My Goings On in September:
- My family ended up in the ER twice this month. Once for my husband to get eight stitches in his finger, and once because my daughter got in a car accident. Since I already went into detail about the incidents (including a pic of the car!) in two Sunday Posts, I won’t elaborate here—you can click on the links if you want to see what happened. Here’s an update, though: Scott’s finger is healing up nicely. Jade has been feeling really nauseated a lot of the time (due to a concussion, we believe), so she’s been pretty miserable. We actually almost had another trip to the ER last night because she felt like the small amount of food that she ate hadn’t gone down her throat and it made her feel sick as well as extremely uncomfortable, to the point where she was getting hysterical. On the car ride to the hospital, the food dislodged itself. She’s barely eaten since the accident, so let’s hope this was just a one-time thing. Needless to say, I’m ready for life to get back to normal.
- Things I watched:
- Nothing? Honestly, September is a blur at this point.
- We finished our backyard renovation! And, boy, do we love it! We are excited at the prospect of spending many hours out there. I was hoping to get some more pics, but it’s been rainy and then … life happened. So, I’ll just repost the one nice pic here.
Features & Discussions:
September 2019 Discussion Challenge Link-Up & Giveaway
Top Ten Books on My TBR that Terrify Me
Fun with Spam #8
I’m a Judge for the 2019 Cybils Awards!
September 2019 Monthly Wrap-Up Round-Up Link-Up & Giveaway
My 2019 Reading Progress:
I’ve read 137 books so far this year, which keeps me at 25 books ahead of schedule.
(I don’t count picture books in this total, even the ones I read for review.)
September 2019 Reviews
I didn’t get as many reviews up in September as I planned because the end of the month got so weird with all our family injuries. I DID actually read six other review books, though, and most of those reviews will be coming soon!! (Along with a couple of reviews for non-review books I read.)
- Tiger Queen by Annie Sullivan | Review | Rating: Fed My Addiction
- Vow of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson | Review | Rating: Absolutely Addicted!
- Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss by Kasie West | Review | Rating: Fed My Addiction
- The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner | Review | Rating: Devoured It
- Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea by Ben Clanton | Review | Rating: Devoured It
- Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o, Illustrated by Vashti Harrison | Review | Rating: Absolutely Addicted!
- Smarter Than a Monster: A Survival Guide by Brandon Mull, Illustrated by Mike Walton | Review | Rating: Devoured It
- Cursed by Thomas Wheeler, Illustrated by Frank Miller | Review | Rating: Fed My Addiction
September Best of the Bunch:
(Best of the Bunch is hosted over at Cocoon of Books. We link up our favorite reads of the month!)
I’m adding a picture book to my Best of the Bunch this month, since Sulwe was so amazing!
I only reviewed one MG book this month, so that made my decision easy for that age category. Luckily, it was an awesome book: The Okay Witch.
My YA choice Vow of Thieves! I loved this conclusion to the duology!
2019 Reading Challenges/Goals Progress:
Progress: 19/21-30 Discussions (Chatty Kathy)
The only post I’m counting as a discussion this month is my announcement that I’m a Cybils judge (which is actually debatable if that’s a true discussion, but I decided it’s close enough.)
I’m a Judge for the 2019 Cybils Awards!
That’s a Wrap! (My Wrap-Up of the SCBWI 2019 LA Summer Conference)
Updating the Blog (a Little) and I Need Your Opinions!
Bookish This or That Tags (x2!)
Goodreads’ YA Books Lists: 2019 Edition.
Why Don’t Illustrators (and Cover Artists) Get More Attention?
How Often Do You “Randomly” Visit New Blogs?
Bookish This or That Tags (x2!)
Goodreads’ YA Books Lists: 2019 Edition. Let’s Discuss.
Have Books Ruined Me for Movies?
“Other Stuff” I Like Reading About on Your Book Blog.
I Want to Post It NOW! (AKA One Reason I Almost Never Blog Ahead.)
I’m Addicted to Exclamation Points!!
The Challenge of Running a Successful Meme (or Challenge!)
How Much Is Too Much? Sometimes Life Is Stranger Than Fiction.
Why Audiobooks Are Important.
Bookworm Confession: Swag Isn’t My Thing.
