Guest Blogger: My Go-To’s When I Need a Break from Romance

Michele is back today with a fun discussion post!

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The majority of my reading falls under the contemporary romance genre.  But – and I feel safe admitting this here among friends – it can feel formulaic after a while.  So to keep my reading fresh, I am always looking to other genres - some similar, some very different – so when I come back to contemporary romance, it feels fun again.  Here are some of my go-to genres and authors when I need a little break:

Romantasy – for when I want romance, but also fairies, pirates and zombies!

  

                   

Historical mysteries – A whodunnit (but make it historical) is always fun!

 

         

Historical fiction – A trip to the past!

  

                

Thrillers – murder, suspense and intrigue!

 

  

             

What is your go-to genre?  How do you keep your reading fresh?

Guest Blogger: Changing Tastes

Michele is back today with a new discussion post, all about how our reading tastes change and how we may find ourselves moving away from certain authors.

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We all have our favorite and autobuy authors, whether they are ones we’ve followed from the beginning of their careers or those we’ve discovered along the way. However, occasionally it may happen that our tastes change and those authors become ones that we don’t seem to look forward to their new releases. Maybe their stories have become formulaic or they write in a genre that you are growing out of. Whatever the reason, sometimes we decide an author is no longer for us.

In terms of genres, I tend to not read as much YA as I used to – I have a few authors whose YA novels still excite me, but most do not anymore. The kids either act too young or too old – it is a very fine line to make teenagers seem believable. Additionally, there are a few authors lately who I have read many books from, but they seem to have become very formulaic. The books seem to run together, rely on the same tropes and events and are not as distinct to me anymore. These particular authors are very prolific as well, easily putting out at least five books per year, meaning I would have to devote lots of precious reading time to just keep up. Because there are just too many great books in the world, I have decided to take a break from these authors and I probably won’t keep up with their new releases for the foreseeable future.

I probably put too way much thought into this but it bums me out to decide to not follow an author anymore after I have enjoyed their works in the past. I enjoy supporting authors in their endeavors but with limited time and resources, I just can’t read ALL the books. I want to be excited every time I pick up a book, not just feel like I’m checking a box.

Do you have a hard time moving away from authors or are you normal? Have your reading tastes changed over the years?

How My Reading Has Changed Since Becoming A Mom

It's hard to believe, but Henry is turning ONE today!  This past year has been a blur, filled with trying times but so many more joyful moments of smiles, laughs, hugs, and new achievements.  Of course, I knew our life would change once we became parents (and it has, in so many ways), but since this is a book blog, let's talk about how my reading has changed since becoming a mom!  I think most of these are fairly obvious, but that's ok!

1. I'm reading less.  I think this is a given - babies take up a lot of your time, so most of my reading comes after Henry goes to bed.  And since my bedtime has also gotten earlier, this doesn't leave a ton of time each day for reading.  But honestly, I'm reading more than I thought I would!  I expected maybe a book a week, and I'm probably around two a week, most weeks.  
2. I ADORE children's books.  I've always enjoyed buying books for my nieces and nephews, but now that I'm paying even more attention to them, I've found I really love children's books - the charming text and rhymes, the simple but important messages, the cute illustrations.  It is such a joy to read with Henry every day because even if he doesn't totally understand what we're doing all the time, I love it and I hope that's coming across to him.  And as much as I love books, I never really thought I'd be the mom doing all the voices and making all the animal sounds, but here we are!
3. Henry's TBR is just as important as mine.  I'm constantly on the lookout for new books for him, whether they are new or old, and I've created a wishlist for him on our library's website.  I choose a theme or two each month for our reading, and at the beginning of the month I peruse our wishlist, check out several books from the library, and pick a few from his shelf.  He loves touch-and-feel and lift-a-flap books, so I always try to make sure those are mixed in.  We reread each book many times during the month, but I also want to keep things new and exciting for him.
4. My identity as a reader is expanding.  At the daycare, I'm known as Henry's mom, but also the "reading mom," and Henry is the infant room's "little bookworm."  Whenever something about books or literacy comes up at school, they often show a picture of him, with his little books, and I love that!  He proves that you're never too young to enjoy books.  The director and I chat about books quite often, sending each other recommendations for Henry and the other kids.  Although I would never want to force a hobby on my child, I know how important it is to expose him to all types of books, and so my identity as a reader has expanded from a solo activity to also being somewhat of an advocate for children's literacy.
5. I'm planning for the future.  My hope is that as Henry gets older, we will continue to enjoy reading together (and maybe that will include less chewing on books).  Several of the books on his TBR are meant for older children, so that's a start!  My sister is inspiring me in this area, too - her daughter Luna is 6 and loves to read, and Michele is reading and compiling a library of books for Luna to read when she's older, mostly YA books she thinks she'll enjoy.

