One of the perils of writing about books online is the inevitable pull (and general expectation) toward some degree of social media engagement. I've been writing on The Book Habit on-and-off since 2013 and have found that, over time, I've become more active in various parts of the book-loving community. Being able to communicate with other bibliophiles … Continue reading Monday Musing: Does Social Media Change The Way That You Read?
In last week's Monday Musing, I wrote about the ways in which I process and account for my dislike of particular novels. Inspired by my troubled impression of Haruki Murakami's Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World (although my continued love for his work is reflected in today's choice of quote), I found myself contemplating the meaning … Continue reading Monday Musing: How Literature Offers An Intoxicating Salvation From Life’s Challenges
It's relatively rare that I come across a book I dislike. I'm generally a kind reader, largely because I have an intense amount of respect for the arduous process of writing a novel and seeing it through to publication. It's an incredibly courageous choice - to put what is, for many writers, a culmination of … Continue reading Monday Musing: How To Hate A Novel
As I've mentioned (read complained about) a few times before, one of the low points of the past couple of years was parting with most of my book collection. Between the ages of 16 and 24, I moved country every couple of years (not evading the law, I promise) and, as a result, it was … Continue reading Monday Musing: Rebuilding A Lost Book Collection
I'm no stranger to challenging weeks (or, let's face it, months). Since moving to the US, my life has undergone an overhaul that I certainly couldn't have anticipated when living as a fresh-faced and hopeful PhD student in the UK. While I figured that, by 30, I'd have a solid career, life plan, and the … Continue reading Monday Musing: How Bad Weeks Can Be A Book Worm’s Best Friend
For as widely as I like to read, it's extremely rare that I decide to dip into a short story collection. Unless written by one of my favourite authors, I struggle when it comes to generating enthusiasm for short fiction. Yet, I'm well aware of the incredible skill that it takes to write short stories … Continue reading Monday Musing: The Subtle Magic Of Short Stories
Is it just me or does January feel like it gets longer the closer we get to its end? Granted, I don't have a whole lot of tolerance for the winter months. In Missouri, this time of year is brutal and my English constitution is only just starting to adapt to the fact that 10 … Continue reading Monday Musing: The Art Of Shopping For Books In The Snow
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
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
As we edge closer to the start of 2019, I've found myself reflecting a lot on this past year. It has been, without a doubt, the hardest of my life. It turns out that getting used to life in a new country isn't all that easy, particularly when it coincides with turning away from just … Continue reading Monday Musing: 10/12/18
