But honestly, late is way better than never, right?!
And all the best people arrive fashionably late. Like … superheroes. It’s all about dramatic timing.
Should we start with an update on the fluffies, since everyone loves them?
And honestly, what’s not to love?
Thalia has gotten used to the other animals now, and made BFFs with our cat-dog. They now sleep together, like you do.
We’re down to two kittens and starting to get concerned that we won’t be able to find homes for them. We’re still trying, and they’re so sweet. They deserve the best homes.
So let’s do a brief recap of my September:
✦ I turned 29! The last day of September is my birthday, and I celebrated by … eating all the gluten? Because if there’s one day a year you totally ignore your gluten intolerance and eat deliciousness, it should obviously be your birthday.
✦ I started a second job, working at the front desk of the local library! Which, if I’m honest, has sort of always been a dream job. Who doesn’t want to work in a library and talk about books and movies all day?! This position was obviously made just for me.
✦ Leelynn @ Sometimes Leelynn Reads featured me in her Book Lover Spotlight for my birthday, which was really neat. I mean, it’s no secret that I love Leelynn in general and think everyone should check out her blog anyway, but if you were looking for yet another excuse … you can just click that link. Couldn’t be easier than that. 😉
✦ I have officially taken up residence Susan @ Novel Lives’ brain, so for my birthday, she sent me the Six of Crows duology since I never read it, so this is on! I was actually considering doing a buddy read, if I could find some people who still haven’t read it, but I’m not sure yet. I plan on reading it in November, so I guess if you might be interested in reading it (or re-reading it), give me a heads-up and maybe we’ll start a group read.
✦ MY ACTIVITY LEVEL IS GOING TO DROP, AND COMMENTING WILL PROBABLY HAPPEN TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK. I want to sort of make this known, though some people may have noticed there’s a new lag in me replying to things or checking out new blog posts. This is mostly due to the fact that I’m now working two jobs and, wow, where does all the time go?
And that’s enough about me. Let’s get to the books.
Click titles for my review.
The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper (★★★☆☆)
Teeth in the Mist (★★★☆☆)
The Whisper Man (★★★★☆)
The Sign of Nine (★★★★☆)
Lies My Teacher Told Me (★★★☆☆)
Steel Crow Saga (★★★★★)
Dead Voices (★★★☆☆)
Verify (★★☆☆☆)
The Invention of Wings (★★★☆☆)
A Hero Born (DNF @ 17%)
Shadow Frost (DNF @ 30%)
Reviews This Month:
Follow me on Goodreads
✦ Books On My TBR I’m Avoiding (Ft. Me Being A Silly Bean)
✦ Gripping First Lines || They Got Me Hook, Line, and Sinker
✦ Upcoming Releases to Watch Out For || Ft. My Obviously Biased Opinions
✦ September 11
✦ September 18
✦ September 25
✦ Netgalley Book Tag
✦ Annemieke @ A Dance With Books talks about reading problematic authors and also provides a really hand list of trigger warnings you can use in your reviews.
✦ Briana and Krysta @ Pages Unbound provide 20 creepy books just in time for October reading.
✦ Shealea @ Shut Up, Shealea talks about Chinese myths that would make for good YA novels, and I, too, would love to read these, please and thank you.
✦ Leelynn @ Sometimes Leelynn Reads raises some important questions about racebending.
✦ Iniverse gives a really neat how-to on using Google Sheets to help plan your blog schedule.
Brain: I have a plot idea!
— Sammie (@srbetler) September 11, 2019
Writer: Now?! But I'm in the shower.
Brain: This idea will self-destruct in 30 seconds.
Writer: Wait, what?!
Brain: 29, 28 …
Writer: *rushes to find a pen and paper* Okay, plot idea, go! I'm ready.
Brain: Sorry, what plot idea?#writerslife
WHY FANTASY IS GREAT:
— Sammie (@srbetler) September 16, 2019
– Has 100% of the dragons
– Be anything you want. Necromancer? Sure. Pirate? Of course!
