Month: August 2013

I, honestly admit, I have a slight confession,…

Posted Saturday, 17 August, 2013 by jorielov 2 Comments

I, honestly admit, I have a slight confession,… I am hereby addicted to reading challenges, read-a-thons, read-a-longs, and other blogsphere community reading events! Yes. I, Jorie, of Jorie Loves A Story, have an addiction to reading! And, of daring myself to tackle one more ‘challenge’, despite already being committed to another already in-progress! I have discovered today, that I am NOT alone. Nor am I the only one PROUD of this affliction. Look for our ‘badge of honour’ to find us! OR, click to join, if you find your afflicted too!

I created a running list of all the particulars of each challenge or reading event that I take on under my *RALs & Challenges* page!! However, for the sake of declaring just how much of an addict I am in this regard, I shall list them in order of participation:

70 Authors Challenge: A Personal Challenge I created for myself to read 70 Authors in 24 months time; focusing on 1-5 books per author! Technically, this won’t count until the 2015 Tally, as it concludes in August 2015! Originally scheduled to be a challenge in 12 months, but I have re-considered this and extended it to two full years!

Austen in August: declaration of intent & Walking in Miss Elizabeth Bennett’s shoes,…
Bout of Books, 8.0: declaration of participation; personal goals & motivations; day one; day two; day three; day four; day five; day six; ~~day seven~~; wrap-up!
Books of Eyre: declaration of participation; Jane Eyre;
Septemb-Eyre: declaration of participation; Chapters I-XI; wrap-up!
The Reading Hour: 3am; 5pm
Classics Re-Told: [focus on] 19th Century & Gothic Classics: introduction: spotlight on: pride & prejudice; Walking in Miss Elizabeth Bennett’s shoes,…;
Finnikin of the Rock: declaration of participation;
SFN Bingo Reading Challenge: declaration of participation; Collaborative blogosphere event, merging book bloggers, authors, publishers, and sci-fi enthusiasts together, for a month long celebration of science-fiction! Each blogger will have a set schedule of posts, topics to explore, books to focus on, tv series to gush about, and certain bloggers will be hosting giveaways as well! Event begins 1 November & Concludes 30 November!
Holiday Readathon: sign-up page; Christmas Romance Reading List;

Wonderfully Wicked: coming in October Due to circumstances changing, my amount of free time is reduced.
Banned Books Week: late September / early October Due to circumstances changing, my amount of free time is reduced.
Author of the Month: september, october, november, & december Due to circumstances changing, my amount of free time is reduced.

Unless I am mistaken this will be the full list for the year! :) Ahh, alas! A Bingo Challenge steps through the ether! :)

Reflections After the Fact: {work in progress!}

Austen in August: Aside from the fact that I nearly considered this a failure in the regards of being able to accomplish what I originally set out to do, in the end, I felt confident in my ability to actually ‘read’ a work of Austen during the month of the event! My review of the book did not post until September, which I regrettably could not avoid but I felt badly that my review’s link had to be threaded in the commentary section rather than the official Austen in August linky! :( Next year, if Roof Beam Reader hosts this lovely event again I would like to wisely choose 3 Austen novels to read so that I can not only reflect on her grace of story-telling but also participate in the Romance Reading Challenge that helps to promote the romance genre! I think if I could spilt the difference and read six books total I’d be plumb happy! I did complete the challenge even if I only read “Pride” due to the fact that the challenge had no direct rules or obligations! :) In this, I drew a bit of repose,…

Bout of Books, 8.0: You could say this challenge is continuously ongoing as I have not yet resolved the posts for the event itself as right after the event closed, I was ‘up and at ’em’ as the saying goes on my blog! I was focusing on everything that was happening in my personal life as much as attempting to keep a pace on where my blog was taking me next! Somehow in those short hours of September’s opening door, I lost my footing with Bout of Books, 8.0 despite the fact that I did finish reading one of the chosen books (“Haunted”), as much as finished nearly a quarter of another (“Lark Rise to Candleford”), and a bit less than that for the rest of my selections as I purposely focused on the first twenty pages per novel which was left-over to read save two (“The Crimson Petal & the White” & “The Lady in the Attic”). In this way, despite my challenges during the event, I succeeded in not only pushing forward and keeping with the event but for proving to myself that an isolated read-a-thon has its benefits even if you fall a bit short in your accomplishments! For instance, it opened my mind and heart to authors I never had the chance to fully grasp beforehand, and it opened up the door to the bookish blogosphere in a way where I could become acquainted with new bookish bloggers & hosted events where without JLAS I was blind to knowing existed previously! I consider this a strong lesson in perhaps being overly ambitious in my reading selections but having the heart of a reader who was determined to prove something to herself even if she fell a bit wayside of the intentions of conceiving the goals originally!

