Bout of Books 15 | Goals + Update Post

Bout of Books 15 kicks off today! This should of been up yesterday, or at least earlier today, but I completely lost track of time and may or may not went to bed at 8pm last night. Anyway -  I'm not doing a separate goals and such post this time around, although I still really like the organization of it, but I figured I'd stick with the actual template they suggest for another time around.

My Goals

• Read. Plain and simple. I haven't been reading too much, and haven't ready anything yet this year period - mostly because of apartment guest, which was so much fun, but now that I've got time I'd like to try and knock out a few things early. 
• Visit blogs - not any certain number, but I'd like to visit the ones I know are participating, that I follow them on something, and also pop over to some new ones to check out.

Books to Read  

(I don't think I'll end up reading all of these - just a handful of things I'd like to get to soon, maybe this week. Also could pick something else up on a whim, who knows)

• The Queen (White Years #4) by Tiffany Reisz
• Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
• 100 Essays I Don't Have Time To Write by Sarah Ruhl 
• Monsters of Men (Chaos Walking #3) by Patrick Ness
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
• The Old Country by Mordicai Gerstein
• The Grownup by Gillian Flynn
• Ms Marvel, Volume 4: Last Days by G. Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona 
• The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Volume 1: Squirrel Power by Ryan North, Erica Henderson

Updates

Monday

Number of books I've read today: 1
Pages Read: 64
Time Spent Reading: 30 minutes
Books:
The Grownup by Gillian Flynn (started and finished - 64 pages)

Notes:

I didn't get a lot of reading done, and I'm not sure how well I'm going to do tomorow. I think I might be getting a cold - sore throat, sniffles - and just plain exhausted after the first few days of the year. It was a shit ton of fun but I need another good, long night of sleep, I think.

Let me know how you're doing, though! Or post a 

Tuesday

Number of books I've read today: 0
Total # of books I've read: 1
Pages read: 89
Total # of pages: 153
Time Spent Reading: 1 hour
Total Time Spent Reading: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Books:
Summer of Surrender by Zara Stoneley (started - 89 pages)

Notes:
I'm honestly surprised I got any reading done. It was a day, let me tell you. Also, I've just been having a hard time concentrating with all the stress and such. The time around New Years was kind of a break from that stress, but it's back full force now. Great.

Also renewed my Scribd subscription and picked this book up just on a whim. It's alright, not amazing, but it was less then 200 pages and just something for me to be able to read fast on my phone.

What are you reading?

Wednesday

Number of books I've read today: 2
Total # of books I've read: 3
Pages read: 248
Total # of pages: 401
Time Spent Reading: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Total Time Spent Reading: 2 hours, 50 minutes
Books:
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Volume One: Squirrel Power by Ryan North, Erica Henderson (started and finished - 128 pages)
Ms. Marvel, Volume 4: Last Days by G. Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona (started and finished - 120 pages)

Notes:
I was a little disappointed by Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, maybe I just wasn't in the right mood for it or something (that was probably it), but it was just a little meh for me overall. Sadly, I was so looking forward to it. Ms. Marvel, on the other hand, made me tear up at multiple points. (Also Carol Danvers is life, guys, life. I love her an unhealthy amount, and have just realized this).

Thursday

Didn't read.

Friday

Didn't read - but started the Star Wars marathon (episodes 4, 5, and 1)

Saturday

(Watched episodes 2, 3, 6, and 7. And want to go see 7 again in theaters because of reasons and feelings)

Sunday

Number of books I've read today: 1
Total # of books I've read: 4
Pages read: 182
Total # of pages: 583
Time Spent Reading: 2 hours
Total Time Spent Reading: 4 hours, 50 minutes
Books:
Summer of Surrender by Zara Stoneley (finished - 93 pages)
Playing the Game by M.Q. Barber (started - 89 pages) (ehhh, might DNF)

Notes:
I have fallen such out of the habit of reading - I really need to get back into it. I'm hoping having my reading chair will help once life calms down a bit, which hopefully it'll start to in the next few weeks. I'll try and build a kind of routine with the reading - sitting in the chair for an hour or so after lunch and reading something, and then reading later, too. That's the plan.

