Weekly Rewind 3.8.14

The Weekly Rewind
The new books on my shelves, the links I loved, and my week in a nutshell.






Since I started this blog I've participated in Stacking the Shelves, which is a weekly feature hosted by Tyngas Reviews, and I'm going to continue linking to that meme. Throughout my student teaching semester I was using my weekend post as a way to let people know what's going on in my life, so I've decided to rename my weekend post because this feature is more personal than just what books I've received. The Weekly Rewind will be about what's going on with me and my blog, as well as about the books I've added to my shelves, and the links I've enjoyed over the past week from other blogs and the interwebs in general.  

My Life and Blog

Life: So my office has hired my replacement and expects for me to have her trained by the end of April. She starts mid-March. This blows for several reasons. The first is that I was really hoping to work through the summer as I will not be able to sub over the summer, obviously. I'm crossing my fingers to find a full time position for the fall. If I cannot, I do plan on continuing to sub next year, so looking for a temporary position for the summer is the LAST thing I wanted to do. Nobody is going to want to hire me since it will be obvious by that brand new master's degree that I'm not looking to sit in an office for any real length of time, and who wants to train somebody when they know they would leave at the drop of a hat. Which brings me to my next gripe. Training other people sucks! There are moments of pure craziness in my office when I have to be going, going, going, but for the most part I just sit at a computer. That's why I started this blog in the first place: to have something to occupy my time while sitting in front of a computer 8 hours a day. It's going to take, like, 20 minutes to train this girl. Okay, that's hyperbole, but it's definitely not taking a month. 

This week I subbed for a 4th grade class, a 6th grade class, and for a middle school reading specialist. I'm loving being able to see all the different schools around my city. I haven't been to the same one twice. The 6th grade class was in a swanky part of town and the school was so nice. I would love to snag a job there. 

On the blog front: 

• Monday: nada.

• Tuesday: A release day review of The Winner's Curse. I enjoyed this crazy-hyped novel quite a bit, but I didn't adore it. I'll definitely pick up the second book and would have no problem recommending this book, but it reads like the first book in a series. 

• Wednesday: I'm waiting for One Past Midnight which was originally released in Australia under the title Between the Lives. 

• Thursday: I discussed Reading Reviews. On the one hand I don't want my opinion or review to be swayed, but on the other I want to support my fellow bloggers. 

• Friday: laziness. For the second week in a row I didn't watch a single movie. Hockey's back and I've just been reading more and going to bed kind of early since my sub schedule is getting me up earlier than I'm used to. 

New books:
 
I have a handful of new review and library books that I'm excited about to share with you this week, so without further adieu. I hope you are all having spectacular weekends. Yay for daylight savings. It sucks to lose that hour for the first day or two, but it means Spring is right around the corner. 

Review Books 

Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy

This was one of those books that people were buzzing about late last year/early this year. I'm a little over three-quarters of the way through, and am enjoying it quite a bit. I haven't read any reviews for this one, but it judging from star ratings on GR, you either like this one or you don't. I do. 

Dear Killer by Katherine Ewell

Nobody knows that London's notorious serial killer, dubbed "The Perfect Killer", is actually a teen girl. Well, nobody except the mother who trained her. I'm over halfway through this one, as well. It's different, but interesting.

Elusion by Claudia Gable and Cheryl Klam

From GR synopsis: An app, visor and wristband will virtually transport you to an exotic destination where adventure can be pursued without the complications—or consequences—of real life. So, Total Recall basically. The cover reminds me of those Lisa Frank stickers I HAD to have when I was in grade school.

The Edge of Falling by Rebecca Serle

A girl getting over the death of her sister is mistakenly identified as a hero who saved the life a classmate who was committing suicide. I really like the disorienting cover with the Dorothy shoes. 

What I bought

 

Looking For Alaska by John Green

I've only read TFiOS by John Green which I'm a bit embarrassed to admit. I've heard great things about this one and am excited to read it, especially since I found it for $2 at HPB.

What I snagged from the library

The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas

So, ok, I've owned Throne of Glass for months and got about halfway through it before setting it aside for unknown reasons (seriously, sometimes I just get distracted, even from books I'm enjoying. I don't know). It's been long enough that I'll probably have to start over anyway and I've heard it really is better to read all these little prequel stories first, so I was pumped when this book with all five stories came out and that my library had a copy. 

Mistwalker by Saundra Mitchell

A boy trapped in a lighthouse until he gets a thousand souls tries to seduce a girl into taking his place. I love the cover and have read a couple positive reviews. 

The Karma Club by Jessica Brody

After her boyfriend cheats on her without any consequences from the universe, a girl decides to create The Karma Club to get back at people who get away with wrong-doings. It sounds cute in a totally unrealistic contemporary way. 

Link Love

From blogs:

• Rachel from Beauty and the Bookshelf posted about the Seattle Prescreening of Divergent!
• Kara over at Great Imaginations discusses What She Likes in a Book Cover.
• Kelly from Pretty Little Reader tells us To Turn Off CAPTCHA Once and For All.
• Jen from YA Romantics looks at the trend of Author's Alter Egos.

From around the interwebs:

• The incomparable Libba Bray opened up about her depression in a piece: Miles and Miles of No-Man's Land.
• Mental Floss posted 10 Memorable Dr. Suess Quotes  in honor of his birthday.