Read This Month, November & December

November & December

1. Catwoman: Soulstealer REVIEW ✦✦✦.75✧

2. Dead Mountain Non-fiction, audiobook ✦✦✦✦✧

- - -

1. Elias graphic novel ✦✦.5✧✧

2. Pyrstötähti graphic novel ✦✦✦✧✧

3. Season of You & Me (TBR) ✦✦✦✧✧

Data:

Male/Female author:

        60 % female,

        40 % male

Genre:

        20 % crime,

        20 % contemporary,

        20 % non-fiction/survival,

        40 % graphic novel

Pages:

       1 294 p

Format:

       20 % audio books,

       80 % physical books

Average:

         3.35

*For stars and more info check my Goodreads: link*

Read on lovelies,

S

2018: Statistics and Achievements

Yearly Statistics & Achievements

2017 version: link
2016 version: link


First of all I almost finished the 2018 TBR challenge (link),
            > With 1 challenge left (someone else chose)
& I also finished my Anticipated reads of 2018 (link)
            > All 7 that are mentioned at the bottom and additional 2 from the list of last year (Lucky in Love and Renegades)
& my TBR (link) is down to 3 books.
            > But I did get it down to ~0 in October!
& when it comes to classics, well I didn't read too many
><><><

Total books read: 42 (Compared to last years 34)

            10+7+1+2+2+12+0+2+0+0+2+4

Month read most: June: 12

     least: July, September & October: 0

Pages ~ 15 211 (Last year: 10542)
    Average length 362 pages (Last year: 310)

Format: ebook: ~6 (formally), audio: 13

Arc/sent: 13

Reviewed: 13

In Finnish: 2

Most popular (according to Goodreads): Jane Eyre

     Least popular Moran Cartoons

Length: longest  1 248 (Bible)
               shortest 106 (Elias)

Publication oldest: 1847 Jane Eyre
        books I read published this year: 20

Stars: in order of least: 1,5,2,4,3 ("1" means any rating starting with a 1. Meaning 1 and 1.5 are both included in "1")
       average being ~3.652 this year & over all in all the years ~3.225
       This year I gave 1 five-star &
                                 4 four-point-five-stars &
                                 0 one-stars

><><><

Series Finished:
Snow Like Ashes (3)
Spindle Fire (2)
Flame in the Mist (2)
Remnant Chronicles (3)

2018 goals, TBR etc. all coming in the next few weeks.

Read on lovelies,

S

Joy of Christmas Book TAG

The Joy Of Christmas Book Tag

---

1) Anticipation: The Christmas excitement is real, what book release(s) are you most anticipating?

There will be a post about this in a couple of weeks!

2) Christmas Songs & Carols: What book or author can you not help but sing it's praises?

My Lady Jane, The Lady Janies

3) Gingerbread Houses: What book or series has wonderful world building?

An Ember in the Ashes

4) A Christmas Carol: Favorite classic or one that you want to read

Alice in Wonderland, P&P, Emma, Jane Eyre...

5) Christmas Sweets: What book would you love to receive for Christmas

Well I had the illustrated HP books, but bit the bullet and got them, but in the future that'd work!

6) Candles in the Window: What book gives you that warm fuzzy feeling

I'm still thinking of the answer above, so... Harry Potter it is again

7) Christmas Trees & Decorations: What are some of your favorite book covers?

The Classic Line editions of a handful of classics are gorgeous

8) Christmas Joy: What are some of your favorite things about Christmas And/Or some of your favorite Christmas memories?

I love the traditions we have in the family, oh and the food!

Read on lovelies,

S

Books I Read For School

I had a Goodreads shelf dedicated for book I read for school, but since I'm done with high school and won't be required to read these types of books for school anymore I decided to make a post listing them.

