Category: Discussions

Real Talk: Book Pushing

Posted July 28, 2017 in Discussions / 26 Comments
Real Talk: Book Pushing

Real Talk is an original feature here at Girl in the Pages where I’ll discuss random things that come across my mind in an honest and sometimes spontaneous manner. It may be about books, blogging, life, or anything else! I’ve noticed something. The second I tell someone I am a reader or that I like to read, it’s like it opens an immediate floodgate for them to list all of the books you ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY have to read. Right. This. Instant. I’m not talking about interacting with other people in the community, where book recommendations are a given and everyone […]


When You Just Can’t Commit | Finding the Energy and Time to Devote to Longer Books

Posted July 26, 2017 in Discussions / 29 Comments
When You Just Can’t Commit | Finding the Energy and Time to Devote to Longer Books

I’ve always proudly said that I’ve always preferred paranormal and fantasy books over contemporaries. I loved getting swept away by the magic, the alternate universes, and the sheer creativity of them. My favorite books/series of all time are usually rooted in the fantasy genres (ACOTAR, Harry Potter, etc.) but I’ve noticed a rather disturbing trend- the older, and busier, I get, the more I reach for contemporary novels. I think this has less to do with the genre itself but rather with the fact that those epic fantasy tales are always so. damn. long. I used to breeze through a […]


Let’s Talk About Unhauling Books

Posted July 13, 2017 in Discussions / 24 Comments
Let’s Talk About Unhauling Books

Every time I move it’s brought to my attention just how many books I own. Compared to a lot of other bloggers, it’s probably not that many, but packing and unpacking them always leaves me feeling like they’ve multiplied. Now don’t get me wrong, I LOVE all of my books, and don’t in any way think I own too many. However, many of my books have sat in boxes for years because I don’t have enough shelf space for them. My current shelf situation consists of two large Ikea Hemnes shelves and two smaller bookcases that are more for decorative […]


YA For Different Ages | The Wide Age Spectrum of Young Adult Literature

Posted June 28, 2017 in Discussions / 25 Comments
YA For Different Ages | The Wide Age Spectrum of Young Adult Literature

As a YA reader that started reading the genre when I was nine and am now currently in my mid twenties, I’ve seen the genre evolve and expand in so many ways. I remember constantly rereading my favorite YA series (The Princess Diaries, The A-List, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, etc.) because new books weren’t coming out fast enough to keep up with my reading habits. Now my problem has become quite the opposite- there’s more YA books coming out every year than I will ever have time to read. However, one thing that amazes me is how expansive […]


How Much Are You Reading Annually?

Posted April 20, 2017 in Discussions / 40 Comments
How Much Are You Reading Annually?

Lately I’ve noticed more and more emails from Goodreads popping up in my inbox surrounding my reading progress for 2017. It had been a few weeks since I had finished a book, and I received an email about my reading challenge. I then finished two books and each time I marked a book as “read,” I received another email. While I didn’t find all aspects of these emails troubling (in fact, I enjoyed that it linked to some of my GR friend’s reviews because I love checking out what my fellow bloggers think of books after I read them!) I […]


If I Can’t Have You, No One Can: Why Do YA Thrillers Focus on Unhealthy Female Friendships?

Posted October 13, 2016 in Discussions / 7 Comments
If I Can’t Have You, No One Can: Why Do YA Thrillers Focus on Unhealthy Female Friendships?

*Warning: This post will contain major spoilers for almost all of the books mentioned!* I’m a huge fan of thrillers, but I don’t read them super often because it can be hard to find quality books in the genre. They can be too predictable, too cliché, have an unsatisfying reveal for who the antagonist is, etc. However, when a good thriller comes along it’s really all anyone can talk about and it tends to take the reading community by storm (for example, I currently have The Girl On the Train in my Amazon shopping cart, because I cannot escape the […]


Down the Reviewing Black Hole: Do You Review Every Book You Read?

Posted August 30, 2016 in Discussions / 21 Comments
Down the Reviewing Black Hole: Do You Review Every Book You Read?

Hello! Yes, I am indeed alive! After a seriously crazy summer season at work, I am returning to talk about one of the most integral parts of being a blogger…reviewing. I’ve talked before about how important and enjoyable I find writing and reading reviews, and I usually feel duty bound to review every single book I read here. Considering I read anywhere from 50-75 books a year, this is a ~somewhat~ manageable goal. However, I know there are bloggers who read hundreds of books per year, and it got me thinking….how many bloggers review ALL of the books they read? […]


Just Call Me a Potter Purist

Posted June 30, 2016 in Discussions / 29 Comments
Just Call Me a Potter Purist

2016 seems to be the year of the revival of Harry Potter fans. Cursed Child is debuting on stage, the screenplay is being released, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened at Universal Studios Hollywood, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is set to hit theaters this fall. It seems like everywhere one turns Harry Potter has come back into the forefront of the media. However, I’ve found myself completely apathetic to almost everything that’s going on. As much as I have always and will always love Harry Potter, I can’t shake the wrongness that I feel when […]


Cristina’s Close Look [4]: Abuse and Assault in Fantasy Featuring A Court of Mist and Fury

Cristina’s Close Look [4]: Abuse and Assault in Fantasy Featuring A Court of Mist and Fury

 Cristina’s Close Look is a more specific type of discussion here at Girl in the Pages, where I find a trope, topic, or theme and explore the topics more in depth with a little bit of analysis and a lot of enthusiasm. Feel free to join into the discussion in the comments! Topic: Abuse and Assault in Fantasy Featuring A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas *Warning: This post will contain spoilers for the novel A Court of Mist and Fury and A Court of Thorns and Roses. Just a heads up if you haven’t read it […]


The Importance of Personal Aesthetic in Literature

Posted May 11, 2016 in Discussions / 19 Comments
The Importance of Personal Aesthetic in Literature

There are so many elements I love about the young adult genre, especially themes such as acceptance, self-exploration, and the valuation of personality over aesthetic. However, it’s also come to my attention that in some ways the genre has tried so hard to elevate the normal protagonist or fight for the underdog that it’s created inverse stereotypes in order to break others: pretty girls are mean girls, wealthy people are evil, privileged people don’t have problems, those who care about their appearance are vain and shallow (generalizations, but you see the point). The breaking of stereotypes in favor of implementing […]