I found myself with a head cold and without a voice this week, which meant I had fewer meetings and more time at home. And I took advantage of that. I have one amazing book to share, a powerful notebooking prompt and five links to launch you into bookish Halloween (and holiday!) fun.

What I'm Reading:

I have one, long (442 pages) book for you that is worth every minute and every page. Please add this to your TBR stack. Today.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

A bookish friend suggested I read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab, so that’s exactly what I did this week. And while I was slow to really become invested in the book, once I understood the concept and got used to the beautifully alternating structure, I was hooked. Schwab tells Addie’s story, a three hundred year immortal, right from the beginning and each of the 442 pages was absolutely essential. In fact, I wished it went 422 more just so I could continue to live the story in my mind. Schwab takes us on a journey of longing, of desperation, of freedom, of possession, of love, and of loss. But she does so in a heart-wrenchingly beautiful way that makes the reader truly live the story, a story I think we all could find some slice of connection to. It’s a testament to love and living, honors the true power of art and enduring ideas and shows us just how important it is to leave our mark on the world. I’ll be returning to this book often.

What I'm Writing:

My writing was inspired by my reading this week. In The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, Addie stumbles upon a book: A History of the World in 100 Objects by Neil MacGregor. And it got me thinking…What if we inventoried the histories of ourselves in objects? What would they be? Here’s my list of ten:

  • My beloved baby blanket (that I kept for quite some time!)
  • My Trapper Keeper (yes, I am dating myself) filled with my notebooks
  • My figure skates (still have them!)
  • My grandmother’s ‘Annabell’ Christmas ornament 
  • My great-grandmother’s shell necklace
  • My wedding band
  • My striped socks I wore when I headed to the hospital to have my first son
  • The first Christmas ornament when we grew to a family of five. 
  • My bookshelf (and all the books!)
  • My fuzzy bathrobe (not fancy, but is definitely me)

So, what if you had to tell your life story only in objects? What would they be? I highly recommend you give this a try in your notebook! And if you need more ideas, take a look at the new section of my Etsy shop. It’s filled with printable journal stickers to spark notebooking!

What I'm Learning:

This week, I spent time researching the power of personality. You know I love personality frameworks and I funneled that love into my work and taught a workshop on using the power of personality in instructional coaching. And I dove deep into the Enneagram framework. I really had no idea just how complex this framework is and just how spot on it was about my personality. I learned a lot and see such potential for improving my relationships by knowing my strengths…and weaknesses. Do you know your Enneagram number? Hit reply and let me know what it is!

What I'm Loving:

I may have spent a few minutes (or more!) on Pinterest this week to get myself into the Halloween frame of mind. I found books and book clubs, pumpkin book crafts and even some fun literary-inspired holiday cards! Here you go:

There you have it! I hope this inspires you to make space for more reading and writing in your own life. What are the highlights from your literate life this week?