I feel like I said this every month, but can you even believe how fast this year is flying by?! We’re already halfway through, and I’m kind of freaking out about that. On the plus side, the summer months are finally here, and with them they bring more reading time, no school, and SUNSHINE! Needless to say, I’m just a little excited. 😉 Overall, I had an okay reading and blogging month for May. The first half of the month, I was so busy with finals and dance that I barely blogged or read at all. Once everything settled down though, I was able to get a bit more on track. I ended up reading three books in the month of May, which, given my circumstances, isn’t terrible, but I was hoping for at least four.
BOOKS READ
– Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
– Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
– My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STANDOUT BOOK OF THE MONTH
Emergency Contact was filled with great characters, real life topics, and cute banter. It’s a perfect, mature*, YA novel that I think a lot of people have been looking for!
*not in the explicit way, haha. The characters are older – in their late teens and early 20’s.
BOOKS REVIEWED
The Rebellion by Livy Jarmusch \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
The Ugly Teapot by Fred Holmes \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
BOOK HAUL
So, I bought quite a lot of books in the month of May! First, I went to two different library book sales, and so, if you’ve followed me for a while, you know I go completely overboard at those sales, and bought wayyy too many books. If you’re interested in seeing which books I got, I currently have that book haul as a story highlight on my Instagram. You can check that out here!
Then, I received a copy of How to Be a Perfect Christian by the satire website, The Babylon Bee, from WaterBrook & Multnomah as a thank you gift for signing up to be a member of their book launch teams. A huge thank you to them! It was such a pleasant and unexpected surprise, and I can’t wait to read it!
Lastly, I was looking through the bargain books at Books-a-Million, which is a very dangerous place to be, and found a hardcover copy of The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer for only $6! I’m not embarrassed to admit that I was a bit of a Twi-hard back in the day (maybe I still am a little, lol), and I also loved The Host. So, I’m excited to give this one a try and see what I think!
MISCELLANEOUS
Like I said earlier, the first half of May was quite slow. Despite that, May still managed to feature some exciting posts!
Here are all the TTT’s that I participated in for the month of May:
- Top Ten Characters I’d Name My Kids (or Pets) After
- Top Ten Bookish Worlds I’d Want To/Never Want to Live In
Here’s what I was Waiting on Wednesday for this month:
I participated in The Rebellion blog tour last month, as well!
Also, last but not least, I unveiled my new logo for The Calico Books!
That wraps up everything bookish that happened during May! I have high hopes for a big reading and blogging month for June, so wish me luck! 🙂
Thanks so much for reading!
Follow me on:
Bloglovin’ | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Litsy (@thecalicobooks)
Buy from:
(I receive a tiny commission if you follow my BD links!)
Waiting on Wednesday/Can’t Wait Wednesday is a weekly feature, started by Breaking the Spine and continued by Wishful Endings, that puts the spotlight on upcoming releases!
This week’s pick is:
A Thousand Perfect Notes
RELEASING JUNE 7TH, 2018
An emotionally charged story of music, abuse and, ultimately, hope.
Beck hates his life. He hates his violent mother. He hates his home. Most of all, he hates the piano that his mother forces him to play hour after hour, day after day. He will never play as she did before illness ended her career and left her bitter and broken. But Beck is too scared to stand up to his mother, and tell her his true passion, which is composing his own music – because the least suggestion of rebellion on his part ends in violence.
When Beck meets August, a girl full of life, energy and laughter, love begins to awaken within him and he glimpses a way to escape his painful existence. But dare he reach for it?
I’ve been following Cait’s, AKA Paper Furry, blog and Twitter for a couple years now. She’s just so sweet and funny! When I found out she was releasing a book, I was genuinely so happy for, and then when I read the synopsis, I just knew I HAD to read it! This book looks like it’s going to break my heart, and I am so ready for it! Plus, the cover is just so gorgeous. Also, I’m so excited, because it comes out tomorrow. I won’t have to wait much longer to read it now!
Follow me on:
Bloglovin’ | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Litsy (@thecalicobooks)
Buy from:
(I receive a tiny commission if you follow my BD links!)
It’s Top Ten Tuesday again! It’s a weekly bookish list hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl! This week’s topic is:
Books I DNF’d Too Quickly
I am not someone to DNF (did not finish) books too often. So, even though I really enjoyed thinking about this week’s topic, it was a really hard one for me. Because of that, I could only think of 8 books that I’ve DNF’d that I may have given up on a little too fast.
Dune
So, I was supposed to read Dune in my 11th grade Lit class. I started it, and really tried to read it, but I just could not get into it! So, I hate to say it, but I SparkNotes my way through this book. Now, I don’t remember anything about this book, except I think there’s this giant worm and a genius baby. I really do think though, that if I was able to read Dune at my own pace and leisure, I could really enjoy this book.
