Hiya Instagram! Just sharing the next in my #tbr pile. (Am currently in the middle of Closed Casket which is by Sophie Hannah via the Agatha Christie estate - so far so meh, which I suppose was to be expected). I have the new Ben Aaronovitch, Lies Sleeping, which I'm looking forward to so much that I don't actually want to read it, just keep savouring the anticipation. Also have Fresh Complaint by Jeffrey Eugenides (short stories, prefer novels generally and adored his novels as a young woman but want to revisit them as a proper adult/ woman/ feminist). The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry- this was my Christmas present from Dan and am itching to get to it but again delaying gratification and reading other, worse books first. Finally, the newest Cassandra Clare YA I've already finished. I do love a cheesy magic-in-real-life romp, and this is the rompiest. I remember Clare from the fanfiction scandal (way back when this here were all fields) but there's a good bit of world-building and some memorable characters so I really enjoyed this. #tphreads #bookstagram #toberead
I've been spending January rolling my eyes in every shop I enter - sportswear displays front and centre, bookshops with diet cookbooks on special, and so on. I remember I used to feel wretched about myself at this time of year - now it's so freeing to just be going about my business as usual without any shame or self-recrimination. I do find people beautiful, and admire how they look, but 1) I have a much broader idea of what is beautiful, and 2) I realise what little worth there is in placing weight on what's essentially a bit of genetic good luck. The New Year New You pressure is A LOT this time of year though, right? Have linked in my profile to an old blog post about body image (does anyone read blogs anymore??). "It’s not always easy, of course. I spent years caring so much about what other people thought. It’s so exhausting, and so dull. Imagine the freedom of setting that burden down. Imagine taking the energy involved in all that worrying, all that caring, and filtering it into other things. Imagine the relief of looking in the mirror and feeling at peace. Imagine the joy found in being able to delight in all the beauty and cleverness and strength of others, rather than trying to find all of that within yourself. That’s what I hope I can teach my daughters". #bodypositivity #bopo #effyourbeautystandards #newyearfuckyou #myfeelgoodfashion
New Year's Eve does have a sort of psychological resonance though, right? There's something about the sharpness and freshness of something new emerging out of the nebulous haze of these in-betweeny holiday days. I feel the same in September - these days fill me with a sense of potential, like the inhalation before diving into deep water. It's exciting. Also, there's nothing wrong with making resolutions, or with the urge towards self-improvement. There are so many, small ways in which I can be better (big ways too, of course, but best to start small I suppose). Anything that spurs me on to work harder, be kinder or more efficient or more forward-thinking has got to be good. I'm looking forward to devoting myself to important things in 2019, and also to making sure that my daughter always keeps looking at me just as she does in these photos. #motherofdaughters #raisingfeminists #breathein
