If you, like me, are not only obsessive with your book buying and reading, but also organizing and tracking, then I recommend a goodreads account. Goodreads is for those of us who can’t wait to get our hands on a sequel, while also tracking the books we have and haven’t read.
You can set your yearly goal to encourage your reading habits, or you can do what I do, set it to 1 at the beginning of the year so you’re proud of yourself no matter what!
You can add friends, vote for your favourite books, message other readers, and categorize all of your recent or present reads. I’ve had my Goodreads account for almost a decade, and it’s fun to look back on what I read as a teenager, and the ways in which I would reach out to authors or attend digital events through Goodreads. They also have frequent giveaways, and Goodreads is an excellent way to reach out to “booktubers” or people you may follow on “booktok”.
It is an excellent way to keep in touch, form book clubs, track your reading, and see what other people are reading!
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner is an effervescent story of love, reconciliation, grieving and self-reflection. A deeply personal memoir meant to place you in the time and space of the narrator, while also leaving room for your own feelings and reflection. Zauner perfectly encompasses the fragility of fraught mother-daughter relationships, and the effectiveness of reaching out and cultural ties.
Discussing themes of loss, heritage, and forgiveness, Zauner forces the reader to confront their own familial ties and identity politics. In a heartwarming and engaging 256 pages Zauner takes us through the growing up and breaking down of childhood. If you yourself have ever gone through parental loss, or struggles with familial relationships Zauner is there to hold your hand and guide you in a way that is both uplifting and validating. Rich with stories of Korea, love, food-service, and rock and roll, Crying in H Mart will leave you both broken-hearted and hopeful. This memoir recounts the complexity of a relationship and the ability to love someone through a terminal diagnosis, learning to forgive both them and yourself in the process.
Massy Books, Living Wage, and The Vancouver Black Library!
On February 1st, Massy Books was announced to be the first bookstore in British Columbia to be a living wage employer! This is an integral aspect of a healthy working environment, as Massy Books has already been known to be. Massy is setting the tone as a store with fair working conditions, and is setting a precedent for the book publishing/buying industry.
On February 4th, Massy Books announced it’s partnership with the “Vancouver Black Library” that was recently established in late January. Massy Books has created a Vancouver Black Library registry on their sales page, which features wishlist items that you can donate through Massy Books.
The Vancouver Black Library is described on instagram as a “resources and workspace by & for BIPOC”. They are currently looking for any and all donations, while also crowdfunding through gofundme (links below). The VBL is introduced due to an “overt lack of Black community” as explained on their social media. Spaces like these need community support, and Massy Books has once again raised the bar for booksellers.
What topic did you choose, and why? Why was this topic an appropriate fit for this publishing medium, in your opinion? You might want to think here about form, audience, barriers to access, and other specific characteristics of the publishing medium.
I chose the topic of misinformation as it is something that I have always found very interesting. Misinformation is a very dangerous thing that is plaguing a lot of the world due to the internet and the ability to disseminate information quickly and efficiently. I thought that the poster design was interesting as it forces people to look away from their phones, but also has the ability to be shared online (ironically). Because this poster can be printed and posted in daily life, while also being available online makes it much more accessible. Those without access to the internet can see it in real life, and those who are glued to their phones will see it too. I think that a lot of people need to see more content like this, as misinformation is rampant on the internet and can seriously harm people, especially through the pandemic.
Describe a specific choice you made as a creator and explain why you made it.
For the design, I noticed that I contrast is the biggest thing that draws my attention to something. The bright colours in the first design, and star light to dark contrast draws attention to the words. I also think that if things contain too much text, it can become overwhelming. Having only a few words allowed for the message to get across clearer.
What did you learn about this medium by actually working in it (as opposed to just reading about it or analyzing it)?
I learned that less is more. Using a photograph that speaks more than a lot of words could, and ensuring that the message is clear. Working with poster design allowed for easy consumption and allows it to be accessible both online and IRL.
Most people say that real books are on the decline. Nevertheless, the reason why I learn publishing comes from the diversity that magazines give. Vogue, one of my favorite magazines, is a magazine that I regularly subscribe to to to read trends even though I am not very interested in fashion. Today, I would like to explain that this post is not simply a photo book full of advertisements.
The word Vogue means “style” in French. In December 2006, book critic Caroline Weber described it as the “world’s most influential fashion magazine.” Vogue is a fashion magazine that can be comfortably accessed by the public as well as fashion experts, has a long history and is highly recognized. From April 2019 to March 2020, Vogue magazine (in print and online) reached nearly 2.7 million people in the United Kingdom, including nearly two million women. Vogue Magazine has a significant influence and impact on fashion beyond simply introducing fashion trends or showing the latest high-end fashion advertisements. “Vogue” symbolizes the fashion itself. <Vogue> is also referred to as a “fashion bible” because trend-sensitive readers provide a list of what will happen or wish lists in next season’s fashion. It is great that the content from the brand “Vogue” had enough influence to control the fashion industry. It is possible for <Vogue> to build such a brand because there was a marketing strategy based on constant effort, passion, and creativity.
Looking at the cover of <Vogue>, it can be seen that it reflects the current media and design trends well. <Vogue> seems to understand what to sell and how to sell best. If you look at the history of changes on the cover of “Vogue”, you can see photos that reflect the best high-end fashion trends from detailed artistic images. By providing readers with artists, trends, and high-end cultures that can represent the best high-end fashion of the time, Vogue shows that it is the leader in high-end fashion in name and reality. For readers to trust <Vogue>, the contents of sponsors and promotions must also feel related to the overall visual image of <Vogue>. In a similar context, to most efficiently build content in digital media, video content, a means that can most effectively affect readers of <Vogue>, which is sensitive to visual images, is also actively used. The digital team of <Vogue> is playing the same role as a creative agency as a branding strategy that focuses on content development using the advancement of visual images. In addition, “Vogue” is a renowned fashion magazine in the fashion world, focusing on creating the best content by fully utilizing the network with the world’s fashion artists (photographers, models, art directors, etc.). <Vogue> seems to cite Instagram as the most effective and efficient medium among various social media platforms in raising brand awareness. They have 2.1 million followers post 1,026 posts and are very active. However, they receive nearly 10,000 “likes” without any hashtags due to their public symbol of the trend itself. <Vogue> has been building aggressive marketing strategies through new media and means without missing the trend of digital media development. In addition, the print version of the magazine, a classic version that symbolizes the best composition and editing power, has not been neglected, and through constant change and evolution, it has continued its reputation as a “fashion textbook.”
Fashion magazine covers have a huge impact on sales for the month. If you go to a bookstore, you can’t read all the magazines and you have to judge only by the cover and gift to see if they are worth buying. Therefore, in the case of Korea, where I frequently encountered Vogue, they presented more colourful covers and fruitful gifts during economically unstable times. Considering that magazines are essentially advertising books, I think magazines should accurately predict consumer sentiment and economic conditions. Therefore, the cover of a fashion magazine can be seen as one of the most accurate symbols reflecting the economic situation, and due to the recent coronavirus, Vogue has been using a more colourful cover. One of Vogue’s oldest hook-up methods is to frequently present gifts that are more expensive than magazine prices, attracting young adult women. Vogue is already welcome to collaborate with various brands such as Cosmetics and Living, which have a price range because it has a large ripple effect on the brand itself. These Vogue covers are decorated by the hottest of the time and registered on the cover of Vogue is the dream of all celebrities. As such, they actively collaborate with companies and models, which often leads to fandom purchases. This is a relatively small means of income caused by the growing fandom culture, but it will be more effective than presenting an appendix to a magazine. In the case of Korean Vogue, an event was also held to collaborate with messenger apps such as WhatsApp in North America called Kakao Talk to conduct photo shoots for the general public. As such, Vogue is no longer only complacent to fashion people but is also expanding its scope to the public.
References
Dennaya, & Bram, B. (2021). LANGUAGE STYLE IN FASHION ADVERTISEMENTS OF ONLINE VOGUE MAGAZINE. JOALL (Journal of Applied Linguistics and Literature), 6(2), 277–289. https://doi.org/10.33369/joall.v6i2.14549
Kazanjian, & Bowles, H. (2017). Vogue: the covers / by Dodie Kazanjian ; foreword by Hamish Bowles. (Updated edition for Vogue’s 125th anniversary.). Abrams.
Watson, A. (2021, July 1). Vogue: Monthly reach by demographic UK 2020. Statista. Retrieved February 1, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/380962/vogue-monthly-reach-by-demographic-uk/
As I’m writing this, the day is January 26th, Bell Let’s Talk day— a campaign created to combat the stigma that surrounds mental illness. The day invites conversation around the topic of mental health and raises money for mental health projects in Canada. Bell donates five cents for every social media interaction that includes the hashtag #BellLetsTalk, five cents for every view of the “Bell Let’s Talk” video, and if you are a Bell wireless customer, 5 cents for every text message sent. This campaign and its goal to end mental health stigma are so important because stigma often prevents those with mental illness from getting the help they need.
Bell’s dedication to initiating a conversation around mental health has inspired me to share parts of my mental health journey. As much as I’d like to say that I feel completely comfortable sharing every aspect of my mental health journey with anyone and everyone, I’m simply not there yet. But I’m willing to take a step toward this goal and share parts of my story. I hope that talking about it sends the message that there should be no shame in struggling. In fact, the vulnerability and bravery of people who share their struggles are to be admired.
Recognizing The Signs
This blog is intended to be the sincerest reflection of myself, and there is simply no way to achieve this without discussing the subject of mental health. I can recall feeling intensely anxious as young as age 5. I didn’t recognize it as “mental illness” back then, but in hindsight, that’s how I would label my struggles. My mom knew I was an anxious kid, but she sensed that it was more than just that. She took me to see a psychologist in hopes of understanding why I was feeling this way. It was then that I was told I had anxiety and OCD tendencies. I was only 7 and could not grasp these concepts. All I knew, was it was exhausting to live with my mind. I would be worried about things that most 7-year-olds wouldn’t even register, and I was highly particular about how certain tasks must be completed. Throughout my elementary school years, the anxiety and OCD were ever-present but manageable.
Highschool
When I entered high school, I can recall a shift in me. The move from elementary to high school was a big change that only intensified my anxiety. I was only 12 years old, trying to navigate my way through a new school with none of my friends from elementary. For the first time in my life, I felt the feeling of lingering sadness. I was so unhappy and overwhelmed, that my mom and I decided it would be best for me to go to middle school for a year. But even then, I was still not happy, and the sadness and anxiety was seeming to escalate my OCD symptoms. Fast forward to high school, grades 9-12, I was a part of a swim academy, Simon Fraser Aquatics. I trained in the mornings and attended school for 2 hours a day in the afternoons. This meant I missed out on all the social aspects of school— no electives, assemblies, lunch breaks— so I didn’t make many connections with people at school because I was hardly there. These years were very difficult for me. I put so much pressure on myself to be the best that I could be in school, in sports, and in leadership initiatives and this mindset took the fun out of everything I did.
Breaking Point
In the middle of my grade 12 year, I hit a breaking point. I was incredibly stressed, overwhelmed, and sad. I had been seeing a counsellor, and he suggested that I quit swimming. This was the hardest decision ever had to make. I had dedicated 10 years to competitive swimming, and it felt like my mental health was “forcing” me to give it up. But ultimately, I took a step back from swimming in hopes that it would relieve at least some of the stress and expectations I was putting on myself. While quitting swimming did give me more time to myself, it wasn’t the “solution” to my problems. I had lost my “identity” as an athlete, and I was floundering, searching for something else that I felt made me important.
OCD and Medication
Realizing it was going to take more than just quitting swimming for me to feel less anxious and depressed, I started seeing a psychiatrist in January 2020. She wasn’t the first psychiatrist I had seen, but she was the first person to explain that OCD is the main culprit of my problems. She said that if I could get a handle on my OCD and the intrusive thoughts that accompany it, my depression and anxiety would start to subside. I had tried medication in the past, but never found one that worked for me. My psychiatrist and I went through several different kinds of medications until we found one that worked for me. And only did I truly start to see its effects when we significantly increased the dose in the last few months, but that doesn’t mean “I’m struggle-free”. I still fight a mental battle every day. My OCD manifests itself in unusual fixations and obsessions. For example, the everyday task of doing laundry takes me significantly longer because I make sure that before my clothes go in the wash, I have removed every single piece of fluff, lint, or hair that clings to the clothes. I know how trivial “laundry” may sound to people, but it is a big deal for me. My OCD also prevails in the form of intrusive thoughts. I have an extensive night-time routine that I am strict about following because if I don’t, my intrusive thoughts hound me until I do. One of the biggest things I’m working on with my OCD is learning live in the uncomfortable feeling of “imperfection”.
Where am I now?
Right now, I’d say I am the happiest I’ve felt in a long time. I have found purpose in sport again through rowing with the SFU team, and I have made great friendships and connections with new people during my first year of university. Since upping my medication dose, I am more calm and confident in who I am as a person, and that is a great feeling. I will say, the biggest hurdle I’m trying to get over right now is how OCD impacts my time management. My need for everything to be “perfect”, often leads me to push off tasks such as school assignments because I know that even my best efforts, will never be “good enough” for me. I’d rather delay the assignment than have to linger in the uncomfortable feeling of the assignment not meeting my perfect standards. However, I am much more aware of this problem and awareness is the first step to change. I am still a work in progress.
If sharing a bit of my mental health journey has left one person feeling less alone in their struggles, that’s all I could want.
If you or someone you know requires immediate help and someone to talk to, please call 833-456-4566.
