Reading book series: yay or nay? | Conversations

Conversations is a fortnightly discussion meme hosted by Geraldine @ Corralling Books and Joan @ Fiddler Blue where the aim is to get to know other bloggers and to generate conversations, as the name of the meme suggests! It’s been a while since I joined the fun (because LIFE) but I’m digging this week’s, topic: Reading series: yay or nay!

First off, I’ve realized that I love fantasy series (that’s all I read, let’s be real), but I’m not a fan of contemporary series: I tried To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han last year and disliked it, but I have one exception, Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, like many readers out there. So I think book series actually work better for certain genres.

I love reading series, I think it’s a more interesting format, because the author has so much more time to develop a world, her characters and create intricate dynamics and plotlines. I’m looking at my shelves at the moment and I almost only see series, if I’m being honest, so I’ll probably be biased.

Perks of book series

1) You can binge read said series (when all the books are already published).

Reading complete series can be great, because it means M.A.R.A.T.H.O.N.I.N.G. and it’s such a great feeling. For Christmas 2014, I got two entire trilogies: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor and The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken, guess how I spent Christmas break? I read all of these books in a matter of days, I got completely engrossed in these worlds and fell in love with the characters. However, it’s so hard when you turn the last page of the last book in the series, crying because you feel you should have taken your time with it. I’m in denial every time.

I have the fondest feeling of binge-reading Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard. I feel like I’m talking about it every time, but it’s the last series I actually marathoned, I want to get physical copies because I read them on my e-reader, so it’ll sit nicely next to Truthwitch and I love it, okay? I want to reread it forever because it got my heart and my soul.

Five days of awesomeness, forgetting about school work, loving Daniel and Eleanor because OTP and sobbing at the end. I still think about it when I read it in October 2015 and we’re in July, that’s how obsessed I am.

2) You get to die wait for the sequel to come out and feel all the excitement.

I’m digging new releases because they’re shiny and new (obviously) and because of that, I’m waiting for sequels All. The. Time. I might be a masochist, because it means I’m dying every time, but series mean excitement! It means getting all the fan merchandise, reading all the fanfictions and fangirling over all the fanarts while waiting for the sequel to be released. Meaning: I need help since I finished A Court of Mist and Fury. Because Rhysand and the Inner Circle. <3

3) You can stay longer in this world.

When I start a new series, I’m being so engrossed and amazed by the world I’m discovering and when I’m done with said book, I just want to get back into it. Like many readers, I love to travel somewhere else, to travel like I read, and it’s such a good opportunity when you read book series.

You can even reread the previous books in the series before you get to the sequel, so you’ll be able to stay longer in this world. That’s what I did back in February when I reread A Darker Shade of Magic, before jumping almost straight back into this world made of different Londons with A Gathering of Shadows.

4) You get attached to the characters so much that they feel like family and you love to see them again.

When you read book series, you spend so much time with the characters that you care for them so much, they’re your precious cinnamon rolls and babies. You go through so much with them (um, I mean, they go through so much), which involves a lot of tears and feels, but it’s so worth it.

I’m so involved with the characters of The Infernal Devices; I struggle so much to pick up a favourite secondary character. For example, I love Jessamine Lovelace so much, she’s my precious baby, but so many people disliked her. I also love Charlotte, because she’s such a strong woman. And Henri and his explosions. And Sophie. And Cecily. And Gideon. And Gabriel. Look I’m dying there, because I love them so, so damn much.

Also, how can you keep a steady relationship with your book boyfriend if you’re reading a standalone?? *winks*

Disadvantages of series

1) Sometimes, I read the first book, wait forever to read the sequel and either forget everything or lose interest about it.

I’m great at reading a first book in a series and then forgetting about it altogether. I read Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger last month and I loved it (gave it 4.5 stars), but I have yet to continue with the series, when I own the next three books on my e-reader. I’m being ridiculous, I know.

Since the beginning of the year, I’ve read many first books in series – especially debuts – but does it mean I will wait to the sequel next year? Not for all of them, because I’ll have forgotten all about most of them. Sometimes, I even dropped series in the middle: I know I’ll never read The Death Cure and I still have to work the courage to continue the Air Awakens series.

