流浪神差 21

青之驅魔師 23

執業魔女Pico Pico 06

燄凰:凝秦遺夢 16

獵愛(上、下)

The Alchemists of Loom

The Outs

The Promise Kitchen

The Crooked Sixpence

Food Anatomy

Saturday, December 31, 2022

2022 Year End Recap

(If you have a short reading attention span, feel free to just skip to the actual ranking, which you'd have to click into the blog post to view >:3)

This particular blog post is to first document what was actually published in 2022.

Note: Notice two font sizes below? The regular size matching this sentence and paragraphs above, are my makeup work for before. The smaller size (like this) are the ones that are posted extremely closed to, if not in fact on the exact published date. Those, should there actually be casual viewers of my blog, are hard to miss, since the Blog Archive function reflects them quite well, and the backdated ones are what easily gone unnoticed, hence the emphasis.
  1. [Series Overview] Crown of Coral and Pearl duology - Mara Rutherford
  2. [Series Overview] Loom Saga - Elise Kova
  3. [Series Overview] The Apprentice Witch trilogy - James Nicol
  4. 2021 Year End Recap
  5. [Series Overview] 魔女の宅急便 - 角野栄子 (Majo no Takkyuubin - Eiko Kadono)
  6. [Series Overview] Magisterium - Holly Black & Cassandra Clare
  7. [Series Overview] The Scholomance - Naomi Novik
  8. [Series Overview] The Gilded Wolves trilogy - Roshani Chokshi
  9. [Series Overview] Green Bone Saga - Fonda Lee
  10. [Series Overview] The Blood of Stars - Elizabeth Lim
  11. [Series Overview] Six Crimson Cranes duology - Elizabeth Lim
That said, while I did studiously track all my post, sadly, this very post itself is once again actually published later, in 2023, and again backdated. And I'll explain to you the unfortunate reason as to why:
  • I was doing so very well, and this post had the chance to actually be published on time. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Check 2021 Year End Recap for references. In short, 2022 was the year I got my very first stable full-time job. For people who know me and read my updates on social media in another language, it's not a secret that to me it's a bittersweet post. I like the job itself (as a Librarian), but including myself, it was just a team of three Librarians in my branch and I had one quite subpar coworker (let's call her Ms. A), so as time went by, I have to say, I did get quite fed up with constantly having to clean up after mistakes, either caused by incompetence or miscommunications.
  • Ms. A's then-upcoming departure (2022/10/24, though that was her day off, so her last day was actually 2022/10/23) was made known on 2022/10/6, thus my then-boss had to interview candidates for the vacancy. Suffice to say it wasn't a popular job, so we didn't exactly get a crapload of people to choose from, and the clock was ticking.
  • A new coworker (Ms. A's 1st replacement) started on October 24, and my other remaining colleague (let's call her Ms. B, who was truly a lifesaver) and I tried our best to catch said person up to speed, and just when we were done, evidently it was too much for that person, and she informed us of her resignation on 2022/10/30. (For those who are wondering, at that point she's worked for just 5 days.) So it was back to square one, more interviews for my then-boss.
  • We got our 2nd new coworker (Ms. A's 2nd replacement, let's call her Ms. C) on November 2, and I won't dwell on how utterly a horrible fit this Ms. C is to the job, it's not worth it. Like the previous newcomer, C was also very slow to learn, and there were other issues.
  • During this period, Ms. B found a better job and her last day was to be November 23. I was eventually left to deal with two newbies, with the newer newcomer (Ms. B's replacement, let's call her Ms. D) also turning out to not be a quick learner.
  • Both Ms. C & D made A LOT OF mistakes by the start of December; D just joined so it was easier to cut her some slack, but C had been working for a month by then, it was ridiculous, so for my own sanity I called her out on it, and boy did she not take it well, throwing a tantrum, also announcing her "apparent" resignation on December 6, with her "supposed" last day to be December 16. Around a week after C's inappropriate behavior, she meekly admitted that she'd be staying after all.
  • I won't waste more swears on this; to sum up, C is a backstabber and my former boss is a dick. I'm totally cool with saying this publicly, as I have nothing to hide. I'm contract-based, and it's a yearly contract. My then-boss decided to not renew mine, and it was her decision, but she didn't have the decency to admit it, and tried to make it as if my company was the one who came up with this idea. If I had to guess, my then-boss probably made up her mind when C threw that tantrum, but I would never know for sure.
  • It was purely accidental that I had things to discuss with my HR on December 19 that the HR brought up the topic, and informed me that my contract won't be renewed. And the actual confirmation that this was nonnegotiable, was on December 21. By then I only had two off-days left, my last day of work was to be December 31. I was left in an incredibly shitty situation, with my off-days fixed and with absolutely no way to get extra days off to be interviewed.
  • And wasn't that just hella stressful and dramatic? My entire family's Christmas was ruined because I was facing the unknown and very likely would become jobless at the start of the upcoming year. But I'm here, which means I'm obviously in an okay enough state to be able to do this. I won't bore you with the blow-by-blow details, but yes, I do have bragging rights, and I would love to shove it in the faces of those who wronged me, but as time is too precious for continuing insignificant anger, this will do. By December 27, I actually pretty much secured two job offers, which are both superior in various ways comparing to what my then-current Librarian job had to offer. But I wanted to be sure and not just take whatever that'd have me on the spot.
  • By 2023/01/04, another one was in the bag, with one just as close, with its final interview scheduled on January 7. I also had three other interviews scheduled. On January 5, I went to one that we (as in my family and I myself) all thought I had little chance of actually getting, as it's again government environment but much more serious, with heavier responsibilities, comparing to working at a branch of our capital's public library. We were wrong. I got the offer two hours after the interview, and started working the very next day.
Okay, so in case it wasn't obvious. While I had reasonably become busier in 2022 due to RL responsibilities, it wasn't until October that it went downhill, and mind you, I was even relatively coping, managing to still bust out some blog posts by mid November, but December was just hell.

I know, from all the statements above, it could easily look like "I was the actual problematic person thus had to be let go", but lmao, I really wasn't, and that's the only reason why I'm able to laugh it off, because the way my former boss handled that branch was just, immature and very amateur. Believe me when I say, my remaining reading plans for 2022 went to dust that last month thanks to my last job. I'm not going to lie, we (my family and I) all agree that, lol, ultimately, I have my then-boss to thank, because I ended up in a much, much, better place. BUT, that was not at all her intention. She really could have handled it more professionally and gracefully, with her way there's just no respect to give, as she deserves none.

Anyways, as of 2023/05/27, according to the Blog Archive function, I have 8 posts published in 2022, none at this point were backdated, and I did try to maintain being productive. That one particular post that was more than 90% done back in 2021, still couldn't make it in 2022, hopefully I could manage to get it out in 2023. Spoilers alert, because of my RL job, 2023's post def. won't be as lengthy as this one! Fingers crossed there'd be no more drama! lol

2022 Reading Challenge

2022 Reading Challenge
Sammm has read 23 books toward her goal of 30 books.
hide
It's because of 2022's unusual circumstances that resulted in the first part being rather large. I hope people are patient enough to reach this part, lmao. On Goodreads, there's the My Year in Books function they provided that give some statistics, [check out mine for 2022!] (My GR profile is set for GR Users only, so this one, you'd have to login in order to view.) There's also the Goodreads Year in Review, [read mine!] (no GR account required.)

So what's different here is that I'm going to rank what I've read, but limited to series that concluded in this year and the year before. Notice how 2022 is the first year to differ from other Year End Recap posts? Yup, it's because I fear there'd be no point of making a ranking list had I not included the two-year duration from the start. And, ladies and gents, drum roll....!

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

[Series Overview] Pandava - Roshani Chokshi

I started this series on: November 30, 2022
I finished this series on: December 8, 2022 (main series)
Cover editions here updated on: December 3, 2023
Written content here updated on: December 8, 2023

Disclaimer, one you'd see on multiple posts
As I struggled to decide which book series to cover overviews for, it dawned to me that I'd never get started at this rate. It became clear to me that, it's rather unlikely for me to use this blog as my "main" reviewing spot since I have Goodreads for that, and chances of someone miraculously stumbling across this blog out of the countless ones out there, is just rather slim, therefore, I'd put up links to my GR reviews (in English,) and this post would be in Chinese for people who are curious about the series but either aren't comfortable with or just don't prefer reading in English.

Please also note that, sometimes I don't have time to write actual reviews, HOWEVER, I do always put down thoughts when I document my reading status updates, so for GR desktop users, remember to scroll down if it appears to contain little, it'd be under the quotes I liked from that book (when applicable lol;) for mobile app users, remember to switch to "Reading Activity," which would not be the default as "Review" is.

Goodreads Choice Award:五集都入圍Middle Grade & Children's(20182019202020212022)(註:GR在2021刪除合併不少獎項,這分類名稱維持Middle Grade & Children's,但實際上涵蓋以前的Picture Books提名,就是說MG入圍席次其實有變少。)

第一集的film rights在2018年4月(第一集書出版不久後),就宣布由Paramount Pictures取得[Deadline],但之後就完全沒有消息。至於為什麼這篇網誌還是標上了adapted,是因為後來真的有被改編,不過媒介是graphic novel xDDDD 2021年6月公布最後一集封面時同時才分享確定改編的消息[Read Riordan],作者感覺對於改編結果是開心的[Read Riordan]~不知道後面會不會繼續改編就是了。 



The actual review is, as usual, WIP, but like I said above, getting the post out there first.

GR stats (linking default edition) Editions I'm privy to
[Read My Review!]
[Read My Review!]
[Read My Review!]
[Read My Review!]
[Read My Review!]

Author: Unofficial:
Series: Unofficial:




Disclaimer, one you'd see on multiple posts
The following section, basically a gallery of editions around the world with different book cover art, is largely inspired by treatments of fellow blogger Amethyst, who unfortunately hasn't done those types of blog posts for a while.

Please DO NOT mistaken the following to be all existing editions; I'm only including completed sets with matching designs. All clickable images are linked to respective editions on GR; people, shelving correct editions ain't that hard. Highly recommend accurate shelving. =D



American English | 美式英文




British English | 英式英文


英國本來第一集有真的完全不同的封面[Goodreads頁面],我覺得跟Rick Riordan一些作品最初的英版感覺有點像,但到第二集開始就全部用美版的插畫去做變動了。第一集後來有以同ISBN出reprint edition換上同風格封面(如上方,不過只有這一集標題是黃色實在也有點搞笑,統一很困難嗎🙄)。我讀完這系列的當下(2022年12月)應該還沒有人在GR上做reprint edition的頁面,所以我這網誌就一直擱置了😅 中間也有一度覺得還是不要放,或是等徳版全部出完再說,但我覺得美版第三四五集人物佔封面的比例其實偏小,所以英版的會感覺調動相對較多,就還是算成有到達我的標準好了xP(也就看完隔了一年後終於發文囉~~)

Saturday, November 19, 2022

[Series Overview] The Book of Tea - Judy I. Lin

I started this series on: November 18, 2022
I finished this series on: November 21, 2022
Cover editions here updated on: January 8, 2024
Written content here updated on: November 21, 2022

Disclaimer, one you'd see on multiple posts
As I struggled to decide which book series to cover overviews for, it dawned to me that I'd never get started at this rate. It became clear to me that, it's rather unlikely for me to use this blog as my "main" reviewing spot since I have Goodreads for that, and chances of someone miraculously stumbling across this blog out of the countless ones out there, is just rather slim, therefore, I'd put up links to my GR reviews (in English,) and this post would be in Chinese for people who are curious about the series but either aren't comfortable with or just don't prefer reading in English.

Please also note that, sometimes I don't have time to write actual reviews, HOWEVER, I do always put down thoughts when I document my reading status updates, so for GR desktop users, remember to scroll down if it appears to contain little, it'd be under the quotes I liked from that book (when applicable lol;) for mobile app users, remember to switch to "Reading Activity," which would not be the default as "Review" is.

Goodreads Choice Award:第一集入圍Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction(2022

我需要重溫xDDDD 作者明顯在世界觀上有很多設定,但是初步看英文讀者不太買單?我自己是懷疑問題不見得在於本作,只是西方國家不習慣東方名詞那樣。

最初看到很認真的glossary真的非常有印象笑死(以我電腦螢幕的大小,電子書這部份共4頁)只能說這作者至少有藉機教育讀者,也讓懂中文的人知道在共三小之類的😝 然後感謝網友Sabrina貼心指出神農,我當時說不出的違和感www 我心裡想的是神農(笑死)。除了有自創的詞,也有比較有用(?)的詞,像當歸😅(我其實只是聽過 到底有沒有吃過都不確定)黃耆(同上😂)昆布甘草覆盆子等(終於有我真的知道的東西了哈哈)

作者真的有教中文😝 我竟然看得懂,土包子😂😂😂 但glossary沒有好可惜(喂)(不過總覺得土包子的解釋跟我認知中不同😅)除了土包子之外,前面其實也有玉樹臨風(是這樣寫嗎我中文不好😂)有點忘了後來還有沒有別的(這部我真的有時間的話需要複習~)

總之,論第一集,我是覺得至少跟Spin the Dawn(The Blood of Stars的第一集)差不多(但因為很多食物而且人名正常所以我還比較喜歡那樣😝)

第二集讓我最有印象的是有聲書我覺得相當殘念,女生換人演繹然後我覺得那個人完全沒有感情xDDDD

這系列我覺得沒有特別好看但更不特別難看,它對我來說最值得讚賞的就是很認真想文化交流,這才是貨真價實own-voice。

The actual review is, as usual, WIP, but like I said above, getting the post out there first.

GR stats (links and covers represented by default edition) Editions I'm privy to
[Read My Review!]
[Read My Review!]

Author:

Disclaimer, one you'd see on multiple posts
The following section, basically a gallery of editions around the world with different book cover art, is largely inspired by treatments of fellow blogger Amethyst, who unfortunately hasn't done those types of blog posts for a while.

Please DO NOT mistaken the following to be all existing editions; I'm only including completed sets with matching designs. All clickable images are linked to respective editions on GR; people, shelving correct editions ain't that hard. Highly recommend accurate shelving. =D


American English | 美式英文

封面由中国裔繪師Sija Hong繪製[繪師官網],我覺得是超級出乎意料外的配色(色彩本身超漂亮,但跟書的主題有點難聯想)。 不是很懂頭髮飄擺的原理。不是這繪師我最欣賞的封面(但很多人喜歡就是了~)

español | Spanish | 西班牙文

嘛... 我幾乎就要標español de México了,但真的沒有百分百確定,就先算了xDDD 西班牙文版本,唯一能肯定的是在西班牙出版的就不是這版xP 西班牙是由一個相對超新(2021成立)的小規模出版社代理,出版社名字還是日文xP Monogatari(會一直找到化物語wwww)使用的是原版封面。而這版imprint的母出版社Planeta算大,不過雖然網域有很多,我在別的網域(例如阿根廷)找到這書的時候,也都還是有特別標說地區是墨西哥,所以我旗子就先只放它的了~知道實情的人歡迎告知!



Cover editions update log:
  • 2024/01/08: Mexican Spanish

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

[Series Overview] Six Crimson Cranes duology - Elizabeth Lim

I started this series on: November 16, 2022
I finished this series on: November 17, 2022
Cover editions here updated on: November 16, 2022
Written content here updated on: January 15, 2024

Disclaimer, one you'd see on multiple posts
As I struggled to decide which book series to cover overviews for, it dawned to me that I'd never get started at this rate. It became clear to me that, it's rather unlikely for me to use this blog as my "main" reviewing spot since I have Goodreads for that, and chances of someone miraculously stumbling across this blog out of the countless ones out there, is just rather slim, therefore, I'd put up links to my GR reviews (in English,) and this post would be in Chinese for people who are curious about the series but either aren't comfortable with or just don't prefer reading in English.

Please also note that, sometimes I don't have time to write actual reviews, HOWEVER, I do always put down thoughts when I document my reading status updates, so for GR desktop users, remember to scroll down if it appears to contain little, it'd be under the quotes I liked from that book (when applicable lol;) for mobile app users, remember to switch to "Reading Activity," which would not be the default as "Review" is.

Goodreads Choice Award:兩集都入圍Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction(20212022

同世界觀:The Blood of Stars duology



The actual review is, as usual, WIP, but like I said above, getting the post out there first.

GR stats (linking default edition) Editions I'm privy to
[Read My Review!]
[Read My Review!]

Author:
Series: Unofficial:

Disclaimer, one you'd see on multiple posts
The following section, basically a gallery of editions around the world with different book cover art, is largely inspired by treatments of fellow blogger Amethyst, who unfortunately hasn't done those types of blog posts for a while.

Please DO NOT mistaken the following to be all existing editions; I'm only including completed sets with matching designs. All clickable images are linked to respective editions on GR; people, shelving correct editions ain't that hard. Highly recommend accurate shelving. =D



American English | 美式英文

與前作相同由Tran Nguyen繪製[繪師官網]

British English | 英式英文

與前作相同由Kelly Chong繪製[繪師官網]

Deutsch | German | 德文
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