Fellow parents - how have your kids impacted your reading?  Or if you don't have kids, what big events in your life have changed your reading habits?

 

2022 Reading & Blogging Goals: Mid-Year Check-In

 

It's hard to believe that 2022 is already half over, but it's a great time to check in on the reading and blogging goals I set at the beginning of the year.

1. Read Little Women.  I did it!  It took me a month and a half to read it, but I finally read Little Women!
   
2. Read 52 books.  At the time I'm writing this post, I've read 50 books, so I'm actually almost done with this goal.  I figured I would maybe get to a book a week, so I'm pleasantly surprised at how much I've been able to read.
   
3. Don't be so rigid about a blogging schedule.  I think I've been pretty good with this.  I've mainly been able to stick to my normal schedule, but I'm not pushing myself to fill in empty days like I used to.  I also haven't always been posting reviews every week and sometimes my "Friday reviews" don't show up until Monday, but that's ok!  I don't necessarily want to review every book I read on the blog, so because I'm reading less, there are fewer reviews.
   
4. Continue growing my Instagram account.  I've gotten a lot of new followers, but my engagement doesn't seem to be growing, and I blame the algorithm, LOL!  I don't do reels, so I feel like the platform doesn't "promote" my posts very well to my followers.  But, I still have fun taking and sharing photos, so I'll continue with it for now.
   
5. Reread from my own collection with the intention of pruning my shelves.  So far I've attempted 6 rereads - of those, I DNFed two of them and I will be donating five.
   
6. Keep track of how much I'm spending on books.  I've adding a line item to my budget spreadsheet for this, so I've been tracking my book spending, although I'm not going to say how much I've spent!  I'm counting books I buy for Henry, too, and admittedly I go a little overboard when it comes to him.  I need to rein it in until his birthday/Christmas.

 How are you doing on your goals?

Discussion: A Good Problem To Have

 

For a few months last year, I was in a bit of a reading slump.  While I was still reading a good amount of books each month, I wasn't really that excited about it and it was taking me longer than normal to get through a story.  I was feeling tired and sick a lot, so that didn't help, either!  Cut to the end of the year, and now I'm home all day, every day, on maternity leave.  All of a sudden, I want to read EVERYTHING.  Every single book on my TBR sounds appealing to me (as it should, I suppose!), and I'm making lists in my head of what I want to read next... and after that... and after that.. and ooh wait, that sounds good, too!

So, I'm out of my reading slump.  I mean, that's good, right?  So what's the problem?  Time!  Time is the problem!  I don't have enough of it!  Between getting back to work, taking care of Henry, and keeping the house clean, I'm lucky if I pick up my book by 9:30pm and get in a few chapters before my eyes start to close.  There always seems to be something else that needs to be done, and as much as I love it, reading is unfortunately something that has to fall a little lower on the priority scale right now.  I know, I know, I sound a *little* whiney - believe me, I realize how lucky I am to have a full-time job, a nice house, a husband who does all the cooking, and the most adorable baby on the planet.  And I know my situation is not unique - we all have stuff going on!  But, I just want a little time to do what I love, too, something that has defined and fulfilled my life for so long!

Yes, I'm reading less than I have in previous years, and honestly, I'm reading more than I thought I would with a newborn.  But, choosing what to read next is becoming a challenge.  Like I said before, everything on my TBR sounds *so good*, so I'm still getting lots of books from the library and buying physical books and ebooks, but because I'm reading so slowly, it's all just piling up (I've had some library books for a couple months now - oops!).  I'm whatever the opposite of a mood reader is right now, and if books were food, I'd say that my eyes are bigger than my stomach.  

