Current Reads and WIPs

Current WIPs and Reads | January 2023

Hello and welcome to a midmonth check-in where I am sharing the things I am currently reading and my works in progress and share how I am feeling about each of them. I am happy to report I am finally reading a bit. Not nearly as much as I have in the past, but I am making some progress in that regard. Due to this, I am reading a few books that I am going to be talking about. On top of that I have two projects I am working on as well. Without more rambling, here are my current reads and WIPs

In progress knitting projects and my eReader on my bed.

My Current Reads

I am currently about half way through Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. I am buddy reading this with Misty’s Book Space and it has been really fun reading this book in small chunks and talking about it weekly. So far I am enjoying the book, the author has done a really good job with setting the mood and establishing the characters and setting. There have been a few things I could have done without, but over all I am enjoying it. I am very much in the phase of I need to keep reading to see what happens next, which has not happened in a really long time. I am very happy that it seems like my reading mojo might be returning.

The second book I am currently reading is Sundial by Catriona Ward, this was also a buddy read, but I did not keep up with it sadly. I am still reading it though and I will finish it! I will be a good buddy reading partner lol. I am enjoying this story, it is a horror thriller, but I am enjoying Ninth House a bit more at this point. But, I have a ton to read still so I am curious to see if I feel the same by the time I finish them. I think the main reason is this is more a thriller\horror where as Ninth House is more fantasy/mystery dark academia. Both are written well and, like I said, I am liking them both.

My Current WIPs

The first project I am really focusing on is the Sophie Shawl by PetiteKnit (Ravelry|Website), I started this project in December of 2022 and I would really love to finish it and use it. I am over halfway done at this point and the width of the shawl is getting smaller from here on out. I think I should be finishing it within the week. It is going to be more of a scarf than a shawl in my option. I am also enjoying making one half black and one half white, The second project I am working on, which is more of a background project is the Big Cozy Cardi by Andrea Mowry (Ravelry|Website). This is more of a long term project that I am working on a little each day. I am loving the pattern and process for sure. It is going to be a big oversized cardi with a mohair collar, so it is going to be super comfortable.

What are you currently reading or working on?

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Hauls & Unboxings

BOTM Unboxing | November 2019

Unboxing

Hello and welcome to another BOTM unboxing. This month I actually had a very hard time picking between two of the books  this month. I ended to just adding the two books to my box because I was going back and fourth for two days and I really could not decide. Anyway, here are the books I picked for my BOTM box this month.


So, in the past I have read Susannah Cahalan’s first book Brain on Fire, I really fell in love with her ability to tell a story. I knew she was a journalist and a writer, but I was never sure she was going to write again. Lo and behold, I sign into Book of the Month’s and saw she wrote another. I needed to pick it as my book, no if ands or butts. Honestly, if you have not read her first book, I highly recommend it. It is her own account of her brain turning against her and how she was able to gain back her life. It is really heart wrenching, raw, and fascinating. I can only guess that this will be just as good of not better.

The second book I picked was Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. I really excited so see what she does with an adult novel. I have read some of her other books and really enjoyed them so I know she is an author I “get along with”. I have heard that there are some trigger warnings with this one, but I don’t know the particulars.

Overall, I am really excited by both of these books and I am so happy to have them on my TBR!


Have you read either of these books? What did you think?

Are either of them on your TBR?

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To Be Read

September TBR | 2018

ToBeRead12:17

Hello September! I don’t know about you, but September marks my favorite time of the year. I can start wearing sweatshirts and I have more of an excuse to stay inside and read instead of going outside to be social. It also is the time of year I feel more relaxed and comfortable. Not sure why, but this is just my time of the year and I always get excited about it.

Anyway, this month I am going to focus on reading a few of the biggest books that remain on my TBR. I was going to read these in August, but the NEWTs readathon was announced and that plan went out the window so fast. So without more of my ramblings here are the books I am determined to read in September.

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The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne

The Heart's Invisible Furies

This books I read the first chapter of a few months ago when I did a try a chapter tag. I LOVED the beginning and wanted to read it, but I didn’t have a ton of time to dedicate to it so I kept putting it off. Here is the post if you want my initial reaction: Let’s Talk | Try a Chapter April 2018.  Also, another bonus is I am reading this with my friend Amy.

Cyril Avery is not a real Avery or at least that’s what his adoptive parents tell him. And he never will be. But if he isn’t a real Avery, then who is he?

