January 2021 Wrap-Up: Diversifying Books, Reviewing for TV Fanatic, Spotify Playlists, and More!

Welcome to my first ever monthly wrap-up! As I reflect on everything that occurred this month, please keep in mind that the structure of my monthly wrap-ups is bound to change depending on ideas, global issues, bookish events, and more. I hope you guys enjoy reading this post. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. So without further ado, let’s get started!

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Synopsis

Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.

But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.

Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.

Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy. 

Date Started: January 2
Date Finished: January 15
Thoughts: Wow, I adored this book. The characters, the dynamics, the world-building, the plot. Overall, it was beautiful. I only had a couple of issues. The first being the book was a bit too heteronormative for my taste when Amari and Zélie were RIGHT THERE. I mean, come on—Amari literally said it’s their story. Also, she was so in love with Binta it physically hurts. The other issue I had was while, for the most part, the fast pace of the novel worked, there were some points where it felt like whiplash. Amari is my favorite character, but I loved Zélie, too. I’m nervous about picking up the second book because I heard it goes downhill, but I’m still optimistic. But if it does go downhill, I’ll always have The Princess and the Warrior, so there’s that. Wow, these characters and their relationships have captivated me. Orïsha has utterly stolen my heart.
Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

I rest my forehead against hers, and we sit in a comfortable silence, translating our love through touch. The Princess and the Warrior, I decide in my head. When they tell the story of tomorrow, that is what they shall call it.

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

Synopsis

Seventeen-year-old Molly Peskin-Suso knows all about unrequited love—she’s lived through it twenty-six times. She crushes hard and crushes often, but always in secret. Because no matter how many times her twin sister, Cassie, tells her to woman up, Molly can’t stomach the idea of rejection. So she’s careful. Fat girls always have to be careful.

Then a cute new girl enters Cassie’s orbit, and for the first time ever, Molly’s cynical twin is a lovesick mess. Meanwhile, Molly’s totally not dying of loneliness—except for the part where she is. Luckily, Cassie’s new girlfriend comes with a cute hipster-boy sidekick. Will is funny and flirtatious and just might be perfect crush material. Maybe more than crush material. And if Molly can win him over, she’ll get her first kiss and she’ll get her twin back.

There’s only one problem: Molly’s coworker Reid. He’s an awkward Tolkien superfan with a season pass to the Ren Faire, and there’s absolutely no way Molly could fall for him. Right?

Date Started: January 9
Date Finished: January 17
Thoughts: This book was so much fun to read! I loved getting to know Abby’s cousins. The characters are relatable, especially Molly—she reminded me of how I felt when I was a fat teenager. Like, it was almost scary how on point Albertalli wrote Molly. Well, Molly and I have different reasons for shying away from boys, but I’m glad she found someone who truly understands and appreciates her. Ah, young love. Also, the representation! We love our LGBTQ+ Jewish black family, the Peskin-Susos. I would die for all of them. I only had a couple of issues. There were times when I felt that Molly went off on unnecessary tangents, such as explaining Cassie’s weird habits. I don’t think these tangents contributed much to the story—it was like they were only there to fill pages. Also, the book had a slow start, but once it picked up, everything was great! 
Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

I don’t think she gets it. There’s a reason I’ve had twenty-six crushes and no boyfriends. I don’t entirely understand how anyone gets a boyfriend. Or a girlfriend. It just seems like the most impossible odds. You have to have a crush on the exact right person at the exact right moment. And they have to like you back. A perfect alignment of feelings and circumstances. It’s almost unfathomable that it happens as often as it does.

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

I reviewed Concrete Rose earlier this month! Click here to read my review.

I guess it’s like Mr. Wyatt says. The apple don’t fall far from the tree, but it can roll away from it. It simply need a little push.

The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult

Synopsis

Everything changes in a single moment for Dawn Edelstein. She's on a plane when the flight attendant makes an announcement: prepare for a crash landing. She braces herself as thoughts flash through her mind. The shocking thing is, the thoughts are not of her husband, but a man she last saw fifteen years ago: Wyatt Armstrong.

Dawn, miraculously, survives the crash, but so do all the doubts that have suddenly been raised. She has led a good life. Back in Boston, there is her husband, Brian, her beloved daughter, and her work as a death doula, where she helps ease the transition between life and death for patients in hospice.

But somewhere in Egypt is Wyatt Armstrong, who works as an archaeologist unearthing ancient burial sites, a job she once studied for, but was forced to abandon when life suddenly intervened. And now, when it seems that fate is offering her second chances, she is not as sure of the choice she once made.

After the crash landing, the airline ensures the survivors are seen by a doctor, then offers transportation wherever they want to go. The obvious option for Dawn is to continue down the path she is on and go home to her family. The other is to return to the archaeological site she left years before, reconnect with Wyatt and their unresolved history, and maybe even complete her research on The Book of Two Ways--the first known map of the afterlife.

As the story unfolds, Dawn's two possible futures unspool side by side, as do the secrets and doubts long buried beside them. Dawn must confront the questions she's never truly asked: What does a life well-lived look like? When we leave this earth, what do we leave behind? Do we make choices...or do our choices make us? And who would you be, if you hadn't turned out to be the person you are right now?

Date Started: January 17
Date Finished: January 22
Thoughts: I don’t even know what to say. This book fundamentally changed me in every way, shape, and form. I will cry about this book for the rest of my life. Jodi Picoult is my favorite, and it’s no secret by now. I love all her books, but every now and then, she writes one that utterly changes me, and I’ll never be the same again. I’ll never look at life the same way. The Book of Two Ways is that book. I loved the characters—flaws and everything. The imperfect and complex dynamics. The special relationship between mothers and daughters. THE MULTIVERSE THEORY. The plot twist. All Picoult novels have plot twists, so I tried to guess as I was reading—but my god, of everything that I thought of, what actually happened flipped me entirely upside down. Anyway, I adored this book, I would die for this book, and I knew it was going to be special when Jodi announced her new book was going to ask the question, “who would you be, if you aren’t who you are now?” I’m so glad I was right. 
Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

We don’t get to choose the universe we’re in, so no matter what kind of positive thinking or voodoo you do, you don’t get to land in the timeline of your choice. The laws of physics say you just plod along and then there’s a branch point, and you get funneled into one universe or the other. In other words, it’s not free will. It’s chance, based on however that electron happens to be spinning.

Television

Batwoman, Season 1: So, I wasn’t planning on picking up this show because none of the Jewish characters are played by Jewish actors, including the lead. And Ruby Rose was the casting choice straight people expected/wanted. But then, they announced Javicia Leslie as the new Batwoman, and I knew I would have to catch up. I mean, an LGBTQ+ black woman as the new Batwoman? Plus, her character’s backstory is far more relatable compared to Kate Kane’s. So I watched the first 15 episodes of season 1. The plot was so good, but it was sad that Ruby Rose was the lead—she’s not a very good actress on top of everything I said before. The actors who play Alice and Jacob Kane may not be Jewish, but at least they’re good actors. Otherwise, I have nothing to say. I love Sophie, Mary, and Luke. My favorite episode was “How Queer Everything is Today!” I have to finish the season to finally get to the good stuff and watch Javicia Leslie shine!

Superstore, Season 6: I have the incredible privilege of covering Superstore’s final season on TV Fanatic! Although America Ferrera left after the first two episodes, I decided to take on the remainder of the show. Superstore is still great, staying true to covering relevant issues in a sensitive yet lighthearted way. It was easy for the show to maintain quality because they were always an ensemble cast, although we definitely feel Amy’s absence. I do miss Amy and Jonah, and I’m hopeful they’ll reunite in the last episode. Stop putting them through so much heartbreak! Jonah was so whipped for her (as he should be), and my heart broke when his did. Otherwise, the season is great so far! I also hope Dina and Garrett get back together. I like her new boyfriend, but Dina and Garrett developed unexpected chemistry that I didn’t realize I missed until the past few episodes. I hope things work out, but I won’t be heartbroken if they don’t end up together. I’ll really miss this show when it ends.

Albums

Album: evermore
Artist: Taylor Swift
Genre: at this point, I just say that she’s her own genre, honestly
Thoughts: I’m not going to lie, 95% of the time I listened to music in January was when I listened to evermore. This woman thinks she can just drop two albums in five months, and I’ll be okay with that?! I love her so much, but these (wonderful, amazing, beautiful) surprises are too much for my poor heart. I haven’t even fully processed folklore yet. Wow, imagine being Taylor Swift and releasing two lyrical and musical masterpieces in less than six months. She is a genius, and I adore this album. It’s still on repeat.

Songs

Song: drivers license
Artist: Olivia Rodrigo
Genre: pop with elements of folk and indie rock
Thoughts: I remember the day I saw Olivia’s name trending on Twitter, so I decided to check out her song, and boy, I was definitely not disappointed. I loved drivers license—the music, the heartbreaking lyrics, even the music video! Olivia is so talented, and I am super excited for her EP/album release. She’s going to be an absolute international pop sensation, and she’s already a star.

Playlists

Playlist: Binaural Beats: Focus
Creator: Spotify
Genre: I’m not really sure?
Thoughts: This past fall, I began searching for instrumental playlists to help me focus while studying and writing. I can’t do anything with lyrics for the life of me because I will sing along. I downloaded many focus/concentration playlists made by Spotify, and I listened to all of them. Binaural Beats is by far the most successful one. I have severe ADHD, so it’s challenging for me to concentrate—but this playlist is a gem. Seriously, I don’t know where I’d be without it. I highly recommend giving it a try.

• January 13: Sarah’s 2021 Agenda – Blog Revamp, Recent Reads, 2021 Releases I’m Excited For, and More!
• February 1: Book Review: Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

My Novel: I don’t want to introduce my working title just yet because I’m still insecure about it as I figure out some more details. But it’s a high fantasy novel about a girl who is the first of an entirely new species in her world. The book is heavily influenced by Jewish mythology, so yes, every single character is Jewish. The MC is bisexual, her LI is non-binary, and the other central romance is an interracial sapphic couple. Did I mention this world is essentially Jewish mythology and folklore? Because I’m ecstatic about that. Anyway, in January, I finished the detailed outline (i.e., chapter by chapter, scene by scene), and I rewrote the first chapter and a half. Maybe I’ll share more with you guys at the end of February!

My Diary: I also write in a diary. I used to write more regularly back in high school, but it’s been sporadic for the last several years. Recently, I’ve been trying to change that. I’ve been through about two and a half journals since 2009 (as I said, very sporadic since I graduated high school). In January, I wrote about COVID, Taylor Swift (I promise I don’t write about her all the time), studying Torah, and grad school. I hope to record more adventures in my diary in February!

Grad School: So I started the second semester of my MFA program this semester. I’m in a novel workshop class and a comedy literature class. The latter is not what I expected at all, in the best way. The course is more about meaningful literature that uses humor as a device rather than actual comedians writing fiction or nonfiction. And my professor is so lovely! I love my novel workshop class as well—Overall, it’s shaping up to be a great semester.

Notion: I’ve been using Notion since October, which I discovered thanks to Shut Up, Shealea—it changed my life. But I haven’t used it to its fullest extent, so I did a makeover in January. Before this month, I only had one database, which just contained my task list. Now, I have a fully decorated homepage with multiple databases that encompass my entire life. I won’t show the individual database pages since they’re still a work-in-progress, but here’s my homepage. Yes, I named each section, including my Notion itself, after Taylor Swift lyrics. The font isn’t actually that small in the first photo—I made the page smaller to take a better screenshot. As I said, the individual databases are still coming together, so that’s why you see duplicates of the complete task list. Finally, I blurred some parts of the screenshots because those are personal projects.

Overall, I had a fantastic January. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, but I completed my monthly goals. I wish I had been more productive in some departments (especially writing), but it was still way better than December where I just shut down after one semester of grad school. I realize how lucky I am during these trying times. If you are in a dark place, please do not hesitate to reach out. I will try and help as much as possible, in any way I can. I’m hoping things improve for everyone in February, and I will try my best to stay involved and ensure that. So please do not hesitate to contact me. ♡

Books

Reading Goals:

• Read four books
• Have more than half the books I finish this month have good representation and diversity
• Finish the books on my currently reading shelf

Books to Read: (asterisk means they’re on my currently reading shelf, exclamation mark means I have to read the book for class)

• A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth
• Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi *
• The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine by Ilan Pappé *
• The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna 
• Influence by Sara Shepard and Lilia Buckingham
• Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng * !
• The Lost Book of the White by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu *
• Love Is a Revolution by Renée Watson *

Other Media

Television:

• Batwoman Season 2 (!!!)
• Continue Superstore Season 6
• Any recommendations you guys want to send over! 

Film:

• I’m not too picky, honestly—I would love if you guys send over recommendations!
• Recommendations aside, I might continue watching horror franchises (currently I’m getting through Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, and Halloween)
• To have movies for my February 2021 Wrap-Up

Music:

• I would actually also like some recommendations because I need new music to listen to
• To have music that isn’t Taylor Swift or musical soundtracks for my February 2021 Wrap-Up 

Blogging

General Goals:

• Think of creative features to add to Regal Reads
• Stay active on blog and social media
• Connect with followers and other members of the book community!

Book Reviews and Wrap-Ups:

• The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
• A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth
• February 2021 Wrap-Up (to be posted February 28th or March 2)

Royal Teatime:

• Introducing a new feature! Royal Teatime are essentially miscellaneous somewhat book opinionated blog posts. I hope to post one per month, and I have a bookshelf reorganization journey (Marie Kondo style) planned for February!
• Think of and outline future Royal Teatime posts

Writing

Novel:

• Finish rewriting chapter two, the first interlude, and chapter three
• Research more Jewish mythology to further world-build and plan for future books potentially

TV Fanatic:

• Post an editorial 
• Stay up to date with reviews

Diary:

• Write at least two entries
• Write about Regal Reads and the book community! 

Miscellaneous Goals

Organization:

• Research and check out bullet journals
• Watch bookshelf reorganization videos for some inspiration
• Finish organizing Notion databases and use Notion actively
• Use personal agenda/planner actively 
• Stay neat and organized, clean room and workspace if either becomes messy

Personal:

• Attend therapy and follow therapy goals
• Stay up to date with grad school classes
• Continue tracking food/exercise
• Study & learn Torah
• Stay involved and informed, inform self when possible 

And that’s it! I would love to hear about your January. Was it everything you hoped for, or are you happy the month is finally over? What are your plans for February? What were your favorite books or media consumed over the past few weeks?

Also, what do you think about how I set up my Monthly Wrap-Ups? Do you have any suggestions to improve or change things? It’s my first wrap-up ever, so I’m open to all ideas. If something in this outline isn’t working for you, I would love to know.

Please tell me everything you’re thinking by dropping a comment below!