April 2021 Wrap-Up: Fearless (Taylor’s Version), Shadow and Bone, New Ideas, and More!

Well, another month has come and gone, and as usual, it was incredibly busy. Seriously, from finishing my first year of grad school to TV Fanatic reviews to Fearless (Taylor’s Version), April was pretty much non-stop. Let’s get started on this monthly wrap-up!

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone

Synopsis

Among the ashes of a dying world, an agent of the Commandant finds a letter. It reads: Burn before reading. Thus begins an unlikely correspondence between two rival agents hellbent on securing the best possible future for their warring factions. Now, what began as a taunt, a battlefield boast, grows into something more. Something epic. Something romantic. Something that could change the past and the future.

Except the discovery of their bond would mean death for each of them. There's still a war going on, after all. And someone has to win that war.

Date Started: March 29
Date Finished: April 4
Thoughts: This book destroyed me from the inside out. It was a little confusing at first, but after reading the first couple of chapters a few times, I understood what was going on, and wow—it is such a uniquely crafted story. Red and Blue have such an intricately beautiful love story that literally transcends time and space. They invented the enemies-to-lovers trope. This book hooked me from the beginning, and I didn’t put it down until the last page. The language was beautiful; I loved the letters and the prose. There is genuinely nothing I don’t like about this novel. And the backdrop is also incredible, even if it was a bit confusing at first. This Is How You Lose the Time War is an excellent novel, and I could gush about it forever. It’s definitely one of my new favorite books. Now I’m going to daydream about sending letters to an enemy I don’t have, mocking them, and then we fall in love.
Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I hope you never read these words. I sicken to write them; I know how it will hurt you to reach this far. It is always too late to say what must be said. I cannot stop you now. I cannot save you. Love is what we have, against time and death, against all the powers ranged to crush us down. You gave me so much—a history, a future, a calm that lets me write these words though I’m breaking. I hope I’ve given you something in return—I think you would want me to know I have. And what we’ve done will stand, no matter how they weave the world against us. It’s done now, and forever.

Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu

Synopsis

Willis Wu doesn't perceive himself as a protagonist even in his own life: he's merely Generic Asian Man. Every day, he leaves his tiny room in a Chinatown SRO and enters the Golden Palace restaurant, where Black and White, a procedural cop show, is in perpetual production. He's a bit player here too. . . but he dreams of being Kung Fu Guy—the highest aspiration he can imagine for a Chinatown denizen. Or is it?

After stumbling into the spotlight, Willis finds himself launched into a wider world than he's ever known, discovering not only the secret history of Chinatown, but the buried legacy of his own family, and what that means for him, in today's America.

Date Started: April 3
Date Finished: April 7
Thoughts: So, this book didn’t thrill me, but it had vital commentary on race and ethnicity in America, focusing on Asian Americans. At a time when AAPI bigotry is rising, this book helps put things in perspective. It is informative and groundbreaking. I also found it super funny; Charles Yu incorporated humor cleverly into the narrative. I normally don’t laugh out loud as I read, but Interior Chinatown was certainly an exception. I wasn’t a fan of the writing style. Yu wrote the book in screenplay format, but that wasn’t what bothered me. It was because the book jumped between screenplay format and regular prose a lot, and it threw me off. Interior Chinatown had a lot of white space, and while I believe white space can be critical in novels, Yu might have overused it in this one. However, despite these issues, I still liked the book.
Final Rating: ★ ★ ★

I spent most of my life trapped. Interior Chinatown. I made it out, to become Kung Fu Dad. But that was just another role. A better role than I’ve ever had, but still a role. I can’t just keep doing the same thing over and over again. My dad did that. And where did it get him? He was a true master, someone who had mastered his craft. And what did his life add up to? You never recognized him for what he could do. Who he was. You never allowed him a name.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Synopsis

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.

Date Started: April 3
Date Finished: April 13
Thoughts: This trilogy wrecked me. Shadow and Bone was my favorite book in the series; I loved everything about it. The characters were compelling, the relationships were complex, and the story was unique. Alina Starkov was my favorite character, and I loved how Leigh Bardugo wrote The Darkling. Once we learned the truth, I became conflicted because although he is a mass murderer and manipulator, his initial cause—protecting Grisha—is noble. I wasn’t captivated by his charm or anything; he drew me in because he insisted he was fighting for Grisha rights. Usually, I’m not a fan of villains, but The Darkling is just such a unique and complex character, it is hard not to like him. I also adored adding scientific elements to magic; I’ve been curious about it for a while now. The world-building was fantastic. I found that I didn’t even need the map of the Grishaverse because Leigh Bardugo explained concepts carefully and described the setting accurately. The ending seemed rushed, but otherwise, I adored the book.
Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

“I’ve been waiting for you a long time, Alina,” he said. “You and I are going to change the world.”

Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas

Synopsis

It's been five years since Wendy and her two brothers went missing in the woods, but when the town’s children start to disappear, the questions surrounding her brothers’ mysterious circumstances are brought back into light. Attempting to flee her past, Wendy almost runs over an unconscious boy lying in the middle of the road, and gets pulled into the mystery haunting the town.

Peter, a boy she thought lived only in her stories, claims that if they don't do something, the missing children will meet the same fate as her brothers. In order to find them and rescue the missing kids, Wendy must confront what's waiting for her in the woods.

Date Started: April 3
Date Finished: April 25
Thoughts: I cried while reading this book; it wrecked me from the inside out. I expected a novel about Wendy confronting her childhood demons, but Lost In the Never Woods is so much more than that. I loved the twist Aiden Thomas added to this fairy tale. It was so unexpected, yet so well done. The first third of the novel was slow, but after that, I couldn’t put it down until the end. I won’t say too much more, but I loved that the twist added a new dimension to Peter and Wendy’s relationship. We see how much they always loved each other, even though they have their separate responsibilities. They love each other so much that they are willing to let each other go, the way they do in every version of Peter Pan. But this time, it was so much more than Peter not wanting to grow up, and it was a true testament to their pure love. I’m generally not one for fairy tale retellings, especially if the essence of the fairy tale is still the same. However, Lost In the Never Woods is the exception, and I highly recommend it.
Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

“I’m still having a hard time with all this,” she confessed, dropping her voice low so no one could overhear. “It still sounds like a children’s book or something. A story.” And it had been. Several stories, ones her mother had told her, and Wendy had told her brothers, and now the kids at the hospital. “Like it’s all make-believe.”
“That’s the point, though, isn’t it?” Peter said. “Whatever you can imagine, you can do.”

Zoe Rosenthal Is Not Lawful Good by Nancy Werlin

Synopsis

Planning is Zoe Rosenthal’s superpower. She has faith in a properly organized to-do list and avoids unnecessary risks. Her mental checklist goes something like this: 1) Meet soulmate: DONE! 2) Make commitment: DONE! 3) Marriage: TO COME! (after college). She isn’t sure which college yet, but it will have a strong political science department, since her perfect boyfriend, Simon, plans to “save the country,” as his sister puts it, “and the planet and everything.” Zoe will follow along, the perfect serious, supportive girlfriend. It’s good to have her love life resolved, checked off, done. But speaking of unnecessary risks, Zoe’s on a plane to Atlanta, sneaking off to Dragon Con for the second season premiere of Bleeders. The show is subject to her boyfriend’s lofty scorn, but Zoe is nothing like these colorful hordes “wearing their inside on their outside.” Once her flirtation with fandom is over, she will get back to the important business of planning a future with Simon. The trouble is, right now, Bleeders—and her fellow “Bloodygits”—may just mean the world to her. Will a single night of nerdery be enough?

