Ugriumov Studyblr

First day of the 15 Days of Math challenge!

Had a slow start today, but tomorrow I plan to pick up the pace!

I decided to create (?) this mini challenge for myself because my math skills are on a negative level, and also because I’m spending this last 15 days of January with my dad (who is an engineer) and he’s been helping me a lot since October.

(I wish I had more text editing options on my cell, but oh well)

Every year since 2015 I’ve been a part of a reading challenge with some friends. We come up with certain topics and we must read 30 book every year, chosing books acording to the topics we choose.

If you want to follow my reading progress, follow me on GoodReads or Skoob!

In 2018 however, we’re changing things a little bit. We choose 40 topics, and we must read 30 of the 40. Here’s the full list:

I know, everything is in portuguese, but fear not (lol), I’ll translate all the topics I’m using this year as I post the following book for that topic. In the end, I’ll translate all the topics I didn’t chose to follow.

1. A book with 500+ pages

War Storm - Victoria Aveyard

The last book of The Red Queen series to come out in May. It’s said to have 400 pages in english, but I’m hoping that the portuguese version is 500+ pages long.

2. A classic book with 100+ years

A Relíquia - Eça de Queiroz

From the portuguese author Eça de Queiroz, and published in 1887, it’s a required book for the ‘vestibular’, so it’ll be a way for me to encourage myself in reading these usually dull books.

3. A book published this year

Reunited - Colleen Houck (The Crown of Vengeance - portuguese translation)

The 3rd book of the Reawakened series, I can’t wait for it to come out this month (if I’m not mistaken)

4. A book that won an award

Scythe - Neal Shusterman

I found this book yesterday on a bookstore, and OH MY GOOD I NEED TO READ IT RIGHT NOW! On Good Reads it says it won the Michael L Printz Honor, so I’m hoping that this will be considered an award.

5. A book from a trilogy or series

One Black Throne - Kendare Blake

From The Dark Crowns series, I’m expeting it to be and incredible book, based on how the first one ended, and I’m sure I’ll read it in one sitting.

6. A book from a female author

Caraval - Stephanie Garber

A friend of mine read this book and said she was amazed by how good it was. Since it has a gorgeous cover, and she got me curious about it, I decided to put it in this year’s TBR list.

7. A book from an author you never read before

Atonement - Ian McEwan

I haven’t even watched the movie, but the few scenes I saw got me really interested in the book. It was kinda hard to find it, but I’m finally reading it this year.

8. A book that you have, but never read

The Dinosaur Lords - Victor Milán

When Jurassic World came out, I saw this book on Amazon, and I was so excited to read it, but other books kept gettig in the way, so, after so long in my shelves, I’ll finally read it!

9. A national book (Brazil)

O Cortiço - Aluísio Azevedo

Another one of those ‘vestibular’ books. God, why are there so many?!

11. A book with a LGBT character

And I Darken - Kiersten White (Daghter of Darkness in portuguese)

I know I skipped 10, but since I need to get rid of 10 topics, #10 was one of them. Filha das Trevas was a book suggested to me by the same friend that read Caraval, and, acording to her, there is someone who’s gay in the story, so #11 it is.

12. A book outside of your confort zone

Iracema - José de Alencar

And one more for the ‘vestibular’. Since I’ve never read any of these books, I’d say they’re pretty outside of my confort zone.

13. A book with illustrations

The Ersatz Elevator - Lemony Snicket

This topic was created because people wanted to read manga and comics for the challenge however, any book with illustrations will do as well. I hope I finish reading A Series of Unfortunate Events soon, but maybe only in 2019.

14. A book that you met in 2018′ Challenge

The Darkest Part of the Forest - Holly Black (The Darkest CORNER of the Forest in portuguese)

The best thing about having friends that participate in the same challenge as you do, is that you know what books they’ll read, so you can “predict the future”.

15. A book of tales

Sagarana - João Guimarães Rosa

‘Vestibular’. Why, God, why?!

16. A book with a title that describes your life

The Cruelty - Scott Bergstrom

At first I was going to read Fangir - Rainbow Rowell, but since 2017 was the worst for me, and I bought this book yesterday and I’m in love with it’s cover and synopsis, I decided to change it.

17. A book from an author that uses initials

A Darker Shade of Magic - V. E. Schwab

I bought this book as soon as it was released here in Brazil, but never got the chance to sit down with it. I’m a little afraid that it won’t match my expectations, but I’ve put it off for far too long now. Time to face my fears!

18. A book with death

The Maze Runner - James Dashner (Run or Die in portuguese, lol)

This is another series that I’m afraid I might not like, but 2018 is an year of fighting, so it’s another fear I must conquer.

19. A book that takes place on the sea

The Girl From Everywhere - Heidi Heilig (They added ‘The Time Map’ to the title in portuguese)

Bought this book because the same friend I mentioned a few times now told me the synopsis and it seemed really interesting.

20. A book from you favorite topic from past challenges

A Court of Thorns and Roses - Sarah J. Maas

2015, item 7 - A book with non-human characters

Another book I’ve been lingering to star. Mostly because I’m tired of big series, and the following two books have around 600 pages, but lets take one step at a time and read the first one first.

22. A book with a noun in the title

Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas - Machado de Assis

This one is a bit weird. It is another ‘vestibular’ book however, I’m actually curious to read it. Who knows, I might like it.

23. A book you should have read last year, but couldn’t

Minha Vida de Menina - Helena Morley

‘Vestibular’ and I’m not even far from being excited to read it. Wish I could just not read it.

24. A book you saw someone reading in public

See You In The Cosmos - Jack Cheng

I started reading it a few days ago and I’M LOVING IT! It’s not the kind of book I’m used to reading, but it’s so well written and you really start to feel sorry for the kid and want to hug him every page almost. I’m predicting tears before end of the book.

26. A book from the bottom of your TBR list

The Kiss of Deception - Mary E. Pearson

I bought this book on impulse, and it’s been gathering dust in my shelf since then, but no more!

27. A book someone gave to you

This Savage Song - Victoria Schwab

Technically I bought it, but my mom paid, soooo...

28. A book that takes place in another planet

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet - Becky Chambers

My friend got two copies and gave one to me telling me how much she cried and loved this books. Been eager to read it ever since.

30. A book from an author you love, but hasn’t read yet

The Redeemer - Jo Nesbø

Ever since I dicovered Snowman I fell in love with Nesbo’s books, specially the Harry Hole novels! I’ve been reading them all in the wrong order because they were difficult to find here, but now that Record publishing company is releasing all the books in amazing black and white covers, I’m getting the books I didn’t have. (Even though most of the times the english editions, or older editions are cheaper then the new ones)

31. A book that takes place in school

Turtles All The Way Down - John Green

This was my first John Green book and I loved it! I totally saw myself in Ava’s shoes in some of the interactions and I loved the way he talked about anxiety. The ending left me disapointed though, since it was way to ‘bright’ for something that will never be that bright.

35. A book from Africa

Mayombe - Pepetela

You guessed it. ‘Vestibular’.

36. A book from Latin America

Vidas Secas - Graciliano Ramos

I hope think this is the last ‘vestibular’ one. Thank God!

40. A book recomended by someone else in the challenge

Around the first week of the challenge, we have a raffle of sorts to find out who will recomend who a book. It hasn’t happened yet, so I don’t know which book will be here.

The topics I didn’t use this year are:

10. A book based on real events or a biography

21. A cyberpunk book

25. A book written between 1914 and 1945

29. A collection of poems of the nationality of your ancestry

33. A book of chronicles (is this right?) 

34. A book published when you were born (year +/-2; for example, I was born in 1992, so a book from 1990 to 1994)

37. A book from Eastern Europe

38. A book from Asia

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

To start off this soon-to-be-amazing 2018, nothing better then putting together my new Bullet Journal/Planner! I’ve been super lucky to get my hands on a Passion Planner, and I must say I’m in love with it’s quality. The paper texture is amazing, the cover is super soft, and the printing is full HD, lol. I ended up choosing the undated option because it was cheaper, but next year I’m probably spending a little more in order to get a dated one.

I also put together a 2018 TBR list. Every year, since 2015, I’ve been a part of a reading challange. We read around 30 books per year, and have to follow some topics that we get together to vote for. This year, however, I chose to organize the book list before starting the challenge, and not on the go like I did previous years. Later today or maybe tomorrow I’ll put together a post with all the books I’m planing on reading (with pictures too!).

I’ve been taking a few days to myself and to relax before going back to studying. I had a friend from another state come over for a week, I finished a large book I was reading, I started another thinner book I wanted to read, I’m getting a hair cut, getting my nails done, getting a massage, and all that stuff in order to relax.

However, I’ve been feeling sleepier then usual, and most of all, I’ve been feeling guilty I’m not studing.

I know I need my rest, and we are close to the hollidays, but I just can’t shake this feeling off.

I can’t believe I’m almost through with this year’s “vestibulares”. It seems like yesterday that I started studying (late) for it, and now it’s almost over for 2017.

This week my focus will be on memorizing some math and physic formulas in order to get better results in my last two tests this weekend.

I’m already so excited to study more (and better) next year!

Wish me luck~

THE FOREST APP IS AMAZING! Been using it for a few months now and it’s sooo good! I love to see my trees grow over time and to hear the sound of my forest when I open the side view. I don’t have a problem with losing focus because of my phone, but it helps me know how long I’ve been studying and how much I need to improve. It’s paid for iOS, but I did not regret buying it at all. For Android is free, but have some features that need to be paid to be used.