Category: Personal Blogs

Posted in Personal Blogs

My Goals for 2025

Posted on by elishasbookreview
Photo by Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels.com

Before I begin, I know I have let this blog go extremely to the wayside. I know it sounds like I’m making excuses when I blame mental health, or self esteem, or even just good old writer’s block. But those were all the things I’ve been facing since 2020. Thoughts of ‘who cares about my thoughts?’ or ‘I really liked this, but I don’t have much to say about it.’

I have several drafts sitting in the virtual trash bin to show that I’ve been trying to post something, but the words just wouldn’t come out right or the words would just stop altogether. Then the self-doubt creeps in and before you know it I’m off to play a game or look at more books.

However, this year I want to make a change. I want to not only read books that leave me with the need to share them, but I want to get back into the habit of writing reviews for those books. No matter how long it takes me to write said review.

My goal is to read 50 books this year. This is an annual tradition that I’ve been doing for several years, ever since Goodreads pushed the “reading challenge” idea. However, starting last year or in 2023, I’ve started adding some mini goals to my reading challenge i.e. ’10 books that are already on your tbr (to be read) shelf’ or ‘read 10 nonfiction books’. For this blog, it’s a simple goal, to write 5 book reviews. I tried starting at 10 last year, but that felt like too much. So this year, I’m going to start off small and start with 5 blog posts and go from there.

So there’s my book-related goals for 2025! Hope you had a happy and safe New Year, and stay tuned! I might have something in the works soon!

Posted in Discussions, Personal Blogs

My Experience in the Comic Book Universe

Posted on by elishasbookreview
Photo by Erik Mclean on Pexels.com

I’ve been thinking about writing a post like this for a long time. I want to share my experiences with the comic book universe and how I observe the movies/TV shows compared to how I read their source material. I feel like I have a lot of unique opinions on the matter; it’s just been a question of “who cares?”

Growing up in small-town USA, I didn’t know comic books existed, really. I never knew of a place where I could get them or read the comics. My earliest memories are of watching Batman and Justice League on TV. I dressed up as Batman for Halloween one year, despite the fact that I was a little girl. I guess that was an early sign of the years to come.

It wasn’t until the whole comic book/manga thing became more mainstream that I started seeing them at my local library. I fell in love with the medium, and I’m not ashamed of that anymore. I don’t care what “reader purists” say; I believe reading comics, manga, and graphic novels is just as valid as reading the Harlequin novels I see strewn about at Goodwill.

With the movies and TV shows being so self-contained, it makes team-ups seem extra special. For example, getting to see Doctor Strange, Iron Man, and the Guardians of the Galaxy team up was a remarkable moment in my mind. In the comics, it’s common to see heroes team up, but it’s just weird for me to witness, although it’s taken some time to become accustomed to seeing all the teamwork.

However, in the comics, Spider-Man is everyone’s BFF, more or less. He shows up to help any of the other heroes, no matter their expertise or neighborhood. He’s also not afraid to ask for help when he needs it; he’s sometimes seen seeking Doctor Strange for help or advice when the adversary belongs to a different dimension or has magical abilities.

Overall, I’m fascinated with this new universe and I hope to enjoy it for many more years to come. Even though I’m feeling a bit burnt out on how much content we’ve been getting, it’s great nonetheless. I can jump back in when I’m ready to and just as easily dip out or change to a different comic book. The world has become my oyster so to say.

Posted in Personal Blogs

Recommended Summer Reading for 2023

Posted on by elishasbookreview
Photo by Perfecto Capucine on Pexels.com

It’s almost the end of May and that means summer is right around the corner! Now, I have come to you with a lists of books that give me feelings of summer, whether that’s a roadtrip, vacation, or being free from school and getting a break. So here we go!

  • The Tea Dragon Society by K. O’Neal – I think this is a good book/series for anytime of year, but I think the first book has summer vibes for sure.
  • A Little Bit Country by Brian D. Kennedy – This book takes place at a theme park similar to Dollywood, and it’s perfect for anyone who likes LGBT+ stories, country music, or books that take place in a theme park.
  • Crazy Food Truck Vol. 1 by Rokurou Ogaki – Take a roadtrip through this post-apocalyptic wasteland in search of the next meal, or maybe just end up finding trouble in town. This whole series is only 3 volumes, so it’s a quick read.
  • Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire by Dan Hanks – This is for the Indiana Jones fans, there’s traveling, and treasure hunting, and I think it’s a perfect summer read for those looking for an escape into the archives of archeology.
  • The Last One by Alexandra Olivia – I will never stop recommending this book, it has stuck with me even after all this time. It reminds me of the TV show Survivor, which usually airs in the early summer. Highly recommend this one!

So there we are! Five books to add to your TBR this summer! Hopefully you’ll check them out and share with me your thoughts on any summer read or books you’re looking forward to this summer! If I get enough responses, I might feature these in a future post!

