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

update

Today's post will be up tomorrow evening.

To anyone around Helsinki this weekend, I'd recommend the Helsinki Book Fair!

TBR update!

Along the years, I've done lots of TBR posts/challenges/updates and now I'm proud to announce:

I'm officially at zero!
Also perfect timing because the yearly Helsinki Book Fair is next week, and I know I won't be able to not buy any books...

My yearly TBR, 2018 - (which I update): link

May of 2014 - TBR jar (I kept it up for a year): link

February of 2015 - #0by16 inspired challenge: reading all the books you bought before that year

December of 2015 - reading only books from my shelf (not from the library or my brothers shelf)

January 2016 - Around the World in 52 Books Challenge link

                           & again reading all the books I'd bought the previous year, which I continue

June of 2016 - TBR is at 0 : link (and that summer was spent reading books from my brothers shelf I was putting off)

January 2017 - Modified, around the world in 52 books, Challenge link (this time aimed for expanding what I read)

January 2018 - Modified Challenge link (aimed for expanding what I read)

An interesting thing I also I noticed was that the last four books were all different genres, and the ones I read the most (non-fiction science book, standalone fairytale retelling, fantasy series conclusion, standalone contemporary). I wanted to see if they were all a genre that I maybe don't tend to gravitate towards, but nope.

Read on lovelies,

S