#French book club

[frenchlitclub]

👋 Hi all! I appreciate your responses on the book club idea so far! Now, if among those interested, we have a disparity in the levels of reading comprehension, I would divide the club in two groups : one of people who can already read whole books in French/fluent/native french speakers, and another group of people currently learning the language who want to practice reading in French and maybe would like the support of others in the same situation.

Each group would read a different book every month to be better suited to both levels; and at the end of the month, we can share our thoughts between groups in various ways. (If done on discord, we could set up voice chat sessions, or have meetings where we read a summary of the book we read, or our review of it...).

I personally would love to be in a group with fellow native french speakers who want to read more french. 99% of what I read is in English, and I've been wanting to reconnect and re-spark interest in my first language. So if that also feels relatable to any of you, you would be so welcome to join this. It would be nice to have a variety of people there.

❤️Like this post if you would like to join, and tell me in the notes/ask/DM if you'd be on Tumblr and/or Discord so I can plan accordingly. Thank you! ✨

[perdrelacellule]

Si ça vous intéresse vous pouvez commenter une idée de bouquin et on votera! (ou bien venez me dire en dm)

EDIT: J'ai créé un google sheets pour organiser vos idées et préférences, je vous laisse jusqu'à Dimanche 01 Décembre 2024 pour le remplir si vous voulez participer.

Tumblr Book-club?

Question:

-Eh ça vous dis on fait un book-club? On commence tous le même bouquin en même temps et on en discute ensemble?

[communistkenobi]

stealing this screenshot from a post correcting people about what liminal spaces are, because I want to say something kind of unrelated and don’t want to bother the op - it’s funny this wiki article identifies airports as one of these non-places, and one of the “criteria” for a non-place is somewhere where you are able to remain anonymous, because (at least in north america, I can’t speak globally), one of the primary terrors of airports is its ability to render you a known quantity at basically any time, to bring you into public attention specifically by cops and security people identifying who you are. Airport security, bag inspections, police, surveillance cameras, etc do this security theatre routine at airports in a way that is more intense than other public spaces. Like I just don’t think this state of remaining anonymous in the airport applies to muslims or other religious and racial minorities the state deems to be a “high risk population” vis a vis border security, I think if you want to make the argument that these places allow anonymity, a fundamental part of this analysis has to include the fact that this anonymity is premised on visiting state violence, surveillance, and coercion on largely non-white and religious minorities, particularly and especially muslims, to “protect” and secure this space of (largely white) public anonymity 

[fruchtfliege]

so i read captive prince... Part one / Part two

(spoilers for the three books)

[cinderellaheist]

Gallant Scene in the Park by Franz Xaver Simm

The Proposal by Charles Soulacroix

[earlywintermourning]

jean moreau was only 22 man he shouldve been at the club

[slaughter-books]

Day 3: JOMPBPC: Intersectional Feminism

[neptunefairytales]

Here are all my vintage Winx Club cards:

The Boosters, and below the cards:

(Personnal pic. Please reblog if you liked, do not use or repost. Thanks! NSFW AND KINK ACCOUNTS DO NOT INTERACT !!!)

[kingedmundsroyalmurder]

Blue Castle Book Club 2.0 - Chapter 6

I still don’t love the utter contrivance of Dr. Trent receiving the phone call about his son the very moment he is about to tell Valancy his diagnosis. I know these things happen, and it is on such conveniences that plots are born, but it feels forced.

But we’re working a theme, and that theme is Nobody Cares About Valancy. As we’ll start to see, only some of that is actually true in objective reality. Valancy has been so trained by her family and her own unhappiness that she has started to see deliberate slights where none may actually exist. I’ve seen fans speculate that her heart condition is actually panic attacks, and she definitely seems to be displaying something reminiscent of social anxiety with how she assumes that everyone in the world is scrutinizing and judging her at all times.

But of course, in Valancy’s case it’s made worse by the fact that people are scrutinizing and judging her at all times, and it does make sense that she would expand what she knows of how her family treats her onto everyone else she meets. So she assumes Dr. Trent has forgotten her because she’s so insignificant as to not be worth remembering, rather than assuming that whatever news he got must have been dreadful indeed.

