Yesterday was my last day with my volunteering at Emirates Literature Festival 2021, here in Dubai. As expected we had a many virtual sessions with authors like Malala Yousafzai, Elif Shafak, Thomas Eriksson and Oyinkan Braithwaite and some in person sessions with authors who were able to come down.
Despite all these, it was just not the same because of the less crowd and all the other necessary protocols. The volunteers and the team underwent the PCR test before the event and we all maintained strict social distance.
We had about 20% of the usual crowd but I was glad to meet some bookworms who took all these with a stride and got meet their favorite authors.
I am kinda missing it already, even though I am really tired and my voice is coarse because I talked to so many people.
Quick January’21 updates
I am very disappointed to say January 2021 didn’t miraculously make all the problems of 2020 disappear. COVID is pretty much widely spread, the travel bans and social distancing are still there. There are bad presidents and worse politicians even after the new year’s eve.
Anyway what else happened to me personally during the month? Let me give you some of the highlights.
- After some really good months, the Covid cases in the UAE has been increasing. But with the excellent mass vaccination programmes around, I am desperately hoping there will be a fall soon.
- We had some foggy, winter mornings for exactly 5 days and then I guess we were done with the winter. But the weather is kinda good and pretty.
- A pretty good reading and viewing month. More about that follows in a bit.
What I read this month
I read 5 books last month and I am happy that I liked all of them. Yay me!
- Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
- The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
- The Duke and I (Bridgertons, #1) by Julia Quinn
- Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
- Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
What I watched this month
I am on my 3rd (almost) rewatch of my favorite series House MD on Prime. But this is the first time that I am watching it in order, as a complete series. Needless to say I am loving it. Have you watched it?
I also watched the Idris Elba starring UK crime drama series Luther, which I really enjoyed. It had a Sherlock vibe, without witty dialogues.
On my blog
Book Reviews from January’21
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Sunday personal posts from the month
COVID panic returns: Sunday Musings #107
UAE COVID Vaccine update: Sunday Musings #106
Winter in Dubai: Sunday Musings #105
December 2020 wrap up: Sunday Musings #104
Other posts from the month
Perfect book quotes for Instagram captions
2021 plans: What to expect of me
Year in review: Most popular posts of 2020
In case you missed the posts from my blog, last week.
I will be linking today’s post with Caffeinated reviewer’s Sunday post Meme.
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Let us chat
How was your weekend so far? Did you have a good January’21? What are your reading plans for the month ahead? Let’s talk.
You read Chloe Brown!! I hope you liked it! Talia Hibbert has become one of my favorite authors off late! ❤️
I loved it!
I imagine the Emirates Literature Festival 2021 wasn’t the same with fewer people and more precautions, but it sounded like it went well despite all that. I am glad you had a good reading month in January. I did too. I hope you have a great February! Take care and enjoy your week!
It definitely was different but something better than nothing at all, rihgt?
That Festival sounds wonderful! And I love fog in th winter. So pretty…
Hope you had a good weekend!
Yes, we had for less than a week this year but I will gladly take what I get!
Glad the fest was able to happen this year! Hope things get better and better as the year goes on! Have a great week!
Fingers crossed on that.
Glad you had a great time at the literary festival! That’s good everything was handled safely in lieu of the pandemic. I will be happy when all this craziness is over.
Have a great week! 🙂
Same here, can’t wait for it to get over.
The festival sounds brilliant, even though quite a lot had to be done virtually. Elif Shafak and Oyinkan Braithwaite? I’m so envious!!
Both those sessions were brilliant.
The festival sounded like a great experience, even if it was smaller. The Vanishing Half was amazing! It was my favorite book from last year. I, too, was hoping 2021 would make Covid disappear, but no! At least we can be hopeful with the vaccine available now. Have a wonderful week!
I loved it too!
I hope to read my copy of The Vanishing Half soon! Enjoy your week and your books. Thanks for sharing, and here are my WEEKLY UPDATES.
I hope you like it as much as I did!
Sounds like the event was a success, even if it was quite a bit smaller than usual. Hope next year is back to normal!
I hope so too!
It would be lovely if everything wrong in the world disappeared with the ticking over of the calendar year but alas… All we can hope for as things get better as the year rolls on! Hopefully, the vaccination programmes will help knock covid on its butt at least.
Hope you have a good week!
Yes that sounds like a dream!