Looking Back at 2014 Challenges

Alright, so it's time to finally see if I managed to do any of the 2014 challenges I set out to complete this year. At the beginning of the year, I was pretty ambitious, signing up for 4 year-long challenges, and 2 mid year reading challenges I'll also talk about. So, let's talk about 2014 challenges, and if you're curious you can check out my summary of my 2014 reading goals and challenges.

Year Long Challenges

Bookish's 2014 TBR Pile Challenge

hosted by Bookish

My intended goal: A First Kiss level (21-20 reviews)

Challenge Completed? 

Yes!

I did a total of 23 reviews on the blog and on Goodreads that met this requirement. I'll be updating the 2014 Challenges tab with the results and linked up reviews shortly.

2014 Debut Author Challenge

hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Challenge Goal: 12 debut novels

Challenge Completed?

No, I read and reviewed 5 debuts

2014 Prequel & Sequel Challenge

hosted by Novel Heartbeat and Writer Grrl Reads

My intended goal: Newbie level (10-25 points)

Challenge Completed?

Yes!

I calculated my points and ended up with 36 points from sequel reviews.

Mid Year Challenges

Fiktshun's 2014 Don't Let It End Reading Challenge

hosted by Fiktshun

No set goal

How many series-ending books did I read and review during this time period?

2

2014 Book Blogger Summer Reading Program

hosted by Katie's Book Blog

My intended goal: Read 12 books during the time period

Challenge Completed?

Yes!

I ended up reading 36 books and 1 novella during the time period, and of those books that I read I ended up writing 17 reviews, although those were not necessarily posted during the time frame.

So, those are my 2014 Challenges. I ended up completing most of them, which I'm happy about. However, going into challenges next year, I saw Cassi mention in her recent Top Ten Tuesday that one of her New Year's Resolutions was to link up to challenges for the updates. And I thought about it... and I never did that this year. Seeing as that's part of the challenge, I'm hoping that when I sign up for 2015 challenges, I can try and keep updated on them as well. I've been updating the 2014 Challenges into a new system of organization and so I've checked back on the challenges and updated the scores here.

I hope 2014 was a good year, and best wishes for 2015! See you next year in the Paper World!

From the paper world,

V

The Five Star Spotlight - Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend.  But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss? Visit the website of Stephanie Perkins Anna and the French Kiss on Goodreads Rating - 5 Stars Major Pros - Writing, Setting, Character Development and Interaction, Plot Development Major Cons - Minor issues with some supporting characters Continuing on with the series? Absolutely! How I Read It - Purchased Today's review is going to mainly consist of me talking about my love for this book. I struggled trying to find cons to put in the quick info above. So, before I start, let me say that Anna and the French Kiss is absolutely wonderful, creative, and sweet. I didn't put this book down. I mean that literally- I read it in one sitting, except for the last few chapters which I saved for later so I wouldn't have to say goodbye. I fell in love with this book. It completely pulled me in and I was sitting there with Anna, her group, and of course Etienne St. Clair. For me, this was one of those books that swept me away. I needed a light, happy read and this book was absolutely perfect, but it didn't read as overly cutesy with no substance. These characters were developed, and they didn't have perfect lives, which added depth to the story. Let's talk about the setting, Paris. The writing that portrayed Paris was inspiring- it didn't focus on cliche things, and it brought lifelike detail to the city. I truly loved how Paris was portrayed, and I think it was well done and expressive. The characters were also fantastic in this novel, although some of the side characters were a little stereotypical mean high schoolers without much dimension, the vast majority of the characters in this book were unique, layered, and developed. I loved how we not only knew Anna, but we got to know her friends and the people around her. There was wonderful characterization throughout, and the romance was never obnoxious. I personally don't read many contemporaries because I'm not the biggest fan of overly romantic stories, but Anna and the French Kiss was beautifully written and done. I recommend this book. That's an understatement, to be honest. I think there's something in here for everyone to enjoy, and this is a marvelous story with truly memorable characters. Reading it, I could tell that this is a novel I'll treasure and reread any time I need another heartwarming, beautiful story. From the paper world, V

Reading Review - Ever After High: The Storybook of Legends by ShannonHale

At Ever After High, an enchanting boarding school, the children of fairytale legends prepare themselves to fulfill their destinies as the next generation of Snow Whites, Prince Charmings and Evil Queens...whether they want to or not. Each year on Legacy Day, students sign the Storybook of Legends to seal their scripted fates. For generations, the Village of Book End has whispered that refusing to sign means The End-both for a story and for a life.

As the daughter of the Evil Queen, Raven Queen's destiny is to follow in her mother's wicked footsteps, but evil is so not Raven's style. She's starting to wonder, what if she rewrote her own story? The royal Apple White, daughter of the Fairest of Them All, has a happy ever after planned for herself, but it depends upon Raven feeding her a poison apple in their future.


What if Raven doesn't sign the Storybook of Legends? It could mean a happily never after for them both. 

Ever After High on Goodreads                Shannon Hale's Website

Today's review is about a book that is definitely not YA. However, Shannon Hale is one of my favorite authors who has written middle grade or young adult retellings (Goose Girl, Book of a Thousand Days, and Princess Academy are some of my favorites!) and so when I was recommended the Ever After High series, I was intrigued. This is a book series based off of some dolls that have been made. I'm not going to lie, when I first saw a commercial for them, I looked them up online because they looked like something I would have adored as a child. 

The premise of this series is actually really interesting- a villain who doesn't want to follow a path she hasn't chosen. Raven is a character that goes through some internal conflict, as she tries to discover what she wants for her destiny. The story is mainly told in her pov or that of her Snow White counterpart, Apple. Apple was a character I didn't enjoy reading about at all. She's very self centered and oblivious to the struggle Raven is undergoing, and while her character wasn't completely thoughtless, she lacks the dimension and consideration of Raven's character.

The plot and writing style were both appropriate and accessible for a younger audience, yet was still fun and entertaining to read. It wasn't a very complicated plot, but a lot of the story was driven by Raven's internal conflict. Shannon Hale is an excellent author, so even though the writing isn't as sophisticated as her other works, it's still interesting. The plot isn't very complex, but since this is a first book, I'm glad there was more of a focus on characters and Raven in particular. The ending was alright but it seemed to drag on at the very end. However, I'm definitely planning on continuing the series.

What are some of your favorite series for younger audiences? Have you read Shannon Hale's new YA, Dangerous?

From the paper world,

V