Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Goals For 2013

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at The Broke and the Bookish.

Bookish goals. Pretty self-explanatory this week. So without further adieu...

10. Read More

Yeah, that pretty much explains itself. Too often I get distracted by all the other media available, or bogged down with other things... Some of it can't be helped, but I do hope to try and prioritize reading a little higher than it's been before. And I hope my new dedicated reading chair will help me in this endeavor.

9. Try Out Some Group Reads

Quite a few of my GoodReads groups have monthly book discussions. Unfortunately, as of yet, I've only participated in reading/discussing one. I'm hoping this year I can clear out my schedule a little and get my eyes reading some of these group reads. I love discussing books, I'm just horrible at working on a time crunch...

8. Complete Series/Trilogies

There are quite a few series out now which I've either neglected entirely, or read the first couple and neglected the finale. This year I plan on finally putting some of these series to rest.

7. Read My Own Books

Amazon is way, WAY too generous sometimes. There are SO many free books for Kindle, and more and more cycle through every day! I've already 'purchased' over 700 in the near-year I've owned my Kindle, and I just keep buying more! One of these days (maybe this year) I need to sit down with my Kindle and just get to reading them.

Plus, I own another few dozen physical books which I haven't touched. I'm hoping the one of my reading challenges will help me finally crack down on these too.

6. Author Requests

I know, I know, I'm a horrible horrible person. I still have four books sent to me for review, a couple I've won from GoodReads, AND another seven I need to review from NetGalley! I hope to get these off my shoulders by March at the latest (preferably done this month, if I can manage it!), and finally clear off my Review Policy hiatus message (which people seem to ignore anyway...)

5. Complete Reading Challenges

Even though reading challenges are more goals, not etched-in-stone promises, it'd still be nice to actually complete one for a change. Last year I took on a ton of challenges around March (some even later) and didn't complete even one. This year, no matter how tempting, I'm restricting myself to the five (six) challenges I've taken on. If I'm making a huge headway, I might allow myself to tackle another one... We'll see.

4. Attend More Author Events

Even if the YA2U tour doesn't hit up Portland, we still get a ton of various authors stopping in. I mean, next week we get Kevin Emerson, Martha Brockenbrough, Sean Beaudoin & Cat Patrick on the same night! Not to mention all those coming to LeakyCon (which, I can't, since they haven't been announced yet).

Problem is, I tend to hold myself to reading their book(s) before attending, and if I don't I totally stress myself out about not having anything to say or sign or getting spoilers...so I don't sleep, get sick, and don't go. I missed out on an entire convention last year because of that. Not this year. I will attend and I will enjoy myself.

3. No Breaks

No, I'm not a self-imposing slave-driver. At least, I try not to be. I'm talking about month-to-three-month-long breaks of absolutely nothing going up on the blog. It's horrible. Stop it. Just read/write something! So even if it's just TTT posts (hey!) I'll at least *try* to have something up every week, if not more. And the next goal should help greatly with that...

2. Prepare

I hope to have quite a few posts pre-written days if not weeks before they're posted. I already schedule posts for 5:30am (8:30am EST) usually for the following day, just so I can hit inboxes first thing in the morning. But I figure if I can get enough content generated beforehand, then I won't have to worry about slow times, like when I go to LeakyCon in June!

1. Stop Procrastinating

I'm a master procrastinator. Did it all through high school. Did it all through college. It's resulted in greatness...and it's resulted in massive stress, failure, breakdowns, and shutdowns. Even though all my Reading Challenges and such are my own goals and don't really mean anything, I'd still like to actually get them done this year.

And that means not leaving all of them until December when I get super busy with family, church stuff, and life in general. If I could have *all* of my challenges completed by November (before Thanksgiving even!), I'd be ecstatic!

But even on a smaller scale, I tend to leave my reading until last-thing. Book's due at the library next week? I'll read it tomorrow...this weekend...the day before it's due. An author's coming next month? I'll get to their book(s) next week...the week before...the night before their event/signing. STOP IT! Just pick up the book now!!! Hopefully I'll have less self-imposed stress and burn-outs, and more happiness, confidence, and blog content.

So, what goals do you have this year?
Are you trying to read more, less, differently?
Got any major plans for your blog?
Let me hear you howl!

