Q4U: What were your reading phases?

Q4U (Question 4 U) is a feature on Stop, Drop, and Read! that likes to pop up on a random day. A question is asked for you to answer, where it could range from getting feedbacks for the blog to a start of a fun topic!

I remember my very first school book fair in first grade. I was absolutely awed by the amount of assorted books they had out on display and I couldn't choose what I wanted. I forgot how many books my mom purchased for me that day, but I remember that I got one picture book that were about colourful butterflies. That was my first real book purchase.

I didn't actively start reading until third grade however. One day, I decided to go to the library. My goal was to finish a chapter book each day (I sped read through Artemis Fowl and all I remembered that there was something about fairies and a thief...). From then on, I was hooked onto reading in general.

Fast-forward to grade six, anime was starting to get popular. My friend was obsessed with Inuyasha and introduced the series to me. Once I got into it, I started browsing for the manga version of it. Next thing I knew, I was COMPLETELY obsessed with manga and anime. I completely ditched reading novels altogether and heavily focused on reading mangas. I collected quite a bit from then and through high school with about 200 mangas in my collection at the moment (I did ended up selling about 12 of them when university started).

While in my manga phase, I wanted to get back into reading regular novels during the start of high school. That was when I started to look into YA novels. I did not dive into the world on YA completely just yet. I wanted more books, but I liked the idea of winning one. This was when I went online in search of an online YA book giveaway (I won my first book from In Bed with Books! Hi Liviania!). After discovering the existence of book blogs, I decided to take a shot at it too. I thought it would be a great way for me to keep track of the books I have read thus far (and this was before I discovered the existence of ARCs). Therefore, the next few years I dedicated my reading and reviewing YA novels along with mangas (for older bloggers, you may remember my most active years from 2008-2010).

After I entered university, my readings became less and less frequent. Now that I am in my second year, I have no time to read at all. Especially since I have joined a student organization that I am dedicating a lot of time to. All I read now are the latest releases of a manga that has not yet been licensed called Cage of Eden (Eden no Ori), which is once a week.

I have no idea if this will change anytime soon, highly likely not (until summer break that is). So...

What were your reading phases?

Q4U: Which fictional character will be your Valentine?

Q4U (Question 4 U) is a feature on Stop, Drop, and Read! that likes to pop up on a random day. A question is asked for you to answer, where it could range from getting feedbacks for the blog to a start of a fun topic!

I was actually planning to put up another Q4U but realized that since today is Valentine's Day, I've decided to post something more fun!

To be honest, I don't have a fictional book crush right now. But since I am obsessed with True Blood (the TV series), I'm pretty sure the books would be the same (since I've never read any of them yet). So my fictional Valentine would be Eric Northman! (Before he got his memory wiped in the latest season of course).

Which fictional character will be your Valentine?

Q4U: What book(s) to save during a fire?

Q4U (Question 4 U) is a feature on Stop, Drop, and Read! that likes to pop up on a random day. A question is asked for you to answer, where it could range from getting feedbacks for the blog to a start of a fun topic!

A few days ago while I was lying in bed, I was thinking of my book collection. Since I'm refurnishing my room (as you likely know; and yes, it is taking forever), my bookshelf might be removed from my room and be placed in the basement (oh noes!). And to be honest as I was thinking about it, I don't need this many books. Yes, I do love reading. But what are the chances of me re-reading ALL of them again? (Which is why hopefully in the future I will give away some ARCs I no longer want. Follow for future updates, hopefully. Lol.) I still have at least two full bookshelves that I haven't even touched yet.

So this question came to my mind:

What book or books would you save during a fire?

This is assuming that the rest of your collection will burn in peril. MUAHAHA! Ahem.

Mine would have to be Why I Let My Hair Grow Out series (a trilogy by Maryrose Wood) and Death Mill Mansion: A Lighthearted Comedy by Will Hartzell-Baird. That would be 4 books in total. They are simply the favourites that I enjoy very much and they have this unique humor that I can't get enough of. I like to laugh and be happy after all. :)

Now, if I had to save something from my manga collection...I would die. No doubt. I have a few favourite series but they consist of so many volumes! (For example, Ouran High School Host Club, which I have up to the 15th volume! And it's still not done yet!) I wouldn't even make it out of my room if I was to grab them all!