I don't think I'm that different from most book lovers - I think many would say that there just aren't enough hours in the day for all the reading we want to do.  So I guess my problem is - when you're short on time but have a ton of books that you just can't wait to read, how do you prioritize them?  I'm juggling so many different types of books:

• Unread physical books from my own shelves
• Ebooks languishing on my Kindle
• Nonfiction books
• Random review requests
• Rereads
• Making use of my Kindle Unlimited subscription before I have to choose to renew or cancel it in a couple months

Right now my solution to this problem is to just kind of rotate between all of these, but I can't help but wonder if there's a better way!

Tell me - how do you choose what to read next when your TBR seems endless?  Do you tend to prioritize certain books?  Have you figured out a way to add a 25th hour to your day so that you have more time to read?  If you only have time for one book a week, how do you choose that book?

2022 Reading and Blogging Goals

 

Today I'm setting my blogging and reading goals for 2022!  I did pretty well on my 2021 goals, so I'm hoping I can do just as well on these!

 

1. Read Little Women.  This classic has been on my shelf for over two years now, so it's time I finally get to it!
   
2. Read 52 books.  I don't know how my reading is going to go this year, especially once I go back to work, so my goal for now is to aim for a book a week.  Maybe some fellow parents can give me some insight or advice?
   
3. Don't be so rigid about a blogging schedule.  This goal is rather amorphous, but for the past couple years or so, I've kept to a pretty regular blogging schedule.  I don't want to put pressure on myself to stick to that schedule this year.  I'm sure I will have less time for blogging in general, and less reading may mean fewer reviews.  If I miss a week here or there, I want to be okay with that.
   
4. Continue growing my Instagram account.  This is a carryover from last year.  I'm still loving posting pictures on Instagram and I want to continue my growth on that platform.
   
5. Reread from my own collection with the intention of pruning my shelves.  My bookshelves are almost out of room at this point, and my goal was always to keep only those books that I've loved and would read again.  So, this year I want to reread from my shelves to see if there are any books that I'm not crazy about anymore and donate them.
   
6. Keep track of how much I'm spending on books.  I don't think I spend an exorbitant amount of money on books, but knowing we'll have a lot of extra expenses this year makes me want to be more conscious of where I'm spending my money earmarked for "fun."

 

What are your bookish goals for 2022?

 

Guest Blogger: Cover Love

 

Michele is back with another guest post, and today she's talking cover love!  As a self-proclaimed cover snob, I'm definitely all about this topic!

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Cover trends in the publishing industry are constantly changing and evolving. So too do our own personal tastes in book covers. Today I thought I would share some covers that I am really loving lately.

Photographic

I used to definitely gravitate more towards the illustrated character covers for romance novels. But now, I really love when real models are used. Melanie Harlow’s Cloverleigh Farms all have really dreamy and beautiful covers. The covers for Karla Sorensen’s Ward Sisters series are also really fantastic. 

 

 

Fun fact – the cover models on Kristen Granata’s Someone You Love and Kandi Steiner’s Close Quarters and Say Yes are all couples in real life!

 

Illustrated – with a Twist

There are authors who design their own book covers, including Penny Reid and Staci Hart. Staci Hart’s covers are very fun and quirky, but Penny Reid put a crafty twist on hers. Her Winston Brothers series includes covers with cross-stitched bearded guys and the Solving for Pie series features string art.

 

The Stay a Spell series from Juliette Cross caught my eye immediately with their slightly gothic but still colorful, fully illustrated look.  Before it was relaunched as the Clifton Forge series with new covers, Devney Perry’s Tin Gypsy series all had striking covers that you would not normally associate with the romance genre.

 

 

What types of covers are you drawn to? Do you have any favorite covers?

 

* This post contains affiliate links; I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

Guest Blogger: Backlist Musings

Michele is back today with another discussion guest post!  Today, Michele is talking about backlists - when you've enjoyed a book by a new-to-you author, do you immediately check out their backlist?

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To Backlist or Not to Backlist?

 

When I first started getting into reading again a few years ago, it was very typical for me to read a new-to-me author, enjoy the book, and then immediately seek out their entire backlist.  Nowadays, having read so many different authors and with new, shiny books coming out all of the time, I really have to weigh the deep dive into any author’s backlist.

 

For newer authors, the backlist might only be a few books and be relatively easy to find at the library, etc.  However, there are those authors that either have a very long career or are very prolific at releasing books and their backlist can get overwhelming very quickly.  Authors also tend to get better at their craft over time and some of those early books might not up to the quality level of some of their new releases.  There are some authors I really enjoy that if I had only read their first couple books, I may not have continued with them.

