I saw this challenge on a fellow blogger’s site and YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE A BANDWAGON WITH NUMBERED LISTS.

(Also, there’s a post I’ve been avoiding and this sounded more fun.)

The gist: complete the checklist provided below by drafting and/or publishing one book-themed post a day.

Aman’s original list included a challenge I am NOT INTO, so I came up with a substitution. YES, IT’S ABOUT SHIPPING.

Today’s challenge involves pictures.

I decided to photograph three books: one I just read, one I’m currently reading, and one I plan to reread.

Before I do that, here’s the TBR pile I have going from the Seattle Public Library:

The sad part: THIS IS ME SHOWING RESTRAINT.

I also dismantled a bookshelf. Now my floor is covered in new and unread books, borrowed books, tentative favorites, and old friends:

I won’t even get into the Currently Reading pile next to my bed.

JUST READ: Dear Martin by Nic Stone

GUESS WHO CRIED AT WORK?

I just received a copy of The Hate U Give and, due to mixed reviews, I’ve been avoiding it.

But Dear Martin has been on my list for a while, so when the library HAD A COPY just SITTING ON THE SHELF, I snatched it up.

No. Regrets.

Nic Stone uses an interesting mix of dialogue, news reports, and letters to tell the story of high schooler Justyce McAllister as he navigates racial profiling and microaggressions in his hometown of Atlanta.

Stone handles the topic well, balancing out possible “preachiness” with genuine emotional connection. Her avoidance of straw-men and one-note villains helps emphasize the complexity of race relations.

I read this at work and screamed. I was not okay.

Then I had to be cool and not cry at the end.

My heart is broken and I hate everything.

CURRENTLY READING: The People We Hate at the Wedding by Grant Ginder

In essence, two petty siblings complain about their perfect half-sister’s expensive upcoming wedding whilst their own lives fall apart.

I’m really enjoying it so far. I’m not much for bestsellers or realistic fiction normally, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by Ginder’s writing. And of course I was tempted by YET ANOTHER BLUE PARTY-THEMED BOOK COVER. What is WRONG with me?

PLAN TO REREAD: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

I lent a big stack of my favorite books to a friend a while ago and I JUST GOT THEM BACK!!! I AM EXCITE!!!

I’ve been thinking about this book a lot. I don’t know what about it I find so comforting, but reading it feels like coming home. This book replaced Harry Potter as my favorite YA fantasy, which is funny because it’s based on Harry Potter.

Just LOOKING at it makes me happy. Is this NOT the most perfect cover in existence?

I have zillions of books in my TBR pile and a trillion more coming in from the library, and I think I committed myself to 19 books for Feminism Month? All that to say I don’t know when I’ll get a chance to reread this, but I am LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

This is only tangentially related: Should I give Fangirl another chance? I didn’t like it, but so many other people did. I’m always jealous when someone has a reading experience that I don’t share. Maybe I’ll save that for next month.