October & November 2016 | Monthly Wrap Up(s)

Well October and November were certainly... something, let me tell you. The end of October was possibly just the best part of my year, if not the last few years. So many friends together for LeakyCon, and LeakyCon itself just was fantastic this year, and I miss everyone so much - even with the texting and skype, of course (Well, google hangouts are easier).

And Brianna - who I saw for the first time in over two years at Leaky, see why it was so ahhhh? - and I accidentally started like a full Sanderson reread? There's a few each of us haven't read, but mostly we're focusing on the cosmere. I'm currently in the middle of Words of Radiance (currently kind of taking a break from it because everything is a little crazy, we'll get into that). Really mostly cosmere, but I do want to reread books 1 & 2 of Alcatraz and then read the rest since all the new pretty editions are out, too.

Books:

• Asking for it (Asking for It #1) by Lilah Pace (4/5)
• Slaugherhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut (5/5)
• Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1) by Leigh Bardugo (5/5)
• Flight by Sherman Alexie (I still don't know?? I would recommend checking it out, though)
• Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2) by Leigh Bardugo (5/5)
• The Way of Kings (Stormlight Archives, #1) by Brandon Sanderson (5/5) (really 10/5)
• Dispatcher by John Scalzi (3/5)
• Her Halloween Treat (Men at Work #1) by Tiffany Reisz (4/5)
• Her Naughty Holiday (Men at Work #2) by Tiffany Reisz (4/5)
• Something Nice (Original Sinners #1.5) by Tiffany Reisz (5/5)
• Screwdrivered (Cocktail #3) by Alice Clayton
• The Siren (Original Sinners #1) by Tiffany Reisz (5/5)
• Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) by Sarah J Maas (3/5)
• Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2) by Sarah J Maas (3/5)

Graphic Novels/Manga:

• Giant Days, Volume 3 by John Allison, Max Sarin (4/5)

I wouldn't say I had a bad two reading months - especially because I hit my goal of 100 books for the year (book books) at the very end of November, like the 30th, so that's fantastic. However, in november of books it doesn't feel like a lot. To be fair to myself, though, I've been working on Stormlight, as I mentioned. And, for some reason, I read those books super slow - I love every second of them, but they're just dense for me for some reason. (Which is why I'm still only halfway through WoR, as well). 

To off set that I read romance and YA Fantasy because I read those two the fastest and they're my light fluff reads - which is something I just noticed as I was going through this list. Also a few audiobooks because at the beginning of November a friend brought the Sims back into the forefront of my brain, new expansion pack released. and that was the end of that - so much audiobook time, though. 

Anyway - read quite a few Tiffany Reisz, accidentally started a reread of her Original Sinners series, which I love. Also loving her Men at Work series, but it's definitely not on the same level as Original Sinners - it's good, though, and the banter is pretty great. 

Six of Crows I already want to reread - I started it last year and stopped, but this time. Whoo, there was no stopping me, I tore through both books and loved them both so much. I love the characters and how we see how the world is after the events of the Grisha trilogy. And they're diverse, I love Jesper to my soul. And also Kaz has like chronic pain?? I just love this duology??

I don't normally go over everything I read but - Throne of Glass. I started the first book the year I came out because I got an ARC and then stopped halfway through about and never continued. And so I ended up picking it up again - audiobook, there's a theme here - and I finished it but I don't think I liked it? It's interesting and some of the scenes and enjoyed, but overall? I've very confused about how I feel about the first two books in this series, and I guess I'll keep reading it? I want to know what happens, and I've been spoiled a little for later books, but do I care? I honestly don't know.

But it's been a weird as fuck week, and also currently in the middle of WoR so anything else just isn't Sanderson, and also it's just been a weird as fuck year, to be honest. But, yeah, this week - I think I was casually diagnosed with scoliosis? But the chiropractor thinks he can fix it? But... scoliosis? it's been a weird few days, I need to see an actual doctor, I think? (I'm so confused, about life and books and really just everything).

Anyway, we'll figure it out eventually. I hope you had a good months in general and reading wise, we live in a post election world now which doesn't feel good but there's things we can still do to fight back. (Yeah, I'm bringing politics in at the last minute). And my back doesn't hurt that much at the moment, so everything will be okay? I don't know anymore, 2016 is almost over, though. Hopefully the craziness doesn't carry to 2017. (Though...)

November 2014 Wrap-Up

November was a very strange month for reading because of NaNoWriMo. I'd planned on just writing a smaller amount then normal and take time to write and read - but I forgot how addictive over achieving is. So that plan, quickly, dissolved.