 

Due to constraints on my time and the sheer amount of amazing books out in the world, I tend to now only go back a year or two in a new-to-me author’s backlist.  Maybe there is a recent series they completed or a few standalones, but they still let me enjoy other works by the author but not feel overwhelmed or compelled to read everything they’ve ever written.   If I’m impressed by those, I may seek out older titles, but only if they really catch my interest.

 

Do you deep dive into author’s backlists? Are there any authors that you have read pretty much everything they’ve ever written?

Guest Blogger: Musings on Author Worlds

My sister Michele is back again with another guest post!  This time she's talking about author worlds.  I'll be honest, this is something I didn't even know existed until she introduced me to them!  But, it's such a cool concept and I love the idea of exploring an already-established bookish world in more depth.

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A newer trend in publishing is the concept of author “worlds,” series of books connected to an author’s original work, written by a separate group of authors. Three main worlds that I follow are:

1. Penny Reid’s Smartypants Romance Universe. These series are based off of a number of Penny Reid’s works, including the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City. Readers can spend time in the Green Valley Library, the Donner Bakery and the Cipher offices, among many others.

2. Sarina Bowen’s World of True North. These books are offshoots of Sarina Bowen’s True North series and we get to learn more about the characters at the local university, coffee shop, taproom and bookstore/wine bar.

3. Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward’s Cocky Hero Club. All of the books in this world are related to the duo’s Cocky Bastard series.

Author worlds are great for a lot of reasons. Have you ever gotten to the end of a series and lamented the fact that you don’t get to hang out with those characters anymore? In these worlds, those original characters often show up – they aren’t main characters but we do often get interaction with them! Because the books in these series are written by different authors, readers are exposed to new writers and can find some amazing new people to follow. I’ve discovered so many new-to-me authors through these worlds and their work can be really great.

What do you think about author worlds? Do you follow any?

Guest Blogger: Release Day Musings

 

My sister Michele is back today with another discussion guest post!  (Honestly, we talk so much about books, this might have to become a regular feature!)  Today, Michele is talking about authors' feelings on publication day, specifically how they might feel about being asked about their next book when their current story is just making its way into the world!  It's exciting to think about what might come next, but do you think it bums authors out a little if they just want to talk about this current book that they've spent so much time and energy on?

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One of the bright spots over the past year has been authors doing more book release events via avenues such as Zoom. No longer do you need to live close to your favorite author to attend their in-person release party. Authors are teaming up with libraries and book sellers across the country to celebrate their newest releases and readers have been able to take part in these events from the comfort of our own homes.  

 

The format of these events is usually similar – a greeting from the host, a discussion between our author and a moderator (usually another author who writes in a similar genre or is actually friends with the guest of honor) and a session dedicated to questions from the fans. Inevitably, someone wants to know what the author is working on next and I feel like this can create two different scenarios for the author.

 

On one hand, their career is based on fans continuing to buy their books. That kind of enthusiasm lets them know people are invested in what they do and want to continue to support them. On the other hand, it can create a ton of pressure. As someone who works in a decidedly uncreative field, it amazes me how authors can continuously generate new stories, worlds, and characters. Releasing one book into the world and celebrating that achievement while also being questioned on what is next seems so overwhelming to me. Perhaps authors want to allow their current book to live, breathe and find its success before the readers rush to worry what we will consume next.

Have you attended any author events via Zoom, Facebook or Instagram? If you could ask a question to your favorite author during an event like that, what would it be?

Mid-Year Check-In: 2021 Resolutions

How is this year already more than half over??  Seriously, though, it's a good time to check in on the bookish and blogging resolutions I made at the beginning of the year!

1. Bring back my Try It series.  I actually did one of these back in February, where I tried out the genre Nordic Noir (and really enjoyed it!).  I have at least one more on my list that I want to try this year, too.
   
2. Read one book from my shelf of unread physical books per month.  Pass so far!  There was even a month where I read three books from that shelf.  Unfortunately, I keep borrowing books from my sister, so it looks like I'm not making a lot of progress!
   
3. Keep growing my Instagram account.  My Instagram account has grown at least 20% since the beginning of the year!  I'm enjoying participating in photo challenges and sharing what I'm reading on a more current basis than my monthly recaps here allow.
   
