Tag: by the book

Monthly Wrap Ups, Uncategorized

2022 Wrap Up!

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Happy Friday bookish people! My goodness the end of the year has arrived very quickly and it is time to do my yearly wrap up. For this year I am going to show a picture of the book cover of every book I have read this year all broken down into categories determined by the star rating I gave the book.

overall, this year I have only managed to read 49 books, compared to over 100 last year.

2 star

This year I read no books that I disliked so much that I gave them one star, it was close but I eventually decided the books in the two star category are:

In my 3 star category are:

4 star ratings

and finally… my two books I read this year that I rated five stars are…..

Book Reviews

Book Review – By The Book by Amanda Sellett

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Happy Monday bookish people! I read very little in the past few months but a book I did enjoy was By the Book by Amanda Sellett and I am excited today to be bringing you my book review for it.

As usual, in this book review I will give star ratings to four categories and I will write a little bit about each one. I will do my best to not include any spoilers.

By The Book Plot:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

This book follows Mary, a classic literature loving girl who feels rather ordinary compared to the rest of her very intelligent family. What I loved most about this book was the clever weaving of literary analogies and quotes throughout the story. As with a lot of the romance genre novels I’ve read, a lot of the conflict is brought about by miscommunication which isn’t my favourite thing to read.

By The Book Characters:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I loved Mary’s brain – the way she references books and their characters and uses that to inspire her friendships group. She is imaginative and I found her attitude and personality relatable on some level.

By The Book Writing and Dialogue:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I enjoyed the style of this novel, its writing was very easy to get lost in it.

By The Book Overall:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Overall, I gave this book four stars because I surprised myself by enjoying it. Of course a romance I would like involves books!

Blurb/Synopsis:

As a devotee of classic novels, Mary Porter-Malcolm knows all about Mistakes That Have Been Made, especially by impressionable young women. So when a girl at her new high school nearly succumbs to the wiles of a notorious cad, Mary starts compiling the Scoundrel Survival Guide, a rundown of literary types to be avoided at all costs.

Unfortunately, Mary is better at dishing out advice than taking it—and the number one bad boy on her list is terribly debonair. As her best intentions go up in flames, Mary discovers life doesn’t follow the same rules as fiction. If she wants a happy ending IRL, she’ll have to write it herself.

That’s it for this book review, I hope you enjoyed it! let me know if you have read this book and what you thought of it.

Monthly Wrap Ups

August and September Wrap Up!

theblindscribe

Happy Monday bookish people! I hope you are all having a good day today. My goodness it has been a busy couple of months, and being that busy has meant my reading has taken a backseat.

In August I started three or four different books and I was just… bored quite honestly, I couldn’t get through them and I don’t think that is anything about the books themselves I think it was my tired brain. So, I decided not to do an August wrap up and now it is October so I am going to do the books I have read in August and September all in one big wrap up!

So, August!

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas – I did not read this book

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard – I was not in a fantasy mood at all.

Ninth House by leigh Bardugo – Same point as above

A Perilous Undertaking by Deanna Raybourn – I did not read this book either but I am very excited to get around to it hopefully soon

The Library of the Unwritten by A J Hackwith – Another book I did not read in August (this was a very common theme this month)

Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco – I did not read this. I don’t know why I put so much fantasy in my August TBR because I obviously wasn’t going to eat it.

Assassins Apprentice by Robin Hobb – I did not read this book either

Crownbreaker by Sebastien de Castell – this is one of the books that I started reading, I got about halfway before I stopped

Six Tudor Queens Katherine of Aragon by Alison Weir – I did not read this book either

House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J Maas – there was no way I was going to read this book in August

By the Book by Amanda Sellett – I actually did read this one, in August and September

The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett – I did not get around to this but I am excited to.

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J Maas – I did not read this

Small Favours by Erin A Craig – Another book I did not read

The Shadows between us by Tricia Levenseller – I did not read this either

Last Chance Books by Kelsey Rodkey – I did not read this

The Falconer by Elizabeth May – I did not read this either

So, also in this month I read The Very Nice Box (review is already up) and Closed Casket by Sophie Hannah which brings my total books to 3.

