Weekend Wrap-up is where I share my new books, as well as what happened here at (un)Conventional Bookviews and elsewhere in the blogoshpere. I’m linking up with the usual suspects, AKA Team Tynga’s Reviews and Caffeinated Reviewer.
STS #222
Stacking The Shelves, hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and Reading Reality is all about the latest additions to my library – virtual or actual, with books that are bought, borrowed, won or ARCs I will (probably) be reading soon. Without further ado, here’s what I added to my bloated shelves this past week:
Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, Harlequin, St. Martin’s Paperbacks, and NetGalley!
The Sunday Post #172 – Weekend Wrap-up
Kim @ The Caffeinated Reviewer, is our hostess with the mostest for the weekly Sunday Post where I’m wrapping things up. It is the perfect opportunity to share what happened here on my own blog, as well as some of the happenings elsewhere in the Blogosphere.
This was another busy week, but it was somehow better than the first weeks of January, as we had sun for two days! That yellow shining thing in the sky definitely makes things easier 😉 And how is January almost over already? Next week we start February, and I have no idea where all that time has passed.
I had several meetings about different classes last week, as some of my students are not on track for passing their year after the first semester. And with the dean, we tried to come up with motivation for them.
I did a good deed for the library at the school where I teach this past week. The English books selection is dismal. And since I’ve been to many book conventions, and I love reading YA, I thought I’d share one of my favorite series with all students. So I gifted the library with the whole Raven Boys series by Maggie Stiefvater.
This weekend, I’ll try to shuffle my program around for two of my classes – they are what we call ‘preparation classes’ as the students in those classes didn’t actually graduate from middle school. And so, they have an extra year to prepare for high school. Of course, it’s not very easy for those to work hard and be motivated when there is failure in their recent past. But I still have a program to teach – and we’re halfway through the year, but only about 1/3 through the program. My meeting with some other teachers this past Friday might help me with how to motivate students to take charte. I will keep you posted.
This Week’s Puppies in Action:
And hasn’t Hercules gotten big? He’s much bigger than Freddy now. And Saturday, January 27th is Freddy’s 2nd birthday! *throws confetti*
- [25 Jan] Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts #144 – The Charmer
- [27 Jan] Weekend Wrap-up #222 – How did the first month of 2018 go so fast?
- [28 Jan] The Mystery Blogger Award
- [22 Jan] The Charmer by Avery Flynn ★★★★
- [23 Jan] Final Siege by Scarlett Cole ★★★★★
- [24 Jan] Hell's Revenge by Eve Langlais ★★★★
- [29 Jan] Books My School Library Should Have
- [1 Feb] Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts #145
- [3 Feb] Weekend Wrap-up #223 – Clear Sky – Finally!
Aimee @ Aimee Always has a 1000 Followers Giveaway on her blog – don’t miss out!
Fanna @ Fannality discusses the importance of Bloggers as A Publicity Team that Should Be Respected.
Evelina @ Avalinah’s Books has Shruti from This Is Lit Again doing a guest post about bookbloggers’ Review Policy.
Sim @ Flipping Through the Pages shares Her Thoughts on Audiobooks and Why She Struggles to Listen To Them.
Tiffany @ Read By Tiffany has an excellent Review and Discussion Post about When Dimple Met Rishi
Did you get some good books last week? What have you been up to this past week? Thanks for stopping by, I hope you’re enjoying your weekend, and that next week will be filled with awesome!
About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.
How wonderful that you gave those books to the library so the students can read them! That’s a series I’m planning to read this year myself, thanks to my library. I hope your plans to motivate the students go well and that you get more of that beautiful sunshine 🙂
The English part of our library is dismal! And it’s hard when I have students who want to read more in English to learn more!
I hope our plans for motivation will work as well 🙂
Happy Birthday Freddy – and all the best for you! How time flies. Thanks for sharing all the news and new books. Great pile.
Have a great weekend, Lexxie.
