Author: Layla

I’ve read four of the books Audrey Hope from the Gossip Girl reboot read…

Published by Layla

..and here’s what I think so far. Who doesn’t like messy teen drama? I’m guilty of liking it. But I’m also guilty of liking characters from messy teen dramas who stand out. And how does this character stand out? By being a bookworm with tough, dismissive exterior, hiding a loving, caring heart underneath. I could go on why I love her, but this isn’t what this blog post is about. Audrey reads books that have very diverse themes–from affairs, women’s lives, essays about music, culture, literature, art, and even poetry. Her reading list (yes, she has one!) is pretty extensive, but I have read four so far. I will be sharing my (short) takeaways/reviews, and I hope it’ll encourage you to read them, too! Ornament and Silence: Essays on Women’s Lives, from Virginia Woolf to Germaine Greer Kennedy Fraser, 1996, Knopf From writers, artists’ wives, feminists, and even naturalists, Kennedy Fraser wrote about various women. My favourite essay is the one on Miriam Rothschild Lane. She was so passionate about nature and butterflies. Not only …

On grieving and adjusting.

Published by Layla

So it’s been a long time since I have posted anything on here. Not that there’s a want of having anything to say; rather, it’s the Herculean effort taken to process things. So many things happened in the space of two months, ranging from the most mundane to the most painful: so much stuff to deal with at work and school, the slow crumbling of my (already fragile) mental health, and then the loss of a loved one.

The Weekly Snippet 4: Skrrrt, skrrrt.

Published by Layla

Hi, I hope you are all safe and well. I’m taking the time to write this before I settle down with readings for tomorrow’s class. Boy, this has been the worst week I’ve had for this month. I’d rather not enlarge on this, but suffice to say that I need help–the sooner, the better. And when I say help, I mean it’s the “Doctor, doctor, I am sick” kind of help that I need. I’ve soldiered on for months, but I think I’ve done enough of that already. However, it’s not all woe and drudgery! I discovered Molly Jones via Ruby Granger’s videos. Watching her vlogs is an absolute joy. For a moment, I forgot about work, and grad school. Not that I was looking for an escape route–the videos were something I aspire to: living slow, taking time to appreciate the little things around me. Also, I love that I learn something from these people too. Check out her videos, they’re absolutely wonderful. Sadly, my time’s up, so I have to go and study! …