Blogging Break

Hi all and happy Sunday!

As you may have noticed, the blog has been a bit more quiet than usual lately.

Every once in a while, I feel a lack of inspiration when it comes to finding content for posts. It's kind of like writer's block -- although, I guess blogger's block would be more appropriate -- and when it happens, I try to just go with the flow. No sense in forcing ideas to come forth, you know? 

One of the things I've been working on lately is taking pressure off of myself. Progress over perfection has been my mantra this year so far and it's been working well for me in terms of mitigating my perfectionist tendencies and making for a more peaceful day-to-day experience. Stress can be so harmful to our health, so in an effort to be intentional about the amount of stress that I invite into my daily life, I am making careful choices about my priorities. Right now, I'm choosing to focus my energy on quality time with family and friends and finishing out the semester (and the first half of my year in fourth grade) on a high note. Reading is always my escape at the end of the day, and I never want for it to become associated with an anxiety about blog content. 

So, I'm choosing to take the next couple weeks off. I'm taking that time to consider how I want to shape blog content in the future and how best to make blogging an easier part of my routine when (fingers crossed) my own classroom becomes my priority. That may mean picking up right where I left off, or reconfiguring so that blog posts are more meaningful but less frequent. 

One thing I've learned this year is that life has its busy seasons, and that this is one of them. I'm so grateful for my readers and for the people in my real life who listen to my constant rants and raves about the books I've read or am wanting to read, and I can't wait for all of those conversations to continue in the future.

In the meantime, you can keep up with me via Instagram, where I'll still be posting occasionally, and of course, I'm always available to chat via e-mail at topshelftext@gmail.com.

Happy Reading!

-Madeleine-

Currently Coveting {November}

Can you believe that November is here? Two great things about this month: my birthday and Thanksgiving, two of my favorite days of the year! This month is already slated to be super busy (both personally and school-wise) and I am ready to head into the holiday season at full speed. On the goal list this week? Get my holiday shopping list together, for goodness sakes!

I'm currently reading book two in the Game of Thrones series, and while I love being immersed in the creation of George R.R. Martin, reading one of his books is quite a feat and takes more time than most. So, I'm curating a stack of reads to consider once I'm done, starting with the ones below:

The Brontë Plot by Katherine Reay // A story that combines classic literature, fellow bibliophiles, rare book collecting, and a protagonist who must come to terms with a new direction in life. I'm already on the holds list at the library for this one in anticipation of its release this week!

The Clasp by Sloane Crosley // Crosley's collection of short essays is one of my all-time favorite comedic books, so I'm an automatic audience for her first novel. It's a contemporary premise -- not usually my wheelhouse -- but I can't wait to see how her fiction comes to life and this promises to be full of adventure.

Gold Fame Citrus by Claire Vaye Watkins // A dystopian novel set in the near future featuring a budding romance and a strange cult that's blossomed from the devastating drought in southern California. These types of stories can be hit or miss with me, but I'm looking forward to giving this one a try.

Jackaby by William Ritter // A more typical pick from me, this combines a Sherlock-type protagonist (my favorite kind) with mystery, suspense, and supernatural beings. 

Black Ships by Jo Graham // I love reading historical fiction that takes place in the time of ancient Greece, and this book promises that and brings it into the fantasy realm. It appeals to my love of the spooky and mysterious nature of the famed oracle.

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What are you looking forward to reading this month?

Happy Reading!

-Madeleine-