#5-Star Review

[peterkazmaier]

Surprised by the Movie SURPRISED BY OXFORD

If you loved Carolyn Weber's book, I think you'll love the movie.

Carolyn (Caro) Weber’s very personal memoir, Surprised by Oxford, is one of my favorite books. I have read it at least twice, I’ve discussed in the book club I attend, and I’ve given it to members of my family. Imagine my delight when I noted the book had been made into a movie (2023) and was available on Hoopla at my cottage area library. While eager to watch the movie, I did wondered if I would…

[authorajalexander]

River Guardian's Second 5-Star Review

Just a few minutes ago, I came across River Guardian’s second 5-star review! I’m so grateful and happy that the book is a joy to read and that the responses are so far amazing! REVIEW I am loving this series so far and book six does not disappoint. In book six we meet Eavan a farie and guardian of the rivers living life on earth while trying to do her duties. Nature though is failing and Eavan…

[hyunpic]

[shotmrmiller]

being at a haunted house with your friends only to get separated and end up alone in a random room. it looks empty, except for the usual props and you're just taking a moment to catch your breath, wiping your sweaty palms on your jeans only to spot something in the corner shift, realizing that you're not alone.

a guy as broad as the door behind him is in there with you, costume seemingly lower budget than the others (was he called in at the last minute? his mask makes him look more a criminal than whatever the hell he's supposed to be.)

he's a clean two or three heads above yours, his dark clothing making him hard to see, blending in with the jagged shadows created by the red (because red means scary, right?) flickering lights overhead, and he's standing right in front of the quick exit, neon green sign barely grazing the crown of his head. shit.

a sudden, ear-splitting noise activates your fight or flight response and you're out the way you came in a second flat, uncaring that you're running against the flow of traffic, harshly bumping shoulders into both visitors and actors alike, and instinct takes over- without a second thought, you glance back over your shoulder.

the guy you'd bolted from is moving with unsettling purpose your way. the crowd parts around him, letting him gain on you effortlessly, his hulking stature looming larger with every step.

his eyes lock onto yours and your breath snags in your throat- he's a hunter, staring you down through the scope of a rifle, as if you're nothing other than fresh game for him to take home and devour.

you push on even though it feels like you're swimming upstream, his gaze burning into your back like a brand, the icy fear slithering through your veins alive, coiling around your galloping heart, tightening with every ragged breath.

until you hit a dead end. cornered, every instinct screaming for an escape that doesn't exist. and then he's on you, presence overwhelming, reaching a paw-sized hand toward you-

"i thought you guys aren't allowed to touch us?" you choke out, his fingers curling around your wrist and you wonder if he can feel your racing pulse.

his breath warms the side of your throat. "says who, pet? you're free t'stop me." if you can.

(soap and kyle watch him come out with you in hand, looking like you're about to be sick. kyle gives you a water bottle and soap pats your back, telling you that if yer that scared, he'll go with ye next time.)

[kaeyachi]

me: hey, hoyo, can we have kaeya lore?

hoyo: he likes collecting seashells

me: thats great, but-

hoyo: his specific steak order is one cooked on cedar wood with stewed vegetables on the side

me: good to know, but what I mean is-

hoyo: he has really beautiful handwriting

me: ... you know what...

hoyo: ...he has several hidden knives when wearing his sailwind shadow skin

[westywallowing]

it's in my head that for school work experience or for an internship Adrien gets a job at a cute local family owned coffee shop and the owners try to adopt him like a son

[thereadingchallengechallenge]

Review: Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White Rating: 5/5

I said to someone recently that I never think I'm going to like Andrew Joseph White's books based on their synopsis but once I'm actually reading them, I can't turn away. Well, we're 3 for 3 on his books being favourites of mine so I think I can throw that doubt out the window next time. 

This was fantastic. It's about class warfare and growing up trans and disabled in a rural town. It's about how family history can follow you around but also how it can liberate you and give you something to connect with. It's about the absurdities of capitalism and "democracy". It's about the wonders of community and activism. I loved every page.

If you are despairing about Trump right now, read this. It will make you feel better.

