reading and discussing books
My name is Anna, and this is my blog where I talk about books. I will be reviewing books, giving my two cents on a number of topics related to books and the reading world right now, and discussing writing techniques and how they shape novels. I hope you enjoy, and I hope you have a lovely day!
In May, I attended the Auckland Writers Festival for the first time, and I was mesmerised from beginning to end. From the content of the sessions and insights into authors’ research, the challenges in the industry, the writing process, and how life got them to this point, to the wonderful people I was fortunate enough to meet in person, it was a whirlwind of a week and something that will leave me forever changed. For…
Keep readingI was originally going to do a normal string of individual reviews for each book in Tamora Pierce’s Song of the Lioness Quartet, but then I was given three all at the same time and couldn’t stop myself from reading them in quick succession without considering the individual storylines in each novel. They are also short reads, so I feel it is best to just throw them all together in one review. If that long-winded…
Keep readingOverall Mood: replenished – May was a month to reset, to refill a cup that had long been left with dregs, and to take time away from the books and return to the purpose of it all. I was able to attend many literary events in May, contributing to my rediscovery of my reasons for turning to books, and the experience has been so humbling and inspirational. I have also been able to conduct many…
Keep readingOverall mood: hopeful – As you may have noticed, I have been a little M.I.A. here on annafromuni over the last month. This isn’t a bad thing; if anything, it has been for a good reason. I have taken the time to do a system restart of my brain when it comes to annafromuni content, hence the weeks off posting, but in the process, I have been dipping my toes back into reading, as you…
Keep readingI have written a bunch of posts about the struggles of social media and navigating life online for hobbies, work, and in general over the past weeks, and I think it is about time that I try to bring some sunshine to this area of discussion. Social media is a tool; it is not all bad, and if it is utilised in moderation and for good, it can be a wonderful thing to incorporate into…
Keep readingI am still easing back into reading, but I feel that I couldn’t have found a more perfect book for the task than Hwang Boreum’s Every Day I Read. I love the cosy slice-of-life atmosphere and introspective findings of Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop, so I knew picking this up that the narrative style and voice would resonate with me. I just didn’t know just how much I would come to love this novel. Why…
Keep readingIn my stunted attempts to re-engage with my fantasy manuscript and turn it into a dark adult fantasy manuscript, I found myself really struggling to connect with the words I wanted to write. It wasn’t quite writer’s block, but definitely adjacent, given my general creative burnout and difficulty picking up a book. After a lovely writing session with a friend, one which I spent making notes and just getting used to talking about my world…
Keep readingOverall mood: restless – time seems to be slipping away from me, and with my inactive reading bug remaining in a slumber, I didn’t read anything in March. I am also posting this a day later than scheduled, so please forgive me for that. Life has been busy yet pretty stagnant for me, especially when it comes to creativity and my pursuit of the arts. Hopefully, with the Easter break on the horizon and an…
Keep readingWith the discussions over the last month, from bookish content creation and the increase of publications over the last decade, to creator burnout, authors doubling full-time jobs, and the general struggle for people to keep on top of the fast-moving train that is bookish social media, it all begs the question: can we change things to make them better? If bookish social media on platforms like TikTok and Instagram have created this high-pressure environment to…
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