Sydney Simon's Blog, page 2

30 Days of Book Love - Day 16

30 Days of Book Love
We're on the back end of our 30 days - Day 16 is here.


A Book That Made Me Cry.

I must be honest, more than a few books have made me tear up.  I usually don't get past a few tears before I am able to regain composure and press forward.

But this... This book made me black shit ugly cry.  I bawled.  I boo-hoo'd.  Hard.


If you've read this, then you know what I'm talking about, right?  *sigh*  If you haven't read this, I suggest that you put your prejudices aside and read this book.

I had to have an honorable mention for this category, for one reason only.  Not only is it one of my absolute favorites, but I only have to read the Epilogue and I am tearing up.  Seriously.  No matter how many times I've read the book (more than one, less than 49), I get teary.  Every.Single.Time.

"I take my first step and then my second and right before the door closes, I look once more over my shoulder.  Caleb is still under the tree, he winks at me, and I smile."

Wahhhhh... *runs for tissue*


Amazon links:
Forbidden
The Opportunist

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30 Days of Book Love - Day 15

30 Days of Book Love
Rejoice!  It's the weekend AND we're at the half way point of our 30 Days!

My Book Husband


This was a no-brainer.  At first I thought: Caleb Drake.  But, then I realized he and Olivia are together and I didn't want to go and bust up their family with Estella.  No one likes a homewrecker.  So, I moved on to the next guy on my list.

Uh huh... Dorian.  You know, that hot warlock who can get you off without touching you?  Yup.  Him. Look....  I admit I have an unhealthy attraction to a fictional character. And it's not just that he's fictional, but he's some sort of magic sorcerer, to boot.

I've been patiently waiting for S.L. Jennings to hurry up and finish the series.  I need to know what happens, so I'll have to ply her with drinks in NOLA and get some dish on my fictional husband.    Until then, I'll have to be pacified by Nikolai, who is an equally hot, but tortured soul.

30 Days of Book Love - Day 14

30 Days of Book Love
It's Day 14...


Favorite Fictional Family

This one took me awhile to come up with.  I had to do some research for this answer.  I know MJ and Barbie picked some Harry Potter stuff (I've never read a HP book...), so that wasn't an option.

But then I remembered this book from my past, and I was like... YES!  I loved the book and I especially loved the movie.  They weren't a conventional family, but that was party of the beauty of the book.



Atticus Finch.  I want him to be my dad (and not just cause he's hot in the movie - Gregory Peck... swoon).  I want to hang with Scout and Jem.  I like period books, and this one is perfect.

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” 

Truer words have never been spoken.
Who is your favorite fictional family?
Amazon link:To Kill a Mockingbird
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30 Days of Book Love - Day 13

30 Days of Book Love
Day 13!  And 13 happens to be my favorite number.  Today is all about my


Favorite Non-Fiction Book

Feel free to bail on this post now.  I did't pick anything edgy or fun, or even popular - at first I thought I would say The Diary of Anne Frank, but that seemed to... I don't know... Somber.

So, I went back to my favorite genre of non-fiction, which is historical, specifically, WWII and the evolution of the government.  This book is a great starter for anyone who is interested in learning about the history of the US and their place in world espionage and deceit.  It's a fascinating and informative book.

 
Amazon link:
Legacy of Ashes: History of the CIA

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30 Days of Book Love - Day 12

30 Days of Book Love
It's Day 12!


Favorite Book From the Longest Series I've Read


I've made it pretty obvious I like to read out of the box.  This series fits the bill, to a T.  The series is complete, but there are prequels in the works.  If you haven't read this series, you are missing out on some fantastic stuff.

This series should NOT be missed.






Amazon links:
The Siren
The Angel
The Prince
The Mistress

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30 Days of Book Love - Day 11

30 Days of Book Love
Holy cow... Day 11

How was everyone's weekend?


My Favorite Scary Book

I already told you about Mara Dyer (Day 8) and Schasm (Day 6).  They are both Paranormal and well written.

Both aren't "scary", but they are creepy as hell, and that's good enough.

Check out those links up there for the books.

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30 Days of Book Love - Day 10

30 Days of Book Love
Ten Days down...


Favorite Biography/Memoir


So, I originally picked another one of my boring historical books.  But, then I read this book... and wow. Words fail me.  My friend, Barbie, said we needed to read this book.  So Claire and I did a buddy read.  We read it in record time.  Clearly, we're both a little past twisted.

