Friday, October 31, 2014

Bookish Digest: October 2014

Hello lovelies! Welcome to Bookish Digest - something we put together at the end of every month to highlight our recent favorite reads and recap any posts you may have missed. We also include an About My Life and Things I'm Looking Forward To section in an effort for you to get to know us better. Don't forget to tell us in the comments some things that happened to you over the past month so we can get to know you guys better too!

If you missed it, Evie and I made a special post about our pets for World Animal Day! Be sure to stop the by that post to see some seriously cute animals! Also,

Happy Halloween!


Halloween is a favorite here around Bookish. We've included some great costumes, so tell us - did you dress up for Halloween? What did you dress up as? Will you passing out candy to all the little munchkins tonight? Don't some of them have the cutest costumes ever?!

 



Series:
Hopefully! (but most likely Standalone)
Genre:
Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Science Fiction, Comedy
Website:Andrew Smith 

Goodreads
Review:
Schedule to post: 4/6/2015
Fans of John Green and Matthew Quick: Get ready to die laughing.

Denton Little's Deathdate takes place in a world exactly like our own except that everyone knows the day they will die. For 17-year-old Denton Little, that's tomorrow, the day of his senior prom.

Despite his early deathdate, Denton has always wanted to live a normal life, but his final days are filled with dramatic firsts. First hangover. First sex. First love triangle (as the first sex seems to have happened not with his adoring girlfriend, but with his best friend's hostile sister. Though he's not totally sure. See: first hangover.) His anxiety builds when he discovers a strange purple rash making its way up his body. Is this what will kill him? And then a strange man shows up at his funeral, claiming to have known Denton's long-deceased mother, and warning him to beware of suspicious government characters…. Suddenly Denton's life is filled with mysterious questions and precious little time to find the answers.

Debut author Lance Rubin takes us on a fast, furious, and outrageously funny ride through the last hours of a teenager's life as he searches for love, meaning, answers, and (just maybe) a way to live on.

Reviews

Author/Book Promotion
Exquisite Captive by Heather Demetrios {Dream Cast}
Memories from a Different Future by David Pandolfe {Book Blast}
Enchantress by Maggie Anton {Guest Post}
Forbidden by Kimberley Griffiths {Trailer}
The Tudor Vendetta by C.W. Gortner {Guest Post}
The Shotgun Arcana by R.S. Belcher {Dream Cast}

About My Life in October
Tori had some mild health issues (she got eczema but we beat the crap out of it) that had us very worried. Thankfully she's all good now and I'm determined to keep it that way! She is also starting to learn how to crawl (she goes backwards, but hey, it counts, right?) and she is so active, I am having a hard time keeping up with her!

I've read some really amazing books this month, including The Witch's Boy, Falling Into Place, Beware The Wild and the one I eventually decided on naming my favorite, Denton Little's Deathdate. It was not an easy choice, guys! All the books mentioned above are fabulous and worth checking out!

I donated 3 huge boxes of clothing, toys and books (more than a 100 books!) to a Women and Children's charity in Buffalo. I hope these books will make some kids hapy!

Things I'm Looking Forward to in November
On November 10th Tori and I are flying to Poland. We will be spending 3 months with my parents and grandma there, so I'm looking forward to family Christmas and meeting some of my old friends. 

I'm looking forward to watching Maze Runner on DVD, as well as some other newly released movies.

Sleep. Like seriously guys, I need sleep. With my parents taking care of Tori, I will finally get some sleep! GAH *cries*




Series:
Standalone
Genre:
Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Website:Robin Talley 

Goodreads
Review:
In 1959 Virginia, the lives of two girls on opposite sides of the battle for civil rights will be changed forever.

Sarah Dunbar is one of the first black students to attend the previously all-white Jefferson High School. An honors student at her old school, she is put into remedial classes, spit on and tormented daily.

Linda Hairston is the daughter of one of the town's most vocal opponents of school integration. She has been taught all her life that the races should be kept separate but equal.

