#bookbanditchallenge

[storytime-reviews]

Currently Reading: I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

#booklr #i'm glad my mom died #jennette mccurdy #tbrbusterchallenge2023 #bookbanditchallenge #reading #books #book pic #currently reading #really looking forward to this

[leer-reading-lire]

Last read:

Title: Dracula

Author: Bram Stoker

Illustrator: Edward Gorey

Number of Pages: 427

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First published: 1897

Read: 3 May – 27 November 2023

Thoughts: 

I finally got around to re-read this novel! And I couldn’t have done it without Dracula daily and everyone in Tumblr commenting the story and sharing their art. 

I loved the experience of reading along with so many people and their posts about it always gave me food for thought. It truly made my reflections about the book richer. 

The first time I read this epistolary novel I was fifteen years old and since then I had forgotten many important plot points, as well as some characters. However, I remembered that I had loved the story, and I was fascinated by Mina Murray and Jonathan Harker. Mina was my favorite character and, back then, my favorite suitor was John Seward, followed by Quincey Morris. 

I definitely appreciated reading the letters and diaries’ entries in chronological order. I think it may be the better option for a first-time reader.

This time around I felt Jonathan’s terror, hopelessness, and desperation. I was genuinely moved by his trials and tribulations when he was held prisoner at Dracula’s castle.

I loved the voyage of the Demeter because I could feel the anxiety and fear of the sailors. The whole journey was nerve-wrecking.

A character that took me by surprised and completely won me over was Lucy Westenra. I’m angry in her behalf for all the horrible adaptations that portray her under misogynistic lights. A particularly terrifying scene for me was Mrs. Westenra’s death. And when Lucy died was heartbreaking. 

The part with the Bloofer Lady was intriguing. Here I have to say that while I had overlooked Arthur Holmwood in my first reading years ago, this time I got to appreciate his character and I could clearly see why Lucy had chosen him. He was so kind and loved her very much. They were so in love and eager to start their live together, it was all so tragic. 

Likewise, I’m in awe for John Quincey, Arthur Holmwood and Quincey Morris’ friendship. The affection that the three friends had for each other is hard to miss. I was astonished by Stoker; all his depictions of masculinity are something else. Specially, in Jonathan’s case.

Abraham van Helsing annoyed me and frustrated me for most of the time that he was on the page. I think I only warmed up to him in the final part when he and Mina traveled to Dracula’s castle.

Mina was extraordinary! I loved that she liked to ask about ghost stories, and she was so smart, organized and kind. I’m particularly keen on her hyperfixation with train schedules. 

The whole scene when Dracula attacked Mina was appalling, truly nightmarish and gruesome. I can’t for the life of me figure out why there are so many adaptations and (fan)fiction where they’re presented as a romantic couple! In my opinion, romanticize abuse is nauseating.

In general, I think pop culture has failed both Lucy and Mina and they certainly deserve better. 

The last section where the whole gang finally comes together; they miraculously stop keeping information from Mina (as they obviously should have done from the beginning); and they work together to defeat Dracula is very exciting! 

The ending was gratifying in many ways, although of course it was ultimately bittersweet. 

This is a fantastic book, extraordinarily well written and full of adventure, fright, suspense, anticipation, mystery, and action. It’s without a doubt one of my favorite novels ever. 

#tbrbusterchallenge2023 #bookbanditchallenge #reading challenge #book review #book reviews #dracula daily #daily dracula #dracula daily 2023 #bram stoker #mina murray #jonathan harker #lucy westenra #john seward #quincey morris #arthur holmwood #abraham van helsing #booklr #leerreadinglire #books and reading #last read #booklr community #dracula #mina harker #count dracula

[jsalim-art]

Welp starting a new book now and this involves mermaids! This is another of my owl crate books in my tbr pile that I'm looking forward to reading and thus exclusive cover in my opinion is very pretty

#tbrbusterchallenge2023 #bookbanditchallenge #Skin of the Sea #Natasha Bowen #jehan reads a bunch of books

[bookbandit]

Announcing the #tbrbusterchallenge2023

Welcome to the Fourth Annual TBR Buster Challenge!

The goal of this challenge is simple: read the books that have been languishing on your TBR lists.  Some of you may have impossibly long TBR lists. Some of you may have a TBR list that only includes a few books. Maybe you have a physical shelf stacked full of books. Or maybe it’s just an amorphous list that lives in some half-forgotten corner of your mind. No matter where you fall on this spectrum, this challenge is for you!

The greatest part of this challenge is that it allows you to focus on what YOU want to read. You have the freedom to focus on whatever books you want. In the past, some people have issued their own personal challenges to focus on specific genres or lists of books. Others just plucked the next book that interested them from their shelf. Some people plowed through their lists like they were on a ferocious mission. Others read only a handful of books. This challenge is designed to be flexible!

So why not give it a go? Bust your TBR shelf with me!

