Sunday Post No. 3

Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It gives us bloggers the opportunity to share our news, on and off our blogs! We can post about our most recent blog posts, books acquired, and anything else we'd like to share with our fellow book bloggers. Although this is a weekly meme, bloggers can participate on a monthly basis, if they so desire. For the hop rules, click HERE. To link up to this week's post, please click on Sunday Post, 1/22/17.

Hi, again, fellow book-blogging bookworms! Hope you're all having a WONDERFUL Sunday! 

The weather has been rather irregular here in Miami, which is typical. Lol. We have summer all year long -- which can be pretty boring, as there are no seasons except the one -- with a few days of "cold" weather, which means temps in the 60s or 50s. We bundle up anyway! To us South Floridians, that's cold. Hahaha!

According to a weather alert on my Android phone, we have a high wind advisory today, starting at noon, and in effect until 7:00 PM. We're supposed to be getting gusts of up to 35 MPH. Weird.....especially since this isn't hurricane season! I can look out to my balcony and see the tree branches moving around. At least the wind takes some of the edge off the heat! Lol.

I'm supposed to be starting a book titled The Worthington Wife pretty soon, as I'm scheduled to review it for a blog tour on A Night's Dream of Books in February. Meanwhile, though, I started reading a short novel which I will review on my other blog, MindSpirit Book Journeys. The title of this book is Seduction of the Minotaur, and the author is Anais Nin, who is famous for her diaries. 

This is not the actual edition I'm reading, though. I bought the new Kindle edition for my phone (I have the Kindle app on it). It only cost $4.99, which I consider pretty reasonable for an ebook. However, if I really like the novel, I'll be purchasing the print edition above. 

I have some mixed feelings about this writer. Her style is beautifully lyrical, hypnotic, surrealistic,  with psychological insights interspersed in her descriptions, which are colorful and sensuous. However, I don't like the subject matter of most of her books. She's written erotica, for instance, and even her novels that are not that graphic seem to deal with promiscuous sex in some way.  So far, nothing even remotely pornographic has taken place in this one. I'm almost done with it. As for reading other Nin works, I'll tread with caution. Oh, but she's got such a FASCINATING style....it's full of metaphors, flowing musicality.... I've never read anything like this before. I'd say that Hermann Hesse comes close, but actually, Nin is in a category all her own.  

Last Week on A Night's Dream of Books

Sunday Post No. 2

Book Review: Why We Can't Wait, by Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Mystery Blogger Award
Waiting On Wednesday No. 193: Rise of Fire, by Sophie Jordan
Best of 2016 Giveaway Hop!!

Last Week on MindSpirit Book Journeys

Book Blogger Hop No. 2: The Movie Was Better Than The Book

Current and Upcoming Events on A Night's Dream of Books

UPCOMING REVIEW

UPCOMING READS

 

POSTS

(These are currently in progress)

Book Review: A Study In Charlotte, by Brittany Cavallaro
Waiting On Wednesday No. 194

Book Blogger Hop No. 82: Books Started But Not Finished

Shelf Candy Saturday No. 196

CURRENT GIVEAWAYS

This is a "Beautiful Cover Giveaway" which is part of my "Shelf Candy Saturday" post for the date of January 7, 2017. Click on the image above to access the post. This giveaway ends at midnight on Feb. 8th. Good luck if you decide to enter!!

This is a blog hop giveaway in which I am currently participating. It's hosted by Mary @ Bookhounds, and started last Thursday. Click on the image above for more deets!!

Current and Upcoming Events on MindSpirit Book Journeys

The Cozy Book Corner No: 12
Book Review: Seduction of the Minotaur, by Anais Nin 

Around the Blogosphere 

This is a GREAT bookish challenge I've just come across. It's hosted by the blogs shown above, and I sure want to join! I hope that many of you will be interested as well. To get the details, just click on the button above.

