Up Close and (un)Conventional – Why I read romance Welcome to this week’s Up Close and (un)Conventional. This is where I discuss both things that have to do with reading and blogging, and things that just have to do with life in general. This week, I’m going to chat a bit about the reason why I read romance. I was totally inspired by Deborah @ Debbish.com’s post about why she doesn’t read romantic fiction. Sometimes, I think there are ways we may be swayed a little by what we read, and at the same time, it’s the escapism that always gets me. One of the  main reasons why I read romance, even being happily (not all the time!!) married myself, […]

Up Close and (un)Conventional Before PNR Welcome my first Up Close and (un)Conventional of 2017. This is where I discuss both things that have to do with reading and blogging, and things that just have to do with life in general. This week, I’ve been thinking quite a bit about what a book snob I used to be… Way back when (hehe, actually, not that far back.) At first, it was because I only read ‘serious’ literature, big names who had won literary prices, classic literature, and some contemporary authors, but only those who wrote about realistic themes and subjects. Then, I discovered romance novels after my first child was born. And that was when I started to feel how other […]

Up Close and (un)Conventional Romance Heroes Welcome to this week’s Up Close and (un)Conventional. This is where I discuss both things that have to do with reading and blogging, and things that just have to do with life in general. This week, I’m thinking about romance heroes. Or the romance anti-hero. Or the incredibly alpha-hero that I love reading about, and that I cheer on when it comes to the heroine, but that I wouldn’t want in my life in the real world. I’m sure you’ve met him (or them, as the case may be) as well, no? If you read romances, it’s almost impossible to not have met an alpha hero who is the take-charge kind of guy. The […]

Up Close and (un)Conventional  – Features and Discussions Welcome to this week’s Up Close and (un)Conventional. This is where I discuss both things that have to do with reading and blogging, and things that just have to do with life in general. This week, I’m wondering about features and discussions, as well as other posts. See, I usually have a single post every day, because I think it’s easier for those who visit my blog to find everything that way. However, recently, I’ve had an idea for a new feature. It could be monthly, bi-weekly or weekly. But if I do that, I’d have one day less to post reviews. And that’s kind of the main thing I do here […]

Up Close and (un)Conventional: Condescending Shelves Welcome to this week’s Up Close and (un)Conventional. This is where I discuss both things that have to do with reading and blogging, and things that just have to do with life in general. This week, I’m discussing what I want to call condescending shelves. What am I talking about, you ask? Well, a little while ago, I had some time to kill, and went to one of only two book stores in Geneva where it’s possible to buy books in English! Yeah, we really don’t have a lot of choice, especially because there are several official languages here, and we will mostly find either books by French, German or Italian authors, or books […]