Stacking the Shelves - March 28, 2015

I've meant to post my STS post. Really I have. I always end up doing it on Sunday and by the time I get everything else done I need to do, I've been too tired to write let alone think. And so, my STS list would sit idle, neglected. I would add to it, but never allow it to fulfill its purpose, to share my acquisitions since the last time I posted the meme.

I did say I have been a lot more conservative about book buying of late. And so I have. Many of the books I picked up were almost a steal the prices were so low. Just keep that in mind.

Also just to remind you all out there, Amazon has a Big Deal Sale currently running through tomorrow. So, check it out while you have the chance.  And Entangled Publishing has a $.99 Kindle sale on at the moment.

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews.


Books Purchased:
Rise of the Arcane Fire (The Secret Order) by Kristin Bailey

Rhymes with Cupid by Anna Humphrey – Bargain Book

Four: A Divergent Collection by Veronica Roth - After reading Divergent, I had to get this one.  I am intrigued by the snippets of his back story told in Divergent.

Kindle Books Purchased:
The Fine Art of Pretending by Rachel Harris – Kindle Daily Deal

The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler – Kindle The Big Deal Sale

Shades of Milk and Honey (Glamourist Histories Book 1) by Mary Robinette Kowal – Kindle The Big Deal Sale

Queen Mab by Kate Danley – Free eBook

Snow White and Rose Red: The Curse of the Huntsman (Fairy Tales Retold Book 1) by Lilly Fang – Free eBook

Unbroken (Shattered Promises, 2.5) by Jessica Sorensen – Free eBook

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige – Publisher reduced to $1.99

Embrace (The Embrace Series) by Cherie Colyer – Entangled Publishing Kindle marked down to $.99

The Greedy Bastard Diary: Around the States in 80 Days by Eric Idle – Marked down to $.99

The Summer of Jake (Entangled Embrace) by Rachel Bailey - Entangled Publishing Kindle marked down to $.99

Bones and Heart: A Night and Nothing Short Tale (Night and Nothing Novels) by Katherine Harbour – Novella priced at $1.99

Ask Me by Kimberly Pauley – Publisher mark down to $1.99

A Breath of Frost (The Lovegrove Legacy Book 1) by Alyxandra Harvey – Kindle Daily Deal

Starry Nights by Daisy Whitney – Kindle Daily Deal

Dragonfield: and Other Stories by Jane Yolen, Patricia A. McKillip – Priced at $1.99

A Sicilian Romance by Ann Radcliffe – Free eBook

Seduction's Kiss (The Allure Chronicles) by Alyssa Rose Ivy – Free eBook

Prank Wars by Stephanie Fowers – Priced at $2.99

To Buy or Not to Buy: Past Perfect by Leila Sales

Still working on my samples. I actually took some drastic measures. Having still far too many samples on my iPad. I started deleting some I decided I was not interested enough in. Once that was done, and I deleted over 30 samples if not more, I went to my Amazon Kindle wishlist and started deleting the titles there as well. It didn't help all that much. There are still over 600 titles on my Kindle wishlist, most of them sequels or new releases not out yet.

So the clean-up efforts continue, perhaps in vain, but they continue none the less.

Here is another sample read, Past Perfect by Leila Sales.

Past Perfect by Leila Sales
Book Description (From Amazon):
Publication Date: October 4, 2011
A sweet and clever novel about the woes of (boy) history repeating itself, from the author of Mostly Good Girls.

All Chelsea wants to do this summer is hang out with her best friend, hone her talents as an ice cream connoisseur, and finally get over Ezra, the boy who broke her heart. But when Chelsea shows up for her summer job at Essex Historical Colonial Village (yes, really), it turns out Ezra’s working there too. Which makes moving on and forgetting Ezra a lot more complicated…even when Chelsea starts falling for someone new.

Maybe Chelsea should have known better than to think that a historical reenactment village could help her escape her past. But with Ezra all too present, and her new crush seeming all too off-limits, all Chelsea knows is that she’s got a lot to figure out about love. Because those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it….