Born out of wedlock to a teenage girl cast out from her rural Irish community and adopted by a well-to-do if eccentric Dublin couple via the intervention of a hunchbacked Redemptorist nun, Cyril is adrift in the world, anchored only tenuously by his heartfelt friendship with the infinitely more glamourous and dangerous Julian Woodbead.

At the mercy of fortune and coincidence, he will spend a lifetime coming to know himself and where he came from – and over his three score years and ten, will struggle to discover an identity, a home, a country and much more.

In this, Boyne’s most transcendent work to date, we are shown the story of Ireland from the 1940s to today through the eyes of one ordinary man. The Heart’s Invisible Furies is a novel to make you laugh and cry while reminding us all of the redemptive power of the human spirit. –goodreads.com

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Under the Dome by Stephen King

Under the Dome

This is one of the last over 1000 page Stephen King books I own and need to read. I have been reading my smaller ones the last few months as well as his short story collections because I have been doing a bunch of readathons and such so I am excited to finally read one of his larger novels again. I also want to watch this show badly so I need to hurry up and read this already.

Just down Route 119 in Chester’s Mill, Maine, all hell is about to break loose…

On an entirely normal, beautiful fall day, a small town is suddenly and inexplicably sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field. Planes crash into it and rain down flaming wreckage. A gardener’s hand is severed as the dome descends. Cars explode on impact. Families are separated and panic mounts. No one can fathom what the barrier is, where it came from, and when—or if— it will go away. Now a few intrepid citizens, led by an Iraq vet turned short-order cook, face down a ruthless politician dead set on seizing the reins of power under the dome. but their main adversary is the dome itself. Because time isn’t just running short, it’s running out. –goodreads.com

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Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows (Six of Crows, #1)

So, this one I am very iffy about. I tried to read this a year or so ago and ended up unhauling it. When I recently went through my owned audiobooks in my post Lists | Un-listened to Audiobooks I realized I had this still in my possession so I should give it another go. I am hoping that I end up liking it as much as I enjoyed the trilogy.

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price–and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone…

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first. goodreads.com

DividerThe Stand by Stephen King

The Stand

This has been on my radar for a longtime and I finally got a copy of it a month or two ago I think. Maybe even three? I am not 100% sure, but I have been putting this off due to the size so I figured, now was a great time!

First came the days of the plague…
After the days of the plague came the dreams.

Dark dreams that warned of the coming of the dark man. The apostate of death, his worn-down boot heels tramping the night roads. The warlord of the charnel house and Prince of Evil.

His time is at hand. His empire grows in the west and the Apocalypse looms…

When a man escapes from a biological testing facility, he sets in motion a deadly domino effect, spreading a mutated strain of the flu that will wipe out 99 percent of humanity within a few weeks. The survivors who remain are scared, bewildered, and in need of a leader. Two emerge–Mother Abagail, the benevolent 108-year-old woman who urges them to build a community in Boulder, Colorado; and Randall Flagg, the nefarious “Dark Man,” who delights in chaos and violence. –goodreads.com

DividerThe Tommyknockers by Stephen King

The Tommyknockers

Like all of the other Stephen King books on this list, I have had them for some time and I really just want to read them and I am sick of putting them off. I think that really sold me I was watching a show about mining and the one man was talking about tommyknockers and how they are known to warn miners about a cave in. I am not saying that this is the same spirit of being, It just sparked me wanting to read to see if there was any connection between the two.

On a beautiful June day, while walking deep in the woods on her property in Haven, Maine, Bobbi Anderson quite literally stumbles over her own destiny and that of the entire town. For the dull gray metal protrusion she discovers in the ground is part of a mysterious and massive metal object, one that may have been buried there for millennia. Bobbi can’t help but become obsessed and try to dig it out…the consequences of which will affect and transmute every citizen of Haven, young and old. It means unleashing extraordinary powers beyond those of mere mortals—and certain death for any and all outsiders. An alien hell has now invaded this small New England town…an aggressive and violent malignancy devoid of any mercy or sanity… –goodreads.com

DividerHangsaman by Shirley Jackson

Hangsaman

So if you are new here, this year I have found a new favorite author, Shirley Jackson. This month I am buddy reading this novel by her with my friends Amy, Jenna, and Reg. I am really looking forward to it, especially since it was inspired by a real event.

