The Weekly Update: 5/21/17

 
 

I didn’t do a Weekly Update last week, so I’m doubling up on this one so that none of the books I received or reviewed would get neglected.

Unfortunately, *sigh* I’ve not had a great week. I feel like my body is falling apart. As if I didn’t have enough health problems already, I think I may have nerve damage or something because the shin/ankle area in one leg has been numb-ish all week. I have no idea what caused it or exactly when it happened since I didn’t even notice until I touched my leg and felt this weird sensation. It doesn’t affect my ability to walk or move my foot, and I don’t notice it unless I’m touching it. Have any of you ever had anything similar happen? I’m waiting a little longer to see if it changes before deciding what to do about a doctor since I don’t have the energy to waste if they’re just going to tell me there’s nothing to do for it.

I also had apartment issues. Well, the apartment below me had issues which also affected me. Something about flooding. I don’t even really know. But of course it happened in the middle of the night, and then the AC made a weird noise for a while (my AC is connected to theirs in some way that I don’t understand), and then the water got turned off for hours. I couldn’t even wash my hands to take out a contact that was hurting me -_- And I’m jumpy and live alone, so having someone knock on my door at 3:30 am was the very opposite of relaxing when I was trying to relax. I was supposed to move out of this place in April, but it just keeps getting pushed back (not my decision). All the issues here are starting to make that other place not seem so bad after all.

Lots of negativity, I know. But is it too much to ask to ever be able to just relax for a day? :-/


Blog/Bookish Updates:

Remember I told you all I was having problems with my Amazon lists not letting me filter and sort with all the options? Well I contacted Amazon, and it’s all fixed now on my computer. Mobile and tablet sites still aren’t working right, but whatever, good enough.

Also, you may have noticed I’ve changed my headers within posts. Not 100% decided if I’ll stick with this, but so far I think it does make them easier to see the different sections in posts. And I’m trying a new thing in my book reviews—underlining (or maybe bolding) the most important bits. That way, anyone who wants to skim can just read those sentences.

Last but not least, I added like 20+ books to the Sci-Fi/Fantasy Books with Disability Masterlist over the past two weeks, so check ’em out and see if any of them look interesting!

 

Books I Received for Review:

Triad Soul by 'Nathan Burgoine
Toric's Dagger by Jamie Edmundson
Alonso Munich is Now Dead by S. Gates
A Life of Death by Weston Kincade
Golden Bulls by Weston Kincade
Sacrifices by Weston Kincade
 

5/14/17:
I got Triad Soul from NetGalley, and I’m excited for it because it’s the second in a series I’m liking. Plus I really am slacking on vampire books this year, and it has a vampire 😀

5/21/17:
I got Toric’s Dagger and the Life of Death Books from the authors and Alonso Munich from NetGalley.

 

Books I Finished:

Real Vampires Do It in the Dark by Amy Fecteau
Real Vampires Take No Prisoners by Amy Fecteau
Shadow Fray by Bradley Lloyd
Lux and Lies by Meg Collett
Meat: The Second Serving by Chele Cooke
 

5/14/17:
I reread the second Real Vampires book and then read the final one, and this is the second time this series has managed to cut through a reading slump or actually got me to concentrate on a book during a time when I was struggling with that! It’s funny that I posted about series book covers last week though since the cover for Book 3 finally came out, and, as you can see, it’s… yikes. Doesn’t match the book or previous covers at all. And I have no clue why there’s a film strip on it? Please don’t let it scare you off from checking out my review! Shadow Fray wasn’t perfect but was still enjoyable with a gritty dystopian world.

5/21/17:
Lux and Lies pushed my suspension of disbelief some, but other than that it was pretty good and had some realistically complex characters. Meat was… not bad, but I didn’t love it. I’m not a werewolf person though, and I was disappointed it had different MCs than Book 1. I’ll explain more in the review.

 

Song of the Week:

“Middle Fingers” by MISSIO – I keep hearing this on the radio. I like it.

 
 

Laugh of the Week:

http://samael.tumblr.com/post/144127318070/breathe-think-dream-official-tundrakatiebean

I thought it was a giant cat lol. Let me know in the comments which thing you thought it was.

 

In Case You Missed It:

5/14/17:
– I did the Zombie Apocalypse Book Tag, and my team is gonna kick some serious zombie ass, guys.
– I posted mini reviews for three science fiction books: The Human Wilderness, Scardust, and Foamers.
– I talked about how I use Goodreads and gave a few tips.
– I reviewed Real Vampires Do It in the Dark by Amy Fecteau, a funny M/M vampire urban fantasy with lovable characters.