2) You can be overwhelmed by the number of books you have to read until you reach the end.

I have a few completed series on my TBR at the moment and I’ve noticed that I’m less excited about those than other series. It’s just that I can start the books anytime, and I won’t have to wait forever and a day to get the sequel, so where’s the rush?

It’s almost as if I have these books on my TBR so I’m not scared I will always have something to read (because at the end of 2015, I had nothing left to read and I freaked out!). Like many people, I’m also way more attracted to shiny new releases and forget about backlist titles… Which means series are complete and I still haven’t read them. Oops.

For example, if I wasn’t buddy reading the Healer trilogy with Geraldine (hi there! ;)), I know it would have taken me so much more time to get to it eventually.

3) Reading standalones 100% helps your TBR. 

As you know, there are so many books out there, just waiting to be read! When you complete a standalone book, don’t you feel relief because you don’t have to add the sequel to your TBR, which is already enormous? Because I DO. You also have this feeling of closure, because this story is over.

Overall, I’m #teamseries. It’s true, sometimes I’m giving up on them, or forget what happened in some books and need recaps. But I love spending more time in different worlds and with my favourite characters.

Do you prefer book series or standalones? How often do you give up on series?

Why I started blogging and why I keep doing it | Conversations

Conversations is a fortnightly discussion meme hosted by Geraldine @ Corralling Books and Joan @ Fiddler Blue, where the aim is to get to know other bloggers and to generate conversations, as the name of the meme suggests! In May, the subjects are about blogging habits, starting with “What pushed you to start blogging and why do you continue to blog?”.

What pushed me to start blogging?

I find this question very important, because I’m approaching my first blogoversary, and I had no idea I would go this far when I first started. First, if you’re new here, you might not know that I’m French and I’ve only been reading in English for three years (2013), because I was tired of waiting a year for translations (also, I needed Clockwork Prince more than anything).

At the time, I was watching BookTube videos and talked about my love for books on Tumblr, but it was pretty time-consuming and I had to stop after senior year of high school. After that, I discovered Goodreads and my whole life was changed. I feel like I’m spending 20% of my day there, to be honest. #addiction So yes, basically, I needed other people to fangirl over books with, and I couldn’t have that in real life, since I was reading in English.

Then, last June, I went through a rough period because of school (I wasn’t really at university at that time, I was preparing to go into a prestigious school where twelve people can go in every year, I know it wasn’t a wise idea) and I almost felt worthless. I just wanted to quit and held back my feelings for way too long. Then, I went back to reading like a crazy person and read a book a day in a month (which means, 30 books).

You know what it did? I felt rested, happy and myself, for the first time in months.

I needed to do something I was passionate about and that I knew I could be good at. I had been writing reviews (when I had the time though) on Goodreads for two years. I realized I wanted to share my love for books with others, from all around the world, since I couldn’t really talk with people in real life about the books I read, and it made me sad (I still recommended The Young Elites, An Ember in the Ashes and Clockwork Angel in the last few months, so I manage to have a good influence!). Also, at that time, I was into the idea I wanted to work in the publishing industry and I thought it would help to start a blog, but I’m not really interested to do that in France, so I changed my mind… Anyway, that’s how it started.

Why do I continue to blog?

Overall, I started this blog to prove myself I could and that’s why I never gave up. Of course, I had up and downs, sometimes it can be quite stressful, especially in December, when I second-guessed myself and in March and April, because I didn’t have my computer.

I “met” so many amazing people during my time here. Sometimes, I stop and think about the fact that I’m speaking with people from all around the world, because we all love the same thing: books. And that’s just one of the most beautiful things in the world. I’m so proud to be part of this community, you guys.

Moreover, I discovered a lot of new books thanks to the blogosphere and I think I would be seriously missing out if I didn’t have that. I finally read and loved The Winner’s Trilogy thanks to the blogosphere, when I had been hesitant for so long. I also discovered so many debuts and I think I can say I’m becoming a debut enthusiast! Now, I’m getting excited for books coming out in 2018, it’s getting out of hand! XD

 Moreover, having a blog makes me happier, proud of myself for what I achieved and now, it’s just a part of myself. I don’t see myself not blogging.

What about you? Why did you start blogging? Why are you still doing it?

Are there any particular diverse books you read more and why? | Conversations #1

Conversations is a bimonthly meme hosted by Geraldine @ Corralling Books and Joan @ Fiddler Blue. It's a brand new meme, because it's the first edition! This week’s topic is: Are there any particular diverse books you read more and why?

Yes I read diverse books as much as I can but of course, I have my preferences. I have to admit that… I’m close to a stereotypical character in a YA book: I’m white, blonde and straight. For that, I never had problems to identify myself to heroines when I was younger, because there wasn’t nearly enough diversity. I’m so happy that we finally get to see diverse characters in fiction though, especially in young adult, which is a sign that our mentalities are starting to evolve.

Personally, I don’t read a lot of diverse books, because in fantasy –my favourite and most read genre- there aren’t nearly enough diverse characters. Still, the diverse books I read the most are about mental health and people of colours (or POC as they say) in general.

1. I read diverse books about mental health

This is a topic close to my heart. Indeed, I think I would be diagnosed with a form of anxiety if I went to see a specialist. Moreover, one of my brothers might be autistic –guys, it’s been four years we’ve been waiting to know if it’s that or something else, but they’re pretty slow- and it’s not easy every day, for him just like my family.

I don’t especially read books on anxiety and autism, though. About anxiety, I read Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella last year, which I really enjoyed, even if my anxiety isn’t that severe. Still, it allowed me to understand what Audrey was getting through. For autism, I loved that in Lady Midnight, one of the characters is autistic, even though Cassandra Clare never said it clearly and for that, I was so grateful. I liked that the characters were saying that others thought he wasn’t normal, because he didn’t think like typical Shadowhunters, but for them, he was a great brother than they loved. It’s really hard to face what people say of autistic people. For example, once, my ex-boyfriend insulted someone of autistic in front of me. I did a great thing by dumping him, ugh.

I’ve read other books about different mental health issues. For example, I was an ugly sobbing mess when I read Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone, last year. I intend to read more books about mental health in the future, and since the spring is here, I’m getting in a contemporary mood again so it’s going to happen!

2. I read diverse books about people of colours (POC)

In France, some people are still very racist and it’s been getting worse lately, because of what happened in Paris (amalgams…) but also with the rise of an extremist political party that is gaining more followers every week. I intend to read books about people from different ethnicities, because I want to understand their culture, the struggles they have to get through sometimes… I’m not saying I can fully understand but I can still have glimpses of it.

Of course, I don’t read books with diverse characters for that reason only, I read books that appeal to me. Indeed, it makes me even happier when fantasy worlds contain characters of different ethnicities, because it’s not something we see a lot in fantasy books. Moreover, I don’t read that many contemporary novels, because it’s not my favourite genre. For example, in The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead, which came out on Tuesday and that I finished recently, Mira, one of the main characters of the novel, came from a different country and had to deal with people’s racism, who basically considered she was worth half a girl like Adelaide, a main character from this land.

It’s important for me to see the struggles some people have to get through because of their ethnicity, since it’s something I never had to experience. For example in The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry, because Natalie was the only Native American character in her town and had been adopted, it was hard for her to find who she was exactly. Apparently, this book is problematic but I can’t really realize it, because it’s one of the first times I read about a Native American. Moreover, thanks to the many tales, I learnt about their culture, which I loved. I also loved Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon, where Maddie was from two different cultures. In the historical novel Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee, set in late 19^th century, the two main characters were Afro-American for one and from a Chinese family for the other.  They had to deal with so many things, for example almost no one wanted to shake hands with Sammy, the Chinese character (!!).

I think it’s important to see characters from different ethnicities in a book, because if it’s not the case, it doesn’t feel realistic. When I’m in class and I look around me… Yes, white people are still in the majority, but there are so many people from different origins. And if fiction can’t even feel representative of our societies, what’s the point?

To conclude, I don’t read that many diverse books, because to have diverse characters… You have to read contemporary. I’m really happy that a movement like #WeNeedDiverseBooks now exists but I really want for it to happen in fantasy, because it’s so unrealistic.

Do you read diverse books? What diverse books you read the most? Do you have diverse book recommendations for me?