What an odd little week. I don’t know where it went! Did you see it?
I’ve pretty much nothing to report….
- I… did some reading?
- Did a tiny amount of work..?
- Went for… walks..? Cause it’s finally spring
- But seriously. I didn’t request any books. I hauled only one (but an important one, at least! You’ll see)
- Oh hey though, Book Bards finally caught up with the score this month. Cause we realized we’re awesome.
- And I was also doing a pre-readathon for Dewey’s – the incentive was 1000 pages this week, and I’m happy to say I’ve reached 1024 pages even before the readathon ends!!
Why the mini-hiatus in my subtitle? Well, because I’m not actually going on hiatus – I will still be posting! But I’m tired of posting like a clock. Especially with those guest posts, which I’m currently having trouble with – one of the people isn’t even responding. So I might post something if I feel like it, or I might just let it go. Sorry if it’s just reviews for a little while. I’m tired of blogging being a job. It’s sunny outside. GAH.
~ Last Week On The Blog ~
Last week I had two reviews, a long overdue review of Doorways in the Sand that’s been standing in line, giving way to the other reviews that needed to come out sooner, and The Lost Castle, that was giving way to others in a similar fashion. Both worthy books! And finally, since I’m having a bit of a break with the guest posts, I posted a discussion about book blogger fears, and the post is kind of a touchie. I wonder if you have similar fears?
~ Coming Up Next Week~
I’m tired of this whole next week business! So as I said earlier about the half-hiatus, I’m not certain what I’ll be posting this next week. But there will definitely be ONE post on wednesday, and it’s a book I really, REALLY loved – The Sunday Lunch Club! I’m still having a bookish hangover about this book a month later. So definitely read it 🙂
~ Little Book Haul ~
It has indeed been little! And finally, FINALLY I’ve hauled it, I expected to have it in print – but that plan failed out on me, so I just grabbed the Kindle version. The Kindle version is not too great – I also read Illuminae on the Kindle and it was much better – Obsidio has a few things about it that just don’t work. There were some graphical elements which were just too small to read, and the Kindle limits how much you can zoom. I know I could just turn on my Amazon cloud reader on the computer, but it also kind of sucks that they’ll make me do that. They should have really looked into this and maybe made it more accessible for those of us who can’t get a print version of the book, if they’re releasing it on the Kindle at all. But regardless! I’m happy I’m now able to read it 🙂
~ In The Bookish Community ~
You can choose to take, or specifically ignore Sophia’s @ Bookwyrming Thoughts advice on how to drive people away from your blog xD
Wendy @ Falconer’s Library has also posted an amazing discussion post about diversity – what’s normal for you might not be normal for me
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.
I’m so sorry you’re feeling a bit burnt out with blogging. As you said, it should be fun and not feel like a chore. I hope you feel a lot better after your somewhat-hiatus and don’t put pressure on yourself too much. Your readers will still be here once you’re back in form again, I’m sure! <3 Take care, Avalinah! 🙂
Thanks Nandini 🙂 by the way. Do you have a short version of your name? I was wondering if people call you Dini sometimes, cause that would be cute 😀 sorry if I completely massacre your name though xD
I hope I do feel better after that short vacation I’m going on tomorrow 🙂 although it’s RRRAAAAIIIIINNNIIIINNNNGGGG outside. Oh well 😀
Yes I can see how much reading you are doing And 1024 pages? That’s certainly awesome. Congratulations on completing the readathon.
I am yet to start Illuminae series but I hope to read it soon. Many people are raving about it so now I am curious
I actually ended up doing 1179 by the end of the day xD made me happy 😀
And you should definitely start the Illuminae series! It’s definitely worth reading 🙂
Wow, Evelina is finally back with commenting 1179 pages in a week? That’s really huge. I can hardly finish 300-400 pages
Yes soon. It’s just that the size intimidates me. It looks big.
TBH, I think what tided it over for me was Obsidio, and that is a fast read with not too many words per page 😀
Haha I hope you enjoy it
I absolutely enjoyed it 🙂
I would like to read the Illuminae series soon. It sounds really good. Hope you have a great week.
I hope you get to, it’s a very exciting series 🙂
Oh man I imagine Obsidio would be tough on the Kindle. I don’t usually read print books but that series is an exception. Glad you got it though!! Have a great week!
Yep.. Illuminae was actually borderline okay on the Kindle, but Obsidio is not. I don’t know why, but they’ve decided to include smaller print. Too bad! But it’s definitely still readable. It’s just a few details you miss out on. And thank you 🙂 I’m still enjoying it for sure!
Oh wow! 1024 pages? That’s a lot of reading in one week – no wonder you felt like it went by quickly 😉
I actually listened to the whole Illuminae Files series. It was awesome, because there’s a full cast of narrators, so it made me feel like I was right there with the characters – even more so than when I’m reading.
