January/February 2023: Month in Review

What’s up everyone. So it’s March. 2023. That’s kind of wild. How you been? …

It’s been an interesting year so far. Not to sound like a broken record, but I’ve been working like crazy and really not reading like crazy. Certainly nothing outside of my busy, my mind needs a break comfort zone, AKA Pride and Prejudice retellings – and lots of them. That said, I’m soon to be a one job lady which is terrifying (because I like money. I like making it, having it, spending it and I’m not going to be doing any of those things like I do now, lol). It’s also exciting because it’ll be nice to not have to work 6 days a week EVERY WEEK which I’ve been doing for seven and a half years, so yay for me.

Alright, let’s get into it. And don’t say I didn’t warn you.

These months I read:

More Than a Pretty Face by Frances Reynolds
A Short Period of Exquisite Felicity by Amy D’Orazio
Drawing Mr. Darcy: Sketching His Character (#1) by Melanie Rachel
Drawing Mr. Darcy: A Faithful Portrait (#2) by Melanie Rachel
So Little Endeavour at Civility by Kate Beauford
An Excellent Walker by Lyndsay Constable

Every single one of these is… you guessed it. A Pride and Prejudice Variation. I’m not ashamed. I know what keeps me sane. Some of these were definitely better than others though…

Currently I’m Reading:

Something More Substantial by Jann Rowland
Engines of Empire by R.S. Ford – this book is SO good, but I couldn’t give it the attention it needed so I had to put it down for a while. But I think this book is going to be my first weekend off as a one job lady celebration book.

These months I hauled:

Mistborn: Secret History by Brandon Sanderson: I saw this when I was browsing the bookstore and just grabbed it. As a bookworm does. I don’t know what it is, but if it’s Mistborn related, I’m sure I’ll find some enjoyment.
Village of Secrets: Defying the Nazis in Vichy France by Caroline Moorehead: I read another of Moorehead’s books some years ago, but I really enjoyed her writing and her perspective so when I stumbled upon this I decided to give it a go.
The Lights of Prague by Nicole Jarvis: This title catches my eye every time I go to the bookstore, so I finally decided it was time to bring it home.
European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewomen by Theodora Goss: I bought this for the title and the title alone. My knowledge of the series is minimal. In fact…
The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss: Not pictured here because by the time I realized I left it downstairs I was much too lazy to go down and grab it for a picture, so… I happened to find out that the last book is actually number two in a series, so of course I had to buy the first one.
When Women Ruled the World: Making the Renaissance in Europe by Maureen Quilligan: This was picked up on impulse and I was intrigued enough to give it a go.
The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman: Another impulse buy when the title caught my eye.
Elizabeth Finch by Julian Barnes: I keep buying Julian Barnes books even though I’ve not ready any yet because I really want to love them… time shall tell.
Engines of Empire by R.S. Ford: I saw someone gush about how amazing this book is on booktube and I HAD to have it. The little bit that I have read so far is quite promising.

Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson: I read Sorcery of Thorns last year and LOVED it and I have been waiting on this one for a while now.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune: This is where the book collector in me comes out. I have this book already, but this edition has painted edges and one side is painted like the colors of the sunset and the water on the rest of the book and I had to have it even though I already have it and haven’t read it yet.
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides: The cover caught my eye and the synopsis intrigued me so it went home with me.
In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware: This was on my TBR and it was on a 50% deal so why not?
They Called Me A Lioness: A Palestinian Girl’s Fight For Freedom by Ahed Tamimi and Dena Takruri: It is sad just how little I truly understand the situation with Palestine and Israel, and I stumbled on this book and it seemed like the place to start.
The Climate Book by Greta Thunberg: Greta could publish a book with no words in it and I’d buy it. She’s done more with her life in 20 years than I’ll ever do and I respect the shit out of that. Also, I have not idea what is in this book. I didn’t even look. I saw her name and into my buy pile it went.
Murder Your Employer by Rupert Holmes: The title caught my eye, I still don’t fully know what this is, but I bought it because it seemed fun.

Non-bookishness:

Nothing else has really happened. I did take a long weekend in January and went to the Keys with my best friend and we drank lots of gin and got SO sunburned it was hilarious. I finished re-watching Stargate Atlantis and I watched the movie that started it all which I’d never actually seen before. I started watching some of the old Terminator films in anticipation of finally watching the newest ones just so I can know that I’ve seen them whether they’re good or not, but haven’t actually gotten to the newer ones yet. Oh and this past weekend we went to Boston for the Space Adventure exhibit that’s all about the missions to the moon. It was pretty neat AND I got some astronaut tchotchke! What’s not to love?

How about you, how has the beginning of your 2023 gone?

Until next time, Happy Reading!