THE BIBLIOPHILE SWEATER TAG (aka lots of bookish-related pictures and rambles)

Phew, it was an adventure publishing this post. 

I wrote this intro about a bajillion times explaining my troubles, and each time it got long and rambling and... boring. So in summary:

• up until yesterday I planned to write a monthly highlights post
• then I realized that there was still a good chunk of February left
• so then I panicked since I didn't have a different blog post idea
• I started a writing post but then that turned out to be more time consuming than I anticipated
• more panicking because WHAT SHOULD I POST?!
• but the lovely christine saved the day when I remembered that she tagged me ages ago for the "bibliophile sweater tag"
• more panicking as I run around my room photographing all the books
• and, at last, I finished the post
• no more panicking

The end.

Now here's the post. xD

(thanks to mary @ sunshine and scribblings for creating this fantastic, bookish tag!)
(links to the books will open new tabs in Goodreads so you can grow that massive TBR :P)

a book that is the epitome of comfort
[fuzzy sweater]

princess academy // shannon hale // 5/5

So I've been in an awful reading slump in February. I want to read... but I end up setting a book aside after reading just a few pages. Nothing's catching my interest and my brain isn't willing to focus. Ugh. That's the reason I've only read one book this month so far. *grumble grumble*

But... I sat down Thursday night with Princess Academy and read half of the book in one sitting. I would've read it all if sleep hadn't called to me. :P (why must I sleep? WHY CAN'T I READ ALL NIGHT?) That's why this book is like a fuzzy sweater, because even when my brain doesn't like any books it likes this one. <3

book which you devoured every line of
[striped sweater]

steelheart // brandon sanderson // 5/5

THIS WAS SO HARD FOR ME TO PICK. I narrowed down a bunch of books and it was pure agony to choose one. But Steelheart grabbed me from the first sentence and kept the intrigue up throughout the whole story. (if you're wondering, the first sentence is: I've seen Steelheart bleed. I MEAN HOW EPIC IS THAT?!)

[Honorable mentions: These Broken Stars, Midnight at the Electric, Some Kind of Happiness, basically any book I've rated five stars]

book with a weird cover
[ugly christmas sweater]

[ these broken stars // amie kaufman + meagan spooner // 5/5 ]

I've seen some people rave about how gorgeous the cover of These Broken Stars is, but... I respectfully disagree. :P For how haunting and unique the story is, I just don't think that the cover does it justice! It fits the opening chapter, but the rest of the book is about the characters exploring a mysterious planet, not floating in space wearing extravagant dresses. *shrug* 

There are worse covers out there, but this book fits the "weird cover" category very well. To each their own. xD

(my youth group has an ugly Christmas sweater contest each year, but that's not exactly my thing. The one time I participated I just wore a plain sweater and taped on a piece of paper that said, "Ugly sweater." :P)

most expensive book you've bought
[cashmere sweater]

thunderhead // neal shusterman // 3/5

I pre-ordered Thunderhead last year. Usually pre-orders go down in price before they release... but I ended up paying sixteen dollars for this one. Eek.

I am an incredibly cheap person. I will go to great extremes to save money, which means I usually wait to buy books until they're under ten dollars. (obviously this isn't always possible, but I'd say that 95% of the books on my shelf are under that amount) 

There's incredible logic to this method, though. The more money I save buying cheap books, the more money I can spend on other books! And that equals a happy, little bookworm. :P

favorite classic book
[hoodie]

Hah. Classics.

... I don't really like classics. I feel so awful for saying that, but I haven't really found a classic that I've adored. The writing style is impressive, sure, but it's also dense and I don't like how much focus and concentration they take to read. (that makes me sound lazy... but I love to read 'cause it's relaxing!) Maybe there's a classic out there that I haven't read yet and it will be my new favorite thing. I don't know -- any recommendations?

After doing some internet searching, The Great Google deemed that Lord of the Rings is a "minor classic." So I'm not sure if this really even counts as an answer, but I'm going to keep it anyway because I don't have another option. xD

book that you bought on impulse
[cardigan]

a monster calls // patrick ness // 4.5/5

I'm not usually an impulse buyer! I will only buy a book if...