Natalie Waite, daughter of a mediocre writer and a neurotic housewife, is increasingly unsure of her place in the world. In the midst of adolescence she senses a creeping darkness in her life, which will spread among nightmarish parties, poisonous college cliques and the manipulations of the intellectual men who surround her, as her identity gradually crumbles.

Inspired by the unsolved disappearance of a female college student near Shirley Jackson’s home, Hangsaman is a story of lurking disquiet and haunting disorientation. –goodreads.com

DividerWhat do you plan on reading this month?

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Reviews

REVIEW | Wonder Woman: Warbringer By Leigh Bardugo

Book Review

18302455Description

Daughter of immortals.

Princess Diana longs to prove herself to her legendary warrior sisters. But when the opportunity finally comes, she throws away her chance at glory and breaks Amazon law—risking exile—to save a mortal. Diana will soon learn that she has rescued no ordinary girl, and that with this single brave act, she may have doomed the world.

Daughter of death.

Alia Keralis just wanted to escape her overprotective brother with a semester at sea. She doesn’t know she is being hunted by people who think her very existence could spark a world war. When a bomb detonates aboard her ship, Alia is rescued by a mysterious girl of extraordinary strength and forced to confront a horrible truth: Alia is a Warbringer—a direct descendant of the infamous Helen of Troy, fated to bring about an age of bloodshed and misery.

Together.

Two girls will face an army of enemies—mortal and divine—determined to either destroy or possess the Warbringer. Tested beyond the bounds of their abilities, Diana and Alia must find a way to unleash hidden strengths and forge an unlikely alliance. Because if they have any hope of saving both their worlds, they will have to stand side by side against the tide of war.

What I Liked

I have been reading Wonder Woman comics since I was a young girl. I vividly remember having a very large bind-up of “The Best of Wonder Woman” or something very similar to this and running to my basement to look at this strong woman standing up for what is right. Most of readings have revolved around Diana being older and had already left her home so it was wonderful to see her as a young teenager. While she was shown in this different way, she kept her personality and her resolve.

I also enjoyed the characters Leigh Bardugo created. While Diana is a powerful and awe inspiring character I loved that she made just as strong and wonderful characters that Diana travels with. Now, I have to say that when I was reading this story I came across these illustrations.  I really encourage you to check them out, they really shows how awesome and unique each one of them is. I found myself connecting with them and feeling like I was just another friend in their group, which I personally find difficult.

Last, but not least this book was nearly impossible to put down. I was buddy reading this book with my friends Amy and Lia, you should really check them out, and all three of us ended up finishing the book way ahead of schedule. I had to force myself to put this book down and go to bed I was so involved in it.

What I Didn’t Like

One thing I did not like was that some of the actions taken by a particular individual, if you read the book you should know who I am talking about, made no sense and seemed to kinda come from no where. While I can find a reason for their actions, it seems pretty far fetched.

Overall Thoughts

This was a very fun and fast paced read. I think it is well worth picking up from your local library or from the bookstore. The characters are fun, you get to dive a little bit into greek mythology, and you get to go on an epic adventure. I don’t know about you, but I read to learn something new or go on adventures to far off lands. Leigh Bardugo’s Wonder Woman: Warbringer was nothing short of an adventure.


Book Information

Publisher: Random House Children’s Books

Publication Date: August 28th 2017

List Price: $18.99 (Amazon.com)

ISBN: 978-0399549731

Pages: 384 pages


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Wrap Up

OCTOBER 2017 | WRAP UP

Wrap Up

I READ:

‘Salem’s Lot18302455

I finally finished Salem’s Lot! I have been reading this book since February of this year. I started reading it with my boyfriend, but then life got in the way so I ended up having to finish the book on my own. I am very happy I finished it though, I gave it 4 stars.

Ben Mears has returned to Jerusalem’s Lot in hopes that exploring the history of the Marsten House, an old mansion long the subject of rumor and speculation, will help him cast out his personal devils and provide inspiration for his new book. But when two young boys venture into the woods, and only one returns alive, Mears begins to realize that something sinister is at work—in fact, his hometown is under siege from forces of darkness far beyond his imagination. And only he, with a small group of allies, can hope to contain the evil that is growing within the borders of this small New England town.

With this, his second novel, Stephen King established himself as an indisputable master of American horror, able to transform the old conceits of the genre into something fresh and all the more frightening for taking place in a familiar, idyllic locale.

Finders Keepers18302455

This is the second book in the Mr. Mercedes series. I throughly enjoyed this book and I rated it 4 stars!