I honestly think this is the least I've ever read for a read-a-thon, in general, let alone a Bout of Books. I did watch all 7 Star Wars movies, though - which I'm still not entirely sure how we decided to do that, but Haley and I did. And then we did it.

Anyway - it was still a lot of fun. Also the firs time I've really missed a twitter chat, I popped in and out of the one on Saturday, still watching Star Wars as I was.

How was your Bout of Books? Or just your week?

Bout of Books 15 | Sign Up

I honestly didn't realize how close this was - it's been really hectic here and, for some reason, in my head this is the second week of January? It isn't, it turns out, my brain lies. I'm not sure how the first few days will go because I have a friend staying over New Years and leaving anywhere from the 4th to the 6th - standby flying is always fun - but I don't mind because friend. Just might end up staring a day or two later.

To the actual point of this post.

Bout of Books is a weeklong read-a-thon that takes place multiple times a year (three times seems to be the thing). This January it runs from the 4th through the 10th, whatever time zone you are. There are two twitter chats, my favorite, and everyone's active and really nice, and excited about books. It's a very lowkey and fun read-a-thon, and I really hope to be able to get a few things read, whatever they are.

Official Blurb:
The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 4th and runs through Sunday, January 10th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 15 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. 
- From the Bout of Books team

Let me know if you'll be participating! I'll also be updating social medias - also about whatever shenanigans Sara and I are up to while she's here: updating goodreads and posting on Twitter, Instagram

Blog
Sign up post
Schedule

December 21st | Weekly Wrap Up #27

So I didn't put one of these up last week, because it was hectic and I figured a two week span wouldn't be that bad, I had other things to work on (end of stuff, beginning of 2016 stuff, none of it I have typed up yet), but now I wish I had done one last week because this week I have eye strain, a migraine (probably from the eye strain and has lasted all day), and also a fever. Overall bleh-ness, really.

That means this one is going to be a very short one.

Reading: (finished this week and actively currently-reading)
Falling for Him (The Karimi Siblings #1) by Alisha Rai (2/5)
THis wasn't horrible, to be fair, but it also just plain wasn't my cup of tea. I like my romance/erotica heroines to be sure of themselves, or at least faking it, and such. And she's independent, the main character in this one, but something about her was just a little eh, and the guy was kind of the same. Opening scene, though, the tension is pretty good.

The King (The White Years #2) by Tiffany Reisz (5/5)
I love this series, these characters. Particularly, the focus of this one - Kingsley Edge. I have no idea why I adore King so much, but I just plain do. And this one is all from his perspective, all about him and what was happening and it was just kind of fantastic. Also really loved Sam, and sad to not get more of her at any point, she was awesome.

The Virgin (The White Years #3) by Tiffany Reisz (5/5)
So if you haven't read the Red Years books, which technically take place after these but were published first, then these are about the years before those. They're about things that were alluded too or just things that happened before the Red Years books start - all in her Original Sinners series/universe. And I recommend them but heavy warnings - the Original Sinners stuff is dark BDSM, so fair warning of that, it won't be for everyone. Away from that - this series also has stuff after the red years series, is mostly them reminiscing, so you have to read red years first. (Blaming the little sense I made on my eye pain/fever. Apologies).

Curveball (Away We Go #1) by Charlotte Stein (2/5)
I was promised a good dirty talking hero - and not what I got. None of it was really interesting to me, I was bored a few pages in and that never really changed. Also there's one scene - no spoilers - where it had that moment of: wait, how are they positioned? How is that...? That sounds awkward and weird. So - not terrible, but not fantastic either.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Illustrated Edition (Harry Potter #1) by J.K. Rowling (5/5)
Long overdue a Harry Potter reread, been almost two years - two in january/february I think, but before that, I hadn't read them all through in years and year. Anyway - the illustrations in this are gorgeous and I was really glad that they weren't really taken from the actors, they're separate from them. I think my favorite illustration - without spoiling any of them because the others need to be seen, they're a delight - is the one of Hagrid and Harry on the boat away from the tiny island with the house. Hagrid's umbrella is the size I've always pictured it, it made me slightly joyful.

