Is it past the middle of February? Maybe. But hey, I thought I’d done my January wrap-up and it turns out that I completely forgot about it. So go grab a cookie and stop complaining – WE GOT SOME STATS TO RUN THROUGH.

I had an amazing reading month in January. I’m well on track to hitting my goal of 100 books this year, which honestly I find completely shocking. I didn’t think I’d be finding it that easy to reach that goal. So go me! My reading has FINALLY picked back up!

But now, before we look at my month, let’s look at what deals are on around the book world! I am an affiliate with the following companies, by clicking on my link to buy your books you are helping to support Upside-Down Books at no extra cost to you!

THE BOOK DEPOSITORY

Your one stop need for all bookish delights! Free shipping worldwide and arguably some of the best prices! Make sure you have a look through their Bargain Shop section to grab a good deal. The Book Depository has also conveniently put together new releases for 2018 to get excited for so you can peruse through and do some shopping. It’s not too late to jump in on those New You, New Year goals either – not to mention casting an eye back to look at some of the best books of 2017! My favourite section would have to be the cookbooks from around the world, mmm food. And finally, if you don’t own one of those tiny, adorable, gold leafed Macmillan classic editions then are you really living?

WORDERY

Also offering the glorious deal of free shipping worldwide and competitive prices, it’s worth checking out Wordery! Are you ready to check out the top 20 graphic novels for February? I sure am! They also do a nifty book of the week section and sell some uber cool stationary.  Should I mention the entire section dedicated to Harry Potter?

ANGUS & ROBERTSON BOOKWORLD

Who’s ready to support an Australian company? Free shipping on orders over $60AUD too! Heading back to uni? No problems, let A&R sort you out! Have a squizz at the best book of 2017 or Australian fiction from 2017!

BOOKTOPIA

Another Australian company to support and a glorious flat rate shipping of $6.95AUD per order! Save 25% on their top 100 books or check out their 14th birthday clearance sale! Booktopia also does gift cards! So get in on that!

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The Wicked + The Divine
by Gillen, McKelvie, Wilson & Cowles

Genre: Fantasy, Graphic Novel
Author: Gillen, McKelive, Wilson & Cowles
Published: November 2014
Publisher: Image Comics
Pages: 144

Will I continue the series? YES

I was on a graphic novel binge in January and this was one of the first I picked up. It was really good! I loved the artwork and how different the story was. I’m itching to continue on with it.

Review to come

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 The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue
by Mackenzi Lee

Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, LGBT+
Author: Mackenzi Lee
Narrator: Christian Coulson
Aubiobook Published: June 2017
Audiobook Publisher: Audible
Audiobook Length: 10 hours 47 minutes

Holy mackerel did I enjoy this. The audiobook was absolutely fabulous and the story was just to die for. I’m so glad I jumped on the hype band wagon for this one – SO worth it.

Review to come

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 The One
by Kiera Cass

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia
Author: Kiera Cass
Published: May 2014
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 323 {paperback}

This honestly wasn’t quite as good as I was hoping. I still enjoyed reading it and gobbled up the nonsense but I was just a titch disappointed. I have the next book in the series but I’m not left overwhelmingly motivated to pick it up.

Review to come

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 Descender
by Lemire, Nguyen & Wands

Genre: Sci-Fi, Graphic Novel
Author: Lemire, Nguyen & Wands
Published: March 2015
Publisher: Image Comics
Pages: 160 {paperback}

Will I continue the series? YES

This was adorable. A little sentient robot against the world, what more could you ask for? This had a cute but serious storyline and some really nice artwork in it. Would love to see more people picking this one up!

Review to come

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 The Reptile Room
by Lemony Snicket

Genre: Children’s Fiction, Fantasy
Author: Lemony Snicket
Published: August 1999
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 190 {hardback}

Will I continue the series? YES

Once again this was a book that didn’t quite deliver how I thought it would. I definitely enjoyed the first book more – this one seemed to just be lacking in comparison to it. I’ll continue on with the series nonetheless but let’s cross fingers that it only gets better from here on in!

Review to come

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 The New Ghost
by Robert Hunter

Genre: Fantasy, Graphic Novel
Author: Robert Hunter
Published: January 2011
Publisher: Nobrow Press
Pages: 24 {pages} 

This was a very short little graphic novel (I didn’t look at the page count when I bought it). It was also somewhat highly confusing but I think I liked it. I would love to have read a more expanded version of this but heigh ho!

