Aless

https://www.goodreads.com/alesstheintrovert

Aless’s Bookshelves

to-read‎ (94)
currently-reading‎ (5)
read‎ (377)
did-not-finish‎ (70)
read-at-a-later-time‎ (19)
audiobook-listens‎ (97)

addictive‎ (51)
favorites‎ (42)
school-reads‎ (35)
unexpected-favorites‎ (35)
netgalley-arcs‎ (17)
2019-favorites‎ (13)

2022-favorites‎ (12)
2020-favorites‎ (8)
2024-favorites‎ (8)
2021-favorites‎ (7)
annotated‎ (6)
gifted-for-review‎ (4)

unreleased‎ (3)
2023-favorites‎ (2)
beta-read‎ (1)

Stats | More…

Aless is Currently Reading

Aless is currently reading

Etiquette & Espionage (Finishing School, #1)

by Gail Carriger (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: favorites, audiobook-listens, currently-reading

Reading for the 2nd time

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

progress:

(59%)
"Hopefully I don't let this sit in almost finished hell *crosses fingers*" — Apr 02, 2026 01:52PM

Apr 02, 2026 01:52PM

Aless is currently reading

Mystery of the Tea Cup Quilt (Harland Creek Mystery Quilters, #1)

by Jodi Allen Brice (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

progress:

(page 118 of 214)
"118 of 187 pgs" — Feb 03, 2026 09:43PM

Feb 03, 2026 09:43PM

Aless is currently reading

1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round

by Jami Attenberg (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: unexpected-favorites, 2024-favorites, favorites, currently-reading

Reading for the 2nd time

read in August 2024

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Aless said: " The only time I pick up nonfiction is for writing craft books. This is the first craft book since Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels, that I did not skim read or get bored while reading. I read this on the recommendation of Kate C The only time I pick up nonfiction is for writing craft books. This is the first craft book since Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels, that I did not skim read or get bored while reading. I read this on the recommendation of Kate Cavanaugh Writes latest video where she tried the 1000 words bootcamp challenge.

I enjoyed this more than I expected. I love that it was written as a conversation instead of this is how writing should be or how you should attack. It was written for a modern audience who has access to a greater writing community that is searching for advice and experiences from other writers. I appreciate that all the authors and Attenberg referred to authors and writers I have never heard of, including ones who wrote a letter. Now, I am like 30 years younger than Attenberg, but one of the ways that I think the U.S. education fails us is by showing us artists of a certain status and background. The examples and authors mentioned are still likely of a white background, but there was something more interesting that the author writing the letter found so impactful. (I'm not sure if that made sense, but I can't think of a way to reword it right now.)

Also, having this reflect on the time between 2018-2021 was interesting. That time feels like a blur and as if 2018/2019 was the end of the world as we thought of it. So hearing how all these creatives went from finding a routine to rediscovering creativity while put into a bubble was enjoyable.

ALSO! As an art student going into her senior year, there were so many quotes that I will be taking with me into my approach as an artist who is struggling to create art for herself. I write what I want and tell the stories I want. But I make art works that I think other people will enjoy. I have maybe 4 pieces from the last 3 years that I am so happy with and proud with because I made them for my enjoyment. Not the grade or critique of my peers and professors.

I have found this summer that writing to a word count does not work for me. I write a scene(s) until I don't have anything left to say for that day/session. I have surprised myself with the word count I have by the end of the day. I still track it, just to find the pattern in when I write and finding my flow. I struggled to write a chapter yesterday but I sat with it all day and I like what I ended with. Today, I feel like my brain is mush. I wanted to read a fiction work, but I was so intrigued by this craft book so I read it first. I didn't even listen to the audiobook. I sat with the text and the words from all these authors. I have so many ideas as a writer, artist, person, for my current project, my last project, future ones, and so many things.

I finally found a writing craft book that made me think and appreciate art and life. This book doesn't gatekeep the writing community or writing. ...more "

progress:

(page 52 of 272)
— Jan 22, 2026 06:46PM

Aug 13, 2024 04:26PM · see review

See all 5 books that Aless is reading…

Aless’s Quotes

“If you want me obedient, prince, kill me and carry my corpse.”
― Hafsah Faizal, We Hunt the Flame

tags: fantasy-young-adult, funny, humor, inspirational, sassy

72 likes

“One of the reasons Ayaan said she loves being Muslim is because it makes her feel like a natural feminist. "Like hello? Our queen Khadija didn't wait for the man she had her eye on to ask her, to get on his knees. Nope. Instead, she said, 'I like you, oh employee of mine. Will you marry me?' And then, after they hitched, she just kept her job as his boss. Mad respect.”
― S.K. Ali, Love from A to Z

10 likes

“You need to have a way to take care of yourself. A way to recharge. Otherwise the world will get you down so fast, you won’t be able to hold your head up. I learned this the hard way.”
― S.K. Ali, Love from A to Z

5 likes

“The clearest feeling I remember is this: the way that it felt like the space between us folded and folded, and kept folding until the distance shrank, until we made sense to each other.”
― S.K. Ali, Love from A to Z

3 likes

“Sinners who were led astray,
Wandered through the woods one day,
Stumbled right into the Gray,
Never to return.
Hear the lies our gods will tell,
The prison the Four wove so well,
But listen to us when we say,
Branches and stones, daggers and bones,
Will meet their judgement day.”
― C.L. Herman, The Devouring Gray

tags: curse, prayer, song

7 likes

More of Aless’s quotes…