Getting Through a Reading Slump

I realize I haven't posted in a while. The same goes to the youtube channel.

After the Booktubeathon I got in a kind of slump.

I kept hearing that other's didn't want to push themselves too hard and did they're tbr pile for this read a thon accordingly so they wouldn't get burnt out. I thought, with how small the books I was reading were, it wouldn't be that big of a deal.

Right after the booktubeathon I though "alright, I'll read at my own pace" and started working on Eldest, the second book in the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini

Now I've been trying to read this for a while. I started ....only in May? I say only because I thought it was further than that.

But when I picked this back up again I thought "read at my own pace and read a tome." which seemed appropriate because Tome-Topple was just a week or so after Booktubeathon. Tome Topple is another read a thon that goes for two weeks and you have to read tomes. So books over 500 pages. Eldest ends at 668. So I read it for a good while, thinking I didn't want to read anything else until I finished this book. I knew it would still take me a bit, I'm not a speed reader nor can I skim with the intention of remembering everything. I was 4 books ahead of schedule on my good reads challenge, this should be no problem.

But as August continued, my reading of Eldest was getting slower and slower, to the point where I hadn't read in 3 days. I started getting discouraged. I didn't want to come back on here with another book tag with no new books to be able to answer with, and I didn't want to edit any videos for you tube if I was in a rut.

I do this every so often. Get so into a subject it consumes me for a good while, then with in a couple weeks or even days, I'm over it, and want to move on to the next thing. I've done this with books before. I'll get really into reading for a couple weeks, then start knitting and justify that because I don't have two more arms I can't read and knit. Remember I didn't find audio books until recently. And I kept thinking, I could just get an audio book and knit....I could still do that.

But I wasn't happy with it, anytime I went through Audible I wouldn't come across anything that truly peaked my interest enough to want to buy and audio book but not so much that I didn't want the physical copy.

So one day I just decided to put Eldest down before I started resenting it. Before this book became a chore. and picked up just something I was feeling. I tried Song of the Current by Sarah Tolcser

This was one of my post anticipated books, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. But after reading the first page, I shut the book, made a funny face and realized I didn't want to read this right now. But I was fearful that I was just done with books for the time being.

So I gave myself a little break. And started to sketch.

I love books, but I'm an artist at heart. I had been in a sketching slump since I graduated college. Telling myself I was taking a well deserved "break" yet still didn't want to post on here, despite it being called "Scribbled Inks" for the sheer purpose of being able to talk about books and art.

Anyways, I sketched. I bought a new sketchbook and new microns and I just let my mind wonder through ideas, and when I got started I let myself go through the process of sketching, inking, shadow and detail. It was great to get back into and great for the mind.

Plus not a bad sketch after four months.

This was a great get away from books. and afterwards I was able to go into my room and pick up a book I had recently bought and read it with in a couple of days. It sucked. I'm not going to lie, I was fairly disappointed with this book but I got through it and was able to pick up another one I knew I wanted to read right then, and that one was better. (give reviews at the end of the month)

I don't like creating tbrs, but I did have a goal to read certain books with in the month of August and am kind of dissapointed that I know I wont be getting to them. But I'm not holding it against myself. Mostly because I don't reveal them to you. If I do that, then I feel like I have to abide by what I said. But my moods change, I buy a lot of books with the intention of reading them then and there but that can fade, but I know I'll have that feeling again and be able to want to read it again. And hopefully with in that time it's when I can pick it up and give it ago.

Hopefully I'll have a youtube video up soon. It's quite late, and you've already seen it on my posts here, my July Haul.

Otherwise, whether it's reading or sketching I'll talk to you soon

Until next time!

Litta

Book Lover Survival Tag

This tag has been getting popular on booktube due to Penguin Teen sponsoring videos to help promote a new release: A Map for Wrecked Girls by Jessica Taylor

Not sure what the book is about but the tag ultimately asks: If you could bring 5-8 books with you on a deserted island, which would you bring?

Now so far all videos that are doing this tag have listed a Harry Potter book. I am not going to be different in that fact, however, from what I've seen, no one has chosen the first one: The Philosopher's Stone or The Sorcerer's Stone. However this is my choice.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Published June 1997, by Scholastic Inc.

