Let's Talk is a weekly feature here at i swim for oceans. I think it's important that we all have our say, and there's something to be said for raising our voices. Simply put, here on the little old blog, I like to host some of my very own discussion posts because, well, I like to converse with you all.

And so, Let's Talk will feature questions or prompts, which I will answer, too. Love it or hate it, weigh in or don't, it's my hope that Let's Talk will at least get you thinking...and maybe even get you discussing with the rest of us!

With Thanksgiving approaching, what are you most thankful about in the world of books (blogging, authors...anything) this year?

Thanksgiving is one my all-time favourite holidays - probably mostly because we get to spend this time with our loved ones, all of whom abstain judgment about our overeating for one day. Yes, I'm that gluttonous. However, truly, there are so many things to be thankful this year, and when I began to think about it in terms of my blog, I'm thankful for so many things. Here are just a few:

• I've been blogging for almost four years now, and the fact that I managed to come back to some wonderful, sweet friends and follower after a nearly 8-month hiatus was something I'm really, truly thankful for. Who would have thought that I'd still have readers after that long - and some wonderful new ones, at that?
• The book blogosphere has changed a lot over the past three(+) years and, while some of these changes might not have been my favourite, there seems to be a loyal core of friends, wonderful reviews, generous publisher and fantastic authors. 
• I am so, so, so thankful to the amazing authors whom we get to interact with every day. This community has really united people around a true love of books and the written word, and the authors we interact with are the present and future of our literature. It's fantastic to watch people transition from bloggers, to literary interns and editorial assistants and, sometimes, authors themselves!
• The publishers are pretty much a godsend for book bloggers out there. Their dedication and generosity fuels the fire and excitement for new books, inspires us to try new things and, at times, step outside of our comfort zone. Going to BEA and meeting some of the publicists I interact with on a daily basis is one of my all-time favourite memories.
• My fantastic, amazing, wonderful friends and readers...I am thankful for all of YOU. Even if I didn't have a blog, I'd be reading every day, but the fact that you introduce me to books and vice versa multiple times a week is incomparable. The fact that you take my opinions to heart is so amazing and, basically, you all rock!

This season makes me sentimental, so you'll have to forgive me, but I'm truly thankful for so much that I've seen, done and accomplished through book blogging, and I've made so many wonderful friends through it all. It's quite the community we have, my friends!

Let's Talk is a weekly feature here at i swim for oceans. I think it's important that we all have our say, and there's something to be said for raising our voices. Simply put, here on the little old blog, I like to host some of my very own discussion posts because, well, I like to converse with you all.

And so, Let's Talk will feature questions or prompts, which I will answer, too. Love it or hate it, weigh in or don't, it's my hope that Let's Talk will at least get you thinking...and maybe even get you discussing with the rest of us!

Do you ever read books simply because they're from an author you love, rather than because of the book itself?

The sad (but very true) answer to this question is, simply. yes. But let's be honest. I'm sure I'm not the only one. It doesn't always work in my favour either. Some authors make a big impression on me the first time I read their books. It doesn't matter what they write after that initial book, but I will always pick up their books, simply because they sold me on their prowess and skill as an author the first time around. 

A great example of this is Susan Beth Pfeffer. When I read Life As We Knew It, I was really blown away. The story, the premise, the to-die-for cover - all of it made for a solid hook, and I knew from then on that I would read anything by Ms. Pfeffer because the woman can write. Now, the rest of the series hasn't worked for me, yet I keep coming back for more. That, in a nutshell, is a beautiful example of reading simply because of an author. When she released Blood Wounds, you'd better believe I got it while it was hot off the press, too.

I can guarantee I will always read anything that Michelle Hodkin writes, too. She's not only an incredible writer, but she's a great person and an awesome friend. She could write pure gibberish, and I'd still pick it up, simply because it was written by her. Jennifer Brown is another example for me. Contemporary notoriously hasn't worked for me in the past, but Ms. Brown made me see the error in my ways with Hate List. Yeah, it's perfection.

There are more authors that I'll do this for, too. John Green, anyone? Rainbow Rowell? Laurie Halse Anderson? Way back when, it was Brian Jacques. It didn't matter what he wrote...I'd read it because it was him. So, yes, I do read books for this reason, and I'm totally okay with it. 

Let's Talk is a weekly feature here at i swim for oceans. I think it's important that we all have our say, and there's something to be said for raising our voices. Simply put, here on the little old blog, I like to host some of my very own discussion posts because, well, I like to converse with you all.

And so, Let's Talk will feature questions or prompts, which I will answer, too. Love it or hate it, weigh in or don't, it's my hope that Let's Talk will at least get you thinking...and maybe even get you discussing with the rest of us!

