Schoolyard Treasures #2

This is a new feature I thought of in class, when I was supposed to be doing something that was not thinking of blog posts. Basically, since school started back up, I know I won't be doing much reading for pleasure, but, as an English major, I will be doing a ton of reading. I wanted to share with you all some of the new authors/stories/etc. I've read for a class and really enjoyed. I love that this gives me a space to talk about classic literature and short stories, which I usually don't talk about.

I'm only two weeks into this semester and I've already discovered two short stories I absolutely adored! 

THE PAPER MENAGERIE BY KEN LIU 

This is my new favorite short story! I've never felt this emotionally invested in such a short piece of fiction. I sobbed almost the entire time I was reading this. I'm looking forward to reading more stories by this author. 

L. DEBARD AND ALIETTE BY LAUREN GROFF

This story really sucked me in. It has a unique writing style and reads very quickly. In my fictin class we're going to be reading from her anthology, too, so I'm excited to get better acquainted with both of these authors. 

Top Ten Book Boyfriends of 2016

I love me some swoon-worthy fictional boys. Here are my favorites that I met in 2016. 

Levi from Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell - He is probably my #1 book boyfriend of the year. He is so sweet and nerdy and I'M IN COLLEGE AND HAVEN'T MET ANYONE LIKE HIM THIS IS UNFAIR.

Eros from Beyond the Red by Ava Jae - He is loyalty and bravery and stubborness and flaws and I can't wait for the sequel when I get to see more of himmmmmm.

Jack from Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven - He is misguided, but overall caring and sweet. It was adorable to read his thoughts about Libby and the dates he took her on. Jealous, honestly.

G from My Lady Jane by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, and Jodi Meadows - OH LORD I LOVE G. He is so freaking funny and clever and when he gets really worried about Jane it is the most precious thing my heart has ever felt.

Frank from Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson - He's such a sweet lil cinnamon roll. He cares about the environment and being a good guy and I never thought I'd find anyone named Frank appealing, that's for sure.

Will Traynor from Me Before You by Jojo Moyes - I CAN'T TALK ABOUT HIM. Except I adore him. As problematic as his story may be, I found Will himself to be utterly charming and, even in his sassiest moment, an absolute delight.

Henry Tilney from Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen - I liked him more than the beloved Mr. Darcy, I think. So do with that information what you will.

Clark from The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson - He's a WRITER!!!! And a precious little bean who never had friends growing up and it's impossible, if you ask me, not to fall in love with him over the course of the novel.

Captain from Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell - Naughty? Nice? Who knows. All I can say is that he is a HANDSOME PIRATE WHO HAS STOLEN MY HEART.

Dimitri Belikov from Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead - Okay, okay, I know this is cheating because this is, like, my trillionth time reading this book, BUT in the 10th anniversary edition we got new stories with him in them, so I'd say it counts. I can't leave out my all-time bae, okay?

Lefty's Lowdown: Looking for Alaska by John Green

Looking for Alaska by John Green
(standalone)
Published: March 3, 2005 by Speak
Source: Purchased

Summary from Goodreads:
Before. 
Miles “Pudge” Halter is done with his safe life at home. His whole life has been one big non-event, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave “the Great Perhaps” even more (Francois Rabelais, poet). He heads off to the sometimes crazy and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young. She is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart. Then. . . .

After. 
Nothing is ever the same.

A lot of people have dubbed this their Favorite John Green Book. This is the 3rd book I've read by him and the only title I can really give it is A John Green Book. I liked it a lot--as expected, Green does some really wonderful things in this novel. But, again, that's expected. Because it's A John Green Book, and you kind of know what you're getting before you crack it open. I've been procrastinating this review because I didn't know exactly what I wanted to say. I didn't (and still don't) know how to express that I found this book to be enjoyable on so many fronts and also underwhelming in other aspects. 

For me, the main appeal was getting to the "After" section. While I was pretty sure I knew what happens (because it's an old book and there are spoilers), I still wanted to see what changed and how it changed the characters. I was correct about the Big Event but it still hit me right in the stomach. But then it got kind of boring. I hate that that's the case because we have these teenagers trying to figure out grief, trying to figure out how to move on from tragedy and yet not move on at the same time. But by that point, the book had lost its appeal. I'm not sure why--I'm usually into introspection, but it became a little too much of solving a mystery everyone knows is unsolvable, I guess. It just felt sluggish at the end, and I put the last 20 pages off for almost an entire day because there was nothing tethering me to the story anymore. 

