#Jen’s books

[georgiapeach30513]

What are your 3 best books you've read

That is hard. Because there are some books/series I have read multiple times. So instead of mentioning those. Let’s talk about the best I have read recently. Because I always have several books waiting in the wings.

1. Haunting Adeline/Hunting Adeline by HD Carlton. They’re DARK but I love them both so much, and I’m including this in one.

2. Dark Notes by Pam Godwin. TABOO! And I love it!

3. Verity by Colleen Hoover. Although I hate so many parts of her books they’re well written and addictive I just don’t always like where they go.

Currently I’m reading Creedence by Penelope Douglas. But have a stack of books waiting on me. And I always want more 🫣

[borgialucrezia]

Historians describe Giulia as a very beautiful woman, and in fact she was called; Giulia “la Bella”—the Beautiful.

[elephantlovemedleys]

After the initial hugs and greetings from the lathered-up welcoming committee, including yours truly, putting on my most convincing friendly face, the hunky actor asked if he and I could step outside so he could have a moment alone with me. He [Patrick] took my hand and led me down the hall a little ways. Once out of earshot, we turned to face each other, Patrick scanned me in my cut-off black tights, dance briefs rolled down, a sports bra and vintage blue satin high heels, and said, “Whoa. You clean up good, girl.” “This is a great part for you. Congratulations.” “I know, right? It’s crazy.” This was softening me up. It felt good to be able to share my news with someone I knew. “I know, you’re probably thinkin’, ‘Aw, no, not this idiot again.’ ” Then his eyes started to well up. Real tears. And with the most earnest delivery imaginable, said, “You know I’ve always loved you.” He stared into my eyes. “And I’ve been really workin’ on gettin’ my shit together. So, if I get the chance, I swear I’m gonna make it up to you. You will not be sorry.” I said, “Uh-huh.” He smiled and was working hard on getting me to smile back. “C’mon, you know if we did this together, we’d kill it.” There was no question that our bodies liked each other, in spite of what my head was saying. There has never been anyone with Patrick’s combination of grace, brawn, sensitivity, and fearless, reckless gusto. - From Out of the Corner: A Memoir by Jennifer Grey (2022) PATRICK SWAYZE and JENNIFER GREY in DIRTY DANCING (1987) dir. EMILE ARDOLINO

[dailydccomics]

Harley Quinn by Jen Bartel

[codgod]

something wicked this way comes

[this is a redraw, here’s the original :p]

[jimhenson-themuppetmaster]

Jen and Kira from the World of The Dark Crystal Book

[beautifulhigh]

The smallest of looks is the loudest moment in the room

Just a little one from me to save me from going insane and to sate my followers...

ZAHRA: How long has this been going on?

Alex is focused on Zahra, Henry is staring off into the middle distance until Alex answers her.

ALEX: Since New Year's.

And it's that Henry reacts to. Have a close up.

Henry's gaze flicks to Alex. In this exact moment (1 hour, 5 minutes, and 41 seconds), he looks at Alex for a few seconds.

This is the moment Alex has put a start date on this thing between them.

It's a little more certain here than it is in the book:

"How long has this been happening?" "Since, um, New Year's." (page 233)

The placement of that "um" holds meaning for me - in the book Alex is hesitating before he pins a start date on him and Henry. He's trying to figure it out and that's what he goes for. Because how long has it been going on? Since they started sharing intimate thoughts and fears? Since they increased the benefits they had added to their friendship? Since the Red Room?

Nope. Alex goes for the moment when the possibility between them changed and he completely ignores the weeks of silence that happened straight after. The period of time in which Henry was full of fear over what he'd done, what Alex might do. In the book we know he runs scared, going on a public date and being photographed.

If there was a prince, and he was gay, and he kissed someone, and maybe it mattered, that prince might have to run a little bit of interference. (page 125)

We don't have anything like that in the movie but we do have the silence. We see Henry's fear when he comes into the Red Room. Not just because of the line he crossed with Alex but because he has exposed himself and his most closely guarded secret, a glimpse of his true self.

He will know that Alex isn't going to out him - they've spent long enough talking and getting to know each other for that to not be Henry's fear. And if he was then it would have happened long before the State Dinner. Henry's fear is about losing Alex, losing the friendship, losing that connection with the boy he's wanted since the Olympics/Climate Conference.

I'd put money on Henry promising himself, once upon a time, that he would never do anything to risk losing what small pieces of Alex he could have in his life. And when they start up this thing he goes in thinking that this is all he can have, all he will get.

"I thought I could have some part of you, and just never say [I love you], and you'd never have to know, and one day you'd get tired of me and leave, because I'm--" (Page 272)

Henry didn't think he would have all of Alex, at least not anything of import, that Alex wouldn't be as far in as Henry is. And yet here he is in this hotel room, declaring they have been this thing since that kiss. Since before they properly made out in the Red Room, went down on each other in Alex's bedroom, talked about "keeping things casual" before embarking on the most insanely devoted shag fest known to mankind.

Alex has been in since New Year's and he tells Zahra just that.

In the movie he is more decisive. (Just like the instant "No" when Zahra asks if it would make a difference if she asked them to stop.)

Since New Year's. Since the moment Henry kissed me and I became unable to think about anything else except doing it again. And doing other stuff.

And even though Henry ghosted him right after, even though the next thing Henry said to Alex after his apology and disappearance into the night was another apology for his behaviour, Alex has labelled that moment, that kiss, as their start.

The moment when Henry was brave.

And in the movie we get to see Henry's reaction to that. They've been discovered, things are about to blow up in a way they can't control, and Alex says that as far as he's concerned this thing between them has been going on all year.

Before the emails. Before Paris. Before the State Dinner. Alex has been Henry's since New Year's and this is the moment he finds that out.

[balkanparamo]

Red Letter No. 8 : by Jen Mazza

[gollancz]

Slight risk of this becoming a HIGH VAULTAGE fan blog but I don't care because 1) don't put the editor in charge if you don't want that and 2) HIGH VAULTAGE HAS BEEN SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2024 BOLLINGER EVERYMAN WODEHOUSE PRIZE FOR COMIC FICTION! @victoriocity have once again kicked in the doors of comedy and stomped on the competition.

Want to know who else was shortlisted for this prize? Gollancz legend Sir Terry Pratchett (GNU). Here's a picture of him enjoying his bottle of Bollinger with his pig, two parts of the prize when he won for SNUFF:

So yes, certified: Officially One Of The Funniest Books Of 2024, HIGH VAULTAGE!!

Get your copy here!

[szynkaaa]

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

This rebind was done for a friend part of the LGBTQ Valentine's Rebind Exchange hosted by the amazing Instagram Binding Community.

The graphic novel tells the story of a prince, a dressmaker, of gender queerness and being comfortable in your own skin.

About the rebind: ✦ Duo bookcloth ✦ Illustration is based off a panel from the graphic novel ✦ took me two true-crime podcast episodes to glue all the gems on

[foxandcatlibrary]

32nd Book I Read in 2024

Title: Female Husbands

Author: Jen Manion

Notes: Bought this at Gay's The Word in London during a weekend trip last spring, but didn't get around to reading it until now. Such a great book though! Never knew about this part of trans history before and I am so happy I finally read it.

[borgialucrezia]

"The success is not mine, the failure is not mine, but the two together make me." — Estella Havisham, Great Expectations.

[brat-pack-it-up-boys]

It’s probably a good thing Johnny didn’t make it to that was then this is now because I just know the beef between Johnny and mark would be INSANE

[dailydccomics]

Starfire and Nightwing by Jen Bartel

[ivomartins]

[michaelmoonsbookshop]

“CUSTOMER: Do you have this children's book I've heard about? It's supposed to be very good. It's called "Lionel Richie and the Wardrobe.”

― Jen Campbell, Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops.

Bare with me I think we may have a copy…