The Weekly Update: 3/5/17

 
 

I love Google. I mean, obviously I love Google, we all love Google, but have you ever tried searching for a song you didn’t know, like, any words to? It’s astonishing the things you can find thanks to Google. Seriously, I had a song stuck in my head and wanted to listen to it, but I didn’t actually know the words, so I typed “muse gravity yeah yeah yeah” into the search bar, and, believe it or not, the sixth result was, in fact, the song I was looking for. And that song was “Time is Running Out” by Muse. The word “gravity” isn’t even in the song, guys. Lol. Upon listening, I discovered it’s actually “bury it.” But Google still knew what I was talking about.

Though I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised since, in the past, I’ve found songs I was looking for that were in Spanish, and I don’t speak Spanish, so I didn’t even have a single word to go by. I had made-up words and basically the feeling of the song. But I still managed to find them because Google knows all.

Anyway, on that creepy note πŸ˜‰ I’m gonna move onto the rest of the post since I don’t have any actual news for this week.

Scratch that, I had one interesting thing happen on Saturday after I wrote this post. As I was leaving my apartment, I walked past a father and son who live in my building. The father winked when he said hello, and then the son (behind him), winked in the exact same way when he said hello. It wasn’t a creepy wink or anything, but it was funny to me because is this just a “like father, like son” thing? Or do they, like, plan this? Maybe it was mere coincidence? Did the father teach his son his patented wink in some sort of father-son bonding moment? Did his son just pick it up from him? I have so many questions, haha.


Blog/Bookish Updates:

Wow, I don’t have any news this week, not even bookish!

Books I Received for Review:

Broken by Jex Lane | reading, books
Warlock in Training by TJ Nichols | reading, books
Pandora by Marguerite Labbe | reading, books
 

Every time I think I’m finally getting through all the review copies with deadlines, I inevitably end up with more lol.

Books I Finished:

Stolen Ink by Holly Evans | reading, books
Broken by Jex Lane | reading, books
When Planets Fall by Abby J. Reed | reading, books
 

I had a really hard time getting into Stolen Ink, so it took me a while to get through. Broken, however, I did not want to put down even though it was nearly 500 pages! But then my reading went back downhill a bit with When Planets Fall because it was unique and had great disability rep, but little things kept bothering me, and I didn’t really feel invested until near the end when got a lot more unpredictable and interesting.

Song of the Week:

“Time is Running Out” by Muse – Christy pointed out that I should make this my song of the week since I talked all about it in my intro, so here it is πŸ˜›

 

In Case You Missed It:

– I gave tips for how to request review copies from self-pub authors.
– I shared mini reviews for three graphic novels (Sex Criminals Vol. 1, Rocky Horror Picture Show: The Comic Book, and Day Men Vol. 1).
– I discussed realism in books and how important I think it is for basic necessities to be included.
– I reviewed Gospel of the Forgotten by J. Armand, another great book in an urban fantasy series with fantastic characterization.

The Sunday Post Link-Up:

Once again, I’m linking up to The Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer πŸ™‚

 
 
 
 

Talk to me!

Did you find any good books or music last week?
Have you ever found songs on Google you didn't know any words to?

 
 
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Your Thoughts

 

62 thoughts on “The Weekly Update: 3/5/17

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  1. Greg

    LOL I’m good at making up my own words to songs. We’ll call them alternative lyrics πŸ˜› but yeah it’s scary how Google knows what we’re looking for. Let’s hope google never becomes self aware- it already knows to much. πŸ™‚

    Love that cover of Broken.

    1. Kristen Burns

      Sometimes our own words are better, right? πŸ˜› It really is crazy though how well Google can figure out what we’re looking for. It does know too much. I swear the internet in general freaks me out sometimes.

  2. Christy LoveOfBooks

    Haha! Maybe the father was teaching the son how to flirt. You should wink at next time you see them. πŸ˜€ What? How can you not have the Muse song you hunted down as your song of the week? lol

    1. Kristen Burns

      Lol idk but it was just such a funny thing to experience. I swear it was the exact same “Hello *wink*” from both of them. I’m not really a winker myself, haha. And there, I added the song, per your request πŸ˜›

  3. Geybie's Book Blog

    Oh I love your graphics! You’re so talented, Kristen.
    Google is getting smarter each day. It’s terrifying, though. It’s gonna beat humans in intellectual department. πŸ˜‰
    Great books you have this week. Cant wait to read your thoughts. πŸ˜€

  4. Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews

    I love Muse! And it IS a bit creepy that google figured out what you meant, actually. Like, how do they even do that? What kind of algorhythm can find a song based on lyrics that aren’t in that song? Really, please someone enlighten me. Now, I want to spend the rest of my Sunday listening to Muse rather than working on my thesis πŸ˜€ anything to procrastinate!
    I am still laughing out loud about the father / son wink. I’m pretty sure the son has picked this up from his dad, and they might even both be unaware that they’re doing it… Natural charmers?
    Have a wonderful week ahead and happy reading, Kristen.

