Monthly Re-Cap: July 2018

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Another month done. Fall is so close! I am getting more excited for the fall by the minute. 

Let's see, this month we hung out with a lot of wonderful friends, Andy got to go visit family in Virginia, I got to have a stay-cation with the pets (photos are below, I like to capture them sleeping), I got admitted into grad school, and I learned to ride a motorcycle and got my endorsement! It has been a crazy busy month.

I really need to get my butt in gear and pre-plan a bunch for the fall because i have NO clue how school is going to change my time management. :/

 

 

~~Books I Read in July~~

                       

How did I do on my July TBR? 
I finished 4/4 that I needed to read and then two from my want to read pile plus another Series of Unfortunate Events book! 

July was a busy month, I did read a good amount of things but I feel very behind because a bunch of the children's books don't release for a while so the reviews aren't up to show for the reading... oh well. Hoping August is more productive on the actual blog front.

~~Links to Some Reviews~~

Escape from Lucien (Amulet #6) by Kazu Kibuishi (MG) - 4 stars

The Language of Spells by Garret Weyr (MG) - 5 stars

Hocus Pocus and the All-New Sequal by A.W. Jantha (YA) - 4 stars

The Hostile Hospital (#8) by Lemony Snicket (MG) - 5 stars

There are No Grown-Ups by Pamela Druckerman (Adult ) - 2 stars
Mr. Lemoncello's Great Library Race (Mr. Lemoncello's Libary #3) by Chris Grabenstein (MG) - 5 stars

~~Reviews Up This Month From Previous Re-Caps~~
Lady Mechanika: Clockwork Assassin (Volume 4) by Joe Benitez (GN, Adult)- 5 stars
Skooter Girl by Danielle Mac (YA, GN)- 2 stars
Dinner for Dinos by Ben Whitehouse (Youth)- 3 stars


Reviews still on their way to you:
 Coming soon in 2018 ...


The Carnivorous Carnival (#9) by Lemony Snicket (MG)
The Steves by Morag Hood (Youth)
Anna at the Art Museum by Hasel Hutchings (Youth)
Chilly da Vinci by Jarrett Rutland (Youth) 
The House of Lost and Found by Martin Widmark (Youth) 
A Valentine for Frankenstein by Leslie Kimmelman (Youth)
A Fall Ball for All by Jamie Swanson (Youth)

Building the Book Pile #264

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!  A Weekly meme inspired by Stacking the Shelves

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Happy Sunday! The week was a very wet one up here in Vermont. It rained ALL week we only had a few hours of nice sun every day because storms just kept pushing through. Which is a bummer because I didn't get to practice on the motorcycle at all, hopefully today will be nice enough to get some practice in. 

I was busy at work all week and at home trying to combat water getting into my house - so reading was a bit slow but I did manage to finish some things nad get a few reviews up. I promise August will be much better... I have a bunch of things already pre-prepped for August and September. 

How as your week, was the weather ok where you are?

Share about your week with me in the comments below!

 

  Giveaways  on Cover2CoverBlog!

More coming soon...


Coming up on the Blog

Monthly Re-Cap: July 2018
TBR Pile: August 2018
Let's Compare: Recent Reads: TV Show - The Carnivorous Carnival (#9) by Lemony Snicket (MG)

Books Received this Week

          

The Camelot Code (The Once and Future Geek #1) by Mari Mancusi from Netgalley and Disney Book Group for Review.

Have you missed anything lately?

Week of July 22 - July 28
I was a slacker again
Recent Reads: There are No Grown-ups: A Midlife Coming- of- Age Story by Pamela Druckerman (Adult) - 2 stars
Recent Reads: Mr. Lemoncello's Great Library Race (Mr. Lemoncello's Library #3) by Chris Grabenstein (MG) - 5 stars

Comment and leave me a link to your Round-up/ STS/ Weekly...anything, post and I will happily stop by and say hello!

Happy Reading!

Recent Reads: Mr. Lemoncello's Great Library Race by Chris Grabenstein

Mr. Lemoncello's Great Library Race by Chris Grabenstein

Series: Mr. Lemoncello's Library #3
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date:  October 10, 2017

 

Format: Hardback
Source: Borrowed from the Library

Rating:


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

#1 New York Times bestselling author Chris Grabenstein is back with the third fantastically fun, puzzle-packed MR. LEMONCELLO adventure!

On your marks. Get set. Lemon, cello, GO!

Everyone's favorite game maker, Mr. Lemoncello, is testing out his new FABULOUS FACT-FINDING FRENZY game! If Kyle can make it through the first round, he and the other lucky finalists will go on a great race--by bicycle, bookmobile, and even Mr. Lemoncello's corporate banana jet!--to find fascinating facts about famous Americans. The first to bring their facts back to the library will win spectacular prizes! But when a few surprising "facts" surface about Mr. Lemoncello, it might be GO TO JAIL and LOSE A TURN all at once! Could Kyle's hero be a fraud? It's winner take all, so Kyle and the other kids will have to dig deep to find out the truth before the GAME is OVER for Mr. Lemoncello and his entire fantastic empire!

