2018 Bookish Goals

Hello Everyone!

Today’s post is all about my bookish goals for 2018. I don’t have many goals, but the ones I did set are ones that I think I can achieve over the course of the year. Here are my goals:

1. Read 52 Books 

I set it my Goodreads goal for 52 books because even though I want to read everything in sight, I also want to slow down and enjoy what I read! Last year I read a lot, but I honestly can’t remember what half of them were about.

2. Complete the Around in 52 Books 2018 Challenge.

I attempted to do this challenge last year, and even though I was only a couple books short of completing it, this year I want to make more of an effort to complete all 52 challenges. If you would like to see what the challenges are for this year, check out my blog post all about it!

3. Complete the Beat the Backlist Challenge. 

If you would like to find out more about the Beat the Backlist challenge, check out my blog post from a couple of days ago where I talk more about it. I am going to attempt to read 20 books that were published before 2018 throughout the year, I might be able to read more, but right now I feel like this is the most attainable goal.

4. Read my Bible every day. 

One of my goals last year was to read through the Bible in a year, however I completely slacked off on this for most of 2017. However, this year I am determined to stick to a plan and do it for the whole year!

5. Write a review for every book I read (long or short). 

The only exception to this rule is going to be Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows because I haven’t done a review for the rest of the series. But every other book is going to get a review this year, it just might take a while for it to go live on the blog.

6. Post consistently on my blog. 

The second half of 2017 was somewhat disastrous posting wise because I didn’t really have much of a schedule and I would take several weeks off at time. However, this year I am planning on posting three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday), with a few extra posts on a Saturday. There will also be certain times (like the first two weeks of January) where I will be posting five days a week just to keep up with all the content I want to post this year!

7. Post consistently on Instagram. 

Over the past several months my Instagram account has primarily been a Bookstagram account (apart from several personal posts) and I am looking forward to uploading more Bookstagram photos. My plan is to try and upload a photo every day (at least for this month), and to just be consistent with it.

8. Try to gain 100 followers for my blog. 

9. Try a genre I wouldn’t normally read. 

For this goal I am thinking of trying out either Thriller or Horror, but nothing to scary. I am thinking of picking up either The Shining or Carrie by Stephen King in order to complete this goal.

10. Try different kinds of content on my blog. 

I am still working on what exactly this is going to be, but I am looking forward to sharing some of the ideas I have with all of you soon.

And those are my goals for 2018! What are some of your bookish goals for the year?

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

P.S. If you haven’t done so already, don’t forget to click the blue “Follow” button. You can also follow me on my other social media profiles: Twitter (@Jlc0904Janelle), Instagram (@jazzyjan101), GoodReads, and The Meanderings of a Bookworm Facebook page! 🙂

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The Name Change

Hello everyone!

It has been about a week since I moved from Blogger to WordPress, and The Scribbler became Meanderings of a Bookworm.

The reason for the change is that I felt like it was time to give my blog a makeover and I was finding it difficult to use Blogger in more innovative ways to improve my blog. I had heard in the past that WordPress was better than Blogger, however I wanted to do my own thing and refused to accept it. But since I felt that a change was needed on my blog I decided to check it out and see whether or not I wanted to use it as the new home of my blog.

After spending a few hours of playing around with WordPress, I discovered that it was easier to use and make changes than on Blogger. I also decided that if I changed to WordPress then maybe it was time to change the name as well; for a while I have been wanting to change for a while.

I also felt like a change was necessary since I started The Scribbler back when I had just finished my senior of high school and two years later I decided to turn it into a book blog. However, now that I have graduated from college and I am a little bit older I also wanted my blog to reflect the changes I have been going through.

For those of you who read The Scribbler, welcome to Meanderings of a Bookworm and I hope you enjoy the content of this blog as much as you enjoyed the old blog! To my new readers, welcome! I hope you enjoy my ramblings about books and anything book related! 🙂

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

P.S. Don’t forget to follow the blog and like the Facebook page. You can also follow me on Twitter (@Jlc0904Janelle) and Instagram (@jazzyjan101).

Book Review: The Mayflower Bride

Hello Everyone!

Today’s review is on The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse.

About the Book: 

Mary Chapman boards the Speedwell in 1620 as a Separatist seeking a better life in the New World. William Lytton embarks on the Mayflower as a carpenter looking for opportunities to succeed—and he may have found one when a man from the Virginia Company offers William a hefty sum to keep a stealth eye on company interests in the new colony. The season is far too late for good sailing and storms rage, but reaching land is no better as food is scarce and the people are weak. Will Mary survive to face the spring planting and unknown natives? Will William be branded a traitor and expelled?

My Thoughts: 

Before I get started with my review I would like to thank Netgalley and Barbour Publishing for sending me an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed in the following review are my own.

It took me almost two months to read this, not because it was bad, but because I had to read it on my Kindle and lately I haven’t really been into ebooks. This was a cute, clean romance that takes place during the Mayflower’s voyage to the Americas and just after. I loved the romance that blossomed over the course of the novel and how both characters tried to be careful about how they pursued it. I also appreciated how it didn’t shy away from the hardships that the pilgrims faced both during and after their journey.

My only complaint is that the Epilogue was a little bit confusing at first, but it was still a good read, although not super gripping. But, that being said, I am looking forward to reading the other books in this series, as well as reading other books by Kimberley Woodhouse in the future. 3/5 Stars.

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

March Wrap-up

1. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline 

This was a cool action-packed read about the near future where almost everything takes place in a virtual reality platform called the OASIS. The main plot was a scavenger hunt within this VR world and it contained a lot of ’80s pop culture references. It was a good read and I loved the movie. 4/5 Stars.

2. In Real Life by Cry Doctorow and Jen Wang 

I checked this out on the Overdrive App because it was recommended as a read-a-like for fans of Ready Player One. I read this in several hours and it was really good. It is about a girl joins a computer league but discovers a dark side to this new and exciting world that she is in and tries to help change the world. 5/5 Stars.

3. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’engle 

I reread this novel in hopes of seeing the movie that was released last month (which I am planning on waiting to see since I’ve heard a lot of bad reviews about it). I definitely enjoyed it a lot more this time around than I did when I read it about 10 years ago. 4/5 Stars.

4. I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maureen Goo 

This was a cute, contemporary novel about a girl who tries to get the perfect boy by following a list of rules that she compiled while binge-watching Korean-dramas and the chaos that ensues, as well as love, as a result of her plan. 3.5/5 Stars.

5. Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff 

This was a great finale to the Illuminae Files series and I’m sad it’s over now. I am looking forward to their next series which is supposed to come out sometime next year.

6. Wires and Nerve Volume 2: Gone Rogue by Marissa Meyer, Stephen Gilpin and Douglas Holgate 

7. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi 

8. Alice in Wonderland: Cinestory Comic by Dean R. Motter and Walt Disney Company 

9. Cats of 1986 by Chronicle Books 

Library Haul #15

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to another library haul! I love the library and I love checking out books from the library (and my bank account sure appreciates!). Here are some of the books that I’ve checked out over the past few months:

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L’Engle 

 

Many Waters by Madeleine L’Engle 

A Swiftly, Tilting Planet by Madeleine L’Engle 

An Acceptable Time  by Madeleine L’Engle

Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston 

Unearthed by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner 

Zenith by Sasha Alsberg and Lindsay Cummings 

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi 

Olivia Twist by Lorie Langdon 

To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo 

Who Killed Piet Barol? by Richard Mason

Wonder by R.J. Palacio 

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black 

Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi

 

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

April TBR

 

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to my April TBR, here are some of the books I am hoping to definitely get to in April:

Wonder by R. J. Palacio 

A Friendly Town That’s Almost Always by the Ocean by Kir Fox and M. Shelley Coats

Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston 

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas 

Unearthed by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

 

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

Life Update

Hello Everyone!

It has been a few weeks since my last post. Life has been crazy and I have even been thinking about shutting down my blog completely. However, after talking to a few people, I think I should still keep blogging, the only difference is that I won’t be posting as often as I was back in January. In fact, I might only post my monthly wrap-ups and TBRs for the next few months, mainly because I don’t have a whole lot of time to produce new content.

There are several reasons why I have to take a step back from posting regularly:

1. I have moved twice in the last two months.
2. School! Some of you might know that I am working on getting my Masters in Library and Information Science online. Last semester I kind of slacked off a bit on my schoolwork because I made the blog more of a priority than it should have been.
3. Work – I have been working a lot more hours the past few months which means that I don’t have as much free time as I did before, which is great but it also means that every spare moment that I have is spent on schoolwork or hanging out with friends.
4. Friends – I realized that in order to try and gain new followers on the blog I also neglected some of my real-life friendships and I was lonely because of it.
5. Due to school and work, I also don’t have as much time to read as I did when I wasn’t taking school seriously. I still read, but my reading has slowed down significantly and my tastes have also been changing.
6. Finally, although this probably should have been the first reason, I have been convicted of the fact that for most of last year I was not taking my relationship with the Lord seriously. I was complacent and stagnant and was not really growing much in my Christian walk with the Lord. Looking back now I see some of the negative effects that were a result of that and starting at the beginning of 2018 I knew I had to make some changes. I found a church that I really like, I’ve been reading my Bible consistently, and I am making more of an effort to read more Christian Living books, as well as Christian fiction (It might seem like I am boasting, I’m not, I just wanted to share some of the ways I am trying to grow as a believer in Christ). The Lord has been working in my life in some great ways and He has been showing me some things that I need to work on, e.g. some of the things I read/watch, etc.

Anyway, that is my life update and I will be back next week with my March TBR.

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

Book Review: Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

Hello Everyone!

Today’s review is on Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend.

About the Book: 

A breathtaking, enchanting new series by debut author Jessica Townsend, about a cursed girl who escapes death and finds herself in a magical world–but is then tested beyond her wildest imagination. 

Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, she’s blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks–and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday.

But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away into the safety of a secret, magical city called Nevermoor.

It’s then that Morrigan discovers Jupiter has chosen her to contend for a place in the city’s most prestigious organization: the Wundrous Society. In order to join, she must compete in four difficult and dangerous trials against hundreds of other children, each boasting an extraordinary talent that sets them apart–an extraordinary talent that Morrigan insists she does not have. To stay in the safety of Nevermoor for good, Morrigan will need to find a way to pass the tests–or she’ll have to leave the city to confront her deadly fate. 

AR Level: 5.6; AR points: 14.0

My Thoughts: 

The plot of Nevermoor was interesting, but it was also kind slow because the main focus was on explaining the magic system. And near the end the plot was kind of predictable. However, I did like the concept of Nevermoor and I am looking forward to finding out more about this magical place.

I enjoyed getting to know the characters, especially Fenestra the cat – I loved her sarcastic but caring attitude towards Morrigan. Morrigan was also an interesting character, especially since most of her life had been filled with sorrow because everyone believed that she was cursed. Which is one thing I wish had been more detailed…why Morrigan was cursed. I know they go into some detail throughout the novel, but I also felt like there is still a lot that I don’t know about it. Jupiter North was also a great, quirky character and I feel like there is a whole book that can written about him.

I’m interested to see what happens in the next book, which is supposed to come out sometime this year. I gave Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow 3.5/5 Stars.

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

Book Review: Loving vs. Virginia

Hello Everyone!

Today’s review is on Loving vs. Virginia by Patricia Hruby Powell.

About the Book: 

From acclaimed author Patricia Hruby Powell comes the story of a landmark civil rights case, told in spare and gorgeous verse. In 1955, in Caroline County, Virginia, amidst segregation and prejudice, injustice and cruelty, two teenagers fell in love. Their life together broke the law, but their determination would change it. Richard and Mildred Loving were at the heart of a Supreme Court case that legalized marriage between races, and a story of the devoted couple who faced discrimination, fought it, and won.

My Thoughts: 

I had seen Loving vs. Virginia mentioned on a few vlogs and even on Goodreads, but then I forgot about it for a few months. Then one day at work I was getting ready to do some shelving and I saw it sitting on a cart and I saw that it was written in free verse and I knew I had to pick it up!

