Op-eds, book recommendations, and quick explainers. Check back here for the latest bookish conversations.
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The Next Book Trend: Medieval Knights?
Book trends move in waves, especially in fantasy. We’ve seen paranormal romance, dystopian, fae. My prediction for the next one: knights.
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Anti-Intellectualism: A new way to be pretentious about books
If you’re on the book side of TikTok, you might’ve seen this debate floating around about the concept of “anti-intellectualism.” The original creator used this term to describe what she deemed to be a rise in surface-level engagement with reading, to the detriment of deeper analysis. While I can see why she made this argument,…
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An Underestimated Genre: Romance deserves respect, too
Romance is more than just clichés and fluff. Like any genre, it has the potential for emotional depth and compelling plotlines — and it deserves more respect.
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Story Structure: The backbone of a great narrative
Story structure is crucial, providing clarity, emotional impact, character development, and a satisfying resolution. Without it, stories can become confusing, poorly paced, and unsatisfying. Let’s discuss.
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Unearned Plot Points: When stories take a shortcut
From rushed development to the Deus Ex Machina, unearned plot points completely undermine stories. What gives? Let’s talk about it.
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Unreliable Narrators: Truth and deception in literature
When you can’t trust the main character of a story, you have an unreliable narrator. What makes them so compelling? Let’s discuss.
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The Power of Perspective: First, second, and third person POV
Readers are increasingly selecting books based on POV types, like first-person or third-person, as each offers unique pros and cons that shape their reading experience. Let’s talk about it.
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Pacing: It makes or breaks a story
The rhythm of a narrative can make or break a book. Let’s talk about what makes for good pacing and bad pacing.
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My Top Reads So Far in 2024
We’re officially halfway through 2024, so here are my favorites so far.
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Literary Atmosphere: A basic building block for immersion
If you’ve ever read a book that kept you at arm’s length, despite your attempts to get immersed, it might have had an atmosphere problem.
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Discovery: The best part of reading
If you’ve ever enjoyed the discovery of starting a new book more than the resolution of its plot, perhaps you’re like me. Let’s discuss.
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Thematically Rich Stories: AKA, what separates good from great
What makes a story deeply resonant and engaging? Why do I like some books, but feel it’s missing that final piece? It’s all about those themes, baby.
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Age Gap Romances: 20 years vs. 500 years
20 year age gaps are gross, but 500 year age gaps are hot — why is that? What makes the difference? Let’s dive in.
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Soft vs. Hard Worldbuilding: What’s the difference?
Are you looking to be immersed in a new setting, or to just vibe with characters and plot? Let’s discuss these two types of worldbuilding.
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In Defense of Smut
If any one genre is often written off as silly, it’s probably romance. And if it has smut, even more so. Let’s tackle this.
