Stacking the Shelves [25]: College is Hard.

Stacking the shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, and it's all about sharing the books that have come into your possession throughout the week, whether it books added to your collection, ebooks, library books, etc. Sunday post is a weekly meme  hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer where bloggers can recap their week, showcase books, and share news.

 The Book

• THE MARTIAN: I was already at Target. It was $12. It's been so long since I've bought a book. Also, I have heard it is amazing. Matt Damon stuck on Mars? Yes, please. 

What I Read This Week

NOTHING.

Okay, not nothing. I've read a lot of Sparknotes and things on the French Revolution. Also, I am now just over 200 pages into Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare.

When I Wasn't Reading

Everything. College. It's killing me.

HOWEVER, on the (somewhat) positive note, I have a job at Panera now (!!!). This is a somewhat positive note because now I will have even less time to read because being a full time student and having a part time job and being social might actually be the death of me.

You Might Have Missed

Top Ten Tuesday: Auto-Buy Authors

Etsy Spotlight: SincerelyEunice

If We Were Having Coffee

Upcoming

Bookish September: Participation + TBR

My Month in Tomes: August 2015

Have you guys ever been in really bad reading slumps? What did you get yet? Have you read The Martian or seen the trailer? Tell me down in the comments!

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If We Were Having Coffee: August 23

If we were having coffee . . . I would tell you that I have been in a reading and blogging slump. I'm not sure it's even a slump. The reading slump is definitely a slump, but I have just lost all inspiration for blogging. I don't even want to read other people's blog posts. It's that bad.

If we were having coffee . . . I would say that both of these are the result of starting college. How did I have so much free time in high school? I honestly have no idea. I am so stressed about everything because I've only been here a week and haven't developed a schedule/routine yet. I need a routine to survive in life.

If we were having coffee . . . I would tell you that as much as I hate being in a reading and blogging slump, I now live in a drop-dead gorgeous and so-much-fun city. I mean, you can't tell me that this isn't beautiful:

I want to do these more often. They are super cute. I love reading them. If we were having coffee, what would you tell me?

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Etsy Spotlight: Sincerely Eunice

Shop Announcement

Outlander, Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones Mugs & Gifts

*click on picture to purchase* 

My absolute favorite thing from Eunice's shop (based in Santa Monica, CA). I actually really, really want this mug. 

If you know anything about me, you know that as soon as I finished Outlander in February (? - was it really that long ago?) it became an instant favorite. I actually don't own any Outlander themed  merchandise, but this mug is definitely going to be added to my (very large) mug collection soon.

A two mug set for all the TFIOS fans out there. These are an absolute must have. The black and white "Okay?" "Okay." and each has the quote printed on the back. If I was a TFIOS fan, then these would definitely to my admittedly giant mug collection.

As you probably don't know (because I honestly don't think I've mentioned it here) I have a giant obsession with Downton Abbey. It's everything I've ever wanted in a TV show, and it is just amazing. Actually amazing. 

Naturally, you need a mug for each fandom that you claim.

This edition of Etsy Spotlight is where I confess all of my non-bookish fandoms.

The most prominent (and my personal favorite) is Grey's Anatomy. I absolutely love the show, and I wonder if any of you love it too (keep the comments spoiler-free please!). I'm not the biggest fan of typewriter font, but I really love this combination.

Are you a mug addict like I am? Do you want any of these mugs as much as I want them? (I bet I want the Outlander mug more than you do.) Have you heard of Sincerely Eunice? Will you check her out? Tell me down in the comments!

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The Top Ten Authors That Take My Money Because They Are Geniuses

"Top Ten Tuesday" is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish to share lists (because we love them) about books and bookish things.

JENNY HAN // J.K. ROWLING // NOELLE STEVENSON // TAHEREH MAFI // RICK RIORDAN // MORGAN MATSON // FRANCINE RIVERS // RAINBOW ROWELL // SAMANTHA SHANNON // VICTORIA SCHWAB

I haven't necessarily read all the books by these authors, but that doesn't mean I don't want to (because let's face it, I need to read all the books).

What authors are on your auto-buy/auto-read list? Tell me down in the comments!

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Stacking the Shelves [24]: The Forgotten Book

Stacking the shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, and it's all about sharing the books that have come into your possession throughout the week, whether it books added to your collection, ebooks, library books, etc. Sunday post is a weekly meme  hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer where bloggers can recap their week, showcase books, and share news.

This might be the last physical book haul for a while, just because I am now a college student without 1) money and 2) bookshelves. So, one last location and giant book haul for you before . . . there are none.

