Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd

Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd by Holly Black
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

Acclaimed authors Holly Black (Ironside) and Cecil Castellucci (Boy Proof) have united in geekdom to edit short stories from some of the best selling and most promising geeks in young adult literature: M.T. Anderson, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, John Green, Tracy Lynn, Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Barry Lyga, Wendy Mass, Garth Nix, Scott Westerfield, Lisa Yee, and Sara Zarr.

With illustrated interstitials from comic book artists Hope Larson and Bryan Lee O'Malley, Geektastic covers all things geeky, from Klingons and Jedi Knights to fan fiction, theater geeks, and cosplayers. Whether you're a former, current, or future geek, or if you just want to get in touch with your inner geek, Geektastic will help you get your geek on!

My Review:

Some stories were amazing, some were not so much, and some were pointless.

ONCE YOU'RE A JEDI, YOU'RE A JEDI ALL THE WAY by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci: I loved this story and thought it would set the tone for the rest of the book. I was wrong. They should have stuck this story in the middle to encourage readers it wasn't all so bad or at the end to wrap up nicely.

ONE OF US by Tracy Lynn: I loved this story, and it should have started the book with this. Given us readers a short lesson on nerdism.

DEFINITIONAL CHAOS by Scott Westerfield: This was interesting and made me think. I liked it.

I NEVER by Cassandra Clare: This was nice, and showed how nerds come from all walks of life. It also shows people aren't always who they seem online.

THE KING OF PELINESSE by M.T. Anderson: Way off the wall, not great, but more great than bad.

THE WRATH OF DAWN by Cynthia Leitich Smith and Greg Leitich Smith: This one fell flat. There was so much potential, but just kinda of veered off a cliff towards the end. However, there were some airbags and somewhat redeemed itself.

QUIZ BOWL ANTICHRIST by David Levithan: Interesting to see the competitiveness of Quiz Bowl, and I enjoyed the almost understanding/confusion on the MC - it wasn't negative but relatable.

THE QUIET KNIGHT by Garth Nix: Cute story. I'm not sure what else to add without giving anything away.

EVERYONE BUT YOU by Lisa Yee: This was a nice story about growing up and growing apart. Finding yourself and making the best of your situations. Nicely done.

SECRET IDENTITY by Kelly Link: Too long which was unnecessary. I was confused most of the time. I would have skipped this entirely if I'd known.

FREAK THE GEEK by John Green: Random, silly, unnecessary. Did not entertain me the way it could have, there was a lot of potential.

THE TRUTH ABOUT DINO GIRL by Barry Lyga: I was thoroughly enjoying this story until the end. Really girls? Really?!

THIS IS MY AUDITION MONOLOGUE by Sara Zarr: This was ballsy, and I'd probably have cheered the loudest at the completion.

THE STARTS AT THE FINISH LINE by Wendy Mass: I really liked this story, and it has piqued my interested in astronomy.

IT'S JUST A JUMP TO THE LEFT by Libba Bray: No, just no. This was not the way to end the book, by any means.

Comics by Hope Larson and Bryan Lee O'Malley: They were drawn well and some were entertaining. Some were just so random, I didn't get them. Not sure if that's my fault or theirs.

Read from July 29 to August 13, 2015

Top 5 Genres*: Young Adult, Short Stories, Fiction, Anthologies, Humor
*According to Goodreads
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My ratings system
5 stars - I absolutely loved it
4 stars - Good book and would recommend
3 stars - Decent book, but wasn't spectacular
2 stars - Not good, but was able to finish it
1 stars - Did not finish (DNF) and I don't usually rate a book I haven't finished (just to be fair to the author)

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The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1) by Rick Riordan

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

Percy Jackson is sent to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp (on Long Island) for demigods, where he learns that his father is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends, Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the underworld and prevent a war between the gods.

My Review:

My brother, who, unlike me*, got to enjoy Harry Potter as the books were coming out, enjoying the anticipation of the next release date, he recommended this series. He even went as far to say that this series was better. Being a HUGE Potter fan, I had high expectations.



Sadly, I was crushed. This was a great story, and I will continue on in the series, but I'll just have to get in the mindset to not compare my first experiences to the other. Admittedly, I think I'd have gotten a little more out of the story had I been more familiar with Greek Mythology. I know the basics, but that's sub-par at best.