September!

Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price – I did read this and by the way, I loved it!

The League of Gentlewomen Witches by India Holton – I am currently reading this so technically I read this in September

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas – I did not read this

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo – I did not read this

Dance of Thieves by Mary E Pearson – I would have liked to get around to this one but unfortunately I did not

It sounded better in my head by Nina Kenwood – I did not read this

Down comes the night by Alison Saft – I did not read this

Hunting Party by Lucy Foley – I did not read this.

So in two months I read five books which is pretty good considering everything else I have been doing.

What was your August/September reading like? let me know in the comments!

Book Tags

The Book Title Tag

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Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you are all having a good day today. Today I am bringing you my answers to the Book Title Book Tag. I found this tag (and I believe all three of the tags I am doing this month) on alittlebutalot.com

Title that is the story of your life – The Sanatorium

I had to laugh when I saw this as the first question because this book popped into my head instantly, with all the different medical conditions and disabilities I have my life pretty much revolves around the hospital so the title of this book is very fitting.

Title that describes your perfect weekend – By the Book

I don’t care where I am or what I am doing, if there are books with me or by me then it’s going to be a pretty good weekend.

Title of an adventure you’d like to go on – Scavenge the Stars

How amazing would it be to go on an adventure which takes you to see stars up close and you could collect them or something like that.

Title you want to name your child – Eve Green

I didn’t have much choice for this one. Most of the books I own are fantasy and you wouldn’t really want to call your child something like Gallant, or maybe you would I am not judging if other people would call their child that. So Eve Green was a book I read as part of my University course.

Title of your ideal job – Angel Mage

Angel powers and mage powers mixed together into one would be an incredible job, of course I’m going for a fantasy job here not a reality one because I don’t know any books that have one of those in their title, plus fantasy jobs are so much better.

Title of a place you’d like to visit – The Court of Miracles

France, and miracles. I don’t need to say anymore.

Title of your love life – Master of One

There is just me, my love life is nonexistant.

Questions you ask yourself – How to be human

I think we all ask ourselves this at least once a week, maybe more.

Title of a kingdom you’d want to rule – Kingdom of Ash

As long as it wasn’t completely burnt down or something I think this would be a cool kingdom.

Title you’d name your band – Optimists Die First

This could be a good rock/punk band I think.

That’s it for this book tag! I hope you all enjoyed it. What would you answer these with?

Monthly TBRs

August TBR

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Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you are all having a good day today. Today I am bringing you my August TBR, there’s a lot of fantasy on it this month which I haven’t been reading a lot of in the past few months so we will have to see how that goes but overall I am pretty excited about the books on my TBR for the month.

August TBR

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

A Perilous Undertaking by Deanna Raybourn

Library of the Unwritten by A J Hackwith

A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer

Kingdom of The Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco

Assassins Apprentice by Robin Hobb

Crownbreaker by Sebastien De Castell

Six Tudor Queens by Alison Weir

House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J Maas

By the Book by Amanda Sellet

The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J Maas

Small Favours by Erin A Craig

The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller

Last Chance Books by Kelsey Rodkey

The Falconer by Elizabeth May

That’s it for my August TBR, I hope you all enjoyed it!

Monthly Wrap Ups

November Wrap-Up!

theblindscribe

Happy Monday bookish people! It is getting to the end of November and it is time to share my November wrap-up with you all. This month has gone by so quickly because I’ve had so much to do. This month has been for getting everything ready for Christmas and at last it is all done, prepared, ready. I’ve also been making all my posts for December because as I announced last week I will be trying to post every day in December, it has been fun but a lot of work. I haven’t finished them yet but I’ve done most and I am attempting to finish them today. On top of that I’ve been unwell for at least half of November and that has left very little time to read.

So, let’s talk about what I did and didn’t read and what I thought of the books!

