September Haul

Oddly this book haul gave me mixed feelings, I wasn't sure why, but I got a couple books in the beginning of the month that I was interested in but wasn't excited for, despite still wanting to read them, but then as the month went on, some new releases were able to make it into this stack and I got really excited to be able to have access to them as well as owning them in general.

The first two I got at my local used book store: Tincan Mailman, I unhauled a couple more books from my horde that I personally didn't like, didn't make in impact or just wasn't interested in, and was able to get credit for them and found these two sitting upon the shelves.

The first being:

Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth

Published January 2017, by Katherine Tegen Books

So I don't know much about this one, I just remember it being announces and falling in love with this cover, once it got published there was some controversy. From what I've heard Carve the Mark has two groups of people that dislike each other, Roth describes mutliple people from both sides as being "mixed", from light, to tan, to dark skin, each group has a bit of both, same with hair type. But other aspects of the book lead to one group being more "tribal" than the other and there for creating a sort of "racist" undertone to the book. I've also heard that there is controversy over glorifying cutting , as well as discrimination upon those with disabilities.

I ignored this book for a while, essentially as soon as I heard it was racist against POC's. But I'm not going to lie, there has been curiosity and an interest to read this despite that controversy, so when I found this book at a used book store, I decided to buy, not wanting to pay full price. So we'll see how I feel about it after I read it.

The next book I got at Tincan Mailman was:

Paper Towns by John Green

Published September 2009, by Speak

Again not sure what this is about, I'm not even sure if I should start reading John Green with this book, but I enjoy the cover.

The next book I actually found at Costco for a decent price considering it's a new release, and that's:

Wonder Woman Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

Published August 2017, by Random House Books for Young Readers

This book is the first in a type of series, four authors are writing alternative origin stories for popular superheroes. So there's Wonder Woman, there will be: Batman, Superman and Catwoman. Leigh Bardugo's Wonder Woman is about Diane (Wonder Woman) finding a girl after her cruise ship was attacked. This girl is the reincarnate of a god of war, and there are those in the world who will have her killed, or use her for their own purposes. With Diane's help they will find a new path for this girl.

I'm pretty excited about it, for some reason. I haven't read any of the comics of Wonder Woman, I haven't even seen the movie, but this....this I want to read bad.

The next three books I got at my local favorite: Northtown Books, with the intention of just being this one, I bought two more out of feat they wouldn't be there later:

The Hush by Skye Melki-Wegner

Published June 2017, by Sky Pony Express

Chester is only trying to find his lost Father. Playing a fiddle one day for spare change he taps into the Song. It is forbidden for anyone but the Songshaper to tap into this incredible force, and when Chester is caught, he is sentenced to death. Before the ax falls someone makes a daring rescue and whisks Chester off to the Hush, a mirror world full of nightmares where echoes can kill. Taken to Suzanna, head of the Nightfall gang, she's been watching Chester and thinks she can use him to pull off an elaborate plan. She will do anything to do this right, even if it means Chester's death.

First off Cover love! it's enticing, and classic, and it reminds me fore the Monsters of Verity Series so yes, I'm down for this.

Next is:

Wicked like a Wildfire by Lana Popovic

Published August 2017, By Kathrine Tegen Books

This book is about two sisters who were born into a family where the women have a type of gift called a gleam. Malina can sing and play music that will release emotions one didn't know they were capable of feeling. Iris can turn flowers into fractals and turns the design into blown glass. Their mother, Jasmina, can bake and when you eat her baked goods, can make you feel like you were remembering a place you may not have even been before. But Jasmina has rules for her girls to follow, don't let anyone see your gifts, and no falling in love. Life between mother and daughters gets rocky  as their relationships threaten the power of the gleam, and when a visitor shows up and Jasmina is found dead, the sisters must find out for themselves who killed her and how.

Cover love first off, and the synopsis sounds really really interesting.

