400th Post

This right here is my 400th post(!), and I still can't believe that that is how many I've done!

I started in October 2013 with five reviews back to back (Graceling, Hunger Games, Gallagher Girls, Throne of Glass, Infernal Devices - all the ones everyone were reading). Actually, maybe I should go back and re-read Graceling and see how a review now would compare to my very first one? I'll put it into my thinking cap.

Then in 2014 I had a whopping 97 posts, with 12 alone in July! I started out with posts twice a week, T5W's (Top 5 Wednesdays) were here for a while.

Now it's just every other Saturday, a comfortable amount to me, with everything else going on. I haven't wanted to stop - and don't plan on for a while - even though my reasons to continue aren't all the reasons why I started.

I wrote about why I started in my very first post, and made another post four years later "Revamping an old Post" (link here). If you've read that post, then you know what I mean when I say thank you. Thank you for reading, even though it's not what I initially even really wanted. Yet here we are 400 posts later.

Read on lovelies,

S

New Schedule?

I've been writing here since winter 2013 with up to 11 posts one month (!) with T5W ones on wednesdays, regular posts on saturdays and wrap-ups at the end of the month for a long time.

Each summer I'd have a break or post every other week, like I have been doing now, and I've been really enjoying it. It forces me think carefully about what I really want to write about since I only have three posts per month with one being a wrap-up.

So I've decided that's what I'll continue to do, at least until Christmas. At the end of each month there'll be a wrap-up. Then every other post will probably be one review (or I've been thinking about doing a couple small reviews in one post) and every other either a tag or something else I'll come up with. But we shall see!

Read on lovelies,

S

Why I Post & Read

This is a slightly odd one, but I get asked why read and post.

I've said it before, but I started writing to express my feelings and clear out my thoughts on books.
Another reason is to keep myself accountable and organized in the challenges I try.

Overall I read to learn and just for enjoyment. The thing is though, I recommend expanding what you read, even though you're content in what you're reading.

So yes, I read books in Finnish and English and I've reviewed books in English that are only out in Finnish for that reason. Trying to expand what I read and maybe inspire you to do so as well.

Read on lovelies,

S

Gift Ideas II

I made a post about ones you can diy (link), which can be worth checking since these will just be additions, but I wanted to list some more gift ideas for a bookish person in your life, or even for one who isn't!



Trinket:
Bookmarks, key-chains, necklaces, earrings, bracelets...
(Google a favorite of theirs and maybe it has a famous quote or symbol for it, or maybe go about it with the general theme of books)

Wearable:
Scarf, shirt, even an umbrella!
(Again you can pick a favorite series of theirs and Google to see)

Decor:
Clock, computer decal, candles, posters, bed sheets, table cloth

Other:
Mugs, glasses, coasters, makeup brushes (for example HP wand ones)



Another thing, is that if it's a particular fandom that not too popular, or it can't be found, is that ebay is a place to definitely check! Lots of handmade things and there's something for everyone there!


For even more you can check this list: https://ebookfriendly.com/best-literary-gifts/

Read on lovelies,

S

Star Rating Statistics

In the previous two years around 80 books have been added to the books I have listed read on my excel (~600 books at this point). So to see how things have changed I'm looking into those 80 books and comparing to the stats of all the books.

Still with me?

All the books (excding the last 2 years):

487 books,

ave. 3.15

Now to the books from October 2016 to midway of October 2018:

83 books,

ave. 3.65

Now all the books:

570 books,
ave. 3.22

Breakdown:

Most growth: 

4.5 ★ from 4.53% to 18.66%

2.5 ★ from 4.35% to 8%

3.5 ★ from 13.22% to 20%

4 ★ from 21.74% to 28%

Most dropped:

2 ★ from 15.2% to 1.33%

3 ★ from 27.7% to 17.33%

1 ★ from 4.89% to 2.66%

5 ★ from 7.6% to 4%

So what do these tell me? It tells me that I've been rating books better, hopefully meaning that I've liked the books better, which tells me that I've come to know what types of books I like and I've focused on them. Yes I do realize that my 5 star rated books have also dropped, but so have 1-3.

