This has totally NOT been my best week….BUT THERE ARE SILVER LININGS! I’ve read three 5-star books this month (!!) and received incredible book mail (!!) and that balances out the hate-attacks on some of my Goodreads reviews and the slew of sucky 2-star reads I’ve had. Seriously, this month has been three 5-stars and TEN 2/3-stars. Agh.
And I also have to admit defeat in a few areas. I KNOW. WHAT IS THIS?! YOUR GREAT OVERLORD IS ADMITTING DEFEAT. It’ll only ever happen once, so take a picture. I’ve been feeling quite stressed with blogging and I’m going to cut back how much I post. Not too drastically! But you know me! I blog 6 times a week with a slew of discussion and photography posts and it’s intense. I love it 100% but I also need time to read your blogs and I’ve found I’m doing less and less of that. I’m just mildly in love with getting comments and pageviews and having so much fun…but…it’s not fun if it’s stressful, right?!
Plus my writing life has gone through dragon fire this year. Which is depressing. And I can’t give details (I’m so sorry!! I know it’s annoying!!) but I’ve had a ton of setbacks and thought I was okay with it. But I ain’t. All the encouraging advice of “keep going!” and “every great writer faces rejection!” really sound hollow after a while. I don’t plan to dissolve into a miserable hermit hovel, BUT, let’s face it: blogging is writing. Sometimes I need to calm down a little. (There’s a reason I put “furious” in my blog title! I do everything SO FURIOUSLY and INTENSELY. It’s exhausting. Gosh.)
I may post a little less, but I’m not disappearing! I’m on twitter all the time and also on tumblr and instagram with tons of bookish photos. And you can still expect 4 to 5 posts from me a week!
I used to be the person who never bought books ever…but, since freelancing for Boomerang Books in exchange for book vouchers, I get to ACTUALLY BUY STUFF. OH WOW. A WHOLE WORLD HAS OPENED FOR ME. I’m so happy! ‘SCUSE ME WHILE I FLAIL.
- THE TOURNAMENT AT GORLAN: Thank you Random Penguin House! THIS IS THE BOOK I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR. It’s the first in a new John Flanagan series about Halt and Crowley BEFORE they were old. Although I hoped it’d be about them becoming rangers?? But it’s more about Morgarath. ★★★
- THE RED PYRAMID (KANE CHRONICLES #1): My first utter Rick Riordan FAIL. I was so bored. ★★
- THE NEXT TOGETHER: Thanks to Walker Books for the surprise ARC! Although, Romance + time travel = unsure little Cait.
- EVERY WORD (EVERY #2): AHHH I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH. It’s an Australian Sherlock retelling and Mycroft is an adorable little train wreck and Rachel does roller derby. Respect x 10000.
- DANGEROUS LIES: Thank you Simon & Schuster! This’ll be my 4th Becca Fitzpatrick read and I have such an odd relationship with her books. I like them, buuuut…confused feelings. I’m keen for this killer thriller. (Har har, see, it rhymes? I’m an epic rhymer.)
- ZEROES: Thank you Allen & Unwin! A bit generic, but some super cool superpowers in there. ★★★
- A DANCE WITH DRAGONS (A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE #5): That awkward moment when 100-pages is like a BLIMP against the thousands. *dies* I still do love this series so so much.
- THE COPPER GAUNTLET (MAGISTERIUM #2): Thank you Random Penguin House! It’s starting to feel more and more like Harry Potter fanfic though, unfortunately. ★★★
- IN THE SKIN OF A MONSTER: Won this from Allen & Unwin. MUUUUURDER. I’m so down for this.
- THE GAME OF LOVE AND DEATH: Absolutely entirely 5-stars. I LOVED THIS. It’s like The Book Thief meets Code Name Verity and I’m not over pitching it. IT IS JUST THAT GOOD. ★★★★★
- MADE YOU UP: Ahh, another 5-stars, because this is the kind of book EVERYONE needs to read. It gives a really honest and open view of life with schizophrenia, too. ★★★★★
I have two books I’d like to write before 2015 is over and both are fantasies set in DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. YES. One will have African and Russian cultures, and the other book is Japanese (and DRAGONS WOOT) But do you know how horrific my library is on getting in Russian books?!? Absolutely abominable. I may have let loose a liiiiiittle tiny bit in my review of the Russian “Popcorn” book. At least the commenters found me mildly amusing. BUT STILL.
If anyone has any extraordinary recommendations of Russian/Japanese/African culture books — please help. I’d give you virtual cheesecake. Simple books are best though. My brain is a small pineapple.
…click covers to see them on goodreads…
AHH I AM SO EXCITED FOR THESE BOOKS! I finally figured out Edelweiss thanks to Bieke’s tutorial and basically the world has opened before me! Netgalley always rejects me, but look! Approvals! EDELWEISS YOU ARE MY BEST FRIEND NOW. And YES two of them are Sherlock retellings. OMG YAY MURDER!
Literally me. Murder and mysteries and forensics are INTERESTING, okay?
I still have a faint Instagram addiction (not even sorry) and this week I even got a little creative. LOOK. MAGIC HANDS. (Those are my sister’s hands by the way. I do not wear purple, not even ever. The second picture with a hand and a black shirt is so definitely ME. I am the lost Addams family child.)
- Helloooo, Supernatural fans! Here’s an interview about Season 11 and the possibility the Winchesters might wash their car for the first time in 10+ years.
- As always and forever, I think Maggie Stiefvater is FREAKING AWESOME and so eloquent and honest in this article on writing diversity.
- Artemis Fowl is being adapted for the screen! I really should read these sometime, shouldn’t I?
- The first trailer for The 5th Wave is out! I reeeeally need to read this. (Do I?!)
- Alliyah @ Risk To Write asks were are the POC characters in fiction.
- Meg @ Cuddlebuggery redesigned The Raven Cycle covers and OH WOW, I AM IN LOVE.
- Mishma @ Chasing Faerytales shared her first impression of me. AWWW.
- Bieke @ Istyria Book Blog did a tutorial on how to handle Edelweiss. SHE IS MY SAVIOUR. I have since been decided Edelweiss is my one true love and am eating copious eARCs.
- Emily @ Loony Literate has round #2 of Snazzy Snippets up! I’m so actually going to remember to JOIN IN this month.
WOOHOOO FIRST COMMENT (!!!)
Nirvana @ Quenching the Quill recently posted…#bloggersunite
*calms down*
I am a very happy little shrimp as of now. AND YES YOU MUST READ ARTEMIS FOWl. It’s excellent with villlainy and fantasy and fourteen year old genius masterminds planning to thieve and take over the world. Y’know.
Annnnd, I completely get you wanting to take a break. I don’t know how you do it. YOU READ SO MUCH. You blog so much. You manage to post and remain active on social media so much. You definitely deserve this break. *pats*
Nirvana @ Quenching the Quill recently posted…#bloggersunite
AHHHHHH I JUST FEEL SO HONOURED THAT FIRST-COMMENTER PLACE IS LIKE A THING. 😀 *flails like a deranged limpet* YOU ARE SO WONDERFUL. And zomg I’ve been convinced to try the Artemis audios. So once I Finish my current audio…I’m onto this. 😉
And YUS. I kind of need to dial back a bit, right?! I mean, I don’t want to disappear and I love what I do 100000%. I just can’t seem to fit EVERYTHING in and it’s bugging me so much. *sighs* I NEED 928502 MORE HOURS IN MY DAY.
CAIT, DON’T BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF. You can take a break every once and awhile, WE’LL STILL BE HERE! .<
Ooh and yes I LOVE Edelweiss, I have quite a few books from there that I should probably read soon though!
I really want to read The Game of Love and Death – IT LOOKS AMAZING SQUEEE!
*tackles hugs you* OF COURSE. XDXD I just love blogging so much!! And I have so many post ideas and just not enough time to properly answer comments and comment back and just, gah, BE AROUND. *flops facefirst on the floor* I definitely need 429082 more hours in my day.
You’re so hard on yourself, Cait! Stop worrying! Or I am going to send my dragon on your way!
And it’s okay to take a break love! You’re working too hard! So I think the cutting back on posts is actually a good idea even though I’ll miss your marvelous posts!
I really want to read Made You Up! I have a copy, but I am still not in a contemporary mood – for some reason – and my brain is a bit fried to handle sensitive and tough concepts. Maybe I’ll take it up next week – we’ll see!
Also about the civilization thing – I’ll try to get you some books! One thing Sri Lankan bookstores have in abundance is non fiction and textbooks. I have a couple of history books, but I doubt they will help you as they’re mostly about Persia, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome and India. I’ll try to find some books for you when I go to the book fair next week. I’ll keep you updated!:)
NOOOOO. DON’T SEND YOUR DRAGON. Actually, do. Because then I shall keep it and ride it and be incredibly happy. mwahhah. XD
*nods* Yes, it kind of is. And I’ve confused to being stretched before and had people suggest I scale back on the posts. SO YEAH. They were right. XD I can’t keep up. 😛 Although maybe I might in the future? Just right now I need more time to get everything done. I mean look how late I am answering even THIS comment. ASHAMEABLE. (That is totally a word *nods*)
Ah yes but I totally get the Right Mood for Certain Genre thing. ME TOO. I can’t eat a lot of contemporaries before my head explodes. Although same with epic fantasy. Paranormal though? I can eat forever. :’)
I really need that EW tutorial. I successfully got one book from there, read it, and then couldn’t figure out how to share my review. I also had a couple of months where I was logged in, but not properly logged in, so couldn’t request at all. I also find it hard to find copies available to Australian reviewiers. NG publishers are very good to me, though.