So what DID I like? In typical John Green style, the characters were a delight to read about. They are all above-average intelligence, having an existential crisis, and not even close to acting their age. It's like a formula with John Green, but you can't help but be swept away by the characters. Pudge, who is fascinated by people's last words. The Colonel, who has an incredible memory and cherishes loyalty. Alaska, who reads a ton and plans pranks and has mood swings. It's an intriguing cast and I admire the little quirks that John Green gives his characters. The life he gives them. The depth he gives them. 

What really differentiates John Green from other YA writers, though, are the ideas he brings to his fiction. Other people talk about death and dying and the meaning of life in their books, but not, from what I've seen, at the levels John Green does. Like I said, these characters are all basically having an existential crisis throughout the novel...but, like, SAME. I think, eventually, we all start to question what it mean to die and how that effects what it means to live. I just do it more than most people, so some of the sentiments in this novel were so very real to me. And I like that, I appreciate it, because it's hard to find someone else who has the same questions I do and is open about it. But at the same time, it caused me a lot of anxiety when I was reading it for that same reason.

Essentially, if you like John Green, you're definitely going to like this book, because it's so much like his others. If you don't like his other work, you're not going to like this one. HOWEVER! If you've yet to hop on board the John Green train, I'd say you should at least try. Looking for Alaska has depth and darkness and discovery. It has character that, while you may not love them, you'll most likely be charmed by. Yes, in some ways I was underwhelmed, but in other ways, I was wowed by John Green's talent.

4/5

New To My Wishlist #3

Welcome to a new feature at The Left-Handed Book Lover! Basically, this feature is meant to showcase books I really want to read, whether they were released years ago or don't come out for another six months. Enjoy!

Tattoo Atlas by Tim Floreen

Published: October 18, 2016 by Simon Pulse

Summary from Goodreads:A year ago, Rem Braithwaite watched his classmate Franklin Kettle commit a horrific crime.

Now, apart from the nightmares, life has gone back to normal for Rem. Franklin was caught, convicted, and put away in juvenile detention for what he did. The ordeal seems to be over.

Until Rem’s mother selects Franklin as a test subject for an experimental brain procedure intended to “cure” him of his cruel and violent impulses. Suddenly Rem’s memories of that day start coming back to the surface. His nightmares become worse than ever. Plus he has serious doubts about whether his mother’s procedure will even work. Can evil really just be turned off?

Then, as part of Franklin’s follow-up testing, he and Rem are brought face to face, and Rem discovers…Franklin does seem different. Despite everything, Rem finds himself becoming friends with Franklin. Maybe even something more than friends.

But when another of their classmates turns up dead, Rem’s world turns upside-down yet again. Franklin insists that he’s innocent, that he’s cured, but Rem doesn’t know what to believe. Is someone else responsible for this new murder, or is Franklin fated to stay a monster forever? And can Rem find out the answer to this question before the killer, whoever it is, comes after him too?

I heard of this book for the first time today and immediately added to my goodreads because it sounds exciting and mind fuck-y. Also, it has a LGBT romance and I AM HERE FOR THAT.

The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich
Published: May 16, 2017 by Feiwel & Friends

Summary from Goodreads: There is a secret organization that cultivates teenage spies. The agents are called Love Interests because getting close to people destined for great power means getting valuable secrets.

Caden is a Nice: The boy next door, sculpted to physical perfection. Dylan is a Bad: The brooding, dark-souled guy, and dangerously handsome. The girl they are competing for is important to the organization, and each boy will pursue her. Will she choose a Nice or the Bad?

Both Caden and Dylan are living in the outside world for the first time. They are well-trained and at the top of their games. They have to be – whoever the girl doesn’t choose will die.

What the boys don’t expect are feelings that are outside of their training. Feelings that could kill them both.

This book sounds SO GREAT. It straight up makes fun of YA tropes and there's two boys falling in love and SPIESSSSSSSS.

