Written by December 30, 2021

The End of 2021 (A Typical Recap)

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We can now count the number of days left in 2021 on one hand. 2022 is arriving quickly, though it feels like I’ve just gotten used to the fact that we are in 2021. But alas, time never stops. For today, the last blog post of 2021, I’m going to recap my year. 

Reading 

In February, I revolutionized my reading habits by buying a Kindle. Now I didn’t need to buy a book because the library didn’t have that certain book that I wanted to read. Those dark times were over. Now, I’m able to borrow Kindle books from an online library, buy cheaper ebooks, and save buying books for the books that I know I actually like. 

So, because this new world of new reading was opened up, I read many, many new-to-me books this year. I also kept track of almost every book I read with the use of a handy dandy journal I received last Christmas. I’m not a very good journaler, but I really liked keeping track of all of my books this year! 

Favorite Rereads: 

  • Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo – I read this just in time for the Shadow and Bone show to come out!
  • Chasing Redbird by Sharon Creech- read this book if you want to cry.
  • The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater- This is one of my favorite books. I was also able to buy the GORGEOUS Owlcrate 10th anniversary book box/ edition of this book!

Favorite New Reads: 

  • The Book Thief by Markus Zusak- Another book to read if you want to weap.  
  • To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han- I didn’t expect to like this as much as I did!
  • At her Fingertips by Kellyn Roth – read this if you like Victorian romance, Jane Eyre quotes, intellectual conversations, and very awkward (but oh so charming) gentlemen named Peter.
  • A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson- another book I was surprised to enjoy as much as I did, it appealed very much to my true crime loving side.

Nonfiction, Classics, and other Pretentious Reading 

  • Les Miserables by Victor Hugo- I read this because of my obsession with the Les Mis musical. It took months, I got very bored in some parts, but I’m proud to have made it through this beast!
  • Emma by Jane Austen – I FINALLY MADE IT THROUGH A JANE AUSTEN NOVEL!
  • Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach – Yeesh. I read a lot of true crime related books this year. This was a really interesting book all about cadavers, and inspired many wonderful conversations between my mom and I.

Writing 

In January of 2021, I realized just how badly I didn’t understand story structure. I dropped the novel I was working on at the time and decided to write some short stories and take tim eto look through writing lessons and courses to truly understand story structure before I went and wrote a whole book. I wrote two short stories, both of which are untitled (big surprise) One of them, a twisted Parent Trap, got rewritten a couple of times and turned into a decently polished short story. 

I wrote the first short story draft of my ghost story (where two ghosts try to make amends with the real world) and hated it. I didn’t feel like I was telling the story in my head, and it was so frustrating. I took a step back and spent the whole summer reoutlining it and trying to rework it. Then, in September, I started writing it. I finished the draft at 40k words, and it is the strongest (and probably the closest to making you cry) novel I’ve ever written! 

Other Shenanigans 

It wouldn’t be a recap if I didn’t talk about what I did with my life outside of books and writing. 

January

  • January 1st: moved house, accidentally drove into trash cans, and had a million cousins stay with us all at the same time. 
  • Installed carpet with my family.

February

  • Cold weather and lots of cozy sewing.

March 

  • Began driver’s ed with 6 am classes. 

April 

  • Fast road trip to Arizona filled with mountain biking and hiking. 

May

  • Basked in springtime sunshine! 
  • Bike races and rides with my family.

June 

  • Started working at 2 summer jobs.
  • Had a cousin stay with us for a week.
  • Promptly after that, another cousin stayed with us for two weeks.  
  • Rafting and bridge jumping into freezing cold water.

July 

  • Right after my other cousin left, we had some friends come visit for a week of hiking, attempting slack lines, and perusing Target

  • Finished my robe a la anglaise!

August 

  • A road trip to learn about the history of my state that involved old prisons and dinosaur babies.
  • Started school again. 

September

  • Hiked 20 miles to see a Glacier.  

October 

  • Finished a regency/Jane Austen costume.  

November 

  • Fun Thanksgiving celebrations.

December 

  • Hiked the Grand Canyon.
  • Somehow made the majority of my Christmas gifts for my family. 

Sewing 

In January I started sewing an 18th century robe a la angalaise. I don’t know why it took me so long to finish, but in July I finally finished everything in time for a quick photo shoot.

In September and October, I started sewing a Regency dress for all of my Jane Austen dreams, just in time for Halloween. A good chunk of the costume was held together by safety pins, but I’m super happy with how it turned out! 

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And… that was my 2021. While 2020 had very extreme ups and downs, 2021 seemed more streamlined and consistent. Calmer, but somehow not boring? *shrugs* 

I’d love to hear, what are your favorite parts of 2021? What did you accomplish? What are some things you learned? What are you hoping for as we go into the new year? 

Thanks for reading, I hope you have a great rest of your week, and year! Happy New Years! 

-Hannah