2018 Biannual Bibliothon Day 5: Reading Update!

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Day 5 is done of the Biannual Bibliothon and let me tell you, it was a lot better than yesterday. Last night I started the audiobook for Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen for challenge #4, which is to read a book with mental illness. The audiobook is about 12 hours and 45 minutes, and last night I listened to 1 hour and 20 minutes, which means I listened to like eleven hours and twenty minutes of it…to be fair it was at double speed (apparently that is how fast my brain goes) but still, I am really proud of that! I loved listening to this book on audiobook, and since I have read this book a few times I didn’t feel like I was missing anything. As for All the Light We Cannot See, I read about 20 pages and came to a conclusion. A conclusion which is that there is no way I can finish this book by Friday. The writing style is beautiful and complex, and I am really enjoying the story (even just from the 50 pages I have read), but this is not a story I can, nor want to read quickly. Soooo, yeah another change in plans but that is okay! Instead of reading this book for the challenge of reading a book I have never heard about, I have decided to give London Belongs to Me by Jacquelyn Middleton. Honestly, I have no idea what it is about other than it involves London and is a contemporary, which is good enough for me! I will start it tomorrow but overall I am a lot more pleased with my reading progress today than I was yesterday. Hopefully you are all having a good reading time too!

Day 5 Reading Count:

Books Finished: 1

Pages Read: 394

Biannual Bibliothon Info:

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2018 Biannual Bibliothon Day 4: Reading Update!

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Day 4…not the best reading day. Today was just one of those days where after school, I needed to do nothing and just relax. However, I did read a bit tonight and managed to read 30 pages of All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. It is a dense book however, so I am wondering if I will be able to finish it before Friday. I am going to keep reading it, but if I feel like it isn’t going to work I think I might pick up Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli because 1) it is really short and 2) I did know what it is about, but now I have no idea. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if I switched over. Apart from those 30 pages, I also listened to 1 hour and 20 mins of the audiobook version for Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen. Yes, another switch, I know, I know! I just really wanted to listen to another audiobook and this was the only Sarah Dessen one I could find on my library website. The audiobook is 12 hours, but if I go on a few walks this week and listen to it whenever I’m doing mindless tasks I know I will be able to get it done for Friday. I would be using this book for the challenge of reading a book with mental illness (the best friend’s sister suffers from an addiction) but I do really want to re read Just Listen still, but I might do that after the readathon unless I somehow find the time to breeze through it. Luckily, I am not too worried about changing my TBR a bit just as long as I read 6 books and complete 6 challenges!

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Day 4 Reading Count:

Books Finished: 0

Pages Read: 72 (ugh!)

Anyways, that is all for today’s reading update and hopefully tomorrow will be a bit better. Don’t forget to check out my other blog post from today: 2018 Biannual Bibliothon Day 4: Holiday/Winter Fantasy Bucket List 🙂

Biannual Bibliothon Info:

Instagram: @BiannualBibliothon

YouTube: @BiannualBibliothon

Other Places You Can Find Me:

Twitter:@zoermathers

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June 2017 Wrap Up!

June was a kind of slow reading month for me, but I still really enjoyed all the books I read so to me it was a good reading month. Anyways, here are the three books that I managed to read in the month of June.

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Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen – This is a feel-good contemporary following a girl named Sydney, who lives in a family where she feels invisible next to her shining star of a brother, Peyton. That is, until Peyton does something that puts the entire family in an unwanted spotlight and Sydney can’t escape it. It leads her to a new school where she meets a new group of friends that she connects with, and discovers that maybe she isn’t meant to stay invisible. This was a re read and it was what I needed to read for my last month of school, and as  always, I loved it! 4.5/5 stars

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Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare – This was my most anticipated release of 2017, and let me tell you, I was not disappointed. The first book in this to-be trilogy, Lady Midnight, follows a group of Shadowhunters in a world of demons and angels, and that’s really all I want to say because I really recommend you read all of Cassandra Clare’s books before diving into this trilogy otherwise a lot of it won’t make sense! This book focuses more on the plot and characters rather than the world building because this world has already been introduced to fans in Cassandra Clare’s other series. But anyways, this exceeded my expectations and made me fall in LOVE with Christina and Mark’s relationship which I cannot wait to see more of! 5/5 stars

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City of Bones by Cassandra Clare – It has been great jumping back into The Mortal Instruments series and I am excited to continue re reading the rest of the series. This is the first book of six, and it follows fifteen year old Clary Fray whose mother is mysteriously kidnapped one day, and she sets off on a journey to find her along with a few new companions. Along the way, she realizes she lives in a world of demons and angels, and that she has more of connection to it than she realized. If you haven’t read this series I highly recommend it because it is such a fun, gripping read!

