Libraries & Bookstores I’d Love to Visit | Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl to bring bookish friends together. A new topic is posted each week.

The Abbey Bookshop in Paris

There’s books everywhere in this store, from the pictures it’s so cozy.

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Photo by Mayank Austen Soofi

Shakespeare and Company in Paris

I wouldn’t go to Paris without paying this store a visit because of its reputation, but I also don’t love crowds.

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Trinity College Library in Dublin

Famous, big old library that looks stunning and have six million volumes.

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Admont Monastery in Austria

The most stunning library I’ve ever seen. A fact taken straight from wiki is that the monastery was founded in freaking 1074. The library hall was built first in 1776 and the buildings have together seven out of this world beautiful ceiling frescoes.

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“The Carousel of Light” in Romania

This modern-style library is completely new, and there’s been some books added to those shelves since the pictures. I’m into architecture as you might’ve noticed through this list and I really like the combination of older more classical elements and the white, modern and minimalistic style. The colour of the wood is the perfect choice and I absolutely love the curves in the balconies.

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Bibliotheca Alexandria

The most famous library of all time, the Great Library of Alexandria that burned down and so much knowledge was lost. This bibliotheca is more of a museum in honor and memory of that. It also houses eight million books, so.

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The British Library in London

It’s the library with the most items in the world, with over 150 million items and still growing. I would want to see Leonardo Da Vinci’s notebooks, a special version of Lewis Caroll’s Alice in Wonderland, the whole of King’s Library collection and the Magna Carta.

Bodleian Library in Oxford

As someone who’s not british, this round library is still so iconic. I really like old libraries at universities that has such a distinct style and house a lot of knowledge and material for researchers, but also need to be accessible to everyday and students.

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American Book Center in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is on the top of my list of places I want to go, and this bookstore seems cozy and well-liked.

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Musashino Art University Museum & Library in Tokyo

It’s just aesthetically pleasing, which makes sense from the library of an art university.

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The Sunshine Blogger Award

I was tagged for The Sunshine Blogger Award some time ago by Lori @ Betwined reads. And then by Leslie @ Books are the new black. Thank you to you both!

 

First Lori’s questions:

1) Which fictional character do you think best represents you?

Oh no, difficult start. I don’t think I’ve found one yet. Which is strange considering how many brown-haired introverted nerdy girls who love reading and writing there are in books, almost like the authors often write someone similiar to themselves. Honestly I would be the supportive side character friend that always gives out advice, and you sometimes see them going on with their outside of the plot. I’m very critical, but all characters that has that trait also seem to have too much cynism, where I constantly shift between “let it burn” and weird optimism. 

2) What book do you most regret ever having bought?

I’m not sure there’s any- CURSED CHILD. Holy fuck why does that book exist (the reason is money and wanting to keep relevancy).

3) If you watch BookTube, who are some of your favorite creators?

Ariel Bissett was the first booktuber I liked and I’ve watched her a couple years because she has a similiar taste in books as me, but she’s also been a couple years and steps ahead of me in what kind of books she’s interested in. Like she broadened her reading from mainly young adult books and I was like “but why?” and not long after I felt like doing the same.

4) Who gave you your love of reading?

Not who, but what – Libraries. Started liking books in literally kindergarten because there was a book bus visiting us that had so many varied books. In school we had a little library and when I grew out of the fantasy section there, I fell in love with the big library in the city. And I miss it dearly after moving away.

5) Do you prefer in-person or online book clubs?

Would prefer in-person, but I talk so much about books online because there’s never been anyone of my close friends that’s as much into books.

6) How do you organize your upcoming blog posts?

I mainly post reviews, which then depends on which books I want to read and how many and schedule them. I’ve played around with the days I want to be posting and still haven’t figured that out. I do the top ten tuesday if I like the theme, so tuesday. Want to keep it to thursday and friday/saturday. I recently added some other “regular” posts, like quote of the week (because I really like searching for good quotes and have collected a lot of them) and a semi-weekly update because I wasn’t writing enough about books as I was reading them.

7) What do you think of fans who write angry letters/direct messages to an author?

