What I ReadI read a total of 19 books this month, which I honestly think is a record for me. Nine of them were audiobooks, which I noted with an asterisk. Many of them were assigned reading for grad school coursework, which I did not enjoy as much as my leisure reads. (You can probably pick them out because they are considered “American classics”.) Four of them are on the Modern Mrs. Darcy summer reading list, one of which I did not enjoy. Five of them were my favorites for the month, and they are in bold.
What I LovedThe Ringer’s Binge Mode Podcast Going through all 60 episodes of Game of Thrones in order to prepare for the premier, I loved recounting one of my favorite tv shows with some pretty knowledgeable hosts. If you forget what happened in the earlier episodes, this is a great way to review. They even give important context from the books and the show so you know why specific moments are important in the grand scheme of the story. The episodes are shorter than the shows, so this is a fun one to listen to while you’re working out, folding laundry, or driving around. They were great to listen to as I prepped for a Game of Thrones watch party. (Themed foods including Hodoritos, Sandsnake Vanilla Dirt Pudding, Chicken Little Fingers, and homemade dragon egg sugar cookies, decorations, and a soundtrack to boot.) Yogurt Covered Pretzels I don’t know why, but I absolutely devoured these by the handful this month. They’re the perfect combination of salty and sweet. Just enough to satisfy my ever-present sweet tooth. I picked them up as an impulse buy at my local Fresh Thyme, and they are the best yogurt covered pretzels I’ve ever had. Minor League Baseball Indianapolis isn’t large enough for a major league team, but that’s a-okay with me because that means the tickets are cheap and it’s just as fun! I went to two games this month, once with my boyfriend and once with Purdue Young Alumni, and each one was a blast. The Indianapolis Indians sure know how to show a girl a good time! Social Media For several reasons, social media was a lifesaver for me this month. I was able to help my grandfather, fondly known as Papoo, celebrate his 90th birthday with friends and family near and far. I connected with all of you on Instagram and Facebook. I’ve never been able to have so many lovely conversations about books before, and I owe it all to you. Thank you. Personality Inventories Thanks to Anne Bogel’s soon-to-be-released book Reading People, I rediscovered how much I enjoyed diving deep into my own personality based on several commonly used inventories. I reevaluated my Myers-Briggs type, learned I am a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), and found out I’m more like Anne from Anne of Green Gables than I am like Charlie Brown. I’m still reading this one, but I can’t wait to share my thoughts with you on it. It's one I'm going to refer to constantly and you know I'll have a review for you once I'm finished! You can pre-order Anne’s book now and you’ll receive A TON of great bookish goodies with it. Check it out at ReadingPeopleBook.com. What I Learned Was Not For MeHumidity Nothing is worse than 90 degree heat on top of 90% humidity. I couldn’t sit out on my porch and read on those days, which made me especially sad. LaCroix I tried the hottest beverage on the market, thinking that if I can't enjoy a nice caffeinated beverage anymore then I could at least drink this. I quickly that I didn't like the taste and it gave me headaches. My roommate benefited though, because she found a calorie free way to keep her sweet tooth in check. South Park I tried to watch three episodes specifically tailored to Game of Thrones fans. Well, I succeeded because I did watch them, but I did not enjoy it. It will never be my taste, regardless of the topic. Puccini’s Pizza I used to love Puccini’s, but I haven’t had it for years. It was good, but my poor sensitive stomach was not into it. I’ll spare you the details. Some Must-Read Books of the Summer Just because it is on a “must read” list does not mean I have to read it. I repeat, I do not HAVE to read a book just because it is on a list. Moreover, I don’t have to feel guilty for not enjoying a book that many other people can’t stop raving about. Different people have different tastes, and I found that mine just didn’t line up this time. What I Need to Keep Working On
Did any of this resonate with you?
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