Those are all of the books I read during the month of June and I hope you enjoyed. Don’t forget to check out my last blog post: Reading/Writing Update!

Reading/Writing Update!

Yesterday, I finished re reading Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen, and I didn’t realize how much I needed to read that book! I was in desperate need of light hearted, easy contemporary that I could just fly through. School has been a nightmare recently since I only have a few days left, and I needed a contemporary to read rather than a fantasy or sci fi book. I am, however, continuing on with Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare. I am loving it so far, I am just no able to find the time to read it for hours upon hours. Anyways, I have about three hundred pages of Lord of Shadows left and I am excited to continue on with it!

For writing, I think I have written ten thousand words or so…not really sure but I have been keeping up with it! I have not written since yesterday, and I don’t plan to today because I am physically and mentally exhausted, but I am hoping to get a thousand or so words written tomorrow!

That is all for my reading/writing update and I hope you enjoyed. Don’t forget to check out my last blog post: Camp NaNoWriMo 2017 Prep #1: Characters!

Reading/Writing Update!

This week I have been working on reading Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare, and I have been loving it! I wish I had more energy and time to read it, but I have had to make due with what time I have. I am almost half way through it, and I have already felt so many feelings, which Cassandra Clare does very well. I have no idea when I am going to be able to finish it, but once I do, I plan on diving into Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen. I love reading this book in the summertime, and since summer is basically here, I am dying to give it a re read!

I actually wrote a story this week, and it was about three thousand words so I was pretty proud of that. It has to do with assassins which is something I have been very into writing lately, and I don’t know what I am going to do with it yet. I do need to do some rewriting and revising desperately, but once that is done I definitely want to get it out there somehow.

That is all for my reading/writing update and I hope you enjoyed. Don’t forget to check out my last blog post: May 2017 Wrap Up!

June 2017 TBR

June is the final month of school for me, and luckily I have no big exams this coming from month so I do plan to do lots of reading!

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Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare – I am currently reading this book, but it is massive that it is taking me a while to get through it. If you didn’t know, Lord of Shadows is the sequel to Lady Midnight, which follows a group of Shadowhunters who are trying to figure out the murder of Emma Carstair’s parents’ death. This was my favourite book of 2016, so I am super excited to continue reading the sequel because I am already loving it!

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Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen – I love the vibe I get when I read this book so I am planning to read it the last week of school. Saint Anything is about a girl named Sydney who has spent her whole life out of the spotlight, but when her brother, Peyton, does something that puts the whole family front and centre, she realizes she can’t escape it. This is a really fun, light and summery contemporary that I cannot wait to re read!

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The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan – I started reading in May, but I got distracted with Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare so I never finished it. The Dark Prophecy is the sequel to The Hidden Oracle, and follows the god Apollo as he is cast down to earth as a mortal. This is a very funny and fast paced series that I cannot wait to continue on with.

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White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L Armentrout – I suspect that this will be a really fast paced, easy read as most of Jennifer L Armentrout’s books are, so I am excited to get to it later this month. I know this book deals with supernatural creatures and that is all I really want to know about it. I like to go into books like this without a clue what is going on, just to be pleasantly surprised.

Those are all the books I plan on reading in the month of June, and I hope you enjoyed. Don’t forget to check out my last blog post: Reading/Writing Update!

 

Long Reads!

