Category: discussion

2020 Reading Goals

DeAnneLeave a comment

Even thought 2019 isn’t over yet, I have a lot going on in the last couple weeks of the year so I don’t know exactly how much reading I’ll get done other than review books. Saying that, I’m going to go ahead and get to work on setting my goals for 2020.

This year I set a goal to read 175 books and so far I’m at 293. I don’t know that I’ll up my goal for next year, but probably try to aim for the same kinds of results.

I would definitely like to whittle down my backlist. I have a lot of physical books that I haven’t read. Thankfully audiobooks help a lot with taking care of that, so I will strive to keep that up.

I’ve been trying to stick to posting everyday here on the blog and I definitely want to keep that up, I’d love to network more and be able to bring more exciting content.

There are a lot of series that I’m in the middle of, so another goal is to try and complete more series. I was able to take a few off of my list this year, but not nearly enough to make me happy.

I’m also carrying over my goal to bring in less books than I read each month. I have succeeded every month except for November this year and that really made me feel better about my book buying.

What are some of the goals you want to accomplish next year? Happy reading!

5 Great Bookish Gifts

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Do you have a book lover in your life that you can’t figure out a gift for? I know a number of people who run into this dilemma at the end of the year and have been asked what I think they should get, so if you’re wondering the same thing here are some great gifts that the book lovers in your life may love.

Reading journal – A lot of people create their own bullet journals or planners for this, but some people like journals that are pre-made and already set up, such as this one on Amazon.

These often have room set up for reviews, reading challenges and more. It’s worth looking through a few different ones before you find what you are looking for.

Bookmarks – A bookworm will typically have an unending supply of bookmarks, so picking them up is never a bad thought. Plus they come in a wide range of styles and function. I personally love the bookmarks from Book Art Bookmarks and wish I had the money to buy a bunch of them. Her designs are beautiful and fit books perfectly. You can position the focal over the spine of the book or over the cover.

Supplies for Annotating – A lot of readers like to write in their books and annotate their thoughts and feelings. I am not one of those people. The most I do is use page flags (which I have a large supply of) but some people go full out with their annotating. Great gifts would be post its, page flags, highlighters and special pens (packages of multiple colors).

Lapdesk – Readers love to read in bed or on the couch, we love to have beverages and possibly our computers or electronic devices nearby. Also, if we’re bloggers or we like to take notes, we need to be able to multitask. A lapdesk is a great tool to have and would be multipurpose. You could use it with your laptop, tablets, books and more. I personally have this one and love it.

A Book Subscription Service – There are so many bookish subscription boxes out there right now that you can really find one that could easily appeal to your book lover. Many of them have gift options of just a few months if you just want to give them a trial of it to see if they like it. My personal favorite is Book of the Month. I love their selection and then fact that you can do add ons so that if you see books from past months that you want you can pick those up. (Full disclosure, the link above is my referral link, if you sign up you get to do so for $5 and I get a free book credit).

So there you go! Hopefully that helps you find gifts for the book lovers in your life. Happy reading!

Amazon Wishlists: My Take

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Anyone who’s been a member of Book Twitter or Booktube knows that a few years ago a number of booktubers put up their wishlists after they (at least some of them) were asked to by fans. This resulted in backlash from people who took it as those content creators pushing for gifts, when in actuality most of them never even mentioned their wishlists, just included then in their info boxes.

So let’s dissect this a bit – in my perusal of different channels at this time, I never once saw a booktuber pushing for gifts (I’m not saying there weren’t any, just that I never saw it). Also, in a lot of cases when it was mentioned it was usually “People have asked me for it, so it’s in my description box.” Then came the mob of people calling them entitled and saying they were asking or pushing for people to buy then things, so pretty much all of them removed the links and stopped mentioning it.

I’m sure there were some people who may have been pushing and such, but the overall reaction and mob mentality that occurred was really uncalled for in the grand scheme of things. If a fan chooses to buy their favorite booktubers a gift that is their decision, I never saw any kind of pressuring or demands for people to buy things. Over time the wishlists have come back and thankfully there hasn’t been as much backlash as before.

I’m all for people sharing their wishlists and don’t see a problem with it as long as there isn’t any pressure to try and make people buy things. Heck, my wishlist is linked in my twitter profile, but I haven’t otherwise advertised it. A lot of people ask for the lists because they want to give gifts, they want to give people they admire or like a little bit of happiness and I don’t see a problem with that.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I personally don’t mind people sharing their wishlists. They aren’t forcing anyone to buy them things, just allowing them to if they want to. What are your thoughts on it?

Happy reading!

December Reading Plans

DeAnneLeave a comment

If you’ve followed my blog at all, you know the last few months have not been the best for me reading wise. I’ve struggled with a reading slump as well as been extremely busy in a time of year I wouldn’t normally be busy. It’s been a struggle in a year that has been amazing in the amount I’ve been able to read. With that being said, I’m hoping the last month of the year will allow me to pick up my pace again and end the year on a high note.

I have a ton of review books that I need to complete, some of which I’m in the middle of, so those are actually top priority for me. My reading slump definitely meant I wasn’t getting through as many as I needed to, so I need to correct that. I’ve already made decent progress as it is the 4th and I’ve finished three review books already.

