Maybe this is an unpopular sentiment, but I really enjoy writing wrap-up posts. In fact, they're my favorite! I'm a very sentimental person, and I find satisfaction in documenting aspects of my life. Even if very few people read them. With that said, I'm personally bummed that my last monthly synopsis was way back in September. (Is it in a coincidence that I temporarily stopped writing wrap-up posts after I secured a full-time job? Probably not.) So much has changed since then. But I'll save those stories for a different post (aka the world's most delayed wrap-up post). For now, let's take ... Read the Post...
2020 Wrapped: Best Books, Media, & Other Obsessions
I hope you aren't sick and tired of revisiting 2020 just yet. Because life very rudely got in the way of publishing my many, many wrap-up posts in January. 😭 And so, my goal is to finally dump them all throughout this month. Please bear with me. 💛 But rant aside, my quarantined lifestyle led to a higher consumption of books and media content. And I even picked up some new obsessions along the way! The need for escapism was intense and real. With that said, I've whipped up this huge monster of a post, highlighting the best of the best. (In my very humble opinion, at least.) I hope you ... Read the Post...
Books on the Rice: February 2021 releases from Asian authors
Happy February, friends! In time for the new month, let's take a look at all the February book releases written by Asian authors. With more and more Asian authors being given a chance to tell their stories to the world, I guess we can say that they're on the rice. 📈 This post is part of my newly introduced series unironically entitled 'Books on the Rice'. It's a recurring series dedicated to spotlighting Asian-authored books that are nearing their release date. Check out last month's post for January 2021 releases. I'm particularly excited for this month's collection of Asian-authored ... Read the Post...
14 Most Anticipated Sequels for 2021
Which 2021 sequels am I highly anticipating? Before 2020 ended, I heavily gushed about the 21 upcoming releases that I was most excited about. However, this list focused on debut novels and first installments. Hence, it's high time for me to lovingly talk about the sequels that live in my brain rent-free. Looking forward to sequels is a different kind of excitement, in my opinion. Unlike debut novels and new series, I'm already invested in the characters, the plot, and whatnot. Moreover, I already have firsthand knowledge of what the book is about, and this heavily influences my ... Read the Post...
Hello there, I’m Shealea – Getting to Know Me + Q&A
New year, but same old me. Terrible jokes aside, my following across all platforms had grown exponentially in 2020. With so many new readers and subscribers, it seemed like the most opportune time for a reintroduction. As well as a fun Q&A session. (Huge thanks to my Twitter friends for submitting questions! I'm sorry that it took me this long to answer them, but I hope I do them justice. 🥰) My blog is such a personal space, and while I write a lot of bookish and media content, I'd also like everyone to get to know me. Maybe it's naive of me. But I'd like to believe that Internet folks ... Read the Post...
Read More Books – Free, Legal Alternatives to Pirated Books
Can you read books for free and legally? Reading is a privileged hobby, but it really shouldn't be. In fact, reading should be accessible to everyone! The barriers that prevent people, particularly those in the Global South, from accessing literature are clear manifestations of the rampant anti-intellectualism and classism that continue to prevail today. And these barriers need to be dismantled. How? I'll admit that I don't have all the answers. But one thing's for sure: telling poor and disadvantaged readers to go to poorly maintained, or outright nonexistent, libraries isn't it. ... Read the Post...
Books on the Rice: January 2021 releases from Asian authors
With more and more Asian authors publishing their stories, I guess we can say that these books are... on the rice. Wink wink, nudge nudge. 😏 But terrible puns aside, I've always had a soft spot for Asian authors and their work. Partly because it had been an Asian-inspired fantasy book -- The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco (if that's still not clear to everyone) -- that motivated me to diversify my reading. And partly because I'm a Filipino reader and seeing Asian characters on-page or on-screen never fails to feel like a tremendous gift. Either way, the fundamental laws of supply and demand ... Read the Post...
2020 Must-Have Reader Spreadsheet Template
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a reader in possession of a seemingly endless to-be-read pile, must be in want of a simple, color-coded spreadsheet. But really, all poorly made references to Jane Austen aside, keeping track of your reading can feel like an unnecessary chore. Especially when there are sites like Goodreads that can organize your books into custom shelves. As a reader, book reviewer, and creator of bookish content, having a more sophisticated system for tracking and organizing my books is a must. For example, I need to separate my unread ARCs from the unread books ... Read the Post...
