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January 2015: Recap + On My Shelves


January felt like a slower month for me, even though I'm surprised it's already over. I ended up spending more time watching movies/TV than reading, but I also totally curbed my book buying. I hope that continues!

1. Goodies from Kelly - I was so excited when I got this thoughtful Christmas present from Kelly. I can't wait to read this historical fiction book that's also one of her favorites! And she clearly knows all of my obsessions: mason jars, Jane Austen and pens. I LOVED everything in her package and am so thankful for her!

2. Got Spotify Premium - I tried Spotify Premium for a few months almost two years ago, but I stopped when I realized I wasn't really taking advantage of it. I didn't plan on signing up again, but I was wishing for it one day and purchased it on a whim. I figured I could always cancel after one month. But now I'm addicted...

3. Meeting Colleen Oakley - I fell in love with Before I Go when I read it last year and already re-read it this year. I wanted my review to capture all the reasons I loved this book so much. I was thrilled when I found out she was signing near me. I had so much fun meeting her and getting my book signed - yay local bookstore!

4. New Boots - I've never been someone who enjoyed shoe shopping or wanted a closet full of shoes. So, I'm usually terrible about buying new ones. Give me a few that work with everything, and I'd be perfectly content. But I needed some new black boots, and I was so excited when I found a pair that I absolutely loved!

Read 12 Books | Favorites:
The Diary of Mattie Spenser by Sandra Dallas
Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund
The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows
Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

Challenge Progress:
1 Classic for The Classics Challenge
3 Fantasy for Flights of Fantasy Challenge
6 Re-Reads for The Re-Read Challenge
1 Series for A Series a Month
"No one is innocent in the tide of history. Everyone has kings and slaves in his past. 
Everyone has saints and sinners. We are not to blame for the actions of our ancestors. 
We can only try to be the best we can, no matter what our heritage, to strive for a better future for all."
Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund

"A rebel she was, but not of the kind he understood - a rebel who desired, not a wider dwelling-room, but equality beside the man she loved. For Italy was offering her the most priceless of all possessions - her own soul."
A Room with a View by E.M. Forster

"I want you to think your own thoughts even when I hold you in my arms."
A Room with a View by E.M. Forster
[Most Popular]
Overall: Be the Change.
Review: Girl Before a Mirror by Liza Palmer
Discussion/Feature: The Picky Pledge

[Personal Favorite]
Review: Before I Go by Colleen Oakley
Discussion/Feature: The Liza Palmer Party
1. Gilbert Blythe kicks the ass of Mr. Darcy... by Bethany from It's Better with Bangs - Bethany is a debut author this year, and I added her book to my wishlist the minute she tweeted me about her love for Gilbert Blythe. And when she sent me this post she wrote a few years ago? It sealed the deal! I love Pride and Prejudice, but I wholeheartedly agree with everything she wrote. Gilbert FOR LIFE.

2. To Have & To Discard by Estelle from Rather Be Reading - This was the very first post I bookmarked in 2015, and it remained my favorite from the past month. I loved Estelle's reflections collecting and culling, especially because I've been feeling the same way this year. And the last few sentences of the post? If they had been in a book, I'd totally have highlighted them. SO GOOD.

3. Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Blog Posts by Renae from Respiring Thoughts and Favorite Quotes by Judith, Ellice and Ellis from Paper Riot - I always look forward to the freebie Top Ten Tuesday because I love seeing what people will do! I loved Renae's post because it gave me the chance to catch up on the best of the best on her blog. And as a sucker for quotes, I was sold when I saw the gorgeous ones that the ladies of Paper Riot picked!

4. Nerding Out: Book Organization by Gaby & Lisa from Bookish Broads - I love getting a peek at people's shelves and the way they organize their books. I'm not sure if it's the organization nerd in me or just straight-up nosiness. As you can probably imagine, this post was right up my alley! And I loved that Gaby and Lisa labeled the different shelves. Unfortunately, it gave me the "MUST REORGANIZE" itch.

5. There are 7 ways to hate a book. by Anne from Modern Mrs. Darcy - I've really fallen in love with this blog! Whenever I'm going through my reader, I always look forward to reading Anne's thought-provoking and well-written posts. I particularly enjoyed this post about the different reasons you might hate a book. While there are a few I could add, I've experienced all of these at least once (and some a lot more than that).

Favorite Song: "Wherever Is Your Heart" by Brandi Carlile from The Firewatcher's Daughter
I've listened to Brandi Carlile before, but I was addicted in January. She was the soundtrack of my month!
I'm anxiously awaiting the release of her new album in March, especially because this song is amazing.

The 100, Season One - Yes, I finally caved to peer pressure. No one has shut up about this show on Twitter, so I finally decided to give it a shot. I figured it was something my husband would enjoy too, and I was right. We binged through the first season and are working on getting caught up with the second now. NOW I GET IT.


In Your Eyes (2014) starring Zoe Kazan and Michael Stahl-David - I added this to my Netflix queue after I saw it featured in Lindsey's Book People Talk Movies post. She sold me on watching this movie, and I'm so glad she did! I absolutely loved watching this - it was funny, sweet and something I'll watch again and again.

Bought: Before I Go by Colleen Oakley, Fairest by Marissa Meyer, Love and Freindship by Jane Austen and Girl Before a Mirror by Liza Palmer

ARC for Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Finished Copies for Review: Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt, Rebound by Noelle August, The Grown Ups by Robin Antalek, A Memory of Violets by Hazel Gaynor and Girl Before a Mirror by Liza Palmer

Gifted: Tarnish by Katherine Longshore (in What I Loved section)

3 comments

  1. What a wonderful recap, Hannah! I love that you just got back into Spotify; I did the same thing! I'm still not utilizing it to it's fullest, but I'm going to figure it out in January. It's just so convenient and fun; I've reconnected to a bunch of old songs that I loved a few years ago (hopefully featuring them in my Jan recap!)

    &A Court of Thorns & Roses: *goggly eyes* *grabby hands* I can't wait to read this book! I loved the ToG series so much, and I've heard such amazing things about aCoTaR!

    &&The 100! My friend and I are slowly working through the first season, we have about 2 more episodes before we finish and head to season 2 ... but I get more and more scared about continuing every time I see people on Twitter losing their minds, haha. With some of the stuff that's already happened, I can't even imagine what the cliffhanger for S1 is going to be.

    &&then there's In Your Eyes. *swoon* I'm so glad you liked it! I really can't get over how much I enjoyed that movie, and those characters, and the way the actors played those characters. I hope other people find this lovely movie through your post. <3

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  2. I am totally with you on the shoe shopping thing. Too many choices is a bad thing for me. Plus my feet are a weird size/shape so it's always a major job to find something comfy.

    You have got me SO hooked on Modern Mrs. Darcy! It's all I've been reading really the past two weeks. She has such great content and I've been combing her archives. I really enjoyed her recent post on her home library, and was surprised by how little bookshelf space she has. It's inspired me to cull my collection!

    Soon jealous of A Court of Thorns and Roses. I just preordered it the other day and CAN'T WAIT. Uggghhhhhh! I'm also really interested in checking out Love and Friendship by Jane Austen. I haven't read all of Austen's major works - although I do love her! - and hadn't heard of this one. I think I need to remedy this situation stat!

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  3. I enjoyed reading your January recap, Hannah! It's always so fun to see what you're up to and loving lately ;) But the one thing that really, really stands out in this post? That The Orphan Queen made your favorites list! I'm so dang excited that I was able to share that book with you, and that you loved it. As always, you've shared awesome things that I'll definitely be checking out!

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