Weekly Rewind 11.19.16

Weekly Rewind
The new books on my shelves and my week in a nutshell.

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'v 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. This post is linked to Stacking the Shelves over at Tynga's Reviews and the Sunday Post over at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. 

My Life and Blog

Life: Sooooo close to Thanksgiving break. I'm staying in VA this weekend because I'll be driving home on Tuesday after school for my five-day weekend. My husband and I are flying out of PA on Wed to go down to FL to spend the holiday with my family. I'm so excited I get to hang out with both my husband and my family for a couple of days. Because I'll be out of town, I'll probably skip my WR next week, but I'll be back the week after. 

Blog and Reading: A WoW this week. I'm currently reading Scythe and hope to finish it this weekend. Despite finding the idea behind the book fascinating, I was having a hard time getting into it, but somewhere around the 100 pg mark, it really started taking off. I also starting reading Anna Kendrick's book yesterday, which I'm enjoying so far. I'm also about halfway through Holding on to the Universe which is really good so far. Finally, I just snagged This is Our Story from the library and cannot wait to dive in. It's one of my most anticipated books of the year, but I've decided to wait until Wed because it looks like the perfect plane book. 

New books: Just a couple of additions this week, but I'm so excited for both of them. So without further ado, I hope you all have fabulous weekends and Happy Thanksgiving! 

What I snagged from the library

Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick

I love her and am enjoying this so far.
This is Our Story by Ashley Elston
I'm trying so hard not to start this until my plane ride on Wed, but I've been dying for this book for months now.

Well that's it for me this week. Feel free to leave a link to whatever weekend post you do (Stacking the Shelves, The Sunday Post, 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!

Waiting on Wednesday (173) First We Were IV

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. Click the link to see the original post plus a whole slew of links to other blogs. After you read this one, of course.

First We Were IV

Author: Alexandra Sirowy
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: July 25, 2017

Goodreads:

It started for pranks, fun, and forever memories.
A secret society – for the four of us. 

The rules: Never lie. Never tell. Love each other.

We made the pledge and danced under the blood moon on the meteorite in the orchard. In the spot we found the dead girl five years earlier. And discovered the ancient drawings way before that. 

Nothing could break the four of us apart – I thought.

But then, others wanted in. Our seaside town had secrets. History.

We wanted revenge.

We broke the rules. We lied. We told. We loved each other too much, not enough, and in ways we weren’t supposed to. 

Our invention ratcheted out of control.

What started as a secret society, ended as justice. Revenge. Death. Rebellion.

Why I'm Excited:
Ok, so this cover is seriously amateur-hour, but I will always pick up a book if it's about a secret society. I haven't read anything by this author despite owning both of her previous offerings. I'm definitely excited for this one, though, and will be keeping my eyes open for it. 

What are you waiting for on this Wednesday? Link me up!

Weekly Rewind 11.12.16

Weekly Rewind
The new books on my shelves and my week in a nutshell.

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'v 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. This post is linked to Stacking the Shelves over at Tynga's Reviews and the Sunday Post over at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. 

My Life and Blog

Life: I have a lot to say about this week, but I'll try to be concise. I woke up at 3:30 on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning to an America I truly never fathomed. I cannot understand how this happened. I cannot believe that the people of this country could say: we will take a narassistic, sexist, racist bigot over this qualified woman. I sobbed as I got dressed. I sobbed as I drove to school. I sobbed as walked through the doors to the band teacher mournfully playing the National Anthem on the violin. And then I had to clean up and pull my shit together because it is my job to make my students feel safe and protected. I have an incredibly diverse group of students, and they will know that each and every one of them are important to me and important to that school. I am terrified of the four next years. I cannot even imagine what life is going to be like if we make it to 2021.

I'm still working on my NaNo novel, but I'm not even close to the number I'm supposed to be at. I wrote over 2000 words yesterday, which I'm pretty proud of. I know that I'm not going to "win", but I have a solid start to something that I'm interested in writing. I have some research that I need to do, but I'm also trying to study for a couple of Praxis exams to get certified in a couple more subjects to make myself more desirable to those impossible PA schools. I HAVE to get a job at home next year. So I know my focus is going to have to swing in that direction in order to make that happen. 

Blog and reading: I'm still reading Illuminae which I'm enjoying. I've also been kind of reading Scythe, which is interesting so far. Between NaNo and the election and starting to study, though, I haven't had the chance to read as much as I'd like. The cd player in my car broke last week which SUCKS! I listen to books on cd on my commute every single day, but especially on that 8 hour round trip I do almost every weekend. My car doesn't have any kind of adapter for my phone either. Audiobooks is by far the majority of my reading, so I need to figure something out.

New books: Just a few books this week, but I'm excited for all of them. So without further ado, I hope you all have fabulous weekends! 