5/21/17:
– I shared tips for writing book reviews when you don’t have much to say.
– I reviewed Sugar Scars by Travis Norwood, a post-apoc book that had great disability rep but was problematic in other ways.
– I discussed consistency in series book covers.
– I reviewed Surrender the Dark by Tibby Armstrong, a M/M vampire romance with a blind MC.

 

The Sunday Post Link-Up:

Once again, I’m linking up to The Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer 🙂

 
 
 
 

Talk to me!

Have you found any good books, music, or videos recently?
Do you like the new header style?
Skinny arms, or fat cat?

 
 
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Your Thoughts

 

70 thoughts on “The Weekly Update: 5/21/17

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  1. Greg

    Apartment issues 🙁 I think I lived in two different places in college and one afterward, and of the three I had problems at two. Not a good track record. And yeah somebody banging on the door at 3:30 am would freak you out. Sounds kinda crazy… hope you get a chance to get out of there soon.

    I like those covers for the Kincade books. Something about lightning and storms and big moons always get my attention lol

    I’m going with fat cat… 🙂

    1. Kristen Burns

      Yeah I used to think living an apt would be super cool and now that I’ve done it, I’m so over it lol. But it’s not like I have the money to own my own house right now (or maybe ever).

      I really like those covers too!

      Haha, I legit thought it was a giant cat.

  2. Geybie's Book Blog

    Sorry to hear about your apartment and ankle. Hon, I think you need to go to the doctor. My friend had the same issue and it didn’t end up good. She kept it to herself for months before going to the hospital. It will at least give you a piece in mind if turns out to be nothing serious. But yeah, going to the doctor would be good.
    I hope you get better, hon. Enjoy your books and have a wonderful week. ❤️

    1. Kristen Burns

      It doesn’t really seem dire, so I’ve still not made any appts yet. My insurance has crap for options in doctors, and I don’t have the energy to go to a million appts if it’s just gonna get better on its own in a week.

      Thanks, you too!

  3. Megan @reading away the days

    Sorry to hear about everything that has been happening. I won’t have felt good about hearing someone knock my door in the early hours I probably wouldn’t have answered the door. I hope everything gets sorted for you health wise included. I was thinking of putting my main bits of my review in bold too lol I have stared doing it for a few bits and pieces and I liked it. I need to check out the zombie tag. I love zombies and tags so it’s perfect. Have a great week.

    1. Kristen Burns

      I didn’t answer right away, but they kept knocking, so finally I just shouted through the door to ask who it was. Yeah I’ve some other people do the bold or underline thing, it’s a good idea! And the zombie tag is such a fun one 😀 Thanks, you too!

  4. Emma

    Wow, what a week! Hope your apartment gets all sorted and you figure out what is wrong with your leg…sure it will be fine.

  5. suzanna

    Sorry to hear you’re having a bad time. Keep on fighting, keep putting ‘Middle Fingers in the air’ (great song. The lead singer looks like my son’s friend – I had to look twice lol)
    The covers on the Kincade set of books are lovely. Hope you enjoy them.
    xxx

  6. chucklesthescot

    To be honest I never pay much attention to the look of the blogs I visit…I just go to read the posts so I never notice changes to things like headers! The Weston Kincade covers are really great and I even went to Goodreads to check them out but when I read the reviews I knew it wasn’t going to be for me. Pity, I do love the covers!

    1. Kristen Burns

      I visit blogs for the content too, not the design, but sometimes my brain just remembers things without me even realizing, so I’ll visit and be like, “This is different, isn’t it?” lol. I really like the covers too!

  7. Michelle @Because Reading

    Oh you poor girl! I want to give you a hug! That is just way too much to handle all by yourself. I hope you are able to get into something new. That place just doesn’t seem right for you at all!

    That cat picture made my head spin! I still can’t see it for what it is. lol She just has super slim arms! 🙂

    I hope you have a great week, Kristen! Happy Reading!

  8. Kei @ The Lovely Pages Reviews

    I don’t even know where to begin!
    Sorry about your leg and the apartment issues, this is the second time we have similar housing issues, I remember the last time it was plumbing issues? Anyway, the apartment next to us had a flooding problem and it was a mess so I feel you.
    I hope you get better soon, it’s a rough few months for you for sure!

    1. Kristen Burns

      Thanks. Yeah, they’ve turned the water off for “plumbing repairs” like 27 times now, and half the time when they do they just screw up the water pressure, other times they get dirt all in the pipes -_-

  9. verushka

    No, a relaxing day isn’t too much to ask hon — I’m sorry, this sounds like a tough week, and you didn’t need that. I hope this week is better!

