Tag: wrap up

November 2022 Wrap Up

IndiaReadsALotLeave a comment

This was a bit of a trickier month this month. A lot of ambitious books some of which I read but some I struggled with.

  • I read 12 books this month
  • Genre: 7 fantasy, 2 historical fiction, 1 mystery, 1 non-fiction and 1 contemporary
  • Gender of authors: 5 women, 3 men, 1 various and 1 gender-fluid author.
  • Race of authors: 5 white authors, 4 asian authors and 1 various.
  • Age range: 7 adult, 3 YA and 2 middle grade
  • Format: 6 paperback, 3 hardback, 2 audiobook and 1 ebook

The Secret of Matterdale Hall by Marianne Ratcliffe (DNF)

This book was sent to me via the author and unfortunately, it didn’t work for me. It follows a young woman who becomes a new teacher at a new school and not everything is as it seems. For me, I found some of the characters to be forgettable and I didn’t find myself connected to the plot at all.

The Very Merry Murder Club by Various Authors (DNF)

I was super excited to get into the Christmassy mood with these mysteries. Unfortunately, I just got caught up with other books and never got round to finishing it.

The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame (2 stars)

When I was 10 years old I took part in my school’s version of The Wind in the Willows musical. I played Mole! I was super excited to revisit the story of Mole, Rat, Toad and Badger. I decided to listen to the audio dramatisation rather than the actual novel and I loved all the performances and the ambience. I felt I was in the story myself. Unfortunately, I didn’t love the plot itself and the characters annoyed me.

Look Back – Tatsuki Fujimoto (2 stars)

This was the first manga I had ever read by this author. It follows a young woman who meets a friend through their love of manga. I had no big reason against this story. I just didn’t love it. I wasn’t a big fan of the main character so I think that must be why I couldn’t connect to the story.

Small Things Like These – Claire Keegan (3 stars)

I don’t read too much literary fiction. It’s not a genre that I enjoy too much but due to the short nature of the story, I felt it was a good bridge to give it a go. This follows a guy who is spending his before Christmas working and supporting his family while reflecting back on his childhood. Alongside that, we see glimpses into the treatment of unwed pregnant girls in 80’s Ireland. In terms of the story, I wanted more. I felt Keegan was connecting to something really important and just as we properly got into the story – the book ended. It was too short for me. I wanted more!

Welcome to St. Hell – Lewis Hancox (3 stars)

This was a graphic novel about one person’s experience growing up transgender in the early 2000’s. I found it to be really interesting and profound to get a first-hand account of someone’s personal experience. I will be honest and say I didn’t love the art style and I did find the dialogue to be quite cringey.

In The Watchful City – S. Qiouyi Lu (3 stars)

This was my first experience reading a book with Neo-pronouns. This was a super interesting story but I did get a bit confused throughout. I did enjoy the story within a story element as well as the numerous powers.

TLOZ: Twilight Princess Vol. 1 – Akira Himekawa (3.5 stars)

Still my favourite Zelda game to date. I was super interested in seeing the story adapted into a manga. I really enjoyed Himekawa’s take on the story and I think the first volume set everything up really well.

Secret History – Brandon Sanderson (3.5 stars)

I can’t say too much about this book due to major spoilers. I did think I was going to enjoy it more than I did but it did answer a lot of questions I had and still had some great emotional moments.

The Bands of Mourning – Brandon Sanderson (4 stars)

Probably my favourite book in the Mistborn era 2 series. I have already finished The Lost Metal and I still think book 3 is better. I felt that the characterisation was super strong, the plot was really interesting, the unexpected romance made me super happy and an ending that blew my mind.

Disfigured – Amanda Leduc (5 stars)

A super powerful and insightful book about how Western fairytales laid the foundation for the treatment of disabled people and the normalisation of ableism. I learnt a lot from reading this book. So many things I had been ignorant too.

Sailor Moon Vol. 1 – Naoko Takeuchi (5 stars)

I healed my inner child by reading this manga. Powerful women, beautiful illustrations, hilarious dialogue. It felt like I was 10 years old again watching Saturday morning cartoons. I am now officially obsessed with Sailor Moon and it has become my whole personality.

July 2022 Wrap Up

IndiaReadsALot2 Comments

Another milestone hit! This month I offically reached my Goodreads Reading Goal but I also have a new number for the amount of books I can read in one month. 13!!!

  • I read 13 books this month
  • Genre: 7 fantasy, 3 mystery, 1 romance, 1 non-fiction, 1 classic and 1 sport.
  • Gender of authors: 8 women and 4 men
  • Race of authors: 7 white authors, 4 asian authors and 1 latina author
  • Age range: 7 adult, 3 YA and 3 middle grade
  • Format: 8 paperback, 3 ebook, 1 hardback and 1 audiobook

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides (2 stars)

Starting, as always, with my lowest rated book first. This book was a solid read for about 80% of the book but the ending was so far-fetched and disappointing that it ended up ruining the rest of the book for me.

Alex Neptune, Dragon Thief by David Owen (2.5 stars)

This was a funny, action-packed story about a boy trying to save a mysterious dragon from an abandoned aquarium. Great mix of mythology as well as a strong save our oceans message. My favourite character was Alex’s sister.

Fairy Tail Vol. 1 by Hiro Mashima (2.5 stars)

I had watched about 50 episodes of the anime and I remember loving it. Sure, they dragged the fights out but the characters were good, the show was fun, why don’t I try the manga? My thoughts with manga are if they don’t grab me in the first volume I will not be continuing the series. This was the case for this volume. It did nothing to garner my attention. It was fine.

The Darkening by Sunya Mara (3 stars)

This was a middle of the road kind of book for me. There were some things that I loved and some things that I didn’t love. I loved the setting, mythology and magic system but I didn’t love the romance element and I felt that the back story and explanation behind the storm that surrounds her city needed alot more development.

Nightlights by Lorena Alvarez Gomez (3.5 stars)

Such an exciting and curious story. I loved the artwork and the main character was amazing. I did wish that the plot of the story was a bit clearer and had a bit more development.

Hicotea by Lorena Alvarez Gomez (4 stars)

This book though, which is the second in the series after Nightlights, was really good. Same incredible artwork but with a more established plot and messaging. Stay curious, keep asking questions.

Haikyu!! Vol. 3 by Haruichi Furudate (4 stars)

Another great instalment. What I love about this series is its deep dive into its characters. I was worried when I started this series that I would just be watching 2D volleyball and that I would get bored. This series is so much more than just the game. I love learning and watching these characters grow and support eachother. It is its strongest element.

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (4 stars)

Now, for those who don’t know, I am not much of a classics reader. I stick to crime classics and that’s about it. Well, when I heard there was a really short story that is super popular and a classic I thought I would give it a go. My biggest struggle with classics is the writing style. I find quite a lot them to be too inaccessible and hard to understand, my own personal experience, but that was not the issue with this story. I felt like I was listening to a friend. The story was super good with an amazing ending. More of this please!

Hook, Line and Sinker by Tessa Bailey (4.5 stars)

Tessa Bailey hit the mark once again! I read this in one day! I loved Fox and Hannah’s story, I didn’t think it would match up to Brendan and Piper’s but I think the additional information with the fact they have been friends for some time made it work just so well. I also related to Hannah a lot! I will be reading all of her books from now on!

Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson (4.5 stars)

Everyone needs to stop what they are doing and read this book. An urban fantasy story where 4 witches come together after years seperated when the figure who will bring destruction of the world is located. Super funny, great sense of female empowerment with solid discussions of race, gender and sexuality. Sometimes the writing was a bit cringey but this plot was packed with intense action scenes, great magic and an ending that had me shocked to my core!

Lord Peter Wimsey: BBC Drama Collection Vol. 1 (5 stars)

My first ever foray into audio dramatisations of literary work. Originally adapted for the radio, these performances have now been compiled into 3 volume audiobooks. I loved everything about this! I have always wanted to read the Lord Peter Wimsey series. The story got better with each instalment. My favourite from this collection had to be Unnatural Death the third and final in this volume. The performances were just incredible.

The Three Dahlias by Katy Watson (5 stars)

This book felt like an ode to the golden age of crime fiction. Set in a manor of a famous Agatha Christie-esque author, a fan convention is held to celebrate the author, her work and the announcement of a new movie adaptation. But a murder occurs and it’s up to the three actresses who all played the author’s literary detective over the preceding years to solve the case. This book met my expectations with a great plot, beautiful setting, and amazing characters. My favourite thing about this entire story was the love and friendship that formed between the Three Dahlias.

The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang (5 stars)

Going into this I was nervous as The Poppy War was one of my fave books last year and I was worried this book would not match up. I did not need to worry at all. A very different story to The Poppy War, I felt it was less dense than the first one. I enjoy watching Rin change and grow throughout the story, she is by far one of the most interesting characters I have ever read. I cannot wait to be emotionally devastated by book 3.