October passed by in a blink of busy work days/weeks, but thankfully, it was massively less stressful than September. I’ve felt slightly jaded lately about my work—what we do, our impact, and the purpose of everything. It’s been making me feel quite demotivated but I’m hoping to shake it off as we near the end of the year.
Other than that, it was a quiet month. I got into a new hobby (mechanical keyboards), bought new vinyl (Gracie Abrams + Sabrina Carpenter), started a new anime (Re:Zero), and made minor upgrades to my desk setup. I also went to the cinema for the first time in years to watch The Wild Robot and loved it so much! 11/10 would recommend. 🥹
My room is beginning to get overcrowded with too many things, especially all the books lying around, and I feel like it’s high time I start trying to reorganize everything. Perhaps I’ll even do a proper unhauling? Let’s see if I can swing it before the year ends!
It was a better reading month and I ended up reading 12 books. None of them quite hit the 5-star mark but there were several that almost did! I’m not sure I can choose a favourite between them but if I was pressed, I’d say Mirrored Heavens. The final book in the Between Heaven & Earth trilogy by Rebecca Roanhorse was a satisfying conclusion to an awesome fantasy series! 🎉
*covers are linked to Goodreads and the text is linked to my review, if available*
*books are arranged by reading order (oldest to newest)*
4.5 pandas
4 pandas
Fevered Star
A Captured Cauldron
Smoky Darling
3.5 pandas
3 pandas
less than 3 pandas
Well, I wouldn’t necessarily classify this month as a success but I did read two backlist titles and October’s book for my Aeldia reading challenge. I need to get myself sorted and catch up on the other prompts that I’ve missed!
✔ Goodreads Reading Challenge: 114/100 books
✔ Project Backlist Reading Challenge: 📚 2 backlist books // 📱 0 backlist ARCs
✔ 2024 Buzzwordathon: October (“relationships”): Miss
✔ 2024 Year in Aeldia: October: Let People Vote on a Poll for this Read: The Crimson Moth
And that’s it for October, friends. How was your month? How was your reading? What was your favourite book and moment of the month? I’d love to know! Hope everyone is doing well and taking care 💜
dinipandareads 
I saw the Wild Robot too, and loved it! I totally wasn’t expecting to at all, but it was so moving and really thoughtful. “Mantras and Minotaurs” sounds like a fun read! 💙
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I thought I was going to be safe from the tears when we got halfway through and I was still dry-eyed but clearly, I thought too early 😂 It was so good! I hope it gets onto a streaming channel so I can watch it again at some point 🙂 Mantras and Minotaurs was very fun and great for if you want to check out this sub-category of romance!
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I plan on going for The Wild Robot! Glad you loved it!
A question I do have, though: How can mechanical keyboards be a hobby? As in collecting them? I’m curious!
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I hope you love The Wild Robot! 😍 And to your question re. mechanical keyboards: collecting and modifying them by changing keycaps and also the switches so it makes different typing sounds and has different typing feels. It’s not exactly cheap but it’s fun to play around and try new switches and change up your keyboard setup! 🤣
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Ooh, I see! Didn’t think of the modifying part, that makes sense, though!
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Honestly, it wasn’t a world I was tuned into until I stumbled across the Panda keyboard I currently own being reviewed by keyboard enthusiasts on YouTube and I’ve now been opened to a whole new world 😂
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YAY I love how much we both loved The Wild Robot!! I also went to the cinema for the first time in a WHILE!lol
Glad you had a lot of good reads and hoping that November gifts you with a 5 star! Oh thanks for reminding me I have to go check out what the prompt for A Year in Aeldia is for this month!
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Every time I remember the prompt for Aeldia (or my other reading challenges) I almost immediately forget it again. 🤣 I just went to check again and in case you haven’t seen it yet, the prompt is “main text starts on page 2 or higher”! I hope you find lots of great reads in November too!
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Ahaha oh no, that makes things a bit difficult doesn’t it😂 Ohh. The one I’m on says ‘favourite author’ seems we parted ways after the ‘cozy/comfort’ book & oh yours sounds tough, I guess you just have to go through all the books you own first lol. Thanks!
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what a fun reading month dini & same here, I’ve been meaning to get to doing a proper unhaul, hope its a success🥰 I’m so glad you enjoyed ‘crimson moth – i’ll have to check back at your review to see your thoughts! ‘the wild robot’ movie sounds like a gem, hoping I can see it soon.
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I hope you can see The Wild Robot soon and that you enjoy it as well! It’s short but impactful I think 🙂 I’m so good at procrastinating I probably won’t get around to sorting or unhauling anything until… well, maybe the end of the month (cautiously optimistic)? 😂 Crimson Moth was a good vibe and I hope you enjoy it if you decide to check it out!
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Looks like you had a really good reading month! I’m starting to deal with a little clutter myself. For me, I think I just need some better storage solutions. It doesn’t help that my oldest currently has most of his stuff packed into my loft and spare room at the moment.
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I definitely need some better storage solutions. I recently got a cupboard with wide squares that fit flexible storage boxes but those have slowly been taken over by… More books 🫣 Books definitely take up most of the space in my room (not that I would have it any other way) but the lack of empty space is starting to get to me, haha. I hope you can find a good storage solution to help with your clutter situation!
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Everyone really loves Wild Robot and I also love the trailer, but I’m scared to actually watch it and because I have a feeling it will cause me to bawl my eyes out at the theater 😭
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Oh, that was definitely me. I was sitting two seats away from another single movie goer on one side and two seats away from a couple on the other side and I was trying so hard to quietly ugly cry. I fear I was not very successful but dang, that movie is so worth the emotional purging!!! 🤭
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Looks like you had a great reading month! I’m sorry you’ve been feeling demotivated lately, hope that gets better soon (but I can relate). Glad to hear you loved The Wild Robot, hope to watch it soon too!
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I hope you love The Wild Robot if you watch it, Lindsey! It’s beautiful storytelling and makes me feel a little more hopeful when things feel so bleak IRL. 😂 I hope November is kind to you and you have a good month ahead!
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You read quite a variety this month. Good job, it seems most were good. I am glad to hear you are finding great ways to channel your energy. New hobbies are a wonderful way to spend time. I think because I was a single mom at 22 and had to support a kid, I was just looking for a job that would help me pay the bills. I do admire that you are hoping for more than that, and I hope you find a role that will allow you to get that fulfillment.
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I wouldn’t say that I’m necessarily hoping for more than having a good job that allows me to indulge in my hobbies. I wouldn’t call myself overly ambitious or anything but I don’t know, with the way the world seems to be turning these days, it’s hard for an overthinker like me to not overthink everything! 😂
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I totally know what you mean about October being over in the blink of an eye. It sounds like you still had a pretty good reading month, though! Here’s to a good November.
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I fear that the remaining months of this year are going to speed by (as usual). I hope you have a good November as well, Nicole! 🙂
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Agreed, I think they will!
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That’s a pretty epic reading month, even if nothing quite hit that 5* mark. I actually went and watched The Wild Robot after you mentioned it and loved it. I cried like a baby, but it was so beautiful. I hope you have an amazing November 🙂
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Wait, what did you end up giving Mirrored Heavens? I don’t know if we talked about our ratings 😂 Haha, you definitely weren’t alone not being dry eyed. It’s such a beautiful and well told story. So glad you loved it! I hope you have an amazing November too, Becky!
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I gave it 4.5 too… I think 😂
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[…] Monthly Wrap-Up: October 2024 […]
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I’m sorry to hear work has been busy and demotivating, I hope you find some more inspiration toward the end of the year! 💞 I’m glad that you had a good reading month though 🥰
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I hope things at work start to feel better soon. The change in the weather is never helpful with any of our feelings.
I feel like my son would like The Wild Robot. But I haven’t really heard anything about it here in the Netherlands huh.
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