In My Mailbox #16

IMM is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren in which bloggers are able to show off what books they received. If you want to learn more, you can read about it here. 

Woah, okay, so I got a ton of books this week. :D I told myself I wasn't going to get anymore, but I bought most of them super cheap from Goodwill and Half-Price Bookstore, so I really just couldn't pass any of them up. I just hope I actually have enough time to read them all. D:

Library:
Supernaturally by Kiersten White
13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Wither by Lauren DeStefano
Red Glove by Holly Black
Passion by Lauren Kate
Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Release date: Sept. 16, 2003
Publisher: Three Rivers Press
Format: paperback
Source: Christmas gift
Pages: 254
Series: --
Challenge: --
Summary: 

The Zombie Survival Guide is your key to survival against the hordes of undead who may be stalking you right now. Fully illustrated and exhaustively comprehensive, this book covers everything you need to know, including how to understand zombie physiology and behavior, the most effective defense tactics and weaponry, ways to outfit your home for a long siege, and how to survive and adapt in any territory or terrain.
Top 10 Lessons for Surviving a Zombie Attack

1. Organize before they rise!
2. They feel no fear, why should you?
3. Use your head: cut off theirs.
4. Blades don’t need reloading.
5. Ideal protection = tight clothes, short hair.
6. Get up the staircase, then destroy it.
7. Get out of the car, get onto the bike.
8. Keep moving, keep low, keep quiet, keep alert!
9. No place is safe, only safer.
10. The zombie may be gone, but the threat lives on.

Don’t be carefree and foolish with your most precious asset—life. This book is your key to survival against the hordes of undead who may be stalking you right now without your even knowing it. The Zombie Survival Guide offers complete protection through trusted, proven tips for safeguarding yourself and your loved ones against the living dead. It is a book that can save your life.

So, let me ask you a question. Do you want to live when the zombie invasion finally occurs?

If your answer is yes, then you should definitely buy this book. It may look like it's a humorous book (that's what I thought when I first bought it), but trust me, it's really not. Well, I mean, there are some humorous parts, but the book has a generally serious tone. It reads exactly like a guide, just as the title promises.

As a guide, I feel that this book does a pretty good job. It covers nearly everything that you'll need to know during a zombie apocalypse, such as what weapons are the best to use, the best shelters, and how to survive while on the run or creating a new fort. It even goes into detail of how zombies are created and their basic biology.

The end of the book contains records of "actual zombie attacks", that date back to hundreds of years ago. I thought these were a pretty nice addition to the book, and it definitely made zombies seem more like a reality than an idea.

If you're really into all things zombie, then I suggest that you buy this book. While I may have loved it, however, I feel that maybe people who aren't zombie enthusiasts like I am may get bored of this pretty quickly. If you're not sure it's your thing, maybe rent it out from the library instead.

Waiting on Wednesday #2

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine which allows bloggers to spotlight the upcoming releases that they're really looking forward to!

This week, I chose:

Above by Leah Bobet
Publication Date: April 1st, 2012

Matthew has loved Ariel from the moment he found her in the tunnels, her bee's wings falling away. They live in Safe, an underground refuge for those fleeing the city Above—like Whisper, who speaks to ghosts, and Jack Flash, who can shoot lightning from his fingers.

But one terrifying night, an old enemy invades Safe with an army of shadows, and only Matthew, Ariel, and a few friends escape Above. As Matthew unravels the mystery of Safe's history and the shadows' attack, he realizes he must find a way to remake his home—not just for himself, but for Ariel, who needs him more than ever before.

I have to admit that it was really the cover that drew me in at first. I mean, just look at it! I love the whole dark feel of it, and how the girl's wings look. But judging from the summary, this also sounds like a really unique idea! I don't think I've ever read about a girl with bee's wings before. :)

What are you guys waiting on? Leave a comment with a link to your own post, and I'll visit!

In My Mailbox #15

IMM is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren in which bloggers are able to show off what books they received. If you want to learn more, you can read about it here.

When 16-year-old Nick receives a package containing the mysterious computer game Erebos, he wonders if it will explain the behavior of his classmates, who have been secretive lately. Players of the game must obey strict rules: always play alone, never talk about the game, and never tell anyone your nickname.

