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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What Is a Writer?

Tell me, does this situation sound familiar?


You're standing alone in the corner of a room, surrounded by friendly, laughing faces. You observe, not so much minding the solitude but wishing you could somehow be included in the conversation. 
Joy! Someone turns to you. 
"Hey, do you still write?"
You lean forward eagerly. "Yes, I do!"
"How's it going?"
"Oh, it's going pretty well. I've been writing quite a bit lately—"
"Published anything?"
"Well, no—"
"Oh."
...And there's nothing more to talk about. The person, bored, disinterested, or just plain awkward, drops the conversation, and you stand back in your corner in silence, wondering just why you haven't published anything.


In the world's eye, a writer is not successful until having published their work. A newspaper or magazine is a stepping stone, a blog is cute, and a novel is the holy grail — until it becomes old news and the people wonder what comes next.

Lately I've found myself in many similar conversations. People become so dreamy-eyed when you say the word, "writer," but if you mention you've only had a short story published in a college journal or are not working on publishing anything currently, the dreaminess just...sinks. I can't say for sure what exactly goes through their minds, but in my mind, it goes like this:

"Great. There's that look. 'Oh, so much for that.' 'Haha, that's cute.' 'Hm, maybe she's lazy.' 'Oh, so she's not a real writer.'"

Well, I take umbrage.

(Not this Umbridge.)

First, I did not start writing in hopes of publication. My first story of a sheriff and his ten-gallon hat that I wrote in elementary school will never see the light of day. 

Writing for publication stunts your creativity. You're constantly wondering what others will think, how they will react, what they would want, why they might be offended, what they expect...rather than letting your characters take you on a journey for the sheer pleasure in unraveling a story you didn't even know was inside you. 

"Follow the story, do not try to control it. A story is a living work in progress. Get that first line, paragraph, or page down and allow the story to evolve in the writing and lead you wherever it takes you." --Arnold Zable

Second...I am proud of the short story I've had published in a college journal. It was an accomplishment for me, and a big step; I let my parents read it, my friends, my extended family. I don't let people read my work as I'm writing, and to have my writing public terrified for me. But the response I got from my little 'network' was nothing but encouraging. 

Publication is fun, but with my writing, I'm looking for that personal accomplishment. Satisfaction. Courage. I'm looking for joy, inspiration, a desire to please God in all I do. I don't need to have anything published. When I'm working on those first few drafts, I'm writing for me.

In your writing...be stupid. Be funny. Be sad, or wistful, or visionary if that's who you are. Don't just be what society wants you to be. Explore your own creativity and accept it as a part of you. Let your voice shine through your words, and you will write something startling and breathtaking...and then let it sit on your shelf in a pretty binder for a while.

Go on, then. Write.

Book Review: Poetry Collection, Sin Eater

Reading the first book of a published author is exciting. You may love the author and enjoy going back to his or her first works to see how the writing and themes developed, or begin the journey with them as a newly published writer. For me, the latter is the case with this collection of poems.

I had the honor of receiving one of the early drafts of Sin Eater, and I fell in love with it immediately. I'm no expert on poetry, but when I read this collection...I got lost. I was inspired. I filled several pages with my own verse. The book that makes me want to write is the book that earns a special spot on my shelf.

The author isn't fooling around. There are no "airs" in these poems; it's raw honesty, the everyman. He lets you take a glimpse into his life as a human being, including themes on loss, love, and depression, and gets to the point while still conveying that beautiful, calm rhythm only poetry possesses. As someone who deals with depression and anxiety, the poems resonated with me, reminding me I'm not the only one struggling.

You might have noticed the last name of this author is the same as mine. Andrew is my eldest brother, and ever since I was little I can remember him writing stories, making him one of my first influences in the world of writing. Despite the pride I feel over his accomplishment of publishing his first book, I can assure you, there is no bias in my review.  I genuinely love this collection of poetry, and no matter who you are or what you're going through, I can guarantee you'll identify with these poems and enjoy this thought-provoking collection.

This book is available on Amazon for $10.99 Paperback.

5/5 stars
**This book contains adult content and language.
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July Monthly Favorites

Welcome to the monthly favorites of July! These past four weeks flew by. I haven't done a post like this in a while, but certain things stood out to me this month and I couldn't ignore them.

1) My Antonia

Considering my review, it you may be surprised as to why this book is in my favorites.  As I said in that review, while not a particularly enjoyable read for me, I read this book after learning it was one of my grandmother's favorite books. Anything that can bring me a bit closer to who my grandmother was is at the top of my favorites. 

2) Relaxing Music Epic Fantasy playlist on Youtube

There's nothing like music to ease the soul and help you through plotting ideas! This playlist contains soundtracks from Lord of the Rings, Skyrim, Game of Thrones, and more, and I love it. 

3) Stickies

On my mac I use the program Stickies, which is essentially digital sticky notes, for all my new story ideas. Let's just say there's more than one or two filled up with ideas for my WIP...

4) KM Weiland's Post on Story Theme

You need to read this. Everybody needs to read this. 

And while we're on this note, K.M. Weiland's blog Helping Writers Become Authors has been tremendously helpful lately. I can't get enough of her posts on plot and character arcs, etc. Check it out!

5) Goodreads

I joined Goodreads a few months ago, and while I have to say it still confuses me (tech savvy I am not), it's satisfying to check off a book from "currently reading" to "read." I think I've read more this year than last year already.

6) Artwork

I'm making tremendous progress on my fantasy trilogy that I had set aside a while ago. My stories are led by females, and this artwork fits the stories so well there might have been a bit of squealing upon discovery.

7) Peruse Project

(Ragen's latest video)

Book reviewers on youtube...why have I never seen these people before? It's like I've discovered a secret society and my life is now fulfilled. Enough dramatics. My favorite "booktuber" I've found recently is Regan of PeruseProject. She reviews books, does book tags, unboxes monthly subscriptions, and has an energy that can't help but make you smile and want to buy all the books. (Seriously, all the books. I've come so close to spending all of my money in one major book haul, but I don't think they would fit in my house.) Check her out!

What's something you discovered this month? 

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Book Review : My Ántonia

A cousin of mine recommended this book to me because it was my grandmom's favorite. My grandmom passed away when I was 6, and I have hardly any memory of her, only stories from my dad. So anything that can bring me closer to her spirit, I accept readily.

My Ántonia is a beautiful mess of a book. The story is very slow, and from the moment I started till past halfway through the book, I felt like I'd jumped into a story that started somewhere else. None of the characters are particularly likable; in fact, the main character is downright annoying on many occasions, and the ones that have potential don't get much "page time."

These flaws have kept me from truly enjoying this book, and yet still it holds an element of intrigue. I read most of the book in a day, which is curious as it usually takes me months to struggle through to the end of a book I don't like. Willa Cather's writing is introspective with an autobiographical feeling to it. She lived in Nebraska, which is the story's setting, and it obviously had great impact on her life. Her descriptions are fluid, vivid, and read like none other I've read. When she writes I can smell the prairie, feel the cold of silent, grey winter twilight and the power of sun in a wide Nebraskan sky.

If you want to read a book with what I would call exquisite writing, then I would recommend you give this book a chance.

2.5/5 for the story
4/5 for the writing