Why I Love the Book Blog Discussion Challenge (Even When I Fail)
Things I Learned About Fairy Tales By Reading the Grimm’s Versions
HOST/SIGN-UP LINK – Feed Your Fiction Addiction & It Starts at Midnight
Progress: 3/12 Classics Read
None this month!
19th Century Classic
20th Century Classic – Catcher in the Rye
Classic by a Woman Author – I Capture the Castle
Classic in Translation – Grimm’s Fairy Tales
Classic Comic Novel
Classic Tragic Novel
Very Long Classic
Classic Novella
Classic From the Americas (includes the Caribbean)
Classic From Africa, Asia, or Oceania (includes Australia)
Classic From a Place You’ve Lived
Classic Play
HOST/SIGN-UP LINK – Books and Chocolate
Progress: 48/48 Library Books Read
I did it! I hit my goal!
Two books from the library this month:
Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Swing by Kwame Alexander & Mary Rand Hess
Earlier books for this challenge:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Twilight by Joss Whedon, Brad Meltzer, & Georges Jeanty (reread)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Retreat by Joss Whedon, Jane Espenson & Georges Jeanty (reread)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Last Gleaming by Joss Whedon, Scott Allie & Georges Jeanty
Peasprout Chen, Future Legend of Skate and Sword by Henry Lien (audio)
The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins (audio)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: No Future for You by Joss Whedon, Brian K. Vaughan, & Georges Jeanty (reread)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Wolves at the Gate by Joss Whedon, Drew Goddard, & Georges Jeanty (reread)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Time of Your Life by Joss Whedon, Jeph Loeb, & Georges Jeanty (reread)
Winter by Marissa Meyer (audio)
Stars Above by Marissa Meyer (audio)
Far From You by Lisa Schroeder
Rebound by Kwame Alexander
The Color of Lies by CJ Lyons (audio)
A Friendly Town That’s Almost Always by the Ocean! by Kir Fox
Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Cinder by Marissa Meyer (audio, reread)
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (audio, reread)
Cress by Marissa Meyer (audio, reread)
Fairest by Marissa Meyer (audio)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Long Way Home by Joss Whedon & Georges Jeanty (reread)
The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up: A Magical Story by Marie Kondō & Yuko Uramoto
We Come Apart by Sarah Crossan & Brian Conaghan
The Lonely Ones by Kelsey Sutton
The Language Inside by Holly Thompson
Cold-Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels by J. Warner Wallace (audio & ebook)
Slayer by Kiersten White
Oblivion by Jennifer L. Armentrout (audio)
Release by Patrick Ness (audio)
The Whispers by Greg Howard
Grim Lovelies by Megan Shepherd (audio)
Solo by Kwame Alexander & Mary Rand Hess
Educated by Tara Westover (audio)
City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab (audio)
Finale by Stephanie Garber (audio)
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (audio)
George by Alex Gino (audio)
After Zero by Christina Collins (audio)
Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli (audio)
Soul of the Sword by Julie Kagawa (audio)
The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan (audio)
Birthday by Meredith Russo
How to Worship a King: Prepare Your Heart. Prepare Your World. Prepare The Way. by Zach Neese (audio)
A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold (audio)
White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout (audio, reread)
Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout (audio, reread)
HOST/SIGN-UP LINK – Angel’s Guilty Pleasures
Progress: 9 (~1 Connect 5 per month)
My September Theme: Royalty
Fairest – This book in The Lunar Chronicles focuses on Queen Levania and her ascent to the throne.
Red, White & Royal Blue – A romantic comedy that imagines, what if a first-son of the United States fell in love with a prince of England?
The Kingdom – Okay, there is no actual royalty in this book, but the Fantasists are basically futuristic AI Disney Princesses.
Tiger Queen – This fantasy retelling of “The Lady or the Tiger” focuses on a desert princess’s fight to save her kingdom.
How to Worship a King: Prepare Your Heart. Prepare Your World. Prepare the Way – A slightly different type of royalty here. Jesus outranks all those others. 🙂
(NOTE: I haven’t reviewed Red, White & Royal Blue or How to Worship a King on the blog, but they’re 2019 reads!)
HOST/SIGN-UP LINK – Book Date
Progress: 6/12 Books Read
This month, I read Every Last Breath!