My First Impression:
Colonial Essex Village – a historical reenactment village.

It draws the history nerds and drama kids to it for summer employment, but Chelsea works there because her dad is the village silversmith.

Chelsea had planned to finally get a job at the mall for the summer, but her friend Fiona has other ideas. Fiona is a drama kid. She is looking forward to the acting experience as well as working with cute boys all summer, like Nat, the crush she is in denial over.

Chelsea had been through a recent rough break up with her boyfriend Ezra, so she doesn't really care about spending the summer working with cute boys, not that she believes there are any at Essex Village.

But the summer doesn't always turn out as planned.

I like the idea of the historical village and I think it's a good idea for a story, but to be perfectly honest?  I didn't really like what I had read about her ex-boyfriend and if he was going to be back in the picture, I just didn't care.  Maybe it's the name...Ezra...no.  It does not roll off the tongue.  It sounds more like a cold that won't go away rather than music to my ears.

Decision?

Not to buy

Swoon Thursday: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Well, I haven't posted a Swoon in a very long time. It feels good to get back in the game. There were a lot of passages I really loved in Divergent. In the end, it was a no-brainer. SO this is what I'm swooning about.

Swoon Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by YA Bound @ http://yabound.blogspot.com.

“I have something to tell you,” he says.

I run my fingers along the tendons in his hand and look back at him.

“I might be in love with you.” He smiles a little. “I’m waiting until I’m sure to tell you, though.”

“That’s sensible of you,” I say, smiling too. “We should find some paper so you can make a list or a chart or something.”

I feel his laughter against my side, his nose sliding along my jaw, his lips pressing behind my ear.

“Maybe I’m already sure,” he says, “and I just don’t want to frighten you.”

I laugh a little. “Then you should know better.”

“Fine,’ he says. “Then I love you.”

Le sigh!

Book Review: Tiger's Destiny by Colleen Houck

Well, I finally bit the bullet. I know there is a "Clean Up your TBR Pile" challenge going on for the month of March. Not being able to commit to the challenge, afraid of coming up short, I decided that I would only read books I have had on my pile. So even if I just received an older book, I would still not read it this month. So far, I have read one book and have been carrying around a stack of books with me from room to room trying to decide which one to read next. As this has been a really rough week work wise, I have not actually managed to read anything. Still...

We’re not here to talk about my woeful inadequacies. We are here to talk books. Well, at least I am. So, biting the bullet, I selected a book I have held onto for 2 ½ years. I have noticed a trend with myself. I can be all gung ho about a series, ripping through book after book, but when it gets down to the final volume, I stop short. I don’t know whether it is a fear of saying goodbye, knowing there is no more where that came from, fear of the series not ending as I imagine. It could be any or all of these things or some other reason unknown to me. I do have the same kind of issue with gift cards, by the way. I hate to use them because then I won’t have them anymore. And I might just want one in an emergency.

I've got issues.

So, I finally decided it was time to read Tiger’s Destiny by Colleen Houck. I had tried to start it a couple of times previously, but I guess the timing wasn't right as I never got more than a chapter into the book. The final book starts in a less than an ideal situation that made me profoundly unhappy, so I chose to deal with it as best I could, by just turning away. It was unfortunate then, but I think now I was finally in a place where I could lend my full attention to the story and allow it to take me where it wanted me to go.

Oh yes, I railed. I was in a book-flinging mood for most of the story. I despaired of ever getting to my desired outcome for all the characters, my friends and family, for that’s what they had become after four books. I believe in just desserts. I also believe that those that are unworthy do not always receive their comeuppance. Sometimes the bad guys win and the good guys get the shaft. I didn't want to see that happen to the characters I had come to love so much.

The entire series was fraught with so much tension. So much misery befell our friends and sometimes it was hard to read on. I believed, though. No matter what our heroes encountered, of what fate had destined for them, no matter the hardship or heartbreak, and there was a lot, I never stopped believing that good would triumph in the end and everyone, both good and bad, would get what they deserved.

