Sunday Update!

I have been spending the week slowly getting back into the swing of things. Apparently, when you return home after being gone for almost a week, you have no desire to do anything except the bare minimum. I did get on the scale on Tuesday, and I quickly discovered why my clothes haven't been fitting well. Eek! Although I wasn't motivated to do much, exercise seemed like a fantastic idea. This one particular New Year's Resolution seems to be going in full gear.

I got a ton of reading done this week. I finished five books. Finished is the important word in that sentence though, because I had been reading several of these books for a while. I will admit that it is nice to get them off my plate. I am currently listening to three audio books, which is not my style (I prefer to just listen to one maybe two audio books at once), so I am keeping my fingers crossed for another productive reading week. Two of the books are around 11 hours each, so I think I will be able to get at least one knocked out next week.
 
Book Haul  





ARCS & Galleys

I received one galley in the last TWO weeks (crazy, right?). It is Hollow City by Ransom Riggs. It is an audio book.

From Giveaways

I received a few books from different giveaways in the last two weeks as well. This is going to seem like a lot, but some of these were items that I won a while ago, and due to to holidays, I only received them recently. I received a copy of Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell from the Rainbow Rowell Read-a-Thon, which was hosted by Looking for the Panacea, PaperGrey, and  Fluttereal Flight. I received a signed copy of Unbreakable by Kami Garcia and a few extra goodies from Tressa' Wishful Endings. I received some swag from the Clean Out Your E-Reader Challenge hosted by Fantasy Is More Fun and Because Reading Is Better Than Real Life. They will be hosting this challenge again in March, so put it on your calendars! I received Slide by Michelle Congdon from the Slide book tour on Why I Can't Stop Reading. Finally, I received Notes from the Internet Apocalypse by Wayne Gladstone from the GoodReads First Reads Program.

From the Library

I just picked up one book from the library this week, but it is an important one! I got Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken!

Bought
 
This week I purchased a few books. I got Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark retold by Alvin Schwartz (with the original scary artwork by Stephen Gammell) at the Goodwill ($0.99 and $0.69, respectively!). I started exercising this week, and I have a little system in which I earn money to spend at Goodwill. As you can see, I can't go too crazy there. :)
 
Amazon was having some great sales this week, so I made a few purchases. First, I picked up City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare. I haven't started this series, but the book was so cheap ($2.99), I decided to pick it up (this sale isn't going on anymore). Second, I picked up Bellman & Black by Diane Setterfield. I haven't heard great things about this book, but I really want to read it for myself. It was only $1.99, so I figured I haven't lost out (as of typing this, the sale is ongoing on the US Amazon site, double check the price before you buy!).

Currently Reading 
 
Dead as a Door Nail: Sookie Stackhouse has been calling to me for a little while, so I picked up book #5 in the series. I love the reader so much; it is like we are having a conversation.
 
Hollow City: I just started this audio book. I am enjoying the story, but I am not sold on the reader yet.
 
A Dance with Dragons: I just haven't been in the mood for this audio book, even though the story has been getting interesting.
 
Hangwire: I just read the first few pages of this book, and it has pulled me in! 

Read This Week
Dark Talisman by Steven M Booth
The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty by James Thurber
The Einstein Intersection by Samuel R Delany
A Study in Ashes by Emma Jane Holloway

43 comments:

Tanya Patrice said...
January 19, 2014 at 1:45 AM

Ooh what a fantastic book haul! And I hav eto admit I liked Mrs. Peregrine but not enough to continue with Hollow City - so I can't wait to see what you think of it. If you like it, I might continue on with the series.

Chantelle said...
January 19, 2014 at 2:45 AM

IGGNNIITTEE MEEEEEE!!! aaahhh can not wait!!!!! Also, really happy that you were the winner of Fangirl, hope you like it :)

Anonymous said...
January 19, 2014 at 4:08 AM

Ahhh I can't wait to read Ignite Me! :-)

Greg said...
January 19, 2014 at 6:11 AM

It's always nice to get books finished, especially ones that have been hanging around. :) I've had that problem lately a bit. Looks like a good book haul- I've never read Guy Gavriel Kay although I've heard good things. I'll have to take a closer look.

Have a great week!

Vilia said...
January 19, 2014 at 10:00 AM

5 books is very cool. I got a few done myself but I stupidly went out and bought more lol.

Unknown said...
January 19, 2014 at 11:41 AM

Nice swag!!! 5 books is awesome! I can't wait to see what you thought about Silver Linings Playbook! :) Happy reading!

Ula said...
January 19, 2014 at 3:09 PM

Great haul! I really enjoyed Divergent. Mafi's books were a bit of a disappointment but I'll read on. Dorothy Must Die looks awesome, hope I get it soon. CoLS was okay I guess and I look forward to starting Fangirl.
Happy reading!

Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer said...
January 19, 2014 at 3:52 PM

Awesome haul from swag to books, and you got Hollowed City, I am really looking forward to reading that myself. Have a wonderful week Pamela

Cyn @ Bookmunchies said...
January 19, 2014 at 4:37 PM

Awesome haul! Fangirl was such a fun read, I still need to read E&P. Dorothy Must Die looks awesome and I love the spooky cover of Hollow City! Hope you enjoy all your new books! Happy Readings!

Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard said...
January 19, 2014 at 6:15 PM

What a fantastic haul! I need to read Fangirl. And congratulations on finishing so many books this week! It always feels good to get to the end (even when it also makes you sad.) Have a wonderful week, and thanks for stopping by my blog earlier today!

Angela's Anxious Life said...
January 19, 2014 at 10:33 PM

Working out sucks. There I said it. I swear my butt is getting sooo big. LOL! I also have right here and now Fangirl and Hollow City. Can't wait to compare reviews on them.

Michelle @ In Libris Veritas said...
January 20, 2014 at 12:57 AM

Awesome haul! I really need to work out...I've been gaining weight, which is my intention but I want to have a more toned look because I can't fit in my pants anymore, lol. You finished a lot of books this week! I really need to get my butt into gear and do the same. I hope you enjoy your lovely new books!

Unknown said...
January 20, 2014 at 8:37 AM

I am absolutely desperate to lay my hands on a copy of Dorothy Must Die, which I think I spy an excerpt of in one of your Haul photographs! I hope it lives up to my expectations! Looks like you've had a very successful week! :)

Chanzie said...
January 20, 2014 at 8:52 AM

Wow great haul! I totally know what you mean about doing as little as possible and my scale and your scale must be in cahoots!

Chanzie @ Mean Who You Are.

Chanzie said...
January 20, 2014 at 8:53 AM

PS I am really excited to see you got The City of Lost Souls!!! *happy dance* I think I saw City of Bones on special too this week... ??

Unknown said...
January 20, 2014 at 1:19 PM

I wasn't a big fan of the ending of Mrs. Peregrine, but I decided that I should give it a go. :)

Unknown said...
January 20, 2014 at 1:19 PM

I am so excited to have a hard copy of Fangirl! I loved this book so much!

Unknown said...
January 20, 2014 at 1:20 PM

I am so excited to start this series. The books sound fantastic.

Unknown said...
January 20, 2014 at 1:21 PM

I have heard such great things about him. Tigana was an old Sword & Laser book club pick (the online book club that I do), and I want to read through their old picks.

Unknown said...
January 20, 2014 at 1:22 PM

Don't worry! You are not the only one! I need to do a better job of balancing the books that are coming in with those that I finish.

Unknown said...
January 20, 2014 at 1:22 PM

I loved The Silver Linings Playbook. Actually, I did the review last Friday, so you can find out right now! :)

Unknown said...
January 20, 2014 at 1:23 PM

Dorothy Must Die looks pretty snazzy. I am looking forward to people's thoughts on it.

Unknown said...
January 20, 2014 at 1:24 PM

The one disappointment with the audio book galley is that I don't have the great pictures. I got the book from the library, so I am looking at the pictures, while I listen to the audio book.