4. Host a giveaway. Pass!  I hosted a giveaway for my 5th blogoversary in April.  Thank you to everyone who participated!
   
5. Attend at least 2 bookish events.  I attended a virtual book event hosted by the Morristown Festival of Books with VE Schwab back in February, which was really fun, but I've been slacking ever since.  I feel like I don't keep up enough with finding virtual events.  I'm really hoping, though, to attend an in-person event later this year.
   
6. Do more to promote books/authors I love.  This was kind of an amorphous goal, but basically what it boiled down to was that I wanted to be more involved in the bookish community.  I've participated in a couple blog tours this year, and I've also signed up to be a part of the blogging communities for Smartypants Romance and author Staci Hart.  Staci Hart is an author I love, so it's been fun helping promote her 2021 releases.  My sister introduced me to Smartypants Romance and through them I've found some amazing new authors and books.

I'm actually pretty surprised at how well I've done at my resolutions so far!  My reading really slowed down for a couple months, but I feel like I'm getting back into the groove and I'm excited to see what the rest of the year brings!

How are you doing on your reading/blogging goals?

 

Guest Blogger: Musings on Preorders

 

Today I'm welcoming to the blog my sister, Michele!  Many of our conversations revolve around books and we recently had a discussion about preorders - personally, I'm sometimes intimidated by them because if a book was so highly anticipated for me that I took the time to preorder it, I have really high expectations that I'm worried won't be met, so I usually end up putting them off.  Keep reading for Michele's thoughts!

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As I have gotten back into reading the last few years and started following many authors on social media, I have learned how important preorders are to those authors. When a reader preorders an author’s next release, it helps them earn spots on bestseller lists, allows their publisher to extrapolate early demand, and assists book stores in properly stocking their shelves. Showing early excitement and enthusiasm is one of the best things we can do for the authors we enjoy.

 

I have a number of auto-buy authors and I always eagerly anticipate their latest release. Sometimes I will even preorder it a number of months in advance. However, I typically don’t actually end up reading it anywhere near release day. Even though it’s something I have been looking forward to, I feel like putting off reading it right away helps me savor it just a little bit more.

I recently noticed that my book hauls for 2021 have contained a number of preordered books and I decided to designate the month of June to finally catch up on those titles. I am glad I did because there were so many good reads!

We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This – Rachel Lynn Solomon

The Soulmate Equation – Christina Lauren

The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba – Chanel Cleeton

Take Me Home Tonight – Morgan Matson

To Love and To Loathe – Martha Waters

Life’s Too Short – Abby Jimenez

Do you dive into your preorders as soon as they release? What authors do you preorder books from?

 

* This post contains affiliate links; I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

5 Ways The Pandemic Changed My Reading Habits

 

 

Who could have predicted in January that by March, many of us would be in lockdown and quarantine, our lives completely changed by a worldwide health crisis?  The COVID-19 pandemic has affected our social lives, jobs, education - you name it!  Things are opening up in my area, but the past almost 7 months of staying at home have had an impact on what I read and how I read.

1. I'm reading more books than before.  The day before the stay-at-home order came down in my state, I left my job to start a new one.  It had been in the works for weeks, and I never anticipated that I wouldn't be able to start my new position.  But, that's what happened - it was a month before I could actually start, so I had a ton of free time.  I'm working fewer hours than I was at my last job, too, so even after I started, I still had a lot of free time, and since everything was closed, it was the perfect excuse to stay home and read.  It seems like I'm finishing a book every couple days, or even less sometimes!
2. I'm reading more romance and rom-coms.  I used to be an occasional romance reader, but since the pandemic started, I'm finding myself drawn mostly to romances and rom-coms, over everything else.  They're the perfect escape - light and fluffy, with a guaranteed happily ever after.
3. I'm listening to fewer audiobooks.  Audiobooks were the key to my work commute, so when that ended, my ability to get through audiobooks went down drastically.  I still listen to them on walks or while I'm doing chores, but it's taking me way longer to listen to each one.
4. I'm reading more ebooks.  It was so fortuitous that my sister got me a Kindle this past Christmas, because it has been a lifesaver!  My library was closed for months, meaning my main source of physical books was no longer available.  But, I still had access to a huge collection of ebooks, and I've really taken advantage of it.
5. I feel like I'm retaining less.  Sometimes I almost feel like I'm reading too much, too quickly, and I'm not really retaining much about the books I'm reading (it means my reviews have gotten a lot shorter, too; I've been relying on mini-reviews and quick reviews).  I don't know the exact cause of it; maybe it's due to anxiety or distractions.  But, I still find the act of reading very comforting, so I'm not that worried about it.
   