The next four books I got are from Book Outlet

The first one being:

Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira

Published April 2017, By Farrar, Straus and Giroux

This book follows Laurel, and her letters to the dead. It starts off with a school assignment, to write letters to a dead person. Laurel chooses Kurt Cobain, because her sister, May, liked him. He died young, just like May did. Laurel writes more letters to more people: Amy Winehouse, Heath Ledger, etc. About high school, new friendships and first loves. She begins to write about the abuse she suffered while May was supposed to be watching out for her. As Laurel begins writing the truth does she start to see her sister in the light, lovely, amazing, and with deep flaws. Only after she begins to accept her sister does she begin to accept what happened to her sister.

Another cover love, the colors are gorgeous and the cover itself is poetic and simple.

The Thousandth Floor by Katherine McGee

Published August 2016, By Harpercollins

This book is set in New York City, 2118. And seems to be a collection of stories of characters that live in this advanced city and in this thousand floor building complex.

The cover attracted me a year ago, but for some reason it was a book I didn't really want to pay full price for, because the synopsis didn't immediately click with me.

What Dreams May Come By Richard Matherson

Published January 2004 by Tor Books

I got this because I only recently found out this was a book. I've seen the movie with Robin Williams, and it's one of my all time favorite movies, though I haven't watched it since Robin's death...Ironic how he died and this movie he played in.

If you don't know, this book follows Chris, who's died in a car accident, and who's conscience, his spirit, is very much still active, because he still wants to be with his wife. His wife, doesn't want to continue living with out Chris. Each regard each other as their soulmate, Chris goes on a journey to be with his wife after death.

I hate this cover. But I loved the movie, I've heard the book is a little slow, but I'm hoping it has the similar elements to the movie.

Pay It Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Published October 2000, by Pocket Books

This book was also a movie, and one I had seen but didn't know there was a book to.

Trevor McKinney is a twelve year old boy that accepts that challenge his teacher has proposed for extra credit: Come up with a plan to change the world for the better, and put that plan into action. His plan is simple and naive that when he explains it to people, they're dismissive, to the point that Trevor doubts his "pay it forward" plan.

These next two books I got in my September Book of the Month

The first being my pick of the month:

Sourdough by Robin Sloan

Published September 2017, by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux

Lois Clary is a software engineer at a San Fransisco robotics company, coding all day and all night. When her favorite sandwich shop closes up, the owners leave her with the starter of their mouth watering sourdough bread. Lois becomes the unlikely hero tasked with taking care of it, baking it and making sure these micro organisms stay alive and well. Soon she is baking bread daily and taking it to the farmers market aiming to fuse food and technology.

For some reason this one reminded me of Chemistry. It has that same feel to it, and it sounded light and fun. The cover also makes me laugh.

The next book I got was actually a pick back in October of 2016, but I've been eyeing it for a while, but didn't really want to pay full price for it.

The Wonder by Emma Donoghue

Published October 2016, By Little Brown and Company

This book is set in Ireland, sometime early on before electricity and cars. People are flocking to see Anna O'Donnell, claiming she's manna from heaven. Lib Wright is a nurse from Florence Nightingale's Crimean campaign sent to watch over this eleven year old "wonder"

I went into this book not knowing much. The synopsis didn't intrigue me at first but slowly worked on me until I found myself needing this book. Also Loving the cover.

And finally the last book for the month of September was my Upper Case Box book.

Warcross by Marie Lu

Published September 2017, By G.P. Putman's Sons Books for Young Readers

I kept hearing this get all hyped due to it's cover and it's synopsis. It's supposed to be all the things that Ready Player One was supposed to be. But in all honesty, it never peaked my interest and is the first book the Upper Case has sent to me that I probably wont be reading. I dislike the cover and the synopsis didn't really capture me. I'll keep it for a couple months to see if anything has changed, if it's peaked my interest at all otherwise I'll most likely give it to my local used book store.

And that was all the books I got for the month of September! Let me know if you've read any of these and what you thought of them! Are there any you want to get to? what's you're most exciting book you got this month?

Think mine would be Wicked Like a Wildfire, as I've already devoured it

Until next time!

Litta

August Review

I'm sorry, I know this is a bit late.

As I've mentioned a couple of times, August was not a good month in terms of reading.

I've been in a weird slump.

