#Melanie Boudreaux
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#ocs#original characters#some of them are inspired by universal monsters#fantasy#fantasy ocs#picrew#Esmeralda strain#Melanie Boudreaux#rose hattenberger#raziya#ezili#umbra#uzuma#Adrian blanchet#vampires#invisible man#invisible woman#the mummy#mummy#sea monster#elves#demons#witches
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Official Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan 2018-2023 thank you for the memories signatures shirt
Per the Official Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan 2018-2023 thank you for the memories signatures shirt moreover I will buy this indictment, which remains sealed, Lori and her late brother Alex Cox agreed that “at least one of them or another would engage in conduct constituting the offense of first-degree premeditated murder” on Oct. 2, 2019, Lum reports. Police in Gilbert, Ariz., say Cox, who died of natural causes in Dec. 2019, shot at Boudreaux and tried to kill him outside his home after he returned from a trip to the gym, East Idaho News reports. Boudreaux was married to Melanie Pawlowski, Lori’s niece, at the time.
Click here to buy it: https://monozono.com/product/official-tom-clancys-jack-ryan-2018-2023-thank-you-for-the-memories-signatures-shirt/ Visit Home page: https://monozono.com
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Lori Vallow: The Plot Thickens
Recently Vallow’s niece Melani Boudreaux Pawlowski has been accused of knowing where Vallow’s missing children are. This comes from her ex husband Brandon Bouderaux saying in court documents she knew where the children are. Bouderaux made this statement while him and his wife were in court fighting over the custody of their own four children.
He revealed this due to fear of his ex wife, saying she is involved in the same Doomsday cult as Vallow. Though he refuses to help with the investigation into Vallow’s children, aside from just saying his ex wife knows.
Pawlowski on the other hand has been interviewed three times and denies any connection to Vallow’s children. She also explained she is in no cult, but instead belongs to the Church of Latterday Saints.
Pawlowski’s attorney’s claim Bouderaux just did this to gain custody, and since has fled with said children and missed court hearings. Family believes they are in Utah, but no one can say for sure.
So it's the part of the post where I say my opinions. But there really isn’t much to go on. This could just be a scorn man trying to screw over his ex wife, trying to make her seem unstable so he can get custody. Or Pawlowski could be a cult member trying to keep her sister's secret buried.
While both her and Vallow are part of the same church it's hard to say if it's a cult. Any religion could become a cult if taken too literally. There will need to be more information revealed before I can pick a side.
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NEW Episode! For this one, we discuss the upgraded charges for Lori and Chad, Lori's appearance in court, as well as the NASTY custody dispute between Melani P & Brandon Boudreaux. Is it possible that we could have had more dead children? #LinkinBio . . . . . . . . . #LoriVallow #ChadDaybell #alexcox #JJVallow #TyleeRyan #Cult #MelanieGibb #FBI #Murder #WhereAretheKids #Idaho #Rexburg #Solved #Missing #Crime #TrueCrime #Truecrimepodcast��#truecrimecommunity #murderinos #truecrimeaddict https://www.instagram.com/p/CCGeyNyArow/?igshid=htizidfldaya
#linkinbio#lorivallow#chaddaybell#alexcox#jjvallow#tyleeryan#cult#melaniegibb#fbi#murder#wherearethekids#idaho#rexburg#solved#missing#crime#truecrime#truecrimepodcast#truecrimecommunity#murderinos#truecrimeaddict
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Melanie Johnson-Bias Death - Obituary, Melanie Johnson-Bias Has Died
Melanie Johnson-Bias Death - Obituary, Funeral, Cause Of Death Melanie Johnson-Bias - 54, Died Aug 1, 2021. Math Teacher, B. Edward Boudreaux MS, St Mary Parish Schools, Baldwin, LA. Her daughter Tish misses her terribly. ....click link to learn more
Melanie Johnson-Bias Death – Obituary, Funeral, Cause Of Death Melanie Johnson-Bias – 54, Died Aug 1, 2021. Math Teacher, B. Edward Boudreaux MS, St Mary Parish Schools, Baldwin, LA. Her daughter Tish misses her terribly. Through a social media announcement, DeadDeath learned on August 11, 2021, about the death of Melanie Johnson-Bias who has died. In the mourning spirit of this death, families,…
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I got lot’s of songs 😀
1. Si (Plasma Ruby Rework) - Nils Frahm
2. Hellevator - Stray Kids
3. Fronting - Seventeen
4. High School Sweetheart- Melanie Martinez
5. Eunoia - Clyde Boudreaux
6. Wave - Ateez
7. Drugs & The Internet- Lauv
8. I Don’t Even Know You Anymore - Netsky, Bazzi, Lil Wayne
9. Interlude: Past to Present - NCT U
10. Chit Mat Ba Ram - Brave Girls
I tag @chrisbahng @corruption-skz @matryosika @theskzvibe @webangchan @youn9racha @xoliino
You can usually tell a lot about a person by the type of music they listen to. Put your favourite playlist on shuffle and list the first ten songs, then tag ten people!
Thanks for the tag @nymeriaaa
1. Small Doses by Bebe Rexha
2. King For A Day by Pierce The Veil
3. King of Nothing by Saint Asonia
4. Bonnie & Clyde by YUQI
5. Without Me by Fame On Fire
6. Get My Way by Vosai
7. Sour Candy by Lady Gaga, BLACKPINK
8. Paranoia by Kang Daniel
9. Medication by YUNGBLUD
10. LMLY by Jackson Wang
Tagging if you want to do it: @hyuckilstan, @lex-thesimpzzz, @hwxnghyunjin, @captainhongjoongwriter
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A tale of two feminist novels
Genre: Historical Fiction Publication Date: 16 January 2018 Source: Publisher via NetGalley Synopsis from the Publisher: “It is 1914, and twenty-five-year-old Frances Marion has left her (second) husband and her Northern California home for the lure of Los Angeles, where she is determined to live independently as an artist. But the word on everyone’s lips these days is “flickers”—the silent…
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#Contemporary Fiction#Delacorte Press#Historical Fiction#January 2018 Releases#Lee Boudreaux Books#Leni Zumas#Melanie Benjamin
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Niece Of Idaho ‘Cult’ Mom Knows Missing Kids’ Whereabouts, Her Ex Claims
Niece Of Idaho ‘Cult’ Mom Knows Missing Kids’ Whereabouts, Her Ex Claims
“Cult” mom Lori Vallow’s children have been missing for months, but a former relative claims his wife knows their whereabouts.
Brandon Boudreaux, who is currently divorcing Lori’s niece Melani Boudreaux, alleges his spouse was “involved in a cult where numerous members, adults and children alike, have been being killed off like flies.”
According to divorce filings, Lori and…
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18 very gay and very good books you should read this Pride Month
Pride Month is officially here and that can only mean one thing: time to load up your reading list with stellar queer stories.