The Stack

• ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS: I've had this on hold at my library for absolutely ever, and the ebook finally came in! (Just in time for college, when I won't have time to read it!)
• STATION ELEVEN, THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS: These two are from my homeland (aka Target) and books at Target are always on sale. I couldn't say no.
• CLOCKWORK PRINCE, CLOCKWORK PRINCESS: I had to get these two before I left for college because I knew I would want to read them while at school, and my iPad is currently MIA, so no scribd for me (I absolutely hate reading on my laptop).
• LOCK IN: I bought this from Book Outlet (it should have been in last week's haul, but it was packed away for college), and I heard Regan @ Peruse Project talking about it once a long time ago, so I clearly had to add it to my cart. Clearly.

What I Read This Week

 

One of these was amazing. The other was not. 

I will tell you this: Clockwork Angel was pretty amazing.

When I Wasn't Reading

MOVING. COLLEGE. AHHHH.

The above is currently my life. Chaos, new people, organizing, only having 21 books on a shelf. It's weird.

Tell me what books you got this week down below, and also tell me which of these books that I should read first! Any that I should have just left on the shelf?

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The 21 Books I'm Bringing to College!

Yes, one whole suitcase is books. An entire suitcase. If these twenty-one books (plus all of the books I have waiting for me at the school bookstores) don't fit on my shelves with my Funko! Ron and picture frames, I might have an actual meltdown.

I was worried that I wouldn't have a Stacking the Shelves post this week because I move into my dorm on Friday, so no library books from home and I need a piece of mail to get a library card in my college town.

BUT as I was taking pictures of the books I had put in this suitcase, I realized that I got Lock In by John Scalzi in my Book Outlet haul (I also added four books to my collection from Target and B&N, but you'll see those on Saturday).

There was no real rhyme or reason for these stacks of books (except for The Circle, which was required summer reading & Mistborn which I am buddy reading in August), they are just books that I really want to read . . . and soon. My school is only an hour and a half from my house, so I will be coming home once a month (AKA I will be able to switch out books I've read for unread ones).

I will also have my iPad with me (where I will have access to my hometown's overdrive and my scribd account!) so these aren't the only books I will be able to read.

Which book of this stack should I pick up first? Tell me down in the comments!

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Waiting on Wednesday [2]

"Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that I am eagerly anticipating. I, however, do it monthly.

I have been seeing Waiting on Wednesdays for as long as I have been blogging, but every week just seemed like too much, so I decided to post a monthly version with a handful of books on the second Wednesday of every month!

The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury

Expected Publication: 23 February 2016 by Razorbill

She is the most powerful Jinni of all. He is a boy from the streets. Their love will shake the world...

When Aladdin discovers Zahra's jinni lamp, Zahra is thrust back into a world she hasn't seen in hundreds of years -- a world where magic is forbidden and Zahra's very existence is illegal. She must disguise herself to stay alive, using ancient shape-shifting magic, until her new master has selected his three wishes.

But when the King of the Jinn offers Zahra a chance to be free of her lamp forever, she seizes the opportunity—only to discover she is falling in love with Aladdin. When saving herself means betraying him, Zahra must decide once and for all: is winning her freedom worth losing her heart?

As time unravels and her enemies close in, Zahra finds herself suspended between danger and desire in this dazzling retelling of Arabian Nights from acclaimed author Jessica Khoury.

Thank you to Cait @ Paper Fury. Female!Genie and Aladdin retelling. I don't need to know any more than this.

The Accident Season by Moira Fowley-Doyle

Expected Publication: 18 August 2015 by Corgi Childrens

It's the accident season, the same time every year. Bones break, skin tears, bruises bloom.

The accident season has been part of seventeen-year-old Cara's life for as long as she can remember. Towards the end of October, foreshadowed by the deaths of many relatives before them, Cara's family becomes inexplicably accident-prone. They banish knives to locked drawers, cover sharp table edges with padding, switch off electrical items - but injuries follow wherever they go, and the accident season becomes an ever-growing obsession and fear.

But why are they so cursed? And how can they break free?

In this edition of WOW! we thank bloggers. This one again goes to Cait @ Paper Fury. "Wildy marvelous" she called it. "Made for me" she said. Tell me no more.

Accident prone season? Cait loves it? I need it.

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness
Expected Publication: 27 August 2015 by Walker Books

What if you aren’t the Chosen One?

The one who’s supposed to fight the zombies, or the soul-eating ghosts, or whatever the heck this new thing is, with the blue lights and the death?

What if you’re like Mikey? Who just wants to graduate and go to prom and maybe finally work up the courage to ask Henna out before someone goes and blows up the high school. Again.

Because sometimes there are problems bigger than this week’s end of the world, and sometimes you just have to find the extraordinary in your ordinary life.

Even if your best friend is worshiped by mountain lions.

Award-winning writer Patrick Ness’s bold and irreverent novel powerfully reminds us that there are many different types of remarkable.

 Again, we thank Cait. I have only read A Monster Calls by him, and it was amazing! I have heard wonderful praises from Paper Fury & Sarah Churchill & Jon. I AM JUST SO EXCITED BECAUSE AH. JUST LOOK AT IT. LOOK.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Expected Publication: 29 September 2015

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums. 