Have a wonderful week ahead and happy reading.
Lexxie I’ll be checking out the Audio books of the Illuminae series, I’ve read book 1 and will be re reading shortly before continuing onto book 2 and 3.
I am pretty curious about the audios as well 🙂
As most have already said take a break as much as you need. We tend to forget the initial reason we started a blog, it was to have like minded people to talk to about our love for books, a hobby NOT a job. Life still happens and everyone will understand. Blogs are to be nurtured and loved like a project and once it becomes a chore and a bother a break or down time of some sort is needed. I took quite a long break as I had a baby and took me time to even be able to… Read more »
Thank you, Angelica 🙂 kind words indeed!
I actually ended up reading 1179 by the end of the day xD so I was satisfied with the result 😀 you LISTENED to Illuminae? Wow, I can’t even imagine that. It’s such a graphic book though! I think maybe you should try rereading it in print sometime – just to experience it the other way round. It will be a very different experience 🙂 and yeah, I can imagine that listening to it must’ve been kind of like a movie! I should try that experience too, maybe after I’ve forgotten some of it 🙂 in a few years or… Read more »
I haven’t read any Roger Zelazny – and I really should have… this one sounds an ideal book where I can get started:). Neither have I read Way Station! Thank you for the recommendations – I haven’t yet got around to reading the Illuminae trilogy, either – I’ll try and get hold of it at the library – my rather elderly Kindle massively sulks when any kind of graphics pop up, other than a well-behaved map as a frontispiece… So many thanks for the warning! Have a great week, Evelina:)
Yeah, I think you should read something of his, you are big on scifi, after all 🙂 you’d enjoy it. It was fun! AND YOU MUST READ WAY STATION. No but seriously! As a scifi writer… YOU MUST!!! Yeah, The Illuminae Series are not too awesome on the kindle. I mean, even if you kindle didn’t sulk, you would have a hard time reading some of the more artsy small print. It’s best read in print for sure 🙂 the maps are utterly hopeless on the kindle, I just sort of skip those pages xD No but seriously. Go check… Read more »
Yeah, I have no idea where this week went either. I’ve been streaming music and listening nonstop trying to maintain my energy from a vacation I just went on to San Diego. It helps!
I hope it will help, as I’m going on a vacation as well 🙂
It infuriates me when someone requests a spot to guest post, and then they disappear.
Well, such is life, I guess! And a valuable lesson for me 🙂
I’ve been doing walks too on the warm and sunny days. I like the looks of the Lost Castle. Enjoy.
Thanks!
My reading feels like it has been at a complete standstill lately. But they just doubled meds, so I blame the fog and increased fatigue. Congrats on over 1000 pages, I think that is incredible! I have been offline a ton for appointments and what not, so hopping over now to check out your discussion post <3
Days like that will happen – especially if you’re on meds, that’s absolutely understandable 🙁 have you tried listening to books? Although if you’ve got a headache, that can still backfire. I hope you feel better soon!
I do listen to audio! I was anti audio for so long until this lesion developed. Now I am an even mix. When the vertigo hits and meds are too much, I lie in bed and listen. This way I am still able to enjoy <3
Oh, I’m glad you listen then 🙂 audiobooks (well, I don’t do audiobooks, I do text to speech, but same thing, really!) can be such a lifesaver when you’re tired or have headaches or some such. So I’m glad you are able to enjoy 🙂
The Sunday Lunch Club is calling to me! The idea of Sunday lunch, of course, plus imagining the club part.
Enjoy the new week…and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
I think you’d like that book indeed 🙂
I still need to read Gemina but I do have both Gemina and Obsidio sat on my shelf haha. Hope you have a good week girl – oh yeah did your boyfriend end up baking those scones? I forget to ask on twitter haha, were they nice if he did? (fruit or cheese? which were they hehe)
Gemina was great 🙂 Obsidio though is much darker than I expected… so I’m giving it a break halfway through 😀
And yep! We did having those scones 🙂 yum! Yup, they were lovely 🙂 they were just simple scones, with, uh, nothing? xD we had them with cream and jam 🙂 I haven’t had scones with STUFF in it yet 😀
Congrats on reading over 1000 pages! That’s impressive. Enjoy your hiatus. I’m also struggling with having a rigid posting schedule. Sometimes I just don’t feel like writing blog posts. I hope you have a good week and enjoy your new book!
Thank you!
You create these amazing posts. I honestly don’t know how you find the time and energy. You deserve some down time to relax and post what and when you want. I’m sure you’ll make whatever you share entertaining, as usual!
