Lola's Lounge: Tablet Talk

 I would like to take a moment to discuss tablets. Several months ago, I made the plunge and bought my first ereader. After much deliberation, I finally decided to purchase a Nook Glowlight (pictured below). You can read my decision-making process here. There's a great article that compares ereaders here, if you're interested.

Photo found here

I can not believe how skeptical I had been up until that point. After just one book, I fully embraced the ereader. Books were cheaper, lighter, and I was no longer living in fear of being eaten alive by my endless stacks of books. I especially loved how I could easily organize my books (i.e. read, tbr, galley's, etc...) I knew it was only a matter of time before I purchased a tablet. There are three major tablets that I had my eye on...The Nook HD, The IPad, and of course, The Kindle.

Photo found here

 I won't lie, the main element I based my decision on was price. There is a great in-depth article here that compares all of the tablets. Barnes & Noble currently is running a special on their Nook's. So, I bought the Nook HD+ 16 GB for $149 (originally priced at $269). Here were some of the reasons why I chose the Nook HD+ :

1. Price

2. Size

3. No Adds

4. All of my B&N purchases are available

5. Expandable storage

6. In-house support

Photo found here 

Overall, this has proved to be a great purchase for me. My tablet is practically another appendage. The apps are fun. I especially love the word games. ;) I love reading magazines on the tablet, some of which are even interactive. I love how portable the tablet is...it's like having a mini laptop. I can go online, watch movies, check my email, play games, and more! The only downside is that I have been distracted from reading. I really need to get back to my reading roots. 

I would love to hear from you! Do you own a tablet or ereader? If so, what kind? Are you happy with it? If you could make your purchase again, would you get the same thing or would you get something different? If you don't have a tablet or ereader, why not? Which one would you buy...or should we all just stick to paper books? Let me know your thoughts!

Top Ten Tuesday: Summer Reads

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books At The Top Of My Summer TBR List

Hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Published February 21st 2012
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The Book of Broken Hearts

by Sarah Ockler 

Published May 21st 2013

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The Bitter Kingdom (Fire and Thorns #3)
by Rae Carson
Expected publication: August 27th 2013
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Conjured

by Sarah Beth Durst 

Expected publication: August 27th 2013 

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Eleanor & Park

by Rainbow Rowell

Published February 26th 2013

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Star Cursed (The Cahill Witch Chronicles #2)

by Jessica Spotswood 

Published June 18th 2013

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This Is What Happy Looks Like
by Jennifer E. Smith
Published April 2nd 2013
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Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles #2)

by Marissa Meyer 

Published February 5th 2013

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Smart Girls Get What They Want
by Sarah Strohmeyer
Published June 26th 2012
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The Ocean at the End of the Lane

by Neil Gaiman

Published June 18th 2013

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What books are on your top ten tbr list this summer? 

Siege and Storm (The Grisha #2) by Leigh Bardugo

Book Summery (Via Goodreads): Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land. She finds starting new is not easy while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. She can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.
The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her–or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

Book Review:
*sighs* I was so. looking. forward. to this book. So what happened? The pacing was a bit off...Like there wasn't a cohesiveness to the story as a whole. Despite the large amount of action in the first third of the book, it just didn't hold my interest. I honestly didn't become super interested until the last third of the book. I felt disconnected from both Alina and Mal. There just wasn't much engaging to me as a reader. I mean I understand that they have history, but really what else was keeping them together? So what did I enjoy? Learning more about the world that Bardugo created, new characters, the Darkling (who is as evil as ever), and the time spent at Little Palace. Despite some let-downs, I still plan on picking up the next book in the series. If you've read this, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Favorite Quote:
“I took a breath. "Your highness-" 
"Nikolai," he corrected. "But I've also been known to answer to 'sweetheart' or 'handsome'.” 

Cover Art Commentary:
I love LOVE this cover! Can we just take a moment and be grateful that this series did not get the mid-series switcharoo? These covers are just too awesome for words!

Rating:

Top Ten Tuesday: Summer Edition

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Eleven Beach Reads

Hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

Audrey, Wait!
by Robin Benway
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This book will have you remembering high school romance, craving ice cream, and laughing all at once! A perfect read on a sunny day! Cranking your favorite music while reading this is a must!

