Audiobook Review: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Title: Salt to the Sea
Author: Ruta Sepetys
Narrators: Jorjeana Marie, Will Damron, Cassandra Morris, & Michael Crouch
Publication Date: February 2, 2016
Publisher: Philomel Books
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Winter, 1945. Four teenagers. Four secrets.

Each one born of a different homeland; each one hunted, and haunted, by tragedy, lies…and war.

As thousands of desperate refugees flock to the coast in the midst of a Soviet advance, four paths converge, vying for passage aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that promises safety and freedom.

Yet not all promises can be kept.

Inspired by the single greatest tragedy in maritime history, bestselling and award-winning author Ruta Sepetys (Between Shades of Gray) lifts the veil on a shockingly little-known casualty of World War II. An illuminating and life-affirming tale of heart and hope.

Salt to the Sea is totally not the kind of book I would usually read. I read a lot more fantasy and dystopian fiction than I do historical fiction (as in I can't remember the last historical fiction I read), but the shipwreck angle of this book really caught my attention. I'm a sucker for disaster stories, so I figured this might be up my alley after all. Basically, I went in expecting to read a book about a ship sinking, but this turned out to be so much more than that!

There are four main characters in Salt to the Sea - Joana, Florian, Emilia, and Alfred - each with a unique story. I absolutely adored Joana, Florian, and Emilia. The way their stories wound together was incredible. Usually I have a really hard time connecting with characters in historical fiction, but Ruta Sepetys did a fantastic job of making these characters sympathetic and at times I felt maybe too much for them. Alfred made my skin crawl, but I also felt sorry for him, which is not something I think just any author could have pulled off. Although there is romance in Salt to the Sea, it is both subtle and extremely well done. You will not find insta-love in this book! The relationships in the book form slowly and realistically, especially amongst such extraordinary circumstances.

The narration of this story is split between all four of these characters. I don't usually care for split narration, but it actually worked really well in this case. Each character is hiding big secrets and bringing a different perspective to the events that are taking place and I don't know if that could have been achieved as beautifully had this story been told from a single perspective.

Obviously, this story is set during World War II, a time period I don't often read about, so I felt like I was being introduced to a somewhat new setting and the author did an amazing job of setting the stage. I felt like I could picture the bleakness that each of these characters was facing, despite which side they were on in the bigger picture of the war. The maritime tragedy mentioned in the synopsis doesn't actually come into play until fairly late in the book and everything up until that point is about braving a country ravaged by war. The conditions these four people face are brutal and Sepetys does nothing to sugar coat it.

My favorite thing about Salt to the Sea is that I feel like I learned something about history that I may have never learned otherwise and even got to share it with a few other people. As a teenager I was a Titanic junkie and devoured everything I could find about that and other great sea disasters, so I was extra shocked to find out that there was one even worse that I'd never even heard of. The history this book tells is incredible and heartbreaking and has shockingly been overlooked by (at least American) history teachers.

The only small complaint I have about this book is that it moved a little slower than what I usually prefer. Had I not been listening to the audio, it's very possible that I might have put this back on the shelf to be continued later. Luckily I WAS listening to the audio and was able to feel the full emotional effect of reading it all at once.

Ruta Sepetys has seamlessly combined history and fiction together In Salt to the Sea to create a heartbreakingly brutal story. I've already recommended this book to several people who I know enjoy historical fiction and will continue to do so.

Thoughts on J.K. Rowling's new Harry Potter "books"

Back in February the world lost its mind when J.K. Rowling announced that she would be releasing The Cursed Child (the new Harry Potter sequel being released as a play in two parts later this year in London) as a book.

Shortly after the original announcement, Rowling clarified that this was not a separate book, but was actually the screenplay itself being published.

Like the rest of the Harry Potter fandom, I was ecstatic over this news! The world has been asking for a new Harry Potter book for YEARS and it seemed that Rowling was (kind of) finally delivering!

When I realized that J.K. Rowling had not actually written the screenplay, but had only collaborated with the writers, I was a little disappointed, but still preordered a copy. After all, I'm not going to be making any trips to London in the near future and I haven't heard any word of The Cursed Child being released on Blu Ray, so my only option is to read it!