 

Have your reading habits changed during the pandemic?

Anticipated Releases: How Often Do You Read Them?

A little over a year ago, Heidi at Rainy Day Ramblings posted an interesting topic during her "Tell Me Something Tuesday" - do you participate in Waiting on Wednesday, and do you read the books you highlight?  Waiting on Wednesday was a weekly feature hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine in which bloggers highlight an upcoming release they're eagerly anticipating.  Since that blog hasn't been active in awhile, Tressa at Wishful Endings started hosting Can't-Wait Wednesday, with the same premise.

WoW/CWW is a meme I've been participating almost every week since I started blogging.  It's fun to spotlight upcoming releases, fangirl about them a bit, and even introduce other readers to books they may not have been aware of.  So, I thought it would be fun to look back through my archives and figure out how many of those books I've featured I've actually read - and if not, why not.

I looked at all my CWW posts for 2019, assuming that at this point in 2020, they've all been released:

Total posts: 44

• I've read 19 of the books I featured (43%)
• I DNFed 5 of them (11%)
• 20 are unread (~45%)
• Of those 20, 13 are still on my TBR (29.5%) and 7 have been deleted

So what do these numbers tell me?  Of the many, many books that are released each year, and of the multitudes that I add to my TBR, 44 stood out in some way that made me want to feature them specifically.  I read (or attempted to read) just over half of those.  Although I deleted some, I have almost 30% of them still on my TBR.  As someone who tends to read more backlist books than new releases, that's not too bad!

When I look at the books I did read, one general pattern stands out - I tend to read anticipated releases by authors I've read and enjoyed before (in this case, Sophie Kinsella, Fiona Davis, Beatriz Williams, John Marrs, Jenn Bennett, Blake Crouch, etc.).   I know I can rely on them to deliver amazing stories.

And what about the ones I haven't read yet?  There are so many reasons why I might not have picked up an anticipated release: maybe I'm no longer interested in it; maybe the release date was so far away that I've forgotten about it; maybe it's moved down my TBR because I've added other books to the top; maybe I haven't been able to get a copy from my library yet.  And, there just aren't enough hours in the day to read every book I want to read!

So, how about you?  Do you find yourself always reading those books you're really anticipating?  Or does it depend?

 

15 Ways To Support Your Book-Loving Partner (or Friend, or Family Member...)

Three years ago, in honor of our wedding anniversary, I wrote a little post about what happens when a book lover marries a non-reader.  Since Tom and I just celebrated another year of marriage, I was inspired by him to write a post about all the ways someone can support their bookish partner and their reading habits, because he has always been so encouraging towards me and my books!  Although I had my husband in mind when I put together this list, I don't see why many of these couldn't apply to other relationships in your life, as well!  So, without further ado, here are 15 ways to support the bookworms in your life:

1. Buy them books
2. Or, if you don't know what book to buy them, give them a gift card so they can pick out their own!
3. Don't get annoyed if they pick up a book while you're watching a TV show or movie together - multitasking!
4. Understand that a trip to the library will likely be included in many weekend errand runs...
5. And have a fully charged phone to play on while your partner inevitably disappears in the library to browse the shelves, even though they were just running in to pick up some holds
6. At least pretend that the location of a library nearby is a legitimate concern when choosing a house to buy
7. Help create space in your home for your bookworm to display their treasured tomes...
8. And stay calm when said bookworm quickly overfills that space and books start ending up in every room of your house
9. Really listen when they want to tell you about their current read
10. Comfort them when a book makes them cry or angry
11. Take them to browse a bookstore
12. Help them choose what to read next
13. If you need gift ideas, a book-loving individual can never have too many bookmarks/bookish mugs/tote bags/other book-related merch
14. Understand that if you're watching a book-to-movie or TV adaptation together, they will point out every little thing that's been changed and that most likely, "the book was better"
15. Cultivate your own hobbies for those times your bookworm is lost for hours in a story

Photo by The Markows Photography

What are some other ways to support book lovers?  What's the nicest thing someone has done for you as a bookworm?