So this is my favorite, next to The Prisoner of Azkaban. But what I truly enjoy about this book is the wonderment and excitement that is Harry going to a wizarding school, getting his letter and meeting his new friends. The reason I chose this one is because of it's familiarity and it's hook. This is the first book in the series, the one that got me hooked and wanting to read more. The one that made me wish I had gotten a letter from Hogwarts when I was 11. It's like feeling a storm before it starts to rain. Smelling the seasons change before the weather starts to reflect it. It brings back that excitement and that anticipation. That is why this would be my number one pick.

My second book would be:

Soppy by Phillipa Rice

Published December 2014, by Andrews McMeel Publishing

 This is a graphic novel. And it shows the story of this couple going through everyday life: getting bills together, sleeping, cooking together, working, sleeping, arguing. It's incredibly simple in its are style but gets the point across with so little words. The context is clear, and it warms my heart.

My third book is:

Weirdo Noir by Matt Dukes Jordan

Published August 2010, by Chronicle Books

This book is a collection of several artists with examples of their low brow/gothic art. Low brow art is defined as "underground" "urban" art combined with mediums old masters like Di Vinci and Michelangelo would use. It's dramatic, highly detailed, and just odd, I love it, and I'd take it with me for inspiration and motivation from artists I truly love and admire.

Don't know if this would count, but my fourth book would be a sketch book

It is one of my favorite books, due to the fact I can spend hours upon hours sketching whatever comes to mind, and on a deserted island, and the previous book mentioned I think it'd be a good way to kill time.

And honestly, if this isn't considered cheating, for the four remaining slots, I'd pick four book I haven't read yet. I'm not too great when it comes to re-reading books. Re-reading Harry Potter hasn't been a thing yet. And I feel that's saying something...

Suppose I should pick out the four books....

Song of the Current by Sarah Tolcser

Published June 2017, by Bloomsbury Children's Books

The main reason I'm choosing this one is because I'm eager to read it. I'm chomping at the bit as I finished reading my current read to get to this book. But I feel like there's a strong female protagonist who finds her way while protecting her family, and that in itself I feel like I could relate to.

Chemistry by Weike Wang

Published May 2017, by Knopf

I feel this is the same reason as the previous, a strong female protagonist who kind of has to separate herself from her current situation enable to truly understand who she is and what she wants out of life.

The next two are two I feel would just be interesting reads for the situation

How to Read Water by Tristan Gooley

Published April 2016, by Sceptre

You know...to get a better understanding of the element I'm surrounded by

The Drunken Botanist by Amy Stewart

Published March 2013, by Algonquin Books

So no...this one doesn't seem particularly helpful, but it was either this or a book on sea monsters and I figure that wouldn't help my situation. And I don't have a "how to identify plants" book or a "what fish are poisonous" book...So this I figured was the next best thing...and if anything I learn something interesting about plants that have created some of our liquors and hope I can hitch a ride with a passing yacht or cruise ship....

What books would you bring?

Until next time!

Litta

July Haul

July was quite the haul....



Let's just straight into it. These first two I got first thing in July. My local area has several different art nights, pending on the town depends on when the art night is, and I went to the one on the first Saturday of the month, because I had some work in one of the galleries. It wasn't a solo show, it was actually a show that was a collection of all of us that recently graduated from my universities art department. Which was fun and I loved how they set up everyone's pieces.

But I can't go to an Arts Night with out going into a book store, and I recently re-fell in love with a book store called Eureka Books, it's in an old building and is two stories, it's small but its quirky and when I was there I managed to convince myself and my boyfriend to let me spend money on two books:

Six of Crows by Leah Bardugo

Published September 2015 by Henry Holt and Company

This fantasy book follows Kaz Brekker who is offered wealth beyond his wildest dreams, if he can pull of a seemingly impossible heist: Break into the notorious Ice Court (A guarded strong hold that has never been breached) Retrieve a Hostage (of which could unleash magical havoc on the world) and survive to collect his reward (and spend it)
To complete this suicide mission Kaz brings together six of the most dangerous outcasts the city has to offer. Together they'll try to complete this dangerous mission, if they don't kill each other first.

So I saw this about a year or two ago and thought it was a really cool cover but never picked it up. I've heard really good things all over Booktube about it, as well as it's sequel Crooked Kingdom of which I believe came out this last year...2016. Another thing I love about this book is the colored edges. With Six of Crows the pages are sprays black along the edges and with Crooked Kingdom the edges are sprayed red. Which I think is really unique to books, we'll find out how functional they are.