To Kill a Mockingbird
I’m embarrassed to say that I used SparkNotes on To Kill a Mockingbird, too. Let me just say though, my freshman year of high school was so overwhelming. I went to an online school, and most weeks I would literally work from like, 8 AM until 6 PM every single day, including weekends. I really want to read this book now, though. I really think I would appreciate it so much!
Also, side note, I have to lol at my high school adviser who told me that my freshman year course load was how university was. My university courses can be SO overwhelming, but nowhere near as bad as that year was!!
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime
Okay, this one was not a school book! The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime was the book club pick for my high school’s book club. Everyone else just loved the book, and those that had already read it had hyped it up so much. I, personally, just couldn’t get into it. I often wonder if I gave up on it too soon, though. Now that it’s been several years, I’d like to give this book another chance sometime!
The Jungle Book
I tried reading The Jungle Book many years ago. I went into it, though, thinking it would be like the Disney movie. I should have known, though, that it would be quite different! I think because I had set certain expectations about this book, that when it was not what I was expecting, I just wasn’t into it. Now that I realize it’s going to be different, I think I’d like to give it another try sometime.
Through Gates of Splendor
I don’t have anything against this book! I started reading it, and I found it interesting enough. I just think I wasn’t in the mood for a book like Through Gates of Splendor, when I tried reading it. I’m sure I’ll give it another try someday!
Pride and Prejudice
This is another book that I picked up that I just don’t think I was quite in the mood to read. I tried reading Pride and Prejudice during a super busy time, and I just didn’t quite have the time or energy to devote myself to it. I definitely plan on giving Pride and Prejudice a second chance very soon!
The Swiss Family Robinson
You guys. 5th grade me HATED this book! It drove me crazy the way he always said “said I.” I don’t know why, but it just bothered me so much that it was always worded like that. 😂 Luckily, my teacher was so chill, and she also hated the book, that she didn’t make me finish it. She gave me an alternate assignment to do instead. I actually have no idea how The Swiss Family Robinson ends though, and there’s a part of me that would really like to know. I remember one of my classmates said it was the saddest book he ever read. So, I’m both scared and intrigued to give this one another try.
The Monstrumologist
I tried reading this book a couple years ago because I though it would be a fun and creepy read for Halloween. That being said, The Monstrumologist was just too much for me at the time. The descriptions in the first couple of chapters were just so gruesome! I do think the actual plot of this book sounds really intriguing, so I may try again sometime. If the descriptions throughout the rest of the book stay too gross and graphic though, I’ll probably end up DNFing it for good.
Those are my picks for this week’s TTT. What are some books that you may have DNF’d too soon?
Thanks for reading!
Follow me on:
Bloglovin’ | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Litsy (@thecalicobooks)
Buy from:
(I receive a tiny commission if you follow my BD links!)
Title: Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi
Pages: 394
Genres: Contemporary, YA, Romance
Published by: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (Mar. 27th, 2018)
Summary
For Penny Lee high school was a total nonevent. Her friends were okay, her grades were fine, and while she somehow managed to land a boyfriend, he doesn’t actually know anything about her. When Penny heads to college in Austin, Texas, to learn how to become a writer, it’s seventy-nine miles and a zillion light years away from everything she can’t wait to leave behind.
Sam’s stuck. Literally, figuratively, emotionally, financially. He works at a café and sleeps there too, on a mattress on the floor of an empty storage room upstairs. He knows that this is the god-awful chapter of his life that will serve as inspiration for when he’s a famous movie director but right this second the seventeen bucks in his checking account and his dying laptop are really testing him.
When Sam and Penny cross paths it’s less meet-cute and more a collision of unbearable awkwardness. Still, they swap numbers and stay in touch—via text—and soon become digitally inseparable, sharing their deepest anxieties and secret dreams without the humiliating weirdness of having to see each other.
What I Thought
Emergency Contact was one of my anticipated reads, for Waiting on Wednesday, earlier this year. So, when the Bookshelf Tees Book Club announced it as their May book club pick, I decided it was the perfect time to read it! I’m so glad I did, too, because it was just the type of book I was looking for.
Hello! I got the idea for today’s post from Kristin at Kristin Kraves Books, and it was originally started by Caitlin from Caitstiel’s Book World. I loved reading both of their posts, so I just had to do it, too! Basically, I am going to go through my Goodreads book recommendations, and decide whether or not I would read the books they’re recommending to me.
Today, I’m going to pick the first ten recommendations from my “read” shelf:
Because I read My Utmost for His Highest Oswald Chambers
Streams in the Desert is a devotional book. I could see myself reading it in the future, but I’m pretty undecided at this point.
Because I read Forgotten God by Francis Chan
David Platt is a Christian speaker and author. I’ve done some of his Bible studies with my church before. While he’s not one of my favorites, I could still see myself reading this book.
3. Sir Kendrick and the Castle of Bel Lione
Because I read Haunted Waters by Jerry B. Jenkins
I wouldn’t read Sir Kendrick and the Castle of Bel Lione. I’m not very into knights, and so this book just doesn’t sound like something I would be interested in.
4. Unstoppable
Because I read Through the Eyes of a Lion by Levi Lusko
Christine Caine is another Christian author and speaker. While I haven’t read any of her books, I’ve heard really good things about her, and would definitely consider reading this book.
5. Bad Kitty
Because I Read several different books by Meg Cabot and Heist Society by Ally Carter
When I first saw the cover for Bad Kitty, I was sure I probably wouldn’t be interested. When I read the synopsis though, I actually really think it’ll be something I’m interested in! I love sassy characters and mysteries, and this book looks like it has both. I added this one to my TBR shelf!
Because I read Holes by Louis Sachar and The Giver by Lois Lowry
I don’t know if I’ll read this book anytime soon, but it does look like something I might pick up if I were looking for a short and easy read. I think A Long Way from Chicago would have been a book I would have really liked when I was younger, though! Because of that, I did add it to my TBR shelf, just so I can remember it, if I ever do decide to give it a try.
Because I read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
I definitely want to read Winnie-the-Pooh someday! It’s one of those childhood classics I never read, and feel like I’ve missed out on. I have so many fond memories of watching the original cartoons with my grandparents when I was little. We were never allowed to watch the windy day episode when my cousin was there though, because it scared him too much…That used to irritate 5 year old me so much! haha 🙂 So, yes, this is a recommendation I completely agree with!
Because I read A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness and Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs
I actually tried reading this book once, but I couldn’t get past the first couple of chapters because it was just too gruesome for me. I wanted to like it, but it was just too much.
Because I read the Christy Miller Collection, Vol 1. by Robin Jones Gunn and Heist Society by Ally Carter
I actually bought So Not Happening at a library book sale! I haven’t read it yet, but I do plan on it! So, this recommendation works.
Because I read Matilda by Roald Dahl
This book is in another language – I believe Dutch – and unfortunately, I only speak English. So, I’m going to have to pass on this book, lol. From what I gather, based on the English reviews, it’s a dystopian novel where society is ruled only by women because men messed the world up. If there was an English translation, I might give this book a chance, though!
This was so much fun to do!! I discovered a few new books I might like to read, too. I definitely plan on doing a post like this again, with some of my other Goodreads bookshelves.
Thanks so much for reading!
Follow me on:
Bloglovin’ | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Litsy (@thecalicobooks)
Buy from:
(I receive a tiny commission if you follow my BD links!)
Hey everyone! Summertime is officially upon us! It has been super hot all week, and I’ve been loving being able to go swimming and taking care of my garden. I just love summer! Today, I’ve decided to share with you all my summer reading goals for 2018. Some of them will be the same from last year, and others will be new. Like always, I count my summer reading from approximately Memorial Day to Labor Day – late May through early September. So, be sure to check back at the end of summer to see if I was able to reach my goals!
Okay, let’s get started:
Waiting on Wednesday/Can’t Wait Wednesday is a weekly feature, started by Breaking the Spine and continued by Wishful Endings, that puts the spotlight on upcoming releases!
This week’s pick is:
Summer of Salt
RELEASING JUNE 5TH, 2018
Practical Magic meets Nova Ren Suma’s Imaginary Girls and Laura Ruby’s Bone Gap in this lush, atmospheric new novel by acclaimed author Katrina Leno.
A magic passed down through generations. An island where strange things happen. A summer that will become legend.
Georgina Fernweh waits impatiently for the tingle of magic in her fingers—magic that has touched every woman in her family. But with her eighteenth birthday looming, Georgina fears her gift will never come.
Over the course of her last summer on the island—a summer of storms, falling in love, and the mystery behind one rare three-hundred-year-old bird—Georgina will learn the truth about magic, in all its many forms.
In Summer of Salt, Katrina Leno weaves another gorgeously original novel of magical realism and coming-of-age. Fans of April Genevieve Tucholke and Anna-Marie McLemore will be swept away.
This novel sounds so unique! I love the promise of magical realism and the summer vibes that Summer of Salt gives off. Plus, look at that gorgeous cover! This book looks like it is going to be such a memorable and mysterious, summer read!
Follow me on:
Bloglovin’ | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Litsy (@thecalicobooks)
Buy from:
(I receive a tiny commission if you follow my BD links!)
It’s Top Ten Tuesday again! It’s a weekly bookish list hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl! This week’s topic is:
Bookish Worlds I’d Want To/Never Want To Live In
For this week, I’m going to share 5 bookish worlds and locations I’d want to visit, and 5 I definitely wouldn’t!
