Being a reviewer

I've been asked a couple of times what it's like to be a reviewer. We get to read certain books before the release date and we receive books for review - obviosuly. 2 years ago I didn't know about any of this - it was around the time that I discovered booktube. I envied them - a lot - I wanted to receive books for review to. I didn't know how hard that actually is. Being a reviewer is fun but at the same time very stressful.

You probably know about sites like Netgalley and Edelweiss, well I discovered more sites where you can receive free ebooks in exchange for reviews; Bookblogging, blogging for books etc. And when my blog started gaining followers (when I was on the other domain) I began receiving review requests daily and then publishers contacted me.. So now I'm left with a ton of books - both digital and physical - that I have to read and review. I've already read a bunch of them, but I still have a long way to go.


Requesting a sh*tload of books
A problem when you first begin being a reviewer is that you get overwhelmed and request a load of books - which is a very bad idea. Netgalley is probably why, you can just press 'request' and then you find out whether or not you get the book and after a while with denials you start requesting more because you think 'I'll not get approved to all of them anyway' - which is an even worse idea, because once the ball is rolling; it's rolling! Limit yourself to a few instead of 20 like I did.
Another problem, very similar to that, is when you start receiving mails from publishers about which of these 10 books you want to receive - and you start thinking that and that and that and that and end up requesting a bunch of them because you don't know better in the beginning.

Not enough time
Readers always say that there's too many books and not enough time - well that enormous pile of books is just getting bigger when you're a reviewer. I know I didn't stop accumulating a ton of books when I started receiving books for review. I kept on buying and because I also had review books I made them a higher priority than the books I already own - which means that I'm now left with over a 100 unread books - and that's only the physical ones.
The problem is that you don't have the time to read your own books, you have to choose whether you want to read the review books or your own books.

Stress!
Another problem is that it is quite stressful; I like reading a book a while before it's release date so that I have the time to write a proper review that can be released on the release day or before - but if you have other things to do, it's quite hard finding the time to get those books read and sometimes you just end up reading a bunch of books and writing half-decent reviews.
Also having that big pile of books weighing on your conscience is stressful. One month - arc August -  I tried getting through them all but I ended up receiving more books because of it so it didn't even leave a dent in the pile.

Choosing
A thing I have a hard time with is choosing between ALL of the books; library books, review books, the books I own etc. Also; should I read newer books or classics? Should I read this or should I read that? I feel like you don't really have the time to devote the time to read classics when you're a reviewer because your focus lies on the books in front of you - which means newer books. Unless a classic is re-published you don't really get to read classics - I know I don't.
Choosing can also be quite stressful, but you feel like you're neglecting some books as well.

It's exclusive
My favorite thing about being a reviewer is probably the feeling you get when you receive a package full of books or an email saying you got approved to a certain e-galley. Being a reviewer feels quite exclusive because you don't have to pay anything, you literally just have to speak your mind and the fact that you can read books before others is also adding to that feeling. But is that feeling worth being stressed? To this day I still can't figure it out.


Don't get me wrong I like being a reviewer but it's not purely a good thing, it has two sides like everything else but if you can somehow find a balance in being a reviewer and being 'yourself' it's great! But if the scale tips more towards reviewer it gets stressful. Netgalley 'bans' are adviced!

Libib.com

I was introduced to libib back in December and I love it! Libib is a website and an app - it's a way of managing your libraries, whether its movies, books, games etc. I use it for my books, I've also created a separate one for review books! It's a bit like goodreads but it's more personal and I feel like it's easier to manage your personal library. The app has it's limitations, but it's the best way of adding physical books to your e-brary (see what I did there?).

I don't know how old libib is, but some books are not added and some are added with the wrong data (some of it you can easily correct, while you have to contact them to change other things) - You can also add new editions if yours doesn't show up - it's quite easy actually.


What I probably love the most about libib is, that I can see the status of my books very clearly:

My current 'statuses'

It's in the top so you can easily see how many TBR books you have on your shelves and how many you've already read. If you've marked books as 'abandoned' it will also show up on the status bar. There are 4 statuses in all; not begun, in progress, completed and abandoned. You can also add dates to the statuses. 

