2017 Reader Resolutions--Update!

At the beginning of the year, I posted my reader resolutions for 2017:

Now, we're about halfway through the year, so it's time to talk about how these resolutions are coming along (hint: not well).

1) READ 50 BOOKS
Okay, so I'm doing all right on this one. I've read 18 books so far this year, putting me only 5 books behind my goal. I started the summer off at 10 books behind. This still seems feasible to me.

2) BE CONSISTENT
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha


hahaha

hah

I don't even want to talk about this.

3) STRIVE FOR QUALITY
If we disregard my failure at resolution number 2, I think I'm doing okay with this. For the brief amount of time that I have been posting, I've been fairly pleased with the content I'm producing. I've had some reviews and other posts that I'm proud of, and I've also come up with some new ideas that I cannot wait to implement!

4) READ MORE POPULAR BOOKS/NEW RELEASES
I'm working on this, actually! Out of the 18 books I've read so far, 6 of them were published this year! (And the 2 that I am currently reading were published this year). Out of the remaining 12 books, 10 of them are quite "popular." Also, several of the books I plan to read are new releases as well. I'm feel like I'm doing well on this one.

5) READ MORE SERIES
I'm doing better on this one than I did last year, but that doesn't mean I'm doing well. I've read one trilogy so far and two sequels. Will I read more series this year? Stay tuned because I honestly don't know.

6) INTERACT MORE
Again, pretending I didn't fall of the face of the planet for a few months, I'm doing okay with this. But only on my blog and twitter. I'm making an effort to reply to comments on my blog and comment on other blogs. I'm also trying to be more active on twitter and reply/rt/like people's stuff. I got a lot of work to do on youtube and instagram, though.

7) BRANCH OUT IN MY READING
Ummmmmmmmm this isn't happening. Like, at all. Of the 18 books I've read, 11 of them have been YA contemporary. I'd hardly call that branching out. To be fair, I had to read a some stuff for class that was out of my comfort zone, like certain short stories and literary theory essays. Also, next semester I'm taking a graphic novels class so that will help me branch out more.

8) READ MORE CLASSICS
I've read exactly 0 so far this year. BUT. I've bought SEVERAL, and I got a couple for my birthday so I'll probably read them soon, right?? Isn't that how tbr piles work?????????? *denial* And I'll be taking an American literature class next semester, so I'm sure there will be a few classics in there.

Moral of the story: I'm doing a pretty mediocre job living up to these goals I set for myself. But there's still half a year left. Who knows what will happen in that time!?

HOW ARE YOUR READING/BLOGGING/BOOKISH/LIFE GOALS COMING ALONG?

2017 Reader Resolutions

Wowza, I'm still a little mind blown that it's already 2017. I'm not necessarily complaining because we all know how 2016 treated the world, but I'm still just amazed. As we all know, now is the time when everyone starts evaluating our lives and claiming we're going to effect change or whatever. Well, I've evaluated my life as a reader and content creator, and here are a few resolutions I really hope I'll follow through with.

1) READ 50 BOOKS
I mean, that was my goal in 2016, but I only made it to 41 books read. I can probably read 9 more this year, right?

2) BE CONSISTENT
This is something I struggle with on pretty much all platforms. There are just certain points when I fall off the face of the internet. Especially during the school year. So I want to at least keep my blog active during the school year (maybe not AS active, but active nonetheless). I want to post booktube videos every week. I want to upload on my bookstagram account AT LEAST every other day.

3) STRIVE FOR QUALITY
This is the most important thing for me. Consistency is irrelevant if I'm spitting out crap. I'd love to consistently grace the interwebs with posts I enjoy writing, that are thought out, that are creative and original, and that truly share my passion for books.

4) READ MORE POPULAR BOOKS/NEW RELEASES
I feel like this is kind of backwards compared to other people's resolutions? I don't know--maybe not. But in 2016 I read a ton of backlist titles--which is great! I love backlist titles and I want to continue to read a bunch of them, because they are not inherently better or worse than new releases. HOWEVER. It would be fun to read what other people are reading when they're reading them, and to be able to geek out together. And, you know, there are a ton of popular books that everyone and their gerbil has read except for me, and I want to experience the magic. Sometimes it's nice to feel like you're with the times, ya dig?