 How to Ditch Your Fairy

by Justine Larbalestier

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A perfect pick if you're in the mood for a fun read with a supernatural twist. Charlie, the main character, will have you chuckling as you read this fun novel by Justine Larbalestier.

Fairy Bad Day
by Amanda Ashby
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So apparently something about fairies says "summer" to me. This is a great book if you've been having a bad day or week. Crack this baby open and keep the cold drinks comin'!

For Keeps

by Natasha Friend 

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Ok, so I know I keep adding this to pretty much all of my TTT lists...I'll just say it: I love this book! This is the perfect companion for relaxing on the beach and enjoying your day off! 

Meant to Be
by Lauren Morrill
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Looking for a fun romance that will take you abroad? Look no further! This book will have you craving fish and chips in-between laps in the ocean!

Gods Behaving Badly

by Marie Phillips 

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Ready for a romp in the clouds? This is the perfect book for you! Read about the antics of the Gods of old! Grab a fruity drink and some sunscreen and settle in! 

Keeping Secrets in Seattle
by Brooke Moss
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Looking for a classic chick lit book this summer? Keeping Secrets in Seattle will fill the bill! Combine this book with your favorite beer for some summertime fun!

The Reece Malcolm List

by Amy Spalding 

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So I know this book sounds a bit on the heavier (emotional) side, but trust me, The Reece Malcom List will have you singing showtunes poolside!

Temping Is Hell (Necessary Evil #1)

by Cathy Yardley
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Looking to spice things up this summer? How about some supernatural fun with demons? This book will instantly crank up the heat!

The Last Dragonslayer (The Last Dragonslayer #1)

by Jasper Fforde 

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This whimsical tale will take you to the modern days of yore, where dragonslayers drive badass cars instead of horses and magic carpets are used for pizza delivery.

The Summer I Became a Nerd

by Leah Rae Miller

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This book will help you to get in touch with your inner nerd this summer! Be sure to bring your favorite comic to the beach along with The Summer I Became A Nerd! 

What are some of your favorite beach reads? 

The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller

Book Summery (Via Goodreads): On the outside, seventeen-year-old Madelyne Summers looks like your typical blond cheerleader—perky, popular, and dating the star quarterback. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl's body isn’t just unknown, it's anti-known. And she needs to keep it that way.
Summer is the only time Maddie lets her real self out to play, but when she slips up and the adorkable guy behind the local comic shop’s counter uncovers her secret, she’s busted. Before she can shake a pom-pom, Maddie’s whisked into Logan’s world of comic conventions, live-action role-playing, and first-person-shooter video games. And she loves it. But the more she denies who she really is, the deeper her lies become…and the more she risks losing Logan forever.

Book Review:
This was such a fun summer read! I initially picked this up book because the summary sounded interesting. I'm really glad I did. Anyone who has struggled with their love of all nerdish things can relate to Maddie. I know I have definitely dialed back my dorky side a time or two. So for me, Maddie was a relatable character. I really enjoyed her interactions with Logan. They just made my heart melt. I also enjoyed her relationship with her best friend. I really wished that relationship would have been flushed out a bit more. Overall, this was a super fun summer read! A must-read for those looking to get in touch with their inner nerd! Also, I would like to direct you to this review. It's a fun review, full of geeky awesomeness!

Favorite Quote:
“It's Christmas! You just got your Hogwarts acceptance letter, a copy of Action Comics #1, and a brand new car that runs on water!” 

Cover Art Commentary:
Honestly, this is not my favorite cover. I'd like something with books or glasses or something. I do like that the flip flops, grass, and shorts convey "summer."

Rating:

Reading Reflections: May 2013

Books Read:
Chosen at Nightfall by C.C. Hunter
The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls

Total Number of Books Read This Month: 2

Total Number of Books Read This Year: 22

Favorite Read: The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls

Highest Rank: 4

Lowest Rank: 4

Overall Reflection:
Sorry for the lack of reviews and overall absence this month. I was busy finishing up my final project for school. Things should pick back up in June. Thanks for hanging in there!