- Truthwitch by Susan Dennard (2016)
- The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner (2016)
- Our Dark Duet by Victoria Schwab (2017)
- Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (2015)
- Winter by Marissa Meyer (2015)
- Carry On by Rainbow Rowell (2015)
- UnBound by Neal Shusterman (2015)
- Girl Against the Universe by Paula Stokes (2016)
- Geekerella by Ashley Poston (2017)
- History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera (2017)
- Every Last Breath by Jennifer Armentrout (2015)
- Alienated by Melissa Landers (2014)
Alternates:
- The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis (2016)
- The Princess Bride by William Goldman (1973)
HOST/SIGN-UP LINK – Roof Beam Reader
My bookish resolutions for 2019:
- Write the first draft of new MG. This month wasn’t great for writing, but I promise I’m going to get back to it!
- Read 1 review book for every 1 that I receive. I’m actually doing really good at catching up on this!! Even though I haven’t requested anything for review since the beginning of August, I did end up getting 5 books for review this month. Which means, so far in 2019 I’ve received 76 books for review. I reviewed 6 this month and read 2 others I decided not to post to the blog, putting me at 71 for the year. So, technically I’m still 5 behind, BUT as I mentioned in my review section I’ve actually read more review books that I just haven’t gotten posts up for yet, so I’m really back to being only 1 behind.
- Read at least 6 books on the craft of writing. I read another one this month, but that only brings me up to 2.
- Read at least 12 books written in verse. (Since I’m writing my next book in verse.) One this month, which brings me up to 8 so far.
Query 50 agents. Or get an agent. ? (I was a wimp and I only queried 12 agents in 2018. At that rate, I might get an agent in like 2050.)Crossed this one off in February when I signed with East/West Literary!! Will I leave it here, crossed-off, for the rest of the year? I just might.
Non-bookish resolution for 2019:
(This one doesn’t count for the challenge, but I’m putting it here so it’s with my other stuff and I’ll hopefully pay attention to it.)
- Work out 3 times per week. Oh, wow … Can we just pretend I never said this? No? Sigh…
HOST/SIGN-UP LINK – Because Challenges Make Reading More Fun
Wrap-Up Round-Up!
Don’t forget to link your September wrap-up posts up to the Monthly Wrap-Up Round-Up. And enter the giveaway!
I do hope your daughter starts to feel a little better very soon, so scary for you all. Congrats on reaching your library goal, I still have a way to go. Ah royalty in books, what a good connection. Am a big royal fan myself!!
I’ve been finding more and more fun connections between my books lately—I keep creating new categories in my spreadsheet! 🙂
You definitely had a ton go on. I hope your daughter continues to heal! Happy October!
Yeah, it was sort of a crazy month!! Thanks for your well-wishes!
A bit of a mixed month for you. I hope your daughter feels better soon.
Yes, it started out great but definitely slid downhill. Hopefully things will be back to normal soon!
hope the family is well. love the backyard. and i’ve got to join library love again this year. i know the clock is ticking and i won’t have a lot of books to share, but it motivates me to catch up on books i wouldn’t otherwise read. thanks for the wonderful post
Yes, I love challenges for that very reason. Even if I don’t necessarily “win” them all, it’s a little extra motivation.
I’m glad everyone seems to be healing, but concussions suck. I hope your daughter feels better soon.
I need to make a point to read books on the craft of writing, too. I have so many of them, but they just sit on my shelf looking pretty.
Ha! Yes, I have several of those. They stare at me longingly from my bookshelves and I try to avoid their gazes. 🙂
Aww, I’m sorry you’ve had so many family injuries this month! I really hope your daughter starts to feel better soon. Have a good October! 🙂
Thanks!! Yes, I hope we’re done with the ER for a good long time!
I really hope your daughter starts feeling better <3 That's very scary! Sending positive vibes your way!
Thank you! It’s definitely been a stressful week, so I’m hoping we’re coming to the end of the issues.
Your backyard is gorgeous. I hope as things settle down you all will be able to enjoy it.
Thanks!! We’re definitely loving it!
I am glad to hear your husband’s finger is healing and hope your daughter feels better soon. I really feel for her. I had to make a trip to the ER this past week, but nothing so terrible as your family has been through. Your backyard looks wonderful, Nicole.
I have been hearing a lot about Sulwe and am so glad you recommend it. It sounds amazing.
I hope you have a great weekend, Nicole, and a much better October.
Sorry you had to make a trip to the ER too—it’s never fun, no matter what reason you’re going there for.
You were in the ER two times too many. I hope everyone is healing and that you don’t have to return there too soon. Your yard looks amazing as well. I love the idea of Connect Five. I have to check that one out.
Well, we’ve been back twice more, but both times, we ended up leaving before we were seen because she improved (last night we were there because she was throwing up repeatedly for an hour and a half, but we heard some people had been there for FIVE hours and hadn’t been seen yet, so we decided to head home after she hadn’t thrown up again for another hour and a half. We saw the doctor this morning instead.)
Sending so many hugs your way! I’m hoping that October is a much better month for your family, and that both your daughter and husband heal quickly! Oh my goodness your yard turned out absolutely gorgeous! You guys did such an amazing job, I’m so happy for you that you get to enjoy such a beautiful and tranquil place!
We have been spending lots of time in the back yard already—we’re enjoying it as long as we can before the weather turns.
Sorry that September ended on such a chaotic note. I’m glad that you didn’t have to be at the er a third time but I hope your daughter will start eating more again. It must have been scary. <3 I hope October will give you more calm.
Yeah, now if we can just get rid of all the extra health issues that have cropped up since the accident, I’ll be happy. (No. More. Trips. To. The. ER.)
So sorry about your daughter – how scary. My mom was in a car accident and it did take a few months for her to recover (broken ankle, cracked ribs). Hoping as she is young she has a speedy recovery!
Yeah, it’s definitely taking a while to get back to “normal” around here. She just had surgery on the ankle last week, and at least now I feel like we’re on the actual road to recovery.
Medical emergencies are not fun. I’m glad your husband is doing better, and I hope Jade feels better soon too and can start to eat more. That’s scary stuff all around. I’m super curious about The Okay Witch – glad it was a good one.
Thanks, Lauren. Yes, this past month has felt more than a little crazy!!
I am so sorry there was so much danger/drama in your house last month! Those photos of the car were terrifying. I’m impressed you’ve managed to keep reading and blogging at all. I got a concussion a couple of years ago, and it was the weirdest experience. I knew I was disoriented, but that didn’t make me less confused, just more panicked. My ears still ring when it’s quiet. I hope your daughter’s eating issues get resolved very soon.
I am too rebellious to do challenges, but I noticed I’ve read 10 of the books on your TBR challenge (including the alternates), which is funny, because I usually feel like I’m the one who hasn’t read all the books other bloggers are talking about. Partly since I don’t do ARCs, so I’m always a bit behind the times.
We just got The Okay Witch in my classroom last week, and I’ll have to grab it for a quick read between students sometime soon.
Wishing you some time to actually relax with your family in the pretty backyard this month!
The weirdest thing was that she wasn’t really even disoriented, just very nauseated and overtired. She was having a hard time focusing on homework, but she thinks that was more just because she was so nauseated. They think a concussion was the most likely culprit, though, since she wasn’t taking any stronger meds than regular strength Tylenol. And her body just seemed to be refusing to process things properly for a little while there. It was no fun!
I hope you enjoy The Okay Witch! The books that I put in the TBR challenge are specifically books that most people have already read and I’m still behind the times on. 🙂
The backyard now looks absolutely amazing! The renovating certainly paid off. I hope Jade starts to feel better soon and that she can recover her appetite back again. Although I can see why that would be an incredibly scary experience. Still praying for her recovery and keeping you all in mind.
Thank you!! We couldn’t be more pleased with the backyard—it turned out even better than we imagined! And thanks for the well-wishes for Jade!
Great job on the backyard–so many great family memories will be made there. I’ve been hearing more news reports on concussions and how people affected need to be monitored for even longer than previously believed. Scary stuff for your family. I hope your daughter is recovering from her surgery and healing quickly. On a bookish note, I bought Vow of Thieves and All of Me recently and your praise for Vow of Thieves means I’m going to love it too.
Yeah, she’s still having some symptoms from the concussion on and off. We’re hoping we’re about past them, but they can definitely linger.