March Recap || Rocking the Introvert Life

Posted March 30, 2020 by Sammie in chat with me, monthly recap / 14 Comments

Instead of being Fashionably Late, I decided to try being Slightly Early for a change, just to see how I like it.

I’ve got to say, it feels kind of weird. What is this strange sensation? Productivity? Being on time? *shudders* It feels dirty.

I decided to do this early because, first, what is one day in the grand scheme of things? And second … this month has been a year and I’m ready to just stick a fork in it and call it done, okay? Time for April. We’re moving on here, folks. So here’s what my month looked like:

✦ I know in light of COVID-19, a lot of people are staying home, but for this household, it’s mostly business as usual. We’ve cut our trips to the store and stay home as much as possible, but all three adults living here are still working like normal, and gosh is that a bummer. Where’s my two-week, read-at-home staycation?! I’ve been cheated, I tell you. Swindled! Bamboozled!

✦ My 88-year-old grandfather has officially self-quarantined, sent a hog to the butcher, and is getting ready to plant a garden. Sooo … you can tell he’s been through some things in his life, because he is ready. I’d be more impressed if I didn’t already know who was going to get voluntold to help with the garden. (Hint: it’s me.)

✦ Minion is out of school until April 20th, and she was so excited, the poor, naive soul. Then she realized that out of school just meant that Mommy had to teach her, and Mommy isn’t nearly as fun or as cool as she originally thought, because Mommy makes her learn. *gasp* The nerve of some people, not letting their offspring take a month and a half long vacation from school.

✦ I’ve learned that I cannot handle power, not even slightly, and I would be a very easily corruptible overlord. You know, just for future reference, just in case. Because I get a lot of approvals now with my position in the library, and that’s obviously a good thing … but wow do I also request a lot of books and where does past me think I’m getting this kind of time?! On the flip side … looking at me swimming in all these digital books that I absolutely cannot wait to share with you guys and throw recommendations at you, because my not-so-secret overlord plans are to grow everyone’s TBRs into vicious monsters who rise up and consume their maker. It’s a lofty goal, I admit, but I’m committed, darn it.

✦ If my comment responses and/or blog hopping is slow or sometimes non-existent … please forgive me. I know not what I do. Which, in general, is true 94.59% of the time anyway. But especially now. Unlike a lot of people, thanks to COVID, I’m even more busy than I was, which … I didn’t think was possible? Or rather, hoped it wasn’t possible. Since I’m still working my normal hours and now homeschooling a child and taking care of a self-quarantined 88-year-old with dementia, so … it’s been a blast. So if you start seeing my interactions lag a little … I haven’t forgotten you, my lovelies! I still love and miss all your faces and am probably totally stalking you on Twitter or Instagram. I just … don’t always have the time these days.

And without further ado … let’s get to the books!



#AmReading Update
Books Read This Month: 18

The Future King     The Super Life of Ben Braver     Ben Braver and the Incredible Exploding Kid     Ben Braver and the Vortex of Doom     Magic Unleashed     If We Were Giants     Witches of Ash and Ruin     A smuggler's Path     The House in the Cerulean Sea     A Noble's Path     Riot Baby     The Fox & the Little Tanuki, Vol. 1     The Accursed Inheritance of Henrietta Achilles: Book 1     The Count of Monte Cristo: Manga Classics     The Last Human     Cursed     The Empress of Salt and Fortune     Wicked Saints


Click titles for my review.



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Top Ten Tuesday


WWW Wednesday


First Line Friday






Blogger Post Love
Here are some great posts this month from other bloggers:

✦ Marie @ Drizzle and Hurricane Books talks about the little things that annoy her about books, even though she loves them (and I think we can all relate!).

✦ BreeAnn @ She Just Loves Books gives us a really great three-part series of how to get ARCs, and I highly recommend checking out the whole thing: Part I || Part II || Part III

✦ Annemieke @ A Dance With Books has a Murderbot read-along in the lead-up to the first full-length Murderbot book!

✦ Crystal @ Lost in Storyland talks about multiple POVs and whether they work in books or not.

✦ Briana and Krysta @ Pages Unbound are having a whole series of Tolkien-related posts, including a flow chart to determine which Tolkien book you should read.

✦ Nicole @ BookWyrmKnits, in honor of National Poetry Month in April, will be highlighting one poem a day, so if poetry is your thing or you’ve been wanting to find new poets, check out her blog at BookWyrmKnits and stay tuned.





