Let's Talk Historical Fiction

Ok! So, normally I don’t read historical fiction. Normally I don’t post rambly posts. But, today, I wanted to talk about historical fiction, which is a genre I honestly don’t read much of. However, I’ve been reading a very long YA historical fiction novel lately, and I just have to talk about it and how it’s been making me think about YA historical fiction in general. The book is Brazen by Katherine Longshore, which came out earlier this year and was one that tons of book bloggers were excited to talk about. And I can honestly see why. I’m not going to be doing a review of it right now, but reading Brazen has made me want to talk more about YA historical fiction, what I like about the genre, and more!

So, to begin let’s talk about something specific to Brazen but that indicates something very important to how I read historical fiction, and that is- I must have an interest in the historical time period the book is set in. Brazen, if you are unfamiliar with this book, is set in Tudor England. This is an era that always fascinated me. It was a time of turbulent change, with the glitz and glamour of the old court serving as a background for huge political upheaval and, of course, Henry VIII’s six marriages. I always thought that this was a time of interest to me. Sometimes, I may pick up a novel that I’m not very familiar with the setting of, but that is alright because it takes me to my next point.

Sometimes (and this is not always 100% true, but it’s something I’ve noticed recently) I enjoy reading books about times or people I’m not very familiar with, because it includes the element of surprise. Yes, I know historical fiction is just that- fiction- but I like knowing some aspects of a book but learning more about characters or a time period I wasn’t as familiar with and then researching it more after I read. (Yes, I have done that with one or two books before.) With Brazen, the story revolves around Henry Fitzroy and Mary Howard. I know of Henry Fitzroy but I don’t know anything beyond the basic of he was Henry VIII’s son. So, not knowing anything of what’s happening with those two characters but being familiar with the Tudor court and the other main characters has been interesting. (Oh, and I’ve loved how this book has talked more about how the day to day court life was, but I’ll save all of this for my review of the book later.)

So, in general, I am definitely wanting to read more historical fiction, and talk about what works for me in book genres and what doesn’t. If you have any historical fiction recommendations for me, let me know in the comments, or if you have another genre you want me to share my thoughts on in a more discussion post, comment! Before I go, though, I’ll leave you with some historical fiction novels I’ve read and enjoyed!

My List of Top Historical Fiction and SciFi from the beginning of the year

The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner

Sekret by Lindsay Smith

My Review of Sekret

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

From the paper world,
V

'Clearing Out My Books' and Other Thoughts on Donating Books

Recently, I became annoyed with my bookshelf. Not neccessarily because it's way overcrowded (although that's definitely the case), but because there were books on there that I either disliked and never want to read again, or felt completely indifferent about and won't pick up, or that I've yet to read and have below zero interest in. So, it becomes time to clear out the shelves. This is something I haven't done in a very long while- maybe that's why the build up is getting so extreme. However, doing this is something that can allow me to organize my shelves (seriously some are jumbled piles and some are double stacked with books it's a mess) and make room for other books.

I just want to say that, despite these not being my favorites, these are books that interested me. As time goes on, and I either read them or don't and lose interest, I've changed as a reader. So, hopefully, these books will be appreciated and beloved by someone else, and I'm happy to provide that opportunity for them. Goodbye, dear books, and may your adventures dazzle another.

Here are the books I got rid of, organized by read and unread.

Read -

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, 3 Stars

Wither by Lauren DeStefano, 3.5 Stars

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson, 3 Stars

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult & Samantha Van Leer, 3 Stars

A Royal Match by Tyne O'Connell

Started  but Didn't Finish -

Asylum by Madeline Roux

Unread -

Control by Lydia Kang

In the After by Demetria Lunetta

So, there's the beginning of my wanting to go through my TBR, clean it out, and pass some books along to other people who might enjoy them more than I did. Currently, I still have a few of these lying around but want to pass along to others who might be interested, since a few of my book loving friends have yet to read one or two that I think they could enjoy.

How do you clean out your reading piles? Is there a certain criteria for managing your books and what stays and what gets passed along? Let me know if you have any suggestions for going through my books!

From the paper world,
V

A Bit of a Life Update

Hello, friends! I know it's a bit of a break from the usual bookish talk, but today I just wanted to share a little bit with you all about me, and maybe why I've seemed a little more absent lately.

