#Five for Freedom Audiobook

[flickeringflame216]

blessings roll call! add on in the tags if you so wish <3

[redgoldsparks]

I did a short interview for an alumni spotlight on the CCA website. You can click through but I'll also just copy my answers below the cut.

Maia Kobabe (e/em/eir) is a nonbinary/queer/trans author and illustrator, a voracious reader, a k-pop fan, and a daydreamer. You can learn an astonishing number of intimate details about em in Gender Queer: A Memoir and in eir other short comics, published by The New Yorker, The Nib, The Washington Post and in many print anthologies. Gender Queer won a Stonewall Honor and an Alex Award from the American Library Association in 2020. It was also the most challenged book in the United States in 2021 and 2022.

Maia shares more about eir life as a full-time artist and activist, fighting to protect diverse literature and the freedom to access information.

1. What is your current practice/business?

I am a full time cartoonist. My job consists of days working at home writing and drawing mixed with days speaking out against book banning and censorship, and in support of the freedom to read, the freedom to teach, and the freedom to access information. I spend a lot of time talking with other authors, teachers, and librarians about protecting diverse and queer books from the current wave of conservative attacks. The first piece I drew for the comics journalism site The Nib was about the rise of fascism in the United States; my later writing about queer, trans, and nonbinary identities has led me into consistently political territory.

2. Why did you choose CCA?

I chose CCA because I was looking for a MFA Comics program, of which there are very few, and I wanted to stay in the Bay Area. Because I'm a local, I was able to meet the majority of the MFA Comics faculty before I applied and felt immediately welcomed into their community. The fact that a majority of my professors for the first year of the program were queer was a huge draw as well.

3. If you could share one piece of advice with current or future students, what would it be?

Every single person has a story only they could tell. No matter what media you are working in, do your best to tell the story which is uniquely yours. If you aren't ready to tell it yet, just keep making art until the time to share that story arrives. No time spent creating is ever wasted.

4. What's your secret to staying inspired and creative?

I realized fairly early in life that my very favorite way to spend the day was drawing while listening to music, a podcast, or an audiobook. I like making things! I would rather be making things than doing almost anything else. I created a life in which I can spend a lot of time creating things and even if I don't particularly know what I am making, I am happy.

5. What do you have coming up?

My second book, Breathe: Journeys to Healthy Binding, written with Dr Sarah Pietzmeier, is coming out in May 2024 from Dutton. It's a nonfiction comic about chest binding as an aspect of trans healthcare. I'm currently drawing my third book, Saachi's Stories, written with Lucky Srikumar; it's due out from Scholastic Graphix in 2026. I am also working on adapting Gender Queer: A Memoir into an audiobook.

[lightthewaybackhome]

Watership Down by Richard Adams My rating: 5 of 5 stars 2024: I completely missed that last year was my 30th anniversary of when I first read this wonderful book. I will say that reading it yet again this year, I continue to have the same reaction: tears and loneliness when I finish. This book is like getting to go home and then having to leave over and over and over. A couple of new things this year: First, I decided that I'm going to alternate each year between the audiobook and the paperback. The years I read HP I'm going to use the audio book. Second, I somehow missed that Adams served in WW2 in the past, but always felt like he must have based on the way he wrote the rabbits. Lo and behold, it's in the introduction and I feel like an idiot. He did serve in WW2. You can really feel it in the book. Third, I was struck by the end when they listened to the doe tell a story about El-ahrairah and Rabscuttle and it's Hazel and Fiver's story. They had been woven into El-ahrairah's myth. For some reason that really stood out to me as something exquisitely beautiful. I'll miss my friends until next September. 2023: my goal was to read this book as quickly as possible, just really focus and soak it in. Man, I love this book. Every time I read it, I love it even more. The warrior story, Hobbit, Englishness of it all. It's just so good. 2022: Much like Lord of the Rings and Band of Brothers, this book feels like coming home. It's turned into one of my coziest reads and feels like very old friends. Each time I read it now, I'm struck by the WW2/Hobbit feel of it. The free rabbits stand up to the power-hungry tyrant and succeeding. Then, making life better for everyone. I love this book. 2021 re-read: finishing this on a cold, wet, lat November evening was perfect. This is the first time in years that I've read the book instead of doing an audio book. It took me a while to read it not in the narrators's voice, which made the reading slow going. Once I adjusted, I was fine. I love this book more every time I read it. It's such a perfect blend of fairy-tale, horror, nature documentary, and English warriors. I don't know why I'm always surprised by how hobbitish it is. The whole book is a bunch of Hobbits. Also, this time I was able to translate Bigwig's insult of Woundwart almost subconsciously. I just started laughing. I had to look one word up, but yeah, I just translated the Lapine into English. Again, just like reading Harry Potter, I don't understand how anyone who has read this book is buying into the idea that we can give up freedoms for safety without it becoming tyranny. It's never for the greater good. Love this book. Love it. ----- Third read through, so probably 4th or 5th time I've read this book. There were beautiful scenes that really stood out sharply, and I giggled at the creative cussing. But really, I just love everything about this book. ---- I just finished this book again as part of my Annual Autumn Reading. I love this book so much. I think I love it cause it's like reading a whole book just about hobbits. This is one of those books I love because I hate finishing it. I hate it. It just, I just cry and cry because it's like all my friends have kept running without me. ---- A beautiful story. probably one of my top five favorite books. Parts of it remind me of Lord of the Rings while others remind me of Band of Brothers. It has that very British Country feel that I love along with the mixture of happy and sadness, youth and old age, and then Just a hint of war. Beautifully done. View all my reviews

[kingsbridgelibraryteens]

If this recent segment from Last Week Tonight With John Oliver about public libraries inspired any questions about libraries, banned and challenged books, unusual items that can be checked out from libraries, and library budgets, we're here to give you some answers!

