Welcome to this week’s Sunday Reads!

LIFE UPDATE

We have birds!

Well, not pet birds, but there’s a robin nest on the deck and the birds hatched! If you stand under it, you can hear chirping. It’s quite sweet. Now, I just have to make sure the dogs stay away when those little robins start to fly!

Meanwhile, the weather here is getting hotter and hotter, but not so much as other parts of North America. In fact, it was about 75 degrees today and it’s supposed to creep up to 80-some degrees. That’s PLENTY hot for me!

I’ve also finished my volunteering at the school library for the year — I’m so sad to be done! But I’m phoning the public library on Monday and might get a volunteer position for August for a few hours a day for the first week. I’m really looking forward to it! Have I ever mentioned how much I want to work with books?

BOOK UPDATE

Surprisingly, for my voracity for reading, I didn’t read a CRAZY amount of books in the past 3 weeks, but did get plenty read! Lately I’ve been on a roll with reading review books. When I took some time off of blogging in May, I had some books pile up — especially in my NetGalley queue. I’m trying to get through ALL of the books that have already been published, that I haven’t gotten around to reading yet. I have only one left! Then, of course, I need to get through my PHYSICAL books that should be read. I have a few Canadian ones I want to read — convenient for the Canadian Reading Challenge!

This week I start the read-a-long for THE GRAVEYARD BOOK, by Neil Gaiman, hosted by Jenn over at Booksessed. I can’t wait to start reading! Naturally, I’m waiting until the last minute to start reading. I also still have to do my OUTLANDER reading for Monday’s post — there’s 200+ pages for this week’s reading! I’m just a little behind. I really should learn to read one chapter a night.

I’m working hard on scheduling with the blog and am trying to go week by week. So far, so good!

And hey, look! A new header! I wasn’t too keen on the last one, so I thought I’d try again — I’d love to know what you think! I also changed up the background and just a few things around the blog. All credits can be found under ‘Blog Features.’

WHAT I READ (OVER 3 WEEKS)

Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, #2), by Cassandra Clare 
Loved this one! So happy to be back in this world. Now, I really have to get my butt in gear and read the last 2 Mortal Instruments books!

How to Eat Fried Worms, by Thomas Rockwell
Read for my first Past-Present Rewind Post. Really grossed me out in some points!

Shine, by Lauren Myracle
I really wanted to like this one, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

Shadow & Bone (The Grisha Trilogy, #1), by Leigh Bardugo
I *liked* this one, but I don’t feel too invested in it yet. Might still give the second book a chance when it comes out.

Etiquette & Espionage (Finishing School, #1), by Gail Carriger
This was such a fun book! This was my introduction to Gail Carriger and I can’t wait to read more. Looking forward to eventually getting my hands on the Parasol Protectorate series.

Wintergirls, by Laurie Halse Anderson
I was not expecting this book. Very moving, very heavy.

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar (Steampunk Chronicles, #2), by Kady Cross
I wasn’t the biggest fan of the first book of this series, but THIS ONE? I loved it! It was quite a fun read.

You Don’t Want To Know, by Lisa Jackson
My first Lisa Jackson book and another mystery book to add to my list. It wasn’t bad! I do want to try more of Jackson’s books now!

Tidewater Inn, by Colleen Coble
Oh my gosh, I love Colleen Coble! Tidewater Inn was such a wonderful read — a perfect blend of romance and mystery.

Lies Beneath (Lies Beneath, #1), by Anne Greenwood Brown
I was not expecting this book! I knew it had to do with mermaids, but WOW! Blew me out of the water!

WHAT I LISTENED TO (OVER 3 WEEKS)

Born Standing Up, by Steve Martin
Not my favourite memoir, but it was okay. Perfect for big Steve Martin fans.  

Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline
What a fun listen! I didn’t expect to like this one because it deals a lot with gaming, but I liked it so much and could listen to it again and again.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, by Seth Grahame-Smith
I really wanted to like this one, but I just wasn’t feeling it. Too boring.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (HHGTTG, #1), by Douglas Adams
Another one I didn’t expect to like, but it was hilarious and fun! Can’t wait to listen to the other 4 books in the trilogy.

ON THE BLOG (in the last 3 weeks)

I participated in my first RAK — see what I gave and what I received! I also signed up for July’s RAK.

I celebrated Canada Day, by signing up for the CANADIAN READING CHALLENGE, hosted by Marie at Ramblings of a Daydreamer! I also posted my favourite books by Canadian authors.

I reviewed the following books:

Shadow & Bone (The Grisha Trilogy, #1), by Leigh Bardugo (ARC)
The Girl in the Clockwork Collar (Steampunk Chronicles, #2), by Kady Cross (ARC)
Little Blog on the Prairie, by Cathleen Davitt Bell
Coraline: The Graphic Novel, by Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell
Rare Beasts (Edgar & Ellen, #1), by Charles Ogden
The Goddess Hunt (Goddess Test, #1.5), by Aimee Carter

I discussed READING PREFERENCES - Substance or Fluff? 

I unveiled a NEW FEATURE called Past-Present Rewind. The first book featured was How to Eat Fried Worms, by Thomas Rockwell.

I participated in AUDIOBOOK WEEK, hosted by Jen over at Devourer of Books:

I talked about my recent year in audiobooks
I talked about how to review audiobooks
I talked about my recent favourites in audiobooks and narrators
I talked about what makes a good narrator
I talked about where I find great audiobooks

I also reviewed some audiobooks:

City of Glass (Mortal Instruments, #3), by Cassandra Clare
Will Grayson, Will Grayson, by John Green and David Levithan
The Night Strangers, by Chris Bohjalian
Born Standing Up, by Steve Martin
Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Wonder, by R. J. Palacio

On Wednesdays, I waited on:

Love Anthony, by Lisa Genova
The Waiting Sky, by Lara Zielin

I posted some Top Tens on Tuesdays:

Top Ten Books on My Summer TBR List (as well as my summer TBL list!)
Top Ten Books for People Who Like Stephanie Perkins

I’m in the midst of a read-a-long for OUTLANDER, by Diana Gabaldon! Read my week one update, my week two update, and my week three update.

How was your week? Have you read anything good lately?

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