 I See London, I See France by Sarah Mylnowski
Published: July 11, 2017 by HarperTeen

Summary from Goodreads: Nineteen-year-old Sydney has the perfect summer mapped out. She’s spending the next four and half weeks traveling through Europe with her childhood best friend, Leela. Their plans include Eiffel-Tower selfies, eating cocco gelato, and making out with très hot strangers. Her plans do not include Leela’s cheating ex-boyfriend showing up on the flight to London, falling for the cheating ex-boyfriend’s très hot friend, monitoring her mother’s spiraling mental health via texts, or feeling like the rope in a friendship tug-of-war.


In this hilarious and unforgettable adventure, New York Times bestselling author Sarah Mlynowski tells the story of a girl learning to navigate secret romances, thorny relationships, and the London Tube. As Sydney zigzags through Amsterdam, Switzerland, Italy, and France, she must learn when to hold on, when to keep moving, and when to jump into the Riviera… wearing only her polka dot underpants.

This book sounds delightful for so many reasons. I mean, first of all: that cover! Also, foreign countries and cute contemporary romance. Plus, mental illness. Sounds like a winner, for sure.

Top Seven Underrated Books I've Read In The Past Year Or So

One of my favorite things to do is push underrated books, so I got really excited about this topic. However, much to my dismay, I could only find seven lesser-known gems taht I've read within the past year to recommend to y'all today.

We Own the Night by Ashley Poston - (my review)
This novel is so sweet. It also has bi representation, and deals with Alzheimer's, body image, and death of a loved one. Very cute and touching. I have been singing this book's praises since the second I finished it, and I wish more people would read it.

Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell - (my review)
This book is good as shit, I tell you what. A peter pan retelling of sorts that is vastly different from the tale you probably heard as a kid. With a dark Neverland, a lush romance, and PIRATESSSS, this is not a book you want to sit out.

Thicker Than Water by Brigid Kemmerer - (my review)
Literally nobody talks about this book, but I thoroughly enjoyed it! The voices of the two protagonists are incredible and funny and HELLO NEW SHIP.

Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies by Laura Stampler - (my review)
This was a fantastic light, fluffy read with a New York City backdrop.

Beyond the Red by Ava Jae - (my review)
THIS BOOK IS FANTASTIC. Please, just...more people read it, please. Aliens and romance and non-stop action!!!! The writing is incredible. This deserves way more attention than it has gotten and I can;t wait for the sequel.

Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman - (my review)
Oh my oh my do I love this book. I am HIGHLY anticipating the sequel because that ending left me in pieces. And I know the next book is going to be full of all the swashbuckling I crave in YA.

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley - (my review)
This was actually a recent re-read but it was SO AMAZING and in the entire time it has been out (since 2010 in Aussie and 2012 in the U.S.) I've rarely heard people talking about it, but IT'S BEAUTIFUL and deserves all the love forever and ever.

7 Reasons Book Lovers Are Actually Masochists

Book lovers obviously enjoy pain, because this hobby lifestyle is one of constant pain, and yet we keep coming back for more. Here are the reasons I think book lovers are masochists.

1) BOOKS ARE HEAVY.

And sometimes they cause great arm pain to transport around. Or they fall on your face while you're reading and you just pick it right back up and continue where you left off, knowing very well it could happen again. That's dedication. That's masochism. 

2) THE CHARACTERS CAN'T STICK AROUND.

We spend so much time bonding with these fictional people, getting to know them, giving them our time and our love, knowing from the very beginning that our time with them is limited. Sure, you could go back and re-read the book(s), but it's not the same. It feels like drifting apart from a dear friend, and yet we choose to do this over and over again. 

3) DO I EVEN NEED TO MENTION CHARACTER DEATHS???

4) DAMAGE TO THE BANK ACCOUNT

Who needs to pay tuition or bills when you can drain your bank account buying books and make a house & furniture out of them. But seriously, when I buy books, my bank account cries. When my bank account cries, I cry. It's a chain or masochist events. 

5) WE SACRIFICE OUR HEALTH IN THE NAME OF READING.

I dare you to tell me you've never ignored the urge to eat or shower or use the restroom because you were in the middle of a really good book. TELL ME THAT, I DARE YOU. I think every book lover has done this before. But who needs health or hygiene when you have fiction???

6) AND WHAT EVEN IS SLEEP? I HAVE NO IDEA???

I love sleep. Like, I really love sleep. I'm a 10-hours-a-night kind of gal, but I am willing to sacrifice that for a good book. Also, the eye-burning that accompanies staying up all night to read? It hurts like a motherfrogger, but I'm willing to deal with it, I tell you what. 

