Random Book Haul with a Splash of Biology and Society

 

Hello-Hello! Recently I got my hands on some awesome books. Some of them were free - somebody was literary throwing them to the garbage - and some of them I got for a cheap price in second-hand stores. I know that in some parts of the world, to buy from second-hand stores is seen with judgmental eyes in the eyes of society... like an embarrassment because you cannot afford to buy unused things, brand new. It is more about moral pride than the quality of the things and some people are even ashamed to admit that they entered and bought something from a second-hand store. I am speaking from my experience and I am not pointing fingers because it is impossible for me to know everything in this universe. :)

American view changed that opinion I had through books mostly. I found brand new books in second-hand stores. Barely opened or scratched books like the ones you are going to see below. It is crazy how many valuable things people are donating for other people to buy for a couple dollars.

Like that saying: One man's trash is another man's treasure.

I mean... It is a saying for a reason, right?

Don't be afraid about germs. Usually the stores disinfect them. Or in extreme cases you can disinfect them yourselves. Plus, a sterile life is impossible - except for fetuses in their mother's wombs and even there I might be wrong. Your are covered in germs yourself. Without your microbiota you will not be able to survive on this Earth. If you cannot believe me, you can listen to this guy from PBS who has a Ph.D. (doctorate) --> It's Okay To Be Smart - You Are Mainly Microbe... Meet Your Microbiome! 

You can see how much of a geek I am when I am turning a Book Haul into an educational post. Nevertheless, this shouldn't stop you to "stay curious" like Dr. Joe Hanson says. 

Now it's time for the BOOKS!!!!

 

 Books I got for free:

The Tale of Despereaux

The Devil Wears Prada

Girl with a Pearl Earring  

Night

The Book of Virtues

The Red Tent

The Alchemist

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland andThrough the Looking Glass

Anne of Avonlea -- which I donated to a Free Library program in my town

 

 Books I got from a second-hand store:

Lady Midnight

Magonia

Metamorphoses

The Outliers

Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes

 

If you are interested in reading any of these books, I included the link for their respective Goodreads page. You just have to click on the name of the book from the lists above to learn more about that said... book. Gosh, that was a mouthful. Yes, I repeat everything I write in my head to make sure it sounds right.

Anyway... Let me know if you read or want to read any of the books I hauled today. I want to read your thought, feelings, and opinions in the comment section - even if you read this post 20 years in the future.

Oh! And did I spark your curiosity about biology and people?

 

 

 

My Book Clubs' Book Pick of the Month for April and May

Hello-Hello! Today is another day to watch BONES. Although... Before that, let's talk about BOOKS.

Last month, I was negligent and I did not post the books picked by my book clubs. Now I am going to do two posts in one. Consider this as... I do not want to call it a recommendation... It's more of an introduction to the books. As in, I present these books to you and then it is up to you!

 

April

Booksplosion

 

This book is about a sci-fi fan-girl, Elle Wittimer, who is excited because she finally has a chance to go to her TV show / movie (no specifics in the synopsis) Starfield ExcelsiCon (something similar to ComicCon, I assume) convention. Darien Freeman, a geek himself, is the actor who is going to play the main character in the Starfield reboot. Bad news... the fandom does not like him. Elle and Darien meet at the convention and... Well, the rest of the book happens. :D Geekerella - Goodreads

 

Perustopia

 

For this one, think about the Kardashians' TV show but with expensive car brand names. The name of the main character is Bentley. She wants a normal life but her family (most of it) does not and the potential cancellation of their show is not a good thing. Her sister plans a fake wedding to save the show; however, a very serious car accident makes things very serious. Also, the story is told in a "tongue-in-cheek voice that takes a swipe at all things Hollywood, Royce Rolls is a laugh-out-loud funny romp with an LA noir twist about what it means to grow up with the cameras rolling and what really happens behind the scenes." Royce Rolls - Goodreads 

 

May

Booksplosion

 

Alice and Teddy are no strangers to misfortune, especially when it comes to people from their lives. Alice does not believe in luck but she believe in love and she has her eyes set on Teddy. On his birthday, Alice buys Teddy a lottery ticket and, surprisingly, it's a winner one. At first the money seem like a blessing but then, little by little, they become a curse reaping Teddy and Alice apart. As they try to reconnect with each other, Alice rediscover herself in way she did not expect. Windfall - Goodreads 

 

Perustopia

 

This is the second book in the series so... SPOILERS Ahead. (I will try not to spoiler too much.)

The God Apollo is turned into a human by Zeus as a punishment for the things which happed in the Heroes of Olympus series. His only solution to become god again is to find out what happened with the Oracles. Now he has to leave the safety of Camp Half-Blood and travel across North America for answers with "heroes who will be very familiar to fans of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Heroes of Olympus series." The Dark Prophecy - Goodreads  

 

And if you want to know more about my book clubs' creators, feel free to check them up on YouTube.