I have mixed feelings about this memoir.  Not the subject matter, per se, but the ability of the author to be so eloquent, yet very candid about the subject of what she wrote.  The book left me stunned.  I had several conversations with Claire and Barbie and we were able to work our way through the rationalizations and understandings of what we had read.

I won't lie.  This book was a hard limit for me... however, it is written with decorum and an honesty that has to be respected.  Obviously, the subject matter isn't for everyone, but it is a compelling story and I really enjoyed working my way through it.  Books should make you think; and not always, but occasionally reading a story that pushes your boundaries and your comfort levels is good.



Amazon link:
The Kiss: A Memoir

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30 Days of Book Love - Day 9

30 Days of Book Love
It's Day 9...


Favorite "Don't Judge Me" Book.


I am laughing as I type this.  Originally, I picked some really booooring book about FDR (don't judge!  I like historical books), but I thought, "Geez, how boring.  No one wants to read about FDR and how he was responsible for getting the US involved in WWII.)

So, I gave it some more thought, and picked something more lighter.




Sure, she's a bit raunchy, but she tells it like it is.  And who cares?  Her books are pretty ridiculous and to me, that's funny.

I don't get to watch her show much anymore, but in doing this post, I saw she's got another book coming out next Spring.  I'll be all over it.

Amazon links:
My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One Night Stands
Are You There Vodka, It's Me, Chelsea
Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang
The Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me

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30 Days of Book Love - Day 8

30 Days of Book Love
Day 8 is here!  Today I get to share with you my:


Favorite Cover


This one didn't come to me as easily as some of the others.  Cause, really, what makes a great cover?  Is it ones that are bold and simple, like The Fault in Our Stars?  Or is it clean, not too photoshopped, like Claire's There's No Light in the Darkness?  Or is it black and white, up close and intimate, like Barbie's original cover for Promise Me?  Or is it sassy and fun like MJ's Happenstance?

For me, I think it's all those things.  Even though Barbie, MJ and Claire are my friends, I truly love their book covers (we're all admitted cover whores)!  A cover should tell give you the first visual to the story told in the pages beneath it.  When done right, it should stick with you as a reminder of the book you read.  I've seen great books go unsold because the cover didn't grab the reader off the top.

This series not only is a fabulous YA series, but the covers entice me.  They draw me in and are an added bonus for the story because they accurately and eloquently represent what's written.




Can you think about your favorite cover and what category it falls under?  Did you feel like the cover accurately represent the book?
Amazon link:The Unbecoming of Mara DyerThe Evolution of Mara DyerThe Retribution of Mara Dyer (Out June, 2014)

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30 Days of Book Love - Day 7

30 Days of Book Love
Lucky number 7.


A Book That Changed My Opinion About Something


I don't care for Paranormal.  It's just not my thing.  I didn't read Twilight.  I guess my aversion to sparkling vampires may have something to do with me shying away from the Paranormal genre altogether.  That being said, I like to keep an open mind.

So last year after I blew through my first Indie book (Beautiful Disaster), I was anxious to get my hands on whatever else Jamie McGuire wrote.  I didn't have a lot of knowledge of the Indie market, so my author picks weren't nearly as plentiful as they are today.  I came across this series because I liked Jamie's writing. I wasn't keen on the idea that there was maybe some Paranormal elements to the book, but I jumped in anyway.

And I'm glad I did.  I ended up LOVING the series.  It totally changed my perspective on the PRN genre as a whole: not all paranormal books have sparkling vampires in ridiculous love triangles.  Because this book is light on the paranormal side, and pretty easy to digest, I have delved into more books like this (Check out S.C. Stephens' Conversion series).  Even though I loved this series, and I don't mind Paranormal now, I'll still never read any books with sparkly vamps!

So if you're looking for an intro to Paranormal, this is the series for you:


My Honorable Mention (well, because it's another Paranormal), if you want to read about a HOT warlock, then check out this series ASAP, because it ROCKS!  Don't anyone get too attached to Dorian.  Just sayin'.




What book changed your opinion about something?

Amazon link:Providence TrilogyDark Light
The Dark Prince

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