Book Week

Why hello there. 

Last week was Children's Book Week here in Australia. So seeing as I work in a field vaguely related to those themes, we got permission to dress up!

...I was basically. the only one at my branch to get into costume. (Except for one girl who came one day as Peter Rabbit, that was cute.)

If you get told you can dress up at work, take advantage of it, kids!! Bring the chaos. Dewit.

Anyway yes. I'm not very experienced with costumes but I dressed up so here are pictures! that's basically all this post will be, tbh.

Mary Poppins, for both the first and last day (crocheted the trimmings myself, for Book Week last year, so I had to wear the hat twice xD) 

HELP || why did I buy more books

The answer to the question in the title is, of course, that I am Loki and I do what I want. (And if you don't think Loki collects books [perhaps not novels, though?], I don't know what to say to you.) But it's all very well for an Asgardian prince... I'm sure he has lots of shelf space.

Or, y'know, some kind of pocket dimension library.

Me? Not so much.

It isn't like I bought very many... this time. Six or seven, and only two of those were large books.

But you know that tumblr post on Pinterest about Quicksilver and Thor's hammer? no? ...hang on...

*literally two hours later* HERE IT IS

 

That's me. Except it's more like:

"oh, what a great idea, let's get more books" 

*teetering towers of books collapse and crush me* 

"I HAVE MADE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE"

What Was I Up To During My Unannounced Four-Month Hiatus?

Two weeks ago, I awkwardly reappeared in the blogophere.

With very few excuses to offer, really. I haven't written a trilogy while I was gone. I haven't been on some kind of cleansing technology abstinence.

I'm not even super-relaxed by the whole hiatus experience.

Feel free to throw things at me but please make them chocolate or at least biscuits.

Here's what did happen during my hiatus:

–{{In April, I:

• post, apologising for disappearing for three whole weeks. Ha ha. Hahahahaa. so cute.
• volunteer at a comic-con. My plans of adding a Winter Soldier arm under my official T-shirt don't work out because I'm lazy. I get photos with a female Loki, a female Winter Soldier, a Gandalf, a Thranduil, and a Rey (who turns out to be my junior leader from a holiday outreach program last year). Gandalf gets the Runner Up: People's Choice award for doing the whole "you. shall not. PASS" thing. 
• read a lot of fanfics, including some from fandoms I'm not even in. (The Miraculous Ladybug love square is just too hilarious, okay? I must have read literally a hundred identity reveal fics.)
• watch season 2 of The Flash (leave the timeline aLONE, BARRY) and Guardians of the Galaxy 2. 
• attempt to do Camp NaNo in 'minutes of study'. I fail.
  
• [whoops]

–{{In May, I:

Tag in which I rant and shove books in your faces screaming READ IT

[I was trying to do something with this and it took the post down?? sorry??? I hope all your comments are still there! *shakes fist at technology*]

I haven't posted for more than a week (shh you didn't hear it from me), but Melissa at Quill Pen Writer tagged me for the Bookish Book Lover Tag (a little while back yes shh) and I had to do it! I haven't talked much about books before, so prepare for a long post with either:
a) way more detail than you care about, or
b) half-answers and evasions. (Never mind rule #2, below.)

Here are the Bookish Book Lover Tag rules:
#1- Use the banner.
#2- Answer the questions.
#3- Use lots of book covers.
#4- Tag your bookish friends!

--{1. What book(s) are you currently reading?}--

None (do you think I'd be blogging if I had a book to read??)

(Um. No offense, you guys.)

--{2. What the last book you finished?}--
The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski.

Loved it but the library doesn't have the next two. x(

--{3. Favourite book you read this year?}--
I REFUSE TO PICK.

That's like picking a favourite child. AND THEN TELLING THE WORLD WHO IT IS.

[I've re-read old favourites this year, as well as some amazing new books. I will not hurt the feelings of any of them.]

--{4. What genre have you read most this year?}--
Fantasy[/fairy tales]. I'm tending to write twisted fairy tales at the moment, so it feels most relevant.

--{5. What genre have you read least this year?}--
Of genres I read, or all genres??

Of genres I read - probably contemporary? It's so hard to find a story about 'regular' modern teens without it being full of swearing and immoral stuff. Or maybe steampunk (for the same reasons; I like the idea of the genre, and the aesthetics, but I'm still looking for suitable stories).

--{6. What genre do you want to read more of?}--
Allll of them. I always have a particular love for twisted fairy tales, though.

--{7. How many books have you read this year, and what's your goal?}--
I created a goal of 75 books on Goodreads just today! (Then promptly filled in about 30 that I've read so far.) (That doesn't include January, though - I only started keeping track in my bullet journal in February.)

