AUGUST ROUNDUP (aka me-catching-up-to-my-Reading-Challenge month)

look at that Pride & Prejudice OMG!

Hello,

I tried to get back on all things blogging this August but I failed. I did a few posts which I hope you guys have checked out. I had a couple of book tours as well and I won't be signing up for anything at this point because #busylife.

My reading pace is also pretty weird lately. At one point, I had this motivation to read everything and the next thing I know, I'm in a weird slump. I just finished a Paulo Coelho book though so I'd like to believe I'm on the good side of reading. lol. I decided to pick up a classic next as well as continue All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. I hope it works out for me :)

As you will see here, I've mostly read manga lately but I'm really hoping to get around more novels than before. My reading pace at work is getting faster which is super great. 😊

books read

 

[WEEKEND READS] where reading slump is slowly coming back to me

real photo will be uploaded later. lol.

Hello,

I'm trying to find my reading rhythm because I feel that I'm falling into another slump which is terrible. I tried reading All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr a couple of weeks back but I honestly get bored. And it's too heavy so I don't bring it with me all the time. I also tried to re-read Red Rising by Pierce Brown because it's one of my go-to books but it also failed me because once again #heavybook.

To get back into reading, I picked up one of my beloved authors, Paulo Coelho, not only do I love his the two books I read by him but also because his books are on mass marker paperback which is super great because I want to carry a book around with me anywhere I go and mass market is just the thing for me right now.

My to-read books for this edition of #weekendreads are the same as last time because I desperately NEED to read them. They're not mass market though so who knows when I'll get the time to read them?

recent reads

Platinum End, vol. 3 | Tsugumi Ohba (story), Takeshi Obata (art)
Finally had the time to read this third volume of Platinum End. It was generally okay. I like the addition of Mukaido. He's a real game changer. He's extremely analytical. Girl A, on the other hand, is just an annoying character. I don't like her. I don't even like Metropoliman. Why do I HATE all of the antagonists in this manga? What is happening Ohba?

Bakemonogatari, part 1 | NisiOisiN (story), VOFAN (art)
This is my first ever light novel and thank the stars that it's my first. I've seen the anime years and years ago. I re-watched it a few months back. I finished this light novel just last night and LOVED it. I can actually imagine the characters speaking and the art just going through my head as I read it. The exchange of words, witty lines, and play with words is just amazing! I'll be grabbing my own copy soon!

Goodnight Punpun Omnibus, vol. 1 | Inio Asano
My first Inio Asano manga and I'm loving it! It's a strange one if I must describe it in one word. Strange because it's a coming-of-age story and it seems to me that such stories are really meant for adult. The art is also very strange. Punpun is shown as a little bird, his family as well. I'm also attracted to the paneling and background art and generally how the storyboard was done.

[TOUR] Rowan Wood Legends

full tour schedule can be found at: YA Bound Book Tours

title: Rowan Wood Legends (the Lost Clan #2)
author: Olivia Wildenstein
genre: young adult, fantasy
publish: August 14, 2017
purchase: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
rating: 4 / 5 stars
goodreads

SOME LEGENDS ARE BETTER LEFT UNTOLD. 

I wasn’t the sort of girl who believed in fairytales, let alone tales about faeries. But that changed the day Faeries came to my small town and Hunters rose from their graves.  

On that fateful day, I received a book, a peculiar collection of myths and legends. Turns out it was so much more than stories. And just as I was on the verge of unlocking its secrets, it was stolen from me by someone I called a friend.

Now, I don’t know whom I can turn to, whom I can trust. All I know is that there are two sides, and I am straddling the great divide because I am both Faerie and Hunter. And although I swore I would never choose, I am slowly falling for one of those sides… 

Fans of Karen Marie Moning's Fever series will adore Wildenstein's Lost Clan series.  

i'm ready for the next book!

I hope you still remember my fangirling review of Rose Petal Graves. You don't? You didn't read it? Let me give you a brief rundown: (1) fictional Native tribe + faeries, (2) OMG that straightforward heroine that I sympathize to, (3) that romance (OMG that romance! not my usual thing but i still fangirl!), (4) the bantering between Catori and Ace is priceless also makes me love Olivia Wildenstein even more!, (5) also, did I mention Kajika?

10 Books that's Been Sitting on My Shelf for Waaaay Too Long!

Hello,

I was thinking of post ideas and I remembered that I haven't done something like this. I've seen this kind of list around before and I thought maybe it's time for me to do it as well. This list will also serve as a shameful reminder of how long I've been neglecting my books.

