I’ve been so far out this week (I mean, with my mind!) I’ve been spending time in a kids camp where my boyfriend is teaching English and I’m just sort of hanging out. It’s by a lake, it’s nice and sunny and very different. I have been working for the entire first week, but next week I’ve decided to take more time off, so I hope I’ll be doing some more reading. Because I haven’t really been reading all that much this past week!
But I also can’t really blame myself. It’s just so different here. You’re always surrounded by like 40 people, most of them kids. There’s some sort of themed evening every night – a fashion show, a talent contest… And let me tell you, the kids are SO talented. They took half a day (only!) to literally put up a band with drums, base guitar, electric guitar, saxophone and vocals to perform House of the Rising Sun. Another kid performed the life out of an accordion, and he’s like… 8? 9? A girl sang a song a capella really well. Man… These kids are something alright.
But I know one thing. None of them has read 86 books so far this year 😀 (I’m just saying that to feel better about myself xD Although it’s also true.)
I also celebrated my birthday. (Thank you ALL for such amazing birthday wishes!) I don’t have pics to share, but some of the stuff will be going on my Instagram when I’ve had time to photograph it and set it up (read: sometime in September, hopefully xD) My mom gave me the most insane gift ever!!! She made me a PERSONALIZED exlibris, you know, the stamp that you stamp your owned books with. It’s got me on it (lugging a ton of books), musical notes, and most importantly – my kitty, peeking from out of the corner. IT IS SIMPLY PERFECT. I will share some pics eventually! Some of you might have seen it in my Instagram stories on Friday or Saturday. Sorry for no pictures this Sunday! Sharing my latest Instagram pic though:
~ Last Week On The Blog ~
Last week I posted State of the ARC, and I’m sorry I’m so late to visit yours! I will be making the rounds today or tomorrow. Do remember to link up, if you’ve posted yours 🙂 also, I must really really recommend the book Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows! It was an amazing and very meaningful read. Come see why the controversial title makes sense.
~ Coming Up Next Week~
Next week I will have a review for Rogue Protocol, AKA Murderbot #3! Drop by to read it. And also a review of another Tor.com title, The Million.
~ Little Book Haul ~
I am happy to have hauled only one book so far this month (because like I mentioned, I haven’t been reading all that much) – and it’s one I’ve been wanting to get, ever since I read everyone’s glowing reviews!
~ In The Bookish Community ~
Jordanne @ Bloodthirsty Little Beasts shares a pretty great Edelweiss guide
Jackie @ Death by Tsundoku talks about why she’s breaking up with NetGalley
So how has your week been? And what are you reading? What did you haul?
As usual, I’m linking up with the Sunday post meme at Kimba’s book blog and Stacking The Shelves over at Tynga’s Reviews.
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.
That post about NetGalley… i can relate to that. I just reached that point last month where i decided this needs to stop and i won’t be requesting stuff for quite a while.
Hope you enjoy your week off 🙂
Good luck with the NetGalley ban! I can relate 😀
And thank you 🙂
Ha ha 86 books. Beat that kids! lol sounds like fun though. And happy birthday!!! Hope it was awesome.
And yay for Rogue Protocol!!!!
Actually, it’s 87 as of late night yesterday 😀
Those kids do sound like amazing little humans – especially the band, man, that must be hard work and to be done in one day! Anyway, enjoy your time even if you are working, at least it’s a change of scenery.
I think I forgot to link up State of the Arc but I will check asap.
Yeah, they were pretty talented 🙂 thank you!
It sounds like fun – those children sound lovely. I hope you manage to have a relaxing time with week and catch up with your reading – though 86 books so far this year is a good total.
I’m up to 118 books by now 😀 so I guess I did catch up with the reading! Haha 😀 thank you 🙂
Sounds like some talented kids at that camp! (But you’re right, I’m sure none of them are total reading ninjas. So there.) Happy (belated) birthday wishes! And what an amazing gift from your mom!
Indeed 🙂 nope, none of them seemed to be reading ninjas, you’re right xD thank you!
Oh my God, I’ve been eyeing up those stamps for literally years. Either that or an embossing version. I’ve even added it into my card a few times but still not bought it!
I just can’t decide! They look so, so lovely, but I’m struggling to get over my fear of ‘defacing’ books!
I would have never figured to buy it if my mom hadn’t gifted it to me 🙂 it’s a really cute thing to have, although it was expensive. I don’t think it’s defacing – it’s marking them as yours. Worst case, you can stamp a paper and tack it to the inside of the cover with those removable tacks?
I’m glad you had a great birthday! Your new book looks tempting, and I’m impressed by your books read total so far.
Enjoy your week, and thanks for visiting my blog.
Thank you 🙂
I know what you mean about some kids these days, I mentor some kids aged like 11 – 14 and I cannot get over how engaged they are and how aware of what’s going on in the world politically and in terms of serious social issues – they’re probably more in touch than me. They also ask better questions than most interviewers I’ve met! Glad you had such a lovely birthday – I have wanted my own exlibris for so long but for real, how many hints does a girl need to drop on her boyfriend? I mean c’mon. Thanks… Read more »
I know what you mean – for one, they have a better grasp on technology, cause it’s always been around for them (for me it’s more like it was around for only half of my life, really). Thank you 🙂 ahahah, men are not very good with hints, I’m afraid 😀
Happy Birthday, girl!
Thank you! 🙂
I think summer camps are pretty fun, and the one you are at sounds rather nice. I love sunning by the lake. Can’t wait to see pics of your birthday haul, and congratulations on 86 books!