Booksplosion:

Christine from polandbananasBooks
Jesse from jessethereader
Kat from Katytastic

Perustopia:

Sasha from  abookutopia 

 Regan from PeruseProject 

Also if you are interested to find more books, you can check out the March book picks here.
 

 

The Easter Book Tag (Easter Book Bunny)

Real egg painted for Easter. Yes, that's my hand.

Hello-Hello! Doctor Who just premiered last weekend!!! Wait... Wrong post. Then... Is this the post about the Bunny who was forced by freshly resurrected Jesus to lay chocolate eggs - aren't they made of plastic now? - and then to hide them - no reason behind that - for children to find? At least in Romania the Easter Bunny brings real presents like Santa. Hmmm... Don't think so. I am mixing Christianity with Pop Culture.

Oh! Look! I used the "question inside a question" concept, literally.

I should probably look at the title of my post and stop babbling. :D

It's... A Book Tag related to Easter.

I was sort of tagged by Abi from What Makes A Good Book. (<-- link to original post and blog.) Well....... She tagged "anyone who wants to do this tag." And I said, "Why not?"

Let's get started!

1. Rabbits- A book that you wish would multiply- So a book you want a

sequel to (that doesn't have one)!

Let me check my Goodreads... The first book which comes to my mind is:

It is a standalone I read recently. A sci-fi fantasy well done. I need more from that world and those characters. For more information on this book, check out my review -->HERE<--.

2. Egg- A book that surprised you

For this one, I have two books. A recent release (Letters to the Lost) and an older one (An Ember in the Ashes).  Before starting these books, I was skeptic with low expectations and barely remembering their synopsis. Thus, I got gladly surprised. If you want, you can check my review on Letters to the Lost here.

3. Hunt- A book that was hard for you to get your hands on

Basically, almost all the books I put on hold from my libraries on OverDrive. As of right now, I am number 268 on 43 copies for this book (I already read 32% of it):

4. Lambs- A children's book that you still enjoy

I did not like books and reading when I was little. Shocking! I know. I liked the stories to be told to me by my grandmother. Sooo... I searched in my memory, on Google and Goodreads and I decided on this:

5. Spring- A book with a cover that makes you think of spring

Even the book itself has lots of spring and fairytale elements.

6. Rising from the dead- A book with a deceased author

Mostly all Romanian authors I read and other classics... Which are very few. Or I can put one of those ancient Greek works... Well, I am choosing two books:

Camil Petrescu The Last Night of Love, the First Night of War and Three Plays by Aristophanes: Staging Women 

7. Baskets- A book that is in your Amazon cart or on your wish list right now

I wish the Romanian and English speakers (Romania, U.S.A., and/or U.K.) to finish translating this series cause my French is bad. I will have to use Google and a dictionary if I want to finish this series. COME ON! In Romania, they stopped at book seven while in USA only the first two books are translated. Really! Really! Really! You cannot do this to me. Publishing companies from Romania and USA get your act together. I need this series finished. 

8. Candy- A book that is sweet

 Is love considered sweet? Then, I pick this one:

9. Peeps- tag people!

Are you feeling compelled to do this tag? Consider yourself tagged, mate.

Winter TBR Closure Because It's Spring

Hello-Hello, Everybody! It is officially Spring and I am here to bring my Winter wrap-up.

This may or may not come as a shock to you but  - I should definitely know by now - I tend to deviate form my TBR's for no reason. It is like I am doing it on purpose.

What can I say? I am in a constant need to rebel against myself. (More information about that in my post A random post...) When it comes to reading, I try not to force myself to read - all the time hahaha! - books I do not have the desire to read at the moment.

My reading tastes and habits usually match what I am in a mood for or not for at a giving time. As a side note, I am not sure my previous sentence makes sense at all but it made sense in my mind. In the future (consider it a very close future... like further down in my post), you will see that my TBR is just a guide line because I do not want to set boundaries when it comes to reading. Reading should be a fun activity so why force it. DO NOT quote me if you are in a situation when you MUST read a book. If it's a must, it's a must. :D

