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Aisha | Bookish Life

@pagesandcup

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Classic books, vintage crime fiction, and reading updates from my home library. Austen, Brontës, Christie, Dickens, Doyle, Shakespeare, & Tolkien fan.
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8/20/26. One cover doesn’t match the rest, but I’m totally okay with that. Do mismatched covers bother you? Happy Friday Eve! I woke up this morning craving a book by L. M. Montgomery. I’m not ready yet to reread the Anne of Green Gables series, and I recently read The Blue Castle and Emily of New Moon. I do want to read the rest of the Emily books, but many of you have also mentioned that I should read Jane of Lantern Hill. Which L. M. Montgomery book would you pick up? #lmmontgomery children’s literature | children’s classics by @pagesandcup
272
a month ago
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7/6/26. How to enjoy bookstagram even when engagement stinks: Remember why you started your account in the first place. All I wanted when I joined bookstagram almost 11 years ago was to find accounts that had great book recommendations and then post about those books once I had read them. At that time, I was a semi-retired newspaper reporter. I had quit my job to care for my autistic son but also continued to substitute for the editor. I had no desire to make bookstagram a full-time job. I just wanted to keep track of what I read but do so in a creative way. I also hoped to find fellow book lovers. My “real life” friends aren’t book collectors or as voracious a reader as I am, so finding those who would regularly chat with me about book editions, classic literature or new releases was my dream goal. To my surprise, my account took off and grew each month for three years. As expected, I fell into the trap of tying my self-worth to the number of new follows or likes I got. And then, somewhere around 2018, it all changed. My account stalled. Sure enough, intrusive thoughts like, “Maybe my account is boring after all” and “Maybe I’m boring” started entering my mind. It was a full-blown pity party, and I grew increasingly cranky and unpleasant to be around. I was about to shut down my account in frustration six years ago when my husband said, “Do you want bookstagram to be your full-time job?” “No,” I said. “Then you need to share and don’t care.”💡 That’s when I realized I had forgotten why I joined this community in 2015. So I stopped checking my stats every day. When Insta made hiding likes an option, I took it. I’m not saying it’s wrong to want to grow your account or want to make bookstagram your full-time job. Heck, I’d love to be paid for my posts. I’m just saying that working on my account full-time is not for me. I just want to share what I read, what I buy, what I generously receive from publishers, and of course chat with fellow book lovers. But I want to do so on my own terms. So, share and don’t care. Post and then ghost. Do what you have to do to remember why you joined bookstagram in the first place by @pagesandcup
89
3 months ago
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6/29/26. Reasons why you shouldn’t join bookstagram*: —You’ll read more books. —You’ll be tempted to read outside your comfort genre. —You’ll start accumulating more books. —You’ll start stacking the additional books on any flat surface you can find if you run out of shelf space. —You’ll start chatting with strangers from around the world in messages and comments. —Some of those strangers will become your friends. —You’ll start bringing up those bookstagram friends in conversation with “real life” people. —You’ll start declining invitations to parties so you can stay home and read. —Your family will begin wondering whether dinner will be a complete meal or a bowl of cereal because you’ve been reading all day. Of course, if all of this is okay with you, by all means welcome to this bookish community! *😉 by @pagesandcup
37
3 months ago
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10/2/26. Coffee, a warm blanket and classic books in autumn colors. What else would you add for your own cozy book aesthetic? Day 2 of #spookishbookishpages - Autumn (Check my Story Highlights for all the prompts!) #pagesandcup #penguinclothboundclassics #classicliterature #prettybooks A flat lay photograph taken from above showing seven Penguin Clothbound Classic books arranged in a row. The book spines display warm autumnal colors ranging from tan, brown, maroon, and bright orange, to dark grey. The books are surrounded by fall decorations including dried orange slices, mini pumpkins, pinecones, and artificial autumn leaves. A white mug filled with black coffee sits in the top left corner, all resting on a cozy plaid blanket. by @pagesandcup
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18 hours ago
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10/1/26. My October TBR? No, my September reading wrap-up because I was too distracted by autumnal activities like browsing for pumpkins to post anything here yesterday (see my non-bookish account @pagescuplife). 🎃 Besides, I still haven’t selected what I want to read this month because the possibilities are endless and I’m such a mood reader that I’ll probably change my mind multiple times. For instance, a Charles Dickens reread keeps making an appearance in my stack but then I promptly remove the book. We’ll see who wins. 