Everything I Read in May and June

May and June have come and gone and brought with it the end of lockdown in New Zealand and a little trip to the tippy top of the North Island. Here's what books I made my way through during these months.

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood: A satisfying and solid read, I enjoyed this follow up to Margaret Atwood's modern classic The Handmaid's Tale. As an avid watcher of the series, I was interested in seeing how her follow up book compared. It certainly gave more insight into the inner workings of Gilead and I enjoyed the passages that were told from Aunt Lydia's point of view. 

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien: I've never been a big fan of "war books" but The Things They Carried isn't a typical book about missions and patrols. It's harrowing, sad and insightful but most of all gave a real sense of the pointlessness and numbness that many soldiers experienced while serving in Vietnam and the lives they returned to afterwards. 

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin: An intriguing read about four children who pay a psychic to tell them the date they each die. Each child dies on the expected date, but was it fate or did this knowledge push those who were supposed to die young live more recklessly than their siblings? I enjoyed the premise of this book a bit more than the actual story but it left me with a lot of interesting thoughts nonetheless.

Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton: According to my British friends, Dolly Alderton is a bit of an icon for millennial women who have grown up with her columns and television appearances. I know her from the delightfully insightful podcast The High Low and was intrigued to hear more about her thoughts on relationships, dating and love. I have to think that had I grown with Dolly as an icon I would have enjoyed this book a bit more. It's a fairly light read, peppered with stories about her love life and her close friends' relationships. I did enjoy that the ending was much more focused on self-love and Dolly finding herself, rather than finding the perfect relationship.

Mosquitoland by David Arnold: Fifteen-year-old Mim runs away from her Dad's house and boards a Greyhound to visit her sick mother. This coming-of-age adventure story is peppered with a cast of crazy characters and missteps and a touching ending that has our protagonist realizing a thing or two about the adults in her life. While I enjoyed the story, the character of Mim felt less like a real teenager and more like a vehicle to deliver the wit and insights of the adult author. In the same way that many John Greene characters feel too precocious to be real, Mim didn't really encompass a teenagers point of view in my opinion.

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang: An easy read that has cute and realistic autism representation and a cast of funny characters. I have to admit that romances just aren't my jam. While I enjoyed that the writing and plot of this book are fun, I have a hard time staying interested in the will-they won't-they premise of this novel.

Top Ten Tuesday: DNF Books

I used to do Top Ten Tuesday's all the time, but it's been years since I've rounded up my favourite books that fit the weekly theme. First of all, my TTT happens on a Wednesday, because hello timezones, and this week the theme is books we Did Not Finish. I've tried to sum up why I DNF each book as succinctly as possible.

Moby Dick by Herman Melville :: I talked in my last post about being separated from my Kindle thanks to the lockdown, for the past six weeks. To combat having a lack of access to books, I downloaded this book (for free) onto my phone. I don't know what to say other than that I just don't gel with some overly flowery classics. I thought I would enjoy this book, since I lived in New England for the past year and a bit, but I could not deal with the convoluted language.

Emma by Jane Austin :: This is actually a firm favourite of mine! I downloaded it onto my phone and I think the main reason I stopped reason is I found a physical book to read. No idea what that book was but I would re-read Emma in a heartbeat.

A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway :: Sensing a theme here? I think there are classics that help you ease into the writing of old authors, and A Moveable Feast was not that book. The book is a bunch of stories told from Hemingway's point of view about life in the 1920s. I don't know what I was expecting but it felt like a lot of rambling with some famous names (Fitzgerald) thrown in for good measure.

Hitman Anders and the Meaning of it All by Jonas Jonasson :: I don't think I've ever read, or at least finished, a Jonasson book before. He had huge success with the 100 Year Old Man and The Girl Who Saved The King of Sweden. I think the writing style just doesn't hook me in that much. I like humorous books, but I felt like this book kind of banked on 'getting' the humour of his past work in order to keep you entertained.

Love Unscripted by Owen Nicholls :: This had all the hallmarks of a book I would enjoy; references to cinema, a love story, kind of snarky characters. I just couldn't get into this book. It's an adult romance, which is fine, but after reading the exceptionally cute Again, But Better, (which is YA) I just found the characters a little grating and unlikeable. It's told in retrospect, so a lot of flaws in their love life are discussed but...there was something about airing all the negative elements of the character's relationship that put me off being invested in their story.

None of these books were 'bad' reads, I just struggled with my own expectations to really get into any of them. I'd love to know if you enjoy any of the books I have mentioned above and what your most recent DNF books are.

Everything I Read In March and April 2020

March and April were significant reading months for two very different reasons; we started lockdown here in New Zealand, and I made the critical mistake of leaving my Kindle at my house, while I was 'sheltering' at my mum's house an hour away. Originally, my stay was supposed to be for 14 days, but six weeks later I was allowed to travel back home.

On the one hand, I had been trying to reduce the amount of money I was spending on Kindle Amazon books, but I don't think the pandemic was the best time to test how easy this would have been. Even so, I managed to read some great books over the past two months.

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck :: I absolutely fell in love with East of Eden when I read it two years ago and was excited to try a second Steinbeck novel. Overall, I didn't love the experience of reading this novel. It was driven by dialogue and written in a heavy Okalhomian dialect that required some mental gymnastics to interpret what was being said, and what was actually meant. I did like the overall themes of the novel and exploring just how abruptly lives were changed during the Great Depression. It certainly made me think, and considering I read this mere weeks before the lockdown, now have an even deeper sense of empathy for those who were forced to survive by any means necessary during this time.

Again, But Better by Christine Riccio :: This was the perfect follow up to the slog (sorry) that Grapes of Wrath felt like at times. It's a fun story about second chances that actually, unexpectedly hit me in the feels. I knew Riccio was a Youtuber and was intrigued to read her debut novel. It's a cute, funny YA novel about a college girl called Shane who has been 'doing college wrong.' Stuck in her room reading books and going to classes, Shane signs up for a year abroad and decides to put herself out there, make friends and is determined to have her first kiss. This is a really sweet read that hits on many pressures that students face about seeing their college years as the "best years of their lives." There is also a fun twist that I had to admit, I did not see coming.

The Farm by Joanne Ramos :: I wanted to love this book, but it almost became a DNF. I think part of the problem is that it's packaged as a dystopian novel which made me think it would be more like the Handmaid's Tale or The Power. Instead, the drama mainly centres around the mother, Jane, an immigrant from the Phillippines, who becomes a surrogate at The Farm. Overall I liked the premise of this book, but the way the drama was constructed was unbelievable at times. Mainly, Jane was prohibited from seeing her own daughter and was finding The Farm increasingly controlling. It just seemed weird to me that the book focused so much on surrogates living a stress-free and healthy life but then prohibited Jane from seeing her daughter, something which would be crazy-stressful for any parent. It had potential but didn't live up to the hype for me.

Know My Name by Chanel Miller :: Chanel was originally known as Emily Doe, the victim in the Brock Turner sexual assault case. I was surprised at how well Chanel writes and that the warmth and humour with which she tells her story only makes it all the more frightening. I came away from this book feeling angry that survivors like Chanel are treated more like victims, that privilege has an enormous part to play in how we treat offenders, and that Chanel spent more time fighting her case than her offender served in prison. For a dark read, it's still filled with moments of light and hope despite the subject matter.

Normal People by Sally Rooney :: Wow, what a showstopper of a read. I loved Normal People, but also kind of disliked the characters because of how realistically flawed they were. The book follows Connell and Marianne's deeply flawed on-again off-again relationship through high-school, university and into their adult lives. Messy, and realistic, it's one of the more interesting portrayals of growing up, finding love, and figuring out right from wrong.

Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton :: This was a cracker of a read.Told in a uniquely Australian voice, Boy Swallows Universe follows the life of Eli Bell, a 10-year-old boy growing up in 1980s suburban Brisbane. Eli's childhood is anything but normal. His brother is mute, his father is in prison, his mum is a junkie, his step-dad deals drugs and his babysitter is a notorious criminal. Even so, Eli's life is filled with love, albeit in a flawed way. When a local drug king-pin pays his family a visit, leaving his mum in jail and his step-dad missing, Eli is determined to set things right.

Everything I've Read In January and February 2020

I read a lot of books this January and then managed to follow up that number with one measly book in February. While numbers aren't everything, I thought I would summarize everything I got through and whether I would recommend these books to you!

January:

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie :: Okay, this was actually something I read in December, but I have to include it because it is so good. I love reading novels that are set in different places around the world. I loved getting an insight into what life in Nigeria is like and enjoyed the insights on race and culture in Nigeria and America.

How to Stop Time by Matt Haig :: An adorable little book about a man who does not age and what that means for his relationships. I've read a few Matt Haig books before, and while I enjoyed this, I much prefer his book The Humans. I think his sense of humour is a strong point of his writing, more so than writing a romantic book. Still a great read but if you've not read any of his books start with something funny.

The Beantown Girls by Jane Healey :: This was an interesting read about four girls who sign up to be "Red Cross Girls" during World War Two. Since I don't ever read war novels, it was a nice insight into an aspect of the second world war that I didn't know about. I didn't warm to Healey's writing style immediately and found that the book felt a little factual, or like it breezed past events rather than describing them. In saying that I actually cried reading this, so the characters eventually got under my skin!

F-Stop by Eliza Gordon :: Eliza Gordon is my guilty pleasure read. Her books "Must Love Otters" and "Hollie Porter Builds a Raft" are what I read when I need comfort, and they are delightful and silly, and I don't care. F-Stop is set in British Columbia (as are the two books I mentioned). It follows Francesca or F-Stop, who is on a mission to prove that she's just as capable at photography as her award-winning father and overbearing brother. Cute, silly, romantic, easy to read but more forgettable than Must Love Otters.

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng :: This novel is told in a similar style to Little Fires Everywhere, there are multiple characters and multiple points of view. It follows an Asian-American family after the death of their middle child. I really like the way Ng writes weaving in multiple storylines so effortlessly, but this book was less gripping than Little Fires which I LOVED.

The Flat Share by Beth O'Leary :: While this book had a cute concept at its core, it was kind of forgettable. I found it was the "will they, won't they" concept — two flatmates who basically take shifts sharing a one-bedroom flat and never cross each others paths — was what kept me reading rather than the plot or characters. It did have a bit of depth in the storyline about abuse and control, but overall I didn't overly enjoy this read.

This is How it Always Is by Laurie Frankel :: A fantastically told, thought-provoking read, I really enjoyed this story about how Claude grows up to become Poppy. While Poppy's family are supportive of her transition, their decision to keep secrets puts pressure on the whole family. It's impossible to read this book without having some realization that love, understanding and compassion are essential for children and families that are navigating their own gender paths.

My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite :: Before reading this book, I had assumed this was about a metaphorical serial killer. Nope! The main character really has a sister who is as beautiful as she is deadly. I love this book for its original story. I also loved reading a contemporary novel from Nigeria that wasn't about anything other than how to deal with a murderous sibling.

February:

Educated by Tara Westover :: While this was a good read, I can liken it to The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls that came out about ten years ago. Both books are memoirs about young women growing up with parents that don't believe or value modern-day education (or healthcare). Maybe it's just because I read The Glass Castle first and loved it, but I felt like Educated didn't make as much of an impression on me as Wall's book did.

8 I've Learnt About Managing Money So Far

Financial literacy is an interesting topic. For something that permeates every aspect of our lives, its astonishing that there is no clear path to being "good" with money. In my opinion, there is no such thing anyway. We're all learning and what makes sense for one person's lifestyle or budget might not work for someone else. In saying that here are the most important things I've learnt about managing money over the last decade.

If you need to budget, then you need a budget.

This year I switched from a steady 40-hour a week job, to becoming a "full time" freelancer. While I don't actually work "full time" it is my sole source of income and makes me enough to pay the bills and then some. Up until now, I've managed my money in more of an intuitive way. I've paid my bills first, then socked some money into savings and kind of mismanaged the rest. What I've found is this attitude does not cut it when your income fluctuates wildly from one month to the next. Instead, I've written out a one year budget (template courtesy of One Big Happy Life) and am managing each month as I go.

It's SO HELPFUL. Honestly, I was kind of terrified about how I was going to manage my money going forward. If you are at a stage in your life when just winging it won't cut it, I highly recommend spending an hour or so setting yourself up with a yearly overview. I do log every purchase I make but it takes me less than ten minutes a week to keep up with and I've already made countless money decision based on knowing what was left in each of my budgeted categories for the month.

You can still do smart things with your money even if you don't know what the future holds.

Currently, I'm living in New Zealand after spending one year in America. As me and my partner try to figure out visa's and jobs it's a little bit difficult to think about anything beyond the next year, let along saving for a home or god forbid children one day. I think one of the hardest things for Millennials, and Gen Z after us, is that our lives aren't as linear as generations before us. It's no longer meet someone, get married, buy a house, have kids.

I came to the conclusion that while I couldn't define whether I would be buying a home or even staying in the same country in the next year I could make decisions based on when I might want to access my savings. I have short term savings in a high-interest bank account. This I can access for big payments that I don't have on hand like flights or emergencies.

The rest of my savings are split between a long-term deposit and investing in my ETFs. The long-term deposit I can access in a years time, meaning if I do want to think about a deposit for a house then I can use some of this for a deposit. My investments are for much further along in the future - like my midlife crisis or retirement.

You need to save for retirement. And not just the mandatory minimum payments.

I was 27 when I first learnt that other people my age were actually adding to their retirement accounts - and I'm not talking about opting into the government minimum payments. It's bonkers that this isn't even taught to us at school but, chances are that there will be very little money left in the pension fund by the time we Millenials turn 65. Making monthly contributions to your Kiwisaver, over the mandatory amount is a good idea.

You don't need to be obsessed with FIRE to be "good" with finances.

Here's the thing about money. Utilizing every dollar to build yourself a life you love is more important than saving 70% of your income. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the F.I.R.E (financial independence retire early) clan because living super frugally would drive me crazy. And I should know because I used to date someone who lived this way. Spending money on clothing, entertainment, makeup, sports, craft beers or other non-necessities does not make you bad with money. It just means you have different priorities for your life than someone who wants to save every (and I mean every) penny. Be smart with money. Invest for your goals, pay your debts and save for retirement. But don't feel guilty for whatever "self-indulgent" things you spend money on each week.

Investing isn't just for the super-rich.

There are so many ways to invest money these days from Sharesies to Smarshares and InvestNow that didn't exist ten years ago in New Zealand. I am by no means an expert on what type of fund is best for you but if I can do it it can't be that complicated. My only advice is to invest in your future self. Your investments will go up and down so don't invest if you need to access this money within the next five years.

This morning I woke up to my investments plummeting by 7%. I had two options. Invest some more money while the market had dipped or close my app and ignore it. Since I invest with an auto payment plan at the end of each month (and a lot of studies show that timing your payments doesn't make much of a difference in the long term) I decided to close my app.

There are very few things worth going into debt for.

Cars are not one of them and neither are electronics. Apart from a mortgage or a college education, I can't think of anything that I've bought in the 13 years I've been working that would be worth paying interest on. Most things can wait until you can afford them.

In saying that credit cards aren't necessarily evil.

I was always told that credit cards were bad and that holding debt on them is a huge waste of money. While this is true, there are perks to having a credit card. I've been penalized for taking money out of my savings account because I didn't have enough money in my checking account to pay for flights. With a credit card, I could have paid them off during the month avoiding any fees while keeping my bonus interest. I got a credit card for the first time a year ago and wished I had gotten one sooner. It's also a great way to build credit.

On applying for an apartment this year I requested my credit score to use as a resource to show how great I am at paying my bills. Except...since I've never used credit I have a decidedly average credit score! While I'm sure this matters less in New Zealand than it would in say, America, it's still something to think about.

Check-in on lifestyle inflation every six months. 

Lifestyle inflation or lifestyle creep is when your spending increases as your pay increases. So, rather than being able to save more you just spend more money on unnecessary purchases or nicer more expensive versions of what you used to buy. I like to check in on my lifestyle inflation every six months or so. Too many coffees out or Kindle purchases can blow our budgets without us even realizing.

Now that I have my handy one year budget I find it easier to manage this but even so, I still decided to cancel my subscriptions to The Cut and Spotify (!) because my income is lower than usual. While this only comes to an extra $19 a month and $228 a year, that's the price of hosting my website on Squarespace. Since the gym and my house are the main places I listen to Spotify, and they both have wifi (my rent includes unlimited wifi) it wasn't a sacrifice to me at all.

I'm sure I've learnt more good money habits but these are the main ones that come to mind when I think of what has shaped my finances over the last ten years.