With this list out here, tell me what I should read next! Is any of these on your fave list? Tell me what you think of them! Tell me why I should read them! Tell me if I should just unhaul them.

[WEEKEND READS] where I suddenly disappeared and finally reappeared!

one of my current reads.

Hello,

A week ago, I celebrated my birthday. I wasn't able to work on any fancy posts because #busylife but I celebrated it with my family and co-workers. My co-workers kept on greeting me, I treated them to donuts, I came home to my parents and sisters with gifts and cakes and the four of them singing 'Happy Birthday'. It was a fantastic day. The next day we went for pizza, my treat of course, so now I'm broke. No money for more books which sucks. ugh.

ANYWAY, as I mentioned on my book haul post last week, I've been quite lousy on reading lately which is super disappointing. I haven't finish this one book I've been reading for almost two weeks now which is, again, super disappointing. What is happening to me?

recent reads

Dreamology | Lucy Keating
Thank the stars I never bought this book. I was really, really looking forward to this and because I'm always hesitant of contemporary titles, I never bought this book. Now I'm working on a bookstore, I had a chance to read it and I hated this. Never just too much romance and I feel that the premise wasn't executed well. There's too much romance and the main characters, Max and Alice were too hot and cold over liking each other -- one time he'd tell her they can't be together because she only knows 'Dream Max' and next thing I know he's bloodydamn kissing her (like, WTH, man? make up your mind!) -- and the climax was too anticlimactic (like WTH happened?). Overall, I hated this book with passion that I don't even know how I can recommend this in any way. but please don't hate me for this. you can go check out other reviews if you feel i'm lacking it many aspects (which I'm sure I am. lol).

All You Need is Kill | Hiroshi Sakurazaka (story); Ryosuke Takeuchi (storyboard); Takeshi Obata (art)
THIS MANGA. THIS MANGA. THIS MANGA! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT EVERYONE TO READ THIS! If you're not aware, this manga's light novel of the same title is where the film Edge of Tomorrow was based on. Heck, I've never even seen that film but I hope you guys get an idea. If not, All You Need is Kill follows Keiji Kiriya as he finds himself stuck in a loop starting one day before he gets out and fight the Mimics, aliens invading Earth. This is a very gripping read and I honestly wish that it's longer -- what for, i'm not sure maybe for more stuff about Keiji or more about Rita. I'll try to have a review soon!

She and Her Cat | Makoto Shinkai (story); Tsubasa Yamaguchi (art)
I have mixed feelings for this beauty. I thought it was a simple story and also a bit striking and... well... a beautiful read. If you're not aware, Makoto Shinkai is the author or the wildly popular your name. light novel and the well loved 5-centimeters per second anime. After reading this and having seen 5-centimeters per second years back, I think I have a grasp of his storytelling now. ANYWAY, She and Her Cat is about Miyu and her adjustment to adulthood and working and living away from home. There's loneliness and stress. And all of these are told in a single volume manga in the point of view of her cat. fancy!

[REVIEW] Anonymous Noise, Vol. 1

title: Anonymous Noise, Vol. 1 (Fukumenkei Noise #1)
author: Ryōko Fukuyama
genre: manga, romance
publish: March 7, 2017 by Viz Media LLC (first published October 18, 2013)
purchase: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
rating: 3 / 5 stars
goodreads

We're hiding our true feelings. 

Nino Arisugawa, a girl who loves to sing, experiences her first heart-wrenching goodbye when her beloved childhood friend, Momo, moves away. And after Nino befriends Yuzu, a music composer, she experiences another sad parting! Both boys promised Nino that they would find her one day through her singing, so she holds on to that hope and continues to reach out with her voice. Now in high school Nino serendipitously reunites with Yuzu, but she yearns to see Momo again...

just another shoujo romance.

This is one of those stories that felt so cliched -- overused shoujo romance plot with love triangle. A shy and comic relief guy who likes the girl and a serious and a bit more mysterious guy who also likes the girl. And a girl whose feelings bounces between the two.

