TBR: Books I’ve Had a WHILE

Hey pals,

I’ve talked a little about my TBR pile on my instagram before, so I thought I would talk in a little more detail here. (plus, I think a few books have snuck onto the top of the pile since I last write about it.)

We will go from top to bottom on this one to make it easier!

1. Live Better: a book of spiritual guidance. by Sophie Golding. I think I got this free with a magazine (yes, I read those spiritual magazines!) and this one has snuck onto the pile recently because my 2019 has been all about taking care of myself, learning to better myself and my work, but also learning how to let go. I am a pretty low-key spiritual person, I have my beliefs and they’re a little eclectic to most but I have a lot of times where I stray so much from it that I’ve lost a lot of practices that have helped me mentally in the past. I’ve heard that you should go back to basics when you get lost so this little book introduces you to a range of traditions and practices. I’m also excited to read something I’ve never heard of before!
2. 101 ways to clean out the clutter. by Emily Barnes. I picked up this book with the last of my dollars in the airport on my way back from LA in January. If you have followed me generally for a while, you MAY know that I live amongst hoards of crap that I have been trying to sort my way through. I’ve done quite well recently but got a little busy with things that I had to stop working on it and have since struggled to get back into it and lost my shine. Since it is a pretty handy size (i.e. is probably a quick read) I’d like to actually read it soon to spark my motivation and inspiration for organising my stuff! And sometimes, you just need an ‘expert’ to give you a kick up the arse. (Now read, check out the post here)
3. From Baghdad, With Love: a marine, the war, and a dog named Lava. by Jay Kopelman. I started reading this last year sometime, but it was a little intense and I wasn’t in the mood to read something like that. Another memoir to add to my pile of memoirs. Jay writes about his time at war and finding this puppy that he eventually takes home. I love to watch and read things about war, especially when it’s based on reality, but it does make it a little hard for me to read sometimes. Too many strong feelings. But I know that the dog makes it through the war back to America with Jay Kopelman, but I feel like there’s a sad ending?? Am I crazy? So, I want to go back to it but I’m not emotionally ready.
4. Leah on the Offbeat. by Becky Albertalli. I like to try and read queer books by queer people, but sometimes it’s unavoidable especially if you’re looking for rep outside cis white gay men and women. I loved the film Love, Simon and I loved the book Simon vs. the Homosapiens Agenda, so I hope the book on Leah (a fat bisexual girl) is just as good if not better. I’m also excited about this book showing the relationship between a daughter and her single-parent mother, as this was my upbringing that I don’t often see in fiction full-stop. I’ve read a couple of other books about bisexual characters and one of them (in my opinion) was shit. Sorry. So I have high hopes for this. (Read, mentioned in this post)
5. To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. by Jenny Han. I have to say that the film is one my my favourite YA/teen films to come out recently, I liked it so much that I actually wanted to read the book. (This is rare) I love the Asian rep and I love that there is a single dad bringing up three girls, I’m obviously not ‘glad’ the mother died, but I’m glad there is also rep for that kind of family. I’m not sure that it is in the books? I hope it is, coz I’d like to see more of the family dynamic we don’t get in the film. This plot and character set up also gives me a little bit of Georgia Nicolson vibes but in an American setting, which excites me immensely. (Read, mentioned in this post here)
6. The Great Gastby. by F. Scott Fitzgerald. As we are nearly back in our own roaring 20’s, I’d like to give this a read. Dumbass me ended up buying the play version by accident but found a used copy of the novel in the Last Bookstore in LA! I thought the interpretation of the novel into film in 2011 (right??) was pretty cool, plus I love Dicaprio and McGuire and will be imagining them as I read. Plus, I’m not really a Classics reader and the most I’ve read is Shakespeare and Frankenstein. My attempts at reading Austin were futile and I can only hope that Gatsby won’t hurt my brain.
7. The Witch Doesn’t Burn In This One. by Amanda Lovelace. Another book I found in The Last Bookstore in LA, I’d seen the other book written by Lovelace but this one felt more me. As a poetry lover, I’m definitely more for the modern poetry we have been getting the last few years (though I do like some of the flouncy, flowery stuff too). The theme of this one is definitely up my alley and seems to be a poetry equivalent of Becoming Dangerous that I am currently working on at the moment. Anything witchy mixed with rebellion, oof, give it here. (Read, mentioned in this post here)
8. Biting Anorexia: a first hand account of an internal war. by Lucy Howard-Taylor. Another memoir on mental illness! As someone who has struggled with disordered eating and still struggle now with self perception and trying to maintain healthy eating habits, I like to read memoirs from people who have had a similar struggle. It can be triggering, but I am at the point that it’s manageable. Reading books like this remind me of how far I have come and that I am not alone in the struggle. I recommend these books to everyone unless you are easily triggered. Take care of you first.
9. The Life Of Lee. by Lee Evans. Is this technically a memoir? Or is it a biography? I’m not too sure. I’d say biography as it’s in hardback and has his face on the front. This was another book I started then put down coz I wasn’t in the mood for it. But I do want to go back and finish it, even the sucky parts of his life he writes about with a light tone. I’ve loved his comedy for years and really admired his skill and I got to see his last tour before he retired (but it think he is un-retired now?) and would love to see where all of his comedy stemmed from.

Right there we go! This was a bit of a monster to write but I feel like you guys deserved something longer and something book related! I hope you guys enjoyed this, please go check out my YouTube channel, I sometimes make booktube videos! (I’m also trying to reach my first subscriber goal of 2019 which is 150 subs!)

I’ll see you next week!

~ Artie

Check out my book videos: TBR Tackle, Manga reading marathon, and my Lockdown TBR.