Best wishes
Vi @Inkvotary
He had a special dinner tonight 🙂 And he was very happy about that – even if he has no idea how that special dinner came about 😀
Have a great weekend yourself!
Oh hey, I got that Tara Thomas book for review, too. Crossing my fingers the series will be good.
I love that you are such a dedicated teacher and are doing so much to help the students stay on track to graduate. Ahhhh, neat that you donated a popular series to their library to get them reading more.
Cute puppies! My yes, Hercules is getting huge compared to Freddy, but don’t they look sweet together.
The full first novel was good, I wasn’t too fond of the prequel novella, so that made me happy.
I hope I’ll be able to donate more books in the future! I think reading is such an important part of language learning. And some students really want to read in English.
They look incredibly sweet. I love them to pieces, they are too cute for words.
That Spectrum title in your bookwormbox looks interesting, I would love to hear your thoughts about it once you’re done. Also, it’s amazing of you to add The Raven Boys to your school’s library. You’re a true hero! 😀
Aye, Happy Birthday to Freddy! YAY <3
Thanks for all the posts you've linked, can't wait to read them 🙂
I hope the students will find the new books, and that it will make them want to read more in English. I need to compile a list of books I can bring to the library – and also a list of contemporary novels they should try to add themselves 🙂
Thanks, Fanna¨
Yeah January flew. And the sun- is that what it is? I feel like I’ve almost forgotten what it’s like to have sun. 🙂 And ooh Bring Me Back looks good. I read my first BA Paris book recently and liked it, I can definitely see reading more.
Happy birthday to Freddy! And Hercules IS getting big. I love how they’re just sorta conked out in that picture- they sure know how to look comfortable!
Yeah, I think it’s the sun – it’s very bright, and it warms up both our bodies and our minds 😀
I haven’t read BA Paris yet, but I really look forward to starting, Greg.
Oh very nice book haul!! Totally new to me ones but I hope you enjoy them all!
Wow! You were busy! So nice to have donated a set of books to the library too! And wow! Freddy’s birthday already?! Happy Birthday to him! They are getting so big! When our one dog was younger he would sleep in the most awkward positions, like his limbs were all going in different directions, I’d stare at him and try to figure out how he’s comfortable! Lol! Poor boy is getting older though so he’s kind of a normal dog sleeper now.
My STS will be up tomorrow, so stop by then if you can!
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
Yeah, I don’t think I’ve had any other months be as busy as January since I started teaching, Jessica.
I hope I’ll be able to find more books I can donate to the library – it’s important that the students can find some newer stuff to pick up.
I bet they will sleep differently once they get more grown up 🙂
Happy birthday to Freddy! 🙂 I really hope you enjoy your new books. I’m excited about the B.A. Paris book. It sounds fabulous. Have a great weekend!
It sounds really good, I agree. I haven’t read BA Paris before, so it’s nice to know several people have enjoyed other books by this author.
The puppies are adorable of course!
I’m kinda happy winter has passed fast because I’m SO ready for spring! .
Sorry to hear about your students not on track hopefully you to will find a way to motivate them.
oh… Maggie Stiefvater. My Nemesis. I just tried Crooked Saints and nope! Wasn’t able to finish it. I haven’t given up yet though! One day I’m sure I’ll be able to read her books 🙂
So generous of you to gift Raven Boys such a popular series that I’m sure they will all love!
I agree, I’m rather ready for spring, sun, and new life, too, Daniela! However, I’m not looking forward to pollen season.
I hope it’ll help these unmotivated students to have a different way of learning.
I love Maggie Stiefvater, her prose is so different, and that just makes me swoon. Sorry The Crooked Saints didn’t work for you 🙁
Happy birthday to Freddy! Two years already 😮 And I was just thinking how big Hercules has gotten actually. Cuuuuute! ♥
Yeah, I have trouble realizing he’s been with us for almost two years already. I can’t even remember what life was like before dogs.