Bustle has posted a list of 15 Of The Best YA Books of January 2017 To Start The Year Off Right

BNTEEN Blog (Barnes & Noble) has posted 26 Of The Most Anticipated YA Fantasy Novels of 2017

The Emerald City Book Review asks What books would you like to bring back?

  

This is an online Christian Book Club for women. They study one fiction and one nonfiction book each month. Just click on the button above for more details.

That's all I have for this week! Hope the week ahead will be GREAT for all of you!

The Mystery Blogger Award

I was nominated for this award by AmyNikita @ A Magical World of Words, which is a wonderful blog all of you should check out! The creator of this award is Okoto Enigma @ Okoto Enigma's Blog.

I no longer participate in either awards or book tags, as they're much too time-consuming for me. However, I have decided to make an exception for Amy, because she's such a nice blogger friend! Thanks, Amy!!

I'm participating in this award with one change, though: I will not be nominating any blogs for it. If anyone who reads this post wishes to participate, then just go for it! Leave a comment below, letting me know that you're participating, and include a link to your post, so I can go check it out!  :)

RULES

 * Include the award logo image in your post.

* List the rules.

* Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog! (See nomination rule below.)

* Mention the creator of the award and provide a link to their blog, as well.

* Tell your readers 3 things about yourself.

* You have to nominate 10 -20 people. (Again, I am not doing so, but if you wish to do this, go right ahead!)

* Notify each of your nominees by leaving a comment on their blog. (See nomination rule above.)

* Ask any 5 questions of your choice; with one weird or funny question (specify).

* Share your link to your best post.

Three Things About Myself

1.) I am fluent in both English and Spanish, and know a little French, as well.

2.) I am TEAM EDWARD, but also love JACOB!!

3.) I am a pro-life feminist.

My Answers to Amy's Questions

1.) If you could marry one fictional character, who would it be?

It would DEFINITELY be Edward Cullen from The Twilight Saga! I find him so fascinating and ROMANTIC. Some people have accused him of being 'a controlling stalker', but I disagree. He just wants to protect Bella from himself as much as possible. And Bella DOES stand up to him, especially in the books. I would do the same thing!

2.) If you could live in one fictional world from a book or movie, where would it be?

Well, I really can't pick just ONE, lol. I would love to live in either Middle-Earth, or at Hogwart's. Both magical places are SO wonderful!!

3.) If you could enter a fairy tale, which fairy tale would it be?

Again I can't choose just one....lol. It would have to be either "Peter Pan", or "Beauty and the Beast". I would love to share in Peter's adventures, or be romanced by the Beast!

4.) What is your dream job?

I would love to be self-employed, spending my time on creative activities such as painting and writing. Currently, I don't have the financial means to spend all of my time doing these things. 

5.) Pick a villain you think could actually be good as a hero.

Gosh, this is hard..... I don't think there are that many villains who could be turned into heroes. Wait, there's one -- Julian, from The Forbidden Game, by L.J. Smith. He really did behave like a hero at times. I do wish that Smith had completely reformed him....

Random: If you had to choose between spending the rest of your life in an ocean of cold water, or in a scorching hot desert, which would you choose?

OMG!! What to do?! Well.....my first impulse was to pick the ocean, but, on second thought, I would pick the desert. Why? Because in the desert, I could find or invent something to keep myself cool. In the ocean, though, I would soon get tired of trying to keep myself afloat, and would drown.

My Questions

1.) Which character killed off by an author would you love to bring back from the dead? Why?

2.) Would you ever consider reading a book in spite of many negative reviews? Why or Why not?

3.) What kind of prose style do you prefer -- lyrical and poetic, or simple and unadorned?

4.) If you LOVE the Young Adult Fiction genre, please explain why.

5.) Which book(s) you've read in the past have you been tempted to throw across the room, and why?

Random: You can save a friend's life by either agreeing to live on an uninhabited moon for a year, or agreeing to become part of a drug cartel for a year. Which would you choose?

My Best Post 

I really don't know which to pick...
but I think my most important one is
my book review of Why We Can't Wait , by
Martin Luther King, Jr. 



