#readingwu

[shadowtearling]

NOVEMBER 2018 — This was a reeeeeaaallllyy good month, quantity- and quality- wise. I found myself genuinely enjoying the books I was reading, which is a relief after a shit year thus far tbh. It’s like I remembered to have feelings! Wow! I’m human. Also a crybaby. So many tissues...

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

I was so nervous going into this because it’s so beloved, and nothing sucks more than being disappointed by a widely loved book like this (plus I already told myself I was never going to touch this series LOL @ past me, you fool). The first quarter was difficult to get into because there’s just so much information withheld from the reader, and, at one point, I started to become frustrated, feeling like an idiot for not knowing what the hell was going on. As the book went on, I found myself just wholly engrossed in Lyra’s character that not knowing became a secondary priority. It didn’t matter anymore that I knew absolutely nothing as long as I was on this journey to finding out with someone as witty, clever, and kind-hearted as Lyra. I was rooting for her the whole way through and was genuinely panicking when she was in danger. The second half is definitely much better than the first just because it feels less like fumbling around in the dark. Her parents are freaks. Bear dad for the win. Also, that ending... how she just gonna do That? girl.. Gonna try to read the rest of the series whenever that happens lol

My Plain Jane by The Lady Janies (Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows)

This was so. much. fun. I was reading this at a Barnes and Noble, while sat near this group of old men (who don’t know each other) talking about who knows what, and laughing out loud every few pages. (One of them finally got fed up after a few minutes and asked me what I was reading—I was literally holding the cover up, but I digress—and I struggled to explain that this is a Jane Eyre retelling full of nagging ghosts. How can such a Serious Novel™ possibly have a laugh-out-loud retelling? It works (but only because they throw every single fact out the window). If you really love Jane Eyre and Charlotte Brontë, this may not be the book for you. They mischaracterize both women, and while I didn’t mind, others might. This is also a pretty straightforward retelling of the novel in that the very basic structure is there, but I found that I kept turning the page because I wanted to know how exactly they would deviate from the original storyline. I really wasn’t disappointed. I especially love the Rochester shade. :)

It’s Not Like It’s a Secret by Misa Sigiura

It’s not like it’s a secret that I don’t like this book. I really just talked this to death. The first half was going okay, but Sana, the main character, was really bland and had no real passion or interest that gave her character dimension. Oh, and there’s a million cheating plotlines that were resolved terribly. Find you a better book. Read my lengthy review (in which spoilers are involved).

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

I didn’t mean to love this as much as I do. I was scared about it at first, wondering if I’ll love it more or less than Uprooted and terrified that either outcome would be true. Thankfully, I love this differently to its predecessor. I think Uprooted is just so special to me in a way where I felt like it was the only companion I was afforded when I had no one else. I read that book during a really terrible time in my life lol. But this one reminded me why I love reading, after a whole year of feeling terrible that I couldn’t find it in me to give a shit about any of the books I was picking up. It’s the perfect atmospheric book, and I definitely picked it up at the right time, with the cold just beginning to settle into my bones. I fell in love with Miryem and Irina, and it makes sense because they’re mirrors of each other. What I love most, probably besides the ending, is how none of the characters are willing participants of their fairy tale, but they’re clever enough to know how to work the system so they at least survive it. And survive they did. I also loved how every perspective felt distinctly different from the last that I never found myself wondering from who I was reading. One more thing, Mirnatius is very dear to my heart. (His character, though, is questionable because he’s the only dark skinned person in the story, and he’s also literally the devil. I don’t know how to process that because I know he’s also seen later on as a victim, but like.... still... lol)

REREAD! We Are Okay by Nina LaCour

I love this book a lot. I was feeling all sorts of feelings, and I wanted to let some of that emotion out. I still think this handles grief and loneliness so well. I think because I’m in a different place than I was when I first read this, especially regarding to those two things, my reaction and takeaway is extremely different. First read, I was mostly dealing with the suffocating weight of loneliness. Now, I picked this up specifically because I’m grieving, differently from Marin, but nonetheless grieving. Who knows, maybe when I read this again in the future, I’ll once again be in a different place and I get something completely different from the first two times. This book is great for any occasion, though. If you want a good cry, for whatever reason, this is It.