Sneaking a Peek at The Archived

~The Archived~
The Archived
Book 1
By Victoria Schwab
Amazon ~ Powell's

Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.

Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive. Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was: a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often-violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper isn't just dangerous—it's a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da's death was hard enough, but now that her little brother is gone too, Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

In this haunting, richly imagined novel, Victoria Schwab reveals the thin lines between past and present, love and pain, trust and deceit, unbearable loss and hard won redemption.


First of all, I hope they don't change a thing about that cover. It's gorgeous! Be sure to click on the image to get a larger view. Okay, maybe a little tweaking to the author name, as it can get a little lost up there. But still, great design guys. I only wish I'd gotten to see it on my Kindle - but that's neither here nor there.

I don't honestly remember what drew me to request this sneak peek from NetGalley two months back, but when I picked it up this week I had absolutely no clue what I was getting myself into. An organization that keeps secrets and souls, a world where the dead don't always rest in peace, and a fiery heroine who hunts down Histories while struggling to come to terms with her own... How could I not want to read more?

Top Ten Tuesday: Books We Hope Aren't Forgotten

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's topic is focusing on books that we hope will remain "on the radar" of readers. Either current lower-hyped titles that we thought were great, or really great older books that might be forgotten down the line. Now, I tend to remember authors a lot more than I remember specific books. So here are a few books & authors that I hope will continue to be remembered and treasured down the line...

10. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

I don't remember when I first read this book—probably 3rd or 4th grade—but I do remember it was the very first book to make me cry. A well-written story, great characters, and a heart-wrenching ending, this is definitely one I hope continues to be carried in children's sections for decades to come.

9. J.R.R. Tolkien

An author I don't think will ever be forgotten, Mr. Tolkien created characters, a language, and a world which has been passed down to new generations and shared with new audiences. There is a timelessness to his tales, though some are more memorable than others. Nonetheless, I hope his memory and his works survive long into the future.

8. His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

A series which I probably picked up at too-young an age, but still lingers with me nonetheless. I've re-read the first couple books but have yet to delve back into the third novel a second time. The series as a whole is deceptively simple and innocent, but the subject matter is pretty deep and complex. Still, I hope this series doesn't go the way of the movie and get completely forgotten.

7. Diane Duane

Though I've only managed to read her Young Wizards series, I've heard some great things about her other works as well. Even though her characters are a 'young adult' age, nothing about her books has ever made me feel written-down to. I hope her work continues to be on the radar of children and adults alike.

6. C.S. Lewis

I took a class in college about C.S. Lewis and his works, so I might be a bit biased. Still, whether you're only reading his Chronicles for children, or whether you've ventured into his non-fiction Christian works, I believe he still has a lot to share.

5. Kristin Cashore

This is an author I'm thrilled to follow. I remember when Graceling first came out, I liked it but there were elements that didn't rub right with me. When Fire was released, I loved it so much I couldn't explain it. It was originally going to be my very first review on my blog, but I just couldn't get the wording right.

Bitterblue finally came out this year, and yet again I am stumped on how to review it. There is something that just resonates in all of her books, and I am excited to see her continue to grow with what she releases in the future. Seriously, go pick up her books now!

4. Eoin Colfer

I know I've said this before, but Colfer is quite possibly my favorite male author. I first knew him from his Artemis Fowl series, then his book The Wish List, and finally his addition to the Hitchhiker's series. I was even lucky enough to hear him when he came to talk about the Hitchhiker book. Maybe I'm just a sucker for that Irish accent and a sense of humor. Or maybe his books are really just that great. Regardless, I hope he and his books stay on the reader radar for some time to come.

3. K.A. Applegate

Quite possibly the author who most shaped my literary childhood. I not only read and collected the entire Animorphs series, but I also read her Everworld and Remnants series, which inspired and terrified me, respectively. Though arguably not as 'literary' as YA has been allowed to become in recent years, her books are still exciting reads that I hope aren't completely forgotten as time moves along.

2. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

The world-wide phenomenon that spurred a new age of literature. The Star Wars of books. There are movies, conventions, websites, classes, and more all dedicated to remembering and preserving the magic these books brought us.

I met some of my dearest friends on a fansite and then spent many hours imagining up our own scenarios in the HP world. I own two copies of each of the books (hardbound and paperback) so that I'll have one copy for keeps and one for re-reading.