Thanks again to AmyNikita for nominating me!
Thanks as well to all of my 
blog readers and commenters!
If any of you reading this feel inclined to participate,
just follow the rules above. 
I know there are many GREAT
book bloggers out there who certainly deserve this award!!

Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award

Thanks to Morrighan Rose @ 
Elysian Fields for nominating me 
for this award!!

I haven't participated in these awards and tags in a long time, because I've gotten very busy with several blog activities, such as blog tours. I am making an exception in this case, but after this post, I will not be able to participate in any more awards or tags. I do appreciate the thought; it's just that I don't have the time. They are a lot of fun, though!

Award Rules

1.) Thank the blogger that nominated you,

and link back to their blog in

your post.

2.) Post the award logo on your blog.

3.) Answer the ten questions asked

by the nominator.

4.) Nominate ten bloggers for the award.

5.) Ask your nominees ten questions. 
(see note below)

These are the questions asked 

by Morrighan Rose

1.) What is your favorite book ever?

My very first choice is Jane Eyre. This is a great romantic, intellectual, and feminist classic! However, I also adore The Twilight Saga, The Lord of the Rings, and the Harry Potter books.

2.) What book are you most anticipating reading?

Definitely A Discovery of Witches! I've read many rave reviews of this novel. The plot sounds very exciting, intellectually stimulating, and romantic.

3.) What is your favorite genre? Least favorite? Why?

I have several favorite genres: paranormal romance, classics, literary fiction, fantasy, young adult fiction, and science fiction. These genres give me great reading pleasure, as they stimulate my imagination, and help me escape from this very boring reality!

My least favorite genres are actually genres that I don't read. There are two: erotica and horror. I don't read the first one because these writers write VERY graphic sex scenes, with profanity and highly controversial activities. As for the second, I don't see any entertainment value in being scared out of my mind. 

4.) What female character do you most relate to?

It's most definitely Jane Eyre. We're both introverts and book nerds. Although I'm not an orphan, as she is, we do have these things in common. We're also both very romantic, passionate people, whose cultural interests are just the same: books, reading, art, and foreign languages.

5.) What male character would you most like to spend the day with?

Oh, it has to be Edward Cullen, from The Twilight Saga! I don't care who criticizes him; I LOVE Edward!! He's sweet, kind, and a true gentleman. If he sometimes gets a little overbearing with Bella, it's because he loves her so much, and has her best interests at heart. Besides, whenever she objects to his controlling, he eases up on it right away. And yes, I ADORE the sparkling, so there!  Lol.

6.) What is your least favorite book you ever had to review?

There are actually two of these: Angel Star and Lemniscate, by Jennifer Murgia. They were really disappointing! You can find my reviews of them on my Book Reviews Page, in the YA section.

7.) One of your favorite books that you feel deserves more attention and praise?

There are two of these, also: A Darker Dream, and Midnight Embrace, by Amanda Ashley. Although this author's books aren't always of the same high quality, the two I've mentioned here are great! She's not mentioned that often on paranormal blogs.

My reviews for both books are on my Book Reviews Page, in the Adult Section.

8.) The most over-hyped book you have read this year is.....

I might shock/offend some people, but I have to say it anyway.....It was Rapture, by Lauren Kate. I loved the first three books in the series, but this last one was such a huge disappointment.....I really liked it until about the last third of the book, then I totally began to hate it. Honestly. For my review, just click HERE.

9.) If you could live in one mythical world from a book, which would it be, and why?

Gosh, do I have to pick just one? I'm sorry, but I can't! Lol. There are two mythical worlds I'd love to live in, and they are Middle-Earth, and Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I can't choose between them!

I love Middle-Earth because of all the wonderful, magical people in it -- the hobbits, the elves, Gandalf, Legolas, Arwen, Aragorn.....I also love the various lands, the mythology....and, I LOVE Frodo, Bilbo, Sam, Merry, Pippin....

