I was having a less-than-ideal week last week, and then on Thursday Taylor Swift announced evermore, the sister album to this summer's folklore. My skin cleared, my mood changed, and all was well in the world. I've been a Taylor Swift fan for my entire life. On a level, we've grown up together. Not to brag, but I was in the top 0.5% of Taylor Swift listeners on Spotify in 2020. (Yeah, I'm totally bragging about that)
Dropping folklore and evermore as surprise albums is just an absolute boss move, and I admire Swift's commitment to her artistry and love for her fans. I can't say at the moment how big of an impact these albums have had on my life in isolation because we're still not out, and I'm not done listening! For now, I'll tell you that every time I have a bad day, whenever I want to blast music and scream-sing alone, and all the times I want to celebrate, I put on my Taylor Swift playlist. (If you want to check out my Spotify, it's on there!) It's probably going to take me a while to create book-to-song matches for folklore and evermore, because I am determined to get them right. However, what I want to share right now is a bit of opining on both albums. My favorite songs, my least favorite songs, and which ones best display Swift remarkable songwriting talent. I'm also sharing an album ranking, because I think with 9 studio albums out, it's finally the right time. So. Let's dive into folklore. I'd name the 1, cardigan, illicit affairs, invisible string, betty, and peace as my favorite songs. An honorable mention goes to the last great american dynasty for being absolutely incredible. After listening, I looked up Rebekah Harkness and the history of Holiday House, and it's just as good as the song. Swift rarely wrote non-autobiographical songs, and her foray into storytelling is one I hope she'll continue, because these songs are so good. (Well, except for the fact that epiphany just goes on too long. My tears ricochet is emotional but I always have the urge to skip it. And mirrorball... shiny but not for me.) The love triangle trio (cardigan, august, betty) has had me hooked on conspiracy theories (yes, I *do* think it's a sapphic love triangle and you can't take that away from me!) for the past four months. Cardigan especially might be my favorite song off the whole album. I love the imagery, and watching the music video premiere just brought me so much joy that night. I put peace on my Blackstairs playlist, because... "Your integrity makes me seem small / You paint dreamscapes on the wall / I talk shit with my friends, it's like I'm wasting your honor / And you know that I'd swing with you for the fences / Sit with you in the trenches / Give you my wild, give you a child / Give you the silence that only comes when two people understand each other / Family that I chose, now that I see your brother as my brother" is just the most Julian/Emma vibes ever. Okay, sorry for quoting an entire verse of peace on here but I need you all to understand how perfect these albums are for relating to books. The imagery, the metaphors, the undercurrent of acceptance and inevitability that runs through the songs?? It's just... agh!! I can't properly express how much I love folklore. That was it for me. As soon as I listened, I turned around and... heard it six more times that very same day. Nothing could compare. And then I heard evermore. I found out about Swift's ninth album last Thursday morning, like all of us, and immediately freaked out. I started planning my midnight first listen and theorizing about the song title meanings (yes, I thought dorothea, ivy, and marjorie were part of another love triangle story at first). Midnight ran around after the longest day ever, and I watched the willow music video wrapped in my favorite throw blanket. It is so very very good, and I'm glad it continues the aesthetic established by cardigan. We love continuity. I live-tweeted my first listen (just like I did with folklore) and then listened to evermore for the rest of the weekend. Okay, fine. The rest of the week. Okay, FINE! I'm listening to it as I write this and I'm not crying a little! I'm not! My favorite songs from evermore are willow; gold rush; no body, no crime (this song title having a comma forces me to use semi-colons in every list I make. I don't resent that *at all*); ivy; and evermore. Honorable mentions to champagne problems, tolerate it (those two always make me inexplicably sad), cowboy like me (Taylor *will* return to country music one day. This I believe!), and long story short (another Blackstairs song--I see them in everything!) for allllmost making my favorites list. Champagne problems in particular gets me, just because of how bittersweet it becomes. It's like Swift's earlier breakup songs, but less brash and more sympathetic. She doesn't take a side. Again, the lyrical maturity in both folklore and evermore just makes me want more. It's not that I don't like Swift's upbeat pop sound (Lover is my favorite of her albums, after all), but I do enjoy the more contemplative sounds she's chosen here. Her collaborations feel more interesting, the songwriting top notch. I have so much respect for her artistry and ambition, which is why I've remained a fan even when it wasn't "cool" to be one. Wherever she strays, I'll follow (willow reference, because I can't help myself). I don't think I could ever tire of this new style, especially because the limits of an album have become the expanse of Swift's imagination, and not the scope of her real life. So I was cool with a surprise twin album for folklore, and I'd be even cooler with a triplet. I know she debunked the woodvale theory, but I'm still holding out hope for a third album. I think Miss Swift has more stories to tell, and I'd be honored to hear any of them. Okay! Now for an album ranking, accompanied by my favorite songs from each. I left out movie soundtrack singles and her Christmas album, even though my favorite song in the world is Sweeter Than Fiction.