With Halloween Being Next Week, What are Your Favourite Spooky/Creepy Reads?

It's no secret on this blog that this miss loves her horror books. Let's be honest, I can't sit through a horror movie without plugging my ears and covering my eyes (plus having nightmares for weeks), but I'm addicted. I just can't help it. The same goes for books, really. The creepier the better, for me, and if a book is classed as horror or scary - it had better live up, or I'll be personally offended! There are a few books that have really stood out in this category for me though, and I they're my go-to books when readers ask for recommendations.

The thing is, each of these books has something else going for it. 172 Hours on the Moon is dark, eerie and contemplative. There's a danger - faceless and daunting - that consistently lurks in the background and creeps you out with every page. Anna Dressed in Blood, while more contemporary, embraces the vivid gore of true horror and manages to make a fascinating character out of a psychotic ghost. 

Harbinger is a lurking mystery. While not always outwardly terrifying, there's a danger in every word, every page and every turn. It's a high-stakes book. Lockdown is horror in it's most straightforward form. There's a vivid grunge feel to it that makes you feel as though you're trapped with the character - not a good place to be. 

What about you? Link up and share your favourites!

Let's Talk is a weekly feature here at i swim for oceans. I think it's important that we all have our say, and there's something to be said for raising our voices. Simply put, here on the little old blog, I like to host some of my very own discussion posts because, well, I like to converse with you all.

And so, Let's Talk will feature questions or prompts, which I will answer, too. Love it or hate it, weigh in or don't, it's my hope that Let's Talk will at least get you thinking...and maybe even get you discussing with the rest of us!

Do you ever re-read books that didn't work for you the first time around but have them work the next time? Has it ever worked the opposite for you?

I'm a re-reader. Any books that I actually keep on my shelves are ones that I'm committed to re-read to this day, but I can't say it's always been that way for me. I love books. I love collecting books, and I love to have thousands upon thousands of pages of the written word throughout my house - good or bad. Through book blogging though, it's safe to say that I've amassed quite the collection, and re-reading has really served to narrow those books down for me a little bit.

Take, for instance, Mockingjay. The first time around, I gave it a five-star review. As much as it pains me to admit it, I think that I got swept up in the hype and loved the rush of reading the final installment. When the hype died down and the craze had settled just a little bit, I decided it was time to read it again. And, lo and behold, I found myself immensely disappointed in it.

The magic that we had between Katniss and Peeta had truly been watered down into mere shades of what it was before. The tension between Katniss and Gale was, well, non-existent. And, frankly, we watched Katniss go from a proud, enigmatic heroine to one coloured deeply by revenge and retribution. It darkened my impression of her.

On the flip side though, I first read Madeleine L'Engle's Time series when I was in middle school, and I hated it. I remember reading the first few chapters of the fourth book, Many Waters, and thinking it was just horrible. I didn't want to read more about the boys, and I really didn't want to read about a fantastical world where mammoths were real, Seraphim and Nephilim walked the Earth, and unseen El was going to rain hell on the planet.

When I read it a year or so later though, I was utterly entranced by this remake of the Biblical tale, and it remains one of my all-time favourites to this day. I cannot believe so many people haven't read it, and that my judgment was so wrong the first time around. This is one book that I'm so glad I re-read

I think it works both ways. I really have to be in the right mind to give a book another shot, and I won't always give books a second go. If I loathed it the first time around, or if the writing is really bad, chances are it won't get a re-read. Some books though...some books deserve that shot.

Let's Talk is a weekly feature here at i swim for oceans. I think it's important that we all have our say, and there's something to be said for raising our voices. Simply put, here on the little old blog, I like to host some of my very own discussion posts because, well, I like to converse with you all.

And so, Let's Talk will feature questions or prompts, which I will answer, too. Love it or hate it, weigh in or don't, it's my hope that Let's Talk will at least get you thinking...and maybe even get you discussing with the rest of us!

What are some of your all-time favourite book quotes, and why do they remain your favourite to this day?

This prompt is actually one that's pretty near and dear to my heart. For the past five years or so, I've kept a little journal of all my favourite quotes. Whether they be from friends, poetry or novels, every quote in that journal speaks to me on some deeper level. These quotes range from funny, to sweet, to evocative and descriptive...not all of them might seem straightforward, but they all have their reasons and their place in my heart.

"Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, when one only remembers to turn on the light."

- Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter

"We've all got both light and dark inside of us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That's who we really are."

- Sirius Black, Harry Potter

"Roses. Wolf mutts. Tributes. Frosted Dolphins. Friends. Mockingjays. Stylists. Me. Everything screams in my dreams tonight."

