Category Archives: Bookish Reflections

Bookish Reflections – July 2017

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A monthly round up of all things bookish at Sammi Loves Books…It’s my attempt at becoming more accountable in my reading and reviewing habits…

In a nutshell

July was Indie Only Month at Sammi Loves Books, so only Indie books were read and reviewed.  I think 2017’s selection of chosen reads were the best yet for this challenge.  I had so much fun and can’t wait for next July to come round so I can do it all again 🙂

Books I’ve reviewed

Favourite read of the month

Shadow of Doubt by Linda Poitevin / The Silence Between Moonbeams by Sarah Doughty

Books I’ve bought (or been given)

None this month.  I’ve been good! 🙂

Books I’ve downloaded 

  • Listen by Sarah Doughty
  • The Silence Between Moonbeams by Sarah Doughty
  • Norfolk Twilight by M.L. Eaton

What I’ve been reading on Wattpad

  • Shadow of Doubt by Linda Poitevin
  • A Body in the Backyard by Elizabeth Spann Craig
  • The Case of the Bygone Brother by Diane Burton

July‘s “What I’m reading and reviewing next month” goals

July was Indie Only Month at Sammi Loves Books, and as such I decided to set no definite reading goals.  I was definitely pleased to hit 7 books this months as I was only expecting to make 5 or 6.

What I’m reading and reviewing in August

August is Historical Fiction Month at Sammi Loves Books.  And my TBR pile for this challenge is almost floor-to-ceiling high.  I know in all likelihood I won’t get through more than 6 books, but I do have a tendency to get a little over excited for this reading challenge 🙂  Below is a selection of priority reads that I’ve earmarked for August – hopefully I will get through them all:

  • The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel (read, reviewed and awaiting posting)
  • Stonehenge by Bernard Cornwall (read, awaiting reviewing)
  • The Iron Hand of Mar by Lindsey Davis (almost finished reading)
  • The Owl Killers by Karen Maitland – this is a re-read; I’ve read a Karen Maitland book every Historical Fiction Month so far, and I’m not intending to break the tradition 🙂
  • Traitor’s Gate by D.K. Wilson – I’ve read the first and third books in this fantastic series based on real Tudor crimes and I’m really looking forward to reading book 2.

Goodreads Reading Challenge

My goal is 57.  I have read 28.  49% complete.  Currently 5 books behind schedule.

Other reads (books not on Goodreads)* : 2

Total books read so far this year: 30

* “Other reads” means books that are not listed on Goodreads, but ones that are still of novel / novella length.  I’m not counting anthologies, single (very) short stories, magazines / ezines, but I will count short story or poetry collections if they are not too short.

Bookish Reflections – June 2017

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A monthly round up of all things bookish at Sammi Loves Books…It’s my attempt at becoming more accountable in my reading and reviewing habits…

 

In a nutshell

I’ve more or less caught up with my backlog of reviews.  There is only one now outstanding and as it’s a historical fiction book, I’ll save it and post it in August for Historical Fiction Month.  July is Indie Only Month (one of my favourite times here at Sammi Loves Books).  I’ve already got a few books earmarked for reading and reviewing,

Books I’ve reviewed

Favourite read of the month

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Books I’ve bought (or been given)

  • Allegiant by Veronica Roth
  • The Lancashire Witches by Harrison Ainsworth

Books I’ve downloaded

  • You Had Me At Hello by Mhairi McFarlane
  • Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
  • Lie With Me by Sabine Durrant
  • Memory Man by David Baldacci

What I’ve been reading on Wattpad

June‘s “What I’m reading and reviewing next month” goals

  • Guenevere: The Queen of the Summer Country by Rosalind Miles [complete]
  • Fallen by Lauren Kate [complete]
  • Torment by Lauren Kate [complete]
  • Divergent by Veronica Roth [complete]
  • Insurgent by Veronica Roth [complete]
  • The Kalahari Typing School for Men by Alexander McCall Smith

What I’m reading and reviewing in July

July is Indie Only Month here at Sammi Loves Books, so the only books that I’ll be reviewing will be ones written and published by Indie authors.  And I’m very excited 🙂

Goodreads Reading Challenge

My goal is 57.  I have read 22.  39% complete.  Currently 6 books behind schedule.

Other reads (books not on Goodreads)* : 1

Total books read so far this year: 23

* “Other reads” means books that are not listed on Goodreads, but ones that are still of novel / novella length.  I’m not counting anthologies, single short stories, magazines / ezines, but I will count short story or poetry collections if they are not too short.

Bookish Reflections – May 2017

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A monthly round up of all things bookish at Sammi Loves Books…It’s my attempt at becoming more accountable in my reading and reviewing habits…

In a nutshell

I’ve read more books than I have reviewed this month.  Seven were completed, and yet I only wrote one review!  I did wonder whether there was any point posting May’s Bookish Reflections, but then, if the point is accountability it would be wrong not to.  In fact, I have neglected the blog entirely this past month because of one thing or another and that leaves me feeling quite disappointed with myself.  Well, I endeavour to do better this month, and of course, something I always look forward to is coming up…Indie Only Month.  So, any book review requests or recommendations, send them this way.  And I promise to respond within a couple of days 🙂

Books I’ve reviewed

Favourite read of the month

The Shrine by Ben Kane

Books I’ve bought

  • A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
  • Insurgent by Veronica Roth
  • Eagles at War by Ben Kane

Books I’ve downloaded

  • The Novice (The Summoner #1) by Taran Matharu

Book review requests I’ve accepted

Still behind with email responses 😦

What I’ve been reading on Wattpad

  • The Shrine by Ben Kane
  • Into the Light: Poems by Stacie Eirich

April’s “What I’m reading and reviewing next month” goals

  • Guenevere: The Queen of the Summer Country by Rosalind Miles
  • The Kalahari Typing School for Men by Alexander McCall Smith
  • The Lord of the Flies by William Golding
  • The Shrine by Ben Kane