I don't know that this series will ever fade, and for that I am thankful.

© www.tamorapierce.com

1. Tamora Pierce

I cannot stress enough how amazing all of her books are. Whether it's her anthology of short stories, or her Tortall series or her Emelan series, she never fails to present strong female and male characters in historical and magical worlds. I've never known her books to have a ton of hype surrounding them, and yet her signings and events never fail to fill the seats. She is an amazing person, and I hope she and her work continue to be a staple in YA literature for a very, very long time.

Honorable Mentions:
The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Ender's Game & series by Orson Scott Card
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy & sequels by Douglas Adams
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
1984 by George Orwell
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

So, which books (or authors) are on your list?
Have they already established a legacy, or are they still on the fringe?
Let me hear you howl!

Top Ten Tuesday: Fall 2012 TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at The Broke and the Bookish.

I'm WAY behind on my normal TBR list, and other than a quick perusal of Amazon's "Coming Soon" listing, I honestly don't know what's releasing this Fall.
Sorry about that.

So rather than telling you what I'm dying to read that has yet to be released this year, here are my Top Ten Books that I SWEAR I WILL READ (and review) this fall.

10. Her Majesty's Will by David Blixt

Before he was famous, he was a fugitive.
Before he wrote of humanity, he lived it.
Before he was the Bard of Avon, he was a spy.

A very poor spy.

England, 1586. Swept up in the skirts of a mysterious stranger, Will Shakespeare becomes entangled in a deadly and hilarious misadventure as he accidentally uncovers the Babington Plot, an attempt to murder Queen Elizabeth herself. Aided by the mercurial wit of Kit Marlowe, Will enters London for the first time, chased by rebels, spies, his own government, his past, and a bear.

Through it all he demonstrates his loyalty and genius, proving himself to be - HER MAJESTY'S WILL.

9. Moonstone by Marilee Brothers

A sickly mom. A tiny house trailer. High school bullies and snarky drama queens. Bad-guy dudes with charming smiles. Allie has problems. And then there's that whole thing about fulfilling a magical prophecy and saving the world from evil. Geez.

Welcome to the sad, funny, sometimes-scary world of fifteen-year-old Allie Emerson, who's struggling to keep her and her mom's act together in the small-town world of Peacock Flats, Washington. An electrical zap from a TV antenna sets off Allie's weird psychic powers. The next thing she knows she's being visited by a hippy-dippy guardian angel, and then her mysterious neighbor, the town "witch," gives her an incredible moonstone pendant that has powers only a good-hearted "Star Seeker" is meant to command.

"Who, me?" is Allie's first reaction. But as sinister events begin to unfold, Allie realizes she's got a destiny to live up to. If she can just survive everyday life, in the meantime.

8.The White Oak by Kim White

Cora Alexander is pulled through a sinkhole and enters the underworld still alive. Her living presence threatens the tyrannical rule of Minos and the Infernal Judges who have hijacked the afterlife and rebuilt it, trapping human souls in a mechanical, computer-controlled city that lies at the core of the earth. To survive, Cora must rely on her untrustworthy guide, Minotaur, an artificial intelligence. She is helped by a mysterious voice, and by Sybil, underworld librarian and author of each person’s book of life. When Cora’s own book is destroyed, Sybil gives her a golden pen and sends her into the City to begin writing her own destiny. Along the way, she reunites with the ghost of her dead brother, Lucas, a genius programmer who alone is capable of finding the chink in Minos armor. This fast-paced adventure begins, and ends, in the middle of the action; introducing the characters, themes, and mysteries that find their resolution later in the series.

7. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs. Fiction is based on real black and white photographs. The death of grandfather Abe sends sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, and explores abandoned bedrooms and hallways. The children may still live.

6. Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

5. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

4. Halflings & Guardian by Heather Burch

After being inexplicably targeted by an evil intent on harming her at any cost, seventeen-year-old Nikki finds herself under the watchful guardianship of three mysterious young men who call themselves halflings. Sworn to defend her, misfits Mace, Raven, and Vine battle to keep Nikki safe while hiding their deepest secret—and the wings that come with.

