Tag: books

Magic Schools to Feminist Retellings: A Retrospective on Writing Trends

~ Brooke F. ~ Leave a comment

A Retrospective Look at Writing and Book Trends: From Magic Schools to Feminist Retellings

If you’ve been reading books for, well, any amount of time, then you’ve probably noticed that certain trends in literature pop up like clockwork—sometimes for a few years, sometimes a little longer, but they’re always there. And as much as we try to resist it, we find ourselves falling into the hype. We all know that one trend we swore we wouldn’t get into, and then suddenly we’re 200 pages deep into a series about people who can control fire and water and possibly have a secret underground society. It’s fine, it’s normal.

So, in the spirit of nostalgia and bookish trends that once ruled the shelves, let’s take a trip down memory lane. Here’s a look at some of the most notable writing trends of the past, separated by the years when they were super prevalent. Buckle up, it’s about to get trend-tastic.

2000s: Magic Schools & Faction Fandoms

Ah, the early 2000s. It was a simpler time, before social media ate up all our free time. But books—oh, books were living their best life. If you weren’t reading Harry Potter, were you even reading? Seriously though, J.K. Rowling kicked off the magic school trend, and the world fell in love with Hogwarts, wands, and wizarding wars. It was like we all went to school with Harry, Hermione, and Ron, even if we were just hanging out in our living rooms with a cup of tea. And don’t get me started on the sorting hat. Suddenly, was finding out what house they were (if you weren’t Gryffindor, well, we’ll talk about it later) along with their Patronus, their wand and… well.. you get the idea.

But Hogwarts wasn’t the only magical academy out there. And let’s not forget the “Team Edward vs. Team Jacob” phenomenon that was Twilight. Was it fantasy? Was it supernatural? Was it… a lot of emotional turmoil over the fate of Bella Swan? Whatever it was, it had people choosing sides.

If it’s not clear, The early 2000s were dominated by the rise of books where characters were sorted into distinct factions. Presenting factions based on personality traits became another way for readers to ask themselves, “Which one would I belong to?” and effectively engage the reader. These sorting systems didn’t just reflect different aspects of identity; they also gave readers a sense of belonging in the fictional world.

2010s: The Post-Apocalyptic Dystopia Takeover

Fast forward to the 2010s, and suddenly, we were all obsessed with the end of the world. Everyone was either fighting in a deadly arena or surviving some government-imposed dystopian nightmare. And honestly, who could blame us? The Hunger Games was literally all the rage. We couldn’t get enough of Katniss Everdeen, bow and arrow in hand, fighting for her life (and also fighting for her place in that love triangle that we didn’t need but somehow loved anyway).

But it wasn’t just Katniss—there was Maze Runner, where kids with amnesia were running from giant creepy monsters in a maze. And don’t forget Divergent (yes, it fits both categories. No wonder it was so popular), where people were divided into factions based on their personalities- wait I definitely talked about this already. These books sparked a whole trend of dystopian universes where our protagonists had to rise up against an unjust government, typically after some sort of catastrophic event. We were all about survival, rebellion, and… romance, of course.

Late 2010s: Fairytale Retellings, Because Who Doesn’t Love a Reboot?

Then, just when we thought we couldn’t take any more life-or-death stakes, fairytale retellings came swooping in. It was like, “Why read the same old fairytales when you could read them again—but with a twist?” Enter The Lunar Chronicles, which took Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and others, and threw them into a world of cyborgs, androids, and space missions. It was like the fairytale we kind of knew, but with lasers and intergalactic politics.

But let’s be real, it wasn’t just science fiction authors having fun with fairytales. Writers like Sarah J. Maas and Holly Black started blending folklore and mythology with darker, more adult themes, serving up stories full of magic, romance, and the kind of characters who may or may not have committed some morally questionable acts. I’m not saying we were all suddenly into faeries, but maybe we were all suddenly into faeries.

