Perfectly Imperfect

Bryony. 21 years old. Woman. Feminist. In love. Will write about the world and books.

[thewitchestheycouldntburn-blog]

I made the mistake of sitting a few seats away from someone on the train who’s been very loudly been talking on the phone for 20 minutes. I’m not feeling confident for the rest of the journey 🙃 . I really enjoy train journeys for giving me an excuse to read uninterrupted for at least an hour. The same sentiment can be applied to anything else of course, as I also enjoy writing/planning on the train! . I picked up this book from the library this morning when returning Darkdawn. It sounded really cute and whimsical when I heard @afrolicthroughfiction talk about it, and it also works for #mythtakereads - win win, right? . . . . #reading #bookstagram #book #booksofinstagram #tbr #thehousewithchickenlegs #childrensbooks #bookish #booklover #bookworm https://www.instagram.com/p/B4cv8SjAT0p/?igshid=1qy0r6vp6uz6u

[thewitchestheycouldntburn-blog]

LINK TO NEW BLOG POST IN BIO. . So, what would you wear if you were a rêveur? Up until the other day, I’d have said this, but I tried this on a couple of days ago and it didn’t fit anymore 💔 . The Night Circus is one of those books that’s been on my radar for ages, but that I only picked up this month. And I really enjoyed it! It was magical and whimsical and also really beautiful. . It has all kids of magic, from the “typical” illusions, the slightly less normal ageing really slowly, and the very unusual bottled stories. But doesn’t that sound amazing? Not only could we put multiple editions of our favourite book on a shelf, we could put a jar that contained it too. . ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ . . . . #thenightcircus #bookstagram #bookreview #bookblogger #booksofinstagram #books #book #booklover #bookish #bookreviewer #bookblog #rose #bookworm https://www.instagram.com/p/B4P1ebtFDux/?igshid=q4dwni9sxpg8

[thewitchestheycouldntburn-blog]

Link to new blog post in bio! . Do you ever buy multiple copies of one book? I‘d only ever done this with one series before, but the temptation is ever growing since joining the online bookish community - maybe it’s a good thing I have no money! . It’s definitely fashionable or the done thing now to have more than one copy of your favourite book, and I think publishers know this. In my latest post I discuss a few ways I think publishers get us to buy more than one copy of the same book. . The first is hardback vs paperback. Hardbacks are something to be treasured and left on the shelf, whereas paperbacks are something you can throw in your bag, annotate and read multiple times. . Special additions look pretty. They are another thing to treasure and are worth a lot of money. Special additions are like reprints, but in limited quantity. For example, how special are the special additions of Harry Potter? There are so many of them: illustrated, house colours etc. that there over 700 copies of the first book alone. . A lot of the time, the cover printed in the US is different to the one printed in the UK. Now, I usually find I prefer the UK edition because, if I like the series, the UK editions are the ones that will have introduced me to the series. Take the Nevernight Chronicles. I love the UK editions and I think they captured the books so well, and I also love the simple yet detailed design of them. But, recently, I’ve fallen in love with the US ones too. Although it looks like it here, I don’t actually have both editions of the book. However, I might eventually. The US one I won in a competition and the UK one is from my library. I will probably buy the UK edition of Darkdawn, however, when it comes out in paperback. . But what about you? Do you buy multiple editions of the same book? . Are there any covers you prefer in one country’s design? . . . . #bookstagram #books #bookish #booksofinstagram #darkdawn #bookblogging #nevernightchronicles #book #bookcovers #booklover #bookworm #bookblogger #bookblog https://www.instagram.com/p/B39w4E6gGj3/?igshid=1w92vb7721kgy

[thewitchestheycouldntburn-blog]

I found this in a second hand bookshop yesterday and knew I had to pick it up because it would be right up Sam’s street (and maybe mine, you never know). . I also picked up the T-shirt that is the background of this photo because it was so sparkly! I didn’t realise how much it resembled the night sky until I put the two together! . Sam’s not reading lots right now (but he did recently read and love Nevernight), but I’m still going to give this to him first. There are so many books I have to read now, but haven’t gotten around to, at the very least my pile of library books I haven’t even made a dent in! . But someone tell me it wasn’t too bad to buy this anyway, when it was only £2? . . . . #sleepinggiants #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #book #scifibook #books #tbr #bookish #booklover #toread https://www.instagram.com/p/B3w7KISgHh2/?igshid=1gmtt5lpbnw4e

[thewitchestheycouldntburn-blog]

