Lauren Reviews Minotaur by Phillip W. Simpson

Minotaur by Phillip W. Simpson
Published: September 2015 by Month9Books
Source: eARC
Rating: 5 Stars

“Where shall I start?” asked Minotaur.
Ovid made an expansive gesture with both hands. “Where else but the beginning of course.”
Minotaur nodded his huge head. “Yes,” he said. “Yes,” his eyes already glazing over with the weight of thousand year old memories. And then he began.

So begins the story of Asterion, later known as Minotaur, the supposed half bull creature of Greek legend. Recorded by the famous Roman poet, Ovid, Asterion tells of his boyhood in Crete under the cruel hand of his stepfather Minos, his adventures with his friend, Theseus, and his growing love for the beautiful Phaedra. And of course what really happened in the labyrinth. 

This is the true story of the minotaur. Ovid, a scholar who has written a huge volume of myths/legends, travels to the site of the minotaur's labyrinth. His tour guide Asterion, who is known as the minotaur, leads Ovid up the mountain and to the crumbling labyrinth.

Eventually Asterion decides to tell Ovid that he is the infamous minotaur, still alive and living close to the labyrinth. At first Ovid is just humoring Asterion, allowing Asterion to tell his story... this is when the book really starts for me. Asterion weaves the threads that bind story of his life together simply, yet with a heavy heart. The hardships he faced during his childhood... how he was ridiculed and looked down upon because of his appearance, how his father despised him because he was the bastard son of a god. The love of his life and how she was stolen from him. And then the most impressive twist of the story... the minotaur's time in the labyrinth. We all know the story. Asterion tells the true version, which of course is much less gory and extremely compelling. I felt so many emotions during Asterion's life story. But it was Asterion's perseverance that really resonated with me. I don't think I could have kept my own and not turned into the monster everyone thought I was if I was treated as he was.

This was a very thought-provoking read and I absolutely adore mythology, so basically the author wrote this for me. :) So thanks, Phillip.

Top Ten Tuesday Freebie -- Top Ten Book To Movie Adaptations Jamie Still Needs To Watch

For future Top Ten Tuesday topics & info on how to participate, click here!

It's freebie week and I was recently thinking about book to movie adaptions after seeing a preview for The Martian. I still need to read that book.

I am SO the person who tends to be adamant about reading the book before I watch the adaption though I think with the increasing number of adaptations I've gotten a LITTLE more lax. But I remember back in the day when Will and I were first dating (circa like 2006/2007) we'd walk around Blockbuster (RIP) and pick out movies to watch. He used to get SO frustrated because I'd always be like "Oh, we can't watch that because I still need to read the book" (one of 10 things my husband is sick of this bookworm saying).

I feel ashamed to admit but a lot of movies we've been wanting to watch for years? I still have not read the book. I would say I give in maybe 5% of the time meaning lots of movies we so want to watch have not been watched. I AM THE ABSOLUTE WORST. (TV shows I'm way more lax about if it's book to tv show).


Anyways, here are 10 book to movie adaptations I still need to watch -- some of these I totally did read the book for and some I haven't.

1. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close -- I read this book back in 2008 and it became an all time favorite. So years later I hear the movie is going to be made and I was excited yet SUPER terrified. I'd say I was more terrified than anything because I STILL have not watched it.

2. Pride & Prejudice -- I've read this one a long time ago but have still yet to see a single adaptation. TELL ME YOUR FAVORITE ONE.

3. Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone: Sooo shhh but I've only read the first Harry Potter book (I DO plan to continue) but have yet to watch the first movie. My plan was to read the book then watch the corresponding movie but just hasn't happened. Perhaps it will be great for this Fall!

4. Coraline: I keep meaning to read this book but haven't and thus have not watched the movie but want to so badly!

5. Insurgent: Okay it hasn't been out long at all but considering how much I enjoyed Divergent (and staring at Theo James) I'm kind of shocked I haven't. I read Divergent and then saw the movie but have yet to read Insurgent so I didn't go out to see it right away. I'm still trying to decide if I'll read it based on lots of mixed opinions on the rest of the series so I've just stalled with watching it.

6. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo: I really enjoyed this book but haven't seen either the Swedish or American adaptation still.

7. The Maze Runner: My sister begged me to see this with her and I was like OKAY BUT LET ME READ THE BOOK FIRST....and I never did.

8. It's Kind of A Funny Story: I keep planning on reading the book but never did so thus have not seen this.

9. Anna Karenina: I kept telling myself I would read this finally before the movie but never happened.

10. The Help: I have had this book on my shelf for forever and thus have not seen the movie still. WOMP WOMP.

BONUS #11 (seriously this list could have been like 30) -- Eat, Pray, Love -- I wanted to see this so bad after loving the book when it came out but STILL HAVEN'T.