7) WE RISK THE WRATH OF DISGRUNTLED PARENTS.

I don't know about you, but occasionally my dad, like, wants to spend time with me or something. Usually I would go hang out with him because I love him and stuff, but sometimes I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF A REALLY INTENSE CHAPTER AND I CAN'T TEAR MYSELF AWAY and then my dad gets mad and only a person who likes pain would bring that on themselves. 

Well there you have it. 7 VERY convincing reasons that book lovers are actually masochists. Did I miss anything? Let me know down in the comments if you can think of anything else that makes book lovers masochists.  Also, how many of these actually apply to you? 

All joking aside, though--books are wonderful and I'm truly grateful to be a part of this community and to love books the way I do. 

Sunday Post #27

• I'm going back to school today, and I DON'T WANNA. I'm excited to see my friends again and have a good time, but I'm not in the mood for responsibility. And, well, I'm going to have a lot of responsibilities this semester. As of Tuesday, I will officially be a senior in college. Oh my gosh. 
• This week was a good one, though. I hung out with my friends a lot. On Thursday a few of us headed to a lake house for the night. We talked and played games, and drank sparkling cider. It was a good time. 
• THIS IS ANOTHER REMINDER THAT IF YOU ARE AT ALL INTERESTED IN GUEST POSTING OR BECOMING A CO-BLOGGER, PLEASE CONTACT ME. YOU CAN COMMENT BELOW, TWEET ME (@LEFTYREADS) OR EMAIL ME (LEFTYREADS21@GMAIL.COM)

Reviews: 
- Heartless by Marissa Meyer
- Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

Memes: 
- Top Ten 2016 Releases I Meant To Read

Features/Misc.: 
- Discussion: Backlist Books
- From the Page to the Stage #1: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Reviews: 
- Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers
- Looking for Alaska by John Green

Memes: 
- Top Ten Underrated Books I've Read In The Past Few Years
- Sunday Post #28

Features/Misc.:
- Reasons Book Lovers Are Masochists
- New To My Wishlist #3

Here are some highlights from my instagram account this week. Give me a follow if you want to see everything I have posted/will post!

A photo posted by The Left-Handed Book Lover (@leftyreads) on Jan 7, 2017 at 9:47am PST

WHAT HAS YOUR WEEK IN BOOKS AND BLOGGING LOOKED LIKE?

Lefty's Lowdown: Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley
(standalone)
Published: February 14, 2012 by Knopf Books for Young Readers (first published in Australia in 2010)
Source: Purchased

Summary from Goodreads: 
Senior year is over, and Lucy has the perfect way to celebrate: tonight, she's going to find Shadow, the mysterious graffiti artist whose work appears all over the city. He's out there somewhere—spraying color, spraying birds and blue sky on the night—and Lucy knows a guy who paints like Shadow is someone she could fall for. Really fall for. Instead, Lucy's stuck at a party with Ed, the guy she's managed to avoid since the most awkward date of her life. But when Ed tells her he knows where to find Shadow, they're suddenly on an all-night search around the city. And what Lucy can't see is the one thing that's right before her eyes.

 I first read this book in 2012 and was abosoLUTELY BLOWN AWAY BY IT. This book made me fall in love with contemporary books, which is saying something since contemporary YA is my favorite genre. At te very end of 2016, I decided to give it another go, afraid that it wouldn't live up to what I remembered it being. Fortunately, my fears were unfounded. BECAUSE THIS BOOK WAS JUST AS AMAZING THE SECOND TIME AROUND. Wowza. A stunning combination of gorgeous writing, interesting characters, and a night of adventure make for an utterly intoxicating contemporary read.

The prose in this novel is exceedingly lovely. Things are described in terms of colors and art. I don't want to guarantee that this it's unlike anything else you've ever read, but I'm fairly confident you've never read a book written quite like Graffiti Moon. It's vivid and fascinating and addictive. And I just ADORE the characters. Lucy and Ed are both interesting narrators, artistic and confused about what they want, though I think I was more into Ed's perspective. Both of these characters experience delightful growth. Their relationship is a hate-to-love type, and I am absolutely here for that, even if I wish there was a lil more kissing. The secondary characters are great, too. Jazz and Leo are so funny and they are actually good examples of friendship in YA, which is always a plus.

