Bookish

August 2019 Reading Wrap Up

Yes, I know I’m super late. I mean it’s October! A lot happened in September and it put me a little behind on sharing the content to all of the social media outlets. Instagram and Twitter are of course going to be the best places to see what I’m doing in real-time. So that brings me to *celebratory trumpet sounds* my August wrap up!!

I only read 4 books in August and one of those was a novella, sooooo yeah four books. My wrap up is up on my youtube channel and is linked down below to get complete thoughts and a short synopsis on each book.

Master Baker by Pippa Grant – Three Stars

Getting Schooled by Emma Chase – Five Stars

Amber and Dusk by Lyra Selene – Three Stars

Playing House by Ruby Lang  – Four Stars

If I have a review up on my youtube channel I will also link that down below! If you’re looking to get the books, click on the titles and it will bring you to Amazon. I read all of the books on my Kindle except for Amber and Dusk, which I got in an Owlcrate Box.

I’m genuinely trying to get back in blogging, so please tell me how I can improve and what you would like to see on my blog! My youtube channel gets updated more these days and I’m trying to coincide that with my blog, but social media takes a lot! You all who do it all are amazing! Anyway, that’s enough rambling for me until next time,

Keep turning the Pages,

India

Book Reviews

Tower of Dawn, Sarah J. Maas

— Short Story–

The Glass Castle has been shattered. The King of Aderland is dead and Chaol Westfall and Nesryn Feliq find themselves crossing oceans to find a way to save their country. Chaol has sustained a spinal cord injury, which has him paralyzed from the waist down.  It is their job, as the new Hand of the King, and the new Captain of the Guard to bring back support to continue fighting this war that is waging between Duke Perrington and basically the rest of the world. It is also to try and help Chaol find a healer at the Torre Cesme to help him walk again. While spending time in another leaders court, Nesryn and Chaol both have their tasks that they need to get accomplished, and both of them start to find their ways back to themselves and who they are to the core. Chaol, with the help of Yrene, finds that he needs to heal in more ways than the physical sense, and Nesryn finds what her soul has been missing. Both are still fiercely loyal to their country, but Antica has made them stronger in who they are in so many ways that they would not have felt in Antica. This story is about rediscovery of ones self and a willingness to keep going forward through the darkness.

— My Thoughts —

Omg omg omg omg I’m glad that I read this book. There’s something about Sarah J Maas books that are starting to feel like home to me. When I started listening to it on audible I immediately felt less stressed and ready to get back into this world. I never thought that the stories of Chaol and Nesryn were what I needed until I really got into it. I have never been a huge fan of either of them, but I through their journey in growth, I grew with them too. This book touches on the topic of what it’s like to go through a massive trauma and not have time or take the time to heal. Not just the physical parts, but the mental parts as well.  As someone in healthcare I fell for Irene’s story a lot. Irene herself has been through a lot of things in her life and has not dealt with them, but she finds joy in helping others and has a passion for it. In healthcare there are so many of us, if not everyone, who finds joy in helping others, but we often times let our own lives get the better of us because we don’t seek the emotional help that we need. Often times we let ourselves succumb to anxiety and depression because we believe there’s no one to help us, but enough about my, I mean our, problems let’s talk about this book.
I loved it!! It gave such great information that is going to be necessary in Kingdom if Ash, the final installment of Throne of Glass.  It introduced some new characters and a whole land that we can now visualize and understand as we go into the next book. Without this book she would have had to do a lot of back telling of places, events, and characters.  I thought that it was interesting getting to know Nesryn so much more and being able to understand and see what it is like to be a part of two worlds, but not feel wholly a part of both. To finally feel the freedom and enjoyment of ones own culture and heritage without judgement or persecution.
Some people believed that this book was not wholly necessary, and I disagree with that. I think that we needed some parts to better understand the last installment in Kingdom of Ash. I also believe once again people went in reading a Sarah J. Maas book with a lot of misconceptions on what the book was even though it was explained long before the book came out last year. Go into it with an open mind and remember that it is a PARALLEL to Empire of Storms, so while all of those events are happening, Chaol and Nesryn are in Antica. It is literally the next book after Queen of Shadows. You can go straight from that book to this one, the references made by Hasar during the book to Aelin’s doing and whereabouts will still make sense.
Now for another fun part! Over on my Instagram page I am doing a GIVEAWAY of Tower of Dawn! It is a signed copy and it is yours if you win the Giveaway. It is in no way sponsored! I got the book last year at SJM event for the book and I’ve been meaning to give it away for a long time now, I just wanted to read it first. The rules of the giveaway are this:
  1. You must be following me on Instagram
  2. You must like the picture
  3. You must tag a friend who you want to take to Antica with you
And that’s it! I’ll be choosing a random winner on Labor Day, September 3rd. The picture you’re looking for is the one at the top of the post, or click here!
What do you think of the Throne of Glass series? Have you read Tower of Dawn? What did you think? I’ll be posting a review on my Youtube channel soon, so be on the lookout for that!! Until next time,
Keep Turning the Pages
India
Coffee Break

Top 5 Holiday Gift Guide for Book Lovers!!

Are you stuck trying to figure out what to get someone for Christmas? Do they love books?? Here are some ideas for the book lover in your life. These are just some of my ideas, and there are plenty of them out there. If you have any ideas leave them in the comments below!! Until next time,

 

Keep Turning the Pages

Bookish, Uncategorized

E-Reader vs. Real Books

I think that I’ve probably done a post like this before, but the other night I was reading a book in bed, instead of reading on my iPad. I know woe is me reading a book instead of an iPad, but the problem I was having was the book was rather large!! (I was reading Dan Brown’s Inferno and Sarah Dessen’s The Moon and More) It was hard for me to hold the book and get comfortable in bed.

I’ve been trying to get books on my iPad (kindle app), but when I own things by an author, I have to continue getting those books in print. I have to have the whole collection! I mean who just wants to see one of a series on the shelf… no one that’s who. Let me know what you think of e-reader vs. books!! It also seems like e-readers might be putting some book stores out of business, or at least that’s what I’ve heard… until next time,
Keep Turning the Pages
90s Born Reader