What I read from my TBR

 Click for my full reviews here --> Illuminae Review Gemina Review 

Click for my full reviews here --> Storm Siren Review Siren's Fury Review 

Click for my full reviews here --> Black Moon Review  

 Full review to come

 Click for my full reviews here --> A Shadow Bright and Burning Review 

 Click for my full reviews here --> Aphrodite Review 

What I did not read or finish to read

It has a slow start. Since it uses Romanian history, I feel a little picky about this book. It is kind of weird when you read a book and you know the end of Lada and Radu from the real history. I already have a mind set about those two: Love Lada, hate Radu! As simple as that. The author does a great job in creating complex personalities for out two protagonists. Also, I am obsessed with things being correct when it comes to Romanian terms and names - especially names - and how they are used so... Sometimes I cringe when things are incorrect. Translation is a tricky thing and the author is trying to not make things confusing for the readers since her major target audience is for clueless (about Romanian history) Americans. (No offense, that is the naked truth. I mean... What really do you -or the majority of you - know about Romania besides Transylvania, vampires, weird reputation in history, and present bad reputation in Europe created by a small group of people?) I am 22% done with this book. I am planning to finish it although I have to push myself a bit. Slow pace. Great build up and descriptions so far. Oh! And hate Ottomans if you have Romanian Blood! Hahaha!

 The series was enjoyable so far... The second book mad me push this book down my general TBR list because reading Gemina and Illuminae created an epic book craving which is not good for a normal less drenaline stimulating novel. Yes, I am planning to read it and finish the series. 

 For this one, even though I received and advanced reader copy, I got spooked by the hype. Other books got in the way and... Yeah. I am going to wait a bit and then give it a try. 

This may come as a shocker since I read almost every single thing written by Stephenie Meyer - except this book and Life and Death; although I am planning to read that one cause... Twilight. I know you cannot force somebody to do what the public wants, however, I wanted her to finish The Host series. I was not in the mood for this book. There was lots of hype from my book entourage. I read 32 pages and I was not that hooked. School and other things got in the way... Thus, I decided to not read this book in the near future.

 

I hope you enjoyed this picture-long post.

Brush aside my saltiness!

Create your own opinions on books!

And you can check out the books' description and  Goodreads links in my Winter TBR Post.

 



Winter TBR - Books to read in the winter season

Illuminae and Gemina (The Illuminae Files #1 & #2) - Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff

Illuminae synopses: This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded. The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit. But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again. Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes. Illuminae Gemina

 Aphrodite (Daughters of Zeus #4) - Kaitlin Bevis

 

Being perfect isn’t easy, but Aphrodite is determined to live up to the ideal. So when Poseidon asks her to investigate strange happenings on several cruise ships, she jumps at the chance to prove herself. Demigods are going missing, and no one remembers them having been on board. Aphrodite charms herself into the best room on the ship, prepared to investigate in style. Unfortunately, the room belongs to the one man immune to her charm. Adonis. When Aphrodite realizes that he could be the next target, her investigation gets more complicated. Worse, whoever is responsible for the missing demigods charmed the passengers and armed them with long-forgotten weapons designed to kill gods. When the ship goes dark, Aphrodite and Adonis have to work together to discover who is behind the mayhem before Poseidon decides their ship, and every charmed and armed human on it, are more trouble than they’re worth. Aphrodite

 

And I Darken (The Conquerer's Saga #1) - Keirsten White 

No one expects a princess to be brutal. And Lada Dragwlya likes it that way. Ever since she and her gentle younger brother, Radu, were wrenched from their homeland of Wallachia and abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman courts, Lada has known that being ruthless is the key to survival. She and Radu are doomed to act as pawns in a vicious game, an unseen sword hovering over their every move. For the lineage that makes them special also makes them targets. Lada despises the Ottomans and bides her time, planning her vengeance for the day when she can return to Wallachia and claim her birthright. Radu longs only for a place where he feels safe. And when they meet Mehmed, the defiant and lonely son of the sultan, Radu feels that he’s made a true friend—and Lada wonders if she’s finally found someone worthy of her passion. But Mehmed is heir to the very empire that Lada has sworn to fight against—and that Radu now considers home. Together, Lada, Radu, and Mehmed form a toxic triangle that strains the bonds of love and loyalty to the breaking point. And I Darken

 

Caraval (Caraval #1) - Stephanie Garber

 

Whatever you've heard about Caraval, it doesn't compare to the reality. It's more than just a game or a performance. It's the closest you'll ever find to magic in this world . . . Welcome, welcome to Caraval—Stephanie Garber’s sweeping tale of two sisters who escape their ruthless father when they enter the dangerous intrigue of a legendary game.
Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over. But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner. Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever. Caraval

 

Black Moon (Zodiac #3) - Romina Russell

Zodiac synopses: At the dawn of time, there were 13 Houses in the Zodiac Galaxy. Now only 12 remain….
Rhoma Grace is a 16-year-old student from House Cancer with an unusual way of reading the stars. While her classmates use measurements to make accurate astrological predictions, Rho can’t solve for ‘x’ to save her life—so instead, she looks up at the night sky and makes up stories. When a violent blast strikes the moons of Cancer, sending its ocean planet off-kilter and killing thousands of citizens—including its beloved Guardian—Rho is more surprised than anyone when she is named the House’s new leader. But, a true Cancerian who loves her home fiercely and will protect her people no matter what, Rho accepts. Then, when more Houses fall victim to freak weather catastrophes, Rho starts seeing a pattern in the stars. She suspects Ophiuchus—the exiled 13th Guardian of Zodiac legend—has returned to exact his revenge across the Galaxy. Now Rho—along with Hysan Dax, a young envoy from House Libra, and Mathias, her guide and a member of her Royal Guard—must travel through the Zodiac to warn the other Guardians. But who will believe anything this young novice says? Whom can Rho trust in a universe defined by differences? And how can she convince twelve worlds to unite as one Zodiac?
Embark on a dazzling journey with ZODIAC, the first novel in an epic sci-fi-meets-high-fantasy series set in a galaxy inspired by the astrological signs.  Zodiac Wandering Star Black Moon Thirteen Rising

 

Storm Siren, Siren's Fury, Siren's Song (The Storm Siren Trilogy #1, #2, #3) - Mary Weber

 

Storm Siren synopses: “I raise my chin as the buyers stare. Yes. Look. You don’t want me. Because, eventually, accidentally, I will destroy you.”
In a world at war, a slave girl’s lethal curse could become one kingdom’s weapon of salvation. If the curse—and the girl—can be controlled. As a slave in the war-weary kingdom of Faelen, seventeen-year-old Nym isn’t merely devoid of rights, her Elemental kind are only born male and always killed at birth — meaning, she shouldn’t even exist. Standing on the auction block beneath smoke-drenched mountains, Nym faces her fifteenth sell. But when her hood is removed and her storm-summoning killing curse revealed, Nym is snatched up by a court advisor and given a choice: be trained as the weapon Faelen needs to win the war, or be killed. Choosing the former, Nym is unleashed into a world of politics, bizarre parties, and rumors of an evil more sinister than she’s being prepared to fight . . . not to mention the handsome trainer whose dark secrets lie behind a mysterious ability to calm every lightning strike she summons. But what if she doesn’t want to be the weapon they’ve all been waiting for? Set in a beautifully eclectic world of suspicion, super abilities, and monsters, Storm Siren is a story of power. And whoever controls that power will win. Storm Siren Siren's Fury Siren's Song

 

The Chemist - Stephenie Meyer

 

In this gripping page-turner, an ex-agent on the run from her former employers must take one more case to clear her name and save her life.
She used to work for the U.S. government, but very few people ever knew that. An expert in her field, she was one of the darkest secrets of an agency so clandestine it doesn’t even have a name. And when they decided she was a liability, they came for her without warning. Now, she rarely stays in the same place or uses the same name for long. They’ve killed the only other person she trusted, but something she knows still poses a threat. They want her dead, and soon. When her former handler offers her a way out, she realizes it’s her only chance to erase the giant target on her back. But it means taking one last job for her ex-employers. To her horror, the information she acquires only makes her situation more dangerous. Resolving to meet the threat head-on, she prepares for the toughest fight of her life but finds herself falling for a man who can only complicate her likelihood of survival. As she sees her choices being rapidly whittled down, she must apply her unique talents in ways she never dreamed of. In this tautly plotted novel, Stephenie Meyer creates a fierce and fascinating new heroine with a very specialized skill set. And she shows once again why she’s one of the world’s bestselling authors. The Chemist

 

The Diabolic (The Diabolic #1) - S.J. Kincaid



Nemesis is a Diabolic. Created to protect a galactic Senator's daughter, Sidonia. The girl who has grown up by her side and who is as much as sister as a master. There's no one Nemesis wouldn't kill to keep her safe. But when the power-mad Emperor summons Sidonia to the galactic court as a hostage, there is only one way for Nemesis to protect Sidonia.
She must become her.
Now one of the galaxy's most dangerous weapons is masquerading in a world of corruption and Nemesis has to hide her true abilities or risk everything. As the Empire begins to fracture and rebellion looms closer, Nemesis learns that there is something stronger than her deadly force: the one thing she's been told she doesn't have - humanity. And, amidst all the danger, action and intrigue, her humanity might be the only thing that can save her, Sidonia and the entire Empire... The Diabolic

 

A shadow Bright and Burning (Kingdom on Fire #1) - Jessica Cluess

I am Henrietta Howel. The first female sorcerer. The prophesied one. Or am I?
Henrietta Howel can burst into flames. When she is brought to London to train with Her Majesty's sorcerers, she meets her fellow sorcerer trainees, young men eager to test her powers and her heart. One will challenge her. One will fight for her. One will betray her. As Henrietta discovers the secrets hiding behind the glamour of sorcerer life, she begins to doubt that she's the true prophesied one. With battle looming, how much will she risk to save the city--and the one she loves? A Shadow Bright and Burning