2017 Bookish Resolutions and To Be Read

So, I thought that I would post my goals and resolutions before New Year's day this time. I never got around to it for 2016....I mean I did post them, but not until January (or possibly February, I don't remember). Anyway....let's move on and actually talk about the important things.

* RESOLUTIONS *

Okay, so for my actual bookish resolutions, I picked a handful of things that I thought would be easy enough for me to meet. 

1. Meet and/or exceed my reading goal on Goodreads. 

This one is fairly obvious I think. I want to read 60 books next year. This year I did try. I made it to 86 books (so far. I am a little under half-way through If I Stay by Gayle Forman). I want to actually hit the 60 goal. To do so I'm considering not participating in Camp NaNo in either April or July to keep up.

2. Review every book I read.

Also a slightly easier thing to do. I had this as a goal in 2016, and I failed it terribly. Oops. I started strong and then just trailed off. I'm not going to hold myself to making long, detailed reviews. At least three sentences for each book. I'm giving myself a limit of at least 85-90% of books reviewed to consider this accomplished.

3. Stick to my book buying limit. 
I've decided to keep to my limit of book buying. I set myself a limit of 10 new books per month, be they eBooks or physical. If I buy more than 10 in a month, that many will be taken off of the next month. So, if I buy say 12 books in August, in September I can buy only 8 books, but if I buy 8 books in August, I can still only buy 10 books in September. It doesn't work the other way around.

4. Finish The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
I have been reading this book for nearly 3 years now. I want to finish it in early 2017! Of course as soon as I finish it I will be picking up Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. A mass market paperback that's nearly 200 pages LONGER than The Count of Monte Cristo. I think I may like torturing myself with gigantic books.

* TO BE READ *

The following is the list of books I want to read come 2017. I have a system worked out so there are 24 books on this list. 

 Daughters Unto Devils by Amy Lukavics

 Butcher Bird by Richard Kadrey

 How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather

 Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

 With Malice by Eileen Cook

 Critical Failure by Robert Bevan

 The Clouded Sky by Megan Crewe

 The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

 The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

 Butterfly's Child by Angela Davis-Gardner

 Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackery

 Villette by Charlotte Brontë

 Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

 The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

 The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

 Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

 The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

 The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

 Horns by Joe Hill

 12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northup

 Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

 Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

 Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

 Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

November 2016 Haul

I decided to start the hauls over again in November. Partly because I don't remember what I bought in September and partly because I'm a very lazy person. I thought I'd just begin again. This time with pictures and blurbs and stuff. I've actually put a section in my journal for Book Hauls so that I know what I bought. I am including Kindle books now!

For the month of November I've bought 10 books.

* * *

Book #1: Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon 

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla. But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly. Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

I bought this one for my Kindle when it was on sale. I've been seeing it all over the internet and I wanted to read it. I am totally calling this one research though. I mean this girl (I think it's a girl?) is allergic to the everything. And she sees the iconic "boy next door" and falls in love with him or something. I need to know what happens and to see for myself why everyone is raving about this.


Book #2-4: Harry Potter volumes 5-7 by J.K. Rowling

Dark times have come to Hogwarts. After the Dementors' attack on his cousin Dudley, Harry Potter knows that Voldemort will stop at nothing to find him. There are many who deny the Dark Lord's return, but Harry is not alone: a secret order gathers at Grimmauld Place to fight against the Dark forces. Harry must allow Professor Snape to teach him how to protect himself from Voldemort's savage assaults on his mind. But they are growing stronger by the day and Harry is running out of time...It is the middle of the summer, but there is an unseasonal mist pressing against the windowpanes. Harry Potter is waiting nervously in his bedroom at the Dursleys' house in Privet Drive for a visit from Professor Dumbledore himself. One of the last times he saw the Headmaster was in a fierce one-to-one duel with Lord Voldemort, and Harry can't quite believe that Professor Dumbledore will actually appear at the Dursleys' of all places. Why is the Professor coming to visit him now? What is it that cannot wait until Harry returns to Hogwarts in a few weeks' time? Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts has already got off to an unusual start, as the worlds of Muggle and magic start to intertwine...It's no longer safe for Harry at Hogwarts, so he and his best friends, Ron and Hermione, are on the run. Professor Dumbledore has given them clues about what they need to do to defeat the dark wizard, Lord Voldemort, once and for all, but it's up to them to figure out what these hints and suggestions really mean. Their cross-country odyssey has them searching desperately for the answers, while evading capture or death at every turn. At the same time, their friendship, fortitude, and sense of right and wrong are tested in ways they never could have imagined. The ultimate battle between good and evil that closes out this final chapter of the epic series takes place where Harry's Wizarding life began: at Hogwarts. The satisfying conclusion offers shocking last-minute twists, incredible acts of courage, powerful new forms of magic, and the resolution of many mysteries. Above all, this intense, cathartic book serves as a clear statement of the message at the heart of the Harry Potter series: that choice matters much more than destiny, and that love will always triumph over death.

I've already read two of them twice. At least. It may have been more. I don't remember. Anyway, I've been slowly giving my physical copies to a friend of mine so I've been replacing them with the Kindle copies until I get the physical again. I want to get the paperback versions. I love this book, and I always will. It's not my favorite in the series (Prisoner of Azkaban is), but it's definitely up there among the ones I like the most. I have yet to actually FINISH Deathly Hallows. I always make it to like two or three chapters before the end.

Book #5: More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

When it first gets announced, the Leteo Institute's memory-alteration procedure seems too good to be true to Aaron Soto—miracle cure-alls don't tend to pop up in the Bronx projects. Aaron can't forget how he's grown up poor, how his friends all seem to shrug him off, and how his father committed suicide in their one bedroom apartment. He has the support of his patient girlfriend, if not necessarily his distant brother and overworked mother, but it's not enough. Then Thomas shows up. He doesn't mind Aaron's obsession over the Scorpius Hawthorne books and has a sweet movie set-up on his roof. There are nicknames. Aaron's not only able to be himself, but happiness feels easy with Thomas. The love Aaron discovers may cost him what's left of his life, but since Aaron can't suddenly stop being gay Leteo may be the only way out.

The only thing I know about this is that the main character is gay. I picked it up because the main character is gay. Being part of the LGBT+ (stop adding things, it's becoming alphabet soup) community myself, I like to read books that feature characters that are from that community as well. I can't wait to read this and find out for one, why Aaron is in some sort of group for a procedure, and what happens to him.