I am working towards having all the posts reading for reading and viewing by the close of the year!! I would love to even attempt to finish reading the books I had started and post the reviews to coincide with Bout 8.0! As even if they run on my blog in December, its a project that meant something to me and if I complete it even four months after the fact, the point is dear hearts, I completed it in a time frame that worked for me! :) And isn’t that the true merit of why we join these challenges!? To endeavour to accomplish something we first feel we cannot and to rise above our doubts and take our reading lives to new heights!?

Books of Eyre:

Septemb-Eyre:

The Reading Hour: I thoroughly enjoyed my reading of “Charlotte’s Web” even a bit moreso than I originally felt that I might, as I knew the story was intrinsically sorrowful and yet, held within it a life lesson worth reading even as a thirty-something as I am now rather than the young girl I was originally! :) I followed true to the “The Reading Hour”‘s principle in reading at an hour that coincided with their main event in Australia. The only disheartening experience for me during this event is that when I attempted to contact the event hosts I did not fetch a reply by email despite how enthused I was to share my own ‘reading hour’ observation! :( I followed up reading the book by ILL’ing a copy of the live-action motion picture of the same name which starred Dakota Fanning! The ILL arrived roughly a month shy of when the event occurred but I didn’t mind the wait as the reward was too sweet to worry about the gap of time which had elapsed! I considered this one of my favourite reading challenges of the year as I tipped my hat back into my childhood and drew a breath forward into my adult years at the very same time! How oft are we able to do this?! The full effect of ‘the reading hour’ was not lost on me, and I look forward to when I have children to inspire the joy of reading to nestle into their hearts as my own Mum and Da did for me so many moons ago! :)

Finnikin of the Rock:

SFN Bingo Reading Challenge:

Reading Challenge Addict is hosted by Bev of My Readers Block. Originally inspired into being by Cheryl of CMash Loves to Read & Gina of Hott Books! You have until 30 November 2013 to add your declaration post to count in the tally for the year! The way in which you know your such a reader is by noting the following:

Easy as Pie: {1-5 Challenges, entered + completed}
On the Roof: {6-10 Challenges, entered + completed}
In Flight: {11-15 Challenges, entered + completed}
Out of This World: 16+ Challenges, entered + completed}

By looking over the specifics of this listing, I am on the cusp of On the Roof/In Flight!! We’ll have to wait and see what befalls my interest between now and New Year’s Eve!! Laughs whilst smiling. Not bad, eh!? For a blogger whose only been ‘live’ for 10 days!! I am itching with curiosity what everyone else put on their posts of declaration, so as I’m able too I will be visiting their blogs!

What about you!? Are you addicted and afflicted by reading, too!!??!

2014 Advance Planning Sesson {which will I choose!? ooh the intrigue!}

Lucky 14 Reading Challenge
Read Scotland 2014
Meet the Protagonist Challenge 2014
2014 Monthly Motif Reading Challenge
Finishing the Series Challenge 2014
I Love Library Books Challenge
New Author Reading Challenge
Read Outside the Box Challenge
Vintage Mystery Silver & Gold Challenge
2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge
Plus, I have already picked quite a few already not listed!

{SOURCE: Reading Challenge Addict badge created by Jorie in Canva.}

Posted Saturday, 17 August, 2013 by jorielov in 70 Authors Challenge 2013-19, Austen in August, Author of the Month, Books of Eyre, Finnikin of the Rock, Holiday Readathon, Reading Challenge Addict, Septemb-Eyre, The Reading Hour, Wonderfully Wicked

My introduction to the world of Steampunk!

Posted Saturday, 17 August, 2013 by jorielov The Clockwork Man, William Jablonsky 0 Comments

When I originally heard of the *Clockwork Carnival* rolling into towne, via Once Upon a Time, I could not resist offering to review my FIRST EVER impression of a Steampunk book!! If you read my Sunday Showcase #1, your already familiar with how I collected the books to choose which would be ‘the one’ I would review! I had a sneaking feeling, that the world surrounding “The Clockwork Man”, would appeal to me! I wasn’t quite prepared for the anguish of loss that is contained inside this unique man’s story, as it took me a bit off-guard, yet what humbled me to him was his ability to always strive towards understanding. It’s a very unique book, as its told in journal-format! And, as it’s my first foray into the imperious world of the steampunkers, it was all the more appealing to me!

This unique blogosphere event, is hinged to the original event Hannah hosted last year on her blog, *Discovering Steampunk*. I am slowly going through the Carnival, absorbing all the lovely information and enjoying the interaction with other Steampunk enthusiasts! I’ll make my way back around through her 2012 event, and in the end, will be thankful for my proper Introduction to Steampunk!! Afterall, the fashion, the art, the entire sub-culture was already known to me and duly accepted, it’s merely the *literature!* and *stories!* that bring this wickedly brilliant part of Victorian technology to life that I am limited in knowledge!