If something is stressing you out, then you need to step back a bit. Life’s too short, especially if you’re doing something that’s meant to be for love.
Nicole recently posted…Review and Author Guest Post – Rachael Craw – Stray Blog Tour
Omg, me too!! I just couldn’t find my way around it AT ALL. *growls at Edelweiss* It’s just not a really user friendly site, I don’t think. Not like Netgalley. I just wiiiiish Netgalley liked me better. But it’s basically all rejections. Like I got rejected for The Scorpion Rules there and then got it on EW. SO SCORE. XD
I haven’t read The 5th Wave either but I have heard SO much about it. I keep ignoring the hype and then I feel bad and I really want to read it. I’m sending you virtual cake and chocolate right now (CAN’T YOU SMELL IT??) because I think your writing is spectacular and I’m ALWAYS right. So don’t be too disheartened! But obviously don’t let it stress you. Stress is a no no. But aaah omg a book that is like a cross between The Book Thief and Code Name Verity??? I need it in my life. NOW. Or do I? Because putting those two books together = certain heartbreakingly destructive flailing sadness. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing… 😀
The hype CAN be dangerous, but I want to see the movie soooo baaaad and I feel I need be a good bookworm and read it first, right?! OMG I NEED THIS VIRTUAL CAKE SO MUCH. THANK YOU. YOU HAVE SAVED MY LIFE. *eats all the cake* Awww. :’) This totally makes my day though and I’m a million percent happy you like my writing. YOU ARE SO NICE. AJFDLKASFD!!!!!
Yes. You need the heartbreak. A GAME OF LOVE AND DEATH SO SO GOOD. TRUST ME.
Haha, you’re welcome. XDD Glad I could make you happy & learn the ways of Edelweiss. ^_^ I loved Assassin’s Heart, so I hope you do too!
Bieke @ Istyria book blog recently posted…{Mirror Mirror} More Books & The Discovery of Tweetdeck!
YOU HAVE CREATED A LITTLE EDELWEISS MONSTER. :’) Be proud. I’m soo excited to read Assassin’s heart!! I know it doesn’t come out till next year but is it too early to read it!?? hehe
Well I did, so of course it’s not too early!
Bieke @ Istyria book blog recently posted…{What Tomorrow Brings} The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine
You’re being WAY too harsh on yourself, Cait. The fact that you manage twice as many blog posts and books read as I usually do, on top of writing and social media and everything….that’s too much for anyone to handle all the time. You could definitely use a break. Don’t worry, we’ll rule the world for you 😉
I started The 5th Wave earlier this year and ended up not finishing it. Instalove, ridiculously gory, and aliens…meh. But it was a perfectly fine book. Just not really for me.
Aw, sorry you didn’t love The Red Pyramid. 🙁 I’m glad you enjoyed Made You Up and The Game of Love and Death, though–Iwill have to give both of those a try.
Ellie recently posted…Snazzy Snippets (September)
AWk, thanks, Ellie! XD I really love blogging though and I come up with all this stuff to say WITH JUST NO TIME TO SAY IT. *hyperventilates* There’s just so much stuff to do, right?!? But ppppppppppft. The world can only be ruled by me. *flips hair* You may be on maintenance crew.
Ugh, Instalove, really!??! That bothers me. I think I HAVE to at least try it though because I am a big alien and dystopian fan. Except. Yeah. instalove. 🙁
Exchanging articles for book vouchers? THAT IS THE COOLEST THING EVER! If only my employers would agree to provide my bonuses in this manner haha.
Edelweiss still baffles me, mainly because I cannot get an approval to save my life. WHY DON’T THEY UNDERSTAND MY GREATNESS THOUGH *ahems* Though I am glad you are taking over it for the rest of us little people 😉
Oh goodness, The Game of Love and Death sounds ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTFUL? I MUST HAVE IT NOW. I am curious about Zeroes but I have heard so many mixed thoughts. How are you liking ADWD?
For Japanese culture read, there’s The Peony Lantern recently released by an Oz author I believe? I have not read it but I plan to soon! For Russian inspired you MUST read Deathless by Catherynne Valente MY HEARTTT WHENEVER I THINK OF THAT BOOK. For African I know of nothing and I am all sorts of ashamed. Please let me know if some wiser and more well read soul gives you a rec for African related works!
Aentee @ Read at Midnight recently posted…The Secret Life Of A Book Blogger
I KNOW RIGHT?!?! I THINK EVERY COMPANY SHOULD WORK THAT WAY. hehe I’m finally getting all these books I’ve ALWAYS wanted and, *strokes Stiefvater collection* loooots of hardbacks. :’)
*whispers* I maaaybe have let Edelweiss think I’m American. I MEAN I DIDN’T REALISE AT FIRST. And now I haven’t changed it. o.O So I am evil. But I get books???? And I’m a totally a good reviewer *flips hair* so how can they complain?
AHHHHHHHHH. ADWD IS KILLING ME. Haha. I mean, no one’s dead yet, but it’s killing me because it left Brienne nearly-hung in the last book and I probably won’t get to know what happened to her, right? :'( This book seems to mainly be Davos, Jon, Dany, and Tyrion. WHOM I LOVE. I just. Brienne my babby.
Ohhh, I shall look up BOTH OF THOSE. THANK YOU. Zomg you have saved me. I’m leaning towards inspiring my fantasy world with Egyptian culture now because there are totally not enough African fiction out there. WELL. At least none that my library has. 🙁
Don’t worry about posting less, us minions will govern ourselves adequately while you’re gone. I actually desperately want to join in the e-ARC fervour but I’m also super worried that I won’t read them after I get them and so I hesitate. Your pitch for The Game of Love and Death sounds very very interesting, and I look forward to your review about it! And I am very much looking forward to seeing your snazzy snippets if/when you link up with us — there’s FOOD this time round, so that should entice you.
PS: OOH LOOK YOU HAVE ADWD. It drags a bit from the post-AFOC slow rhythm, but Tyrion and Dany and Jon are all back and it’s just boom boom boom soon. Whether the booms are good or bad … well, you know GRRM.
Alyssa @ The Devil Orders Takeout recently posted…Snazzy Snippets: Food and First Pages
AGh, but what EVIL will you get up to without me micro-managing your lives all the time?! IT IS A WORRY. hehhhhhh. (Just kidding. 😉 Ah but I’m hit or miss with ARCs. Like I hate that you can display them or photograph them. And my reviews have turned into 90% photos so….#awkward But I do like that I can totally disappear into my bed and blankets with my iPod and just read and it’s super comfy. SO I’M TORN. I do like them while reading, but afterwards….I always wish I had the physical book. XD I miiiight not be reviewing Game of Love and Death on the blog though. D: I SHALL TRY. I just only tend to review ARCs instead of the books I bought!
ZOMG ADWD IS SO HUGE THOUGH. I NEARLY BROKE MY HAND. I love Dany and Jon and Tyrion but OMG DANI JUST LOCKED UP HER DRAGONS AND I’M 1000% UPSET. Plus she lost Drogon?!?!? Like. She LOST her dragon?!?!? Whut.
Omg isn’t Made You Up amazing!! One of my top favourites of this year hands down!! And I’m so excited for the Scorpion Rules as well!! I haven’t read The 5th Wave either but that trailer has me wanting to so badly!! It looks so dramatic and angsty and YA dystopia-ie (I mean, duh of course that’s what it is)!
What did you mean hate attacks on goodreads??
AFJDLKSAD YES IT IS. IT’S JUST SUPERBLY INCREDIBLE. *collapses hugging Made You Up* I just finished The Scoprion Rules and IT IS GOOD. A bit confusing??? But good. *nods vigorously*
Aw, I just mean I had this 1-star review up and I keep having some people come back and say horrible things about me. 🙁 It’s really annoying and sad, and I KNOW I’m over-reacting, but it just guts me when people say I’m immature and stupid for not liking a book. I mean, hello?? It’s just my opinion!!
Thats actually horrible!!! What the hell! You’re right liking a book is entirely up to opinion! And that’s so good to hear about Scorpion Rules!!
Amy @ Book Enthral recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Freebie: Ten Series I Want To Start!
You didn’t like the Kane Chronicles!? 🙁 Why? I quite like them. Especially the last. I’m actually rereading the second One right now. I admit sometimes they aren’t as great as Percy Jackson but they are good in a different Way. Also Sadie is not my favorite( too boy crazy) but she can be pretty funny. And I’m totally team Carter!
