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: Chugging along. Fridays are my roughest days teaching wise. My two rowdiest classes are back-to-back at the end of the day (my school has this weird rotating schedule, so they are only together to end my day on Fridays), so they are, of course, all ramped up for the weekend...while I'm completely exhausted and over it by Friday afternoon. Worst combination ever. I seriously just want to pull my hair out by the time that final bell rings. Lol. What do you do? Thursday was an awesome day. I gave all of my classes a timed essay and got ALL of my grading done and entered in total peace. Every single one of my classes was quiet and well-behaved as they wrote all period. I now have 100 essays to grade, but it was so worth it.
I get to go home in 5 days!!! I cannot freaking wait to see my husband and cats. I'm going home for a friend's wedding, but we've already joked that we probably won't last very long at the reception. I'm hoping M-Th fly by. I fly out late Thursday night and get to spend 3 nights at home. So, so beyond excited.
Not a whole lot to report on the blog front. I've still only finished a single book in the past...I don't even know...four weeks probably--not counting books on CD which I am flying through with this killer commute. I just started the third HP book. I've read the series three or four times already, but it just makes an awful commute not quite as bad. Anyway, I have a TON of new books I'm excited to read, so hopefully I'll find something that can hold my interest. It's a shame that I'm going through this slump as I have time in the evenings to read. I'm just so tired every single night after having to act like Professor Umbrage all day. I just want to tell them: This class would be so fun and laid-back if you would stop acting like total hoodlums. Seriously, the minute I relax it's like they can sense it and pandemonium erupts. I know they all think I'm, like, the meanest teacher. They have no idea how laid back I am in real life. Oh, well.
New books: I have so many books to share this week that I am super excited about. Again, I have about a hundred essays I need to grade over the weekend, and a test to design, but I'm hoping to get in at least a couple of quality reading hours in there somewhere. I hope you are all having fantastic weekends!
For Review
Wildlife by Fiona Wood
I'm so excited for this Aussie book about two girls spending a semester in the wilderness. I have to say, though, that I didn't realize the book was about two girls. I have an e-arc of this, and the formatting in no way has shown that there are two different perspectives. I've only read the first few pages, but after just reading the synopsis, I realize that what I thought was one POV is apparently two...so I may wait for this to come out and snag it from the library so I'm not confused.
Jackaby by William Ritter
Being billed as Sherlock meets Doctor Who--two shows I don't watch, but I'm intrigued none-the-less. I love this cover, and have heard pretty good early buzz.
Get Even by Gretchen McNeil
I was so excited when I first snagged this. I love a good revenge book, so this one that follows four girls from different groups who work together to right their private school's wrongs sounded right up my alley. I have to admit that after reading the first couple of chapters that it isn't grabbing me the way I had hoped, but nothing is at the moment, so...
Vault of Dreamers by Caragh M. O'Brien
I'm honestly not sure what this is about. I know that it is a futuristic novel about teens at a school who are filmed for a reality show and who get 12 hours of induced sleep a day. It sounds weird, but cool.
Falls the Shadow by Stefanie Gaither
This is also a futuristic society story. This time about a girl whose sister is replaced by her clone 2 hours after her sister's death.
Sway by Kat Spears
This Cyrano de Bergerac like story sounds adorable.
Made for You by Melissa Marr
I love stories where the main character can foresee deaths, so I'm excited for this one.
Blackbird by Anna Carey
Books told in the second person are a hard sell, and I've already seen some fairly dismal reviews for this, so I'm not getting my hopes up too high. On a positive note, Blackbird is one of my all-time favorite songs, and I cannot read this title without singing it...Blackbird singing in the dead of night...
Stone Mattress by Margaret Atwood
All hail Queen Margaret. If you've never read anything by this prolific author, you are beyond missing out.
What I snagged from the library
The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone by Adele Griffin
I've been dying to read this unusual book. I got approved on NG, but the file was the wrong one. Even after I notified the publisher and it was "fixed", it was still the wrong book. So excited to read this.
Supernatural Enhancements by Edgar Cantero
I actually got the e-arc for this, too, but when I saw it was unusually written--with letters and the like, I knew I wanted to read the physical copy.
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!
Ahhh, Jackaby. Loved. So i hope you enjoy it! :D
ReplyDeleteSupernatuaral Enhancements looks like something I'm going to have to track down. I love stories told through little pull-out letters and things like that (ever seen a series called Griffin & Sabine?) so this definitely peaks my interest!!
Awesome! It's been a while since I've visited your blog but I'm glad you found a job. Not so for not seeing your family, however. Anyway, a job's a job, yes? :)
ReplyDeleteA new one by Margaret Atwood! Oh wow. I've only read The Handmaid's Tale and it was quite the experience, I tell you. I have several of her books that I haven't had the chance to get through but I'm endeavouring to do so sometime in the future.
Have a lovely week, Nat!
Sorry you had a tough week, I don't know how teachers deal with rowdy classes, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteFalls the Shadow, Sway, and Blackbird all sound really good. I read Vault of Dreamers and really enjoyed it. And a new Margaret Atwood! May have to check it out. Have fun reading and have a great time going home! ~Pam
Ahhhh, school sounds rough :( I'm in my second year of uni and I think it's going well, but I totally understand what you mean. So awesome that you'll see your family soon :)
ReplyDeleteWheeee, lots of great books! I didn't like Falls the Shadow or The Vault of Dreamers, unfortunately. I'm curious about Marr's new book though! Its cover is pretty :D I hope you enjoy all of your new books!
Have a fabulous weekend :)
Check out my STS post!
Fridays are always the WORST! I wish school was set up like college. Make Friday a day for study hall or remedial health or something extracurricular. Five days of LEARN LEARN LEARN is horrible.
ReplyDeleteYour haul looks great! I am excited to read Blackbirds and Jackaby. I did read Made For You, and it wasn't a love for me. I think I'll go read her Wicked Lovely series again. My review for Made For You is at ReadNowSleepLater.org, if you're interested.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you're settling into your new job! And you get to go home and see your husband and cats. I am sure it's really difficult for you to be so far away for so long. Yay for a long break at home! :)
Happy reading!!
I hear you about rowdy classes on Fridays. It was always tough and if it's at the end of the day, the kids always shut down after lunch. At least you don't have to deal with snow down there! As soon as the snow would start, my classes would ask every five minutes…are we getting out early? Will we have off tomorrow? ha. I am hoping to start Made For You today… I hope it's good b/c I love the sound of it! Enjoy your books and I hope you have a great time when you head home for a wedding!
ReplyDeleteSway is NOT adorable, but I still really liked it. It's got one of those unlikable characters that so many seem to, well, not like, but I find them fun to loathe until they redeem themselves...or not. I haven't read Jackaby yet, but I do have a copy. I only watch Doctor Who, but I've heard that it's better if you don't watch the shows because it is VERY like them and the similarities might offend some delicate sensibilities. Oh, well. I'm still gonna read it. :)
ReplyDeleteMan, if those kids only knew how cool you are IRL. =D