Book Tag Thursday: The Pastry Book Tag

I was tagged by Michelle over at Book Adventures to do this tag, so do us both a favor and go check her blog out! This tag, as far as I know, was created by Writing On A Vintage Typewriter.

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1.) Croissant: Name A Popular Book/Series That Everyone (Including You) Loves

Harry Potter

Honestly, is anybody going to do this tag and NOT say Harry Potter? Usually I’m not one to read a whole series just because everyone else loves it, but Harry Potter is the only exception. The ONLY exception!

2.) Macaroon: Name A Book That Was Difficult To Get Through But Worth It In The End

A Song of Ice and Fire Books

Normally I wouldn’t have said any of the ASOIAF books were hard to get through, but since the question is asking to select one that was worth it in the end then I will definitely pick these books. Pretty much all of the books in this series are at least 1,000 pages plus they’re fantasy books with TONS of information. It took my a while to read each one but ultimately they were worth it in the end.

3.) Vol Au Vent: Name A Book You Thought Was Going To Be Amazing But Fell Flat

With as much love for this book that’s out there you’re dang right I expected to love this book! And it was awful, horrible, and tedious to read through.

4.) Pan Au Chocolat: Name A Book That You Thought Was Going To Be Something But Turned Into Something Else

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

Um…I usually know what a book is going to be about all the way through. So I’ll go with this book since I THOUGHT it was going to be all about zombies, killing zombies, zombies eating people, and running from zombies. What I did end up getting is a very touching and emotional tale about two brothers trying to keep their brotherly bond and survive in a post apocalyptic world. Are there still all of those other zombie things? Of course. I just wasn’t expecting all the feelings that came with it.

5.) Profiterole: Name A Book/Series That Doesn’t Get Enough Attention

This series needs more love! It’s thrilling, it’s gory, and it’s down right fascinating. Jasper “Jazz” Dent was raised by his father to be the world’s next greatest serial killer, but can he overcome this in order to prove to everyone he’s not his dad? Classic tale of nature vs nurture. If THAT doesn’t scream “Read Me” I don’t know what does.

6.) Croquembouche: Name A Book/Series That Is Extremely Complex

Okay first off I’d like to say you could use ANY fantasy series for this one, but since I already used the ASOIAF books then I’ll select something different. The Inkworld Series is pretty complex for something that’s supposed to be middle grade. There’s many different locations in the worlds and a wide cast of characters to keep track of.

7.) Napoleon: Name A Movie/Series That You Liked Better Than The Book

Literally none, I tried to think of some I really did! But there are absolutely no movies or shows that I like BETTER than the book.

8.) Empanada: Name A Book That Was Bittersweet

It’s about a girl who makes tapes of the thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. If this book isn’t bittersweet then I don’t know what is. I don’t read a lot of heart wrenching contemporary books.

9.) Kolompeh: Name A Book That Takes Place In A Country Other Than Your Home Country

I never realized how many books I read take place in the United States…..like almost every single one. I’m assuming they wanted a REAL country and not a completely fictional one so I’m going with Italy! Rome, Italy to be specific. I would absolutely love to go to Rome and I will tell you a completely geeky fun fact about why, because I love Assassin’s Creed II and Brotherhood. “Angels & Demons” amplified on that however, I love reading anything where Italy is the setting.

10.) Pat Au Choux: Name A Food From A Book/Series You’d Like To Try

Butterbeer from the Harry Potter Books

Yes, I know people make real versions of Butterbeer and no I have not tried it yet. It kills me on the inside, I must know what you taste like Butterbeer!

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I tag anyone who reads this post and wants to do it as well! Feel free to leave a link to your Pastry Book Tag so I can check it out!

(Mini) Book Review: Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

 

In the zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic America where Benny Imura lives, every teenager must find a job by the time they turn fifteen or get their rations cut in half. Benny doesn’t want to apprentice as a zombie hunter with his boring older brother Tom, but he has no choice. He expects a tedious job whacking zoms for cash, but what he gets is a vocation that will teach him what it means to be human.

I came across this book whilst shopping with my grandma and cousin one day. My grandma said, “Girls. You can each go and pick out a book and I’ll buy it for you.” And thus I took off. I ended up picking “Rot & Ruin” because it sounded interesting and I love zombies….even though I worry about them sometimes…… I just remember by grandma saying, “Um….are you sure you want this one?” She was really appalled by the cover and my cousin was buying a nice teen girly book, and I told her, “Yes grandma I want this one.” Because I’m a rebel like that.

This book is very beautiful, you wouldn’t expect it to be since…it’s about ugly zombies but it’s true. The characters are all well developed, the concept of “zombies are people too” is actually really eye-opening, and there’s a lot of emotional turmoil that the characters are put through.

So Benny (our MC), is a typical 15 year old boy, therefore his narrating can get a little irritating sometimes. Plus he’s constantly fighting his brother, Tom, at every turn. Benny blames Tom for the loss of their parents on the First Night (of the zombie outbreak). Now, Tom is a badass. BADASS. He’s easily my favorite character, he manages to keep his cool through everything. Read this book and DON’T develop a crush on Tom, I dare you. The two main female characters, Nix and Lilah, are also extremely badass and capable. Maberry did a good job on the strong female characters front.

There is no insta-love, there are no love triangles. There’s not really any romance in this book (which I love), the main relationship in focus is between Benny and Tom. Which is a nice change while reading YA.

“Rot & Ruin” is also extremely emotional, at least for me because I’m a big baby. There are a lot of affectionate moments between the brothers, and there’s a couple of other tear-jerking stories told within the book. I cried….a lot. I was sitting and trying to do my hair and read at the same time and I fucked up my hair because I got too into the book and started bawling.

I have so much love for this book (and the series), they’re definitely worth the read. I HIGHLY recommend reading it.

Links: Goodreads / Amazon