Book News Night #1: The Casual Vacancy and The Mark of Athena

Welcome to the first Book News Night! Every week, on a random night, I will report the latest newsworthy items in the world of books with some thoughts from myself.

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling top several best-selling lists on release date!

It also set the record for biggest "started reading" date on Goodreads!

And I'm not going to pretend I'm surprised for this one. J.K. Rowling, affectionately dubbed "The Queen" by her fans from the Harry Potter days, is probably one of the most prominent and influential authors of our times. And so it goes without saying that anything she publishes is going to get the hype, not only from Harry Potter fans, but also from critics waiting to see if she is just a one-hit wonder (or in this case, a one-series wonder). The Casual Vacancy is the first (and hopefully not the last) one to get this treatment...

Reading Challenge: 2012 TBR PILE

A huge part of the appeal of blogging lies in the blogger's ability to connect with others and participating in challenges.

Which is why... 

I'm entering my first reading challenge: THE 2012 TBR PILE CHALLENGE!

What it's about: 

We all have those books. We buy them, win them, they're gifted to us.. Then we put them up on a bookshelf and there they stay, collecting dust, waiting for the time when we'll finally decide to pick them up.. Join us on a quest to dust off your TBR Pile and read all the books you've been telling yourself you'll read next time you'll get a chance.. This is your chance! 

Book Review: The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins: "An Easy Read Which Poses Serious Questions"

Tonight. After the reaping, everyone is supposed to celebrate. And a lot of people do, out of relief that their children have been spared for another year. But at least two families will pull their shutters, lock their doors, and try to figure out how they will survive the painful weeks to come.

Series: The Hunger Games Trilogy: The Hunger Games/Catching Fire/Mockingjay

Genre: Dystopian, Science Fiction
Pages: 374/391/390
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: Sep 14, 2008/Sep 1, 2009/Aug 24, 2010
Website: Suzanne Collins | The Hunger Games Series on GoodReads

Where I got these books: Bought the boxed set from Tiki (a local online bookstore)

How I started reading: My friends in the Harry Potter fandom were all gushing over the series. Then a friend of mine started reading it for one of her class' assignment, so I joined her.

Synopsis: In Panem, a country rising from the ruins of North America, 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen’s life was completely turned upside down when she volunteered in her sister’s place to enter a televised “game”, which would lead to either victory or death. Her decisions were now entwined with the fate of all the people who knew her, and ultimately, with Panem itself.

First off, can I just start by saying that I absolutely adore this series? These books are probably the first ones since ever to keep me up reading until 2a.m. The plot is fast-paced, with cliffhangers almost every chapter. The language is simple and adds to the pacing. The books are written in first-person POV, so we can really get in the head of Katniss and thus everything she does become much more relatable...

It's a Book-Cleaning Day!

I have just finished organizing my bookshelves! This deserves a standing ovation, consider how much of a messy person I am! Now all my books are stacked methodically according to their languages and genres, something I've always wanted them to be.

I've also updated my Goodreads profile, which you can find here. I haven't written any reviews but I'm looking forward to doing so soon on both Goodreads and this blog.

So when was the last time you organized your bookshelves?

Before I Start...

There are a few things you'll need to know about me:

1. I'm a bookworm.

I (try to) read all kinds of books. Fantasy, Crime, Drama, Historical Fiction, Psychology, ... you name it. In my opinion, every genre has something different to add to our reading experience.

2. I'm also an aspiring writer.

Which (partly) is why I'm creating this blog. The other part is because I want to share my thoughts on books with everyone.

And lastly,

3. I'm a Defender of YA Literature. 

(and Pop Culture in general)

YA Lit is and has always been underrated. With books that are fun and light-hearted, critics say they're not serious enough. With books that depict a harsh, cold world, critics say they have distorted life as it is, and deprived their readers of hope.
While I respect their points of view, I'll say that YA is just as fine as it is. Sure, it may not be as beautifully written as the classics, but it does what a book should do:
It reflects. A well-composed YA book mirrors what teens are feeling and facing today. It's carefree because we want to be carefree. And if the world in it is not perfect, well, life is not perfect. And of course, if it's not to your liking, put the books down.

[For deeper analysis on this topic, check out this article by Meghan Fox Curdon and the article questioning it]

With that said, let's get reading!