Bookish Weekly Wrap-Up: 4/2 – 4/8/18

Hello & happy Monday bookworms!

I typically try and get my weekly wrap-up posts up on Sundays, but here Monday is already.  The weather here in Ohio is really starting to get me down.  Last week there was snow, flooding, high winds, tornados, more snow… The fact that it is April 9th and I am still scraping snow off my car in the morning is straight bullshit.  It seems as if April is the new March around here.  I’m ready for some SPRING weather!

I finally got to do some blog hopping last week, but since I’m so behind on everyone’s blogs, it is taking a while.  If I haven’t made it to your blog, fear not!  I will be catching up with everyone this week for sure 🙂

Anyways, let’s see what I did get accomplished last week…

*Bookish 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, what I recently finished reading, what I am currently reading, what I will be reading next, noteworthy posts around the bookish blogosphere, and any interesting bookish articles I came across.

Tuesday 4/3

March 2018 Bookish Wrap-Up + Book Haul

Wednesday 4/4

April 2018 TBR

Recently Finished Reading:

» Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Feelings in a few thoughts:

• RPO is a celebration of all things geek in the 1980s – Now, I must admit that I was not familiar with many of the 80s pop culture references (I was born in the late 80s, therefore grew up more in the 90s) BUT this did not hinder my enjoyment of the book at all.  If you were a fan of movies, music, and videogames and grew up more in the 80s, this book is going to be very nostalgic for you.
• Themes: technology, poverty, friendship, good vs. evil, virtual world vs. reality,  etc.
• There was a tremendous amount of “info dumping” going on, but somehow Cline does it in a way that had me hanging on the edge of every word.
• You do NOT have to be a “gamer” to enjoy this book.  This is more like a virtual reality adventure story.
• I was surprised that parts of this book are set in Ohio!  BUT not too surprising when I found out that the author grew up here.
• I’d recommend this book to YA fans of Warcross by Marie Lu and vice versa.
• I’ve heard the audiobook is narrated by Wil Wheaton and have heard amazing things about it.  I may re-read this one via audiobook in the future.
• In regards to the movie, yes I did go see it.  I think the book is better of course, HOWEVER I think the movie was well done as well.  The movie is fairly different than the book, but I understand why this was done.

» Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Feelings in a few thoughts: 

• Slow start, but worth it!  If you find you are struggling in the beginning, I urge you to stick with it.  LFE is more of a slow burn character-driven type of plot.
• I’ve read both of Ng’s books now and I really enjoy how thought provoking her stories are.
• Excellent book club selection.  LFE covers themes like the complexities of motherhood, different parenting styles, family dynamics, interracial adoption, classism, etc.
• Set in my home state of OHIO!  I also like that Shaker Heights is in fact a real place, and the author herself grew up there.
• I actually attended Celeste Ng’s book tour for this book, which you can read all about here →Book Event: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng Book Tour
• If you enjoyed Little Fires Everywhere, I’d recommend Lucky Boy by Shanthi Sekaran.  You can read my review for Lucky Boy here → Book Review: Lucky Boy by Shanthi Sekaran.  I’d also recommend The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman.

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Currently Reading:

» I Liked My Life by Abby Fabiaschi

Status: 65%

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What Am I Reading Next?:

» The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima

Times are hard in the mountain city of Fellsmarch. Reformed thief Han Alister will do almost anything to eke out a living for his family. The only thing of value he has is something he can’t sell—the thick silver cuffs he’s worn since birth. They’re clearly magicked—as he grows, they grow, and he’s never been able to get them off.

One day, Han and his clan friend, Dancer, confront three young wizards setting fire to the sacred mountain of Hanalea. Han takes an amulet from Micah Bayar, son of the High Wizard, to keep him from using it against them. Soon Han learns that the amulet has an evil history—it once belonged to the Demon King, the wizard who nearly destroyed the world a millennium ago. With a magical piece that powerful at stake, Han knows that the Bayars will stop at nothing to get it back.

Meanwhile, Raisa ana‘Marianna, princess heir of the Fells, has her own battles to fight. She’s just returned to court after three years of freedom in the mountains—riding, hunting, and working the famous clan markets. Raisa wants to be more than an ornament in a glittering cage. She aspires to be like Hanalea—the legendary warrior queen who killed the Demon King and saved the world. But her mother has other plans for her…

The Seven Realms tremble when the lives of Hans and Raisa collide, fanning the flames of the smoldering war between clans and wizards.

» Margot @Lectito shares exactly what her debut novel is actually about! → So what is Neverland actually about?

*Neverland is out now!!! You can buy a copy through The Book Depository.

» Millie @Milliebot Reads discuses the costs of different book formats →On Book Formats

» Renee @It’s Book Talk discusses buzzwords in book descriptions →Let’s Discuss… Are “Twisty” Publishing Buzzwords Still Hot…Or Not

» Marie @Drizzle & Hurricane Books talks about her love for dystopian fiction →Why I Love Dystopian Fiction – 5 Reasons Why You Should Read It

» Fadwa @Word Wonders shares books with Depression rep → Word Wonders’ TBR Expansion: Books with Depression Representation

» Drew @The Tattooed Book Geek talks about book review traffic on blogs → Why are reviews unpopular as blog posts?

» Ottavia @Novels and Nonfiction is hosting a giveaway for a SIGNED copy of The Wangs vs. the World → Just Read: Review Of The Wangs Vs. The World And Jade Chang Author Event

*Open to U.S. only & ends 4/10 at midnight

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» Nailed It: Book Covers Paired with Stylish Manicures

» Book Recommendations for Our Favorite This Is Us Characters

» Books Like Ready Player One: 8 Out-of-This-World Next-Reads

» Spring 2018’s Best Children’s and Middle Grade Books

*There are some wonderful children’s picture books coming out this spring!  I am very interested in The Funeral – which is a picture book that helps children understand funerals & death.  I think this is a topic that is very hard for children to grasp, so I’m excited for a picture book addressing this important part of life.  I’m also super excited for Ocean Meets Sky.

I mean do I really need to explain this one?  There is also some fantastic looking diverse middle grade books coming out!

» Spring 2018 Nonfiction Preview: From Basketball to Borneo

» 13 Books That 9- to 12-Year-Old Boys Say Are Awesome

» A Tolkein of Affection: 12 Gifts for J.R.R. Tolkein Lovers

» 13 Read-Alouds to Help You Connect with Your Middle Schooler

» 7 Lessons for Parents of Reluctant Middle Grade Readers

*Excellent advice for those of us with a reluctant reader at home!

What are you currently reading?

What will you read next?

Have a wonderful week & happy reading