  10. sjhigbee

    So sorry you’re going through such a rough time. Yes… I used to regularly suffer with numbness and tingling in my leg – and it could mean you have a trapped nerve or damaged a muscle that is swollen and pressing on the nerve. I swear by my TENS machine, which sends out electrical impulses that interferes with the pain receptors and helps reduce muscles spasming and took care of my ongoing sciatica that I’d been suffering with fairly constantly for nearly 10 years after a back injury. But do run it by your dr first as I’m aware you have other medical issues. I hope this coming week is much better one, Kristen:). Take care.

    1. Kristen Burns

      Yeah, it does sound like some sort of nerve thing. It’s not bothersome, it’s more that I just want to make sure it’s nothing serious if it doesn’t go away. Thanks 🙂

  11. Molly @ Molly's Book Nook

    I’m sorry you’ve had such a bad week <3 I hope next week improves for you!

    For the blog changes, I like bolding or making main points stand out in my posts – because some people do skim! haha (I admit, I skim sometimes too). So, that little change could make a huge difference!

    That cat thing is funny, I sort of saw that it was a sweater, but also thought the cat was huge – but the cat kind of is huge? Or is that just me lol

    1. Kristen Burns

      Thanks <3

      Yeah, sometimes I have too much trouble concentrating to read long posts, some people might not have time, etc., so bolding the important parts for people who need it seems like a good idea!

      Idk, I was trying to figure out yesterday if the cat is still a pretty big cat, and I just can't tell lol.

  12. Evelina

    Aww, hang in there 🙁 I hope you’ll be feeling better soon. Maybe you need more rest, still. After a week like you’ve had with the nightly apartment problems, I wouldn’t be surprised about you feeling off – stress can do that. Nope, I’ve never heard of anything like your ankle problem, I hope it gets better though. Doctors are no fun.
    That said, I’m getting two wisdom teeth pulled next week -.- good luck to us both!

    Glad your Amazon got fixed though! Haha, I know what you mean, bolding in reviews is a thing I love too. Kind of shows skimming readers what they should read first, cause I know there will be people who skim anyway.

    I hope you can have a better week this time 🙂

    1. Kristen Burns

      Thanks. I always need more rest. And less stress -_- But oh no, good luck with your wisdom teeth pulling <3

      Exactly, I figure bolding will make my reviews more useful for both people who like longer ones (they can read the full review) and those who like shorter ones!

      Thanks!

  13. Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library

    Sounds frustrating about the apartment. I think I’d be pretty jumpy if someone knocked on the door at 3:30AM regardless with if I lived alone or not. Hopefully you’ll end up with some time to relax soon. It always seems like everything happens at once. I’ve had something like the numbness you describe on my thigh a few times and it seems to go away after awhile. All of a sudden I’ll realize it isn’t numb anymore. I’ve always just assumed a nerve got pinched somewhere and then got unpinched but my medical degree is from Google so don’t take my word for it! Hope this week is better for you and you enjoy your books!

    1. Kristen Burns

      Exactly, 3:30 am is just not a time when you want random knocking on your door since nothing good can come of it. Yeah, I’m guessing it’s a nerve thing, but I also got my medical degree from Google lol. Thanks!

  14. Lola

    I am sorry to hear you didn’t have a good week. That numbing sensation sounds nasty, i hope it goes away. I have had the numbing sensation a few times, but only very shortly. To have it last for days sounds pretty long to me, let’s hope it goes away or else the doctor can do something about that. It’s annoying when you go to the doctor only to hear there’s nothing to be done about it. But who knows, maybe this is something they can do something about.

    Those apartment issues sound bad too :(. Having to deal with that water and AC in the middle of the night doesn’t sound fun at all. We mostly had some construction noise to deal with this week.

    That’s great Amazon changed your wishlist back again on your computer. I think mine is still normal luckily.

    I’ve seen some reviewers do the underlining or bold in their reviews, I kinda liked it with the ones I’ve seen so far. It makes for easy scanning. The covers for those Life and Death books look great!

    That picture of the cat is funny, I scrolled up from the comment section so I saw the artwork first. I can see why people think she has tiny arms or it’s a big at though as you can hardly see where her arms end and the cat begins. I hope your next week is a good one!

    1. Kristen Burns

      Thanks. The numb thing isn’t so bad, I mean, I only notice it when I touch it, and how often do I touch my shin, you know? But it’s more that I want to make sure it isn’t something serious, but I don’t want to waste the energy I don’t have to see a doctor if it’s nothing.

      Yeah, I was stressed that night, worrying that my apartment would be affected too and all that.

