April 2022 TBR

 Hiya everyone

So another month is here which means more books to read. Well I am hopeful to get to read quite a few of them as the past couple of months I have struggled to find the motivation to read. I don't know why because I had a good start to the year. Anyway here are the books:

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

I am so intrigued about this story and I brought this book a while and then it's been sitting on my book shelves for ages. This is a dystopia where no one dies naturally any more. Therefore, the only way people die is by professional scythe. When Citra and Rowan are chosen to be apprentice scythes they know that they don't have a choice. They need to learn the art of killing but will learn the terrifying responsibility of choosing their victims is just the start.

Recommended for you by Laura Silverman

This sounds like a cute little read, just something to read as a pick me up. At least that is what I am hopping for. 

Within this story we follow Shoshanna who's car is close to breaking down and her mum's are fighting at home. Her only escape is her job, she works within her favorite local bookstore. She is then informed that a holiday bonus would be awarded to the person who sells the most books. It sounds perfect to help her with at least one of her problems, her car. 

However, there is one problem and that is Jake who is her opposite and does not even read books and yet his sales are in competition with hers. However, during the time the two start to get closer.

My hero academia vol. 3 by Kohei Horikoshi

OMG I am so in love this series. Okay I know I am only two books into it but still I love it. So, in the last one it was left on a cliffhanger therefore, I am really excited to find out what happened. I don't want to give away any spoilers for anyone who has not read the other two books yet so, I think I will just leave this here.

But do have a look at this series it is really good.

Loveless by Alice Oseman

I LOVE her series Heartstopper and I do mean really, really love that series. Therefore, I thought that I would read her other works too. This just happened to be the first book of hers that I saw at my local book shop. However, it does sound interesting so I am not mad about that.

Within this story we follow Georgia who has started university and she has never been in love or kissed or had a crush. But now she wants to find love and she is fanfic-obsessed romantic. However it does not go the way that she had wished as her actions cause havoc among her friends. It makes her wonder why romance seems so easy for other people but not for her. With new terms being thrown at her, she becomes more confused and uncertain about her feelings. She wonders if she is meant to be loveless forever.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

This story has been on and off my TBR for a long time and now I thought that I am just going to sit down and read it. Don't get me wrong it does sound like an interesting book but it just has been one of those books that I brought and then left on the shelf and always forget about it.

In this world we follow Tally who is in a world where looks mean everything. At sixteen everyone undergoes a transformation from 'Ugly' to 'Pretty' and is taken to high-tech paradise where the only thing that matters is having a great time. Tally can not wait for that to happen to her. That is until her friend Shay runs away just weeks before Tally's birthday. After that she starts to find out about the ugly truth about the Pretties.

This book sounds like it will be great and will be talking about body shaming and the myth of beauty being skin deep. These are issues that we face within our world all the time, it will be interesting to see how Scott writes about these issues.

March 2022 book haul

Hiya everyone

So the other day I went to one of my favorite places. Waterstones. I love being in there and I did spend a lot of time there. I had a nice cup of tea there too while being amazed by the books that I had picked. I want to read them all right this second but I can't decide which one to start with.

Anyway here is what I got:

The Witcher Sword of destiny by Andrzaj Sapkowski

Okay I know that this is on Netflix now and I do want to watch it but when I saw the book I knew I would have to read it too. But even if it was not a show I would still would want to read this book as it does sound like something that I would pick up anyway.

If you do not know in this story the Witcher's legendary powers and lifelong traininig make him a perfect killer. He is revered and hated as he hunts demons that plague humanity. However, not all monsters are evil and the world is not fair and good.

It very much reminds me of the shows Buffy the vampire slayer and Supernatural which I so love. I mean I really love that show that I am thinking about getting a tattoo because of it. I am praying that this book is on similar lines as that, because if it is I will soon buy every single book.

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

In this story we follow the Hollow sisters ever since they disappeared as children for a month and came back with no memory. Strange, dark and dangerous things seem to follow them around. When the eldest Grey once again goes missing her other sisters Iris and Vivi are left to figure out what happened all those years ago to find their sister now. But they are not the only ones looking for Grey.

Mystery, family and supernatural who would not be interested in this book. I am a little concerned about how thin the book is, so I am worried that it is  going to be fast paced or rushed especially at the end. I am hoping that I am wrong but we will see.

If this gets out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich

In this story we follow Ruben and Zack who are two members of Saturday, one of the world's biggest boy bands. In front of the camera they are teen heartthrobs and backstage they are best friends. But management's pressure on Ruben to stay in the closet which of course is taking its toll. His only out let is Zach as he is the only one he can confined in.

During a whirlwind tour of Europe they rely on each other more and more to the point where friendship ends and romance stats. But if it gets out will their fans give them the support they need? How will they hold tight to each other if their whole world is coming apart?

This caught my attention as it highlight some of the issues with people in the LGBTQ+ community coming out and how that will be received. Also, the pressure of being a specific way in order to succeed in life even if means hiding who you are. That there is still a lot of prejudice within society about people coming out even more so for celebrities.