😉 Meanwhile, here is what I finished last month. Find full book reviews and impressions on my Goodreads account, Pages & Cup. (Note: * = provided by publisher) Best Books (5⭐️) • Chocolat by Joanne Harris – My goodness, did I love this. Highly Recommended (4.5 - 4.75⭐️) • The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon* (4.75) – Gritty, pirate-y and girl power-y in a good way. • Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley (4.75) – I want another Miss Marple continuation by Foley! Stat! • Lila by Marilynne Robinson (4.5) Great Read (4⭐️) • Leaf by Niggle by J. R. R. Tolkien • Farmer Giles of Ham by J. R. R. Tolkien • Everyone on This Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson (library loan) Good & Worth a Look (3 - 3.75⭐️) • The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle (3.5) • The Intrigue* by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (3.5) How was your September reading month? Let me know in the comments below. Meanwhile, if unlike me you do have an October TBR, don’t forget that today is the first day of the #spookishbookishpages photo challenge co-hosted by me @pagesandcup and Steph @bookishsteph1 (swipe left for the prompts). 📸👻 #Bookstagram #SeptemberWrapUp #BookRecommendations #pagesandcup A cozy autumn flatlay featuring an arrangement of books, an orange plaid blanket, and a vintage black typewriter. In the center lies the book "Chocolat" by Joanne Harris, surrounded by small faux pumpkins, pinecones, a calligraphy pen, and old handwritten letters. In the background, a stack of books stands vertically, showing the spines of "The Pirate Queen" by Ariel Lawhon, "Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel" by Lucy Foley, "Lila" by Marilynne Robinson, and "The Intrigue" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. by @pagesandcup
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2 days ago
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9/29/26. I redecorated my Canterbury Classics bookshelves for October. I’m afraid this is as spooky as it’s going to get around here. See any of your favorite leather-bound volumes on the shelves? Zoom in and let me know which spine caught your eye first! I guarantee several of these timeless stories will be featured in this little corner of the ‘gram next month as autumn really gets under way and Halloween approaches. #pagesandcup #canterburyclassics #classicliterature #bookshelforganization #classicbooks A beautifully organized three-tiered dark wood bookshelf showcasing a large collection of Canterbury Classics leather-bound books. The middle shelf features a vibrant, rainbow-gradient arrangement of clothbound and leather novels. The top shelf displays a smaller stack of dark-bound classics alongside a playful white wooden ghost cutout, a green pumpkin ornament, and a spine titled Potion. The bottom shelf is lined with elegant, dark leather-bound editions with ornate gold and silver spine foil stamping, including The Great Gatsby, Les Misérables, and Classic Tales of Mystery. by @pagesandcup
30
4 days ago
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9/28/26. Bookstagram tip: When @delreybooks asks if you would like a copy of their soon-to-be-released deluxe edition of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries and some custom bookish swag, you say, “YES PLEASE!” The book is the first installment in Heather Fawcett’s beloved Emily Wilde series. It’s my idea of the perfect blend of romantasy with light and dark academia elements and a bit of folklore history. Did I mention there’s no spice in this? That’s a big plus in my book. Honestly, I equate the overall tone of the series to the 1999 Brendan Fraser film The Mummy, which I think is a mandatory rewatch each autumn if you like your seasonal spooky vibes with a touch of humor. But I digress… This stunning deluxe hardcover features a gorgeous faux leather cover, gold foil and heat-stamp debossing on the hard cover itself, classic deckled edges, a satin ribbon bookmark, and beautiful illustrated endpapers (swipe left for the full deluxe edition unboxing photos). The team at Del Rey also packed in an Emily Wilde-themed scarf, an exclusive bookmark, and an official book club kit. The deluxe edition officially drops tomorrow, Tuesday, September 29. If you’re an Emily fan the fourth book in the series, Emily Wilde’s History of Dark Faerie, will be released on January 19, 2027. Are you a fan of special editions and do you collect them? I never really took notice of them before bookstagram. Now, if it’s a book I love, I immediately add it to my wish list. Thank you to Del Rey Books for the free copy! #pagesandcup #emilywilde #cozyfantasy #darkacademia #delreybooks An upright, low-angle shot of the deluxe edition of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries propped at an angle to display its gold-stamped spine. The book sits on a desk surrounded by a vintage typewriter, a wooden stamp, a brass compass, a white pumpkin, and dark purple florals. An orange and dark gray plaid wool scarf is draped overhead, catching warm morning window light. by @pagesandcup
18
5 days ago
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9/27/26. A Miss Marple book. The perfect way to end September, or any month really.😊 Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel is the first official Miss Marple continuation novel by one of my favorite thriller and suspense authors, Lucy Foley. Foley was actually one of 12 authors who contributed short stories to the anthology, Marple, a few years ago. While all the contributors wrote stories worthy of the Queen of Crime, Foley’s piece really stood out to me for perfectly capturing the classic spirit of Agatha Christie.I had been hoping she would write a full-length book at some point, and my wish finally came true. Now, I’m immersing myself in this new cozy mystery. The story follows Jane Marple and her friend Dolly Bantry (of The Body in the Library and The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side fame) as they travel to the Swiss Alps for a quiet holiday, only to find themselves in the midst of a sudden murder. I’m only a few chapters into this new release and am already enjoying the moody wintry atmosphere. I’m reading this while listening to the all-star cast recording and love it! Because I finished my main weekend errands yesterday, today is all about planting myself on the couch and reading what will likely be the last book I finish this month. What book(s) are you trying to finish this month? Let me know your current reads below. #pagesandcup #readchristie2026 #missmarple #lucyfoley #cozymystery A cozy dark academia book flat lay on a rustic dark wood background. In the center sits the teal and red book cover of Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley. To the right is a white vintage teacup filled with black coffee resting on a fluted saucer. Surrounding the book are classic mystery-themed props, including a vintage typewriter, an antique key, a dip pen, an inkwell, a magnifying glass with a checkered handle, and yellowed manuscript papers. Fresh green cedar branches weave through the arrangement, which is softened by a cream-colored textured knit scarf catching the soft morning window light. by @pagesandcup
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6 days ago
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9/24/26. You know how you sometimes find yourself out of ideas for a photo caption but you post a photo of your classics bookshelves anyway because you really like how they look at the moment? That. 👆🤣 A dark wooden bookcase organized with beautiful, collectible editions of classic literature books. The shelves contain structured stacks of clothbound and leather-bound novels, including Jane Austen books, Penguin Classics, and a prominent copy of 'A Girl of the Limberlost' centered on the third shelf. The home library organization is neat, vintage, and aesthetic, featuring a mix of colorful spines and uniform book series. by @pagesandcup
24
9 days ago
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9/23/26. Witches in Memphis and a suburban crime scene. Just add plenty of sunny days so I don’t scare myself while reading these new release books. 🐔 Huge thank you to @bookmarked for these incredible finished copies and swag. 📖 The Sisters of Crimson House by Melissa Anderson Sweazy This is a debut novel described as a lush Southern Gothic horror novel set in Memphis, TN. It follows a fractured family of witches who are drawn back to their infamous home alongside a ruthless local skeptic to fight a deadly supernatural force and a flood of inherited horrors. 📅 Releases September 29 📖 It’s Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh The author’s ninth novel was just released yesterday. In it, an ordinary woman drives home to her ordinary suburban home to find her partner murdered and her house a crime scene. 📅 Out now. If you read thrillers or spooky books, do you prefer reading them during daylight hours, or are you all about gloomy weather, dark nights and atmosphere? #pagesandcup #bookstagram #gothichorror #sourcebooklandmarkpartner #thrillerbooks by @pagesandcup
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10 days ago
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9/22/26. In which I celebrate the publication day of J. R. R. Tolkien’s classic fantasy book, The Hobbit. Yes, the actual publication anniversary was yesterday. But it’s both Bilbo and Frodo’s birthday today, and it also happens to be the first day of autumn, so why not combine all three in one gloriously autumnal Hobbit Day photo? 😂 How will you be celebrating the day? I’ll be celebrating by turning on my furnace on this cold, damp morning, brewing some strong black coffee, and eating as many carbs as I possibly can in one day.🤣🤣 I’ll also be busy picking up the explosion of fall leaves, pinecones, and decorative pumpkins I used for this photo. I guess I got a little carried away with the autumn aesthetic. 🫣 #pagesandcup #tolkientuesday #thehobbit #JRRTolkien An overhead, flat lay photograph displays a curated autumn book display featuring five unique editions of J.R.R. Tolkien’s "The Hobbit" arranged on a cream-colored fabric background. The text-heavy, vintage, and illustrated book covers are nestled within a dense arrangement of crisp, rustic fall elements including dried oak and maple leaves in shades of brown, orange, and gold, along with textured pinecones and small decorative pumpkins in muted green and dark gray. To the lower left, an open page from an illustrated edition shows a detailed painting of Bilbo Baggins standing inside his cozy Hobbit-hole, holding a piece of parchment. Small dried orange slices and sprigs of white berries are tucked into the corners, completing the warm, cozy, and atmospheric Middle-earth aesthetic. by @pagesandcup
35
11 days ago
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9/21/26. Just me standing next to a bunch of pumpkins while holding a copy of Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow while people wonder what the heck I’m doing.👻 Well, what I’m doing is officially announcing the return of the #spookishbookishpages fall bookstagram challenge hosted by yours truly @pagesandcup and my book buddy @bookishsteph1 . We both love this autumn reading season and hope you’ll join us next month as we celebrate October and all things spooky (or in my case, just a touch of spooky). Swipe left to see the book challenge prompts, get your spooky décor out of storage and remember to tag us whenever you post a photo with the day’s prompt. What kinds of books do you gravitate towards in October? I’ve been slowly dipping my toe into the world of contemporary spooky books, but I still prefer atmospheric Gothic fiction and Victorian ghost stories — especially ones that are more silly than scary. And of course, I love a good mystery. #pagesandcup #bookstagramchallenge #fallreading #spookybooks A first-person perspective close-up shot of a hand holding a copy of Washington Irving’s book, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, with an orange patterned cover. The background is filled with a dense patch of bright orange and white pumpkins at a farm. Warm autumn daylight highlights the fall book aesthetic, cozy reading vibes, and seasonal October pumpkin patch scenery. by @pagesandcup
31
12 days ago
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