artsy musings of a bibliophile

monthly recap

Monthly Recap: March

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I honestly have no idea where March went. I felt like I did nothing but was busy anyway and also the other way around? Sigh. Ignore me.

LIST OF NEWSWORTHY

March was the month where I actually became a feels troll because everyone hates my tumblr. Damn you, tumblr.
Caaaaake // It rained and was lovely // I went to a park // Almost birthday selfie

Transplant Update
We finally got approval to go ahead with for my mother’s kidney transplant and now we’re just waiting for her to have the surgery in a week or so. So nervous!

Quarter Century Club
I’ve always loved March because spring finally arrives and then it’s my birthday month, too. I still don’t know what I’m doing with my life so I keep having these little panics but mainly, I think I’m okay. I mean I got to have this divine strawberry gâteau cake so I can’t complain.

TV WATCH

Nothing matters now that The 100 is on break.
I WILL NEVER BE OKAY T____T //The 100
I can’t believe that it’s hardly been a little over two weeks since The 100 went on a break. LIKE HOW. Also, that ending smashed my heart into million little pieces and I’ll never be okay.
The season finale of Suits killed me.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is the best comedy show out there and I don’t care what you say.
Fresh Off the Boat is still going hilariously well.
I also finished watching season one of Hindsight and have mixed feelings about it.
I basically watched one episode each of Arrow, The Originals, The Big Bang Theory, The Vampire Diaries and Daria and then wasn’t in the mood for anymore TV for the rest of March.

MOVIE WATCH

I think I should just stop including this section ha ha.

APP WATCH

I didn’t try out any new apps this month except one.

Trying my hand at organization.
Wunderlist – I actually tried it once before but I downloaded it again because they updated it with folders which is so much better. I still like Google Keep better, but I’m planning to use Wunderlist for blogging stuff.

LIST OF READS

Every single book that I read in March made me break down with the exception of one that was just a mindfuck.

I don’t know how I survived reading these.

A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab
The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma
Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (reread)

LIST OF BLOGPOSTS

I was in sort of a blogging slump for the whole month of March. It mainly involved me being too busy to blog and when I had the time to blog, I preferred reading over it. Also, I may have blanked out on how to write reviews.

I posted my review of The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma

LIST OF BOOK BUYS

Wow, look at my book curing restraint! I’m honestly trying to cut out on requesting any review copies but I couldn’t hold back when I saw volume one of The Fade Out up on NetGalley because I’ve been anticipating it pretty darn much.

I hope it’s as awesome as its cover suggests.

The Falconer by Elizabeth May
The Fade Out, Vol 1 by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (thank you, Image Comics!)

PLAYLIST

A slow month for music hmm.

Forever in love with purity ring // Sacrifice is the only song I love from the soundtrack // Hypnotise: The Pynch song

How was your March?

Monthly Recap: February

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I would say that February needed to not be so emotionally overwhelming, but I’m used to that state of being now.

LIST OF NEWSWORTHY

January was 100uary and February is now Marchettuary because Melina Marchetta.
Travelling woes // Hello spring // Bookstore adventures // Harry Potter for life

Living in Between
In the middle of the month, I had to travel with my mother to another state for her kidney transplant. It’s still in the process of being approved (hopefully) and they ran some more tests so we’re all just sitting tight right now. And oh, my mother met the donor and we’re all so grateful.

TV Shows Be My End
This month, The 100, Suits, and How to Get Away with Murder crippled me with feelings. Clarke Griffin owned everyone, that Darvey moment, and all those twists in the How to Get Away with Murder season finale meant mindfuckery upon mindfuckery.

Two Weeks of Marchetta
I know everyone already knows, but I read and loved the hell out of Lumatere Chronicles by Melina Marchetta. I made Ellis die so many times with all my updates and I’m still crying over the perfection that is my latest OTP: Froi and Quintana.

Turkish Food
I had a döner platter for the first time ever and it was a strange experience. It was good but a little too bland for my taste? Also, I didn’t like how the beef tasted. Still, I’m glad that I’m all for trying out new food because food is important.

TV WATCH

Why do TV shows make me feel so much?
THIS SCENE ASDFGHJKL // Suits

The Flash keeps getting better with every new episode that airs and I want more. The ending of the latest episode, though.
Still need to watch the latest episode of Arrow but
Loving Brooklyn Nine-Nine whereas, New Girl and The Big Bang Theory are going okay.
I watched a few episodes of Daria and it’s the best.
Oh, I also watched a couple episodes of Criminal Minds and damn, mind is blown. I need to continue bad.
Fresh Off the Boat is hilarious and so freaking relateable. Us Asians, man.
Okay, I loved how emotional the Sheriff Forbes scene was in The Vampire Diaries but still, the show mainly sucks.
Revenge should just call it off after this season. Please.
I caught up on The Originals and it’s going pretty intense.
The 100 knows how to do intense and rock at it in. Every. Single. Episode.
Suits got so good! Loving the Harvey-Mike-Loius trio and all the Darvey moments but Jeff Malone can go suck it.
The first season of How to Get Away with Murder ended and HOW COULD THEY DO WHAT THEY DID WHY. ALSO, LEAVE COLIVER ALONE.

MOVIE WATCH

What are those again?

APP WATCH

I didn’t try out any new apps this month except one.

Dreamdays
Dreamdays – I wanted a minimalistic countdown app and Dreamdays it is.

LIST OF READS

The more fantasy I read, the more fantasy I love.

Lumatere Chronicles, everyone!

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta
Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta

LIST OF BLOGPOSTS

I wrote so many reviews this month, I feel proud of myself. I even scheduled a few, woot!

I posted my review of Rebound by Noelle August.
I posted my review Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard.
I posted my review of A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas.
I posted a top ten Tuesday list of favorite heroines in books and TV.
I posted my review of Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta.

LIST OF BOOK BUYS

Only bought an eBook which tells me that December is book buying month. Yay!

Pretty cover is pretty.

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta
Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

PLAYLIST

A slow month for music hmm.

Marina is back! // RAIGN is whoa // New music by CHVRCHES is always good

How was your February?

Monthly Recap: January

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January turned out to be an amazing month, already in love with 2015.

LIST OF NEWSWORTHY

I should just rename January as 100uary or something. Srsly.
The 100: The obsession is real // Iced tea ’cause tea is important // Keeping up with PopSugar reading challenge // From the day I started learning how to drive

And Now We Wait
My mother has been going through dialysis twice a week since December 2013 and while, it’s not the best situation to be in, I’m extremely grateful it’s not worse. Good news is that she’s up for transplant sometime in February, so January was spent figuring out what tests to get done and taking care of her. I hope everything goes well as it’s pretty daunting.

More Like Driving Rage
Sure, I’ve driven a car before but I never learned how to. The first few times I drove one, I hated the amount of work it all takes! I just thinks it takes a lot of attention to not die and I’m already doing that by living. However, I’m pretty determined to learn and I damn well, will.

The 100 and I
I binge-watched The 100 till its mid-finale of the second season in December and I survived. Mainly because I lowered my expectations so much going in, that I was all meh during the first season. (Also, the first few episodes are total garbage). The second season got infinitesimally better and the mid-season finale shocked me. But then even before January 21st rolled around, my life became all about the 100 because of the promos and clips. The 100 fucked me up so bad, I don’t think there’s a show I love more. Cannot recommend enough.

Let’s Chat Feels and Books
I joined a couple of group chats with the #The100kru and one with Aditi, Asti, Crini and Mel. And oh, there’s another one I’m in with the participants of PopSugar 2015 reading challenge (re: Crini, Elaine, Lillian and Jo). I love it because so many bookish talks. Heaven.

TV WATCH

Am I going to talk about The 100 again? Hells yeah!
Look at that face! (´∀｀)♡

I finally caught up on Orphan Black because Eve made me and damn, I love it so much more now. Also, shipping Hesse like anything.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is right there with The Big Bang Theory when it comes to comedy shows.
I also started watching Hindsight and probably won’t continue, ha.
The 100 took over my life and damn that show. Much devastation, most tears.
As much as I like parallels to flashbacks in Arrow, I think the show is currently a bit lacking.
Suits return was perfect. So many feelings.
How to Get Away with Murder came back after a break and it’s better than ever. Can I have more Coliver, please?
I gave up on The Vampire Diaries but then Elaine gave me an idea of a fast-forward watch. Damn that plot. Such garbage, much eye-rolling. All I really like now are Steroline scenes but I don’t ship them together yet. Le sigh.

MOVIE WATCH

I’m now surprised I even watch movies any more.

So f i e r c e!

Lucy (8/10) – I really, really liked the concept and I think it was pretty well executed. Action-packed and highly engrossing despite being a bit cheesy.

APP WATCH

I didn’t try out any new apps this month except one.

Spotify because music is important, okay.
Spotify – I’ve had Spotify for a few months now but I never really got into it. I still hate the mobile app because there’s only shuffle play but the web player and desktop app are amazing. I might just also switch over from Grooveshark soon. Follow me here if you want to.
SpoilerTV – This is because I just can’t get enough of all those TV shows. It’s an okay app, though. Nothing fancy.

LIST OF READS

I read so much during the first-half of the month and not at all in the second-half. Shame.

First favorite this year // Steelheart stole my heart // The Conspiracy of Us is just amazing

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Rebound by Noelle August
Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson
The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
A Wicked Heart by Rhiannon Thomas

LIST OF BLOGPOSTS

I wrote so many reviews this month, I feel proud of myself. I even scheduled a few, woot!

I posted my review of Avalon by Mindee Arnett.
I posted a thing I wrote about goal phobia featuring Crimes Against Hugh’s Manatees cartoon art.
I posted my review Boomerang by Noelle August.
I posted my review of Sovereign, Volume 1 by Chris Roberson and Paul Maybury.
I posted my review of The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall.
I posted a top ten Tuesday list of 2014’s top 15 new-tom-me authors.

LIST OF BOOK BUYS

Only bought an eBook which tells me that December is book buying month. Yay!

Perfection.

Harry Potter box set by JK Rowling
The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman (Yay, so glad I snagged it when it was Read Now on NetGalley)

PLAYLIST

Keyword: Obsession.

Leighton Meester is back and fabulous! // Forever in love with Fall Out Boy // OOO AAA is amazing and all hail Sandra ’cause she discovered it

How was your January?

Monthly Recap: December

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And 2014 is over.

LIST OF NEWSWORTHY

December was a month that I mostly spent doing random stuff like binge-watching and making myself forcefully read.

Blogoversary Fail.
So one thing that I totally spaced out on in November is that my blogoversary was on the 13th! I started my fourth year of blogging and what. To be fair, I haven’t been blogging much for the past couple of months or so.

All the Mails!
So I got a letter from Mel as the pen pal project kicked off (I still need to send my letter to Amber, I suck) and then Asti surprised me with the cutest card ever. It even looks like her! Hehe. Also, I managed to stay alive in Ready Player One edition of the Bookish Games and now I have proof.

The Spreadsheet Craze
Crini likes to make spreadsheets and after looking at a couple of her Google Sheets, I thought it’d be cool to make a few. I did and I’m definitely digging it!

TV WATCH

Basically, a month of binge-watching everything.

I started watching The 100 because of everyone on my Twitter timeline (re: Amber, Judith, Terri and a hundred others) going crazy over the Bellarke. Not a chance of me passing up on a life-ruining ship, no.
Then I decided to binge-watch How to Get Away with Murder and damn, what a show!
I have NO idea why I’m still watching The Vampire Diaries because I hate it with a vengeance.
I’m loving the current season of Arrow so much and The Flash is getting better!
Revenge finally got a little better. What. What.
The Big Bang Theory is the greatest show of all time. The Septum Deviation is my favorite episode because of how hard I laughed watching it.
The mid-season finales of New Girl and Brooklyn Nine-Nine were fabulous and I actually liked a couple of episodes of Selfie.
Finally caught up on Suits and got Litt up like hell.
I ended my December with a binge-watch of season 2 of Orange is the New Black and man, it’s so freaking good.

MOVIE WATCH

The awkward moment when you still have one X-Men movie left to watch.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (6/10) – Well, we finally know what happened and I wasn’t whelmed.
X-Men: First Class (7/10) – Probably my favorite X-Men movie as of yet. So badass!
The Wolverine (6/10) – I so don’t get the point of this movie, I just want all the young X-Men back!

APP WATCH

Ever since I got my first ever smartphone in June, my life have also been all about apps. So I decided to add this category since I keep installing new apps and getting rid of the ones I get tired of/find no use of anymore.

 

Elevate
Elevate is a brain training app and I absolutely love it! There are three levels to play every day and what’s better than kickstarting the brain.

Duolingo
I just discovered this app randomly browsing the Play Store and I really like it! I started with French and it gives you these small 5 to 15 minutes (you can set the duration) lessons.

Google Keep
Since Wunderlist didn’t work out for me, I decided to use Evernote again but then I thought I should also try out Google Keep. My verdict? Google Keep is a keeper!

LIST OF READS

Getting back into the habit.

When Joss Met Matt by Ellie Cahill
Sovereign, Volume 1 by Chris Roberson and Paul Maybury
Super Secret Crisis War! Volume 1 by Louise Simonson and Derek Charm
Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge

LIST OF BLOGPOSTS

Seriously, this is embarrassing.

I posted my answers to the TBR tag.
I posted my end of year book survey.

LIST OF BOOK BUYS

I’ve contemplating going broke because I want to buy a box set. However, I did give in and bought one eBook.

Rebound by Noelle August (thank you, William Morrow Books!)
Making Pretty by Corey Ann Haydu (thank you, Katherine Tegen Books!)
Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton (thank you, HarperTeen!)
SOS: A Prequel to The Silence of Six by E. C. Myers (Got it for free on Amazon!)
Talon by Julie Kagawa (I got a $0.99 Kindle deal!)

PLAYLIST

I didn’t listen to that much music this month so it was mostly just playing the songs I discovered on repeat.

Trove Styrke, people! // Listen is a fantastic album. // I’m just here for Bastille’s song.

December 2014 by Sana on Grooveshark

How was your December?

Monthly Recap: November

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November is over. Much wow because 2015 is so close.

LIST OF NEWSWORTHY

This month was mainly about two things: lack of functional internet and my best friend’s wedding.
A and I on her wedding. // Somewhere in the state of Punjab. // Shoe shopping from Lark and Finch!

Internet Blues
I planned and brainstormed so much for sci-fi month but I couldn’t actually sit down and write any posts because the internet was having connectivity issues. I got it fixed around mid November but now it’s not working properly and just ugh. Kill me now. However, I’m getting a new broadband connection in a few days so hopefully there won’t be anymore issues.

Sci-Fi Month Updates
Despite failing in my plan to blog and to reread Marissa Meyer’s Cinder and then moving on Scarlet and Cress, I did manage to sci-fi out some. I read a comic after ages and abso-freaking-lutely loved it! I also watched the first three X-Men movies and a few episodes of Doctor Who.

A’s Wedding
My best friend’s wedding was supposed to be in December but she calls me casually during early November and is like I’m getting married in a week or two. We texted back and forth and I’m all wonders like is she married yet or what. But then she was like yes, getting married on 23rd November so just come, okay. Thus, I planned a trip for five days since there were going to be three events and I wanted to spend time with her as she’s leaving for the US in the first week of December and it feels somewhat surreal because most days I just feel like a twelve year old with a best friend who’s a married woman. What.

TV WATCH

Basically, a month of playing catch up with TV shows.

I caught up on the first and started the second season of The Originals and it’s definitely so much better than the lame ass The Vampire Diaries (which I really need to stop watching because ugh storyline and Delena makes me barf).
I also started catching up on the fourth season of Suits and it’s definitely the weakest yet.
I started watching Selfie and it’s so-so. No surprise about it getting cancelled.
The Big Bang Theory, New Girl and Brooklyn Nine-Nine are pretty much awesome comedies.
Kind of relieved that Awkward and Faking It went on breaks and that Awkward’s next season is going to be the last one because it can get really annoying sometimes.
I watched more episodes of Doctor Who and it’s all kinds of awesome.
Revenge‘s current plot is annoying me and I need it to get better. Whiny Emily is no fun.
Arrow is going great and The Flash is super great because of how much different it is from Arrow.
Finally, I started watching Daria from the beginning because I never did that and I want Daria’s sarcasm in my life.

MOVIE WATCH

Sci-fi-ing it out.

X-Men (6/10) – My expectations were sky high and while I liked pretty much all the action-filled scenes, I wasn’t blown away by it.
X2 (6/10) – X2 walked down a similar path in its execution as its predecessor and delivered.
X-Men: The Last Stand (5/10) – My least favorite up till now, the third installation left me feeling a little underwhelmed.
Maleficent (7/10) – There were some things that I loved and others that were okay. Overall, a good watch.

APP WATCH

Ever since I got my first ever smartphone in June, my life have also been all about apps. So I decided to add this category since I keep installing new apps and getting rid of the ones I get tired of/find no use of anymore.


Two Dots – I hardly ever play games on my phone but when I do, I wait for them to be released on Android like you don’t even know. I’m on Level 58 right now so, yes pretty addictive.
Sleep Bot – Jessica mentioned this app in her blogpost about health and exercise related apps and I have to say that I’m digging this one.
Smash Hit – This one’s mainly premium but I’m willing to buy it because hot damn those graphics and smashing things is basically fun and an anger reducer.

LIST OF READS

What’s reading? Sigh.

Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater
A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab (150 page preview)
The Wicked + The Divine, Vol 1, The Faust Act by Kieron Giller and Jamie McKelvie

LIST OF BLOGPOSTS

This is what happens when I get ticked off at the internet.

I posted my introduction to sci-fi month.
I posted a list of 2015 YA sci-fi to look forward to.

LIST OF BOOK BUYS

Only bought an eBook which tells me that December is book buying month. Yay!

The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen (I got a $1.99 Kindle deal!)
Things We Know by Heart by Jessi Kirby (thank you, HarperTeen!)
Made You Up by Francesca Zappia (thank you, Greenwillow Books!)

PLAYLIST

The soundtrack of The Hunger Games Mockingjay, Pt. 1 is just so awesome!

Up in Flames be so rad. // Mapei rocks. // In love with Mockingjay’s soundtrack especially Animal.

November 2014 by Sana on Grooveshark

How was your November?