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| Lonely Hearts Hotel is NOT included in this wrap up. It was, however, on last month's. lol. |
Hi,
It's been a while and I really, really considered posting even a wrap up last month but I ended up putting it off until it came to the end of May and told myself, I'll just do a combine wrap up and leave it at that. So here we are. lol.
April was normal, I guess. It's not exactly eventful. I started doing my weekly "reading plans" just to spice up my reading and push myself to read more (spoiler alert: nothing happened much. I'm still at the same pace. lol. but we'll get there. I hope). I also participated in Dewey's 24-hr readathon but I somehow failed, I think. I mean reading-wise, I didn't read as much as I wanted to. But I'm still continuing my personal monthly readathon (which also did not happen in May. ugh!). So all is good.
May, however, is the high stress month for me. Let me count the ways it brought me down (lol):
- my local bookstore finally got a job opening late April so I applied, got an initial interview early May, had an exam and submitted it after a couple of days, and heard nothing from them. Sad moment for me. I wanted to go back there and work for an office position. I applied for graphic designer and photographer (I worked there a few years back but as a book specialist/bookseller/customer service). So there's that. Throughout the month I somewhat hoped for their call and I got so hung up on that, it wasn't even good. lol.
- Had another confrontation with my book best friend (aka the guy I like). We talked about past feelings, past interactions, and what we are going forward. It was difficult for me, maybe for him as well. And I just let all my feelings out again like a few months ago when I confessed to him. (spoiler alert! all is good, we're still best friends, I hate this pandemic!! but hopefully we'll see each other in the next few months. I told him I wanna see him on my birthday month. lol. hope that happens).
- This one did not exactly brought me down but more like an actual realization and it's quite freeing, personally. I just found out about Aphantasia and I relate to that so much. And that let me understand why I can't exactly imagine things as I read them. It's nothing stressful. It's more of something that allowed me to really just embrace my inner lack of imagination. lol.
- I had a mini-break down from some personal things. That I spent maybe an hour (?) just crying or what. I was talking to my best friend (ahh yes, it's still him, the book best friend) for some part of it but generally, I just stayed with myself as I gather my thoughts, write on my journal, and calm myself down.
So yeah, given all these, my mood to blog and somewhat read just plummeted throughout the month of May. Also, on a better note, I got vaccinated. Got my first shot on the last week of May. I got a light fever after that but I was still grinding even then. So all is good. My next shot is in 21 weeks they say, so August.
Apologies for all the personal stuff. idk. I probably just got used to writing everything down. (and I'm somewhat comfortable here knowing that no one I know personally actually reads this. lol).
NOW ON TO THE BOOKS! 👇👇👇
books read
Throne of Glass - this is a reread because I want to get through half of the series this year. It was cringe af but I can power through. Like before I liked Dorian but unlike before, I don't care about the romance side of the story anymore. Also, wow Celaena is annoying? Has she always been like this? lol.
Mother May I (A book that has the same title as a song) - I wasn't invested on the mystery side and I didn't care about the main character but I did like the whole point of the book if I'm getting it right. Although the ending didn't sit well for me. Like, where is the justice?
The Little Bookshop on the Seine (A book where the main character works at your current or dream job) - enjoyed it but not as much as I expected. I like Sarah's growth as a character and I absolutely like her love interest!!
Mother May I (A book that has the same title as a song) - I wasn't invested on the mystery side and I didn't care about the main character but I did like the whole point of the book if I'm getting it right. Although the ending didn't sit well for me. Like, where is the justice?
The Little Bookshop on the Seine (A book where the main character works at your current or dream job) - enjoyed it but not as much as I expected. I like Sarah's growth as a character and I absolutely like her love interest!!
The Yellow Wallpaper (The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list) - an interesting take on postpartum depression. After reading this, I ended up reading further about this. Sparknotes really gave a good background on this book about how this condition was never really addressed during those times and how dominant patriarchy is during that time.
The Ask and the Answer (A book everyone seems to have read but you) - I'm not exactly invested in the series but I'm also generally okay with it. I guess I'm just not liking it as much as everyone? It's quite interesting though and I like how this book ended. Just more things to come!! Also, I like how Patrick Ness writes, I guess. Feels a bit like Neal Shusterman with how every part is purposeful. Everything is important. Every little detail. I think (?) lol. I'll try to get through book 3 soon!!!
Glass Town: The Imaginary World of the Brontës (A book in a different format than what you normally read) - I like its take on the Brontës's imaginary world. It explained things well and how things go among the siblings. The illustrations were also fantastic.
The Authenticity Project (A book about art or an artist) - I enjoyed reading this. It was quite light and I absolutely enjoyed all the characters. I like the twist in the end and generally how it was wrapped up. I wanna mention similar books but it feels like spoilers. lol.
Bruiser (The book on your TBR list with the ugliest cover) - I'm just out here getting through my stack of Neal Shusterman books. I liked this. I like the writing. Brewster's ability, though unexplained, was quite interesting.
The Last Anniversary (A book featuring three generations (grandparent, parent, child)) - I got bored with this? I didn't care for any of the characters especially on Sophie's romance problems. I pushed through this because I want to know the Alice and Jack Munro mystery. And somehow, it was still nicely done/explained so I guess it was all good.
The Ask and the Answer (A book everyone seems to have read but you) - I'm not exactly invested in the series but I'm also generally okay with it. I guess I'm just not liking it as much as everyone? It's quite interesting though and I like how this book ended. Just more things to come!! Also, I like how Patrick Ness writes, I guess. Feels a bit like Neal Shusterman with how every part is purposeful. Everything is important. Every little detail. I think (?) lol. I'll try to get through book 3 soon!!!
Glass Town: The Imaginary World of the Brontës (A book in a different format than what you normally read) - I like its take on the Brontës's imaginary world. It explained things well and how things go among the siblings. The illustrations were also fantastic.
The Authenticity Project (A book about art or an artist) - I enjoyed reading this. It was quite light and I absolutely enjoyed all the characters. I like the twist in the end and generally how it was wrapped up. I wanna mention similar books but it feels like spoilers. lol.
Bruiser (The book on your TBR list with the ugliest cover) - I'm just out here getting through my stack of Neal Shusterman books. I liked this. I like the writing. Brewster's ability, though unexplained, was quite interesting.
The Last Anniversary (A book featuring three generations (grandparent, parent, child)) - I got bored with this? I didn't care for any of the characters especially on Sophie's romance problems. I pushed through this because I want to know the Alice and Jack Munro mystery. And somehow, it was still nicely done/explained so I guess it was all good.
read 52 books: 23 of 52
popsugar reading challenge: 22 of 50
read big books (500+ pages): 2
read books I own in 2020/earlier: 20
reread books: 2
read big books (500+ pages): 2
read books I own in 2020/earlier: 20
reread books: 2
read more ebooks: 5
book haul
The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict | At the End of the Matinee by Keiichiro Hirano | The Strange Journey of Alice Pendelbury by Marc Levy | You Love Me (You #3) by Caroline Kepnes | Everfound (Skinjacker #3) by Neal Shusterma | Parable of the Talents (Earthseed #2) by Octavia E. Butler | The Night of Many Endings by Melissa Payne
7 Books in 2 months. Looks good to me. And 3 of these books I got for free!! You Love Me and Everfound are my first physical book purchase since I got Glasstown Game in October/November last year. I miss going to bookstores. I really do!! I ordered these 2 online though and it just doesn't feel the same.
now this post has gone longer than usual. thanks for your time if you read everything 😅😅😅
HOW ABOUT YOU GUYS,
How was the last couple of months for you guys? Anything you want to share? New hobby, projects, travel, books? How was your reading month? Anything new to your faves?
How was the last couple of months for you guys? Anything you want to share? New hobby, projects, travel, books? How was your reading month? Anything new to your faves?
let's connect!
I am holding out hope for you with the bookstore. I hope they call you. I loved The Authenticity Project, but I was mad about the ending. I did appreciate the way it tackled the idea of connection and community, and it left me rather warm and fuzzy
ReplyDeleteIt's an upside that they haven't really hired anyone, I believe. At least that's what I think since the position is still posted on their website. I was generally okay with the ending. I've encountered books that ended that way that also have somewhat the same vibes and I like them so I guess it turned out better for me.
DeleteLooks like you read many good books the last couple of months. Congrats on getting your vaccination but sorry about the fever. I hope you are feeling better. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI did :) The fever only lasted a day so I'm good. Thank you, Yvonne!
DeleteSometimes it's good to share online when you know no one in your real personal life will see. Can be liberating I think? Good luck with your best friend and I hope everything works out well! :) And that June is a better month!!
ReplyDeleteTrue! It really is. I've probably share other personal stuff here and it really helps me. I wanted us to be together in a relationship but we've talked about it and we're staying as friends. He said he said he doesn't want to be another in another relationship. We're best friends either way, so I'm good I guess :) Thank you, Greg!
DeleteIt is so hard when you are looking forward to a job and it just doesn't happen. I hope that you will be able to get together with your friend very soon. Congrats on getting your first shot.
ReplyDeleteIt is especially since it's the one I really wanted right from the beginning. We're talking about the how and when we'll see each other. Kind of a hard schedule for us since he lives in the province while I'm in the city. Thank you, Carole! It'll be a while for my next shot but we're getting there :)
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