Tag: Mugs

What I´d Like To See More Of In Book Box Subscriptions

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`Subscribe!`

`Get your box of bookish goods!`

I like book box subscriptions. They´re a wonderfully fun addition in our corrupt and twisted little bookish world. The stuff you receive with these boxes… Wow. It´s book mail extraordinaire! And they bring us book lovers together.. in a way… in a way that´s unknown to me.

Jess @Fiction No Chaser published a wonderful post titled Why Are We Obsessed With Book Boxes? and in her post, she made some really great points regarding these subscription boxes. If you haven´t already I´d recommend checking her post out as it´s great food for thought. While I was reading Jess´s post I couldn´t help but think of the actual purpose of these boxes and what the included items do for us book folk ( aside from giving us temporary joy ).

Unfortunately, many of these book subscription boxes don´t have a lot of useful bookish items. At least not for me. I´m sorry to say that, despite all the bookish goodness being sent out in cute little colorful boxes, I find it hard to use 90% of a box´s content.

This doesn´t mean book boxes are totally worthless. I´m sure many book-lovers are 100% satisfied with their monthly subscriptions. I mean- what’s not to love about a possible book, fan art, bookmarks, tea samples, candles, postcards, fan bracelets, and whatnot?

From what I´ve gathered, most book boxes are little bundles of book swag and the highlight is a book. Possibly a book and a mug. The rest is just swag- Promotional pieces.

Possible book box content ( seen from various providers ) for 1 book box

  • 2 bookmarks ( usually author/book tied = swag )
  • 1 magnet ( swag )
  • tea sample ( loose tea or bag tea )
  • bath & body product ( ? )
  • fan art ( in the form of a postcard or bookmark )
  • jewelry ( swag or fan art )
  • stickers ( swag )
  • buttons ( swag )
  • A book ( limited edition, hardcover, signed paperback )
  • A candle

At first glance, this looks like a shitload of products. Things appear to be worth the $ 29.00 + shipping.

When I see these items above I think of their practicality. I have no use for the majority of these items because I know for sure they´ll land somewhere where no one will ever admire them. I appreciate fan art from a distance. Having it in my home, though- I´m not the type to display fan art. Same with book tied jewelry. I´d never wear it. Stickers and buttons? Meeh. Not for me.

I´d never be able to fully appreciate a book box (anymore). I´m clearly not the targetted audience. Although, I wouldn´t mind purchasing one or two boxes a year if there were items I could use.

  • A mug. Not book tied but bookish. Seriously, this is something that will most definitely get used in my house.
  • A book. I know-shocking. But sometimes book boxes don´t have books. Just book swag and other things I don´t need.
  • A journal/notepad. Book people make notes, too. Why not throw in a cute journal?
  • A reading log. Because, why not?
  • Pens. This is something a person can never have enough of.
  • Tote bags. Always a fav. They come in handy.
  • Book sleeves. Now, that´s something a few could use. If not for a book then definitely to keep fragile objects from breaking.
  • How about bookmarks that aren´t book-tied?

The reason why we´ll never see book boxes with these items is because they´d be extremely expensive. Another reason why this type of book box would never roll is that they´re too specified- Put together to satisfy my personal bookish needs.

So, here´s a different solution:

Why not offer a book box shop where readers can put together their own boxes? This could excite more people and engage a larger book-loving crowd.

Unless someone actually offers this type of book box to the masses I´m better off purchasing a book online and buying bookish items on sites that offer more than what´s in an overpriced box.

Willow Winters Online Shop is a great place for readers if they who to purchase bookish products.

`Let me drink my coffee and just read.` mug. & Book Lover Office Bundle

Or, if you need more selection you could always lose your literary heart over at The Literary Gift Company – The one place where you can find A.N.Y.T.H.I.N.G your bookish hearts desires.

I think you´d have to be a real dedicated book box fan and a fan of whatever bookish goods in those boxes to be able to appreciate everything.

P.S. 
The `Book Box` topic isn´t over yet! I´m sure you´ve noticed how I mentioned that book boxes are overpriced? Be sure to stick around for my upcoming post Are Book Boxes Worth Their Money? to find out if book boxes are overpriced or not.