The second book was more for my boyfriend but it appealed to me as well:

How to Read Water: Clues and Patterns from Puddles to the Sea... by Tristan Gooley

Published August 2016 by The Experiment

The title kind of explains the book, it's just the science of water and how to read it. My boyfriend is an avid fisherman and he's definitely getting me into going out a lot more and being more active in the sport of fishing and kayaking, plus I have an affinity with marine life anyway so I thought it'd be an interesting read for the both of us.

Next are books I was able to get on credit at a local used book store called Tin Can Mailman. I've been trying to de-clutter my living space (it's been a really...really slow process) but I had a decent pile of books I needed to unhaul, mostly text books I was saving just in case I had to re-take the classes. But I also had a few novels I just wanted to get ride of and racked up some decent credit and was able to snag a couple of books to buy.

The first being:

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

Published April 2014 by Harper Collins

Amy Gumm lives in Kansas. She's read the Wizard of Oz series, and she's watched the movie, so when her trailer's whisked away in a tornado and lands in Oz she thinks it's a dream, or a nightmare. Oz is not how it seems. The yellow brick road is there and it urges everyone to head to Oz, it just may not be the easiest journey. Amy finds that Oz has a new ruler, Dorothy, and she's on a magic kick and will do anything to collect it, even dig up Munchkin land, with the help of Glinda, and the trio the helped her along the yellow brick road; Tinman, Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion. Amy finds herself enlisted in the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked, and is training to fight Dorothy and her followers.

I've heard of this trilogy and when I saw this on the shelf thought it was a good time to pick it up. Ultimately I thought it sounded like an interesting and twisted re-telling, I've been wanting a good horror/thriller.

Going on with the same theme I got:

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Published July 2014 by Candlewick

This book was first published in 2008 by Walker, the book I have was published in 2014 by Candlewick, just fyi.

This book follows Todd Hewitt, the only boy in a town of men. Due to the Noise germ Todd can hear everything the men think, and the men can hear everything he thinks. A month from becoming a man, Todd is realizing that the town is hiding something from him, something so awful he is forced to leave with only his dog, who's simply loyal voice he can hear too. With hostile men in pursuit, the two come across something strange and quiet, a girl. Who is she? How isn't she killed by the germ like all the other females of the new world?

So honestly I got this on a whim, I heard it on a booktube channel Booksandlala who recently read it and gave it an alright rating. I have been wanting to read another Patrick Ness book, after reading A Monster Calls (which was so heart felt and I loved it) I wanted to see if I like other books by Patrick Nes, but reading the synopsis it sounds really intriguing and I can't wait to get into it.

And Finally the next book I got off used book store credit was:

Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart

Published September 2015 by Houghton Miffin Harcourt

Constance Kopp doesn't fit the mold. She's taller than most men, isn't interested in marriage or domestic life and she's been isolated with her sisters after a family secret sends them into hiding fifteen years ago. After a powerful silk factory owner runs down their buggy and the dispute over damages turns into a war of bricks, bullets and threats, he unleashes his gang on their family farm. When the local sheriff enlists Constance to help convict the men, she is forced to confront her past and protect her family, in a way that no one thought to do in 1914.

So this is actually a local author in my area, I have work book The Drunken Botanist. But this one actually really reminds me of the show Ms. Fisher's Murder Mysteries. Which makes me worry because if it's not like that I'm worried I'm going to be disappointing, which is unfair to the book.

This next one is actually and Audio book. My boyfriend, his dad, and I went camping for three days, and it's a two hour drive from where we live. How it normally works is that my boyfriend's aunt comes too and she and my boyfriend's dad carpools and my boyfriend and I carpool, but she backed out last minute, and his dad can't drive and we had too much stuff to just take one car. There was also supposed to be construction on the one road to the campsite, so they wanted to get on the road before they started at 8...so we left at 5 in the morning....so I wanted an audio book to keep me awake.

The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gains

If you've seen Fixer Upper on HGTV then you know this couple. They flip houses, they do renovations, they find clients "the worse house in the best neighborhood and make it their dream home." This is Chip and Joanna's history, their baby that is Magnolia Homes and how it was created and the trouble and triumphs they went through before HGTV picked them up as a tv show.

So the next three I actually also got at Eureka Books, I went to old town in search of a suit case actually. Like one of those old ones with metal clasps and pockets with hard cases and are pretty hefty. Yeah those vintage ones, my mom collects them so I'm always keeping an eye out and I had spotted one during arts night and this nifty little vintage findings shop and it was still there! But since that vintage shop is literally a door down from Eureka Books, so I popped in real quick.

