I'm the type of person who likes to do it all. I'm like that at work, at school, and in the book community. So, honesty hour: I know we're not supposed to be comparing our achievements to other people's achievements, but the truth is that when I see people who are doing more than I am, who are more beloved, more successful...I feel like I need to do more--work harder. I recognize that's not necessarily the healthiest approach to life, but it is mine nonetheless. I was raised to believe I have to be the best. While I realize now that's simply not feasible, it doesn't stop me from trying.
So that leaves me where I'm at now.
I have a blog (obviously). I have a booktube channel. I have a bookstagram account. I'm on twitter and goodreads. I'm a writer. I'm a reader. Oh, and not to mention I have a full-time job in the summer and I'm a full-time student during the school year who is involved in many activities plus a fairly active social life.
To call it a juggling act would be an understatement. Here's the thing: Doing it all (and doing it well) might be possible for some, but not me. Booktube, bookstagram, and book blogging all require an immense amount of thought and creativity, and being vigilant on all 3 platforms is exhausting. It drains me. Plus, there's promotion and interaction and reading/watching other people's content. Then, add reading and writing (two very time-consuming activities) to the mix, and there simply aren't enough hours in the day for breathing.
Sometimes I consider ditching some of these activities and narrowing my focus, but the problem is that I don't do all these things because I want to be better than others or I want to feel accomplished. No, I do all these things because I enjoy them. Booktube, bookstagram, and blogging are all different mediums for expressing my love of books and bonding with others who love books, and they each provide a unique experience in the book community, and I want the full experience, but am I getting the full experience if I can't dedicate adequate time and energy to each platform? And so the cycle continues.
Personally, I give the most thought and energy to my blog. It is the platform I have worked on the longest and it is basically my child. It's something I'm so proud of. And since it's a writing medium, I think I'm better at blogging than being entertaining in front of a camera or taking artsy photographs (though I am always trying to improve both of those skills). My most creative ideas work best for my blog and I always tend to be most pleased with the content I churn out for my blog.
Granted, having said all this, I must admit, my lack of juggling prowess is partially my fault because I have horrible time management skills and I get distracted easily and I'm a slave to my laziness.
But here's my question for you: Do you struggle with some of these things as well? How do you go about juggling the intricate web of the book community? Plot twist--this isn't a discussion at all but a plea for help (kidding, but also not at the same time). Where do you like to focus your energies in the book community? Let's chat down below!
I spent pretty much this entire month working and saving money, so I don't have a whole lot to report, tbh. I'm quite proud of myself for the money that I've been able to save up in just a month! But I have no idea if that money will still be in my possession by the end of summer. I have a lot that I want/need to pay for. Plus, I'm going on vacation for a few weeks, and who knows how much I'll end up spending in Florida. Plus...MY BEST FRIEND AND I GOT OUR OWN APARTMENT. We put down the deposit and I'm moving in at the beginning of August. We're gonna have to buy furniture and pay to get water and electric and all that jazz turned on. I feel like an adult. I'm gonna have REAL BILLS...but I'm not excited about that part.
I'm back, my dudes! It's taking me a little while to get back into the swing of blogging, but it feels good to be at it again. Now, ideas and plans for the blog are a-brewing, so you better be ready!
As far as reading goes, I think I had a pretty great month! I mean, it definitely could have been better, but I also work 40+ hours a week and I'm usually exhausted, so I think I done good.
(I promise in July I will review something that isn't contemporary)
BOOKSTAGRAM: Here are my favorite photos from this month (I just got back into bookstagram this week). Make sure to follow me so you can see all the purrrdy books I post!
Hello, hello! The fall semester is FINALLY over. I wasn't sure if I would make it out alive...BUT HERE I AM. I finally have time to blog and vlog and read what I want to read and IT. IS. MAGNIFICENT.
Since I have produced pretty much zero content over the course of my semester, I decided to update y'all on what I've read in the past few months (spoiler: not a whole lot). I should have actually read more than this for classes, but I did a lot of skimming and sparknoting, which I don't count.
Listen — Travis Coates was alive once and then he wasn’t.
Now he’s alive again.
Simple as that.
The in between part is still a little fuzzy, but he can tell you that, at some point or another, his head got chopped off and shoved into a freezer in Denver, Colorado. Five years later, it was reattached to some other guy’s body, and well, here he is. Despite all logic, he’s still 16 and everything and everyone around him has changed. That includes his bedroom, his parents, his best friend, and his girlfriend. Or maybe she’s not his girlfriend anymore? That’s a bit fuzzy too.
Looks like if the new Travis and the old Travis are ever going to find a way to exist together, then there are going to be a few more scars.
Oh well, you only live twice.
I read this for my YA fiction writing class (which, by the way, was taught by a guy who basically never read YA) and found it to be just sort of okay. I liked the voice a lot, but I wasn't super in love with the protagonist. This book was more of a contemporary with background sci-fi elements, and I would have liked to see a heavier focus on the sci-fi.
Bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot.
Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings by Ellen Forney that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he was destined to live.
With a forward by Markus Zusak, interviews with Sherman Alexie and Ellen Forney, and four-color interior art throughout, this edition is perfect for fans and collectors alike.
This is another book I read for my YA fiction writing class and I was really excited to have the chance to read this because I'd seen it around quite a bit. I think it's my favorite thing that we read in that class. I wasn't completely head-over-heels for it, but it was quick and engrossing. I loved the illustrations and, once again, the voice. I thought this book did a great job juggling humor and heartbreak. This was published in 2007 when political correctness wasn't as valued as it is today, so there are some language things throughout the book that are generally frowned upon now, but I was able to overlook it for the most part. This is the type of book I'd probably recommend to friends who don't read a ton just because it is quick and it did mostly keep my attention.
When two soldiers from opposite sides of a never-ending galactic war fall in love, they risk everything to bring a fragile new life into a dangerous old universe.
From bestselling writer Brian K. Vaughan, Saga is the sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the worlds. Fantasy and science fiction are wed like never before in this sexy, subversive drama for adults.
I actually read the first two volumes of this series--my first ever graphic novels! And I just adore them. It was my first time reading in this medium, so there were definitely times when I got lost or had a hard time following, so before I read volume 3 I will probably go back and re-read the first two. But this series has really sold me on graphic novels, and now I definitely want to seek out other series to enjoy. The artwork in this book is beautiful in a very gruesome way, so this is absolutely for more mature audiences. I'm not sure what else to say about this because I don't know much about graphic novels, but I just love this series now, and if you are uncertain about graphic novels, I recommend giving this one a shot!
In this feverishly beautiful novel—originally titled If I Forget Thee, Jerusalem by Faulkner, and now published in the authoritative Library of America text—William Faulkner interweaves two narratives, each wholly absorbing in its own right, each subtly illuminating the other. In New Orleans in 1937, a man and a woman embark on a headlong flight into the wilderness of illicit passion, fleeing her husband and the temptations of respectability. In Mississippi ten years earlier, a convict sets forth across a flooded river, risking his own chance at freedom to rescue a pregnant woman. From these separate stories Faulkner composes a symphony of deliverance and damnation, survival and self-sacrifice, a novel in which elemental danger is juxtaposed with fatal injuries of the spirit. The Wild Palms is grandly inventive, heart-stopping in its prose, and suffused on every page with the physical presence of the country that Faulkner made his own.
I read this for my modern American literature class this semester, and I have very mixed feelings about it. So, this book is split into two different, unconnected narratives--The Wild Palms and The Old Man. The Wild Palms section is about a taboo-ish couple trying to survive and hold on to their passion, and The Old Man section is about a convict trying to survive a flood. I really enjoyed The Wild Palms section. I did not particularly love the couple (I thought that they were kinda foolish, but whatever) but I was interested in their story. The Old Man section was an absolute struggle to get through holy crap. But I am very proud of myself for getting through this novel without skimming or sparknoting. (Just so everyone knows, I fully intended to sparknote it, but it wasn't available.) Te writing is beautiful in its own way, but it's not something I majorly enjoyed reading. Calling it long-winded would be an understatement. Maybe in the future I will read more Faulkner, especially if I find a plot line that appeals to me.
Everyone thinks they know Libby Strout, the girl once dubbed “America’s Fattest Teen.” But no one’s taken the time to look past her weight to get to know who she really is. Following her mom’s death, she’s been picking up the pieces in the privacy of her home, dealing with her heartbroken father and her own grief. Now, Libby’s ready: for high school, for new friends, for love, and for every possibility life has to offer. In that moment, I know the part I want to play here at MVB High. I want to be the girl who can do anything.
Everyone thinks they know Jack Masselin, too. Yes, he’s got swagger, but he’s also mastered the impossible art of giving people what they want, of fitting in. What no one knows is that Jack has a newly acquired secret: he can’t recognize faces. Even his own brothers are strangers to him. He’s the guy who can re-engineer and rebuild anything, but he can’t understand what’s going on with the inner workings of his brain. So he tells himself to play it cool: Be charming. Be hilarious. Don’t get too close to anyone.
Until he meets Libby. When the two get tangled up in a cruel high school game—which lands them in group counseling and community service—Libby and Jack are both pissed, and then surprised. Because the more time they spend together, the less alone they feel. Because sometimes when you meet someone, it changes the world, theirs and yours.
This is the only novel I read strictly for funsies this semester, and I enjoyed it a lot! I know there were a lot of concerns surrounding this novel, and I think that Niven handles things very well. Since this is a mini review, I don't want to delve into this discussion here, but I am thinking about making a video regarding the issues people anticipated with this book. For now, just know that I don't think there was unhealthy representation. Anyway, I enjoyed the two main characters a lot and I enjoyed the romantic aspect of it (the romance was a prominent element, and yet I definitely don't think it was the focus). There's body positivity and geeky references, and I am SO INTO IT. I think what shows how much I enjoyed this book is that amid school and social life stuff, all I could think about was returning to this story and finishing it.