2020s: Feminist Mythological Retellings—Let’s Give the Women Their Due

Now, we’re in the age of feminist mythological retellings, and I’ve got to say, I’m here for it. Sure, Percy Jackson brought Greek mythology into the mainstream, but now we’re diving deeper into the stories of the women who’ve been left out of the traditional narratives. Think Circe by Madeline Miller, where we finally get to hear the story of the infamous witch from the Odyssey, and she’s not just some villain. She’s complicated, which (hopefully) makes her way more interesting.

And we’re seeing it everywhere, from Ariadne by Jennifer Saint to Lore by Alexandra Bracken, where the women in myth aren’t just being swept aside by the men—they’re fighting back. They’re reclaiming their stories, and it’s pretty epic. These retellings give the female figures of myth the depth and agency they deserve. Though whether or not it’s done effectively is up for debate in the reading community.

Honorable Mentions: Other Trends That Came and Went

Some trends were like that one hit song we all loved for a summer, but by next year, we couldn’t remember the lyrics. A few notable mentions:

  • Vampires, Werewolves, and Supernatural Romance (2000s-2010s): The Twilight era sparked a frenzy over all things supernatural. Vampires, werewolves, and the eternal, beloved, and ENTIRELY necessary love triangle. It was a phase, okay? But also, apparently not, because love triangles would go on to become prominent plot point in YA media from thence forth.
  • Grimdark Fantasy (2010s): If you wanted to dive into a world where everything was bleak, brutal, and morally ambiguous, this was your moment. Books like Game of Thrones, Six of Crows and The Broken Empire filled our need for complex, gray-area characters who weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. It was kind of like if your favorite character was a mix of a hero and someone you shouldn’t trust, but you loved them anyway. And probably hated them too. But in a good way.
  • YA Thrillers (2010s): After the success of Gone Girl, and The Girl on the Train, the YA thriller market exploded. Suddenly, everyone was reading books about murder, mystery, and figuring out who was really the bad guy—which, let’s be honest, made for some super intense reading sessions. The most recent success in this genre that I can think of is Where the Crawdad’s Sing.

So… What’s Next?

While we can never be sure what trend will take over next, one thing’s for sure: books will always change and evolve. Whether it’s more retellings of ancient myths, something completely new, or perhaps another wave of dystopian chaos (honestly, who can say?), there will always be something to capture our imaginations.

What do you think? Are we due for a new trend? Or are we all just hanging out in the land of retellings and myth for the foreseeable future? Drop a comment! I’d love to hear your thoughts on this very important and pressing matter.

Can Pinterest Actually Help Your Writing?

~ Brooke F. ~ Leave a comment

Welcome to a writer’s guide to Pinterest where I plan to discuss the good, the bad, the pretty. (I’m sorry, I love this tag line format, okay?) And rest assured, as someone who has dumped many, MANY hours that I cannot get back into this social media app, I am an expert on this matter.

Pinterest is where I go to build my dream library, organize my “writing room” ideas, and pin cute coffee shops I probably won’t visit but love to look at. As a writer, Pinterest has been an absolute gem for inspiration; you could almost call it a mood board for my entire brain. But as far as promoting my writing? Well, let’s just say Pinterest isn’t quite built to send people flooding to your latest blog post or novella.

Here’s the scoop on how Pinterest can actually help (and where it kind of misses the mark).

The Good: The Perks of Pinterest for Writers

  1. An Endless Well of Inspiration (Literally, It’s Bottomless)
    If you’re ever stuck on a writing project, Pinterest is the perfect place to scroll through photos of foggy forests, vintage journals, and other people’s aesthetically pleasing bookshelves. The platform is a visual feast, which makes it amazing for building storyboards or getting character inspiration. Dreamy landscape? They’ve got you covered. You’ll be drowning in imagery before you even get through the first page of your search.
  2. Organizing Writing Ideas Like a Pro
    Pinterest boards are a lifesaver when it comes to keeping track of all those ideas we want to come back to someday. Want to keep that list of dialogue ideas, character profiles, or writing prompts handy? Just pin it! In a way, Pinterest lets us organize our creativity, which is both refreshing and slightly magical (especially if you’re like me and tend to misplace things…like ideas).
  3. Perfect for Building an Aesthetic (Hello, Vibes!)
    Whether your story is set in a gloomy castle or a sunny seaside town, Pinterest boards let you curate a “vibe” that can bring your creative world to life. You can find everything from historical costumes to quirky cafes, and it all adds a splash of personality to your work—even if it’s only for you to look at. Sometimes, having that mood board handy is just what you need to get into the writing groove.

