tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72423060402917952492024-03-13T01:21:56.202-04:00Unbound BooksA book blog dedicated to reading and reviewing books both old and new from a variety of genres including YA, fantasy, literary fiction, and much more!Lourdeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04456038897010964856noreply@blogger.comBlogger179125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7242306040291795249.post-51035289007638472162018-09-04T22:07:00.000-04:002018-09-04T22:07:51.496-04:00Blog Tour || Sadie by Courtney Summers || Excerpt + Q&A<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZT3NNFhrWUUat2tCb_qzsjU2zW7hZCDA7KdT2CBEUCfpWQuLEMelq7ItUsu5e8yWnFmUdU-IlcCJEebECSM8V4AUVyV_EqMDjKRKEtHz96O6ZAV8ql4ZFMeGMDsLBFIQX2BMfi5g1mQ/s1600/sadie-blog-tour.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="1124" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZT3NNFhrWUUat2tCb_qzsjU2zW7hZCDA7KdT2CBEUCfpWQuLEMelq7ItUsu5e8yWnFmUdU-IlcCJEebECSM8V4AUVyV_EqMDjKRKEtHz96O6ZAV8ql4ZFMeGMDsLBFIQX2BMfi5g1mQ/s640/sadie-blog-tour.JPG" width="640"></a></div>
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<b>Hi lovely readers! I'm so excited to be working with St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books as a part of the blog tour of <i>Sadie</i> by Courtney Summers. I feel extra special to be posting on release day! Happy Book Birthday! Keep reading for an excerpt and a short Q&A with author Courtney Summers. And keep an eye out for a full review coming soon.</b><br>
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<a href="http://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/09/blog-tour-sadie-by-courtney-summers.html#more">Read more »</a>Lourdeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04456038897010964856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7242306040291795249.post-41375233759668511832018-08-02T10:50:00.000-04:002018-08-02T10:54:26.845-04:00August 2018 TBR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiontntqPq9bcKkZHoh8R96akX935n312Q1dXO2j9xO0pvVV0MIhtLmLFVyCwM1ih-WcOoN_sg0C2RRKk_a9EOXCU9w2d64PclCa2xKoz8dw8zT8QCbXBt7ppiZjHy9Fi7RYspheAYgEaY/s1600/E4E05889-94B1-4A8C-9C53-55A8A2BCD6A6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiontntqPq9bcKkZHoh8R96akX935n312Q1dXO2j9xO0pvVV0MIhtLmLFVyCwM1ih-WcOoN_sg0C2RRKk_a9EOXCU9w2d64PclCa2xKoz8dw8zT8QCbXBt7ppiZjHy9Fi7RYspheAYgEaY/s400/E4E05889-94B1-4A8C-9C53-55A8A2BCD6A6.JPG" width="400"></a></div>
I'm trying not to be too ambitious with my August TBR, even though I read a ton of books in July. I'm limiting myself to a few library books, a few TBR shelf books, a couple of re-reads, and a couple of ARCs.<br>
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I don't have any plans to participate in any readathons this month, but if there are any you're participating in let me know! I'm always game to attempt a readathon, even though I usually fail, haha.<br>
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Since I'm usually a mood reader I don't really take my monthly TBRs too seriously. However, last month I was pretty good at sticking to it. There is only one book on my August TBR that's a carry over that I didn't even start in July. I'm hoping that my motivation from July will carry over this new month.<br>
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<a href="http://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/08/august-2018-tbr.html#more">Read more »</a>Lourdeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04456038897010964856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7242306040291795249.post-86229019766678499932018-08-01T14:41:00.000-04:002018-08-01T14:41:27.994-04:00July 2018 Wrap-Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYW5sVJsNvk2GBu0nPG36kjf_sZzaQKaV4_QcwcIaOgNLzWHjpOaQ5idJOROXF2tPbk5fIkVuykjeeVnNOXac0tvhOVoH9vFQsP6EEcn_hZrKhDOLEQyebYr-W_pvUvJ7Cwnzy3qxQ54/s1600/F32B6C7A-FBC5-4C26-93A4-BEE13894E75C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYW5sVJsNvk2GBu0nPG36kjf_sZzaQKaV4_QcwcIaOgNLzWHjpOaQ5idJOROXF2tPbk5fIkVuykjeeVnNOXac0tvhOVoH9vFQsP6EEcn_hZrKhDOLEQyebYr-W_pvUvJ7Cwnzy3qxQ54/s400/F32B6C7A-FBC5-4C26-93A4-BEE13894E75C.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
This month was a personal best for reading -- eighteen books in one month! I finally got on target for my Goodreads Reading Challenge and as of today, I am actually 12 books ahead of schedule. I am still actually in shock that I was able to read that many books in one month.<br>
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It definitely helped that I participated in a couple of readathons this month: <a href="https://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/tom-topple-round-6-tbr.html">Tome Topple</a> and the <a href="https://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/07/24-in-48-readathon-tbr.html">24 in 48 readathon</a>. It also helped that a large chunk of those books were rereads of one of my favorite childhood series, the Sammy Keyes series. Those books are pretty fast reads and I listened to a majority of them on audiobook during my walk to and from work. Either way, I'm feeling really good a bout my reading this month!<br>
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Unfortunately, blogging fell a little by the wayside this month. I had a particularly stressful month at work and reading became my escape from that, but blogging not so much. I have a couple of reviews queued up for early August and I'm hoping to get a series review in for Sammy Keyes once I finish the last four books in the series.<br>
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Without further ado, these are the books I read in July:<br>
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<a href="http://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/08/july-2018-wrap-up.html#more">Read more »</a>Lourdeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04456038897010964856noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7242306040291795249.post-48129640998175326602018-07-31T13:48:00.000-04:002018-07-31T13:48:06.637-04:00Book Review || The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir<h2>
The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir</h2>
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1515873936l/36723245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1515873936l/36723245.jpg" width="214"></a><b>Publication Date: </b>June 12th, 2018</div>
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<b>Publisher:</b> Knopf Publishing Group</div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Adult Contemporary</div>
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<b>Source:</b> Library</div>
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Summary</h3>
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<i>Esther Ann Hicks--Essie--is the youngest child on Six for Hicks, a reality television phenomenon. She's grown up in the spotlight, both idolized and despised for her family's fire-and-brimstone brand of faith. When Essie's mother, Celia, discovers that Essie is pregnant, she arranges an emergency meeting with the show's producers: Do they sneak Essie out of the country for an abortion? Do they pass the child off as Celia's? Or do they try to arrange a marriage--and a ratings-blockbuster wedding? Meanwhile, Essie is quietly pairing herself up with Roarke Richards, a senior at her school with a secret of his own to protect. As the newly formed couple attempt to sell their fabricated love story to the media--through exclusive interviews with an infamously conservative reporter named Liberty Bell--Essie finds she has questions of her own: What was the real reason for her older sister leaving home? Who can she trust with the truth about her family? And how much is she willing to sacrifice to win her own freedom?</i></div>