- Mockingjay

"You will find joy, frustration and sorrow in your quest. Never forget that friendship and loyalty are more precious than riches...Happiness can be brief, but it knows no time in the land of dreams."

- Pearls of Lutra

"My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations."

- The Fault in Our Stars

"Just like there's always time for pain, there's always time for healing."

- Hate List

Obviously these are just a small few of the quotes that mean so much to me, but they speak to me on so many different levels. They're about feeling, passion, pain, growth and learning to live life fully. What quotes are on your list of all-time favourites, and why are they favourites of yours?

Let's Talk is a weekly feature here at i swim for oceans. I think it's important that we all have our say, and there's something to be said for raising our voices. Simply put, here on the little old blog, I like to host some of my very own discussion posts because, well, I like to converse with you all.

And so, Let's Talk will feature questions or prompts, which I will answer, too. Love it or hate it, weigh in or don't, it's my hope that Let's Talk will at least get you thinking...and maybe even get you discussing with the rest of us!

What required reading from school made the biggest impact on you, and why?

I was a bit contrarian in high school. I'm a reader. You all know this...it's kind of obvious by the fact that I've been blogging about the books I've read for the past three and a half years. With all that said though, I had the biggest aversion to required reading in middle school and high school. Guys, I'll read just about anything once. Hell, just put me in a hall of books, and I'll read my way out of there. Force me, however, to read something for grades, and something in me shuts down.

In most cases, my mind pretty much just says, "Nope. Not happening. You make me read? I say no." I remember forcing myself to read The Once and Future King, Les Miserable, A Talk of Two Cities and more - classics, mind you - and suffering through them. I think it was the fact that I couldn't enjoy them at my leisure. Instead, I had to cram and read for detail, instead of pleasure. 

Three books stand out to me from my school days, however, as literary works that I didn't absolutely mind reading. And, years later, I re-read them and remember just how profound they were the first time around.

All three of these books - Night by Elie Wiesel, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and The Giver by Lois Lowry managed to get past my ardent stigma against required reading.

They're vastly different books, but there's something similar about them, as well. They weren't just flowery prose for the sake of telling the story. They were powerful, profound, and they taught us a lesson without cramming it down our throats. There's a beauty to that that simply can't be matched by novels about medieval times and such. Now, to be fair, I'm sure the other books were profound to many a reader, and I've read them since my school days and found them to be rather enjoyable.

I'm not sure they match the poignancy, the power or the social context that Night, Fahrenheit 451 or The Giver do though. I think that these three are books that every teen needs to read, regardless of whether for pleasure or for school. They will make you think, they will make you feel and they will stay with you long after the last page.

Let's Talk is a weekly feature here at i swim for oceans. I think it's important that we all have our say, and there's something to be said for raising our voices. Simply put, here on the little old blog, I like to host some of my very own discussion posts because, well, I like to converse with you all.

And so, Let's Talk will feature questions or prompts, which I will answer, too. Love it or hate it, weigh in or don't, it's my hope that Let's Talk will at least get you thinking...and maybe even get you discussing with the rest of us!

What book(s) do you wish didn't have sequels (or vice versa)?

You know we've all been there. We've desperately wanted a sequel to a book that we loved so, so much. Or, on the flip side, we're desperately craving a sequel and the author is a being a tricky B and never giving us exactly what we want. (Well played, authors.) I can definitely pinpoint two books on my shelves though that stand out; one, for wishing for a sequel and the other, for wishing the sequel never happened.

A. Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles was the much-anticipated sequel to Leaving Paradise, which is one of my favourite contemporary books of all time. And, for one who avoided contemps like the plague for the longest time, that's really saying something. So, naturally, when the second book was announced, I was decidedly gleeful. Unfortunately though, I felt that the sequel strayed from the melancholy, heartbreaking magic that made the first book soar. We lost what we loved most about Maggie and Caleb and, most sad of all, was simply the fact that every outcome I thought we might see just didn't happen. I was so, so let down. 

B. Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis was a newer read of mine that actually caught me kind of off guard...in the best possible way. I've been seriously burned off of the dystopian genre as of late, but this book really surprised me with the sparse characters, brutal honesty and a very biased viewpoint. The author makes it work though, throwing obstacles in our paths left, right and center, putting us in Lynn's shoes and making us feel her pain. While I did think the action went too fast at the end, I think it almost wrapped up what could have been a sequel. I'm both happy and sad about that because the author gave us a fitting end, but I'm left wanting more!

What about you? What books do you wish did or didn't have a sequel?

Let's Talk is a weekly feature here at i swim for oceans. I think it's important that we all have our say, and there's something to be said for raising our voices. Simply put, here on the little old blog, I like to host some of my very own discussion posts because, well, I like to converse with you all.