The Bad: The Downsides of Pinterest for Writers

  1. Driving Traffic to Your Work? Not So Much
    Here’s the thing: people on Pinterest are mainly looking for visuals and ideas, not links to blog posts. Most users are there to save images, maybe jot down a few notes, and then go on their merry way. I’ve pinned some of my writing work before, but it’s rare for people to follow an image all the way to an actual article or story. Pinterest is more about the “aesthetic save” than the “click-through,” so don’t expect it to be a major traffic source.
  2. Lack of Community Engagement
    Pinterest is not the place to chat, bond over writing struggles, or get feedback on your work. There are no extensive comment sections where people are swapping tips or sharing the same cozy creative space you might find on other platforms. Truth be told, they DO have a comments section on individual pins but it’s not laid out very well nor is it heavily used among the platform’s users. Pinterest is more of a solo mission; everyone’s there for their own pins and projects, so if you’re looking for a writing community, look elsewhere.
  3. It Can Become a Time Sink (Oops)
    Pinterest may look harmless, but let’s not kid ourselves—it’s a gateway to spending hours pinning everything under the sun without actually writing. There’s so much content that it’s easy to fall into the “one more scroll” trap, especially when it feels like you’re being productive. At some point, it’s best to stop pinning and start typing. (Believe me, I speak from experience here, ok.)

The Verdict: Is It Worth It?
If you’re in need of visuals or inspiration, Pinterest is fantastic and I highly recommend it. With your own private library of images to draw from, it can make the writing process a lot more fun as well as help you visualize things you’re struggling to picture yourself. Just don’t rely on it for promotion, because Pinterest users are likely just passing through.

Happy pinning (and happy actually writing, too)!

Trials, Tribulations, And Self-Publishing: KDP Review (sort of)

~ Brooke F. ~ 3 Comments

So, I did a thing: I self-published a poetry book! Cue the happy tears, celebratory confetti, and… me furiously googling “how to fix image formatting errors.” However, that latter part could be my own hubris. Spoiler alert: my poetry book isn’t just any old text—it’s packed with images. Yep, we’re talking multimedia poetry, so my struggles might have been amped up a notch because I decided to get fancy with visuals. What can I say? I am a wee bit too extra for my own good but I’m committed so here we are.

The Interesting Journey of Formatting

Now, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) has its own formatting tool, which requires you to download an app to your computer. It’s manageable…in the way that driving a stick shift for the first time is “manageable.” Since my book was 90% images, the Word document transfer option wasn’t exactly reassuring—KDP’s warning about “potential formatting errors” didn’t sound like a good time. So, I went with their Kindle app and got straight to work.

After a few afternoons of playing around in KDP’s software, I figured out how to get my images where I wanted them and things looked halfway decent. Not bad for my first try at book formatting. HOWEVER that doesn’t mean it didn’t have its annoying moments. Every single time I updated one image, I’d have to double-check the rest, because it seemed like one change would throw off the entire balance of the layout. I felt like I was doing an elaborate game of digital Jenga.

Would I recommend Kindle Direct Publishing to anyone looking to self-publish a poetry book with multimedia elements? Yes. But… let’s just say, expect a little struggle. If you’re like me, and you want to mix poetry with visual elements, just know that formatting is a time-sucking beast you’ll need to tame.

The Great Cover Design Showdown: KDP vs. Canva

KDP does offer a cover design tool, which is fine if you’re going for something simple, but simple ended up looking like a high school PowerPoint. So, I migrated to Canva, where I could actually add flair, colors, and fonts that suited the vibe of a multimedia poetry book. Canva: 1, Kindle Cover Tool: 0.

