Happy Half Year fellow readers! 🎉😄🍰📚

How is your 2017 so far? Have you been continuing your resolutions or have you already forgotten them? Has this year turned out to be what you expected it to be? If not, don’t worry. You still have 6 months more to accomplish whatever you want. 😉

I love to read and I love books but I’m not like one of those people who read 10 to 15 books every month. I read about 2 to 3 books per month on average because I like to linger on the magic that a book leaves long after I’ve read the last word. I’m also not a very fast reader since I jot down a lot of notes while reading. So this year, I challenged myself to read 100 books for the whole year of 2017. Half of the year has passed and I read 44 books in all. 54 to go! 😄

1. The Merchant of Death, Pendragon #1 by D.J. MacHale 

My friend actually sent me a copy of this book and this is the 2nd time I’m reading The Merchant of Death. I first read this series when I was in High School so it feels nostalgic reading about Bobby and his adventures. 

2. What Light by Jay Asher

This is my favorite contemporary book I’ve read this year so far because I just love everything about this book – from the characters to the setting, the season, the theme, just… everything. BTW, I wrote a review of What Light, you can check it out on my previous posts. 

3. Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

I’ve been into mental health novels lately and this caught my eye in the bookstore and it’s a Sophie Kinsella novel so why not? I love all of Sophie Kinsella’s books I’ve read so far and I thought I would be loving this as much but this book didn’t really meet up my expectations. It’s my fault anyway since I expected too much. I enjoyed it though, but not as much as I hoped I would. I think chick-lit best suits Sophie’s writing style. 

4. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

I love love love Red Queen! This book was just the right choice to grab at that time since I was going through a difficult phase in my life and fierce female characters in dystopian society makes me feel stronger. 

5. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein

While I was walking through the bookstore, this book caught my attention. Guess why? Because it was on sale! Haha It was only about $4.00 and it was the last copy so I grabbed it along with other books before anyone else could put their hands on it. It’s a really light and fun read. Reminds me of Elementary. I miss being a kid. 

6. Cruel Crown by Victoria Aveyard

Having enjoyed the Red Queen, this novella was everything I expected and more! 

7. The Lost City of Faar by D. J. MacHale

More of Bobby’s adventures yay! A sequel to Merchant of Death, The Lost City of Faar is set under the sea somewhat like the lost city of Atlantis. Cloral is my favorite teritory so far in this series. I don’t know how to swim though. Hihi

8. Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth

This has been on my TBR list since I’ve heard of it because …. Veronica Roth! I love the Divergent Series and I’m still stuck in that world even to this day, I can’t seem to get out of it. Again, I expected a lot from this since I enjoyed Veronica Roth’s other books and I did enjoy this but Divergent is still better, to me at least. Divergent will always have a special place in my heart since it is the first dystopian novel I read. 

9. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

OMG! The cover is awesome but the title is even more awesome! This book is just everything I expected and more. This is the best series I read so far this year.

10. Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

Very hilarious, fun, and educational, this book is a must-read for when you need cheering up. 

11. The Land of Stories: A Grimm Warning by Chris Colfer

Fairies, trolls, goblins, elves, witches, dragons, talking statues, a mystery masked man, the Brothers Grimm, the Grande Armée, life lessons from the Fairy Godmother, clues in a time capsule, secrets unveiled, a wedding in the woods, first loves and broken hearts, betrayal, and magic mirrors. What’s not to love? 

12. Heartless by Marissa Meyer

First of all, the cover is love! With black and red and silver, the cover matches the title perfectly! This book made me laugh, cry and fall in love. If I had not known that Heartless is about the Queen of Hearts of Alice in Wonderland, I would have guessed it’s a story about the Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs because of its title. This is my favorite retelling that I read so far this year. 

13. Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

This was on sale for only about $4.00 so I grabbed it. It was on sale so why not? I heard a lot of hate comments about this book so I was hesitant to read Black Ice at first but I bought it so might as well read it. Haha Guess what? I actually enjoyed this book! 

14. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

A heist, okay, this sounds interesting, so I picked this book. And boy was I not disappointed at all with this. Is there such thing as a criminal prodigy? Well, in this book, there is. Haha Kaz Brekker is so cool! He reminds me of Sherlock. I love love love Kaz. OMG, can I be Inej for a second? Haha 

15. Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

A sequel to Six of Crows means more of Kaz! And Inej, Matthias, Nina, Jesper and Wylan! I like how the loyalty of each member lies differently. It makes the story more interesting. 

16. A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

I love this book period. 

17. My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella

Unputdownable. Yes, this book is unputdownable. Hilarious and relatable,
My Not So Perfect Life is a great read for when you want a good dose of laughter. 

18. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J. K. Rowling

I have to admit, this is my first time to read the Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling. I feel embarrassed even though I shouldn’t be. My family and I went to Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios in Japan so I watched all the Harry Potter movies days before the trip.

19. The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom

The first Mitch Albom book that I read is Tuesdays with Morrie and I really enjoyed that book. So when I went to the bookstore and saw The Time Keeper, I didn’t hesitate to buy it. Mitch Albom never disappoints me. The Time Keeper is just as I expected it to be.

 

20. The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

21. モ–メント Vol.1 by 槇村 さとる

22.モ–メント Vol. 2 by 槇村 さとる

23.モ–メント Vol. 3 by 槇村 さとる

24. モーメント Vol. 4 by 槇村 さとる

25. モーメント Vol. 5 by 槇村 さとる

テレビで、フィギュアスケートの大会を見て、この漫画を読みました。日本語を勉強していますので漫画や子どもの絵本など読んで日本語を勉強しています。
I love Satoru Makimura’s The Moment Series particularly because it doesn’t involve romantic feelings compared to almost all mangga that revolve around love and crushes and all that stuff. (I sound bitter. Right. Whatever.) But in the fifth volume, the main character begins to have feelings towards her fellow skater but to my surprise, I still enjoyed it.

26. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter! Yay! 

27. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

The Mortal Instruments movie has been sitting on my laptop for so long since I received a copy from my sister and I’ve made a promise to myself not to watch it before reading the book and despite the hype about this book, I wasn’t intrigued enough to read it. But surprise! I finally picked it up. 

28. あらしのよるに by きむらゆういち

この絵本はお母さんが買ってくれた本で前はテレビでよく見てたってゆってました。羊と狼の話でなかよくなったすてきなストーリーです。羊と狼が友達になるなんてめずらしいですね。あらしのよるにはすばらしい絵本だと思います。

29. Hotel Valhalla Guide to the Norse Worlds by Rick Riordan

A guide for einhenjars staying at Hotel Valhalla, this book is an entertaining read!

30. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

So I watched the movie before reading Catching Fire and I like the movie as a movie and the book as a book. I like Suzanne Collins’ writing style and how she leaves you in suspense after each chapter.

31. Cinder by Marissa Meyer

If this was the first book I read by Marissa Meyer, then I don’t think I would be a fan of Marissa Meyer’s writing style but with Heartless, I’m a big fan of her work. Considering the fact that Cinder was published 5 years ago and Heartless came out just last year, I think she has improved a lot since then.
32. とべないほたる５ ののさんおうた

A Story of the Firefly Who Cannot Fly: Song of the Moon is a beautiful story that empowers children and even adults who are different from the norm to be confident of who they are and what they are born with and turn their weakness into strength.

33. 林一きれいなひょうの話 by 工藤直子

It’s a fun light read as we follow the leopard on his journey to find his spots. I enjoyed reading this since the vocabulary is easy and a very entertaining read as well.

34. どうぶつなぜなぜばなし: ぞうのはなはなぜながい by 村上 勉、くじらがくじらになったわけ by みやざきひろかず、くまのしっぽはなぜみじかいの  by 馬場のぼる

どうぶつなぜなぜばなし is a hilarious read that will leave your jaw hanging with words like “What,” “Why,” “No way,” and a lot of “Hahas” floating in your head. Well, to young adults at least. But to children, I think this is a very interesting read.

35. 塔の上のラプンツエル by しぶやまさこ

塔の上のラプンツエル は しぶやまさこ が アイリーン トリンブル が書いた 英語の本を訳した物語です。日本語なのでグーグルトランスレートを使いながら読んで、読み終わるには何日もかかりましたけど 楽しかった。訳した本ですけど日本語がオリジナル物語みたいに書いてあって訳してないような訳で すばらしいと思います。日本語を勉強して漢字は三年生の漢字を勉強してますのであまり漢字読めないのでこの本を読んで勉強になりました。それに、塔の上のラプンツエルの本は漢字にふりがなをふってあいますので新しい言葉とか習いました。 

36. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

After a Cinderella retelling, the 2nd book to the Lunar Chronicles is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. I was drawn to Wolf since the beginning because of his mysterious aura. I also like the romance going on between Wolf and Scarlet though it’s a bit cheesy. 

37. Glitches by Marissa Meyer

Let us take another moment to appreciate the book cover. It is  beautifully written and I wish it would have been a bit longer. After reading this prequel, I liked Peony even more because she did not judge Cinder for being different.

38. The Queen’s Army by Marissa Meyer

Ze’ev! A story about Wolf’s past! Yes yes yes!  I love love love this novella because it gives a glimpse of Wolf’s story before the army and because it’s a story about my favorite character in the Lunar Chronicles. I really enjoyed this novella.

39. The Little Android by Marissa Meyer

Marissa Meyer did it again, a unique way of retelling! Heartbreakingly beautiful, this novella is one of my favorite novellas of all time. 

40. はたらくくるま

この本は絵本なのであっとゆうまに終わりましたけど色んな車の勉強になりました。日本語を勉強している方にはおすすめです。

41. 午前〇時、キスしに来てよ by みきもと凛

この漫画はシンデレラストーリーみたいに書かれた作品です。さいきん英語のシンデレラ風の半分人間半分ロボットのストーリーを読みましたのでこの漫画に出会ったことは運命と思います。 午前〇時、キスしに来てよはドキドキいっぱいかわいいストーリーだと私は思っています。

42. Cress by Marissa Meyer

Cress is a retelling of Rapunzel and after reading a translated version of Rapunzel in Japanese, Rapunzel is easily becoming one of my favorite Disney princesses. Cress is my favorite in the Lunar Chronicles so far. Cress is also my favorite female character because I can relate to her in many ways. I like how Meyer retold and changed the tower into a satellite because it sounds more techy. 

43. A-List by DP Lyle

This is the first book that I received from NetGalley and I hate to admit that I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I wanted to. I had no idea A-List is a sequel but this book can stand on its own without having read the prequel. I have to admit, it had a slow start. I don’t like how the dialogues are constructed and there are many redundant ideas that it made me feel like I’ve just started the book even when I was already 200 plus pages in.

44. Accessories to Die For by Paula Paul

Fast-paced and thrilling, Accessories to Die For will keep you turning the pages long after the lights have gone out. I love love love this book! Set in a small town in Santa Fe, New Mexico, rich in culture and tradition, we see a different side of Santa Fe, a darker side. Irene reminds me of Nancy Drew because of her bravery and independence. I’m happy I requested a copy of this!