February 2021 Wrap-Up
Hello everyone!! โ๏ธ It’s been a long time since I posted ๐ฌ I guess I just needed an unplanned break and focus on my classes. Still, I miss writing here and getting to interact with all of you, so because I’m currently on Spring Break, I told myself that I would get back on the groove of posting regularly! But, it turns out that I haven’t done anything. I spent the entire week putting this wrap up together (almost halfway through the month) and I only did little pieces of it each day ๐ But I do want to be more involved cause I’m doing a horrible job this year, so I figured the best way to do that was to set a schedule! For the time being, I will try to post on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I’m not sure how doable that will be, but I will give my best effort ๐
But, without further ado, let’s check out all the books and movies I consumed during February (which you guys probably know will be way too many ๐)!!
During February I read 8 books!! I’m actually really impressed with myself so far ๐ Blogging is pushing me to read more in general, but also books that are somewhat out of my comfort zone. Obviously, I’m not perfect and I’m still working on it, but I’m proud of my reading process so far because it is definitely evolving. As always, I read lots of romance, but there are also two required readings! I figured since I’m actually spending so much time on them, it is completely fair to count them. Besides, one of them I LOVED ๐, so I really wanted to share it with you guys and encourage you to give it a try too. So, without further ado, let’s talk about the books!!
โจ Gilgamesh: A Verse Narrative translated by Herbert Mason –> Wow. I loved this so much. This was my first required reading of the month, and I wan’t very excited about it. I read it back in High School and didn’t really like it. But that was obviously not the best time for me to read it because this was absolutely astounding. Gilgamesh is a beautiful story about friendship and what it means to be human. Even though it is told in verses, there’s loads of adventure and action. I am so glad that I reread this and that I was able to appreciate it as much as it deserves. I recommend it 100%. [Purchase Book] [Goodreads]
โจ Fire by Kristin Cashore (Graceling Realm #2) | โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ / 5 stars –> I was so excited about this book because everyone insisted that it was so much better than Graceling but… I kind of disagree… I thought Graceling was epic–everything about it was enjoyable. In Fire I loved the characters because they were dynamic and very intriguing, none of them ever did what you expected and they definitely brought excitement and unpredictability to the plot (which is magnificent in itself). However, part two dragged on FOREVER. Honestly, I was bored throughout most of that section. And then, I reached part three and it felt like a whole new book. Part three was everything that I was waiting for and I do not understand why all that didn’t happen sooner!! I think this novel would’ve benefited from a shorter second act, but overall it was great and had a wonderful ending. So, overall, I liked it A LOT, but I don’t think it was better than Graceling. [Purchase Book] [Goodreads]
โจ Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe | โญ๏ธโญ๏ธ / 5 stars –> My second required reading of the month… And I did not like it. I do appreciate its cultural importance and I recognize that it is a great book for educational purposes, but as a reader that is seeking literature I will enjoy… Not so much. The main reason I could not bring myself to like it more than I did is because of the constant, nonstopping discrimination, sexualization, and abuse of women. It was unbearable to constantly read about how stupid, useless, and weak women are. It really got un my nerves and made me resent many of the characters. But again, I thought the cultural aspect and how affected they were by the Europeans was great, and it is a good story. I was just too annoyed to like it. [Purchase Book] [Goodreads]
โจ Instant Karma by Marissa Meyer | โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ / 5 stars –> I was very surprised about how much I liked this one! My favorite part about it, without a doubt, was the setting. The author did a fantastic job at describing this beautiful, sea-side town. The characters, although obnoxious at times, helped demonstrate the consequences of ignorance and how we must always do our best to help our communities and environment. I do wish that the synopsis for this wasn’t so misleading, because the karma part is, in no way, the main focus of this book. Instead, it is completely centered around an Animal Rescue Center, which made everything very original. If you’re a fan of the environment, YA novels, and romance, definitely give it a chance! [Purchase Book] [Goodreads]
