seen from United States
seen from Germany
seen from Ireland
seen from United Kingdom
seen from United Kingdom
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from Canada
seen from Yemen
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Yemen
seen from Türkiye
seen from United States
seen from Malaysia
seen from United States
seen from United States
Library Books to Start the New Year
Library Books to Start the New Year
Libby, the email librarian, has been offering me “skip-the-line” books lately, with a seven day deadline to finish. Ready to meet the challenge, I finished two books in record time, while ignoring others under the usual three week time frame. The pressure to finish before Libby surreptitiously swallows my book back into the void is a challenge I cannot ignore. The Vanishing Half Brit Bennett’s…
View On WordPress
March Update!
So here’s something unfortunate...
Due to the events going on, and playing our part in flattening the curve, the library closed when Illinois went on lockdown. Since it’s hard to say when the library might open again, I’m not sure I’m going to continue my challenge. So this is probably the last update for the Library Challenge.
However, before the order went out, I was able to read 15 books... I think! Pretty sure I forgot to record the last batch I took back, but I won’t be able to check until we’re open again.
Now I’m going to spend time among my own books. Not only did my best friend buy Docile (Szpara) for me because both of my jobs are shut down so I’m completely out of work, and I’ve already terribly neglected it, but I also received an ARC for Unconquerable Sun (Kate Elliot) from a contest. I’m really excited to check it out! So lots of bookish excitement still to come!
Everyone take care of yourselves during this unknown time. Check in with loved ones, watch lots of movies, take plenty of walks, and of course keep reading!
February Update!
Whew, another month down and more books were consumed. I’ll be honest, the amount of books I’m reading in a day has nearly burned me out, but I’m determined to see March through. So how was February?
31 books!
Not bad for a short month! I’d planned to be close to the Bs as we entered March, but unfortunately I’m still stuck in the As. Almost there! I’ll make it before April!
I’d say my favorites of the month included the Immortal Game series and The Crossover. Finally reading The Wrath and the Dawn was a treat! Least favorites would have to be all that I read from Becky Albertalli--Simon, Leah, and The Upside. I didn’t mesh with the writing style in any of the three books. And my god, Simon, I get it--you’re gay!! You don’t have to mention it every other sentence! The Upside of Unrequited was just... yikes. I didn’t like what it was selling. It’s unfortunate because I’ve wanted to read Albertalli’s books for a long time (The Upside has been on my Goodreads since 2015!)
So here’s to March. I’m already a little off track because Docile (Szpara) recently came out and I have no willpower! Happy reading!
Studying at the library with my messy notes and new iPad. I prefer the darkness. 😎
Monthly Update: August and September
Yep, I’m aware that it is the middle of October and I’m just getting up my AUGUST and SEPTEMBER Update posts up. I’ve just been struggling lately when it comes to staying on top of my reading and blogging lately, but I’m finally getting around to it. So hopefully, I can start getting back on track.
Things I Did:
August, like pretty much all of this summer, went by in a complete BLUR. I officially settled in to my new apartment… though we have a guestroom/office space that is still FILLED with boxes. I was able to organize my main bookcase and that made me feel like I was finally moved in. Ben and I went to a friend’s cabin, I got to meet my new niece on a trip to MN, and on the weekends we were in town were just spent running errands, unpacking, and relaxing a bit. A very odd balance between being productive and trying to enjoy the last month of summer.
September was my and Ben’s birthday month, so there was some fun to be had. My friend came and visited for my birthday and there was a Harry Potter themed party going on at an Irish Pub that we went to that night. One weekend we were in MN to celebrate Ben’s grandparents 60th anniversary. Then for Ben’s birthday, I took him out to dinner and made him ice cream cake.
Books I Read:
(images linked to Goodreads)
Stats
# of books: 6 (August) and 6 (September)
Pages Read: 3994
Genres: 4 Contemporary, 4 Paranormal, 2 Steampunk, 1 Thriller/Spy/Mystery, 1 Fantasy, 1 Retelling (I’m kind of impressed with how many genres I hit in 2 months)
Best Book of the Month: QUEEN OF SHADOWS, I already want to reread it. It was hands down AMAZING. But for August it was probably Waistcoats & Weaponry because I’m loving the Finishing School series!