Thank you, Laura 🙂 I’m glad you can relate to my posts! I don’t know how I find the time either, but lately it’s the comments I’ve been struggling with the most xD I had 150 on Friday, figured half of them out and it was like 70 left… Then I come back, and there are 245 on the tuesday xD what the… 😀
Thank you though, it means a lot 🙂
Take a break! Don’t push yourself. Blogging shouldn’t feel like a job or a chore that you have to do. I say, if things fall through, just post your reviews and go enjoy the sunshine. 😉
That is indeed the plan B 😀 although I do worry that reviews only will bore the hell out of my readers 😀 but I guess it’s probably not a very grounded fear 🙂
Oh no! Did my first comment go through? I got an error and lost everything I wrote… anyway, if it didn’t then please know that I am and will always be a big supporter of blog breaks because I hate it when blogging feels like a chore or a job and it’s no longer fun. Post what you feel like and when you feel like and take all the time you need!
It was sunny here too and I took an unplanned break from the blog in order to take a lot of walks and enjoy the sun!
Oh no! Hate it when that happens ;_; I think it might not have gone through though 🙁 that’s why I have a habit xD when I write a comment, I Ctrl+A and Ctrl+C everything, and only then hit “Post comment” xD that’s an incredibly useful habit 😀
And thank you!! 🙂
I should do that from now on too!
🙂
I read the first book on my Kindle as a review, and agree the series is not meant for eBooks. So I bought them all. I got mine on release day but had to wait since it was in the middle of Take Control. I am looking forward to devouring it. Enjoy your little hiatus. Sometimes unplugging is a wonderful thing!
Yeah, they’re pretty hard on an ebook, but oh well, what are you gonna do. I was able to finish it, although I had to skip a few pictures for sure. But they weren’t completely essential I guess 🙂 I hope you enjoy the series! Get ready for the #FEELS!
I feel you Evelina! Blogging must not become a job but stay a hobby. So..relax <3
You’re right 🙂 and I am already relaxing, by not posting anything today 😀 blog hopping instead!
Ha that’s funny. This week DID go by fast! And I hear you on posting. Have FUN- nothing else matters. At least blog- wise anyways. I’ll have to check out your book blogger fears post…
I haven’t read Zelazny in ages, nice to see a review of that!
Hope you love Obsidio- I read it in e-version too.
It did, didn’t it 🙂 thanks, Greg!
I just finished Illuminae and liked it. I had a similar week and didn’t do any reviews because I just didn’t feel like it. I understand how you feel. Hope you have a great week!
Thank you 🙂
The Sunday Lunch Club looks good. I hope you have a great week!
It was great, and thanks!
You work so hard, Evelina, and you deserve breaks every once in a while. I basically want to comment on a bunch of your work, because, gosh dang it, it is so good. You just hit the nail right on the head with your honesty and wit. It’s perfect. By the way, I hope you love Obsidio. I have not picked it up yet. >.>
Thank you, Dina 🙂 aww, you are too sweet!
And yes, yes – I loved Obsidio! And needless to say, I am utterly and absolutely shook. All the feels! I hope you can pick it up soon 🙂
I’m so glad that spring has finally arrived! I’m looking forward to getting outdoors and that’s not something I say much because bugs + pollen!
Me too 🙂 at least it’s finally warm and sunny, right?
Ahhh 1000 pages in one week, that’s amazing! And I know our massive buddy read must be a sliver of them 😉 And I think it’s great that you’re playing things a little more loosely on the blog and taking advantage of spring. I hope you’ll enjoy the weather and the walks…and who knows, maybe you’ll come across a bench perfect for sneaking in a little pleasure reading too 🙂 Hope you have a wonderful week Evelina! ♥ (And I’ll have my questions ready sometime soon, promise!)
Thanks 😀 well, I feel like I half cheated, cause a third of those was Obsidio, and that’s like… NOT THE SAME as normal pages 😀
But yes, that’s true, our buddy read was a big part of it! And perhaps it makes up for Obsidio xD cause that wasn’t an easy to read book for sure 😀
Oh, I am indeed planning to come accross a bench or two 😀 Dewey’s 😉
Yay for walks and spring. We had two days of nice weather, and now it is cold again. *sad face*
Great job on your read-a-thon. It must be fun to surpass your goal.
Yeah, it’s been cold again all this week too! So that’s too bad. And thanks 🙂
Uggghhh…I’m also having a rough time with my kindle. I just got it the other day and I can’t even see the tiniest bit of words on that thing! Hope you can read the Illuminae series much better on kindle! Also, feel free to take a break from the blog if you need to! It will do you a world of WONDERS! 😀
Actually, by the end of Obsidio, I found a hack – read it as landscape. And then zoom into the pictures. It actually helps! Although I’m not saying it’s perfect, lol 😀 but it helps.
One is great! I was going to start worrying if you went another week without hauling any 😀 Happy Reading!
Haha, yes 😀 good point!
Evelina you do so much with helping the book blogging community, it’s okay to take a break or a half-hiatus. Everyone needs a break every so often, we’ll still be here.
