books

7th Aug 2018 by CG @ Paper Fury 72 Comments (11)

Should YA Books Focus On Friendship More? (Ft. 10 Friendships I Freaking ADORE)

You know what adds 180 years to my life? Books that focus on FRIENDSHIPS.

It clears my skin, I can see the seventh dimension, the suns burn brighter, cake is magical, the wraiths stay in the shadows, the ships come home from war. It’s incredible really. Who knew the power of friendships in books. Who knew.

I’ve been reading some utterly incredible friendship books this year that have done ALL OF THIS and has got me thinking…

Do YA books focus on friendship enough??

Because I feel we generally get a romance to take front-and-centre stage in books instead of friendship. And like, don’t get me wrong: I’m not digging at romance! I actually like romance in books and will ship all the ships. (I’m currently reading Autoboyography and frEAKIngggg out how much I LOVE that ship.) But I feel like friendships capture my imagination more and aren’t done enough???

I’m kind of obsessed with intensely deep friendships in books because I LOVE IT.
And also I’m really bad at making friends myself, so let me live vicariously through books lol lol.
I think romances should START with friendship anyway?!
The dynamics are much much different to a romance and I enjoy reading them.
Friendships are meaningful and complex and if they’re written well like that, then they can be so entrancing and emotional.
They’re not LESS than romance.
As a non-romantic person myself, I just…feel like friendships can affect and change your life so much and SQUAD GOALS are just the best.
I just basically pretty much want my own raven boys gang. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

So now I’m totally going to subject you to a list of some of my favourite bookish friendships!

While going through my reads to pick out 10 friendship books I love…well yeah. It wasn’t the first 10 books on my read list. Excellent, dynamic, and epic friendships aren’t that common. (But maybe I don’t pick the right books?!)

I also understand that romance is (a) something publishers push for, and (b) something a LOT of teens are exploring for the first time. So it’s important too! And also books often feature outcasts and the lonely. So it’s needed to talk about them. (I was also the shy teen who went: books > people. EVERY TIME. So part of me LIKES reading about antisocial people too, okay?!)

Sometimes you don’t need a LOT of friends. Some people do way better with just one or two.

But I think friendship should be as flailed over and common to read about as romances!

SO.

Let me hit you with some favourites.

1. THE RAVEN CYCLE BY MAGGIE STIEFVATER

Because. of. course.

Seriously if someday I don’t mention them, assume it is because I have been kidnapped aND AM CALLING FOR SUBTLE HELP OR SOMETHING OMG. Blue and I are both in love with all those Raven Boys. I mean they do all slowly fall romantically in love with each other as well. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ But it’s all how they’ll do anything for each other. They share quests and dreams and really super dark secrets and thEY DIG UP DEAD WELSH KINGS TOGETHER.

What do your friends do on the weekend??? Anything else is probably so fake.

2. LETTERS TO THE LOST BY BRIGID KEMMERER

I just finished reading this for the 2nd time and ajfdksald it is Declan and Rev who HAVE MY HEART. They’ve both had awful pasts and they’re just there for each other. Childhood friends. They rely on each other. Rev tells Declan to check is temper. Declan is there for Rev when he has PTSD moments. They have a “them against the world” attitude and I just love love love them.

3. PACIFICA BY KRISTEN SIMMONS

Why doesn’t anyone talk about this?!? HOLY WOW IT’S SO GOOD. Ross and Adam are the rich vs poor friend who basically wOULD DIE for each other. Seriously Adam goes missing and Ross practically tears apart the entire sea to find him. It’s so freaking good. I LOVE THIS BOOK.

4. EXIT, PURSUED BY A BEAR BY E.K. JOHNSTON

Ohhhh wow this one has some seriously tough/dark subject matter with being all about sexual assault. But you know what I can’t get over?! Hermione and Polly’s incredible friendship. I was just sitting here waiting for it to get catty and awful — and what does that say about books that this is generally what happens?! Ffsfsfhsfh. But it stayed PRECIOUS. I freaking adore these girls and how close they were. Like nothing could cut them apart ahhhhhhhhh.

(ALSO HER NAME IS HERMIONE AND IT’S NOT HARRY POTTER?!)

5. INK AND BONE BY RACHEL CAINE

It’s my BOOKNERD SQUAAAAD. Ok but the thing i most love about this lot (Jess, Khalila, Dario, Thomas, Glain, and Morgan) is that they started off as competitive enemies and just ended up going: “SCREW THE SYSTEM. WE MAKE A SENSATIONAL TEAM.” Also this series is about BOOKS. Jess’ opinion is still “books > people” and I respect that too.

Except for Jess and Dario. There is a 97% chance one would push the other off a cliff and just stand back and laugh and laugh and laugh and then claim it was an accident. But that’s also friendship pfffft, don’t tell me otherwise.

6. AUTOBOYOGRAPHY BY CHRISTINE LAUREN

Didn’t I already mention this??? Will I just continue mentioning it because it makes me wANT TO SCREAM WITH LOVE???? Yes. Very yes.

Apart from having the cutest romance ever (that brOKE me)…it also has a really fantastic friendship between Tanner and Autumn! Okay they have issues. Like so many. Um, so they did some really dumb stuff at the end that nearly ruined everything. But like just how they’re comfortable with each other and total nerds together. Autumn is basically Hermione with sticky-notes and highlighters and 3498 school subjects. Tanner is like the cute dumb puppy you adore but also sigh at. I love them??? So much????

7. ELIZA AND HER MONSTERS BY FRANCESCA ZAPPIA

Hey hey hey!!! Online friends represent! I LOVE BOOKS WITH GOOD ONLINE FRIENDS. I find usually they’re cast in like this “omg they’re a 67 year old axe murderer” line…but this one features (a) really epic and loving online friendship that aren’t diminished, and (b) no one is an axe murderer!! i mean the bar is low but yay!!

8. LADY MIDNIGHT BY CASSANDRA CLARE

I mean ALL the Shadowhunter books have good friendships!? I can’t even choose though. Lady Midnight always gets featured however because I freaking adore Mark and just need to tell you that 398 x per day. But also:

Will and Jem (kinda ship them tho…Tessa was so boring. I’M SORRY)
Clary and Simon
Emma and Cristina
Ty and Livvy (even tho they’re twins but pfft)
Magnus and literally anyone he comes across…give it 5 mins and they’ll be best friends

9. ACE OF SHADES BY AMANDA FOODY

Levi and Enne have this potential for romance?!? And I 500% think they’ll get there eventually. BUT! In this book, they’re pretty solidly friends. And they start off with Levi going: “Can I use her tho.” And Enne going: “Is this mere street rat helpful to me.” And then both accidentally realising they are a GOOD TEAM.

(Also this is full of like con artists and viciously vibrant cities and I am so so in love with it I can only shriiiiiek.)

10. SIX OF CROWS BY LEIGH BARDUGO

I set out to write this list going: “I will do lots of underrated books and not so many famous ones.” AND NOW LOOK AT ME.

I CAN’T NOT MENTION MY DREGS SQUAD.

Yes they all pair off — pfft let’s not focus on that — BUT they are such incredible friends?! They trust each other with their LIVES (once they’ve finished nearly murdering each other) and their friendship is all equal parts soft and stab. I love them. I loooove them. Kaz loves them too, although he might also murder them all at some point in case he shows too much emotion and loses his reputation.

Bless you Kaz, you’re doing great.

**what are your favourite friendships in books?! (apart from Harry Potter haha) do you think friendships should feature more? did you or do you have a lot of friends as a teen??**

31st Jul 2018 by CG @ Paper Fury 137 Comments (8)

How Often Does The Hype Tell The Truth?! (Ft. 10 Hyped Books I Miiiiight Be In Love With)

When it comes to hyped YA books, I have absolutely no standards and yes please I want to read them all.

I mean, I want to read all the YA books hence I plan to live forever. This will work out I’m sure. (The sacrifices happening in my neighbourhood MEAN NOTHING. IT’S FINE.) I know a lot of bookworms are cautious of overhyped books and crave the smaller elusive titles…and, like, I want those too. And the hyped ones. I have an actual problem but do I look like I’m stopping. No.

Now some hyped books…not that great oops. But the majority I enjoy! I actually have a list as to why that is, so here, I will share it with you though you neither wanted nor asked for it.

