September 2014 Bookshelf Bucket List: Technoliterature! + Event Alert: Marie Lu Book Signing Event

How's it going? It's that time of the month again! Time to list down yet another set of books that our bookshelves ought to have before it breaks. This month's theme is all about technology! I figured that since this month is the month of the release of the iPhone 6 (which apparently is also a flip phone lol), it would only be appropriate. This month's BBL features books in which technology plays a huge part. So with all that said, let us begin!

1. The Eye of Minds

• Title: The Eye of Minds
• Author: James Dashner
• Genre: young adult, sci fi, dystopia, adventure
• Pages: 308 pages (hardcover)
• Published: 8 October 2013
• Series:  The Mortality Doctrine #1

"An all-new, edge-of-your seat adventure from James Dashner, the author of the New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series, The Eye of Mindsis the first book in The Mortality Doctrine, a series set in a world of hyperadvanced technology, cyberterrorists, and gaming beyond your wildest dreams . . . and your worst nightmares.

Michael is a gamer. And like most gamers, he almost spends more time on the VirtNet than in the actual world. The VirtNet offers total mind and body immersion, and it’s addictive. Thanks to technology, anyone with enough money can experience fantasy worlds, risk their life without the chance of death, or just hang around with Virt-friends. And the more hacking skills you have, the more fun. Why bother following the rules when most of them are dumb, anyway?

But some rules were made for a reason. Some technology is too dangerous to fool with. And recent reports claim that one gamer is going beyond what any gamer has done before: he’s holding players hostage inside the VirtNet. The effects are horrific—the hostages have all been declared brain-dead. Yet the gamer’s motives are a mystery.

The government knows that to catch a hacker, you need a hacker.
And they’ve been watching Michael. They want him on their team.
But the risk is enormous. If he accepts their challenge, Michael will need to go off the VirtNet grid. There are back alleys and corners in the system human eyes have never seen and predators he can’t even fathom—and there’s the possibility that the line between game and reality will be blurred forever."

This selection is somewhat influenced by my reading experience with the Maze Runner series. I thought that since I had an epic read with the same author, why not try this one? And sci fi happens to be one of my favorite genres, so I think that this book could be interesting. And I just thought of this right now but this pick somehow celebrates the premier of the Maze Runner movie as well (which I have not seen yet *sobs*).

2. Feed

• Title: Feed
• Author: M. T. Anderson
• Genre: young adult, sci fi, dystopia, fantasy
• Pages: 308 pages (paperback)
• Published: 23 February 2004
• Series:  none

"For Titus and his friends, it started out like any ordinary trip to the moon - a chance to party during spring break and play with some stupid low-grav at the Ricochet Lounge. But that was before the crazy hacker caused all their feeds to malfunction, sending them to the hospital to lie around with nothing inside their heads for days. And it was before Titus met Violet, a beautiful, brainy teenage girl who has decided to fight the feed and its omnipresent ability to categorize human thoughts and desires. Following in the footsteps of George Orwell, Anthony Burgess, and Kurt Vonnegut Jr., M. T. Anderson has created a not-so-brave new world — and a smart, savage satire that has captivated readers with its view of an imagined future that veers unnervingly close to the here and now."

Now this next book I have heard from during Alex London's book signing event. He was talking about how he admires this book and how it somehow influenced his two books Proxy and Guardian. Just thought I'd check it out and here it is now on our September 2014 BBL! I also would like to read this because it is not a part of a series. I mean I do love reading books from series but there's just this magical feeling of finishing a book with no sequel. I can't describe it in detail but it just leaves you longing but at the same time feeling contented. 

3. Legend

• Title: Legend
• Author: Marie Lu
• Genre: young adult, sci fi, dystopia, fantasy
• Pages: 305 pages (paperback)
• Published: 16 April 2013
• Series:  Legend #1

"From different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths...

Until June's brother is murdered, and Day becomes the prime suspect.

In a shocking turn of events, the two uncover what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths to which their country will go to keep its secrets."

Now this is exciting! I figured it would be a great way to end our BBL with this book since Marie Lu is actually going to have a book signing this November! But here's the deal: I'm super undecided if I should go to this event or not, primarily because I haven't read her books yet. Hahaha. That is why this is on this month's BBL. Alex London and Marie Lu are great friends, so maybe I'll like this series as well? Who knows? But sure enough, this book caught my interest, and I can't wait to read it. And maybe I'll make up my mind about the event after I'm done with this.

So that's it for this month's Bookshelf Bucket List! Have these books caught your interest as well? Or do you have books to recommend to me that might fall down this month's theme? Let me know in a comment! Until then, this has been your on-duty bookworm Jude, sharing with you every month three books that our bookshelves ought to have before it breaks. Oh yeah, time to wake up that guy from Green Day. Happy October everyone! Peace!

August 2014 Bookshelf Bucket List: Myths and Legends!

