The Book Blog

Kelsey Rodgers has been an attendee of the Palatka campus Book Club since August 2022 and a regular guest-blogger on the Book Blog. She has also published several original poems and plans to pursue a degree in Creative Writing following her graduation from SJR State.

Life has increasingly become more tedious since my 22nd birthday last November. I have been in the process of finishing my last semesters here at SJR State, applying to university, and questioning what my life will look like after leaving my home for the first time. The overwhelming transition from this new stage of life has led to a massive reading slump, the likes of which I haven’t experienced since starting to find a love of reading back in 2022. 

These past few months were also very influential on my mental health. The growing pains of adulthood seemed to highlight feelings of isolation and misunderstandings that usually float in the back of my mind. In my experience focusing on my education tends to help drown out these thoughts. However, this time focusing on my education path seemed to accelerate how often my anxieties flashed across my mind. So, words can’t express the relief of spring break offered. 

During this break, some days were more relaxing than others. The days I spent locked and resting in my room helped. Unfortunately, the days soon after were full of college emails, studying, and planning papers. Exhaustion followed not too long afterwards again. I decided to take a nap, which was disturbed by the book I stopped reading (and never finished) last year falling on the floor. I still don’t know why I felt the need to read it again, but I did. 

After one chapter, I couldn’t put it down.

Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth is about a movie production whose plot is inspired by a fictional queer feminist book written by the main character, Merritt Emmons. Merritt’s book is based on two schoolgirls named Flo and Clara who were found dead after starting a private club called The Plain Bad Heroines Society in 1902. 

When reading, I was reminded of what it felt like to be understood. I found characters like Harper to have a similar complex relationship with her queerness and her parents like me. The character Merritt is a writer and talked about her writing slump after her successful 1st novel. She didn’t want to talk about her next idea her writing since “it wasn’t done yet.” Then shortly followed the quote that inspired me to write about my own reading slump: “If you’re determined to sail such ruinous waters you might as well boast about the voyage.” I finally felt the weight of my shoulders lift after hours of my nose within this book. 

Throughout my journey reading the novel, I’m reminded how important representation within literature is. Reading provides such a personal look into characters’ minds. These personal perspectives help readers feel a sense of connection in a way other mediums can not. 

I am still too early within the novel to make a full flushed out review. However, it is safe to say I’m enjoying the ride it is taking me on. I’m grateful to have such a great book to get me out of my first ever dreaded reading slump!

This week, we welcome a new contributor to the Book Blog. Victoria Morris is a friendly face at the Palatka Campus Library. Learn more about her thoughts on making reading right for you! 

When I was asked to contribute to the Book Blog, my immediate reaction was a resounding "no." I thought, "I'm not a writer, so why should I write a post?" But the truth is, I didn’t have to be a writer to give it a go. And now, you’re getting the chance to read my very first blog post. I hope you too will embrace new opportunities with an open heart.

My relationship with reading was a lot like the card scene in Easy A. In the scene, Olive receives a musical card. At first, she hates the song and quickly shuts the card. But over time, she finds herself going back to it, and eventually, the song grows on her. Similarly, I’d pick up a book, but after reading a few pages, it would end up forgotten on a shelf. That all changed two years ago, and now reading has become one of my favorite hobbies.

For a long time, I struggled with reading for enjoyment because I kept choosing books that didn’t truly interest me. I didn’t realize this until I discovered a genre that genuinely caught my attention. If you’re trying to become a reader, that’s my first piece of advice: find what you love. Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Even the most experienced readers have books they didn’t finish (DNF).

My second recommendation for new readers is to explore the various formats and tools available to you. Along with physical books, digital and audiobooks provide endless options for customization to suit your preferences. I used to criticize myself for being a slow reader because I struggled to visualize descriptions. But then I discovered a whole world of talented artists creating fan art, and it became an amazing resource. It took some time to accept that using tools to enhance my understanding wasn’t a cheat, and once I did, I started truly enjoying the stories.

Here are a few of Victoria's recommended titles:

The Guest List

Fourth Wing

Legends & Lattes

The Serpent and the Wings of Night