NOVEMBER WRAPUP (aka the month of uneventful things)

Hi,

November was... forgettable, I guess?

I mean I can't even think of anything that's particularly notable that happened to me. I do remember being a bit busy at work, trying to get through the thicc book I was reading which was The Toll by Neal Shusterman, and generally being so focused on the whole Astros issue over at MLB. so yeah, uneventful.

My reading was pretty uneventful as well since I got stuck with The Toll. This doesn't mean it wasn't good. It was. But big books were never really my thing. I wanted to like big books but I'm always just overwhelmed by them but I pushed through with this one because Neal Shusterman is my all time fave author.

books read

Well Met by Jen DeLuca

[WEEKEND READS] where I am finally reading my most anticipated book of the year!

another experiment shot for me. haha

Hi,

It was quite a dull week for me. Not much going on at work.

I've been binge watching Big Bang Theory recently though. And I'm going through some of the current anime this season. Chihayafuru 3 is really gooood. Psycho-Pass 3 is a bit frustrating to watch. No Guns Life is interesting. I'm going to watch a couple more episodes of Babylon which is also an interesting political mystery thriller.

I recently finished Well Met which was a nice light romance read. Wasn't a fan of the love interest at first but he grew on me. I like how I was able to relate to the two of them at some point :) I had a review written out. I just hope I can have it up soon.

OCTOBER WRAPUP (aka the month of #Burtontober)

trying this style in my photos

Hi,

October is a mixture of highs and lows for me. Also, because of these lows, I ended up grabbing a few books even though #MIBF2019 just got done. ugh.

I watched the Joker earlier this month with my best friend. I like the development of Joker throughout the story. You could really see where things started. The bigger picture though is a bit tough to see and I don't really know what to feel about it. But either way, it was okay for me.

This month I joined #burtontober hosted by @LostAndBoundBks over at Twitter to push myself to read more and somehow it worked out well for me. I don't wanna say I'm done with the slump though but I'd like to believe we're getting out of there :)

Also, I'm finally watching anime again!! I'm currently watching: Babylon, Chihayafuru S3, No Guns Life, and PSYCHO-PASS S3.

books read

Mockingjay (the Hunger Games #3) by Suzanne Collins | Confessions by Kanae Minato | Steins;Gate vols. 1 & 2 by Yomi Sarachi | A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic #1) by V.E. Schwab

[WEEKEND READS] where I'm slowly getting my reading mood back

Hi,

Apologies if I still haven't replied to comments or visited your blog. I plan to do that (hopefully tomorrow). As I'm writing this, it's already 10PM and I kind of need to sleep soon so I can wake up early to watch the Yankee's ALDS Game 2 tomorrow morning for me. Game 1 was suuuuuper good (and exciting!).

ANYWAY, I joined #burtontober hosted by @LostAndBoundBks over at Twitter. I did this because I want to pick myself out of this horrible slump I've been going on which I'm sure you're all tired of (lol). Out of the 9 challenges, I picked 6 books for them. I hope to have a wrap up about this at the end of the month (which is the end of this reading challenge/read-a-thon)

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER WRAPUP (aka the month of picking up and dropping down books)

#MIBF2019 book haul

Hi,

The slump continues to plague me and I hate it. My mood and my energy just aren't there.

I have like 3 or 4 books in my side bed. I alternate bringing books to work depending on my mood for the day. I hate it because I want to stick to one book so that I can finish something. I also hate that I am NEVER in the mood for an ebook lately. I started a few of the ebooks I downloaded a couple of years ago but end up never really going further than the first chapter or two.

I dropped books because I also don't want to dwell so much on them. I want to live by the idea of read books I enjoy and drop books that aren't working out for me. This doesn't mean I'll leave these books unread on my shelf. I want to get back to them at some point.

books read

Catching Fire (the Hunger Games #2) by Suzanne Collins | Wilder Girls by Rory Powers | My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite | Nichijou, vol. 5 by Keiichi Arawi

[REVIEW] Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore

title: Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore
author: Matthew J. Sullivan
genre: adult fiction, mystery
published: January 9, 2018 by Scribner (first published June 13, 2017)
format: trade paperback, 352 pages
purchase: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Fully Booked
rating: 5 / 5 stars
goodreads

When a bookshop patron commits suicide, his favorite store clerk must unravel the puzzle he left behind in this “intriguingly dark, twisty” (Kirkus Reviews) debut novel from an award-winning short story writer. 

Lydia Smith lives her life hiding in plain sight. A clerk at the Bright Ideas bookstore, she keeps a meticulously crafted existence among her beloved books, eccentric colleagues, and the BookFrogs—the lost and lonely regulars who spend every day marauding the store’s overwhelmed shelves. 

