#📙 = nonfiction

[i-am-still-bb]

june 2023

09 - She’s Gone by David Bell (3/5) 📘

16 - What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall (4/5) 📘🌈

20 - Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough (1/5) 📘

21 - The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean (3/5) 📘🌈

22 - Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo (3/5) 🎧📘🌈

[decepti-thots]

📕(what book had the biggest impact) & 📙(favourite genre) for the book asks!

Book that had the biggest impact: oh that's tough. HM. There's a lot of candidates. "Impact" is a difficult thing to define. It might be the collection "Grief Lessons", which collects several translations of Greek tragedies by Euripides as translated by Anne Carson, if just because it sparked my interest in so many different directions. It was how I got to grips with Greek tragic drama as a whole, it was one of the things that pushed me towards reading the Iliad and indirectly helped introduce me to epic poetry which I love, it was the first work by Anne Carson I read whose work I continue to enjoy. I would probably have never read The Epic of Gilgamesh if not for this book, or Paradise Lost, or any number of things!

If I had to pick specifically a novel, though... I would cheat and say Discworld as a whole has had more influence on how I think about fiction and especially genre fiction than anything else, period. It's a series, but taken in its entirety, it had more impact on the way I think about craft and genre and narrative structure than basically anything I've ever read, including a bunch of nonfiction about analysing those exact things. Even the books I don't like gave me more to think about than many books I do just because of how much they have to say about genre literature as a thing that can be broken down and turned around in the brain. The things that man did with narrative structure alone...

Favourite genre: I love fantasy so much that I am picky about it, basically. LMAO. The best fantasy is stuff that makes me call it my favourite genre, but being so picky about the fact I want fantasy to be really GOOD means that I won't read things just because they're in the genre. I especially enjoy fantasy that draws extensively from folklore and historic traditions that isn't also Tolkien inspired, that's my absolute favourite. (Not necessarily dissing Tolkien- I'll read The Hobbit any day- but I dearly wish for fantasy that does not base itself off third hand copies of what he did, haha.) But when fantasy is good, it's so good and my favourite.

Alternatively, tragedy. A good tragedy is always what I'm on the hunt for, and I mean tragedy, not 'sad but we throw you a bone at the end'. I want to feel DISCOMFITED. I want to feel DISSATISFIED (POSITIVE). I want to be UPSET. A good tragedy is always appreciated in this house.

Edit: oh wait. Recommendations! For fantasy: try Spirits Abroad by Zen Cho, a fantastic short story collection that incorporates everything from Malaysian folklore to 20th Century British fantasy and more besides. A great story to taste test it you can read now online is Monkey King, Faerie Queen, about Sun Wukong winding up in faerieland and wreaking havok. One of my favourite collections ever.

For tragedy, read The Epic of Gilgamesh (try the Sophus Helle translation), which pre-dates all modern concepts of genre and is all the more incredible to read as a result for how much you can see of what literature would become in it.

[turning-pages-seeking-sages]

📖✨ Monthly Reading Wrap-Up

August 2024 Edition

📕 The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett Fantasy/Mystery | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) A complex mystery unfolds in a world where magic is part of everyday life, forcing detectives to unravel the truth behind a series of high-profile murders. Review: A delightful mix of Attack on Titan, political intrigue unraveled by an autistic Sherlock Holmes-like character and a queer magically-augmented dyslexic sword-wielding sidekick.

📗 The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo Historical Fiction/Fantasy | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) Set in 19th-century Malaysia, this tale weaves folklore with history as a woman discovers the magical secrets of an ancient spirit. Review: A beautiful tale of grief, love, magic, and myth that kept me thoroughly engaged.

📘 The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell Historical Fiction | ★★☆☆☆ (2/5) This novel explores the violent and turbulent times of England’s Viking invasions through the eyes of a dispossessed nobleman. Review: Uhtred is a Mary Sue and I don't know why more people don't call it out.

📙 Fifth Sun by Camilla Townsend Non-fiction/History | ★★★★★ (5/5) An enlightening account of Aztec history, told from the perspective of the Mexica people themselves, challenging commonly accepted narratives. Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book and plan on reading more historical nonfiction about Ancient Mexico.

📕 Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson Contemporary Fiction | ★★★★☆ (4/5) A multi-generational family drama unfolds as siblings discover hidden truths about their mother’s past and inheritance. Review: This book landed a few emotional punches, and I was not prepared.

📗 Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas Horror/Historical Fiction | ★★★★☆ (4/5) In 19th-century Texas, a young healer battles supernatural forces as the undead rise against the living. Review: I enjoyed the historical context of the backdrop but I wish there was more healing magic and horror.

📘 Slewfoot by Brom Horror/Fantasy | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) A Puritan widow in colonial New England makes a pact with a forest spirit to reclaim her land, but dark forces are at play. Review: It had promise but the pacing was off and Abitha made some infuriating choices.

📙 Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson Fantasy | ★★☆☆☆ (2/5) In a world of magical seas, Tress sets out on a perilous journey to save her friend, navigating dangerous waters and an evil sorceress. Review: I tried to read this book at least three times, but it just didn't click with me.

📕 Faerie Tale by Raymond Feist Fantasy | ★★★★☆ (4/5) A family moves into a rural house, only to find themselves entangled in an ancient faerie conflict that threatens their world. Review: Eerie and oddly nostalgic, this book reads more like a movie.

🔮 Reading Challenge Progress:

2024 Book Reading Challenge: 45/52 Progress: 87%

[zhengzi]

For the ask game: 📙,🧡, and ♥️

📙What’s your favorite genre to read, and do you have any recommendations within that genre?

ho boy, most of my book diet has been nonfiction recently due to university so I haven't had a chance to catch up on fiction. normally i do read relatively widely so i like most genres, the ones i tend to go for are either speculative so like sci-fi, fantasy, and things in that vein, or like romantic-comedies. im probably not gonna rec the rom-com books i've read since the ones i've read so far are pretty liberal in outlook so not worth reccing other than sheer shallow pleasure.

in terms of speculative, i highly recommend player of games by iain m banks. it's the 2nd book within the culture series, which i was recommended through my brother who practically won't shut up about it. my brother did give me an optimal reading order that is different from the publishing order, which is why i started with the second book published rather than the first book. player of games is a pretty good introduction to the world of the culture and it was a bit slow in the beginning but it definitely picks up pace soon enough and iain m banks' writing is unlike other sci-fi writers i've read, it definitely has a more literary flair and a very unique style that can't seem to be replicated by anyone else. most other people who are fans of the culture have commonly said they couldn't find other books quite like the culture. also it's really funny. i'm still in the process of reading the entire series, surface detail (my brother basically lent me all of the physical copies he has of the series) is currently on my bedside table atm, and i've been trying to get around to reading it.

❤️Who is your all-time favorite author, and what makes their writing so special to you?

i'm not sure i actually have an all-time favourite author yet, haven't been able to read a wide variety of authors to be able to answer this conclusively. if i had to choose an author that i have read, probably leslie feinberg, stone butch blues is so important and i should probably reread it especially since i've had more experiences since the last time i read it and my queerness has certainly evolved in that time.

🖤 Are there any book series that you’ve been meaning to start but haven’t gotten around to yet? Which ones are they?

my tbr pile is way too much honestly but the ones i've been meaning to start include:

ursula k le guin's earthsea series

terry pratchett's discworld

douglas adams' hitchhiker's guide

among many many others

[ask game post]

[phoenixyfriend]

For the Bookish Asks, 📙What’s your favorite genre to read, and do you have any recommendations within that genre? and 📚Do you have a go-to reading spot or do you read everywhere?

📚Bookish Asks📚

Generally I've always been a fan of genre fiction, specifically fantasy, which likely comes as a shock to no one, but more recently I've been really into nonfiction books, mostly about fashion history or city planning.

I've been reading much less than I used to, but generally reading books is a Bed activity.

[likoma]

1️⃣ 📙 🎧 🔑 The Key to Crafting Impactful Titles for Your ONE-Word Book: Trusting Your Gut Instinct

Discover why the most powerful book titles don’t just speak to the mind but ignite the gut instinct of your readers. #NonfictionBookTitles #BookMarketing #WritingTips Crafting a nonfiction book title often involves more than just intellect; it taps into your gut. While the title should resonate with emotion and meaning, it frequently originates from a deep, instinctual feeling. Think of the…

[passthesourcream]

1️⃣ 📙 🎧 🔑 The Key to Crafting Impactful Titles for Your ONE-Word Book: Trusting Your Gut Instinct

Discover why the most powerful book titles don’t just speak to the mind but ignite the gut instinct of your readers. #NonfictionBookTitles #BookMarketing #WritingTips Crafting a nonfiction book title often involves more than just intellect; it taps into your gut. While the title should resonate with emotion and meaning, it frequently originates from a deep, instinctual feeling. Think of the…

[cozypsych]

I'm just going to answer them all myself bc I want to and nobody can stop me

����What book has had the biggest impact on your life, and why?

"Human Acts" by Han Kang just because the writing was so emotional and painful and it reminded me of human emotion and how it can span decades

📖Do you prefer physical books or e-books? Why? 

I prefer physical books but ebooks are just more convenient overall to both access anytime and .. acquire

📑How do you organize your bookshelves? By genre, author, color, or in a completely unique way? 

I stand the books upright and the tallest ones are on the furthest left side and the shortest on the furthest right

🔖What quote from a book resonated with you deeply?

“You once told me that the human eye is god's loneliest creation. How so much of the world passes through the pupil and still it holds nothing. The eye, alone in its socket, doesn't even know there's another one, just like it, an inch away, just as hungry, as empty.” - Ocean Vuong

📗Are you a one-book-at-a-time reader, or do you read multiple books simultaneously? 

Multiple - I usually have 1 or 2 for or related to my degree, 1 for self-development, 1 nonfiction for a hobby I'm interested in, and 1 fiction for fun. If I'm on break, maybe a manga or webtoon as well.

🧾What fictional world would you love to visit and explore if given the chance? 

The world in which "Shadow of the Fox" by Julie Kagawa was written in. The story itself is okay, but the world she built is absolutely stunning for the mind's eye.

📔Which book character do you relate to the most, and why? 

Sydney Sage from the VA/Bloodlines series by Richelle Mead - I've felt a huge connection to this character since I was a teen and I see myself in her so much to this day (Also, the VA/Bloodlines series is due for a re-read soon, I think)

📙What’s your favorite genre to read, and do you have any recommendations within that genre? 

Fantasy, fantasy, and more fantasy. Honestly, anything and everything you can get your hands on when it comes to fantasy. I think reading it is like appreciating art because of all the imagination and planning it took to make all these huge, beautiful worlds. No specific recommendations, I just think everyone needs to find a fantasy book that sounds interesting to them and dig in.

📑Hardcover, paperback, ebook, or audiobook? Which format do you prefer? 

Paperbacks are preferred, but I usually end up reading ebooks.

📘Do you have any reading goals for this year? How are you progressing so far?

Not really. Having reading goals took away the enjoyment I had for reading, so I just read whenever I want to (or need to, when it comes to school) and that has been working out tremendously.

📖What is your favorite book-to-movie adaptation, and why? 

I'm not trying to sound like a pick me or 'look at me I'm so quirky and different' but I don't like movie adaptations, ever. Haha.

📚Do you have a go-to reading spot or do you read everywhere?

I love reading in bed, before sleep. I like to keep reading until my eyes physically cannot stay open anymore and I fall asleep with my reading app/book still open. It's my nightly wind-down activity.

📕Who is your all-time favorite author, and what makes their writing so special to you? 

I like Holly Black, but I feel like it's mainly nostalgia. She's a great writer, I just feel like I've grown out of most of her books since they're targeted towards a younger audience, but when I was a teen I'd just read her books back to back to back and couldn't get enough of them.

🧾What is the most memorable book ending you’ve ever read? Did it leave you satisfied or wanting more? 

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. It left me... confused. I was confused but understood it perfectly at the exact same time. No other book has ever given me that feeling.

📙What book did you initially not enjoy but ended up loving? What changed your perspective? 

Walden Two by B.F Skinner. I had to read it for one of my psychology classes and when I started it I was honestly so confused and I found the characters to outdated and dry, but by the end, I understood that it was actually a very thought-provoking book, especially for 1948. Even though it's an older book, I feel like it could still hold its own in modern times and can still apply. It really makes you think and I do actually recommend it. You just have to get through the first really stuffy parts and roll your eyes through some mansplaining.

📗If you could have a conversation with any author, living or deceased, who would it be and what would you ask them? 

Hermann Hesse. I would ask him what drugs he was on while he wrote his books and then immediately un-alive him again. As a treat.

📘Are there any book series that you’ve been meaning to start but haven’t gotten around to yet? Which ones are they? 

Everyone raves about Brandon Sanderson's fantasy books but I hesitate because I've seen some of the most insufferable cis men recommending him and it makes me uhhh not want to.

📔Do you have any bookish rituals or habits that you follow before, during, or after reading a book?

Not really?

📚Is there a particular book cover that you find absolutely stunning? Share a picture or describe it! 

"Emergency Contact" by Mary H.K Choi has a stunning cover, but unfortunately I really disliked the actual story.

🔖Which classic book or author do you think everyone should read at least once in their lifetime, and why?

You know I'm going to say Jane Austin, right? You have to read her books or you don't fully grasp the entire concept of pining and yearning. I don't make the rules.

📚Bookish Asks📚

📕What book has had the biggest impact on your life, and why? 

📖Do you prefer physical books or e-books? Why? 

📑How do you organize your bookshelves? By genre, author, color, or in a completely unique way? 

🔖What quote from a book resonated with you deeply?

📗Are you a one-book-at-a-time reader, or do you read multiple books simultaneously? 

🧾What fictional world would you love to visit and explore if given the chance? 

📔Which book character do you relate to the most, and why? 

📙What’s your favorite genre to read, and do you have any recommendations within that genre? 

📑Hardcover, paperback, ebook, or audiobook? Which format do you prefer? 

📘Do you have any reading goals for this year? How are you progressing so far?

📖What is your favorite book-to-movie adaptation, and why? 

📚Do you have a go-to reading spot or do you read everywhere?

📕Who is your all-time favorite author, and what makes their writing so special to you? 

🧾What is the most memorable book ending you’ve ever read? Did it leave you satisfied or wanting more? 

📙What book did you initially not enjoy but ended up loving? What changed your perspective? 

📗If you could have a conversation with any author, living or deceased, who would it be and what would you ask them? 

📘Are there any book series that you’ve been meaning to start but haven’t gotten around to yet? Which ones are they? 

📔Do you have any bookish rituals or habits that you follow before, during, or after reading a book?

📚Is there a particular book cover that you find absolutely stunning? Share a picture or describe it! 

🔖Which classic book or author do you think everyone should read at least once in their lifetime, and why?

[bookwormiam]

Books are so magical 😍📚🌠🤩💖

[traduttrice-errante]

🇮🇹/🇬🇧 LA CASA DI DIO di @luca_elli17 🌬️ 🖋️«Trattandosi di racconti brevi, animati dal velo di mistero e da quella leggera vena thriller, ti assicuro che si divorano.»🖋️ Se ancora non l'hai fatto, corri sul blog a leggere la recensione di questo intrigante romanzo📙 E, se leggerai fino alla fine, scoprirai che... Beh, vai a leggere e poi torna qui sotto a lasciarmi un commento!👀😏 L'avresti mai detto che l'autore... eheh✨ LINK IN BIO!👆🏻 🇬🇧 Well, I hope you appreciate the pictures, unfortunately as this is about the review of a book on my blog, it's just in Italian🤌🏻 So please, if you can read and understand Italian, why not, go on my blog and read the article! Tell me what you think about it and find out a little curiousity about me and the author👀 If not, I hope you like the pics enough to give me a ❤️ 😂 . . . @edizioni_ensemble #lacasadidio #lucaelli #narrativa #scrittura #traduttriceerrante #xl8 #autoriitaliani #narrativaitaliana #autoriitalianicontemporanei #scritturacreativa #libri #books #bookblogger #letture #lettureconsigliate #lettureestive #ensembleedizioni #nonfiction (presso London, Unιted Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/ChAWL-roER2/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[i-am-still-bb]

april 2023

01 - The Big Green Tent by Ludmila Ulitskaya (5/5) 📘🌈💱🎯

21 - The Last Russian Doll by Kristen Loesch (4/5) 🅱📘

22 - Loving Someone with Suicidal Thoughts: What Family, Friends, and Partners Can Say and Do by Stacey Freedenthal (5/5) 📙

[thebookdragon217]

As we enter the last month of this year, I am already thinking about the ways that I can be more intentional in using my voice and platform to support BIPOC artists, writers and small businesses. I am also reflecting on the ways that I can support marginalized communities and also honor the intersectionality and diversity of human experiences. QOTD: How do you plan to be more intentional with your platform next year? Today on my way home from the orthopedic surgeon, I finally had a chance to visit @bluestockingsnyc . I was blown away by the selection of BIPOC and Queer selections available. I spent most of my time just browsing the shelves in awe. I was also equally impressed by the activism work that they actively engage in to support their community. Bluestockings Cooperative felt like more than a bookstore. It felt like a safe space for the community. Being there reaffirmed in me that I always want my platform to be inclusive and safe for everyone and it makes me think about the ways that I can continue to use my voice and uplift marginalized communities on and off social media. One of these ways is to support businesses that do the work and another is to support my writer friends by buying books that feature their work like Latinext. I managed to only pick up these 4 books and The Professional Homegirl Coloring Book based on their podcast plus an iced hibiscus tea. I will definitely be visiting this little gem of a bookstore on the Lower East Side more often. Check out the last two slides for photos of the bookstore. Books Featured: 📕 Latinext, Breakbeat Poets Vol. 4 📗 Chronicling Stankonia 📘 The Queer Nuyorican 📙 Funeral for Flaca #bookstagram #bookphotos #books #booksbooksbooks #bookworm #tbr #bibliophile #bookish #bookstack #reading #readersofinstagram #bookstores #booklover #poetry #diversereads #readingisresistance #queerbooks #smallbusiness #bookstagrammer #literature #bookaholic #booknerd #fiction #bluestockingscooperative #nonfiction #bookaddict #latinext #chroniclingstankonia #funeralforflaca #thequeernuyorican https://www.instagram.com/p/CW_9G0mrkSw/?utm_medium=tumblr

[i-am-still-bb]

february 2023

02 - A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins (2.5/5) 📘📚 05 - The Snow Killer by Ross Greenwood (3/5) 🎧📘 07 - Playground: A Childhood Lost Inside the Playboy Mansion by Jennifer Saginor (3.5/5) 📙🌈��� 12 - The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz (2.5/5) 🅱📘🌈 12 - Taproot: A Story About a Gardener and a Ghost by Keezy Young (3/5) 🗯️📘🌈📚 12 - Waves by Ingrid Chabbert (3.75/5) 🗯️📙🌈📚💱 16 - Heartstopper, Vol. 1 by Alice Oseman (4/5) 🗯️📘🌈📚 16 - Heartstopper, Vol. 2 by Alice Oseman (4/5) 🗯️📘🌈 16 - Heartstopper, Vol. 3 by Alice Oseman (4/5) 🗯️📘🌈 16 - Heartstopper, Vol. 4 by Alice Oseman (3/5) 🗯️📘🌈 20 - Paris by Andi Watson (2/5) 🗯️📘🌈📚 20 - Summer Fires by Giulia Sagramola (3/5) 🗯️📘📚💱 22 - Eiger Dreams: Ventures Among Men and Mountains by Jon Krakauer (3.5/5) 🎧📙 23 - Keeping Two by Jordan Crane (2/5) 🗯️📘📚 25 - We Are Okay by Nina LaCour (3/5) 📘🌈 26 - The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks (2/5) 📘📚

[i-am-still-bb]

march 2023

05 - The Art Forger by B. A. Shapiro (4/5) 📘🎯

07 - Always Never by Jordi LaFebre (3/5) 🗯️📘📚💱

08 - Hidden in the Snow by Viveca Sten (3.5/5) 🎧📘💱

13 - Trailed: One Woman’s Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders by Kathryn Miles (?/5) 🎧📙🌈

20 - Unmask Alice: LSD, Satanic Panic, and the Imposter Behind the World's Most Notorious Diaries by Rick Emerson (3/5) 🎧📙

22 - A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes (3.5/5) 🎧📘

24 - Hitler's Furies: German Women in the Nazi Killing Fields by Wendy Lower (4/5) 📙📚

25 - The Ravine: A Family, a Photograph, a Holocaust Massacre Revealed by Wendy Lower (5/5) 📙📚

[i-am-still-bb]

january 2024

02 - The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall (3/5) 🅱📘🎯

04 - All The Young Dudes, Years 1-4 by MsKingBean89 (5/5) 📘🌈

18 - Trail of the Lost: The Relentless Search to Bring Home the Missing Hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail by Andrea Lankford (5/5) 🎧📙

22 - Trace of Doubt by Samatha Weinberg (3/5) 🎧📙

26 - In the Dark by Jack Slater (3/5) 🎧📘

30 - All The Young Dudes, Years 5-7 by MsKingBean89 (4/5) 📘🌈

31 - Where You'll Find Me: Decisions, and the Last Climb of Kate Matrosova by Ty Gagne (3/5) 🎧📙

[i-am-still-bb]

july 2023

05 - Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart by Carrot Quinn (?/5) 📙🌈📚

06 - Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home by Heather Anderson 🎧📙📚

10 - Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati 📘🌈📚

19 - The Wild Inside by Christine Carbo 🎧📘📚

31 - King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo 🎧📘🌈