And because I want to plug my Spotify (which you should all totally follow for some amazing bookish playlists) I'm going to embed my blackstairs playlist, which I've mentioned a couple times here. I started this around folklore's release, and I'm really proud of it.
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So far, I’ve only ever reviewed books on this blog. That changes today! During the pandemic, I wanted to support small businesses and the USPS, as well as indulge myself in some retail therapy. The joy of opening a long-awaited package is, in my opinion, unparalleled by any other earthly feeling. As you may recall, I wrote a post (linked) recommending ten bookish candle companies for you to support. As of now, I have candles from four of those shops, and two outside the list. I have nineteen (19?!?!) candles. Without further ado, my reviews! Shops are in order of my purchase timing, so the newest purchase will be last. I will not be judging based on shipping times or order processing, because COVID-19 has shifted timelines and I don’t want to be unfair to the shops. Rose & AdderTo be upfront, I’ve owned this candle since before my obsession. It came as part of my OwlCrate Call Down the Hawk box, and I’ve been obsessed with it since. It’s my only woodwick candle, and I just love the sound the wick makes while I’m burning it. The scent is earthy and sweet, and I admit to just opening the lid and sniffing the candle even when I don’t want to burn it. Gorgeous labels, and a wide variety of themed collections also appeal to me. My Rose & Adder candle was a one-off, but I’d love to grab something from their Zodiac or Literary collections. That being said, Rose & Adder’s prices are quite prohibitive for me: their 9oz glass jar candles run for $21! Their 5oz metal tins are $12.50. I generally prefer to buy more candles at a time, so I’d have to be seriously treating myself in order to grab anything from this shop. They had a fantastic Black Friday sale with reduced prices, so I definitely took advantage of that and splurged a bit! I want more wood wick candles in my life, so I can’t wait for them to get here. Also, there’s some discoloration that happens with the colored soy wax in my candle—once melted, it cools a more frosted color than the solid candle. Just a small nitpick that it happens with this candle and rarely with my others. Otherwise, it’s a very even burn, though perhaps I would wish the wax be slower to evaporate so I could have a longer burn time. Flick the WickI *love* Flick the Wick. They are my most-owned candle brand—I think I have 6 now, and I ordered a bunch more for Black Friday. The gorgeous labels, reasonable pricing ($8.50 for a 4oz, but they have rep codes!), and perfect scents make them my go-to candle for studying, writing blog posts, or reading. You’ll note in my latest Read With Me video, I lit up a FTW Queen of Terrasen candle. I don’t think I have any issues with these candles. They’ve stayed in perfect condition, generally don’t frost, and have super long burn times proportionate to the size of the jars! We love a long lasting candle. I’d highly recommend adding a couple of these to your collection. A Court of CandlesThe Witcher collection from A Court of Candles isn’t something I regret buying, however… there are some moments where I wish I’d waited longer before hitting that one-click purchase button. They’re the only thing I’ve bought from A Court of Candles, so don’t take this as a stinging indictment of the company, but I’m not enjoying them as much as I’d like. Let’s start with the positives. Really vivid wax colors, pretty labels, and reasonable prices! I can’t get onto their website (it’s closed for restocks), but I don’t recall breaking the bank over these. Now for the grievances. My main objection is the scents—yes, it’s on me for purchasing them, however I do feel like at times, they can be a bit overpowering and I get a small headache whenever I inhale too much of the fumes. They’re