Date Started: April 3
Date Finished: May 1 (let’s pretend it says April 30)
Thoughts: This is the first book that I read for Matzah Book Soup, a Jewish #ownvoices book club. It was such a cute story and a great first pick! I loved how Zoe came into her own and found herself through fandom—as someone who experienced similar feelings when I was her age; this meant the world to me. I also liked where she ended up with Simon by the end. I wasn’t sure how Nancy Werlin would go about it, but I was pleased. I did find the cons repetitive, which I felt messed with the story. It made sense for Zoe to go around in circles at first, but I found myself losing some interest after a while. However, the book picked up again, and it had such a satisfying ending. Overall, Zoe Rosenthal Is Not Lawful Good is a cute, contemporary coming-of-age novel covering the theme of fandom. I liked it as a whole.
Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆

Need is different from want. I had wanted a boyfriend. But what I needed was my fandom and my friends, with all their chaos and enthusiasm and hope and confusion. I needed the self I had discovered and was still discovering when I was with them. I had wanted certainty about my future. But what I needed was possibility.

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Synopsis

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her—or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm. 

Date Started: April 13
Date Finished: April 17
Thoughts: Siege and Storm was not as good as its predecessor, but it was still compelling. It introduced Nikolai Lantsov, my favorite character besides Alina. The final battle was wild and epic. The beginning was also exciting, especially when we learned about the Darkling’s true nature. I guess my only real issue with Siege and Storm lies with the time between “officially” meeting Nikolai and the final battle. It felt like going around in circles, especially regarding Alina and Mal’s relationship. But I loved how Alina became stronger, more confident, and more powerful despite their crumbling friendship. This period also involved preparing for the Darkling’s attack without knowing when it would happen. It almost felt like everyone was running around with their eyes blindfolded, which became annoying after a while. However, it was bearable because of the final battle that follows and because of Alina and Nikolai. They are by far the best characters in this trilogy; I love them so much.
Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆

The girl touched the collar at her neck, the fetter at her wrist. So many men had tried to make her a queen. Now she understood that she was meant for something more.
The Darkling had told her he was destined to rule. He had claimed his throne and a part of her too. He was welcome to it. For the living and the dead, she would make herself a reckoning.
She would rise.

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Synopsis

The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.

Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.

Date Started: April 17
Date Finished: April 21
Thoughts: Oh, boy. I’m not sure where to begin, so I will keep my thoughts as concise as possible. Essentially, Ruin and Rising felt like an entirely different story from the first two books. Alina was a completely different person half the time, and Mal had changed drastically too, with no development or explanation. Basically, the book turned Alina’s story upside down, and it seemed like it happened to make an Alina and Mal endgame plausible. But as a result, this beautiful story was destroyed. The book’s redeeming qualities include the moments Alina felt like Alina, Nikolai, and the enemy banter between Alina and the Darkling. But I gave the book an average rating since characters and relationships are the most important aspects for me. If you want to know more about my thoughts regarding Ruin and Rising, you can check out my blog post here.
Final Rating: ★ ★ ☆

Men fight for Ravka because the King commands it, because their pay keeps their families from starving, because they have no choice. They will fight for you because to them you are salvation. They will starve for you, lay down their lives and their children’s lives for you. They will make war without fear and die rejoicing. There is no greater power than faith, and there will be no greater army than the one driven by it.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Synopsis

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone. . . .

A convict with a thirst for revenge

A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager

A runaway with a privileged past

A spy known as the Wraith

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes

Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.

Date Started: April 21
Date Finished: April 30
Thoughts: After the tragedy of Ruin and Rising, I was nervous about starting another Grishaverse book. But I wasn’t super scared since I had heard that this duology is better than the trilogy. And in most ways, it was. Six of Crows had compelling characters and complex dynamics, two of my favorite things. I fell in love with the Crows, but Kaz Brekker and Inej Ghafa significantly. I have never met a character quite like either of them—Leigh Bardugo did a great job crafting the characters and their respective relationships. The plot could have been more substantial, though. The heist wasn’t my thing, but the book still captivated me because of the Crows. They were by far the most powerful aspect of the novel. And that ending? I nearly died. I’m reading Crooked Kingdom right now, and it is already so good. I highly recommend Six of Crows; however, you might not be a big fan of the book if you care about plot more than characters or dynamics.
Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

A gambler, a convict, a wayward son, a lost Grisha, a Suli girl who had become a killer, a boy from the Barrel who had become something worse.
Inej looked at her strange crew, barefoot and shivering in their soot-stained prison uniforms, their features limned by the golden light of the dome, softened by the mist that hung in the air.
What bound them together? Greed? Desperation? Was it just the knowledge that if one or all of them disappeared tonight, no one would come looking? Inej’s mother and father might still shed tears for the daughter they’d lost, but if Inej died tonight, there would be no one to grieve for the girl she was now. She had no family, no parents or siblings, only people to fight beside. Maybe that was something to be grateful for, too.
It was Jesper who spoke first. “No mourners,” he said with a grin.
“No funerals,” they replied in unison. Even Matthias muttered the words softly.

