Left-Hand Library

She’s picked up a book!

I’ve just started uni again with two fairly intense-feeling subjects so I’m not sure how much I’ll be able to keep up with personal reading. I am, however, really enjoying SPEAR by Nicola Griffith.

SPEAR is a queer retelling of the Arthurian legend. The writing has kept me rolling along. It’s both easy to read and engaging, which is the sort of thing I’m needing right now!

I also have plans to pick up a copy of Samantha Shannon’s latest book (just released yesterday!) and I’m hoping that I’ll keep finding time and brain space to dedicate to books.

Have you got any new releases on your radar for 2023??

The Pachinko Parlour by Elisa Shua Dusapin (2018, English translation 2022)

Finishing this one off this afternoon. I’ve been feeling a little stressed and under the weather lately, but it’s nice to finally check a book of the list.

100 pages into The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes and I’m well and truly invested in Yamilet’s story 🏳️‍🌈 I adore following such a strong voice in fiction, particularly in YA. I’m so glad to see this around for teen (and older!) readers.

I had a delightful plate of pancakes this morning thanks to my wife; fuel for picking up my next read.

It’s been far too long since I’ve picked up some non-fiction. I’m only a couple of chapters into All About Love and already I’m scribbling down notes and marking up pages. I think I’ll be reading through this one slowly to take in all that it has to offer.

About today: ⁣

* Breakfast out with my wife ❤️⁣

* Grocery shopping 😮‍💨⁣

* Playing around with a recent secondhand lens purchase ⁣

* Now: sitting down with an iced coffee, about to set into my current read. ⁣

⁣I’ve found myself halfway through LONELY CASTLE IN THE MIRROR by Mizuki Tsujimura. For some reason, the last two attempts I’ve made to read this book didn’t stick and I’m determined to finally finish the story. ⁣

Prepped myself for the new year with some stationery ✏️⁣

⁣I’m not holding myself to any massive goals this year, but I am keen to keep crossing off my daily to-dos! ⁣

⁣I’ve found the best combo for me so far is a Google calendar and a physical diary to jot down the year’s events. I mix this in with an ‘everything’ notebook that holds anything from lists and brainstorming to quotes from books I’ve read. ⁣

⁣I find that keeping these together in a traveller’s notebook works well for me; I bring this little thing with me everywhere! I’ve slowly learnt to let go of trying to keep every notebook perfect (it prevented me from ever using them properly!) and I’m continuing to thrive on my messy little ‘everything’ notebooks. 😂⁣

I’m always fascinated to hear what methods others find best for their own organisation. What methods and items work best for you? ⁣

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My 2022 list of bookish favourites. I’ve read a comparatively small amount this year, though a huge ratio of my reading in 2022 was queer lit, which brings me joy. I’ve starred all the Queer lit in this list. ⁣

I hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year. Here’s hoping 2023 brings some more good lit and great experiences. ⁣

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Happy holidays, friends! I hope you’re having a safe and joyful time whether you celebrate Christmas or not xx⁣

Just a little coffee and a queer fantasy reading stack. It’s always the genre I return to when my concentration wanes 🤷🏼‍♀️

I semi-recently finished Huntress by Malinda Lo and really enjoyed the writing! (Some more detailed thoughts to come, perhaps). It makes me think I might have to revisit Ash one of these days.

I’m also super keen for the third instalment in Nghi Vo’s Singing Hills Cycle which has just been released (thank you @rae-laxing for getting me into this series by gifting me a copy 💛). Now all that awaits me in this stack is Ellen Klages Passing Strange. I’m waiting for the right moment of inspiration to hit before picking it up. Fingers crossed that time comes soon

Saturday 12/11/22⁣⁣

⁣⁣I’ve been spending some of this morning and early afternoon just creating for myself. I had forgotten how delightful it is. just to sit down, let the process take over and to learn some new things in the process. ⁣⁣

⁣⁣For now, I’m hoping to keep playing around with some new content and maybe get some reading in. I’ve had my eyes on Babel for way too long and I think it might be time to finally turn some pages in this one. ⁣

⁣What’s your weekend looking like so far? ⁣⁣

Iced coffee mornings 😍

Stuck at my desk now for the workday ahead but I’m ECSTATIC the sun is shining through the windows. Even the doggo has decided to join me to soak up the rays in her various puppy sleeping positions 😂

Currently not reading very much again, sadly. I’m on the hunt for my next audiobook. Would love any suggestions of great audiobooks you’ve listened to!

Even in my bravest of moments, I am a MASSIVE wimp when it comes to thrillers and horror, so I decided to make a tiny recommendation list that embraces the seasonal atmosphere without striking the heart down with fear 😂 ⁣⁣

Some of these are uproarious fun (I’m looking at you, Gideon the Ninth), some are quietly considerate (Woman, Eating) and some are thoughtfully chilling (Elmet), but all of these, I feel, fit the cosy Halloween theme 🎃⁣⁣

⁣⁣What are your favourite reads to cosy down with this time of year? ⁣⁣

The essay-writing continues.⁣

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I’ve read journal upon journal article and now I’m puzzling through putting everything together. I seem to be only able to concentrate for small periods, so writing this one has been excruciatingly slow 😂⁣

⁣As far as reading goes, I’ve nearly finished Nona the Ninth via audiobook, which is as much of a reading romp as I hoped! ⁣

I haven’t been getting much leisure reading in except to pick up a story in BLISS MONTAGE every couple of days. It’s been a nice reprieve from study, but I am so looking forward to getting this essay done! ⁣

⁣Ebook pictured is Aileen Moreton-Robsinson’s THE WHITE POSSESSIVE . ⁣

Made my way through the first story of BLISS MONTAGE and I can tell I’m in for a wild ride! Cannot wait to get through the rest. I’m planning to savour each story during work and study breaks. I feel like I haven’t read enough short stories this year, and I’m glad to be diving back in with Ling Ma.

I won’t be able to head out to a bookshop today to celebrate Love Your Bookshop Day but I do want to highlight the beautiful bookshop, Squishy Minnie

My wife and I headed here while on our short time away near Kyneton, and it was honestly the best part of our little trip. Such a beautiful little indie bookshop with lots of brilliant books by authors of colour and queer authors on display, not to mention the lovely, helpful booksellers ✨

Here’s the little stack we picked up while we were there! Honestly, we can’t wait to head back there when we’re in the area again!