also earthier than my traditional floral scents (Geralt’s is straight-up bathwater and Drakkar Noir), which might contribute to my dislike. Heady fragrances are maybe best for larger, more well-ventilated spaces as opposed to my room and office area. Secondly, the wax doesn’t hold up that well at room temperature, even when the candle isn't lit. I’ve noticed a lot of sweating (condensation on the surface) which would be okay if I had left them outside from the mail, or if I lived in a warmer climate, but… it’s December. And I live in Boston. My space is kept at 70*, so I’m not sure what’s up with this. Fire Nation CreationsI bought two Fire Nation Creations candles from their Bookish Ships collection because I was in love with the artwork, and they did not disappoint! Loureid from Serpent & Dove, and Starlington from Ninth House. I actually haven’t burned them yet, so this can’t be a true review. I’ve been putting it off because of how pretty they are! There’s a layer of colorful glitter coating the wax surface, and it’s the most glitter I’ve ever seen included in a candle, so I’m not sure how that’s going to go if I burn them. The scents are so saccharine, definitely more food-related and less floral than most of my others, which is a nice contrast. Updates to come if I ever get the courage to light one. IceyDesignsBack in August, I caved and ordered IceyDesigns’ Star Daughter candle. It’s one of my favorite books of 2020 and seeing merch for it just made my month. This candle is so high quality, y’all, I can’t even begin to tell you. The jar is gorgeous, with a matte paper label and an airtight seal to keep the candle fresh for as long as possible. This is a 9oz candle, one of the biggest ones I own as of writing this review, and I’m very satisfied with its consistency. The melt pool forms easily—I’m pretty sure it’s soy wax like my others, and yet for some reason this candle’s wax evaporates faster than theirs, so I burn it sparingly. If you didn’t know, I’m more interested in preservation and collection than just straight up burning and tossing my candles. My only quibble is price—$18 is a lot for me to spend on one candle, so I’d probably only get Icey candles for books that I really care about. Novelly YoursAhh, Novelly Yours, AKA the first bookish candle company I’d ever heard of and somehow the last one I ever tried! I love the scents and prices—wish there had been some more color/design that went into the labels, but they’re cute regardless. My favorites are from their Shadowhunters candle box, from which I bought overstock. Those have quotes on the back and a bit more design element type things that went into them. Here’s my grievance: burn quality. It takes such a long time to get an even wax pool, and then unless the candle is left to burn for hours on end, the wax still clings to the side of the jar. I don’t like to just burn candles and leave them, because it’s not a recommended practice, so there’s really no way to avoid this. Again, I’m really not sure why this is happening! If any other candle fans out there would like to share tips or stories, I’m always happy to listen. I love these—they’re great for meditation and quiet working—and I want to treat them right! And that’s a wrap! I hope you found this helpful, whether you’re new to the bookish candle scene or a veteran looking to try some new brands. I kind of like this lifestyle blogging thing, maybe I’ll keep at it! Let me know in the comments if you’ve tried any of these candles, and how you liked them! I’m always fascinated by the bookish things that people like to collect. Perhaps there’s an enamel pin review post in the blog’s future...
Here’s a not-so-secret practice in the book community: hyping books based on their authors. I’ve been guilty of this before. Various novels have made their ways into my recommendation lists or preorder baskets simply because the author’s a big name in YA fiction. But here’s the truth: it’s time I stopped doing that.
This, as all things are, is for various reasons. However, I’d first like to talk about the elephant in the room: the large majority of “instant-order” authors, with huge fan bases and dedicated publicity teams, are white. There have been so many fantastic releases by authors of color in the past year, which were completely overshadowed by white authors. And I get it. Publishers only have so much they can spend on individual campaigns, and from a business perspective it makes total sense to focus on books you already know will be bestsellers. However, I think the book community needs to change its perspective on promoting marginalized voices. Of course, read widely and well, but also acknowledge the fact that books pushed at you are often done so on a default basis. A great example of this is to see which books win GoodReads Choice Awards, and the EpicReads Book Shimmy Awards. In my opinion, a large swath of last year’s winners weren’t actually the best books. However, they were by authors with large fanbases who would most likely vote for their books over another, less popular author’s. Take YA Fantasy & Sci-Fi for instance. The winning choice is The Wicked King by Holly Black. I’ve read and enjoyed the first book. However, some other selections up for the win include: Wilder Girls, A Curse so Dark and Lonely, and The Gilded Wolves. All books featuring a diverse cast of characters with POVs for sapphic rep, cerebral palsy, and indigineity. The most widely publicized book was The Wicked King, though, and more readers mean more votes. It’s not an easy instinct, to seek out books that aren’t automatically pushed. In my encounters with friends and family, there’s a base assumption that recommended books are the cream of the crop, and they deserve to be considered first because they’re well-crafted. I want to challenge that position. I think we as readers need to do a better job of seeking out marginalized voices, because of the systemic inequality that keeps books by white, cisallohet authors on the bestseller lists. An author’s existing body of popular work serves as their resume. This is great! Past work is a good indicator of the quality of future books, it’s true. However, we need to consider that even a few years ago, a large majority of published works were from white, allocishet authors, and they’ve had a greater time in which to build up that resume body. This leads to their current books being placed favorably on shelves over books by authors of color, queer authors, disabled authors, and otherwise marginalized authors. What can we do in response? Keep an eye on new voices, both those of authors and readers! They'll always have a great, diverse recommendation for you—take my list of 2020’s queer YA, for example. Try new things! Sometimes we revert to what’s comfortable out of a sense of habit—I caught myself considering purchasing a book by an author I’ve read before, whose work I swore off of, just because I was unsure about picking up a new book, but that new book turned out to be amazing! Next: support debut authors! Get their books from libraries or bookstores, go to their events (on Zoom or in real time, when we’re able). This ensures they’ll be able to keep writing more books. Keep your biases in mind—you might be curating your tastes to ingrained societal expectations, and that can be unlearned. Thank you for reading and keeping an open mind—together we as readers can show support and make a difference. If you’ve been on Book Twitter in the past week, you already know what the controversy du jour is. You also know from reading this blog that I have nothing to do but share my own opinions, loudly, on the internet! I didn’t comment on the main tweet thread because I didn’t want to be targeted if there was a debacle, but I’ll say here that I firmly agree with Rin Chupeco, the (wonderfully talented) author who raised the issue to the community. I promise I’m not writing this just to gossip, but instead to make a larger point about the value of books and working relationships.
What is the issue, you might ask. Well, in short, Mackenzi Lee, a YA author who works at an indie bookstore, decided to sign and doodle in other authors' books, without those authors’ permissions. She frequently signed on the title page, where the author themselves would sign if the reader were to bring the book to an event or conference. It goes without saying that this is… ridiculous. Some authors might not care if someone else signs their work, but I think it’s audacious not to even ask permission. Furthermore, to attach your OWN NAME to someone else’s work is just… very bold. I don’t care for it. The signatures and the doodles were at the request of readers in their online order forms, but personally, I don’t think the bookstore should offer this as an option at all. It’s disrespectful to authors and supports overstepping of boundaries. That’s just one half of the mess. When readers started asking questions, Lee’s response was to delete all pictures of the signatures from her Instagram—one (unfortunately humorous) instance occurred when a reader commented “You missed one when you were deleting evidence” and Lee responded “Oops, thank you!” Her employer doubled down on the decision, denying any wrongdoing or malpractice. Ordinarily I wouldn’t bring anything up. However, I’ve been thinking about this incredibly strange circumstance and I’ve decided it’s not something I can stand. As an author, I would imagine Lee understands that the value of a book is far more than its sticker price—it also includes the hard work that goes into writing it, the joy it will bring a reader, and the sheer magic of starting with a Word doc and ending up with a book. All of that starts with an author. Books *literally* wouldn’t exist if they weren’t written by someone, and I take that to mean that the value of any novel is created by the author. I cannot imagine a situation where anyone other than THE AUTHOR THEMSELVES should get to enhance that value by signing a book on the title page. It’s so disrespectful to fellow writers, as well as to readers, who can’t get their books signed by the person who wrote them. The book community (comprised of writer, readers, and publishing professionals) is large, but I wouldn’t say so large that it doesn’t matter if you’re inside or out of it. You feel a lot less alone if you’re part of the group. I struggle to understand why Lee would disrespect writers who are essentially her colleagues by literally writing inside their books. I welcome any and all thoughts on this, but please keep it polite! I know there are a lot of opinions out there, and I’d love to hear a range of them. |
The BaronessHey, I'm Shreya! I love to read, write, travel, and drink tea. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of bookshop.org and I will earn a small commission if you click the above link and make a purchase.
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