I do enjoy my quick, easy reads, but it is also nice to fully indulge in a book for several hundred pages. If you too enjoy long reads then here are a few recommendations!

lady-midnight-by-cassandra-clareLady Midnight by Cassandra Clare – This is a pretty thick book, being almost seven hundred pages long, but it is absolutely fantastic. You do have to read all of Cassandra Clare’s other books before you read this one, but trust me, it is so worth it. Lady Midnight follows a group of Shadowhunters (half human half angel) who try to uncover the mystery of Emma Carstairs’ parents’ death, but it turns out to be more than they bargained for. A story with a great cast of characters and a thrilling plot!

SaintAnythingSaint Anything by Sarah Dessen – This book is a little over four hundred pages, and that is quite a lot for a contemporary, but since summer is here it is a definite read. Saint Anything is about a girl named Sydney who is used to being in the shadows, unseen and unheard. But when her brother does something that puts a spotlight on the entire family, she finds that she can’t outrun it. I just flew through this book, and I definitely believe it is one of Sarah Dessen’s best work.

anemberintheashesAn Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir – An Ember in the Ashes is a fantastic book that was easily one of my favourite reads of 2015. It was action packed, and had some drops of romance here and there. An Ember in the Ashes follows two perspectives, Laia and Elias. Laia is on the run after her brother was taken by the Empire, and Elias is trying to escape the Empire. We follow these two misfits as their paths intertwine and they face a series of deadly challenges. It is a gripping read that you will devour whole.

throne-of-glass-sarah-j-maasThrone of Glass by Sarah J Maas – In this series, the books just keep getting larger and larger, but I am okay with that. Throne of Glass follows a badass assassin, Celeana Sardothien, who is being given the option to leave the slavery camp she is trapped in forever, or work for the king. She jumps at the offer only to be faced with a series of battles to the death, in order to become the King’s personal assassin. This is a book with lots of epic fight scenes, and scenes that will keep you on your toes and wanting more!

the-unexpected-everything-9781481404549_hrThe Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson – For a contemporary this thing is HUGE, being over five hundred pages and all. The Unexpected Everything follows a girl named Andie who had her whole summer mapped out. She had a great internship lined up, was on the way to have a quick summer romance, and was ready to have epic adventures with her friends. That is, until her father, a popular congressman, is involved in a political scandal and her plans dramatically change. This is another fun, summery read that I definitely recommend since summer is around the corner!

Those are some longer book recommendations to read and I hope you enjoyed! Don’t forget to check out my last blog post: Writer’s Motivation Pack!

Beginner’s Guide To: Contemporaries!

I obviously love contemporaries because I tend to read 3-5 a month so I thought I would start a series inspired by Christine (Polandbananasbooks) series on her YouTube channel where I recommend some contemporaries if you are new to the genre or the need some more recommendations!

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins – I know I recommend this book a lot, but it is a must read contemporary and is also a perfect book to welcome you into the contemporary world. Anna and the French Kiss follows a girl named Anna who is sent off to a boarding school in Paris for her senior year of high school. There, she meets a group of close knit friends and is immediately drawn to one of them named Etienne St. Clair. We watch their relationship grow as obstacles are thrown in their way and overall is a heart breakingly sweet contemporary!

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell – This is such a cute book that shows that being love shouldn’t have to do with how you look, but with who you are. It follows our 2 main characters Eleanor and Park who come from completely different worlds but somehow manage to form a relationship that really blossoms throughout the book. You feel a lot of strong emotions reading this book and it is just a fantastic book!

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen – If you are reading contemporary you have to read a Sarah Dessen book because she is one of the Queen’s of contemporary! Saint Anything is about a girl named Sydney who is always used to being in the shadows until her brother, Peyton, is arrested and suddenly a spotlight is directed on her. Now feeling lost in her family and her place in the world, she goes to a pizza parlor and finds it to be a place where she is welcomed. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it!

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han – I love, love, love this book with all my heart because it is everything you could want in a contemporary! In this book we follow Lara Jean, a girl who has been writing love letters to the boys she loved since she was young, and when the letters mysteriously get sent out, she finds herself digging a deep hole if lies to prevent the boy she currently likes from finding out the truth because if he found out it could hurt the people closest to her. This book makes you grin with happiness and melts your heart with every turn of the page.

Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson – Since You’ve Been Gone is such a fun, summery contemporary read because we follow our main character, Emily, who’s best friend Sloane mysteriously disappears but leaves a bucket list behind for Emily to complete. Convinced it will lead her to her friend, Emily sets off to complete this bucket list with the help of a few new friends. Ugh, this book was such a fun journey to read during the summer, but honestly you can read it whenever and wherever!

Those are some contemporaries to start or hopefully continue your love of contemporary and I hope you enjoyed! Don’t forget to comment some other contemporaries you love and also check out my last blog post: January 2017 Wrap Up!

Feel Good Books

I don’t know about you, but I love to read books that make me feel good. My definition of that is books that have a storyline or character that I can relate to and then I get to see them have a “happy ending”. Reading books like that just makes me hopeful and well, feel good. Here are a few of my favourites and I hope you try at least one out!

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen – I feel like this story is a story that lots of people can relate to. It involves family drama and tension which I think is an aspect in novels that isn’t put in the spotlight enough. Saint Anything is about a girl named Sydney who is used to living life outside of the spotlight, that is, until her brother is arrested. It follows her moving to a new school and making new friends and overall is a really great story that leaves you feeling all warm and tingly at the end!

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins – This is honestly one of my favourite books ever. The characters are so real and have normal day to day struggles that every single person can relate to. It follows Lola, a unique and expressive girl who is having a great life until everything is flipped upside down when her old neighbour and first love, Cricket Bell, moves back next door.

Just One Day by Gayle Forman – I have mentioned this book recently because I just read it not that long ago. Just One Day is a cute, realistic read that shows that not everything goes as plan but that doesn’t mean it will have a bad outcome. It’s about this girl named Allyson who is on a trip around Europe which is coming to an end until she meets a boy named Willem and runs off to Paris with him. They spend an incredible day together until she wakes up and he’s just gone. The book follows her life after that, all the ups and downs, and the undying urge of figuring out why he left without an explanation.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by JK Rowling – This is very different from the other books I have mentioned and it doesn’t fit my definition of a feel good book but it just does make me feel good when I read it, and I am sure lots of you can relate. Something about the world and storyline just makes it fit into this category and I just love it.

Those are a few recommendations and I hope you enjoyed this post! Don’t forget to check out my last post: Motivating Yourself to Write and I will see you in my next post!

Favourite Summer Reads!!!

Summer is sadly coming to a close but I did read a few pretty amazing books. I read a total of 13 books this summer, which I am very proud of and here are my top 5 favourites!

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead – This is the final book in the Vampire Academy and I must say that it was one epic finale. I absolutely loved this book! Richelle Mead closed everything nicely and I felt completely satisfied with how it ended. Vampire Academy was such a fun and gripping series that I can see myself re reading in the future hopefully sooner rather than later. If you haven’t read this amazing series definitely check it out because you will not be disappointed! 4.5/5 stars

Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson – I think I have raved quite a bit about this book but I can’t help it so I am going to fangirl over it a little bit longer. I cannot believe it took me this long to pick up a Morgan Matson book because it sent me craving for another one! I got a lot of comments saying to start with Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour or Second Chance Summer but I am really glad that I chose Since You’ve Been Gone because it was just…ugh, perfect! 5/5 stars

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen – This was my first Sarah Dessen book and again, really glad I started off with this one! It was everything a successful and entertaining contemporary should be and I just flew through it. I flipped each page wanting more and more and it made me laugh and cry and again, another amazing summer read! 4.5/5 stars

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas – I am so mad at myself for not reading this sooner but I’m just glad that I did pick it up. It exceeded way, way, way above my expectations and I could not get enough of this book. Everything is just so…rich. The story itself, the characters, her writing…it was just a very satisfying and fantastic fantasy book! 5/5 stars

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier  – I’ve heard about and seen this book around and it was at my library so I just decided to take it out. BEST IDEA EVER! I really, really liked this book. It was compelling, humorous, and interesting and I am so excited to continue on with the other 2 books! I’m not a huge fan of time traveling books just because I find them somewhat confusing but this was written so well and told in an easy way to understand! 4.5/5 stars

Those are my top 5 favourite summer reads and I hope you liked it! Don’t forget to comment your favourite summer reads and check out my last blog post: My Go To De-Stress Books!