Thought for the weekend

I saw this image on Pinterest and I thought about sharing it here.

Enjoy the weekend and happy reading!

My Life In Books 2017

My Life in Books 2017

Describe yourself: 

Lethal, Sandra Brown

How do you feel: 

Wicked, Jana DeLeon

Describe where you currently live: 

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Jamie Ford 

If you could go anywhere, where would you go:

Searching for Sana, Richard Zimler

Your favorite form of transportation:

Dark Horse, Michele Dienar

Your best friend is:

The Tutor's Daughter, Julie Klassen

You and your friends are:

A Reason to Live, Maureen McKade

What's the weather like: 

White Hot, Ilona Andrews

What is life to you: 

Immortal, JR Ward

Favorite time of day: 

Midnight Pleasures with a Scoundrel, Lorraine Heath
 

Your fear:

Monster in the Closet, Karen Rose

What is the best advice you have to give: 

Act Like It, Lucy Parker

Thought for the day:

Welcome to Last Chance, Hope Ramsey

 
How I would like to die:  
Life After Life, Kate Atkinson

 
My soul's present condition:

 A Shadow on the Sun, Sera Trevor

Fanciful wishes for the future year

I've seen in some blogs or even in specific sites out there people leaving lists of the things they would want for the new year.

Unfortunately, we can't just put in a box the things we need the most like health and work and success, things we need to work for or that we need to take care of so they remain with us. 

But there are always some material objects that could make our life a little bit easier and for me, at this moment I write, the following would be very nice indeed!

It doesn't mean it would need to look exactly like this, but a house would be a nice thing to have. I just need the place, money and maintenance for it. 😼





I would also love to have a home library where I'd include a window seat, this is my biggest dream but alas, still not a possibility. But definitely something I'll get one day!






Not being able to get any of these things in a near future, I'd settle for one or two more shelves, at least, since I have no more room to place my books in nowadays...but the more the better, had I the pace to put them in....

Apart from these more wishfully oriented dreams, there isn't much I really want for 2018 besides the basics (health, peace, joy, friendships and so on) and when it comes to objects I guess it depends on how well some of the things I have already hold on. I'd get a new e-reader and a new phone for certain if mine broke, but nothing too fancy.

So, my biggest realistic wish for the next year will be to be able to have the means to keep buying books!

I hope you can as well! Happy reading!
(I googled the images, they do not belong to me)

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas is right here and I bet you are all planning everything related to the season. 

Therefore, I hope you all have a great time, wonderful moments with your loved ones 

and many smiles all around.

Merry Christmas!!

(IMAGE HERE)

Signing Up for a new year of TBR Challenge

We are getting close to the end of the year and lots of action seems to happen at this time of the year in people's blogs/sites. Lists, projects, summaries.. all seems to be given special treatment around mid to the end of December or in the beginning of January.
Of course also have some of these things to write about...

I'm signing up to another year of the TBR Challenge, hosted by Wendy, the Super Librarian.
This is this year's pic and list of themes. I'm already looking at my monthly lists for 2018 to see which one might be my pick for each month!

Join in! You can comment on a blog, on GR, on Wendy's blog... it's fun!

(image belongs to Wendy)

January 17 - We Love Short Shorts! (shorter reads)
February 21 - Backlist Glom (author with multiple books in your TBR)
March 21 - Sugar or Spice (closed door romance or spicy romance)
April 18 - Kicking It Old School (original publication date older than 10 years)
May 16 - Contemporary
June 20 - Comfort Read
July 18 - Favorite Trope
August 15 - Series (book that's part of a series)
September 19 - Historical
October 17 - Paranormal or Romantic Suspense
November 21 - Cover Girl (a book with a pretty cover - or a horrid one)
December 19 - Holiday (any holiday!)

A book and an idea

I've recently read a fiction Portuguese book (by a Portuguese author) about several themes, including the Holocaust. An interesting detail I found was the mention of Auschwitz and how it got to be used and recognized as a city where so many awful things happened, namely the the concentration camp.

This book is divided into two main timelines. We have the past, where character Sarah Gross is growing and living through the Holocaust, and the present which is actually the 60s, when a new literature teacher is coming to a private college in the USA and there she meets Sarah Gross, the sort of director of the college.

At first it seems the two woman only have teaching in common but as the story develops we realize there's something else. I liked this story but the transitions between timelines and the characters' lives wasn't always very smooth, I'd say. The final connection between the two main characters is what makes the story come to its peak but I must say it was sad how things ended, mostly because we end up having the feeling it could have been better, happier maybe. I also felt it was rather quick, considering the time and pages it took to get us there.

Still, a very interesting book, for certain.

Grade: 7/10

-//-

I know we are quite away from Christmas yet but here's an idea most readers would certainly appreciate for the colder months!

If anyone wants to think about this, here's a chance to surprise a fellow reader!

I found several ideas here but this one seems to be the one I would prefer.

Happy reading!

A place to read in

Today I just want to wish you all a great weekend!
I hope you find the time to read and to let you be inspired, I leave this image I saw online, from here, which seems quite cozy and perfect to read in...especially if one feels like taking a nap as well!
Happy reading!

