End of Year 2018 Reading Resolutions Wrap-Up

So at the beginning of the year I let you all know what reading resolutions I had set for 2018, and now you all can see that I completed two of my five challenges. If you set your own goals for this year I hope that you completed them. I did not allow any books to be completed for multiple resolutions like I did last year, which looking back, maybe I should have.

This wasn't the greatest year for reading that I had, even though I completed my Goodreads Goal because I read a lot of comic books, and not novels.

1. Meet My Goodreads Reading Challenge Goal

My reading goal was 100 books, and I completed the goal by reading 108.

2. Listen to 10 Audiobooks

Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver
Madness So Discreet by Mandy McGinnis
Panic by Lauren Oliver
Female of the Species by Mandy McGinnis
Meet Cute by Various Authors
Lifeboat Clique by Kathy Parks and Kathy Hepinstall
Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian
One Was Lost by Natalie D. Richards
Sadie by Courtney Summers
City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab

3. Read 10 Contemporary Novels

Contemporary books are my least favorite genre, so every year I just aim to read ten, sometimes I read more and other times I don't read enough, like this year where I only read one.

Revenge Playbook by Rachael Allen

4. Read a book in all of the following genres:

Dystopian/Apocalyptic:

Historical Fiction: Diviners by Libba Bray

Fantasy: Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire

Fairytale Retelling:

Mystery: 

Thriller/Suspense: 

Horror: Midsummer's Night Scream by R.L. Stine

Graphic Novel/Manga: Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani

Poetry/Verse: Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

Sci-Fi: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Nonfiction: Sharks - A 400 Million Year Journey by Ted Rechlin
Middle Grade: Ellie, Engineer by Jackson Pearce
Steampunk:

The books are shown in the order that I completed them. As you can see from above, I completed eight of the thirteen genres.

5. Complete the 2017 Debut Author Challenge

This is the only challenge where I allow books read from this challenge to also complete other challenges. This is a new challenge that I discovered last year, but I love how it challenges me to read books by authors that I am not familiar with. Here is a link to the original challenge post. I did not complete this challenge per the original challenge post.

I Stop Somewhere by T.E. Carter

October Wrap-Up and November TBR

During October, I read a total of 11 books.

So this past month, I had just gotten out of a reading slump so I had high expectations for myself which I did not end up reaching. I did complete two of my top books that I was looking forward to reading this month: Sadie by Courtney Summers and City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab. I also ended up picking up Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds.

Then I finished 6 issues of Lumberjanes and two other graphic novels, Ghosts by Rainer Telgemeier and Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson.

In the month of November, I still have a desire to read creepy thriller or horror books, but I also want to tackle some Fantasy books for the Fall Into Fantasy Readathon (more news on that later). So I don't really have a select selection of books I want to read during this month, just books in those genres.

Spookathon 2018 Wrap-Up

So I stumbled upon this wonderful readathon, and got really excited to participate because I was and still am in the mood for spooky reads right now, so it's a challenge I thought I would be able to complete.

It was created by Lala, and I know this isn't the first year that it has occurred, but I don't know how long it has been going on. It happened from the 15th of October to the 21st, and there were five challenges to complete.

The challenges and the books I had planned to read for the challenges are as follows:

1. Read a Thriller: #Murdertrending by Gretchen McNeil

2. Read a Book with Purple on the Cover: Olive and the Backstage Ghost by 

3. Read a Book Not Set in Our Time Period: Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco

4. Read a Book with a Spooky Word in the Title: City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab

5. Read a Book with Pictures: Catacomb by Madeleine Roux

The only one that I completed was City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab, and I had started both Olive and the Backstage Ghost and Catacomb.

Review: Sadie by Courtney Summers

Sadie by Courtney Summers

Sadie hasn't had an easy life. Growing up on her own, she's been raising her sister Mattie in an isolated small town, trying her best to provide a normal life and keep their heads above water.

But when Mattie is found dead, Sadie's entire world crumbles. After a somewhat botched police investigation, Sadie is determined to bring her sister's killer to justice and hits the road following a few meagre clues to find him.

When West McCray—a radio personality working on a segment about small, forgotten towns in America—overhears Sadie's story at a local gas station, he becomes obsessed with finding the missing girl. He starts his own podcast as he tracks Sadie's journey, trying to figure out what happened, hoping to find her before it's too late.

Pages: 311

Format: Audiobook

Published By: Wednesday Books/MacMillan Audio

Narrators: Rebecca Soler, Fred Berman, Dan Bittner, Gabra Zackman, and Full Cast

Genre: YA - Mystery, Contemporary

Rating:

✮✮✮✮✮

Review:

I cannot even begin to express how amazing Sadie is. I would highly recommend that you listen to the Audiobook version because there is a full cast, and it's fantastic the way the book is written with a podcast because in the audiobook, it really sounds like real interviews and you will not get that experience when reading the book. It really brings the story to life.

