The Weekly Update: 3/6/16

 
 
It's March! [insert obligatory statement about how crazy it is that it's March already here] Seriously though, I am going to be glad when the cold is gone. Of course it will just be replaced by rain, but what can you do.

So remember how I complained last Sunday about the lawn mower in the mornings? Well this past week, either the person below or next to me (I was half asleep, I just know it was someone very nearby) decided 9 in the morning would be the perfect time to drill into the walls -_-

Anyway, that's about it for last week.

*Update: It's 9 in the morning right now as I type this, and someone is... sawing something? On the roof? Oh good, now they're banging on the roof. Like, ON the actual roof. I don't even know what all this noise is, but what is wrong with people???!*

*9:20 - Is that... is that actually a lawn mower too? Or a leaf blower? And it keeps sounding like an elephant is being dropped on the roof, it's so loud the walls even shake. Oh my goodness, now someone is singing. Have I woken up in the Twilight Zone? Because this shit can't be real.*

Blog Updates:

Oh no, it’s starting—ARC MADNESS. Well, review copy madness, since they’re not all ARCs. And ok that may be a bit of an exaggeration since I know some bloggers have like 50 and I have 6, but 6 at once is a lot for me! I don’t like to put them off, so I pressure myself to read them all immediately… but I’m also a mood reader. And one of them, believe it or not, is a contemporary with no fantasy or sci-fi (What?! I know. It’s so not my genre, but I wanted it.), so I really have to be in the right mood for that. Plus I’ve taken on quite a bit of non-blogging/bookish stuff at the moment and *gasp* just haven’t felt like reading for the past few days. The good news though is that none of these are from Netgalley, so my feedback percentage is safe ๐Ÿ˜› That means I don’t have to rush and stress myself.

But can anyone tell me, am I supposed to check that “send to publisher” box when I submit a review on Edelweiss? Also, I put my blog as my organization/company/whatever it was. Should I have left that blank? Why is Edelweiss so damn confusing?

Books I Finished:

Rises the Night by Colleen Gleason | books, reading, book covers
The Bleeding Dusk by Colleen Gleason | books, reading, book covers
Unleash the Storm by Annette Marie | books, reading, book covers
 

I LOVED Rises the Night and will post my 4.5 star review soon. I think it was also the first book I’ve read that was set in Italy. I also loved The Bleeding Dusk. This is becoming one of my favorite series. I find that funny and surprising since, had I read them a year ago, I probably would’ve hated them considering I used to hate historical books. Unleash the Storm was a kind of bittersweet but great finale to one of my favorite series, but it assuaged the pain a bit when I found out there is going to be another book in the same world but about my favorite character in the series.

Song of the Week:

“Glowing in the Dark” by The Girl and the Dreamcatcher – I actually first saw/heard this on Disney Channel and thought it was part of a movie. (I’d watch this if it were lol.) It’s a good song, and the video is a little creepy.

In Case You Missed It:

Cover Characteristics: Book Covers featuring Gargoyles
Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books to Read If You’re in the Mood to Laugh
Discussion: Why I Don’t Watch Movie Adaptations of Books
Book Review: Real Vampires Do It in the Dark (Real Vampires Don’t Sparkle Book 2) by Amy Fecteau
Graphic Novel Review: Saga Vol. 5 by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples

The Sunday Post Link-Up:

Once again, I’m linking up to The Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer ๐Ÿ™‚

 
 
 
 

Talk to me!

Did you find any good books or music last week?

 
 
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28 thoughts on “The Weekly Update: 3/6/16

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  1. Greg

    Man you’re having all kinds of luck with neighbors and landscape people LOL. I’m a mood reader too and at the moment I’m sorta between books- a few I was interested in got mixed reviews and now I’m not sure. I’m changing things up and it’s a mix too so it’s like what do I feel like reading? Not sure what I’ll pick. I know, bookish problems. ๐Ÿ˜›

    I wish I knew about Edelweiss but I haven’t requested anything there…

    Glad the Colleen Gleason books were good. Unleash the Storm actually looks good too, nice cover. I like the dragon- looks like a good series.

    1. Kristen Burns

      Seriously, I was so beyond aggravated at the ridiculousness of this morning. My blog seemed a good place to vent lol. Ugh my reading mood has been all over the place lately. When I started Bleeding Dusk, I was so in the mood for the type of book. But then, in the middle of reading it, I was suddenly in the mood for funny, so I told myself I’d finish then read one of the review copies I have that’s supposedly funny. But when I finished like two days later, I was suddenly not in the mood for funny but didn’t know what I felt like -_- Definitely bookish problems lol.