The world has also been pretty excited about the upcoming release of the new film, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which will be a separate story, but still based within the universe of Harry Potter. Unlike the play, the movie is actually being written by Rowling herself! Of course I can't wait to see it!

On Tuesday we received another piece of information about the expanding Harry Potter universe - Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is being released as a book! You may ask, "Isn't it already a book though?" Yes, yes it is.

The Fantastic Beasts film was actually based on a very short book by the same name, which was released in 2001 as a companion to the Harry Potter novels.

"So then what is the new book?" you may wonder. The new Fantastic Beasts book is none other than... the screenplay of the movie. It seems a bit odd for the screenplay of the movie to be released, in my opinion, especially when it's very common for the novelization of a film to be released. But, honestly, who is going to complain about another Harry Potter book, even if it's just a screenplay of a movie we can all see in theaters later this year?

I've seen a mixed reception of this news - some think it's amazing fan service, some think it's a needless cash grab, and some don't care one way or another.

My biggest concern is that the original Fantastic Beasts book may become more and more difficult to find in the wild. Already The Hogwarts Library (a three pack with Fantastic Beasts included) has been removed from Target's website, although it was an easy find as recently as a couple weeks ago. I've heard from others that the original book may be removed from store shelves altogether to make room for the new screenplay and I would find that to be very upsetting. No matter what happens, I'll have my set, which I ordered today just in case!

I'm curious to see what your thoughts are about these new developments in the Harry Potter world! Will you preorder both these books and read them immediately? Do you feel that releasing The Cursed Child script and Fantastic Beasts screenplay was a good move or a bad one?

Let me know in the comments!

Waiting on Wednesday #98: The Merciless II by Danielle Vega

Happy Wednesday, fellow book lovers! This week's "can't wait to read" is:

The Merciless II by Danielle Vega Publication Date: July 5, 2016

Danielle Vega—YA’s answer to Stephen King—once again brings major scares in the spine-tingling sequel to horror hit The Merciless, which MTV calls “Mean Girls meets The Exorcist.”

Sofia is still processing the horrific truth of what happened when she and three friends performed an exorcism that spiraled horribly out of control. Ever since that night, Sofia has been haunted by bloody and demonic visions. Her therapist says they’re all in her head, but to Sofia they feel chillingly real. She just wants to get out of town, start fresh someplace else . . . until her mother dies suddenly, and Sofia gets her wish.

Sofia is sent to St. Mary’s, a creepy Catholic boarding school in Mississippi. There, seemingly everyone is doing penance for something, most of all the mysterious Jude, for whom Sofia can’t help feeling an unshakeable attraction. But when Sofia and Jude confide in each other about their pasts, something flips in him. He becomes convinced that Sofia is possessed by the devil. . . . Is an exorcism the only way to save her eternal soul?

Readers won’t be able to look away from this terrifying read full of twists and turns that will leave them wondering, Is there evil in all of us? 

I stumbled onto this book totally by accident! I reviewed The Merciless back in 2014 and really enjoyed it, but I don't think it was meant to be a series back then. I'm SO glad Danielle Vega is releasing a part two! I'll definitely add this to the pre-order list!

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"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking the Spine.

Top Ten Tuesday #93: Delightful bookish products

Today's Topic: 

 Ten Eight Delightful Bookish Products
That I Wouldn't Mind Owning

I'll admit, this week's topic stumped me. I didn't know quite what to do with "book worm delights," but the first thing that came to mind was some of the amazing bookish products I've stumbled across on Etsy. Off to Etsy I went! Today I'm bringing you eight of the coolest book-related items I've found that I would LOVE to have (or have already purchased).

  

    

Ravenclaw House Crest Pendant

Peter Pan Never Grow Up Pendant

No Admittance Except on Party Business Doormat

  

Hogwarts Crest Macbook Decal

Middle Earth Map Wall Clock

  

Harry Potter Bookmark Set

The Winner's Curse Bite & Sting Candle

Origami TBR Jar

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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

Audiobook Review: The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead

Title: The Glittering Court (The Glittering Court #1) 
Author: Richelle Mead
Narrator: Kristen Sieh
Publication Date: April 5, 2016
Publisher: Razorbill
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Big and sweeping, spanning from the refined palaces of Osfrid to the gold dust and untamed forests of Adoria, The Glittering Court tells the story of Adelaide, an Osfridian countess who poses as her servant to escape an arranged marriage and start a new life in Adoria, the New World. But to do that, she must join the Glittering Court.

