Tag: book lover

Skipping the TBR?

Lauren3 Comments

Yes, I am skipping the TBR this month.

I know!

What’s a book blogger to do without a TBR?

Mood read, that’s what.

See, I’ve been trying this TBR thing and it hasn’t really worked out for me. I mean, the first month I did it, I did well. But every month after, total failure.

Which is fine. We learn from failure. And what I learned is that maybe I shouldn’t do TBR’s.

See TBR’s feel too much like an assignment. Like something I have to do. And since I am a mood reader, well, that just kills wanting to read.

That’s not good.

I want to read all the books I have, and since I keep buying new ones, well, I need to mood read them. So lets see how this no TBR thing goes.

I hope it goes well for me.

December 2020 Wrap Up

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Hello everyone! How was your December? Mine was good. Surprisingly busy considering I didn’t even go anywhere. I had a wonderful, and safe, Christmas here at home with the hubs. We missed our family but it was for the best. Also we got to sit around in our PJ’s all day, watch movies, and in the hubs case, build legos.

New Years brought with it more relaxing and some sadness. My uncle very suddenly passed away the morning of New Years Day. He’ll be missed.

And with that depressing note, on to the wrap up.

What I read in November 2020: My reading list for November. This is also when I discovered The Storygraph. Man I love that website.

November 2020 Book Haul: I posted my monthly book haul. Nothing to surprising. I had said I was gonna slow down on the book buying this month. I lied.

What to Read, December TBR: Here you can find my TBR for the month. Spoiler alert, I actually managed it. Sort of. Does it count if you DNF one of the books?

The Autobiography of Santa Claus- A Book Review: I cannot stress enough how much I loved this book. It was so sweet and heart warming.

12 Days of Christmas Book Tag: I did my first book tag! Huzzah! It was themed after the 12 days of Christmas. I enjoyed doing it!

Old Man’s War-A Book Review: I read Old Man’s War by John Scalzi. It was pretty good. Naturally, I wrote a review about it.

The Festive Christmas Book Tag: I actually liked doing this one more than the first one. I think I did better with this one. I’m going to try and do more books tags and see how my answers change!

A Night of Christmas Lights: I shared the time we went to look at the Christmas lights in Grand Prairie, TX. It was a lot of fun!

Book of the Month- A Review: I joined Book of the Month in November and decided to review my experience. Spoiler alert, it was pleasant.

Christmas Book Haul 2020: I received book type gifts for Christmas! So I shared what I got with you, because why not.

2020 Review Round Up: I did a round up of my reviews from this year. Will I do it again next year? I don’t know, it depends on how many books I review.

Books I Did Not Finish in 2020: Pretty much what it says on the tin. It’s all the books I DNF’d in 2020!

And there you go. Everything I posted in December. A few more posts then usual due to the fact that it was the end of the year. Oh well. Just means it was more for me to write. And since I happen to like writing, it works out well!

2020 Reading Stats

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2020 was a good reading year for me. It was bolstered by the fact that I read 31 books in August.

Why was it so good? Well my Goodreads goal for the year was 30 books, and I read 82 books this year.

I have accomplished a thing! Huzzah!

This is actually pretty great for me, given that I usually set the goal pretty high for a casual reader and then I fail. Horribly.

So without further ado, I present to you my stats for 2020!

As you can see, the majority of my books are fantasy reads (64 of them). This should surprise absolutely no one. That I read so many young adult books surprised me, since I really just started to get into that genre in the later part of this year. I mean really, 20 YA books? And that sci-fi is next with 10 books really isn’t a shock to me. Fantasy and sci-fi are my jams. What this does tell me is that I need to read more sci-fi though. Good thing to work on for 2021.

With the amount of fantasy and sci-fi I read, that I read 78 adventurous books doesn’t come to much of a surprise to me. Mysterious, however, does. I didn’t think that I read a lot of mysterious books this year, but apparently I read 19 of them, so that is interesting.

29,391 pages read. That’s a lot of pages. Thankfully, I avoided papercuts this year. Goodreads says that my average book length was 366 pages, and that sound about right.

Again, I’m not very surprised by these stats. 95% of the books I read this August fell around 350 pages long, which is why I picked those books to read.

Look at those pace stats. I am surprised by those. I was convinced I didn’t like slow books, but apparently I read 28 slow paced books this year. Huh.

My average rating was 4.06? I thought that number would be lower. I didn’t know I had so many 5 star reads. I do know some of those were re-reads. So they had already been ranked before. But still, 30 5 stars seems a little high.