Which is actually kind of surprising me since I feel like I've been expanding what I read and picking up things that I used to not. Which apparently is a very good thing!

Read on lovelies,

S

Genre Statistics

In October 2016 I made a post link about Genres. What I read, reasons and statistics. So now two years later I want to see how much it has changed.

Keep in mind though that at the end of the year I always do a post about statistics of that year (amounts, genres, pages, months etc.).

After the previous post around 80 books have been added to the books I have listed read on my excel (~600 books at this point).  So to see how things have changed I'm also looking into those 80 books and comparing to last times stats.

Still with me?

This shows all the books I've read by genre

All the books:
(a ">" means it has changed more than .5% since the 2016 post)

Magic 13.16% (and yes magic is part of fantasy, but here the section above is only non-magic fantasy...)
Fantasy 15.96%

Realistic Fiction 10.70%

> Graphic Novel 11.40% (from classics to magic) +1 positions

> Classic-y 10.53%
> Romance (only) 6.66%

> Agents 5.44% (um, yep these are weirdly sorted)
> Retelling 5.96% +1
Dystopia 3.68%
> Sci-fi 3.68%
> Non-fiction 3.68%
> Crime 3.50%
Short-story 1.58%
Childrens 1.23%
Novella 0.53%
Plays 0.53%
Poems 0.88% +2
Survival 0.53%
Horror 0.35%
Historical 0.18%

(tot. 571 books)

Now to the books from October 2016 to midway of August 2018:

8     Retelling 15.66% +7

6     Romance 12.05% +4

12    Crime 12.05% +10

1     Fantasy 10.84% -3

5     Realistic Fiction 10.84% +1

2     Magic 8.43% -4

11    Non-fiction 7.23% +4

10    Sci-fi 6.02% +2

7     Agents 4.82% -2

3     Graphic Novel 3.61% -7

4     Classic-y 2.41% -7

17    Poems 2.41% +6

20    Historical 1.20% +8

18    Survival 1.20% +5

19    Horror 1.20% +6

9     Dystopia

13    Short-story -1

14    Childrens 

15    Novella +1

16    Plays +2

(tot. 83 books)

Breakdown:

Most grown: Crime, Historical and Retellings.

Though from previously not having read any and now one historical that can be taken off that list.

Most dropped: Graphic Novels, Classic-y and Magic.

I stopped doing my classic-a-month challenge so there's that explained...

Read on lovelies,

S

Fictional Characters Should Read These Books

I think these different fictional characters should read these books and genres:

Harry Potter:

Adventure & action

Weirdly I'd actually recommend the Harry Potter books. Especially to the Harry before he gets to know he's a wizard. The books can teleport you to a whole different world that will inspire.

Ron:

Attention gripping that'll take his mind away from his family.

I'd say a low fantasy with a crime/mystery aspect.

Maybe Percy Jackson?

Hermione:

Something nerdy that she can learn more from.

So definitely non-fiction, and maybe science related since how muggles think is interesting.

Soonish could be a good one for futuristic inventions, or not.

Ginny:

Contemporary romance with a strong female lead.

Or actually The Lunar Chronicles could be great!

Luna:

Something quirky maybe even a sci-fi.

Furthermore could be the one to go with.

Draco:

Mystery, thriller - immersive, fast paced and something the reader can try to solve.

I could see Locke & Key working out.

Read on lovelies,

S

Getting Rid of a Sticker and its Residue

Today was supposed to be a review of Sea Witch by Sarah Henning, but life got in the way and I'm still in the middle of reading it.
So instead here's something different!

- - -

I'm sure a lot of us has experienced this. Every once in a while we buy a book and it has a sticker on the cover (promotion, sale, used copy... too many reasons) and we peel it off - and the residue stays. And. It. Won't. Budge.

