ursa’s logbook: september wrap-up, highlights and starting a new job

~ ursareads

September is already over!

Am I the only one who thinks this month went by in the blink of an eye? We’re already in the last quarter of the year, and this chaotic year is almost over! Meanwhile, we still have to endure it, but at least September wasn’t such a chaotic month for me. So! It’s time for a little wrap-up: what happened this month to me, and on Ursa Reads?

In Real-Life updates

I started a new job! Well, it’s actually an internship, but full time. I now work 35 hours per week in a small publishing house and I couldn’t be happier. It is tiring yes, as I’m not quite used yet to work that much, but so satisfying!
If you don’t know yet, I’m a student in Literature and Cultural mediation, i.e. anything related to books, basically. I already work for lit festivals and in bookshops, and I had yet to complete the holy trinity of my studies by working in a publishing house: this is now done! I’ll occupy this post for four months — meaning I’ll start 2021 jobless, talk of a good omen… — and I’m in charge of social media and communication for the publishing house. As a book blogger, this is actually quite interesting to see that whole industry from a different perspective, and I’ll surely use that experience for Ursa Reads!

I’m still a student, and I’m in my last year, aka the year of the thesis. Yay. So excited (no). I have till May to work on that, and yes I still have time, but I’m already stressing about it. I started to do some researches and reading things, but most of my sources are 10 years old at least, and not really up to date. Plus, I did not choose an easy subject either — online mediation’s benefits for small publishing houses — and it is hard to really define what is online mediation and how it is different from communication. And since my director decided to not answer my e-mails… Yeah, a bit of stress for that. But I’m trying to not let it get over my head, and relativize: I still have time!

Reading Wrap-up

I read 4 books in September, it’s not much, and I could explain it by the fact I have less time and energy with my new job. Nevertheless, it was quite a good month regarding what I read, as I gave an average rating of 4.375 stars.

42036538 42036538

The Gilded Wolves: It. Was. So. Good. This book directly hits my Top 5 of the year, if not ever. Seriously, I kinda regret getting to read it so late ?? But also, I had less to wait for the second book, The Silvered Serpents, who was published a few weeks after I finished The Gilded Wolves. If you haven’t already: do yourselves the favor to read it. A diverse ensemble cast going on a fantastical heist in 19th century Paris? Consider me sold (and even more since I read it). I cannot wait to get my hands on The Silvered Serpents and to get back to my children.

Read my full review of The Gilded Wolves :

The Tea Dragon Society: This one was so cute!! The Tea Dragon Society is one of the 8 books I wish to read before the end of the year, and that’s now done! I really loved the cute story — about dragons making tea, ancient legacies, and the relationships we make in our lives — and the beautiful drawings that went with it. It’s just the perfect comic for a rainy evening, to read under a warm blanket and with a fuming tea. The only downside to this book: I hadn’t had enough, haha.

42036538 42036538

The Heart’s Invisible Furies: This one was another of the 8 books I’d like to read before the end of the year, and I had some mixed feelings at first, the second part unsettling me a bit but I kept on reading it because I trust my friend’s lit recommendations. And honestly? I was right (and so was she). The Heart’s Invisibles Furies is the heartfelt story of Cyril, an Irish gay man, from a few months before its birth to the end of his life. We follow him every seven years, from the very conservative Dublin to New York City at the beginning of the HIV crisis, passing by the free-minded Amsterdam… And what makes The Heart’s Invisibles Furies so interesting is all this background that the author gives us, about the gay community throughout the world and the years.

Diner à Montréal: I read this one for a buddy read with the same friend that recommended me The Heart’s Invisible Furies, as I read the first book of this kind-of duology with her already. And as always, I loved it! It was a really short novel and we read it over a weekend, and it was really nice to found out what the characters had become. I loved the open ending, and all the possibilities it left. If there is no third novel, my imagination is sure is going to make up for it!

September Highlights

Ursa Reads, the blog, celebrated its first month anniversary! When I started it one month ago, I didn’t think I would get that much love this fast, but I’m really proud of how my blog is doing, and that is thanks to you all!! So a big thank you to everyone who decided to give me a bit of their time, to everyone who likes and comments on my posts, who follows me here and on Twitter, who engages with me… I’m so glad to have met you. I hope Ursa Reads will have a long life, and that a lot of you will keep joining me in the travels through my bookshelves. The more, the merrier!

And here is the top 3 of your favorite posts this month on Ursa Reads:

What have you been up to this month, travelers?
Anything good on your radars?

Rejoignez les 336 autres abonnés

6 commentaires sur “ursa’s logbook: september wrap-up, highlights and starting a new job”

  1. Loved reading your wrap-up! And congratulations on your interview! It’s understandable that you’ll have lesser time to read now but it’s alright, we all struggle with balancing time haha.

    J’aime

    Réponse

Laisser un commentaire