Join me as I look back over the last week (or more in this case) in blogging and books. This week I am linking up with the Sunday Post Meme @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, Showcase Sunday @ Books Biscuits and Tea, Stacking The Shelves by Tynga’s Reviews, and It’s Monday! What Are You Reading by Bookjourney.
Happy New Year!
Here’s to all the book blogging to come in 2015…
It’s good to be back to blogging after the Christmas break. I hope you all enjoyed the festive holidays. It was nice to take a break from the blog and come back refreshed and ready to begin again, so I’m definitely glad to be back.
I’m making a few small alterations and additions to my Weekend Posts this year.
I’ve signed up for the Mount TBR reading challenge, so for some of my reading I’ll be sweeping through my vastly over-crowded bookshelves in search of new reading material. For this reason I’ll be mentioning them in my ‘New This Week’ even though they’re not strictly brand new purchases.
I’m also adding a Reading Challenges section where I will include any progress updates for the challenges I’m attempting.
The final new feature will be a small section at the end of my bookish news where I’ll give an honorary mention to any tv series or movies I’ve been enjoying over the last week or so.
Other than that it’s pretty much going to be business as usual here on Pages and Tea. I’m really looking forward to the reading year ahead, and hope everyone else is to.
Bout of Books begins in a couple of days time, which I’m going to participate in again. I did the last one and had a great time, I find I read more when I’m taking part on a Read-A-Thon, so this seems like a nice way to begin a new reading year.
Onto the books…
New To My Shelves
From the Library:
Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning – After loving the first book in this series I really can’t wait to get started on this one.
The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami
Christmas in the Snow by Karen Swan
From my Shelves:
If Only They Could Talk by James Herriot – I’m currently working my way through the dvd boxset of the tv series of All Creatures Great and Small, and I love the gentle-paced drama, which made me think I should try the books the series is based on too.
And in E-Books:
The Line by J. D. Horn – A little Christmas treat to myself, and the first book in a series.
The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman – This is another book I saw some great reviews for which prompted me to add it to my TBR list. I was really pleased when it came up in the Christmas sale because it sounds really enjoyable.
Red Rising by Pierce Brown – I’ve been pondering on whether to get this one for a while now, so decided to treat myself for Christmas.
Books I’ve Reviewed
Nothing so far, but I have a few reviews lined up which I’ll post once the Read-A-Thon is over.
Books That Caught My Eye (Must Find Out More)
The Three by Sarah Lotz.
The Chimes by Anna Smaill – I really like the sound of this dystopian novel.
Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier – I probably shouldn’t think of starting another series right now, as I already have several that i’m reading, but this is definitely one I would like to read sometime in the future.
Other Posts on my Blog This Week
#BookADayUK December 2014 Part 1
#BookADayUK December 2014 Part 2
Flights of Fantasy Reading Challenge Sign Up Post
Events I’ve Participated In and Upcoming Events
#BookADayUK on Twitter, hosted by Baileys Prize.
Bout of Books 12 takes place next week. I am so excited for this event; I took part last time and really enjoyed challenging myself to read more and finding new blogs to follow.
Reading Challenge Progress
Nothing to report yet, but just to recap, the challenges I’m participating in are:
The I Love Libraries Reading Challenge
The Mount TBR Reading Challenge
Hail to the King Stephen King Reading Challenge
The Monthly Key Word Reading Challenge
Flights of Fantasy Reading Challenge
Beyond the Books
I’ve been catching up on series 8 of Doctor Who and am absolutely loving it. I still have about 5 episodes and the Christmas Special to watch.
Also, season 4 of Haven is brilliant (I’ve always loved Haven, but have yet to read The Colorado Kid).
I’m also really looking forward to the next season of The 100, which is starting next week.
So, that’s my bookish news to date. Did you receive any great books for Christmas, or has anything new and bookish caught your eye lately? Have you signed up for any Reading Challenges this year, and how many is too many? (I’m thinking of maybe joining one more, the Book Blogging Discussion Challenge, but I’m not sure yet). As always, talk to me in the comments!
Pages And Tea 
I’m always attracted to books with “library” in the title. I requested The Strange Library at my library and am waiting for it to become available. Now I’m going to find out more about The Invisible Library. Our reading goals for the year are similar, and I wish you luck with yours.
My recap: http://www.bookclublibrarian.com/2015/01/weekly-book-recap-92.html
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Me too, I love libraries in general, so any books featuring a library, especially if there’s some kind of magic/fantasy element is definitely going to be something I might be interested in.
Good luck for your reading year too 🙂
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Those look like great new books. I enjoyed that series by KMM.
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The first book was SO good, I can’t wait to get started with the second 🙂
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Enjoy your challenges, and I love the idea of reading from your shelves…I plan to read more from my Kindle this year. I have more new books there than anywhere else, having whittled the print book shelves down. Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
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I really should make an effort to get through more of my Kindle books too, I have so many. I managed to cut down on book buying when I ran out of physical space on the shelves, but then I got my Kindle and was back to buying as much as ever.
Thanks for stopping by!
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Yes..Red Rising. I look forward to hearing about what you are watching and love that you are sharing from your tbr pile.Happy New Year and welcome back
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Thank you 🙂 I did enjoy my blogging break but by the end I was really looking forward to getting back into it again.
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Great books for you this week! I got Red Rising last week but, haven’t quite got to it yet! Hope you enjoy them!
Brittany @ Spare Time Book blog
My STS: http://sparetimebookblog.blogspot.com/2015/01/stacking-shelves.html
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Everyone seems to really like Red Rising so I’m looking forward to read it, especially as the next book is coming out soon too.
Thanks for stopping by!
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The Strange Library sounds interesting! I’ve enjoyed this season of Doctor Who though I still haven’t 100% warmed up to the new doctor. I haven’t watched the Christmas special yet but I’m still emotionally recovering from the finale! Have a great week!
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I saw someone recommending The Strange Library on their blog then it came up in the Christmas sale so I was pleased to get it.
I’ve watched about half of Doctor Who so far. I think it was about ep 3 where I really started to like Twelve and now he’s one of my favourites 🙂
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I’m doing several challenges and need to get my posts together and get started updating them.
I’ll be watching to see what you think of Red Rising. My review comes out next month.
Here’s my Sunday Post – http://fuonlyknew.com/2015/01/04/whats-new-on-my-bookshelf-91-and-the-sunday-post/
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I’m really tempted to add just one more challenge, the discussion challenge, but I don’t want to get overwhelmed by having too many going on at the same time, so will probably decide after Bout of Books now.
Look forward to reading your Red Rising review as I don’t think I’ll be reading the book straight away so will be able to read your review first.
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Happy New Year! I hadn’t heard of any of these titles but they all sound so good, especially Red Rising. There’s just something intriguing about that title. And I admire that you’re working your way through your bookshelf. I get too lost in ARCs or recently purchased books that I forget to show some love to the books still waiting for me. May be that will be my challenge in the New Year, to mingle the old and new. And good luck with all your challenges! If you’re interested, here’s what we’re reading: BiblioJunkies ~ Bel
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Hi and Happy New Year!
I will try my best with my own books, but I’m always so tempted when I go to the library and find their latest new reads, so not sure how well I’ll do in resisting those! I could do with more time to read so I can get around to everything I want to check out 🙂
Thanks for stopping by!
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