Please don't get me wrong, I strongly like this story, I just didn't LOVE it. Of course, my opinion can definitely grow the deeper into the series I get, so keep a lookout for future reviews of the following books.



*I got to enjoy the magical world of Harry Potter as an adult. Although I missed the Hogwarts Express when I was younger, I proudly climbed aboard as an adult and haven't looked back!

Favorite Quotes:

“Suspecting and knowing are not the same.”

“Go on with what your heart tells you, or you will lose all.”

“The sea does not like to be restrained. ”

“If my life is going to mean anything, I have to live it myself.”

“Deadlines just aren't real to me until I'm staring one in the face.”

“Where's the glory in repeating what others have done?”

“Even strength must bow to wisdom sometimes.”

Read from August 06 to 07, 2015

Top 5 Genres*: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fantasy/Mythology, Fiction, Adventure
*According to Goodreads
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My ratings system
5 stars - I absolutely loved it
4 stars - Good book and would recommend
3 stars - Decent book, but wasn't spectacular
2 stars - Not good, but was able to finish it
1 stars - Did not finish (DNF) and I don't usually rate a book I haven't finished (just to be fair to the author)

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Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

Mindy Kaling has lived many lives: the obedient child of immigrant professionals, a timid chubster afraid of her own bike, a Ben Affleck--impersonating Off-Broadway performer and playwright, and, finally, a comedy writer and actress prone to starting fights with her friends and coworkers with the sentence "Can I just say one last thing about this, and then I swear I'll shut up about it?"

Perhaps you want to know what Mindy thinks makes a great best friend (someone who will fill your prescription in the middle of the night), or what makes a great guy (one who is aware of all elderly people in any room at any time and acts accordingly), or what is the perfect amount of fame (so famous you can never get convicted of murder in a court of law), or how to maintain a trim figure (you will not find that information in these pages). If so, you've come to the right book, mostly!

In Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Mindy invites readers on a tour of her life and her unscientific observations on romance, friendship, and Hollywood, with several conveniently placed stopping points for you to run errands and make phone calls. Mindy Kaling really is just a Girl Next Door--not so much literally anywhere in the continental United States, but definitely if you live in India or Sri Lanka.

My Review:



I know, I know, you are thinking I can't be serious - a book written by the super self-absorbed and shallow character from The Office? Yes, yes I am serious.



I found her humor well rounded, and I caught myself relating to her way of thinking many times. That she could laugh at herself, or be so "self-actualized" that she doesn't care is something I could strive for. She has built herself up to where she wants to be in life, while still chasing her dreams. Just because she is successful, does not mean she will become complacent anytime soon.



As indicated in the beginning of the book, there are a lot of essays, lists, and some personal photographs (admittedly, I listened to this on an audiobook, so I'll be taking her advice and browsing through this book the next time I'm in a library/bookstore just to see the photographs).



Her style of writing was easy to follow, and the fact that she narrated it herself, made it really easy to visualize Mindy herself. I honestly first came across Mindy on The Mindy Project, and I have loved her ever since. I am glad I have read/listened to this book and I would totally recommend this if you are interested in a quick, humorous read.



Favorite Quotes:

“I simply regard romantic comedies as a sub-genre of sci-fi, in which the world created therein has different rules than my regular human world.”

“When smart people are nice, it's always terrifying, because I know they're taking in everything and thinking all kinds of smart and potentially judgmental things.”

“I didn't completely forget how to be nice or feminine because I have a career.”

“Maybe the point is that any marriage is work, but you may as well pick work that you like.”

“No one ever wants to hear how stressed out anyone else is, because most of the time everyone is stressed out.”

“...stay in school and be a respectful and hardworking wallflower, and go to an accredited non-online university”

Read from August 11 to 12, 2015

Top 5 Genres*: Non-Fiction, Humor, Autobiography/Memoir, Biography, Humor/Comedy
*According to Goodreads
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My ratings system
5 stars - I absolutely loved it
4 stars - Good book and would recommend
3 stars - Decent book, but wasn't spectacular
2 stars - Not good, but was able to finish it
1 stars - Did not finish (DNF) and I don't usually rate a book I haven't finished (just to be fair to the author)

View all my reviews