Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews. It gives us a chance to share with readers what we bought, borrowed, swapped, won or got for review each week. I also decided that since I do a weekly recap, it really is just good sense to link up with The Sunday Post, hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer, because that is such a fun link up as well!
The Books
From Penguin/Random House for review, with huge thanks:
The Appearance of Annie van Sinderen by Katherine Howe
A Song for Ella Grey by David Almond
The Distance From Me to You by Marina Gessner
Won
Shallow Graves from author Kali Wallace, thanks to author Marieke Nijkamp’s fabulous giveaway for donations to Patrick Ness’s fundraiser for Save the Children. Every one of the authors who donated and contributed and boosted the signal for this are freaking amazing in my book!
Via Edelweiss & Netgalley, with huge thanks to Harper Teen and St. Martin’s Press
Thank you times a million, #OTSPSecretSister!!!
She really gets me. How amazing is this?
Weekly Shenanigans
So I only read two books, but in my defense, Illuminae is super huge.
Illuminae. But probably any other week, it would have been A Madness So Discreet because it too was great!
I decided that I am not doing “On the Blog” anymore because you guys are smart and can look at the sidebar.
But I did play The Oregon Trail. And made a quiz. Just saying.
Giveaways:
- The September Discussion Challenge link-up and Giveaway is underway!
- The International September New Release Giveaway has begun!
Blogosphere Bulletin:
- Faye @ The Social Potato discusses the hardships of writing a positive review- in comic form!
- Cait @ Paper Fury reviews baking. And small humans. (NOT baking small humans.)
- Nicole @ Nicole’s Novel Reads shares her favorite fandom shops!
- Aentee @ Read at Midnight talks about the ways that blogging changed her reading habits
- Mishma @ A Perfection Called Books breaks down some familiar Book-to-TV shows in anticipation for Throne of Glass.
- Kayla @ The Thousand Lives reminds us that BROTPs need to be celebrated too!
- Inge @ Bookshelf Reflections fails at The Sims, but not this freaking hilarious post!
- The lovely ladies @ Deadly Darlings share 30 facts about themselves!
- Kaja @ Of Dragons and Hearts talks spoilers, and whether there’s a time limit.
- Ashtyn @ Readers in Wonderland asks if you lose interest in books on your shelves (::raises hand::)
- Lola @ Lola’s Reviews asks us the ultimate question: why do we review books?
- Jillian @ Jillian’s Books talks about her thoughts on controversial topics in general.
- Christina @ A Reader of Fictions shares her personal history with DNFing
- Lisa & Becca @ Lost in Literature chatted about how book boyfriends might be too perfect.
- Alyssa @ The Devil Orders Takeout made me laugh so hard with her “two cows” approach to writing.
- Julie & Lynn @ Chapter Break discuss which characters would be perfect to party with.
Random Musings:
I finally organized my books this week! It was a huge, huge feat because I am basically a mess of hoarded nonsense. I tried my hand at a color-coordinated shelf (on my “read ASAP” TBR shelf). I think it was okay. Not great, but okay. You can decide:
The left one is the “must-read”, the right one is the “also should probably read”. A shelf is even cut off the bottom, because I have problems. Though, the top shelf of the right case are non-Hunger Games Favorites.
Speaking of Hunger Games…
So far. But like Ariel, “I want mooooore“.
Things we need to talk about this week:
- Hunger Games Funko Pop!! Now I shall join in the obsession! Will you? Have you?
- The Scorpio Races movie (!!!) has a director. I didn’t even know it was becoming a movie, so now I must read the book ASAP. Obviously, I own it.
- My parents have decided they are going to Greece the week of BEA. Aside from raging jealousy, this leaves me with a child care conundrum. What do my fellow blogger mamas do for such things?