The Wicked and the Divine #16 by Gillen, McKelvie, and Matthew Wilson (4/5)
So curious to see where the hell this is all going.

Descender #7 by Jeff Lemire, Dustin Nguyen (2/5)
I'm just not really sure where this whole series is going, but I'll stick with it for a few more issues before making any decisions.

Legion: Skin Deep by Brandon Sanderson (5/5)
I think this one was definitely better then the first - more complex, strange, and interesting - and I'm honestly interesting to see where Sanderson is going to go with it, but I know that it's kind of shelved for a while because of Stormlight (which I am totally a fan of, because Stormlight - one of my 2016 goals, actually, is to try and make sure I'm all caught up on all of Sanderson's books. Anyway, not what we're talking about here).

Stuff:
Like I said up above, I'm sick. And I ended up missing the Yule ball today (yesterday for you guys), which I will be more upset about when I no longer have a fever and can see straight (or maybe no since New Years is happening - Malfoy Manor party, so damn excited).

Anyway - there isn't much I'm going to link here because I can't see straight enough to even talk about anything, but on my end: I want to get back into videos, also want to make a video and/or write a post that includes all of the things that have been going on in this apartment building since i've been here for six months now (maybe a post with everything and then video footage to kind of show you). If you're interested in that, let me know, but will probably do anyway - if not soon, in January at some point.

On that note - I don't think that the blogging thing is going to pick up again until January and, even then, a few days into January. I'm having a lovely house guest, and a good friend, staying over for New Years and while I'm very excited, I doubt that I'll be wanting to get much blogging done because I haven't seen her since May, and it might be until next October until I see her again. Also one of my other good friends, Haley, is back from her semester in London (sadly but also yay because I missed her!). So hectic last few weeks of 2015 and first few weeks of 2016, but I am so excited about it.

You probably can't tell because I might be planning on passing out as soon as I'm done typing this but I am super excited, just also feel like shit.

I hope your week was good, that you're day was fantastic, and that you are not sick. Also hope your Christmas (or solstice or whatever else you celebrate) is good and full of warmth. I guess I'll see you when I see you.

Random link things for your eyeballs:
*****Rosianna's Vlogmas videos have been so good, I'll be so sad when they're over. Personal and discussion-y and so close to home for me at points. Enjoy. And Rosi's videos are fantastic normally
Sanderson's end of year / future plans thing
Yorktown (The World Turns Upside down) from Hamilton (Hamilton love doesn't seem to fade, it's been constant for a few weeks now, let's be real I don't really want it to fade)

Note: Apologies for anything that doesn't many any sense / any typos.

December 7th | Weekly Wrap Up #26

I haven't done one of these in a while, but I've been really having the urge to blog and read lately, so hopefully that's a good sign I'm getting out of whatever the last few months have been. First off - I apologize that most of what is going to be in the 'stuff' section is just going to be stuff about what I've been up to instead of links - next week, or in two weeks depending on how much I read.

Speaking of reading - books first! What I've finished and then a brief mention of currently reading.

Reading: (finished this week and actively currently-reading)
Kaptara #5 by Chip Zdarsky, Kagan McLeod (5/5)
I just love this series and it's ridiculous sense of humor and the art. It's just all great.

Wayward #11 by Jim Zub, Steven Cummings (5/5)
Been with this series since the beginning, loving it. And looking forward to the next arc next year. Also, as always, highly recommend the single issues because of the essays about Japanese culture, normally related to what happened in the issue, in the back.

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness (5/5)
I just have loved everything this author has written that I've read so far and this was no exception - I really loved that their lives are happening just kind of around what would normally be the focus of some Chosen One story (which I love, don't get me wrong, but I've wondered about how the other kids survive/think about it since the prom scene in Buffy).