    1. Kristen Burns

      Those “yeah yeah yeahs” really had to pull their weight in that search, haha. But I’m still baffled as to how I found those Spanish songs in the past because I legit did not know any actual words. And pshhh, forget your thesis, you should totally spend the day listening to Muse! πŸ˜‰

      I’m still laughing about it too because it was too perfect. He probably did pick up from his dad, and probably neither even knew that the other one did it, haha.

      Thanks, same to you!

  5. Maureen Beatrice

    Google is kind of creepy I suppose. I definitely don’t know what I would do without Google. I use it so much I would go crazy without it! LOL!
    Whaha.. I think you should go ask the father- and-son!! We need to know how they got the same wink down etc. They can’t leave us with so many questions!!
    Have a great week Kristen! πŸ˜‰

  6. chucklesthescot

    I found the father and son winking thing a bit creepy actually. I wouldn’t personally wink back as it might give them the wrong signals y’know? I’m very suspicious of people in general and always wary of what their intentions are but being paranoid keeps me alert and safe! I love that Muse song. I don’t hear much ‘modern’ music as I don’t listen to TV music channels, radio or anything but I heard that song a good few years back on a TV talent show. I use google quite often to get song names…that’s how I found Muse myself.

    1. Kristen Burns

      I didn’t wink back lol. But it came off as more like their “thing” than anything creepy. But being wary does keep you safe! I have no idea where I first heard Muse, but they have some good music!

  7. Becky @ A Fool's Ingenuity

    Google is amazing I don’t disagree. I find out so many things because of Google. My friend was telling me her work make fun of her because she Google’s everything but we both just like knowing stuff. I don’t know how people coped with their random thoughts and things which bugged them before the internet. Also, love this Muse song. I haven’t heard it in forever but I was completely obsessed with Muse for a couple of years, such a good band. As for the kid copying his dad when he winked, I think it must be learned behaviour. Kids always copy what their parents and others around them do and he must have seen him do it. It does make me question how often the dad must say hi and wink.

    1. Kristen Burns

      The people at her work are mean! I love using Google too! Seriously, I don’t know how people survived before it either. Muse does have some great songs. That’s true, the dad must do it a lot more the kid to have learned it. I guess it’s just his “thing”!

      1. Becky @ A Fool's Ingenuity

        They are but it may be a generational thing as a lot of them are older so didn’t get the same use out of Google we have. It is definitely the thing I use most. I wouldn’t know what to do without Google. I wouldn’t know how to get anywhere, my sense of direction is shocking!

  8. Mareli Thalwitzer

    Halloooo….. Missed my much? I missed you and was SOOO glad when I saw your familiar bloggy thingy. How are you? Things are looking good at your blog! (As always)

    I’m doing okay, will try to be “back” a bit more. Loved your opening paragraph on Google. LOL!!! That is so true. Google beats Big Brother – Google really knows everything…..

    I saw When planets fall doing the rounds. Actually still meant to look into it. Will have a look at your review.

    Anyway – we’ll chat again soon. Have a really great week!

    1. Kristen Burns

      Missed you SO much!!! Glad you’re back πŸ˜€ And aww, thanks πŸ™‚

      Google really does seem to know everything, right??

      If it sounds interesting to you, you should give it a try! It wasn’t a bad book, just had some little things that bothered me and took a while for me to really get into, but that’s just me.

      Thanks, you have a great week too!

  9. Laurie @ Barks Book Nonsense

    Ha, Google is creepy and all knowing, now that you mention it, I don’t know how I ever got along or finished a review without good old, creepy Google! My week was too filled with non-bookish fun and I am way behind on my blogging. I hope your week of reading is awesome!

  10. Tracy @ Cornerfolds

    Haha! I do love Google! I was without internet for a week and it is really obvious how much I depend on it when I’m without it! I hope you enjoy all your new reads! Broken does look really interesting! Have a great week πŸ˜€

    1. Kristen Burns

      Oh gosh, I get anxious just being without internet for a few hours, how did you survive?! I really enjoyed Broken πŸ™‚ Thanks, you have a great week too!

  11. Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library

    Google is creepy if you think about it. I try not to too much because I love Google! The father/son thing is hilarious. My son is basically a clone of my husband and they have a lot of the same mannerisms. I’d guess the son just picked it up from watching his dad. How funny how it played out! Have a great week!

    1. Kristen Burns

      Lol I do get creeped out by the internet sometimes, but I need it too much to let it stop me from using it! You’re probably right, he must’ve picked it up from his dad and probably neither even realized that the other winked when they said hello, haha. Thanks, same to you!

  12. Michelle @Because Reading

    Google can be amazing…creepy but amazing. lol πŸ™‚

    I would rather have a winking father and son than a neighbor that every time I see him, he’s in a shirt and the next second he’s shirtless! EVERY TIME he sees me. The guy is weird and I think he just realized I was married because my husband made sure he knew.

    Have a great week, Kristen! Happy Reading!

    1. Kristen Burns

      Agreed, I love Google, creepiness and all πŸ˜›

      Ok yeah, the winking seemed harmless but your shirtless neighbor definitely sounds creepy.

      Thanks, same to you!

  13. Lampshade Reader

    I LOVE β€œTime is Running Out” by Muse. Although a long time ago my dad pointed out that the singer inhales really loud and I had not noticed that before. So now it bugs me when I listen to it. (::murmers:: Thanks Dad.) LOL

    The sad fact is that Google DOES know all.

    Maybe that father was flirting with you, and the son just wanted to join in? (I’ve read WAY too many romance novels LOL)

    Hope you have a great week! ~Aleen

    1. Kristen Burns

      Such a great song! But crap, now I’m gonna end up noticing that next time I listen, haha.

      Google really does know all!

      Eww, no lol. Pretty sure the dad is too old for me (not to mention married) and the son is too young for me!

  14. S. J. Pajonas

    Google is really really good at finding stuff. Sometimes, if I actually can’t find what I’m looking for on Google, I think the world must be broken. Lol.

  15. Samantha

    Oh my gosh that father/son duo sounds like the plot to a romance novel and I love it!! Too cute.

    I am fond of telling my students about life pre-google. How did we survive?? I mean seriously?

    Have a great week!

    1. Kristen Burns

      Lol you’re the second person to mention romance novels. But no, definitely not about to start a romance with either of them, haha.

      I barely even remember pre-Google. Although I do remember actually having to go to the library and get real books when I had school reports to do!

      Thanks, you too!

  16. Barb (boxermommyreads)

    I love the cover for Broken. I know what you’re saying about looking up songs. Mr. Barb is the worst about having a word or two and think that because I love music, I should know what he’s talking about. I’ve spent too much time on the computer searching for obscure lyrics. Glad you search was much easier.

  17. Let's Get Beyond Tolerance

    Oh gosh, I love Google for most things but it’s GREAT when I’m trying to figure out a song. haha

    That’s kind of funny about the father/son wink. I guess the son just mimics his dad? I mean, my nephew kind of does that too.

    -Lauren

  18. Danya @ Fine Print

    Google knows all! Seriously, it’s a bit unsettling hahaha. Aww, the non-creepy winking from father and son sounds adorable! I wish that people other than 3rd and 4th year undergrads lived in my building so I could get something other than a hungover grunt in the morning! ?

    1. Kristen Burns

      I do get creeped out by the internet sometimes and everything it know. The winking was so funny lol. But hey, a hungover grunt isn’t so bad, at least they’re not bothering you πŸ˜›

  19. Laura Thomas

    I always find it fun when I type a search into Google. It’s like a box of chocolates. You never know….LOL Great song by the way. And great books too!

  20. Michelle @ FaerieFits

    Google will take over the world. I, too, have looked up songs with wrong words / in languages I don’t even speak. I’ve even found the name of a CLASSICAL song by trying to represent the melody with do’s and ta’s (in fairness; that took a LOT of persistence on my part). That just SHOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE! And yet … it’s super convenient!

    The wink thing is hilarious. I bet the boy noticed his dad do it all the time and just decided to play copy-cat. My brother used to do that kind of stuff ALL the time πŸ™‚

    1. Kristen Burns

      Lmao I can’t remember if I’ve ever found songs by do’s and ta’s, but I feel like I have. It’s incredible what you can find on the internet!

      Yeah, he probably did just pick it up from his dad, but it was so funny!

    1. Kristen Burns

      That seems odd that people are so shocked by that. Like, they think you’re supposed to get all of your information from encyclopedias and research books or something? That would be so much work for things Google can find in a second!