You can learn more about libraries and what they have to offer, both in-person and digitally, by visiting their websites. Here in New York City we've got three different systems: 

New York Public Library (includes Bronx / Manhattan / Staten Island)

Brooklyn Public Library

Queens Public Library

You should definitely visit your local library system's website, but you can also expand your scope and look outside of your neighborhood. For example, did you know that you can get a New York Public Library card if you live, work, or go to school anywhere in New York State? And did you also know that you can access material from the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled if you're a resident of the United States or even an American citizen living abroad?

Banned and challenged books have been a hot topic for years. Unfortunately, the topic is getting hotter all the time as the number of challenges is increasing! The American Library Association keeps track of books that are banned and/or challenged, and which ones are challenged most frequently. Dealing with book challenges is part of librarians' jobs year-round, but we give banned and challenged books extra attention once a year during Banned Books Week. The more time you spend visiting libraries and library websites, the more you'll discover book displays as well as book clubs and other events bringing more attention to the topic of banned and challenged books.

Okay, let's take a minute to talk about unusual things that you can check out with your library card. As you might expect, a library is a place where you can check out books (about the BERENSTAIN BEARS and many other topics), CDs, DVDs, and magazines. While we don't have any taxidermied animals to offer (!!!), at different branches in our system, patrons can check out things like seeds, launchpads, or even STEAM Discovery Kits which contain educational objects like games and telescopes. I'd like to make sure that you ALSO know that many libraries offer lots of digital resources like ebooks, audiobooks, & video as well as databases, so you can even have library access without leaving the house. And finally, you should know that some libraries have Take-Home Kits available for kids and/or teens, and those don't require a library card at all!

If you'd like to help restore budget cuts to your library, you can reach out to your local politicians directly, or sign letters of support virtually or in-person through your library. For example, right now at NYPL we're facing a new round of budget cuts which could reduce our library service from six days a week down to five days a week. We're asking people to show support for us by:

Signing a letter in person

Signing a virtual letter

or even filling out a virtual sticky note saying why libraries are important to you!

If you live outside of the New York City / New York State area, then please visit your local library's website and see how YOU can help keep libraries open and help protect your community's freedom to read!

[mommasaystoread]

🏍️ 𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 🏍️ Found family is one of my favorite romance tropes, and the Reynolds Restorations crew is a perfect example of found family. I've loved each couple in the series as well as the way the characters have grown through each book. I think Chase may very well be the "family member" who has grown the most. He is just the sweetest, and I'm so glad he finally got his turn at love. He and Hannah have crazy good chemistry, and they're both so darned lovable that you can't help but root for them - even when one or the other is being difficult. They're roommates, so we get a bit of forced proximity, which is as fun as it is frustrating with these two. As I mentioned, this is part of a series, but it can be read as a standalone. That said, I'd still recommend reading from the beginning because once you've met any of these characters, you're gonna want to know more about them. Regardless of trope or even reading order, this whole series is just one more reason I can't get enough of Melanie Moreland and her characters that are like old friends I can visit from time to time. What can make an already five star read even better? Stellar narration, which we always get from John Lane and Maxine Mitchell. From the mutual, while secret, attraction to the vulnerability of these characters to steamy goodness, it all comes through in the performance by Lane and Mitchell. Whether you read the book or listen to it (or both), you can't go wrong with Under the Radar. Amazon #Kindle Unlimited https://geni.us/UnderTheRadar

Also available Audiobook & Paperback 🏍️ ABOUT THE BOOK One of the Donner boys. Troublemakers.

That was the reputation that followed Chase his whole life. Until he grew up and realized he could do better. Be better.

But that choice cost him. His freedom, his family, his chance at love.

By making amends, he found a different path. A new set of friends. A new family.

Life was good. He thought he’d finally found everything he needed.

Then she answered his ad.

Now the roommate he needs is the woman he wants.

Desperately.

How long can he keep his feelings under the radar?

Or is Hannah Gallagher the one to help him break free of his past once and for all?

[teenslib]

Bit of a long shot, but if you are a minor in Chicago (or can get to a Chicago Public Library), you can get a limited-use library card with no parental signature or ID required. This initiative is called the 81 Club after our 81 locations around the city, and your card will allow you to check out five books at a time and is good for one year, after which you can renew it. We will not inform your parents that you have a card, much less what you check out with it. 

If you don’t have access to a program like this, you may still be able to get a digital card that will give you access to online materials like e-books and digital audiobooks. If your local library system doesn’t offer something like that, use someone else’s! Here’s the link to get an e-card with the Chicago Public Library. Just use Google Maps to find an address within the City of Chicago and use that to fill out the form.

We support minors’ rights to intellectual freedom!

Some comments on that last post about libraries have reminded me:

Many libraries and librarians consider it to be best practices to, if possible, not disclose a user's library records to anyone, even if the user is a minor and the person requesting information on them is a parent. This is not always possible; in the U.S., for example, individual states have different library confidentiality statutes, and school libraries are governed by federal law which generally permits parental review of records.*

If you are a minor or are in an high-control relationship, and you are considering whether you can safely use a library to search for resources or information you do not want your parent/abuser to know about:

Ask your librarian about their disclosure/privacy/confidentiality policy & laws (and if you are a minor, how it may apply to you). Ask if it may be different for print vs. digital vs. online materials. Ask them to help you double check your account and make sure you haven't given anyone else access (e.g. if you attach someone else's phone number to your account, the library may call them about books you have put on hold).

And good luck. <3

*The American Library Association has links to all the applicable state laws here, if you want to look up your state.