Whaddup, whaddup! Bet you thought I was not posting this, did ya? Just kidding! I'm sorry, by the way, for not posting this earlier but here it is! My Bookshelf Bucket List for the month of August! This month I have managed to gather three mythical and legendary books I want to read here on our list, hence the theme Myths and Legends! *cue dramatic orchestra music*

1.  The Colossus Rises

• Title: The Colossus Rises
• Author: Peter Lerangis
• Genre: young adult, fantasy, mythology, adventure
• Pages: 348 pages (hardcover)
• Published: 5 February 2013
• Series:  Seven Wonders #1

"One Boy

Jack McKinley is an ordinary kid with an extraordinary problem. In a few months, he’s going to die.

One Mission

Jack needs to find seven magic loculi that, when combined, have the power to cure him.

One Problem

The loculi are the relics of a lost civilization and haven’t been seen in thousands of years.

Seven Wonders

Because they’re hidden in the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World."

Really? You would read another mythology series? HELL YEAH I WOULD! HAHAHA. If there was something wise that I learned when I began reading, it's to never say no to a mythology book! At least for me, of course, since I LOVE the genre. And I always find myself picking this book up in bookstores and checking it out. You see, I have always been fascinated with the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. I have read about them countless of times on books of facts and encyclopedias since I was a little kid. I loved how they came to be and how they were so iconic during the time of their existence. I also find myself wanting to visit these places although some of them are already extinct, that's why I think that I'd have a blast reading The Colossus Rises and its series.

2. The Sorceress

• Title: The Sorceress
• Author: Michael Scott
• Genre: young adult, fantasy, mythology, adventure
• Pages: 502 pages (hardcover)
• Published: 26 May 2009
• Series:  The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #3

"Nicholas Flamel's heart almost broke as he watched his beloved Paris crumble before him. The city was destroyed by Dee and Machiavelli, but Flamel played his own role in the destruction. Sophie and Josh Newman show every sign of being the twins of prophecy, and Flamel had to protect them and the pages from the Dark Elders.

But Nicholas grows weaker with each passing day. Perenelle is still trapp
ed in Alcatraz, and now that Scatty has gone missing, the group is without protection. Except for Clarent—the twin sword to Excalibur. But Clarent’s power is unthinkable, its evil making it nearly impossible to use without its darkness seeping into the soul of whoever wields it.

If he hopes to defeat Dee, Nicholas must find an Elder who can teach Josh and Sophie the third elemental magic—Water Magic. The problem? The only one who can do that is Gilgamesh, and he is quite, quite insane."

This book is somewhat more of an "I want" than an "I want to try", since I have read the 2 books before this one. I liked the first two books, especially the second one. The Magician left me wanting for more and here I am wanting to read the next book! 'Nuff said. (Portkey to my The Alchemyst review and Portkey to my The Magician review!)

3. Curse of the Bane

• Title: Curse of the Bane
• Author: Joseph Delaney
• Genre: young adult, fantasy, horror, suspense
• Pages: 480 pages (hardcover)
• Published: 29 August 2006
• Series:  The Last Apprentice #2

"Now it's the dark's turn to be afraid

The Spook and his apprentice, Thomas Ward, deal with the dark. Together they rid the county of witches, ghosts, and boggarts. But now there's some unfinished business to attend to in Priestown. Deep in the catacombs of the cathedral lurks a creature the Spook has never been able to defeat; a force so evil that the whole county is in danger of being corrupted by its powers. The Bane!

As Thomas and the Spook prepare for the battle of their lives, it becomes clear that the Bane isn't their only enemy. The Quisitor has arrived, searching for those who meddle with the dark so he can imprison them�or worse.

Can Thomas defeat the Bane on his own? Is his friend Alice guilty of witchcraft? And will the Spook be able to escape the Quisitor's clutches?"

Also not the first book of the series, Curse of the Bane is the second installment of The Last Apprentice series. For those who want a fright before going to bed, this book is perfect for you! With the cool spooky graphics and eerie stories, the first book, Revenge of the Witch, left me wanting for more, so Curse of the Bane is definitely on my BBL! (Portkey to my Revenge of the Witch review!)

So that was my Bookshelf Bucket List for the month of August! What about you? What books are on your bookshelf bucket list? Let me know in a comment! 'Til next time!

Bookshelf Bucket List!

Good morning World and all who inhabit it! It has been a long time since my last update and I apologize for that but the good news is that I thought of something new to share with you guys on this blog. And as you may have already figured out with the title and the banner, every month I am going to share my own Bookshelf Bucket List! 

Every month I am going to feature 3 books which are on my, well... bookshelf bucket list! These are the books that seem to be worth a shot that I find during bookstore visits and as well as in browsing goodreads. And of course, being the non-working student that I am, I don't earn money and can't buy these books whenever I want. #toopoorforbookhauls Haha! So until I actually start earning money, I will be featuring these interesting books in this new blog segment. 

I have decided to do this monthly because I thought if I did this weekly I would have a whole month with just Bookshelf Bucket List posts since college just started for me and I expect to be very busy these coming months. But 3 books per month is not bad, right? I plan to do this every last week of the month, so expect August's Bookshelf Bucket List to be out next week! If I end up finding books with similar characteristics, I'll try to come up with a theme for that month. 

That's it for now! I just wanted to introduce the idea and I thought I could get some suggestions from you. Have you thought of some ideas that could make this idea of mine better? Let me know in a comment! Peace! :)