knows the plot of every classic novel even if they haven’t read it, deep lit quote in their “about” section, annotates books for fun, bad eyesight, brings a book with them “just in case”, stares at their bookshelf for long stretches of time, indie coffee shops, talks about deceased writers like they know them personally, has a list of famous literary sights they want to see, instrumental and indie folk music, uses vague lit quotes in everyday conversation, posts pictures of the book they’re currently reading next to a cup of coffee or tea on instagram, oversized cardigans, big sweaters, wing tip shoes, “is there a used bookstore around here?”
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In Iceland, books are exchanged on Christmas Eve, and you spend the rest of the night reading. People generally take their books to bed along with some chocolate. How cozy and wonderful does that sound?
(More fun facts: Iceland publishes more books per capita than any other country, and new books are typically published only during the Christmas season—the frenzy is called Jólabókaflóð, or the Christmas Book Flood.)
One step further
I received a perfect score on my final paper for my 18th Century British Lit class. Apparently I’m good at writing about gothic satire and postmodernism in Northanger Abbey. I ended up getting an A for the whole course.
Just when I get to that point of exhaustion, I remind myself why pursue this masters degree while working full time. I want to better myself. To quote the famous transcendentalist, James Freeman Clark, “We are either progressing or retrograding all the while. There is no such thing as remaining stationary in this life.”
Crimson Peak, and Edith herself, originate from books. Books, in particular, written by women. Young women. Girls, almost – girls like Edith. Mary Shelley, Ann Radcliffe, Daphne Du Maurier, and of course the Bronte sisters; Gothic romance has, since its conception, been the arena of female imagination. Of course men have written in the Gothic mode, but they tend to write a different type. In fact, scholars of the genre consider the line between Gothic romance and Gothic horror to be a gendered one. Where women tend to write stories of social oppression and interpersonal horror, men write ones where the supernatural is actually real, and actually the sinister force at work.
There are many theories as to why this is the case. I favour a simple one: women have long had a great deal of very real things to fear; they do not need to make up ghosts and monsters to menace them.
perpetual summer mood: “give me books, French wine, fruit, fine weather and a little music played out of doors by somebody I do not know” — john keats
My loves
- Rosé
- Audrey Hepburn
- Blush pink colored anything
- Ballet
- Short hair
- Floral perfumes
- Books/films with strong female leads
Books. Cats. Life is good.
Keep good company, read good books, love good things and cultivate soul and body as faithfully as you can.
Eat better. Run more. Squat more. Sleep earlier. Wake up earlier. Make a good breakfast. Drink water. Eat fruits. Read books. Adventure. Talk less. Listen more. Feel deeper. Love better. Open your eyes. Experience life. Be happy.
…days decrease,
And autumn grows, autumn in everything.


