Last Updated on July 29, 2022 by ThoughtsStained
Hello, lovelies! Welcome to another Bookish Breakdown installment, my monthly wrap-up post. In these Bookish Breakdowns, I discuss life generally for the past month. Also, I share last month’s reading, as well as life musings, blog hopping links and intention updates!
July was a mixed bag, but it was much better than June. I spent most of July recovering, resting and regaining my strength. Finally (I think) I am feeling like myself again. I returned to work fully in the last two weeks of July and I’ve managed it, which I couldn’t do during the first two weeks. So, hopefully August is a much more “usual” month for me.
However, I did just find out my Dad has COVID. πͺ He’s having a pretty rough go of it, according to my Mom, so any good vibes appreciated.
Let’s check in on how I did creatively this month.

Bookish Breakdown: Reading
What I Read


Two main factors kept me from reading more this month: still recovering from COVID and (honestly, more prevalently), playing Horizon: Forbidden West, which has taken up a lot of my time. Still, I’m really proud of myself for actually getting through a research book in Valkyrie: The Women of the Viking World. And, though it took me a lot longer than I wanted, I also read Northern Wrath by Thilde Kold Holdt.
What I Hauled
Nothing this month!
Reading Challenges Update
What: Yearly challenge tracked via StoryGraph of how my books I want to read.
Goal: 50 Books
Status: 17/50 Books

















What: A personal challenge to read at least one antiracist book a month (or 12 a year).
Goal: 12 Books
Status: 3/12 Books



What: I want to do a better job that of reading books written by (or featuring protagonists) that aren’t the publishing “standard”, i.e, white, male, able-bodied, straight and based on Western cultures or Christian/Catholic religions.
Goal: More books that break away from that “standard” than books that do.
Status: 10/25










What: Hosted byΒ Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction AddictionΒ andΒ Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight where you write and share your bookish discussion posts!
Goal: 24 Discussion Post (Chatty Kathy Level)
Status: 14/24 Posts
Posts:
- Letβs Talk Bookish: 2022 Reading Goals
- Letβs Talk Bookish: Blogger and Audience Relationship
- Letβs Talk Bookish: Changing Book Ratings
- Book Bloggers, Why Arenβt We Kinder to Ourselves?
- Letβs Talk Bookish: Maintaining A Blog Aesthetic
- Letβs Talk Bookish: Updating Old Content
- When A Reader Fights Reading
- Let’s Talk Bookish: Evolution of Book Blogging
- Letβs Talk Bookish: Book Blogging Joys and Pet Peeves
- The Importance of Commenting on Book Blogs
- Reading and Mental Health
- Letβs Talk Bookish: Rapid Fire Book Blogging Takes
- Letβs Talk Bookish: Book Blogging Friendships
- Letβs Talk Bookish: Tracking Your Reading

Bookish Breakdown: Blogging
What I Posted
After having an abysmal blogging month in June (for good reasons), it was so nice to return a bit to it in July! Here’s what I posted this month.
Read Around the Blogosphere
I also got caught up on blog hopping, which was so refreshing. Some of my favorite posts from the (past few months) are below!
Other Bloggers’ Posts I Loved
- Kate @ My Tita Kate shares how to write bi-lievable bi characters and gets A+ points for the glorious pun and the fantastic post. I also really appreciated her finding your blogging voice post!
- Fadwa @ Word Wonders’ list of f/f relationships (400+ books !!) will never not blow me away.
- Sumedha @ The Wordy Habitat shares her experience with creating and maintaining a blog aesthetic! Also, her SEO post is A++.
- I really enjoyed author K.M. Allan’s piece, grieving a writing life.
- Inah @ Fueled by Chapters shares 100 queer recs to read all year long!
- I really discovered Mint @ Mint Loves Books and I’m a big fan of their discussion posts, like their recent five tips to break a reading slump! Also, their post about outgrowing YA, I connected with a lot.
- I loved Katja’s everything I know about writing post.
- Go check out the results of Pages Unbound 2022 Book Blogger Survey!
- Sara @ Stories and Sidequests wrote an amazing post about not reading and why that’s okay that everyone should read. Immediately.
- Marie @ Drizzle and Hurricane Books shares how she finds the books she reads and I really enjoyed this post!
- Amber @ The Literary Phoenix shares a super thought provoking post about exclusionary language and racism that I’ll be mulling over for a while.

Intentions Check-In
As you saw from my intentions post, I tried to narrow in my focus this year. So, I check in each month below. Mostly, so I don’t lose sight of what I’m hoping to achieve, change and celebrate! Bookish Breakdown felt like a good place to do just that.
^^ At least, that’s what I usually do. Not this month. Maybe next.
TBD
TBD
TBD
Looking Forward
Thanks for reading this month’s Bookish Breakdown. The summer has been a really different one for me, one I hope not to repeat any time soon. August looks to be an interesting month, due to some things with my day job (and applying for a promotion), so I’m hoping to get some things done before the semester starts again. Until then!
π€

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Sending best wishes to you and your family and a massive air hug <3 Hoping your Dad will recover quickly.
Aww, thank you so much, Mint. It really means the world. π€
I’m glad you’re feeling better and July was better than June, but sorry to see your dad has COVID. I hope he has a speedy recovery!
Thank you so much, Kal! I hope your own July was much better (and, if not, that August is kind to you).
Glad to hear that you’re recovering and I hope that your dad recovers soon as well! It’s a ~trying~ time, to say the least. I hope your August is much better than your July.
P. S. Thanks for linking my posts!!
I hope so too, Sumedha. π But thank you! And always, your posts are just SO GOOD.
Hope your August is better than your July and that your dad recovers soon!
(Also, thanks for linking my post π)
Thank you so much on all counts, Sara!