Link to new blog post in my bio! . @hollybourneya is a writer that both Sam and I have followed ever since we both read Am I Normal Yet? To be honest, without it, we wouldn’t be together. A new book of hers would obviously find its way onto our shelves and, whilst I haven’t read it yet, Sam has and he loved it. . This book tells one of those stories that need to be told. Older people need to hear it to, but, by appealing to young adults, hopefully the heartbreak can be avoided as people grow older. . It’s about a whirlwind romance that eventually/inevitably goes wrong. It’s about how to get out of that romance. I know Holly Bourne has done a lot of work on this issue, outside of her books as well, so it’s amazing to see it translated into books teens can read. . (Sam requests she writes about fragile masculinity next. Or maybe about this subject with a less “girly” cover, as young boys need to read this too but probably won’t when it’s pastel coloured.) . ⭐️ Sam gave it 5 stars and missed his stop on the train for it ⭐️ . . . . #bookstagram #bookreview #booksofinstagram #books #sprayededges #bookblogger #theplacesivecriedinpublic #reader #bookblogging #book #bookblog #hollybourne #bookreviewer https://www.instagram.com/p/B3r1GVmA74V/?igshid=zrhfk80oviir

[thewitchestheycouldntburn-blog]

Even from my last update, my library haul has grown. Again. . Today is #libraryloves day, organised by @readbyjessbooks, and whilst I haven’t got out to the library, I’m not sure I needed to with this many books already out! If I went, I’d only get more. . Plus, it’s raining, so maybe today’s the perfect excuse to stay in and read one of them instead? . If you check out my latest post (link in my bio), I’ve answered the questions for The Library Loves Book Tag. I’ve recently fallen in love with going to the library, so I enjoyed answering the questions. I’d be interested to hear your answers! . . . . #bookstagram #bookpile #booksofinstagram #bookish #librarybooks #libraryhaul #booklover #bookstack #bookblog #bookblogger #library #thesongrising #thetestamentofloki #thefuries #thedeathlessgirls #apinchofmagic https://www.instagram.com/p/B3haNzWACPv/?igshid=4f0aorrtltzw

[thewitchestheycouldntburn-blog]

I feel like I haven’t been very productive lately - looking at you, blog, sorry - so I’m setting myself small tasks for the rest of the day. Small tasks = more ticked off, so the feeling of being more productive. I hope. . Tidying. Reading. Planning blog posts. *Writing* blog posts... . That last is the most important! And the blog post I’m working on isn’t even hard, it’s just my September wrap up. My brain just doesn’t seem to have been working, so I want to get back on that whilst I’ve got no excuse. And then maybe get on with another, so the wait isn’t as long next time. . First task, though? Drink my tea. I think I can manage that. . . . . #bookstagram #bookish #booksofinstagram #cats #thenightcircus #cupoftea #booklover #bookblogger https://www.instagram.com/p/B3UpVf8AD2y/?igshid=jhreclc6pafr

[thewitchestheycouldntburn-blog]

Day 2 of October and I’ve found myself in the library because of #libraryloves . I‘m trying to buy fewer books and use the library more for impulse pick ups. The top book is very demonstrative of that because I wouldn’t have searched it out, but I’m not displeased with borrowing it. . Likewise with The Deathless Girls - I kept walking past it in Waterstones, but didn’t pick it up because money. I feel like it’ll be quite a popular book because it’s new, so I had to pick it up when I saw it, but also because October. It seems like it should be spooky? . The final book is the sequel to the September/October book of the month for #mythtakereads which I really enjoyed. Why not pick up the sequel this month! . I’m not sure when I’ll get to read these because I already had a few books on this month’s tbr, but we’ll just see what I’m feeling. Like I said, I feel like I should read The Deathless Girls because of autumn (not that you can tell from this picture - you don’t know how much it was raining yesterday or how windy it is right now). . Would you recommend any of these books? . . . . #bookstagram #bookpile #books #library #bookstack #booksofinstagram #reader #libraryhaul #booklover #bookish #thedeathlessgirls #thetestamentofloki #apinchofmagic #book #tbr #reading https://www.instagram.com/p/B3HyVHggNF8/?igshid=1r7hsb5whusbj

[thewitchestheycouldntburn-blog]

