I'll be honest. Ever since I glimpsed the Cake Book Tag on Paper Fury, I KNEW I WANTED IT. And lo and behold, the amazing Shar and Shanti have tagged me for a whole. post. on. CAKE.
Flour: A book that started slowly but turned out amazing.
Butter: A book that had a thick, rich plot.
Even more cups of psychopaths, a spoonful of ice zombies, and a dragon caketopper! I know you're probably sick of me ramble about this series, but no one can beat how layered these books are. Granted, it'll boggle your mind a little, but everything smooths out in glorious order.
Eggs: A book you thought would be bad but turned out great.
A gallon of beating hearts, a dash of terrorism, and just a pinch of religion. Unwind tackled all the right issues in all the right places and pulled all the right heartstrings. I was expecting some elements with horror and an ethics lecture. I WAS SO WRONG.
Sugar: A sugary, sweet book.
Icing: A book that covered every single element that you enjoy about a book.
Stir in a few apocalypses, bake in the oven for years, and serve with Shakespeare. Fantabulous setting? Check. Fascinating secondary characters and subplots? Check. Morally grey villains? Check. It was one of the first books I read this year and absolutely fabulous.
I wanted to put another book here, actually. But it's coming up in a moment.
I wanted to put another book here, actually. But it's coming up in a moment.
Sprinkles: A book that always cheers you up.
Acquire oven of galaxy far far away, set timing to a long time ago, and add blue skin and red eyes. The Star Wars spin-off, The Thrawn Trilogy, is about the mopping-up action the Rebels face after killing Sidious (whoops, spoiler). They encounter Grand Admiral Thrawn, incredible tactician, art lover, and A BETTER VILLAIN THAN THE EMPEROR. I insist. I was rooting for this guy, dammit!
(And I also have a penchant for Pellaeon, Thrawn's second-in-command who ... worships his superior. Go forth, slashfic writers.)
(And I also have a penchant for Pellaeon, Thrawn's second-in-command who ... worships his superior. Go forth, slashfic writers.)
The Cherry on Top: Best book of the year so far.
3 kg of magic, a dash of sprinkles, and hide it with a colour-changing cape! I was going to put ADSOM under Icing, because Lila's sass destroyed me, the Londons enraptured me, and Holland broke my heart. But let's not fool ourselves; I still am suffering mild book hangover from this, so yeah. IT'S THE BEST.
Cupcakes: An awesome short with the epicness of a book.
This is my special addition, but hey, all cakes need a little innovation. The Lottery, which might have been The Hunger Games inspiration (I swear I read that somewhere?), is a fantastic dystopian story with lots of moral grey area and challenging superstition.
(My nominees are the same people as those for the blog award; scroll on!)
Addictive Blog Award
Rules:
Thank the person awarding you.- Share a little about why you blog and how the journey started.
- Paste the blog award on your page.
- Nominate 10 other bloggers you feel deserve the award.
Goodness, this is embarrassing. It all started when I wrote a parody of a couple of poems, which I believe still languish in the archives. I randomly made up a blog title (which still languishes in the URL), customised a random theme, uploaded my parody, and waited for the crowds to flock here.
Ha. Ha. Ha.
The real journey began when I went to Figment, met a bunch of amazing people, and started to make my own way around the blogosphere. Eventually, we went from Random Morbid Insanity to Insanity Inc. to The Devil Orders Takeout, with all the styles of takeout you expect today.
Addictive blogs: fairy skeletons // Sometimes I'm A Story // Opal Swirls // Almost Completely Mad // To the Barricade // Six Impossible Things // Third Star to the Right // It Starts At Midnight // Bookish and Awesome // Teens Can Write, Too!
That is a real interesting story about your blog :P
ReplyDeleteCan you post the url to the parody poems please in the reply? :D
Neal Kind
Daily Diaries
Thanks, Neal! No problem, here they are:
DeleteThis one's about the lack of relevance of the title to the actual poem: http://randommorbidinsanity.blogspot.hk/2013/03/kangaroos-without-hay.html
And this one just goes all-out cannibalism: http://randommorbidinsanity.blogspot.hk/2013/03/daniel-for-breakfast.html
Thanks so much for your interest!
Yay! I loveeee the cake tag because it's just really satisfying to read about for whatever reason - I did it last month, I think, so I might hold off on that one, but I can certainly attend to the other tag. *nodnod* So thanks!
ReplyDelete(Also: UNWIND. My favorite. Gah.)
The cake tag IS such fun, no? Especially since it feels so yummy. Have fun doing the other tag -- To the Barricade is certainly addictive!
DeleteUNWIND IS MUCH FABULOUS. I haven't heard such good things about the sequels, though, so I'm staying off them ...
That was a truly interesting story. And the cake tag looks like fun, so I'm probably going to steal it :P.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it! And go ahead; it's definitely lots of fun to do.
DeleteAhh thank you for tagging me! (I too have secretly yearned to do the Cake Book Tag.) And YES I so agree with you on ADSOM! (I just might have to put it under that category on my tag post as well. We'll see.) IT KILLED ME. Also, BRAZEN. I absolutely loved it - I thought it was super sweet until the end and then I was like NOPE NOPE NOPE. *sob/laughs*
ReplyDeleteAnyway, thanks again! Will get to this ASAP :)
You're welcome! (And yes, there is something rather tempting about the tag. Possibly because of cake.) AND OH MY GOODNESS I can't believe ADSOM is this amazing. I still haven't managed to finish a novel yet -- although Simon Vs. might change my mind.
