I just can’t wrap my head around the fact that it’s September already. I mean, September?! At least it means the cold winter months will be almost over… Seriously, Winter has been a bitch to me and I’m still struggling with the effects of the acute bronquitis, sinusitis or whatever it is (yes, I’ve been dealing with this since June, NOT funny). A month of constant headaches, dizzy spells and earache wasn’t how I had planned to spend the month. xD It did mean I was mostly cooped up inside and I managed to read a LOT during August: a new record! I also celebrated that it’s been FIVE years already since I transferred my blog to WordPress. I still can’t believe It’s All About Books is already five years old!

I also participated in the O.W.L. Readathon, a Harry Potter inspired Readathon which was a lot of fun. I started my N.E.W.T.s a few days ago now, and it’s been so exciting to see those prompts and Hogwarts subject grades slowly starting to fill up! I’m not doing a monthly TBR this month, since I will only read books fitting the prompts for the N.E.W.T.s Readathon anyway. But somehow I managed to read nine out of ten titles on my August TBR, which was way better than planned. The last title I will read in a few days, so nothing lost. 😉

Now to the bookish numbers:

  • Number of books read in August: 25
  • Total number of books read this year: 145
  • Total number of pages read in August: 7.458
  • Total number of pages read this year: 44.994

I somehow managed to read a LOT last month, and I even got another five star read!  I did have more lowish reads than normal and even a DNF, but overall I’m still happy with this month.

AUGUST READS

5 STARS: Absolutely and entirely mind blowing! I suggest you to pick up a copy now.

The 7 Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle – by Stuart Turton

4.5 STARS: This one was almost perfect. Surely fantastic! 

Britt-Marie Was Here – by Fredrik Backman // Harry Potter Y El Prisionero De Azkaban NO REVIEW – by J.K. Rowling // Every Heart A Doorway – by Seanan McGuire // Mortals And Immortals Of Greek Mythology – by Francoise Rachmuhl // Call To Arms – by Rachel Amphlett

4 STARS: Wow, this was really good. Close to amazing!

The Impossible Girl – by Lydia Kang // The Confession – by Jo Spain // Leah On The Offbeat – by Becky Albertalli // Hex Hall – by Rachel Hawkins // Claw The System – by Francesco Marciuliano

3.5 STARS: Great read. Really entertaining!

The Tango War – by Mary Jo McConahay // The Mysterious Affair At Styles – by Agatha Christie // Truth And Lies – by Caroline Mitchell // Rivers Of London – by Ben Aaronovitch // A Patient Man – by S. Lynn Scott

3 STARS: It was a nice read, but not fantastic. 

The Masked City – by Genevieve Cogman // Ink And Bone – by Rachel Caine // Uprooted – by Naomi Novik // The Shadow Cats – by Rae Carson // The Girl Who Saved The King Of Sweden – by Jonas Jonasson // I Let You Go – by Clare Mackintosh

2.5 STARS: I give this one the benefit of the doubt. Nothing too exciting.

The Lying King – by Alex Beard

2 STARS: It was ok. But mostly ‘meh’.

The Echo Room – by Parker Peevyhouse

0 STARS (DNF): I didn’t even bother to finish this one. Either horrible or definitely not for me!

It’s Okay To Laugh – by Nora McInerney Purmort

I haven’t joined a lot of challenges this year so far, mostly because I decided to focus more on ‘fun’ reading and less on goals I have to complete. Things are going way better than planned! I’m getting close to finishing my updated Netgalley challenge, with only six titles left. I’m definitely finishing this in September, since I have a pile of NG ARCs I need to read this month. I still need to find a title for the last era (1600-1699) of the  When Are You Reading? challenge though.

# CHALLENGES #

As for my other goals… I managed to finish my third classic so I’m finished with that goal! I also read my tenth international author/translation so that’s another one done. And I did my second reread as well, so that’s number three crossed off! My NG ratio has been stable and well above the 80% mark; I guess it’s easier now I have so many reviews already posted. The final three goals will be a struggle though… I think I’ll only be able to make the 800+ pages book one, although I’m still deciding on which title to read. I’m pretty sure my TBR goal will be hopeless unless I unhaul some books… And my running has been off the hook lately with all the health problems and everything else.

# OTHER READING/BLOGGING GOALS #

  • Read at least 3 (modern) classics (rereads don’t count) 3/3 DONE!! (Murder On The Orient Express // Slaughterhouse-Five, The Mysterious Affair At Styles)
  • Complete at least 5 series (rereads don’t count) 5/5 DONE!! (The Conspiracy Of Us // Bad Girls Don’t Die // Embassy Row // The 5th Wave // Legend)
  • Reread at least 2 books 2/2 DONE!! (Harry Potter Y La Camera Secreta // Harry Potter Y El Prisionero De Azkaban)
  • Bring my physical TBR pile below 300 books and keep it that way. 406/300
  • Read at least one book over 800 pages 0/1 (maximum 528 pages)
  • Read at least 1 book in Spanish 1/1 DONE!! (Harry Potter Y La Camera Secreta)
  • Read at least 1 book in Dutch 1/1 DONE!! (Het Jaar Dat De Wereld Op Zijn Kop Stond by Clare Furniss)
  • Read more international authors/translations (at least 10) 10/10 DONE!! (Stage Four (The Netherlands)/ Born A Crime (South Africa)/ Halfway (India)/ A Castle In Romagna (Croatia)/ My Sweet Friend (Belgium)/ The Elephant Keeper’s Daughter (Germany)/ The Letter For The King (Indonesia)/ The Air Raid Killer (Germany)/ My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry (Sweden)/ The Girl Who Saved The King Of Sweden (Sweden))
  • Join at least 5 challenges during the year 5/5 DONE!!
  • Keep my Netgalley ratio above the 80% currently at 94%
  • Reach 5km running! 2000m/5000m

Happy September and Happy Reading! 

signature

You can also find me at Goodreads. Twitter. Instagram. Facebook. Bloglovin’.