The Guilty Reader Book Tag | #Blogtober22 – Day 26

Being a bookworm is a study in self-control. I should get that new book. NO! I should reward myself with 5 new books because I finished one. NO! I should read just one more chapter before I sleep. (This at 2 AM.) NO! Only, the answer to this is usually yes, which is why so many of us have dark circles from not getting enough sleep. I should just say that I’ve read the book these people are talking about because I don’t want to feel left out. ABSOLUTELY NOT! What is wrong with you?!

Author Interview | Jenny Jaeckel | #Blogtober22 – Day 25

About 4.5 years ago, I read a book that I’d requested from Netgalley because I’d found the premise to be super interesting. Until this, my experience or even impression of sites like Netgalley hadn’t been great. But this book, called House of Rougeax, turned it around fantastically well, becoming one of my favorite books of 2018. I was so mesmerized by the writing and the story that I immediately approached the author, Jenny Jaeckel, for an interview. But things happened and I couldn’t publish it here even though Jenny was prompt in sending her answers. I decided to try my luck again and Jenny, being the sweetest person, agreed to do it. A big thank you, Jenny, for this!

Diwali as a Child vs Diwali as an Adult | #Blogtober22 – Day 24

Diwali or Deepavali is a festival that us Indians look forward to with great anticipation, not just because we get to celebrate fireworks, but because it heralds light and new beginnings. It is a festival that depicts good winning over evil and on this day, we worship Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and wealth, inviting her into our homes. There are other reasons and traditions connected to the festival but this is one that’s widely celebrated. Irrespective, though, Diwali is the Festival of Lights, characterized by fireworks and light and hope.

10 Weird Bookish Things I Do | #Blogtober22 – Day 23

As human beings, we all have our quirks. We do certain things in certain ways which sometimes surprises other people. Of course, the world in itself is a weird place to be in, given how it ruthlessly cracks down on people who do things differently. But every person is different. And there isn’t just one solution to every problem. There are multiple ways of looking at things. Given, some of these ways may be weird, but that doesn’t mean they’re ineffective or bad. Diss on the bad and harmful, not on the weird. (Life lesson done for today, phew.) As bookworms, we’re prone to doing even weirder things than is considered normal. It could be immersing ourselves in a book while at a doctor’s appointment or reading while eating or the way we store our books – every bookworm has their own quirks. More than the average human being, even.

Rereading the Heartstopper Books & Watching the TV Show | #Blogtober22 – Day 22

In 2021, a subscriber and now friend suggested that I read the Heartstopper graphic novel series by Alice Oseman. So I read it and this way, found one of my favorite series of all time. In hindsight, 2021 was a great year for finding favorites. This one especially touched a part of my heart and filled it with warmth and goodness. When the TV adaptation came out earlier this year, I knew I had to watch it, but I couldn’t at the time. Months went by and plans of rereading the series and watching the show were razed to the ground because of our move to Sydney.

Why I Might Never Meet My Favorite Authors or Artists | #Blogtober22 – Day 21

I feel like a lot of these Blogtober posts have started with me putting out the disclaimer that I am an introvert. And as much as I want to apologize for the repetition, I also understand that I need it for context. Moreover, what am I even apologizing for? For a part of myself? For being me? So, I’ll keep my introductions as they are, thank you very much. In fact, I’ll start off this blog post by talking about how much of an awkward introvert I am. Like I said before: context setting is important.

A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf | Book Discussion / Thoughts | #Blogtober22 – Day 20

Earlier this year, I had the extremely transformative experience of reading Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own. I didn’t think it would affect me the way it did, especially since Woolf’s To the Lighthouse was a disappointing one for me. But as I progressed with A Room of One’s Own, I was consumed by it. I read in awe as Woolf detailed the sexism that women writers face in a time when women didn’t have the freedom to do as they wanted. So many scathing points written sometimes with detached politeness, other times with undisguised annoyance, and at yet others narrated stoically – they sit with you for all of eternity, like they’ve settled down in my mind. And what a way to condense the book into one sentence: A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.

My Favorite Book Quotes of All Time – Part 2 | #Blogtober22 – Day 19

Books make life more understandable. They give us the time to think about every possible thing in the world, mostly about people and their behavior. They explain to us calmly whatever they are trying to say. We can pause and reflect on what the author is saying without having to rush on with the next point in the flow. Which is why I love reading to no end. It makes me, me. As I mentioned in the previous post in this series, I’m not nothing without books and reading, but a huge part of me would be missing if reading wasn’t in my life. Reading makes me a better person. And while I read, I give my all to it. I maintain a notebook to note down my thoughts about the books that I am reading, and I jot down the quotes that I like. I later transfer them to another notebook that’s specifically for these quotes. I’ve filled up 4 so far and have started on a fifth, which might give you an idea about how long this series is going to be. The short answer is: very long. 😛

All for the Game Trilogy by Nora Sakavic | Book Review | #Blogtober22 – Day 17

There are some books that enter your life just like that but leave lasting impressions on you. They might not be what you’d prefer to read but they’re strong enough and sure enough in themselves and the lessons they are giving you that you appreciate them for what they are. I came across one such trilogy a couple of months ago when I read the All for the Game trilogy by Nora Sakavic. The name of the trilogy might seem all easygoing, all in fun. But trust me, it’s got the heaviness of a thousand truckload of bricks raining down on you.