The Sunday Mix (16)

October has been mostly dreary, rainy and cold so far, which I'm not overly fond of unless I can stay at home snuggled under warm blankets with a hot drink nearby. But otherwise, I've been having fun binge watching Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (which is brilliant and fun, and you will hear more about it in a future Screen & Scenes), seeing Jason Robert Brown perform (which was unreal) and spending time with people I love. I haven't been reading as much as I'd like to be, but hopefully, it starts picking up as the month continues. How has your month been going?

WHAT I READ

• Cee muses on books that have been worn out from rereads. She and I actually have something in common - it is also a Harry Potter book for me that is equally worn out, specifically Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Do you have a book like that?
• Whether you're a travel vet or a newbie, Josephine's suggestions for picking travel reads are really helpful. For shorter trips, I generally prefer just taking my Kindle; for longer trips, I try to pack at least 3 physical reads.
• Betty discusses book recommendations from your friends. Like her, I'd argue that it's not always true that I feel the same way about a novel that my friends do! Generally, I only rely on the opinions of a few, but I mostly wait until I can try the book myself before I decide whether or not it's for me.
• Do you love The Lunar Chronicles and book tags? Brittany has created a Lunar Chronicles book tag, and it's pretty darn cool. I'm thinking I may just have to do this tag on my blog as well at some point, so you can watch out for that!
• In this day and age, social media certainly plays a part in all our lives. Jamie muses on social media and online curation. Personally, I think social media has its merits, but nothing makes up for face-to-face encounters and living in a moment.
• Say what you will, Twilight has had a notable impact on YA and many readers across the world. Gillian shares her feelings about the series in honor of it's 10th anniversary. While I'm personally not a huge fan, I do think Twilight is a milestone book for many and respect that.
• I've just finished hosting Return to Green Gables with Rachel & Hannah, and it's been so fun! One of my favorite posts is Hannah detailing all the things she's loved and learned from Anne's romance with Gilbert. It's so epic and so true and so clever, and you really just need to read it.
• Betty's heartwarming experience at the grocery was something that made me feel all warm and fuzzy. A lot of bad things happen in the world, and it's hard not to feel discouraged or afraid or despair. But then there are people like the one in her story who show us that goodness does still exist, and in unlikely places or ways.

WHAT I ACQUIRED

from publishers (Thank you, Disney-Hyperion, Macmillan, Simon & Schuster, Bloomsbury, Harper Collins!)

physical: A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston / The Two of Us by Andy Jones / Simon Thorn and the Wolf's Den by Aimee Carter / Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion / The New Hunger by Isaac Marion / Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum / Ten Thousand Skies Above You by Claudia Gray / First & Then by Emma Mills / Romancing the Dark in the City of Light by Ann Jacobus / Passenger by Alex Bracken

e-galley: The Impostor Queen by Sarah Fine

from friends (Thank you Judith, Louisse + OTSP Secret Sister!)

physical: Throne of Glass (Dutch edition) by Sarah J. Maas / Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein

bought

physical: After You by Jojo Moyes / Rules for Stealing Stars by Corey Ann Haydu / Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo / Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (illustrated ed.) by J.K. Rowling + Jim Kay / The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan / Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce / Wolf-speaker by Tamora Pierce / Emperor Mage by Tamora Pierce / The Realms of the Gods by Tamora Pierce

extras: DVDs of Thumbelina, Anastasia + The Swan Princess