This review is kind of short simply because this is my second time reading the book, but don't let that make you think I don't love it BECAUSE I DO. I love this book a lot. It is one of my favorite contemporary books (and I read a lot of contemporary). It is beautiful and romantic. Do not sit this one out.

5/5 

From the Page to the Stage #1: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Welcome, friends, to my new feature From the Page to the Stage. I am really excited about this because basically what I will be doing is "adapting" some of my favorite books into, wait for it, MUSICALS.

So, I'm going to choose actors/actresses I think should play the characters (we'll just pretend they are all really good singers, okay?) and I'm going to pick songs I think fit the story. Maybe do some other stuff. This should be fun. 

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead wins the honor of first adaptation because I'm currently re-reading the series and STILL IN LOVE WITH IT. (I'm ignoring everything that has to do with the film adaptation of this book because that was trash.) 

My first order of business would be to change the title and give it a more appealing movie poster (I'm not great at graphic design, okay, don't judge me). 

MOLNIJA

Characters...

(Only some of the main ones)

ROSE HATHAWAY

LISSA DRAGOMIR

DIMITRI BELIKOV

CHRISTIAN OZERA

MASON ASHFORD

JESSE ZEKLOS

MIA RINALDI

VICTOR DASHKOV

ADRIAN IVASHKOV

(I know he's not in the first book but I love him so I'd find a way to incorporate him)

Music...

1) RUN AND GO BY TWENTY ONE PILOTS

This song will be in the beginning, when Rose and Lissa are on the run. It's about how they have to stick together and fight all the demons and nightmares.

2) WHO I AM HATES WHO I'VE BEEN BY RELIENT K

This song will be for Rose, when they first return to the academy and  realizes that while she kpt Lissa safe, she hadn't been guarding her the way she should have been. 

3) SHE WILL BE LOVED BY MAROON 5

This is Mason's song, when he finds out Rose fooled around with Jesse and he helps her out with unraveling the rumors and getting information and whatnot.

4) CREEP BY RADIOHEAD

This is Christian's song about Lissa, when Rose tells him that Lissa never really liked him. 

5) TIMSHEL BY MUMFORD AND SONS

This is Rose's song to Lissa, when she starts spiraling into a really dark state of mind. 

6) TRUMPETS BY JASON DERULO

This is the lust spell song!!!!!!!!!! If you've read the book, you know what I mean. 

7) I CAN'T NOT LOVE YOU BY EVERY AVENUE

Rose and Dimitri, of course. At the end when they realize they can't be together even though they deffffiiiinitely want to be. 

This feature was a lot of fun! I know it's kind of silly, but I hope you liked it. It was my first time doing this, so I'm sure it will evolve the more I do it. There were some songs I wanted to include but didn't, and some scenes I wanted to be able to find a good song for but couldn't. 

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MY VAMPIRE ACADEMY MUSICAL? DO YOU THINK THE CHARACTERS ARE FITTING? THE MUSIC? I WANNA KNOW!

Lefty's Lowdown: Heartless by Marissa Meyer

Heartless by Marissa Meyer
(standalone)
Published: November 8, 2016 by Feiwel & Friends

Summary from Goodreads: Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland and a favorite of the unmarried King, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, she wants to open a shop and create delectable pastries. But for her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for a woman who could be a queen.

At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the King’s marriage proposal, she meets handsome and mysterious Jest. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into a secret courtship.

Cath is determined to choose her own destiny. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

 Okay, so, this was my first book of 2017 and MAN WAS IT KILLER. Maybe this is a bit premature, but I'm fairly certain that this is going to be one of my favorite books OF THE YEAR. I loved it, adored it, relished every second of it. Be prepared for a review full of SQUEES and CAPITAL LETTERS because I have lots of gushing to do about this book.

This is an origin story for the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland. I'm not really the biggest Alice fan. I've never read the book and I've only seen the one movie with Johnny Depp. BUT THAT DIDN'T EVEN MATTER. Marissa Meyer uses the traditional Wonderland influences, but she creates a story all her own. Heartless is the story of Catherine, a girl with wide eyes and big dreams. A girl who is a victim to fate and social expectations and her own innocence. I enjoyed Cath's character a lot. I knew things weren't going to end well for her because she turns into the evil Queen of Hearts (tbh I know that this ISN'T canon but in my mind this book is totally canon and I'm forever going to look at the Queen of Hearts with this story in mind) but HOT DIGGITY DAMN IF I WASN'T ROOTING FOR HER. Like, I just wanted everything to work out for her. I wanted her to have her happy ending with her bakery and her best friend and JEST.