And so, Let's Talk will feature questions or prompts, which I will answer, too. Love it or hate it, weigh in or don't, it's my hope that Let's Talk will at least get you thinking...and maybe even get you discussing with the rest of us!

What fall & winter books are you most looking forward to?

First of all, it's next to impossible to pick just a handful of books that I'm most looking forward to for the fall/winter 2013/2014 season, simply because there are so many awesome titles releasing. However, I did manage to pare it down to just four...though it was like pulling teeth just to do that...

A. Avalon by Mindee Arnett - So, I have a thing for crossover books and books that really test the bounds of the genres which they're supposedly a part of. This one sounds like the most perfect blend of dystopian fiction, which has been really hit or miss for me lately, and science fiction, which has really worked for me lately. Plus, the cover's to die for. 

B. Premeditated by Josin McQuein - There is something so very putrid and satisfying (two works that really shouldn't go together) about stories that involve revenge. If done well, books like these can bring out the most basic human emotions and stitch together a journey that's terrifying, painful and totally real. This book could seriously be a winner if it lives up to its synopsis and cover.

C. Ashes to Ashes by Melissa Walker - So, it's been almost a year and a half since I've read a really great paranormal story, and I've yet to read the perfect ghost book in my 3+ years of book blogging. There's something sad and lonely about this one, but just eerie and romantic enough, as well, to completely and totally capture my attention.

D. Fault Line by Christa Desir - I love gritty, realistic contemporary fiction, and lately we've had a lot to choose from within the YA market, which is super exciting. This one seems like it could very well be the perfect blend of romance, mystery, pain, friendship and overcoming obstacles. I really, really can't wait to see what this book holds for us.

What about you? What books are you most anticipating this fall and winter?

Let's Talk is a weekly feature here at i swim for oceans. I think it's important that we all have our say, and there's something to be said for raising our voices. Simply put, here on the little old blog, I like to host some of my very own discussion posts because, well, I like to converse with you all.

And so, Let's Talk will feature questions or prompts, which I will answer, too. Love it or hate it, weigh in or don't, it's my hope that Let's Talk will at least get you thinking...and maybe even get you discussing with the rest of us!

How would you describe your reading habits?

This might sound like a complicated question, but it really isn't. I was thinking about it the other day, and I discovered that I have rather strange reading habits. I read rather sporadically, at best, and at odd hours of the day. I do most of my reading either very early in the morning, or rather late at night. I simply struggle to read in the middle of the afternoon.

Furthermore, I have a bit of a rough time if I force myself to sit and read for a long time. Rather, if I allow myself to read whenever and wherever I please, I find I'm able to read for far longer. Plus, I do my very best to read both for pleasure and for reviews more often than not. If I don't, I seriously lack balance.

There's also the matter of what I read since I began blogging again. I used to only read books sent by publishers and authors for review. These days, however, I'm not so afraid to turn down a book that is offered for review if it doesn't spark my interest. I read what I want and, for the most part, when I want.  I think it's important not only for me, but also for my blog. I'm proud to feature titles that don't always have the most hype.

Above all else though, I read for enjoyment these days. If I am really struggling with a book, I don't finish it. I don't think it's fair for me to taint my reviews with the struggle I faced reading them. This just means that I feature books I'm proud to share with my thoughts, whatever they may be, with my readers.

What about you? How would you describe your reading habits these days?

Let's Talk is a weekly feature here at i swim for oceans. I think it's important that we all have our say, and there's something to be said for raising our voices. Simply put, here on the little old blog, I like to host some of my very own discussion posts because, well, I like to converse with you all.

And so, Let's Talk will feature questions or prompts, which I will answer, too. Love it or hate it, weigh in or don't, it's my hope that Let's Talk will at least get you thinking...and maybe even get you discussing with the rest of us!

What are some of the books that you have been very excited to read, but then let you down?

I think it's the nature of book blogging to have books that don't work for us. You can go ahead and tell me that all books are great until you're blue in the face, but I will kindly have to disagree with you on that. I don't think it makes it any easier to write a bad review, and it certainly doesn't take the sting away when you read a book you were so excited to try but it doesn't live up...but it does happen. It's the nature of the beast in blogging, I've found. I think, however, that the top three books that disappointed me are as follows.

If you managed to read Tris & Izzie and it worked for you, I bow down to your reviewing prowess. Yes, I realize that's snarky of me, but guys, I struggled to even finish this book. With a cover like that that is simply to die for, you'd better believe I was equally excited to see just how well the content measured up. Well, needless to say, it really didn't. 

I felt that the characterization was disjointed, the plot was haphazard, and the paranormal element was merely hinted at, rather than fleshed out. Honestly, I felt kind of cheated by this book. Give an author a cover like that and book with packaging that's sure to capture you, and we expect perfection. Instead, I personally feel we got far less than that. 

