Just a mini book haul

Well, hello my lovelies!

I can't believe we're already in August. The year is just flying past so quickly. 

So, here we are again with more books finding their way onto my shelves. When I went to the Post Office on Monday I was expecting just 2 parcels, but walked out with 4 instead. eBay has been coming in clutch over the last few months for older books that are just ridiculously expensive on Amazon (yes, I would order from independent bookshops however not only are they generally more expensive, but the shipping is unbelievable in Australia). 

The Color Purple by Alice Walker is a book that I remember from Yr 8 English (way back in the 1990s) and I vaguely remember that I wasn't a fan. Perhaps it was the content, perhaps it was the way it was taught, or maybe - and most likely - a combination of the two, but apart from not enjoying the book we were also made to watch the movie. Not a great movie for Yr 8s. I'm hoping that this time around I will get more out of the book, picking up on the undercurrents and subtleties more than I did at 13.

Next there is The Camomile Lawn by Mary Wesley and The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy. More modern classics to add to my list. And while I have no knowledge of The Camomile Lawn apart from what I read online when searching for it, The Forsyte Saga is a name I remember from my teen years as I remember that the BBC had made that into a mini-series. I have not seen that (at least I don't think so), and after I finish the book I must remember to track down a copy.

Then there is my charming 1889 edition of Three Men In A Boat by Jerome K. Jerome. This was the highlight of my recent eBay searching, and to find it for less than $20 (inc. shipping) was quite the score. It has been just over 8 years since I first read the book - I know, I checked - and I find myself still thinking about it regularly. Surprised that I only gave it 4 stars, but I'll wait until I reread it before messing with my ratings ;D

Anyway, these are the books that arrived in the mail this week. I have been organising the pile of books I've bought over the last 6 months (not all of them, but a good selection) for an upcoming video, and with the new shelves I have come to realise that I really need to go through all my books and be vicious and weed out the books I don't want, have outgrown, are no longer interested in reading from my TBR, or have just hung onto for some reason. So far the donate pile is about 300+, but honestly I should get rid of at least 1000 more. I gave up counting my books in about 2015 and I stopped at just over 3600. Hope my local thrift shops, library and school book drive have room for me.

So, that's it. Let me know if you have any video ideas for me, or if you have any recommendations. I love hearing from you.

Thanks for stopping by, and until I see you next time, 

July Reading Update

I can't believe we're already more than half way through yet another year. Where does the time go? This month has been quite busy for me. Very slow on the work side (since being cut back to only one day a week), but between trying to get all the physical work done for the full wall off shelving for the back room, I've been a bit of a busy camper. 

 

This, however, does not mean that my work has finished. Oh, no. I may already have the wall shelving up in the book room, but now I have to take down ALL the books that I had put on those shelves, and take the boards down to sand, stain, clear coat, sand, clear coat, and then do this for all 16 shelves (8 per wall) - and then put back all those books. I can't wait for this to be a completed project, but I'm not looking forward to starting this 2nd stage.

 

That said, my reading has been going at either a snails pace or I'm ripping through book after book. This is one DIY job that has really messed with my reading. I'm either so sore and tired that I can only manage a small cozy here and there, or I am taking a few days break from things and devouring all the books from my KU list. 

 

Currently I seem to be falling back into a Nora Roberts rabbit hole. I had to take all the books off the old bookcase and I was going to put them on the new shelving, but she takes up nearly 2½ shelves - and to put that into perspective, each shelf in the back room is 6ft long! - so, that's a lot of Nora Roberts/JD Robb. Anyway, so while I was trying to figure out where to put them I got caught up in musing over my favourite ones, and the books I haven't reread in more than a few years, and before I knew it I was curled up with The Search and contemplating picking up Black Hills, Birthright, Chasing Fire and a few more that are overdue for a reread.

