Currently Obsessed With is a once-a-month feature where I talking about my favorite things from the last month.

I can’t believe it’s July already!  Where has the year gone?  It feels like it was January just yesterday!

Books:

I bought a few books this month- I bought Now I Rise by Kiersten White, Glitter by Aprilynne Pike, Escape Velocity by Jason Hough, and Love Real Food by Katheryne Taylor in print.  I also bought On The Edge Of Gone and Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis, Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova, and the Nook version of And I Darken by Kiersten White, all of which are e-books.  I haven’t settled on my audible pick- nothing’s jumping out at me, but maybe something will later on.

I’ve also been getting audio books from Audio Book Sync, but the choices this year aren’t as appealing as the picks from previous years.  I’ll give them a try, though, because maybe I’ll end liking some of them.

Crochet:

I haven’t been crocheting a lot- the blanket is officially on hold until it’s cool enough to work on it again, but I haven’t picked up anything else.  I think last month I mentioned ordering an embroidery kit, which finally arrived in the mail, but has been sitting in my yarn basket since getting it.  I might pick it up, but I might go with something else. I haven’t been in much of a crocheting mood, but at least I have a few projects in mind for when I do pick up my yarn and hooks.

T.V./Movies:

I haven’t seen any movies, and I haven’t watched a lot of t.v. either.  I did watch The Keepers on Netflix, which I really liked.  It was more about the abuse that some girls at Keough High School experienced, and the lasting effects that it had, rather than the murder of Sister Catherine Cesnik.  Her murder is still unsolved, but it was horrifying to see what some of the students had to go through, and how nothing was done.  My question is this, though: why Cesnik?  It sounds like a lot of the teachers knew what was happening, so why her?  It could have been any one of the teachers.  Anyway, it was still interesting to watch.  I’m not sure what to watch next, since I have been in much of a mood to watch anything.  I have a shortlist, but I can’t decide, since I’m not in the mood for anything right now.

Around The Internet: 

• Here are 7 ways to support the diverse book movement.
• There are a lot of ways to shelve books on Goodreads.  I tend to be broad, because having a lot shelves really bugs me, but it is interesting to see how other people use the shelving system.
• Here are some really cool Etsy shops for book lovers that I need to check out.
• While I’m at it, I might as well get some of these candles inspired by YA heroines.  Which reminds me, maybe I should order some new wax melts for that warmer we have…I think bookish may be the way to go.
• A school in Maryland gives away 2000+ books to jump-start summer reading.  That’s pretty cool, and I like hearing stories like this.
• YA really is a broad spectrum, in terms of age.
• OF COURSE GRYFFINDOR MERCHANDISE SELLS MORE THAN ANY OTHER HOUSE, BECAUSE THAT’S 90% OF THE MERCHANDISE OUT THERE.  Sorry for shouting, but it’s true.  I know Harry’s a Gryffindor, and they hate Slyherin’s (which, in my estimation is probably 5% of the merchandise out there), but still, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW HARD IT IS TO FIND EVEN RAVENCLAW MERCH, MUCH LESS HUFFLEPUFF?  It’s possible, of course, but I feel like I have to really dig through house merch to find something that’s not Gryffindor or Slytherin.
• I would like to add a 6th item to this list of when to get rid of books– when you have outgrown the book and haven’t read it in years, and probably won’t read it again.  Months ago, I culled my books, and got rid of quite a few books that I haven’t read it years, and probably won’t pick up again, and it was really nice, actually, because it freed up room for books I will read.
• Handwriting things is still really important.
• I liked this piece about disability in society.  And also this one about how stories about disability don’t have to be sad.
• There is nothing wrong with shopping in the YA section.  Absolutely nothing.
• I think we can all benefit from learning about different ethnic groups, and it makes me sad that in Arizona, students don’t have that opportunity.  They do mention why Arizona passed the law, but it makes me sad that people find ethnic studies threatening to the point that they will pass a law so it can’t be taught.
• In other school curriculum news, this summer reading list seems really slanted.  You really need to have opposing views, and having one side, but not the other…it’s not good.

June Things:

I went to the launch party for Now I Rise by Kiersten White!  It was a lot of fun, and it made me really excited to read it.  I’m not done with the book yet, but I really love Lada.  She’s willing to do whatever she can to help Wallachia, and she really cares about her country.  You know how with trilogies, the middle book feels like a bridge between the 1st and 3rd book?  You don’t get that with this book at all, which is really nice and completely awesome.

I loved hearing her talk about some of her upcoming projects, and writing this series (and writing in general).  I really need to take notes or something during author events because there are so many things I want to talk about, and then I don’t because I forget the really interesting stuff.  I did like what she said about how she likes to explore questions, and that she might not have written some of her earlier books now, because it was something she needed to explore at that time.

I got a new job!  It’s with the same company, but a different position.  I wasn’t expecting to get it, but I’m glad I did.  I didn’t realize how much I needed to change positions until I actually did, and I’ll be glad once they hire someone for my old job so I can focus on the new one.

July:

July Fourth is almost here, and I have no plans.  Maybe I’ll go see some fireworks, but then again, by the time that comes around, I might be too lazy to leave the house.  July looks like it’ll be pretty uneventful, at least at this point.

Music/Podcasts:

I’ve been on a trying-to-catch-up-on-podcasts kick lately, so no music choices for today.  If anyone has any music recommendations, I am completely willing to check out it.  I make no promises about actually liking it, but there’s no harm in trying, right?  I also have no new podcast recommendations, because I’m pretty sure I’ve shared all of the ones I would have talked about, but maybe next month I’ll have something.

Have a great week, and for those in the U.S., I hope tomorrow is full of fun and food!