[TOUR] All Signs Point to Murder

title: All Signs Point to Murder (Zodiac Mystery #2)
author: Connie di Marco
genre: adult fiction, cozy mystery
publish: August 8, 2017 by Midnight Ink
purchase: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
rating: 3.5 / 5 stars
goodreads

Julia Bonatti is alarmed by the astrological signs looming over Geneva Leary’s wedding day, but nobody asked Julia’s opinion and being a bridesmaid means supporting the bride no matter what. Even with the foreboding Moon-Mars-Pluto lineup in the heavens, no one’s prepared for the catastrophes that strike: a no-show sister, a passed-out wedding planner, and a lethal shooting in the dead of night. 

With anger and grief threatening to tear the Leary family part, Julia is determined to understand how such a terrible tragedy could occur. As she digs deeper into the family’s secrets, her astrological insights will lead her to the truth about a criminal enterprise that stretches far beyond the California coast. 

would keep you guessing, wondering, questioning

If you've been following me since my the Blacksheep Project days, you'll know that I LOVE cozy mysteries just for the heck of it. Okay, generally because they are always such a fun read and at the same time thrilling. All Signs Point to Murder deals with astrology and I've never read anything like this! I've read cozy mysteries that involves a baker and cafe owner, lingerie store owner, and even historical mysteries which were totally enjoyable reads. An astrologer is obviously an amazing addition to this short list.

JUNE - JULY BOOKHAUL (aka i'm-finally-working-in-a-bookstore haul)

june-july haul

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly | The Travelers by Chris Pavone | Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig | LaRose by Louise Erdrich | Thunderstruck by Erik Larson | The Cellar (The Cellar #1) by Natasha Preston | Dark Parties by Sara Grant |  Nearly Gone (Nearly Gone #1) by Elle Cosimano | Always and Forever, Lara Jean (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #3) by Jenny Han | When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon | All You Need is Kill by Ryosuke Takeuchi, Takeshi Obata | Death Note: Another Note - The Los Angeles BB Murder Case by NisiOisiN | Platinum End, Vol.1 by Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata | Platinum End, Vol.2 by Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata

Hello,

I've been knocked out for a month and so but now, I'm back for good (I hope). During the past month, I've been trying to read a lot and somehow I failed. I've read several manga volumes though which really helped my Goodreads Reading Challenge. lol. I'll have all of them over at my June-July Roundup which I'm hoping to have up before the week ends.

[REVIEW] A Man Called Ove

title: A Man Called Ove
author: Fredrik Backman, Henning Koch (translator)
genre: adult fiction, contemporary
publish: May 5, 2015 by Washington Square Press
purchase: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Fully Booked
rating: 5 / 5 stars
goodreads

ALL YOU NEED IS OVE.

At first sight, Ove is almost certainly the grumpiest man you will ever meet, a curmudgeon with staunch principles, strict routines, and a short-fuse. People think him bitter, and he  thinks himeslf surrounded by idiots. 

Ove's well-ordered solitary world gets shake-up one November morning with the appearance of new neighbors, a chatty young couple and their two boisterous daughters, who announce their arrival by accidentally flattening Ove's mailbox with their U-Haul. What follows is a heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unlikely friendships, and a community's unexpected reassessment of the one person they thought they had all figured out. 

A word-of-mouth bestseller that has caused a sensation across Europe, Fredrik Backman's irresistible novel about the angry old man next dorr is an uplifting exploration of the unreliability of fist impressions and a gentle reminder that life is sweeter when it is shaed with other people. 

OVE IS ALL YOU NEED.

easily one of my fave 2017 reads!

After reading this, I got into one of those moments when I keep on asking myself: Why did I never read this as soon as I had it?. I've only seen A Man Called Ove a couple of times in the book blogging community and I seriously think it needs to be known by everyone.

[WEEKEND READS] where my work schedule stresses me out but I get to read all the books

highly recommended read!

Hello,

I'm still not used to my work schedule but I'm honestly enjoying the perks of working in a bookstore -- getting first dibs on books, reading books I'm not sure I'll ever buy, and generally encouraging people to read my faves. lol. Also, this is the first time I am actually surrounded by people who read.

I'm still not back to book blogging but I want to make general updates every now and then. I've also posted a couple of book reviews, again.

recent reads

Anonymous Noise, vol 1 (Anonymous Noise #1) | Ryōko Fukuyama
When this arrive on the store, I'm like: I'm gonna read this first before we display it! I did! AND I have mixed feelings for this because ya know, that start was just odd and quite off and just doesn't feel 'realistic'. I'm not saying manga stories are realistic or slice of life series should be more realistic but ya know, kids hitting it off at first grade and saying big things seriously just doesn't make the cut for me. BUT I'm gonna watch the anime soon, so yeah... I hope I like it better. Also, I'm gonna wait for the second volume to arrive here.