And it turns out that it was, actually, dreadful news that distracted him, rather than anything to do with her at all.

Valancy goes home via lover’s lane, because of course she does. I am lightly shocked that Deerwood allows canoodling of any kind in public, although my assumption is that “canoodling” in this context is closer to making out than it is to actual sex acts. Presumably if there was actual sex happening then the young girls in pairs would not be allowed anywhere near the place.

Valancy, of course, runs into both a pair of friends and a romantic couple, just to hammer home what she herself is missing so badly. Once again, she is positive that everyone is talking about her. Even in her Blue Castle everyone is always talking about her, even if there everything they have to say is positive.

Of course Lover’s Lane “debouches” onto the street. Nothing so pedestrian as “ends” or “gives way” or even “emerges”. No, for Lover’s Lane we must be French and lightly suggestive. Even our verb choices serve to remind us of what Valancy so desires and has never had.

And, of course, upon whom do we debouche? Why upon Barney Snaith! I see you, Lusty Mind Montgomery.

Barney Snaith, who gets a properly excited introduction. Barney Snaith, who gets a proper physical description and a rundown of all the worst gossip that Valancy can’t quite bring herself to believe. Barney Snaith, who is the first person we have met thus far whom Valancy never once assumes is thinking of her. Everyone else is smiling because they must be laughing at her; Barney is smiling and all Valancy can think is how much she envies him for his freedom.

But Valancy doesn’t get freedom, not yet. Valancy has to go home to her dreadful house and listen to her dreadful relatives. We know that there is change coming for her, because the story has told us so, but she doesn’t know that. And so, as Maud tells us:

Valancy’s day of destiny had come and gone. She ended it as she had begun it, in tears.

Colors mentioned:

Pink organdy dresses

Premature grey

Tawny hair dashed with red

Dark-brown eyes

Black with grease

Black pipe

Black stockings

And not a color, but honorable mention to Valancy feeling “colorless” as she walks down lover’s lane, which I am taking as communication to me directly from Lucy Maud beyond the grave confirming that I have successful picked up on a deliberate writing choice. (I mean, I knew I had, but I appreciate it just the same!)

Anyway, Barney gets a couple colors, but nothing very exciting yet. Later, his eyes will be purple. For now, they're still just brown.

[deadboystims]

yuri (ddlc) stimboard inspired by her poem “the raccoon”

ᯓ★ x x x , x x x , x x x

[frenchlitclub]

Au programme du club lecture de ce mois de juillet ☀️

[perdrelacellule]

[Tumblr Book-club] Les oiseaux du temps,Semaine 1

Alors, quelles sont vos premières impressions du bouquin?

Que pensez-vous de la prose? Des personnages?

Est-ce que le livre vous fait penser à d'autres œuvres?

Qu'est ce que vous avez ressenti en lisant les premières pages?

Essayons de discuter sans divulgâcher! :)

[gringadano]

[lutiaslayton]

Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva

ＰＡＲＴ　１５

〚ＦＩＲＳＴ〛〚ＰＲＥＶ〛〚ＮＥＸＴ〛

Disclaimer: This is a fan-translation for the Japan-exclusive novellisation of the movie Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva. The original novel was written by Aya Matsui under the supervision of Akihiro Hino, and belongs to Level-5.

This translation only aims to be a pleasant read for non-Japanese fans, nothing more: I made a few deliberate changes while translating in order to get the writing style closer to what is usually found in English fanfictions, as the Japanese storytelling can sometimes be different than what we are used to.

☆ Melina Whistler

Yes…

I could remember it clearly.

The unparalleled sense of fear, of entrapment and desolation, when I was sent into the body of someone else…

I looked for a place to hide, but there was nowhere to.

Everything was cold… I could hardly breathe.

I couldn’t stay here! Please, someone let me out!

I screamed desperately, but no one could hear me.

I kept pleading to someone I couldn’t see.

Please, I don’t want to stay here either. But I can’t leave. I have to stay here…

“Melina—Is that you, Melina?”

I had heard a familiar voice.

I could hear… or rather, I could feel it.

I couldn’t see her, but I knew that Janice was close by.

“Janice…?”

“Melina! This is incredible. I can’t believe you are so close to me…”

“I’m sorry, Janice! I shouldn’t be here. I’ll disappear right now… Somehow, I’ll find a way to do that!”