Honestly, what more could a Sherlockian-Steampunker Janeite hope to find!?

Without further adieu, please direct your attention to my piece “The Clockwork Man” by William Jablonsky hosted on The Clockwork Carnival! I look forward to reading your answers to my questions! And, if you want to drop back here and speak further, that would be just fine, too! Enjoy!

{*NOTE: If you click the Clockwork Carnival banner OR the link inline with the paragraph both will direct you to *all!* the postings for the Carnival directly! No searching required! Likewise, when you click on Discovering Steampunk, it’s a master list of all the posts relating to that event, too!}

{SOURCES: The Clockwork Carnival 2013 Banner was provided by Once Upon A Time, as a way to promote the event, whether you were directly participating in a contribution piece OR simply wanted to show your affection for Steampunk! The book excerpt, book cover, and GoodReads information on the review itself was not provided by me, as I am not a member of GoodReads. Hannah added those in herself, which I think added another dimension to my review!}

Posted Saturday, 17 August, 2013 by jorielov in Steampunk, The Clockwork Carnival

Bout of Books 8.0 : Personal Goals & Motivations

Posted Wednesday, 14 August, 2013 by jorielov 27 Comments

To say I am excited about participating in my first ever Bout of Books is putting it mildly. It admit that I set up my Declaration of Intent to Participate and this Goal Post wayy back in the first week of July might mark me down as feverishly giddy — yet I think if your going to do something in life that makes you happy, {ie: this blog!} you might as well become consumed by the things that spark a lifeblood into your regularly scheduled postings and have a wee bit of bang-on fun whilst you’re at it!”

Personal Goals and Motivations:

Hours Dedicated to Reading (in total): 112
Hours per day slated to Read: 16
Starting Hour: 08:00
Ending Hour: 00:00
Books Projected to Read: 10
Potential Blog Posts (in total): 20 {7 days to record my reading adventures; 1 declaration of intent to participate; 1 statement of goals and motivations; 10 books to opine and review; 1 day after recollection}
Post my reactions to each book after I have concluded reading them, because more than anything I want to be wholly enthused about the stories, the characters, and the prose that each writer etches into their books — I want to challenge myself to read 10 books but not to the brink where I cannot fully appreciate them. I want to absorb them and allow their worlds to soak through to my mind’s eye.
Participate in the Bout of Books community by dropping by fellow participants’ blogs, leaving encouraging commentary, and share in the joy of this intensive week of reading! As well as find challenges to enhance my experience with this wicked sweet group of readers!
- Blogs I scoped out to visit: Coffee Bean Bookshelf {ironically or not, Bree began drinking coffee with affection the same age as me (twenty-nine!) and by way of a French Press!}; Sarah Reads Too Much {of Back to the Classics read-a-along!}; Hopeful Happiness {she’s joining Bout of Books for the first time too!}; Bookish Comforts {two girls reading books together looks interesting! Oh, their into Austen & Eyre!}; I am Sam Tule {she had me with Harry Potter because despite our differences in age, I couldn’t agree more!}; My Readers Block {Iove the eclectic nature of her reading tendencies!}; Doing Dewey {Led me to Pen Pals for Book Bloggers & Austen in August!}; Afternoon Book Party {she’s a newbie, too!}; Books are Portable Magic {I like the aesthetics of her blog! Choice challenges featured! Like Get Steampunk’d 2013!}; A Blog of Books {cross-over challenges for Austen in August & Bout of Books – same as me!}; Lit Nerd {3-way tie: The Classics Club, Austen in August, & Bout of Books! Like her book choices too!}; Bookish Geek {This reader has gumpshun!}; The Tale Archives {A librarian from the Mid-West!}; A Cup of Coffee And a Book {found through Blog Nation! I love a good latte!}; Snuggling on the Sofa {oh, swoon isn’t that quite the picture for a reader? thankful to find another newbie!}; Little Lovely Books {hostess of the “New Bout of Books Blogs”!}; A Geek’s Bookshelf {scottish blogger whose also in the Classics Club!}; Estella’s Revenge {she’s in the Bout, Austen in August, & reads books that intrigue me!}, Paradise of Pages {she has such a cheerful blog!}; Sophicated Dorkiness {love the eclectic reading choices of a journalist!}; Potterhead Reviews {a little bit of everything!}; Book Pairing {wine + books = full-on bliss!}; Book, Food, & Other Things {reading Water; anxious to see their musings!}; Books & Blockbusters {Blogger dislikes WP!}; Read & Reviewed {ooh my dear stars! the cover art alone is creatively intriguing! as far as the books she’s reading!}; Leeswammes’ Blog {an aspiring writer, loves England, & lives in Holland!}; Under A Gray Sky {she has the most loveliest of weather! chooses the same books I want to read! a “Pink Carnation” fan!}; Ink Scratchers {i feel excited for “the Ghost Bride!”}; The Little Reader Library {I was curious about her take on Glaciers as it was slated to be read!}; The Book Lover’s Chronicles {?}; You Book Me All Night Long {?}; Smiling Shelves {newbie book blogger & first Bout’er!}; Curiosity Killed the Bookworm {lovely vlog! loved it!}; The Temporary Escape {lovely blogger from Slovenia!}; Mom’s Small Victories {love her premise of the blog! she rocks!}; It’s A Nerdy Thing {?}; A Bookaholic Blog {?}; Stacks & Shelves {?}; Everything to do with Books {?}; A Book Lover’s Ramblings {?}; Sharlene Says {she’s tackling War & Peace! Wicked!}; Book Nerds Book Blog {Nordic & Bi-lingual! Awesomesauce!}; Of Sunsets & Valleys {?}; Snowdrops Dreams of Books {she supports local libraries, just like me! rock it!}; Student Spyglass | Geeky Zoo Girl (reincarnated) {?}; Other Women’s Stories {anyone who appreciates Julia Child rocks!}; Paperback Daydreamer {re-joining up w/ the Bout; last was 2.0!}; Curled Up with a Good Book & a Cup of Tea {?}; I Blog for Books {?}; The Book Sphere {?}; The Book Barn {?}; Just Another Book Lovin’ Girl {?}; A Blighted One {a newbie!}; The Attic {?}; Undead Unicorn {?}; Christian Bookshelf Reviews {?}; The Writerly Reader {?}; GaGa Over Books {?}; The Geeky Blogger’s Book Blog {?}; Simply Dazee: Tea & a Book {eek! she’s reading me favourite: Cleo Coyle!}; My Seryniti {13! i’m not the only one shooting for the moon!}; Book Beats {?}; Stitch, Read, Cook {?}; The Oaken Bookcase {?}; Reading in Winter {she’s attempting 10 books, too!}; The Girl & Her Books {?}; The Cozy Armchair {gave me the inspiration to Support Banned Books!}; My Not So Real Life {?}; Love YA Books {?}; The Skeptical Reader {?}; Pearl the Book Girl {Ravenclaw evermore!}; Escape Through the Pages {?}; Let Me Dream, Let Me Stay {?}; The Writeables {?}; Miles from Ordinary {?}; In Libris Veritas {?}; Bemused Bookworm {?}; Jane’s Book Blog {?}; Beyond Strange New Worlds {?}; Teenage Years of a Teen {wicked sweet vlog intro!}; Always with a Book {?}; Little Bird Reads {?}; Booked on a Feeling {the Bout’er Cheerleader!!}; Pen in Her Hand {a writer of parapsychological suspense novels + a hearty reader!}; Vicky Thinks {Light Between Oceans + Locke Lamora!}; Heather Hearts Books {needs some cheerful notes!}; Quinn’s Booknook {she made it a sticky too! Life after Theft; The Girl in the Steel Corset; & Navigating Early!! I wanted to read those as well! Emma I’ll be adding to my Classics Club List!}; Pretty Pug {biochemist who loves to read! funky blog!}; Must Read Faster {?}; Bookworm in Barrie {a cheeky bookish badge in her sidebar that made me grin! she’s reading ARCs!}; Bookeater/Booklover {reading by surprise! seriously awesome Book Spine Poem! Tragic yet hopeful!}; Life: Merging {a blogger who knows how to draw your attention into her blog!}; Miss Reader’s Reading Adventures {a newbie to the Bout! disque dislikes me!}; The Polished Page-Turner {attempting 10 books same as me!}; Listful Booking {Time Machine & Saving Wishes!}; Read. Run. Study. {Potter! A Little Princess! Yes!}; Library of Mallory {PEI to Albert! Lovely part(s) of Canada! I like how she lists her interests and streamlines everything into her blog!}; Divergent Gryffinder {clever name of a blog!}; The Paige Turner {the Thorn Birds!}; Devouring Texts {Middlemarch + The Cuckcoo’s Calling!}; Of Nowhere Land {love the muted atmopshere of her book photo!}; Paper Riot {All Our Yesterdays seems intriguing!}; Losing Myself in a Good Book {Ooh, Jane Eyre AND Jekyll/Hyde!}; bookgoonie {Jane Eyre & the Eyre Affair! wicked!}; Books Speak Volumes {she picked “Songs of Willow Frost”, which I am keen to read myself!}; Auggie Talk {vintage vibe with lots of bookish interests}; Chels & a Book {spirited book blogger with a cool list for the Classics Club! I love Hill House because of the film of 1963}; Reading Extensively {The Sweetest Dark is intriguing! felt bad she has the flu!};… visiting a total of 108 bout’er blogs!! +note+ I dropped by ahead of time OR on Day One: leaving a comment on their sign-up pages &/or Goals Page! :) I did skip over those who are tweating OR tubing, as I knew I couldn’t drop a note; yet I did attempt to visit nearly every blog listed!! {UPDATE: weekend before the Bout, blogger starts to reject OpenID comments for Blogger blogs! Thus delaying my goal of leaving notes!! I mention which ones above!}{Disque dislikes me; I will have to read Book Pairing w/o leaving comments!}{Rockin’ out to the tunage of “KISS 108FM-Boston via IheartRadio! Perfect pulse-electric energy for leaving notes!} There are a total of: 515 readers in Bout 8.0!! I started out as #142 | moved up to: #141! Under Goals, I am #52!
- I am hoping participants of *8.0* will drop by my blog as well, and in that way, I can get to know the readers who are just as excited about this as I am! I decided to create a short list of blogs ahead of the start time in case the hours dissolve as quickly as I am thinking they will and I can simply refer back to this as a guide as ‘where to go next’!
- Challenges that whet my fancy: Book Bucket List, Pairathon, {unofficial/~~Disque dislikes me!~~ technical issues with my camera!} Book Spine Poetry, Book Road Trip, Bookish Wishes, and New Bout of Books Blogs.
Dig into the ‘first’ book of slated to read cosies that have been on my shelf for more years than I care to recollect! In this way, I will be propelled forward to continue reading these lovely series through my local library as I only have the ‘firsts’ in my personal library! And, perhaps if I can accomplish this be twicefold inspired to read the ‘other firsts’ that are beckoning to me ever so eagerly!
Pick up a few of the random books that I discovered whilst at a big box clearance sale that captivated my attention simply by the premise on the back!
Read two books based on BBC mini-series in an effort to be one step closer to ILL’ing the said mini-series through my local library!
Read at least 2 birthday books gifted to me by my parents!

