Chapter #13: Just a List of Things I Do Instead Of Reading Sometimes

Because even bookworms need a break.

Feb 22, 2023

Feeling My Shelf is a bi-weekly newsletter about books, life, and well, life with books. Grab your favorite caffeinated beverage and get comfy. First up, some recent reads.

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

A historical romance set in 1910 and centered around an immensely wealthy Black family. Of the two Davenport sisters, one is ready to be married, the other would rather fix cars than find a husband. We get their POVs along with those of their maid, who catches the eye of the Davenports’ son, and a friend who also has her eye on the Davenports’ son. It gave me Bridgerton, but with Black people, which is probably why I enjoyed it so much (despite not typically liking historical romances.) It does end on a bit of a cliffhanger that I had mixed feelings about, but I’m very excited to read the next book in this series.

The Survivalists by Kashana Cauley

A lawyer, feeling a bit disillusioned with work, moves in with her new coffee-entrepreneur boyfriend and his doomsday-prepping roommates. The story is weird! Every character in this book is weird! I couldn’t put it down, though. The whole experience was like watching a car crash. You kinda know what’s about to happen but can’t look away. There are lots of guns, and of course, a bunker! By the end, things were starting to go off the rails, and leaves the reader with many unanswered questions, but I’d read it again.

Maame by Jessica George

Follows a 25-year-old in London who is the primary caregiver for her father with late-stage Parkinson’s, while her mother and older brother are mostly absent. The first 100 pages were a bit of a struggle for me to get through. But it got better after that! It’s a book about finding your path a bit later than others with themes of grief, mental health, and family.

When I sat down to write this week’s newsletter, I glanced over at a list of topics I brainstormed at the beginning of the year, and none felt quite right.

Probably because it has admittedly been a struggle to read this month. Not because the books in my TBR pile are boring or because I don’t have a lot of options, but because I just haven’t felt like reading. Instead, I’ve been doing some other stuff — some fun stuff, some menial stuff, some stuff that I probably could’ve held off on until after I read a few pages each day. But oh well.

Here’s to embracing a reading slump.

Sleep.
Go for a walk.
Walk to Chipotle where yes, I know that guac is extra.
Scour the internet for more Funko Pops to add to my collection.
Repeatedly step over the laundry I’ve decided not to fold.
Reorganize my bookshelves.
Check my email, and wonder when I signed up for so many company newsletters.
Write in my planner with my ~*fancy*~ felt pens.
Look at my ever-growing list of blank notebooks, and tell myself “you should write in one of those soon.”
Add clothes to my Nuuly closet that I probably won’t actually rent.
Watch Marvel movies and recite the lines out loud to absolutely no one.
Daydream about truffle fries.
Put together another LEGO set.
Add notes to my Notes app about the novel I’ll write someday.
Add books to my Goodreads “want to read” list.
Spy on other people’s “want to read” lists.
Call my mom.
Text my mom, because she didn’t answer my call and girl like, what could you possibly be doing?
Finally, talk to my mom about things we’ve talked about a million times before.
Walk in circles in my apartment, because my Fitbit keeps vibrating and telling me to get moving.
Buy a mug. And another. And another.
Hunt for the perfect pair of jeans.
Shove a handful of Goldfish into my mouth. Like a lady!
Make a matcha latte. With lavender syrup!
Paint the nails on my left hand perfectly.
Scroll on TikTok mostly watching prank videos.
Switch over to watching Reels and instantly regret it.
Go back over to TikTok.
See a TikTok of a couple and decide to open up my dating apps.
*two minutes later* Decide to be single forever.
Attempt to make a bowl in pottery class.
Make plans that I’ll strongly consider cancelling later.
Peruse the bookstore and end up with more books I’ll procrastinate on reading.
Ooo bookmarks! *tosses three into the basket*
Watch old music videos on YouTube.
Do an 8-step skincare routine.
Open the Sephora app and search for more unnecessary products to add to my skincare routine.
Sit in traffic.
Listen to true-crime podcasts while I clean.
Get my hair done.
Go to brunch!
Snap photos of my food that I’ll never post.
Snap photos of my food that I will post.
Snap photos of my food that I’ll send to my mom.
Watch Top Gun: Maverick for the (literal) tenth time.
Think about how Top Gun: Maverick could win at the upcoming Oscars.
Google Scientology, and end up down a rabbit hole of cult content.
Go to Target and sniff all the candles on the candle aisle.
Explore museums.
Play The Sims.
Rethink that decision not to fold laundry when I can’t find any pants.
Go check the mail, then awkwardly share an elevator ride with a neighbor on the way back to my apartment.
Think “hmm, neighbor is kind of cute.”
Think “you can’t date your neighbor!”
Call my friend and tell her about the cute neighbor, and while we agree that it wouldn’t be smart to date him, maybe he has single friends.
Pretend I’m an artist, and draw with oil pastels.
Decide to not quit my day job, because I’m not an artist.
Dance around in my bathroom to Whitney Houston’s greatest hits.
Sing along in the shower to Whitney Houston’s greatest hits.
Bake cinnamon rolls that actually turn out pretty damn good.
Write this newsletter. 🙂

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Chapter #13: Just a List of Things I Do Instead Of Reading Sometimes

Because even bookworms need a break.

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