Hello, welcome to my blog! As this is my first post in this particular space, I thought I’d tell you a bit about myself and why I decided to add one more book blog to the internet.
Who am I?
I’m a PR and Communications Specialist with a background in non-profits, specifically in the arts and cultural sector. As a busy creative professional, I spend my days writing for all sorts of communications materials, but I haven’t had a lot of time to write for myself lately. This blog is an opportunity to do just that.
Why blog about books?
I’ve always loved getting lost in a good book. My parents encouraged reading when I was a kid, and I would gladly spend entire afternoons in libraries. It was not uncommon for them to catch me after lights out, reading in the almost darkness and “ruining my eyes.” As an adult, I still dedicate some of my free time to reading a good book. Even in a world with lots of entertainment options, the allure of written word remains. Books are different from television and movies because of how much you must rely on your own imagination to construct the story. As a creative person, reading is a great outlet!
Before going back to school and getting into the PR field, I did an undergrad in English at university. It was a great opportunity to discuss and dissect books, and exposed me to novels, poetry, short stories and essays I probably never would have read otherwise. (Medieval literature anyone?) I also spent 2.5 years working at a bookstore, where I met fabulous fellow book nerds and my passion for all sorts of books grew.
This blog is an opportunity to reconnect with that part of myself and an opportunity to blog about just about everything. After all, books are a gateway to the world, each with the potential to take you to some new and exciting place or to expose you to a particular point of view about any subject under the sun. Books contain stories, but the tomes themselves also have stories- where you were when you read it. What state of mind you were in. It’s this and more that I plan to explore here.
What kind of books do I like?
I like variety in my reading. It’s not uncommon for me to have several books on the go at the same time, and to rotate between brain food and brain candy. I like novels that take place in the present day, featuring complex characters. I like books that explore the human psyche or society as we know it. I have a weakness for forensic mysteries and thrillers. I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Margaret Atwood. I like novels based in the 60s and the 70s, exploring the societal change of those decades. I like poetry written by women with strong voices. I like graphic novels, especially if they’re written by Joss Whedon or Bill Willingham. I like a little bit of science fiction and fantasy. I’m a little obsessed with George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Fire and Ice series. I also own several books full of random facts.
What I’m currently reading
Right now I’m reading three books:
Persuasion by Arlene Dickinson
My So-Called Freelance Life by Michelle Goodman
Fairest, Vol 1: Wide Awake Written by: Bill Willingham | Art by: Phil Jimenez & Andy Lanning
The Storied Spine 