Okay first off, please look at the above picture and admire my new BANNED SOCKS.
I’ve always wanted to have controversial feet.
Now onwards to the recap of THIS MONTH! Of which I’m doing a few days early and yes there’s 2 more days of July but is anything going to happen? EH. Okay actually — not true. While you’re reading this I AM CURRENTLY WRITING A BOOK!! Yes!! Another one!! But more on that in the lifey section of this post.
Now if you need me, I am nesting upon my bookshelf with my controversial feet, snacking on souls.
Umm…wait. I mean soup. Haha. Easy typo to make.
Also I just want to say THANK YOOOOOOOU at least 4 times to ALL you who read my recaps! I know they’re long and a little random but I love writing them and APPRECIATE YOUR EYEBALLS READING THEM. #EyeballApprecationAtLevel100
- THE CROWN’S FATE: I already read it but fajdskald I needed to own it because I loved it so much. Russian fantasy at its finest. ★★★★★
- THE NEAR WITCH: And this isn’t a buy because it was a GIFT from the lovely @DualReads!! SO SO EXCITED!! I couldn’t find a copy of this anywhere in Australia!! THANK YOU, CLARE.
- THE GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO VICE AND VIRTUE: AHHHHH MY FAVOURITE BOOK OF THE YEAR. <3 I actually got this in the @OwlCrate book box!! ★★★★★
- ELIZA AND HER MONSTERS: Gahhhh this was amazing! A did a collab with my friend Mish on it and we both agree it is SPLENDID. ★★★★☆
- SPELLBOOK OF THE LOST AND FOUND: I loved the author’s debut so so so excited for this one!!
- ASH & QUILL: Okay waaaait this book got in the wrong photo. This is actually a review book from Berkley Publishing. (IN AMERICA OMG I’M LOVED ACROSS THE SEAS.) So thank you!!! I’m super keen to read this and like #Intense #Cover #Love. Also they also sent me the banned book socks!!
- BANG: This is about a boy who accidentally killed his sister when he was 4 and…it seems like it’s going to be super feels destroying.
(Thanks to Bloomsbury and Allen & Unwin for the surprise review copies!)
- LOST FOR WORDS: Omg I don’t do well with chicklit I JUST DON’T. (No clue why they keep sending it to me?) But at least it’s set in a bookstore??
- NO FILTER: So at first I thought “OH WOW LOTS OF SWEARING!” but no I think it’s perhaps like “no instagram filter on your life” sort of vibe??? Sigh.
- LEARNING TO SWEAR IN AMERICAN: Oh good. I need tips.
- GAP YEAR IN GHOST TOWN: So this looks really fun, but I didn’t like the author’s book Blaze of Glory particularly sooooo #nervous.
- LIVING ON HOPE STREET: Like 70 billion narrators so the story was a bit thin. ★★★☆☆
- SPARROW: Super tragic until the freaking weird ending and all the survival scenes were…well I napped.★★☆☆☆
(all covers link to goodreads)
I’M SO SO EXCITED TO HAVE ADAM SILVERA’S NEW BOOK AHHHHHH!!!!
Loading ...
The RAINBOW AESTHETIC is strong this month.
@paperfury
Don’t forget to scroll/hover over the covers! They flip around and will show you a mini review and star-rating!
Also click on them to take you to my review. HOW FUN IS THIS. Spoiler: Very fun.
T O P P O S T S:
I N T R I G U I N G S E A R C H E S:
(These are things people have searched to find my blog and I’m helpfully answering them.)
- “what happens if u continuosly read” — Your eyeballs burst into flame and you become queen of the underworld. 10/10 would recommend.
- “court of thorns and roses lgbt characters” — only if you have an excellent imagination and are also blind.
- “best books to read to become a con man” — LOOK I DON’T KNOW. I’M A GOOD PERSON I SWEAR. I DIDN’T ROB THOSE BANKS OR STEAL THE MONA LISA THAT TIME.
- “infandous in a sentence” — This is a good sentence: It was infandous to even think Cait wouldn’t mention The Raven Cycle 93 times a day.
- “don’t make it look like i’m the bad one” — Someone’s got to take the fall, Susan, and it’s not going to be me. I have an angelic face and am very good at crying. YOU be the bad one.
- “what to do when you feel that the book you are writing is not interesting?” — Feed your characters cake and then MURDER THEM. Not that, um, ahem excuse me…not that I would do that in a book…
- “the next big trend in horror novels 2018” — Manuals on adulting. [insert shuddering and terror]
- “when you read too much detective books” — Your face changes slightly and you develop into a Cumberbatch. 10/10 would also recommend.
- “fury cool writing” — This is how I pitch myself to the publishing world, to be honest. I will be a published author super soon at this rate.
- “will my actor crush like me?(quizzes)” — Um…solid no. Authors only like fictional dead people and caffeine.
- “too big tbr” — What you actually mean is “too small house”. Try investing in a castle.
- “does excess reading have any effect on the size of the head” — Yes it does cause swelling. All that knowledge, ugh.
To relieve pressure, just go read Youtube comments for 3 minutes and you’ll feel your IQ dropping by the second.
I FINALLY made new Society6 designs! And more are coming!!
I’m pretty proud of this lot, though. And again, if there’s something you want to see: LET ME KNOW. I work hard at least once every full moon.
(Available on multiple products like mugs, totes, pouches, pillows, printed on your soul.)
A collection of bookish news I find in my obsessive stalking lowkey travels across the internet:
- Jenny Han’s To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before IS BEING MADE INTO A MOVIE!! Normally I don’t care about movie-adaption news but this is really sweet and awesome. <3 More photos here!
- Apparently we’re getting 2 Game of Thrones books in 2018…haha…hahahahah. Sure.
- The Wrinkle in Time trailer is EPIC AND LOOKS SO GOOD. That cast tho. WOW.
- Here’s a list of books becoming movies in 2018.
- This isn’t exactly bookish…but if you’re an introvert, these memes are FAB.
- Shannon @ It Starts At Midnight talks about things she likes about your blog!
- Evelina @ Avalinah’s Books talks about that thing where we buy books and don’t…read…them. #Guilty
- SO as you might’ve noticed I’ve had a rather dead turtle of a reading month. My best reads were rereads. What is this life. However I was determined to burn through some of the unsolicited ARCs that’ve been piling up. But still…
- So much disappoint.
- So much sad.
- And, like I said, I’M CURRENTLY WRITING A BOOK! As you read this I should (a) be about 40,000-words in, and (b) due to finish on Monday, unless (c) the apocalypse is happening or I quit writing and turned to the career path of my dreams: which is obviously = piratage.
- But if I’m still here and not striking across the seven seas then I’m writing a…
- PINOCCHIO RETELLING! It’s also the finale of my contemporary trilogy that starts with The Boy Who Steals Houses (Goldilocks retelling). And last month I wrote book #2 which is The Boy Who Builds The Moon (Peter Pan retelling) and now I’ll finish up with The Boy Who Breaks His Wings (Pinocchio retelling). I’m like SO FRIKKIN PROUD of this trilogy. It actually has my heart. And it has murdered my heart. And I’m in pain.
- The basic gist of the series is…it’s about two homeless brothers who accidentally get kidnapped into a big, loud, noisy family and chaos and food and summer ensues. ALSO A FEW CAR CHASES AND LOTS OF SMOL SHARP KNIVES. Because I am writing this.
- Of the 5 people who’ve read it, all agree I’m super mean and should stop please immediately. Lovely. My sister’s comments were a lot of howling. Fed my dark soul most nicely.
- ANYWAY ENOUGH OF THAT.
- GO WRITE THE FINALE CAIT AND PLEASE DON’T KILL EVERYONE.
- Also FYI this was supposed to be a standalone. I hate myself sometimes.
- Also my parental read it and I nearly died. But the verdict was positive. I am also an evil writer.
- #No #Regrets.
- ONTO OTHER NEWS.
- I tried to expand my horizons this month by watching a movie. Solid no. Why are movies so slow and boring. Where did my attention span go. Did I leave it in the dishwasher.
- I’m also continuing to rep for @Illumicrate on Instagram! WHICH IS SO EXCITING. And if you’re hanging out to get one of their (epic) book boxes, I highly recommend it! Plus I have a discount code, so use “CAIT10” at check out to get 10% off your order. (And FYI they often put two books in their boxes.)
- AND HEY MATILDA RETWEETED ME SO THAT WAS FREAKING AWESOME. I’m famous now, obviously.
- I watched a VERY interesting discussion about the Carve the Mark controversy. This is done by a POC booktuber and I highly recommend watching it. She read the book and dissects a lot of the criticism and actually says a lot of them are wildly false, particularly the accusations of racism. Now I admit: I am scared to read the book. I’ve been sent hate messages for owning it. I obviously don’t want to diminish people’s concerns or those who’ve been hurt by it, but I would like to read it for myself. Eventually. We’ve talked about my INCREDIBLE MT. EVEREST TBR PROBLEMS. Anyway — this was an interesting perspective.