Both a school and a business venture, the Glittering Court is designed to transform impoverished girls into upper-class ladies who appear destined for powerful and wealthy marriages in the New World. Adelaide naturally excels in her training, and even makes a few friends: the fiery former laundress Tamsin and the beautiful Sirminican refugee Mira. She manages to keep her true identity hidden from all but one: the intriguing Cedric Thorn, son of the wealthy proprietor of the Glittering Court.

When Adelaide discovers that Cedric is hiding a dangerous secret of his own, together they hatch a scheme to make the best of Adelaide’s deception. Complications soon arise—first as they cross the treacherous seas from Osfrid to Adoria, and then when Adelaide catches the attention of a powerful governor.

But no complication will prove quite as daunting as the potent attraction simmering between Adelaide and Cedric. An attraction that, if acted on, would scandalize the Glittering Court and make them both outcasts in wild, vastly uncharted lands…

Wow. Okay, full disclosure - I almost DNF'd this book several times and only decided to finish it so my review would be fully informed. Basically I wanted to make sure I wasn't complaining about things that were later worked out. There are so many things wrong with this book I don't even know where to begin, but I'll try to make a coherent review out of this.

The Glittering Court is a book that is trying to be way too many things all at once. Someone (the author? the publisher?) saw fit to market this book as fantasy for some reason I can't quite figure out. The best way I can describe this book is historical fiction with lots of name swaps. The setting varies from 19th century England Osfrid to the American Frontier Adoria, where they are literally mining for gold. This book has it all! English(ish) nobility, pirates, Native Americans Icori "savages," and Pagans Alanzan heretics.

To be honest, The Glittering Court seems like (at least) two books crammed into one, although neither quite works for me. The first half is about Elizabeth's Adelaide's desperate flight from an arranged marriage... into another arranged marriage where she will actually be sold to the highest bidder. Um... what? So anyway, Adelaide runs away to The Glittering Court where she will (pretend to) learn to be a lady in order to gain passage to the New World for... reasons. Fast forward eight months and she's on her way! Then the whole story spirals into a Wild Wild West story complete with cowboys and Indians. But, wait! There's more! Every time this book seems like it might be over, it keeps going. Seriously, this book has more endings than The Lord of the Rings.

The Glittering Court made no sense at all and left me with more questions than answers. Here are a few: 

• HOW did no one find Elizabeth/Adelaide?? She was an extremely well-known, influential member of high society in a time period when pictures existed. And NO ONE thought to look in a house full of girls her age that her maid had a connection to? 
• Better yet, how was this not in every newspaper? How did no one at The Glittering Court know about this? Much suspension of disbelief is needed. 
• Why in the hell would Adelaide run away from an arranged marriage into an arrangement where she would basically be sold to the man with the most money? What exactly was Richelle Mead's thought process when she came up with this plot? 
• How exactly did this "romance" with Cedric even happen? Maybe this would have been better explained had eight months of their story not been jumped over, but I did not buy it at all. They go from acquaintances to in love with next to no explanation. 
• What was the point of the Alanzan religion? It seemed like it was thrown together last minute for added drama. 
• Is what Tamsin has at stake really that big of a secret? Are there people who didn't figure this out immediately? 

This brings me to the actual ending of The Glittering Court, also known as the most glaring example of deus ex machina I have ever seen in my reading life. Just... wow. Dear authors everywhere, bringing in a random character who has never appeared in the story to save the day is extremely lazy writing and your readers are not fooled. 

I haven't even gotten into the blatant sexism and racism in this book, or the fact that the secondary characters are infinitely more interesting than Adelaide is. I could honestly go on and on with the problems I found with The Glittering Court, but I'll leave it at that. I wanted to enjoy this book so much. Unfortunately, my first Richelle Mead book is definitely going to be my last. 

Weekly Recap: 4/17 - 4/23

My Super Exciting Life 

This week was a little less hectic than last (thank goodness) and I was able to get in a bit more reading thanks to some free time and a great audiobook selection at my library! I started off the week with a re-read of A Court of Thorns and Roses in anticipation of A Court of Mist and Fury, which comes out on May 3rd. I had intended to read it slowly in addition to whatever else I was reading in order to stretch it out a couple weeks but... I accidentally binged it. Then I had a terrible book hangover and had an awful time trying to focus on anything else! I believe the only thing that will cure this is the new book, so I plan to watch Barnes and Noble like a hawk since they have a tendency to release books days early.