You’re welcome.

IT TURNS THE WORLD INTO A BOOK CLUB!

Which is actually super awesome, I am so here for this. I love being able to see other bloggers talk about a book and say “Oh yeah I’ve read this too!” It actually brings a sense of community together because oH HI STRANGER, we have something to talk about!

I’D SECRETLY LOVE TO BE A FAMOUS/HYPED AUTHOR. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I have no shame it’s…yeah just no shame. I am also an overachieving ambitious Slytherin here and cursed to be equally split believing I’m a genius and a disaster. (DISASTER GENIUS???) So when I see a newfoundling author who’s just broken out of the damp deep forests and crawled to the surface and their book is hyped?! I’m just massively happy for them!! I will cheer! Karma, are you listening!

THEY MIGHT BE HYPED BECAUSE THE AUTHOR IS AN OLD FAVOURITE.

Aka — I know I’ll like this one anyway! So often times it’s a 97% chance of a good read!

HYPING AND ANTICIPATING BOOKS IS GOOD FUN.

Basically if I have a book = eh, I’m not so enthused. If I don’t have a book and it’s still coming out = THEN I WANT IT SO SO BADLY AND WILL TALK ABOUT IT FOREVER. Thanks, brain.

MORE BOOKS ARE HYPED THESE DAYS TO CHEER ON DIVERSE AUTHORS!

I love love this. Heck yes to bestseller lists being dominated by POC women and queer lead characters! It’s about TIME. I am so here to hype minority voices.

Top Ten Tuesday: Popular Books that Lived Up to the Hype

1. THE RAVEN CYCLE BY MAGGIE STIEFVATER

Fun storyyyyy….I LIKED THIS BEFORE IT WAS FAMOUS. I feel like that is the most hipster thing to say about a hyped book and I probably should be ashamed. Yet shhhh I love the Raven Cycle so so much. Just go see my bookstagram account. If a photo doesn’t have a hidden Raven Boy in it, IS IT REALLY MY PHOTO??? I’m so obsessed afjdkslafd. Everything Maggie Stiefvater writes is perfect and there is no other opinion.

2. SIX OF CROWS BY LEIGH BARDUGO

All the bird books apparently! I genuinely did distrust this book at first because (1) I heard it had 3989 narrators and I can’t even remember my own middle name half the time so help, and (2) I didn’t actually love Shadow & Bone so much? It was good! But it didn’t light up my world. I hate the Darkling. Fite me (Actually don’t. I am fragile…) But anyway, this is the duology of LIFE and I will level cities for my precious, murderous, often psychopathic Kaz Squad.

3. ARISTOTLE AND DANTE DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE BY BENJAMIN ALIRE SÁENZ

Sometimes I take a nap after writing out this title. (Also as someone who has a 4 word title for my own book and suffers trying to squeeze it into my twitter bio…I TAKE MY HAT OFF TO THIS AUTHOR.) Anyway. My actual first impression of this book was: “No I do no understand the hype??” Then I hit around like page 150 and…omg…no no I’m not absolutely in love and just feeling my heart leak out my chest that’s SOMEONE ELSE. It’s just a really good story about depression and not understanding yourself. I love it. I have reread it many times.

4. LEGENDARY (CARAVAL #2) BY STEPHANIE GARBER

My absolute DARLING. I still am thinking of this and still am absolutely hopelessly starstruck with the idea that I might write something as gorgeous as this someday. I just !! I am !!! in love !! The schemes and the writing and the viciously beautiful characters and everyone lying and trying to murder each other…but immediately panicking and crying if they like, ya know, succeed. Bless.

5. THE GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO VICE AND VIRTUE BY MACKENZIE LEE

I appreciate the length of the title for this one SOLELY because it’s ridiculously pretentious — aka, summarises Monty so much. I LOVE MONTY. He is an absolute clueless goat and would fall in love with a lamppost. He is the definition of the meme, “Move I’m gay” and everything about this book is PERFECT.

(I also read this one really really early!! And was suffering waiting for everyone to catch up!)

6. THE HATE U GIVE BY ANGIE THOMAS

Which is so wildly famous I’m just in awe!?? IT DESERVES IT. This is one of the stories that has, no joke, touched millions and thousands and if any book deserved to be hyped — yes it’s THUG. Woooooow. It broke your heart, made you laugh in places, and called for change. I think it’s been on the NTY bestseller list since release day. Can we appreciate that for a moment?!?

7. TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN BY JOHN GREEN

Obviously all John Green’s books are hyped buuuuut, this one was particularly special for me. It is both a love and hate letter to the all-consuming spiral that is anxiety (specifically OCD although it wasn’t named in the book…and a ton of this just relates to anxiety disorders in general). I actually am frustrated with how people mock/dismiss John Green’s books. Anyway, I love TFIOS and I love Turtles and I love pretentious teens who use big words and philosophy because these kids exist. (Literally my sister and I were that kind of teen.)

8. LORD OF SHADOWS (THE DARK ARTIFICES #2) BY CASSANDRA CLARE

Again, Cassandra Clare, is the kind of automatically-hyped author who just has to breathe and we are all “HYPE HYPE HYPE”. But this was…this was magnificent. And horrible. I’m still traumatised ajfkdsla and literally am going to brEAK my mind when book 3 comes out. But forever in love with her work because (1) she features disabled characters !!!! which shouldn’t be as unusual as it is, and (2) she cares about ALL kinds of diversity, and (3) Magnus Bane is just a pile of glitter on legs. Goals.

9. STRANGE THE DREAMER BY LAINI TAYLOR

I still am debating whether this is YA…but I waaaaant to talk about it because IT’S GORGEOUS INSIDE AND OUT. The hype was wild for it and I feel it’s even wilder for Muse of Nightmares?!? All deserved. Laini Taylor is actually the nicest ever and talented and has pink hair. We can only aspire to be this great afjdsla. *

* Lowkey have become her eternal fan because she said congrats to me on my book’s release day. (SOBBING) FOREVER QUEEN. I’M SO EASILY BOUGHT. WILL SUPPORT FOREVER. (SOBBING)

10. THE CRUEL PRINCE BY HOLLY BLACK

Ok but HOLLY BLACK IS THE FAE QUEEN AND DESERVES LOVE FOR ALL HER BOOKS! I also (smug moment) liked her older books before The Cruel Prince went wild. Although this is definitely my favourite of her work! It’s as wickedly magical and dangerous as it is viciously gorgeous. I adore Cardan and Jules because they’re relationship isn’t a swoony romance. It’s basically: “Can we wickedly manipulate each other to get to the throne, stab each other, and maybe just kiss????”

You know the quote: “In the moment when I truly understand my enemy, understand him well enough to defeat him, then in that very moment I also love him” by Orson Scott Card??? THIS IS IT.

okay tell me some hyped books you LOVED?! (do we share any?) and do you avidly follow the hype or do you wait for reviews or only pick it up if it’s your style??

24th Jul 2018 by CG @ Paper Fury 119 Comments (8)

10 Times I Was Attacked By The 5 Senses While Reading (Wow I’m A Survivor)

Sometimes I have very specific sensory memories attached to holding certain books.

This usually happens when I have to, like, fight with a spine to stay open or a book arrives wITH THE WRONG COVER (cuel 119 years of screaming) or else I picked up a library book and it had a strange…sticky…substance on the cover.

It’s always blood isn’t it??? I’m sure it is. I need to wash my hands until forever.

Now I usually have a really awful memory, but I’m very sensory sensitive. So while I probably don’t remember someone’s name or even six of the words spoken to me, I’ll remember how a chair felt to sit on, how the food made me feel, how loud it was, or if I shape-shifted into a dragon and ate the sun.

These things all happen equally for sure.

Anyway it’s time to talk about

I’ve also done posts on 10 Books That I Read While Outside and (OF COURSE) 10 Books That Made Me Really Hungry. I freaking love sensory posts, apparently!?

Top Ten Tuesday: Books with Sensory Reading Memories

1. THE TIME A LIBRARY BOOK COVER WAS STICKY

Look let’s start with the obvious: dubious sticky matters on library covers. Um…ok just wait a second — WHILE I THROW UP. I’m still shuddering and this happened like 3 years ago guhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Anyway least to say I loved My Life Next Door but it very nearly did not get read. It was either some sticky spilt drink oR BLOOD OF ENTOMBED KINGS. I JUST CAN’T.