 

"But what about your 2026 reading challenge books?" I hear you ask.  Well... as I said in my update video, I am currently reading Where Angels Fear To Tread by EM Forster. I haven't progressed beyond the 10 pages, but I am looking forward to making time in the next couple of days to knock that out. Sadly, my #bigbook2026 is still languishing on my shelves, untouched. I tell myself I have grand plans to begin, but so far I just haven't felt like picking either of them up. I do plan to pick up one of my "6 books to get off my tbr in 2026" offerings. It's chilly, windy and I think it's just the right time to read either Misery by Stephen King, or finally start the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George RR Martin. Yes, I know. I'm a bad reader that I still haven't picked up any of the books in the series. I have owned them for nearly a decade, and I just found that by constantly hearing about them everywhere that it put me off reading them. I am still amazed that I have been able to stay spoiler free for all these years, so I will be going into this completely blind (a small miracle I know).

 

So, that's what's on my currently reading table. I just find that I've slowed down in my reading at the moment, or at least that's how it feels. It seems the older I get, the faster time seems to pass - and I can't say I'm a fan. I miss the summers of my childhood where every day seemed to last forever and the summer holidays seemed to stretch out like an endless dream. Perhaps it's that innocence of childhood that gives it such a magical quality, or that you're not worrying about the state of the world and paying the bills. I just wish I could still capture some of that magic every now and then.

 

Anyway, that's all for the moment. I hope you are having a wonderful reading month. Let me know in the comments what your favourite reads have been recently, and until I see you next time... 

Time for a Mid-Year Challenge Update

Well, hello there!

Just finished editing my Mid-Year Reading Challenge Update for 2026, and boy, was it rough. Didn't realise when I was filming it that my sinuses had given me such flat, almost goose-like dulcet tones. Between that and the internet network issues, you're even lucky to be seeing it today (uploaded) as Telstra, a national carrier, is having a nationwide meltdown today and my mobile phone and Internet connection has been absolutely abysmal. Took nearly 3hrs for my video to upload. Oh, the joys of living in a rural area.

That said, I have had a pretty decent first half of the year, reading wise. I got through a few Stephen Kings,  completed my #aclasssicamonth challenges, and have even psyched myself up to give HRCYED 3.0 a go (more on that in a future video). So, let me know in the comments if you have read any of these books, or if you can offer words of encouragement so I will pick up and read my big books for 2026.

Okay... new problem. Blogger is being a bit of a tosser, and won't let me even add a video or image to this post. Have had to just platforms (Safari to Mozilla) just to add the embedded video. What a day :/

Thanks for watching, and until I see you next time...

A new Stephen King Update for 2026

Hi, nice to see you so soon after the last post. After so long m.i.a, I can't believe I've managed to make 2 videos in less than 2 weeks! Go me ;D

In my latest ramble, I just thought that I'd catch you up on where I am with my Stephen King project. I've been reading his bibliography in publication order, and when I got stalled reading Christine (she was a problem), I honestly thought that I'd just have to give up on that plan and either pick the books up from another book further on, or just give up and read whichever book tickled my fancy - and considering I hate  TBRs, I really thought that I would end up choosing that path. However, I persevered with Christine, got through it... and then stalled on reading The Talisman. Ugh.

So, this was just a short (11min) video that I made to mainly remind myself where I am, and how much I enjoy making these kind of videos - even if I only have a small audience watching - and that this makes me want to get my home library finished sooner rather than later so I can have a consistent place to film and edit in (honestly, trying to find a nice bit of sunlight in this house takes work!).

That being said, I hope you enjoy the video, and let me know in the comments what you're currently reading, and if you have a favourite movie soundtrack. And until I see you next time, 

Jan-Feb Book Haul - Part 1

Hello, my lovelies!

I am so far behind the 8 ball this year, in regards to videos I want to make, that it's not even funny.  So far 2020 has not been a stellar start to a new decade. Although, during all this mayhem in my everyday life I have managed to read at a ridiculous rate, smashing my Goodreads reading challenge goal by February.

