be as good...
I'm also expecting, of course, the short story about my favorite characters of the actual series to be released!

Of course, just like life goes on, I'm actually going to start a new book, really soon! But for now, I'm just gonna settle in carrying around this last incredibly fantastic for my taste book, with the couple I've adored and I'm finally happy about their end! <333

xcx