  • A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas – I did not read this book this month, I wasn’t in the mood for a long fantasy book but I have moved this book to my December TBR
  • Vampire Brat by Angie Sage – one of the books in the Araminta Spook series and I did read this book. I liked it but it isn’t my favourite of the series.
  • Truthwitch by Susan Dennard – I did not read this book but I have moved this one to my December TBR
  • Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas – I did not read this book
  • These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan – I did not read this book, it’s another fantasy that I just wasn’t in the mood for this month
  • The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson – I didn’t read this book
  • The Howling Hag Mystery by Nicki Thornton – I did read this book, it was interesting but not all that enjoyable for me
  • The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White – I did not read this book
  • The Devil Makes Three by Tori Bovalino – I did not read this book
  • The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon – I didn’t read this book either
  • Take A Hint Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert – I did read this book! and it surprised me, I have posted a book review for this book if you are interested in my full thoughts
  • The Storm Crow by Kalyn Josephson – I did not read this book
  • Shadowscent The Darkest Bloom by P M Freestone – I did not read
  • Rose by Holly Webb – I wanted to get around to this book but in the end there wasn’t enough time
  • Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch – I am currently reading this book and I will finish it before the end of the month and I am enjoying it a lot.
  • Pages and Co by Anna James – I did read this book and I enjoyed it so much I want to get the rest of the series.
  • Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by T A Willberg – this is another book I wanted to get to but in the end I didn’t
  • Last Chance Books by Kelsey Rodkey – I did not read this book
  • Ghostsitters by Angie Sage – another book from the Araminta Spook series and I did read this
  • Fable by Adrienne Young – I did not read this book
  • Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody – I did not read this
  • Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare – I did not read this
  • By the Book by Amanda Sellett – I did not read this book
  • Act Your Age Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert – I did not read this book either

So I ended up reading five books off my TBR and I am in the middle of a sixth book from my TBR, outside of my TBR I read You’ll Be The Death of Me by Karen M McManus for a book tour so that makes my overall total for the month 7 books which I’m pretty pleased with.

I hope you enjoyed reading my November Wrap-up!

Monthly TBRs

November TBR

theblindscribe

Happy Tuesday bookish people! I was meant to be putting this post up yesterday but I ran out of time because my partner and I were visiting his parents. So I’m putting it up today instead!

This month I have used the prompts for Believathon round 4: Escape from the Jungle – hosted by Gavin from How To Train Your Gavin on YouTube, but I am twisting the rules just a little bit…

The premise of the Readathon is to read middle grade books that fit the prompts – there are thirty prompts in total. I don’t own that many middle grade books so I am just going to use any books I have to fit the prompts and get some of the middle grade I own in there as well.

Onto my TBR for November!

November TBR:

  • Take A Hint Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert – This is from my October TBR but I still want to read it so I have moved it to this month
  • Rivers of London by ben Aaronovitch – another book taken from my October TBR
  • Act Your Age Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert – and another brought from October
  • Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas – it is about time I read this book, I have had the whole series for ages now
  • The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson – have read one or two of her books before and really enjoyed them so I am looking forward to this one.
  • The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon – this is a series I have seen a lot of good things about
  • The Howling Hag Mystery by Nicki Thornton – this is the first middle grade book on my TBR so I’m excited to get this one on there
  • Rose by Holly Webb – this is a book that was a favourite of mine when I was a child and I am looking forward to trying it again now
  • Fable by Adrienne Young – I love books that feature water so I have high hopes for this one
  • Shadowscent by P M Freestone – I’m not sure how I will find this one but hopefully I enjoy it
  • A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas – I’m so excited to finally get around to reading this one and to be back with Feyre and Rhysand
  • Pages and Co by Anna James – another middle grade that sounds like it will be really good
  • Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by T A Willberg – this was on my October TBR but now I am really in the mood to read it
  • The Devil Makes Three by Tori Bovalino – I’m scared to read this one
  • Ghostsitters by Angie sage
  • Vampire Brat by Angie Sage
  • Last Chance Books by Kelsey Rodkey – a book about a book shop, I’m definitely excited about it
  • Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare – I am excited but scared to read this book
  • The Storm Crow by Kalyn Josephson – I love the cover of this book
  • By the Book by Amanda Sellet – I really want to read this book immediately
  • These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan – I love books with fae in them
  • Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
  • The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White
  • Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody

That’s it for my October TBR I hope you enjoyed it and let me know in the comments if you have read any of these and what you thought of them!