March 2012 Reading

I've got a lot of review books this month, so I thought it would be nice to have a centralized list to refer back to.  It will also let you know what to look for by way of reviews this month!

I'm currently finishing:

My March reading list:

Past, Present, or Future?

Thinking about the three general time periods available in literature, I realized that I don't seem to have one favorite, anymore. I used to read mostly books that took place in the past, but I have noticed that my tastes are changing quite drastically. Don't get me wrong, I still love a good book set in a time long ago, but I seem to have branched out quite a bit. Lately, I have been primarily reading two genres: urban fantasy and dystopian. All of my urban fantasies have had a present setting, while my dystopian reads are all in the distant future. I have also started reading a little steampunk, though I won't profess to knowing all there is to know about the subject. I've just enjoyed a couple of the books I have read that fit into the category.

As far as the urban fantasy and dystopian books, however, I have noticed a few specific things that appeal to me most. With urban fantasy, I enjoy the sense that even in the modern era, there are still fantastical things beneath the surface. There is still a sense of magic and mystery in a world filled with technology and cynicism. Dystopian books cater to a different interest. It is sort of a way to try out different ideas about what could happen with the world in the future if things continue as they are. It can be frightening, but often sheds a lot of light on the human condition.

Some of my favorite urban fantasies include:

• The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa
• The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare
• Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr

and some of my favorite dystopians are:

• Wither by Lauren DeStefano
• The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins

I have so many more of all three genres I've mentioned marked on my to-read list and I can not wait to dive into them all. Currently waiting for me on my shelf are:

• The Map of Time by Felix J. Palma
• Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
• Fallen by Lauren Kate
• Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter
• The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
• Die for Me by Amy Plum
• Wondrous Strange & Darklight by Leslie Livingston
• Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
• Evernight by Claudia Gray
• Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr
• Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Not to mention many others that fall outside those three categories. How about you? What are your favorites?

Thanks to Jenny @ New Books for New Bloggers for the prompt. It was a great question and a lot of fun to think about!

Insomnia + Irritation With the Book I'm Reading + Leftover Swagbucks Amazon Gift Card Balance =

late-night online shopping. I've been unable to find any of the books I have on my to-read list for the Sense and Sensibility Bicentenary Challenge in either of the libraries here, so I did some digging on B&N.com and Amazon. I struck pay dirt with uber cheap copies of:

The Third Sister by Julia Barrett


and Elinor and Marianne: A Sequel to Sense and Sensibility by Emma Tennant.


As for the rest of my list, I'd better get cracking on earning more Amazon gift cards through Swagbucks and another B&N gift card through MyPoints if I'm going to procure them all by the end of the year. I know I'll have access to the Jane Austen mysteries when we move back to the 'Boro in August, but I'm not so sure about the rest of them.

Speaking of my to-read list, the overall list on Goodreads has reached insanely epic proportions. It would probably take a lifetime for me to read them all, but I'm nothing if not ambitious when it comes to reading. The more the merrier.