September Wrap Up

 

September went by in a total blur for me. I haven't been so busy in years. My new position as a reading specialist at my school started, and so did my graduate courses. Between those two things, my reading time has basically been decimated. As you can probably tell from the very few and extremely short reviews I posted here on the blog, I've had to swap my novels for textbooks and my writing time for studying time. I haven't stopped reading altogether, but I'm definitely going to be reading a lot less for the foreseeable future. So basically, things will be quieter here, but I'm not going to stop posting. I'm really happy too, which feels weird to me because I haven't felt this way in a very long time. I think I'm finally on the right track. I'm busy, but it's a good busy.

I read a total of five books in the month of September, for a total of 1,805 pages. As I suspected, I had to break my 100 pages a day streak, but that's okay because it's for a good reason. I liked everything I read too. Here's the breakdown:

On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden (5 stars)

Black Birds in the Sky by Brandy Colbert (4 stars)

The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (4 stars)

Paradise on Fire by Jewell Parker Rhodes (3 stars)

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (4 stars)

My favorite read of the month was On a Sunbeam, a really heartfelt and beautiful sci-fi graphic novel. The art was beautiful and the story was quite moving. My least favorite of the month was Paradise on Fire, which was perfectly fine, but not the best I've read from that author.

I only purchased one book this month, Stephen King's new novel, Fairy Tale. I bought this one on my Kindle, because I'm trying to clear some shelf space. I donated Black Birds in the Sky and Paradise on Fire, so a total of two books left my shelves.

My plan for September is to read the last book from my 22 in 2022 Challenge so I can wrap that up. It's a long one, so with my reduced reading time, I will be spending most of the month on that. With the time that's left, I'm going to focus on some shorter reads. I'm only ten books away from getting to 100 novels this year and completing my Goodreads Challenge, so I want to make sure I can finish that up. Here's my plan:

The Little Friend by Donna Tartt

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

Frankie and Bug by Gayle Forman

Ink by Alive Broadway

Book Love by Debbie Tung

In between all the studying this month, I did manage to finish two puzzles and make significant progress on my diamond painting. The diamond painting is not done yet, so I'll wait to share pictures until I finish it. Here are the puzzles:

The first was a quick 100 piece puzzle called "Drunk in Love" from Pezel Puzzles. It was very cute and fun to put together. It even included the cocktail recipe for the drink in the picture on the back of the box. I didn't try it though. It's one of those ones that has egg whites in it, which grosses me out.

The next puzzle was a 500 piece puzzle called "Flourished Merriment" from Pomegranate Puzzles. This has to be one of my favorite puzzles of the year. Look at the face on that tiger! So cute! The sections in it were distinct enough to sort and put together easily. I really liked this one.

The other thing I became obsessed with this month is a new game - Disney Dreamlight Valley. It's basically Animal Crossing, but with Disney characters, and it's fantastic. I can't stop playing it! 

So that was my September. It was the first month of some really big changes for me. I went into it quite anxious and unsure, but I ended up really liking all the changes! I hope this continues into October, and that I can find a way to squeeze some more reading and craft time in.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

 

Project Hail Mary tells the story of Ryland Grace, an astronaut sent on a suicide mission to save Earth from a mysterious alien amoeba that is soaking up all the energy from the sun. His mission is to travel to an area around Venus that seems to be immune to the amoeba, find out why, and send everything he learns back to Earth. Unfortunately, the coma he is placed in for the duration of his journey leaves him with amnesia. When he wakes up, he doesn't even realize he's in space. In order to complete his mission, Grace must first remember why he is there, then he must figure out how to solve the mystery of the amoeba.

This novel was great. It was an exciting sci-fi adventure with lots of twists and turns. Much like Weir's first novel, The Martian, there was a lot of science talk included that added a façade of credibility to the story. The narrative flipped back and forth between Grace's past and present, slowly revealing the circumstances of him being selected for the mission. I thought this structural choice was good, as it broke up the sometimes dense scientific sections and provided interesting backstory. The characters were strangely endearing and Weir's sense of humor made this a really fun read. This was the perfect book to indulge in during my study breaks and I'd definitely recommend it to any sci-fi fans.

Challenge Tally

22 in 2022: 21/22

Total Books Read in 2022: 89

Paradise On Fire by Jewell Parker Rhodes

 

Paradise on Fire tells the story of a teenage girl named Addy who is sent to an outdoor skills camp for the summer. Her parents passed away in a house fire when she was very young, and she is still struggling with her grief and anxiety over it. She's become preoccupied with making maps and drawing escape routes so that she will never end up stuck inside somewhere. Her aunt thinks that the camp will do her some good, and when Addy arrives there, she realizes that her aunt was right. She quickly falls in love with hiking and exploring the woods. Her enjoyment is cut short, however, when a forest fire threatens the camp. Addy must conquer her fears and use her map making skills to find a safe route around the fire to save herself and her friends.

I thought this novel was pretty good and very appropriate for the middle grades audience it was written for. Addy's journey is emotional and uplifting, and the story carries a strong environmental message as well. The sections where she must find a way around the fire are genuinely suspenseful and I think young readers will easily be swept up in the excitement. This novel didn't hit me quite as strongly as the other book by Jewell Parker Rhodes that I have read, Ghost Boys, but it was still a pretty solid read. I will definitely be donating this one to my school and recommending it to lots of students. 

Challenge Tally

Middle Grade Mission: 28/24 - Finished!  

Total Books Read in 2022: 88

The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

 

The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi is a memoir in graphic novel format. In it, Satrapi describes her childhood growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution, her adolescence in Austria, and her young adulthood back in her home country. Her writing centers around her complex relationship with Iran--a country she loves but eventually cannot abide. As the leadership becomes more and more conservative and controlling there, her naturally outspoken and assertive nature put her in danger. She struggles quite a bit to find her purpose and embrace her true identity. Persepolis is the story of the journey she takes to grow up and finally get there.

I thought this novel was great. It felt honest and authentic. Satrapi did a nice job of portraying herself as a real person complete with strengths and flaws. The simple illustrations matched the tone of the memoir perfectly and were a treat to read. I learned a lot about Iran too, and the changes that have happened in that country over time. It was interesting to see the push and pull going on in Satrapi's mind. She sees Iran as her home, but has to come to terms with the fact that it is no longer the place of her childhood. Her turmoil and heartbreak leapt off the page. I found this novel to be surprisingly complex and definitely worth the read.

Challenge Tally  

Total Books Read in 2022: 87

Black Birds in the Sky by Brandy Colbert

 

It's been awhile since I posted here, but I have still been reading as much as I can. Starting my masters program has been time consuming, to say the least. I've definitely slowed my pace, but I did still manage to finish a few things. My next few reviews will be on the shorter side, but I still wanted to get my thoughts down here.

I read Black Birds in the Sky by Brandy Colbert towards the beginning of the month. This is a nonfiction middle grades novel about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. I didn't know much about the topic before reading, and I did feel like I had a good understanding of the horrific event afterwards, so the book did its job. Even though I really shouldn't be surprised by the extent of historical racism anymore, I found myself truly stunned by the events described here. This is a shameful part of American history and it should be discussed more. 

The text itself was clearly well researched and not too difficult to read. One small issue I had was the amount of background information provided. I'm not sure if Colbert didn't have enough information to fill out the whole novel or if she thought all the backstory was necessary, but this book spends over 100 pages on other historical topics that are related to Tulsa. I found myself disengaging from the narrative during these sections and wishing to get back to the main point.

Aside from that though, I thought this was an excellent and very informative nonfiction novel for middle grades and young adult readers. Anyone who doesn't know much about the Tulsa Massacre would benefit from giving this one a try. I disagree with those who want to deliberately forget about events like this. It is only through understanding and confronting the past that we can do better in the future. 

Challenge Tally

Middle Grade Mission: 27/24 - Finished!  

Total Books Read in 2022: 86

On A Sunbeam by Tillie Walden

 

I first came across Tillie Walden's On A Sunbeam on a Barnes and Noble trip. I hadn't heard of it before, but the summary sounded interesting and the illustrations looked beautiful. I decided to buy it, but then I proceeded to do what I always do with graphic novels--not read it. I always want to save graphic novels for "the perfect time." I think this is because they are quick reads, so I hang onto them for times where it might be difficult to read something longer, like vacations. I really wanted to get to this one though, so I put it on my 22 in 2022 Challenge list. Lucky for me, I found a "perfect time" for it this week, when I knew that my new work and school schedule would be limiting my reading time.

The plot of the novel follows a teenage girl named Mia. As the novel begins, she joins the crew of a spaceship that travels across the galaxy restoring old buildings. The work isn't easy, but she soon develops the skills she needs for it and begins making friends with her new crewmates. Things are going well until she makes a mistake that threatens to pull the team apart. Interspersed with this story are flashbacks to Mia's time in high school that recount her relationship with a girl named Grace. Grace is Mia's first true love, but their relationship ended abruptly when Grace left school to deal with some family issues. The past and present storylines collide when Mia finds an opportunity to bring her teammates back together and reach out to Grace one final time.

I thought this novel was terrific. The illustrations were really beautiful and the story was surprisingly complex and emotional. Mia was a well-developed character with enough good qualities to be likable and enough flaws to feel genuine. Her relationship with Grace was very sweet and I wanted them to find a way to be together by the end of the story. Her crewmates were very likable as well; each one had a distinct personality and were interesting to read about. There was great representation throughout, with different ethnicities and sexualities spread amongst the characters.

Similarly, the sci-fi setting of the novel was imaginative and well-designed. The buildings, spaceships, and different worlds were original and creative. The world-building was excellent and provided the perfect backdrop to the story. I especially loved the design of Mia's ship, which looked like a giant fish swimming through space. The illustrations showed off the details of the world perfectly--dream-like and pretty. It was a pleasure to look at each page.

On A Sunbeam was one of the strongest graphic novels I have ever read, and I'm glad to have finally picked it up this year. It's a sci-fi adventure and a sweet romance all wrapped into one beautifully illustrated package. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes graphic novels...or anyone that likes sci-fi...or anyone, really. 

 

Challenge Tally

22 in 2022: 20/22

Total Books Read in 2022: 85