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(Courtesy of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34503571-the-book-of-essie" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>)</div>
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My Review</h3>
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I picked up The Book of Essie because of all the hype it's been receiving in the book review community. It seemed like an interesting read -- a story about a teenage girl, but written for a more adult audience. Even from the synopsis, I knew it was going to be a book dealing with some tough topics. Like everyone else, I immediately thought about that TV show about the religious family with all the kids (you know which one I'm talking about) and was expecting something vaguely superficial but got so much more.<br>
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</div><a href="http://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/07/book-review-book-of-essie-by-meghan.html#more">Read more »</a>Lourdeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04456038897010964856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7242306040291795249.post-48468895656365947652018-07-20T14:36:00.000-04:002018-07-20T14:37:47.181-04:0024 in 48 Readathon TBR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRqmls969sBebq2j5Takiy9l6n7jpSGNFpGf1kBH3VwhPni92g2nC6Ry-kc2FnTxgGxwOupXQEPRWGaxIpmUtebDSvZiM23mBx8H-jueKZefCgcW-SoLVDNOPGu5w-w4rT5ZsDWjG7Rk/s1600/3644BFBC-B4D8-4C45-8772-C3B8582E1690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRqmls969sBebq2j5Takiy9l6n7jpSGNFpGf1kBH3VwhPni92g2nC6Ry-kc2FnTxgGxwOupXQEPRWGaxIpmUtebDSvZiM23mBx8H-jueKZefCgcW-SoLVDNOPGu5w-w4rT5ZsDWjG7Rk/s400/3644BFBC-B4D8-4C45-8772-C3B8582E1690.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
Oops, it's been a minute, hasn't it? I've been doing a lot of reading, but not a lot of blogging. I think that's because a lot of my reading has been re-reading, so I don't have as many new books to review. I'm going to catch up on my reviews soon, but not this weekend. Which brings me to the point of this post -- the <a href="https://24in48.com/">24 in 48 Readathon</a>!<br>
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This will be my first time participating and I'm super excited! My boyfriend is gone for a majority of the weekend, and as much as I love him, I never get as much reading done when he's around.<br>
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There are a few books I'd like to get to, although I think I'm probably being a little ambitious for one weekends worth of reading.<br>
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<a href="http://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/07/24-in-48-readathon-tbr.html#more">Read more »</a>Lourdeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04456038897010964856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7242306040291795249.post-46742474370045963912018-07-01T14:17:00.000-04:002018-07-01T14:17:41.856-04:00July 2018 TBR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yTt34PCk8q4DhuKOuYmVnk9-Xdb2rtVd0ZtW0PCdsdE80V48m_LNKZw7KGVdbZPkjtKPVI8zWQzmPUhIWMnS9WIIG3yDfiSwCGaF4F9K1f8wfPXuaUyXj4TKKoMFmX3_AHcUYEKRf5k/s1600/C7B7AEB2-745F-4864-98AA-7270B7246738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yTt34PCk8q4DhuKOuYmVnk9-Xdb2rtVd0ZtW0PCdsdE80V48m_LNKZw7KGVdbZPkjtKPVI8zWQzmPUhIWMnS9WIIG3yDfiSwCGaF4F9K1f8wfPXuaUyXj4TKKoMFmX3_AHcUYEKRf5k/s400/C7B7AEB2-745F-4864-98AA-7270B7246738.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
New month, new TBR! Last month was such a good reading month, so I have high hopes for July. I'll be travelling a bit but aside from regular grad school lab work I'll be pretty free to read. That of course means another ambition TBR. I certainly have a habit of setting high expectations for myself. This month<br>
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I'll be participating in the Tome Topple read-a-thon, so I made a specific TBR for that. I'll mention those books here, but check out my TBR post for more details. I'm also planning on participating in the 24 in 48 read-a-thon. With both of these read-a-thons this month I really think I'll be able to get to all of these books, and possibly even more. I always like to keep my options open since I tend to be a mood reader.<br>
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<a href="http://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/07/july-2018-tbr.html#more">Read more »</a>Lourdeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04456038897010964856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7242306040291795249.post-34431551907620161882018-06-30T19:08:00.000-04:002018-06-30T19:10:44.375-04:00June 2018 Wrap Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnH7KnMM2KQpfIe2gtSJtZ42pMGcKlg8dtR0vF8C2O2ZRYPKZJjw-QAaLj8djgg7UL0QDlCjJ2B1fMGLx7I257tVMxiGW0LwoLc22HJW9bkQ3Ze7Drlmj2atJ-TU_gBjYJGlkPOUJvAV8/s1600/37CAA711-DD76-4F71-ADAB-BF4E6A864313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnH7KnMM2KQpfIe2gtSJtZ42pMGcKlg8dtR0vF8C2O2ZRYPKZJjw-QAaLj8djgg7UL0QDlCjJ2B1fMGLx7I257tVMxiGW0LwoLc22HJW9bkQ3Ze7Drlmj2atJ-TU_gBjYJGlkPOUJvAV8/s400/37CAA711-DD76-4F71-ADAB-BF4E6A864313.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
I started and ended the month on strong notes and I'm now *so close* to catching up to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4816636-lourdes">my Goodreads reading challenge goal</a>. I really have a couple of read-a-thons for kicking my butt into gear toward the end of the month. I read seven awesome books, all of them coming in at 4 or 5 stars. I even kind of stuck to my planned <a href="https://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/june-2018-tbr.html">June TBR</a>!<br>
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This was also the month I came back to book blogging and it's been great coming back to a community that's grown so much in the past few years. I've been hanging around the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/unbound_books/">bookstagram community</a> and I've met and interacted with so many awesome people! In addition to my book review, I've also written about <a href="https://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/tbr-shelf.html">my TBR shelf</a>, my latest obsession with books by and about <a href="https://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/genre-recommendation-women-in-stem.html">women in STEM</a>, and wrote up <a href="https://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/author-spotlight-wendelin-van-draanen.html">a spotlight on one of my favorite authors</a>! I've also participated in Top 5 Wednesday a couple weeks out of the month, so check out my posts about <a href="https://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/top-five-wednesday-favorite.html">my favorite fathers/father figures</a> and the <a href="https://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/top-five-wednesday-books-you-want-to.html">books I really want to get to before the year is over</a>.<br>
