September 2019 Reading Wrap Up
Big oof energy.
Hey hi hello friends, and welcome back to my blog!
I apologize for being absent for an entire month, but holy hell have I had a rollercoaster of a time adjusting back to being a full-time student. In fact, along with not posting anything on both YouTube and on here, I barely even read in the last thirty days. It's sad and embarrassing and not a little shameful. Not even just because reading and book reviewing is my job, but I love reading books and sharing my thoughts on them, so not having much to show for it hurts my heart a little. I promise I'll be more dutiful in the future, now that I have my feet back under me.
But enough about that! You're here for my September Wrap Up!
As I said, I didn't read much this past month, but honestly what is much? If we're talking page-wise, yeah no the number is relatively low. But volume-wise? Hell yeah. Thank you, manga! I read 14 books this month, 10 of which were manga. In all honestly I was planning on reading more, but I also haven't gone to the library once this month, and that's where I've been getting my manga, steadily making my way through Fullmetal Alchemist and Haikyuu!! I'm almost done with the former but I've got a loooong ways to go with the latter. It'll be an adventure once I get past the anime cut off.
Let's get into it!
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1-4. Fullmetal Alchemist vol. 4-7 (3-in-1 editions) by Hiromu Arakawa
Star rating: 5/5 stars for all
Days read: Sep. 3, Sep. 15
Total page count: 2,296 pages
No review available
Comments: Amazing, as always. I'm loving the subtle differences in Ed and Winry's illustrations to show them growing older, and in Ed's case, taller. It was pretty funny the first time I noticed he was taller than Winry.
5. The Forests of Silence by Emily Rodda (Deltora Quest, #1)
Star rating: 3/5 stars
Read from: Sep. 4 - Sep. 5
Page count: 131 pages
Review: I mean, it was a pretty solid beginning of a middle grade—no even younger—fantasy series. Emily Rodda was my and my sister’s favorite author when we were kids, around 7 or 8. I remember finding Deltora really scary, and I was absolutely obsessed with the world. I’m pretty sure I had all the extra books and even a few scholastic knickknacks centered around the series that you could get at the scholastic book fair. Anyone remember those? That was always the best week of elementary school.
Anyway, half the book was a prequel to set up the actual series, following the parents of the main character as they escaped the palace right before the fall of the empire and the Shadow Lord took over. Clearly this was juvenile but I still found it really entertaining. My only gripe is that apparently Emily Rodda hates using contractions?? There was literally not a single contraction in the entire book. It got old pretty fast but hey to each their own.
I can’t remember all the books but I do remember that my favorite one was the one where they were going after the Opal simply because I love opals, being my birthstone and all. The monsters and mythology are so unique that I have to credit Rodda for that, well done indeed. I think it’ll be pretty fun to reread the rest of the series.
Comments: Yeah, I kind of abandoned the project I had in mind when I read this, so I feel kind of bad. Not that reading is ever a waste of time for me, but this came pretty close, just because I never got the chance to finish up what I wanted this book for.
6-11. Haikyuu!! vol. 6-11 (lmaoo I didn't do that on purpose I swear) by Haruichi Furudate
Star rating: 5/5 stars for all
Days read: Sep. 7
Total page count: 1,148 pages
No review available
Comments: Like Fullmetal Alchemist, I just really enjoyed reading these. We're also up to one of my favorite parts in the anime, so it was so much fun watching the illustration progress and adapt. Furudate's skills are clearly improving throughout the series.
12. Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown
Star rating: 4/5 stars
Read from: Sep. 7 - Sep. 9
Page count: 432 pages
Review: So, that happened.
I’m not sure how coherent my thoughts are gonna be because it’s 2 am and I’m crying so my phone is a little blurry atm.
I truly believe I have found the book that represents me. I still say Fangirl is who I am, but wow this book is right there with it. Growing up religious and queer has always felt weird, knowing that certain people I love can’t know who I really am without rejecting me. And having that written down just made my thoughts and feelings all the more valid.