--{8. What's the last book you bought?}--

This is what my book's cover looks like. #shallowbookwormtears

Emma by Jane Austen. From a giant second-hand book market. The last book I bought new?? *scratches through brain* I don't buy books new. Sadly. I'd love to do that for the authors, but I'm a student. Students are notorious for not having money.

--{9. What book are you saving up to buy next?}--
See question above. If it costs more than five or maybe ten dollars? I wait until I find a copy second-hand for $2. Also, because I buy from op shops, I can't exactly plan ahead for what I'll buy next (it's whatever's there).

--{10. How many books did you check out last library visit?}--
I don't know, but back when my library card had no limit, my family would have up to 120 books total checked out at a time. Maybe 40 or 50 per visit? (Then they went and put LIMITS on the cards. So we got a card each. And still borrow up to 120 books. THEY CANNOT STOP US.)

--{11. What's a book you can't wait to read?}--
Operation Hotel Charlie by D.J. Stutley. (If you've heard of her, tell me and we will be instant friends for life.) (She's Australian, Christian, and writes exciting stories about runaway teens. I have my loyalties.)

--{12. What's a series you'd recommend to everyone?}--
The Ascendance Trilogy by Jennifer A. Neilsen. Read it. READ IT. *shoves books in your face* The MC is snarky and a pickpocket and goodhearted and you can't trust him.

--{13. Who's an author you're hoping writes more?}--
C.S. Lewis. Susan needs that story I've heard he was planning on writing.

*crickets chirping*

What?

It's a valid answer.

--{14. A few books your heart adores?}--
Entwined by Heather Dixon. I love the relationships between the characters.
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. It's so sweet. Also Cinderella finally makes more sense??
Bartlett and the Ice Voyage and other Bartlett books by Odo Hirsch. Just - the writing. It's so funny.

Please note: I will not permit this list to be taken as 'my favourite books' or any such thing. They are a recent few which I picked for their overall lighthearted tone or playful scenes.

And if you ask me tomorrow I'll probably have changed my mind.

--{15. What series' coming conclusion makes you sad?}--

I prefer to read a series that has already been completed. That way I don't have to wait. Because I am an impatient bookworm book dragon and irritable owl, and I want to read all ten books in three days.

--{16. What books are on your wish list?}--
Is that - a list of books I wish to own?

I'm a collector.

Me on my book throne.

Any book I've read (libraries are so good!) and liked, I'll grab a second-hand copy when I see it without thinking twice. (Hence the state of my bookshelf.) I'd like to own the second two books of the Ascendance Trilogy, though - I haven't seen a copy around, yet.

(please note, the above pictures came from Google/Goodreads)

 So those are my answers to the Bookish Book Lover Tag , and I tag:

Andrea at A Surge of Thunder
Hannah at furious ever afters
Faith at Florid Sword

And here are the questions for the Bookish Book Lover Tag, for you to copy and paste! :)

1) What book(s) are you currently reading?
2) What the last book you finished?
3) Favourite book you read this year?
4) What genre have you read most this year?
5) What genre have you read least this year?
6) What genre do you want to read more of?
7) How many books have you read this year, and what's your goal?
8) What's the last book you bought?
9) What book are you saving up to buy next?
10) How many books did you check out last library visit?
11) What's a book you can't wait to read?
12) What's a series you'd recommend to everyone?
13) Who's an author you're hoping writes more?
14) A few books your heart adores?
15) What series' coming conclusion makes you sad?
16) What books are on your wish list?

AND!
In case you haven't heard enough about my reading habits, Elena at A Homeschooled Nerd's Tale tagged me for the A-Z Book Tag! So here I go again!

[do I hear groaning??]
[fine, feel free to leave now. I won't judge.]

*silently marks your name in a little notebook*


--{Author You've Read The Most From}--
Uhhh... *checks Goodreads*

Michael Morpurgo (He wrote War Horse, and if you haven't read it you need to. And then watch the movie (which has Tom Hiddleston and Benedict Cumberbatch).

Gordon Korman (On the Run series - prob. middle grade - and several 39 Clues books)

John Flanagan (Ranger's Apprentice. Australian author.)

--{Best Sequel Ever}--
I DON'T KNOW. *stomps feet* Why are book tags so much harder to answer than other ones??

Actually. I do know. The Lord of the Rings. *pretends not to have just had a mini-tantrum. on question 2.*

--{Currently Reading}--
None. (See Q1 of the previous tag.)

--{Drink of Choice While Reading}--
WHY WOULD I DRINK WHILE READING THE BOOK COULD BE RUINED

*breathes heavily*

--{E-reader or Physical Book}--

This one, I've already answered in my Sunshine Blogger tag: I like to hold them in my hands. I think I absorb the story better than with e-books, too. But I have started using my Kindle app to read free e-books that I wouldn't otherwise have read (i.e. they do not have hard copies in my library).