The Basics to Get Started

Read a minimum of one book per month that has been languishing on your shelf. Want a more ambitious challenge? How many books do you read per year on average? Try making half of the part of the #tbrbusterchallenge2023. Don’t have time to read one book per month? That’s okay, too! You can pop in and out of this challenge as it fits into your schedule, and everyone will be here to support you :)

Post about the books you read! I am hoping to post mini-reviews every month. Don’t like review? No problem! Do you like taking photos of your books? Post ‘em! Do you like book quotes? Post ‘em! Anything and everything is welcome!

Tag your posts with #bookbanditchallenge and #tbrbusterchallenge2023 so I can see them and show you some love!

That’s it! Those are the rules. Hopefully, simple enough that everyone feels they can join in. Together we can help each other read some of those books we’ve all been intending to read.

#tbrbusterchallenge2022 #tbrbusterchallenge2023 #bookbanditchallenge

[backlogbooks]

my saturday ritual of bringing my books and notebooks to the nearest park and staying for a few hours to read has become one of my favorite parts of the week

how are y’all spending your weekends lately?

#tbrbusterchallenge2022 #bookbanditchallenge #what big teeth #rose szabo #a prayer for the crown shy #becky chambers #mary emma's posts

[ma-tsi]

The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse by Charlie Mackesy

#tbrbusterchallenge2023 #bookbanditchallenge #books #mine #matsi reads

[readingaway]

TBR Buster Challenge - September

This is an ambitious month for me. My primary goal is to plunge through The Aeneid. After that I'd like to get through as many of the rest of these as possible.

(the rest of the books are Ulverton, Tress of the Emerald Sea, The Year They Burned the Books, Vespertine, From Hell to Breakfast, and Lights)

#tbrbusterchallenge2023 #bookbanditchallenge #book photography #my books

[batrachised]

The Machine Stops - EM Forster.

A novella published in 1909 that was prescient about the role of technology in distancing humanity from...well, humanity. It almost felt personal; was personal, in how it detailed dislike for human interaction and a preference for screens, and man's rejection of nature, and willingness to sacrifice meaning for comfort.

Favorite moment: when societal collapse occurred because everyone's beds were taken away, relatable lmao

Favorite quote:

#tbrbusterchallenge2023 #bookbanditchallenge #e.m. forster #the machine stops

[attheexactlyrighttimeandplace]

My summer reading list:

Fiction

The Only Good Indians - Stephen Graham Jones ★★★☆☆

The Night Watchman - Louise Erdrich (currently reading)

Betty - Tiffany McDaniel

Non Fiction

La Race tue Deux Fois (Race Kills Twice) - Rachida Brahim (currently reading)

Feminism is for Everybody - Bell Hooks (currently reading)

Wretched of the Earth - Frantz Fanon

Only Poc authors: native american for fiction, arab and black writers for non fiction.

Summer is definitely for horror, however The only Good Indians would have worked better as film script: it lacked character development, felt superficial rather than atmospheric, took too long to achieve its purpose (the book is over 300 pages long) given it's not about tension but about the killings (which were indeed impressive).

I have never regretted my slow reading so much: this list is the perfect list with only brilliant poc authors and my enjoyment should be bigger....

#on my nightstand #currently reading #tbrbusterchallenge2023 #bookbanditchallenge #maybe i should have added some crime/sci-fi books or short/poetry books? #the only good indians #stephen graham jones #the night watchman #louise erdrich #betty #tiffany mcdaniel #la race tue deux fois #rachida brahim #feminism if for everybody #bell hooks #wretched of the earth #frantz fanon

[readingrobin]

Man, I really have to dig more into alternative history books, especially if it includes dragons, because that was amazing!

Novik completely won me over with Laurence, who took one look at Temeraire not a minute out of his shell and went "Well, I suppose I'm a father now." And really, that's the kind of relationship I love to see between a dragon and its rider. It called me back to my days of reading Eragon, which really endeared me to the human/dragon bond and I think Novik does a fantastic job portraying dragons as loving, loyal creatures. Temeraire is now up there with my favorite dragons alongside Toothless, who shares that wonderful quality of being an absolute menace if gone unchecked. He's wonderfully curious, innocent, but, really, if Laurence had less of an influence on him, there would have been some dragon anarchy real quick.

Honestly, as someone just getting into the series, I'm predicting some kind of dragon revolt or something because, gee Temeraire you sure do have a lot of thoughts and a great deal of free will going on there.

Having read some of Novik's other works, this one felt a little different stylistically. I don't know if it's because of the plot or simply because this was her first book, but it didn't carry the usual verbosity or weight I normally I expect with her. Still, that didn't keep me from finding it absolutely charming. Sure, the logistics of just plopping dragons into the Napoleonic Wars without changing much of day to day society and the history of this world is a bit iffy and I wonder why aviators are not respected more in society because they, you know, have dragons,  but I'm willing to suspend my disbelief. 

I really can't wait to dive more into this series and see what's coming next!

#tbrbusterchallenge2022 #bookbanditchallenge #his majesty's dragon #naomi novik #temeraire series #reviews

[storytime-reviews]

Just Finished: I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

Why do we romanticize the dead? Why can't we be honest about them? Especially moms. They're the most romanticized of anyone. 

