Oof. What to say. I last worked 74 days ago. Maybe I’ll go back in September? Starting to think I should pick up studying Japanese again, but that sounds like a lot of brain power… Let’s just get into the books round up.
Books Finished
- A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki
- Tigers, Not Daughters by Samantha Mabry
- One Half from the East by Nadia Hashimi
- In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire (reread)
- The Binding by Bridget Collins
- Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee
- The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan
- I Hope We Choose Love: A Trans Girl’s Notes from the End of the World by Kai Cheng Thom
- The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley
- The Deck of Omensby Christine Lynn Herman
- I’d Rather Be REading by Anne Bogel
- Shadow Weaver by MarcyKate Connolly
Books Reviewed
- With the Fire On High by Elizabeth Acevedo (YA contemporary)
- Three Dark Crowns series by Kendare Blake (YA fantasy)
- Indian No More by Charlene willing McManis with Traci Sorell (MG historical fiction)
- #RamadanReadathon reviews: One Half from the East by Nadia Hashimi, Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed (MG contemporary fiction), and The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali by SAbina Khan (YA contemporary fiction)
- J.R.R. Tolkien edited by Peter Hunt (academic non-fiction)
- The Binding by Bridget Collins (adult fantasy)
Posts Written
- Shared my experience reading fantasy with the “Get to Know the Fantasy Reader” tag
- Described five of my favourite fantasy books in five words in the “5 Star Fantasy Books in 5 Words” tag
- Participated in Top 10 Tuesday with the last 10 books I DNF’d
- Did a fantasy theme for “I Can’t Believe I Haven’t Read That Yet” #12
- Wrote my first big list: 35 Middle Grade Fantasy Faves, split into six categories
- Wrapped up Wyrd & Wonder by sharing the fantasy books I added to my TBR and all the new-to-me scifi/fantasy blogs I’m now following
Goals Check-In
- 13/12 posts written
- I noted in my April wrap-up that I think 10 posts/month might be most realistic for me. I was able to soar past that this month thanks to Wyrd & Wonder (I posted three times/week minus one day), but I might aim for 10 in June.
- 19/22 middle grade novels read (+3 since last update)
- 6/10 rereads (+1 since last update)
- 8/10+ books with queer MCs (+4 since last update)
- 3/10 graphic novels (no change since last update)
- It will probably be awhile before this changes, as I’m not keen on reading digital graphic novels
- 3/10 works by Indigenous writers (no change since last update)
- 1/7 books about/by Tolkien (no change since last update)
- 1/5 books with 500+ pages (no change since last update)
- 18/60 books on my TBR that I don’t own (+6 since last update)
Shared on Twitter – #BlackLivesMatter
I shared a lot on Twitter in May, but it’s small potatoes compared to the tweets from the last few days of the month. I’m using this section to amplify things that us white folks need to learn from and take action on. I know no one reads my blog for this kind of information. After all, I’m a white woman blogging about speculative fiction and children’s literature. But that seems to me the reason to post this. Maybe I will reach some of you who wouldn’t hear these things otherwise. Some tweets are specific to the American context. The last tweets offer actions specific to Canada.
On My Radar in June
- 2 June – Release date of A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow (YA fabulism, Black #ownvoices)
- 9 June – Release date of On These Magic Shores by Yamile S. Mendez (MG contemporary, Argentine-American #ownvoices)
- 30 June – Release date of Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (adult horror, Mexican #ownvoices)
How was your May? What new books, or bookish events, are you looking forward to this month?
Great post! Really great post! I am glad your May was so good for reading! I am looking forward to marching through my TBR and review requests this month, as well as some blog tours and the increasing commitment to the SPFBO.
Thanks very much! Sounds like you have a full June ahead of you – lots to enjoy 🙂
I’m glad you shared all the BLM tweets, and I’m glad people are talking about social injustice and racism. And I can hardly wait for Mexican Gothic!
Thank-you! I have been reflecting a lot on what my responsibility is when it comes to speaking up here/on Twitter, so I appreciate that.
At least you got a lot of reading done. Happy June!
I’m looking forward to reading my pre-ordered copy of A Song Below Water as well! Also, thank you for sharing all those BLM tweets. <3
It looks like a timely read! Plus, who doesn’t like sirens, haha. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
I am really looking forward to A Song Below Water. It sounds fantastic. I hope good things come your way this June.
Yes! I just heard of it a couple days before I wrote this post; I’m glad I did.
Very nice post with lots of valuable information in your shared tweets. I finished up my Believeathon readalon and am now working on reading some of my TBR reads and posts for books coming out in September. Mostly just reading lots and lots.
Thank-you! I learnt about the Believeathon while it was happening. I’m hoping I can participate next time it runs. It sounds like you are well-organized. I am just starting to read my July release ARCs this month.