โจ Much Ado About You by Samantha Young | โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ / 5 stars –> This one was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and, even though I did have a lot of fun with it, it was underwhelming. The romance was very interesting, and the town definitely gave it lots of personality. I liked witnessing Evie’s journey and growth, which was the overall theme, but it was also a little frustrating at times. There was so much happening at once that it was hard to keep up and some things were underdeveloped. Still, the drama was entertaining and the angst in the romance was top-notch. So, if you’re a fan of soap opera type conflicts, you might want to give this one a shot. [Purchase Book] [Goodreads]
โจ Until Cece by K.D. Robichaux | โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ / 5 stars –> First ARC of the month! Ever since I read Until Talon I’ve been hoping we got to read Cece’s story too, and it did not disappoint. The romance could be considered somewhat of a slow-burn despite the fact that it is insta-love (yeah, a weird combination). I do wish we had more about each family and the process of them coming together, but what we got was pretty good. Also, all the BTS content was intriguing. If you like stories about family and love based on support and strength, you might really like this one, but it’s not for everyone. [Purchase Book] [Goodreads]
โจ Until Blaze by Mayra Statham | โญ๏ธโญ๏ธ.8 / 5 stars –> ARC #2 of the month and I did not like it very much. I was going to give it 2.5 stars, but the end scene persuaded me to bump it up a little. Even though the very first part and the very end were great, the whole middle of it felt extremely underdeveloped. The romance wasn’t my favorite because it was even more rushed than usual (insta-love again, which we know that I usually like), and the final conflict kind of came out of nowhere. I don’t recommend it if you’ve never read a book from this world, and if you have, still it’s not very good. [Purchase Book] [Goodreads]
โจ Not My Romeo by Ilsa Madden Mils (Game Changers #1) | โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ / 5 stars –> Ilsa Madden Mils is a great romance author and I usually have a lot of fun with her books. I particularly wanted to read the second book of this series, but I decided to read them in order to avoid spoilers. The story was interesting and I looked forward to the sports aspect of it (sport romances are my weakness), but there was barely any in it. Still, that is something I can forgive. What annoyed me was how the main characters continued to run around in circles. For the entirety of the book they were in the same situation and nothing changed until the end. If this book had been shorter I wouldn’t have minded as much, but I was tired of it halfway through it. Anyway, it was good, but as I’m writing this I already read the second one and it is much better. [Purchase Book] [Goodreads]
Last month, I watched a lot of TV (I think even more so than usual). In total, I saw 12 movies, 2 stand-up comedy shows, 1 concert, and 5 seasons across 3 TV shows! Guys… What is wrong with me ๐๐??? I think this is a little too much, even for me. WHERE DO I FIND THE TIME TO WATCH ALL THESE??? I swear that I feel I spend most of my days reading and studying. I don’t even know how I manage to watch so much content in a month. And mind you, if I were to include all the YouTube videos I watch on the regular, you guys would think I don’t get anything done ๐ To not overwhelm you guys, I will be sharing my thoughts on six of these, but if you want to know anything about the ones listed below, please let me know!
๐ Happiest Season | โญ๏ธ 8.75 / 10 stars โญ๏ธ –> Is this a Christmas film and I still watched it during February? Indeed I did. And I had a blast with it. I don’t think it’s very well known, but it’s about a lesbian couple that go to one of their parent’s house for Christmas, but they don’t know that their daughter is gay, so they think her girlfriend is just a friend. This movie is such a ridiculous comedy, but it’s wonderful. Super fun, entertaining, and with a beautiful message. I had a blast, as I said earlier, and I think it might become an annual Christmas movie for me from now on.
๐ Rim of the World | โญ๏ธ 6.8 / 10 stars โญ๏ธ –> I didn’t even know this movie existed. It popped up one day as recommended in Netflix, and me and my mom figured it looked fun enough. This was a rollercoaster, and so much happened. Half of it didn’t make sense, but it’s a film that it’s meant to entertain for a few hours. We follow a group of kids who are the world’s last hope of salvation upon an alien invasion. If that doesn’t sound weird already, I really question your standards. But, I do recommend it. The kids were great and it did have a good message.