Book #6: How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather

Salem, Massachusetts is the site of the infamous witch trials and the new home of Samantha Mather. Recently transplanted from New York City, Sam and her stepmother are not exactly welcomed with open arms. Sam is the descendant of Cotton Mather, one of the men responsible for those trials and almost immediately, she becomes the enemy of a group of girls who call themselves The Descendants. And guess who their ancestors were? If dealing with that weren't enough, Sam also comes face to face with a real live (well technically dead) ghost. A handsome, angry ghost who wants Sam to stop touching his stuff. But soon Sam discovers she is at the center of a centuries old curse affecting anyone with ties to the trials. Sam must come to terms with the ghost and find a way to work with The Descendants to stop a deadly cycle that has been going on since the first accused witch was hanged. If any town should have learned its lesson, it's Salem. But history may be about to repeat itself.

I'm part of a number of slowly growing almost niche groups. I identify as a Pagan. So if you don't like that, just you know, hop on off my blog and no harm done. Now this book is set in the pinnacle of witchy goodness. Salem itself. I had to have it and find out what happens because it's not exactly a a praise the witches type of book. The main character is the descendant of one of the persecutors. I want to know what happens.

Book #7: Daughters Unto Devils by Amy Lukavics

When sixteen-year-old Amanda Verner's family decides to move from their small mountain cabin to the vast prairie, she hopes it is her chance for a fresh start. She can leave behind the memory of the past winter; of her sickly Ma giving birth to a baby sister who cries endlessly; of the terrifying visions she saw as her sanity began to slip, the victim of cabin fever; and most of all, the memories of the boy she has been secretly meeting with as a distraction from her pain. The boy whose baby she now carries. When the Verners arrive at their new home, a large cabin abandoned by its previous owners, they discover the inside covered in blood. And as the days pass, it is obvious to Amanda that something isn't right on the prairie. She's heard stories of lands being tainted by evil, of men losing their minds and killing their families, and there is something strange about the doctor and his son who live in the woods on the edge of the prairie. But with the guilt and shame of her sins weighing on her, Amanda can't be sure if the true evil lies in the land, or deep within her soul.

This is one of those freaky like crime/horror/thriller/paranormal books that I love. It made the rounds a few months ago (back in February/March I think) on BookTube and I put it on the list of books I wanted to buy then promptly forgot about it until it showed up in my BookBub deals of the day. I'm looking forward to it now that I've read the synopsis on Goodreads.

Book #8: The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

Magic, adventure, mystery, and romance combine in this epic debut in which a young princess must reclaim her dead mother’s throne, learn to be a ruler—and defeat the Red Queen, a powerful and malevolent sorceress determined to destroy her. On her nineteenth birthday, Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn, raised in exile, sets out on a perilous journey back to the castle of her birth to ascend her rightful throne. Plain and serious, a girl who loves books and learning, Kelsea bears little resemblance to her mother, the vain and frivolous Queen Elyssa. But though she may be inexperienced and sheltered, Kelsea is not defenseless: Around her neck hangs the Tearling sapphire, a jewel of immense magical power; and accompanying her is the Queen’s Guard, a cadre of brave knights led by the enigmatic and dedicated Lazarus. Kelsea will need them all to survive a cabal of enemies who will use every weapon—from crimson-caped assassins to the darkest blood magic—to prevent her from wearing the crown. Despite her royal blood, Kelsea feels like nothing so much as an insecure girl, a child called upon to lead a people and a kingdom about which she knows almost nothing. But what she discovers in the capital will change everything, confronting her with horrors she never imagined. An act of singular daring will throw Kelsea’s kingdom into tumult, unleashing the vengeance of the tyrannical ruler of neighboring Mortmesne: the Red Queen, a sorceress possessed of the darkest magic. Now Kelsea will begin to discover whom among the servants, aristocracy, and her own guard she can trust. But the quest to save her kingdom and meet her destiny has only just begun—a wondrous journey of self-discovery and a trial by fire that will make her a legend...if she can survive.

Another book that I can't remember exactly why I put it on my list. It clearly has words that require a pronunciation guide, which I tend to stay away from. I have a vague memory of reading a sample of the book and liking it a lot though. So I hope I will actually like it now that I have my own copy. I held off on buying the other two books in the series because I don't want to get them and then find out I hate the book or something. Here's hoping I actually want to pick up volumes 2 and 3!

Book #9: Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley

In 1959 Virginia, the lives of two girls on opposite sides of the battle for civil rights will be changed forever. Sarah Dunbar is one of the first black students to attend the previously all-white Jefferson High School. An honors student at her old school, she is put into remedial classes, spit on and tormented daily. Linda Hairston is the daughter of one of the town’s most vocal opponents of school integration. She has been taught all her life that the races should be kept “separate but equal.” Forced to work together on a school project, Sarah and Linda must confront harsh truths about race, power and how they really feel about one another. Boldly realistic and emotionally compelling, Lies We Tell Ourselves is a brave and stunning novel about finding truth amid the lies, and finding your voice even when others are determined to silence it.

I have another vague memory of this one. I read it on a Booklr post about books that featured the LGBT+ community. I know it features diversity and that may have been a subtopic listed on the post. I really don't remember and I'm sure I'll never actually see it again. Anyway, I had a few books by Robin Talley on my list and this one once again popped up in my bargains for the day and I just had to have it. It looks really good. I sort of half think that I read or heard that it features an interracial lesbian couple? I may also be entirely making that up and that my memory should not be trusted with anything. 

Book #10: Dumplin' by Julie Murphy

Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked…until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back. Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Clover City beauty pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any twiggy girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all.

I've heard good things, that it's all about not fat-shaming people and that Dumplin' stands up for herself and it's all good and sunshine and rainbows and wonderful. I've also heard bad things about it. That Dumplin' is instead skinny-shaming people because they aren't fat like she is and that she's a very bad person and that it's terrible and gross and dark. Well....since the bookish clan appears split down the middle here, I think I will get a good read out of this one and I can't wait. I actually have no idea what's happening in this book. I bought it originally because I'd only heard the good things. Then I started hearing the  bad. It's got higher than a 3.5 rating, so it can't possibly be that bad?

* * *

Sorry it took me so long to get this up. I hope you enjoyed it and let me know your thoughts on the books that I've purchased in November! Are there any I should read first and some I should boot from the pile? 