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes. 

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.

I AM GETTING AN ARC OF THIS. A SIGNED PHYSICAL ARC. SO MUCH EXCITE.

Thank you to Christina @ Girl in the Pages for hosting a lovely giveaway that features such a highly anticipated release. It has already gotten some amazing reviews, and while I haven't read the Grisha trilogy, I am still very excited to read this one.

Which of these are you guys anticipating? Or have you even heard of any of these? Any sparked interest? Tell me down in the comments!

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Top 5 Most Influential Required Reading Books!

"Top 5 Wednesday" is a weekly meme created by Lainey at GingerReadsLainey on Youtube and hosted by Goodreads hosts Lainey and Mindy. You can find the goodreads group here.

It wouldn't be a true T5W without me putting my own spin on the week's topic. The original topic was simply "Top 5 Required Reading Books" but I figured most would be the same across the board (plus, mine would just be Dickens, Dickens, Poe, Dickens, Gatsby), so I wanted to do my own spin.

The Tell Tale Heart

If you're new*, you might not know that I love Edgar Allan Poe. This was the first ever story by Poe that I read (it was in seventh grade, so this obsession runs six years** deep), and I remember having to research him in class that same day. I was a goner after that. 

All hail the father of short stories.

*actually if you're old you might not know either because I've never talked about it

**years is a completely acceptable measurement

The Kite Runner

This is the most recent read on my list. I read it earlier this year, and -believe it or not- this might be the first truly diverse book that I've read. Now, I just want all the diverse books in my collection and in my mind.

Great Expectations

Freshman year. What a gloriously terrible time. My teacher didn't love this book, and she'd been teaching freshman English for long enough to know that this was by far the least favorite book. So, she suggested that we listen to the audiobook* when it gets slow. So, I did, and that was the first ever (partial) audiobook I listened to** and now look at me: I'm obsessed.

*on Youtube because we're freshman in high school, we don't have money

**back when I didn't consider audiobooks reading

Hatchet

I hated this book. I absolutely hated it. Fifth grade. Language arts class. "Advanced Readers" table. 

Now I hate books that take place in the wilderness. There is no cure. I've tried.

A TALE OF TWO CITIES

My all time favorite book. Great Expectations was good (it's getting a re-read soon), but this book blew me away. I read this book sophomore year, my teacher was absolutely hilarious* and she absolutely loved me. We dung into this novel, and that was really the first experience I ever had doing that.

It was glorious. Meet my favorite book.

*when we read Animal Farm she read the first few chapters aloud to the class, and she gave the animals voices. it was great.

What do you think of this? Definitely too text-y but I didn't like how it looked with the pictures either. What books are on your list? Tell me down in the comments!

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My Top-Read Authors!

"Top Ten Tuesday" is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish to share lists (because we love them) about books and bookish things.

Rainbow Rowell

   

Favorite: Fangirl
Least Favorite: Eleanor & Park
Need to Read: I've read all of Rainbow Rowell's published work!

Brian Michael Bendis

   

Favorite: Either the first or second volume of All-New X-Men.

Least Favorite: Uncanny X-Men.

Need to Read: The rest of All-New X-Men (possibly) but I've heard the rest of the series isn't very good, so I might just stop while I am ahead.

Kiera Cass

   

Favorite: The One
Least Favorite: The Elite
Need to Read: The Heir

Veronica Roth

   

Favorite: Divergent
Least Favorite: Insurgent or Allegiant - It's been so long since I read them that I've forgotten..
Need to Read: I believe I have read all of her published works.

C.S. Lewis

   

It's been so long since I've read these that I can't remember a (least) favorite.

Need to Read: The rest of the Chronicles of Narnia and his Christian works.

Rick Riordan

  

 

Favorite: Both The Battle of the Labyrinth and The Last Olympian were amazing.
Least Favorite: Sea of Monsters
Need to Read: The Heroes of Olympus series and the Red Pyramid trilogy (???).

Tahereh Mafi

  

 

Favorite: Ignite Me!!!
Least Favorite: Fracture Me by far! It might be my only 1 star for the year.

J.K. Rowling / Robert Galbraith

Here comes the big jump!

   

   

   

Favorite: It's like picking a favorite child. The Tales of Beedle the Bard is great, but Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is my favorite book.
Least Favorite: None, they're all special snowflakes.
Need to Read: The Casual Vacancy and The Silkworm (both of which I own, so I have no real excuse).

Lemony Snicket / Daniel Handler

   

   

   

Favorite: For some reason, I remember really liking The Reptile Room and The Ersatz Elevator but I have no idea why because I read these in elementary and middle school.
Need to Read: THE END! For some unknown reason, I was never able to finish the last book as a kid, but Scribd has them all on audio so I'll listen to all of them there soon. Also, I want to read more Daniel Handler.

What are your top read authors? Do we share any? What Daniel Handler book should I read first? Tell me down in the comments!

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