Hi everyone, excited to welcome you to the Second Edition of State of the ARC!!!
Congratulations on making it through yet another month! But let’s get to the point. How has your ARC reading been? While you’re undoubtedly pondering your success, WANNA GUESS ABOUT MINE???
I dare you. Guess.
It was pretty much like this:
Except a little less cute. Or rather, way less cute.
Basically, I had family and foreign guests over from a total of about three countries, over a total of at least two weekends, and after that apocalypse – some pretty serious work reparations to do. But all is well! (Except for the ARC progress, that is.) I’m surprised the blog is even still running, to be fair! But let’s get down to business. To the stats!
~ For Those Who Are New To The Meme ~
State of the ARC is a monthly meme that is meant to motivate you into finally finishing up those old ARCs. If you want to participate and add your own post to the link-up, you should: mention that you’re linking up with State of the ARC @ AvalinahsBooks, which is a fun way to share our ARC progress, challenges, wins, woes and mishaps – and don’t forget to include the link to this post! You can use my State of the ARC image too. Don’t forget to visit all the other people in the link-up and comment. And most importantly – have fun!
~ Current State of the ARC ~
Let’s check my stats and my progress.
I feel like… IT ACTUALLY GOT WORSE??? Because I received a few new ARCs and had no time to read whatsoever… I AM EXPERIENCING DESPAIR HERE.
Okay, so… Let’s see how many bricks I knocked down and how many I added. Also! Notation for which is which:
The Fake Brick stands for books read, but not yet reviewed!
The Real Brick stands for books both read and reviewed!
I hope you like construction.
~ Bricks Knocked Down ~



Well… You know. It could be worse. Right? I could have ONE FAKE BRICK. (Okay, okay, it can only barely be worse…) The good thing is that I made it through all of last months “In The Works” titles! (Come on, just let me have this.)
~ In The Works ~
These are my current titles. In Case I Go is shaping up to be a delightful read about a child who isn’t truly a child, about spirits, family problems and heritage. So far it’s pretty diverse and I recommend checking it out. Meanwhile, The Nix is one of my older ARCs that has been boring me for at least two months. I do not really recommend it. Happiness is one I’ve already finished and greatly liked – it just needs a review now. It’s a true story about a family that lived through a heavy illness of their baby, and even though it might be shocking, it’s definitely worth your attention. And finally, It’s Just Nerves is also a title I’ve already finished, but it isn’t due till the end of Octorber – I will be posting a review for Poetic Book Tours at the end of the month. While not a fun read, it’s definitely something we should all know – because not all of life is about fun. I greatly enjoyed this collection of essays as well.
~ Let’s Get Motivated! ~
This time I’m not looking into super old ARCs cause I have something more pressing among the current ones! These are the ones coming out soon, and I should read them ASAP. I’m sure you’ve all heard of The Rules of Magic – I’ve recently posted a review of Practical Magic which this is a prequel to. Then I also have House of Shadows – something mysterious about diaries, old houses, tragedies and courtesans! Super exciting. And Sweet Bean Paste is about an unlikely friendship between a misfit and an old lady, and surprise, surprise – it happens in Japan. Seemed very cute and heartwarming when I grabbed it.
So that’s it this month! Please share your own State of the ARC posts with me! I am super excited to read them. Please link up at the bottom, and don’t forget to visit everyone else’s links <3
I’m Evelina and I try to blog about books that matter, with a bit of fun there too! Disability and equality will be topics you see a lot, but there’s also a lot of scifi, fantasy and… GIFs. I’m also the proud founder of #ARCsAnonymous.
I was here. Didn’t receive or ask for any arcs but enjoy reading about your successes (and other results) with them.
Hahaha 😀 thanks! “Other results” is a good way to put it, man 😀 thanks for commenting, I appreciate it. You should totally ask for ARCs though, especially if you find something like The Punch Escrow! That’s how I found it 🙂
I have to confess that I have an ARC of a book released this week that I did NOT finish or review. To be fair, I think it is pretty mediocre so I am going to relegate it to a roundup post.
I have ARCS for TWO books coming out next week. One I should finish this weekend and plan to review on release day. The other will have to wait a weeks (fingers crossed I make that happen).
Still just treading water.
You have a very good balance it seems! I wish I was doing so well, you can see my numbers, after all 😀 thanks for sharing!
I don’t even want to think about my ARC pile right now it’s ridiculous. q__q I have a few ARCs I’m going to get to next month in the very least for blog tours along with some reading time for books that I’ve bought that have been neglected for too long. Good luck with your ARC pile!