Agh, it’s so hard to explain!! Like…I think it was because there was SO MUCH INFO and it just felt very…info-dumpy? I didn’t care very much about Carter either, because he was such a passive character. WHICH, I know, Sadie said. And I guess he’ll mature and stuff? But I just felt like he was a bit of a potato, whereas Sadie was more interesting (hehe, at least to me?!) SO YEAH. Awkward. I’m SO glad you love them though! 😀
I totally get why you’re cutting down on posts! I adore blogging, and last year, I literally posted every day. But I just CAN’T do that this year, as much as I really wanted to. I’m trying to balance reading, writing, blogging, and now that I’m in the UK I feel like I have VERY little time to blog. Which sucks. It really does. But I also know that being stressed about it is just going to push me away from blogging, so I just decided to do less.
LISTS. I LOVE LIST POSTS. SERIOUSLY. GIVE ‘EM TO ME. 😉
Kara @ Diary of a Teen Writer recently posted…UK, Day 1: Planes, Museums, and Beautiful Weather
But it’s the UK. I MEAN. WOW. AND YAY. So you should definitely soak that all up while you can. ;))) But yes, the balancing of reading and writing is what kills me, because I CAN’T do both at the same time! D: And I always feel stressed about blogging when I’m not reading because my mindset is just so different. *le sigh* The struggles of a writer-bookworm. 😉
LISTS ARE AWESOME I’M GLAD YOU LIKE THEM BECAUSE I LIVE FOR THEM.
I looooove reading your posts, but I definitely understand needing to cut back. *sends lots of encouraging hugs* Not creepy at all… *cough*
Your pictures are absolutely gorgeous!!! They make me want to go take pictures of my own books… which never turns out well. So I make random book covers instead. *bangs head on keyboard*
proverbs31teen recently posted…Tales From The Writer’s Desk: So Many Stories
NOT CREEPY FOR SURE. *sends back lots of encouraging cake* AFJKDSALD THANK YOU THOUGH I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKE MY PHOTOS. 😀
*accepts encouraging cake* Thank you! I needed that.
proverbs31teen recently posted…Tales From The Writer’s Desk: So Many Stories
I am so incredibly excited to read John Flanagan’s next book! It’s going to be sooooo good. I so wish I could’ve got an early copy. But oh well, I’ll just go to B&N the day it releases. I totally get having to cut back on blog posts – I had too as well this year. I hope your next novels treat you well! Enjoy writing them! I have The Scorpion Rules as well but I haven’t read it yet, which is kind of bad since I have the review scheduled to go up next week… I’m behind on my ARC reading. Oh well though.
Agh, being behind on ARC reading is a problem, right?! >_< I just finished The Scorpion Rules and OMG IT WAS GOOD. Except...I kind of got lost with the weak world-building? Could be just me though. Since I'm used to the intense world-building in Game of Thrones. eheheh
ARC reading can get so stressful! Luckily, I’m all caught up which makes me sooooo happy. I had a hard time with the world building for The Scorpion Rules. It was all of bit confusing.
Stephanie B recently posted…Review: Queen of Shadows | Only Justice Remains
*hangs head in shame because often I find two posts a week a little bit overwhelming* *hides in corner* But no, I totally understand, as much as I can without being you, how stressed you must be. I mean, six posts a week would fry my poor brain cells, and I’m still not sure how (even with the clones) you manage to do all the bookishness and answering comments and reading blogs and writing posts. With my new job, I’m doing well if I have five minutes to read each day, squeezed in between furious bouts of novel and blog writing.
As for your posts, I think my three favorite types would be lists, reviews, and discussions. But ask me again when I’m in a different mood, and that might change.
Also, I’m proud of myself. I bought my first John Green novel (An Abundance of Katherines) and hopefully I’ll be able to get to it soon. But it’s been a slow month for reading. *sobs*
Liz Brooks recently posted…I am Seven
*drags you out of the corner* BUT COME NOW. I HAVE NO LIFE BUT BLOGGING. hehe I kind of find the more you blog, the more stuff you think you? It’s weird! But it works for me! So it’s not usually content I’m running out of, but time to actually make the content make SENSE and take photos and edit them (I confess I spend waaaay longer than necessary taking photos ‘CAUSE IT’S FUN) but yes, I don’t even have time to answer comments anymore. Like look how late I am answering this! :O IT’S AWFUL. And I’ve like blogged only once this week. HAHA. FAIL, CAIT, FAIL. But *ahem* I’ve had the flu so we’ll blame that too. *nods*
I shall just write ALL THE THINGS and cover all bases, right?!?!
ZOMG I HOPE YOU LIKE AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES! 😀 It’s actually my least favourite Jon Green (SORRY! DON’T LET ME SPOIL THIS FOR YOU!!) but I still gave it 4-stars. xD
Sometimes we all need a little breather from the wonderful but intense place the blogging world is. 😉 I personally love your reviews, tags, and list posts the most, but, as a minion, I’ll slurp up anything you churn out! And I use NetGalley; haven’t tried Edelweiss. I get approved for enough stuff on NG but I haven’t been requesting stuff most of the summer months because I’ve woefully behind on all my tbr piles. How’s Edelweiss working out for you?
Mallory @ The Leaning Tower of Tomes recently posted…Review — Who Could That Be at This Hour? by Lemony Snicket
It IS wonderful but intense. That’s such an excellent way of putting it. 😉 Awww, thank you! <3 I'm so glad you like my reviews too, btw, because I always wonder if I spend too much time gifing and photographing instead of actually saying anything useful. hehe
Edelweiss is...good?! MOSTLY!??! I've requested 5 books so far and only been denied 1! SO THAT'S 10000 X BETTER TAHN NETGALLEY. XD I literally never get approved in Netgalley. Unless it's Australia Bloomsbury because at least they love me. Grrr. So yes. Edelweiss is working for me better, but the Netgalley site is 1000% more user friendly.
CAIT I FEEL YOUR PAIN. although not right now, right now my issue is I DON’T BLOG ENOUGH but i don’t have the time because of college :(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((
I don’t know how you manage a blog post per day plus life at the same time, SO DON’T FEEL BAD ABOUT CUTTING BLOGGING DOWN, because a. 4-5x a week is still a lot and b. you need to breathe at SOME POINT right?
RUSSIAN BOOKS ARE JUST NEVER ANYWHERE WHY. My first ever attempt at a novel was a re-telling of Snow White in a fantasy world based on Russia, but yeah. it was. not. good. AND RIGHT NOW I’M STUDYING RUSSIAN HISTORY! So hey, maybe one day…that Russian novel might come alive inside my head and translate into a novel….I don’t think I’ve ever read a book based in Russia though…..:O
Hawwa [HAWWA, ETC] recently posted…BOOK PALETTE: UNDER A PAINTED SKY
WHICH IS UBER SAD BECAUSE YOUR POSTS ARE LIKE THE BEST OF EVER, HAWWA, AND I MISS IT WHEN YOU DON’T BLOG. JUST SAYIN’. Yes breathing is nice, right?! On the odd occasion. HAHA. *ahem* Hopefully I won’t feel so flat out if I cut back a bit and have more time for just interneting. omg, it’s been MONTHS since I had time to even browse pinterest. o.O
Zomg, I AGREE. Where are the Russian books?!?! The only recent Russian-influenced books I’ve read are the Grisha trilogy. And that’s IT. It’s a dying shame, tbh. Russia is awesome. AHHHH BUT YOU ARE STUDYING RUSSIA!! YAY!! I HOPE YOUR RUSSIAN NOVEL DOES COME TO LIFE SOMEDAY BECAUSE THE WORLD TOTALLY NEEDS IT.
Aww I’m sorry things have been overwhelming! I know it’s hard, because we love blogging so much but when it’s not fun and stressful our brains just freak out.
I hope you get the rest/catch up that you need!
OMG THANK YOU, ABI! THIS IS SO NICE AND ENCOURAGING. *tackle hugs you*
🙂 *hugs*
Don’t feel bad in the slightest about cutting back on blogging if you need to. You blog SO MUCH. I’ll never understand where this idea came from, that a blogger has to post almost every day to be a “real” or successful blogger. It’s not true.
I’m glad you liked The Game of Love & Death. This book has been in constant rotation on my recs shelf at the library since it came out.
looloolooweez recently posted…Book Review | Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson
Oh, I totally agree! It’s not true! BUt I’m the one who decided to blog everyday…because I enjoy it. XD But yes, it just becomes a bit of a strain when I don’t have enough time for all the things…aaaand I don’t want to not have enough time to read because I’m spending it all blogging.
*hugs* I’m sorry that you need it, but I’m so glad you’re letting yourself take a break. It would be horrible to let blogging become something you dread. That is exactly why I don’t blog, and I’m quite happy talking about and pushing books without a blog. NOT that I’m suggesting you give up blogging, because I’m pretty sure the whole community would fall apart without Queen Cait to set the bar. Posting 4 times a week is COMPLETELY reasonable, so don’t let anyone make you feel bad about this decision (especially yourself).