My review

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The Great Alone
by Kristin Hannah

Genre: Historical Fiction
Author: Kristin Hannah
Published: January 2018
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Pages: 440 {paperback}

I LOVED THIS. I WILL NEVER NOT LOVE A KRISTIN HANNAH BOOK. OHHH THE FEELS. Everyone needs to jump in on this one and ride its rollercoaster. So much yes, so much angst, sooo real. No-one writes characters like Hannah does.

My review

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The Girl Who Drank the Moon
by Kelly Barnhill

Genre: Children’s Fiction, Fantasy
Author: Kelly Barnhill
Published: August 2016
Publisher: Piccadilly Press
Pages: 400 {paperback}

I finally finished this damn book. This was a small let down for me. Whilst the story was really enjoyable on the surface level, it reads very young. So I struggled to keep my attention on it whilst reading and came close to putting it down a couple of times. Even if there was a dragon in it – I KNOW.

Review to come

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 Saga, Vol. 2
by Vaughan & Staples

Genre: Sci-Fi, Graphic Novel
Author: Vaughan & Staples
Published: June 2013
Publisher: Image Comics
Pages: 144 {paperback}

Will I continue the series? YES

I then polished off the month with good ol’ Saga. What’s not to love about this graphic novel series?! Amazing artwork, fantastic narration of the story (seriously, SO GOOD) and a wonderful story full stop. So keen for the next volume.

Review to come

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• I did my 2017 yearly wrap-up!
• I reviewed some books:
  • The One by Kiera Cass
  • The New Ghost by Robert Hunter
• I did my December 2017 wrap-up!
• I did my December book haul!
• I made my January TBR!
• I announcement the inaugural round of the Jumpstart January Read-a-thon!

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• I did my December book haul!
• I announced my own, new read-a-thon: Jumpstart January!
• I did my wrap-up for the Jumpstart January Read-a-thon!
• I vlogged the Jumpstart January Read-a-thon:
  • Day One
  • Day Two & Three
  • Day Four
  • Day Five
  • Day Six & Seven
• I did my January TBR!

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Looking for a new and exciting book club to join? Come have some fun with Casey and I over at the Squabbing Dragons! We’re a Goodreads book club and we focus on reading Sci-Fi/Fantasy books that are underrated! This February, starting on the 17th, we’ll be reading Frostblood by Elly Blake – so quick! Go grab a copy

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Genres Read:

Pages Read:

Total: 2,338

Progress Towards Goodreads Challenge:

9%, or, 9/100 books

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I’m still flabbergasted at how much reading I got done in January. This has been my best reading month in foreverrr! So I’m well pleased with myself. Through January I worked and plodded through life. At the start of the month I went to the tennis event, the Hopman Cup and watched Federer play which was, of course, fabulous.

My sister got engaged in January which was VERY EXCITING!! So I have a bunch to look forward to between her coming back to Perth for the engagement party and wedding planning ahead. Woohoo!

I also had a really lovely Australia day. If you’re not Australian, this is an annual celebration that takes place on the 26th January and is our official national day! I spent the day wandering through various events with Jayden before settling down with an epic view for the fireworks spectacular in the evening.

I also stopped to watch the Super Blood blah blah blah Moon thing. I went out with some friends to camp down and watch the eclipse happen and oh my it was cool. Although the moon definitely looked like a gigantic malteser to me.

Movies I Watched:

Atlantis: The Lost Empire, 2001: 7/10 stars

Obviously a re-watch, this was just fantastic as it always is. I love this Disney – re-watching it made me realise just how dark it is though!

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, 2016: 6/10 stars

This was such a gamble to watch. I don’t do horror – or really anything with a scare factor – but my curiosity as to how they’d thrown zombies into this one overcame me. Maybe I watched it through slitted fingers, maybe I freaked out a little but dang was it worth it just to see Lizzie kick some ass and Matt Smith as Mr. Collins.

TV Series I Watched:

Victoria, 2016: series one

I think I managed to squeeze in a grand total of one more episode of this one. But hey, one is better than none! I’m still really really enjoying this one and wish I would put aside more time to watch it!

Fawlty Towers, 1975: series one

Jayden and I are still very slowly making our way through Fawlty Towers. We only watched one or two episodes in January so evidently I need to be cracking the whip to watch some more!

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Tick! January done!

 

What was your favourite book that you read in January? 

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~~ Kirstie ~~

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