Guys, before I tell you why I was let down by New Girl, please understand that I haven't actually read Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, and as this is a modern re-telling of sorts, I probably should have. For all intents and purposes, I've been told that this is a pretty decent modern version, though Becca's character differs greatly from that of Rebecca.

I think that the author is a good writer, but my main issue lies within the fact that the characters felt so dang weak. I like a strong character to offset the other's subtlety, but I really felt nothing. Furthermore, at times the book really moved and was overly dramatic, but then it fell completely flat for several chapters, leaving me with the desire to skim my way through.

Ackkk...I have such a hard time putting This World We Live In on this list, but I kind of really have to. I absolutely loved the first book, and I really love the author's writing style, so as the series continued, despite the fact that the second book wasn't my favourite, I was stoked for the third. Unfortunately, this book was completely and utterly devoid of hope. I kid you not. It's a mess of sheer depression - but not in the way that makes you root for the characters.

I had to watch as the qualities that made me love the characters such as Miranda and Alex in the first two installments were slowly whittled away until they became these sad, antagonistic shells of what they were before, and adding insta-love was the kiss of death. Plus, stating that they were going to live on "family, love and lies" was kind of the final nail in the coffin for me. 

None of these books are bad, per se. They just let me down. The beauty of book blogging is that everyone has their own opinion, so if I'm missing something on these books, please let me know! I also have to mention that I wanted to put up Witch & Wizard by James Patterson for this list, but I decided it doesn't deserve anymore face time on this blog. Bam. 

What about you? What books have you been super excited for and bummed about after reading?

Let's Talk is a weekly feature here at i swim for oceans. I think it's important that we all have our say, and there's something to be said for raising our voices. Simply put, here on the little old blog, I like to host some of my very own discussion posts because, well, I like to converse with you all.

And so, Let's Talk will feature questions or prompts, which I will answer, too. Love it or hate it, weigh in or don't, it's my hope that Let's Talk will at least get you thinking...and maybe even get you discussing with the rest of us!

What are some of your favourite book blogs, and what makes you continue going back to them time and again?

When I first started blogging three years ago, I can honestly say that I had absolutely zero clue what I was doing. Frankly, I probably still really don't, and I'm just fooling myself, but I have come to realize that I do have a series of blogs and bloggers that I can turn to time and time again for the best and most honest book recommendations. A lot of these bloggers have been around for a while. They know how to review these days. Not all of them, however,ave been. Some are newer, but their individual voices really stand out from the crowd, and that's what makes them most unique to me. 

Now, first of all, let me make this clear...this is in no way a measure of the best blogs out there. I want bloggers to share their favourites because I tend to get wrapped up in the blogs that I've always known, and I'm always looking to find new blogs to follow and learn from. It is my sincere hope that by doing so, I can expand the realm of blogs that I visit every day and, perhaps, do the same for you! So, in no particular order, some of my absolute favourite blogs that I cannot help but visit every day are: 

Supernatural Snark has been an absolute favourite of mine for almost three years now. I kid you not. I visit this blog without fail every day, and even when I took an 8-month hiatus from the book blogosphere, you better believe I kept visiting this blog for fantastic recommendations every single day. Jenny is a hilarious blogger full of opinions, fantastic insight and, yes, snark. I don't know what I'd do without this blog...seriously. I'd probably wither away and die. Melodramatic? Yes. True? Hell yes. Proud to call this blogger a dear, dear friend. 

I'm a fairly new follower of The Reader's Den, but I have to say that it's an incredibly impressive blog. Rachel and Jasprit have insightful reviews and features every single day, and I'm never disappointed. I know I can count on these girls for their true opinions on books and, most of all, they challenge me to push my own reading boundaries, convincing me that there are titles out there that I might be prejudiced against, but I should probably read. Stat. If you haven't visited them yet...do it. You will love it!

I think that Into the Hall of Books is one of those blogs that needs to be shouted from the rooftops. I'm not kidding. I don't even remember how I stumbled across Asheley's blog, but I was immediately blown away by the depth of her reviews. Colour me nuts, but I have a penchant for long, thorough reviews, and you will find plenty of those on her blog. She's been hard at work convincing me to try NA, and I think she might just have finally convinced me to do so. (Well done, Asheley!) But seriously...if you want to stretch your reading horizons, visit her blog.

Now, there are a million other great blogs out there that I want to mention, as well, but to keep from over-professing my undying love for you all, some other great ones you must try are YA Book Queen, Nick's Book Blog, Anna Reads, Alison Can Read, GReads, Words Like Silver, The Book Swarm and a zillion more. Guys, not all these bloggers review solely YA, and that's why I love them. Some of these bloggers convinced me to try contemps. Some of them have mentored me from the start. And, some of them are new finds that I really hope will endure for a very long time.