LINK TO NEW BLOG POST IN BIO. . The blog’s been pretty quiet this last fortnight and, whilst I could offer excuses for it, it’s mostly because I wanted to write this post and I just didn’t have the time to sit down and write it before now. I did spend most of yesterday writing it and am quite pleased with the result, though, so please check it out if you’re interested! . When I read Girls of Paper and Fire, I got really interested in the fact that more books are beginning to celebrate women enjoying sex. A lot of the time, this pleasure is contrasted with sex for duty, which is definitely what happens in this book. . However, this book lead me to thinking about it in The Priory of the Orange Tree (of course), but mostly because the two books explore this topic in similar ways. . I then thought about Nevernight and The Handmaid’s Tale because I think these two both deal with it, but in (very obviously) different ways. One puts duty first and then discovers pleasure, and the other favours pleasure, with duty making a convenient link - or is this not actually the case? . I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on this topic and these books! Let me know if you’ve read them or if you’ve read my post! . . . . #bookstagram #bookpile #booksofinstagram #books #reading #bookblogging #bookblogger #bookblog #bookreview #blogpost #bookish #girlsofpaperandfire #theprioryoftheorangetree #nevernight #thehandmaidstale #booklover #reader #book #feminism #feministpost #booklover https://www.instagram.com/p/B2_7qf7g5B8/?igshid=1qh8rsgvzw2hh

[thewitchestheycouldntburn-blog]

I now see why people go to coffee shops to be productive! . I spent maybe two and half hours in Costa yesterday and did about four pages of work, plus some reading. It might not seem like a lot, but it’s for a blog post I’ve been sitting on for a while, so putting the ideas down on paper meant I know longer had an excuse. Also, I’m not too good at remembering things, so this means everything I need to say is now written down. . I’m now getting on with actually writing the blog post but, sorry, it’s a longun! It feels like a piece of research/an essay and, to be honest, it sort of is. Knowing I want to do a video on the feminism in Priory, I’m trying to explore the other books I’m comparing it to in a series of posts, so I’ve got all my ideas in the right place. . This post is about female sexuality in Priory and three other books - I’ll get back to you tomorrow with what it’s actually about! . . . . #bookstagram #reading #blog #booksofinstagram #blogging #writing #notebook #costa #bookblogging #bookblogger #feministbooks #read #book #books #coffee https://www.instagram.com/p/B29W1f3g_6G/?igshid=6yh0kyckm5ws

[thewitchestheycouldntburn-blog]

Oops? 🙊 . I was telling myself, only this morning, that I wasn’t going to buy anymore books if I wasn’t planning on immediately reading them. But then I went into Waterstones to ask the staff a question and I wasn’t sure I could ask without buying something 🤦‍♀️ still, I really want to read these soon and I’m reading a lot of fantasy right now, so hopefully they’ll break that up. . I’m going to defend it (I think?) by saying I used some birthday money on a bus ticket and so this was my bus fare. It’s a rubbish justification, I know... . What about I’ve had a really stressful day because I’m trying to make a decision I’m torn up about? (I can say on the bus now, in response to the book.) . I think I may have made my decision, but I also sort of don’t want to have come to that decision. Ahh I don’t know!! (Can you tell why I chose this name?) . But anyway, please tell me these books are amazing! . . . . #withthefireonhigh #theplacesivecriedinpublic #bookstagram #books #read #booksofinstagram #bookbuy #reading #ireadya #bookish #booklover #book #cat https://www.instagram.com/p/B2zCk4PgF_3/?igshid=26qwm1jnmb5a

[thewitchestheycouldntburn-blog]

I bet you can’t guess what my Hogwarts house is💛 . I only have the first two Harry Potter books in the special 20th anniversary edition prints. I could get all the Hufflepuff ones, but I quite like the idea of getting some of the others - which to only get one of, though! . At some point, I’m hoping to reread the books, using these, the illustrated ones and the audiobooks. And the original ones we’ve got as well, of course. . When we went to the Harry Potter studios a couple of weeks ago, I did the patronus quiz on Pottermore and I found out mine was a black and white cat - lucky I can summon one! Also, I wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of this one, but I’m also not sure he’d stick around if there was any trouble 😂 . I actually got my wand from Harry Potter World in Orlando when we went years ago. The immersive experience of Ollivanders is what’s missing in the UK. What made that experience especially memorable was the fact that my sister got to “try out” the wands - jealous!! . . . . #harrypotter #hufflepuff #bookstagram #books #harrypotterbooks #hp #booksofinstagram #wand #cat #blackandwhitecat #bookish #booklover #reader #ollivanders #book #read https://www.instagram.com/p/B2oxjdmgZTq/?igshid=q3r0l1q5ayni

[thewitchestheycouldntburn-blog]