November 2016 Wrap-Up

So my darlings, I actually only read one book in November. It was NaNoWriMo again and there's this thing where my brother-in-law works known as "peak season" where basically they have to be at work for many hours, he was working from like 5p-3a, for six days a week. He volunteered to work all seven in return for some special bonuses for working the seventh day every week.....well....guess who was watching the kids while mom (who is a manager at a fast food place) and dad worked? If you guessed me, you'd be right. I had almost no time to read between trying to cram my words for NaNo in and babysitting every day that she didn't have off work. I guess then it's not so sad that I only finished one?

Anyway, on to that one lonely little book:

Book #1: Room by Emma Donoghue

To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits. Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enough...not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work. Told entirely in the language of the energetic, pragmatic five-year-old Jack, Room is a celebration of resilience and the limitless bond between parent and child, a brilliantly executed novel about what it means to journey from one world to another.

Oh my god did this freak me out. I hated what was happening to them. I rated it 4/5, because I want to know more about Jack and his life afterward. How does he cope with going to school? How does he handle the work force? They literally didn't get into any of that. It just stops. I don't understand why she didn't continue it beyond Room. I liked the story and it reminded me of a lot of other stories that I've read and movies I watched. Just far too real for me. 

October 2016 Wrap-Up

Hello my lovelies. I know I'm not so good with keeping up to date, but this time should be better. I've started logging my books as soon as I finish them again to keep myself on track with the Wrap-Up!

In the month of October, I read 5 books.

* * *

Book #1: The Before Now and After Then by Peter Monn

Danny Goldstein has always lived in the shadow of his identical, twin brother Sam. But when a hurricane of events forces him into the spotlight, he starts to realize that the only thing he's truly afraid of is himself. With the help of his costume changing friend Cher, a famous gay uncle with a mysterious past of his own, two aging punk rocker parents and Rusty, the boy who will become his something to live for, Danny begins to realize that the music of the heart is truly the soundtrack for living.

Isn't this cover just adorable? I love it. I've been watching PeterLikesBooks since he debuted on BookTube back in May, and when I found out he had a book out, I just had to have it. My dad got this for me for my birthday and I read it in less than a week. I love the characters and the story. A lot of it would escape someone who's not reading it for the story. I love the symbolism of the lemon poppy seed muffins. I have a food like that. I'm sure everyone has one, they just don't realize it at first. For me it would have to be White Castle burgers, those little frozen ones you can buy at grocery stores. My grandpa (rest in peace) always bought them for us when we were upset. This book was fantastic and I can't wait to get my hands on more by him!

Book #2: Hemlock Grove by Brian McGreevy

An exhilarating reinvention of the gothic novel, inspired by the iconic characters of our greatest myths and nightmares. The body of a young girl is found mangled and murdered in the woods of Hemlock Grove, Pennsylvania, in the shadow of the abandoned Godfrey Steel mill. A manhunt ensues—though the authorities aren’t sure if it’s a man they should be looking for. Some suspect an escapee from the White Tower, a foreboding biotech facility owned by the Godfrey family—their personal fortune and the local economy having moved on from Pittsburgh steel—where, if rumors are true, biological experiments of the most unethical kind take place. Others turn to Peter Rumancek, a Gypsy trailer-trash kid who has told impressionable high school classmates that he’s a werewolf. Or perhaps it’s Roman, the son of the late JR Godfrey, who rules the adolescent social scene with the casual arrogance of a cold-blooded aristocrat, his superior status unquestioned despite his decidedly freakish sister, Shelley, whose monstrous medical conditions belie a sweet intelligence, and his otherworldly control freak of a mother, Olivia. At once a riveting mystery and a fascinating revelation of the grotesque and the darkness in us all, Hemlock Grove has the architecture and energy to become a classic in its own right—and Brian McGreevy the talent and ambition to enthrall us for years to come.

I would never have guessed who was behind it....and I've seen the Netflix version of this. How did I miss it?! It should have been super obvious. I gave this a 5/5 for the creep factor. It was so good and I was like "ew" throughout most of the book. I picked this one up as one of the reads for October because werewolves and vampires. Oh my!


Book #3: A Year by the Sea by Joan Anderson

Now available in paperback, the entrancing story of how one woman's journey of self-discovery gave her the courage to persevere in re-creating her life. Life is a work in progress, as ever-changing as a sandy shoreline along the beach. During the years Joan Anderson was a loving wife and supportive mother, she had slowly and unconsciously replaced her own dreams with the needs of her family. With her sons grown, however, she realized that the family no longer centered on the home she provided, and her relationship with her husband had become stagnant. Like many women in her situation, Joan realized that she had neglected to nurture herself and, worse, to envision fulfilling goals for her future. As her husband received a wonderful job opportunity out-of-state, it seemed that the best part of her own life was finished. Shocking both of them, she refused to follow him to his new job and decided to retreat to a family cottage on Cape Cod. At first casting about for direction, Joan soon began to take pleasure in her surroundings and call on resources she didn't realize she had. Over the course of a year, she gradually discovered that her life as an "unfinished woman" was full of possibilities. Out of that magical, difficult, transformative year came A Year by the Sea, a record of her experiences and a treasury of wisdom for readers. This year of self-discovery brought about extraordinary changes in the author's life. The steps that Joan took to revitalize herself and rediscover her potential have helped thousands of woman reveal and release untapped resources within themselves.

I thought I'd give this a go, because I didn't like memoirs before and when I read one previously (good luck to me remembering the memoir I read!), I thought it would be interesting to give them another try. This one was interesting, but I'm pretty sure it's symbolism was lost on me. I gave it a 3/5 because I liked how it was written. Maybe other ones will be better for me?

Book #4: Soundless by Richelle Mead

In a village without sound...For as long as Fei can remember, no one in her village has been able to hear. Rocky terrain and frequent avalanches make it impossible to leave the village, so Fei and her people are at the mercy of a zipline that carries food up the treacherous cliffs from Beiguo, a mysterious faraway kingdom. When villagers begin to lose their sight, deliveries from the zipline shrink. Many go hungry. Fei and all the people she loves are plunged into crisis, with nothing to look forward to but darkness and starvation...One girl hears a call to action...Until one night, Fei is awoken by a searing noise. Sound becomes her weapon. She sets out to uncover what’s happened to her and to fight the dangers threatening her village. A handsome miner with a revolutionary spirit accompanies Fei on her quest, bringing with him new risks and the possibility of romance. They embark on a majestic journey from the peak of their jagged mountain village to the valley of Beiguo, where a startling truth will change their lives forever...And unlocks a power that will save her people.