Great post lovely! I can’t wait for spring so I’m kinda happy the winter is going quite quick. And a big Happy Birthday to the lovely Freddy! <3
Charlotte | https://charlotteidek.com/
I’m kinda happy winter is going quickly, too. But I am not a fan of pollen *sighs*. Always something for me to complain about 😉
Twitter: bmreviewsohmy
Sounds like a really busy week! That was cool of you to give them that series. Hope you have a great week and happy reading!
I hope the students will find it and pick it up!
Twitter: flipngthrupages
Seems like you had a really busy week with all of your school stuff. I can’t imagine the life of a teacher/professor but I guess it really sucks when your students are not doing well. I hope all the changes that your school is applying turns out to be good 🙂
And you did an amazing job by giving books to your library 🙂
I hope you get to see more sun as we have already passed the January which I guess would be the coldest for you? I have no idea because I live in tropical region and almost all the months are same her 😀
Aww, happy birthday to Freddy. Both of them are so cute. Haha, I love how they are sleeping 😀 But I guess, we can’t copy that.. after all we are not that flexible 😛
And thanks for sharing my post 🙂 I hope you enjoy all of your new books. Happy weekend!
Yeah, December and January are the darkest, coldest months. But it’s not too cold here, we’re in the middle of Europe, and I grew up in Norway, where winter is usually much colder than here.
I hope the changes we plan on making will help, too. I love teaching, but it’s hard with those students who don’t really want to work.
I could never copy the way the puppies sleep – but they look so very relaxed.
I don’t know where January went but I’m okay with that, I’m ready for the Spring and Summer months. The bookworm box looks awesome and the pups are too cute, happy birthday! That’s awesome that you donated the series to the library. Enjoy your week!
Oh, I agree! I’m ready for some more sun, too.
The bookworm box is awesome 🙂 It’s like I get two surprise books every month – as I don’t know which books will be in there.
January definitely went by super fast. I do feel like I’ve finally gotten into the swing of things in the new year however. Thanks for the cute puppy photo. Hope you have a phenomenal weekend!
I’ve really gotten used to writing ‘2018’ when I write the date, too. It has taken me up until now, though 🙂
Have a great weekend yourself.
Ooh, Bring Me Back looks sooo good! I’ve loved the previous books by B. A. Paris.
How great that you donated a series of books to your school library!
The fur kids are cute, as usual, and it’s hard to believe that Freddy will soon be 2!
Enjoy your week…and I’m off to click on some links.
I’m so happy that other readers have enjoyed BA Paris! Now I can’t wait to get started 🙂
Twitter: Mollykatie112
Your dogs are so cute! Can not believe Freddy is 2 already!
That was so nice of you to gift that series to your school. I bet it’s already checked out! How can they expect the kids to learn to read English an then give them nothing good to read! Have a good rest of the weekend!
I know! It doesn’t seem like that long ago we decided we wanted a dog 🙂
Oh, I hope it’s already been checked out, Lorna! And that I’ll find someone I can discuss the Raven Boys with at school 😀
Awe such cutties! I hope you enjoy your new books as well!
Thanks Eve!
Twitter: Kissinbluekaren
You are so busy, I don’t kwow how you manage. It’s great that you were able to donate to your school’s library. After I went to BEA in 2015, I donated a bunch to my kids’ school library, they were so happy to have the middle grade and children’s ARCs and posters. It feels good to give.
Wow Happy 2nd Birthday Freddy. Hercules is HUGE now. They grow so fast.
Have a great week and happy reading!
Yeah, I’m going to go through more of my BEA books and see if I have more I can donate. I just have to make sure I don’t give them any of my signed ones 😉 And I want to read the books to make sure they are age and language appropriate before I give them away, you know.
Twitter: ailynk
I managed to read and finish Warcross, and hope your students like Raven Boys *they’d better*
They definitely better enjoy Raven Boys 😀 if not, I really don’t know what to give them to read!
Man, I don’t envy your job. I don’t know how you do it but thank GOD for teachers like you who care and try to both motivate her students and give back to the kids by donating books. I feel kind of bad for those kids who didn’t pass Middle School. School is hard, period, and to have such a failure is soul crushing, I’m sure 🙁
Is it wrong that I would love to cuddle up between your puppies somehow? They look so comfy, I just want to snuggle!!! LOVE!!