I’m absolutely TERRIFIED at The Scoprio Races becoming a movie. D: I love that book way too much…it was like what got me obsessed on all the Stiefvater movies. SO YEAH I’M SO SUPER SCARED. *flails and trembles* But your shelves, omg, Shannon they are beautiful. also that Hunger Games collection is AMAZING. The white ones are a fantastic addition. 😉 Is it just me though or is it super hard to even touch them an risk bending the spines?!?!? Like I wanted them specifically for a reread BUT I CAN’T BEAR TO DO IT IN CASE I LEAVE A MARK ON THEIR GORGEOUSNESS. OMG HALP.
I know you love her so much. It is SCARY. But, think about The Hunger Games movies- they did the books justice! It could happen. Plus, I don’t see Maggie taking shit from anyone 😉
YES it is very hard to touch them. Sad story time? On their boat ride over from Australia (I assume they traveled by boat, not plane), a corner of the white case got smushed. Which led to some of the corners getting a little bent. SO MUCH HORROR. I can’t read them either. OR the foil editions. It is too scary. I’ll use my old books for a reread. Which, incidentally, I NEED to do soon. I miss my Hunger Games.
Nice haul! Nothing I ordered this week has arrived yet and I’m super bummed. I’ll be ok, I guess. I have plenty to read. I can’t wait to read This Is Where the World Ends, Illuminae and A Madness So Discreet. I have to get back to my normal reading speed, there are too many books I want to fit in by the end of the year. Your shelves look lovely, I desperately need to organize mine. I look like I belong on the show Hoarders right now.
I wanted to say thank you for your concern about what’s been going on with me lately. I’ve been going through a very difficult time and it’s been really hard. I haven’t spoken about exactly what’s going on, but I will. I’m hoping that things will eventually start to get easier.
<3
Michelle @ Michelle's Minions
Aww that stinks! No new books is so, so sad. I know, it is hard because you want to read ALL the books but then… time :/ I absolutely was sure Hoarders was calling- it took me WEEKS to get them looking presentable 😉
And absolutely! I didn’t want to pry, but I did want you to know that someone was there if you wanted to talk- and it still stands. I am so, so sorry that you’re having such an awful time. And know I am sending tons of good thoughts your way <3
Your #OTPSecretSister looks like a fabulous person — the sheer amount of Oreos prove that much, ahaha. I’ve heard a great deal about both Illuminae and A Madness So Discreet — the latter is on my gorgeous-cover and TBR Goodreads shelves. The color-coding is quite nice, although the HG shelf is clearly more impressive. And eek, thanks for the shout out! The post is my most popular so far, judging by the comments.
She is SO SWEET. The cookies, the letters, the books… she is just the best, I am lucky to have her! Both Illuminae and A Madness So Discreet were good- but Illuminae is freaking GENIUS.
And you are quite welcome, I laughed HARD at that post! 😀
Your shelves look beautiful. I love when people group by cover color. Very jelly of your book haul this week!! Quite a few I want to read up there. I hope you work out your childcare issues (I already booked my room for BEA!!!) My daughter always attends BEA, and I go to BookCon with her, but since it’s in Chicago this year (not local for us – sad face), she is taking me as part of her blog. I am pretty excited.
Aw thank you so much! This was my like, billionth attempt at color coordinating, and I don’t hate it so… progress 😉
And thanks- I hope so too! My daughter is 4, and my son almost 2, so they definitely couldn’t come, but I WILL figure something out- I adore Chicago and do not want to miss it. Like you, Chicago is much further for me- New York was a short bus ride from PA- but I can’t wait. That is SO nice of your daughter, I really hope you guys have an amazing time, and hopefully I’ll see you there 😀
Ah so many good books this week!! The Distance From Me to You is one I really am interested in so can’t wait to see what you think. Holy amazing secret sister package!!! All that stuff looks awesome. Your bookshelves are so pretty. Good job getting them all organized. My stuff is all thrown in there – Maybe one day I will get it together!! Have a great week!
So far it’s good! I am definitely intrigued! I should finish tonight. There are a couple things I don’t love, but overall it’s really good!
