2016: In Which I Look Back and Forward

Happy New Year

Book-Sniffers and Librocubicularists!

Looking Back:

Page reading goal was set for 25,000 I managed 26,393 (Dec 20th). YES! 

Book reading was set for 60. I surpassed with 76. Goodreads won't count rereads so it only says I read 67. That still passes my goal. Sweet. 

I reviewed quite a number of YA novels. My adult to YA ratio is somewhat even. I tend to read heavier, adult books in the winter months and breeze through YA as the weather gets warmer. 

In my list of 'Books to Read' a fair number of books I did not check off. I felt guilty about that, but I had to remind myself that I kept adding unexpected delights and read those instead. I've now lost interested in most of them. Only one or two I've carried over.

Looking Forward:

Page reading goal works at 25,000. I will keep it.

Book reading goal works at 60. I will keep it. 

Reviewing YA novels. Works for me. When I do read them, I will write them. When I have the time, I will write them. I thoroughly enjoy figuring out the elements of a book that made me love them. 

As for my 'Books to Read', I've decided this year to start off with small wishes. I will add as I go along. I became stressed over not finishing ones I'd set for myself at the beginning of 2015. The thing is, taste changes. One comes across new potentials. I put aside the ones I was really excited for because I had this guilty list calling out at me. No more. Read what I want with some guidance…

Which leads me to my jars! I have been inspired to have more than one TBR Jar. Yes. They will vary in levels of priority. A further post on that. With pictures of course. 

~ My wish is that you, dear fellow reader, 

had a most eventful year, be it good or bad 

because with bad we appreciate the good 

and with the good we feel content.~

Top 5 of 2015

 Hi Book-Sniffers and Librocubicularists, 

The last day of 2015. What a weird, yet wonderful year. Many ups and downs for me. Many new friends. Many new favourite books. As before, I have narrowed down my top rated books from Goodreads to my Top 5 of the year. 

1. The Red Knight by Miles Cameron

Perhaps one of the best fantasies I’ve read in a long time. Cameron’s background in medieval history certainly solidifies his world. His characters are all sorts of grey, never good nor bad, something in betwk-Sniffers and Librocubicularists, 

2. Song in the Silence by Elizabeth Kerner

I searched high and low for a decent book about dragons. None of these kookey creatures, quirky and goofy. These are believably solid, ancient creatures with a long history. A delightful journey and a relateable main character. The romance in this story is unusual. Book 2 in 2016 for sure.

3. Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

Elegant. Beautiful. Exquisite. The story leaves you thinking, pondering, and wondering. Magic is sprinked in so delicately that it seems plausible. A joy to read. A book that reminds you how remarkable writing can be.

Review here. 

4. Here, There be Dragons by James A. Owen

A surprise! Has you wanting to curl up next to a cozy fire or pitch a chair at the beach. All the warm fuzzies about your most favourite literary characters. Book 2 for the bookclub in 2016.

Review here.

5. The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson

One of the best future society YA novels out there. Testing the limits, combining the heart of artistic expression and the  advances of human kind’s technology. I wanted to know more about this world only hinted at.  A high recommend for those itching for a new dystopian society.

Review here. 

Honourable Mention:

Unicorn Chronicles by Bruce Coville

I reread the first two: Into the Land of the Unicorns and Song of the Wanderer. The last two of the series were new to me: Dark Whispers and The Last Hunt. Finally completing a series that got me into fantasy, into reading, and an life-long obsession with magical creatures. Why not mention this fantastic series?

Coville can create some of the most remarkable characters, all unique and lovely. I hated to see them go. What a wonderful 20 year journey.

Merry Christmas!

Hi Book-Sniffers and Librocubicularists,

What an odd end to this year. This seems a trend for my reading every year. Begin strong, peak in the summer months, and peter out into bare reading in November/December.

Now on holidays, I can start planning my potential reading for next year. I've been brainstorming some attack methods. Things that didn't work this year, things that did. My goals worked, the Popsugar 2015 Challenge was fantastic, and many MANY books were crossed off the reading list.

As the end of the year approaches I look at the stack of new books that I pushed aside because I had all of these other ones I wanted to read. This approach will change, though I'm not sure just yet how I will do it. I've been reading other people's blogs to see what they do, to be inspired potentially.

My bookclub with my best friend will continue. We've already got ten or so books lined up as priorities. Another bookclub invited me in. Thankfully, we're all understanding of our busy schedules, so the reading demand will be much less.

Right now, I'm hoping to end the year with one or two strong books - great characters, great story, and great fun. Three that I have in my queue are: Irenicon by Aidan Harte, Nod by Adrian Barnes, and Smiler's Fair by Rebecca Levene.

Between now and the first weekend of the New Year will be filled with resolutions and new lists. Very excited.

A very merry Christmas to you!

Reading Real Talk

Hi Book-Sniffers and Librocubicularists,

It's been a wonderful, busy couple of months. I'm happy working and doing the thing I love. That means more time spent doing the work rather than doing the reading.

I got to a point last month where I was becoming stressed over all the books I was feeling that I had to read. My best friend sat me down and gave me a talk. Read only what I love. Read in the moment. The list is the guide, not the rule by which to follow.

Miscellaneous updates:

Patrick Rothfuss's "Wise Man's Fear" is ridiculously long. I'm 500 pages in... it's 1000 pages. At this point, I've put it down so I can feel accomplished by reading something shorter.

Blind date: My best friend got the idea that we go to a used book store and pick out a book for each other. I added that we should wrap the cover so we can't see what it looks like. Of course, it doesn't hide the title, but it certainly hides possibly AWFUL covers. And believe me, browsing through that store, there's some pretty hilarious and cringy artwork. Makes you wonder what the actual story is about.
My book that she got me is actually quite good so far. Just past the first 30 pages and it's perfect for me! Woman on an adventure. Done. I'm sold.

NaNoWriMo: The month of writing 50,000 words of your own story... yup, participating in that this year. Why? Why not! I'm clearly just making more work for myself. December will feel like a breeze when this month is done. (famous last words?)

Thank you for stopping by. Perhaps late December I'll be able to write a few reviews.

~ Happy Winter Reading ~

October is Here!

Hi Book-Sniffers and Librocubicularists,

At this point, managing work and reading has been an ordeal. I managed to read four books in September. Two adult, one young adult, and one reread children's.

My best friend and I are reading Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events, one per month. This month is "The Wide Window". I forgot how wonderfully delightful they are. Hilarious with their side narrator tangents, ridiculous bit of information, and the terrible things that keep happening.

"Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein is ...  incredible. I shall try and form words together for a review.

The realization has dawned on me that I cannot, in no way, at this point in time, complete my reading wish list for this year. So now, is knocking off those that I can find time for. It'll be a struggle. I'll do it!

~Happy Autumn Reading~