So tell me in the comments...are any of these adaptations worth watching??? Are you a person who HAS to read the book before or do you not really have a preference?

When Life Changes Disrupt Reading Habits

Hey guys! Jamie here!

September has been CRAZY thus far. I'll get to why in a minute. One of the reasons it has been crazy is due to a life change. I always find that, even the best of life changes, always seem to disrupt my life and my habits.

Let's take reading for example, when things are going pretty normal I typically average about the same books read per month -- give or take a couple depending on how busy that month is.

This month I have read 1 book so far. ONE BOOK. And while I recognize it's better than most of the population it is CRAZY for me to not have read at least a couple by now. And the book I read wasn't even long AT ALL.

So what's my life change?

MY HUSBAND AND I ADOPTED A DOG EXACTLY A WEEK AGO. His name is Finnikin (Finn for short) and he's totally named after a literary character I love. You can check out all the details here on my blog!

Since we've been married in the past 3 years we've had no pets or kids so adopting a dog is a pretty big life change to two people who do as they please and are spontaneous and have relatively few commitments in life.

It's amazing and I've loved every moment of spending time with him but things like blogging and reading and working out have just NOT happened. Like at all. And sure, some of my time is devoted to playing and to walking and spending time with him in this past week (and going to dog parks and Petco and all that jazz) but I know not ALL my time is devoted to him. I totally have just laid here on the couch with him when I could have been reading. I totally COULD be blogging when he's lazily sleeping. But I just haven't. I've mostly binge watched Game of Thrones season 1 while he lays on me.

I'm okay with all the spending time I'm doing with him. No regrets. But it's made me realize that any time I have a change in my life it takes me a little to bounce back. I feel exhausted even though it hasn't been THAT exhausting...he's a really good pup. For some reason, when my ~schedule~ or ~routine~ gets significantly shaken up I just kind of stop doing things I normally do. Even when I would love nothing more than to sit here and read. My brain just won't let me settle back in.

So that's where I'm at. So in love with my adorable little 1 year old beagle/bassett/pit mix and having so fun doing the dog thing. But also in my typical weird I DON'T KNOW HOW TO LIVE LIFE mode when change hits. There's probably some very psychological explanation (holla at me psych people who know!) but here's to hoping I can settle back down and starting adding normal Jamie things back in my life.

Broke and Bookish Book Haul for 8/30 - 9/12

Daisy's Book Haul

Bought:
-Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix: this is our October book club read and I've been eyeing this for a while now, so I'm excited :)
-Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho: so this was recommended to me on Twitter by Tiemen, who works at a bookstore, when I asked about epic fantasy debuts. I honestly don't know much about it, but I'm in!
-Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas: so this is the gorgeous paperback version that was already on its way when I decided I just HAD to have the hardcovers. So now I have a double set and I'm blisfully happy and also already started this and OMG SO GOOD!
-Throne of Glass
Crown of Midnight
Heir of Fire
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas: because beautiful hardcovers are beautiful.
-Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray: this thing is HUGE! But I totally loved The Diviners, so I really need to read this soon!
-Firewalker by Josephine Angelini: I loved the first book in this series and decided to just order the second, even though I don't own the first and my orderly self hurts a little because of this.
-The Shadow Behind the Stars by Rebecca Hahn: a book about the Fates. Do I really need to say more?

Egalleys for review:
-Worlds of Ink and Shadow by Lena Coakley: I'm SO excited about this book! I'm forever recommending Lena Coakley's Witchlanders, and now she's writing about the Brontë sisters? YES I'M IN!!
-How To Seduce a Scot by Christy English: there's something about a man in a kilt...
-Never Never by Brianna Shrum: the story of Peter Pan through the eyes of Captain Hook. This should be very interesting!
-Wedding Date for Hire by Jennifer Shirk: I LOVE the movie The Wedding Date, so I couldn't resist requesting this!
-The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine: SO EXCITED!! This sounds like the start of an epic new fantasy series that screams READ ME!
-Reign of Shadows by Sophie Jordan: I adore Sophie Jordan's writing and am excited to read a fantasy novel by her!
-Flamecaster by Cinda Williams Chima: I couldn't click request fast enough for this one, OMG I CANNOT EVEN! The Seven Realms series is EVERYTHING and I can't wait to read this new novel set in the same world and *dies*. YAYYYYY!

Top Ten Series We Haven't Finished Yet

For future Top Ten Tuesday topics & info on how to participate, click here!

Jana's Pick

1. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling - I read book 1 for the first time last year, and I still have not picked up the second! I feel bad about this, and plan to fix it soon!

2. Delirium Trilogy by Lauren Oliver - I Love the first two books, but heard some unhappy things about the third. So now I'm scared!

Daisy's Picks

(I'm so bad at finishing series, this is just the tip of the iceberg.)

3. The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini - I've owned Inheritance since the day it came out. And I STILL haven't read it. I suck. I need to just get it together and sit down with this one, it's been YEARS.

4. The Divergent Series by Veronica Roth - I read Divergent 2 years ago and still haven't gotten around to the sequels. This is partly because I've been MAJORLY spoiled about Allegiant and that just demotivates me.

5. Under The Never Sky series by Veronica Rossi - I totally adored Under the Never Sky and though I own the rest of the series, I somehow never got around to actually reading them. This should change soon.

Lauren's Picks

6. The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness - I've read the first book in the series and I absolutely love it. I'm currently reading the second book. These are longer, adult novels so I'm juggling reading YA ARCs while still trying to knock out this second book.  

7. The Robopocalypse Series by Daniel H. Wilson - I read the first book in this series and was blown away. I started the second book and just bleh. I DNFed it, but I'm hoping I just wasn't in the mood for the second book at the time and will be able to pick it back up again.

Julia's Pick

8.  Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas - I feel like this is something I would like to keep reading, but I read the first one so long ago, I don't really remember much. I should just pick up the next book and start reading!

Jamie's Picks

9.  Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead: I've read the first 2 books but really need to get going on the rest of them!

10. The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare: I'm still undecided if I'm going to finish this one or not. I mean, I thought the first book was okay but I'm not super motivated.

Tell us all about your unfinished book series!!

Our August Favorites & September TBR

We hope everyone had a great month of reading! :) Here's what we loved and what we are looking forward to!

AUGUST FAVORITES

Lauren's Pick

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

WHY? Why did it take me THIS LONG to pick this book up?!? I am honestly mad at myself for letting it catch dust on my desk. Now I've read it and now everything has changed. You just go buy this book and read it. It is for the good of all mankind. 

Daisy's Pick

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
I read this with my book club this month and it was SO GOOD! OMG, there's been so much hype and it totally scared me, but this story was beautiful and got my feelings going and WHAT THE WHAT was that ending?? I so cannot wait a year for the sequel...

Jamie's Pick

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
This 4th installment was everything I was hoping for and more!!! I love these characters and this story so much!!

SEPTEMBER TBR

Lauren's Pick

Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights by Salman Rushdie

I just started this one and I am already ensnared by Rushdie's writing style and his general sense of pure creativity. HOW DOES HE COME UP WITH THIS STUFF?!

Daisy's Pick

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
So basically EVERYONE is already reading this and my copy will not get here till Saturday... But OMG, this is hands down my most anticipated book of the year, so yeah, I'm gonna read the crap out of this when it finally gets here! I even have an Heir of Fire mug to drink my tea from while reading this, so you know I mean business.

Jamie's Pick

Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman
So excited for gritty romp through the Wild Wild West!!!

Tell us your favorite book you read in August and a book you are planning to read in September!

Ten Characters You Just Didn't Click With

Top Ten Tuesday is a fun weekly link-up in the community where we provide a prompt and other lovers of list-making join in on it with their own top ten list. Feel free to have less than 10 or more if you need to at times and put a spin on the topic if you need to! Just please link back to us if you are participating! :)

For future Top Ten Tuesday topics & info on how to participate, click here!

Daisy's Picks

1. Jordan from Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally: I'm such a bah-bah black sheep in my opinion of this book, but I was just not feeling and really not connecting with Jordan at all. I'm still really sad about this.

2. Quentin from The Magicians by Lev Grossman: Quentin and I did not get along. Like there was serious dislike going around. I felt that he was arrogant, whiny, lazy... Just not qualities I like in a character. 

Julia's Picks

3. Honor from The Trouble with Honor by Julia London: Never in my romance novel life have I ever felt so much disconnect with the heroine that I stopped reading until this book. She was so frustratingly annoying that I knew if I ever met her in real life we would not mesh well. I just couldnt muster the strength to care about her happily ever after.

4. Cole from the Everneath Series by Brodi Ashton: Oh Cole. He is really a character I love to hate. Like I can't stand him as he interacts with the other characters, but I give a lot of respect to Brodi Ashton for writing a character so well that I can loath him so much. I didn't understand the love this guy got as an antihero either. He was just a jerk, doing jerk things and always surprising me with new levels for me to loathe him. 

Tahleen's Picks

5. Elizabeth from Roomies by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando: Elizabeth was fine for most of the book, but MAN, she got on my nerves toward the end! I didn't really click with her for any of the book, but some parts I wish someone had sat her down and given her a good talking-to.

6. Lola from Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins: I loved Anna and the French Kiss, so I expected to love this one just as much. I liked it okay. I did not jive with Lola and her kookiness, or her stubbornness in being with the older boyfriend whose name I've already forgotten. I remember the boy next door was Cricket. I know I am in the minority. #sorrynotsorry

**Sorry for not coming up with ten picks for our list this week. It was harder than we expected!**