I’m not really up to speed on how much this happens, if the question is about a certain author or problem. In general be a nice person, harassment is not okay. If something happens to your fav ficitional character that you just don’t like, write fanfic or something, don’t attack the author. The author has created something though, and if they’re a public person, it should be allowed to give opinions on that.

8) How would you try to convert an non-reader into a reader?

As a teen my classmate said she wanted to be a reader, but didn’t know how. She was actually being serious about it and came back after I recommended some young adult love story, it might’ve been Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. I wouldn’t go for that now, but the most important thing is to ask what they would like to read about and think of popular books in that genre. I wouldn’t recommend my fav books – like any of Brandon Sanderson’s – because they require more effort to get into.

I did also read my little brother Harry Potter from he was like four years old as a bedtime story and he still didn’t become a reader, so I’m not to be trusted on this one.

9) If you could frame one book cover and hang it up in your house, which cover would it be?

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This book is stunning. And I haven’t read anything by Emily Bronte, I bought it solely because of how this 200th annivarsary edition is so perfect looking. I want to embroid it and hang it up, seriously.

10) Which fictional character do you love that you think would be horrible in real life?

Most of them, I feel it would be a “never meet your heroes” kind of moment. Usually you get to see so much into character’s thought processes and some of the people I find horrible in real life I would surely like better if I could get that much insight of reasoning behind actions and behaviors. I’m taking these questions too seriously, oops.

11) What’s one of your favorite blog posts that you would like to receive a little more love?

Like every review, because I want to just discuss books and if someone mails me pointing out details they loved or hated, I’m completely in for it. My review of Space Opera by Catherynne M Valente is kind of messy and rambly, but so was the book and I really liked to pour out my thoughts on it.

 

And Leslie’s questions:

1) If you have an e-reader, do you have a cover?

Slytherin forever? This gorgeous kindle cover is from Klevercase.co.uk and shipped internationally. It’s amazing, except for being really difficult to remove (at least without breaking it).

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2) What was in your last book haul?

I’ve only published one book haul post, but I just got and read “An absolutely remarkable thing” (review coming soon) AND IT WAS SO GREAT

3) What’s your favorite number?

I’m a hp and fantasy fan, obviously it’s seven.

4) Best book to movie adaptation, in your opinion?

There’s so many bad ones. I liked “The Hobbit” I guess, but more so that they’ve come to a level of fame, talent and money to make it so grand and I just love seeing dragons flying.

5) Your favorite food?

Pie.

6) Something you learned in 2018?

In fiction and telling stories about real life, people like to say things like “and that’s when I hit the bottom and …” about our lives. It’s not given that you hit The Rock Bottom though, where your mentality change and you start digging yourself up. It might be a row of horrible things, decisions or circumstances happening over time and constantly digging to not suffocate. Here’s my pessimistic side coming in, told you earlier. 

7) Best bookstore you’ve visited 

I have so many I want to visit, but no good ones I’ve actually visited.

8) Are you usually early or late?

Early, because anxious mess. Late is I have to count on the damn bus.

9) If you were given 1 wish today, what would you wish for?

I can’t take these questions not seriously, no matter how hard I try. Are we talking genie-wish? I would wish for cure to autoimmune diseases, because there’s a lot of them and they suck and are difficult to treat. Sponsing cancer research is great people, but so few have heard of autoimmune diseases and there’s soo many.

10) Best book you read/discovered this year?

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Radio Silence by Alice Oseman.

11) Share a funny or sweet moment you had this week!

Good way to finish this long post! I have autumn vacation this week and have spent time with my little (teenage) brother and we’ve laughed a lot together. Everyday is sometimes very busy and we don’t get much quality time, so it’s been fun to realize again how like himself he still is, while also starting to mature.

 

Here’s the questions I want to ask:

  1. Which fictional character would you like most to be real?
  2. Where would you go and what would you do if you had an endless budget for a vacation?
  3. What do you honestly like most about blogging?
  4. Which book was disappointing recently and why?
  5. If you were magically given the choice of one thing you would succeed at, no matter what, what would you choose?
  6. When do you stop and DNF a book? Do you give it a set number of pages or just based on feeling?
  7. What’s a genre or type of book you want to read more of?
  8. What’s your top three favourite books of the last year?
  9. Do you write?
  10. What’s one book you love to recommend to people?
  11. What’s a book cover you would frame and hang on your wall?