Quotes that Stuck:
“When someone’s been gone a long time, at first you save up all the things you want to tell them. You try to keep track of everything in your head. But it’s like trying to hold on to a fistful of sand: all the little bits slip out of your hands, and then you’re just clutching air and grit.”
–To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
“She was fire, and light, and ash, and embers. She was Aelin Fireheart, and she bowed for no one and nothing, save the crown that was hers by blood and survival and triumph.”
–Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
Challenges I Participated In:
2015 Book Blog Discussion Challenge (Jan 1 – Dec 31)
The year is coming to a close WAY to quickly and I haven’t had a chance to write nearly as many discussion posts as I have wanted to!
2015 TBR Pile Reading Challenge (Goal: 30)
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
It’s Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han
Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger
Double Crossed: A Spies and Thieves Story by Ally Carter
Waistcoats & Weaponry by Gail Carriger
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard
106% Complete (WOOT!! I went 2 over my goal)
2015 Hard Core Re-reading Challenge and 2015 Re-Read Challenge (Goal: 15)
Shadowland by Meg Cabot
Ninth Key by Meg Cabot
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
66.6% Complete
2015 Library Challenge (Goal:20)
It’s Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han
Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger
Waistcoats & Weaponry by Gail Carriger
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
125% Complete (It’s been a wonderful year so far for checking out books from the library)
2015 Fairytale Challenge (Goal: 8)
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
75% Complete
2015 Flights of Fantasy (Goal: 20)
Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger
Waistcoats & Weaponry by Gail Carriger
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
125% Complete
Reviews I Posted:
August
[7 Aug] Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger ★★★★
[17 Aug] The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han ★★★½
[24 Aug] It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han ★★★
[31 Aug] Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger ★★★★
September
[7 Sep] Waistcoats & Weaponry by Gail Carriger ★★★★½
[10 Sep] Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas ★★★★★
[14 Sep] To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han ★★★★½
[21 Sep] P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han ★★★½
Posts I Wrote:
August
[11 Aug] Back from Honeymooning
[13 Aug] Monthly Update: July
[19 Aug] Local Flavor Swap Show-Off
[30 Aug] The Mediator Series (Re)read Along | Intro & Sign-Ups
September
[3 Sep] Let’s Talk: Books with Royalty | TLC (Re)Read Along
[8 Sep] Top Ten Finished Series I Have YET to Finish
[15 Sep] Top Ten Auto-Buy Authors
[22 Sep] Top Ten Books On My Fall TBR
[27 Sep] Mediator (Re)read Along: Shadowland Kick-Off and Remembrance Giveaway
Blogs I Followed:
Ravens and Writing Desks
Pub(lishing) Crawl
Posts I Bookmarked:
Can You Give Too Many Five-Star Ratings? | Loony Literate
How do you feel about excerpts? | There were books involved
Perception, Reality & Our Super Reader Community | The Perpetual Page-Turner
Reasons It’s Appropriate to Take a Book Wherever You Go | Paper Fury
The Pressure of “The One” in Romance Books | Book. Blog. Bake
Movies I Saw:
Wet Hot American Summer
TV Shows I Watched:
Wet Hot American Summer – Ben and I binged this on Netflix pretty quickly.
Still working through Supernatural Season 10. Downton Abbey and Switched at Birth both started up again, so I’ve been trying to keep up with those.
Also, I’ve been binging on some Gilmore Girls when ever I have the opportunity which hasn’t meant good things for the blog or for my reading time, but it’s enjoyable all the same.
What I’m Looking Forward in October
WEDDINGS. Ben and I are going to two weddings this month which should be a lot of fun. I’m also hoping to have some time to just catch up on EVERYTHING. The months are just flying by, and I feel like I’m not using my time wisely because I’m so behind on the blog, housekeeping, reading, and just life in general.
Monthly Update: August and September was originally published on A Bottomless Book Bag
