Hi everyone! I realized that I never did a June Wrap-Up, so this time I will be doing a double wrap-up! These past two months have been a whirlwind and as of August 1st, I have made the move back to NYC! While leaving the comforts of home and the people I love there makes this move bittersweet, I am so excited to be back in the city I love with the prospect of theatre coming back! I’ve been contemplating taking a brief break from blogging, and while I haven’t fully committed to that, if things get a little quieter around here it’s because I’m taking some necessary breathing room so I don’t get completely burnt out. I can feel the excitement bubbling up when I think about reading whatever I want without trying to fit a schedule, so I might try to focus more on that feeling. I can tell you that I am pumped to have my subway reading time built back into my life and cannot wait to get back to the New York Public Library. Here is to a fresh start and a hopeful August full of books and experiences that fill us up!
Is it just me, or did March just FLY by?! I can’t believe it’s April already. I’ve been nannying a bit, watched a lot of basketball (I know, who am I?!), and got some good reading done! I did take a small spring break from blogging the past 2 weeks, but I’m ready to get back in. I’m in the process of making plans to move back to NYC, which is both extremely exciting and slightly scary- a lot of emotions and unknowns still, but I’m getting ready to take a step forward. I’m feeling hopeful and open to whatever the future has in store.
Books Read
A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas ★★★★★
The Stolen Kingdom by Jillian Boehme ★★★
Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S. Olson ★★★★
Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales ★★★★
Namesake by Adrienne Young ★★★★
Things That Grow by Meredith Goldstein ★★★★
The Secret of the Irish Castle by Santa Montefiore ★★★★★
Favorite Book of the Month
Currently Reading
Challenge Updates
Goodreads Challenge: 16 of 100 (only 9 books behind schedule…)
Classics Club Challenge: 10 of 50 (I really suck at this one)
And just like that, the first month of 2021 is over! I have been super busy this January between teaching dance, studying for my real estate license, and nannying, but I still managed to read a bunch of great books. There are a few really exciting releases coming out in February and I’m gearing up for another full month! Let’s do this!
Books Read
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik ★★★★
The Duke & I by Julia Quinn ★★★★
A Curse of Ash and Embers by Jo Spurrier ★★★★
From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout ★★★★★ *BOOK HANGOVER*
Love Spells and Other Disasters by Angie Barrett ★★★
Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout ★★★★★
As an actor, every job you do, you make a new family. There is something special about theatre and its ability to bring people together in a way that is unlike any other. I have made so many amazing friends throughout my career, and many of them share my love of books and literature. Since theatre brings stories to life, I thought I would feature some of my favorite performers (my fabulous friends and castmates) and see what their bookshelves look like! Welcome to my Broadway Book Chat!
Harry Potter. Basic, I know, but that series transported me to a new world when I was growing up. I remember reading the entirety of the 7th book within 24 hours of buying it because I was so excited to read the conclusion of the saga!
Who is your favorite author? What makes them special to you?
I honestly don’t think I have a favorite author. My taste in books varies so drastically that I find myself engrossed with whenever I have a good story in my hands.
What book inspires you and why?
There are a few. I love non-fiction books such as Not My Father’s Son by Alan Cumming, Boy Erased by Garrard Conley, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Wells, and Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs. It’s incredible to read true stories in which people stand up against the odds and succeed.
Do you have a favorite genre bubble or are you adventurous?
I like to think I’m pretty adventurous. In the last year, I’ve read everything from Fun Home to Clockwork Orange to milk and honey to Homo Deus. I enjoy changing up the genres as much as possible!
Which literary character would you like to play?
I have always wanted to play a superhero. I grew up with comics, and I still read them to this day. Someone like a Red Hood or Nightwing from the Batman series would be an incredible opportunity. I know they’ve already brought them to television via the Titans series, but there are always reboots and new films, right?
If you could be friends with any of the characters you have played, who would it be and why?
I feel like I usually play tragic roles or douchebags, so this is actually a difficult question! Haha! I feel like Munk (CATS) and I would be friends. He’s a driven character, and I’ve got a lot of respect for that. Maybe also Jason from bare. He’s got a lot of self-loathing, but he’s got a big heart and genuinely tries his best. Unfortunately, *SPOILER* he kills himself at the end of the show, so I’m not sure what that relationship would end up looking like. I also feel like pre-success Jaime from The Last Five Years and I would be friends. At the beginning of the show, it feels like he really cares about his work and his relationships, but, by the end, he only cares about his image and his vices.
What book would you like to see made into a musical/play/movie?
So many of the books that came to my mind have already been adapted! Haha! A strange thought, but I’d love to see a poetic text such as milk and honey be adapted into a screenplay. It’d be interesting to see how a screenwriter could implement the poetry into a narrative.
Have you ever thought about writing yourself?
Yes, actually! In fact, I’ve written a few plays and screenplays, though I’d love to write a book down the line.
What is the next book on your reading list?
Hillbilly Elegy — I just watched the film with Glenn Close and Amy Adams, and the story is remarkable, so I now feel like I need to read the book. I was surprised to see that the film didn’t do so well with critics. I was very moved by the performances and I felt the direction and writing were both outstanding.
What was the last show you were in and who did you play?
The last show I was in was the national tour of CATS as Munkustrap. I was supposed to be joining the company of a new show in NYC, but, then, COVID happened, so everything is, unfortunately, on hold at the moment.
What is your favorite show you’ve been a part of and why?
I could list at least five or six right now. However, if I had to pick one at this moment, it’d be a production of The Seagull I did in college where I played Trigorin. We set up in a house with each act being performed in a different room to an audience of only 5 people. It was a really awesome experience, and it was one of the most creatively fulfilling productions I’ve ever been a part of.
Thank you to my wonderful friend, and dungeon master extraordinaire, Dan, for sharing with us! I would love some suggestions for new questions you would like to ask, or things you want to know from our performers. Leave them in the comments and I will add them to future interviews!
It’s my favorite month! YAY! September went by so quickly, and now the weather is beginning to change, spooky season is upon us, and my inner witch is thrilled! This is my favorite time of the year to read as well. There is something about being cozy, with a hot beverage, a cool breeze, and my favorite book that checks all the happy boxes. I am also about to make my way back to NYC for the first time since the pandemic began, and I am really looking forward to being home for a bit and touching base. I was able to read a few really good books in September, and there are so many good releases coming out in October as well that I can’t wait to get to! Here is to a happy, healthy Fall full of Hocus Pocus, pumpkin everything, and a stack of big books. ❤
Books Read
Fable by Adrienne Young ★★★★★
Majesty by Katharine McGee ★★★★
The Code for Love and Heartbreak by Jillian Cantor ★★★★
Eventide by Sarah Goodman ★★★★
Favorite Book of the Month
This one gave me a book hangover and I cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel!
Currently Reading
Challenge Updates
Goodreads Challenge: 56 of 100
Classics Club Challenge: 10 of 50 (Idk why this challenge is so hard for me haha)
Holy Moly Batman. August FLEW by. It feels like it was JUST August 1st, and now it’s September. August was not the best month for me, as I got sick for a bit and lost all motivation or ability to focus on reading. So, my ARC August this year was a fail, and I somehow completely missed The Magical Readathon N.E.W.T.s, but I think I might just do it on my own for fun. I am really looking forward to my favorite season, and yes, I have already gotten a Pumpkin Spice Latte. I’m looking forward to the coziness that fall brings, as it is my favorite atmosphere to read in and I have so many books and new releases to be excited about.
Boy, have I been escaping into books. I have been wanting to get out of my own head and have really been living in fictional worlds. I’ve gotten a lot of good reading done, as well as some good research and exploration. I’m still in Wisconsin with my family, for which I am eternally grateful, and am hoping I’ll be able to get back to NYC sometime in the near future.
We’re half way through 2020! Thank the lord. June was a super weird month for me. I turned 28 and have been having so many thoughts about the future. I have no idea what it holds for me, but I am trying to stay hopeful. I was fortunate enough to celebrate some amazing milestones for people I love this month which meant that I didn’t get as much reading or blogging done as I had planned, but I am coming out of my reading slump and am ready for some new good reads in July.
Books Read
Daughters of Castle Deverill by Santa Montefiore ★★★★★
I’m not a re-reader. With the exception of Harry Potter, which I usually read every year, once I have finished a book, I move on. There is a certain guilt in feeling like I shouldn’t waste time living in worlds I have already experienced with so many exciting new stories to get to. Something has changed though, and I have recently started having very strong urges to re-read old favorites.
In this crazy time of uncertainty and stress, I find myself wanting to crawl up inside books that bring me comfort and a sense of familiarity. Books like Twilight and The Princess Diaries series are calling to me from the shelves in my bedroom at my parent’s house. My excitement and anticipation for new stories is still here, but deep down I’m fighting the urge to revisit the feelings of contentment that these old stories stirred in me once upon a time. It probably doesn’t help that I am back living with my parents and sisters again, in ways reverting back to the time when these books meant so much to me, and worrying about what the future will bring. I have talked to a few people about this feeling, because it is a strange and new one for me, and I have found that I am not alone. Several of my friends have been grappling with the same urge to re-read their old favorites as well! I finally gave in the other day when I found an old middle school favorite, Bras and Broomsticks by Sarah Mylnowski, with an inscription from my grandma who has been gone for a few years now. The lightness my heart felt, for the first time in a while, was incredibly rejuvenating. The story held such meaning for me as a pre-teen, and revisiting it as an adult still brought me so much joy. This is gonna sound corny, but I could actually feel the love in the pages- both from my grandma and from my pre-teen self. I had so much fun experiencing Rachel and Miri’s shenanigans again, and also scream laughing over the descriptions of the “cool” and “unstylish” 2000’s clothing. The story is heartfelt, witty, and still relatable today, and while the stakes are high- it was middle school, when were they not?- it is, overall, a very simple and lovable story. I needed it.
“To my Darling Alexandra, Happy Spring and never forget your bra! 🙂 Love, Ome” April 2005
New stories are exciting, but there is also an excitement in knowing you’re about to experience something you love again. With my ever growing TBR and trying to stay up to date for my blog, I always feel the pressure to push forward into new books. I don’t think that feeling will ever go away, but I have been reminded that sometimes it is ok, and maybe even necessary, to give your self a break and give in to the desire to look back at some guaranteed happiness. ❤
Have any of you been feeling the re-reading urge too? What are your go-to comfort reads?
As we get into these summer months, I am constantly trying to find the joy and hope in this world and the uncertainty that surrounds all of us right now. It’s such a scary time for everyone, and as Broadway keeps pushing back its reopening, my unease and anxiety of what world I will be returning to in the, hopefully near, future grows. It’s not always easy, but one thing I can say is that reading has given me those moments of freedom and escape and I am eternally grateful that I have such a big love of books.
Books Read
Kill Code by Clive Fleury ★★★
Collide by Nina Walker ★★★★
The Betrothed by Kiera Cass ★★★
The Shadow Wand by Laurie Forest ★★★
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins ★★★★
Bras and Broomsticks by Sarah Mylnowski (Reread) ★★★★★
Reading In The Wings 