Curious, Nick joins the game and quickly becomes addicted. But Erebos knows a lot about the players and begins to manipulate their lives. When it sends Nick on a deadly assignment, he refuses and is banished from the game.

Now unable to play, Nick turns to a friend for help in finding out who controls the game. The two set off on a dangerous mission in which the border between reality and the virtual world begins to blur. This utterly convincing and suspenseful thriller originated in Germany, where it has become a runaway bestseller.

Netgalley:

Erebos by Ursula Poznanski

So I only got one book this week, but that's okay because I'm really excited to read this one. I've always loved books that involved video games/virtual realities! :) Plus, it reminds me of a manga or anime that I've read/seen before, although I can't quite remember what it was... Anyway, I'm hoping to get to this one soon!

What'd you get in your mailbox this week? Leave a link to your own IMM in the comments, and I'll be sure to visit!

Busting the Newbie Blues

Busting the Newbie Blues is an event hosted by Small Review. Basically, you fill out a questionnaire and hopefully bring attention to yourself as a newbie blogger. Plus, you get to find other awesome newbie bloggers as well! Even established bloggers can participate, so go check it out! :)

When did you start your blog?

I started my blog at the very end of September last year. :) 

Why did you start your blog?

Well, none of my friends or family like to read, so I have no one to talk to about books! After finding great blogs like the Story Siren, I became inspired to create my own, because I felt like it'd be a great way to share my thoughts with others. Before that, I didn't even know that book blogs existed. 

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far? 

Definitely getting views and comments consistently. I do get comments occasionally on my posts, but I don't get comments and views on every post that I write. 

What do you find most discouraging about being a new blogger?

Sometimes I feel like I'm invisible, as cliche as that sounds. There are days when I feel like no one reads my posts, but I think I'm just too down on myself because I envy all the older bloggers who get like 40 comments per post. >:) 

I also find my number of posts discouraging. I don't understand how bloggers are able to consistently post every day. As it is, I have trouble reading one book within a week because of my busy schedule.

What do you find most encouraging? 

Definitely the whole book reading community. :) I just see everyone acting so nice and friendly to each other; it's great to see everybody united by their common love for reading! I'd love to get more involved in the community, but I'm rather timid, even on the internet.

Also, every little comment or view I get encourages me to keep blogging, because then I realize that at least someone is looking at it.

What do you like best about the blogs you read? Have you tried to replicate this in your blog? 

I like it when you can really tell that the blogger loves the book in their review. There are some people that just put so much emotion into their review. I've been trying to be more creative with my own reviews, so they don't sound bland or boring. I'm not too sure it's working, though. \: As I said, I'm kind of a timid person, so even writing my own opinion on this blog is challenging. I'm hoping that, through blogging, I will open up and be more friendly. :)

What do you dislike about blogs you’ve read? Do you try to avoid this? 

Hmmm.. I dislike it when blogs post reviews that are only a paragraph long. I feel like if you're going to review a book, then you might as well put more effort into it. Then again, I'm not going to tell people how to run their blogs. I myself try to post at least a few paragraphs when reviewing.

I also dislike overly complicated blogs. I haven't seen too many of these, but when your blog is hard to navigate or my screen is crowded with a bunch of things, then I probably won't read your blog. I like to keep things simple!

Any advice for other new bloggers? 

I would just say to never give up! I know that people are always telling each other that, but it's true. :) Even if you aren't getting a lot of views/comments right now, your blog will grow in time. It will just take some dedication and hard work, though. Plus, if you love doing it, then why should it matter how many people are visiting your blog? Do it because you enjoy it! :)

Any questions you'd like to ask newbie or established bloggers?

I don't have any questions in particular, but any tips - especially networking tips - would be appreciated. :)

Also, I'd like to know how you use Twitter to network yourself. I always see a bunch of bloggers claiming it's an amazing tool, but I haven't figured it out for myself yet.

Is there anything you’d like to tell us about your blog? Feel free to link a few of your favorite posts or posts you wish had more comments. 

I like hearing other peoples' thoughts, so if you comment on a review, be sure to let me know what you are thinking about the book! Also, if you leave a comment on one of my posts, I'd be more than happy to comment on one of yours!