Reading Challenges Update [February 2013]

Hey quirks! I've decided to split up my reading updates due to how many challenges I am participating in this year. In 2012, I was only keeping up with my Goodreads Reading Challenge and I liked how I did that one and all the stats I kept up with, but I'm going to call them something different. The new title for those updates will be "2013 Goodreads Rundown" and they will appear bimonthly.

This series of posts I'm calling Reading Challenges Update is for all the other challenges I am trying to complete. These updates will be less detailed as far as stats go because I will just be listing the individual challenges and which books fit under them that I read during the previous month.

February: 3 --- Total: 14/24

Max by James Patterson (Maximum Ride #5)
Sweetly by Jackson Pearce (Fairytale Retellings #2)
Ninth Key by Meg Cabot (The Mediator #2)

February: 3 --- Total: 14/25+

Max by James Patterson (Maximum Ride #5)

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi (Under the Never Sky #1)

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

February: 1 --- Total: 1

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

February: 1 --- Total: 2/12

Sweetly by Jackson Pearce (Fairytale Retellings #2) [Keyword: Sweet]

February: 5 --- Total: 11/36

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand (Unearthly #1)

Sweetly by Jackson Pearce (Fairytale Retellings #2)

Ninth Key by Meg Cabot (The Mediator #2)

Down a Dark Hall by Lois Duncan

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

February: 1 --- Total: 2/12

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand (Unearthly #1) [Creature: Angel]

Ink to Image [2] - Beautiful Creatures

Did I read the book or watch the movie first?
Seeing that the movie just hit theaters on Valentine's Day, I definitely read the book first, but I was there on the 14th to see the movie (what can I say, I was excited!).

Which was better?
This is tough. The screenplay was much altered from the story in the book, but the movie was so good you guys. Still, I really missed all the things they left out and changed, so I'm going to go with the book. To me, the lore, details, and some events were really important and they made more sense to me than the direction the movie took. But the movie is a very close second because it was funny and quirky and I adored Ethan and Lena all over again.

What made me read/watch?
From the first time I heard about Beautiful Creatures, I wanted to read it. The southern setting, magic, and mystery were right in my wheelhouse. Reading and loving the book is what made me want to see the film. (The phenomenal casting didn't hurt either.)

Will I read/watch more if available?
I will definitely be reading more. I've currently read the first two books in the series plus the available novella, and I have the third book on my TBR shelf just waiting for me. I will also be watching the movie again, and will watch any more movies they make for the series so long as the actors stay put (because, again, Ethan and Lena were amazing!).

That's it quirks! I hope you enjoyed my assessment. Have you gotten to see the Beautiful Creatures movie yet? If so, what did you think? Let me know in the comments!?

*Click on a book's cover to be taken to the book's Goodreads page, click on the movie poster to be taken to the movie's IMDB page, and click on the movie banner to be taken to the movie's website.

Reading Challenges Update [January 2013]

Hey quirks! I've decided to split up my reading updates due to how many challenges I am participating in this year. In 2012, I was only keeping up with my Goodreads Reading Challenge and I liked how I did that one and all the stats I kept up with, but I'm going to call them something different. The new title for those updates will be "2013 Goodreads Rundown" and they will appear bimonthly.

This series of posts I'm calling Reading Challenges Update is for all the other challenges I am trying to complete. These updates will be less detailed as far as stats go because I will just be listing the individual challenges and which books fit under them that I read during the previous month.

So without further ado, here is my first Reading Challenges Update!

January: 11 --- Total: 11/24

The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson (Little Blue Envelope #2)
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #2)
Forever by Maggie Stiefvater (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #3)
Prodigy by Marie Lu (Legend #2)
The Wedding of Antanasia Jessica Packwood and Lucius Valeriu Vladescu by Beth Fantaskey (Jessica #1.5)
School's Out -- Forever by James Patterson (Maximum Ride #2)
Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson (Maximum Ride #3)
The Final Warning by James Patterson (Maximum Ride #4) 
The Lost Saint by Bree Despain (The Dark Divine #2)
The Lost Letters of Brother Gabriel by Bree Despain (The Dark Divine #2.5)
The Shadow in the North by Philip Pullman (Sally Lockhart #2)

January: 11 --- Total: 11/25+

The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson (Little Blue Envelope #2)

The Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

The Angel Experiment by James Patterson (Maximum Ride #1)

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #2)

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #3)

Witch by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguié (Wicked #1)

The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman (Sally Lockhart #1)

School's Out -- Forever by James Patterson (Maximum Ride #2)

Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson (Maximum Ride #3)

The Final Warning by James Patterson (Maximum Ride #4)

The Shadow in the North by Philip Pullman (Sally Lockhart #2)

January: 0 --- Total: 0

January: 1 --- Total: 1/12

The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman (Sally Lockhart #1) [Keyword: Smoke]

January: 6 --- Total: 6/36

The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson (Little Blue Envelope #2)

The Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale 

Witch by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguié (Wicked #1)

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey (Jessica #1)

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain (The Dark Divine #2)

The Lost Letters of Brother Gabriel by Bree Despain (The Dark Divine #2.5)

January: 1 --- Total: 1/12

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey (Jessica #1)  [Creature: Vampire]

The Archived Book Birthday Giveaway Winner!

Hey quirks! As you might remember, I celebrated the release of THE ARCHIVED by Victoria Schwab by giving away a copy from The Book Depository.

Yesterday I had the chance to go to the launch party for The Archived and Victoria herself was kind enough to take a photo for me announcing the winner, and the winner is:

Congrats Daniela! Be on the look out for The Archived arriving in your mailbox in the next couple of weeks.

A big thank you to all who participated, and even if you didn't win, you can still get your own (Beautiful! Amazing! Spectacular!) copy of The Archived at the following online sites (or your own local book seller, of course):

Amazon / Indie Bound / The Book Depository

Ink Anticipation [8] - February 2013

This old feature has a new use!
Ink Anticipation is now for sharing what books I am looking forward to that will be released during the following month. Clicking on a book cover will either take you to the book's Goodreads page or to my review. Don't forget to share your most anticipated releases in the comments!

February 5th

February 12th

February 19th

February 26th