(Psst. Cover design pictured below):

The End Result

Overall, the process was worth it—I loved bringing my poems and images together in one project. Sure, it was a little clunky, but hey, seeing my work all shiny and official was worth every “Oh, not again” moment. So, if you’re thinking about self-publishing, especially with multimedia, I say go for it! Just don’t forget Canva—and maybe take a few deep breaths (And a cup of coffee) before tackling the formatting.

All that being said, my tiny little science inspired multimedia poetry book has been sent out into the world! I can’t really complain to be honest. It was a fun little venture I must say. I also think it was the perfect introduction for me for the world of Kindle Direct Publishing. My book was small (what’s known as a chapbook) so while the formatting felt like it took awhile, I can’t imagine how much longer it would have taken if I published a full-scale poetry book.. which reminds me.

I’d love to do this again.

Probably with a full length poetry. But don’t worry! I probably won’t go the multimedia route (at least for now anyways). Personally, I would love to try my hand at some more traditional poetry but we’ll just have to see where the creative winds take me from here. Thanks for reading and if your morbid curiosity gets the best of you and you have a few bucks to burn, here’s a link to my little project.

Thanks for following along!

A Guide to Instagram for Writers: The Good, The Bad, and the Draining

~ Brooke F. ~ 3 Comments

Is a picture really worth a thousand words? Well, we aim to analyze that very thing today as I walk you through what it’s like to use Instagram as a writer. If you’ve some much as even glanced at Instagram, you’ve probably noticed it seems to the hotspot for creatives. I mean, it’s basically one giant virtual gallery of coffee cups, open books, and people with serious-looking headshots writing snappy, one line poems. But is it actually useful for writers trying to build their craft and audience, or just another time-suck we justify as “networking”? Spoiler: it’s a little bit of both.

So here’s the full rundown of using Instagram as a writer—complete with highs, lows, and plenty of aesthetic pressure.

The Good: The Highlights of Instagram for Writers

  1. Connections, Encouragement, and the Validation of Strangers
    Instagram is kind of like the local open-mic night—someone will always clap, even if you just read your grocery list (as long as you use enough hashtags of course). Through hashtags like #WritingCommunity and #AmWriting, you can find other writers to cheer you on and remind you that yes, there are people out there who care deeply about your haiku on existential dread. Plus, it’s a safe bet that people will comment something nice on your posts, even if it’s just a thumbs-up emoji. HOWEVER, whether these are real people or just bots vying for attention to promote themselves everywhere is up for debate.
  2. The Sheer Joy of Making It Look Pretty
    Who doesn’t love a good aesthetic? Instagram encourages us all to be photographers, so if you’ve got snippets of writing or a stack of favorite books, there’s endless fun to be had. (Although, honestly, does my journal really look better next to a potted plant? The people say yes.) If you’re visually inclined, Instagram might be your paradise.
  3. Slow but Steady Growth (If You Have the Patience)
    I can attest to this one personally. When I first tried sharing my writing, I started to see a slow and steady trickle of followers—as long as I was babysitting my page like a needy plant. But take a break? You’ll be lucky if the algorithm even remembers your account exists. It felt like stepping away for a week was like hitting the reset button, and I didn’t have the energy to keep jumping back in. Eventually, I just let it be, and now my poor little writing page is collecting dust in the dredges of the Instagram algorithm. Oops! Sorry, this was supposed to be the positives section. But now that you mention it, I think it’s time we move onto….

The Bad: The Drawbacks of Instagram for Writers

  1. The Algorithm = Frenemy #1
    Oh, the elusive, ever-changing algorithm. Instagram doesn’t just let you share writing; it expects you to be a part-time social media strategist. Posting at the right time? Check. Engaging with followers? Check. Making Reels? Triple check (seriously, Reels are in). And sometimes you’ll pour your soul into a post only for it to be seen by three people, two of whom are your mom and your bestfriend (love ya girl!).
  2. Perfection Pressure: For When Words Aren’t Enough
    Being on Instagram as a writer is kind of like being told you have to paint a picture every time you write a sentence. A good line of poetry is no longer enough—you have to make it look Pinterest-worthy. This can be draining, especially when all you want to do is, you know, write. But you have to! Because this isn’t the time nor the space to share a novel. You MUST stick to the witty one-liners. That’s all people have time for. Instagram content is made to feed an audience in bite-sized portions. And so you must trim the fat.
  3. Time: Instagram Will Eat It All, Trust Me
    Let’s be real—if there’s a way to waste time online, Instagram will help you find it. Between scrolling through your feed, obsessively checking your notifications, and looking for the perfect font for that post, it’s easy to lose hours. And while we could be writing, we’re often scrolling for “inspiration”—or at least that’s what we tell ourselves.

The Verdict: Is It Worth It?
If you genuinely enjoy sharing your work visually and don’t mind the hustle of keeping up with the algorithm, Instagram can be a useful space for writers. But if it’s taking more time than it’s giving back, maybe dial it back. Remember: your worth as a writer isn’t measured by the number of likes.

Happy posting (or happy ignoring the algorithm entirely)!

Nature, Childhood, and Brood

~ Brooke F. ~ Leave a comment

Childhood. It is something that is near all our hearts. I am sure many of us can recall summers spent outdoors. Bare are feet skimming the soft grass. The scent of freshly cut grass. The distant hum of cicadas. Fireflies blinking and winking at us from the dark. Fresh air that zips past us as we run and play and enjoy nature and childhood freedom.

Nature and childhood is often something that is connected in our minds, whether we realize it or not. It is this connection that Kimiko Hahn taps into in her chapbook titled “Brood”.  She explores this connection through a series of poems giving us a full sense of her childhood and nostalgia.

Hahn is a seasoned poet who is the author of a whopping 10 poetry books. This includes but it not limited to Foreign Bodies (W. W. Norton, 2020), Brain Fever (Norton, 2014), Toxic Flora (Norton, 2010), The Unbearable Heart (Kaya, 1996) which was the winner of the American Book Award, and Earshot (Hanging Loose Press, 1992), winner of the Theodore Roethke Memorial Poetry Prize and an Association of Asian American Studies Literature Award. Science and nature are common themes in her work and this chapbook is no exception when it comes to this.

Hahn grew up in New York and Tokyo. It makes one wonder if these urban backdrops caused her mind to wonder to what little nature there was in her childhood. Her chapbook “Brood” even opens with a little snapshot of a Damselfly caught in a web.

“When you spot a damselfly

Caught in a spider’s thread

Blow gently…”

Early on, Hahn draws our attention to the delicate and intricacies of nature. But, these pictures are also contrasted with humanity and the modern. One such poem titled “Folding Fan Advertising Kikkoman Soy Sauce” exemplifies this while also introducing us to a memory and a person who has passed.

“My kindergarten handprint in clay! Pearls! But you never belonged to me. I’m not sure I care, odd ephemera in the debris of my father’s home.”

She does the same in the following poem titled “Noise”.

“The neighbors teething baby wails, a grating cranks shut, a woman calls out, a man shouts back, the sanitation truck pulls to the curb with engine, men, and suction…”

Overall, this contrast between nature and the modern creates a well-rounded experience as Hahn delves into feelings of loss, nostalgia, and family. Hahn masterfully weaves these thoughts and ideas together to give us a colorful picture of childhood and her specific upraising. It is just a small peak as the works are often brief, but they are rich with vivid imagery and beautiful scenes that pull us in from the first sentence.

Pssst! Hey! Thanks for reading! This post is a bit different from my usual blog posts but I read this chapbook and did a review on it for school so I wanted to share. I not only got to pick the book but I found it was fun to share my thoughts. If you’re into poetry, definitely check out Kimiko’s work!