- In more exciting news: I have been drinking Jaffa-flavoured-homemade-hot-chocolates. Otherwise known as HEAVEN.
- My puppy keeps stealing my socks and eating my bookstagram flowers. He’s so so about to be for sale.
- LOOK AT THOSE EYES THOUGH. HOW DO I STAY ANGRY. EVEN THOUGH THAT’S MY ROSE, YOU LITTLE MONSTER. Why must dogs be so precious.
- ALSO I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY BOOKS ARE SO GORGEOUS. I can’t even. I think we need to just appreciate how pretty they are sometimes. Boooooooks.
so did anyone commit any marvellous writing feats in July?!? TELL ME ABOUT YOUR WONDROUS SELF. do you own any evil pets? have you had a good vs disappointing reading month? and what’s your TBR status this month??? are you eating through it or just, you know, drowning happily?
PS. Pleeeease let me know if you’re getting emailed my replies to your comments????! Because I’m not sure if my widget is working?!
I love these recaps :D! I have been getting the emails about your replies to my comments 🙂 (if you reply, we’ll see if I get the email!). I’ve had a pretty disappointing reading month, I’ve read the least amount of books and pages by far, compared with the rest of the months this year. I’ve kind of been in a reading slump. But I did re-organise my books the past few weeks, after getting some new shelves, so I have been busy with my books, just not with reading them.
Ahhh thank you, Gaia!! That honestly MAKES MY DAY. (And I’m super glad the widget is working then!) And like July has obviously been a bit of a flop for a lot of us with the books, I see?! SHAME ON JULY I hope August is better!!
I read CRUEL BEAUTY (I mean, it’s been sitting on my shelf for YEARS so I thought I should get to it? and oh my goddddd, why did I not read this book sooner!?!? Like, I know a lot of books include Greek mythology and it’s not exactly uncommon, but I always find myself dissecting their use of it bc I AM Greek and know it very well, but this was amazing and I just fell in love with it from page one. Off to read NEVERNIGHT next and I am soooooo excited. <3 <3 <3 <3
Oh oh Cruel Beauty is AMAZING!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it too!! So much awesome mythology right!?? (Also that is so awesome that you’re Greek. EEEEP.) Also Nevernight is fabulous and super stabby!❤️
I love your recaps. Can you hurry up and get those books of yours published please?
AWWW YOU’RE SO LOVELY. ❤️❤️
Wow. Those are lovely socks. I’ve never bothered to get cool socks. Mine are always just boring 😀
You’ve also reminded me it’s almost time for my recap as well. Might do it on Sunday. How time flies!
Also? I LOVE recaps. Part of being a #StatsNerd. I also try to make my recaps the best. TAKES FOREVER. You probably know what I mean.
TBDATE (hope you got that) is simply murdering me though. I don’t know if I’ll ever be up for reading any more Silvera, cause I’m sensitive enough as it is. Affecting my actual life quality :/ not the good kind of feels anymore.
Yes. Yes! A Wrinkle In Time! I’m also super super excited about that! Like my favorite kids book of all time!!! Finally something I care about turned into a movie! And I can expose boyfriend to it!!! It’s wooooonderful. Now only to wait.
Oh wow you shared my post!!!! I am jumping up and down here. I AM FAME
No but seriously. Thank you loads! I’m so happy you liked it. I was insanely proud of that post, as I only just started writing discussions. It’s so much easier to write reviews xD don’t need to come up with ideas for those.
Problematic books are problematic. You know you can read and not post a review, just keep your thoughts private, right? No need to get yourself into the hands of trolls. I’m also really scared of even HAVING opinions about problematic books :/ because I’m white (although I’m in a country where there basically are no other races historically, and I wouldn’t say any privilege exists)… but I’m afraid to have an opinion a lot of times at all. I’m not sure that’s how #diversity should work ._.
And your puppy is beauuuuutiful!!!
Well I got sent them, SO YEAh.😂 But so pleased!! Some publishers are too nice haha. (Actually these were American publishers, so they’re way more awesome than Aussie ones sometimes.😂) And yes time DOES fly?! Whyyyy. I’m not ready…*suffocates under TBR*
I finished TBDATE and I LOVED it. Although I had a picture in my head how it’d end, and it wasn’t quite like that, so I’m kind of sad. But honestly his books are beautiful and so depressing??? GREAT. 😂
Haha, you’re welcome. <3
Well see that's the thing...I don't think CtM is actually problematic after all? I've several POC friends who have no problems with it and the vlogger here (who is POC) quotes that the article that started the whole drama got removed because it was incorrect. So someone's legit just spread lies and that's disgusting. HOWEVER. I have not read the book!! So I need to do that first before I say too much. 😜 I will read it, but I MAY keep my review off goodreads if I'm not feeling strong enough to deal with trolls...
I’m glad you loved it then! I just finished my TBDATE review (comes out next week), and I can’t say I loved it :/ ah well!
I’m getting disappointed about American publishers at the moment… They might be nice, but :/ I had a review copy mailed out and a street team swag package (two of those, in fact!), sent out maybe a few months ago, and NONE of those have reached me. Yet? I wonder if they will ever? It’s just depressing and it makes me think that I’d rather go with e-copies, cause SERIOUSLY. This is just sad :/ don’t even know what I should do now. Write them that I haven’t received the copy..?
You could write them to let them know? Postage sucks with how slow it is.😭
First off, I LOVE your banned socks! 😍
Going on.. I enjoy your recaps. Your posts are always fun to read!
I’ve had a meh reading month, too. Most of the books I read were rereads and I really enjoyed them, but my tbr is glaring at me sulkily and stabbing me with guilt ahah.
Your books sound so cool! I am endlessly amazed at your creative capacity and the speed at which you can write. Can’t wait to see them on a shelf! Will buy them immediately. 😉
And, yes, I have been receiving emails whenever you reply my comments.
EEEP, THEY ARE SUCH FUN SOCKS.😂 And aww I’m so glad you enjoy reading these!! But SADNESS to both of us having slack reading months. What’s up with July, hey?!
Awww, thank you! My brain is a bit crazy with writing at the moment, but I’m enjoying it!
Also SO glad that the widget is working!
writing feats in July…WELL NO CAIT. NOT COMPARED TO YOURS… Buuuttt by my own standards, I AM outlining and planning a book with A BLOGGER FRIEND which is about a war, stars, and human weapons and IT IS EXCITING. I wish I OWNED AN EVIL PET. your dog is THE CUTEST <3 I need to steal him soon! I had a good reading month! I guess? It's not amazing in terms of books WUALITY BUT10 books so far (and the month is not even over yet) AND that's my highest record for books per month! GO ME. TBR STATUS: The usual, drowning happily.
OMG, I got Ash and Quill from the library and CANNOT WAIT TO READ!
oh, I don't know If I am? If it recently stopped working, I'm not sure Iw would have realised since I've been switching blogs and emails and all SO BUSY. But before, I was getting emails but the link in the email never took me to the reply which was annoying because i had to scroll down and find it.
ALSO UM THANK YOU FOR THAT LINK TO THE CARVE THE MARK BOOKTUBE VIDEO. Because I am POC and I did NOT find it offensive at ALL and that video…UGH needs to be shared
I THINK YOUR STANDARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS ARE FABULOUSNESS. Just saying. 😉 And like your book sounds super cool! I love sci-fi books. 😀 And also feel free to own my evil dog.😂JUST KIDDING…he is super offended that the human race exists and wants to kill everyone, but hey. I still appreciate his talents that include eating and sitting on my head.
YAS that we both have Ash & Quill! I need to get onto book 2 though.😂
And honestly I’m so glad to hear you say that about CtM too. It’s kind of terrifying to me how the book community has treated that book…and like based on lies, according to several people I trust?!? So like, wow. I want to read it and I want to NOT be scared to do so.
I love you Cait but sometimes I hate you cause I just added five more books on Goodreads because of this blog. Thanks. I only have six weeks of my long holiday left and already have no idea how I’m going to read all the books I already bought so I CAN’T BUY MORE OKAY this is so hard.
BUT “The Crown’s Fate” and “The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue” sound soooo good and I really want them now. Argh.
Also, HOW ADORABLE IS YOUR DOG??? What’s their name and why don’t we get to see this adorableness more often??? Your bookstagram pics are beautiful but don’t you think your dog is even more beautiful? Maybe you should mix it up sometimes, just saying.
It’s okayyyyy sometimes I hate me and ALL THESE BOOKS TOO. WHY ARE THERE SO MANY. And ahhh, that’s awesome you have a long holiday though!! Holidays are GREAT. And omg The Crown’s Fate and the Gentleman’s Guide are so good be stilllll my heart.
