What a month August was! I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels like August is a month of transition. Perhaps this feeling has been instilled in me from decades of back-to-school prep, but it nevertheless rings true every year. Here’s what I’ve been up to this past month:
In August I read a total of 3 books:
- Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- Tell Me How It Ends: An Essay in Forty Questions by Valeria Luiselli
- Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions definitely wins the Favorite Book of the Month award from me in August. This text is incredibly empowering and thought-provoking and I would highly recommend it!
I wasn’t able to read much this month, but I’m still happy with what I did manage to read considering all that I was busy with otherwise. Hopefully I can squeak in some extra reading besides what’s required of me during this semester.
+ MOVIE: I actually didn’t watch any movies in the month of August. *gasp!* I was so busy trying to wrap everything up at home before moving back to campus for the start of the semester that my movie list went unwatched. However, I did listen to several great podcasts, including one of my new favorites: S-Town. Would highly recommend!
+ MUSIC: Lately I’ve been listening to Brockhampton, which has been an interesting time. The playlist I listened to on my commute during my last week of summer was a mix of rap and Disney songs, which pretty much sums up what a transition point in the year I’m in.
+ FOOD: Definitely burritos from the local place near my home in New Hampshire. I always make sure to go there a few times each summer before I have to leave for school.
+ PLACE: Ah, isn’t this the ultimate question this month? Moving back to Wheaton after an entire year away has been a strange and lovely experience, and I’m happy to say that the suite I now share with my friends has quickly become a favorite place this month.
What a month! August encompassed the last couple weeks of my summer as well as my move back to Wheaton after an entire year of being away. It’s been strange and overwhelming to be back in such a familiar place where I don’t know most of the students anymore, since most of the people I was close to outside of my class year have graduated. So many aspects of Wheaton are the same, yet many are so different that it makes me feel like a freshman again in some instances. At first I was taken aback, but fortunately I adjusted fairly quickly with the help of friends. The mountains of work have already begun to pile up, so there hasn’t been much time to wallow.

Also, can we just take a second to talk about how I’m a senior. I still can’t believe that this is my last year at Wheaton. Where has the time gone? It feels even shorter since I studied abroad, as though there should somehow be an extra year to make up for the one I didn’t experience here. However, part of me does feel ready to complete this year and take on a new path. I have a feeling that this year will be filled with the unexpected!
Here are some notable posts from my blog this past month:
- Jurassic Park Book Tag
- A Classic Couple: Romeo & Juliet and The Hunger Games
- So you’ve just come back from studying abroad…. now what? | Holly Goes Abroad
- How I Came to Study English in College (and why I stayed that way)
Here are some posts that I loved reading this month:
- Rachel shares recommendations for books written by women in translation
- Ali gives tips on how to take bookstagram photos efficiently
- Lory discusses the enjoyment of rereading books
- Lashaan lists the many ways bookworms decide what to read next
How was your month of August? What was the best book you read? Did you do anything really fun or exciting? Let me know in the comments section below!
Yours,
HOLLY
Oh my gosh, S Town is so addicting and so unsettling!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
RIGHT?! I couldn’t stop listening to it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought about writing an August wrap-up post and then I looked and realized that I only read one book in August…so that would be a short wrap up xD
I have some friends who are obsessed with S Town! It’s not my cup of tea, but I do love podcasts
LikeLiked by 1 person
S Town is SO GOOD, although I feel like it’s one of those things you either love or hate. Do you have a favorite podcast?
LikeLike
OH I’m so happy you settled back in well thanks to your friends, that’s fantastic, it has to be a bit difficult to do so after such a long time being away. I hope you’ll have a great September, Holly! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Marie! ❤ It's definitely a huge transition, but getting back into the swing of things with classes/activities and being surrounded by so many great people helps immensely ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wanna try burritos ❣
LikeLiked by 1 person
They’re amazing 🙂
LikeLike
Ohh do you have a review for Like Water for Chocolate??
LikeLiked by 1 person
Soon! I’ll be posting it later this month 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! Looking forward!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It sounds like you had a busy but fulfilling month! My August was quite hectic, but I generally kept afloat and got another job and wrote some things which I’m genuinely proud of so that is all exciting. One of the most interesting books I read was Girls Made of Snow and Glass. It was a retelling of Snow White but so positive and interesting (and chilly!) In the last few days I went for a glorious hike with my sister and her friends–three nights in the mountains and a swim in late winter freezing cold water–and it was amazing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like you had a great month of August as well! That hiking trip sounds incredible, and I’ll definitely check out Girls Made of Snow and Glass. Creative retellings are so fun to read 🙂 Thanks for the recommendation!
LikeLike
I think im the same as you in that since school, August has few like preparation month for winter haha! looks like you’ve had a busy month, a few people have recommended Brockhampton so I may give them a try 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooh definitely listen to them! They’re great when you need to be pumped up 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this post, and despite the fact that you didn’t get to read much, I’m glad you had a great time in August. Best of luck for your new school year as well 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Have fun in your senior year!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!!
LikeLike
Thanks for linking to me! I didn’t know you’re from New Hampshire, I’m from Vermont so hello neighbor!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wooo a fellow New Englander!! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person