“No, you can’t!”

“Janice!?”

“I’ve just found you again… Do you realise how much I missed you? How much I missed my best friend while you were gone…”

“But, Janice…”

“It’s okay, Melina… I can’t let you go on like this.”

Suddenly, I had felt something shifting.

The sense of fear and desolation disappeared…

“Janice!”

Her voice was moving away.

“This isn’t just for you. This is also for me. Melina, you may not understand, but the grief and suffering of those left behind is so strong…”

I know, Janice…

I had felt Papa’s grief and pain even after I had lost my body…

“You have to understand, Melina. Losing my best friend not once, but twice, would surely break my heart…”

Before I knew it, I was slowly becoming familiar with Janice’s body, as if guided by the waves of the sea.

I had been spoiled by her heartfelt friendship…

At that moment…

The sound of slow clapping brought me back to reality.

It was Descole. The man who had used Papa’s love for me to draw him into his evil ways…

“Excellent. I did not realise that the memory copying had been successful… So congratulations, Whistler, you’ve achieved your goal.”

It was no wonder that you hadn’t noticed, Descole. Someone like you would never understand Janice’s kindness, or the nobility of sacrificing oneself in order to keep others alive.

“Oh, oh my God…”

Poor Papa… He was completely confused.

I looked straight into his eyes. Papa… I needed him to understand my feelings.

“At some point, I started to realise that this was wrong. I can’t live my life at the expense of my friend.”

I told him my honest thoughts.

“It was you who wrote to me, wasn’t it?”

Professor Layton…

I… No, we both wrote that letter. Janice’s voice had become inaudible to me, but our hearts were still communicating.

“It was the right choice to choose you, Professor. I thought you would be able to stop Papa… Just like I wanted him to stop.”

Isn’t that right, Janice?

It was just as you told me before.

“There is no puzzle that Professor Layton can’t solve, Melina.”

“I can’t stay in her body forever… But as long as this device exists, Papa will continue to copy my memories.”

“Melina…”

Papa’s eyes… They were looking at me, not at Janice.

“I had heard a lot about the Professor from Janice. She admired you so much…”

I’m sorry, Janice… I said it.

As soon as you gave me your life, I had realised how much the professor meant to you…

When I first met him on the Crown Petone, I made my most cherished memories. The times when he solved puzzles… That time when we were talking on the beach… That time when we were riding that makeshift helicopter that we had built… I was never alone.

Papa’s voice was trembling.

“Melina, I… This was all for you…”

“Thank you, Papa… I appreciate how you feel. But, please… These horrendous things have to stop now.”

“I just couldn’t accept a life without my beloved daughter… So I…”

At that moment— The whole room was struck by a tremendous quake.

“Professor, the ceiling!”

With a roar, the ceiling above us was split in two, as we all stood under it in stunned shock.

Then Descole took my arm.

“Melina!”

In a flash, Descole ran up the stairs leading to the Detragan and set me down.

A pack of wolves popped out and surrounded everyone. They all let out a terrifying howl then stood menacingly, ready to pounce on anyone at any moment.

“What are you doing, Descole!?”

“I needed Melina’s memories to achieve my true goal,” he replied coldly, standing right next to me.

“Your true goal…?” Papa asked in confusion.

I was with him on this one… I had no idea what this was about either. What could he possibly need my memories for? What could that mean?

Descole twirled his cloak and pointed to the ceiling.

“The resurrection of Ambrosia!”

The ceiling was painted with the Ambrosian crest… The Kingdom of Immortality.

“It all started when I discovered their coat of arms in its entirety…”

Descole turned to the professor and sent him a condescending look.

“Layton, what do you think these symbols mean?”

The coat of arms had a design reminiscent of a king and queen, surrounded by a vast number of lines, dots and jagged patterns…

The professor soon gasped in realisation. “…It’s a music sheet!”

“Correct. A music sheet, written in the Ambrosian way.”

Descole walked over to the Detragan and reached for a sheet music.

“In other words, the coat of arms is inscribed with the first key required to open the door to Ambrosia: a song that could be called ‘A Song of the Stars.’”