The rest of the week was fairly boring - lots of puppies had to be walked, but that's about it. Last night I decided to watch Atonement on Netflix and I had no idea what it was even about. The only reason I even watched it was because Benedict Cumberbatch was in it. Um... wow. I have never heard of this movie or the book it was based on and I was totally not expecting to feel that many feels. I'm usually into action and horror, but this was a really nice change of pace!

By the way, my blogiversary was last year week (brain fart), so don't miss the giveaways I have going on! I'm giving away a signed copy of Queen of Shadows here on the blog and a copy of Truthwitch on Twitter/Instagram!

New Books

Library:

      

In Case You Missed It

Monday book review of Alight
The topic was best witty characters for Top Ten Tuesday
I featured A Torch Against the Night for Waiting on Wednesday
On Thursday I hosted a blogiversary giveaway
Friday book review of Not a Drop to Drink

This Week I Read

  

    

Upcoming Reviews

  

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I'm linking up to Stacking the Shelves & The Sunday Post!

Book Review: Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis

Title: Not a Drop to Drink (Not a Drop to Drink #1)
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Publication Date: September 24, 2014
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 309
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Regret was for people with nothing to defend, people who had no water.

Lynn knows every threat to her pond: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most importantly, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty, or doesn't leave at all.

Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival, and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.

But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. The mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won’t stop until they get it….

With evocative, spare language and incredible drama, danger, and romance, debut author Mindy McGinnis depicts one girl’s journey in a barren world not so different than our own.

I purchased a copy of Not a Drop to Drink quite awhile ago, but was never quite ready to read it. Although I love dystopian books, something about this one made me unsure, not willing to commit. I finally decided to read it as part of my Dystopia Reading Challenge, despite my doubts. As I suspected, it was quite a bit different from anything else I've read, but I'm glad I decided to go for it!

Not a Drop to Drink is a story about a girl and her pond and that's basically it. Lynn is the heroine of this book and her sole purpose in life is to defend her home and her water source. That's what she's been trained to do since birth. That's all she's ever known and she is willing to go to brutal lengths to keep what's hers. Lynn doesn't spare a second thought for the man she puts a bullet through for coming too close. She's cold... but I liked her. I found Lynn to be a strong and likable protagonist, if quite a bit naive. My favorite part about Lynn was that she took new information into consideration throughout the book and grew as a character, unlike Mother who was set in her ways.

This is YA dystopian fiction so there's obviously some romance, but I thought it was written pretty well. Since there's no competition, there's no love triangle (yay!!) but there is a teensy bit of insta-love. I do think it makes some sense though, given the situation. The love interest is Eli, a city boy who has found himself out in the wild without a clue. Their romance was sweet and innocent and even painful at times.

The only other humans Lynn has any contact with are Stebbs and Lucy. Stebbs is her long-time neighbor who seems to have a really good set up at his place, so never bothers Lynn about her pond. I loved, LOVED watching her relationship with him grow as she came to trust him more. and Lucy is a little girl who comes to depend completely on Lynn for survival. My only issue with Lucy is that it seemed totally out of character for Lynn to basically adopt her because a stranger told her to. I'm not sure why Lynn couldn't have grown as a character without this happening.

All that is to say I loved (most of) the characters that Mindy McGinnis has developed for this book. They are all strong in their own ways and each is a vital part of the story. As for the world building, the story takes place almost entirely on Lynn's property and at the stream nearby. Because of this there isn't much world building at all, which is actually okay since that is literally the only world Lynn has ever known. What is revealed about the world is pretty disconcerting.

My real problem with Not a Drop to Drink was the pacing. The beginning and the end were full of action! For the entire middle of the book there were brief moments of action followed by long lags basically filled with day-to-day life. This was a short book, but it felt like even more of it could have been cut out. The action that DOES happen is gripping and shocking and pretty incredible! I just wish there was more of it!