And I agree, my secret sister is FABULOUS!! Thanks so much 😀
Ooh now those are some lovely gifts from a secret gifter program thinger 🙂 Also, yay for organizing your bookshelves. They look lovely!
Thanks for the plug 🙂
Aww thank you!! My secret sister is so amazing, I love her- she wrote such a great letter that really cheered me up when I needed it the most too. 🙂
Shallow Graves sounds so good! And I’m SUPER excited for Firsts!! Can’t wait to read that one myself. Woah, what a THG collection you’ve got there! GORG!!! I really enjoyed A Madness So Discreet last week, so I’m even more interested in Illuminae now since you liked it more! Enjoy your new awesomeness!! 🙂
Aw thanks 😀 I am so, so excited for the books too. And I liked A Madness So Discreet a lot too- I almost felt bad for it having to follow up Illuminae 😉
Your bookshelves look so pretty! I’ve never done the color coding thing before. I wish we lived closer, I could babysit. 🙂 I hope you figure something out.
Aww thank you!! I wish you could babysit too- but didn’t I already decide that Holly was dragging you along with us? 😉
Your parents are pretty nervy going away during BEA. In-laws? Siblings? Hubby takes a couple days off?
RIGHT? Nervy is for sure! My in-laws are generally useless, but I’m going to ask. My brother works long hours and um, I don’t think he has ever been around children except mine and is awkward as hell 😉 My husband may have to end up taking a few days off, but he works per diem, so if he doesn’t work, we don’t get paid. The options stink, in general 😉 BUT I am desperate, so something HAS to work.
What an awesome secret sister! I haven’t heard of the books she sent you, I’ll have to check them out.
I’m about to sort/organise my book shelves today. FInally! hehe. I’m splitting them for TBR and read, but I’m not sure about colour coordinated or alphabetized yet. Your colour coordinated organisation looks good 🙂
Also, Oregon Trail! 😀
Aw thank you!! She is fabulous, for sure. And good luck organizing- it’s always such a struggle! I have always done alphabetical, but it makes mad when my favorites/prettiest ones end up at the bottom 😉
I hope you love all your new books. It looks like you got some interesting books. I would talk to my siblings and see if they can take care of your kid. I am always cleaning out my bookshelves. I see that you got the Katherine Howe book, be careful…
Have a lovely weekend.
Grace
Aww thanks! And my brother is… not a viable option, for many reasons, one of which is that he flat out won’t do it, and another is that he has work. Hahah. And ooooh I am a bit scared about this book now!! 😀
You are going to LOVE The Scorpio Races! It’s probably in my all-time top five.
Oh YAY! I am very excited to read it, an all time top five is pretty huge! 😀
Your Hunger Games collection is literally goals. I still need to get me copies of those, THIS IS SACRILEGE. Also, I really really reallyyyy want to read Illuminae and A Madness So Discreet – they look so good and they’re SO PRETTY. ENJOYYYYY!
Aww thank you! Some day, I hope for it to be completed with ARCs, foreign language editions, and the Tim Palen photograph book and… well fine, it will never be done 😉 They both were fabulous, so I do hope you get to read them very soon!
I need to read The Scorpio Races too – oh, and those Hunger Games Funko Pops got added to my wishlist immediately! Katniss with the fire dress? AMAZING!!!
RIGHT!? I need them ALL. I don’t even want to put them on my Secret Sister list because seriously, I cannot wait that long!
Oh you got some nice goodies and books this week! maybe in a few years I’ll try and sign-up for that secret sister project, it sure sounds like a lot of fun! You got a nice package, all those books! And those oreo’s look yummy! I like oreo’s, although we only have the standard flavours here. I saw Firsts on netgalley, but couldn’t decide if I wanted it, so I am looking forward to your review of that one. Thanks for linking to my post! Your bookshelves look pretty! And how fun you tried your hand at colour coding, I always like how it looks, but I would go crazy being unable to find any of my books if I did that. Have a rgeat week!