At this point you try to rub it creating goo lumps eventually just smearing the mess. Then we might google, but we can't just risk the book. But I've done it so you don't need to!
So for getting rid of a sticker and its residue read on.

Before continuing on with your own testing, try the possible materials on a bit of the cover first to make sure it won't be harmed!


1) Getting the sticker off

- Take a blunt object with an edge (ex. a ruler), but nothing too sharp so you won't puncture the cover

- Start with the corner of the sticker and once it lifts up use the edge of the ruler to push the sticker, until you can pull it with your fingers

- Note: in case of multiple stickers, finish with one sticker completely before starting another so nothing sticks to the goop while you work

At this point the materials to use differ based on the cover material type.


For non-absorbent covers
(ex. leather, cloth, plastic covered, some of the velvety feeling ones, most naked hardbacks):

2) Get something alcohol based, or not
- You can use perfume or nail polish remover, or even just oil
(I even managed with non-alcohol based nail polish remover)

- Add a few drops to a piece of paper and start rubbing the sticker

- You can finish off with a dry or damp (with water) paper to get rid of any moisture left


For other covers
(ex. most hardback jackets, paper, non-shiny I guess):

2) Rubbing

There's a couple ways of doing this, but each work because of friction and the residue will start to clump up

- Take an eraser (or even just a piece of paper) and rub the sticky parts. Don't use a crumbly one and do note that this will cause lots of crumbs to clean off, but the stickyness will be gone

- The I'd-even-say-iconic way would be to try blotting the sticker's residue with the sticker itself, but this would take quite a long time. So instead take a piece of tape and instead of blotting it stick it on (while still holding the ends) and rub it against the book

What not to do:

- Don't use heat on it like you can with wood, it will curl the pages

- If you're using any liquids, don't leave it on too long, it might soak through the cover

- Also with liquids try not get any of it on the book pages, because though they will dry they might end up curled

Another warning: it does get worse, before it gets better!

Read on lovelies,

S

Summer Break ?

Summer is here, and there will be some scheduling changes, I won't be gone though!

So through June and July I will be posting every second Saturday.

Though the first two weeks of June will have a post and the second week of August won't!

So biweekly from June 9th to August 11th, 5 skips in total

Also on another note, we will start the summer with lots of book reviews, since lots of exciting book are being released.

For example make sure to check out yesterdays Smoke in the Sun review and be on the lookout for Reaper at the Gates, My Plain Jane, Sea Witch and more!

Read on lovelies and have a fantastic summer,

S

Bookish Wishes

If a genie were to grant you bookish wishes, what would you ask for and why?

Now I could say all kinds of things regarding this fictional bucket list like:


> A trip to the biggest bookstore

link to picture

> Attend Mad Hatters tea party

link to picture

> Hakuna Matata with Simba

link to picture

> Go to the ball with Cinderella

link to picture

> A vacation to the set of something great

link to picture

> Trip to Hogwarts. And not as a muggle, if that wasn't clear...
At least a visit to the Wizarding World

link to picture

Well I got a bit carried away with those, but the thing that would be great would be:

> A conversation with J.K. Rowling, which would include her signing a book for me.
I grew with the books and it started me as a reader.

Read on lovelies,

S

Not Finishing Book Series

This post is going to be a bit of a ramble on why I don't finish book series, and maybe some hints for getting through them...

For updated lists of these check my Goodreads shelves: link
Or semi-updated blog posts: finished series  &  won't continue

> < > <

I talk about my dilemma of not finishing book series and have come to some conclusions:

a) I really like it and...
    i) don't want it to end - thus prolonging the reading of the last volume
    ii) reading the books as they are released and not remembering how the previous one went since it         has been a year again
    iii) love it so much I think to myself that there will be a "better time" to read it, when I'm craving          the world, but alas that never comes (mood reading can be a struggle)

b) I feel indifferent towards it and though I keep the series in my TBR I:
    i) forget about it read all the other books I want
    ii) *answer for a) ii applies*

c) I don't like it - won't finish it
    i) but "what if" so I might keep it in my TBR

> < > <

Answers to this problem could be:
>Waiting to read a series after all of it is published and then binge reading them all
>Rereading the previous books
>Using ReCaptains for a summary (definitely my go-to!)
>Having a goal each month/year for series to finish (you can check my yearly anticipated reads and etc. for mine)

Problems:
-mood reading
-too many books in one world
-too long of a time, not being able to read other books
-not loving them as much as I would've if I would've had some sort of anticipation

Read on lovelies,

S

ReReading Old Favorites and Being Disappointed

To start off - I like rereading books, every time I read harry potter I get something new out of it.
But is that the case in all of those old favourites?

><><

So there was this one book released 3 years ago that I really enjoyed and gave a 4 stars to. Well the sequel came out this summer and I was excited to pick it up. Then I of course realized I don't remember a single thing about the first book and decided to reread that first. We've all been there...

So my problem, and frankly the point of this whole post, is what occurred to me on the very first page of this book I used to like - I don't anymore and was extremely disappointed.
And that's a sad thing to realize, because you hold favorites high up in your thoughts and now it's below everything else. So what happened?

><><

Let's break this down and start at what happened in that first page:
"his hair is not his best quality" Wait what? Exactly, I know I had a different taste but really?

And then I find out why I remember liking this book: "I felt like I had princess leia buns at a star trek convention"

I still found lots of these to be amusing - like I still do want that shirt that says "may the mass times acceleration be with you", but calling someone yummy just isn't my cup of tea.


And for some reason I'd always think: "well this makes up for it, the good parts make the bad go away".
Sure it makes "the feels" the main character has sound better if she compares them to demonstrating newtons law of inertia, but we shouldn't accept some things because other parts were better.

><><

So conclusion I have changed, has the author?

So I moved on to the second book, my mindset being along the lines of "this is an experiment I have to finish" - so not a good place. But I cleared my mind and started.

Well did I end up even finishing that book?
Um, I maybe read a third and skimmed the rest...

><><

Final thoughts: can I drop the star rating? The thing is, what I felt was valid - at that time. So can I actually do it? Or should I compromise? I have yet to come to a conclusion...

Read on lovelies,

S

Revamping an Old Post

[TAG]

Revamp an old post: The Beginning, four years later


I looked at my first post and I felt like I needed to add to it and go through what I started out with.

><><

Out With the Old (link)
Oct. 25th 2013

The Start of Booksonal

Dear you,

I started this blog to write about books. Shocker, since the title is there...

Anyway, so as you can assume I love reading books. I don't have that many, but I read loads. I decided to make a blog for writing about them. About what I have read, how much I loved them (if I even liked them), overall about books and I'll maybe make some book tags.

I'll try to post every Saturday, but probably I will be delayed sometimes...

So hope you will like my posts,

and as always read on.

Love,

Sally

><><

In With the New
Oct. 21st 2017

Booksonal Four Years Later


This blog has brought me good & bad times, new perspectives & people, long nights & lots and lots of notes and ideas.

I started out with Word documents, post-its and full notebooks about what I've read. I took the jump to a blog in 2013 (I wasn't always as active though), so it's been four years next week!

I didn't start so that people would read it - it was actually not something I wanted. Let me explain that with this:

            About the name Booksonal. Well I started this blog more like a journal that was               therapeutic in a way. My thoughts are always mine and so they feel personal and so -               hence the name.

So no I wasn't looking for readers, I wanted - still want to - express my thoughts and people who read it and can relate are just a bonus. But to all of those who have been reading, for a shorter or longer time, thank you.

If you've never written down why you like or don't like a book it can really organize your thoughts and your star ratings. And if you've been reading the blog for some time you know I love being organized.
               The point is try it out - you might be surprised.

Read on lovelies,

S

Info

The regular post for today will be up on Monday.