What are your thoughts on Book Boxes? Are you subscribed to a book box company? Which boxes have you received? Would you order another box? Or, do you think this is bookish absurdity at its finest? Let me know in the comments below. ❤ I´d love to chat.

Thank you for reading this post. I truly appreciate it. Hope you enjoyed.

Have a wonderful day,

Much bookish love,

Morgana

Mug Monday & What I´ve Been Up To

Published on by morganas book box1 Comment
Literally me every Monday

 

Hey, everyone! Welcome back to Friday´s unbeloved sister, Monday.

It´s been a minute since I sat down and did a Mug Monday feature. But I have a good reason for having neglected my favorite blog feature.

 

I´ve been mingling with the book crowd. 

 

As in- actually ditching my laptop and leaving the house to meet up with some bookish people.

I know. I know. Unthinkable, considering how much I love to stay in my PJs all day and do nothing but read. Oh, by the way- Mug feature ahead!

 

20191007_0121527832835052612627158.jpg

 

Granted, not the most original mug to feature, but it´s still one, even if you can hardly see it.

So, yes. I´ve been busy with book socializing.

Somewhere around the end of September, I teamed up with my book bestie Brina@Brina and the Books to visit the RARE ´19 London book event. Then had the pleasure of being spontaneously invited to a book blogger meet up in Frankfurt shortly after the London event. And last but not least ( as I´m hoping this socializing train will continue to roll ) I went to an author reading.

I´ve noticed my need to nap has been greater than ever before. Damn, I forgot how much fun, yet exhausting socializing is.

With that being said- I´ve collected enough info on all accounts and am now able to present my observations and the things I´ve learned, plus to share the experience I had from the author reading. Let´s just say I have many many things to share with y´all.

As for being a tad blog absent: Thanks to the pre-scheduled posts I´ve worked on weeks ago I don´t feel the least bit guilty about having been offline for a few days/weeks. So, YAY for that.

 

 

I guess that´s it for this week´s Mug Monday. Be sure to stick around to find out how my bookish socializing went. All I´m going to say is: Be prepared. It´s been an enlightening ride.

As always, Don´t forget to share the book love because Lord knows there´s too little of that making its rounds. ❤

Enjoy your Monday, dear bookish Padawans.

Take care,

Feel hugged,

 

Morgana

 

 

Mug Monday & Netgalley Musings

Published on by morganas book box8 Comments

Mug Monday Feature:  My Monday mug, white

Book Discussion Topic:  Netgalley Pain

 

Hello and welcome back to Mug Monday!

So, a quick recap on what´s been going on since my last Mug Monday post:

Nothing good.

I´m glad we got that over with and can move onto more important topics- Like my mess with Netgalley.

Yes, I´ve fallen victim to the oversized ebook catalogue and I have no one else but myself to blame.

You see, as lovely as Netgalley is in a reader´s moment of helplessness it´s also a curse.

While sofa bound I became bored with Netflix and ended up with the brilliant idea to check Netgalley out and see if they had anything worth my time.

Mind you- This approach is just like going grocery shopping with an empty stomach. Never a wise idea.

As you may know, some Netgalley offers can be requested then approved / declined or can be read immediately. The titles I chose had to be requested, meaning I had to wait for approval from the publishers. Usually, I´m denied 3/4 of all the books I request ( for whatever reason ) and that often leaves me with no Netgalley reads. This is why I hit up at least 5 reads at once, in hopes some publishing house will have pity with me.

Not this time. Funnily enough, the book Gods thought it would be great to approve all of my requested reads. All 5.

And to top this whole fiasco off- The publishers contacted me after a week wanting to know where the feedback was.

This whole thing is my fault. I know that and fully accept my idiocy. This just shows that Netgalley is an unpredicable bitch who´s waiting for the right opportunity to screw a reader over. At least that´s my current feeling on the topic.

Alas…. `Tis time to get back into the reading cave….

But before I go I´ll leave you with this little Mug Monday special I created.

monday post

You´re welcome.

Now, if you´ll excuse me… My very much unloved Kindle is calling my name.