Television

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier Season 1: Well, the show has officially ended, and it never ceased to surprise me. It was everything I could have asked for. They did not paint the Flag Smashers’s cause as inherently evil, and Sam took Karli’s side while denouncing her violence. John Walker got demoted, and Sharon Carter is a badass antihero. Bucky found his forever home with Sam and his family and finally finished making amends. Also, getting to see the Dora Milaje on screen was a highlight. The way they kicked John Walker’s ass was simply beautiful and empowering. I liked how the show took accountability for the systemic racism in America (as much as a Marvel show can since it is imperialist propaganda most of the time). I adored I don’t have much else to say. Overall, this show surprised me from its first episode, and I was pleased until the end. Now, I will be (not so) patiently waiting for Sharon Carter’s spin-off show working as a double agent. It is what she deserves.

Shadow and Bone Season 1: Considering that Pretty Little Liars is my favorite book series ever and the show was a complete disaster, I am always wary about book-to-TV adaptations. But I am so glad Shadow and Bone proved me wrong. The casting was perfect; everyone played their characters so well. They were also written well too. I loved most of the changes they made, too, even the unexpected ones. My favorite character is still Alina. I also loved how they incorporated the Crows into the Shadow and Bone storyline. My only issue lies in the fact that most of the show’s writers are white, and they added anti-Asian racism in every other scene or so. I just found that unnecessary, and it seemed like they did it for diversity points, which isn’t authentic representation or diversity at all. Otherwise, I loved the show! I definitely recommend watching it, even if you have not read the books.

Albums

Album: Fearless (Taylor’s Version)
Artist: Taylor Swift
Genre: Country Pop
Thoughts: Well, at least it’s a new Taylor Swift album this time around. I loved this album so much. I was surprised that many old songs I felt were originally unpolished now sound perfect! And we still got somewhat of a “new album” experience since there were vault songs I hadn’t heard yet. I was most surprised that while I loved the vault songs, I didn’t feel like I missed anything the first time around. I’m so glad we have them, but this album is a reminder that Taylor truly releases her best songs. Anyway, I loved the album, and I can’t wait to have it on repeat until the next re-recorded album comes out!

Songs

Song: Mr. Perfectly Fine (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)
Artist: Taylor Swift
Genre: Country Pop
Thoughts: Technically, this song is featured on the album, but we received it a few days early, so I spent a bit of time listening to this song on repeat. And wow, Mr. Perfectly Fine makes me feel thirteen all over again when I was torn between Taylor and the Jonas Brothers—I loved both, but I was mad at Joe for breaking Taylor’s heart. This whole song is truly a wild flashback, and it is a bop on top of everything. This was probably the only vault song I genuinely wished Taylor had released the first time around, but I’m glad we get to hear it now.

• April 5: Herongraystairs: The Best Dynamic in The Shadowhunter Chronicles
• May 1: Processing the Shadow and Bone Trilogy

New Project: After the disappointing final book in the Shadow and Bone Trilogy (at this point, my entire April revolved around Ruin and RIsing), I couldn’t get my interpretation of Leigh Barudgo’s series out of my head. I was disappointed that the trilogy took a completely different turn from how I thought it would. I wanted a proper enemies-to-lovers narrative that grapples with the themes of light vs. dark, the balance between the two, and how they are inevitably intertwined. Then, an idea fell into my mind, and suddenly I had to map out this story. It is very different from Shadow and Bone; the only thing it has in common is the enemies-to-lovers trope, and even that was not the endgame in Leigh Bardugo’s series. I just became so invested in this concept, and I want to give it the justice it deserves, so I developed the idea in a completely new light. I’m super excited about it!

