To Be Read – A Lovely Little Book Blog

A peek inside my bullet journal

Published on May 16, 2018May 27, 2018 by Ashley LP3 Comments

It seems as though bullet journaling has taken the world but storm and I’m no different.

That being said I tend to keep it simple because trying to make it pretty has pretty much caused me to stop using it a billion different times.

So new journal in hand last month I planned out my monthly calendar, a simply daily log, a reading list, and a quotes list.

This month same thing but a variation on a theme.

I have a to be read list, a check it out list for books, TV, events, etc separates onto different pages and the ever present quotes list along with pages where I jot down character names and plot points.

Those are my weakness. I read a lot, I read relatively quick but due to God knows what my memory is terrible. It does however make each re-read of a book almost make it seem fresh and new, because I only remember the main bits and forget the small details. Bullet journaling has saved me some time in that regard.

So, do you bullet journal as reader? If so how does it go for you?

Book Buying Problems and TBR

Published on March 24, 2016May 27, 2018 by Ashley LP12 Comments

I am Ashley and I have a huge book buying problem.

I recently downloaded the Delicious Library, and using points bought a little bluetooth scanner because I am a total nerd who wants to catalogue all the things.

I decided to give it a go, and using this program catalogued the books on my shelves into Read and To Be Read piles.

I own 675 books. I have only read 260 of them. That gives me 415 books to read, not counting those which are on my TBR list that I want to take out from the library.

This is my pact, to not buy anymore books UNLESS they are the continuation of a series. This is my pact to only read books that I currently own from now on.

We’ll see how this goes, then, shall we?

To be read…or not to be

Published on January 7, 2015May 27, 2018 by Ashley LPLeave a comment

My to be read list is more than eighty titles long. I know, I’ve heard all the jokes. I have more books than time. I am an addict. I might need some sort of twelve step program.

Sometimes I even find myself getting overwhelmed by what I should read.

The solution came in a post I saw on Book Riot over a year ago, and so I’ve kept up with this little project, and re-did it this year. The to be read jar/box/container/country/island.

I simply took note of the books I need to read, and own, those on my shelves, virtual or otherwise, wrote the titles down on paper in fun colours, found a box and voila. To be read, whenever I can’t make a decision on what I want to read next.

002: Out, In and On The Way

Published on June 28, 2014May 27, 2018 by Ashley LP2 Comments

OUT

Books I’ve read recently:

Hot Six by Janet Evanovich.

My thoughts: I read this book for one reason and one reason only. Because I cannot give up a series once I’ve begun it. That being said it was what I’ve come to expect from Janet Evanovich. A few funny one liners, situations that are a bit like car crashes (sometimes they are actual car crashes) and frustration with some of the main characters. This is my go to light reading, I’m not expecting anything epic from it but in a way it’s comforting to come back to this series every so often.

The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon

My thoughts: This series. This series. Oh my god this series. I know that sometimes they’re too long. I know that there are scenes which could probably be removed for ease of pacing and reading but it’s not going to stop me from reading it. I was an Outlander virgin until this year. I had no notion of Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser. No notion of Jamie Fraser. Of Roger Mac or Brianna.

My sister mentioned these casually to me previously but I didn’t really feel like it. But then a coworker mentioned them to me, and now I’m just all over it. I’ve read them so much, and return to the previous books to remind myself of scenes I love.

And along with the Fiery Cross I just finished A Breath of Snow and Ashes and am quite eager to get along with the rest of the series.

I will be completing full length reviews of both of these books later. Because these books deserve all the praise they can get even if some of the language is a little bit problematic and I’m still almost entirely sure I will never be able to speak Gaelic. Ever.

I also read Leaving the Beach by Mary Rowen and in the process I’ve met two of the most dislikable characters I’ve ever had the displeasure to meet but yet the book left me with fond feelings due to its soundtrack. It’s soundtrack is pretty much the reason to keep reading. Longer review to follow.

The books I’m already reading

The Blind Side by Michael Lewis.

I actually don’t like football all that much, but my sister adores it. And I was told by a friend that this was one of the books he’d ever read, so with that in mind I am trying to expand my horizons.

The Girl in the Road by Monica Byrne

This was a book I got for free, in exchange for an honest review and so far it has actually blown me away.

It is once again, me stepping outside of my comfort zone, into a futuristic fantasy in a land I’ve never been to.

ON THE WAY

An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon

The Killing Moon by N.K. Jemisin