I stopped reading two books this month because I just found them hard to get into and decided to put them down before I started resenting them because I felt like I had to finish them.

I picked up other books I had on a whim and thankfully was able to get through them, sadly it's only three this month, but I was just happy to read anything at all.

The first being:

Get it Together, Delilah! by Erin Gough

Published April 2017 by Chronical Books LLC

This book follows Delilah. A girl who knows who she is and is comfortable with her sexuality. But she's finding not everyone else is. She is being bullied at school, and she feels her best friend isn't comfortable with her any more. So when Delilah's father goes to travel the world to try to get over his ex-wife, Delilah's mother, after she's left them for another man, Delilah finds herself running the family cafe, the Flywheel. With her new found best friend Charlie, who is constantly doing antics to get with the loves of his life, Delilah is finding it difficult to figure out what she should do when the Flywheel starts to take a plunge in business. But when Delilah's long time crush enter's the Flywheel Delilah finds herself fumbling and mumbling not sure how to pursue this gorgeous woman.

I gave this book two out of five stars. It wasn't bad, but it was problematic. The biggest problems I had with it were:

1) The lack of adults: Delilah's mom leaves and is hardly in her life let alone the book. Delilah's dad leaves to get over her mom, and completely trusts that she'll go to school and make sure their business is running ok. The manager of said business is immediately deported, so Delilah steps in as manager. A few adults sprinkled here and there but Delilah doesn't take them as seriously but they're able to do so with her for a short time.

2) Get your fuck up fixed before parent finds out, don't have to tell parent you fucked up. What kind of message is this sending? Delilah essentially bankrupts and leases out the property in which her cafe resides, then re-opens it, and doesn't tell her father a thing, lies through out the whole book telling him everything is fine. I kept hoping for him to return home early and walk in to the disaster Delilah had made and there would be some message about the importance of communication between parent and child. But no.

3) Accept me while I can't accept you: Again through out this whole book Delilah is very comfortable in her own skin. She is a lesbian and she really doesn't care who knows, she just doesn't like getting bullied for it. Fair enough. But to then not be able to accept her friends for who they are is a bit hypocritical. To the point where I almost threw the book because she couldn't accept that the girl she'd been pining over this whole book, can't reciprocate publicly because she comes from a traditional, religious Latinx family, and this family is important. But Delilah criticizes it and can't accept it because of how proud she is of her own sexuality. She eventually does accept the terms but it feels reluctant and I'm a little irritated the girl accepted Delilah back.


Chemistry by Weike Wang

Published May 2017, by knopf

This book follows an unnamed narrator, it's her third year of graduate school in chemistry. Pressure is mounting, and she's realizing that her theory is just that, theory. With her Chinese parents pushing her success and her boyfriend waiting for an answer to his proposal, this narrator is taking a step back and having to figure out what she's doing and what she wants out of her life.

This book reads as an inner monologue, its a little broken and has scattered thoughts but ultimately still chronological. The way it's written, you can tell the English wasn't the narrator's first language and it makes her all the more adorable. Her story is fairly interesting and despite that she was going with chemistry and a graduate degree, I can relate in the fact that's she's trying to figure out life outside of school. She's trying to figure out her self and who she is away from her parents. It was relatable in that fear of failing and failing my parents, and the cultural aspect is really interesting in that it's one of many we don't really think about, and it helps differentiate some traditions are strictly Chinese vs how we tend to think it's the same with all "Asian" cultures. It also gave an interesting perspective on the pressure amounted to immigrant children and children of immigrant parents, as well as bullying in school and out. I almost wish there was a bit more into her life, but at the same time I loved the random little science facts she talked about through out the book.

The last book for the month of August was:

The Dark Life by Kat Falls

Published May 2010, by Scholastic Press

This book follows Ty, he is one of the first children born in the new frontier to settle under the sea. A couple years away from being able to stake his own claim to some land, Ty is passionate about keeping his homestead safe, from danger and from politics. On land, space is limited, and desired, as the oceans have rised and land has become sparce. But when outlaws start attacking government supply ships, Ty's worried about the status of their homestead, and his ability to stake his own claim.