Obviously if this situation was really real, I wouldn't bother cause hey, life is short. But I'm speaking in the sense that you would likely escape (unless you try to horde 100 books out).

So when it comes to books, would you be able to grab one or two you really love before the house burns down?

Q4U: Do you have time to read nowadays?

Q4U (Question 4 U) is a feature on Stop, Drop, and Read! that appears on random days. A question is asked for you to answer, where it could range from getting feedbacks for the blog to a start of a fun topic!

Oh my, I haven't done this feature in awhile. Guess it is a good time to get back into it! :) So my question of the day is:

Do you have time to read nowadays?
It may sounds like a silly question to some people, but university/college kids who love to read will give a little sigh if asked this.

If you are a long time follower, you may have remembered back in the day that I would constantly update. Out of seven days a week, there were at least five to six posts. Now, I would be lucky if I get two up a week!

Since the beginning of university, I didn't get a chance to read as much as I did before. Now, I'm slowly getting back into it. I still don't read that much but I try (you can see what I am trying to get through on the side). I generally have a book with me when I go to school and back because I like to read on my commute. I am impressed with anyone who can do their homework on the subway or the bus because I can absolutely not. So instead, I read. It does give me some peace and it is nice to just forget about all the exams and assignments due by getting sucked into another world temporarily. (However, if the book is not that impressive, it's no fun).

So I am wondering if there is anyone else in the same predicament? If so, when do you read and how often?

Q4U: What is your opinion on sex in YA novels?

Q4U (Question 4 U) is a feature on Stop, Drop, and Read! that appears on random days. A question is asked for you to answer, where it could range from getting feedbacks for the blog to a start of a fun topic!

Sex. Yes, a topic that could stimulate conversations easily among teens. Nowadays, they are seen more often in YA novels than ever. Some hints around it, while others give you all the details. So...

What is your opinion on sex in YA novels?

I don't mind them at all, but I generally prefer my YA novels without. I rather read them in adult novels because for some reason, I always felt that the sex scenes are placed in a way that disrupts the flow of the novel. Maybe once in awhile it's well incorporated into the plot, but I rather just read about teens living life without the sex stuff for now. Because I find it that teenagers have so much ahead of them, therefore I want to see them do other things other than sleeping with each other.

So what are your opinions on it?

Watch these videos, hilarious and she gives great tips on how to add sex into a story properly.

Part 1

Part 2

Q4U: What themes do you want to see in novels?

Q4U (Question 4 U) is a feature on Stop, Drop, and Read! that appears on random days. A question is asked for you to answer, where it could range from getting feedbacks for the blog to a start of a fun topic!

In literature, there is a vast majority of themes and stories presented. There are so many that you will notice many repeats with the popular ones but all different with each author's own writing style (ex. vampires, family, etc.). However, there are many themes that aren't seen too often. So I'm curious...

What themes do you want to see in novels?

For some reason, I want to read a novel about time-travelling. Surprisingly, there not a lot of stories about the protagonist going back in time or to the future. That would be awesome! (Recommend if you guys know any good ones?) I want to read about reincarnation but at the same time I don't want to. I don't know, that topic does interest me but I fear that it will be some depressing magical story or so.

What about you guys?

Q4U: What are your opinions on your school books?

Q4U (Question 4 U) is a feature on Stop, Drop, and Read! that appears on random days. A question is asked for you to answer, where it could range from getting feedbacks for the blog to a start of a fun topic!

I'm sure everyone here had to read a certain book for English class at one point in their life. From Shakespeare to the Harry Potter series, there were the novels/plays that you enjoyed and didn't enjoy. So I am curious...

What are your opinions on your school books?

I remember back in 6th grade I had to read The Wrinkle in Time and The Book of Three. They were both alright and I managed to read through them. The Wrinkle in Time stood out the most for me as it was just plain weird.

