Greetings, fellow readers, writers, and book lovers! First of all, thank you so much for being here. Whether I know you from real life, from bookstagram, or if you stumbled upon just another girl with a book blog, your support means so much to me.
A LITTLE ABOUT ME
At my core: I truly believe words can change the world. Words matter, ideas matter, people matter. I am drawn to books because they are not only entertaining but also educational, offering differing perspectives and allowing all voices to be heard. Books are magic.
On the surface: I am in my mid-twenties still figuring it all out! I am a lover of many things, including nature, music (live concerts are my favorite), words, and coffee. I value my friendships, relationships, deep and meaningful conversations, being by the lake, and learning about what other people are passionate about.
On a bookish level: I am an avid reader who loves contemporary fiction, own voices, literary fiction, poetry, thrillers, and young adult romance. Most of my reads this year have been hybrid reads – whether that’s an audiobook + e-book, e-book + hard copy, etc., I’ll take it! Audiobooks are a gamechanger (so are kindle reads)! I’m more of a fiction kinda gal, but I am eager to dabble into the exciting world of nonfiction – give me all the recs!
Other things you should know: Reading and writing have always been two activities near and dear to my heart. I have always been drawn to both the fragility and power of words. They connect us with others, allow us to express ourselves, and invite us to create.
I began writing poetry when I was in second grade. I can’t say that it was necessarily good poetry, but I used it as an emotional outlet, letting the words flow when needed.
I continued to write throughout middle and high school, and in college, I became a Communication Studies & English Writing double major with minors in Journalism and Peace Studies.
Some of my fondest childhood memories include going to the library weekly, checking out a stack of books at a time, and reading them on my grandparents’ couch before and after family dinners.
I’ve realized that through the cycles of my life, I’ve flipped back and forth between intense phases of writing and intense phases of reading. Since 2020, I’ve gravitated towards reading the words of others instead of my own. I’m fortunate enough to have a hobby that allows me to curl up in a cozy corner (typically with a blanket sprawled on top of me and an iced coffee in hand) and indulge in a good book for a few hours at a time.
Sylvia Plath said it best: “I can never read all the books I want; I can never be all the people I want and live all the lives I want. I can never train myself in all the skills I want. And why do I want? I want to live and feel all the shades, tones and variations of mental and physical experience possible in my life. And I am horribly limited.”
I know I will never be able to tackle all of the books on my TBR, review all the books I’ve read, or remember all of the details from books I’ve read years ago, but I am here to give it my best shot.
XOXO,
Carly
Read with Carly 