Doll Bones by Holly Black (4.5/5)
I mostly listened to this through audible - while making things, more on that in the stuff section - but about this one. This is narrated by one of my favorite narrators who, actually, I just recently put together as this. I think the first audiobook I really fell in love with was The Name of the Wind - I really loved his narration of The Knife of Never Letting Go, though, as well. Which is related to how I rediscovered him - about this, though - Fantastic read. Adorable, middle grade adventure, with hints of magic you can really take as real or not (I'm going to take it as real because magic).

And, on that note, I'm currently reading - listening to in this case - Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness. I've been putting off reading it because I know it's going to hurt, but I decided I finally needed to just do it. It's been long enough.

I'm also currently reading The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan - some reason I can't get into this, I don't know why but I'm going to keep trying, only 16% through. And 100 Essays I Don't Have Time to Write: On Umbrellas and Sword Fights, Parades and Dogs, Fire Alarms, Children, and Theater  - which I'm enjoying, I saw a few snippets of it posted somewhere and I really loved them. So far so good, about 18% through and taking my time.


Stuff:
So.
The stuff part I've been talking about.

I started this like intense crocheting period from the last few days of November, starting the 29th, to well it hadn't stopped as of writing this - yesterday, Sunday.  And I made a bunch of stuff and not a lot of reading was done during that time, but more reading then I'd been getting done, which I was more then okay with.

During the about eight days I made - a throw blanket (thick yarn, crocheted 3x5feet), 6 various types of hats (trying to figure out what pattern I like best, because hats), 1 thick yarn crochet scarf, 1 loom double knitted scarf (technically I think it's called the crossed stockinette stitch, but - double knitted, both sides). And that's only the stuff I've finished, there's quite a few things I've started (including the main body of teddy bear before realizing I had no stuffing, which I'll get soon hopefully).

I've been posting pictures, I'll link them at the bottom so I can list what they're of, but it's been a whirlwind, I'm not sure how this happened. I started crocheting about two months ago, September 22nd. I'd knitted before and such, but had never gotten into crocheting - and that was apparently a good thing. Because now I can't start. Also loom knitting, that's fast and a lot of fun, how I made most of the hats (5/6), and the double scarf.

Anyway, everyone who doesn't care probably skimmed that, which I completely understand, I also accidentally marathoned the whole first season of the Flash and the first two seasons of Arrow.(stalled in the beginning of s3 of Arrow, so just switched, meant to just watch a few episodes of the Flash. Oh well, I'll get back to arrow, if just for the badass ladies and Olicity).

What are you up to? I've been so out of loop, hopefully I can slowly get back into it, though I have a busy week head, more chiropractor stuff and probably more crocheting, hopefully reading.

I hope you've had a great week, and let me know what you've been up to or drop your own weekly wrap up link in the comments so I can see!

On the blog:

November 2015 | Monthly Wrap Up (Books + NaNoWriMo)

Pictures of the things I made - 
Almost everything together (sans 2 hats, because they weren't made yet)

Double loom knit scarf

completed throw

first (loom knit) hat

November 2015 | Monthly Wrap Up (Books + NaNoWriMo)

That title up there says books and NaNo because if I was just talking about things I read in November, this post would be nonexistent since I read the smallest amount I think I've ever read in a month before. And there were multiple reasons for that - and I think I'm currently okay with it, but I really desperately miss reading (and blogging, want to try to get back into it all - reading first, though).

Anyway - what I read and then we'll go onto NaNoWriMo and everything else

Books:

• The Shadow over Innsmouth by H.P. Lovecraft (3/5)

Trades/Graphic Novels:

• Black Widow, Volume 3: Last Days by Nathan Edmondson, Phil Noto (5/5)
• Civil War by Mark Millar, + (3/5)

Single Issues:

• Captain America: White #4 by Jeph, Leob, Tim Sale (5/5)
• Black Canary #5 by Brenden Fletcher, Pia Guerra (3/5)
• Wolf #4 by Ales Kot, Matt Taylor (3/5)
• Marvel's Jessica Jones #1 by Brian Michael Bendis (3/5)

I read a few more things then I thought I did, I guess I was just looking at the sad physical pile (3 single issues and a graphic novel). I read some interesting things this month. I'm really enjoying Cap: White and there's a lot of 3/5's in there, all for different reasons. Honestly, I forget sometimes how much Marvel comics can be awful at making me give a shit - this one failed spectacularly, and that fast as hell one eighty at the end left me kind of going what just happened? 