Books to Absorb during Bout of Books 8.0:

Larkrise to Candleford by Flora Thompson
Haunted {Book One: Ghost Harrison series} by Heather Graham
Bluebird or the Invention of Happiness by Sheila Kohler
The Secret Papers of Madame Olivetti by Annie Vanderbilt
The Forest Lover by Susan Vreeland
Death by Darjeeling {Book One: Teashop mysteries} by Laura Childs
Murder on Monday {Book One: Lois Meade mysteries} by Ann Purser
Thyme of Death {Book One: China Bayles mysteries} by Susan Wittig Albert
The Lady in the Attic {Book One: Annie’s Attic mysteries} by Tara Randel
The Crimson Petal and the White by Michael Faber

{It is my fervent hope to know my onions about these books inasfar as to have the ability to blog about them whilst maintaining a grip on the read-a-thon as the hours tick off the clock! If I am successful the titles of the novels will serve as a link to the post about them! I am hoping that as the stories settle into my creative vortex, I can bring to life my reflections by which touched my heart at the very same moment I am meant to pick up the next book in line to carry on with Bout of Books 8.0!}

Each of these books were either purchased by myself or given to me as a gift by my family. I have been itching to delve into all of them at one point or another, and sadly, time continues to elapse without my fingers ever gracing the pages of these dearly beloved books that sit in anticipation for my eyes to see past their spines and covers! You’ll duly note that the bookends {choice 1 & 10} are adapted into mini-series by the BBC and this was not by coincidence as I heavily drink in BBC dramas as readily as the next person who is caught up in life in Great Britain! Life across the Pond is ever so engaging, do you not agree?

Seven days,
168 hours,
with the prospect of 10 itching to read books to be devoured and savoured!
Ooh, let the read-a-thon be underway!

