DISCUSSION: I cant afford to buy books, should I quit blogging/YouTube...the digital edition

Hello World! I'm back again with part two of my discussion regarding affording books, and what to do if you cant.

Today, I'm looking at the digital options. In todays society, pretty much everyone has either a tablet/Kindle/iPad, or a smartphone that can download apps, such as Apple or Android phones. Personally, I own a Kindle and an iPhone, and therefore, I also have the relevant digital reading options. On my Kindle I have way too many unread books (I'll explain how I got them later), all of which come to a total of maybe £10.00, and on my iPhone I have the Kindle app in sync with my Kindle, as well as iBooks, which comes with the phone, and I have about 5 or 6 books on there.

So, how do I manage to have so many UNREAD books on my Kindle, at a teeny tiny cost? I'll explain!

There are a number of options for digital books that cost very little, or are even free! So here's a couple of tips and tricks I use myself in order to drastically grow my TBR pile!

1. Overdrive app -  this app is a gem I've heard about on booktube (the part of YouTube where
people go mental over books, it's great, and if you haven't tried it yet you should). As long as your library is signed up, you can borrow digital copies of books and e-books, without having to leave the comfort of my pyjamas or bed. It's pretty straight forward to set up, and can be downloaded on both Apple and Android devices for free!
How to get it: http://app.overdrive.com/ 

2. Netgalley - This is a place the majority of people who review books already know about. Netgalley is a free site where you can request titles to read and review, usually before their release date. On some occasions, they also have the first book in a series available to request should a sequel be being released. The more you request, read and review, the more likely you are to be accepted for titles to read. I currrently have five or six books to read from Netgalley, but I have read and reviewed a few so far and really enjoyed them.
Where? https://www.netgalley.com/


3. Bookbub -  THIS SITE. My god. this site is brilliant. Basically, you sign up to their site, and they e-mail you daily with a bunch of exclusive deals to their site. All books are kindle books, and if you choose a book, it goes straight to the Amazon page where you can download it to the relevant device. They do a lot of free deals, but they also have a lot of bargain deals, such as £5.99 down to £0.99 for example.
Where? https://www.bookbub.com/home/

4. Kindle daily deals - If, like me, you have a Kindle, you will get emails daily about Kindle daily deals on books, and whilst the deals are not free deals, they are recent releases at a fraction of the price. In one instance, I got A Court Of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas for £1.99 instead of the retail price. For all I am yet to read it, it also means I wont be urged to buy the hardback or paperback versions instead!

5. Amazon (or iBooks) - Yes, I am well aware that this is where you get all of your books for the relevant e-reader, BUT each of these platforms have free books. Yes, I said FREE. One of my all time favourite books was a one that I found on my Kindle, for free. I downloaded it on a whim expected chick-lit mush, and it really wasn't!  For all there are quite a lot of books available for free on each domain, it is worth raking through some of them just to find a book you may fancy. You may also see that Classics are available on both platforms, completely free of charge, and there is nothing wrong with a good classic.

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Okay, I think that's it for now. I know it's quite wordy and things,  but ultimately it's my way of trying to advise you in finding bargains in e-books. If you read more e-books, and you feel unworthy of YouTube, DO NOT. Many many people film reviews for e-books or post blog reviews for e-books, and nobody judges them or looks at them any differently. I apologise if this post isn't relevant to you, but if you manage to get your hands on an e-reader, I'd definitely recommend checking out all of the options above.


Find me elsewhere:
Twitter: www. twitter.com/craftsandreads
Instagram: www.instagram.com/craftsandreads
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6gNsTH21OANbS8mgoYfc4A

How to get out of that reading slump!

found this one here - thanks Pinterest!

We've all been there. We find ourselves coming to the end of an unbelievable book or series and we just don't want to get over it, so we refuse to pick up another book for a day or two to let ourselves get over it. Then those one or two days turn into a week. A week turns into a fortnight. And so on. Until before you know it, it's been six months. Yes, you've tried to dabble in a few books here and there, but nothing quite takes your fancy at all, so you stop reading that book. And then suddenly, you pick up a book and just....WOW. It's as if you've never had that slump.

Sound familiar?

Well, you most certainly are not alone! I myself have felt this way, as has a very good friend of mine. And yes, I am well aware it sucks. So how do you get out of that reading slump you ask? Well, here are my tips!

1. Find a book you love to read, or really want to read but haven't yet.

This sounds stupid, but ultimately, if you know you love a book, or series, pick it up yet again and start reading! Not only will you rekindle your love for a series once more, but you will fly through a series of books in no time and crave the feel of the pages yet again!

2. Take the time out to find a new book YOU want to read.

Yes, it is great being a part of possibly the best YouTube and blogging and Twitter community possible (booktube by the way), as there are so many good readers and people in that community who would go to the ends of their bookshelves for you! Many people recommend their favourite reads, or reads they didnt think they would like but did, and all of a sudden your TBR pile grows, just from these recommendations. But then you look back and think 'did I actually want to read that book, or is it on my list because they suggested it?'. If it's the latter, TAKE IT OFF THAT TBR. Go to a bookshop instead of staring at your TBR undecided as to what to read. Find an attractive book. A cover that pulls you in. Read the synopsis. Sound good? Buy it. Not only have you found a new book that YOU want to read, but the cover will also look gorgeous on your shelf!

3. Stop staring at your TBR pile/shelf.

thanks again Pinterest! Found here

Honestly, this does not help at all. There's only so many times you can look at the pile and find it attractive to read. If it's as long as some peoples, you'll have no problem staring at that pile because you WILL find that book you want to read that will pull you out of that slump. But if you find yourself staring at the pile and not getting anywhere with it - stop. Try a new format, such as reading from a laptop or e-reader. Avoid looking at that TBR pile until you're ready too. Don't feel pressured to pick your next book from the pile that never seems to stop growing - seriously, what were you thinking when you picked up that book and added it to your TBR? Is it the best one to get you out of your slump?

4. Sit comfortably when you start that next book.

Be it in bed, on a park bench, in a library, heck, even on the toilet. Read where ever you are at your most comfortable. It's no good if you find yourself that perfect book from tips 1 and 2, yet sit on a seat of nails to read it. Unless of course, you like spikes up your bum. I found that taking advantage of an 'early night' helped me tremendously when I was in the slump. I found that book, and got myself all cosied up, and just read to my hearts content. Now, i am a decent way through my current read, and always read best when I'm in bed. Why? Because its my most comfortable position, and the position that revived my reading.

5. Have fun.

Make sure it's a book or rhythm you enjoy. What do I mean by rhythm? Almost like a habit. If you enjoy curling up with your book while watching TV, do it. If you enjoy having a cuppa and a biscuit with your book, do it. If you enjoy listening to audiobooks on a run, do it. Do whatever you want or enjoy doing in order to make progress with that book. Immerse yourself in the book, get lost in it's world. Fall in love with its bad boy character. Hate that bad guy. Ultimately, if it adds to the reading experience in a positive way that you enjoy, just do it.

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And there you have it. My top five tips to get yourself out of that reading slump! Now, I'm off to put a bigger dent in my book!

Do you have any tips for people who are stuck in a reading slump? Have you been in a reading slump yourself and want to offer help? Are you currently stuck in that reading slump? Please please please comment below with your thoughts. And if you're stuck in that slump, who knows? Maybe myself and other bloggers can help you climb out of it! 

An Update of all Kinds, including a Mini Haul and BookTube info!

Hello followers! I have a quick (at least I hope it will be) update with regards to a couple of issues. Firstly, I want to discuss BookTube and how things are going with that, then I want to discuss a mini haul (although that may come later as there are pictures for that one and I don't want to drag out this post) and tag's I've been requested to do by fellow BookTubers.

BookTube

So, incase any of you wonderful people did not know, I am on YouTube, attempting a video version of this blog. However, my laptop refuses to connect to the Internet properly (damn you technology) therefore, I am having to use my Kindle to blog, as well as borrowing other people's laptops (such as right now, I'm using my boyfriends laptop whilst he isn't here). Sadly, this means that I am unable to record and upload my videos to YouTube, meaning I am having to do them on here instead.

BUT

Every cloud has a silver lining. As does this cloud! Because I cannot upload to YouTube properly, it means I will be responding to tags and uploading reviews to this blog instead, which is excellent for my own peace of mind, as I feel like I have been neglecting my blog slightly. (Sorry everyone :( ). SO you shall see updates on here more often, starting with two tags from Wanderness, one from The Sheep and the Wolf, and the final one from Michael from Bitten By A Radioactive Book.

Mini Haul

Since payday (11th November for me) I have purchased five books. Three of these books have been very briefly discussed in a mini update video on my vlog, and they are The Noahs Ark Quest, The Lost Symbol, and The Luminaries. The other two additions I won on ebay as a fellow BookTuber was having a clear-out of her books, and these ones are Between Shades of Gray and The Girl In The Red Coat. I have already started reading Between Shades of Gray and I am very excited to see how it pans out, so look out for that post!

In the mean time, I will post in the next couple of days with regards to the Mini Haul and discuss each in more detail (at least two of them have maps within the first few pages - exciting stuff!). But for now, I shall bid you all a good evening (if you're in the UK at least). If you are not on GMT, then I hope you are having or have had a lovely day!

**I'd love to hear your thoughts on my recent changes from BookTube to blog, is it something you are looking forward to? Please leave your comments below, and please leave your blog details if you want me to follow you! If you follow me, I will follow back!

I have a YouTube channel!

Yes, you read that correctly, I've got myself a YouTube channel!

Today, I bit the bullet and went for it. I know the video is rushed and things, but ultimately, I was just having a mess about whilst attempting to tell you all about my bookshelf

The link to my YouTube channel is here and that is where you can find my first video (sorry in advance!). 

One of the things I forgot to mention in the vlog is my Kindle, which was also propping my camera up in the video. Obviously a Kindle is this beautiful piece of technology dedicated to storing books for you to read whilst on the go, and depending on the case you have for it, is less bulky than a book, which is kind of the point. On there, I have completed one of my purchased books, although I am currently reading two others. So, I'll also do a separate 'What's on my Kindle' blog (which I may also make into a vlog if I can cope with looking and sounding foolish).

Please head over to the video, then let me know what you think of my bookshelf in the comments either here or there. Have you got any recommendations based on my bookshelf? Do you agree with my opinions on the books I have read? I'd love to know!

I'll blog again soon, I promise!