bookshelf tag: time for a shelfie

January 8, 2016 Emily 3 Comments

I could not begin to explain to you my love for my dear bookshelf. I counted recently, out of curiosity (and decided I’d keep track from now on), and I own two hundred and ninety-five books. 295. That’s a big number. I just CRINGE at the thought of my house burning down, or having to give away my books, or anything that would result in the loss of my collection. Don’t even get me started on the signed ones.

I don’t take full-length pictures of my shelf often because it’s such a bother. It’s in an inconvenient place when it comes to pictures: right in between two windows, so lighting is horrible and the glares on shiny copies are even worse. But I was able to get a good shot and edit it so it’s a tad brighter so you can see a shelfie. 🙂 I realize I haven’t given you a peek at my shelf since last March and it’s changed quite a bit!

(I tagged myself for this tag, so I won’t be tagging anyone else, but feel free to pick up the questions and go for it! I’d love to see your shelf!)

Describe your shelf and where you got it from. It’s a Billy bookcase from Ikea. Or you could just say it’s a plain ole bookshelf, but I love saying Billy. Maybe that’s what I should call it from now on! Okay. So Billy has been with me for about a year. Before I had an expedite from Ikea, which was highly annoying because there wasn’t near as much room and it stuck out a bit farther than I would have liked. (In fact, you can see my old shelf at my first bookshelf tour here.)

How do you organize your books? By genre. I’ve wanted to switch it up – such as by color – but this works best for me and I feel like organizing by color would just really bother me. Switching and separating series and authors and all that. I absolutely dread separating my babies. I had to choose which bigger genre was better to organize by – for example, do I have a romance genre? – nope because I have historical, contemporary, dystopian, sci-fi, etc. ALL with romance in it. So it can get complicated. I just have to choose which is the widest genre.

What’s the thickest/biggest book on your shelf? Essays and Poems by Ralph Waldo Emerson is thick, but only 512 pages. Winter looks smaller because of the Bible-thin pages, but it’s 827 (gloriously awesome) pages.

What’s the thinnest book on your shelf? Clifford’s Graduation Day, gifted to me by my kindergarten teacher. Still totally a fave.

Is there a book you received as a birthday gift? IS THERE. I could probably tell you all the ones I received for my birthday this past year, a few months ago, but other birthdays?! Probably half my collection, so I couldn’t recall all of them. Let’s see… The 39 Clues, The False Prince, Upside Down In The Middle of Nowhere… those are just a few!

Is there a book from a friend on your shelf? I have the nicest bookworm friend, Brooke, who’s really the only friend who gives me books – aside from family, but even my cousins my age don’t buy me books – and yes I have several. My FAVORITE is my signed copy of Cinder, which was my Christmas gift. 😉

Most expensive book? I rarely pay full-price for a book, unless it’s just come out so the library or used bookstore doesn’t have it, or it’s a signed copy. Most recently I paid $18 for a hardback signed copy of Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, but who’s counting? Because: SIGNED. *internally fangirling forever*

The Last Book You Read On Your Shelf? The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz. (Read my review for it here!) I loved it so much! It was such a fantastic first 2016 read.

Do you have more than one copy of a book? I have duplicated copies of The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet and several copies of American Girl books… oh, and two of The False Prince – one hardback and one paperback but signed… and two copies of To Kill A Mockingbird (which I haven’t even read yet)… annnnd I think that’s it? Maybe? Mostly this happens if a family member buys me a book I already have, or I get a signed copy after I’ve bought one, or I just want a nicer edition!

Do you have a complete series? I own The Ascendance Trilogy, The Selection series (though you’re out of luck if you want to borrow it because two are signed – sorry Sydney), The Family Tree series, In Grandma’s Attic series… but the one I’m most proud of is The Main Street series by Ann M. Martin. I own all 10!

What’s the newest addition to your shelf? I have a ton of new books from Christmas, but I had a Barnes & Noble gift card and bought Allegiant for myself a few days after Christmas. But like I said. We Shall Not Talk About That Series On This Blog.

What’s the most recently published book on your shelf? OH GOSH. Let’s see here… The Hired Girl was September 8; Winter came out on November 10; The Golden Braid was November 17… I don’t see any others further than that, so I think The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson? I own a lot of new releases!

The oldest book on your shelf? The oldest book as in since it has been published, or the longest I’ve owned it? Or the oldest copy??? I’ll do both: oldest book… the Bible? Hehe. Or Sense & Sensibility – that would be 1811. Oldest book I’ve owned… oh wowzers, I couldn’t do that. I’ve owned books since before I owned books. (And I know that didn’t make sense but that just goes to show HOW long I’ve been collecting these things.) SO… I’m just going to say my dad’s copy of Charlotte’s Web? Somehow it ended up on my shelf and it’s falling apart. I assume he’s had it since he was a kid… so it’s probably the oldest owned on my shelf. OR, if you count my great-grandmother’s books – for the oldest copy – (some dated 1937!)… those? But I haven’t owned those for very long. I DON’T KNOW, gosh.

A book you won? I’ve won several, but I can remember winning The Huntress Of Thornbeck Forest by Melanie Dickerson on Goodreads and Half a Chance by Cynthia Lord on Jessica’s blog a year or two ago.

A book you’d hate to let out of your sight? (Meaning no one is ever borrowing it. Ever.) The Selection by Kiera Cass, The Heir by Kiera Cass, The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen, Cinder by Marissa Meyer, Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, The Merchant’s Daughter by Melanie Dickerson, Pies & Prejudice by Heather Vogel Frederick… the list goes on. YOU’RE NOT GETTING MY SIGNED BOOKS, NO SIRREE.

Most beat-up book? 4th & 5th grade saw absolutely horrific spine-bending days. I was a spine-murder. Consequently, 99% of the books I own from those horrible, awful, despicable years… are falling apart. But I’ve had Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards since… ohhh… I’d say 2nd grade? (I think. Maybe 1st.) And I’ve re-read it a thousand times. So it’s pretty much as good as dead. (Except I will not be giving it away because it is a childhood favorite & my first copy!)

Most pristine book? Haven’t even touched Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard because a) signed, b) I got it about a week ago, and c) I read it for the first time from the library and I just haven’t re-read it in the time since I’ve gotten it. So it’s in perfect condition.

