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Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
This week’s theme is:
November 3: Non-Bookish Hobbies
For this week, I’m going to share 5 book-related hobbies, and 5 hobbies that aren’t related to books. For the bookish hobbies, ‘reading’ feels too obvious somehow? It’s the biggest bookish hobby there is, so I’m going to focus on other different hobbies instead.
Book-related hobbies
1. Reviewing
I used to find reviewing a bit of a chore, but I’ve got much more into it this year and I’m enjoying writing my thoughts about books into reviews a lot.
It’s very rare that I write a short review, so all my reviews are normally 700-1.5k words long, depending on how much I have to say about a book. I don’t review every book I read on my blog, but I do on my Goodreads.
2. Taking Instagram photos of my books
When I’m in the mood, I love setting up books and props for my Instagram photos and taking a few pictures of some beautiful books.
Finding a good angle or composition is so satisfying and love it when a photo comes out just right.
If it’s a dark or rainy day then it can be a bit of a struggle because the lighting is RUBBISH. But on a sunny day, my camera is out and at the ready.
3. Chatting about books in the Sprayed Edges Book Club
Alison and I recently started the Sprayed Edges Book Club together, which is our new book club, where we pick a book to read every two months. You can find us on Twitter and Discord (drop me a message for the link if you’d like to join!) and in October and November, we’re reading Circe.
I’ve always wanted to start a book club, so when Alison asked me if I’d like to start one together, I said YES so fast. Our book club is still a baby in the grand scheme of things (this is only our second month), but I can’t wait to see where things go.
4. Buying/hauling books
One of my favourite past times, and indeed hobbies, is buying books. I am a serial book buyer. Especially when it comes to diverse release that I’m excited for.
It’s just so enjoyable to walk into a bookstore and pick up books to add to my collection. So, naturally, I have a lot of unread books on my shelves, but that also means that I have a lot of choice when it comes to monthly TBRs.
5. Going to signings and book events
Before covid, one of my favourite things to do was meeting up with friends at book signings and events. I LOVE going to signings to see my favourite authors talk and get books signed because it means I get to hang out with other bookish friends, as well.
NYA Lit Fest is always a fun event and YALC is probably my favourite event of the year, so I’m crossing my fingers that these events will be back in 2021.
Non-bookish hobbies
1. Running and sports classes
I’m really into sports and exercise, so I go running a lot in my free time. I used to go to spin classes, circuit classes, and boxing classes but the gym that runs them had to close during the first (and now this second) lockdown, so I’ve been mainly sticking to distance running.
I used to go to dance and Zumba classes too and was about to join a new Zumba class in the coming weeks, but again, lockdown part 2 has stopped that from happening, sadly.
2. Baking
During the first lockdown, in traditional white girl style, I got more into baking on weekends. 😂 I learned how to make a vegan key lime pie, baked new cookie and biscuit recipes, and tried some new smoothies.
3. Blogging and vlogging
I guess you could argue that these are still two book-related hobbies, since most of my blog posts and YouTube videos are about reading and books, but I sometimes write lifestyle and travel posts and the process of filming and editing, which a is more of a writing hobby for me? So I guess it’s not ~completely~ about books??? *cue me, trying to convince myself*
4. Learning Japanese
This is a hobby that I’ve neglected recently, but I want to get back into into learning Japanese soon. It’s a beautiful language and I learned a little when I lived there in 2016-2017, so I want to learn more and be able to speak the language a little more fluently whenever I’m next able to go back.
5. Travelling
This is something that I haven’t been able to do in 2020, but I love travelling. The adventure of visiting new places that you’ve never been to before is wonderful, and I hope to be able to pick this hobby back up in 2021.
What are some of your hobbies? Do you plan to take up any new hobbies soon, or do you have any of the same hobbies as me?
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Great list! I’ve really missed being able to go exercise classes this year – I am not really a sport of exercise fan, but I discovered I really enjoy trampolining classes and I’ve missed them a lot. Here’s hoping it’ll be safe for all of us to go travelling again soon!
Thanks Jess! Ooh trampolining sounds so fun, I would love to do that! We used to have a trampoline in our back garden, and I loved going on it 😀 Yes, fingers crossed for safe travel next year!
You lived in Japan? That’s amazing. How long were you there for? Japan has been calling me for the past year or so and I’d love to do an extended trip over there. What’s your go-to tools for learning the language?
That picture of Prague is making me wish I was back there. Here hopin 2021 gives us plenty of travel opportunities.
I think reviewing might be my favourite bookish hobbie. It’s why I started the blog initially and there’s something so satisfying about boosting books through reviews.
I did! I lived there for 3 months and I loved it so much ❤ I can't wait to go back when things are safer 😀 Yesss, fingers crossed for lots of safe travelling in 2021 and/or 2022. Ah that's so interesting! I definitely enjoy reviewing more now than I used to; I review everything on Goodreads now whereas I used to just rate some books without reviewing them.
Ahhh! Look at us at the signing! I can’t believe that was the first and last signing this year (for me anyway!). I still think it’s so cool that you lived in Japan, and it’s so fab you’re learning Japanese!
our book club baby 🥺