One of the truest things that I can tell you about myself is that I am obsessed with books. I love them. I have a bad habit of liking them better than I like other people. (My sincere apologies to the friends, family, and lovers who've been set aside over the years for an evening in with a hot cup of tea and a good book.)
I've always been this way. When I was in elementary school, my parents had to frisk my bed for hidden books before I went to sleep or else I would be up all night reading. Not that the removal of literary contraband from the sheets was enough to stop me. I used to sneak out under the cover of darkness to read by a nightlight in the hallway instead, until I accidentally fell asleep and burnt my face one memorable evening.
We lived in a small town, so by the time I was in high school I'd already read pretty much all of the worthwhile books at our tiny library. I ordered so many books from other libraries over the years that I started getting charged for what was supposed to be a free shipping service.
I'm not very picky when it comes to genre, but there are a few I tend to avoid, namely: westerns, political thrillers/spy novels, and (with some exceptions) mystery. My two favorite genres and the ones you will see the most reviews for are YA and fantasy, but I also read a lot of poetry, classics, sci fi and literary fiction, among other things.
Okay, you've proven your bibliophilia. But what about your writing ambitions?
The truth is that I've been obsessed with writing for just as long as I've loved reading. The two have always gone hand in hand for me. I started my first attempt at a "novel" when I was in fourth grade, a sprawling fantasy epic with absolutely no plot continuity whatsoever and a lot more enthusiasm than actual skill. I worked on that story for years. It wasn't until about eighth grade that I finally lost interest, realized the massive plot holes were unfixable, and moved on with my life.
These days I know how to tell an interesting story from start to finish (I can even do it without plot holes). I write on a daily basis, have a number of completed novel-length works under my belt, and participate in a writers' group once a month. I am currently working on my debut novel, a queer YA tale about first love, messy family dynamics, and how to find your place in the world.
What are your intentions toward this journal?
The primary purpose of this blog is to host my book and poetry reviews as well as some thoughts on the craft of writing. I may also occasionally post a bit of literary criticism, which, yeah, I do actually write just for fun.
A few closing words from poet and fellow booknerd, Emily Dickinson:
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| You know she definitely liked books better than people... |
The title and quote at the top of the blog come from this poem:
"There is no frigate like a book
To take us lands away,
Nor any coursers like a page
Of prancing poetry.
This traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of toll;
How frugal is the chariot
That bears a human soul!"
P.S. - Some other places you can find me on the internet
If you're interested in travel and teaching overseas, check out my other blog: Tramping a Perpetual Journey
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