Thanks so much! The Secret Sister thing IS super fun, and it’s a great way to meet people too. You should do it, if and when you can! I may have to take next time off, you know, money, but it is definitely amazing!
I wasn’t going to request Firsts either, but then a friend convinced me I had to, so.. peer pressure 😉 OH and the color coding thing? Yeah, NO IDEA where any of books reside anymore. The struggle is real. AND when you read a book, it throws the whole shelf off!
Books and Oreos. This is the best blog post ever. 🙂
I need to read A Madness So Discreet. I really liked the author’s other books.
Hahahha thank you! Those ARE two of life’s best offerings 😀 A Madness So Discreet was VERY good. I love Mindy’s writing style, and this was no exception! Hope you enjoy it!
I really wanna read Firsts and that Katherine Howe book! Love how you’ve had such an eventful week! Hopefully your next week would be as great as this! Awesome haul, btw! 🙂
Thanks so much!! So far… slow week 😉 But hey, maybe that is a good thing?
Awesome haul! I hope you enjoy them all. Especially those Oreos! 😉 I can’t wait to read Illuminae and A Madness So Discreet – they both sound fantastic! Your shelves look amazing, nice work. 😀 And big YAY to Hunger Games Pop!s…I’m obsessed with Pop!s, so can’t wait to add these to my collection!
My StS!
Aww thank you!! Both books were fabulous, but Illuminae is really just mind blowing, both in the story AND in its uniqueness! I hope you love them! And I am SO excited for the Hunger Games Pop!s, I really hope we both can get them ASAP! 😀
OMG, LOOK AT THAT HUNGER GAMES SHELF!!!! You are such a dedicated fan, aren’t you?:)
Co incidentally I am planning to read Illuminae and Madness So Discreet this week. That is, if I don’t drown in school.
I AM a dedicated fan 😉 Probably too much so 😀 And I do hope you do not drown in school, because both books are definitely worth reading!! And Illuminae is long, and I fear you won’t finish if you drown :/
Nice haul! I wanted to go to BEA, and then our state pushed our standardized testing back into May, so there is now way I can go to BEA days before the state tests. 🙁
Thanks. And oh NO!! WHY would they do that!?!? That is horrible 🙁 Plus, those tests in general are just horrible. You might suddenly ummmm need to come down with a terrible cold 😉
I see that you and I share an obsession with the candles from Bath & Body Works! I seriously have about 100 of them in my house right now. It’s so bad that I’ve had to start gifting them.
Let me know how The Appearance of Annie van Sinderen is. I kind of want to read it, but I’m also kind of unsure.
Oh I am absolutely obsessed! They smell SO good, and they last for a long time, and I just love them! If my secret sister reads this, she’ll know who I am, I fear, since I bought some in her favorite scents 😉 And I am the same with Annie! It wasn’t really on my radar, but then I HAVE heard good things so… who knows. I probably won’t get to it right away, but I do want to give it a go at some point!
I want to get my hands on Illuminae it looks so good. Loving your book shelves. Have a great week.
Thanks!! It really was good, I hope you love it 😀
I’m so intrigued by Firsts and will definitely be checking that one out. I’m hopeful but wary of how it will be handled. Totally in awe of your Hunger Games shrine! 🙂 And your OTSP sister… awesome! I was so bummed that I missed out on this round (by a matter of days). Hopefully I’ll catch it next time. Oh, and I think you need a few more candles. 😉
I was SO wary- I hadn’t even added it to my TBR until friends started gushing! I asked a friend privately how it was handled, and she said she loved it (and I trust her thoughts with this) so fingers crossed!
My secret sister is FABULOUS, as was my last round sister. Seriously, I hope you get to do it next round, because you meet the nicest people!
BWHAHA, that is just the tip of the candle iceberg, my friend 😀
Fun secret sister box of goodies! I don’t do it often, but when I organize my bookshelves I love reconnecting with what is on them. Thanks for sharing the blog links. I found a couple awesome posts.
