#BookSwap

[booksmarts-swapngo]

📚✨ Calling all demigods and mortals alike! ✨📚

Exciting news, fellow bookworms! As we eagerly await the release of the new Percy Jackson series, we at BookSmarts couldn't contain our excitement any longer! 🌊⚡️ Get ready to dive back into the captivating world of Camp Half-Blood, where epic adventures, mythical creatures, and unforgettable characters await.

In celebration of this momentous occasion, we're hosting a Percy Jackson book swap extravaganza! 🎉 Whether you're a seasoned fan looking to relive the magic or a newcomer eager to embark on your first quest, there's no better time to join the adventure.

From "The Lightning Thief" to "The Last Olympian" and beyond, we've got the entire series ready for you to discover or rediscover. So grab your camp necklace, pack your celestial bronze sword, and get ready to immerse yourself in the world of Percy Jackson like never before!

Don't miss out on the chance to connect with other demigods, share your favorite moments, and swap your beloved copies for new ones. Let's spread the love for Rick Riordan's iconic series one book at a time! 💙✨

[inge-universe]

Mari Hannah - Kate Daniels 1 - Spoorloos aka Mensen verdwijnen niet zomaar @mariwriterinsta #marihannah #spoorloos @lsamsterdam #mensenverdwijnennietzomaar Wie heeft dit boek al gelezen? Wat vond je er van? Kreeg deze tijdje terug via een #bookswap met Corina @by_c_lifestyleblogger ............ Inhoud: Wanneer trans-Atlantische vlucht 0113 van Londen naar New York ineens van de radar verdwijnt, snapt niemand wat er gebeurd is. Het bericht domineert elke nieuwsomroep en houdt de autoriteiten in zijn greep. De geliefde van rechercheur Kate Daniels bevindt zich in het vliegtuig, maar Kate wordt gedwongen zich afzijdig te houden van het onderzoek. Toch kan ze het niet laten om uit te zoeken wat er is gebeurd in dat vliegtuig. Tijdens een spannende tocht die haar door het hele land en ver buiten haar jurisdictie voert, probeert Kate de waarheid te achterhalen. Al snel neemt het onderzoek wendingen die Kate zich niet had kunnen voorstellen. Maar niemand is veilig en zeer gevaarlijke mensen houden haar in de gaten… ............ #instabook #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #bookstagramnl #bookstagrammers #instaboek #boekstagram #boekenwurm #booktrovert #books #bookmail #dutchbookstagram #reading #boekenpost #lezenisleuk  #dutchbookstagrammers #dutchbookstagrammer #thriller #vooruitexemplaar #thrillerbook https://www.instagram.com/p/Co0jnWaL1V9/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hoeelliexx]

I started doing end of the year TBR last year and it went horribly… So here I am trying again!

24 books I want to read before 2024 is over. My hopes are abysmal but we will see! Big thanks to NetGalley for doubling my TBR with a few ARCs!

QOTD: Do keep to a strict list when working through your TBR or are you a mood reader?

[notbecauseofvictories]

On one hand, things have been going suspiciously well for me, especially since I decided to shake myself out of the January malaise by going places and doing things.

On the other hand, we had a bookswap/casual party today, and I spent a good chunk of it literally sitting on the floor, cleaning up the hot cider that spilled everywhere when I tripped over the samovar cord. So life continues to go out of its way to keep me humble.

[jessicas-awesome-blog]

ANNOTATED BOOKSWAP/BOOKCLUB

I really really like annotating in books, I think it's cause whenever I read I tend to have so many thoughts and ideas I want to express. I also really like reading other peoples annotations, it gives an idea of how other people feel about the same piece of text

Thats why I wanted to ask if anyone of you little pixels trapped within my computer screen wanted to join a book club or do a book swap

I do think I'll keep this blog as a general one, but it's just a thought :)

Jazzy Jess

[votsalot]

cosplay items:

- wigs (dominique, ianthe, fox)

- wig band / cap / barrets

- contacts (dominique, palamedes)

- contact case

- contact solution

- shoes (palamedes, fox)

- make-up (box and cosplay-specific)

- earrings (dominique)

- bra (dominique)

- breast forms (dominique)

- purse (dominique)

- business cards (dominique)

- face/body paint (ianthe, fox)

- cigarette case with "cigarettes" (palamedes)

- panty hose (dominique)

- long black socks (palamedes)

- shirts (ianthe, fox)

- pants (ianthe, fox)

- white undershirt / slip (dominique)

To Do:

- Recheck my contacts prescription and label which is for which eye

- make sure panty hose don't have runs

- print out spread sheet

- make snack list / buy snacks

- grab cooler from upstairs closet

- make pasta salad for lunches

- reserve parking for each day

To Pack:

- notebook / pen set

- underwear ×8

- two long sleeves

- two short sleeves

- two shorts

- two long pants

- socks × 6

- 1 sweater

- pajamas + fuzzy socks

- sports bras × 3

- clothes steamer

- toothbrush / paste

- retainer

- facewash

- shampoo / conditioner bars

- body soap

- makeup remover

- lotion (face, body)

- roll-on scent

- cuticle oil

- razor

- sunscreen

- denture cleaner

- lens wipes

- deodorant

- phone charger

- book to read

- book to have signed

- books for bookswap

- extra crochet supplies for crafting "buy nothing"

- pillow

- bluetooth headphones

[batbetbitbotbut]

Book meme: 2, 12, 17 ..... 18 👀

2. Did you reread anything? What?

Two that I can think of:

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle-Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg. Non-linear narrative centred on a female couple in 1920s Alabama. I read this one a few years ago and wanted to get it properly into my head now that I have read more widely. It's very good.

Lyddie by Katherine Paterson. Children's novel about factory girls in 1840s New England. I first read this one so many years ago that the only thing I could remember about it was that it involved weaving. 👀 The labour rights were a nice surprise!

12. Any books that disappointed you?

Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki. Transgender luthier and demon pacts in space, or something like that? So many people love it and recommend it.... and I just could not get into it at all. I've kept it on the shelf for another attempt but I will probably give it to the queer bookshop without finishing it.

Jacquard's Web: How a hand-loom led to the birth of the information age by James Essinger. It's such a great topic! I was all set to love this! But the writing is SO BAD! It's just a really, really terrible book. Every paragraph is painful. I'm offended by how awful it is.

17. Did any books surprise you with how good they were?

Quite a few books were "I thought this would be decent but it turned out great", but there's one which takes top spot for "I wasn't sure this would be good at all but it's amazing":

This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel. Adult novel (in the for-adults sense not the erotica sense) about parenting an elementary-school-aged trans girl. I was deeply sceptical about this perspective but the book really knocked it out of the park and is one of the best books I read all year. I love how full of love it is.

18. How many books did you buy?

RUDE.

I have made a stack several stacks a shelf a bookcase and a stack. This photo is slightly pointless because you were on the bed as I started dragging books in and you are standing here as I am writing this, but it was fun to make!

Not included (and you heard me making all my self-justifications):

* books bought but already given away

* books in the giveaway pile even though I could technically go get them for this

* books I didn't buy, they were given or from a bookswap or inherited from grandpa (specifically, most of the discworld collection)

* books ordered in December which arrived in January

* probably some books I forgot about

Of the fiction, I have read 57 (a couple like Anne of Green Gables I read years ago and just got new copies, but that is more than balanced by books I read this year which aren't in this collection) and still to read 16. Then add 20 nonfiction for a total of 93. So if you include the books not included, the total is definitely north of 100.

👀

[maitaiwiththecorpses]

There are some, who are like Brynne, who unintentionally called their crushes fine.

some, like Mini, who crashed into stuff when their crushes were around.

And then there are those like Aru who found out where their crushes live, told them that they possess such knowledge.

And then there are people like me, who did what Aru did, but took it a step further and now do bookswaps with their crush after hating them for 3 years-

[stars-of-kyber]

🌾 A fic you really want to write but you haven’t (yet)?

Ohhh anon... so so so many lol

There are the half writter ones like Ace (My Volleyball AU) and Amor de Carnaval (the Rio Carnaval AU) and Dangerous Woman (MobBoss x Police Detective AU) and Here's to The Ones That We Lost On The Way (Orphan Bridgertons AU) and Everybody Talks (Too Much) (Missunderstandings AU) and Runaway (Runaway Bride AU) that are sitting here like FINISH USSSS

And the ones that are only ideas like Stride and it's Wedding Dress Follow Up (Fashion Designer AU) the Bookswap stories, the Soulmates series I desperately want to get done and never start and both the Single Parents AUs I have, plus the other memory loss one. The Sound of Music AU and the Fairy Tale one...

I could spend all day here lol

Come play the Fic Writer Ask Game!

[tell-me-im-your-favorite]

.

Names:

Amanda 🖤

Kyrian 🧛‍♂️

Manga: The Dark Hunters

Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon

Place: Kindle

.

Post 3/3

.

Manga that my sister bought me for our manga/book swap we are doing for this year

.

I really really liked this it was a little hard reading it because digitally, the words were a little smaller, but I really enjoyed the story, and I wanna read more at some point, too.

.

#amanda #kyrian #manga #thedarkhunters #sherrilynkenyon #vampires #supernatural #romance #bookswap #mangarecommendations

[booksmarts-swapngo]

📚 Welcome to BookSmarts! 📚

Hey fellow bookworms! Are you tired of your bookshelves overflowing with novels you've already read? Or perhaps you're on the hunt for your next literary adventure without breaking the bank? Well, look no further because BookSmarts is here to revolutionize the way you discover and share your favorite reads!

At BookSmarts, we're all about fostering a vibrant community of book lovers who believe in the power of storytelling. Whether you're into thrilling mysteries, heartwarming romances, or mind-bending sci-fi, there's something for everyone in our ever-growing library.

Here's how it works: simply sign up, browse through our extensive collection of books, and when you find one that piques your interest, request a swap! It's as easy as that. Plus, not only are you decluttering your shelves, but you're also connecting with fellow readers from around the world and expanding your literary horizons.

So, what are you waiting for? Dive into the world of BookSmarts today and let the book swapping adventures begin! 🌟

[noahsbookhoard]

📚June 2024 Book Review (Part 2/2)📚

June had been a very busy month so I read very little. I think in compiled reading time, those three books were less than a week which was frustrating a bit, but July and August will largely make up for it!

Jusqu'à ce que mort s'ensuive by Olivier Rolin

Starting with a one page mention of two real figures in Les Misérables, Olivier Rolin tracks back the two 19th century socialist activists Emmanuel Barthelemy and Frédéric Cournet, their life, their flight to England and their mutual hatred to the point of one killing the other.

This book and I met by total coincidence. The book club I am part of likes to organise bookswaps: we get paired at random and each chose in the other one's wishlist (we are all on the same book tracking site) a book we'd like to read. While reading we take notes to send the other and exchange books this way. This is how I discovered this book.

It isn't exactly a novel, but it isn't exactly a historical research either: the two characters, who are mentioned in one page in Les Misérables, are two real political activist from the 19th century. But their very real life are as fabulous as what Victor Hugo had written for his fictional revolutionaries: there's force Labour prisoners, barricades, daring prison escapes, exile to London, Karl freaking Marx himself and a pistol duel.

The two main revolutionaries, Frédéric Cournet and Emmanuel Barthelemy are more or less on the same side but from very different background (one is a former Navy officer, the second is a factory worker) and with very different methods (the former worked with the Parliament and Victor Hugo in the flesh, no less; the later was more a cudgel and explosive kind of guy). They could never have met if they hadn't had to flee France for London and crossed path. It led to Cournet insulting Barthelemy, Barthelemy to claim compensation, and the both of them to face in a duel. I won't say who won't because that's 50% of the fun in this book: you feel like you are reading the latest adventure historical novel when it all actually happened as is, to the last dialogue line.

Indeed Olivier Rolin did extensive research into both of the men: he found records, letters, minutes... and he transcribes it into an accurate as possible account of their lives an meetings, there aren't any dialogues in less it had been recorded in an trial transcript or another source and he honestly admits when there were gaps in the records, contradicting sources or untrustworthy accounts. He traveled too, to Paris and London to see what remained of the places his protagonists saw or lived in. It makes for some interesting anecdotes about both cities as he apparently can't help but dig the most remarkable yet true stories everywhere he goes.

I goes to show that sometimes life is just so much more like fiction than fiction itself. The book is also a tribute to Victor Hugo's political commitment and those who held the same belief in the Republic during some tumultuous political times in France.

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

A retelling of the Trojan War from the point of view of Patroclus, from his childhood to his death, following his life, love and fight alongside Achilles.

One day back in June I got sick and decided to indulge: instead of just staying miserable in bed, I'll be miserable AND crying my eyes out.

I already read The Song of Achilles last year and it was love at first sight. I thought it couldn't get better but I discovered the audiobook and fell in love again. Frazer Douglas has a really soothing voice and infuse it with so much emotion without ever being melodramatic. I listened to the whole thing while half dozing, crying a little (a lot) and enjoying my sick day as much as humanly possible.

It's sweet, it's soft, it's sad, it's a strong contender for favorite book of all time in my list. And that time it made a shitty day a little less shitty.

Having now read the Illiad I could appreciate the story so much more (I wasn't in any state for comparative analysis but I noticed what scene inspired Madeline Miller) and feel the sad scenes twice as hard. The foreshadowing (can it be called foreshadowing when the story has been known for a few thousand years?) and the knowledge that what must happened would happen because Fate spares no one is just as heartbreaking the second time around. Madeline Miller's poetry makes it so poignant, it just took my heart out and did whatever it wanted with it for 11 hours and 15 minutes.

Tangential rant but my only regret about this book is the cover: I hate all of the english edition cover; the breastplate (above), the helmet and the bow and arrow, I like neither of them. But the french pocket edition is soooo pretty...

Look at this! It's a crime I can't have this on an english edition...

The Umbrella Academy Vol. 1 to 3 by Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba

On October 1st 1989, 43 children are born of mothers who had not been pregnant the minute before. Sir Reginal Hargreeves adopts seven of them, certain that they wouldn't be ordinary, and raise them to become a team of child vigilantes: the Umbrella Academy. Years later the team has broken down but the siblings come together for their father's funeral. In the meantime a menace looms over the planet.

Just this once won't hurt: I watched the show before reading the book! So, once again, my opinion will be tinted. I haven't watched the last season and the few reviews on this site do not encourage me too but at least the comic was a really fun read!

Season one of the show follows the first volume of the comic pretty well, but I liked how the graphic style of Gabriel Ba added to the alien atmosphere of the story, which was lost in the adaptation. Luther's half monkey body and Vanya's human violin form were a big plus in the book.

The Second one was fun, I loved getting for of Five and his space travel adventures. The treatment of the aftermath of volume 1 was really good too, it takes its time while the show rushes on a little. It also has all the gory dark stuff that never would have made the cut with Netflix but add to the danger of Hazel and Cha-Cha.

I was less convinced by the third volume. I felt it less cohesive somehow. I liked some of the plot, the Hotel is a really cool idea but the rest of it fell a bit flat. There's too much different story to follow you can't focus on everyone, the book can't either so some were less developed than they deserved to be. It might be because it was so long in production but this was sad, I wanted to like it more than I did.

However I discovered while digging a little for this review that a fourth volume is in production! I am really excited to get more time in this universe!

[aati-coach]

Top 12 lessons learned from the book -"8 Rules of Love"

1) Knowing more about ourselves and what we enjoy helps us feel comfortable in solitude.

Solitude helps you recognize that there is a you before, a you during, and a you after every relationship, forging your own way even when you have company and love.

2) The Three-Date Rule:

Focus on three areas:

- whether you like their personality,

- whether you respect their values, and

- whether you would like to help them achieve their goals.

3) How you handle your differences is more important than finding your similarities.

4) We expect love to flow naturally, but this is extremely rare, and often it means that we’re not taking on the tougher issues.

We need to make mistakes, identify what we need to change, and work on doing better. This is where we grow as individuals and together..

5) We take pride in noticing our partner’s potential and urging them to fulfill it, but we don’t want to impose our goals on them.

Our goal is to simply help them get to the nest step in their journey, not the next step in our vision of what their journey should be.

6) Guide Your Partner to Learn in Their Own Way:

Be patient and thoughtful as they do the work, offering your time and resources and supporting them while giving them confidence to do it on their own.

Through this restraint, you’re developing patience and compassion.

7) Focus on the process:

Life is not spent at the pinnacle. Those mountaintop events are only a tenth of 1 percent of the experience. Winners are still learning, experimenting, performing, and struggling.

It’s all part of the journey, and it’s all valuable.

Watching your partner grow and being part of that journey is deeply fulfilling and exciting, as is your own growth.

When you’re a part of each other’s growth, you don’t grow apart from each other.

9) Win or Lose Together:

Every time one of you loses, you both lose. Every time the problem loses, you both win.

10) New Experiences & Experiments:

When you and your partner set out to try something new together. You don’t just learn something new – you learn about yourself and your partner.

When you accomplish something new together, you bring that experience to all areas of your life.

11) If we spend all our time post-breakup analyzing the breakup, we’ll never move on.

Use this time to rediscover solitude, refocus on your purpose and really get to know yourself.

We can lose ourselves in a relationship, so now we have to find ourselves in the heartbreak.

12) You can seek love your whole life and never find it, or you can give love your whole life and experience joy.

#BooksShack

#BookExchange

#ReadersConnect

#BookLoversCommunity

#LiteraryJourney

#DiscoverBooks

#BookSwap

#Ilovebooks

[vestaclinicpod]

Ooh, ooh! Please can I play! 😌

Currently Reading:

Never Whistle At Night by Various Authors This is an indigenous horror anthology with genuinely unsettling moments and some truly delicious lines like: "The heart is fucking gristle. The more you try to chew through it, the bigger it gets.". Whenever I read/listen to stories from other cultures, I get the feeling of the world expanding but also drawing closer at the same time. This is definitely worth a read, but I would recommend dipping in and out between reading other things to let each story shine.

Finished:

Small Game by Blair Braverman A reality TV survival show gone wrong. Clearly written by someone who knows their stuff about the North American wilderness. I've been listening to too much audio drama to be satisfied with the queer story-line, though.

Divided: Racism, Medicine and Why We Need to Decolonise Healthcare by Annabel Sowemimo My God, I learned some things reading this book. There's a fantastic mix of facts, studies and personal anecdotes here that make it really accessible, even to non-health care professionals. Honestly, a must read for all. I've just picked up Abolition Revolution by Day and McBean because the chapter on incarceration boiled my blood so much.

Tender Is The Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica I've heard that this book has divided opinions but I loved it. A cutthroat exploration of: yes, the meat industry, sexism, power structures, etc - but mostly how we use language to justify harm. Within pages, you go from thinking 'yeah, like this could ever happen' to 'oh, fuck, this could so easily happen'. I don't want to turn the bookclub into a rant about fascism . . . but please, read this book, think about the power of language. Never obey in advance.

ALSO, in keeping with Hero's NY Resolution, I just picked up six books at the local queer bookswap and two of them were actually on my to buy list!!! We love free literature in this house!!

I haven't posted anything for a while and don't have much podcast related news to share so I guess it's time forrrrrr....

✨Impromptu Book Club!✨

What's been on your bedside table lately? Anything good? Anything deliciously dreadful? I've been very firm in sticking to my new year's resolution not to buy any new books, which has had the delightful side effect of really increasing the amount I've been using my local library. Having fun isn't hard when you have your library card! Now, onto the books 😍

Currently Reading:

Rules for Perfect Murders (I think the American ed is Eight Perfect Murders? Much better title tbh) by Peter Swanson (audiobook performed by Graham Halstead). A bookseller at a shop specialising in crime fiction learns that someone is killing people according to a list he made of perfect murders in fiction, posted on the shop's blog some years ago. I started this like "oh I know what's happening here" and then Peter Swanson reached out of my phone and held my face in his hands and grinned and said "oh you do, do you?" Having an absolute hoot, do recommend.

I'm also reading The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty, as a direct result of my new year's resolution. I bought the first in the series, City of Brass, years ago and never read it. Picked it up last month and spent almost all of it thinking, "Wow, I wish this was better. I'm definitely not going to read the rest, but I do want to see how it ends." And then EVERYTHING kicked off in the last few chapters, and I immediately put a hold on for Kingdom of Copper at the library.

Recently Finished:

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (audiobook performed by Hugh Fraser) - The one where everyone gets invited to an island and popped off one by one. Got genuinely spooked listening to this at night, and had to turn it off 😅 As always with Christie, I had good fun being told how it all happened but didn't care in the least about anyone involved.

Emma by Jane Austen (audiobook by Juliet Stevenson) - I've listened to this over and over, and it's perfect every single time. By far my favourite Austen, and especially my favourite Austen heroine, not in a "she did nothing wrong" way but rather a "she absolutely did lots wrong and isn't that delicious" way.

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher - A fantastic wee novella that wastes no time getting stuck into the story and the world around it. A retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher, now with added mushrooms. Having read Mexican Gothic recently, it'd be impossible not to draw comparisons. While both were fun, I think there was quite a bit more skill on show here.

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton (audiobook performed by Adjoa Andoh) - I love Adjoa Andoh with the power of a thousand suns, even when she is reading me a relatively boring story. A post-apocalyptic murder mystery, this should have been right up my street. But it lacked oomph, and I never had this on without having something more interesting to do while I listened.

Binned Off:

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (audiobook performed by Ramón de Ocampo) - Started strong, and I was having a good time, but for a relationship with such huge stakes on paper, I never felt them while I was listening. It felt like every obstacle was very quickly overcome, and I found I didn't really care one way or the other. Eventually I turned it off and just... never went back.

That's it for me - how about yous lot? Let me know what you've been reading the last wee while! 📚✨

[thefreeblackwomanslibrary]

Flashback to a glorious day spent at MoCADA Museum, trading good books by Black women and meeting up with the brilliant Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom to discuss the concepts and ideas explored in her incredible must read award winning book THICK AND OTHER ESSAYS, a stellar collection of personal essays that cover the complications of Black womanhood from a place of empowerment and critical thought.

THICK is one of my favorite reads, that I often recommend.

This is definitely one of the most amazing gatherings we’ve ever had, a packed house and it was simply amazing to have Dr. Cottom with us in the building, we ending up talking for almost 4 hours.

The discussion was extra lit 🔥📚🖤🌟