[audiofictionuk]

New Fiction Podcasts - 7th September

The BEAM Chronicles New Audio Drama! There are no "superheroes." We don't even use that word: we call them Anomalies. And to us normal people, not blessed with the gifts of flight, or strength, or hyper-powered mech-suits, these Anomalies, regardless of their intentions, are a threat. They must be dealt with--they must be equalized. We are the Bureau for the Equalization of Anomalistic Metahumans, BEAM for short. We will solve the Anomaly problem, by whatever means necessary. The BEAM Chronicles is a sci-fi/super-hero fiction podcast hosted, written, and performed by storyteller MJ Dooney. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2007911 https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2007911.rss

Of The Sword New Audio Book! A daily sword-based, micro-fiction anthology that will run in September 2023. The episodes each feature a different, unique sword and the story surrounding it. https://ofthesword.crd.co/ https://feeds.megaphone.fm/ofthesword

Adventures in Aliandras's Podcast New Audio RPG! A new adventure set in a world full of political intrigue and ancient magic. https://adventuresinaliandras.buzzsprout.com https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2239506.rss

Wind Walker New Audio Book! A thief with golden blood. Her sister, dreaming of freedom. And a mysterious lord offering them everything...if the last Wind Walker will steal from the tyrant who wants her dead. Wind Walker is a free, episodic audiobook podcast, following a fantasy novel bursting with vibrant characters, atmospheric settings, and countless twists and turns. http://nataliecrown.com https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2230955.rss

Did We Level Up? New Audio RPG! In the midst of Dungeons and Dragons, Levelers come together to craft fun and succinct campaigns, just to go throwing beautiful natty 1’s.. From getting drowned by tentacles in Cthulhu Mythos, to futuristic robots C4ing themselves… while mysterious disappearances in detective noir fashion, on top of jumping and punching our way through anime styled destruction.. and of course, all the way down to the natural fantasy of D&D itself...The Goal?...To ENJOY the story, make stupid decisions, and to see how far we can keep a story running. Welcome to.. "Did We Level Up?" https://shows.acast.com/did-we-level-up https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/did-we-level-up

Audio Drama Sunday Theatre New Audio Drama! Starting Labor Day weekend 2023, the Audio Drama Sunday Theatre brings the trending topic to life by celebrating and showcasing the modern-day audio drama. This show not only presents a platform for completed audio dramas everywhere, but it also allows the chance to interview cast and crew members. https://audiodramasundaytheatre.captivate.fm https://feeds.captivate.fm/audiodramasundaytheatre/

The Low Budget Ghost Squad New Audio Drama! Ghosts?  No problem.  Murder mysteries?  Love them.  Cheap?  Of course.  Enter - The Low Budget Ghost Squad.  A mom and her two kids solve mysteries at haunted hotels.  A great podcast for parents and older kids/teens. In Season One – We find out what happened to Delilah Carrington who fell to her death in 1934 at the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Her ghost has been seen for decades.  Was it murder?  Maybe more than one?  And there are more spirits to meet as well.  Did we mention that the Crescent is nicknamed “America’s Most Haunted Hotel?” https://www.buzzsprout.com/2242244 https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2242244.rss

When the Stars Fell New Audio RPG! A Dungeons and Dragons podcast about five adventurers on a quest to find long-lost artifacts that could bring order to a chaotic post-war continent. They will have crazy adventures on the way, and meet incredible friends and formidable foes. They will see all the beauty that Sha'Col has to offer and also its horrors. Join us every first and third Monday of the month for an incredible and funny adventure as we discover what happens When the Stars Fell! https://shows.acast.com/when-the-stars-fell https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/64ebfbc5565c27001225c83c

BadFiction New Audio Book! Creepy short stories and unsettling tales. https://www.olliefrancis.co.uk https://anchor.fm/s/e87d97e8/podcast/rss

[performanceaudio-blog]

Time to forget Airpods! Try these true wireless earbuds alternatives

When it comes to investing in a pair of good true wireless earbuds, the Apple AirPods are usually the first to come to mind. But are they really that impressive? there have to be better options on the market...

Luckily, there are quite a few worthy options on the market, and we take a look at a few of them.

But first, what should you be looking for in a pair of true wireless earbuds?

The first feature is noise-cancelling technology to prevent distraction, and the second is the impressive battery life that lasts as long as you need it.

Adding to the appeal of choosing to use true wireless Bluetooth earbuds is that they are small enough to fit in your pocket and give you the ability to listen to your favorite tunes wherever you go.

Moving back to the topic of noise-cancelling headphones, the concept is simple, they pick up background noise from the world around you and spin the sound waves around to cancel it out. On top of that, the design of the headphones also provides a degree of noise cancellation.

Additional things to look out for include:

1. Freedom

These days, most good wireless earbud manufacturers produce devices that will last at least five hours. We suggest that anything less than that may not be worth paying through the nose for.

2. Noise cancellation and other modes

Most true wireless Bluetooth earbuds these days offer noise-cancelling functions that can help reduce the chatter of the office and the noise of the morning train ride. However, it is also important that good wireless noise-cancelling headphones can sometimes let in external noise.

3. Support

Is there anywhere we don't take our wireless earbuds these days? Whether we are at home listening to audiobooks, on the train listening to podcasts, in the gym warming up to our favorite music, or connected to our laptop for a conference call, your headphones can be an extension of yourself.

That is why it is important to make sure that the headphones you choose will be able to support you every day, no matter what life throws at you.

4. Design and fit

This is one of the most important things when it comes to your wireless headphones. There is nothing more frustrating than having your buds fall out all the time, or worse, causing you discomfort. Silicone ear tips that are too big or too small will not be able to create a perfect seal in your ears, which means that you will not get good quality.

So, what are true wireless earbuds really?

True wireless earbuds are Bluetooth earbuds or IEMs that work without cables or wires between the earbuds.

A typical pair of earphones has a cable that connects the left and right earbuds whereas true wireless earbuds connect wirelessly to the audio source. Each earbud has its Bluetooth chip and antenna that allows them to connect, eliminating the need for wires between them.

The benefits of true wireless earbuds

Absolute freedom

Since they are completely cord-free, you can walk around without worrying about the cords getting tangled or pulling too much. 

Support for an active lifestyle

If you are always on the go, TWS is perfect for you. Additionally, some TWS come with an IP rating for sweat and water resistance, so you can wear them even when you're sweating or in the water. 

Sounds good

Good wireless headphones often have built-in buttons or touch sensors, allowing you to control playback or answer calls without taking out your phone.

Compact

Due to their small size, it is also easier to put a pair of TWS in your pocket or bag compared to headphones. And there are no cords to take up space either.

6 of the best Apple AirPod alternatives in 2023

Now, we can go on and on about the different true wireless earbuds currently on the market. Instead, we will save you time and list the best to make your life easier.

1. Ally Plus II

Ref https://cleeraudio.com/earbuds/ally-plus-ii-true-wireless-noise-cancelling-earbuds-headphone/

These impressive headphones offer long-lasting battery life, great sound, and noise-cancelling technology.

• Up to 22 hours of battery life on a single charge

• 5-minute charge gives 1 hour of playtime

• Active noise cancellation

• IPX4 sweat and water resistant

• 10mm graphene driver

• Settings can be configured using the Cleer+ app

• Compatible with your phone's voice assistant

2. JBL Flow

Ref https://www.jbl.com/wireless-headphones/JBL+REFLECT+FLOW-.html

These headphones are comfortable and great for enthusiasts. They have long-lasting batteries with great sounds that help you stay motivated while you work. • Up to 30 hours of battery life.

• Noise-cancelling technology

• Powerful bass

3. Earfun Air Pro

 Ref https://www.myearfun.com/headphones/earfun-air-pro-anc-true-wireless-earbuds-black

For budget options, Earfun delivers. Not only are they easy to use and manage, but they are durable enough to survive rigorous training.

• Up to 18 hours of battery life

• Noise-cancelling technology

• Impressive sound and strong bass

• Water and sweat resistant

• Built-in microphone

• Easy control

4. Cleer GOAL

Ref: https://cleeraudio.com/earbuds/goal-true-wireless-sport-earbuds-headphone/

When it comes to good headphones designed for active lifestyles, they are designed to fit perfectly while delivering clean sound.

• Up to 20 hours of battery life

• IPX4 sweat and water resistant

• 14mm power drivers

• Settings can be configured using the Cleer+ app

• Compatible with your phone's voice assistant

5. Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro

 Ref https://www.samsung.com/za/audio-sound/galaxy-buds/galaxy-buds-pro-violet-sm-r190nzvaxfa/

These headphones have unique features for next-level comfort. Fortunately, it won't fall off, even when you're working.

• Up to 8 hours of battery life

• IPX7 water resistance level

• Noise-cancelling technology

6. Master and Dynamics MW08

Ref https://www.masterdynamic.eu/products/mw08-active-noise-cancelling-true-wireless-earphones

Although this is one of the more expensive options, they are 100% worth it. Made from ceramic and featuring powerful and rich bass, it has been carefully designed to deliver a premium listening experience.

• Battery life: 40 hours with charging box, 10 hours on a single charge with ANC

• Noise cancellation technology: active noise cancellation

• Sensing mode: yes, surround listening mode

• Waterproof: IPX5 rating which means it is sweat and water resistant

Conclusion

True wireless noise-cancelling headphones are designed to provide a pleasant escape from the chaotic world outside. By investing in a pair that offers excellent battery life, you can listen to your favorite podcasts and playlists without the world around you bothering you. If you find the idea appealing, we recommend picking up a pair today to enjoy a next-level audio experience.

[vreugd-madelon]

Among Thieves Review

Among Thieves by M.J. Kuhn is a 339 page Young Adult Fantasy novel, the 1st in the Thieves series.

WHO NEEDS FRIENDS WHEN YOU HAVE AXES? Ryia ‘the Butcher’ Cautella has earned her reputation as the quickest, deadliest blade in the city – not to mention the sharpest tongue. But Ryia Cautella is not her real name. A deadly secret has kept Ryia in hiding, running from city to city, doing whatever it takes to stay one step ahead of the formidable Guildmaster – sovereign ruler of the five kingdoms. But even the most powerful men can be defeated. One last impossible job is all that stands between Ryia and her freedom – but even the Butcher can’t do it alone. She teams up with the Saints, a crew of uniquely skilled miscreants, smugglers and thieves, to carry off a death-defying heist into the most tightly guarded island in the kingdoms – the Guildmaster’s stronghold. Unfortunately for Ryia, her new allies are nearly as selfish as she is, and they all have plans of their own...

I rate this book 4.5/5 Stars.

I really enjoyed my time reading this book, also with a little help of the audiobook version, it made it an especially quick read. The setting of this book and the overall world is really interesting and creative. The soft magic system is really interesting and I wish we learned a little more about it. The characters were all very different, yet their voices were a lot alike, which meant that it took me a little while to understand who’s POV we were in. And with 5 rotating POV’s it at times felt like a lot for my mind. It was roughly at 50% that I finally understood who was who and what their own motives were.

I do recommend this book to others, especially if you like fantasy of heist novels.

Do you have any questions? Or maybe some recommendations? Send me an ask here on Tumblr or tweet me.  If you wish to support me, you can buy me a coffee! Or even buy my debut fantasy novel, The Mending Road.