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Read on to see the books I read in June, my ratings, and my reviews, if applicable.<br>
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<a href="http://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/june-2018-wrap-up.html#more">Read more »</a>Lourdeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04456038897010964856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7242306040291795249.post-2872701081182569042018-06-29T17:30:00.000-04:002018-06-29T17:30:08.983-04:00Book Review || The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins<h2>
The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vY7yRi1wBX0p__bgdK2o79kQdrQekkVEdXK2-c88AdanQSlJQ3e5Hs3OR-W8AJlBEdABz1UCaUmLGFiCGyQPOKg3_1zKOtjR_gkYM8Sgt35bGy36aI2YuyoCaYXuqpPwDwnr-Jr7p-Q/s1600/the-library-at-mount-char.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="306" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vY7yRi1wBX0p__bgdK2o79kQdrQekkVEdXK2-c88AdanQSlJQ3e5Hs3OR-W8AJlBEdABz1UCaUmLGFiCGyQPOKg3_1zKOtjR_gkYM8Sgt35bGy36aI2YuyoCaYXuqpPwDwnr-Jr7p-Q/s320/the-library-at-mount-char.jpg" width="204"></a><b>Publication Date:</b> June 16th, 2015</div>
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<b>Publisher:</b> Broadway Books</div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Adult Fantasy</div>
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<i>A missing God.</i><br>
<i>A library with the secrets to the universe. </i><br>
<i>A woman too busy to notice her heart slipping away.</i><br>
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<i>Carolyn's not so different from the other people around her. She likes guacamole and cigarettes and steak. She knows how to use a phone. Clothes are a bit tricky, but everyone says nice things about her outfit with the Christmas sweater over the gold bicycle shorts. </i><i>After all, she was a normal American herself once. </i><i>That was a long time ago, of course. Before her parents died. Before she and the others were taken in by the man they called Father. </i><br>
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<i>In the years since then, Carolyn hasn't had a chance to get out much. Instead, she and her adopted siblings have been raised according to Father's ancient customs. They've studied the books in his Library and learned some of the secrets of his power. And sometimes, they've wondered if their cruel tutor might secretly be God. </i><br>
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<i>Now, Father is missing—perhaps even dead—and the Library that holds his secrets stands unguarded. And with it, control over all of creation. </i><br>
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<i>As Carolyn gathers the tools she needs for the battle to come, fierce competitors for this prize align against her, all of them with powers that far exceed her own. </i><i>But Carolyn has accounted for this. </i><i>And Carolyn has a plan. </i><i>The only trouble is that in the war to make a new God, she's forgotten to protect the things that make her human.</i><br>
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<i>Populated by an unforgettable cast of characters and propelled by a plot that will shock you again and again, The Library at Mount Char is at once horrifying and hilarious, mind-blowingly alien and heartbreakingly human, sweepingly visionary and nail-bitingly thrilling—and signals the arrival of a major new voice in fantasy.</i></div>
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(Courtesy of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26892110-the-library-at-mount-char" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>)</div>
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My Review</h3>
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I'm going to start off this review by saying I don't think anything I say can possibly do this book justice. I honestly don't even think the publishers summary on Goodreads does a good job of telling you what this book is about. <i>The Library at Mount Char</i> by Scott Hawkins is one of the strangest, and yet most beautiful stories I've read in a long time. It explores the depths of the human condition without being pretentious (just writing the phrase "the human condition" made me feel pretentious, please don't let that turn you off). I hope this somewhat short review can at least convince you to pick it up, because I don't think you'll regret it.<br>
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</div><a href="http://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/book-review-library-at-mount-char-by.html#more">Read more »</a>Lourdeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04456038897010964856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7242306040291795249.post-58541882704567796732018-06-28T10:00:00.000-04:002018-06-28T13:36:11.716-04:00Book Review || American Panda by Gloria Chao<h2>
American Panda by Gloria Chao</h2>
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<b>Publication Date:</b> February 6th, 2018</div>
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<b>Publisher:</b> Simon Pulse</div>
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<b>Genre:</b> YA Contemporary</div>
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<b>Source:</b> Library</div>
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Summary</h3>
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<i>At seventeen, Mei should be in high school, but skipping fourth grade was part of her parents' master plan. Now a freshman at MIT, she is on track to fulfill the rest of this predetermined future: become a doctor, marry a preapproved Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer, produce a litter of babies.</i><br>
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<i>With everything her parents have sacrificed to make her cushy life a reality, Mei can't bring herself to tell them the truth--that she (1) hates germs, (2) falls asleep in biology lectures, and (3) has a crush on her classmate Darren Takahashi, who is decidedly not Taiwanese.</i><br>
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<i>But when Mei reconnects with her brother, Xing, who is estranged from the family for dating the wrong woman, Mei starts to wonder if all the secrets are truly worth it. Can she find a way to be herself, whoever that is, before her web of lies unravels?</i></div>
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(Courtesy of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35297380-american-panda?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>)</div>
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My Review</h3>
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At first I was skeptical about a book featuring MIT, my alma mater, so prominently. How could someone who never went there accurately depict what life is like at such a unique university? And then I found out the Gloria Chao is an alum, class of 2008, and I was immediately sold. Mei is a and a year younger than her classmates. She has parents that push her toward a career path she isn't sure she even wants to pursue. While I was blessed to have parents that were happy to support whatever path I chose, I knew too many people that had parents like Mei. I am no a few years removed from my time at MIT, but reading <i>American Panda</i> brought right back to those early days and I could empathize so deeply with Mei. It's been a while since I picked up a YA contemporary, but this one hit so close to home and I thoroughly enjoyed it.<br>
