“If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things”- René Descartes With the end of summer and the beginning of autumn and now even a winter-like atmosphere, a popular trend has made another annual appearance, especially throughout […]
‘These young writers are the future of literature. Watch. History will prove me right.’– Bill Buford, editor of Granta, 1979–1995 Granta magazine selects twenty British novelists under forty every decade since 1983, showcasing emerging literary talents and new perspectives on British culture. With this blog entry, I would like to introduce you to a selection of […]
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have”- Maya Angelou In my free time, I often try to look up new projects to decorate my bookshelves. Here, I like to express myself and reflect on who I am as a reader, as I believe that a bookshelf can say a […]
“Breathe in, folks. Smells like Fall.” – Taylor Doose (Gilmore Girls, S03E07) September 1. In my opinion, it is the perfect date to welcome autumn! Even though summer is still in full swing I get into a spooky and autumny mood, at least regarding movies, series or books. So, today I would like to introduce […]
“That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet”- Jhumpa Lahiri Have you ever read a book and wished to live in its world for just a single day, to get the opportunity to experience this fictional world? As a fantasy reader, I experience this exact feeling more times than I […]
“No matter what you write, you actually can’t help retelling a fairytale somewhere along the way”- Catherynne M. Valente One of my most anticipated reads of the first half of this year was Marissa Meyer’s Heartless as it was recommended several times. As a fan of the original Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, […]
“Music is the literature of the heart, it commences where speech ends.”– Alphonse de Lamartine I am a fairly musical person, growing up singing in several choirs, playing the violin and the viola and listening to music on repeat. Back then, literature was not really on my list of favourites. However, looking back now, I […]
“There is no friend as loyal as a book”- Ernest Hemingway Today, on April 23, we celebrate what is known as World Book Day, one of many national and international literature days to appreciate and advertise books and reading. It is a page-turner kind of day, greatly celebrated in the United Kingdom, which is also […]
“When we are collecting books, we are collecting happiness”-Vincent Starrett A few years ago, a friend told me that if a person owns 1000 or more books, they can consider it a library. Obviously, my new goal was to reach this number and have my own little library at home. Buying books is definitely a […]
“Libraries were full of ideas—perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons.”- Sarah J. Maas, Throne of Glass In the summer of 2021, I stumbled across my first TikTok from BookTok showing all of the creator’s 5-star ratings of the year. Among them were A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist […]
“If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more”– Jane Austen, Emma Valentine’s Day, a day filled with love, appreciation and the celebration of romance. Typically it is associated with gifts of red roses, chocolates and hearts in all colours and shapes. While these traditions are fun and romantic, I […]
On January 3, 1892, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Growing up in poverty and already having to grieve his parents at the young age of 12, his childhood did not seem to be an easy one. Regardless of this series of unfortunate events Tolkien successfully graduated from Oxford University and […]
“The same procedure as last year, Miss Sophie?” is the first part of a quote from the famous TV Short “Dinner For One” from 1963, originally written by a British author, Laurie Wylie. Today I would like to introduce this work as it is an important part of my New Year’s traditions. Every December 31st […]
Christmas is right around the corner and to get into the right spirit I annually circle back to many Christmas-themed books, poems, movies/ series and songs before the holidays. Today, I would like to share my personal favourites with you. Music: Many Christmas songs are played throughout December, among them radio classics such as Merry […]
“Nothing is impossible to a determined woman,” said Louisa May Alcott, a famous American author and feminist. This quote shows how Alcott challenged the gender roles of her time and was determined to change the narrative of women through literature. Today, exactly 191 years ago, the female writer was born and in honour of her […]
“The World always seems brighter when you’ve just made something that wasn’t there before” is a popular quote from the British writer Neil Gaiman and I believe that every time Gaiman contributes to the literary world, exactly that happens. While his name might not immediately sound familiar, most people have read, watched or heard of […]
The days are getting shorter, the sky darker and the weather colder- the long and sunny summer is over and the season of autumn begins. When I think about autumn, I think about pumpkins, cosy sweaters, scarecrows, long walks through landscapes full of paths of orange and yellow leaves and most importantly, curling up with […]
I have very specific expectations of my summer reads. Only recently did I realize this when I had to explain to someone why I couldn’t possible take a hardcover fantasy novel set in winter on vacation. It’s not that I have anything against fantasy novels, hardcovers, or winter (well, that one a bit). But, summer […]