paper-blots

[paper-blots]

[paper-blots]

“I hate it. I hate how, how we’re always the ones who have to keep our mouths shut and take it and keep doing our job, because we’re crowd.” —the merciful crow 🔥 so... I have no posted in a while, and that’s 100% because taking photos is too hard and I only took a couple of photos the other day and they took like two hours and I’m just Not Here For It lmao. Anyways, please enjoy this picture!! what are some of your favorite magical systems? because the magical system of this book was one of my actual favorites of all time: basically, there are different castes (named after birds) and all of them have different birthrights, meaning that a witch from each caste can perform that birthright (ex. fire). And crows, the lowest caste, have no birthright... but Crow witches are able to take the teeth from any other caste and use them to perform the birthright of the human who had the teeth!! Thank you so much to Henry Holt / Macmillan for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for a review & an Instagram picture via @theffbc #themercifulcrow #rainbowbooks #bookstagram #booksofig #bookstagramofig #bookaesthetic #bookpictures #bookstagrammers #flatlay #flatlaynation #bookaddict #bookphotography #readersofig #readersofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/B0yqGxkA7SQ/?igshid=97xhgem0pdad

[paper-blots]

“The room got a bit darker, became a space that belonged only to them, only to this moment that was somehow frantic and still all at once.” —Aminah Mae Safi, Tell Me How You Really Feel ☀️ What are some books that y’all have found disappointing?? For me, THIS ONE. { review } This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2019, especially because of that cover (it’s so gorgeous!!!!) but sadly... I did not love it as much as I expected to. It had so many cool factors, like: 🌸 how naturally the characters’ sexuality was presented 🌸 the fact that it has the ENEMIES TO LOVERS TROPE in a SAPPHIC SETTING 🌸 the filming of The Odyssey!! (although I got a little bored sometimes but WHATEVER) However, I felt like so many things could have been done better?? 🌸 Rachel, one of the characters, seemed unnecessarily rude and it was just... frustrating to see that 🌸 the writing was kind of awkward at times?? I was struggling to stay within the story a lot... All in all, I would rate this book three stars because I still know it’s going to be so important for readers to see and read!! (Also, I’m posting my blog review like twenty minutes after this soooo yeah.) #bookfeatures #booktography #bookphotography #bookstagrammers #bookstagram #reading #readersofig #booksofig #flatlaybooks #flatlaynation #flatlay #bibliophile #readingaddict #bookish #youngadult #bookrecap #tellmehowyoureallyfeel #aminahmaesafi #bookreview #enemiestolovers #sapphicbooks #diversespines #lgbtqbooks https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz68W0JAluJ/?igshid=1qf0dqgwpaird

[paper-blots]

t h e e p i c c r u s h o f g e n i e l o 🐵 👑 🔥 . What are some of your all-time favorite books? I don’t have much to say about this except for the fact that Genie Lo is literally one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOKS. It’s so, so close to my heart and if I truly followed my heart’s complete desires, I would definitely be rereading this every other week. I am Not Kidding. I love this book so much. Thinking about it makes me want to reread it. . [📖] WHAT IS THIS BOOK ABOUT? Well... imagine a kickass protagonist who is absolutely relatable and sarcastically hilarious. And then imagine her having POWERS. Also, I’m in love with the love interest, Quentin. Like.................... very much. This also has Chinese mythology, an all-Chinese cast, and puts a spin on the Monkey King tale (which I GREW UP WITH as a Chinese child) and it’s just so so good. I miss Genie already. The sequel is actually coming out this fall or next spring AND arcs are available to request on NG/EW. Soooo. You should get on this series. . [🍲] Anyways, life update~ I JUST MADE HOMEMADE FRIES. 🍟 They weren’t as addicting or tasty as like, Burger King fries, but I guess that’s the sacrifice you have to make when you don’t put a ton of msg in your foods? (seriously how do they make their fries so delish someone please tell me. is it actually msg?) I made them in an air fryer with olive oil + salt and pepper, and I guess they taste better when you deep fry them, but... I literally hate deep frying so much because it evokes a visceral terror within me! . #diversespines #flatlay #flatlaynation #redbooks #rainbowbooks #epiccrush #genielo #asianya #asianbooks #sunwukong #monkeyking #youngadultnovels #bookaddict #booktography #bookphotography #readersofig #booksofig #readingaddict #bibliophile https://www.instagram.com/p/ByybSZdgz4x/?igshid=1jwzscecd91i0