I saw this one on BookOutlet's website for under $5 and I snatched it up as soon as I could. I ordered it back in September, but it just arrived on the 3rd, so it will be in the October book haul. I rated this one 5/5 and I did love the story. I just didn't see the point in her having to magically regain her hearing for the pixiu to help them. It just didn't seem....relevant. I liked the story and I hope to read more of Richelle Mead's books in the future.

Book #5: The Martian by Andy Weir

A mission to Mars.

A freak accident.

One man's struggle to survive.

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate the planet while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded on Mars' surface, completely alone, with no way to signal Earth that he’s alive. And even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone years before a rescue could arrive. Chances are, though, Mark won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to kill him first. But Mark's not ready to quit. Armed with nothing but his ingenuity and his engineering skills—and a gallows sense of humor that proves to be his greatest source of strength–he embarks on a dogged quest to stay alive, using his botany expertise to grow food and even hatching a mad plan to contact NASA back on Earth. As he overcomes one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next, Mark begins to let himself believe he might make it off the planet alive. But Mars has plenty of surprises in store for him yet.

SO good! I loved this book! I thought about what I was going to say and everything went right out the window here. This book rose above my expectations as I don't read science fiction. I don't normally like it to be honest. Far too technical for me. This was a perfect blend of Watney being completely non-caring about the way he talked and his actual scientific ability. Of course he made most of it up as he went, but still. This one was rated 5/5 because I enjoyed it immensely.


Book #6: Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

One cruel night, Meggie's father, Mo, reads aloud from INKHEART, and an evil ruler named Capricorn escapes the boundaries of fiction, landing instead in their living room. Suddenly, Meggie's in the middle of the kind of adventure she thought only took place in fairy tales. Somehow she must master the magic that has conjured up this nightmare. Can she change the course of the story that has changed her life forever?

It has taken me five tries to actually read this book. I've read up to around page 40 five separate times. I never managed to complete it before this last one. It's not even what I thought it would be like. It was rather....boring. I get that it's intended for an audience much younger than I am, but still. Everything seemed to just fall into the right places for Meggie, Mo, and Dustfinger. I considered getting the second volume and changed my mind as I walked into the library. I just couldn't. I rated this a 3/5 because the writing was great and the story was okay. I think it could have been better. 

Book #7: Torment by Lauren Kate

How many lives do you need to live before you find someone worth dying for? In the aftermath of what happened at Sword & Cross, Luce has been hidden away by her cursed angelic boyfriend, Daniel, in a new school filled with Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans. Daniel promises she will be safe here, protected from those who would kill her. At the school Luce discovers what the Shadows that have followed her all her life mean – and how to manipulate them to see into her other lives. Yet the more Luce learns about herself, the more she realizes that the past is her only key to unlocking her future . . . and that Daniel hasn't told her everything. What if his version of the past isn't actually the way things happened . . . what if Luce was really meant to be with someone else?

Another 3/5 for me. I actually temporarily DNF'd this one at 83 pages because I was just so bored. I didn't care about it any more. I didn't. It was just bleh. I picked it up and finished it before it was due back at the library and just moved on with my day. I did finish it, despite the entire lack of emotion toward it. I am not bothering with the rest of the series. Luce doesn't KNOW any of these boys to know if she should be with them or not. She has only known a few of them for a week or less. How can she possibly know anything about them? This just made me mad enough to finish it.

Book #8: Diary of a Haunting by M. Verano

When Paige moves from LA to Idaho with her mom and little brother after her parents’ high-profile divorce, she expects to completely hate her new life, and the small town doesn’t disappoint. Worse yet, the drafty old mansion they’ve rented is infested with flies, spiders, and other pests Paige doesn’t want to think about. She chalks it up to her rural surroundings, but it’s harder to ignore the strange things happening around the house, from one can of ravioli becoming a dozen, to unreadable words appearing in the walls. Soon Paige’s little brother begins roaming the house at all hours of the night, and there’s something not right about the downstairs neighbor, who knows a lot more than he’s letting on. Things only get creepier when she learns about the sinister cult that conducted experimental rituals in the house almost a hundred years earlier. The more Paige investigates, and the deeper she digs, the clearer it all becomes: whatever is in the house, whatever is causing all the strange occurrences, has no intention of backing down without a fight. Found in the aftermath, Diary of a Haunting collects the journal entries, letters, and photographs Paige left behind.

Did anybody see that ending coming? I didn't see it and I've had this book since like January. Probably earlier. Holy crap. I won't spoil it but holy crap. I figured this would be a good October spooky read and boy was I right. The setting was a bit juvenile and I docked one star for that, so this got a 4/5 for the sheer what of the end. I love the way it's all wrapped up. I wonder if she ever realized what was going on? I also took away the star partly for M. Verano just added himself as a character. That's not something you normally do. It's rare for an insert, but he just full on put himself as himself in. I would have preferred if he had made that another character entirely.


Book #9: Requiem by Lauren Oliver

Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has transformed. The nascent rebellion that was underway in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight. After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven. Pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels. As Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain of the Wilds, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor. Requiem is told from both Lena and Hana's points of view. They live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge.

It was pretty good. I finished this one nearly at the end of October. I rated it a 4/5 stars because I really think that there could have been a better resolution to the story. Like, she meant to have a volume four and just didn't. It ended at a weird point. I would like to see it continued, if only to find out the fate of the characters involved. 

September 2016 Wrap-Up

I know I skipped a Wrap-Up for August and Haul for September. It got so busy around here that I have no idea what I bought and when I bought it. The crazy was real. I was all over the place. I'm going to pick up the hauls in October and the Wrap-Ups in September. 

So for the month of September I read 19 books. I think that overall I did well, don't you?

Book #1: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

They say that the cure for Love will make me happy and safe forever. And I've always believed them. Until now. Now everything has changed. Now I'd rather be infected with love for the tiniest sliver of a second than live a hundred years smothered by a lie.

This one was so much better than I thought it was going to be. Normally, I don't like YA Contemporary. No matter what other sub-genres it falls into. This book has been been making it's rounds on BookTube again recently for reasons I don't happen to know, so I thought I'd give it a try. I read the whole thing in less than a week and it's a near 500 page book. I know that a lot of people like it and a lot don't. 