1. I've already read it and loved it enough to where I will reread it in the future

2. It's the sequel

3. It's from an author I loved and know I will enjoy
4. Friends with similar tastes flailed about it

But a couple years ago I was browsing Amazon (a dangerous thing indeed), and A Monster Calls popped up in my recommended items for six dollars. I had seen good reviews, the movie trailer looked amazing, plus the cover was gorgeous, so I bought it on the spot. 

This book ended up being an A++++ impulse buy. There were achingly beautiful illustrations like the one above scattered throughout the pages. It was a short read, but a lovely one. 

I still haven't watched this movie, even though it's been out for... a couple years now? Has anyone seen it? Would you recommend it?

book that is indie published
[homemade knitted sweater]

martin hospitality // abigayle claire // 4/5
dare // tricia mingerink // 4/5

I may be a little biased, since I'm close friends with both of these lovely authors... but how could I not insert their books for the "Indie" category? It's been ridiculously fun for me to see bloggers flailing over their books. I know how much work and passion they've placed into these stories. <3

book that did not meet your expectations
[v-neck sweater]

[ renegades // marissa meyer // 2.5/5 ]

I get so sad whenever I think about this book because I WANTED IT TO BE MY NEW FAVORITE SERIES. *cries* You know how some people judge a book when it has an awful cover? Well the story of this one didn't live up to it's amazingly epic cover. Ugh.

It wasn't all bad -- I enjoyed the creativity and the character Max, but... I feel like so much more could've been done to it. Oh well. I still love Marissa Meyer as an author and am excited for future stories from her. :)

book with a unique format
[argyle sweater]

[ challenger deep // neal shusterman // 5/5 ]

("argyle" is such a weird word. just look at it. I wonder how it would feel to be that word. xD)

I almost picked Illuminae for this answer, but... I felt like that was an obvious choice. The only other book that I owned with a semi-unique format is Challenger Deep! It's a book about a boy with schizophrenia. In the "author's note," Neal explains that his son has struggled with it, who is also the one that created the drawings throughout the pages -- which is super cool.

The chapters aren't like your normal YA chapters. They're no more than a couple hundred words, changing with every scene. It fit the book well and made for a unique experience. It's been awhile since I've read this story and now I want to reread it. <3 <3

a book with well-rounded characters
[polka dot sweater]

[ tales of goldstone wood // anne elisabeth stengl // 5/5 ]
[link is to the first book]

THIS SERIES. Sometimes I feel like I don't flail about this series enough on the blog, because they're just so, so good. I've cried over the characters. I've felt their sorrows and cheered them on during the battles. The characters feel real, and it's easy to feel like you're in the story with them when flipping through the pages.

I admire Anne, the author so much. She is a master storytelling that I aspire to be like one day.

Talking about all these books makes me want to read! o.o I don't have time to read today (or tomorrow, wahh) -- I'll be busy working and frantically preparing chapters for my critique partner... but next week should be more open. Mwahaha, I'll read ALLLL the things.

<3,
katie grace

what are you currently reading?

what is your "comfort/fuzzy sweater" book?

LIBRARY MEMORIES

I went to the library the other day. (No, this isn't an unusual occurrence... but still worth mentioning for the purpose of this post.)

From a very young age I've loved the library -- my mother has raised me quite well in this. She'd take my sister and I almost weekly. The three of us would pile into our car, bags filled with stories  ready to return so we could collect a new stack of adventures.

Once inside, I'd always rush straight to the children's section. Sometimes they'd host fun little shows where a magician or juggler would arrive, but mostly it was silent, and I'd be surrounded by thousands of colorful books.

I was a cover judger. (and still might be... oops.) But it makes sense for my younger self -- if I couldn't page through the book and read snippets of the story... instead it was the art and the pictures and the pretty font that made me check it out. Little me would rush through the rows and wooden compartments, shoving new reads into my kid-sized tote.

Or I'd return to old favorites: The Berestein Bears, any sort of fairytale, Franklin, Curious George... and when I entered the world of chapter books, series like Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, and the Boxcar Children.

The three of us would line up in front of the desk, giggling at how our bags overflowed and the looks of shock others gave us. We stacked the books into piles, watching as the librarian started the long process of checking them out. My sister and I stood on our tiptoes, eyes just above the counter, waiting to see if we went over the book limit.