My rating:
4.5/5
So that is what I read this fall semester. Not a ton, but I've definitely read less in a semester, so I'm not entirely disappointed.
My Goodreads goal for this year was 50 books, and I am currently at 36 books read. There is still a very slim chance I could make my goal if I pick up a ton of quick reads, but probably not. I'm okay with that, though. I've read more this year than I have in some of my previous years.
Anyway, let me know in the comments some of your favorite books that you've read recently. Also, how are you doing on your Goodreads challenge? Let's chat! I've been gone so long, I've missed you people!
Now I shall bid you goodbye and leave you with some of the BookTube videos I've recently posted!
So, today is the fifth week of the Summer Blog Promo Tour, hosted by the wonderful blog, The Book Bratz (seriously, they're awesome). This tour is exactly what it sounds like--bloggers promoting other bloggers! Every Sunday of July and August, a different blogger will be stopping by with a fun post to let you get to know more about them! And, of course, every week I will doing fun stuff on other people's blogs, so make sure to give them a gander. Today, Kat from Perks Of Being A Book Nerd is dropping by with a bookish scavenger hunt! She's the only other person (that I know of) in my SBPT group who is also a BookTuber, so I thought it'd be fun if she could make a video for y'all! Basically, I gave Kat a list of "hints" and she had five minutes to acquire as many points as she could.
Here are the hints I gave her:
Second book in a popular series – 2 points
A non-YA book – 4 points
A book with the word “night” on the cover – 3 points
The third book from my favorite book series (Vampire Academy) – 6 points
A contemporary novel with pink on the cover – 5 points
A book with a love triangle – 1 point
A book you've never read – 2 points
A book you've read multiple times – 1 point
A dystopian book that doesn't have a girl on the cover – 3 points
A book from an author I love – 8 points
A complete series with more than 3 books– 5 points
A book you've read with over 500 pages – 3 points
The most recent paperback book you've read – 2 points
A fantasy book with great worldbuilding – 3 points
A book with a weapon on the cover – 1 point
A classic – 4 points
A re-telling – 2 points
A book from a writer you admire – 3 points
A book I've never read – 8 points
A book that involves music – 4 points
A book with an LGBT+ character – 3 points
A book with a POC protagonist – 5 points
And here is her video:
Kat ended up getting 39 out of a total 78 points available, which means she got exactly half of the available points. Not too bad. Not bad at all!
DON'T FORGET TO GO CHECK OUT KAT ON ALL PLATFORMS!
P.S. -- I stopped by Flo's blog Book Nerds Across America today to talk about a book series that changed my life! You should definitely go check it out!!
Hey there bookish friends! It has been a really good blogging and reading week for me, though I didn't do much else.
I hung out by the pool by myself, soaking up some sun and reading. It's so incredible. It really makes it feel like summer.
I listened to my first audiobook ever (Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell). I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about audiobooks, but I actually plan on making a YouTube video in which I discuss my mixed feelings.
Also, I finally got my laptop back. I spilled water on it a few months ago, and the keyboard became really messed up. My dad brought it in to Rent-A-Center, where we bought it, to see if there was anything they could do. They had it for WEEKS and they didn't even touch it. Finally, they said they were going to send it into their repair shop place but gave it back to me for the night so I could save all my files. Well, turns out it magically fixed itself. I could not be happier! I've been using a desktop computer, but nothing makes me happier than lying in bed with my laptop to write or blog.
Sierra from The Nerd Girl Review stopped by Temecka's blog, Library of Tomes, to talk about animosity in the LGBT+ community. This was a really emotional and thought-provoking post, and I recommend everyone give it a read!
Reviews: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard
Memes: Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite 2016 Releases
Sunday Post #16
Features: Just Write #3
Misc: What I've Learned From Bookstagram
I don't think I'm going to be including my book haul on my Sunday Post posts anymore, because I'll be doing book haul videos on my youtube channel.
Brittany at The Book Addict's Guide touched on a subject that has been a bit sensitive in the book blogging sphere lately with her post about Kicking ARCs to the curb. This was 100% about her reading habits, though, and she made it clear she is not criticizing anyone else. Either way, this is a post I found interesting and relatable, and I'm sure others did as well.
Carlisa at Confessions of Carlisa compiled a handy-dandy guide of bookish acronyms. This is good for people who are new in the book community, or for people who just have a hard time keeping up with all the random letters being thrown around.
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!
Hey everyone! I'm really excited to announce that I HAVE OFFICIALLY STARTED BOOKTUBING. I have been kinda obsessed with watching BookTube videos lately, and I've finally made my own. It's obviously not the best, but the longer I do this, the better I will get at it, and the more I will hit my stride.
I'd really love it if you'd check out my video--maybe give it a thumbs up or subscribe if you think I could be interesting to watch.
Okay, so....here's the video (in which I reveal my identity/face).