For Review

  

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

In a future where natural death no longer occurs, members of society are made scythes to take lives to stop over population. One of those scythes chooses two teens, a boy and a girl, to become his apprentices. After one year under his guidance one of them will become a scythe. I've only read the first 60 pages of this, or so, but it is intriguing so far. 

Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst

A fantasy novel with a LGBQ+ love story. I hope this is as amazing at it sounds (and looks--I love that cover!). 

Trouble Makes a Comeback by Stephanie Tromly

I can't really remember the first book (to the point where I might have to reread it before I pick this up) beyond that it was quick but baffling. We'll see. I am curious.

Well that's it for me this week. Feel free to leave a link to whatever weekend post you do (Stacking the Shelves, The Sunday Post, 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!

Waiting on Wednesday (172) The Waking Land

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. Click the link to see the original post plus a whole slew of links to other blogs. After you read this one, of course.

The Waking Land

Author: Callie Bates
Publisher: Del Rey Books
Release Date: July 4, 2017

Goodreads:

In the lush and magical tradition of Naomi Novik s award-winning Uprooted comes this riveting debut from brilliant young writer Callie Bates whose boundless imagination places her among the finest authors of fantasy fiction, including Sarah J. Maas and Sabaa Tahir. 

Lady Elanna Valtai is fiercely devoted to the King who raised her like a daughter. But when he dies under mysterious circumstances, Elanna is accused of his murder and must flee for her life. 

Returning to the homeland of magical legends she has forsaken, Elanna is forced to reckon with her despised, estranged father, branded a traitor long ago. Feeling a strange, deep connection to the natural world, she also must face the truth about the forces she has always denied or disdained as superstition powers that suddenly stir within her. 

But an all-too-human threat is drawing near, determined to exact vengeance. Now Elanna has no choice but to lead a rebellion against the kingdom to which she once gave her allegiance. Trapped between divided loyalties, she must summon the courage to confront a destiny that could tear her apart. 

Why I'm Excited:
Serious cover love. This sounds like a depature from the books I tend to go for, but I love that she feels a connection to the natural world because that is something I'm researching now for my WIP. I'll definitely be keeping my eyes open for this one. 

What are you waiting for on this Wednesday? Link me up!

Weekly Rewind 11.5.17

Weekly Rewind
The new books on my shelves and my week in a nutshell.

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'v 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. This post is linked to Stacking the Shelves over at Tynga's Reviews and the Sunday Post over at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. 

My Life and Blog

Life: Lots going on! Today (Friday) was the last day of the quarter. Teacher work days are Monday and Tuesday. I have about (ahem, exactly) 26 more essays to grade before my grades can be finalized. I did decide to join NaNoWriMo and am already a billion words behind. I decided to join just a couple of days before, so really didn't have the time I wanted to plot/outline and research. As such, I started out pretty strong and then immediately hit a wall about 3000 words in. I plan on spending the weekend sitting down and plotting out the novel. I'm honestly not too concerned with "winning" this year, my first year. My way more realistic goal is to have the first draft completed by Dec. 31st. That said, I am trying to write as many words a day as I can, and hope that doing some true planning this weekend will get me back on track. Newsflash: Writing a novel is seriously hard. Will accept any good vibes thrown my way. (Oh, and I'm darling13 if you want to be NaNo buddies.)

Blog and reading: A WoW this week. I am currently reading Illuminae, finally, although I really haven't been reading much at all due to grading and writing.

New books: Just a few books to share this week. So without further ado, I hope you are all having fabulous weekends!

For Review

 

The Nerdy and the Dirty by B.T. Gottfred

I seriously love this charming cover, and love a good opposites attact story.

The Girl in the Picture by Alexandra Monir

This murder mystery alternates between the two girls who may have killed a popular boy at a prep school. 

What I snagged from the library 

 

Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

While I'm still reading Illuminae, I am excited for this sequel. 

Ghostbusters

Who you going to call? (Sorry, not sorry.) So excited! 

Well that's it for me this week. Feel free to leave a link to whatever weekend post you do (Stacking the Shelves, The Sunday Post, 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!

Waiting on Wednesday (171) In Some Other Life

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. Click the link to see the original post plus a whole slew of links to other blogs. After you read this one, of course.

In Some Other Life

Author: Jessica Brody
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
Release Date: August 29, 2017

Goodreads:

Kennedy Rhodes turns down an acceptance to an elite private school, instead choosing to stay at her high school and jump at the opportunity to date the boy of her dreams. Three years later, Kennedy walks in on that same boyfriend cheating with her best friend—and wishes she had made a different choice. But when Kennedy hits her head and wakes up in the version of her life where she chose to attend the private school, she finds that maybe it’s not as perfect of a world as she once thought.

Why I'm Excited:
I knew I wanted to read this the moment I read that (short and sweet) synopsis. I LOVE re-do books or books that show the "road not traveled". I'll definitely be keeping my eyes out for this one. 

What are you waiting for on this Wednesday? Link me up!