      I think the underline/bold will be helpful since I write such long reviews, and I know some people like short reviews, so this will be a way to kinda do both! And I love those covers too!

      Aww, darn, haha. I still see the giant cat when I just glance quickly or see it in my peripheral vision lol. Thanks!

  15. Danie

    New to your blog, and I love that you have a music section! Definitely going to be coming back to check out what music you’re listening to.

    I also really liked your post on how you use your Goodreads! I use GR for keeping track of what I read, but I need to be better about using all the other functions on there.

    Hope you have a great week!

    1. Kristen Burns

      Hi! And yay I’m glad you like my music section! Maybe we’ll have some of the same tastes 🙂

      Thanks! Keeping track of our books is probably the best function of GR, but I like using it for social things too.

      Thanks, you too!

  16. Becky @ A Fool's Ingenuity

    I am sorry to hear you’re having such a rubbish time. I can’t say I’ve experienced anything like that so I got nothing. I mean, if it’s something that is bothering you I’d say see a doctor but the fact your ability to walk isn’t affected I just don’t know. Maybe it’s some kind of trapped nerve but it seems unusual that it affects just one area. I feel like you’ve had the worst housing luck. I mean, that sounds like a nightmare. I remember you saying you were meant to be moving so it sucks that’s been pushed back and then you’re having more problems at your current place. I am not surprised you were nervous about a late night/early morning knock at the door. I would be too and having your water turned off sounds crazy. Hope it gets sorted for you soon, or you new place gets sorted.

    But hey, at least you’ve got a funny post to look at to cheer you up. I thought it was a giant cat but then I saw the skinny arms picture and I can see that too. It made me laugh either way.

    Hopefully, this week will be better, fingers crossed, and happy reading!

    1. Kristen Burns

      Exactly, it doesn’t really seem dire? So I’m holding off a bit on the doctor thing. It does seem like a pinched nerve or something. Someone in my family had a pinched nerve thing and it only affected her foot and the doctors told her she just had to wait for it to go away on its own. But yeah, it’s frustrating and stressful that the move date just keeps getting pushed back since I keep, like, putting everything else on hold, and I just wanna be done with it already.

      Lol I figured the arms were just obscured some because the cat was so fat 😛

      Thanks!

  17. Barb (boxermommyreads)

    Hope you get your ankle sorted out. I was changing a light in the kitchen this morning and ended up electrocuting myself. Now my arm is numb and tingly besides hurting (had to the the bad arm – haha). I don’t think I did any major damage but time will tell. Just my luck. Sorry about your apartment issues. I always get a sense of dread when the phone rings in the middle of the night so I’m sure someone knocking on the door that late is more unsettling. Hopefully you have a better week and it looks like you have some books to cheer you up.

    1. Kristen Burns

      Oh my goodness, that sounds awful! I hope your arm is ok. And thanks, yeah, nothing good ever comes from someone calling or knocking on your door at 3:30 in the morning. Thanks <3

    1. Kristen Burns

      Yeah that was you who shared that Deep Blue Sea (or whatever it is) Missio song, right? I like that one too. And I realized when I listened to it on YouTube that they also sang the Middle Fingers song I’ve been hearing lol. Haven’t heard a lot of their other songs though.

  18. Laura Thomas

    I used to live alone in an apartment and remember all of issues from others living below me. I’d be scared too at that late night visit. I have to numb spots on my body. One on my hip and one by my knee. They appeared some time ago and never went away. I was a runner so I suspect it’s some kind of nerve damage. he doctors never found anything wrong.

    My Sunday Post

    1. Kristen Burns

      I’ve loved living alone for the most part, just not when people come unexpectedly knocking. That’s what I feel like is prob gonna happen if I go to a doctor, they won’t find anything, and I’ll have wasted all that time and energy that I don’t have. But I’ll have to see a doctor eventually if it doesn’t go away to be sure.

  19. Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

    So sorry for all your apartment issues (and health issues!). Ugh! I loved the cat picture—I totally thought it was a ginormous cat and maybe her arms were partially buried in its fur? I try to bold things in my reviews to help people see the main parts. I think it helps keep people’s attention. 🙂

    1. Kristen Burns

      Thanks 🙂 Exactly! I thought the cat was so fat that her arms were just partially buried lol. That’s true, bolding probably also make the thing more visually varied too and helps keep people’s attention.

  20. Di @ Book Reviews by Di

    Oh Kristen. 🙁 I’m sorry you haven’t had a great couple of weeks. Sometimes I feel like my body is giving in on me too! I’ll feel a twinge or find I’ve injured myself and I don’t even know why! Plus I have fairly serious neck issues and I just wonder if I’m in my 30s now how the heck am I going to cope in my ‘old age’? Does EVERYONE feel like this?