Secrets of the Dead (DI Robyn Carter #2) | Carol Wyer
This was just felt like the usual crime fiction thriller -- a serial killer, a thrilling pace, and a detective with a baggage. Nothing really stands out here which kind of disappointed me BUT I'm still into reading the next book of this series. You can read my review for this over here!

Sleeping Giants (Themis Files #1) | Sylvain Neuvel
I FINALLY FINISHED THIS! Have you read my review? I LOVED it -- the intrigue, the politics, the characters. I'm excited to jump into Waking Gods! I'll grab the next book by the end of the month then read it as soon as I can. I promise!

The High School Life of a Fudanshi, vol 1 (High School Life of a Fudanshi #1) | Michinoku Atami
When I saw this on the shipment, I'm like: THAT TITLE! I was so dead on reading this. When I finally did, I was laughing so much my co-workers are looking weirdly at me (especially because no one reads manga here). This is funny, no doubt about it. It's a 4-koma after all -- 4-koma, meaning a manga told in 4 panels and are meant for humor. The problem with manga like these is that it's culturally inclined (meaning, I have to be aware of certainly cultural practices) and they tend to be repetitive. But yeah, I still enjoyed it :)

[TOUR] Belle of Two Arbors

title: Belle of Two Arbors
author: Paul Diamond; Maria Buhr Grimes (poetry)
genre: adult fiction, historical fiction
publish: April 4, 2017 by Cedar Forge Press
purchase: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
rating: 3.5 / 5 stars
goodreads

Born at the turn of the twentieth century in Glen Arbor, near the dunes of Northern Michigan, young Belle is the first child of a gruff stove-works boss and a crippled mother who weaned Belle on the verse of Emily Dickinson. When a natural disaster results in her mother's death and nearly takes the life of her younger brother Pip, Belle creates a fierce, almost ecstatic farewell song. Thus begins her journey to compose a perfect Goodbye to Mama.  

At 21, Belle ventures south to Ann Arbor for university, with teenaged Pip in tow. There, she befriends Robert Frost, Ted Roethke and Wystan Auden and finds that her poetry stands alongside theirs, and even with that of her hero, Dickinson. Her lyrics capture the sounds, sights, and rhythms of the changing seasons in the northern forests, amidst the rolling dunes by the shores of the Great Lake.  

Despite the peace she finds, Belle also struggles in both homes. Up north, she battles her father who thinks a woman can't run the family business; and clashes against developers who would scar the natural landscape. In Ann Arbor, she challenges the status quo of academic pedants and chauvinists.  

Belle's narrative brings these two places to life in their historic context: a growing Midwestern town driven by a public university, striving for greatness; and a rural peninsula seeking prosperity while preserving its natural heritage. Through the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, World War II, and the Post-War Boom, Belle's story is hard to put down. Her voice and songs will be even harder to forget. 

a beautifully written and informative historical fiction

I joined the blog tour of Belle of Two Arbors simply because: (1) I'm IN LOVE with all things historical fiction (you, guys, probably know his by now); (2) it covers a whole lot of events and this means more information for me (yay for that); (3) the combination of novel and poetry highly intrigued me because I was never a poetry reader but ya know, sometimes you just have to go for it (and the curiosity is killing me).

[REVIEW] Secrets of the Dead

title: Secrets of the Dead (DI Robyn Carter #2)
author: Carol Wyer
genre: adult fiction, crime fiction, mystery, thriller
publish: May 30, 2017 by Bookouture
purchase: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
rating: 3.5 / 5 stars
goodreads

Three murders. Three innocent victims. What secrets did they share with their killer? 

A bottle of bubble bath and colourful, plastic boats were scattered in small puddles on the floor. In the bathtub lay Linda Upton, fully-clothed, her lips a shade of blue, and her bloodshot eyes wide open. 

When a young mother is found drowned in the bath, clutching a receipt saying ‘all debts paid’, Detective Robyn Carter knows it’s just the beginning of a harrowing case. She recognises the signs of a serial killer, and when a second victim with a receipt is found, her worst fears are confirmed. 

With the local press whipping the public into a frenzy, Robyn is under pressure to solve the crime yesterday. But her team can’t find a link between the two bodies, and the cracks are starting to show. 