Trust me, Jamie, it’s hardly going to be worse than mine! 😀 thank you 🙂
I love how open and honest you are about what’s going on in the world of ARCs here. I just… I just can’t. I haven’t bothered to look at my ARC pile since August and, while it might not be as bad as yours, it’s intimidating and overwhelming! I really should set aside time to review them all and make something happen… We shall see. Wait. You’re in the middle of reading four ARCs at the same time?! How do you manage that? Why are you doing this? HELP ME UNDERSTAND THIS MADNESS!!! I can barely listen to an audiobook… Read more »
We you should! 😀 Come on, join the State of the ARC. COME ONNNNN. It would do you good 😀 And I am always reading several books on the go. I never just read one book. I’m weird that way 😀 I never could stick to one book, it’s like changing a TV channel for me, and it’s been this way since childhood. I don’t know why I’m like that 😀 but I do know it helps prevent DNFs! I just grab another book for a while till I’m ready to come back to the other one. Remember how I… Read more »
It would be great for me, you’re right. And now that I’m joining up with ARCaholics, I might as well admit to my addiction. 😉 Do you plan on having a steady date this meme should be posted? I am either exhausted, illiterate, or I just can’t find the details here. If I’m going to do this, you know me, I will need to schedule this ahead of time! Plus, since this will be my first State of the ARC I’ll need to do some research to start planning here. It’s so sad– I have no idea how many ARCs… Read more »
I don’t think I’ve stated it anywhere on the post (since it’s only feature #2 xD), but after making the group, I’ve included a page where you can find all the details. I think State of the ARC will now always be published on the 30th of any month, with the exception of it being a Sunday – then I guess I’d move it. But if you read my Sunday posts, you always know my posts a week ahead. This month it’s definitely on the 30th, so you can plan to link up 🙂 You will probably have fun counting… Read more »
I read 13 ARCs for far this month, but I had so many September/October ARCs and all my library holds keep coming through. I am going to keep calm and read on.
Wow! 13 ARCs! You are amazing. That’s just the ARCs? You probably read other books too? How do you manage? I must know about this sorcery.
*Laughing* Yes, sorcery or empty nest syndrome and a long daily commute.
Oh yes! I forget, you told me you have an insanely loooong commute with nothing better to do! That makes more sense. Still! You must also read fast. Good job either way 🙂
This is an interesting meme and on interesting topic. I do not get offered too many arcs/ I guess it is the nature of the book selections on my blog. I tend to not take them when asked as I also fear that I will never get to them.
Oh, I just request most of mine on NetGalley 🙂 I would manage better, I deal with the current ones alright, but I’ve downloaded a ton back when I had just started blogging, and even before I did… When I was only on Goodreads. I didn’t even know how all of this worked back then! So now I’ve got this pile xD
I love this idea!!! And what an awesome title! ☺️ I definitely need to join in on this one- my list is 98% books unread and long overdue and 2% review desperately needed. Yikes. I’ll give it a sit in the next month or so though!
You can still post this month! 🙂 The linkup will be active for a while. I’m glad you like the idea, I hope I can help you to motivate yourself to read them! Even though I still need a little bit of a kick myself, it seems 😀 thanks for reading!
Hahaha I wouldn’t have anything to share, but after reading this post, I did add a couple of ARCs to my TBR, so hopefully I can get to those this month!
😀 one of us! I’m glad to have given you more ARC ideas 😀
Actually, update. If you want to join, I’ve made a Goodreads group just for it! It’s called ARCs Anonymous, that should tell you all you want to know 😀
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/269862-arcs-anonymous
Awesome, I’ll check it out!
Haha – is it mean of me that your ARC woes make me feel so much better about mine? I have 31 outstanding and about 17 of them are overdue. But those ones have been overdue for so long, I’m expecting them to be classics by the time I get to them… 😉
Classics 😀 good one! No, it’s not bad that it makes you feel better 😀 that’s the whole point of this post! Hey, you should totally write a post and link up 🙂 31 is already post-worthy xD at least you’d give them some exposure, that’s part of my idea 😀
This sounds like the perfect way for me to share my Netgalley shame…And maybe I’ll remember to participate next month…I have no time for delving into this on my blog right now, sadly.
Aw, that’s too bad! Well, you can mark Oct 30 on your calendar, cause that’s when the next post is going to be 🙂 hopefully you can join us!