Another priority is to finish up some of the books I’m in the middle of. There are a number on my currently reading shelf that have been there way too long. I would like to start 2020 pretty cleanly, I’m realistic enough that I know I won’t get to everything, but I’d like to be close.

So those are my plans for this month, no specific TBR just a lot of catching up. Fingers crossed.

Happy reading!

NaNoWriMo 2019: Final Update

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Even thought there are still a few days left in November, I have come to accept that I’m not going to win this year. While this isn’t the optimal outcome for me, I’ve come to be ok with it.

While I had a solid idea that I was really excited to write, it just came down to time. The last couple years I was able to dedicate a number of hours each day to writing and just kind of become a hermit. November usually isn’t a super busy month for me. That was not the case this year. I just had a ton of things I had planned that took priority.

Hopefully you all did better than I did! At least I was able to stay positive the whole time and still did manage to write all day, but 50k just wasn’t in the cards for me this year.

Happy writing!

Tag Tuesday: Reader Problems Tag

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I was looking for a tag for today and I saw this one floating around so I thought I would give it a go. I’m not sure who originally created it, so if you know then let me know.

You have 20,000 books on your TBR, how do you decide what to read next?

I’m very much a mood reader, so it can be difficult, but I usually peruse my shelves if reaching for my backlist and grab what I gravitate to.

You’re halfway through a book and you’re just not loving it. Do you put it down or are you committed?

I’m usually pretty committed, but I have been allowing myself to DNF more if the book is not jiving with me.

The end of the year is coming fast and you’re behind on your reading challenge? Do you try to catch up? And if so, how?

Oh yeah, I will do pretty much anything to be able to achieve my goal. There have been mad dashes in the last week of the year reading a bunch of graphic novels.

The covers of a series you love do not match, how do you cope?

I may not like it, but it isn’t the end of the world. If it is a series I love then I may try to get some editions that match, but not to the point where it drives me crazy.

Everyone and their mother loves a book that you do not. Who do you bond with over your shared feelings?

Someone who hasn’t read the book yet lol, although reasonably I can usually vent to my own mother or my boyfriend.

You’re reading a book in public and you’re about to start crying your eyes out. How do you deal?

Usually I bite my bottom lip and hope that it works to hold off the tears, otherwise I may just stop reading.

The sequel to a book you loved just came out but you’ve forgotten a lot of what happens. Are you going to reread it?

Usually no, I may look up plot points or a summary to refresh myself; however, if it’s been forever I might sneak in a reread.

You do not want anyone to borrow your books, how do you politely say no when someone asks?

Oh, this is absolutely true, I DO NOT lend out books to anyone but my mother and that’s only cause I know where she lives and I have a key to her house. I tell people I don’t lend out books simply because I’ve been burned too many times by people who have ruined my books when they have borrowed them.

You have picked up and put down five books in the last month. How do you get over this reading slump?

I will usually go back and reread favorite books to help get me out of the slump, but sometimes you just have to let the slump happen and wait it out.

There are so many books coming out that you are dying to read. How many of them do you end up buying?

I will buy the ones from favorite authors or the ones that I know I can’t wait for them to be part of my library but really it can vary.

After you purchase all of these books that you’re dying to read, how long do they actually sit on your shelf before you read them?

Oh man…some of them way too long, it’s a little shameful. I’m working to decrease my TBR but it of course takes time.

What other tags would you like to see? Happy reading!

Five Books I’d Like to Read Before 2019 Ends

DeAnneLeave a comment

Let’s face it, my TBR is massive, but there’s no way I’m going to finish everything anytime soon. It’s hard to narrow down my selection to what I’m going to accomplish this year , but here’s five I’m pretty sure I’ll get to.

  1. Trail of Lightning – I know I’ve mentioned this one before, but I still haven’t gotten to it and I really wish I would. I’ve heard nothing but good things about it and am super excited by the premise.
  2. Dead Voices – I loved Small Spaces, so I made sure to pre-order this one when it came out, but I haven’t picked it up yet. I partially blame it on my slump, but also one just the massive pile of books I have. It’s set in the winter though, so I’m hoping to pick it up soon.
  3. His Hideous Heart – I love retellings based on an author’s work, so when this one came out I was super excited. I’m also excited for the Shakespeare one coming out soon.
  4. Call Down the Hawk – I’m in the camp of people who absolutely love The Raven Cycle, so a spin off with some of the same characters? Yes, please.
  5. Rules for Vanishing – This was one that I heard nothing about and then suddenly everyone was saying how great it was. I picked it up shortly after it came out, but have yet to start reading it.

So what are you trying to finish before the end of the year? Happy reading!

Top Five: Autobuy Buzzwords

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We all have those buzzwords or tropes that are autobuy for us, those concepts that we just have to dive into when we read about them. This could be just about anything depending on the person, a certain plot construct, certain type of retelling, certain storyline trope. So here’s some of the ones that are highest up on my list.