</div><a href="http://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/book-review-american-panda-by-gloria.html#more">Read more »</a>Lourdeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04456038897010964856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7242306040291795249.post-22636192005312666132018-06-27T12:00:00.000-04:002018-06-27T12:00:08.983-04:00Top Five Wednesday || Books You Want to Read Before the End of the Year <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgof6N7rcFhAg0Ir-PPI7z3RkN4o08Fgiy_3yv9ShdZdNSZniT_ZereNceEUGXZBLe1DzCVXJFjLmle_8uqqAlUFlIlTEOKuq2S64sz1J4XRBoTWvsokumTs7MSqpRrV2Qbgy09xQMoZlY/s1600/top+five+wednseday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="229" data-original-width="220" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgof6N7rcFhAg0Ir-PPI7z3RkN4o08Fgiy_3yv9ShdZdNSZniT_ZereNceEUGXZBLe1DzCVXJFjLmle_8uqqAlUFlIlTEOKuq2S64sz1J4XRBoTWvsokumTs7MSqpRrV2Qbgy09xQMoZlY/s200/top+five+wednseday.jpg" width="168"></a></div>
It's Wednesday so you know what that means...Top 5 Wednesday! Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly book meme hosted by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpnjp7mgeQGdtesz5v6xY_A">Sam from Thoughts on Tomes</a>. Each week there's a featured topic and I get to recommend some of my favorite books that fall within that topic. Check out their <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/118368-top-5-wednesday">Goodreads group</a> for more info!<br>
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Now that we're halfway through the year, it's time to take a look at that TBR shelf and figure out which books I want to get to before 2018 is over.<br>
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<a href="http://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/top-five-wednesday-books-you-want-to.html#more">Read more »</a>Lourdeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04456038897010964856noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7242306040291795249.post-91833934998973181072018-06-24T12:36:00.000-04:002018-06-29T17:04:02.984-04:00Tome Topple Round 6 TBR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SrGfmzKauKgqHdSTJyOnWwyGtDwcCJbzlFYLR3dHYsWJ2jf2nGf-pQpDKmSWXSAwuwEPg5T7nJhpQKR0of2wPWu_IP47p5cNUCYnCv4xPxsT6z8pWmPSj7_8pb7a847preSncNIXyjE/s1600/5E25BEE8-ED3C-43F7-8C2A-640B0066466D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SrGfmzKauKgqHdSTJyOnWwyGtDwcCJbzlFYLR3dHYsWJ2jf2nGf-pQpDKmSWXSAwuwEPg5T7nJhpQKR0of2wPWu_IP47p5cNUCYnCv4xPxsT6z8pWmPSj7_8pb7a847preSncNIXyjE/s400/5E25BEE8-ED3C-43F7-8C2A-640B0066466D.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
It's finally Tome Topple time again! Tome Topple is probably one of my favorite read-a-thons because it always motivates me to get to those huge books that are sometimes a little intimidating. It's hosted by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/ThoughtsOnTomes">Sam from Thoughts on Tomes</a> and a few other people. The main point of the read-a-thon is to read books that are over 500 pages long. You can check out Sam's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eECv82qmO0k&t=1s">announcement video</a> for more information. There are also some extra challenges but I don't usually take them into account when figuring out my TBR.<br>
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I've pulled together a somewhat ambitions TBR for this round. I don't think I'll actually get to all of the books, but I like to keep my options open. Without further ado, here is my Tome Topple TBR:<br>
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<a href="http://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/tom-topple-round-6-tbr.html#more">Read more »</a>Lourdeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04456038897010964856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7242306040291795249.post-63555604796321121422018-06-20T17:29:00.000-04:002018-06-20T17:29:35.901-04:00Author Spotlight || Wendelin Van Draanen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCTDBzHQwc95j3gae4GJYVOozrDgdWNcdFOUZAJ5PJwGy6somgubRBAWHnu_3wyWoZ0NE_snTB7pa3p4keblvaJe6SEE-Oji0_r5NBE_Lx9IsCb4TOqvW-RK60J5ypE1pUcQXWQ7cS10/s1600/388B5F58-68D9-422A-9F49-F4D45A066343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCTDBzHQwc95j3gae4GJYVOozrDgdWNcdFOUZAJ5PJwGy6somgubRBAWHnu_3wyWoZ0NE_snTB7pa3p4keblvaJe6SEE-Oji0_r5NBE_Lx9IsCb4TOqvW-RK60J5ypE1pUcQXWQ7cS10/s400/388B5F58-68D9-422A-9F49-F4D45A066343.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
If someone were to ask me who is my most owned author, you'd think I would say J.K. Rowling, seeing as how I have a shelf dedicated to Harry Potter, but I think it's actually<br>
Wendelin Van Draanen.<br>
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I've been reading Wendelin Van Draanen's books since I was 10 years old. I've read almost everything in her cannon and I don't know too many other people who've read her books so get ready for a fan girl gush.<br>
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<a href="http://www.wendelinvand.com/">Wendelin Van Draanen</a> generally writes middle grade and YA contemporary, both series and standalone books. Because she's written so many books I wanted to highlight some of my favorites out of her impressive body of work.<br>
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<a href="http://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/author-spotlight-wendelin-van-draanen.html#more">Read more »</a>Lourdeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04456038897010964856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7242306040291795249.post-27149884549180635012018-06-16T12:00:00.000-04:002018-06-16T12:00:18.627-04:00Book Review || The Hamilton Affair by Elizabeth Cobbs<h2>
The Hamilton Affair by Elizabeth Cobbs</h2>
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<b>Publication Date:</b> August 2nd, 2016</div>
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<b>Publisher:</b> Arcade Publishing</div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Adult Historical Fiction</div>
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<b>Source:</b> Purchased</div>
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Summary</h3>
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<i>Set against the dramatic backdrop of the American Revolution, and featuring a cast of iconic characters such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and the Marquis de Lafayette, The Hamilton Affair tells the sweeping, tumultuous, true love story of Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler, from tremulous beginning to bittersweet ending—his at a dueling ground on the shores of the Hudson River, hers more than half a century later after a brave, successful life.</i><br>
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<i>Hamilton was a bastard son, raised on the Caribbean island of St. Croix. He went to America to pursue his education. Along the way he became one of the American Revolution’s most dashing—and unlikely—heroes. Adored by Washington, hated by Jefferson, Hamilton was a lightning rod: the most controversial leader of the American Revolution.</i><br>