Forced to work together on a school project, Sarah and Linda must confront harsh truths about race, power and how they really feel about one another.

Boldly realistic and emotionally compelling, Lies We Tell Ourselves is a brave and stunning novel about finding truth amid the lies, and finding your voice even when others are determined to silence it.


Features
Music Edition {Feature & Follow}
Please Don't Die {Feature & Follow}
My Blogging Experience {Socratic Seminar}
Series Enders {Socratic Seminar}
Time for a Trip {Top Ten Tuesday}
In With The New {Top Ten Tuesday}
Halloween Movies {Top Ten Tuesday}
Signed Sealed Delivered

Author/Book Promotion
Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch {Author Interview}
Charlesgate by Dina Keratsis {Guest Post}

About My Life In October
Meetings, meetings, meetings. All those last minute meeting with the DJ, reverend, florist, venue coordinator, etc. etc. That's one of the pains of wedding planning. So. Many. Meetings. But it's also really exciting to see everything come together!

Stalked my mailbox. How hard is it to mail back a pre-stamped and pre-addressed envelope? I couldn't have made it easier if I put it in their mailboxes myself. I do love the one friend of Joe's dad who called to say they're not coming but also not mailing back the RSVP. For real? Cheapskates keeping my stamp - give me back my 49 cents damn it!

Went to a Halloween party and Joe won second prize in the costume contest! Our picture is up above - can you guess who we are? (I know it's a little dark but you should still be able to figure it out.)

Things I'm Looking Forward To In November
MY WEDDING! I cannot wait to marry my bestest friend ever! Of course, celebrating with friends and family will be wonderful as well. So excited!

Thanksgiving. Although it's going to be a bit low-key for Joe and I this year, I'm probably just going to want to sleep all day, I love getting together with family for the holidays.



Series:
Thatch #1
Genre:
New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Website:Molly McAdams 

Goodreads
Review:
Grey and Ben fell in love at thirteen and believed they’d be together forever. But three days before their wedding, the twenty-year-old groom-to-be suddenly died from an unknown heart condition, destroying his would-be-bride’s world. If it hadn’t been for their best friend, Jagger, Grey never would have made it through those last two years to graduation. He’s the only one who understands her pain, the only one who knows what it’s like to force yourself to keep moving when your dreams are shattered. Jagger swears he’ll always be there for her, but no one has ever been able to hold on to him. He’s not the kind of guy to settle down.

It’s true that no one has ever been able to keep Jagger—because he’s only ever belonged to Grey. While everyone else worries over Grey’s fragility, he’s the only one who sees her strength. Yet as much as he wants Grey, he knows her heart will always be with Ben. Still they can’t deny the heat that is growing between them—a passion that soon becomes too hot to handle. But admitting their feelings for each other means they’ve got to face the past. Is being together what Ben would have wanted . . . or a betrayal of his memory that will eventually destroy them both? - See more at: http://www.stuckinbooks.com/2014/10/letting-go-thatch-1-by-molly-mcadams.html#sthash.guJdTImx.dpuf

About My Life In October
I went to Texas Teen Book Fest! This used to be Austin Teen Book Fest, but that merged with Texas Book Fest, thus making TTBF. This first year was...crazy. Understandable, since it's the first year for this merged event, but not as great as the past two years when I attended ATBF. Still, I had SO MUCH FUN hanging out with friends. Seriously, they made the day bearable. And I love their faces. I met Sarah J. Maas (who I was crazy fangirl excited for!) and she is so friendly. Becca Fitzpatrick was so sweet, too. And Gayle Forman. And ALL THE AUTHORS I met. It was a super great time.