On the other hand, I'm so sad that run of Black Widow is over, it was so damn good. Mostly the art. And her cat. The art was damn gorgeous through the whole thing, so much love. 

Besides reading - and I think that's all I had to say - November was also very hectic. Apparently, a few days before the months started I dislocated my tailbone. this was unknown to me until the 1st where I spent like 12 hours sitting, typing, and was in so much pain by the end of it I couldn't walk / my whole back, pretty much, was hot to the touch. (Update - chiropractors are great, but tailbone is still dislocated. hey can go in and pop it back in, but will probably just happen again, at least from what I understood).

On top of that, instead of taking the light stress way of NaNoWriMo, which I am incapable of doing - I accidentally aimed for 300k. (I hate myself).

And it was just kind of a stressful month all around, I was at high anxiety levels, for some reason, for the whole month. And I know I'm less anxious when I'm not reading - and I'm really kind of not, a page here or there and some single issues but not really - and I really miss it. I miss reading, I know that I'm better balanced mentally, and also less anxious, when I am reading. So I'm hoping to put aside time to read in December, I've got a ton of books that are starting to impose a little since I haven't been reading anything and I'd really like to (also crochet, I just started a blanket, a throw, on the 28th and I'd like to finish it and then start a giant, full blanket because crocheting projects!)

Anyway - that was my month. High stress and anxiety, dislocated my tailbone, and I have no idea how it ended up being the end of the month already. I think I'm going going to put up a December TBR post and also start working on plans for this blog for the future. Because I've officially considered stopping, but I'd miss it and I love blogging (just I can't when I'm not reading, I feel like a fraud. Reading, blogging, back to YouTube - I have a feeling I'll get a kick from the New Year starting. So December night be a little empty here on the blog, but I'm hoping to try and get back into it again in January).

How was your month? What have you been up reading or just up to in general? I'd really love to know, I hope (regardless of if you celebrate Thanksgiving) that you had some pie this last week, because pie is delicious. And you deserve pie.

On the Blog:

October 2015 Wrap Up

November 2015 | NaNoWriMo and Life

Other Links:

NaNo stats page / profile

November 2015 | NaNoWriMo and Life

It's that time of year again, normally my favorite time of year, but we'll get to why I can't exactly say that quite this year. First, though, NaNoWriMo! I think I'm going to be using my writing tumblr again this year because I have almost no memory of the things I posted there from last year - ah, my memory.

Now - onto the life part of this post really quick. You've probably noticed, or maybe you haven't I understand, that I've barely been posting here - mostly just wrap ups or for read-a-thon - well there is a very good reason for that. I've been stressed. Like - more stressed then I thought possible.

I think I mentioned I moved on this blog - if not, I moved! Into an apartment, it's a studio loft and I really like it. However, there's still construction going on in the other part of the building, our side of the building isn't really done either. Oh, and my heater has decided not to work sometimes and it is louder then hell. (I'm not joking, it's fucking loud). Also, currently, there are beetles. How are they getting in? I don't know but I'm sick of them.

So it's been a tad stressful, and I've been trying to do some things - filming wrap ups and such - but I just haven't had the mental energy to write reviews. Which is really upsetting me at this point because I've barely posted any this year, and I like writing reviews. And blog posts in general, the last few months, there hasn't been much of anything going up here. I just haven't been able to think, in any direction for anything. I've also not been reading a lot, which I always kind of hate, reading makes me less stressed/anxious.

And that is why NaNo isn't my favorite time of the year this year - it still is, and I think I'll enjoy it a lot more once we get into it and everyones all about it - but I'm so stressed. And the thing is - I shouldn't be. After doing 50k day one last year, 25k is totally doable. And it's a Sunday, no workers here, no construction. Also  I normally write over 100k in a normal month, not much of it is original fiction but so what, it's still writing. And I enjoy that writing a hell of a lot.

