Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and non-book bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise (i.e. share exciting plans for the weekend, rants on things they’ve encountered during the week, etc.). Thanks to Birdie from Lady of the Manor and Lianne from Eclectic Tales for bringing it to my attention! :)1. Why yes, I am still here! Thanks to the holidays, plus some winter weather, I haven't had the time nor felt much like doing any blogging here in January. But I'm back now! And hoping this enthusiasm continues. :) I hope your New Year has brought lots of happy!
2. I have been in a miserable reading slump since the beginning of December. And I hated it!! There is not much that's worse for a reader than failing to find any books that made me want to actually read them. I started I don't know how many books in the last several weeks and lost enthusiasm for them all! *heaves a big sigh* SO frustrating. Especially during the weekend we had frigid temps and loads of snow that refused to leave on account of those frigid temps. I am SO READY FOR SPRING, y'all. I'm one of those non-fans of winter anyway and knowing I still have three whole months to go yet just....*frowny face* Enough whining though! On to happy things now. I read my first book of the year the other day! And am currently in the middle of two more. Take that, reading slump! :D
3. The first book I read this year was The Girl Who Heard Demons by Janette Rallison. It sounds crazy, but it's actually a really great story! Plus it's Janette Rallison. I love her books! Always the right amount of cute and fluff with just enough serious drama to keep it from being overly sweet. Currently reading The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans. I started it in the bookstore while waiting to meet up with a friend and couldn't put it back on the shelf when it came time to leave. So home with me it went! Also in the middle of Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn. I love the banter between the main couple!
5. While I may not have gotten much reading done over our snowy weekend, I did get one of my bookshelves sorted. Turns out I have no fewer than 100 books to get rid of! Whoa. Maybe being in a reading slump made it easier for me to say "Nope, not keeping that one, or that one, or this one..."? Now I have to pack them all up so I can load them in my car to donate. Sounds nice to use my muscles for hefting books instead of heavy shovelfuls of snow!
6. I just read Ruth's review of Passenger by Alexandra Bracken and she's convinced me I must read this one soon. Have any of you read it?
7. I watched Star Wars: The Force Awakens on Christmas day with my nephew. I know, I know! I'm only like a year behind everybody else. But I liked it! I confess to only having watched A New Hope prior (I want to watch the others, I just haven't yet) I've read enough about TFA and the Star Wars universe though, so I wasn't lost regarding what was going on. The story kept playing in my head for several days after. It was especially bittersweet after I heard about Carrie Fisher's death. And now I really want to watch the other movies!
8. I keep seeing lists of books people have to read, or books that well-known critics/readers say everyone needs to read or somesuch. Every single time I see one of these types of lists I think, "But what if I disagree?" Because as I've learned (even just today- I loved that story, but Birdie did not), reading is very subjective. The books I fall in love with may turn out to be vastly different than the books you fall in love with! Every reader knows this by now, I think. I guess it's just the titles of those lists that bug me. Because I love lists! I do. But me saying that these certain ten books are ones that you are guaranteed to love is very misleading, because you may not love them. You may hate them actually! And that's perfectly okay. Maybe what I want is just for people to stop titling these lists as guaranteed winners. I know, I'm ranting over something silly. I just needed to get it off my chest. Rant over. Promise. ;)
Happy Monday, my lovelies! I hope your week is delightful.
Hi, happy new year! I agree with you about the subjectivity of reading. Anyone who promises that we'll all surely love a particular book is being a bit presumptive :) That's the good thing about book reviews. Someone is bound to say something I'll concur with, which will give me the idea of whether or not I should invest in the book or not.
ReplyDeletePaula: Right?? We all enjoy different stories, and even when we like the same stories it might be for very different reasons! And yes, I love reviews for this reason. I've now got enough reader friends whose opinions I trust, that they help me decide if I should try a book or not. Very helpful! :)
Delete2. It is very hard and frustrating when you can't find a book that catches you. I'm sorry for your slump. Rereading an old favorite usually helps me when I'm in these moods.
ReplyDelete5. I love organizing book shelves. It is so theraputic. I'm SO impressed that you have a stack of 100 books that you are willing to let go. Wow! I wish I had that willpower!
7. Yay Star Wars!! I was very sad about Han Solo though. :(
8. Yes, reading is subjective. It is all about what you like. It's a good thing there is something out there for everyone.
Kami: Sadly, I couldn't even seem to do much rereading. Which was extra frustrating! But I think I'm on the other side of the slump now, so yay. :)
DeleteOrganizing my shelves is very therapeutic! Or at least it was that weekend. I think seeing how nice my shelves look now and just not being in the mood for reading helped me gut my shelves more severely than I might have otherwise. I was still surprised with how many ended up in the discard pile though!
I knew Han was going to die and I still got a bit teary-eyed when it happened! :(
Exactly! I'm so glad there are the vast amounts of books published. Like you said, that way there's something for everyone. :)
Sorry about your slump. It's no fun when you can't find a single book that interests you.
ReplyDeleteI get tired of the snow and cold to but it is great weather for reading and I remind myself that while spring and summer are nice, they involve a LOT of yard work. So winter isn't all that bad.
Rallison has a new book out?! What?! Must find it!
Yay for book purging!
I totally know what you mean about this lists. I hate those lists. Especially the ones like, 100 books everyone should read, uh, no thanks. I don't need to read what you say.
Happy reading!
Jenny: Thanks! I'm pleased to be on this side of it now, that's for sure.
DeleteYou make a good point! I do have to admit that I'm far more liable to forget the yard work and read instead during the spring/summer though. ;)
She does! I hope you enjoy if you read it.
YES. Those lists are crazy! Because rarely do I agree with more than a handful (if that!) of books they list! I'm happy to read what I like, regardless whether someone thinks I should or shouldn't read it.
2. I have reading slumps. I was in one for basically the whole year last year. I'm doing much better this year. I've already read 3 books! Yay! :)
ReplyDelete3. I haven't read any of Janette Rallison's or Julia Quinn's books, but I've heard such good things. Maybe, I'll have to remedy that this year.
5. I love reorganizing my shelves, but it's mostly because I need to find room for a new shelf buddy. I don't like giving books away, lol.
6. I just purchased Passenger this weekend! I confess that it's because I love the cover. I also love its sequel's (Wayfarer) cover! So pretty and purple!
7. I'm glad you watched TFA and enjoyed it. I hoe you enjoy the others too. I've grown up on them and been watching them since I was in the womb. If you don't like them, please don't tell me, lol.
8. Reading is SO subjective!!! There are so many books I love that my friends do not. It breaks my heart when they don't, but I try to not think too poorly of my friends when I find out they don't like a book I love (like Dune). ;) LOL!
Jenni: Double yay for hopefully getting out of your reading slump! They really are no fun. Especially when they last way longer than is welcome!
DeleteI've not read any Julia Quinn before now myself, but this one came highly recommended from a blogger I trust, so... As for Janette Rallison, I hope you do remedy that! I love her stories.
I get it. Books can be hard for me to get rid of, as well! But I'm so much happier with how my shelves look and I really wasn't reading or rereading any of those books, so it was high time they went. :)
The cover of Passenger and Wayfarer both are absolutely gorgeous!! I may have to purchase the hardbacks just for that reason. I'll look forward to hearing what you think of them sometime soon hopefully!
I promise not to say one word to you if I don't like the other movies! But I really don't think that'll happen. I've loved the two I've watched so far, so I can't imagine not liking the others.
I'm SO, SO glad you still like your friends who don't agree with you about Dune!! :D We really do all read so differently. The best thing is that, whether we like the same books or no, we all like books and reading in general. Which makes us all awesome!
Hi Kara, I can't find another place to contact you! /
ReplyDeleteI'd like to include you on my list for my February release. Bethany House sends out physical books so I'd need your mailing address. Send it if you're interested. email me at mary @ maryconnealy.com if you want in.
Mary: Thank you, Mary!
DeleteYay for overcoming that reading slump! 'Tis the time of year for cozy reading.
ReplyDeleteWoohoo on watching TFA! Now, you MUST see the others! They were childhood favs. (Though I was not too impressed with the "prequel" trilogy of episodes 1-3 from the early 2000s. They just lacked something, I thought.)
*note to self: If I ever make a "you have to read this" list, retitle it to "You will love these books if your reading tastes are just like mine" so Kara will read it* :) :)
Courtney: This time of year definitely makes reading feel extra cozy! :)
DeleteI hope I can watch them soon! I'm glad to know you love them. I have heard others talk about the prequels and how they weren't favorites. It'll be interesting to see what I think of them.
Haha! No need to do that! I promise I'd still read your list. Without question! :D