The Book Of T

Penguin chooses my next classic read.

At a time where motivation seems at an all time low, picking up a book isn’t an easy feat. So, Penguin is going to choose my next classic read. Well…That’s it really. Enjoy.

If you’d like to find out what classic book you should read next, click this link; https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/2017/find-your-classic-quiz/

Okay, this first question’s pretty easy. Since I don’t want to be a part of a re-enactment for a PSA, I’m going to avoid dark city streets. I almost failed science so the lab is out of the question. And, I’m not Dani Harmer so I’d rather not enter a ghost’s safe haven. The sea it is.

Being in quarantine has made me crave and miss the outdoors. So, I’ll easily love to take time to reflect and explore nature. Flirting and dancing is a hard pass. Remember that kid who stands in the corner, with his plastic cup, staring at the cool kids slightly too intensely? That was me.

This is a hard one. I guess I favour an outsider. Who doesn’t love an underdog story?

I don’t think more isolation is a great idea so I won’t want a remote island. I’m also slightly concerned about witnessing something terrible in the not-to-distant future. Maybe another time. I’m going to say Victorian England. Why not? I could pass as high-brow and look rather dashing in a top hat. That’s all you need to pass as Victorian, isn’t it?

I’m not really interested in romance, it’s not something I want to strive for or that I have a strong desire to have. Same with wealth. I love a good revolution though. Overthrowing your oppressors. But, honestly, I just want to create something beautiful. Something that will give a little hope to someone.

Ooh, okay. So I got ‘To the Lighthouse’ by Virginia Woolf. This is on my TBR, which is great.

Alright, I’m excited. This is a great opportunity to finally read this damn book. I hope I enjoy it. I think I might, judging by Penguin’s lil’ summary.

That’s it. I let you know my thoughts on this, when I read it, I guess. Bye.

Contemporary-a-thon Round 5: TBR

Yes, it is here again, the contemporary based read-a-thon. In case you do not know, I’ve had issues this month with expecting to do more than I am capable of. So I’m glad that contemporary-a-thon is here to brighten my mood.

Contemporary-a-thon is a read-a-thon dedicated to reading contemporary books.

The hosts are:

Julie from Pages and pens

Natasha from MyReadingIsOdd

Melanie from MelToTheAny

And, Chelsea from ChelseaDolling Reads

The read-a-thon runs from September 23rd – September 29th (next week) and there’s a live show on Chelsea’s channel on the 28th at 9pm EST/6pm PST

I think (other than the challenges) that is all the information you need. So, let’s jump straight into my TBR.

I’ve decided to only set 3 books for my TBR for this round as I wouldn’t have the time (or energy) to complete 7.

For the challenges:

•Read a 2019 release.

•Read a contemporary with yellow on the cover. And,

•Read a contemporary with plants on the cover.

I’ll be reading Sweet Sorrow by David Nicholls. I guess this is about a guy who joins a Shakespeare ‘cult’ because he likes a girl. I don’t read many books with this type of synopsis but I thought I’d give it a go. I also believe it was released in July.

For the challenges:

• Read a diverse contemporary. And,

•Read I dark/hard-hitting contemporary.

I’ll be reading Black Enough edited by Ibi Zoboi. This is a collection of stories about being young and black in America. I’m guessing this will also have some hard-hitting aspects as it deals with racial prejudice but I guess I’ll find out. I know that there is an illustrated cover edition but I don’t have that. No worries though as I have the perfect substitute.

Finally, for the last two challenges:

•Read a book with an illustrated cover. And,

•Read a book loved by someone in the community.

I’m reading… Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. Of course, this books is loved by Booksandlala. It’s one that she has recommended since we first set eyes on her channel and I shall finally be giving it a go. I believe it is about a girl who is a little ‘strange’ and starts at a new school. Or something. And then shit goes down and she tries to be ‘normal’. I think it’s a book that many of us could have related to when we were young so I’m looking forward to it.

And, that’s it. If you are going to participate, I can’t wait to see your TBRs and I hope you enjoy it. Anyway, see you (very) soon.

Tate

N.E.W.Ts wrap-up (I failed.)

This isn’t going to be a long post but I’ll just talk you through what exams I’ve completed.

Although the month of August was a productive one, I positively failed the N.E.W.Ts. I believe I read 4 (and a bit) books out of the intended 12. I also strayed far away from my initial TBR.

The exams (challenges) I completed were:

Charms A which was to read a book with a gorgeous cover. For this, I read Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. Charms E which was to read a comic or graphic novel or manga (or book under for 150 pages.) I read Locke and Key: Keys to the kingdom by Joe Hill. DADA O was to read a book by an English author or set in England. I decided to read some hope by Edward St Aubyn instead of the intended Agatha Christie novel. Finally, I read Valley of fear by Arthur Conan Doyle for Transfiguration E (to read a book that isn’t the first in a series.)

I was also on my way to finishing DADA A and Potions A (read a book with black under the dust jacket and Polly Juice potion: read your friend’s favourite book) but didn’t manage to complete them.

That’s it really. Well done to everyone who actually read during this readathon. I also have some fun things planned so I’ll see you soon.

N.E.W.Ts 2019 TBR

Welcome again, fellow readers. This post is a little late (We had a family related issue.) but I’m here now with my N.E.W.T.s TBR.In the rare case that you don’t know, the N.E.W.T.s readathon is the second part of a Harry Potter related readathon (the first being the O.W.L.s.). Hosted by G @ Book Roast on youtube. The two readathons span a month each and the second part is set in august.I did participate enthusiastically in the O.W.L.s and completed all the challenges for my career as a ministry worker. During this readathon I have to complete twelve challenges (twelve books) in order to work in the department of mysteries. Anyway, lets just get into what I’ll be reading in the month of august.

The first set of examinations I have to take are for charms. The first challenge (for Acceptable) is to read a book that has a gorgeous cover. For this I’ve gone with Circe by Madeline Miller. I believe this is a book based on Greek Mythos?

For Excellent, you have to read a comic/graphic novel/manga (or book under 150 pages). I’m going to read Locke & key #4 key to the kingdom by Joe Hill.

The last challenge, for Outstanding, is to read a paperback.I’m going to read a book I intended to read in June, the miseducation of Cameron post by Emily M. Danforth. I believe this is a coming of age story of a teen girl forced to live with her conservative aunt and (well intended) grandmother after the death of her parents. She’s in addition coming to understand her sexuality and her love for a girl. That’s all I really know as I want to go in to it fairly blind.

Okay, my next examinations are for Defence Against the Dark Arts. For A the challenge is to read a book that is black under the dust jacket. Many books could fit this challenge, but I’ve gone with The Taking of Annie Thorn by C.J. Tudor. I don’t remember what this one is about but I loved chalk man, Tudor’s debut.

E is to read the first book you remembered just now from your TBR. Mars Room by Rachel Kushner is making it into another TBR. I’ve already talked a bit about what this one is and I’m going to attempt to read this one (again).

Next, for O, is to read a book by an english author or set in England. Im going to read Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie who is an english author. I’ve only ever read murder on the orient express by her (and loved it) so I’m looking forward to diving into this one.

For Potions, A is to read your friends Favourite book. Now, I don’t have any friends, and nobody in my family reads regularly enough to obtain a favourite book so I’m warping this challenge a bit. I asked my mum what her favourite film based on a book is and the first thing that came to her mind was Harry potter. (I probably planted that seed by telling her about this readathon.) So I’ll be reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of fire by J.K. Rowling. I think you know what this book is about or at least the premise of the series so I’ll leave it at that.

E is the challenge to read a book in the colour of your house colour. I’m going to read Rose Madder by Stephen King as it is yellow. I DNF’d this one a while ago but I’m going to try once more. It’s about a woman in a violent relationship who leaves, but as it’s stephen king some weird stuff goes on.

O is a book that starts with a prologue. I’ve selected Elizabeth is missing by Emma Healy. I don’t remember what this is about, and I might change my mind about reading it this month but we’ll see.

Finally, the last set of exams I’m sitting is for Transfiguration. A is to read a book with LGBTQ+ Rep. I’ll either be reading the art of being normal by Lisa Williamson (Which, I believe, is about a trans girl.) and Two boys kissing by David Levithan (About two 17-year-old boys participating in a 32-hour marathon of kissing, to break a guinness world record.). Both I also intended to read in June.

E is to read a book that isn’t a first in a series. I’ll be reading Valley of fear by Arthur Conan Doyle. I believe this is (chronologically) 7th in the Sherlock Holmes series but I haven’t read them in order.

Lastly, O is to read a book over 500 pages. I have another book I DNF’d a while ago, the book thief by Markus Zusak.You probably know what this in is as well.

And that’s it, my TBR for the month of August. Slightly ambitious but do-able. Let me know if you are joining in with the N.E.W.T.s and what you’ll be reading. And good luck!

-Tate

The Reading Rush 2019 Wrap-up

Yesterday marks, my fellow readers, the end of The reading rush 2019. Therefore I have the long awaited Wrap-up by the book of t himself (Strap yourself in because I am an exhilarating person.) In total I devoured seven books (I didn’t finish V for Vendetta, but I will. OKAY? Jees, that was a little more aggressive than I intended.) with a sum of 1,433 pages. I didn’t achieve all of the challenges, but I managed six of the primary challenges as well as a few additional ones on the website.

The week started stong. I was posting bookstagram photos, reading, joining in with sprints, I was in control. I managed to conclude my first book of 180 pages and completed my first challenge, “to read a book with a non-human leading character.”This book was War Horse by Michael Morpurgo. As an established favourite I knew it’d fly by and be enjoyable.A great first read, thank you, me for choosing well.

On day two, I managed only 37 pages of the art of logic by Eugina Cheng.I believe this is for the challenge to,”read a book you meant to read last year.” I was definitely enjoying it, but it was slightly different from what I was expecting (not in a bad way, though). It’s basically a book about understanding logic and an illogical world through mathematics.

Wednesday wasn’t much better with only 75 pages read.I did start The sense of an ending by Julian Barnes which is for “read a book in the same spot” and I was really enjoying it but found it a fairly slow read.For a 150 page book it took a very long time to get through, which was surprising.

It was then day 4, and I was COMMITTED. I stupidly chose to read the sense of an ending in the bath, so I spent a few hours (I’m a slow reader.) fully clothed in the tub. It wasn’t as uncomfortable as it sounds actually, but with only 128 pages to show for it I was slightly gutted.But, I loved it. It was definitely worth it. It did also complete the challenges for the adaptation and five words in the title as well as the same spot challenge. I think that was a “successful” day. I did forget to post the bookstagram challenge though.

Day five, I did nothing, read nothing, posted nothing. In my defense I did have a migraine.

With two days left, I was losing hope, but I did finish the art of logic completing my 5th challenge. I believe I read 108 ish pages. Which isn’t bad.

It was, at long last, day seven and with a last ditch attempt I read as many books as I could. I did manage to read…4 books (I know I didn’t finish v for vendetta, just allow me this!). I was initially in a state of nostalgia, so I read a book from my childhood; Gangsta granny by David Walliams. By the way, I was 8 when it was published (Growing up feels strange.) I guess it scarcely has some purple on the cover so that was my sixth challenge completed. I did decide to then read numbers 2 and 3 in the locke and key series (head games and crown of shadows) by joe Hill.And, I read (as previously mentioned) V for Vendetta by Alan Moore. The last three didn’t complete any challenges but I felt like reading a few graphic novels (so I did).

But in all the chaotic attempts of reading, I think I did well. How was your Reading Rush experience? I hope it was worthier than mine. Also, what was your favourite of the numerous bookish events and challenges? I enjoyed the sprints (so MUCH) but my favourite part was definitely the bookstagram challenges. I know I only did 3 ish but I had fun interacting with you bookish peeps and seeing other’s interpretation of the challenges.

It has been fun, until next time fellow bookish lovers, I’m signing off.

-Tate