I gave this book a 5/5 because it was way better than I thought it would be, but it could have used a bit more backstory on why they thought love was a disease and why they decided that removal of it completely was the proper response to it. I would have really liked if they had gone into that more.

Book #2-13: Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya

A family with an ancient curse...And the girl who will change their lives forever...Tohru Honda was an orphan with no place to go until the mysterious Sohma family offered her a place to call home. Now her ordinary high school life is turned upside down as she's introduced to the Sohma's world of magical curses and family secrets.

I read the 12 volumes of this series that I happen to posses. I rated them an average of 4.5/5. I like the story line. It's so much fun to see how she handles these boys and living in their house and having to put up with not being able to talk even to her best friends about it. I stopped partway through to wonder what it would be like to have to do this myself, and I don't think I'd be able to do it! She just shoulders so much and she doesn't complain at all. How did she even do this? How did no one figure out what she was doing. 

I also love Yuki and Kyo's emotional growth in the story. Very few people actually notice it at first. They slowly stop fighting each other and those around them. I can't wait to get my hands on the rest of the volumes to see how it plays out and what happens.

Book #14: Descendants of Darkness(v1) by Yoko Matsushita

Asato Tsuzuki works as a shinigami, or 'Guardian of Death', in the Ministry of Hades. It's his duty to make sure that the souls of the dead reach the afterlife, but contrary ghosts and humanity's evils keep getting in the way of a job well done. With all these problem assignments, will he ever get a bonus?

This was given to me a long time ago by a friend of mine, and I read it a few times before finding out about Goodreads. I used to watch the anime on Toonami in the middle of the night when it came on. I would wait up until 2a just to see it on Sunday mornings. I wanted to add it to my list of read books and I'm so glad I picked it up again. I gave this a 4/5 because a lot didn't really add up, but then this is just volume one. 

I didn't quite understand how the doctor was involved. Aside from creating Maria (and what kind of Chinese name is Maria?). I hope that the next volumes will have further explanation for this and I can find out what in the world they left out of the anime. 

Book #15: Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

I’m pushing aside

the memory of my nightmare,

pushing aside thoughts of Alex,

pushing aside thoughts of Hana

and my old school,

push,

push,

push,

like Raven taught me to do.

The old life is dead.

But the old Lena is dead too.

I buried her.

I left her beyond a fence,

behind a wall of smoke and flame

Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite.

This one got 5/5 as well as its predecessor. I liked it more than I thought I would. I've found I'm starting to branch out into more books that are YA related. But seriously. You killed him. An entire book ago. Why is it he didn't stay dead? She moved on! No one else even knew he was alive! I think it might have been a bit of second in a series syndrome where we have to have a love triangle or something, so the character couldn't stay dead and buried.

Book #16: My Dear Watson by L.A. Fields

One of the most famous partnerships in literature yields, over time, to a peculiar romantic triangle. Sherlock Holmes. Dr. John Watson. And the good doctor’s second wife, whom Doyle never named. In L A Fields's novel, Mrs. Watson is a clever woman who realizes, through examining all the prior cases her husband shared with the world's greatest consulting detective, that the two men shared more than adventures: they were lovers, as well. In 1919, after the pair has retired, Mrs. Watson invites Holmes to her home to meet him face to face. Thus begins a recounting of a peculiar affair between extraordinary men. “You are such a unique person,” Holmes says poisonously. “What a shame that history will most likely never remember your name.” The question Mrs. Watson faces: Did Holmes simply take advantage of her husband’s loyalty and love, or did the detective return those feelings? And what to do now that the pair are no longer living together at Baker Street and Watson has other claims on his affections? My Dear Watson offers readers a romance that requires as much reasoning to puzzle out as it does passion. Mrs. Watson proves a worthy opponent—in intellect, in guile, in conviction—for the great detective. Recommended for libraries by the GLBT Roundtable of the American Library Association.

I actually have been reading this book for so long....I started it on October 20, 2015. So nearly a year. I finished it just after my birthday. Good lord this one took forever. Mostly because the font itself was incredibly small and dense. It wasn't that I didn't like the story, I did. It was just like slogging through cold molasses. I gave this 5/5 because I love Sherlock and Watson and every single variant of their stories. I can't wait to find more and see what happens with the detective and his favorite doctor!

Books #17-18: Love Recipe by Kirico Higashizato

Tomonori Ozawa has just landed his dream job at a large publishing firm. The only catch is, he is the new editor of a Boy’s Love magazine! With that, comes the responsibility of managing Sakurako Kakyoin, a male yaoi artist who is notorious for missing his deadlines. To become a full–fledged editor, Tomonori-kun has to start from the bottom – checking drafts, editing scripts and lettering. Now if only Kakyoin-sensei would stop sexually harassing him, he could actually get some work done!

Yeah. I like yaoi manga. More for the story than the love scenes. There's not much to see anyway. I just like reading about the development of the characters. Especially the ones who are like "Am I gay? Am I bi? What am I?" like Tomonori. He's so unsure of himself that he has no idea. I was not fond of the discrepancy between the cover art of volume one and two. I like to be able to formulate what they look like full color and I have no idea here.

Anyway, I rated these 5/5 each because they are just too cute. I can't not love the way Sakurako suddenly starts doing more to be nice to Tomonori instead of trying put him in bed. It's slow, but he does learn.

Book #19: Phoenix by Vaun Murphrey

Now that the dust has settled and the dead are buried can Cassandra and Silver take over the reins and guide Weavers into a new era? Not everyone is comfortable with their assumption of power and an old enemy lingers, begging the question - are they ready to face the Soul Eater? Find our in PHOENIX, Book Four of the Weaver Series.

I FINALLY FINISHED IT!! This is a NetGalley book that I've had for a very long time that I have been reading for months. Not even putting it down and forgetting. No. Actively reading for months. Almost as long as My Dear Watson. 

I was supposed to read and review this with the previous three books (Chimera, Changeling, and Vector). 

August 2016 Book Haul (from Hell!)

I've decided to start doing monthly hauls again. I will be doing them once a quarter and only at the END of the month. Why in the world would I post about the books I got at the beginning or middle of the month when I still have a few days of month to go? I will post them on the last day of the month. Months like December, September and April/May (Easter migrates) will probably have more books as they are the months when people give me things.

I decided to begin with August, since it was beginning at the other end of the week I decided to start doing monthly hauls again. I have bought/received/acquired/borrowed 49 books this month. There are so many that I won't even bother to put pictures and synopses for them. You'll find those later when I do wrap-ups for the month!

* * *

Book #1: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

We first stopped at a memorial library and I saw this on the sale shelf. My mom is a huge Stephen King fan and she lent me her copy of this last year (or maybe the year before). Naturally the author in me wanted to keep it forever because, and I quote, “a memoir of the craft.” I needed my own copy. I found this one for $2 at the library in the edition that I was looking for and I am so happy. I wanted this hardback because the cover actually makes me think of my grandma's house.

Book #2: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Prefacing this by saying I really don't care about the TV show. I really really don't. Now then...Booktube is losing its collective mind over this one (and the next) and I wanted to know why. I have to know. Is it the physical setting, Scotland? Is it the temporal setting, 19th and 20th century? Is it the leading male, James Frazer that's making literally everybody love it? I normally don't like romance novels, but I really want to know!

Book #3: A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

Go on, be mad at me if you want. I'm not caught up nor am I watching this on...HBO. I don't have HBO! I've wanted to read this one for a while. I am a lover of high fantasy and people loved this long before the television series came out. I've heard many great things about this and I'm excited to read. I got it for $4.98 at a second hand store.

Book #4: Go Ask Alice by Beatrice Sparks/Anonymous

I remember the AP English class reading this when I was in high school. I also remember not being in the AP English class and being upset over it. They never had it in the school or town libraries and as I live in a small town (~ 3-5 thousand people), there was no just going to the bookstore for me. I would hve to go 45min on the interstate to get to the nearest chain store. I was very excited to find it so cheap and I am looking forward to when I get to it on the list. It looks like the sort of book I'll get through in a single sitting...probably no more than two hours. I might pick it up soon to push my Goodreads Goal up again. 

Book #5: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

I saw this one a few different times on BookTube. It piqued my interest with the summary. I read a sample from Amazon and immediately put the book in my wishlist when I finished. I don't like adding adding books to my Kindle if I really want to read them. Anyway, I love the idea of wizards having a feud and having other people actually doing the fighting for them. Yes, I know that's likely not what actually happens, but that's the bit I read. When I saw it I squeed. I would swear this book is brand new. It looks like the person who bought it, just gave it right to the book store. Okay. Mine!

Book #6: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

This is actually the second copy of this book that I've bought. The first is a Signet Classics edition. When they first did the printing for the Signet one, the person in charge of keeping the margins loose for the center was not doing a good job. They didn't make the margins wide enough on the inside and the whole middle of the book is unreadable without tearing it apart. Of course by now I've forgotten why I even wanted to read it, but yeah. I bought myself a copy that I can read which makes me very happy. Yay for buying books with no idea why!

Book #7: Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

Why did I buy this? I have no idea! Because it was pretty and I wanted it? I dunno. Yeah. I've heard of this and it is where we actually got the catchphrase of Catch-22, which is like you can only do this thing if you've done that thing, but you can only do that thing if you've done this thing so really you can't do anything. I liked this edition the best (because it's a trade paperback). I didn't realize that the book beside it was it's sequel, so we know what we're getting when we go back!

Book #8: Eragon by Christopher Paolini

I have a vague recollection of at least making a poor attempt to read this book back in school. I either couldn't get into it (doubt) or I simply didn't have the time when I had it. I apparently never picked up up ever again. No idea why. I've seen bits of the movie and really liked them and really wanted to read the series. I'm happy to finally have my own copy so I don't have to go to the library, which is around a blind turn and there are no sidewalks. Funny story there. I actually found this at the library! They had this one and Eldest (further down) in the sale room for $1 each. So I grabbed them. I had originally purchased this in paperback, but I've been all for the hardback for a long time and I found both volumes one and two. Now to get reading!

Book #9: A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

This is a favorite book of a friend of mine, which I'm sure is the sole reason why I bought this. I know virtually nothing about it. Yeah that's...it. I guess because I've seen a lot about it I wanted it. Miri made me let her look at the book before I bought it to make sure it wasn't the first American version which for some reason that I know (but escapes me) has the last chapter missing. I read why they removed it, but now I can't remember.

Book #10: The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

I've seen the movie and fell in love with the little mouse, Despereaux Tilling. I guess to be accurate I saw most of the movie. When I found out it was a book, I nearly lost my mind. Then I completely forgot about it. Yeah, that happened. I was looking to bring my book purchase count up to an even-ish number and I saw this on the children's shelf. Had to have it.

Book #11: Life of Pi by Yann Martel

I wish I could remember where I heard of this first. Probably BookTube. 90% of the books I've seen are from BookTube. I loved the thought of a boy being stuck on a little boat with a large tiger. I've seen the movie before and I love reading books along with watching their movies to compare them. I forgot a lot of what happened, so this will be fun.

Books #12-14: Lord Foul's Bane, The Illearth War, and The Power that Preserves by Stephen R. Donaldson

So I got all three books in this part of the series? I think this is like the books by Cassandra Clare where there are several books in the series that are all in their own individual series. I put these all together because I bought them as a set. I asked Miri to suggest something for me to read. She hasn't steered me wrong yet. I bought these only knowing “it's like Lord of the Rings only the main guy is a snarky leper.” She definitely wasn't wrong! I started the first one either the day I got it or the day after. I like it despite people saying it's bad because he's cynical. He has leprosy, which was incurable in 1977 when this came out. He's allowed to be cynical.

Book #15: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

I have been looking for this specific edition for years. Ever since I saw The Freedom Writers on TNT or whatever station it was on. This was also the edition my teacher had in her room. I never actually read this. I plan to get to it soon though, now that I own a copy in print. I have always wanted it.

Book #16: Les Miserablés by Victor Hugo

Another book I've wanted since ever. I used to collect huge books because I thought it made me look smart. Then I realized actually reading the books made me smart. I wanted to read this for a very long time, but I was hesitant to take it out of the library because I know it would take me more than three (or six, rather) weeks to read it and you can only check it out a second time in a row. Then you had to wait three weeks before you could check it out again. I couldn't risk it being checked out. I got the cover I wanted. It's huge! Worse than I thought because the pages are very thin with tiny font. Here we go...another book I'll be reading for years!