A book from your childhood? I’ve already named several and I am still a child so I could name one from today buuuuut… I’ll name all my American Girl books or The Boxcar Children. Because those are what got me into historical fiction & some of my first “chapter” books and I am eternally grateful. (Dating back 7-8ish years ago? I’m pretty sure. I am horrible with dates.)

A book that doesn’t belong to you? While You Were Gone belongs to my friend Hayden! I haven’t read it yet… and I really really really need to… but I will return it to her eventually. Once I experience the adorableness of Danny and Eevee again.

A book with a special/different cover? (ex. leather bound, soft, fuzzy, etc.) My GORGEOUS Barnes & Noble classic edition of the good ‘ole P&P. (Otherwise known as my #1 bae – did I actually use that word?! – Cause Mr. Darcy is basically me.) Anyway, it looked like it’s hardbound but oh no… it’s this soft, bendy (but not paperback bendy if that makes sense) beautiful cover with a golden ribbon as a bookmark and AHHH I JUST LOVE IT.

A book that is your favorite color? Piiiiink: the first Main Street book, the first Baby-sitters Club book, the first Mother/Daughter Book Club book (I’m seeing a pattern here) and Scent of Lilacs! (But a very light, pastel pink. I’m picky about my pinks.)

A book that’s been on your shelf the longest and you still haven’t read it? Dancing Through the Snow’s been on my shelf for three years! (Notice I set it next to my picture from Georgia’s snowpocalypse of 2014. XD)

Any signed books? SO MANY & THEY’RE SO BEAUTIFUL.

The Selection and The Heir by Kiera Cass, The Merchant’s Daughter by Melanie Dickerson, Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, Pies & Prejudice by Heather Vogel Frederick, Half a Chance by Cynthia Lord, Cinder by Marissa Meyer, Dead Fred, Flying Lunchboxes & The Goodluck Circle by Frank McKinney, Countryside by J.T. Cope IV… I think that’s it? (I think??) I LOVE THEM ALL.

i want to hear about your bookshelf! answer some of the questions below or take these questions & answer them on your blog! (i’m obsessed with bookshelves so i must see yours.) tell meeeee!

confessions of a bookworm

confessions of a bookworm: sharing isn’t easy.

January 6, 2016 Emily 8 Comments

I am a bookworm. And I must confess.

I hate sharing my books.

No, no, not lending my books. That’s a different story that I will tackle another time. I hate sharing the stories.

— wait, wait, let me rephrase. Not all the time. Of COURSE I want people to read the same books as me. Because, let’s face it, I read the best books.

But I mean…. erm. Well when a particular person starts raving about the characters… it makes me jealous.

Like, um, excuse me, missy, those are MINE.

It’s like how I imagine girls who have unhealthy obsessions with celebrities. They like to think they know absolutely everything about their particular celebrity crush and he’s theirs alone. When the truth is, he belongs to his friends.

It’s like that. With characters. And… the truth is, they belong to their authors.

Or… you know, you’ve got a best friend. Right? (I do! *waves* hey mom!) 😉 Well picture someone stepping in and snatching your best friend and being all “Oh my gosh she bakes the best brownies and her room is adorable!” and you’re all defensive because, well, you know. You know very well and for a lot longer than them… *scoff*

It’s like that. With the books. And… the truth is, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve known the characters, because now you and the person you lent your book to are both in square one. It’s an even playing field, and it can be hard.

I don’t mean to say all this to be selfish, but it’s confession time and it’s true. Sometimes, a teeny part of me likes to think I am the only one who knows these little people on paper. I DON’T LIKE TO SHARE.

sharing isn’t easy.

reviews

the hired girl by laura amy schlitz

January 4, 2016 Emily 8 Comments

Title: The Hired Girl

Author: Laura Amy Schlitz

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Publishing Date: September 8 2015

Source: Barnes & Noble

About: Fourteen-year-old Joan Skraggs, just like the heroines in her beloved novels, yearns for real life and true love. But what hope is there for adventure, beauty, or art on a hardscrabble farm in Pennsylvania where the work never ends? Over the summer of 1911, Joan pours her heart out into her diary as she seeks a new, better life for herself—because maybe, just maybe, a hired girl cleaning and cooking for six dollars a week can become what a farm girl could only dream of—a woman with a future.

Inspired by her grandmother’s journal, Newbery Medalist Laura Amy Schlitz brings her sharp wit and keen eye to early twentieth-century America in a comedic tour de force destined to become a modern classic. Joan’s journey from the muck of the chicken coop to the comforts of a society household in Baltimore (Electricity! Carpet sweepers! Sending out the laundry!) takes its reader on an exploration of feminism and housework, religion and literature, love and loyalty, cats, hats, bunions, and burns.

I’m Did I like it?? Did I not like it? Hard to tell. You see, the first half of this book was absolutely amazing. I was so in love! I felt sure it was going to be a 5-star, but then once I got to the half-way mark it just went downhill. I have some complaints… but I also have several good thing to say, so stay tuned! (or stay reading…) 🙂

L I K E D . . .

– The time & setting: 1911 Baltimore, which was fascinating because I’d only ever read one other book set in this time period, and I loved learning about the fashion and culture and everything in between. It’s definitely a time I want to learn more about, and I haven’t read a historical fiction in so long!

– The diary-style of the book. Again, this was so refreshing! I want more of these in YA! I love them so much, and Laura Amy Schlitz did a fantastic job at it. (Plus it makes me want to write in my journals more often…)

– The main character Joan. She’s sassy yet feminine, which is a nice combination. So often in MG and YA literature that I read, girls can’t be strong (physically and mentally) and like pink and frilly dresses. But Joan was girly and a shopaholic… and was stubborn and worked hard. I loved this! If anyone knows me, I’m a girly-girl and I appreciate pink and dressing up… but there aren’t many girls like this in YA, which is sad. I’d like to see more of this in historical and contemporary, and it was great. Joan was romantic, and absolutely hilarious. And as an added bonus: she’s a bookworm!

“I think I would rather have a cat than a sweetheart, after all. They are less trouble, and even the handsomest sweetheart is sadly lacking in fur.” – The Hired Girl

– Laura Amy Schlitz’s writing style. I basically wanted to quote the entire book. It was so poetic and the language was rich and challenging, at times, to read. (At least definitely a higher reading level than other books in this particular age the book is geared towards.) I want more books with words I haven’t known since kindergarten, and this was one of them! I definitely learned some new ones, which brings me to my next point.