Personally, I love lists and discussions the most. And also looking at your pretty arrows.
I haven’t bought any books, obviously, but I did get a couple great ones from the library: 14 by Peter Clines (highly recommend) and I Remember You by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir (halfway done but loving it). I’m also reading QoS, which I’m less than enthusiastic about. I’m looking forward to discussing it with you, though!
YES. I don’t ever want blogging to become a dread-thing! Although, tbh, I’m the only one putting expectations on myself. I do totally know that…I’m just such an overachiever and always aim high, and I just want to make sure I don’t put up half-baked posts, you know? AND YES THE WORLD WOULD DIE WITHOUT ME. heeh I couldn’t give up blogging! I’d go crazy. It’s my #1 favourite thing to do, basically.
I like looking at my arrows too. I like refreshing my main page and watching the arrow shoot. :’) So I’m probably responsible for 99% of my pageviews. *sigh*
How are you surviving Qos?! DOING OKAY? DO YOU NEED MOTIVATIONAL CHOCOLATE?
I finished! I definitely deserve a big piece of chocolate cake for making it through. I’ll DM you so we can talk with spoilers. 😀
I totally understand your reasons for wanting to take a break. I don’t even blog half as much of you (heck, I probably don’t even blog a TENTH as much as you). and it’s still extremely difficult for me to keep up with it all. And tiring, too. Honestly, 4-5 posts a week is still amazing dedication, so don’t beat yourself up about it. Take the rest you need. As for what I do when I’m stressed over blogging, well, I put it out of my mind and neglect my blog. Maybe that isn’t helpful but I’ve been learning this year that shifting around my priorities is a healthy thing to do and blogging isn’t actually a top priority; it’s just a fun thing I do. So I guess my advice is stick with the priorities that your heart sets. I’m so sorry you’ve been having a tough year with writing, but I hope things get better for you! I really love reading your incredibly witty writing!
Ana @ Butterflies of the Imagination recently posted…Curious Wren Blog Launch Party Tag
Awww, YOU ARE SO NICE! 😀 I think I’m the only one putting pressure on myself here. I really really LOVE it but I feel like I’m not dedicating enough time to all my posts?! And I don’t want to put up half-baked posts, you know? So yes. Hopefully cutting back will be about quality not quantity (even though I absolutely LOVE putting up posts everyday) and I do need a little time for other things…like getting back into my cello and zentangling. x)
Oh you should definitely read The 5th Wave! Love the prose, the characters, the plot, the twists and turns and all! I’m dying to see the movie!
A while ago I decided to blog for myself my way and stop trying to follow the crowd. Like this I’ve found the right crowd. 🙂
AHHH I’M GLAD YOU LIKED IT! 😀 I hear such mixed things which is why I’m worried. Buuuut, I’ll never know till I try, right?!?
Blogging for oneself is the BEST advice out there in the entire world. *nods* I do blog for myself, but I tend to be an overachiever at the same time and don’t know when to cut back. SO HOPEFULLY I’ll calm down and just post quality not quantity, right?!
I use Netgalley, but I don’t really know how to use Edeilweiss (however you spell it) so I might have to check out that tutorial. Then again, I have enough review books. haha I really want to read A Study in Charlotte and Lock & Mori, so I hope you enjoy them. Fun instagram posts – love the magic hands!!!
As for blogging less, it’s ultimately up to you! You don’t want blogging to be too stressful or annoying so whatever works best. 🙂
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Edelweiss is SO CONFUSING compared to Netgalley. I think Netgalley is 1000% more user friendly, whereas if you survive to actually request an Edelweiss book I think we deserve rewards. hehe.
Yeah it is! How do you manage to get around it without dying? I was on their page for a bit but kept getting lost so finally I just quit. I love NetGalley.
I’ve used Netgalley, but Edelweiss has always confused the heck out of me! I just had no clue how to use it. Maybe I’ll give it a try after reading that handy tutorial you linked…
I enjoy reading your discussion posts the most. And Top Ten Tuesdays. Don’t feel like you have to do a ton of either, though. You don’t want to burn out! If you’re feeling overwhelmed, just cut back a little. We won’t come after you with pitchforks if you don’t post every day!
IT IS SO CONFUSING. I really wish it was more user friendly. Every time I would go on it I just panicked because it was so WEIRD and left in a rush. xD Buuut I’m finally conquering my fears. hehe.
And YES I definitely don’t want to burn out. Although I do love it all so so much. It’s more that I don’t have time for everything and so I feel like I’m not doing a very focused job on anything. If that makes sense? Quality not quantity is the aim here. *nods*
I’m so excited that you are writing a Japanese themed book (and with dragons!!) this is incredible news! Any book featuring anything to do with Japan I read! SO here is an amazing list for you – I have literally read all of these here and have rated all of them 4 stars and above on Goodreads, here it goes…. Shogun by James Clavell (my favourite book of all time), The Otori Series by Lian Hearn, The last Concubine by Lesley Downer, Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden, Blossoms and Shadows by Lian Hearn, This is All by Aidan Chambers, The Courtesan and the Samurai by Lesley Downer. And now I can breathe! Please at least search a few of these on goodreads because seriously they are all incredible and full of Japanese history – check out my goodreads read list if you want https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/19173357 (you already have me added). And enjoy your blogging break 🙂
Angelica x
http://cosybookcorner.blogspot.co.uk
Angelica recently posted…New Home Accessories
I’M SO SO EXCITED ABOUT MY JAPANESE DRAGON BOOK, TO BE HONEST. I’m going to have ice dragons instead of firey ones and shapeshifters and afjdklafsd I JUST CAN’T WAIT TO WRITE IT. And omg thank you for all these recs and this list. I’m looking them ALL up!! SO EXCITED. YOU ARE SO HELPFUL!!
I take impromptu break often. and then post again as if nothing happened. I totally understand. I get overwhelmed and I don’t have nearly as many followers as you. If you need a break just take it. My favorite posts of yours are all of them but especially discussions, tags and lists as you always find a way to put a fun twist in them.
You’ve gotten some great books. OMG A Dance with Dragons looks so huge and I’m barely juggling A Clash of Kings at the moment. Martin’s books are the definition of intimidation.
I’ve read a ton of books by Russian authors but I don’t think either one is a book you’re looking for as I read historical fiction and somehow I can’t imagine you writing historical fiction hehe. I haven’t a clue about Africa and I’ve only just started dipping my toes in Japanese lit so I’m sorry but I can’t help you on that front either. I use NetGalley and I rarely get rejections but I dont request that many books. How dare they reject you?
It is easy to get overwhelmed right?!?! So much to do. Not enough time. *collapses in a heap* Awk, thank you though. <3 I REALLY love writing the discussions so I'm glad you like reading them! 😀
YESSSS. A Dance with Dragons nearly broke my HAND, too, btw. hehe I thought A Feast For Crows was ginormous, but nope. It's got nothing on this thousand page beast.
I'm not writing historical fiction, but it's fantasy, so I do kind of want that sort of influence! So if you DO have any Russian historical-fiction excellent recs, I'm open to them! 😀 (Provided they're in English of course. XD)
I get tired with blogging too, especially because since I started taking it more seriously, I becamore more stressed and waht with my classes and ahhhh!!! So I don’t judge you – we all need some rest. What do I do? I try to forget I ever created a blog. It can be difficult, but that’s the only way I can calm down. Hmm, I love discussions! I think in tags and discussions in where you get to know better the blogger. However, in reviews we get to know more your tastes and hey, potential book recs! (or to-avoid books, depending on the case) I read The 5th Wave, and it is…good, but I thought it was meh and sometimes annoying (*cough* instalove *cough*).. As you can guess, I prefer The Monstrumologist a MILLION TIMES over T5W. I don’t use neither Edelweiss nor Netgalley precisely because I have no time to read. If I request ARCs, I would feel more obligated to read and more stress and then blogging slump aaaand no thank you. I might try them at a later point of my life. Unfortunately, I haven’t gotten new books, but my birthday is in a week, so I’m obviously going to get some!
Vane J. recently posted…Review: Under The Dusty Moon
Blogging is SUCH a huge part of my life I’ll probably never be able to manage forgetting about it for a while. BUUUUUUT. I just need to stop stressing that it’ll collapse without me updating it constantly. IT WILL SURVIVE. hehe So will I. 😉 Ohhh, I’m glad you like tags and discussions because they’re probably my favourite to write too. 😉 Although, tbh, I do enjoy everything I blog about. BUT YEAH.
Ugh, instalove? Insta-turn-off for me. *sigh* BUT. Still. Aliens and movies and stuff…I at least need to try this. XD
I UNDERSTAND THAT WITH THE ARCS. I used to find them immensely pressure-filled, but I’ve kind of relaxed about it now. Even if I don’t review them on my blog, I just link to my goodreads reviews. I hope that’s allowed, hehe, no one’s ever gotten cranky at me before for it? So I think I’m okay!? WHO WOULD KNOW.
OHHH HAPPY NEARLY BIRTHDAY! 😀
I do think some people forget how much they do blog and how much they need to take more time for themselves you know? I blog 3-4 times a week and some weeks that feels like too little, but some weeks, it feels like too much, so I know it’s a good balance you know? I SHOULD BE RETURNING TO INSTAGRAM AND I CAN’T WAIT OMG IT’S BEEN TOO LONG. Hopefully I think anyway, not sure, but oh well. So many great books too, and I really hope you don’t give up on your writing, I loved being a BETA reader for you, and I think you can achieve loads, I think you just need to focus on it, you know? If it works better for you to do less blogging and less reading to do that, then do it, you know? 🙂
Amanda @ Nellie and Co. recently posted…7 Reasons I Get Put Off Your Blog (+ First Impressions!)
AH, yes, I DO GET THAT. I mean, I blog FOR myself. It’s my downtime. It’s what I love a million percent. But I just can’t keep up! And I’ve been dog sick for aaages with this stupid cough that won’t go away. Gah. -_- And I don’t even have time to plot my next writing project because I’m so busy writing posts and replying to comments and YEAH. I gotta chill for a bit and try and multitask ALL the things, instead of just the blog.
AHHH YAY FOR INSTAGRAM!! I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOUR PICS AGAIN. <3
I totally don't think I'll ever give up on writing completely but OMG IT'S A HARD THING TO DO, RIGHT!?? Like I thought the writing was hard, but it's not. It's the waiting and rejections that are hard. BLEH. But fingers crossed Tremolo does well in the world, right?!?!
Aw, don’t be so hard on yourself, Cait! You read and blog sooo much and you definitely deserve a break.
Personally, my favorite posts to read are lists, discussions, and tags. I love getting to know the blogger more and hearing about all their bookish thoughts and ideas.
You HAVE to read The 5th Wave. It’s one of my all-time favorite books! There’s romance, an alien apocalypse, an amazing writing style, and a diverse set of characters! Oh, and there’s Evan Walker. Seriously, WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED IN A BOOK?!!
Don’t worry I’m 90000% convinced on the 5th Wave book now. XD I TRUST YOU GUYS.
And afdjklad really!?!? omg, thank you!!! <3 You've just made a sad day absolutely epic. THANK YOU. And I have to admit, lists are my favourite things to write of ever. XD
I liked the 5th Wave but near the end I felt like it was dragging on quite a bit :/ and I dunno how I fell about the trailer either xD I think I’m too picky! Ah but I hope things get better for you ^^ truly I do!
Angelina @otakutwins reviews recently posted…I Crawl Through It (mini) Review! (I Crawled my way through this one *sweats*)
I’m always in awe that you manage to post so many things – and your post are always so creative and well-written 🙂 You are definitely an inspiration when it comes to that Cait, but it’s good you decide to take a step back 🙂 I really liked your Instagram photos!
Mel@thedailyprophecy recently posted…Review 238. Maggie Stiefvater – Blue Lily, Lily Blue.
AWw, thank you Mel. THAT MEANS SO MUCH! I’m so going through a down time right now so adfjkaslfd thank you. <3
So you freaked me out when you said you were going to cut down your blogging schedule. I thought it would be like just a few times a month. And then you say three times a week? psh. That’s totally cool.
(And I like lists and will always like lists. Especially your marvelously gif-ful lists.)
OH OH I WILL HELP YOU WITH YOUR RUSSIA PROBLEM:
So, even though Ukraine is not Russia (which I think sometimes Russia doesn’t realize), I’m guessing you are interested in the more cultural side of things, and Russia and Ukraine definitely have some cultural overlap, so I can help with probably lots of the questions you have. Usually, when people say Russian-culture-novel, they mean Slavic culture overall? And Slavic culture is a thing I know a lot about first-hand.
SO: what would you like to know? Dances? Food? Weird holiday traditions? Cossacks? Ghost stories? Slavic-village-of-only-200-people dynamics? I will tell you all. 🙂
(I also thought your popcorn review was hilarious and I am sad that your library doesn’t have more books.)
As far as Africa, I don’t know much, but I found this thing on tumblr and thought was cool? Maybe you’ve seen it before but anyway: http://scriptitation5.tumblr.com/post/127978484261/the-fury-of-a-spooky-lord-ferrific
And I’ve actually been to Japan when I was seven, so I kinda know a bit about it, but I think I’ll just stick to giving out Slavic-culture-advice in case I horrifically butcher a culture I know 3% about.
Sophia recently posted…Do You Judge Books By Their Covers? (spoiler: i do)
OH and by the way, I am glad to see that you support Maggie Stiefvater in the drama of last week, cuz I do too, and was kinda amazed to see all the backlash. :-/
I didn’t even KNOW everything that was going down with Maggie Stiefvater until a friend caught me up on it all. But omg, I’m just wowed. I don’t even see the problem??!? She is an exceptional author and I feel like some of the diversity rants have now matured into “more equal than thou”. Which isn’t write. 🙁
HAHA YES. NOT THAT DRASTIC. Omg, I can’t imagine blogging only a few times a month. Seriously I LIVE for blogging. I would blog every single day if I could keep up with the comments and photos and…um…ideas. XD haha. I do dry up sometimes.
OMG YES. OMG. YESSSSS. RUSSIA!!!! And tbh, I’m not even going to cry if it’s a Ukraine inspired fantasy because hello: still awesome. I don’t like have SPECIFIC questions though. Because I don’t know what I want? If that makes sense?? I just want to know STUFF so I can stick it in and have it feel a bit Russian (although it is fantasy so I’ll make stuff up too). Do you have any book recs?? Ukraine or Slavic or Russian or ANYTHING? I will probably just feed you cake forever.
So I can’t really recommend BOOKS because all the ones I know are in Ukrainian. HOWEVER. I do have one pamphlet thing from 2002 that is in English and actually really good – it’s for kids, but seems better than your popcorn thing. Here is the link to the amazon page of it: http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?index=books&linkCode=qs&keywords=9780812676242
Also, things to look up:
– Cossacks (I once saw this book that was really good on Cossacks, and I THINK it was “Cossacks: An Illustrated History,” by John Ure. (Hey! Another book rec!) So check that out. But I’ll get back to you on that one.)
– Virsky ukrainian dance troupe (high end Ukie dance – I think they do Russian dance too, but in Ukrainian dance, the girls do more exciting stuff.)
– Pysanky (ukrainian easter eggs – there’s a detailed method of doing them, and my Dad is an expert!)
– Vyshyvanky (Ukrainian embroidery.)
– Taras Shevchenko (he’s known as the Bard of Ukraine, or the Shakespeare of Ukraine – his life story’s pretty interesting too, he was born a serf – look into it.)
I’m also thinking about starting some kind of blog/tumblr wherein I transcribe my grandmother’s stories, so if that actually happens, the beginning bits will be of use to you because of village dynamics etc.
Oh also I dunno if there’s a Ukrainian Orthodox / Greek Catholic church by you (I know there are some in Australia, but then again, Australia’s big haha), but if you go to one of the services you’ll get a good idea of the general cultural vibe. (Just beware, they’re long. Like, 2 hours long sometimes. So don’t feel obligated to stay the whole time.)
So that’s all I’ve got for now but if you have any other questions let me know. Or if I think of anything else to add I’ll message you 🙂
Sophia recently posted…Do You Judge Books By Their Covers? (spoiler: i do)
Oh also, fantastical creatures that Slavic folk like:
-Baba Yaga (old crone that lives on a house on chicken feet)
– Mermaids (luring unsuspecting males to their watery deaths – fun life)
– Vodnik (water spirit dude – kind of the dad-figure of mermaids)
– Talking animals (SO MANY)
Sophia recently posted…Do You Judge Books By Their Covers? (spoiler: i do)
OMG, SOPHIA. I DUB YOU MY LIFE SAVER. YOU ARE INCREDIBLE. I WILL JUST HUG YOU NOW AND FEED YOU PINEAPPLE CAKE AND BE EVER SO GRATEFUL. *looks up all the things* I’m a little limited to what I can ask my library to inter-library-loan or whatnot ‘cos I don’t buy a lot of books. BUT. They might be able to get me some books in from other libraries! 😀 And I’ll just google articles on all these things and see what deliciousness I turn up. *nods*
Zomg. If you do that tumblr I WILL BE 10000% STALKING YOUR EVERY POST.
I’ve never been to a Greek Catholic. I went to just a Roman Catholic Midnight Christmas Eve service once and omg nearly fell asleep. GRANTED IT WAS MIDNIGHT. heh. And I am not a nightowl. But yes, very long. Lots of Latin. o.O But that is also not a bad idea.
And yes yes, any messages on anything is a million percent appreciated!!
HOW DID YOU GET BOTH LOCK & MORI AND A STUDY IN CHARLOTTE? I might have to join Edelweiss just for that.
And you should read The 5th Wave. Especially if you’re going to see the movie. It’s practically bookworm law.