First up, five of the bookish worlds I’d love to live in or visit:
Avonlea from Anne of Green Gables
If you’ve been following me, you know how much I love Anne of Green Gables, so it’s no surprise that Avonlea is on my list! It’s so gorgeous, and just seems like such a fun and laid-back place to live. I would really love to visit PEI someday because of Anne. It’d be almost like being able to visit Avonlea!
Oz from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Oz is such crazy and unique place, I’d love to visit it! It’s so colorful, with so many different characters, I think it would be so neat.
The Time Loop from Hollow City
The time loops throughout the Peculiar Children series are so unique and intriguing to me. While I definitely wouldn’t want to live in the same day forever, I think it would be really interesting to visit and experience. I’d especially love to visit the time loop they went to in Hollow City that featured all the peculiar animals, like Addison!
The House from Dreamhouse Kings
Another place I’d love to visit, but definitely not live in is the house from the Dreamhouse Kings series. With portals to travel to different times and places, I think it would be such a cool thing to experience!
Narnia from The Chronicles of Narnia
I’m sure I won’t be the only person with Narnia on my list, but that’s because it would be such an incredible place to visit and explore!
Now, five of the bookish worlds I would not want to visit:
Panem from The Hunger Games
I do not think this one even needs an explanation…lol. Nobody would want to visit the Hunger Games.
The world of Fahrenheit 451
A world where books are forbidden and illegal is a world I definitely do not want to live in.
The Maze from The Maze Runner
You guys, let me just say, I would not survive in any these dystopian worlds. I’m way too tired for that. Plus, I feel like I’m going to pass out if my lunch is even an hour later than usual. Running through a maze, not knowing who I am, is not the life for me.
The world of The Giver
To not have a choice in my life and to not be able to see all the colors of life is so tragic. I’d never want to live, or visit a place like that.
Camp Green Lake from Holes
I don’t want to have to worry about poisonous lizards, crazy wardens, or digging holes in super hot temperatures. I’ll stick to just reading the book, instead of visiting, instead!
Those are my picks for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday! Share which bookish worlds you’d love to visit, or maybe never visit, in the comments!
Thanks for reading!
Follow me on:
Bloglovin’ | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Litsy (@thecalicobooks)
Buy from:
(I receive a tiny commission if you follow my BD links!)
Title: Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Pages: 602
Genres: YA, Sci-Fi
Published by: Knopf Books for Young Readers (Oct. 20th, 2015)
Summary
This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.
The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.
But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it’s clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she’d never speak to again.
BRIEFING NOTE: Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.
What I Thought
The hype for Illuminae has been strong, especially since the last book in the series, Obsidio, recently came out. So, when I found a hardcover copy at Books-A-Million for $6, I immediately bought it, and now that I’ve read it, I’m so glad I did!
Hey everyone! Recently, I was tagged by Kris over at Boston Book Reader to do the This or That book tag! Thank you so much for tagging me, Kris!!
Alright, here we go:
Audiobook OR Text book?
While I do enjoy some audiobooks, I don’t listen to very many, so I definitely have to go with text books!
Paperback OR Hardback?
I honestly love both! I’ll go with hardback though, because they are more aesthetically pleasing on my bookshelves.
Fiction OR Non-fiction?
I have to go with fiction. While I appreciate non-fiction, it’s just not typically a genre that I read very often.
Bookshop OR Online?
Even though I definitely appreciate the convenience of online shopping, nothing beats the feeling of going to an actual bookstore, browsing the shelves for hours, and just appreciating that chill vibe that all bookstores seem to have.
Standalone OR Trilogy?
This one really just depends on my mood! Sometimes I love trilogies and other times I’m content with just one book. I guess I’ll go with standalone, though, because I’m so terrible at finishing series sometimes!
Heavy & Long OR Short & Sweet?
Again, this one just depends on my mood! Sometimes the longer the book the better, and other times I’m super content with novella.
Reading somewhere Cozy OR in the Sun?
Please, can I pick both?! There’s nothing like reading in the sunshine on a warm, summer day with an icy, cold drink to help you from getting too hot. However, there’s also nothing like reading while being wrapped up, all cozy in your bed with all the softest blankets on, with little twinkle lights on, too.
Hot Chocolate OR Coffee?
Now, this is an easy choice! I definitely have to go with hot chocolate! I do not like coffee at all, but I absolutely love hot chocolate, so this one was a no-brainer. 🙂
This was such a fun tag! Thanks again for tagging me, Kris!
If you’re reading this, I tag YOU!
Thanks for reading!
Follow me on:
Bloglovin’ | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Litsy (@thecalicobooks)
Buy from:
(I receive a tiny commission if you follow my BD links!)
