Welcome, Reader! My name is Megan, and I am a life-long bibliophile.

This blog started in early 2015 for a simple reason: a place for me to post my thoughts and reviews of the pre-published copies of books I received from publishers and booksellers. I knew the more social media outlets I used to promote the books I loved, the more good stories the publishers would send my way.  However, it soon evolved into my own personal space to reflect on how the books I read shape my travels, culinary pursuits, and hobbies, and vice versa. I have always clung to my childhood dream of becoming a Great American Writer (I know, I know, #basic much), and this blog has served to reawaken my love of putting pen to paper after four long years of stifling my creativity in dental school (I’m giving you the side-eye, Biochemistry).

I have a love/hate relationship with blogs, which is why I kept this blog “secret” from virtually all of my friends and family for nearly two years. With the recent passing of my wonderful grandmother, however, who always encouraged me to write, I now feel compelled to share all the great stories I read,watch, listen to, and experience each week.  The parts of my life that fill me with content and shape the content of my character. If that sounds like an appealing read to you, pull up a chair and join in the conversation.

Why do I think I’m qualified to recommend books to the Internet world, you ask? Despite my day job as a dentist, I honestly never really wanted to be anything else BUT a writer.  I’ve religiously kept journals since I was 8, detailing my love for Limited Too and The Baby-Sitter’s Club in its lined pages.  I have dozens of marbled composition books filled with transcripts of eavesdropped conversations (I had a Harriet the Spy phase), short stories, and angsty teenage crises.  I created a webpage in fifth grade with my childhood BFF, Kristen, which was dedicated to creative writing (y’all remember Expages? As ashamed as I am to admit it, I do). I attended writing workshops, competed in essay contests, and studied English Lit in undergrad.

Toddler Meg, already addicted to the written word!

Even with my current full-time job, I continue to read and/or listen to 3-4 books per week during my daily commute or breaks in between patients, and I still write every single day. Basically, I’m a big believer in the power of the pen, and proud of it.   So although I’m slightly allergic to the word “blog,” and I have no clue as to website design, I couldn’t hold myself back any longer.

My blog title is inspired by my favorite book series of all time, Anne of Green Gables. In one scene, Anne declares, “Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It’s splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.” Hopefully I’ll find a few more kindred spirits through this blog.

Some facts you should know about me:

1. I’m a big believer in reading based on my mood or my current season of life. For example, when I was planning my trip to India this fall, I was reading books like “Behind the Beautiful Forevers,” “A Fine Balance,” and “The White Tiger.” If I’m interested in learning how to cook a new type of food, cookbooks enter into my nightstand rotation. Now that I’m training for a 1/2 marathon, I’ve started ordering exercise books and sports memoirs off of Amazon. One time I was waiting at an auto shop while my car was being serviced, and I was so desperate for literary stimulation I ended up reading the user manual for a Honda Accord. MY ADDICTION KNOWS NO LIMITS AND YOU’RE GONNA SEE IT ALL. I promised literary discussion, but I didn’t guarantee it would be high-brow.
2.  I also love to travel, cook, research fashion and make up trends, as well as spend time with my husband and family, and you will hear about all of these things because they influence the books I choose to read.
3. I’m a Southern girl, so I am an extreme people-pleaser. If there’s a book you want me to read and review, please send an email to greengablesstateofmind@gmail.com and let me know!
4. If you want to read more about my “Green Gables State of Mind,” this blog post should tell you more: click here 

Thanks again for stopping by. Can’t wait to know ya!