I will not tell you the outcome. Spoilers! And I will not give a scene by scene recitation. What I will tell you is why I am so passionate about this series.  Warning: This is not my normal format for a review!!

First, I loved the world the author created. The majority of the story takes place in India now, but there are a lot of flashback sequences to fill in the back story on our Tiger princes and how they came to be cursed. It was a rich and vibrant canvas woven, every weft and weave clearly illuminated in the minutest detail. It is a beautiful world, one that I have enjoyed being in every minute of the journey.

Second, I loved the characters. They were open and honest to the reader. I felt I could understand them, I could feel their full range of emotions. I became absorbed in their lives. I took joy in their triumphs and despaired in their setbacks and I could feel their pain.  I found I was talking to them, well, I say talking, I really mean yelling. Well, when I say characters, I mean only one. Specifically, Kelsey. She made me so angry most of the time, I found that I was yelling at her, for her stupidity, her stubbornness, her blindness, any number of things. I was so invested in their lives that I found it hard to step back.

The story itself was also so well constructed. There were ups and downs, victories and setbacks, love and hatred. It’s a mystery and a quest. How did the princes become cursed and how could the curse be broken? And how to succeed when the embodiment of all that is unholy is hot on your tail? Literally. I found I couldn't put it down. I needed to know what was going to happen next. And once things started happening that were not according to my desires, I had to keep reading to see if the book would get back on track, if I could somehow affect the series unfolding on the page by the passion and strength of my will.

The emotions the story drew forth were very real and palpable. I felt angry at the misfortune beset upon our heroes and the acts of evil perpetrated upon them by the villain of the story. My heart raced at the danger my friends faced and I felt elated when they triumphed. I felt their heartbreak from love gone wrong. I was truly invested in their story and the outcome of their quest.

The story was so wonderfully written from beginning to end and I knew I would be despondent upon finishing the tale. As it turns out, after I started reading this final chapter, I saw that Ms. Houck is going to be adding another chapter to the story, Tiger’s Dream. And I cannot wait for that one to come out!

Tiger's Destiny (Book 4 in the Tiger's Curse Series) Hardcover – September 4, 2012
Book Description (From Amazon):
With three of the goddess Durga's quests behind them, only one prophecy now stands in the way of Kelsey, Ren, and Kishan breaking the tiger's curse. But the trio's greatest challenge awaits them: A life-endangering pursuit in search of Durga's final gift, the Rope of Fire, on the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal.

It's a race against time--and the evil sorcerer Lokesh--in this eagerly anticipated fourth volume in the bestselling Tiger's Curse series, which pits good against evil, tests the bonds of love and loyalty, and finally reveals the tigers' true destinies once and for all.

A smart phone tag code on the back cover links readers to the series website.

To Buy or Not to Buy: Geek Girl by Holly Smale

I feel like I will forever be in a state of cleaning up and organizing. Will I ever be able to sit back and say, "That's it! I have cleaned up all my wishlists!"?

No, me neither.

Today's quick impression is Geek Girl by Holly Smale

Geek Girl by Holly Smale

Book Description (From Amazon):
Publication Date: January 27, 2015

Geek + runway = a runaway UK hit! Geek Girl is the first book in a hilarious, internationally bestselling series that's perfect for fans of Louise Rennison and The Princess Diaries.

Harriet Manners is a geek. She always has been, and she thought she always would be—but when she's discovered by a modeling agent, she leaps at the chance to reinvent herself. There's only one problem: Harriet is the definition of awkward. Can she transform from geek to chic?

My First Impression:
This is actually an older book that is being re-released. As I could only order it used, I was pleasantly surprised to find it was being re-released and with a Kindle edition.

I just love the title. It’s the story of my life, but I didn't want to buy it without checking it out first.

Release Date: 01/27/15

I came home from work ready to read my sample. I had downloaded it first thing that morning before I went to work.

Oh yeah. I was serious, not playing around.

When it was finally reading time, I couldn't wait to give it a spin.

