Hey! Im so glad you found me

Hi, I’m Ellie V. Archer—a PhD candidate in the English Department at Duke University, where both my work and studies revolve around reading, writing, and becoming. Born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, I moved to the United States at 18 with a suitcase full of books and a head full of ideas.

In his evergreen classic The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald taught me—through Jay Gatsby—that building a name often starts with an elite education. I’m not just here to earn a doctorate; I’m here to build a name for myself.

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This blog is my workspace—messy, evolving, honest. It’s where I write about the process of becoming. Literature has taught me that readers don’t come to see perfect characters; they come to witness the work—the effort it takes to become someone. I want this space to reflect that: a place to document the small, intentional steps it takes to shape a life.

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I write with an academic’s mind and the heart of a total Disney princess. My interests range from feminist literature and analytical reading to the joy of discovering the perfect blush. Whether I’m unpacking a novel, sharing a makeup find, or thinking through identity and growth, I write to connect—with myself and with others on similar paths.

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If you’re into books, beauty, becoming—and all things femme—you’re in the right place.