clockworkconall: (Default)
Tobias ([personal profile] clockworkconall) wrote2022-10-06 09:18 pm

Clearly Bookish

He is clearly bookish. I did not follow a single word of their conversation at dinner last night, not one jot of it. He must be bookish

I had no idea that writing my first blog post would be so intimidating. The blank page, the flashing cursor, the paralysing fear of getting it wrong. Everyone makes it seem so easy, I thought I just opened up the 'new post' page, started typing and that was it.

So, hi. I'm Tobias and this is my brand new blog. As it says just over there on the right, I'm a 41-year-old nerd from the south west of England who loves science-fiction and steampunk. By day, I work as a systems analyst in the government but by night I get excited by books, music, tv & film, video games and all things STEAM related. OK, who am I kidding? I get excited about them during the day too!

I randomly fell into booktok over the summer. I'm not entirely sure how I got there but I really enjoyed listening to people enthuse about what they're reading. I tried to give it a go but didn't at all feel comfortable recording myself, couldn't get the hang of editing clips and just got frustrated and pissed off.

From there I ended up reading bookblogging websites and decided this looked like a lot of fun. Which brings me to right here, right now, to my first post as I choose to have a go at doing it myself.

It also coincides nicely with buying a new flat - it has two bedrooms, one of which I've converted into a home office since my job became hybrid working after the apocalypse. So I have space for bookshelves, and my parents have emptied their attic of boxes and boxes of my books etc etc declaring I could store them myself. I'm slowly unpacking and working out what I want to keep. I foresee lots of re-reading in the future, a mixture of old favourites that I haven't read in years and things I don't remember if I like/want to keep.

I've started adding details of a few to my new goodreads and storygraph accounts. I've never tracked reading or anything before so I'm excited to see the sorts of stats I get at the end of the year.

I've set myself a goal of reading 18 books by the end of the year. It's only just over one a week, so it shouldn't be too bad. I usually read two books at a time, one fiction and one non-fiction.
For my fiction TBR right now, I'm re-reading Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series, followed by the Finishing School series. The internet is telling me there's some others I've missed as well so I'm excited
For my non-fiction TBR right now, I want to try reading some Bill Bryson. I know I've read at least one of his and remember enjoying it a lot. I'm currently waiting for my library reservation of Troublesome Words to come in. I have a *thing* about chronological orders.

So, yes, welcome to Clockwork Conall, it's nice to have you here. Pull up a chair, pour yourself a hot cup of tea and make yourself comfortable.
gwendraith: (autumn bench)

[personal profile] gwendraith 2022-10-08 02:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Your first post is terrific, better than I managed!

Congratulations on buying a flat, not easy to accomplish these days.

Bill Bryson! I think I must have read most of his books. He makes me laugh.
jerrbear_81: A picture of a light brown skinned chubby man smiling mischievously. He has a dark beard, wears a bowler hat, and circular eyeglasses (Default)

[personal profile] jerrbear_81 2022-10-08 07:41 pm (UTC)(link)
IMO, you did well
kaishin108: waves by hwm (Default)

[personal profile] kaishin108 2022-10-09 02:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Great first post, you got this :)
chl03: (Default)

[personal profile] chl03 2022-10-10 01:58 am (UTC)(link)
Bill Bryson is amazing! A Short History of Nearly Everything is what started my obsession with him. Notes From a Small Island is all about Britain and super funny. My dad found everything in it to be quite an accurate representation of life in the UK (my folks are from London :)). I have several others of his books sitting on my shelf, just waiting... that happens to everyone, yeah? Haha.

Anyway, hope you enjoy the journaling journey! Welcome!
kaishin108: waves by hwm (Default)

[personal profile] kaishin108 2023-08-30 12:20 am (UTC)(link)
wow, what a great first post! i hope you like it here. and yes, congrats on buying your flat. oh the joy of working remote, i hope it lasts.
Edited 2023-08-30 00:21 (UTC)