March Wrap Up

It’s been an incredibly challenging month for everyone in all sorts of different ways. I don’t want to dwell too much on the current global pandemic (not because it isn’t important, but because I feel like we need little breaks from the overwhelming media attention). I do want to take a moment to say I hope you and your loved ones are all safe and well, and to please remember to look after yourselves (and that means your mental health, too!) just as much as you are taking care of your own community.

Sending you all (social distance appropriate) hugs! 

Personal life

• I finally did my Level 2 boxing grading, which basically means people can officially punch me in the face during sparring now (level 1 boxers don’t do head sparring) – guess I can now cross that off my list of 2019 goals 😂
• Our clinical placements were cancelled, which is obviously very disappointing (but also obviously very necessary) – this decision has left us feeling pretty stranded, because 3rd year medicine is basically supposed to be 100% hands on, and it’s difficult to translate that to virtual learning. Despite this, we’re all trying to make the best of the situation and realise that even though it’s pretty sucky, it’s essential in order to reduce the spread of Coronavirus and at the moment, the health of the community (especially that of the medical team that we were working with) is of the utmost importance 😊

Movies

I was able to catch a few movies in early March (before things started getting crazy in Australia) as well as a couple of Netflix movies…

   

Huh, I guess I was kind of in a horror/thriller mood, which is not like me at all – I normally stick to one per month. I’d recommend all of these except ‘The Son’, which was pretty gripping right until the weird and somewhat pointless open ending.

Books I read

Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor

Rating: ★★★★☆

Although the prose was beautiful, I found it almost too descriptive at times, and I had a really hard time connecting with the characters for the majority of the book. I also didn’t vibe the romance at all. This book was an odd experience for me – although I didn’t enjoy it as much as I’d hoped, I can still objectively say that it was very well written and would still recommend it!

Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Boy oh boy, this book was one of my most anticipated reads of 2020 – it was hyped as a YA version of Crazy Rich Asians  and I was like sign me right up, fam! Unfortunately, I felt like it glossed over some really important issues, including an extremely toxic female friendship. And I just found out that it’s going to be part of a series?! Thank u, next. 

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Rating: ★★★★☆

This was was actually a re-read for me, and I loved it. So much more than the first time, in fact! Don’s nerdy, dry sense of humour is right up my alley, and I may or may not have a Don Tillman appreciation post up my sleeve.

 

Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare

Rating: ★★★★★

Hands down my favourite March read, to no one’s surprise. Nish and I are planning to do a joint review since we buddy read this (why have I never buddy read a Cassie Clare book before, the *angst* and *drama* are so much more fun when you have someone else to scream about it with), so I won’t say too much, except that Cassie Clare has struck again and now I have another set of characters I would die for. 

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Rating: ★★★★★

I don’t believe in love at first sight, but I do believe I fell in love with Nathaniel Thorn at first page. This book was incredible – all the more so because it was executed perfectly as a standalone (practically unheard of for the fantasy genre). The characters! The world building! The witty banter between the MC’s! I will file this away for a future re-read, FO SHO. 

Strange Planet by Nathan W. Pyle

Rating: ★★★★★

Fam, I don’t often give out advice, so listen here – if you’re not already following Nathan on at least one social media platform, you are seriously.missing.out. JUST DO IT. My friends and I are obsessed.

Fave posts

• Lauren did a peer reviewed (by us. We are the peers) qualitative research project on Taylor Swift’s entire discography, and we STAN
• Tiffany did the saltiest review of My Summer of Love and Misfortune and simultaneously shaded one of my non-faves of last year – Again, But Better 😂
• Caitlin Althea recommended books she gave 3 stars to – and as a fellow fan of the 3-star rating, I loved it!
• Alexandra basically voiced everything I felt about Loveboat, Taipei and more
• Emme described the pros and cons of being a mood reader – and honestly, saaaaame
• Kat showed us how to take aesthetic photos of ebooks
• Alex shared her blogging routine (and I am patiently waiting for part #2 😛)
• Siobhan described me as a book lover, essentially 😂

That’s all, folks!

I really hope that April is a better month for all of us 😔 If you’re really struggling and you need someone to talk to, please don’t ever hesitate to send myself or Nish a message!

Sending you all my love,