I only read 2 non fiction books last year. That is too low a number. Must read more informative books!

And there you have it, my end of the year stats. What do yours look like? Have you tried Storygraph?

My Favorite Reads of 2020

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Happy New Years everyone! Did you have a good evening of safe, stay at home, fun? In a move that should shock no one, I stayed home, watched Star Wars, and played Animal Crossing.

All night.

It was wonderful.

But you aren’t here for my New Years adventures (or lack thereof), you are here for the books! Without further ado, I present to you my top 8 books of 2020!

The Affair of the Mysterious Letter by Alexis Hall

A retelling of Sherlock Holmes if Holmes was a woman and a sorceress. Oh, and did I mention the queer romance? I loved this book to the point that I despaired when it was done because there wasn’t more. I gave it 5 out of 5 stars because I couldn’t give it 7 stars.

Recursion by Blake Crouch

A mysterious plague of lives never lived sweeps the Earth. This book put me through it. 5 out of 5 stars.

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

Patricia’s life was normal, until the vampire moved in down the street. I loved this book. My book club loved this book. It’s a really great book. 5 out of 5 stars!

Hyperbole and Half by Allie Brosh

It’s a graphic novel of a web-toon based on the authors life. She details her childhood, her struggles with depression, and her fight with a goose. I might have lol’d a few times. 5 out of 5 stars.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

A woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever but everyone she meets forgets her. 300 years later, someone finally remembers her. I cannot say enough about this book. I loved how it ended. 5 out of 5 stars.

The Autobiography of Santa Claus by Jeff Guinn

This is exactly what it say in the title, the story of Santa told from his point of view. It was so wholesome and heartwarming. It definitely gave me the warm fuzzies. 5 out of 5 stars.

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

Imagine a world were a hero failed to defeat the darkness. And then that darkness reigned for 1000 years. The hubs loves this book and has been trying to get me to read for forever. I finally did it and I loved it. 5 out of 5 stars.

To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers

Humans have conquered space flight, and Adriene O’Neill is documenting her work as one of those travelers. But what has happened to the world left behind while they are gone? I only gave this book 4 stars, but the ending to this novella really stuck with me even now. I had to add it to this list.

What were your favorite reads of 2020?

Books I Did Not Finish in 2020

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Let’s be honest, 2020 hasn’t been the best year. It also has had some bad books in it, at least for me anyway. Since I have a few books in my DNF bag I thought I would share them with you.

You know, so you can suffer with me.

Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett

This is a dark comedy about a woman who takes over her fathers taxidermy business after his suicide. She also happens to be in love with her brother’s wife. I just didn’t like this story at all. There was nothing like-able about any of the characters, which I think was kinda the point, but still. It just didn’t click with me at all. I got 25% of the way through this one and tried to yeet it off my Kindle.

And yes, I just used the word yeet. Don’t @ me.

Kill the Farm Boy by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne

What happens when the chosen one is nothing like what you would expect? And also a talking goat. I tried to read this one, I really did. It was billed as being like Monty Python. It’s not. it’s not even a little bit like it. Which is fine. But it still wasn’t funny. My husband read it first and he didn’t find it funny either. He finished it (barely), I didn’t.

Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente

A sci-fi story about an interstellar singing competition where the fate of Earth hangs in the balance? What’s not to love? Apparently, all of it. I just didn’t like the way this book was written. It felt like a hyperactive child who got given to much sugar right before going to bed and then wouldn’t go to sleep.

Too harsh?

A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore

An average guy finds out he has a new job. As Death. Supposed to be humorous. I found it lacking to the point where I gave up after 50 pages. I know, some of you will say I should have given it more of a chance, but I just couldn’t.

The Four Profound Weaves by R.B. Lemberg

Two transgendered persons wander out into the desert. One wants to learn the last of the great weaves, one wants their name. What they get is much different. I just didn’t enjoy this book. I put it down and didn’t want to pick it back up. Though I may pick it up again.

The Road Not Taken by Susan Rubin

A widow gets taken on a ride through the space-time continuum by an alien race known as the Lost. I really wanted to like this one. Unfortunately, I couldn’t connect with this book and it fell flat for me. I DNF’d this one very early on. Like, 25 pages in.

Dune by Frank Herbert

The story of Paul Atreides and his time on Arrakis just didn’t connect with me. I have come to the conclusion that it is the authors writing style that I don’t gel with. I’ve tried to read this book once before, and I didn’t connect with it then either. Maybe this book just isn’t for me.