The Beast is an Animal by Peternelle van Arsdale 

I enjoyed this book, but I doubt this is something I’ll remember a year from now. I liked the writing, simple but compelling. I thought that Alys’s apathy was done really well. I was caught off guard and cried a little (I’m sensitive, Aubrey), but I love that. This is a really slow book, with a whole lot of nothing happening. I like books like that, especially because this made up for its slowness with the atmosphere. My problem is that the ending was rushed, and it became extremely obvious that Alys was not a character who does things; rather, things happen To Her. The other issue is the love interest/story: I don’t mind insta-love as long as we see relationship growth within the novel. Because of time jumps, we almost never see the two have moments together that weren’t for the sake of the plot. It was hard to believe, then, that devotion they had for each other when they barely interacted on the page. It’s Average.

Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly

I tried talking about this twice, and twice I cried. I’m really just the snot machine this month, huh? Okay but seriously, I am genuinely so thankful to Kelly for writing Filipino characters in her books. I am a whole ass adult crying about representation in a middle grade novel because that’s how much I needed it. Much like The Land of Forgotten Girls, there’s not really a plot. This is more character-driven, filled with stories of everyday magic and the power of friendship. My favorite part is Virgil’s relationship with his grandmother that reflected my relationship with my grandmother, even though the two ladies are vastly different from one another. ALSO, if you’d like a book with a really wonderful deaf/HoH rep, this is your friend. Valencia was a delightful character to read from.

Ajax Penumbra, 1969 by Robin Sloan

Forgettable but fun! I like learning about Mr. Penumbra’s origin story, and I would be glad to read more of him were there more. This was too short, imo, because Sloan introduced some interesting new things to this world that had great potential (particularly the bookstore and its previous storerunners) and weren’t given enough time to fully develop. As with the book, I really won’t remember this by the time the new year rolls around. It was fun while it lasted.

[shadowtearling]

JANUARY 2019!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! — First wrap up of the year! How exciting! I read books! Number-wise, this has been the worst January since I started writing wrap ups back in 2015. But like I feel good about my reading, and that’s really all that matters.

The Bear & the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

I really liked this! It’s a slow burn fantasy with a wonderful main character. It’s so rich in Russian culture, and that glossary in the back got me feeling like I’m learning so many new things. The family aspect is so messy and imperfect and great! My only complaint is that the ending felt rushed compared to how slow the rest of the book is, so there’s a bit of disconnect. I can’t wait to pick up the next two books in the series and see where Vasya’s adventures take her.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (cried)

Evelyn Hugo is my mother. I would die for her (but given what she’s gone through, I don’t think that’s all that wise...). This was so fascinating to read, and I think part of that is because it’s a look at how much of what we see in the media about celebrities is fabricated. This book is full of cliched writing, but it makes them work. Evelyn is wonderfully flawed and brutal, and I love her. I wanted more time spent with Monique since their lives are intertwined, and I love that Evelyn impacted her so much with stories of her life. Monique’s story felt like it ended abruptly when there was so much potential there. Overall, I loved this book, and I now want to pick up more Reid.

The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo

The verdict is this: I definitely want to fight Mal, I don’t need much convincing to also want to fight Alina, I love Nikolai, and I would smash the Darkling. Ruin & Rising is my favorite of the three, and that ending was surprisingly not disappointing for me. Siege and Storm more like Siege and Shitstorm. I’m glad to finally understand the whole of Grisha memes, but I don’t think I’ll touch this series again lmao. I’ll eventually write my Ruin & Rising Review, but for now, here’s my review for Shadow and Bone & Siege and Storm.

The Storyteller by Traci Chee (cried)

Listen, I’m trying to figure out how to feel about this last book because some part of me wants to say this was disappointing but another part of me actually like enjoys how much of a wild ride this was. The reveal that happens in the middle of the book blew my mind; it was so meta. There’s a balance of high energy action scenes and calm moments in between characters. I cried my way through the last 50 pages when I didn’t think I would, but Traci Chee got me. She said things were gonna happen, and they did. Literally why did I expect any different lmao. Ultimately, what I think I love about this ending is the reclaiming of literacy from people who once wanted to destroy it and/or keep it for themselves. I love this series, and I’m definitely rereading this in the future.

[shadowtearling]

DECEMBER 2018 — We made it! December is over, 2018 is over, and it has been a year. Before I post all my year in review posts (there’s quite a number lmao be prepared), let’s first talk about all the books I read this month. I enjoyed a lot all of them, which is nice.