I think that this is a book that will make me cry but also be very relatable too. Also, showing the struggle and maybe even dangers for people who do come out of the closet.

Poison study by Maria V. Snyder

In this story we follow Yelena Zaltana's and in the territory of Ixia control is maintained through the Code of Behaviour forbidding the practice of magic. Yelena is imprisoned for murder which the punishment is death, unless she accepts the position of the Commander of Ixia's food tester. She will have to risk the daily threat of being poisoned.

In a world where magic equals death and freedom is for the lucky few, the battle for Yelena's life has just begun.

This story reminded me of the TV show Merlin which had me curious. I did enjoy the show so I am hoping that I will enjoy this series too. I am curious about the magic that will be through the book and how the main character will discover and control it. 

The magician's guild by Trudi Canavan

In this story we follow Sonea who lives in Imardin and each year the magicians walk through the city within a protective bubble and purge the city of undesirables. Of course no one is happy about that and hate the magicians so they through things at them as they walk. Until one day a rock manages to get through and hit one of them, this has never happened before. Chaos about what has happened but for the magicians it is their worst nightmare. A untrained magician outside their rank with such raw power lose in the city.

I can see this book being very political as it does sound like a struggle of power. I think that I may have ready this book before but did not finish as I think I was too young for it. So I am interested to see what I think about it now that I am older.

Anyway, that is my little haul I do want to read all of these books this year. Of course though anyone who is a bookworm will know that does not always happen. It is fair easier to buy than to read. There are just so many.

My 2022 Goals

 Hiya everyone 

So these are my new year resolutions a lot of these are going to take time and possibly the whole year to achieve. However, these are life changes that I do want to become permanent in my life, as i believe that they will improve it so much.

Here are my lifestyle changes that I want to focus on this year:

To become a pascotarian

I do want to become a vegetarian but one little step at a time. At this time I do not think that I will be able to give up eating fish but once I have cut all other meat from my life I will slowly remove fish too. But at the moment I need to remove all the meat from my home and do some reading on vegie meals. Changing my diet will take time so I am expecting this to take all year.

To buy one book after I have read five others

It seems that every time that I go to the shops I bring home more and more books. That is not a bad thing except I seem to be reading my newer just brought books than the ones that have been sitting on my book shelves. I need to change that, which is why I have made this little deal with myself. I am also hoping that this will help me to read my reading goal and maybe just maybe even beat it.

To run a 5K

Thanks to covid I have been spending whatever time that I can outside. One activity that I found that did help me was running the other being walking. This is something that I want to continue that but to also have a goal too. However, I did not want the goal to be so far fetched that I would never achieve it. Hence a 5k run. I am not too sure what run or when I will do this but I am at least hoping to be able to do a Halloween run.

To draw more

I am not very good at drawing but it is something that I have picked up every now and then. I do enjoy it and find it soothing. Therefore I think it is time that I did some practice and make it a more regular thing in my life. Ideally I would say that this is something that I am going to do daily but I know I need to build that up. I will start with once a week then twice and so forth.

I do not think that I will ever call myself an artist but I do not have to be to enjoy the hobby.

To blog

Having a blog has been something that I have wanted to do for a while. I did have one in the past but I just could not seem to find something that I was passionate about. Also, my old job made it very hard to plan posts and even find the energy to sit and write a good post. I now believe that with my new job that planning will make things so much better and I have a topic that I truly enjoy and have done so for most of my life.

So, that is my goals for this year.

My book reading goals for 2022

Hiya everyone

Happy New year

I hope that you all had a good new year and I welcome you to my little blog.

Anyway on to the important thing ..... BOOKS.

So at the start of every year I do enjoy going on to Goodreads.com and setting up my goal for the year. It is not often that I achieve said goal but I think its nice to have. I also think that I am going to have my goal at the same amount that it was at last year which was 25 books.

I want to at least get to 20 books but I also want to push myself too.

There is a few books that I know that I want to read this year and they are:

Return to the Isle of the lost by Melissa de la Cruz

I quite liked the movies and the first book and I am interested to see where this story goes, which is why this is a must read for me. I started the series and I am going to see it through I need to know what happens.

In this book we continue to follow Mel and the gang after they have moved to Auradon and everything is going well for them. That changes when Mel finds out that her friends have been receiving threatening messages and think that their parents are behind it. Including Maleficent despite her being a tiny lizard, she is known for being the most evil for a reason.

The shinning by Stephen King

Stephen King is a well known author in the field of horror. I don't like horror at all, not even a little. But saying that I have always been curious about his books as they are so popular. I have heard a lot about his books I mean it was even on Friends but I have been too scared to pick it up. But this year I will do I am going to make myself read this book.

However, I do not think I will read it until at least September time as Halloween would be the perfect time to read it. I will just need to make sure I have plenty of chamomile tea at hand so that I can still sleep at night.

Anyway, if you do not know in this book we follow Danny who is five years old but has already been told he is a 'shiner'. His father is now looking after the Overlook Hotel and a bad snow storm has cut them off. This is where the hotel starts to come alive.

