i’m emma (she / her), and you have stumbled upon the place where i shriek about books i love and books i hate and cookies and movies and anya taylor-joy and all the other things that make life worth living.
but mostly books.
also, this is just one of the many places on the internet where i shriek about things i enjoy – you can find the other examples below.
here is the extent of information about me available on the internet: i’m 24, i read a lot, i work in social media, and i have a sweet tooth adults always assumed i’d outgrow, but their confidence fades with every passing year.
watercolor flower designs throughout the site from Gold and Berry.
THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS:
- books: everything on this site is currently outdated, so outsource to goodreads for my 23 all time favorite reads
- authors: sally rooney, lemony snicket, emily henry, shirley jackson, carmen maria machado, jane austen, sarah hogle, and lucia berlin.
- media: i like to be pretentious and say i don’t watch much tv, but i do adore fleabag, and my favorite movies are ferris bueller’s day off, safety not guaranteed, about time, spotlight, the social network, amelie, and wes anderson everything
- contrary to my online presence, i love and enjoy a lot of things i don’t talk about here, like podcasts and french and long articles and food, that i am pleased to have a conversation about whenever!
FIND ME ELSEWHERE:
emma reads 
Hey Emma! Cute blog you got there. And I love Marissa Meyer too. The Lunar Chronicles is my favourite series right after HP. Heartless was fantastic as well 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
thank ya! i actually wasn’t a fan of heartless, but i did loooove the lunar chronicles. my second-favorite series too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Emma! Nice to see you have a post naming all the books you still havent read (Thats me, too) you ALSO love Alice in Wonderland (That’s my guilty pleasure) and I hate all cringey novels too!
I’ve been thinking to open a review blog since a very long time but everytime i get discouraged to do it. Can you please help me out here??!
LikeLiked by 2 people
thanks girl!! unfortunately those aren’t even close to all the books i haven’t read.
& you should totally do it! it’s been so much fun for me having this blog. it’s also the most low-pressure way to write reviews: you can post whenever, for any book – and no problem if you read a book and don’t feel like reviewing it! plus the community on wordpress is so super supportive.
let me know if you make one and i’ll give ya a follow!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I actually did. Last night at 3 am. Yes, because i’m that spontaneous. But I haven’t like posted anything and also I need a bit of help with all those menus and columns bit and ugh im so confused
LikeLiked by 1 person
right now your blog is private but i’ll follow when it isn’t! honestly all ya gotta do is pick a pretty theme and then fiddle around with it until you figure out what some of the buttons do. and then avoid the other buttons out of fear for eternity
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha hi Emma! I took your advice and spent days fiddling around with the buttons. So my blog is now public. Take a look! And feel free to give suggestions
LikeLiked by 2 people
ahh i love it! just followed!! great work
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Emma! Just wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the Blogger Recognition Award!
https://victoriasreads.wordpress.com/2018/01/15/blogger-recognition-award/
LikeLiked by 2 people
ah thanks so much!!! i just did it today, coincidentally, but i really appreciate it ❤ checking out your post right now!
LikeLiked by 1 person
ay ay, when im bummed out or sad or whatever, i read your reviews and always end up laughing a little too loud, and im sure my cat thinks i’m losing my mind. hella grateful for your blog. ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
WOW THANK YOU that warms my heart so much ❤ ❤ ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
Where on Earth did you get your wonderful floral graphics?
LikeLiked by 2 people
it’s linked in my about page!! but if you google “free watercolor flowers” etc etc you’ll get some lovely results
LikeLiked by 1 person
omg I actually laughed out loud at “books and unemployment”– I want to study English when I go to college too so I’ll be able to relate xD
LikeLiked by 2 people
three cheers for majoring in english and never finding a job!!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ahhh I love your blog already, and I’ve only read two pages & one blog post? Also, seeing you list Jane Austen as a favorite author makes me so happy! (I’ve never met anyone on GR who has a 2.xx average rating as well, wow. 💓)
Can’t wait to see more of your posts on my feed!! xx
LikeLiked by 2 people
omg thank you!!! so glad to encounter a fellow austen appreciator??? & yeah the 2.something average is Understandably rare
LikeLiked by 2 people
Same, I hardly ever see classics appreciated, and when I do, it’s Bukowski or some other male author. :’)
(Do you also get roasted for it all the time, omg.)
LikeLiked by 2 people
roasted for the austen appreciation or roasted for the 2.something average? b/c the answer is yes, for both
LikeLiked by 2 people
The 2.something average, but wow, why do people get roasted for having good taste.
LikeLiked by 2 people
right?? it’s called being critical
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hey its Erin! I just came across your blog and can’t seem to leave! Love all your posts, and just followed. I also always seem to end up with the unpopular opinion on books I read :(( so you aren’t alone!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
ahhh that is sooo kind thank you so much??? honestly having unpopular opinions can be p fun. makes you interesting + edgy
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, The Good Place is the best show ever!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Emma! I discovered your blog after reading one of your reviews on Goodreads. I read your review on Radio Silence and found it hilariously honest and refreshing since I also didn’t enjoy the book and for a while couldn’t put my finger on it even though it’s surrounded by praise.
I also love podcasts and I’m curious about your favorites. I like to listen to Juno Steel on the penumbra podcast, The Magnus Archives, and The Bright Sessions.
LikeLiked by 2 people
hello bailey!!! thank you very much!
i listen to mostly (okay, entirely) comedy podcasts, largely of the improvised variety. not sure if that’s your bag but if it is i’d love to chat about them!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t really listen to comedy podcast in my free time but my roommate in college would like to play out loud “My Brother, My Brother and Me”, and now we quote the McElroys all the time.
I’m interested in comedy podcast though. Have any you would recommend?
LikeLiked by 2 people
i like improv comedy so i listen to Comedy Bang! Bang! a lot, and Big Grande’s Teacher’s Lounge, How Did This Get Made?, The Neighborhood Listen, Pot Psychology, and a few others!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Emma !
I just found your blog and am loving it ! I read some of your old posts and you write really well and also it is great that all the books are sorted by rating , genre , author and alphabetically it really helps …..I love that you put so much effort into your posts and your blog is really pretty
Can’t wait to know you better and see more of your posts in my reader
LikeLiked by 2 people
thank you so much, this is so nice!!! also a good reminder that i have not updated my organization pages in a hot second…oops
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Emma,
I’m from Belgium, and i follow your different blogs for a wile. Nice to see that young people are still interested in literature. I myself work in a library..
My favorite author is Herman Hesse. My favorite book of his is THE STEPPENWOOLF en THE GLASS BEAD GAME ( not sure of the english title).
Other novels : OBSESSION by A.S. BYATT, THE DISCOVERY OF HEAVEN by HARRY MULISCH, THE SATANIC VERSES by SALMAN RUSHDIE, novels by JOHN FOWLES, IRIS MURDOCH,, STORIES by ARTHUR MACHEN and THE MISTS OF AVALON. The latter being a female retelling about King Arthur, a book that 40 years ago changed my reading life when i got for y 19th birthday.
POETS : RILKE, YEATS, BRODSKY, AUDEN, ELIOT, PESSOA.
Authors i Find overpraised : MARQUEZ and MURAKAMI. YOKO OGAWA’s novels I find way better tha Murakami. The bulk of her work is translated in french in two thick volumes, worth checking out.
Greetings from to you all, and Emma, keep them coming, your posts! What can we do in these sad times of Corona, but reading good literature!
Frank
LikeLiked by 1 person
frank, thank you for this comment, which has sparked joy in these terrible sad times of corona!!! i love that you included some unpopular opinions here too, and you’ve recommitted me to reading more herman hesse. i hope you are as well as can be expected!!!
LikeLike
Hi Emma. So far, i’ve been spared bij corona-infection.
I’ve just started one of your recommendations : Cicus Nights bij Angela Carter. I really like it. Wil read more of hers.
On my to read list i’ve “Gloriana” by Michael Moorcock, ” The mermaid and the courtisan” by Imogen Hermes Gowan and “The hearing Trumpet” by Leonara Carrington. I also want to read as much as possible from Guy Gavriel Kay, whom you must know being a canadian.
Have you read any of these?
Have a nice weekend,
Frank
LikeLike
Hi Emma,
Sorry, i translated the Flemish title of Gowar’s novel into English : English title is “the mermaid and mrs. Hancock.” In Flanders the critics compare her writing style as that of a modern Jane Austen. It plays in the 18 th century London blending reality with some fantasy .
Frank
LikeLike
Hi Emma,
I’ m sorry , but ik made another mistake Byatt’s novel in English is POSESSION
I’m currently reading her novel THE CHILDREN’S BOOK.,
What book of Hesse will you read?
I can also recommend two Icelandic novelists : Halldor Laxness and Jon Kalman Stefansson..
The books of Stefansson play often in very snowy desolate places.
Frank
LikeLike
Hello Emma! How are you?
Btw I follow you on Goodreads too. I want to tell you that you’re one of the only reviewers, whom I follow, who is just as harsh as me. I hate giving one star ratings to books, yet that’s what I do. My average rating is 2.37. How outrageous! For a while I was thinking about maybe being more generous towards my ratings but then I saw your reviews. I’m here to tell you that you inspire me to be stingy with my ratings. ( This is a firm compliment. )
I hope this finds you in good health.
Regards
Ana
LikeLiked by 1 person
2.37! ana, you’re a star. i am pro critical reviews always – keep giving the ratings from your heart!!!
LikeLike
Hello Emma! How has life been treating you today? I’ve been following your blog and Goodreads reviews for a few months(?) now and absolutely LOVE your writing style! (Also, love how honest you are with your reviews!) Do you have any advice on how to nail that quirky tone of voice?
LikeLiked by 1 person
thank you so much!!! this is so nice of you to say. honestly i just try to write how i talk (but maybe a little funnier). casual has been key for me, and not trying too hard!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Emma! Personally, I enjoy rather long-winded, scathing reviews that make me spit out my drink with laughter. Thank you for providing me with these tidbits of pessimistic joy. Seriously love your writing, and your posts just make me laugh a bit too loudly and concern the cat/dog sitting on my lap.
LikeLike
hi! how in god do you read so fast? or so much? just seems like you cover a lot of ground (aka read a lot of books) and i’m curious about the mechanics of it all 🙂
LikeLike
So just wondering, why you didn’t mention Virginia Woolf in your favorite authors list. While she started her career as a critic and book reviewer, and writes beautiful prose, so forgive me for seeing some resemblance.
LikeLike