--{Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Dated in High School}--
I have literally zero experience in dating - first- or second-hand. (nor do I have experience with 'high school', because I'm assuming this question is talking about actual school). Neither am I dazzlingly beautiful or good at speaking. So I probably would have dated someone nice (because sleazy boys = I like to imagine slapping them in the face), but who was also awkward like me. ;P

I don't know who. (Gilbert Blythe is probably the nicest boy coming to mind?? Mr Darcy, of course, would be waaay out of my league. I don't have enough... class. Neither can I dance.)

--{Glad You Gave This Book A Chance}--
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine.

I'd better explain. Once upon a time my family was visiting some second cousins, and the girls put Ella Enchanted on (the movie). I was not at all happy with it. For a start, it mixed technology/modern things (such as the music and the travelator) into a fairy-tale world; secondly, the stepsisters were cringy; thirdly, the way all the girls squealed over Prince Char was also cringy.

Several weeks later, in the library, I saw a book on display and a few neurons sparked. Wasn't that the book which the [same-name] movie was based off? I don't know why I borrowed it, considering my opinion of the movie, but I'm very glad I did. It's nothing like the movie (not a comedy, to start with). And it sparked my love of fairy tale retellings.

[Maybe I should mention: I recently rewatched the movie. If I considered it a separate idea from the book, I enjoyed it. (Char is actually pretty cute.) I guess as a kid I just couldn't handle characters behaving cringily.]

--{Hidden Gem Book}--
Is this not the same as the last question?

I don't understand the difference, but if it means I can rave about another book, fine.

Leave it to Psmith by P. G. Wodehouse.

The first ten pages were, to put it bluntly, boring. I didn't know why I should care about these characters. Then things got intriguing - characters ran around switching identities, and falling in love with the wrong people, and at least four different parties were trying to make off with the diamond necklace (for various reasons).

--{Important Moment In Your Reading Life}--
Um... Reading LOTR for the first time at seventeen?

I don't know??

--{Just Finished}--
The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski, and At First Sight by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. I enjoyed them both enormously. (The Winner's Curse was recommended in a post by another blogger (sorry I can't remember!), as was Jennifer Lynn Barnes' The Fixer.)


--{Kind of Book You Won't Read}--
I need to avoid all trashy romances. And vampire stories. Zombies are a no, and I've never tried horror (and see no need to). I cannn 'read over' some swearing, but bad swears are a no as well.

--{Longest Book You've Read}--
(Apparently I missed this when I first published the post??)

Without checking page numbers, something Jane Austen, Jules Verne, or the Bible.

--{Major Book Hangover}--
Does this mean a book I finished and couldn't get over? Off the top of my head, I can't think of any particular situation; here's a few... almost-hangovers??

After reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, I didn't want to read anything else for a while (I wanted to read The Hunger Games, but I'd just read it - if that makes sense??)

When I finished the Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer, I had to take a while to absorb that ending (and muse over various time-travel paradoxes).

When I finished the Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R.Tolkien, I had to take a break and get my strength back. ;)

--{Number of Bookcases You Own}--
None.

Neither do I keep my books on the floor.

I have a build-in wardrobe, and this is one shelf:

You may not be able to tell, but there are three distinct rows. Not including the stacks on top. My mother says I have too many books; I say I don't have enough bookshelf.

(In case you were wondering [which I'm sure you were not], my books take up as much room as my clothes. Which are on the shelf below.)

[Okay, so that doesn't include the clothes that hang up, so I guess they don't really, but it sounds better the other way.]

--{One Book You've Read Many Times}--
Lots of 'em. Let's say... Ella Enchanted, Pride and Prejudice, Operation Foxtrot Five.

--{Preferred Place To Read}--
On my bed. Or lying across a sofa.

Or some terribly uncomfortable reading position.

--{Quote That Inspires You, Gives You All The Feels, etc.}--

*changes to Pinterest tab*

*realises I don't pin quotes because there are too many I love*

Have a dragon quote instead. (I'm not really one for touchy-feely quotes, okay?)

--{Reading Regret}--

I regret becoming one of those crazy fangirls.

...haha nope.

C.S.Lewis, Tolkien, Arthur Conan Doyle and Jane Austen are to blame. Mostly. For the original push to the dark side.

--{Series You Started And Need to Finish}--
Percy Jackson (is that even the series name??)

--{Three of Your All Time Favorite Books}--

--{Unapologetic Fangirl for}--
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen. I'VE HEARD THERE COULD BE A MOVIE. (they'd probably wreck it, though...) #conflicted

--{Very Excited For This Release}--
Operation Hotel Charlie (see Q11 of the previous tag).

