October (AKA The Month of the Book Slump) Monthly Wrap-up

Better late than never. That’s what I always tell myself whenever I write something that should have been posted days (even weeks) before. It’s a trick to make myself feel less guilty, but it doesn’t always work.

October has been a hell of a month for me. Two of my colleagues quit, leaving our clinic understaffed. While we could ask reliever nurses to take on some of the work, they are not always available since they, themselves, also have their own full time jobs and they can only take vacant shifts if it falls on their days off. Because of this, I had to take on extra shifts just so the clinic won’t be unmanned.

It has been exhausting. Even with careful time management, work still ate away most of my time. I may sound ungrateful ranting away like I am doing now, but no amount of overtime pay will get me back those times – time I should have freely to spend time with my family, friends; time I should had have to do things I love.

As it is, reading was the first thing to be affected. Writing came next, then sleep. I went down on a book slump and struggled to finish the books I picked up. Still, I managed to read for books. You don’t know how happy I was to finally get to J.D. Robb’s newest, Leverage in Death. I sure put it off so much in favor of the newer books on my list. Then there’s Rebecca Barrow’s This is What it Feels Like, the book that rebooted my book slumping brain. I loved it! That one has got to be one of the best books I’ve read this year. (This is me pushing you to go pick the book and give it a try! And yes, I’m totally screaming!) That makes half of my October reading, but the other two books I read were also great and I encourage you to check them out.

Books I’ve Finished:

Leverage in Death (In Death #47) by J.D. Robb
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ 1/2

I haven’t yet written my review for this yet, but it was an okay installment. Take note, I rated this in comparison to its predecessors. The In Death series deserves a different rating system from me, because its length just demands it.

 

Broken Things by Lauren Oliver
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ // Review: “Broken Things” by Lauren Oliver

 

 

 

A Well-Behaved Woman: A Novel of the Vanderbilts by Therese Anne Fowler
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ // Review: “A Well-Behaved Woman: A Novel of the Vanderbilts” by Therese Anne Fowler

 

 

 

This is What it Feels Like by Rebecca Barrow
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ // Review: “This is What it Feels Like” by Rebecca Barrow

 

 

 

Books I’ve started:

🍂 Insurrecto by Gina Apostol

My TBR for November:

I only have a few books for this month (also for the next) since I wanted to have time to get to the books I skipped the past month. Also, I really need to tackle my backlist TBR pile.

I already started on Insurrecto last week and I’m about 39-40% into the book. I will read Outrun the Wind next since it’s releasing on the 27th. I missed Shadow of the Fox last month, so I’m going to try to get to it this month. Carve the Mark, meanwhile, has been on my TBR since its release last year, but the trauma Allegiant left on me made me wary. I’m going to get into it this month though so, yeah, let’s see.

Now for my monthly discovery…

Want to combine your love of reading with playing mobile games? Hey, I got a recommendation for you.

I’m totally addicted to this game! It’s like reading but you get to choose a bit of how the story goes. I’ve already finished several books and am playing several more all at the same time. It has everything a book lover wants – love Fantasy, try The Crown and The Flame, then there’s It Lives in the Woods for those brave souls who love the Horror genre. Of course, thee’s loads of Romance available. I personally love The Royal Romance and Red Carpet Diaries. Definitely, definitely recommend it!

Also, since Tumblr has is all abuzz about it, I decided to start on A Discovery of Witches. It’s based on Deborah Harkness’s The All Souls trilogy, and while I have yet to read the books, the show looks great.

If you decide to give it a whirl, go and hit me up. Let’s fangirl together!

Alright, that’s it for me for now. I’m gonna go back to reading and TV series bingeing and playing mobile games.