I MADE IT!

It's eleven in the morning. I've gotten very little sleep. My dog insists on walks and attention (which is normally cute when there has been sleep.) Welcome to the day after Readathon. 

I just want to say that this readathon was one of my most fun, successful, social reading events I've participated in.  

So since my brain is mush and i cannot seem to find coffee in my house I will leave with a short end of event survey. I'll be back with many reviews and bookish thoughts soon! 

Which hour was most daunting for you?

I kind of gave in around hour 18. It was 2 am. Three Dark Queens was interesting but my eyers were no longer willing participants. However I put on the Sorcerers Stone audiobook to help me fall asleep and actually wound up actively listening for the majority of the night.

Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?

For me I LIVE for short story collections during readathon. I still only count them as one book but it's easier for me to feel motivated in the mid hours of the readathon when i can think "30 pages until the next story" instead of "200 pages until the best book."

Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next season?

I really liked the format this year. I thought it was just interactive enough, and the mini challenges were fun and I didn't feel so overwhelmed that I had to stop reading to participate in all of them. 

What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?

Like I said, I think this year flowed very well. I really like how active the twitter space was, it was a very nice social cushion when reading for hours on end got tough. 

How many books did you read?

4!

What were the names of the books you read?'

The Wangs vs the World by Jade Chang

Delicate Edible Birds by Lauren Groff

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone by  JK Rowling

Which book did you enjoy most?

I was so pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed We Have Always Lived in the Castle! I bought it last year to try and boost my end of the year book numbers with a quick, short read and couldn't get into it. This time around I was in love with the style and the story and it was just the right level of creepy for a chilly October night. 

Which did you enjoy least?

This is probably the first time in my life that I haven't completely been about Harry Potter. I was fully prepared to fall asleep but my brain was not on board. I'm glad I had the audiobook to listen to but I would have been equally happy being a well rested reader today. 

How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?

I wouldn't mind hosting a mini challenge or doing some co hosting for an hour or so next spring. I think it would be a fun way to break up the day. 

Hour 12 Update

Hello! I am still here and still reading! This is actually shaping up to being my most successful readathon yet.  Below is my mid event survey and I hope you're all having a blast reading your hearts out.

Mid-Event Survey

1. What are you reading right now?

After 2 normal sized books I needed something short and festive to keep me going. I'm almost halfway through We Have Always Lived in the Castle, and am loving this adulthood jaunt back into Shirley Jackson's macabre mind. 

2. How many books have you read so far?

2 - The Wangs vs the World, and Delicate Edible Birds. 

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

I'm debating between starting Roses and Rot, because All the Books recced it forever ago and Neil Gaiman gives it his word of approval, and Three Dark Crowns, because badass YA ladies would be a nice change of pace from Literary Fiction. 

4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

My puppy has required a ton of attention today, but he is cute and normally sleeps on my feet while I read so I can't get too upset. Otherwise today has been very pleasant and interruption free!

A photo posted by Sarah (@sarahjoyce89) on Oct 22, 2016 at 6:56am PDT

5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

October hasn't been the best month, and 2016 has been rough overall. I am actually suprised by how relaxing I've found today. It's not secret that I love reading, but I feel a million times lighter after taking a chunk out of my constantly growing TBR pile and having no other obligations. 

Ready, Set, Read!

It's 7:58 here in EST so that means, lots of sweatshirts coffee, and sleepy readathon excitement! Here's a quick intro before all the fun starts!


1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?
Michigan, where is it chilly. It doesn't look like reading outside will be an option today.


2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?

Right now i'm excited to finish The Wangs Vs the World, but I also went on a little book buying spree so everything is new and exciting. 

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?

Popcorn ft. SnoCaps.  Also maybe Chinese food later...

4) Tell us a little something about yourself!

Hi! I'm a Librarian who just finished their MLIS. I work at a museum in the Metro Detroit area and apparently don't get enough of books in my day job. Today I'm putting off netflix binging, Red Wings hockey, and long walks while listening to This American Life to cut down my TBR Pile.  You can also find me at @SarahJoyce on twitter and @SarahJoyce89 on insta for mini readathon updates and pictures of books and my dog. 

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?

I've participated about once a year for the last five years (YIKES!) and this will be the first time I am home alone and have no school responsibilities to get in my way. I'm looking forward to stress free reading and snacking with no pressure added.

Happy Reading!

Readathon Countdown

The semi annual Dewey Readathon is coming up and...drumroll please...

THIS TIME I CAN PARTICIPATE.

I don't have homework, an ill timed vacation, or any major work projects standing in my way.

I've slowly been buying up new books. 

I'm getting into the reading groove.

I'm still waiting on 3 more <3 font="">

I even started a snack list.

It looks a lot like my grocery list...

Okay it's mostly caramel apples covered in sprinkles and popcorn. I'm nothing if I'm not healthy.

Do any of you have any readathon tips? What about books you're excited to read?