Book #17: Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

I love horses and I already own a copy of this book. Sadly that one is a blue velvet one that has fallen apart on me, and while I did manage to have it fixed, I don't want to read it for fear it will come apart again. It's important to me. I want to reread this because I love that it's told from the persepective of the horse. I forgot much of the rest of the story so I should probably re-read it soon.

Book #18: Death Comes to Pemberly by P.D. James

This has been on my wishlist for a while. I loved Pride and Prejudice and when I read the synopsis of this one I had to have it. I've always wondered what happened to the families after the book ended and this talks about it. I am very excited to get to this one.

Book #19: The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

I already own a copy of Middlesex, though I haven't read it yet. Everybody's been raving more about The Virgin Suicides though, so when I saw it for $7 at the shop, I had to get it. I do like the simple cover. I am putting this one pretty high up on my TBR list. I laughed when I realized the girl on the cover is Kirstan Dunst. I think this is the sort of book that I'm going to read late in December when its the middle of the winter and I don't want to be near people. I bought it because BookTube raved about it a few weeks ago, and while I don't remember what was actually said, I remember everybody liked it and Middlesex so I figured I'd give them both a go.

Book #20: Looking for Alaska by John Green

Yeah. I normally want nothing to do with YA contemporary books. It already makes me think of Paper Towns because the characters are similar. The boy who does/is nothing and the girl who changes him (maybe not for the better). I enjoyed Paper Towns and I hope to enjoy this one as much as I enjoyed that one. There's apparently a few scenes in this book that got it on the challenged/banned list. I'm really excited now!

Book #21: Animal Farm by George Orwell

I saw this and has been on my reading list since around high school I think, but I was unwilling to pay regular book store prices for it. When I found a hardcover version of it for a price I was willing to pay, I added it to the pile. I am interested to see the way he translated the Russian Revolution into a farm. It will be a good read.

Book #22: The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner

I bought this because I wanted it. That's the entire reason. I've not heard much beyond the fact that that William Faulkner is a great author. I enjoy reading novels like this so I am expecting to enjoy this one as well. The review of this book are mostly 5s with a few 1s and 2s thrown in. I want to read it for myself. Find out why people rated it what the did and find out if I concur. I understand why the people rated it a 1-2 did, but seriously that was the stupidest thing I have read. The entire POINT of the story was that the character wasn't fully mentally present!

Book #23: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

A few years ago (2012) I got a Kindle from a friend. He got a new one and no longer wanted the one he had. He passed it on to me. The Help was on it, but the Kindle crashed before I had a chance to read it and as I never actually bought it there was nothing I could do. It was gone. I bought this copy so I can finally make it beyond chapter 1. I also love the cover design of the hardcover copy of this book.

Book #24: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

A friend, Miri, lent me her copy of this book, and while I love her to pieces, it was just too thick. I don't mind mass market paperbacks. Really. However, I cannot be carrying around something that I can't even open properly. I picked up the hardcover because, while still small, the font is larger. I've already started it, though I assume it will take me a while to get through.

Book #25: The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

I have a hazy memory of someone telling me that this was a good book. I'm not sure if they know the book is actually her memoir? It still looks really interesting since it opens with her watching her mother dumpster diving in New York. What? I can't wait. It looks so good.

Book #26: Mordred's Curse by Ian McDowell

I love Arthurian legend and what better than a book told by Mordred himself? I wanted to know how Mordred would handle talking about his father. It looks really interesting. Boy I say that a lot. Anyway, I thought it would be a book that I would enjoy because I do like historical fiction novels. Yay! This looked really good and I wanted it so very much. I think that I'm going to like it regardless of the fact that I don't really read Arthurian legend. I had a few books that I got rid of because they were roughly numbers 8-14 of series where you can't just jump in wherever you want. You have to read from the beginning or you won't get it. Thankfully for me, this one is the first!

Book #27: The Complete Prophecies of Nostradamus trans. by Henry C. Roberts

I've checked this out from the library several times and never actually read it. Every time I would try, my cat would lay down right in the middle. Every. Single. Time. Now I can really just take my time with it and not have to worry about having to return it. I am always interested in weird things normally passed up, so this book speaks to me. I always watch the Prophecies of Nostradamus shows on the History channel and now that I have my own copy of this book, I'm very excited. I love reading them and seeing what they thought he meant by what would happen and their frantic scramble to lock us into various prophecies that haven't come to pass yet that we know of. The future is like a beach, each prophecy is a single grain of sand....anything could happen. Any vision is only a possible future as each decision you make changes the outcome. You would have to make a very specific set of decisions to reach any seen future, so these are just fun to look at for me.

Book #28: Blood Ambush by Sheila Johnson

Not much of a description, huh? I watch a lot of Investigation Discovery. I mean a lot. I remember watching one of the many shows that run, probably 20/20 on ID, and watching the story of Darlene Roberts. I'm curious to see how it does as a book. It has an average star rating of 2.83, so clearly there is no love lost here. It makes me wonder about the way other cases may have been presented. This is the sort of show that I watch when I can actually bother to watch television in the first place. I have no idea what it will be like seeing it all in print, but I'm looking forward to it. 

Book #29: Wild Heart: A Life by Suzanne Rodriguez

I suppose I'm technically borrowing this because I don't own it. I'm borrowing it from my uncle. No idea where he got it. It just showed up. I was really intrigued because of the content. It's a biography of Natalie Clifford Barney and how she moved to Paris. She is one of the most renown lesbian writers of her time. I even considered changing my TBR to fit this one in right away.

Book #30: Hemlock Grove by Brian McGreevy

My uncle (from #29) and I rarely agree on anything. Especially when it comes to television. He likes a bunch of stuff that's humiliating or hurtful and I just...I can't. However! We stumbled across Hemlock Grove on Netflix and we both fell in love with it. I got even more excited when I found out it was based on a book. I saw it for $4.99 on BookOutlet and had to have it. There are werewolves, witches, and other paranormal beasties that make this perfect for an October read!

Book #31: Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz

All of my friends know I'm crazy about Sherlock Holmes...my dad even bought me something that wasn't on my wishlist because it was Sherlock and I had been raving about it. So when I saw this, I got very excited. I'm not sure if it's actually part of a series or not because it's listed as number two, but it doesn't appear to be remotely related to the first one. I'll find out! This one looks so pretty too!