Libib also allows you to have multiple statuses on a book; if you've read it 3 times you can see that you've read it 3 times and when you've read it - because those statuses are separate! This is something goodreads does not allow you to do

On goodreads I don't really know how to find my notes and stuff easily, as far as I know you have to find your review, then 'edit' and scroll until you find them. That is something I like about libib; finding notes is easy - you literally just have to move the curser over the book's 'page'. You can also add tags (a feature I would love goodreads had instead of only having groups), group books together, review them easily on the page and you can edit them without being a 'librarian'. As you can see you can also easily edit in the information - if you want to report a mistake or add some information you just have to click on the flag (bottom-right corner)

When you hold the curser over a book 'page'

On the website you can also see your stats; how many books you've read per year, the average rating per year, how many books you've reviewed (if you've added a review that is), how many books with notes and books added per year. I absolutely LOVE this feature! 

Other fun features

• You can search books by ratings! If you want to see all the books you've given 3 stars you just press 3 in the search box!
• Ratings include half stars (e.g. 2.5 and 4.5)
• You can search for tags and for notes and other things! (just press the little question mark beside the search box to get a full list
• You can find books by letter: looking for The Fault in Our Stars? Just press F
• You can add multiple libraries
• You can see your total number of books and whether that number is growing or falling
• You can add multiple statuses - which I've mentioned before but I think this is something we've all been missing to I'll tell you again

I have to warn you though; it takes time adding your entire library, editing the information, making sure it's the right edition and then marking books as completed, not begun and so on. I began before New Years and I'm not done yet... 

Another thing; I still prefer goodreads for 'everyday' use. I only use libib for my review books and my personal library. Goodreads is my way of keeping track of every book I read - whether it be my own, review or borrowed. 

Have any questions? Just ask! 

20 before 20

I turn 18 on March 2.  and I've realized that there is a bunch of books I want to read before I turn 20 and should have read in these last couple of years but never got around to. Those books are mainly classics that 'everbody' should read. That is why I'm going to make a list of 20 books I really really want to read before my 20th birthday. If you have any additions or books you think I should read just let me know in the comments! 

This is actually also my 200th post! I like that it's a list I will use 2 years from now instead of some other post! 

1-5. Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion and Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

I've read Pride and Prejudice multiple times, I've started reading Emma once and I tried listening to the audiobook of Sense and Sensibility. I would say it's about time I finish the remainder of her novels - especially since I have the most gorgeous boxset of her books. 

6. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

I absolutely love the newest movie adaptation (with Anne Hathaway and Amanda Seyfried) and I've watched it multiple times. I also won a gift card to a bookwebsite a couple of months back where I ended up buying the Penguin clothbound edition of Les Mis so I can't not read it now. 

7-8. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë and Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

I've had these two books on my shelf for quite a while and they're just collecting dust. I've also heard great things about them so I want to see - or rather read it - for myself. I also find it intriguing that they're sisters. 

9. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

I've watched one of the series (one of the really long ones) a couple of times and I've watched a couple of different movie adaptations. I've also stumbled across a pretty edition of Oliver Twist that is now just collecting dust on my shelf so it may be time to read it

10. The Complete Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

I never read Narnia as a child, I watched the movie adaptation for The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe multiple times but I've never actually read the books. My father gifted me a gorgeous edition of the entire series so now I just have to sit down, enjoy the artwork and read the books - I'm really looking forward to it.

11. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

This is another one where I've watched the movie adaptations a couple of times and found it quite intriguing. It's also quite sad with the ending and all but I figure you have to have some sad endings once in a while. Anna Karenina is also quite a beast so it may take me a month or two to read - I hope I'll enjoy it!

12. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

I bought a beautiful edition of The Picture of Dorian Gray when I was in Dublin back in September so now all there's left is to pick it up and read it! My teacher has also been raving about this one which makes me want to read it even more

13. The Hobbit by J.R. Tolkien

Even though I did not enjoy the Lord of the Rings trilogy I really hope I'll enjoy this one. I have a Danish edition so I might end up buying an English one if I really enjoy it. 

14. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

This is quite embarrassing but I have the entire series (the first 5 books at least) sitting on my shelf and they have been there, unread, for a whole year. I've not even open the first one yet. I don't know if I want to read the entire series before I turn 20 but I will at least have read the first one. 

15. A Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

A couple of years ago I borrowed A Catcher in the Rye from the library and I think I read the first chapter or so and I just never continued it - I have no idea why. I will, hopefully, enjoy it once I pick it up again since I have no recollection whether I enjoyed it back then or not.

16-17. Animal Farm and 1984 by George Orwell

I've wanted to read 1984 for a couple of years now and since we watched Animal Farm a couple of months back and we've just had about the Russian Revolution in history class I'm more motivated to read Animal Farm as well - which is why both of them is on this list

18-19. The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Grimms Complete Fairy Tales by The Brothers Grimm

Last year I received two of the Barnes and Noble leather-bound editions - Sherlock Holmes and Grimms - but I've not gotten around to reading them yet. Both are bricks but I can't wait to dive into them! 

20. Lord of the Flies by William Golding

We actually have to read this for school, so I'm cheating a bit with this one BUT I've wanted to read it for a while and I'm totally stocked that we have to read it in school!

That was my 20 before 20, do you have similar lists?

Monthly wrap-up for January!

Can you believe a whole month has passed? It's almost February and I feel like we're barely in the middle of January, but oh well, it does not do to dwell on the past - except for when it comes to wrap-ups. 

I know I've been MIA for a while again and that's because life and school happened. But it has settled down a bit so maybe I have more time for blogging now. Last year I stopped making these monthly wrap-ups near the end, but I enjoy making them since I can go back and look what I've done throughout the year reading wise.

I was in kind of a reading slump for a week or two, I read The List the 27th and didn't really pick another book up before January 8th - but I read 3 whole books that weekend so I guess that makes up for it, right? 

But which books did I actually read in January? I managed to read 10 books - one of which I seriously just finished.

1. Never Never (Never Never #1) by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher ★★★★★
2. Slammed (Slammed #1) by Colleen Hoover ★★★★★
3. Paper Swans by Jessica Thompson ★★★★☆
4. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan ★★★☆☆
5. Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) by Sarah J. Maas ★★★★☆
6. Room by Emma Donoghue ★★★☆☆
7. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee ★★★☆☆
8. Belzhar by Meg Wolitzer ★★☆☆☆
9. Eve & Adam by Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate ★★★★☆
10. Shattered (Slated #3) by Teri Terry ★★★★☆

What happened in January then? 

• I finished my very first book of the year - Never Never - which is also my very first Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher book. I've never read a book by any of those authors before
• I read 3 books during a weekend! 
• I read my first classic of the year
• I was seriously disappointed by Belzhar,  a book I've been looking forward to reading and I was sure I was going to love it - and I did until the last 50 pages which totally ruined the book
• I participated in National Read-a-thon day and I managed to read Room in the course of that day! 
• I marked The Fire Sermon by Francesca Haig as DNF (did not finish). I read half of the e-galley I received from Netgalley but I was just not feeling it. I also marked Lost & Found by Brooke Davis as DNF
• I finished the Slated trilogy! 
• I reached 700 followers on Instagram!

Did anything special happen to you this month? Did you read any great books? Tell me in the comments!

Top 14 of 2014

Last year I made a top 13 of 2013 and I had a hard time finding 13 since I didn't have that many over the top favorites of 2013. This year I had the opposite problem.. I have about 30 books I've rated 5 stars during the year, so narrowing that down to 14 was tough - but I made it. The books are not in alphabetical or ranked after favorite-least favorite but in order of how I read them so: January through December.

The first five-star read I read in 2014 was The Final Empire (Mistborn #1) by Brandon Sanderson. I loved every aspect of this book and I think the only thing that's made me hesitant to start the other books in the series is the size.. They're massive. I miss the world though so I might have to start the sequel(s) sooner or later.



The second five-star read of the year was Wonder by R.J. Palacio. I wrote quite a long review of Wonder because I loved it so much and I even went out and bought the book because I wanted to be able to re-read it whenever I want. Even though that hasn't happened, yet, I still love the book and recommend it to everyone.





