I started June off so strong, and then things got rough and I totally fell off of keeping up with anything, haha. Extra time has just been a very rare commodity lately, and my mental health has not been at its best, so therefore focus and productivity has gone down a bit as well. That being said, I'm trying to relieve some pressure on myself to get some things done, and usually I end up being more productive when that happens, so hopefully July means I can get back on track with reviews and blogging. Fingers crossed!
In personal news... there's not too much more to share than I already did above, actually! I officially turned thirty in June, which feels wild, haha. I'm also taking a couple classes through my local community college to explore a few areas in more depth, so that's also been keeping me busy.
In reading news, I read a lot more than I expected, but I fell incredibly behind on posting! I feel a bit bad that I only got around to four reviews this month, but I also realized while making this post that I read a decent number of backlist and non-review books, so that's possibly part of it (though I'd like to return to reviewing more backlist sometime!). Highlights from my reading this past month include finally re-reading the first two books from the Vita Nostra trilogy and I can't wait to finally read the conclusion now. I also really enjoyed Blood Over Bright Haven, and I finally managed to pick up some graphic novels again from my library so I've been having a lot of fun with those, too.
# books read: 15
Thoughts: This was a re-read because it's one of my favorite books and the third book just released in June and I wanted to re-read the first two in preparation, which is something I rarely do. But, knowing how weird and complicated this series is, I figured it would benefit me to do so. I loved Vita Nostra just as much as the first time!
Thoughts: I also did a re-read of the sequel, which was honestly perhaps weirder than I recall, haha, but still fantastic. I'm so curious to see how this story is going to wrap up with the third book!
Thoughts: I'm so glad I finally picked this one up because I really liked it! I fully agree with everyone who says this book lacks subtlety and does hit you over the head a bit with its themes. However, this book does it really well and still manages to have interesting characters, character arcs, world-building, and a magic system, so I really didn't mind it and thought it was really well done.
Thoughts: I read Clark's Boy Parts a couple years ago, and from that book I've come to expect some fairly unhinged stories from her, and this collection proved that that is true! I enjoyed most of these and am eager to read even more from Clark now.
Thoughts: I've been wanting to read Brian Selznick's work for so long because they just always sound so interesting and the artwork is just gorgeous. I don't htink this was quite what I expected, but I really enjoyed it and definitely plan to read his other work now, too.
Thoughts: Iglesias' writing is captivating and this made really curious to read more from him!
Thoughts: The art in this graphic novel is absolutely beautiful. The story itself is pretty solid--nothing groundbreaking, but I'm intrigued enough--and I'm looking forward to reading the second volume.
Thoughts: I always have a great time with Rowenna Miller's work, and I also really enjoyed this one!
Thoughts: I've had Monstress by these authors on my TBR for ages, and I stumbled across this one at the library so picked it up and had a great time with it. I'll definitely continue with it and see where the story goes.
Thoughts: Jane Yang is definitely a new historical fiction author to keep an eye one! I liked this dive into the lives of two women living in nineteenth century China and their many different experiences.
Thoughts: I had such high hopes for this one, but it just didn't quite work for me. I felt like blurb and atmosphere promised a lot, but didn't deliver as much as I'd have hoped.
Thoughts: This was another graphic novel I picked up, and unfortunately this one just didn't really work for me.
Thoughts: This was an incredibly informative and educational book about eating disorders and the current research around them (which, spoiler: there's not nearly enough done on them!) and I think it's a must-read for anyone interested in knowing more about a disease that affects an incredibly large portion of the population. Though please note that if you are or were currently struggling with an eating disorder, this could be a difficult read at times, so just keep that in mind going in.
Thoughts: This book is all about 'otroverts,' which are sort of pitched as something between an introvert and extrovert--somewhat, anyway--and I found it fairly interesting. I'm not sure I'm completely on board with all of it, but an interesting read about human behavior and psychology, nonetheless.
Thoughts: I genuinely don't why I'm still reading this series! I just see it recommended when I go on Libby to continue the series and I just think, "well, why not?" and there we go. This one was also fine. I don't feel the need to read the next (and I think final?) book in this series, but also, should I just read it to finish the series?? Time will tell.
I definitely plan to revisit this one, but I just wasn't connecting with it at the time I picked it up, so I decided to set it down and wait for when I was more in the mood for it. But it seems very promising!
Galaxy Grifter by A. Zaykova
I received the audiobook of this one from the publisher and struggled to really get into. I will probably give this one another shot, but it's not one that I'm really gravitating towards it right now.
6/4: Beasts of Carnaval by Rosália Rodrigo, Pan by Michael Clune, Volatile Memory by Seth Haddon, & Nothing More of this Land by Joseph Lee
6/11: One Yellow Eye by Leigh Radford, Red Rabbit Ghost by Jen Julian, & The Beast in the Clouds by Nathalia Holt
6/18: Birth of a Dynasty by Chinaza Bado, Predatory Natures by Amy Goldsmith, & Jules Verne and the Invention of the Future by Laurence Bergreen
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