five reasons it’s my favorite literary genre

🤖: Beep beep boop boop.

I really didn’t know how to open this post, so I hope robot noises are enough to capture you attention 😬.

Science fiction is my favorite literary genre.

Now, I don’t think any genre is better than another, but I do think you can certainly like one better. In this case, I like science fiction better than all the other genres.

But why?

Is it because I’m naturally fascinated by science?

How does my interest in the study crossover to my love for its companion fiction?

Do robots actually make beeping noises?

. . .

Huh. Learn something new.

I tried my best to put my feelings into words and came up with this incomplete list of reasons I love sci-fi. Maybe some of you can relate 💃:

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The Unique Blogger Award // the worst thing I’ve done to a book, time travel, and being a bookish character

❄️ ←A rare picture of me being me, a snowflake—unique. 💁

Joking aside, Beth at Reading Every Night recently tagged me in The Unique Blogger Tag (thank you, Beth!). I don’t know how unique my answers will strike you, but I hope you enjoy them nonetheless 😊.

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Mini Audiobook Review: Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson // a simplified story of the cosmos

Title: Astrophysics for People in a Hurry

Author: Neil deGrasse Tyson

Published: May 2, 2017

Length: 3 hours 40 min

Genre: Nonfiction, Science

Amazon / Barnes & Nobles / Goodreads

Goodreads Description: What is the nature of space and time? How do we fit within the universe? How does the universe fit within us? There’s no better guide through these mind-expanding questions than acclaimed astrophysicist and best-selling author Neil deGrasse Tyson.
But today, few of us have time to contemplate the cosmos. So Tyson brings the universe down to Earth succinctly and clearly, with sparkling wit, in tasty chapters consumable anytime and anywhere in your busy day.

**APH* = Astrophysics for People in a Hurry

This version of APH, narrated by Neil deGrasse Tyson himself, was one of my first forays into the realm of audiobooks. The format was better suited for me because my mind tends to wander when I read nonfiction. In fact, I once tried to read the physical copy of APH, but quickly abandoned it due to my short attention span 😅.

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Book Review: Feed by Mira Grant // zombies make politics more complicated

Title: Feed

Author: Mira Grant

Published: May 1, 2010

Pages: 599

Genre: Horror, Science Fiction

Amazon / Barnes & Nobles / Goodreads

Goodreads Description: The year was 2014. We had cured cancer. We had beaten the common cold. But in doing so we created something new, something terrible that no one could stop.
The infection spread, virus blocks taking over bodies and minds with one, unstoppable command: FEED. Now, twenty years after the Rising, bloggers Georgia and Shaun Mason are on the trail of the biggest story of their lives—the dark conspiracy behind the infected.
The truth will get out, even if it kills them.

If you told me ten years ago that I’d be a fan of zombie books, I would’ve told you that you must not know me. Turns out, I’m the one who doesn’t know myself (cue the X-Files theme song).

Feed is the first book in the Newsflesh trilogy by Mira Grant. The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where zombies roam the United States and people have adapted to live not among, but around them. New age journalists like the main character, George, and her brother, Shaun, help people in their daily endeavors by providing unbiased and truthful media coverage through their blogs. As the U.S. gears up for their presidential election, George and her team of blogger-journalists are selected by up-and-coming candidate, Steve Ryman, to honestly cover his campaign. The already difficult job of journalism is made harder in this story as George’s team encounters zombies, targeted attacks, and dangerous conspiracies.

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Sequel September TBR // a month of tackling unfinished series

Oh boy, here we go again—quite literally ~~(get it? ‘cause it’s a sequel challenge? I’ll stop myself.)~~

Kathy at Books and Munches is hosting Sequel September, a challenge dedicated to finally reading those unfinished series collecting dust on your shelves. Although I love binge reading series (mainly because I hate cliffhangers), sometimes sequels fall through the cracks and remain in my TBR pile for an indeterminate amount of time. So, what better way to tackle this “ issue “ by joining in on this challenge!

But, first, I have a confession to make.

𝕴, 𝕭𝖊𝖑𝖑𝖊, 𝖆𝖒 𝖆 𝖘𝖊𝖗𝖎𝖆𝖑 𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖑𝖑𝖊𝖓𝖌𝖊 𝖆𝖇𝖆𝖓𝖉𝖔𝖓𝖊𝖗.

I’m not proud of it—there’s nothing fun about finding a great reading challenge… and then watching it pass you by. Seeing wrap-ups for challenges I intended to participate in, but didn’t, couldn’t, or even forgot to attempt is quite disheartening. However, since I’m relatively less busy these days a n d I’m posting a TBR online for you all to see, I’m hoping that I’ll be more committed to this reading challenge.

