Author: Rachelle

Down the TBR Hole #213

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment
Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?

My want-to-read shelf is holding steady at 1187 books. I haven’t been reading much this past week thanks to a lot of topsy-turvy emotions and the “Tales of the Shire” game being released.

This week’s books:

Enter the Janitor by Josh Vogt – KEEP. This Fantasy novel sounds like a lot of fun!

Chemical Burn by Quincy J. Allen – KEEP. This Sci-Fi Thriller will either be absolutely wonderful in all of it’s pulpiness, or absolute trash. I’m willing to find out which one it is.

Dandelion Iron by Aaron Michael Ritchey – KEEP. I have some serious doubts about this one. I’m concerned that it’s going to turn into some kind of weird male fantasy, but I’ve been wanting to read more Sci-Fi Western type stories, so I’ll give this one the 50-page test.

Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam – KEEP. I wanted to read this before watching the movie, and I even checked it out from the library last year. However, I never got around to reading it before I had to return it. I nearly removed it from my wish list, but a friend said it was really good. It will stay for now, and maybe at some point I’ll check it out again.

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst – KEEP. I have the hardcover of this with the purple page edging, which is beautiful (and my fave color). The synopsis sounds like this is a cozy cuppa in a book, so there’s no way I’m removing it from my TBR.

My want-to-read shelf is staying at 1187 books. Unless my reading picks back up, it will likely stay that way for a bit. Now that my want-to-read shelf is back into the physical books I already own, I won’t be writing anymore “Down the TBR Hole” posts for at least a couple of months. I will continue to write my other weekly posts, though, and I might even write some other posts when and if I have some extra time.

#FitReaders Check-In

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  • This check-in is for July 27th – August 2nd.
  • My mental and physical health hasn’t been great this week, but I’m getting better. Maybe it would be better to say that I’m recovering.
  • Yesterday, I went outside for a walk. The weather was perfect, and getting out of the house for something that didn’t involve work or running errands felt really good. It gave me the energy to continue packing, and I got quite a bit of my stuff and many more of my books boxed up.
  • Exercise Days: 2/7
  • Steps: 34,613
  • Miles: 14.04/16.31
  • Total Miles: 462.28/850
  • Zone Minutes: 45/150

Building the Book Fort

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment

“Building the Book Fort” is a weekly post where I track my bookish life.

Currently Reading:

  • Mind Your Body by Nicole J. Sachs, LCSW
  • Firestarter by Stephen King
  • Handbook for the Heartbroken by Sara Avant Stover
  • How to Be the Love You Seek by Dr. Nicole LePera

Total pages read this week: 171

Total books read: 70 of 75

TBR (goal is -24): -18

#ShelfLove Challenge: 38 of 51

This week has been rough. I haven’t felt like reading much, my emotions and thoughts keep going from angry, to happy, to sad, and everything in between, and I’m pretty sure that means the full weight of my breakup has finally hit me. My shoulder and arm pain has returned, and I know that’s because of all the stress. I won’t be moving for nearly two months, and I’m really wishing it was sooner.

Some good from this week is that the “Tales of the Shire” game was released, and I treated myself (it’s considerably less expensive than I was expecting it to be). I absolutely love it, so I’ve had to set some rules for myself, otherwise I won’t get anything done. I’m allowed to play it during the week after work only, and then I have to focus on packing during the weekend.

Some more good that is happening is that Ohio is sales-tax free for two weeks, and since online sales are included, I decided to go ahead and buy some stuff for my apartment (including bath towels with dinosaurs embroidered on them). I’m going to leave everything in the packaging when it arrives so I don’t have to repack it all for the move. I might go shopping today as well to see if there’s anything else I can find, but I’m keeping fragile items on my wish list since I don’t want to risk stuff getting broken before I even have the chance to use it).

What are you reading? Let me know in the comments!

Down the TBR Hole #212

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment
Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?

My want-to-read shelf is down to 1189 books. I finished a book and ditched a couple of audiobooks that had been on my wishlist. They were available for free through Audible, but I discovered they weren’t even good enough to warrant a DNF. I’m glad I didn’t buy them.

This week’s books:

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves – GO. I’m really not interested in YA Paranormal Romance. I don’t even know when or why I got this ebook.

Beyond the Count ed. by Margo Bond Collins – KEEP. This ebook is a collection of 18th and 19th century vampire stories. Like many people around my age, I’ve been into vampires ever since teenage me saw “Interview with the Vampire” in the theater.

Restricted Fantasies by Kevin Kneupper – KEEP. This one is a collection of the author’s Sci-Fi short stories, all centered around virtual reality. It sounds a lot like “Black Mirror,” and I’m willing to give it a chance.

The Patchwork House by Richard Salter – KEEP. The synopsis sounds like there’s way too much shoved into one story, but the book has nearly all 4 and 5 star reviews. I’ll give it the 50-page test.

Disconnected by Nick M. Lloyd – GO. This one just sounds dumb. No, thanks.

My want-to-read shelf is down to 1187 books. My plans are beginning to solidify for moving near the end of September. Before that, I’ll write one more “Down the TBR Hole” post, and then take a break for a couple of months, possibly longer. Since I’ll be fairly busy with packing and then unpacking, I may not get many books read, but I definitely won’t be buying anymore books, either. I’m also not borrowing anymore physical books from the library, since I want to have the ones I’ve already checked out read or at least returned prior to moving. So, unless I end up adding more books to my wishlist, my want-to-read shelf just might be a little smaller once I start writing these posts again.

#FitReaders Check-In

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  • This check-in is for July 20th – 26th.
  • I’ve been approved for the two-bedroom townhouse apartment and will be moving in September. As I mentioned yesterday, my perspective about this whole move shifted a bit when I discovered the amount of modern-style home decor that also is covered in dinosaurs! I also re-realized the freedom that comes with living alone. It’s been over a decade since I’ve been on my own, and I’m having to relearn how to do a few things, but I know I’ll be alright.
  • Exercise Days: 1/7
  • Steps: 40,007
  • Miles: 16.21/16.31
  • Total Miles: 448.24/850
  • Zone Minutes: 42/150

Building the Book Fort

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment

“Building the Book Fort” is a weekly post where I track my bookish life.

Currently Reading:

  • Mind Your Body by Nicole J. Sachs, LCSW
  • The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud
  • Firestarter by Stephen King

Finished:

  • God’s Hammer by Eric Schumacher

Total pages read this week: 249

Total books read: 70 of 75

TBR (goal is -24): -17

#ShelfLove Challenge: 38 of 51

This week I got approved for the two-bedroom townhome apartment, and I’ve been busy figuring out what stuff I’ll need that I don’t already have and then finding those items online and creating a wish list. While I’ll definitely have to prioritize the needs over the wants, I discovered that there are a ton of things from bedding to area rugs with dinosaurs on them! I’m not talking about children’s bedroom/playroom cartoonish stuff, but modern and stylish “grown up” home decor! I could quite literally decorate my entire home in dinosaurs! However, I will probably stick to my bedroom and bathroom, maybe the dining room. I already have other ideas for my office and living room, and I’m not sure what I’ll do with the kitchen. I also found some bookish decor that I definitely want.

Prior to my excitement about being able to decorate my new home however I want, I was feeling very down about the whole situation, from how much money I was going to have to spend just to move into the place, to how much I’m downsizing and not being sure how I will fit all my stuff into roughly 900 square feet. I have no idea where I will put all of my books. I may not have enough room for all of them and might have to keep at least some of them in boxes. While all of this is still a bit annoying or upsetting, I’m doing my best to focus on the positive aspects. Besides not having to compromise on decor, I will finally have my own bathroom, and I won’t have anyone annoyed with me for leaving my tea mug on the counter by the kitchen sink. Speaking of tea mugs – I will be able to have as many of them as I want, instead of having to confine them to one small cabinet, and I’ve already chosen a mug I want to get as a sort of house warming gift to myself.

What are you reading? Let me know in the comments!

Down the TBR Hole #211

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment
Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?

My want-to-read shelf is up one to 1192 books. I finished a book, but added two more to my wishlist. Though it didn’t affect my want-to-read shelf, I also moved a bunch of books from my TBR to my wishlist since they’re books that are owned by my ex and I won’t be able to read them now that we won’t be living together for much longer. I also took back several books of mine that he had on his shelves. Splitting up our book collections has been one of the more emotionally challenging parts of us breaking up.

This week’s books:

To Be or Not To Be by Ryan North – KEEP. This is a “Choose Your Own Adventure” book based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and I think it will be a fun read.

Ten Dead Comedians by Fred Van Lente – GO. I’m just not feeling like I’ll ever want to read this one.

Mogworld by Yahtzee Croshaw – KEEP. This book sounds like it will be weird, funny, and possibly a precursor to LitRPGs.

Maps and Legends by Michael Chabon – KEEP. This Non-Fiction book is about reading, storytelling, and books, which puts it directly in my wheelhouse.

Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge by Paul Krueger – KEEP. The synopsis had me at “for fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer…”

My want-to-read shelf is down yet again to 1191 books. If all goes as planned, I’ll be moving by the end of September. However, it will be a while before I’m able to unpack most of my books. I’m only taking two small bookshelves with me because I don’t like the other ones, and it will take me some time to be able to buy and assemble new shelves. With that being said, while I will be writing at least one, maybe two more “Down the TBR Hole” posts full of ebooks, it might be a few months until I’ll write another one after that.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment

  • This check-in is for July 13th – 19th.
  • I spent most of my free time this week looking for an apartment, and I submitted my application for a two bedroom townhome on Friday.
  • The apartment search and discovering all of the household stuff I’ll need to buy (after my ex and I did a walk-through of the house to divvy up our belongings) left me feeling exhausted physically and emotionally. I decided not to do anything else related to moving for the weekend so I could rest and relax.
  • A coworker and his wife are expecting a baby, so I began crocheting a baby blanket while listening to an audiobook as part of my relaxation. I’m planning to work on the blanket a bit more today, and hopefully finish the audiobook, too.
  • Exercise Days: 1/7
  • Steps: 37,809
  • Miles: 15.35/16.31
  • Total Miles: 432.03/850
  • Zone Minutes: 37/150

Building the Book Fort

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment

“Building the Book Fort” is a weekly post where I track my bookish life.

Currently Reading:

  • Mind Your Body by Nicole J. Sachs, LCSW
  • The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud
  • God’s Hammer by Eric Schumacher
  • Firestarter by Stephen King

Finished:

  • The Bookseller of Inverness by S.G. MacLean

Total pages read this week: 801

Total books read: 69 of 75

TBR (goal is -24): -15

#ShelfLove Challenge: 37 of 51

Most of my reading happened on Sunday and Monday because I needed to return The Bookseller of Inverness to the library. For the rest of the week, I spent a lot of my free time looking for an apartment, and I submitted my application for a two bedroom townhome yesterday. I’ll hopefully have a move-in date by sometime next week so I can start getting quotes from moving companies. In the meantime, I’m going to do my best to relax and read this weekend. I would like to finish at least one book by Monday.

What are you reading? Let me know in the comments!

Down the TBR Hole #210

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment
Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?

My want-to-read shelf is up to 1194 books. I bought three books while I was at the Columbus Book Festival.

This week’s books:

Echoes of Earth by Sean Williams and Shane Dix – GO. I’m not a huge fan of Hard SciFi, with the exception of Andy Weir’s books, which all have a comedic element.

Alien Blues by Lynn Hightower – GO. This one is Crime Fiction in a Sci Fi setting, and I have no interest in that.

The Cyberiad by Stanislaw Lem – KEEP. This book sounds weirdly interesting. I’m willing to give it a chance.

The God Engines by John Scalzi – KEEP. Scalzi is an auto-buy author for me, and this is one of his older books. It’s also one of the two books that I’m going to be reading for this month’s #BookSpin reading challenge.

The Girl Who Would Be King by Kelly Thompson – GO. I’m just not feeling this one. My first thought after reading the synopsis was “Meh.”

My want-to-read shelf is down to 1191 books. All of the books for this post are ebooks that I own. Once I get to a point in my Want to Read shelf where they’re physical books again, I will take a break until I’m moved into an apartment and able to unpack. I don’t want to decide to let go of a physical book I own knowing that I will move them just to put them in another box destined for Half Price Books.