Fast-forward to high school, I had to read The Hobbit in 9th grade. Prior, I did not like The Lord of the Rings series. When the movies came out, I was still in elementary school, so the concept was scary and confusing. However, after reading The Hobbit (spectacular!), I went home and watched all three movies of The Lord of the Rings and got really into it! But till this day, I still haven't read the actual series aside The Hobbit.

10th grade, I had To Kill a Mockingbird. This novel was a bit of a strange ride for me because there were times where I got so into it and while other times it got so boring that I didn't want to pick it up anymore. The class got to watch the movie so we didn't do much with the actual reading. Before I could finish it, the teacher took the novel back. (I doubt I'll go venture out and get a copy now, way too many other books to catch up on).

Last year, my 11th grade class got a chance to read The Kite Runner. At that time, it was when I was just starting out on my blog. You can see my review of The Kite Runner here. It was such a depressing novel but a brilliant one. Highly recommend everyone to read it.

This year, well, nothing so far. The only reading I'm doing for English right now is Pride and Prejudice (still pushing myself to finish it; so hard to get into) for the end of the year summative. I'm comparing it with Dracula! But first, I have to finish Austen's novel before going to Stoker's.

So what were the novels that you had to read like?

Q4U: E-books, yes or no?

Q4U (Question 4 U) is a feature on Stop, Drop, and Read! that appears on random days. A question is asked for you to answer, where it could range from getting feedbacks for the blog to a start of a fun topic!

As you may realize, e-books are starting to become more frequent in the book industry. With the new iPad released, it has given more opportunities for people to read their novels electronically asides the Kindle. So...

E-books, yes or no?

I don't think I would ever buy e-books. I get headaches reading a novel from the screen and I just prefer to have a book in my hand. Reading it online doesn't feel like it's really a novel like it would in hard copy.

If you have e-books, what are your experiences with them like? If not, will you consider?

Q4U: What book would you like to see turn into a movie?

Q4U (Question 4 U) is a feature on Stop, Drop, and Read! that appears on random days. A question is asked for you to answer, where it could range from getting feedbacks for the blog to a start of a fun topic!

So many hit novels generally become a movie sooner or later. However, there are many books out there that would never be on the big screen.

What book would you like to see turn into a movie?

This is considering the movie will be made with the best of quality, from scenery to characters.

I would love love love to see Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon or Eon by Alison Goodman as a movie. Both have oriental features (which I love) but great action and plot too that would play out extremely well in a film. They also have amazing mythical elements that would be such a eyecandy for the audience.

What about you?

Q4U: What is your book pet peeve?

Q4U (Question 4 U) is a random meme hosted at Stop, Drop, and Read! that appears on random days. A question is asked, where it could range from getting feedbacks for the blog to a start of a fun topic!

In replacement of my non-existent IMM post due to my broken doorbell, I thought I should at least post something. So today's question is...

What is your book pet peeve?

This can be physical as having your books bent to the storyline where you hate a certain overused plot.

One kind of overused plot that bothers me a lot lately is that plain Jane protagonist running into a hot, mysterious guy to whom she is drawn to for no good reason in the beginning. It was cool when it first came out, but after awhile, it's just no. I mean, have you ever seen vice versa? Now I want to read about an average Joe and some sexy female...

I also hate it when the side of the paperback cover starts ruining because of sweaty hands. So now when I read, I just pressed on the pages rather than holding it when my hands for some reason are profusely sweating.

What are your pet peeves?

Q4U: What book are you wanting/giving for the holidays?

Q4U (Question 4 U) is a random meme hosted at Stop, Drop, and Read! that appears on random days. A question is asked, where it could range from getting feedbacks for the blog to a start of a fun topic!

The holidays are fast approaching! As an avid reader, I am sure that you either want a book or will give a book as a gift. So...

What book are you wanting/giving for the holidays?

I actually just gave a friend The Dust of 100 Dogs earlier for Secret Santa and I hope she enjoys it as much as I did. I am planning to buy two more books, one for my younger sister and another to my cousin but we'll see what I'll come across when I shop over the weekend.

I actually don't have a book I am desperate for right now actually. Well, ones that are already out. The only novel I wanted before for the longest time was What I Wore to Save the World by Maryrose Wood but received it to review not too long ago.

