Blog & Reading Resolutions And Challenges For 2016

 

Hello Readers

I have resolved to set down a few resolutions in regards to  blogging and reading for 2016. I find, especially for blogging, it’s better to have a plan and stick to it for the most part.

I am a newbie to blogging and although I’m pleased with how my blog is doing so far, I want to focus more on original content for 2016. Now, that does not mean that I won’t be doing Blog/Book Tours, Cover Reveals and or Blasts because I love doing these.

It does mean, however that most of these will be promotional posts instead of review posts since I want to have time to read the books on my ever-growing TBR.

So here are the resolutions I have set out for my Blog for 2016:

• One Review (not including those for Blog Tours) per week to be done on a Wednesday and will be given a name
• My Week In Books is going to continue to be a weekly feature and will be done on a Monday
• A new feature to be introduced for Friday
• Monthly Wrap-Up to include posts made and number of reviews
• TBR not to exceed 10 books ( subject to addition or subtraction depending on how my week goes)
• Take part in more challenges or memes ( maybe something for Tuesday)
• Learn more about how to promote my Blog on Social Networks

Here are my Reading Resolutions:

• Read and Review all outstanding NetGalley books (including ARCs) before requesting anymore
• Be more selective about accepting Books for review
• Hauls not to exceed 5 books each month
• Revise my TBR List and ‘clean’ up my ereader
• Read only after I have studied at least 2 hours
• Try to exceed the number of books read in 2015
• Be more open to reading genres like Contemporary, Dystopian, Science Fiction and Literary Fiction
• Keep a better record of my books by adding to Goodreads

Now for a Look at The Challenges I will be participating In :

This challenge is hosted by Sarah K, The YA book traveler.

The Rules are:

• read a minimum of 1 book per month you already own (published book).
• I’m planning to read at least 10 books from my personal TBR and another 12 from NetGalley and any other books for review.
•  Use the hastag #RockMyTBR for current discussion.

This Challenge is hosted by: Alexa loves books and Hello, Chelly.

• Set a goal of how many fantasy books you are planning to read ( I’m going with: 20 books).
• Use #flightsoffantasy
  

This challenge is hosted by The Daily Prophecy. 

• Main focus on Fairytale retellings, but quite  okay to read other retellings (I’m doing a variety of retellings, see my post here)
• You can re-read books and cross-link them to other challenges.
• Spread the world with hashtag #fairytaleRC.
• Levels: (I’m aiming for Kuma Lisa)

-Enchanted Moura: 1 – 4 books.

-Goose Girl: 5 – 9 books.

-Evil Queen: 10 – 15 books.
-Wise princess: 16 – 20 books.
-Kuma Lisa: 21 – 25 books.
–Cheshire cat: 26+ books

There you have it Guys! What resolutions did you make for your Blog for 2016? Are you participating in any challenges?

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10 Steps To Get Out Of A Book Slump

I rarely find myself in a book slump, but whenever I do, it’s usually after reading a book that I had been eagerly anticipating and which exceeded or met my expectations. All other books, no matter how intriguing they would have seemed before, become unenticing. I would read a chapter or two and would find it impossible to ‘get into it’.

These are the steps I usually take to help me of a slump. If it’s a really bad one, I end up going through all of the steps and maybe even repeating a step or two.

In the famous words of Dr Seuss:

Without further ado :

1. Re-read the book (or my favourite parts). Sometimes one just can’t get enough of a good ‘thing’. So, repeat!
   
2. Write (blog) about it, review it, rave about it to your reading buddies  to get it out of system.
3. Take a break from reading, watch a movie you’ve been meaning to watch, or binge watch a favourite series.
   
4. Go shopping for more books! New books are being released weekly, maybe you’ll come across one,( or ten ), that peak your interest!
5. Try a sub-genre or another genre altogether! Maybe you have just read one too many epic fantasy, try urban fantasy, or thrillers.
   
6. See what your friends are reading or check out what’s on their TBRs. You might discover some good reads!
7. Go through your humongous pile of books; whether it be physical and or digital. ( I know you have a huge pile of books that you’ve been meaning to read for some time now) Read the synopses and maybe you’ll discover a hidden gem.
8. Try a graphic novel instead,(or a few), maybe one based on a novel you’ve already read!
   
9. Re-read your favourite series (I have a fallback series, the Dresden Files) until you’ve had enough of that!
   
10. Read a series you loved in another language or another that you couldn’t get into for some reason. If you dont know another language, now might be a good time to learn one. If you’re not up for it, repeat step 3.

What steps do you use? Do you have any others you would like to add? Leave a comment below.

Cheers.

A List: My Most Anticipated New Releases (Sept 22 – Dec 2015)

This is a list (incomplete) of books that have just been released and are to be released in the period from September 22 – December 31, 2015 that I would like to read and would be adding to my book hauls over time.

If you have any suggestions as to others you think I would be interested in reading please comment below.

September

1. Library of Souls (Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children #3) by Ransom Riggs,  Published: Sept 22, 2015  (Goodreads Synopsis)
2. This Monstrous Thing byf Mackenzie Lee, Published: Sept 22, 2015 (Goodreads Synopsis)
3. Beastly Bones (Jackaby #2) by William Ritter, Published: Sept 22, 2015  (Goodreads Synopsis)
4. Six of Crows (Crows #1) by Leigh Bardugo, Publication Date: Sept 29, 2015  (Goodreads Synopsis)
5. Minotaur by Philip W. Simpson, Publication Date: Sept 29, 2015  (Goodreads Synopsis)

October

1. Shadows of Self (Mistborn #5) by Brandon Sanderson, Publication Date: Oct 6, 2015  (Goodreads Synopsis)
2. The Rose Society (The Young Elites #2) by Marie Lu, Publication Date: Oct 6, 2015  (Goodreads Synopsis)
3. It’s A Wonderful Death by Sarah J. Schmidt, Publication Date: Oct 6, 2015  (Goodreads Synopsis)
4. An Inheritance of Ashes by Leah Bobet, Publication Date: Oct 6, 2015  (Goodreads Synopsis)
5. Gatefather (Mither Mages #4) by Orson Scott Card, Publication Date:Oct 20, 2015  (Goodreads Synopsis)

November

1. Ten Thousand Skies Above You ( Firebird #2) by Claudia Gray,Publication Date: Nov 2, 2015  (Goodreads Synopsis)
2. Winter ( The Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer, Publication Date: Nov 10, 2015  (Goodreads Synopsis)
3. The Vanishing Throne ( The Falconer #2) byf Elizabeth May, Production Date: Nov 19, 2015  (Goodreads Synopsis)

December

1. Blood Storm (The Books Of Blood And Iron) by Steven Harper, Publication Date: Dec 1, 2015  (Goodreads Synopsis)
2. Frozen Tides ( Fallen Kingdoms #4) by Morgan Rhodes, Publication Date: Dec 15, 2015  (Goodreads Synopsis)
3. The Hellsblood Bride ( Mookie Pearl #2) by Chuck Wendig, Publication (?), 2015  (Goodreads Synopsis)

Cheers.