“Great works of art are universal, and in them we behold our everyday struggles and homely joys.” – The Hired Girl

– The religious viewpoints: Joan is Catholic. And her employers are Jewish. I enjoyed learning about both religions (I am Christian, but Protestant – not Catholic – so I did learn a good bit about Catholicism.) A good portion of the book was about Joan wanting to take a Sacrament – to become an official Catholic – but meanwhile trying to tell the Rosenbachs more about her faith. (Which I admired a lot.) This isn’t labeled as Christian Fiction, but it surrounds a great deal of Joan’s faith and learning about the Rosenbachs’ faith. (For example, Joan does the dishes on the Sabbath since her employers and their other servant are Jewish and don’t work on this particular day of the week.)

– Joan is 14! My age, yay! I feel like in Middle Grade 14-year-olds are either made too immature, to match that of the younger audience, I suppose. Or too immature in Young Adult (because there’s an age gap between the older audience) or too mature (to match that older age group.) It’s frustrating, and in general there aren’t that many 14-year-olds in either genre, so in the rare occasion when they are focused on… it’s not done right. I liked Joan and felt she was nicely portrayed as far as her age goes. (I mean, I can relate.) 😉

D I S L I K E D . . .

– Alright, so let me lay this out for you: Joan is our 14-year-old heroine. She runs away from home and the Rosenbach family hires her and takes her under their wing. But Joan lies about her age to get the job: they think she is 18. A whopping 4-year-gap. Meanwhile, later in the book (towards the middle, and this is where my complaints began): she falls in love. With a 21-year-old Jew. 21. First I thought this man was 18, which is still quite a gap. And though he believes her to be 18 (0r at the very least 16 or 17) and I do realize this was a different time and things were done differently… quite honestly, it weirded me out. At first, I will admit, I swooned. I’m 14! I’m a romantic!

But theeeeen… this is where Joan really bothered me.

– SHE IS SOOO NAIVE. And let me rant here, because this why 14-year-olds ~~don’t~~ shouldn’t snog (I like that word ok? ok) about with boys – particularly that of an older age: 7 YEARS. No. I do love that in this time and book, people placed a higher importance on kissing and boys giving girls gifts. (“Miss Skraggs, if {spoiler removed} has been kissing you, and buying you gifts, you had every reason to believe you were engaged.”) but Joan thought she was stinking engaged. She went on and on about how much she loved this dude, and how they’d run away to Paris together (yep. Paris.) and comparing it to Jane Eyre and all her romance books… and I’m sitting here like:

I just didn’t like that. And I knew something was going to go wrong there.

– This book could have been much shorter. It is a decent length (Goodreads says it’s 400 but my copy is only 387) but at around 250-300ish I was pretty much done. I was getting annoyed with Joan and I felt that the last good bit was surrounded the “romance” (which, as I said before, made me a bit uncomfortable.)

4 stars! (Not bad for the first read of 2016.)

overall: i did have several complaints. buuut i had a lot more good things to say – especially that this book had a lot of interesting aspects that i don’t see in mg or ya a whole lot. so! let me know in the comments! is this something you’d like to read? have you read it before? tell meeeee!

books

the new releases i am looking forward to in 2016

January 1, 2016 Emily 11 Comments

HAPPY NEW YEAR, bookworms! Today is the day of sleeping in and recovering from a night of parties and glittery skirts and count-downs and resolutions and I am so hyped for all the things that are happening in 2016. (BREATHE, sorry I know that’s a long sentence. I, Emily, Am The Queen Of Run-On Sentences.) I was excited when I saw that the first day of the year happens to land on a Friday. Not only because Fridays are nice days, right there at the weekend, not smack-dab in the middle like Wednesday or random like Tuesday but the end of the week. But also because Friday means it’s a posting day!

It’s a big day! The first day of the year AND the first post of the year. (Also, if you take a peek at the bookshelf… there’s a ‘2016 reads’ page that is soon to be filled.) So I was stumped as to what to post. In fact, I drafted three or four posts before I decided on this one. And who’s to say I’ll just delete this one in the end, after all? You might not even be reading this. Really, half the posts I write go through draft upon draft and some of them never make it to the real world.

But I’m getting distracted.

Today I am talking about the new releases of 2016.

THE HEIR AND THE SPARE by Emily Albright: a) I am totally biased because the author has such a cool name. and b) I’VE ALREADY READ THIS. Yaaaay! Well, not all the way through, but I’m in the process. The Heir and The Spare hits shelves January 18, so prepare to be blown away by adorableness and cheesy lines and basically, it’s a Hallmark movie as a book. Picture The Prince & Me. Or Prince William and Dutchess Kate, and then add the chocolate and the ‘awws’ and the tissues. I’m really loving this one! I hadn’t even heard of it before I saw it and requested an ARC, but it is pretty cute.

THE SIREN by Kiera Cass: First: how beautiful is this cover? Second: I’m pretty sure Kiera Cass is fixing to take us by tsunami (hahaha) yet again. You may or may not already know that The Siren was Kiera’s first (self)published book in 2009, before Harper Collins picked up The Selection. Now it is being completely re-done (same story, better editing, little different) and a new gorgeous cover and I am so excited. Regretting not grabbing a copy of the first edition, because they’re now selling used for $100 on Amazon… BUT I will be pre-ordering this one. (Buy it January 26!)

