When All is Read and Done: October 2020 Wrap-Up

Roses are red, violets are blue. My life’s been an emotional rollercoaster, how about you? (Everything sounds so much more cheery when it rhymes, don’t you think?)

Wow, the last time I did one of these wrap-up posts was *checks notes* back in March? Yikes. That’s embarrassing. Well, in my defense, 2020’s been acting like an angry toddler who doesn’t want to eat their vegetables. It has screamed its displeasure at every turn, and even managed to chuck some proverbial broccoli across the dining table (which, of course, hit us all right in the face). Can somebody please put 2020 in timeout, because I’m tired and I need a break from this chaos.

But you know what has been my consistent ray of sunlight amid all of this stressful noise? Books! Movies! Escapism! So here are some of the fictional worlds I’ve escaped to this month (because let’s face it: the real one kind of stinks right now).

What I Read in October

👍 Ignite the Stars by Maura Milan: This book has it all! It’s a diverse YA space opera full of…

• bloodthirsty criminal masterminds
• fierce female friendships
• slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance
• beautiful found families
• morally grey characters
• relevant political undertones

In short, it was MIFFING AWESOME and I would 11/10 recommend.

😐 The Inheritance Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes: This novel was marketed as Cinderella meets Knives Out, and if the idea of a fairy tale mystery doesn’t immediately catch your attention, do not pass Go. Do not collect 200 dollars. But a superficial romance, a superfluous love triangle, and weak-sauce characterization leave me thinking that reality is often disappointing.

😐 The Silence of Bones by June Hur: This is a carefully plotted and hauntingly atmospheric murder mystery set in Korea’s Joseon Era with a strong female lead and no romance (I REPEAT: THIS IS A YA NOVEL AND THERE IS NO ROMANCE!!! Let heaven and earth rejoice!) On paper, this book is everything I could want. I should’ve loved this like waffles love syrup, but instead it was just……..fine. As Kronk from The Emperor’s New Groove once said: “By all accounts, it doesn’t make sense.”

👍 Now That I’ve Found You by Kristina Forest: Do you know those marvelously sunny days where the weather is bright and you feel even brighter? Like you should spontaneously break into an elaborately-choreographed song-and-dance number or something? Well, that’s how I felt while reading this book. It was so sweet, so wholesome, so cute, that I couldn’t keep a gigantic, goofy grin from swallowing up my face.

#YARC READING CHALLENGE UPDATE

What I Watched in October

😐 Captain Marvel {Rewatch}: Yay for girl power! Yay for female super heroes! Yay for Brie Larson’s acting! The trite plot line and average Marvel storytelling? Not so much.

❤️ Thor Ragnarok {Rewatch}: This movie is beyond comedy gold — it’s comedy platinum. I laughed from start to finish and Chris Hemsworth’s performance is just *clenches fist* pure brilliance. This is, by far, my favorite Marvel movie.

😐 Hocus Pocus: So um…how many of you would start pelting me with rotten fruit if I told you that I had never seen this movie before? And how many more of you would burn me at the stake for heresy if I said that I ….*in a small voice* didn’t really like it? I will say this though: the actresses who played the three Sanderson Sisters were on FIRE (and no, this isn’t a tasteless joke about them being burned alive in that high school kiln….okay, maybe it is). But in all seriousness, they really embraced the weirdness of the story with their over-the-top performances!

👍 Avengers Infinity War {Rewatch}: I’ve seen this movie about…three times now? I think? And yet, that ending still WRECKS me every time. Also, this is probably the Marvel movie I’ve the most times, which is funny because it’s not even my favorite one. Huh. I am questioning my life choices right now.

😐 Maleficent: This counts as a Halloween movie, right? Also, all I could think about for pretty much the entirety of this film was: HOLY COW, ANGELINA JOLIE’S CHEEK BONES!!! Can a real person’s cheek bones actually look like that?

👍 Avengers Endgame {Rewatch}: After almost a year and a half, I’ve FINALLY finished my rewatch of the entire MCU. Thank you, thank you, please hold your applause. The epic ending to this 22-film saga was just as good as I remember it being in theaters; emotions were

👍 Over the Moon: THIS HAD THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ANIMATION. LIKE, BREATH-TAKINGLY, HEART-BREAKINGLY SO. It was a devastatingly beautiful story about loss, overcoming grief, and letting new people into your life. That being said, some very strange plot choices were made. (Who thought it would be a good idea to include space biker chickens? That guy should get fired. Okay, not really…but all I want to know is WHY?????)

👍 Once Upon a Snowman: Was this a completely unnecessary installment to the Frozen franchise? Oh, absolutely. Did I enjoy it all the same? Oh, absolutely. Olaf has his hilarious moments, even if he is a completely gratuitous money-grab. Josh Gad gives such an excellent performance that I couldn’t help but enjoying this fun Disney short.

THIS MONTH ON THE BLOG

PIN THIS POST

How have you been staying sane these last couple months? Please share with me your mental health tips!

Have you read or watched any of the same things I have? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!