Mockingjay Part 1 + the Miami International Book Fair

My weekend has been very bookish so far. And it feels so refreshingly good.

I usually see any Hunger Games movie the night before it officially opens, whether it's midnight or 8pm. This year, though, I had to wait to see it on Friday night since my best friend, who I always go with, couldn't do it the night before. So not only did I have an extra day of pent-up excitement, but this is MOCKINGJAY. Does anyone understand this? This is part one of the most heartbreaking, stress-inducing, soul-crushing books ever.

They included direct quotes from the book, skipped a few parts (and twisted them around), and even added a few things. Like the other two movies, Mockingjay Part 1 had "behind the scene" type of scenes, what I like to call "background scenes." In the books, it's solely told by Katniss's perspective so we don't know anything except for what she tells us and thinks. However, in the movies, they can't portray that so they add scenes from the Capitol's perspective, District 13's perspective, and even gives us further insight into scenes we didn't have. SPOILER-ish: In the book, when they go rescue Peeta, all we do is wait with Katniss and rejoice when they're found. In the movie, Katniss and all of us watch them break in. The whole audience grows more tense, even though we've read the books, because we're waiting for what they find and the suspense grows. Personally, I LOVED this. END OF SPOILER. 

I tried looking up Mockingjay gifs, but the really good ones (like with Peeta) are too spoilery in my opinion. If you've seen the latest trailer, you'll know how he looks, but I think seeing his transition progress is the best way to really FEEL. I don't want to rob you of that. It's also possible that my heart broke all over again and I was feeling super emotional while looking at those Peeta pictures and gifs. 

Again, I say, if you're "Team Gale" this is for you:

He's a jerk and you obviously haven't read the 2nd half of Mockingjay

I tried to ignore any comparisons or critiques I had and watch it from a moviegoer's perspective. But there was one thing that I loathed entirely: Jennifer Lawrence's wig. It wasn't so bad when she wore her hair in a style, but when it was just down, it distracted me. (The guy who sat in my row and laughed during tense, emotional scenes visiting District 12 anyone? and whose cellphone went off didn't help either. He can go have an unhappy life.) 

And then I met some amazing authors the next day. 

My sister, her friend, and I went to the Miami International Book Fair on Saturday. First, we sat in on Robin LaFevers and Kami Garcia's panel. I recorded LaFevers, but the quality didn't turn out well and I'm too lazy. Basically, she gave us a rundown of her books (Garcia, too). But it was really interesting to hear about how she came up with the idea. She found Brittany, which is a region of France, and its cultural and historical roots. Also, Anne of Brittany is pretty cool, and she talked about her influence with the series so I suggest researching her up. As for Kami, she was hilarious and I could've probably listened to her for a long time.

Shae and Robin meet. I snatch a selfie with her. 

Shae is Ms. Robin's assistant and after the signing, she took us to the author's suite (a big room filled with all the authors from the HUGE event) to talk. 

This doesn't even do it justice for how many people were in here

Then we said our goodbyes and got in line to have Maggie Stiefvater sign our books. 

An hour or so later, we listen to Jennifer Lynn Barnes and Melissa Marr talk for their panel. They completely captured my attention. I inwardly begged to listen to more because I'm so intrigued by Barnes' psychology brain and Marr's insight from her own personal situations. 

 AND SHE RECOGNIZED ME! 

 Afterwards, the guy who was in charge of the HarperCollins booth made me a deal and gave me a brand spankin' new hardcover of Rites of Passage by Joy N. Hensley (one of my 2014 favorites) for only $5. I hugged it all the way to the car.

My $5 favorite and the three signed books! 

I'm feeling overwhelmed with school (my tweets are proof) and I'm trying to take advantage of being home for about 10 days, but having two days devoted to books (even if it's a movie adapted from a book) was worth it. I thank my friends for dealing with my fangirling tendencies before, during, and after Mockingjay Part 1. And I thank my sister for brining me to the book fair.

Have you seen Mockingjay Part 1 yet? Have you read any of the books above? 

Top Ten Tuesday: Authors I Read Once

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This is a list that makes me so thankful for Goodreads. I think it would be impossible for me to think of 10 authors off the top of my head, and 10 authors that I only read once from. Talk about haaaard. So shout-out to Goodreads for helping a girl out.

Tiffany Schmidt

I only have read Bright Before Sunrise, a cute contemporary, and her next book, Like a Breath, sounds SO GOOD. I'm not crazy about the cover, but I'm looking forward to reading more Schmidt! 