What I’m reading and reviewing in June

  • Guenevere: The Queen of the Summer Country by Rosalind Miles (read, awaiting reviewing)
  • Fallen by Lauren Kate (read, awaiting reviewing)
  • Torment by Lauren Kate (read, awaiting reviewing)
  • Divergent by Veronica Roth (read, awaiting reviewing)
  • Insurgent by Veronica Roth (read, awaiting reviewing)
  • Into the Light: Poems by Stacie Eirich (read, awaiting reviewing)
  • The Kalahari Typing School for Men by Alexander McCall Smith

To be honest, my aim this month is to catch up with the backlog of reviews that need writing.  If I get around to reading anything else, it will be a bonus.  We shall just have to see which books catch my eye…

Goodreads Reading Challenge

My goal is 57.  I have read 16.  28% complete.  Currently 7 books behind schedule.

Other reads (books not on Goodreads) : 1

Total books read so far this year: 17

 

Bookish Reflections – April 2017

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A monthly round up of all things bookish at Sammi Loves Books…It’s my attempt at becoming more accountable in my reading and reviewing habits…

In a nutshell

Another bout of the flu and Camp NaNoWriMo have perhaps slowed my reading rate this month, but at least it has meant that I have caught up with the books I’ve been waiting to review.  I’m still behind on replying to review requests, and I’m wondering if in the future an email account dedicated to “Sammi Loves Books” would help with this.  Any ideas or thoughts gratefully received!  So, let’s take a look at what I’ve been up to book-wise, this month…

Books I’ve reviewed

Favourite read of the month

Inquisition by Alfredo Colitto

Books I’ve bought

  • A Storm of Swords: Blood and Gold by George R.R. Martin

Books I’ve downloaded

None this month.  I’m getting good at this, though I do need to start reading some of the ebooks I have already downloaded.  I seem to be completely focused on actual, real books at the moment.

Book review requests I’ve accepted

Still behind with email responses 😦  May will  be the month everything gets back on track – I’m determined to make it so!

What I’ve been reading on Wattpad

March’s “What I’m reading and reviewing next month” goals

What I’m reading and reviewing next month

  • Guenevere: The Queen of the Summer Country by Rosalind Miles (read but not yet reviewed)
  • The Kalahari Typing School for Men by Alexander McCall Smith
  • The Lord of the Flies by William Golding
  • The Shrine by Ben Kane

There are a few other books sitting on my bookshelves that I have my eye on too 🙂

Goodreads Reading Challenge

My goal is 57.  I have read 15.  26% complete.  Currently 3 books behind schedule.

Other reads (books not on Goodreads) : 1

Total books read so far this year: 16

 

Bookish Reflections – March 2017

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A monthly round up of all things bookish at Sammi Loves Books…It’s my attempt at becoming more accountable in my reading and reviewing habits…

In a nutshell

I’ve read more books than I have had the time to review this month.  Also being struck down by another horrible cold has meant that I am still behind with many of my goals and that I’m still playing catch-up.  On top of that, I’ve been having computer trouble too…March has not been a particularly great month.

Books I’ve reviewed

Favourite read of the month

Fighting for Freetown by Comic Relief

Books I’ve bought

None – I’ve been so good this month…not entirely sure how I managed it…

Books I’ve downloaded

  • Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales vol. 2

Book review requests I’ve accepted

Still behind with email responses 😦

What I’ve been reading on Wattpad

February’s “What I’m reading and reviewing next month” goals

What I’m reading and reviewing next month

  • Linger by Maggie Stiefvatar (read but not reviewed)
  • The Wild Swans by Hans Christian Andersen (read but not yet reviewed)
  • Fall of Night by Rachel Caine (read but not yet reviewed)
  • Daylighters by Rachel Caine (read but not yet reviewed)
  • Inquisition by Alfredo Col   (current read)

I’m also hoping to get the two book’s from February’s list above read and reviewed.

Goodreads Reading Challenge

My goal is 57.  I have read 9.  16% complete.  Currently 5 books behind schedule.

Other reads (books not on Goodreads) : 1

Total books read so far this year: 10

 

Bookish Reflections – February 2017

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A monthly round up of all things bookish at Sammi Loves Books…It’s my attempt at becoming more accountable in my reading and reviewing habits…

In a nutshell

So February was a little slow.  I had the flu for a fortnight, and for one week of that I couldn’t even pick up a book.  Then I spent the rest of the month playing catch-up, and I’m still behind.  If you’re waiting to hear back about review requests, I’m so sorry for the delay, but I hope to get back to you soon.

Books I’ve reviewed

Favourite read of the month

Shared equally between Under the Dragon’s Tail by Maureen Jennings and Morality for Beautiful Girls by Alexander McCall Smith.

Books I’ve bought

  • Linger by Maggie Stiefvatar
  • Divergent by Veronica Roth

Books I’ve downloaded

None this month.  I’ve been good.

Book review requests I’ve accepted

None this month – see “In a nutshell” above.

What I’ve been reading on Wattpad

Sadly, I’ve been neglecting Wattpad too.

What I’m reading and reviewing next month

  • Bitter Blood by Rachel Caine
  • Requiem for a Mezzo by Carola Dunn
  • The Kalahari Typing School for Men by Alexander McCall Smith

As for the rest of March’s reading material, it will all depend on how I’m feeling.

Goodreads Reading Challenge

My goal is 57.  I have read 7.  12% complete.  Currently 2 books behind schedule.