What about you? What book blogs do you love to visit time and again? Sharing is caring, and I need more blogs to visit and learn from!

Let's Talk is a weekly feature here at i swim for oceans. I think it's important that we all have our say, and there's something to be said for raising our voices. Simply put, here on the little old blog, I like to host some of my very own discussion posts because, well, I like to converse with you all.

And so, Let's Talk will feature questions or prompts, which I will answer, too. Love it or hate it, weigh in or don't, it's my hope that Let's Talk will at least get you thinking...and maybe even get you discussing with the rest of us!

What underrated books have you read that you wish more bloggers would highlight and review?

There are so many books on the market - in all genres - that it's an impossibility to even think about reading them all, but let's be honest. We've all read some of those books that absolutely blow us away, yet nobody else seems to read or review them. Why is this? I'll never really know, but the great thing about book blogging is that we have the chance to share some of our favourites with others and recommend what we think they might just be missing. Here's your chance, people! Tell me what I'm missing out on!

I don't read too many books from the male perspective simply because, well, I'm a girl. I find it pretty difficult to get in a guy's shoes unless the author manages to breach that divide and make the male MC's voice and characterization truly transparent and accessible to the female audience. E.C. Myers totally blew me away with this book for multiple reasons. First of all, the concept is both engaging and unnerving. A magic coin? Unforeseeable consequences? Losing yourself to an inanimate object? Yeah, Fair Coin has all of that and so much more. Above all else though, this book is adventurous and fun, taking a new twist on sci-fi and fantasy and becoming a pretty amazing setup to a new series. I find it pretty hard to get invested in series with the amount of books I read and review these days, but let me tell you...this is worth the investment. 

You guys have probably all heard me rave about Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar because - and let's be real here for a second - that book is pretty much perfection in terms of contemporary fiction. It seems as thought Night Beach has taken the back seat to her more famous title though and, while I get it, it's saddening. The great thing about this book is that the author isn't afraid to try (and do) something new that her readers don't know her for. It takes a risk, and it's certainly an eerie and off-kilter book. Best of all though, the characters of the book bare their souls - both dark and light - in this book, and it makes the prose haunting, terrifying and utterly captivating. No, it's not a contemporary read. And no, you probably won't find any great hidden meaning in this book, but you will find excellent characterization, a twisting plot and a story that will keep you guessing. 

I waited forever to read this book, and I actually wonder if others did so, as well, simply because they don't think it will stand out from the rest of their TBR pile. Let me tell you though...it's worth the read. It's not a terribly long book, but it's riveting from start to finish. It takes true skill for an author to manage to successfully set up a book with a tiny cast of survivors characters with limited means, a fairly limited setting and their own mortality looming over their heads. The Raft does this flawlessly though. There is such a tangible tension in this book that I wasn't even sure I'd make it to the end - simply because it was that gripping. There is drama, yes, but even more so, there is an extreme struggle for survival that demands to be heard - and felt. This book is one of my absolute favourite reads of 2013, and I think more bloggers need to give it a go because, trust me, you'll be blown away.

Obviously, there are a ton more books out there I wish more bloggers would read and review, but these are definitely my top three. What books do you think are underrated...or under-reviewed....give me something new to try!

Let's Talk is a new weekly feature here at i swim for oceans. I think it's important that we all have our say, and there's something to be said for raising our voices. Simply put, here on the little old blog, I like to host some of my very own discussion posts because, well, I like to converse with you all.

And so, Let's Talk will feature questions or prompts, which I will answer, too. Love it or hate it, weigh in or don't, it's my hope that Let's Talk will at least get you thinking...and maybe even get you discussing with the rest of us!

What do you think about darker books on the YA market?

Most of you know that I'm a huge fan of issue books. I think there's a brilliant, understated skill to darker novels that have the ability to bare the very essence of brute human nature. I, personally, think these books are incredibly important for the younger generations because it encourages dialogue and discussions. It brings otherwise forbidden issues out into the open and creates a discourse. 

However, there are definitely those people that feel that darker issue books have no place on the YA market. Some people believe these books should be catered towards a mature audience, as younger readers might be damaged or scarred by reading these books. I don't discount that darker issue books are challenging to read. In fact, I believe the should be hard to read. If they weren't the subject matter wouldn't have such a hard-hitting impact upon reading audiences. 