In this first of two parts, I have just gone over all the new books that I have added to my library, and the few that I have already read.  Sadly, after filming Part 2 (up soon) I have already accumulated a few more books.  It's a sickness, I tell you.  Then there is Kindle Unlimited... and I think you can guess how my reading month for February went.

Outside of my reading life, things have been chugging along as always. Chronic pain is never fun, but it has really kicked my butt this summer. The hot and humid weather we've experienced here (it's not humid here!) plus the bushfires, etc., just wrecked havoc with my system.  Thankfully with autumn temperatures kicking in, I'm feeling a lot better, but still not yet 100%... well, as good as I'm going to get at the moment anyway.

I'm hoping to do to a big unhaul, or weeding my shelves, in a couple of weeks so if you're interested in that, let me know and I'll see if I can get something up.

Thank you for watching, and until I see you next time, 

 

My 2020 Reading Goals

Well, hello there!

Welcome to my first video for 2020.  I still can't believe we're into the roaring 20's of the 21st century.  This decade there are so many books that I have read that were considered modern classics when I was reading them for high school, or for pleasure, that are turning 100.

For this video I'm just going over my fairly laid back goals for 2020.  I'm relaxing my restrictions for my #BigBook2020 and my #aclassicamonth challenges. For the Big Book challenge I will consider any book over 800 pages.  Yep, I've dropped it back from the 1000 I previously used as I'm running out of those big a$$ books, so... and on the Classic a Month side, my only rule is that I pick a classic a month. Not that hard. I have the choice of any book that is considered a classic. Western or Eastern canons, translated, modern, childrens, you name it, it's fair game.

My Goodreads goal is a do-able 150 books. I usually fly through January with at least 60-70+ books because a hot Australian Summer + AC = lots of reading inside. May up it to 200 if needed, but I'm not planning on repeating a monster of a result like last year (still can't believe I wracked up 443!).

Now, in regards to my channel, uh, nothing major. Just hoping to be a bit more consistent in filming and posting videos. Hoping to get the grey cells up and firing soon so I can decide on perhaps a few future set ideas (Halloween, seasonal recommendations, uh, series recommendations, etc.), that may take a bit more time. I'd be well and truly screwed if I scripted any of my videos.

So, that's it. My 2020 Reading Goals in a nutshell.  I'd just like to say thank you for watching, and until I see you next time,

Victober 2019 Wrap Up

Yah! I have finally been able to edit this and get it up - and all before the end of the first week of November, woo-hoo!  Victober was a mixed bag. I did finish the two titles that made up the four challenges, but the other books I'd hoped to read... well, that didn't go so well.

Sorry this is so short.  Hopefully as Christmas gets closer I can find the time to get some more blogging in. Until then, I hope you had a more successful Victober than I did. Let me know what your favourite book was in the comments, and until next time,

 

Victober Quickie & Bookmail

Okey-dokey, then.  Just thought that I'd put together a super quick (for me) video to chat a little bit about where I am with my Victober reading - keeps me honest! - and about the latest book I'll be adding to my TBR shelves after watching Mara's "Where to Start with Classics" video.

One of these days I really need to do a TBR bookshelf tour to see exactly how many books I have that still haven't been read.

Sorry to run off so quickly, but I can hear a bit of thunder, and where there's thunder, there are appliances to unplug ;-D, so a big thank you for watching, and until I see you next time,

 

Uh, Amazon, why did you do this?

So, Amazon did a thing to my book that I'm a little peeved about.

Let me know if this has ever happened to you after ordering online.  I'm genuinely curious as to how often this actually happens, if it does, or did I just get super unlucky?

Thanks for watching, and until next time,

 

Spookathon 2019 TBR

I'm cooking with gas, today! 

Managed to get this filmed and edited yesterday, but just couldn't upload it.  However, that means it is going up on the start date for the readathon, so... ?

Fingers crossed I can get through all these - plus my Victober TBR - by the end of the month.

Thanks for watching, and until I see you next time,

 

Victober 2019 Update

I can't believe it's almost half way through October!  Where has the month gone?