[freelancershahin]

HOW HABITS ARE YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION SOLUTIONS

✅ HOW  HABITS ARE YOUR  NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION SOLUTIONS. AS SEEN ON NBC’S  ’S H E I L A   M A C  SHOW’ 🙏🙏 Do not forget to like, subscribe, and share 🧡   ✍ Broadcasting TODAY on my syndicated @CNBC @nbc News Radio Channel @kcaaradio 102.3 FM * 106.5 FM * 1050 AM streaming at www.KCAARadio.com and has a coverage area of five million people #1 in News/Talk FM *Replay on YouTube’s ‘Sheila MAC Show’. Available Globally on many stations and all major podcasting channels.   🌟 About This More Video ✅ HOW  HABITS ARE YOUR  NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION SOLUTIONS. Sheila Mac with Special Guest: ERIK SWANSON who has spent the past 18 years working with and sharing the stages with top experts such as Brian Tracy, Tony Robbins, Les Brown, Jack Canfield, Bob Proctor, and many others from the best-selling book 'THE SECRET” as well as The “THINK AND GROW RICH”Napoleon Hill Foundation! ❤️ Sheila guides entrepreneurs and working professionals through the profitable steps of building a business:  creation of expansion; marketing from planning to implementation; wealth building and preservation through real estate investing; and strategic planning all so that you can get back to the business of living your best life. Learn more at www.SheilaMac.com 💠 About this more video ✅ DOUBLE YOUR MARKETING SUCCESS & BE SEEN NOW: Interview with Jay Abraham 👉 https://youtu.be/x2Ie5_lJfDs THINK FOR YOURSELF EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO MAKE YOUR OWN RULES 👉 This Video Link: https://youtu.be/vdRGHGdisEM ✅ TIPS OF WISDOM THAT SHOW UP IN ALL RELIGIOUS TEXTS 👉 This Video Link: https://youtu.be/16z-aXJju6Y ✅ BUSINESS LEADER HABITS TO INCREASE YOUR INCOME AND IMPACT IN ANY ECONOMY 👉 This Video Link: https://youtu.be/WAIyoX02ftQ ✅ 10 WAYS TO STOP PLAYING GAMES WITH YOUR FINANCIAL FREEDOM 👉 This Video Link: https://youtu.be/KrBQjDvVWrE ✅ 5 WAYS TO BUILD COMMUNITY THROUGH CHANGING TIMES 👉 This Video Link: https://youtu.be/nvBT3o_XW1k ✅ 5 IP AND LEGAL SECRETS BUSINESS OWNERS NEED TO KNOW 👉 This Video Link: https://youtu.be/2jtxfR6SmpI ✅ MANIFEST AN ABUNDANCE OF LUCK, LOVE AND LAUGHTER IN YOUR LIFE! 👉 This Video Link: https://youtu.be/r2uinK-0Rs8 Subscribe to my YouTube at Sheila Mac Show: THANK YOU for your incredible support  🙏🏼 💠 SHEILA’S FAVORITE THINGS: SPECIAL thanks to this show’s sponsor’s and Sheila’s affiliates: BEAUTY COUNTER a makeup company committed to formulating clean beauty products that protect both people and the planet. As leaders in clean, BC are doing their part to advocate for human rights and climate justice while minimizing the environmental impacts of our products, packaging, and footprint. Sheila is a representative and helps others make the switch to cleaner, beauty learn more at www.BeautyCounter.com/sheilamac TOOLS FOR BUSINESS & LIFE: https://sheilamac.com/tools-for-busin... This link shares my favorite tools including my highly loved manifesting pens and the planning system that helps me somehow magically get it all done: Go to SheilaMac.com TOOLS FOR BUSINESS AND LIFE. GOING THROUGH A LIFE SITUATION and need a tool to help you with LIFESTYLE DESIGN get “BOOT STRAPS & BRA STRAPS ‘The Formula to go from Rock Bottom and Back into action in any situation!” Use this link for extra free gifts: (INCLUDES ADDITIONAL CHAPTER VIDEOS AND GIFTS VALUED AT $199) AT: https://geni.us/bootstrapsbrastraps 🌟 Follow My Social Media Account 🔶 Facebook Page: https://web.facebook.com/Sheilamacshow 🔶 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheilamac/ 🔶 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheilamacshow/ 🔶 Twitter: https://twitter.com/SHEILAMACSHOW 🔶 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 🔶 Medium: https://medium.com/@sheilamacshow 🔶 Website: https://sheilamac.com/ 🔶 Audiobook: https://www.audible.com/pd/Boot-Strap... 🔶 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SheilaMac HABITS, RESOLUTION SOLUTIONS, RESOLUTION, NEW YEAR'S, 2023, habits,new year resolutions, how to set goals, new year new me, new year resolution,new year goals,new years resolutions 2023,new years,new years resolutions,new year,holidays,CEO,enterpreneur,enterpreneur mindset,Sheila Mac,sheila mac,#sheilamacshow,Sheila Mac Show,small business,HOW HABITS ARE YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION SOLUTIONS,how habits are your new year's resolution solutions #NBC, #CONSULTANT, #SHEILAMAC, #SHEILAMACSHOWShow less

[laceyrowland]

2022 Reading Wrapped Part II

In the Spring I got a part time job at the local library which was great motivation to kick my reading into high gear. It's hard to be around books all day and not want to take them all home. Let's just say my TBR list stretches farther than my lifetime.

Being surrounded by books is great motivation to read, but so is being surrounded by nature. My partner and I both enjoy the outdoors, and I've been known to spend hours lounging around outside with a good book. We got a hammock stand to bring with us on camping trips which has really spoiled me when it comes to travel.