Aine recently posted…Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway || Oh, the cuteness
I DON’T KNOW. EDELWEISS LOVES ME??? Although I’m prematurely happy apparently because I CANNOT download Lock and Mori. Gah. All the other books appeared in my kindle just fine, but that one? NOPE. We’re gonna argue.
YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY READ THE 5TH WAVE! I am not a huge sci-fi/aliens fan, but somehow the book was AWESOME! Please do not judge the book by the movie trailers (Hollywood never gets anything right). I can tell you with complete honestly that the book is going to be 1000000x better than the movie.
I really love all of your posts, but if I absolutely had to choose, I would pick your discussions and reviews as my favorites (picking two is definitely not cheating). But, I would be happy to read whatever you post, however often you decide to post! I do not mind waiting a day or two for another amazing post so you can keep your sanity.
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Okay GOOD. Because I hear such mixed things about it but I totally love aliens and action and stuff, so I should be right?!?! I think the trailer looks good though. 😀
AHHHH THANK YOU TESSA! <3 (It also makes me exceedingly glad you like my reviews because I tend to wonder if they're my boring posts, haha.)
Oh my gosh, the sheer size of DWD is just staggering. Like, my eyeballs are convinced that pic is Photoshopped, because my brain literally does not want to believe it’s so big. Ouch.
I love NetGalley, except when they reject me of course, lol.
P.S. Please don’t ever leave TTT! I love your lists!
Martha @ I’d Rather Be Reading recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: fully published series I have yet to finish
IT’S LIKE NEARLY A CUBE. I’m sure Winds of Winter WILL be a cube. If it even really exists. I bet he hasn’t started. *sighs*
TTT is like my favourite thing of ever so WE ARE SAFE THERE. XD I think it’s the only linkup I still participate in?!?!? CRAZY.
Next week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is a freebie, and I am planning on doing another “This Topic 101” list, because those were so much fun. AND…my list is going to be on Russian/Soviet books, both fiction and nonfiction. It will lean more towards 20th century stuff, but there might be items of interest for you on it anyway!
Everthing you write is a hoot and/or thought provoking (more AND than OR), so I cannot tell you what type of posts I prefer.
Wendy recently posted…Review: Sunny Side Up
OMG OMG. SO I SHOULD JUST STALK YOUR BLOG THEN, RIGHT??! I’m kiiiind of aiming for 15th century to 17th century, but tbh I’ll take what I can get. I can’t even afford to be fussy. XD
aWwww. THANK YOU. <3 That is SO encouraging and just, afjdklasfd thank you. xD
I enjoy all of your posts, so whichever posts are the most fun for you to write are the ones I want to keep reading.
I liked The Red Pyramid well enough, but I was not feeling Throne of Fire. I probably won’t finish the series, which sucks because I love Riordan.
Eeep. That is SO nice to hear, THANK YOU, AKILAH! #daymade Agh, yes, but it does suck about the Kane Chronicles. I stil am struggling to really know WHY I wasn’t interested?? Like Sadie was super sassy. Carter was boring. BUT STILL. It was Egypt and Riordan SO WHAT WENT WRONG? GAH.
I know I found Red Pyramid a little draggy in the middle because there was just SO MUCH going on that it felt kind of relentless. Maybe there was just too much detail?
With Throne of Fire, I didn’t think there was enough development. Like, why does Carter care so much about this chick he just met? I like Carter and Sadie, but everything else was pretty meh for me.
Akilah recently posted…August 2015 in Review
OHHH YEAH. that’s true. And so much myths and lore and stuff it was all so wooooah intense. Maybe it was too focused on plot instead of character development?
I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN, CAIT, IT’S HAPPENING TO ME TOO. BECAUSE I THOUGHT I WAS OKAY WITH GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL BUT IT TURNS OUT THAT I DON’T LIKE CHANGE. AT ALL. *cries* But hey, even one post a week from you is enough for me – I’d just live off your book photos for that week 😉
Emily @ Loony Literate recently posted…It’s a Loony Life (26) – School Is Almost Over
I AM SO WITH YOU ON THIS. LET’S JUST CRY TOGETHER FOR NOW AND NOT LIKE ALL THE THINGS. *wails* I’ve also had this horrible cough this week and then suddenly I was crying about my book. I mean, what??? Brain, body, stahp, and get your act together.
Hmmm what do I do when blogging gets overwhelming? I cry, I think. and then wander around aimlessly like a zombie, but a zombie in tears. That’s a pretty solid plan, no?
Seriously though, I keep telling myself I am going to do the same- only 4-5 posts max- and then… I don’t. Because I have some similar issues of sheer panic when pageviews and/or comments decrease, and then I am back to crying, and it’s just a terrible cycle. If you can find the balance, let me know how. Please and thank you.
YAY for Edelweiss! EW is actually the first thing I used to request a book! I need to read The Game of Love and Death. That isn’t related to Edelweiss, it’s just a thing to note. And I am SO glad you loved Made You Up! I just recommended it to my mom, because she’s a little grumpy with me over Challenger Deep.
As for The 5th Wave… eh? It was okay. I will read the second one… someday? Now with Russia (and Africa, too!), you should probably just go there.. For research. Or a vacation, it’s your call 😉 I have been to Russia. I have also been to Africa, but only the northern part (Morocco, specifically), and I will tell you that both were quite unique experiences. We had a lot of time to talk to our Russian tour guide, so I mean, if there’s anything Anna from St. Petersburg could tell you… let me know 😉 As for Morocco, it was kind of a mess. Long story involving a really shady touring company, but I do want to go back and maybe actually see stuff!
Shannon @ It Starts At Midnight recently posted…Among the Shadows Excerpt & Giveaway
I like your plan. May I borrow it? I’ll call it the Overwhelmed Blogger Zombie Shannon Life Plan and then promote it AND YOU’LL BE FAMOUS. *ahem* It is a sad cycle though. Like I’m so addicted to waking up in the morning to a ton of comments and tweets and things. It makes me feel good, you know!??! And then I rapidly feel AWFUL because it takes me a week to successfully respond to everyone and visit blogs. o.O Crying is probs the only way at the moment.
AHHHH I LOVED MADE YOU UP YOU HAVE A+ RECOMMENDING SKILLS OBVIOUSLY. XD It’s totally different from Challenger Deep though, right?! I’ve read 3 schizophrenia books this year and all were like completely different versions of it and IT’S SO INTERESTING TO GET ALL THE PERSPECTIVES.
Omg, yes. I will just go to Russia. RESEARCH. Omg you have been to all the places then. o.O I’ve been to China. So I should probably set a book in China??? BUT IDEK I JUST WANT TO RUSSIA BECAUSE THEY’RE AWESOME. And also no one writes Russian fantasy besides Leigh Bardugo, so I gotta give her some competition. HAR HAR HAR …. probably never. But I can dream, right!?!
I’m so sorry about your writing, Cait! I’ll miss your every single day blogposts, but I totally understand why you are taking a break. I love all your posts, but I’m going to read your goodreads reviews anyway… the Fifth Wave is creepy but very interesting from a moral point of view. There are a million confusing perspectives though,. I just finished Emmy and Oliver, am most of the way through The Dream Thieves and Queen of Shadows. I’m loving the dream thieves, and I need to see QoS to the end. I would like to use net galley/edelwiess but it takes time. And I have lots to read anyway
Shanti recently posted…I don’t like the Deathly Hallows symbol
And I SO appreciate all your comments, too, btw, Shanti!! I don’t think I’ve mentioned before? BUT YOU ARE INCREDIBLE AND I LOVE YOUR SUPPOT JUST AFJDASLFD THANK YOU. And there will still be, like, a million goodread reviews every week. xD Because I’m addicted to reading. How are you going with QoS?!?! Liking it so far? And YES. I know. Gah. My bookshelves are brimming with books to read, and yet ebooks….*follows their lure like a zombie*
You have some faaaascinating books in this haul, but mostly I am mesmerised by the Sherlock gif…
Nikki recently posted…Review – The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making
It is awfully mesmerising isn’t it.
If blogging is stressing you out, you should take a step back. I know it’s hard, but we all do it, and everyone will still be reading your (always entertaining) posts! You need to take care of you first 🙂
Edelweiss is like a maze compared to NetGalley :/ I’ve used both but try not to, too often. I have enough books to read as it is!
And yeees read Artemis Fowl! I love those books (although I think I’m two behind now, but still…it’s so fun!) My favourite character is Foaly the centaur who wears a tin hat. It’s the best <3
Wattle recently posted…Showcase Sunday #33
AWw, thanks Wattle! 😀 THIS IS SUPER NICE AND ENCOURAGING.
omg, but YES. Edelweiss is crazy. I still stumble to find my way around there. I wish they’d update and have a more user-friendly website like Netgalley. 🙁
*wince* Yeah, I’m feeling like I’ll need to cut back on blogging soon, too, but I’m glad that you’re making good decisions for yourself in your own life! Still, I hope that we’ll keep seeing a lot of discussions along with your regular reviews!