Overall, this was a good read even if it wasn't perfect. The characters were amazing and the world, while sparse, was intriguing! I do think there could have been more action and I wish the story had been a little more focused on the confrontations with the people to the South and less on hauling water and chopping wood. I would recommend this readers who like their dystopian fiction a little slower and a bit more practical.

Happy two years to me - blogiversary giveaway!

Where has the time gone?? It seems like only yesterday I decided to start a blog so that my reviews could have a place to live. At the time I had absolutely no idea what I was doing (sometimes I still don't) but I found such an amazing family among the book blogging community that I could not begin to imagine leaving!

In honor of two amazing years among all of you, I'd like to take a quick book back some of the posts that have been the most liked here on Cornerfolds over the last two years!

Most viewed reviews: 

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

Winter by Marissa Meyer

The Story of Her Holding an Orange by Milos Bogetic

Hottest discussions:

Five types of Goodreads reviews that annoy me greatly

When you get your books crossed

Agree to disagree: voicing opinions without being rude

I've done more than I ever thought I would with this blog. I've met amazing friends among readers and authors, I've hosted two reading challenges, and I even have something super special in the works that you'll hear about later this year. I couldn't have done a single one of these things without all of you and for all of these reasons I am eternally grateful to the book blogging community! THANK YOU for another incredible year!! I hope to be around for two more! 

Giveaway (US only)

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Waiting on Wednesday #97: A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

Happy Wednesday, fellow book lovers! This week's "can't wait to read" is:

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir Publication Date: August 30, 2016

A Torch Against the Night takes readers into the heart of the Empire as Laia and Elias fight their way north to liberate Laia’s brother from the horrors of Kauf Prison. Hunted by Empire soldiers, manipulated by the Commandant, and haunted by their pasts, Laia and Elias must outfox their enemies and confront the treacherousness of their own hearts.

In the city of Serra, Helene Aquilla finds herself bound to the will of the Empire’s twisted new leader, Marcus. When her loyalty is questioned, Helene finds herself taking on a mission to prove herself—a mission that might destroy her, instead. 

IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THIS COVER, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS COVER!!! To say I'm excited about this book would be the understatement of the year. I adored An Ember in the Ashes so much! And can we please talk about the fact that this was originally supposed to come out in April and now we have to wait until the end of August?? I honestly don't know how I'm going to make it.

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"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking the Spine.

Top Ten Tuesday #92: Favorite witty characters

Today's Topic: 

 Ten Five Books With Witty Male
Characters That Made Me Chuckle

I knew I was in trouble when I read today's topic, but I didn't realize just how few humorous books I actually read! (Hint: It's basically none.) Instead, I decided to pick my five favorite witty male characters, which were much easier to come by. 

        

Lucien - A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas

Thorne - Cress by Marissa Meyer

Ezra - Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Freddie - The Royal We by Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan 

Sturmhond - Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

Book Review: Alight by Scott Sigler

Title: Alight (The Generations Trilogy #2)
Author: Scott Sigler
Publication Date: April 5, 2016
Publisher: Del Rey
Pages: 448
Add to Goodreads
Review for book 1

M. Savage—or Em, as she is called—has made a bewildering and ominous discovery. She and the other young people she was chosen to lead awoke in strange coffins with no memory of their names or their pasts. They faced an empty, unknown place of twisting tunnels and human bones. With only one another to depend on, they searched for answers and found the truth about their terrifying fate. Confronted by a monstrous enemy, they vowed never to surrender—and, by any means, to survive.

The planet Omeyocan may be the sanctuary Em and her comrades seek. But the planet for which they were created turns out not to be a pristine, virgin world. Vestiges of a lost civilization testify to a horrifying past that may yet repeat itself. And when a new enemy creeps from the jungle shadows, Em and her young refugees learn there’s nowhere left to run. They face a simple choice: fight or die.

In the midst of this desperate struggle, their unity is compromised from within—and a dangerous zealot devoted to a bloodthirsty god moves to usurp Em’s command, threatening to lead them all down a path to violent doom.

I read Alive last year without knowing anything, which is how the book was meant to be read, and I came out with my mind totally blown! While Alive kept the reader totally in the dark about every single thing that happened until the end, Alight is much more transparent in the continuation of Em's story. That doesn't make this one any less amazing, though!