Of course, you should be mixing gay books into your to-be-read pile no matter what time of year, but this month, as you celebrate Pride, queer books can be the perfect way to explore the breadth and diversity of the LGBTQ community.
SEE ALSO: 9 meaningful ways to become part of Pride this year
Fortunately for anybody looking for a great gay read, the book world is filled with a bevy of queer stories of all genres.
Whether you're looking for a meditative poetry collection about queer identity and mental health, a deep dive into the New York City's ballroom culture in the '80s and '90s, a comic about a group scouts who find themselves plagued by supernatural creatures at camp, or a coming-of-age story about a shapeshifter who is navigating life and dating, there is a queer book out there for you.
Here are 18 very gay and very good books you should read this Pride Month.
Image: Rescue Press
Paul Takes The Form of a Mortal Girl
Andrea Lawlor
You've never read a coming-of-age story like this. Paul Takes The Form of a Mortal Girl details the adventures of Paul Polydoris, a student in Iowa City who studies queer theory. Oh, and did we mention that Paul is a shapeshifter who can change from Paul to Polly at will. On the surface, it's an absurd sci-fi premise, but Lawlor uses it to deftly explore gender, identity, and the way we form relationships with other people as well as with ourselves.
Image: Harper Collins
The House of Impossible Beauties
Joseph Cassara
Joseph Cassara's The House of Impossible Beauties takes a deep dive into New York City's ballroom culture in the '80s and '90s by following a group of characters, each who enter the scene for a different reason. But what stands out about the book isn't just the novel's vivid portrait of the past, but also Cassara's breathtaking and unforgettable characters who are all trying to find their way.
Image: Lee Boudreaux Book
Less
Andrew Greer
Andrew Greer's 2018 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Less starts off with a character in crisis: our protagonist Arthur is a struggling novelist, feeling existential as he approaches his 50th birthday, and, to make matters worse, he's just received an invitation to his ex-boyfriend's wedding. Instead of despairing, Arthur says "NOPE" and instead embarks on a haphazard literary world tour. But what sells the book is Greer's resounding heart and humor, making this tale of romantic misadventures as funny as it is earnest.
Image: Harper Collins
Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit
Jaye Robin Brown
Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit follows Joanna "Jo" Gordon, an out teen who is suddenly pushed back into the closet when her evangelical father remarries, moves their family from Atlanta to Rome, Georgia, and asks Jo to hide her queer identity for her senior year. The only problem is Mary Carlson, the sister of Jo's new friend in Rome, who Jo is falling for. The result is a heartfelt novel about coming out and discovering young love. Also, shout out to the infinitely charming title of this book!
Image: Picador
Call Me By Your Name
André Aciman
You've probably seen Call Me By Your Name, the movie, but if you haven't read the book that it's based on, you're missing out. The novel tracks the love story of Oliver and Elio, but where the movie offers a third person look at both characters as they navigate their burgeoning romance, the novel places you solely in Elio's mind as his feelings develop from from mild crush to complete obsession. The details of the book are incredibly specific — it's a brief romance over one summer in Italy — and yet, and it's a testament to Aciman's beautiful prose that the love that Call Me By Your Name explores feels universal and extremely relatable.
Image: Mariner Books
Under the Udala Trees
Chinelo Okparanta
Under the Udala Trees is a book about star-crossed love. The novel follows the life of Ijeoma, a young girl who, at the start of the book, is sent away from her family in order to stay safe during the Nigerian civil war. While away, Ijeoma meets Amina, another girl also separated from her family. The two begin a brief relationship... only to find out that their love is forbidden. What follows is a beautiful novel about love and hardship as Ijeoma is sent home, forced into an unhappy marriage with a man, all the while grappling with her attraction to women.
Image: Penguin Books
madness
sam sax
Don't forget to add a bit of poetry to your reading list this Pride Month! If you're looking for a collection to start with, check out sam sax's collection madness. The poems in this collection cover everything from sexuality to mental health to culture and heritage, but what shines through and connects each of these threads is sax's incredibly thoughtful and evocative prose.
Image: Harper Collins
Release
Patrick Ness
If there is a hidden gem of queer lit, it's Release by Patrick Ness. The book is basically the gay YA version of Mrs. Dalloway (it even starts with "Adam would have to get the flowers himself," invoking Virginia Woolf's iconic opening line). In it we follow Adam Thorn, a 17-year-old student who finds himself having one of the most challenging days of his life. His boss at work is sexually harassing him, the ex he thought he was over suddenly makes a reappearance, and a big blowout is building between himself and his preacher father. (There's also a subplot about a ghost that's haunting the town.) But despite the impossible hurdles Adam faces, Release somehow feels nostalgic and charming as Patrick Ness outlines one teen's struggle to define himself.
Image: Square Fish
Last Seen Leaving
Caleb Roehrig
If the Babadook has taught us anything, it's that Pride is not complete without a little noir. To that end, if you are looking for a darker read this month, make sure you check out Caleb Roehrig's Last Seen Leaving. The book is a coming out story masked as a mystery thriller about Flynn, the primary suspect in an investigation when his girlfriend January disappears. Flynn's answers about his life with January don't quite add up... but maybe that has less to do about January and more about the secret that Flynn is keeping.
Image: Topside Press
Nevada
Imogen Binnie
Nevada follows Maria, a young trans woman living in New York City, trying to navigate the punk scene while also working in retail. When Maria's girlfriend breaks up with her by revealing that she's been cheating, Maria's world is turned upside down. On a quest to escape it all, Melanie embarks on a cross country road trip where she meets James, a stoner living in Nevada who is just as lost as Maria. As the book jumps between both James and Maria's perspectives, Nevada offers a thoughtful look at identity and the trans experience.
Image: BOOM! Box
Lumberjanes
Noelle Stevenson, Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, and Brooke A. Allen
If you're looking for some comics to check out this Pride month, be sure to check out Lumberjanes. The series documents the adventures of a group of scouts — Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley— as they spend a summer together. The only thing is, their camp is plagued by supernatural creatures including yetis, three-eyed wolves, and giant falcons. In addition to featuring stunning art, the book is also incredibly inclusive as the story delves into each diverse character, making Lumberjanes the perfect Pride Month read.
Image: Mariner Books
Fun Home
Alison Bechdel
Fun Home is a graphic memoir about coming out and finding love, centered around two people. The book documents Alison Bechdel (who also came up with the Bechdel test), her experience exploring her attraction to women, and the way that her father resisted her identity. But, after Alison's father is hit by a car and killed, she reflects on his past and realizes that he may have had his own struggles with his sexual identity.
Image: Mariner Books
How To Write An Autobiographical Novel
Alexander Chee
To read Alexander Chee's essay collection How To Write An Autobiographical Novel is to stand in a hall of mirrors, watching as a single person, and all of the identites that compose them, is reflected from all angles. The essay collection is a deep dive into Chee's past as he documents his expereinces as a gay rights and HIV/AIDS activist, a rose gardener, a writer, and more. But at the core, the book explores how we use writing to shape who we are and how who we are shapes our writing.
