Weekly Rewind
The new books on my shelves 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.
My Life and Blog
Life: I'm typing this up kind of last minute and I'm pretty much ready for bed, so I'm going to skip the long update on life tonight. Everything is going fairly well. I'm getting into the rhythm of teaching. Some days are better than others, of course, but I don't feel like ripping my hair out. Well, I do sometimes, but not as often. Lol.
My next trip home will be in three weeks. After that, it will only be a month until Thanksgiving break. I have the whole week off in November so I'm going home the Friday before Thanksgiving and staying until the Sunday after. A whole week at home. In my bed. With my husband...and cats.
I am, however, still going through what has become the biggest slump of my life. I know that it is because my brain just cannot brain after teaching all day. I simply cannot concentrate on anything when I finally get home. This is a bummer on so many levels. I've always been a reader. Always. It is why I became an English teacher to begin with. I hate not being able to just sink into a good book at the end of a long day. I keep hoping I will snap out of it. Honestly, this is a post unto itself, and like I said, I'm ready for bed after another long week.
New books: Despite my slump, I have some exciting titles to share this week. So without further adieu. I hope you are all having fabulous weekends!
For Review
Exquisite Captive by Heather Demetrios
While I absolutely love the idea of jenni (genies), I have to admit that I'm a bit weary of this 500 page series starter. I've been trying to avoid series if I can help it. I just cannot not reread the first book (or worse, first couple of books) when the next one comes out. My book memory is seriously shit, and I HATE not being able to remember all the details. Bane of my existence. Regardless, I've heard good things and it looks pretty awesome.
Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick
I snagged this simply because it takes place in my home state of WY. Woot! (I've not read Hush, Hush.)
This is How it Ends by Jen Nadol
Friends on a camping trip see visions that start coming true. Or something. Sounds original if nothing else.
Kiss Kill Vanish by Jessica Martinez
A girl flees after seeing her boyfriend murder somebody per her own father's orders.
The Fall by Bethany Griffin
This is a re-imagining of Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher. That sentence only is its selling point. Plus, that cover is amazing.
The Good Sister by Jamie Kain
Three sisters with hippie parents. I just love books that focus on sisterhood. I'm also totally digging this cover.
The Perfectionists by Sara Shepard
Seriously, I don't know why I keep snagging her books. I rarely read them. The premise sounds interesting, but doesn't it always?
Pennyroyal Academy by M.A. Larson
I'm powerless against covers with dragons. I don't even read a whole lot of fantasy. There's just something about dragons, though.
Sweet Unrest by Lisa Maxwell
A murder mystery + Voodoo. Sold.
What I snagged from the library
Zac and Mia by AJ Betts
I'll be honest, I don't know if I can do another two sick teens story. I was approved for the e-book, but I didn't realize it was one that couldn't be sent to a Kindle, and I never read on my computer. I might give it a shot. Anybody read this one? Yay or nay?
Grim by various authors
I snagged this to see if a short story collection could help my slump. I'm hoping that little chunks are the best way to approach it (like it's a hungry lion or something).
Well that's it for me this week. Feel free to leave a link to whatever weekend post you do (Stacking the Shelves, In My Mailbox, etc). I love to see what books people have recently snagged and especially enjoy hearing about my fellow bloggers' weeks. I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend!
This may sound weird, but I love these update posts of yours. Every Saturday I have to read the, I rarely miss it in fact, because I want to know how you're getting on. I never really comment because I never have much to say, but I always read it because I want to see how teaching going for you and see how you're coping with the distance from home.
ReplyDeleteI'm only commenting because I want to thank you for being so open with your personal life when a lot of bloggers aren't but also I wanted to say your slump (which is the reason why I wanted to comment in the first place) is something that will probably pass with time. When you start a new job, especially when there are such huge changes going on like there are with you, it drains you a bit, and hopefully soon you'll feel a bit more motivated when you've finished work and want to read something, but it will come back, so don't be disheartened. When I started my last job I stopped reading for a good few months because I couldn't work up the energy to read after work, but I'm back reading now. All it can take is finding the right book sometimes, but it will happen.
Sorry, this comment has become an essay.
I tweeted to you, but I don't know if you saw, so I will repeat here. Thank you so much! I cannot even tell you how much this comment made my whole day. So many of the comments I get on these posts are only about the books. I have blogging buddies who I know take the time to read--and are truly interested in knowing--the life updates that I post on Saturdays, but I LOVE knowing that their are other bloggers out there who read it, too. It is such a weird and hard and different time in my life. I know that 10 months isn't that long in the scheme of things--especially with generous holiday time off--but it really is so hard to be away from my home and husband while also dealing with the stress of being a first year teacher.
DeleteAlso, I know that you are totally right about my slump, but it really does suck as books have always played such a huge part in my life.
THANK YOU for writing this!
Ah, The Fall! I'm so jealous! Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteErin @ The Book Nut
STS: http://booklovingnut.blogspot.com/2014/09/stacking-shelves-12-september-27-2014.html
You got some amazing books this week. I hope you love all of your new books.
ReplyDeleteGrace @ Books of Love
http://gracebooksoflove.com
Wow, great haul! I have Exquisite Captive, and I can't WAIT to read it!! And I'm excited to read Black Ice! I hope you enjoy all your new goodies!
ReplyDeleteHere's my STS:
http://addictreaders.blogspot.com/2014/09/stacking-shelves-73.html
So much good stuff!! I had no idea that's what This Is Where it Ends was about---not I'm interested! :D The Fall was soooo good, I loved it, but somehow I know it's going to be one of those kinds of stories that doesn't work for everyone---so I hope you love it! :D Also excited for Pennyroyal and Sweet Unrest! Enjoy it all!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I read one book my first year of teaching, expect the books/stories I was teaching. I probably only read over break (if I wasn't grading) or over summer. It's just so hard…I get it! You'll eventually find time once you become used to the curriculum, etc, but who knows where you will be next year. I hope you can find a job in PA! I am looking forward to your thoughts on Exquisite Captive. I also got a copy of Black Ice! I hope you have a good week!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I can't wait to read The Fall!
ReplyDeleteI did read Zac & Mia, and it wasn't as amazing as I hoped it would be. So maybe read it later when you think you can handle it? I guess I'm saying I don't think it's worth reading if you're on the fence.
I totally understand what you're saying. My job has gotten more stressful recently and once that happens, I tend to not read at all. That said, Thanksgiving is coming up! So hopefully you'll be bringing home lots of books! :)
Glad to hear work is going better. As far as reading, my book memory sucks too and I'm constantly having to reread books. I just skim for the most part so I get the major points and characters again; otherwise, I have NO IDEA what's going on in the new book. I wish I could wait until all of the books are out, but it's impossible. Hope you get out of your slump soon! ~Pam
ReplyDeleteI have Black Ice and Exquisite Captive coming up for review soon, too. I've seen mixed things for both, so I'm hoping I'm one of the ones who enjoys them. :P I read Zac & Mia, and I don't think the focus was so much on the illness as the kids themselves, so it didn't seem as sad and depressing to me as other stories like it. Mia is a pretty unlikable character for much of the book, and I love those, so it worked really well for me. I got the eARC -- which did let me send it to my Kindle, weird -- but I also got a regular ARC. If you decide to read it, you can totally borrow my copy. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, girlfriend! That's so nice of you, but I think I will pass. I might read this eventually, but I have SO many other books that I'm more interested in.
Delete