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Why I’m keeping my to-be-read list short, and my Goodreads book challenge update.

Published by Layla

Note: This post is a tongue-in-cheek explanation why I don’t have a long to-be-read list. I see a lot of people on my Goodreads feed  have a to-be-read list as long as their arm. While I can only look in envy, I know that I cannot read over 20 books in one year. I don’t even know if I can complete my Goodreads reading challenge of 15 books. But we shall try. So, let’s get into it!

Recently, I have visited Goodreads, and a lot of my friends have joined the 2022 reading challenge. They have listed as much as 75 books for their to be read challenge. Holy guacamole. It made me yearn for the days when I was still able to read as many books in a year. Fast forward to this year–it is already a treat when I don’t read a journal article!

Also, I want to “curate” the books I read, which I split into two categories: books that I enjoy reading, and books that I can learn from. So far this year, I have read seven books out of fifteen that I truly enjoyed. And speaking of books, I have pruned my Goodreads 2022 bookstack.  I have taken out four books–the first two I have to take out because I have stupidly deleted them from my Kindle library (and they’re pretty pricey books I have used as references for my term paper–sob!). Hopefully I can buy them again one day!

The next two, I’ve had difficulty connecting with the story. Don’t want to waste time on books I can’t connect with.

So, what have I read lately, and what am I reading lately? I am happy to share the three of them.

Recently read:

Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier-

“Last night, I dreamed I went to Manderley.” For people who have already read the book, this first line in the book would be very familiar. The line draws people in, invites them to get immersed in that haunting story. I wanted to read it ever since I saw it mentioned in one of my well-loved books. Reading the book introduced me to the sinister Mrs. Danvers, the dastardly Jack Favell, the second Mrs. de Winter whose first name is never mentioned,  the distant and enigmatic Maxim, and the titular Rebecca, who in her death still has the ability to unnerve people.

Stories from Suffragette City, edited by M.J. Rose and Fiona Davis

 

While I loved the storylines, some parts of the short stories jarred me a bit. I felt that the writing style wasn’t true to the era or time period they were writing about. Maybe I am being unreasonable on this score. All the same, the stories are very delightful and insightful.

It also gives a nice thrill while reading about real people mentioned in the book, like Alva Belmont, aka. Consuelo Vanderbilt’s mother.

 

Currently reading:

The Spy Who Loved: The Secrets and Lives of Christine Granville, by Claire Mulley

So far, so good.  I’ve only got as far as Christine’s childhood, and a colourful one it is! I’ve yet to read more of the book.

Will keep everyone posted.

 

 

Since it is late at night right now, I am off to sleep. Stay safe and healthy, everyone! 🙂

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My 2022 to-be-read bookstack

Published by Layla

Happy new year! Hope you are all well and safe–although this is easier said than done. COVID cases are surging again, and nearly every one I know are either positive or manifesting symptoms. #fuckyouomicron

I’m praying for everyone to get better or feel better soon–COVID is not something to be sneezed at (no pun intended).

Speaking of the new year, what better opportunity to do something different? Like taking on a new hobby, starting a new fitness regime, eat a different food category?

This year though, I’ve decided to get back into reading. So I’ve joined the Goodreads 2022 reading challenge. I’ve listed only 15 books for this year–because let’s start small, and yeah, I’ll explain further in another post. For now though, here are eight of the fifteen books I plan to read this year. Read More

On grieving and adjusting.

Published by Layla

So it’s been a long time since I have posted anything on here. Not that there’s a want of having anything to say; rather, it’s the Herculean effort taken to process things.

So many things happened in the space of two months, ranging from the most mundane to the most painful: so much stuff to deal with at work and school, the slow crumbling of my (already fragile) mental health, and then the loss of a loved one.

Read More

The Weekly Snippet 4: Skrrrt, skrrrt.

Published by Layla

Hi, I hope you are all safe and well.

I’m taking the time to write this before I settle down with readings for tomorrow’s class. Boy, this has been the worst week I’ve had for this month. I’d rather not enlarge on this, but suffice to say that I need help–the sooner, the better. And when I say help, I mean it’s the “Doctor, doctor, I am sick” kind of help that I need. I’ve soldiered on for months, but I think I’ve done enough of that already.

However, it’s not all woe and drudgery! I discovered Molly Jones via Ruby Granger’s videos. Watching her vlogs is an absolute joy. For a moment, I forgot about work, and grad school. Not that I was looking for an escape route–the videos were something I aspire to: living slow, taking time to appreciate the little things around me. Also, I love that I learn something from these people too.

Check out her videos, they’re absolutely wonderful.

Sadly, my time’s up, so I have to go and study! Hope you have a great weekend, and stay safe!

 

The Weekly Snippet 3: Things I am pretty excited about.

Published by Layla

Hey, hey, hey, hello!

Here we are again! I am writing this while I am on a break from studying. Yes, you read it right. Classes have now started again and I am now a freshman for the Master of Industrial Relations program. It’s so amazing how fast the time has gone since I have applied for graduate school admissions. But at the same time, it feels weird to be having another year of online classes. I really did hope last year that the pandemic will be (done and) gone, and I will be starting my Masters’ back in my uni campus.

In my dreams.

The pandemic is far from being over, and for all intents and purposes, it has gotten worse, vaccine rollout or no. So I might as well be resigned to the idea that I shall graduate virtually for my Master’s.

Pessimism aside, I do know that there’s always a silver lining in everything. So I will try to be a little more hopeful in this post. After all, this blog post is all about being “excited” about things, so..there you go. Read More

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The Weekly Snippet 2: Me and period drama

Published by Layla

At the risk of providing too much information, this girl is PMS-ing right now. And what better cure can a girl have than a glass of cold milk, Lotus Biscoff biscuits, and a night of period drama? There was no pun intended, I promise. 

I’ve managed to watch two period pieces from HBO–one, a revisioning of a popular television series from Australia, and another, a Malaysian-English production. The first one is mainly light-hearted with some dramatic and sentimental lines, and the other, rather heavily charged. Hopefully I’ll be able to share as much as I can without providing any spoilers.

Miss S is the Chinese adaptation of the Australian Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. Now, I’ve had the pleasure of being able to watch the original, so I have a point of comparison. But before I’ll deliver my verdict, I’ll tell you that Miss S has a pretty competent cast, including Yii Ma, as Su Wen Li, or the titular Miss S, Gao Weiguang as Inspector Luo (Inspector Jack Robinson’s Chinese counterpart), Haochen Wu as Police Officer Shen, and Bu Guanjin as Xiao Taozi. Read More

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