Go back

Your message has been sent

Posted in Bite-Sized Reviews, Book Reviews, Manga, Marvel Comics, Novels, Personal Blogs

Better Late Than Never: the books I read in 2023 so far

Posted on by elishasbookreview
Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

I know it’s been awhile since I posted a review or even an update. I have been struggling with writing the blog posts. I would get the spark and type out a couple of paragraphs and as I’m rereading it to check for mistakes I would have negative thoughts about what I just wrote. It’s frustrating and discouraging.

Well I’ve been keeping a notebook full of the books I’ve read, how I rated the books, some brief thoughts, and finally how long it took me to finish the book. Now I would like to share my five star reads of the year so far.

  • The Flintstones: The Deluxe Edition by Mark Russell – this graphic novel gives us a new take on the classic cartoon. I heard about this from one of the YouTubers I watch, and I’m glad I checked this collection out.
  • Black Panther vs. Deadpool by Multiple Authors – I loved the art style of this comic, each panel looked like it came off a storyboard. Black Panther and Deadpool are polar opposites of each other when it comes to their sense of what’s right and wrong. I actually found their philosophy discussions entertaining, but I know that’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
  • Cat Massage Therapy Vol. 2 by Haru Hisakawa – I don’t care that there’s barely any plot in these books, it’s a story about cats who run a massage parlor in Japan and the friends and clients they meet. Even as I’m typing this I have the next volume on my nightstand ready to be devoured.
  • Strange Vol. 1: I Belong to Death by Jed McKay – This is a follow-up to the Death of Doctor Strange story where Doctor Strange’s wife Clea takes over as the Sorcerer Supreme for Earth even though she is already the Sorcerer Supreme for the dark dimension. I loved how relatable Clea is, she is dedicated to her deceased husband’s wishes as well as how protective she is over the areas she’s meant to protect. Can’t wait to read volume 2 which is also on my nightstand.

Well, that’s my list of 5 star reads so far for 2023. I hope to be posting more reviews and updates as the year goes on. Hope you have a great day!

Posted in Bite-Sized Reviews, Book Reviews, Discussions, Personal Blogs, Rapid Reviews

2022 in Review

Posted on by elishasbookreview
Photo by ready made on Pexels.com

I don’t know if anyone else had a rough year, but for me and my household, it was a rough year. We had to kick out a roommate who had been causing a lot of headache and trouble. I was out of work, and we struggled up until I finally got hired back to a company I’ve worked for previously,

Now enough of real world stuff, let’s get into some book stats!

Overall of 2022, I read 82 books! That broke my record of any count of most read books per year! All the way back in 2018 I read 72 books. So I’m looking forward to destroying this goal in the coming year!

Now, let’s talk about top books/series I read this year. I kind of hit a hard dry spell in the last few months when it came to posting a reviewing books. However, I plan on coming to 2023 in full force! At least, that’s the goal anyway. So now for the favorites list!

  • Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldtree- This was a cute and fun adventure that didn’t involve fighting dragons, or chasing after a mad wizard. The most difficult thing they do is start a café in a town that didn’t know what coffee was.
  • Doctor Who: Scratchman by Tom Baker and James Goss- I would recommend this Doctor Who spinoff for both Classic and New Doctor Who fans. When the Doctor, Sarah Jane, and Harry land on a strange farm, and things aren’t quite right, it’s up to The Doctor and his companions to get down to the truth.
  • The Last One by Alexandra Oliva- I found this on a recommendation list for survival stories. This one sounded unique so I decided to check it out, and even though it might not be as gruesome as The Troop by Nick Cutter, but I still think about The Last One from time to time. This a fantastic take on survival horror that doesn’t depend on gruesome details to keep you on the edge of your seat. All you need is a girl lost in the woods with broken glasses, and there’s your intro to The Last One.
  • Sakamoto Days Vol 1-4 by Yuto Suzuki- Now, I will admit this isn’t a new trope we’ve seen in manga. Way of the Househusband is the first to come to mind that uses this trope. However, what makes Sakamoto Days different is how Mr. Sakamoto got fat after retiring from the assassin world. However, even though we weighs an extra 100 pounds or so, he still knows how to kick butt like nobody’s business! This series is full of heart and humor, so this comes as a high recommendation for manga fans.
  • Rooster Fighter Vol 1-2 by Shu Sakuratani- I found this manga series from browsing Amazon, and it has quickly become one of my favorites manga series this year. It’s about a lone rooster who’s fighting kaiju not only to save the humans in harm’s way, but to seek out the kaiju that killed his sister. He makes friends along the way, and whether he admits or not he appreciates his friends dearly. Volume 3 is coming out next month and I’m hoping to read it as soon as it comes out! This series is funny and action packed.

That’s my favorite reads of 2022 in no particular order, of course out of all the books I read last year I struggled with picking just five books/series. Let’s hope 2023 is filled with more to read other than just graphic novels.

Hope you had a safe and fun celebration, here’s to 2023!