But when Joey Molina, a young, beguiling BookFrog, kills himself in the bookstore’s upper room, Lydia’s life comes unglued. Always Joey’s favorite bookseller, Lydia has been bequeathed his meager worldly possessions. Trinkets and books; the detritus of a lonely, uncared for man. But when Lydia flips through his books she finds them defaced in ways both disturbing and inexplicable. They reveal the psyche of a young man on the verge of an emotional reckoning. And they seem to contain a hidden message. What did Joey know? And what does it have to do with Lydia? 

As Lydia untangles the mystery of Joey’s suicide, she unearths a long buried memory from her own violent childhood. Details from that one bloody night begin to circle back. Her distant father returns to the fold, along with an obsessive local cop, and the Hammerman, a murderer who came into Lydia’s life long ago and, as she soon discovers, never completely left. 

mystery and books. what a perfect combination!

I love 'books about books' - books that involves bookstores, book readers, and being around books in general. It's an easy sell for me. And I bought this one because of that. I didn't read the synopsis, just that  title - the 'Bookstore' in the title and I'm sold.

Fall 2019 TBR

tentative #Burtontober tbr

Hi,

 I am still trying my best to get back to all things reading and blogging amidst these busy times at work, the new baseball fandom, and this new found Netflix watching hobby. But then again, I realized that I don't really want to leave this blog because it has my reading thoughts which I like looking back to.

I have here my choices for the Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-thon as well as, of course, some of the books I hope to get into before the year ends (OMG! IT'S -BER MONTHS WHICH MEANS THE YEAR IS ABOUT TO EEEEEND!!!). I have here thrillers as well because why not? October & November are like thriller months. So why not join the fun, yeah? Also, I'm looking at my shelf right now while I'm doing this. Gives me a better feel of what I may want to read in the next few months.

As always, not all books will be read but I'll use this as a guide when I have NO IDEA what to pick up next (except for the #readathon books). Tell me on the comments below what I should prioritize and maybe what you like or not like about them real quick :)

Dewey's 24-Hour #readathon TBR

By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept by Paulo Coelho | Lord of the Flies by William Golding | Brave New World by Aldous Huxley | Confessions by Kanae Minato | Death Note: L Change the World by M

MAY-JUNE-JULY WRAPUP (aka the month of reading slump)

Hi,

In April, I barely read anything. I got through three books and that was it. In May, I tried and tried and tried but got through nothing. I ended up getting stuck in Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes. In June, I FINALLY finished Hidden Bodies THEN read The Hunger Games for a quick reread. It did not disappoint. In July, I got through three books and all of which were really quick reads for me which is a really good sign.

The shift in interest and stress at work really got me there. But I really hope to get my reading pace back and get into that 4-5 books per month kind of thing. Crossing my fingers that this is the month. Also, OMG Dark Age is out! I picked up my copy from the bookstore last Monday (not on this book haul because it's for August!)!! EXCITED FOR THIS!!

I wanted to get back to all things blogging. I'll take it one step at a time. The slump is really getting into me.

books read

Hidden Bodies (You #2) by Caroline Kepnes | The Hunger Games (the Hunger Games #1) by Suzanne Collins | The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware | Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman | The Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

Book slump is real. ugh.

APRIL WRAPUP (aka the month of baseball)

Hi,

April is the month of MLB regular season and I am obsessed! Shame me but I just started watching this and I feel so invested. I'm fairly familiar with the game (special thanks to anime. lol) but entirely new to watching MLB which is actually really exciting! Also, generic me is rooting for the Yankees (and also lowkey rooting for the Brewers on the NL).

We're three weeks into May and I've just gotten deeper into baseball that my reading time had to be cut down so that I can tune in to my teams' games, read through news updates, and watch all the game recaps (which is an insane thing to do). But come the end of the season, I'll probably be done with this thing. I think? idk.

On other things, I was surprised that I actually got into 3 books this month. With a slump coming at me because of Gerald's Game which I tried reading in the 2nd or 3rd week of the month and held off to read the Death Note spin-off which worked out fine for me. So for now, I'll be putting Gerald's Game down and pick up a different book to get my reading numbers up and my reading mood back.

I know this post is like THREE FREAKING WEEKS LATE! But who cares at this point? All these drafted posts on my blog are almost done and I'm still not done reading anything since this wrapup. I might end up not finishing a book in May. Oh look, it's the 22nd and I've read ZERO books so far. Send help!

books read

The Gone World by Tom Sweterlisch | One Day in December by Josie Silver | Death Note: Another Note - The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases by NisioisiN

The Gone World was a really good time travel novel recommended and given to me by my bestfriend 💖 One Day in December is a really cute and quick read. LOVED it!!! Death Note: Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases is an interesting spin-off to the Death Note series (minus the cringe victim/character names). The twist was nice and the mystery as a whole was really good.