Thanks! 🙂
That camp sounds like fun! It’s always nice to get away from your normal life sometimes I loved The Oracle Year and I hope you do too! Happy belated birthday (if I forgot to wish you happy birthday last week)
I still haven’t started reading it, but I’m sure I’ll like it 🙂 thank you!
Your other sure knows you! I’d love to see the exlibris. Enjoy your vacation. I’d love one right about now. LOL
My Sunday Post
I will have to take more pics of the Exlibris and put it on my Instagram 🙂 and thanks!
Sounds like you’re having one hella amazing time at the camp!!! ♡♡♡ I kinda wanna attend this Kids camp too :p AND OMG Happy Belated Birthday Avalinah!!! ❤❤❤ 86 books!!!!! Damn girl!
Thank you!! 🙂
It seems like you had a fun week. Once again, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Haha, that’s true: no kid has read 86 books. =P
Happy readings! 😉
Tânia @MyLovelySecret
Thank you!!!!
Happy Birthday!! I loved going to camp for two weeks every summer. So many wonderful memories. What a fun job your boyfriend has.
Thank you! 🙂 yeah, it’s a fun job, but we also wish it kind of paid more 😀 (like… a lot more xD)
Sounds like fun at camp. I don’t know – at 8 or 9 I was reading that many books and I went to camp and played piano and saxophone.
Anyway, Happy Birthday! It’s a wonderful and personal gift.
I love Murderbot and I’m holding out for the audio. Have a great week with more reading!
Anne – Books of My Heart
It was 🙂 oh wow, that sounds like a fun camp too! I didn’t go to camps when I was little, but I don’t think I would have liked it. I wasn’t good at people stuff 😀
Thank you 🙂
86 books, wow you are my champion! GO YOU! Happy Birthday or belated as it may be. May you have a wonderful day and week.
Mary Sunday Roundup #30!
By now it’s actually something like 118 xD I can’t believe it. I don’t know what’s happened to me this year 😀
And thank you! 🙂
The summer camp sounds so fun! I hope you get a little “me time” to read though 🙂 And I’m one of the ones who saw that amazing stamp on your Instagram stories!! That’s such a cool, personal present. If I was in your shoes I’d be itching to rush home and stamp it on every single book in sight I’m also loving the way your new Instagram theme is coming along, so pretty ♥
Thank you! Haha, that’s the problem though 😀 I don’t have enough print books to stamp them xD well, just a few, really. So it’s kind of a let down xD but when I’m back from vacation, I will properly take up the project 🙂
Looking forward to taking part in State of the ARC this month! Have been deliberating it for the past month but got a little intimidated by all of the spreadsheets :’)
I’m sorry I was so late to reply! Did you take part? I was traveling! Gotta go dig through your posts 😀
im glad you had a fab birthday 🙂 <3
Thank you!!!!! <3
Happy birthday! Have fun with the kids at the lake. I think that many kids would stress me out. Enjoy your exlibris. Have a great week!
Thank you 🙂 and you’re absolutely right – such amounts of kids DEFINITELY DO stress you out xD
“My mom gave me the most insane gift ever!!! She made me a PERSONALIZED exlibris”
That’s awesome. Happy birthday!
I worked at a summer camp (day camp, not sleepover) when I was in college. I had so much fun with the kids.
Thank you! 🙂 oh yeah, then you must know the experience. It can be fun, but it can also be pretty overwhelming 🙂
I think I have a copy of the Oracle Year. It’s one of those I may have bought for my Kindle when it was on sale. Of course I could be dreaming. Those kids sound uber-talented. But of course, you are too. What an awesome gift from your Mom!
I was actually actively waiting for a sale 🙂 but now I’m not reading it xD typical, isn’t it!
A belated Very Happy Birthday to you!!
I hope your head wasok? Concussion is not a nice birthday present 🙁
Thank you! And yep, it was fine 🙂
Ahh I’m so glad you had a lovely birthday! ALL the best wishes!! (And cake!?) And omg there’s nothing like being surrounded by a ton of talented tiny kids to make one feel unaccomplished. Juuuust kidding. They sound pretty amazing haha. Also congrats on having read 86 books!! With all the blogging and work and going places you do, that’s seriously amazing.
Thanks Cait! I learn from the best *points at Cait’s last year’s read stack*
Those kids at the camp sound awesome! Super talented for sure. The gift your mom made sounds amazing!!
-Lauren
Yeah, they really were 🙂 thank you
It sounds like you had a great birthday, Evelina. Having kids sing for you is awesome 🙂 I hope you’re having a wonderful week, and that you’ll have some more time to read.
Thanks Lexxie 🙂 yeah, that was great.
Happy belated birthday! 🙂
Thanks 🙂
Happy belated birthday Evelina! I am glad that we both are 30 now, see I needed company 😛
Wow, 86 books already? you are on fire girl. Keep it up. And I loved your review of Erotic Stories. That is such a powerful and wonderful book.
Haha, yes the kids these days are really talented. I usually think I wasn’t even able to go alone somewhere when I was that old 😛
Thank you, Sim, and I’m sorry I’m only replying these comments now 🙂
I’ve broken 100 books by now! 😀
Oh, I was definitely not able to go alone anywhere at that age 😀
Awww, Happy Birthday! I completely forgot about it but then again, I was very off social media.
86 books is a talent that some kids can’t beat! 😉
Thank you! I’m only catching up with the comments now and actually wishing you a happy birthday xD
Happy Happy Birthday! What a wonderful gift from your mother.
Thank you! 🙂