Novel: Honestly, I did not do much with my novel because I became so invested in my new project. I did try to rewrite some parts, but it wasn’t very much. However, I am hoping to remedy that this month!

TV Fanatic: April was a month of non-stop reviews! Seriously, I wrote episodic reviews for Shadow and Bone, and I was finishing up The Falcon and the Winter Soldier reviews. It was a lot of fun, and I had a great time writing about the shows. But April has also made me crave watching TV without having to review it, which means, in May, I’ll definitely be looking for TV shows to watch that I do not need to review, as a method of relaxation. If you are interested, you can check out my reviews here.

Boston: I’m not that much further than I was last month in terms of moving to Boston. I will say that I officially have my first COVID vaccination appointment booked for this upcoming Sunday! The vaccine was one of the things I was most worried about in terms of moving because the distribution in Canada is awful, and everyone in America that is sixteen or older is eligible. So, even though it’s only the first vaccination, I’m still somewhat relieved. I’m hoping by May’s Monthly Wrap-Up, the Boston department has advanced.

Grad School: Well, I have officially finished my first year of graduate school. That is such a wild statement, something I never thought I would say. It was so fun, and I wished it was in person because I loved my teachers and classmates so much. I’m so excited to get to Boston to attend class (safely) in person. I’m taking an SFF fiction course and another novel workshop in the fall, and I can’t wait!

Montreal YA Fest: I’m so excited to tell you guys about Montreal’s third annual YA Fest! Technically, it’s in its fourth year, but 2020 was canceled because of COVID. This year, it’s all online, and tickets/registration are FREE! I don’t mean to sound like an advertisement, but I’m super excited about this convention because I’m going to moderate two panels! The first one is about sequels/series, and it is at 11:30 AM EST. The second one is about LGBTQ+ authors/books, and it is at 1:30 PM EST. You can check out the convention here and the authors that will be attending here. I would love to see you guys at the panels I’ll be moderating, but the whole day is going to be so much fun! I’m planning to attend some other panels, and I will be writing a follow-up Royal Teatime post about the experience. Once again, it is all online, and tickets are free. So, it doesn’t matter where you are; you can attend!

Overall, April was a lot busier than I had anticipated. I finished my first year of graduate school, wrote a lot for TV Fanatic, read a lot, and more. I wish I had followed my goals more closely, but life gets in the way sometimes. I keep my habit goals private, but I will say I’m doing a lot better with those! This experience has just motivated me to do better in May rather than discourage me from continuing. This is a positive thing because any past version of myself would have felt discouraged, but I don’t. I’m proud of how far I’ve come in my personal journey, even though I still have a long way to go. It’s checklist time!

Books

April Reading Goals:

• Read at least four books ☑︎
• Good representation in more than half of the books I read ☒
• At least half the authors I read be diverse (i.e. POC, LGBTQ+, and/or Jewish) ☑︎
• Finish the Grisha trilogy before the show premieres ☑︎

April Books to Read:

• Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu ☑︎
• Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas ☑︎
• Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo ☑︎
• She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen ☒ (but I did start reading it)
• These Feathered Flames by Alexandra Overy ☒ (but I did start reading it)
• The Roommate by Rosie Danan ☒
• This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone ☑︎
• Trust Exercise by Susan Choi ☑︎
• Zoe Rosenthal Is Not Lawful Good by Nancy Werlin ☑︎

Completed Goals: 3/4

TBR List: 6/9

Other Media

April Television:

• Finish The Falcon & The Winter Soldier ☑︎
• Start Superstore Rewatch ☒
• Watch Shadow and Bone ☑︎

April Film:

• Watch another movie ☒

April Music:

• Listen to one song that isn’t by Taylor Swift ☒

Completed Goals: 2/5

Blogging

April General Goals:

• Stay active on blog and social media ☑︎
• Post more on Instagram ☑︎
• Cater Twitter more to books ☑︎
• Connect with book community ☑︎

To Post in April:

