The Monday Mix (35)

Well, well, well, it's been ages since I was able to do The Monday Mix! I'm sure most of you know how much I enjoy sharing the link love, whether here or on Twitter, so I'm happy to be bringing it back this week. Hopefully, this becomes a more regular feature again, as there are some really great posts being shared all over the web, and I want you to see them too!

I'm always tickled pink by a great discussion post. Here are a few I loved:

• Renae talks about reading, and how it should be something you do for you. I've been struggling with this for a while, but I really and truly believe you should read what interests you - and not just under obligation.
• Hazel's post on book expenditures rocked my socks! I'm an organizer at heart, so to see something so neat and well-maintained made me happy (and made me want to do it too).
• I prefer real heroines, and feeling like a character is one does not hinge on their likability (most of the time) for me. Gillian shares some really great thoughts on likable/unlikable heroines
• Reason # 315813095810958309 Maggie Stiefvater is amazing: She shared an excerpt from her SCBWI keynote, and I'm truly in awe of her explanation of writing and artistry and thievery.
• "It was okay." This is a phrase that I associate now with Elena, and she elaborates on that among other things in her post.
• And, if you missed the awesome #IShall Twitter chat co-hosted by Kelly, Hannah, Cassie, Ellice & Erin, you can see an excellent recap from Hannah.
• 'To thine own self be true." Many of us have heard this before, but Hannah puts a bookish spin on it! I love the honesty behind her post, and completely agree with her thoughts.
• Hannah tells it like it is: it's okay to love a book and be honest about the flaws.
• In light of all the craziness in the book blogging community last week, I thought it'd be fitting to share Jamie's post. She pretty much has shared how many of us are feeling about what happened.

There's nothing lovelier than enthusiasm for books, and here are some incredible endorsements:

• After a LOT of peer pressure from my sister Mel and Rachel, I read and fell for the Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Rachel shares 10 reasons to read the series!
• Brittany has some great recommendations for books you should read if you're a fan of The Fault in Our Stars! I've read quite a few of them, and I can definitely see why she'd include them on this particular infographic/list.
• Music + books + three awesome destinations? You'll have to go and visit Jamie's post because it's pretty great, and filled with lots of great recs!
• I'm seriously loving this Boomerang infographic Racquel made!
• No lie: I downloaded a bunch of these apps after Rachel recommended them to me. Hannah also talks about the wonders of Wunderlist, another awesome app suggestion.
• I adore Danielle's guide to historical romances! She's included a few of my favorites (Lisa Kleypas, obviously, and Julia Quinn too), and a few new-to-me authors too.
• Interested in the Civil War, specifically women involved? Erin Lindsay McCabe has some excellent recommendations for books. She also shares some people she'd travel back in time to meet.
• If you have yet to read Estelle's post about bravery, go do that. It's wonderful.
• Also, Estelle has some of the best underrated author/book recommendations, so get on that.

Goodness, but I just adore reviews that are thorough, coherent and full of feels:

• Hannah's Heir of Fire review is one of my favorites. (That song broke my heart.)
• Gillian's Heir of Fire review made me laugh, even as it reminded me of all the feels.
• Magan reviews Rites of Passage and nails everything I loved about it in the process.

Looking for fun posts to read? A post that might amuse you or make you smile? Look no further!

• In what is another epic post, Gillian sorts some of my favorite male characters into Hogwarts houses. (All I really care about is that Chaol & I belong to the same house!)
• I mostly had to include Ren's post about misleading covers for classic novels because it made me laugh. These are some seriously strange cover choices for a few well-known novels! I'd actually be curious to find out what the publishers were thinking.
• I've only ever read two Austen novels (Pride & Prejudice + Sense & Sensibility). But I always find myself in awe of the many beautiful versions of her novels that are on sale! Hazel's rounded up a few of the prettiest, and I find myself itching to buy them even though I don't know when I'd read them yet.
• Anna takes us on a tour of the settings in all three Stephanie Perkins novels. I love the personal touches and suggestions she included; she's definitely made me want to visit Paris, Barcelona & San Francisco even more!
• I do love books with maps! Kelley, Asti & Leanne have some solid recs for books with maps.

I don't just read book blogs. There are so many other blogs out there, and I enjoy them too! Here are a few life-related posts that I really liked:

• I love stumbling across articles about relationships that perfectly convey things that I feel myself. This one talks about 10 things you can learn from being in a good relationship, and the truth is that they are so gosh darn true.
• For all the married ladies out there, Joanna Goddard shares some great lessons she's learned in her 5 years of marriage.
• Ever wondered how you can support your favorite bloggers? Here are some great ideas. (Thanks for sharing, Cassie!)
• Joanna Goddard also shared 10 things she's learned over the course of her career. I thought she had very helpful ideas and tips and will definitely refer back to this!

And there you have it, friends! A round-up of some of the posts I've enjoyed (even though I do have a lot of catching up to do). Let me know if you've come across any posts that you feel I'd be interested in reading in the comments!