Tips for squeezing in more reading:

Bring a book with you when you're away from home. Or have an audiobook downloaded on your phone with some earbuds handy. Case in point, last night I was picking up a birthday gift at the bookstore and was stuck in a long line with nothing to do. I pulled out my headphones and listened to a few minutes of my audiobook (Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily King, in case you were wondering) while waiting. If you're riding public transit, stuck in an airport during a layover, or even just waiting at the doctor's office - having a book makes the waiting less annoying.

Find a cozy, but not too cozy, spot to read. I've found that reading at the kitchen table is great when I'm waiting for something to finish baking, but if I sit too long on the hard kitchen chairs my butt goes to sleep and I get uncomfortable. If I read in bed, it better be a compelling book or I'll go right to sleep. Reading in front of the TV is not recommended. A coffee shop can be a good place to read if you need to get away from the laundry piling up. Libraries are free and quiet and generally have comfortable (but not too comfortable) seating. A blanket on the lawn is also great.

Take advantage of the resources around you for reading recommendations. While working at the library I met tons of avid readers who had loads of recommendations, and folks would come in and ask for suggestions from me as well. It's a community built around readers! Libraries are a unique space - they're free, they're protectors of democracy and intellectual freedom, and they're open to everyone. Patronizing them is critical to their survival.

Here's what I read April through June of 2022:

Harlem Shuffle - Colson Whitehead*

My Monticello - Jocelyn Nicole Johnson*

The Honjin Murders - Seishi Yokomizo

My Sister, The Serial Killer - Oyinkan Braithwaite*

Things We Lost in the Fire - Mariana Enriquez*

The Bookshop - Penelope Fitzgerald

Autobiography of Red - Anne Carson

The Incendiaries - R.O. Kwon*

The Lost Daughter - Elena Ferrante*

Infinite Country - Patricia Engel

Rosemary's Baby - Ira Levin

The Nickel Boys - Colson Whitehead*

From Chaos to Creativity - Jessie L. Kwak

Wide Sargasso Sea - Jean Rhys*

Katie the Catsitter - Colleen AF Venable

Good Omens - Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

Tao Te Ching - Lao Tzu

Parasite - Mira Grant

Pachinko - Min Jin Lee*

Taproot - Keezy Young

The Book of M - Peng Shepherd

*Books that blew my hair back

Catch up on Part I of my Reading Wrapped, and stay tuned for Part III!

[bisexualbaker]

[Image one: @/letsgo-emxos says, "oh my god pls drop the female isekai protags title list these all sound so good." Image two: A screencap of a list of Otome/Princess Isekai (OI) Rec Chart. Under "Entry-level, light-hearted, 'if you liked HameFura…' are: Beware the Villainess!, I'll Be the Matriarch in this Life!, For Better or For Worse, and Middle-Aged Man's Noble Daughter's Reincarnation. Under "GirlBosses humiliated and murdered, reverse time to return the favor tenfold" are The Villainess Reverses the Hourglass, Untouchable Lady, Shadow Queen, and Angelic Lady. Under "Roughhousing Brawler Princesses" are The Lady and the Beast, A Royal Princess with Black Hair, My Secretly Hot Husband, and This Girl is a Little Wild. Under "OI but let's talk about systemic oppression" are Blinded by the Setting Sun, Lady Evony, Her Tale of Shim Chong, and The Princess Imprints Upon the Traitor. Under "Focus on the mental toll of abuse in a way that makes you feel like the author Gets It" are The Antagonist's Pet, What It Means to Be You, The Monstrous Duke's Adopted Daughter, and Just Leave Me Be. Under "Bonus! Extremely Problematic Women (perfect)" are The Villainess and the Woman Who Would Do Anything for the Sake of Love, and Protecting the Female Lead's Older Brother. End ID.]

More notes!

Magic Artisan Dahlia Wilts No More is actually based on the light novel series Dahlia in Bloom: Crafting a Fresh Start with Magical Tools; it's eight volumes of extremely slow burn and counting, and it's very easy to read Dahlia as aro-spec. The light novels also have a spin-off series called Lucia and the Loom, the first volume of which is best read between volumes 6 and 7 of Dahlia in Bloom.

The first season of the I'm in Love With the Villainess anime has completed and is available to watch for free, subbed and dubbed, on Crunchyroll! Go request a second season so we can see it get even more queer!

The first three volumes of the light novel series are also available as audiobooks now, just saying.

If you want another book with the same premise as ILTV, but more lighthearted, try A Lily Blooms in Another World! (Oneshot.)

Following My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom, "reincarnated as the villainess of an otome game" is now an incredibly popular girl!isekai trope. I'm personally fond of: The Weakest Manga Villainess Wants Her Freedom (oneshot) I Refuse to be Your Enemy (six volumes, complete) As the Villainess, I Reject These Happy-Bad Endings (oneshot) Cross-Dressing Villainess Cecilia Sylvie (five-plus volumes, ongoing) Saint? No! I'm Just a Passing Beast Tamer (three volumes, ongoing) The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen (five volumes, ongoing?) I'd Rather Have a Cat Than a Harem (two volumes, complete) Deathbound Duke's Daughter (two volumes, ongoing online in Japan but the publisher unfairly cut it off at only two books; I recommend it even though we may never see an official ending, it is such a fantastic adventure story with deep and intriguing worldbuilding. Also there's a manga that, IIRC, hasn't been licensed in the US and may get published farther in the storyline than the novels did?)

There are a lot more though

Speaking of huge successes, how about The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent? Nine volumes and ongoing, with a manga, an anime, audiobooks, and a spin-off manga called The Other Saint.

I may be slightly addicted to light novels. Ask me for more info about any of these!

Isekai with male protags: "I was a loser on earth but now I'm super fucking strong and gettin mad bitches"

Isekai with female protags:

Reincarnated princess uses earth knowledge to make magitech a thing and romances sad girl

Girl romantically pursues her video game waifu

Girl is tasked to teach actual fucking gods to be more empathetic to humans

Woman reincarnated as the daughter of a magic item crafter uses earth knowledge to advance her trade

"Straight" girl is sucked into a world with zero men and lesbians everywhere and finds out she's sapphic (there's like actual plot but the gay is what matters.... to me)

A ghibli film. Need I say more

Woman reincarnated in video game as doomed villainess desperately tries to change her story

Girl reincarnated as a tiny baby spider kills monsters to level up

Like the male protag one but the lame guy's mom got isekaid with him and she's the op one.

Two normal girls fight urban legends in terrifying danger dimension

[mikerickson]

When you get this, you have to answer five things you like about yourself, publicly. Then send this to ten of your favorite followers. (non-negotiable, positivity is cool ✨)

I love that Tumblr doesn't let you use regular formatting like numbered lists and bullets for answers. Super cool website.

1) I like the way I walk. I'm told I have a very distinct gait. When I'm not slowing down to keep pace with other people I zoom around all over the place and have gotten comments on it before.

2) I like my hobbies. I'm rarely bored and most nights I'm more inundated with choices and have to prioritize if I'm gonna read a book or practice an instrument or write or study something.

3) I like how I look. Not just my body (getting a home gym has been one of the best decisions ever because I'm way more consistent now and don't have to deal with strangers), but also the way I dress. Winter is mostly flannels that has me looking like a wannabe lumberjack and summer is just a parade of high shorts and tight-fitting shirts (top buttons undone, obviously). I've just really honed in on my personal idea of what masculinity looks like and it feels good to present myself that way.

4) I like that I still like learning. I was a pretty bad student in college (finished my first semester with a 1.4 GPA!) and just kind of went through the motions until I got a degree. But now that I'm not obliged to do it, I find that I enjoy researching new things in my free time. It's definitely a "mile wide, inch deep" kind of knowledge, but I do enjoy listening to audiobooks or reading nonfiction books I get from the library about stuff I feel like I didn't know about before.

5) I like being gay. Ten years ago that's definitely not something I thought I'd ever say, but it's true now. Being gay has brought me a wonderful partner, the vast majority of my current friends, newfound confidence and freedom from expectations, and many good memories.

[amongtomesandtales]

Jo’s Reading of the Month

🗓 July

·  Total: 18

·  📙Rereads: 0 ·  📚 Library: 8 ·  🎧 Audiobooks: 7 ·  📖 Off my tbr: 3

End of the month currently reading: Reading in the Brain by Stanislas Dehaene - Highs: I listened to ADHD hos piger og kvinder by Lotta Borg Skoglund (Danish translation from the Swedish) ★★★★★... and whoo boy did I feel seen. First chance I get I will buy a physical copy of this and highlight every relevant part for when I go in for my referral/assessment next year. Gotta back myself up as much as I can and Skoglund explained so many things so very very well. The second major high for this month was Perla by Carolina de Robertis ★★★★★. It got me confused, frantically reading, sobbing and smiling. Also I just looove Robertis’ writing... it’s so gorgeous, and melodious and rhythmic and I love that I also feel like this now, having read both Perla and The Gods of Tango. Makes me hopeful for her other books I’ve got standing unread on my shelves lol. I might even go so far as giving her the title of my all-time favourite author, if this five-star trend continues... - Honourable mentions: Freedom is A Constant Struggle by Angela Y. Davis (collections like these I rarely rate, but it was really good!) The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner ★★★★ Your Ad Could Go Here: Stories by Oksana Zabuzhko - As with most short story collections, some hit more than others, and while this one took me a while to actually read - and I do find 50+ pages to be too long for a short story (this one had two such stories) - the stories I did like were worth the overall rating of ★★★★ - Lows: I really didn’t get along with Vagabonds by Eloghosa Osunde despite having been really keen on it before starting it ★★. I also dnf’ed three things this month which were My Mess Is a Bit of a Life by Georgia Pritchett, Women with ADHD by Sari Solden as well as The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa.

Balance

Are my books balanced? (how much I’ve read vs. how much that’s come in) 19 / 8

[unimportant-ramblings]

1-20

Anon said go crazy we stan

1. Book you've reread the most times?

I should be cool and arty here but the answer is Twilight <3

2. Top five books of all time?

Good question man fuck okay as of this moment, knowing this definitely has some recency bias as well as some cringe

a) Pride and Prejudice

b) Finishing The Hat by Stephen Sondheim

c) Little Women

d) The Sleeping Dictionary by Sujata Massey (what if memoirs from a geisha was good?)

e) fucking ...... Midnight Sun tbqh like yeah maybe I'm cringe but!

3. Favorite genre?

I'll read anything but I read a lot of sci fi, historical romance, and performing arts history

4. What sections of the bookstore do you browse?

Sale 😎😎😎

5. Where do you buy books?

Tbh I don't buy many books? I use the library for almost everything I read, both physically and digitally. I like being able to read as much as I want without having to budget, or picking up a book and having the freedom of just taking it back without the feeling of "but you paid $25 dollars for this :///"

When I do buy books, I shop at the local children's book store for my niblings, I use Libro.fm for any audiobooks I want to own that they have (use libro whenever you can! Support local book stores and you own the book outright!) and I use the Canadian chain Indigo because that's where people get me gift cards from

6. What books have you read in the last month.

These are my books for May thus far

A Load of Hooey by Bob Odenkirk (audiobook, short humor stories!)

The Break by Katherena Vermette (audiobook; intergenerational trauma of indigenous Canadian women ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Go Hex Yourself by Jessica Clare (paperback, second major publication of Reylo fanfiction ⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Just like Heaven by Julia Quinn (audiobook Bridgerton sidequest ⭐⭐⭐)

There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job by Kikuko Tsumura ( audiobook women experienced burnout, goes job hunting ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Pride and Prejudice and other Spices by Sonali Dev (audiobook finally a good modern p&p ⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall (graphic novel about female werewolves!)

Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer (reread, audio, regrettably ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

7. Is there a series/book that got you into reading?

Probably a series of unfortunate events

8. What is the first book you remember reading to yourself?

I really have no clear idea, must have been a comic of some kind!

9. When do you tend to read most?

Because I do most of my reading through audiobooks, almost perpetually. I read a lot when I'm on walks!

10. Do you have a guilty fav?

Like I joke that Twilight is a guilty pleasure and it definitely was at one point, but when something brings you as much joy as Twilight and the surrounding fandom gives to me, it can no longer be classified as a guilty pleasure. I think the crown of thorns and roses books are at a similar level for me now, like not only will i read the next book Sarah j Maas writes in the series but I find myself kind of craving the next one like a sugar fix, even if it doesn't give me any sustenance. I spend a large amount of time frustrated with the book and then I'll cry over the ending. I guess I'm not that guilty about any of the books I read anymore Life's too short for finding guilt and things that genuinely make you happy?

11. Nonfiction books do you like if any?

Fucking love me some nonfiction books! One of the best nonfiction books I read last year was called A Mad Love: An Introduction to Opera by Vivien Schweitzer, cannot recommend it enough if you'd like to get into opera. Stephen sondheim's incredible books on lyrics Finishing The Hat and Look I Made A Hat are both perfect. Last year I read Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted by Suleika Jaouad, highly recommend, it's about cancer and being terminally/chronically ill, beautifully written. Oh and Catch And Kill by Ronan Farrow, and the audiobook is narrated by him as well. Nonfiction is good!

12. You enjoy any compulsory high school reading?

Well! I really enjoyed all the plays we had to read, and for the most part I don't think they were bad, but I also did not read them when I was supposed to. So it's a mixed bag

13. Do you have a goodreads?

You think I could read all these books and remember them without a goodreads?

14. Do you ever mark/slash dog ear books you own?

Sometimes! But I'm much more likely to take a picture of something I read.

15. Recommend and review a book.

In addition to the non fiction books above and the children's lit in my other post, the best thriller I read recently was The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz. I like thrillers in theory but I often don't end up actually liking them much as I want to. Either they are way too intense for my tastes, verging on horror (and I cannot deal with reading the death of a child so that greatly limits the titles I read) or they are tame, like all this mystery and I guessed the end immediately, and it's boring! With The Plot it was the perfect balance. I did guessed the ending early on, but watching it play out was, frankly, thrilling. It was almost a Greek tragedy, the way the end was inevitable. I also really enjoyed the focus on the publishing industry and the nature of story. Really good and a fairly quick read!

16. How many books have you read this year?

I've read 50 books as of this moment!

17. Top five children's books?

Answered!

18. Like historical books? Which time period?

Yes I like historical books!! I prefer my romances to be sent in Regency and I usually don't enjoy books centered around either world war but I'm not overly picky!

19. Most disliked popular book?

I no longer know if these are popular with the youths but they were popular when I read every single one of the Red Queen young adult books and hated every single minute of it I don't understand why they were so popular, they were billed as these young adult game of thrones and they were as shallow as a puddle

20. What are things you look for in books?

Answered!

Thanks for the ask!!!!!

[elennemigo]

Benedict Cumberbatch will narrate the audiobook of ‘Patrick Melrose’ author’s new novel.

Benedict Cumberbatch is teaming up with Edwin St. Aubyn once more. The Patrick Melrose star will narrate the audiobook of St. Aubyn’s new novel, Double Blind, The Hollywood Reporter can exclusively announce.

Set between London, Cap d'Antibes, Big Sur, and a rewilded corner of Sussex, Aubyn’s novel centers on three friends Olivia, Lucy and Francis and their inner circle and follows them through a year of transformation.

Publisher Farrar, Straus and Giroux describes Double Blind as an “expansive, playful, and compassionate” novel that “investigates themes of inheritance, determinism, freedom, consciousness, and the stories we tell about ourselves.” “St. Aubyn’s major new novel is as compelling about ecology, psychoanalysis, genetics, and neuroscience as it is about love, fear, and courage,” the publisher continues. “Most of all, it is a perfect expression of the interconnections it sets out to examine, and a moving evocation of an imagined world that is deeply intelligent, often tender, curious, and very much alive.”

St. Aubyn has penned nine novels, having written the five acclaimed Patrick Melrose series of novels which were adapted into a five part-series on Showtime that starred Cumberbatch in the lead role. His work Mother’s Milk was shortlisted for the 2006 Man Booker Prize and won the 2007 Prix Femina Etranger and 2007 South Bank Show award for literature. Of Cumberbatch narrating his work Aubyn states, “I was thrilled when Benedict Cumberbatch offered to record the audiobook of Double Blind. To have such a brilliant actor reading my new novel is an immense privilege. It also means a lot to me, after his astonishing performance in the. television series of the Patrick Melrose novels, to be collaborating again with someone who has become a great friend.”

St. Aubyn added, “He brings the same deep intelligence and mimetic genius to his reading and characterization within a novel as he does to acting on screen or stage.” The audiobook and hardcover edition of Double Blind will be available on June 1.