This book wasn't what I expected. I kind of expected this book to be more of an adult book, but it's YA, which isn't bad but there were a couple of problems I had with some of the concepts. But over all an interesting book, it peaked my interest and love of marine life but also my fear of the unknown darkness that is the ocean. Gave it four out of five stars.

Alright sorry for the short review and apologies for the late review.

Until next time

Litta

August Book Haul

I did a little better this month!

I actually don't know if that's a good thing. As my last post states I was kind of in a slump in the beginning of the month. It kind of went away mid-month but now it's kind of back...

I still love books, I still want to read, but I'm a little burnt out. I don't want to stereo type artists by saying it's an "artist thing" but I'll be more specific and say it's just a me thing. I get really into something for a weird length of time, then can totally ignore it for months at a time. I'll eventually come back to it.

Anyway, this month I got 10 books, which isn't too bad, especially compared to last month.

The first I got at my local book store Northtown Books, with the intention of getting this one in particular, I had intended on getting it in July but thought that would be a bit excessive for my July haul and so told myself if it's still there when I go back I'd get it, and behold, it's now mine.

Get it Together, Delilah! by Erin Gough

So this book was first published in February 2015 in Australia originally as The Flywheel but then was re-published for the states, Canada and UK as this cover in 2017

First off cover love. The contrast and playful-ness of the cover is what attracted me to this book and kept making me think about it. I had read the first chapter when I first saw it in store, this book is about Delilah, a girl who knows her sexuality and is perfectly fine with it, however no one else seems to be, she's teased and bullied at her high school and she feels as though her long time friend doesn't accept her identity as a lesbian. When Delilah's dad goes on a trip around the world to try to get over Delilah's mother who left them a little over a year ago, Delilah takes over managing the family Cafe, while juggling highschool, and now, dealing with her long time crush coming in to the cafe. With her best friend Charlie, Delilah figures out her strengths and weaknesses and how to manage everything all at once.

I've already read this. I gave it two stars. The story as a whole was a bit of a let down, I'll leave a better review of it in my August wrap up.

Another book I got the same time and same place as this one was

Scythe by Neil Shusterman

Published November 2016 by Simon and Schuster books for young readers

I have been meaning to get this for the last year, it's one that not only I'm interested in but my boyfriend is as well, in which he immediately picked up as soon as a brought it home.

From what I've heard this book is about a world that has gotten rid of disease, illnesses, ultimately there are no more natural deaths that happen with in the world, but due to population control there is a job titles Scythes where these two young adults are recruited to be trained in, enable to kill others to keep population from getting out of control.

I have read the synopsis but have forgotten what else goes into this, but I almost don't want to know because I'm finding synopsi? synopseses? either say to much or can be misleading. I'll read them once to make sure I'd actually be interested in reading it, but aside from that...meh

The next two books I got from the Book of the Month club. I recently signed up for this once again. I don't believe I got one in July...so hopefully this is news to you. I was subscribed to them before and about the same time I unsubscribed to Owlcrate I unsubscribed just because I felt like I was mostly just skipping a month pretty regularly but then I started to notice that when I went to my local book store I was buying the books that were offered on Book of the Month for that month, but I was paying full price... for instance American War and Chemistry were both offered in June and July (not both at the same time but one after the other) and so I recently decided to sign back up and do a bit more research in the books before skipping the month or choosing a book. Book of the Month is another subscription box, but instead of getting hints or clues or themes for the month you have 5 books to choose from. Book of the Month has a variety of judges in which five give recommendations of new releases for that month. These book I believe are $14.99 and for a new release hard back, that's a pretty good deal, if you want more than one it's an extra $9.99 which again is a great deal for a new release hard back. They have a variety of genre's, it's different every month and if you aren't interested in that month you can skip and wait til next month. They ship pretty quickly too. With Uppercase or Owlcrate they tend not to ship until mid month, while Book of the Month ships as soon as you choose a book or books and tell them to ship your box. There are a couple of little extra goodies that go into this, a note from the judge explaining why they recomended the book (sometimes it's the author themselves) occasionally they'll put in Book of the Month swag, but it's not near as much as Uppercase or Owlcrate.

