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I so badly want to be that mysterious and elusive college student at the local bookstore with a dark academia style and who no one can really tell the gender of, since I constantly interchange between presenting masc, fem, and andro.
it doesn't matter if you've:
never editted your WIP
never enjoyed it thoroughly
never felt satisfied enough
if you're nothing but pleased
if all you do is edit
if you never write anymore
if you've abandoned, ripped up, shredded, or spit on the very pages you held dearly—
your WIP is amazing and nothing will ever make you any less of an author.
writeblr introduction
☼ my name is avery and my blog runs two themes at once! witch themes/writing themes.
☼ if you haven't made the connection already, i'm an aspiring author and an inspiring witch!
☼ i just recently got back into writing after a two year hiatus, unfortunately stemming from a spiral in depression. i've realized that writing makes me feel better :)
☼ even better news, i've started my very first novel! i plan on attempting to get it published in early 2022, but that's a long-term goal.
☼ i love writing in my grimoire the most! something about being able to create not only memories, but test out my artist skills as well makes me feel alive!
☼ i hope to become a positive member in this community and i love making new friends! feel free to message me, especially if you want an opinion on your writing! i love reading!
☼ my favorite author right now is andrea cremer! she actually inspired this novel!
Monday is normally the day I go to my bookstore and these memes just ran freely into my mind as I walk and (most of the times) buy a book or two 😅✨
What's your favorite book meme? ✨💗
Barnes and Nobles is gonna start serving food and alcohol.
Everybody’s cracking jokes about how it’s a desperate attempt to stay relevant in the age of Amazon.
But you know what? Props to them. This is exactly what Blockbuster didn’t do. At no point was Blockbuster like “Hey, movie rentals aren’t the lucrative enterprise they once were. Perhaps it’s time we become known for our cheesy garlic bread.”
Love can only be found in two places: in a second hand bookstore on a rainy Sunday afternoon in fall or in the middle of summer in a cute Starbucks barista 5 minutes before they close for the night.
Local Bookstores Are The Best
Part One (because I'm sure I will continue to have many things to say on this subject)
There's this one super awesome person who works at the small town local bookstore I frequent. They read over a hundred books a year. They work at three other jobs, including the locally owned game store down the street. They play D&D. They have a shrine in the front of the store when you first walk in dedicated to their recommendations from the hundreds of books they consume. I walk into the store and they are listening to yet another book. Or turning the pages of one. They once turned down the volume "just in case you wanted to read this series so I don't spoil it for you". They tell you the best RPG stuff to get and where to get the coolest dice. They talk books and authors of any genre any timeframe. They help you weigh the pros and cons of starting certain series, or deciding which ones to purchase first. They are the chillest person known to humankind. They are my favorite person to see in that bookstore and I hope both they and the bookstore gain immortality if that's something they'd be interested in.
In fact, it's the best way of living life
Strolling aimlessly in a bookshop is selfcare
The vibe in the bookstores 💘💘💘💘
January 2023 Wrap-Up
I really think I should just change my blog name to "I am only slightly late posting this." I think it would fit the vibe better.
ANYWAYS! I had a really good reading month in January despite being on vacation for the first week of the month. I read a total of 4 books and some were better than others
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennet
This was my first read of the year and I am glad it was. I loved this book and I really don't have much to complain about. I loved how character focused this book was and yet it still managed to keep me interested (unlike other books I read this month). I am not sure if there was any overarching plot but this was still a fun read especially for those who love historical fiction!
4/5 Stars
A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir
The third installment in the An Ember in the Ashes series. This was my favorite so far. Most of the book felt like it dragged on and it was very focused on character development which usually doesn't bother me but this whole series is very action packed and the slower pace of this installment tripped me up. However, the last 2/3rds of this book had me reeling and screaming into my pillow. And the ending knocked me right off my feet. It is easily one of the best endings I have ever read.
4.5/5 Stars
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
This is a re-read. This year I am focusing less on reading new books and more on finishing series. I have only read the first 3 books in this series so I felt justified to read it again. I watched the show with my mom and we both loved it and now that the second season is coming out I want to read the entire series PLUS the six of crows duology by the time it comes out in March (This is definitely a long shot I know). I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did. I had read it when I hadn't really developed my reading tastes and loved everything I read. This book is older and I just was expecting it to be an eh book. I loved it, is it the greatest work of literature? No, but I love it.
4/5 Stars
Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson
Well, not every book I read this month could be a hit. I don't think I had high expectations going into this but this book severely disappointed me. This is marketed as enemies to lovers but they were kissing by page 120. I thought oh maybe there is some backstabbing and there was but they still maintained feelings? Not only that but this book is too damn long. This book was 505 pages long and didn't get good until the last 100 ish pages. I feel like this book tried to be character driven and it was but to the point to where there was no plot. I was simply reading about people doing stuff.
2/5 Stars
As I mentioned before, this year I am focusing on finishing series and clearing out my TBR so I will be reviewing a lot more sequels and other installations in series. I may also be re-reading some books so that I can finish books that I read in previous years.
Once again, I am sorry for posting late. I will see you guys in my February Mid-month update (no TBR this month, sorry!)
Much love,
June <3
January 2023 TBR
I truly am so excited to be back doing this. I had to remind myself on hiatus that taking a break is what I needed but I truly did miss this.
I am quite proud of the reading that I did in 2022 and I am going to push myself to read even more this year. As I have mentioned before one of my goals this year is to finish all of the series that I have started, both in 2022 and overall. Thus, many of my TBR lists this year will be full of sequels and continuations of series. I will do my best to not include spoilers but sometimes in book reviews it is just part of business.
Anyways, now that I’ve established “ground rules”, let’s get into what I want to read in the month of January!
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
I know what I said above, I want to finish the series that I have already started and this is the first of a new series but hear me out, I have been wanting to read this for awhile and after I was finally able to FIND this book (which is more of a challenge than you would expect for a book that is nearly a decade old) I want to start it as soon as possible. You all have seen my opinion on the Mortal Instrument series but I heard that the Infernal Devices is far superior and I am just holding out for it.
Lightbringer by Claire Legrand
I have had this in at least one of my previous TBR lists and yes, I still haven't read it (hence why one of my goals is to finish series). I really loved the first two books in this series I just don’t want it to end. This is quite a large book so If I do decide to read this I will probably try to read some shorter or stand alone novels to help my brain not shut down.
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
Now for a standalone. I actually just bought this and honestly, I wouldn’t have picked this up if Hannah (From Aclockworkreader) didn’t make a reading vlog about this novel and loved it. It seems like something I would like I am just not sure why I always gravitate towards series instead of stand-alone novels. I have this book right in front of me and I actually plan on starting it after drafting this post (remember to keep up with me on Goodreads/Instagram @jooniens !)
A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir
I started An Ember in the Ashes in November of 2022 and it has been true love. A Torch against the Night was my last read for 2022 and it was a great way to end a year of reading. This entire series has swept me off of my feet and I am so excited to keep reading, I just love these characters and this world so much. I accidentally bought this thinking that it was the second book so I had to go back to Barnes and Noble later (what a shame).
There isn’t a lot on this list because half of my Goodreads TBR has gone missing(?) I know I trimmed it down but I don’t think I had gotten rid of so much. Hopefully, I will be able to knock some of these titles off and start 2023 with some great reads.
Also, note that I will be bringing back the Mid-Month Reading updates however they will be brief posts and not as long as they were previously.
Have a very happy and safe new year!
Much Love,
June <3
Hello!
I’m Claire. I am 25, still shelving away at the bookstore, and hopefully a librarian someday. A little about me: My favorite things in the whole wide world are reading, movies, popcorn, tiny towns on Lake Erie, music, art and making art, and British panel shows. And also my fellow booksellers. I will love them forever.
I tend to be a bit of a reading odd-ball. I adore children’s books, especially middle-grade, picture books, and YA. And pretty much in that order. I read a possibly unhealthy amount of romance novels, fair number of graphic novels, the occasional literary memoir, and fiction. I will probably post a lot about illustrators, book covers, and picture books. Because they are pretty much my favorite things about the book industry.
This year I am attempting to branch myself back out into grown-up people lit. Because, like Tori, I don’t usually have the attention span for an adult book that takes me longer than a week to read.
My favorite books of all time are the Queens Thief middle grade series by Megan Whalen Turner. I will probably be writing at least one entire post about my love for her and her books. I have a very strong belief that absolutely everyone needs to read her books. They are wonderful and hilarious and Eugenides is just the bomb-diggity and holy-crap Attolia and Eddis are badasses and I could go on and on. -> Like that sentence, WHAT!
I can’t wait to get started!
From surviving to generously falling in love with this city, I found love that I can finally gate keep.
July-December, Delhi’2024
There is something enchantingly beautiful about books kept in old wooden shelves. The rich, warm tones, often polished by years of gentle handling. The slight creaks of them as you pull out a volume can evoke a feeling of nostalgia, reminding us of the many hands that have turned those pages before us.
[November’24, The Bookshop Inc., Lodhi Colony, New Delhi]
someone needs to ban me from bookstores.