• The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater (5/5)
• Click-Clack the Rattlebag by Neil Gaiman (4/5)
• Hawkeye, Vol 3: LA Women by Matt Fraction (5.5)
• Hawkeye: #13, #15, #17, #19 by Matt Fraction, and illustrator/artists (4/5)
• The Wicked and the Divine #3 by Kieron Gillen (4/5)
• The Dream Thieves (Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater (5/5)
• White Cat (Curse Workers #1) by Holly Black (5/5)
• Red Gloves (Curse Workers #2) by Holly Black (5/5)
• Black Heart (Curse Workers #3) by Holly Black (5/5)
• Chew, Vol. 3: Just Desserts by John Layman (4/5)
• Howls' Moving Castle (Howl's Moving Castle #1) Diana Wynne Jones (5/5)
• Three to Ride by Sophie Oaks (2/5)
• Siren Beloved (Texas Sirens #4) by Sophie Oaks (3/5)
• No Plot? No Problem: Revised and Expanded by Chris Baty (5/5)
• The Siren (The Original Sinners #1) by Tiffany Reisz (4/5)
• Wallbanger (Cocktail #1) by Alice Clayton
• Girl in Love (Kylie Ryans #3) by Caisey Quinn
• An On Dublin Street Christmas (#1.1) by Samantha Young
• Until Fountain Bridge (On Dublin Street #1.5) by Samantha Young

If I've counted right, I read 22 things this month. Considering it was NaNoWriMo and I also wrote 300k+ words, I'm very pleased with this. A few were single issue comics, and I think I won't count them towards my reading challenge on goodreads last year. I can't decide (any opinions?)

Anyway - I really enjoyed quite a few of the books I read this month, even though it feels like I read some of them months ago, instead of just a month ago. Stills, out of all of these books, I'd have to say The Raven Boys and The Dream Thieves were my favorite - I'm loving this series and I can't wait to read the third on. They're incredible and I'm still surprised at how hard I feel for these books.

The Hawkeye comics are also pretty incredible, I'm loving them and am in denial about them ending (two issues left right? Or is it over? I don't want to check). And the Curse Workers series was really good, and I marathoned them in like eight hours, I think. Howl's Moving Castle was breathtaking and the fantasy world was incredible. Though, I do think I enjoy the movie more, which is rare, but it's just so good (I watched that, in full, for the first time this month as well).

I also read some predictable romance, towards the end, just because I was feeling so burnt out. On everything. Writing, reading, I couldn't even try to watch a TV show. I'm still kind of in that mood, so the beginning of December will probably be filled with some romance - but I can't fault them. Sometimes you just need some light, fluffy stuff to read, right?

How did your month go? Reading and otherwise? Have you read any of these books and how did you feel? I hope you had a great month! And my December TBR(ish) post should be up tomorrow).

November TBR

I was, actually, considering not even making a post because NaNoWriMo - but I want to read this month and not just write. I want to write a lot and I have some ridiculous writing goals, but it's also a goal of mine to keep reading. And reading can help me write something, just to get out of my own head.

Saying that - I don't really know what I'm going to read, saying that. I'm still kind of in the horror mood, because I didn't get to read as much horror as I would of liked - but I also have a stack of recent releases that I've preordered and am super excited for all of them. Examples: Lock In by Scalzi (Old Man's War had cemented my love for him, saying that I could read The Ghost Brigades), Every Breath by Ellie Marney, Grace Helbig's book, Illusions of Fate, The Iron Trial, Snow Like Ashes - just a giant pile of books I want/need to get to because it's getting ridiculous and slightly terrifying.

And I'd like to read more of the Lovecraft book I'm working through and finished The Shining Girls, because it doesn't look like I'm going to be able to this month and I was really loving it. And also - graphic novels. I went on a bit of a graphic novel buying binge this month and I had bought some - and now I just have a backlog of them that is too big. So I'd like to read a few of them and they're quick, easy reads that are also fantastic and beautiful, so there are literally no downsides to them.

Also, I'm going to say it now, I don't know how much I'll be posting this month. I meant to pre-write a bunch of posts like an organized, mature, adult, and then life came out of fucking nowhere and I just haven't had the time or the energy to do it. It's been an insanely busy month and I've been exhausted, just worn out, for a very large chunk of it.

And November isn't going to make me feel less exhausted, by any stretch of the imagination. Hopefully, I'll be posting some stuff and I'd like to post weekly kind of 'wrap-ups' about my writing for NaNoWriMo. Though, of course, I'll be posting daily stats updates on my new Tumblr NaNo blog - I'll also probably be tweeting constantly.

If you're participating in NaNo - let me know! This is scheduled to go up the second so it's already started - off to a good start? Make sure to try and get ahead this first week to prepare for week two blues. (Also if you want to be my buddy on the site).

Noveber and December wrap-up

I didn't expect to read much in November, and I didn't at all, basically just one book, but it was a pretty good one books (light, no real though, what I needed really).

• Assassin's in Love (Assassin's Guild #1) by Kris DeLake

December I had some time to read again, and I'm planning to read a lot in January considering there's a read-a-thon happening in the second week. Anyway, books I finished in December are:

• Naked in Death (In Death #1) by J.D. Robb (reread)
• Betrayal in Death (In Death #12) by J.D. Robb
• Interlude in Death (In Death #12.5) by J.D. Robb
• Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood #1) by J.R. Ward (DNF/Lemmed)
• Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #1) by Laurell K. Hamilton (reread)

I gave into some things that I wanted to reread this month, I'm getting really far into both the In Death and Anita Blake series and it was interesting and a little weird to go back to the start, really fun. And I love the In Death series, anyway. I tried Dark Lover because of all the good feedback and I could barely get pass the 25% point, I wanted to brain myself and I normally give a book longer to hook me but I just couldn't.

Not a lot of books, but that's fine, I'm at 115 books for the year and my original goal was 50, which I upped to 100, so I'm very, very happy with that.