STARS ABOVE by Marissa Meyer: dear lord this series is a torture trap. by the end you’re just like:

and there’s really not much you can do about it. Just a warning. Nevertheless, I am ridiculously happy about this collection of prequels and stories to the ever-flawless The Lunar Chronicles. (You can see my review for Cinder here, then find the other three book reviews in my 2015 reads page under ‘M.’) You can read them FEBRUARY 2nd. OR if you want to be ahead of the game… you can create a Wattpad account and read them all on Marissa Meyer’s profile. If you’re just that desperate. I’m not sure if I will or not. At some point if I’ve run out of books I’ll pause in between and read through them, or I’ll just wait like the majority. 🙂

GLASS SWORD by Victoria Aveyard: you better keep your eyes out for this one because it is going to be big. (I called it.) I read Red Queen, the first in this series, just last month and was blown away. Granted, there were some flaws and I’m trying to be better at rating books, so I gave it 3.5 stars, but it’s really inching its way to 4. I also have a gloriously SIGNED copy of Red Queen, so yeah. *hair flip* I’ll be so cool once it becomes really popular… you know, when it does, because I’m telling you. Romance, blood, royalty, dystopian. It’s got everything. Grab this one February 9! (ALSO: I just realized that two prequels are debuting January 6 for Red Queen – titled Cruel Crown – so also be on the lookout for that one. IT’S GONNA BE BLOODY AWESOME. (hehe see what I did there.) (p.s. it’s really not all that violent. it has to do with the color of their blood. intrigued? yeah? you better be.)

A TYRANNY OF PETTICOATS by (Many Many Authors): I was just about to hit publish when remembered this one! A Tyranny of Petticoats is coming to us March 8 with these amazing authors (!!!!): J. Anderson Coats, Andrea Cremer
Y. S. Lee, Katherine Longshore, Marie Lu, Kekla Magoon, MARISSA MEYER, Saundra Mitchell, Beth Revis, Caroline Richmond, Lindsay Smith, Jessica Spotswood, Robin Talley, Leslye Walton, and ELIZABETH WEIN.

So you see, this book is really written by a boatload of awesome authors. (Including two particular ones that I am so stoked are working together: my two all-time faves, Marissa Meyer & Elizabeth Wein!) To quote the synopsis: “They are monsters and mediums, bodyguards and barkeeps, screenwriters and schoolteachers, heiresses and hobos.” “hostile lands, using every weapon in their arsenals, facing down murderers and marriage proposals.” Plus they’re historical fiction. COULD IT GET ANY BETTER.

THE CROWN by (again, The Awesome) Kiera Cass: This one hits shelves May 3rd! (While I will be in the middle of the Caribbean, so I’ll be enjoying it on my Kindle, eep!) alright, so first thing’s first bout this one: don’t judge a book by its cover. I’m going to be honest because I hate to lie to you: I really hate this cover. BUT nevertheless I’m sure it will be even better than The Heir, because – Kile. AMERICA (OHMIGOSH KIERA WHY), sweet sweet Maxon, Erik (what do you think guys?! yes? no? maybe!), and Eadlyn might just be putting on her big girl ~~pants~~ dress. (I hope.) I know this series has gotten a bad wrap in the blogosphere, but even if it is perhaps not the best-written one out there… I love it regardless. It’s enjoyable, and I am going to eat every book up. Oh and c’mon, bookworms, GORGEOUS dresses. We’re talking thousand-dollar-twenty-pound-wedding-dresses dresses. OH AND I ALMOST FORGOT: there’s a tiny tiny chance that the selection could possibly become a movie. within the next year, year and a half. and I will totally be into that. so send up a prayer that it happens & read the book before it does!

THE BEAUTIFUL PRETENDER by Melanie Dickerson: I’ve loved Melanie Dickerson since I first discovered her two and a half years ago. She writes some fabulous Christian fiction and the romance…

IT’S JUST SO CUTE! 🙂 But most of all, I love how accurate and well-researched the details are. Her medieval-set books are so rich in history! And the Biblical aspects! I just love it all. Look out for this one May 17!

so as you can see, i will be spending my money on a ton of pre-orders this year! i’m sure there are many other debuts in 2016 i’ll read, but these are the seven that have been on the brain for quite a while now, and i’m most excited about! so remind me about the others i should be hyped for and tell me which ones you’re looking forward to!

books

survey says!

December 30, 2015 Emily 16 Comments

First off: if you heard that title in Steve Harvey’s voice like I did, I am forever proud. Second: I am taking a peek at your survey answers today! I’m excited to see what you have to say about For the Bookish and tell you a little bit about what I’m planning in 2016 for the blog. There’s so much to prep for, I can’t wait to begin this year!

How often do you visit FTB?
Create pie charts

Is there anything about FTB you’d like to change?

“I love it all!” Me too, you’re awesome!

“Just work on commenting back more, but otherwise your blog is perfect as is ;)” Ugh, I hate not commenting back. It’s one of own pet peeves for other bloggers, so I do need to work on that!

“I can’t think of anything… :)” Okie-dokey that’s cool too.

“Any problems I had with it have been fixed :)” Take note bookworms: THIS ANSWER IS PERFECT. There are all sorts of technical difficulties I’m working to fix on FTB everyday, so I aim to get issues fixed before they’re even noticed. Most of the stuff I can tweak on my own, but it’s handy to have a web-designer in the family to get down to the nitty-gritty when I need him. (Thanks dad!)

“Not really, I just want to say, I love your theme” I’ve gotten this a ton and it’s the best to hear. All theme creds go, again, to the nifty internet genius.

“It would be cool if you answered all the comments, I know you answer most of them. :)” Definitely something I need to fix!

“just started following your blog, so it’s too soon for me to say if anything needs improving!” YAY welcome newbie! I love new followers, so just keep reading and keep me posted about any complaints!

“It is all AMAZING” Love the caps for AMAZING, ’cause there’s totally a difference between that and amazing and I appreciate it. 😉

“I got nothing: you have a search bar and that’s the only thing I need in life :)” Oh, me too! I use than nifty little thing soooo much it’d drive my bonkers not to have it.

“I don’t like that you have part of the post and then you have to click”read more”. I would prefer just the title or the whole post as one” Thanks so much for the honesty! But personally it would annoy me a tad to have the whole post, just because I usually have a lot of images and GIFs in my posts. So it would take longer to load them and consequently, load the entire page, and I want the first impression of my blog to be simple, clean, and easy to load. So I probably won’t be changing this anytime soon. 🙂

“Not really :)” Good good. 🙂

“I think that you should add more life updates and bring in your inner craftiness!” Aww, me too! I love that you all look forward to my life updates; it surprises me a bit but then I think it’s important for you to know the non-bookish side of me as well as my bookish side! Also, craftiness: I tend to disregard my craftiness more than I should, but I have considered posting DIY bookworm projects. Might have to recruit my crafty friends to help me brainstorm for this!

What do you like BEST about my blog?

