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This was an exciting week at Got My Book as I launched GMB 2.0 with a blog redesign and the introduction of Features and a Posting Schedule. Unfortunately, I wasn't feeling so great while all this was happening.

Also, according to Becca And Books, the next thing I need to do to improve is upgrade my lame and boring post titles. (No, she didn't say that to me personally, check out the link to her excellent article below.)

Because I have been absolutely geeking out about it, I am putting my favorite "Exploring Cyberspace" link right here at the top. Check out this great set of "Reading Nook" photos (just don't forget to come back here when you're done).  (Thanks Book Riot for recommending it.)

Since I wasn't feeling well, I listened to a lot of short "favorite parts" comfort selections. Which means I don't have a Reading Update. Re-reading has been discussed a lot lately; I put a link to one of those posts below as well since, despite the differences in our situations and methods, I too view Re-reading as self-care.

Last Week on GMB

• MON: Introducing GBM 2.0: Posting Schedule, Features, and More
• TUE: 25 New (mostly) Audiobook Releases - Highlights 5/3/16
• TUE: Top Ten Tuesday: Characters I'd Like to Revisit
• WED: The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf [audiobook review / author interview] - ★★★★½ YA Dystopian Fantasy
  
• THU: 3 Blogging Conundrums: Can I Get a Little Help? [My Musings] - Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts and expressed support. Additional comments are still welcome.
  
• SAT: The Map to Everywhere [audiobook review / narrator interview] - ★★★★½ MG Fantasy
  
• SAT: Kindle Fire for $40: Should I Get One? - again, thank you for the comments, I've decided to wait until I see a true need.

Next Week on GMB

• MON: Dipping My Toes in the Water | Bout of Books 16
  
• TUE: New Audio Release Highlights (5/10/16)
• WED: The Goblin Emperor [audiobook review / narrator interview] - ★★★★½ YA Fantasy
• SAT: A Book Review
• SUN: Sunday Summary #2

Exploring Cyberspace

If you liked my review of Ashala Wolf and the interview with its author, check out this post she wrote about Diversity (thanks to @corinneduyvis, whose tweet brought it to my attention):

• "Privilege and literature..." @ Alpha Reader

"The exclusion of Indigenous and other diverse voices is sometimes misdiagnosed as a ‘diversity problem’. But the origin of a body of literature that fails to reflect the actual make-up of the planet is not to be found within marginalised peoples. The fundamental disconnection between the world of literature and the real world springs from, and is maintained by, a set of structures and attitudes that consistently privilege one set of voices over another."

From my Feed (recent articles/posts):

• "How to Get the Originality Fairy to Bless Your Posts" by Becca @ Becca And Books

It all begins with the title, bud. Allow me to demonstrate: 

Good heavens this is boring:

Throne of Glass Review

Or

May Book Haul

AND

Okay. Yes. Weekly memes and book tags are fine. Great even, they can be so fun! I myself do participate in Top Ten Tuesday from time to time. But you really have to be careful with these posts—they’re the love triangles of book blogging…very overdone. If you’re going to do them, make them seem special, make readers irresistibly attracted to them.

• "Rereading Harry Potter as Self-Care" guest posted by Patricia Elzie @ Book Riot

I find comfort in rereading the same stories because it holds no surprises. It’s dependable and the characters are familiar friends.

• "New Research Shows Audiobooks Have Powerful Impact on Literacy Development" by Mary Burkey @ The Booklist Reader (From Lark at The Bookwyrm's Hoard own wrap-up)

"...students using Tales2go attained 58% of the annual expected gain in reading achievement in just 10 weeks, putting them three months ahead of control students."

• "15 Slightly Odd Things All Book Lovers Have Done" by Farrah Penn @ Buzzfeed Books

"8. Saying “I’m so tired” when you know it was your fault for staying up until 3 in the morning to finish a book."

 

"12. Realizing you should know the answer to the question “What’s your favorite book?” BUT never being able to narrow it down."

Oldies But Goodies:

• "Why I Am The Way I Am" by Jamie @ The Perpetual Page-turner

"Here’s the thing. I’ve always believed that reading and books are a special sort of magic. They are there when you are lonely, when you need to feel connected to other humans, when you need to escape, when you need something to uplift you or energize you or don’t want to feel alone in whatever you are dealing with. They have the power to transform and save and do all sorts of things. Words and stories are so powerful."

Wishlist Purchase

Cinder & Ella

By: Kelly Oram / Narrator: Kirsten Leigh / Pub: Bluefields / Length: 10:10

"It's been almost a year since 18-year-old Ella Rodriguez was in a car accident that left her crippled, scarred, and without a mother. After a very difficult recovery, she's been uprooted across the country and forced into the custody of a father that abandoned her when she was a young child. If Ella wants to escape her father's home, and her awful new stepfamily, she must convince her doctors that she's capable, both physically and emotionally, of living on her own."

I purchased the Kindle edition on sale, back in December, for $1.99. This week I purchased the Audible edition for $1.99 (Whispersync discount price) as the pick me up I needed while having a difficult week. Owning them both for only $3.98 makes me happy, and I feel very responsible for spending so little on my "retail therapy." Having already read it, I can promise that a Review is coming some time in the future. (Cautions: this YA book contains some swearing and sex talk.)

Other Acquisitions

Audiobook from this summer's Sync program. (If you are reading this before 7am, Eastern US time, on 5/12/16 this audiobook is still FREE here)

All the Kindle books I acquired that have Audible versions available.

Some of the other Kindle books I acquired.

Talk to Me (pretty please)

• Aren't those Reading Nooks awesome? Regardless of whether you checked them out or not, what do you like to have around you to be comfortable while reading?
• Do you read for comfort when you are ill or unhappy? If so, feel free to share what works for you.
• What new books did you get this week?

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• If you are a first time visitor, how did you discover my blog?
• I recently debuted my redesigned blog. What do you think?

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