Filled with brand-new puzzles and games (including a hidden bonus puzzle!), this fast-paced read will have gamers and readers alike racing to the finish line because, like Mr. Lemoncello's commercials say, IS IT FUN? . . . HELLO! IT'S A LEMONCELLO!

Review: 
Oh my gosh I love this series SO much! It is so much fun - libraries, and mysteries, and puzzles and riddles! In the third Mr. Lemoncello Library book we are back at the library with the crazy Mr. Lemoncello and his board- the kids from the previous books. This time they are competing in a race to research facts and the winners will get to travel with a new holographic library exhibit. While they are competing the rival Krinkle brothers are up to something and it does not seem good for Mr. Lemoncello. The kids find themselves having to dig up the past in order to save their idols name and business.

These books are so much fun as I have already noted. I fly through them and I love trying to solve the riddles and clues before turning the page. The adventures are creative and educational and they are put together in a way that doesn't make it overly obvious that you are learning as you read. In this story we learn about the Wright brothers, Abe Lincoln, and even Michael Jordan. It was really a blast of a book to read and if you haven't picked up this series yourself or for your middle grade reader - you really should!

Recent Reads: There Are No Grown-ups: A Midlife Coming of Age Story by Pamela Druckerman

Source: From Netgalley and Penguin Press in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

 

There Are No Grown-ups: A Midlife Coming-of-Age Story by Pamela Druckerman

Publisher: Penguin Press
Publication Date:  May 29, 2018

 

Format:  Ebook


Rating:
 


 


Goodreads Synopsis: 

The best-selling author of Bringing Up Bebe investigates life in her forties, and wonders whether her mind will ever catch up with her face.

When Pamela Druckerman turns 40, waiters start calling her "Madame," and she detects a disturbing new message in mens' gazes: I would sleep with her, but only if doing so required no effort whatsoever.

Yet forty isn't even technically middle-aged anymore. And after a lifetime of being clueless, Druckerman can finally grasp the subtext of conversations, maintain (somewhat) healthy relationships and spot narcissists before they ruin her life.

What are the modern forties, and what do we know once we reach them? What makes someone a "grown-up" anyway? And why didn't anyone warn us that we'd get cellulite on our arms? Part frank memoir, part hilarious investigation of daily life, There Are No Grown-Ups diagnoses the in-between decade when...

- Everyone you meet looks a little bit familiar.
- You're matter-of-fact about chin hair.
- You can no longer wear anything ironically.
- There's at least one sport your doctor forbids you to play.
- You become impatient while scrolling down to your year of birth.
- Your parents have stopped trying to change you.
- You don't want to be with the cool people anymore; you want to be with your people.
- You realize that everyone is winging it, some just do it more confidently.
- You know that it's ok if you don't like jazz.

Internationally best-selling author and New York Times contributor Pamela Druckerman leads us on a quest for wisdom, self-knowledge and the right pair of pants. A witty dispatch from the front lines of the forties, There Are No Grown-ups is a (midlife) coming-of-age story, and a book for anyone trying to find their place in the world.

Review: 
Sometimes I like to pick up a book that I think will teach me something about life and living and when I saw the title of this one it was a visual clue about how I had been feeling. I am a thirty-something, who really loves books that are 'too young' for her, I am ok with that, but at this point in my mother's life she already had a family and was an adult. I go through my days never really feeling like an adult or a grown-up unless I am paying bills and I though this book would give me some insight into that feeling.

Based on the synopsis I expected some humor, but also that a lot of it might be over my head - again I am in my thirties and the author is using this book to write about being in your forties. There were some times when I connected with the book, but most of the time, not so much. It was a good read though. 

I think my major turn off what that only about half of it seemed like a personal journey, while the rest was interviews and research about various topics. Some of those I was interested in - there was a lot of Psychology talk and I am a fan of that, but it left me feeling more disconnected to the author. 

What I expected was a witty coming-of-age forty rant/ life lesson overview and what I mostly found was something way too serious and a little depressing for my liking. I know that people change as they get older but I really hope some things just stay the same.

I am happy with who I am, a reader of books that are geared to others below my age group, a nerd who will still love Harry Potter even when she hits 40, who still thinks that maybe somewhere Fairies are real (come on, people can believe in angels but Fae are off limits?! I don't get it), and someone who really believes that there are no grown-ups just people pretending all the time... that is kind of what I wanted to get out of this book, and I kind of did, but the overall tone was very different from what I expected.

Building the Book Pile #263

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!  A Weekly meme inspired by Stacking the Shelves

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

So ... this past week was a weird one! So many highs and lows. I am having emotional whiplash.

