Top Ten Tuesday (9): Books I'm Excited for in 2012

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. For more information visit here.

This week is Top Ten Books I'm excited for in 2012, in case you couldn't figure it out from the title of the post.

So, without further ado, here is my list in no particular order.

In Honor by Jessi Kirby- This books looks so amazing, everything about it from the description to the cover. I can't wait to get my hands on this one!

The Savage Grace by Bree Despain- This is one of my favorite series. I was so bummed when it was pushed back from December to March. I'm really hoping the wait will be worth it. I'm sure it will be.

Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols- a) it's Jennifer Echols b) it sounds amazing and so different from everything else these days, and c) it's Jennifer freaking Echols.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth- I loved Divergent and can't wait to see what happens next!

The Calling by Kelley Armstrong- Not a lot happened in the first book, or at least not until the very end. I think this one will be different. Plus, only one more book until they meet up with the characters from The Darkest Powers series! Which is the main reason I'm continuing with this series.

Wings of the Wicked by Courtney Allison Moulton- One of my favorites, if not my favorite, book of 2011 was Angelfire. I need this book now!

Isla and the Happily Ever After- Enough said.

The Fault in Our Stars- It's John Green.

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver- Delirium was a fascinating dystopian. Plus, with a cliffhanger like that, I need the next one!

Thou Shalt Not Road Trip by Antony John- Road trips are my favorite subject matter, so I can't wait for this one!

What are you most excited for this year?

The Hunger Games Music

I actually found this a few weeks ago (Christmas) but I didn't share it. I'm not sure why. 

But without further ado, here is a the song from the Hunger Games soundtrack, by Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars.

When I first heard Taylor Swift was doing a song for this, I was very apprehensive. I was expecting her usual upbeat happy song. But I think this actually fits The Hunger Games. 

Review: Cinder

Cinder
Marissa Meyer
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: January 3, 2012
Pages: 387

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . 

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

I thought that Cinder would be an amazing read--and I was right. It had everything I hoped it would: romance, intrigue, kick-butt characters. 

This may be based on Cinderella, but it is so much more. I quite enjoyed something different from the home by midnight/ glass slipper scenario. And considering this isn't what I thought it would be, I was quite surprised by the ride that was Cinder.

I found that I got quite attached to the characters. From Cinder to Kai to Peony. I really grew to like Cinder, and really felt for her through the book. 

One aspect of the book that I could have enjoyed more was the world. With cyborgs and living on the moon and everything, it was more sci-fi than anything else. And I just am not a sci-fi fan, which caused trouble getting into this world. That's not to say that others will have this problem; it's just a personal issue.

I think that Cinder is one that all can enjoy. I can't wait for the next installment.

2012 Book/Blog Resolutions

As the New Year approaches, I decided to make a few bookish resolutions for next year. 

1. Review more non-YA books- Since a big chunk of what I read is adult, I figure I should start to review them more. Not on my blog, since it is strictly YA, but on other sights such as Goodreads. 
2. Interact more with the blogging community- I've actually been doing a pretty good job with this the past month or so. Maybe not since the holidays, but before that. But I figure there is always room to grow in this area. I'll do this by 1) commenting more, and 2) talking more on twitter and such.
3. Get reviews up in a more timely manner- Sometimes I'm good with this, sometimes I'm not. I figure I should try to be more consistent, though.
4. Finish more books than this year- I have to add this one in; I do it every year. My goal this year was to read 200, and assuming I make that, next year will be 201. 
5. Reach my monthly goal- This may be something along the same lines of the one above, but it is something I need to work on. Every month I have a goal of how many books I am going to read. There were many a month this year when I did not reach this goal. I wouldn't be scrambling to reach 200 this year if I had reached this.
6. If I don't like a book, don't read it- This may seem obvious, but when I start a book, even if I don't like it, I still finish it. I'm making it a rule that if I can't get into the first 100 pages of a book, to just set it aside. There are so many other books I could be reading than one that I don't really enjoy.
7. Expand my reading- I tend to read the same genres, so I'm going to try to get out of my comfort zone a little. A part of this is going to be trying to tackle a few classics.

What are some of your bookish New Year's resolutions?

End of the Year Survey

The Perpetual Page-Turner is hosting once again the End of the Year Book Survey. I've been meaning to do a post like this, and here is one waiting for me! To participate visit here.

Best Book Read in 2011:

It's hard picking one, but if I had to this would be it. 

 Most Disappointing Book/Book You Wish You Loved More Than You Did?

Don't hate me. It's not that I didn't like this book, but after months and months of anticipation and all of that buzz that surrounded this book, I felt that it wasn't as good as I thought it would be. I wanted to love it. But I think my expectations were too high.

Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2011?

Wasn't expecting this to be so good.

Book you recommended to people most in 2011?

Very addicting and enjoyable read. I'd recommend this to anyone, even if they don't read a lot.

Best series you discovered in 2011?

I really enjoyed the first 2 books in this series. One of my favorite YA series of the year.

Favorite new authors you discovered in 2011?

I read both of these books in 2011, and absolutely loved them. Stephanie Perkins is amazing!

Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

I started reading more adult fiction this year and loved it. I loved the Stray series, but there were several others that I read and enjoyed as well.

Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2011?

Yes, this one again. This was very addicting.

Book you most anticipated in 2011?

I was very excited for this pretty much all year. And now I'm the same way with the next one.

Favorite cover of a book you read in 2011?

I can't deny this cover is amazing!

Most memorable character in 2011? 

I loved how much Carmen grew during this book. I really enjoyed her.

Most beautifully written book read in 2011?

 Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2011? 

 Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2011 to finally read? 

Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2011?

I just think perfection and lasting through the ages is for Greek statues, not us mere humans.~The Fox Inheritance by Mary E. Pearson

Book That You Read In 2011 That Would Be Most Likely To Reread In 2012? 

Oh, there it is again

Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!

I'd have to say the end of this book about killed me

Charming Covers [25]

Charming Covers is a feature where I show recent cover reveals/that I've recently found.

Before I Wake by Rachel Vincent

July 2012

Yay! I love this series and now that the 6th one has a cover I'm even more excited for it! After the last book, I'm doing to know what happens next.

This isn't my favorite cover in the series, but it didn't fail to be absolutely gorgeous.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Vicious Deep

The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Córdova

May 12, 2012

Set against the backdrop of a Coney Island summer comes The Vicious Deep, the story of sixteen year old Tristan Hart whose life is turned upside down when the mermaids make an unscheduled return to land in search of their new king. 

When a sudden storm pulls Tristan from lifeguard duty into a deadly riptide, he discovers what he really is—a prince of the Sea Court. Turns out, his girlfriend hopping and talents as a swimmer aren’t caused by his teenage prime hormones after all. 

In this modern Arthurian tale with a twist, when all a guy wants to do is get The Girl and enjoy the freak show that is a Coney Island summer, Tristan has to fight for his life, the lives of his friends, and his humanity, if he still wants it, as he’s caught in a race for a throne that is as ancient as the gods.

This one looks so interesting. Mermaids and Coney Island? Heck yeah! Can't get much better than that.