February was a short month but like most things that are short it sure packed a hell of a punch. In fact, after it was done punching me in the face it looked at my form rolling around on the ground and decided to kick me in the ribs for good measure.
Oh February, you strange stress filled little month you.
I had many a work issue and many a breakdown and a panic attack in my own home just for good measure. Because I was suffering from The Anxiety and The Stress this impacted my ability to do these two things:-
- Read books
- Successfully interact (both in the Real World and the blogging one)
I entered what can only be professionally known as – slumpy mcslumpface.
Here is a visual representation of my reading slump from one month to the next using me mad Paint skillz.
Not only did I not read very much but I didn’t interact very much on my blog or visit/ interact with other blogs that much either.
I also temporarily scrapped some of my usual features/ posts I had planned.
The above pained me because I enjoy these things greatly but all I had the energy for was watching Netflix and spontaneous bursts of sobbing.
Russian Doll – very good.
The Umbrella Academy – I live for Klaus, Ben, Five and occasionally Diego. That is all.
I’m hoping that March will give me back whatever mojo I usually have. But it is my birthday month and my blog baby turns 1 so prepare yourself for the whoop whoop!
Not much but they were both ARCs and both Beauty and the Beast related.
I reviewed The Beast’s Heart here and gave it 1 star.
I also reviewed The Beauty of the Wolf which you can find here and I gave it 3 stars.
My aim was 4 books and I only achieved half of that but I smashed my Real Life job goals so something had to give.
One book at 1 star and one book at 3 stars mean that February’s average is 2.
Yeuch. But then maybe I was unduly critical because I was a bit bummed out and tired? Who knows. The books certainly weren’t laugh fests and maybe I should have tried something different.
Oh well; we live, we learn, we trial and error.
Last time I did a wrap up post I said (and I quote):-
I’ve decided not to set any specific books as I realised that’s the fastest way to put myself off any of books I’ve chosen.
And then promptly set myself specific books to read because I needed to get some ARC reviews done pre-release date.
Doh!
But guess what?!
For March I’ve also decided to set myself specific books – yayayayay.
But wait for it (tehehehe)… it’s because I’ve decided to do a particularly awesome readathon called #Hamilthon and is all about reading books based on prompts from the songs of the Hamilton musical (which I lurve).
More info and the place to sign up is on Foxes and Fairy Tales here.
I’ve tried to select the route strategically – I still have ARCs that I need to read and review in March and so I’ve gone down a path which I hope will help me fulfill #Hamilthon but by using some of the books I currently have to read.
So here’s the prompts plus the book I will aim to read for each one!
Alexander Hamilton (a book with a name in the title) – Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Reynolds Pamphlet (something short i.e. novella) – A Human Stain by Kelly Robson
Take a Break (finish a book in a day) – The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Helpless (a book featuring romance or a marriage) – The Dollmaker by Nina Allan
My Shot (a standalone book) – The Binding by Bridget Collins
I end up at…
Alexander Hamilton!
Let’s see how well I do!
Yeah…. not much.
Read my first comment of this post about February.
If I had balls, this month would have kicked them.
How was your February? Are you looking forward to March?
Do I have any birthday month twins??? Do I??? Do I?????
Or blogversary twins? Do I????????
Shoving all the hugs and positive thoughts through the screen!! I’m pretty sure you noticed but I’ve been awful about all the blogging things too (and I still need to get to all your comments!!) I’m amazed that you still have a regular schedule going, though! Whenever I go into a slump I just drop everything, mentally relocate myself to a cave and snarl at everyone who comes near. But I’m finding that it’s good to take a step back whenever blogging/reading gets Too Much because the last thing I want is for it to start feeling like a job (that I don’t even get paid for :P)
And oooh I’m planning on doing the Hamilthon this month too! I prooobably should post up my route BEFORE March ends.
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Ah thanks Kathy! I’m glad February is behind me and I’m trying to pick it all up but some lingering argh remains sadly. Oh yeah, I’m my own worst enemy! I’ll have too much going on and then insist that I stick to a schedule and complete everything and then have a mini nervous breakdown doing so. Then I’ll insist my nervous breakdown was cathartic but wonder why my heart keeps hammering so hard.
I’m taking a week off blogging in May as a scheduled break but part of me is tempted to take another a bit sooner.
I’ve read three of my five Hamilthon books so far and am chuffed I’m doing it!
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I’m currently in the middle of a “AHHHH my blog posts are trash and I can’t do reviews properly” breakdown, hence the slump. Our brains are sooo awesome, aren’t they? 😀
I love that you have your break SCHEDULED. Can I borrow your organizational skills for a couple of months???
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Ah Kathy no! Your blog posts are most definitely not trash and I don’t think there is any ‘proper’ way to do a book review! Or if there is I certainly haven’t been doing it that way! But I get it, the slump is an irrational creature that feeds on positive thoughts!
Hahaha! I have a full year plan for this blog which I review quarterly to see how the quarter stacks up and then I review each quarter monthly to see how the months are stacking up. It’s a schedule but it’s a flexible one. I know what I what I aiming for but at the same time know not to kill myself trying. Scheduled breaks make me feel happy! 😛
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I think my brain grinded to a halt at “review quarterly.” Are you open to cloning your brain and donating them to those less fortunate? AKA me? 😛
Seriously, I need to whip myself into shape and get at least a monthly schedule going. And maybe try that bullet journal thing that everyone’s doing? 😀
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I just love organising and plans so so much. I would organise and plan everything for everyone if I could!
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Your paint graphic made me laugh so hard, i feel that on such a deep level. February was a shitty month for me too, and I am sorry you had the stress and anxiety. I hope March is better for you and you find your mojo!
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I’m glad you liked it! I think we’ve all found ourselves in the ice shards of isolation at some point sadly. I’m glad February is over and lets bring on a better March for all!
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Sorry to hear about February, March will treat you positive, Love the Hamilton Idea 💡 and am impressed by your painting skills.
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I’m feeling more optimistic about March already and today I’ve eaten a massive cupcake so it’s a good, sugar filled start!
Haha! Thank you. I love a bit of old school Pain 😉
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Thank Good to hear, Cupcake away
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Sorry to hear that February was such a rough month ☹️ Doesn’t help that the books you read weren’t great either! Here’s hoping that March treats you much better! 😊 Also that Hamilthon sounds so cool omg???
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Ah thank you! It’s like that sometimes, some months are epic and others not so much! My fingers are crossed for March!
I know! I’m looking forward to Hamilthon and seeing how everyone else gets on!
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I’m deeply impressed by your mad paint skills, they’re next level. I had a bit of a blogging slump this month too, or not really a slump – I just needed a digital detox. Sometimes you’re just not feeling it and forcing it just makes it worse. So sorry your February sucked, I hope you’ll have a wonderful March and that you ‘ll get out of your slump ❤️
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I’m genuinely considering quitting the day job and doing something in design. The evidence is there that this is a correct and proper career move.
I think a digital detox is a great thing. I have a love-hate (more hate-hate) relationship with social media where I feel I *have* to use it to connect but don’t enjoy using it. I’m still building up to joining twitter with this blog but there’s so much putting me off.
February was uber sucko but I’m feeling positive about March for many reasons 🙂
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i love the goals and positive outlook. happy reading in march!!
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Thank you very much! I aim my best to achieve them!
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Loved your doodle!! That was definitely me a few months ago, except that the ice shards of isolation went on for months on end and I’m just starting to climb again. But hopefully, March is better for both of us! Also, happy birthday month both to you and your blog! Lastly, I just gotta say, Klaus was my absolute favorite part of Umbrella Academy. He deserves all the love!!
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Thank you very much! The ice shards of isolation were cold, piercing and showed me my soul. Not that I’m dramatic or anything.
Oh I hate when the slump carries on for longer than liked. I tend to find it’s either I’m not reading the ‘right’ books to break it or my brain wants to hit the pause button.
I’ve just finished watching episode 7 I think? Maybe 6? The one with the ice cream van 🙂
I love him and his relationship with Ben makes me smile and sigh. Klaus breaks my heart a little.
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Reading slumps will forever be the bane of my existance!!!*waves fist at the sky whily attenting to shows how I’m clearly not dramtic either*
And yes!! Klaus’ story is honestly heartbreaking. He desrves so much more from his family! I’d love to hear your final thoughts when you finish the show!
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I’ll definitely let you know! He is my favourite and I just want to wrap him up hugs.
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Oh my goodness … I laughed so hard at your doodle! I’ve had those before and that’s SUCH an accurate representation of a good ol’ reading slump lol! I got through 3 books (one was a children’s novel …), so I’m pretty much feeling the same way. As of this moment, my goal is three to four books a month (wooooot).
And I think you did well interacting — at least with me 🙂 We all get that though. If I had all the time in the world, I would be interacting with everyone ALL the time — both on my blog and in real life.
Are you a March baby??? Because I am!
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3 books is bloody good! I think I’ve had a 2 book slump before though not for a while.
3 – 4 books I think is average for me. Usually if I say 5 I’m setting myself a stretch target!
Ah thank you, my head was all over this place this month and I felt so disorganised. I would see a post and go ‘ooh lovely,’ I must comment and then saw that I already had. I’ve probably missed a few because I probably have thought I’ve already commented but haven’t.
March birthday twin, yay!!!!! I’m on the 19th! When’s yours?
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My average used to be 3 to 4, but 2018 was a bad reading year for me. I’m hoping to get better at that. And I’m trying to get better at DNFing if I’m not feeling it as much.
YAY MARCH BABIES! I’m the 27th 🙂 Did you know that March has two birthstones?! I just learned that a day ago ha-ha!
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I’m a bit of a picky reviewer I think so I think I tend to average around 2.5 – 3.
March babies are the best but I am HUGELY biased obviously! Ooh what birthstones are they? I think one is amethyst?
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I tend to be as well but this year I’ve been SUPER lucky with great books (except one).
March babies are!! We are Aquamarine and Bloodstone apparently. Aquamarine is the original one though.
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Ah yes! I knew it began with an ‘a’. I always thought it was quite a boring birthstone in comparison to rubies and emeralds and things. I like the idea of bloodstone though!
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