Embracing Technology: The Serial Reader App

Ever since I started using the Libby app to download e-books from my library (and also to listen to audiobooks!), I've been on the lookout for other apps to enhance my reading experience.  I'd heard about the Serial Reader app awhile ago and thought that would be a good place to start!

The Serial Reader app sends you a snippet of a classic novel, anywhere from 7 to 20 minutes' worth of reading, at the same time each day, and before long, you've read an entire book.  Here's what I love about the app:

1. It's not a huge time commitment.  Many days I can fit the serial in before I even leave the house.
2. I don't have to worry about due dates.  Yes, I could borrow these books from the library, but then there's always the issue of finishing it before I have to return it.
3. It's fun to track your progress and meet your daily goals.
4. It's a unique way of finally getting to those books I want to read but definitely don't make time for - classics.
5. It has a pretty extensive collection of books to choose from.
6. It's free (although you can pay a fee to upgrade and get some additional perks, like the ability to read ahead).

Here are some things I'm not so crazy about, though:

1. It only has classics, so if you're not into that, this app isn't for you.
2.  I wish the snippets were a little more uniform in length.  For the first book I read on the app, at least, the lengths seemed to vary widely, some days 7 minutes, other days 20.  That's kind of a big difference.

Overall, if you're someone who wants to wade into the classics or you're looking for a way to incorporate more (or some, or any!) reading into your busy days, I would recommend this app!

Have you tried the Serial Reader app?

 

Is There Such A Thing As Too Many Books?

How many books do you read at one time?  That's a question running through my mind because I think I'm going a little overboard lately!  At the time I'm writing this, I have FIVE books going:

1. A Clash of Kings for the #IronThroneReadalong
2. Another one at home that I alternate with #1
3. An audiobook in the car
4. A book I keep in my desk at work and read during my lunchbreak
5. A book on the Serial Reader app

Reading multiple books at a time is a relatively new thing for me.  It never really occurred to me that I could or should have a couple books going at once.  A couple years ago I started listening to audiobooks in the car during my work commute, and that was really the first time I started juggling more than one book.

Reading two books at a time seems reasonable, but how did I get up to five?  It's all about wanting to maximize my reading time.  The audiobook gives me an extra hour (at least) of reading a day, and it's a great multi-tasking tool for driving.  I now have an hour-long lunch break at work, and it's nice if I need to run an errand, but most days, I use that time to read and can get through an extra book per week.  For the #IronThroneReadalong, we're getting through about 150 pages a week, so I still have plenty of other reading time at home.  And the Serial Reader app (which I'll be talking about in an upcoming post) is only 15-20 minutes a day.

My sister thinks I'm kind of crazy to read so many books at the same time.  Isn't it hard to keep them all straight?  It can be, but I've tried to diversify my reads so that each book is very distinct and there's less chance of getting them confused: adult high fantasy with Game of Thrones, a nonfiction at home, YA during lunch, women's fiction in the car, a classic on Serial Reader.  It doesn't always work out this neatly, but it's nice when it does!

How many books do you read at one time?  How many is too many?  What are your best tips for maximizing your reading time?

 

Embracing Technology: The Libby App

Confession: I'm not a tech fiend.  I can barely operate our DVD player.  I got my first smartphone less than a year ago.  And I've said multiple times here on the blog that I don't do ebooks (although I did read my first one earlier this year).  However, sometimes it's good to get outside your comfort zone, and recently I did just that!

To set the stage: I started a new job earlier this year and now have a proper hour-long lunch break.  I've been bringing the unread physical books from my shelves to read during lunch (goals!).  I was driving to work one day a couple weeks ago when it hit me - I forgot to put a new book in my bag after I finished one the day before!  I literally groaned - what would I do for a whole HOUR?  Was there a bookstore or county library branch nearby that I could hit up? Then, I remembered something I had seen a few times on the library's website - they utilize the Libby app to allow patrons to download ebooks and audiobooks.  I had never thought about using it before, but now, I was kind of desperate.  I worried, though, that it would be too tech-y and difficult for me to figure out, and I would give up.

Guys, I was wrong.  It.  Was.  So.  Easy.

Within two minutes, I had downloaded the app, chosen my library, entered my library card number, and was searching for available books!  I chose Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny, the latest installment in the Inspector Gamache series that I'd been wanting to read for awhile.  I downloaded it and fairly quickly learned how to open, navigate, and bookmark.

