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Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Sara's April Wrap Up






Hello Friends, Happy May. I am just going to jump right in and get on with the recap. April was a little nuts. SO let's begin.

Firsts things firsts, I turned 30 in April (on the 7th)-- Wha?!?


I was little bit... uh, stunned that I was turning 30. But the day came and it turned out to be pretty fantastic. I have some truly amazing friends who made me feel incredibly special. So, 30 is here and I am feeling okay. I got a number of pretty great books as gifts, I think I'll showcase them in a separate post though.

A week after 30, a couple friends and myself took off to Vegas for the weekend. It was my first time to Vegas and what a whirl wind it was. It was an exhausting weekend.




A post shared by Sara (@jstanotherstory) on


After Vegas (as in after Easter, which meant Lent was over), I joined the team and flew through 13 Reasons Why


I have a few thoughts about this show, mostly in response to the critics. I read Jay Asher's book years ago- 2011 I think, and I remember the general concept of the story, but none of the details. So, I felt like I went into the show blind. I thought it was well done. I really liked Clay- or Dylan Minnette. He was a sweetheart. The show and its content are super controversial- but I think it has an important message.


The Books:

April was a significantly slower month than March. But as you saw- I was busy. BUT- I did a cool thing in April- I participated in my first Buddy Read, My internet BFF Aylee over at Recovering Potter Addict and I, took on the challenge of budding reading The Thief. Essentially this buddy read just comprised of us reading to a certain page and/or chapter that day. The two of use weren't always successful, but it was fun, and I would totally do this again.  

Number of Books Completed:
7

Physical Books:
5 

Audiobooks:
2


Physical Books: 

Confess by Colleen Hoover (3 Stars) 
The Chosen by JR Ward (4.5 Stars)
The Tycoon's Revenge by Melody Anne (2 Stars)
Never Let You Go by Chevy Stevens (3 Stars)
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner (4 Stars)

I don't have a particular favourite for this month-  I thought the latest installment of the Black Dagger Brotherhood - The Chosen - was a pretty great addition to the ever growing series (this was book 15), but it didn't blow me away. I am hoping to read some amazing books this next month.


Audiobooks:

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (4.5 Stars)
Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel (3.5 Stars)

Favourite Listen


This book was SO good!!! I can't believe it took me SO long to finally get to. I loved the audiobook, all the narrators. I am pretty sure I loved Jesper's narration the best. There was really something great about the guy.  If you haven't read this... What are you waiting for? 


2017 Resolutions Update: 

If you want to check out my actual resolutions/goals for the year, check them out here.  

I think I did pretty good job with my reading goals this month. Without really even trying. 
I am on track for the my 100 book challenge. I have still read more books than I listened to- seeing as I only listened to two this month. I read two 2017 releases, The Chosen and Never Let You Go. I read one more from my list- The Thief, and I listened to ONE of my back listed audiobooks- Six of Crows-  I am getting there. 

I think I am going to keep with my audiobook buying ban for one more month. I also would like to read 7 books this month and listen to two from my back list I'm pretty sure this is doable.


That was my April I hope you enjoyed.

~Happy Reading Everyone

9 comments:

  1. Happy Belated Birthday! I read 13 Reasons Why ages ago and want to begin watching the show maybe over the summer. I'm seriously behind on a lot of my shows and with having to do marking and report cards over the next two months, I don't expect that to change.

    Yay for reading and enjoying The Thief. I loved the next few books even more so you should definitely continue reading the series. I can't wait to read Thick as Thieves!

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    1. I certainly plan on reading the rest of the books in the Thief series (I got all four of them for my birthday), my housemates raves about them and says they get better as you go. Just gotta carve out the time.

      I would suggest that anyone who interacts with kids/teens regularly needs to watch 13 Reasons Why, they need to be part of the conversation and I think we need to know what our (pre)teens are watching. Again, it's about finding the time, it's not a show I could watch in one sitting, it was pretty disturbing.

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  2. Happy belated birthday!! I remember feeling anxious about my 30th way before it even happened and then when it finally did I was like, oh. okay. haha! I still haven't gotten to check out Six of Crows but it's on my (always growing) TBR list! lol Hope you have a great weekend!

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    1. Thank you!!! I have been enjoying 30, it hasn't been so bad. You absolutely must get to Six of Crows, it's such a fun read.

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  3. I watched 13 Reasons Why and like you said even though it has a lot of controversial content the message of it is very important and is definitely one that people should be talking about.

    I also read Sleeping Giants in April and I was disappointed by it. I love the Black Dagger Brotherhood series but I haven't read The Chosen yet.

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    1. I went into Sleeping Giants expecting very little, so I enjoyed it for the most part- had I been reading it, I don't think I would have made it through. The audiobook was it's saving grace for me.

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  4. It looks like you had a wonderful April! Happy belated birthday!I turned 30 in December and I'm still trying to figure out how that happened, but I'm okay with it too. I loved SoC but Crooked Kingdom is even better! I need to listen to the audiobooks. I've hear wonderful things about the cast. I hope you have a wonderful May!

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    1. Ugh- being 30 is weird- I don't know why, it just is.
      I Really need to get to Crooked Kingdom! I am so nervous about it though. Soon though- hopefully.

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  5. I hope your May has been going as well as your April! I have a few episodes of 13 Reasons Why left - I do understand what critics have to say. But I also think the book/show handles the various controversial subject matters well. I guess I'll wait and see how I feel about the actual scene itself...

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"So, please, oh please, we beg, we pray, go throw your TV set away, and in its place you can install, a lovely bookcase on the wall."
— Roald Dahl