May is over.
I worked a bunch and survived the May Day protests.
Lots of OTHER things happened, only some of them cheese-related.
General updates:
- My partner came home early! Hooray! (She left at the beginning of April and had planned to return in mid-July. I am much happier with the new plan.)
- I shaved my head. It’s buzzcut season.
- Visited Portland, Oregon with my mom during Star Wars weekend (May 4-5)
- Cleaned UP at Powell’s – most store credit ever accrued during a single visit
- Learned to make vegan mac and cheese (Verdict: new favorite comfort food)
- Had brunch with my parents and partner. My dad made vegan pancakes. It was lit.
- Went to Star Wars Night at T-Mobile Park. I don’t care if it was a cash grab – the game was great, the food was awesome, and the fireworks show was magical.
- Became a baseball fan…? Results pending.
Oh, you came here to read about books.
Well, all right.
Proudest Purchase: These Witches Don’t Burn
I preordered a copy of this gem early on.
It FINALLY arrived ON May 31st.
I went on a JOURNEY with this book.
Twists on twists on twists.
It set up a sequel, which I normally hate, and I WASN’T EVEN MAD.
Also, I love Gemma. Team Gemma.
Most Confusing Plot: Dead Queens Club
Dead Queens Club started out great.
Unfortunately, the rest of the book didn’t live up to the killer intro.
I found following the plot of Dead Queens Club almost impossible.
I felt like I needed a history degree for the plot to make sense.
Biggest Letdown: Hot Dog Girl
This book got SO MUCH HYPE. It keeps getting TONS OF FIVE-STAR REVIEWS.
For a first book, it’s fine, but I definitely didn’t love it.
This is a story YA readers have already read a thousand times.
I thought it would be something special. To me, it was more of the same.
I can understand why this is a good thing. Bi characters get typical YA love stories! Praise be!
I just expected a little something more.
Main criticism: not enough hot dogs.
IF A VEGAN CALLS FOR MORE HOT DOGS, YOU HAVE UNDERUSED YOUR MEAT PRODUCTS.
Dark Horse Favorite: How to Be Alone
I can not recommend this book enough.
Please, if you have a spare moment, read this book.
Fastest DNF: Trust Exercise
I made it to page 6.
I couldn’t stand the writing style.
In an act of self-care, I put the book down and started something else.
Favorite Graphic Novel: Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me
I had previously boycotted this book for…reasons.
(Nothing serious; I wasn’t interested in reading about toxic relationships.)
I violated my boycott after learning this book was actually a graphic novel.
The TWISTS! The TURNS!
It was so good!
Latest Impulse Buy: Denton Little’s Deathdate
This book looked like a tongue-in-cheek prom novel with…skeletons?
Mine now.
Newest Author Obsession: Amy Rose Capetta
To be fair, I’ve only read one of her books (and LOVED it.)
I have two of her more recent books on my TBR stack.
Watch me read her entire bibliography.
Most Painful Read: Maybe in Another Life
I cannot explain to you the depths with which I hated this novel.
I tried hate-reading it to the very end. I did not last.
There are character quirks and then there are CHARACTER QUIRKS.
In short: I never want to read about cinnamon rolls ever again.
I was shocked by how heavy-handed the writing was in this cinnamon roll-infested romance.
FATE IS A FUNNY THING. I GET IT.
Most Infuriating Read: Women Talking
CW: rape and explicit language
Know what’s fucked?
Community members drugging and raping women, blaming the devil, and protecting the perpetrators.
OH, YOU MEAN THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN A MENNONITE COMMUNITY IN SOUTH AMERICA?
In this story, the rapists broke an old woman’s teeth, impregnated an “old maid” (now considered unmarriageable), and gave a painful STI to a THREE-YEAR-OLD.
Let me remind you, this was BASED ON A TRUE STORY.
Fuck everything and everyone.
New rule for religious men: STOP PROTECTING RAPISTS.
Should I end this post on a happier note?
Perhaps?
Nah.
Summer is here.
May you read some books that make you happy and others that get you good and mad.
1 thought on “May Highs and Lows”