In My Life
Without a Phone
Earlier this week I sent my phone for servicing. The top left corner of the screen was discoloured. Now I’m waiting for Apple to decide if they can fix it or will replace it. Apparently that should take 5–7 days, including repairs. The worst part about being phoneless I realized isn’t that I’m semi-uncontactable. It’s that I don’t have a handy camera with me wherever I go. I also didn’t realize how much I rely on my travel apps, especially one that indicates the waiting times for the next buses.
Food
Last week I debated whether I should use butter or mascarpone for my coffee chocolate cake. Since I couldn’t decide between the two, I decided to just go with both. I ended up with a very nicely balanced buttercream that wasn’t too heavy or too light, so yay! Topped with cocoa and cinnamon, the cake turned out pretty delicious.
Next up, I’m going to try making gingerbread. I’ve never tried baking it before, so I’ve no idea how that’ll go. Just in case, I figured I should try making it before the Christmas festivities take over. That’ll give me some time to get the mixture of spices right. Of course I’ll also be baking Lebkuchen for Christmas. Can’t go without some traditional German baked goods.
Book Haul
My last few pre-orders arrived in the mail this week. Yes, you’re seeing right. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo only arrived this week. I ordered a hardcover edition that had the publication date of October 6, 2015. Book Depository however only dispatched it on November 3 and instead of the hardcover, sent me a paperback copy. I enquired about the mix-up. They’ll resend a hardcover. The other two books that arrived were Forget Tomorrow by Pintip Dunn and The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides.
On the Blog
Win 3 Books by Chantel Guertin
I had the honour of interviewing Chantel Guertin (via email). She authored the Pippa Greene series in which the main character loves photography. To honour this I’m hosting a photography contest on the blog. The winner will receive the first three books in the series as a prize.
Blog Posts
#TheShelfieHop was underway as participating bloggers posted photos of their bookshelves. My post turned into a bookshelf tour of sorts as I explained my organisation system. I also discussed reading in public and shared more photos from the Frankfurt Book Fair showing the programmes.
Regular features hat I posted this week are:
Around the Blogosphere
Books
- Nikki & Claire @ Bitches with Books had differing opinions on whether it matters how you treat your books.
- Lola @ Lola’s Reviews weighed which format to read or buy a book in.
- Paloma @ Pages and Pineapples thought about getting a “national” vibe from a novel.
Genre
- Mel @ The Daily Prophecy collated a list of fairytale retellings published in 2015 but flw under the radar.
- Ana @ Read Me Away picked out common tropes in science fiction that hide something from the protagonist.
- Anne @ Lovely Litereature grappled with how to classify genre benders.
- Rinn @ Rinn reads pulled together a list of (post-)apocalyptic books.
Readers’ Lives
- Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity wailed about her failed book buying ban.
- Stephanie @ These Paper Hearts wondered, how do you judge a book’s villain?
- Amy @ Aya M. Productions lamented that being a book nerd in Hawaii kind of sucks.
- Vlora @ Books & Cake defended why she reads young adult books.
- Claudia guest posted at Chasing Faerytales, discussing if we do books a disservice in their reading order.
- Lauren @ Bookmark Lit hit the nail on its head with her distinctions between readers and bloggers in their appraoch to books and reading.
- Joy @ Thoughts by J asked, do you ever read themed books around holidays?
- Beks @ Novel Dreams loves re-reading books.
Blogging
- Nellie @ Nellie and Co. thinks it’s time to stop letting other people dictate how you blog.
- Leigh @ Little Book Star doesn’t believe in blogging schedules.
- Jessica @ Bookish Serindipity reflected on what she’s learned from blogging five times a week.
- Willa at Willa’s Ramblings considered who she is without blogging.
- Tonyalee @ Lilybloombooks sought answers to how you define blogging succes.
- Nuzaifa @ Word Contessa took the time to appreaciate two things that she noticed changing in book blogging.
- Silvara @ Fantasy of the Silver Dragon feels overwhelmed and needs encouragement.
- Cait @ Paper Fury noted ten book blogger problems.
- Tiffany @ About to Read shared tips on finding the time to blog.
- Ashley @ Nose Graze outlined the importance of the “About” page.
- Jen @ The Book Avid mentioned things nobody tells you about book blogging.
- Annemieke @ A Dance with Books opined about posting frequency and discussions.
Reviewing
- Alise @ Readers in Wonderland put togther a step-by-step guide to reviwing books.
Miscellaneous
- Carlisa @ Confessions of Carlisa got personal about diabetes.
Thank you so much for including my post about being a book nerd in Hawaii. I’m glad you enjoyed it. :)
I really love your food recap. That cake looks delicious!
Hope your phone issue gets resolved soon as well as your Six of Crows issue. I have yet to read Six of Crows. I can’t wait to hear what you think.
Fabulous photographs like always *drools over the cake* And isn’t that edition from Six of Crows gorgeous? Thanks for linking back to me!
Oh god, are you going through withdrawal symptoms not having your phone? Because I would. It would be so terrible. We rely so much on our phones. It’s like without it, we live in the dark ages, lol.
Geez, you wait a month for the hardcover, only to receive the paperback. That’s just annoying, but glad that they’re resending the hardcover. :)
THAT CAKE. THAT CAKEEEEE. I am stealing it from you, Josephine. And ugh, TBD’s service just seems to be growing worse and worse.
Oh wow, book depository really messed up with that one. I hope your hardcover will come quicker than it took them to get the first (and wrong) order to you.
That cake looks so yummy.
What a tedious month of mail shenanigans you had to go through. Least you came out with it an extra copy of Six of Crows — now read it. Now.
Tell me about it. I’ll read it after I receive the HC and have read Siege & Storm and Ruin & Rising. This SoC PB already has its sights on a new home.
Your pictures are always stunningly fabulous. AND YUUUUM THAT CAKE. *wipes drool off laptop* I have a deep love of gingerbread by my family barely ever makes it, so I might need to nudge them since it’s nearing Christmas. ;)
Pity about that Six of Crows TBD mix up. :O That’s really annoying for you, eh?!? I hope it gets sorted soon!! I’m like 60% through SoC and AAFJDKL IT’S AMAZING. It’s not quite 5-stars for me yet though. xD But hopefully the finale is exciting. hehe.
I hope you phone comes back soon!!!
Thank you, Cait! I can tell the cake particularly won you over. Haha. And you definitely should nudge them. I’m sure it’ll be most worth it.
Yeah, it is annoying, especially since this is the second time this year that they didn’t send me the format that I ordered. But I’m not too fussed about starting SoC later since I wanna finish Siege & Storm and Ruin & Rising first. That also means waiting a little less for the sequel. That’s not such a bad thing after all.
I can’t wait to get my phone back too! Instagram on my iPad hardly is any fun at all. I’m glad I can still share photos though.
I love the food portion of this recap Jo! That cake looks delicious! A shame it took so long for your Six of crows but the hardback is so gorgeous! Have a great week.
Thank you, Jeann! I’ll be sure to include more food in future ;) You have a wonderful week ahead as well!