 

I’m tagging:

PaigeTammy LakshmiChasing the four winds – Sara – Ally – Catherine  – Merline Siobhan  – Amy Carolina 

No pressure 🌸🌸

Book Bi-Weekly Update #4

Hi guys!

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New book posts:

Three things on my mind:

  • I’m starting to repeat myself, but I’ve not read a lot of books these past week or month. Why? I can’t. I literally cannot sit down with a book and understand what’s going on. I can barely follow tv series, or podcasts, or comedy specials – even though I try to have them on in the background as to not sit here in complete silence for the past week. #chronicillness problems I guess. In short I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ve definitely been considering going to the hospital certain really bad days this past week.
  • everyone’s a aliebn when ur a aliebn too by jomny sun has been a miracle when I literally cannot read and I am in pain and need distraction. It reads a bit like a children’s book, only it’s a graphic novel of sorts and there’s a lot more to it with loneliness and existential dread and aliens. It’s also nice that the drawings are black and white with big lines that can easily be drawn in with shaky hands, so that’s been fun. Cheers to better weeks ahead?
  • The day I’m publishing this post I’m a bit better and just picking up watching tv series again – maybe not the best pick as it’s pretty heavy and serious, but Mr Robot season 2 is so so good. It’s one of those shows that very much lives up to it’s build-up and hype.

Other books I’ve been reading:

  • An absolutely remarkable thing by Hank Green (currently reading, also wowowow it’s really finally here!!!!)
  • At the edge of the universe by Shaun David Hutchinson (currently reading)
  • The golden compass by Philip Pullman (currently reading)
  • everyone’s a aliebn when ur a aliebn too by jomny sun

Added to my TBR:

  • It’s all too much by Peter Walsh. I’m pretty sure it was Alex Cox from the podcast “Do by friday” that brought up this book as the non-hocus-pocus or speaking to objects version of the famous “life-changing magic of tidying up”. That sounds like just what I’ve been looking for.
  • I wish you all the best by Mason Deaver. The author Alice Oseman recommended this young adult book, it has a nonbinary main character and anxiety.
  • The last girl: my story of captivity and my fight against the islamic state by Nadia Murad. SHE JUST WON THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE, I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING AND I’M SO HAPPY FOR HER!
  • I’ll be gone in the dark by Michelle McNamara. About the hunt for the golden state serial killer.
  • Never let me go by Kazu Ishiguro. Science fiction with boarding school.
  • My sister Rosa by Justine Larbalestier. The sister is a psychopath supposedly.
  • Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen. I’m forced to read another Ibsen play “a doll’s house” and while researching it noticed that I’ve never heard of or read this one.

Recent book buys:

This time my broke student self has completely avoided buying books, but I’m going to pay for continuing my Scribd membership and get audiobooks there because it’s cheaper (even though I’m still not the biggest fan of audiobooks)

Book Series I Want to Finish Part 2 | Book Things

I went through my TBR and cleaned it out, what was most difficult was deciding what series I want to finish – some I started as a kid or teenager, some I needed a break from. Here’s part one

 

Monster (Gone #7) by Michael Grant

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Let’s see how long ago I started this series … Likely nine years ago (!!!). This book was released last year, another book this year. This shouldn’t be happening, the series was finished a long time ago. But I can’t stop now?! I have to finish this, unless this book is completely awful, in which case I guess I’ll find out reading it.

 

 

 

Opposition (Lux #5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

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The first three books of this series was good. A bit predictable, but entertaining. I still have this fifth book left, along with some extra material and hope to finish it just to see how it ends. Do you ever read a series too fast and suddenly you’ve gotten enough of it, like it’s way too much and you need a break? Usually happens with tv series, but apparently book series as well.

