Unread Books January 2017

Soooo almost exactly a year ago I made a post listing the top ten books I was most ashamed of having not read. Essentially, it was a condensed version of my TBR, featuring the books I really, really needed to get to during the year. I was having so much fun reading through it that I decided to make it an annual tradition here so that each year I can look back on all the books I didn't read, and make promises to read new ones. (Check out my unread books of January 2016 here!)

These aren't in any particular order, but with no further ado, here they are. (I'm sorry don't hate me I'll get to them eventually.)

1. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Initially, I'd had no desire to read this novel given what I'd heard from people whose opinions I trust, but then I bought Holding Up the Universe, and I wanted to read her other novel as well. I ended up getting it for five dollars over Black Friday, so now I own the book with every intention of reading it.

2. A Court of Thorns and Roses + by Sarah J. Maas

I got both of these for Christmas, so now I literally have no excuse not to read them. I should have gotten on ACOTAR back when it first came out but.... ahahahaha sob. (ACOTAR was on my list last year so I literally am a #failure.)

3. Heir of Fire + by Sarah J. Maas 

Another one that's on my list from last year.... I've owned Heir of Fire for over a year, and I'm so upset with myself, because I loved Crown of Midnight, so I really, really should've gotten a move on with these.

4. Daughter of Smoke and Bone +  Laini Taylor

I'm an awful person, this is the second time I'm including this trilogy. I feel like so many people have read and enjoyed this trilogy, so I don't know why I've yet to start the first novel.

5. The Diviners + by Libba Bray

Ahahahahah guess which duology I said I'd read a year ago? This one! The 20s is one of my favorite eras so I'm ashamed to say I haven't completed or even started The Diviners :(

6. Through the Dark by Alexandra Bracken 

The Darkest Minds is my all time favorite YA series, so the fact that I haven't read this bind up is horrible. 2017 is the year. (I said the same thing about 2016... but it's fine.)

7. The Young Elites + by Marie Lu

I really enjoyed the Legend trilogy, so I can't believe I haven't gotten around to her newest works.

8. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky 

Literally everyone loves this book so why have I not read it? Excellent question. This year it's happening.

9. Shades of Magic Series by V.E Schwab

I've yet to hear a negative review for both of these books, which has convinced me that I need to read them. I can't believe I haven't yet, and I have no valid excuse here.

10. New Moon + by Stephenie Meyer

I read Twilight by Stephenie Meyer over the summer of 2016, and while I wasn't the biggest fan, I now feel odd not having completed the series. I'll definitely need to get on with that.


And that concludes the ten books I'm quite embarrassed to admit I haven't read them. Of the ten I listed last year, I actually followed through with four of them, and while that doesn't sound like a lot, three of them were actually series. (So ha!) Let me know what books you're behind on, and I wish you all luck with the 2017 reading year!

Between Shades of Gray

Title: Between Shades of Gray
Author: Ruta Sepetys
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Pages: 344
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Purchase this book:
Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Book Depository

Lina led a normal, teenage life in Lithuania, when one day Soviet officers marched into her home and threw her whole family on board cramped train cars where they traveled over 6,000 miles to the Arctic Circle. As Lina is forced to pay the price for crimes she never committed, she struggles to stay alive.

---

When you hear about the Holocaust, you probably instantly think of Hitler, and all the people he killed. What most people don't know is that Joseph Stalin was responsible for just as many ruined lives. In an attempt to get Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania off the map, he rounded up anybody who was linked to anti-soviet beliefs, and sent them to labor camps in Siberia and other remote places. This novel tells the untold story of the many, many people who suffered under Stalin's rule.

This was an amazing, powerful novel about a will to live, a will to survive, and a will to spread the word. Ruta Sepetys herself has Lithuanian heritage, and that's what inspired her to write this novel. Most of the people imprisoned didn't get to share their story in fear of being arrested, and I think it's really great that Ruta wants to show the world just how awful things were for those Latvians, Lithuanians, and Estonians.

But besides the fact that this book has a very emotional origin, let's discuss how great the plot is. It's full of dark, dark detail. Death and sickness is around every corner. But between all the despair, there is hope and a will to survive. While this book seems quite dismal at first glance, it has a hidden ray of happiness and warmth. I enjoyed how complex many of the characters were. There were many angels in disguise, and it was really heartwarming.

 Something I've always liked about historical fiction novels that take place during WWII is how we get to put real people next to the statistics. Yes, we know lots of people died in the Holocaust, but until you read a book about an individual who experienced it all, you don't realize that those people actually had lives. Suddenly, it makes the whole thing a lot more personal. 

So I would greatly suggest you read this novel if you'd like to learn about the unknown heroes of World War II. 

Click here to view Between Shades of Gray on Goodreads

TBR Jar Challenge 2017!

As I mentioned in my 2017 Goals post earlier in December, I've been very interested in creating my own TBR Jar challenge for 2017. For those of you unfamiliar with the concept of the TBR Jar Challenge, you create 12 different challenges related to books on your TBR, and then each month you select a challenge at random from a jar to complete. I believe Katytastic on YouTube started this in 2015, and you can see the video in which she introduces it here.

I actually did get around to making a TBR Jar for myself, so in this post I'll just sort of walk you through what I did?

Step 1: Obtain a jar (or mug or cup or bowl or whatever works best for you)

Target had Mason jars on sale in their dollar section, so a picked a couple up, but you could certainly use any mug or cup you have laying around.

Step 2: Gather your others supplies

 

While I just needed a silver sharpie and some cardstock, some people I've seen have a lot of fun decorating their jar's exterior with things like paint pens and washi tape, so you do you!

Step 3: Decide on challenges

After a long google session, I was able to come up with 12 challenge ideas that'll work best for me. They are as follows:

• Read a book with 500+ pages
• Read a "new to me" author 
• Read a 2017 release
• Read a classic (ahhh scary- and no, school books don't count.) 
• Read a book with a number or color in the title
• Read a book with a one word title
• Read a book with a blue cover
• Read a book "everyone" but you has read
• Read a book by a male author
• Read a book by a female author
• Read a book with less than 300 pages
• Read a sequel 

Those are the challenges I selected, but I'd make sure you create challenges that'll suit you as a reader, while still prompting you to read things you might not normally gravitate towards. 

And once you've selected your challenges, write them out on slips of paper. I used pastel cardstock because #aesthetic, but the thick paper is a little challenging when it comes to folding and stuffing inside of the jar. (Although it does a nice job of preventing me from seeing through the other side.) 

Step 4: Put the slips of paper inside the jar (plot twist ikr) 

And now you've got your TBR Jar! And it's January, so you can go ahead and select your first challenge. Mine was to read a book with a one word title, and I chose Truthwitch by Susan Dennard. (Which ended up being a good thing because book two comes out on the 10th!) 

Let me know if you've ever wanted to do a TBR jar, or if you 've done one before. I hope you join me this year with this super fun challenge! (Here's to a great 2017.)