Before: (for projects, others not listed)
Keväällä isä sai siivet
Lydia's Secret
Viidakon kutsu

Junior high:
Romeo & Juliet
Importance of Being Earnest
How to be an Alien
1984
The Crucible
Lord of the Flies
Anne Frank

High school:
All in Finnish (the 20 with a dash was for a diploma http://kirjatkin.blogspot.com/)
Oliver Twist
Emily Dickinson poem collection
Kirottu Koodi
-Tortilla Flat
-And Then There Were None
-The Little Prince
-The Help
-The Bell Jar
-The Color of Magic
-Neverwhere (graphic novel)
-The Life of Pi
-Punainen Pukee Teitä
-Gardens of Water
-Delirium
-Iloisen lehmän runot
-Between Shades of Gray
-Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
-Ready Player One
-The Night Circus
-The Fault in Our Stars
-Teemestarin kirja
-Nälkävuosi
-Punainen kuin veri

Read on lovelies,

S

Catwoman : Review

Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Maas

SYNOPSIS
When the Bat's away, the Cat will play. It's time to see how many lives this cat really has...

After escaping Gotham City's slum, Selina Kyle returns as the mysterious and wealthy Holly Vanderhees. She quickly discovers that with Batman off on a vital mission, Batwing is left to hold back the tide of notorious criminals. Gotham City is ripe for the taking.

Meanwhile, Luke Fox wants to prove he has what it takes to help people in his role as Batwing. He targets a new thief on the prowl who seems cleverer than most. She has teamed up with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, and together they are wreaking havoc. This Catwoman may be Batwing's undoing.

Goodreads' link to the book!
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Stars: ✦✦✦.5✧

So as usual, I'll tell 3.5 things I liked about the book and 1.5 things I didn't like.

So what did I think?

+1 | The premise is intriguing and immediately caught my attention. The world is already familiar to us, with some new twists, and as a reader I was immersed in it.

+1 | Entertainment value. I was definitely entertained for the whole book, some humor, romance and lots of action.

+1 | The pace was fast, with the story constantly moving and it made it a quick and enjoyable read.

+0.5 | Since Maas has written multiple books, the writing was what I expected: well done with a nice flow to it.


-0.5 | I yearned for more to the story.  Sure it was fast paced and the plot was moving, at the same time it felt like the story was a person running on a treadmill with movement, but at the same time not getting anywhere. I was just disappointed that the arc fell a bit flat for me.

-1 | Having the Catwoman and superhero element, I don't think that it brought anything better to the book. I think I'd rather have seen new characters and not have them as restricted to the roles they are already.
In other words, I think it could've been even better if the author had decided to create new characters from a blank canvas and bring about this story that way.

Read on lovelies,

S

End of the Year Book TAG

End of the Year Book TAG

Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?
Season of You and Me. Yes I made a post about reading the last book on my tbr, but I still haven't finished it..

Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?
I recently got the three Illustrated Harry Potters that are out and I definitely want to jump into those!

Is there a new release you're still waiting for?
Archenemies and Little White Lies
What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?
Season of You and Me, Elias, Pyrstötähti
Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favorite book of the year?
Dead Mountain could go either way really, so maybe that
Have you already started making reading plans for 2018?

Yes, and the posts will be up around the end of the year as per usual. At least more classics and broadening what I read

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

Finally Fall Book TAG

Finally Fall Book TAG

First of all: yes I do realize it will be November when this will be up. The thing is I wanted to do it and since there were certain posts that I wanted out, this one got pushed.

1. In fall, the air is crisp and clear: name a book with a vivid setting!

The Flame in the Mist

2. Nature is beautiful… but also dying: name a book that is beautifully written, but also deals with a heavy topic like loss or grief.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

3. Fall is back to school season: share a non-fiction book that taught you something new.

The Idiot Brain

4. In order to keep warm, it’s good to spend some time with the people we love: name a fictional family/household/friend-group that you’d like to be a part of.

The Weasley family!!!

5. The colorful leaves are piling up on the ground: show us a pile of fall-colored spines!

6. Fall is the perfect time for some storytelling by the fireside: share a book wherein somebody is telling a story.

Book of a Thousand Days, written like a diary.