His name is Atticus!! YES. After To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus Finch.😂 And I don’t even know why I don’t post photos more?!? They should come regularly in my weekly recaps.😂He only submits to getting his photo taken, however, when he’s either (a) destroying something, or (b) I have treats to lure him in.😂
Ooh a new Russian fantasy– yes please!
Russian books are great!
I always love hearing about your writing! Also, three cheers for writing retellings of less popular fairy tales/folk tales/whatever you want to call them! Sometimes I feel a bit alone when I tell people I’m writing a “partial gender-bent YA retelling of King Midas”. Usually I get blank stares… XD Speaking of a certain retelling, I’m one scene away from finishing this round of rewriting Golden Revenge! So that has me very, very excited! 😀
HOW DID I NOT KNOW THAT INK AND BONE HAS SEQUELS. Like, what??? *runs off to buy them* For some reason I thought it was a standalone, so now my mind is blown!
I had lots of fun reading your recap! Keep ’em coming! 🙂
Eeeep, THANK YOU, MELISSA!! And omg I was so please dit worked out with the whole trilogy being retellings! I always had the first one as Goldilocks but then I wasn’t sure if the sequels would work…and the 2nd isn’t so much a Peter Pan retelling as a Lost Boys retelling. I’M SO PLEASED.😂
I LOVE THAT YOU’RE WRITING KING MIDAS. GO YOU. We shall conquer the world with our retellings!! And afjdsalkfd I’m so pleased for you being nearly finished Golden Revenge!! (Great title btw.!)
ha! your parents reactions. XD ok, I wanna be your next beta reader. puh-leeeeeeeaaaaassseeee?
my writing…I don’t know what happened to it. I was going great, going strong, but now I’m less than 2,000 words away from my camp nano goal and I’m dead. I just can’t write. I blame my new fantasy book that has been taking over the writing part of my brain. I even wrote some of it. *looooong sigh* on a totally diffrent subject I got a lego that looks like me and made her a ninja. then I took some pictures and made one my instagram profile pic. 🙂
Most crazily, ~Olive
Haha, my parents are hilarious sometimes.😂 And eeep, I hope you did finish for NaNo? It’s hard when one’s brain gets exhausted!
Your product designs are so gorgeous. Can’t agree more about Eliza and her Monsters,I read it last weekend and really enjoyed it 🙂 Need to take a look at Spellbook of the Lost and Found to see if I should add it to my tbr.
Aww, thank you SO MUCH!! That is so nice to hear honestly. <3 And I'm glad you loved Eliza too!! It was so sweet and special and the illustrations were SO fab.
How are you that far into writing the third book already? I am in so much awe of you!!
And I love reading your recaps so much! And your dog is adorable.
I really want to read A Spellbook for the Lost and Found… so that is the book I am voting for! I really want to see what you think of it!
I don’t even KNOW.😂 I just write fast haha. I love writing honsetly, and with really intense outlines, I can write fast! Also THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING THESE RECAPS!! It makes my day!! And sooo excited to read Spellbook!!
I freaking loved the mini-reviews and star ratings that flipped over! I also hated them because it made me want to stop the book I’m reading and get the books that you’ve talked about. I’m pretty sure I’d love all the books you’ve recommended, because I think we have a similar taste in books.
Also I’m super into fairytale retellings at the moment and I got way too excited about your WIPs. Please publish soon!!!
July was terrible reading-wise. I hit a major slump this month.
Did you read about The Raven Cycle being made into a TV Show? I’m not sure how I feel about this. I don’t want them to mess up the perfection that is TRC!!
PS: I did get an email about a reply, but couldn’t see what the reply was. Is that how it usually works? IDK 😛
Eeeep, I’m glad you like them!😂 And if it makes you feel better, I spend a lot of time just flipping them which…ahem…I probably shouldn’t be so easily amused. But whatever. APOLOGISE TO YOUR TBR, EXCEPT ALSO NOT REALLY.
AFJDSLAKD YOU ARE LOVELY. I would LOVE to see one of my books published someday. Fingers crossed? 😂
Gah, July must’ve just been an all over slumpy month for all of us!
And noooo, I’m NOT happy about the Raven Cycle show. I LOVE that series. It is like part of my heart and they’re going to ruin it.😫😥😭😫😥😭
You’re evil Cait. But not really, because we all need awesome book recs. 😉
I might have stalked your Pinterest boards and I’m going to *try* really hard not to ask about your books’ being published. NO PRESSURE! But when *are* we going to get to read your books!?!?!??!
I’m especially terrified after watching what they’ve done with Shadowhunters (TMI adaption). Just. No.
But I’m hoping they do it well. Because the SyFy series that I’ve seen so far have been pretty good. So hopefully they do it justice.
Hope August is being nice to you 🙂
afjdskad THANKS, TJ. YOU’RE SO NICE.😂 I have no answers to the publishing, but I’m working on it. 😉
I have no idea if I’m winning Camp NaNo because, for some reason, I stopped adding onto my word count halfway through the month. Adding it all up is going to be an absolute joy… It’s been a bit of a funny writing month, to be honest. I’m not drowning happily in books either. I am drowning miserably. I need to read more and faster.
I don’t think I’m getting the emails. Sorry.
Oooh, good luck with adding it all up! 😂 I hope you’re happy with the count at the end!! I’m SAD you are drowning miserably though. *slides you some cake* I can’t seem to keep up no matter how many books I read gahhhh.
I don’t think you should be intimidated by the RIDICULOUSNESS that is discrimination against “Carve the Mark.” I kind of liked it and kind of didn’t based on my own very particular tastes (I thought it was about 100 pages too long; the invented languages sort of confused me; I wasn’t that sold on the pre-fab romance). BUT it is NOT prejudiced, and people who came up with that are BEING DUMB. And I’m sorry if that remark ticks anyone off, but IT IS THE TRUTH. Veronica Roth got all kinds of hate for choosing to kill off Tris in Allegiant, so basically there are some that will hate on whatever she writes next just because of that. GET OVER IT, PEOPLE. If you think authors who kill off their heroes make bad writing mistakes, then fine — DON’T KEEP READING THEIR NEW STUFF JUST TO HATE ON THEM MORE. This is what I’m seeing happen, and I don’t agree with it — in case that wasn’t clear.
“Carve the Mark” is a perfectly respectful representation of a cultural feud — some of the CHARACTERS are racist, the AUTHOR IS NOT. And there’s no “able-ism” (and that’s the STUPIDEST invented thing ever about the criticisms of this book — sorry/not sorry). The portrayal of the protagonist suffering with a constant pain disorder is powerful and done lovingly (Ms. Roth even states in her acknowledgements that she knows people with a similar illness that inspired her to create this character).
Honestly, I think you’d really like this one, Cait. DON’T listen to the silly rotten prunes who are determined to give this novel a bad rep.
Sorry to just squeeze myself into this conversation which is so not mine, BUT I AM SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW. I am POC and I quite enjoyed this book! Some of the characters ARE racist, yes but that video and you literally explain it so perfectly. i don’t even think I marked the book as READ on my GR because OF ALL THE HATE on it and I was so confused? BECAUSE WAT, I didn’t see any of this? ANd basically, when Cait shared that video I LITERALLY EXPLODED because finally someone basically spoke my thoughts.
Sorry to just randomly appear out of nowhere but I’ve been thinking all these things for so long but didn’t speak up because people don’t stop at grilling others when they’re opinion is different. Especially on Twitter!
I just finished Allegiant a few days ago, and I AM SO GLAD Roth finished the book LIKE SHE WANTED TO. I think this whole hating on Authors thing is getting so OUT OF HAND. It is so wrong and NO.
Thank you for jumping in!!! (I can’t speak for Cait, but I know this nonsense controversy over this book has been grating on her, poor little dragon.) This is absolutely what I thought after reading “Carve the Mark” for myself. I’d read several scathing reviews, and maybe I just decided to be contrary, but I honestly feel that this novel was a much stronger work than the Divergent trilogy. I really think Roth is finding her groove as an author; the world building was top notch, and the amount of effort it clearly took to put together the whole premise of the two cultures and the various gifts and everything was impressive. My own quibbles with CTM were purely because I just prefer shorter reads most of the time, and some chapters seemed a little long-winded to me — but that’s just my personal opinion, and I saw no need to hate on an author based on “offenses” so obviously made up by some silly people who don’t really know what they’re saying.
And although I didn’t really like the Divergent series (again, it was mostly because I felt the world wasn’t as developed as it could have been, and a lot of the reveal in “Allegiant” therefore didn’t make much sense to me), and while I understood that some fans were upset by Tris dying, I TOTALLY support Roth’s ability to make that decision for HER writing. Like you said, it is crazy ridiculous for fans to think that they have more creative control than the actual authors. As an author myself, I’d be a little upset if some readers really didn’t like a plot twist I’d determined was necessary; but I’d be EXTREMELY upset if they started telling me I shouldn’t have done it at all. I know Ms. Roth required counseling for a long time after all the intense hate (apparently including death threats?!) she received after publishing “Allegiant,” and it took her quite a while to finish work on “Carve the Mark” because of it. Like you said, NOT OKAY.
