Monthly Rewind: May 2024 (long time no see…)

Uh, hi? Long time no see. It has been almost 7 months since my last blog post, and it feels so weird to be writing again. But I’m SO excited to return to blogging now that I feel like I’m in a better headspace to do so. So where have I been? If you remember from my previous posts, I was unemployed from September 2022 onwards. Since then, I have been actively job searching for roles both in publishing and in my hometown, where the roles I was applying for were mainly admin-based. To have such a long span of unemployment and face constant rejection from SO many jobs was extremely demotivating. Blogging has always been a hobby, and while job-searching, I found it extremely difficult to even finish a book because that looming fear of the job-searching process was always in the back of my mind, which led to me abandoning this site.

But that didn’t mean I disappeared off the internet. Musk might have basically made Twitter close to unusable for me, but most days you’ll find me on Twitch. I started streaming when I left my previous job as a way to improve my public speaking and it has become such a great creative output for me. I’ve improved a lot in terms of art because of Twitch and I even designed two V-tube models as a result of it. If you’re a fan of games like Genshin Impact, Phasmophobia and Elden Ring. Come hang out on Twitch while I play games badly and talk about my current reads.

May was the first MCM Comic Con for the year here in the UK and I had an absolute BLAST. Sadly, no cosplay this time but I do want to cosplay Stelle from Honkai: Star Rail for October. I had the chance to meet Sean Chiplock who voices some of my favourite characters including Revali from BOTW and Diluc from Genshin Impact. And there was a great talk with some of the voice actors from Baldur’s Gate 3, mainly the Tavs and other characters. (Sorry not sorry to everyone who watched me on Twitch go through the bear scene live – you all enjoyed it really.)

Before I go on a tangent about Baldur’s Gate3, I can now announce after a long, long job searching period, I now have a job! (in publishing!) I am currently working in an assistant role for bibliographic metadata! Metadata has always been one of those things that I thought I knew what it was but it wasn’t until I came across this job listing that there was a whole lot more than I ever imagined. I’m really enjoying my time so far in the role. I knew this was an industry I wanted to work in since I was 16 years old, so it’s safe to say it’s been a long time coming. You would think with a full-time job, it would be difficult to get back into reading but I found it so easy to return to my TBR. (I am utilising those 2-hour commute times to the fullest.) And with that, we can finally get to the monthly wrap-up, as I managed to read nine books this month. Reviews are to come for most of these titles.

B O O K S

• Palestine — A graphic novel documenting Sacco’s time in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the early 1990s. The most devastating part of this was reading about his trip to Al-Shifa Hospital, knowing how it was recently just destroyed in April.
• They Called Me a Lioness — Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi’s memoir about her life under occupation and gaining international recognition as a teenager in 2017 after a video of her slapping an Israeli soldier went viral on social media. Ahed’s determination for her people is incredibly brave and inspiring. May we one day see a free Palestine, and may we never forget the works of people like Ahed, who continuously fight against occupation.
• The Trees Grew Because I Bled There — I actually requested this on NetGalley last year; however, I somehow missed the notification from the site that I was accepted, so this one accidentally flew under my radar until I noticed the section on the website for books that I hadn’t downloaded yet but had already been archived. Creepy collection of stories. Great selection. But oh my God, “You’re not supposed to be here.” creeped me out so bad I had to put my Kindle down.
• Network Effect—If Murderbot has no fans, then I am dead. This series is way too good. Full review to come.
• I Who Have Never Known Men — I picked this one up from work. Perks of working in a publishing house, they really do have books everywhere. A tiny, disquieting book. A classic example of the dystopia genre before it really had its name.
• The Stardust Thief—I actually requested this back in 2022, and for the longest time, I really struggled to start this book. The premise was right up my alley, but the first few chapters were a struggle to read, so I found myself having to keep restarting the book. Later, I realized it was simply unemployment stress ruining the reading experience because this was SO much fun.
• Systemic – How Racism Is Making Us Sick — Well-written research on the correlation between race and health. However, the book suffers from a noticeable lack of coherence, likely due to some of the chapters’ origins beginning as part of the author’s previously published articles. Each chapter feels like an isolated piece, and I would’ve preferred more work on the editing to make a more unified body of work.
• Reboot — Groundhog Day meets I Am Legend. David Rusk thinks he is the last person on earth experiencing the same day over and over, facing Lovecraftian-style monsters which have appeared once everyone else has left. Thought the story was great. However, the ending and reasoning behind the loop weren’t the strongest, which left me a bit disappointed. The found family in this story, though? Chef’s kiss.
• System Collapse — Finally caught up on all the Murderbot releases. While I thought this was the weakest plot-wise, as a direct sequel to Network Effect, Murderbot is still one of my favourite series to date.

A R T

The best part about streaming is making a new community of the best, most unhinged people ever. They all call me a nerd (lovingly) for reading so I know for a fact none of them are reading this right now. 👀 I’ve drawn a lot of art since November but I want to focus on what I’ve recently started on my Discord which is where people can request for me to draw characters they choose! I drew these in the style of Ruan Mei’s Creations (from Honkai: Star Rail) or Celeste. Two games I adore!

That’s it for this month! Tell me what went on in YOUR life this month! What sort of things was important for you this month? New obsessions? New TV shows? Or book? Any new song recs (I’m always open to new music!)? Best books you read this month?