[paper-blots]

w a r c r o s s & w i l d c a r d 🎮 🌈 . In case you didn’t know, I have a small affection for Emika and Hideo and Marie Lu and the entire gang. I love them all so much and I love this series so much!! I know some people were disappointed by the sequel, but it’s still one of my favorite books ever. If you haven’t read Warcross, tbh wot are you doing because 1) Hideo and 2) gaming!!! and 3) like... seriously... do it for Hideo. (there’s also ownvoices Chinese representation, the love interest is Japanese, and the entire gang of friends is made up of several different marginalizations which is amazing.) . [🍉] Also, my irl friend went to BookCon (I was planning to go this year but I didn’t! I’m totally going next year w/ a bunch of irls thoughhh) and she got me this bag of things that she had extra of and there’s a graphic novel in there called Cheshire Crossing by Andy Weir & Sarah Andersen and I’m so excited! to! read! it! It’s my first Big American YA Graphic Novel and the art looks so so cute. . #bookfeatures #booktography #bookphotography #bookstagrammers #bookstagram #reading #readersofig #booksofig #flatlaybooks #flatlaynation #flatlay #bibliophile #readingaddict #bookish #youngadult #bookrecap https://www.instagram.com/p/ByYjxRagNz0/?igshid=1ghzwwj2381lu

[paper-blots]

Friends, I wrote a long-as-heck caption for this photo already but my phone died so I guess Instagram just *had* to delete it. Seriously, I was close to the maximum character limit. 😭 Anyways... what are you all ashamed of? I’m ashamed of the fact that I haven’t freaking read this book yet (and also the fact that my dusty self made this mistake) because this actually published half a month ago and I didn’t read it on time!! Nice👌🏼(I am so sorry Scholastic please don’t hate me) I was supposed to buddy read it with @foreverandeverly_ but that didn’t work out because... I didn’t read it. I used to be on the reading grind for the first months and then I fell into a reading slump???? By the way, I accidentally took two pictures of this sooo I will be posting another one w/ my thoughts after I read it!! . Exams are in three weeks and I want to SOB multiple times. I’m terrified because I haven’t started reviewing yet and I feel like I’ve blanked on the majority of my classes. Did the past year even happen?? Apparently, the answer is yes and I’m not a freaking fan. I have four exams I’m going to be taking and I don’t think I’ve retained a large majority of it. PLEase pray for me ok guys. . Also, I want to clarify that this rainbow stack isn’t meant for Pride Month at all— especially because not all of the books within are lgbtq+. I stg when I have enough gay books to make a rainbow, I will do it and I will use That rainbow for all of my photos instead. But for now, I’ll have to unfortunately use this rainbow because I’m so broke. I actually took all of my photos w/ this shelf in early May but never posted any of them,, I think I’m going to have a majority of my photos w/ a rainbow stack now as my theme? I don’t even know what I’m doing with bookstagram anymore. . #books #bookstagram #prettybooks #prettybookpics #bookstagrampic #aestheticbooks #blogger #cutebooks #authors #bookishfeatures #bookfeature #booksofig #booksbooksbooks #ilovebooks #bookaesthetic #bookobsessed #flatlaynation #flatlay #bookphotography https://www.instagram.com/p/ByTgBafg-Sh/?igshid=1gkhn16qiumu8

[paper-blots]

overdue arcs/review copies that i really need to catch up on

MAMMOTH // This has fat representation, which we need more of in YA, and it also has small graphic pictures?? I don't know how I feel about the art but this seems like it has a middle-grade feeling, honestly. I'm going into it with high hopes! -- released nov. 6, 2018 THE GIRL AND THE GROVE // I got a copy from the author, Eric Smith, who is Actually Legitimately the best person ever and he is so so cool on Twitter!! Okay, this sounds so so cool and I really need to get my mess together and read it. -- released may 8, 2018 (I got a copy late 2018) REALM OF RUINS // I already read the original book for this and I really, really enjoyed it so I'm still really hyped for this one!! I really would love to return to a Classic Fantasy, and this seems like one! -- released dec. 4, 2018 THE DARKEST STAR // I've read the author's Half-Blood book, which I devoured but didn't *really* like all that much? Anyways, this sounds good and very classic romance-y which I'm super into. -- released oct. 30, 2018 I won't be able to read these in May or June because I'm trying to focus on AAPI reads & Pride reads, respectively in those months, but hopefully I can read all of them in August?