Not one of my favorite of Hale's books, but it was good.

7. The nights are getting darker: share a dark, creepy read.

Stalking Jack the Ripper, I would definitely recommend for this time of year!

8. The days are getting colder: name a short, heartwarming read that could warm up somebody’s cold and rainy day.

Kasie West books are quick and fun,

but one I love this time of year are fairy tale retelling (one of my favorites is Goose-Girl),

though they're not exactly always heartwarming!

9. Fall returns every year: name an old favorite that you’d like to return to soon.

Harry Potter! And the Lunar Chronicles. And more...

10. Fall is the perfect time for cozy reading nights: share your favorite cozy reading “accessories”!

A fluffy blanket and a warm drink,

from coffee to cocoa or something spicy (I'd recommend adding ginger!).

Read on lovelies,

S

Book Haul 2018 II

I made a post, link, in the beginning of May titled "Book Haul 2018 Quarter I" which first of all I posted in May and secondly should've been called Tertile (or something or another?). Also there's the fact that I've been really limiting the books I buy and getting my TBR down (link here) so I was never even planning on doing multiple haul posts this year... Anyway on to the haul:

BOOK HAUL:

All the books I've bought and received - 2018 quarter II:

ARCs received / publisher

- - -

1. The Kiss Quotient(e-arc), e

2. When Dimple Met Rishi

3-5. Emma, P&P, Jane Eyre (new editions)
6. My Plain Jane (physical copy)
7-8. Harry Potter 2-3 (illustrated editions)

- - -

Also as a follow-up haul to last weeks one all about the Helsinki Book Fair.
What I got from there:

1. Vuosisadan rakkaustarina

2. Työmiehen vaimo
3. Elias
4. Tarinoita suomalaisista tytöistä, jotka muuttivat maailmaa
5. Pyrstötähti

- - -

Read on lovelies,
S

Helsinki Book Fair 2018

This post will be about the Helsinki Book Fair (kirjamessut.messukeskus.com) and is like last years one, link, and haul, link, which will be up next week!

This was my second year there with a blog pass, and I wasn't disappointed.


Friday:

I wasn't planning on going today, but oh I did. For tips and tricks to also help I would recommend getting a map and acquainting oneself to it, because that's something I struggle with every year. Another thing that I'd recommend is making a list beforehand of the places you definitely want to visit. Even though I go through all the isles and rows systematically I always end up missing something.

Basically for the whole day I spent it perusing and familiarizing myself with everything and buying what caught my eye.

Another thing to mention is that a  theme of sorts this year was the States, which was seen in the amount of authors visiting and in some of the stands.

Saturday:

I spent Saturday mainly going to blogger events that publishers held.

It started out with a WSOY, Tammi, Johnny Kniga brunch with various authors:

Anja Snellman, Antti Heikkinen, Satu Vasantola, Veera Nieminen and Liina Putkonen.

Mostly what caught my eye was Jäätynyt tyttö by Liina Putkonen which is definitely something I want to read.

- - -

Next there was an event held by S&S with Katja Lahti, Sabine Forsblom, Annastiina Heikkilä, Lauri Ahtinen and Ida Salminen.

The ones I most want to read from this bunch are Tarinoita suomalaisista tytöistä jotka muuttivat maailmaa by Ida Salminen, and Elias by Lauri Ahtinen.

- - -

Lastly was Teos with Mia Franck, Hannu-Pekka Ikäheimo, Jarno Hartikainen, Rafael Donner, Juha Hurme, Kati Rapia, Henriikka Tavi, JP Pulkkinen and Mirjam Lohi.

And this time around Pyrstötähti by Kati Rapia and Juha Hurme really caught my attention

Sunday:

Today as the last day, I spent it with family who came with me to the fair. And buying whatever I couldn't stop thinking about so that regrets would be minimal.

I even bought a key-ring that can be used to tell what day of the week it is in whatever amount of time, which is frankly quite useless but I fell in love with it.

Read on lovelies,

S