Cover page and Dedication – Check

Table of Contents, page 1 – Check

Table of contents, pages 2 and 3 – Check

And then…nothing.


Decision?

I have absolutely no idea.  Best to either look for it in the store, download a sample of another book in the series and hope that there is actual book text or bite the bullet, fly blind and buy the book anyway.  What should I do?

Stacking the Shelves - March 8, 2015

Well, this hasn't happened in quite some time. I actually behaved myself for a change. I have taken my friend Terri's (Alexia's Books and Such) advice to try to read off my TBR pile. I carted around about 5 or 6 books for three days from room to room. I didn't know where I actually wanted to read, but I finally settled on the first one. I am now about halfway through Tiger's Destiny by Colleen Houck and have wanted to throw it against the wall several times. It is like when you go to the movies and people are screaming at the characters on the screen. Yeah, like that. I've been calling Kelsey all kinds of names. But that's not why we're here.

My acquisitions were pre-orders I placed a while ago. Only one book in the mix, so, I am trying hard not to buy. I even had a coupon for B&N this weekend and didn't even go to the store to use it.

Anyway, here are my acquisitions...

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Books Purchased:
A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas - This one was on the HarperCollins Spin and Win game at the New York Comic Con. I wanted this one almost as badly as I wanted The Red Queen. Sadly, I did not win it, so I pre-ordered it toot sweet. That's what happens when I am denied something at BEA or NYCC, I have to order it immediately and sometimes end up waiting a long time to get the book.


Blu Ray Purchased:
Outlander Season One Part One - This was a bit expensive, but slap a Collector's Edition and I am hooked and reeled in. I saw a lot of comments where people were going to wait until the full season was released, but if I waited, I'd lose the opportunity. The Blu Ray has already increased in price by at least $15.00.

Big Hero Six - Missed it in the theater, so I had to get the Blu Ray. Looks fun, but I haven't watched it yet.

Friday Night is Movie Night: Not Another Happy Ending

I was browsing through Netflix for new releases and found a movie that sounded interesting. It starred Karen Gillan of Doctor Who fame and it was about books, so I figured what the heck and queued it up.

Product Description (From Amazon):
When a struggling publisher discovers his only successful author is blocked, he knows he has to unblock her or he's finished. She is become too happy with her new found success and she cannot write when she is happy. The only trouble is, the worse he makes her feel, the more he realizes he is in love with her.


My Thoughts:
Karen Gillan plays Jane, the author. The movie opens with her receiving another rejection letter from a publisher for her novel, The Anguish of My Father. She has a Wall of Rejection where she posts all the rejection letters she receives. We next see her donning pants, vest, bowler hat (all in muted earth tones) and a red umbrella; very Annie Hall meets Charlie Chaplin. She starts walking we know not where to until she ends up at a Publishers office, which may or may not have also been his apartment, answered at the door by a guy in his underpants who is the assistant and perhaps roommate. This part of the story was a bit ambiguous. She overhears a conversation by the publisher, Tom, which is in French with a lot of yelling and what I can only assume is cursing.

When he is off his call, he takes her into his office, tells her he sees potential in her book, but that is requires a lot of rewriting and a title change. Then he turns around and tells her he'll give her a two book contract deal. The stage is set.

With his assistance, the rewrites are complete and she shows up at the office (maybe apartment) to see the finished copy of her book. However, when she pulls out a book from one of the boxes, she sees the title is Happy Ending and not The Anguish of My Father. She is livid, starts screaming at him, says some fairly harsh things, promises to get on the second book only so she can deliver on her contract and she will never have to see him again.

She goes on the receive accolades, awards and the affection of the reading populace of Scotland. She also captures the attention of another author, Willy, and they begin a romantic relationship. He is a very successful writer, but also self-absorbed. Their relationship definitely seems a bit one sided, not emotionally, but more that she does all the work and he reaps all the benefits and he seems to be oblivious to anything but himself.

