Weekly Wrap Up: January 19th - 25th

What a busy week it has been! I feel like I have fallen so behind in the booktube world, and that sucks because you guys are pretty much my life. On the other hand, school work just keeps adding up and my school's union is currently on strike alert. So, yeah. However, I did manage to finish a book! About time, I know I know, but on Friday after my exam I just sat down and finished the last 100+ pages!

READ

I finally finished Demon Glass by Rachel Hawkins and I was not disappointed! I wish I had been able to finish it sooner, but once I got to those last 100 pages, I could not put it down. Thankfully I brought the third book, Spell Bound, to school with me and I hope to pick it up this week. This series just goes from having me laughing out loud to wanting to crawl into a corner. I have never been so torn in a love triangle. Four out of five stars to this one though, that ending had me on the edge of my seats and that ending - I can't even deal with it. I just need to know. 




CURRENTLY READING

Today I picked up The Gift of Acabar by by Og Mandino and have gotten about 34 pages into it, out of 114. I received this book for Christmas from a man who has amazing literary taste, and whose opinion I trust very much. So far? This book is sad. So very sad. I enjoy the writing and the background is interesting enough, I just can't wait to get to the part that makes this one of his (my friend's) favourite works. Hopefully I don't cry before we get to that point. 






BOUGHT

Nothing! This wasn't hard to accomplish because I paid off the rest of the money I owed to my university, and am now broke. 

GOALS

First, I would like to finish The Gift of Acabar by tomorrow. It's still early, but I have some studying to do and my roommate and I are currently on season 6 of Friends which is when everything starts to get good! So that will be the rest of my night. Second, I would like to start Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins and have it finished by the time I do my next weekly wrap-up. This is the third and final book in the trilogy, and like I mentioned, I just need to know what happens next. I also don't want to buy a book this week - which I can't afford to do anyway. And finally, I am currently three (yes 3) books behind on my Goodreads challenge, and I would like to get it up to two and keep it there for the week. 

No exams or assignments due for this week, but one due for next week so we'll see what happens! Have a good week and I'll see you soon!

Weekly Wrap Up: January 11th - 18th

I'm sorry this post is late but my University work just keeps adding up! I still haven't finished a book, but am slowing trudging along. I'm ready for March break. 

READ

Still nothing. 

CURRENTLY READING

I am still currently reading the same two books, the first being I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella. I am about 50% through but am not enjoying it as much as I had originally hoped I would. It might seem early in the year, but I am considering DNF'ing this and just moving on. 

Luckily, I am still really enjoying Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins and I am currently on page 207 out of 359. It isn't as engaging as the first one was, in my opinion, but I tend to have problems with the second book in trilogy's. I really want to just curl up in my bed and read the rest of it straight through, but I doubt my schedule will allow me to do that. 







BOUGHT

After going through the majority of January without buying a book - I caved. I bought four this week (Never, Never as an ebook) and I have no regrets as I am extremely excited for all of them. 





GOALS

So my main goal for this week is again, don't buy a book! I've been doing pretty good with it and I have a ton of books at school with me that I can read, so hopefully it won't be too hard. I also really want to finally finish Demonglass, and then start Reborn by Jennifer Rush since it is my most anticipated book of this year. I do have a psychology exam on Friday so we'll see how much free time I get. 

I hope you guys have a great week and I'll talk to you soon!

Weekly Wrap Up: January 4th - 11th

Guess who didn't have a good reading week ...

Guess who hasn't opened a book all week ...

In my defence, university is not easy (neither is marathoning Friends in your free time. Can Ross and Rachel get together already?! My emotions can't handle it). Although it has only been a week since classes started - I have a to-do list almost two pages long. So unless reading from textbooks counts towards my goodreads goal, I have now managed to be one book behind schedule. UGH. 

BUT I ALSO DIDN'T BUY A BOOK THIS WEEK SO YAY FOR ME!

I can hear you clapping so thank you, thank you. It was tough but I powered through. So far this year I have not purchased a book, and it feels great. However that is about to change because I got my local Chapters to order me Reborn by Jennifer Rush and fingers crossed it gets here this week!

Just like last week I hope to finish I've Got Your Number as well as Demonglass, but it looks more likely that I'll finish Demonglass because it is a much quicker and engaging read. 

I hope you all had a good week and am being more productive with reading than I am! Talk to you soon!

Hex Hall Review

Hex Hall

Written by: Rachel Hawkins
# of pages: 323

Average Rating: 3.99/5
My Rating: 4/5

Release Date: March 2nd 2010
Read in July 2014

Summary according to Goodreads

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father—an elusive European warlock—only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tag-along ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

My Thoughts

I had attempted to read this book two years ago, out of the library, but for some reason I only got 50 pages in before putting it down. I am very glad that I picked it up again because I was able to read those 50 pages and more within a sitting, and I got so involved in the story that it just flew by. I don't often read books about witches, so I was very hesitant, but it was a very interesting plot - and it came highly recommended. 

This novel was written in an almost sarcastic tone of voice (very fitting for a teenage girl as the main character), and it added a comedic element to the overall story. Aside from it already being a quick read, this writing style kept the story light and funny. There was not much character development for the main character, Sophie, but I am hoping to see some growth as the series progresses. 

While reading this novel I was left on my toes the entire time - I never knew what to expect! There were so many plot twists, both major and minor, that added so much to the development of the story and where the series is going to go. Even once it had gotten to the last part of the book, I did not know what to expect as many characters started to show their true colours. 

I recently bought the second and third book in this series, and am currently reading (and enjoying) the sequel Demonglass. Overall, I thought this novel was very entertaining, and depicted a teenage girls attitude very well. If you are looking for something quick and fun to read that also incorporates hints of action and mystery, I recommend picking up this series.