  21. Bookworm Brandee

    Omigosh! I LOVE Muse!!! And I also love Google. So much. I can’t even tell you the depth of my love for Google. LOL I used it ALL. THE. TIME. when I worked full-time at Barnes & Noble because I’d have people come in and say, “I’m looking for this book. I don’t know the title or the author but it has a blue cover.” Yep. So after asking some questions and using the beauty that is Google, 9 times out of 10, I was able to figure out what book they were looking for. πŸ˜€ Anyway, that’s only a small portion of my Google love story.
    The winking father and son are kinda cute! And it sounds like you had a pretty good week even if it wasn’t all that newsy. I’m so happy you enjoyed the Jex Lane book…I want to start that series! (and I already have book 1) Hope you’re enjoying this week so far!

    1. Kristen Burns

      Muse has some great songs! And I use Google SO much lol. Hahaha that B&N story is great. It’s amazing what Google can find.

      The winking was so funny. I’m perfectly happy with uneventful weeks—at least it means nothing bad happened! I’ll be curious to see what you think of the Jex Lane series. Thanks, you too!

  22. Di @ Book Reviews by Di

    Bahaha – I’m so glad you found that song title!

    I think it’s crazy how things can run in the family – even if not actually taught or learnt on purpose! Like in my daughter I can see little things that she does that reminds me so much of her cousin (my sister in law’s son) and I wonder at how she even DOES these things when they barely see each other! It’s just hereditary I guess?

    The cover of Broken looks awesome! It sounds like you enjoyed it too!

    I haven’t managed to finish Black Snow yet – I’ve been plodding along though but I have to say that the second half of the book is definitely a step or two down from the first. I think I’m really not enjoying being bogged down in all the politics? I still want to know what happens though as I’m obviously already invested in these characters.

    1. Kristen Burns

      Lol thanks!

      I’ve heard things about how sometimes random little things are somehow hereditary. Like, a child will be adopted but end up making the same types of facial expressions or doing things the birth mother did, that kind of thing.

      I did enjoy Broken!

      That was exactly how I felt about Black Snow! I would’ve given the first half 4.5 stars and the second half 4 stars if I could’ve. I’m not a big fan of politics, and there was a lot of that in the second half. But I still thought it was well-written and was invested.

  23. Dragonfly @ Our Familiarium

    Yup I agree that Google it’s pretty amazing but never thought of it as “creepy” before, though πŸ™‚
    You are reading WAAAAY too much dark fanatasy K!
    My brother, who didn’t grow up with my dad because my parents divorced when he was four, still surprises me doing the same gestures and even making the same kinda jokes my dad does! πŸ™‚
    But.. consider this… maybe it wasn’t them. MAybe it wasn’t a father-son thingy. MAYBE it was you and your irresistible cuteness and maybe any creature around but have done the same [wink] πŸ˜‰
    I remember trying Captive and it was a DNF but it could be my Fantasy allergy so I added it to GR again to try it when I can read fantasy again πŸ™‚

    1. Kristen Burns

      The internet legit creeps me out sometimes. It knows too much about us!

      That’s so crazy to me. Like, I used to think our personalities and quirks and things were mostly from our environment, but then there are cases where people don’t even meet their parents or family until they’re grown or something yet they have the same gestures and things, like in your example. But hmm, I do like your other theory πŸ˜€

      Gah, still not in a fantasy mood?! This is blasphemy!

  24. Lola

    Yes I actually have done that a few times. My memory works weird and then sometimes I suddenly have this song I remember or is stuck in my head, but I can’t remember the name. I even once found a song from an anime I didn’t remember by just typing what i remembered and google helped me find the name again. It can be creepy, but also very handy and impressive how it works so well.

    I usually don’t pick up too many review copies with deadlines, but every time when i think I don’t have any I always end of signing-up for some new ones somehow. I have two review copies for tours early April, although I am still waiting to receive one of them.

    Sorry to hear you had a hard time with Stolen Ink it sounded interesting. Glad to hear Broken was so good. I don’t read a lot of flong books, so when i am reading one and don ‘t mind the length at all I know I am reading a good one. I hope this week was a good one too!

    1. Kristen Burns

      Google is so great at finding songs. Yeah, it’s both creepy and useful lol.

      I get some books that do have deadlines. Even on NG if it’s from an actual publisher, they usually want it within a month of the release or something. And I get eARCs from two different publishers and a few author ARC teams. But ugh, I hate deadlines because of my mood reading. That sucks that you still haven’t gotten the book yet for the tour that’s in April :-/

      I think you might maybe like Stolen Ink, if you’re interested? I can’t even remember right now what it was that I liked and disliked about it lol, but it wasn’t terrible and was UF. And I don’t think there was anything too graphic. Thanks!