𝕴, 𝕭𝖊𝖑𝖑𝖊, 𝖜𝖆𝖓𝖙 𝖙𝖔 𝖜𝖎𝖑𝖑 𝖇𝖊 𝖆 𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖑𝖑𝖊𝖓𝖌𝖊 𝖈𝖔𝖒𝖕𝖑𝖊𝖙𝖊𝖗.

This reading challenge will be a little more difficult than others, just because of what it entails. Like I mentioned, sequels on my shelves sit there for a loooong time. One of the reasons they stay there is because so much time has passed that I can’t even remember what happened in the first book 😅. Alas, this challenge will not only be a test of endurance, but also memory.

If you hate me right now, so do I HAHAHA.

Without further ado ~~and dramatics~~, here’s my TBR for Sequel September:

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My First WWW Wednesday // books I’m reading, read, and on my TBR

*WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme created by Sam at Taking on a World of Words in which participants answer three simple questions:

1. What are you currently reading?
2. What have you just finished reading?
3. What are you going to read next?

I love how straightforward this meme is and how it asks the questions I frequently like to direct at other bookworms. It’s also a great way to predict and anticipate upcoming book reviews by my favorite bloggers! So, let’s try it out:

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Mini Book Reviews: Two Fluffy, Summer Romances—except not quite

Ahh, summer.

It’s the season for short, fluffy romances you can indulge in while being b u r n t a l i v e by the sun. Ahh.

I haven’t read too many romances this summer, or this entire year for that matter. In fact, the two novels I’m about the review in this post are the only books I’ve read from the genre in the past few months. Maybe I’m growing old and bitter, or maybe it’s just the mood reader in me kicking in ~~(may-haps both?)~~.

I think what I like more than summer romances now though are books that are marketed as such, but actually place more emphasis on other plot-lines. That’s what these two stories have in common and why I enjoyed them. So, here are two fluffy, (sort-of) summer romance reviews:

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Non-Bookish Favorites of 2019 (Part One) // from internet links to trips!

I’m in a reading slump.

This time it’s not because I’m not interested in reading or haven’t been able to start a good book (I’ve actually been reading Feed by Mira Grant on and off for the past two weeks, and I really like it so far!). Lately, I’ve been more interested in other hobbies and life things ~~(cause binge-watching TV shows is totally a hobby)~~.

¡FUN GAME! take a shot every time you read “bookish” 🥂 in this post!!

Since I haven’t been in the bookish mindset, I thought it would be fun to share some of the non-bookish things I’ve been enjoying this year. If you’re like, “ᴛʜɪs ɪs ɴᴏᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪ sɪɢɴᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ ғᴏʀ, ʙᴇʟʟᴇ—ɪ ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛ ᴍᴇᴅɪᴏᴄʀᴇ, ɪʀʀᴇɢᴜʟᴀʀʟʏ–sᴄʜᴇᴅᴜʟᴇᴅ ʙᴏᴏᴋɪsʜ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇɴᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ᴄᴀɴ sᴄʀᴏʟʟ ᴘᴀsᴛ!,” then let me redirect you to My Favorite Books of 2019 (Part 1) post ~~(also, friend, that was so aggressive and unnecessary~~ 😭).

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Book Review: Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier // two stars for fantasy and time travel

Title: Ruby Red

Author: Kerstin Gier

Published: May 10, 2011

Pages: 324

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Science Fiction

Amazon / Barnes & Nobles / Goodreads

Ruby Red is the first book in the Edelstein series. It follows sixteen year-old Gwyneth who unexpectedly replaces her cousin Charlotte in a secret time travel society when it’s discovered that she has the female time traveling gene, not Charlotte. After being kept out of the loop of the society’s mysteries all her life, Gwyneth has to learn what the rules are of time traveling and her duties as a time traveler. She’s not alone in learning as she has Gideon, the obnoxious male equivalent of Gywenth from another family, to help her learn the ropes of time travel.

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Why I Have Never Requested An ARC

**One of the perks of being a book blogger is that it *automatically puts you in the running to receive an ARC, or advanced readers copy.**

ARCs are “almost-complete” versions of books that publishers send to reviewers to promote the title and gain feedback. This practice isn’t only advantageous to the publishers as the book reviewers literally get FREE books to read (and review) ahead of everyone else. It’s certainly one way to set your book blog apart (although ARC reviews aren’t incredibly uncommon in the blogosphere).

Here’s where I retract my earlier wording. Being a book blogger doesn’t “automatically” put you in the running to receive an ARC. At least when you first start out, you have to put in the time and work to request the title from a publisher which can be done through multiple avenues.

While the idea of receiving a free book is certainly enticing, I still haven’t requested an ARC after three years of blogging for these reasons:

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