• Herongraystairs: The Best Dynamic in The Shadowhunter Chronicles ☑︎
• Book Review: She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen ☒
• A Look My Kindle Shelves + Book Recs ☒
• April 2021 Wrap-Up (posted within first few days of May) ☑︎

Completed Goals: 7/8 (technically it is six but since I posted something else in replacement of the Kindle Shelves, I’m counting it)

Writing

Novel in April:

• Finish rewriting chapter one ☒
• Continue world-building and mythology research ☑︎

TV Fanatic in April:

• Post an editorial ☒
• Stay on top of reviews for shows I’m covering ☑︎

Diary in April:

• Write at least two entries ☒

Completed Goals: 2/5

Miscellaneous April Goals

Organization in April:

• Check out bullet journals ☒
• Continue using Notion ☑︎
• Use personal agenda actively ☒
• Stay neat and organized, clean room and workspace if either becomes messy ☒

Personal Goals for April:

• Follow therapy goals ☑︎
• Use faith in stressful & dark times ☒
• Stay up to date with school ☑︎
• Find a part-time job ☒
• Study & learn Torah ☒
• Stay involved & informed ☑︎

Completed Goals: 4/10

Total Completed Goals (including TBR List): 24/41 (58.5%)

Total Completed Goals (excluding TBR List): 18/32 (56.25%)

Books

Reading Goals:

• Read at least four books
• Good representation in at least half of the books I read
• At least half the authors I read be diverse (i.e. POC, LGBTQ+, and/or Jewish)
• Read ARCs for planned posts in May
• Finish Reading the Grishaverse books

Books to Read: (asterisk means they’re on my currently reading shelf)

• Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler *
• Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo *
• It Goes Like This by Miel Moreland
• The Ivies by Alexa Donne
• King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo
• Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth
• Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo
• She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen *
• These Feathered Flames by Alexandra Overy *

Other Media

Television:

• Start Superstore Rewatch
• Watch TV Without the Purpose of Reviewing

Film:

• Watch one movie

Music:

• Listen to *one* song that isn’t by Taylor Swift

Blogging

General Goals:

• Stay active on social media
• Post more on Instagram, including stories
• Talk more about books on Twitter
• Connect with book community

Planned Posts:

• Book Review: Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler
• Organizing My Kindle Shelves + Book Recs
• Montreal YA Fest: The Complete Breakdown
• Book Tour: The Ivies by Alexa Donne (Book Review)

Writing

Novels:

• Continue developing new project
• Continue writing first novel
• Rewrite chapter one from first novel

TV Fanatic:

• Post an editorial
• Brainstorm more editorial ideas

Diary:

• Write at least two entries

Miscellaneous Goals

Organization:

• Continue using Notion
• Use personal agenda actively
• Stay neat and organized, clean room and workspace if either becomes messy

Personal:

• Follow therapy goals
• Rely on faith in dark and stressful times
• Stay up to date with publishing course
• Find a job
• Study and learn Torah
• Stay involved and informed

Well, that’s it for April! As I said, I wasn’t as successful as I wanted to be, but I’m more optimistic about May. How was your April? Did you find a book that you loved or disliked? Let me know if you have any recommendations for anything—books, TV, other media, etc.

If you missed my latest posts, I wrote a more in-depth article about Shadow and Bone here and another article about the dynamic between Tessa Gray, Jem Carstairs, and William Herondale here. If you have any advice for future monthly wrap-ups, it is always welcomed!

Before ending this post, I’d like to bring your attention to something serious happening in the Middle East. Palestinians live under the brutal Israeli occupation every day, but recently, Palestinian families are being evicted from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah, a neighborhood in East Jerusalem. Evictions have been happening since 1948, but mainstream media rarely talks about it despite the overwhelming evidence. Please speak up about this grave injustice—it is about human rights and decency at this point.

If you’d like to learn more about the occupation, this carrd is a great place to get started. Please pay attention to the “how you can help” tab; it is super important! And please speak up. Many people call themselves activists, but they never talk about Palestine. That is cruel, inhumane, and hypocritical. We must do better. Palestinians have the right to return to their homes and live in a free Palestine.