Hi All, here is the list of book I am planning on reading in 2025. Some of these I borrowed or even began in 2024 but didn’t finish. Others a recommendations from friends, or books that are still on hold at the library! The list isn’t in any particular order.
1.) The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
This had been on my list for maybe 6 months, and I kept pushing back reading it. After I lied to someone saying I’ve read it, I decided I now had to read it so I would be telling the truth atemporally.
2.) The Postcard by Tony Abbott
I read this book as a kid and it was a bit too advanced when I read it, so I didn’t understand everything. I want to reread it to see what lines up in my memory. I remember liking it.
3.) The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
I had borrowed this and never opened it. I can’t tell if it’s going to be dark academic or romanitic realistic fiction, so I’m excited to read it!
4.) The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Cordova
I started this recently but put it on hold, so I aim to finish it.
5.) The Kiss of the Nightingale by Adi Denner
I started this and wasn’t as engaged as I know I can be, so I’ll pick it up again.
6.) Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas
I borrowed this and haven’t cracked it open
7.) The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
I borrowed this and never opened it.
8.) Wool (Silo Series) by Hugh Howey
This was recommended by a friend!
9.) Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
This was recommended by a friend!
10.) Choke by Chuck Palaniuk
This was a Hanukkah present from a friend! I’m hoping it’s hilarious.
11.) The Seven and a Half Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
This was recommended by a friend!
12.) Red Rising by Pierce Brown
This was recommended by a friend! I’ve seen it before so I hope I like it!
13.) Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth
I loved the Divergent Series, so I hope I like this. I think I read a few pages in 2024 but stopped.
14.) A Cathedral of Myth and Bone by Kat Howard
I loved the author’s An Unkindness of Magicians, so I hope I like this too
15.) A Sleight of Shadows by Kat Howard
This is the sequel to An Unkindness of Magicians, and I’m excited to learn more about this world. Not to mention, I love a book set in NYC.
16.) So Late in the Day by Clare Keegan
The family friend I read Tom Lake with got me a copy of this. I’m pretty sure they liked it, so I’ll give it a go!
17.) The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson
This was recommended to me by one friend, and then I found out another was reading it and loved it! It has come up in conversation a few times, so I am really looking forward to it, though I am afraid it will be sad.
18.) Dragon Speaker by Elana A. Mugdan
I started this recently and am excited to see where it is going. I have the whole series so looking forward to it!
(Much less than usual as I watched A LOT of Drag Race!!)
Hi all, I hope everyone is enjoying the last few days of the year! It’s time for me to share what I’ve read in December, so here goes! P.S. I did start many books that I didn’t finish, so this may be a shorter list than usual!
1.) The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna.
Full stop, this book was so cute. It was super light in tone, and left me with a warm and fuzzy feeling every time I put it down. I am a huge fan of this one, and it helped me come up with my Christmas present for my Mom this year, so I lend it a lot of credit for that! Very charming, and after I finished it I looked up “books like the very secret society of irregular witches”, because I wanted to read something else just like it! If that’s not high praise, I don’t know what is!
2.) Wings by E.D. Baker.
With full transparency, this was a book I’d read as a kid that I think about every so often. It popped up into my head, and I wondered if I could find it again! I have the Barnes and Noble Nook app, so through that I found it on my Nook, and then was able to read it on my phone. This held up pretty well as an adult, and I loved running into small details that I either remembered or had forgotten! While I think the beginning of this book was a little frightening as a kid, it had me hooked back then, and once again I wanted to see what happened at the end!
3.) Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri.
This book started off really strong, and I was immediately drawn into the world. I had started it about a month ago but had other things to read, so when I borrowed this one again, I was excited to see where it would go. However, the entire middle of the book felt incredibly drawn out, and I started getting really bored when there weren’t any twists. I kept waiting for something to change, but even when it came it was a bit disappointing. The majority of the book was in one location, and the climax didn’t build in the right way for me. I did finish the book, and there was potential at the end that I liked, but I decided against reading the second book.
4.) They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman.
This was a very well done mix of Pretty Little Liars and One of Us is Lying. With a secret society, lots of hazing, and a murder to solve, I am excited for this as a TV show/Movie. I saw that Sydney Sweeney had bought the rights, and I believe Halsey will be involved in the project so I am excited about that. The book was gripping, and I was also kind of repulsed and scared to pick it up each time, because of the hazing and the murder suspense, respectively. Would recommend, though it did do anything groundbreaking.
5.) Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
I read this in book club, and had high hopes, given that my friend who is the slowest reader of us, finished it in a day and LOVED it. The book did not disappoint, and I can’t decide if I like this or The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo more (they are by the same author). I am definitely a Taylor Jenkins Reid fan, and I think she has a way of writing flawed characters that is very unique. No one is perfect, and this book did a great job building each character. This one differed from Evelyn Hugo because it had a really important family dynamic, that I think each of my friends and I really related to. Additionally, the story was set in the past, yet it didn’t make me feel like it was an antiquated world. Highly recommend!!!