So for August I got two the first being one of the five options:

Little and Lion by Brandy Colbert

Published August 2017, by Little Brown

I've heard a couple people talk about this and love it, it sounds interesting, and with Book of the Month that tends to be why I pick books, is just one that sounds interesting, but what's also great about Book of the month is that if you felt like you picked the "wrong book" or there was a there was a month you missed that had a book you had wanted to read, if it's not sold out, you can add it to your box for $9.99. Not that I feel with that with this one, but I have picked books before thinking I picked the most interesting one, only to then hear and be interested by another with in that same month.

From what I understand this book is about this Suzette who I believe is bi-sexual, she comes home because her brother is dealing with bi-polar disorder and want her support. When coming back she finds herself falling for a girl her brother has fallen for as well. The issue, aside from her brother liking the same girl, is that this girl is not a person that should be around her brother as he's trying to get a hang on bi-polar disorder. Suzette will have to face her past mistakes in order to help her brother presently before he hurts himself, or worse.

The book I got in addition to this one was an "extra" that Book of the Month offered, in which they do on occasion, and that's:

The Clockwork Dynasty by Daniel H. Wilson

Published August 2017, by Doubleday Books

Ok so admittedly...I bought just for the cover. I have a soft spot for steampunk. Not really sure what this book is about, there seems to be time travel involved it's supposed to be a pretty good thriller as an anthropologist named June tries unravel the secrets of ancient technology but not to unravel time.

The next two I got were from Book Outlet, again if you haven't heard of them, it's like a thrift store online, new-ish books for a decent price, I haven't seen anything on there for over $10

The first being a graphic novel actually, and with fall coming I thought this would be perfect:

Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

Published June 2011 by First Second

I've heard nothing but good things, the cover attracted me as well. Those who know me know I really picky in terms of art style, and so far this reminds me of Soppy or Sarah's Scribbles.

Anya wants a friend, she's self conscious about her body, embarrassed by her family, and has given up trying to fit in at school, so when she falls down a well one day, that last thing she expected was a friend, let alone one who's been dead for years.

The next book I was able to get was

The One and Only Ivan by Kathrine Applegate Illustrated by Patricia Castelao

Published January 2012, by Harpercollins

So honestly, I love the cover, and I thought it'd be a cute book for my niece. I wasn't sure what it was about, I just bought it and was able to get some kind of collectors edition. However when it arrived I was surprised as all hell because instead of a small children's book like I had expected to get, I got a massive 2 pound book approximately 11x14 inches. My niece and I had tried to read this, but she's still a bit young to try to sit through a book that didn't have illustrations on every page. But from what I gathered it's about Ivan, who is the only gorilla in a circus and his best friend who is a small elephant.

The next one I got was from August's Uppercase box and that was:

Everything All at Once by Katrina Leno

Published July 2017, by Harperteen

I had heard a bout this book a couple times, but it wasn't really on my radar, but that's one thing that I like about subscription boxes is that you get something you might not have picked up on your own.

This book is about Lottie Reaves. Lottie plays it safe in life, she doesn't take unnecessary risks, she likes to avoid the possibility of getting hurt, that is until her beloved aunt Helen dies of cancer. Aunt Helen wasn't a typical aunt. She was the author of a magical series where two brother find the elixir of life. This series inspired an entire generation of readers, and Helen knew how writing could inspire people to see things differently. In her will Helen leaves a writing project for Lottie, a series of letters each containing instructions that are supposed to get Lottie to take the leap, and for once in her life, live her. But when the letters start revealing secrets about Helen's beloved series, Lottie finds herself faced with an impossible choice, one that will force her to confront her greatest fears once and for all.