Image: Harper Collins
They Both Die At The End
Adam Silvera
As the title probably suggests, They Both Die At The End is not what we could a "happy" book. The novel follows a day in the life of two boys, Mateo and Rufus, who get early morning calls from Death-Cast telling them that today is the day that they're going to die. Though initially strangers, Mateo and Rufus are soon brought together through the Last Friend app, a social network that connects people on their last day alive. But as Mateo and Rufus embark on a quest to check items off their bucket list while they still have time, their friendship grows into something more, ultimately exploring what happens when we fall in love with someone we know we only will have a very limited time with.
Image: St. Martin's Press
You Know Me Well
David Levithan and Nina LaCour
Sometimes all you need is a good friend. And that's where You Know Me Well comes in. The book is about Mark and Kate, two students who have remained total strangers even though they've sat next to each other in class for an entire year. When the they run into each other unexpectedly at a bar in San Francisco, each dealing with a small crisis (Kate has just run away from love while Mark is dealing with the fact that the boy he loves is interested in someone else), they become fast friends. Documenting Mark and Kate's adventures with love, relationships, and growing up, You Know Me Well reveals how our friends can become our greatest lifeline.
Image: graywolf press
The Argonauts
Maggie Nelson
The Argonauts defies categorization in the best way. The book is a poetic memoir about Maggie Nelson's relationship with Harry, a gender-fluid artist with whom Nelson falls in love and begins a family. But in addition to the incredible story, The Argonauts radiates with stunning observations about being queer and in love, making the memoir feel less like a book and more like the perfect rendering of a person's heart on a page.
Image: graywolf
Don't Call Us Dead
Danez Smith
Fair warning up front: Don't Call Us Dead is a devastating poetry collection. But this book is as beautiful as it is painfully raw. Throughout the collection, Smith writes about race, queer identity, and AIDS, with an electrifying amount of passion and care, making this book a must-read for Pride Month.
Image: Harper Collins
Leah on the Offbeat
Becky Albertalli
You may know Becky Albertalli for her novel Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda (which was turned into a fantastic movie Love, Simon). But now Albertalli is back with a new book: Leah on the Offbeat. Where Sapiens outlines Simon's adventures in coming out, Leah on the Offbeat reveals that Leah is struggling with her identity too: she's bisexual and working to muster the courage to come out to her friends. But as Leah navigates her senior year of high school, she realizes that she may love one her friends more than anyone else might expect.
WATCH: The history of Pride
#_author:MJ Franklin#_uuid:5463376a-0d9e-315b-b8fe-ccc9c83bd348#_lmsid:a0Vd000000DTrEpEAL#_revsp:news.mashable
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New Post has been published on
New Post has been published on http://hypnotherapyhypnotist.com/hypnosis-ii-fire-tv-edition/
Hypnosis II Fire TV Edition
Hypnosis II Fire TV Edition
Price: $0.99
50 different images
beautiful flat design
soothing background music to keep you relaxed
Hypnosis for ultra deep sleep with Melanie – heavy slumber (full session) #ASMR #hypno #hypnosis
youtube
Hypnotist Melanie Playlist http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0AM6Men8OrP_3QVpulL5GxvfAha_GD3J
Hypnosis! This video will take you into a deep sleep, it is designed to help anyone who wants a better sleep experience. All you have to do is follow the sound of Melanie Boudreaux voice, relax, and let your mind drift. The key to this experience is not to try to go into hypnosis, don’t *try* to go to sleep. Just let it happen, and it will happen automatically, naturally, and effortlessly. Enjoy!
#asmr #hypno #hypnosis #trance #nlp #pocketwatch #insomnia
Hypnotist Melanie Playlist http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0AM6Men8OrP_3QVpulL5GxvfAha_GD3J
Hypnosis for #Anxiety Relief with Melanie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV0rgl9xEyo
#Hypnosis for #Lottery Winning with Melanie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edCxi8-GoUw
#Hypnosis for “Panic Attack” Relief with Melanie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Idz2vh7O8aA
4 girls hypnotize you to sleep with Melanie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4lLxhz9uHc
Please subscribe to our channel, give us a thumbs up and comment below and tell us how much you love our video! : )
You too can learn hypnosis! Find out more on our website
http://www.hypnotherapy.org
hypnotherapy college education university カレッジ 大学 學院 大學 学院 大学 מכללה לאוניברסיטה college universitari колеџ универзитет университетский колледж collège universitaire Hochschule, Universität, de la universidad
keyword: hypnosis hipnosis hipnotizador 催眠术 催眠術師 최면의 ύπνωση гипноз hipnoza ipnosi hipnoz гіпноз היפּנאָסיס היפנוזה نوم مغناطيسي hypnoosi hypnose
Blog 3 Girls Hypnotized http://3girlshypnotized.blogspot.com/?view=sidebar
Food and Travel http://sushibostonnyc.blogspot.com/
youtube play list Hypnotherapy Session http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2D2CC0B8DD5F4A6E&feature=view_all Hypnotist Bernie’s Exposition http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL57E6173487168836&feature=view_all How to Hypnotize girls http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF64FD2B71DCDC8BA&feature=view_all Lady in trance http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFCE2CCB8A1F960C1&feature=view_all Bloopers : ) http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL905B02713BEBC98F&feature=view_all Our other websites Female Stage Hypnotist http://www.femalestagehypnotist.com http://www.carainstitute.com Food Blog http://sushibostonnyc.blogspot.com/ Hypnosis information on the web Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnosis Stanford University http://stresshealthcenter.stanford.edu/ Harvard University http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/2000/08.21/hypnosis.html Columbia University http://www.columbia.edu/cu/news/05/07/neural_pathways.html Duke University http://inside.duke.edu/article.php?IssueID=78&ParentID=5572 Cornell http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Aug05/Stroop_effect.html University of Oxford http://www.philosophy.ox.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf…/Hypnosis.pdf Princeton University http://www.princeton.edu/~hypnosis/Princeton_Hypnosis/Welcome.html
Hypnosis is “a special psychological state with certain physiological attributes, resembling sleep only superficially and marked by a functioning of the individual at a level of awareness other than the ordinary conscious state.”[1] According to “state theory”, it is a mental state, while, according to “non-state theory”, it is imaginative role-enactment.[2][3][4] While under this state of mind, one’s focus and concentration is heightened. This individual is able to concentrate intensely on a specific thought or memory, while blocking out all possible sources of distraction. [5] Hypnosis is usually induced by a procedure known as a hypnotic induction, which is commonly composed of a long series of preliminary instructions and suggestions.[6] Hypnotic suggestions may be delivered by a hypnotist in the presence of the subject, or may be self-administered (“self-suggestion” or “autosuggestion”). The use of hypnotism for therapeutic purposes is referred to as “hypnotherapy”, while its use as a form of entertainment for an audience is known as “stage hypnosis”.