2. THE TIME A BOOK FELL APART WHEN I PICKED IT UP

So people assume a lot that I’m super rich and buy a ton of books. This bothers me because it’s like sooo not true! Case in point: I get a lot of books from op-shops (thrift stores) and library sales. Hence there was THIS ONE TIME I picked up a copy of The Name of The Wind (which I’d read on audio but like?? oooh! I want to own it too) and it just…

DIED

IN MY ARMS.

3. THE TIME THE COVER WASN’T EVEN?!??

THIS BOTHERS ME SO MUCH IT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL.

When I bought Scarlet (which I did because my old blog name “Notebook Sisters” is actually mentioned in the back ahh!!), this was my first time seeing the front cover not being flush with the edges. So you have that strip of red??? For reasons I cannot fathom. Like why, sir, why. My paperback of Caraval is like this too and I am just so so confused. I honestly thought it was a printing error.

4. MY FIRST TIME WITH DECKLED EDGES

Ok but “deckled” is not a real word. Also I don’t get the point of them????

I bought the Lemony Snicket series from a second-hand store when I was about…oh, maybe 14?? I hadn’t met deckled edges before and I AM NOT JOKING — I thought the books were old and wrecked ah hah hah haha. Oh dear.

5. SOFT COVER YOU CAN PET

Which is honestly the opposite of what Locke Lamora even stands for but minor details. So I bought this anniversary edition (which is frankly awful to photograph…#suffering) and I had no idea it would come with this soft sort of textured cover!?? There’s probably a term for it?? I KNOW NOT.

But you can pet it!!!

6. THE TIME I RIPPED THE COVER

The actual trial of library-sale-books is getting the old barcodes off. I was bEING CAREFUL. I’m…sobbing. Anyway I ripped the front of the dust jacket of How To Lead A Life Of Crime, so the book is pretty much dead to me. I only look at the spine to save myself.

And ripped paper is the opposite of a good sensory experience.

I AM A MONSTER.

7. HUMIDITY OUT TO RUIN MY LIFE THO

I LIVE IN TROPICAL FAR NORTH AUSTRALIA AND I HAVE 10000000 REGRETS.

Seriously the humidity wrecks so many books. I actually keep my TBR pile with the covers face down in their stack, so the fronts don’t curl. But otherwise everything freaking curls?! This is is Alice in Zombieland, who has the misfortune of being on top of a pile. She is one of many. My tears, like Alice’s, would make an ocean.

8. RAISED TITLES (ALSO PETTABLE)

You kneeew I would sneak a mention of my Favourite Ever Author™ onto here. And I was legit going to make up some nonsense about the time I picked up The Raven King and the sky opened and rained golden ravens and blue-eyed stags appeared from the mist. BUT. I actually have a real one!! (I mean. The others totally happened too.)

The Scorpio Races has raised font and it is SO PETTABLE (a real word) and shiny!! I may or may not spend time gently tracing the letters while I read. Totally normal. We all would.

9. BUT I CAN’T BREAK THE SPINES????

I actually asked for this deluxe editions of The Hunger Games for Christmas one year specifically so I could reread them. But I don’t know what they bound them with?!? Possibly the strength of aNGRY MEN??? I would very much have to break the spines in order to read them and I caaaaan’t.

NOT STRONG ENOUGH EMOTIONALLY.

But I read these in like 2012? I want to read them aaaaagain. #sobbing

10. WHEN THEY SMELL SO GOOD

There’s pretty much no denying that, at least once, you have sniffed a book. Of course the old ones will kill you with that musty smell if you have allergies but YOLO APPARENTLY. Anyway I’m going to go ahead and nominative Illuminae as really really beautifully smelling.

I think this is because they’re so inky due to all the designs?! Whatever. These books are worthy holding over your face, suffocating, and smelling the good smells of ink and dead tree skin.

(ALSO…the audiobooks are dramatised if you want a doubly sensory experience while reading! I love them so much, but on 2 x the speed because nobody has time to listen to people enunciate. Faster faster, ok, I live life at double speed and this is why I never sleep.)

any particular sensory memories you have attached to a certain book?! and also please answer if you (a) sniff books, (b) enjoy petting textured covers, and (c) how you feel about deckled pages?! I MUST KNOW

23rd Jul 2018 by CG @ Paper Fury 86 Comments (10)

3 Bookish Things Tag (For Those Who Love Books!…But Can’t Count Very High)

It’s TAG TIME for those of us who like the aesthetic pleasantness of the number three!

Or for those of us who struggle to count much higher than 3??? Look, all I’m saying is that I’m on this earth to read books and write them and sip my readers’ tears out of fancy teacups. I am not here to count very high.

Anyhow, I am ~~making you suffer~~ blessing your lives with a tag today! I stole this off instagram and then, predictably, added a few of my own questions in because I’m a rebel and incorrigible.

(And also I’m in the midst of WRITING A DRAFT, THE FRESH MONSTROUS HELL IS THIS. Hence I’m behind on comments! Behind on reading! Have no review for today! Am starting to smell colours! Everything is fine!)

3 FAVOURITE AUTHORS

Welcome to question ONE, where a small Paper Fury is already sweating and having an absolute bucket load of regrets. (SERIOUSLY WHOSE IDEA WAS THIS TAG????) I have so so many favourite authors…sobbing…but we’ll go with:

Maggie Stiefvater: INDISPUTABLY. I love every single thing she writes and somehow those stories mean the most to me and stay with me.
VE Schwab: Who is like writing-style goals !! and life goals !! and sometimes I just want to dissolve into A Darker Shade of Magic and never never come out.
Cassandra Clare: I just love the Shadowhunter world so badly. It hits me hardest when she incorporates diversity (particularly disability! because most books/series seem to forget that’s part of the diversity umbrella?!) so beautifully and has a bunch of tragic kids just dOING THEIR BEST and probably breaking the world. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ We all have those days.

Honourable Mention Because I Am The Worst

Sally Green, Laini Taylor, Patrick Ness, Adam Silvera, Holly Black, Jay Kristoff, Neal Shusterman, John Green, K Ancrum, Jenny Han, Becky Albertalli, Anna Marie McLemore, Stephanie Garber, Leigh Barudgo

3 WEIRDEST THINGS USED AS A BOOKMARK

Ok but literally (1) MY DOG…he was not impressed and moved directly after, making him the worst bookmark ever. (2) A spoon, but I did lick it clean, but yet. (3) My sister’s hair. She does have an awfully long braid and we were kids and it seemed logical at the time.

Use actual bookmarks??? HAHAHA YOU MUST BE JOKING.

3 SERIES BINGED

The Foxhole Court trilogy…honestly I so rarely binge and then I started reading the first book (it was free on Amazon) on a long traumatic roadtrip (roadtrips are traumatic because I am away from my darkness, my books, my WiFi). I actually could not stop reading!? I was buying and downloading the sequels as soon as the car stopped. I read them ALL IN A WEEK. Which is so freaking unheard of.
Percy Jackson series: this was a few years ago but I read them all super fast. I have no idea which series what happened in. It is a Percy shaped blur.
Chaos Walking trilogy: ok FUN STORY (and by “fun” I mean “crying”), I read The Knife of Never Letting Go about 3 years ago. It ruined me so bad that I promplty gave it 5-stars and banished it. I TOOK 3 YEARS TO RECOVER. Then the 10th Anniversary editions came out and I was sent some for review so like…I need to read??? Speedily??? I actually ended up audiobooking (shh it’s a word) them and LOVE LOVE LOVE. Still am damaged! But it was great actually reading a trilogy back-to-back, no years of waiting, my heart screaming out of my chest! 10/10!

3 CHARACTERS YOU LOVE

August Flynn from This Savage Song: he is the softest monster™ and I also really connected to him in this page where he described, basically, a sensory meltdown. (Sensory issues are huge for me.) It was SO REALISTIC and spot on and I know it was a paranormal monster thing — but isn’t that when stories mean the most?! When they give you something relatable but also, there’s magic.
Ronan Lynch from The Raven Cycle: LOOK I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHY. He’s nasty but soft, and he’s abrasive but kind. The entire existence of Ronan is a complicated mess and I just love him.
Lada from And I Darken: at three years old she had a knife and was threatening to bite a continent and if that’s not the most relatable thing ever, what is?? I love Lada. I’m terrified of her. I’m also just in full appreciation of how unbelievably wild she is. Antiheroine of the century. BE YOU, LADA.