{Updates as they Post}

Thursday: 1 August 2013, Declaration of Intent to Participate! Rock on, dear hearts!
Wednesday: 14 August 2013, Personal Goals & Motivations! Let the hours slide me to the moon!
[days/weekends leading up to the Bout]: dropping notes on the blogs I listed above by which I will make my rounds during the Bout as well!
Monday: Oh, Monday, sweet Monday: ready, set, READ! Larkrise to Candleford by Flora Thompson! Bookish Bucket List! Pairathon [I have planned what I am going to do!!] Larkrise to Candleford Paired!
Tuesday: *UPDATED: Oh, Monday, sweet Monday!* | 4:29p posted: The Ghosts Have Arrived! |hooked up my link to Monday @ Bout of Books! #198!|shout-out to Lee Thompson Young |light a candle for tragic sorrow
Wednesday: Book Spine Poetry! |nearly 3a posted: Flight of Freedom, from the Reign of Terror! |
Thursday: Book Road Trip! I Spy My Bookshelves!|after 2a posted: Marching Forward with a Grin on my Face!
Friday: posted: Murder Most Cosy – with a special shout-out to Squeesome Designs! Read to find out WHY! | Updated: Day Four, Day Three
Saturday: Bookish Wishes! | [3a-4a: The Reading Hour | 5p-6p: The Reading Hour | <– a bit a break in Bout of Books, 8.0 programming! Stay tuned! | 10a-Noon: lesson on mystery writing | regular daily journal posting in the afternoon! In walks the Reader, Tride & True! | food poisoning + a severe migraine curbed my ability to continue
Sunday: New Bout of Books Blogs! |a full day’s rest due to being consumed by a severe migraine! I opted out of the last day of the Bout, due to how horrid I felt! I sadly never could finish my rounds to the Bout’er blogs,…
Monday: Oh my dear stars! It’s the day AFTER the Read-A-Thon! | The day after the read-a-thon, I was still dealing with recovering from a severe migraine, which is why I was holed up in a comfy chair, reading The Prayer Box and hoping my natural medicine would aide my discomfort and help me heal from one of the worst migraines ever!
???: The day I am able to finally flesh out the missing bits of my recollection journalling during the Bout itself, and am able to continue to make my rounds and comment on all the lovely Bout’er blogs that I discovered! Thunderstorms + a migraine wrecked my ability to accomplish this sooner than now.

{*NOTE: Regular blog posts un-related to the Bout are threaded underneath the Bout!! Be sure to check out what I am posting alongside the Bout! This will constantly change as the week progresses forward!}

{SOURCE: Bout of Books Badge created by Jorie in Canva to give readers & visitors who come to her blog a way to know of its existence and therefore increasing the mystery & lore surrounding it!! Seriously wicked bookish badges {entirely FREE!} provided by Squeesome Designs!}

Posted Wednesday, 14 August, 2013 by jorielov in Bout of Books, RALs | Thons via Blogs

Sunday Showcase #1 :: Jumping my holds, a touch of steam, & magical realism!

Posted Monday, 12 August, 2013 by jorielov 5 Comments

{Official Blurb} Inspired by Pop Culture Junkie and the Story Siren, the aim of Showcase Sunday is to highlight our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders each week.

When your home branch is closed on a Monday,…

You get the widely inspiring idea to JUMP YOUR HOLDS, by first sorting out which branch(es) have the books in question, and then, in a mad-dash til close, whip around to both and pick up the following:

Steampunk: an anthology by Ann Vandermeer; I am not usually drawn to read anthologies,…
Not Less than Gods by Kage Baker; One of the few times I’ll break my ‘not to read out of sequences’ rule!
The Clockwork Man by William Jablonsky; I only wish they had found an artist to render the Clockwork Man!!!

The reason your rather desperate to collect the books, all of a Steampunky variety, is because your first book of choice was a bit beyond your depth of understanding, as your footing in Steampunk is thus far just beginning! You have the heart and desire to understand the genre, but you haven’t yet achieved the history of the genre! Hence, the mad-dash to the library, whereupon you find that despite the odd request to ‘jump your holds’, you find the librarians are accommodating, if slightly not understanding the rush to pick them up! I tried to explain it was for a contributing piece I was submitting for a Steampunk event in the blogosphere, but I realised there was a bit of a disconnect in what I was attempting to explain! Of the three books I was able to pick up, its “The Clockwork Man” that I had the highest hopes of being “the book!” that I would find I wanted to review for “The Clockwork Carnival”!! And, guess what!? It not only grabbed me by the opening pages, as the story unfolds through peeking into a personal’s private journal, but I settled into the story knowing it would not be the last book I’d read with a steampunky theme!!

Librarian Assistance, please!

A quick glimpse at your card catalogue confirmed what you already had known by the remote access catalogue, that looking up Steampunk books in your library, is a lesson in futility!! Goodness!! I went back to the help desk to ferret out a bit of help in my search, as I knew even though I couldn’t read all the books [at least not in the first week!] I would be taking home with me, I had to at least make a dent in understanding what the library had to offer! This is when I met the YA Librarian for the first time! She was quite lovely, highly knowledgable, and patiently wrote down title after title that was in that location’s YA section, as well as placing holds on the books that were elsewhere!! I loved that she was as enthused about Steampunk as I was, as the first librarian I spoke too, appeared a bit indifferent at the mentioning of ‘airships’ and ‘Victorian technology’. I suppose it helps to seek out the right librarian to speak too! Thankfully, she informed me that if I were ever able to come back on a Monday, her and the Children’s librarian would be there to answer any future questions OR research requests for books & authors!

And, then you suddenly realise you only thought you would be fetching your ‘jumped holds’, and rather instead noticed that the large canvas sack you brought with you is rather paltry compared to the *STACK!* your carting off!

It began rather earnestly and innocently, as I was all wrapped up in excitement over “The Clockwork Carnival” arriving in towne! Esteemed that I would finally be able to dig my heels and clocks into the heart of a genre that I have struggled to get a foothold in myself! I obtained where they kept the science fiction & fantasy shelves, and promptly slipped into the stacks! I never know what to look for exactly, so I went with the basic instinct that the titles would ‘speak to me’ in that hidden language that all readers can attest to hearing,… “clocks”, “gears”, “steamships”, “trains”, “airships”, “Victorian-era”, “London”, or anything that would be plausible to be “of a Steampunk variety”. Interspersed with the Steam, I just couldn’t help myself when I started to find books that fell under “Magical Realism” because ever since I met the Golem & the Jinni, I am quite literally craving more of this genre!! Notice how an Austen book snuck into my bag!?

Skybreaker {Book Two: Airborn series} by Kenneth Oppel; Whoopsies! I need book one!
Goliath {Book Three: Leviathan series} by Scott Westerfield
Worldsoul by Liz Williams
~~Incarceron by Catherine Fisher~~
Clockwork Angel {Book One: Infernal Devices trilogy} by Cassandra Clare; When I saw this book was part of the stack, I nearly hesitated as I remembered that the first time I discovered this book a few years ago, I was all excited for it, until I finally checked it out, and I do not remember getting past page 1, chapter 1!! Maybe the timing was wrong, OR maybe as the case tends to be,… I am not a reader who fits into the mainstream category of Steampunk! Not sure!}
The Search for WondLa {Book One: WondLa series} by Tony DiTerlizzi ; I sort of have high hopes for this book & its sequel!
A Hero for WondLa {Book Two: WondLa series} by Tony DiTerlizzi
The Daedalus Book of Finnish Fantasy by Johanna Sinisalo & David Hackston; I truly need to read world literature!
Crossroads: Tales of the Southern Literary Fantastic by Brett Cox & Andy Duncan ; The title alone had me curious!
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke ; I had just read about this book!
The White Forest by Adam McOmber ; One of the books I appear to check out yet run out of time to read!
Galileo’s Dream by Kim Stanley Robinson ; Another second attempt book!
I was Jane Austen’s Best Friend by Cora Harrison; It spoke to me from the shelf! laughs.

I am going to attempt to read a selection of the books mentioned above to celebrate the last week of: “The Clockwork Carnival”!! I’ve been reading the posts over there, eager to see my review go live, and hoping to settle into a few more author’s styles of Steampunk, as I am learning that Steampunk encompasses ever so much more than Victorian London and airships! Sometimes I notice that the Steampunk is more subtle than explosive, and I love the intense variety that I am finding! I am curious, which books and authors of Steampunk do you enjoy yourself!? OR, is it a genre that either hasn’t yet been explored, or you’ve decided to bypass!?

By Friday, I was able to get to my home branch, where I was happy to speak about JLAS with the librarians who have always been supportive of me and of whom I have been esteemed to know over the years! More of the YA Librarian’s suggestions floated in, as well as the first batch of Austen in August choices that I had placed on hold! Eek! I am truly excited now that I get to take a ganderment of the books up close and personal! :)

Behemoth {Book Two: Leviathan series] by Scott Westerfield
Leviathan {Book One: Leviathan series} by Scott Westerfield {part of the Leviathan series: oh, my dear stars! I clicked over to his website, to see what this series involves, when I stumbled across the Leviathan series page,… scroll down, and just sit in awe of the illustrations! I love that he went old school, and brought back the illustrative glintings of stories! The pictures of life are etched into a realism that brings his story to life, at least for me! The airship landing in Hyde Park is my favourite! Not to mention the atmosphere of his site in general is full of clocks, cogs, and gears! Lovely!} Thank you, YA Librarian! The only concern I have is how brutal the war might be, and the level of light verse dark inside the arc of the storylines, but otherwise, I appreciated the learning curve in seeing an author seeking out illustrative art rather than modern cover art variations that are more stock photo collages than original illustrations.
Steamed: A Steampunk Romance by Kate MacAlister; I have no idea what to expect! Laughs.
The Iron Wyrm Affair by Lilith Saintcrow; Always felt a bit cheeky and a bit adventurous of a story!
Stitches in Time by Barbara Michaels
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern; I thought this was an interesting concept when it first came out!
The Archived by Victoria Schwab; The premise is unique as it’s based on a library that contains the souls of those who are archived into the library itself!
Pride and Prescience or A Truth Universally Acknowledged by Carrie Bebris; A series I always meant to get into!
Two Shall Become One: Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Pride and Prejudice Continues by Sharon Lathan; A new find!
The Private Diary of Mr. Darcy by Maya Slater; One of the many finds I made awhile ago!
The Independance of Miss Mary Bennett by Colleen McCullough; I knew I wanted to read this when it came out, but I always found myself distracted! I had no idea it was written by the author of “The Thornbirds!”