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<i>She was the well-to-do daughter of one of New York’s most exalted families—feisty, adventurous, and loyal to a fault. When she met Alexander, she fell head over heels. She pursued him despite his illegitimacy, and loved him despite his infidelity. In 1816 (two centuries ago), she shamed Congress into supporting his seven orphaned children. Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton started New York’s first orphanage. The only “founding mother” to truly embrace public service, she raised 160 children in addition to her own.</i><br>
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<i>With its flawless writing, brilliantly drawn characters, and epic scope, The Hamilton Affair will take its place among the greatest novels of American history.</i></div>
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(Courtesy of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28695340-the-hamilton-affair?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>)</div>
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My Review</h3>
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If there's one thing you need to know about me is that I tend to have an obsessive personality. So when I discovered Hamilton back in 2016 and fell in love, it's safe to say that I pretty much latched onto anything Hamilton-related. That obsession hasn't really died down in those two years since and I'm actually listening to the Hamilton soundtrack while writing this review. The Hamilton Affair by Elizabeth Cobbs was exactly what I was looking for in a historical fiction based on the life of Alexander Hamilton <i>and</i> Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton. I had read others, but they didn't quite reach my expectations. Cobb's blew me away with her narrative, spanning both Alexander and Eliza's life from when they were young up until their deaths.<br>
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</div><a href="http://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/book-review-hamilton-affair-by.html#more">Read more »</a>Lourdeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04456038897010964856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7242306040291795249.post-72330186025546364252018-06-15T12:00:00.000-04:002018-06-15T13:51:28.491-04:00Genre Recommendation || Women in STEM<h2 style="height: 0px;">
Books about Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math</h2>
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I've mentioned it around the blog, but for my new readers out there, I am currently working on my PhD in Materials Science and Engineering. Ever since I started my program, I craved stories about other women who have experienced a life in STEM. It's always inspiring to read other women's stories as a way to connect and realize that you are not alone. </div>
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About a year ago, I started seeking out these stories more actively and stumbled upon a small treasure of books that satisfied this exact craving. It started with Lab Girl by Hope Jahren, and I soon discovered so many books, both fiction and non-fiction, that tell the stories of some amazing women. I thought I would highlight some of my favorites in this very niche genre:<br>
</div><a href="http://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/genre-recommendation-women-in-stem.html#more">Read more »</a>Lourdeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04456038897010964856noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7242306040291795249.post-3057016729167994582018-06-13T12:00:00.000-04:002018-06-26T23:12:50.828-04:00Top Five Wednesday || Favorite Fathers/Father Figures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgof6N7rcFhAg0Ir-PPI7z3RkN4o08Fgiy_3yv9ShdZdNSZniT_ZereNceEUGXZBLe1DzCVXJFjLmle_8uqqAlUFlIlTEOKuq2S64sz1J4XRBoTWvsokumTs7MSqpRrV2Qbgy09xQMoZlY/s1600/top+five+wednseday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="229" data-original-width="220" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgof6N7rcFhAg0Ir-PPI7z3RkN4o08Fgiy_3yv9ShdZdNSZniT_ZereNceEUGXZBLe1DzCVXJFjLmle_8uqqAlUFlIlTEOKuq2S64sz1J4XRBoTWvsokumTs7MSqpRrV2Qbgy09xQMoZlY/s200/top+five+wednseday.jpg" width="168"></a></div>
With the new blog refresh/revival comes new weekly features! I've decided to join in Top 5 Wednesday, a weekly feature hosted by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpnjp7mgeQGdtesz5v6xY_A">Sam from Thoughts on Tomes</a>. Each week there's a featured topic and I get to recommend some of my favorite books that fall within that topic. Check out their <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/118368-top-5-wednesday">Goodreads group</a> for more info!<br>
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In honor of Father's day, which falls on June 17th here in the US, the topic for this week is "Favorite Fathers/Father Figures".<br>
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<a href="http://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/top-five-wednesday-favorite.html#more">Read more »</a>Lourdeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04456038897010964856noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7242306040291795249.post-70688391011625933232018-06-12T12:00:00.000-04:002018-06-12T13:09:08.589-04:00Book Review || One Day by David Nicholls<h2>
One Day by David Nicholls</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtG_L-IG4ZnwOnCugkommv-4YGxSf9lsE7MkORPBYmJVREOq62BsH-BztOCEs3qbqQPEvhmRY7jT3liLVsKvRULKXhlNJR4YIjCvT11Dlxm8H1hH_jw6zHpJEEMfOZIXcx3ntnnkQjrNU/s1600/oneday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="290" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtG_L-IG4ZnwOnCugkommv-4YGxSf9lsE7MkORPBYmJVREOq62BsH-BztOCEs3qbqQPEvhmRY7jT3liLVsKvRULKXhlNJR4YIjCvT11Dlxm8H1hH_jw6zHpJEEMfOZIXcx3ntnnkQjrNU/s320/oneday.jpg" width="204"></a></div>
<b>Publication Date:</b> August 1st, 2009</div>
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<b>Publisher:</b> Hodder & Stoughton</div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Adult Contemporary</div>
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<b>Source:</b> Purchased</div>
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Summary</h3>
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<i>It’s 1988 and Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley have only just met. But after only one day together, they cannot stop thinking about one another. Over twenty years, snapshots of that relationship are revealed on the same day—July 15th—of each year. Dex and Em face squabbles and fights, hopes and missed opportunities, laughter and tears. And as the true meaning of this one crucial day is revealed, they must come to grips with the nature of love and life itself.</i></div>
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(Courtesy of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6940844-one-day" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>)</div>
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My Review</h3>
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I’ve had a copy of <i>One Day</i> by David Nicholls sitting on my shelf for years, always meaning to get to it but for some reason, never picking it up. It wasn’t until I was going through my shelves in an attempt to do some New Years resolution cleaning that I finally decided to start reading it. As some background, I have been in a huge reading slump for the last few months and “One Day” was the book that finally got me out of it.<br>
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</div><a href="http://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/book-review-one-day-by-david-nicholls.html#more">Read more »</a>Lourdeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04456038897010964856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7242306040291795249.post-22084967408064479232018-06-10T12:00:00.001-04:002018-06-12T16:50:33.773-04:00Audiobook Review || Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander <h2>Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Hogwarts Library Book) by Newt Scamander </h2><div><br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9X53vBkOw1hd85KbGCng_vsxGelLvsAbB3QcMMCbN3detGZsYgyx5mIFLAw05YcXHJuJu8UQ8bg1pTtdi_OFLt8yL29ZB1H0OtNjjDdkzxfv9g9Ng475PXyjSZkTfda1_Rm_o5RglUY/s1600/FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9X53vBkOw1hd85KbGCng_vsxGelLvsAbB3QcMMCbN3detGZsYgyx5mIFLAw05YcXHJuJu8UQ8bg1pTtdi_OFLt8yL29ZB1H0OtNjjDdkzxfv9g9Ng475PXyjSZkTfda1_Rm_o5RglUY/s320/FB.jpg" width="250"></a></div><b>Publication Date:</b> March 14th, 2017 (rev. ed.)</div><div><div><b>Publisher:</b> Scholastic Inc.</div><div><b>Genre:</b> Middle Grade Fiction</div><div><b>Source:</b> Purchased</div></div><div><br>
</div><h2><div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"></div></h2><h3>Summary</h3><div><i>An approved textbook at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry since publication, Newt Scamander's masterpiece has entertained wizarding families through the generations. </i>Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them<i> is an indispensable introduction to the magical beasts of the wizarding world.</i><br>
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</i></div><div style="text-align: right;">(Courtesy of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6940844-one-day" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>)</div><div><br>
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</div><h3></h3><h3>My Review</h3><div>Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them written by Newt Scamander (aka J.K. Rowling) and narrated by Eddie Redmayne. Redmayne’s narration of the book truly brought the book to life. Some of my favorite audiobooks are those that are narrated by the author because it feels more like a conversation than a book and that’s exactly what I felt while listening to this book.<br>
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</div><a href="http://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/audiobook-review-fantastic-beasts-and.html#more">Read more »</a>Lourdeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04456038897010964856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7242306040291795249.post-76715394693959638712018-06-09T12:00:00.001-04:002018-06-09T14:13:22.473-04:00TBR Shelf<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybm3Qwtj-CRT0_8OYndt4j-WKorBTo6H4fXxMwarCZUj6L9brbaMG8o4woJcwJpsVqBnB_sj_6CESyCHD3Rm2u_roAPnpXRAK-G-ScY3S9m5n4yLMsAe4AyR84VT6BmURXISE0e75mCg/s1600/tbr-shelf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybm3Qwtj-CRT0_8OYndt4j-WKorBTo6H4fXxMwarCZUj6L9brbaMG8o4woJcwJpsVqBnB_sj_6CESyCHD3Rm2u_roAPnpXRAK-G-ScY3S9m5n4yLMsAe4AyR84VT6BmURXISE0e75mCg/s400/tbr-shelf.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
Ah, the TBR shelf. Those books that we think about every time we're browsing the book store or scrolling through Amazon looking at new books. "I really should read more of the books I already own," we think to ourselves, before inevitably buying that shiny new book that was just calling our name.<br>
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I've been guilty of this more times than I can count, so at the beginning of this year, I decided to go through my shelves and write down every single unread book I own in one of the blank pages of my planner. I personally don't have a separate shelf for TBR books, so I wanted a visual representation of all my TBR books, both physical and digital. Then, as I read books from my TBR shelf, I highlight them in bright yellow.<br>
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<a href="http://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/tbr-shelf.html#more">Read more »</a>Lourdeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04456038897010964856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7242306040291795249.post-3413317671810765032018-06-08T12:00:00.000-04:002018-06-08T12:00:02.758-04:00June 2018 TBR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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To say I'm pretty bad at sticking to my planned TBRs is an understatement and yet, moth after month, I always make one.<br>
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As I make my glorious, hopefully long-term, return to book blogging, I though I would start out with a bread-and-butter post across the book blogging world, so here we are.<br>
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I won't go into too many details about why I was gone for three years, but the short story can be summed up in two words -- grad school. Getting a PhD in STEM is no joke people. Recently, though, I realized I needed a creative outlet, and writing about books used to be one of my favorite past times so why not bring it back. I need something to save me from the monotony of lab work. Don't get me wrong, working toward a PhD is very rewarding, but I've never just lived and breathed science. Books are such an integral part of my life -- and my sanity! Anyway, you didn't come here for my life story, you came here for the books, so without further ado, here's my TBR:<br>
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<a href="http://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/june-2018-tbr.html#more">Read more »</a>Lourdeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04456038897010964856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7242306040291795249.post-21905465802102863192015-05-09T12:00:00.000-04:002018-06-12T13:10:59.071-04:00Book Review || Vivian Apple at the End of The World by Katie Coyle<h2>
Vivian Apple at the End of the World (Vivian Apple #1) by Katie Coyle</h2>
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<b>Publication Date:</b> January 6th, 2015</div>
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<b>Publisher:</b> HMH Books for Young Readers</div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Young Adult Contemporary</div>
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<b>Source:</b> Publisher</div>
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Summary</h3>
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<i>Seventeen-year-old Vivian Apple never believed in the evangelical Church of America, unlike her recently devout parents. But when Vivian returns home the night after the supposed "Rapture," all that’s left of her parents are two holes in the roof. Suddenly, she doesn't know who or what to believe. With her best friend Harp and a mysterious ally, Peter, Vivian embarks on a desperate cross-country roadtrip through a paranoid and panic-stricken America to find answers. Because at the end of the world, Vivan Apple isn't looking for a savior. She's looking for the truth.</i></div>
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(Courtesy of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20256737-vivian-apple-at-the-end-of-the-world" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>)</div>
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My Review</h3>
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<i>Note: I received a finished copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This is a spoiler free review.</i><br>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br></span><i>Vivian Apple at the End of the World</i> by Katie Coyle is not a book I would have normally picked up but I am glad that I read it. It's a well-written book that offers a lot to think about in terms of religion and belief systems without being pushy or obnoxious. I think it actually handles the whole topic really well and shows multiple, diverse perspectives. There are not that many YA books out there that deal with religion and I think it’s something that is so important that I’m surprised it doesn't come up more often.<br>
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</div><a href="http://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2015/05/book-review-vivian-apple-at-end-of.html#more">Read more »</a>Lourdeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04456038897010964856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7242306040291795249.post-31805024151064222152015-05-07T13:33:00.000-04:002018-06-12T13:11:20.173-04:00ARC Review || Rebellion by Stephanie Diaz<h2>
Rebellion (Extraction #2) by Stephanie Diaz</h2>
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<b>Publication Date:</b> February 10th, 2015</div>
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<b>Publisher:</b> St. Martin's Griffin</div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Young Adult Science Fiction</div>
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<b>Source:</b> eARC courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley</div>
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Summary</h3>
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<i>The uprising has begun.</i><br>
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</i> <i>It's been seven days since Clementine and Logan, along with their allies, retreated into hiding on the Surface. The rebels may have won one battle against Commander Charlie, but the fight is far from finished. He has vowed to find a way to win—no matter the cost. Do the rebels have what it takes to defeat him...and put an end to this war?</i><br>
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</i> <i>As Clementine and Logan enter a desperate race against time to defeat Commander Charlie—and attempt to weaken his power within his own ranks—they find themselves in a terrifying endgame that pits them against a brutal enemy, and each other. With every step, Clementine draws closer to losing Logan...and losing control of herself.</i><br>
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</i> <i>Continuing with the mesmerizing saga that started with Extraction, Stephanie Diaz blends science fiction, epic romance, and heart-stopping adventure to create a world that no reader will soon forget.</i></div>
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(Courtesy of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18625184-rebellion" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>)</div>
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My Review</h3>
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<i>Note: I received and advance readers copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This is a spoiler free review.</i><br>
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</span>I thought <i>Rebellion</i> by Stephanie was a good sequel to <i>Extraction</i>, the first book in the Extraction trilogy. I no longer felt like I was constantly comparing it to other YA series and it felt like the story was coming into its own more. Sometimes, with sequels I feel like they just are extensions of the first book and don’t have their own Story. However, with Rebellion I do feel like it stands well on its own.<br>
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</div><a href="http://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2015/05/arc-review-rebellion-by-stephanie-diaz.html#more">Read more »</a>Lourdeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04456038897010964856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7242306040291795249.post-75024693081832269042015-04-30T14:22:00.000-04:002015-05-07T13:36:35.804-04:00[ARC Review] 99 Days by Katie Cotugno<h2>
99 Days by Katie Cotugno</h2>
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<b>Publication Date: </b>April 21, 2015</div>
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<b>Publisher:</b> Balzer + Bray</div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Young Adult Contemporary</div>
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<i>Day 1: Julia Donnelly eggs my house my first night back in Star Lake, and that’s how I know everyone still remembers everything—how I destroyed my relationship with Patrick the night everything happened with his brother, Gabe. How I wrecked their whole family. Now I’m serving out my summer like a jail sentence: Just ninety-nine days till I can leave for college, and be done.</i><br>
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<i>Day 4: A nasty note on my windshield makes it clear Julia isn’t finished. I’m expecting a fight when someone taps me on the shoulder, but it’s just Gabe, home from college and actually happy to see me. “For what it’s worth, Molly Barlow,” he says, “I’m really glad you’re back.”</i><br>
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<i>Day 12: Gabe got me to come to this party, and I’m actually having fun. I think he’s about to kiss me—and that’s when I see Patrick. My Patrick, who’s supposed to be clear across the country. My Patrick, who’s never going to forgive me.</i></div>
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(Courtesy of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22836575-99-days" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>)</div>
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My Review</h3>
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<i>Note: I received and advance readers copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This is a spoiler free review.</i><br>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br></span>I've been in a reading slump lately so the fact that I sped through <i>99 Days</i> by Katie Cotugno in a day is something to applaud. I haven’t found myself able to relate to contemporary YA as much as a used, probably because I’m getting older but I enjoyed <i>99 Days</i>. One of the reasons I found myself flying through the book was because it read like a soap opera. Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing, I can’t say, but I just had to know what was going to happen next between Molly, Patrick, and Gabe.<br>