What are the were the most disappointing books for you this year?

Christmas Book Haul 2020

Lauren3 Comments

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah! I hope you had a wonderful holiday no matter how you celebrated it this year.

Especially this year.

My husband and I usually celebrate with family, but, like so many this year, we felt it safer to stay at home due to Covid. As a result, this year we spent the day in our pj’s watching the new Wonder Woman movie and eating all the yummy food. A nice, relaxing holiday.

Still missed our families though.

But I thought I would share the books I got/bought with gift cards for Christmas. This is a thing bloggers do, right?

From my amazing mother-in-law I received the following:

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

I love the premise of this. What happens when two ordinary college students get super powers? They don’t become the heroes in this book.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

January is the ward of Mr. Locke, feeling much like one of his artifacts. Until she finds a mysterious book. I love the way this book sounds, and asked for it on the recommendation of a friend. I hope it’s as good as she made it sound!

Time’s Convert by Deborah Harkness

If you like the All Souls trilogy by Deborah Harkness, you will love this. It’s the story of Marcus, set both in the past at the time of his being turned into a vampire set to the backdrop of the American Revolutionary War, to the present, where his lover is starting her own journey to immortality. I have already read this book, but I didn’t own it, and now the All Souls universe is complete again! Mwah ha ha ha.

From my bestie I received a gift card with which to purchase what I wished. And what I wished for was, naturally, books. I also received a gift card from that most wonderous of humans, my husband! His was so I could purchase books. Because he has met me.

Here are the books I bought with those gifty cards!

Peace and Turmoil by Elliot Brooks

Thirty years of peace have reigned over the lands of Abra’am. That may soon come to an end. I’m not gonna lie, I saw this on booktube and became intrigued. It sounds intriguing.

House of Dragons by Jessica Cluess

Five people compete, to the death, for a chance at the throne. Plus, dragons! Let’s be honest, they had me at dragons. But this kind of competition for the throne thing sounds interesting.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

When Laia’s brother is captured, she makes a deal with some rebels. They’ll get him out of prison if she agrees to go undercover and spy for them at an elite military school. Elias is attending that school, though he doesn’t want to. This book has been raved about, so I picked it up to see what all the excitement was about.

Artifical Condtion: The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells

It has a dark past—one in which a number of humans were killed. A past that caused it to christen itself “Murderbot”. But it has only vague memories of the massacre that spawned that title, and it wants to know more. I loved the first book and I am looking forward to seeing what this novella has in store for me.

Paradise Planet by Jesse Lonergan

To survive after crash landing on an alien planet, a vacationer must battle against a hostile environment, killer lizards, corporate bureaucracy, and the pessimism of her sole companion, the drug-addled captain of the ship. This graphic novel sounded interesting when I added it to my list of books I wanted back in November.

The Obsidian Tower by Melissa Caruso

Deep within Gloamingard Castle lies a black tower. Sealed by magic, it guards a dangerous secret that has been contained for thousands of years. I loved the first two books I read by this author, so I had to pick this one up too.

We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal

People lived because she killed. People died because he lived. They both seek the same prize. This also came with all the acclaim, so let’s hope it lives up to the hype!

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

Rosemary joins up with the crew aboard the spaceship Wayfairer. Then they get hired for a job tunneling wormholes to a far distant planet. After reading To be Taught, if Fortunate by the author I knew I had to pick this up. It just had to happen!

This Place: 150 Years Retold by Various

Explore the past 150 years through the eyes of Indigenous creators. These stories are journeys through Indigenous wonderworks, psychic battles, and time travel. See how Indigenous peoples have survived a post-apocalyptic world since Contact. This looks so cool! How could I not pick it up?

Point B (a teleportation love story) by Drew Magary

Set in a science fictional universe where climate change is fixed but people get killed via teleportation, a young woman named Anna Huff has to navigate her adolescence and a murder mystery. I liked The Postmortal enough to give the author another look. And I like what I see in this book.

This last book was given to me by my book club Secret Santa.

Lucifer’s Hammer by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle

The gigantic comet had slammed into Earth, forging earthquakes a thousand times too powerful to measure on the Richter scale, tidal waves thousands of feet high. Cities were turned into oceans; oceans turned into steam. It was the beginning of a new Ice Age and the end of civilization. Sounds like just the apocalyptic book I need!

What books did you get for Christmas?

Book of the Month- A Review

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So let’s talk about Book of the Month.