 

My (late) #Victober TBR

Hello there stranger!

Yes, it is I.  It is hard to believe that I have been absent from BookTube, and this blog, for about 2 months.  I have had a rather difficult time with my health - darn that chronic pain! - and that has affected my ability to a) film videos, and b) to sit down for hours to edit them.

However, I couldn't let Victober pass without at least getting a TBR out there... so, here we go.

I have listed all the links to the hosts, and other various sites/videos, for your Victober pleasure, so I won't rehash all that.  But, I will tell you about the books I have decided to read for this Victober.  The first is ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ ᴍᴇɴ ɪɴ ᴀ ʙᴏᴀᴛ by Jerome K. Jerome.  Although I only read this book at the start of the year... oops, last August acutally!, and I still think about some of the passages.  The language is beautiful, and the characters are memorable.  I love the lazy storyline, it is so simple an idea and executed so well that I'm surprised that I hear so little about this book online.  A great way to spend a few hours.

Next up is ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ ᴍᴇɴ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴜᴍᴍᴇʟ, a sequel to his much earlier novel.  Not surprising since I loved their first outing up the Thames.  This time round, the hypochondriac trio are off to the Black Forest on a cycling tour, with Montmorency in tow.  I don't know anything else about it, and I'm going to go into this with no expectations apart from expecting more beautiful prose.

And finally, there is the underrated, and new to me, offering of Elizabeth Burgoyne Corbett with ɴᴇᴡ ᴀᴍᴀᴢᴏɴɪᴀ. Published in 1889, it is a contemporary of Three Men in a Boat, and as I perused the synopsis, I immediately stopped as soon as I saw 'dystopian', and I'm going into this with no idea what it is about other than that.

So, those are the three books that I'm going to be reading this October.  Fingers crossed it all goes well, and I will be devouring other Victober videos so if you have made one, or have posted something on your blog about it, then leave me a link in the comments.

A big thank you for watching, and until I see you next time,

 

Last Bookmail in July

Hi there!

I finally fired up the ol' desktop today and while I was waiting for Norton to update all the anti-virus things, I thought I'd edit another video for you all.

July was a great month for bookmail - I only wish I hadn't ordered all this myself! There are still some items that are currently MIA, however, I have high hopes that the AbeBooks will arrive in the next week or so... but that Powell's order from the US is still not here, and I am getting rather antsy about it.

Okay, I'm off now.  Hope your July reading was wonderful, and that you found something new and interesting, or rediscovered an old favourite.  Thanks for watching, and until I see you next time,

 

Bookmail Quickie

It was a beautiful winter's day yesterday, so I walked down to the post office.  Thankfully I live close by as I came home with a few parcels - and one of those was something I was very eagerly awaiting.

Things did not go according to plan (as the thumbnail hints) and I'll get into that in the next post, but until then, I hope you enjoy the bookmail unboxing ;-D

Thank you for watching, and until I see you next time,

 

Mid July Reading Update

Woo-wee, is it cold! Thanks to an Antarctic front that's blustering up from the south, I am freezing my butt off.  In an attempt to get a little bit of sun - and to try a different filming location - I rugged up and ventured out into the back yard.  By more dumb luck than good management I happened to choose a time where the winds had died down for a good half hour, but it was still colder than it looks.  Seriously, if the temperatures drop below freezing there should be mandatory snow.  Winter here in rural QLD looks no different than high summer, except for the winter woolies I'm sporting.

On the bookish front, I have been rereading some of my urban fantasy series that have new books coming out soon.  I also read a little bit more from The Count of Monte Cristo, which I'm hoping to finish next month, perhaps, and just listening to more audiobooks as I go about my daily routine.  As it's been so cold here, I haven't spent any time in the office/library. I really need to start filming and creating extra videos so that I have a buffer for times like this.

Anyway, my fingers and toes feel like they are about to drop off, so I'm going to say thank you for watching, and until I see you next time,

 

Ooh, bookmail!

