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The Book Habit

A Chronicle of Literary Adventures

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Tag: Book Blog

Monday Musing: Dreaming Murakami

January 21, 2019 ~ The Book Habit ~ Leave a comment

I can't believe that we're already almost through January (although the current -11C weather is making me increasingly desperate for the spring). Fortunately, I'm finding some great ways to while away these freezing winter months with the usual combination of tea and books. One of my goals for 2019 was to add some new literary … Continue reading Monday Musing: Dreaming Murakami

Review: Stoner by John Williams

January 18, 2019January 18, 2019 ~ The Book Habit ~ 2 Comments

"An occasional student who comes upon the name may wonder idly who William Stoner was, but he seldom pursues his curiosity beyond a casual question. Stoner's colleagues, who held him in no particular esteem when he was alive, speak of him rarely now; to the older ones, his name is a reminder of the end … Continue reading Review: Stoner by John Williams

How To Read Successfully In 2019

January 16, 2019 ~ The Book Habit ~ 7 Comments

Whether or not you're a fan of the New Year's resolution, it's inevitable that the start of each year ushers in a desire to do more and better. The idea of a fresh start can be incredibly appealing, as can the hope of improving on your previous year's achievements. Focusing on your reading habits - whether with a … Continue reading How To Read Successfully In 2019

Monday Musing: 14/01/19

January 14, 2019 ~ The Book Habit ~ Leave a comment

It's been a long weekend of reading here at The Book Habit central. We've had 10 inches of snow over the past two days and are officially snow-bound. I've written before about my struggles with adapting to the unpredictable extremes of weather in the US midwest and this weekend is surely my karmic punishment for complaining. Since … Continue reading Monday Musing: 14/01/19

The Best Books Of 2018

January 9, 2019 ~ The Book Habit ~ Leave a comment

2018 was a year of relative calm, following the tumult of 2017. It was my first full year in the US and a year in which (following my decision to abandon academia) I made a whole lot of decisions regarding my future. The calm certainly served my reading habits and 2018 ended up being one … Continue reading The Best Books Of 2018

Welcome Back To The Book Habit!

January 7, 2019January 13, 2019 ~ The Book Habit ~ Leave a comment

Happy 2019, my friends! A new year and a fresh start for The Book Habit. I took a couple of weeks off from creating content whilst getting myself organised and putting into place a long overdue site redesign. For those of you who have been visiting The Book Habit for a while, I hope that you enjoy the … Continue reading Welcome Back To The Book Habit!

Happy Halloween!

October 31, 2015January 5, 2019 ~ The Book Habit ~ Leave a comment

Happy Halloween, my darlings! I can't say that I'm a huge fan of Halloween, for the same reason that darkness gives me the heebie-jeebies. A day devoted to scary stuff is not quite up my alley. But after living in the US - and now being engaged to an American - it's become more difficult … Continue reading Happy Halloween!

The Weekly Reader: 09/07/15

July 9, 2015January 5, 2019 ~ The Book Habit ~ 21 Comments

Happy Thursday, all. This week has seen me immersed in #97 of the TIME 100 Novels - the 700 page epic A Dance to the Music of Time: Spring by Anthony Powell. The beauty of this reading challenge is the great exposure it provides to books that wouldn't otherwise be on my radar. As someone … Continue reading The Weekly Reader: 09/07/15

The Weekly Reader: 02/07/15

July 2, 2015January 5, 2019 ~ The Book Habit ~ Leave a comment

Welcome to your one-stop shop for literary updates! Here I review the week's top articles, preview upcoming events, and give a shout out to the best in literary paraphernalia. Enjoy! Articles 'Hearing Words, Writing Sounds: Examining the Authors Brain' by Richard Lea (The Guardian) Ever wonder what happens in the brain when writing or reading fiction? … Continue reading The Weekly Reader: 02/07/15

Monday Musing: 29/06/15

June 29, 2015January 5, 2019 ~ The Book Habit ~ 36 Comments

Welcome to another week! Following my decision to work through Time's Top 100 Novels, I have been spending all of my spare time with my head in books. And it has paid off! I have just wrapped up #98 and am ready to conquer #97 - the intimidatingly lengthy A Dance To The Music Of … Continue reading Monday Musing: 29/06/15

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My name is Laura and I am a book addict. The Book Habit is a chronicle of my literary adventures, indulging my decades-long love affair with the written word. Here I post reviews, as well as anything else related to the literary lifestyle.

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“In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing, when you look at the sky at night…You – only you – will have stars that can laugh.” . . . A few days ago, while on one of my second-hand book excursions, I stumbled upon this 1946 edition of ‘Le Petit Prince’. It was a find that allowed me to revisit one of my favourite books from childhood, also giving me an opportunity to dig a little deeper into the tremendous success of this short and complex novella. It’s an incredible story - one that reminds us of the importance of true connections and provides a transcendentally profound insight into the human experience. I’ve distilled my thoughts on the incredible reach and mysterious magic of Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s ‘The Little Prince’ in an article now up on The Book Habit. Click the link in my bio to have a read! ✨ . . . #thelittleprince #bookstagram #bookworm #booklover #bibliophile #books #booknerd #bookish #book #igreads #instabook #reading #bookaddict #bookaholic #bookphotography #read #instabooks #booklove #bookstagrammer #booksofinstagram #bookblogger #reader
“Maybe this was how all stories end, the ones with true women and men, true bodies falling into wounding and death, and with real blood spilled. And maybe this is why the great stories we told are so different. Because we tell stories to live, and that sort of story needs a purpose, so that sort of story must be a lie. Because at the end of a true story, there is nothing but waste.” . . . Marlon James’ newest novel ‘Black Leopard, Red Wolf’ is a fantasy novel that defies traditional classification. While it explores the traditional tropes of fantasy fiction (an epic journey across lands, a quest, and monsters of countless varieties), James has achieved something unique. In recognising the othering that typically characterises representations of Africanism in fiction, James has used the space left open by these absences of authenticity to create a world populated with African history, myth, and culture. It’s an incredible novel - one that should satisfy fantasy fans, whilst transcending the genre and carving out something new. Click the link in my bio to read a full review! 🐺 . . . . . #bibliophile #booknerd #bookish #bookworm #bookstagram #bookphotography #booklover #igreads #bookaddict #bookblogger #booknerdigans #booklove #bookstagramfeature #bookaholic #instabook #reading #bookreview #bookstagrammer #books #book #totalbooknerd #bookrecommendation #marlonjames #blackleopardredwolf
Whether Valentine’s Day has you sighing with exasperation or excitement, it is certainly the case that it can’t be avoided. There’s definitely a strange friction between the unrelenting images of longing looks across sandy beaches and the reality of takeaways, TV marathons, and ridiculous in-jokes that characterises most lengthy love affairs. I’m a firm believer in the fact that Valentine’s Day should be about celebrating what’s real in relationships - whether those relationships are with lovers, friends, family, or ourselves. With this in mind, I’ve put together a list of 10 unconventional reads to enjoy this Valentine’s Day (whatever your relationship status). Click the link in my bio to have a read - and let me know what you’ll be reading tomorrow! ❤️ . . . . . . #bookstagram #valentinesday2018 #love #bookrecommendation #bookworm #bibliophile #books #booknerd #bookish #book #igreads #instabook #reading #bookaddict #bookaholic #bookphotography #read #bookstagramfeature #booknerdigans #bookporn #instabooks #booklove #bookstagrammer #booksofinstagram #bookblogger #booklover
“The euphoria is uncontainable. People shove, try to climb onstage. A dozen men in blue form a barrier that blocks their advance. But the audience wants to see, and the barrier gives way. Excitement. Commotion. Something emanates from that work and it drives them mad. The sovereign image of the purple body. Death a few feet away. Human flesh, human skin. Giant thighs. Coiled in a suitcase.” . . . Short fiction isn’t typically something that I spend a lot of time reading. When hunting through lists of upcoming 2019 publications, I came across Samanta Schweblin’s ‘Mouthful of Birds’ and was intrigued enough to add it to my list of most anticipated 2019 releases. ‘Mouthful of Birds’ is Schweblin’s newest short story collection, occupying a space between creeping suspense and confidently rendered dystopianism. Schweblin is an author who works with unindulgent prose to execute a stomach-knotting vision of missing children, abandoned wives, murder, and a world of blurred realities. The collection is a masterful achievement and one that I absolutely recommend. Click the link in my bio to read a full review! 🦋 . . . #bookstagram #bookrecommendation #bookworm #bibliophile #bookish #booklover #booknerd #igreads #bookreview #booklove #books #book #instabook #reading #review #read #instabooks #reader #bookblogger #bookphotography #booksandtea #mouthfulofbirds
“Just like seasons of the year, seasons of life don’t have a finish line. Wearing a sundress in the middle of winter isn’t going to make it go by any faster. Pretending the cold doesn’t exist isn’t nearly as effective as making the most of the silence a snowfall brings.” . . . Taking a break from fiction to mention this beautiful reflection on transitions and growth - ‘Am I There Yet?’ by Mari Andrew. The past couple of years have been some of my most tumultuous - I walked away from my career, left England for the US, got married, worked to continue a journey through a plethora of mental health challenges, and turned 30. In amidst all of this chaos, I stumbled upon ‘Am I There Yet?’ and thought that it looked like a cute read. Little did I realise it would end up being a much needed reminder that, even in the moments of gravest challenge, we’re never have to carry the burden alone. This book speaks perfectly to life as a work-in-progress and offers a light (but incredibly authentic) reflection on staying true to your own path. 💖 . . . #bookstagram #bookworm #booklover #bibliophile #books #booknerd #bookish #book #igreads #reading #bookaddict #bookaholic #bookphotography #read #bookrecommendations #selflove #selfcare #mentalhealth #loveyourself
“The only end of writing is to enable the reader better to enjoy life or better to endure it.” Dr. Samuel Johnson . . . The concept of Bibliotherapy is something that I’ve spent many years researching and exploring. Through my human rights work, I’ve come to understand the importance of literature as a tool for developing empathy, both towards others and ourselves. I’ve witnessed and experienced first-hand the tremendous power of literature as it impacts our mental wellbeing. I’ve used books to self-medicate through panic attacks, depression, self-harm and suicidal thoughts (although books are by no means a panacea and I’ve done this all in parallel to professional help!). Today I’m launching my series on Bibliotherapy, through which I’m setting out to explore the impact of books on different ailments/challenges and making my own recommendations based on the novels that have most helped me. Today’s post is an introduction to Bibliotherapy at large, exploring the science and research behind the way that fiction can help us when we’re in need. Click the link in my bio to have a read! 💖 . . . #bookstagram #booksandtea #readingnook #bookworm #booklover #bibliophile #books #booknerd #bookish #book #igreads #instabook #reading #bookaddict #bookaholic #bookphotography #read #bookstagramfeature #booknerdigans #instabooks #booklove

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