Ten Books I Picked Up On A Whim

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This weeks topic is "Ten books I Picked Up on a Whim"

Alright. SO this is my first post in almost a year, so please bear with me while I work through learning how to write a post again. Just a little bit of background history - I originally blogged on Blogger, then I transferred to Wordpress, and now I am back on Blogger. I lost about two years of content when I stopped blogging, but that's totally cool because it's not that big of a deal.

My list is totally going to be this weird combination of young adult lit, adult fiction, graphic novels, and non fiction. I'm also going to be including not only books I have read recently, but some from the last year of so that have resonated with me.

1. Widow Basquiat by Jennifer Clement

One of my absolute favorite books of the last year. I picked this one up on a whim last summer and I still think about it on occasion. It is this wicked incredible exploration of the life of Basquiat through the perspective of his long term lover / muse, Suzanne. It is a super quick read that is going to actually make you feel something. Definitely think that fans of YA books will enjoy it.

2. Bluets by Maggie Nelson
I don't really know how to describe this book, but it is incredible. I had been hearing about it for awhile and I know someone who is super passionate about the book, so I just bought a copy one day. 

3. White Girls by Hilton Als
Last year I read an interview in the LA Review of Books and the person being interviewed mentioned that if he could teach one book in a college course it would be The Women by Hilton Als. So obviosuly, I had to find out more about the book and the man who wrote it because I had never heard of him. I wasn't able to get my hands on The Women until a few weeks ago, but I did read White Girls last year. Hilton Als is just so good at language. This book covers so many different topics like race, sexuality, art, identity, literature, celebrity, and gender. And it's connected it never feels like too much. A MUST READ.

4. The Ghost Network by Cady Disabato
I am totally one of those people who doesn't buy a book unless I have read and loved it. It is very rare that I go into a bookstore and just buy something without having at least some sort of prior knowledge on the book. And that is exactly what happened with this book. It was in the staff pick section at one of my favorite bookstore. It is basically this story about this popstar that goes missing, but it also fused with all of these actual historical events. And it's like a little spooky because of the underground organization, but also really freaking awesome. I am totally a sucker for conspiracy stories and that is exactly what this is. It's also like... a story within a story within a story and I love that so much. PLUS. A+ FOR LGBTQA+ characters and a main character that is not white. It was totally effortless and just perfect.

5. In the Cafe of Lost Youth by Patrick Modiano
Totally picked this book up off a table last week and just started reading it. I felt really dumb after finding out that Patrick Modiano is actually this really well known novelist, but whatever. Really enjoyed this book and it was actually a nice companion to The Ghost Network because of some similar themes. Even though they were written like... seventy years a part from each other.

6. Forever by Judy Blume
I had read this book when I was younger, but this was my first time revisiting it since then. Such an incredible book that broke through so many barriers at the time of publication. I am so glad that I picked this book up and work and reread it because it has totally reignited my love for children's books and made me remember how important they can be.
  

7. The Girls Who Went Away by Ann Fessler
I am totally one of those people who gets obsessive on a topic as soon as I start learning about it. In one of my classes this semester, we read Roe v Wade - The Supreme Court case from the seventies that legalized abortion in the United States. It was super interesting and someone in class offhandly mentioned this book, so I obviously had to look into it. This is a really incredible book that tells the stories of the women who were forced to give their children up for adoption in the years preceding Roe V. Wade. After the end of WW2, there was a boom adoptions in the US and this is an brief history of what it was like for the women who gave their kids up for adoption and how it affected their lives. Super important book because this is a history that I had never heard of and I think is often left behind.

8. Saga
SAGA. SAGA. SAGA. WHAT AN INCREDIBLE SERIES. I totally would not have picked this one up on my own. I basically just read it because of FOMO. And it's just. WOW. LOVE IT SO MUCH.

9. Shortcomings
Another really cool collection of short graphic novels. 

10. The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Adieh
The only true YA book on this list. I read this last year and really loved it. I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was. Definitely need to get my hands on the second book sometime soon!

Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think of them? What are some of the books YOU have recently picked up on a whim? Comment below!

Back to Blogging 2016

Hi everyone!

It has been a LONG time since I last used this blog. For those of you who don't already know, or have forgotten due to how inactive I have been for the last year - I used to blog over on Wordpress. Well. I originally blogged on Blogger from DEC. 2011 - JUN. 2013, and then on Wordpress up until early 2015 when I kind of just forgot about my blog. 

AND NOW I AM BACK.

I've made the decision to start blogging on Blogger again just because I am not as serious of a blogger as I used to be and it doesn't make sense to pay for a domain and for the monthly service when I can just blog for free on Blogger. And I'm a college student, so I am forever broke.

Blogging has been on my mind for a few months now. I work at a bookstore and I never realiUS zed how much of my knowledge of childrens' literature came from blogging. It's something that I think a lot of us forget about or even take for granted, but book bloggers know so much more about whatever genre they read than anyone else. It's actually kind of incredible and I really want to get back into the habit of reading and blogging again. And I really miss the community. Book Bloggers are the best, but I think that everyone already knows that.

A few years ago and even last year my favorite genre of books was YA. And there are still YA books that I love and look forward to read, but this past year has forced me to move out of my comfort zone and into other genres. I have been reading a lot of nonfiction and... what I guess you would call literary fiction and I am so excited to share these books with you all! This blog is definitely going to be different than what it was a few years ago, but I am excited to share it with everyone! I think it's a natural transition because nobody is the same as they were last year or even last month. We're constantly changing and blogging is a cool way to show that transformation. 

One of the worst things about this new blog transformation is not having TWO YEARS of content on this blog, but I have it all backed up and I'm going to see if there is a way to just import it into this blog. But if that doesn't happen, I'm not too concerned. 

Also, I'm currently working on getting my blog back on Bloglovin and other following services, so Twitter will be the best way to get updates for new posts.

AND NOW FOR THE FUN PART. Even though I haven't been blogging - doesn't mean that I haven't been keeping up with upcoming YA. I happen to have a few ARCS that I would like to get off of my hands. Lately I have been doing a good job of donating these, but since a few of them have already been released I am unable to donate them to my go to, Housing Works. So here they are.

US Only. Ends February 1, 2016 at midnight.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Also. Please comment below! What are some of your most anticipated reads of 2016? What have been your most recent reads? What have you loved / not loved? What should be on my radar?

SWITCH TO WORDPRESS

I'm officially switching my blog over to Wordpress. It's in the beginning stages, but you can look at it by going to the link I'll provide below. I know there's a way to transfer my followers over to the new URL - I just haven't gotten that far yet. So please excuse the lack of blog posts these next few days.

tabithasbookblog.com

Top Ten Books On My Summer TBR

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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Books On My Summer TBR

1. When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney
This book sounds like something I'll love, but then again at the same time - I've heard a lot of good and bad things about it. I requested it from the library, and it should be here by the end of the week, so I guess I'll see then!

2. Golden by Jessi Kirby
This book sounds so freaking incredible! I've seen so many fantastic things about it, and even the reviews that didn't like it so much - still made mw want to read it. It'll be my first Jessi Kirby book, and hopefully not my last!

3. This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
I love the covers for these books, and I love the synopsis for this one - it doesn't sound like it's going to be some life changing read, but ti does sound light a fun book.

4. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
I cannot believe that I still haven't read this one. I bought it from Amazon and then it got lost in the mail, so I got my refund - and somehow I never ended up buying a copy. I was going to request it from the library, but the wait list is wayyyy long. So I think I'll have to buy a copy.

5. Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols
I've recently really gotten into reading Jennifer Echols novels, and this is the one that everyones always recommending! I requested it from the library and it came in yesterday, so I'll be going to get it!

6. Something Like Normal by Trish Doller
Ahhh! This one sounds so good! I'm actually reading it right now, and I'm really enjoying it.

7. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
How have I not read this book? Pretty much everyone raves about it and the main guy Jase. I'm a sucker for contemporaries that have an actively involved family, so I'll definitely need to read this one soon.

8. Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson
I loved Amy & Roger, and this one sounds just as good - in a totally different way. 


And heres a few books that didn't exactly make it onto my list - that I just wanted to show.

What books made it onto your list this week? Do we share any of the same ones? Comment and let me know - leave links to your posts as well!

My Book Boyfriend: Augustus Waters

My Book Boyfriend is a weekly meme originally featured at The Unread Reader, but while she's on a blogging hiatus - I've asked to take over. There's no set way in how to set up your posts - just as long as you share who your current book boyfriend is. (I got permission from Missie to do this)

For my first MBB, since the revamp (not really one) I'm choosing Augustus Waters from The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I wasn't able to write a review on the book, just because I couldn't think of words to describe how I felt - so here's the next best thing. A MBB post!

This is one of the only posts that will have pictures - all credit goes to Ansel Elgort (the actual casting of Augustus Waters and his instagram profile)
http://instagram.com/anselelgort

Name: Augustus Waters 

Age: 17 

Hair Color: Dark Brown

Eye Color: Blue

Love Interest: Hazel Grace

Description: "Long and leanly muscular, he dwarfed the molded plastic elementary school chair he was sitting in. Mahogany hair, straight and short. He looked my age, maybe a year older, and he sat with his tailbone against the edge of the chair, his posture aggressively poor, one hand half in a pocket of dark jeans…Look, let me just say it: He was hot."

First Sighting:
There were five others before they got to him. He smiled a little when his turn came. His voice was low, smoky, and dead sexy. “My name is Augustus Waters,” he said. “I’m seventeen. I had a little touch of osteosarcoma a year and a half ago, but I’m just here today at Isaac’s request.”
“And how are you feeling?” asked Patrick.
“Oh, I’m grand.” Augustus Waters smiled with a corner of his mouth. “I’m on a roller coaster that only goes up, my friend.”  

---

He shook his head, just looking at me.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing," he said.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Augustus half smiled. "Because you're beautiful. I enjoy looking at beautiful people, and I decided a while ago not to deny myself the simpler pleasures of existence.” 

---

“May I see you again?" he asked. There was an endearing nervousness in his voice.
I smiled. "Sure."
"Tomorrow?" he asked.
"Patience, grasshopper," I counseled. "You don't want to seem overeager. 
"Right, that's why I said tomorrow," he said. "I want to see you again tonight. But I'm willing to wait all night and much of tomorrow." I rolled my eyes. "I'm serious," he said. 
"You don't even know me," I said. I grabbed the book from the center console. "How about I call you when I finish this?"
"But you don't even have my phone number," he said.
"I strongly suspect you wrote it in this book." 
He broke out into that goofy smile. "And you say we don't know each other.”

---

My favorite part about Augustus' character is that he serves a much bigger purpose than just being another book guy. He helps Hazel (the MC) realize that you only have one chance at life and that you better make your life matter while you have the chance to be alive.

  “I'll fight it. I'll fight it for you. Don't you worry about me, Hazel Grace. I'm okay. I'll find a way to hang around and annoy you for a long time.”

"It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you."

I'm basically an emotional wreck after doing this post! Thank goodness I don't have my copy of this book anymore otherwise it'd be 100x worse. I just had my quote notebook.

What do you think? Is Augustus worthy of being a book boyfriend? Comment and let me know! Leave links to your posts - and all that fun stuff!

Review: So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti

Title: So Much Closer
Author: Susane Colasanti

Original Release Date: April 12, 2011

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Source: Library
Goodreads | Kindle | Print 

When Brooke's crush, Scott, moves from their suburban town to New York City, she decides to follow him there. Living with her formerly estranged dad and adapting to a new school are challenging, and things go from bad to worse when Brooke learns that Scott already has a girlfriend. But as she builds her new life, Brooke begins to discover a side of herself she never knew existed. And as she finds out, in the city that never sleeps, love can appear around any corner... (summary from goodreads.com)

Susane Colasanti writes some of my favorite contemporary novels, so going into So Much Closer I had a certain expectation - and while this one wasn’t my favorite of her books, it was an enjoyable read. The story starts off a little bit slow, and it seems like a weird story - but as the story progresses so does the overall theme to the book, and it becomes very good.

My absolute favorite part of So Much Closer was the setting. It’s set in New York, and it’s very clear in the detail and how the cities described - that Susane Colasanti is from there. Our main character, Brooke, goes through a major transformation over the course of the book - and a large part of it was due to the atmosphere of the new city she was living in and how the different places she visited opened her eyes to new experiences.

Brooke wasn’t a character that I liked in the beginning, and it wasn’t even so much that I didn’t like her - because characters really don’t have to be too likeable if the stories good. It was just that she was so strange in the beginning. She basically followed a boy who she thought she was in love with to a new city - leaving behind her family and friends. All for a boy she’d spoken to only a handful of times. However, throughout the story - you can definitely see a transformation in Brooke’s personality. With the help of the people she’s met at her new school and some personal growth, she grew into a pretty likeable character.

The secondary characters in this book were incredible! Especially the characters, John and Sadie. I wish that maybe we had gotten a little bit more time with the two of them and some more development in who they are, but they definitely played an important role in the story. 

While not my favorite of Susane Colasanti’s books - it’s still one I would recommend for anyone looking for a good contemporary read.

What do you think: Have you read So Much Closer? If so, what did you think? Are you a fan of Colasanti's work? Comment and let me know!