Shelley Coriell

Welcome, Caller, This Is Chloe was very fun. In the midst of stress and end-of-the-year activities, it was just what I needed. Now I need more Coriell in my life, starting with Rebel Blue.

Emery Lord

Open Road Summer pleasantly surprised me. EXTREMELY pleasant. (Thank you, Ms. Lord.) So now I'm impatiently waiting for her next book.

Rosamund Hodge

Since I loved Cruel Beauty, I'm not sure why I'm not reading Hodge's novella. However, I'll have plenty of chances to read more of her books since I already see a few upcoming ones on Goodreads!

Lauren Miller

I fully planned on reading Free to Fall RIGHT as it came out since I adored Parellel and craved more of Miller's book. Why I haven't yet, I don't know.

Cammie McGovern | Cristin Terrill | Marie Rutkoski | Anne Blankman | Joy N. Hensley

These are all authors I've read once, but unlike the other five, they don't have another book out or even a cover for their next book. They have some descriptions of them on Goodreads, but that's all we're given. And it's making me impatient. 

What author do you want to read more than just one book of, but haven't yet? 

Top Ten Tuesday: Authors I Own the Most Books From

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

So this is being posted super late thanks to many things (work, stress, no time, and Blogger messing me up). But it's here! It's listed! I didn't list an author that only or mostly adult books listed (otherwise, I'd have a lot more authors and extending it beyond 10). I got a lot of these books from my local thrift store, yay for cheap books! This is NOT including ebooks because I'm just lazy, okay?.

19:

• Robin Jones Gunn - Christy Miller, Christy and Todd, Katie Weldon, Father Christmas, Sierra Jensen, Sisterchicks EDIT: This includes adult and counting books within the volumes, the total is 32.

10: 

• Meg Cabot - All-American Girl, Awaken, Airhead, Princess Diaries 1, 3-6, 9-10
• Ally Carter - Gallagher Girls, Heist Society
• Jen Calonita - Belles, Secrets of My Hollywood Life, Whispering Pines
• Tamora Pierce - Protector of the Small, Song of the Lioness, Trickster's Choice, Battle Magic

8: 

• Sarah Dessen - Along for the Ride, Dreamland, Just Listen, Keeping the Moon, Lock and Key, Someone Like You, That Summer, The Truth About Forever

4: 

• Janette Rallison - How to Take the Ex Out of Ex-Boyfriend, All's Fair in Love, War, and High School, Just One Wish, My Fairy Fair Godmother

3: 

• Rainbow Rowell - Fangirl, Landline, Attachments
• Marissa Meyer - The Lunar Chronicles
• Suzanne Collins - The Hunger Games

Who is the author you own the most books of? 

Top Ten Tuesday: Gateway Books/Authors in My Reading Journey

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Whether they have 10 or not, everyone has a "gateway" book or author. These are the books/authors that have introduced something or changed something in your reading journey. Just like characters need to grow, I think readers do too. In no particular order, here's my top ten gateway books and authors:

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

This is probably the most repeated item on my Top Ten lists, but it deserves it so much. Probably the first non-contemporary, non-historical book I read. The Hunger Games was my true gateway book.

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

My first fantasy and the first book I read to review. Basically, the gateway to my blogging.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Somewhat of my gateway to New Adult. So this is my first and only New Adult I've read.

Ally Carter

IT'S ALLY CARTER! Not only did she write my favorite series, the Gallagher Girls, but she was my first ever author event. 

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

I credit this book for getting me out of my fuzzy slump period. Before it came along, I wandered from book to book, not really getting anything to truly stick. 

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

After I listed this, I realized I did read and enjoy Tamara Island Stone's Time Between Us, but this book seems like a whole different kind of time travel. BLEW MY MIND. My gateway to...time travel? The book that dominated my End of the Year Bookish Survey? 

Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy

I knew before reading this that main characters should have flaws. I knew before that they can be unlikable. But I've always had high expectations of my MCs and probably still will. However, this is the book I remember reading and realizing that hey, I don't like the MC, but I still really like the story. 

The Song of the Lioness by Tamora Pierce

Thanks to Tamora Pierce's The Song of the Lioness series, it revamped fantasy for me and made a week of work bearable. Bless you, Pierce.

Forever Princess by Meg Cabot

My ultimate anti-slump book. If anything, I read my favorite Michael parts and—badabing!—I love reading again.

The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade

The book that I credit to getting me to really love dual POVs from each gender. Also, it's by Stacey Kade who wrote the first ARC I ever got.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

HELLO, EMOTIONS. Not only did it bring out more emotions while reading than I ever experienced before (Mockingjay aside), but it was the first book I ever read by a male author and LOVED. Possibly the first book I ever read by a male author period. 