In the mean time since #TurtlesAlltheWayCountDown is almost at its end with the release of John Greens new book next week, I have linked my review of The Fault in Our Stars from 3 years ago for you:

          The Fault in Our Stars : Book vs Movie



Secondly I received a blog pass for the Helsinki book fair!
I am especially excited since Finland is turning 100 this year and I think it'll be reflected in the event as well.



Thirdly, I hope you guys like what I've done to the outlook of my blog - there are a few more changes that will be up soon.

Read on lovelies,

S

John Green Read-Along & Unboxing

*Books kindly provided by the publisher, Penguin Random House, in exchange for honest reviews!*

To prepare for #TurtlesAlltheWayDown, @penguinrandomhouse has a countdown read along, with giveaways each week on Goodreads!

Looking for Alaska giveaway link here

-

Timeline:
🌼 Looking for Alaska Sept. 4-10
👧 Abundance of Katherines 11-17
📌 Paper Towns 18-24
👥 Will Grayson, Will Grayson 25-Oct.1
☁ The Fault in Our Stars 2-8
🐢 Turtles All the Way Down 10-17

-

So join us this weekend with Looking for Alaska and starting next week with An Abundance of Katherines!

Read on lovelies,

S

Bookish Humour

Bookish memes that ring so true to me:

Read on lovelies,

S

Data and Statistics

So every year I make a yearly post about all kinds of data I gather about the books I've read.
So this year I decided to add some data to my monthly wrap-ups as well will I've been enjoying.

2016 - link



I decided to make a list regarding the data I gather and add to my Excel and show some charts and explain some decisions



READ table - contains: title, rating, author, publication year, language, mark if it's part of a series, date read, genre, mark if I've reviewed it, edition (physical, e-, audio,  ARC) and times I've reread it

For example: 
       Title                                                      rating      author         public.    lang.     series  date read       genre

(stand alone: s. open series: o, finished series f)

EBOOKS table - contains: title, author, rating

OWN/TBR table - contains: title, stars, author, language, genre

SERIES tables - finished/won't continue, currently in the middle of, and the amount of books in the series

CLASSICS: a table for all author with bindups and listed all its contents (plays, short stories...) with title, rating, and order that it's in the book


CHARTS: monthly count, yearly count, star rating, genres of both read and owned

(So the genres are a bit weird but if one catagory is technically a subcatagory of another - like fantasy and magic - you choose the one that is closest and if there isn't one you take a broader one.
So if it's a fantasy book without magic you choose fantasy.
It's been working for me, but I admit it's very peculiar.)

Read on lovelies,

S

20 bookish facts about me

[Book Tag]

I just graduated, and I find that people ask me all the same things over and over: plans, thoughts, feelings and mostly the normal questions for catching up with people.

So I decided to do a list of bookish facts about me, since I didn't have written anything for this weekend.

1.  Sometimes I just don't feel like reading, and not always because of a book hangover
2. I can read fast, or slow - all depending on my mood and how much I like the book
3. LOVE cataloging data on books on both my Goodreads and in an Excel spreadsheet
4. Totally judge books by their covers...
5. Love reading the dedications
6. Underline and tab books (post it the sides)
7. ...but I DON'T dog ear or write in them
8. Feeling of reading a book for the first time? I wouldn't be that interested in it. I love that I get something new from it everytime- I feel like I never read the same book
9. Prefer paperbacks - and floppy ones at that
10. Used to never DNF books, but I've come to realize it's not worth waisting your time in the
11. Can't drink or eat while reading
12. Don't buy books on a whim
13. Reading at any time of day
14. I am totally fine with lending books
15. I don't really read books in my first language
16. I feel like I always fall for the character that dies, in both movies and books
17. I own one signed book
18. I am a mood reader and it can take me days to find the book to read
19. It bothers me when the authors name is bigger than the books name on the cover
20. I push off reading last books in series... to the point where I don't remember anything from the books anymore

Read on lovelies,

S