Bookmail & Wrap Up

Sorry about the delay.  I've been having a few issues with the new Mojave OS ever since I updated my software from Yosemite.  It's been slow, and sluggish, and yesterday I couldn't force quit a program that was preventing me from shutting down the computer, so I had to pull the plug - oops, power outage.

Today I think I've gotten some of the kinks ironed out, but it's still so frustrating to feel like you're being held hostage by your iMac.  Finger's crossed I can actually shut down properly today.

Anyway, last week was quite a good week for me.  Two of the books I've been wanting to read - to see if I want to continue on with the series - were actually at my library.  I know it doesn't sound like a big deal, but trust me, in a small regional country town, having any of my paranormal romance or urban fantasy series on the shelves is major.

I'm still on the fence in regards to Torpedo Ink.  I enjoy the overall story, but the messed up lives, the abuse, and the extremely graphic nature of these books is starting to get to me.  It's like the Anita Blake books all over again.  If you have any thoughts on the matter, let me know in the comments.  I'd seriously love to discuss this with anyone who is having problems with the direction the series is going in.

Thanks for taking the time to watch my videos, I hope to get more up soon.  And until I see you next time,

 

Kindle Binge

I can't believe that January is already behind us in the review mirror of life, and it seems the older I get, the faster time flies.  As I have mentioned before, thanks to the insane weather conditions this summer, I have spent a lot of time inside reading.  And this has led to a corker of a reading month.  So far, in January, I have managed to plow through a grand total of...

 

Yeah.  Just like last year, I have read over half of my Goodreads challenge goal in January.  Now, if I can keep this up for even another month or two, I'll be well on my way to having my best ever year!  If you are wondering if I'm competing against anyone/everyone by blowing through so many books

a) NO, and

b) I only compete against my own previous results.

and to my surprise, even thought I don't like reading Kindle/eBooks (because they make my eyes sore, and I can get bad tension headaches), I fly through them. I devour the electronic editions so much faster than I can the print versions.

Anyway, to wrap this up - Yes, January was a great reading month.  I discovered a few new series, and a couple of new authors that I will be trying more of.  I hope you also had a great reading month, whether that was finishing two books, or one hundred and twenty. 

If you have any recommendations - I'm always looking for new books and authors - please let me know in the comments below, and until I see you next time,

 

A tiny January wrap up

January was a pretty good reading month.  I have read 40 books so far (with 2 days left in the month), but I'm really happy with what I've read so far.

I managed to finish the Firekeeper Saga - after 12 years of looking for the books! - and I think I've mentioned it in most of the video's I've made recently that I had at least filled in the missing gaps in my collection.  It is a wonderful fantasy series that has no sex, sexual violence, graphic violence, nor does it have any swearing as such.  Truly, if you are hesitant about reading fantasy series because of the violence and graphic sex that usually accompanies a lot of fantasy books, then please try this authors work.  Okay, announcement over.

Apart from that I've reread a few of the Stephanie Laurens books, contemplated picking up The Count of Monte Cristo, as well as The Great Zoo of China, but decided that steamy tropical weather was not conducive to a good reading experience so I'm waiting for autumn to kick in.  Cold Comfort Farm is giving me some problems.  I put it down the other day (I'm 48 pages in) and I just don't feel the urge to pick it back up again.  Flora isn't a character that I am drawn to, but I hope once I get into the story again, that will change.

I don't have any solid plans for next months reading.  I'll choose another classic from my #aclassicamonth list, but that's about all.  I'm not even sure if any of the authors I read have any new releases in February, so I'll play it by ear.

Thank you for tuning in to my little rambling chats.  I hope to see you all next time, and until then,

 

Mid January Reading Wrap Up

Why, oh, why did I procrastinate and put off filming stuff for BookTube?

It's been such an effort to try and make this video as I had to do so much editing.  It is surprising how little time it takes to forget just how to talk to a camera.  Unfortunately, I had so many stumbles and moments where I couldn't find my big girl words that it's embarrassing, but I'm determined to get back in the swing of things.

Since I filmed and edited this on Wednesday, I wasn't able to add in my stats for the last couple of days.  So far January has been a massive month for reading.  As of this morning, Saturday 19th, I have read 30 book and have cracked the 9000 word barrier. Yep, 9000+ words have been read in 19 days.  I can't believe I have been quite that prolific. If I can keep up this pace for 2019 I think it will be my best ever year on Goodreads!

I have a few more (shorter) videos I hope to get up before the end of January, but until then thank you for watching, and until I see you next time,

 

Reading Goals for 2019

Well, here we are.  Back at the start of a new year.

I can't believe all the books I've got lined up to be read this year, but I'm going to give it a red hot crack.  There are so many books sitting on my shelves that have been there for years, and 2019 I've decided, is going to be the year that I purge my shelves.  It's either read it, or get rid of it.

Wish me luck, folks.  I'm definitely going to need it.

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

 

Big Book Challenge 2019

I'm trying to get out my final videos of 2019, so bare with me ;-D

This is the first of my reading challenges for 2019.  There are only two rules for the Big Book Challenge:

• must come off my TBR shelves
• must be over 1000 pages (although anything over 980 will be considered)

That's it!  They can be of any genre, hardcover or paperback, and published last year, or 300 years ago.

This challenge started in, I want to say 2015 (?), and I found this to be a great way to get those hefty tomes I kept overlooking, or ignoring, off my overflowing TBR pile.  This year I chose two translated classics - a complete coincidence I assure you ;-D

Let me know in the comments if you have read either of these books as I think I'll need the encouragement.  I'd also love to hear what your reading goals are for 2019.

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

 

My Goodreads stats are in!

I can't believe it's only days until 2019!  The older I get, the faster the year seems to fly by.

Today I'm talking about my Goodreads stats.  This is just an overview, and not an indepth discussion on any of the titles mentioned.  I had a lot of fun with my reading this year - which I will discuss in my Best & Worst Reads of 2018 (coming soon!) - and have already planned out some of my 2019 challenges, so finger's crossed.

I hope you have a wonderful holidays, and a fabulous New Year.  Thank you for watching, commenting, liking and subscribing, and until I see you next time,

 

Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas

Well, it's that time of the year, again!  The tree is up, the presents are wrapped, and it's promising to be a mild sunny day for Christmas.

Thank you to everyone who has liked and commented on my videos, or subscribed to my channel.  It means a lot to me, and I just wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas (or Happy Holiday's if you don't celebrate Christmas).  I look forward to making more videos in 2019.

And until I see you guys next time,

Just a quick update

Hi guys,

Sorry this is so rushed, but I’m on my iPad and all this hen-pecking typing is driving me nuts.

As you can see, I’m taking a little time out, but plan to be back after this heatwave and local bushfires calm down.

Thank you for watching (and subscribing! 🥰), and until I see you next time,

100 subscribers... really?!

Really.  Yes, I had to check my email twice, but it's true - I have now reached the milestone of 100 followers ;-D

I can't believe that I achieved even this small goal.  BookTube is just something I do for fun, and to connect with other book lovers.  To know that you are reaching other people who love books, and don't mind listening to completely unscripted ramblings is amazing!

Thank you (for the 100th time!) for watching, and subscribing to my channel.  I hope to be talking about all the bookish things for a quite awhile ;-D

And until I see you next time,

 

Cloak & Dagger Christmas TBR

Hello, my lovelies.  Sorry, but this is just going to be a very short post today.

Yes, I am taking part in the Cloak and Dagger Christmas readalong - and I am sooo excited!  Plus, being a glutton for punishment I am also modifying this TBR for the 12 Days of Cozmas readalong as well.  Thank God everyone decided to do cosy mystery readalongs otherwise I would be royally screwed ;-D

Let me know in the comments if you are going to be participating in either (or both?) readalongs, and what you will be reading.

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

 

Bookmail, Funko's and a New Camera!

OMG!  I can't believe I actually spent so much 😵

Yes, I am now coming to you with the Canon EOS 200D, and I am beyond excited about finally owning a DSLR.  I've been wanting one for years, but could never justify the expense (soooo expensive in Australia!), however when my old trusty Nikon Coolpix started to fail I decided I needed to invest in a quality camera that was versatile and would allow me to use it for various projects.

Do I love it?  YES!  Am I freaked out by spending so much? YEEESSS!

Anyhoo, it will take me a little while to get myself sorted out with a filming setup, so don't worry if a few video's look funky, I'm working on it.

Thanks for watching, and until I see you next time

 

Reading Update, November 2018

Hello, my lovelies!

It's been a bit longer than I'd anticipated.  Things are just all over the place here.  At the beginning of last week I undertook the massive task of scrubbing all the floors in the house - and promptly started paying for it with my Achilles troubles flaring up, as well as my back issues roaring back to life... and we won't even talk about what happened with my carpal tunnel.  

Results... clean floor,  but I was stuck in bed for a few days.

This did, however, lend itself to getting some more books read.  I had already earmarked an Agatha Christie or two to pick up, and with some of my most anticipated books coming out, well I was perfectly content to become a hermit for a few days ;-D

Luckily, by the end of the week I was feeling pretty good, and was able to resume normal day-to-day activities.  Picked up some boxed sets of Poirot (series 4, 6 and 7&8 which are combined), and had a great weekend just flaked out on the couch with the AC running (mini-heatwave here in QLD), while I enjoyed revisiting with Poirot.  We won't even talk about the new remake of Murder on the Orient Express, because I just can't.

Anyway, I have some plans for future videos that I'm trying to nail down at the moment.  Still, there's always time to pick up a book, and I have quite a few I'd like to get read before the end of the year - but that's another video ;-D

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

 

Back in the swing of things

This heatwave is ridiculous!

Hi there, my lovelies!  This is only going to be short so I can get hurry back to the AC in the living room as it's getting very very hot and muggy.  Seriously, what's up with this weather?

Anyway, I don't have any hauls planned for the next couple of videos, but I'm hoping some Top 5, or perhaps a bookshelf tour might be on the cards.  Let me know below if there is a specific video you would like me to do, and I'll put it on the list ;-D

Okay, I'm roasting in this room.  Thank you for watching, and until I see you next time...

 

Halloween Reading Fail

Yep, I'm calling it.  October was a dud of a reading month.  I only got one book from my Halloween Reads/Victober TBR read, Jane Eyre, and that was it until the last two days of the month when I picked up Trail of Lightning and The Palace Job.

What happened?  I had such plans... well, Netflix happened.  Yes, I joined the Netflix cult and became engrossed with all the Halloween goodness that was on offer.  I binged Ghost Wars, Superstition (great premise), The Haunting of Hill House and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina when they dropped, and whatever spooky movies or series that caught my eye.  Let's face it, Netflix is addictive.

Thankfully, I seem to be past the first flush of the Netflix thrill, and have already read a few more books since I filmed this on the 2nd of November.  Perhaps I'll even pick up a King book this month? ;-D

Anyway, with a heatwave on the horizon here in QLD (predicting 37°c today) I should be able to get a bit more reading done while I sit in the comfort of my lounge room and bask in the wonder that is the AC.  The weather is just all over the place at the moment.  Usually not this hot until end of December, start of new year.

Is anyone else finding the weather unseasonable?  Let me know below if you are, and until I see you next time,