Ahh, the dreaded book limit. The crusher of a bookworm's soul. The kind of monster that hid in my closet and under my bed as a child. (am I exaggerating slightly? maybe. BUT STILL.)

Our library declared a limit of one hundred books, which may sound like a lot, but not to this family -- to our family. We used to have daily reading sessions where we would spread 15+ picture books across our carpet. My sister and I took turns running to pick out a book before jumping back on the couch to snuggle on either side of our mother. That couch was where my love and passion for stories began, and never went away.

Once the librarian finished scanning the books -- I watched her do this so many times that my six-year-old self could've probably done it myself -- we'd load up our bags again. My mom with her giant, striped red one, and mine with my identical one... just a kid-sized version. Even my younger sister carried her own bag, matching ours but with blue stripes instead of red.

my mother's old library tote. OH THE MEMORIES <3

I'm surprised the seams never broke with how those bags bulged. I remember how hard it was for hobbit-sized Katie to lug her tiny, yet very heavy tote to the librarian's desk. Often Mom would have to come to the rescue. :)

These are my old, nostalgic, library memories. I've moved on from the picture books, and even from the regular library we used to go to. I've outgrown the fear of the book limit. Now the libraries are all automated self-checkouts -- which is bitter-sweet because there's no opportunity to talk to another bookish soul. *sniff*

I do miss it -- I miss the memories of being young, but then again, there are things that my younger self couldn't possibly understand. I didn't understand the excitement of browsing the YA shelves! And Little Katie didn't yet hold the dream of having her own book on those rows of stories. <3

I'll treasure those moments, and it's so cool to see how far back my love for stories has spread.

<3
katie grace

what about you? any library/bookish memories from when you were younger? I'd love to hear them!

(and happy birthday to my very lovely sister who turns fifteen today! <3)

BOOKS ACQUIRED IN 2017

Starting posts are one of the hardest thing for me. Is anyone else this way? I stare at the blank webpage forever, until I start blabbering about how hard it is to start a post, and then lamely transition into my post topic. (Have I been blogging for three years? Yes. But apparently some things never change. *headdesk*)

2017 feels like yesterday (probably because it was only thirteen days ago...), so I'm still in the "let's take a look back at last year!" kind of mood. I've noticed some bloggers do fun little monthly "book hauls," and decided to join in the fun. Except I'm going to showcase all of books I acquired in 2017 (because my monthly hauls would be puny and boring). And I'm going to do it in a vlog format, because it's been awhile since I've done one of those. :D

THE VLOG!

(be right back because I'm cringing at how many times I say "um" and "so" in this video. Further proof that I'm a writer and not an eloquent speaker. *sigh* :P)

If you have absolutely no interest in watching a video, I complied a list of the books below so you don't have to suffer through my rambles. (but it's not that long and there's an awkward blooper reel at the end... (yay?)) Most of the books have a star rating next to them -- others might not because I haven't read them yet, it's been too long to remember how I liked them, or I've read a beta copy but not the published version.

Behold, the list!

1. HOW TO WRITE A NOVEL USING THE SNOWFLAKE METHOD [5/5]

Randy Ingermanson 

2. PEP TALKS FOR WRITERS

various authors

3. MAYDAY [3.5/5]

Jonathon Friesen

4. THE CHOOSING [4/5]

Rachelle Dekker

5. PURPLE MOON

Tessa Emily Hall

6. THE COLOR PROJECT

Sierra Abrams

(two copies of this one since there was a printing error with the arcs!)