3 UNPOPULAR BOOKISH OPINIONS

I don’t like Sarah J Maas books and every time someone recommends one to me, I LOSE YEARS OFF MY LIFE. However I don’t go about proclaiming my dislike! I am content to be chill about it — just doooon’t recommend I “just try them again”. Please. Save yourself and me.
I DON’T UNDERSTAND BOOKISH CANDLES. I also can’t stand scents (I prefer cents) but I just??? Why are we putting fire near books??? Did you not see what happened to the Library of Alexandria.
I think people need to learn how to use trigger warnings. They’re vital for many people’s safety! But they are NOT synonymous with “this book is bad”. A book that deals with suicide or abuse or death doesn’t make the book bad…it’s just bad for people who will go into a very dark place because of it. Use trigger warnings properly!

**3 POPULAR BOOKISH OPINIONS**

I feel like we always just go with the unpopular ones?! So here, take a cake crumb, and let me confess how many times I frolic with the crowd:

I love hyped books! I mean sometimes they are unripe cheese, but like !!! I will read all the hyped books thank you!!
Hardcovers are better. What can I say. They stand on their own like strong, intelligent, independent young creatures.
Spin-off series are actually awesome. I mean, I know a ton of people who roll their eyes at the next Shadowhunter or Riordan book announced buuuut I LOVE IT. (Except Harry Potter. That needs to chill out now.) I also am in 5000% appreciation of any author who has enough fans that publishers will actually sign them spin-off series. That’s huge! Mad respect to Bardugo and Stiefvater and the 604th Riordan book!

3 FAVOURITE BOOK COVERS

I’m not even going to pretend to behave here.

did you see what I did there with a certain red butterfly book??? I CANNOT BE STOPPED.

3 BOOK GOALS FOR THE YEAR

Get super caught up on ARCs so I actually start 2019 without seven years of guilt screaming at me.
STOP FEELING GUILTY FOR READING LESS. (I’m so struggling with writing + reading all the books of ever and I used to be like the Super Reader but this year I’m struggling so bad! I want to not freak out about it!? It doesn’t actually matter. If I enjoy myself = then I’m doing fine.)
Listen to more audiobooks! I love them, but then find myself not listening as much right now?! I want to finish at least one (if not 2!) per month for the rest of the year!

ah my gremlins: so tell me a POPULAR and UNPOPULAR bookish opinion you have!? and suffer with me and name your top 3 authors!

21st Jul 2018 by CG @ Paper Fury 81 Comments (6)

10 Book Titles That Don’t Fit With The Crowd (Little Rebels Look At Them Go)

When it comes to book titles, we can all agree on one thing…who the heck remembers them.

Just kidding! Well 13% kidding, because my relationship with titles is basically (a) mis-remembering the title completely, (b) forgetting everything but the cover’s colour, or (c) merging it with another book’s title so I have a hybrid of tears and confusion.

I am fun.

But honestly some titles are not helping my struggles. They break the mould and don’t fit with their typical genres’ “themes”. And you know the themes I mean, right? Like how every second YA fantasy is called The Queen of Fire And Ash In The Shadows Of Thorns in The Glass Heart. Most titles help us out by being predictable.

And then we have the rebel titles. I can’t even. How dare they. So today I’m listing…

1. THE SERPENT KING

Whenever I say “king/queen/prince” I automatically think fantasy. I mean I know we do have a modern queen, who is clearly is has a dark sorcerer employed because isn’t she 200 years old?? But whatever. I do acknowledge the royalty of today. However this book is (a) not about royalty anyway, and (b) actually a CONTEMPORARY about very poor kids in a very poor town and one of them has a psycho snake-loving (literally) preacher dad, another is a fashion blogger, another a booknerd — AND IN THE END IT BREAKS YOUR HEART. No actual royalty involved.

It’s probably a metaphor, darn you, Cait.

2. MIRAGE

I SWEAR THIS WAS AN EPIC FANTASY??????

It is not. It is sci-fi. I am still rather blindsided by this and I confess I did spend the first several chapters going, “But but but wait…” However how awesome is it to have an #ownvoices Moroccan inspired sci-fi coming out in August?! I don’t even KNOW of any other books like this and I’m so happy it exists!

3. BOOMERANG

Full disclaimer: I freaking LOVE this book and you should read it and have your little heart put through a blender with me. But that aside, the title fully made me think this was going to be a good ol’ Aussie memoir or something. Or about Crocodile Dundee’s son or something?! I DON’T KNOW. There is literally no Australians as far as the eye can see here so I say. I have been robbed an opportunity.

ALSO BY THE WAY, I HOPE YOU HAVE SEEN THIS MOVIE AS IT IS A TRUE ICON OF ALL AUSTRALIANISMS.

Also his girlfriend looks very TIRED.

4. THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO

This is sci-fi, as probably most bookworms and bloggers and various literate stray cats know. But I DIDN’T. I just am used to sci-fis that have “stars” and explosions on the cover you know??? Alienated and These Broken Stars —> I get it! This one nearly sounds contemporary in my honest opinion?! *

* Which is worth absolutely nothing as we are discovering.

5. THE GLASS ARROW

Everything about the cover! The title! screams epic fantasy…right?! Surely it’s not just me???

Anyway it’s absolutely dystopian and it left me very confused in general, title aside. (Why are so many dystopians about selling women?? Like give us about 3 more years and the women will have eaten all the men and THAT will be our dystopian society ok. I can’t wait.)

6. RELEASE

I feel like I’m picking on Patrick Ness books!! But I love his stuff ok, trust me. But also I am just so confused. Basically me:

Ness Book: Here is a book called The Knife Of Never Letting Go!
Me: Nice! Contemporary??
Ness Book: no sci-fi
Me: oh
Ness Book: And here is a book called Release!
Me: Definitely sci-fi now!!
Ness Book: CONTEMPORARY
Me: [crying softly]

One word titles are just usually dystopian or sci-fi ok! I don’t make the rules!! GRANTED I DON’T EVEN KNOW THE RULES APPARENTLY.

7. THESE SHALLOW GRAVES

Zombie book right?! Apocalyptic! RIGHT?!?

Haha NO CAIT WHY DON’T YOU SIT DOWN.

This is a historical fiction, like murder-mystery, Sherlocky Holmesish escapade. Obviously. Of course. Although in my defence there is also a book called Shallow Graves which is about actual zombies. I think I get a small free pass to be screaming confusedly.

8. CHASING JUPITER

It has a planet in the title. If this doesn’t give me leave to say “hey this is a sci-fi!” and be relatively confident in my assumption, then what will?????

Anyway it’s a contemporary and I sometimes stare sorrowfully into the distance, thinking of the days when I was young and full of hope.

9. HUSH HUSH

All I’m saying is, very gently and quietly, that this sounds like a parenting book for sleep-deprived parents who are on their 3rd large coffee at 6am and start crying when someone breathes because it might wake the baby they FINALLY got to sleep in the parents’ own bed while the parents themselves are sleeping on a single handkerchief on the floor. (I HAVE SISTERS WITH KIDS. I HAVE SEEN THINGS.)

Anyway it’s a super famous paranormal. However I will point out that (a) NO ONE hush hushes in this book, and (b) I wish frikkin Patch would “hush hush” and go back to hell from whence he came. (Don’t @ me about him being an angel. I dON’T believe you.)

10. CARRY ON

Um, Supernatural fanfic?? That’s genuinely what I was thinking. And when Rainbow Rowell announced the second book is “Wayward Son” I’m like SUPERNATURAL REFERENCES!!

Anyway no. Apparently she’s never seen the show.

This is more like paranormal/magical realism, Harry Potter fanfic (DRARRY!?) but also not. It’s adorable. I love Simon and Baz and how Baz’s whole aesthetic is: “I HATE SIMON SNOW omg where is he I need to stand right next to him I need to be so close I am accidentally holding his hand oops we’re married I HATE SIMON SNOW.”

If you also are constantly in denial of your emotions at all times, clap your hands!