– "Because magic" is a legit argument
– All the best creatures
– Deities! Sometimes good, sometimes bad, sometimes Loki.
– Earth is boring. Find somewhere new!#amreading
Me at bedtime: I should get up at 6:00 instead of 6:45 so I have some extra writing time! I can be so productive!
— Sammie (@srbetler) September 18, 2019
Me at 6:00 AM: Why do people live like this?! 😭 Dear bed, I miss you. I've made a horrible mistake. Please take me back.#writerslife #writingcommunity #amwriting
I'm super late in writing my review for @tazmuir Gideon the Ninth, but I still haven't solved the problem of putting random screaming into the void and intermittent sobbing into word form. Can I just throw bits of my shattered soul at anyone who wants to know how the book is?
— Sammie (@srbetler) September 20, 2019
WHAT THEY THINK WRITING IS:
— Sammie (@srbetler) September 30, 2019
I have a brilliant idea!
I'll write 2,000 words a day until I finish!
WHAT WRITING ACTUALLY IS:
I have a brilliant idea!
*creates outline*
*stares at blank page*
*writes 100 words*
*burns outline*
*deletes 20 words*
*surfs twitter*#writerslife
oh my god what an amazing month you’ve had!! happy birthday to you and congrats on the amazing job!! i’m so happy for you!!! and insanely jealous!!!
THOSE KITTENS TOO. I just want to snatch them up honestly. precious.
you’ve had such an awesome productive september. all the best to you you’re fab and I need to follow you on twitter like now
Thank youuuu! I love the new job, and i couldn’t be more thrilled about it.
I wish you could come take one. They are just the sweetest, and they love nothing more than curling up on your chest and giving kitty kisses. xD
OMG YOU didn’t like A Hero Born?!?!?!? I’m so sad! I didn’t read your review yet though but I will. Goodreads link right? I’m so glad that you had a great September though <3 <3 <3 I'm glad you had an awesome birthday too!
I didn’t. I’m sorry. D: I was super disappointed. But when I requested it, for some reason I was thinking modern story? But no, it’s an old classic recently translated, and I’ve read enough East Asian classics in my World Lit class to know that they just don’t work for me, generally lol. This one was much better than some I’ve read, but also had a lot of the same problems that I have trouble with personally. But yeah, I just did a Goodreads review. I tend not to post DNF reviews on my blog.
Thank you for sharing my posts.
Oh my gosh, 2 jobs? I admire you~
I love sharing your posts. <3 Also, it's a little misleading, because job two is only part-time, so I don't get a whole slew of hours, so it's actually not too bad. xD
OMG, those kittens! So sweet and adorable. I hope they find good furrever homes soon. I’m glad to hear that Thalia is settling in well, too.
I loved my library job back when I worked at my local library, too. It really was a dream job. Sadly I needed more hours than they could give me (and working two jobs sounded too exhausting. Still does. I hope it goes well for you). Happy birthday again! Now I’m off to find you on Twitter.
Me toooo. I’m so tired of people messaging me wanting a kitten and then ghosting after they’ve picked one out and gotten my address. xD
Thanks! I’m only getting 15 hours a week for three weeks and 21 hours for one week a month. So I hear you. Not enough hours if it were my primary job, for sure. They’re thinking of maybe bumping it up to 20 hours a week (26 one week) next year, but we’ll see. So really, at this point, I just have one full-time and one part-time, and I just cut my full-time back a few hours, so it’s not too bad!
Oh, that makes sense. I guess a full-time job and a part-time job isn’t much different than when I do my community theater volunteer work — that sure feels like at least a part-time job, but scheduled in at odd hours. I’m always so tired after a show, though. I hope your hours are spread out in a way that makes it work better!
Oh, for sure. I can see how that would be tiring, but well worth it.
It’s definitely worth it! And I think if the hours were better scheduled (aka not always weeknights during the rehearsal run) I would be a lot better able to sustain it. But I need my sleep.. 🙂