A little background: Book of the Month is a monthly subscription box that is all about books! And all you get is the books you select! It’s a hardcover new release or early release for $14.99 each month, with $9.99 for each additional book. You can also skip the month you don’t want the books from.

I’ve heard about BOTM through bookish people of various mediums. But what really convinced me was my friend Erin, who also happens to be the leader of one of the book clubs I happen to have joined this year. And, of course, there was their cyber week sale. Also, a book I recommended for book club (that didn’t get picked because reasons, I’m really not bitter because the winning pick was so dang cute!) was one of the choices for BOTM for December.

So really it was three things that led to me finally deciding to go with BOTM.

Go me.

I joined on November 30th, my book shipped on December 2nd, on December 10th I got a notification that my book was out for delivery, and an email when it was delivered! So that was pretty awesome. When I got the email telling me that my book had shipped, they also said it would take a little bit longer than usual due to the high volume of packages sent during this holiday season. I appreciated the heads up, even if it was something I already knew.

It arrived wrapped in plastic, which I appreciate, as it protects the book from the elements if it has to be left on a porch or in another outdoorsy environment. I’ll be interested to see if this is something they continue.

They also included a little book that went over the history of BOTM, some stickers, and a bookmark. The stickers were so cute!

The book I picked was In a Holidaze by writing duo Christina Lauren. It’s a romance that features the use of a time loop, a la Groundhog Day (or my favorite episode of Stargate SG-1, if you know, you know).

The next month’s picks became available on December 27th, with me acquiring 1 credit on my account. Luckily, a book I wanted for January was in the mix, so I picked that up, as well as a past title for $9.99 that I had been wanting.

So far I am really liking Book of the Month. But time will tell if it holds up.

Do you use BOTM? What do you think of it?

The Festive Christmas Book Tag

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We lookie here. Another Christmas book tag. I may love Christmas so festive book tags seemed like the perfect way to express that. I found this one through Jenniely, but it was originally from booktuber GirlReading.

It’s just so cool!

Get it? Cool? Cause winter is cold?

A fictional family you would like to spend Christmas dinner with?

Well this ones easy. The Weasleys of course. Does anyone else what to give them muggle gifts and watch as Arthur tries to steal everyone’s presents to figure out how they work and what the point of them is? Just me then?

A bookish item you would like to receive as a gift?

Well that’s easy, a Book Nook! I wrote about the beautiousness of the Book Nook here. This one by Scrapbookstickers on Etsy is fantastic!

A fictional character you think would make a perfect Christmas elf?

Well this is easy. Pick a house elf. Any happy house elf. I know we all love Dobby (see gif below) but all the house elves at Hogwarts work to make the school look super festive.

Match a book to it’s perfect Christmas song.

Why was this so difficult? I mean, it was just so difficult. So I settled.

The book is To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers and the Song is Star to Follow by Trans Siberia Orchestra.

Bah Humbug. A book or fictional character you’ve been disappointed in and should be put on the naughty list?

John Farrell from the Postmortal. That guy was all kinds of screwed up. He made lots of bad life choices. And for a book about a guy with the potential to live forever, well. I still gave the book 4 stars though.

A book or a fictional character you think deserves more love and appreciation and deserve to be put on the nice list?

Anything by Mercedes Lackey, but more specifically, Vanyel from The Last Herald Mage trilogy. These books have everything. Plucky animal sidekicks, queer rep, a great magic system, good world building, compelling characters, sadness, happiness. Everything!

Red, Gold and Green. A book cover that has a wonderfully christmasy feel to it.

I reviewed this book and I just happen to think it’s so cute! The Autobiography of Santa Claus by Jeff Guin. It’s exactly what it says on the cover. The perfect warm hearted Christmas time read.

A book or series you love so much, you want everyone to find under their Christmas tree this year so they can read it and love it too?

The Dragon Prince Trilogy by Melanie Rawn. I love this book series and I think everyone should read it. It has dragons, obvs, a strong female protagonist, a strong male protagonist, compelling villains, an interesting magic system, and fantastic world building. Did I mention the dragons? Plus, look at that beautiful Michael Whelan cover art!

What would your answers be to any of these questions? Do the tag and let me know!

Old Man’s War-A Book Review

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Have I mentioned I’m in two book clubs? I haven’t. Well, let me correct that now.

I’m in two book clubs, because one just wasn’t enough. This newer one I’m in is geared more towards sci-fi/fantasy books, so naturally, I’m in love.

In November Old Man’s War by John Scalzi was selected as our read. And holy cow, what a ride.

