a bookish wanderer

•Librarian•Hufflepuff •Explorer•

[the-bookish-wanderer]

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[the-bookish-wanderer]

My 2022 top reads list and setup for my 2023 Reading journal! Basically everything is from @notebook_therapy because I adore their products immensely! They are top quality and so adorable! Have you read any of these? What where your thoughts? And what are you most looking forward to reading this year?? https://www.instagram.com/p/CnJB9RVt_QI/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[the-bookish-wanderer]

In February, I read 10 books (not all pictured here)In March I read 7. My brain is just struggling to focus these days, BUT I also read my first non-digital book this year and it was a little piece of magic that I didn’t realise my heart was missing, y’all! Moving to the UK was really expensive so I’ve had to put all book buying on hold. The libraries aren’t open yet and I’ve read all of the books that I brought with me. I’ve got so many wonderful e-galleys and audiobooks and they are a fabulous way to read, but I often just miss the magic of holding a book in your hands and turning the pages! This post was meant to be a review of The Silence of Girls—which I really loved!—but I’ll save that for my stories ❤️ What was your favourite read in March? https://www.instagram.com/p/CNKAwtrsQPX/?igshid=1hxh5l8vlf3dn

[the-bookish-wanderer]

London Calling

Hi friends!

So I have to admit that I started this blog days ago, accidentally deleted it and thought, “Nothing interesting has happened yet. What’s the point?” The point is that even when life seems uninteresting there are still so many magical little pockets worth sharing! So here are ours.

Thanksgiving--We leave Boston for Colorado. A lot of people have asked what we’re doing with Carter and the truth is it always, always pains me to be separated from him, but he’s also not a young dog anymore. I didn’t feel comfortable flying him in cargo to the UK where he would have to spend a month with a sitter--the place we are staying doesn’t allow dogs, and we wouldn’t have been able to walk him during our 14 day self-isolation (per the UK govt) The smartest, kindest thing to do was leave him in Colorado where Kyle’s mom, aunt, cousin and sweet, sweet grandpa could care for him. Will he come to the UK eventually? Man, I hope so, but I don’t want to make his life any more stressful than I have already so if it’s best for him to stay there and we visit. I get it.

Dec 1st --We start our trip to London! There’s nothing worth noting here really. We had to rearrange our bags to make sure that none of them were over 50 lbs and we had a layover in Atlanta, but once we got on that final flight things started to feel real! We were sitting in Economy Plus (thanks to Kyle’s mom’s incredibly kind wedding gift!) which meant we had real cutlery and glassware and comfortable seats. We drank wine and had the best airplane food I’ve ever had in my life. We wore masks the entire time (except for when we were eating) as did everyone else. The plane wasn’t very full so it felt weird, but safe to fly.

2 Dec -- We’re finally in the UK! For some reason, our very sleep deprived and jet lagged minds thought the best course of action was to go through the automated passport line so my dreams of saying, “Forever!” to the gate agent asking how long we planned to stay in the UK were dashed without me even realising it. We walked straight through the airport and out the other side without talking to anyone, but our Uber driver. We got to the flat and happily settled in and honestly our life has been consumed by Hakeema and apartment hunting, but tomorrow we finally get leave!

The UK government has decided to shorten the quarantine days from 14-10 and we are so desperate to go for a walk (with a mask!) that we’re going out sometime tomorrow just to explore the city (we’re solidly getting stir crazy).

Stay tuned for more adventures and since I dawdled on writing this post for so long , I’m publishing it without any edits :) Forgive the errors and know that in the future I’ll have better things to say! I have a post already lined up about the books I brought with me to London (so hard to choose!) and the ones I loved the most this year. Coming in time, but for now I shall say goodnight!

Love to you all!

[the-bookish-wanderer]

We left Boston today. Our entire life packed into 5 bags to begin the first step towards our new journey in London. Today above all I am thankful for this man who makes my dreams come true. Who challenges me to be a bolder braver version of myself and who loves me even when I’m grumpy and can’t function. We might have had a Thanksgiving dinner of hummus and crackers, but we’re safe and healthy and pursuing our boldest dream yet in the craziest of years so I can’t complain! https://www.instagram.com/p/CIE24fXAROZ/?igshid=mgflw4xbuf6d

[the-bookish-wanderer]

Sorry to double post but I have SO MUCH LOVE for this book that I did a mini-photo shoot with it! When I tell you it’s just with it. The cover, the content, the photos, the love that went into it! Definitely my most anticipated book of 2020 and it did not disappoint! Love to @eholmes for helping me to truly embrace nuances thought and Royal fashion in the best of ways 💙 Proud of you, my friend! (Also this book is dedicated to her husband @mattmstuart and that brought tears to my eyes because love 💙) 📸: @apierlessbridge (at Buckman Tavern) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHtgSDmgW6u/?igshid=1vkdjdlw1m5f9

[the-bookish-wanderer]

Happy Book Birthday to HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style by the one and only (in my mind!) Elizabeth Holmes! I have SO Many Thoughts on this book and I’ve only read the introduction and the section on Queen Elizabeth II! Elizabeth’s thoughtful commentary and journalists eye brings such depth to each of these women weaving story and insight into the why of each outfit and, of course, encouraging you to think your own beautiful, critical Thoughts! Clothes speak volumes and none more loudly than those of the Royal family who aren’t allowed to speak openly on issues, but do so cleverly with what they choose to wear. Even Prince Charles and his fight to save the environment is shown in his dedication to sustainable fashion! Being a part of the SMT family has absolutely helped me to embrace the nuance of the world around me and to revel even more in the intelligent women behind the British Royal Family! This book feels especially poignant now as Kyle and I will soon be calling the UK our home, but more on that later! Have you already bought your copy of HRH? Is there a section you’re most excited about? Share in the comments and be sure to congratulate Elizabeth! This book is an absolute dream! #hrhsomanythoughtsonroyalstyle #novemberreads #royalfashion #somanythoughts https://www.instagram.com/p/CHsjoCQAOX8/?igshid=5kme0xxebsrf

[the-bookish-wanderer]

If I finished one of my October reads today does it count? I’m counting it. These are the top 4 books I read this month. •The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco A re-read, and a perfect one for this time of year. If you like The Name of the Wind, this completed series will leave you hooked! •The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson I can’t truly describe why I loved this witchy debut, but it kept me captivated and horrified from start to finish! •Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas You know that saying about a frog in hot water? Put it directly in and it will hop right out, but slowly heat up the water and it will boil? This book feels like that. You think you know what’s happening, but the plot slowly boils and bubbles right over you. It’s intense and just...wow. •Séance Tea Party by Reimena Yee Lighter witchy fare about a young girl not quite ready to grow up and her ghostly friend who simply cannot. Heartwarming and highly relatable. https://www.instagram.com/p/CHG9_ObgOgq/?igshid=1jiuhhsk5ko4m

[the-bookish-wanderer]

Read black voices 🖤 Need a place to start? Carter and I grabbed all the books we currently have at home. This is a small sampling, and they’re all wonderful in their own beautiful way 🖤🖤🖤 Feel free to share your favorites in the comments! https://www.instagram.com/p/CA8d01jnGyg/?igshid=b6fqna9f4she

[the-bookish-wanderer]

Book recommendation time! Last night I finished The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert and it was a dream! I am not generally the biggest fan of middle grade books—and I appreciate the irony of that statement as a children’s librarian with two 4th-5th grade book clubs. So many of them talk down to their readers or play up the fart jokes to such a degree that they feel almost stuck in a certain time. This one was not that and I cannot wait to share it with my kids! It tackles racism, yes, but also the crazy nuances of friendship and family. It teaches bits of history in ways that feel approachable and interesting and ugh! Just read this book! It came out today and I cannot wait for the world to meet Alberta and Edie and Constance! https://www.instagram.com/p/B9kllszgxvV/?igshid=kd0ruyruyg6i

[the-bookish-wanderer]

Our plane is grounded for an hour 🥺 Thankful I never leave home without a few extra friends to get me through! (at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8SCBc_gNm-/?igshid=e85fg7vshp4f

[the-bookish-wanderer]