As for Hogwart's , I LOVE all the fun, magical things that happen there!  I love all the characters, too, of course -- Harry, Hermione, Ron, Hagrid, Dumbledore......all the magical creatures.....

10.) How many books do you physically own, either ebook or physical?

Well, our apartment is actually more of a library than an apartment. I have just a few ebooks -- maybe  10 or so, because I don't really like to read ebooks. I ADORE printed books, whether paperbacks or hardbacks, and have TONS of those! I've never counted them one by one, but, to give a rough estimate, it must be anywhere around 3,000......or more.

Take a look at these pics and you'll get the idea!

 

My Ten Nominees

1.)   Naban & Rachel @ A Perfection Called Books
2.)   Girl with Bread @ Books Are Bread 
3.)   Bonnie @ A Backwards Story
4.)   Silvy @ Books Are My Life 
5.)   Marilou @ Confessions of a Reader 
6.)   Emily @ Falling For YA
7.)   Jessica @ Read My Breath Away 
8.)   Alicia @ Addicted Readers
9.)   Jen & April @ The Starry-Eyed Revue
10.) Anatea @ Anatea's Bookshelf 

***NOTE***

Since I know people are very busy, I am going

to change the rules a bit. If you 

(the bloggers named above)

have decided to participate, you do not

have to answer all 10 questions.

You can go ahead and pick only 5, if you wish!

Just select your favorites!

******

My Ten Questions

1.) If you had all  the money in  the  world to design and build your ideal library, what would it look like? (You can include drawings or  pictures if you want.)

2.) If you had to choose how to spend $1,000,  would it be on books, or on a weekend in the Bahamas?

3.) Which book(s) would you like to re-write the ending(s) of, and why? (Try not to give spoilers.)

4.) What book character would you like to be on Halloween night, and why?

5.) Which book(s) do you associate pleasant memories with?

6.) Which book(s) do you feel has(have) most changed your life in a positive way?

7.) Which book(s) has(have) been the most thought-provoking for you, and in what way(s)?

8.) What really makes a book a page-turner for you?

9.) Would you ever consider turning your massive physical book collection into ebooks, just to get rid of some clutter? (I know my answer would be "no"! Lol.)

10.) Have you ever read a book you loved so much, you just had to keep buying different editions of it, over and over? If so, which book is it? 


Thanks again to Morrighan Rose @ Elysian Fields! I loved your questions, girl!!

What did you think of my answers?

Please leave me a comment

and let me know!

The Blog of the Year 2012 Award!!

I've been given this award by 
Brian Joseph @ Babbling Books!!

Brian received this award himself, from Caroline @ Beauty is a Sleeping Cat, and he decided to pass it on to me, as well as to several other blogs he considers to be outstanding.

As I've explained to him, I don't really accept awards anymore, because it's too time-consuming to fulfill all the requirements for them.  However, I'm very honored to receive this one from him, because I admire him as a blogger!  His blog always features fascinating intellectual posts about literary fiction, biographies, philosophical works, and other interesting subjects.  I always make a point of visiting, to see what I'll be delighted to read next!

Brian has assured me that he understands why I won't be passing this award along to other blogs, adding that his only intent was to recognize blogs he feels are excellent.  So I really appreciate his gesture!

I'm going to name some blogs that I think are outstanding, without any expectations that they will accept and/or pass along this award.  I simply wish to encourage all of you to visit and enjoy them.

Here they are:

Alluring Reads

A Myriad of Books

aobibliosphere

Blood Rose Book Reviews

Fikt Shun

Lunar Rainbows

Moonlight Gleam's Bookshelf
Nocturnal Book Reviews

Paranormal & Urban Fantasy Reviews
Realms of an Open Mind

The True Book Addict (best viewed on Google Chrome)
Tynga's Reviews

Uniquely Moi Books

Wishful Thinking

I want to thank Brian for his lovely gesture, and congratulate him on receiving this award himself!