The book follows John Perry, who decides to join the Colonial Defense Forces after turning 75 and the death of his wife.

It’s a riveting tale of life at the edge of space when everything out in space wants to kill you. And, quite frankly, you are a soldier whose job is to defend those that live out on said edge.

John Perry is just an average guy who signs up for service, and like everyone else, has no idea what exactly it is he is signing up for. He moves along through the world like your average guy. Nothing overly special about him. Which of course, makes him special.

He does make some good friends along the way. I liked Maggie, Alan, Thomas, Harry, and Jesse, aka the Old Farts. They all added something to the story and didn’t feel like filler characters the way some friends can do.

The tone changed a couple of times. The first half of the book was more light hearted and fun with more comedic moments that genuinely had me laughing out loud. The second half was darker, with higher stakes on Perry’s actions and relationships. Pacing was also divided, with the first half of the book taking its time to get you where you need to go, and the second half just moving you along quite quickly.

None of that detracted from the book at all. It feels like you have viewed two distinct parts of Perry’s time with the CDF and seemed like a natural progression of the story.

I really liked this book. I definitely liked it enough to want to read the rest of the books in the series. The next one may or may not be in my Amazon cart right now. 4 out of 5 stars.

12 Days of Christmas Book Tag

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‘Tis the season…for a holiday book tag!

Yup, I decided to try my hands at a book tag. So I set to the Googles and stumble across this one on The Sassy Book Geeks page. It loosely based on this one from Lizzie Loves Books.

A 12 Days of Christmas Book Tag! As a Christmas enthusiast I had to do this tag.

Without further ado, let’s go!

On The First Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: A Partridge in a Pear Tree.

The partridge stood alone in the pear tree. What is your favorite stand alone?

Sherlock Holmes as a woman…and a sorceress. I reviewed this one back in February and I loved it! Also, I don’t read many stand alones, and this was one of the few I did read that I loved.

On The Second Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: Two Turtle Doves

Love is in the air! Who is your one true pairing?

Rohan and Sioned of The Dragon Prince trilogy! Their relationship is fire, quite literally.

On The Third Day Of Christmas, My True Love Sent to Me: Three French Hens

In the spirit of threes, what is the best trilogy you have ever read?

I couldn’t think of anything more timely, because I have just recently started reading the newer releases. This trilogy, released back in the 90’s, has everything, romance, political intrigue, fight sequences! Love it!

On the Fourth Day of Christmas, My True Love Sent to Me: Four Calling Birds

Since series usually consist of four or more books, what is your favorite series?

The Crown of Stars series by Kate Elliot is equal parts amazing world building and fantastic character development. I need to re-read these.

On The Fifth Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: Five Gold Rings!!!

One ring to rule them all! Who is your favorite villain/antagonist?

The scariest villains are the one’s that could exist in real life, and since Voldemort was essentially Hitler with magic. Yeah, scary dude.

On the Sixth day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: Six Geese a Laying

Creation is a beautiful things. What is your favorite world/world building?

The Perilous Order of Camelot series has some of the best world building. I mean, it literally starts with the creation of the universe. Gotta love that!

On the Seventh Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: Seven Swans a Swimming

Who needs seven swans when all it takes is one good animal sidekick? Who is your favorite animal sidekick?

Yfandes is one of my favorite sidekicks. She is a steadfast and sure, which is exactly what Vanyel needs in his life.

On the Eighth Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: Eight Maids A Milking

Milk is so 18th century. What book or series takes beverages/food to a whole new level?

I love the way the hobbits love food and drink. Mushrooms! Second breakfast!

On the Ninth Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: Nine Ladies Dancing

Dancing is just one skill of a lady. Who is your favorite kickass female lead?

Sarra from Exiles is a fantastic leading lady. She is intelligent and strong willed, but not unwilling to accept help from others.

On the Tenth Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: Ten Lords A Leaping

Who is your favorite leading lad?

Rohan loves books and really hates the High Prince. Not that he doesn’t deserve it. Did I mention he is also a prince?

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: Eleven Pipers Piping

What is your favorite book or bookish this about music? (It can be about music, reference music a lot, etc.)

Vanyel wants nothing more than to be a bard and escape his father’s keep. Music is his life. His whole life. Here’s hoping he actually has the bardic gift.

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Drummers Drumming

What is your favorite book of the year?

This was by far my favorite book this year. And that ending. Oh my goodness that ending! This is a must read for anyone for sure.

How would you answer any of these questions? Let me know!