I just recently moved, and I'm in the midst of settling in and adapting. This was something I knew would put me behind on responding to comments and tweets, so I apologize about that with utmost sincerity. Talking with you all is the reason behind this blog, to share and discuss our love of books. So while I've been able to share new content with you, I haven't been able to interact very much, and I'm sorry about that. 

As I settle in, and even in the time before the move, I found that I wasn't picking up any books. I'm not sure if it was nerves about the upcoming changes, maybe some of you have felt that way, or some sort of slump, but hopefully my reading will be back on track and I'll be finding books I love. 

I'm definitely very busy right now, and still working on balancing blogging and life changes, but I hope that you're still enjoying the posts and I do still click around and read some wonderful posts, even if I don't have time to comment back and forth as much as I'd like. I hope you all are doing well, and I will continue to update the blog and hopefully get back on track with the commenting shortly.

From the paper world,
V

Let's Talk the Blogging Life

I've got 99 problems and at least 50 of them involve post drafts and how to schedule reviews. Blogger life.

So, the other day I was talking with a friend and was showing her how I used blogger and this is what my reviews look like, my hauls, how I schedule post in advance, you know, and I realized a few things. First, she was happy I was enjoying myself and shared my enthusiasm. Secondly, talking about blogging mechanics nonstop is not widely considered sparkling conversation to non blogging people. So, I figured who better to talk about blogging life with than with my blogging friends?

Today I pose the question- what is your blogging life like? Let me walk you through my sporadic one. Post inspiration strikes me at random (and typically inconvenient hours), so if I just have an idea but I'm not inspired enough to write it, I'll put the title in as a new draft, and sometimes write down some short notes if there are specific details or examples I want to include later. Then, a blogging storm approaches, and suddenly I'm writing two to four discussions amidst all my reviews for the month that I haven't written on Goodreads. It can be a little crazy. However, other times I'll just write a post here or there, but together it will amount to a solid blogging schedule. And I love that, having enough posts ahead so that if I have blogger's block or a bunch of other things come up, I know the blog is alright and I can just reply to comments if I have no free time. 

But where's the fun in just meeting the minimum? Comments are some of my favorite things about blogging- I love reading comments on my posts, commenting on other blogs to keep in touch, and just connecting with the blogging community. That's definitely one of the best things about being a blogger. So, let's talk about the blogging life for you- share your thoughts down in the comments below, and let me know if you like this series name/set up in lieu of my  'and Other Thoughts' type of discussions (you can find some examples of those when I talk about TBRs, readalongs, and book buying) Although not much has changed aside from the series title and having a specific idea that sparks a general conversation, I'd love your input about these two types of discussion post series, and what other discussions you'd like to see on the blog!

From the paper world,

V

'Sophmore Slump' and Other Thoughts on Sequels

Today I wanted to talk about sequels. The other day, I was reading and there was a comment about how in general sequels can be such huge disappointments after the wonder of the first book. And I thought that while that's true in some cases, there are sequels I've loved and enjoyed even more than the first book, which can be heavy with information, exposition, and introduction. Today I thought I'd share a few sequels I loved, a few I never want to read again, and why I had that reaction/how it compared to the first book.

The Eh

So, why are these four sequels ones that I disliked or was disappointed in? A general answer is the protagonist and character development. I'm the sort who likes a lot of plot development and intrigue, but there has to be compelling characters in order for me to love  series and stay with the story. For these second books, there were several problems. The first two, Insurgent and The Elite, are second books in a trilogy. Whenever these books fall flat it's often called 'sophmore slump', or when a second book is lacking the action and plot development in the first and basically just sitting there staring at the main conflict that can't be resolved until the third book because it's a trilogy. In some aspects, I think Insurgent and The Elite are sophmore slumps for me. However, in both I also found another phenomenon was present- I was annoyed at the protagonists. The narrator would decide that secrecy and deception would be the best options to 'protect everyone' and this trope is something that is tiresome very quickly. 

For the other two, Frostbite and World After, these two are both the second book in a series of five, if I'm not mistaken about Angelfall's intended series length. For both of these, the struggle was found in not much happening. Yes, the protagonists were also annoying here, but in Frostbite, I thought the central conflict/problem was actually just part of the rising action in the story, so I was disappointed by the end. World After seemed to lack the action and compelling story of its predecessor. 