      I’m really looking forward to the rest of the Gardella Vampire Hunters series. The other is a great YA urban fantasy, and the last one especially had lots of dragons ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. Maureen's Books (@MaureenHinten)

    Drilling on 9 a.m.?? Thatโ€™s just wrong. We had a neighbor doing that a view weeks ago. I really donโ€™t get that. Why canโ€™t you wait until at least 11 a.m. or something? But maybe I just donโ€™t get it, since I never feel the need to drill a hole in my wall. I always ask my boyfriend and he does it at night after work. LOL.
    โ€˜Rises The Nightโ€™ sounds like a great read. Iโ€™m glad you enjoyed it.
    My reading week was a little slow but Iโ€™m hoping next week will be better.
    Have a great week ๐Ÿ˜‰

    1. Kristen Burns

      It’s so rude, right?! 9am is a totally acceptable and normal time for people to be sleeping. It’s not like I was asleep at 3 in the afternoon and complaining. I like your method lol.

      It was a fantastic book, thanks ๐Ÿ™‚ I suppose every week can’t be a good reading week, then there’d be nothing to compare them to ๐Ÿ˜› You have a great week too!

  3. Daniela Ark

    oh maaaaan! you know what you need to do.??? a very loud drums performance at a very pagan 4:00 am on a full moon nigh and when they come to complain open the door with a very pagan looooooog black robe and make sure they see the pentagram you made on your floor, surrounded by candles, incense and a voodoo doll and chicken in the middle [which you will return alive and happy to the super nice organic local farmer that let you borrow it of course, but the effect will be the same] ๐Ÿ™‚ ๐Ÿ™‚ ๐Ÿ™‚ ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Kristen Burns

      Hahaha yesssss. Except most of the time it’s the lawn guy or construction workers. So what I need to do is go track down these people and then do my Pagan drum performance on their lawn or roof (I don’t know if you saw my updates about the roof before you commented) or whatever lol. Definitely including the chicken from the local farmer. But the chicken didn’t wake me, so she’ll be safe from my wrath ๐Ÿ˜›

      1. Daniela Ark

        How did I miss the updates??? holy … I’m getting so ADD! So I’m back! I’m reading them now [JUST because it is you! and I love your crazy elephant on my roof stories] ๐Ÿ™‚

        The 4:00 am performance [lets make it 3:00 which is an well-known “creepy time” for more impact] is more for the benefit of the 9:00 am driller below or next to you.

        But… you are right. The drums won’t affect the lawn guy or the elephant on the roof.

        I think elephants are super cool so I’ll leave him be. but.. NOT YOU lawn guy!

        So, after convincing obnoxious drilling neighbor that you are an evil witch performing who-knows-what evil ritual with a super cute-helpless-organically-raised chicken, I would take [insert super cute chicken name here please, she deserves a name by now] and let her run free when he is trying to mow.

        Then buy her a leash and keep her! ๐Ÿ™‚ nothing better than walking your unorthodox pet to annoy your drilling neighbor

        Looking forward to you more of your apartment living adventures ๐Ÿ™‚

        1. Kristen Burns

          You came back just for lil ol’ me? *bats eyelashes* Lol

          I can’t just set the chicken loose while the guy mows the lawn though, it would end up getting caught under the lawn mower! I still feel bad about a lizard I accidentally killed once while trying to save it when I was like 16. I can’t have a dead chicken on my conscience too! I could totally walk her around on a leash, but I’m not so sure anyone would really even bat an eyelash at that where I live lol.

  4. Karen Blue

    See, that is why I moved out of the apartment. I think WE are the asshats in our neighborhood. I mean we just moved here in December, but I am sure everyone will come to loathe us, if they haven’t already. We have a Yorkie! In case you don’t know, Yorkies are little yappie dogs. My dog likes to go out as soon as he/we get up, like 530am. He runs into the backyard and yipes at the birds/squirrels/trees for like 20 minutes. I thought about getting him a shock collar, but they don’t make them for 5 lb dogs. We did put up a invisible fence because he has gotten out and explored all of our neighbors un-fenced backyards at least 6x since we moved in here. I am not proud to be “that” neighbor.

    1. Kristen Burns

      Hahaha yes, I think you are *that* neighbor. My grandma had a yorkie, so I know how yappie (and cute) they can be lol. But a little dog barking isn’t that hard to block out with white noise or something. Definitely not as bad as construction on your roof!

  5. Stacy Renee @ LazyDayLit

    I lived in a duplex a few years ago and dealt with my neighbors blasting music and fighting all night so I kind of understand. It was a sleep when they slept or not at all couple of years!
    I’m already feeling the ARC pressure even though I only have 2 that I need to read this month!