The purpose of this post isn't to introduce you to the Libby app or be a how-to guide - it's been around for awhile and I'm sure a lot of you are already using it!  Really, it's more of a personal post.  Too often I'm afraid to try new things, because of either frustration (that it will be too hard for me to figure out) or embarrassment (that I won't get it right away).  I avoided apps like Libby even though it could be really helpful.  I carry a book most places I go, but they get heavy and clunky.  This app ensures that I have a book at all times, because my phone is basically glued to my hand these days. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm glad I tried something new and pushed myself outside of my paper book comfort zone!  I learned that sometimes things are not as difficult as you fear they will be.

Do you use the Libby app?  What are some bookish things you've tried that you once thought you never would?

 

Six Things That Make Me Want to Read a Blog

Before I started my own blog, I was an avid reader of book blogs.  There were certain things then that drew me to particular blogs, and now that I've started my own, some things really stand out to me that make me want to keep reading the many blogs I follow, as well as incorporate into my own!

1. A similar taste in books.  I like following bloggers who read the same books I do.  They're so helpful in finding even more books to read, and I can rely on them for reviews that help me decide whether to pick up a certain book or not.
2. A dissimilar taste in books.  I know, this totally contradicts the first one!  There are so many bloggers out there and we definitely do not all read the same books - but this is good!  Bloggers who read stuff outside my comfort zone have really opened my eyes to all the possibilities out there.  I find out about books I probably never would have otherwise heard about, and it really broadens my reading horizons.
3. A search button.  Sometimes I know I remember reading about something on a blog, but I can't remember exactly where.  A search button makes it so easy to find things instead of searching through all the posts.
4. A way to easily add a book to my TBR.  If I see a book on a blog that I want to add to my TBR, it makes my life so much easier if there's an "add to Goodreads" or "add to Amazon" button or even just a link in the title.  I can open up new tabs and search for it myself, but let's face it, I'm lazy.
5. Good discussions.  I think we can all agree that discussions are some of the most fun and thought-provoking posts out there.  I love reading the creative things other bloggers are coming up with and the way they can bring the community together.
6. Getting personal.  If a blogger only wants to talk about books, that's totally cool.  Everyone has their own comfort level with what they want to share.  However, I also enjoy getting to know the people behind my favorite blogs.  Even if it's just little things like what you did over the weekend, it can make me feel even more of a connection with a blogger.

What are some things that you like to see in a blog?

 

Bookworm Problems: The Library Edition

I love my local library - it has a fabulous collection, is close to my house, and the employees are great.  But every once in awhile, some bookworm problems arise - here's a countdown of my five biggest bookworm problems associated with the library.

5.  They don't have a book I want.  Now, this rarely happens.  My library is part of a county system, so usually one of the libraries will have what I'm looking for.  But sometimes, they don't.  Thankfully, I can make purchase or inter-library loan requests.  However, even this isn't guaranteed.  I requested a book recently without realizing it hadn't come out in the United States yet.  The library was unable to get a copy of it, and they weren't sure when it would be released here (my sister was able to get a Kindle version of the book, though!).

4.  A book is missing from the shelf.  Most of the time when I go to the library, I'm picking up holds that have come in, but sometimes I'll go in to peruse the shelves or grab something particular.  I try to make sure before I go that it's actually available, but when I get there, it's gone!  Either it's been shelved incorrectly or someone else got to it before I did.

3.  The teen room is only for teens.  At my library, the YA section is housed in its own special room, with a big sign that says, "TEENS ONLY."  While I love the idea of young adults having their own space, can I really not go in there?  I just want to get one thing off the shelves!

2.  I waited too long to put myself on a wait list.  Sometimes there are just too many books for me to remember, and I don't always get myself on the wait list for a popular book early enough.  When I finally get around to it, sure enough, I'm 109th on the list.  See you in six months?

And my #1 bookworm problem at the library is...

1.  All my holds come in at the same time.  It's not unusual for me to have five or ten books on hold at a time, at various stages of the wait list.  Usually I do a pretty good job of managing them so I get a couple at a time, but every once in awhile, the stars will align (or misalign) and suddenly eight books are waiting to be picked up!

So, fellow bookworms, what are some issues you've run into at the library?