Here I Am - Foer

I'm a loyal reader. The authors that have been there during pivotal points, hard times, hot summers, I come back to them. Foer has been a favorite of mine since high school. I named by dog after the boy in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.

So a couple weeks ago I dove into Here I Am with no knowledge of plot. No reviews read. Just the fact that a perennial favorite was back on the new release shelf.

It turns out that Here I Am is the story of the deterioration of the Bloch family, and in conjunction - Israel.
I'd give a more full description but imagine marriage crumbling, online games, and general ennui... you'll get the picture.
All of this is not to say that Here I Am wasn't enjoyable. Foer is still a masterful writer, and in lesser hands I would not have wadded through 500+ pages of, for lack of a better term, "first world problems."
While most of the time each page was indulgent, and even reliant of Foer's ability to create deep emotions out of seemingly banal situations nerves were hit, and often.  Each musing on doorknobs or bar mitvah bands was matched by inner turmoil that was universally relatable.
Here I Am is definitely not a book to race through. It is best enjoyed in small bursts, which are at times necessary to tolerate the 40 year old temper tantrums that came up every other chapter.

Stick around for more coherent, less emotionally confused reviews.

Top Ten Tuesday - Fall TBR

Please excuse me if this list looks a little more "TBR for all of 2016" instead of just Fall. Since I'm finally settled into my new house and actually have free time (what is this no homework thing? How did I forget how awesome it is? Someone please remind me of this the next time I say I'm going back to school) there is quite the book backlog to address. So welcome to my Fall TBR, where release date and excitement level aren't exactly related.

Top Ten Books on my Fall TBR

1. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Ransom Riggs
I know it isn't 2011. However I am all about the trailer (featuring a stunning Eva Green) and need SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT after spending the last three weeks with poetry collections and the new Foer Tome. I just ordered this from Book Depository and hope it gets here super quick!

2.The Invisible Library - Genevive Cogman
I have no idea how I missed this series. I'm tired of using the craziness of the last two years as an excuse, so I guess all I can say is I've made a huge error. An error I plan to rectify this fall!

3. Delicate Edible Birds and Other Stories  - Lauren Groff
After loving everything about Groff's 2015 hit Fates and Furies I was excited to hear about her backlog being released in paperback. I'm a sucker for short story collections and have heard nothing but good things about Delicate Edible Birds. It's actually on it's way tomy mailbox as I type. Here's hoping it arrives soon!

4. The Queen of the Night - Alexandra Chee
I've seen this on all the end capes. I've heard all the reviews. I've seen it up and down tumblr and blogspot. I'm caving. Another 500+ page book really isn't going to help me hit my book goal for 2016 but I'm sold on The Queen of the Night.

5. Of This New World - Allegra Hyde
Look! A real October release! I've been hearing Hyde's praises for a couple months now and I must say this debut story collections looks like the perfect combination of fresh and of the moment. I currently have it dog earred for the October Readathon!

6. The Wonder - Emma Donoghue
I loved Room. I don't even know if that's a thing I should say? Room was a masterful and terrible journey. It was expertly written, tho. The Wonder just came out last week but I'm already hearing fantastic things! I can't wait to sink into another of Donoghue's expertly created worlds.

7. November Storm - Robert Oldshue
Another October release! Also another story collection.  During the chillier, prettier months I am all about short pieces that give me pause. This collection is supposed to be about people struggling, and dark feelings are another fall favorite.

8. The Woman in Cabin 10 - Ruth Ware
Basically since Gone Girl came out I've been picking up anything with "The Next Gone Girl" written in it's blurb. There have been a few misses with this (Gone Girl included. I don't know why I continue to do this to myself.) but books like Dark Rooms and The Girl on the Train have completely engulfed me in the last few years, so I'll continue my yearly mystery/thriller buy and hope that yet again I enjoy this story more than Amy Dunne's diary entries.

9. Bad Things Happen - Kris Bertin
Okay, more short stories. Again released earlier this year. But remember how I said the human struggle was kind of a fall trope for me? This is going to fall right into my fall wheelhouse.

10. Children of the New World - Alexander Weinstien
Stay with me for one more short story collection. Children of the New World, which was released earlier this month, sounds like Back Mirror on paper. The stories seem chilling but relevant. I'm hoping they stay just on the "Sarah can sleep" kind of scary.

Now that you know what I'm reading (and how desperately I'm in need of books that aren't short story related) I hope you all will send a few recs my way! Happy Reading!

Bookish Resources - Holy Crap Life Is Busy Edition

You'd think that by nature of working at a library now I'd be up in all the literary news. But alas the stacks I maintain are used more for museum research than leisure reading. This paired with a concentration in Digital Content instead of public librarianship has lead me to feel a little, but not entirely, out of the bookish loop.