I promise I will have more reading adventures to speak about by time next Sunday arrives, as it will be the eve of Bout of Books 8.0, as much as I will be reading at least three of the books for Austen in August! I simply needed a bit of time to relax and unwind from the hard push I made towards going LIVE with Jorie Loves A Story! I am thankful to see that I am growing a readership, with new visitors stopping by each day, and a few returning visitors as well! Likewise, I appreciate everyone who has thus far left me comments, as I enjoy reading the feedback, as some of what was related to me has helped me tweak JLAS to be a bit more visually friendly than it was on Launch Day! :) As well as making sure readers can follow me a bit easier through: Bloglovin’, Blog Nation, FeedBlitz, and Email Updates on New Posts! All of which is at the bottom of my left sidebar for your convenience! :)

Curious whilst I was practically hibernating behind the scenes, as far as putting a full halt on reading is concerned, how was everyone else’s week!? Read anything wickedly exciting!? Shift into a new genre, you weren’t expecting to embark down!? Read any awesomely bookish newsbits on bookish blogs!? OR, did you simply relax into a book, put up your feet, and have a cuppa tea or coffee near you as you soaked in the story!? Have you read any of the books I brought home!?

Be sure to visit, Showcase Sunday’s Link Up Page for this week’s Meme, in order to scope out what everyone else is reading!

{SOURCES: Showcase Sunday badge provided by for participants
to use to promote the weekly meme by Books, Biscuits, & Tea.}

Posted Monday, 12 August, 2013 by jorielov in Magical Realism, Showcase Sunday, Steampunk

Launch Day!! Jorie Loves A Story, officially launches!!

Posted Monday, 5 August, 2013 by jorielov 17 Comments

As you can see, my blog has officially launched! :) I have been steadfast in my intent to go *live!* since I originally began composing the vision for what I wanted this blog to be in the closing hours of March 2013! Life being life, certain things interfered with this dream of mine happening sooner, a bit of a hinting of that is listed under the posting, “Your never quite prepared,…” July became my haven for health and wellness, carving out every inch of space and time I had to give to my little bookish blog on the blogosphere,… burnt more than my fair share of midnight oil lasting long into the dawning hours of each new day!

Days where a comforting nosh on cheese pizza slices with a tall glass of Arnold Palmer nursing your insomniac approach to blogging; a breakaway afternoon celebrating your Mum’s birthday, nibbling on delish quesadillas and heavenly soaking in the aroma and decadence of an espresso raspberry mocha latte; and those comfort food eat-on-a-flash dinners where you put garlic mashed potatoes into a bowl and heap on a bag of frozen lovelies {being of soup or meal} to warm your soul and carry you onwards towards your goal! And, even the delicate whisperings of the same latte in-between meals, warming your courage to carry-on past fatigue and wiring your brain to articulate everything you have to say as the night marches forward towards dawn!

I worked fervently hard to *tweak!* each post with the help of a lovely copy editor and spun my spin on the books I read as I consumed them! This is my little gift back to the world of writers: little notes of gratitude to reflect upon their contributions to publishing and to the written word! I have amassed quite a heap of positive experiences since mid-Autumn 2012 with the addition of “Shelf Awareness for Readers” in my life; since Mid-Spring 2012 with the addition of “First Impressions” via Book Browse; and since late-Autumn 2012 when I underwent a mission to become active in the blogosphere visiting bookish bloggers, published authors’ blogs, author group blogs, aspiring authors, and every niche in-between!

This is my way of saying, “Thank you!” and for making a contribution to the lovely corner of bookish culture I have come to appreciate ever so much! Bless you for joining me on my new journey! May my blog be a stop on your travels in the netherspheres of the webs!

– Jorie

{SOURCES: Notepad image and Quote button provided by Shabby Blogs, with alterations to the notepad by Jorie via FotoFlexer! A special shout-out to the lovely women behind Shabby Blogs & Shabby Blog’s Blog who provide the resources for bloggers everywhere to personalise their space and feel a bit of their personality shining through! Bless them for making all of this available for FREE!}

Posted Monday, 5 August, 2013 by jorielov in Jorie Loves A Story