Offbeat Offline: April 2023

Welcome to Offbeat Offline, where I bring you up-to-date with what went on in my life during the month just gone, give you a sneak peek of my next shenanigans, and share my favourite posts of late!

What happened last month to yours truly? Nothing, if you don't count my yearly laryngitis. April was pretty much as uneventful as March, or even more so, especially in the bookish department. How come the days feel so slow (because nothing really happens, I guess), and yet the months seem to pass so quickly? I've been out of work for a year, for goodness' sake. Where did the time go?

📚 WRESTLING WITH WORDS. I read 1 book and reread another in April, both ARCs. Sad, I know. Here's a bit of perspective on the matter...

Remember when I mentioned that I was having difficulties with writing a review? That's why I reread my ARC of The Infinite Miles by Hannah Fergesen (adult, sci-fi - novel) - I hoped that the act could inspire me to finally put down some words. I'm still not sure if the reread worked its magic or was just a way for me to bide my time, but either way, I finally produced a review...except it took me FIVE DAYS to finish the blasted thing. That's a record, in case you were wondering. I don't know if I was having trouble articulating my thoughts on that specific book or it was a "me" problem...maybe both...I think I damaged my review mechanism LOL. Seriously...maybe it's just the format I use that's complicating things...but I love it. It's different from everyone else's, and I'm not ready to let it go...Anyhow, the review is finished, and it goes live on May 24th. 

I spent almost the whole month rereading and reviewing the aforementioned book (plus drafting a few TMST posts), so I only had time for a second one. I read an ARC of The Museum of Human History by Rebekah Bergman (adult, sci-fi/contemporary - novel). For some reason (the comatose little girl who doesn't age) I expected it to be more on the magical-realism side, which...it really isn't. But I did like it...now here's hoping I won't struggle with my review LOL (the book comes out in August, so I'll post my thoughts in July).

Here is my review plan for the month:

• Myriad by Joshua David Bellin (on Mon. 15th - it's an ARC, and my first full review of the year...😳);
• the aforementioned The Infinite Miles by Hannah Ferguson (on Wed. 24th);
• ...and I have an open slot for Deadgirl: Daybreak by B.C. Johnson if it comes out within the month (still not sure when Bobby's going to have it up and running, so to speak, since he's self-publishing it).

Reviews aside, I'll participate in Tell Me Something Tuesday on the 30th (question: Which books are you looking forward to reading this summer? (June-August)). I wanted to answer the 23rd's prompt as well (question: Which tropes do you enjoy the most?), but I'm struggling with long posts and lists at the moment (I'm even contemplating a hiatus and preparing for it - see below), so I ultimately decided to let it go...off the top of my head, though, found family is great 🙂👍 (and the InCryptid series by Seanan McGuire has got plenty of it).

🤧 SICK AND TIRED. Two days before Easter I came down with my yearly laryngitis (including a temporary super stuffy nose). Except I could barely taste food, or it tasted wrong, so maybe it was Covid like last year...(the taste thing only lasted 2 days though). So I holed up at home, and when I finally had to go out (which of course I had, given the situation) I masked up...Now it's a month since I first fell ill, and I still have a raspy voice. As usual...😬 (My doctor told me the same thing as the last otolaryngologist I saw: it's a combination of post-nasal drip and GERD. I still don't understand why I only have these problems after I get hit with the flu though...).

📅 A PIECE OF WORK. The last Friday of April marked one year since I got laid off. And this year has been a huge, black void. Of course, my husband's health issues have prevented me from looking into job options - I can't very well work while being a caretaker. But I've been browsing the job ads all the same, and either you need a driving licence or a minimum of experience in the mentioned field...or both. Oh, and you must NOT be an unemployment benefits recipient (which I will be until August). Also...who am I fooling...no one will hire a 56-and-counting y.o. person anymore. And the money is never enough, especially since Covid, war and everything under the sun conspired to shoot the cost of living through the roof...I'll be honest here - I worry about my future, but I don't know what to do...

😴AS FOR THE REST... Everything else has been more or less stagnant as well. My left eye's vision hasn't improved yet. My husband's ulcer is making glacial-pace progress, so we need to start thinking about getting him to move a little, because if we wait for his wound to heal, he probably won't leave the bed in another year (I think most of you know he's an amputee in his other leg and has to wear a prosthetic, plus he relies upon two canes - so, after all these months, he'll need help in order to stand up and walk again). As a disabled person, he might eventually be able to enter a physical therapy program without having to pay, but even if his request gets accepted, it will take time...

I'm tired and overwhelmed and in dire need of a hiatus, so I simplified my blogging plans (and moved my ARC review for The Infinite Miles from June to May) in order to be able to take June off. I have four August ARCs to review, so I need to be active in July, and I have almost all my May posts scheduled, so June was pretty much the only option (unless B.C. Johnson chooses that very month to publish the last Deadgirl installment instead of this one, in which case I'll temporarily come out of my cave and produce a review...). Anyhow, I need to rest, and at the same time, to take care of a number of things, home-wise...and blogging/commenting can be a demanding activity, so a hiatus is in order 🤷‍♀️. Still one month to go...💪

PUBLISHING NEWS/TIPS

• Jen is always adding more books to her list of most anticipated mysteries and thrillers of 2023.

THINK-PIECES, DISCUSSIONS, ORIGINAL FICTION

• Briana muses on parents-children conversations sparked by books.
• The Orangutan Librarian begs you to stop the audiobook hate.
• Lissa shares her story Long Vacation to the Moon.

REVIEWS/RECOMMENDATIONS

• The Orangutan Librarian dissects Prince Harry's autobiography Spare.
• Carrie recommends her favourite indie/small pub books.
• Nicole shares a list of MG novels in verse.
• Kit points you to fantasy books where animals play a big role (or are just unusual).

OTHER

None this month.

That's it for now. My next post will be up on May 15th, and it will be the Myriad review I mentioned above.

So, what were your highs/lows in the past month?