[paper-blots]

APRIL BOOK HAUL 🌼 after two weeks of may... my book haul of april is here. What books did you guys read in may??? What’s your most recent read?? One of my favorite reads from May was Descendant of the Crane or the Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, which I listened to on audiobook. . [📃] I had the highest of hopes for my reading in April, but I’ve only read like two books so far even though I should have read far more 😢 I’m currently listening to Summer Bird Blue, and it is SO GOOD so far. God-level. Absolutely amazing. I love love love Kai so much!! My next read is going to be The Candle and the Flame, which just released two days ago!! Yes, I am late in reading this but I’ve just not been in the mood?? I’ve had a good track record with my most recent physical arcs and I want to keep that up!!! I’m sorry Scholastic!!! . [📷] I used to be really into fashion vlogs but I stopped and now I am into them again!! I keep watching those “trying on everything in my closet” and it’s kind of addicting to look at all of the cute cute clothes that EVERYONE HAS?? I want to go shopping for clothes asap even though when I get to the store I usually end up not buying anything because clothes are expensive lmaooo. . #bookstagrammer #booktography #booksbooksbooks #bookhaul #bookhauls #aprilbookhaul #bookaesthetic #reading📖 #flatlay #flatlaynation #diversespines #natalietan #readersofinstagram #bibliophile https://www.instagram.com/p/BxiaLOpAR-3/?igshid=1pjmcdn3k2b0e

[paper-blots]

summer reads🍦(if you consider fluffy contemporaries to be summer-y) These are all contemporaries that are cute asf— I loved basically all of these, & I’m reading Tell Me How You Really Feel right now! I’ll update you guys on all of my thoughts once I finish it. . [🌺] apparently I am very, very sick: I have a 101 degrees fever soooo I had to leave class early today. Once I got home, I basically just ate two ice cream sandwiches and watched Friends while having a huge headache. It wasn’t fun, but I’m glad I got to rewatch Friends :’) But I took some Advil today and I’m feeling a lot better!! I probably should have taken the Advil earlier but I was too tired 😅 I could’ve used my time to do some productive things, like taking bookstagram pictures. . [🎬] A theme I just noticed in all of these books is that all of them deal with film or theater!! 🎭 Night of Cake and Puppets has a setting of a theater/play, My So-Called Bollywood Life has a film buff, Happy Messy Scary Love has a main character of a scriptwriter, and Tell Me How You Really Feel has a film director. (I’m a genius and I didn’t even notice.) . [🥮] I don’t know if any of you guys follow along with my blog/reading, but I’m currently participating in the Year of the Asian reading challenge and I was planning to read 10 Asian/Pasifika books (15 if I CAN🤞🏼) this month!! So far, I’ve only read 3 books & one of them is Asian. Sooooo I am not on track lol. Let’s hope I can catch up today!! . #reading📖 #bookobsessed #reading #bookstagrammer #summerreads #summerbooks #yacontemporary #yabooks #diversespines #bookpile #bibliophile #bookaddict #read #bookaesthetic #readersofinstagram #booktography https://www.instagram.com/p/BxQn_zpHVEM/?igshid=1ha9qo7qw9g0g

[paper-blots]

this is a more minimalist picture & it might mess up my feed but you know what???? whatever. I’m so excited to read this book and it sounds so amazing and so many people have absolutely loved this!! the cover is also so so gorgeous and I cannot get over it. 🔥 . Idk if I can get to this book this month but I’m definitely going to be reading this in June 💕 Anyways, I’ve been trying (emphasis of trying) to post a lot more often & I’m worried that I’m going to ruin my theme. oh well. I’ve also considered changing my theme completely (like the million times I’ve changed it) but I’m a coward, guys. I feel like I could have done the room-wall theme if my bedsheets were all-white and if my wall didn’t have DUCT TAPE on it because it’s falling down!! . #bookstagram #diversespines #wesetthedarkonfire #diverseya #diversebooks #latinxya #ownvoices #youngadult #yabooks #hardcover #bookaddict #reading #reading📖 #bookish #bookstagrammer #bookobsessed https://www.instagram.com/p/BxNvvPbH2Ub/?igshid=k5uos7qcb46k

[paper-blots]

What are some books that have made you feel hungry?? 🥟🍜 Reading The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali made me so so so hungry!! I haven’t read Natalie Tan yet but I feel like I’m going to thirst for all of the foods while reading it because it’s set in a restaurant in Chinatown (hell yeah) Thank you so much to my FAVORITE, Melanie @meltotheany for sending me this book! This is one of my most anticipated releases of 2019 😭 😭 . I’m currently procrastinating all of the assignments for school even though it is a Sunday & I have a project due tomorrow. Did you know that I absolutely freaking hate hand-made projects that involve construction paper in any way? I know apparently you can use them to be creative and stuff but I’d totally rather just write an essay or something. Please. . #natalietan #dumplings #natalietansbookofluckandfortune #ownvoices #chinesebooks #asianya #asianbooks #readingbooks #diversespines #diversebooks #bookworms #bookaddict #prettybooks #bookstagrammer #bookstagramfeature #penguin #berkleypub https://www.instagram.com/p/BxGBjWbHCow/?igshid=1xfoc5phludgf

[paper-blots]

this is one of the books that I’ll hopefully be reading this month for Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month!! 💞 thank you so much to @jackiewbu for gifting this for Christmas ilysm 😭😭 . right now I’m watching all of the Instagram stories and seeing everyone at YallWest (or is the one right now Yallfest?? lol) and I am feeling the actual FOMO. 😩 I wish I could just travel across the nation to go to every single book festival ever, but alas I cannot. # rude . this is an anthology of Asian stories mainly centering around mythology/folklore and this is also the group book for #asianreadathon hosted by @/readwithcindy!! There are so many authors in it that I absolutely LOVE, like Renée Ahdieh aaaah. Also, look at that cover?? It’s by the same cover designer for Descendant of the Crane! What are some of your favorite covers? . #athousandbeginningsandendings #ellenoh #elsiechapman #diversebooks #diversespines #asianbooks #asianya #asianlit #anthology #thecandleandtheflame #flatlay #flatlaynation #flatlaybookstagram #bookaddicts #bookworms #bookstagrammer #reading📖 #booksandflowers #bookfeaturepage https://www.instagram.com/p/BxDzfgFnOXE/?igshid=x22iy1aicm63

[paper-blots]

What’s the longest book you own or have read?? 🐉 I haven’t read Priory yet, but it’s definitely the largest book I own. I think its size is like, one of The Known Facts now. BUT IT’S SO LARGE. . I’m currently headed to lacrosse practice and I was like “why not post????” soooo I did, and I think I’m going to try to post daily even though I’m literally so insecure about Instagram y’all?? I feel like my account never grows even though it’s so much effort to take photossss. Also, I think every separate time I take photos, my theme changes a lot and it’s so weird. . I can’t believe summer is almost here??? It was literally AUTUMN yesterday. Even though I love summer vacation and the break, I’m terrified because I know all I’m going to do is sleep all day and be super lethargic, which I DO NOT LIKE. I’m also so scared of the years to come omg. Responsibility?? What is that. Anyways, hopefully I’ll be posting tomorrow, but I can’t post my march haul (& tbr) until the weekend. . #books #bookstagram #prettybooks #prettybookpics #bookstagrampic #aestheticbooks #blogger #cutebooks #authors #bookishfeatures #bookfeature #prioryoftheorangetree #orangebooks #hardcovers #bookaddict #bookworm #samanthashannon #bloomsbury https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw7nBvYnG1c/?igshid=cvc35u32uirn

[paper-blots]

Happy Messy Scary Love is one of the actual cutest contemporaries I’ve read, ever! 🥰 It’s definitely a summer-feely read that I would recommend for anyone who likes anonymous romance + especially horror movies! (Thank you so much to Amulet books for sending me this for a review!!) . 🎥 This had such a cool movie aspect to it, the main characters actually meet on Reddit because of their shared appreciation for horror movies— and I know some people were upset with Alex, Approximately for seeming like it was a little shallow with the movie knowledge but I feel like this one truly demonstrates the horror movie geekery. I’m not a horror movie fanatic but I still loved reading the discussions about them. Also, the entire novel is actually so so short but I still felt the chemistry between the two main characters?? It was so cute and sweet and I absolutely blew through this novel. My review will be posted on my blog within a week 💞💗 . What are some other romantic contemporaries that you would recommend? One of my all-time favorites is TATBILB and I don’t think anything can ever top that, honestly. 😔 constantly searching for something as good as Lara Jean and her sisters . #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #bookaddict #bookish #happymessyscarylove #leahkonen #abramsbooks #amuletbooks #advancereaderscopy #bookreader #bookworms #contemporaryromance #summerreads #contemporaryromancereads #yacontemporaryromance https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw20mBBA7qL/?igshid=8v6itqhjsbpw

[paper-blots]

this was my february book haul & yeah this photo is SUPER late, but I already took this picture and there is no wasting in THIS house. also, I mainly just want to show some of the amazing books I was able to get aaaah!! (And I totally want to acknowledge the privilege that I have from being someone based in the United States, I’m so grateful to be able to even get all of these 💜) . the books shown, from left to right, are: Priory of the Orange Tree (I received this from a giveaway, tysm to @athomeintheclouds); We Set the Dark on Fire (I received this also from a giveaway, tysm to @lylawritesbooks ); Descendant of the Crane (aaaah!! from the publisher); To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before movie-tie-in-edition (purchased from The Strand); and the Project Nemesis trilogy (thank you to Penguin!!) . TATBILB was already one of my favorites & always will be!! I’ve also read the Nemesis trilogy and I really enjoyed it & totally recommend to people who like science fiction-mystery-esque novels!! And I read Descendant of the Crane and guys... it’s already one of my favorites of 2019. God, I love it so much. The two unread books are We Set the Dark on Fire & Priory of the Orange Tree, both of which I’m SO excited to start and also SCARED. . #bookstagram #bookhaul #februarybookhaul #februarybookhaul2019 #prioryoftheorangetree #wesetthedarkonfire #descendantofthecrane #toalltheboysivelovedbefore #nemesis #bookaddicts #bookworm https://www.instagram.com/p/BwsEZ04nGeu/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=pr6ur0otuvpj

[paper-blots]

Vertebrates planning their invasion of land (358 million years ago, colorized)

[paper-blots]

🌸 hi, welcome to example 1 of How The Heck Haven’t I Read This Book Yet because wow, I have owned this for a while but I haven’t gotten to it yet... even though it was probably one of my MOST ANTICIPATED releases of 2018. 😛 I’m just too scared to be emotionally scarred, okay. . Anyways, I know specifically @whisperofink really, REALLY loved this one and also maybe @booknerdjackie read & loved this one too?? I don’t remember perfectly. . Right now I’m watching Snow White, WHICH i haven’t watched in so long, and let’s be real the Evil Queen was a WILD GAL who honestly was thriving!! 👏🏼👏🏼 The forest scene used to scare me SOOOO MUCH and now I can watch it and laugh at the spooky faces. 10/10 maturity.👌🏼 . representation in the Astonishing Color of After: both Taiwanese & Chinese main character!! I believe a lot of the cast is Taiwanese, because the setting is of Taiwan! . #asianyoungadult #asianya #asianlit #asianmedia #prettycover #theastonishingcolorofafter #redcover #littlebrown #yabooks #booksofinstagram #bookblogger #bibliophile #reader #bookstagram #youngadultbooks #yabooks #yalit #booklover #ireadya #alwaysreading #bookworm #igbooks #diversespines https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt13JEgHAdq/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ghy62czqlj4k