Now, you might be wondering, if I disliked this sequel, did I continue on with the series? For 3 of the 4 books, the answer is yes, and the last book is sitting on my TBR. You might wonder why. The answer is that, simply put, there's enough in the sequel, in the characters and world we met in the original story, that kept me interested in reading on in the journey. I'm not the sort who has to finish every series I pick up. However, there are series where one book isn't the best, but the idea and story interest me enough to go on.

The Favorites

Now, let's talk about some of my favorite sequels and why I think they stand out. (I'm not entirely sure if The Arcana Chronicles -Endless Knight is the sequel- is a trilogy or more, but from the description of the third book and the overall story line I hope this is more than a trilogy. If you know which it is, comment down below and let me know.) 

Anyways, what makes these sequels so wonderful is that they're unexpected, and they further develop and enrich the plot and characters. Breaking Point continues on where Article 5 left off, but everything is still developing. We haven't lost any of the momentum from the first book, the intense tone and action. Instead, we learn more about the characters, who is good, bad, and more complex than they originally appear. The same is true for Endless Knight, where we see characters that weren't featured as much in the first book and yet the main conflict also continues to grow and develop throughout. To be completely honest, Endless Knight is a sequel I loved even more than the first book.

Another sequel I loved more than the first was The Sea of Monsters, where the characters were more interesting and developed than the first book, and the story was entertaining and well written. Finally, I had to mention Unhinged as an example of a sequel I loved because it also has a plethora of plot twists and character development. 

In general, I think what makes a sequel great is plot twists, character development, and a continuation of action and plot development. What are some sequels that fell into the sophmore slump for you, and some that stayed fantastic or even better than their first books?

Curious to see my more detailed thoughts on these sequels?
My Endless Knight Review, My Percy Jackson and the Olympians series Review, My Unhinged Review

And see my thoughts on some of the first books in the series!
Angelfall by Susan Ee (World After), Splintered by A.G. Howard (Unhinged), Poison Princess by Kresley Cole (Endless Knight)

From the paper world,
V

'My Bookmark Revolution' and Other Thoughts on how I read

It's time for another discussion post! Today I'm talking about probably the best thing that has happened to me reading-wise in a few years. I used to have problems keeping track of where I was in a book- I would put what page I was on in Goodreads, but sometimes I'd forget, I'd try to use a bookmark, but it'd fall out or (again) I'd forget. Then, I stumbled across the best reading accessory for me ever.

Magnetic.

Bookmarks.

Yes, this is a big deal for me. I can clip it in on a page, read along, then grab it from the earlier page and put it on. If I have the book in my purse, or I'm traveling, the bookmark won't fall out, and I know exactly where I am. So, magnetic bookmarks have made my reading that much better.

Now, I don't want to make a whole post just talking on about how much I love these bookmarks (although I probably could if I'm being honest). So, I wanted to include other things about how I read. I know for some people, they're about having a specific place to read. For me, reading is sort of an escape from everyday life. So, I've typically got a book on hand at all times, and I'll find a couch, chair, patch of floor, and park myself there to read. I'm not very particular about where I'm reading.

Jamie of the Perpetual Page Turner made an awesome post awhile ago about how she has a book with her everywhere. Firstly, I'm so glad someone tries on a purse by putting a book in it to make sure it fits. I'm not alone in this! Also, she mentioned keeping a book in her car, and it struck me that there are times when it's a good idea to leave a book from your TBR somewhere in case you need something to read. So, I've fallen into the habit of keeping an extra book around that I've yet to start but I'm interested in. 

I like to start and end at a new chapter when I'm reading, so I'll look ahead and budget my reading based on how much time I have and how long the chapter looks. I'll stop in the middle of a chapter if I have to, but I do prefer to begin in a new chapter.

Sort of continuing on with that idea, if I go to a shop and I'm looking at different kinds of books, I'll normally read a chapter from each if I can't decide. However, if a book has long chapters (something I'm not a fan of), then I'll probably only read 10 or so pages. 

There are a few things about how I read. What about you, any quirks?

From the paper world,

V

'Buddy Reads' and Other Thoughts on Group Reads and Readalongs

I really should come up with a banner for this series as the posting has become more frequent. Welcome back to another discussion post. Today, we're talking about readalongs- the fun, the good, and the scheduling. 

First off, let me just say I love readalongs/buddy reads. It's a wonderful opprotunity to talk with other bloggers, and since sharing my love of books is what brought me to the blogging world, a readalong is the perfect opprotunity for that. 