CLAP CLAP.

is there a title that made you think the book was a genre it wasn’t!?? have you been thrown off by any of the ones on my list??? and do you think titles SHOULD break the mould?!

14th Jul 2018 by CG @ Paper Fury 138 Comments (14)

Has There Been A Rise in 4.5 Star Ratings? (Is this Good Or Super Fussy Of Us?!)

**You know that moment when you wail, “This book is good but IS IT GOOD ENOUGH TO BE 5-STARS?” and melt into an existential crisis?**

Yes, hi.

Look only a few things in life deserve that coveted and illusive 5-star rating, and those things include: the invention of cheesecake, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, and the actual existence of myself which lights up your entire life. 5-stars to me. But books??? Books are hard to be so firm and clear-cut with their ratings.

A book might make you feel so happy that it’s 5-stars. Or maybe it ruins your heart and soul so it’s 5-stars. And these are two vastly different feelings — SO HOW ARE THEY BOTH THE SAME RATING?! Honestly this is why 98% of bookworms are softly crying and climbing up the walls and will not come down.

I’m not sure if it’s just me, but lately I’ve noticed a massive rise in seeing 4.5-star ratings.

And not just on other blogs, but for myself too! I actually don’t use half-stars because Goodreads refuses to (disagreeable Goodreads…) but I’ve wanted to use a 4.5 rating several times this year. So I don’t feel like it’s just me thinking about 4.5 stars more often?!

So clearly I need to massively overanalyse it just in case you weren’t having a crisis about it. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Now you can.

MAYBE WE READ SO MUCH THAT OUR STANDARDS ARE NOW UNATTAINABLY HIGH?!

I mean, when you read 100+ books a year, you firstly (a) GO A LITTLE NUTTTTS, and also (b) you do get more picky about finding that “perfect” read! I have books that are ultimately absolutely “this is my everything” favourites, and it’s hard for other books to meet that let alone beat that?!

COMMITMENT IS HARD OK, DON’T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT.

Is it 4 stars??? Is it 5??? I don’t know I gET SO FLUSTERED. If I’m not entirely sure if a book is 5-stars, but it’s not 4-stars, then…??? What’s left but to pack a single rucksack of cheese and goat meat and take to the mountains to live in solitude for our failing to make a decision? *

* Am I extra??? HA. … yes.

YOU’RE SAVING THE 5-STARS TITLE

Because then it carries WAY more weight if you only give them out infrequently right!? Like if I see someone who barely ever goes over 4 stars and then they suddenly dish out a 5? I pAY ATTENTION.

THE BOOK WAS PERFECT EXCEPT FOR THAT…ONE LITTLE THING

Which is valid! Like a smoosh of an ending can ruin an amazing book. Or maybe a book took too long to get super good?! Or maybe the book was going along great AND THEN THE DOG DIED AND WHY CAN’T THE HUMANS DIE, NOT THE PRECIOUS DOGGOS.

MAYBE WE’RE GENUINELY TOO FUSSY????

Look I want to point out that MAYBE this is the case?! Are we demanding the “perfect” book? Like, if a character does one small thing we don’t like…do we knock off stars?! Is it even fair? I’m asking myself this too! Because I’ve dropped a book’s star rating, while I sat grumbling like a dark gremlin in the deep going, “Eh I wouldn’t have done that if I’d been writing it.” But like…I’m not writing it. It’s not my brain child. So maybe it’s unfair to ask a book to read my mind instead of me enjoying reading the author’s mind? *

* Honestly…that sounds way creepier than I thought it would.

At the end of a day: you should rate a book what you want.

We’re book bloggers and bookworms here! We have opinions and there are no right vs wrong ones when it comes to books. Unless it’s my book then the only response is 10/10, c’mon now, you love me, I’m fragile and also see everything and look at me I’m so small and cute so love me properly ok. (PAUSES TO BREATHE AFTER RUN ON SENTENCE OF THE CENTURY.)

But I do wonder if life isn’t too short not to go the whole way and just give books the full 5-stars?! I’ve actually gone back and upped some of my 4-star ratings because…eh, there’s no real reason they didn’t get there. And, personally, I’d rather spread the love. Not telling everyone to do that, but if it makes me happy — why not!?

Although I still won’t give 5-stars to just anything. C’mon. It has to be like the cheesecake of cakes to get the 5-stars from me still.

when do you give out that elusive “5-star” rating?! does a book have to be absolutely PERFECT to get it?? is life too short to be too fussy? tell me about a book that just missed that 5-star rating for you??

10th Jul 2018 by CG @ Paper Fury 139 Comments (10)

10 Favourite Contemporaries I’ve Devoured This Year (Ft. Should Contemporaries Break Your Heart?!)

**It occurs to me that I absolutely do not highlight my favourite contemporaries enough.**

Because mostly everyone saw me announce me debut, A Thousand Perfect Notes, and was like, “BUT CAIT. DRAGONS???” There are no dragons. None as far as the eye can see. But look. I will aim for dragons someday. Currently I enjoy both writing and reading contemporaries too! So obviously I’m about to pile half a hundred recommendations in your arms so you leave with your TBR weeping.

You’re WELCOME. Seriously come to my blog to suffer, but thankfully.

Also 48% of my reads in 2018 have been contemporaries! I also actually find contemporaries are way more diverse and I absolutely love that. It’s a huge reason I’m drawn to reading them so much now. Also: I like the ones that WRECK YOUR HEART or else leave you feeling soft and squishy like you ate cookie dough.

Is there an in-between of these emotions, you ask????

No. No, there is not. We are nothing if not full of violently extreme emotions on this blog ok.

Today I’m going to list my

Not necessarily published in 2018???? But this is when I discovered them!

Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books I’ve Read In 2018 (I’m doing my top contemporaries since I did a recap of all my favourites in the Mid Year Freak Out Book Tag!)

1. THE WICKER KING

I CAN’T EVEN WITH MY LOVE FOR THIS BOOK OK. I’ve already read it twice. Twice. In the last 6 months, yes. I can’t be stopped. It’s about mental illness and neglected tragic boys, it’s soft and queer and uses the most INCREDIBLE mixed media combinations!! The pages get darker as the story does!! I MEAN. It made me feel things, at least…like 3 things. Maybe four. I swear, if I could only pick 5 favourite books of all time — THIS WOULD MAKE THE LIST.

(heavy breathing of intense emotion)

2. THE DANGEROUS ART OF BLENDING IN

Another HEART SMASHER. I told you I only go for the soft or the ruinous. Although this one is sweet and soft™ too. It’s about an abused boy (from a traditional religious/Greek family) who’s an artist and has the sweetest little romance and afjdsakld I hurt.

3. ALWAYS AND FOREVER LARA JEAN

OKAY HERE WE BRING OUT THE FLUFF. I adore the Lara Jean books. (THE NEFLIX MOVIE IS GOING TO BE AWESOME!!) These are actual genuine marshmallows and Lara Jean is the homey baking loveable soft Hufflepuff. Coincidentally it was so nice that it stressed me out. Is someone going to be hit by a truck??? Shot by the mafia?? Get cancer???? I was waiting THE WHOLE TIME for death so like…I was stressed ok. No mafia appeared, but I was still stressed. 10/10 Favourite series.

4. LEAH ON THE OFFBEAT

Soooo I will always love Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda the most I think!?? It caught me like the other of Becky Albertalli’s books haven’t — but Leah’s book was still good! Leah is really messy and brash and unforgiving and she’s funny. And the Blue/Simon moments killed me with cuteness. Also f/f romance and Leah is fat and there are 45939 drama kids being DRAMA KIDS. That describes everything.

Also can we get another spin-off but for Nora, Simon’s little sister?! She’s epic. AND MARTIN CAN GO FALL OFF A CLIFF.

5. TYLER JOHNSON WAS HERE

This is one where I recommend: DON’T READ THE BLURB. I didn’t and it made it much more powerful. But ajfdklsd you know how it feels to get your heart ripped out of your chest and put in a blender??? No?? If you haven’t tired it: read this book and eXPERIENCE IT. It‘s about twin brothers, #BlackLivesMatter and cinnamon boys.

6. ANGER IS A GIFT

Another #BlackLivesMatter one AND THIS IS SO FREAKING INTENSE. The way American schools are run!??? I can’t even. Are you guys even ok??? It was gobsmacking and eye opening reading about the police violence, how kids have to survive and go through it. Plus Moss is the actual sweetest of ever. Again with the adorable cinnamon boys (also queer romance and so many diverse secondary characters). This one hurts tho. Ohhhhhh it’s important.

7. THE FOXHOLE COURT

So I’ve literally just listed a ton of important and powerful books so — hI HERE IS THE ENTIRELY ADDICTIVE AND READS LIKE FANFIC SERIES. AND I FREAKING LOVE IT. I don’t blanket recommend it though? Many problematic themes (but I think it handles them tolerably) and it’s edging into NA? But like it made me read sports. (Wut wizardry.) It’s about #SquadGoals basically, horrifically messed up boys, super super slowburn romance, the kind of book you can make 9389 memes out of and just laugh and then cry. And then THE MAFIA COMES. Obviously.

8. BOOMERANG

This was one of my favourite “sURPRISE YOU’RE OBSESSED” books of this year! I got it on a whim from Netgalley and it’s so cute?! It’s about a boy who ran away from home but now he’s BACK. (And everyone thought he was kidnapped.) He’s also trying to get money to rescue his best friend (whom he looooves ok) from an abusive situation. It’s just…it’s absolutely full of heart and afjdkslad I love it. Sean is also bi and there are trees and it is 1000% NOT Australian. I think the Boomerang represents it hitting you in the heart, you reading it again, it hitting you in the heart, you reading it again– etc etc. Or that’s my life plan i’m fine how are you.

9. A TAXONOMY OF LOVE

Aww I so love this one!! It’s about Tourette’s Syndrome, which is not something I find a lot of books on! It’s super cute and has a friendship-turned-lovers-turned-omg-no-turned-enemies-turned-wait-and-see thing going on. Spencer is so freaking ADORKABLE and it follows him from like 14 to 18. Again, it has a lot of sport in it?! Wrestling?!? I would rather fling myself into a slimy pond than willingly like a wrestling book — BUT HERE I AM. WHAT’S HAPPENING TO ME.

10. A THOUSAND PERFECT NOTES

OH COME ON. YOU KNEW I WOULD. So technically this is called “pride” listing my own book or something but ya know. Whatever. It’s a GOOD BOOK, BRENT. I’ve heard so, anyway. And it’s freaking pretty which I had 0% to do with, but I will take credit anyway. One thing I explored in this one is two characters being mentally ill: but how they choose to deal with it. Beck’s mum is driven by rage and violence but Beck finds friendship and a support system. Also there’s CAKE. And you can picture me crying on almost every page because edits are hell and I did so many (crying) so so many. But I love you and this book is for you ok I’m good I’m going to go be emotional somewhere else.

do we share any favourites?! and do you read / like many contemporaries?? tell me some of your top contemporaries for 2018!!

3rd Jul 2018 by CG @ Paper Fury 148 Comments (16)

How I Got 40,000 Followers On #Bookstagram (It’s Just Dark Magic, I SWEAR)

A fun thing I love to do is take photos of books instead of reading them.

Which makes complete sense and is absolutely not the reason my TBR is out of control and frequently waves small knives at me and sends me elegant death threats because of how much I neglect it.

I’M F I N E.

And there are honestly so many reasons to love being part of the book community on instagram! People are super encouraging and we usually celebrate the books we love instead of just salt and roast and burn (I swear blogging is 67% a cooking show) books we don’t like. Not that there’s anything wrong with ranting! But positivity is refreshing! Also, um, did we mention — ALL THE PHOTOS OF PRETTY BOOKS TO STARE AT FOR HOURS.

Ugh everyone’s so talented. My eyeballs are in love.

I’ve been on instagram since July 2014! Which is a long time and I feel old. I was also horrendous when I started, but somehow I’ve just passed the threshold of 43,000 followers and a lot of people ask me “WHY!” and “HOW!” and…I barely know what to tell you, mate. Dark magic??? Probably???

But in an attempt to actually share some useful advice, I’m going to spill how I passed 40,000 on instagram!

Also you should follow me. How’s that for some subtle hinting!

Here we have my very first photo, July 2014!

And it actually took me 93 years to scroll through my 2,300+ photos to even find this monster. AND LOOK AT WHAT IT IS.

It’s not even in focus.

All that needs to be said is: if I can rise from this mire — so can you.

My feed was basically this, where I tried to be “arty” with some angles.

But at least I slowly realised you can’t take a nice photo with an iPod touch gen 3.

Small miracles, go me, well done.

Also I know you can’t see my face but I STILL LOOK SO SMALL. AWWW!!! LITTLE BABY BLOGGER ME!!!

In 2015 my style matured to going outside and hoping the neighbours didn’t see me planting books in the flower garden.

I’m still proud of the colours in Fire & Flood though.

I was using my parents camera and actually it rained 363 days of the year when I lived here in Lismore. So I DON’T KNOW. WHO WANTS TO CRY IN THE MUD.

2016 saw me go INSIDE and thus I have remained for the rest of my life.

Also I was going for a minimalistic look? Sort of??? Like all the cool kids were doing black-and-white and such so here am I.

Also the Stiefvater obsession begun. It’s been 3 years now. I can’t be made to stop.

2017 is when I started to find MY style.

Lots of rainbows. Squash a ton into the frame. I mean why be minimalist when you can be moreamlist. (Ok that word sounded better in my head.)

I also edited everything quite dark?! Because I’M DARK INSIDE, MUM, IT’S NOT A STAGE, IT’S WHO I AM.

(The disappointing thing is, though, that I actually have the same likes here as I’m getting now in 2018…but I had half the followers. Why doth instagram hate us.)

And finally, hello @ 2018! Which is a lot lighter, way more colourful, and absolutely my favourite.

74% of my photos are just odes to Maggie Stiefvater or A Thousand Perfect Notes, like EVERY FEED SHOULD BE.

I’m just really happy with how I progressed?! I have my own camera, my bookshelf has grow’d up so strong, and I absolutely love taking photos. I usually spend all Sunday stockpiling for the week and it just is my !! favourite !! thing !!

My progress is obviously not going to be YOUR progression. My style isn’t your style. I’m about to launch into some tips that should help most accounts, but you have to remember to:

a) take the style of photos YOU ENJOY
b) if you do engage in dark magic, hydrate !! this is important !! water is good !!
c) it’s okay to experiment
d) half the time I have no idea what I’m doing but I just hope for the best ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

BE CONSISTENT

Seriously this is the #1 thing that I’ve found helps you grow, no matter if it’s your blog or twitter or IG. Be there. Don’t post a ton and then disappear for a few months. You can still take breaks! But I’ve been posting twice a day (nearly anyway) since 2014 and it works!

OUTWIT THE ALGORITHM…(HAHAH SOBBING)

I mean, it constantly changes so who knows if these tips will remain helpful?! But currently I’m finding these help:

don’t use outside apps that schedule your posts (apparently IG treats you as a bot if you do)
also don’t post at exactly the same time every day (but near-abouts is ok)
using less hashtags seems to work better for me?! you can use up to 30, but I find using less than 10 gets me more likes
NONE OF THIS MAKES SENSE UGH
posting frequently on Stories does help (!!) although I get over double the views on my stories that I get on my posts ugh
joining in Challenges is a super fun way to connect to others / have ideas of what to post about (here’s an account that posts challenges per month that are running!)
funny or interesting captions DO make people engage
(but shorter captions over mega long ones)
more books in the photo = more chances someone will see a book they recognise = they’ll like it
also popular books do get more likes (I often pair popular vs underrated books together to sneak around this)
SHELFIES ALWAYS WIN OUR HEARTS

BUT SERIOUSLY THE ALGORITHM SUCKS

It’s unknowable. Sometimes my photos totally flop. And I do only get like 5% engagement. THAT ISN’T MUCH. But I’m stabbing in the dark to find what works. I like stabbing. It can be therapeutic.

PUT OUT CONTENT THAT GIVES TO OTHERS

People are little gremlins and they want things. So I give. I write things that are funny or I write things that are helpful. I make my pictures bright and my style isn’t super typical so I do stand out! But if you give to your audience, they tend to come back.

**YOU DON’T HAVE TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY**

I prefer to spend my (small) spending budget on books. So I either make my props, use other books as props, or use cheap flowers from eBay or thrift stores! I seriously got a TON of my flowers for free from a garage sale once!! (Also, slightly off-topic, but I actually hate how people assume I’m super rich?! Peoplessssss…I probably spend $40 a year on books. I get given books from publishers or I use book vouchers that I get paid in for freelance blogging. Library sales. Thrift / op shops. You don’t HAVE TO BE RICH TO HAVE A BOOKSTAGRAM.)

You can even use food!! If you don’t eat it before taking the photo!! I swear this is harder than it sounds!!

COMMENT / LIKE / INTERACT

Although, full confession…I often don’t do these as much as I should (I need more tiiime in my day) so I don’t know if they actually help boost your likes or not. But they do get you friends. Those are nice. Collect a whole set.

RECOGNISABLE BOOKS ARE GOING TO GET MORE LIKES

This isn’t always fair, but…it kinda is what it is. So if you avidly avoid ALL popular / hyped books, it might backfire for your likes.

THEMES ARE KINDA EVERYTHING

Look!! I definitely don’t want to say “yOU HAVE TO HAVE A THEME” but I’m 89% sure it helps a lot. My account only really took off after I started with a consistent theme. But you can have a relaxed or broad theme! Also anything works. Rainbows, minimalism, a certain colour scheme. Figure out what you have around and just work with it. Some different styles of themes (that I adore) are @cosyreads, @eden.hammond, @thereaderandthechef, @bookish_mai!

DARK MAGIC THO

Or sacrifice some souls. Doesn’t have to be yours! Are your neighbours annoying??? Siblings??? Have at ’em. The trees may hear your pleas before the actual structure of Instagram does. We can have a go anyway. Singing/weeping…all worth trying. Because sometimes I do EVERYTHING and I still end up wailing to my friend how hard it is to get likes.

HEY YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE THESE POSTS…

are you on bookstagram?! leave your handle and I’ll come like / comment on some of your photos! and tell me YOUR tips and tricks for running an account! what styles of photo do you most enjoy??

30th Jun 2018 by CG @ Paper Fury 112 Comments (9)

#AmCurrently ~ Officially A Published Author (omg) + TBR Is Taller Than Me (oh no)

“So how does it feel to be an officially published author now?!” you might be asking.

A Thousand Perfect Notes has been out for 3 weeks now…which is…absolutely mind-blowing?! It’s already been 3 weeks?!? Speaking of which: how is it also JULY.

So anyway. How am I feeling?

Utter mood right now. I’m fiiiiine.

Now let me tell you all about my month! Because wow. It was an intense one. And my #AmCurrently post is my recap of what I’ve been reading, books I’ve collected, life things, and exactly how many times I’ve screamed lately. * So much fun!

Also I hope you appreciate my first photo in this post, where I’m measuring myself in books. It doesn’t take many. I am smol.

* This is a complete lie. One cannot count these.

So my debut novel came out with Hachette UK which is KIND OF A BIG THING JUST SAYING. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I’m not even exaggerating: 7 YEARS IN AZKABAN AND NOW I HAVE A BOOK. It’s in bookstores. Sometimes it’s featured in bookstores. People actually buy it?!? People bUY IT BECAUE THEY WANT TO???? What is this world.

I’m not…I’m not crying. This is my waterfall cosplay.

I’m so freaking happyyyyyyyyy.

Just in case you haven’t read it yet…

You can find it on Amazon (there’s only 12 left in stock so um, if you’re in America…GET ONTO THAT.) And also Booktopia, Book Depository (free world wide shipping!), Wordery, and add it on Goodreads!

(Also PS. I could really use reviews on Amazon! I need 50 for it to be counted properly / recommended, and I only have 10!)

OMG WHERE DO I EVEN START????
Probably by being so frikkin’ humbled and proud all at the same time. Because I was honestly scared my little book would just be a slight hiccup in time. I mean, I’m an unknown author. It’s a debut…it’s kind of dark (which isn’t everyone’s thing), I’m not able to be physically present or go sign in bookstores or meet people, ergo what if IT ALL JUST IS A QUIET MELLOW RELEASE etc. etc. (Hi, yes, I have anxiety.) But it’s been amazing. I worked really really hard and it worked and I JUST AM !!!!
Cosplaying the waterfall again, look at me go.
So it got to rank 119 on Book Depository (we’re talking out of thousands of YA books)! It also got to “bestsellers in romance” which cracks me up because it’s so unromantic. August says “I like you” and Beck literally sprints 40 miles in the opposite direction. But looooook! I’M NEXT TO BECKY ALBERTALLI. (Probably alphabetically for this list but hush!!)
It also hit #1 on Amazon…for the YA music section lmao…which has like 10 books in it all up BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I’M TAKING IT.
People actually find it in bookstores!!! (THIS IS MY DREAM.) And so many times it’s actually been shelved in prime positions, with cover facing out to catch attention. I am so lucky, wow.
I opened my annual Booktopia newsletter and…IT WAS FEATURED. This was so unexpected?! And I died a little when they’re like “you might know Paper Fury!”… Yeah. I do. She’s climbing the walls currently but ok.
It was featured in the Illumicrate May box! With bookmarks. And signed book plates. It was so fun signing those. And it also had red-stained pages so like…my eyeballs are in love.
I still haven’t gotten my author copies yet, so I literally just have the Illumicrate one. Haha….sob.
But when I do get them, I can do some more giveaways!
I’ve done so many interviews, a twitter chat, instagram takeovers for Hachette NZ and AUS, and it’s all intense and also completely surreal. (Little me?! So many opportunities?! ajfkdasldf)
0_0 <—- mood
mY TWITTER CHAT TRENDED.
The #AThousandPerfectNotes hashtag is wild and I love it and it’s no longer just me! Nice!
MORE PEOPLE THAN JUST MY MUM LIKE IT.
My sisters actually all pulled through and proved themselves useful and bought copies. This is the only reason I tolerate having 4 sisters.
My editors sent me flowers! Which is the actual sweetest thing!!
People have been so kind, and so supportive, and I hope you absolutely 10000% know that I wouldn’t be able have my heart stuffed so full with all this incredible news if it wasn’t for your help.
I LOVE YOU, OKAY.

LOOK I’M IN BOOKSTORES!

(Literally this was the pinnacle of my dreams. My book —> in a bookstore! I have yet to actually go see it myself due to living in a town without a bookstore. And also being too overwhelmed to go to the city right now. BUT SOON I WILL LIVE THAT DREAM.)

AND READERS ARE STILL HAVING FUN.

UM LAINI TAYLOR SAID CONGRATS, SO CLEARLY I HAVE PEAKED AND CAN RETIRE NOW.

I’m so so exhausted haha oh wow. Ok. I’m done. And I PROMISE I WILL NOT ALWAYS GO ON AND ON ABOUT ATPN. It’s just a special time for me right now!! ah!!

Oddly…publishing a book equals less time to read?!

I actually am kind of devastated that this year will be like my least-amount-of-books-read in the last 3 years?!? I know it’s still a lot of books. And it’s ridiculous to be disappointed! But yet here I am. Overachiever me is suffering. I’m still on track for my Goodreads goal but I also feel a little slumpy.

I’m reading less —> but not collecting less books. #OHNO

I also wanted to read a ton of lgbtqia+ books for Pride month and I barely read any. Ughhhhh. So disappointed @ me. I ended up only reading 6.

Review copies vs books I bought!

Actually I say that, but Smoke and Iron is on the wrong side lol lol. I am dysfunctional. Anyway, I’m on the blog tour from that (thanks Berkley Publishing!) so look out for it next week!! SO EXCITED. THIS SERIES IS MY LIFE.

Also thank you Bloomsbury, Flatiron US, Allen & Unwin, Nadine Brandes (who sent me Fawkes herself!!) and Bloomsbury! ALSO PENGUIN FOR THE REVIEW-COPY OF BRIGHT WE BURN AHHHHHHHHH. And Jo for sending me through her ARC of The Unpredictability Of Being Human (which is about an autistic girl and it’s soooo good!).

FROM EDELWEISS OR NETGALLEY

Loading ...

