Monthly Recap: July

Hello I think compared to last month my July has been a little quieter in some ways and busier in others. 

In My Life

On the 1st of July I started my school holidays. Yay! Not only that but Camp Nanowrimo started. At first I found that a bit of a struggle but I managed to pull through and only have a little less than 1000 words to go I am fairly confident I can get to my 10,000 word goal.  I will give you a more detailed run down in August. I went away for the weekend with my family and visited my Nan and Pop. We had a great time of relaxation and catching up. I also had some books on hold at the library that arrived at a great time, though I didn't read as many or as much as I would've liked to. The holidays did seem to last for a long time, but they were only two weeks and then I was back at school. One thing I can say is that I didn't really want to go back to school because it would mean less reading time and then I did because sometimes holidays can seem too long and boring. 

Back at school I received the results for my mid-year exams. I'm still waiting on some of the results though. 

What I've Watched

My family have finished watching Stargate Atlantis. We did try and start watching SG1 but we were watching it online and it wouldn't load fast enough so instead we watched a movie called Radio which is really touching by the way. I definitely would recommend watching it. But after that Mum introduced to me to Gilmore Girls which is on Netflix if anyone was wondering. Although, it's not fantasy I am really enjoying. It is quite entertaining and hilarious. 

What I've Read

Throne of Glass Picture

• Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas  ~ There will be a review in August. It was an okay read. 
• Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson ~ This book gave me the urge to reread Anne of Green Gables which as you will find out I did end up reading even though I had library books I needed to finish. The urge was just too strong. I can't help being a bookworm. 
• The Sky So Heavy by Claire Zorn ~ This was one I wasn't totally sure what to expect but I did end up enjoying it. 
• Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery ~ I will always love rereading this book. It's a classic from my childhood. Sometime in the (hopefully) near future I will reread the rest of the series. They are currently sitting tucked under my bed. I had to dig them out of a box I had packed some of my childhood books into. 

What I Plan To Read

I need to finish reading my Library book haul Next month I plan to finish reading Firebrand by Gillian Philip. After that I plan to read The Fool's Girl by Celia Rees. It's set around the time of Shakespeare and I love history in my fiction. Then I will put a hold to borrowing books from the library so I can read some books I have at home that I haven't read yet. I've realised recently there are quite a few. I am probably going to start with continuing with the Anne of Green Gables series but I don't think I will read them all in a row. I need me some other books in-between. 

On the Blog

June's Monthly Recap

That Word Plethora

My Life of Writing

Beautiful People July Edition

That Word Rodomontade 

A Book Review of The Raven Boys.

Coming Up

• On the 2 August I have a That Word post this time with the word Splendiferous.
• On the 6th August I plan to give you a run down of Campnanowrimo
• One the 13th of August I plan to post a review of Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas.
• On the 16th of August I will post the second That Word of the month. This time it is the word, Fastidious. 
• On the 20th I will probably do another Beautiful People.
• On the 27th of August you will get another lovely Monthly Recap
• On the 30th I manage to sneak in one more That Word. This time it's the word Congregate.

Around the Blogosphere 

Katie Grace @ A Writer's Faith wrote a post on Very Serious Tips On How To Write Fast. This reminded to forget about plot and just write. As well as other very important tips. :)

Cait @ PaperFury posted about How To Fabulously Get Started On #Bookstagram.

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Monthly Recap: June

A Book Review of The Raven Boys

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue never sees them--until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks to her.

His name is Gansey, a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can't entirely explain. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul whose emotions range from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She doesn't believe in true love, and never thought this would be a problem. But as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore. 

I originally found The Raven Boys at my local Shiploads store which is basically one of those two dollar type shops. It stood out to me because I had heard Cait @ Paperfury rave about it so many times. To be honest when I bought it I had little to no idea of what the book was about. Several months after I had bought it I decided to give it a go. I looked it up first and I became unsure about whether I should read it or not because of the mention of tarot cards. As a Christian I was uneasy about it. But even though I was uneasy I decided to pick it up and give it ago. And I am so glad I did. 

That Word Rodomontade

This segment of my blog is inspired by Victoria Grace Howell Word definition that we get as part of her weekly Writerly Bundles and by me when I come across words I have a vague sense of the meaning but not a complete sense of the word. 

I often come upon words that I either haven't heard of before I can't remember the meaning. These posts are for those words and in hopes of helping others remember the meanings and introduce them to words they may not know.

This weeks word is ...

Rodomontade 

Where I Found It

This is a word I found on dictionary.com (which I regularly use) it was likely a word of the day. In my notes next to the word I have put that I obviously either liked the sound or meaning of the word. 

Beautiful People: July Editon

Beautiful People is a link up hosted by Cait @Paper Fury and Sky @ Further Up and Further In. It helps us to get to know our characters and our books better.

This month I am doing Samuel James. I am writing in his Point of View for my camp nanowrimo story this month and these questions helped me to get to know him a bit better. This month I have decided to let Samuel answer them himself. I felt the answers sounded better coming from him.

1. Do they want to get married and/or have children? Why or Why not?

I don't know if I will ever get married. I've never though about it really. I'm not sure if I will ever get the chance. Children, *shrugs* who knows. Maybe. Probably not if I don't get married. 

2. What is their weapon of choice? (It doesn't necessarily have to be a physical weapon)

Dad never really let me near a weapon. I would like to learn. Maybe. At least it would be a way to defend myself. *Sigh* I don't know.

3. What's the nicest thing they've done for someone else, and why did they do it? 

The nicest thing I've ever done? Some nice things have been done for. I suppose... I did look after one of the 3 year olds once. He was scared and kind of came up to me. I looked out for him ever since. I didn't want him to get hurt.

4. Have they been physically violent with someone, and what instigated it? 

Physically violent? *raises eyebrows* Umm... Author... help

I don't think you being little and attacking your brother counts. 

Umm... okay. Nope, I have no idea.

5. Are they are rule-follower or a rebel? 

Umm... rule-follower, rebel, rule-follower, rebel, rule-follower, rebel...

Sam? Well as he can't seem to answer I will try. Mostly he needs to be a rule-follower but he yearns to do more than that. I think he would like to rebel. One day. 

6. Are they organised or messy? 

Organised. My room cannot be messy. I'll be in trouble if it is. Plus I need to know where I've hidden my secret things.

I think he would love to be messy though. 

7. What makes them feel loved, and who was the last person to make them feel that way? 

Shadrach. My brother. *Stares off in the distance* He always made me feel loved. I felt moderately safe with him. He just cared for me, knew when I was unhappy and unwell. Made sure I did my back excursuses even when I didn't want to. He checked up on me. *Whispers* More than Dad did.

8. What do they eat for breakfast?

Breakfast? That seems random. Okay, what do I have? Mush.

Or porridge

*Shrugs shoulders* Same thing.

9. Have they ever lost someone close to them? What happened?

*Looks across at me* Do I have to?

*Gives him stare and doesn't answer*

*looks down and sighs quietly. answer sounds automated* My brother. He had to leave. Couldn't return. I have no idea where he is. I wish I did. *Wistfully adds* I don't know if I will ever see him again.

10. What's their treat of choice? (Or if not food, how else do they reward themselves?)

*Gives a one cornered smile* I love imagining I could fly. When I was younger my Dad found out. I gave him a drawing once of me with wings. He got angry and ripped the picture up. He banned me from doing it. It's the special place I go to in my mind.

So there you have it. This months Beautiful People :). 

What did you think of Samuel James? Did you participate in Beautiful People this month? 

Also check out :)

Beautiful People June Edition

My Life of Writing

As this blog is still fairly new I thought that maybe you should know a little bit about me so here is my post about my writing. Enjoy!

My Past In Stories

I can barely remember a time when a story has not been running around in my head. As far as I can remember they've always been there. I remember trying to write stories many times through my childhood and not then letting them go. The same sort of thing has happened when it has come to journalling. I will get a new notebook and maybe write a day here or there but then it goes nowhere. 

Well, this changed at the end of grade 8. That year I received a secret santa present of a notebook and a pen together. It was the perfect gift because this was the notebook I began journalling consistently in as well as writing a few crazy story ideas that would have been in my head back then. I think it was partially this prompt that helped me really gain my moment in my dream for writing.

My Fairly New Notebooks

That Word Plethora

This segment of my blog is inspired by Victoria Grace Howell Word definition that we get as part of her weekly Writerly Bundles and by me when I come across words I have a vague sense of the meaning but not a complete sense of the word.

I often come upon words that I either haven't heard of before I can't remember the meaning. These posts are for those words and in hopes of helping others remember the meanings and introduce them to words they may not know.

The first word is ...

Plethora

Where I Found It

I first came across this word on this word in a book somewhere. I can't remember exactly where but I can remember stopping to look it up because it was new to me. Ever since then it has entered my head at random times.

Monthly Recap: June

Hey all, welcome to my first Monthly Recap. Not a lot has happened on the blog yet but I do have it back up and running now that I have my computer back all fixed. Quite a few things have happened in my life lately though.

In My Life

First thing is from the 5 to the 7th I went on a school trip to Melbourne, Victoria. I went lots of educational places. Which wasn't too, bleh. Although a couple of places may have been a touch boring. We went to the Melbourne Museum, the Melbourne Markets, Melbourne Aquarium, Jewish Holocaust Museum, the Immigrations Museum, the National Art Gallery, The Hellenic Museum (Greek. The main reason was for Ancient Greece) and then I went bowling. Which I actually managed to get a few strikes. I came second in one game and tied last in the next.

Leopard Eels at the Aquarium

I could have had some free time to go shopping but I'm not that big of a shopper (though books, maybe). I think the most memorable was the Jewish Holocaust Museum. I knew that it the holocaust was pretty bad, but I don't think I realised how bad till I went there. I would recommend it if you're ever in Melbourne. We even got the opportunity to talk to a survivor. 

At the Museum

On the 7th I was meant to come home on the plane but then the all flights home were cancelled. Virgin Australia did put my school group in a 4 1/2 star hotel. It was better than the previous one we stayed in and we also received food vouchers. Meanwhile at home roads were closing. We had the worst floods in about 80 years! and I missed most of it. 

Local swimming area in flood taken after I had made it home safe and sound

My tea at the 4 1/2 star hotel

Almost a week after I got back me and a couple of my friends went to the movies and saw Alice Through The Looking Glass. Then about a week after that I went with my youth group to see Finding Dory. It was awesome by the way. I loved it and baby Dory was so adorable. 

 

Also on Monday and Wednesday I had my first exams ever and because of the subjects I chose (English and Ancient Civilisations) I had to write two essays for each. One essay per hour. English = lots of quotes to memorise. Ancient Civs = remember where you learned that. A little bit scary, but I hope I did okay. Luckily now I have two weeks of holidays. I hope to try Camp Nanowrimo once again as well as work on an essay for a History competition. My life in all it's craziness. 

Also my birthday happened. I'm now officially 17 years old. I think part of me is scared for 18 because it means I will be able to vote. I received new ugg boots (My feet are loving the warmth) and Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas. I'm not totally sure if I will love or hate this. I've heard people with both so I guess I will find out soon. Chocolate and money and a new pen and a gift card to my local Christian bookstore. I used it to buy The Skin Map by Stephen R. Lawhead.  

A pile of gifts I received

What I've Watched

I caught up with RWBY and then re-watched all the volumes again.
I also started watching Stargate Atlantis with Mum, Dad and my younger brother. We've almost finishe season 4.

What I've Read

• I finished reading Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan on the 1st of June.
• I spent almost a whole month reading Cinder by Marissa Meyer because life (which equals mostly school).
• I finished reading The Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan.

What I Plan To Read

I'm currently reading Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas which was one of my birthday presents. I will be picking up The Sky So Heavy by Clair Zorn and Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson from the library on Monday. 

On the Blog

Hello and a Book Review - In which I was able to get this blog up and running.

Beautiful People June Edition - In which I participated in my first Beautiful People.

This month I have a post planned about my writing and how I go about it. I also plan to have one written on The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater and possibly and then another Monthly Recap.

Around the Blogosphere

Cait @ Paper Fury wrote a great post titled Who Is The Intended Audience For YA Books? It is worth a read. Your age doesn't define what you read.

Mel @ The Daily Prophecy wrote a post on Her Favourite Childhood Animation Movies. It makes me smile to remember my favourite ones and I love re-watching them. Also I'm not sure that I've seen some of them. I must watch them sometime.

Katie Grace @ A Writer's Faith wrote Being A Writer Is Powerful that was inspiring.

What was your June like? Have you been busy?