The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro

I knew nothing about this book when I went into it, so it was a pleasant surprise to meet Sir Gawain during the couple’s travels. It’s a quiet novel exploring the dangers of forgetting and the pain of remembering. The ending is exactly where you think it would go, and I was sad about it.

The Subtle Knife & The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman

I’m trying not to insult myself because it’s a new year and I need to try something new, so I’ll say that this series was mind boggling and definitely something that I need to reread in the future. If you look at how I feel about the books individually, I’d say I was disappointed about all of them. Book one took forever for me to get used to, book two felt lackluster because Lyra’s presence wasn’t as prominent (and she’s why I loved the first book so much), and then book three had a whole chapter on how a certain species worked which I thought was entirely unnecessary (nor was the ending satisfying). But as one unit? It’s great. It gave me so much to think about and got me attached to unexpected characters. Lyra is near and dear to my heart.

The Refrigerator Monologues by Catherynne M. Valente

If I read this physically, I really don’t think I would have gotten past Julia Ash’s story just because Valente’s writing can get overly complicated at times. However, once you get used to it, it’s easier to understand and enjoy the stories. This is a set of six call out posts for the men of comics who use women to further their story. Knowing who Valente was talking about isn’t really necessary because she crafts enough of her own superhero world that things still make sense, but when you know, it’s funnier. I loved the Batman and Aquaman shade.

Hunted by Meagan Spooner

Listen. Listen. I love Beauty and the Beast. This was no exception. The writing was great, though there were times that it felt a little repetitive. I think the Beast’s perspective was extremely interesting and because it was always so short, it helped propel the story forward and get you to turn the page again and again. (I also like the blood splatters). I love the fantasy world of the Beast, which is why it’s a shame that so little is known about it beyond what Yeva sees. Speaking of Yeva, girl was a whole dumbass. She never thought to put two and two together while she was captive and honestly that was the most common sense knowledge that I was astounded at how stupid she was. I still liked her despite that. This is very traditional Beauty and the Beast, and I enjoyed it a lot.

Sea Prayer by Khaled Hosseini

This is a very short but powerful poem. I read it twice and cried. The watercolor illustrations were beautiful. I don’t have much to say. It was good, and all author profits for the book go directly to a charity helping the refugees.

A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi

GAURI AND VIKRAM GAVE ME LIFE. I can’t begin to describe how much I loved this book (and how much better it was than its predecessor!). Firstly the two main characters are just so funny as individuals and together. The story was interesting and more compelling. Gauri’s intimacy issues were hashtag relatable. The writing was still extremely flowery, and sometimes the characters did things that weren’t previously hinted at (like "He didn’t take his hand off my back” but it was never mentioned earlier that he put it there in the first place). BUT the good outweigh the little nitpicky things I had about it. I put this off for so long because I thought I would have trouble with it, but the only trouble I had was putting it down to go to work. This was so good. Please.

Returning a Borrowed Tongue: An Anthology of Filipino and Filipino American Poetry edited by Nick Carbó

This is the poetry collection I never knew I needed. I’ve been writing emo kid poetry since I was in 5th grade as a coping mechanism for the trauma of assimilation that I was going through. To have a whole collection of voices that resemble my own and echo the very struggles I put out in the world back into my heart is indescribable. This collection gave me a lot to think about in terms of my culture and my language, and I even got to talk with my best friend about this very thing. We’re having a crisis about it. Most importantly, I was inspired to write more poetry that explores my personal struggle about staying connected to my roots and what it means to be Filipino. I can’t wait to read more and learn more in the future!

[shadowtearling]

SEPTEMBER 2018 — I read a good variety of books this month! From romance to middle grade to adult fantasy and more in between. I’m ~expanding my horizons~ lol. I’m quite happy with my reading :D

Hate to Want You by Alisha Rai

This is the healthiest toxic relationship ever? That sounds weird to say but it’s true? I had no idea what I was walking into when I picked this up (only that it was recommended to me, and I was in need of romance lol). I really like the talk about mental health and getting help and learning to get better even if it’s a slow and painful process. I also just love [spoiler]. 

The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare

I have found love in the historical romance genre, and it’s great. I didn’t realize that Tessa Dare was like The Writer for this genre because I don’t know much about it in the first place. But I’m really glad she was the first I picked up because I really just love this so much. I can’t even explain myself, but this was so much fun. I laughed a lot, and there were so many beautiful soft moments of learning to love yourself as well as letting other people in. It was unexpected in the best way. I’m definitely going to pick up the next book in this series and check out more Tessa Dare in the future! :D

REREAD! Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I wanted to reread this before I dove into all the Pride and Prejudice adaptations my little heart desired. I didn’t even plan that. But it happened, and I don’t regret it. Having read it this second time made me see just how scandalous this book was lmao. I will say, too, that the ending is one of Austen’s better ones. It wasn’t rushed the way a lot of her other novels are. But really, I’m here for the angst. And Mr. Bennet is the worst dad ever, but he’s funny lol

A Thousand Beginnings and Endings edited by Elsie Chapman and Ellen Oh

I feel like I’ve talked this book to death. It is just like other anthologies out there, full of stories both good and bad or ones you resonate with more than others. I initially picked it up for the two Filipino-centric stories because I’m always looking for that. However, neither really took my breath away the way I wanted them to. I did enjoy a handful of the stories and would still recommend this because it’s full of interesting myths that I feel like I learned a lot. (Review here, stories ranked!)

Two Dark Reigns by Kendare Blake

Listen, I love Billy Junior a lot, and it is a disservice to not have him in every single scene ever. As ever, I really enjoy this series, though it’s definitely not for everyone. I like its unpredictability because you really just never know where anything is going. It’s a soft kind of wild ride, I guess. It’s easy to get sucked into this world. I think Fennbirn (now versus the Mainland) is interesting, and I always love the world building. I love learning about past queens and how they contributed to making Fennbirn what it is as the three queens know it. Though for that ending, I’m really just about to reach into the book and choke Mirabella lmao. 

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed reading this. I say that because I really had no expectations, but from page one I fell in love with Cimorene and her no-bullshit attitude. I loved her relationship with the dragons and just how well-rounded she is as a character. Of all the four POVs, hers is definitely my favorite. She’s so witty and fun. We stan a legend.

Calling on Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

My favorite in the series! I love Mendanbar even though he’s a dick about other princesses. This is the one that made me really giddy because you know he’s fighting a losing battle against his feelings ;) It was a lot of fun learning about his type of magic (and then Telemain’s), and this was basically a magical roadtrip involving dragons, wizards, and love. 

Searching for Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

I like Morwen. I think she’s a really interesting character, and the cats were a fun addition to the story. However, out of all the books in the series, this is the most forgettable. I say that because I barely remember anything that happened in this. What I do remember is Killer, who was overbearing at times and, in my opinion, not all that necessary to the plot save for his introduction as the plot’s catalyst. 

Talking to Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

If book 3 is the most forgettable, this one is the most... unnecessary? I should forgive it its faults because it was written before the other three were and is technically the foundation of the series, but I found that I didn’t care for Daystar as much as I would have liked. Being in first person didn’t help his case because dude felt almost emotionless. I was also bored the entire way through this book because I knew everything that Daystar didn’t. And I was frustrated for it. If I’d read this first, I would have enjoyed it more. But as it is now presented as the fourth book, it just feels like a summary of the last three books and one whose ending was already predicted in the third book.

The Queens of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton

I don’t hate this, I don’t love it, but it’s not average. A really big issue is that though the writing in this is really pretty and matches the atmosphere of the world, it is also most of the time empty and unnecessary. This book could have been 100-200 pages shorter. Everything was overexplained but not a lot actually added to the story. I also couldn’t understand the organization of the chapters where sometimes there’s a devoted section for a flashback and others it’s just thrown into someone’s POV. If you know what happens in King Lear, you basically know what happens in this. The magic system was interesting, but the ending was hella anti-climactic. I’m conflicted. (Review here, with spoiler section!)

[shadowtearling]

JULY/AUGUST 2018 — I got hit with a slump about halfway through July and all of August, and I couldn’t pick up a book for the life of me. I really think it’s because I stopped my audiobook listening for whatever stupid reason. Or maybe it’s the depression funk I was in. Who knows, really? If I don’t, no one else does.

War Storm by Victoria Aveyard

I had this so hyped up in my head for the looongest, and by the time I got to it, I was disappointed. Right after finishing it, I said I didn’t think it was too bad. But as I sat on it and reflected, I felt more and more like there was something missing. The book was basically just Mare and Cal’s relationship problems lmao. It’s 600 pages of will they, won’t they, and the actual revolution took a back seat. I get it, Cal is royalty, so he’s important but dang. Could have had 300 less pages of Cal rejecting Mare over and over again.  I don’t hate it, but I wanted something more out of it. 

The Crown’s Fate by Evelyn Skye

I expected this one to be a big giant pile of disappointment. I read a negative review by someone last year, and I think that’s why I’ve put off reading this for so long. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I wasn’t actually disappointed! I really liked this, in fact. There was a lot of miscommunication between all the characters, though. So that maybe annoying for a lot of people. I liked that the magic was even more elaborate and it wasn’t all “good” magic like in the first book. Overall, it felt like a satisfying conclusion, and I’m glad to be done with the series. 

Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

I love this series. I was glad to finish it before the movie came out. This one is focused on college drama, and it gave me war flashbacks. I love this conclusion to the trilogy, and I’m always a sucker for more cute Covinsky moments. Peter got so soft 🤧🤧🤧 I love him. I love Lara Jean. I love this trilogy! (and yes I love the movie, too!) 

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

This took me 500 years to finish. I think it had to do with the long introduction that I knew I needed to read but dreaded anyway. I spent more than a week just trying to get through that intro alone. However, once the story began it was easier going from there. I really enjoyed the humor and the authorial interjection that reinforced what the introduction established. That said, I think because it took me so long, I couldn’t enjoy it as much as I was hoping. It was great, but it put me in a slump lol

[shadowtearling]

JUNE 2018 --- Honestly all the readathons really helped me get going with my reading! I also found myself a little busy, but I loved that I got reading done anyway. Halfway through the month (or I should say just right after I finished goatathon) I decided to read gay books. I did okay???? Not great but I’m reading more gay lit which is what’s important.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson 

I think this book was amazing in its accessibility, helping young readers get introduced to poetry. However, I think because there was such a wide variety of topics covered (it is about her life), there wasn’t enough time to really go in depth with all of them. Reflecting on it after a month, I can’t say it was quite as memorable as I wanted it to be. It was good while it lasted, though I wish it made a bigger impact on me.

Opal by MS 

This was... okay. I’m having a really hard time separating the art from the artist here, so this is a really negatively biased experience for me? I also find that I don’t particularly care for Opal. There was an interesting conflict introduction in this that could be wonderfully explored in the Ronan trilogy (but I’m currently rethinking about whether I’ll actually read it). 

Obsidio by Amie Kaufman & JK 

The first two books were extremely high stakes, and it’s not that this one isn’t, it’s just that it didn’t feel high stakes. It was so much of waiting around on a ship and not a lot of taking down a genocidal corporation. I also thought it was... predictable. I want happy endings, but I wanted DEATH AND DESTRUCTION!

The Heart Forger by Rin Chupeco

The stakes in this one are so much higher. I like that a bit more of the world is developed, and we get to understand that it’s Asian-inspired (like.. all of Asia not just East Asia). It’s still a confusing mix of everything because Chupeco kind of blurs boundaries between the cultures from whence she takes inspiration. I love that it’s action-packed in a way that made sense. I didn’t feel like it was there to just be there. Everything was deliberate. I also am really enjoying the dual timelines that almost give us something to look forward to. It’s like reading spoilers but loving the story enough that it didn’t matter. What was important is learning how the events unfolded not just the final result. I can go on and on, but I won’t. Just know I really really really love this.

Sharks in the Rivers by Ada Limón 

I can’t say I have ever fallen in love with a collection until I got to this one. This is the kind of poetry you want to go back to because there’s so many different layers to every poem. I was absolutely blown away. I found myself holding my breath throughout the poem and exhaling once I finished. It was wonderful. Fair warning: less about sharks and more about birds.

You Know Me Well by David Levithan & Nina Lacour

I really love the amount of pride in this book and the gay solidarity is great. It’s not a memorable read, though I’ll be honest I never expected it to be. Violet (???) wasn’t given the voice she needed to have to not exist solely in Kate’s mind. I also thought Mark moved on way too quickly. This book is better with its friendship between the two MCs. I enjoyed them as friends, how they connected so quickly (and I don’t think that’s unrealistic), and the easy way they moved around each other.

Lady Susan by Jane Austen 

This was a fun and quick read that explores an anti-hero that Austen wrote during her youth. I would have loved reading a full-length novel of this, but I also think that the fact that we’re told the stories through letters was quite interesting. I really like the obvious biases we get to see from all the perspectives we’re reading from. My biggest complaint is (as always) the lack of a proper resolution. It was rushed and concluded quickly for the sake of finishing a story. DEVELOPMENT, AUSTEN!!!!!

In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan  

In the beginning, Elliot was insufferable for his inability to pick up cues from other people and also the fact that he never shuts up. BUT where this book shines (like... in every aspect let’s be real) is the wonderful, realistic character growth. Elliot knows he messed up, so he tries to fix it. But his growth is not linear. We still get to see him mess up and then continue to work on being better. Serene is still amazingly sexist, and I love her for it. I love the very satirical tone this book took, and I was genuinely laughing. Also, Luke is my baby.

Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore 

The only thing you need to know is that this book blew my mind, and it might have been a mistake to read this when it was 3 in the morning, I was sleep deprived and had a massive headache, AND anxiety was induced. Read it and trip. 

Spellbook of the Lost and Found by Moïra Fowley-Doyle

This was interesting. It was kind of predictable in terms of how things were supposed to unfold or what the characters were going to find out in the end. I really liked the atmosphere, it’s very much akin to Bone Gap (or is that inherent in any fabulism?). Mysterious workings of magic, a forest!, and weird people. I got tired of Olive for a while, and lowkey I think the romances were forced. It has its ups and downs.

[shadowtearling]

August Selfie Challenge — Day 31: Wrap-Up

My friends! This is it! Today was the last day of the ASC! I’m so glad for this challenge. I want to everyone who participated, whether it was for every single day or for just one day, you made this a really fun experience! I loved seeing all of your beautiful faces, and I know posting selfies can be a little daunting for some people (myself included). THANK YOU. I hope you all had fun with this as much as I did. Maybe we can do this again, sometime?

This month, I read four books! One’s missing in the pictures because it was a library ebook. 

Alex + Ada by Jonathan Luna — This is basically just a way to talk about being romantically involved with an android, which is kinda weird. It’s interesting, though, because it does tackle the idea of sentient androids, those with their own will power and ability to decide their own fate. I’m probably going to continue since it’s not a long series. Not a big fan of the art style, though. 

Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy — Fat girl rep is always important to me. Go read this for some fat girl loving! Read my full review here!

Radiator Days by Lucy Knisley —Timeline-wise, it’s a bit all over the place. I could never tell when the event was supposed to happen since it jumps from time to time, even though this collection was supposed to be about the author’s time in Chicago. It’s just a collection of her work, some of which are biographical and some that are fictional. Kinda funny, cute art style, some of the stories were interesting enough, but it dragged.

Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali — This tackles a lot of things for the very brief amount of time we spend with the story. I liked it well enough, but I feel like there’s something missing, though I don’t know what that is. It’s good rep, with a Muslim MC and this being #OwnVoices. I definitely recommend!

[shadowtearling]

January is over! I’m both glad and surprised it came and went so quickly. I feel proud of myself for reading as much as I did this month!!!! I think the new year is always a good motivator to read read read. I love it. I’m doing a better job so far this year of reading whenever I can and taking advantage of my spare time in between and before classes. PLUS the long commute helps. Last year, I constantly found reason to NOT read, and this year, it’s like I can’t get enough! I also apparently can’t get enough of the exclamation point. Is it too much? Also! Do you all like this new banner? Any font suggestions? I’m clearly terrible at picking fonts; too indecisive. :( Anyway! On to the books!!!

Rating system: 2017 is the year of reading critically if I want to add diversity to my list of priorities for the kind books to be reading. This means also being a little more stingy with my ratings. (I don’t feel bad about this actually. I found I feel guiltier giving out five stars willy nilly, so this is an improvement!). This rating system is still arbitrary, so three star ratings don’t always have the same weight to them. As always, I rate based on my own thoughts and feelings, and as always, these are my opinions (unless I’m speaking about my marginalization(s). Don’t argue lmao). 

Rating Scale: 🌟 - 1 whole star ⭐️ - ½ star

Nichijou: My ordinary life (Vol. 1 & 2) by Keiichi Arawi - 🌟  🌟  🌟  = 3/5  (for both) This is a manga series about high school everyday life, but with a twist! (she said with sarcasm) There are a bunch of girls in high school and one of them happens to be a robot who just wants to fit in and be human (and her child scientist companion). One of the girls also happens to love making puns, one of them is the typical deadpan-type of characters, and the others are the normal ones. Some jokes were funny, most of them were not. I love puns, but this just had really terrible ones. The characters were supremely uninteresting, and I really don’t care about any of them. That said, while I was reading this, I guess I was entertained for the time being. This helps pass time quickly, but not the greatest manga I’ve ever encountered. 

Sweetness and Lightning (Vol. 1) by Gido Amagakure - 🌟  🌟  🌟   = 3/5  What’s better than food-related manga? Nothing! Except, I can find better food-related manga out there than this lmao. This was fun to read, but I found all of the characters were bland. I couldn’t find myself too invested in their stories. I also feel like this is going in the direction of student-teacher relationship (younger me would have loved that, but me now is absolutely creeped out by the idea of it). The child is adorable, though. I also do really love the positive relationship between the child and the dad, so that’s one redeeming quality. I don’t think I’ll continue with this series, though, unless I find copies of this for cheaps. 

Orange (Omnibus Vol. 1 & 2) by Ichigo Takano - 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 = 5/5 (for both) Out of all 12 books I’ve read this month, these are the only two five-star reads! I’m stingy lmao. Anyway, this was soooooooo good! Basically, this series is about this girl, Naho, who on the first day of her junior year (I THINK... don’t hold me to this), she receives a letter from future her telling her what will happen on those days and what she needs to do versus what she should avoid doing. She dismisses that letter until the contents come true! So this series then entails what happens with those letters and Naho & her friends. I cried so many tears and felt so many feelings. I related so hard to Kakeru even though our struggles were not the same. I also really loved the ending (even though I know a lot of people didn’t like how open-ended it was). I appreciated that aspect of the story because it feels true to the kind of tale it’s telling. It perfectly depicts how friends first react versus how they should react to other friends’ struggles. I really love the dynamics between every person, and I can only wish this series was longer to explore the different friendships we were introduced to. I HIGHLY recommend this series. Please go read it! (And then tell me so we can binge-watch the anime together!)

Something in Between by Melissa de la Cruz - 🌟  🌟  🌟  ⭐️   = 3.5/5  A story with a Filipina lead?! Sign me up! This tells the story of Jasmine who is the perfect student and is set to kick ass in college until she learns that her and her entire family have been illegal immigrants the entire time, and this super awesome scholarship she was supposed to get can no longer help her. I really loved getting to see my own culture reflected in this story (this is an #ownvoices ;) so go check it out). I didn’t appreciate the little jabs at other cultures though I do understand where it comes from. I also think there was so much happening? I feel like Jasmine and her fam were trying to tackle so much all at once (it’s realistic bc what POC doesn’t go thru so much in so little time), but also it made for a messy story. OH! I hated the writing lmao. It was tacky and not my style. I also think I’m just hella tired of YA contemporaries, but as of right now, they’re the biggest source for diversity in any YA category. Fantasy is still far too white lol. I still would recommend this because it is an important story that helps humanize immigrants, but beware lmao.

Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli- 🌟  🌟  🌟  = 3/5  I really enjoyed this story, but I was expecting so much more than what I was given. I hear everyone always raving about how fantastic this book was, but I think this was way too overhyped for me, which is why I didn’t like it as much as everyone else. I feel like the tension between friends was either unnecessary or done poorly (I’m talking about Leah here). HOWEVER, I still do like it. Simon was a fun character, and Blue was also really interesting. I also really love the discussion around consent and identity, and I think it was done well. 

Welcome to the Shadowhunter Academy (#1) by Cassandra Clare - 🌟  🌟  🌟  = 3/5  Simon felt reaaaaaally out of character in this novella. Maybe that’s bc of what happened at the end of TMI and that’s a valid excuse, but it makes me uncomfortable. Simon was one of the better characters in that series, and I really feel like he got butchered here. With that said, however, I do think that this novella shows improvement in CC’s writing because I still surprisingly enjoyed it. I just don’t think I’ll continue on with CC’s works? I think this is me breaking up with the Shadowhunter chronicles. She’s also highly problematic, so there’s that. 

The Star Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi - 🌟  🌟  🌟  🌟  🌟  = 4/5 LOVE This! An #Ownvoices fantasy about Mayavati whose horoscope entails a marriage with death and destruction. I buddy read this one with one of my really close friends (she doesn’t read too often), and we both really enjoyed it. Maya is this really dynamic character that, as the story progresses, really matures in a realistic way. The writing was phenomenal but I do think it was a bit out of place? Idk I always have problems whenever the writing is sophisticated but then it’s first person POV. Like.... I’m pretty positive that my brain cannot conceive even half of those words to describe what’s happening around me. I’d see a tree and I’d describe it as “green and really tall...” So there’s that. I also think that the writing kind of made it difficult to fall in love with the couple. I didn’t totally buy the romance, despite me loving both characters individually. I love the incorporation of different aspects of Indian culture as part of the fantasy elements of the world. I would love more from this story, but as it stands, this is where Maya’s story ends (the next book is actually a companion........). I highly recommend it! (Even though it sounds like I didn’t like it lmao I promise I did).

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake - 🌟  🌟  🌟  🌟  🌟  = 4/5 I absolutely loved this. First of all, I appreciate that I can tell each sister apart from one another because they have such distinct personalities (Arisonoe is my fave as it turns out even if she has a dumb ass name). It’s a super slow book that basically builds up to the fight to the death (it doesn’t actually happen in this book). I knew that going in which is why I wasn’t salty when it didn’t happen. Basically, we get introduced to the sisters in this book, find out that there are some hella issues going on with their missing powers, and it gave us time to get used to the world all while introducing us to the characters. My number one biggest giant complaint is that I realllllly fucking hate Joseph. He’s an asshat and I hope he dies in book two. Katharine please kill him. There was an unnecessary love triangle lmao like fuck off with that shit maybe. I also hated Pietyr. So basically, the dudes are assholes and the girls are fantastic. Maybe that was the point? This is a matriarchal society so I guess it worked. Highly recommend if you really like politically-driven books and a large cast of characters.

Every Heart a Doorway by Seannan McGuire - 🌟  🌟  🌟  ⭐️   = 3.5/5 The writing is quite calming. Also confusing. This is another one of those far too hyped for me to love in the same way everyone else does. i appreciate the amazing concept and the wonderful conversations taking place in this book about identity, sexuality, gender, and mental illness. However, it was too short for me to really love any of the characters. I certainly failed to connect with the MC and didn’t feel for her anguish. It also left a bad taste in my mouth that the first person to be killed off in the murder mystery aspect happens to be POC when there were like 20 other white kids lmao........ NOT THAT I CONDONE MURDER but why we gotta kill POC for....... Idk. Proceed with caution I guess. 

Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe- 🌟  🌟  🌟  = 3/5  This was funny as hell. Basically, it’s about this lady whose name we never really know because she keeps changing it to suit her needs. She was born in a prison, so she’s set up to fail in every aspect of her life bc poor and no family. HOWEVER, this is the story of how she eventually says fuck you to everyone and succeeds anyway bc why not. I read this for class, and I highly enjoyed it. Problems: there were literally zero chapter breaks, random ass capitalization (why must 17/18th century authors do this to me), too many much cataloging of goods (though that was literally the point is to be excessive... I get it... pls stop), and the author basically just said to the plot “GOGOGOGOGOGOGOGO” without taking a break. If you like classics similar to Jane Austen (but without the romance part bc she just basically scams all her husbands lmao), I think this is a really good one to check out. 

Thank you, lovely, for reading through this mess of a post. I love you and I hope you have a wonderful February reading month! 

[shadowtearling]

APRIL 2018 — My reading keeps dipping for various reasons. What I’ve found is that motivation really takes a dip when you’re in pain. The few books I did read were mostly rereads.

An Octoroon by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

A response/adaptation of the highly racist, pro-slavery play The Octoroon by Dion Boucicault. Funny and interesting, this play did what its predecessor failed to do: give a critique of slavery while exploring what it means to perform race. 

The Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen 

REREAD! I love love love this series, but I dreaded starting this one because of all the stupid shit Kelsea gets into and the secondhand embarrassment I felt the first time. BUT, once I got into it, I ended up really enjoying myself! Knowing the way the series ends, Lily Mayhew became a lot more appealing, though her story is still hard to swallow. I also found a lot in this book to really justify where the last book went. Can’t wait to finish Fate.

Persuasion by Jane Austen

REREAD! My heart grows fonder with each reread of this book. I just love the ANGST! and the softness that this book gives me. I always go for this book whenever I’m feeling down, and it never fails to cheer me up. I love Anne and Frederick, and the way their relationship evolves throughout the story. My favorite Austen and definitely underrated.