It’s Top Ten Tuesday again and this week I’m sharing my shopping list!
When pay day comes around, I buy bookish merchandise for escapist reasons!
Do I have a problem? Maybe!
A bookish t-shirt
Now that I am ALMOST THIRTY, I try to avoid buying graphic t-shirts.
Something something gotta look professional, also short-sleeve button-downs are clearly superior.
However.
I love cutesy t-shirts that reference my favorite books, such as this shirt referencing Pancake Billy’s House of Pancakes from One Last Stop.
IT’S ALMOST AS GOOD AS WORKING THERE.
A bookish tattoo
Tattoos count as merchandise, right?
They’re like permanent merchandise.
There are moments in books that I’d like to memorialize on my body for mental health reasons.
I like being reminded of moments that touched me emotionally.
I am trying to get a Piranesi tattoo. We’ll see if it pans out.
A bookish candle
I buy candles from BriarWick pretty regularly.
They have a fun Romance Collection with everyone’s favorite tropes.
Look! An Adam Carlsen candle inspired by The Love Hypothesis!
Every candle I’ve purchased from this store smells amazing. The lavender-scented ones are my fave.
A special edition of a beloved book
I feel like the best way to honor a book I love is to own a special edition.
Sure, it’s the same book whether it’s a gold-embossed hardcover or a beat-up paperback.
Beat-up paperbacks, however, feel a lot less holy.
Also, there are books I absolutely love that have the WORST covers.
I think they deserve better.
Illustrated editions pack an especially hard punch (as long as I like the art style.)
A bookish art print
I obviously love when artists make art inspired by books they love.
I love it even MORE when authors I love make art of their own books!
ND Stevenson has an Inprnt shop with Nimona prints!! What a gem!
Now I can DECORATE my abode with art from my favorite stories!
A bookish bottle of beer
Alphabet Brewing Company produced beers inspired by the Belinda Blinked series and I want them.
(I checked the website and believe these beers have sold out. I still want them.)
I can’t justify international shipping for beer, which I don’t even like that much.
Wouldn’t it be celebratory, though, to drink beer INSPIRED by some of the worst smut ever written??
Especially while listening to the podcast???
A bookish mug
I collect themed mugs and my favorites correspond with my favorite media.
If a mug has a tricksy little image that only True Fans would understand, all the better.
A custom book jacket
Some artists create custom book jackets for books they love.
You can replace your standard book jacket with some beautiful art!
This is usually cheaper than buying a special edition and is just as pretty!
A piece of jewelry owned by a book character
“Hey, Lauren, this seems weirdly specific.”
It is! I can’t help it!
When I meet a character I love and that character wears a particular piece of jewelry, I long to own that jewelry myself.
Examples include Kyo Sohma’s bone bracelet and Ronan Lynch’s leather bracelets.
I bought a bracelet similar to Kyo’s once and learned that I hate wearing bracelets! Still worth it!
A bookish snack
I am often jealous of what characters get to experience.
In Harry Potter, there are frequent instances of Harry either missing a feast or skipping breakfast. Every time I came across one of these, I would scream, “YOU ARE RUINING THIS FOR ME.”
WHAT’S THE POINT OF GOING TO A MAGICAL BOARDING SCHOOL WITH THREE MAGICAL MEALS PER DAY IF YOU’RE NOT GOING TO EAT?
I CAN ONLY EXPERIENCE THIS MAGICAL WORLD THROUGH YOU, MY GUY. EAT THE PUDDING.
To combat Harry’s betrayal, I seek out foods from my favorite books, such as November cakes from The Scorpio Races or caramel popcorn from The Night Circus.
I might not be in love with a time-traveler, but I can still eat Strawberry Milkshake Pop Tarts (which I don’t even like.)
Eat Me cakes and Drink Me cordials probably won’t shrink me down, but I bet they taste great!
Pay day is coming.
I may or may not buy at least one of these items.
If someone would like to buy me a bookish beer that I won’t enjoy, go with God.
Narrative Paradise 
Loved your list! I’m so with you on the graphic tees, I don’t know what it is, but I started to really not like them come my mid-twenties – I feel you on the button downs!
I’m also trash for special editions 😂
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The trick with graphic print t-shirts is to get a nicely fitted black blazer you can wear with them. I call this “The Media look”. It’s like an offshoot of business casual—people will assume you are a graphic designer or maybe work for a cool magazine and pass zero judgements on the printed shirt. Also, it gives you queer credentials.
And “I am trying to get a Piranesi tattoo. We’ll see if it pans out.”
I snort laughed.
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