The princess will save you by Sarah Henning

I wanted to read this last year and obviously did not get round to doing that. This book caught my interest as it has a strong female character who is a princess. I never did like the idea of delicate, weak, helpless princess even as a child.

In this story we follow Amarande who has just lost her father and now has to either marry the prince of a neighboring kingdom or lose her crown and most likely her life. Then her beloved who is a stable boy is kidnapped. She will rise to be a warrior her beloved and kingdom needs and nothing will stop her.  

 City of bones by Cassandra Clare

Yes, yes I know I am so far behind if I have not read this series. It seems like everyone has read this series except me. But as they say better late than never. 

Anyway the concept of this book does have me very interested with epic battles, demons, magic and self-discovery. We follow Clary as she is thrown into the world of Shadow Hunters after her mum has disappeared.

Six of crows by Leigh Bardugo

One of the YouTube's that I like recommended this book and it got me curious about it.

Basically, this story follows six different forms of outcasts and they have to work together in order to save the world. But they just might kill each other first.

Not much of a description I know but that is really all it says on goodreads and the actual book.

Zodiac academy the awakening by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti

Now the thing that I heard about this the most id that it is an adult version of Harry Potter. Now I am a huge Harry Potter fan (and a proud Ravenclaw) so this really caught my attention. I am hoping that it lives up to those expectations even though I am trying really hard to get rid of them in my head. I am also hoping that I will enjoy it too other wise I think that I would cry for a week and eat nothing but junk food.

Anyway, in this story we follow a pair of twins that were born in the month Gemini which is extremely rare. However, they are changelings and that has been outlawed for hundreds of years. So, despite them being rare not everyone is happy with their existence also, they are unprepared for the cruel world of the fae. The fae have made it clear that they don't want them however, the twins are aware of their birth right, the throne and they want to claim it.

So, these are books that I am going to try and read this year if nothing else. Also, I am hopeful that I will meet my goal for books read.

My January 2022 TBR

 Hiya everyone

Another year is here and a chance to read even more books than I did last year. Well at least the hope to anyway. I am trying to start this year on a good note so I have picked five books that should help me stay encouraged through out the year to keep reading.

Here are my five books for January:

Nick and Charlie by Alice Oseman

I love the Heartstopper series so much that I think I have read it about four times. Therefore, it was no surprise that when I found this book I knew that I had to have it. This is a short book so I don't think that it will take me long to read. 

Basically Nick is leaving for University and Charlie is being left behind, this book is all about how they cope with this drastic change as a couple and individuals. As people tell them that long distance relationships rarely last as does first love. 

I am very excited to read this and to see how they deal with this but I have hope they will make it through if not I am going to be so heart broken.

City of bones by Cassandra Clare

This is a book that has been sitting on my TBR for such a long time and I do not know why I have not read this yet. But I am going to, at least that is the plan. 

Ignoring all the hype that this book has gotten the story to it does sound interesting and something that I would read anyway. I have been trying not to listen to other people's reviews about this book. As I find sometimes with people raving how good something is you are disappointed when it does not live up to your 'out of this wold' expectations.

In this book we follow Clary after her mother had vanished and she is thrown into the world of the shadow hunters. A world she would not be able to see if she was human. She needs to find out who she is as well as find her mother not to mention all the demons she has to fight too.

Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson

If there was ever a time and place to read a book like this it is now. This is about Jenny's journey with depression and mental illness with recent events in the world it is something that most of us can relate to in one way or another. I know that I can.

However, despite the serious topic many people who have read the book have said that they were laughing for most of, due to her writing style and interesting way at viewing the world. This has me very excited to read this book as I too have a weird way of looking at the world. I am weird and proud.

Anyway, I hope to get a few laughs from this book or even some ideas in how to deal with mental illness.

Jay's gay agender by Jason June

Huh another LGBTQ+ book ... yay. 

In this book we follow Jay who in his home town was the only out gay kid at his community and could only dream of the hookups and romance that his friends experienced. This changes when he moves to Seattle where there are already so many people already out of the closet. He finally can be free to date and experience all that his friends had but still be true to himself.

I think that this could be such a lovely book and I can not wait to read it. 

The secret dream world of a shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

This is another that has been on my TBR for such a long time, it's one that I want to read more out of curiosity than anything else. I think my mum watched the movie for this and I think that's where I became curious about the book, also I think in many ways this book is relatable. I am no shopaholic but I have struggled with money in the past and it'll be interesting to read someone else take on that and how their characters deals with such a common issue. If nothing else I am hoping for a good laugh from it.

In this book we follow Becky who seems to have it all, a great job, a great flat in the city, amazing friends and wardrobe with all of the essentials. Except for one tiny detail, she can't really afford it and the bank has been asking for its money. All seemed lost as tries to cut back until something at work changes everything.

So that is my TBR for January. I am very bad at following my tbr's usually and I am not going to try and change that too much. I have been telling myself to at least read three books of my list and if I read one that was not then it's okay. Baby steps.