Series Review: The Darkest Minds

Here I am again after a much needed energizing post-exams break. I intend to make good on my promise to myself - of writing more substantial posts, including semi-articles, thought-pieces and occasional book reviews.

I have read every more famous YA novel that's out there nowadays, and I'm still baffled why those specific ones became famous. My most well loved ones are, unfortunately, less well-known, so I am taking it upon myself to write about some (two in total) on my virtually unknown blog. The first one is the post-apocalyptic sci-fi The Darkest Minds. Doesn't sound too different from the batch, does it? I can point out a few things that make it different, because there are exceptional things in both the character and the world-building. I try not to reveal too much, but if you're one of those with an absolute no-spoiler policy, I think these waters might be too dangerous.

How the Tonsillitis stole Christmas (Don't Worry, It Didn't Really)

I'm not great with puns. I thought it best to apologize for such a title so late in the year. Those who had spent more time with me know that my strengths lie with sarcasm and playing jokes straight with a deadpan face. And even then I'm never really the funniest person in the room. Of course, now that I'm doing my favourite hobby (i.e. sitting in my room alone, lurking on the Internet), I am.

I haven't had much time to get into the Christmas spirit - final deadlines on the 18th, so it was constant stress and anxiety until then. So below follows a short summary of the period between that and now.

Best Songs of 2015

Songs, songs, songs - it's even harder to pick out a top 40 than to pick out 10 albums. There's no such thing as a bad year or a good year for songs - there are always great ones out there. As with the albums, these songs largely reflects my personal taste - too weird for the common people, really not heavy enough for metalheads - and is largely independent of the actual "goodness" of songs.

As per usual, links are in the descriptions (the song titles), but the songs are available on 8tracks and Spotify (although 3 songs are missing in the latter). As per usual, the post is extremely long.

Best Albums of 2015

The last Monday of the year is Music Monday with the best - my favourite albums now, and my favourite songs coming in a later post. I must say, despite some highly anticipated records of some of my favourite bands, 2015 was a little less impactful for me (album-wise) than 2014. However, paired with the fact that I listened to more albums than ever before, the choice wasn't particularly easier.

Album Reviews: November

November: the hell month with increasingly less sleeptime. This of course means that I barely had time to listen to new records - so this month only has 3 (well, sort of). At least it's short.

Matte Purple Lipsticks Comparison

I long promised a review/swatch/comparison of these two purple lipsticks, since they are rather similar. It's high season for bold plum lips even for those who don't go around with dark lips all year (i.e. not me), so a little help deciding can't hurt.

Catrice Ultimate Stay Lipstick 070 Plum & Base / Astor Soft Sensation Lipcolor Butter Matte 028 Royal Diva

Album Reviews: October

Paragraph one: here's the usual stuff. Paragraph two: it's short, because life. I don't even know why I'd bother writing an introduction after all this time. October was good and gloomy, so if that's your thing, proceed as you want; otherwise, be warned.

A Halloween Playlist

This comes with the usual warning: only for lovers of all things metal. Here you can listen to it on 8tracks, and after the break there's a track-by-track breakdown with youtube links, for those who don't want to listen to the whole length. (And in case 8tracks skips some songs, which it sometimes does.)

Album Reviews: September

I'm here with the newest batch of album releases. It's not really that September had that many more great records - more so that there are loads of releases in September for some reason. Fall fashion? Fall albums? Is it like the summer season and Christmas for movies? Unfortunately, this also means I have no way of properly listening to them all, what with the semester starting and a shitload of university work to be done. I listened to about a dozen new albums, but narrowed it down to these seven - for some reason or other, these were the ones I listened to the most.