Heather recently posted…Thursentary: Commentary
YES. I don’t want to drop the discussions EVER because they’re so much fun and I love the way everyone replies with thoughtful long comments and we get so many points of view and it’s just UBER INTERESTING AND I LOVE IT. *nods*
This week’s Entertainment Weekly was so amazing! It was a bound copy and all about TV!! The sexy picture of the Winchester boys made me drool and then there was a two page spread of the Doctor and Clara. *dies*
Sometimes I wish I would post more often, but in the end I decide no to. I like the variety I have on my site right now (about every other day) and I like having off days. 🙂 Good luck with your new blogging goal to post less.
Terri M., the Director recently posted…Scenic Sundays 49: The Healing Power of Kitty Cuddles
Eep, thank you! ^-^ hopefully I can stick to this goal?! I’m such an overachiever it’s a problem sometimes. -_- AHHHH I’M SO EXCITED FOR SUPERNATURAL SEASON 11 OMG I CANNOT EVEN CONTAIN IT!!!
The 5th Wave is so good!!! I am so super excited for the movie. The conclusion to the series doesn’t come out until next year and I am dying. Oh, and I really need that Edelweiss tutorial. I get approved for NetGalley a lot, but Edelweiss is another story. Sigh.
Cynthia @ Bingeing On Books recently posted…BOOK REVIEW: Tonight The Streets Are Ours by Leila Sales
OH GOOD. Because I hear such mixed things about The 5th Wave but I need to just get it out and read it ASAP!!!
LOL I love how you think posting 4-5 times a week is holding back. 😉 But seriously Cait, if you’re feeling stressed out, take a break. Blogging is supposed to be fun and if you feel pressured to do x amount of posts / read x amount of books / etc, etc it’s going to take the fun out of everything. Do whatever you want, post however much you want, read however much you want – it’s your blog after all. And remember that no matter what, I know that I’ll always be here to read your posts, and I know tons of other people will as well. 💕
And OMG I just finished The Game of Love & Death. So, so good. (C’mon, get the shocked look off your face. 😉 ) The concept was really creative and the writing was amazing. (Also, I think I might ship Love & Death more than Flora & Henry TBH. But shh…I can’t let anyone know.)
And *cries* I’m the opposite – I always get accepted on Netgalley and declined on Edelweiss. 😭 Curious to see what you think of the books you’ve gotten though – especially since they’re Sherlock retellings.
Thanks for sharing this post Cait and, as always, fabulous post! ♥
Zoe @ Stories on Stage recently posted…Am I Not Merciful?
Ahhhhh BUT IT IS!! FOR ME!!! I used to post 7 days a week. o.O I’m surprised no one got sick of me, tbh. hehe Oh, but, honestly the only pressure comes from ME. I’m the one with insane goals and when I can’t keep up with them I fall into a snivelling mess. *sigh* I have to, like, enforce limitations on myself so I don’t just unravel into a heap of sadness.
AFJDLKSAFDS I AM SO GLAD YOU LIKED GAME OF LOVE & DEATH. WASN’T IT JUST WONDERFULLY ADORABLE?!?!? henry and Flora were SO CUTE AND PERFECT FOR EACH OTHER. but yes. I definitely shipped Love/Death more. 😉 Death was so sad and angsty. Love so well dressed. hehe
*whispers* Don’t tell anyone, but I thiiiink Edelweiss thinks I’m American and therefore they love me.
First of all, I’m sorry your week sucked.
Secondly, yes, I totally get being overwhelmed with blogging, and I DON’T EVEN HAVE THAT BIG OF A BLOG. So yeah, take all the breaks you need. At least you tell people about them…. I drop off the face of the earth for two weeks and then reappear like nothing happened, so you’re still better than me.
As for you questions….
I LIKE TAGS, AND THE ROUND UP POSTS, AND THE POSTS ABOUT YOU. (Book reviews are fun, but we don’t read the same stuff, so that makes things tricky when I go to comment. Like, “Yes, I havent’ read this either. What’s new with you.” and that’s not fabulous comment content. lol.
ALSO A;LSFDKJASLFKJASK;DFJAL;SDKFJADS;LKFJA;KLSDFJA;SLKDFJA;LKDSFJAS;DLFKJAS;FLKJADS;LKFJASD;FLKJASDF FINALLY FINALLY ARTEMIS FOWL FINALLLY FINALLY. A;SLFSJALFKDJAS F OH OH OH OH AND KENNETH WHATSHISNAME IS REALLY GOOD AND I’M EXCITED AND OOOH YASS. Just as long as it’s not a percy jackson type adaption….. okay bai.
Treskie recently posted…Picture Saturday– Phantom Paper Dolls
AWWW. THANKS TRESKIE. <3 And I do miss it when you disappear but you always come back with epic drawings SOOOOO I can't complain. xD And I totally get that with the reviews. *nods* I have that problem when I'm trying to comment on reviews for books I haven't/don't want to read. Gee, life is tough sometimes.
AGH LET US NOT EVEN SPEAK THE NAME PERCY JACKSON ADAPTION NEAR ARTEMIS FOWL AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL NOT GO HORRIBLY WRONG BECAUSE OMG. THAT MOVIE WAS NOT OKAY.
Mad props that you can hold up a stack of books with A Dance with Dragons perched on the top. I’m picturing my wristies just suffering looking at that. Also, your cutting back is my goal for kicking it up, haha. We shall meet in the middle.
I love your posts because your excitement for blogging shows through! So if cutting down on a couple a week means your excitement doesn’t diminish, then fantastic!
For a fantasy set in Africa, try Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor and Wild Seed by Octavia Butler. Both feature strong female characters with Superpowers dealing with the oppression of men. It doesn’t sound super cheery, but they are both really good looks at fantasy set in Africa with the former a dystopian and the latter more historical (also kind of alternative history [Wild Seed also takes you to colonial US, which is very interesting]).
Anne @ Lovely Literature recently posted…Anne’s Mini Reviews: July & August 2015
MY HAND WAS BREAKING. It totally was. That awkward moment when you need two hands to hold up the stack of books and a third to take the picture…GAH. Oh, but yay! We meet in the middle! 😀 And yesss, I NEVER want my excitement to die down because that would be so sad, right?! I’m always passionate about books but sometimes I feel like I don’t have time to properly write my posts up because I need to do ALL THESE THINGS and gah, there are not enough hours in the day.
*googles all these recs* Omg, thank you thank you. I need these so bad. I hope my library has them.
Ermagerd thanks for sharing my post! you are awesome sauce.
Honestly Cait I think you’re pretty much the worlds most regular blogger. Therefore you are totally entitled to a bit of a break and a little less blogging! We’ll still be here. For sure.
Tbh I love reading all your posts (cause you’re an entertaining and original writer) but I especially love your discussion posts (wherein you ask deep life changing questions) and your book reviews! I think maybe 75% of my goodreads ‘want to read’ list consists of books you’ve reviewed.
Alliyah recently posted…WHAT’S IN STORE FOR SEPTEMBER?
YOU ARE AWESOMER. *nods* Awk….thank you though. :’) I am pretty scheduled at times, I think, hehe, which is the way I like it, buuuuut YEAH. Just not enough ours in the day to do ALL THE THINGS. o.O And as much as I LOVE blogging, I lvoe reading even more and if I don’t have enough time to read because of blogging…yup. I have problems. AHHH IT IS SO NICE TO KNOW YOU LIKE MY REVIEWS! 😀 I really love reviewing things. xD And the difficult life questions are always fun, right?! hehe
CAKEBOO WHAT ABOUT THE SEARCH RESULTS?? did I miss them or did you purposely leave them out?
Imma miss you!!! I totally understand about eliminating stress, and it’s great that you’re taking steps to protect yourself from that. BUT I WILL MISS YOU SUCH MUCH. I’LL TRY TO EMAILS YOU MORE OKAY? (haha i’m so busy idk how well that will work out but i’ll try)
Lisa Canfield recently posted…Hallo der Summer
I only do them for monthly recaps. 😛 SO DON’T WORRY. YOU’LL GET THEM NEXT TIME. HEHE.
OMg yes!! WE NEED EMAIL. I understand being busy though. *pats shoulder* Still, you’re like the bestest person to email of ever because you’re just so nice and wonderful. 😀
AWWWWWW thank you, Cait! I love emailing with you too. You’re so fun and intense and passionate XD
I had to take a long break at one point in my four years of blogging when it all got just a bit too much. I tried so hard to keep but it was so stressful that I decided I needed a reality check. I rearranged my priorities somewhat and now I’m enjoying it again.
Like you, I have such an odd relationship with Becca Fitzpatrick, but I did enjoy Black Ice and I have high hopes for Dangerous Lies.
Happy reading to you!
omg, I’m so so glad you came back and it worked for you better!! I NEED TO ORGANISE MYSELF. Like I feel like I have a million post ideas, but sometimes I feel rushed to get them all together because the days just aren’t long enough. o_O Quality over quantity, right?!