Jane is trying to finish her book for Tom so she can sign to a new publisher, a bigger more successful publisher. She is down to her last chapter and the unthinkable happens, she gets writer's block. She tries to write, but all she can hear is the tap tap tapping of the keys on Willy's traditional typewriter. She starts baking, which she does when she is blocked and then she goes for walks, doing anything she can to avoid the fact that she is unable to write.

This concerns Tom. For one, her book is past due. For another, his publishing company is failing and he needs her finished book, since it will be another bestseller, to save his company. So he devises a plan. Most people are creative when they are miserable. The reason her first book was so powerful was that it is semi-autobiographical (Okay, it is totally based on her life although she won't admit it.)and she had a really rough childhood dealing with abandonment issues from her father. He figures she is not able to write because she is happy, so he decides to sabotage her life so she will become miserable again and she can finish her book.

Does his plan succeed? Tut tut. Spoilers!

It was a diverting enough movie, having some very humorous moments. I don't see it receiving any awards, but it was enjoyable enough. It's quirky, but I will be honest, has received some mixed reviews on Amazon. However, as I don't personally see a lot of movies involving authors and book writing as a theme, I did like it overall. I would definitely suggest queuing it up on Netflix, though, and not paying the money for it.

To Buy or Not to Buy: Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton

My TBR pile is just getting too out of hand. While I will still purchase very reasonable priced eBooks, a physical copy book really needs to Wow! me in order for me to consider buying it. So, I download the sample and the author has a very short window to drag me in and catch me up in the story. Since I've bought more than my share of books prematurely, whether by cover alone, word of mouth or some other source, I wanted to share my first impressions of the sample I read so that I may assist others in choosing for themselves whether To But or Not to Buy.

Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton
Book Description  (From Amazon):
Publication Date: June 1, 2013 | Age Level: 12 and up

I can’t feel sadness, anger, or fear. I can’t feel anything. I've grown talented at pretending.

Elizabeth Caldwell doesn't feel emotions . . . she sees them in human form. Longing hovers around the shy, adoring boy at school. Courage materializes beside her dying friend. Fury and Resentment visit her abusive home. They've all given up on Elizabeth because she doesn't succumb to their touch. All, that is, except beautiful Fear, who sometimes torments her and other times plays her compassionate savior. He’s obsessed with finding the answer to one question: What happened to Elizabeth to make her this way?

They both sense that the key to Elizabeth’s condition is somehow connected to the paintings of her dreams, which show visions of death and grief that raise more questions than answers. But as a shadowy menace begins to stalk her, Elizabeth’s very survival depends on discovering the truth about herself. When it matters most, she may not be able to rely on Fear to save her.

My First Impression:
First sentence: Fear is coming.

A chilling, yet gripping opening.

We find our main character, Elizabeth, being stalked by the incarnation of fear.

He stalks her because he wants to taste her fear, but she is devoid of all emotion, empty inside and he can’t touch her. But he won’t give up. He’ll keep trying, he’ll keep appearing to her and hope that something will change.

She was not always like this and now must pretend that she is a normal teenager. Although, she has to constantly remind herself how a normal teenager would act. She is not normal, though. She only has one friend that is sick and dying. She sits alone at school and talks to no one. When her friend Maggie shows up to school, she doesn’t even last a half hour before she collapses and is taken away by an ambulance, but Elizabeth doesn’t feel anything, only reacts how she thinks a concerned friend should act. She endures the taunts of her fellow classmates. After all, she feels nothing, but on the way home from school, she senses a presence, one that is new to her.

See, while most people are ignorant of any other world but ours, Elizabeth knows and she can see them. Fear, envy, greed, all emotions as well as light, wind, the seasons, they are all incarnate beings that are both part and apart from our world.

Decision?

To Buy

Trailer Reveal: Prodigal and Riven by Tyler H. Jolley and Sherry D. Ficklin

Welcome (back) to the TIME WAR...

Books 2 & 3 of the best selling Lost Imperials series

Releasing 5/5/15

from Clean Teen Publishing

Individual digital editions will be available everywhere e-books are sold.

Click on the cover to read more!

