My Reading Week #IMWAYR- October 3, 2022 / My September Recap

Thanks to Unleashing Readers and Teach Mentor Texts for this meme!

It’s sometimes hard to imagine we just finished up September.

I managed to take an overnight trip to Seattle to visit some bookstores and libraries, bridges, and a labyrinth.

In Portland, I’ve been playing tourist and visited the Lan Su Chinese Garden, where I spent a  very relaxing afternoon.

I also visited a fun pop-up art installation called DinoLandia.

An aunt and uncle from Las Vegas came to visit and we went to Multnomah Falls.

At the bookstore, we’ve been having some in-person story times again- including a Drag Queen Story Time. Luckily, there weren’t any people out to ruin the fun.

I also watched a staged production of Tick, Tick… Boom which was great. I also just watched Fire Island on Hulu which I also enjoyed. Another fun thing I completed recently was a mobile phone game based on an Agatha Christie story.

I’ve dusted off my manuscripts again to start looking for agents again.

I’ve been in a reading slump. I don’t think I read as many books in September as I’ve done in other months. I definitely haven’t been reviewing so this post will be even more bare than usual.

So far in 2022, I’ve read 413 books.

The breakdown is:
12- Adult novels
6- Adult non-fiction
37- Graphic novels
59- Middle Grade novels (Goal: 52)
287- Picture Books and Board Books
12- Young Adult novels

of which
120- Nonfiction Picture Books (Goal: 104)
40- Audio Books
24- Books by Filipino Authors and/or Illustrators
71- Books by LGBTQ+ Authors and/or Illustrators

Magnolia Flower by Zora Neale Hurston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A stunning and beautiful love story adapted from a Zora Neale Hurston short story.

View all my reviews Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Absolutely stunning
starting with the book itself
as a physical object
the feel of the dustjacket
and the surprise art underneath
even the smell of the pages
And then there’s the story
of the children
of the family
of the house
of the story, of the book
stories within stories
And the illustrations
and the so many details
to delight one’s eye
if one just takes the time
to look, to see
until another thing
makes itself seen.

View all my reviews Hummingbird by Natalie Lloyd
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It’s been awhile since I’ve read any of Natalie Lloyd’s novels even though A Snicker of Magic is one of my 52 favorite books of all time. I really didn’t think I’d like Hummingbird because I admit I’ve grown quite cynical over the years but it was the perfect book to remind me there are (still) whimsy and wonder in the world- and in words. And I loved that I listened to the audiobook version since Natalie Lloyd did an outstanding job narrating it. So, if you want a feel good and uplifting story, look no further.

View all my reviews Other Ever Afters: New Queer Fairy Tales by Melanie Gillman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

For any reader who’ve ever loved fairy tales but never got a chance to see a happily ever after for them in those stories, this graphic novel collection is a perfect magical object to do just that.

View all my reviews Private Label by Kelly Yang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kelly Yang doesn’t disappoint with her sophomore YA offering full of humor and heart.

View all my reviews A Career in Books: A Novel about Friends, Money, and the Occasional Duck Bun by Kate Gavino
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One of my favorite books of the year!

I just happened to run across this graphic novel on the shelves and, of course, I was intrigued by the title. And, then, even more so, when I realized it was written by a Filipino author and featured a couple of Filipino characters- one of whom was a lesbian.

This follows three friends in their twenties trying to find meaning and purpose in their various jobs within the book world. I enjoyed seeing how they navigated the ups and downs of life. It was also refreshing that it focused on their friendship and didn’t have (too much) of a relationship subplot.

View all my reviews

I had been trying The StoryGraph for the first half of this year to avoid the Amazon-owned Goodreads. Unfortunately, it didn’t provide the convenience Goodreads offered so I’m back using Goodreads.

You can view all my reviews over on Goodreads.

Thanks for visiting my blog. Happy Reading!

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