What books, authors, events, etc. have helped your reading journey? 

Top Ten Tuesday: New-to-Me Authors I Read in 2013

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

What a year 2013 has been. Now that we're in December, bloggers are recapping their year, listing their favorite books, and with that, their favorite authors. I extremely appreciate all the new authors I discovered this year, whether they've been around since I was five or published their debut novel in March. I'm probably forgetting key ones, but I virtually hug the authors I discovered and loved this year.

Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

They're two separate people, I know, but they worked together to produce one of my favorite 2013 reads, These Broken Stars. I hope they don't mind that I'm treating them like some people treat identical twins, but in my mind, they're a permanent pair oh please stay together. 

Kasie West

I have no shame in saying that I am lusting after her next book, On the Fence. I read The Distance Between Us and adored it. I read Pivot Point and was enthralled with that (she's such an overachiever with two books in one year). So yes, I'm hooked.

Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Another author of one of my favorite 2013 books, The Naturals. FBI, enhanced spy skills, killers, swooning, and creepiness. I never am able to really connect to "darker" books, but her writing achieved it. 

Tamora Pierce

WHY HAVE I NOT READ HER BEFORE? 

Rainbow Rowell

I absolutely loved Fangirl, but still nervous to read Eleanor & Park since some people disliked it and then read Fangirl and loved that one. I don't want to reverse my thinking of her. 

Kristin Cashore

I just finished Graceling and didn't realize how thirsty I was for another captivating fantasy novel until I read it. I'm showing extreme self-control by not diving into the sequels until I finish my other read-a-thon books.

Lauren Miller

She earned a spot on my auto-read (since I'm cheap and don't buy books) list when I read Parallel.

Elizabeth Wein

The beginning of Code Name Verity was slow for me, but she slowly reeled me in and left me broken. I don't think I have the strength to read Rose Under Fire. It taunts me as it sits on my table.

A.C. Gaughen

I'm ashamed I waited so long to read Scarlet when I had a perfectly good copy sitting on my shelf. Although it's probably a good thing since I don't have a long wait to the sequel now. Guys, it's a retelling of Robin Hood with Will Scarlet as a kick-butt girl. Now go and join the fan club. 

Suzanne Young
She wrote a great futuristic society centered around a suicide epidemic that involved feels and tense moments and...well, I want the sequel. 

Bonus: Jessica Brody, Natalie D. Richards, and probably many more

What authors have you discovered? Who do I need to read next? 

Fierce Reads Tour 2013 Recap

Ever since my sister told me about how the awesome Fierce Reads tour will have a stop in our state, I have been anticipating the event. Fast forward a few months and feel my despair that it might not happen. Long story short: my parents are the best and did everything to make sure I got to go.

Hopefully you will hear my appreciation and giddiness in the next sentence: I MADE IT! Excuse my jumbled up thoughts as I try to process these great moments in my life. So I arrive, get some good, on the end, front row seats that is RIGHT in front of Leigh Bardugo. The authors file in and there I am, grinning like a fool, but doing the thing where you try not to smile and end up looking pained resulting in an awkward smile.

The best example of an awkward smile.

They each introduce their book and then we get into a Q&A. Since I wrote as quickly as I could instead of recording the conversation this time, I'll just give you a rundown on what I learned:

• When asked how they felt about trilogies and if it was the publisher's or their choice: Jessica Brody said it was a little of each. Gennifer Albin said that she has only thought of stories in three parts, thanks to Star Wars and Indiana Jones (because there were ONLY ever three of those) and it made sense for her to do a trilogy. Leigh Bardugo stated at the end that if you look, trilogies are a myth and stand-alones rule the New York Times bestseller list. 
• When asked about their crush-worthy male leads: LB said she doesn't set out to write a love interest. She doesn't care if anyone likes him, she just values competence. "He just has to do his job! All of my male love interests have a life outside the protagonist and that's all I want." (Note: GO BARDUGO!) JB doesn't set a list of all the qualities her love interest has to have. Like LB, she gives him an agenda. EL (Emmy Laybourne) wants an honest character and hopes that's what a reader is attracted to. AB mentions abs...which made everyone start amen-ing
• Anna Banks is working on a Sasquatch romance. 
• When asked how old they were when they were published and when they seriously wanted to write: EL said she wrote her first novel at 38 and advised to measure in depth, not time. JB wrote a fantastic story about a puppy and a kitten when she was 7 and when she "published" it, she knew that's what she wanted to with a real book and first sold a novel at 26. "Everyone has their own timeline," she said and rewrote her book 4 times. AB agreed and started after writing a letter to the editor. GA sat down and wrote when she had nothing left to lose when she and her husband lost their jobs and was published right before her 30th birthday (happy birthday to Gennifer!). LB said she was 38 and while she wished she had written sooner, she knew that it was the best time. 
• When asked if they were genuinely friends: LB, "No." EL, at the same time, "Yes." Then of course, the funny JB chimed in, "We're all good actresses." Note: They were all really funny together and acted as if they were lifelong friends.
• When asked if they read other YA books and how to avoid plagiarism: AB said she hasn't read any of the great mermaid books out there just to avoid plagiarism while writing her series. GA agreed and said she can't read Divergent while she writes and reads ARCs that are out of her comfort zone. LB says that when she reads amazing YA books, she feels like, "I'm a hack and want to live in a shoe if I read something really good." 
• When asked if the Sophomore Slump is actually hard or if they are raring to go: They all pretty much agreed that they dream about writing a standalone now. AB said the 2nd book wasn't hard for her, but the 3rd one harasses her. 
• When asked if they would let Hollywood "trash" their novels by making them into a horrible movie: LB said that not only does Hollywood make great movies (for example: Catching Fire looks amazing), but the authors don't really have a say. Shadow and Bone is optioned by Dreamworks and she has to trust them because she has no control. EL chimed in and said it depends on the author's status. 
• When asked how they feel about negative feedback: They all agreed that they tried not to read it. JB said that if she does read it, she goes to one of her favorite books on Goodreads and finds a crappy review on it. LB suggested to "fake it till you make it." All in all, they were unanimous in  saying that there will always be negative reviews and you just try to avoid them. 

Now for my favorite part: the meet and greet! I My mom and I got to go first and Leigh Bardugo was the first author so when we met her, my mom mentioned Shelver and Bardugo excitedly chatted about her. I was also there to get my wonderfully sweet friend Jen (from Starry-Eyed Revue) a signed Siege and Storm so when I told Bardugo that it was for "Starry-Eyed Jen," she exclaimed, "OH! Starry-Eyed Jen? I love her!" My smile was so wide, I felt like I was Jen. Then it came time to tell her who I was and I was slightly nervous because what if I said that we talked before and she doesn't remember me? But she did! She even proved it by saying that I was the giraffe. It was one of the proudest moments of my life. Since I always make things a bigger deal than it is, here is a picture of not only myself with Bardugo, but also my face.

She was extremely nice, chatting with me, offering buttons, and even a really cool bookmark. Of course, she also signed my pile of books. I would show those pictures, but my computer is being extremely stupid and slow so just get the best metaphor you can think of for "slow" and times that by about ten.

Then we move on to Gennifer Albin who has a really cool-sounding book, but I unfortunately haven't read it. However, she was also really sweet and even chimed in on our giraffe conversation. And right next to her was Anna Banks who I haven't read her series either, but as you can see, I was so happy from the event that I couldn't even keep a complete straight face.

Jessica Brody was the third and one of the nicest people I have EVER met. I come up, tell her who I am, and she was the one who was excited. We had been talking on Twitter and was just as nice (if not more so) in person than she was on Twitter. She instantly gave me hug (huggers unite!) and took a picture with me. 

And then realized that we never got a hugging picture so we did another one and this hugging picture is probably the best picture I have ever been a part of. Note: I would also like to add that she tweeted out to be not long after to post the picture. I have decided that we would be the perfect best friend pair. (Play along, Jessica!) 

By the time I got to Emmy Laybourne, there was a separate line for her and I couldn't wait because my mom and I had to travel to my grandparents' house (she didn't want to get there late and neither did I). However, as I was leaving, Jenna (from Jenna Does Books) was on the side and I got a quick photo with her.

It really is great that my icon was a giraffe considering that I'm 5'10". 

All in all, the whole event was greater than I expected. I was able to meet some amazing authors, snag swag, meet a nice blogger, and get my books signed. I might have even annoyed my mom on the ride to my grandparents' by chatting about the event, the authors, the pictures, and by dissecting everything I said along with what they said.

Technically, it was a recap, but even more so, it was my way of squealing and getting excited all over again by positing it on here. I thank you all for reading because if not for this blog, not only would I have not been able to have such amazing experiences, but I also wouldn't have an outlet to go to.

Happy reading! I suggest you read the Fierce Reads' authors' books!