Great books this week… looks like suspense caught your eye! Have a great week!!
I actually love my job, Kristin, like really love it! I think it’s awesome to spend my days with teenagers, and even a little thing they understand makes me so happy!
School definitely IS hard, and here in Switzerland, we expect so much from our students – trying to create an ‘elite’ which I think is utter BS. We do need an elite as well, of course, but we shouldn’t try to make that the most important part of our education system.
Nope, not wrong at all. They are made for snuggles. Not sure their bed is that comfortable for humans, though. It’s better if I sit on the couch and they come snuggle with me 🙂
We just got rid of something to hopefully help our students and motivate them, too. The kids don’t know it (yet), but some of them might cry for joy. LOL Have a great week!
YAY for trying to make motivation easier for the kids, Charlie 🙂
I know! I can’t believe that it’s almost February! I need it to slow down! I’m not going to have enough time to finish everything! Have a good week! 🙂
Time flies, and while that’s good in some ways, there are times I want to slow things down a bit and just enjoy the moment 🙂
AWW THE PUPPIES ARE SO CUTE!! And so adorable all nested up there. ??My dog is currently rolling his ball behind my laptop so I have to stop blogging and go play with him ah hahha. Ahem. But also I’m so happy that you gifted your library The Raven Cycle! SUCH a good idea since it’s basically the best series of ever.?? Also that book box looks super fun. 😀 Hope you have a lovely week!
They are the cutest! Freddy sometimes comes to me when I blog, he pushes on my laptop and installs himself in my lap 😀 then he looks at me like he just wants me to pet him, and stop with my stupid machine 😀
Ha! I agree, The Raven Cycle IS the best series of ever. I hope the books will be checked out all the time!
Your puppies are adorable!
And I agree… this month flew by!! How come it’s almost February? I hope the students will get back on track until the end of the year.
The Bookworm Box looks great. I hope you will enjoy all the books!
I hope my students will get back on track, too. But I don’t think they all will, sadly.
What a busy week? Don’t know how you do it?! Your furbabies are beautiful and Happy Birthday to Freddie!
I’m think it is pretty amazing about you giving the Raven series to the school.
I am looking to reading Bring Me Back, it sounds like it is going to be really good! Enjoy all the new books.
Yeah, my weeks are rather busy these days… I am pretty well organized, though, if not I think I’d be a bit lost.
Thank you! I think they’re beautiful, too, Jenea 🙂
I want to find more books to donate to the school library. There are some really good books out there, and I think learning a language (or getting better in a foreign language) is easier through literature.
Twitter: avalinahsbooks
Ooh, what a nice box 🙂 and purple too! Like it’s especially designed for your blog 😀
Part of what’s sad about receiving only kindle ARCs is that I can’t gift them to friends or people who need books! It’s really cool you gave some books to the library 🙂
And thank you for sharing my post!! <3 and for the #FF on Friday 🙂 much appreciated!
Haha, yeah, it really is 🙂 And I love getting two surprise books each month – sometimes, the books are by authors I have already read, and other times, the books are by authors I haven’t read before.
I agree about the kindle ARCs… but at the same time, I totally understand the publishers – for example for my bookworm box, the shipping costs is $32. For two books. If publishers had to pay that (or half that if they sent one book) plus the cost for the ARC itself, it would quickly become too expensive for them.
You should check if you could go to the Frankfurt Bookfair as a blogger. I believe they give away some ARCs there, and it’s sure nice to have those as well.
I hope you’ve gotten some rest this weekend, Evelina 🙂
I’ve heard only good things about B.A. Paris and as always, I love stopping by and visiting the pups. Hope you enjoy all your books and have a wonderful week.
I’m so happy you’ve heard only good things about BA Paris, Barb!
Twitter: limabean74
Happy Birthday! Freddy! He is so cute and yes, Hercules is getting so big!