A growing attraction between Nikki and two of her protectors presents a whole other danger. While she risks a broken heart, Mace and Raven could lose everything, including their souls. As the mysteries behind the boys’ powers, as well as her role in a scientist’s dark plan, unfold, Nikki is faced with choices that will affect the future of an entire race of heavenly beings, as well as the precarious equilibrium of the earthly world.

3. Endlessly by Kiersten White

Evie's paranormal past keeps coming back to haunt her. A new director at the International Paranormal Containment Agency wants to drag her back to headquarters. The Dark Faerie Queen is torturing humans in her poisonous realm. And supernatural creatures keep insisting that Evie is the only one who can save them from a mysterious, perilous fate.

The clock is ticking on the entire paranormal world. And its fate rests solely in Evie's hands.

So much for normal.

2. Last Rite by Lisa Desrochers

In this final installment of the thrilling, edgy Personal Demons series, the battle between Heaven and Hell has become critical, and Frannie Cavanaugh is right at the center of it.

With the help of the powerful angel Gabe and demon-turned-mortal Luc, Frannie has been able to stay one step ahead of the forces of Hell. But when the demons killed Frannie's best friend and destroyed her brother, they raised the stakes. If Frannie wants to keep her family and friends safe, she knows she has no choice but to go on the run.

Their best defense is the power Frannie has been struggling to master, but her attempts to hone her skill go horribly awry. If Frannie doesn't learn fast, the consequences could be devastating--even apocalyptic.

What happens when you can't outrun Hell...or trust the ones you love?

1. Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

Hailed as “impossible to put down,” the Hex Hall series has both critics and teens cheering. With a winning combination of romance, action, magic and humor, this third volume will leave readers enchanted.

Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident.

Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?

Sorry I couldn't be a bit more on top of things this year, but what do you think?

Which books are you excited for?
Which books are on your list?
Let me hear you howl!

E-Reader Suggestions?

Got a question for y'all...

As you may or may not have noticed, here at The Wolf's Den, I don't usually read many e-books. It's not that I have anything against them, I just don't own an e-reader. Now, I have accepted some e-books for review now and again, but I read them at my computer.

I use free programs such as Kindle for PC and Adobe Digital Editions. I tend to prefer the Kindle program, but it doesn't accept all formats (PDF), so I'm stuck with either a converted mess or using Adobe for some books. Unfortunately, sitting and reading at the computer has two major disadvantages:

First, I find that oftentimes sitting at the computer gives me too many distractions to allow me to focus on the material I should be reading. YouTube, GoodReads, DeviantArt... I swear I don't have ADD, but——Ooh shiny! Ahem, second, the eye-strain and required seating arrangements (needing to be able to see the screen) don't allow me much in the way of comfort or variety. Frankly, I love reading in bed or sprawled out on the couch—just so many ways to toss and turn and cozy-up while I read!

An e-reader seems like it would answer both of those problems. Plus the fact that I could take my e-books out of the house! The library might be a nice change of scenery now and again. Or maybe when I'm chilling at Powell's?

And that's where you guys come in! I've stayed out of the e-reader scene mostly due to expenses. Now, I'm still not rolling in dough at the moment, so I'm really trying to balance out spiffy gadgets with my budget. Here are a few brands I've heard of, ranging from $79 to $199:
Kindle (Basic $79, Touch $99, Keyboard $139, Fire $199),
NOOK (Touch $99, Color $169, Tablet $199),
Sony (Reader $130),
Kobo (Basic $100, Touch $130, Vox $200),
and BeBook (One $99, S Club $129, Neo $159).

Honestly, I'm kinda leaning towards a Kindle at the moment. I've used the PC software for about a year now, and other than the PDF issues (which I don't know if there's a better option right now) I don't have any huge problems. Plus I already have a lot of free books downloaded, and I'm sure I'll run across other freebees regularly. Plus my library already offers a large selection of e-books in the Kindle format!