Aw yay, I am so glad you found stuff 🙂 And I know- it’s like Christmas morning looking at all the pretties- especially since you get to see the whole covers as you place them!
I really enjoyed The Appearance Of Annie Van Sinderen! I thought the concept was really neat, and I love how Katherine meshed together the past and present. It’s definitely a book you have to be in the mood for though! Wasn’t Illuminae just amazing?!! I have no clue how I’m going to review it, but if all my ideas fail, I just type ” READ THIS FUCKING BOOK! ” and you know, call it a day or whatever lol. I’m so excited to read A Madness So Discreet. I’ve been hearing reallyyy good things, so I can’t wait to pick it up. Oh and send me some Oreos girl, your OTP sister hooked you up! lol.
I have to say, if it wasn’t for your review of Annie, I would have been like “what even IS this?” when it showed up, but since you liked it, it gets a chance 😉 And YESSSS Illuminae is freaking AMAZING. I can’t review such a beast! It is just glorious, and SO unique and like, these authors must have wholly abandoned their lives for like a decade, because it is THAT well done and complex and just… WOW.
And yes, my secret sister definitely knows the way to my heart 😉
I couldn’t tell from your Hunger Games collection, but do you have The Girl Who Was On Fire? It’s a collection of essays about The Hunger Games. i wasn’t a huge fan of the series until after I read that one.
Terri M., the Director
Second Run Reviews
I actually don’t have that one, but I do remember you posting about it (quite awhile ago, if memory serves me, which is unlikely 😉 ) I definitely need to get it- I *might* have gotten it for my Kindle after you suggested it. I know I meant to… This will be another push for me to get it, thanks!!
The Girl Who Was On Fire is, IMO, a better collection of essays than Divergent Thinking. Although if you are a fan of both series, you might look at getting both. 🙂
Nick sent me here 🙂
I got The Distance From Me To You too and it looks really good! That hand looks really creepy, like it’s popping out.
Love the recaps of other blogs, I used to to that but stopped for some reason. I love the blog love sharing.
Have a great week!
AWW that was nice of Nick!! 😀 Glad you’re here! I’m almost done with The Distance From Me to You and so far, I like it! (And yeah, that hand DOES look creepy!)
I started doing it randomly, just because there were a few posts I wanted to share and then… I couldn’t stop 😉 It IS time consuming though, so I can see how it fell by the wayside for you! Hope you are having a fabulous week, thanks so much for stopping by 🙂
A Madness so Discreet is one I really want to read soon.
Great blogisphere posts for this week. Many of them made me smile and fun to discuss. Although it nearly distracted me from commenting here 🙂 And the Oregon Trail- I haven’t played that in a long time but I loved that game as a kid. Organizing books is always a feat once you get to the bookcase+ point.
Aww thank you!! Hahha I think it is funny that I really AM taking attention elsewhere, but, meh, those people had good stuff to say 😉 Thanks for coming back 😀 I loved the Oregon Trail- still do, clearly! You should play again as an adult, it’s almost MORE fun when you understand it more. But also, addicting 😉
I didn’t know The Scorpio Races was becoming a film either. My sister has the book, so I need to read that. It sounds great! Sorry about your BEA conundrum- I hope something works out. I’m so jealous your parents are going to Greece though. So cool!! YAY for your book organization; it looks great. I really like your Hunger Games section too. How cute.
I almost forgot to ask – how do you do the Secret Sister thing? Is there any way to join in? I’m kind of obsessed with getting gifts for people and it looks so fun!
I need to read it too, for sure! I’ve heard SUCH good things! I am jealous of my parents too, really 😉 And thank you SO much!!
To answer the second part, the current round is underway already, BUT you can join in the next round. Basically, you go to the hashtag (#otspsecretsister) on Twitter, and just start chatting! The only “rule” is that the ladies in charge be familiar with you by the time the round starts- just because they’ve had some trouble with people they didn’t know and such not sending packages! The next round will start in February, so you have lots of time!!