Thanks for your thoughts!!
@Daley: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LOVELY COMMENT. (I mean, ALL your comments are lovely anyway. 💕💕) And honestly I know I’m a wimp for being so scared of it, but it just makes me so anxious to deal with people. I’ve already got like a good chunk of the bookworm community on twitter having me blocked because I’m “racist”. Last month I got a lovely tweet thread of someone calling me a “racist arse” and asking why I couldn’t leave online. So. THAT’S encouraging. *eye roll* I hate misunderstandings and I hate cruelty!
And I struggle with the idea that Veronica Roth is ableist considering SHE has a chronic pain condition. 😳
PEOPLE ARE STUPID NOWADAYS. Not all people everywhere, but there is definitely a trend in especially English-speaking cultures in the last few years to say EVERYTHING is “racist” or “discriminatory” or “prejudiced” — EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF THIS. It drives me CRAZY, as someone who has been marginalized my whole life due to conformity and people wanting to assign a niche and rules to every part of the world.
I think you should read this book, and TO HELL with anyone who hates on you for it!!!
Omg you literally are the best.😂😂😂I WILL.
I want those socks. They are fabulous! I’m glad you liked A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue and Eliza and Her Monsters. I’m on a waiting list for both of them, but I WANT THEM NOW. Sorry you had a bad reading month. Mine was actually better than usual.
THANK YOU! I’m so lucky I got sent them! My feet have never felt more bookish and evil. :’) And jfadkslad The Gentleman’s Guide is, no joke, LIFE. I hope you like it!!
My writing is dead at the moment. Which is sad. It would cheer up if you’d let me read that trilogy though… 😇 I’m so subtle.
Nooooo, I hope your writing muse comes back!! And I’ll let you know about the trilogy.😂🙈🙊 It tooootally makes my DAY that you want to read them afjdkalsdadf.
CAAAAIIIT! Your ILLUMINAE design is sooooooo pretty!! How are you such a creative dragon?? ALSO, I cannot wait to read your trilogy! Even though I KNOW it will destroy what’s left of my soul.
I did 24in48 this month, so I’m devouring my TBR, INCLUDING Ash and Quill, which you need to read ASAP. It’s evil, sleuthy, amazingness.
AHHH THANK YOU!😂 And honestly it’s just me mucking around on picmonkey with layers and things hahah.
Duuuude, I WILL BE SO HAPPY the day I can let people read my writing!!! Also it kind of just mAKES MY HEART SO FULL to know you’d be interested in it!! Thank you!!
And I will definitely get to the Great Library books ASAP. This weekend I hope!
Hey Cait,
I always love reading your recaps, they’re so entertaining! I’m also really excited to read Spellbook of the lost and found. I can’t wait to hear what you think of it. I had no idea To all the boys I’ve loved before was being adapted into a movie, so thank you! I get kind of nervous about adaptions but hopefully they stay true to the book with this one. How could they not? It’s adorable! Hopefully August is a better reading month for both of us, July was pretty disappointing for me too.
Eeep, THANK YOU, ESSIE. That makes me really happyyyyyyy!! And I hope we both adore Spellbook!! I honestly want to start it this weekend, squee! And To All The Boys is definitely going to be a super cute movie, right?! I hope they keep in all the baking because, no lie, that’s why I loved the book.😂
First of all, YOUR SOCIETY6 STORE IS BEAUTIFUL. If I had more than like…two pennies, I would buy everything. EVERYTHING.
I’m also a huge fan of the new A Wrinkle in Time movie. I feel like technology has finally caught up with all the beautiful imagery and stunning effects that it deserves.
Also the moment you announce the publish date of one of your books, you know the whole world is going to flock to it, right? I GROW IMPATIENT, CAIT. But it’s fine. No problem. Whatever. I can wait if I have to, I guess. *sigh*
THANK YOU, LAURA. I’M SO PLEASED AND YOU ARE SO KIND. I do need to work on some new designs though haha.😂 And fajdskald the Wrinkle in Time movie is going to be INCREDIBLE I’m so excited about the amazing cast too!!
DUUUUUDE. I live for that day.😂 Hopefully we won’t all be 74 with a foot in the grave by the time it happens.😂
I own Carve The Mark too. I bought it even before knowing it all – since I always been out the Twitter book community, until this year or so. I just saw the book and thougt: “I never read something by Roth but the general premise looks interesting. I’m going to give her an occasion.” The all I knew about it is: it’s a sci-fi, there are a lot of planets and powers.
Good to know that makes me an horrible person deserving hate message *note the sarcasm*. Honestly, I find it all really concerning, on both sides. By the way, I know Francina Simone too. I actually found her channel while trying to understand more about the problematic.
Talking about books that we write…. tell me the secret to kill off characters! I can’t to it with mine. But they can’t be so lucky with a whole war nearly crusching onto them. To be fair, my books have heavy cast and some characters die but not the major ones. Which is bad, really bad in my opinion.
And your dog is adorable <3 Mine is a big and stupid (lovable stupid) czechoslovakian wolf
P.s: I'm reading Lee's book this August thanks to your love for this novel
I love Francina Simone’s videos now! I don’t generally watch booktubers, but she’s really well spoken and has such good things to say. I actually stay to the end instead of wandering off, which is a big deal for me. haha. But yeah…um…the level of hate and LIES that CtM has apparently gotten is kind of devastating. As an author myself, it makes me super scared.😭
Aww, you gotta kill of character sometimes!😂 The more it hurts YOU the more it’ll hurt the readers!
AFJDKSALFD I HOPE YOU LOVE GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE. I AM HERE TO FLAIL IF YOU NEED ME.
I’m scared too! To be fair, if I’m going to be published in my country… nothing will have an issue. Italian background is far more different to other country who all alredy fully multicultural.
But I want to be a good writer… so I’m also scared of writing something wrong or in the wrong way. Everytime I touch sensitve stuff I watch the words for hours, asking myself: “what are you doing with your life? Are you doing it right? Are you chaning your charcters to please the public? Are you being rude? WHAT WHAT WHAT”
Anyway, sometimes I feel that many words can easily get misinterpreted and the fact that Italy hasn’t sensitivy readers really kill my confident spirit about publication. Everytime I write I feel like I’m doing something like walking on a wire
Sorry for the rant XD
Don’t be sorry! I totally get where you’re coming from! I always am terrified of writing something wrong too, gah.
EEP THOSE SOCK ARE AMAZING WHERE DID YOU GET THEM???
Honestly I spend so long reading these posts because I proceed to look up every book on Goodreads and I love it to death please never stop writing these. XD
YOUR TRILOGY SOUNDS AMAZING OMGGG. My life goal is to read a Cait book.
The widget kind of works?? Like, I get an email that you responded, but it doesn’t actually contain the response like it used to.
HAVE A LOVELY AUGUST, CAIT!!
I got sent them from the publishers.😂 But I DO believe they’re from Out Of Print!
I AM SO PLEASED YOU LIKE THESE POSTS. THAT KIND OF MAKES MY DAY. <3 I really enjoy writing them eeep. And omg my goals is for everyone to be able to read a Cait book. :') I'M HONOURED, GRACE.
(I'm so sorry about the not-containing-an-actual-response part of the widget. My old one broke but I need one that actually emails the response.😭)
How about I just sit here and flail over your accomplishments??? Like how are you even so productive. I need some productive. And then you’re all like IT WAS SUCH AN UNPRODUCTIVE MONTH and I stuff my face with chocolate haha. SO MANY BOOKS. Five is like a good month for me. Also I am kind of scared of getting into ANY Carve the Mark discussions because of the giant mushroom cloud that was hanging around it even before it was ever published. So. I stay away from that in general haha.
ALSO. I wish I didn’t like watching movies and shows so much???? I can literally spend all day doing that if I’m feeling sloth-like enough. Which is much more often than I’d like to admit haha. And probably WAAAAY more often than you are thinking :,)
Also can I just say I love your monthly recaps??? Like. Writing these just scares me. Partly because I feel like I have accomplished exactly nothing haha but also because getting all of those informations herded into one place and getting them to sit in an orderly fashion is hard, man.
Bahaha sORRY.😂 I just am so annoying I knoooow. But like I mean I wrote, but otherwise the reading was a bit of a slump bleh. And fair enough to avoid all CtM discussions! I’m keen to read it now, I kind of feel like I’m “allowed”??? Which is silly, obviously. But it’s absolutely terrible that I was so afraid of being attacked by reading it that I haven’t. That’s…not good…
ANYWAY. I like shows over movies! I think they’re faster paced.😂 I’m SO inattentive it’s not funny. I’ve got like 9489 tabs open right now and I’m on youtube and spotify AND TRYING TO BLOG. HELP ME ESTHER. I NEED TO SLOW DOWN.
