Weekly Wrap-Up: 1/9 – 1/15/17

Happy Monday!

I have really gotten into a bad habit of posting my weekly wrap-up late, but hey better late then never right?  I haven’t been around much this past week, but worry not my friends!  I am currently working on a few different things for the blog, which has eaten up more time than I anticipated.  More on that down below!

Let’s see what I had going on this week, shall we?

*Weekly Wrap-Up is a weekly post where I feature what posts were published on the blog for the past week, any bookish/blog happenings, noteworthy posts around the bookish blogosphere, what I recently finished reading, what I am currently reading, and what I will be reading next.

This week on the blog:

Wednesday 1/11

Bookish Babble: Setting Goals for 2017

Bookish/Blog happenings:

» I received my copy of Human Acts that I won from a twitter giveaway hosted by the publisher, Hogarth Books (@HogarthBooks).  I am super excited to add this book to my  TBR.

» Like I mentioned in my Bookish Babble: Setting Goals for 2017 post, I am going to be expanding my “Kids’ Corner” portion of my blog.  I want to start reviewing children’s picture books, as well as reading & reviewing more middle grade books.  Furthermore, I would like to start working on helping to promote diversity in children’s literature, as I think it is just as (if not more) important than in YA and adult literature.  I’ve been doing lots of research into the diverse children’s books out there, and starting to get my hands on a few through my local library.   You can look for these posts towards the end of January.

» I am also working on a book recommendation section on the blog.  This has proven to be a big headache because I cant figure how I want to lay these posts out.  Some genres will be easy, others not so much (I’m looking at you historical fiction)

» I am trying to come up with a posting schedule that I can stick to.  I am all over the place with posting.  Some weeks I post 4-5 times, others it is 1-2 times.  I am thinking I will limit myself to no more than 3 times a week, which would include my weekly wrap-up post.

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Around the blogosphere:

*These posts were not necessarily posted this past week, but that is when I read them*

» Millie @Milliebot Reads shares her top 13 books of 2016 → My Top 13 of 2016

» Marie @Drizzle & Hurricane Books discusses monetizing your blog → Monetizing Your Blog: the Dreaded Question

» CW @Read Think Ponder recaps her year and shares her favorite books of 2016 → 2016 At A Glance & Onward to 2017 & gives us book recommendations of fantasy books by Asian authors → Book Recs: Fantasies by Asian Authors

» Kirsty @Kirsty and the Cat Read shares her favorite reads of 2016 → 2016 Favorites!

»Aimal @bookshelves and paperbacks gives us her guide to diverse YA books releasing the first half of 2017 → The Ultimate Guide to Diverse YA Books Releasing in 2017: January – June

» Fadwa @Word Wonders shares her favorite books of 2016 → Most Bestest Books of 2016 & gives us her highlights of 2016 → Reading and Blogging Round Up

» Kirstie @Upside-Down Books wraps up her 2016 and shares her favorite books → Yearly Wrap-Up 2016

» Reg @She Latitude talks about her blogging bucket list → Let’s Talk: My Blogging Bucket List

» Danielle @Books, Vertigo & Tea gives us another post that pairs teas & reads → Pairing Teas & Reads

» Bina @WOC Reads shares 10 works of black lesbian short fiction → 10 Works of Black Lesbian Short Fiction

What have I been reading?

*All titles link to Goodreads*

Recently finished reading:

» Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan

While the last 25-30% of this book came up a little short, the first 70% of this book was a wild ride!  It honestly felt like a psychological thriller.  I cannot believe this actually happened to someone.

» Miller’s Valley by Anna Quindlen

This one came up a bit short for me.  Actually, I was all set to give it 2 stars, but that ending was on point!  There was so much potential here!  This book had all the elements that I usually enjoy in a book: family secrets, coming of age theme, small town drama, etc etc. but it just didn’t work for me.  I think this had a lot to do with the author’s timeline.  Generally, I enjoy when an author jumps around from present to past and back again, but I had a hard time following where we were in time.  I was often confused while reading until I would realize that I was actually reading a flashback.

» Stella by Starlight by Sharon M. Draper

A fantastic middle grade book!  I think this would be an excellent book to show children what life was like in the 1930s, in particular the racial injustices that occurred in the segregated South.  I think the author did a fantastic job taking such a hard topic and writing it for a younger audience that still portrays the racial tension of the times, but still keeping it appropriate for a middle grade audience.

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Currently reading:

» The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

I am reading this one for my book club’s January book of the month.  I am not very far in yet, but our meeting is Wednesday, so I need to get moving!

» Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

I’m about 10% into this one and am finding it absolutely fascinating!  I can’t believe how much I’ve learned in such a short time.

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On deck:

» In Light of What We See by Sarah Painter

How was your week?

What are you currently reading?

What will you read next?

Have a wonderful week, and happy reading