My Bookish Resolutions (2023)
In 2023, I set five specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) book-related goals. I aimed to read all 36 unread books on my shelf, building on my success of reading 34 books in 2022. Second, I planned to complete the Wingbound trilogy by Heather Trim, with Wingspan slated for January. Third, I intended to create a cozy reading space by furnishing my living room, following a recent move. Fourth, I sought to acquire a new bookshelf to complement my desired mid-century modern or industrial-themed decor, repurposing the old one for bathroom storage. Lastly, I aspired to read a 2023 release early in the year, specifically highlighting 'Yellowface' by R.F. Kuang, and planned to review it promptly.
Book Review: Goodbye Again by Jonny Sun
Goodbye, Again is a profoundly sentimental, immensely reflective, and introspective read. It touches on sensitive subjects such as loneliness, the end of the world, the rat race and losing yourself by getting caught up in the working world, depression, self-care, and the like, but not just for the sake of discussing these difficult topics. Sun handles these subjects with care and grace and carves out a space for the reader to feel less alone in their experience with loneliness, belonging, and burnout.
Book Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The circus arrives without warning.
No announcements precede it, no paper notices on downtown posts and billboards, no mentioned or advertisements in local newspapers. It is simply there, when yesterday it wasn’t.
All of the characters —from the circus itself, to the performers and circusgoers— are alluring, multidimensional, complex characters. These morally-grey, deeply flawed characters are relatable, realistic, and easily loveable—a rarity in books like this one, that have a very large cast of characters. The way Morgenstern seemingly effortlessly weaves so many intriguing character arcs into a single story is truly mystifying—every character has a part to play.
21 Bookish Resolutions for 2021
Setting reading goals can help you get more reading done and read more effectively. Last year, I hopped on the bandwagon and made 20 Bookish Resolutions for 2020, but this year I’m upping the anti by doing 21 Bookish Resolutions for 2021! I managed to knock out 6/20 of my bookish goals last year and this year, I am hoping to switch a few of those out for new goals while keeping a few I didn’t end up completing.
Bookish End of the Year Survey
This week in Reader Life however, I’m going to be completing the End of The Year Book Survey created by Jamie from PerpetualPageTurner.com! Make sure you check out her post here and share it if you do decide to complete it for yourself!
Series Review: The Angel Trilogy by L.A. Weatherly
This is a series I have been meaning to read for so long, picked it up in the summer of 2019, and didn’t finish it until just before the end of 2020! After reading Hush, Hush, I needed a new paranormal romance to do with angels and I honestly thought this one was going to be my next fave. I had such high hopes for this trilogy, and even skipped reading Hush, Hush this year, to make sure I knocked it out before 2021!
Book Review: Ghosted By Rosie Walsh
Almost every one of us can relate to the sour feeling and phenomenon of being “ghosted” and what it feels like to never hear from someone again. For those who have read Gillian Flynn’s psychological romantic thriller, Gone Girl, Blood Orange by Harriet Tyce and/or anything by Llane Moriarty, then you may have heard about The Man Who Didn’t Call or Ghosted by Rosie Walsh. This book is a romantic thriller from cover to cover and I devoured this fantastic summer contemporary like it was candy.
7 Fun, Useful, Quirky, and Cute Non-Book Bookish Items
Here’s a bunch of fun, weird, non-book bookish things that you may not have heard of before!
How I Read A Book: My Book Reading Routine
I always love seeing how other people curate their perfect reading experiences and I know it seems to be a popular topic in the bookish world, so I figured, why not? So, snuggle up, get cozy, grab a warm beverage, and let’s take a look, shall we?
I Visited The Full Circle Bookstore In Oklahoma City
I took my bestie on a bookish, friend date to the Full Circle Bookstore in OKC…
And we loved it.
Yeah, we’re hitting the ground running in Reader Life this week, because I just cannot wait to tell you all about it.
Neither me nor my best friend Allie have ever been to Full Circle before and needless to say, we a first-time FC converts, if there is such a thing. When we rolled up to the shop at the bottom of the 50 Penn Place building, we were greeted with a quaint little storefront, painted mint green and black with chalkboard signs and jazzy music playing softly from an outdoor speaker. We were already so excited, and we hadn’t even entered the building.
10 Times I Was Attacked By the Five Senses While Reading
From elaborate writing that triggers your sense of smell or makes you hungry to sticky library books—that elicit a far more physical response—I’ve had plenty of run-ins with the senses while reading.