[reasonandfaithinharmony]

2024 Tumblr Top 10

How it works: Share your top 10 tumblr posts from last year! Visit this site, scroll down to "Find your Tumblr Top 10," type in your username, and select 2024. When you get the results, simply click "Share to Tumblr" and you'll get an auto-generated draft for a post with links and previews. If you want, make any adjustments you see fit. (For example, I've swapped stats for descriptions because that feels more fun to me. 🤷‍♀️)

1. March 24, 2024

Pretty sure this is the real dialogue...

2. January 1, 2024

Me, before the holiday break: Look at all this free time ahead of me! I can do so many things, get so much done! Me, now: Well....

3. October 19, 2024

I will never be over this kiss

4. April 28, 2024

Season 4: parallel statements of love and devotion

5. April 7, 2024

Their last terrified moments in their first home. Their first brilliant and joyful moments in their new home.

6. September 6, 2024

No more wasted moments.

7. April 14, 2024

For anyone who ever wanted to look at this scene without the credits obstructing their view.

8. May 5, 2024

"You are now my husband." / "You may kiss your husband." / "Carlos, this is from your husband."

9. August 25, 2024

The wide shot is beautiful. But I would’ve loved a close-up. So here we are, zooming in as best we can.

10. January 3, 2024

Can’t stop thinking about the way Carlos smiles in these scenes

Honorable mention to this one, which would have made the cut if I'd limited things to just image posts:

September 22, 2024

TK and Carlos: “husband”

Tagging always gives me anxiety because I'm sure I'm forgetting people. So, let's start off with an OPEN TAG and…

no pressure tagging: @strandnreyes @reyesstrand @carlos-in-glasses @guardian-angle22

@herefortarlos @ladytessa74 @rmd-writes @lightningboltreader

@lemonlyman-dotcom @thisbuildinghasfeelings @ironheartwriter @tellmegoodbye

@freneticfloetry @paperstorm @alrightbuckaroo @lutavero

@heartstringsduet @carlos-tk @chicgeekgirl89 @tailoredshirt

Created by TumblrTop10

[taylor-titmouse]

Coming in late on this one, but if you're saying you're not planning on your work being piblished... but isnt there a graphic novel coming out soon? There was a link to pre-order it at least via bookshop or barnes and noble (can't remember which off the top of my head). Were you able to get your blook distributed to them as a self-piblished creator? Or was the graphic novel trad-pub and you're just saying you can't see your prose writing/books getting published?

what a funny thing to gotcha me on

yes, i do have a traditionally published graphic novel coming out. under a different name. in a different genre. for a different audience. it's not relevant for me to bring it up every time somebody asks me here if my work will ever be physically printed because it's not the work they're asking about.

so yeah. the last thing you said.

[bamber344]

man i hate the term 'torture porn.' It's almost always just used as a dismissive, reductive insult to mark something as 'objectively' bad. Yeah, people have different tastes and enjoy different stuff, but it would be nice if a lot of the tropes and genres i enjoy weren't all basically labelled as 'masturbatory content for sadists' by people who just don't like the genres. Bitch I can't even handle watching someone trip over IRL i just find conflict and tragedy in fiction compelling. IMO it speaks to both a lack of media literacy and a lack of open-mindedness at a level bordering on dangerous. This thing made you uncomfortable, so instead of examining why and using some critical thought, you've just labelled it 'bad thing' and indirectly called all the people who enjoyed it gross. It also comes across as a bit of a morality judgement tbh, which, if you're a sensible person, you should know to never ascribe morality to media!!! You are not a better person than me because you don't like certain tropes!

the reductivity and subjectivity of it pisses me off too. Where's the line? Some people would call the Saw movies torture porn, and okay, I guess i can see the justification for that, but then some people would also say that a character going through a bunch of bad stuff with no reprieve on a drama series was torture porn of that character. Guy putting people in traps and actually torturing them, and person going through a lot of bad, unlucky situations in a row is the same thing apparently. it's completely arbitrary!

TLDR the term just seems like nothing but a reductive, knee-jerk reaction people have to encountering media they find confronting, and it does nothing but alienate and insult the people who actually enjoy the media.

reiterating because this is tumblr: this is all just my opinion. if you disagree, don't be an ass about it.

[reedreadsbooks]

Book Review: Dreadnought by April Daniels ✨🏙️⚡️

rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕

(5/5)

After Dreadnought, the world’s greatest superhero, is killed in combat, closeted trans girl Danny Tozer inherits his powers and is transformed to have the body she’s always wanted to have. Now she has to deal with having superpowers and being an out trans woman, all the while hunting down the supervillain who murdered her predecessor.

This book was phenomenal, and I’m kind of at a loss for words to describe how much I liked it.

To start, I love the world of this book. This is such a classic superhero story. Daniels uses the conventions of the genre without making things feel like a parody and subverts tropes just enough to make the story distinct.

I also really love Dreadnought as a trans narrative. This book doesn’t shy away from transphobia. Between Danny’s parents, kids at her school, and other heroes she meets, we get a pretty broad and realistic representation of the types of abuse a young trans woman might face. There’s also so much trans joy in this book. It was really nice to see Danny come into herself, and it was cathartic to watch her realize that no one could take her transition away from her. This is the type of story that will give trans kids hope for the future.

I would recommend this book to literally everyone. In fact, I plan on recommending this book to literally everyone. But because that’s not helpful, I’ll be more specific and say I highly recommend this book to fans of Andrew Joseph White. Obviously, it’s very different from his work, genre-wise, but I think the themes are really similar. If you like Hell Followed with Us and The Spirit Bares It’s Teeth, I can definitely see you liking Dreadnought.

[authorajalexander]

River Guardian's First 5-Star Review

I’m so excited to learn that The Paranormal Romance Build has published River Guardian’s first 5-star review on its website. This is a wonderful, happy, and encouraging gift on this day! Reviewed by Linda Tonis Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team Dr. Eavan Delaney is an elf princess left by her parents with a human family and raised like their own. Her parents are in exile, and…

[pl3as3hangup]

deep down i know in my heart that top gun maverick is a 5 star movie but hangman and rooster didn't kiss so i just can't give it that extra 1/2 star

[samwisethewitch]

REVIEW: Backwoods Witchcraft by Jake Richards

I feel like Jake Richards's books are pretty popular with folk witches. If you have any interest in Appalachian folk magic, or even American folk magic more generally, you've probably at least heard of this book. Part of why I put off reviewing it for so long is because I feel like there's already been plenty of attention given to it online, so I'll try to make this brief.

Pros:

Definitely authentic Appalachian folk magic. Jake Richards writes about a lot of things I've seen people do or heard people talk about but never seen written anywhere.

This book is really well researched! I'm very impressed by all the references and footnotes.

I love that Richards uses the correct Tsalagi (Cherokee), Gaelige (Irish), and Gaelic (Scottish) words when talking about the cultures that influence Southern folk magic. I also love that he includes pronunciation guides.

Cons:

I didn't finish this book on my first read. It wasn't until I revisited it recently that I actually read to the end. Something about the writing style and the way the book is organized made it a little hard to follow at times, at least for me.

The research is generally good, but there's definitely more detail given for European and Cherokee cultural influences than for African. When talking about European influences, Richards will usually specify the specific country or culture something comes from, but for African influences he just says "African." While this research is harder to do because the slave trade intentionally cut people off from their cultural traditions, other authors like Luisah Teish and Stephanie Rose Bird have shown that we can often trace these African influences back to a specific culture, or at least a region. I would have liked to see the same level of effort put into researching African practices that went into the European ones.

Other Observations:

Christianity is a big part of the author's practice. This is faithful to traditional Appalachian conjure, but just know that it may be triggering if you've experienced religious trauma in a Christian setting. I found this book harder to read than other books on conjure that incorporate Christian elements, and I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because it sounded too similar to the Appalachian church where my abuse happened? Just something to be aware of if this is a tricky topic for you.

Overall Rating: 4/5 stars

[pippins-island]

He worked very hard please eat his food.

[sixstarries]

book so good i want to download it into my subconscious