I mostly went in for this book, that I had also seen at arts night, it was a good price but my boyfriend was pushing me out the door so I couldn't pick it up. But when I went back, much like the vintage suit case, it was still there!

Horns by Joe Hill

Published March 2010' by William Morrow

This book follows Ignatius Perrish, on the anniversary of his girl friend's death Ig, spends the day drunk. The next day, with a bad hang over, Ig notices horns coming out of either side of his head, thinking they're a hallucination from rage and grief of the night before, he has spent the last year in a lonely private purgatory. His girlfriend, Merrin Williams, was raped and murdered under inexplicable circumstances. But there was nothing natural about these horns, and they are all too real. Ig was the only suspect in the murder, although never officially charged, he was never cleared and public opinion is that this privileged kid had his well known parents sweep this under the rug and is guilty. Nothing Ig says or does matters, and it seems even God is no longer by his side, but with the devil inside Ig plans to unravel the mystery around his beloved's mysterious death.

I watched the movie a couple years ago and as I said in a previous post, I'd like to do a book/movie adaptation review, though I'm not sure when, I wanted to get this to be able to read it and eventually re-watch the movie and see how it compares.

The same with this next book:

The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story by Diane Ackerman

Published September 2007, by W.W. Norton Company

This book is set in World War II, following Jan and Antonina Zabinski. This couple owns a Zoo in Poland, and when Germany invades, Stuka bombers destroy the city and the zoo along with it. With a lot of their animals dead, the Zabinski's start smuggling Jews into the empty cages and their large villa, where they hide during the day and dine and communicate at night. Jan is part of the Polish Resistance, hiding ammo and explosives in an empty elephant enclosure while Antonina keeps her unusual household afloat caring not only for her Human guests but her animals as well.

I saw this movie's preview at one point a couple months ago, and when it had said it was based off a book I was all too interested. But my boyfriend is having me wait until we watch the movie due to my lack of wanting to watch movie adaptations after I read the books, so this I'm waiting on until I can find and watch the dvd.

Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

Published June 2013, by Dial Press Trade Paperback

This book follows 14 year old June, in 1987 the only one she feels she can connect to is her uncle Finn Weiss, her godfather, her confidant, and best friend. So when he dies, June's world crumbles. But his death also brings and unexpected visitor. She sees him at Finn's funeral, and then receives a package from him containing a teapot that June remembers seeing in her uncle's house, with a note asking to meet. June quickly finds she's not the only one who misses her uncle and begins to make a new friend, Toby, as they spend more time together.

I've seen this mentioned a couple of times on booktube, and I've heard good things, I also just love the cover. It wasn't until I got through some of these books that I noticed this strange light green theme.

The next three I got from Book Outlet

Candy:A Century of Panic and Pleasure by Samira Kawash

Published October 2013, by Ferrar, Straus and Giroux

This book is a cultural history on how candy in America became food and how food became more like candy.

This is another non-fiction that I thought would be an interesting read.

A Robot in the Garden by Deborah Install

Published June 2015, by Random House Canada

This book follow Ben Chambers, a 34 year old man who doesn't feel like he's ever accomplished anything in life. So when a robot shows up in his backyard, he's determined to find out where this robot came from and how to get it back, even if it means his wife leaving him.

This book has a synopsis that was similar to an idea a friend had for a book, and she wants me to let her know how it is. I got it because it sounded familiar and it sounded adorable

The Heart by Maylis De Kerangal

Published February 2016, by Ferrar, Straus and Giroux

This book takes place over 24 hours in pros, surrounding a resulting heart transplant after three boys are in a fatal car accident. A young man thrown threw a wind shield, his heart still beating, a young woman on the verge of death, this book explores the feeling and experiences of everyone involved.

This book sounds intense and cover love. I was unaware of how this book was written or that it was translated, but it still sounds interesting and entertaining.

For the Uppercase box of the month:

Words on Bathroom Walls by Julia Walton

Published July 2017, by Random House Books for Young Readers

This book follows Adam, a 17 year old by schizophrenic. He recently is put on a trial drug that will help him control his hallucinations and has transferred to a new school where no one knows of his mental illness. But when the trial drug starts to fail, Adam is determined to make sure his new friends and new girlfriend doesn't figure out his mental illness.

I've already read this book and you can read my review of it in my July and Booktubeathon 2017 Review but ultimately I loved it. The format was fun, we read letters from Adam to his therapist, with little notes from his therapist about his current dosages.