7. PRINCESS ACADEMY [5/5]

Shannon Hale

8. MARTIN HOSPITALITY

Abigayle Claire

9. SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS: THE BAD BEGINNING [4/5]

10. THE LOST GIRL OF ASTOR STREET [4/5]

Stephanie Morrill

11. THE BOOKS OF ELSEWHERE: THE SHADOWS [4/5]

Jaqueline West

12. ANGEL EYES [5/5]

Shannon Dittemore

13. BROKEN WINGS [3/5]

Shannon Dittemore

14. UNSANCTIONED EYES [3.5/5]

Brianna Merritt

15. HERE LIES DANIEL TATE [3.5/5]

16. THE EVAPORATION OF SOFI SNOW [3/5]

Mary Weber

17. CRESS [5/5]

Marissa Meyer

18. RENEGADES [2/5]

Marissa Meyer

19. HEARTLESS [5/5]

Marissa Meyer

20. GREGOR AND THE CODE OF CLAW

21. GREGOR AND THE MARKS OF SECRET

Suzanne Collins

22. CHOSEN

23. INFIDEL

24. RENEGADE

Ted Dekker

Now I'm a confused human because in the vlog I said that I acquired twenty-six books, but I only managed to come up with twenty-five in this post. There must be a mystery book on my shelf somewhere. :P

Looking ahead at this year, I only have a couple on my must-buy list, so I wouldn't be surprised if I buy less. (which is a good thing and yet also a sad thing) I'm excited to flail over future stories with you!

<3,
katie grace

what books are you looking forward to buying in 2018?

(i can think of a couple off the top of my head - fawkes, thunderhead, a thousand perfect notes... any others i should be aware of??)

WHY I WOULD BE A HORRIBLE BOOK CHARACTER

Sometimes, when watching movies and reading books, I like to imagine myself as the main character. I wonder how well I'd survive in their position -- seeing that most of them fight dragons and evil overlords -- and after much thought, I've reached the conclusion that I'd be a terrible main character (specifically in fantasy/sci-fi novels). 

Here's why.

Aside from the occasional castle feast and stale chunk of bread in their sack... when do characters eat?! They're off adventuring from dawn to dusk with minimal amounts of food. Sheesh, don't they need sustenance for energy? While they starve, I'm over here relating with Pippin and wondering why there aren't consistent meal (and snack!) breaks.

[I really love Pippin xD]

I've mentioned this on the blog before, but I'm a hardcore night owl. I'll stay up past midnight writing books, reading books, reorganizing my books, gazing fondly upon my books... (ahem) There's something about the late hour that inspires me to get all the things done -- even unfavorable tasks like cleaning my room or doing some school work..

Mornings on the other hand.... HAHAHAHAHAHA. #nope

I don't know about you, but I definitely wouldn't be able to wake up in the forest (assuming that I got any sleep on the rock hard earth), ready to fight monsters and trek across mountains. These characters have endless amounts of energy!

Also how do they wake up without an alarm? The army may ride at dawn, but without prompting I won't show up until noon. (And that's assuming I had enough time to go down to the kitchen and scrounge for some breakfast. Muffins, anyone?)

Petition to start shelving fantasy/sci-fi books in the superhero section because W O W their strength and endurance is basically superhuman. Think of all the running and fighting they constantly do! I'm very impressed (even though it doesn't take much to impress me but shhh).

As these warriors master swordfighting and archery after a few days of practice (probably with a broken limb or two because #conflict), I'd still be gathering enough muscle in my arms to pick up the extremely heavy weapons. Have you ever shot a bow and arrow? It's tough -- I can't imagine doing the action again and again during a battle that lasts for hours. 

Plus these characters need insane emotional strength since they're almost killed every other page. I'm surprised there aren't more mental breakdowns, to be honest. I think I'd need to find a nice tree to sit under so I could have a good cry. xD

Need I say more? 

There's a strange lack of pizza in novels, and that fact alone rules me out from becoming a book character. If the other challenges didn't kill me, the grief of being without pizza surely would. :')

- - -

I'm well aware that this post sounds pathetic. But don't worry! I'm exaggerating only slightly (ha...ha...). I'm going to go take a moment to be thankful that I'm not "the chosen one" because I'm pretty sure nothing good could ever come from that. (except for maybe a new book idea? maybe that would justify everything...)

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed that somewhat ridiculous post! Next week is my three year blog anniversary (!!!!) and though I have nothing planned, it'll still be fun to take a look back. xD

Make your weekend amazing! May the words flow smoothly and lots of writing get done. :)

<3,
katie grace

Unsanctioned Eyes Giveaway!

pictures courtesy of brianna's sister, lillian.

Hello everyone!