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</div><a href="http://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2015/04/arc-review-99-days-by-katie-cotugno.html#more">Read more »</a>Lourdeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04456038897010964856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7242306040291795249.post-5095815242700368592015-02-17T15:16:00.000-05:002015-02-17T15:16:07.086-05:00[Blog Tour] REBELLION: An Interview with Author Stephanie Diaz<i><span style="color: #666666;">Hi lovely readers! I'm very excited to be part of the blog tour for REBELLION, the second book in Stephanie Diaz's Extraction trilogy. This is a science fiction series I started reading this year and fell in love with. As part of the blog tour, I'm thrilled to be bringing you an interview with Stephanie Diaz!</span></i><br>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">About the Story</span></h2>
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<b>Rebellion by Stephanie Diaz</b></h3>
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</b><b>Publication Date: </b>February 10th, 2015</div>
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<b>Publisher:</b> St. Martin's Griffin</div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Young Adult Science Fiction<br>
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Summary</h3>
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The uprising has begun.<br>
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It's been seven days since Clementine and Logan, along with their allies, retreated into hiding on the Surface. The rebels may have won one battle against Commander Charlie, but the fight is far from finished. He has vowed to find a way to win—no matter the cost. Do the rebels have what it takes to defeat him...and put an end to this war?<br>
<br>
As Clementine and Logan enter a desperate race against time to defeat Commander Charlie—and attempt to weaken his power within his own ranks—they find themselves in a terrifying endgame that pits them against a brutal enemy, and each other. With every step, Clementine draws closer to losing Logan...and losing control of herself.<br>
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Continuing with the mesmerizing saga that started with Extraction, Stephanie Diaz blends science fiction, epic romance, and heart-stopping adventure to create a world that no reader will soon forget.<br>
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(Courtesy of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18625184-rebellion" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>)</div>
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Buy this book at: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rebellion-Stephanie-Diaz/dp/1250041252#" target="_blank">Amazon</a> // <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rebellion-stephanie-diaz/1119715820?ean=9781466837362" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> // <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250041258" target="_blank">IndieBound</a></h3>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">Interview with Stephanie Diaz</span></h2>
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<a href="http://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2015/02/blog-tour-rebellion-interview-with_17.html#more">Read more »</a>Lourdeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04456038897010964856noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7242306040291795249.post-63357904766036562392015-02-13T12:00:00.000-05:002015-02-13T12:00:04.197-05:00[Blog Tour] An Excerpt from THE TRAGIC AGE by Stephen Metcalfe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVxcM0yGt34jHfQ83iREl3XPTL7iij-ni_fcpuoDELaZV1vJN9VbQPyjUjv6xeQT0fluC6yzh3YW3KcCV4fW7zBHS2IILRmpwyBO5hvTLrDY4b_3hVJESp0hXfeorCzjnDnjEuF9NlDo/s1600/Tragic+Age+-+NEW+-+btbanner2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVxcM0yGt34jHfQ83iREl3XPTL7iij-ni_fcpuoDELaZV1vJN9VbQPyjUjv6xeQT0fluC6yzh3YW3KcCV4fW7zBHS2IILRmpwyBO5hvTLrDY4b_3hVJESp0hXfeorCzjnDnjEuF9NlDo/s1600/Tragic+Age+-+NEW+-+btbanner2.jpg" width="500"></a></div><br>
I've been on a science fiction and fantasy kick for a while but <i>The Tragic Age</i> by Stephen Metcalfe is one contemporary that caught my eye. I am very excited to be the third leg of the tour that's giving you an early sneak peak at Stephen Metcalf's debut YA contemporary.<br>
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If you haven't read the first four chapters you can catch up by visiting the following websites.<br>
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Excerpt 1:</b> Tuesday, February 3<sup>rd</sup>: <a href="https://kellyvision.wordpress.com/2015/02/03/the-tragic-age-an-excerpt/" target="_blank">KellyVision</a><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Excerpt 2:</b> Saturday, February 7<sup>th</sup>: <a href="http://amaterasureads.blogspot.com/2015/02/blog-tour-tragic-age-by-stephen.html" target="_blank">Amaterasu Reads</a><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b>Excerpt 3:</b> Tuesday, February 10<sup>th</sup>: <a href="http://theyoungfolks.com/books/the-tragic-age-tour-read-excerpt-ya/48580" target="_blank">The Young Folks</a><br>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Keep reading to get Chapter 5 and 6!<br>
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</div><a href="http://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2015/02/blog-tour-excerpt-from-tragic-age-by.html#more">Read more »</a>Lourdeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04456038897010964856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7242306040291795249.post-55302867523531342612015-02-09T12:20:00.001-05:002015-02-09T12:21:08.254-05:00January 2015 Wrap-Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kkwoGAJzW3Z4o7L3FA9SogvWZ6hNyxCXBb4AdO8rd33nPSXn4jm6MrpZ48nb6PyR94_q7TUpcnvlBPtaxyJ0KwYxljqk-rawyv_sTEGD7xQ_qabRhjcahsiQWNOlUCIFvUG-eJ_wmGc/s1600/January-2015-Books-Read.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kkwoGAJzW3Z4o7L3FA9SogvWZ6hNyxCXBb4AdO8rd33nPSXn4jm6MrpZ48nb6PyR94_q7TUpcnvlBPtaxyJ0KwYxljqk-rawyv_sTEGD7xQ_qabRhjcahsiQWNOlUCIFvUG-eJ_wmGc/s1600/January-2015-Books-Read.jpg" height="400" width="400"></a></div>
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I know I'm a little late in posting this, but as the saying goes, better late than never! I managed to read 18 book this month and the books I read were all very good, so overall it was a pretty good reading month, if I do say so myself. I also participated in Bout of Books 12.0 which definitely helped me read so many books. And another big step I took this month was my decision to start a YouTube channel. It's something I've been wanting to do for a while and I finally got the courage to do it. You can read more about it <a href="http://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2015/02/a-little-something-new.html" target="_blank">here</a>. If you want to here my thoughts about each of the books check out my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IbdN3cFdx8" target="_blank">January Wrap-Up video</a>. Otherwise, here is a list of all the books I read this month:<br>
<a href="http://unboundbooksblog.blogspot.com/2015/02/january-2015-wrap-up.html#more">Read more »</a>Lourdeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04456038897010964856noreply@blogger.com0