April Wrap Up: Grishaverse, Silly Socks & the Battle of Winterfell!

Hello everyone!

Another month gone, another wrap-up post. These sure do come around quickly sometimes! (I’d also just like to preface this by saying that despite the title there will be NO Game of Thrones spoilers in this post!)

I’ve been sitting here trying to rack my brain for something interesting enough to share with you guys from April. I did think about trying to convince you that I’d learnt to talk to animals, built a spaceship, or found a fossilized dragon egg in amber that had hatched and I’d become a dragon rider (still ever hopefully after my childhood of watching Jurrasic Park), but somehow, I didn’t think you guys would take me at my word?

(A girl can dream, right?)

April can basically be summed up in Dory’s famous words ‘just keep swimming…’ or the better know phrase, ‘keep on keeping on’.

Of course, there was that brief moment in the UK where we got July-worthy sun over the bank holiday weekend and we all had a freak-out and dug out the BBQ equipment, but it wasn’t long before the status quo returned.

By far the best thing about April for me was seeing all the amazing love you guys have given my Pancake Book Tag. SO many of you have participated in this now and I kind of feel really emotional about it??! I really didn’t think this many people would do it and the whole thing has far exceeded my expectations. You guys are absolutely incredible, THANK YOU! :’D

So, let’s get on with the wrapping up!

March Wrap Up // Harry Potter Vibes & Birthday Treats!

Good afternoon, readers!

I have a question for you: DID YOU MAKE IT OUT OF MARCH IN ONE PIECE? I, my friends, did not. I feel like a walking, talking zombie and I am absolutely cream-crackered! March felt more like 2 months!

THE CHAOTIC THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN MARCH:

This can basically be summed up by crazy work shenanigans: first, one of our main members of staff dropped to 1 day a week unexpectedly (and we were understaffed before), secondly, we took on another member of staff who quit 3 days in. So THEN we had to interview for ANOTHER new member of staff, (it’s a really weird feeling interviewing people, btw). We eventually found one (yay!) but now most days are spent training them, which, lemmie tell ya, is REALLY EXHAUSTING.

Actual footage of me at my desk.

NOW, FOR THE REALLY AWESOME THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN MARCH:

The 12 Days of Christmas: A Bookish Wishlist if Money was no Object!

Hello, Bookworms!

It’s that time of the year where we’re all rushing around buying gifts for our loved ones and also making our own wishlists for what we might like this Christmas.

One of the things I love most about the book community is that it’s so passionate and creative. Through blogging, I have come across many amazing people who develop their own bespoke designs based on bookish fandoms and themes.

For a while, I’ve been trying to think of a way of showcasing this amazing creativity, and so I’ve put together this list of 12 bookish gifts I’d be ecstatic to find under my tree this year. Most of this list focuses on independent sellers because I think it’s really important that we try to support them (money allowing)! 😀

I hope that this list either a) makes you squeal at the bookish gloriousness b) gives you something to add to your wishlist or c) gives you some good gifting ideas for friends and family!
So here we goooooo!

5 YA Tropes that Make Me Feel Old (PLEASE BRING AID AND COOKIES)

So you guys know that I LOVE YA. I live and breathe those hormone filled, perfectly tormented souls who feel everything three times as hard as the rest of the world, and I know I always will.

But the thing is, as a YA reader, I have always been a teenager reading about teenagers.

Now, I’m 24 years of age and I have to face the facts that I am DOING THE ADULTING THING. WHICH IS WEIRD. I still consider myself a ‘young adult’, as I kind of feel this bracket continues to about the age of 25, (wait a minute, that’s only a year away, gulp) but I’ve certainly grown older and wiser, my views have expanded, and my book tastes have evolved.

I feel so incredibly lucky to be living in a time where I have access to talented YA authors whose stories have mass appeal. YA is not just for teenagers folks, it’s for everyone, and I will defend that to the depts of Mordor.

But now that I’m older, I do sometimes come across tropes/storylines, or certain scenes in YA books that make me feel, well, kinda old.*

If We Were Having Coffee… // Book Updates, Adventures and London Excursions

If we were having coffee is a blogging community idea, where bloggers publish posts about what they’d like to say to their readers if they were sitting down together having a casual cup of coffee. I understand that the original idea was created by Ashley and I found it through Jamie’s blog.