So here's my checklist:
Price - Not able to spend tons right now.
Weight/Size - Not a huge issue for me, actually.
Ease-of-Use - I'm pretty tech-savvy, so unless it's a nightmare to use, I should be fine.
Loyalty/Format - I'm not really loyal to one company over another. Powell's and Jan's are indie, and Borders kinda died. But when it comes to formats, how much of a pain is it going to be getting the right book format?
Memory - I'm not planning on replacing my library, this will be primarily for review requests that aren't available in print.
Touch or Not? - Is touch worth it for ease? Or is it a stress headache waiting to happen if it gets scratched?
Durability - Along the same lines as above, I'm pretty careful with my things and I'm not typically clutzy, but will I need a force-field around this thing?
Gadgets - I don't need tons of bells and whistles, but I won't turn them down either. Not really looking at 3G, video, or net-browsing, though music might be a plus...
Extras - Do I need to budget in for extras to get full use out of this? I don't foresee a need for an adapter, but will I need/want a case, light, etc.?

A tall order? Probably. So, what's your vote?



If you could cast your vote above then leave a comment below, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks a bunch, guys. I can't wait to hear from you!

Another Return

Hi all... Been quite a while, eh?

Well, I can say I'm back. I'm sorry to have left for so long.

Good news is I found a job. Bad news is it was only a temporary/seasonal one, and I'm back out in the job market.

I can't promise that I'll be back forever, I don't even know that I'll be here through March. It'll depend on what work I can find and if I can swing work plus this and my other side projects. I have got a schedule I think will allow me to get through my requested reviews I've agreed to, and I really do promise to get through all those.

That's all for now... Look for a new review tomorrow, as well as some more personal posts and questions next week.

Quick Question: What's your favorite/recommended e-reader?

Greetings Again!

Hello!!!

Phew, it's been a while, hasn't it? Sorry to have left you hanging these past couple months. I've been working out some personal things and have only just gotten back around to reading.

I know, I know - "How could you possibly not have been reading!?" you say. Well, the brain does funny things sometimes, like making you think that enjoyable things are too much trouble...

But I've worked through that and am currently in the process of working up my Tamora Pierce Challenge reviews! Okay, I might be a little behind, but better late than never, right? Look for a steady flow of TP reviews coming throughout the month of November, finishing up with a review of her recently released conclusion to the Provost's Dog (Beka Cooper) Trilogy, Mastiff!

Looking forward to getting back in the swing of things. Hope you've all been well. Signing off for now,

~Vicki

Something To Say

This is a personal post, not a book review. Just going over some things, explaining my current situation, and hopefully setting a tone for the future. If you'd rather stay out of the drama, I understand and assure you that my next review should be coming up later this week. Thank you.


If you're still reading this, I guess I'll just get down to it. I'm sorry for April and May's unannounced/unexplained hiatus. I had a bit of a physical, mental, emotional breakdown in March, and that was taken out on this blog. I'd rather not get into the gory details (and I'm sure no one wants to hear them), but I'll just say that I've started some new treatments that seem to be helping things along.

I'm still depressed. Not really earth-shattering news in this economy, but being jobless really wears you down. Firstly you're depressed because you can't support yourself (or pay back your debt). Then, trying to rectify the situation, you send out job applications only to get absolutely no response or an avalanche of NO's, which only serves to lower your self-esteem. It's gotten to the point that I'm terrified of getting an interview because I feel like the first thing they'll see is a depressed person. And being overly self-conscious and overweight to begin with hasn't helped either. There was a long period of time where I didn't even want to go outside because I was paranoid some future employer would see me and I'd be sabotaging myself.

I still have some of that anxiety, but there have been improvements.

For one thing, my mom (who had also been unemployed for a couple years) finally found a job last week. And while it's not the most ideal pay, the environment is great and she's really enjoyed the work.

Also keeping me busy has been our family's attempts to start up a crafting business. Mom sews, (sister) Kristi knits, and I run all the electronic aspects—taking pictures, photo-editing, website management, research, spreadsheets... I don't plan on inundating this blog with non-bookish stuff, but I might make a post about it once we've got things up and running. In the meantime, you can check out our products on Facebook or DeviantArt.

As far as reading and blogging goes, I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. So far I've only been focusing on reviews—partly clearing out the shelves, partly taking care of promises owed—and I don't know if or when I'll have the time or energy to go back to reading all the blogs I've subscribed to. I'd love to get back in the habit of reading everything you guys are posting, and passing along the great contests and giveaways, but right now I have other things on my plate.

So, for the moment I hope you'll be patient with me. I hope my reviews continue to engage or entertain you. And I hope you all know that I appreciate your continued patience and support. Thank you.

Long Time No See

So, I turned on the TV today while I fixed and ate my breakfast. 

