Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor | Book Review

Title: Strange the Dreamer
Author: Laini Taylor
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 28th, 2017
Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around—and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever. What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving? The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries—including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo’s dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? And if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real? Welcome to Weep.

What I thought

  Gather around, young ones, and let me tell you all about how much I loved this marvelous and imaginative story, though I'm not sure words will suffice. Why? You ask, well because this book was so insanely beautiful I've just been experiencing the worst book hangover to ever ail a bookworm. It was that good and beautiful and just a masterpiece.

Now, Laura, it couldn't possibly have been that good? THIS BOOK IS LIFE, YOUNG ONES. It will get you in its trap with its beautiful prose and its quirky main character and it will hold you enraptured as the secrets and story start to unravel and it will make you wish you could even gaze upon Weep. It will make you want for things you didn't even know you wanted AND IT WILL MAKE YOU CRY.* Then it will make you proceed to write in your journal with just A VOMIT OF FEELS BECAUSE DAMN IT.

*at least it made me cry and since I have as a rule as little feelings as possible this really was something

Why all the drama? Because I love this story and these characters more than words can possibly explain. Why? Well, because of how complex and beautiful it all was and they all were. Also, because this book could so be used as a metaphor for the real world and damn, Lazlo's dream was a beautiful thing and I'm so emotional about it all. I WAS JUST A WRECK AND YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK, PRONTO!

Have you read Strange the Dreamer? If so, did you love it as much as I do or more? Come cry with me about it.

Ten Series I Haven't Finished Because I'm an Expert Procrastinator

I love to procrastinate. I sometimes even procrastinate on my procrastination. So, it should really come as no surprise that I have a bunch of unfinished series just lying around unread, just because. This doesn't speak well of my character, at all, but hey, no one is perfect*. As such, I should really just get on with it and finish what I started**. So, in the spirit of accountability and whatnot here are 10 of the series I haven't finished because, well... I have no good reason tbh.

*Although I come pretty damn close
**It should be noted that this has never been my strong suit

1. Penryn and the End of Days by Susan Ee

This series is about angels and the end of the world and I remember it being deliciously dark with touches of humor. It even had a sexy angel guy named Raffe, which was incentive to read it but not enough. The real reason I loved this series is Penryn Young, badass and just over all good character. So, why haven't I finished it?* Aside from the fact that I am an expert procrastinator, I am also kind of reluctant to part with the world. That and I remember next to nothing of what happens in the second book and I would have to go reread it and that, my friends, is more work than I care to take on right now.

*excuse me, but did you read the title?

2. Monsters of Verity by V.E. Schawb 

In my defense the sequel and conclusion to this duology came out a little while ago and I haven't gotten around to buying it. So, really it's more an issue of me being broke and prioritizing other books because like I said I even procrastinate on my procrastination. So, there. I WILL GET TO IT, OKAY? I know it's probably so good I'm missing out and you're all having a jolly good time knowing what happens. In a similar vein, and though it won't be mentioned as a series I haven't finished yet* I still have to finish the Shades of Magic series.

*the shame of including more than 10 series would not have let me live with myself

3. Snow Like Ashes by Sarah Raasch

I have no good excuse to this other than I don't own the third book and that somehow everytime I buy books I forget to get it. That and the fact that I refuse to read a world in which Theron is anything but the great guy I know him to be. And honestly if Meira and that whatever his name is guy just end up saving the day and making Theron into a villian-esque figure I will just have wasted my time. So, I choose to live in a world where there is still hope.

4. The Remnant Chronicles by Mary E. Pearson

I... seriosuly as this post goes along I have less and less to say in my defense. LIFE IS BUSY AND NEW AND SHINY BOOKS ARE ALWAYS DISTRACTING ME! This is yet another case in which I don't own the third book (or the second one but I've read that one) and I have forgotten much of what happened in previous installments. Which wouldn't happen if I actually finished what I started, I know.

5. Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson

Please excuse the hideousness of my edition. It's dreadful, I know. Which is, in part, why I haven't finished this series. Bottom line being: I want the UK editions and have been too busy with things to buy them. That and the fact that fantasy series are perfect procrastination material. No one even guilt trips you because of it. You get understanding. So, yeah... I'll get to it, eventually.

6. The Lotus War by Jay Kristoff

I love this series for all its Japanese steampunk glory. I do. Buruu is the light of my life and Yukiko is my baby girl, who I will protect at all costs if she needs me to. BUT, and it's a big but, I was waiting for Endsinger to become available in paperback through BookOutlet (I have no idea if it has) and in this process I have just been putting off actually buying and reading the book. Maybe I should change the title of this list to: Ten Series I Haven't Finished Because I Haven't Bought The Last Book In The Series*.

*too long? I agree.

7. Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin

LOVE THIS BOOK. PRAISE THIS BOOK. FINISH THIS SERIES. I'm still working on that last one. It's just that the first one was so good, what if the second one isn't? Ah, but what if it's better? BUT WHAT IF IT'S NOT. So, I shall continue to procrastinate out of anxiety of a good thing going sour. That's just the way I roll.

8. Abhorsen by Garth Nix

I don't even know how many books there are in this series, I just know I haven't read them all and that the first one is as old as I am. AWESOME, RIGHT? Well, in the spirit of full disclosure I think this series is awesome and I just haven't picked up the rest because I'm lazy and get distracted by new and shiny books very easily. OH, LOOK A NEW AND SHINY BOOK! Um... where was I? Ah, yes, this series is definitely top priority in my must-finish-soon list.

9.  The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

Um... so I want all the books in paperback and the third one isn't out yet in that format and tbh the second one was kind of boring and that has just made all urgency to finish this series to flee my body. So, I'm still going to get to this because I am kind of invested in the fate of the Tearling*, but I can survive without knowing yet.

*holler if you got that reference

10. Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan

I don't even have anything to say, just that I will get to this soon. Not only because I really want to know what the hell happened to Leo Valdez for him to disappear like that or how Nico and Will got together, but also because well... I love Rick's books.

What are some of the books you have been procrastinating on?

The Art of Pantsing | Writing Shenanigans

If you clicked on this because you thought I was going to teach you how to make pants, feel free to close the tab because I don't know the first thing about making pants. I do know a thing or two about the art of pantsing*, which is to just wing your way through a novel. Yeah, it sounds insane, doesn't it? "WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?" Screeches every single planner out there in the writing world. The answer, my friends: because I can. Also because I'm a very pants-y person in real life.

*again nothing to do with making pants. WHY ARE YOU HERE FOR A GUIDE ON HOW TO MAKE PANTS ANYWAY?

The approach

I like to think of pantsing not so much as no plan at all, but rather as a very loose plan in which you kind of know the destination, but you're also kind of leaving room for adventure and some mayhem.

It's you taking your characters and the vague idea of where you want them to go and just going. No detail planning, no stressing. Just giving them and yourself the chance to explore and roam and maybe fall down a very unexpected plot line that you'll either end up loving or hating and throwing into the trash. BUT YOU WENT ON THE ADVENTURE! I like to think of pantsing as a huge giant unplanned adventure. So, when you think of it like that, it doesn't seem so crazy, right?*

*Please tune out the sounds of distress of every single person who loves to plan reading this post and pronouncing me absolutely insane. They'll be fine. I hope.

Listening to your gut (and your characters)

I find that in the art of pantsing listening to your gut (and your characters) is of crucial importance. The only thing that takes more importance is having sufficient snacks for when nothing goes right and you want to burn everything.  If we are to think of pantsing as an unplanned adventure there's going to be moments in which nothing will seem to go the way we want it to* and inevitably that can mean that something just isn't working.

So, it's time to stop and smell the flowers or just run from that dangerous looking stranger in the woods and take a different road altogether. Either way, the best bet you have is to listen to either your gut or your characters and go where the story wants to go. It's important to recall that you're not the master of this situation and that the story will go where the story wants to go and if you try to force it YOU WILL STRESS EAT AND CRY AS WELL AS SCREAM AT YOUR SCREEN IN FRUSTRATION AND THEN JUST PROCEED TO FLIP YOUR DESK!**

*is this a flaw of not having a plan? Maybe. I like to think of it as the risks of exploring an uncharted territory

**not that I would know. Naturally pantsing comes very natural to me, so I'm just assuming this is true. I'VE GOT THIS OKAY

Be true to your story

You embarked on this magnificent adventure for a reason. With the pantsing it's kind of easy to take side roads that aren't really true to your story and explore them for no other reason that you can. So remember, when the lure of that city of gold or extraordinarily good cake appears, that it wasn't part of what you wanted and that even though you might really, really want to go down that avenue you can't. Going on an adventure doesn't mean following every single thing you want to do. So, stay true to your story, to your adventure and go forward to that kind of elusive destination you set out for in the beginning.

Are you more of a pantser or a plotter? Or are you a healthy mix of both?

Monthly Recap: I'm Writing Again (!!!!), I Read Some Good Books and I Posted Semi-Regularly (WINNING TBH)

Hello, hello. Dearest readers, June is done. I know, I know, life is going by so fast. It was a pretty awesome month, I kid you not. For one, it's the month in which my amazingness was bestowed upon the world for the first time. That alone is cause to love June. As such, let me gush about my month because it was great.

Books read

So, for the first time in forever I'm actually ahead on my Goodreads challenge. MIRACLES DO HAPPEN, PEOPLE!

  

 

On the blog

I did a good job of posting on the blog. I didn't post as much as I wanted to, but doing real life stuff is hard, man. However, I did post more than usual, so I'm proud of myself.

Reviews:

Aftercare Instructions by Bonnie Pipkin

Trusting You & Other Lies by Nicole Williams

I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo

Features:

There Can Never Be Enough Cuteness | Top Ten Tuesday

Mid-Year Evaluation: The Very Best Books | Top Ten Tuesday

In the life

Remember my film class? Well, my dudes it's a film class dedicated to Spanish movie-maker Pedro Almodovar and dude has some weird movies. Some very weird movies, which I happen to like a lot. So that has been very exciting, if a little tiring. 

Do you remember how I was pissed Sense8 was getting cancelled? Well, we're going to get a 2 hour special! SO YAY EVERYONE WHO WROTE IN AND TWEETED AND SUCH! Seriously, I wish we could get more, but I'll take what I can get.

I turned 22 this month. THE HORROR. I don't know about the whole feeling 22 thing yet, but I'll keep you posted on how wonderful or awful it turns out to be. I celebrated by eating pancakes and swimming in the pool. Also some dancing the night before. No drinking, though. You've got to make responsible choices, everyone.

My little sister graduated secundaria* and I'm so proud of her. They grow up so fast. So, I went to her graduation and traveled and the such. It was all very exhausting, but you have to do what you have to do for your little siblings, right?

I've also been rocking out to Evolve, Imagine Dragons truly did us all a solid. As well as As If It's Your Last by Blackpink and Yes I am by Mamamoo. #girlgroupstakeovertheworld. As for TV and shows, I've been watching kdramas and living for them as well as variety shows. How can 2 Days and 1 Night be so good every single time???? LIKE WHAT IS THIS COMEDIC SORCERY???? 

And last but not least, I'm writing again. It's a contemporary about two best friends trying to find themselves and navigating their senior year at college** and I'm having so much fun writing it. I have a Pinterest board for the main characters and I'm just super excited about writing it. Hopefully, I finish it this time around. 

*I think that's junior high for all of you non-Mexican people out there.

**it's only slightly biographical

That's all on my end. What about you guys? What exciting things have happened in your life this June? Did you take over the world? Did you conquer your TBR? Did you bake some awesome cookies or cake or made pasta? I want to know.