June 2018 Wrap-Up

I started this post yesterday and was all excited I would get my Monday post done on a Monday, but I got sleepy before I finished it and went to bed. Oh well.

Anyway, this month has been a month. End of the semester, beginning of the summer session, my birthday, a work conference. I mean, it’s been a lot. But I am here and it’s all good.

Not only am I grateful for my summer class for monetary reasons (I saved money for the summer but not enough apparently) but also for soul-feeding reasons. My students are GREAT. They love writing, they’re engaged, and they’re getting along well with each other. I am so glad I’m teaching creative writing in the fall as well because, whew, it is just such a bright spot to have an entire class of students who want to be there. It’s such a far cry from teaching the (required for gen ed) composition class, I can’t even tell you.

I have a watched a lot of movies the past two months. Perhaps I should sign up for Letterboxd (like Goodreads but for movies)? Is anybody else using it?

I don’t know how I’m doing on my goal of losing 4-8 pounds because I haven’t been to the gym in a couple of weeks, and that’s the only place I weigh myself. I’ll find out Thursday. (Fun fact: I missed going to the gym today because I put the wrong time for the class I take on my calendar. I’m just glad I figured it out before I actually left the house.)

My goals for July are to (1) finish revising this script so I can submit it and (2) to have my course prep for the fall finished so I can enjoy the few weeks I have off work in August.

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Last week, I posted:

• It’s Monday and my birthday is tomorrow
• Mission Akilah: 20 things to do before I turn 40
• Days 26, 27, 28 #BlackMusicMonth #30DayMusicChallenge
• Days 29 & 30 #BlackMusicMonth #30DayMusicChallenge

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I also finished some books:

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Good characters, good conflict. My only complaints are that the ending is a little too tidy and that there’s one scene between the mom, Xiomara, and the priest that I would have liked a little more of. Other than that, I dug it.

View all my reviews

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First, let me just say that the dresses in this book are stunning. Just…so gorgeous. I love them so much.

I liked the story, though I was a little surprised at how the romance went because, though I expected it, I still didn’t expect it. Some of this is me putting my hopes for a spin on a narrative on an author who didn’t sign up for them, but that’s where I am. I did love that Sebastian was so loved by the people around him, though, and I think that’s important.

Overall, a fast and engaging read with really lovely artwork.

Read Harder 2018, Task 8: A comic written or illustrated by a person of color

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Princeless: Raven the Pirate Princess Book 3: Two Boys, Five Girls, and Three Love Stories by Jeremy Whitley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh yes, I liked this much better than the last one. Clearer drawings, less obnoxious storylines. (I love stories within stories.) Plus, the socio-political commentary was back! Raven got popped but good for touching someone without permission, and there’s a whole discussion on the use of “thug.” I approve.

Also, this book is super gay if you’re into that. Crushes are straight up acknowledged, so.

View all my reviews

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That brings my total books read for June to five (I finished Raven yesterday, so that’s a July book):

• The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang (YA, graphic novel)
• The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo (YA)
• Sunny Side Up by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm (middle grade, graphic novel)
• Brave by Svetlana Chmakova (middle grade, graphic novel)
• Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares (adult)

I’m still mad about the beginning of Sisterhood Everlasting, so this reading month definitely ended stronger than it started.

Oh, and last month I said I hadn’t made any progress toward any of my challenges, but I was wrong! Boy, Snow, Bird counted toward my Read Harder challenge: Task 24, An assigned book you hated (or never finished). If you read a book club book that you don’t like, may I suggest using it for that category? Perfect.

And, of course, The Prince and the Dressmaker goes with task 8: A comic written or illustrated by a person of color.

That means I’m halfway done with the challenge. The categories left are also the hardest ones. Bah.

Sisterhood Everlasting is on my #MustReadin2018 list, which brings that total up to 13. Only 7 more to go.

I’m back on track for Goodreads, which is pretty astounding considering I still have zero interest in audiobooks right now and have been reading graphic novels in the hopes of getting my reading mojo back. Summer is always slow going for me, though, so it’s not surprising. I still hate the summer slump every time.