DeleteBrazen was basically me sitting there and saying, "Get a room, guys. Get it quick." and then "WHAT NO IT ENDS LIKE THAT?" *weeps* but still getting Tarnish and/or Gilt.
Pretty sure Cait is a genius for making up that book tag.
ReplyDeleteBut awesome post! And I love your blog design and name--they're absolutely gorgeous!
Oh, I thought she was just tagged by someone else -- but either way, it's a fabulous tag. And aaaah thank you so much for the compliment!
DeleteAhh, this is totally one of those presses-face-to-the-display-window scenarios where I just want to read ALL of these books. But Station Eleven and ADSoM especially. I'm so happy to hear you like them--hoping to read them very soon, personally.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you so much for tagging me!
That image is perfect and I shall appropriate for future use when trying to describe my bookish desire to non-bookish friends. AND READ THEM READ THEM they're so good! Station Eleven got nom'd for a sci-fi award too, so there's that. Have fun!
DeleteSweet tag (no pun intended)! This was fun to read.
ReplyDeleteAlso your blog is addictive, I agree, award well-deserved. ;)
I'm glad you enjoyed it! And aww, who's being sweet now? Thanks!!
DeleteI've only read Unwind, but I've heard really good things about Game of Thrones and Gone Girl. These sound like some lovely picks! :D Also, it's a good thing that you have an embarrassing story to share, because where would we be without you? :) Thanks for tagging me!
ReplyDeleteYou MUST read GoT and Gone Girl. Seriously, best adult books I've read in ever. EVER. You're welcome, and have fun!
DeleteOkay, well, I've sort of read Game of Thrones. I read the first fourth, and then got bored and just wanted to know what happened to Dany, so I read her last chapter, then read all the rest of her chapters backwards. There you go.
DeleteBut still, maybe I will have a better resolve next time. :)
I see that you have a habit of reading the end first. I don't think I've ever done that, except for Deathly Hallows, wherein I was totally sad at the epilogue, then read in order and was suitably moved by then.
DeleteAlthough I do reread GoT by PoV chapter often. It's tempting.
Thank you for the tag! :) My friend told me Gone Girl was kind of scary and weird but also very good. I defiantly want to read it. I haven't actually read any of these books *blushes*
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome, Opal! That's a good summary of Gone Girl -- it has a spectacular ending. You should definitely read it. And no need to blush; just read them all ASAP XD
DeleteOh, I'm so glad you did this Alyssa. I've read several of these books- The Lottery and Unwind, and the rest sound fabulous. I'm so glad you did this tag :)
ReplyDeleteI tend to shy away from physcological thrillers but your description of Gone Girl sounds very intriguing. I read and adult book a few weeks ago though *excuses, excuses* and I don't really want to jump on the Game of Thrones train yet.
Thank you for tagging me in the first place, Shanti! The Lottery and Unwind ARE such chilling books, no? If you liked those, I think there's a good chance you'll like Gone Girl since it's equally of a wham book by the end.
DeleteIt's not for everyone, granted, but possibly in the future?
The Lottery is spectacularly creepy. To be honest, I haven't read any of the other books on your list yet, but they all sound neat (and I really, really need to finish A Game of Thrones). Thanks for tagging me!
ReplyDeleteIT IS IT IS. One of my fav short stories to date. Good luck on that -- it really is such a doorstopper. Have fun answering the tag!
DeleteI love the cake tag!! so original
ReplyDeleteTrue, it was loads of fun to do!
DeleteEek, books and cake! Is there any better combination? ;) I love your answers for this one (and I've been looking to read Gone Girl for awhile now, so thank you so much for the recommendation!). I must admit that I haven't read any of the other books, though I've heard wonderful things about the majority of them. So yes, off to check them all out from the library :D
ReplyDeleteAnd THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR THE NOMINATION. <3 You know I don't really do tags + awards, but I shall be stalking the others' blogs to see all their answers!
Books and takeout and same timezones? XD Do read Gone Girl -- might be a bit dark for your normal airy self, but I think you'll like the complexity. And DO READ ALL OF THEM but especially A Darker Shade of Magic because that just blew me away.
DeleteI totally understand about not doing the tags/awards -- but just know that I really love Six Impossible Things!
My goodness, Shar, you're making me feel freaky and weird. ... oh wait.
ReplyDeleteYou should really read ADSOM! It's a quick light read, even though it's on the thicker side of most recent releases, because Schwab's writing style is so fluid. But yeah, epic fantasy and its huge doorstoppers aren't for everyone.
Some SW books are indeed crappy, and I have my things to say about Zahn's works too, but he thinks up damn good Imperials. Villains are always my fav, so :D
OH I REALLY NEED A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC IN MY LIFE DON'T I?! It sounds sooooo good and the book blogosphere has been raving about it, and I need it like, NOW. ;') I have no patience haha
ReplyDeleteNew follower via bloglovin!
Ella @ Once Upon a Bookish Time
YOU DO YOU DO YOU DO. GET IT NOW. (And once you've done that and am longing for the sequel, I have a cover and blurb breakdown to speculate about A Gathering of Shadows. It's supremely amazing.
DeleteIt's great to have you join us! Beautiful blog name :D