Sunday, January 3, 2016

Recap: December 2015!


December, and 2015, flew by.  I can't believe it is a new year.





Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge


Rating: 3.5

Crimson Bound is sinister and overflowing with plot twists.  If you like a dark fairy tale retelling, this was written for you.

The Amazing Book is Not on Fire by Dan Howell and Phil Lester


Rating:  4

TABINOF is quirky, hilarious, and downright fun.  I'm not sure I would have ever bought it, but that's what libraries are for.

Vicious by V.E. Schwab


Rating:  4.5

I have finally caught up on all of V.E. Schwab's current novels and Vicious has topped my list.  It is morally ambiguous and is reminiscent of comic book heroes--and villains.

Stardust by Neil Gaiman


Rating  3.5

Stardust is a whimsical, fairy tale for adults written by none other than Neil Gaiman himself.  While it is on the one-dimensional side it is still extremely well written and enjoyable.

The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan


Rating:  4

My final book of 2015.  Magnus Chase is fun and hilarious.  Norse mythology is intriguing...and confusing.  I can't wait to read more.


  • Star Wars: The Force Awakens was released--and was epic.

  • My friend from my old home came to visit for a weekend, and we had a lot of fun.
  • Christmas!  My aunt and grandmother flew in for this holiday, and I had a wonderful day.  Not only was the Doctor Who Christmas special brilliant, these are all the books (among other, various--and awesome--gifts) I received:






I actually don't like the majority of Christmas music, but I did find some I enjoyed.



Technically, this happened the second December ended.  It's crazy to think how quickly time flies.  I still feel like it should be 2010.  But 2015 was a good year, all in all.  Hectic and messy, but good.
  • I moved.  I left my home of nearly a decade and am now living in a beautiful little town I spent a year dreaming of.
  • I have no idea how many books I read, but I do know that they are some of the best books I have ever read.
  • I started reading comic books.
  • I placed at competition with my dance solo in April, not to mention the slew of other awards for the group dances and performing en pointe for the first time.
  • I learned a beautiful piano piece.
  • I cultivated my music taste, by which I mean I developed a music taste.  By this I mean, mostly, My Chemical Romance.  Better late than never.
  • I attended NC Comicon with a dear friend and met Gerard Way.
  • I grew as a person, as I assume we all did.
  • I made some wonderful friends in the blogosphere and had a brilliant time reading their blogs and interacting with them.
  • I blogged, in general.  I love writing posts and sharing them with others, and I can't wait for more of the same (except, hopefully, even better) in the new year.




16 comments:

  1. Glad you had a great December!!! I've heard so many great things from Vicious, I can't wait to read it!

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    1. So am I! I hope you enjoy Vicious. Thanks for commenting! ❤

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  2. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Such an awesome recap, Erin! I finally saw The Force Awakens and ASDFGHJKL. BEST. MOVIE. EVERRRRR. I fell in love with the new characters and *clutches heart* I CAN'T WAIT FOR 2017. *sobs while rolling on the floor* Anyway, sounds like you had a wonderful Christmas and look at all those new books you got! Awesome! Thank you so much for sharing my post! My cupcakes are quite fabulous. ;) I'm wrapping up my comment here-- Happy 2016, Erin. I'm wishing you the best this year.

    anna | annaish

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    1. Happy New Year, Anna! AND, YES, THE FORCE AWAKENS WAS SPECTACULAR! Rey and HAN! Okay, I'm avoiding spoilers, here. But you know what I mean. And, you know, I would be totally open to you sending me some of those cupcakes. ;D I hope you have a wonderful 2016! ❤

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  3. I really want to read Crimson Bound! I do love dark retellings, so it does sound like I would enjoy it. The cover is amazing too. AHH I LOVE VICIOUS!! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Out of the two VE Schwab books I've read (I've only read her adult books), Vicious was definitely my favourite. I'm so glad You liked TABINOF - I LOVED IT!

    I STILL HAVEN'T WATCHED STAR WARS. I'm not sure if it would be my type of thing? I haven't ever seen a Star Wars film before... I know... it's bad! You got so many beautiful books for Christmas! I haven't read any of them, but Mistborn looks amazing.

    ASDFGHJKL THE DR WHO CHRISTMAS SPECIAL! I loved it too! Well, I say that... the first half was all kinds of awesome, but the second part *spoilers ahead!*, once River found out he was the doctor kind of flopped for me. I ship them, but he's way too old for her! The scene at the end was not for me (waaay too soppy), but I loved the head-cutting thing! :D

    Famous Last Words, again?! XD That song's so awesome, it deserves to be on every playlist ever. i know a lot of people hate My Chem's cover of All I Want for Christmas is You, but I really like it too! For me, a definite improvement of Mariah Carey ;) I will forever continue to fangirl when someone mentions ATL too.

    I'm so happy you had such a brilliant 2015! Congratulations on your dance, and your new village looks so beautiful! Though I think we can both agree the best thing that happened was appreciating MCR. They're awesome, 'nuff said. (and I will be forever jealous you got to meet Gerard!)

    Thank-you for including my blogoversary post, too! I've really enjoyed your blog in 2015, so here's to even more blogging in 2016! Best wishes for 2016, Erin. Thanks for sharing your year with me!
    Denise | The Bibliolater

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    1. You should! It was a really enjoyable read. And I am SO GLAD I finally read Vicious. It was just...awesome. I have now read all her books (YA AND adult). And TABINOF was so fun. SO FUN.

      I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU HAVE NOT SEEN STAR WARS YET! It is the best thing, the BEST thing. But, I WOULD suggest watching the originals and prequels first. You don't have to, but it adds a lot to the story.

      And I also loved the Doctor Who Christmas special! It was so funny and touching. Although I'm not sure he's too old for her, really, since we have no idea HOW old River is. She does regenerate and all that time travel... Who knows.

      And, yes, Famous Last Words again. It will probably stick around forever. That goes for MCR in general. And I really enjoy their Christmas song, as well as ATL. (I also still can't believe I met Gerard...it doesn't feel real)!

      I hope you had a brilliant year, Denise--and that the new one is just as good, or even better. ❤ Thanks for commenting!

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  4. Sounds like you had a great month!!! Yay for books as gifts. My family totally didn't get the memo!! Also it sounded like a great and busy year for you overall. Moving is a lot in itself. Hope you have an even better 2016 :)

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    1. I did! I'm sorry you didn't get a lot of books for Christmas, but hopefully you received some other wonderful gifts. Happy New Year! Thanks for commenting! ❤

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  5. This post was so sweet, it sounds like you had a great December and a pretty good year all round! The books you got for Christmas look so beautiful - I've been meaning to read Mistborn for AGES. I'm so happy you like your new town, it sounds wonderful :-) And omg well done on your dancing! Thank you so much for mentioning my review of I'll Give You the Sun as well, I'm really glad you liked it. Blogging this year has been so much fun and I'm beyond grateful that through it, we became friends <3 Here's to a just as brilliant 2016!

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    1. Thanks, Rebekah! 2015 was crazy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. And I have heard SUCH good things about Mistborn...maybe we can buddy read it at some point? I am also just beyond happy we became friends this year. Happy New Year and thanks for commenting! ❤

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  6. I also have that gorgeous leatherbound edition from the Brother's Grimm. I loved Vicious :) It seems like you had a great December, I hope January continues that way :D

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    1. Isn't it BEAUTIFUL? And Vicious exceeded all my expectations. Happy New Year and thanks for commenting! ❤

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  7. Ooh congrats for placing in the dance contest! WOOOOT! CAKE AND SPRINKLES FOR YOU! ;D Also that's awesome that the month was so epic for you. And such a nice haul of books, omg. :') Much Gaiman. Perfect Gaiman. <3 And yayy that you liked Magnus Chase too! I ADORE THAT BOOK SO MUCH I CANNOT EVEN.

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    1. Thanks, Cait! I will be expecting that cake. Preferably red velvet. And more books...not that I have room. I already need to buy a new shelf after Christmas! And Gaiman, ALWAYS. I laughed so hard reading Magnus Chase, as well. Thanks for commenting! ❤

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  8. Sounds like a wonderful month! I haven't see the new Star Wars movie yet. I know, it's appalling! I don't even have a good excuse, I just need to go... oh, and I really need to read Magnus Chase soon too. I have heard some mixed things about it.

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    1. It was! I hope--no, DEMAND--you see The Force Awakens soon. It was just brilliant and so well done. Magnus Chase is really enjoyable as well. Thanks for commenting! ❤

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