Not too exciting, I know. But wait for it...

Wait for it...

Wait for it......

BLAM!

A commercial comes on for James Patterson's newest Maximum Ride novel, Angel.

Now, though I have seen this series at bookstores, I haven't read any of it. I've never had any interest in reading it.

But now...

Perhaps I'm intrigued by the people running around with wings (which I had no clue of before). Perhaps I'm just easily swayed. But now I kinda want to read it...

Is this the power of TV? And if so, why aren't they using it more often!? I mean, the last commercial I saw for a book was...Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows back in 2007. Not that it really needed it, but I'm sure the commercial didn't hurt things.

So what do you think? Is TV a powerful weapon in book-selling? Would you be more interested in a book you saw on TV? Or is the whole thing a waste of time since bookish people don't watch TV anyway?

Book Blogger Hop (9)

What book are you most looking forward to seeing published in 2011? Why are you anticipating that book?

Oh gosh, how can you expect me to narrow it down to one?!

Well, if I really must, I suppose I'll go with Mastiff by Tamora Pierce, which is scheduled to come out in November. Not only do I love her books in general, but Mastiff is the conclusion to the Provost's Dog Trilogy with Beka. And I'm a sucker for a good ending ;)

Close runners up include Original Sin by Lisa Desrochers, City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare, and (hopefully) Bitterblue by Kristen Cashore.

Feel free to post a link to your own blog in the comments,
and be sure to check out other blog-hoppers at Crazy-for-Books' blog!

It's a Bloggiesta!

Hosted by Natasha of Maw Books Blog

I probably would have been better off doing this last weekend...or the weekend before. Ya know, when I pretty much had the house to myself? Still, I've been toying with the idea of doing some more work around here. The updates so far have me at pleased, but I'm still kinda wanting ecstatic!

So here are my goals for the weekend:

1. Work on (more) new graphics
   They're up and ready for previewing!
2. Look into setting up a Blogoversary contest
   Prospects are looking good!
3. Work on Twitter/Facebook links
   <- Check them out!
4. Look into post templates
   Decided against it at this time.
5. Read (Finish Zan-Gah books this weekend!)
6. Prepare guest posts
7. Work on some "rainy day" posts
8. Clean out Google Reader - blogs that are no longer posting
9. Organize Goodreads bookshelves
10. Look into blog promo items like bookmarks/business cards
    Decided against it at this time - maybe when I get a job.
11. Put together a plan and calendar of future posts
    Organized all my reviews and started planning ahead into March with Jenn's Organizing Tips!
12. Make an About Me page
13. Read some more...

Well, I think that's that...Now to get to work! Wish me luck!

Welcome to the Family

After much deliberation, I've gone ahead and signed up this blog as an Associate of Amazon, Borders, and Powell's Books.

Pretty much this means is any time someone clicks on an Amazon, Borders (coming soon), or Powell's link, and then makes a purchase, I will be credited with a small percentage (6-8.5%) of their purchase. It doesn't even have to be the item at that specific link - so long as the browser window/tab remains the same, I get credited for 'directing' you to the site.

I want to stress that this doesn't mean I expect you to immediately click these links and buy thousands of dollars worth of stuff. There's no obligation on your part whatsoever. However, if while browsing my site you see something you're interested in buying, or perhaps you're reminded of something you've been meaning to buy, if you wouldn't mind locating one of my links (either in-post or on the sidebar) and using it to get where you want to go...I'd really appreciate your support.

I promise not to overwhelm you with ads, and keep the links discreet. I'm currently going through all my past reviews to edit the format and links. Pretty much what you'll see in each review is this:

~Title of Book Linked to Goodreads~
Series Name
Book #
By Author Name
Amazon ~ Borders ~ Powell's

And that'll be the end of it. Nothing too pushy, I hope. And nothing completely off-target, like random posts about plungers or baby bottles with tons of links throughout. Unless you guys want that type of thing...

Funds received from these Associations will be used primarily for future contests (especially shipping), purchasing books for review, and keeping bills (internet) paid.

Oh, and while I'm thinking about it, I'd like to point you to the left-hand side of the screen where you may have noticed a new Facebook widget where you can "Like" this blog.