  1. Ghosts/Ghost stories – Anything that has ghost stories woven in will immediately draw me in. I love reading real ghost stories and legends, so when it is included in fiction I just grab it up.
  2. Secret Societies – Ok, many people are intrigued by secret societies. There’s just something about the mysticism and darkness of it that provides intriguing story lines and drama. It doesn’t have to be paranormal, even something about societies such as the Freemasons are interesting to me.
  3. Mythology – I love reading about different mythologies and also re-imaginings that are inspired by those stories. It doesn’t matter which culture it is, I will give pretty much anything a shot.
  4. Asian inspired – I have a deep love for anything and everyone Asian inspired, especially if they dive into the culture, mythology and are own voices.
  5. Retellings – Ok, this is super broad and I know some people are sick of retellings, but there are certain ones I love such as Beauty and the Beast retellings. I will pick those up pretty much everytime. I also love retellings that are based on a certain author’s writing.

So those are just my top buzzwords/concepts, but there are a ton more. What are some of the things that will make you pick up a book immediately?

Happy reading!

Anticipated Releases for the Rest of the Year

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There aren’t a ton of books coming out in the next month and a half that I need to have, which my bank account thanks me for, but there are a few titles I’m hoping to pick up. Here’s what I’m looking forward to and their respective blurbs.

Eight Will Fall by Sarah Harian
Release Date: November 26, 2019

Pitched as Six of Crows meets Suicide Squad, this dark YA fantasy follows eight criminals as they battle their way through a subterranean realm of horrors and certain death.

In a world where magic is illegal, eight criminals led by rebellious Larkin are sent on a mission to rid their realm of an ancient evil lurking beneath the surface. Descending into a world full of unspeakable horrors, Larkin and her crew must use their forbidden magic to survive.

As they fight in the shadows, Larkin finds a light in Amias, a fellow outlaw with a notorious past. Soon, Larkin and Amias realize that their destinies are intertwined. The eight of them were chosen for a reason.

But as the beasts grow in number and her band is picked off one by one, Larkin is forced to confront a terrible truth: They were never meant to return.

Scared Little Rabbits by A.V. Geiger
Release Date: December 3, 2019

We stand in a tight cluster, high above the lake. One-by-one, we made our way up the narrow trail from the edge of campus. Now, we wait shoulder to shoulder behind the police tape. Nineteen summer students.
 
All but one.

When Nora gets accepted into her dream summer program at the prestigious Winthrop Academy, she jumps at the chance to put her coding skills to use. But then a fellow student goes missing—and the tech trail for the crime leads back to Nora. With no one else to trust, Nora must race to uncover the truth and clear her name…or she might be the next to disappear.

Would Like to Meet by Rachel Winters
Release Date: December 3, 2019

In this charming, feel-good debut novel, a cynical assistant at a screenwriting agency must reenact the meet-cute scenes from classic romantic comedy movies in order to help her #1 client get his scriptwriting mojo back–but can a real-life meet-cute be in store for someone who doesn’t believe in happily ever after?

After seven years as an assistant, 29-year-old Evie Summers is ready to finally get the promotion she deserves. But now the TV and film agency she’s been running behind the scenes is in trouble, and Evie will lose her job unless she can convince the agency’s biggest and most arrogant client, Ezra Chester, to finish writing the script for a Hollywood romantic comedy.

The catch? Ezra is suffering from writer’s block–and he’ll only put pen to paper if singleton Evie can prove to him that you can fall in love like they do in the movies. With the future of the agency in jeopardy, Evie embarks on a mission to meet a man the way Sally met Harry or Hugh Grant met Julia Roberts.

But in the course of testing out the meet-cute scenes from classic romantic comedies IRL, not only will Evie encounter one humiliating situation after another, but she’ll have to confront the romantic past that soured her on love. In a novel as hilarious as it is heartwarming, debut author Rachel Winters proves that sometimes real life is better than the movies–and that the best kind of meet-cutes happen when you least expect them.

So, do any of these sound good to you? What are you looking forward to?

Happy reading!

End of the Year Book Tag: 2019

DeAnneLeave a comment

I see this tag all over booktube this time of year, but I thought the questions translated well to blogs as well, so here goes!

  1. Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?
    Oh yeah, multiple books. There have been a few books that I’ve partially read and need to finish, such as Robots Vs. Fairies.
  2. Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?
    I’m still somewhat in the mood for spooky books, but I don’t really have any plans for transition books. I’m very much a mood reader in a lot of things, so other than books for review I just go with what I’m feeling.
  3. Is there a new release you’re still waiting for?
    I cannot wait for the final book in Julie Kagawa’s Shadow of the Fox trilogy. I am scared of it, but I also can’t wait to get it in my hands next year.
  4. What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?
    I would really like to finish some of the books on my currently reading list, but more importantly I really want to get through a number of review books. The last two months have been very rough reading slump wise so I’m trying to turn that around.
  5. Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favorite book of the year?
    Teeth in the Mist, Violet Tendencies, Call Down the Hawk.
  6. Have you already started making reading plans for 2020?
    Oh yeah, I have plans that I hope come to fruition. I need to set up a journal I bought specifically for use to better schedule my review books, blog posts and reading, so fingers crossed!

What are some of your answers to these questions? Happy reading!