I mastered the ice cream sandwich ok. This is me reaching the pinnacle of my life achievements. Forget being published — I can make ice cream sandwiches. (Also they were strawberry and chocolate and dairy/sugar free, meaning they are HEALTHY. Meaning I can eat, like, all of them.)
Through all the publishing madness I STILL managed to outline another book!! And no it’s not sold or anything, but I’m still pleased I managed to finish it despite my brain being a complete beehive lately.
My Etsy store is dying and basically I’m waving hopelessly at the funeral pyre haha. Omg.
My dad built me some new shelves! Which I sorely needed. The fact that they’re directly above my bed is a tiny bit disconcerting, but you know what? Life is short. Bookworms are supposed to live perilously. Here’s the Before vs After:

Those sheets on the wall are edit notes!!
There is my dog, Atticus’ butt.
Also he absolutely blends with my bed and the walls. How and why.
I’m so so excited to read Bright We Burn (!!!) absolutely busting out of my skin right now!!
Also if you loved A Thousand Perfect Notes, jUST REMEMBER: next year I’m going to ruin your life with The Boy Who Steals Houses! #excite
Anyway.
My sister is visiting so hopefully we’ll watch lots of Brooklyn 99.
I’ve literally done nothing except answer DM’s and eat ice cream sandwiches this month so I’m not sure what else I should say here except: send help.
No really, help. I washed my white jumper, got it all pleasantly clean, and went and made strawberry jam. Ah ha, Cait. AH HA HA HAHAH (crying). So my jumper is no longer white, and how are you.
HOW DO PEOPLE CALL ME INTIMIDATING. PEOPLES. THIS IS LITERALLY ME SPILLING JAM ON MY SHIRT.
My plans for July include: (a) reading a sheer ton of books because my TBR is stressing me out. I’m so behind. And (b) I hopefully will draft a new book! Also (c) never never wear white again.

what book are you MOST excited to read soon?!? (and do tell me what I should be reading I need help hahaha) tell me what happened in your June! are you ready for July? and important: what’s your favourite kind of ice cream??

26th Jun 2018 by CG @ Paper Fury 138 Comments (10)

10 Series I Keep Saying I’ll Finish Soon (I’m Lying So Bad)

See, here’s the thing: I love series and I also get so stuck before I manage to finish them.

It’s probably a talent honestly, like my other talents of convincing my family we need to make complex desserts on the weekend or how I can put a pen down and then lose it to the 4th dimension. Celebrate your talents, ok? No matter what.

Now don’t get me wrong: I do love series! I want to support series! I know we all tend to go “oh I should just start it when all the books are out!” but that can also horribly backfire, because if the book doesn’t get the sales = publishers might not even finish publishing it. So. I’m aware of that.

And yet…I still start reading = forget what’s happened between books while waiting for the next one = die a slow painful agonising death.

So today I’m going to list 10 series I love but am also thoroughly STUCK in the middle of and so I keep saying “OH YEAH I’LL FINISH THAT SOON” which is an outright lie. But I’m cute so you can forgive me.

I’ll get to them soon, I swear.

I’M NOT A WITCH, I’M YOUR WIFE. (um…wait)

TOP TEN TUESDAY: Series I’d Like to Finish Someday

1. TALON SERIES

DRAGONS ARE ACTUALLY ME. I read Talon and Rogue as soon as I could get my grubby little claws on them. I even bought Soldier straight away!! And didn’t…read it. Mm hmm. That was like back in 2015. I don’t even know if 2015 is even a real year since it was so long ago. It’s probably made up. How am I supposed to remember what these books are even about.

There’s like two more books out and yet I languish here. Doing naught.

2. PRINCE OF THORNS

This book is so messed up. It’s features the nastiest little monster ever. Like I’m not even kidding. You want to put this kid in a box and then put that box in another box, and then mail it far far away from you. * But somehow I STILL ENJOYED THE BOOK.

But I got really really confused in one point, ended up having no idea what was going on, and therefore haven’t read the sequels. I need to reread and just…??? Go on??? So easy and yet??? Here I am not doing it.

* If you understood that reference, SHOUT OUT.

3. CHRONICLES OF THE UNHEWN THRONE

Full disclaimer: I stopped ON THE BRINK OF THE FINALE. Why? Whyyyyy??? Emotions ok. I absolutely love this series so much I felt my soul part from my body, pack a bag and a fandom shirt that says “I <3 The Unhewn Throne” and just take off to be obsessed forever. And I can’t even deal with that much intense love for a series. So obviously I stopped reading! Smart!

Yeah I know. I can’t even with me too. I’m going to finish it this year though, I SWEAR. I just love it so much that I…avoid it???

4. SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT

I own at least 3 more of these books that I could read!! I read up to book 6, and I really love these books. They’re full of dry black humour and magic and skeleton men and a heroine who takes no shenanigans from ANYONE. So like, Cait, why did you stop.

There are two reasons: (1) these books are HUGE and they exhaust me just thinking about 500+ pages, and (2) I was recommended to read them by a friend who, since then, I had a really ugly falling out with (over lies unfortunately, as is the internet way) so I kind of never feel like restarting the series. But I will…someday.

5. LUNAR CHRONICLES

Now I did actually read all 4 main books…just not the stort story finale collection, Stars Above, or the second of the comic series. And as much as I loved the books when I was reading them…since then, I’ve (a) stopped really feeling it?!? like maybe I grew out of them?! and (b) also read Heartless and Renegades and was so dreadfully disappointed I could’ve dropped my sandwich and cried. Which is a big deal. I have to be quite devastated to drop a sandwich.

6. THE FALCONER SERIES

I LOVED THE FIRST BOOK SO MUCH! It was also a surprise…like it’s sassy and full of murder-faes and otherworldly fae boys and a fierce heroine who will befriend brownies and stab monsters. It’s such a me book. And it’s Scottish! My #1 life goal is to move to Scotland and find a castle and haunt it!! So like!! AMAZING. Plus all the books are out.

SO OBVIOUSLY I STOPPED READING.

I genuinely have got nothing. The sequel is on my kindle and everything. I have a problem ok.

7. INKHEART

You know those childhood series you loved and you’re like, “OH wow! Why didn’t I finish that? I should totally finish that!” But you’re also paralysed with doubt in case you don’t like it because you’re old and gnarly now???

ME @ MYSELF.

Also these books are like 7100 years long each and I swear the older I get, the less attention span I have. Sometimes I even start a blog post and then end up sprinting 40kms across the Pacific Ocean for no reason at all except: sQUIRREL.

8. THE TRIALS OF APOLLO

I REALLY LOVE RIORDAN BOOKS. I also have this huge problem where I read the first two Percy Jackson series when they were both completed. No wait time. Nada. Just complete straight gnawing them whole and forgetting nothing. But now having to wait the year between has me totally forgetting EVERYTHING.

I’ve read two Apollo books but I don’t even know whaaaattttt’s going onnnnnn now. Also same with Magnus Chase really. Plus the two have merged in my brain so I’m like trying to catch up on Apollo Chase and you can imagine this is a problem.

9. GAME OF THRONES

Now I’m sure you’re saying, “Um, Cait, it isn’t out yet, you’re fine.” So this is 74% of a relief, but ALSO there are like short stories and companion books that exist apparently?! I fail to see why they exist instead of the author actually writing the next book in the frikkin’ series. But having PUBLISHERS and THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE and even A SHOW waiting on you???? Go finish tho.

Also my chances are 100% certain I will have forgotten everything by the time Winds of Winter is out. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ THANKS FOR THE DOOM.

10. IRON FEY

I CHEAT. Because I haven’t even started this one! Unless you can count me, about 7 years ago, picking one up in the library and reading the first chapter, but then being all, “I’ll borrow this later.” Then I moved cities. So I no longer HAVE a library. And I own like the 2nd and 4th/5th books?? Some unholy combination due to a library sale. BUT NOT THE 1ST.

Honestly I just like to suffer apparently.

But I love faeries. I love stabby. I love tricksters. And why haven’t made an attempt to obtain book one and start?

WHEN I FIND THE ANSWER I’LL LET YOU KNOW.

I swear there is so much to do and read, it’s easier to just to scream in a pit and have an existential crisis.

alright ‘fess up: what are some series you’ve paused halfway through?! have you ever grown out of a series before all the books were published? (and link me to your TTT posts and I’ll stop by!)