I also read and adored the entire Across the Universe series by Beth Revis. It is my first actual science fiction series and I've been craving a series like it ever since. I believe I devoured this entire series in the course of a few weeks because I couldn't wait to find out what happened and I wanted to get lost in space!




I picked The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight up on a whim and I received it by chance, but nevertheless I absolutely loved it and I did definitely not want it to end! I've always loved the title because it's so long and different. The story is sweet and the characters are quite relatable - in short: it's a wonderful book






I was quite hesitant to start Pivot Point but I loved it! It was incredible and so entirely different. I loved the main character, the plot and the setting. It was wonderfully action-packed without losing the main focus. I love the aspect of the story - powers of the mind. I also adored and devoured the sequel Split Second.





The Edge of Never was one of my very first new adult books and it did definitely not let me down. It was different, due to the sex scenes, but I still liked it. Even though it was, and still is, out of my comfort zone I read this book in a few days and I did not want to put it down.





I tried to space out my Rainbow Rowell books but I just had to start Eleanor & Park since I know it's a favorite among a lot of Rowell fans. It's not my absolute favorite one of her books but it still got a 5 star rating. I loved that this was about teenagers with problems - whether it be personal or life in general. It is not like other YA books and it's quite enjoyable.. I have a love-hate relationship with the ending though.





I didn't even read the entire synopsis of this one, I read 2 lines and I had to read it. It took a while before I read it but it was amazing! It is so light even though it's a tougher theme - teenage pregnancy and all. I loved it and I wish I could go back and read it for the first time.





I love how I have 2 Rainbow Rowell books on my favorites list - just like last year. I wish I'd waited and read this during wintertime but I loved it nevertheless. I don't love that many adult books but I could somehow relate to this - maybe because of all the flashbacks to her younger years. I adored this book and I loved all the references - especially when she meets Cath and Levi from Fangirl!



I discovered fairy-tale retellings last year, I believe, and I have loved the majority of the retellings I've read. I received an e-arc of Tear You Apart and I read it in a single setting. I love how this combines all of the fairytales and that the fairytales are curses - it's amazing and I can't wait to read all of Sarah Cross' other books







I was quite hesitant about Between the Lives and kept going back and forth on whether I should request it or not - I ended up requesting and loving it! This has a similar feel as the Pivot Point duology and it's perfect for fans of those books!





I adored The Boy with the Tiger's Heart, even though its quite short it's so deep and keeps you wanting more. It's a modern fable so it's not a book for everyone, but it's so vivid and creative that I want everyone to love it even though I know it's impossible.







I picked Accidentally Married up on a whim and I flew through it! It is so funny and I literally laughed out loud a bunch of times. It's not that long but it definitely feels longer. I loved Madison Nichols, she was so quirky and she's definitely the reason I loved this book so much.





The last favorite of the year is an anthology, surprise! It's My True Love Gave To Me and even though I didn't love every story, I loved most of them so I had to put it on this list. Rainbow Rowell's story was probably my favorite...

I read A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall shortly after making this list, and I have to say it should have been on here.. I absolutely loved it, but I couldn't find a book to 'through in the bin' and let A Little Something Different take its place... 

What was your absolute favorite book of 2014?

2nd Annual End of Year Book Survey - 2014 Edition!

Number Of Books You Read: 107 (technically 108, since I read The Bell Jar twice)

Number of Re-Reads: 2

Genre You Read The Most From: Probably contemporary

1. Best Book You Read In 2014?

(If you have to cheat — you can break it down by genre if you want or 2013 release vs. backlist)

Fantasy: The Final Empire (Mistborn #1) by Brandon Sanderson

Childrens: Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Science fiction: Across the Universe series by Beth Revis

 New Adult: The Edge of Never (Edge of Never #1) by J.A. Redmerski

Contemporary: How to Love by Katie Cotugno

Adult: Landline by Rainbow Rowell

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

The one that disappointed me the most is probably Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy. I preordered it, waited and waited for it to arrive and started reading it the minute I received it and I did  not like the book.. I was seriously devestated.

 3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read in 2014? 

Probably Waiting on the Sidelines (Waiting on the Sidelines #1) by Ginger Scott, it is a coming-of-age love story and I had a hard time getting into it but I ended up absolutely loving it.

 4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did) In 2014?

Wonder by R.J. Palacio.. I even got my friends to buy the book

 5. Best series you started in 2014? Best Sequel of 2014? Best Series Ender of 2014?

The best series I started AND finished in 2014 is either Pivot Point by Kasie West or Across the Universe by Beth Revis. 

The best sequel and series ender is probably also books in those series..

 6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2014?

I discovered a bunch of new authors in 2014, these are the ones I read multiple books from:

Beth Revis and Kasie West

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

The Final Empire (Mistborn #1) by Brandon Sanderson since it is my very first high fantasy book/series and The Edge of Never (The Edge of Never #1) by J.A. Redmerski since it was my very first new adult book

 8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

Probably Between the Lives by Jessica Shirvington or Tear You Apart by Sarah Crossan - absolutely loved those books and I could not put them down. 

 9. Book You Read In 2014 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Landline by Rainbow Rowell during wintertime or maybe Wonder when I'm in the mood for it

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2014?

I've chosen 2...

11. Most memorable character of 2014?

Hmm Auggie from Wonder, Vin from The Final Empire and Madison Nichols from Accidentally Married

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2014?

The Boy with the Tiger's Heart by Linda Coggin!

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2014?

Landline or Wonder

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2014 to finally read? 

I have to pick Across the Universe by Beth Revis since it's the only book I loved, which I didn't discover or had on my TBR before 2014

 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2014?

 “Neal didn't take Georgie's breath away. Maybe the opposite. But that was okay--that was really good, actually, to be near someone who filled your lungs with air.” 

-Landline by Rainbow Rowell

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?

Peter Panda Melts Down - 40 pages and The Final Empire with 647 pages

 17. Book That Shocked You The Most

(Because of a plot twist, character death, left you hanging with your mouth wide open, etc.)
Deception Point by Dan Brown or Killer Instinct by S.E. Green

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

(OTP = one true pairing if you aren’t familiar)
Madison and Jared from Accidentally Married

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year
Georgie and Seth from Landline

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2014 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Landline by Rainbow Rowell

21. Best Book You Read In 2014 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:
The Bell Jar, I think. I had to read it for a paper and my teacher was the first one who raved about it.

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2014?
Ethan from Between the Lives

23. Best 2014 debut you read?

Feather Bound by Sarah Raughly

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
The Across the Universe series by Beth Revis

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

Accidentally Married or Cold Feet at Christmas

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2014?

Rain (Rain #1) by Christie Cote

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

Red at Night by Katie McGarry

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?
Wonder by R.J. Palacio

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2014?
The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
Wonder... I was mad at the other kids but I absolutely love the book

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2014?

Daring Damsels, which is Ebony's blog - a great friend of mine.

    

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2014?   

Probably Wonder 

3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?   

'To comment or not to comment'

4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

I was supposed to go to a major book event here in Denmark but I was sick so I couldn't go. I haven't really participated in anything else but read-a-thons this year and I failed miserably at most of them.. 

   

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2014?  

Well, I got one saying that I was missed and my posts was missed and they were looking forward to when I came back - that made my day!

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?   

'To comment or not to comment'

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?   

I have been MIA for a while, but one of my most recent posts that I wish had got a little more love is my shameful book confessions - it was quite fun to do. 

9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)? 

There's Libib, which is an app that allows you to categorize your entire library. I don't think I've discovered that much really.

10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

Check out my reflecting on 2014 post

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2014 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2015?

This is a really tough one since I don't really have any... But maybe Shattered by Tery Teri so I can finish the Slated trilogy, start A Game of Thrones or maybe continue the Mistborn series

     

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2015 (non-debut)?   

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven or Things We Know by Heart by Jessi Kirby

3. 2015 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?    

Because You'll Never Meet Me by Leah Thomas - her first actual book, I believe

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2015?

   This is a tough one since I don't really read series.. But maybe Golden Sun, the sequel to Red Rising which I have yet to read.

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2015?

Just continue blogging, I guess, I've had a hard time finding the time for it these last months. 

   

6. A 2015 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

Tear You Apart by Sarah Crossan

Have you filled out the end of the year survey or are you planning to?