In my mind, we’re sitting in a small cafe, halfway down a busy high street. It’s kitted out like an old 50s diner, black and white flooring, pink neon signs, and a popcorn machine sits next to an old jukebox. Twisting the Night Away by Sam Cook is playing enthusiastically in the background as I order a coffee and a pink milkshake.  What are you waiting for? Make yourself comfortable, grab a beverage, and let’s chat!

I’d tell you that I just got over a horrendous cold, and 3 days later I’ve only gone and gotten another one! I’ve had an extremely busy couple of months and I think it’s my bodies way of saying “hey wait a minute, chill!!” (Subsequently knocking me out for the count.) I also feel like WHO IS THIS PERSON?! I’ve never had so much booked in my diary EVER. Suddenly I’m hopping all over the place and there’s not enough time in the day!!!

Exploring Oxford: A 3 Day Itinerary with Literary Hot Spots!

When we think of travel, we always picture getting on an aeroplane and jet-setting off to a to a country far, far away – but sometimes, you don’t need to travel a large distance to see something wonderful. Sometimes, there’s something great to see closer to home.

Oxford has been one of those towns that has been on my to ‘get to’ list for a few years now. As such an iconic place where famous authors have tread and found their inspiration, and where many films and TV shows have been shot (including Harry Potter!), it seems almost criminal that it’s taken me 24 years to wander down their fancy streets.

As bookworms, I know you’ll appreciate some of the things I got to see more than most, so I just had to share my adventure with you! I’ve also tried to write this in a format that may be helpful if you ever decide to take the trip for yourself!

Book Fangirling Blog Award

I don’t normally post about blog awards these days, mostly because I get quite a lot of them and I feel like the posts can get repetitive and aren’t that fun for people to read, but Read by Umbreen nominated me for this one, and how could I resist it with a title like ‘the book fangirling award’ AND when it has a picture of a Harry Potter jumper? 😉 This one is exactly my cup of tea, so thank you, Umbreen for thinking of me!

The Rules:

• Create a post to accept your award.
• Add the blog award button into your post and put it on the side of your blog as a widget. Visit fangirling for the award button.
• Answer the questions I have below.
• Nominate between 5-10 book bloggers who you think also deserve this award.
• Come up with your own 5 questions for your nominees.

So here are Umbreen’s questions:

My Dream Library Collection

As bookworms, we often picture what our dream library will look like. Perhaps it will be hidden by a secret door tucked away from the world. Maybe it will have oak beams, spiral staircases, plush chairs, a crackling fire; and you can bet it will have bookshelves reaching to the ceiling with a rickety ladder you can slide up and down all day. But do you know what I hadn’t ever considered? What books would actually be in that collection. The ones I already own, obviously. But if I had the money to create a truly awe inspiring library, surely I would also have the means to acquire some expensive, truly remarkable antique books as well! So when the auction website Invaluable.com contacted me about doing a post on my dream literary collection I thought it was a brilliant idea! Here’s what I came up with.

A 1st edition collection of the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.

Quoting the Quill #39

‘I opened a book and in I strode.
Now nobody can find me.
I’ve left my chair, my house, my road,
My town and my world behind me.
I’m wearing the cloak, I’ve slipped on the ring,
I’ve swallowed the magic potion.
I’ve fought with a dragon, dined with a king
And dived in a bottomless ocean.

The Books That Have Shaped Me Into The Reader I Am Today.

Every so often in life you come across one of those special books, a book that has a revolutionary effect leaving you permanently marked for the better. One that resonates with you, forces you to challenge your own thinking or opens up a new world you were unaware existed. I am sure every reader has come across at least one of these books, whether it was the first they ever picked up, or a story that was there for them exactly when they needed it. As an enthusiastic bookworm and student, I like to think every book I pick up has influenced me in some way, however, there are certainly some that have had a bigger effect than others!

I was super excited when I saw 

Quoting the Quill #23

‘Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.’

 – J.K. Rowling (The Harry Potter Series)

~ * ~

I’m not 100% sure if this is the book or film phrasing, but it remains one of my all time favourite Harry Potter quotes. 

DAY 2: Favourite Side Character.

I’ve had trouble with this question and have spent much time racking my brains. There are so many characters I love, and that includes side characters. How does anyone pick their favourites? I find it especially hard when someone or something asks you on the spot, you can’t immediately recall every book you have ever read, all its characters and the reasons you love them. No doubt, after I have written this post I will think of many I should have included and be annoyed, but for now I have settled on one that came to me first off the top of my head. 🙂

This character is from a little book series called Harry Potter, perhaps you’ve heard of it? 😛