Jest jest jest. Of course we MUST talk about JESTTTTTT. Because I love him. Like, I reallllllllly love him. Book boyfriend AF. He is charming and sweet and witty and I LOVE HIM. It causes me physical pain to know that this is a standalone and therefore the only book we'll ever get with Jest. Of course, I can't forget about the other marvelous characters in this book, like Cheshire (he's a cat so of course I love him) and Hatta (aka the Mad Hatter) and Raven. These characters all brought so much to the table. Yes, they (aside from Raven) have Lewis Carroll's stamp on them, but Meyer made them something else, too. I could read about these characters all day every day.

I will say, nothing about this book came as much of a surprise. The bare bones of this story are pretty cliche, but, and I don't know how, Meyer makes this something special. And she ripped out my damn heart, too (the real reason it's called Heartless). I was wrecked by the end of this novel. And then I woke up the next morning still reeling from it. And then, writing this review I almost started crying again. It's so good, y'all. So frickly frackin' spectacular. I've officially hopped on the Marissa Meyer train and I can't wait to see where else it takes me.

I know that this review has basically been a heap of nonsensical gushing, but the bottom line is that Heartless has whimsy and heartbreak, beautiful characterization, and it throws in pieces of tales most people already know and love. So this book is A+ and I will love it until the day I die, basically.

5/5 will definitely read again

Top Ten 2016 Releases I Meant To Read

There were so many fabulous 2016 releases to read that I could barely keep up. Okay, I didn't keep up. There were so many I was highly anticipating and 100% planned to read, but then I never got around to it. BUT I WILL READ THEM, I WILL. I've listed 10, but trust me when I say there were a lot more.

Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare - I bought this, like, right when it was released and it still sits upon my shelf unread. To be fair, I think I'm going to wait until all the books are released before I read this and, in the mean time, re-read the Mortal Instruments series.

What Light by Jay Asher - This would have been the perfect read around Christmas time, but I think it's okay seeing as it's JUST NOW starting to feel like winter.

Replica by Lauren Oliver - Lauren Oliver is BAE af. I actually won this one in a giveaway, and it should be waiting for me at school when I get back. So hopefully I will be reading it SOON.

Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard - I loved Red Queen, and I bought this one as soon as it was out, but I heard mixed reviews so then I was too afraid I wouldn't like it, so it is still very much unread.

Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova - I got an eARC of this, but it was released right around the time I went back to school, so I never got around to it.

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken - I was SO PUMPED to have won this one in a giveaway, and then I didn't read it and now Wayfarer has been released and now I CAN READ BOTH OF THEM.

A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro - A GENDER-BENT SHERLOCKIAN STORY. I was highly anticipating this, but I didn't have the monies to buy it.

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo - Even though I haven't read Six of Crows, this book makes the list, because I'm mad at myself for not having read Six of Crows yet.

Seven Ways We Lie by Riley Redgate - I got an ARC of this and never got around to reading it but if I end up liking Redgate's Noteworthy as much as I expect to, I have a feeling I will be picking this one up shortly after.

The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love by Sarvenaz Tash - This one just sounds so nerdy and cute and I AM HERE FOR IT but apparently not enough because I still haven't read it.

Discussion: Backlist Books

Hey y'all! So this is a discussion post I've been meaning to write for a long time, and I'm so happy that it has finally seen the light of day.

So, I realized in 2016 that I tend to read and buy more backlist titles than new releases. Or at least, that's how it feels to me. And when I saw a Twitter thread months ago from author & blogger Dahlia Adler (At least, I'm fairly certain that's who the thread was by. It's been a while, sorry!) encouraging reviewers to give more love to backlist titles, I really got to thinking about older books and how they fit into the book community.

For those of you who have come across the term "backlist" but have never really known what it means, it essentially means books that were published more than a year ago, though the definition is a bit floppy, I think.

Anyway, so, I feel like the book community is dominated by popular, new releases. If you ask me (which, this is my blog, so I don't actually care if you ask me), this applies to all platforms, whether we're talking about blogs, youtube, instagram, and even twitter. It makes sense--shiny new books that you've eagerly waited to get your hands on, that those lucky enough to get ARCs have been buzzing about--it makes sense that you want to talk about these books. Plus, these are the books everyone else is talking about, so of course you want to be able to fangirl together, to join the discussions. That's what this community is for!

