
Hello friends! I wanted to write another rambly sort of post, mainly to update you all on where I’ve been and what I’m doing.
If you’ve been following me on Bookstagram (shameless self plug, my username is pagesofachilles!) then you know I haven’t been as active as usual. This is mainly because of two reasons, one much more valid than the other lol. One of the reasons, perhaps the less valid one, is because the algorithm is a mess again. While I don’t post for likes/comments/numbers, it is a little disheartening to see numbers drop post after post, especially when I put so much time into my photos. A part of me wants to hide the number of likes, since I now have this feature. Maybe I will, who knows! For the time being, I’m trying to ignore the gradual decline in likes my posts are getting because it’s kind of frustrating.
The second reason and arguably the more important one is because of my dissertation! I’m in my final year of my Bachelor’s degree and my dissertation is taking up all the free time and energy I have. Not to make this a negative post, but bloody hell is it difficult writing a dissertation when you’re in the throws of a global pandemic and have no access to academic sources. My university library is closed until further notice, meaning I can’t access any of the resources I’m paying for! So a lot of time has been spent trying to find copies of things online or buying them second hand. As I’m writing this post, I’m almost done with my first draft and I’ve never worked on anything as hard as I have this. I’ve poured blood, sweat and tears into this 8000 word project, spent countless hours reading the same poems over and over and honestly? I just want it to be over. I’m exhausted and so mentally drained, but I’m almost there. I can see the finish line, which doesn’t look as bright considering I won’t be having a graduation ceremony, but I’ll still have a degree at the end of it all.
While writing my dissertation, I’ve found that I have no time, or effort, to read for my own enjoyment. This weekend was the first time in almost a month and a half that I picked up a book because I wanted to, not because I had to read it for research purposes. And it was bliss. Escaping the world for a little while was the perfect refresher I needed to start the new week off with motivation and perseverance. Unfortunately, I don’t know when I’ll next have the time to set an entire day aside just for reading. I have deadlines for other papers coming up, dissertation meetings, interviews for potential Master degree courses, and of course, the pandemic still looms over everything. I’m especially craving A Court of Silver Flames, my copy arrived earlier this week but I know I simply don’t have the capacity to start a new fantasy at the moment. I’m saving it for once my first dissertation draft is due, almost as a reward for myself. Avoiding spoilers has been insanely difficult (Maybe don’t post your spoilers online with no warning?? Especially for a book this hyped when not everyone will be able to read it the day of its release??? I’m a little salty about this lol). Anyway, reading has become a saviour in my life once again as it provides me with a stress free safe haven away from my uni work.
I think that’s everything I wanted to say today! I quite enjoyed writing this little update, if anything it helped me clear some of my thoughts and feel more at ease. What are you currently up to? Read anything good lately? Feel free to give me any update! I hope you’re well and staying healthy, remember to wear your masks and drink water!