If you are stuck on some book ideas, here are a few that pops out that I recommend for the holiday season:

Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert
The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King
I Know It's Over by C.K. Kelly Martin
Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman (No review yet)

Did anyone get any books in advance? If so, what are they? :) For me, no books yet but I have a feeling I might not be getting any this Christmas lol.

Q4U: What would you smell like in a romance novel?

Q4U (Question 4 U) is a random meme hosted at Stop, Drop, and Read! that appears on random days. A question is asked, where it could range from getting feedbacks for the blog to a start of a fun topic!

So you know how in romance novels, the character always describe his/her crush with some sort of scent(s)? So...

What would you smell like in a romance novel?

If you don't know what you smell like in real life, how would you like to be described in a book?

If I was to be described right now, I would smell like citrus or oranges and a hint of Calvin Klein perfume. My mom always buys clementines and I love to eat them because they are so easy to peel back and pop into your mouth. I just started the perfume about a couple of days ago because I had the bottle for so long but I never used it.

During this summer, I smelled like some sort of heavenly flower because I kept using this one body butter called My Desire from Victoria's Secret. I stopped because I was using way too much of it (addicted!) and I didn't want to waste it.

So what about you guys? :D

Q4U: What keeps you coming back to a blog?

As a reader, there are some blogs you tend to go to check out more often than others. So...

What keeps you coming back to a blog?

Is it the content? Giveaways hosted? The blogger is your friend?

I have to admit, I will try to return the favour by checking out bloggers who stop by mine often (if they do have a blog). If they are taking their time to read my content, I feel that it is appropriate to do so too with their blog. Of course I don't spam them or anything; I just comment when there is something I feel worth commenting about or else I just do a quick drop-by.

Neat blogs with simple reviews of subjects I am into (YA novels and mangas) is definitely a plus. I am not the type of person to check out a review blog that likes to be lengthy and wordy (not that I have a problem with it! Just not my cup of tea). If the blogger can say what they have in mind with whatever they are reviewing without throwing fancy stuff in, there is a higher chance for me to come back.

With bloggers I am friends with, I do check their stuff as often as well. Why? Well, friends are friends right? And of course I support them in what they do!

So what about you guys?

Q4U: How long do you prefer a review to be? And what contents? + HBD to me!

Before I continue, I want to say...

Happy 17th Birthday to me! :D

(My avatar on Gaiaonline. I used to be addicted to the site! Was an art addict too! But I have grown...)

Yaaaayyy! (I'm such a dork!) Haha, I will try not to care about my waistline and eat to my heart content today! o(*0*)o <-Knows she'll feel bad afterwards!

Originally, I was planning to host a giveaway in celebration of my birthday. But unfortunately, I really do not have the funds for it! (Money is money, no matter how much it is! Sucks with no job too...) So I apologize that there will be no giveaway this year for my birthday. Maybe I will try for Christmas? (But then I have to start funding for my friends' presents! Ack! Money, money, money!)

Anyway, I am starting this new little thing I came up with myself called Q4U (AKA: Question for you :] ) Intentionally, I wanted to use it to improve my blog because sometimes people just don't bother with surveys. But I guess I will use it for any other book/manga related questions (or something completely off-topic!). It's not like a regular meme. Just a question I want to ask others when I am dying for an answer from the majority about whatever that is bothering me. (Or maybe sometimes use it as a filler when my reviews get scarce?) Therefore, my Q4Us will be on random days!

Feel free to do your own Q4U too! I'm sure you want to ask your readers something! You can make it a regular meme for your blog if you'd like. :)

Anyway, this question has been bothering me for awhile and I really would like to hear you amazing readers' opinions on it:

What length do you prefer the reviews you read to be? And what should be in the review?

I tend to do a medium-sized review for whatever I've read or watched with my own personalized summary in the beginning. I would then try to talk about plot, characters, writing, and art (if applicable) if I could. Sometimes it may be short because I do not have a lot of opinion for it. While other times it can be long when I have a lot of things I want to say. I am curious on what you are inclined to read more. Something that is quick so you can continue on with your life or do you prefer something with great length with a lot of elaborations? Let me know in the comments below!