Book #32: The Ghost Brush by Katherine Govier

Japan. Historical Japan. I am obsessed with Japan. I adore the culture and this book looked so cute. I can't say no to an adorable book about Japan. This one just struck my fancy as it's a story about a famous print maker's daughter being told by her. I can't wait to see how she does with Edo (now known as Tokyo) and it's surroundings. 

Book #33: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

I've been seeing this book pop up everywhere. It was really popular a few years ago when it came out, then again when the Infernal Devices came out, then a third time with the movie/television show. And now finally with the release of the first book in the Dark Artifices series. I finally decided to buy myself the first book in the overall series to see how I liked it. I'll pick up more if I like them.

Book #34: Under My Skin by Charles de Lindt

I have no idea what this is even about. Shifters I think. I bought it because it was cheap and I liked the cover. I recognized the author's name. I have another book he wrote (that's signed!). I have to admit this was totally a cover buy. It's a YA that looks really funny. 

Book #35: A Reader's Book of Days by Tom Nissley

Totally thought this was going to be something else entirely. One of those devotional things. Not so much. I mean, it is, but it isn't? It has a few really cool thing and I want to grab it to read in 2017 before it went out of stock. I really like the design and I've always wanted a daily book thing.

Book #36: Life After Life by Kate Atkinson 

People have been saying all sorts of things about this book. I've heard it's good. I've heard it's bad. I've heard its somewhere in between. I have no idea which one it actually is. Here's to reading it myself and finding out what I think of it and where it falls on the great vs terrible debate.

Book #37: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

A futuristic dystopian retelling of Cinderella. How could I say no to that? Seriously? I am excited to read it and start my journey down the road of keeping up with what's popular and trending (almost). Everybody lost their minds for this one as well as quite a few others that were back in the haul or in other hauls. I need to know why people think these are so good. I need to!

Book #38: Horns by Joe Hill

This is just me turning into my mother. She's a huge Stephen King fan, and as everybody now knows....Stephen King is Joe Hill's father. He announced it. I have also seen this movie already and absolutely adored it. I loved the story it told and I cannot wait. It's so freakin' cute. So yeah. I grabbed it cheap when it was on BookOutlet.

Book #39: Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

Be careful whom you trust! A few months ago this book made the rounds on the big name BookTube channels. I put it right on my wishlist because it would be the perfect book to read late one cold December night. You know know when the urge to read books will strike though, so I could read it in October. I don't know.

Book #40: Nightfall Over Shanghai by Daniel Kalla

This was totally a cover buy. It's the third in a series, so I do have to buy the first two (The Far Side of the Sky and Rising Sun, Falling Shadow) and read them first before this one or I'm sure it won't actually make any sense! I'm currently obsessed with WWII, Japan, Germany...and things that somehow relate to it. They are in my next cart for BookOutlet. I'll definitely get The Far Side of the Sky but I might have to wait for Rising Sun, Falling Shadow since they only have one! Anyway, this looks fantastic and I can't wait.

Book #41: Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

I know what this book is about. I've known for quite a long time, so you don't need to warn me or anything. I got this. I heard about it back in high school during English class (if you couldn't already guess, that was my favorite, followed closely by Fine Arts). This has been on my Books to Buy list for quite a long time and I am excited that I found it for $1 at the library. It's the pretty 1955 hard bound edition with the little ribbon and it just looks perfect for my leather classics shelf. Yay for pretty books!

Book #42: The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright

I remember holding this in my hands many weeks ago. I can't find a copy of it in my room at a quick glance so I guess that means I never got it. I can look better later. It looked really interesting and I have been enjoying books like this lately.

Book #43: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

I was told that "if you loved Gillan Flynn's Gone Girl then you'll love this book!" I've never actually read Gone Girl. I listened to half of it, and at the same time learned that I cannot do audiobooks. Within seconds I forget what I heard. I saw this one at the library sale nearly brand new for only $1 and I just had to grab it and give it a go. Yeah!

Book #44: Eldest by Christopher 

Okay. So when I got this...I was like "I don't know if this is number two or number three and I don't care either!" I already had the first one, and I knew that this was not number four on the list. That one is Inheritance and green. I couldn't remember if Brisingr (black cover) was #2 or #3. Turns out that it's #3 and I managed to actually get #2. Wooo! My friend Kae and I love dragons and I've been wanting to get my hands on this book series for a very long time. Hopefully I can soon get the others in the same edition and complete my collection.

Book #45: The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon

This is one I'm borrowing from a friend. She had lent me The Bone Season a few weeks ago by the same author and if you saw my Goodreads review of this, you'll understand why I absolutely lost my mind when she told me she had the second one and would lend it to me to read. I got it and actually did squeal loudly. This one is the second volume and the third is set to come out sometime this year I think. I don't remember.

Book #46: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir 

Same friend from book #45 lent me this one. She asked if I'd read it and I was like "No, but I want to." She gave me this to read at the same time she gave me The Mime Order. I have no idea what it's actually about, but it just looks so pretty and I need to read it and maybe even buy a copy for myself to have it on my shelf to just be pretty (and if I want to re-read it).

Book #47: Fallen by Lauren Kate

This one is actually a library book! I know, right? I don't usually put library books up here. My library FINALLY opened to the public on 8/22 and we went up on 8/25 to check it out. I proceeded to borrow (I got yelled out for saying "rent") three books from there. I've finished this one already and it's in my August Wrap-Up post (previous to this one). I'd seen it before and the cover piqued my interest. I'm definitely picking up Torment the next time I'm up there and can check books out.

Book #48: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Yep. Two Laurens in a row. This is my second library book. I saw this one around the same time I'd seen Fallen and the last in this trilogy, Requiem. The premise was very intriguing. I couldn't believe that they would think that. I had to read it and find out what in the world made them decide that love of all things was a dangerous disease. Can emotions even be diseases? Is that possible? I will be picking up Pandemonium next library trip!

Book #49: The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens

Many years ago for Christmas, my dad bought me this terribly expensive (to me), set of leatherbound classics that were all Charles Dickens books. It was the Dalmation Press Classics Library six volume set. There were many that were not included in it, and this was one of them. I saw it at the library and just jumped on it. I try to limit myself to three or fewer books every time I go, so I wound up only getting this as the very last one for this trip because I know me...and I know that I won't be able to read more than three books in three weeks. If I finish them I can go up early and return them! I love classics and this one just looked right up my alley!