Have you ever wondered what happens to a librarian after they die? Do they go straight to literary heaven or do they linger on the rows of shelves where they used to organise volume after volume? Perhaps you notice when you go to a library in the wee hours, sounds of shuffling or books sliding into shelves can be heard ringing across the halls—even though there is no one there. Do not fret, they mean no harm. They just want you to stay quiet and put the books back where they belong.
Every time October rolls around, I keep thinking I’ll get ahead on my costume this year. And every year I’m cornered by deadlines that I always pull it off last minute anyway. Just like last year, this year’s costume really reflects who I am on the daily—which begs the question (again), is it really a costume if I’m just being myself? Book has become such a big theme of my life this year, as I go on library tours and book dates a lot lately, that this costume feels absolutely fitting—that or being a crazy girlfriend ala Obsession.
Have you ever wondered what happens to a librarian after they die? Do they go straight to literary heaven or do they linger on the rows of shelves where they used to organise volume after volume? Perhaps you notice when you go to a library in the wee hours, sounds of shuffling or books sliding into shelves can be heard ringing across the halls—even though there is no one there. Do not fret, they mean no harm. They just want you to stay quiet and put the books back where they belong.
Every time October rolls around, I keep thinking I’ll get ahead on my costume this year. And every year I’m cornered by deadlines that I always pull it off last minute anyway. Just like last year, this year’s costume really reflects who I am on the daily—which begs the question (again), is it really a costume if I’m just being myself? Book has become such a big theme of my life this year, as I go on library tours and book dates a lot lately, that this costume feels absolutely fitting—that or being a crazy girlfriend ala Obsession.
📷 DJI Osmo Pocket 3 + Samsung Z Flip 7 50.0 MP F1.8-F2.2
Between the Eerie Shelves
If I’m being honest, the main part of this costume is the location: Pustaka Pahala. I’ve known about this library for months and months, and been meaning to pay it a visit—for some reason, I just never ended up doing so. When I was thinking about this year’s costume, this library popped into my head and I thought it would be the perfect setting, bringing together what would otherwise have been a pretty mundane outfit for my standards. The library is inside this queer-looking house with a particular roof, allowing it to have its iconic cone shape, located around 15 minutes from where I live. The library consists of 2 floors, with bookshelves circling the stairwell in the middle of the entire structure. It’s just visually so beautiful, but can also look pretty eerie from the right angles. Perfect!
As we walked in, we were greeted by the librarian who walked us through the house rules as we were first-timers. We were instructed to put our bags inside the available lockers, allowing only to bring our phone and laptop—although my little DJI was also allowed, as long as it is only for personal content needs. We are allowed to look through all the shelves and pick out any book we want, but we should not return the books directly to the shelves after reading—instructed, instead, to put it on a cart specifically for all read books. We also weren’t allowed to go out the back door, unless we wanted to go to the toilet (with permission from the librarian). As far as I could tell, there are no entry fee or time limit. I’ll definitely go back soon!
If I’m being honest, the main part of this costume is the location: Pustaka Pahala. I’ve known about this library for months and months, and been meaning to pay it a visit—for some reason, I just never ended up doing so. When I was thinking about this year’s costume, this library popped into my head and I thought it would be the perfect setting, bringing together what would otherwise have been a pretty mundane outfit for my standards. The library is inside this queer-looking house with a particular roof, allowing it to have its iconic cone shape, located around 15 minutes from where I live. The library consists of 2 floors, with bookshelves circling the stairwell in the middle of the entire structure. It’s just visually so beautiful, but can also look pretty eerie from the right angles. Perfect!
As we walked in, we were greeted by the librarian who walked us through the house rules as we were first-timers. We were instructed to put our bags inside the available lockers, allowing only to bring our phone and laptop—although my little DJI was also allowed, as long as it is only for personal content needs. We are allowed to look through all the shelves and pick out any book we want, but we should not return the books directly to the shelves after reading—instructed, instead, to put it on a cart specifically for all read books. We also weren’t allowed to go out the back door, unless we wanted to go to the toilet (with permission from the librarian). As far as I could tell, there are no entry fee or time limit. I’ll definitely go back soon!
Volumes and Volumes of Horrors
Since the theme is books this year, I thought I’d recommend some scary volumes alongside some book-adapted horror films. One book I read this year was Night of a Thousand Hells by Intan Paramaditha, which explores the relationship between three sisters after one of them committed a suicide bombing. It’s scary both in a supernatural sense, and also in the living-as-a-woman sense. Another book that also explores the horror of living as a woman is I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman. While it’s technically a dystopian book, but it’s also one that follows the bleak and scary reality of being the last women on earth. Still on the same theme, I suppose The Vegetarian by Han Kang is also not to be missed. The story follows the life of a woman who suddenly doesn’t want to eat meat—and gets progressively stranger and stranger, as her family gives up on her.
While I have mentioned this film over and over again, I’d be remiss not to mention my favourite book-to-film horror adaptation: Låt den rätte komma in/Let the Right One In. The movie offers a sweeter—albeit violent—depiction of the bond between the vampire and the boy. I would also highly recommend Interview with the Vampire (the original 1994 version), adapted from a book of the same title by Anne Rice. Recommended to see Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise with pretty long hair. It has recently been re-adapted as a Netflix series, but I haven’t seen that one myself. Last but not least, one of my absolute favourite (yet criminally underrated) films: We Need to Talk About Kevin—adapted from Lionel Shriver‘s masterpiece that I haven’t read. Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, and Ezra Miller killed it in this movie—no sick pun intended.
Thrifted shirt | swapped dress | old ribbon | photos by Akita & Mapa
Since the theme is books this year, I thought I’d recommend some scary volumes alongside some book-adapted horror films. One book I read this year was Night of a Thousand Hells by Intan Paramaditha, which explores the relationship between three sisters after one of them committed a suicide bombing. It’s scary both in a supernatural sense, and also in the living-as-a-woman sense. Another book that also explores the horror of living as a woman is I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman. While it’s technically a dystopian book, but it’s also one that follows the bleak and scary reality of being the last women on earth. Still on the same theme, I suppose The Vegetarian by Han Kang is also not to be missed. The story follows the life of a woman who suddenly doesn’t want to eat meat—and gets progressively stranger and stranger, as her family gives up on her.
While I have mentioned this film over and over again, I’d be remiss not to mention my favourite book-to-film horror adaptation: Låt den rätte komma in/Let the Right One In. The movie offers a sweeter—albeit violent—depiction of the bond between the vampire and the boy. I would also highly recommend Interview with the Vampire (the original 1994 version), adapted from a book of the same title by Anne Rice. Recommended to see Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise with pretty long hair. It has recently been re-adapted as a Netflix series, but I haven’t seen that one myself. Last but not least, one of my absolute favourite (yet criminally underrated) films: We Need to Talk About Kevin—adapted from Lionel Shriver‘s masterpiece that I haven’t read. Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, and Ezra Miller killed it in this movie—no sick pun intended.
Thrifted shirt | swapped dress | old ribbon | photos by Akita & Mapa
Flipping through October
What have I been up to lately? Well, actually, I’ve been productive on other fronts. I started exploring content on my Instagram, as a way of microblogging. I made a zine for Mapa’s birthday back in August—you can see the process here. I became a guest content creator for a newly launched art market, TOKIO Fest. I made some book reels by myself and also with Mapa—and let’s not forget the one skit including my sister too 😂 I got involved in various donation drives for NTT and Kalimantan. Last but not least, for my birthday, I illustrated a lot of my MRT looks—a little ritual I started this year to boost my self-esteem. Oh wow, what a truly productive few months it’s been!
Feels like it’s been such a long time since the last time I wrote on this little ol’ blog. Not going to lie, October has been pretty hard for me this year—it’s like I was cursed! This website alone has gone through some technical difficulties in the last month—thankfully, they have all been resolved. Other than that, I also lost my phone! Thankfully, Mapa was by my side at the time and quick to come up with solutions. Oh, my reliable man 🧡 Then there’s also work that never seems to let up. I couldn’t even take time off on my birthday 😭 Things have since calmed down, though, so I can finally breathe easy.
Feels like it’s been such a long time since the last time I wrote on this little ol’ blog. Not going to lie, October has been pretty hard for me this year—it’s like I was cursed! This website alone has gone through some technical difficulties in the last month—thankfully, they have all been resolved. Other than that, I also lost my phone! Thankfully, Mapa was by my side at the time and quick to come up with solutions. Oh, my reliable man 🧡 Then there’s also work that never seems to let up. I couldn’t even take time off on my birthday 😭 Things have since calmed down, though, so I can finally breathe easy.
What have I been up to lately? Well, actually, I’ve been productive on other fronts. I started exploring content on my Instagram, as a way of microblogging. I made a zine for Mapa’s birthday back in August—you can see the process here. I became a guest content creator for a newly launched art market, TOKIO Fest. I made some book reels by myself and also with Mapa—and let’s not forget the one skit including my sister too 😂 I got involved in various donation drives for NTT and Kalimantan. Last but not least, for my birthday, I illustrated a lot of my MRT looks—a little ritual I started this year to boost my self-esteem. Oh wow, what a truly productive few months it’s been!
These photos were taken as part of my birthday celebration. My sister came out here from Bandung and the three of us had such an amazing time together—just as we always do—then we all had dinner together as a family, along with my parents, my brother, and his girlfriend who I adore. Our little family is growing and I’m super touched. Suddenly, the future is right before my eyes. For Halloween itself, I’m not really planning anything in particular. Perhaps I’ll catch up on some spooky films I haven’t watched yet—such as Companion, Undertone and The Bride!—or perhaps an on-theme funny series, like Ghosts.
For more spooky vibes, feel free to listen to my playlist!
And drop me some song recommendations too!
These photos were taken as part of my birthday celebration. My sister came out here from Bandung and the three of us had such an amazing time together—just as we always do—then we all had dinner together as a family, along with my parents, my brother, and his girlfriend who I adore. Our little family is growing and I’m super touched. Suddenly, the future is right before my eyes. For Halloween itself, I’m not really planning anything in particular. Perhaps I’ll catch up on some spooky films I haven’t watched yet—such as Companion, Undertone and The Bride!—or perhaps an on-theme funny series, like Ghosts.
For more spooky vibes, feel free to listen to my playlist!
And drop me some song recommendations too!