I REALLY liked Dangerous Lies!! It was still pretty romance focused but still afdkjasld so many feels and definitely better than Hush Hush. 😉
ARTEMIS FOWL IS FINALLY BEING ADAPTED?!?!?!?! Call me a squid and ward off calamari. I am thrilled, scared and incredibly hopeful! I grew up with this series and loved it to bits, and there’ve been so many times when it was going to be made and then wasn’t and actors were linked to it and it was on and off and NOW IT MIGHT ACTUALLY HAPPEN. And Kenneth Branagh would be awesome to have control of the process. He’d do a fine job, I think. And should totally have a cameo. Or a starring role.
Hey, go you, Cait, for deciding to step back. I’ve been in awe for you for quite a while, posting so much, but my awe is no less if you make the decision that posting less will work best. Acknowledging that fact and working on it is hugely important and you’re kinda a whole lot more awesome for doing it.
I have an inkling as to what your writer thing may have been, just from what you’ve written and past things, but I may be wrong. EITHER WAY, keep writing, Cait. Keep on doing the things that make you happy. xx
Romi recently posted…The Peony Lantern by Frances Watts…
OKAY….SQUID. *collapses laughing* AHEM. But yes, I need to read it right?!? I get worried I won’t love it as much as I should though, because it seems to be so many people’s favourite childhood book and WHAT IF I’M TOO OLD, OMG, ROMI. THIS IS SUCH A WORY FOR ME. *hyperventilates*
Aww, thank you! XD I really love posting. Like REALLY love it. And I could think up a million posts until I’m blue in the face, buuuuut there is more to blogging than just writing (so I think anyway) so I’d like to give equal attention to hanging around with other people and commenting and things. *nods*
I SHALL KEEP WRITING. *nods vigorously* OF COURSE. I just would really like some good news right now. AGH. >_<
Oh, re: Artemis Fowl, try the audio book. The reader does the Irish accents and it’s glorious.
Romi recently posted…From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankenweiler by E. L. Koigsburg…
ohhh I LOVE IRISH ACCENTS SO MUCH. I loved the Skulduggery audios because the narrator was awesome. XD
No defeat. Even with 4-5 posts a week you can still dominate the world! 😉
Oh, I hadn’t heard Artemis Fowl is being adapted. I should probably give those a go as well. I’ve heard good things about them.
Annemieke recently posted…The Creative Blogger Award
YES. IT TOTALLY CAN BE. *dons crown and waves royal sceptre* I can do this.
I’ve heard good things about Artemis too! In fact…I’ve heard so many good things that’s kind of the reason I haven’t tried it yet. >_< I'm worried I'll be too old to enjoy it properly? Since it seems like most people's favourite childhood thing...
I’m sorry you’re feeling overwhelmed. I know the feel, especially the one where it seems like all encouragement just bounces off you. I really hope you feel better and best wishes to your writing. I enjoy your discussions posts and your tags the best and of course Beautiful People. ^ ^ I’ve been told to read the 5th Wave as well. XD And now that a film is coming out I may have to read it lol.
storitorigrace.blogspot.com
Victoria Grace Howell recently posted…Wonderful Word Wednesday: Preprandial
Ahh, we’ll BOTH have to tackle The 5th Wave then. XD The trailer makes it seem sooooo gooooood so I’m not too worried. End of the world stuff is my FAVOURITE. *nods*
Aww, and thanks! 😀 I hope, maybe just dialling back a bit, might help me to feel less overwhelmed by all the things and actually have time to do it without being in a flap because I’m like a week behind comment replies or whatnot. XD
Wait! There’s an Australian Sherlock retelling?! I MUST READS IT!
Blogging does get kind of stressful sometimes. It’s just overwhelming. There are so many blogs and so many things to blog about. It’s impossible to do it all. But, you know, we do it all anyways. Who cares about impossible? I go through bouts when I don’t blog for a couple weeks. It becomes exhausting, like I’ve had too much socializing. Except this in virtual socializing! I’ll have to say, I haven’t found a good way to deal with blogging when it gets stressful. I just. . . avoid it.
Also, I LOVE that Sherlock gif. 🙂 It’s one of my favorites.
Ashley G. recently posted…Authorly Bucket List
YESSSS. YOU MUST SEE IF YOU CAN FIND IT, ASHELY, IT’S SO SO GOOD.
And yes. *collapses in exhaustion* I mean, I just want to read all the things AND blog about them and I love it 100% and it’s not stressing me, per se, it’s just TOO MUCH. And I can’t fit it all in. So I guess it is stressing me…heeh, just a little. 😉 Sometimes avoiding is an okay coping mechanism, right?!?!
Look at those fingers of strength! Artemis Fowl seems very much up your alley. I listened to them on audiobook and enjoyed them. I think you would totally get a kick out of them.
I really liked the 5th Wave, but I can see why it wasn’t everyone cup of tea. Honestly, I think it would be almost a better movie?
Omg, I knoooow. They were breaking, they totally were. XD Especially under A Dance With Dragons. THAT BOOK IS THE SIZE OF A SMALL COUNTRY. I think Artemis Fowl and I will get along wonderfully, hehe, and audio sounds like a great idea, actually!
Oh nooooo! Our overlord admitting…defeat? What is this world becoming!? No but seriously, six posts a week is A LOT! How do you do this? I barely manage to post twice a week. But you six…you’re not human right?
You definitely deserve some time off. Good luck with your books! Seriously someday write a post about how you manage to be so productive. You write books, post several times a week AND manage to reads hundreds of books in a year. Do you ever sleep? Lool.
I really can’t wait for Assassin’s Heart!! This book looks so promising!
Sarah H recently posted…Diversité ? Mais où ça ? Il n’y a que des livres blancs, blancs, blancs…
THE WORLD IS ENDING BASICALLY. OMG. PREPARE FOR THE APOCALYPSE. *collapses sobbing* Ahh, but yes. XD hehe, I know! I really really enjoy blogging though so the only pressure is from ME to keep all this up. I think I just need to admit I gotta calm down so I don’t feel so stretched. AH, I shall try to write a post like that someday! 😉 The real truth is that I work from home, so I kind of can just fit everything into my day because I’m not commuting or everything, hehe.
ASSASSIN’S HEART IS GOING TO BE SO AWESOME. 😀 I HAVE SUCH A GOOD FEELING.
Lucky you! Working from home must be so amazing! You can spend your whole day in pyjama, lol. Yep, I’m sure this book is gonna be amazing ( if it isn’y I’ll just prentend I never said this, lol).
Sarah H recently posted…Diversité ? Mais où ça ? Il n’y a que des livres blancs, blancs, blancs…
Good lord, how in the dickens you have all the time to maintain this blog (ON TOP of reading a massive stack of books each month) I shall never know. Great haul you got this month – I think I have a few ones to add to my Goodreads TBR. I’ve started getting into bookstagram too. 🙂 So good seeing everyone else’s pretty photos of books!
Cass (Words on Paper) recently posted…[Review] One by Sarah Crossan
I AM A LITTLE BIT INTENSE AS A PERSON. XD HAH. Buuuut, yes, I’m so behind at the moment. >_< I just need to wind down a bit, I think?!? Although I honestly love it so. so. much. So it's hard to step back sometimes because I just want to do ALL THE THINGS even if I don't exactly have the time. hehe Yaaay for bookstagram, right?! It is SO MUCH FUN!
Completely understand about cutting back on the blogging. I went from daily posts to 6 days a week and now I’m doing 4-5 and feeling that things are much more manageable. I love both Netgalley and Edelweiss though I have better luck on Netgalley. Enjoy all the great books!
Jen @ YA Romantics recently posted…Hot Off the Presses: New YA Releasing September 15-21
It’s so fun to run a really hectic schedule, I found, buuuuuut EXHAUSTING. And when I don’t even have time to read because I have so much blogging things to do…then I know I need to calm down a bit. hehe
Also, I definitely give Netgalley ALL THE POINTS for actually being a user friendly site though. Edelwiess is ridiculous. >_<
Yup, it sounds like we’re both in the same boat Cait, with the blogging being overwhelming thing and the Instagram addiction! I’m reducing my posts to maybe 3 times a week too. A shame about Magisterium!
Jeann @ Happy Indulgence recently posted…The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon Review: A Hidden World of Clairvoyance
When blogging overwhelms me I stop. Ha ha, well almost. I still do Tell Me Tuesday and The Sunday Post, but no reviews, tags, or other features. I think it is because those two features basically cover everything that is going on, on the blog. Ugh, Netgalley hates me, too! I get 90% of the books I request on Edelweiss and the blogging stats I provide there and on Netgalley are EXACTLY THE SAME! *screams into pillow* I only get maybe 20% of the titles I request on Netgalley even though my ratio is 96%, and I am a NG Top Reviewer! I have stopped trying to figure it out. 🙂
La La in the Library recently posted…TELL ME TUESDAY #61
UGH NETGALLEY IS LIKE THAT TO ME TOO. I have a 96% ratio…despite ALWAYS having reviewed ever single book. (It should be 100%?!?! WHAT EVEN.) And yet they dislike me so much. *sobs* I’m being approved on Edelweiss for the books netgalley rejected me for, so heh hehe. That is fun. xD