Why I Write

~ Brooke F. ~ 7 Comments

For school, I was tasked for reading a great many number of essays on a singular topic: “Why I Write”. These readings included “Why I Write” by George Orwell, “Why I Write” by Joan Didion, “Why I Write” by Terry Williams, “Why Write” by Paul Austers, “Why I Write” by Reginald Shepherd. Turns out, writers are very concerned about tackling this question and rightly so. Burn-out is a common term used in writing spaces and for good reason. It besets you quickly when you least expect it. Why? Who knows, the answer is rarely the same from person to person. Then there is the whole conundrum of “how so I get out of this head space?”. Turns out, defining your motivations and why you do this whole writing schtick is one good way to get out of this swirling mental blackhole. And so, I created my own “Why I Write” constitution/statement of my own. While this was indeed a school assignment, I still would love to share it. This exercise was unexpectedly cathartic and I definitely recommend you give it a shot if you ever find yourself in a flurry of self doubt and find yourself asking, “Why am I doing this again?”.

I’ve included the video version (created by yours truly) and the essay itself in case you don’t feel like watching my mini-movie filmed on a my old-as-dirt ipad (edited with imovie of course). I won’t be (that) offended, I promise.

The Video:

The Essay:

Why I Write

By Brooke Freeman

I write for a great many number of reasons as do most people I think. Strangely enough, I made a list back in middle school of this very thing. At the tender age of 12, I found that sometimes I didn’t want to work on my story. And so, I made a master list of writing motivation. I dug it up for this question and have been pleasantly surprised that the reasons still very much ring true.

I’m going to share this list with you now in its true form, complete with the starry 2014 bulleted points I had copy-and-pasted from the internet because I could never figure out how to make special characters myself. I will also elaborate on how each reason is true to me to this very day. It’s nice to know that, if anything, I’m consistent.

★ The feeling of reaching that plot twist

As a kid, I posted to a lot of kid targeted writing chat boards. These boards have long since shut down but in this little internet space, I found an audience. Other kids, like me, who loved writing and loved reading. From early on, I found the joy of writing something unexpected and the reaction of those who read it. Even now, this is a process I still find myself taking joy in. Really it’s the community created in such moments that I find myself coming back to.

★Getting to write that scene.

The scene that pictured in all it’s glory. Perhaps the very scene that got me writing the story in the first place to write up to. My chance to drop that one-liner that my young self thought was oh-so-clever. And yet I still do this now. A dynamic captures my fancy. A scene springs to life vividly in my head and I need to write it. And then I build the world around it.

★Improving your writing ability

Improvement is a strange thing. I never felt like I was improving until I figured out that it often takes the form of reading one’s past work and cringing. This is something that is even more accurate now that I’m in college as I find myself cringing a lot at whatever work I pumped out in high school. And yet I don’t hate it. You don’t hate a time capsule because it’s old and outdated. You marvel at it and all the trinkets inside. And then you think about how much has changed, most of it for the better.

★Making your thoughts more cohesive.

That feeling of seeing a project come together is unmatched. I tasted it as a middle-schooler and thought “wow, that’s pretty neat to see how it ties together”. But as life has gotten messier and my thoughts and brain even more so, I think this reason has become more and more prevalent for me.

★Holding your published book in your hands.

I want to hold my words in printed form. Not that that gives them any more importance, but I am drawn to the physical space that words can take up when they’re printed. They’re beautiful as well as accessible.

★The aesthetic of the writing life is impeccable. Drink some tea, type away on a rainy day- indulge in it.

Pompous and shallow as it may sound, writing feels important while you’re doing it. It feels whimsical and sometimes even mysterious. It’s easy to romanticize. Not that you should believe yourself any better than those around you but there should be a certain amount of joy you should take in your writing work. I write because I love doing it. I indulge in it.

★Hearing from other people who have been touched by your work.

And here we are back at community. It has been a big driving force for me as I continue onward on my writing journey. From 12 years old to present, I loved the connection I got from my work. I had no promise back then that my writing would make it big or make an enormous, uncompromising difference. But maybe it did to a fellow 12-year-old browsing a writing message board. It did for me after all.

But I don’t think it’s sufficient to leave it here. Yes, these reasons are still accurate but they are no longer the full extent as to why I write. I think it would be an indicator of lack of growth within the last 10 years to no add to this list by quite a margin.

I am finding in my 20’s that I write because I love. I can end the sentence there as cliché as I’m sure it sounds. But I won’t.