5) READ MORE SERIES
Again, I feel like this is backwards. But I read mostly standalones and series starters last year. I don't think I read any sequels or anything. So, I want to finish series I haven't finished, start new ones that everyone adores, get caught up on ones that are not complete yet. I actually love series, so I miss that longterm investment in characters and stories.

6) INTERACT MORE
Again, this applies to all platforms! I want to comment on more blogs, youtube videos, bookstagram posts, goodreads post...ALL OF IT. I was decent at interacting in 2016, but I could've been so much better. I want to make more bookish friends and build more relationships.

7) BRANCH OUT IN MY READING
This is something I always tell myself, and in 2016 I did it...a lil bit, anyway. I just always want to broaden my horizons. Read different genres, age groups, formats.

8) READ MORE CLASSICS
This is related to the previous resolution, but it deserves its own special mention, because it's something I think about a lot.

Will these actually happen this year? I guess we'll find out. 
What are your reader resolutions for this year? 

Discussion: Taking Notes While Reading

I have a confession: I hate taking notes while I read.

This is something I've been thinking about a lot lately. I've had to take notes for a few books because I had specific posts planned for them, and doing so just made me realize the significant difference taking notes makes in my reading experience. And I don't like the difference one bit.

Firstly, taking notes kind of prevents me from completely immersing myself in the story. Like, I have to stop reading to write a comment, tear off the sticky note, then stick it on the page. No, I just want to fall into the action of the story, be swept away. I noticed in the books I'd taken notes in, there were almost no sticky tabs at the climax and resolution of the story because I was too absorbed to break away from it.

Also (and this one is more major) when I take notes while reading, I turn into a much more critical reader. I start picking the novel apart as I read it, paying more attention to the pieces than the work as a whole. I find all the flaws.

If you prefer to read this way, I'm not trying to criticize you! I think it is very important to have that perspective in this community, and I think critical reading is an extremely valuable skill to have. I'm an English major, so obviously I have to use and develop this skill all the time, but for me personally, there is a time and place for such intensive reading. And I don't want that time or place to be in my YA books.

If I'm reading outside of the academic sphere, it means I'm looking to escape into someone else's mind, world, & life. It means I'm looking to be entertained, to get out of my own head for a bit. When I'm reading, I like to sit back and enjoy the ride, not analyze the crap out of it. I want to respond without working too hard, and then when I'm finished, I might analyze why I responded that way.

For example, I was reading Patrick Ness's A Monster Calls last night, and it got me ALL UP IN MY FEELINGS, but I just let it happen. I allowed myself to succumb to the tidal wave of emotions without question. When I finished reading, I realized it affected me so much because it provoked some of my deepest fears to come out of hiding. I allowed myself to simply react first, and then I let myself think about what the book was doing to make me react that way.

That's just not something I can do when I am taking notes and being a critical reader. It's like I analyze first and understand what my reaction is supposed to be, rather than just letting myself feel.

Was this post a bit all over the place? It feels that way to me, but I guess the main idea I'm trying to relay here is that when I take notes, I end up looking at a novel in terms of syntax and word choice and individual lines of dialogues, rather than an entire work to enjoy in its entirety.

Do you take notes while you read? If so, do you find yourself facing any of the problems I mentioned? I'd love to know where you stand when it comes to critical reading. Also, what are some ways taking notes has enhanced your reading experience?

Flashback Friday #5: Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

Hello everyone! Welcome to The Left-Handed Book Lover's Flashback Friday. I'm not sure if this feature has been done on other blogs. I haven't seen it, but if it has been, let me know so I can give some credit!

FF is a feature here where I talk about books I read a while ago but still want to give major love to. This feature is designed to give some exposure to books that may have been forgotten about or that some people haven't heard of, even though they're really great!

This week's FF goes to...

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen
Published: February 14, 2012 by Walker Childrens
Genre: YA historical fiction/re-telling

Summary from Goodreads: 
Will Scarlet is good at two things: stealing from the rich and keeping secrets - skills that are in high demand in Robin Hood's band of thieves, who protect the people of Nottingham from the evil sheriff. Scarlet's biggest secret of all is one only Robin and his men know...that she is posing as a thief; that the slip of a boy who is fast with sharp knives is really a girl.