Some of my favourite books are those that are the most painful to read. They make me think. They challenge me to explore some of the most painful and degrading human emotions and conditions. Most of all though, they make me feel. I also believe that if these books are done well, they are vital to the YA market because they challenge readers to step outside their comfort zones, empathize for others and, in some cases, come to terms with issues of their own. The most successful darker YA books on the market today for me include, but certainly aren't limited to:

What do you think about darker books in the YA market? Do you think they're important? Do you have a list of darker issue books that have done more for you than others? I think these books are important, but I'd love to hear what others thinks, as well! 

Let's Talk is a new weekly feature here at i swim for oceans. I think it's important that we all have our say, and there's something to be said for raising our voices. Simply put, here on the little old blog, I like to host some of my very own discussion posts because, well, I like to converse with you all.

And so, Let's Talk will feature questions or prompts, which I will answer, too. Love it or hate it, weigh in or don't, it's my hope that Let's Talk will at least get you thinking...and maybe even get you discussing with the rest of us!

What are some of your all-time favourite summer reads?

From the very beginning of this blog, contemporary fiction has been of an iffy topic for me. I'm extremely particular with the contemps that I really want to give a fair shot, and I don't think that's changed too much in 3 years of blogging. However, there's something to be said with contemporary books as summer reads. Is it just me, or are beachy summer days just the perfect time to try those contemps you might otherwise avoid like the plague (because of your pesky prejudices...of course)?

That said, some of my all-time favourite summer reads encompass all genres and, really, they're those go-to books that I'll put in my beach bag time and time again. For example:

Clockwise from top left:

A. Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar 

B. Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

C. Between by Jessica Warman

D. Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles

E. Night Beach by Kirsty Eagar

F. Sea Change by Aimee Friedman

All of these books work perfectly for me as a summer beach-bag read. They're a mix of paranormal, beautiful and powerful contemps and books with great characters with whom I can relate. That, in a nutshell, is what makes a summer read for me. I want to be transported somewhere else, and I want to really feel something. that's what summer's all about, right?! What makes a perfect summer read for you, and why?

Let's Talk is a new weekly feature here at i swim for oceans. I think it's important that we all have our say, and there's something to be said for raising our voices. Simply put, here on the little old blog, I like to host some of my very own discussion posts because, well, I like to converse with you all.

And so, Let's Talk will feature questions or prompts, which I will answer, too. Love it or hate it, weigh in or don't, it's my hope that Let's Talk will at least get you thinking...and maybe even get you discussing with the rest of us!

What books have intimidated you in the past & what (if anything) made you read them or deterred you from trying?

This is a multi-part question, and I meant it to be that way because I think all of these things go hand-in-hand with one another. There are so many books out there on the shelves these days, it's an impossibility to even consider trying to read them all. So, instead, we find what works for us and what doesn't, and we develop our own relationship with reading and reviewing books. In most cases, this works beautifully. In some cases, however, I know that my preconceived notions have deterred me from reading incredible books.

Take, for example, Raw Blue. From day one of my blog, I made it pretty darn clear to all my followers that contemporary fiction was not my thing. I was firmly under the impression that all contemps were trite, cliche and riddled with stupid romance that is neither realistic, nor in any way beneficial to me as a reader. So, I adamantly stuck to my guns for over a year, and swore off contemps like the plague. Guys, it's not that I hadn't seen absolutely glowing reviews for this book because, trust me, I did. However, I was so stuck in this rut of bad representations of a really strong genre that I couldn't see past it. 

It actually took an invitation to a blog tour of this Australian gem for me to actually give it a go. I trusted the blogger who invited me, and I knew that she wouldn't have misled me about the quality of the novel. And, for the record, I was probably the most pleasantly surprised that I've ever been. This book is up there with my favourites of all time. It's meaingful, it's powerful and Kirsty Eagar is a true genius. This one should be on ALL of your lists. Please trust me on this one.

I'm ashamed that I still have prejudices towards the genre to this day though. Would you believe I still haven't read Anna & the French Kiss? I read the second installment and found it cute and fun, but I'm too terrified to be the only person that doesn't like the book to actually give it a go. I know I should read it, but I've yet to find a reason to actually force myself. Would you believe I was late to the game with Harry Potter, and I didn't even read the first book until three books were out? I was convinced that it was a children's novel only, and that it was beneath me. My sister convinced me to at least try it, and I humbly ate my words. That series is genius. GENIUS, I say!

But, for the most part, if bloggers and reviewers I trust make a strong enough case for me to try a novel, I'm willing to give it a go. I think that, more often than not, it's my own internal literary prejudices that, sadly, deter me from reading some great books. It's a disease. I'm working on it. Le sigh. 

Let's Talk is a new weekly feature here at i swim for oceans. I think it's important that we all have our say, and there's something to be said for raising our voices. Simply put, here on the little old blog, I like to host some of my very own discussion posts because, well, I like to converse with you all.

And so, Let's Talk will feature questions or prompts, which I will answer, too. Love it or hate it, weigh in or don't, it's my hope that Let's Talk will at least get you thinking...and maybe even get you discussing with the rest of us!

What would you like to challenge yourself as a blogger and/or reader to do this year?

This is one question that I posed to myself when I decided to start the blog up again after a nearly 8 month hiatus from the blogosphere. When I stopped blogging in November, I was burned out physically and emotionally, and the thought of writing another post or another comment really just didn't sound even remotely appealing to me. As someone who prides herself in delivering meaningful content in a timely manner, it weighed on me that I was starting to slack - simply because my heart wasn't in it.

This year, I've set a few pretty decent and attainable goals for myself as both a reader and a blogger. While the two go hand-in-hand for me, I felt it was important to separate them out so that they'd be comprehensive and really outline why it is that I continue to blog 3 years after starting.

My goals as a blogger this year: 

 - Have fun and be yourself. If you're not enjoying it, don't do it.

 - Take your role seriously, but don't take yourself too seriously. Embrace your quirks.

- Post as frequently as you feel is reasonable, but don't overdo it. 

- Set limits and don't overburden yourself with requests for reviews that just don't interest you.

- Build the Let's Talk feature because I love it when bloggers discuss things openly.

My goals as a reader this year:

- Read more books for the sheer purpose of enjoyment, rather than reviews.

- Expand your reviewing horizon, and don't settle for self-imposed limitations (ie: contemps).

- Try more books on my e-reader...I got it for a reason.

- Step outside of my comfort zone more often without bias, if possible.

- Learn to read a bit slower. Speed reading, while a great skill, is not always the best. F'reals.

What about you all? What do you want to do this year to better yourself as a reader, or blogger, if anything? Do you even set goals for yourself? Let's hear what you've got to say!

Let's Talk is a new weekly feature here at i swim for oceans. I think it's important that we all have our say, and there's something to be said for raising our voices. Simply put, here on the little old blog, I like to host some of my very own discussion posts because, well, I like to converse with you all.

And so, Let's Talk will feature questions or prompts, which I will answer, too. Love it or hate it, weigh in or don't, it's my hope that Let's Talk will at least get you thinking...and maybe even get you discussing with the rest of us!

Question: Who are some of your favourite kickass literary heroines?

This is one of those questions that I could literally give you probably 100 or more answers. I'm not kidding. There are THAT many empowering female protagonists out there that make me want to sing their praises. And no, Bella Swan is not one of them. Sorry. When I look for an outstanding literary heroine, I look for someone that embodies humanity, humility, courage under fire and a sense of integrity that, let's be real, a lot of female characters seem to lack these days in YA. Rather than go off on a tangent thought, without further ado, here are some of my favourite kickass female characters.

Ok, before I go any further, I have to state that absolutely no list would really be complete without Hermione Granger on it. This is the girl that I grew up reading about. She is fierce, driven, fiery, hot-headed at times, intelligent, compassionate and loyal to all her friends and those she loves. Hermione is tested by the drama of her teen years, as is every single teenage girl out there, but she rises above it and remains strong and solid in her convictions and her dedication to her friends and cause throughout. Above all else though, reading about Hermione made me look within myself at times and wonder just how I might react in her circumstances. And, throughout the Harry Potter series, we watch as she grows into a remarkable witch with incredible courage.

I put off reading the Vampire Academy series for a very long time because I was a bit jaded by the bitter taste that Twilight and Bella Swan left in my mouth. Frankly, I just didn't want to read another vampire book in which a girl falls prey to swoon-worthy men and loses herself in the process. I couldn't have been more wrong about Rose Hathaway though. Seriously...this girl is on fire (cue song). She has one hell of a temper, she's sassy as all get out, and when she falls for Dimitri, she doesn't become a blundering, withering bimbo. Rather, she gets feistier than ever. Amen, sister. This girl is a no-holds-barred, badass fighter that stands up for what she wants and believes in, and she doesn't back down. Ever. Now that's a heroine after my own heart.

I could give you an endless list of kickass female characters, but I'll give you a few more of my most honourable mentions just to plant a bug in your ear (ie...read these books!) Yalith from Many Waters is a subtly fierce heroine with strong convictions and even stronger beliefs. Mara Dyer of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is one messed up girl, but she's a total badass (albeit slightly nuts). Annabeth from Percy Jackson and the Olympians is the perfect heroine for younger teens everywhere to look up to...and she's sassy! And, because I think heroines can be in contemporary fiction, too, I have to include Maggie from Leaving Paradise because she overcomes so much and learns to forgive and move on. 

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