At the beginning of 2013, I decided to read one book per week. In January and February, I read a total of 7 novels<\/a>…a little short of my goal, but still pretty good.<\/p>\n

Recap<\/strong>: CINDER, FABLEHAVEN, LEVIATHAN, MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN, PARANORMALCY, STARDUST, and THE CONTORTIONIST’S HANDBOOK.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Now it’s time for the March and April round up. Let’s see how I did!<\/p>\n

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I read this book at the recommendation of Juliana L. Brandt, and I was not disappointed. THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH is a thoughtful zombie story that pits the main character against not only the undead, but the repression of her religious upbringing. If you’re curious about the role of God in a violent dystopian society, this is a good read for you.<\/p>\n

Buy\/Borrow\/Bust:<\/strong> Borrow. While I enjoyed this novel, it did little to expand my understanding of the zombie genre (and yeah…that’s basically a genre, these days). It’s still a good read, especially if you’re into the undead…but it might not be worth those dollars you’ve been saving up for a spectacular read.<\/p>\n

Best Place to Read It:<\/strong> In the dark. Buwahaha.<\/p>\n

Right click to buy: The Forest of Hands and Teeth<\/a><\/p>\n

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I love graphic novels, especially the dark ones…but this wasn’t my favorite. The art is solid, but the story left me feeling…meh. A little girl who brings death upon a small, coastal town…that sounds awesome, right? And yet…<\/p>\n

Buy\/Borrow\/Bust: <\/strong>Bust. Not worth it.
\nBest Place to Read It: <\/strong>In the aisle of Barnes and Noble, so you don’t have to buy it \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

Right click to buy: Jenny Finn: Doom Messiah<\/a><\/p>\n

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This is the best novel I’ve read in a long time. Wait, let me try that again. THIS IS THE BEST NOVEL I’VE READ IN A LONG TIME. Morgenstern’s writing is gorgeous. The magic dances on the page, and I couldn’t put it down. My kingdom for a single evening at the Night Circus.<\/p>\n

Buy\/Borrow\/Bust:<\/strong> Buy. Absolutely.
\nBest Place to Read It: <\/strong>I carried this book around with me for a few days so I could read it whenever I had a spare second. I have a feeling you’ll do the same.<\/p>\n

Right click to buy: The Night Circus<\/a><\/p>\n

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PRELUDES & NOCTURNES is the first volume of the SANDMAN series, and it is far from the best. However, it’s fascinating to watch Gaiman manipulate the tropes of both GNs \u00a0and dark fantasy. You’ll have a few bones to pick with this particular volume, but it sets in motion a truly wonderful series (and yeah…I’ve read this before. That should tell you something about how good it is!)<\/p>\n

Buy\/Borrow\/Bust: <\/strong>The entire series is pretty expensive, so I’d suggest you borrow it and see how you like it before you buy it.<\/p>\n

Best Place to Read It: <\/strong>In a diner…<\/a><\/em>
\nRight click to buy: The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes & Nocturnes (New Edition)<\/a>
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I went into this book with low expectations. I’m not a huge fan of high fantasy, and dragons don’t typically interest me that much. But Rachel Hartman proved me wrong. Her unique take on dragons (they can shape shift into humans!) combined with her fascinating worldbuilding made this a fun read. I particularly enjoyed the final quarter of the novel…although I suppose that’s usually the case when you’re reading a novel that unfolds like a mystery!<\/p>\n

Buy\/Borrow\/Bust: <\/strong>Borrow. Unless you love high fantasy. Then you might want to buy it.
\nBest Place to Read It: <\/strong>Somewhere with lovely music, to complement the musical aspects of the novel. I recommend piano \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Right click to buy: Seraphina<\/a><\/p>\n

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This is a bit of a cheat, since it’s not a novel, but I DEVOURED Blake Snyder’s guide to writing a screenplay. Some of the advice isn’t useful to a novelist, but the majority was pure brilliance. Synder breaks down the movements of the novel into a helpful “Beat Sheet,” thereby showing you exactly how and why your book\u00a0accomplishes\u00a0(or fails) what you’ve set out to do. If you’re a writer (or a film lover), you should absolutely own this book.<\/p>\n

Right click to buy: Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy\/Borrow\/Bust: <\/strong>Buy.
\nBest Place to Read It: <\/strong>I read this book in a single sitting. So find a comfortable chair or couch and tell your friends you’re going to need a few hours to yourself.<\/p>\n

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I’m not sure how it happened, but I read 2 zombie books in the last 2 months! Luckily they were total opposites. WARM BODIES is told from the pov of “R,” a teenage zombie with a heart of gold. I laughed out loud at this book, and I enjoyed the ways it twists the genre.<\/p>\n

Right click to buy: Warm Bodies: A Novel<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy\/Borrow\/Bust:\u00a0<\/strong>Buy. I’ve heard the movie is so-so, but I thought the novel was clever and funny.
\nBest Place to Read It: <\/strong>“R” might be pale, but that doesn’t mean you have to be. Go read this book\u00a0<\/strong>out in the sun. This is a great beach read–lighthearted and quick.<\/p>\n

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If THE NIGHT CIRCUS was the best novel I’ve read in the last year, then this book wins for best YA. TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY addresses bullying and sexism without breaking a sweat. It’s painful at times, funny at others, and infinitely moving. I think this novel should be required reading for all teenagers. Seriously.<\/p>\n

Buy\/Borrow\/Bust: <\/strong>Buy!
\nBest Place to Read It: <\/strong>Like SAVE THE CAT, I read this novel in a single sitting…so I recommend getting comfy. Oh…and grab some tissues. This is a tear jerker.<\/p>\n

Right click to buy: Thirteen Reasons Why<\/a><\/p>\n

AND THAT’S A WRAP!<\/p>\n

Looks like I beat my January and February list by 1 book! If I continue at this rate, I’ll read around 45 books by the end of 2013 (and that’s on top of all the manuscripts I’m reading). That ain’t half bad!<\/p>\n

Have you read any of these books? What did you think? Do you have any book recommendations? Tell me in the comments!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thanks for reading!<\/p>\n

Lauren<\/p>\n