Tag: my reading life

  • 2024 Update

    2024 Update

    Welcome to the redesigned Hot Pepper Latte! ✨ After 10 years of blogging, it was time for a little refresh. I wanted something that reflects the look and feel of what I read today, so I drew inspiration from my bookstagram feed. Turns out I read a lot of colourful novels! With a new logo…

  • Top 5 podcasts to listen to if you like stories

    Top 5 podcasts to listen to if you like stories

    It can be tough to find the time to read. If you’re like me, you can use the time during your commute or wind down before bed with a book, but sometimes, after spending all day looking at a computer screen, reading a book can really irritate your eyes. When that happens I usually turn…

  • Monoceros by Suzette Mayr

    Monoceros by Suzette Mayr

    Lately, I’ve been challenging myself to read more outside of my comfort zone. When I spotted Monoceros‘ beautiful cover on the discount shelf at TYPE Books, I thought why not give it a shot? I read the summary on the back and it seemed alright. I was not disappointed! Inside was a beautiful and tragic story. Unfortunately,…

  • Top 10 Bookstagrammers you need to follow

    Top 10 Bookstagrammers you need to follow

    Ah, #Bookstagram. That wonderful world of photos of books and avid readers on the hunt for their next beautiful, great read. I only discovered bookstagram myself a little while ago, but since then I can’t get enough. In fact, you can follow me @hplreads to see some bookstagrams of my own. My favourite thing about…

  • And so we begin at the beginning! 2017

    And so we begin at the beginning! 2017

    And we’re off! Welcome back to the new and improved Hot Pepper Latte. It was time for an upgrade and at the beginning of a new year it felt like what better time to do so? For those of you who have been with me the last few years you will find more of the…

  • An Ode to Festivals

    An Ode to Festivals

    The Word on the Street book and magazine festival hits the Harbourfront this Sunday, September 25, 2016. After four years of attending, I decided to spice things up this year and volunteer for the first time! If you’ve never attended Word on the Street you should definitely check it out this weekend. Literary festivals are…

  • Am I reading the right books?

    Am I reading the right books?

    I can’t shake the feeling that I’m not reading the right books. When plied with the question “Have you read…?” I almost always shrink with embarrassment because the answer is usually, “No I haven’t.” When asked to recommend a good book to someone I struggle because my reading choices are often miscellaneous, ranging from popular…

  • In Defense of the Beach Read

    In Defense of the Beach Read

    I had a conversation with a friend a week ago about what I was reading now that the semester is over which brought us to a confounding realization: the lofty works of literature we had been dying to pick up for months now were too depressing.  Were they well-written? Yes. Were they interesting and thought-provoking?…

  • When to give up on a book

    When to give up on a book

    It’s pretty common for people to struggle with finishing books and there have been many cases made for the benefits of seeing a book from discovering one rectifying moment to showing respect for the craftmanship of the work. But I’ve been struggling with a very different problem: what to do when a book simply disagrees with…

  • Season: Taking a break from books!

    Season: Taking a break from books!

    I’ve been thinking about writing this post for quite a while. It’s not uncommon for me to take a break from blogging for several months — not a great habit but usually necessary to make time for school — but recently I’ve found that even with the time to do it I just haven’t been…

  • I’m Back, Canada Reads 2015 & #ReadHarder

    I’m Back, Canada Reads 2015 & #ReadHarder

    And we’re back! I am once again working in Toronto after returning to school for another term, which means yet another foray into the world of blogging ha ha ha… This also happens to be the day the Canada Reads 2015 longlist was released and it is delightful. So many diverse writers and the perfect…

  • The Walrus: A Canadian Valentine

    The Walrus: A Canadian Valentine

    I first subscribed to The Walrus in the fall of 2010. They had a stand at Word on the Street Toronto, and it was drawing a large crowd. I’m forever glad that I was just as curious as the average person because I walked away with a subscription and a sweet tote bag for the…