The genius is John Rothstein, an iconic author who created a famous character, Jimmy Gold, but who hasn’t published a book for decades. Morris Bellamy is livid, not just because Rothstein has stopped providing books, but because the nonconformist Jimmy Gold has sold out for a career in advertising. Morris kills Rothstein and empties his safe of cash, yes, but the real treasure is a trove of notebooks containing at least one more Gold novel.

Morris hides the money and the notebooks, and then he is locked away for another crime. Decades later, a boy named Pete Saubers finds the treasure, and now it is Pete and his family that Bill Hodges, Holly Gibney, and Jerome Robinson must rescue from the ever-more deranged and vengeful Morris when he’s released from prison after thirty-five years.

Where the Light Falls18302455

I gave this historical fiction novel 3 stars, it was not bad, but it did not stand out very much to me. If you enjoy historical fiction and French history this might be a book for you.

From the courtrooms to the battlefields to the alleyways of Paris, with cameos from infamous figures in French history, the Patakis have crafted an epic, action-packed novel of the French Revolution as it has never been seen before. Three years after the storming of the Bastille, Paris is enlivened with the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. The monarchy has been dismantled and a new nation, for the people, is rising up in its place. Jean-Luc, a young optimistic lawyer, moves his wife, Marie, and their son to Paris, inspired by a sense of duty to contribute to the new order. André, the son of a former nobleman, flees his privileged past to fight in the unified French Army with his roguish brother. Sophie, a beautiful young aristocratic widow and niece of a powerful, vindictive uncle, embarks on her own fight for independence.

Underneath the glimmer of hope and freedom, chaos threatens to undo all the progress of the revolution and the lives of these compatriots become inextricably linked. As the demand for justice breeds instability, creates enemies out of compatriots, and fuels a constant thirst for blood in the streets, Jean-Luc, Andre, and Sophie are forced to question the sacrifices made for the revolution. Liberty proves a fragile, fleeting ideal, and survival seems less and less likely—both for these unforgettable individuals, and indeed for the new nation itself.

Eleanor Roosevelt: Volume 118302455

Eleanor Roosevelt is one of my favorite woman in the world. I have looked up to her since I was a young girl. I wrote my first ever biography project in elementary school on her. I ended up giving this particular book on her 3.5 stars. I wrote some more on why I only gave it this rating on good reads, which you can find here. This is the first book in a three book series and I am going to continue. I am planning on writing a full review on the series later on.

Celebrated by feminists, historians, politicians & reviewers everywhere, Blanche Wiesen Cook’s Eleanor Roosevelt presents an unprecedented portrait of the towering female figure of the 20th century. This volume begins with her harrowing childhood, describes the difficulties of her marriage & explains how she persuaded Franklin to make the reforms that would make him famous.

Wonder Woman: Warbringer 18302455

I buddy read this wonderful book with Lia and Amy, you should really check them out. I LOVED this book. I honestly did not have high hopes and was not going to pick this book up, but then this buddy read came out. I am so happy it did because this book is one of my top reads of the year. It left me on the edge of my seat and I felt myself getting very angry on behalf of the characters. 5 Stars!

Two girls will face an army of enemies—mortal and divine—determined to either destroy or possess the Warbringer. Tested beyond the bounds of their abilities, Diana and Alia must find a way to unleash hidden strengths and forge an unlikely alliance. Because if they have any hope of saving both their worlds, they will have to stand side by side against the tide of war.

With Ballet in My Soul18302455

I received this book for review from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. That review is coming very soon, but I will say I gave this book a solid 4 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

A life spanning close to 100 years is noteworthy, if only because of its longevity. The rich life of a woman committed to a professional vision ahead of its time, filled with glamour, excitement, and adventure, is truly remarkable. Narrated in her own words, this is the story of such a woman, Eva Maze, who, from the time she left Romania as a teenager in 1939, dreamed of being a ballet dancer, and through a series a circumstances, became instead one of the most successful theatrical impresarios in Europe – with a career spanning more than 40 years.

I WROTE:

OCTOBER TBR | 2017

BOOK OF THE MONTH | SEPTEMBER 2017

TAG | I MESSED UP BOOK TAG

MY TOP HORROR READS

TAG TUESDAY | THE MIRANDA SINGS AWARD

BOOK HAUL | OCTOBER 2017

NANOWRIMO | 2017


What book did you read this month and love?

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