 

QOTD: How do you handle Netgalley? Do you get pressured by publishers for feedback? Do authors contact you inbetween? Let´s chat. ❤

I bid you all a wonderful Monday.

Banner name

 

 

Mug Monday & Re-read Talk

Published on by morganas book box12 Comments

Hola and welcome to another glorious Monday!

Bah. * wave off * Who am I kidding? Monday´s suck big time and this Monday isn´t any different from any other Monday. Staying positive on the first day of the week is a greater challenge, for me, than being forced to read a book I don´t want to read. And we all know how that can ruin someone´s mood.

It´s not only Monday, though. It´s Mug Monday! I get to share another piece from my wonderful mug collection. In fact- I´ll be showing my newest purchase.

A beige short mug with black stipes. I cannot begin to tell you how much I love my new mug.

Mug Monday Q
Book: What He Doesn´t Know by Kandi Steiner

 

I´m in mucho love. So much so that I completely forgot where I got it. ( what I can say is that that´s my garden and the grass was ant infested )

Normally, I´d include a book feature from a current – haven´t – read – before read but… I´m in a re-read phase at the moment.

 

Due to a super busy schedule ( Yes. Life decided to show it´s cruel side again ) I can´t find it in me to start a new book and actually try to enjoy it.

So, what does a girl do? A girl re – reads.

Let´s face it… re-reading personal favorites is AWESOME. 

Some books are just so great that they deserve a re-read, a re-re-read and a re-re-re-read. And the best part about re – reads? You re – discover things you´ve forgotten or you suddenly realize things you weren´t aware of after the first reading round.

 

 

At the moment I´m falling in love with Kandi Steiner´s What He Doesn´t Know Duet all over again.

5 minutes here. 10 minutes there. Dramatic scenes after dinner and the heavy emotional stuff before bed. That´s what I call a perfect re – read session!

Of course, I don´t always read bits throughout the day and stamp that off as re – reading. Sometimes I do sit down and actually read from start to finish. Sometimes.

 

My personal favorite re -read book list

We all have that one book / series we always get back to once in a while. Here´s a small list of my all time – always within reach  favorite books I love to re -read ( links incl.)

 

Hands down,… this is my sacred reading list. My go – to books. The loves of my life. The books I keep in my bedroom because I´m afraid someone with breathe on them.

Granted, they´re all a tad older but SO WORTH IT!

 

Ladies and gentlemen….

What are your favorite re-reads? Do you prefer to re-read series or standalones? 

 

Hope you all have a wonderful day!  ❤ ❤

 

 

Mug Monday Instagram Feature

 

 

Mug Monday & Bookmark Talk

Published on by morganas book box8 Comments

Mug 

Krasilnikoff; Brightest Star Mug, Pink

Topic Of The Day

Bookmarks

 

Hi and welcome to Mug Monday!

With all life´s chaos dealt with I thought it might be a great idea to sit back, kick my shoes off and just enjoy the fact that I´m existing. To take a week to do absolutely nothing besides stare holes into the air and appreciate the little things in life- Something I really enjoy doing.

The weather has been improving ( that´s a lie. Our weather is a little confused lately. 15°C with rain yesterday and 26 °C and sunny today) and since I´m a person who likes to sit outside and just enjoy my natural growing garden ( the lawn mower is still broken ) I actually took my new lifestyle book out and began reading under the burning sun.

 

While I was enjoying reading about the Danish way to live it suddenly dawned on me that I bought new bookmarks!

Yes. Bookmarks. The things I don´t usually buy because I´m one of those creative people who uses toilet paper and other wonderful objects to mark a place in a book.

Here´s my special list of  12 Things You Can Use As Bookmarks. 

But that´s over. Done with. I´m trying to be more organized now.

And since I can´t find the 1 million bookmarks I already have I started buying new ones. Fancy ones. Practical ones.

bookmark

Fine…. They don´t look fancy per se, but they´re fancy compared to 3 layered toiletpaper.

What I love most about my new purchase is: the bookmarks have a rubber band that goes around a book, as well! That band keeps the book closed and prevents the bookmark from falling out ( which has also happened to me a few times )!

An absolute win situation for me.

Here´s to new bookmarks and trying to use them!

 

Much Love,

Morgana xx