I'M IN!

 

I'm travelling alone for the first time in 11 years. It's just a 2h bus ride, but it's major!

Of course my anxiety is creeping in. I was fine coming to the bus station, and am calm, in theory, but breathing is difficult and I almost cried while phoning my mom bcs the cat has disappeared before I left and it was really a relief to know he's back. Anxiety has me in irs grip. Wasting a precious clonazepam tablet because of that.

I was supposed to leave yesterday to Minas Gerais by car with a couple of friends but, alas, I was stupid enough to chow down a full package of biscoito de polvilho just before bed, and woke up at 4am feeling just THE WORST. Spent the rest of the day between stomach cramps and cat naps. 

Fortunately woke up today feeling so much better, so here I go to Minas by myself. Weird, how can something so out of the ordinary for me also feel so normal? 

Double Nostalgia

In the past couple of days I've been hit by two very welcome bouts of nostalgia.

The year is maybe 1995, I'm around 11 years old and, among other things, I'm obsessed with Eros Ramazotti. Cose Della Vita plays constantly on the radio and I keep sending letters to one radio station to try and win a ticket to his show. CDs are a relatively new thing for me, and Tutte Storie features proudly as one of my very few personal collection.

I've lost count of how many times I've listened to it during all these years. It wasn't until 1997 when I went to Italy that the lyrics started to make a little sense to me, and thus the album gained a whole new meaning in my life. 

Not unironically, the song that came to my mind yesterday is called Nostalsong. Today I listened to the whole album twice, singing along to all the songs. Who said we tend to abandon the things we liked as a child when we get older?

❤

My story with Songs of Faith and Devotion goes a bit different, a bit deeper, a bit sadder. It was my first contact with Depeche Mode, back when MTV was a thing, and I was a wee thing too. Yes I fell in love with shirtless, long haired Dave Gahan, not gonna lie, but the song and the video clip were bangers too. 

Cut to teenage me, depressed to the bones, all gothic vibes, falling in love all over again with DM. I had others DM albuns by the time I bought this one, but this was special, because it was the one that made me fall in love with the band.

And somehow, along the way, One Caress became my favorite song in their whole discography, even to this day.

I don't listen to DM as much as I did during my teens and my 20s, but it remains one of my favorite bands of all time. It got me through thick and thin. And sometimes when I'm in a better mood the songs come to me in a whole 'nother light. 

CDs were such a cool thing, weren't they? I love listening to my tiny collection from time to time, especially when they're not on spotify, which sometimes happen. Opening the booklet and finding all the lyrics, cool pictures, the nostalgia that comes with it, a way back to times long gone.

Beginning of the year book tag

 

1. How many books are you planning on reading in 2026?

My reading goal for this year is 75 (20 more than last year!), which is very doable since I'm going for mostly short to medium books, I tend to get anxious when starting a book because there's SO MANY to read so I've been managing this by proritizing novellas and short books, which is also a sure way not to get bored.

HOWEVER, since I'm participaring in both Around the World in 52 Books and The 52 Book Club’s 2026 Reading Challenge, I'm already anticipating a whopping total of at least 104 books read in 2026 😂

2. A book you’re likely to reread this year

I'm not much of a rereading person, except when it's something that's been on my shelf for years and years (last year I had a blast rereading Dubliners by James Joyce, which I first read back in 2011). I thought of revisiting Morte e Vida Severina since I've just seen the play, and it's a short read, but other than that I've no plans for rereads.

3. A priority read on your 2026 tbr

This is my 3rd year attempting to read The Worst Jouney In The World let's goooo! It's heavy stuff, even if I already know most of the story. Maybe the translation will help me this time around 🙏🏼

4. An author you won’t be reading more books from this year

None that comes to mind. There's always something to try even for authors I'm not very keen on.

5. Something new you want to read

There are lots of new-to-me authors in my TBR, but I guess I'm most looking forward to Não Fossem as Sílabas do Sábado, Lonely Castle in the Mirror and finally, finally, the first Richard Bolitho (hope I like it, I miss my Age of Sail serieees!)

6. A popular book you want to read

As far as known authors go I'm finally reading O ano da morte de Ricardo Reis, my first Saramago in a while. As for internet popular books, maybe Lapvona? Finally??

7. Most anticipated 2026 book release

Oh I'm really excited for Julian Sancton's new book, but I'm not sure I'll be able to read it this year ):

8. A bookish goal for 2026

Completing the two reading challeges I'm participaring, hopefully! (And maybe some extra ones?)

But, mostly, not falling into a reading slump like last year's.

Oh, I'm also doing my first bingo board! Still not sure what I'll do when I complete a row, maybe treat myself to a more expense book or a weekend trip or something.

Most importantly, I want to have fun!

9. A book that’s been on your tbr you probably won’t ever read

Oh, nonsense, I'll get to all of them eventually... 👀

10. A series you want to read this year

Don't plan to read any BUT if the first Richard Bolitho is any good I might try the next one...

11. Your auto buy authors going into 2026

I don't think there'll be any new release for my auto buy authors but again, Julian Sancton's new book was a given. 

12. A book to show adaptation you’re excited about this year

Maybe Helen Macdonald's H is for Hawk, but I'm not too overly excited abt it, even tho I loved the book (it has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I pictured Kelly Macdonald as the MC and I'm not getting her in the movie. Definitely not.)

13. A sequel you’re anticipating

Not exactly anticipating bcs I read the first one so long ago I got disconnected from the characters and the story, but I'll be finally trying The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy. Kinda excited bcs Sapphics in a Ship, but I haven't been in the mood for YA in a while.

14. Bookish things you’re leaving in 2026

The whole bookish community drama, hopefully! Also trying not to get my reading goals get to me. Steady as she goes!

15. What to expect from this account

I'll try to do quick monthly reviews of my readings, let's see how it goes!

16. How has your reading taste evolved from last year

Same as always, but I'm trying to get into more non-fiction. There's so much to reeeead!

What I'm trying to do this year is read more translated books, bcs sometimes reading the original in English takes a but too long, so i'm trying to prioritize a more fluid reading experience.

17. Booktube Bookish creators who inspire you

BooksandLala, Reads with Rachel, Geek Freak and Book Witch Taty over @ Youtube

Pedro Pacífico, Courtney Henning Novak and Steven James Reese over @ Instagram

18. Something you want to say to anyone wanting to start a bookish account

Idk, man, just do it. Just say the things. 👏👏

HE'RE WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME

☆ INSTAGRAM, where I post some pictures and drawings here and there

☆  TUMBLR, where I post/reblog things that interest me

☆ TWITTER, where I mostly complain abt life and geek out abt the TV show The Terror 

☆ GOODREADS, where I mainly keep track of the books I'm reading

So let's go

It's been over 10 years since I last wrote on my livejournal. There was no one there to read it anymore. I still had my physical daily journal. I had twitter, and tumblr, which is all good and well, but to be honest, I never really journal anymore. 

For some years now I've been searching for all kinds of new hobbies to try to make my life a little less miserable. I still read a lot, I like crosswords, I'm slowly putting together a new puzzle, and as of this year I've taken to scrapbooking with a tiny round paper punching machine, which is surprisingly therapeutic and keeps me occupied.

Then I saw this reel on instagram and ??? YES??? WHY NOT???

Why not use a blog to post abt everything I'm doing and what's going on with my life? Why not combine everything I'd post in different socials? Why not TRY? Make some friends? Get a little SILLY? 

LET'S FREAKING GO