My first readalong...

My readalong-ing, for lack of a better term, began in January when I stumbled across the Incarnate Series Read-A-Thon while on a visit to A Backwards Story. I was intrigued, loved the covers of the books, and thought it might be fun. So, I signed up for this readalong she was hosting with Alexa Loves Books. So, way back when in January, I signed up, and not only did I get the chance to discover a wonderful series, I got to discuss them with other bloggers, chat about them on Twitter and tune into the hangouts (I squealed out loud when they read my questions) and even tweet with Jodi Meadows and interview her! None of this would have happened if this readalong hadn't come to pass and led to my discovering a really wonderful series. 

So, there is my readalong origins story, I guess you can say. However, Buddy Reads is something I'd done starting in January as well. Kerrie is a fellow blogger I started reading and discussing books with back in January. We read Angelfall, World After, and Across the Universe over the course of a few months. Having a set goal and someone to discuss my thoughts with really helped me appreciate the books more, and soon I was asking fellow bloggers to read books together and discuss!

Since then, I've done several readalongs, a few within the past months were reading Sekret with Cassi of My Thoughts...Literally! and Hex Hall with Juhina of Maji Bookshelf and Jaspirit of The Reader's Den. I've loved doing these readalongs, but I do think there are some cons to them sometimes as well.

Scheduling. I am terrible at this. Oftentimes I end up reading multiple books if I'm doing several readalongs, and I can mess up when I need to be in what chapter and anything like that. So, if I've ever blundered and fallen behind in a readalong, then I feel super bad because the other person is staying on track and I'm slowing them down, or we can't discuss the book because I'm not in time.

Reading Ahead. Yes, I've done it once. Or twice. But not often, I promise, and sometimes it's just, again, due to my inability to schedule things properly or then maintain them! However, sometimes if there's a cliffhanger, I'll read a chapter ahead. It happens very rarely, but I do feel bad about it!

Differing Opinions. This one hasn't really happened to me yet. Most of the times, the other person/people and I will be in agreement. So, I'll share this one with you- have you done a readalong and one person hated the book and another loved it? How did that affect your discussion?

In general, readalongs, buddy reads, and group reads are fantastic. Not only do you get to compare ideas and reactions with a bunch of other bloggers (and it's always fun to be reading the same thing and talking about that book boyfriend or that crazy plot twist) but you also get to reach out to a lot of other bloggers and discuss. With that in mind, some issues can arise but as long as everyone just tries to enjoy the reading and have a thoughtful conversation, reading with other people is one of my favorite ways to discover new books.

So, let me know what your buddy reads are like down in the comments! Or, if you've got a book you want a buddy to read with, let me know! 

From the paper world,

V

Strange Chemistry

Today I just wanted to write up a post to talk about Strange Chemistry. Strange Chemistry is a publisher that many of my must read books are a part of- I'm sure you've seen me talk about Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. Jensen as one of my most anticipated reads, and my most anticipated debut of the year, and after I read it, one of my favorites. I recently picked up another that I was really excited about, Feather Bound by Sarah Raughley, and I was also amazed by that book. Unfortunately, I was emailing a blogger friend (Rebecca over at The Library Canary) who told me that Strange Chemistry had shut down.

Strange Chemistry has published books that are truly unique. As a blogger, I can say that their books and stories stood out to me just from flipping through Listopias on Goodreads, finding debuts and books that I'd be interested in reading more about. I can honestly say that a lot of Strange Chemistry books were ones that got me excited and intrigued. The books themselves are fantastic quality as well-  little details ensure that these books are something special. I'm sort of in shock that this publisher is closing- it feels like I'd only just discovered how incredible they are and now they're gone. But I can say that these stories are still definitely amazing and should be told. A lot of Strange Chemistry authors are dealing with a lot of stress and shock from this. My heart goes out to you all, and as a reader I'm not giving up on discovering your stories; I cannot wait to hear more from the authors that have been a part of this group. 

The Library Canary also did a fantastic farewell post to Strange Chemistry that inspired me to share my own thoughts. She also calls for everyone to read these books and share the love for some awesome stories so that these fantastic authors can find a new publisher as well. I'll be posting my Feather Bound review shortly, and my Stolen Songbird is already on the blog, but I'll just say that those two books are both fantastic and entirely different from any I've read. Looking at multiple bookshelves and piles of books, that's saying something. 

