Hey all, Dani here.
So, I have a couple reading challenges for the month of August, so I figured that I would separate it from my July Wrap Up post. I hope you don’t mind.
First up, the #Reviewathon from NetGalley. It runs from July 22-Aug 30, so I’ve already started with this one, and have a couple reviews up of my NetGalley reads. Even before this was announced, I had planned to focus my reading attention in August to some of the many galleys I’ve been approved for. Mostly this was because there are a lot of September releases I’d like to read and review before their release days. But then the reviewing challenge was announced, and so I decided that this would be the perfect time to try and improve my review ratio on NetGalley. It’s at 66% and that is driving me crazy.
Oh, and I actually have a couple of NetGalley reads that I have read but for some reason I just haven’t posted a review yet, so I’ll be squeezing them into my schedule as well. So since NetGalley’s reading challenge is specific to reviews, I may end up having bonus posts scattered throughout the next month…you know because seven posts a week wasn’t enough for me, lol.
I have a lot of NetGalley reads to complete and review. Actually, I feel almost like a bad blogger to say this, but there are quite a few that are majorly overdue. As in, I was granted an early copy, then set it aside or temporarily forgot about it because of all the other books, and then the book was released into the world and I bought a copy…and still haven’t read it. Other than all these not-yet-released reads, I have plenty of backlisted titles to focus on as well, which is nice because I like reading both physical and digital books.
And okay fine, so I may have used my NetGalley reads to help figure out my NEWTs TBR. I managed to complete my final two OWLs in the month of July, so I can actually go for the wizarding job of my choice, which is librarian. That meant I needed to complete my OWLs in Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Defense Against the Dark Arts, History of Magic, and Transfiguration. As I now have completed all of the OWLs, this is a success.
Now, for the NEWTs, I need to earn an O in Ancient Runes, an E in Defense Against the Dark Arts, and an E in History of Magic. Any other courses will be bonus points, so I’m not actually choosing my reads for them just yet. I’ll just see what books fulfill challenges later in the month.
Anyway, here’s my TBR:
Ancient Runes
- A- Ehwaz (partnership): read recommended by a friend The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams
- E- book written in past tense The Girl the Sea Gave Back by Adrienne Young
- O- book that has been on your TBR for ages Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Defense Against the Dark Arts
- A- book that’s black under the dust jacket There Will Come a Darkness by Katy Rose Pool
- E- first book you remembered just now from your TBR The Thousand Doors of January by Alix E Harrow
History of Magic
- A- read a fantasy Tiger Queen by Annie Sullivan
- E- read a book that includes a map Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford
Of course, I suppose that here is where I should also put that I have a few other books on my August TBR, and they are the books I am taking with me to Gen Con. They are my convention books and my Dewey’s 24 Hour Reverse Summer Readathon books. Now I probably won’t read all of these, especially since a couple of them are pretty lengthy reads, but I’m going to try to do my best. Also, Wicked Saints, The Night Circus, and Green Rider are all re-reads…though it has probably been roughly 12 years since I read Green Rider.
That is a whole lotta reading for the month of August. I guess we just wait and see how I do with all of this. I think it’s going to be fun, what about you guys? Are you participating in any of these reading challenges–#Reviewathon, NEWTs, Dewey’s 24 Hour Reverse Summer Readathon? Let me know in the comments, and I’ll be back soon with more bookish content.
The Girl the Sea Gave Back is on my NG list as well! Although I’m not sure whether or not I should read her other book first? [Can’t even think of the title right now..]
Best of luck to you! 😀 But I know you’ll rock it though.
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Sky in the Deep. I’m not sure if you HAVE to read it first though. I think they just might be companion novels, set in the same world.
Haha, thanks. I have been on a roll when it comes to reading this year.
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They’re companion novels, true. But I feel like I might miss out on certain things knowledge-wise if I don’t read that one first? Idk.
Apparently! Although I’ve almost reached my goal of 75 books this year so I’m quite happy with that. Admittedly, most were read before Jamie took up quite so much energy and attention but still.
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I really liked Sky in the Deep, so I would recommend reading it anyway, even if it isn’t necessary to read The Girl the Sea Gave Back.
That is quite impressive! Yeah, I keep raving to my fiance that somehow I’ve already read as many books in the first 7 months of this year that I’ve read in the whole year the past couple years.
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I’m going to try my best to get to it before TGTSGB!
That’s awesome, Dani! I really feel like blogging about the books we read helps us to stay motivated to read more in some way. Although the reading slumps are worse as well when those happen.
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You got this!
For me, a reading slump is reading like five books in a month instead of 15+. I’m pretty much always reading.
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I miss reading 10+ books, haha. Like all the worlds I always escaped to and now it’s mainly real life. Although my pumping breaks at work (since I still breastfeed) are perfect reading moments so at least I get some reading time every day!
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That’s good at least. And hey, you can always just snuggle up with your little cutie and read to him. He’s young enough that you can read pretty much anything.
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I wish. Jamie’s a ridiculously active baby who just will. not. stop. moving. :’) And he’s at that stage where he’ll pull apart anything he can get his little grabby hands. Oh, and he loves drooling all over phones and my kindle so.. yeah.. So far no signs of him becoming a bookworm like his mom. 😛
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Oh no! Well I hope he settled down into at least half-bookworm status as he grows up.
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I hope so as well or my library has to be forever locked and hidden, haha.
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I already told my fiance that there will be a small shelf out in the living room or wherever with the kids books, and when they prove that they can care for books properly then they can have access to my collection. I have too many signed copies to allow just anyone to borrow them.
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That’s definitely a good way to go! I’m amazed I haven’t bought Jamie his own shelf yet, haha. It’ll happen eventually though.
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My library is in our Master bedroom too, so it will be easy enough to keep unwanted guests out of it. But since I let people see my library it also gives me incentive to keep the room tidied up.
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