“A ‘Song of the Stars’…!?” Luke repeated incredulously.

“The second key is you, Melina.”

I could not believe my ears. “Me… the second key?”

The resurrection of Ambrosia, keys to open a door… I did not understand.

“The first key alone was not enough to revive Ambrosia. This was when I realised that the crest also hinted at the existence of a second key…”

The professor instantly resonated. “The ‘Song of the Sea’!”

Descole slowly took my hand with an icy smile. His grip was just as cold as his face.

“The stars, and the sea. When the two melodies are combined, Ambrosia will be revived.”

“I didn’t realise… that he was after the kingdom itself,” Papa slowly shook his head in shame.

“Alas, by the time the puzzle of the crest had been solved… The only person who had an accurate memory of the second key could no longer sing…”

So that was what this was all about.

The ‘Song of the Sea’… It was the song that the sea around Ambrosia had taught me.

Ever since we had moved to this island so I could recuperate from my illness, I had spent every day gazing out at it. Walking along the beach, or standing on my balcony, with the feeling of the sea breeze embracing me…

It wasn’t long before I had become aware of the melody that the sea was bringing me.

The wind, blowing past the reefs jutting out from the shore, would sing the same song to me every day. The waves breaking onto the shore would add to the music, creating a pleasant harmony, like a small ensemble.

Soon, I had unconsciously began to hum that very beautiful and somewhat nostalgic melody. When the sea and the song were joined together, it had given me a sense of heartfelt sincerity. It was soothing… and it made me happy, as I felt surrounded by a shower of invisible music.

Descole put his hand on one of the Detragan’s levers.

“Even though some memories were left behind… I wanted a perfect copy, more than Whistler did!”

He pulled the lever. Immediately after, the staircase exploded and bright lights flashed on the wall.

The smoke from the explosion blocked my view.

　⇚　　　　　　　⇛

[uwmspeccoll]

Fine Press Friday! 

Our Limited Editions Club Shakespeare series keeps giving us more artists to look for in our collection! This week we found Carmen, by Prosper Mérimée (1803-1870) illustrated by French-born American painter and illustrator, Jean Charlot (1898-1979), published by the Limited Editions Club, New York, in 1941 in an unstated limited edition of 1500 copies signed by the artist. We learned about this edition because of the post we did a couple of weeks ago on Charlot’s illustrated edition of Shakespeare’s Henry VI, Part 3.

Mérimée’s 1846 novel about the eponymous Romani beauty, is most popularly well known from Georges Bizet’s famous opera of the same name, which is based on Part III of Mérimée’s story. The action is set in 1830s Andalusia, but Jean Charlot’s illustrations gives the story a Mexican flavor. Charlot worked mainly in Mexico and was a member of the Mexican Muralist Movement, sharing a studio with Fernando Leal who is considered to be one of the first Mexican Muralists. It was after the Mexican Revolution (1910-1917) that the new government sought to use murals to educate the public on social justice issues. From a young age, Charlot was fascinated by Mexican art and pre-Columbian artefacts and his mature work reflects this fascination, including in these illustrations.

The thirty-seven multi-layered color lithographs, which Charlot drew directly on the printing matrix, feel like miniature frescoes. Charlot laid down quick marks to color large areas of the image, which layer in overlapping color to give the image a lively energy. One could easily imagine one of the illustrations used as a page header as a mural above a doorway, signaling a transition. Or, one of the larger full-page illustrations as a mural on a large wall. I am taken by how these illustrations function well in both architectural and book spaces. The book is architecture.  

The lithographs were printed by Charlot’s friend Albert Carman in New York and the type is 18-point Linotype Bodoni printed by Aldus Printers in New York. . The paper was made by the Worthy Paper Company, was watermarked with the name of the book and the covers are wrapped in a vibrant hand-blocked color silk.

View more Limited Edition Club posts.

View more Fine Press Friday posts.

– Teddy, Special Collections Graduate Intern

[averettjasper]

I know Dracula Daily is back and there’s an annual read through of Les Mis happening again, but I want to do a collective Sherlock Holmes read through…

This is mostly because Sherlock & Co has resurfaced every bit of Sherlock Holmes brainrot in me and I’m proportionately mostly Sherlock Holmes brainrot