I write because I love so many things. I love peeling oranges on my front apartment steps. Write because I love petting cats that never belong to me but begrudgingly accepts my affection. I love rain, birds, cathedrals, breakfast, coffee, stars, journals that are empty, journals that are filled, cattle on grass, autumn, pancakes, skeletons, tacos, photos, brown eyes, blue eyes, my mother, my sisters, my brother, and my father. I write because I love.

And finally, I write because God has been kind enough (or cruel enough), to put words in inside of me. Then he allowed me to be fed on a steady diet of books. All kinds of books too. Apologia Science textbooks, The Magic Treehouse books, Narnia, Little house on the prairie, Nacy Drew, The Magic Thief, Lord of the Rings, Calvin and Hobbes just to name a few really important ones. I was fed until I was swollen with words and ideas. Then I was handed a pen and paper-or should I say a laptop with a slow internet connection, a pinball game, and a writing program. Then later a typewriter marked down to $50 at a thrift store. Then an actual laptop. Now it’s a Journal. Paper cradled in Leather.

I write because I am overwhelmed by everything it feels like. Some mornings I feel it more deeply than others. And when I do, I crack open my journal or open up my delipidated laptop. And then I write.

If I owned a Bookstore Game!

~ Brooke F. ~ 5 Comments

Hello lovelies! I hope this post finds you well on this fine Wednesday!

It has been quite a week for me. Second week of college and while I don’t have as much homework as last semester, I will say my 8am class is not my favorite thing to attend on chilly winter mornings. But, regardless, I am enjoying my classes and teachers and all the cool little factoids that I am slowly accumulating over time. It makes me feel a little less sad that I have less free time for banging out blog posts though admittedly I had a streak going on there through December and January that I would love to continue. But we’ll see what the school year brings.

Ah, anyways. Enough about me. Let’s play a game.

Welcome to the “If I owned a Bookstore game”!

9 very niche bookstores for your very specific interests. ‹ Literary Hub

Bookstore Name

I definitely would want a wistful or magical sort of name. Something fantastical like “Silver Pages” or perhaps something a bit more dark and mysterious like “The Black Cauldron” (though I’d probably save that name for my nonexistent Witch-themed coffee shop).

At the end of the day, as I wrack my brain for names, I think the Bookstore would be called “The Scarlet Letters” as a sort of pun off of the classic book “The Scarlet Letter”.

The Location

This is going to be a hard decision. Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland (anything that ends with “land” I guess that isn’t Greenland) are all marvelous locations. But another part of me would love to have located in a sleepy southern town near where I live while rolling hills and cow fields just outside the outskirts.

Best Bookshops In London | British Vogue | British Vogue

The Outside

Ideally, my bookstore would be located on a town square in an older sort of building with a shingled overhang. I would love a big, store window that allowed people to walk by and look inside. Oh, and some sort of outdoor string lights framing the window. And the entrance door must be red painted wood.

On the Inside

I would love to have two floors with a spiral staircase leading to the second. An outdoor area on a patio roof would be amazing as well. There would be all sorts of little nooks and crannies where people could sit and read. I would love lots of windows to allow for natural lighting but these windows would be red stained glass, casting a sort of scarlet tint upon the shelves.

The floor would be hardwood and shelves stained dark oak. The shelves would be arranged a little precariously to give book browsing an adventurous feel. Oh, and if there was a mini bakery inside that sold pastries and raspberry & cherry tarts, that would be cool too.

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The Vibe

The vibe would be antique-y & a sort of old European feel. In general, the color palette of the place would be dark wood and red (matching with the Name of the bookstore). It would have a very calming vibe and would be the perfect place to stay during a rainy day.

Oh, and if you pay attention and look hard enough, there might be a cat roaming about, further adding to the bookworm vibe.

The Workers

I would try and have people who really truly loved books to come work there. And while I would not technically want a “work uniform”, I think it would be neat if everyone wore a singular red accessory of some kind. You know, a red scarf, red silk hair ribbon, that sort of thing. It would just be neat.

The Music

Probably some calming classical though changing it to something subtly spooky during Halloween would be amazing. I would want the music to fill any uncomfortable silence but not loud enough that it feel as if its interrupting people’s conversations or reading.

As Bookstores Reopen, Stores Seek Safe Practices

Now It’s Your Turn!

What kind of bookstore would you want to have? This sort of day dreaming is what I live for so if you’re interested in a doing a post about your own fictional book store, feel free! Until next time, bloggers!

Five Favorite Movies

~ Brooke F. ~ 8 Comments

Hey there! Aaaaand we’re still snowed in. But, on the bright side, that leaves me more time for blogging and writing and such. So here’s a little post about my favorite movies. It’s short and sweet because I limited myself to five movies (otherwise we’d probably be here for ages).

  1. Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

This one takes the #1 spot being my entire childhood. The only thing I love more than Lord of the Rings & Tolkien quotes is Narnia & C.S. Lewis quotes. In summary, these two authors made my childhood as did the director of this movie. Though I must clarify, the disney version. There is a British version floating around out there with a…. smaller budget resulting in a slightly… different cinematic experience.

To summarize, this Disney Movie is my most favorite move. I love everything about it. Everyone felt perfectly cast, the music in phenomenal, the animal characters are loveable, Aslan is grand, and the redemptive story of Edmund holds so much weight.

A solid 10/10 movie. I still want to be Lucy when I grow up.

2. The Lord of the Rings Movies

And here is where I sing the Praises of Peter Jackson. He did what seemed impossible- condensed down the enormous works of Tolkien into three wonderful movies that tell a cohesive and developed story that I find myself continually coming back to.

I sort of cheated here as these are technically three movies but I couldn’t pick a favorite among them as they tell one continuous story and each one is masterfully done and has its own strengths in their own rights.

These movies probably have my favorite soundtrack ever, my favorite fight sequences, and some of my favorite characters. My only complaints are Frodo’s character felt a bit off compared to the book and the Frodo and Sam parts sometimes felt like they slogged on too long (or perhaps that was the intention as we were supposed to feel the weight of their looooong journey with them?).

Overall a 9.8457/10.

3. Aladdin

The best disney princess movie that is not actually about the disney princess. Not really. Robin Williams is perfectly cast, the song “A Whole New World” is iconic and probably will be for a very, very long time and rightly so.

9.7/10

4. Star Wars: The Original Trilogy

Yeah, I’m going to cheat again. This is technically three movies but again, just like with Star Wars, its hard to pick a favorite out of these movies (though if you forced me, I’d probably have to say “The Empire Strikes” back but I could easily change my mind at any time. The ranking is that close).

Another iconic and phenomenal soundtrack. Lovably corny CGI effects and all, I love this movie. The writing is amazing and the story so full of hope. I know its simple in structure. A typical good vs. evil struggle but when you pair that with the sci-fi elements that, until that point, had never really been implemented on a big screen (with some exceptions with Star Trek but that was a show and was so stylistically and tonally different, I don’t really see them as that similar).

I grew up watching these which unfortunately led me to having a really high bar as to the level of writing I accept in my Star Wars films so I’m not a huge Disnified Star Wars fan. But, regardless, these movies continue to have a place in my heart.

9.68/10

5. Toy Story

One of Pixar’s crowning glory movies. Sure, this movies animation hasn’t aged that well. Their character models for humans were lacking (Andy may or may not look like a crackhead) but it makes sense for the time period it was in and definitely set a precedent for future CGI Animated movies. Woody & Buzz are THE iconic duo.

9.5/10

And that concludes my list although I could rant about my childhood movies for much longer. Thanks for reading and see you readers later!

Writing Prompt: Timeless

~ Brooke F. ~ Leave a comment

Everyone is born with a clock right over their heart. Inevitably, someday it will stop. And that moment will come one the clocks hands have made a full revolution. This is hard for people to handle as I’m sure you can imagine, nearly everyone is aware that one day the ticking will stop and it will be over.

You get into an accident. You’re fine but you wake to the doctors telling you with confusion that your clock has stopped but you are somehow still alive.