**Spoilers for book 1**

Alight picks up right after Alive leaves off, with Em and her group approaching the planet Omeyocan in their stolen shuttle. Once they land, they quickly realize that their situation is becoming more and more dire and the group is pushed to new lengths in order to save themselves. These teenagers are put through hell in Alight. Not only are outside forces making their lives pretty difficult, but there are also internal struggles that threaten to rip them apart! In Alight, each character is delved into more deeply as is their precarious situation and their new surroundings.

Em continues to be an amazing, selfless character who is most concerned with the well being of the people she has been chosen to lead. She is incredibly brave, sometimes to the point of recklessness. Throughout this book Em learns more about herself and the world her creator came from, and decisions have to be made, forcing Em to grow up incredibly quickly. Not only does Em have to grapple with her past and current selves and how they fit together, but she is also trying to navigate her feelings for not one, but two of the boys she woke up with.

I usually prefer my books with a little romance, but here it felt kind of unnecessary. The two love interests, Bishop and O'Malley are just about as different as two people can be, as are her reasons for having feelings for each. Both characters were amazing, don't get me wrong! I just didn't quite understand exactly why she had romantic feelings for either of them apart from (maybe?) raging hormones, having was born into an adult body. Luckily, the triangle bit of the romance is completely worked out by the end of Alight, so I don't think we'll have to deal with anymore of that.

A lot of people complained that Alive was a book about people walking. Alight is not that. This book is almost non-stop action from start to finish. The poor kids in this book cannot get a break for a second. There are multiple enemies working against them from the moment their ship lands - the adults, the planet itself and its inhabitants, as well as Aramovsky. (I can confidently say Aramovsky is one of my favorite villains ever.) Discoveries are made almost constantly and the mysteries seem to be unending.

The setting of Alight is also fascinating! The kids land on Omeyocan with absolutely no information about the history of the planet, which has obviously been inhabited before, but appears to be totally abandoned. I found the whole thing to be incredibly unsettling! Everything definitely gave off a very Mayan vibe and I don't know if you've ever seen Apocalypto, but no thanks.

With so many popular series suffering from second book syndrome, I thought Alight was breath of fresh air and I even enjoyed it slightly more than Alive. Did I think the romance needed to be there? No. But I didn't feel that it took away from the book either. Fair warning, this did end with a cliffhanger. The good news is book three comes out in just a few months! Alight was a solid second book with an amazing setting, some great character growth, and a quick moving plot. If you're a fan of dystopian fiction, this is a series you do not want to miss!

Weekly Recap: 4/10 - 4/16

My Super Exciting Life 

I. Am. Exhausted. Wow. This week has been insane. My brother left on Monday evening and from there things got pretty crazy. I got a couple of new dog walking clients recently and it seemed like everyone was gone at once! I spent the entire week with lots of puppies, which my own furbabies were not very happy about... Haha! But I made it through and I believe things may slow down a little for a few days. I definitely need the rest!

My birthday was also this week! I turned 28 on Thursday and spent the day with about 9 different dogs, including my own, and also got to meet a friend for lunch. I got several books, which is amazing! It seems like my family has finally got on board with my bookish obsessions... Not pictured in this week's haul is a 1st printing of Catching Fire, which my brother brought me! It's a pretty cool addition to my collection!

You may have noticed (or maybe not) that things have slowed down just a little around here. I have dropped out of yet another meme - Waiting on Wednesday - at least for now. I found that I was scrambling to get my WoW post done at the last minute on Tuesday night just to have something to post, and that's the point at which I know a particular meme is no longer the best thing for my blog. It also seemed like the WoW comments were getting less and less personal. Instead, I think I'll try to continue posting discussions on Wednesdays as often as I can! Although I don't have a set-in-stone schedule for most days of the week, I think I'm probably going to start posting 5 days per week rather than 7 to make for more quality content and also to give me a couple days a week to focus on other things.

Finally, I'm excited to announce that my 2 year blogiversary is next week so keep an eye out for a giveaway! ;)

New Books

Birthday Haul:

        

Library:

  

In Case You Missed It

Monday re-read book review of Twilight
The topic was books for contemporary haters for Top Ten Tuesday
On Wednesday I asked if you finish series you don't love
Thursday mini DNF reviews of Truthwitch & The Calling

This Week I Read

  

  

Upcoming Reviews

  

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I'm linking up to Stacking the Shelves & The Sunday Post!