Curate: Inspiration for an Individual Home

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Every three months — about as often as one typically wants to take a vacation — you can count on The Wordy Traveler to send you a traveler-approved book guaranteed to fulfill your wanderlust. You’ll also find some premium tea that evokes the book’s setting, as well as a fine art print to capture its beauty. You can even customize your travels by choosing to add more books to your box, or by switching up the genre, or by adding a selection of souvenirs, bookmarks, and charms. Build your own itinerary and get globetrotting! 27. Feminist Book Club Carol Jago has taught English in middle and high school for over 30 years. She has served as president of the National Council of Teachers of English and as chair of the College Board’s English Academic Advisory committee.

Jamie and Danielle — an artist and a librarian respectively, and the founders of Rainbow Crate — have always been passionate about subscription book boxes. They’ve also long felt strongly about queer literature and queer fictional couples. But even after months of searching, they couldn’t find something that combined these two passions; there simply wasn’t a queer book box to be had. I am almost never at a loss as to what to read. I have a number of sources I turn to for book recommendations and, at the moment, my gimme list hovers at around 150. But there’s something about curated book subscriptions—and about subscription boxes in general—that fills me with delight. The anticipation. The self-indulgence. The items I may not have chosen for myself otherwise—but which turn into new obsessions. What’s in each box? A newly released hardcover book & related goodies to stimulate all five senses.While I’ve often donated my books to thrift stores, Fishmann encourages gifting to friends, too. “There is such joy in giving a book to someone else that you loved. So anytime (in pre-COVID days at least), someone would come over, they’d always end up leaving my place with several books in hand.” A person dictates who they will date based on quantitative measures, such as horoscopes, how they perform on a test, etc. What’s in each box? A new young adult novel, collectible button and magazine, bookish goodies from small businesses, artists, and publishers.

An adventure story about a group of drifters looking for the cup of eternal youth (Nine of Cups). The group falls apart (Five of Swords), and there’s great betrayal and loss (Ten of Swords). A magical realism novel about someone who gradually learns that they can do incredible things. Inspired by How I held my breath for seventeen minutes (David Blaine).In either case, children’s book boxes can be a terrific way to inspire kids to read, or keep reading, while also introducing new titles. When you’re on the hunt for a book idea, society gives you a free pass to indulge in a bit of eavesdropping — and if you pay close enough attention, you’re bound to find the seed of an idea. But if you’ve been keeping your ears peeled and only tuning in to boring conversations, then it might be time to head to TED.com, where some of the most interesting people in the world speak on everything and anything from business, to activism, to personal growth. Here are few book ideas inspired by our favorite TED talks: Lastly, and my favorite tip because it’s what really matters: Curate your home library so that it’s unique to you. It’s easy to get bogged down by social media depictions or think our libraries need to look a certain way. But who has time for that when there are so many wonderful stories to read? Reading is a deeply personal journey, and organizing your books should be the same. It is your home, after all. “It’s easy to think our libraries need to look a certain way. But who has time for that when there are so many wonderful stories to read?” I like to keep my to-read pile on my nightstand and carry a book with me throughout the day—this helps me keep up with my reading goals. You never know when you’ll have a few spare moments to read!

Whatever you’re in the market for, from mysteries to social commentary to meet-cutes, Craigslist has got you covered. There are a few ways you can organize your books at home. You may prefer to color code for an aesthetically pleasing look, or you may discover sorting by genre or alphabetically works best for you.

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Alternately, Sharifah Williams, Managing Editor of Book Riot, embraces a more fluid organization process that is always up for reinvention: “Most recently, my nonfiction, fiction, cooking, and comic books were separated, and then sorted by size. But with an upcoming move, I anticipate (with the extra level excitement of a bookworm) yet another reorganization.” If you’re searching for book ideas to get started with creative writing, there’s no better place to start than with Reedsy’s plot generator. It asks only that you choose your genre, then randomly supplies a protagonist, a secondary character, a plot, and a twist! For example, if you generate a plot for a romance novel, it might look something like this: A heartbreaking YA novel about a girl who gives up everything when she’s scouted by a modeling agency. Inspired by Looks aren’t everything. Believe me, I’m a model. (Cameron Russell). In 2015 Jago was awarded the International Literacy Association’s Adolescent Literacy Thought Leader Award, and in 2016, the NCTE’s Conference on English Leadership’s Exemplary Leadership Award. She has been named by the US Department of Education to serve on the National Assessment Governing Board. She is associate director of the California Reading and Literature Project at UCLA.

Start your story with someone looking out at the snow, and end it with them stepping tentatively onto a frozen surface.

What’s in each box? At least 1 book, several products (t-shirt, purse, edibles, etc.) & writing prompts. Kayti Christian (she/her) is a Senior Editor at The Good Trade. She has a Master’s in Nonfiction Writing from the University of London and is the creator of Feelings Not Aside , a newsletter for sensitive people. The most elaborate option that still qualifies for our ‘just books, no frills’ section, TBR is for dedicated book lovers who still want their book subscription box to go that extra mile. TBR knows there’s nothing more exciting than finding that person who just gets you and your reading tastes — someone whose reading recommendations never fall flat. But finding that person can take a lifetime of work... unless, that is, you sign up to TBR, where you’ll be paired with a professional book nerd (sorry — bibliologist!) to find and send you the books you didn’t know you were waiting for. Books and bonus features Book subscription boxes are every book lover’s dream. Yes, that includes you — because whatever your reading needs and desires may be, there’s a subscription service out there that will match them perfectly! Inside a Fairyloot box you’ll find a special edition hardcover of a recently released young adult fantasy book, as well as four or five high-quality, bookish goodies all themed around that month’s magical title. The stunning artwork used on the custom book covers and all the Fairyloot gifts — including cutlery sets, pillow cases, mugs, and notebooks — really brings each world to life, making this box the perfect gift for any fantasy-obsessed reader. (Just make sure they’re okay with sprite labor, as each box is delivered via the flutter of fairy wings.) 25. Coffee and a Classic