“I really like how your comments are italicized when you write in the box. (This sounds stupid. xD) Also: BOOKS!” Haha not stupid at all! I like that you pay attention to the little things. 🙂 BOOKS ALWAYS BOOKS.

“You’re so very sweet and you have a great personality….you’re my go to blogger to get excited with and I love that :)” You’re my go-to person to get excited with! I love you, Anonymous! (oops sorry… whoever you are! … oh well you follow my blog and comment and that’s all I need to know. So thank you!)

“You have a unique way of reviewing books, and you’re not just copying the super popular book blogs. Keep it up! <3” What a confidence booster, thanks! I’m very conscious about my reviews because I hate rating books. Sometimes I feel they’re too rant-ish, but I’m glad you like them! I do try! 🙂

“YOU!” WE’RE ON THE SAME PAGE! Haha, you are sooo sweet! 🙂

“I love your posts and you’re just a cool person overall :D” EEP. You are all making me smile so big right now.

“You are funny” Because I just can’t be serious.

“I just like reading book reviews, honestly. Knowing whether or not a book is something worth buying is very helpful!” Oh, this is great! I’m glad I help, because I hate wasting my money and time on a book. I love how many safe recommendations I get on my blog that I can trust!

“You like the same books as I do from what I have seen so far so I know I can see the books you like and know they will be good” Again, this is fabulous to hear! Starting my blog almost two years ago, it was the main purpose and I’m so excited to see that carrying out so much later.

“Oh gosh. I love literally everything: your book reviews, your taste in books (which is exactly the same as mine so that’s great), your blog layout… your blog is absolutely amazing and so are you ^-^” You are so SWEEEEET.

“discussions” Because there are so many important discussions to be had, right?? Us bookworms have to stick together and break it down.

“Idk, everything? Hehe. I like your reviews…and stuff…” Everything! You flatter me.

“Tags/ giveaways/Gifs!” Tags and giveaways and GIFs, oh my. (But really. You just named three of my top favorites. Great minds think alike!)

Is there anything you’d like to see on FTB in 2016?

“Allllll the giveaways! And 2016 reading goals.” YESSS you will most definitely be seeing some giveaways. And reading goals… I’m thinking 100! Do you think I can do it??

“Participating in Blog Hops would be nice :)” I AGREE! I see so many going around, and I need to join one soon! They seem so fun.

“Mmm… review my book, when it comes out? ;)” What is your book? NOW I MUST KNOW! 🙂 If you’re reading this, Anonymous Author, comment and let me know!

“The awesomenes you gave us in 2015” well, gee, you will definitely see some of that. *hair flip* Maybe even MORE awesomeness. (If that’s at all possible, I know.)

“more tags, maybe?” MORE TAGS, YES. I’m pretty sure everyone knows how much I love tags, so this won’t be a problem.

“book recommendations” ALWAYS a priority on my blog.

“Just keep on doing what you’re doing!” I can do that.

“You NEED to read School For Good and Evil” Something about that title rings a bell! Adding it to my TBR on my Goodreads.

“More Christian fiction reviews – I’m Catholic and I love finding out about books I never would have read before since, let’s face it, the realm of Christian fiction is vast and a little intimidating. It was through your blog that I learned about Interrupted and I am forever grateful to you for introducing me to that literary masterpiece.” Aw, I can definitely do this. I’m always caught in between reading books that are more pushing my standards for what’s popular to reading through and trying to uncover hidden gems within the Christian fiction world. It is absolutely intimidating, but I am so glad you’ve found Rachel Coker’s book! I’m not sure why that one isn’t a #1 New York Times Bestseller! It is absolutely amazing. Can I recommend Melanie Dickerson next? (Start with The Fairest Beauty – it’s my favorite.)

“More bookish things, like those awesome bags and t-shirts, and book necklaces. I EAT THOSE UP.” BOOKISH PARAPHERNALIA. I get you! I’ve got to learn how to make the book necklace. Brooke gave it to me, since she’s the Craft Master, but I can promise I will be buying more bookworm gear. Huzzah!

“Craft projects!” HERE’S TO MY NEW 2016 RESOLUTION. I shall add it to the list.

Is there anything you want to tell or ask me? 🙂

“You are awesome and I LOVE YOUR BLOG! Keep it up. <3” Thank you! You’re awesome, too. 🙂

“Hi! You’re an amazing blogger and person and I love reading your blog. 🙂 It’d be nice if you comment more often on others blogs and comment back on your blog just bit more consistently…. Just because I value what you have to say and I look forward to your comment-back. :)” Thank you so much! I do miss visiting other peoples’ blogs and I know I need to do it more often. 🙂 It means so much to me that you look forward to my comments! I do love hearing from you, so I will be getting around more, promise.

“Hi, Emily!!! Keep being your wonderful self and don’t let anyone change YOU. You’re a wonderfully beautiful person, and keep being amazing! <3” Thank you SO so much! That means so much to me. 🙂

“Hope you get that kindle today!” I DID GET IT OMG! Thank you sooo much, mom and dad! (They’re really the best.)

“Hey Emily! 🙂 Its Madi! You’re an awesome book-blogger and I envy your organization! 😀 Good luck in 2016! May your blog be even book-ier :P” Oh heyyy Owly! Here’s to more bookishness!

“Hi 😀 and Merry Christmas!” Hello! Merry belated Christmas to you too!

“Hi! Also, how did you become pen pals with Brooke? I think that’s really cool.” Hi back! Well, we’d been commenting back and forth with each other on my blog for a while before we started talking about a book we both loved – Dear Pen Pal by Heather Vogel Frederick – and how neat it’d be to have pen pals. That’s when our moms contacted each other on Facebook (to make sure we were both genuinely teenage girls looking for pen pals!) and from there I got her address and the rest is history. 🙂

“Thanks for what I’ve sern so far. I’m enjoying it!” I’m certainly glad you like what you’ve sern so far. 🙂 I do try to put out enjoyable content! Thank you! 🙂

“Read School for good and evil, and the Unearthly series” ‘kay, definitely have to read School for Good and Evil now. And Unearthly looks amazing, too! Both sound like something I’ve never read before.

