Mini Panda's Book Reviews

#TBRTakedown Jan. 4th (12:00 am) - January 10th (11:59 pm) I took part in the TBRTakedown 3.0 Challenge. It is hosted by @leaninglights . It is a week long read/tweet-athon  that encourages people to take on their To Be Read shelves.  TBR Challenges: Read a book from your most recent book haul Read a book on your TBR shelf over a year (for longest) Read a non-novel item: poem, verse, novella, short story, etc. Read a book outside your comfort zone! (Genre, content, etc.) Read the first book in a series Complete series/Read a sequel in a series Read a FIRE colored book (Such as shades of red, pink, purple, etc.) Lucky colors for 2016 *MINOR SPOILERS BELOW* Day 1: Read a non-novel item: poem, verse, novella, short story, etc. Read a book on your TBR shelf over a year (for longest) The Giraffe, the Pelly, and Me by Roald Dahl   ★★★★★ The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me is just what the title says. It's about a boy who stops by this old sweet sh...

Review: Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes Format (That I Read It): Ebook/Arc Summary: Charmingly murderous anti-hero Joe Goldberg continues his twisted quest for the perfect love in this thrilling follow-up to the “deeply dark yet mesmerizing” You. When Joe follows the woman he wants to marry to the West Coast, he never imagines that his obsession will lead him to such tragedy. Initial Thoughts: I wanted to read this novel as soon as I finished You. Ever since I read it back in September I kept thinking back to the story. The characters haven't been forgotten. I would even randomly pick up the book and flip around the pages wondering what would happen next to Joe. Then one day I was updating my Goodreads page when someone I follow mentioned NetGalley. NetGalley is the website for professional readers that allowing reviewers, booksellers, blogger, etc. to request and read brand new titles then provide feedback for publishers and other readers. I signed up and ...

Revie w: Let It Snow  by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle Format (That I Read It): Book Summary: An ill-timed storm on Christmas Eve buries the residents of Gracetown under multiple feet of snow and causes quite a bit of chaos. One brave soul ventures out into the storm from her stranded train and sets off a chain of events that will change quite a few lives. Over the next three days one girl takes a risky shortcut with an adorable stranger, three friends set out to win a race to the Waffle House (and the hash brown spoils), and the fate of a teacup pig falls into the hands of a lovesick barista. A trio of today's bestselling authors - John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle- brings all the magic of the holidays to live in three hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and kisses that will steal your breath away. Initial Thoughts: I started re...

Review /Rereading: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling Format (That I Read It): Book Summary: Harry Potter thinks he is an ordinary boy. He lives with his Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia and cousin Dudley, who are mean to him and make him sleep in a cupboard under the stairs. (Dudley, however, has two bedrooms, one to sleep in and one for all his toys and games.) Then Harry starts receiving mysterious letters and his life is changed forever. He is whisked away by a beetle-eyed giant of a man and enrolled at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The reason: Harry Potter is a wizard! The first book in the "Harry Potter" series makes the perfect introduction to the world of Hogwarts. Initial Thoughts: I have never re-read Harry Potter, EVER. I have great childhood moments with this series. For the past few months, I've been wanting to get back into the series, but it had never been the right moment. That was until I woke up a...

Review: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan Format (That I Read It): Book Summary: Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother’s mysterious death, he’s lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers. One day, he’s tracked down by a man he’s never met—a man his mother claimed was dangerous. The man tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god. The Viking myths are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants, and worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarok, Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years.When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal decision.Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die . . . Initial Thoughts: Four words I ...

Review: The Amazing Book Is Not On Fire by Dan Howell & Phil Lester Format (That I Read It):  Book Summary: Hello reader, In this book is a world. A world created by two awkward guys who share their lives on the internet! We are Dan and Phil and we invite you on a journey inside our minds! From the stories of our actual births to exploring Phil's teenage diary and all the reasons why Dan's a fail. Learn how to draw the perfect cat whiskers, get advice on what to do in an awkward situation and discover which of our dining chairs represents you emotionally. With everything from what we text each other, to the time we met One Direction and what really happened in Vegas... Initial Thoughts: Dan and Phil were the some of the first actual Youtubers that I watched all the time. I loved the dynamic between the two friends. I remember staying up really late watching all their videos. I would also show everyone I knew their videos. So when I hear...