Also thank yooooou. <3 I'm so glad you like these recaps!! I didn't have as much bookish news unfortunately this month because #slack, but hopefully it'll be more next month.😂
Ugh yes you said it!! I am kind of scared to read CtM because I don’t want to get into those discussions and I feel like I can’t read/review it without doing that??? So sad!
Shows are 2793874 better! I always have a thousand tabs open too haha we are living the life XD YOU ARE SO AMAZING.
Of course I love your recaps! HOW ELSE WOULD I STAY UP TO DATE?!?!?
Ha ha!! Your searches. Awesome.
July has been a great reading month for me, but I’m currently reading a more serious book that is over 700 pages long and I’m dragging myself all the way to the end. (My goal is to finish is by 8/1. Here’s hoping!) I’m taking part in a TBR challenge and I’m ahead of my goal for the year so far.
July itself has been boring. Being a teacher, I sometimes find it difficult to go from dealing with 700 people a day (Sometimes 700 different personalities in the same student- lol) to… 3. I go a little crazy. I think I need a little more social/intellectual/emotional stimulation over the course of the day. So, I’ve been hiding in books. Hopefully August is a little more exciting in real life.
I do have an anti-social cat. She likes my son David and I, but otherwise- all people are dead to her. David regularly reads to the cat, and she sits and listens. It is weird, but cute.
I’m so glad you’ve had a great July for reading!! And DUDE, 700 pages?! That is so impressive I can’t even. I start running away when a book is over 500pgs to be honest. I’m so weak these days.😂
And eeep, I hope your teaching goes well for August. 😱😱
Also your cat sounds amazing and relatable.😂
I love reading your recaps so, SO much, Cait <3 Thank you for sharing! I recently bought Spellbook of the Lost and Found as well and I'm SO excited to read it, I loved the author's debut just as well, it was so very mysterious and weird and I love weird.
Also, all of your book ideas and the books you are writing are fabulous. I really hope we'll get the chance to read them someday <3
omgggg MARIE. This makes me very very happy. Thank you!! <3
And oh oh I hope we both adore Spellbook just as much as The Accident Season!! EEEEP.
I’m sorry you had a sad reading month!! That’s the worst.
Your Contemporary trilogy sounds fantastic, especially this new Pinocchio retelling!!
I read the Scorpio Races and I LOVED every minute of it. All your screaming has made my life 10x better xD.
EEEEP, thanks, Lenna!! 😀 That makes me so monstrously happy that you like the sound of my book. And The Scorpio Races is like LIFE. (Or, well, death to feels but whatever.) I already read it this year but I want to read again…. ❤️💔
So many great book! I really want to read The Near Witch but I’ve just never picked it up… My library doesn’t have it so I’ll probably have to buy it…. I’ll get it one day 🙂 And I just finished History is All you left Me, that book BROKE ME! So it’s safe to say that I’m really excited for They Both Die At The End XD
WHEN WILL YOU BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR?! Honestly, I’m so curious about what you’ve written and, even though I know you’re a cruel human that would rip out my heart and laugh while you eat chocolate cake (ew) I STILL WANT TO READ IT!
Yes! I hope you get the Near Witch sometime too! I’m definitely going to read it this month…and I should also read The Unbound tbh. 😂 How dare I have not read all the Schwab.
HISTORY IS ALL YOU LEFT ME IS MY FAAAVOURITE. <3 <3 Adam Silvera just wants to make us all cry.
ONE DAY? I HOPE?😂😂😂 I'm so so so soooo pleased you like the sound of my books. *flails in all the happy*
Yeah I say I love Schwab but haven’t read anything before The Archived… *hides in shame* Maybe if I get a copy of The Near Witch soon, we could do a buddy read thing (like both read at the same time and I could annoy you with my thoughts?)
I JUST GOT SOMEONE TO READ HISTORY IS ALL YOU LEFT ME SO NOW THEY UNDERSTAND MY TEARS AND PAIN
WELL I WISH YOU LUCK WITH YOUR WRITINGS! MAYBE ONE DAY YOU’LL BECOME FAMOUS AND I’LL GO TO ONE OF YOUR SIGNINGS AND BRING YOU CAKE
1. Important for your brains – I think I was getting replies, and then I wasn’t? Or maybe you stopped replying to me because I’m weird. THAT’S FINE I UNDERSTAND. *dies in corner*
2. I destroyed one of my first draft manuscripts as #fail and rewrote half the book, then moved it to the scraps folder and started re-outlining again. THE OUTLINE IS GOOD THO. Only now I don’t want to write it. #failme
3. I HAVE TWO EVIL PETS. They are cats, so this is a given. One likes sleeping on my things, and the other likes biting them. But they are soft and cute so they win.
4. I have DNF’d 2x this month and it makes me sad. Overall, disappointing with a smidge of THIS IS THE BEST BOOK EVER (The Night Circus).
5. I added way more than I read this month so drowning in my TBR. Stupid adulting + good books.
I think that was all your questions.
I will read these recaps forever just for the intriguing searches.
Have a delicious August, Cait!
OMG I DIDN’T STOP REPLYING TO YOU!!!! I WOULDN’T!! I LOVE YOUR COMMENTS!! And this is why I’m frustrated at the widget because it appears to work sometimes but not always? What’s up with that. 😭😭
CONGRATS ON YOUR OUTLINE!! And it’s totally okay to have false starts, c’mon now we all do that. My current novel kind of DIED like at the 80% mark and I did this major change and just cut out a character really brutally fast hahah. But, eham…edits will be fun. *dies in that corner with you*
Cats are evil and I do think my dog thinks he’s a cat because SO much level of evil. Plus he hates getting his paws wet.
Noooooo to the DNF’ing. That makes me sad too.😭 But I want to read Night Circus so bad!
I love these posts! I’m intrigued by some of the ARCs you got, and now I need to look up the chick lit one, because I sometimes like chick lit 😂
I always love your WIP boards on Pinterest too! I silently stalk them 😂😂
You need to live closer to me and then I would just send it to you.😂😂 Ahhh well maybe like the bookstore setting will work for me!? *fingers crossed* 😂
AWW THANK YOU!! I’m so pleased you like my boards. 😍 I spend way too much time there.😍
RIGHT?! If we lived closer we could trade so many books ha! That’s IT, I’m moving to Australia!
I’m with you – I spend a ridiculous amount of time on Pinterest! Whoops!
Uh, well I’m currently 6 books behind on my Goodreads’ goal…but I WAS like FIFTEEN so that’s good I guess…but I had to change my goal from 40 to 35. :/
But that’s okay!! Because as long as we’re enjoying what we read, the numbers don’t have to matter, right?!
First of all, I really like your socks. And your pictures, as always. They’re all so pretty and appeal to the magpie/dragon side of me which likes shiny things. Being overwhelmed by rainbow colours clearly counts. It’s now apparent to me that I need to invest in a castle, so thanks for helping me out on that one. 🙂
My TBR is disappearing…slowly. And let’s not even think about all of the books I plan to own by this New Year’s Eve. The ones I’ll get around to reading next year if my current order of reading is anything to go by- I hate being so behind. Why does everything amazing have to come out all at once?!?! My writing is going relatively well. (But you easily put me to shame) Good luck with yours right now, it sounds really interesting. 🙂
I really like my socks too so we can be in SUCH SOCK AGREEMENT. *nods* And like don’t we all need to invest in a castle, right?! #Truth
I hate being behind on my TBR too! I am like reading MAY books right now. 😭😭 And it’s so hard to balance ARCs being read on time + books I’ve bought and want to read.😂 I give up and just eat everything and burn down a few planets or something because #bookdragon.
Somehow I did not even know about the Carve the Mark controversy. I am too good at hiding under my rock it seems.
I get email replies, but it doesn’t show me the actual text…I have to click on the link and then scroll through the comments until I find mine, which is slightly annoying. Maybe that’s how it’s designed?
Also once I checked the box for notify me of follow-up comments and I got 100000 emails.
You stay under that rock.😂It’s nice and quiet and safe down there.😂
I’m sorry about that, gah, with the email-replies! That’s how the widget works unfortunately, but I can’t find a better one that works. My old one just DIED suddenly. (ALSO SORRY FOR THE TIME YOU GOT 10000 EMAILS. 😱😱😱)
LOVE the banned books socks! Those are beyond awesome! Love the way the book covers flip around to show your mini reviews. You are a genius! And why are your blog searches so much more interesting than mine? #jealous Also, if you do decide to sell your bookstagram flower eating puppy, I might be interested. Just sayin…
Eeep, I’m so so glad, Terri!! THANK YOU! And those blog searches are just insane.😂I have no idea how most of them even lead to my blog?!😂
Someone’s got to take the fall, Susan. I am going to use this all school year long…whether I’m talking to Susan or not! You’ve had a GREAT month. I’ve also been on the low side of Readingville, but that’s okay. Keep on writing you wicked, dark souled dragon lover!
I know right?! SUSAN GETS THE FALL, NOT US.😂 But I hope we both get some great books coming up on our TBRs soon!! *gives you cake*
Hello, Cait! Firstly, amazing post- because I love your monthly recaps so much. In this past week, I’ve been reading Anna Karenina in English, you know, as one does casually. It’s absolutely monstrous but surprisingly really interesting. It’s literally 800+ pages (plus footnotes!) and I’ve only 100 to go, which astounds me. I think that makes it a relatively good reading month, but I hope that next month I read more books overall rather than spending lots of time on a massive Tolstoy.
OMG WOW. 😱😱 Congrats on tackling such a big book!! I get terrified of books over 500pgs tbh so like I just bow to you right now. 😂
I had a pretty decent reading month! I really enjoyed Dramatically Ever After and I just finished The Lost and the Found. I also wrote a first draft, which needs a lot of fixing, but at least it exists. I have a cat who likes to take up all the bed and make you sleep in uncomfortable positions, and a dog who abandons me when I go running…but I guess that’s not quite *evil* My TBR is TERRIBLE because I placed WAY too many holds at the library and now have WAY too many books to read. I get notified that you’ve replied to my comment but I have to come and see the page to actually read what you wrote.
Oh I lovvvved The Lost And Found. It was so great!! Siblings ftw too!! And WRITING QUEENS TOGETHER *hi fives* Plus I think my dog and your cat would get on well because my dog thinks the bed is his and gets confused when I say it’s not. And by “confused” I mean, tries to sit on my face. 😑😑
I love your new socks!!! They are so cute. Did you get them from Out of Print? I bought a 1984 shirt from their website and really love it. Sorry this month didn’t go so well for reading great books. Hopefully August will be full of overwhelming five star reads!
I got sent them by a publisher actually but they are from Out Of Print WHOM I KNOW LOVE.😂 I want to get some of their shirts someday!!
Cait wasn’t The Boy Who Steals Houses supposed to be a standalone? I swear, I have no idea how you come up with ideas for sequels because sometimes I think “oh, maybe I’ll sequel!” and then my brain is like NOPE. And you don’t watch movies??? CAIT. WHY DON’T YOU WATCH MOVIES. Movies are fabulous and also can I mention all the badass female characters going on these days? I swear, characters like Furiousa and Holtzmann and Wonder Woman make my little gay heart swoon.
And what is jaffa, by the way?? I google it and all I’m ending up with is cakes made with orange jello and chocolate which…does not sound appatizing, honestly.
(and those are fabulous socks, btw. I have the matching tote)
YES IT WAS. I HATE MYSELF A BIT, AINE. Please remove me. The trouble is, it had a big family featuring and like when you get started with families full of kids and sass you can’t stop. *cries* I used to be freaked of sequels! And this year I’ve written a duology and a trilogy???? Who am I???? I don’t even know.😂
MOVIES ARE JUST SO … LONG. I swear I have the attention span of a gnat. 😭😭 I do want to watch Wonder Woman though. And I did like Mad Max: Fury Road! I mean, mostly because it’s about me, so like. How could I know. Lowkey mad I named myself Paper Fury not Paper Furiosa.
Jaffa is just orange flavoured chocolate! Not orange jello. 😂
Ugh a whole month of disappointing reads..that sucks. I had a few weeks of that but then I read this book Saint Death and its been uphill since then so thats great! Also I actually have NO TBR at the moment (besides library books) OMG!!! Mainly just because I never ever buy books because: no money. But I’m going to a book fest next weekend where I’ll probably get 10 or more books to last me forever so the pile will again be towering.
WOW NO TBR?!? WHAT WIZARDRY IS THAT. I AM AMAZED RIGHT NOW.😂 I’m pretty much trash for libraries so I generally have a slew of books coming in from that, but having no money for books is definitely a problem.😂
Wait, you’ve had hate messages just for owning Carve the Mark? Ugh, people…
Also, Cait, your feet have always been controversial. Admit it.
Yup….and my literally only comment when I put it in a book haul was “I’m interested to find my opinion” and like I got 4 anonymous rather brutal hate mails. Like wow. My feet are just SUPER controversial.😂
Hello Cait can you write a book for my assignment minimum 15 pages 30 sides
YA let me just whip that up IN 5 MINS WITH MY EYES CLOSED.
A copy of The Near Witch!! I still haven’t found one.
This Darkness Mine was SO MESSED UP. I think you are going to love it 😀
Your Instagram = goooooals.
The flip-over covers is really neat!
It’s so hard to find right?!?? I think it must be out of print. 😭😭
Also that is GLORIOUS to hear about This Darkness Mind. I tend to come away from Mindy McGinnis books always reeling so I’m excited.😂
I’ve gotten an email for every comment of mine that you replied to. 🙂
Definitely drowning happily in my TBR this month, although I’ve read more this month than I have the rest of the summer, so that’s something I guess?? I tried to partake in booktubeathon but then made the stupid decision to tackle a fantasy when lord knows I always read those slower to soak everything in. I only lasted two days in the challenge because of that. xD
YOUR PUPPY IS SO CUTE IF YOU DON’T WANT HIM I WOULD GLADLY TAKE HIM. i wouldn’t say any of my pets are “evil,” per say, but the cat always seems to know when i’m taking blog photos and she deems it appropriate to either a.) lay right on top of the books, or b.) stand in the shot meowing until i take her picture. she’s incessantly needy but i love her.
both your instagram photos and pinterest boards are always so beautifully aesthetic, cait. <3
YOU WILL SHARE SNIPPETS OF YOUR PINOCCHIO RETELLING RIGHT??? i absolutely live for your writing. ^-^
OH GOOD. Phew. 😂Sometimes I despair over that widget because some people say it works and some say it doesn’t???
I’m glad you’re drowning happily!! That is the best way to drown in books. :’) And haha, fantasy is hard to read fast. I definitely agree.
And omg what is it with pets and being cantankerous when we’re taking photos?!? My dog never wants to be in a photo unless I’m taking it of something else. *rolls eyes* And then he goes and SNUGGLES UP TO ME AND LICKS MY CHEEK AND LIKE HOW THE HECK CAN I STAY MAD.
Afjdsakld I’m so so so freakishly pleased you like my pinterest! I don’t think I’ll be sharing Pinocchio snippets thissss time but hopefully this month I’m going to write my fantasy-heist story and THEN I will for sure share snippets. (Also KIND OF JUST FREAKING OUT any time someone wants to read things. 😱💕😍)
Girl! How do you have so many book Ideas? You’re like a dragon queen… wait you already are. I would totally love to read your books! ❤️
I DON’T EVEN KNOW. 😂 My brain is a sad and scary place tbh. (Definitely dragonish.)
Your search terms are literally my favourite things of ever, how are people finding you with some of these??? :’-D Your contemporary trilogy sounds amazing, please finish it and publish it immediately so I can read it… when I get round to it. #TBRproblems
I’ve had an equally stressful and awesome July, we moved house into military accommodation to save money and we really like our new house and area, but I was trying to do Camp Nano AND prep for entering Pitch Wars at the same time so suffice it to say my sleep suffered! I won a critique of my first ten pages and query by a past mentee at the beginning of the month so in the end I dropped out of Camp Nano (le shame) so I could focus on revising my MS for PW, and now the submission window opens in 3 days and I’m a bundle of electrified nerves!!! So yes, July has been a month and a half. On a lighter note it’s my birthday next Saturday 😀
That’s what I want to know.😂😂 I mean, some of them are so random?!??? Omg. But highly amusing so I’m glad they keep typing ’em in. :’)
Omg the move must’ve been very stressful. I moved at the end of May and am STILL trying to recover. *cries* Also BEST BEST OF LUCK WITH THE PITCH WARS!! AHHHHHH. I hope you’re successful. *crosses fingers*
That dog is so cuute <3
I actually had a great reading month (for once!) and I read Radio Silence… THE PLATONIC RELATIONSHIP IS #GOALS Aled is the cutest.