“You are my favourite book blogger. No contest.” You are my favorite commenter for saying that, no contest. 🙂 Seriously, you have no idea how much that makes me smile!

thank you all so much for doing the survey for me! i love love loved reading and looking at your answers. talk to you next year,

tags & awards

the infinity dreams award

December 28, 2015 Emily 7 Comments

Hey everyone! I didn’t have a review written up for today, so instead I’m filling in Monday’s post with another award. (Or tag, whatever you wanna call it. They’re basically the same thing.) I have been tagged for the infinity dreams award once more, and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve done this one before. But I can never turn them down because they’re so fun to do!

Thank the blogger who nominated you. Thanks, Grace! (Go read her blog, she’s awesome!)

Tell us 11 facts about yourself.

I love romantic movies, and my favorite one is You’ve Got Mail. (Because: Tom Hanks & cozy bookstores.)
Michael Buble and Taylor Swift are the best. They’re my main squeeze, you guys.
I have one younger sister, Anna. (Like AN-UH, not AH-NUH.) Think Ramona Quimby. Or Princess Anna.
The first book I remember absolutely loving was If You Give A Pig A Pancake, and I still do.
The best vacation I’ve ever been on was a Disney cruise last year. We’re going on another in April! EEP.
Both of my parents are readers and excellent writers, so I owe them for my book addiction!
I love shopping! The saying “shop till you drop”? That’s me! … when I have money, of course.
I have two cats, a dog, three turtles, four fish, and a snail. They distract me from school… a lot! 😉
I wear a TON of stripes, polka dots in second. Seriously. It’s pretty much all I wear.
I hate disorganization and clutter. I can’t function right if my room is messy.
I’ve worn the same perfume for years, so all my clothes have the same scent by the now. (In case you’re wondering, it’s Taylor Swift’s Wonderstruck Enchanted. It smells like heaven in a bottle.)

Answer the questions that were set for you to answer.

What is your least favorite saying? Well, at first I thought this was kind of an odd question… I’m not sure, really? But then I thought “Sticks and stones break my bones, but words can never hurt me”? SO untrue.

What is your favorite holiday and why? CHRISTMAS! Celebrating Jesus’ birth… and not to mention the food, the family, the presents, the music, the smells, the decorations, the trips… but most of all I love spending time with my family. It’s so much fun and they’re my favorite people in the world. 🙂

Where do you gain inspiration the most? I gain inspiration from books. The characters or even the authors themselves either make me feel understood or make me want more from life, and it’s exciting to feel that way over books… and especially fictional characters! I think if an author can do that to you, then they’re pretty amazing.

How long have you been blogging, and what got you to blog in the first place? I’ll have been blogging for two years this April… so a year and (almost) nine months. Wow! HAS IT BEEN THAT LONG, GEEZ. As to why… I thought it could be fun to meet fellow bookworms who read the same books as I do. I was feeling lonely, I guess, so it seemed like a good idea. Although I remember what made me realize there was a whole bookworm community out there was a fellow Taylor Swift fan on a fan website (you may now know her as Topaz) three years ago who began a blog. A year later she had switched to her new (current) one and I thought “that looks like fun.”

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be? I’m going to copy Grace here and say England or New York City. Bath, England specifically because I’d be thrilled to visit Jane Austen’s home there and New York City because there are just SO many things to see. Personally I’d love to see the 9/11 Memorial (maybe some year on my birthday, since that would be an anniversary of 9/11) or stop by the Harper Teen headquarters. (EPIC REEEADS.)

Why can’t we all have this job?? ^

Nominate 11 bloggers and set questions for them. I don’t know if I can come up with 11 bloggers to nominare, so I’m only going to nominate six if that’s okay. And bloggers: just take the questions I already answered above and have fun with it. 🙂

I NOMINATE: Izel // Madi // Trisha // Katie // Lady Literature // Ish

what are some fun facts about you? and feel free to answer some of the questions below!

stacking the shelves

stacking the shelves #27

December 26, 2015 Emily 4 Comments

CHRISTMAS IS OVER, bookworms! I counted down from fifty-something days and now IT’S GONE! I guess now we can count down to 364 days, right? (Or 365… because 2016 is a leap year? I don’t know. This stuff confuses me.) The good news is that with Christmas comes lots of books. And I have quite the stack this year.

SEVEN BOOKS. (Plus one on my brand-new Kindle Paperwhite, YEEESSSS.) (Oh oh oh AND a $10 B&N GIFT CARD FOR MUA.) My family knows me so well.

Starting from the bottom:

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard: Can we just go completely crazy right now with the excitement, because I’m telling you, this book is the next big thing. And I WILL be on The Red Queen train. I missed it for a bunch of other popular books (like… um… the Divergent series, which loads have you have read and finally I’m catching up) but I shall be apart of this one! I read it a few weeks ago but now I OWN IT! But that’s not all.

DO YOU SEE THAT? Do you see it?? That’s SIGNED. Apparently it’s the time of year for Barnes & Noble to get a bunch of signed books, so when I saw that they had Red Queen signed, I flipped out. I bought a copy for my pen pal Brooke, but not for myself. (Because I’m not made of money, evidently.) We ended up at B&N two times in a week (oh the joy!) and I was super sad because they didn’t have any more signed copies! BUT MY MOM, bookworms. She’s such a sneaky sneaky lady. (My dad, too. It’s no wonder I get it from them.) She bought the last one! I WILL LOVE HER FOREVER.

The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz: For the first time in a while, I actually picked this one up myself instead of seeing it on Goodreads or one of your blogs. The cover caught my attention, because it’s absolutely gorgeous. It’s a historical fiction, too, and based on the author’s grandmother. EEP.

The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson: Melanie Dickerson is the best. Not only does she write some fabulous teen Christian fiction, it’s actually good. I crave some clean fiction, particularly with some romance – is that too much to ask? – and apparently it is. Yes, there are always titles like My Amish Boyfriend, but I really have no desire to read that. But Melanie Dickerson’s books are always amazing (I’ve given away several of her books and you can read my reviews for The Captive Maiden, The Huntress Of Thornbeck Forest, and The Princess Spy.)

Last In A Long Line Of Rebels by Lisa Lewis Tyre: Now this is a book my aunt got me, because it so happens she’s a friend of the author’s! HOW COOL IS THAT. I don’t think people realize how cool it is to be friends with an author. I mean, do you realize that your friend creates and talks to people in their head and writes thousands of words, sometimes hundreds and then edits and edits and edits so you can enjoy writing that is somewhat sane? it’s pretty awesome. This book looks pretty good, too, so I’m excited to read it.