Anxiety (also called angst or worry) is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components.[2] It is the displeasing feeling of fear and concern
In the holistic professionals industries there is a great need for practitioners to undertake regular CPD. Many trainings such as NLP, Hypnotherapy and even coaching offer a “train once” qualification. That qualification then lasts for a lifetime with no body overseeing the work carried out by that individual, and very little security for the clients they encounter.
One of the biggest problems for unregulated industries such as these is the lack of emphasis on CPD (continual professional development)
This means that professionals may have trained long ago, leaving their clients at best risking the use of out of date techniques and solutions and at worst, in the hands of a therapist who has forgotten or lost their skills.
To jump from a situation of no regulation over CPD (continued professional development) to one where it is mandatory would be to big a pill for many practitioners to swallow. Many holistic therapists work part time, or are only using their skills in a non formal way. Imposing such regulations on these individuals would be unfruitful and unnecessary. Then rises the question “How do you draw the line between those who are truly professional and those who just “dabble?”
The answer has to come in the form of self regulated CPD. It is the perfect way for hypnotherapists, NLP Practitioners, coaches and the like to define themselves in the level of activity the undertake in their working practice and the level of professionalism they wish to demonstrate to those that they work with.
It makes perfect sense that those who wish to demonstrate a high level of professional conduct would indeed already participate in regular CPD and that they would ensure that their clients are aware of this.
CPD Approved is a vehicle for such professionals to not only formally demonstrate to their clients that they do undertake regular CPD, but also gives them an opportunity to encompass this within their marketing strategy, an area which many NLP Practitioners, hypnotherapists and professional coaches often struggle with.
It also means that they are able to have a better structure to their CPD. Rather than just adding to their skills or revisiting forming training elements when they feel it is a good time, or when they realise a lack of knowledge, instead the practitioner is encouraged to plan ahead with their CPD with the use of CPD points.
It becomes necessary for the therapist to measure their proactivity on an annual basis and to find accessible ways to increase their CPD activity if they find that they are low on points that year.
Information is available to us in many forms, and as such CPD may include live training, journals, books and even online videos. There is no excuse for not doing CPD and as a member of CPD approved you are able to demonstrate to your client base that you do it.
If you are a holistic therapist and you are interested in becoming a member of CPD approved, you can do so by visiting this page: http://www.cpdapproved.org/membership-for-individuals
By Gemma Bailey
www.GemmaBailey.co.uk
CPD Approved is an organisation designed to support the growing number of practitioners in personal development and holistic fields who wish to demonstrate to their clients, patients and partners that they take their professional standards seriously. Many holistic therapies and personal development and coaching industries operate in unregulated fields. This creates the potential for a drop in practitioner standards after their initial qualifications are obtained as many are no longer encouraged to seek ongoing professional development. http://www.cpdapproved.org/
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A couple of my universal monster inspired ocs
Melanie Boudreaux and Raziya
#I’ve probably mentioned the universal inspired ocs before#traditional art#artists on tumblr#original art#ocs#original characters#fantasy ocs#fantasy#universal monsters#inspired ocs#dracula 1931#the mummy 1932#melanie boudreaux#raziya#my art
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Lori Vallow: The Children were Zombies?
Recently Brandon Boudraux filed documents which contain more information about Vallow’s missing children. These documents were used in the custody battle against Melani Boudraux (Vallow’s niece).
The documents were obtained by ABC and outline discussions about the missing children, and the attempt on Brandon’s life in October 2019. Apparently these accounts are from Ian Powloski, Melani’s current husband.
According to the document Melani claimed her ex husband was possessed by a demon, and that something would need to happen to him in order for his soul to reach God. But that’s not all.
Ian claimed that Melani was told by Vallow/Daybell that the children had been possessed and turned into zombies. And that her children might need to die as well, and that Alex Cox would do it. Further explaining that Cox was very attached to the Lord and would do anything to make sure his plan was successful. But what does this all mean?
I have two theories, but we’re going to start with the cult one. Vallow’s belief in God and that she will play a part in the end of days caused a mental break. She saw ‘signs’ where there were none, including that her niece's husband and own children were possessed by evil. This led to Vallow and Daybell murdering the children and then getting rid of the remains to continue their work with God.
Secondly, Brandon and Ian could be working together to get the children away from Melani. Both Brandon and Ian could believe Melani is an unfit mother and in an attempt to get the children away from her make up stories to make her look just as insane as Vallow. This theory does not hold as much water because we know so little about these side characters. But if my ex-partner showed any signs of wanting to murder my children, I would stop at nothing to get them away from her.
All these thoughts and theories aside we still don’t know where the children are, or if they are even alive. Vallow’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 7th and 8th, we can only hope that new information will lead to police finding whatever remains of the children.
#lori vallow#chad daybell#Brandon Boudreaux i#melani powloski#ian powloski#vallow#daybell#missing children#missing#unsolved#cult
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18 very gay and very good books you should read this Pride Month
Pride Month is officially here and that can only mean one thing: time to load up your reading list with stellar queer stories.
Of course, you should be mixing gay books into your to-be-read pile no matter what time of year, but this month, as you celebrate Pride, queer books can be the perfect way to explore the breadth and diversity of the LGBTQ community.
SEE ALSO: 9 meaningful ways to become part of Pride this year
Fortunately for anybody looking for a great gay read, the book world is filled with a bevy of queer stories of all genres.
Whether you're looking for a meditative poetry collection about queer identity and mental health, a deep dive into the New York City's ballroom culture in the '80s and '90s, a comic about a group scouts who find themselves plagued by supernatural creatures at camp, or a coming-of-age story about a shapeshifter who is navigating life and dating, there is a queer book out there for you.
Here are 18 very gay and very good books you should read this Pride Month.
Image: Rescue Press
Paul Takes The Form of a Mortal Girl
Andrea Lawlor
You've never read a coming-of-age story like this. Paul Takes The Form of a Mortal Girl details the adventures of Paul Polydoris, a student in Iowa City who studies queer theory. Oh, and did we mention that Paul is a shapeshifter who can change from Paul to Polly at will. On the surface, it's an absurd sci-fi premise, but Lawlor uses it to deftly explore gender, identity, and the way we form relationships with other people as well as with ourselves.
Image: Harper Collins
The House of Impossible Beauties
Joseph Cassara
Joseph Cassara's The House of Impossible Beauties takes a deep dive into New York City's ballroom culture in the '80s and '90s by following a group of characters, each who enter the scene for a different reason. But what stands out about the book isn't just the novel's vivid portrait of the past, but also Cassara's breathtaking and unforgettable characters who are all trying to find their way.
