12 meses 12 libros: October: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Yes, this is indeed very late.  Again.  I apologize.  I would like to say it won't happen again, but I can't promise that.  I can try, but I can't promise.  (Not like I'm not reading... I'm an editor, it's a big part of my job... I just hate not meeting up with arbitrary goals I've set for myself, and this makes my life even more difficult lol.  But you know.  It be like that lmao.)

Anyways, October's theme was a famous author from your country (not bestsellers, which is next month... as detailed in this post, I mixed them up, lol.  But turns out the book I picked for October and November both fit the themes for both October and November, so I think I'm still good).  I read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, which I had been wanting to read for quite some time.  I really love the movie, so I was looking forward to checking the book out.

Words can't describe how great this book is.  The characters are pitch perfect, compelling, and absolutely horrible people.  The plot (which I was familiar with, because of the movie -- a pretty faithful adaptation) is a wild ride and not at all predictable.  Even though I knew what would happen I was still on the edge of my seat, not wanting to put the book down.  I want to write characters with this much depth.  Even when you know for a fact that you're dealing with liars, you find yourself buying what they're saying.  A very skillfully written book.  I enjoyed it so much.

I share more of my thoughts on this book in my (equally glowing) Goodreads review here.  You should totally follow me, btw.

I started this book on October 21st and finished on November 12th.  (Again, I regret that I finished late, but what can you do.... it didn't take me that long because of lack of enjoyment.  I just have been a bit busier than I'd like to be, leaving me less free time to spend curled up with a book -- which is where I frankly belong, lol.)

Bottom line, would I recommend this book to a friend? YES.  Even if you've seen the movie, especially if you've seen and enjoyed the movie.  If you like fucked up stories about fucked up people, this one is It, baby.

my yearly "nano is hell" post

This is old news but writing is hard and NaNoWriMo is hell.  I'm trying really hard to keep up with all my various things I've got going on (not much, but I'm a candy ass so it seems like a lot) and I'm stressed due to Life Reasons, but like.  I'm keeping going.  Me @ me: you are SO brave!

Book Log August-October

It's ya girl, a reading fool, lol.  I really haven't gotten nearly as much reading done as I'd like to, for various reasons, but I'm trying to get back into the swing of things.  As usual, let me know if you'd like to hear more about specific titles.  Btw if you want real time updates on what I'm reading (and the occasional review of certain titles) follow my Goodreads... which I have had since 2011 and only recently started updating again lol whoops.

The Incredi-Files by John Edwards
Batwoman Vol.2
Super Sons of Tomorrow
Goosebumps Scary Summer (Graphic novel)
Goosebumps The Blob the Ate Everyone by R.L. Stine
Walk Your Dog by Elizabeth Stevens Omlor
American Girl Felicity Short Story Collection by Valerie Tripp
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
Here Come the Girl Scouts! by Shana Corey
Magic Beans and Golden by Avon Van Hassel (I edited these books!  Go grab your copies on Kindle!)
Rise of the Black Panther graphic novel
Baby-Sitters Club #54 Mallory and the Dream Horse by Ann M. Martin
A Study in Scarlet/The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King
Jack and the Beanstalk: The Graphic Novel
Alice in Wonderland Remixed by Marlon McKenney
More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera
The Flintstones: The Official Movie Book by Jody Duncan
Halloween by Curtis Richards
Kristy's Big Day (Baby-Sitters Club graphic novel) by Gale Galligan (adapted from Ann M. Martin)
Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas by Dav Pilkey
Little Women (Great Illustrated Classics edition) by Louisa May Alcott (adapted by Lucia Monfried)
Archie Comics Halloween Blowout 1 and 2 (Pep Digital #25 and #60 respectively)
Sabrina's Monster Manual (Pep Digital #112)
Josie and the Scaredy Cats (Pep Digital #166)
Rotten Ralph's Trick or Treat by Jack Gantos
Corduroy by Don Freeman
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

I did it again

You may have noticed that I haven't posted about my October book.  I got behind again.  What with work, the online class, social commitments and other plans, plus not having a lot of energy (thanks depression! and also.... thanks life!) and not really feeling like reading as much when I was free, I haven't made as much progress as I planned.  I did actually end up spending a lot of my reading time in the last few weeks reading Halloween themed comics to get me in the mood for Halloween.  Plus, I bought them on sale on comixology recently, so I wanted to actually read them so I wouldn't feel bad about spending the money, lol.  But yeah, so... once again, I'm late on finishing this book.  It's not anything to do with the actual book (I'm enjoying that immensely) life just happens, unfortunately.  I'm also holding off on my actual book log post until I have the book finished.  I did start it in October, so I want to list it on my August-October book log post... and I don't feel right listing it if I haven't finished it yet, lol.  I had only been doing two months per post, but since things have been eh lately I haven't read as much as usual, so it would have been even shorter than it unfortunately is.  I go through phases recently where I either read voraciously or not at all.  I'm reading a little, but not enough... and the sheer amount of library book and whatnot I want to get through is intimidating me and making me read less.  Anxiety kicks in, lol.  So.... I'm fighting life as well as my own shitty brain.  But I love reading, I don't want to lose that hobby or that love, due to depression or fucking anything else... and reading a lot is one of the things that makes you a better writer.  So I will read as much as I can, but I also need to learn to lower my expectations, and not make it seem like a chore.  It's a gift... and I'm grateful.

🎃🎃🎃

I love Halloween.  The last couple of years though, because of various life reasons, I haven't felt much spirit for it.  (Christmases have been even worse, but I will get into that in December, lol.)  I feel it starting to happen again... stress creeps up, various things pull me down... and I miss out on having fun on what should be one of the most fun days of all.  I really, really want to turn this around.  I want to fix it, but I just... don't really know how.  So I'm doing my best to put on a game face and hope maybe if I tell myself that I'm happy I'll be happy.

I have made an error

So for some reason I got things a little backwards in my planning for the 12 libros 12 meses challenge.  I thought October was bestseller month and November was a famous author from your country.  Turns out it's the other way around.  But I've already checked out the bestseller Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn for this month... and I hadn't picked my famous American author yet.  Yikes.  BUT... Gillian Flynn is American, and between Gone Girl and Sharp Objects I'd say she is very well known.  So I'm sticking with this book.  And next month I'll try to find another bestseller that also happens to be by an American... that way it'll sort of even out, lol.

a post i promised a loooong ways back

So what have I been so busy with, you ask?  Well, I've talked about my editing work.  I've had a few more projects, including an ongoing one that involves transcribing audio (so I can only do that when I have the front room to myself).  I'm hoping to get lots more editing work, since I'm trying to raise money for the property taxes.  So since I'm trying to make a go of the freelance business thing, I did a five day challenge to learn how to brand and market myself and my services.  Marketing is still super tricky, but I'm trying, lol.  Then I also decided to do an online class about the history of royal fashion -- it's a free course, I obviously love history and historical fashion, and it's something to do with a friend.  I've also been trying to get back to duolingo because my Spanish is rusty af and I hate that, so I want to practice.  All of this, in addition to trying to get to the library from time to time, attempting to have a social life, running a gotdam household, and my requisite 6 hours of depressed crying per day, I've had a lot on my plate lol.  But there are also days when I've kind of taken care of everything that needs to be immediately be taken care of, and I'm just... hanging out.  So I keep busy but also still have nothing but time and I still manage to not get enough done, lol.  I don't get it either!  But you know.  A bitch does her best.