The terrible events in her past that led Scarlet to hide her real identity are in danger of being exposed when the thief taker Lord Gisbourne arrives in town to rid Nottingham of the Hood and his men once and for all. As Gisbourne closes in a put innocent lives at risk, Scarlet must decide how much the people of Nottingham mean to her, especially John Little, a flirtatious fellow outlaw, and Robin, whose quick smiles have the rare power to unsettle her. There is real honor among these thieves and so much more - making this a fight worth dying for.

WHEN DID I READ THIS

 I got an eARC of this novel, but I don't think I read this until a little bit after it was published. I was actually really reluctant to request this book, and even more reluctant to start reading it. I wasn't sure if this was my cup of coffee or not. Then, once I picked it up, I put it down after reading a few pages. After I pushed through those first few pages, I FELL IN LOVE and became addicted. I stayed up all night reading it. 

WHY DID I PICK THIS BOOK

People seemed to really love this book when it was released, but I haven't seen anyone talk about it in a while. I know that Gaughen decided to add books to the series, and I haven't read any of them yet, but I realllly want to. Anyway, this is a Robin Hood re-telling with a twist, and Robin Hood's tale does not receive a lot of attention in YA lit (as far as I know) in comparison to Beauty and the Beast or Cinderella. The best part is, you don't really have to know much about Robin Hood to get this book--trust me, when I read this, I didn't know ANYTHING about Robin Hood. The narration is a little off-putting at first, but once you adjust, it's actually a ton of fun! 

THREE REASONS YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK

1. Kickassery - Trust me. Scarlet, the protagonist who most people believe is a boy, can not only take men down in hand-to-hand combat, but, if I remember correctly, she is also really good at throwing knives (which, fun fact, is one of my life goals). 
2. Robin Hood swoons - He's PERFECT! He's really hard on himself, but he's such a good guy, and he is willing to do anything for the people he cares about. 
3. Slow-burn romance - I literally just wanted to push Rob and Scarlet's heads together like dolls to make them kiss. Their relationship is so authentic and their feelings for each other jump off the freaking page throughout every interaction, even though they refuse to admit it for the longest time. It's torture, I tell ya. The best kind of torture. 

OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES

AUTHOR INFO

A. C. GAUGHEN is the author of Scarlet, Lady Thief and Lion Heart. She serves on the board for the non-profit Boston GLOW, creating opportunities to encourage and engage teen girls in the Greater Boston area. She has a Masters in Creative Writing from St. Andrews University in Scotland and a Masters in Education from Harvard University.

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

GIVEAWAY

Yes, yes, yes. I've decided to add a giveaway to the Flashback Friday series because what better way to get people reading a book than actually giving a copy out?

This giveaway is open internationally, as long as the book depository ships to you! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Twenty One Pilots Book Tag

Hello hello! As you may or may not know, I am in love with the band Twenty One Pilots. I was watching a booktube video last night that was a Taylor Swift book tag (I don't remember whose video it was--sorry!), and it inspired me to combine my love of books and TOP by making a book tag!

The Pantaloon - A book set in a different time period

"You have learned 

way too soon;

 you should never trust the pantaloon."

Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman

This book takes place during Blackbeard's teen years, so the late 1600's. It's a really fantastic imagining of what caused the infamous Blackbeard to be so dang swashbuckly. 

Addict With A Pen - A series you wish had more books

"I'm only at it again as an addict with a pen."

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

This was such an easy pick for me, because Vampire Academy is my favorite series of all time, and I don't think there could ever be too many books in this series. I know that there is a spin-off, but it's not the same. I want to read about Rose and Dimitri and Christian Ozera. I think that there could be a whole other series about what it's like for Rose to be the Queen's guardian. 

Ride - A book that took you a long time to finish

"I'm falling, so I'm taking my time on my ride."

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

I just finished this book recently, and it took me over 2 weeks to read. I kept putting it aside for days at a time, and oftentimes when I would pick it up, I'd only read a few pages before putting it back down. I ultimately enjoyed it, but it was a slow go for me. 

House of Gold - A book with gold on the cover

"She asked me, 'Son, when I grow old,

Will you buy me a house of gold?

And when your father turns to stone,

Will you take care of me?'

I will make you queen of everything you see,

I'll put you on the map,

I'll cure you of disease."

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

This is a little off topic, but I didn't realize how much I love pairing this song with this book until I was prowling my Goodreads shelves for a book with gold on the cover. While this song sounds like it would be happy, it's actually about wishing for a good life, wishing you could have what you want, but being smart enough to realize that's not how life works. I just realized how fitting it is.

Tear In My Heart - A book that has a really great romance

"She's the tear in my heart, I'm alive,

She's the tear in my heart, I'm on fire,

She's the tear in my heart, Take me higher,

Than I've ever been."

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Y'all, I adore this book with every fiber of my being. I loved watching Echo and Noah's relationship grow from dislike to a deep, life-altering love. Their chemistry just burns through the pages, and they help each other grow and face their demons. 

Ode To Sleep - A book that you stayed up all night reading

"I'll stay awake,

'Cause the dark's not taking prisoners tonight."

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

This book started off kinda slow, but I became so sucked into the characters and the writing that I couldn't put it down! 

Fake You Out - A book with an ending you didn't see coming

"And I'll fall down

And I'll break down

And I'll fake you out

All I wanna"

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

This is still one of my favorite books ever, and I think that has a lot to do with the ending. I never could have seen that coming,and it turned me into an emotional wreck when I finished the novel. 

Not Today - A book you keep putting off reading

"Heard you say, 'not today,'

Tore the curtains down, windows open now, make a sound,

Heard your voice, 'there's no choice,'

Tore the curtains down, windows open now, make a noise."

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

So I bought this book and got really excited about reading it. I started reading it a few days ago and was pretty into it, but for some reason I just keep putting off reading any more of it, and I don't even know why. 

So there it is! The Twenty One Pilots book tag! I know when you make a book tag, you're supposed to tag people, but I'm not sure how many of you lovely people listen to TOP. So, I tag all of you. If you want to do this tag, please do! And leave the link down in the comments so I can check it out. 

Top Ten (5) Reasons I Love Book Blogging

Is this topic considered meta? I was trying to be meta.

Well, I've been blogging (on and off) for several years now, and through all the ups and downs, book blogging has been a really incredible experience. Today's TTT topic was Ten Reasons I Like _________, and I figured this gave me the perfect opportunity to express my appreciation for book blogging.

1) AUTHOR INTERACTION

I assume everyone reading this blog is a book lover, so I'm sure you get it--authors are like celebrities. Sometimes an author writes a book that just sings to your soul and, even though this isn't always a good thing, we tend to idolize those authors. So, when one of my favorite authors responds to my tweet or tells me they enjoyed one of my reviews, when I get to interview an author or work with them for an event, I experience unrivaled levels of delight. Book blogging has opened up way more opportunities for me to interact with my heroes. 

2) LEARNING ABOUT MORE BOOKS

In high school, the librarian was always floored by my extensive book knowledge. It seemed like I knew what every single book was about, when every book was being released, and who wrote every book. I owe it all to book blogging. In the time that I took over a year off from blogging, I'd never heard of any of the new releases and it just felt wrong. 

3) TALKING ABOUT BOOKS WITH PEOPLE WHO GET IT

Whenever I finish a book, I am bursting at the seams to discuss it with someone. I just have SO MANY FEELINGS and I need to LET 'EM OUT. However, most of the people I'm close to in real life aren't readers, so they don't really know or care what 'm gushing about. I love book blogging because it gives me the chance to talk about books with other people who love reading just as much as I do. We can cry, rant, and fangirl together, and there will be absolutely no judgment. It's incredible. 

4) SENSE OF PRIDE

I've never been a "popular" blogger. I've never had all that many followers or anything like that. But you know what? I love my blog, and I am so proud of everything I've accomplished with it. I love to scroll through my blog because I CREATED THAT. The look is mine, the thoughts are mine, it's ALL MINE, and that's an absolutely amazing feeling, Also, to see how much my blog has grown, how my creativity has been explored, makes me so so so happy! 

And finally

5) YOU PEOPLE

The people in the book blogging community are really what have made this experience what it is. Even if I don't know you, I love you. Thank you for being passionate about literature, for wanting to share that passion with others. Y'all are endlessly kind, and it constantly floors me. Don't let anyone burn your freak flag because I think it's lovely. 

Why do you love book blogging? Also, what did you talk about today for TTT? Did any of y'all struggle coming up with a topic, because it was hard for me! 

Sunday Post #13

• Hello, you lovely people. I hope your week is full of (metaphorical) sparkles. I got a tooth pulled this week, but it really wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. I also got a new phone because my old phone just completely crapped out on me and just stopped turning on. I'm happy about it because my new phone is a bajillion times better. 

Reviews: 
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Memes: 
Top Ten Books I Wish I Could Read On The Beach

Misc: 
My Biggest Distractions From Reading and Blogging

Reviews:
The Sound of Us by Julie Hammerle

Features: 
Flashback Friday #5

Memes:
Top Ten Reasons I Like _________ (I haven't decided what I want to fill in the blank, yet)
Sunday Post #14

Misc. 
Clearing the Shelves Giveaway #2

I didn't receive any books for review this week, but I ordered this sucker and it has arrived and I'm not particularly excited to dedicate a chunk of my summer to these pages. 

#lilbookishjune is getting scandalous today with #nakedspines!

A photo posted by The Left-Handed Book Lover (@leftyreads) on Jun 2, 2016 at 11:12am PDT

Summer ain't the same without Sarah! I'll definitely be doing some re-reads of my favorite books by Sarah Dessen, the contemporary queen. 🌞 What is your favorite novel by Sarah Dessen?

A photo posted by The Left-Handed Book Lover (@leftyreads) on Jun 2, 2016 at 10:43pm PDT

Showing off my book tower for #lilbookishjune, topped by the fantastic Pushing the Limits by Katie Mcgarry. I read this one a few years ago when it was first released and fell in love with it. I even got one of my non-bookish friends to read it. What books do you recommend to people who don't usually read?

A photo posted by The Left-Handed Book Lover (@leftyreads) on Jun 4, 2016 at 11:55am PDT

What has your week in books and blogging looked like?

My Biggest Distractions From Reading & Blogging

I tend to have a pretty decent attention span, but I think everyone, at some point, succumbs to distractions when reading or blogging. While reading, this mostly happens for me when I've first started a book and I'm not totally hooked yet, or at the slow parts. When I'm blogging I get distracted pretty much constantly.

Here are my primary sources of distraction when I am reading of blogging:

FOOD

Because who doesn't love food? And when I remember there is apiece of Oreo pie sitting in my fridge, waiting eagerly to make the foray into my belly, how can I not oblige? Just in the time it has taken me o think up this post and start it, I've re-heated my coffee and turned the stove on to make fajitas. So yeah, food definitely distracts me.

SOCIAL MEDIA

I'm pretty sure all y'all out there can relate to this one. I especially get pulled in by Twitter and Instagram (shameless self-promotion: You can follow me on both! Here's my insta, and my twitter), but I also occasionally get lost on Goodreads and Facebook. It's hard not to get sucked in when all it takes is one little tap on my phone to pull up the apps where people are saying SUCH INTERESTING THINGS.

TEXTS/GROUP MESSAGES

In my completely unbiased opinion, my friends and I are the funniest people to walk the face of the Earth, so when the group message is getting lit, talking about Harry Styles's new haircut and sharing Supernatural gifs (usually at night, when I'm trying to read) I'm not just gonna tell them to shut up. Plus, I don't get a lot of texts throughout the day, so I'm always grateful to remember I have friends.

MY THOUGHTS

This happens to the best of us. It's not my fault if I see the word "grace" which reminds me of my best friend Gracie which reminds me that we're supposed to go swimming soon which reminds me of when I used to live in Florida and go swimming all the time...so on, and so forth.

TV

I'm home alone a lot, so I usually keep the TV on to make the house feel less empty. Sometimes I'll make the mistake of glancing over at the TV and seeing cool stuff happen, and then I end up watching the TV (on mute, reading the subtitles) for a solid three hours.

What distracts you most when you're reading or blogging?