September TBR (2022)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'm here with my September TBR (2022)! 

My progress might be a bit slower than usual, because I'm just coming back from reading really large books but hopefully I should be back and consistently reading more by the end of the month (at least that's what I'm hoping).

So, here's what I plan to read this month. I hope you enjoy it. 

1. The Thursday Murder Club (Thursday Murder Club #1), by Richard Osman 

I was hoping to get to this last month, and although I did manage to start it, that's as far as I got. But I'm slowly gaining speed as I work my way through this now, and I'm really enjoying the re-read. 

If you didn't know, the thursday murder club is Joyce, Elizabeth, Ibrahim and Ron, and they are all eighty-year-olds that reside in a retirement village. Every thursday, they meet to discuss some unsolves murders from years ago. But when there's a murder right on in their backyard, the thursday murder club find themselves right in the midst of it. 

Very amusing, yet sad and shocking moments in this book, it's been great to be able to go back and re-read in preparation for the second and third book (which is due out later this month if I'm not mistaken). 

2. The Man Who Died Twice (Thursday Murder Club #2), by Richard Osman 

Don't know much about this book, and that's the way I want to keep it. I've read the blurb obviously, and that's enough to wet my appetite. From what I can tell, the murder club are working to help Elizabeth's friend, who made a mistake. But this time, they're working to find something before the killer does. So there's a deadline, a heist, and a mystery to solve. That's certainly intriguing enough for me. 

3. Life is Strange Vol 4: Partners in Time: Tracks (Life is Strange Comics #4), by Emma Vieceli 

The fourth volume! I'll really be speeding through this series after I finish this. 

Okay, I don't actually have this at the moment. It's a birthday present, but I'm hoping I'll be able to jump right into this upon receiving it. It's weird to think that at the start of July I was only reading the 2nd volume, and after this I'll only be two away from completing the entire series. 

(But there's already another series- from a videogame that I've got my eye on- I just need to finish the games first haha.) 

I love this cover by the way, such rich colours, 

And an awesome story to go with it! Can't wait to continue with this saga! 

4. The Miniaturist (The Miniaturist #1), by Jessie Burton

I read this several years ago, and I actually think I was close to getting rid of it, cos I figured that because it was a standalone, that I wouldn't be picking it up again. Boy was I wrong! One of my local independant bookstores had an advertisement outside their shop, so I went in and straightaway bought a copy (next book) with sprayed edges. (So obviously I have to re-read this, because I've forgotten the finer points.) 

Since I read this back in 2019, I actually haven't read many books set in this time-frame (1686), so it'll be nice to have a change in the book that I read. And of course, I'm looking forward to going back and re-learning everything I've forgotten. 

Basically, The Miniaturist tells the story of eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman, who arrives at a grand house in Amsterdam to begin her new life as the wife of a welathy merchant, named Johannes Brandt. He presents her with an extroadinary gift: a cabinet-sized replica of their home. As Nella grows into her new life, she finds that this model home that has been gifted to her, seems to hold the residents fate- in her hands- but what does she plan to do with their lives- save or destroy them?

This is a mysterious, intriguing story, full of secrets and history, and although I'm not sure if it's totally accurate, it sure feels like it is. 

5. The House of Fortune (The Miniaturist #2), by Jessie Burton

I can barely remember how the first book ended, so I'm not going near the blurb, or the first page until The Miniaturist has at least been opened. I honestly don't know what possessed me to see this book, and purchase it straight away, because it definitely isn't the cover (even if it does have sprayed edges and a gorgeous cover exactly the same as the first book). I really do hope it's as good as the first one though. More to report when I've actually read it though. 

6. Where Am I Now?, by Mara Wilson 

I've had this stashed on my "Library" shelf of Audible for at least a couple months now, since I watched the film, and it's high time I listened to it. It was recorded by Mara Wilson, and there is nothing that I love more than listening to a person telling their own story to you. I always loved Matilda, both the book and film, because Matilda was a big reason of 1)why I became a reader in the first place, and 2) it was an awakening that it wasn't considered different to want to read. I always knew about Danny DeVito and what he did for Mara and his mother, but when I heard about this, I just knew that I'd need to read it soon. 

And that's why it's on here, so I can start my listen as soon as I've read my physical books (this should also line up nicely for ironing too)! 

And that is my September TBR (2022)! I hope you enjoyed it and as always, feel free to comment what you plan to read this month! 

I hope you have a wonderful evening and I'll see you all soon with my anticipated releases for the last quarter of the year! 

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx

August Wrap Up (2022)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'm back with my Wrap Up for the month!

I hope you enjoy it. 

I read a total of four books in the month, but honestly, I don't care, because I finally finished the Skulduggery Pleasant series! (And they were pretty hefty books too!) 

1. Seasons of War (Skulduggery Pleasant #13), by Derek Landy 

In a nutshell: A gang of heros go on a private mission to another dimension to kill a bad guy (Mevolent- dead in their reality, very much alive in the other one and planning to shunt over to their reality and take over). Chaos ensues, one of my absolute favours of part 2 (I'll be referring to the second part of the Skulduggery Pleasant series as part 2). This was one of my favourites to date, and I think it still is, even after reading it through a couple times because, there's a clear goal, some epic fighting and characters and there's a clear start and end, like some of the typical earlier books in the series. 

2. Dead or Alive (Skulduggery Pleasant #14), by Derek Landy 

This one sat differently with me. After absolutely loving Seasons of War I was hesitant as for what direction this was going to go. Of course I loved it, as I do all of Derek Landy's books, but it wasn't a stand out. My opinion of part 2 was that they just kept getting better and better, and although this was awesome, I wasn't totally blown away. 

Nevertheless, I liked the fact that the darkly brothers had a lot more book time. They had become a lot more noticeable in Seasons of War, but in DOA was when I really became invested in them, like I wanted to keep reading about them, Omen especially. Solid book in the lead up to the final. 

3. Until the End (Skulduggery Pleasant #15), by Derek Landy 

And finally, book 15! The book I had been waiting for for over a decade, and it was finally in my hands. And honestly, it was just as amazing as I hoped it was going to be. Obviously I'm not going to spoil it, but the chapters were explosive and fast paced, (though there was still plenty of great humour and heart-to-hearts, (I literally laughed out loud at some points). 

Genuinely, as relieved as I am to finally be at an end of this series (not spoiling anything), it's been an amazing ride. I'm so happy that I decided to do a full read-through of this series (even if reading it on and off has taken four months). 

I'll miss you Valkyrie, Skulduggery, Tanith, Omen, Auger, China, Ghastly, Temper, Never, Militsa, Xena and all of Valkyrie's family. Love you guys. 

4. Life is Strange Vol 3: Strings (Life is Strange Comics #3), by Emma Vieceli 

Just when I think that I know where this series is going, it throws me through a loop. As always, very loyal to the videogame, I didn't for a second believe that this was the same Max from the game. Chloe and Rachel were very believable too, and honestly, I think this one was my favourite so far. Very much looking forward to receiving the fourth volume for my birthday in a couple of weeks. 

    Okay! Those are the books I read this month! 

I'm glad I got through as many as I did (they had large page counts, okay)? 

And I'm excited to read another pile in September! 

Right! That's all I have for you guys, as always, comment what you read/ got up to this month and we'll talk in the comments! 

I hope you have a wonderful day and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeeee! 

-Abi xxxx

Book Buying Habits Tag

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'm here with the Book Buying Habits Tag, a tag from a few years ago that I have yet to do. 

So I thought I'd give it a try. 

I hope you enjoy it. 

Oh! It was created by booktuber Megan Olivier. 

~Book Buying Habits Tag~

~Where do you buy your books?~

I'll usually buy my books in Waterstones, or Amazon, or if I'm after a grpahic novel I'll go Forbidden Planet in Leicester. 

But I'm going to be doing a day of scouting out independant bookstores in London when I go next month. 

~Do you ever pre-order books and if so, do you do this instore or online?~

If I'm going to preorder, I'll do it through Waterstones. Though it's rare for me to preorder my books because I know that if I'm in the mood to read it, I'll go out and get it when I can next. 

~On average, how many books do you buy a month?~

I don't really have an average. I actually only started buying books again this month because I was nearing the end of a re-read of a long series. Sometimes I go a couple of months without purchasing a book. 

~Do you use your local library?~

When I was young, and couldn't afford to buy books, the library was my second home. It was where I did my homework all the way up to the end of secondary school, it was like a comfort. 

Then when I started working, and they sold a bunch of books so they could expand/ rebuild the library, so now I rarely go in, especially in the last couple of years. I'd love to start going back, even though it's not the same as the one I grew up it. 

~If so, how many books can you/ do you borrow at a time?~

I used to take 8-9 books when I was a child, and because I started off small and they gradually grew in size, I could almost always finish all of them within the three week deadline. 

~What is your opinion on library books?~

As you can probably tell by the last couple of questions, I think library books are awesome. They can help you come to terms with difficult issues, they can be an escape, they can make you laugh, or cry. Library books were my outlet then I was younger, and my opinion on them hasn't changed. 

~How do you feel about charity shops/ second hand books?~

I always like venturing into second hand bookshops/ charity shops, you never know what you might find. I've found full series' in charity shops (Mortal Instruments series!) 

So, in my opinion, it's always worth a look. 

~Do you keep your read & TBR pile together/ on the same bookshelf or not?~

Depends. If it's the latest book in a series, then I'll keep it next to the rest of them- up until I pick it/ them up. Standalone? It'll go in a pile of all the other standalone TBR books. 

~Do you plan to read all the books you own?~

Always. But I frequently keep only a small number of unread books. Right now I have one ending to a series, and two sequels, and that makes up my TBR. 

Saying that, as a reader, if you do ever manage to finish all the books on your TBR, that won't be it for reading forever, there'll always be more books on your TBR, even if you don't own them. We'll always be trying to finish that unread pile. 

~What do you do with books that you feel you'll never read/ felt you didn't enjoy?~

When I feel like I've read a book for the last time, or I DNF'ed it, or didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would, I'll either sell a few of them on Facebook (if I think I might be able to get a few pounds), or I'll donate them to a local charity for someone else to enjoy. 

~Have you ever donated books?~

Yes! I'm due to donate some more in the next couple of weeks! 

~Have you ever been on a book-buying ban?~

I've never really needed to, to be honest. I've always been pretty sensible with my book buying. (Aside from the odd splurge after a birthday or Christmas- and I'm not even sure if they count, as most of that will be from gifted vouchers.)

~Do you feel that you buy too many books?~

Nope, not at all. 

(P.S. Book buying is a different hobby to reading books. Although I love buying books, I doubt I buy enough to consider book buying a hobby of mine.)

If you want to do this tag, consider yourself tagged! 

And comment where you've done it in the comments, so I can read them! 

Okay! That's the Book Buying Habits Tag! I hope you enjoyed it, and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxxxx