2020 Recap-discoveries, first attempts, and books galore

Hello and Happy New Year, friends!

So. 2020. It happened. That’s all I’m going to say about that. So let’s move on to talking about fiction!

I consumed a lot of art this year. I devoured art.

Escapism? ….Possibly.

In the process of voraciously devouring all kinds of art, I made some new discoveries.

Discoveries of 2020

1. Twenty One Pilots

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My cousin introduced me to this glorious music pretty early on in quarantine, and I have been jamming out to it ever since. ALL of it. I love Trench, Blurryface, and Vessel (especially Vessel; Vessel is my jam), but COME ON, FOLKS the independently released debut album Twenty One Pilots??? It’s SO STINKIN’ GOOD.

Friend, please remove your hands

from over your eyes for me

I know you want to leave but

Friend, please

Don’t take your life away from me

-Friend, Please

*cries*

*resists urge to quote every song on the album*

And Regional at Best–which we’re technically not supposed to be able to listen to for copyright reasons, but shhhhhhh. “Lovely” and “Forest” and “Be Concerned” and “Glowing Eyes” and AHHHHHHHH.

And then, as if that wasn’t enough, there’s No Phun Intended–an album that Tyler wrote and recorded as a senior in high-school and HOW IS THIS MAN SUCH A GENIUS??

Ok, I’ll stop screaming now.

(But you have to listen to this music, ok??)

2. Podcasts

Audio drama podcasts and exist and WHAT A FANTASTIC MEDIUM IT IS. It’s like a cross between a TV show and an audio book?? You can listen to 5 episodes while mudding and taping and you don’t have to feel guilty because you were working the whole time instead of watching a screen???

I love how you can take a story that, as a TV show or movie, would need a huge budget, and convincingly tell it with only a few actors and some sound effects. I’m still geeking out about this.

3. Avatar: The Last Airbender

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WHAT AN ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE.

My cousins have been casually encouraging me to watch this show for years, and I finally did, and….how is it so good??

(Warning: if you say the word “water” around me I may or may not be triggered and proceed to quote the entire intro…)

4. Manga

I’d never read any Manga until about a month and a half ago. Now I’m anxiously awaiting the arrival of the next volume at the library.

WHAT HAPPENED?

I’ll tell you what happened:

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PHIL HAPPENED AND HE IS MY SON.

Also Emma. And Ray. And Norman. And Gilda. And Don.

MY KIDS.

I watched the first season of The Promised Neverland and season two wasn’t out yet and I NEEDED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED NEXT. Hence, I started reading the books. And they’re SO GOOD, HOW ARE THEY SO GOOD?

I’m also reading Fullmetal Alchemist now because…I mean, brothers and angst. That’s practically my middle name. And it’s hilarious.

Books

I read a lot this year. Like…almost twice as many books as last year. (Granted, 20 of those books were graphic novels….)

Some highlights:

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  If you thought being stuck at home was rough, check out Jonathan Harker being stuck in the home of a vampire.

• 

  Fantasy set in Russia with beautiful writing and the snarkiest Baba Yaga

• 

  (+sequels) High-school age Holmes and Watson descendants solving mysteries (and probably almost dying)

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  Please never send me to an island to hunt birds.

• 

  Louisiana is just the sweetest.

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  I think this is the first Kate DiCamillo book about a teenager? I love Beverly dearly.

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  Alistair is my son.

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  Why is it so fun to read pages upon pages of Gen complaining about being hungry??

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  (+sequel) Ok, but where is Kaz’s emotional support sheep, hmm?

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  (Vol. 1-9) MY KIDS. LOOK AT MY KIDS.

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  My children are so GROWN UP. I love them as much as ever. And Tai is adorable.

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  (Vol. 1-9) Why is it so funny to watch Ed turn into a flailing blob of rage every time someone calls him short??

Writing

In addition to consuming a lot of art this year, I’m happy to say I also created quite a lot of my own.

In terms of writing, this was a year of firsts for me.

1. I wrote my first sequel

When I wrote the first book, I had no intention of writing a sequel, but…. It happened. I had so much fun writing more about these characters (and adding new ones).

2. I wrote my first mystery

I’ve never written a mystery before and, before this year, I didn’t really have a desire to. *Cue plot bunnies breaking down the door* As much as it terrified me (and as much as I moaned and ranted while in the middle of it) I had a lot of fun writing it. And I love it–plot-holes and all.

3. I participated in Nanowrimo

I’ve done a couple Nano camps in July, but this was the first time I actually participated in November! My project was the aforementioned mystery novel and, while I kind of completely burned myself out, I’m very proud of what I accomplished.

4. I started writing a podcast

As I mentioned earlier in this post, I’m still geeking out about podcasts. So naturally I had to start writing my own. I wrote the first 5 episodes (and the episodes are only around 12 minutes each), then stopped to prep for Nanowrimo. Hoping to pick it up again…sometime.

It doesn’t make a lot of sense, but it’s fun! There are aliens! Shady government agents! Drawings on pizza boxes! Siblings!

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Well, that’s all for now! Nanowrimo completely destroyed my blogging schedule (I was posting every other Monday and now I’m…not), but I hope to reestablish it in the near future. Although, I might pick a different day of the week… We’ll see.

As a parting gift, I leave you with this sleep-deprived cat I drew.

Once again, Happy New Year! Here’s to hoping this year is a good one.

Did you find yourself devouring buckets of art this year? Did you discover any new art forms? Did you try anything new in terms of writing? Do you listen to Twenty One Pilots (please scream with me)? Have you ever read any manga? What’s something you hope to accomplish in 2021? What’s something you’re proud of that you did in 2020? Do tell!

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