--{Worst Book Habit}--
What do you want me to say?? That I eat/drink while I read? Bend the pages' corners to mark my spot? Underline/mark pages? BEND THE SPINE BACK??

I don't. I LOVE MY BOOKS.

(My worst book habit is probably not stopping a book once I've started reading.)

--{X Marks The Spot! Start at the top of your shelf, and pick the 27th Book}--
Unbridled Dreams by Stephanie Grace Whitson - it was a gift from a friend.

--{Your Last Book Purchase}--
Emma (see Q8 of the previous tag).

--{ZZZ Snatcher-Last Book You Stayed Up Late to Read}--
Entwined, by Heather Dixon. I loved the relationships between the characters (even if I couldn't tell you all Azalea's younger sisters' names). I especially loved the romance sub-plots (all three) (and NOT A SINGLE LOVE TRIANGLE BETWEEN THEM).



Here are the questions again:

Author You've Read The Most From
Best Sequel Ever
Currently Reading
Drink of Choice While Reading
E-reader or Physical Book
Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Dated in High School
Glad You Gave This Book A Chance
Hidden Gem Book
Important Moment In Your Reading Life
Just Finished
Kind of Book You Won't Read
Longest Book You've Read
Major Book Hangover
Number of Bookcases You Own
One Book You've Read Many Times
Preferred Place To Read
Quote That Inspires You, Gives You All The Feels, etc.
Reading Regret
Series You Started And Need to Finish
Three of Your All Time Favorite Books
Unapologetic Fangirl for
Very Excited For This Release
Worst Book Habit
X Marks The Spot! Start at the top of your shelf, and pick the 27th Book
Your Last Book Purchase
ZZZ Snatcher-Last Book You Stayed Up Late to Read

So there you have it - way more detail about my reading life than you ever wanted to know.

Did I mention a book you love? A book on your TBR? A book you (*gasp*) hate? Do I have some of the same books as you on my 'bookshelf'? Rant about all the books in the comments!!

Bullet journal + Habitica

Halfway through March, I gave in to Crazy Me's pressure and started a bullet journal.

(I haven't explained about Crazy Me yet, have I? Maybe I'll write a post on her later. For now, let's just say she wants to attend a Comic-Con and travel to England and act and sing in musicals and meet famous actors like Chris Hemsworth and Benedict Cumberbatch. She wouldn't have anything to say to them, though. Also she's probably the driving force behind this blog, and she wishes I'd do those artsy photographs you other girls do. You know, the gorgeous artsy photographs? Those ones.)

I'd seen bullet journals on Pinterest. And ignored them. Because seriously, they're so... fabulous. Perfect. The writing is tiny and neat, the doodles are gorgeous. I couldn't do that.

Crazy Me put on the pressure.

Okay, so I liked them; the more I saw them, the more I wanted to do it; but I was discouraged at the same time. I'm not artsy and my handwriting is chicken-scratch and my doodles are more like scribbles.

 

 My Bullet Journal

But I did it. 

 

Probably not how you're supposed to do it, but I'm working on making it work for me. The point, after all, is organisation, not art. (Not that I'm criticizing those who have beautiful art - I want to encourage those who don't. Like me.) It isn't perfect, but I like it a lot more than I thought I would. I've even managed to get a leeetle bit artsy by getting ideas from Pinterest.

But now I have a problem: I used to write down to-do lists on scraps of paper, which I don't miss, but my 'collections' were scattered across notebooks, which I now have no purpose for. (And they're nowhere near full! *very upset*) I think this means I may not be able to justify such a large notebook collection in future... although I will need more for my future bullet journals!



While I'm talking about organising, there's another thing I use; this one is more for to-do lists and forming habits. 

Habitica 

Before I began bullet journaling (journalling? journaling?? spell-check doesn't like either!), I discovered Habitica. Its tag line is "Habitica - Your life the role-playing game". You make to-dos, daily to-dos, and habits; then when you tick one as done, you get gold and XP. With the gold you can buy armour and equipment, which can increase the rate of gold/XP you get ticking things off. Or if you tick what you've marked as a negative habit, you lose health.

I'd never tried anything like RPGing. I still wouldn't know how. But I find Habitica really motivating. I love ticking off lists, and this gives me 'rewards' for doing that. (Plus the site is clear and colourful and you get to dress up a little avatar.)

I was concerned that Habitica and my journal would double up, but they don't very much. The bullet journal is for organisation and a record, and Habitica is for motivation. So I'm keeping both for now.



Do you have methods for organising? Are you motivated by ticking lists, or not really? If you have a bullet journal, tell me! I'd love to hear any recommendations for collections or ways to improve it. :)