Lets start on a high -
First off, last weekend I went to my Beginner Motorcycle Training course to learn how to ride a motorcycle... and guess what?! I PASSED!!! I got that little card that tells the DMV I am good to go, so this past week I ran over there and got the endorsement. SO EXCITED! However, all that being said - riding a motorcycle is still terrifying to me (lol) so I am not sure how much I will be doing it, but I am proud of myself for trying something outside of the box (for me) and completing my goal.

Then a low -
In my last post I mentioned that I am supposed to be in VA with the hubs for a wedding and visiting family, but sadly our pet sitter fell through and I sent Andy down on a plane instead and I have been home just having a stay-cation - still nice but not as fun. You would think I would be using this time to get caught up on anything productive but I have been cleaning and marathoning movies instead. All the Twilight movies in a day? - SURE why not!

Then back again -
I have been thinking about going back to school for a while now, so about a month ago I applied to be a part of an online masters program in Psychology. I got my BS in Psych but then got a MA in Humanities later so I have been thinking about pursuing the Psych thing more. This week Southern NH University accepted me into the program, I start in October 😳. Exciting and again terrifying. Hopefully I am ready, but back to school I go ... not going to lie... I am most excited for SCHOOL SUPPLIES!!!

Like I said, it was a weird week.

Share about your week with me in the comments below!

 

  Giveaways  on Cover2CoverBlog!

More coming soon...


Coming up on the Blog

Recent Reads: There are No Grown-ups: A Midlife Coming- of- Age Story by Pamela Druckerman (Adult) - sorry for the delay on this one
Recent Reads: Mr. Lemoncello's Great Library Race (Mr. Lemoncello's Library #3) by Chris Grabenstein (MG) 
Let's Compare: Recent Reads: TV Show - The Carnivorous Carnival (#9) by Lemony Snicket (MG)

Books Received this Week  

 

          

The Steves by Marag Hood - From Sourcebooks Jabberwocky and Netgalley for review.

Anna at the Art Museum by Hazel Hutchins - From Netgalley and Annick Press Ltd. for review.

Have you missed anything lately?

Week of July 15 - July 21
I was a slacker, not much last week 
Let's Compare: Recent Reads: TV Show - The Hostile Hospital by Lemony Snicket (MG)- 5 stars
Cover Reveal: Sugar Spells (The Spellwork Syndicate #2) by Lola Dodge (YA) 
 

Comment and leave me a link to your Round-up/ STS/ Weekly...anything, post and I will happily stop by and say hello!

Happy Reading!

Cover Reveal: Sugar Spells by Lola Dodge

Sugar Spells by Lola Dodge
Series: The Spellwork Syndicate #2
Published by: Ink Monster LLC
Publication date: October 30th 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult

About the Book

After her run-in with a jealous warlock, apprentice baker Anise Wise can’t wait to get back into the kitchen where she belongs. But thanks to her brush with death, the land of the living isn’t all cupcakes and marshmallows.

Anise’s magical mojo is way out of whack and her changed powers are stirring up trouble. The town’s abuzz with news that Anise can bake deathly spells, and unsavory characters start lining up for a taste. They’ll stop at nothing to use Anise and her witchcraft to further their own plots.

She plans to hole up researching solutions until the attention dies down, but then she discovers the horrifying terms of her bodyguard’s contract. Wynn has saved her life so many times, she can’t leave him trapped. Doing the right thing will mean risking death or worse—losing her dream job.

For this witch, justice might not be as sweet as advertised.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

About the Author
Lola Dodge is a compulsive traveler, baker, and procrastinator. She earned her BA in English from Stonehill College and MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University–and hasn’t stopped moving since. When she’s not on the road, Lola spends her time indoors where the sunlight can’t melt her, writing or bingeing on anime and cherry soda. She can be summoned in a ritual involving curry, Hello Kitty idols, and a solid chocolate pentagram.

Find the Author 

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Compare: Recent Read/ TV Show - The Hostile Hospital by Lemony Snicket

Compare Book 1 and the first few episodes HERE!

Compare Book 2 and those episodes HERE!

Compare Book 3 and those episodes HERE!

Compare Book 4 and those episodes HERE! 

Compare Book 5 and those episodes HERE!

Compare Book 6 and those episodes HERE! 

Compare Book 7 and those episodes HERE!

 

The Hostile Hospital by Lemony Snicket

Series: A Series of Unfortunate Events #8

Publisher:  Scholastic, Inc.
Publication Date:  January 2001

 

Format: Hardback
Source: Borrowed from the Library

Rating:


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

Dear Reader,

Before you throw this awful book to the ground and run as far away from it as possible, you should probably know why. This book is the only one which describes every last detail of the Baudelaire children's miserable stay at Heimlich Hospital, which makes it one of the most dreadful books in the world.

There are many pleasant things to read about, but this book contains none of them. Within its pages are such burdensome details as a suspicious shopkeeper, unnecessary surgery, an intercom system, anaesthesia, heart-shaped balloons, and some very startling news about a fire. Clearly you do not want to read about such things.

I have sworn to research this story, and to write it down as best I can, so I should know that this book is something best left on the ground, where you undoubtedly found it.

With all due respect,

Lemony Snicket

 

Compare Book 1 and the first few episodes HERE!
Compare Book 2 and those episodes HERE! 
Compare Book 3 and those episodes HERE! 
Compare Book 4 and those episodes HERE!  
Compare Book 5 and those episodes HERE! 
Compare Book 6 and those episodes HERE!
Compare Book 7 and those episodes HERE! 
 

 

The Vile Village: Episodes 7 & 8 of Season 2

Series: A Series of Unfortunate Events

Network: Netflix
Publication Date:  January 13, 2017- present

Review:  
I really enjoyed this book and these two episodes of the show. The orphans are on the run from the police and anyone that reads the paper - they have been accused of murdering Count Olaf. Sadly that is not the case  - Olaf is still alive and well and trying to capture them and their fortune. 

They end up at a hospital where they realize they need to look in the Library of Records for anything about Jacques Snicket and their situation - and they still don't know that the VFD is. In the show they are getting closer and closer but still nothing! It is frustrating for the viewer but makes for a great mystery.  In the book the orphans don't run into Olaf until they are at the hospital but in the show they run into him very early on and this made for a bit more suspense in the show than in the book, however the book had a lot more time in which the children reflected on their situation and realized some new things and I liked that aspect very much. 

In the hospital they have to face a moral dilemma and I think it a great thing to have these in middle grade books - they end up teaching without kids really realizing it and  can be great discussion points if you are reading the books/ watching the show as a family.

I am really getting more and more into this series - there are still some slower points but I can't wait to finally figure out what the VFD is in the books and in the show I am very curious to find out if all of this misery happened because of a stolen sugar bowl?! Sounds crazy, I know, I guess you will have to watch or read the books to find out with me.

Happy reading and watching!

Let me know what you are thinking of the show so far if you have been watching it too!

 

Building the Book Pile #262

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!  A Weekly meme inspired by Stacking the Shelves

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Another week gone... summer is flying by but that's ok because Fall is my favorite months and I am getting excited for them! Still a lot to do first though. This weekend (and while you are reading this) I am in a Beginner Motorcycle Safety Course - I am learning to ride a motorcycle. Day one went well and today I am in Day two hoping to make it through without freaking out. It is getting more difficult but I think I am doing ok.

Last week I got a lot of reading done but the reviews went up immediately so I need to get more reading caught up ASAP because this upcoming week I work for 2 days then leave to visit family in PA and VA and I have no time to read :/ I am hoping to have some content prepped but we will see.  

Share about your week with me in the comments below!

 

  Giveaways  on Cover2CoverBlog!

 

Coming up on the Blog

Let's Compare: Recent Reads: TV Show - The Hostile Hospital by Lemony Snicket (MG)
Recent Reads: There are No Grown-ups: A Midlife Coming- of- Age Story by Pamela Druckerman (Adult)
Cover Reveal: Sugar Spells (The Spellwork Syndicate #2) by Lola Dodge (YA)

 

Books Received this Week  

I may have visited Netgalley this week, I love children's books :) but I also ended up getting a few in the mail too.

         

 Poppy and Sam and the Leaf Thief by Cathon - from Netgalley and Owlbooks

Giant: A Panda of the Enchanted Forest by Xuan Loc Xuan - from Netgalley and Happy Fox Books 

 Sheets by Brenna Thummler - from Netgalley and Diamond Book Distributors

 Magic Harvest (Fairy Trafficking #1) by Mary Karlik - for Blog Tour with Xpresso Reads

Beast: A Tale of Love and Revenge by Lisa Jensen - From Librarything Early Reviewers program and Candlewick press

Children of the Bloodlands (The Realms of the Ancients #2) by S.M. Beiko - from the publisher for blog tour 

Everywhere You Want to Be by Christina June - from a publicist and publisher for review. 

Have you missed anything lately?

Week of July 8 - July 14
Recent Reads: Amulet #6 by Kazu Kibuishi (MG, GN) - 4 stars
Recent Reads: The Language of Spells by Garrett Weyr (MG)- 5 stars
Early Reader Review: Hocus Pocus and the All-New Sequel by A.W. Jantha (YA) - 4 stars
Blog Tour, Guest Post w/ Giveaway: The New Adventures of A.R. Achnid (Youth)

 

Comment and leave me a link to your Round-up/ STS/ Weekly...anything, post and I will happily stop by and say hello!

Happy Reading!