Wow, it's been awhile since I've last posted on this blog. It's been a good break, but I'm excited to be back. And I'm starting the return with a giveaway! Those who have been following this blog for awhile know that I don't do many giveaways unless I'm really excited about them.

And I'm really excited about this book. ;) 

I met the author, Brianna Merritt, last year at Realm Makers (during lunch, actually. there's something about food that can form fabulous friendships.)

Now she's publishing books and being all amazing and I can't be happier for her. Before we get to the fun interview and giveaway and about the fantastic book, WATCH THIS BOOK TRAILER. Alea Harper made it (who was also at that food-bonding lunch table at Realm Makers) and if this doesn't make you want to buy the book, I don't know what will.

INTERVIEW

what was the first book that made you cry?

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas. The ending of the book is just... AHHH! So emotional!

what does a typical writing day look like for you?

A typical writing day for me looks like a trip to the kitchen to get a cup of tea, flipping through my social media accounts (including a trip through my Pinterest boards for the WIP I'm writing on that day), and then choosing my music. After that it's just a matter of letting the words flow. :)

if you could spend a day with any of your characters, which one would it be, and what would you do?

Tough question. I think I would choose Garrett. He's a very mysterious, very deep guy and I think it would be fun to get to know him better. We'd probably end up going for a drive to get coffee and then spying on the rest of the Unsanctioned Eyes crew.

tea or coffee? 

TEA ALL THE WAY!

plotting, writing, or editing?

Writing, though all three are enjoyable.

morning or night writer?

Night writer.

introvert or extrovert?

Introvert with the insane super power of coming across extroverted when I need to be. ;)

UNSANCTIONED EYES BLURB

Her death was just the beginning.

Quinn Rogers doesn't exist. There are no records of her name. Her DNA has no match. She is a ghost. A phantom killer no one can trace. The perfect assassin. Or so she thinks.

At the top of her game, Quinn's no longer looking over her shoulder. Her master will protect her, save her, like he always has. But there are forces at work neither of them suspect.

Can Quinn find the truth in a world of lies? Or will her unsanctioned past catch up to her in the end?

find Unsanctioned Eyes on Amazon and Goodreads! 

GIVEAWAY

Brianna is most graciously giving away a copy of Unsanctioned Eyes, along with a matching bookmarks and a notebook! I'll be very happy for whoever wins, but I also might be a bit jealous. :P JUST LOOK AT THOSE PRIZES. *stalks mailbox waiting for my copy to come*

This giveaway is US only (sorry... BUT I've heard rumors from Brianna herself that she plans to do an international one in the future, so make sure to follow her so you don't miss that :D) and ends July 7th. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brianna grew up in a small town in Oklahoma learning the language of the wind and trying to survive the heat of summer. She fell in love with all things literary at an early age and the journey from reader to writer followed. With the help of One Year Adventure Novel, she finished her first novel in 2012 and hasn't been able to stop creating new worlds and adventures since.

As well as writing, Brianna is addicted to tea, chocolate, and music. When she isn't reading or writing, Brianna teaches Ballet and Jazz.

She lives in Virginia with her family and spoiled Dalmatian, Valentine.

Connect with Brianna on her social media!

briannamerrit.com

Writing! Books! Stories! Oh my!

I'm back from my one-week blog break! :P This is my first time doing something writing related since Camp NaNoWriMo ended. Apparently "taking writing slower" ended up translating to, "not writing at all." Oops. xD

More on the break and writing thoughts another week. My mind is a pile of slush, so I'm going to do a simple lil' tag and work on a more brain/mind/thinking post another time. ;)

(I copied and pasted this tag from some blog... but... now I can't remember which one. (proof that my mind is slush xD) Do let me know who I can give proper credit to. *nodnod*)

WHAT DRAWS YOU TO YA?

I think a lot of it is the fact that I'm a young adult myself! (which sounds weird to say, because I usually refer to myself as a teen) I can relate to the struggles and the thoughts and the circumstances the YA characters are in.

... kind of. Actually, I often can't relate a lot of the time, because they're fighting battles and slaying dragons. Or drinking. Or kissing. Heh. Let's just say that I can occasionally relate to their emotions and thought processes. xP

Plus teens are just awesome. It's a confusing time of life, filled with decisions and the unknown, but together we can help each other not feel quite so alone. The journey to other worlds is always nice, and meeting other fellow bookworms. ^.^

DESCRIBE YOUR WRITING PROCESS.

I've explained this in previous posts of mine. Obviously my process changes with each draft, but here's an overall rundown I wrote last year, and this post is about my first time plotting a novel.

There's a short answer for you. :P

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING? WHERE ARE YOU IN YOUR JOURNEY?

Three years and four months! Writing has done wonders, man. <3

Ha. Is there even an easy way to tell where one is in the writing journey? I'm at the stage of, "crafting art for pure enjoyment." Yes, publishing is a goal, but even more important than that is appreciating the process and not losing the joy in the journey.

I'm not even sure if that answers the question, but I plan on expanding this for a post, so I'll just leave it at that. ;)

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO WRITE? COFFEE? MUSIC?

Ahem. Well. Firstly, I need air. I find that attempting to pen the words is rather difficult without oxygen and feeling like my lungs are about to burst.

Secondly, I need a brain. For the first couple hours after I wake up, I lack this thing called "thinking," which is unfortunate. I am required to wait until the afternoon -- preferably late evening -- until my brain cells have developed into their full potential.

I also need something to write on, whether it be paper, a computer, a phone, tablet, my bedroom wall, etc... It isn't writing until you actually write. 

There. My literal needs. :P

IF YOU COULD OFFER ONE PIECE OF ADVICE TO ANOTHER WRITER, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Ahh, this dreaded question. I've been asked this a lot, and I'm never quite sure how to answer, because there's not one piece of advice that I view more helpful than another. Becoming a better writer is gathering all the knowledge and tips you can get. It's being open to feedback, staying determined, motivated, and sitting your butt down in the chair to write the thing.

If I had to choose one... maybe be willing to have someone else look over your work. It's a scary step -- for sure -- but that first time I let another writer critique my first couple pages opened my eyes to major improvements I could make. 

[and now for questions about YA books:]

WHAT BOOK STILL HAS YOU REELING FROM IT'S PLOT TWIST?

(spoiler free, don't worry)

OOH. I had to consult Goodreads to help my snail-like memory, here are three:

Firefight by Brandon Sanderson
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Heartless by Marissa Meyer

The plot twists in these books were the, "oh my goodness my jaw is dropping, my eyes are wide, I'm gasping and have no air to breath, what the heck is even going on," kind of plot twists. If only I could experience them for the first time again... <3 

WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU MOST ANTICIPATING FOR THIS YEAR?

Bless the person for writing these questions -- thank you for saying books. Plural. xD

There are many I'm looking forward to, but if I had to narrow it down to a couple, I'm most looking forward to The Evaporation of Sofi Snow and Renegades. I have both of them preordered and CANNOT WAIT.

[covers lead to Goodreads]

WHAT IS YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE QUOTE FROM YA LIT?

All right. CONFESSION TIME. (here's what I got. #hamiltonreference) I don't track quotes in books. I didn't even realize that it was a thing that readers did until I discovered people writing down quotes on Goodreads.

I mean... it makes sense! Sometimes I do think, "wow, that was a great line." But since I read so quickly, I... just... don't pay as close attention to those individual words as I maybe should. Oops. Don't hate me, fellow bookworms. :P

WHAT BOOK DO YOU MOST HOPE WILL HAVE A MOVIE ADAPTION?

Hmm, another hard question to answer. I know that some bookworms are against having their favorite books being made into movies because of the fear that they'll be terrible.. but I can easily just ignore the movie failures if that's the case. For me, I'd be more afraid watching the battles and the aliens and the murder mysteries on screen. xD

One series I'd really like to see adapted is the Lunar Chronicles. Most would agree on that, yeah? <3

On another bookish related note... I'M SO BEHIND ON MY GOODREADS CHALLENGE. ...Seventeen books behind. But I went to the library a couple days ago, so I'm stocked up and ready to read all the things. (especially since school is almost done!!) So if you're interested in seeing all my bookish updates... let's be friends on Goodreads. *nodnod*

<3,

katie grace

what book(s) are you anticipating this year?