6.) A Winter’s Promise by Christelle Dabos.
This is the first book in a fantasy series called the Mirror Visitor series. It was originally written in French, and with regards to media flow, I am impressed that it landed in my hands! And I am so glad it did! While the book started off feeling a little grey and detached, an animated scarf (animated with life and movement fyi) drew me in, and added a sense of coziness that endeared the book to me. While I was expecting a stronger romance aspect, I was happy that it is either very slow-burn or not happening, because I was able to get to know the world and that main character very well. With regards to the fantasy aspect, it is a bit like Caraval mixed with the Hunger Games, in that some of the characters are wild and unexpected. I also am a fan of the magic system, where different countries have different powers. While I felt like the main character had a longer adjustment period to the ‘new world’ than I would have liked, looking back I think that it makes sense for the character, and doesn’t detract from my enjoyment at all. It is just something to be aware of if you decide to pick it up! Also, I would like to note that the cover art reminds me of The Mysterious Benedict Society’s cover art.
The Missing of Clairedelune by Christelle Dabos.
This is the second book in the Mirror Visitor series, and I am about halfway through at the moment. I am very much enjoying where this second book has gone, with many key characters sticking around and/or coming back, despite the plot twists and location changes. Thus I am more familiar with most of the characters, and am enjoying getting to know them more, rather than meeting new characters that aren’t flushed out all the time. I am really enjoying this book, and the world/time period makes me feel very cozy and comfortable. I am also excited about where the plot is going, with regards to the disgraced, and the main character being familiar to a deity figure. I am really happy with this series, and I think it’ll probably be something I’ll reread in the future. I would definitely recommend these!
And that is all. While reviewing this, I found that there are 8 books from December that I started to read and stopped, or have not yet finished. I hope I can read more in January!
Hope this passed along a few good recommendations! Happy New Year!
Cover Photo by Sadie (xoxostrawberries__) on Pinterest
It’s that time of year where people ask you want you want for Christmas or Hanukkah, or when you are looking for something to get your friends or family, or when you are in Secret Santa and need to provide a list of things you may like. Being a twenty-something on both sides of this, I thought I’d make a list of things that I am either getting for someone, or things that I myself would like to receive (with some variety thrown in for different tastes).
The twenty-something age group is a but tricky because in my experience, people want more practical gifts (re:money), but that’s not exactly a good answer when someone wants to know what to get you, or when you are looking for something to get for a friend. I have found a few things that I think are both useful and good gifts in general, so I hope this helps anyone needing some ideas!
Disclaimer: I am a woman so some of these are slightly more woman-applicable, and some of these cater more towards my taste. Also, this is not paid/advertising, just my personal thoughts and opinions.
1. A bluetooth photo printer for your phone. This is super useful for people who love to have photos of their friends or family on their walls! I think most people could use this little printer, and you could always get them film for it next year! Also most of these printers print on sticker paper, so someone could put a photo on their water bottle or laptop!
2. A class. Whether your friend wants to learn to dance, do karate, sing, paint, or blow glass, there are tons of fun classes out there for any interest! This is also pretty flexible price wise, because a paint-sip class is pretty affordable, while a pack of pilates classes can get pretty expensive. This works for any interest, and you could always do the class together, making it a fun bonding activity too!
3. A nice journal. Trust me, you can never have enough journals. Show your loved one you know them by choosing their favorite color palette or design. And feel free to write a nice note on the first page, so they have a sweet message from you every time they open it. Luckily journals can range in price, so there are options for every budget!
4. Kitchenware! For this, I’d recommend either these awesome flower spoons, flower bowls, or shell serving piece. If your loved one stirs coffee or eats yogurt, the spoons may be a huge hit! If they eat ice cream or pickles (I was picturing pickle chip when I said this), the bowls may be a win! And if your loved one hates flowers, (sorry, all of my links seem to be floral), this cool shell serving piece would be cool for someone who likes to host, as you could put a roast in here, or chips, whichever!
5. A terrarium! I saw some really cute terrariums in Union Square’s Christmas market, and then I saw this one online! You could find ones of any style, whether someone prefers modern decor, or a more earthy style. Just look up modern sleek terrarium or mushroom terrarium! This is great for a twenty-something who needs more plants in their home, and this is a plant that someone wouldn’t need to purchase a pot for.
6. A nice hoodie. Specifically, my Aunt and cousin wore matching Alo Yoga sweatshirts over the Thanksgiving holiday, so if you have a loved one who is into athleisure, these may be something they’ve been eyeing! Plus the liquid silver logo is pretty cool.
If you’re looking for something in a smaller price range:
1. Cute magnets. A set of magnets can also be super personalized, and if someone does like to print photos, now they can hang them on their fridge! If your loved one does not have a magnetized fridge, but would hang up photos, cute push pins could be the answer.
2. I saw this kind of hair tinsel yesterday at Bryant park, and I loved it. It brought me back to the feather trend of my youth. I think it will be perfect for New Years, and I am strongly considering getting some for myself! It would be immediately applicable, or if your loved one is in university, get them some in their school colors, and I promise it will be a hit for gamedays!
3. Sticky gems. For a friend/family member who is into arts and crafts or makeup, these could be fun, and could also be used for a gameday or New Years! They are also something you could add to a gift if you wanted a little something extra for someone.
5. Earmuffs! I asked for a pair for Secret Santa a few years ago, and let me tell you: SO cute and cozy! And I can put earbuds under them if I want to listen to music while I am in the great outdoors! These a great winter gift, and while writing this, I am thinking about fun colored earmuffs, which would be so cute if I had a matching coat. So if you have a friend with a pastel puffer, a matching pair of earmuffs would show them you pay attention!
6. A travel light up mirror. I have a large light up mirror that I do my makeup in, but when I travel, that’s not something I could bring. This is a great solution, and useful for people who don’t wear makeup, as they may need to pluck their eyebrows or put in their contacts on-the-go. The one linked is also a portable charger!
Hello everyone, it’s the end of August, which means it’s time for a reading wrap-up! Out of the books on August reading list, I hit 4 of the 9 bullets, and I read one book that wasn’t technically on the list which comes to 14 books!
Up first I read Our Violent Ends, which didn’t exactly answer the questions I had from the first book, but did a really great job wrapping up the world and the story. I really enjoyed it!
Then I started reading the Kingdom Keepers series, and though I thought I had gotten far as a kid, I think I actually only read 3 or 4 of them. I made it through the first two before taking a break and pivoting to:
The Percy Jackson series! I was really getting in the mood for vacation so I decided to read these sooner than expected, and it was So lovely. I know the stories really well so I didn’t have to figure anything out or try to predict the ending. They’re a fabulous light read that made me feel so comfortable, which was perfect for going home and being on vacation!
I also read the Heroes of Olympus series, which likewise is comfortable and perfect for reminding me of childhood! The last one is a tiny bit of a let down, simply because you spent 5 books awaiting a showdown that lasts a few chapters. Personally I prefer how the Percy Jackson series’ 5th book spent a lot of time/pages on the main event. Either way, still a great read, specifically the first two which I know really well!
After that I actually read The Sun and the Star, the Nico di Angelo spin-off in the Percy Jackson universe.
(Opinions/Spoilers ahead!) I had been really excited for it because Nico was such a great character, and I remember enjoying his and Will’s relationship in the Trials of Apollo series which I finally read a few years ago. However, the book was a bit of a disappointment because the tone felt off to me. There was another author involved which could’ve been the case, but to me it felt more like it was written in the perspective of Percy or Jason or Hazel, not from a uniquely Nico tone. There were a few jokes in there that felt completely off character to me, and if felt sort of overly emotional. Of course the other Percy Jackson or Heroes of Olympus books had emotions and inter-personal communication in them, but it felt like this book was more about that than the adventure. I understand why that choice was made, but it felt off to me, and I think it would’ve been more enjoyable if the emotional distress was more slowly and subtly revealed, not just thrown at you with the excuse of the plot to discuss it. While I enjoyed a few aspects of the book, a few other characters felt too joke-y, and it messed with the Nico tone I’d expected. Lastly, there were these dream sequences worked in, which I felt were really extra. It would’ve been better in my opinion if they were much shorter, especially because you know as a reader that it’s not real, so it’s annoying to have to wait to get back to reality, and the issues of reality. A short nightmare could’ve accomplished just as much in my opinion. Now actually lastly, there were a few really funny references to pop culture worked in, which I thought were really funny!
And that’s what I read this month! Not too much, but it was nice to spend a prolonged amount of time in the PJO world! It made me really want to go back and reread a bunch of other beloved childhood series’! With so much change going on around me, it’s nice to look back and connect to my past self! Lastly, while I’m a bit sad I didn’t to the Crescent City series, I am glad to have that to look forward to in the future while we await new releases in Sarah J. Maas’s series’.
Now for September! Given that I didn’t read too many of the books on my list for August, this list is short with a few repeats from last month!
1.) Cursed
It’s time to get this off my waiting list!
2.) Mastery
Getting back into work stuff makes me really want to read a practical book that I can count as doing something work-related! Really excited for this one!
3.) Kingdom Keepers 3-7
Sadly I am still a bit confused. Rereading these as an adult I thought would make the whole world more clear, but I haven’t exactly found that to be true! Nevertheless we persist!
4.) Ninth House
The back to school season has inspired me to try to read this again. I think I just have to get past the beginning and the world building, and then I hope I will really like it! Either way, hoping the academia vibes are good!
5.) How to Win Friends and Influence People
This is one of those self-help-y live your best life books that I’ve heard of since middle school, so I thought I should give it a whirl!
6.) The Penderwicks series
The Penderwicks is another comfort series, however this one requires no world building as it is set in our world! It also takes place pre-cell phone, so it has such a quaint, real, homey feel to it, and I thought it would be a good series to reread if I need comfy, familiar books!
And that’s all for now! Hope everyone is enjoying the end of Summer and the beginning of Fall!!!
Hey Squad, the end of July means I can tell y’all how I barely read this month, and what I am planning on reading in August, which will hopefully be more productive as I am lucky enough to be going to the beach on vacation, where I will have lots of time to read!
From my Reading List for July, I read 7 books, and I read 2 that were not on the list! So, I read:
1.) Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?
Even better than I’d expected, and I blabbed to many people about it. Main takeaway: I am now hyper-aware if/when I sit down to put on my socks. I don’t usually, but now if I do, I start over-thinking it!
2&3.) Prince’s Gambit + Kings Rising
I was thrilled that these weren’t as scary as I’d thought they could be, and there was a lot I took away about writing strategy and mind-games!
4.) Kingdom of the Feared
Not gonna lie, while I loved the first book, the last two kept revealing secret after secret that had been kept from the main character, to a point where I didn’t know why we hated one person, and why something else was a plot point, and what the goal was. And then even when I figured out what the goal was, it was an underwhelming achievement, and that didn’t even make sense with some of the betrayals and secrets. I liked the writing style, but really struggled reading this because I was so confused!
5.) The Bane Chronicles
Very fun, though I don’t fully believe the character’s tone would have always been so light. Each story within was very breezy, but knowing the character and the world, I think there would have been a few more sober/jaded moments. So a fun read, but didn’t entirely hold up in context of the rest of the book-universe.
6.) The Diva Rules
This was one of the more unexpected reads, but I read this in one sitting at like 2am, and couldn’t put it down! I thought it was super interesting because I’d never known how Michelle got involved in the underground club/drag scene, and I liked hearing about her experiences as a pop star, especially as there was something to learn from them! Very enjoyable!
7.) Why Not Me?
A great continuation of the former, and I liked the practical advice at the end!
8.) Failing Up
I had read half of this in maybe December, but I thought it was time to re-read/read the whole thing because of my career journey! Very enjoyable, and had some practical advice/wisdom that I related to more than I did in December! Also, a quick read!
9.) To Be A Machine
Finally finished! Super interesting and so much to think about! A mix of philosophy and science, I would urge people with opinions to read this, because I want someone to discuss with! I will say, the ending is rather lackluster because there isn’t a definitive story with an ending at this time, so just be prepared for an open-ended ending!
August Reading List
Really going back in time for a few weeks! At least I am not the only one (thanks lady at the theater that told me she recently re-read Percy Jackson!)
1.) Our Violent Ends
I’m about two chapters in!
2.) Fourth Wing
I’ll have to be in a fantasy mood, but technically this is second on my list because it gets returned in 8 days!!
3.) The Kingdom Keepers Series
I read these as a kid, but I don’t think I ever finished them because I got confused! I had thought there were a ton (like 9) but there are only 7, so that’s good! I know it’s gonna feel weird re-reading them because I only read them once and have a few memories, so it’ll be scattered deja vu I believe! I hope they’re an easy, quick read!
4.) Percy Jackson
With the TV Show coming out I should re-read these anyways, but now that I’m living in NYC, I really want to re-read these, plus as an adult I am missing childhood a bit, and these books were such a big part of my childhood, so I think it will be a comfort read! Also, I just talked about the Lotus Casino like 4 times in the last month so my subconscious is particularly in the mood!
5.) Heroes of Olympus
If I’m reading the OG series I am so also re-reading these! Again, comfort books as I go through a stressful (exciting but stressful) life transition!
6.) Crescent City Series
So, I adore the ACOTAR Series, but there hasn’t been a new book since I read the series for the first time a little over two years ago. But, Sarah J. Mass’s other series SPOILER ALERT includes a crossover with the ACOTAR world. I initially hadn’t wanted to read Crescent City because I knew I’d be painfully waiting for the next book in that series too, but I think my sister cracked me because I really want more ACOTAR content, and I would most likely have to read Crescent City before the next ACOTAR book came out anyways. Now if I read them, I’ll have something new from such a great author, and ACOTAR content, and more to re-read as I wait for the next books. So I won’t have felt like I just re-read one series if I re-read the other in the interim! Also, my family is going on vacation to our favorite place, and the literal only way to to make it better would be if I was reading new ACOTAR content, so I suppose that’s what I have to do as it’ll make vacation even better!
7.) Mastery
I think this will be a great post-vacation read, when I’m focusing 1000% on work, and can get into a really good life-work groove.
8.) Cursed
I read the first one (Gilded) a while ago, but need to read the sequel before I forget everything from the first book!
9.) Normal People
Still gotta get to this one. Ideally I’d be able to fit it in before or at the beach so I can call my friend who just read it to discuss, but I have to be in the mood, and that hasn’t happened yet!
And that is all! Thanks for reading, and I hope you have been enjoying your books recently!
The hour of witching is interrupted by the small light at the wall across by the foot of my bed. The nightlight catches me by surprise, as it throws my room into relief, and makes the world seem more vivacious than the usual knocked out darkness which implies that I should have been asleep long ago.
However, I haven’t had a nightlight in years, and so the thought of one illuminates an imagined image from childhood. Along the wall of which the nightlight is plugged into, I used to wish for a sister. Not entirely the one I had, but not separate either. I used to wish that we would be sisters, and that we would share a room. The room I pictured was mine, with two matching desks pushed up against the nightlight wall. And on each desk would be a lamp of white china, with small bud flowers painted as an accent in a dark magenta, joining the thin gold lines along the angles. And the lamps would have a golden brown lampshade, with fringes of brown beads hanging off of it, exactly like the lamp that does sit on my desk, though on the other side of the room, and never particularly something I liked. I did like the warm yellow light though, and I pictured the sister room filled with it, cast along the parchment paper walls that were purple, the same purple as the sheer curtains that hung along both mine and my sister’s windows in our separate rooms.
And I pictured me and my sister content to read or write at our desks, alone with each other for company, peaceful in the knowledge of another. There is nothing more I would have asked for, to be known and accepted without fuss, by someone simply sitting in the same space as I, focused on similar pursuits without question or the necessity of explanation of why we were doing what we were doing.
That world of comfort is ironic because I find myself rebelling against it in my very soul. I hold as a central tenant the idea that I would rather suffer than be content, because then I wouldn’t be wasting my life. And not would I be the hated type that easily luxuriated in their own privilege, never troubling to step outside their cozy little bubble.
I fear being complacent, of settling for a life of comfort when this is so much joy and sorrow out there to experience. And while I adore my reading and writing, it often feels as if I have wasted a day, wasted away inside, instead of luxuriating in what life has to offer. And so I find myself willing to suffer. On a family vacation, it would be most relaxing to sleep late and rest in air conditioning, yet instead I find myself willing to wake up and trek down to the beach, where I will be suffocated by heat, sweating and malnourished, because it is too hot to eat outside, discomforted by the sand and my bathing suit, all in the name of not doing nothing, and experiencing life. It is illogical, yet suffering is better than regretting that I did not chance the outdoors and the possibility of suffering, but also the possibility of laughter and joy.
But no, it is not my natural state to go to the beach, rather I am thrilled when it’s a rainy day and we all sleep late and stay indoors. Which is why I know that when it comes to life I am a coward. I tell myself to reject contentment, yet I suffer and reject it. I suffer when I do nothing, and I suffer when I do something, which seems to me like I was not made for life. I am grateful for it and do not want to waste it, yet I am also a coward that sometimes cannot face the stress of going outside, and would rather be comforted by my stories and thoughts and television shows, knowing the end of the day will come and it will have felt like a waste of a day because I could not face my discomforts and accept suffering by waking up and going to do something.
The self-hatred rises as this thought eddies in my head, and I open my eyes and attempt to shake it off. It is then that I realize that it is not a nightlight, rather it is the computer charger that is plugged into the wall, with the light shining due to the elevated position of the cord.
It is ironic that it is a computer charger, which represents our reliance on technology. It’s a far cry from the sisters who would read and write, read books and write by hand at their desks. Now, we stare at our screens like mindless robots, hunting for the next piece of media to consume and keep us distracted. Distracted from the thought that instead of watching a fake story, we could theoretically go outside and meet people, live and laugh, and experience one’s own life story, rather than consuming the shallow reflection of life that is fed to us through the screen. I internally scoff because I am a coward, and often wish to be subsumed by my laptop so that I don’t have to deal with the stressors and problems of that which we call real life.
It’s laughable I know, my own contradictions, and as I can’t fall asleep, I get up to go to the bathroom. Upon returning, it becomes horribly clear that I was wrong again, and now I know with certainty that the light is not from the small light on a computer charger, rather it is the light telling me that my camera battery has completed charging. And once more, it is ironic that I thought it was laptop adjacent, when in reality it is the exact opposite, where the laptop keeps you complacent inside, while the camera beckons you to go outside and do something worth capturing. To go live a little, live your own story and take photos, something seemingly worthless to do of someone who sits in bed all day, reading or watching TV. Even photographing the little girls at their desks is too dull, whereas something in life that evokes suffering or joy, pain or pleasure, sorrow or anticipation for something real and meaningful is worth a few hundred kilobytes of storage. And as I tell myself I want to do something that makes me feel alive, I snuggle down into bed and close my eyes, and let my conviction be swept away by the deep slumber that will end with an alarm, and the immediate adrenaline response of no, as I am forced to get up and live a little, with the full knowledge that last night I was strong and full of joie de vivre, and today I am wishing to return to the comfort of darkness and my bed, where no one but myself would say to me that they were judging the fact that by going back to bed I was wasting my life. I’ll sleep when I’m dead…or not. Weak. Who would even want to be my sister. I guess I lose either way.
It’s a blackbird kind of day. The sun feels like limes and salt, and it makes me a little crazy. I want to be a prairie girl, or a shy artist in a seaside cottage, or a spoiled ‘princess’ in the south of France. I want to take a bite out of every apple in the orchard, and I wish for mountains of watermelons so I could eat until I make myself sick, with juice dripping down my cheeks onto linen shorts, even mixing with the dirt between my toes. I want to dash to the river and jump in fully clothed. I want to pop champagne in the grass and cloudwatch without scratching at the legs that carried me through the tall grasses and up the mountainside. I want to sing to that hill, and feel the trees hug me as I hug them. I want a bee sting and ice and ice pops. I want blackberries and blueberries and raspberries, and abandoned attics with dust and sunlight streaming through the windows. I want to throw hay at my companions, and I want to run until I collapse, and then get back up and keep running, without a look back. I want the fire and the stars to whisper the secrets of the universe to me, and I want to gift the Earth the salt of my tears. I wish to be known and unknown, a simple piece of the puzzle but also the most integral cog in the clock. I want the wind to whisper my name, and I want the birds to see me as one of them. God, I wish I was one of them.
Hey y’all!!!! For those of you still in school, you’ve got this!!! And for those of you who, like me, are done, congrats!!! But now what to do with our time?!?!
READ!!!!!!!
I’m very excited to tackle some of the books I’ve been meaning to read, but need a few brain cells to get through!!! So, in no particular order, except this is mostly the order of how I’d read these:
Shadowhunters extras
One of the series I’ve been in the middle of is The Dark Artifices series, which is a spin-off of The Mortal Instruments Series. I am currently on the second of the Dark Artifices, and have one more before I can read The Infernal Devices series, and the Magnus Bane Chronicles, and all the other spin-off series. So there’s at least 9 books right there to get to, as I know there is also Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy and The Last Hours Series’. It’s a great world so I’m excited!
2. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
I’ve been meaning to read this since it came out, but still haven’t gotten around to it. Mostly because it seems rather dark, and I have to be in the right mindset for that!
3. These Violent Delights
I’ve started These Violent Delights, but given that it’s a version of Romeo and Juliet, I’ve found it a bit hard to get into. However, I am determines to give it a good go, though it too seems a bit dark, but not as much in the “death-games-of-children” way that the Hunger Games world sometimes evokes!
4. To Be a Machine
This was actually a reading assigned to my Happiness and Utopia Philosophy class, and I unfortunately didn’t finish it when it was assigned!!! I still have a few chapters left, and I find the Transhumanist movement fascinating, so I will 1000% be finishing this when I want something a touch more academic. It’s not a hard read at all, however it is about reality, so I’ll need to be in that mood.
5. A Sky Beyond the Storm
This I believe is the last in the series, however I am struggling to get into this one. The main characters are far apart from each other, and while I have a hope for reconciliation, it doesn’t exactly seem like it’s going to work out! This was a great series, very Hunger-Games-esque, especially in the first books, but that means another darker tone for me going back into this one.
6. Normal People
This has been so recommended, but as it is more of a realistic fiction I’ve been hesitant to read it. Especially because I think it’ll make me cry in a sad way.
7. The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama
I started this a few weeks ago, but it was due at the library before I’d gotten to finish it, because schoolwork!! I’m excited to finish it, as I learned one thing already (on the topic of managing anxiety)! I loved Becoming, and so far this hasn’t been quite as good, but it’s more timely with Covid stuff!
8. Mastery by Robert Greene
This was recommended to me by a friend, and he said it was very motivational in a ‘be your best self’ way!!!! As I am always looking to be my best self, I’m hoping this is equivalent to Atomic Habits!!! Clearly, I have high hopes for it!
9. A Deadly Education
A dark academia fantasy book I’m excited about!
10. Find Me
The sequel to Call Me By Your Name, so I am so excited!!!! I’ve heard mixed reviews, but I can’t picture myself being unhappy with any ending, so I’m so so excited!!!!
11. Call Me By Your Name
Obviously I will reread Call Me By Your Name before I read Find Me, to get in the heads of the characters and get into André Aciman’s writing style!! So excited to reread this in the summer heat, especially because I will have apricot juice whilst I read it!!!!
12. Sapiens
Okay, I know I know, I still have to finish this one!!!! The beginning is so good and I read it more than a year ago, but once it got to the part about the institution of money, I got bored because I knew that stuff already. I’m sure there are more interesting nuggets left, but it’s gonna take some willpower to muscle through the boring parts!!!
And that concludes my Summer Reading List for now!!!!! I think this would take me through June, and I may do a part two if I’m feeling it!!! Happy reading to you!!!
I’m guessing at this point in time, almost all of you have dealt with Covid-19 in regards to work or school, so I thought I’d offer what my school is doing to balance safety with college life.
After what I assume is much debate, Boston College is allowing in-person classes and is allowing students to live on campus. This is great news for me because I find online learning to be much more difficult, not to mention that without other students around I have less motivation to do work. With that said, I will have online classes in addition to in-person and hybrid classes, but because I will be surrounded by other students who also have online classes, I think I will find focusing much easier than I did at home. The basic understanding is that if a class can be in-person it will be, but if there are too many people or the professor or TA isn’t comfortable in-person, then a class will be online.
In addition to managing classes and fixing classrooms to be equipped for hybridization (when one group of students is online while another is in class simultaneously), the administration also has to set up move-in and dorm protocols. Not much changed in terms of dorms, aside from a few buildings being all freshmen, when before some sophomores lived there too. Forced triples however were suspended this year, which I think is so lucky for the incoming freshman, as the fear of a forced triple is THE WORST. For the Newton campus, there will be increased shuttles so students can get to class on time even though buses have to follow social distancing rules. One quick note on buses is that last I heard, the grocery shuttle will not be operating in the fall due to more buses being needed for the Newton route. The other two issues with dorms are reduced elevator capacity, and that some dorms have communal bathrooms. I won’t be living in one of those dorms so I don’t have any additional information, but I’m guessing people will be encouraged to wear masks when possible, and may not be able to leave their toiletries in the bathroom. That’s just my guess though!
In terms of moving in, BC has scheduled everyone for a move-in slot, which will follow a strictly regimented routine. First, if a student has a parent/guardian/sibling/friend helping them move-in, the student will be dropped off at Conte Forum for Covid testing, and once that is done, they will pick up a meal slip. From there they will walk to their dorms where their (let’s just say family member) family member has dropped off their stuff. The student will then pick up their bag of 4 meals from a location near them, which also has important residence hall info such as the dorm door codes. While this is happening, the family member will drive over to the residence hall and either unpack everything and go park, or unpack and wait for the student before moving everything in. It is a bit unclear whether or not the car stays outside the hall during the entire move-in process as there will be carts that people usually take straight to your dorm, but we will have to see what happens due to Covid restrictions. Once everything is moved in, students will unpack with their family member, and once that is done, the family member leaves, and the student quarantines until their test result returns negative. It it returns positive…well, you will probably be moved right into quarantine housing! If a student does not have someone helping them move in, they will just leave their stuff at a gate outside of Conte, and then move it over themselves/with a cart. Nota bene: BC has said a student is only allowed one person to help them move in.
Before I address the whole dining situation, I would like to report that my friend moved in early, and sent me a picture of what her meal bag contained: A couple sandwiches, grilled chicken with quinoa, a bagel, peanut butter, cream cheese, a cookie, a brownie, a salad and dressing, an orange, an apple, hummus, pretzels, baby carrots, a couple bars, a hard boiled egg, and chips. While that’s not the best thing ever, there are good, healthy options, so I think I will manage to survive. Plus BC brownies are to die for, so I am now much more excited at the prospect of my quarantine meals!
What BC is doing for food is organizing the dining halls with reduced seating and a one way line for buying items. What we know so far is that some of the dining spots will not be open because the new guidelines use more staff members, and each of the main dining halls (Lower/Corcoran, MacElroy (Mac), and Stuart) will have the same meals as each other. The menu will rotate on a three-week schedule, and the menu will be available to scan while you wait in line. The Rat will have to go items, Addie’s might be mobile order only (? unclear?) and Eagles will have the same daily menu as Mac, and it will be open for lunch and dinner. HOWEVER! The one thing that I think will keep me not eating chicken with two sides every day is that GET Mobile, i.e. mobile orders, will be offering more custom made menu items, which I hope will include bowls and salads from Eagles. The downsides of mobile ordering is that you have to go pick it up (no delivery), and you can only get a friend’s food if they send you their receipt for proof. It is also slightly frustrating that the GET Mobile orders will take about 30 minutes (on average) to get ready, so I will probably be ordering food during class so that I can grab it when I want it without anything getting cold! Lastly, it is important to note that BC will be trying to put out more outdoor seating, in order to make up for reduced indoor seating. This is great for the fall and spring, but I’m not sure if there are any plausible ways to increase communal eating spaces for the winter.
The last piece of adjusted college life will be participating in clubs and such. Unfortunately, we do not know too much about activities with regards to reserving rooms, but it has been encouraged to make everything virtual. My smaller clubs are hoping to do some outdoor meetings, although I think that everyone will try to do that, so I’m not sure how that will go. BC has announced that the activities fair will be virtual this year, but I think that will make joining clubs very difficult for freshman, as you wouldn’t get the same vibes online that a club has in person. Additionally, tryouts for improv clubs or dance teams will be very different as well…I can’t wait to see how that goes!
Some final notes are that the gym will be open, so I look forward to meeting with friends there to work out, but I’m not sure if classes will be run. Additionally, the libraries will be open both for studying and for those in zoom classes, but food and drink will not be allowed because they require you to take off your mask. As far as testing goes, BC will be conducting random testing after the initial test, and students will be required to self-monitor. If you end up testing positive, BC will move you to quarantine housing where you will be taken care of, unless you decide to go home, which is encouraged for those who live close enough to do so. I’m not sure how you are supposed to get your stuff if you do test positive, so, as my sister’s school recommended, I will probably pack a ‘quarantine bag’ with daily essentials, to make moving into quarantine housing easier in case it is needed – I hope it isn’t!
All in all, campus will be very different this year, but I hope that we will be able to make it work safely and successfully! Despite some of the adjustments being annoying or frustrating, I am so grateful to be going back, so each time I lament the dining hall options or am frustrated with online classes, I will try to remember that BC is trying it’s best to make the year as great as it can be!
It’s about that time when school starts up again, and summer reading is forgotten. At least for me, it’s a lot harder to find time to read during the school year, but good news: all my books that I wanted to read this summer just arrived! By this I mean either on a library app, or in hard-copy, so while I could put off reading the hard copy books, I only have a certain amount of time to get through the library books before they are unceremoniously returned. However, I thought I’d share what I am going to be reading these next few weeks, as I am really excited about these books!
There are three books on my reading list, and the first on is called In Praise of Difficult Women. I actually heard about this book on JEOPARDY!, as it was an answer, but it sounded like a really inspirational read! I don’t know if any of you ever read the Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan, but in one of the books a throne is mentioned which is made out of a (possibly fictional) book called 5 Habits of Highly Aggressive Women. Or something like that. Anyway, this book title gave me similar vibes, just in a less violent fashion, so I decided to look it up. In short, the book profiles 29 ‘difficult women’, ranging from Hillary Rodham Clinton to Amelia Earhart to Lena Dunham. The women described have all made waves in history, and the book chronicles what character traits have allowed them to make such an impact. I thought that I could probably learn something from these women, so after shaking down my family members for their library cards (my local library does not have an ebook version), I finally managed to loan the book. I have made it through two difficult women so far, and if the book continues being as insightful as it has been, I might have to purchase a copy for my future coffee table!
The next book that I plan on reading I have mentioned previously, which is called SuperLife, by Darin Olien. Mr. Olien is self-described as a ‘superfood hunter’, and after watching him on the TV show Down to Earth (read the article on that here) I decided to read the book. Unfortunately for me, the book was on a 14 week waiting list on my library app, so after reading the sample, I decided it would be a good purchase. You see, I’m not a big fan of buying books due to the fact that you can borrow them at the library for free. I also prefer to buy ebooks over hard copy books due to the environmental toll books have, but if I plan on rereading a book, I can justify purchasing it. I unfortunately didn’t consider buying it as an ebook because I had already found it on Amazon, but this is also a good book to lend to someone, which I find much easier with a paperback than an ebook, so I’m not too upset about my oversight.( Hmmm Sidebar: Someone should make loaning ebooks between friends easier! Chew on that Google, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.) Moving on, I did buy the hard-copy, and it arrived today! I will have to wait until I finish In Praise of Difficult Women first, because I only have it for 14 days – even though you usually get 21 days for an ebook – but I as soon as I am done I will start SuperLife. For me, the sample was a huge pull, because until reading it, I didn’t really understand the negatives of GMO foods, but now I understand, maybe even support the argument! As such, I am excited to learn more about health and the science behind it! One last note is that this book reminds me of The Sports Gene, which I read before sophomore year of high school, for AP Bio. If anyone else is a fan of biology novels, I would highly recommend that too!
The last book on my reading list for the end of August/September is called The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. This was actually recommended to my by my friend Hannah, who told me that it gave an interesting perspective on life. As someone who enjoys contemplating life – if only I could be an ancient Greek philosopher – I thought this could provide some good brain fodder! The premise of this book is that one should reject the idea that looking on the bright side is the best way to live. Instead, the author Mark Manson offers the idea that we should instead accept that some things suck, and that we should instead care about the things that are worth caring about. Instead of avoiding painful truths, we should accept them, in order to live a better life. I’m very interested in reading this book because it preaches something not my outlook on life. I am very much a positive outlook person, so it’ll be interesting to see what I take away from this book. Even if I don’t end up agreeing, it is always good to challenge your perceptions, so I think this book will certainly do that for me!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the aforementioned books, series, or TV shows.
Leann I Am 