As you may have noticed, I haven’t been posting a lot in March and that’s because of several reasons. I have started a new job at the beginning of the month and let’s say it was a pretty rocky start. I’m usually very tired when I go back home and I can’t seem to focus on reading more than 30 minutes before wanting to sleep (I have to do quite a bit of reading at work so it’s harder to read when I’m back home).
I also had a few problems such as an issue with my car, my phone breaking down and other annoying issues. Nothing too serious but the accumulation of everything was a bit overwhelming, especially last week. I hope things will go more smoothly in the coming weeks but that’s why I haven’t been very active here.
What I Read So Far This Month
I have only finished one thing so far this month: A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine. It was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and I’m glad to say it didn’t disappoint! It was great to be back in this world and to read about characters I love like Mahit and Three Seagrass. It had a lot elements I liked in A Memory Called Empire but it also had a number of new elements including new characters and a shift in focus that I enjoyed quite a bit.
I still don’t think this series is going to be a new favorite even if it has a lot of elements I usually love. For some reasons, even if it has all the great ingredients, it’s not quite on the same level as some of my favorite series such as The Machineries of Empire or The Imperial Radch trilogy. It’s still a very good series and I think readers who enjoyed A Memory aren’t going to be disappointed by the sequel. I’m looking forward to reading more books by Martine, hopefully they will be set in the same world!
What I’m Currently Reading
I wanted to read the entire BSFA Awards shortlist in March but that’s sadly not going to happen because even if I were able to read more, I’m never going to read ten books in a week!😅 However, I still want to read one or two nominees before the end of the month. I am currently listening to The Doors of Eden by Adrian Tchaikovsky and I’m reading Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. So far, I’m enjoying them both even if I’m reading/listening to them very slowly. Both works couldn’t be more different from one another and I like that a lot. Piranesi is a very weird so far, I don’t even really know what it is about but I’m enjoying the journey a lot.
And Next…
I have sadly fallen completely behind on the Kushiel’s Chosen Read-along sadly, I still hope to catch-up at the end of March but we’ll see if it’s possible or not. If can’t finish it this month, I will do my best to read it in April!
Hopefully, I’ll manage to read a bit more before the end of the month! How is your month of March so far?
Good luck in your new job, Maryam! Transitions are always difficult (especially to a new place as well as a new job) but I hope it will all settle down for you soon!
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Thank you Ola! Things are starting to settle down a bit so I think April will be less stressful. 🙂
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Sorry to hear that so many problems landed on your doorstep all at once! Here’s to hope that they will be resolved soon and with a minimum of fuss! 🙂
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We have an idiom in French that says “a problem never comes alone” and it’s often true unfortunately. Thankfully, last week was a bit calmer so I hope April will be a bit less stressful!
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We have a similar saying in Italian that roughly goes: “troubles always come in three”… 😉
Here’s to a very quiet April!
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Oh wow, when crap gapping it always happens all at once doesn’t it?! I hope things improve and settle down for you soon Maryam. Glad you’re doing OK.
(And I can’t remember if it’s Maddalena who usually says this, but books are very patient – they’ll wait). ❤
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It sadly does… It was overwhelming for a few days, but I’m doing much better now, it’s just a lot of new things to deal with without adding any other things to the mix like a phone breaking down and other things. 😅
Yes, books are very patient thankfully! 😀
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(Have only just seen that massive autocorrect – ‘gapping’ should have been ‘happens’. But I guess you figured that out?!) 😬
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I really hope things start working out soon, sounds like a lot to deal with all at one time. This has happened to me before and one time I literally thought I was cursed because it seemed like everything kept going wrong all at one time. It will pass eventually, hope it does soon. Take care!
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I am used to difficult beginnings but I wasn’t expecting so many things to go wrong going wrong in a matter of days, I definitely felt cursed for a while. Thankfully, I’m starting to find my feet at work, last week was much calmer so I feel more motivated and less in full self-pity mode. 😅 Thank you for your kind words Lisa ❤
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