    The issues with the apartment below your affecting you sound awful. 🙁 I can’t remember why you didn’t really want to move?

    Bahaha about that pic. I thought it was a ginormous cat for a moment too!

    Hope this week is a better one.

    1. Kristen Burns

      Thank you <3 Idk, I think some lucky people's bodies actually function properly lol.

      Idk, I guess the flooding thing has been fixed now at least? I never really explained why I don't want to move because part of it is complicated and personal. Also they found a roach infestation at the place I'm going to. And it's tiny. But yeah this place has had all sorts of problems.

      Lol it totally looks like a giant cat!

      1. Di @ Book Reviews by Di

        Huh. Who would’ve known. You CAN get older and have a functional body? I must look into this…. 😉

        Ahhh – sorry, I didn’t mean to pry, I just thought that I may have missed it. Is there no possibility of finding a different place to move to? I hope your current place is a happier spot to be very soon and I’m glad the flood at least has stopped! With you guys going into summer the last thing you need is AC issues!

        1. Kristen Burns

          No worries, you didn’t pry, I was just explaining 🙂 But no, that’s really my only option at the moment. To be honest I still don’t even know what was causing the flooding since it wasn’t my apartment, but yeah, I know how bad AC problems are because I had the cooling part of my AC break for a day or two last summer, so it was just blowing around room temp air, and that was miserable!

  21. kimbacaffeinate

    That cat picture..lol Sorry you’ve been having issues, particularly health issues. Someone knocking on my door at 3 am would have freaked me out. I hope its all sorted. Enjoy your new books. I hope the week ahead is a good one, and don’t put off the doctor too long on that leg.

  22. Amber Elise @ Du Livre

    I’m so sorry you’re not doing well Kristen, and I feel like your apartment woes have been haunting you for months!

    And it took me three glances to see that that insta photos was not of a giant fat cat!

  23. Lampshade Reader

    So sorry about your troubles. You are in my thoughts and sending some positive ones your way!

    The image is hilarious! I thought it was a huge cat as well. But the comments are the best part. LOL

    Hope you have a better week! ~Aleen

  24. S. J. Pajonas

    Aw man! I’m sorry to hear about your apartment and health problems. To answer your question, though I’m not sure this will help, I did have a patch of skin on my leg that went numb on me BUT it was while I was pregnant with my second kid. It was really weird and made shaving really difficult too. But it was entirely pregnancy related because it disappeared after she was born. The doctors think either my uterus was sitting on a bundle of nerves and turning them off or it may have been from water retention, so maybe that information helps you out. Anyway, I hope your apartment problems clear up soon! <3

  25. Annemieke

    Ah I hope you will have a better week Kristen! I’d freak out if someone knocked on the door at that time and I was alone too. I’d freak out if it happened with my husband there (which did happen once but it was the police to tell my husband someone broke into his car).

    I thought it was a big cat too. Had to really stare for a bit there.

  26. Jane @ Raincity Librarian

    Oh dear. :'( So often bad luck seems to come in waves, but hopefully you’ve ridden the wave out!

    We had a similar situation where we came home late at night after flying from overseas, and we were getting ready to collapse into bed when we heard a strange dripping, and discovered that our upstairs neighbor’s washing machine was flooding through our ceiling, so we had to knock on their door and wake them up!! It wasn’t fun. >.< Apartment life can be convenient, but also super stressful..!!!

    1. Kristen Burns

      Yikes, that sucks about the washing machine. But that was what I didn’t understand, why they came to ask me if anything was leaking since, if were coming from my apt, it would’ve been dripping through the ceiling. But yeah, apt life has proven to be pretty stressful, at least in this place!

  27. Dragonfly @ Our Familiarium

    oh sorry to hear about your new symptom. I get numbness fairly often. What has worked for me is physical activity (walking) and massages. If you don’t feel well enough to walk maybe you can go to one of those PT places where they hook you to a stationary bike that moves your legs for you. It suck that you are not getting a good sleep either because that may be worsening it. Maybe when you move and get more sleep you’ll feel better.
    And no, it’s not too much too ask so I hope you are able to relax soon!
    haha that picture does look creepy. I was relieved when I read it was a sweater 🙂

    1. Kristen Burns

      I think it’s a nerve being pressed on or something, so probably not something sleep would fix anyway.

      Thank you <3

      Haha I was more concerned for the health of the cat because I thought it was obese lol.