Sadie is told in a dual POV, one which is Sadie's view and the other which is a podcast that happens after the events. Sadie's sister as murdered, and Sadie goes after the killer when justice isn't given for her sister. West McCray, the podcaster, hears about Sadie's story, and follows the story to try to find out what happened to her.

Courtney Summers has created characters that are very real, the world in which Sadie lives is a world in which people live in today. It makes the book easier to relate or just be drawn to. Sadie is filled with darker themes, so be wary of that when you pick up this book.

I will say this book does leave some unanswered questions, but it is very intentional with how the author ends the book, but it works because of how this book is set-up and told. I would highly recommend this book if you are a fan of YA in general, especially if you love Mysteries. I would also highly encourage picking up the audiobook.

Spookathon TBR

So I stumbled upon this wonderful readathon, and got really excited to participate because I'm in the mood for spooky reads right now, so it's a challenge I think I will be able to complete.

It was created by Lala, and I know this isn't the first year that it has occurred, but I don't know how long it has been going on. It is happening from the 15th of October to the 21st, and there are five challenges to complete.

The challenges and the books I am planning to read for the challenges are as follows:

1. Read a Thriller: #Murdertrending by Gretchen McNeil

2. Read a Book with Purple on the Cover: Olive and the Backstage Ghost by 

3. Read a Book Not Set in Our Time Period: Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco

4. Read a Book with a Spooky Word in the Title: City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab

5. Read a Book with Pictures: Catacomb by Madeleine Roux

Where Have I Been?

For the past few months, I have been AWOL because I had a lot going on in my life. I got a new job in a second shift position which really disrupted my reading schedule, and I have also been dealing with personal health-related concerns in my own life and with my best friend.

So since the end of May/beginning of June, I haven’t read anything which has been very disappointing since reading is something I do to escape from the world and the worlds problems for a few hours to get a breather.

Yesterday, I was finally able to get back into reading, and hopefully will slowly become a little more active on my blog again to start with. This is mostly because I am only able to use my phone while I wait for my new laptop to arrive.

Just a quick little insight into what I plan to read or attempt to read during the month of October are some horror-filled or suspenseful thriller novels starting with Sadie by Courtney Summers. I also plan to finish a MG novel at some point during the month which is the book that got me back into reading.

October TBR

I have not read any books since June, so I have no wrap-up for the previous month.

In the month of October, I am going to try to tackle some of my most anticipated spooky/horror books that I want to read.

Here is a look at the few books that are on the top of my TBR for this month.

Goodreads Ultimate Summer Reading Challenge Wrap-Up

This summer I tackled the Goodreads Summer Reading Challenge, which you can find by clicking this link here: Summer Reading Challenge. There were two different challenges depending on if you want to do the Beginner Level or the Expert Level - I personally did the Beginner Level, because I had a lot happening this summer, and didn't have as much time to read for the Expert Level Challenge. So my summer started back in May, so personally, I started this challenge this Monday, May 21st, and I am ending on Friday, August 31st.

I did something a little different with this challenge, because there were so many categories to read and because of the time restrictions that I had over the summer, I did this challenge as a combined challenge for my YA and Adult books. This will also be posted over on my Adult blog.

So here are the requirements and books I completed for the challenge:

Summer-Related Tasks:

Into the Great Wide Open: Read a book that takes place out in the great wide open ~ One Was Lost by Natalie D. Richards

Get Your Grill On: Read a book that features summer recipes or outdoor summer activities

Colors of Summer: Read a book that features a yellow, green, or sandy cover

Beach Bum: Read a book that could be considered a "beach read"

Sand Between My Toes: Read a book that takes place in or around a beach/ocean

Ocean Blue: Read a book that takes place on the water

Hook 'Em: Read a book that features fishing or fisherman ~ Smell of Other People's Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock

Sports-a-holic: Read a book that features a popular summer sport

Campfire Story: Read a book that scares the crap out of you

One and Done: Read a book that you can finish in one day ~ Reignited by Colleen Houck

Tasks to Stretch Your Comfort Zone

Let's Get it On: Read a book that features falling in or out of love

Take Pride: Read a book written by an LGBTQIA author or that features an LGBTQIA character

Read the World: Read a book that takes place in a country - or about a culture - other than your own ~ Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Diversify Yourself: Read a book by an author of color

You Have a Lovely Accent: Read a book that was translated from another language

Won't Be Long: Read a collection of short stories or essays

Poet at Heart: Read a book of poetry ~ Light Filters In by Caroline Kaufman

My, What Big Teeth You Have: Read a book that puts a spin on a well-known fairytale

High Noon: Read a classic or contemporary western

TBRing: Read a book from the bottom of your TBR pile

Unshelve It: Read a book that's been sitting on your Goodreads Shelves for a while

Childhood Reboot: Read a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure novel ~ My Lady's Choosing by Kitty Curran & Larissa Zageris

Listen to Me: Listen to an audiobook ~ Burn for Burn by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian



As you can see, I did not complete a lot of books for the challenge, and I don't feel horrible about not completing this one - maybe next year, I will attempt to complete this challenge again.