Finished my 9th book of the year yesterday! The Crown: The Official Companion, Volume 2: Political Scandal, Personal Struggle, and the Years That Defined Elizabeth II (1956-1977) by Robert Lacey ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 These books are fascinating if you like The Crown, but want to know the truth behind the fiction. Companion 1 is a very deep, thoughtful dive into season 1. Companion 2 is a little looser and combines both seasons 2 and 3, but I still learned so much (do a quick Wikipedia dive into LBJ today and join me in my disgust/frustration over that man!) #thebookishwanderer #2020reads📚 https://www.instagram.com/p/B7_L9FPg77Q/?igshid=v39qi8zmfd0b

[the-bookish-wanderer]

Saturdays https://www.instagram.com/p/B7d6-ftguab/?igshid=efstr9kjlk9p

[the-bookish-wanderer]

Book 2 of 2020: Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel I read this initially back in 2014, and it settled into my soul. 6 years on and the feelings have not changed and this book is just constantly relevant. If you asked me to make a list of must read books (please don’t! Quantifying things that I love causes far more stress than I need!) this would solidly be on it. Hauntingly beautiful, and desperately hopeful. This was my first time listening to the audiobook (thanks #libbyapp ) and it’s equally gorgeous! How’s your reading going so far this year? Reminder that everyone reads at different paces! We all have different lives so if 5 books a year is a win for you, I’m here to celebrate this books! Don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s 💛✨ https://www.instagram.com/p/B7PFqCQAe_9/?igshid=yruyrajxu9vd

[the-bookish-wanderer]

Curled up on my makeshift sick bed! Ended/started the year with a stomach flu which definitely sucks but is also the perfect excuse to start the year with a little more grace and stillness. So here I am wrapped in blankets with journals for reflection, a deliciously good book, and my laptop to get a bit of writing in! Whether your year has started exactly as you wanted it or your having to find a bit of nuance in the unpleasant bits, Happy New Year, friends! I’m glad we’re all here ✨ (at Somerville, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/B60jeRlgKm1/?igshid=1su9mladic34

[the-bookish-wanderer]

Trying to make it to 100 books by the end of the year, and these glorious books have been such a treat. 📚A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is a lovely holiday read. If you think you know the story because you’ve seen every film version imaginable, the story might surprise you with its added depth 📚Lying by Sam Harris is a tiny deep dive into the prevalence (and acceptance) of lying in society and a call to break free of its hold. In the time since I have made it my personal mission to be forthright always—especially when it seems difficult or possibly damaging to do so. Highly recommend. 📚Tribe by Sebastian Junger is another weighty tiny read about the need for belonging and the ways in which we often shun community as well as the beauty that arises when we embrace it wholly. 📚Letters to a Young Poet by Rainier Maria Rilke is one of my favorite books of all time. It is filled with such beautiful wisdom. 📚Something New by Lucy Knisley. A graphic novel about planning a wedding seemed highly apropos as we begin to plan our own! Lucy’s story filled me with excitement and a smidge of awareness of all that a wedding might hold (and made me feel a smidge more unprepared! She’s got such a beautiful crew of friends and family around her for support!) 4 more books to reach my goal! Can I do it? Stay tuned! What are you reading to end the year? —————————— #thebookishwanderer #bookstagram #librariansofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/B6lWz3GgwfZ/?igshid=12j19wcrgd6fh

[the-bookish-wanderer]

One Day in December by Josie Silver On a cold December night, Laurie makes eye contact with a man from her bus window and knows that he was meant for her. She spends an entire year searching for him to no avail...until her very best friend in the world introduces him to her as the man SHE has fallen in love with. As the years pass, and Laurie tries to move on she keeps finding herself drawn to Jack and the possibility of “what if?” A solid 3 1/2 star read for me! I loved the writing, and the storyline was really intriguing, but I really did not like the male protagonist. I also don’t like storylines where *minor spoiler alert* cheating of any kind is a plot point. Have you read it? I’d love to hear other thoughts! ———————————— #thebookishwanderer #bookstagram #librariansofinstagram #decemberreads https://www.instagram.com/p/B5_1yNag1FP/?igshid=1w4z39d4kkyzv