The Elite and The One by Kiera Cass: I OWN THE ENTIRE SELECTION SERIES YAAAY. If you’ve read my blog for a while, you know how much I love these books. And now I own allll of them. AND TWO ARE SIGNED. (Which means for my cousin who wants to read them – yessss Sydney yesssss – she can’t borrow the first or fourth book. Sorry, Syd, you’re outta luck.) Now I must wait endlessly for The Crown, which comes out May 3rd while I’m in the middle of the Caribbean somewhere. Sigh… you think Mexico or Jamaica will have a copy? Because I want that book the DAY it comes out. AND I’LL BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN. NOOOO. (sorry mom and dad I promise I’m not really complaining about the cruise.)

Coming Apart: Book Nine In The Main Street Series by Ann M. Martin: This series has been a favorite of mine for five years now. (Almost six?) That is to say, it’s one of my oldest favorite books. I’ve been re-reading them for a long time. Except for book nine. Because I owned books one-eight and then TEN. NO NINE. It’s driven my crazy for three long years and finally I own the COMPLETE series. I feel so accomplished. Thanks Grandma!

Oh and we can’t forget about the book I’m currently reading, which I borrowed from the library on my NEW KINDLE PAPERWHITE. (it is so awesome, I may even write a post dedicated to why it is so great. I really love it! ME. LOVING an e-reader. Needless to say, I am pretty excited.) So I’m reading Insurgent. It’s… a bit slow, as I’m smack-dab in the middle… but I’m sure it will get better. Once I get over the middle point.

Also: in case you didn’t see, I’m doing a big giveaway – TWO, actually! – for a copy of one of my favorite 2015 books and a $10 Barnes & Noble gift card! You can enter that here and also take a minute or two to do a survey for me. I want to see what you like about my blog and how I can make it better in 2016! I’m loving all your answers so far, particularly the ones you answered yourself. 🙂 You’re all so sweet, it made my day reading your answers! I’ll be answering some of the questions and talking about the results sometime next week.

what are you reading? and what did you get for christmas??

giveaways, surveys

2015 survey & christmas giveaway!

December 25, 2015 Emily 22 Comments

MERRY CHRISTMAS, bookworms! I hope you’re all having a wonderful time with family and friends and lots of good food, celebrating the birth of Jesus. I know I’ll be having a blast. (Writing this on Christmas Eve.) In fact, if you’re reading this maybe you’re even on a new electronic or spending a lazy post-Christmas day lounging around reading your favorite blog. Because what else would you want to do?

(photo courtesy)

Since 2015 is coming to a close (man that is CRAZY. I blinked and what happened!) I thought I’d do an end-of-the-year survey, so I can make my blog better for you and see what I’m doing right. This is your chance to be 100% honest, since the survey is anonymous. If you could, take two minutes to answer a few questions for me. And then you’ll have an entry into the GIVEAWAY coming up! (Imagine virtual confetti in the air, okay?)

(If the survey doesn’t work below, you can also take it here.)

NOW. Since you’re all such fabulous bookworms, dahlings, I thought what better way to celebrate Christmas than to give YOU a gift! I want you to know how much you mean to me and how much fun I have doing this blog and talking to you all. So thanks for being such fun to chat with. Are you ready to see what you could get?!

The summer Hattie turns 12, her predictable smalltown life is turned on end when her uncle Adam returns home for the first time in over ten years. Hattie has never met him, never known about him. He’s been institutionalized; his condition invovles schizophrenia and autism. Hattie, a shy girl who prefers the company of adults, takes immediately to her excitable uncle, even when the rest of the family — her parents and grandparents — have trouble dealing with his intense way of seeing the world. And Adam, too, sees that Hattie is special, that her quiet, shy ways are not a disability.

I will be giving away a copy of my favorite book of 2015 (A Corner of The Universe by Ann M. Martin!) AND, for international readers as well, a $10 Barnes & Noble gift card! That’s two seperate giveaways, which means TWO of you will be winning something! But of course, as always, there are a few rules:

The giveaways start December 25, 2015 and ends January 15, 2016.
I will email the winners no later than January 16. If I do not get a reply within 48 hours, I will have to pick another winner.
I will be shipping a paperback copy of A Corner of the Universe and emailing the gift card.
The giveaway entries are hosted by Rafflecopter, and the website will pick a random winner when it is over.
If I find that anyone is cheating the system, they will be disqualified immediately.
I am not responsible for lost or stolen packages.
U.S. residents only, please, for the copy of A Corner of the Universe.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

what are you looking forward to in 2016? what’d ya get for christmas? and if you won the gift card, what you would get? can’t wait to talk to you in the comments!

lists, recaps

my year in books: 2015 recap

December 23, 2015 Emily 3 Comments

It’s been a fabulous year, bookworms. I have read sixty-seven books (as of December 17, that is) and 19,683 pages. I have read books that absolutely knocked my socks off and books that made me laugh and cry and some books that made me want to hurl them across the room at somebody’s head. It’s been quite the adventure.

(By the way, all the book titles link to their reviews if you want to look at them!)

The Book That Made Me Laugh: Ungifted by Gordon Korman. Honestly, not sure WHY I rated it five stars… looking back, it definitely wasn’t that great… but it was pretty funny, I can give it that. Hey, I’m a nice bookworm.

The Book That Made Me Cry: Well this is super easy. That’d be Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. Unfortunately I didn’t review it because a) it would be a complete rant and nonsensical review and b) it does have some content I wasn’t sure I’d recommend to absolutely everybody. But guys… no words. None. It’s amazing.

The Book I Was Shocked To Read: The entire Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. (Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter.) It’s 100% sci-fi and even my mom was shocked that I got so into this series. I read it! ME! EMILY! (And loooooved it. No I mean LOOOOOOOOOVED it.) Still can’t get over that. But it is awesome.

The Book I, Um… Really Didn’t Like: oooh. Probably The Wish by Gail Carson Levine. And I gave it three stars! *face palm* I’m such a nice person, I hate rating books lower than that! Because I know the author puts so much into it, no matter what the book is like! Every book is their author’s baby and… and… I can’t say much for this one. It stunk.