Why reading indoors

https://media.bookbub.com/blog/2017/06/08/summer-reading-memes-if-you-prefer-to-stay-inside-and-read/

I really liked this funny list at BookBub Blog about reasons to stay inside during the summer and read instead of being out in the heat.

I found out that, as time  - and age - go by, I much prefer to stay indoors and do the things that make me happy and not what I should do just because others are doing it as well, like going to the pool, or the beach or whatever.

The list has several notes, my favorite is the following, although I think I've used #1 in my blog before.

Happy summer reading!!!

Enjoy the weekend!

My country is going through a heat wave that makes it very difficult to stay outdoors but the spot in this image feels inviting and cool and I wish I didn't have to work or be outside...
Look for such a place if you can and enjoy reading!!!
:)

Image from here. There are more reading spots in the list as well.

To think

The best attitude, for sure!
Happy reading!

How to choose what to read?

I was looking at the books I yet have to read... well, not all of them, they're quite a lot, but I was looking at them and realized I have several books to keep me busy (even more so when I keep buying them...) but I really feel the issue of not being able to read everything "right now".

I was wondering, how do you guys choose what to read next?

Often, a reader's big dilemma is which book to choose or what to read next. I confess I don't really find this a struggle because I have monthly lists. At the end of the year, or close to it, I write down 12 lists, one for each month, containing titles I want to read. I always leave some room for books I know I'll pre order and will want to read when they are finally released and also for books people lent me and I usually feel like reading those as soon as possible to hand them again to their owner.

The problem with this tactic is that I often forbid myself from reading things just because; I like to maintain some order in my reading, I feel like I'm going through my TBR list in a steady pace (yes, adding more books shouldn't happen but...) and I like it when I finally get one more book done.

The fact I try to read my own created lists means I usually leave books everyone is talking about for another time. 

I also leave many books for a long time after I got them and when I get to them they no longer have the same appeal.

Because I can't read all day, and some books are more difficult than others, many books are left behind and I feel sad to think of them all alone...

I know it's quite silly to think these things, there are more serious things in real life to worry about, but reading is something every reader considers vital so often thoughts about reading stuff occupy my mind.

I have monthly lists I try to follow as well as I can, I only add new books to my list for that month if it's a book I really wanted that has just been released or a borrowed book or, if I'm really fast, books from the pile that weren't in my list but suddenly I have time for them. I like to organize my reading...

What about you?

(image from here)

What Type of Book Are You?

https://www.buzzfeed.com/isaacfitzgerald/what-type-of-book-are-you?utm_term=.hozlgdP67#.qqdE0d41Q

Interesting, "light" quizz.
Try it!

I got "Summer book":

You got: Summer Book

You love going to the beach; feeling the wind in your pages and the sand between your covers. Some people mistake you for being an easy read because you’re bubbly and outgoing, but make no mistake: You take fun very seriously.

Bookish problem?

Does anyone else agree with this?
I think it's quite true when it comes to me!
Happy reading!

Bookworm's internal struggles

Another funny post at https://media.bookbub.com/
This list, https://media.bookbub.com/blog/2017/01/04/internal-struggles-of-bookworms/ , has some situations all devoted readers must have felt or thought or agree with at some point, if not all the time.
Is there any situation you agree with?
For, me the following two are quite realistic and I behave like that!!
Happy reading! 💚

Life According to Books 2016

Describe yourself: 

Awakened by Elisabeth Naughton

How do you feel: 

Always Masked by Megan Derr

Describe where you currently live: 

Embers' Island by Kimberly Freeman

If you could go anywhere, where would you go:

Mr Penumbra's 24hour Bookstore by Robin Sloane

Your favorite form of transportation:

Dancing on Coals by Ellen O'Connell

 

Your best friend is:

A Cornish Stranger by Liz Fenwick

You and your friends are:

Safe From the Dark by Lily Rede

What's the weather like: 

Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs

What is life to you: 

Private by James Patterson

Favorite time of day: 

Shadow's End by Thea Harrison

Your fear:

Alone in the Dark by Karen Rose

What is the best advice you have to give: 

Cut and Run by Lara Adrian/Tina Folsom

Thought for the day:

Why Can't I Be You? by Allie Larkin

 
How I would like to die:

As Sure as the Dawn by Francine Rivers

 
My soul's present condition:

Unnatural by Joanna Chambers

What about your choices? Share this idea, it's fun!

And happy reading, once more! 

Jane Austen quotes

Because yesterday was Jane Austen's anniversary date, here are some quotes that never felt the passage of time in the minds and hearts of so many readers...
Images were simply googled.

Reader's issues

This totally happens to me....
Pretty much in all social situations.

Holidays

So sorry I've been away and quiet but I was away at this end of my holidays and just came home again...
Things will be back on track soon...

Aww...

Just to leave everyone with a happy thought for the weekend!!!

Happy reading!

Bookworm dilemmas

Here is another list of book related stuff.

 https://media.bookbub.com/blog/2016/09/12/bookworm-dilemmas/

I saw this list, again, at BookBub and I thought it pinpointed many of my thoughts about reading, which I'm sure more readers would agree on.

I think all dilemmas represent me, #1 and #2 are spot on, but I especially liked dilemma #6: I do tend to make pauses when things turn into complicated situations within the plot and then I do something and go back to it!

Well, I hope you all like the list.

Happy reading!!