Three more from book outlet

Anyone But Ivy Pocket by Caleb Krisp illustrated by Barbara Cantini

Published April 2015, by Greenwillow Books

This is a middle grade book following Ivy Pocket, a twelve year old maid who agrees to carry a clock diamond from the dying duchess of Trinity to England to put around the neck of the revolting Matilda Butterfield on her twelfth birthday. But there is conspiracy and mischief afoot.

I've seen this at my local book store but didn't feel like buying for full price, so when I saw it on book outlet I snagged it up thinking it might be a quick and easy little read.

Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley

Published June 2017, by Simon and Schuster

This book follows Ted- a gay, single, struggling writer who finds himself stuck. He is unable to open up intimately except through his steadfast relationship with his elderly dachshund Lily. But when Lily's health is compromised, Ted vows to do anything necessary to save her. An adventure spins into magic realism and evokes truth of loss and longing.

In all honesty I kept seeing this book and was interested just due to the word Octopus....But I've heard good things (the few that I've heard) but didn't want to pay full price for this book (or any book I'm unsure of) so when I saw this on book outlet, I went for it.
 
The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin

Published September 2015, by Brown Books for Young Readers

This book follows Suzy, who is a well of odd facts and information. But after her best friend drowns Suzy is convinced that it was due to a rare jelly fish sting, because nothing just happens for no reason. Retreating to a her quiet world of imagination she's determined to prove her theory even if it means traveling the world, alone.

Ok yeah, definitely a color scheme going, we went from black white and red from the beginning of the month to a light teal color to the end of the month....odd. Yeah I mostly just bought this because of the jellyfish on it....but also magic realism is a thing in the last two books and I'm always interested in that.

Two from Book Despository

The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

Published August 2015, by Hodder and Stoughton

A crew of worm hole builders hop from planet to planet on their way to a job of a life time. This ship is just an everyday ship and is just a speck on the starchart, trying to get from here to there. But all voyages leave there mark and even the most ordinary people have a story worth telling. Set against the backdrop of curious cultures and distant worlds, this epic tale weaves together the adventures of nine eclectic characters each on a journey of their own.

I've been hearing such good things about this book. And I've been trying to find it in hard cover, and just cant! I've looked everywhere that I can think of. So I ordered this UK cover soft cover edition for Booketubeathon 2017, that I wasn't able to get to but still would like to get to at some point.

Small as an Elephant by Jennifer Richard Jacobson

Published March 2011, by Candlewick Press

For as long as Jack can remember, his mother has always been unpredictable, sometimes loving and fun other times caught in a whirlwind of energy. But he never thought she'd leave him in the middle of the night at a camp ground, with no way to reach her and hardly any money for food. Any other kid would report his mom gone, but Jack knows by now that he needs to figure things out for himself, starting with how to get from the backwoods of Maine to Boston. With only a small elephant toy as his companion Jack starts his journey south.

I saw this title and this cover and fell in love with it, it is such an odd little title and an adorable cover. The synopsis sounds depressing and I'm already hoping that Jack's mom gets her wits back and goes back to him.

and finally I went to Northtown books determined to get this book and had enough self control not to get other books but not enough to add a couple more to my goodreads tbr.

Chemistry by Weike Wang

Published May 2017, by Knopf

From what I understand this book is about a graduate student, who into her third year of research finds that her research is more theory than reality, and her colleagues keep reminding her of that fact. She's tormented by her failed research and her Chinese parents who expect nothing but the best, and non-scientifically her boyfriend's looming proposal. He's devoted as well as a fellow scientist but his research has little to no obstacles and she can't make a life with him until finding success herself. The pressure is so high she must leave everything she thought she knew about her future, and herself behind. And she's confronted by a question that she can't find the answer in a text book: "What do I really want?" This books takes us into her scattered, searching mind.

I saw this on a couple of videos, its a book that Book of the Month had picked as one of their options for....a month...I can't think of what book, I only just re-subscribed so I don't know when it was offered, I just knew I wanted it. I love the cover. It's so bright and simplistic, and the story sounded really interesting.

Alright....That is all my books from July.....It was quite the haul....I have no self control.

I'm going to restrict myself a bit in August....Which I do an don't have hope for....it's a mixed bags of nuts people.

Let me know if you've read any of these, let me know what you thought (no spoilers!)

Otherwise that is all for now

Until next time!

Litta