Since I am currently working my way through two tomes, in an ill advised attempt to finish my 2016 checklist (that I am woefully behind on.) In lieu of a review this week I've come up with a fail-proof list to keep overwhelmed grad students, or just generally busy people in the bookish loop when there is zero time to read.

All The Books - Book Riot - Podcast
2016 is the year I discovered podcasts. After devouring every history and politically related title I could find on podcast republic I started to look for book based listens. All The Books is the podcast that made me excited to read again. Having a weekly list of titles being released means I usually add one or two to my good reads shelves, and now am not entirely blindsided by the new release section at the book store. Liberty and Rebecca are the best, and I love how excited they get every week just to talk about books. They're truly infectious!

Literary Hub & Electric Literature (because do I really need to also include Book Riot?!)
LBR I spent more than half the time I was in library school working at a credit union that offered no mental stimulation but lots of internet access. These were sites I checked daily in hopes of finding a fun list or insightful article (or snippet of fiction) to keep my brain from oozing out of my ears. I highly recommend each, even though i'm sure I'm preaching to the converted.

Flavorwire
Flavorwire's book section has been my go to for quick book news updates and release info for going on six years. It's not always the most innovative, and occasionally the changes of contributors feels jarring, but I still always find myself coming back for more.

Oh, you might notice that despite increased commutes and the like audio books make no appearance on this list. I cannot for the life of me figure out a way to listen and retain to them. If you have any tips or recs please send them my way!

The Princess Saves Herself in This One- Lovelace

I love this new wave of poetry.This Rupi Kaur, Tumblr ready, kind of verse. I am sure there are millions who hate it,but I am in love with the way it forms mantras out of small lines. It cuts deep in a way that people who came of age with twitter and the threat of character limits really understand.

In case you can't tell I'm not an expert in poetry.
Not of any sort.
None the less I can appreciate words that move me. It is clear that Lovelace has been through some unspeakable tragedies. For me, this collections of poems hit the perfect balance of evoking emotion, hitting home, and flow. It's easy to see the person behind this collection. It's someone who has dealt with greif, and heartache. Someone who has come of age during a time where BA's in English are laughable, and where body image issues turn into life consuming problems.
You don't need to relate to every poem to understand the beauty and power in this collection. I'd highly recommend picking up a copy.

Remember Me?

Hello.

I don't know there is a better way to start this type of post.

Hello. I'm sorry. I've been gone for quite some time.

You see I've been busy. There were many trips across the country, ones that bring together friends from hundreds of miles away.

I stood up in one of my oldest friends weddings. I didn't make a fool of myself during my maid of honor toast. I only cried a little.

I  moved. Within the same city, and into the house my grandmother used to own.But still, it counts. (Just ask my bank account.)

But really the real reason this blog has been eerily silent for almost two years has everything to do with graduate school. 

You see, I just finished my Master's of Library and Information Science.  After two years, a lot of stress. only a few buckets worth of tears, and a crazy last semester I'm done! I started a job at a special collections library earlier this summer. 

At the begining of the year I called 2016 a year of transition. I think I hit the nail on the head.

Now I have free time. I've binged a couple of shows on Netflix. I'm reading for pleasure again. 

And I've missed the bookish community.  So I'm back, at least I hope I'm back. Historically when I say these things something happens within a week and I jump ship. However the last two years have been an anomaly, and I have a lot of reading to catch up on!

2015 Book List

1. Nobody is Ever Missing - Lacey
2. Dash and Lily's Book of Dares - Cohn
3. My Salinger Year - Rakoff
4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone - Rowling
5. Franny and Zooey - Salinger
6. Amy and Rogers Epic Detour - Matson
7. the Rosie Project - Simsion
8. Fairest - Meyer
9. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - Rowling
10. Changing my Mind - Smith
11. Dark Rooms - Anolik
12. The Geography of You and Me - Smith
13. The Victorian Serial - Hughes and Lund

14. The Strange and Beautiful Life of Ava Lavender - Walton

15. So You've Been Publicly Shamed -Ronson

16. Gutshot - Gray

17. The Forty Rules of Love - Shafak

18. Persepolis -Satrapi

19. Bodie Troll - Fosgitt

20. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Rowling

21. The Ghost Network - Disabato

22. This is What Happy Looks Like - Smith

23. Station Eleven - Mandel

24. All the Light We Cannot See - Doerr

25. The Raven Boys - Stiefvater

26. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - Rowling

27. The Dream Theives - Stiefvater

28. Blue Lily, Lily Blue - Stiefvater

29. Ink and Bone - Caine

30. Modern Romance - Ansari

31. The Festival of Insignificance - Kundera

32. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Rowling

33. The Little Paris Bookshop - George

34. Fortune Smiles - Johnson

35.Fates and Furies - Groff

36. The Girl on the Train - Hawkins

37. Carry On - Rowell

38. Fifteen Dogs - Alexis

39. The Turner House - Flornoy

40. The Bad Boys of Butte - Rickey