But where does that leave the older titles? Of course, I wouldn't say it's RARE to find people talking about backlist books, I'd just say that it's much MUCH less common. And why? There are so many lovely gems that are being passed up in favor of the SHINY NEW. Like I said, it makes sense, but, like, at the same time it kind of doesn't. Older releases are not inherently better or worse than newer releases. The reviews and content focused on older titles is not inherently better or worse than the reviews and content focused on new releases. Personally, I think I get more excited to see posts about older books that I kinda forgot about rather than seeing posts about the same book that's already all over the internet. I also feel like your review or picture or video or WHATEVER is going to stick out so much more, rather than just fading into a blur of all the posts about that same book. And let's be honest, odds are those of us in the community have already seen so much about the book that we have already formed an opinion on whether or not we want to read it.

I wish I could find Dahlia's twitter thread about this, too, because she talked a lot about the industry side and how reviewing backlist books can be beneficial for the books' success. I don't really know all the lingo, but I think the idea is kinda simple. By talking about backlist titles, you're bringing more exposure to a book that has probably fallen under the radar by now, potentially boosting sales. If a book doesn't sell enough, it goes out of print. Like, there are SO MANY WONDERFUL BOOKS that have gone out of print because people just kinda forgot about them. Isn't that sad?? That's why I started my Flashback Friday posts (and eventually added giveaways). Because I don't want my favorite books to be forgotten. I need to do what I can to keep them on the radar.

So moral of the story is that I don't think we should stop raving about new releases, but we SHOULD also make sure to give the oldies some TLC. What if one of those backlist books is sitting in a shop right now waiting to change your life? What if you're passing up the most beautiful book in the entire world because you're so focused on new releases?

Like I said, I know that our community doesn't completely ignore backlist books (there is even a 2017 Beat the Backlist challenge hosted by NovelKnight), but I think we could always do more, you know? I tend to read a lot of backlist books for the reasons I've talked about and because they are usually cheaper and because a lot of times they just sound interesting. And I'll keep reading backlist books. I'll read ARCs and new releases, too, but I don't think I'll ever stop giving backlist titles attention. Excellent books are excellent books, no matter when they were published.

Do you read a lot of backlist books? What are some backlist titles you wish more people would talk about. LET'S CHAT ABOUT BACKLIST BOOKS, OKAY? THIS WILL BE FUN.

Sunday Post #26

• HAHA HA HAHAHA yeahhhh, this week I was not a particularly stellar blogger, I tell you what. But, to be fair, I spent 3 days in a car on my way back from Florida, and when we settled into our hotel at night, I was too tired for blogging. It's fiiiiiine. 
• I did get some good reading done, though. I've only read 2 books so far this year, but they are both absolute winners! 
• OH OH OHHH, THIS IS IMPORTANT. I'm doing another call for anyone who would be interested in guest posting on my blog or becoming a co-blogger. If you're interested you can comment below, email me at leftyreads21@gmail.com, or tweet me @leftyreads. I'm really looking for a way to keep this blog active while I'm back at college. 

Reviews:
- A Series of Unfortunate Events #1-3 by Lemony Snicket

Other: 
- 2017 Reader Resolutions

Oh my gosh, that's it. That's all I've posted. Next week will be better! 

Reviews: 
- Heartless by Marissa Meyer
- Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

Memes: 
- Top Ten 2016 Releases I Meant To Get To
- Sunday Post #27

Features/Misc.:
- Discussion: Backlist Books
- From the Page to the Stage #1: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

From Netgalley:


- Noteworthy by Riley Redgate - Thanks Amulet Books!
Published: May 2, 2017
This is one of my most anticipated releases of the year!!!

- Mad Miss Mimic by Sarah Henstra - Thanks Penguin Canada!
Published: May 5, 2015

- Geekerella by Ashley Poston - Thanks Quirk Books!
Published: April 4, 2017
Another highly anticipated release!!

Here are some highlights from my instagram account this week. Give me a follow if you want to see everything I have posted/will post!

A photo posted by The Left-Handed Book Lover (@leftyreads) on Jan 5, 2017 at 11:24am PST

What has your week in books and blogging looked like?