Yah! It’s here 🥰

I missed out on the first Barnes & Noble edition of the Stephen King omnibus, so this time round I was determined to get one. Sadly, it’s not available in Australia (well, at least from Amazon AU, Booktopia, Book Depository or any of the other online book retailers I’ve tried), so I had to go to the source and pre-order it from Barnes & Noble in the US.

The whole process was pretty pain free - although I was frustrated the 10% off coupon I had for signing up didn’t apply to international orders 🤨 - and after parting with over AU$50 all I had to do was wait for my order to ship, and then count the days till it arrived.

And today was that day, and I am delighted with it. I have yet to unwrap it, however the cover art, and the colour palette, are really eye catching.  Even with the book on the shelf, the spine draws the eye.  I’m not sure if there are any illustrations, but I’ll discover that when I get around to peeling off the plastic 😄

I did order one other B&N leatherbound edition, a 2011 copy of Jane Eyre, which arrived yesterday in fabulous condition, and in a twist which surprised me, this earlier leatherbound book was much smaller than the King omnibus.  Although not my favourite classic, I did enjoy Jane Eyre, and this edition is gorgeous. 

I’m not sure if I’ll be purchasing more of these leatherbound books as they are rather expensive here, but I would love to add a few more to my collection. I uploaded my ‘unboxing’ of the SK omnibus this morning if you’d like to see my reaction 😅.

So, that’s all from me at the moment. I now have to find shelf space for these two beauties, so until I see you next time,

The Mid Year Book Freak Out Tag

Well, hello there.

Sorry I've been a little haphazard in the uploading department, but I did get around to editing the Mid Year Freak Out Tag video, and right on time as it turns out.

There are some new books, some not so new books, and a few books mentioned in more than one question, but so far this year - even though I've read nearly 300 books so far! - there have been more misses than hits.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the video, and until I see you next time,

 

Weekend Reading + Bookmail

I tried to get this up last Friday, but thanks to more NBN maintenance - thanks Telstra! - I wasn't able to get it up. So I just ended up filming a wrap up of what I ended up reading instead. 

If you have read any of these books, leave a comment below as I'd love to connect with fellow Constant Readers ;-D

Thanks for watching, and until I see you next time,

 

May Wrap Up + Elevation Review

OMG, Winter is here.  This morning was so cold and I didn't even want to stick my nose out from under the blankets.  When I finally emerged it was to discover that the mercury had plummeted to -2.4°c (felt like -4.8°c) and that does not bode well for the next few months.  It's at times like this that I really wish all houses in Australia came with wood heaters or radiators, because OMG it's so freaking cold.

On the book front, I have just filmed my book haul for May.  Not sure if I'll use that, or re-film it on the weekend because those last stragglers could arrive in the next two days, couldn't they? ;-D  Anyway, I'm feeling more upbeat about things, so hopefully that will translate into filming more, and actually editing the footage I already have.

In the meantime, I'm off to play with the new floof that I adopted on Sunday.  Earl Grey, or EG (as I've already dubbed him), is such a ball of energy. He can be so relaxed and chill and then be zooming off somewhere to chase a leaf.  Such a cutie.

Let me know what you thought of Elevation, and do you think King should stop publishing these novellas and just concentrate on his big ass novels? But I digress.  I'm out. Thanks for watching/reading this, and until I see you next time,

 

Family Emergency Update

I am so happy to be able to say that my mum is out of the CCU (Cardiac Care Unit) and is currently in the rehab ward of the hospital while she undergoes some physio in preparation of her coming home.

As you can well imagine, the last 2 weeks have been a complete nightmare.

However, now that my mum is on the mend, I will try to get my butt back into gear and start filming some new series I hope to include on my channel.  It won't happen this week as I'm taking this slowly, but I hope by the end of May I should be uploading more regularly.

Thank you once again to everyone who commented on my video with their well wishes, they were very much appreciated.

So, my lovelies, until I see you next time