That was super great of you to gift the series! You are so my favorite person! So sweet! <3
I hope things start to settle down for you this week!
Have a wonderful week, My Friend! Miss you! ox Happy Reading!
Freddy says thank you, Michelle 🙂 Spreading book-love is so nice – I really hope those books will be checked out really soon!
I don’t think things will settle until the second week of February, but all is good. Miss you too! xoxo
Yes… I’m not sure where January has gone, either! The dogs look so cute together and you’re right – Hercules looks well named, as he has really grown big… The school must be thrilled to get such a great series for their library. I hope you have a great week.
The school librarian was really happy! I will bring more books their way shortly, I just have to find the time to go through my shelves.
Sounds like you’ve been really busy. Crazy that January is almost over right? I can’t believe how fast time is flying by. I’m definitely ready for summer and Sunshine. Sigh..
Have a great week and happy reading!
Yeah, it’s really weird in many ways how quick this first month has gone by. I’m pretty sure I feel like this most years, though. Summer is coming 😉
I think that it’s great that you were able to donate some of your books for the library. I’m sure the students will love all the new books. And give Freddy some birthday cuddles for me!
I was happy they wanted the books, really! I have them in hardback and in kindle, so it’s not as if I won’t be able to read them again myself 😀
Freddy says thank you for the birthday cuddles.
Bring Me Back looks like a great read. I’ve added it to my TBR!
Have a good week!
YAY Chrissy! I hope we’ll both enjoy it 🙂
Motivating students is so difficult!! I have a student who was on academic suspension due to failing 2 classes 1st quarter. 2nd quarter he failed 3!!! He really just doesn’t care much about school so its difficult to motivate him. He is also close to the age he can drop out without parent permission and I think he will. So sad.
I’m so glad you loved Final Siege! I’m starting it today!!!
Have a good week and thanks so much for the #FF shout out on Twitter! It means so much to me!
Yeah, those who really don’t care about school are so difficult to reach. It’s like they have this dream-version of themselves in their heads. Where they are adult, and successful. I asked one of my students today how he thought he’d accomplish what he wanted. And his answer was that he was going to take over his grandfather’s jeweler shop. As if just getting someone from someone else would help him become successful. *sighs*
Oh yeah, I hope you’ll enjoy Final Siege as much as I did, Samantha!
Aw, I love your dogs! Have a great week and thank you so much for visiting my blog 😀
Those puppies are the best! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
January went so fast! I feel like I worked a lot and accomplished nothing. I hope the students like the books. Have a great week, and enjoy your new books!
Ha! That’s kind of like I feel, too, Aj!
Oh gosh, I feel like January has been going on forever. LOL I’m ready for a new month. 🙂 Happy Birthday to Freddy! And how sweet that you gave the Raven Boys series to the library. I’m sure they’ll love it.
-Lauren
Really? Like, how can that even happen? I feel like I just blinked, and the month is almost over already 🙂
I hope the students will enjoy The Raven Cycle, too 🙂
Wow! I’m always envious of the books you procure, wifey. 😉 It has been a busy first month of 2018 and it has flown by! Maybe February will calm down? Happy Birthday to Freddy! Have a great week and happy reading!! *smooches* {{{hugs}}} & Love!
I really hope with the motivation and planning you are doing you can encourage your students to work harder so they can make it to the passing grade! It can be hard when it comes to that. And how generous of you to gift the library with The Raven Boys series… I still need to read those! January sure did go fast, didn’t it?
Twitter: Mlsimmons
Good luck with your students. I know that it is hard when they aren’t motivated. Hercules is getting big isn’t he. I also can’t believe Freddie is already two. My how time flies.
Happy belated birthday, Freddie! Woof!
January flew by and it seems as if February is almost over already too. 🙁
I know, right? Already one third of February behind us – how did that happen? We are off next week, though, so I’m going to spend time preparing lessons, reading, and just cuddling with Freddy and Hercules 🙂
Sounds like a good plan. I hope you get to see some of the Winter Olympics too. 🙂