So, Strange Chemistry, I miss you and your wonderful books already. I think I'll always treasure what I've read and found from your books. To the authors, I can't even imagine how difficult of a time this is for you. Your stories are wonderful and you're in my thoughts. 

From the paper world,

V

'Monthly Book Hauls' and Other Thoughts on book buying and book buying bans

So, I haven't really given my discussion posts a series name, and that's just because of how sporadic they are and how I write them really defies a specific category beyond 'random discussions'. Today I'm talking about book buying, book hauls, and book bans.

A lot of my blogging is influenced by Booktube, because I was a Booktube subscriber and viewer long before I was a book blogger. However, I am extremely proud of being a book blogger and being a part of that community. It just happens that some of what I saw in Booktube I tried for my blog. Book hauls are some of my favorite Booktube videos to watch, and I go through periods of just wanting to see what everyone's getting/excited about. Lately, I've been doing monthly hauls and linking them to Tynga's Reviews's Stacking the Shelves feature. However, all of the book buying and like I've seen lately has been a little thought-provoking, and I thought I'd share with you all.

To begin with, in the past I've had pretty large book hauls. I think March was probably my record, and that book haul is definitely extensive. April as well, but towards the mid/end of April I noticed that my book buying habits had slowed down noticeably, basically to the point of being non existent. I walked into a bookstore, and walked out without any new additions to the TBR pile. That's pretty surprising, since normally at a book store I want to pick up books. So, how has my book buying changed? Well, I've gotten a lot of books lately that I'm excited about reading, and so I've been less likely to buy new ones. Sure, there are some new releases off my Can't Wait list I might pick up if I see them, and there are always books I could buy, but I haven't felt the need to buy any. Maybe it's the size of my TBR pile, but I honestly think I'm just content with what I've got. And that's a great feeling.

Now, will I still buy books? Yes, probably, if I see something that I really want to pick up. But it's not as if I have a huge list of books that I must buy immediately, and having those particular books is my top priority. I don't feel like I'm in a book buying frenzy. 

However, I'm not on a book buying ban, nor do I think those would work well for me. If I were to do a book buying ban, I would just want to buy books all the more, and it would end badly. As in, the moment the ban was over I'd buy more than I would have if I'd avoided a ban. Also, as I mentioned in my last discussion, I'm a mood reader, and sometimes there's a new release that I really want. So, here are some of the ways I've been limited in my book buying without going on a ban.

-pre-orders

I've pre-ordered a few books lately. Personally, I'm not the type to pre-order a huge number of books, so pre-ordering a few gives me something to be anticipating without the need to go to the bookstore and buy a huge number for myself. Instead, I know something I'm really looking forward to is coming.

-have a can't wait list

These are the new releases, debuts, and sequels coming out that I'm really excited for. I'll probably end up picking up most of these, but it's easier to limit them on a Goodreads list before they are actually published than it is once I randomly hear about all the new books coming out. For me, being aware of the new releases and picking out the ones I'm really excited for helps avoid buying a bunch of books at once.

-exploring your TBR pile

Sometimes, I forget about all of the other wonderful books I have to read on my TBR pile in favor of the newer books I'll purchase. But that's a habit that I've fallen out of recently. I've been pulling books from my TBR, and enjoying discovering something that I picked up awhile ago.

-readalongs and readathons

Sure, nowadays most readalongs are for new release books. But, I participated in the Reboot Readalong, which was hosted by Epic Reads in celebration of the sequel coming out. I had Reboot on my shelves, I saw the readalong info, and I decided it was time to get it off of my TBR and into my currently-reading. Readalongs give you the opprotunity to read some books you might have on your shelf. And readathons, like the ever popular Bout of Books, are exciting because they give you the opportunity to read a bunch of books instead of buying them.

-the library

Ok, I have the worst record at returning books on time. I don't think I ever have before to be honest. They're always late. For me, this option doesn't work as well because two weeks to read books I'm not even sure I'll be in the mood to read in, in addition to a huge TBR pile I already have, makes going to the library not as viable of an option. However, once the TBR pile has diminished, this is an excellent resource.

My book buying has genuinely diminished over the past bit of time. I think I'm just content with the books I have, there are a few must buys waiting on pre-order, and I'm not trying to ban myself from anything. So, this system is working pretty well for me.

What are your thoughts on book buying? Have you ever done a book buying ban? 

From the paper world,

V