Friday 29 April 2016

[APRIL UPDATE] Cephalopod Book Club & Goals




I'm still alive, I swear! (see? here I am)

~ The Cephalopod Coffeehouse Book Club : April Edition ~

This series was recommended by a friend, who said she devoured them over a short week-long stay in a holiday resort. I was quite eager to get started on book #1, as a result.

It's been quite a wait between finishing this book and writing up the review. So I'm not entirely clear on what I was feeling when I did finish it. I do know that at the time, the next two books in the series had not yet arrived at my place from Book Depository, so I had to read something else in the meantime. I'm still reading that "something else" (book #3 in a trilogy), but soon I'll be ready to jump into the next book in the Selection series.

Back on point, perhaps? I did enjoy this read, however I'm not the biggest fan of love triangles, so I guess I was maybe bordering on 'bored' when it came to America and her lurve woes. It doesn't help that I'm not particularly sold on either America's love from back home, or the Prince. I don't seem to have any feels either way. So maybe I need to read on, and figure out whose team I'm on!

The writing was good and I did find myself gripped (a little bit) by the bitchy drama of a post-apocalyptic reality show. But you might say I wasn't totally enthralled and engrossed. I think one thing that might be bothering me slightly is that there doesn't seem to be much romantic struggle for America, except that she is into two guys and they're both into her (woe is her). Anyway, maybe book #2 is what it will take to get me really sucked in. Time will tell!

Since this was the only book I finished during April so far (except for two re-reads that don't count, according to my rules), I had to choose this book.

Currently Reading: Rachel Hawkins's Spell Bound (Hex Hall, #3)





DO I HAVE GOALS? Why yes, I do. But most of them aren't going anywhere. :(

I feel like it's all I can do to get my study done, get my work week done, and feed all the cats (and myself too). This may be why I haven't posted anything since Feb, and missed last month's update. Sorry, booo.

Anyway, I did achieve ONE thing since I last updated. I sent off not one, not two, not three, but SIX songs to my bandmate, considering them "finished" and ready for the final mixes and so on. In truth, I hardly ever consider a song finished, and I am hardly ever happy with the final take I send off to my bandmate. Thankfully he knows how to make them sound epic, and we also pay to get them professionally mastered, which makes them sound mindblowingly awesome (by comparison). So there's that. But being a perfectionist, it can be hard to admit defeat and send off a song "as is".

In one case, I told my bandmate that I couldn't imagine being able to improve on what I had already done, even though I wasn't particularly happy with what I had done. And one of the songs I like the vocals for least, he considers one of his favourites. So I guess it's a matter of opinion! That one I haven't yet sent off to him.

SO, that's where I'm at with my goals. Don't even ask about my novels.

I hope you're all doing well. :)


P.S. Well done to anyone who's got through the A to Z!
Most years I have participated, but no way was it happening this year.
I admire everyone who has done it this year. :)
I'm gonna have to go and visit some blogs!

P.P.S. Our new album is tentatively titled "Oblivion".
We both came up with the same idea separately,
so I feel like it's meant to be!

11 comments:

  1. Six songs is quite an accomplishment. Keep us posted on the progress of Oblivion.

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  2. Congratulations on your song-writing!
    I know what it feels like to just get through each week's worth of work, and sometimes that's just where we are. I'm sure you'll break through it!

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  3. Congrats on getting six songs done. Oblivion is a cool name for an album. :-)

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  4. Six songs is nothing to sneeze at. Keep those cats fed and stay on top of your studies.

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  5. Congratulations on your song-writing! So exciting!

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  6. One thing achieved is better than no things! It gets better. Keep on trying.

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  7. Love triangles don't turn up in too many of my books... Doesn't sound like this one did much for you, though it's encouraging that you're inclined to read more of the series.

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  8. If the first book at least inspired you to want to read the second book, then that must say something about the series, right? Maybe the second book is where the story will really take off.

    Congrats on the completion of six songs. I have friends who are songwriters, and had dabbled in that myself, so I know how hard it can be. That's an amazing achievement! And I concur with Misha—Oblivion is an excellent name for an album!

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  9. Heh heh, well, I was going to ask about your novels, so now I won't. Go girl with the songs. I'm sure they're super awesome. Your life is pretty busy. Looking forward to what you accomplish in June!

    Denise :-)

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  10. Congrats on the six songs. And I totally did not make it through A-Z

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  11. I've also heard folks had issues with the love triangle. Hope you're keeping that momentum going!
    V:)

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Thanks for your words, me hearties! and don't forget to leave a link to your blog somewhere I can find it!