Am I getting too old for YA?

Is there even such a thing?

Hi,

In the past two years, I found myself being drawn into adult titles more and more. That, of course doesn't mean that I don't read YA titles anymore. I still do. And in fact, I've read more YA so far this year which I see is a good sign.

But if I'm still reading a good amount of YA, what's the drama, right?

Right?

[REVIEW] A Pack of Blood and Lies

title: A Pack of Blood and Lies (The Boulder Wolves #1)
author: Olivia Wildenstein
genre: young adult, supernatural
published: April 18, 2019 by Twilight Press
format: ebook, 350 pages
purchase: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
rating: 3 / 5 stars
goodreads

The primal rule of winning: don’t fall in love with the contender.  

Three months shy of her eighteenth birthday, Ness is forced to return to Colorado. Even though it’s been six years, and the wolves of her all-male pack don’t recognize her, she recognizes them. People who shun others because of their gender are hard to forget. 

Especially Liam Kolane—son of Heath, the crudest and cruelest Alpha to have ruled the Boulder Pack. Liam is as handsome as he is infuriating, as kind as he is punishing, and he makes Ness’s traitorous heart race, which isn’t good. After all, he’s a Kolane. Like father like son, right? 

When Heath dies, Liam vies to become the new Alpha and no one dares challenge him. 

Except Ness. 

Thus begins a treacherous game. 

The rules: winner takes all…including loser’s life. 

Fans of Kresley Cole and Cassandra Clare will devour A PACK OF BLOOD AND LIES.

Your usual supernatural romance.

I don't read much YA books these days. Heck, I don't even read a lot of supernatural/paranormal romance books. I picked this up generally because of the author whose writing I can devour in just a few days. Olivia Wildenstein's writing is always a quick read but this one just felt 'eh' for me.

MARCH WRAPUP (aka the month of Harry Potter #4)

Hi,

March was a busy month for me.

The first week, I went hiking with my sister and her co-workers which is a first for me. The second week, we went on a staycation out of town for my parent's 30th anniversary. The third week, we stayed at home and I finally finished Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (OMG!). Also, my sister and I finally finished watching You on Netflix and I have mixed feelings about it (I'll try to have my thoughts up at some point). The fourth week, we went to a book sale which was a real bargain (4 books for less than$15!) and my youngest sister finally graduated senior high school!

Anyway, I called this the month of HP#4 because I read this huge brick for 2-3 weeks, I think? 700+ is too much for me but I never really forced myself into it. I was really loving it and if it wasn't for work and life, in general, I probably go through it in a week. Can't take a photo of it right now because my cousin borrowed it :)

books read

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Gregory Norminton (translator) | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter #4) by J.K. Rowling

Spring 2019 TBR

Hi,

This year, I started making seasonal TBRs instead of a monthly one. And somehow I think it went okay?

I chose books based on the challenges I have for the next three months. I set 15 books for January - March and I got through 4 of them 😅 Not a very good count at this point but in my defense, I dropped out of the Winter Bookish Bingo because I wasn't feeling it and I picked up different books for the Pop Sugar Reading Challenge.

I'm still a mood reader so when I don't really feel like reading a particular book. I don't. I learned that it only pushes me away from reading books I really like to read. As always, read what you want to read. Don't let some reading challenge or other's preferences push you away from reading those books 😊

As my goal this year is to get through books I purchased years and years ago, I'm adding books I hauled and set as monthly to-be-read in the past years in the same months. Kind of like a look back and at the same time cleaning up. Here's my TBR for the next three months: April, May, and June.

FEBRUARY WRAPUP (aka the month of quick reads)

all the books read

Hi,

February was a busy month for me. I've been unusually busy at work which is a good thing (?). But also sad because I get lesser and lesser time writing blog posts and blog hopping.

In February I participated in #catreadathon which really pushed me to read 4 books in 2 weeks! Really surprising pace for me right here. And because of this, I got a 2 books ahead on my goodreads reading challenge! Yay! I'm doing my best to keep that lead up 😊

Also, late February, I started watching You on Netflix which I have mixed feelings about. I'll probably write some of my thoughts on a #weekendreads post when I finish it. It's good if I look at it as a series itself. But I've read the book. Soooo. Yeah.

books read

Dry by Neal Shusterman & Jarrod Shusterman | You (You #1) by Caroline Kepnes | Tesla's Attic (the Accelerati Trilogy #1) by Neal Shusterman & Eric Elfman | Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew J. Sullivan | Wonder by R.J. Palacio | Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart