BooklyBox Unboxing! April 2017

This is probably my favorite subscription out of the three I subscribe to. BooklyBox is a subscription service that sends you a box every month in multiple genres (fantasy, historical fiction, mystery, literary, romance, sci-fi, and YA) and a couple of other bookish goodies. Also, they put in a couple of teas as well. On top of it, not only do you get a great book but they donate a book as well to charities where literacy isn't as prevalent as in the US. So far, even if I don't like the stuff that comes in the box, I enjoy at least one of the teas and the book itself. I also have a discount code that will get you 20% off discount. I do get a small commission out of it if you do use it since it is an affiliate code, just so you know. But it's so worth it. I've never been disappointed to date with the box.

 Every single month, they include a card with information about where the books were donated to. Usually, they work with Books for Africa. Every box so far that I've gotten, they've worked with them. This month, BooklyBox partnered with Eric Harms Libraries Project and donated books to Rwanda. On one side it gives information about how that specific project. This project was the fruit of tragedy, like quite a few others, but aims to do good. Which the world needs so much more of.




On the other side of the card are statistics about the country. They include things like:
Primary school participation: Female 88.5% Male 86.4%
Secondary school participation: Female 15.6% Male 14.7%
Youth illiteracy rate: Female 78% Male 76.7%
Life expectency: 63.6 years
Orphans, Children orphaned by AIDS: 120,000
Use of improved drinking water sources: 68.9%
Population below the international poverty line of US $1.25: 63.2%
And a few other stats. Reading these cards every single month is a small reminder of how much worse I could have things. But also a small reminder of how much good this box does in terms of bringing literacy ratings up.

Now for the stuff!:

First thing I pulled out was the teas that come with every box. So far, every tea I've gotten is from Tazo. This month I received Wild Sweet Orange, which is a tea I already know I don't like and will be giving to my younger brother for him to try since he may like it. The other one is Passion. I've never had the Passion one before.. The description of it is: "An infusion of hibiscus, orange peel, rose hips, & passion fruit flavors." We'll see how well I like that one since orange peel tends to take over everything for me and ruins the tea.

 The next thing in the box was this bookmark. They always include one of these as well, which I forgot to mention earlier (oops!). They always have a quote on them. This month's says, "It's a rare book that wins the battle against drooping eyelids." The quote is from Tracy Chevalier. Never heard of her before. However, the quote is so very true. At least for me. If I'm tired enough, my book usually won't win. I could use a book that makes you not want to sleep but get answers instead.

The back of the bookmarks always say, "Shhh! I'm reading!" Just in case some passerby doesn't get the hint to leave you alone while you read. ;)

For the most part, I don't mind the color scheme of this bookmark. Purple isn't my favorite color but I'll manage. And the quote on the front is spot on. I'm sure I'll get some use out of it.

This may be my new favorite key chain! It says on it, "I read, there fore I am." It is just an adorable little circle with an open book at the top. I cannot wait to put it on my keys with my Pop Funko Belle that I have from Beauty and the Beast. I think it fits perfectly on there with her. So excited about this.

This. Is. Beautiful. This may be my new favorite bookmark. I will have to put this to use ASAP. It says it's 18K gold plated. I would prefer silver but it's beautiful, nonetheless. I adore feathers. And this fits right in with that adoration I may have to drool over this for a little bit, so don't mind me...

This is this month's book! The cover to Freya by Matthew Laurence is stunning! I cannot wait to finish my current reads to delve into this book.

This is about a woman named Sara Vandai, who is much more than she appears to be. She used to be known as Freya, the Norse goddess of love, beauty, war, and death.

There is a modern power who wants to control the divine and Sara must either bend to it or fight back.

The star ratings I've taken a glance at on GoodReads seem pretty mixed. It might be a book I either love or hate. Either way, the cover is beautiful.

This may be the start to a new series, since there's a "(#1)" next to the title on GoodReads. This one just came out last month, so we'll see how long the wait is before book #2 comes out.

Oh! I almost forgot to include this! Everything except the card comes in a bag, This is the first time I've seen this specific design on it. Definitely a good thing that the other stuff comes in the bag so you don't get spoiled for the book and other goodies.









Hopefully you liked what you saw! BooklyBox is worth the money. And they put some good in the world just by having you be part of the family. Their customer service so far, while only online at this time, is on point. They helped me so much when I was getting started. They even noticed before I did that I somehow had gotten signed up for two boxes and emailed me first.

I do so hope you have a good day/night.
Your kindred bookmate,
Cassie

Thrift Books book haul!

So today's post is a book haul from ThriftBooks! I have used them a couple of other times before today and so far, I have loved using them for used books. This has been my.... Third order so far. I ended up ordering 10 books, each book averaging $3.29 or so. And they have really good deals on the website as well called ThriftDeals (2 for $7, 3 for $10, 4 for $12 for example), a tell a friend program that gets you and the person you refer a 15% off code for your next order, and reading rewards (which seems to be $5 off for every $50 spent). I may have spent enough money so far between three separate orders to earn two reading rewards. I used the first reading reward I had earned on this order. So for 10 books under the ThriftDeals section plus the reward, I spent all of $25. And who is gonna complain about spending $2.50 a book? Not this reader. They are definitely worth checking out, at the very least! I will be linking the pages to the GoodReads pages to the each book as well, so if a book looks interesting, feel free to take a look at the description for it!

I have never read The Catcher in the Rye and it was never something that we did in my high school. At least not in the English classes I was in. This has been on my "need to buy" list for quite some time, so what better time to read it when you have a ridiculously good deal for books? From what I've read of the description of the book, it follows a boy in his teenage years who spends a couple of days in NYC's underground. I love this from the GoodRead's description of the book: "Perhaps the safest thing we can say about Holden is that he was born in the world not just strongly attracted to beauty but, almost, hopelessly impaled on it." I am super excited about this book and get to know young Holden just that much better.

Life of Pi came out when I was still in high school (if that doesn't date me at all) and I remember hearing all sorts of good things about it from those who had read it within the first year of its release. By the time I graduated, I had completely forgot about this particular book until I was looking through the books on ThriftBooks and saw it. It immediately went into my shopping cart. The description of the story intrigues me and reminds me of Tom Hanks' Castaway. But with a young kid and a tiger instead. Cannot wait to see how Pi manages to spend his time on a deserted island with said tiger.

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West will be a reread for me. I first read this series in my late teens/early twenties and loved this series. This series may be my absolute favorite retelling of The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. Wicked starts us off with the birth of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West herself and takes you through her life, including when Dorothy makes her way through Oz. Cannot wait to revisit this Oz.

Gonna be honest here, I may have judged Island of Lost Girls by its' cover.The look on the little girl's face caught my attention immediately and I had to have it. Didn't matter what it was about. But description of the book just reaffirmed my need to buy this book: A woman named Rhonda sees what turns out to see a crime in action. Guilt overcoming her, she joins the forces to right this wrong and gets closer and closer to another crime that had happened years before with her best friend's disappearance. I just had to get my hands on this book and see how the two were connected.

I love a good story about other countries and Anil's Ghost covers Sri Lanka. I don't get my hands too often on books that take place there or usually anywhere farther East than England. This will be a nice change of pace in that regard. The plot sounds so interesting: A woman who was born in Sri Lanka but raised/educated in the US and England goes back as a forensic anthropologist. According to description on GoodReads, she "returns to her homeland as a forensic anthropologist sent by an international human rights group to discover the source of the organized campaigns of murder engulfing the island." Sold. Need to read this book yesterday.

I've been eyeing Gone Girl in the book aisle of Wal-Mart for a while now. Saw it on ThriftBooks and said nevermind on buying it at the store. Since I basically paid $2.50 for it, I got a huge deal on this book and it's in not too bad of shape. The description on GoodReads describes it better than I can: "On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?" And who doesn't love a case of Whodunnit?

This book I remember reading my junior year of high school. And I cannot for the life of me remember if I ended up liking Their Eyes Were Watching God or not. This story follows Janie, whose grandmother catches her kissing a boy at 16 and marries her off. She's married twice before essentially meeting the love of her life, who has nothing more to give her than a packet of flower seeds. I do remember enjoying the fact that he window framed her life, so to speak. At the beginning of the book, she's gotten on in years. And at the end, we've caught up to where we started at. This should be a good reread.

I, for the most part, enjoyed the adaptation of this series as a television show. I didn't get around to see it while it was airing on Showtime but binged the whole thing on Netflix instead (which I am not very happy with the ending of season eight). When I found out Dexter was based off of Darkly Dreaming Dexter, I started looking at prices for it. Online was way too much, as was the closest bookstore at the time. Which was Barnes and Noble. I was stoked when they had the first book on ThriftBooks and immediately added the book to my shopping cart.

But for those that haven't seen the show or heard about it from those who have, Darkly Dreaming Dexter follows a blood spatter expert for the Miami PD who just happens to be a serial killer. Of serial killers. His golden rule when it comes to killing: he only gets the bad guys. In this book, someone is imitating his style. While he's flattered, he's also frightened. Hoping to be able to pick this one up soon.

The Thriteenth Tale is another book where the cover caught my attention. Not gonna lie. The book  cover is of books! How could it not catch my eye as a book lover. This another one that seems insanely interesting. When biographer Margaret Lea comes home one night, there's a letter from an infamous writer who wants to tell Margaret her life story. She's never read Vida Winter's work, nor does she know Winter. GoodReads again explains so much better than I can from here: "Late one night while pondering whether to accept the task of recording Miss Winter’s personal story, Margaret begins to read her father’s rare copy of Miss Winter’s Thirteen Tales of Change and Desperation. She is spellbound by the stories and confused when she realizes the book only contains twelve stories. Where is the thirteenth tale? Intrigued, Margaret agrees to meet Miss Winter and act as her biographer.

As Vida Winter unfolds her story, she shares with Margaret the dark family secrets that she has long kept hidden as she remembers her days at Angelfield, the now burnt-out estate that was her childhood home. Margaret carefully records Miss Winter’s account and finds herself more and more deeply immersed in the strange and troubling story. 

Both women will have to confront their pasts and the weight of family secrets... and the ghosts that haunt them still."

The title alone for The Ishbane Conspiracy would have been enough to get me to read this book. Combined with that cover, it was hard to resist. This book follows four college students who come from very different backgrounds: "Jillian is picture-perfect on the outside, but terrified of getting hurt on the inside. Brittany is a tough girl who trusts almost no one. Ian is a successful athlete who dabbles in the occult. And Rob is a former gang-banger who struggles with guilt, pain, and a newfound faith in God. These four college students will face the ultimate battle between good and evil in a single year. As spiritual warfare rages around them, a dramatic demonic correspondence takes place. Readers can eavesdrop on the enemy, and learn to stave off their own defeat, by reading The Ishbane Conspiracy"

That is everything I got from ThriftBooks this time around. Hopefully you've gotten a book or two to add to your TBR lists! Also, let me know in the comments section if you've read any of these books and what you've thought of them. Also leave any book recommendations that you may have as well for me!

Kindred bookmate,

Cassie

Newbie book blogger tag!

Hey, guys! Welcome to the Kindred Bookmates blog! We're a small group of friends who have been separated by several state lines and time zones. This blog helps our bond over our love of books with each other continue and hopefully allow others in this world of ours that shares our love of books to join with us.

Since this is the first blog, I decided to do a newbie book blog tag to share some of my specific reading tastes:


Why did you start this blog? I do believe that was explained above. We love books and want to expand our circle of book loving friends! And maybe even create a safe place for those that always have their nose in a book that doesn't have anyone to talk with about what they read.
What are some of fun and unique things you can bring to book blogging? Hopefully we'll be able to create a family here that can talk about anything and everything bookish. I have a few ideas that will hopefully that others will find entertaining once I can put those plans into action. Just have to finalize a few things and get the ball rolling.
What are you most excited for about this new blog? All the books we'll discuss! And the new friends to discuss them with. You can never have too many bookish friends.
Why do you love reading? All the traveling you get to do through the books! Different countries here on Earth and/or time (historical fiction has been a favorite lately). Whole new worlds are fun as well.
What books and series got you into reading? Couldn't really tell you what books really got me into reading since I've been reading for as long as I can remember. The first series I really remember reading from start to finish and actually completing is Harry Potter. However, I remember reading books from the Goosebumps series, one or two of the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, and the Boxcar Children as a kid.
What questions would you ask your favorite authors? I feel like everyone would ask where they get their inspiration from for the books they write. I'd rather know what they spend their free time doing for their hobbies. What they read. Get their favorite books and get recommendations from them. Things like that.
What challenges do you think starting a blog will be the hardest to overcome? Being consistent in posting content that people will want to read. I have a few ideas of what I want to do on my end. I'm always willing to hear ideas of what people will want to see in the future. I've been reading a lot lately, so lots of book reviews will be posted here soon. As well as a Thrift Books order that will be coming in shortly, so there will a small book haul as soon as those come it as well. And every month, there will be a BooklyBox subscription unboxing coming.
When did you start reading? I do believe that I mentioned earlier that I've been reading for as long as I can remember. I just haven't given up on my love of books and don't plan to, either.
Where do you read? Usually at the dining room table or couch in the living room at home. If I'm in the process of traveling, I'll read then, too. I don't travel as much as I used to anymore, though. I miss all the good reading time. Although, I did just go to Syracuse recently and read the whole way home.
What kind of books do you like to read? There are several genres I love: Fantasy, scifi, mystery, historical fiction. I've recently rediscovered my love of The Royal Diaries series that I loved as a kid and have bought all but one. The one that I'm missing will be bought the next time I place an order on Thrift Books. Which, knowing me, won't be before too long. I just finished Gemina, the second book in the Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. Don't usually read a lot of more contemporary stuff but started reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky this morning, which to me has a more contemporary feel to it.



Hopefully you feel like you have more of idea of what I'm like reading wise! I'm always welcome to questions about books and any recommendations from your own recent reads! Feel free to leave a comment below!



Kindred Bookmate,
Cassie