    1. Kristen Burns

      Yikes, that sounds so much worse! At least my problems are intermittent. Haha, I’m glad someone understand the ARC pressure. I feel like I have to read them all immediately or I’m going to end up disappointing someone!

  6. Molly @ Molly's Book Nook

    hahaha I loved your “live” updates on the people making noises! It does sound like the Twilight Zone! xD

    Also, oh goodness, my Negalley ratio is HORRRRRRIBLE. I think I’ve reviewed one of the 15 books I requested. Got overwhelmed and left. I haven’t been on since last year lol I’m hoping to catch up this year and actually maintain it. When I first signed up I had no idea the ratio thing even existed xD

    1. Kristen Burns

      Lol my blog seemed like a good place to vent since it wasn’t like I was sleeping anyway. But seriously, sawing, scraping, banging, engines running, SINGING EVEN?! That’s not normal!

      I’ve heard so many horror stories about the Netgalley ratio. Just start reviewing those books now! I only started using Netgalley this year, but I’m super picky about books I request and get them all reviewed ASAP because I’m a perfectionist and would get anxiety if I didn’t lol.

  7. Lola

    We didn’t have a very cold winter, but I always like it when it’s a new season. It’s like at the end of a season I have enough of it and want something new and with now snow this winter I am pretty dissatisfied with this winter. i am ready for spring and green trees, I love green and trees and I love spring.

    Ah yes the drilling neighbors, we have those too, horrible. We had a good week this week, no drilling neighbours, lol, but we do have a baby in the house below us and it cries a lot. And yes what’s wrong with people 9 am in the morning is way to early to be making noise.

    Ugh don’t talk to me about review copies, I have a shelf on Goodreads and it’s better if I don’t look at the number of books on it. But it’s like for every year you blog you just accumulate more of them. That’s great you got so many arc’s! And now I want to know what the contemporary romance book is. i actually love contemporary romances, I used to dislike the genre and then read a few books in the genre that changed my mind again and now I like the genre. I actually got some new paranormal romances this week, it’s been awhile since I got a new book in that genre.

    Ah that’s the reason I don’t do edelweiss, why can’t make a good understandable site. I do have to say netgalley their site is a lot better and makes more sense. I took one look at edelweiss and decided I could do without it. i think i requested two books there in the past few years, but that’s it. And I already get enough netgalley books, so I don’t need another site addiction.

    I am looking forward to your review of Rises the Night! I hope you’ll have a great week!

    1. Kristen Burns

      I mean, I don’t live where it gets very cold, but it’s still too cold for me, so I’m ready for the heat! “Ah yes the drilling neighbors” cracked me up lol. I will just never understand what goes through some people’s heads (or maybe the problem is what *doesn’t* go through their heads).

      Lol it seems like every reviewer has review copy horror stories. But yeah, I am excited, especially since I finally got a request from an author for a book that actually did interest me. Some of the other requests I’ve gotten… one of them even was contemporary when my policy clearly states I don’t accept that -_- Speaking of contemp, the one I have is Tone Deaf by Olivia Rivers from Edelweiss. I wanted it because it’s got a deaf protag who uses American Sign Language, and I studied ASL in high school. But seriously, I don’t understand why they didn’t make an easier-to-use website.

      My review’s already typed up and ready to go ๐Ÿ˜› so it’ll be up this week. Thanks, you too!

      1. Lola

        It doesn’t get too cold here either, usually only a few degrees below zero (celcius) at the coldest.

        And yeah it sure seems like everyone has the review copy horror stories. I also get a lot of review request that I decline, I hate saying no constantly, but there are only very few review request that actually are my kind of book. I get most of my review books through netgalley lately. It’s fun when you do get a review request for a book that sounds good.

        Tone Deaf sounds interesting. I always had hoped to learn ASL one day, because it’s interesting. I even have a ASL for dummies book. I know it’s weird as dutch sign language is apparently different and I want to learn ASL. If Edelweis improves their website I might actually consider using it, now it takes too much effort to even figure it out.

        1. Kristen Burns

          Ok we have vastly different definitions of “too cold” lol. I suppose I don’t really feel bad turning down requests since it’s not like they’ve lost anything because I said no, but I do understand how difficult it can be as an author.

          I was gonna say, that *is* kind of odd that you’re interested in ASL since you live in a different country. I honestly know nothing about Dutch Sign Language, but I can tell you that ASL is beautiful and it’s not too hard to learn the basics since the grammar is not as complex as, say, speaking English and then learning Spanish. Tone Deaf is one that you don’t need to request, you can just download, so I felt comfortable enough to at least do that on Edelweiss. I’ll figure out how to submit the review once I get to that point, haha.