I went to Texas Book Fest! Texas Teen Book Fest is the YA sector of the festival, but the next week was TBF, and there were still some YA authors there. I got to meet Claudia Gray. And Jennifer E. Smith. And STEPHANIE PERKINS! They were all so freaking sweet, and I kind of want to happy-cry right now because it was so amazing. Mix the great chats I got to have with the authors (I seriously need to write a post at some point detailing those experiences, because they were fabulous) with getting to see some friends AGAIN, and it was the best day. I spent, like, all of it with Mary from Mary Had a Little Book Blog (@knoxdiver on Twitter), and she is awesome. We met up with other friends, too, and it was all. So. Freaking. GREAT.

Nephew #4 turned one! My cutest little baby has been around for a year. Time flies. Strange to think that a year ago, I was holding him, and taking pictures with him for the first time, and saying his full name to everyone I talked to because I love it so much. And now he's walking. And starting to SAY things. Babababababa. And he waves bye (in a baby way, but still). And so much more that makes me want to cry at his level of adorable. LOVE HIM SO MUCH, Y'ALL. *cries*




Things I'm Looking Forward to in November
HOPEFULLY going to Houston Book Rave. I'm crossing my fingers, toes, and everything else possible to cross that I get plans worked out so I can go to Houston Book Rave. Jennifer L. Armentrout's going to be there, and we all know how much I heart her. And Pepe's going to be there! Plus Rachel Harris. And Jay Crownover. And Vilma from Vilma's Book Blog (who I loooove). And MOAR. So hopefully I get to see all their wonderful faces.

Mockingjay! My sister-in-law just bought our tickets today. I am so excited! Even though I know I'm going to be crying all over the place. The one specific part I'm dreading shouldn't happen until Part 2, though, so this one shouldn't hurt TOO MUCH. But still. It's gonna be hurt. I console myself for now knowing that I'll get to see Finnick's face.

Thanksgiving! We're sliding into my favorite time of the year, y'all. From Thanksgiving to Christmas/New Years (depending on what we do for New Years--sometimes it adds to the fun, sometimes I'd just rather not) I am in my natural habitat. I love Christmas. The decorations, the movies, the music (which I sing along to mercilessly, even though singing is not one of my special skills), and the general happy feeling in the air. Back when I lived in Buffalo, we would have snow at this time of year, and I LOVED that, too. I'm soooo looking forward to kicking off the season with Thanksgiving. Heck, I just plain love THANKSGIVING. That's a pretty darn happy day, too. Plus, BISCUITS. *happy dance*



Series:
Truth in Lies #2
Genre:
New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Website:Katherine Owen 

Goodreads
Review:
Posted on October 30
They share an epic love but one moment changes everything. A life together that seemed certain is shattered. One learns you never love the same way twice; the other learns what it means to come home. You only think you know how this love story goes, but do you really know how an epic love can end?

Reviews
The Secrets of Casanova by Greg Michaels {5/5}
The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewel {4/5}
Pulled Within by Marni Mann {4/5}
Impossible by C.A Gray {4/5}
The Truth About Air & Water by Katherine Owen {4/5}

Author/Book Promotion
Truth is Relative by J. J. Lyon {Author Interview}
Color Song by Victoria Strauss {Author Interview}

About My Life in October
My daughter got recognized for excellence in physical education and she made the track team.

I finally got all my new bookshelves organized. 

Things I'm Looking Forward to in November
Hosting Thanksgiving and helping to cook for the first time (I'm not very domesticated so this is a big deal)

Getting our tickets for NYC for Christmas. So excited.

Reading my ARC of Rumble by Ellen Hopkins.




 

Most Popular Review
Evie's review of They All Fall Down was a popular one this month. Described as "surprisingly entertaining and hard to put down," this is definitely a book you don't want to miss! 

Most Popular Non-Review
Dina stopped by Bookish to discuss her inspiration behind her book, Charlesgate. Be sure to read up on the history of Charlesgate itself, and what Dina has to say about it, before picking up your own copy of Charlesgate and getting lost in the story.


What were some of your favorite books this month? Tell us about what went on in your life during the month of October - reading and other wise - and what you're looking forward to in November! :)

No comments:

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...