Amy's Reading Diary
I'm Amy and I have loved books for as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest memories include books or reading, there's a famous photograph of me in my 'big girl bed' for the first time, tucked in with a giant grin and book in hand. My Dad used to work somewhere close by to a big Sainsbury's, and on a certain day of the week he would bring home a new Mister Men & Little Miss book for us to read at bedtime. My little sister and I used to share a room with bunkbeds, we would pass books up and down. Our favorite was a book called Fairy Shopping, it started my love for different worlds, mythical creatures and magic.
My love for reading grew with me. I found out about death when I was six or seven, I used to panic about my loved ones dying when I tried to sleep. My parents would tell me to go read a book, it will help you sleep. That's when I truly found out about how books could be an escape. This started off with me being obsessed with the Horrid Henry books, and as I got older the books got bigger. I started reading Harry Potter, Twilight and the Hunger Games.
When I got into my early teens I found The Mortal Instruments and the world of the Shadowhunter's by Cassandra Clare, this is when my passion intensified. I devoured the series in the summer of 2013, just in time for the movie adaptation release. Which I forced my mum to watch with me in the cinema at least three times. I then just had the agonizing wait for City of Heavenly Fire, I filled that time reading fan-fic's of people predictions and starting up my first Bookstagram account.
Around this time I discovered Booktube, which lead me to more book recommendations, including Divergent and John Green. I would watch video after video, compiling a TBR list, then I would share this list with my parents and grandparents every birthday and Christmas. One year my Grandma got me my first Hardback book, Mary E. Pearson's the Kiss of Deception, which will forever be one of the favorites of my collection.
I didn't read as much throughout the exam years and University. Until Lockdown. It gave me the quietness I needed to pick a book up again. Starting with a reread of the Kiss of Deception, then the Hush Hush books, and then all the Shadowhunter books. Until I realized I was quickly running out of books to read. I bought the rest of the Throne of Glass books and binged them, very quickly I set up a new Bookstagram account. I had the time to dedicate every day to reading, and posting about reading. I read 105 books that year.
Since lockdown was lifted I kept my reading consistent, reading about five books a month, sixty-ish a year. I just couldn't keep up with my Bookstagram. Now, I am settled into a great office job, with enough work life balance to keep reading, and keep up a Bookstagram. I wanted to create this blog as well, to share more in-depth thoughts on the books I've read, and to share my thoughts on books and reading in general.
So, I hope you find a friend in my blog. A safe space on the internet to read and talk about books and reading. If you want to chat with me more head over to my Bookstagram, https://www.instagram.com/amys_reading_diary/ or my goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/35868923-amy-leanne-webster.
I'm excited to have you here!
