December Wrap-Up & What to Expect in January
12:00:00 PMWhat a crazy busy month December was from beginning to end! I was swamped the first two weeks with yearbook deadlines, college acceptance craziness, finals, and schoolwork leading up to winter break. During break, I will admit I probably spent more time playing video games I got for Christmas rather than reading, but it was a nice and relaxing way to spend break. I know my wrap-up is a few days late, but hopefully you don't mind as I was in the midst of Christmas and New Year's craze - speaking of which, HAPPY 2016!!!!
December Wrap-Up
Books I Read:
- The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
-review
-playlist coming soon! - Passenger by Alexandra Bracken (current read)
-review + playlist coming soon!
What I Played Most:
Can't Stop Listening To:
Rise of the Tomb Raider
The long-awaited sequel to the 2013 game Tomb Raider, this game is equally as heart-pounding and challenging. It's packed full of classic puzzle-style gameplay, while still incorporating the elements of a first person shooter we know and love from the previous games. I've been a die-hard Lara Croft fan for pretty much my entire life; it's the first video game my dad would let me sit on his lap and watch him play, before I was old enough to learn how to work the controls and play on my own. We would buy each game as it came out for the PC, before we eventually transitioned to the Xbox. These games and this character hold a very special sentimental place in my heart, and after years of playing through Lara's countless adventures, it's quite interesting and satisfying that we get a backstory. Rise of the Tomb Raider seems as though it took notes from what could have been improved in the first game, and the use of more gadgets and more ways to explore have been the icing on the cake. I got the game as a Christmas present, and it's only taken me about four days of playing to reach 48% completion in the game, it's that immersive and that extensive.
Bioshock 2
Sequel to Bioshock, I've had the three games in the franchise for a couple of years now. Having played Bioshock as a kid, replaying it recently, and playing Infinite shortly after it came out, I'm not sure why I never played the second game. Often passed off for the most boring or pointless in the series, I disagree. Though we are still in Rapture as we play, we get to play through the game as a Big Daddy as you fight to bring down the notorious Dr. Lamb and find your missing daughter. The plot is nowhere near as cerebral as that of the first game or Infinite, but it certainly has its merits in that it brings more unique ways to play and a fresh story to the table.
Bioshock 2
Sequel to Bioshock, I've had the three games in the franchise for a couple of years now. Having played Bioshock as a kid, replaying it recently, and playing Infinite shortly after it came out, I'm not sure why I never played the second game. Often passed off for the most boring or pointless in the series, I disagree. Though we are still in Rapture as we play, we get to play through the game as a Big Daddy as you fight to bring down the notorious Dr. Lamb and find your missing daughter. The plot is nowhere near as cerebral as that of the first game or Infinite, but it certainly has its merits in that it brings more unique ways to play and a fresh story to the table.
Can't Stop Listening To:
Breakfast At Tiffany's:
Music from the Motion Picture, Scored and Directed by Henry Mancini
Music from the Motion Picture, Scored and Directed by Henry Mancini
Likely my favorite Christmas present this year was the new record player I was gifted. An Audio Technica, it replaced the record player that had originally belonged to my brother that had spent more than a few months in his garage, riddled with dust and cat hair... This new beauty makes my old one pale in comparison, and along with my record player I was gifted some of my favorite albums on vinyl, such as Coldplay's Viva la Vida and the Beatles' Sergeant Pepper's. The vinyl that meant the most to me, however was the original soundtrack for Breakfast at Tiffany's. I collect Audrey Hepburn memorabilia and art whenever possible, and my favorite movie of hers is Breakfast at Tiffany's. The soundtrack is an original pressing from the 1960s and in very good playable condition. The soundtrack features the iconic sounds of 60's jazz, popping and bright, snappy and quick as the movies they often scored. This album is no exception, and it paints every scene of the movie clearly in my mind each time I listen to it. My favorites off the album are Moon River, Something for Cat, and Holly.
Hello, January!
(and hello, 2016!)
(and hello, 2016!)
What's Coming Up This Month:
- As a member of Evelyn Skye's Tsar's Guard, I'll be participating in a blog tour for her upcoming debut novel, The Crown's Game! Keep your eyes peeled on the 16th for my post in the parade and maybe even a chance for a giveaway!
- I'm aiming to make this a month of playlists, with a grand total of 4 that I hope to post before the end of the month! These playlists will be for The Darkest Minds, Red Queen, Passenger, and The Crown's Game; this roughly translates to a playlist per week! It's ambitious, as I form my playlists over time and edit them right up until the moment I post them. Even then, I still often will edit them after posting them. Hopefully I'll get one up every Saturday this month, give or take. So wish me luck!
- My birthday is at the end of this month, on the 28th! I'll be turning 18, which means I'll legally be an adult. Although, we all know I'm likely going to continue eating dinosaur chicken nuggets, watching Disney Movies, and just generally acting like a kid until I go to my grave.
January TBR:
- Double Life by S. Usher Evans
- Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard
- Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman
2 comments
Oh yay I'm glad that you're going to read Illuminae! It sounds like you had a really great break, hopefully your January continues to be good. <3
ReplyDeleteI know, I've had it on my list for months now! I'm so excited to finally read it!! Thanks girlie, I hope your new year is going well so far too!
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