๐ To All the Boys: Always and Forever | โญ๏ธ 7.8 / 10 stars โญ๏ธ –> Of course I couldn’t recap everything I watched during February without mentioning Always and Forever, the last movie of the To All the Boys trilogy! I’ll be honest, even though I’m a huge fan of the books, I don’t like the adaptations very much. They’re good, but I think they’re a tad too serious. Still, this was a good last installment and it wrapped up the story nicely. It’s been a while since I read the book, so I can’t recall if it’s 100% accurate, but I do think they stuck to it enough (all the movies did, honestly). Lastly, my hate for Margo endures (LOVE the actress though), that character is on my blacklist always and forever โบ๏ธ
๐ Soul | โญ๏ธ 9 / 10 stars โญ๏ธ –> Pixar and Disney never fail to amaze me. Soul is such a different movie. Incredibly original and unlike anything they’ve done before. Although it is obviously appropriate and entertaining for children, the topics and themes throughout are so deep that a kid would never be able to grasp them or appreciate them as they should. This is definitely targeted towards more mature audiences, specially because the main character is a middle aged man. Honestly, give this a try. It’s a beautiful story that really makes you think about your spark and meaning in life.
๐ Jurassic Park 1, 2, & 3 and Jurassic World 1 &2 | โญ๏ธ 10 / 10 stars โญ๏ธ –> I binged watched all the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World movies during February! I had seen both the Jurassic World’s before, but it was my very first time watching Jurassic Park! Obviously, these are action/adventure classics, and very innovative. I already loved the concept and knew what they were about (duh), so I knew I would like them. I thought one and two were superb (definitely 10/10 stars each), but number two… Oh God. It was annoying, weirdly paced, and kinda boring. If I had known that, I would’ve just skipped it (though it’s a tiny bit important for the third one, but not necessary).
๐ Chilling Adventures of Sabrina โ Season 1 and 2 | โญ๏ธ 7 / 10 stars โญ๏ธ –> I started watching this show in January, and it’s enjoyable. Season 1 was kind of slow, and it took me a while to get through it, but season 2 is much better and it seems they caught their stride. There are many weird things in the show, and it can be a little disturbing to watch, but I think that’s part of what makes it so interesting. I will say that if you’re religious, you might want to research some of the topics and themes of the show beforehand because I’m certain that many people could be offended and uncomfortable watching it. This is a show about witches that follow and praise Satan. Keep that in mind before deciding to watch it.
Everything else I watched this month:
Next in Fashion || Are you the one? โ Season 1 and 2 || Taylor Swift โ The 1989 World Tour || Greenland || Best of Standup 2020 || Amy Schumer: Growing || A Cinderella Story (rewatch) || Bratz (rewatch)
Once again this month I was a horrible member of this community ๐คฆ๐ฝโโ๏ธ My classes are kicking my butt and it takes all of my concentration to keep up, so I’m so sorry that I haven’t been able to read all of your posts and answer all your comments. As always, I promise I will catch up. However, during the first few weeks of February I did read some posts, so I have some I want to highlight and share with you guys!
๐บ First of all, the amazing Naemi over at A Book Owl’s Corner reacted to some of her writing when she was a kid! It was adorable and so hilarious. I don’t think it was as bad as she thought, it just shows what a good and detailed author she is from a very young age (even if she did steal some ideas ๐ ). Honestly, go read it cause it was a wonderful post, like everything else she writes. If you’re not following her yet, I don’t know what you’re doing.
๐บ I think the Bridgerton fever is still going around, and I know that I’m still looking for books that resemble it to soothe my craving for regency novels. So, I was very happy when I saw that Jess made a list of 11 books to read after watching Bridgerton!! I’ve seen so many of these, but I think that hers (over at her blog Comfort Reads) was one of the best thus far.
๐บ I love love. I am an avid romance reader and it is my favorite genre EVER. Forever and ever. Because of that, I don’t really mind when books are steamy and explicit. HOWEVER, I know that many people don’t enjoy romance as much precisely because of these characteristics, so I want to share with you guys Alex’s list of Clean Romance Books you can read over at The Scribe Owl ๐ I haven’t read all of the books on it, but I’ve heard great things of all of them, so definitely head on there if you’re interested in exploring more of romance.