I'm trying to calm myself down, I just think I put too many things on myself all at once. I decided I needed to have things ready/cooked for November and everything cleaned and what not. And I think the reason I don't want to accept that I can do that in a normal month, is because I love how much I end up spending writing in November if I"m doing it the insane way, I just really fucking enjoy it.

I love NaNoWriMo, and I'm hoping that reiterating these points to myself will help me calm down a little. Now - I am going to go and clean so that that isn't also stressing me out come November. And if you're participating in NaNo let me know! And let me know if you're going for 50k or if you're an overachiever, I'm super curious, and also if you know why my heater hates me, also let me know that.

Happy writing!


Writing Tumblr

October 2015 | Monthly Wrap Up

October was one of those months that feels like it went by in a blink of the eye, like I got really nothing done, in all honesty (even though I did get a few things read), but the last week was mostly oh god it's NaNoWriMo next month, which wasn't fun and stressful.

That's a different post, though, that I hopefully right we'll see. October was a month where I wanted to read something horror - because Halloween - but I didn't really end up doing that. I'm in the middle of listening to The Shadow over Innsmouth by H.P. Lovecraft (which I'm enjoying), but haven't been able to finish anything. There's always November when I get sick of typing, or December. Horror because of Christmas, perfect.

Anyway - what I read this month. 4 novels, 7 trades, 10 single issues. I have a feeling I'll be reading a bunch of single issues next month considering I just got my pull list and haven't had a chance to read any of them (whose behind? Pshhh.... I'm always behind for comics, I've accepted this).

Books:
The Allow of Law by Brandon Sanderson (5/5)
Shadows of Self by Brandon Sanderson (5/5)
The Martian by Andy Weir (5/5)
Welcome to Night Vale by Joseph Fink, Jeffrey Cranor (5/5)

Trades/Graphic Novels:
Virgil by Steve Orlando, J.D. Faith (5/5)
Locke and Key, Volume One: Welcome To Lovecraft by Joe Hill, Gabriel Rodriguez (5/5)
Locke and Key, Volume Two: Head Games by Joe Hill, Gabriel Rodriguez (5/5)
Locke and Key, Volume Three: Crown of Shadows by Joe Hill, Gabriel Rodriguez (5/5)
Locke and Key, Volume Four: Keys to the Kingdom by Joe Hill, Gabriel Rodriquez (5/5)
Locke and Key, Volume 5: Clockworks by Joe Hill, Gabriel Rodriguez (5/5)
Locke and Key, Volume 6: Alpha & Omega by Joe Hill, Gabriel Rodriguez (5/5)

Single Issues:
Captain America: White #2 by Jeph Leob, Tim Sale (5/5)
Wolf #3 by Ales Kot, Matt Taylor (3/5)
Black Canary #4 by Brenden Fletcher, Annie Wu (4/5)
The Wicked and the Divine #14 by Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie (5/5)
All New Hawkeye #4 by Jeff Lemire, Ramon Perez (3/5)
Nameless #5 by Grant Morrison Chris Burnham (2/5)
Captain America: White #3 by Jeph Leob, Tim Sale (5/5)
Spider-Gwen #1 by Jason Latour, Robbi Rodriguez (4/5)
The Wicked and the Divine #15 by Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie (4/5)
Invincible Iron Man #1 by Brian Michael Bendis, David Marquez (3/5)

Ended up being a bit of a Sanderson month, also want to reread his others I've read and get to the others I haven't read yet. (I got to see him, and he signed a few of my books, and it was really freaking awesome!!) And I guess on the horror front, Locke and Key definitely counts, and I love that damn series so much, pretty much what I read during Dewey's this year but no regrets!

There isn't much else to say that I can think of at the moment - Marvel comics are starting again, new Spider-Gwen and Iron Man, both I enjoyed. Also reread The Martian after I saw the movie, want to see the move again! - but if you've read any of these I'd love to talk about them with you, let me know in the comments, or what you're wrap up, what you're currently reading.

Happy (terrifying)  November!