Congratulations on finishing your book so quickly! Hopefully I can focus on my own writing since I get so many ideas and sometimes even have to push them away because I'm so slow at writing! *cries*
YAYYY FOR RADIO SILENCE. Honestly that book is gorgeous and adorable and one of my favourites. *flails* And thanks about my book! It was a really lovely one to write. I had such a good time. :’) And getting soo many ideas is tough but like IT’S EXCITING TOO. I hope you write them all down at least.😂
Love the designs! So beautiful <3 🙂
Aww, thanks so much, Kacie!! 😀
Rereads are great – I need to do more of that! Yay for all of your writing. I love the sound of all of those – and the titles are cool. I really need to make a pinterest board for my WIP – maybe it will motivate me more. 🙂
-Lauren
Yes they are so good! I confess I’ve really started getting into rereads because Goodreads logs them now.😂😂 AND YES! Pinterest is so motivating!! I totally recommend.😂
Oh, I have an evil pet. He is a bunny. You know what bunnies like to do?? BUNNIES LIKE TO CHEW. I swear, he only chews books when I’m reading them because he’s like um excuse me. your attention?? ON ME NOW. The little nugget kills me, but he also falls asleep using my leg for a pillow, so it’s a struggle.
I have currently read two books this month, but I have decided I must try to finish the one I’m reading right now BEFORE THE END (it’s currently July 30th where I live). I must do this. Otherwise, I will be very disappoint and I do not want to be disappoint!
AKA I’m totally drowning.
I’m getting your comment reply messages!
I believe you. Bunnies sound TERRIFYING. *runs away* Also they’re illegal to own as pets where I live.😂 So obviously my state is onto something.
Good luck finishing off your reads!! I hope they’re not disappointing! DON’T DROWN. I’LL SEND A RAFT TO RESCUE YOU.
I haven’t been super active in the book world for quite a while, so I somehow missed out on all the controversy around Carve the Mark. Honestly after reading the Divergent series I’m not Roth’s biggest fan. Her writing leaves something to be desired. I guess there have been other books that I’ve read that also got a lot of hate and it seems like a lot of it was kind of a built-up thing where people just jumped on the bandwagon and raged against a few details because everyone else on Goodreads was doing it, and honestly I felt like the book was much more nuanced than that. But, I suppose everyone is entitled to their own opinion!
Also forgot to say that I love your socks!
OH HI MARTHA!! LONG TIME NO CHAT!! *gives you welcome back cake*
And honestly Veronica Roth’s books aren’t my TOP favourites, but I always loved her Divergent books and I really thought Allegiant ended well and stayed true to the characters.😂 So I’m okay! I just really upset that authors can be so abused on social media these days and there’s really no repercussion for it. Particularly when like you hear a reviewer read it and say “hey everyone else is making stuff up??” and it’s really depressing for me, as a writer, knowing people do this just to be vicious. 🙁
*mumbles around cake* SO EXCITED TO BE BACK! I have missed book blogging and the whole world of interacting with other bookish people soooooo much. Especially as there aren’t many bookworms around me IRL. *sad face*
It seems like the whole internet culture is so vicious and raw and unthinking. People really do hide behind their keyboards. And when you’re talking about someone’s art or career, you can really end them early just out of your spite, because people believe the rumors and don’t bother to verify it for themselves. Gossip is so awful.
Lost for Words is so good! It might be technically chick lit, but I don’t think it reads like “traditional” chick lit at all! I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
I think you should read Learning to Swear in America first. Yuri is ADORABLE and I totally pictured Anton Yelchin in that role. ;_;
I do have evil pets. Many cats and I swear it’s like living in some kinds of feline mafia!
Hahahaha…TBR status…*lol* I don’t stick to a TBR normally because I’m terrible at following them, but August is busy af for challenges and readathons, so there will be a lot of TBR books next month.
Ohhh that makes me feel better then! I just really don’t do well with romantic books.😂 BUT HOPEFULLY THE BOOKS OUTWEIGH ANYTHING ELSE. And omggg I’m totally onboard with your Yuri casting! I just started reading it and…there’s surprisingly not much swearing.😂
Grats on the writing! Getting it published?
Working towards traditional publishing. 🙂 THANKS!
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR BOOK! I expect it’s finished now. It sounds really interesting although low-key sad, by which I mean high key sad. Do any of your characters get happy endings, Cait? I must ask, because it does not sound like it. I feel bad for your characters 🙁
WHY IS ATTICUS SO CUTE? I can’t.
I wrote a short story this month, as well as a few essays/random things (not English homework essays. More like ‘this thing happened to me and I’m deep and meaningful, although I can’t say I succeeded really)
Also, this month was a great reading month! I read 14 whole books (unless I finish one today, which I probably won’t) . Most were pretty good.
THANK YOU, SHAR. I did finish.😂 And I sweeeear the ending isn’t AS BAD AS IT SOUNDS. Okay. It is pretty bad. But not *that* bad….like compared to other meanness I have committed in other books. :’) Don’t talk to my critique partners. They will spread lies. I am nice. I swear.
Atticus is so CUTE so he get away with pure evil.
Also congratttts on your short story!! I honestly can’t write short things (I mean check out my outlines *rolls eyes at self*) so I admire your short story skills!! 14 books is FAB.
With a title of Gap Year in Ghost Town I kind of had to add that on Goodreads….
Also your socks are so cool and your puppy is the cutest (even when he steals your flowers).
I will be reading Ari & Dante for the first time in August. :O
I know right? Why didn’t I do that for my gap year…I need a ghost buddy….
ARI AND DANTE IS SO PERFECT I CRY.
Fabulous recap Cait! Ever since I started commenting on your posts, I have been getting e-mails whenever you reply. 🙂
Your Society 6 Page is amazing, but mainly because your sense of humor is PHENOMENAL.
I have two evil pets Lucy the Jack Russell Terrorist, also know as Lucifer when she is misbehaving and Daphne who was so bad that I obviously needed to create a hashtag just for her….. #demoncatdaphne
As for the TBR – drowning happily…
Happy reading/blogging/writing/cake-eating Cait!
N’aww, thanks, Hannah!! And I’m rEALLY glad the widget is working then! I keep getting told it works and then it doesn’t and just ahghghg. WORK WORDPRESS.😂 And omg thank you for liking my designs!!
Also I LOVE your pets’ names bahah. That is perfect.😂 I sometimes call my dog Crowley after the king of hell in Supernatural.😂
I’m beyond stoked to read your stuff when you get published.
Eeep, YOU’RE SO KIND. THIS MAKES MY DAY. <3
I had a good month for writing! Actually I finished editing a YA contemporary novel (like the millionth edit). But it is wonderful to have it done because I basically put it off for a year while I spent time writing new exciting things instead (that now also need to be edited…sigh.)
….did I mention I kind of hate editing?
But in saying that I am getting better at it now…so hating it a little less maybe?
I really enjoyed reading your recap post 🙂 It made me laugh a lot.
🙂
Ahhh CONGRATS CONGRATS on finishing your round of edits!! Honestly editing is hard and exhausting and you deserve at least 8 cakes right now. Probably 9. *nods*
OMGGGGG YOUR TRILOGY SOUNDS SO AMAZING!!! I LOVE retellings in a contemporary setting (that’s what it is, right? even if it’s not it’s still cool lol). And it’s SO aesthetic and amazing-sounding and AGAHAAG. 😂 Um… I tried to write an outline for Camp but today’s the last day and it’s not finished so ahahhahaha. BUT IT’S 10K WHICH I’M PROUD OF!!! (I have no idea if it’s above or below average for and outline lol.) And agh I read Gentleman’s Guide really recently! It was super good… but I was also slightly disappointed? Everyone thought it was so amazing and I just didn’t get that SPARK to make if five stars. 😭
I’m getting emails about your replies! 😊
YES! Contemporary retellings. :’) And they’re like subtle, so you have to really look for the hints and references and it makes my hEART SO HAPPY. *shrieks* And afjdskafd it just makes meeeeeee so happy you like the aesthetics! And also CONGRATS TO YOUR 10K THAT IS AMAZING and I Think outlines can be anything they want to be, right?! My outline for my first book in this contemporary trilogy was 7K and my middle outline was 20K. 😂 So it just depends on how much detail you want to include, right?
Ahh I’m glad the email-reply widget has been working then!!
THE COVERS DO FLIP OH MY GOSH. But aw…how could you be mad at that puppy face? And you’ve got new merch, too! YYYYYEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
BECAUSE HE ATE MY FLOWERS, ELISABETH. I MEAN. He’s supposed to appreciate books and, like, art, because his name is Atticus, but he missed that memo. *squishes him with love*
Eeep, you have Spellbook of the Lost and Found! Let me know how it is. I’m kind of hoping the library buys the audiobook, because I liked the sample I listened to. Also, who has time for reading these days? 😭
Aww, I bet To All the Boys will be a super cute movie!
Heh, I never did watch that Wrinkle in Time trailer. Did you send it to me? 😂
I’m so excited about The Boy Who Builds the Moon and The Boy Who Breaks His Wings. I didn’t realize they were also retellings!
What is java flavor? I really have no idea!
I hope the Spellbook of Lost and Found is as good as her debut because I need some strange magicalness in my life.😭😂
(I think I forgot to send you the Wrinkle in Time trailer after all that?!? But did you like it?? IT LOOKS SO GOOD. I actually want to reread the book now because it must be like a decade since I read it…)
Awwww. *blushes* I’m simultaneously nervous and dying to edit them and see what you think.😂
(Jaffa is orange + chocolate!! It’s DIVINE.)
Haha, you did, and as a result I haven’t watched it yet. xD
Ooh, really? I had no idea! That sounds delicious.
OH MY GOD YOUR DOG IS SOOOOO CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! oh, and, uh, yeah your post was GREAT!!!!!!!!! jaffa flavoured hot chocolate? Ok……….. why not? Thanks for the great post
HE IS A CUTE VILLAIN. THAT’S FOR SURE.
It’s funny because you always apologize for these posts being so long. They are my favorite posts! I don’t know if it’s all the books or all the other things, but I love reading them.
THIS MAKES ME REALLY HAPPY AND RELIEVED. *gives you cake*
Woah. How could you just stick a picture of chocolate in there like that? At least warn me!! Now I must go eat 100 pounds of it, thank you.
SN- I’ve gotten emails about your replies in the past, but if you reply and I don’t get an email, I’m not sure how I would know you replied at all…?
I just like to TORTURE YOU ALL is all. :’)
I always reply! So I’m kind of frustrated with the widget because it doesn’t seem to always email people my replies… 😭😭
I got an email about this one!
ps You are pure evil.
Can I please have the amazing Jane Austen quote about bookshelves and capes printed on my soul? I would be happy forever. Thank you.
And also, these posts never fail to make me laugh!! I absolutely LOVE your recaps! If it makes you feel better, I really haven’t had a very good reading month, either. I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump, and the book I’m currently trying to read (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo [yes I am aware this came out about 80,000 years ago XD ]) is just…not very intriguing to me. It started off slow, and it’s not pulling me in. #lame
But I did end up winning Camp NaNoWrimo, despite all the odds being stacked against me, so that’s a plus, right?? Right???
Also, your stories sound SOOOO GOOOOOOD, and I literally cannot wait until you are a rich and famous author and I can purchase your books and DEVOUR THEM WHOLE.
So please become a rich and famous author soon, thank you.
YES GO AHEAD AND PRINT IT ON YOUR SOUL. YOU’RE WELCOME. 😂😂
Gahhh, I’m sad for both of us having a bleh reading month recently. *sobs* I have read 3 good books so far in August though so THAT is lovely and a relief.😂
CONGRATS ON YOUR NANOOOOOOO WIN THAT IS AMAZING!!! And kind of beating the odds is a really terrific feeling, right?! :’) Cake for us all.
And tbh, “rich and famous author” is on the top of my to-do list.
Wow! Awesome month you got going on here! I’m into Pinocchio, so your new Pinocchio retelling books sounds like a treat to read!
Eeep, I’m glad you like the sound of it! That makes me happy. 😀
Cait!! I LOVE reading your RECAPS! I need to do my monthly recap but I haven’t had time yet. maybe once my sweet baby girl goes back home I will. Your SOCKS are awesome! I like your reviews on your books even though YA isn’t my genre I read, most of them sound interesting. so we’ll see maybe. Your dog is so adorable, I have two, but they aren’t as much trouble as my cat Chewie, he’s always trying to lay across my laptop while I’m trying to write and meowing at me to pay attention to him while I’m writing. so I give him so love get him off my keyboard and go back to writing again. its a vicous cycle but someone has to do it.. 🙂
I enjoy your blog so much!!
~Llissa~
SQUEEE. I’m so pleased you like them. THANK YOU. And haha so much relating on these troublesome pets. My dog was just eating my feet as I was answering comments.😂 Because, like, all the toys I bought him obviously aren’t as EXCITING AS MY SOCKS.😂
My heart is so sad, Cait! Why doesn’t Society6 do stickers?? I desperately want the “Writer at work. Yes, Pinterest is ‘work’. Stop looking at me like that.” design on a little sticker to put on my laptop for when I’m inevitably at the coffee shop (and working on my book boards), so I can just shush people by pointing at the sign and I can continue my very serious work. 😜
I got your “Tears of my readers” travel mug last fall for my own NaNoWriMo “prize”…fitting for my first dragon novel, even if I ended up not winning. I still have the mug though, and I. Love. It. 😄 I’ll probably end up getting the “Writer at work/Pinterest” design on a mug, but I really want it on a sticker too…and you seem to be the only one with that design. Naturally, that means you have good taste. 😊
Liz (long time follower, first time commenter, heh. Also planning a late July Beautiful People post on my blog soon. 👍🏻)
Agh I’m sad too! I should honestly open a Redbubble too because they do stickers, but I’m just too lazy at this point.😂 BUT THANKS SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING MY STORE. <3 Eeeeep!!!
(Thanks so much for following and commenting!!!)
It sounds to me like your month was pretty fabulous, rereads or no! Your prints are FABULOUS, your books sound AMAZING, and WHAT ARE MOVIES I DON’T UNDERSTAND THIS NONSENSE.
(Ah, the things people search on the internet)
It definitely had some fun parts! And the writing is always a huge highlight ajfdksalfd. AND WHO HAS TIME FOR MOVIES.😂
I’m glad to hear it! Hahaha of course!
I DON’T KNOW THEY MUST BE IMMORTAL OR MAGIC OR BOTH.
I am getting emails when you reply to my comments. They brighten my day. (Some of my days involve nothing but sleeping, and working, so please don’t get to excited about that comment… 😉 )
No marvellous writing feats in July. Unless you count the MARVELOUS “how to not piss off the staff DVMs when you are on your Emergency and Critical Care rotation” informational sheet I wrote for our new interns. I didn’t title it that, because they are fresh fresh new and fragile…. but the fact that I fit it all on one page in normal size font was quite the feat 😉
I do own an evil cat. I blame myself, as I named him Stewie. After the evil baby in Family Guy. I was basically asking for it. (I have 3 cats, he is the most evil.. the other two are just… needy.)
My dog was a perfect angel of a dog. He is now an actual angel, as I sent him to doggy heaven last week. :'( He was an Epic Destroyer of Stuffed Toys, but never ever not even once ever touched a single one of my stuffed penguins even when he had easy access to them. Bless him.
AANYYYWAAAY. Sorry for spilling some feels there for a moment. I had an EXCELLENT reading month in July.
My TBR is just… egads. Let’s not.
Omggg YOU MAKE ME SMILE NOW!! *gives you cake* Even though you live a wild life right there. 😉
I think you totally should’ve titled it that, though. You missed an opportunity there.😂
Omg I’m really sorry about your dog.😭😭
I LOVE YOUR BANNED FEET AND CONTROVERSIAL SOCKS. OR WAS IT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. ANYWAY I LOVE THEM
I always love your responses to those search- WAIT CAIT IT WAS YOU WHO STOLE THE MONA LISA
Your new designs are GORGEOUS. I especially love the writer at work one (of course Pinterest is work?? Pfft commoners)
UMMM YOUR TRILOGY SOUNDS AMAZING?? GO EDIT IT AND GET IT PUBLISHED SO WE CAN ALL READ IT (love your parental’s reactions though)
Thanks for sharing that Carve the Mark discussion video! Not only was it really interesting to watch, it also gave me a new Booktuber to subscribe to 😀
I haven’t been getting emails with your replies to my comments 🙁 Thought I was doing something wrong but maybe not then. Hopefully you can sort it out!
WHO KNOWS. LET’S JUST ASSUME I’M BANNED AND CONTROVERSIAL. I shall be moving to the moon directly. :’) And like pinterest is work for us writers. I think we can’t write without it??? It’s probably impossible.
And I know right?! She’s such a well spoken booktuber! Instant subscribe to me and I’m looking forward to listening to her other discussions. 🎉🎉
I think my widget is being stupid. 😭😭
MY HEART CLENCHED WHEN I SAW THAT GoT LINK. BUT WHAT DOES THAT ARTICLE EVEN MEAN???!! What’s Fire and Blood?!!! Is it one of those both-books-are-happening-at-the-same-time so it doesn’t matter which you read first? Like when he separated it by geography and we all got confused??! WHO KNOWS, I DO KNOW I’M CONFUSED. And sceptical. “A boy can dream”, he’s quoted as saying. Aha. Right George, right.
WELL DONE ON YOUR BOOK?!! I hope it went super well! I started a redraft on Monday. Well, I’m still reading it, which is half “this is the worst lot of dragon poo ever penned” and half “O SWEET CHARACTERS THIS IS SO GREAT”. Ahem.
so I just read the livejournal post where he chats about it … what is a “fake history”? Why would we want fake history of the Targaryens? Do I even want to read any history of the Targaryens (no) or would I like to KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO JAIME??! (Yes!)
Like GRRM needs to end the series at Winds of Winter and stop tORTURING us all. *cries* 😭 And yea like why do we want fake history??? What is this.