Back to the Bookstore

I generally don't like to create TBR lists because as soon as I add a book to one, the last thing I want to do is read it. For me, it takes something that should be fun and relaxing and makes it stressful. Reading is a past-time, not a job. 

That being said, I haven't finished a book since the fall and that's a really poor showing. On Friday, I got myself to the bookstore, and picked up a few new books to get me excited about reading again. I've chosen two books to tackle this month: 

I'm really looking forward to these two books. "Big Magic" in particular I've already previewed on Apple iBooks and it seems very motivational. 

I have plenty of time to read on the bus on the way to and from work each day. Maybe I'll even live tweet as I go? You can follow me on Twitter to see how I make out. 

Leave a Comment big magic, book, Drew Barrymore, Elizabeth Gilbert, Goodreads, read, reading, wildflower

Share:

All Hallows Read

This October, I'm going to be joining in the All Hallows Read, hosted by booksbeyondimagining on tumblr. The point of this is to read "whatever you want as long as it is scary". She is also going to be holding several challenges, including 31-minute reading sprints every Saturday. If you're interesting in, check out the hashtags #allhallowsread and #allhallowsreadingsprint on tumblr. 

My TBR list for this AHR and the month of October includes eight spooky reads that have been sitting on my bookshelf for the past little while until it became the right season. It just doesn't feel right reading scary books until the autumn. I'm also the sort of person who reads and watches scary things only during the day, because I get spooked really easily. That being said, I'm not sure if I'll be able to get through all eight books before Halloween, but I'm sure going to give it a go! 

Dead Scared by S.J. Bolton - Goodreads, Indigo

In the Woods by Tanya French - Goodreads, Indigo

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - Goodreads, Indigo

Nightmares! by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller - Goodreads, Indigo

The Dead of Winter by Chris Priestley - Goodreads, Indigo

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson - Goodreads, Indigo

Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough - Goodreads, Indigo

In the Blood by Lisa Unger - Goodreads, Indigo

All of these books were purchased online through Indigo.ca or in store at Chapters-Indigo. They are my favourite place to buy books because you get plum points with your purchases, there are almost always discounts online, and shipping is super fast. The last time I purchased from them online, the order had shipped two hours later and it was the middle of the night! Super great service and I highly recommend them. 

I've added all these books to my All Hallows Read 2015 bookshelf on Goodreads. If you're on Goodreads, feel free to add me. If you've read any of these books or have any other spooky novel suggestions, comment below! I'd love to hear what you think. 

Leave a Comment All Hallows Read, books, Goodreads, Halloween, Indigo, reading, TBR

Share:

Current Thoughts: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

The book I've currently got on the go is Rachel Joyce's "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry." I choose this book because I loved the cover, and also because I heard one of my favourite YouTubers, Hanna Twigg of the channel booksbeforelooks, recommend it. I am currently on page 177. 

This isn't a book I'll read just anywhere, although that's not because I'm ashamed of it or anything. I think we've all got those guilty pleasure reads that we don't want anyone to know we indulge in. This book, however, I want to read on lazy weekend mornings when I don't feel rushed. Where I can make a cup of green tea, stretch out on the couch or deck chairs, and just enjoy myself. I want my focus to be on the content, and not on how long it is until we arrive at my stop, or until my lunch break is over. I like reading about the English countryside while looking out at my garden. As such, I haven't been reading it much at all during the week. 

I can already tell this is a book that will be hard to leave behind. Joyce has a great ability to flesh out characters, even side characters that we only meet for a few pages. I really liked Martina and felt sad when Harold left her to continue his walk. Rex is growing on me too, especially with how he supported Maureen when she told him the truth about where Harold was. That present he made Maureen was also so sweet. The pushpins on the drawing of the map of England from the beginning of the book also make more sense now. 

My favourite quote thus far: 

"Beginnings could happen more than once, or in different ways" (page 156). 

Leave a Comment book, books, Harold Fry, Rachel Joyce, reading, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

Share:

Venturing into Booktube

I follow a few people who are members of "Booktube", which is essentially a community of readers on YouTube. Their videos include hauls, reviews and other associated literary content. I am a big reader myself, although it can be a struggle to find the time and energy to read on a daily basis.

Now, I have more than enough unread books on my bookshelves to keep me busy through to 2015. That being said, I love watching book hauls because they provide me with so many new books to potentially purchase, including those I never would have considered. I admit I tend to judge books by their covers. Booktube, therefore, opens me to books I may have written off.

Anyway, what with Christmas presents and Boxing Day sales, I have amassed a large quantity of new books and thought I might as well join in the fun.

Long story short, I made a video. You should check it out.

Leave a Comment book haul, books, booktube, Goodreads, reading, TBR

Share:

January Wrap Up

Its fair to say that, book-wise, it has been  a fairly dismal year thus far. I set out with the goal of reading 4 books in the month of January and, as of this moment, I have only read half that. By the 31st of the month I had managed to finish only Book #1. I redeemed myself slightly by finishing Book #2 on February 2nd. Book #3 was completed on the train ride home from work yesterday. Book #4 hasn't even left the shelf. 

All in all, a rather poor showing. That being said, I won't be allowing myself to stay behind. I do have a goal of 50 books read for my 2014 Goodreads challenge, after all. I'm also determined to accomplish the 4 books I've set myself for my February TBR (post to follow soon!). 

Leave a Comment book, books, Goodreads, January, reading, TBR, wrap up

Share:

Goodreads and TBR January 2014

This morning I signed up for a Goodreads account. Now, admittedly, I already have one for my personal use, but now I have a public one as well. You can find me there under the username crownandkingdom.

I will undoubtedly be signing up for a Reading Challenge for 2014, but I am still trying to decide just what my goal should be. 50 books? 60? I like to aim high, but I want to enjoy what I'm reading without feeling rushed. I will likely aim for 50. 

I have already created a new shelf, to house my TBR list for January. For those of you who aren't familiar, TBR stands for To Be Read. I am aiming for 4 books in January, and if you follow me on instagram or twitter (@crownandkingdom), you'll already know what these books are: 

- Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick

- The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (aka JK Rowling) 

- Doctor Who: The Silent Stars Go By by Dan Abnett 

- Winter Town by Stephen Emond 

As you can see, January will be a fiction month, with a good dose of nerdy fun. I hope to post brief reviews of the books once I have finished reading them. 

Leave a Comment books, Goodreads, reading, TBR

Share: