Month in Review: August

I barely blogged in August, because of some major life changes. But that's ok! What are new school years for if not for getting back into a normal routine? Anyways, here's all that went down in August: 

What I Read: 

Crow Winter by: Karen McBride: 3/5 stars 

Walking the Clouds edited by: Grace Dillon: 4/5 stars 

Moon of the Crusted Snow (reread) by: Waubgeshig Rice: 4.5/5 stars 

Future Home of the Living God by: Louise Erdrich: 5/5 stars 

Stone Blind by: Natalie Haynes: 4/5 stars 

Unfortunately Yours by: Tessa Bailey: 4/5 stars 

Chase Me by: Tessa Bailey: 2/5 stars 

Favourite book of the month: Despite being too busy to blog, my reading didn't falter this month. I loved reading Future Home of the Living God. It's a dystopia featuring an Indigenous protagonist who has to hide her pregnancy from the government. I thought it was a really interesting premise, and while sad in subject matter, it was very well written. 

What I Blogged: 

Not much, to be honest! I managed to get up my review of Tomorrow x3 by: Gabrielle Zevin, which was great because my feelings about that book were complicated. I'm happy I finally was able to put thoughts into words. 

Favourite Blog Posts of the Month: 

Lissa shares Book Beginnings She Dislikes

Greg makes me ponder life in Sunday Post# 516

Life Stuff: 

As forementioned, I had a lot of big changes happen to me in August. The main thing being that I moved to another city for school. I still have a few days until I begin my PhD program, so I've just spent my days getting acclimated to the city and to my new apartment. It has been nerve wracking and at times very stressful, as change often is. But I am proud of myself for keeping things together and establishing a new routine. I am equally as excited for the future. 

I did have some fun times going to concerts in August and to FanExpo right at the end before I moved. I do love the end of summer because I tend to ramp up on exciting events and it kinda symbolizes the last hurrah before jumping back into routine. I am looking forward to fall and enjoying coziness and spookiness. 

So that was August! Here's hoping I post a bit more regularly on here. How was your final month of summer? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Month in Review: July

 

July went by way too fast for my liking. I do not want to even think about all the packing I have to do for my move or the fact that everything in my life is changing this month. Anyways... here's what happened in the whirlwind of July!  

What I Read: 

The Family Upstairs by: Lisa Jewell: 4.5/5 stars 

The Family Remains by: Lisa Jewell: 3/5 stars 

Bath Haus by: P.J. Vernon: 3/5 stars 

Pageboy by: Elliot Page: 4/5 stars 

Me Tomorrow edited by: Drew Hayden Taylor: 4/5 stars 

Split Tooth by: Tanya Tagaq: 4/5 stars 

The Boyfriend Candidate by: Ashley Winstead: 4/5 stars 

Favourite book: The Family Upstairs surprised me! My sister recommended it, and I am usually very picky with thrillers. But I found this book to be super shocking, and definitely a page turner. I didn't love the sequel, but this book was a hit. 

What I Blogged: 

I kinda fell off the blogging bandwagon this month due to busyness, such is life. But I did put up a new discussion post on Leaving Things to the Experts, and y'all provided some really interesting feedback on the subject. 

Favourite Blog Posts: 

Cee provides a thought provoking post: And Yet 

Shayna shares her Favourite Summer Thing

Simone explains how Trying to "Fix" Her Disability Made Her Hands Worse

Life Stuff: 

This month was spent working on grant proposals for school, working at my summer job, and working on buying stuff for my move. Just a lot of work in general, lol! While I feel physically in a good place, I know the stress of moving will set in soon. So I just have to keep up with the self-care to keep myself in a good place. 

I do have some concerts lined up for August before moving though, so I am looking forward to those! It's nice to have some fun events to cap off the summer. 

So, that was my July. How was yours? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Month in Review: June

I went on a very much unscheduled hiatus for the majority of June. Life events just caught up with me! But I'm glad to be back now and am ready to recap June. 

What I Read: 

Unreconciled by: Jesse Wente: 4.5/5 stars 

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by: Elle Cosimano: 2.5/5 stars 

You Don't Have A Shot by: Racquel Marie: 4/5 stars 

Secretly Yours by: Tessa Bailey: 3/5 stars 

Ms. Marvel: Teenage Wasteland by: G. Willow Wilson and Nico Leon: 4/5 stars

Favourite book: I really enjoyed Unreconciled by Jesse Wente. I read a few excerpts from the book when I was TAing earlier this year, and I thought it was a super informative read on Indigenous resistance and the true meaning behind reconciliation. 

What I Blogged: 

As mentioned before, I did trail off from posting in the middle of the month. But, I did update you all on the Changes by blog went through, and I am overall very happy with my new graphics and the new directions my blog is taking. 

Favourite Blog Posts: 

Because of my blog absence, I didn't get to do a whole lot of blog hopping last month :( Sorry friends! I feel like I opened my laptop in July and realized I missed out on so many posts. It took me a while to catch up. But if you have a post you are proud of, link it in the comments! 

Life Stuff: 

June was BUSY. I had weddings, vacations, graduations, and much more. I also got a new laptop which will make writing and blogging a lot easier. I ended the month with the great news of finally finding a new place to live, and feeling more prepared for school which makes me so happy. I hope the final two summer months will go by smoothly with as little stress as possible. But of course, moving always carries with it a bit of stress. Wish me luck in packing! 

That was my June. How was yours? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Month in Review: May

 

May just flew by! I feel like I blinked and missed it. While I had a lot of fun last month, this month is full of even more excitement. But before we get to June, here's what happened in May. (Also, peep the new graphics! Thanks Canva). 

What I Read: 

The Story of Us by: Catherine Hernandez: 4/5 stars 

Watchmen by: Alan Moore: 3/5 stars 

I Am I Am I Am by: Maggie O'Farrell: 4/5 stars 

Loathe to Love You by: Ali Hazelwood: 3.5/5 stars 

Icebreaker by: Hannah Grace: 1/5 stars 

Favourite book: I really enjoyed The Story of Us. It was my second Hernandez book after Scarborough and I found the premise to be super unique and the character building was quite strong. Review to come! 

What I Blogged: 

There were weeks in May where I just...forgot to blog? But, I still stayed fairly consistent and I'm really glad I finally wrote my review for When The Reckoning Comes by: LaTanya McQueen. It was such a good read. 

Favourite Blog Posts: 

Cee asks: Is This a Book Blog, Though? 

Nyx shares What Influences Her to Read A Book (As a Non-Book Blogger) 

Nicole recommends MG Books for Young Horror Fans 

Life Stuff: 

As previously mentioned, May was fun! I started off the month with a vacation to San Francisco, which was an awesome bucket list experience as I had never been to California previously. So many of the sites were really cool and I got to see seals and sea lions in the bay. As an animal lover that was a major highlight. 

I ended the month with an academic conference in Toronto where I met so many cool people both in and outside of my field, and I learned a lot. I also presented the previously mentioned paper that I was initially struggling with writing but I'm really pleased with how it turned out. I got some good feedback on it overall so I'm considering the hard work as worth it. I considered the advice I got in the comments about taking my time with the editing to be the most helpful. Thank you all. 

This month is bringing weddings, graduation parties, and a lot of milestones for friends and family. I am looking forward to it all. Summer is the best season for celebrations in my opinion. 

That was my May! How was yours? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Month in Review: April

I didn't post anything in April besides this post... lol. Alas, marking very much did get in the way. But that's okay! I'm hoping to return back to consistency now that summer is on its way. In any case, here's what happened in April: 

What I Read: 

Anne's House of Dreams by: L.M. Montgomery: 4/5 stars 

VenCo by: Cherie Dimaline: 3/5 stars 

If Not, Winter by: Sappho (edited by Anne Carson): 4/5 stars 

My Name's Yours, What's Alaska? by: Alaska Thunderfuck 5000: 4/5 stars 

The Sunbearer Trials by: Aiden Thomas: 3/5 stars 

Favourite book of the month: There were no five star reads this month, but I did think that Anne's House of Dreams was so delightful. The Anne of Green Gables series is pretty much one of the few classic series I actually enjoy, and this book was no exception. 

What I Blogged: 

Nothing, haha! 

Favourite Blog Posts of the Month: 

Roberta invited me to consider: If I Could Go Back and Change One Thing About My Life, What Would it Be? 

Really, my blog hopping wasn't up to par this month either. But I hope to be able to read more posts in the future as well. 

Life Stuff: 

Now that my teaching assistant position is finished, I seriously need to start looking for a place to live in my new city. It'll be stressful for sure, but I've been putting it off for too long and it needs to get done. 

May will be a bit busy. I am going on vacation next week which I am super excited for, and at the end of the month I'm going to an academic conference. I get really nervous presenting in front of a lot of people, but I like to go to these conferences to get practice at it and push myself out of my comfort zone. 

Other than that, I will continue to move forward! That was my April. How was yours? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Month in Review: March

March FLEW by. I was quite busy during the month which led me to be a bit AWOL on the blog, but I am back to recap the month. I can't promise more consistency until probably May, but at least I have found the time now to write, which I missed. Here's what happened in this busy month: 

What I Read: 

Vote Loki by: Christopher Hastings and Langdon Foss: 5/5 stars 

The Poppy War by: R.F. Kuang: 3/5 stars 

Mine Mine Mine by: Uhuru Portia Phalafala: 5/5 stars 

Love on the Brain by: Ali Hazelwood: 4/5 stars 

Take Us to Your Chief by: Drew Hayden Taylor: 4/5 stars 

The School for Good Mothers by: Jessamine Chan: 5/5 stars 

The Book of Myths by: Amy Cruse: 3/5 stars 

Daisy Jones and the Six by: Taylor Jenkins Reid: 3/5 stars 

Favourite book: I saw Olivia-Savannah mention this book on her Youtube channel and the premise sounded intriguing. So when I saw it at the library I decided to give it a go. I absolutely could not put it down. This book left me frustrated for so many of the characters and I thought it was a great mix of dystopia within a semi present-day setting. However, I know it's gotten mixed reviews and I am curious to hear more from people who had issues with it. 

What I Blogged: 

As mentioned, blogging was scarce in March. I did manage to post a review on Catch and Kill by: Ronan Farrow, and that post sparked some really interesting dialogue. But overall it was difficult to find time in March to dedicate to blogging. 

Favourite Blog Posts of the Month: 

Marie shares a blind-date with an Underrated YA Book 

Cee invites us to remember that The Little Things are There to Enjoy 

Greg reads from Aldebaran 

Life Stuff: 

As mentioned, I was quite busy in March. Mainly my job as a TA took over and I was marking a whole lot of essays. We don't have too big of a turnaround time between when an assignment is due and when the marks need to be released so I was basically marking 24/7. Such is the life of a contract worker! 

Final assignments are due in April too so blogging will probably be inconsistent until May. But I am a bit sad that the semester is coming to a close because I do really enjoy being a TA and I'm upset that this chapter at my university is coming to a close. 

I've been a bit stressed also trying to find a place to live in Ottawa, as I'm moving there for my PhD in the summer. Rent is so expensive everywhere and it's been a struggle to find a location in semi-close proximity to the university without also having to have me take on a full time job. Fingers crossed that something good will become available soon! 

Overall, it wasn't a bad month, just a busy one. I did find the month went by super fast and I am happy that the weather is starting to warm up. 

That was my March. How was yours? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Month in Review: February

I am so happy we're in the month of spring. February was rough weather-wise, and just a few days ago I had such a stressful time driving home because of a massive snowstorm. I do not like this weather and am looking forward to a change. Anyways, here's the good stuff that happened this month: 

What I Read: 

I'm Glad My Mom Died by: Jennette McCurdy: 5/5 stars 

Braiding Sweetgrass by: Robin Wall Kimmerer: 4.5/5 stars 

Hunting by Stars by: Cherie Dimaline: 5/5 stars 

Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail by: Ashley Herring Blake: 3/5 stars 

The Theban Plays by: Sophocles: 4/5 stars 

Obasan by: Joy Kogawa: 3/5 stars 

Favourite Book: I was so excited to finally be able to get my hands on a copy of I'm Glad My Mom Died by: Jennette McCurdy. I've read nothing but positive reviews about this book, and as someone who grew up watching McCurdy on tv, this text really provided some shocking but important insights into the toxic culture of growing up on tv. McCurdy is a fantastic writer and I hope she continues to write more. 

What I Blogged: 

I really enjoyed writing my post about Performative Reading. I like when the inspiration to write a book comes from outside of the bookish world, and the inspiration from this post came from a really important talk I attended. The insights people provided in the comments were also very helpful, and I definitely want to continue this conversation. 

Favourite Blog Posts of the Month: 

Kit reveals Why They Like Redemption Arcs 

Cait talks 2023 Book Releases You Need to Read 

Lissa shares Meet-Cutes and "Meet-Awkwards" From Books 

Life Stuff: 

The big and good news from this month is that I got into my PhD program! It was such a coincidence how I found out as I got the email while talking about acceptance letters with a friend, but I am so unbelievably happy. Now comes the hard and not so fun stuff of budgeting, finding a place to live, figuring it all out, etc. But for now I can celebrate, which is good :) 

This month I am looking forward to some birthday celebrations and eating lots of Easter chocolate. With some work as usual sprinkled in as well. 

That was my February? How was yours? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Month in Review: January

We all survived the first month of 2023, go us! This month was filled with loads of stress, but also loads of reading. Here's what happened: 

What I Read: 

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by: Gabrielle Zevin: 4/5 stars 

Funny You Should Ask by: Elissa Sussman: 4/5 stars 

Slash by: Jeanette Armstrong: 4/5 stars 

Time's Convert by: Deborah Harkness: 4/5 stars 

One Italian Summer by: Rebecca Serle: 3/5 stars 

Bridgerton Series books 1-3: avg. rating: 3.5/5 stars 

I read a lot this month! When I'm stressed, I read, and this month was full of stress reading. I would say my favourite book would be Tomorrow x3 by: Gabrielle Zevin. I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did, but it was a really poignant character-driven novel that will tug at your heart strings. 

What I Blogged: 

I'm still on top of reviews, which meets one of my New Year's Resolutions. My review on You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty would probably be my favourite review I wrote this month, as it was fun to try to put my complicated feelings towards this book into words. 

Favourite Blog Posts: 

Claire reviews Emily Ratajkowski's "My Body." 

Nicole's releasing her Debut MG Novel in Verse 

Cee says: You Can't Do All of the Things, All of the Time (And That's Ok) 

Life Stuff: 

As I mentioned before, I was a bit stressed this month. Writing the research proposal for my PhD applications (due on February 1st) was a very trying time, as I had a lot of different opinions on how the proposal should go that I just really ended up writing in circles. It's submitted now, and all I can really do is wait. I really don't know what I'm going to do if I don't get in, but I'm trying to tell myself now that I can't predict the future or what the committee's going to think, and that rejection is a part of life. (Even though it really sucks). 

Other than that, I've been working as a teaching assistant at the university I did my degrees at, and it's been fun! I really enjoy leading seminars and grading papers, and it's been a welcome distraction from the chaos. Next week the students start learning about The Marrow Thieves, which as some of you may know, is a book really important to me, and it's going to be really rewarding to share with the students why this book is important to learn from. 

So now we start the waiting game for hopefully some acceptance letters, and just continue going though the motions of life. I do hope all of you guys had a good January. 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Month in Review: November

I'm back from vacation, I'm ready for Christmas, and 2023 is just around the corner! Here's what I got up to in November: 

What I Read: 

The Comfort Book by: Matt Haig: 5/5 stars 

Adult Onset by: Ann-Marie MacDonald: 3/5 stars 

When The Reckoning Comes by: LaTanya McQueen: 5/5 stars 

The Weight of Blood by: Tiffany D. Jackson: 4/5 stars 

The Love Hypothesis by: Ali Hazelwood: 4/5 stars 

Five Little Indians by: Michelle Good: 3/5 stars 

Favourite book: The Comfort Book by: Matt Haig was exactly what I needed this month. This book lives up to its title. It's a comforting book about how to handle stressors and practice good mental health. It was also my first Matt Haig book and didn't disappoint. I know Haig suffers from anxiety and panic attacks and I think he just gets it right when it comes to how to practice healthy coping mechanisms. 

What I Blogged: 

I took a teensie break from blogging while I was away, but still managed to post a mixture of discussions and reviews. My favourite post of the month was my review on Scarborough by: Catherine Hernandez. I've been wanting to review this fabulous book for a while, and getting to talk a little bit more about a neighbourhood close to my family was quite enjoyable. I found this review very easy to write. 

Favourite Blog Posts of the Month: 

Cee asks: Why Do You Hate Me? 

Marie shares 8 Unforgettable Books I've Read in 8 Years of Blogging 

Greg features Post-Apocalyptic Covers 

Life Stuff: 

November was busy, semi-stressful, and full of fun. Near the beginning of the month my sister moved to Ottawa, which has been an adjustment as I get used to just being alone with my parents for the first time ever. But, we reunited near the end of the month to go to Italy for a week with my dad. The Italy trip was very fun, but very not so fun on my anxiety. This was my first time travelling since having panic disorder and really bad OCD, and my intrusive thoughts and panic ramped up from the time we landed until about halfway through the trip. But, I was able to find the fun in a lot of moments throughout the week, and I am proud of myself for not completing freaking out and sending myself home. I will definitely have to work on what went wrong in therapy, so hopefully trips in the future can go a bit more smoothly. 

In December, I hope to ward off the plethora of illnesses that have been going around (hello flu season!) and hopefully have a fun Christmas. I have a few parties to go to and gatherings that I'm excited for, so it will surely be an eventful month as well. 

That was my November. How was yours? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Month in Review: October

It's November, which means Christmas will be fast approaching and before we know it, it'll be 2023! Wow, time flies when you're having fun, or maybe just trying to get by. Either way, here's what happened in October. 

What I Read: 

Heat Wave by: TJ Klune: 3.5/5 stars 

How To Be Perfect by: Michael Schur: 4/5 stars 

Nick and Charlie by: Alice Oseman: 4/5 stars 

The Maid by: Nita Prose: 2/5 stars 

Dating Dr. Dil by: Nisha Sharma: 3/5 stars 

Solitaire by: Alice Oseman: 3/5 stars 

Favourite book: It was an okay reading month, but a rare month with no five star reads! I guess you can't win them all, but no book really blew me away in October. I suppose if we're going from ratings, How To Be Perfect was my favourite. It's a humourous non-fiction about morals and ethics by the tv writer Michael Schur, and it was fun! 

What I Blogged: 

My favourite post that I wrote this month was my discussion on how Changing Your Mind is Ok. It was great to get some things off my chest and share with you all some life updates! All of the comments left by y'all were so wise and useful as well. 

Favourite Blog Posts of the Month: 

It was Cee's 8th Blogiversary! 

Konna shares a Book Playlist for the Midnight Library 

Lais shares her All-Time Favourite FanFics

Life Stuff: 

October had me discovering what I want to do with my life. For more information, see my favourite blog post! But other than that, it was a fun month full of spooky happenings and being hard at work preparing school applications. I'm very excited for November, because not only do I feel ready to begin Christmas festivities, but I will also be going to Italy at the end of the month with my family! I'm so excited as I haven't travelled since before the pandemic and I am thrilled to be going back to Italy. My dad still has family in Italy, so I'm sure there will be some emotional reunions. 

Other than that, stay tuned for festive posts in the coming months and maybe even more life updates! Who knows at this point. 

That was my October? How was yours? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Month in Review: September

This past month brought...not many changes. In my previous Month in Review I talked about applying for jobs and keeping my fingers crossed, but there hasn't been much movement on that front at all. Applications are very difficult, but I'm staying positive. Here's what happened in September: 

What I Read: 

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead by: Elle Cosimano: 4/5 stars 

The Prince and the Dressmaker by: Jen Wang: 5/5 stars 

Eve's Return by: Crystal Bourque: 4/5 stars 

Dancing with the Octopus by: Debora Harding: 5/5 stars 

Catch and Kill by: Ronan Farrow: 5/5 stars 

Our Voice of Fire by: Brandi Morin: 4/5 stars 

Favourite book of the month: Dancing with the Octopus by: Debora Harding surprised me. I picked it up on a whim from the library, not knowing much about it, and now I need everyone to read it. It was a fabulous memoir about a woman who was kidnapped as a teen, and how she dealt with PTSD and learning more about her family as she grew up. I think with all of the true crime "hype" in the world right now, more people should be turning to books like this instead of the more sensationalized media. 

What I Blogged:

My favourite post of the month was my discussion on Burning Out. I think burn-out culture is something that I never really paid attention to until it happened to me, and I was really proud of myself for admitting that I burnt out and reflecting on how to help it not happen again. 

Around the Blogisphere: 

Noel shares the Journal of a Tired Indie Writer 

Roberta asks if you Interact with Authors on Social Media 

Nicole lists books with Stunning Typography 

Life Stuff: 

Like I said before, September really didn't do much for me. While I'm still actively looking for jobs, I haven't really heard much back from anyone, which is disappointing, but also a sign of the times we're in. There's steep competition pretty much everywhere, and I can't expect to hear back unless I'm successful. I'll keep trying to put myself out there, and see how it goes. 

In fun stuff, I did start engaging in fun fall activities like apple picking and beginning to watch Halloween movies. October is such a fun month and I'm looking forward to getting some more baking done too. 

Playoff baseball starts this month, and this house is buzzing with excitement for the Toronto Blue Jays. Here's hoping they can pull out a win in the first round! 

So, that was my month. A little uneventful, but with some fun things sprinkled in. How was yours? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Month in Review: August

I'm oddly excited for Fall. I'm really looking forward to watching spooky movies, going apple picking, and baking fall treats. September might even involve some exciting changes, if all goes well. Here's what happened in August: 

What I Read: 

You Made A Fool of Death With Your Beauty by: Akwaeke Emezi: 4/5 stars 

Queenie by: Candice Carty-Williams: 5/5 stars 

Four for the Road by: K.J. Reilly: 4/5 stars 

The Umbrella Academy Volumes 1 & 2 by: Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá: 4/5 stars 

TJ Powar has Something to Prove by: Jesmeen Kaur Deo: 3/5 stars 

Favourite Book of the Month: Queenie by: Candice Carty-Williams surprised me. I didn't really know what to expect going into the book, and while there were some funny moments, I really ultimately felt for Queenie and the struggle she goes through. This was a tough read to get through, but was a great look at the experiences of a young Jamaican woman in London. 

What I Blogged: 

I got the opportunity to receive an ARC from Simon and Schuster of Four for the Road by: K.J. Reilly. It was a great YA book that explores grief, and I'd love for y'all to check out the review. 

Favourite Blog Posts: 

Cee thinks Way Too Much About Poetic POV's 

Sofia shares 80 Book Recommendations for Latinx Book Bingo 

Marie shares 10 YA Books with a Summer Romance You'll Fall Far 

Life Stuff: 

August was really fun. I started off the month by heading to Pennsylvania for a family vacation, and then went to the Harry Styles concert in the middle of August, which was fab. He puts on a great show! 

At the end of the month, I splurged and bought myself a ticket to Fanexpo, the biggest fan convention in Toronto. I got to meet Joe Quinn from Stranger Things and Levar Burton, both of which I seriously fangirled over. I also got to see some cool cosplays and bought some Buffy merch. Overall, it was a tiring day, but so worth it! 

Now that I'm done school, I've been really committing myself to job searching. I'd love to get a writing or editing position to continue the work I do with my blog, so we'll see what happens. It only takes one person to show interest sometimes, and I'm hoping that will happen soon! 

So, August was full of exciting events, and September will be full of going back to a routine and preparing for the future. 

How was your August? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Month in Review: June

CW: This post will discuss COVID 

Well, this month was a rollercoaster! What started out as a really fun month ended in COVID for the whole family. As I write this on June 30th I am still testing negative, but everyone else in my house has been out for the week. I feel like I'm starting to get it, but there's so many unknowns so we're all just living in one big isolation ward at this point! It's been a tiring week for all full of disinfecting, testing, and finding the right medications, but I'm confident we'll make it through. Besides that, here's what I got up to this month: 

What I Read: 

Delilah Green Doesn't Care by: Ashley Herring Blake: 4/5 stars 

Elektra by: Jennifer Saint: 5/5 stars 

Reckless Girls by: Rachel Hawkins: 2/5 stars 

Memphis by: Tara M. Stringfellow: 3/5 stars 

Daughter of the Deep by: Rick Riordan: 3/5 stars 

Interview with the Vampire by: Anne Rice: 2/5 stars 

Right Where I Left You by: Julian Winters: 4/5 stars 

Favourite book: Jennifer Saint continued to add to my love for feminist Greek mythology retellings with Elektra! I loved her work on Ariadne, and Elektra did not disappoint. Told from the perspectives of Cassandra, Clytemnestra, and Elektra during the Trojan War, I was very happy with how the story came together. 

What I Blogged: 

To celebrate Pride Month, I listed some of my favourite books with 2SLGBTQIAP+ representation! Check it out and let me know your recommendations for Pride Month. 

Favourite Blog Posts: 

Marie shares 10 YA Books Like The Summer I Turned Pretty To Read Next 

Greg discusses the topic of Cloning in Books 

Shayna shares Bookish No-No's 

Life Stuff: 

June was a fun month until the end! I got to go into Toronto for a few days, see a Toronto Blue Jay's game, and last week before COVID struck, my sister and I got to go to our first concert since the pandemic: The Arkells. Although, the concert may have left us with a parting gift in terms of sickness haha. I also got to celebrate Pride Month in our city and even got to meet one of my favourite drag queens, Brooke Lynn Hytes. Overall, I think the high's of the month outweigh the low's, though it is disappointing that July is off to such a rough start. Still, things could be a lot worse, and I'm looking forward to all the fun stuff this summer has to offer once the sickness is away! 

That was my June, how was yours? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Month in Review: May

I survived May! After a very busy, nerve-wracking month, I am so happy to be into June and I am ready to kick-off the summer. Here's what happened in May: 

What I Read: 

Heartstopper: Volumes 1-3 by: Alice Oseman: 5/5 stars 

Bunny by: Mona Awad: 2/5 stars 

Life In The City of Dirty Water by: Clayton Thomas-Muller: 4/5 stars 

The Break by: Katherena Vermette: 3/5 stars 

Four Aunties and a Wedding by: Jesse Q. Sutanto: 4/5 stars 

Jameela Green Ruins Everything by: Zarqa Nawaz: 4/5 stars 

Embers by: Richard Wagamese: 4/5 stars 

Favourite book: The Heartstopper series ruled my May reading. In honour of the tv show premiere, I decided to read the graphic novels, and I am absolutely loving them. They are so cute and wholesome, and I can't wait to get to volume four. 

What I Blogged: 

My favourite blog post of this month was my discussion on Why I Am A Fan of Fan-Fiction. It is a revision of a post I put up in 2016, and I was so happy to share my updated thoughts on fan-fiction and reasons why the genre is so great. 

Favourite Blog Posts: 

Cee discusses Rich Vamps: Dracula and the Blood of the Poor 

Nicole asks: Does Your Right To Free Speech Extend To My Blog? 

Sabrina shares 10+ Booktubers I Love 

Life Stuff: 

This month, I attended my first academic conference in Montreal, which was scary, but I am proud of myself for how it went. I met so many lovely professors in my field, and the experience will definitely help me in the future. I rewarded myself with some fun shopping in the later parts of the month, and some much needed downtime before I begin writing my major research paper. 

Which now leads me to the heart of my MA degree: my major research paper. The paper needs to be completed by the end of August, and is roughly 40 pages. I'm procrastinating... a lot. I think I've fallen a bit off of the wagon in terms of schooling, so I definitely need to hop back on and stay focused. My blogging schedule should still stay the same, but I definitely need to manage my time better. 

So, that was my May! It's time to get down to business, wish me luck! 

How was your May? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Month in Review: April

My month in reviews have been on and off since I've taken a few hiatuses, but I'm finally in a good place to bring them back! April was so chaotic, so let's get into it: 

What I Read: 

A Lesson in Vengeance by: Victoria Lee: 4/5 stars 

Laughing All the Way to the Mosque by: Zarqa Nawaz: 5/5 stars 

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by: Malinda Lo: 4/5 stars 

Arsenic and Adobo by: Mia P. Manansala: 4/5 stars 

Lore Olympus by: Rachel Smythe: 5/5 stars 

Care Of by: Ivan Coyote: 5/5 stars 

Honey Girl by: Morgan Rogers: 4/5 stars 

The Fire Never Goes Out by: ND Stevenson: 5/5 stars 

Favourite book: It was overall a great month for reading! I'm going to have to give my favourite book prize to Laughing All the Way to the Mosque by: Zarqa Nawaz. Nawaz created the popular Canadian tv show Little Mosque on the Prairie, and she embodies everything I want to be as a writer: funny, but also incredibly concious of representation and social issues. 

What I Blogged: 

Like I said, blogging has been inconsistent over the past few months, but this month, I slowly started to get back into the swing of things. My favourite post of the month was when I discussed When You Stand Up For Something You Believe In, But It Doesn't Turn Out Right. That discussion was difficult to write, but also I think very needed in terms of my personal reflection on an uncomfortable situation. 

Favourite Blog Posts: 

Vera and Sabrina celebrate their blogiversary by Shouting Out Some of Their Favourite Bloggers 

Cee shares how to Write Your Obvious 

Morgan shares how they've Changed As A Reader 

Life Stuff: 

April was an extremely busy month. I finished up my coursework with final essays, and just this past Tuesday, I had to complete a big presentation of the work I'm doing for my MA. It was extremely daunting and I had some hiccups (for example, when I get nervous, I tend to ramble), however, for the most part, I am extremely proud of myself for overcoming some social anxiety. 

The day this post goes up, I will be going to my first family celebration since COVID started. There's been a lot of milestones since the pandemic, and now we all feel more comfortable in celebrating them. I'm excited to get back to dressing up fancily lol. 

Next month will probably be more busy. I will have to start writing my final paper for my MA, but also, I am attending a conference in Montreal in the middle of May. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous, as meeting new people is not my strong suit, but it'll definitely push me outside of my comfort zone which I'm interpreting to be a good thing. 

So, that was my April! A lot of busyness, with some more busyness to come. How was yours? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Month in Review: January

 

Now that I've returned to blogging after a hiatus, it is also now time to return to monthly wrap-ups! I really missed these posts, so here's what I got up to in January, and how my 2022 is shaping up to be: 

What I Read: 

I've set my Goodreads goal for 100 books, which I'm fairly confident I'll make judging by my reading list for school and the types of books I'll be reading. I'm already on track, and some of the books I read in January include: 

Monstress: Volume 1 by: Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda: 2/5 stars 

Moon-Girl and Devil Dinosaur by: Amy Reeder, Brandon Montclare and Natacha Bustos: 5/5 stars 

Our Violent Ends by: Chloe Gong: 5/5 stars 

Cyclopedia Exotica by: Arminder Dhaliwal: 4/5 stars 

Squad by: Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Lisa Sterle: 5/5 stars 

Fall On Your Knees by: Ann-Marie MacDonald: 3/5 stars 

Favourite Book of the Month: You may be able to tell that I read a heavy assortment of graphic novels this month. This is partly why I'm able to keep on track of my goal. Graphic novels are faster for me to get through and I've been absolutely loving them. Some of these books I had to read for a superhero course I'm in, and some were just for fun. But my favourite has to be Moon-Girl and Devil Dinosaur. I got it as a Christmas present and it is such a fun series. It's diverse, heart-warming, and has some great cameos from other Marvel superheroes. 

What I Blogged: 

Like I said, I've returned to blogging weekly and my new routine is shaping up very well. I'm hoping that I won't have to stop any time soon because I really did miss it. My favourite post of the month would have to be when I wrote about Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Abuses of Power. There are content warnings attached to this post, but it felt great to get out my frustrations towards the creator of one of my favourite tv shows. 

Some of My Favourite Blog Posts of the Month: 

Cee talks about censorship in Of Monsters, Mice and Men 

Roberta shares Her Most Fulfilling Author/Blogger Interactions 

Claire says that 2022 is Ours 

Sabrina is Reading Outside Her Comfort Zone 

Life Stuff: 

It's a new term, and I've got an easier course load than last term, which is good. As I mentioned before, I'm taking a superhero course, which has definitely fueled my graphic novel collection. I'm hopeful that this term will bring about some new reading favourites, but of course, I also expect things to get busy as we near the end. 

Other than school stuff, I'm really looking forward to the Olympics this month! Today is the opening ceremony, and I've been waiting so patiently for things to kick off. My family are very much into the Olympics, and I am extremely passionate about snowboarding in particular. I'll be cheering on Canada and hoping that everyone has a safe and successful time in Beijing! 

That was my January. How was yours? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Month in Review: August

Summer is over, and I'm getting ready to go back to school. I have to admit, I'm a little bit nervous, as pursuing a graduate degree is a whole different environment and I am feeling a little bit overwhelmed with information. However, everyone has been super nice so far so I am confident that things will go smoothly. Before I leave summer behind, let's recap how August went: 

What I Read: 

Dial A For Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto: 5/5 stars 

Dear Senthuran by Akwaeke Emezi: 5/5 stars 

Misfit in Love by S.K. Ali: 4/5 stars 

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano: 4/5 stars 

Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett: 5/5 stars 

Sisters of the Snake by Sarena and Sasha Nanua: 4/5 stars 

The Witch King by H.E. Edgmon: 4/5 stars 

Moccasin Square Gardens by Richard Van Camp: 4/5 stars 

Favourite Book: Dial A For Aunties was by far my favourite book of the month. It was funny, charming, full of family dynamics and also reminded me a bit of Crazy Rich Asians, which was a huge plus. I got really into funny thriller books this month, and this book topped them all. 

What I Blogged: 

My favourite post this month was My Five Problems with Dark Academia. Honestly, this post was a long time coming. I've kept my issues with the genre inside for so long, and it was good to finally rant. 

Favourite Blog Posts: 

Cee explains why The World is On Fire 

Shayna shares a delightful story in Can You Help Me, Shayna? 

Veronika recommends Books Based On Her Favourite Musicals 

Sofia announces that Latinx Book Bingo is Back!

Life Stuff: 

As a whole, my summer was... ok. COVID put an obvious damper on things, as did the weather. It was rainy for most of the summer, and usually I love being able to sit outside. However, August wasn't all bad. I got a new tattoo, a trident on the back of my arm, for my love of Greek mythology and the Percy Jackson series. It makes me feel so confident and I love looking at it in the mirror. 

I also got to do some more comic book shopping, and hang out with work friends. I think I got some of my pre-COVID confidence back, so I was able to socialize a bit more, within reason of course. 

As I said before, now I am preparing for school and stressing out just a little bit. I am a mixture of being excited for new opportunities, including being able to be a teaching assistant, but also a little bit nervous. But I think nerves are a normal part of any new environment. Overall, I do think there are good things to come. 

That was my August! How was yours? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Month in Review: July

This summer has not been very... summery. It started off pretty hot, but July has been comprised of a lot of dreary days and just uncomfortable humidity. Hopefully August will bring more of the sunshine! Anyways, here's what happened in the busy month of July: 

What I Read: 

Parable of the Sower by: Octavia E. Butler: 4/5 stars 

One Story, One Song by: Richard Wagamese: 4/5 stars 

Girls of Paper and Fire books 1 and 2 by: Natasha Ngan: 4/5 stars 

The Marvelous Mirza Girls by: Sheba Karim: 4/5 stars 

Jonny Appleseed by: Joshua Whitehead: 4/5 stars 

Favourite book of the month: It was a consistently good reading month. As you can see, all of the books got the exact same rating! I'm going to have to give the favourite book title to Girls of Paper and Fire by: Natasha Ngan. I'm very picky with fantasy books, but this premise and the diverse cast of characters really affected me. Also, the author has detailed content warnings at the beginning. Make this a trend, authors! 

What I Blogged: 

I really liked my discussion post of How I Choose What Book To Read Next. Any time when I get to chat with fellow bookworms and learn about different methods of reading is a good thing! 

Favourite Blog Posts of the Month: 

Sabrina shares 16 DNF's She Wished She Loved

Marie discusses 7 Ways Her Blogging Has Changed In 7 Years 

I'm sure this wasn't necessarily a fun post to write, but Roberta @ Offbeat YA has a New Twitter Account. Read her post for more details and give her a follow after her stressful tech issue. 

Life Stuff: 

July was an extremely busy month. At the beginning of the month I had a procedure done to determine why my stomach is revolting against me, and long story short... they don't know. It's probably related to my mental illness, but I'm now on a very restricted diet to find out if it's food related. So, I've spent a lot of time over July baking gluten free treats and finding new ways to cook, which has actually been pretty fun and rewarding. I've got some great recipes under my belt now. 

I've also been busy working at my retail job. We've been swamped as we're right in the heart of a tourist destination, and a lot of people have been wanting to get out of the house. I don't mind being busy as long as people are respectful and follow protocols, which isn't always the case. But I guess that's life. 

I've gotten really into comic books this month. I found a comic book store in a nearby city, and since the comics are very affordable, I've had a lot of fun reading different ones. My favourites so far have been the Winter Solider: Second Chances series by: Kyle Higgins. It's great to see Bucky in this big brother type role for other victims of manipulation. 

In August I'm getting my third tattoo, which should be exciting! I'm also going to start preparing for school in September, and I'm curious to see how returning back to in-person learning will affect me. There's been a lot of changes, for sure, but I'm looking forward to seeing how things turn out. 

That was my July. How was yours? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Month in Review: June

It's very hot up here in Canada right now. Not that I'm complaining. I love the warm weather and everything about summer. However I also understand that this weather is not for everyone, so I hope you all stay cool if you're in a hot climate right now as well! This is what my June looked like: 

What I Read: 

Love After The End edited by Joshua Whitehead: 4/5 stars 

Born A Crime by Trevor Noah: 4/5 stars 

Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga: 5/5 stars 

Kate In Waiting by Becky Albertalli: 5/5 stars 

People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry: 4/5 stars 

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston: 4.5/5 stars 

Meet Cute Diary by Emery Lee: 4/5 stars 

Jay's Gay Agenda by Jason June: 4/5 stars 

Favourite Book: Seven Fallen Feathers was an emotional but important non-fiction novel about the epidemic of Indigenous children and teens going missing in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The book has elements of a crime book while still being extremely sensitive to the victims and their families. The author is also Indigenous, so this book truly comes from a place of respect. While it's a very hard read, it's also extremely necessary especially considering the things coming up in Canadian news as of recent. 

What I Blogged: 

I really enjoyed my post about The Fetishization Of M/M Romance And Representation That I Need To Read More Of. I am really passionate about that subject matter so it was good to get some frustrations off my chest, and receive some great tips from fellow readers! 

Favourite Blog Posts Of The Month: 

Simone says: "Please Don't Assume That I Need Healing" 

Nicole talks about The Joys Of Verse Novels 

Cee discusses the film Jojo Rabbit: The Bittersweet Tale of Captain K

Life Stuff: 

This month was very busy! I continued to freelance write, which got me through the beginning and middle of the month, but by the end of the month, my manager called me back to work at my in-person job. Ontario has been in lockdown since December, but vaccine rollout has gotten better, so the government decided it was okay for retail stores to open up again. Now I'm doing freelance stuff on the side, while also working a couple times a week in-person. While seeing strangers again is always worrying, I'm glad to get back into a normal routine. 

In other great news, I am now fully vaccinated! I am so happy that me and my entire family have put the vaccination stress behind us. It's a huge weight off of our shoulders. If you can, please go get the shot! 

I watched Loki this month, and I am absolutely loving it. It's such a complex, unique show and I never knew how much I loved Loki until watching it. Now I look forward to every Wednesday when it comes out. I can't believe season one will be over soon :( 

This July, I will continue to work, and also try to do my part to raise more awareness on issues that Indigenous populations face. As July 1st marks Canada Day, I am thinking a lot more critically on the problems with this country and why it's crucial that the world doesn't write Canada off as being "better than the US." I also hope that people will think about how capitalism exploits issues like this, so that we can decide how to ethically support marginalized communities. For more information on the capitalization of Indigenous issues, visit this link 

So, that was my June. Very busy, but also very hopeful for a better future. How was your June? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Month in Review: May

 

It's finally hot again! I love summer. I love being able to sit outside, I love going on walks, and I love summer fashion. So, I am thrilled that summer weather is back. It definitely brightens up my mood. Anyways, here's what happened in May: 

What I Read: 

The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline: 5/5 stars 

24 Hours in Ancient Rome by Phillip Matyszak: 3/5 stars 

Shadows Cast by Stars by Catherine Knutsson: 4/5 stars 

Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas: 4/5 stars 

Will My Cat Eat by Eyeballs? by Caitlin Doughty: 4/5 stars 

The Voyage to Avalon by Julie Leung: 4/5 stars 

All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson: 4/5 stars 

You Say It First by Katie Cotugno: 2/5 stars 

Favourite Book: I re-read The Marrow Thieves to prepare for my masters degree and I loved it even more the second time around. It is a hard read, but it is full of some amazing characters and a powerful storyline. Please give it a read. 

What I Blogged: 

I didn't post too much in May, but I did combine my love for Marvel with my love for books by Fancasting Book Characters with Marvel Characters. It was a fun crossover for sure :) 

Favourite Posts of the Month: 

Shayna shares some information about working in a library in Library Life: Holds Slips 

Cee explains that she Got Her Covid Vaccine Appointment, But She Hates Needles

Nyx asks: Why Are YA Books Always Set in Summer? 

Life Stuff:

At the beginning of May I got my wisdom teeth taken out. It was pretty quick and mostly painless, and I'm just happy to have gotten it over with. One thing that really bummed me out was not being able to eat all the foods I love for a good week. I would watch my sister eat candy and it really put my mood off haha! But, I'm all good now :) 

I also got my first dose of Covid vaccine! I am so happy, because Canada's vaccine rollout has been terrible. While I did get some side effects, they were so worth it. If you are eligible, go get vaxxed! 

The end of the month has been pretty busy. I am attending some conferences on Indigenous literature to prepare myself for September, and I also have to prepare for virtual graduation in June. I am a pretty shy person so a virtual graduation was a welcome thing for me, but of course I would much rather have an in-person graduation then be in a global pandemic. I guess it's just one of the sacrifices we have to make. 

Other than that, I've been doing as much work as I can outside in the beautiful weather. I said this already, but I just love summer so much. I am looking forward to many more sunny days ahead. 

That was my May. How was yours? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess