A little mix of everything you need to know about books, food, music, what-nots, and my life in general.
2015 has been a whole lot of things, pretty much just a rollercoaster and to sum it all up, here’s an A-Z of how my year was like–in my own handwriting, too!
(I know, I know. I haven’t had much practice. Read at your own risk. lmao)
And I also found this page with a quote from “Brooklyn”, one of the best movies of the year, in my opinion…
So…how about you? How was 2015 for you?
Losing friends and I’m chasing sleep
Everybody’s worried about me
In too deep
Say I’m in too deep (in too deep)
And it’s been two years
I miss my home
But there’s a fire burning in my bones
Still believe
Yeah, I still believe
When we’re lost in a desert night
and we’re chasing our paradise
When we can’t fight another fight
We’re gonna make it,
You’re my Oasis
The truth is I never
Bought into your bullshit
When you would pay tribute to me
Cause I know that
All I wanted to do is get high by the beach
Get high baby, baby, bye, bye
I’m not the type of girl for you
And I’m not going to pretend
That I’m the type of girl you call more than a friend
And I break all the rules for you
Break my heart and start again
I’m not the type of girl you call more than a friend
I always hear, always hear them talking
Talking ’bout a girl, ’bout a girl with my name
Saying that I hurt you but I still don’t get it
You didn’t love me, no, not really
Wait, I could have really liked you
I’ll bet, I’ll bet that’s why I keep thinking about you
It’s a shame, you said I was good
So I poured it down, so I poured it downAnd now I don’t understand it
You don’t mess with love you mess with the truth
And I know I shouldn’t say it
But my heart don’t understand
And all of the noise I hear inside
Restless and loud, unspoken and wild
I’m gonna put my body first
And love me so hard ’til it hurts
I know how to scream out the words
Scream the words
Stone cold, stone cold
You’re dancing with her, while I’m staring at my phone
Stone cold, stone cold
I was your amber, but now she’s your shade of goldStone cold, baby
God knows I tried to feel
Happy for you
Know that I am, even if I
Can’t understand, I’ll take the pain
Give me the truth, me and my heart
We’ll make it through
Smoke and sunset, off Mulholland
He was talking, I was wondering ’bout
You and that girl, she your girlfriend?
Face from heaven, bet the world she don’t know
Pretty girls don’t know the things that I know
But my way I’ll share the things that you wantUh-oh, dancin’ past the point of no return
Let go, we can free ourselves of all we’ve learned
I love this secret language that we’re speaking
Say it to me, let’s embrace the point of no return
Let’s embrace the point of no return
Let’s embrace the point of no return
No, I can’t look down
I’m trying to fight the feeling
I will fall to the ground
If I ever see you
‘Cause I feel like I’m walkin’ on a tightropeMy heart is in my throat
I’m counting on high hopes to get me over you
And I’ve got my eyes closed
As long as the wind blows
I’m counting on high hopes to get me over you, you
I never meant to break your heart
Now I won’t let this plane go down
I never meant to make you cry
I’ll do what it takes to make this fly, oh
You gotta hold on
Hold on to what you’re feeling
That feeling is the best thing
The best thing, alright
I’m gonna place my bet on us
I know this love is heading in the same direction
That’s up
Apologies for the way I’ve been
I couldn’t wash you off my skin, no I
I couldn’t live without youMmm, Tears and eyes can try
But I know
Burning like the wire in lightbulbs
It could be in the way you bleed me
Does it make you feel good to make me feel small?
When you’re pushing me down, does it make you feel tall?
Pointing out my flaws cause you wanna erase them all
Does it make you feel good to make me feel small?I’m not a paper doll
Can’t make me what you want
You just build me up and tear me down
Enough’s enough
Go, leave me alone
Cut me down but I won’t fall
I’m not a paper doll
Did you see that shooting star tonight?
Were you dazzled by the same constellation?
Did you and Jupiter conspire to get me?
I think you and the Moon and Neptune got it right
‘Cause now I’m shining bright, so bright
Bright, so bright
Woke up an optimist, sun was shining I’m positive
Then I heard you was talkin’ trash
Hold me back I’m bout’ to spazSee they want to buy my pride, but that just ain’t up for sale
See all of my kindness, is taken for weakness
Bonus: Little Do You Know (Alex and Sierra)
(I know this was released last year but it’s just so beautiful and I only heard it earlier this year so…)
Little do you know
I know you’re hurting while I’m sound asleep
Little do you know
All my mistakes are slowly drowning me
Little do you know
I’m trying to make it better piece by pieceLittle do you know
I, I love you ’til the sun dies
Now, time to list my 15 favorite books of 2015! Check them all out below!
“I was trying so hard to find the single pivotal moment that set my life on its path. The moment that answered the question, ‘How did I get here?’
But it’s never just one moment. It’s a series of them. And your life can branch out from each one in a thousand different ways. Maybe there’s a version of your life for all the choices you make and all the choices you don’t.”
Everything, and I mean, EVERYTHING, about this book is beautiful. You know, you’d think it’s one of those usual stories but it’s definitely on a league of its own. It’s beautiful, heartbreaking, and there are a lot of unexpected moments that will make you swoon, cry, and basically just gasp and take a lot of deep breaths. I’m a really forgetful person but this one? I know it would stay with me for a long, long time.
“She is oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus. The same elements that are inside the rest of us, but I can’t help thinking she’s more than that and she’s got other elements going on that no one’s ever heard of, ones that make her stand apart from everybody else.”
I read this early this year, before it became big, and I’m glad I did because it’s just one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking, cry-worthy books I’ve read all my life. I’m glad it also talks about Depression in such a way that makes it understandable for those who don’t. I’m just basically glad for the beauty that is this book. The author’s also working on the movie’s screenplay so that’s something to look forward to.
“I know how betrayal and disillusionment feel, when someone who could give you the world refuses even a tiny piece of it.”
Mary Kubica is one of my favorite authors right now because she writes soooo well. Like, seriously. I’m a fan of crazy suspense/crime thrillers and she nails it. She knows how to do it. This book certainly proved that.
“That has to be what love is – seeing what a mess he is and loving him anyway, because you know you’re a mess, too, maybe even worse.”
There were lots of bad reviews for this book but I liked it not just because I love David Levithan, but also because it’s good to be in Rhiannon’s shoes. So heartbreaking and painful. I wouldn’t choose what’s better between this one and Every Day because I love them both.
“A very wise person once told me marriage is hard, that you have to keep fighting for it everyday.”
One word: Facebook. It’s so witty and it has that Sophie Kinsella/Alexandra Potter feel.
“Momma used to say, “We don’t have much, but at least we have each other.” And then one day, we didn’t even have that much.”
Another Kubica! Pretty Baby is really crazy but great. Read it and you’d know what I mean.
I love the Precious Blood series and this was such a fitting ending. But I still want mooooooore
“Maybe I wasn’t defined by the mistakes I had made after all . . . maybe those decisions were what allowed me to become the person I was always destined to be.”
Didn’t know much about Holly except for Girls Next Door, but I really enjoyed this book. She is a survivor and no matter what you say, I’m glad things worked out for her.
“I think what I’ve realized is, life is all about climbing up, slipping down, and picking yourself up again. And it doesn’t matter if you slip down. As long as you’re kind of heading more or less upwards. That’s all you can hope for. More or less upwards.”
This book nailed what anxiety feels like to a T. It’s Sophie’s first YA offering and she did it so well. So beautiful.
“There’s a Korean word my grandma taught me. It’s called jung. It’s the connection between two people that can’t be severed, even when love turns to hate. You still have those old feelings for them; you can’t ever completely shake them loose of you; you will always have tenderness in your heart for them.”
The ending to the Song Sisters series. Oh man, the rollercoaster of emotions this brought me!
“Sharing a room with the person you want most is like sharing a room with an open fire.
He’s constantly drawing you in. And you’re constantly stepping too close. And you know it’s not good–that there is no good–that there’s absolutely nothing that can ever come of it.
But you do it anyway.
And then…
Well. Then you burn.”
Harry Potter. Twilight. Fanfics. Fangirl. EVERYTHING.
“I wonder if, as you get older, you stop missing people so fiercely. Maybe growing up is just focusing on what you’ve got, instead of what you don’t.”
Dark, sad, beautiful, unforgettable.
“Depression is like a heaviness that you can’t ever escape. It crushes down on you, making even the smallest things like tying your shoes or chewing on toast seem like a twenty-mile hike uphill. Depression is a part of you; it’s in your bones and your blood. If I know anything about it, this is what I know: It’s impossible to escape.”
Again: Depression. Suicide. I love how it does not sugarcoat things. It’s heartbreaking. It’s fearless. It’s beautiful.
I just like how it was written; how enjoyable and entertaining and painful it was.
“I may not be old but I’m too old to have this much nothing”
I’m pretty sure this was not released this year but only read it a couple of months ago and it had a really big impact on me. I always like complicated, intertwining stories. I like this novel’s humor and wit—and the characters, too!
So this year is almost over in like, 2 weeks, and while I have not posted my favorite local and international reads yet (well, they’re coming in the next few days), let me share with you my 2015 Reading Challenge first!
According to Goodreads, I read 124 books this year not counting beta-reads and what-nots. Actually, I only set a goal of 50 books this year because busy life is busy + my memory is failing me + I have a worsening kind of anxiety and (possibly ADD) so I CANNOT FOCUS that much on reading anymore (yeah, it’s sad but that’s life) and I’m kind of disappointed because I know I could still read more. Well, 124’s not bad but the past years I managed 133, 164, and I have no idea before because I have not made a habit of tracking my reads before 2013 lol.
Anyway, let’s see what I’ve read this year…
Well, I kind of started the year with Ines Bautista Yao’s ONLY A KISS, then there’s LEAVING TIME by my all time favorite Jodi Picoult, Hans Christian Andersen’s COLLECTION OF FAIRY TALES (I’m a fairy tale girl in case you still didn’t know), and my alter ego’s STORMY HOLLOW…
Oh, at the start of the year, I was also in this Alessandra Torre feast (SHE IS SO GOOD. Look her up!), then a bevy of non-fiction stuff (I KNOW, I love the Kardashians so what—but seriously, Kris’ book was actually entertaining). And then there’s ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES (my god, that was heartbreaking + one of my personal favorites for this year). Gayle Forman’s I WAS HERE was kind of in the same genre but it didn’t hit me the way it should…
Some suspense/mystery/thrillers here. Oh, and there’s MARY KUBICA’S THE GOOD GIRL (I love that one so much, she’s also such an amazing author!), Lauren Oliver’s VANISHING GIRLS (which reminds me of the old Lauren Oliver that I love), lots of Goosebumps, MY HEART AND OTHER BLACK HOLES (another good one). LITTLE PEACH was quite damaging. THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN, well I probably read it at the wrong time because I didn’t like it the way I probably should.
Oh my gosh PS I STILL LOVE YOU (TEAM KAVINSKY FOREVER!!!!), some Fear Street, my friend Amae’s ONE LOVELY SUMMER DAY, and HAHA THERE’S A MENAGE THING HERE LOL. Still Alice was beautiful like the movie and SHUG was pretty cute. ISLE OF THE LOST, hmm I guess I was a little too old for it lol
Some Marilyn books because I’m a Marilynette. Lea Michele’s BRUNETTE AMBITION, HALLOWED—the third installment of the Precious Blood series! Zoe Sugg’s GIRL ONLINE (I had to write about her for work before), ONCE REAWAKENED (I love the show, loved the adaptation, too!), THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB (because I was also obsessed with the show especially Rene Carpenter), Sophie’s FINDING AUDREY (another favorite), and oh yes, Holly’s DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE was really nice, too!
OH my number 1 favorite for this year EVERYTHING EVERYTHING is here. THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU, PRETTY BABY are pretty good, too. PRETTY LITTLE KILLERS was disturbing (go look up Rachel Shoaf and Shelia Eddy), some other true crime books. CREEP for #HeistClub, some new Fear Street novels…
ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE was something I had to review for work but it actually turned out to be enjoyable, just not my usual kind of read. JUST A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE with its pretty cover, some more non-fiction stuff, and last night oh god JANUS SILANG 2 made me want Part 3 right away I NEED IT NOW.
So yeah, that’s pretty much my crazy, colorful year in books! Hopefully, I’d still get to read a lot this year (and in these last few days of 2015!) Will post those favorites lists soon!
