[Book Talk] How I Accidentally Went on a Book Ban

I have been trying to put myself on a book budget - if not an outright book ban - for the last two years. Last year, it was overly ambitious and I failed miserably. This year, I actually haven't been keeping too close an eye on my book budget, until I was writing my May rewind post. I realised then that I hadn't bought a new book since March! How did that happen?

[Review] Laurinda by Alice Pung

You like to think that within you there is quiet courage and conviction, a sense of righteousness that is not judgmental. That's what you like to think about yourself. But you're wrong. You are not truly good until you are tested, and even then you might become a worse person.

In the hands of another writer, Laurinda may look a lot like Mean Girls. There's the rich, beautiful, shrewdly intelligent girls reigning over a private all-girl school. There's the outsider - the scholarship student, a daughter of refugees - being drawn into their orbit. In the hands of Alice Pung, though, Laurinda is a sharp observation of the power politics of teenage girls, the struggle of forming an identity when your public and private selves can't be one and the same, and even casual racism.

[Rewind] May 2017

I'm thiiiis close to freedom, you guys. I've submitted the major assignment for this semester and had my last class (hopefully not only for this semester, but for life). There are three weeks to go before I finish my internship, and then I'll be truly finished with this semester! 🎉🎉🎉 I cannot wait to relax guilt-free. I'm hoping that means more writing, whether it is for my poor abandoned novel or for this blog!

New to My Shelves

I picked up Mirror in the Sky by Aditi Khorana from the library for #AsianLitBingo! It's an interesting story, but unfortunately I didn't love it as much as I'd hoped. 

I also borrowed several audiobooks from the library. I got The Sleeper and The Spindle by Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddell which was fascinating and wonderfully creepy as an audiobook, but it left me feeling unsatisfied. I'm still listening to Flying Too High (A Phryne Fisher Mystery). The Phryne Fisher books aren't appealing to me as much as the TV series. Maybe it's the lack of Phryne/Jack chemistry, but they're still quite enjoyable.

Reviews

↠ The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton. Incredibly clever plot structuring, good twists, but way, way too many characters. ✬✬✬☆ 

↠ Nora and Kettle by Lauren Nicolle Taylor. Exceeded my already high expectations. Gorgeous, heartbreaking story with characters I can root for. ✬✬✬✬✬

↠ Internet Famous by Danika Stone. Great depiction of how real online relationships are and of a family with a child with special needs. The romance is too cheesy for me, but it may work for others! ✬✬✬✬

Other Things on the Blog

↠ I discussed the four stages I sometimes through when I discover my favourite is problematic.

↠ I participated in #AsianLitBingo and shared my TBR! I didn't get a bingo, as predicted, but I read 3 books out of 5 so I'm pleased with it.

Challenges Progress

↠ Goodreads challenge: 19/30 books
↠ Discussion challenge: 4/24 discussion posts
↠ ReadDiverse2017 challenge: 6 books
↠ #RockMyTBR challenge:  1 book
↠ Backlist Books challenge: 5 books

Around the Blogosphere

↠ Nicole discusses why rating Middle Grade (and sometimes YA) is hard for her.

↠ Nicole also puts together tips on things that you need to know before opening a Netgalley account.

↠ Jo talks about why she finds it difficult to call herself a diverse book blogger.

↠ Pam responds to Jo's post and talks about how the term 'diverse blogger' may be a bit othering.

↠ Tasya discusses intersectionality in diversity.

↠ Shannon shares the things that have made her a happier blogger.

In Store for Next Month

I have quite the review backlog, so I'm hoping to catch up next month! Watch this space for reviews on Laurinda, Mirror in the Sky, and Olmec Obituary. I also have a very, very late blogoversary post to write up!

How was your May? 

What was the best book you read last month? 

Tell me something exciting/fun that has happened or made you smile recently!