Category: Update

I didn’t have a theme last month, unless you want to count reading through my to be read pile as a theme. But in May, I do have one. I am a huge lover of psychology and psychiatry, I kind of consider learning about the human mind and human behaviors a hobby. At one point in my life I was going to school to become a clinical mental health counselor, but I decided that it wasn’t for me. Even though I decided that I wasn’t up for helping people with their mental health in a professional sense, I didn’t give up my love for the subject along with those short wished aspirations of mine. I always have a few books on the subject piled in my room, waiting to be read. After organizing all my books by subject I found that I had quite a few psychology books, enough to make it a theme for a whole month. So if non fiction isn’t really your thing, you might not enjoy my blog for the next month or so, there are going to be a lot of educational reviews posted very soon. However, if you choose to stick around, and I hope that you do, I will say that in June I have a lot of Sci-fi and fantasy books planned. In fact, the entire summer is going to be full of witches, monsters, muses, fairy tales, warriors, all very exciting fantasy things.

Yesterday’s post was an introduction to this month’s genre, which I have titled Murder Mystery March. Every book I read this month will be ones that will hopefully scare, disgust, and disturb me. I’m also hoping that some of them might have an intriguing story or a tricky plot that constantly has me asking questions along the way. These are all books that I have purchased recently, either because I saw them in the store and liked what I read on the back cover, or else I paged through my digital list and picked out a few that I thought would fit in with the theme. I am really looking forward to my time spent in between the pages this month. Here’s to hopefully getting scared!

I mentioned in the update post I wrote in December about wanting to improve this blog. And I have some plans and some ideas that I am ready to share with you.

First, I am going to do reading themes for some of the months. I don’t want to do a theme every month because sometimes I just like to read a mixture of things. For February the theme is Fantasy, not just because it is an alliteration but because the highly anticipated third book in the Crescent City series is being released on January 30th. And while I did preorder it, I do not think it will arrive on the day of. I will read and review the first two books in the series in preparation and hopefully by the time I am done I will have a copy of House of Flame and Shadow. I think the timing is perfect because I have been looking forward to reading the third Sarah J. Maas series, and I am also tired of dodging spoilers on the internet. 

Secondly, I think I have improved the blog slightly with the pictures I have been taking. I do not know why I had not been doing it before. I love beautiful books, and it brings me happiness to think that everyone might be enjoying looking at all the lovely books I have in my collection. I’m hoping to improve my photography skills with time.

Third, I am hoping to improve the overall look of the blog. I will admit that it isn’t pleasing to look at. I know it can look better. Perhaps I will be able to do some web design on my own or maybe I will get some help from a friend or a professional. I have seen a lot of really beautiful blogs and personal websites and I want that for myself. I don’t know when that update might happen, but the thought is there. 

Finally, I started a bookstagram. A long time ago a friend of mine suggested that I start one and I said I didn’t think it would gain any interest as there were already so many existing accounts out there. But I recently decided that why not just do it? It was easy enough, and I have already made a surprising number of connections with other bookstagrammers. It is really nice finding a community of like minded people. I love that we all support each other, no matter how few or many our followers may be. If you are interested, my instagram handle is @vans_veins

I have been thinking about how I want to improve my blog going into the new year. I have my spreadsheet filled with TBR’s, which is now nicely organized by genre and constantly growing. Some of the books on the list are currently in my room patiently waiting to be opened. Others are out there waiting for me to buy them. But buying books just because they look interesting or the blurb on the back sounds intriguing may not be the best way for me to go about it anymore.

The first thing I have started to do is plan out what books I am going to read, rather than just picking up one from the pile. This came to my mind when I had finished the ACOTAR series and was trying to decide what to read next. I had already read the Throne of Glass series, so I knew that the next logical step would be Crescent City. It so happens that the third book in the series is coming out at the end of January, and I thought it would be a great idea to plan reading the first two books in the series around the release. So, you can look forward to me providing you with an extra post, I am aiming for every other week, detailing what I am going to be reading and reviewing next.

Next, I thought that it would make sense for me to read and review all my books like this, sequentially. In the past I have interupted series with another unrelated book in the middle, thinking it would add variety. But I think it will give my site more continuity if I have all the books in a series reviewed one right after the other. There will be no more jumping around here. Series will be interspersed with stand alones, but not until I have completed the series.

Third, I think I am going to try to take more pictures. I love beautiful things, and book covers can sometimes be works of art. It’s why I prefer physical books over digital, I love being able to look at what I have read and appreciate the thought that has gone into both the cover of a book and the pages inside. I know very little about photography and photo editing, so the pictures I take might not be very good but maybe I will get better and learn some things over time.

I guess to sum it up, I am going to try to be a better blogger, not just for myself but for the few people who do come here. I hope that people enjoy the upcoming changes.