I am so glad March is over, friends! Please, let April and May be sunshine and diasies--both literally outside and figuratively in my life! *fingers crossed*
3 Things About My Life This Month
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| A March sunset at Wellesley College |
1. I've been really frustrated with YA lately. I don't always feel as if YA/NA is an accurate representation of my life, but I do usually find bits and pieces to truly connect with and internalize. But off late, I've been noticing that my life has been a series of events that don't coincide with the experiences of the characters I've been reading about and I just want a fictional someone I can relate to. I don't have a shred of romance in my life and I just want to read about teens who are struggling with life and friendships as I am, not always romantic tension and drama. Where are these books? Does anyone have any recommendations for me?
2. Spring Break! I really, REALLY needed a break this past month. Spring Break is the longest I've been home since the two weeks I spent at home last summer and those two weeks were the longest since Winter Break of the previous year. I've just been going, going, going and I feel so burnt out and tired and stressed but there are still a solid five weeks left of classes and then another two of reading period and exams. I know I'm going to make it but I'm not sure my sanity will be left intact. I loved being home with my family and visiting friends but I miss home like crazy right now! :(
3. I'm stressed. March has been a stressful month. I was waiting to get to Spring Break and now that it's over, I'm waiting to just go back home. I've been dealing with a lot of friendship drama and generally don't feel as if I'm succeeding in balancing my time at college. I just feel as if I'm constantly working and though I do spend time with friends, it never seems like enough for me to feel as if I'm getting a mental break. I'm always on edge, have been rejected from countless internships, and in general life is not looking up for me right now, friends. I hate to be a Debby Downer for this post but I just need some love and life tips.
Best Book I Read This Month
The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne. I really loved this one so look out for my review of it sometime this month! It's about a young girl, shortly after the death of her single-mother, finds out that her father is the man currently running for President of the United States. It's all about family, friendship, and finding your voice, of course with a healthy dose of romance and--my favorite--some truly diverse plot lines and characters.
Most Popular Post This Month
Review: Act Like It by Lucy Parker. I seriously fell in love with this contemporary romance novel so I'm glad this got a wide readership--I want people to pick it up and become as obsessed with it as I am! It features a charming heroine, a hero who seems grouchy on the outside but is utterly sweet once you get to know him, and a fake relationship to true love romance. What more could you want?
Post I Wish Got a Little More Love
Review: Fool Me Twice by Meredith Duran. This is a historical romance spin on Beauty and the Beast and is incredible. It doesn't devolve into a mush of drama and the heroine is strong, capable, and exerts her agency in a remarkable manner. I loved it. Read it. Love it. We can form a fan club together.
Post I Starred in my Blog Reader This Month
I just LOVE this post called "The Reductive Seduction of Other People's Problems." It basically discusses the gap that we, often as American but more broadly as first-world citizens, have told ourselves exists between our nation and third-world or developing countries. This is a gap that is as wide as it is because we look at other countries through the same lens we look at our country, despite the fact that those countries operate on entirely different systems of power, respectability, and are culturally dissimilar from our own. It's something I've been thinking about a lot, lately--how can we change our models of the world to account for these differences and study developing nations within the context of their societies in order to actually benefit them versus give them the resources that we think are going to benefit them but actually are making them more like us, which isn't actually a solution. Anyhow, it's fantastic--read it.
Obsession of the Month
SLEEP. I went home for Spring Break and did not binge watch a single show. I slept. Morning. Noon. Night. I crave sleep, dream about more sleep, and am constantly contemplating how comfortable it would be to curl up on the sidewalk leading towards the library and just nap there for awhile before actually subjecting myself to my problem sets. Anyway, the bottom line is: sleep is amazing. If you're not obsessed with it, I don't know what's wrong with you.
3 Things I'm Looking Forward to in April
2. Baum Concert! Our Spring Semester Choir concert is called Baum and it's coming up at the end of April. I'm really looking forward to showcasing all of the music we've been practicing throughout the semester and especially performing with our Choir seniors for the last time!
3. Music Library Celebrations! I work at the Music Library on campus and every semester there is an unofficial Music Library party which is pretty much the greatest party of the semester (for me) because it means I get to hang out with the Music Library staff in a relaxed, non-work environment. The theme last semester for Taylor Swift and Outer Space and, as you might imagine, featured glow-in-the-dark stars and Taylor Swift karaoke. Needless to say, I cannot wait for what this semester's party will bring! :)
What are you looking forward to in April? How was your March? Is anyone else in a general life slump like I am right now? What are you doing to combat it? I'd love to know in the comments!
A really nice bilan! The Wrong Side of Right has a really intriguing title!
ReplyDeleteHANG IN THERE KEERTANA!!! I definitely remember being overwhelmed in college here and there, and I went to school flying distance away from home, so I rarely got to see my family. It's amazing how just a little time at home with family can reduce stress, and not having access to that can be hard to deal with. 5 weeks sounds like a long time, but with how busy you are I know it will fly by, and then hopefully you get to spend a summer at home. Or at least a summer that moves at a slower pace than you've been going at lately.
ReplyDeleteAnd don't worry about the internships. I know, I know, way easier said than done, but something will come along for you. *MASSIVE HUGS*
That sucks. I hate when you become a part of a drama that more or less does not include you. Sigh. I hope the break will do you some good, Keertana. <3
ReplyDeleteKeertana it does get better!! Winter is so long there in MA and when Spring comes things will look a little better, I think. Will you be going to summer school or taking the summer off? Part of growing up is taking care of yourself and sometimes you need to slow down. I can't recommend any books that relate to your situation. Someone needs to write it. I know friend drama was much more prevalent in college than romance for me too. Take care of yourself. Take a break from the books to do something for yourself. Try to find some balance in your life.
ReplyDeleteHeather
Oh gosh, I love sleep. Seriously. I'm such a huge fan of naps. I'm sorry you are feeling really stressed out. Try and take more breaks, even if they aren't too long, and hopefully it will start to become more routine and you'll feel more refreshed after them. I hear this works! haha
ReplyDeleteI agree about wanting YA books that aren't all about romance. I don't have that in my life either, so it can be annoying sometimes.
-Lauren
Thanks for the advice, Lauren--I'm definitely going to give this a try. And thanks for stopping by and commenting on this--it seriously means so much to me! :)
DeleteUgh... yea, life totally sucks sometimes but it wakes us to the little things we often miss. Or so I tell myself. ;)
ReplyDeleteLoved that post about seductive reductionism. I can totally see that in the guns situation in how other countries see it. Sometimes though, it is much more simple than we make it.
I've been reading more about racism because of the political atmosphere. Not sure if you would enjoy it, but might be of interest: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/04/opinion/white-americas-broken-heart.html?_r=0 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsw6e6GopSo If it isn't your thing, ignore it, no probs. :)
Hm... and books to recommend... I'm thinking fantasy in YA but I cannot think of one that doesn't have an element of romance in it. UF? Sometimes the romance is secondary. Now I have to go contemplate that... :D
Melissa, I loooved the NY Times article and especially the video! Those are both totally my thing, seriously, so thanks for linking those to me--I really enjoyed them! :)
DeleteI think the stress of college can make anyone feel overwhelmed and depressed. I'm sorry you're down in the dumps, Keertana! It really awful when you feel down and can't think of anything to lift your spirits. I do think you're on the right track with sleep, though. If you don't get enough sleep on a regular basis it can really affect your whole outlook on life.
ReplyDeleteI can't think of any YA books that are just about friends and life struggles. Women's fiction comes to mind as an option. I think One Plus One by Jojo Moyes was a fabulous read that wasn't too heavy on romance. Just enough, and sooo wonderful IMO. Did you read Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty? It was scandalous and exciting with a little bit of romance. That's more of a women's fiction sort of read, too. Hmm...I get so many lovely recommends from you, so I'm trying to think here! I don't know if you've read The Iron Druid Chronicles, but I love that series as well. Clever and super funny! No romance at all until like the 5th book. It doesn't contain the sort of struggles you're facing, but its certainly a nice escape.
That photo is gorgeous, btw. I'm sending positive thoughts your way, Keertana!
Rachel, thank you so much for the recommendations! I am definitely adding them to my TBR, especially as I keep meaning to read Liane Moriarty but have simply never gotten around to her. I adore women's fiction--I need to remember to look there for more reads, especially right now as I transition from a Young Adult to a New Adult/Adult. I've also never read the Iron Druid Chronicles and could totally use a laugh so I'm going to be picking those up as well. Thanks so much for all the recs, Rachel, and for the warm wishes--it really means so, so much to me!
DeleteI’m so sorry to hear you are having a tough time right now, Keertana. College is stressful and sometimes overwhelming, but I hope things would get better. Good luck with your internship.
ReplyDeleteI added Act Like It and Fool Me Twice to my tbr-list, thanks to you, hopefully I’ll have a chance to read them in April. Have you heard that Lucy Parker self-published another book under a different name: Artistic License by Elle Pierson?
And I’m obsessed with sleep too, I’m constantly under slept. Yes, sleep is amazing. All your April events sound amazing, I hope you’ll have a great time and will be able to relax.
I didn't know about Artistic License so thanks for putting that on my radar, Ksenia! I definitely want to get to it since I loved Act Like It. I hope you enjoy Parker's books and especially Fool Me Twice! Thanks for all the warm wishes, Ksenia! :)
DeleteI'm sorry that things have been super tough for you as of late, for me too it always seems like when one bad thing happens, everything seems to come tumbling down. But I'm hoping that your spring break at least helped you to get a sort of break. Just think in a few weeks it'll all be over, you can so do it Keertana! You know I'm always here if you need a general chat about anything! And I feel you on the lack of connection with books as of late, YA and me really aren't getting along, so much so that I have to resort to NA books and so far the select few I've been getting through have been working for me! Undecided my Julianna Keyes was one of my favourites! Also I've not heard about Act Like it, so I'll definitely be checking that out.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a wonderful April Keertana! *hugs*
Thank you so much, Jasprit! I'm definitely going to be giving Undecided a try soon since it looks so good and precisely up my alley. I think you'll really enjoy Act Like It--it's a super sweet romance and seems like a novel you'd fall for. Thanks for all the warm wishes, dear--it means so much!
DeleteOh, I remember that moment of college so well--the personal drama hitting hard and the work taking SO MUCH TIME and there's just so little sleep but you're always tired. Don't feel like you're not taking advantage; think of it from a Buddhist perspective--it can't all be about seizing moments; sometimes you just have to be in the moment. This too shall pass.
ReplyDeleteAnd I will add that your review made me add Fool Me Twice to my Goodreads queue, and then at least three of my friends added it, too (one might have been straight from your blog, though), so you're definitely successfully spreading the love!
Hang in there!
Hope things have gotten better for you since this post! I remember having a lot of friend drama in college. Never fun, on top of everything else. I hear you on the scarcity of YA/NA without romance, although I read less of those genres than you do. But as someone whose life has been without romance, I get a little frustrated by books with blurbs that say they will make you remember the experience of your first love. As if that's a universal experience. Anyway, my YA recommendations without romance are either fantasy or action/adventure, so it's not necessarily identifiable situations. But here they are: White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean and Un Lun Dun by China Mieville.
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