May is always one of the busiest months at work. Between graduation and reunion, it’s just non-stop, but thankfully we’re moving into the quiet months of the summer and I’ll hopefully be able to catch up on blogging and other personal projects!
The major plus side of my job and reunion is I get to do fun things like go on a duck tour, to the right, visit museums and hang out—with alumni at restaurants around the city where they force you to eat food and hang out far longer than you need to, but it’s completely worth it! Add in that we had an awesome turn out for the young alumni event and I’m a happy camper. Now we’ll spend the summer planning our two big events in the fall and then we’ll keep moving forward!
Some how on top of this I knocked three things off my 30×30 list: Star Wars Marathon, Live Comedy Show and Eat Sushi. I’m also really excited to get back on a normal schedule. My body isn’t very happy with me at the moment and I’m sore because I let myself get too lazy and haven’t kept up the gym or running. I’m ready to get back to both!
Books and Bookish
I reigned in my galley requests this month and only checked out two library books, both for book group. So go me! Total I read two library books, two galleys, a borrowed book and two books from my TBR pile. I really need to make more progress on my TBR pile, but things keep getting in the way, but I’m loving what I’m reading that’s for sure!
There were three great things this month, of many, that I want to touch on quickly. The first, is that Kay Redfield Jamison posted my review of her book An Unquiet Mind, with her Facebook followers and it got over 300 likes and 100 shares and sent a lot of traffic to my blog! The second and third are below:
On the left, I found out I won some sweet book swag all the way from Austria as part of Birgit’s return to blogging at The Book Garden. I LOVE the stickers and bookmarks! I took a couple to work and need to add them to my bulletin board, but as you can se above, the past few weeks have been really busy! And on the right, my aunt sent me that text after I posted on my other blog (Now Entering Adulthood) and she mentioned this blog too! It’s always nice to hear from people who read your blog(s) that you know even if it is embarrassing as hell!
Recent Acquisitions
Even though I didn’t request any galleys this month, I did end up buying six books. In my defense, it was the bi-annual Friends of the Somerville Public Library book sale and I of course picked up a few books, most of which are on my Classics Club list:
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings – Maya Angelou
- The Woman in White – Wilkie Collins
- The Eyre Affair (Thursday Next #1) – Jasper Fforde
- The Bluest Eye – Toni Morrison
- The Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck
In addition, I grabbed the third book, Endymion, in Simmons’ Hyperion Cantos while picking up a travel guide for my sister. I bought this as I finished up the first book and realized how AMAZING it was. I’m a little hesitant as there was a five-year break between the two sets and I’ve heard these two aren’t as great, but I loved Simmons writing and can’t wait to see what he does almost 300 years in the future! My response to The Fall of Hyperion, the second in the Hyperion Cantos, will post later this week.
What’s Next?
I’m looking forward to moving into my TBR piles seriously and have to get a start on The Grapes of Wrath and The Lord of the Rings trilogy for my 30×30 list, but other than that I don’t have much planned. My fourth year blogging anniversary is next month and I need to start planning for that (as if I haven’t been for ages)! Have a great June everyone.
Sounds like a good month! I’m planning to do a Lord of the Rings marathon at some point but I’m worried it might be one of those things that is a better idea in theory than it is in practice.
Yeah I know there’s a group that does it every year. I’ve steered clear so far.
Sounds like May was a busy but good month for you. Happy reading in June 🙂
It was and I’m glad to see the end of it, if only so I can take a break! Thanks, you too.
I love every book you picked up at the book sale. I hope you love them, too. If you don’t, don’t tell me about it. Hahaha! I’m kidding, I’m kidding! (Maybe?)
Most if not all I know I will enjoy, not so sure about Steinbeck though. I’ve tried East of Eden before, but I think I was too young.
Oh man May was so busy wasn’t it? Sounds like you had a great one though! And hey–if you are going to buy books you may as well buy good ones! The Eyre Affair is great–hope you like it! 🙂
It was a ridiculously busy month and I’m definitely looking forward to The Eyre Affair.