#booklr #i'm glad my mom died #tbrbusterchallenge2023 #bookbanditchallenge #jennette mccurdy #reading #books #book pic #just finished

[leer-reading-lire]

“Marjory White, aged ten, wanted to be a widow. Questioned why, she gravely said that if you weren’t married people called you an old maid, and if you were your husband bossed you; but if you were a widow there’d be no danger of either.”

—Anne of Avonlea by L. M. Montgomery.

#anne of green gables #anne of avonlea #l. m. montgomery #lm montgomery #book quote #book quotes #tbrbusterchallenge2022 #bookbanditchallenge

[jsalim-art]

Just finished reading this charming graphic novel and I find the main characters be adorable dorks with each other. 5/5 would reccomend

#tbrbusterchallenge2023 #bookbanditchallenge #Mooncakes #wendy xu #suzanne walker #jehan reads a bunch of books

[clockwork-reads]

Brief Book Reviews #5 (+ 2022 TBR review)

#1 Shelby Mahurin, Blood & Honey (written in September 2022)

Looks like I’m saying “fuck you” to a lot of people in books this month huh. Once again, Ms Mahurin made me hurt a lot over Louise and Reid. The mutual pining, the wedge that gets driven between them because Louise keeps secrets so Reid won’t worry so much (sadly that made it worse), just. Thanks, Ms Mahurin, I’m in pain. Seeing them make up toward the big battle at the end helped ease the ache. And then they rail each other into next week. Damn I want what they have.

The ending was fucking horrifying. Fuck you La Voisin, and fuck you Morgane. Also it was cool to do a little work and find out that Beau’s mum is Maori- at least that’s what google translate tells me from what was said in that one scene. don’t come for me. Rest in Peace Ansel, you were the real hero here and you won’t be forgotten.

also the knife throwing scene with Lou and Reid got me very hot and bothered, damn. time to get Gods & Monsters and suffer some more lol

#2 Libba Bray, Diviners

As much as I enjoy the setting of prohibition era New York, I got to halfway through the book and nothing was happening. There’s a lot of supernatural shit going on, we have Naughty John killing people in really fucked up ways, and the main characters don’t seem to be going anywhere with it, save for Evie’s uncle, and we have no idea what he’s doing in the meantime. There’s some good writing and dialogue in it, it’s just not enough to tide me over, I’m afraid. 

#3 Rick Riordan, Percy Jackson and the Titan’s Curse (Book 3)

I continued my foray into the Percy Jackson books in 2022, and finished Titan’s Curse. It felt good to see a book featuring my matron goddess, Artemis, being awesome, and Apollo being his delightful self- Riordan remembered that these two are thick as thieves, thankfully. And Nico, poor baby. This whole book was a lot of ouch, to be honest, though I’m sad to see Thalia leave so early, she’s pretty cool. The lady at the bookstore where I bought the box set assured me the third book was the best one, she wasn’t kidding lol. ALSO PERCY WOULD YOU JUST TELL ANNABETH YOU LOVE HER ALREADY.

#4 Rick Riordan, Percy Jackson and the Battle of the Labyrinth (Book 4)

Hoo boy, this one was a doozy. It’s a bit slow-going to begin with, with all the globe trotting that gets done while the gang’s exploring the labyrinth and trying to find Ariadne’s string, and then it gets heavy as the major plot points are exposed, and then I couldn’t pull my eyes off the book. The glimpses into Deadalus’s past through Percy’s dreams are heartbreaking to say the least, but I think they were very much needed to explain why he would build the Labyrinth. And fuck you, Minos, nobody plays my baby Nico like that. I don’t care if he’s a necromancer and can probably look after himself, I will defend this boy with my life. The final battle comes in the next book, and then I hear there’s other stuff I have to read? Idk if I’ll read it. Also I’ll probably get smote for this but also fuck you Hera. Don’t fuck with Annabeth like that.

TBR Wrap-up

Total books read: 7 

I’m gonna just make a spreadsheet of the books I’m yet to read so I have a good idea of how far I am into this book-buying habit I seem to have. They’re pretty on my shelves, sure, but I don’t want to be one of those people who just have books for decoration. 

On top of that, I should be making sure I’m either reading one entire series at a time, or just one book from a series per batch (?) before I do more Brief Book Reviews. It’s kinda holding up how soon I can get to other books I want to read. the PJ books have held up my progress getting through some very interesting non-fiction books that I intend to read. 

Finally, I’m making it into a habit to have an hour a day of reading time, just so I’m off the computer and I’m not staring at a screen for ages. It’s in my bullet journal, so I won’t forget if I’m always checking.

So, let’s see what 2023 brings us.

#bookblr #brief book reviews #tbrbusterchallenge2022 #again hi i'm not dead #i'm lyz and i have a blog about books #now to make that spreadsheet #bookbanditchallenge #tbrbusterchallenge2023

[backlogbooks]

this is so cute omg

#tbrbusterchallenge2022 #what big teeth #rose szabo #bookbanditchallenge #mary emma’s posts

[ma-tsi]

Les Liaisons dangereuses

Pierre Choderlos de Laclos

#Les Liaisons dangereuses #tbrbusterchallenge2023 #bookbanditchallenge #books #matsi reads #mine