If you still have a book hang-over from The Sunday Lunch Club, I will add to my list. I’m sure the conversations during lunch gets very interesting.
and WOW 1024 pages, way to go!
Thank you 🙂 and yes, that book is very recommended! I wonder if you’ll like it 🙂
Go for that walk and enjoy the sunshine! You’ll have more to give to your blog if you take care of yourself first.
Thank you 🙂 I shall try!
I’m amazed that anyone can read 1,000+ pages in a week. Reading is your super power!
It seems as though many people are experiencing blogger burnout – or just a blogging slump – lately. I don’t know if it’s the time of year or what, but it seems to be widespread. Time to let ourselves off the hook and realize this is a hobby and we’re allowed to go do other things! 🙂
Thank you 🙂 well, to be honest, half of that was Obsidio, and that just reads faster 😀 but I was surprised I made it indeed 🙂
Yeah, I’ve also noticed that. Maybe it’s a spring thing?
You do you, Evelina. If blogging becomes a job or chore it’s time to take a step back. You are supposed to have fun and it shouldn’t frustrate you.
Yay for Obsidio! I have to read the ones before this one – I hope you’ll enjoy!
Have a fabulous, sunny, you-do-you-mini-hiatus week.
That is good advice 🙂 thank you. And I just finished Obsidio today. What an ending to the series!
Wait until you are my age. I don’t wonder where weeks go…I wonder where months go, years even. It’s crazy.
Good luck with reading that detailed book on your Kindle. I turn down picture books now; I just don’t think it’s the same experience on a Kindle.
I know! I was wondering about that myself. It’s like with every year, they pass faster and faster!
[…] my friend Nic for making technical questions seem easy, Alex for offering to host, and the amazing Evelina @ Avalinah’s Books for reaching out to the wide-world of technically-savvy bloggers to help me understand my options. […]
This week did disappear before I even realized. Crazy how that happens. Ugh guest posts. It’s rare I do them anymore. So much hassle. Hope you have a good one!
You’re right, I thought they would be less work, but they’re mysteriously not 😀
I’m waiting to get a physical copy of Obsidio. I need to have all three on my shelf for some reason, even though I’ve yet to read ANY of them. That’s a lot of pages read this week – great job!
Indeed it’s a great series to have in physical format 🙂 I have the first and the last one on the kindle, and the middle one in print. It feels like the weirdest setup of all 😀
I am sneaking around Obsidio for weeks now. Guess that´s one of the next books I am buying *smile* Hope you can enjoy it anyway.
Best wishes and have a great week.
Vi
I just finished it today. It’s a good series ender, you should definitely pick it up when you have a chance 🙂
And thank you!
Whatever you post, i know it will be awesome! 🙂
I tried to take the BF on a walk on Saturday, but he conveniently wore his “not-comfy” shoes… admittedly, he doesn’t like walking…
Aww, thank you 🙂 conveniently xD yeah, taking boys out on a walk is no easy task for sure.
oh oh no. One of those “Why I don’t like your blog” posts!
I thought we were done with those! XD
I read it. YUP same message. VERY similar to the ones I read when I was a newbie [aesthetics, background color, font size, etc etc]. Still feel the same way about those posts 😉
I hope you enjoy your break from creating content and just relax visiting the blogosphere.
hugs xoxo
Well, opinions will be opinions, but if you’re a newbie, they could help out when finding your bearings 😀
And thanks! 🙂
You are on Sunday Post #55?!?!? WHERE DID THE TIME GO?! I couldn’t be more excited to see your commitment to this. Look at how long you’ve been blogging and what a great mark on the community you’ve made!! <3 <3 <3 I've obviously been out of it for a while Book Bards? Like, a readathon? Explain. I LOVE The Iluminae Files. Illuminae was one of my favorite books of 2016. Perhaps my actual favorite. Yup. actual favorite. There was a lot of squeeing and yelling and flopping throughout the process of reading it. 😀 I've heard the Kindle version… Read more »
Yes, 55 😀 actually, 58 at this point? (Wait, what? My comments are being weird. I had answered everything from the middle of April. I don’t know where these came from! Sorry!) And yes, I truly do enjoy the Sunday post 🙂 I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t love it 😀 I haven’t NOT posted even once! I have kept it going every weekend 🙂 it’s part of my routine now. And you know what I mean – what you talked about in your hiatus ender post. As for the Book Bards, it’s the #BeatTheBacklist challenge. We’re trying… Read more »
uwu! Congrats on the 1000 pages, Evelina!! I haven’t checked into Beat the Backlist challenge for so long even though I have been reading the books. Terrible, terrible of me!
I hope you’re enjoying your break 😀
Thank you 🙂 indeed, you should check in.. I mean, if you’re in my team 😀 if you’re not, then you can let it go xD xD xD haahhaa 😀