Greetings bookish friends! Full disclosure, I initially planned on sharing my Booker prize reflections this weekend. However, life got super busy the last few months, and as a result, I have not read nearly enough of the Booker longlist to have any coherent thoughts on this year’s prize. After scrapping that idea, then, I had to scramble to think of a new idea to share in its place. And that’s where this idea came from. When I first started this blog, I shared some of my “bookish confessions,” but I never really did a deep dive into my reasons for starting this blog. So buckle up, friends. We’re about to discuss feelings.
I have always loved reading. I am a hardcore introvert and an only child, so I spent a significant part of my childhood reading. Books helped me find friends, some of whom I’m still friends with today. Books provided a refuge when I was feeling overwhelmed. Books provided comfort and a sense of adventure, and as time went on, showed me a community that even I, hardcore introvert that I was and still am, wanted to be a part of.
And so I came into adulthood with a love of reading.
And then 2020 hit. And so did the pandemic. And so did the loss of a family member. And so did graduating from my graduate school program. And so did starting a new, public-facing job during a global pandemic. And so did going over a year not being able to see my family face-to-face because of the pandemic. And, as a result, things. were. hard.
Over the last year and a half, I threw myself into a variety of creative endeavors, essentially giving myself free reign to explore whatever interests I developed because I needed something to occupy my time. But even as I explored music, photography, and knitting, I still maintained that passion for the written word. I started watching Booktube and following bookish Instagram accounts. And I realized that, much like when I was younger, there was a bookish community out there for me, this time digitally since I spent most of my non-working hours isolating and social distancing as much as possible.
And so the idea for this blog was born. Because I so cherish my little literary moments that have brought me a sense of peace and belonging in this last year and a half, and candidly throughout my whole life, I wanted to share those moments with like-minded bookish folks. So, welcome to my little corner of the internet. Thanks so much for sharing a little literary moment with me today. And stay tuned for this Wednesday, when a new book review will be coming your way.
-Ami
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