Image: Lee Boudreaux Book
Less
Andrew Greer
Andrew Greer's 2018 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Less starts off with a character in crisis: our protagonist Arthur is a struggling novelist, feeling existential as he approaches his 50th birthday, and, to make matters worse, he's just received an invitation to his ex-boyfriend's wedding. Instead of despairing, Arthur says "NOPE" and instead embarks on a haphazard literary world tour. But what sells the book is Greer's resounding heart and humor, making this tale of romantic misadventures as funny as it is earnest.
Image: Harper Collins
Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit
Jaye Robin Brown
Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit follows Joanna "Jo" Gordon, an out teen who is suddenly pushed back into the closet when her evangelical father remarries, moves their family from Atlanta to Rome, Georgia, and asks Jo to hide her queer identity for her senior year. The only problem is Mary Carlson, the sister of Jo's new friend in Rome, who Jo is falling for. The result is a heartfelt novel about coming out and discovering young love. Also, shout out to the infinitely charming title of this book!
Image: Picador
Call Me By Your Name
André Aciman
You've probably seen Call Me By Your Name, the movie, but if you haven't read the book that it's based on, you're missing out. The novel tracks the love story of Oliver and Elio, but where the movie offers a third person look at both characters as they navigate their burgeoning romance, the novel places you solely in Elio's mind as his feelings develop from from mild crush to complete obsession. The details of the book are incredibly specific — it's a brief romance over one summer in Italy — and yet, and it's a testament to Aciman's beautiful prose that the love that Call Me By Your Name explores feels universal and extremely relatable.
Image: Mariner Books
Under the Udala Trees
Chinelo Okparanta
Under the Udala Trees is a book about star-crossed love. The novel follows the life of Ijeoma, a young girl who, at the start of the book, is sent away from her family in order to stay safe during the Nigerian civil war. While away, Ijeoma meets Amina, another girl also separated from her family. The two begin a brief relationship... only to find out that their love is forbidden. What follows is a beautiful novel about love and hardship as Ijeoma is sent home, forced into an unhappy marriage with a man, all the while grappling with her attraction to women.
Image: Penguin Books
madness
sam sax
Don't forget to add a bit of poetry to your reading list this Pride Month! If you're looking for a collection to start with, check out sam sax's collection madness. The poems in this collection cover everything from sexuality to mental health to culture and heritage, but what shines through and connects each of these threads is sax's incredibly thoughtful and evocative prose.
Image: Harper Collins
Release
Patrick Ness
If there is a hidden gem of queer lit, it's Release by Patrick Ness. The book is basically the gay YA version of Mrs. Dalloway (it even starts with "Adam would have to get the flowers himself," invoking Virginia Woolf's iconic opening line). In it we follow Adam Thorn, a 17-year-old student who finds himself having one of the most challenging days of his life. His boss at work is sexually harassing him, the ex he thought he was over suddenly makes a reappearance, and a big blowout is building between himself and his preacher father. (There's also a subplot about a ghost that's haunting the town.) But despite the impossible hurdles Adam faces, Release somehow feels nostalgic and charming as Patrick Ness outlines one teen's struggle to define himself.
Image: Square Fish
Last Seen Leaving
Caleb Roehrig
If the Babadook has taught us anything, it's that Pride is not complete without a little noir. To that end, if you are looking for a darker read this month, make sure you check out Caleb Roehrig's Last Seen Leaving. The book is a coming out story masked as a mystery thriller about Flynn, the primary suspect in an investigation when his girlfriend January disappears. Flynn's answers about his life with January don't quite add up... but maybe that has less to do about January and more about the secret that Flynn is keeping.
Image: Topside Press
Nevada
Imogen Binnie
Nevada follows Maria, a young trans woman living in New York City, trying to navigate the punk scene while also working in retail. When Maria's girlfriend breaks up with her by revealing that she's been cheating, Maria's world is turned upside down. On a quest to escape it all, Melanie embarks on a cross country road trip where she meets James, a stoner living in Nevada who is just as lost as Maria. As the book jumps between both James and Maria's perspectives, Nevada offers a thoughtful look at identity and the trans experience.
Image: BOOM! Box
Lumberjanes
Noelle Stevenson, Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, and Brooke A. Allen
If you're looking for some comics to check out this Pride month, be sure to check out Lumberjanes. The series documents the adventures of a group of scouts — Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley— as they spend a summer together. The only thing is, their camp is plagued by supernatural creatures including yetis, three-eyed wolves, and giant falcons. In addition to featuring stunning art, the book is also incredibly inclusive as the story delves into each diverse character, making Lumberjanes the perfect Pride Month read.
Image: Mariner Books
Fun Home
Alison Bechdel
Fun Home is a graphic memoir about coming out and finding love, centered around two people. The book documents Alison Bechdel (who also came up with the Bechdel test), her experience exploring her attraction to women, and the way that her father resisted her identity. But, after Alison's father is hit by a car and killed, she reflects on his past and realizes that he may have had his own struggles with his sexual identity.
Image: Mariner Books
How To Write An Autobiographical Novel
Alexander Chee
To read Alexander Chee's essay collection How To Write An Autobiographical Novel is to stand in a hall of mirrors, watching as a single person, and all of the identites that compose them, is reflected from all angles. The essay collection is a deep dive into Chee's past as he documents his expereinces as a gay rights and HIV/AIDS activist, a rose gardener, a writer, and more. But at the core, the book explores how we use writing to shape who we are and how who we are shapes our writing.
Image: Harper Collins
They Both Die At The End
Adam Silvera
As the title probably suggests, They Both Die At The End is not what we could a "happy" book. The novel follows a day in the life of two boys, Mateo and Rufus, who get early morning calls from Death-Cast telling them that today is the day that they're going to die. Though initially strangers, Mateo and Rufus are soon brought together through the Last Friend app, a social network that connects people on their last day alive. But as Mateo and Rufus embark on a quest to check items off their bucket list while they still have time, their friendship grows into something more, ultimately exploring what happens when we fall in love with someone we know we only will have a very limited time with.
Image: St. Martin's Press
You Know Me Well
David Levithan and Nina LaCour
Sometimes all you need is a good friend. And that's where You Know Me Well comes in. The book is about Mark and Kate, two students who have remained total strangers even though they've sat next to each other in class for an entire year. When the they run into each other unexpectedly at a bar in San Francisco, each dealing with a small crisis (Kate has just run away from love while Mark is dealing with the fact that the boy he loves is interested in someone else), they become fast friends. Documenting Mark and Kate's adventures with love, relationships, and growing up, You Know Me Well reveals how our friends can become our greatest lifeline.
Image: graywolf press
The Argonauts
Maggie Nelson
The Argonauts defies categorization in the best way. The book is a poetic memoir about Maggie Nelson's relationship with Harry, a gender-fluid artist with whom Nelson falls in love and begins a family. But in addition to the incredible story, The Argonauts radiates with stunning observations about being queer and in love, making the memoir feel less like a book and more like the perfect rendering of a person's heart on a page.
Image: graywolf
Don't Call Us Dead
Danez Smith
Fair warning up front: Don't Call Us Dead is a devastating poetry collection. But this book is as beautiful as it is painfully raw. Throughout the collection, Smith writes about race, queer identity, and AIDS, with an electrifying amount of passion and care, making this book a must-read for Pride Month.
Image: Harper Collins
Leah on the Offbeat
Becky Albertalli
You may know Becky Albertalli for her novel Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda (which was turned into a fantastic movie Love, Simon). But now Albertalli is back with a new book: Leah on the Offbeat. Where Sapiens outlines Simon's adventures in coming out, Leah on the Offbeat reveals that Leah is struggling with her identity too: she's bisexual and working to muster the courage to come out to her friends. But as Leah navigates her senior year of high school, she realizes that she may love one her friends more than anyone else might expect.
WATCH: The history of Pride
#_author:MJ Franklin#_uuid:5463376a-0d9e-315b-b8fe-ccc9c83bd348#_lmsid:a0Vd000000DTrEpEAL#_revsp:news.mashable
0 notes
Text
18 very gay and very good books you should read this Pride Month
Pride Month is officially here and that can only mean one thing: time to load up your reading list with stellar queer stories.
Of course, you should be mixing gay books into your to-be-read pile no matter what time of year, but this month, as you celebrate Pride, queer books can be the perfect way to explore the breadth and diversity of the LGBTQ community.
SEE ALSO: 9 meaningful ways to become part of Pride this year
Fortunately for anybody looking for a great gay read, the book world is filled with a bevy of queer stories of all genres.
Whether you're looking for a meditative poetry collection about queer identity and mental health, a deep dive into the New York City's ballroom culture in the '80s and '90s, a comic about a group scouts who find themselves plagued by supernatural creatures at camp, or a coming-of-age story about a shapeshifter who is navigating life and dating, there is a queer book out there for you.
Here are 18 very gay and very good books you should read this Pride Month.
Image: Rescue Press
Paul Takes The Form of a Mortal Girl
Andrea Lawlor
You've never read a coming-of-age story like this. Paul Takes The Form of a Mortal Girl details the adventures of Paul Polydoris, a student in Iowa City who studies queer theory. Oh, and did we mention that Paul is a shapeshifter who can change from Paul to Polly at will. On the surface, it's an absurd sci-fi premise, but Lawlor uses it to deftly explore gender, identity, and the way we form relationships with other people as well as with ourselves.
Image: Harper Collins
The House of Impossible Beauties
Joseph Cassara
Joseph Cassara's The House of Impossible Beauties takes a deep dive into New York City's ballroom culture in the '80s and '90s by following a group of characters, each who enter the scene for a different reason. But what stands out about the book isn't just the novel's vivid portrait of the past, but also Cassara's breathtaking and unforgettable characters who are all trying to find their way.
Image: Lee Boudreaux Book
Less
Andrew Greer
Andrew Greer's 2018 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Less starts off with a character in crisis: our protagonist Arthur is a struggling novelist, feeling existential as he approaches his 50th birthday, and, to make matters worse, he's just received an invitation to his ex-boyfriend's wedding. Instead of despairing, Arthur says "NOPE" and instead embarks on a haphazard literary world tour. But what sells the book is Greer's resounding heart and humor, making this tale of romantic misadventures as funny as it is earnest.
Image: Harper Collins
Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit
Jaye Robin Brown
Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit follows Joanna "Jo" Gordon, an out teen who is suddenly pushed back into the closet when her evangelical father remarries, moves their family from Atlanta to Rome, Georgia, and asks Jo to hide her queer identity for her senior year. The only problem is Mary Carlson, the sister of Jo's new friend in Rome, who Jo is falling for. The result is a heartfelt novel about coming out and discovering young love. Also, shout out to the infinitely charming title of this book!
Image: Picador
Call Me By Your Name
André Aciman
You've probably seen Call Me By Your Name, the movie, but if you haven't read the book that it's based on, you're missing out. The novel tracks the love story of Oliver and Elio, but where the movie offers a third person look at both characters as they navigate their burgeoning romance, the novel places you solely in Elio's mind as his feelings develop from from mild crush to complete obsession. The details of the book are incredibly specific — it's a brief romance over one summer in Italy — and yet, and it's a testament to Aciman's beautiful prose that the love that Call Me By Your Name explores feels universal and extremely relatable.
Image: Mariner Books
Under the Udala Trees
Chinelo Okparanta
Under the Udala Trees is a book about star-crossed love. The novel follows the life of Ijeoma, a young girl who, at the start of the book, is sent away from her family in order to stay safe during the Nigerian civil war. While away, Ijeoma meets Amina, another girl also separated from her family. The two begin a brief relationship... only to find out that their love is forbidden. What follows is a beautiful novel about love and hardship as Ijeoma is sent home, forced into an unhappy marriage with a man, all the while grappling with her attraction to women.
Image: Penguin Books
madness
sam sax
Don't forget to add a bit of poetry to your reading list this Pride Month! If you're looking for a collection to start with, check out sam sax's collection madness. The poems in this collection cover everything from sexuality to mental health to culture and heritage, but what shines through and connects each of these threads is sax's incredibly thoughtful and evocative prose.
Image: Harper Collins
Release
Patrick Ness
If there is a hidden gem of queer lit, it's Release by Patrick Ness. The book is basically the gay YA version of Mrs. Dalloway (it even starts with "Adam would have to get the flowers himself," invoking Virginia Woolf's iconic opening line). In it we follow Adam Thorn, a 17-year-old student who finds himself having one of the most challenging days of his life. His boss at work is sexually harassing him, the ex he thought he was over suddenly makes a reappearance, and a big blowout is building between himself and his preacher father. (There's also a subplot about a ghost that's haunting the town.) But despite the impossible hurdles Adam faces, Release somehow feels nostalgic and charming as Patrick Ness outlines one teen's struggle to define himself.
Image: Square Fish
Last Seen Leaving
Caleb Roehrig
If the Babadook has taught us anything, it's that Pride is not complete without a little noir. To that end, if you are looking for a darker read this month, make sure you check out Caleb Roehrig's Last Seen Leaving. The book is a coming out story masked as a mystery thriller about Flynn, the primary suspect in an investigation when his girlfriend January disappears. Flynn's answers about his life with January don't quite add up... but maybe that has less to do about January and more about the secret that Flynn is keeping.
Image: Topside Press
Nevada
Imogen Binnie
Nevada follows Maria, a young trans woman living in New York City, trying to navigate the punk scene while also working in retail. When Maria's girlfriend breaks up with her by revealing that she's been cheating, Maria's world is turned upside down. On a quest to escape it all, Melanie embarks on a cross country road trip where she meets James, a stoner living in Nevada who is just as lost as Maria. As the book jumps between both James and Maria's perspectives, Nevada offers a thoughtful look at identity and the trans experience.
Image: BOOM! Box
Lumberjanes
Noelle Stevenson, Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, and Brooke A. Allen
If you're looking for some comics to check out this Pride month, be sure to check out Lumberjanes. The series documents the adventures of a group of scouts — Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley— as they spend a summer together. The only thing is, their camp is plagued by supernatural creatures including yetis, three-eyed wolves, and giant falcons. In addition to featuring stunning art, the book is also incredibly inclusive as the story delves into each diverse character, making Lumberjanes the perfect Pride Month read.
Image: Mariner Books
Fun Home
Alison Bechdel
Fun Home is a graphic memoir about coming out and finding love, centered around two people. The book documents Alison Bechdel (who also came up with the Bechdel test), her experience exploring her attraction to women, and the way that her father resisted her identity. But, after Alison's father is hit by a car and killed, she reflects on his past and realizes that he may have had his own struggles with his sexual identity.
Image: Mariner Books
How To Write An Autobiographical Novel
Alexander Chee
To read Alexander Chee's essay collection How To Write An Autobiographical Novel is to stand in a hall of mirrors, watching as a single person, and all of the identites that compose them, is reflected from all angles. The essay collection is a deep dive into Chee's past as he documents his expereinces as a gay rights and HIV/AIDS activist, a rose gardener, a writer, and more. But at the core, the book explores how we use writing to shape who we are and how who we are shapes our writing.
Image: Harper Collins
They Both Die At The End
Adam Silvera
As the title probably suggests, They Both Die At The End is not what we could a "happy" book. The novel follows a day in the life of two boys, Mateo and Rufus, who get early morning calls from Death-Cast telling them that today is the day that they're going to die. Though initially strangers, Mateo and Rufus are soon brought together through the Last Friend app, a social network that connects people on their last day alive. But as Mateo and Rufus embark on a quest to check items off their bucket list while they still have time, their friendship grows into something more, ultimately exploring what happens when we fall in love with someone we know we only will have a very limited time with.
Image: St. Martin's Press
You Know Me Well
David Levithan and Nina LaCour
Sometimes all you need is a good friend. And that's where You Know Me Well comes in. The book is about Mark and Kate, two students who have remained total strangers even though they've sat next to each other in class for an entire year. When the they run into each other unexpectedly at a bar in San Francisco, each dealing with a small crisis (Kate has just run away from love while Mark is dealing with the fact that the boy he loves is interested in someone else), they become fast friends. Documenting Mark and Kate's adventures with love, relationships, and growing up, You Know Me Well reveals how our friends can become our greatest lifeline.
Image: graywolf press
The Argonauts
Maggie Nelson
The Argonauts defies categorization in the best way. The book is a poetic memoir about Maggie Nelson's relationship with Harry, a gender-fluid artist with whom Nelson falls in love and begins a family. But in addition to the incredible story, The Argonauts radiates with stunning observations about being queer and in love, making the memoir feel less like a book and more like the perfect rendering of a person's heart on a page.
Image: graywolf
Don't Call Us Dead
Danez Smith
Fair warning up front: Don't Call Us Dead is a devastating poetry collection. But this book is as beautiful as it is painfully raw. Throughout the collection, Smith writes about race, queer identity, and AIDS, with an electrifying amount of passion and care, making this book a must-read for Pride Month.
Image: Harper Collins
Leah on the Offbeat
Becky Albertalli
You may know Becky Albertalli for her novel Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda (which was turned into a fantastic movie Love, Simon). But now Albertalli is back with a new book: Leah on the Offbeat. Where Sapiens outlines Simon's adventures in coming out, Leah on the Offbeat reveals that Leah is struggling with her identity too: she's bisexual and working to muster the courage to come out to her friends. But as Leah navigates her senior year of high school, she realizes that she may love one her friends more than anyone else might expect.
WATCH: The history of Pride
#_author:MJ Franklin#_uuid:5463376a-0d9e-315b-b8fe-ccc9c83bd348#_lmsid:a0Vd000000DTrEpEAL#_revsp:news.mashable
0 notes
Text
18 very gay and very good books you should read this Pride Month
Pride Month is officially here and that can only mean one thing: time to load up your reading list with stellar queer stories.
Of course, you should be mixing gay books into your to-be-read pile no matter what time of year, but this month, as you celebrate Pride, queer books can be the perfect way to explore the breadth and diversity of the LGBTQ community.
SEE ALSO: 9 meaningful ways to become part of Pride this year
Fortunately for anybody looking for a great gay read, the book world is filled with a bevy of queer stories of all genres.
Whether you're looking for a meditative poetry collection about queer identity and mental health, a deep dive into the New York City's ballroom culture in the '80s and '90s, a comic about a group scouts who find themselves plagued by supernatural creatures at camp, or a coming-of-age story about a shapeshifter who is navigating life and dating, there is a queer book out there for you.
Here are 18 very gay and very good books you should read this Pride Month.
Image: Rescue Press
Paul Takes The Form of a Mortal Girl
Andrea Lawlor
You've never read a coming-of-age story like this. Paul Takes The Form of a Mortal Girl details the adventures of Paul Polydoris, a student in Iowa City who studies queer theory. Oh, and did we mention that Paul is a shapeshifter who can change from Paul to Polly at will. On the surface, it's an absurd sci-fi premise, but Lawlor uses it to deftly explore gender, identity, and the way we form relationships with other people as well as with ourselves.
Image: Harper Collins
The House of Impossible Beauties
Joseph Cassara
Joseph Cassara's The House of Impossible Beauties takes a deep dive into New York City's ballroom culture in the '80s and '90s by following a group of characters, each who enter the scene for a different reason. But what stands out about the book isn't just the novel's vivid portrait of the past, but also Cassara's breathtaking and unforgettable characters who are all trying to find their way.
Image: Lee Boudreaux Book
Less
Andrew Greer
Andrew Greer's 2018 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Less starts off with a character in crisis: our protagonist Arthur is a struggling novelist, feeling existential as he approaches his 50th birthday, and, to make matters worse, he's just received an invitation to his ex-boyfriend's wedding. Instead of despairing, Arthur says "NOPE" and instead embarks on a haphazard literary world tour. But what sells the book is Greer's resounding heart and humor, making this tale of romantic misadventures as funny as it is earnest.
Image: Harper Collins
Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit
Jaye Robin Brown
Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit follows Joanna "Jo" Gordon, an out teen who is suddenly pushed back into the closet when her evangelical father remarries, moves their family from Atlanta to Rome, Georgia, and asks Jo to hide her queer identity for her senior year. The only problem is Mary Carlson, the sister of Jo's new friend in Rome, who Jo is falling for. The result is a heartfelt novel about coming out and discovering young love. Also, shout out to the infinitely charming title of this book!
Image: Picador
Call Me By Your Name
André Aciman
You've probably seen Call Me By Your Name, the movie, but if you haven't read the book that it's based on, you're missing out. The novel tracks the love story of Oliver and Elio, but where the movie offers a third person look at both characters as they navigate their burgeoning romance, the novel places you solely in Elio's mind as his feelings develop from from mild crush to complete obsession. The details of the book are incredibly specific — it's a brief romance over one summer in Italy — and yet, and it's a testament to Aciman's beautiful prose that the love that Call Me By Your Name explores feels universal and extremely relatable.
Image: Mariner Books
Under the Udala Trees
Chinelo Okparanta
Under the Udala Trees is a book about star-crossed love. The novel follows the life of Ijeoma, a young girl who, at the start of the book, is sent away from her family in order to stay safe during the Nigerian civil war. While away, Ijeoma meets Amina, another girl also separated from her family. The two begin a brief relationship... only to find out that their love is forbidden. What follows is a beautiful novel about love and hardship as Ijeoma is sent home, forced into an unhappy marriage with a man, all the while grappling with her attraction to women.
Image: Penguin Books
madness
sam sax
Don't forget to add a bit of poetry to your reading list this Pride Month! If you're looking for a collection to start with, check out sam sax's collection madness. The poems in this collection cover everything from sexuality to mental health to culture and heritage, but what shines through and connects each of these threads is sax's incredibly thoughtful and evocative prose.
Image: Harper Collins
Release
Patrick Ness
If there is a hidden gem of queer lit, it's Release by Patrick Ness. The book is basically the gay YA version of Mrs. Dalloway (it even starts with "Adam would have to get the flowers himself," invoking Virginia Woolf's iconic opening line). In it we follow Adam Thorn, a 17-year-old student who finds himself having one of the most challenging days of his life. His boss at work is sexually harassing him, the ex he thought he was over suddenly makes a reappearance, and a big blowout is building between himself and his preacher father. (There's also a subplot about a ghost that's haunting the town.) But despite the impossible hurdles Adam faces, Release somehow feels nostalgic and charming as Patrick Ness outlines one teen's struggle to define himself.
Image: Square Fish
Last Seen Leaving
Caleb Roehrig
If the Babadook has taught us anything, it's that Pride is not complete without a little noir. To that end, if you are looking for a darker read this month, make sure you check out Caleb Roehrig's Last Seen Leaving. The book is a coming out story masked as a mystery thriller about Flynn, the primary suspect in an investigation when his girlfriend January disappears. Flynn's answers about his life with January don't quite add up... but maybe that has less to do about January and more about the secret that Flynn is keeping.
Image: Topside Press
Nevada
Imogen Binnie
Nevada follows Maria, a young trans woman living in New York City, trying to navigate the punk scene while also working in retail. When Maria's girlfriend breaks up with her by revealing that she's been cheating, Maria's world is turned upside down. On a quest to escape it all, Melanie embarks on a cross country road trip where she meets James, a stoner living in Nevada who is just as lost as Maria. As the book jumps between both James and Maria's perspectives, Nevada offers a thoughtful look at identity and the trans experience.
Image: BOOM! Box
Lumberjanes
Noelle Stevenson, Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, and Brooke A. Allen
If you're looking for some comics to check out this Pride month, be sure to check out Lumberjanes. The series documents the adventures of a group of scouts — Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley— as they spend a summer together. The only thing is, their camp is plagued by supernatural creatures including yetis, three-eyed wolves, and giant falcons. In addition to featuring stunning art, the book is also incredibly inclusive as the story delves into each diverse character, making Lumberjanes the perfect Pride Month read.
Image: Mariner Books
Fun Home
Alison Bechdel
Fun Home is a graphic memoir about coming out and finding love, centered around two people. The book documents Alison Bechdel (who also came up with the Bechdel test), her experience exploring her attraction to women, and the way that her father resisted her identity. But, after Alison's father is hit by a car and killed, she reflects on his past and realizes that he may have had his own struggles with his sexual identity.
Image: Mariner Books
How To Write An Autobiographical Novel
Alexander Chee
To read Alexander Chee's essay collection How To Write An Autobiographical Novel is to stand in a hall of mirrors, watching as a single person, and all of the identites that compose them, is reflected from all angles. The essay collection is a deep dive into Chee's past as he documents his expereinces as a gay rights and HIV/AIDS activist, a rose gardener, a writer, and more. But at the core, the book explores how we use writing to shape who we are and how who we are shapes our writing.
Image: Harper Collins
They Both Die At The End
Adam Silvera
As the title probably suggests, They Both Die At The End is not what we could a "happy" book. The novel follows a day in the life of two boys, Mateo and Rufus, who get early morning calls from Death-Cast telling them that today is the day that they're going to die. Though initially strangers, Mateo and Rufus are soon brought together through the Last Friend app, a social network that connects people on their last day alive. But as Mateo and Rufus embark on a quest to check items off their bucket list while they still have time, their friendship grows into something more, ultimately exploring what happens when we fall in love with someone we know we only will have a very limited time with.
Image: St. Martin's Press
You Know Me Well
David Levithan and Nina LaCour
Sometimes all you need is a good friend. And that's where You Know Me Well comes in. The book is about Mark and Kate, two students who have remained total strangers even though they've sat next to each other in class for an entire year. When the they run into each other unexpectedly at a bar in San Francisco, each dealing with a small crisis (Kate has just run away from love while Mark is dealing with the fact that the boy he loves is interested in someone else), they become fast friends. Documenting Mark and Kate's adventures with love, relationships, and growing up, You Know Me Well reveals how our friends can become our greatest lifeline.
Image: graywolf press
The Argonauts
Maggie Nelson
The Argonauts defies categorization in the best way. The book is a poetic memoir about Maggie Nelson's relationship with Harry, a gender-fluid artist with whom Nelson falls in love and begins a family. But in addition to the incredible story, The Argonauts radiates with stunning observations about being queer and in love, making the memoir feel less like a book and more like the perfect rendering of a person's heart on a page.
Image: graywolf
Don't Call Us Dead
Danez Smith
Fair warning up front: Don't Call Us Dead is a devastating poetry collection. But this book is as beautiful as it is painfully raw. Throughout the collection, Smith writes about race, queer identity, and AIDS, with an electrifying amount of passion and care, making this book a must-read for Pride Month.
Image: Harper Collins
Leah on the Offbeat
Becky Albertalli
You may know Becky Albertalli for her novel Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda (which was turned into a fantastic movie Love, Simon). But now Albertalli is back with a new book: Leah on the Offbeat. Where Sapiens outlines Simon's adventures in coming out, Leah on the Offbeat reveals that Leah is struggling with her identity too: she's bisexual and working to muster the courage to come out to her friends. But as Leah navigates her senior year of high school, she realizes that she may love one her friends more than anyone else might expect.
WATCH: The history of Pride
#_author:MJ Franklin#_uuid:5463376a-0d9e-315b-b8fe-ccc9c83bd348#_lmsid:a0Vd000000DTrEpEAL#_revsp:news.mashable
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