I really enjoyed this book, in fact I read it a day! It was so beautiful! I have recently discovered that I really like books that are told in free verse and this was a good fictional account about the Lovings and their fight for their interracial marriage against the state of Virginia.

I enjoyed every moment of this book, and I felt like the illustrations did a good job of complimenting the poems within this book. I also really want to watch the movie Loving now which is also based on this couple who had to fight to be together. I gave Loving vs. Virginia 5/5 Stars for its unique format and how it drew me into the story from the very beginning.

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

Book Review: Forest of a Thousand Lanterns

Hello Everyone!

Today’s review is on Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao.

About the Book: 

An East Asian fantasy reimagining of The Evil Queen legend about one peasant girl’s quest to become Empress–and the darkness she must unleash to achieve her destiny.

Eighteen-year-old Xifeng is beautiful. The stars say she is destined for greatness, that she is meant to be Empress of Feng Lu. But only if she embraces the darkness within her. Growing up as a peasant in a forgotten village on the edge of the map, Xifeng longs to fulfill the destiny promised to her by her cruel aunt, the witch Guma, who has read the cards and seen glimmers of Xifeng’s majestic future. But is the price of the throne too high?

Because in order to achieve greatness, she must spurn the young man who loves her and exploit the callous magic that runs through her veins–sorcery fueled by eating the hearts of the recently killed. For the god who has sent her on this journey will not be satisfied until his power is absolute.

My Thoughts: 

Even though Forest of a Thousand Lanterns started out slow, I ended up loving it. I think it as a great origin story of the evil queen and I am looking forward to seeing what happens in the sequel which is supposed to come out this fall. I also liked that it had East Asian influences and has some Asian folk tales included in  it.

I like getting to know Xifeng and her fight against the dark power she has inside of her. I loved her development through out the book and I can’t wait to see what she does next. I gave Forest of a Thousand Lanterns 4/5 Stars.

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

 

 

Book Review: The Language of Thorns

Hello Everyone!

Today’s review is on The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo.

About the Book: 

Love speaks in flowers. Truth requires thorns.

Travel to a world of dark bargains struck by moonlight, of haunted towns and hungry woods, of talking beasts and gingerbread golems, where a young mermaid’s voice can summon deadly storms and where a river might do a lovestruck boy’s bidding but only for a terrible price.

Inspired by myth, fairy tale, and folklore, #1 New York Times–bestselling author Leigh Bardugo has crafted a deliciously atmospheric collection of short stories filled with betrayals, revenge, sacrifice, and love.

Perfect for new readers and dedicated fans, these tales will transport you to lands both familiar and strange—to a fully realized world of dangerous magic that millions have visited through the novels of the Grishaverse.

This collection of six stories includes three brand-new tales, all of them lavishly illustrated with art that changes with each turn of the page, culminating in six stunning full-spread illustrations as rich in detail as the stories themselves.

My Thoughts: 

The Language of Thorns was an interesting collection of folk tales/ fairy tales set in the Grisha Universe. I enjoyed it and I liked how each one was a creepy take on some beloved fairy tales.

The only tale that I found confusing at the end was the Hansel and Gretel retelling…(SPOILER ALERT) but what exactly was the dad doing? Was he murdering and sexually assaulting the girls, or was he just a weird cannibal? I’m still wondering about this even though I read it over two months ago.

Despite being confused by that one thing I did enjoy this collection of creepy fairy tales and I can’t wait to read more of Leigh Bardugo’s works.

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

Book Review: The Love Letters of Abelard and Lily

Hello Everyone!

Today’s review is on The Love Letters of Abelard and Lily by Laura Creedle.

About the Book: 

When Lily Michaels-Ryan ditches her ADHD meds and lands in detention with Abelard, who has Asperger’s, she’s intrigued—Abelard seems thirty seconds behind, while she feels thirty seconds ahead. It doesn’t hurt that he’s brilliant and beautiful.

When Abelard posts a quote from The Letters of Abelard and Heloise online, their mutual affinity for ancient love letters connects them. The two fall for each other. Hard. But is it enough to bridge their differences in person?

This hilarious, heartbreaking story of human connection between two neurodivergent teens creates characters that will stay with you long after you finish reading.

My Thoughts: