What I Was Up To
I think this has to be my most social month in … forever! I basically went out with my colleagues every week! And by out I mean a farewell dinner, a couple of outdoor outings, and two leisurely walks, one with ice cream and one with beverages. It was a lot of fun! Should definitely do it more often. Would be even better if one didn’t have only limited options due to that raging pandemic.
Plus, work finally cooled down a little since my big project – our new website – has finally launched. I can now concentrate on getting to the many unanswered emails … and everything else! Plus, I got news that I’m going to change departments again come January. With an incredibly heavy heart, I will leave social media behind and focus solely on all things rights, which I’m really looking forward to! Under the current circumstances, I know I would have become more and more unhappy, so my head is quite sure I made the right choice and that a change of scenery is exactly what I need. My heart, however, can’t imagine a work life without social media. But who knows, maybe I’ll be back in online marketing one day. And in the meantime, I might be able to keep a fresh mind and focus on my own channels.
I also did get quite a lot of reading done – so much so that I don’t even know how I did it! However, this was the first (and hopefully only) month I exclusively read books for work! However, I managed what seemed impossible …
SuBsalabim
Still on hiatus …
What I’ve Also Read
Nothing at all …
What I’ve Read for Work
In a not quite unexpected because meticulously planned turn of events, I finally managed it! I’ve read each and every book my publisher has ever published! And by each and every book I mean content – naturally, I did not read a paperback edition if I’d previously read the hardcover and so on. I started this endeavour in November 2015 and as of August 2020, I’m all caught up. How many books, you ask? Well, about 320, give or take a few (I’m not sure I caught ever duplicate on the list), but a third of these are board books and picture books, so rather quick reads. But let’s dive into this last batch (for the time being. The publishing machinery never stops):
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Sagen des klassischen Altertums by Gustav Schwab & Dorothea von der Höh (Ed.)
[Greek Myths]
Yes, I actually read this monster. I always wanted to read the Ilias and the Odyssey since they are referenced so often in books, film, and TV. I actually managed to get through it more quickly than I thought I would. However, it’s not something that sticks in my head. I’ve forgotten most of it already. Especially the names. So many names!
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Im Bann der Windhüter (PaNia, #2) by Sabine Giebken
[Under the Wind Keepers’ Spell (PaNia, #2)]Second instalment in this wonderful fantasy horse series! The ending got unexpectedly dark so I’m super excited to see what’s coming next!
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Echt by Christoph Scheuring
[Real]
A book with rather heavy topics: homelessness, drug abuse, exploitation, and suicide. I really liked the characters, but damn, some of their realities of life were incredibly harsh.
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Über uns das Meer by Sabine Giebken
[Above Us the Sea]
What a gem! I loved the writing, the setting, the characters, the topics, the (rather explicit, yay!) romance. There’s only one bone I have to pick: the ending felt a little rushed. Or maybe it’s just me wanting even MORE!
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Die Mitte von allem by Anna Shinoda
[Learning Not to Drown]Oof, this one was hard to read at times. I wanted to hug Clare so badly. Her family (especially her parents) is definitely a contestant for worst ever. It hurt so much reading how they treat her – but it was also still hopeful because Clare carved out her own path and she has a great support system in her friends.
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Lang lebe der Zuckerkönig! by Kathi Appelt
[The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp]I’m sorry, but I didn’t get it. This was such a weird book, I feel like I wasn’t in on it. I just couldn’t connect to these interwoven stories with a boy on the one hand and personified raccoons on the other.
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Galopp durch die Brandung (Die Pferde von Eldenau, #2) by Theresa Czerny
[Gallop Through the Surf (The Horses of Eldenau, #2)] -
Donnernde Hufe (Die Pferde von Eldenau, #3) by Theresa Czerny
[Thunderous Hooves (The Horses of Eldenau, #2)] -
Wiehern im Wald (Die Pferde von Eldenau, #4) by Theresa Czerny
[Whinnies in the Woods (The Horses of Eldenau, #2)]Decided to end this readathon on a high note and chose to read these three books last. I really enjoyed this series, especially since at its core it’s equestrian sport vs. natural horsemanship with a dash of environmental and ecological topics, romance, and great friendships. All in all, I think the first book in the series was my favourite (I’m a sucker for all the tension between Frida and Jannis), but the fourth one is a close second.
Also: two books from our spring 21 programme (meaning I can’t really talk about them yet): a very cute picture book about a little dino and a fairytale pony adventure.