Project Bookshelf: Miranda Spurlock

My bookshelf is not that of a highly sophisticated scholar, but it is a shelf full of dreams, magic, and fulfilled promise to a little girl with a big imagination. I love books that take you on an adventure and build worlds in your mind, books that make you think about connection and the experience that is life.

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

This book and trilogy have a special place in my heart and a permanent spot on my bookshelf. It is the first fantasy series I ever read and really laid the foundation for my love of the genre. It’s full of fairies, political intrigue, schemes, and the most intense slow burn romance that is so subtle I still think about it to this day. I often find myself fantasizing about what my life would be if I was whisked off to Elfhame.

The Spellshop by Sarah Best Durst

If cozy magic was a book, it would be this book. When I pick up a book, I am looking for an escape to a land far from this one, and this was the perfect read for that. It had all the whimsical elements I look for when reading; the book felt like one giant hug and an ode to all my childhood imaginations. It has baking, talking plants, cats with wings, a unicorn, merfolk, and above all else, BOOKS. One of my favorite quotes of all time came from this treasure: “It wasn’t that she didn’t like people. It was that she liked books more. They didn’t fuss or judge or mock or reject. They invited you in, fluffed up the pillows on the couch, offered you tea and toast, and shared their hearts with no expectation that you’d do anything more than absorb what they had to give.”

I could go on and on about all the stories on my shelf, but I fear I would be typing an entire manuscript. So here is my book horde that I guard proudly like a ferocious yet sleepy dragon.

A white woman with long blond hair standing next to bookshelves. She has on a headband, a blue and pink dress, and an arm cuff. She is smiling.

I am Miranda, a cat mom of one, but if you count the feral cats who use their charming manipulation on me (their cute faces), I am a cat mom of 4-8 on any given day. I love the color pink; I am very fond of fairies, and escaping into a book is what I do best. I really pride myself on creativity and have tried almost every hobby there is to try. I am currently a senior at UTK; my major is Business Management, and I’m minoring in English.