Extreme trigger warning for homophobia, racism, and ableism. I’m telling you right now please do not read this if any of these things hurt you. As important as it is to have these things in books to raise awareness and show people that this discrimination are happening every day in our modern world, it is not worth your mental health.
Anyway, I related so much to everything in this novel, except maybe the Georgian thing. I may not be the daughter of a preacher but I’m extremely proud of and tied to my faith (and my grandparents also founded our church, so there's that), and yeah I’ve had to fend so many people off for saying things against queer people. It’s one of those things where like, you know it’s not uncommon for this to happen, but even though it’s a heavy topic, it makes you feel so good inside knowing that you are represented in something.
Not only do I heavily relate to the Christian aspect of this book, but I was in a very similar situation to Mary Carlson during my first relationship with a girl. I won’t get into too many details, but the bottom line is she essentially lied about not being out and therefore kept me from being able to completely come out myself and be with her freely. I completely understand the pain and the betrayal and heartbreak that Mary Carlson was feeling at the end of the book, but I am glad that she forgave Jo by the end. I hope one day God will give me the strength to do the same.
Anyway. Bottom line, I really loved this book. I can’t wait to pick up her other works. Thank you for Georgia Peaches, Jaye Robin Brown. God bless you.
I’m not sure how coherent my thoughts are gonna be because it’s 2 am and I’m crying so my phone is a little blurry atm.
I truly believe I have found the book that represents me. I still say Fangirl is who I am, but wow this book is right there with it. Growing up religious and queer has always felt weird, knowing that certain people I love can’t know who I really am without rejecting me. And having that written down just made my thoughts and feelings all the more valid.
Extreme trigger warning for homophobia, racism, and ableism. I’m telling you right now please do not read this if any of these things hurt you. As important as it is to have these things in books to raise awareness and show people that this discrimination are happening every day in our modern world, it is not worth your mental health.
Anyway, I related so much to everything in this novel, except maybe the Georgian thing. I may not be the daughter of a preacher but I’m extremely proud of and tied to my faith (and my grandparents also founded our church, so there's that), and yeah I’ve had to fend so many people off for saying things against queer people. It’s one of those things where like, you know it’s not uncommon for this to happen, but even though it’s a heavy topic, it makes you feel so good inside knowing that you are represented in something.
Not only do I heavily relate to the Christian aspect of this book, but I was in a very similar situation to Mary Carlson during my first relationship with a girl. I won’t get into too many details, but the bottom line is she essentially lied about not being out and therefore kept me from being able to completely come out myself and be with her freely. I completely understand the pain and the betrayal and heartbreak that Mary Carlson was feeling at the end of the book, but I am glad that she forgave Jo by the end. I hope one day God will give me the strength to do the same.
Anyway. Bottom line, I really loved this book. I can’t wait to pick up her other works. Thank you for Georgia Peaches, Jaye Robin Brown. God bless you.
Comments: This will definitely end up on my "Favorites of 2019" list. I hope I can own my own copy soon, I'm keeping an eye out at every bookstore I go to. Since it was published a while back I'm not surprised it's not available in many stores.
13. Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton
Star rating: 3/5 stars
Days read: Aug. 28 - Sep. 9
Page count: 320 pages
No review available
Comments: It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great either. I liked the ending. Didn’t like what happened to Dennis.
14. Lovely War by Julie Berry
Star rating: 5/5 glorious stars
Days read: Aug. 23 - Sep. 30
Page count: 480 pages
No review available (yet, I'm planning on doing a full-length review soon)
Comments: Absolutely breathtaking. I’m sitting in my schools library trying desperately not to tear up but I’m pretty sure everyone around me knows I’m an emotional mess at this point. If this is my gateway to historical fiction and romance, I won’t complain.
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Total page count: 4,807 pages (again, God bless manga!)
Favorite book of September: Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown
Least favorite book of September: The Forests of Silence by Emily Rodda
DNF'd books of September: Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake
Okie dokie, there you have it! I hope October is a gazillion times better, because by golly I deserve it.
Until next time!
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