That's right, The Wolf's Den has it's own Facebook account! There you will find pictures of books in-progress, reading updates, and discussion boards where you're welcome to talk about what you're reading, what you thought about books reviewed here, and make suggestions for the site. Who knows, maybe I'll even start a book club there. So head on over and check it out!

As always, thank you for your continued support. I couldn't do this without you.

E is for Electronic-

E-mail, e-statements, e-books... What next? E-carwash? Okay, okay, so that's a bit ridiculous, but it does make you think...where will technology take us next? And is it really better?

E-MAIL
Electronic (e-) mail has all but completely replaced hand-written (or typed, printed, and sent) mail. Even junk mail (now referred to as spam) has infiltrated its ranks. I remember growing up before e-mail was standard—when you had to ask, "Do you have an e-mail?" instead of, "What's your e-mail?".

Personally, I love e-mail. It's fast, it's efficient, and it rarely gets lost. I have 6 different e-mails which I can direct different sorts of mail to (professional to one, personal to another, subscriptions to a third, etc.), and all I have to do is type in a quick password. And spellcheck is a major plus, even if it never likes my last name.

However, I can still find some ticks against it. Some people take the speediness of e-mail to heart and don't edit it as much as one might a letter. While it might be alright for short notes back and forth, with longer conversations it makes it all but impossible to read (everything in one huge paragraph). Also, though it (thankfully) hasn't happened to me yet, if your e-mail is somehow hacked not only is your personal privacy compromised, but your friends and associates (contacts) may also be susceptible to similar invasions or scams, with your reputation being the conduit.

To sum things up, e-mails can be fast, but speed doesn't guarantee quality, nor personality—sometimes it's nice to get a letter you know it took some time to write. Moral of story: with everything connected, it may take less effort to use, but it also takes less effort to abuse.

E-STATEMENTS
Electronic (also called paperless) statements are the latest trend with credit companies and banks. They're hopping on the Green Bandwagon by not printing and mailing out your statements anymore, and instead e-mail you with links to their websites where you can access your account. Right now, this is only if you sign up for it, but I can definitely see these becoming the norm in the future.

Once again, these are susceptible to hacking, though I believe they have stricter security than e-mail (so it's best not to keep a copy of your passwords in your e-mail...at least not labeled PASSWORDS). But even with hacking taken out of the equation, I haven't found them to be 100% reliable. Some company mailings are automatically labeled as spam, and don't ever make it into your inbox unless you add them to your contacts.

Or (and I have had this happen) you simply don't receive that month's statement! Now, this might not be a problem if you're used to the payment dates (1st of the month, or something like that), but if, say, it's your first payment coming out of deferment...then you're stuck explaining to the collections caller (on your birthday) that you swear you never received anything, and yes, you've been checking the spam folder, thank you very much for waiving the fees, it shouldn't happen again.

So, to sum things up, e-statements aren't 100% flawless, but they can make things a little more convenient than paper-statements. Moral of story: set your payments due-date on your own calendar.

E-BOOKS
Electronic (e-) books are the wave of the future. Or at least, that's what Kindle/Nook/iPads would have you believe. Why carry around a bulky, heavy, paper-cut-threatening book around when instead you can hold thousands of e-books on your sleek and lightweight e-reader?

Well, a lot of people are vehemently resisting this change for a few (in my opinion) good reasons. Some authors are reluctant to authorize digital copies because of the obvious piracy issues (Pirate Bay, anyone?). Others seem content to tell digital reader companies to "go to hell" without expounding.

As far as buyers/readers go, the general consensus against e-books is the nostalgic quality of physical books. The art, the feel, the smell...the experience of reading a book has been one we've grown up with, and we're not about to give that up. Of course, you also have the technical side of things, and having glitchy e-readers, whereas books never have glitches (apart from lack of light).

Personally, I've yet to read an entire book on a screen—be it computer or e-reader. I've received 2 e-ARCs which I've yet to crack (a phrase only fitting physical books) more than the first pages, as well as a full PDF book as a prize. Perhaps when I fully commit to them (probably next week) I'll be able to give a better commentary on the experience.

E-QUESTIONS
Well, what do you think? Are electronics better for us, or are we merely aiding to the impending machine revolution? Any electronic horror stories? And what about e-books?

Some E Books I've Read:

An Electrifying E Group:

The E Font: