Intimidating TBR

Hello Book-Sniffers and Librocubicularists,

An intimidating to-be-read shelf can be paralyzing. The inability to choose what book to read next can put one off of reading altogether. Procrastination becomes the vehicle in which to avoid these piles.

I came across this tag and wanted to think through books that have been sitting on my shelves for a while, maybe reminding myself why I originally bought them.

1. A book I've been unable to finish. 

The Wise Man's Fear ~ By Patrick Rothfuss
It's 1000 pages, a honker of a story. The writing is smooth and easy. My fear is that I'll finish the story and have no more since the third of this series is not published yet.

2. I haven't had the time.

The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic ~ Emily Croy Barker
I've had this for a few years now. It's thick. I dont' usually like urban fantasy. There's a guilt with this one, since I purchased it with birthday money.

3. It's a sequel.

Dreams of Gods and Monsters ~ By Laini Taylor
Both the first and second books were loved. I guess going back into the world might be an adjustment and it's been so long that I fear I won't remember what happened.

4. It's brand new.

Serefina and the Black Cloak ~ By Robert Beatty
Brand new. Got this two days ago. 

5. I read a book by the same author, but didn't really like it.

Heir of Sea and Fire ~ By Patricia A. McKillip
This is the second book, after "Riddle Master of Hed" - a classic fantasy. The first book was alright. Nothing special. I mostly read it so I could read this one (the main character hooked me), but now I've lost the will.

6. I'm not in the mood for it. 

Brondings' Honour ~ By Ann Ewan
Every time I look at it I go, meh. Maybe another day. It doesn't help that the cover is disastrously terrible. 

7. It's HUMONGOUS!

The Great Book of Amber ~ By Robert Zelany
To be fair, it's 10 books of a series, bound into one. STILL. It's 1200+ pages.
 

8. It was a cover by and the reviews aren't great. 

The Seventh Miss Hatfield ~ By Anna Caltabiano
I'm a sucker for time travel stories, this seemed up my ally and I loved the symmetry of the cover. Too bad the reviews aren't great, meriting a 2.83 on Goodreads...  

9. The most intimidating of all.

The Count of Monte Cristo ~ By Alexandre Dumas
My best friend and I will be reading this year - I'm still terrified. It's a commitment and a classic.  875 pages. After our foray into massive classics last year with "War and Peace" (Leo Tolstoy), I'm concerned with the level in which I will be entertained.


Now to read some of these!
~ Happy reading ~

Read the Fluff

Hello Book-Sniffers and Librocubicularists,

Long time, no post.

Update: My contract has ended. I'm between jobs. You would think I'd have time to do ALL THE READING. Not so *sigh*

This year started with high hopes. So far, the first books of the year have met me with so-so vibes. I'm neither excited nor put-off of reading. The stories are good, but missing that little something something that puts them over the edge to propel me to the next book. They do not make me excited to read.

The majority of books I'm currently reading are adult. I feel that when I zoom through the YA books I find more loveable, delightful, pockets of sunshine. The reason why I tend to stay away from the adult books. The adult books tend to be less optimistic or coloured in so many shades of grey that my eyes cross, my brain twitches, and I crumple into a heap of mixed emotions unable to form words.

While making readers intelligent, critical thinkers is important, sometimes one needs to shut the brain off. A return back to the fluff.

My line up of next or current reads are a mix of romance and quirky fantasy novels. Not serious in any manner. Laugh out loud moments a-plenty.

So, Dear Fellow Reader, do take the time to break from the serious novels every once and a while. Deviate from the plan. Do not let the TBR restrain you. Read the fluff. Fill yourself with silliness.

~Happy Reading~

Bout of Books 15 - Update

Hello Book-Sniffers and Librocubicularists,

Hmmmm. How do I say this. I did not do well.

I read, most definitely.

Off the plan. Always. 

I'm now in the middle of "Queen of Shadows" and "The Assassin's Blade" by Sarah J Maas. I've read the stories from the magazine though! And finished the graphic novel Saga, Vol 5.*hi five*



Going back to work from the holiday turned out to be more of an adjustment to my sleep than previously though. There were nights where I was going to bed at 8 or 9pm. Fixing

the whole darn thing. Which meant, no reading for hours before bed. Instead, I'd open the book and two seconds later I'd closed my eyes.

Bout of Books 15.0

Hello Book-Sniffers and Librocubicularists,

Bout of Books 15.0 is upon us. It runs from Jan 4 - 10, 2016.

For some reason, I cannot find the book challenges, so I'll be making up my TBR as to whatever I feel like reading. I have a few ideas in mind.

Queen of Shadows ~ Sarah J. Maas

Holds on libraries are unpredictable. This one came in just this weekend, so I'm ready to begin this book 4 installment to one of my favourite series.


Wise Man's Fear ~ Patrick Rothfuss

Wishful thinking? I'd like to finish this one. Of 1000 pages I'm exactly in the middle at 501.


The Grey King ~ Susan Cooper

A classic fantasy series. This is book 4. I love LOVED #2 "The Dark is Rising". It is a youth book, so it should fly by.


'The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction', Nov/Dec 2015 Issue

Full of delightful tales, short stories, reviews, and other articles. I'd like to read 5 stories from it.

2015 - Challenges

Copy and Pasted from the "Challenges" tab.

Page Count

Currently at: 26,905
Goal: 25, 000 - Keep going :)
Achieved: November 29, 2015
Updated: Jan 1, 2016

Book Count

Currently at:78
Goal: 60 - Keep going :)
Achieved: August 12, 2015
Updated: Jan 1, 2016


Bout of Books 12.0

THE ULTIMATE READING CHALLENGE

Popsugar posted a pretty cool "Ultimate Reading Challenge" that I would like to attempt. For the most part, each challenge must be completed by one book (50 in all). Some books might qualify for two, I will tweak the achievements as I go along.










Categorized and Reorganized (those with * have been changed):

Titles:
• a book with a number in the title - Thirst, No. 1 (Christopher Pike)
• a book with a one-word title - Lythande (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
• a book with antonyms in the title -War and Peace (Leo Tolstoy)
• a book with a colour in the title - Iron Hearted Violet (Kelly Barnhill)

Genre:
• a classic* - Far from the Madding Crowd (Thomas Hardy)
• a funny book - Resenting the Hero (Moira J. Moore)
• a mystery or thriller - Fool Moon (Jim Butcher)
• a book of short stories -
• a non-fiction book -
• a book based on a true story -
• a book that scares you - Through the Woods (Emily Carroll)
• a book based on a fairy tale* - A Court of Thorns and Roses (Sarah J Maas)
• a memoir - On Writing (Stephen King)
• a graphic novel - Ms. Marvel: No Normal (G Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona)


Author:
• a book written by someone under 30 - The Lies of Locke Lamora (Scott Lynch)
• a book written by a female author - Song in the Silence (Elizabeth Kerner)
• a popular author's first book - The Book of Three (Lloyd Alexander)
• a book by an author you love but haven't read yet - Bitterblue (Kristin Cashore)
• a book by an author you've never read before - Foundation (Isaac Asimov)
• a book written by an author with your same initials -
• a book written by a Canadian author*  - The Red Knight (Miles Cameron)


Content:
• a book with more than 500 pages -Kushiel's Dart (Jacqueline Carey)
• a book you can finish in a day - Skraelings (R/S Qitsualik-Tinsley)
• a book with a love triangle - Vanish (Sophie Jordan)
• a book that made you cry - The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavendar (Leslye Walton)
• a book with magic - Clariel (Garth Nix)
• a book with nonhuman characters - Shada (Douglas Adams/Gareth Roberts)
• a book with a dragon* - The Smoke Thief (Shana Abe)
• a book that was originally written in a different language - The Path of Anger (Antoine Rouaud)


Setting:
• a book set in a different country (on Earth?) - Afterworlds (Scott Westerfeld)
• a book set in a place you've always wanted to visit - The Winter Crown (Elizabeth Chadwick)
• a book set in the future - World After (Susan Ee)
• a book set in high-school - Earth & Sky (Megan Crewe)
• a book set during Christmas - Entwined (Heather Dixon)


Current Relevance:
• a book that became a movie - The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch (Joseph Delaney)
• a book published this year -Dream a Little Dream (Kerstin Gier)
• a book based on or turned into a tv show - The Day of the Triffids (John Wyndham)



TBR Related:
• a book at the bottom of your to-read list - Here, There Be Dragons (James A. Owen)
• a trilogy -  Summer Trilogy (Janny Han)
• finish a series*- The Last Hunt (Bruce Coville)
• a book you own but have never read - Knight Errant (R. Garcia Y Robertson)
• a book you started but never finished -



Published:
• a book more than 100-years old - Alice in Wonderland (Lewis Carroll) my edition is 1914, 100 years old!
• a book that came out the year you were born - Swordspoint (Ellen Kushner)


Covers:
• a book based entirely on its cover - Summer & Bird (Katherine Catmull)


Other:
• a book a friend recommended - Out of the Silent Planet (C.S. Lewis)


• a book your mom loves - And Then There Were None (Agatha Christie)
• a prize wining book*  - 172 Hours on the Moon (Johan Harstad) 2008 Brageprisen
• a book with under 100 reviews on Goodreads* - The Border Vixen (Bernice Small)
• a book from your childhood - Into the Land of the Unicorns (Bruce Coville)




*achievements replaced:
- a classic romance
- a Pulitzer prize-winner
- a book you were supposed to read in school but didn't
- a book with bad reviews
- a book set in your hometown
- a play
- a banned book

Project TBR - Week-Read-a-Thon
Day 1 -- Day 2 -- Day 3 -- Day 4 -- Day 5 -- Day 6 -- Day 7 
Wrap Up

BookTube-a-Thon
Intro -- Day 1 -- Day 2 -- Day 3 -- Day 4 -- Day 5 -- Day 6 -- Day 7