Twitter Fun
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Instagram Fun
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“If you do not find yourself a galaxy, it is not so bad to find yourself a star.” . QotD: What series are you looking forward to continuing (or starting) this year? . HARROW THE NINTH is number one on my list because OMG. *screams into the void* But there are so many others. I’m woefully behind on my series. Listen, buying books, I’m good at. A professional, even. But the follow-through? Yeesh. Could use some work. . AURORA BURNING … have you *seen* that cover? It’s gorgeous. I need it. And all the little middle grade series have come so highly recommended that I just went ahead and bought them, and if I love them, they’ll go to my library. I’ll probably love them. It’s been a good year so far for mid-grade reads. . Know a series I should pick up? Drop it in the comments. I’m always looking for recommendations! . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookworm #booknerd #bookaholic #bookblogger #readersofinstagram #booksofinstagram #instabooks #igreads #booksbooksbooks #booksofig #bibliophile #bookish #bookishlife #allthebooksmarch20

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Hit me with all your favorite sci-fi reads! . I’ve historically avoided sci-fi like the plague, because I just didn’t get it. Aliens? Spaceships? Different planets? Ugh. The only part of sci-fi I LOVE? Dystopia. Go figure, right? Who would’ve thought I’d love to see the world burn. I’m sure y’all are tired of me shouting about ARC OF A SCYTHE by now, so I went a different route (but also … have you read it yet?). . So, last year, I read ILLUMINAE and just absolutely fell in love. Hard. Then GIDEON THE NINTH. And this year? Murderbot is my jam. Maybe I don’t dislike sci-fi as much as I thought. Maybe I just hadn’t found my niche. This year, I plan on reading much more sci-fi, starting with AURORA RISING and SKYWARD. Because what better way to dive deeper into a genre with two authors you know and love? . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookworm #booknerd #bookaholic #bookblogger #readersofinstagram #booksofinstagram #instabooks #igreads #booksbooksbooks #booksofig #bibliophile #bookish #bookishlife #allthebooksmarch20

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A friendly reminder that public libraries are a great place to stock up on books to wait out this illness. What better way to spend quarantine than working your way through several worlds, slaying dragons, taking on gods, learning new spells, and falling in love? . For a bonus challenge: reach for some horror! There’s a 18.2% chance the virus will be too scared to approach you!* You can check don’t leave your house and don’t sleep off your list. Nailing it! Plus, if the plague fails to find you, you still have the benefit of being a zombie! No brain consumption required! . *This is 100% not medically sound advice. . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookworm #booknerd #bookaholic #bookblogger #readersofinstagram #booksofinstagram #instabooks #igreads #booksbooksbooks #booksofig #bibliophile #bookish #bookishlife #allthebooksmarch20 #librarylove #library #publiclibrary

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Chat With Me

How are you all coping, lovelies? Staying safe in light of everything? Getting a jump on that TBR? Tell me about your March.

14 responses to “March Recap || Rocking the Introvert Life”

    • Sammie

      I mean, I’m super lucky in that I’m not alone. 🙂 My brother-in-law and husband have picked up more of the cleaning and cooking so I can devote more time to the homeschooling. 😉 It helps to have other adults around.

      Reply
  5. Kyles

    I’m hearing you…definitely busier than ever…with all the extra demands of children, the food prepping and my new insane(r) cleaning schedule since I’m still physically going out to work and coming into close contact with people all day long. It’s exhausting, anxiety inducing and completely disrupting all of my blogging and reading plans. Hopefully it will all get better soon …or we’ll all wake up and realise it was just a crazy a*sed dream.

    Take good care of yourself and your peeps! And happy reading and blogging whenever you can 🙂

    Reply
  7. jessicabookworm

    Sammie, you are a wonder woman to working, homeschooling, being carer and still managed to read that many books! My reading has increased a little over March – the school I work out closed 2 and half weeks ago, but I feel rather guilty reading when I feel I should be checking my emails again and finding resources for when we finally re-open. I think in April I need to go easier on myself! 😏

    I hope you and your family keep safe, happy and healthy, oh and happy reading of course! 😃

    Reply
    • Sammie

      Oh, I don’t know about that. I have some pretty good sidekicks. 😉 Couldn’t do it without them.

      Pffft, you do enough on a normal basis, I’m sure. Everyone working at a school does. Enjoy the time while you’ve got it. 😉 You’ve more than earned it.

      Hope you stay safe, too! Enjoy your reading.

      Reply

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