 

 

The Shadow Cabinet (Shades of London #3) by Maureen Johnson

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The problem with trying to finish series is that I don’t remember the plot of the first (two) books sometimes. Maureen Johnson seems like a awesome person, and I recently read “Truly Devious” which was everything of the modern boarding school mystery I didn’t know I wanted, but I’m going to have to read some summaries before starting the third book of “The Shades of London”

The Saga of Larten Crepsley by Darren Shan

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Last post here I mentioned how much I want to finish Demonata by Darren Shan. Then I remembered I didn’t finish this one either, it’s a spin-off of the original “Cirque du Freak” series. I’m honestly finishing these series to figure out how scary they are compared to me first reading them as a kid.

Should I Read This Book? Unhaul

Hey. I have a big TBR list, it’s a problem. According to goodreads I have 329 books I want to read, which is after I removed a lot of books a couple months ago. The last four years I’ve read anything from 45 to 84 books a year. Let’s say I read 50 books a year and don’t add new books (unlikely I know), I would spend nearly six and a half year to get through this TBR. And I am going to get tired of young adult books before that, as well as other books I might like if I read them now.

So please give your opinion on books on this list, positive or negative. It’s books I want to remove from my TBR, but I am scared of missing out on reading really good books as well.

 

 

A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston

Pros: seems to reference the arabian “a thousand and one nights” which is a good start

Cons: fairytale retellings are too often just not good, how many stories of girl not wanting to marry awful guy and then finding out some secret do I really need to read

Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon 

Pros: fantasy, asian elements

Cons: know nothing about despite reading synopsis and spoiler-free reviews, seem bland and vague

Grave Mercy by Robin La Fevers

Pros: a lot of fellow goodreads friends seem to like it, it’s been on this tbr very long

Cons: I’ve tried to start this book twice and it’s just so slow at the beginning and I can never remember any of it, more arranged marriages

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Pros: about mental illness, good ratings

Cons: people seem to love or hate it, seen comments on the weird cute writing style about serious and heavy topics, why is every book at that time compared to “the fault in our stars” and can’t they change it now

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

Pros: good ratings, I was excited by the synopsis at first

Cons: I’m ready to give up on Colleen Hoover as the last book I tried November 9 I found really disgusting. I’ve brought this up with some different reviewers, how I immediately reacted to the guys action and objectification, but a lot of people didn’t see it. He’s the poster guy for the person I would advice my friend to keep the hell away from, and I’ve recently flirted with some guys that turned out to be really awful so it’s not like I’m on the look-out for this shit.

The start of autumn | Bi-Weekly Update #3

New book posts:

Other books I’ve been reading:

Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: it’s so good advice on how to raise a girl, short review for this short book coming soon. How do you like the two/three sentence reviews format?

Betrayed by Amalie Skram

At the edge of the universe by Shaun David Hutchinson (currently reading, well listening to the audiobook)

The golden compass by Philip Pullman (currently rereading)

Added to my TBR:

The wicked deep by Shea Ernshaw: seemingly good book for autumn mood with witches

The hearts we sold by Emily Lloyd-Jones: more paranormal ya, with demons

What if it’s us by Becky Albertalli: lgbt story by author of “simon vs the homo sapiens agenda”

The poet x by Elizabeth Acevedo: girl finding her voice through slam poetry, extremely high average rating

Getting things done by David Allen: this productivity book was discussed/recommended on the podcast “do by friday” and i guess i need it

The checklist manifesto by Atul Gawande: this productivity book was discussed/recommended on the podcast “do by friday” and i guess i need it

When women ruled the world by Kara Cooney: talking about podcast, i also listened to Kara Cooney of the Egyptology episode of one of my fav podcast Ologies by Alie Ward. I was one of those kids who fell in love reading about Ancient Egypt, and Kara’s knowledge didn’t disappoint.

The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid: Merline included it as one of her top 5 summer reads and I was intrigued.

Recently bought these books:

I don’t think I did?! Congrats to me as I’m trying to save money.

Update: forgot I bought “An absolutely remarkable thing” by Hank Green! It’s not supposed to be released before next week, but I quickly checked my local bookstore to be sure, and there the was the paperback!!

Three things on my mind:

  • I need to drink more coffee. I’m a tea lover, who drank espresso friday, because I was seriously about to fall asleep in a cafe. There’s one place in the small city that has good latte, otherwise espresso is effective. It was a fun day, with (for once) a chill school project with friends and another friend’s bday party. Now our whole friend group can go to clubs, which is great.
  • I think balance is the key to most things in your daily life. But choices to gain that balance is so difficult, when they have to be made quickly it’s nearly better, so you can’t waste time. I’m just struggling with this, I guess, as someone who’s got a lot of tests the next week, on antibiotics for a lung infection and wanting to have fun with friends as well.
  • I’ve barely read anything this week and won’t be able to next week, so that’s always a good sign I’m going a bit mental and don’t have time to relax.

Hidden Gems of Books| Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl to bring bookish friends together. A new topic is posted each week. 

Books I have full reviews on are linked!

 

A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman

Radio Silence by Alice Oseman

We Are Okay by Nina LaCour

 

 

We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson

The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

 

Exciting Book Releases 2018 pt. 2

Sorted by date, here’s my anticipated book releases 2018 part two. Here’s part one.

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The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden

Release date: 4. september

Why I want to read this: I already did and it was a great story about a seventh grade girl’s daily life and the struggles she goes through as she’s taking care of her siblings, trying to survive school and making tough choices for her family.

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Impostors (Uglies #5) By Scott Westerfeld

Release date: 11. September

Why I want to read it: The uglies series is getting more books! I was so surprised when I found out, and excited to see where it’s going.

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An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

Release date: 25. September

Why I want to read it: It’s a Hank Green book! I’M SO EXCITED

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The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee

Release date: 2. October

Why I want to read it: I liked the first book, The gentleman’s guide to vice and virtue. And look at that cover, it’s strangely stunning!

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Gmorning, Gnight! Little Pep Talks for Me & You by Lin Manuel-Miranda and Jonny Sun

Release date: 23. October

Why I want to read it: Hamilton’s Lin Manuel Miranda is gathering his daily twitter messages in a book, having the twitter sunshine that is Jomny Sun illustrate it and it seems like such a weird thing that I absolutely need to have.

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Skyward by Brandon Sanderson

Release date: 6. November

Why I want to read it: It’s Brandon Sanderson, he’s the best.

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Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Release date: 6. November

Why I want to read it: I’ve read and liked the author’s other series The Naturals and The Fixer. From what I’ve gathered it’s about a auto mechanic who is pulled into another prettier world by her grandma who wants her to attent a debutant ball. It’s not what I normally would read, but I have faith in Lynn Barnes.

Books that Lived Up to the Hype | Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl to bring bookish friends together. A new topic is posted each week. All books I’ve written a review of is linked.

 

All of the Harry Potter series. I was given one of the books as a gift as a child, because I was reading a lot already. What they didn’t realize was that it was the last book of the series, so this massive book with brown cartoonish cover was just sitting there on my shelf for a while before I managed to get the first one. I was blown away, of course.

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi.  I read this book a short time ago, on a plane. The worst idea, as I started crying immediately. A neurosurgeon gets cancer, I’ve written an extensive review of it, but it’s simply a must read. 

 

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. To be honest I wanted to get into Murakami’s fiction and started with this because it had “norwegian” in the name. It’s a bit like the secret history, but in japan and less murder.

The Secret History by Donna Tarttis fantastic, one of my favorite books. The characters are all awful people, there’s murder, learning latin, it’s great.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalliis a great gay young adult book that exceeded my expectation and the hype it had gotten.

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green hands down just brilliant.

 

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi was a young adult fantasy series that I really connected with as a younger teenager. Wonder how I would like it now, a few years later.

The Final Empire of the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson was the first fantasy book I read by Brandon Sanderson and he’s one of the best, especially when it comes to world-building of magical systems and politics.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas. The series quickly went downhill for me until I’ve stopped after Empire of Storms, book five. But I love fighting female main characters, especially a few years ago when I picked it up.

The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss. I picked up the first book, The Name of the Wind, almost by accident before hearing of its popularity. It had just been translated into norwegian for my kid self and I had such expectations for the second book, as did everyone else. It’s one of my favourite books as well, definitely would recommend it for someone who’s already into fantasy.