Just when her leads have dried up, Robyn discovers an unsettling clue she thinks could unlock the case. But as she chases across the plush carpets and manicured lawns of the wealthy elite, honing in on the killer’s shocking motive, one of her own is put in terrible danger. 

The press call him The Leopard for his stealth, speed and brutality. Can Robyn stop the most twisted killer of her career before it’s too late? 

A heart-pounding, toe-curling, one-sitting serial killer thriller that will hook you from the first page till the last. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott and Karin Slaughter.

Highly similar to Robert Bryndza's Detective Erika Foster series. If you like one, you might enjoy the other.

If you've read my review on Little Girl Lost, you'll know that I liked it -- its pace, its detective, its writing. I found it highly similar to other Bookouture thriller titles but when it easily reminds me of other specific characters from other books, I feel a bit of disappointment. Secrets of the Dead (or DI Robyn Carter series) is just that for me -- it feels like a shadow of Detective Erika Foster with a more positive take.

[REVIEW] Sleeping Giants

title: Sleeping Giants (Themis Files #1)
author: Sylvain Neuvel
genre: science fiction
publish: April 26, 2016 by Del Rey
purchase: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
rating: 4.5 / 5 stars
goodreads

A girl named Rose is riding her new bike near her home in Deadwood, South Dakota, when she falls through the earth. She wakes up at the bottom of a square hole, its walls glowing with intricate carvings. But the firemen who come to save her peer down upon something even stranger: a little girl in the palm of a giant metal hand.

Seventeen years later, the mystery of the bizarre artifact remains unsolved -- its origins, architects, and purpose unknown. Its carbon dating defies belief; military reports are redacted; theories are floated, then rejected. 

But some can never stop searching for answers. 

Rose Franklin is now a highly trained physicist leading a top secret team to crack the hand's code. And along with her colleagues, she is being interviewed by a nameless interrogator whose power and purview are as enigmatic as the provenance of the relic. What's clear is that Rose and her compatriots are on the edge of unraveling history's most perplexing discover -- and figuring out what it portends for humanity. But once the pieces of the puzzle are in place, will the result prove to b an instrument of lasting peace or a weapon of mass destruction? 

An inventive debut in the tradition of World War Z and The Martian, told in interviews, journal entries, transcripts, and news articles, Sleeping Giants is a thriller fueled by a quest for truth -- and a fight for control of earthshaking power.

this book tells me that Ancient Aliens speculations might actually be real.

I bought this book last year because I've been seeing it A LOT. It's scifi so there're no worries for me. When I found out that it's about giant robots, I'm like: how even? When I read people raving about it, I'm like: I MUST READ IT ASAP! When I finished it, I'm like: WOW, I need more books like this!

MAY ROUNDUP (aka my first month of work)

this book sucks, btw.

Hello,

This is a fashionably late roundup post. I've been on-and-off here on my blog. I'm just chilling about it for some reason though. I'm adjusting to my work schedule and it's quite crazy. I also realized my schedule and work allows me to read more books -- so YAY for that. I'm also breezing through my reads, recently.

At the moment, I'm currently reading: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. I know I had this on my #weekendreads last time. I held it off and gave way to Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel which was bloodydamn amazing! I'll have to read Waking Gods soon! I also recently started Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han. I randomly grabbed this while waiting after work hours on the bookstore. I plan to buy this after a few more months but why wait when I can read it because of my work?

June is going to be a crazy month of adjustment for me and I won't be posting as much as I want to. I have a couple of blog tours coming up though so I hope you guys look out for that!

books read

The Alchemist was an fave for me. I cannot believe it took me forever to read it. Now I'm convinced that I should read every Paulo Coelho book out there. Hidden Figures is my first non-fiction and I loved it! It doesn't matter if you've seen the movie or not, you should totally read this book. The movie may be great but it compromised certain facts and it jumbled up events for dramatic purposes. So yeah, that sucks but I enjoyed watching that movie but this book is much, much more than that. Another insta-fave for me. Little Girl Lost is another Bookouture detective crime fiction. Violet Grenade was a pretty nice read but I wasn't engaged to it as much as everyone else. Sucks but it's good not highly recommended though. King's Cage is the ONLY book I read and didn't like this May. It sucks. I thought I'd like it because #teamMaven but it sucks, okay? It's full of unimportant events and Mare's endless repetitions of observations and understanding about Maven (and I'm just like: you've said that before. ugh!). But I'm still reading the fourth book though (what is wrong with me?).