Exciting news! Prodigal and Riven will be available in 2 special combined print editions!

Barnes & Noble and other retailers will feature a standard combined print edition:

Stacking the Shelves - March 2, 2015

March the 1st is a big day. Well, in actuality, the first of every month is a big deal and I wait impatiently every month for 27 - 30 days for the first to arrive.

The first of the month used to herald Calendar Day. Calendar day was always such a big deal because I work in a Dilbert world. I have, or had, a cubicle that was U shaped, had high enough walls so I couldn't see my neighbors and it was all grey. So dreary. And as I said before, I am a visual person. I need color and fin things around me. So, I brought in toys, knick-knacks, magnets and calendars. I think I used to have about five calendars up every year. However, we were going to be moving to a new shiny permanent space, but had to temporarily move to another location.

The brand new shiny spaces are all white, grey, chrome and glass with no walls. I can see all my neighbors and they can see me. We can all see what everyone is doing or not doing, who they're talking to, how long they take breaks, etc. It looks like a freaking newsroom or some such. You look and it is a sea of flat desks and heads all the way across the floor to the windows.

Since we were moving to a temporary spot for a few months, we were told to take all our personal belongings home since we could not have them at our desks when we got to the permanent space. The move was in January and this year, for the first time in at least 30 years, I did not buy a calendar since I would have no place in the new location to put it.

So, the first of the month is no longer calendar day. I was always so full of anticipation to see what the new pictures would be. I was not a cheater and would never look ahead at the months unless they were pictured on the back.

The first of the month almost lost meaning, but now, it is a book day. I haven't named it yet, but I should. I wait anxiously every month to see what the new Kindle deals will be.

There is the Kindle First where four forthcoming books are highlighted and you can purchase one for cheap before it is published the next month.
There is the Kindle Daily Deal, which is daily, but it just adds to the excitement of the First of the Month.
And then there are the Kindle Monthly Deals. I get really excited for the monthly deals because sometimes I can find good books.
Occasionally, there is also the Kindle Big Deal which is a periodic sale that sometimes coincides with the First of the Month, but not for March this year.

Anyway, as soon as I could stop my head from spinning, I grabbed my iPad to check out the new deals. I shouldn't have bothered this month. Such a let down when I wait all month for the first and there is nothing good I want. Now I have to wait 30 more days for the next Big Book Day.

So I did not add to my book stacks the First, but here is what I've picked up in the past two weeks.

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews.


Books Purchased:
Hung Up by Kristen Tracy – Bought used

Divergent Collector’s Edition by Veronica Roth


(Stick a label that says Special Edition, Collector's Edition, or Limited Time Only and I am done. I just can't resist these labels. I must have it before it is gone!)

Insurgent Collector’s Edition by Veronica Roth

(The Collectors editions come with posters and a bunch of exclusive content.  I am such a sucker.)





Kindle Books Purchased:
Written In Red: A Novel of the Others by Anne Bishop – Kindle Daily Deal

Lovecraft's Monsters by Neil Gaiman, Ellen Datlow - Kindle Daily Deal

Waistcoats & Weaponry (Finishing School Series Book 3) by Gail Carriger - Kindle Daily Deal

Etiquette & Espionage (Finishing School Series Book 1) by Gail Carriger - Kindle Daily Deal

Curtsies & Conspiracies (Finishing School Series Book 2) by Gail Carriger - Kindle Daily Deal

Stay with Me: A Novel (Wait for You Book 3) by J. Lynn - Dropped down to $1.99

Death Sworn (Death Sworn series Book 1) by Leah Cypess - Kindle Daily Deal

Season of Storms by Susanna Kearsley - Kindle Daily Deal

Midnight in Venice by Meadow Taylor – Dropped down to $1.99

The DUFF: (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) by Kody Keplinger – Currently $2.99

Famous in Love by Rebecca Serle – Currently priced at $2.99

Soul Screamers Volume One: My Soul to Lose\My Soul to Take\My Soul to Save: 1 by Rachel Vincent – First Omnibus currently priced at $3.99

Manga Purchased:
Alice in the Country of Joker: Circus and Liar’s Game 7

Stacking the Books - A Cautionary Tale

It just figures. I finally have a day where I can do all manner of books things, whatever I want to do and I end up spending the day in bed. Here's what happened.

