As the blogger and photographer behind Living Outside the Stacks, I independently select and write about stuff I love and things I think you’ll enjoy too. Living Outside the Stacks has affiliate and advertising partnerships so I get revenue from sharing this content and from your purchase. Thank you for your support.
“Reading is political.” Or, at least, it has always been so for Black people. Enslaved people were forbidden to learn to read because the enslavers knew and understood the power of the written word. As Frederick Douglass said: “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” Reading teaches you empathy, expands your vocabulary, helps you develop your critical thinking and problem-solving skills, improves confidence, exercises the brain, provides escape, and so much more. These are just a fraction of the skills we need to function in this world. This is why some people work so hard to control what others read.
For the next four years, we’re going to need to find spaces of joy and relaxation. I know for sure I’m going to need mental health breaks. I’ve already started taking care of myself by deleting and unfollowing a lot of political podcasts, nixing the 24-hour news shows, and creating an online community that brings me joy. More importantly, however, I’ve mined my social media accounts for books to keep my mind occupied when I have down time.
There’s a mix of genres here, you know, a bit of romance, some history, a couple of biographies, a lot of fiction, and a touch of fantasy. I want to read it all.
For more information about how reading is beneficial to your mental health, visit NAMI {National Alliance on Mental Health}.
Meet the Reader.
I mainly read fiction books that are highly emotional with a dark bend to them. I enjoy reading mysteries that don’t necessarily have tidy endings. By the same token, I like for my romance stories to be a little messy with sweet endings.
Now It’s Your Turn.
What kind of reader are you? Do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks, or physical books? What was your favorite book of 2024? Give me all the details in the comments below.
BOOKISH THINGS
Bookshop.org – Shop for books selected by me, for you!
Goodreads – Click here to see what I’m currently reading and/or listening to.
NetGalley Professional Reader – I receive free ARCs from NetGalley to review on my blog and share on Instagram.
Reese’s Book Club: The Shelf Life – Subscribe to Reese’s Book Club newsletter and find out about all sorts of fun bookish finds, such as comfy pillows, bookmarks, scented candles, and more.
StoryGraph – A reading app that shares all the nerdy details of my bookish life.
THANK YOU
Thank you for stopping by my blog. I hope you enjoyed this post and learned something new. If you like what you read, please consider sharing this post on Facebook or Twitter. You can also share on Pinterest. While I pay for many of the items I share on this blog out of my own pocket, some items are gifted to me {I always disclose those items}.
Affiliate Information
Reading and reviewing books brings me a great deal of happiness. If you’re a reader, I’d love for you to visit my online bookstore, Living Outside the Stacks, to make your purchase. If you purchase from my shop, I’ll receive a small commission, but you’ll also support indie bookstores. If you need help staying organized, but want to keep it pretty, I invite you to give Artful Agenda a try. It’s a digital planner inspired by paper planners. Use my code: RD1028912. To learn more, read my review here.
Come back soon,
LET’S CONNECT