          1. Lola

            I agree the authors don’t lose anything if you say no, but I still feel like I crushed part of their hope or something? And from an author point of view it must be pretty discouraging to hear no thanks so often. Although most seem glad I reply at least.

            I think sign language is beautiful, there is something beautiful about being able to communicate with your hands. I thought myself the alphabet once, but didn’t got much further than that and forgot must of it already probably by now.
            I hope I can learn sign language once. Grammar is one of the things I struggle most with when learning new languages (we got english, german and french in school and I was bad at all of them), so it’s good that ASL is easier in that regard.

            Oh tempting that you only have to download it.

            1. Kristen Burns

              I get what you’re saying. I do make it a point to at least respond back either way because it seems rude to me to leave people hanging.

              It really is beautiful since it’s so visual. And it comes in handy sometimes, like if you’re across a room from someone or supposed to be quiet or simply don’t feel like speaking out loud. Even if you just memorized a bunch of signs though, you could at least communicate. It wouldn’t be entirely correct, but it would make enough sense that you could be understood.

              Yeah, the few books I’ve gotten from Edelweiss were all immediate downloads. Actually requesting still seems daunting lol.

  8. Deborah

    I don’t actually get a lot of ARCs Kristen… mostly I get stuff from the bigger publishers and so they come in just before publication date.

    I’m with you on the annoying noisy people. I live in an apartment complex and the on-site manager / caretaker (who I dislike intensely) has recently reinstalled a metal gate near the pool area and he walks through it and lets it slam (loudly). My lounge, bedroom and desk are just above it so it makes me jump and annoys me. Everyone else closes it quietly but I’m sure he does it cos he knows it drives me insane… (It makes me jump… or I hear the latch and sit waiting for the slam!)

    1. Kristen Burns

      Ah, so you’re not suffering from ARC madness then? Lol

      That guys sounds like a jerk! I startle really easily, so I would jump every time too. That sounds terrible!

  9. Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature)

    Yes, do mark the submit to publisher box on Edelweiss when you put your review up. ๐Ÿ™‚ Edelweiss can be confusing. Took me a while to figure out how to use when I first started. As for Netgalley, I am so bad on getting my reviews done. But I’m trying really hard not to download anything I don’t know for sure if I will read. The townhomes where I live I have noisy neighbors, so I kind of understand what you’re talking about with the lawn mowers.

    You can check out my Sunday post in the link below!

    1. Kristen Burns

      Thank you! You’re the first person to answer my Edelweiss question. I don’t know why they make the site so difficult to figure out. I’m very picky when it comes to Netgalley. Maybe the feedback ratio is a good thing since it does keep me from getting overexcited and requesting too much lol, but I’m generally picky about review copies regardless.

  10. Tiffany

    Sucks about your rude neighbors. Hopefully they’ll let you rest this weekend. My neighborhood is pretty quiet, so when crazy stuff like that happens, it really throws me.

    I tend to stick with Netgalley. I’ve used Edelweiss, but it give me a headache, it’s so confusing. Honestly, I only go on there like once a month at most. However, I’m pulling away from Netgalley and ARCs in general. It’s ridiculous how many books I have to read on my shelves and iPad that I haven’t made time for. Plus, so many books I’ve been waiting for come out this year. Good luck with the ARCS madness!

    1. Kristen Burns

      Thanks, it’s definitely one of the negatives of apartment living. Seriously, I don’t know why they can’t just make Edelweiss easier to use. But I understand why you’re pulling away from all of them, I’d be way too stressed if I had a whole bunch sitting around!

  11. Bookworm Brandee

    Sorry your sleep is being interrupted by construction?!? Or whatever people think it’s okay to do in the ‘early’ morning hours. ๐Ÿ˜‰ I’m sure that’s affecting everything – even your reading mood. But good for you having 6 review books…but don’t stress it, Kristen. That makes for non-fun reading and then, what’s the point?!? Of course, you may feel free to point out that my netgalley rating suffers from this attitude/philosophy so perhaps one shouldn’t listen to my advice. *haha*
    I can’t believe it’s March either…I’m digging in my heels, putting on the brakes…and yet, time is careening out of control fast. Ugh!
    I hope your week has been going well. I’ve had a days-long migraine and am woefully behind…

    1. Kristen Burns

      Seriously, 9 in the morning is not the time for construction! It makes me more tired which then does make everything difficult!

      I’m trying to not stress over the review copies though. I mean, a temporarily low feedback ratio or getting rejected for a few books because I’m running late on others wouldn’t be the end of the world. I have plenty of more important things to stress about lol.

      Aww, sorry about the migraine :-/ I know how debilitating migraines and headaches can be. Feel better, and don’t kill yourself trying to catch up on everything!