I woke up yesterday with a mission, just sprung out of bed with a project all planned out. I had purchased some eBook versions of some physical copies I own on Friday. Upon waking Yesterday, the first thought in my head was that I needed to get the physical copies out of my TBR piles.(Yes, I have more than one.) So, I took the pile of at least 50 Tshirts of my book stacks and the pile of pajamas. I also removed most of the books off my nightstand. Then hubby said, "Let's go get some pancakes."

Original Pancake House has THE best pancakes I have every eaten, so I will never say no to pancakes. We came home, it was still early as we made it to the OPH for lunchtime, and I was still feeling energetic.

I have this thing, as I'm sure most people do, but when I get stressed with things pressing down hard on my shoulders, I find it best to have a lie down and play Minion Rush. I've been having a lie down for about two months. But I digress.

Anyway, yes, came home, I looked about the place and decided it was time to get the rest of the Christmas decorations boxed up. (Don't judge.) My house has 9 rooms counting the bath and a half. Out of all those rooms, only four have an overhead light; the two bathrooms, the kitchen and the dining room. Especially in the winter, it is hard to do any major projects or cleaning as it is already dim by the time I get home from work. I have to leave that kind of stuff to the weekends. Unfortunately, the weekends have been full of errands and other such stuff, so I've been working on the take-down of Christmas slowly.

Yesterday, I had had enough. I couldn't go into March with Christmas still up, so I worked all afternoon and finally got everything boxed up.

I love garland. I have strands of garland for every holiday. There was a mound of holly, poinsettias and other winter foliage that I decided to take upstairs into the attic. This was probably around 8pm, maybe a little earlier. Can't recall. I went up into the attic and found that in the free space where I need to put the Christmas stuff, hubby had moved a stack of his boxes, so I had to drape them elsewhere for the time being. The only spot I could find was where the spring garland was laying out, so I decided to take it downstairs. I would put it up later during the day.

Now, you are probably wondering where I am going with all this. Please forebear.

As I was coming down the stairs from the attic (It's a walk-in attic.), I slipped on about the second stair. My right foot kept sliding down about three steps while my left foot stayed behind and bent behind me getting caught up on the railing. My head, unfortunately, slammed into the wall, made worse because I was wearing my glasses on top of my head. It took a few to be able to get up, but let me rest assure, I suffered no serious harm.

I was feeling the impact, though, and decided I was done with the steps for the night. However, I could not lay down because the foot of the bed was covered in flattened out Tshirts and my side of the bed was covered in books. Before I could have a lie down, I had to put everything back in order.

So, I reclined on the floor and went through my stacks of books. There are four rows of books, four stacks deep and they are piled as high as the window frame. Not only did I want to move the books I now have on Kindle, I also browsed and flipped through some of my ARCs and decided to move some to the get rid of pile. These were books I knew I was never going to get around to reading.

I am trying to clean up not only my wishlists, but also my TBR pile. I probably took about 30 books off the piles I am never going to read and about another 15 I know have in eBook format.

Finally I was able to clear off the bed so I could lay down. I didn't sleep well. I have bruises on both sides of my hips, the right much worse than the left and somewhere in the middle of the night I awoke with a skull splitting headache, which has persisted all day.

I slept on and off until about noon, took some migraine Excedrin and the headache went from skull splitting, to throbbing and finally to a dull ache. Other side effects? Vertigo when I move my head too quickly and a queasy stomach for much of the day. As it turns out, me + slippers + stairs = disaster.

If I hadn't started the day motivated to actually accomplish things starting with the books, I never would have boxed up Christmas or taken the garland into the attic or pulled down the spring garland.

So, the moral of this story is: Don't try to organize your book stacks or you will get concussed.