It is sadly time for the last post for Rachel's Blogging Extravaganza - pop over to see her thoughts @ Beauty and the Bookshelf. The main point of the event was to remind us all of how important creativity and our own enjoyment are for blogging, so today's prompt included the following questions:

Why are you still here? What makes blogging worth it? Why is it so fun and fantastic and you don't want to let it go? Why do you love it?

So I'll give it a go, shall I? Even though I'm new at blogging, I appreciate that it's not always easy to keep going. For me, the reasons why blogging is worth it can be summed up in one word: community. Yes, I'm embarrassingly aware of how cheesy that sounds, but let me do what I do best and make a list (that today includes references to musicals because I like being random and making people uncomfortable) for you, okay?

Reasons Why Book Bloggers are the Best People in the World

WE'RE NOT ALONE. Having a blog means you have your own little corner of the world [/internet] where you can talk about the things that matter to you. You control it. It's a good feeling. But you also have people to share that space with you - they'll come and visit, you'll visit back. It's awfully nice. I like the social aspect of Goodreads, but it's still something quite different to blog and to share opinions that way. (If we're not friends on GR yet, go ahead and add me! I promise I'll be nice. Just be prepared to tell me what your favourite book is - sorry, I know that's a mean question.)

I HAVE CONFIDENCE. Or not. I'm not the most confident person in the world. Blogging and comments from other bloggers help me feel better about my writing skills though - and that gives me confidence in many other ways as well. I suppose you could call it agency? Blogging gives me a choice, and lets me make decisions for me, and that's something I find really important.

GOTTA GET MYSELF TO HOGWARTS, WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS I'M COOL. Shared fandoms are the best. Something that comes with the territory of blogging is sharing your favourites with others, and I know if I go on twitter or blog about a book I love, someone will immediately go "YES I LOVE IT TOO" and the rest of the conversation will mostly consist of GIFs, capslock, and exclamation marks. I'm pretty okay with that.

SOMEBODY KILL ME. When a book makes you feel a bit like this, you have a support network of people who've read the same thing, experienced the same despair. You may feel like this either because a) a book is pretty perfect and just kills your soul [All the Bright Places, I'm looking at you and already crying again!] or b) a book actually just sucks and you can't take it [giving examples would be too mean]. (Sometimes the effect of either a) or b) can be something along the lines of feeling like you'll never be Satisfied.) All of this also applies if it's not a book making you feel this way. The emotional support of this community is just everything.

WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. All the book recommendations you get from others are wonderful and horrible. My Goodreads TBR has about 600 books on it now, I think? I keep adding to it on a daily basis, and that's actually not even an exaggeration. The good thing is everyone is dealing with the same problems (obviously real problems as well as the TBR one) so you know there's someone you can talk to. I should probably stop before I make myself cry over how lovely everyone in the community is ;) But really, everyone who ends up reading this: thank you for being there.

Thank you so much to Rachel for putting together this awesome event, and for everything you've done to inspire us and remind us how much we love blogging ♥

So tell me: what's your favourite thing about blogging? Do you suddenly have a song from High School Musical stuck in your head? Let me know in the comments!

Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children  No Solicitations No Visitors No Quests Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere... else. But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children. Nancy tumbled once, but now she’s back. The things she’s experienced... they change a person. The children under Miss West’s care understand all too well. And each of them is seeking a way back to their own fantasy world. But Nancy’s arrival marks a change at the Home. There’s a darkness just around each corner, and when tragedy strikes, it’s up to Nancy and her new-found schoolmates to get to the heart of the matter. No matter the cost.  ✱ Pages: 160 (hardcover) ✱ Publication date: 5 April 2016 ✱ Provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review ✱ Amazon UK | Amazon US ✱ Add it on Goodreads!

The title and the cover sort of slapped me in the face, saying 'you absolutely must read me.' So I did. By the time I got to the end of the second page I was pretty much hooked.

"Real is a four-letter word, and I'll thank you to use it as little as possible while you live under my roof."

Every Heart a Doorway is a unique, quirky novella about teenagers, written for adults. The writing is brilliant, the dialogue delightful, and there are numerous amazing characters involved in the story: a Goblin Prince-in-waiting, a girl who went to a Nonsense world, a boy who can make skeletons dance... Not to mention the protagonist, Nancy, who is definitely just as interesting as all the others!
 
   The thing I love about this, is that every person you meet has a back story that could easily be a book on its own. These are people of fairy tales, except their stories have been cut short and they've been sent back home. It's a pretty cool premise - what happens when you've been somewhere amazing but have been sent back home? Where is 'home,' anyway? Is it where you're from, or is it where you feel you belong?

    There are some frank things said about sexual orientations, sex, and there's a bit of swearing - I didn't mind these at all (quite appreciated it actually), but some of you might, depending on your preferences. The story also has some slightly macabre elements, and I'm all for anything spooky, weird, or slightly disturbing. This is probably why this story was such a good fit for me!

Every Heart a Doorway is intriguing and gripping, and basically just a fantastic novella all-around. It has made me a fan of Seanan McGuire, so I'll hopefully be checking out some of her other work soon.

Does Every Heart a Doorway sound like something you'd enjoy? Also, please let me know if you have any favourite novellas that I absolutely should read :)

I've had so much fun being social/antisocial this weekend! Thank you so much to everyone who joined us - be that in spirit or in actuality ;) I'm definitely looking forward to hosting another one if people are interested!

#HidingReadAThon Highlights There were 18 of us involved, by my count, and for such an impromptu Read-A-Thon I'm really happy with this! It's been lovely seeing what you're all reading, so let's keep in touch, okay? ;) All the pretty photos, banners, and the lovely things you've said have made me super happy! And also - you have all made wonderful life decisions (and reading decisions) this weekend so you should feel proud! Link up! Check the original post for everyone's TBR posts Link any reviews you've written for books you read during the event Link your wrap-up post at the bottom of the page! Prizes I've got three prizes lined up - winners will be picked at random out of everyone who took part The first prize is a copy of Rainbow Rowell's Carry On (the one with the colour-in cover which is just beautiful!) + a few little surprises :) The second and third will be similar to each other - just tiny little bookish presents as thanks for taking part!

My reading and writing progress during #HidingReadAThon

Devoting this bank holiday weekend to mostly being antisocial was wonderfully relieving for me. I always feel stressed out over socialising because it just tires me out kind of quickly (obviously there are exceptions to this!).

But in any case, this weekend I read a few pretty amazing books! My goal was to read six but that didn't happen and I'm perfectly okay with that :)

[covers link to my short GR reviews]

   

As for writing, I did manage to put at least an hour aside for plotting every day! I kind of wish I'd done more than I have, but I still have *does the maths* ...3 days? I have three days to prepare. HOW THE HECK DID THAT HAPPEN? WHERE DID MARCH GO?! I thought I was happy with my writing progress but excuse me while I go and panic about finishing my outline now, okay?

Since I'm putting together the surprise prizes today and tomorrow, can you do me a favour (even if you didn't take part in the ReadAThon)?
There are a few things I would love to know:

1. What is your favourite bookish fandom (or two if you absolutely can't pick just one!), 
2. Would you be interested in another Read-A-Thon?, and
3. (just because I'm curious - ) Are you doing Camp NaNo in April?

An InLinkz Link-up

#HidingReadAThon An impromptu event aiming to chip away at the mountains of books on our TBRs, especially for those of us without too many plans for Easter weekend! Katelynn (one half of the awesome blog Books & Bottles) called it an antisocial gathering, and that is exactly what it is ;) You can look up the details and join us until Monday (or even after that by linking a wrap-up post of your weekend reads to my Monday post!) Spoiler alert - really the only rule is you post something, somewhere, about...something (but preferably to do with books). For bonus points: Link up any reviews or recaps (big or small) you write during #hidingReadAThon at the bottom of this post! I'm working out prizes as we speak [ - as I type? - ] so let me know if there's anything you think would make an amazing prize! I have my eyes on a few cute bookmarks, and on this: what do you guys think of the colour-in edition of Rainbow Rowell's Carry On?

Ezrah did a wonderful Bloggiesta post on different types of reviews, so I'm running away with it, and doing teeny tiny reviews of the books I've read so far during the #HidingReadAThon.

Friday Night Bites

The second book in the Chicagoland Vampires series and I LOVE THEM. The protagonist, Merit is awesome - she kicks ass with a katana but also knows ballet, she loves food and has a secret chocolate stash - don't you just love her already? There's also Ethan. Beautiful, annoying, high-handed, but I can't help but love him with a passion. I'm not even sorry. *shrugs*
So many awesome characters, interesting plot, and sexy shenanigans. Just read them, okay?

Throne of Glass

Ezrah and a fair few others (I'm estimating like a dozen people, at this point?) who are absolutely obsessed with this have told me to read it (on goodreads, on twitter, on their blogs, on my blog, on insta - you get the picture!) and I finally did! You should all be so proud.

But anyway, prepare yourself for just... random weird emotional things happening from here on in because I finished reading this two minutes ago. Okay? Okay.

So *takes deep breath* I got to the part where she finds the library and I was like I'M ON BOARD, SHE LIKES BOOKS. CHAOL IS AWESOME. And that was it. I was a goner. I think I'm kind of in love with Chaol this book, you guys.

Got to the last page and now -
Do you know that feeling when you're reading something and it sort of hits you in the feels but you don't quite know why and you kind of have tears in your eyes but you also don't know why and it's just over and life seems somehow different? That's either the sleep deprivation talking, or this book. I will decide after I sleep...

So basically, I'd like to say "why didn't anyone force me to read this weeks (/months) ago?!" but a lot of you actually really tried to do that, so I'll just blame myself, 'kay?

Have you read either of these books? Are you taking part in #HidingReadAThon? If yes - awesome. You are making good life decisions. If not - share your TBR with me!

An InLinkz Link-up

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme for sharing our news and plans for the next week, hosted by the wonderful Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

Hello lovelies! Hope you're having a wonderful time easting Easter chocolates!

✦ This weekend seemed like it might get a bit quiet as I live away from family, so my plan was this:

Then I decided some others might be in as similar situation (or might just like an excuse to be antisocial and stay indoors) so I started an impromptu TBR challenge/ReadAThon! You're more than welcome to join us on your blog, twitter, or instagram, by sharing your Easter weekend reading plans! Officially #HidingReadAThon ends on Monday evening, but I'll leave another link-up for wrap-up posts. And of course, I'm doing a few little prizes so that's pretty exciting :)

Sorry about the essay, but I'm really excited about this!

✦ The West End revival of Guys and Dolls is on tour so we went to see it and it was so much fun!

✦ I actually didn't spend any money on books - for an entire week. Mild applause? Thank you.

✦ I finished and handed in my last assignment as a Master's student. Now onto the dissertation.

✦ Book Spine Poetry!

✦ #HidingReadAThon details

✦ Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye

✦ Flawed by Cecelia Ahern

 

Received copies for review - these seem really cool!

Won this in a GR giveaway and I'm so excited to finally read it!

  

Got a few things for my kindle (although Memories of Ash is a preorder!) - thank you to Kimba for arranging the giveaway for her Read-A-Thon :)

✦ Sadly, the last posts for Rachel's Blogging Extravaganza
(details are up on Beauty and the Bookshelf)

✦ #HidingReadAThon wrap-up post (that you can link to)

✦ Mini-reviews of my Easter Weekend reads!

How was your week? Do you get time off for Easter? If you're doing some reading today and Monday, please consider sharing your TBR for #HidingReadAThon and link up :) Would love to see what you're reading [and to include you on my list for the prizes]!

Hello lovelies!
IT'S FRIDAY! Since I live away from my nearest and dearest and have no way of visiting at the moment, I am making slightly different plans for my 4-day weekend (don't you just love bank holidays?).
If you'd like to join me in my spur-of-the-moment #hidingReadAThon, I've written down some guidelines for it!

#HidingReadAThon Take part on twitter, instagram, on your blog (or all of them) - it's up to you! write a post with details of your TBR and link-up here by Monday write a wrap-up post on Monday Post your TBR on instagram or twitter (or both!) with #hidingReadAThon. Please also tag me (@hidingbooks) in your entries! do whatever else you'd like - honestly, this is entirely customisable. You do you! I'd love to see what you come up with! Info on prizes coming up soon! (INTL)

If you know me, you know that I need a list of rules to get anything done so these would be it:
(Feel free to make your own or edit these to suit you! [or go without rules - you rebel, you!] If you don't want to write, don't write, if you want to see people, do it!)

The Rules Read as many books off your TBR as humanly possible Ignore/decline invitations to social functions. It's allowed Blog hop! Keep notes on books so you can actually write reviews without forgetting all the details... Write at least for an hour every day (I'm doing Camp NaNo next month so I have plotting to do!)

So here's my TBR - Am I insane, you ask? Quite possibly. But then, these make a nice 2000 pages and really, it's not that much...?

I seriously doubt I'll be able to get through all of these but in case I do.... I've added an extra points category. It basically just means that if I get to those books by Monday, I will eat loads of chocolate and have some wine to celebrate how amazingly antisocial I am.

Easter Weekend TBR       Extra points!

Short notice for a ReadAThon but... Would you like to join me on the dark side and be antisocial and bookish for a few days? If you're interested in reading a book or two or ten and writing a post about your weekend reading plans, add your link below!
Oh, and let me know if you have any ideas for potential prizes ;)

An InLinkz Link-up