These last three books were I again got at Northtown Books, I ended up special ordering:

Walk on Earth A Stranger by Rae Carson

Published September 2015 by Greenwillow Books

This is the first in the Gold Seer Trilogy, and this wasn't on my radar at first, but then this last semester my mom got a package in the mail and she got a signed copy of the second book in this series which is Like a River Glorious. Apparently my mom had helped critique the manuscript, we're thinking because one of my mom's friends had wrote a review about Walk on Earth a Stranger. The reason why it wasn't really on my radar, despite having seen this book here and there was because it's about the gold rush, and I knew I was going to be mad if it didn't include Native Americans, and I was most likely going to be mad if it did include Native Americans. The reason being, if a writer isn't Native American, or they don't do their research in the right places (because there are definitely wrong places) they tend to get the representation of Native American's wrong. I guess Walk on Earth a Stranger did just that, hence why my mom's friend wrote quite a low review letter to the author and this is why, I'm guessing, my mom got to critique Like a River Glorious. So when she got a signed copy as thanks for critiquing the manuscript, she had recommended I read it because she actually enjoyed it, however she didn't know it was the second book in a series, hence why I got this book.

So like I kind of mentioned, this book is about Lee Westfall, a girl with a loving family, a loyal steed and a best friend who may want something more. But Lee has a secret, she can sense gold around her. From the veins deep with in the ground, to the nuggets in the streams, to the dust under someones nails. She has been able to support her family even through the harshest of winters, but what would someone due enable to control a girl who can sense gold? Murder? Perhaps. So when everything Lee holds dear is ripped away from her she flees to California. A place where gold was just discovered, and somewhere, she hopes, she can be herself, if she survives the journey.

So the reason I special ordered this from my local book store is because I don't trust online shopping for certain things, bras, pants, shoes and books. The reason being, which I wasn't aware of until I tried getting Winter by Marissa Meyers, the fourth book of the Lunar Chronicles. I ordered this online, trying to get a paper back, because I'm one of those people who needs the books in a series to be matching otherwise it bugs me....Winter came to me and as I went to put it on my shelf with the rest of its series, I was horrified to find out, that despite it being paper back, it was shorter than the rest of the books. Because despite, waiting a year for the paper back to come out, apparently other more than one publisher decided to publish this paper back, and there for altering how it fit in with the rest of the series.

My boyfriend thinks I get to wrapped up in this, that it's the same story, why does it matter if it doesn't match. While I full on just got rid of that copy of Winter because it really did bug the hell out of me. Not wanting the same thing to happen with the Gold Seer Trilogy, I made sure that I got the hard back by the same publishing company for Walk on Earth a Stranger from my local book store.

And when I went to go pick it up I also picked up two other books, one I had seen before and told myself it it was still there I'd get it, and it was! And that was:

The Space Between the Stars by Anne Corlet

Published June 2017, by Berkley

First off, cover love. Secondly, after listening to Hitchhiker's Guide Through the Galaxy I was wanting more space type books and so this sounded really interesting.

This book is a dystopian following Jamie Allenby who just wants her space. She wasn't forced to emigrate from Earth, she was happy to leave the overpopulated and claustrophobic planet. When a long relationship devolved into silence and and suffocating silence she found work on a frontier world on the edges of civilization. Then the virus hit... Now Jamie finds herself dreadfully alone, with all that's left of the dead. Until a garbled message from Earth gives her hope that someone from her past may still be alive. Soon Jamie finds other survivors, who combined, make a ragtag group bent on traveling the expanses of space for the hope of a new beginning on Earth. But their dream will pit them against those desperately clinging to the old ways. And Jamie's own journey will help her close the distance between who she was and who she is meant to be.

And finally my last book was an impulse by, It sounded interesting, why not?

The Little French Bistro by Nina George

Published June 2017, by Crown

Marianne is stuck in a loveless, unhappy marriage. After forty-one years she decides to take action. After a dramatic even happens in the Seine, Marianne decides to travel to Brittany, also known as the Edge of the World. Where she meets colorful, unforgettable locals who surprise her with their warm welcome and natural ease they live their day to day lives in. Enjoying the smaller things in life Parts of Marianne start to reveal them selves after years of being forgotten, and Marianne soon discovers it's not too late to search for what life should have been all along.

Alright that's my August Haul, let me know if you've read any of these, and what your thoughts were

otherwise, I'll talk to you later!

Until next time!

Litta

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