Unknown said...
January 20, 2014 at 1:25 PM

E&P is really well done. It does deal with some difficult family situations, just so you know. I was surprised that a book that sounded so cute could also deal with so many hard issues.

Unknown said...
January 20, 2014 at 1:26 PM

Thanks! Fangirl is so lovely. You will just smile the entire time while reading it.

Unknown said...
January 20, 2014 at 1:26 PM

I hate exercising too. I do like how I feel after the fact, but I hate doing it so much! I can't wait to hear how you like Fangirl and Hollow City!

Unknown said...
January 20, 2014 at 1:27 PM

My main motivation to exercising is to fit into my clothes nicely again! I don't want to have to buy new clothes!

Unknown said...
January 20, 2014 at 1:29 PM

You do spy an excerpt of Dorothy Must Die! ;) I am looking forward to reading it.

Unknown said...
January 20, 2014 at 1:31 PM

I did! It was less than $3, so I had to scoop it up. I had already bought City of Bones a while ago, so I don't pay attention to it, but I think you are right that it was on sale.

Charnell @ Reviews from a Bookworm said...
January 20, 2014 at 4:34 PM

Amazing haul! You've got lots of amazing books this week. I can't believe I still haven't read any Rainbow Rowell, I need to change this soon. I hope you enjoy all of your books. Charnell@Reviews from a Bookworm

Unknown said...
January 20, 2014 at 9:48 PM

You should definitely read one of Rowell's books. They really are well written. :)

Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms said...
January 21, 2014 at 11:28 AM

Oh, what an awesome haul, Pamela! I hope you'll enjoy your new books. I have to admit I'm a little jealous you already got your hands on Ignite Me :)

Have a great week :)

Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews

Alysia @ My Little Pocketbooks said...
January 21, 2014 at 7:07 PM

That is a huge haul! I have been thinking about jumping into the Sookie Stackhouse series but I have to finish some of the imcomplete series I have now. Love the Goodwill idea!

Pamela D said...
January 21, 2014 at 7:43 PM

I am really enjoying the Stackhouse books. They are fun and light; I am enjoying them much more than the first season of True Blood (I stopped after the first season). I saw that you are going to take part in Thoughtful Thursday! Yea! :)

Alysia @ My Little Pocketbooks said...
January 22, 2014 at 10:28 AM

Yep. Just finished the first one. I think I will try and get them done this weekend. Love the topics. Thanks

Pamela D said...
January 22, 2014 at 6:35 PM

It is just an excerpt! Not the book!

Erin said...
January 25, 2014 at 9:07 PM

GREAT amount of books. You completely need to jump on the Sookie bandwagon. I do love the series although the last books are weaker and the final book not to my taste...but the early books are especially epic :) Also, I remember reading the Scary stories to tell in the dark when I was a kid. I loved these then and the memories from them now.

Such fun looking swag too :)

Pamela D said...
January 27, 2014 at 1:22 PM

I am looking forward to starting SS book 6 once I finish up two more audio books. They are so much fun!



I loved the Scary Stories books when I was a kid, so when I saw the first book at Goodwill, I had to snatch it up!

Fantasy Is More Fun said...
January 28, 2014 at 8:28 PM

I really look forward to seeing what you think of Ignite Me - I just recently read a review for it that wasn't too positive and I hope you'll disagree with them (I really wanted to read and love it) lol


Thanks for mentioning COYER too!

Pamela D said...
January 28, 2014 at 9:03 PM

I haven't started this series at all yet, but I am sad to hear that you were disappointed in the final book! I have heard such good things about this series.

BTW, I just received an excerpt. It isn't the whole book. :)

Fantasy Is More Fun said...
January 28, 2014 at 9:22 PM

It wasn't me, just a review I read. So I'm hoping you'll read it and have a review that contradicts what I read LOL. I love the covers and the concept, but if even a fraction of that review was spot on, I don't know if I want to read the series :/

Pamela D said...
January 28, 2014 at 11:02 PM

I will keep my fingers crossed for more positive reviews for you! Once I get through the next month of reviews I agreed to do (I am on a tight schedule through February!), I will try to fit the series in just for you. :)

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