October Book Haul!

This is actually my second book haul of the month, but as most of my previous haul was featured in my autumn TBR, I'm counting this as separate.

I purchased all these books from bookoutlet.com. I'm not affiliated with them, just thought I'd let you know about their site. They offer like new to brand new quality books at incredible discount prices, and also offer a section of even cheaper priced books though at slightly less quality. I've ordered twice from them, and the only marks on (a few) the books have been some sticker residue and a black pen strike on the bottom (often found on sale books). Shipping is fast and I've been immensely pleased!

The Unfortunate Importance of Beauty

I found this book on Pinterest and the premise looked fairly interesting and thought-provoking, and after hearing from a friend that she'd like to know my opinion of it, this was the first book I picked up. 

Every Heart a Doorway

This book is being reviewed everywhere on Youtube. I didn't pay any attention at first, because honestly, I judged the book by its cover and thought it was a typical YA or Adult romance, but then I finally caught onto the storyline; a school for children who have gone to magical lands but come back to the real world and can't cope? Yes, please. As a child (and adult!) who had an active imagination and spent her days wishing she could escape to Narnia, I have a feeling this book will be right up my alley. 

Hans Christian Andersen, Best-Loved Fairy Tales

Honestly, I didn't grow up reading a lot of Hans Christian Andersen, even though I love fairy tales. This book is enormous and contains beautiful black and white illustrations. I couldn't pass it up and can't wait to catch up on some fairy tales! This might become my nightly read. 

The Secret Garden

This is the most exciting book I've purchased this year. I read The Secret Garden when I was in elementary school, and it was the first book I remember making an impression on me with its writing, particularly Hodgson Burnett's knack of mesmerizing descriptions. I haven't read it since and am so anxious to reread it. Plus, how beautiful is this Puffin Classics cover? It's even more darling in person.

Peter Pan

This was actually purchased in my first haul but I forgot to include it in my TBR post mentioned previously, so I'm slipping it in here. I've had several people recommend I read this, citing it's completely different from the Disney animated movie I grew up with. It's also a Puffin Classic edition; I'm so in love with these beautiful, whimsical covers!

Night Knight

  I'm making a trip next month to see my nephew and new niece (squee!), and I'm bringing this along as a little gift for my 3 year-old nephew. I've fallen in love with this book. The illustrations are so charming, and the story is adorable. I only wish I lived closer so I could read it to him myself more often! ;)

How's your autumn reading coming along? What book will you pick up next? 

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Book Review: Throne of Glass, Book 1

I finally did it. I read the first book to the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas, a series endlessly pushed by "booktube" and beautiful fan art on Pinterest, a book which I could ignore no longer.

Throne of Glass is about Celaena Sardothien, a world-reknowned 18 year-old assassin who is taken from the slave camp Endovier and brought to the kingdom of Adarlan to compete in a series of Tests against other assassins, soldiers, and thieves for the role of the King's Champion. Though working for the king who ruined her life isn't her ideal situation, Celaena is promised freedom in four years and finds herself facing an offer she can't refuse. She soon discovers things are not as they seem and finds herself not only in a fight for title, but a fight for her life.

I will say...the hype, centered around this young assassin with extraordinary skills, didn't live up to my expectations. I prepared myself for a dark, grim world and protagonist. While there were a few scenes where we got a glimpse of Celaena's mad skills, I felt her budding romance with one of the characters and her constant self-examinations in the mirror over every detail of her new dresses overshadowed the assassin in her. Granted, she's young and not inhuman, but she's also been through hell and trained to be an assassin by the leader of the Assassin's Guild; I figured there would be less concern over her attire and how dirty her face was and more suspicion and apathy. 

Despite my disappointments, I still feel as though I need to give this series a chance. I haven't heard great things about book 2, but have heard book 3 is where it starts to get interesting. There were elements of the story and characters that I loved, and I thought the world-building was unique (I mean, a castle of glass...C'mon. That's not usual). Book One can be tricky in setting up backstory and characters, so I'm still hopeful that this entertaining but shaky introduction will lead to bigger and better things.

A hopeful 3/5 stars

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Autumn TBR!

It's been a rough year for reading. 

Life happens. 

You get busy. Your mind becomes consumed with other things. Headaches plague your eyes. You break your finger. People are born. You start to wonder if it all means something...or nothing. 

But then you have a birthday and receive money from your gommie (a.k.a grandmother), and you realize you can buy books with said money. And by buying books...happiness is regenerated.

So as I try to type this, minus one finger and with my dog attempting to lick remnants of popcorn from my hands, bear in mind that for me, this year, this list is ambitious which is why it is an Autumn TBR and not just October. It will certainly be spilling over into November...maybe even December. And January. But hey, it's good to have goals. 

Northanger Abbey

I joined the Goodreads Austentatious book club created by readbyzoe. An Austen book a month? Sounds like heaven to me. Unfortunately, the first two months I wasn't able to fully participate. This month is Northanger Abbey, and not only is it one of the smaller Austen books, it's one of my favorites. I'm determined to finish this month's!

Jane Eyre

I received this gorgeous edition of Jane Eyre for my birthday. It's currently displayed beautifully on my book shelf and by far the prettiest book. I haven't read this book since I was in my mid-teens, so I can't wait to revisit it!

Speak

I don't know much about this book except that it deals with problems such as high school drama, bullying, and rape. A friend recommended this with the warning that the material is heavy. I have a feeling it will be a tear-jerker and deeply thought-provoking. 

Jennifer's Way

I first discovered Jennifer Esposito while watching the cop TV show Blue Bloods. Anyone else a Jackie fan? After reading her experience online expressing her ordeal with illness and celiac's disease, I knew I had to read this. As someone who has dealt with undiagnosed chronic illness my whole life, I already know this book will bring me to tears and also shine hope. 

Throne of Glass

This series is all over Pinterest and Booktube. After drooling over hundreds of fan art photos as inspiration for my own fantasy works and hearing the name over and over again, I finally broke down and bought the first book. I'm skeptical, but anxious to read it. 

Theft of Swords

At nearly 700 pages, this fantasy book won't be finished in October, that I know at least.  I've read mixed reviews, but the premise was something I couldn't get out of my mind. Two medieval swashbuckling partners framed for murder, sprinkled with a bit of sarcastic humor and mystery? Bring it. 

 What are you reading this fall?

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