๐บ Sometimes when books are really popular, we question whether or not to read them. Books are often overhyped, so I think the fear of being let down is pretty common ๐ Although whether or not books are worth the hype is based on opinion and preference, I did agree with most of April’s thoughts on which books are worth it and which aren’t over at her blog Booked Till Midnight.
Again, I will catch up with everyone posts, and thank you for anyone that has tagged me, commented and liked my posts โบ๏ธ I’m so grateful and I appreciate you guys so much! I can’t wait to read all your amazing posts!
It’s a marathon, not a race.
This is something I’ve had to remember and repeat to myself several times throughout the past few months. When life gets stressful (which, honestly, it is almost all the time), we tend to get desperate and want to rush things. Because we feel pressured and overwhelmed, we tend to think that the best solution is to get it over with. Although this does work in many situations, most of the time it is not the best solution. Some things can’t and shouldn’t be rushed. But it’s hard to do, specially when we feel that others are doing better and moving forward, while we’re in a standstill.
It is then that we must remember that we’re in a marathon, not a race. Of course, there are opportunities that we need to seize, and we need to live day by day–enjoy what we’re doing and make sure we’re happy. Still, that doesn’t mean that if we push ourselves without any limits everything will be perfect. It might be the exact opposite.
Overall, I just want to remind all of you (and myself), that it’s ok to go slow and take your time. It’s ok to do things at your pace.
I hope you guys are having a nice month and let me know if you’ve read or watched any of these! Also, I would love to know what you’re all currently reading!!
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.
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Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.
Your article gave me a lot of inspiration, I hope you can explain your point of view in more detail, because I have some doubts, thank you.
Good luck wiwh sticking to your schedule. I can’t wait to finally find time to read (and buy) Instant Karma, I love the author and it sounds so good! Great wrap up!
Thanks Georgia!! My schedule isnโt going too wellโฆ ๐ ๐ฌ But at least itโs because of reasons beyond my control (or at least Iโll tell myself that ๐)
Iโm glad you liked the wrap-up and I hope you get to read Instant Karma soon!! ๐
I actually love the politicalness of that middle section of Fire, which is probably a big reason why I like that book more than Graceling ๐ And, of course, Brigan ๐๐ But I’m glad you enjoyed it, and I’m intrigued as to what your thoughts on Bitterblue will be! I’ve heard from a lot of romance fans that Graceling is their favorite, so I guess we’ll see if you also end up falling in that category ๐
And OMG, you watched Jurassic Park!!! ๐ฅฐ That movie is my favorite one of all time, so I’m happy to hear you liked it! Though I wasn’t blown away by any of the spin-offs – I felt like they were just a bunch of old plotlines being recycled over and over again ๐ And Soul was super cute, too, and yes, I agree that the To All the Boys books are so much better than the movies, though I did still enjoy the latter!
And thanks for the shout out โค It’s nice to hear your opinion of my past writing skills is so much more favorable than my own ๐๐๐
I havenโt had the chance to start reading Bitterblue yet, but it makes sense what you said about Graceling. Iโm too much of a romantic so thatโs probably why I prefer it so far ๐
Jurassic Park was so much cooler than I thought it would be ๐คฉ And yes, the plot lines are recycled throughout most of the spin-offs, but they were so much fun I didnโt even mind! Except the second oneโฆ ๐
Iโm glad you liked the post Naemi!! โบ๏ธ๐
Great wrap-up! Good luck with classes, I’ve had to do blog posts bit by bit too because I’ve been so busy as well! I’m dying to watch Soul and I’m so happy you enjoyed it! I thought TATBILB 3 was alright, entertaining but it felt quite slow near the end. I’m glad you enjoyed Instant Karma, that’s on my TBR!
I hope you have the chance to watch Soul soon!! Iโm glad you liked the post Sabrina โบ๏ธ
Aw, Iโm so glad you liked my post! Thank you for your kind words ๐ฅบโค๏ธ
thank you so much for sharing my post!! ooo i’m glad to hear you liked Instant Karma! i’ve been a bit hesitant to pick it up because i’ve heard mixed reviews, but i might need to go pick it up! lovely wrap up!
Thank you April!! I hope you do decide to pick it up โบ๏ธ