It’s not often I go ‘oh f*ck’ when finishing a book and then immediately want to move onto the next one, but it happened here. I’m so glad I got a copy of the sequel from @netgalley so I’m able to move straight on (or at least on as soon as I’ve finished with my current read). . The Girls of Paper and Fire was incredible. It was so beautifully written and amazingly powerful at the same time as it was soft. The romance was gentle and the women were fierce and there were just so many things about it I loved. . I actually thought a lot of the themes in this were similar to those in The Priory of the Orange Tree, so I will definitely be including this in my Priory feminism video when I get to it. . I flew threw this quickly after starting. I’ve been itching to read it since I saw @girlinthelens at YALC and I couldn’t resist any longer and I’m so glad. This might be one of my new favourites. . . . . #girlsofpaperandfire #girlsofstormandshadow #bookstagram #books #booksofinstagram #reading #bookish #bookreview #booklover #bookreviewer #read #book #tbr #netgalley #kindle #bookworm #ireadya #fantasy https://www.instagram.com/p/B2eiXTjgRLt/?igshid=nxcne8qzgnrl

[thewitchestheycouldntburn-blog]

I was looking through my bookish notebook yesterday and mourning for how nice my handwriting when I started this. I don’t think it looks bad now, but it was so neat and tidy when I first started! . I think that’s down to the pen I use. I’ve been using a biro recently, but my friend gave me these two the other day and I’m so excited to use them. One’s a beautiful fountain pen and the other is a very nifty biodegradable pen - once I’m done with it, apparently I can plant the whole thing and it grows into something! . These notes are from when I read Daughter of the Forest for the Myth Take Reads book of the month and I loved it! If you check their Twitter page, they’re giving away a beautiful, rare copy of the book. . . . . #pens #notebook #writing #handwriting #fountainpen #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #bookish #booklover #readdotf #mythtakereads #bijpens https://www.instagram.com/p/B2WxGvNgDBP/?igshid=15ox5uy79elym

[thewitchestheycouldntburn-blog]

Are you reading any books right now that put you in a good mood? . I feel like I’m in the middle of a weird sort of slump. It’s not a reading slump, I think it’s a life slump. It’s got to that time of year where everyone is going back to school and, for the first time in my life, I’m not. I’m feeling a bit lost. I also don’t have a job lined up yet, but the stress of having to find one has caused me to lose motivation to apply. I think I just need to grit my teeth and get on with it. Hopefully something will come along soon! . I have a few books this month on my loose tbr, and I’m reading a couple at the same time, but this is the one I’m most excited to be reading again. I started rereading this series back in July, but I have even more reason to carry on now I’ve passed them on to my cousin. . When I first read these books, I was in primary school, so it’s nice to be able to return to them when my world’s a bit less certain. The story is comforting, the characters familiar and the writing easy. I sort of don’t want to finish! . . . . #septimusheap #bookstagram #septimusheapflyte #book #booksofinstagram #reading #books #read #tea #bookish #booklover #reread #septimusheapseries https://www.instagram.com/p/B2PIQmKgGYF/?igshid=t5zmc3sqh2t2

[thewitchestheycouldntburn-blog]

What’s the next book on your tbr? . I finished Nevernight this morning (it was, of course, amazing) and I’m starting another one today (because I don’t know when my cousin will want to borrow it), but the next one I desperately want to get to is this one. . Look! The cat’s even encouraging me to open it! . I’ve only heard good things about this book and Natasha Ngan made it sound incredible and interesting at YALC’s Monsters and Their Makers talk. Also, I believe there’s a f/f romance and I’m always here for reading more of that. . Plus, I requested and got the sequel on NetGalley, so all the more reason to pick it up now 🙈 . . . . #bookstagram #toberead #tbr #booksofinstagram #reading #toread #girlsofpaperandfire #natashangan #bookish #read #reader #book #books #booklover #ireadya https://www.instagram.com/p/B2CPuaFgLCF/?igshid=dbb1wryndwis

[thewitchestheycouldntburn-blog]

Today, I am starting Nevernight by @misterkristoff. . I bought this series in April or May, but didn’t read them straight away because of deadlines. I leant them to Sam, but he hasn’t read a lot recently, so I stole them back from him yesterday. . That said, I have told him he really should get on with reading them after me. I think he’ll really enjoy reading books about a fierce, sweary, murderous lady assassin (pretty much the exact opposite of me 😂). . I’ve just finished part 1, which is just over a quarter of the way through it. I think I’m still safe to read it in public without breaking down... Right? 🙈 . . . . #nevernight #godsgrave #books #bookstagram #book #bookpile #reading #reader #bookish #booklover #nevernightchronicles #stabtember #bookworm #tbr https://www.instagram.com/p/B16YboTANer/?igshid=gsvdmo3eiail