The Book I Honestly Do Not Recall Reading: The Swift Boys And Me by Kody Keplinger. And I only read it four months ago! It wasn’t eleven months ago or anything. I just have absolutely no recollection of it. None. Oops?

The Book(s) I Re-Read: Interrupted by Rachel Coker (which gets a re-read every single year since the fifth grade, ’cause it’s that wonderawesome. That’s wonderful and awesome. Together.) And I re-read the entire Selection series by Kiera Cass (I’ve reviewed The Selection and The Heir) in preperation for meeting Kiera (!!!)

The Most Romantic Book I Read (Aka: All the Awwwws): THERE ARE TOO MANY. I have waaay too many OTPs and book boyfriends, but if I just HAD to choose… Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg. It was totally un-put-down-able, and a load of adorableness and squeals! EEP I STILL LOVE MACALLAN & LEVI!!

The Most Anticipated Book I Read: Definitely The Heir by Kiera Cass. I read the first three books almost exactly a year before this one came out, so I was looking forward to it for quite a while! Not to mention that with the release of the newest book in the series, I went to my first author signing and met Kiera!!! (STILL. FLIPPING. OUT.)

The Book That Is My New Forever-And-Ever-Favorite: A Corner of the Universe by Ann M. Martin. Miss Martin has never let me down – since the third grade when I fell in love with The Babysitter’s Club! – to every single book she writes. (Mostly her historical fiction, because they’re so beautiful and cry-worthy and just all-around incredible.)

The Best Book of 2015: It took me a long time to narrow this down, so I didn’t. I have two. The best book(s) I read this year in 2015 are… *drum roll please* … CODE NAME VERITY by Elizabeth Wein & A CORNER OF THE UNIVERSE by Ann M. Martin. What can I say? I’m a historical fiction girl. I think they’re both books that, for the most part, everyone can enjoy. They’re unique stories and every single detail is sheer perfection. I’m anxious to read the sequel, Rose Under Fire, for Code Name Verity, which I own but need to read soon! There were many books that were contending for this spot (Winter, The Heir…) but I feel that these two books are those that I will enjoy no matter how old I get. They’re books I will make my kids read and keep my copies no matter how beat-up they get. They deserve their spots. 🙂

what were the books YOU read in 2015? which ones would you name in these spots? and how many have you read so far? do you agree with any of these books’ categories? happy almost-new year! (and merry christmas, of course. talk to you on friday!)

reviews

now that you’re here by amy k. nichols

December 21, 2015 Emily 4 Comments

Title: Now That You’re Here

Author: Amy K. Nichols

Series: Duplexity #1

Publisher: Knopf Books For Young Readers

Source: borrowed from a friend

About: In a parallel universe, the classic bad boy falls for the class science geek.

One minute Danny was running from the cops, and the next, he jolted awake in an unfamiliar body – his own, but different. Somehow, he’s crossed into a parallel universe. Now his friends are his enemies, his parents are long dead, and studious Eevee is not the mysterious femme fatale he once kissed back home. Then again, this Eevee – a girl who’d rather land an internship at NASA than a date to the prom–may be his only hope of getting home.

Eevee tells herself she’s only helping him in the name of quantum physics, but there’s something undeniably fascinating about this boy from another dimension… a boy who makes her question who she is, and who she might be in another place and time.

WOWZIES THIS BOOK. A huge shout out to Hayden Beth for getting me to read this (a good friend of mine from home school co-op whose mom happens to be friends with the author, Amy Nichols – SMALL WORLD RIGHT?) and I am so excited that I’ve finished it. The page-turning events and adorableness of the characters kept me reading and I have to say I was not disappointed.

First things first: THERE’S A SEQUEL. That I really need to read. Luckily Miss Hayden has lent it to me so now I’ve just got to get around to it, and that is why I am confused about a lot of things. I’m *hoping* (and I am sure they will) a lot of things are explained in the sequel. Like: Hayden, what the heck is “Red December”?

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS I WANT TO KNOW. I’M DYING TO KNOOOOW.

The main character Eevee, and the other main character, Danny are cuteness overload. Now I do have one complaint: they barely knew each other at first annnnnd it went a little too fast for my taste. I could have gone a little longer with the whole getting to know you phase and THEN the actual romantic relationship between them two. But then they did get to know each other and I was so in love with them!! Yaaaasssss.

And they were lovable. The character development, by the end at least, was well-done and I was satisfied with the getting-to-know-you part. I got to understand Eevee a little bit and why she was so type-A and very diligent in school. Danny… well, he still confuzzles me. But most boys do, even fictional ones. Another reason why I’m excited about the sequel. But as for the majority of the romance, I think I was on the same page as Hayden.

The world and setting of the story… very descriptive, as expected. The main character Danny has somehow come into a parallel universe (switching places with the Danny of this other world) so of course he’s sort of in the same world, but not really. Which is why I liked the nice comparison of Danny’s world to Eevee’s. You get a teensie peek inside what Danny’s world is like – apparently the Cold War didn’t end, unlike ours today, so it’s definitely… different. Again, excited for the sequel to find out more about the other world Danny comes from.

(Or made-up history! Haha!)

I liked the setting of Eevee’s world too though. The cliche high school set-up and the typical mom and dad personalities… they were familiar when some dude had come from a crazy, unfamiliar, and scary parallel universe -which I would be flipping out about if I were in this situation – and that was a nice balance. And the genius science teacher (Mac) who used to work for NASA and is Eeevee and her friend’s go-to man for all things smartsy. Who then helps get Danny back to his world. Kind of gave me a Doc and Marty McFly type feel, you know?

On that note, the whole book was kind of a mix of the movies “She’s All That” and “Back to the Future” and I loved that. Bad boy meets science geek (She’s All That) meets science-y sci-fi stuff and different worlds (Back to the Future)

I really feel like this is something I have never read before. At least, it’s the first parallel universe book I’ve read. But beyond that, it just had it all! The romance, the sci-fi, yet still the familiarity of our 21st-century-modern-day-world, the humor, the easy-to-love-characters, the mystery… AHHH I JUST LOVE IT!!

Four stars all-around. Pleeeeaaaaseee read it because it’s… well. Let the minions explain it:

For The Bookish