January 2020 || Monthly Wrap Up

Hello beautiful people!

So … I did a thing … where I posted this and hadn’t finished it whatsoever … for those of you who caught that … I appreciate it … *hides in embarrassment*

Moving on! Honestly … I don’t like wishing time away … BUT THANK GOSH JANUARY has finished! I did a lot of fun things in January … BUT IT WAS SO GLOOMY! We actually hit a new record for lack of sunshine during the month of January … so if that doesn’t say something, I don’t know what will.

Books I Read

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Book Reviews

Light Filters In: Poems by Caroline Kaufman

Rating: 

Brief Thoughts: “In Light Filters In, Caroline Kaufman—known as @poeticpoison—does what she does best: reflects our own experiences back at us and makes us feel less alone, one exquisite and insightful piece at a time. She writes about giving up too much of yourself to someone else, not fitting in, endlessly Googling “how to be happy,” and ultimately figuring out who you are.”

Her Royal Highness (Book #2) by Rachel Hawkins

Rating: 

Brief Thoughts: “Millie Quint is devastated when she discovers that her sort-of-best friend/sort-of-girlfriend has been kissing someone else. And because Millie cannot stand the thought of confronting her ex every day, she decides to apply for scholarships to boarding schools . . . the farther from Houston the better […]“

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Favourite Posts of the Month

There were so many lovely posts this month! It was nice to see a few people return after the holidays were over, getting to read their lovely posts once again!

Whimsy Pages || Caraval (Caraval #1) by Stephanie Garber | Surprisingly, it’s not a bad book!

Sweaters & Raindrops || Entry 73: Red, White & Royal Blue

Drizzle & Hurricane Books || Review: Layoverland, Gabby Noone

Inside My Library Mind || 90s Radio Show, a Play-Pretend Game & All the Feels: Lucky Caller by Emma Mills

BookBum || Review: The Long Hard Road Out of Hell by Marilyn Manson & Neil Strauss

Truffle’s Literary Wonders || Loveboat, Taipei Book Review

The Paperback Piano || ‘The Ten Thousand Doors of January’ Buddy Read Discussion!

Narrative Paradise || BUDDY READ: Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

A Book. A Thought. || ARC Review || Tweet Cute by Emma Lord

Chapters of May || The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern | Review

Purely Olivia || How I Blog Without Spending Any Money! // Free Resources That Helped Me & My Experience

Kristin Kraves Books || Bookish Discoveries I Made in 2019

The Tea Reader || Book Review: Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

Ordinary Worlds || The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Maggie B. Reads || The Starless Sea– Erin Morgenstern

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Goodreads Reading Challenge

So … I was right … it’s a REALLY good idea that I lowered my reading goal to 40 ha-ha! So far, I’m BASICALLY on schedule. I’m almost done one book though already and know I’ll speed through two others, so hopefully I’ll catch up in February!

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Bookmark Your Thoughts Blog Updates

Well … there isn’t much ha-ha! I posted quite a bit in January, but my reading has already fallen behind — making me REALLY glad I lowered my reading goal this year.

Yeah … that’ about it! You will start to see some discussion and book recommendation posts in February, so I hope you all enjoy that!

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Personal Life Updates

One of the reasons why I lowered my reading goal this year is FRENCH TRAINING! That’s right, my work has approved for me to begin French Training. But I have to realize I’m not going to be fluent overnight.

I also saw 1917 in theatres, which was absolutely amazing (I cried … a lot). Honestly though, there’s quite the mixed reviews out there — especially pertaining to the way the video was done. But I loved how the film didn’t showboat war, showing the raw and real nature of it. And the video style made audiences very unaware of what’s to come next, which I enjoyed. If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend it (bring Kleenex though).

I have some fun things coming in February, but you’ll just have to wait and see!

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