The Nerd List - March 2015

It’s Easter this week. I hope you’re all in chocolate-eating mode right now.

Before I start:

 

Beware the woes of matric.

(I’ve also started applying to universities and I’m pretty sure the number of existential crises that have occurred this month outweigh those I’ve been through in my entire life combined.)

Books

Books I’ve Read:

Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy (Goodreads)

Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett (Goodreads)

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion (Goodreads | my review)

Book of the month

Tess of the D’Urbervilles broke my heart. I’ve never felt so betrayed in my entire life. Obviously, though, it’s incredible.

Character of the month

I read Equal Rites after my friend read my rant on feminism and decided that I needed some soul food in the form of a short children’s book that’s actually not a children’s book, but an in depth, wildly hilarious commentary on society. Granny was specifically phenomenal, and if I could advocate a fictional speaker for women’s rights, I’d probably choose her.

Quote of the month

“She was already learning that if you ignore the rules people will, half the time, quietly rewrite them so that they don't apply to you.”

― Terry Pratchett, Equal Rites

Moments

Fangirl moment of the month

I may or may not have gone to see One Direction the night before writing my music exam. I also may or may not have screamed louder than the twelve-year-old next to me when they came on. It may or may not have been slightly embarrassing. (Just kidding – I really didn’t care.)

Facepalm moment of the month

See above. If I hadn’t been so busy trying to get my oh-so-cool sister to sing along with me to every single song then I would’ve felt guilty for not being ashamed.

Please note: never will we ever speak of this again.

Music

Album of the month

The sound of my tears hitting the ground because I maxed out my iTunes allowance.

(Also All Time Low’s Future Hearts is being released painfully slowly.)

Song of the month

Runaways by All Time Low.

Something's Gotta Give by All Time Low.

Lyric of the month

“Wisdom’s a gift, but you’d trade it for youth

Age is an honour – it’s still not the truth.”

- Vampire Weekend, Step

The Nerd List - February 2015

February, you have possibly been the least productive month I’ve ever had to suffer through. And I suppose I can’t really blame my total lack of reading, writing and working on my matric dance, but I’m going to anyway. There are still traces of emotional trauma and exhaustion (as well as excitement, I suppose) swimming around in my bloodstream, and I swear I’m still finding glitter in my hair – although I’m not entirely sure how it got there.

Books

Books I’ve Read:

Disgrace by J. M. Coetzee (Goodreads)

A History of Loneliness by John Boyne (Goodreads)

Book of the month

This book is so important. I could go on for ages about how incredible Boyne’s writing is and how the UN needs to recruit him to educate a couple of people in power. Seriously, every singe person on earth needs to read A History of Loneliness – it is so powerful and meaningful, plus it has a whole load of controversial commentary on the Catholic church, so if you like drama (as I do), you’ll love it to bits.

Character of the month

I hated every single character in Disgrace, and couldn’t understand a single one of their actions. And A History of Loneliness doesn’t exactly have many role-model-worthy characters deserving of this award… So I’m going to be extra pretentious and refuse to award character of the month to a character from a book, and instead I’ll give it to Agent Carter (from the TV series) because she’s my ultimate role model at the moment and gives me hope for the world.

Quote of the month

“All you have to do, I tell myself, is keep your mouth shut and look stupid. It shouldn't be that hard.”

― Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid's Tale

Moments

Fangirl/Facepalm moment of the month

Because February is such a special month (not really) and I’ve already broken one tradition in this Nerd List already, I’ve merged the fangirl and facepalm moments. Truth be told, my matric dance was ultimately both immensely exciting and lovely, and horrifically stressful. It was a night of total contradictions: I looked and felt pretty, but I felt too dolled up to be entirely myself; I had an incredible time, but my dress was annoying and my shoes hurt my feet; I didn’t want it to end because I was having fun, but I was tired and longed for the comfort of my bed. I’m still trying to figure out all my mixed emotions about the evening, but I would be lying if I said the night wasn’t pretty magical.

Music

Album of the month

Ella Henderson’s Chapter One is such an incredible album. It’s so melodious and soothing and catchy all at once – perfect easy listening that will never fail to put me in a good mood. Every time I listen to it I want to go sit down at my piano and sing – and then I realize I can’t sing so I just settle for playing Ella Henderson’s album so loud I can’t hear my own voice…

Song of the month

I’m A Mess - Ed Sheeran.

Lyric of the month

“Don’t let the fear keep you from climbing.”

- Ella Henderson, Giants

The Nerd List - January 2015

It's already almost February. How did that even happen? This is not good. Somebody tell the world to stop spinning, please - I'd like to get off.

Anyway, on with the list of things that are somehow still keeping me sane...

Books

Books I’ve Read:

The Glassblower of Murano by Marina Fiorato (Goodreads)

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (Goodreads | my review)

Cinder by Marissa Meyer (Goodreads | my review)

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (Goodreads)

A Widow for One Year by John Irving (Goodreads)

Book of the month

Considering I rated all the books I read this month from four to five stars, I feel like by naming one of them the Book of the Month I’m disregarding all the others’ genius. Regardless, John Irving is purely phenomenal, and although A Widow for One Year was mildly disturbing and extremely weird, I absolutely loved it. (Although I did only give it four stars on Goodreads… Let me just note here that I have different “requirements” as such for adult fiction and YA fiction – adult fiction novels that I rate as five-star generally make me change my entire worldview, whereas a five-star YA fiction book will usually be one that made me jump around with excitement or cry or experience other extreme emotions that make me uncomfortable.)

Character of the month

I’m going to have to call this one a tie, because I’ve just sat debating with myself for fifteen minutes over whether Sarah J. Maas’s Celeana was a better protagonist than Marissa Meyer’s Cinder. They are both incredible, and honestly I would recommend reading both the Throne of Glass series and the Lunar Chronicles series just to be able to witness them in action. Then you can have the thrilling internal debate of Cyborg versus Assassin. You’re welcome.

Quote of the month

“I hate women like that. They’re so desperate for the attention of men that they’d willingly betray and harm members of their own sex. And we claim men cannot think with their brains! At least men are direct about it.”

- Celeana Sardothien, Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Moments

  

Fangirl moment of the month

Thank you to All Time Low for causing me heart failure and a glimpse of the afterlife with their Beyonce-like dropping of a new single just as school started. I swear I stopped breathing for about a minute before hastily clicking the link to watch the music video, which gave me heart failure as well, but for reasons separate from my excitement (plot-twist of the year nominee… I nearly threw my laptop right through the roof I got such a fright). But at least I had a really good song to listen to while I cried about the horrors of beginning my last year of school.

Facepalm moment of the month

Speaking of school… I thought I would be able to ease into my last year with at least a hint of grace and dignity, but that was wrenched out of my grip as soon as I entered through the gate for my last first day of school ever. BAM – “You know the school’s fashion show next week? You’re in it.” BAM – “Oh, and here are a few test dates to up your adrenaline levels a bit.” BAM – “Sorry, doesn’t look like you’ll be sleeping much this year… but don’t worry because at least you just had a holiday – your last one ever.” BAM-CRASH-FIZZLE – “OH, RIGHT AND REMEMBER THAT AMIDST ALL THESE TESTS AND EXAMS YOU HAVE A MATRIC DANCE IN THREE WEEKS BYE.”

(I have exactly a week until my matric dance and to say that I’m excited freaking out about it is a major understatement.)

(I'm still writing the date as "2013" how am I supposed to juggle a matric dance and passing the term and somehow succeed in living through both.)

(Oh, and there's never any electricity, so that's an added bonus. I just love doing my homework by candlelight - it reminds me that the only romantic relationship I'm currently in is with a maths sum. Thanks, Eskom.)

Music

Album of the month

American Beauty / American Psycho by Fall Out Boy has so many great tracks on it and it makes me want to run around my neighborhood dancing and throwing rocks at all the people I hate. Luckily I’m so swamped with schoolwork that it will be impossible to find the time to organize this highly tempting activity.

Song of the month

I already mentioned it earlier, but Something’s Gotta Give by All Time Low is amazing and you need to go listen to it right now.

Lyric of the month

“Oh, the castle’s under siege, but the sign outside says ‘Leave Me Alone.’”

- Panic! At The Disco, Always

The Ultimate Nerd List 2014

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Well, almost. But I did promise that at least one blog this year would be done both properly and on time. And look at that: This one’s a whole day early!

And that kind of defeats the point of it being a blog to ultimately end off the year, but whatever. Let’s just get on with it.

Hallelujah. 2014 has finally ended. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I would make it through a year of minimal reading, maximum stress, and then a struggle to pull together the mess of my life right at the end. Thank goodness I at least made it to my 50-book goal (barely – I just finished book number 50 about twenty minutes ago) so I can pretend I have a shred of dignity left after 2014 stripped me of… well… everything.

Despite its horrific cruelty, 2014 was without a doubt an eventful year and that made my latest list of ‘Best Things Of The Year That Managed Not To Kill Me (Yet)’ very very very difficult to compile. Nevertheless, I hope it’s enjoyable, and here’s to another year of frantic blogging and reading while I try to keep up a vague interest in my last year of schooling.

Books

Books I’ve finished this year: 50 (view my 2014 shelf)

Best Books of the Year:

Book of the year: We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler (Goodreads | my review)

In a word: Phenomenal. We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves is a book that absolutely everybody needs to read, regardless of your taste in books, regardless of your taste in authors, regardless of whether you are even a reader. It’s not even that long. You have no excuses.

Fiction: Birds Without Wings by Louis de Bernieres (Goodreads | my review)

YA Fiction: Don’t Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Goodreads | my review)

Series: The White Rabbit Chronicles by Gena Showalter 

Sci-Fi: A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire, no. 3) by George R. R. Martin (Goodreads)

(I FINALLY FINISHED IT. TWO YEARS. I DID IT. CELEBRATIONS ARE IN ORDER.)

Worst Book of the year: The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messaud (Goodreads)

(I couldn’t even finish it. I don’t not finish books. It was that bad.)

Other notable reads:

The Cider House Rules by John Irving (Goodreads)

Swimming Through Clouds by Rajdeep Paulus (Goodreads | my review)

Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres (Goodreads)

The Three by Sarah Lotz (Goodreads)

Moments:

Fangirl Moment of the Year:

This year I was incredibly privileged to be able to travel overseas not once but twice – firstly on my school’s Cultural Tour in April, and then on the Global Young Leaders Coneference in June/July. Both were life-changing experiences, and included several bouts of laughter, tears and squealing, so I think they both count as ‘fangirl’ moments.

Also: Mockingjay: Part One, The Queen of Zombie Hearts, Opposition, and I got to see The Fray live. (I believe these stunted freak-out sessions of note that were largely less-glamorous than my excursions overseas.)

Facepalm Moment of the Year:

You remember those overseas excursions I just mentioned? Well, let’s just say that they provided me with many, many more surfaces to trip over, and a wider, more varied audience to shame myself in front of. But I suppose I should consider myself lucky that I was able to trip in the Colosseum and amuse a bunch of British and American tourists (I’ll do anything for my fans).

Also: The Kim Kardashian Hollywood game, the rise of Iggy Azalia (‘Igloo Azahaha’ as my six-year-old cousin calls her), and new twelve-year-old clothing styles. Mega-Facepalm.

Movies and Music:

Song of the Year: Out of the Woods by Taylor Swift.

Not really my favourite song, but I think it’s really very representative of the feeling of getting through yet another tough year. You know - if you look at it all metaphorically with the woods being 2014. No? Never mind.

Album of the Year: 1989 by Taylor Swift

Life's too short to pretend to hate Taylor Swift.

Lyric of the Year:

“Take off your makeup and put down the camera. Choke on the drama that makes me want to tear up the pictures, the pages you’ve saved creating a life of friends and make-believe.”

- All Time Low, The Girl’s A Straight-Up Hustler

A Note: Ironically, the two most-played songs on my iPod are A Little Party Never Killed Nobody by Fergie, Q-tip and Goonrock, and Happy Endings Are Stories That Haven’t Ended Yet by Mayday Parade. I think that accurately describes the year as a whole and its major bipolarity.

Movie of the Year: Divergent

The Divergent film was as good as the book. Perhaps even slightly better (PERHAPS). I loved it, and I loved the way the director got everything as close to the book as possible, but also made the story watchable, not just readable. It was amazing. 

Movie Scene of the Year:

I can’t think ‘epic’ without thinking ‘Dianna Agron in The Family’. If you haven’t seen the scene where she beats up a bunch of pervy teenage boys with a tennis racquet, I suggest you do so now. It is 50% hilarious, 50% totally disturbing, and 100% inspirational. (YouTube link)

HAPPY NEW YEAR – again. I hope 2015 is entertaining (if not entirely relaxing) and overall enjoyable (if not filled to the brim with stress). Thanks for sticking with this blog for another year!