Okay, those Oreos are making me hungry. I haven’t had Oreos in forever, but those look good. I also have the ARC of Firsts and I am still unsure about it. I hope it is good. But why, oh why, do I request ARCs of books that I am not super excited about??? It’s a compulsion, I swear!
They are SO. GOOD. I need to stop myself from eating them ALL 😉 I was unsure about Firsts too, but people have ASSURED me that it is awesome. So… fingers crossed? For both of us? Good news is, if one of us likes it, I bet the other will too 😀
Wow, your shelf looks really nice!
TheDonkeyInvasion – A Bookish Blog!
Aw thanks 😀
I am so excited for Illuminae arriving, it looks amazing.
With regards to childcare it is so difficult, I am lucky that my parents (who are retired) and my in-laws are all close by and help me with childcare throughout the week but if they can’t manage unfortunately I usually have to use my holidays though I do have the option to work from home too.
Hope you get them sorted out!
Illuminae is SO good, I hope you get to read it soon and love it!
And thanks so much! My parents are retired also, and are literally THE only people I have to help me at all. Actually, strike that, my dad won’t watch them alone, so my MOM is the only one. So… it’s not the best 😉 But hopefully I will figure something out!!
Oh my gosh, your Hunger Games collection is AUH-MAZ-ZING! I’m in serious awe here LOL. And your Secret Sister is awesome! Those oreos look sooooo good 🙂
Aww thanks! My secret sister is seriously the sweetest! The oreos have been WAY too delicious 😉
Yay at shelf organization! I have reorganized mine this week as well. Not in colors, but my old organization was 1. size 2. Author, but I switched it to just 1. Author so I can find all the authors easier and quicker. Plus, next year I want to do an A to Z Author challenge and this just makes things quicker, am I right? 😀
Aw thanks! And I have ALWAYS done mine by author (my other two shelves are done by author!) but this time I just had to mix it up! But, to be honest, as I read books the color thing is getting thrown off anyway, so I assume by next month I’ll be back to author too 😀
SO MANY AMAZING BOOKS YOU HAVE THERE, SHANNON. But really, Illuminae is seriously amazing. I love it so, so, so, s much. One of those books that seriously blew my mind away. That ending, the artifical intelligence sentient being, the characters, the way it was told… everything was just executed so perfectly. I have A MADNESS SO DISCREET so I’ll be getting to that soon!
Aw thanks! And I agree, Illuminae is just genius, on so many levels. The story was awesome, but the way it was done absolutely blew my mind. And I hope you love A Madness So Discreet!
Jealous of your ARC of Shallow Graves! But I think I have an egalley of it, so I’ll be okay. 🙂 I could never do the color arranging of my books, the librarian in me needs them alphabetized by author! Great haul! Hope you have a great week!
I hope you love Shallow Graves! And no worries, they will be back in alphabetical by author VERY soon, since I can’t find anything and every time I finish a book, the system gets thrown off 😉
Ahhh girl your shelves look amazing! Love!
Illuminae — I hope you loved it!! ??? !!! Can’t wait to read your review!
The Dream Thieves. <3 And those oreos look fantastic.
I hope you have a fantastic October, lady!
Aw thanks 😀 And YES Illuminae was fabulous! Like, so good. I have never read a book like it before, that is for sure! And I hope you have a great one too <3
You definitely do love your Hunger Games! So many editions of the books DD: But if you love it, you love it <3 I am someone who also has their books organised by colour! It's a funny story actually. I woke up at 3am, couldn't sleep and watched a booktube video. I had the sudden urge to get out of bed and colour organise all my books THEN AND THERE, and also my TBR pile by the books that I want to read the most first. I was a zombie for basically the whole next day but I got it done for some reason xD But yours look beautiful!
Also, fabulous haul! I love the looks of Shallow Graves and A Song for Ella Grey from what I have heard about them, so I hope you enjoy it. And I already know your thoughts for A Madness So Discreet and it seems we agree on a lot of points! 😀