One night in June of 2021, I just decided to post a picture of the cover of Goblin by Josh Malerman, and I never looked back. I have been posting to Bookstagram ever since, and I love it just as much as I did on day one. With this new creative outlet, 2021 became a busy year of reading and learning new things.
Why I Started
I have always loved reading horror novels. The feelings of anticipation, reading in the dark, and trying not to scan to the bottom of the page to see what happens next are all exciting elements to me. I knew I wanted to start a blog once I read one of the best horror books I still have ever read, The Forgotten Island by David Sodergren. I just had no idea how to start. It turns out the best thing I could have done was stop thinking about it and just do it.
The Biggest Surprises Starting My Account
Friendship
I did not expect to meet the number of friends that I did. I went into Bookish Instagram knowing that I wanted to talk about great books with people, but I did not expect to form such strong friendships (check out quinnbooks on Instagram she is amazing!) Bookstagram became a large part of my life very quickly, and I feel lucky to have found it. I have met so many wonderful, creative, and talented people who are now a part of my everyday world. I get to buddy read books with such fun people.
Creativity
A lot of effort goes into making Instagram posts. I now fully appreciate the work it takes to post frequently and create beautiful, unique images. I spend a lot of time brainstorming ideas, scouring stores and my attic for flat lay props, finding the proper lighting for the right picture, and of course, reading. These have been fun skills to learn, and I love seeing everyone's ideas. The process of taking all of these pictures energizes me.
My Favorite Books of the Year
I read many mind-blowing books in 2021, but The Forgotten Island by David Sodergren and Reception by Kenzie Jennings were my favorites.
I discovered I enjoy reading graphic novels and manga, so I have had a lot of fun finding new titles within the horror genre. Graveneye came out on top, and an honorable mention is The Promised Neverland series by Kaiu Shirai.
An anthology that surprised me was Worst Laid Plans. These stories are all about vacations gone wrong, and let's just say I won't be traveling the desert anytime soon...
My favorite audiobook I listened to this year was FantasticLand. This book was meant to be listened to. The narrators make it seem like an entire cast of characters, and it was a bloody and enjoyable experience. I highly recommend listening to this book as an audiobook.
My favorite slasher of the year was Paradise Club. It was an island read with a bloody game and explosive ending that I didn't see coming! Highly recommend reading this book during the summer months poolside.
My favorite book from an author I had read before was Salem's Lot by Stephen King. This great vampire novel makes you care about the characters and scared to turn every page, especially toward the end!
What Excites Me About 2022?
I have big reading plans for 2022! There are some very exciting anticipated releases on my TBR (I will be talking about those soon) and some books that have sat unread on my shelves for way too long. I plan to do lots of fun recommendation posts, share beautiful book covers, and hopefully gush about new favorite books.
With the holidays behind us, the countdown to Halloween is officially on! I can't wait to start putting my decorations up again, and I can't wait to show you what I have planned for the scariest month of the year!
I look forward to reading with you all, and I hope you stick around to share in all of the spooky fun!
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