This is a great postagain 🙂 I have been meaning to do state of ARC this month. I hope I am not late for it yet. Instead of just ARCs I am also thinking to incude review copies, because that is what I’ getting more these days. All the best for this month progress.
Of course you’re not late 🙂 yes, do include review copies – that is what I mean by ARCs as well, it’s just easier to use one word on all review copies 🙂 I’d be very glad if you joined 🙂 and if you don’t have time, I will be posting another one on the 30th 🙂
I am hoping to write a post till this weekend if it is still open. Also, why there is not a date mentioned on your blog posts? Actually it makes it a little difficult to see when it was published 🙂
Yes, it’s still open 🙂 actually, I don’t know, I think it’s my theme? Good point. I’ll have to ask my friend to add the dates to the post 🙂 she fixes my theme usually.
This is such a fun way to share how we are doing with ARCs. I have added my post to the linky. I am sad to actually see my numbers. Thanks for hosting this!
Oh great! I’ll have to go check it out 🙂 BTW, I’ve just made a Goodreads groups called ARCs Anonymous. The name speaks for itself and it’s meant for us to read more of our ARCs 🙂 each month we’ll choose a theme and pick an ARC from our own stack with that theme, then share reviews. And we also have support threads for NetGalley raids and stuff xD would you like to join? 🙂
Ahaha, I love this idea. I need to get in control of my ARCs… maybe next month I’ll join in!
I’ve actually just made it easier to join. I’ve made a Goodreads group called ARCs Anonymous and I think the name speaks for itself. Each month we will be picking a theme, then choosing an ARC from our stack and reading it, and then sharing our reviews for our different ARCs 🙂 want to join?
I love your graphics so much! I don’t think I would ever have the time to make those and my ARCs have been abandoned since May I think. I’m trying again with a couple horror I requested now that I’m in Creeptober! 🙂
I’ve invited you to the Goodreads group though 😉
[…] than the entire world…) That’s except for 2 or 3 bloggers that I know! I’ve even started a meme to help handle this situation! So if you feel like it’s a sin you’re guilty of, join the rest of us sinners. They say […]
I’m not even counting ARCs I’ve had over a year. Some of the ones I have a really short – I should just move them to the front of the list.
The short ones are your savior! Haha 😀 I was also eyeing a shorter one from last year just yesterday. Maybe that’s a good idea? It would work for my goal numbers xD
Hi Evelina! I’m sorry you’re ARC reading an reviewing wasn’t as successful this month… But some done is good! Reading is good! The first step… I’m loving you’re brick graphics!! It’s cute and matches your color scheme… Good luck reading and reviewing next month! <3
I alas tried for a couple days to write my own State of the ARC and wanted to do a fun graph but no matter how I did it I couldn't get the stats to show well and it frustrated me…! So yeah I put it aside and finished up my month *cries*
Thanks! You know, when I had that brick idea first, I almost jumped off the chair from excitement 😀 I’m a little nerdy like that about my jokes xD haha
No worries, you can write it next month, it’s going to come out on the 30th 🙂 have you tried using infogr.am? It’s easy to make a nice graph with them 🙂
Hey there!
Here’s my September and first State of the ARC post:
https://www.shesgoingbookcrazy.com/single-post/2017/10/08/State-of-the-ARC-September-Stats
I hope you are having a successful month so far, and getting caught up on some of those ARCs! Happy reading!
Yay! Thank you for joining 🙂 I am opening the post and I will try to check it out soon 🙂 I hope you had fun writing it! Means the world to me when people join, so thanks again <3
Yes!! I’m excited to join
I think I still have your post open, hectic week, but not to worry, I will visit if I haven’t yet xD brain going nuts %D
[…] lists are in. You can catch up on Evelina’s mountain of ARCs (advance reader copies) here. She’s also started a sort of Reviewer’s Anonymous Support Group over on Goodreads […]
Love your bricks! Even on months where you don’t read much, it’s still hard not to request more isn’t it! So hard!
I joined in this month. But I’ve tried to add my link but can’t. I can view the link list but see nowhere to add mine. What am I doing wrong?
I’ve actually stopped requesting all so much – I think I’ve become jaded with all the requesting! Now I usually just request 1-2 a month (which is a certain achievement for me, hehe… I used to request tens!) As for the link – it’s simple, I think you are trying to link up to State of the ARC #2 – that’s the old linkup (from September). I am using a free linky tool, so I can have only one active linkup. So please try to link up to the current State of the ARC #3 which you can find here.… Read more »
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